Fear the Rage

by Milo de Moss

New York City

The Rage is quickly spreading.

Soon, it will be too late to escape.

Evan - The Rage has taken someone I love, and it’s only a matter of time before it claims another. I won’t allow it to have Tyler, too. I will protect him until my last breath because he matters the most. And I will stop at nothing to smuggle him out of the neighborhood where the government holds us captive.

Tyler - Am I strong enough to survive this pandemic? Evan claims to know a way out, but he’s being secretive. It makes me anxious though I know I'm safe with him. Hopefully, I can keep my feelings in check as we risk our lives to escape.

Before we’re free, there are a few details (and feelings) to iron out as we embark on the unknown.

With so much to say, will we come to terms with who we are and how we feel? Or will we fall victim to The Rage, becoming mindless monsters with a taste for flesh?

90 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 23, 2025

Reviews

[Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

“𝙸 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚘 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚑𝚊𝚜 𝚊𝚕𝚠𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚖𝚢 𝚏𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚑𝚘𝚕𝚍.”

Ok well I didn't expect to be in tears at the end of this but here we are. Tyler and Evan are bff's who become briefly separated when Tyler's neighborhood is quarantined due to The Rage...but then Evan unexpectedly shows up and they begin to figure things out together. They've been friends since they were toddlers, together is the only thing they know - it brings a certain layer of comfort and familiarity to the uncertain situation they're in.

I love their rituals; breakfast biscuits, barbershop talks, the glimpses into how their friendship built into what keeps them safe together now. Their bond is deeply intimate - cuddles, unspoken understanding - soulmates in the truest sense, even if it’s not romantic. I loved Evan’s journey to himself and how, ultimately, it felt like it strengthened what he shared with Tyler. They're so intertwined that the idea of the other being alone or unsafe is unfathomable - we've got less than 100 pages here and I was able to feel every bit of how deeply they cared for each other. The ending was uncertain but hopeful and will keep me wishing we had more time with them.

[Arleny]

Why am I called to this book? I need to have read it yesterday (literally bc that’s when it came out 😭)

[Justin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartbreak feels good in a place like this?? A debut novella that left my JAW ON THE FLOOR. Like ??? Milo how DARE you!! (I say this with love) This was a great twist on your typical zombie story.

Milo's writing was fresh, cinematic, heartbreaking and beautifully nostalgic. Evan and Tyler are two boys who love each other so much. While not romantic love, Milo does a wonderful job showing the platonic intimacy two queer people can have though their actions and conversations. The world needs more of this! It really is something special. Incredible how I was able to bond with Evan and Tyler in such a small amount of pages!

I loved Milo using food as a story telling device. As a latino myself, I loooved seeing gansitos, conchas, and Nescafé mentioned. Food is such a wonderful way to bond with people and show love to each other. Having these foods in the story really helped me feel the yearning and nostalgia of days before "the Rage" took over.

I really enjoyed this one and wish it would become a full length novel someday!

Congratulations on your debut, Milo! Thank you for sending me an early copy of your work in exchange for a honest review.

[Betsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

» 🖤 » a bittersweet queer novella about friendship and acceptance in an unforgiving apocalyptic setting « 🖤 «

omg what did i just read, i was not prepared!!🤧🤧🤧
will there be any continuation to this novella, plss i'm begging, i need more😭😭

this was tragic yet beautiful, heartbreaking yet fun.
how??

i loved the world building & the writing style, i was totally hooked! tho at times the MCs' convos felt a bit unrealistic? like, that's not exactly how normal convos usually go, yk? but that's my only complaint.

and still, i loved the MCs' fun banter, their sweet moments they shared, all the platonic cuddles & little touches, forehead kisses - even when things turned dark; despite all the hardships.. the friendship, the bond, the love they shared were so heartfelt. they weren't lovers, but they were soulmates. they weren't perfect yet they felt perfect. i loved them. i couldn't not. they made me mad sad too🤧 but they had my heart🖤

this novella honestly made me feel so many emotions, many of them being contradictory. i loved it but also hated it, respectfully. it was brilliant. i applaud the author for writing such a great debut. it also has an open-ending (yes, i hate these; no, idk why i still do this to myself..) & there was a very tiny hint that there could potentially be more? so i'm hoping this isn't the end bc this can't be goodbye🤧🖤

[ this review might be more chaotic than usual, i might try to put my thoughts together better later to make more sense, haha. my brain is fried atm & my heart is bleeding a little, with all honesty. at the same time, i'm really glad i gave this novella a chance, and i appreciate the opportunity to get an ARC from the author. ]

➥ ǫᴜᴇᴇʀ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟʟᴀ
➥ ғɪʀsᴛ-ᴘᴇʀsᴏɴ, ᴅᴜᴀʟ ᴘᴏᴠ
◌ ᴄʜɪʟᴅʜᴏᴏᴅ ʙᴇsᴛɪᴇs
◌ ᴄᴏᴅᴇᴘᴇɴᴅᴇɴᴄʏ
◌ ᴀᴘᴏᴄᴀʟʏᴘᴛɪᴄ sᴇᴛᴛɪɴɢ
◌ ʀᴀɢᴇʀs(/ᴢᴏᴍʙɪᴇs)
◌ ᴘʀᴏᴛᴇᴄᴛ ʜɪᴍ ᴀᴛ ᴀʟʟ ᴄᴏsᴛ
◌ ᴀᴄᴇ & ɢᴀʏ ʀᴇᴘ
◌ ʟᴀᴛɪɴx ʀᴇᴘ
◌ ᴘɪɴɪɴɢ/ʏᴇᴀʀɴɪɴɢ
◌ ᴏᴡɴ-ᴠᴏɪᴄᴇ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟʟᴀ
◌ ᴋɪɴᴅᴀ ᴄʟɪғғʏ/ᴏᴘᴇɴ-ᴇɴᴅɪɴɢ
➽ ᴛᴡ: ᴀɴxɪᴇᴛʏ/ᴘᴀɴɪᴄ ᴀᴛᴛᴀᴄᴋs, ᴅᴇᴀᴛʜ ᴏғ ᴘᴀʀᴇɴᴛ, ɢʀɪᴇғ, ᴅᴇᴘᴏʀᴛᴀᴛɪᴏɴ, ғᴏʀᴄᴇᴅ ᴄᴏɴᴛᴀɪɴᴍᴇɴᴛ, ɪʟʟɴᴇss/ɪɴғᴇᴄᴛɪᴏɴ/ᴅɪsᴇᴀsᴇ/ᴠɪʀᴜs, ᴍᴇɴᴛɪᴏɴ ᴏғ ᴍᴀss ᴅᴇᴀᴛʜs, ᴏɴ-ᴘᴀɢᴇ ᴅᴇᴀᴛʜ/ᴍᴜʀᴅᴇʀ (sᴄ), sᴛʀᴜɢɢʟᴇs ᴡɪᴛʜ sᴇxᴜᴀʟɪᴛʏ, ᴜɴᴄᴏᴍғᴏʀᴛᴀʙʟᴇ sᴇxᴜᴀʟ ᴇɴᴄᴏᴜɴᴛᴇʀ (ʙᴏʀᴅᴇʀʟɪɴᴇ ᴅᴜʙ-ᴄᴏɴ, ғᴛʙ, ɴᴏᴛ ɢʀᴀᴘʜɪᴄ), ʜᴏᴍᴏᴘʜᴏʙɪᴄ ᴘʀᴏᴘᴀɢᴀɴᴅᴀ, ᴅɪsᴄʀɪᴍɪɴᴀᴛɪᴏɴ

[Caleb Ambrose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the great pleasure of being able to sensitivity read this novella and this is my honest review:

This isn't your typical zombie story, but one that delivers a literal twist to it! It portrays the lives of lifelong best friends Ethan and Tyler in a closed-off neighbourhood of NYC during an epidemic and heavily focuses on their personal relationship and retrospective figuring out of Ethan's sexual orientation, as well as coming out.

This story is a wonderful and emotional mix of suspense, thrilling and creepy, as well as amazingly sweet moments. I also really liked what Milo did here with the obvious HIV-metaphor, especially in terms of Ethan being ace.

Something I enjoyed a lot about this short read was that Ethan and Ty's relationship is queer platonic. Two queer guys who grew up together and know each other better than anyone else, who wish they can stick with each other for the rest of their lives – but as platonic best friends. Or well, maybe more than best friends, cause their relationship is truly special and goes far beyond friendship, at least on an emotional level, not on a physical one. And as an ace person myself, I really appreciated seeing this kind of representation!

Overall, a really worthwhile read and great debut by this new author!

[Benjamin Lund · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a unique and captivating novella! I absolutely adored the friendship between Tyler and Evan. It was very clear how much they both cared for each other, and that they would do anything for one another. The concept of The Rage was an interesting take on a different type of zombie virus that felt fresh. Definitely had me a bit stressed and worried for Tyler and Evan, as a plan is put into motion to escape the city before it’s too late.

I would love to see the Rage universe explored in more depth. This novella feels like the beginning of something even bigger. Just the tip of the iceberg, and I would love to see all the horrors that lie below the surface. With that said, this is a solid novella, and I’ll definitely be keeping my eyes on this author!

[S · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book 😭😭😭😭 I’m actually scared of what this author would do with a full length novel, given how many feelings are jam packed into this novella. Wow.
The post apocalyptic vibes are visceral and so eerie, but somehow it doesn’t feel weighed down by them. That’s entirely due to Ty and Evan—omg. That opening. The way these two best friends care for each other and love each other is like a pocket of shining gold among the rough setting. The forehead kisses 😭 I won’t add spoilers, but I cried multiple times reading this story. It’s devastating, and also so gentle. I want to re-read it again when I have the emotional strength.

[anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

arc review

Fear the Rage was such a unique and fascinating read! I really enjoyed the concept and wish it had been developed into a full-length novel. The ending, though intriguing, left me wondering what truly happened to the characters. I totally recommend this novella if you're into something new.

[Vesper Doom · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sorrowful, yet sweet debut, Fear the Rage combines sexuality exploration, queer platonic love, and grief set against a "zombie" apocalypse.

[Mercedes · Rating 5 out of 5]

You’re going to need tissues for this one

[unhingedreaderaunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply breathtaking.