To the Death

by Melissa Welliver

The Hunger Games meets The Last of Us in this heartstopping YA dystopia Welcome to Blood Island, where the struggle for survival against the bloodthirsty undead is captured on camera for entertainment.

'Welcome back, dystopia. Welliver delivers a razor-sharp assault on life, death and media itself. To the Death doesn't just raise the stakes, it lights them on fire.' - Bill Wood
'Melissa Welliver is redefining dystopia for a whole new generation. To the Death is a riotous, bloodthirsty triumph and her best work yet.' - Cynthia Murphy

When Bloodwatch, the shadowy organisation behind the ever-watchful cameras, descends upon the island to shoot a new high-stakes reality show, Astrid finds herself thrust into the spotlight. The prize at stake? A coveted ticket off the island. Paired with Luke, a risk-taking outsider harbouring secrets of his own, Astrid discovers the perilous costs of winning the adoration of a legion of fans.

Caught in a deadly game where the undead and other contestants close in, Astrid must navigate her developing feelings for Luke and the treacherous terrain of reality TV, where there can be only one winner.

Escaping the past is impossible when the present threatens to devour you.

A heartstopping dystopia, perfect for fans of The Last of Us and The Hunger Games.

More praise for To the Death:
'To the Death is everything fans of The Hunger Games could want - but with much sharper teeth! Prepare for a fast-paced, heart-pounding horror adventure with monsters - both human and not-so-human - lurking around every corner. Buckle up, and let the games begin!' - Kat Ellis
'Fast, fun, and bloodthirsty, To the Death brings the dystopian genre back to life with sharp teeth and cutting commentary on reality TV's hunger for spectacle. Melissa Welliver is on fire, and I can't wait to see what she writes next.' - Kathryn Foxfield
'Perfect for fans of The Hunger Games and The Last of Us, this is a chilling, gory thriller with plenty of bite! Dystopias are back and Melissa Welliver is at the helm.' - Amy McCaw
'To the Death is a wild ride from start to finish - you won't want to put it down. Welliver is in her element and is bringing dystopia back with an epic story of zombie vampires . . . Loved it.' - Naomi Gibson

Genres: Dystopia, Science Fiction

Kindle Edition

Published March 26, 2026

About the author

Melissa Welliver writes speculative fiction about how the End Of The World is never really the end of the world. After studying MA Creative Writing under Jeanette Winterson at the University of Manchester, she went on to complete Curtis Brown Creative’s Writing for Children course. Her work has listed in Bath Novel Award, Mslexia, the Hachette Children’s Novel Award, and the Wells Book for Children Competition. She has been published in two short story collections and is an avid member of the Twitter writing community. Born in Stockport, she now lives in the High Peak with an assortment of doggy friends. The Undying Tower is her first novel.

Reviews

[Steph Hanlon]

A little too on the nose with ‘inspiration’ coming thick and fast. Not for me.

[Karen Barber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blood Island. Home to those who have been quarantined, though we’re never told why. They have a daily battle to survive, fighting against humans known as Pyres. Since the initial moment where this event began, those who live on the island are monitored for the entertainment of those on the mainland. Bloodwatch, the group behind the permanent streaming, are desperate to increase viewing figures…so they concoct a plan for a deadly games.
Touted as the next Hunger Games, there are definitely parallels. However, here the real enemy is the organisation behind things and those involved in the competition are happy enough to pair up if it serves their common purpose. There’s a fairly large cast of characters and though they’re fleshed out a little there’s no real incentive to get further under their skin. The key two - Astrid and Luke - are certainly more fully depicted in order to give us something to root for.
From start to finish this was a fast-paced gore fest. Hard to describe as fun because it really is graphic, and the commentary on our reliance on the media/the impact of surveillance felt quite barbed. However, it’s hard to put down and I can certainly see it becoming a big hit.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review it before publication.

[Mya Tidd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Attack on Titan × Hunger Games × 28 weeks later = this book

[Rianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Huge thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review. I went into To the Death with a pitch that honestly did not come to play: The Hunger Games set in the era of The Last of Us. And listen… I saw the vision immediately. Reality TV survival? Check. Deadly stakes? Check. Zombies? Also check. My expectations? Sky high.

And to be fair, this book is entertaining. It drops you straight onto Blood Island, where contestants fight to survive the undead while being watched like it’s the worst (and most addictive) reality show imaginable. It’s fast-paced, chaotic in that “just one more chapter” kind of way, and not afraid to get a little brutal. There’s tension, there’s drama, there’s alliances that feel about as stable as a house built on quicksand… You can feel the but coming don’t you?

But… here’s where my slightly dramatic reader heart starts pacing. Because that pitch? It set expectations that this story didn’t fully reach. I kept waiting for the world to open up more, to really dig into the mechanics behind Blood Island, the show, the why of it all. Instead, the worldbuilding felt more like a backdrop than a fully realized system. It works, but I wanted depth. I wanted details. I wanted to feel like I could survive there (or, more realistically, understand exactly why I wouldn’t).

The same goes for the characters. Astrid and Luke have an interesting dynamic, and there’s definitely chemistry and tension, but their arcs felt like they were sprinting when I wanted them to linger. I wanted more Katniss and Peeta energy. Give me the messy emotions, the layered growth, the moments that hurt a little before they heal. Instead, some developments felt a bit rushed, especially toward the end, which made certain emotional beats not hit as hard as they could have.

That said, if you’re here for a fast, bingeable dystopian with zombies, betrayals, and a dark edge, this absolutely delivers on the vibes. It’s dramatic, a little ruthless, and very easy to devour in a couple of sittings. I just wish it had gone one step further, deeper into its world and characters, to truly match the brilliance of its concept.

[Rebecca Dee Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was described as The Hunger Games meets The Last of Us so I knew I needed it.

Astrid lives on the Island which is infested with Pyres, zombies if you will. She has no family to speak of, apart from the one she found after everything fell apart

The Mainland does nothing to help the Islanders really, well apart from sending influencer packages and planting camera about....

So when Bloodwatch come over from the Mainland to pitch a new reality show where one islander and one mainlander team up to be last team standing... Astrid doesn't have a choice but to compete (literally).

Teamed up with Luke she has to figure out what is real and not real, and who the real enemy is (see what I did there...)

Definitely vibes of the Hunger Games with the overarching show affecting a small part of the population specifically whilst the privileged just watch. The forced pair together is also quite reminiscent.

The zombies in this I would say made me think more of the game Days Gone with the hordes, very creepy.

Really enjoyed this, a new and interesting twist on the dystopian genre.... I just need more now.

Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette/Fodder for the review copy. All opinions my own.

[Katie_thebookslayer · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️- I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Another absolutely incredible YA dystopian story by Melissa! One that captured me from the very start!

This vampire/zombie breed called ‘Pyres’ were intense to say the least. With gore and grit and grief and incredible bonds, I couldn’t get enough.

This was really well written and an easy story to follow with loveable and equally loathable characters scattered throughout.

With an ending like this one, I’m waiting on the edge of my seat to hear if we will go back to see what’s next for Astrid and Luke… 👀

It’s out next week on the 26th!

[Chloë · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really really fun - exciting, gory, adrenaline filled and brutal. The only criticism I have is that I only felt a surface level connection with the characters so I wasn’t rooting for the romance at all. I did really love the friendships though!

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

To the Death is promoted as Hunger Games meets The Last of Us and I can definitely see influences of both at the core of this story. This dystopian tale follows Astrid who is surviving on an island where there was an outbreak of some sort and bloodthirsty, undead creatures are now a constant threat. As she is just trying to survive, the mainland is watching everything as entertainment via camera's that have been set up all over the island. When viewing numbers are dwindling, they come up with the idea of a reality show competition in which islanders are paired with mainlanders and have to fight their way through different challenges until only one of the pairs survives. All of this, for a ticket off the island.

What a fun and compelling read! Astrid's story was thrilling from start to finish. This combined with Welliver's easy writing style kept me turning pages until there were sadly no more left. It's been quite a while since I enjoyed a dystopian book this much. I think the mystery of what this undead outbreak is and how the logic of it works was really interesting. The element of the greedy big corporations who are only out for viewers and making more money without any regard for people's lives was very unsettling to read as it really feels like this would be a plausible outcome when something like this would happen in our own world (or maybe I'm just too pessimistic).

All of the characters throughout this story were very much their own person. At the beginning some of them will feel a lot like stereotypes, but they all get thoroughly fleshed out throughout this journey and their facades often have a good reason behind them. Most of these contestants are definitely not friends, but it was great to see some of them put their differences aside and bond over their hate for the Bloodwork network. I especially enjoyed how Astrid and Luke's histories and motivations were explored. I also have a thing for science, so I couldn't help but root for the nerdy researcher during his time on the show.

Overall I found To the Death to be a fast-paced, high stakes story with layered characters, relentless tension with unsettling social commentary. I'm not sure if this will just be a standalone or if more books are coming that follow the aftermath, but I'm definitely still intrigued to see what's next.

I was lucky enough to win a proof copy of this book at YALC. Thank you to teambkmrk for the chance to read this early.

[Cat Treadwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

YA dystopia? Televised survival trials? Zombies? Seen it all…?

Except not like this, you haven’t!

‘To the Death’ is being called ‘The Hunger Games’ meets ‘The Last of Us’, which is true up to a point - but I’d add a hefty dose of ‘28 Days Later’ in there as well. This is a very contained British post-apocalypse, where an island (I’m guessing akin to the Isle of Wight?) has become its own Alcatraz for those infected by a zombie virus, together with those who were unfortunate enough to be there when everything went literally to hell.

It’s only eight years later, but a giant media corporation has decided to monetise this tiny zombie-land, with Islanders and Mainlanders competing to win a ticket off and a large chunk of cash, respectively. Plus all the fame that comes with being a reality TV star.

This is survival of the fittest indeed, but as ‘viewers’ ourselves, we must also decide who to root for. The psycho influencer, the Alpha Male jock… and the regular people who could be anyone we know in this world, of varied ages, jobs and motivations.

And protagonist Astrid, fighting for the sake of her island community and as vengeance for those who’ve refused to rescue the humans all this time, utilising them purely for ratings and rewards.

This is an incredibly fast-paced action thriller of a book, never shying away from the reality of what battling through a decrepit zombie-infested world would look like, and also asking ‘what if’ a money-hungry corporation felt that it could do this… would it? ‘Survivor’ with a body count. Remember right at the end of ‘Shaun of the Dead’ where this was happening on normal TV…?

What makes ‘To the Death’ stand out is how smart and honest it is. This is a book about holding on to one’s humanity, and examining just what we might do in such a scenario. It pulls from the best of similar tales gone before and crafts a world where this is entirely believable. The villains are ‘just doing their jobs’, killers ‘just trying to survive.’ But no matter how much everyone justifies it to themselves, it’s never that clear cut when it’s life or death.

The romance angle isn’t overdone (phew!) and while I did guess some of the twists, the plot hurtles along so quickly that it’s impossible not to be surprised at the directions is takes, especially in the final third. We sprint to an immensely satisfying conclusion with enough threads left for a sequel - which I’m entirely here for!

A fantastically enjoyable spin on familiar themes that will leave any horror fan thirsty for more.

I was kindly sent an early copy of this book by the publisher, but the above opinions are entirely my own.

[Katy Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brutal zombie/death match saga with contemporary messages, graphic content.

Comparisons to the Hunger Games are justified. There are similarities with some characters, plotlines and definitely the violence and younger protagonists. This was a blood-filled (literally) YA-suitable dark dystopic story that takes the idea one step further.

Eight years ago an island near the mainline was quarantined after humans began turning into Pyres - zombies with vampiric qualities by another name - that have decimated the population and caused the remaining communities to survive by their wiles amongst nightly hungry predators.

But it doesn't end there. Oh no. Not only has the mainland stopped residents of the island from leaving and escaping to mainland safety but they have set up cameras and a long-running TV show documenting the everyday battles and deaths for the entertainment of their own languishing citizens. And now failing ratings means they need to up the ante...

And so Escape from Blood Island is born. With island residents picked by viewers to team up with willing mainlanders in a series of challenges that will see one pairing win money and a way off the island. All televised. All plotted for maximum viewing figures and maximum blood loss.

Islanders such as Astrid don't really have a choice. Without the promised supplies to her beloved Burgh community, they'll likely not last long. So she's less than willing and determined to win. Not unlike a selection of other islanders, some old some young.

Paired with mainlanders to the death, Astrid has a following, a reputation and quickly learns that popularity is going to help her and partner Luke as much as killing Pyres. Disgusted by what's required, not trusting her secretive partner, wary of other contestants, she'll need to open up and team up if they are in with a chance of winning, after all - their lives are at stake.

Satirical dystopia, incredibly violent (quite descriptive so do be warned!), lots of characters you will enjoy hating, and a very visual story that will play well someday on a screen, I predict.

Love the backstory we discover and the forward-looking story that could end here or continue with another episode.

Great for teens who like a bit of horror with their thrills, and adults will take to this too. Love the Pyres, who are a great combination of attributes and possible evolving features. Love the human contestants who have some truly awful specimens as well as lovable examples (a deaf girl! an Influencer!). Luke grew on me. And I DO want to know what happens next.

With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.

[The Rose Lectory · Rating 4 out of 5]

What are we actually willing to watch for entertainment?

“𝗜𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗮 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻. 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗶𝘁, 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻”

Introducing…Escape from Blood Island! A brutal televised show where contestants must fight through waves of the undead for a chance at freedom. Except the island is real. The zombie apocalypse is real. The contestants are real survivors of an ongoing zombie apocalypse, and the audience is absolutely glued to the carnage.

That premise alone is instantly gripping. It’s violent, chaotic, and completely addictive. But beneath all the gore and spectacle, Melissa is very clearly side-eyeing our obsession with fame, voyeurism, and turning real suffering into consumable content.

From the first few chapters, the pacing is ferocious. There’s barely a second to breathe as Astrid, the FMC, fights her way through the island, dealing with the undead, but with the constant pressure of being watched. Every move is strategic. Every mistake could be fatal…and televised.

What I loved most about Astrid is that her motivations are personal, messy, and sometimes selfish, which makes her morally grey decisions way more compelling. You might not always agree with her, but you understand her.
And then there’s Luke. Their budding relationship never takes over the story but develops under insane pressure, so it’s messy, believable, and at times heartbreaking.
The side characters are sharp and memorable too. Mills especially gave me serious Cato vibes from The Hunger Games. That same dangerous, volatile energy that makes you nervous every time they’re on the page. Cinta was another character that stood out to me, she’s completely unpredictable and was just as much of a threat as the undead.

This book was absolutely amazing.
It’s giving The Hunger Games x 28 Days Later x The Walking Dead, survival horror meets dystopian spectacle with a dose of social commentary.
To the Death is pointed about reality TV and audience complicity. It shows you the brutality and leaves you wondering why people are watching it in the first place.
Brutal. Fast-paced. Unapologetically intense.
I cannot wait to find out what happens next!

“𝗪𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗻 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲….”

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author and publishers for giving me an early copy of this book! All opinions are my own.

WOOOOWWWWW. What a book. It certainly is The Hunger Games meets Last of Us. There’s a sprinkle of Battle Royale and The Walking Dead in there too!! I’ve been loving dystopian novels recently and this one is up there as one of my favourites.

There’s undertones of the book that feel really reminiscent to how the world actually is right now. We have the ‘tourists’, the privileged, spoiled and out of touch crew, paired with ‘islanders’ who have been ostracised from society and left to build their own communities. I don’t want to delve too much into politics but the way this book addresses classism is truly amazing. Some may read it simply as a dystopian novel used to escape reality, but I really appreciate the lesson underneath that too. The message this book gives is that we should all have hope, and how kindness where we can. Plus, it leans a lot into the ‘found family’ trope which I adore!

The setting is exciting and thrilling, and I love that we have no idea what is going to happen next. Every chapter got better and better, and where the book finishes set up for a follow up (I’m just saying I’d be down for that 👀). It was really easy to get absorbed into this book. I literally finished it in less than 24 hours cause it’s one of those books you just want to keep reading and find out more. It was a great balance both of plot and character development/exploration.

This book gave me chills and filled me with adrenaline. Zombie-like creatures, a reality show, and a hunky calm natured man? I am sold 😍

I couldn’t put this book down. It was electrifying and exciting and I’m so thankful I had the opportunity to read this! I’m definitely saving space on my bookshelf for a copy of this book. Thank you Melissa for blessing my life with this book! 🥰

Rating: 5/5 stars (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)

[Sifa Poulton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the publisher in preparation for a UKYASpotlight interview. It has not affected my opinions.

TO THE DEATH is the start of a dystopian series with zombies.

