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The Altered
When the outbreak ends, Griffin must atone for what he’s done in the name of hunger.
Griffin King is an ordinary high school senior dealing with typical teenage a bratty little sister, overbearing parents, an obnoxious best friend, and the unrequited love of his long-time crush. But when a virus chews through a large portion of the population, Griffin soon finds himself on the wrong side of a horror story. After being attacked by an infected, he loses his identity—his only desire is to consume human flesh.
After months of the infected roaming the broken landscape of the city, a cure is found and a mass injection of antiserum is administered to the horde. Griffin finds himself one of the Altered, a small group of "ex-infecteds" who have been cured, but irreparably changed. Now he must learn how to restart his life in an angry post-apocalyptic society where race, gender, and religion don’t matter anymore. Welcome to the new world. A world where people like him—people altered like him—are the minority.
Griffin King is an ordinary high school senior dealing with typical teenage a bratty little sister, overbearing parents, an obnoxious best friend, and the unrequited love of his long-time crush. But when a virus chews through a large portion of the population, Griffin soon finds himself on the wrong side of a horror story. After being attacked by an infected, he loses his identity—his only desire is to consume human flesh.
After months of the infected roaming the broken landscape of the city, a cure is found and a mass injection of antiserum is administered to the horde. Griffin finds himself one of the Altered, a small group of "ex-infecteds" who have been cured, but irreparably changed. Now he must learn how to restart his life in an angry post-apocalyptic society where race, gender, and religion don’t matter anymore. Welcome to the new world. A world where people like him—people altered like him—are the minority.
- GenresHorror
266 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 2, 2025
10 people are currently reading
28 people want to read
About the author
Maria DeVivo
25 books87 followersMaria DeVivo writes horror and dark fantasy for both a YA and adult audience. Each of her series has been Amazon best-sellers and have won multiple awards since 2012. A lover of all things dark and demented, the worlds she creates are fantastical and immersive. Get swept away in the lands of elves, zombies, angels, demons, and witches (but not all in the same place). Maria takes great pleasure in warping the comfort factor in her readers’ minds – just when you think you’ve reached a safe space in her stories, she snaps you back into her twisted reality.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
January 1, 2023
4.5/5
This is my first time reading something by DeVivo and I just have to say wow, what a stellar zombie read!
The Altered focuses on Griffin, your average high schooler. He's got a bratty little sister, an annoying friend, and a massive crush on the alluring Lana Anderson. That is, until the world changed and people became flesh-eating monsters. Griffin has woken up after months of roaming the streets as one of those ghouls, but thanks to an experimental treatment he's become 'altered'. What does this mean for him, and what happened to the world in all that time? As Griffin recalls his chilling recent past, he discovers just how far he's gone and how far he has to go in this changed world.
I don't always see eye to eye with character-focused novels, but this one was expertly handled.
Griffin is a great MC. He's relatable as he was before and during the chaos, but his 'altered' status in the present makes him something of an enigma. He has this intriguing clashing duality between his conscious self and his zombie side that made every chapter engaging, and I found it hard to put this book down.
The plot switches from present to past, but in a constructed way that's easy to follow and understand. I honestly didn't have a favorite part, as both the past and present had vital clues to the depth of Griffin's suffering and what the current state of the world was, especially how normal people were changed.
This was a great and unique zombie world , and I'll gladly be continuing this series. I highly recommend giving it a try!
This is my first time reading something by DeVivo and I just have to say wow, what a stellar zombie read!
The Altered focuses on Griffin, your average high schooler. He's got a bratty little sister, an annoying friend, and a massive crush on the alluring Lana Anderson. That is, until the world changed and people became flesh-eating monsters. Griffin has woken up after months of roaming the streets as one of those ghouls, but thanks to an experimental treatment he's become 'altered'. What does this mean for him, and what happened to the world in all that time? As Griffin recalls his chilling recent past, he discovers just how far he's gone and how far he has to go in this changed world.
I don't always see eye to eye with character-focused novels, but this one was expertly handled.
Griffin is a great MC. He's relatable as he was before and during the chaos, but his 'altered' status in the present makes him something of an enigma. He has this intriguing clashing duality between his conscious self and his zombie side that made every chapter engaging, and I found it hard to put this book down.
The plot switches from present to past, but in a constructed way that's easy to follow and understand. I honestly didn't have a favorite part, as both the past and present had vital clues to the depth of Griffin's suffering and what the current state of the world was, especially how normal people were changed.
This was a great and unique zombie world , and I'll gladly be continuing this series. I highly recommend giving it a try!
April 29, 2020
The Altered by Maria DeVivo
Where to begin? This book is a new, unique way of looking into the "zombie" infections. (Zombie in quotes because these infected are not dead. The dead actually do not become infected.) In this retelling a doctor has developed and instituted a cure. The novel follows the path of one of the infected, Griffin King, as he undergoes the process of re-assimilation.
This is a really well plotted, well written book written from Griffin's POV. It is a really fascinating one-sitting read. Seriously, I could not put it down. I was spell-bound. The characterization is delightfully imperfect, as zombies should be, and the editing is just slightly left of perfect. I read everything and this one will really stay with me. I recommend it as a NA read as some parts are a bit gross.
Where to begin? This book is a new, unique way of looking into the "zombie" infections. (Zombie in quotes because these infected are not dead. The dead actually do not become infected.) In this retelling a doctor has developed and instituted a cure. The novel follows the path of one of the infected, Griffin King, as he undergoes the process of re-assimilation.
This is a really well plotted, well written book written from Griffin's POV. It is a really fascinating one-sitting read. Seriously, I could not put it down. I was spell-bound. The characterization is delightfully imperfect, as zombies should be, and the editing is just slightly left of perfect. I read everything and this one will really stay with me. I recommend it as a NA read as some parts are a bit gross.
January 2, 2025
This is a refreshing take on the usual zombie apocalypse horror novel, and I read it in a single sitting.
Griffin is a high school senior living an ordinary life until he is bitten by one of the 'infected'. Under the grip of the virus that's sweeping through the population, Griffin becomes another flesh-eating zombie with no thought or consciousness.
But Griffin's story doesn't end here! Scientists have created an antiserum for the virus, and Griffin is one of the 'ex-infecteds' who has been deemed cured.
Follow Griffin's story to see:
- How being cured doesn't change what you were.
- How the altered ex-infecteds seek to re-integrate back into society and the functioning world.
- How a wronged minority seeks redemption.
This is a great read that not only portrays the virus outbreak and human reaction, the horror and gore of infected beings feasting on flesh, but the reality and challenges of reintegrating of the Altered back into the post apocalyptic world.
I enjoyed this read and look forward to the next two books in this series.
*I received an advance reader copy for free, and I'm voluntarily leaving a review*
Griffin is a high school senior living an ordinary life until he is bitten by one of the 'infected'. Under the grip of the virus that's sweeping through the population, Griffin becomes another flesh-eating zombie with no thought or consciousness.
But Griffin's story doesn't end here! Scientists have created an antiserum for the virus, and Griffin is one of the 'ex-infecteds' who has been deemed cured.
Follow Griffin's story to see:
- How being cured doesn't change what you were.
- How the altered ex-infecteds seek to re-integrate back into society and the functioning world.
- How a wronged minority seeks redemption.
This is a great read that not only portrays the virus outbreak and human reaction, the horror and gore of infected beings feasting on flesh, but the reality and challenges of reintegrating of the Altered back into the post apocalyptic world.
I enjoyed this read and look forward to the next two books in this series.
*I received an advance reader copy for free, and I'm voluntarily leaving a review*
December 20, 2022
The Altered is a fresh take on the zombie mythos. It is a quick and engrossing read and I am RELIEVED to find out that there are two more books in the series.
April 6, 2022
There is just something about author Maria DeVivo's writing that manages to suck you into her story. You start reading and you don't want to stop until it's finished.
This is the second book of hers that I've read, the first being her newest release, "Witch of the Black Circle ". In both stories, Maria created a main character that you could somehow relate to and understand. Then, at the same time, there are parts of these very same people that are beyond your experiences, beyond your comprehension and are therefore, unrelatable.
In this book, the main character, Griffin (patient 24) is your average 17 year old high school kid. A teen living with his parents and 9 year old baby sister, just wanting to be normal. He wanted to hang out with his best friend Josh, drive his car (and stay off the dreaded yellow bus) and pursue his high school dream girl, Lana.
His life, and the world around him changes dramatically when suddenly the people he knew begin hunting their family, friends and neighbors. While moaning, some run, some walk, but all pursue other humans to tear apart and devour.
Griffin, a victim of a poisonous bite by one of the hunters, soon finds himself with an unsatiable hunger for flesh. He is taken in by a facility hoping to rehabilitate and reassimilate Griffin and those like him back into society with the use of an injectable cure and therapy. Through therapy, Griffin realizes he was the only person bitten that not only remembers everything that he did but he also had remorse for his actions.
Can someone who did something very wrong(due to illness that was not his fault) and did so for survival and with great remorse, be rehabilitated and returned to society? Will there be any relapses?Can society accept him again after what he did? Can he survive on the outside without the facility's protection? All of these questions came to mind when thinking about Griffin and his possible life beyond being bitten. Interestingly enough, (and in my opinion) they are questions that can relate to many kinds of life's "prisoners" outside of this story as well.
The Altered contains some gore regarding both humans and animals, but is not overdone. It is not some mindless "zombie" story with endless amounts of blood and guts. It is a story of survival told from the "zombie's" point of view and how those around him deal with (and view)the crisis at hand.
I gave The Altered 5⭐️.
Author Maria DeVivo sent me a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.
This is the second book of hers that I've read, the first being her newest release, "Witch of the Black Circle ". In both stories, Maria created a main character that you could somehow relate to and understand. Then, at the same time, there are parts of these very same people that are beyond your experiences, beyond your comprehension and are therefore, unrelatable.
In this book, the main character, Griffin (patient 24) is your average 17 year old high school kid. A teen living with his parents and 9 year old baby sister, just wanting to be normal. He wanted to hang out with his best friend Josh, drive his car (and stay off the dreaded yellow bus) and pursue his high school dream girl, Lana.
His life, and the world around him changes dramatically when suddenly the people he knew begin hunting their family, friends and neighbors. While moaning, some run, some walk, but all pursue other humans to tear apart and devour.
Griffin, a victim of a poisonous bite by one of the hunters, soon finds himself with an unsatiable hunger for flesh. He is taken in by a facility hoping to rehabilitate and reassimilate Griffin and those like him back into society with the use of an injectable cure and therapy. Through therapy, Griffin realizes he was the only person bitten that not only remembers everything that he did but he also had remorse for his actions.
Can someone who did something very wrong(due to illness that was not his fault) and did so for survival and with great remorse, be rehabilitated and returned to society? Will there be any relapses?Can society accept him again after what he did? Can he survive on the outside without the facility's protection? All of these questions came to mind when thinking about Griffin and his possible life beyond being bitten. Interestingly enough, (and in my opinion) they are questions that can relate to many kinds of life's "prisoners" outside of this story as well.
The Altered contains some gore regarding both humans and animals, but is not overdone. It is not some mindless "zombie" story with endless amounts of blood and guts. It is a story of survival told from the "zombie's" point of view and how those around him deal with (and view)the crisis at hand.
I gave The Altered 5⭐️.
Author Maria DeVivo sent me a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.
October 23, 2025
The Altered by Maria DeVivo is one of those books that completely took me by surprise. I picked it up expecting a post apocalyptic zombie thriller, but what I got was so much more an emotional and deeply human story about guilt, redemption, and what it really means to start over when the world (and you) are forever changed.
Griffin King is such a compelling protagonist. At first, he’s just a normal teenager with everyday problems annoying family, a best friend who tests his patience, and a crush he can’t have. Then everything falls apart when the virus hits. Watching his transformation both into the infected and then into one of “the Altered” is both heartbreaking and fascinating. The way DeVivo captures his internal struggle between the monster he was and the human he’s trying to become is absolutely gut wrenching.
What really sets this book apart is the emotional realism. It’s not just about surviving the apocalypse it’s about what comes after. The tension of being cured but still hated, feared, and labeled as “other” felt so real and eerily relevant. The social commentary on prejudice and second chances is powerful without ever feeling forced.
The pacing is tight, the dialogue feels authentic, and the world-building is vivid without being overdone. You can feel the exhaustion, the fear, and the flickers of hope that keep the characters moving forward. The story balances horror, heart, and humanity in a way that sticks with you long after the last page.
I honestly didn’t expect to feel this much for a book about the aftermath of infection but Griffin’s journey is unforgettable. It’s dark, raw, and ultimately hopeful.
If you love stories that mix horror and heart, with real emotional depth and moral complexity, The Altered is a must-read. Maria DeVivo didn’t just write a post-apocalyptic story she wrote a mirror to what makes us human.
Griffin King is such a compelling protagonist. At first, he’s just a normal teenager with everyday problems annoying family, a best friend who tests his patience, and a crush he can’t have. Then everything falls apart when the virus hits. Watching his transformation both into the infected and then into one of “the Altered” is both heartbreaking and fascinating. The way DeVivo captures his internal struggle between the monster he was and the human he’s trying to become is absolutely gut wrenching.
What really sets this book apart is the emotional realism. It’s not just about surviving the apocalypse it’s about what comes after. The tension of being cured but still hated, feared, and labeled as “other” felt so real and eerily relevant. The social commentary on prejudice and second chances is powerful without ever feeling forced.
The pacing is tight, the dialogue feels authentic, and the world-building is vivid without being overdone. You can feel the exhaustion, the fear, and the flickers of hope that keep the characters moving forward. The story balances horror, heart, and humanity in a way that sticks with you long after the last page.
I honestly didn’t expect to feel this much for a book about the aftermath of infection but Griffin’s journey is unforgettable. It’s dark, raw, and ultimately hopeful.
If you love stories that mix horror and heart, with real emotional depth and moral complexity, The Altered is a must-read. Maria DeVivo didn’t just write a post-apocalyptic story she wrote a mirror to what makes us human.
January 25, 2026
This book completely surprised me in the best way possible. What begins as a familiar zombie apocalypse setup quickly evolves into a thoughtful, emotionally charged story about identity, guilt, and what it truly means to survive after the world has already ended.
Griffin King is an instantly relatable protagonist. Before the outbreak, his life is painfully normal: annoying family dynamics, awkward friendships, and the ache of unrequited love. That grounding makes his transformation all the more devastating. When he becomes infected and loses himself to hunger, the horror isn’t just in the violence, it’s in the loss of agency, memory, and humanity. The author does a brilliant job of making those months of infection feel heavy and unsettling, even when Griffin himself can’t fully remember them.
The real heart of the story begins after the cure. Instead of focusing on the collapse of civilization, the novel explores the aftermath what happens when the monsters come back human, but not quite the same. Griffin’s struggle to live with what he’s done, to face the fear and hatred of the uninfected, and to accept that he’ll never fully be who he was before is powerful and heartbreaking.
The concept of the “Altered” is especially compelling. In a world where traditional divisions no longer matter, being formerly infected becomes the ultimate stigma. The social commentary is sharp without being heavy handed, and the emotional weight of Griffin’s isolation and shame lingers long after you close the book.
This isn’t just a post apocalyptic novel it’s a story about accountability, forgiveness, and rebuilding an identity when your past is unforgivable. It’s raw, humane, and unexpectedly hopeful. I couldn’t put it down, and it left me thinking long after the final page.
Griffin King is an instantly relatable protagonist. Before the outbreak, his life is painfully normal: annoying family dynamics, awkward friendships, and the ache of unrequited love. That grounding makes his transformation all the more devastating. When he becomes infected and loses himself to hunger, the horror isn’t just in the violence, it’s in the loss of agency, memory, and humanity. The author does a brilliant job of making those months of infection feel heavy and unsettling, even when Griffin himself can’t fully remember them.
The real heart of the story begins after the cure. Instead of focusing on the collapse of civilization, the novel explores the aftermath what happens when the monsters come back human, but not quite the same. Griffin’s struggle to live with what he’s done, to face the fear and hatred of the uninfected, and to accept that he’ll never fully be who he was before is powerful and heartbreaking.
The concept of the “Altered” is especially compelling. In a world where traditional divisions no longer matter, being formerly infected becomes the ultimate stigma. The social commentary is sharp without being heavy handed, and the emotional weight of Griffin’s isolation and shame lingers long after you close the book.
This isn’t just a post apocalyptic novel it’s a story about accountability, forgiveness, and rebuilding an identity when your past is unforgivable. It’s raw, humane, and unexpectedly hopeful. I couldn’t put it down, and it left me thinking long after the final page.
May 26, 2020
THE ALTERED, a YA psychological horror novel, is the first book that I have read by Maria DeVivo, and it’s one I thoroughly enjoyed—though the timing of reading this book during an actual viral pandemic was a constant reminder of the reality we’re all living in currently, DeVivo’s take on the Zombie apocalypse was a much-needed distraction.
‘This isn’t life. This is just existing. And right now, I’m not so sure if I want to exist like this.[…]controlling something inside of me I fear is never going to go away for as long as I continue to exist. ‘Cause I’m different now. Marked. Altered.’
Thank you, Maria DeVivo and Solstice Publishing, for providing an eBook of THE ALTERED in exchange for an honest review.
‘This isn’t life. This is just existing. And right now, I’m not so sure if I want to exist like this.[…]controlling something inside of me I fear is never going to go away for as long as I continue to exist. ‘Cause I’m different now. Marked. Altered.’
Thank you, Maria DeVivo and Solstice Publishing, for providing an eBook of THE ALTERED in exchange for an honest review.
February 12, 2025
Wow! What a start! This is book 1 of a 3 book series. We follow Griffin throughout this book and get a sense of how he came to be Altered and how that is affecting his recovery efforts. My assumption is that book 2 will pick up where book 1 ended.
This story has 24 chapters in it and is very fast moving. The sessions with Graves were some of the slower moving scenes but not slow overall. I felt the author did a really good job of keeping the storyline moving.
I do hope that we find out what happened to his dad since he’s the one character that’s really important to Griffin, besides Lana of course but she’s been nothing more than a high school crush so not sure she’s important to the rest of the story but I guess we shall see.
4 stars
This story has 24 chapters in it and is very fast moving. The sessions with Graves were some of the slower moving scenes but not slow overall. I felt the author did a really good job of keeping the storyline moving.
I do hope that we find out what happened to his dad since he’s the one character that’s really important to Griffin, besides Lana of course but she’s been nothing more than a high school crush so not sure she’s important to the rest of the story but I guess we shall see.
4 stars
January 19, 2024
An unconventional zombie book!
The Altered is unlike any other zombie story I have read, giving me a new perspective. It has an engaging storyline that will keep you guessing what the outcome will be in the end. Nicely written and easy to follow. The author does a beautiful job keeping your interest without having much gore, typically found in other zombie apocalypse books. It's a must-read for horror fans.
The Altered is unlike any other zombie story I have read, giving me a new perspective. It has an engaging storyline that will keep you guessing what the outcome will be in the end. Nicely written and easy to follow. The author does a beautiful job keeping your interest without having much gore, typically found in other zombie apocalypse books. It's a must-read for horror fans.
December 27, 2024
An intriguing and interesting take on a zombie story. Griffin is a high school senior who is bitten by the infected and becomes a flesh eating monster. After being given a serum by scientists, he becomes an altered and accepted as cured. We deal with how the altered are and will be reintegrated into society. Loved Griffin as a character. Lookin forward to the next book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 19, 2025
An exciting and unique premise: a human-turned-zombie-turned-human again struggling through the reassimilation program. The voice is fast-paced and engaging. Griffin is both likable and deeply relatable in his regret. The story balances humor, horror, and emotion, as he comes to terms with what he’s done and what he still might become.
I can’t wait to read the rest of this trilogy!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I can’t wait to read the rest of this trilogy!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 14, 2020
The Altered is one book you won't want to put down. It starts off with a bang, and is well paced. You get drawn in before you even realize it's happening, and before you know it hours have passed! A brilliant twist on the typical zombie story, I highly recommend this to zombie and horror lovers alike.
February 3, 2025
This was a fantastic start to this series, it had that element that I was looking for from the description. The characters were everything that I was hoping for and worked with this world. I'm excited for more in the Altered Experience series as this was really well done.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 13, 2020
Yes! The zombie book I've been waiting for!
I'm not good at reviewing books at all but I know this, you need to read this book. This is exactly what I have been looking for in a zombie horror book! I couldn't put it down.
I'm not good at reviewing books at all but I know this, you need to read this book. This is exactly what I have been looking for in a zombie horror book! I couldn't put it down.
February 12, 2020
Unique twist on the zombie apocalypse. If you wondering what it's like to be a zombie, look no further and pick up this book today. Loved all of the twists!
August 25, 2025
I absolutely loved this book! I loved hearing Griffin’s story of survival, hearing how we got to where he was, and learning about the altered from his point of view. The altered was easily a 5/5, I am so excited for book 2! I highly recommend if you enjoy
Books that keep you on the edge of your seat with an almost “walking dead” vibe, but it’s in own unique way.
Books that keep you on the edge of your seat with an almost “walking dead” vibe, but it’s in own unique way.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews