Undead Redemption: No Rest for the Wicked

by Kisa Rayen

In a world ravaged by the dead, courage is the only currency. In "Undead No Rest for the Wicked" Aria Day, former army medic hardened by loss and survival, navigates a post apocalyptic wasteland where the dead walk and humanity teeters on the brink of extinction.

When Aria discovers a group of resilient survivors, she cares to hope for a future beyond mere existence. But as bonds form & love blossoms amidst the chaos, a new kind of fear emerges--one as relentless as the undead themselves. With humanity's darkest impulses laid bare, Aria must grapple with love and loyalty in a world where the living may pose a greater threat than the undead. In this gripping tale of resilience and redemption, Aria must confront the shadows of the past while fighting for a future worth living in the face of unspeakable horrors.

Genres: Horror

321 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 1, 2024

Reviews

[Crystal Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imagine a zombie apocalypse and sprinkle in some spice 🔥 and that is exactly what this book is!! I have never read a zombie apocalypse book or really been into those shows/movies, but I will give anything Rosa Rayen reads a shot at least. And let me tell youuuuu, I was blown away with how much I enjoyed this book and I could not put it down!

If you are like me and you’re like ehhh, I dunno that’s not my thing, trust me, just TRY IT and then come back and tell me how much you loved it too! 🤭

Of course my favorite character was Aria because I love the strong and take charge FMC! This story has lots of action, twists and turns!

4⭐️
3🌶️

[Jessica B · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review 🖤

First let me say this was my very first book of this kind. I’ve never read any zombie apocalypse books and I am really surprised with how much I enjoyed this. This was a wild ride and I am totally here for it. Honestly I felt like this book could be a show. That’s how I felt reading it. Like I was watching a series 🤷🏼‍♀️ she did that well with details that I could visualize what I was reading. I am 100% here for the long haul now.

Between the constant action, the blood and gore, the love triangle my mind is going a mile a minute. I was hooked from the first chapter.

The overall concept, the story line definitely 5⭐️
The fact she gave us a little spice sprinkled in- bonus.

If you’re like me and read a lot of romance and dark romance and need something different. Just to switch things up a bit, this is your book.

Will be following this journey to the end.

[The_neurospicy_bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an amazing read

I'm not normally a fan of zombie related things. Don't know why but zombies creep me out. This however, was such a thrilling story, I didn't even mind the zombies. You get hooked from the first page, drawn in and it makes the book hard to put down. As you go through the story, you meet a lot of different interesting characters, knowing it is a book about surviving in a zombie apocalypse, you don't want to get too attached to the characters but the author makes that impossible as you feel connected to them because of the strength of the bonds that form throughout and how amazing they all are. The plot thickens as you get further in with plot twists galore and most had me drop my jaw several times. The FMC is so strong and awe inspiring, she has been through so much in her life and yet still has the heart to look after everyone. I cried quite a few times throughout this story, as mentioned previously, you get attached to certain characters in a zombie apocalypse so there will be some losses and they will hit you hard some of them. Knowing that, your heart is in your throat for most of the book as with each encounter, the suspense has you on the edge of your seat biting your nails. And that cliffhanger at the end, I need to read book 2 asap as I need to know what happens next

[Amanda Gold · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zombie apocalypse!!
One of my absolute favourite genres to read

Loved the depth of the characters and their back stories. The author created a world and people I could visualise in my mind. And throw in the blood, suspense and trauma/tragedy, you have me.

I devoured this book in no time and thoroughly enjoyed every thrilling second. The main female character is so strong and amazing, she does her best to lead their group and keep everyone alive. If I’m ever in a zombie apocalypse I’d want Aria by my side. The author created a group of found family and friends that battle together and live together.

A sprinkle of romance and spice amongst the apocalypse is a great touch.

[Johanna 夏✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love action filled Zombie apocalypse stories, this book is for you.

The characters are all very well written especially the FMC Aria Day. She is a badass, but also has some dark secrets in the past.
The story was thrilling every second of it, action in every corner, and the plot twists got me on the edge of my seat. You truly can’t trust anyone in an apocalyptic world.
The only thing that could have been a bit more deeper for my opinion is the love story. But nevertheless I loved their relationship and the drama with the love triangle.

Can’t wait to get to the second book 😍

~ 4⭐️/5 ~ Spice: 1.5🌶️/5

Tropes:
🧟‍♂️ Age Gap
🧟‍♂️ Love Triangle
🧟‍♂️ Single Dad
🧟‍♂️ Found Family
🧟‍♂️ One bed
🧟‍♂️ Forced Proximity

Thank you for the opportunity to read this as an ARC 🤍🤍🤍

[cassi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wanted to say thank you for the arc copy !
Honestly I’m going to be so real this was me dipping my toe into the water of zombie romance and I kind of loved it. I loved the fmc she was super badass and relatable. Loved the drama and the ending has left me stuck on the edge of my seat waiting for another before this one has even been released.

[Joy Parsons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book!!! I loved the Walking Dead vibes with the zombies and the fight for survival!

Kisa Rayen did an amazing job with her characters: Aria, Jack, Judd, Chase, Luca, Noah, and the kids. I love being able to read the story from the multiple POVs and seeing how each of the main characters were reacting to the different situations. There is a small bit of romance, and it does help the advancement of the storyline. I look forward to more books in this series in the future and to see where the story is going and how the small group is going to survive.

I received an advance copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Shannon]

DNF @30% As a die hard The Walking Dead fan, there were more than a couple of instances where the story went beyond being inspired by TWD to the point where I was seeing those scenes from the show, but changing out these characters for those. And now I can’t get the very close parallels out of my head so I’m DNFing.

[Crookedhouseofbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who spent the first several seasons of The Walking Dead hosting a "watch party" every week, I can 💯 say that I needed this book in my life.

Where TWD lacked in smut and a female Rick Grimes, Undead Redemption made up for it.

The story starts 2 months post outbreak. We get several povs throughout the book but our central character is most undoubtedly Aria, an army medic and residential badass.

I loved the pace of the story. The fleeting moments of happiness, bulldozed by uncertainty and the sudden, horrible turn of events that hounded them constantly. There was definitely no lagging in the plot.

The best part is, you kinda "know" that things are about to go to shit but you're always surprised by how bad it ends up being.

And just like TWD, don't get attached to any of the characters. I'm just warning you now.

I could easily venture into more details, about some of the other characters, in particular BUT you need to savor the experience yourself, a lot of plot twists take place with the introduction of different people and I think going in blind is half the fun.

What I will say is that there are definitely a few spicy scenes and a good bit of angst sprinkled throughout. I think this alone helped propel a regular zombie apocalypse book to dark romance. 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Zombie apocalypse
Dystopian
Forced proximity
Badass FMC
Gore and violence 🌓
Single dad
Second chance romance
Touch him/her and ☠️
Ends on a cliffhanger

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

🔥 OH MY GOSHHH eeeverything I didn’t know I needed. This book had me hooked from the very first page and didn’t let me go until the brutal cliffhanger that has me screaming for next bookkk 😅

Aria Day is the ultimate badass. 💪 Her strength, resilience, and ability to lead in a world that’s completely gone to shite just shows how strong she is. She’s not just surviving the apocalypse shesss totally owning it. emotional weight of her lupus representation 🫶🏻. It hit so hard and added such a raw real element to the story.

Between the non stopping action, the blood soaked fights 🩸, and the tension filled moments where you’re holding your breath waiting to see who makes it out alive, this book kept me on edge the entire time. The love triangle was wwwhew. 🔥I thinkkk im on team Memphis but I also love jackkkk The chemistry and heartbreak in this story are unmatched.

Kisa crafted a world so vivid and gripping, it felt like I was watching a high stakes, action packed series. The multiple POVs added so much depth, especially with a villain who is PURE PSYCHOPATH ENERGY😶‍🌫️

If you love zombie apocalypse stories, strong female leads, found family dynamics, and a lil of romance and spice in chaos, this is your next read. It’s bloody, emotional, and beautifully written I couldn’t put it down nor did I want to

Badass FMC 💪
Zombie Apocalypse 🧟
Found Family 🫂
Love Triangle ❤️‍🔥
Multiple POVs 👁️
Tension & Heartache 🩸💔

This book is a rollercoaster of emotions, and I’m so here for it.

[Mallory · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not usually a zombie girlie, but I picked up this one in an attempt to bond with my hubby because he's a major Walking Dead fan. I am SO glad I did!! Turns out I just needed a little bit of spice with my zombies!! BUT, I have to mention that I didn't think the romance element took away from the plot (which I like!)

I always say that if there's ever a zombie apocalypse that I'll probably be the weakest link and I should be left behind immediately, but Aria is such a badass FMC who takes charge and deals with their reality head on and I want to be her when I grow up! She is a chronic illness girlie (just like me) and when she struggled with that and all the things that entails it made the apocalypse even more real for me.

I really enjoyed having multiple POV's (especially for the love triangle) and Kisa does an awesome job with characterization for each person in her story. Personally, I also liked the world building because I didn't find it too complicated or hard to follow. I was able to place myself into the story with no problem and that was something I worried about going into this one since I'm not usually a zombie/future/apocalypse reader!

[Deandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

🩸BOOK REVIEW🩸

I love a good post-apocalyptic zombie read. This delivered on all the good stuff, like zombie children (don't see that often) oops I f*cked your brother because I thought you were dead (thats probably more common) wishing to be a goat (the thought has crossed my mind on more than one occasion) And the age old question: Do Zombies get bored?

Would i survive in this apocalyptic world? No. No I would not. I'm told I have no street smarts and I am directionally challenged. (I just know thats what will get me eaten by the rotting people eaters)

I've also been told that I am a spoiled brat and I just wouldn't survive (not my fault I blame my lovely boyfriend for spoiling me) (thanks boyfriend for turning me into a princess and getting me eaten by the rotting people eaters)

Aside from the fact I wouldn't survive this zombie infested post-apocalyptic world, I certainly enjoyed reading it! So well written and easy to read and get caught up in the story, the characters were shown with such complexity and emotional depth that I fell in love with all of them and wanted to learn more about their history and back stories!

Not gonna lie though 👀.... Team Memphis.

[Gareth Davies · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't quite sure what to expect from this book. I'm not a huge fan of the zombie genre; I used to find other things to do while my wife watched The Walking Dead. End of the world, yada yada yada.

But I was pleasantly surprised with this book. Yes, the setting is the aftermath of the zombie apocalypse, civilization in tatters, herds of undead cannibals roaming the world. That's just the backdrop to this story, the blank pages on which it's told. What makes this tale so compelling is its characters, a rich and varied set of people who are just trying to survive. Aria, an ex-army medic, endured terrible trials and tragedies before the zombies even arrived, and its mostly her eyes through which we see this brutal new world. She is amazing! Jack, Luca, and Memphis also contribute to the multi-POV first person narrative, all with different but heartfelt feelings for Aria. As the band of survivors search for sanctuary, they endure moments of joy and terror, relief and despair. These are people, being people, trying to make sense of a world gone mad. The zombies are often the least of their problems.

I have the opportunity to ARC read the sequel, and I can't wait!

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This will be the second book that I am reading from this writer. Both books are very different genres, but I appreciate them in their own way. Undead Redemption is very enjoyable read, especially if you’re a fan of The Walking Dead. You’ve got your zombie, wasteland apocalypse going on for days, and sprinkle a little bit of romance, or should I say love triangle! I mean, who doesn’t love that? This book will definitely keep you on your toes. You’re going to have multitude of emotions for the characters involved. Aria is such a badass FMC, and we all admire a strong female leading her group into survival mode! The story takes us into a timeline after the apocalypse has already occurred. We are following our main characters as they dive into survival. I can’t wait for the second installment. It does end on a cliffhanger, and you will definitely want more! What will you do to ensure your survival if you are in their position?

[Nicole (book_drake on IG) · Rating 5 out of 5]

🚨 Apocalypse alert! 🚨

If you’re in the mood for a wild ride through a wasteland where the dead are taking a casual stroll and humanity is clinging on by a thread—Undead Redemption: No Rest for the Wicked by Kisa Rayen is your next must-read! 🧟‍♀️💀

Meet Aria Day—former army medic turned certified badass, who’s seen more than her fair share of carnage (both dead and undead). Just when she's thinking her only companions are zombies and dust, she stumbles upon a group of survivors that reignites her hope for, you know, actually living. But surprise! The living might be scarier than the shambling corpses. 🤯

Rayen doesn’t hold back with this one! Expect heart-pounding action, messy humanity, and a splash of romance in a world where loyalty and love are as fragile as a zombie's jawline. 🧟‍♂️🖤 A tale of resilience, redemption, and (of course) kicking undead butt. Ready to jump in? Just don't forget your zombie survival kit! 😉

[Sponkles · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Arc Review* 5 🌟 I love this book!! There's action, gore, twists and turns and a cliffhanger making me want book 2 now! Aria is a bad-ass, she gets stuff done! The lupus rep with her really hit me hard, especially having a chronic illness myself and imagining myself in an apocalypse not being able to easily access meds for flare-ups and having to be vulnerable with new-ish people (just kill me🫠). Luca is the bestie we all need in our lives. The love triangle ooof, I'm more of a why choose girly, but Memphis. 😏🤭 I loved that we got multiple POV, really added so much. We have a villain who I will not name but purely a psychopath and I love it. 😈 Yes I love villains, thank you for my new favorite Kisa, can't wait to see where that goes! This book keeps you on the edge of your seat, you never know when shits about to hit the fan or who's gana die! 😬

[Charmelle Hendriks · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨️ARC Review

This book was unputdownable😍🔥

It is filled with action and suspense and more plot twists than you expect 😍 each fitting in so perfectly and just making the story more interesting.

Aria Day is my role model! 😍 She is such a badass and strong character 😍 but, she also made me cry more times than I can count because this poor woman has been (and still going) through the absolute most 😭 felt like the author was trying to rip my heart out very slowly and very painfully😭

As for the rest of the group, each and every character was so uniquely written😍

There are a few characters I hate, but they totally deserve it, you'll see🤐

Ah and the love triangle?! 🫠 I can't decide who has to be chosen because I love them both😭😂 (even though I'm kinda mad at one of them at the moment)

I seriously cannot wait for the next book!!!😍😍

[Spicybooksndirtylooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zombies. Apocalypse. New friends or new enemies? Who will survive? How many deaths shall we experience? You gotta read this book to find out! Releasing TODAY (Oct 1st). Love me some Judd and Memphis! Digging the multiple POV as it was perfectly timed to really get inside everyone's head and learn how they are feeling. Aria is a total badass. Her leadership skills are on-point, and she's so caring even with all the struggles she has faced. This is one of those books where I get to the end and start frantically clicking on my Kindle for more... but the pages no longer turn. I also found myself thinking about these characters and this book when I wasn't able to read. This book is like a fun brain worm invading your thoughts & I love that. I'm excited for book 2 to see if people get reunited and Kristi gets what's coming to her.

[Laci Rambo · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Rounded up to 4 stars since I rated it at 3.5* I received this book as an ARC.

If you like The Walking Dead, you’ll love Undead Redemption. This could be a quick and enjoyable binge read. The FMC is awesome and reminds me of another FMC in a book I read recently, Bishop. I’ve already recommended this book to someone even before I finished it. I feel like this book is Season 1 of The Walking Dead and I am so excited that there’s a second book after this! There’s no real goal we’re working towards with this plot, just simply surviving in a post apocalyptic world. There’s love, loss, found family, and action. The ending is left on a cliffhanger and I’m so excited that there’s a second book to read. I enjoyed this book a lot. Spice would be at a 3.5. Rating is a 3.5 as well.

[Lazarra Blair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kisa Rayen strikes again!! I'm not usually a fan of Zombie Apocalyptic or Dystopian stories but I gave this a go and I am sooo glad I did!

The FMC Aria Day is an ex military medic trying to survive a post virus world infested with zombies. In her quest for survival she comes across others who have managed to live through the initial wave of the virus... but can all of them be trusted??
Each side character has their own back story and every one of them is so well written that I felt I got to know all of them, both friend and foe.

This story has everything, found family, forced proximity, spice, plot twists after plot twist, heartbreak, betrayal and of course killer zombies!! If I could give it more than 5 stars I certainly would!

[Nupur · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderfully written survival Romance. A world post apocalypse that changed people's life and the only instict was to survive. All the characters and whole world building were beautifully crafted. I really like the writing style which wasn't too complicated not very liberal. Just perfect to understand and also giving a movie like feeling. A too real experience is what I felt while reading. Aria is my favourite, strong independent sassy women. Romance that brews in between was to the point. Love found its way even in this difficult times. Can't wait to read more. This book has Zombies, struggle to survive, love drama, Some spice and lot more, so what are you waiting for, go and get your copy.

[beware.thereader Cam Henao · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s been a while since I picked up a zombie book, and I must say, I thoroughly enjoyed this one! The author, Rayen, does a phenomenal job of world-building, immersing readers in a captivating and richly detailed environment. I appreciated the perfect balance of thrilling action, not just with the zombies, but also among the characters themselves. The female main character is a true force to be reckoned with, showcasing her naval experience with impressive skill and determination. It's refreshing to see such a capable and dynamic protagonist. I also loved exploring the depths of each character through the multiple perspectives, which added layers to the story and made it even more engaging. Overall, this book was a fantastic read!

[Brooklynn Eisenhauer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book because Im a huge fan of The Last of Us, both the show and the video game. I was really curious as to how a romance was going to play out, and I was pretty surprised about who the main character ended up with during the course of this book. Though I won't complain about who ends up with who, as the book was still well written. I dont really have too much to complain about other than the darker side of me wanting more zombies and blood.

The spice level was mild. It was on the page but not super descriptive, which didn't take away from the main storyline, which i really liked for this book.

[Donna Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zombie apocalypse
Dystopian
Forced proximity
Badass FMC
Gore and violence 🌓
Single dad
Second chance romance
Touch him/her and ☠️
Ends on a cliffhanger


Oh my god as someone who is a huge walking dead fan and spent watching each episode and binge watching to catch up on things I missed. I have to say I definitely needed this book in my life. We have a female character who is like the female version of Rick Grimes and a complete bad ass. This book was highly addictive for me, I couldn’t put it down, I literally devoured it. Can’t wait to see what happens next. Remember read trigger warnings before diving into this book.

[Lissa B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zombies?? Multi-pov?? Plots twists and steamy romance?? All of my favorites in one just in time for spooky season😍

Aria is faced with the end of the world as she slowly increases her survival group, along with many losses. She finds safety, comfort, and love in Jack shortly after he loses his wife and brother.

But what happens to their peaceful life when they have to leave Alabama after a horde of zombies takes over? Chaos happens (we love chaos here), and they go to Texas where they find her cousin and ex-fiance, Memphis.

I'm lowkey rooting for Memphis to win her heart for good. Sorry, Jack, not really tho👀

[Alison Goodhall · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you loved the walking dead then let me tell you, you’ll absolutely love this awesome book! I fell completely head over heels for Aria and how much of a big heart she has for everyone around her after all she has been through shes one strong ass woman! Jack, Jack, oh jack made me want to hug him one minute then throw him under a bus the next! But absolutely loved there bond. The whole vibe of the end of the world and the zombie apocalypse is just awesome! And the amount of times i was on edge with this was insane. All the other characters really are truly incredible and you do feel apart of the family the whole way through it. Add to tbr list straight away! Don’t miss this!

[AmesChicReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will start this off by stating I am not a Walking Dead fan and zombie apocalypse is really not usually my thing. However, I thought this was a good read. Aria is a badass, the rest of the main characters were uniquely developed, and the author executed multiple pov’s clearly and concisely. I liked the action, the twists and turns and am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. Apparently, I do like a good zombie novel when it includes interesting characters and plot, sprinkled with some spice!

[Chelsea Donohue · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was my first post-apocolyptic romance, and it didn't disappoint! I was lucky enough to receive the ARC copy of this, and I'm grateful to Kisa for the opportunity! 🙏

This book was jam-packed full of fast-paced action and thrills! I absolutely love Aria as our badass fmc and all the side characters! The cliffhanger almost killed me off. Then I remembered I was lucky enough to receive the arc for book 2, too 🥳

If you want some easy, fun reading material, that is faced paced and high octave action! I'd highly suggest this!!

[Izabel Carson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Undead Redemption: No Rest for the Wicked was a quick read and was easy to get into. From the first few pages, the action never stops. I enjoyed being able to keep engaged with the story, and the characters were intriguing. I am going to have to read the second because I want to know how they get out of the mess they were in. Leaving off on them about to face a disaster??? I sat there for a second like “wait but what happens?” Anyway, go read this book!!

[Justine Miranda (Hannah) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never thought that I would be interested in any kind of zombie apocalypse type book but I was wrong. So very wrong. This book had me on my toes. I wasn’t sure who was safe or who would die. I also didn’t know how the romance was going to it but it didn’t disappoint. It definitely had the idea of kill or be killed and it doesn’t matter if we slept together.

Now the main love interest had me on a roller coaster of emotions. I went from bless his heart to beat his ass 😂 I have never been through so much turmoil. lol

I enjoyed this breath of fresh air so much. So different from what I usually read but so much worth it!