The pitch for the book is "THE HUNGER GAMES meets The Last of Us". I've never seen/played the latter, so I'd say "THE HUNGER GAMES with zombies" - either way, you have a televised game show in a dystopian world, but instead of it being (primarily) the other contestants to worry about, there are zombies. Oh, and the audience can vote on favourites and there are packages sent in.

It's unjust, gory, and all to believable, the hallmarks of a good dystopia with horror elements. The contest is brutal, deliberately pitching the contestants against the pyres (the zombies of this world) - and hoping that there will be televised deaths. The most brutal parts are not the zombie pile-ons, but the calculated deaths from the organiser.

There is a high body count in this tale and Melissa Welliver does a good job at making you feel something with them. There are the emotional deaths because you've formed a connection to the characters (the third trial is a good example of this). Some are shocking in how cold they are, reinforcing the idea that, while the zombies are a threat, they are not the villains.

Dystopia asks very overt questions about our society, and the question here is the price we are willing to pay for entertainment. What are the consequences of the shows we watch and how far are those corporations willing to go for profit? Hopefully we don't have a zombie outbreak, but we are televising horrors more and more (the current conflicts are on our screens constantly) - and getting desensitised to it.

There is a sequel coming! It's in a year's time, but there's more adventures (or horrors, depending on how you look at it) for Astrid and the others. I certainly have some questions about the future I want answered.

[Yen · Rating 3 out of 5]

a super fast paced zombie survival - exactly as advertised!

this takes place on an island that has been abandoned by the mainland after several failed attempts to contain the zombies. whilst survivors fend for themselves, the mainland brought in cameras to study the zombies, eventually broadcasting the happenings of the island. this evolves into a very crude form of 'entertainment' and the introduction of a twisted game show where the last person alive gets a ticket off the island.

the concepts explored in this book were nothing new, yet it was still so uniquely entertaining, with so much to enjoy: from the myriad characters and their motivations, the way the survivors on the island have adapted to life, and the machinations and cruelty of the games. it very easy to read and super fast paced without any dull moments.

sadly, I do think the fast pacing affected how potentially impactful the story and messaging could've been - with so much happening, the characters and their decisions or revelations aren't really dwelled upon or fully explored. it's also definitely aimed at a younger audience, with lots of telling and not as much showing.

the main characters were easy to root for, especially Astrid, the main POV, who proves to be a natural leader and survivor. however, about 20 characters get introduced in the span of a few chapters and, whilst I get that it's a survival game and that they'll likely all die soon, it was still quite confusing and a little overwhelming. I also wasn't so keen on the insta-romance subplot and really thought there'd be more to it.

this was a fun variation on zombies, and I really enjoyed reading it. it was phenomenally fast paced though, with a whirlwind of an ending that left me feeling sort of whiplashed - I think it would've been stronger as a longer book or even a duology.

thank you to NetGalley, Hachette Children's Group | Hodder Children's Books, and Melissa Welliver for this eArc in exchange for my honest review!

[Lady IMO · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of spoilers

I felt the same way about this book as I did about Matthew Reilly’s Great Zoo of China. Violent, graphic and disgusting but too unrealistic to bother me as much as it could. Bloodwatch was so awful that how the Islanders didn’t kill Cresta and Nova on set was beyond me. How some mainlanders were convinced to compete was beyond me to. Doing it for the money would’ve made more sense than most of their reasons. Edric fighting feral vampires to be a better actor was particularly stupid. He reminded me of that Futurama episode where Calculon did a literal death scene to win an acting competition and lost anyway. Though how Edric died was still bull%#$. I actually liked the mainlander competitors more than I thought I would. They were decent people and I was upset when they died. They didn’t deserve that but the fact remains that unlike the Islanders they could’ve avoided it.

Though I loved the teamwork in this book and it was refreshing that apart from Cinta and Mills most of them were good people who fought with honour and didn’t cheat or kill to get ahead. Both which are rare when it comes to death game books. Cinta and Mills lack of honour was nauseating in comparison. Mills was a dick but wasn’t half as competent as Cinta who lost her humanity without becoming a pyre. Bloodwatch should’ve employed her she fit right in. I was also happy the mains weren’t the only survivors. It actually had a surprisingly optimistic ending despite how gritty it was. I wanted to hug Noon, Cass and Jupiter when they got out. It was also good that Astrid didn’t kill her zombified dad and sister. Luke communicating her love for them to get them to safety bought me to tears. Showing that there is still hope they can be cured. I caught on that Luke was half pyre pretty quickly but that was the only thing in this book that didn’t surprise me.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

An island has become overrun with thousands of blood thirsty undead called Pyres. The few survivors who are uninfected have mostly gathered together in an abandoned building called “the burgh” to defend themselves each night. This situation has been ongoing for several years. The population of the nearby mainland have abandoned them for fear of the infection spreading and worse, an organisation called Bloodwatch are streaming all these daily battles for survival for the entertainment of those living in safety. When viewing numbers start to drop, they launch a reality show in which islanders are paired with mainlanders to take on a series of “to the death” challenges with the winners having the opportunity to escape the island.
The main character Astrid is an islander who is selected to take part, and she has to leave her found family of survivors and join the other islanders and mainlanders who initially read like a list of stereotypes until their back stories and reasons for taking part are gradually revealed.
Who are the monsters in this story? The legions of undead or the villainous Bloodwatch creators who are trying to control people’s lives or the cold-blooded killers in the competition who are just doing what they need to do to survive? Astrid is willing to see the bigger picture and help her fellow islanders and maybe even try to shake up the order of this dystopian world.
Fans of Hunger Games will love this spin on a familiar dystopian theme which offers fast paced nonstop blood thirsty action.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC

[Lizzi Cowle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like I have a love hate rely with this book, but it's because I love the plot so much and I could really see a potential for a full series out of it if more time was spent on getting to know each character, as well as went more indepth with each scene.

I wanted so badly for this to be a 5 because it really kept me entertained and I wanted to know how it ended, but I'm someone who values character arc and world building so highly in a book, and it felt like this didn't have much of this.

There were deaths in this I feel like would have been heartbreaking if there had just been the time to get to know the characters more.

Yes this was fast paced, but it also felt very rushed to get the plot done, while I think this would have worked best if it was a series that slowly showed you the plot points with the Pyres rather than just tell you about them.

I would have also loved to spend more time with the Burgh before the plot really kicks off so we can really see the world and what it's like.

Because we didn't have an extended time with each character I honestly kept mixing everyone up in my head, other than the main few people you see often.

The biggest ick for me was the use of the word 'influencer'. Made me cringe every time an islander called it that. I wish another word was made up, or used for it. Even if there was a second word used by the none influencers behind their backs as a derogatory name.

[Karin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible

Thank you, NetGalley and Hachette Children's Group, for providing me with an ARC of Melissa Welliver’s, To the Death.

Melissa Welliver’s novels never get tired. Her novels aren’t formulaic, they surprise – in a good way. That’s why, while I’m not a fan of zombie fiction, I requested To the Death. And it’s incredible.

A fast paced dystopian battle to survive, broadcast live, a reality tv gameshow. Astrid, nick named The Executioner, is vulnerable but tough. I love the twists, the story is never predictable. You’ll root for Astrid, wonder what Luke is hiding, and you’ll even feel for the bloodthirsty Pyres. And then there’s the greatest threat of all ... which I’m not going to give away here.

Five stars for Melissa Welliver’s, To the Death, and the novel goes on my ‘Want to read again’ stack.

[Keith E. O. · Rating 2 out of 5]

The plot and blurb were enticing enough but even five pages in I was not feeling it. I got through a nice and even twenty before deciding it was not getting better from there. To prove this to myself, I chose a random page from the late-middle of the book and read the page. Equally bad.

The writing style rubs me the wrong way and the characters feel lazy. I dnf'd this a couple weeks ago so my memory is a bit hazy, but I remember hating just about everything I read. It was SO over-explained and felt too self-aware at times.

I'm sure this book receives this criticism a lot, but it was very unoriginal. It wasn't inspired, and it wasn't an evolution. It was simply a child mixing shampoo and conditioner in the bathroom sink and calling it a new, magic potion. To the Death, for me, felt less like a 'revival of the dystopia genre' and more like poorly strewn together plagiarism of about five different medias.

Read it if you're more easygoing - I guess I'm mad I spent good money on this rather than reading online.

An extra star because anyone who writes and publishes a book deserves *some* credit.

[Niyix · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, this was fun. I picked this one up randomly at a German train station, because it had my favourite ingredients: Dystopia, unethical media-logic, and vampire-zombies. Stir it well and you get a reality tv-series that streams how real people trapped on an island (Blood Island - the name sucks) survive against zombies that come out at night to drink human blood that the people on the safe 'Mainland' watch (with popcorn?) from the comforts of their homes.

It's those people with the possible popcorn that I was missing in the story. Yes, it's entertaining, fast-paced, well-written, and even contains some heart, but I wanted to see a bit beyond the world on Blood Island. The real villains aren't the vampire-zombies, but the "Network" earning money from their deadly struggle. Them we encounter, but who is watching on the other side? Who are the silent enablers? I really hope that the next book will open up this world more. And I think it's a missed chance not having done that at the end of the book. It could even have been a short epilogue.

I give this four stars, because it was exactly what I needed and expected, and the quality surprised me in a positive way.

[Alice Cumming · Rating 4 out of 5]

On an island where your every movement is monitored by cameras and zombie/vampires are around every corner, Astrid has managed to remain out of the public eye for years, until Bloodwatch turn up at her settlement’s front door and gives her an offer she literally cannot refuse. Enter a deadly competition and win a ticket off the island. Battling against Pyres and fellow islanders, can Astrid and her tourist partner from the mainland Luke, make it to the end and finally leave this deadly island?

This was really good! I’ve been searching for more zombie books recently and I stumbled across this one and had to pick it up! It’s fast paced and exciting, I truly didn’t see where the plot would take us. There’s romance, action, blood and gore, friendship: what more could you want?

Someone described it as The Hunger Games meeting The Last of Us and I cannot begin to tell you how accurate this is.

My one critique is Astrid’s inner monologue, calling the violent part of herself a ‘monster’ was getting a little grating near the end but that’s it.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very enjoyable read. I enjoyed the setting from the get-go, as a big fan of dystopian books. The characters were interesting and very likeable. The zombies (Pyres) were different enough from conventional zombies to be interesting. I was invested and entertained throughout.

The only thing I didn't like - and this is purely subjective - was the cliché 'oh, he's so attractive and irresistible from the first time I saw him and I keep getting shy around him even though I'm supposed to be fearing for my life every second of the day' ... I did roll my eyes a little. You have bloodthirsty monsters trying to kill you every night and you have time to blush over a pretty boy smiling at you? I'm not opposed to romance at all, I just would have preferred a slower burn. I also would have preferred a little more of Astrid's life on the Island before the plot kicked in to set the scene a little more and also give me more of an emotional attachment to it.

Overall, though, very enjoyable and I would recommend it to those who like dystopian and zombie stories.

[Beth Knight · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Team BKMRK and Melissa for the ARC.

The marketing posits this as The Last of Us meets The Hunger Games but I'd go for 28 Days Later I get the survival vibes of The Last of Us for the Islanders but the Pyres and the relentless action of Escape From Blood Island are absolutely more 28 Days Later vibes.

I must preface this with, I HATE zombie movies. I watched 28 Days Later through my fingers, watching Dylan Moran get torn apart in flipping Shaun of The Dead gave me nightmares. Every Zombie movie I have ever watched is because someone else made me.

I was therefore slightly apprehensive going into this HOWEVER I knew I could cope with it because of the beautiful way brains can smooth gore into just words.

And it was brilliant. Mel creates an intense and vivid world ravaged by Pyres and the Bloodwatch Corporation. The book is filled with characters you root for, characters you love to hate, and genuinely heartbreaking moments. Astrid is an amazing protagonist with depth and whilst her trauma forged her she develops beyond it learning to embrace everything she is alongside Luke.
I love the way their relationship develops from suspicion to ride or die.

I really hope we get a second book to see how the consequences of the high octane finale spin out.

[Luke Lucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Turn this into a movie, immediately 😩

Marketed as The Hunger Games meets The Last of Us, this one really hit the mark.
A reality TV game show, quite literally to the death.
A post apocalyptic world where infected humans have evolved into blood drinking, flesh eating “Pyres”.
It gave me I Am Legend, World War Z, Squid Games, Maze Runner. Perfection 👏🏻
The pacing is fast, never a dull moment, I saw some things coming but only because they were plotted out really well from the start.
You’ve got pompous characters with the essence of The Capitol from The Hunger Games and you’ve got lovable rogues who’ve been surviving for almost a decade with no aid. A recipe for some fun times.
Astrid has been alone for years and is still coming to terms with the grief but witnessing her learn to trust these outsiders and people she doesn’t know was great.
Also the MMC is called Luke, naturally a winner.

I would genuinely love to see this in the big screen and I can’t wait to continue this story.

[Camilla_Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

To The Death was a complete adrenaline ride! I absolutely love and lap up any and all dystopia, and if it also includes zombie-esque creatures? I am so sold. This was reminiscent of The Hunger Games with its horrendous televised survival competition but also had the added horror factor of Pyres, which genuinely terrified me. You'll find yourself loving FMC Astrid but also rooting for her competitors at the same time - well, at least some of them more than others. Despite guessing the twist very early on, I still loved the way it all played out to its heart-racing conclusion. This was a very cinematic read and I need it to be optioned for a movie immediately, thanks. Also while we're here, can I get book two right now?

[Charlie Lillie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gave this a 2.5. I really wanted to enjoy it more and parts of it I did. The middle section was strongest and I cared about the characters which is important.

But the book focused quite heavily on tell rather than show. The messages were very in your face. The main character was a bit too well informed and angry where it would have been more realistic to see her revolutionized.
I also found the big evil a bit to over the top and evil for the sake of it rather than motivated.

Overall I did enjoy it but probably won't be motivated to continue the series.

[Claire Cobb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This started off a bit slow paced for me but once the trials started it soon picked up into some high octane action. It was a story that features escapism, grief, love and the message I got from reading this book is to not judge yourself too badly. I'm sad for Astrid but also so proud of how far she came into herself during this story, her grief was the monster that pushed her towards getting some justice for the life she has had to live being an islander and for her family. I honestly cant wait for book 2 next year.

[Elle Cheshire · Rating 4 out of 5]

To Death blends zombie movies with reality tv in an explosive fast past high entertaining read! Set on a island overrun with Pyres (zombies), the survivors live in small settlements or in the forest trying to just live another day as they are forced to endlessly fight the Pyres. It’s been eight years since the fall and instead of getting help from the mainland to clear out the Pyres, the mainland instead allowed Bloodwatch network to send cameras. The island is covered and in broadcasted to the mainland where the people can watch the islanders struggle to survive, hyping on their favourite ‘characters’. It’s an utterly horrifying (yet perfectly believable) concept that the world refuses to help the islanders and instead chooses to profit off of their lives (and deaths).

It doesn’t take long to set up this world, and I was invested from the beginning. Soon enough we have Bloodwatch offering (see: coercing) several fan favourite people to participate in their new show Escape from Blood Island. There will be only one winner.

Firstly, I loved the set and concept of this story. I’m always here for a zombie setting and add in the chaos and heartlessness of reality tv show preying on people for profit… it was addictive! It’s follows Astrid as she enters this competition, and I went in this unpredictable rollercoaster with her. I enjoyed getting the see the dynamics of the different contestants and how they built alliances/ friendships or developed enemies. Each new stage of the show was brutal and with lives on the line it was so tense and thrilling. It was wonderfully fast paced and bingeable and I flew through it in one day!
As the story progressed we got more depth past just surviving, the rage at Bloodwatch’s cruelty is faced and I was here for it. It had an explosive ending though I wonder if this is will have a sequel?

The romance aspect was unnecessary for me; I don’t feel we had long enough for it to be worth trying to shoe horn in a love story. But it was also obviously going to happen and was perfectly fine and linked well with the plot. The friendships and shared humanity between certain groups were more emotionally impactful for me and I loved seeing the contrast between seasoned islanders, rookie mainlanders and how they all worked together.

Overall a quick entertaining read with a cool concept where the stakes couldn’t be higher. Alongside the themes of corruption and corporate greed the story also explores grief, loss, love and shared humanity. How does trauma, desperation and loneliness affect someone? What lengths will they do to to survive? All explored within this fast paced action filled zombie survival show, ya horror!



Thank you ReadTempest for the proof copy. All thoughts are my own

[Liv · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good dystopia and this one didn't disappoint. It was a thrilling and dramatic read that kept me engaged from the very start!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was incredible!!! I couldn't put it down. I kept getting completely lost in this world, and these characters. It's been so long since reading a book has had me on the edge of my seat like that!! AMAZING!!!!