Martha's Notebook

by C. Fulster, Sydney Rain (editor)

How long can someone outrun intelligent zombies nicknamed "Chippers," capable of learning and upgrading themselves to combat every strategy the survivors create? From mountain towns to underground secrets, it's guaranteed that not everyone will survive.

Can preteen Martha handle this new world along with her divorcing family, or will the truth about who's behind it destroy what is left of them?

Only one thing is there’s no going back.

(Check out "Martha's Samuel & Jordan" on YouTube if you enjoyed this book.)


Martha’s Notebook is the electrifying first installment of a new sci-fi horror trilogy that will keep you on the edge of your seat with every twist. Jam-packed with survival, suspense, and existential dread, it’s sure to satisfy any post-apocalyptic fiction enthusiast.

296 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 1, 2024

About the author

C. Fulster is a seasoned electrician, devoted husband, and new father who moonlights as an award-winning writer, producer, and illustrator.

With more than sixteen children’s books, three animated screenplays, and one internationally acclaimed short film under his belt, his favorite hobby is quickly developing into a highlight reel of successful creative endeavors. He’s even donated the proceeds of five picture books to charity, and he hopes to become a best seller and adapt one of his stories for the silver screen.

In his free time, he can be found indulging his passions for hockey, spicy food, and relaxing.

He currently resides in Colorado with his beautiful wife, adorable daughter, and their two dogs.

Reviews

[ScarlettAnomalyReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a decent zombie set up, I was a little horrified and distbubed by just how the zombies were, well operating.
I'm the current climate in the world, yikes, but in a good way.

I would love to check out more from this world.

I'm a sucker for new ideas on old takes, definitely worth a read

[Jessie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is so much fun for a YA book. The writing is juvenile but the themes are much more mature. I listened to it on audible and it is very well done. Imagine listening to an old time radio show.

[Abigail L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Martha's Notebook we follow Martha, whose life takes a dramatic turn from dealing with her parents’ divorce to battling a zombie horde known as “Chippers.” What sets this book apart is the unique twist of an AI controlling these zombies, creating an intriguing blend of horror and technology. I thoroughly enjoyed the suspense and the way the author explores the themes of survival and the consequences of unchecked technology. It’s a gripping read that kept me hooked from start to finish!

[Kayla Hicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the reader meets Martha and her family, all is not as it seems behind closed doors as Martha's family is breaking apart due to her mother's selfishness which leads to her parent's divorce.

And just when Martha and Ava are in the midst of their parent's latest fight, glowing zombies break through their quiet neighborhood, tearing down the world they knew.

Hoping that they can find seclusion in an old vacation spot, their father whisks the family away to the mountains. However, the further away they venture from their neighborhood, the more they realize that a true zombie apocalypse has become their reality.

Now they must hope they can survive.

Author C. Fulster did a great job putting a unique spin on a classic monster. Zombies have always been complicated in my opinion because we as humans don't have it in us to harm one another human without it breaking us in some way, let alone family or friends who have changed into brain-eating monsters. So to see Fulster's fresh take on what would happen if modern-day advances changed people into zombies was interesting and I want to see where this series goes.

As far as characters go, Martha is a relatable character despite being 12. Seeing the world through her eyes and how she found a new family during the apocalypse was a great way to show all aspects of her character.

The bond between Martha and her sister Ava is strong throughout the whole book and feels like an anchor for Martha in a world of uncertainty as did the relationship both girls had with their father.

For readers interested in zombies with a mix of science fiction technology, Martha's Notebook would be a wonderful choice, full of surprises and a great introduction to a series.

[Nika Skwirba · Rating 4 out of 5]

Martha's Notebook by C. Fulster is an engaging and beautifully crafted story that pulls you in from the very first page. Fulster’s ability to bring Martha’s thoughts and emotions to life is truly remarkable. The blend of heartfelt moments, vivid imagery, and thought-provoking themes creates a rich and immersive experience.

The notebook itself acts as a powerful symbol throughout the story, capturing not just Martha's journey but also the universal struggle of finding meaning and connection. The characters are relatable, and the emotional depth makes this book hard to put down.

The only reason I’m giving it 4.5 stars instead of 5 is that a few parts felt slightly rushed, and I wished for more time to explore certain relationships and themes. However, this doesn’t detract much from the overall brilliance of the story.

I highly recommend Martha's Notebook to anyone looking for an inspiring and reflective read. Fulster’s talent shines through, and this book is a gem!

[Lia's Haunted Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

Look, I’ve not read a lot of zombie fiction, but even I can tell Martha’s Notebook doesn’t settle for the usual undead formula.

This one has upgrading zombies—nicknamed “Chippers”—who learn, adapt, and evolve every time you try to outsmart them.

AI-controlled horror in a post-apocalyptic world? Yeah… terrifying. And honestly, a little too plausible.

We follow 12-year-old Martha as her world implodes—starting with her parents’ divorce and ending with her dodging tech-enhanced brain-eaters. Told from her perspective, the story blends emotional realism with sci-fi horror in a way that works. Martha’s voice feels mature, but never inauthentic, and her bond with her sister Ava grounds the chaos.

The family drama is just as present as the zombie chaos, and the story leans into survival, existential dread, and questions about who’s really behind the outbreak.

[Sofia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Let me just say this first… this book wasnt for me, I do love a zombie story, but I really hatted the characters… father and mother are in the middle of divorcing, kids know something is wrong with their parents but good riddance from the mother, the mother loves money way more than anyone else, even more than herself… kids seem way more mature than their ages were supposed to be..

yeah this is not for everyone, at least it wasnt for me, and it seems almost everyone loved this book way more than me… so maybe you’ll love it as well…

Thank you NetGalley and Independently Published, for the free ARC and this is my honest opinion.

[Suzi · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy this book at all, but I always try and find something positive about a read.

Something I did like:
✅Interesting concept, AI and zombies both excite and frighten me at the same time. I was excited to see how they came together in this book.

Things, not so much:
⭕Very repetitive.
⭕None of the characters behave naturally, the characters feel like they've never even met another human being before. It's extremely jarring.
⭕Seriously, how many times do we need to be told what mum is greedy and dad is so super duper uber wonderfully fantastically perfect?
⭕Too much telling rather than showing.

[Catherine Matthews · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oof. The twist at the end did save the story for me a bit. My biggest problem was the book constantly TELLING us instead of SHOWING us. Everything was just explicitly explained instead of shown through action and dialogue. There were also several typos and instances of missing text.

12 year olds don’t use the kind of vocabulary that Martha uses..that took the immersion away from me quite often.

We also didn’t get enough time to care about characters before their death. They were introduced, there was a time jump, and then they died. I was left feeling like “who cares?”. I can tell it was meant to be impactful to the reader but it fell short.

*I received a free copy of this book*

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hold onto your hats, folks, because Martha's Notebook is one wild ride! 🎉 Martha goes from worrying about her parents’ divorce to dodging brain-hungry zombies controlled by rogue AI—how cool is that? This book had me flipping pages like a maniac! With every twist and turn, I was on the edge of my seat, rooting for Martha to outsmart those Chippers. If you’re into gripping sci-fi with a side of horror, you absolutely need to get this thrilling adventure! 🧟‍♀️✨

[Erin Keyser · Rating 4 out of 5]

Won in giveaway. Very interesting story. I thought from the beginning when the Mom was safeguarding the safe that she may have had something to do with it. Interesting twist on zombie lore with the chips. At times Martha seems like a lot older than 12 years in her actions and decisions. The ending seemed rushed but it was setting up book 2. I think it could have been achieved differently. But still intrigues we for future stories.

[Puisan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book reads like a zombie movie…action from the get go, suspense, always keeping you on the edge, happy parts & also depressing bits. Written from a teenager’s perspective but worth reading!.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Karen Bowes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the tension between the main characters. So well written was this novel that it I felt immersed in the story. Enjoy this action packed journey but be warned after the first few pages you'll be hooked.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Erin-bitchesbebookin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Writing was too juvenile/immature for me.

[Honey Dy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️
How long can you outrun zombies that not only are fast but can also think?

Oh no, we arent talking your slow, brain-dead kind—oh no, these zombies, the "Chippers" they can learn, they can adapt, and they can upgrade like a nightmare version of your phone’s software update.

I’ll be brutally honest here—AI and zombie apocalypses? Not my usual jam. But my mate Curt hit me up, told me about his book, gave me a kick ass T shirt, and figured seeing as how horror lived in my brain, he thought I'd like it.

This book grabbed me by the throat and refused to let go. It kept me up at ungodly hours. It had me checking my locks, and now I’m impatiently waiting for more.

This first book in the Zombie Apocalypse trilogy took me from mountain hideouts to underground horrors, and there was no guarantee of survival.

This is where Martha steps in.

As your average preteen already having dealt with her parents' constant arguments, leading to divorce, this was not your average coming of age story. Once you're left to deal with these monsters, there's no going back.

Martha’s Notebook is the electrifying first instalment of a sci-fi horror trilogy packed with survival, suspense, and existential dread (because what’s scarier than zombies? Family drama and zombies with a brain, always thinking one step ahead of you)

This, my friends, is a horror with a twist. Grab this one, but maybe sleep with your lights on.

[Casie · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, I wanna say I'm happy I won this in a giveaway :). Second it's more like a 3.5 star for me but rounded because it's still a pretty good story just some minor things that took dropped it from being a solid 4 star. The constant use of "child-like" for pretty much every emotion for the first 75% of the book no matter who the person was irked me an took me out of the story half the time. Also too many speeches and a bit repetitive. The story could've been 10% of the beginning, kill off players, cut speeches nonsense every 5 min while in the building, an on the way to the government building, plus the last 25% of the book an bam! Prefect 4 star.