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SHAMBLERS: PROJECT: E.V.O.L.V.E., Book One.
SHAMBLERS
E.V.O.L.V.E., Book One
The world did not end with fire. It ended with a cure.
When a “miracle vaccine” spreads across the globe, families line up for salvation. Within days, salvation becomes horror. The PCH vaccine rewrites the human body, turning ordinary people into the soulless predators driven by hunger and rage. Civilization collapses in weeks.
For Caleb Warren, a combat veteran already haunted by scars both visible and unseen, survival is not a choice. His wife Alyssa and their daughters, Raven and Jamie, are everything to him. Keeping them alive means pushing past the nightmares of his past and the horrors clawing at their doors. Every decision carries one brutal hesitate and they all die.
In another town, Caleb’s brother Nate faces the apocalypse with arrogance and denial, convinced he can control what is coming. The cost of his mistakes will be greater than he ever imagined. Families fracture, loyalties are tested, and love becomes both a weapon and a weakness when the dead refuse to stay dead.
As the infection spreads, survivors begin to realize the virus is evolving. The first wave created shamblers, slow husks with gnashing teeth. But something worse waits in the stronger, faster, and far more intelligent. Humanity is not just fighting to survive the present. A darker future is already taking shape.
Tense, visceral, and unapologetically human, SHAMBLERS is the first book in E.V.O.L.V.E., a relentless new series that blends raw family drama with brutal survival horror. Fans of The Last of Us, World War Z, and The Walking Dead will find a story that feels terrifyingly real.
The end is not coming. It has already begun.
E.V.O.L.V.E., Book One
The world did not end with fire. It ended with a cure.
When a “miracle vaccine” spreads across the globe, families line up for salvation. Within days, salvation becomes horror. The PCH vaccine rewrites the human body, turning ordinary people into the soulless predators driven by hunger and rage. Civilization collapses in weeks.
For Caleb Warren, a combat veteran already haunted by scars both visible and unseen, survival is not a choice. His wife Alyssa and their daughters, Raven and Jamie, are everything to him. Keeping them alive means pushing past the nightmares of his past and the horrors clawing at their doors. Every decision carries one brutal hesitate and they all die.
In another town, Caleb’s brother Nate faces the apocalypse with arrogance and denial, convinced he can control what is coming. The cost of his mistakes will be greater than he ever imagined. Families fracture, loyalties are tested, and love becomes both a weapon and a weakness when the dead refuse to stay dead.
As the infection spreads, survivors begin to realize the virus is evolving. The first wave created shamblers, slow husks with gnashing teeth. But something worse waits in the stronger, faster, and far more intelligent. Humanity is not just fighting to survive the present. A darker future is already taking shape.
Tense, visceral, and unapologetically human, SHAMBLERS is the first book in E.V.O.L.V.E., a relentless new series that blends raw family drama with brutal survival horror. Fans of The Last of Us, World War Z, and The Walking Dead will find a story that feels terrifyingly real.
The end is not coming. It has already begun.
333 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 13, 2025
4 people are currently reading
4 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 30, 2026
No spoilers as usual.
Shamblers: Project: E.V.O.L.V.E. grabbed me almost immediately because it doesn’t open like a typical zombie novel—it opens like a promise that something has gone very, very wrong at the most trusted level. There’s a raw immediacy to the way the world falls apart, and it feels uncomfortably plausible. What hooked me most wasn’t the chaos itself, but the perspective: this is a deeply personal apocalypse, filtered through fear, responsibility, and the instinct to protect what matters most when everything else is burning.
What really kept me turning pages was the emotional weight behind the survival. This isn’t just about running from the infected; it’s about the exhaustion, the constant second-guessing, and the quiet moments where hope feels like a dangerous luxury. The characters feel grounded and human, reacting not like action heroes, but like people who are terrified and still moving forward anyway. The horror lands harder because it’s paired with love, guilt, and the crushing pressure of knowing that one mistake could cost everything.
By the time I finished, what lingered wasn’t just the threat of the shamblers—it was the tension of how fragile humanity feels in this world. Project: E.V.O.L.V.E. doesn’t try to reinvent the apocalypse; instead, it sharpens it, making every choice feel heavy and every moment earned. If you’re looking for a zombie story that balances relentless tension with genuine heart, this one pulls you in quietly… and then refuses to let go.
