What do you think?
Rate this book
The Dead Weight: Resistance
The apocalypse continues, and Quinn's future hangs in the balance.
Quinn is out of options. After the zombie-like “carriers” invaded her youth treatment facility, she had to fight to survive. Weeks later, she’s alone, devastated, and nursing a life-threatening injury. She needs help. Now.
Salvation comes in the form of New City, a safe haven risen from the ashes of St. Louis—but only at a price. In exchange for medical treatment, Quinn joins a Rover squad, a band of debtors and criminals assigned to protect the city against swarms of carriers.
Barely seventeen, Quinn is underestimated by the Rovers—but not for long. How could they know that the thing that has made Quinn an outsider all her life makes her a champion in the apocalypse? But this new life presents a new Can Quinn navigate the city’s rules and the intricate alliances she needs to survive? And what will happen if her new allies see her true face?
Quinn is out of options. After the zombie-like “carriers” invaded her youth treatment facility, she had to fight to survive. Weeks later, she’s alone, devastated, and nursing a life-threatening injury. She needs help. Now.
Salvation comes in the form of New City, a safe haven risen from the ashes of St. Louis—but only at a price. In exchange for medical treatment, Quinn joins a Rover squad, a band of debtors and criminals assigned to protect the city against swarms of carriers.
Barely seventeen, Quinn is underestimated by the Rovers—but not for long. How could they know that the thing that has made Quinn an outsider all her life makes her a champion in the apocalypse? But this new life presents a new Can Quinn navigate the city’s rules and the intricate alliances she needs to survive? And what will happen if her new allies see her true face?
267 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 28, 2025
29 people are currently reading
70 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
October 24, 2025
⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ .....📚'𝙼𝚈 𝚁𝙴𝚅𝙸𝙴𝚆 𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝙾𝚃𝙷𝙴𝚁𝚂'📚 can also be found on my blog:
╰┈➤KITTY KATS CRAZY ABOUT BOOKS
☀︎𝖳𝖧𝖤 𝖣𝖤𝖠𝖣 𝖶𝖤𝖨𝖦𝖧𝖳: 𝖱𝖤𝖲𝖨𝖲𝖳𝖠𝖭𝖢𝖤 ☀︎ This picked up where The Dead Weight left off, so it's best to read in order.
The covers don't really scream zombie apocalypse,and I would've missed this if it wasn't shared in a zombie group I'm in. And I guess that old saying plays true. Don't judge a book by its cover..
I've got many zombie books under my belt and this series really sticks out above the rest..Such an unusual, unique take on the zombie apocalypse, Quinn is a hard character to connect with, slightly unhinged, highly unpredictable and doesn’t form connections with others. Trust is not a form that she abhors to, and to trust her is a grave mistake. She paves her own way within this changed world, answerable to no one, and strives never to be under lock and key again.
Seventeen year old Quinn was made for the zombie apocalypse, killing without remorse is her jam, and she's honed her skills to a T, she's lethal with her machete, and will take down any threats without a blink of an eye. To get off living on the river her only option at this stage is to head to New City, a safe haven risen from the ashes of St. Louis where she hopes to convince them to take her under their wing and allow her to become part of the Rover squad which is a band of debtors and criminals assigned to protect the city against the swarms of carriers.
But this city is not what it seems, there are ranks to adhere to, and they definitely underestimated Quinn. But if she stays within these cities walls and under a controlling thumb she'll be no better off than she was before the end of the world happened. So she has to make a vital decision. Stay within the walls of the city or head out and follow her own path within this changed world.
╰┈➤KITTY KATS CRAZY ABOUT BOOKS
☀︎𝖳𝖧𝖤 𝖣𝖤𝖠𝖣 𝖶𝖤𝖨𝖦𝖧𝖳: 𝖱𝖤𝖲𝖨𝖲𝖳𝖠𝖭𝖢𝖤 ☀︎ This picked up where The Dead Weight left off, so it's best to read in order.
The covers don't really scream zombie apocalypse,and I would've missed this if it wasn't shared in a zombie group I'm in. And I guess that old saying plays true. Don't judge a book by its cover..
I've got many zombie books under my belt and this series really sticks out above the rest..Such an unusual, unique take on the zombie apocalypse, Quinn is a hard character to connect with, slightly unhinged, highly unpredictable and doesn’t form connections with others. Trust is not a form that she abhors to, and to trust her is a grave mistake. She paves her own way within this changed world, answerable to no one, and strives never to be under lock and key again.
Seventeen year old Quinn was made for the zombie apocalypse, killing without remorse is her jam, and she's honed her skills to a T, she's lethal with her machete, and will take down any threats without a blink of an eye. To get off living on the river her only option at this stage is to head to New City, a safe haven risen from the ashes of St. Louis where she hopes to convince them to take her under their wing and allow her to become part of the Rover squad which is a band of debtors and criminals assigned to protect the city against the swarms of carriers.
But this city is not what it seems, there are ranks to adhere to, and they definitely underestimated Quinn. But if she stays within these cities walls and under a controlling thumb she'll be no better off than she was before the end of the world happened. So she has to make a vital decision. Stay within the walls of the city or head out and follow her own path within this changed world.
September 10, 2025
I've read A LOT of zombie fiction, so much so that I often feel like I've read almost everything the genre has to offer, what this mean is that I can be incredibly nit picky when it comes to the way tropes are used. There are tropes that I have developed an unreasonable hatred for (blood sports happening rapidly after the onset of the apocalypse, evil survivor groups, the overpowered evil leader…) and one or more of them is/are present in this book. Now, if you look at my rating this statement probably surprised you, here's the thing, Salazar took that trope and spun it on its head like it was going out of style. To say that I was delighted would be an understatement. This little gem is the kind of book that makes me come back to the zombie genre even when it feels so exhausted.
The character is absolutely unique and exceedingly well crafted. Salazar worked with the character and created a story that made sense for her, her behavior is consistent with what we are told and SHOWN she is and nothing ever comes across as forced. I absolutely cannot wait to see where Quinn goes next and what Salazar writes next.
The character is absolutely unique and exceedingly well crafted. Salazar worked with the character and created a story that made sense for her, her behavior is consistent with what we are told and SHOWN she is and nothing ever comes across as forced. I absolutely cannot wait to see where Quinn goes next and what Salazar writes next.
October 11, 2025
"People are people, Hira. There will always be someone who wants to use you for whatever you’re worth. Money, fame, pleasure, protection, a listening ear, and a warm smile—they’re all currency. Something to be exploited. Anyone who isn’t taking advantage of you is probably just too stupid to understand how.”
August 30, 2025
Not sure how she did it....
.. but somehow book two was even better than book one!
Fantastic character, great story. I literally stayed up all night reading it
I loved that when she was looking for answers, Quinn got the answers that were important to her, unfortunately that left me as the reader with several unanswered questions! But they are answers that Quinn would have cared nothing about, and I love that the author stayed in character and didn't come up with some contrived way to give the reader answers that Quinn would not have known or would not have cared about.
Great book well worth your time, unfortunately over far
too soon
.. but somehow book two was even better than book one!
Fantastic character, great story. I literally stayed up all night reading it
I loved that when she was looking for answers, Quinn got the answers that were important to her, unfortunately that left me as the reader with several unanswered questions! But they are answers that Quinn would have cared nothing about, and I love that the author stayed in character and didn't come up with some contrived way to give the reader answers that Quinn would not have known or would not have cared about.
Great book well worth your time, unfortunately over far
too soon
October 14, 2025
Never before has the very last page made my jaw drop as much as this book did.
October 23, 2025
Exciting, suspenseful and fun zombies gorey drama! Hunger games/chain gang all stars and warm bodies mix in this fun 2nd installment of the series I can’t wait for book 3
October 31, 2025
I am genuinely sad to have finished book 2. Looking forward to see what comes next!
October 31, 2025
Bought both books from Jo at a book fair in Jacksonville, IL. She was so kind and signed our books for us. I finished them both within a week. Can’t wait for what’s next!
November 12, 2025
Maybe even better than the first one! If you’re looking for a great zombie story, check these out!
August 29, 2025
The Dead Weight: Resistance takes everything that made the first book unforgettable and raises the stakes, pulling readers into the morally complex “New City”, a post-apocalyptic community that makes you question your own sense of right and wrong at every turn.
From the opening scene of Quinn battling for access to lifesaving healthcare she can’t afford, the novel plants us firmly in the harsh reality of a world that mirrors our own. It’s a gut punch of a beginning, setting the stage for a story that refuses to shy away from the systemic cruelties that define both the fictional zombie apocalypse and our lived reality in society today.
And yet, in that bleakness, Salazar brings us Quinn: a teenage girl who is underestimated, constantly threatened, and yet often the most dangerous person in the room. The book’s feminism comes through Quinn herself. She is constantly objectified and projected upon by others, but she refuses to be anything except who she is on her own terms. That defiance makes her the most riveting protagonist I have encountered in recent zombie fiction.
In Quinn’s first-person perspective, we feel every contradiction: her yearning to live her best life, her struggle to trust others in a world shaped by betrayal and projection, her flashes of tenderness, and her ruthless drive to survive. By the end, you cannot help but wonder if you are more like Quinn than you would normally admit, and if that is such a bad thing.
Perfectly paced, politically sharp, and unapologetically diverse, Salazar's sequel proves (again) that zombie fiction is one of the most vital and underrated genres for examining who we are and who we might become, both as individuals and as a society.
Quite simply: it’s flawless.
From the opening scene of Quinn battling for access to lifesaving healthcare she can’t afford, the novel plants us firmly in the harsh reality of a world that mirrors our own. It’s a gut punch of a beginning, setting the stage for a story that refuses to shy away from the systemic cruelties that define both the fictional zombie apocalypse and our lived reality in society today.
And yet, in that bleakness, Salazar brings us Quinn: a teenage girl who is underestimated, constantly threatened, and yet often the most dangerous person in the room. The book’s feminism comes through Quinn herself. She is constantly objectified and projected upon by others, but she refuses to be anything except who she is on her own terms. That defiance makes her the most riveting protagonist I have encountered in recent zombie fiction.
In Quinn’s first-person perspective, we feel every contradiction: her yearning to live her best life, her struggle to trust others in a world shaped by betrayal and projection, her flashes of tenderness, and her ruthless drive to survive. By the end, you cannot help but wonder if you are more like Quinn than you would normally admit, and if that is such a bad thing.
Perfectly paced, politically sharp, and unapologetically diverse, Salazar's sequel proves (again) that zombie fiction is one of the most vital and underrated genres for examining who we are and who we might become, both as individuals and as a society.
Quite simply: it’s flawless.
September 12, 2025
Devoured this book!
The Dead Weight: Resistance takes everything I loved about the first book and turns it up a notch. New City is gritty, complicated, and makes you question what’s right or wrong on every page. Sequels almost never live up to the hype of the first book—let alone beat it—but this one absolutely does.
The Dead Weight: Resistance takes everything I loved about the first book and turns it up a notch. New City is gritty, complicated, and makes you question what’s right or wrong on every page. Sequels almost never live up to the hype of the first book—let alone beat it—but this one absolutely does.
August 29, 2025
The Dead Weight Resistance is everything I hoped for and more, the perfect continuation of Quinn’s journey from The Dead Weight.
Jo Salazar has once again delivered a story that’s gritty, raw, and thought-provoking, while still carrying that spark of magic and originality that made book one unforgettable. The atmosphere is tense yet immersive, the characters are sharper than ever, and the themes dig deep in ways that linger long after you close the book.
This sequel doesn’t just ride the momentum of the first, it expands it, pushing Quinn into even more impossible choices and exploring the weight of survival with nuance and heart. It’s bold, relentless, and absolutely addictive.
Highly recommend this series to anyone who wants their zombie apocalypse stories with teeth, brains, and soul. Bring on book three, I need it yesterday.
Jo Salazar has once again delivered a story that’s gritty, raw, and thought-provoking, while still carrying that spark of magic and originality that made book one unforgettable. The atmosphere is tense yet immersive, the characters are sharper than ever, and the themes dig deep in ways that linger long after you close the book.
This sequel doesn’t just ride the momentum of the first, it expands it, pushing Quinn into even more impossible choices and exploring the weight of survival with nuance and heart. It’s bold, relentless, and absolutely addictive.
Highly recommend this series to anyone who wants their zombie apocalypse stories with teeth, brains, and soul. Bring on book three, I need it yesterday.
September 1, 2025
This sequel picks up right where the first book left off, and it’s a banger! Jo has definitely found her rhythm, and I enjoyed being along for the ride that is Quinn’s journey for survival (and self-actualization) in a post-apocalyptic world. We also get to meet some new morally gray characters who represent different sides of a new world that Quinn is torn between.
If you haven’t read The Dead Weight, the first book in this trilogy-to-be, check it out on kindle unlimited because this zombie series keeps getting better and better!
If you haven’t read The Dead Weight, the first book in this trilogy-to-be, check it out on kindle unlimited because this zombie series keeps getting better and better!
August 30, 2025
IF YOU LIKE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE BOOKS READ THIS! PLEASE
Wow what a page turner! This book and this perspective are so unique! The twists and turns I’m constantly rereading passages to get the foreshadowing! And the ending!! Pull and pull and pull and pull…
10/10
5:5
Jo Salazar I’m sure you don’t read these but PLEASE keep writing! I’m now a die hard fan of yours!
Wow what a page turner! This book and this perspective are so unique! The twists and turns I’m constantly rereading passages to get the foreshadowing! And the ending!! Pull and pull and pull and pull…
10/10
5:5
Jo Salazar I’m sure you don’t read these but PLEASE keep writing! I’m now a die hard fan of yours!
August 31, 2025
The dead weight: resistance (book 2)
👏👏👏👏 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
And we are back with Quinn, the if Dexter was a teen girl heroine of this tale, on her next adventure through the zombie apocalypse.
New City, St Louis Missouri, a city within a city. New rules, new “government”, same old bullshit. Even in an apocalypse it’s hard to escape the patriarchal hierarchy dictatorships. Sigh. But for Quinn, it’s nothing new. She is used to being caged, having to follow others rules while rebelling, making allies, and making enemies.
What I love about Quinn is she still wants people to see *her* and accept *her* for who she is. She is growing into her self and making better choices, but in her want to be seen she often doubts her own instincts and tries to play both sides. It’s all about choices, especially when it’s about survival. And survival isn’t for the weak, it’s for the ruthless.
Quinn navigates both sides stunningly until she has no other option but to pick a side, but really she is choosing herself. And that? That’s freaking beautiful. I cannot wait to see where Jo Salazar takes us in the next stage of quinns journey.
— Did I act like an irresponsible human and ignore all adulting to read this book? Yeah, I did. No regrets lol Frankly I don’t know what ate more, this book or me devouring it. Am I now manic cleaning to make up for my lack of adulting today? Yes, and still no regrets.
👏👏👏👏 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
And we are back with Quinn, the if Dexter was a teen girl heroine of this tale, on her next adventure through the zombie apocalypse.
New City, St Louis Missouri, a city within a city. New rules, new “government”, same old bullshit. Even in an apocalypse it’s hard to escape the patriarchal hierarchy dictatorships. Sigh. But for Quinn, it’s nothing new. She is used to being caged, having to follow others rules while rebelling, making allies, and making enemies.
What I love about Quinn is she still wants people to see *her* and accept *her* for who she is. She is growing into her self and making better choices, but in her want to be seen she often doubts her own instincts and tries to play both sides. It’s all about choices, especially when it’s about survival. And survival isn’t for the weak, it’s for the ruthless.
Quinn navigates both sides stunningly until she has no other option but to pick a side, but really she is choosing herself. And that? That’s freaking beautiful. I cannot wait to see where Jo Salazar takes us in the next stage of quinns journey.
— Did I act like an irresponsible human and ignore all adulting to read this book? Yeah, I did. No regrets lol Frankly I don’t know what ate more, this book or me devouring it. Am I now manic cleaning to make up for my lack of adulting today? Yes, and still no regrets.
September 14, 2025
i’m fuming.. i thought i would love this as i enjoyed the first one but NOPE. i will say the author is consistent though, i didn’t like Quinn in the first book and i HATED her in this one. I understand not every book needs a happy ending but it’s very upsetting that the most irritating and annoying character gets to survive again and again. i want to say the plot twist was amazing but not really. it’s very obvious from the jump that Quinn is selfish asf and only cares about herself so you can guess what happens right away :/ it sucks bc i actually liked the little squad but ofc quinn had to ruin it :/ they deserved to survive (no they didn’t die). i read the notes after and apparently there’s going to be another book?? god i hope quinn grows up and becomes at least a little better bc she’s unbearable and doesn’t deserve to stay alive. i could go on and on about how much this sucked for me but i’ll just stop here. it was enjoyable once I sucked it up and just accepted that Quinn is there.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 28, 2025
I can't say I loved this book but it was somewhat of a good read. The main character is borderline a psycho and we know that from book one but the back and forth with her decisions was killing. I kept having to remind myself that she is young but also has issues. I kept thinking shes a changed person but she really isn't. And then the ending was a big wtf moment. I get her decision at the end but I hated it.
January 1, 2026
First completed book of 2026! The second book in this series is set entirely in St. Louis (yay), where a settlement called New City has been established for survivors. I really enjoyed all of the shout-outs to local landmarks, and the main character remained compelling throughout.
Read it because:
Second in a series I found on Kindle Unlimited
Reminded me of:
Hints of Chain Gang All-Stars and dystopian YA like Divergent
Read it because:
Second in a series I found on Kindle Unlimited
Reminded me of:
Hints of Chain Gang All-Stars and dystopian YA like Divergent
September 24, 2025
This sequel is just as good as the first book, if not better. That ending, if you know, you know. Never have I rooted for a character that is this complex and morally in the black. Jo Salazar is a sorceress who has taken the zombie apocalypse trope to a new level. I would love to watch this series as a television show. I can't wait to see what happens next.
October 28, 2025
So good! What a refreshing take on a genre that you think has not much NEW twists to offer. The POV is original and intriguing, the main character is incredibly hard to understand while also knowing she’s doing exactly what she should be doing to survive. An internal moral battle while reading it and hoping she makes it!
October 29, 2025
Quinn is unlike any other character I've read before. She is strong, brutal, insane and absolutely selfish. yet, I find myself rooting for her the entire time.
I'm still not completely sure how I feel about the ending. I understand why it ended that way. but that doesn't mean I have to like it haha.
with that being said, BRING ON BOOK 3
I'm still not completely sure how I feel about the ending. I understand why it ended that way. but that doesn't mean I have to like it haha.
with that being said, BRING ON BOOK 3
September 1, 2025
Y’all. This sequel SLAPS! 🧟♀️
I loved the continuation of Quinn’s journey in the zombie-infested world and what she goes through personally over the course of the story. It’s unique to see her really coming to terms with who she is, what she wants, and what she has to do. Enjoyed the new characters as well and hope we somehow get to see more of them in the next installment.
PS - I can’t believe the farmer is still alive and kicking! I love that Jo worked that in at the end. 😂
I loved the continuation of Quinn’s journey in the zombie-infested world and what she goes through personally over the course of the story. It’s unique to see her really coming to terms with who she is, what she wants, and what she has to do. Enjoyed the new characters as well and hope we somehow get to see more of them in the next installment.
PS - I can’t believe the farmer is still alive and kicking! I love that Jo worked that in at the end. 😂
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 4, 2025
Quinn was one tough cookie in the first book, and the same can be said for Resistance. We pick up immediately where book 1 left off, and we continue to see Quinn navigate the unknown. Just when you think you know how it will end you’re thrown for a loop that will leave your jaw on the floor!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 4, 2025
Like its predecessor, Resistance is a helluva page-turner. I can’t help rooting for Quinn every step of the way (even when I shouldn’t). This is a truly morally grey, deeply flawed MC done right. I had so much fun on this journey and I can’t wait for the next one.
September 6, 2025
The Dead Weight
Omgaaaaa Quinn, what a bad bad girl lol and I LOVE her!! Haha 😆 You can’t help but cheer her on. A lot of things happen along the way, some surprises and some are just “Quinn” lol Great read!
Omgaaaaa Quinn, what a bad bad girl lol and I LOVE her!! Haha 😆 You can’t help but cheer her on. A lot of things happen along the way, some surprises and some are just “Quinn” lol Great read!
September 6, 2025
More please!!
I devoured this book in a matter of hours, just like the first one. I probably should have paced myself because I'm already dying to read book three, but I couldn't stop reading once I started!
I devoured this book in a matter of hours, just like the first one. I probably should have paced myself because I'm already dying to read book three, but I couldn't stop reading once I started!
September 26, 2025
Y’all.. this book had me staying up past my bedtime most nights. Each chapter left me wanting to read more. While the main character might drive me nuts with some of the things she does, I really am invested in wanting to know what the crap she is going to do next. Bring on book 3 please.
September 1, 2025
Better than the first one! NEXT BOOK PLEASE!!
September 1, 2025
very good!!
This girl is so crazy!! I love reading a story about the evil princess instead of the good guy!! Very interesting!! Total page turner!! Surprises at every corner!
This girl is so crazy!! I love reading a story about the evil princess instead of the good guy!! Very interesting!! Total page turner!! Surprises at every corner!
September 4, 2025
Yellow, white, and cornflower blue.
Wow. I desperately need the third book 😭
Wow. I desperately need the third book 😭
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews