Morning Light

by Jessi Tayylor

Lose my mind, infect innocents, and evolve into a monster. That’s my future if I don’t get off this zombie-infested island.

In the year 2531, the island where I live is a tourist destination funded by the government… until my world, my home and everything on the island, turns upside down.

I’m Alex Carter, a nineteen-year-old girl just trying to get by when I’m exposed to an unknown infection and knocked out in a terrible accident, it felt like things couldn’t get worse. Until they did.

Now, I’m trapped on the island as strangers and people I know succumb to the infection and become mindless zombies determined to spread the virus. With no other option, I join a group of survivors who I barely trust, and we do our best to work together. But moral lines blur and our brutal instincts take over as we fight for survival.

Even if I miraculously escape, I may still leave the island a monster.

351 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 26, 2024

About the author

I'm an aspiring indie author who works by day and writes at night.

Works
Aug 2024 - Morning Light
Jan 2025 - Ink Trails: The Road to Writing my Debut Novel
May 2025 - Fate of the Flawed (co-author)

Coming Soon:
Laws and Lies

Reviews

[Joanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars for me.

Alex after accident, wake up and the world she knew is gone. Unknow infection changed people into zombies, and every day is a survival. Being stranded on island,with others who don't trust each other is hard, but then zombies seems to evolve which make them more dangerous, and staying alive harder. Getting out from island it's the only way, and time is running out.

Will Alex finally will be safe?
Will her travelling companion survive?

It was a good zombie read, and the ending ...what? Can't wait for second book.

Thank you booksprout and publisher for copy.

[Trinity Waddell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book over three nights and would have done it in 1 night if it wasn't already 1am!! This was exciting, fast-paced, and full of action. I'm a big zombie book fan, and I loved that this was quite different to the norm. I enjoyed the evolving aspect and also how the characters evolved throughout as well. Alex was an interesting character and loved how she grew throughout. Sienna was very cool. I love kick ass females in a story!!

[The Book Ssirren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super cool book! Loved that it was set so far into the future. Takes place on an island that kept things 21st century looking. How cool is that? Got some killer zombies going on.
Alex is determined she's going to live. Nothing is going to get in her way as she tries to eradicate the zombies with people she barely knows.
Really cool character development and awesome story.

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

[Ellee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, it was
interesting & an insane wild ride.
I loved that even though it's set in
the year 2531, that it takes place on
an island, far from everything, and
that it loves to preserve everything
from the 21st century. It was highly
addictive, page turner, and there was
so much action. I have questions, so
many of them, especially towards the
end... about Alex, everyone, and
everything. I really hope to see more of this world and the people that survived at the end.

[Anita Hofer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like this story.

[Soggypotato · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sienna exists and that for me is enough ✨But I still haven't forgotten the authors betrayal 😭

[Joseph]

I am not a fan of fiction book but this one got my attention. What a wonderful suspense story. It is a great book to read looking forward for book 2.😊😊😊

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did really enjoy this! A good YA, apocalyptic adventure, with an interesting storyline. I did like the main character, not too much angst which is great for this type of story. Good pace, some action & I do really want to see if there will be more in this story. A good fun read!

[Samuel Leung · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can really tell that the author took a lot of love and care to craft this story. Amazing read; you won't be disappointed giving this a read.

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book to be not just intriguingly though different in a way that made you want to keep reading!!
It was a great read that was full of suspense where I was definitely taken on an unusual, yet interesting adventure. The setting - being in the future was captivating and different, made you think about just how the world. Could. Look in the 21st century. VERY cool!!
LOVE Alex - her character shines and is an interesting one to follow through this adventure with all the development and exciting twists and turns.

[Delilah Snyder · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book was extremely interesting and the plot was good and the characters were written so well absolutely amazing read

[Siha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not my typical read, but I'm glad I had the privilege to read Morning Light, because it was proof that I can enjoy a book that is not my usual go-to genre. I found the setting really interesting: an island where time stays still, even if we are way into the future, which can be immediately guessed by the little details the author sprinkles throughout the book. Alex is a relatable protagonist because who wouldn't feel a little lost if they woke up and found themselves in the middle of a zombie apocalypse? But she doesn't give up and starts fighting for her life, hoping to meet her family again. I liked the theme of found family and how so many characters came together, despite their differences. The book kept me hooked with the mystery of how the zombie apocalypse started and is evolving, but at the same time, I kept reading because I was curious to know more about the characters and how their storyline would progress. By the end of the book, I felt really sold on the premise, and I'm extremely curious to know more. Author, please, don't make me wait too long! So many unanswered questions, and yet an ending that feels right (although my heart still cries for Sienna, which was probably one of my favourite characters overall).
What I appreciated about the book: fast paced, easy to read, compelling storyline and interesting characters. I would 100% recommend. Great job, author!

[Sonya · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book starts with a bang. Imagine it the year 2531 and you and your family live on a tourist island that captures all things 21st century. Imagine waking up late for work every day headed to your job as a messenger all while reports of a flu spreading rapidly; with your job site being the most contaminated. Imagine finishing your deliveries and feeling sick; so sick that you black out only to wake up in your little sister's bedroom with a dry IV bag on the floor.

Welcome to Alexis new normal. Alex is your average 19-year-old going through the daily motions until the unthinkable happens. She awakens at home, barricaded in her little sister's bedroom. What she finds after escaping the room is worse than anything she ever imagined. Corpses lie all up and down the hallway and the stench of death is everywhere. A quick glance out of the window and the pile of rotting corpses catches Alex up really quick to what is going on around her. Zombies have overtaken the Island, and her family and friends are nowhere in sight. So how did she end up barricaded in her sister's room hooked to an IV?

This story has all the makings of a classic zombie story. Virus spreads, infected individuals become blood thirsty monster, cities are decimated, food is scarce, and the survival is the key to life's current existence. It's hard to get attached to characters because in true zombie fashion you lose some members along the way.

How did this happen? Who is responsible? Why hasn't the government stepped in and most importantly, why isn't Alex infected? This story keeps you on your toes. You can really feel the anger, confusion, suspicions and distrust throughout the pages.

Who do you trust when it seems like everybody has something to hide?

How far are you willing to go to find answers?

What happens when your search leads you to more questions than answers?

I'm looking forward to book 2 to see where this journey will take Alexis and friends.

[Christine Choptovy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of the book from Voracious Readers Only. It’s a zombie horror story and I thought it was fantastic! The story is set in the future. Alex is a postal courier going about her day, when she’s hit by a bus. She wakes up in her bed but doesn’t understand why she has bandages and stitches. Imagine her (and my) surprise when she finds out she’s awoken to a zombie apocalypse! She ends up with a group of people who are doing whatever they can to survive. They’re all hoping to find a way off the island they live on, with the hope that the rest of the world hasn’t been infected. They also want to know how the virus was spread and where it originated. They get answers from a real kick ass woman named Sierra. If you want to know more, then you’ll have to read the book. You won’t be disappointed!

[Kerry Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a zombie fan and loved this story. It's fast paced, full of twists and turns and the island settting is really cool. Alex the main character is understandably flawed and has lots of room for character growth. She screws up several times but gradually grows stronger and wiser as the story progresses.
I love the mix of sci-fi elements and zombie tropes which give the story a fresh feel. The other thing I like is the transformation of the zombies from mindless hordes to smart hunters.
If you like the zombie genre, this has all the elements that make up a good zombie novel. A diverse group of characters who bond as they move through a devestated and dangerous landscape towards safety. Lots of conflict from people and zombies, plus betrayal, courage, and sacrifice.
This is the first in a series and ended on a good hook. I'm really looking forward to seeing what happens next!

[Mia Garay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an exciting twist on the typical zombie apocalypse story. From the start, I was hooked by the immersive world-building and the relatable characters. The plot is full of unexpected twists that kept me on the edge of my seat, and I could picture every moment as if I were right there with the characters.
Even though the story begins with the protagonist, Alex, waking up from a coma—a familiar setup in zombie fiction—it makes sense for the story. Instead of it just being a plot device, it allowed me to piece things together with Alex, making the experience even more intense.
Fans of dystopian novels, zombie fiction, and stories centered on found family will enjoy this book. I highly recommend!

[Karlein · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun read, fill with non-stop action, great pacing, and strong themes of survival and resilience. I loved the use of the found family trope in this book, where we see people who are so different and from all walks of life come to together to escape the zombie apocalypse and find family in one another. I also enjoyed the action sequences + fight scenes and learning about the different types of zombies and how dangerous they all are. The lingering mystery about who/what Alex Carter actually is was a fantastic hook from start to end!

[Kat M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jessi Tayylor wrote this well and had that element that I was looking for from the description, the characters had that charm that I was looking for. This was a strong start to the Morning Light series, it had that feel that I was looking for and was engaged with the scifi element. I was glad I got to read this, it left me wanting to read more in this series. It uses the apocalyptic element in this world and had that overall feel that I was looking for and enjoyed about the zombie concept.

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

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received an ARC copy from the author - An action packed novel packed with the emotional threads of survival, what it costs to remain and give up your humanity, and the gritty details of trying to live through a zombie-infested landscape. Though outside my typical fiction reads, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Seeing the world through Alex's eyes, and her attempts at survival, really immersed me into the world and its people. Cannot wait for book 2 in this series.

[Xiomarra Chase · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't sure at first, I don't typically enjoy zombie apocalypse stories, but this book changed my mind. It was a page-turner pretty much from the first page and I couldn't wait to see what happens next! If you like sci-fi and are looking to branch out, definitely consider this one. If you love anything zombie related, the definitely choose this!

10/10 will read again and am patiently waiting for book 2!

[Merzimi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book, lovable characters, interesting story. What does this book not have. I am unable to binge read it and am forced to read it slowly, but every second of wait is worth it, when I read it a little bit more.


My best wishes to the author
May this work of art reach more people and may you reach even greater heights.

[autyrose26 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely enjoyed this book! It was a fast paced action read! I also loved some of the twists and turns that were thrown in there, especially at the end! I was never much into science fiction. However, this book has really helped me want to start branching out into reading more Sci-fi books. You just grabbed my attention and kept me hooked until the end!

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a bit slow to start but once you get into the story it sucks you in. I couldn't put the book down. I loved the entire storyline. This is one of those books you have to read the epilogue or you don't understand the entire story. I will be reading more of Jessi's books as soon as I can.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so confused but in the best way. A great read I struggled to read it in one sitting but was well worth taking my time to read. Can't wait to see what happens next