Shamblers: Project: E.V.O.L.V.E. grabbed me almost immediately because it doesn’t open like a typical zombie novel—it opens like a promise that something has gone very, very wrong at the most trusted level. There’s a raw immediacy to the way the world falls apart, and it feels uncomfortably plausible. What hooked me most wasn’t the chaos itself, but the perspective: this is a deeply personal apocalypse, filtered through fear, responsibility, and the instinct to protect what matters most when everything else is burning.
What really kept me turning pages was the emotional weight behind the survival. This isn’t just about running from the infected; it’s about the exhaustion, the constant second-guessing, and the quiet moments where hope feels like a dangerous luxury. The characters feel grounded and human, reacting not like action heroes, but like people who are terrified and still moving forward anyway. The horror lands harder because it’s paired with love, guilt, and the crushing pressure of knowing that one mistake could cost everything.
By the time I finished, what lingered wasn’t just the threat of the shamblers—it was the tension of how fragile humanity feels in this world. Project: E.V.O.L.V.E. doesn’t try to reinvent the apocalypse; instead, it sharpens it, making every choice feel heavy and every moment earned. If you’re looking for a zombie story that balances relentless tension with genuine heart, this one pulls you in quietly… and then refuses to let go.
January 30, 2026
Shamblers by M.A. Lay has a really strong and original concept: a vaccine meant to save the world instead causes death—and reanimation—with each blood type creating a different kind of zombie variant. That idea alone kept me interested.
The story follows a family trying to survive as the world falls apart, eventually joining others to form a group. The survival elements work well, and the premise is easily the highlight of the book.
For me, the story became a little harder to connect with as the cast expanded quickly, and some of the dialogue felt a bit stiff, which lessened the impact of a few emotional moments. That said, I still think this is a solid, average read with a unique twist on the zombie genre, and I can see a lot of readers enjoying it for the concept alone.
The story follows a family trying to survive as the world falls apart, eventually joining others to form a group. The survival elements work well, and the premise is easily the highlight of the book.
For me, the story became a little harder to connect with as the cast expanded quickly, and some of the dialogue felt a bit stiff, which lessened the impact of a few emotional moments. That said, I still think this is a solid, average read with a unique twist on the zombie genre, and I can see a lot of readers enjoying it for the concept alone.
December 31, 2025
This book does a lot of things well. If you love zombies and guns and blood and grizzled military dudes, you'll love this book. It follows an ex-military family as they try to survive a zombie apocalypse outbreak, and all of the glory that goes along with that premise. There's a lot of action, dark moments, and even some light moments to balance it all out. Many of the characters have nicknames for each other, which is cute, and helps flesh them out as more "real". But I know what you're thinking: how are the zombies? Well, thankfully, this book isn't just boring, slow walking zombies. There are different breeds based on different mutations, each with different abilities and characteristics, which definitely keeps things spiced up. Overall, with the zombies and the guns and the blood and the grit, I see why people love this book.
However, with that being said, for me it is still a 3/5. To begin, I think there are way, way too many characters, and they all have similar names and personalities, which just blends them all together into an indistinguishable mass (except for the main two dudes and one or two of the girls). Characters quite literally enter the story by the truckloads, which lowered my investment and interest in them. Secondly, I feel the actual apocalypse happened way too quickly. There wasn't much buildup or intrigue, except for several blips about it on the news, and suddenly, the entire world was zombies. Also, as for the zombies, while the different breeds and mutations were interesting, they all still got defeated by a single bullet or stab, which didn't make them seem very threatening past the first few encounters. Finally, I wish we saw more of and learned more about the main villain, as his actions (especially the ending) didn't make much sense to me (however, this is supposed to be a trilogy, so everything might be explained in later books).
Overall, despite my gripes with the book, if you're a fan of zombies and guns and military stuff, and you enjoyed playing Black Ops zombies and want to live that experience in book form, this is the read for you.
However, with that being said, for me it is still a 3/5. To begin, I think there are way, way too many characters, and they all have similar names and personalities, which just blends them all together into an indistinguishable mass (except for the main two dudes and one or two of the girls). Characters quite literally enter the story by the truckloads, which lowered my investment and interest in them. Secondly, I feel the actual apocalypse happened way too quickly. There wasn't much buildup or intrigue, except for several blips about it on the news, and suddenly, the entire world was zombies. Also, as for the zombies, while the different breeds and mutations were interesting, they all still got defeated by a single bullet or stab, which didn't make them seem very threatening past the first few encounters. Finally, I wish we saw more of and learned more about the main villain, as his actions (especially the ending) didn't make much sense to me (however, this is supposed to be a trilogy, so everything might be explained in later books).
Overall, despite my gripes with the book, if you're a fan of zombies and guns and military stuff, and you enjoyed playing Black Ops zombies and want to live that experience in book form, this is the read for you.
December 7, 2025
4⭐️ absolutely gripping, must read.
This book is one of those rare dystopian thrillers that grabs you by the throat from page one and does not let go. The author builds a world that feels terrifyingly possible. It’s dark, gritty, and filled with the kind of tension that makes you forget to blink.
The pacing is immaculate. Every chapter peels back another layer of mystery, science, and survival, and just when you think you’ve figured out where it’s going… it evolves. The Shamblers are genuinely unnerving and brilliantly imagined, but what elevates the story is the human element. The characters are flawed, resilient, and easy to root for, each carrying secrets and scars that make the stakes feel real.
Lay’s writing is cinematic without ever losing emotional depth. The action hits hard, and the twists are delivered with precision. You can feel the dread creeping in with every scene, but also that spark of hope that keeps you turning pages like your life depends on it.
If you love dystopian horror, biopunk vibes, or stories that blend science and suspense with heart, this book is for you. Easily one of the most addictive reads of the year. Highly recommend. no hesitation.
This book is one of those rare dystopian thrillers that grabs you by the throat from page one and does not let go. The author builds a world that feels terrifyingly possible. It’s dark, gritty, and filled with the kind of tension that makes you forget to blink.
The pacing is immaculate. Every chapter peels back another layer of mystery, science, and survival, and just when you think you’ve figured out where it’s going… it evolves. The Shamblers are genuinely unnerving and brilliantly imagined, but what elevates the story is the human element. The characters are flawed, resilient, and easy to root for, each carrying secrets and scars that make the stakes feel real.
Lay’s writing is cinematic without ever losing emotional depth. The action hits hard, and the twists are delivered with precision. You can feel the dread creeping in with every scene, but also that spark of hope that keeps you turning pages like your life depends on it.
If you love dystopian horror, biopunk vibes, or stories that blend science and suspense with heart, this book is for you. Easily one of the most addictive reads of the year. Highly recommend. no hesitation.
October 28, 2025
I devoured this one rather quickly. It somewhat reminded me of the Brother's Creed series. Matthew's seminal publication is a fast-paced, action packed nose dive into a familiar zombie apocalypse albeit with enough of a twist to keep the story fresh and interesting. The characters are larger than life and this series has so much potential. It evoked in me a lot of nostalgia as it almost mirrors the structure of many popular survival horror games that defined the genre.
This book excels at what it does and it doesn't pretend to be something it's not. It's a churning tale of a family facing unimaginable horrors in an undead world and navigating the trouble to come.
I'm just so impressed at how quickly the author was able to get this out and I'm looking forward to the future entries in the trilogy. It was a bloody good time with loads of gun fights, gore, and humor.
This book excels at what it does and it doesn't pretend to be something it's not. It's a churning tale of a family facing unimaginable horrors in an undead world and navigating the trouble to come.
I'm just so impressed at how quickly the author was able to get this out and I'm looking forward to the future entries in the trilogy. It was a bloody good time with loads of gun fights, gore, and humor.
December 29, 2025
This book really kept me wanting to know what was going to happen next in the story. Some of the plot twists were sad and others were very much so not what I would have expected at all. It really shocked me how I was able to get into it due to the fact that I am not typically a person that really likes anything to do with zombies. But I will say that the storyline really did kept me fascinated. The ending of this book ended in a major cliffhanger and has made me have more questions than answers.
October 1, 2025
I devoured this book! The zombies are fantastic! The characters are real. Then stakes are high. Hints and foreshadowing along the way. Check out my review over on my blog! I also interviewed the author!
https://nyxseshat.wordpress.com/2025/...
https://nyxseshat.wordpress.com/2025/...
October 17, 2025
This book was absolutely amazing!
I've never read anything about zombies like this! Even amidst the horror of it all, there was humor that had me dying laughing. If you haven't already, snag this book! It's worth it!
I've never read anything about zombies like this! Even amidst the horror of it all, there was humor that had me dying laughing. If you haven't already, snag this book! It's worth it!
November 23, 2025
A haunting zombie horror/thriller.
Zombie stories aren't generally my preferred genre, but this was deep and emotional with a twist unlike other zombie stories.
Zombie stories aren't generally my preferred genre, but this was deep and emotional with a twist unlike other zombie stories.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews