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Everything Crumbles
An outbreak has reduced humanity to a zombie like state of base instincts. The world spins into darkness as we destroy ourselves.
First comes disaster
Then comes hope
But hope can be a dangerous thing…
VALLEY
Everything is crumbling around me, the dark underbelly of humanity exposed. Alone in the woods, I question what I’m even surviving for. I have no one left, just a void of chaos and ash laid out before me. I’ve already learnt the hard way that I can’t trust anyone, not even the so-called love of my life. When Tara steps out of the shadows my instincts scream at me to run. A dark secret pulses around her, and her eyes are wells of pain. This world has made wild animals of us all. But if she wants me, she’ll have to catch me first!
TARA
I’ve always been a survivor, trauma hardening my shell over the years and keeping my heart perfectly guarded. Our past has been completely obliterated, but I was never much attached to my past, and chaos feels like home. But then I spy her in the woods, beautifully self-sufficient and wild as a fox. Valley awakens a deep craving for her to soothe the damaged shreds of my soul. But how do I show her a tenderness that I’ve never been taught? All I know is she will wear my teeth marks on her skin with pride and beg for more.
TWO SURVIVORS
ONE CHOICE
TRUST EACH OTHER
OR DIE ALONE.
First comes disaster
Then comes hope
But hope can be a dangerous thing…
VALLEY
Everything is crumbling around me, the dark underbelly of humanity exposed. Alone in the woods, I question what I’m even surviving for. I have no one left, just a void of chaos and ash laid out before me. I’ve already learnt the hard way that I can’t trust anyone, not even the so-called love of my life. When Tara steps out of the shadows my instincts scream at me to run. A dark secret pulses around her, and her eyes are wells of pain. This world has made wild animals of us all. But if she wants me, she’ll have to catch me first!
TARA
I’ve always been a survivor, trauma hardening my shell over the years and keeping my heart perfectly guarded. Our past has been completely obliterated, but I was never much attached to my past, and chaos feels like home. But then I spy her in the woods, beautifully self-sufficient and wild as a fox. Valley awakens a deep craving for her to soothe the damaged shreds of my soul. But how do I show her a tenderness that I’ve never been taught? All I know is she will wear my teeth marks on her skin with pride and beg for more.
TWO SURVIVORS
ONE CHOICE
TRUST EACH OTHER
OR DIE ALONE.
176 pages, Paperback
Published June 19, 2025
About the author
Ellen Winter
4 books33 followersEllen writes dark-dark-dark poetic romance and erotica, focusing on queer characters with trauma.
She has an MA in Creative Writing and a background in teaching Philosophy and Psychology.
She likes to deep dive into attachment styles, abandonment wounds, mental health, and kink, with a good measure of 'lets get lost in the forest and f**k like wild animals'.
Find her here:
Instagram → @ellenwinter_author
https://www.instagram.com/ellenwinter...
She has an MA in Creative Writing and a background in teaching Philosophy and Psychology.
She likes to deep dive into attachment styles, abandonment wounds, mental health, and kink, with a good measure of 'lets get lost in the forest and f**k like wild animals'.
Find her here:
Instagram → @ellenwinter_author
https://www.instagram.com/ellenwinter...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
June 3, 2025
3 Stars
Arc from author.
Everything Crumbles by Ellen Winter is set in a post zombie apocalypse world with two survivors named Valley and Tara.
The positive thing about the conception of the characters is that they have distinct personalities, appearance, strength and weaknesses. However, they are both sort of lust driven and I understand the whole “primal” feeling of coveting your partner and all that, it’s just that the road to understanding the characters’ state of mind, motivations and processing was either not clear or not highlighted. So we have these two survivors who come from the opposite spectrum of society from the before who somehow survived the worst of the infection and outlived their family and peers and just basically fell in lust from the moment they laid eyes on each other.
The lyrical nature of the writing when it comes to characters’ feelings for each other was nice but not enough to sustain my interest on the wholeness of the story.
PS. The prologue and chapter 2 were repeats and at the very end a paragraph was repeated. Editing issues?
Arc from author.
Everything Crumbles by Ellen Winter is set in a post zombie apocalypse world with two survivors named Valley and Tara.
The positive thing about the conception of the characters is that they have distinct personalities, appearance, strength and weaknesses. However, they are both sort of lust driven and I understand the whole “primal” feeling of coveting your partner and all that, it’s just that the road to understanding the characters’ state of mind, motivations and processing was either not clear or not highlighted. So we have these two survivors who come from the opposite spectrum of society from the before who somehow survived the worst of the infection and outlived their family and peers and just basically fell in lust from the moment they laid eyes on each other.
The lyrical nature of the writing when it comes to characters’ feelings for each other was nice but not enough to sustain my interest on the wholeness of the story.
PS. The prologue and chapter 2 were repeats and at the very end a paragraph was repeated. Editing issues?
June 8, 2025
The tension between these two characters is amazing. The storyline was good, too. I wanna learn more about the characters. Learn their pasts before all this.
This story is spicy but not overally spicy, however, when the spice hits. It's amazing.. This is why I would give it a 3 out of 5 in the spice level.
This story is spicy but not overally spicy, however, when the spice hits. It's amazing.. This is why I would give it a 3 out of 5 in the spice level.
June 8, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
This was such a fascinating read! Ellen was so descriptive with the story that I was taken right into the wilderness with Valley and Tara.
Valley seemed to have been through quite the toxic relationship with Em, who she has lost to the apocalypse they have found themselves in. People are turning into ‘𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮‘, the hungry corpse like creatures who were once humans. So far Valley has stayed safe and taken care of herself with the somewhat toxic and cruel words of Em in her head as she grieves.
Tara stumbles across Valley and is instantly taken by her and wants to get to know her in every way, despite her tumultuous past. Tara’s life was all about being strong and looking out for herself and this broke my heart for her. She built a tough persona to survive the world long before it ended. Tara is the dominant type and this takes Valley by surprise at how much she likes this kid of attention.
This was quite touching when these two eventually gave into their desires for each other. The trust the developed in a short time, clearly important to the both of them but also difficult to navigate when they were so used to looking after themselves and being alone. The spice was really spicing and in a way I’ve not read before so it was really refreshing to see the rawness of this relationship and how they explored their wild and animalistic passion for each other.
An end of the world story of two people who find each other against all odds and work to trust and care for each other. Tropes such as found family, zombie apocalypse, kink exploration, sapphic romance, murdery goodness, primal play, Dom/brat dynamic and trauma/mental health rep. I really enjoyed this novella and I’m looking forward to reading more about Valley and Tara.
This was such a fascinating read! Ellen was so descriptive with the story that I was taken right into the wilderness with Valley and Tara.
Valley seemed to have been through quite the toxic relationship with Em, who she has lost to the apocalypse they have found themselves in. People are turning into ‘𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮‘, the hungry corpse like creatures who were once humans. So far Valley has stayed safe and taken care of herself with the somewhat toxic and cruel words of Em in her head as she grieves.
Tara stumbles across Valley and is instantly taken by her and wants to get to know her in every way, despite her tumultuous past. Tara’s life was all about being strong and looking out for herself and this broke my heart for her. She built a tough persona to survive the world long before it ended. Tara is the dominant type and this takes Valley by surprise at how much she likes this kid of attention.
This was quite touching when these two eventually gave into their desires for each other. The trust the developed in a short time, clearly important to the both of them but also difficult to navigate when they were so used to looking after themselves and being alone. The spice was really spicing and in a way I’ve not read before so it was really refreshing to see the rawness of this relationship and how they explored their wild and animalistic passion for each other.
An end of the world story of two people who find each other against all odds and work to trust and care for each other. Tropes such as found family, zombie apocalypse, kink exploration, sapphic romance, murdery goodness, primal play, Dom/brat dynamic and trauma/mental health rep. I really enjoyed this novella and I’m looking forward to reading more about Valley and Tara.
June 13, 2025
I was happy to be selected to be a ARC reviewer for this sapphic apocalyptic novella.
It was an awesome little read, Ellen really knows how to set a scene, I could really visualise being in the woods with Valley and Tara. The story is based in a post apocalyptic England, with undead creatures running around with murderous intent, known only as "them" in the book. I liked that it wasn't the usual type brainless stumbling zombies that are usually in apocalyptic books/films etc. From the very first moment that Tara spotted Valley, the attraction was instant.
As I read more of the book I came to be invested in these two ladies and loved how there relationship evolved. I loved the chase just as much as Valley and Tara did.
The book ended sooner than I liked, I could of read a full 400 page book on these two, I would of liked to of seen more on their past too, but this just leaves room for the possibility of a sequel. Hopefully. Other than that I fully recommend reading this book.
There is one part of the book that if you're easily triggered I suggest you take note of the trigger warnings before you read, as I can understand how distressing that can be for some. I don't don't get easily triggered so it was interesting to see how the ladies handled that situation. I won't spoil it.
It was an awesome little read, Ellen really knows how to set a scene, I could really visualise being in the woods with Valley and Tara. The story is based in a post apocalyptic England, with undead creatures running around with murderous intent, known only as "them" in the book. I liked that it wasn't the usual type brainless stumbling zombies that are usually in apocalyptic books/films etc. From the very first moment that Tara spotted Valley, the attraction was instant.
As I read more of the book I came to be invested in these two ladies and loved how there relationship evolved. I loved the chase just as much as Valley and Tara did.
The book ended sooner than I liked, I could of read a full 400 page book on these two, I would of liked to of seen more on their past too, but this just leaves room for the possibility of a sequel. Hopefully. Other than that I fully recommend reading this book.
There is one part of the book that if you're easily triggered I suggest you take note of the trigger warnings before you read, as I can understand how distressing that can be for some. I don't don't get easily triggered so it was interesting to see how the ladies handled that situation. I won't spoil it.
June 8, 2025
this is a haunting, atmospheric story of primal desire set in a crumbling post-apocalyptic uk. rather than being plot-heavy, the book leans into emotion and tone, building a world that feels both intimate and terrifying. it’s the kind of story where the air seems charged with longing and danger, and i felt pulled into that tension from the first page.
the two central characters are distinct and vividly drawn, their dynamic full of friction, vulnerability, and unexpected tenderness. their relationship is the book’s core, and it works really well as equal parts unsettling and compelling.
what stood out most for me was the lyrical prose. it’s beautiful in a raw, aching way, and it kept me encapsulated in the ruined world the author has created. every scene had a weight to it, thick with atmosphere and emotional charge. the uk setting made it all feel disturbingly close to home, and for once, i didn’t have to translate my fear through an american lens. it felt personal, which made it all the more unnerving.
this is very much a dark romance with strong kink elements, so please check the content warnings before diving in. it won’t be for everyone, but if you’re drawn to stories that explore desire in the ashes of civilisation, this one is worth your time. and with other books coming, there’s clearly much more of this world and story left to uncover
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✖️
the two central characters are distinct and vividly drawn, their dynamic full of friction, vulnerability, and unexpected tenderness. their relationship is the book’s core, and it works really well as equal parts unsettling and compelling.
what stood out most for me was the lyrical prose. it’s beautiful in a raw, aching way, and it kept me encapsulated in the ruined world the author has created. every scene had a weight to it, thick with atmosphere and emotional charge. the uk setting made it all feel disturbingly close to home, and for once, i didn’t have to translate my fear through an american lens. it felt personal, which made it all the more unnerving.
this is very much a dark romance with strong kink elements, so please check the content warnings before diving in. it won’t be for everyone, but if you’re drawn to stories that explore desire in the ashes of civilisation, this one is worth your time. and with other books coming, there’s clearly much more of this world and story left to uncover
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✖️
June 5, 2025
so first: WOOOOWW!!
second: I NEED MORE?!
that was such a greaaatt book seriously i loved everything about it. the setting was so well written i could really see the forest in my head.
i loved taras addiction with valley the first second she sees her!! you can really tell she’s been STAAARVED from physical touch and love for quite a while. i could feel the intensity in her feelings, it was so well described.
the animalistic need they had to experience some form of intimacy was so raw and real it was really amazing.
(“She paused for dramatic effect as my pulse pounded in my chest, her face mere inches from mine. And then came one sharp word. "Run."” <- told my fiancée to take notes 🤭🤭)
i really recommend this book if you’re into zombie apocalypse, lack of human decency (in the best way), loving hard and needy but also soft and caring!!
second: I NEED MORE?!
that was such a greaaatt book seriously i loved everything about it. the setting was so well written i could really see the forest in my head.
i loved taras addiction with valley the first second she sees her!! you can really tell she’s been STAAARVED from physical touch and love for quite a while. i could feel the intensity in her feelings, it was so well described.
the animalistic need they had to experience some form of intimacy was so raw and real it was really amazing.
(“She paused for dramatic effect as my pulse pounded in my chest, her face mere inches from mine. And then came one sharp word. "Run."” <- told my fiancée to take notes 🤭🤭)
i really recommend this book if you’re into zombie apocalypse, lack of human decency (in the best way), loving hard and needy but also soft and caring!!
June 21, 2025
ARC Review
2.5 stars…
Format: Kindle
This was a post apocalyptic sapphic romance novella but oh boy… this was all over the place kinda. It suddenly just starts with a lot of spice from Valley’s POV and then we get Tana which it just didn’t make sense at all about the apocalyptic aspect of it. It’s giving 2 women in the woods playing cat and mouse and sexual encounters with not much for plot or anything. The only thing I really kinda enjoyed was the letter to Em. Em wasn’t even really explained what happened with her and just why it was even a thing. I’m really disappointed there’s also a few editing errors and stuff was repeated.
2.5 stars…
Format: Kindle
This was a post apocalyptic sapphic romance novella but oh boy… this was all over the place kinda. It suddenly just starts with a lot of spice from Valley’s POV and then we get Tana which it just didn’t make sense at all about the apocalyptic aspect of it. It’s giving 2 women in the woods playing cat and mouse and sexual encounters with not much for plot or anything. The only thing I really kinda enjoyed was the letter to Em. Em wasn’t even really explained what happened with her and just why it was even a thing. I’m really disappointed there’s also a few editing errors and stuff was repeated.
June 18, 2025
This was the first zombie romance I read and I had a great time with it. This is an FF Romance, our two FMC’s are Tara and Valley. This is set during a post apocalyptic England after a zombie outbreak has occurred. Tara meets Valley along her journey and they their about each other’s past’s before the outbreak. This is a very quick read about 120ish pages it, took me about 2 hours to read it at the speed I read. There are only a few scenes chapters in this story but they are a great time to read. I would give spice about 2.5 out of 5.
June 10, 2025
This book was a quick read. I really enjoyed it and connected with the characters and I’m hoping there is more to come. I would love to read more about Tara and Valley
October 26, 2025
Zombie Apocalypse “stalker” romance.
I LOVED how zombies were used in this. An allegory for how our past can still haunt us and how we cannot get over it until we face it head on! Like so good! And also how when we are placed in situations devoid of human connection we will act in bizarre ways to connect with others!
I understand this is a novella, but I wanted a bit more tension between our love interests. I feel they connected too quickly. I just wanted more angst and information about them because I felt like their insta love wasn’t believable. Hot but I didn’t believe it.
I LOVED how zombies were used in this. An allegory for how our past can still haunt us and how we cannot get over it until we face it head on! Like so good! And also how when we are placed in situations devoid of human connection we will act in bizarre ways to connect with others!
I understand this is a novella, but I wanted a bit more tension between our love interests. I feel they connected too quickly. I just wanted more angst and information about them because I felt like their insta love wasn’t believable. Hot but I didn’t believe it.
June 19, 2025
This book really sucks you in. It starts with a bang, literally, in the prologue and then you get to explore the development of Tara and Valley's relationship further the more you get into the book. They both have shitty pasts and lots of trauma to unpack but it's clear they get there eventually.
I wish the book was longer though because I need more of them! Can't wait for the next part.
I wish the book was longer though because I need more of them! Can't wait for the next part.
November 21, 2025
I ate. This. Up. Read it in three sessions, which is lightning fast for me.
Absolutely loved the atmospheric, immersive writing. As soon as I started reading it's like I was there, in the forests and lanes of northern England, surviving a zombie apocalypse alongside Valley and Tara.
I adored how lush and poetic the writing was. All I could do was sink into the story, letting the descriptive prose wash over me. I appreciated that the apocalypse itself remained vague as to the cause. The characters don't even know for sure how the "zombies" ... or "them" really came about, although they have theories. The uncertainty lends an overall tone of foreboding and tension to a consuming narrative that's truly unsettling at certain points.
There were no words and no reasoning-all of that had crumbled away, and we were whatever was left. This desire was turning into something dangerous.
But the zombies aren't really the point. They are the background, the context against which these two characters and their dangerous push and pull play out-and that is where this book truly shines.
Once the two FMCs meet (well, it starts out with one of them watching and then stalking the other,) their dynamic had me kicking my feet. It was so deliciously dark and addictive, I couldn't get enough! Their chemistry was truly sizzling from the very first interaction.
But it was all the better in the daylight-way sweeter than I'd imagined-to watch her face contort with hate and horror and something else, something I was keen to unearth.
Definitely "love at first stalking" and it surprised me how much I enjoyed this trope. I've never read a sapphic stalker romance before and I'm delighted Everything Crumbles was my first foray into it. The tension and unnerving attraction between Tara and Valley absolutely lit up the page and I was hooked!
My pulse continued to race at the thought of her, but I couldn't call it fear.
She didn't move closer, only eyed me up and down, consuming me in her stare.
The FMCs were each so unique and vibrant that I never had an issue keeping it straight who's POV I was in. I also liked that the author gave each of them their own deep traumas to overcome and to help each other deal with as the story continued. Supporting each other through shared trauma is the turning point that transforms their explosive early interactions into something softer. Something deeper and bittersweet and more sensual, while keeping that dark edge that I was gobbling up in the beginning.
I was just a collection of impulses-hunger, discomfort, pain. But now I had decided to give her my surname, my mum's maiden name, to acknowledge the new self that was quietly growing through the ashes.
And that's the most beautiful thing about this book. Even in this painful, hopeless apocalypse, the author draws out such quiet beauty in the small things. She allows her characters to be imperfect and wounded and hurting, and she also allows them to grow, to be vulnerable, and to share the raw, guarded parts of themselves with one another. Watching their growth, both individually and together, brought tears to my eyes at certain points... while other parts were so frank and honest, I found myself cackling out loud.
Protective towards others, but self-destructive toward myself. Yep, I was a counsellor's wet dream.
It would be so much easier not to care. But I was becoming attached in a way I hadn't anticipated.
It was like wearing a mask that made me powerful, and I'd earned that mask. It was part-me. It was more me.
If you are in need of a spicy, dark sapphic romance with depth, and aching exploration of facing trauma head-on, if you you've ever wondered what would happen if the world ended, leaving you no choice but to learn to trust again in order to survive, give this book a read. You won't be disappointed. I for one can't wait to see what the author does next.
Absolutely loved the atmospheric, immersive writing. As soon as I started reading it's like I was there, in the forests and lanes of northern England, surviving a zombie apocalypse alongside Valley and Tara.
I adored how lush and poetic the writing was. All I could do was sink into the story, letting the descriptive prose wash over me. I appreciated that the apocalypse itself remained vague as to the cause. The characters don't even know for sure how the "zombies" ... or "them" really came about, although they have theories. The uncertainty lends an overall tone of foreboding and tension to a consuming narrative that's truly unsettling at certain points.
There were no words and no reasoning-all of that had crumbled away, and we were whatever was left. This desire was turning into something dangerous.
But the zombies aren't really the point. They are the background, the context against which these two characters and their dangerous push and pull play out-and that is where this book truly shines.
Once the two FMCs meet (well, it starts out with one of them watching and then stalking the other,) their dynamic had me kicking my feet. It was so deliciously dark and addictive, I couldn't get enough! Their chemistry was truly sizzling from the very first interaction.
But it was all the better in the daylight-way sweeter than I'd imagined-to watch her face contort with hate and horror and something else, something I was keen to unearth.
Definitely "love at first stalking" and it surprised me how much I enjoyed this trope. I've never read a sapphic stalker romance before and I'm delighted Everything Crumbles was my first foray into it. The tension and unnerving attraction between Tara and Valley absolutely lit up the page and I was hooked!
My pulse continued to race at the thought of her, but I couldn't call it fear.
She didn't move closer, only eyed me up and down, consuming me in her stare.
The FMCs were each so unique and vibrant that I never had an issue keeping it straight who's POV I was in. I also liked that the author gave each of them their own deep traumas to overcome and to help each other deal with as the story continued. Supporting each other through shared trauma is the turning point that transforms their explosive early interactions into something softer. Something deeper and bittersweet and more sensual, while keeping that dark edge that I was gobbling up in the beginning.
I was just a collection of impulses-hunger, discomfort, pain. But now I had decided to give her my surname, my mum's maiden name, to acknowledge the new self that was quietly growing through the ashes.
And that's the most beautiful thing about this book. Even in this painful, hopeless apocalypse, the author draws out such quiet beauty in the small things. She allows her characters to be imperfect and wounded and hurting, and she also allows them to grow, to be vulnerable, and to share the raw, guarded parts of themselves with one another. Watching their growth, both individually and together, brought tears to my eyes at certain points... while other parts were so frank and honest, I found myself cackling out loud.
Protective towards others, but self-destructive toward myself. Yep, I was a counsellor's wet dream.
It would be so much easier not to care. But I was becoming attached in a way I hadn't anticipated.
It was like wearing a mask that made me powerful, and I'd earned that mask. It was part-me. It was more me.
If you are in need of a spicy, dark sapphic romance with depth, and aching exploration of facing trauma head-on, if you you've ever wondered what would happen if the world ended, leaving you no choice but to learn to trust again in order to survive, give this book a read. You won't be disappointed. I for one can't wait to see what the author does next.
December 30, 2025
STARS 5 stars
SPICE HOT - lots of graphic spice
CHEMISTRY Excellent - fire
ANGST medium
SLOW BURN no
CLIFFHANGER yes
CHARACTERS Valley and Tara
FAVORITE QUOTE/QUOTES
Beneath her strength was fear. Beneath my fear was strength. And we fit together perfectly. I wondered if she knew that. - Valley
I’d never seen her this way. And in that moment, the whole world could go to hell. All around us was darkness and death, but between us, a fire grew so strong, it was blazing. - Valley
She was both the embodiment of danger and yet the safest I’d ever felt, for one delusional moment of calm in her arms. Don’t lose me, even if I keep running away. - Valley
MY THOUGHTS
Such a short book, yet packed with so much emotion. I absolutely fell in love with this story. I’m a complete sucker for end-of-the-world survival books. I can never get enough of them and sapphic ones are far too rare. What really impressed me was how much Ellen fit into just 130 pages without it ever feeling rushed or overwhelming. Every emotion landed. I felt everything.
WHAT I LOVED ABOUT THE CHARACTERS
I loved their brokenness so much. Tara projects strength and power, but inside she’s deeply fractured, hiding her vulnerability until she simply can’t anymore. And Valley; her demons, the sheer magnitude of what she carries, and the way that pain manifests...completely captivated me. I was utterly enthralled by both of them. Their chemistry was also off the charts. Even in the middle of a brutal, unforgiving world, they find exactly what they need in each other, and that connection felt so right.
WHAT I LOVED ABOUT THE BOOK
I was fascinated by the world they lived in and the fact that these two women are surviving in it on their own. Despite all the darkness, there’s still tenderness and connection. Ellen has a remarkable ability to take a novella and make it feel rich and complete.
WHAT I WISHED FOR
Honestly? Just that I could read the next books right now. There’s nothing else I wanted it was perfect.
TROPES
Sapphic, end of the world, BDSM, survival, forced proximity, only one bed
SPICE HOT - lots of graphic spice
CHEMISTRY Excellent - fire
ANGST medium
SLOW BURN no
CLIFFHANGER yes
CHARACTERS Valley and Tara
FAVORITE QUOTE/QUOTES
Beneath her strength was fear. Beneath my fear was strength. And we fit together perfectly. I wondered if she knew that. - Valley
I’d never seen her this way. And in that moment, the whole world could go to hell. All around us was darkness and death, but between us, a fire grew so strong, it was blazing. - Valley
She was both the embodiment of danger and yet the safest I’d ever felt, for one delusional moment of calm in her arms. Don’t lose me, even if I keep running away. - Valley
MY THOUGHTS
Such a short book, yet packed with so much emotion. I absolutely fell in love with this story. I’m a complete sucker for end-of-the-world survival books. I can never get enough of them and sapphic ones are far too rare. What really impressed me was how much Ellen fit into just 130 pages without it ever feeling rushed or overwhelming. Every emotion landed. I felt everything.
WHAT I LOVED ABOUT THE CHARACTERS
I loved their brokenness so much. Tara projects strength and power, but inside she’s deeply fractured, hiding her vulnerability until she simply can’t anymore. And Valley; her demons, the sheer magnitude of what she carries, and the way that pain manifests...completely captivated me. I was utterly enthralled by both of them. Their chemistry was also off the charts. Even in the middle of a brutal, unforgiving world, they find exactly what they need in each other, and that connection felt so right.
WHAT I LOVED ABOUT THE BOOK
I was fascinated by the world they lived in and the fact that these two women are surviving in it on their own. Despite all the darkness, there’s still tenderness and connection. Ellen has a remarkable ability to take a novella and make it feel rich and complete.
WHAT I WISHED FOR
Honestly? Just that I could read the next books right now. There’s nothing else I wanted it was perfect.
TROPES
Sapphic, end of the world, BDSM, survival, forced proximity, only one bed
June 10, 2025
Things I Loved:
- Sapphic Romance
- Characters both have depth
- Eerie apocalyptic setting and descriptions
- Learning to trust again
- Begging, gagged and CNC!
This book was hard for me to get into at first, although I loved the prologue because it's spicy and delicious; it was a little jarring against the first chapter, which is a stark opposite. When you meet Valley, she's a survivor; she's been hiding and doing whatever she needs to do to stay alive, burying the thoughts of her past but still not straying too far from home—the home that is no longer. I loved the descriptions when she describes the scenery around her; it sounds both beautiful and eerily scary at the same time. The memories of her past sound traumatizing and still sit close to the surface, the loss of loved ones heavy on her heart and consciousness.
She meets Tara, who is enamored by the other woman. She's been surviving in another way, has seen other sides of the apocalypse, other horrors, and has lived through it. You can tell there's trauma there, and yet there's a charm you can't deny that intrigues Valley and draws her in. Both of these women have been stuck in survival mode, and now they fight against primal urges. After being stuck in fight or flight for so long, they come together and realize they can possibly find trust and even something more in a hopeless place, surrounded by death and nature. Maybe life won't be so hopeless together. The middle of this book, as they build a relationship and trust, and there's push and pull, and you learn more about their surroundings, backgrounds, and each character—that was strong. You see their strengths and weaknesses and how each of them survived on their own for so long. I loved that!
What felt out of place for me was how lust-driven they were. I understand the primal feeling and finding a connection with someone after not having any human connection for so long, but some of it felt unrealistic considering the world they are living in. I also didn't feel like the CPTSD representation was as well done as I would have liked. As someone with complex PTSD, I think I just had high expectations, so that could be on me.
✨️
- Sapphic Romance
- Characters both have depth
- Eerie apocalyptic setting and descriptions
- Learning to trust again
- Begging, gagged and CNC!
This book was hard for me to get into at first, although I loved the prologue because it's spicy and delicious; it was a little jarring against the first chapter, which is a stark opposite. When you meet Valley, she's a survivor; she's been hiding and doing whatever she needs to do to stay alive, burying the thoughts of her past but still not straying too far from home—the home that is no longer. I loved the descriptions when she describes the scenery around her; it sounds both beautiful and eerily scary at the same time. The memories of her past sound traumatizing and still sit close to the surface, the loss of loved ones heavy on her heart and consciousness.
She meets Tara, who is enamored by the other woman. She's been surviving in another way, has seen other sides of the apocalypse, other horrors, and has lived through it. You can tell there's trauma there, and yet there's a charm you can't deny that intrigues Valley and draws her in. Both of these women have been stuck in survival mode, and now they fight against primal urges. After being stuck in fight or flight for so long, they come together and realize they can possibly find trust and even something more in a hopeless place, surrounded by death and nature. Maybe life won't be so hopeless together. The middle of this book, as they build a relationship and trust, and there's push and pull, and you learn more about their surroundings, backgrounds, and each character—that was strong. You see their strengths and weaknesses and how each of them survived on their own for so long. I loved that!
What felt out of place for me was how lust-driven they were. I understand the primal feeling and finding a connection with someone after not having any human connection for so long, but some of it felt unrealistic considering the world they are living in. I also didn't feel like the CPTSD representation was as well done as I would have liked. As someone with complex PTSD, I think I just had high expectations, so that could be on me.
✨️
June 21, 2025
Spice Level: 1/5 Closed / Open Door
Valley is trying her best to survive the apocalypse by fleeing her literal and figurative demons. Her former girlfriend is now one of the ghoulish fiends among the post-apocalyptic landscape. Unknowingly, soon, Valley will be part of a cat and mouse chase across the countryside.
Tara is the complete opposite of what Valley is. She is sure of what she wants and knows what she wants when she sees it. She sees Valley. There is nothing else in the post-apocalyptic life to do, so she decides she is going to stalk the beautiful woman she happened to see across the countryside. Is Tara another demon that catches up with Valley? Will Valley succumb to her new demon? Check out this book to find out.
I love horror / thriller / zombie books and when you combine all three and make it sapphic then, there’s no doubt I’m reading it. This book did not disappoint. The post apocalypse landscape is the setting and the zombies are like background characters. The zombies are there but the biggest threat isn’t the zombies, it’s the living and this is highlighted in a chapter. I also love that it was established early in the reading that this was a world that knew what zombies were because of movies and literature so that was refreshing that the characters knew what they were and how to handle them.
Both characters have suffered some sort of trauma through their life and it shaped them to how they are in the book. Both characters, at times, get trapped in their trauma through the book and the cat and mouse game is almost therapeutic for them. There is a literal zombie apocalypse happening around them and they’re finding their way to heal through power play, power struggle, and intimacy.
🔪 Emotional Abuse (reference to)
🩸 Child Physical Abuse (reference to)
🔪 Stalking
🩸 Physical Restraint with Weapons
🔪 Death of Loved Ones
🩸 Grief
🔪 C-PTST and Panic Attacks
🩸 Suicidal Ideation
🔪 Touch Aversion
🩸 Conensual Non-Consent
🔪 Non-Consent (reference to)
🩸 Attempted Sexual Assault (not between MCs)
🔪 Degradation
🩸 Murder
🔪 Blood
🩸 Bodily Mutilation (of a zombie)
Valley is trying her best to survive the apocalypse by fleeing her literal and figurative demons. Her former girlfriend is now one of the ghoulish fiends among the post-apocalyptic landscape. Unknowingly, soon, Valley will be part of a cat and mouse chase across the countryside.
Tara is the complete opposite of what Valley is. She is sure of what she wants and knows what she wants when she sees it. She sees Valley. There is nothing else in the post-apocalyptic life to do, so she decides she is going to stalk the beautiful woman she happened to see across the countryside. Is Tara another demon that catches up with Valley? Will Valley succumb to her new demon? Check out this book to find out.
I love horror / thriller / zombie books and when you combine all three and make it sapphic then, there’s no doubt I’m reading it. This book did not disappoint. The post apocalypse landscape is the setting and the zombies are like background characters. The zombies are there but the biggest threat isn’t the zombies, it’s the living and this is highlighted in a chapter. I also love that it was established early in the reading that this was a world that knew what zombies were because of movies and literature so that was refreshing that the characters knew what they were and how to handle them.
Both characters have suffered some sort of trauma through their life and it shaped them to how they are in the book. Both characters, at times, get trapped in their trauma through the book and the cat and mouse game is almost therapeutic for them. There is a literal zombie apocalypse happening around them and they’re finding their way to heal through power play, power struggle, and intimacy.
🔪 Emotional Abuse (reference to)
🩸 Child Physical Abuse (reference to)
🔪 Stalking
🩸 Physical Restraint with Weapons
🔪 Death of Loved Ones
🩸 Grief
🔪 C-PTST and Panic Attacks
🩸 Suicidal Ideation
🔪 Touch Aversion
🩸 Conensual Non-Consent
🔪 Non-Consent (reference to)
🩸 Attempted Sexual Assault (not between MCs)
🔪 Degradation
🩸 Murder
🔪 Blood
🩸 Bodily Mutilation (of a zombie)
Read
June 13, 2025I received an ARC of this book and this is my honest opinion of it:
There are very few FF stories set during a zombie apocalypse, in fact, this is only the 2nd one I came across. Since I'm a big fan of zombie stuff, I was very excited to read this but I feel like I didn't quite get what I signed up for.
If you expect zombie action, and the MCs having to fight for their survival by fighting the zombies, this book probably won't be for you. The MCs rather are fighting their own demons. Which isn't a bad thing, seeing how both of their tragic backstories actually were one of the most interesting things about this book and I see and appreciate what the author was going for here.
The other things I liked were the lyrical writing style and the descriptions of the surroundings. I loved the juxtaposition between that very beautiful writing style but the depiction of their bleak survival.
This is a great example for what I loved about the writing:
"They were louder than sirens, convulsing with desperation to suck up your guts like spaghetti. It was like they had a hive mind, just like any crowd does when it has a singular focus. But this wasn’t music or sport or religion that united them, it was a thirst for blood."
The things I didn't enjoy so much, or just weren't for me, was that I couldn't really connect with the characters at all, despite feeling for them due to their backstories. But I just felt their interactions were pretty odd, the stalking, and barely talking to each other, except when they were dirty talking during the very primal smutty scenes (which I only skimmed since I never really read smut). I felt the characters didn't have a true connection to each other at all, yet were sexually obsessed with each other... this didn't really work for me.
I'll refrain from rating this because I cannot give 4 stars due to the issues I had with this book but I refuse to pull another author's rating down by only giving 3 stars.
There are very few FF stories set during a zombie apocalypse, in fact, this is only the 2nd one I came across. Since I'm a big fan of zombie stuff, I was very excited to read this but I feel like I didn't quite get what I signed up for.
If you expect zombie action, and the MCs having to fight for their survival by fighting the zombies, this book probably won't be for you. The MCs rather are fighting their own demons. Which isn't a bad thing, seeing how both of their tragic backstories actually were one of the most interesting things about this book and I see and appreciate what the author was going for here.
The other things I liked were the lyrical writing style and the descriptions of the surroundings. I loved the juxtaposition between that very beautiful writing style but the depiction of their bleak survival.
This is a great example for what I loved about the writing:
"They were louder than sirens, convulsing with desperation to suck up your guts like spaghetti. It was like they had a hive mind, just like any crowd does when it has a singular focus. But this wasn’t music or sport or religion that united them, it was a thirst for blood."
The things I didn't enjoy so much, or just weren't for me, was that I couldn't really connect with the characters at all, despite feeling for them due to their backstories. But I just felt their interactions were pretty odd, the stalking, and barely talking to each other, except when they were dirty talking during the very primal smutty scenes (which I only skimmed since I never really read smut). I felt the characters didn't have a true connection to each other at all, yet were sexually obsessed with each other... this didn't really work for me.
I'll refrain from rating this because I cannot give 4 stars due to the issues I had with this book but I refuse to pull another author's rating down by only giving 3 stars.
June 28, 2025
2.5 but it won't let me click for a half star.
I like dystopian...I like sapphic romance, but this has some things I think need to improve in terms of pacing and character development.
.........Spoilers below here.....
Valley is well-developed, nuanced, and a convincing portrayal of mental health struggles. I really liked how italics are used to reveal Valley's intrusive thoughts about Em. Valley feels like a real person.
Tara is not as well-developed. She is reading like a caricature of an angry trauma survivor without doing justice to how that trauma is actually creating a fear-based response. It's vaguely insinuated Tara is a rape/incest survivor. As a PTSD survivor myself, I don't feel the response to SA and the attempt at showing her flashback is clear. There are moments of it, but it fades in and out. Sometimes her internal monologue reads too predatory and a bit harsh/unbelievable. I don't think it is believable for a survivor to stumble on another living human and immediately think she wants to 'ruin her' sexually. Tara is supposed to have a heart and be protective, which is established sometimes but that heart doesn't shine through in some of these scenes.
The pacing and tension is a bit off. I think there needed to be a slower burn with T and V and I wanted more world building. Why are there Zombies? How did they stumble on Em? It was a sharp cut from sex to Em. That scene just felt like a white box moment added in.
My final thoughts are whether this is intended to be a love story or an obsession story. My understanding is that it is dark romance as opposed to erotica. Valley and Tara both struggle with mental health, and I understand this impacts how they can love, but there is a tenderness lacking and I think it comes from a lack of development/understanding of Tara. There is obsession Valley has to learn and fix Tara but that isn't love. Tara's motivations are less clear.
I like dystopian...I like sapphic romance, but this has some things I think need to improve in terms of pacing and character development.
.........Spoilers below here.....
Valley is well-developed, nuanced, and a convincing portrayal of mental health struggles. I really liked how italics are used to reveal Valley's intrusive thoughts about Em. Valley feels like a real person.
Tara is not as well-developed. She is reading like a caricature of an angry trauma survivor without doing justice to how that trauma is actually creating a fear-based response. It's vaguely insinuated Tara is a rape/incest survivor. As a PTSD survivor myself, I don't feel the response to SA and the attempt at showing her flashback is clear. There are moments of it, but it fades in and out. Sometimes her internal monologue reads too predatory and a bit harsh/unbelievable. I don't think it is believable for a survivor to stumble on another living human and immediately think she wants to 'ruin her' sexually. Tara is supposed to have a heart and be protective, which is established sometimes but that heart doesn't shine through in some of these scenes.
The pacing and tension is a bit off. I think there needed to be a slower burn with T and V and I wanted more world building. Why are there Zombies? How did they stumble on Em? It was a sharp cut from sex to Em. That scene just felt like a white box moment added in.
My final thoughts are whether this is intended to be a love story or an obsession story. My understanding is that it is dark romance as opposed to erotica. Valley and Tara both struggle with mental health, and I understand this impacts how they can love, but there is a tenderness lacking and I think it comes from a lack of development/understanding of Tara. There is obsession Valley has to learn and fix Tara but that isn't love. Tara's motivations are less clear.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 23, 2025
👩❤️💋👩- Sapphic Post-Apocalyptic
🫣- Love At First Stalking
❤️- Protective Masc With Secret Past
🩷- Feral Brat Outrunning Her Own Trauma
💀- No Living Men(only dead men)
🧟♂️- Zombies( Encounter with Zombie Ex)
🖤- Forest Spice & Primal Chase
TWO SURVIVORS, ONE CHOICE, TRUST EACH OTHER, OR DIE ALONE.
Let me tell you Ms.Ellen Winters did her damn thing with book. I was so impressed by Everything Crumbles. I was so hooked from the very first page it was crazy i could not put it down i set down and read the whole book in no time. I loved how the apocalyptic world was built perfect from the beginning. I love ow she was descriptive when it comes to the wilderness scenes i was so impressed. Valley and Tara had a hell of life now that the world had literally gone to sh*t. Then Tara seen valley in the forest and wanted her upon first sight and they had a hell of go around. Valley i love her she is a spitfire and honestly love that about her.I will say though F**K Em he was a douche and I’m kinda glad he was turned into one of them. The evil harsh words he said to valley was crazy. Tara was a dominate person always so strong and just what valley needed. Tara needed valley as well they both had shitty traumatic past and they found a peace in each other. I can tell you this i had a few emotional moments in this and was very pleased by that. I just fell in love with this book, i loved how it ended. To be only a 129 page book it made me so happy. I think Ellen winters is a fabulous writer and cannot wait to read what she releases in the future.
Quote
“No more running away for you!”
She nestled her head in my shoulder & let out a long sigh.
”Don’t ever let go of me, now you’ve caught me.”
“I never intended to.”
🫣- Love At First Stalking
❤️- Protective Masc With Secret Past
🩷- Feral Brat Outrunning Her Own Trauma
💀- No Living Men(only dead men)
🧟♂️- Zombies( Encounter with Zombie Ex)
🖤- Forest Spice & Primal Chase
TWO SURVIVORS, ONE CHOICE, TRUST EACH OTHER, OR DIE ALONE.
Let me tell you Ms.Ellen Winters did her damn thing with book. I was so impressed by Everything Crumbles. I was so hooked from the very first page it was crazy i could not put it down i set down and read the whole book in no time. I loved how the apocalyptic world was built perfect from the beginning. I love ow she was descriptive when it comes to the wilderness scenes i was so impressed. Valley and Tara had a hell of life now that the world had literally gone to sh*t. Then Tara seen valley in the forest and wanted her upon first sight and they had a hell of go around. Valley i love her she is a spitfire and honestly love that about her.I will say though F**K Em he was a douche and I’m kinda glad he was turned into one of them. The evil harsh words he said to valley was crazy. Tara was a dominate person always so strong and just what valley needed. Tara needed valley as well they both had shitty traumatic past and they found a peace in each other. I can tell you this i had a few emotional moments in this and was very pleased by that. I just fell in love with this book, i loved how it ended. To be only a 129 page book it made me so happy. I think Ellen winters is a fabulous writer and cannot wait to read what she releases in the future.
Quote
“No more running away for you!”
She nestled her head in my shoulder & let out a long sigh.
”Don’t ever let go of me, now you’ve caught me.”
“I never intended to.”
June 17, 2025
We were animals. We were lost souls at the end of the world. Nothing was going to come to us easily, not trust, and not love.
-----
Content warning (not complete list)
Attempted sa, cnc, murder, degradation, C-PTSD and panic attacks.
For more info check out the content warning in the book.
-----
About the book
Novella
Book 1 of series.
You can read this as a standalone.
Written in first person pov. Dual pov.
Spice: medium
-----
Everything Crumbles is a sapphic post apocalypse romance about two women who are trying to survive a harsh world as they explore their connection and fight their own inner demons. If you're looking for a dark, quick and spicy sapphic book that takes place in a zombie apocalypse, consider reading this.
Winter has a way with words. I highlighted a lot in my ebook. There were beautifully written sentences. And some sentences were such a mood. The characters of Tara and Valley were intriguing. There's a lot going on in the minds of these women. They suffered and continue to suffer as they treck the zombie infested world. Their romance was hot and primal, but there was also a tenderness between them. I was touched by how Valley cared for a vulnerable Tara.
Everything Crumbles might have been a bit fast paced and primal for me though. I also would have loved more build up when Valley saw the zombie. Overall, I liked the book and thought it was a cool dark sapphic apocalypse story.
This was an arc read. I'm grateful to the author for the opportunity I had to read this book.
-----
Content warning (not complete list)
Attempted sa, cnc, murder, degradation, C-PTSD and panic attacks.
For more info check out the content warning in the book.
-----
About the book
Novella
Book 1 of series.
You can read this as a standalone.
Written in first person pov. Dual pov.
Spice: medium
-----
Everything Crumbles is a sapphic post apocalypse romance about two women who are trying to survive a harsh world as they explore their connection and fight their own inner demons. If you're looking for a dark, quick and spicy sapphic book that takes place in a zombie apocalypse, consider reading this.
Winter has a way with words. I highlighted a lot in my ebook. There were beautifully written sentences. And some sentences were such a mood. The characters of Tara and Valley were intriguing. There's a lot going on in the minds of these women. They suffered and continue to suffer as they treck the zombie infested world. Their romance was hot and primal, but there was also a tenderness between them. I was touched by how Valley cared for a vulnerable Tara.
Everything Crumbles might have been a bit fast paced and primal for me though. I also would have loved more build up when Valley saw the zombie. Overall, I liked the book and thought it was a cool dark sapphic apocalypse story.
This was an arc read. I'm grateful to the author for the opportunity I had to read this book.
June 5, 2025
I received an ARC of this book.
- Zombie Apocalypse
- Sapphic Romance
- Primal Urges
- Mental Health Representation
Since losing her partner Em—now one of them—Valley has been alone, haunted by the cruel echo of Em’s voice in her mind. She drifts through the woods, questioning whether survival is even worth it. Tara, hardened by trauma, has long stopped mourning the past. Survival is all she knows. When she spots Valley in the wild, instinct kicks in—she has to follow, has to catch her. But as their paths entwine, both women must confront the ghosts that haunt them. Can they learn to trust one another, or will the weight of their pasts tear them apart before they have a chance to survive together?
This was a fast-paced, spicy read! While set in a zombie apocalypse, the story focuses more on raw survival and the characters’ struggles with mental health than on the undead. Both leads carry deeply unique traumas and complex personalities. Honestly, I’m not sure they would’ve made sense together in the world before—and that’s what makes their connection so compelling. In each other, they find comfort, strength, and the freedom to let their demons breathe.
- Zombie Apocalypse
- Sapphic Romance
- Primal Urges
- Mental Health Representation
Since losing her partner Em—now one of them—Valley has been alone, haunted by the cruel echo of Em’s voice in her mind. She drifts through the woods, questioning whether survival is even worth it. Tara, hardened by trauma, has long stopped mourning the past. Survival is all she knows. When she spots Valley in the wild, instinct kicks in—she has to follow, has to catch her. But as their paths entwine, both women must confront the ghosts that haunt them. Can they learn to trust one another, or will the weight of their pasts tear them apart before they have a chance to survive together?
This was a fast-paced, spicy read! While set in a zombie apocalypse, the story focuses more on raw survival and the characters’ struggles with mental health than on the undead. Both leads carry deeply unique traumas and complex personalities. Honestly, I’m not sure they would’ve made sense together in the world before—and that’s what makes their connection so compelling. In each other, they find comfort, strength, and the freedom to let their demons breathe.
June 7, 2025
Very honored to have received an ARC of Everything Crumbles from the author. Okay, I don’t generally go for a novella, I understand they are meant to be short but I love to get hit across the eyeballs with nearly 400 pages and over - I always feel like something somewhere was rushed or skipped. That being said, I have wanted to read a dystopian romance for a bit. Even at the end of the world, or the new beginning, our person is our person and we deserve to find them, yes?? Or…is it finding another broken person in the nothing, latching on and refusing to go back to solitude??
3.75/5 for me. Turns out, it might be something in the middle. I had a generally good time with Tara and Valley. I am for sure interested in learning more about each of them individually but would love a deep dive into Tara’s psyche. Felt like two broken people finding each other and giving each other the space to be who they are and heal how they need. I did feel an appreciation within the characters to each other for this. And the ways in which they sort of, white knighted the other was sweet. Also, these THEM, seem cooooool and hope to see some hive mind mentality in the next to come.
3.75/5 for me. Turns out, it might be something in the middle. I had a generally good time with Tara and Valley. I am for sure interested in learning more about each of them individually but would love a deep dive into Tara’s psyche. Felt like two broken people finding each other and giving each other the space to be who they are and heal how they need. I did feel an appreciation within the characters to each other for this. And the ways in which they sort of, white knighted the other was sweet. Also, these THEM, seem cooooool and hope to see some hive mind mentality in the next to come.
June 22, 2025
Everything Crumbles is a cleverly written FF apocalyptic romance that delivers vivid imagery and a good amount of spice 🌶️🌶️ The world Tara and Valley are navigating feels bleak and is painted with perfect descriptive language that makes feel like you’re right there with them.
The snarky banter between the main characters had me hooked right off the bat ! It seriously adds to the tension but brings a bit of charm without taking away from the gravity of their situation. I especially resonated with Valley’s inner battles, especially the ongoing mental battle with the voice of her dead (undead) ex. It added a unique layer of grief and complexity to her character.
What I would change if anything? I would’ve loved to have seen a bit more direct conflict or danger from the apocalyptic world around them. The outside dangers briefly creep in but would have loved that to build for longer.
And spice-wise? Solid 🥵 While I’m a sucker for a slower burn this had plenty of banter to keep me thoroughly engaged
The snarky banter between the main characters had me hooked right off the bat ! It seriously adds to the tension but brings a bit of charm without taking away from the gravity of their situation. I especially resonated with Valley’s inner battles, especially the ongoing mental battle with the voice of her dead (undead) ex. It added a unique layer of grief and complexity to her character.
What I would change if anything? I would’ve loved to have seen a bit more direct conflict or danger from the apocalyptic world around them. The outside dangers briefly creep in but would have loved that to build for longer.
And spice-wise? Solid 🥵 While I’m a sucker for a slower burn this had plenty of banter to keep me thoroughly engaged
December 27, 2025
Duel 1st Person POV. 4🌟 2🌶️. 129 pages
Everything Crumbles is a post apocalyptic sapphic romance novella. It follows Valley a bratty femme who is being haunted my her narcissistic, gaslighting zombie ex and Tara a traumatised masc ex foster kid. Their relationship begins when Tara stumbles upon Valley in the woods and proceeds to stalk her and basically force herself into the same orbit as Valley.
I thoroughly enjoyed this short zombie novella, I think it’s the first I have read (despite being a horror academic). The book has an almost lyrical feel to the way it is written, which made it pleasant and scratched my brain in the best possible way. It also has very minimal dialogue which was a new one for me and will take some getting used to if I come across it again. Overall I’d highly recommend giving Everything Crumbles a read.
Must Read if you Love:
✨Lesbian Romance
✨Post Apocalyptic Romance
✨Zombies
✨Masc Stalkers
✨Bratty Femmes
✨Getting Revenge on both Narcissistic Ex’s and
Entitled Men
✨Insta Obsession
✨Dom/Sub Dynamics
✨Dashes of Spice
Everything Crumbles is a post apocalyptic sapphic romance novella. It follows Valley a bratty femme who is being haunted my her narcissistic, gaslighting zombie ex and Tara a traumatised masc ex foster kid. Their relationship begins when Tara stumbles upon Valley in the woods and proceeds to stalk her and basically force herself into the same orbit as Valley.
I thoroughly enjoyed this short zombie novella, I think it’s the first I have read (despite being a horror academic). The book has an almost lyrical feel to the way it is written, which made it pleasant and scratched my brain in the best possible way. It also has very minimal dialogue which was a new one for me and will take some getting used to if I come across it again. Overall I’d highly recommend giving Everything Crumbles a read.
Must Read if you Love:
✨Lesbian Romance
✨Post Apocalyptic Romance
✨Zombies
✨Masc Stalkers
✨Bratty Femmes
✨Getting Revenge on both Narcissistic Ex’s and
Entitled Men
✨Insta Obsession
✨Dom/Sub Dynamics
✨Dashes of Spice
June 22, 2025
Reviewed by Natalie for Saucy Reviews on Kinky Korner
An enjoyable read.
With their world crumbling down around them Tara and Valley have to fight for survival but also fight to trust each other if they are to be together.
A really good story of two woman who have both overcome hardship and torment and come out stronger because of it.
If you crave, intense, passion with an apocalyptic back drop then this story is for you. Great read.
*ARC received in exchange for an honest review*
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
An enjoyable read.
With their world crumbling down around them Tara and Valley have to fight for survival but also fight to trust each other if they are to be together.
A really good story of two woman who have both overcome hardship and torment and come out stronger because of it.
If you crave, intense, passion with an apocalyptic back drop then this story is for you. Great read.
*ARC received in exchange for an honest review*
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
September 3, 2025
That was...not what I expected. I was anticipating more of the survival, less of the...spice. (Sorry, you lost me at the spitting. Spitting in someone's mouth is not sexy, you cannot change my mind on this.) But there is this weird, inexplicable trust between them from the beginning. And the survival aspect feels like background noise in most scenes. I want to appreciate the idea of them but to do that, I needed more. And that's the other thing; this book is short. I know it has a sequel, which already puts it a step ahead of Hearing Red, but you just cannot write short survival stories and cram in all the tension and suspense the story requires. If someone can prove me wrong, I'm game, but I have yet to see it. Also, this story kept having flashbacks, and the only thing about those that was clear was Valley's abusive relationship. I couldn't always tell when we switched, which made the back-and-forth confusing. Probably not reaching for the sequel.
June 13, 2025
I was given an ARC copy of Everything Crumbles by author Ellen Winter.
Everything Crumbles is a sapphic zombie apocalypse story, where two survivors, Tara and Valley, are trying to find a way and reason to go on. This book does have trigger warnings and I do recommend reviewing them before reading. The author, Ellen, did a good job of depicting how traumatizing it can be mentally to find yourself alone at the darkest moment anyone could face. Tara and Valley come together in a primal way which fits the chaotic time they find themselves in. There is a few format issues where the prologue is repeated and a few sentences in chapter 14 are also repeated, but this just might be an ebook formating issue. Overall, this book is a quick primal sapphic read focused on leaning into primal urges while trying to survive mentally and physically.
Everything Crumbles is a sapphic zombie apocalypse story, where two survivors, Tara and Valley, are trying to find a way and reason to go on. This book does have trigger warnings and I do recommend reviewing them before reading. The author, Ellen, did a good job of depicting how traumatizing it can be mentally to find yourself alone at the darkest moment anyone could face. Tara and Valley come together in a primal way which fits the chaotic time they find themselves in. There is a few format issues where the prologue is repeated and a few sentences in chapter 14 are also repeated, but this just might be an ebook formating issue. Overall, this book is a quick primal sapphic read focused on leaning into primal urges while trying to survive mentally and physically.
June 18, 2025
4.25⭐️
I got an arc, but my rating/review are my own!
are you looking for a quick, smutt read?? that is it!!!
this was so good and so hottt!!!🫣🫣 the tension and banter between them?? so damm hottt and the spicy so damm good!!!
quotes:
••
"𝖄𝖔𝖚 𝖍𝖆𝖛𝖊 𝖆𝖑𝖑 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖕𝖔𝖜𝖊𝖗, 𝕿𝖆𝖗𝖆. 𝖄𝖔𝖚 𝖐𝖓𝖔𝖜 𝖊𝖝𝖆𝖈𝖙𝖑𝖞 𝖜𝖍𝖆𝖙 𝖙𝖔 𝖘𝖆𝖞 𝖙𝖔 𝖒𝖆𝖐𝖊 𝖎𝖙 𝖘𝖙𝖔𝖕. (...)
𝕵𝖚𝖘𝖙 𝖙𝖗𝖞 𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝖉𝖊𝖓𝖞 𝖒𝖊. 𝖄𝖔𝖚 𝖐𝖓𝖔𝖜 𝖞𝖔𝖚 𝖈𝖆𝖓'𝖙."
••
"𝓟𝓻𝓮𝓽𝓮𝓷𝓭𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓼𝓸 𝓱𝓪𝓻𝓭, 𝓪𝓻𝓮𝓷'𝓽 𝔀𝓮. 𝓦𝓪𝓷𝓽 𝓶𝓮 𝓽𝓸 𝓼𝓽𝓸𝓹?"
"𝓕𝓾𝓬𝓴 𝓸𝓯𝓯."
"𝓞𝓾𝓬𝓱 𝓣𝓪𝓻𝓪. 𝓘 𝓪𝓼𝓴𝓮𝓭 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓪 𝓺𝓾𝓮𝓼𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷. 𝓓𝓸 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝔀𝓪𝓷𝓽 𝓶𝓮 𝓽𝓸 𝓼𝓽𝓸𝓹? 𝓞𝓻 𝓪𝓻𝓮 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓮𝓷𝓳𝓸𝔂𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓪𝓶𝓪𝔃𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓵𝓲𝓽𝓽𝓵𝓮 𝓽𝓸𝓸 𝓶𝓾𝓬𝓱?"
"𝓨𝓸𝓾 𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮 𝓫𝓮𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓶𝔂 𝓵𝓲𝓽𝓽𝓵𝓮 𝓼𝓵𝓾𝓽, 𝓣𝓪𝓻𝓪. 𝓨𝓸𝓾'𝓿𝓮 𝓫𝓮𝓮𝓷 𝔀𝓪𝓲𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼, 𝓱𝓪𝓿𝓮𝓷'𝓽 𝔂𝓸𝓾? 𝓑𝓮𝓽𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝓳𝓾𝓼𝓽 𝓪𝓭𝓶𝓲𝓽 𝓲𝓽. 𝓘𝓯 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝔀𝓪𝓷𝓽 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓽𝓸 𝓬𝓸𝓷𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓾𝓮, 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓲𝓼."
••
"𝖄𝖔𝖚'𝖗𝖊 𝖒𝖎𝖓𝖊, 𝖆𝖗𝖊𝖓'𝖙 𝖞𝖔𝖚?"
"𝕴'𝖒 𝖞𝖔𝖚𝖗𝖘"
••
tropes:
☆🍁dark romance
☆🍁sapphic
☆🍁zombie apocalypse
☆🍁love at first stalking
☆🍁no men but dead men
☆🍁feral brat
☆🍁cnc
☆🍁blindfold
☆🍁begging
☆🍁both pov's
I got an arc, but my rating/review are my own!
are you looking for a quick, smutt read?? that is it!!!
this was so good and so hottt!!!🫣🫣 the tension and banter between them?? so damm hottt and the spicy so damm good!!!
quotes:
••
"𝖄𝖔𝖚 𝖍𝖆𝖛𝖊 𝖆𝖑𝖑 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖕𝖔𝖜𝖊𝖗, 𝕿𝖆𝖗𝖆. 𝖄𝖔𝖚 𝖐𝖓𝖔𝖜 𝖊𝖝𝖆𝖈𝖙𝖑𝖞 𝖜𝖍𝖆𝖙 𝖙𝖔 𝖘𝖆𝖞 𝖙𝖔 𝖒𝖆𝖐𝖊 𝖎𝖙 𝖘𝖙𝖔𝖕. (...)
𝕵𝖚𝖘𝖙 𝖙𝖗𝖞 𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝖉𝖊𝖓𝖞 𝖒𝖊. 𝖄𝖔𝖚 𝖐𝖓𝖔𝖜 𝖞𝖔𝖚 𝖈𝖆𝖓'𝖙."
••
"𝓟𝓻𝓮𝓽𝓮𝓷𝓭𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓼𝓸 𝓱𝓪𝓻𝓭, 𝓪𝓻𝓮𝓷'𝓽 𝔀𝓮. 𝓦𝓪𝓷𝓽 𝓶𝓮 𝓽𝓸 𝓼𝓽𝓸𝓹?"
"𝓕𝓾𝓬𝓴 𝓸𝓯𝓯."
"𝓞𝓾𝓬𝓱 𝓣𝓪𝓻𝓪. 𝓘 𝓪𝓼𝓴𝓮𝓭 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓪 𝓺𝓾𝓮𝓼𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷. 𝓓𝓸 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝔀𝓪𝓷𝓽 𝓶𝓮 𝓽𝓸 𝓼𝓽𝓸𝓹? 𝓞𝓻 𝓪𝓻𝓮 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓮𝓷𝓳𝓸𝔂𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓪𝓶𝓪𝔃𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓵𝓲𝓽𝓽𝓵𝓮 𝓽𝓸𝓸 𝓶𝓾𝓬𝓱?"
"𝓨𝓸𝓾 𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮 𝓫𝓮𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓶𝔂 𝓵𝓲𝓽𝓽𝓵𝓮 𝓼𝓵𝓾𝓽, 𝓣𝓪𝓻𝓪. 𝓨𝓸𝓾'𝓿𝓮 𝓫𝓮𝓮𝓷 𝔀𝓪𝓲𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼, 𝓱𝓪𝓿𝓮𝓷'𝓽 𝔂𝓸𝓾? 𝓑𝓮𝓽𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝓳𝓾𝓼𝓽 𝓪𝓭𝓶𝓲𝓽 𝓲𝓽. 𝓘𝓯 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝔀𝓪𝓷𝓽 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓽𝓸 𝓬𝓸𝓷𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓾𝓮, 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓲𝓼."
••
"𝖄𝖔𝖚'𝖗𝖊 𝖒𝖎𝖓𝖊, 𝖆𝖗𝖊𝖓'𝖙 𝖞𝖔𝖚?"
"𝕴'𝖒 𝖞𝖔𝖚𝖗𝖘"
••
tropes:
☆🍁dark romance
☆🍁sapphic
☆🍁zombie apocalypse
☆🍁love at first stalking
☆🍁no men but dead men
☆🍁feral brat
☆🍁cnc
☆🍁blindfold
☆🍁begging
☆🍁both pov's
October 30, 2026
Everything Crumbles by Ellen Winter was a book I wanted to love, but I just couldn't get there.
The story felt disjointed and confusing, as though the author had a million ideas that could have been fantastic but never quite came together. We jump from sex to the end of the world, then a hunt, then a car and honestly, it gave me whiplash. I struggled to follow the direction of the story and found myself more confused as I read.
There was potential here, and I genuinely think the ideas could have made for a fantastic book with a little more cohesion. However, I walked away feeling disappointed rather than satisfied. Ultimately, it felt more like a short story about fighting personal demons than surviving a true apocalypse. Sadly, this one just wasn't for me.
The story felt disjointed and confusing, as though the author had a million ideas that could have been fantastic but never quite came together. We jump from sex to the end of the world, then a hunt, then a car and honestly, it gave me whiplash. I struggled to follow the direction of the story and found myself more confused as I read.
There was potential here, and I genuinely think the ideas could have made for a fantastic book with a little more cohesion. However, I walked away feeling disappointed rather than satisfied. Ultimately, it felt more like a short story about fighting personal demons than surviving a true apocalypse. Sadly, this one just wasn't for me.
June 8, 2025
This isn’t my typical genre, but man am I so glad I took a chance on this! Whenever I had a moment I didn’t have to be a parent, I was reading Everything Crumbles. Prologue alone 🥵🥵🥵
We follow along with two women in a post apocalyptic world who have their own demons and they need to work together to fight them. There were scary moments, angry moments, and euphoric moments. The last 20 pages I had, I knew I couldn’t stop reading so as I’m sitting in the car lane dropping off my son, he’s steady talking and I’m just agreeing to whatever he said cause I was so immersed in this book 🤣 I thoroughly enjoyed this one!
We follow along with two women in a post apocalyptic world who have their own demons and they need to work together to fight them. There were scary moments, angry moments, and euphoric moments. The last 20 pages I had, I knew I couldn’t stop reading so as I’m sitting in the car lane dropping off my son, he’s steady talking and I’m just agreeing to whatever he said cause I was so immersed in this book 🤣 I thoroughly enjoyed this one!
June 22, 2025
An enjoyable read.. with their world crumbling down around them Tara and Valley have to fight for survival but also fight to trust each other if they are to be together. A really good story of two woman who have both overcome hardship and torment and come out stronger because of it. If you crave, intense, passion with an apocalyptic back drop then this story is for you. Great read.
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