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Lyssalmaria: The Undead Duology - Book One
The apocalypse rendered everything Meaghan had learned at university completely useless. Only three months later, she now lives by three rules: Travel alone. Don’t stay anywhere longer than necessary. And trust absolutely no one.
If she keeps to the rules, she may be able to not only survive, but make a good life for herself in the heavily dense and easily defendable forests of northern Saskatchewan, Canada. Well, as good as you can in the aftermath of an infection ridden undead takeover of an apocalypse.
But when an overly confident and far too optimistic Jessie Baker storms in and flips her world upside down…an unlikely arrangement forces them to travel the country together and fight for survival against the undead. Crazed lunatics, deadly scenarios and heightened emotions leave a storm brewing in Meaghan unlike anything she's dealt with before.
Jesse, on the other hand, welcomes the turmoil with open arms and one goal; either die for Meghan or at her hands.
He’s ready to tear down anyone in his way for her, but will that be what tears them apart? Or can they overcome all odds?
If she keeps to the rules, she may be able to not only survive, but make a good life for herself in the heavily dense and easily defendable forests of northern Saskatchewan, Canada. Well, as good as you can in the aftermath of an infection ridden undead takeover of an apocalypse.
But when an overly confident and far too optimistic Jessie Baker storms in and flips her world upside down…an unlikely arrangement forces them to travel the country together and fight for survival against the undead. Crazed lunatics, deadly scenarios and heightened emotions leave a storm brewing in Meaghan unlike anything she's dealt with before.
Jesse, on the other hand, welcomes the turmoil with open arms and one goal; either die for Meghan or at her hands.
He’s ready to tear down anyone in his way for her, but will that be what tears them apart? Or can they overcome all odds?
305 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 31, 2025
About the author
Hayleigh Huntley
2 books8 followersHayleigh spends most of her time working with young children in early childhood, only to then come home to her own two children, husband, three cats and dog. A very, VERY busy household she lives in.
When she is not running like a crazy mad woman for work or her family, she spends her time reading and writing, mixed in with chaotic hyping up of other authors and bookish people alike. Living within Saskatchewan, Canada has made her learn to appreciate all the little things you can manage to do while living on the prairies.
Fun facts about her are: she has only old lady hobbies besides book related things, such as crocheting. She HATES the cold, if there's even a speck of snow on the ground she is bundling up in all her winter gear. And, she will always choose coffee in any form over water. Any day!
When she is not running like a crazy mad woman for work or her family, she spends her time reading and writing, mixed in with chaotic hyping up of other authors and bookish people alike. Living within Saskatchewan, Canada has made her learn to appreciate all the little things you can manage to do while living on the prairies.
Fun facts about her are: she has only old lady hobbies besides book related things, such as crocheting. She HATES the cold, if there's even a speck of snow on the ground she is bundling up in all her winter gear. And, she will always choose coffee in any form over water. Any day!
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
April 3, 2026
DNF
I really wanted to like this because I love dystopian/apocalyptic settings, but this just didn’t work for me. The writing needs work, especially for an already published book. There were noticeable grammar and punctuation issues, and overall it just felt very unpolished
On top of that, the character dynamics moved way too fast for me. The FMC is introduced as someone who survives on her own, but almost immediately teams up with a complete stranger, which didn’t feel believable
Maybe it improves later on, but I just didn’t have the patience for it, given the mechanical errors and such that pulled me out of the story awfully fast
I really wanted to like this because I love dystopian/apocalyptic settings, but this just didn’t work for me. The writing needs work, especially for an already published book. There were noticeable grammar and punctuation issues, and overall it just felt very unpolished
On top of that, the character dynamics moved way too fast for me. The FMC is introduced as someone who survives on her own, but almost immediately teams up with a complete stranger, which didn’t feel believable
Maybe it improves later on, but I just didn’t have the patience for it, given the mechanical errors and such that pulled me out of the story awfully fast
October 24, 2025
Arc review out 31st October
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
What happens when two of my favourite worlds collide? You get this book! I love horror movies, especially zombie movies and 28 days later is one of my favourite films of all time. I also love a romance book and who knew the two would meet!
This book follows Meaghan who is surviving (barely) 3 months after a huge virus outbreak. She has 3 rules; travel alone, don’t stay anywhere longer than necessary and trust no one. When Jesse turns up it throws all of her rules out of the window and the last thing she was expecting was to find love.
I really enjoyed this book, it is very much survival and undead focused with the romance running as an undercurrent theme, which means the burn is slow. Which is perfect and fits with the setting so well. This book is dark and horror focuses, not just from the undead but also the other humans all fighting for survival. This book is perfect for Halloween season or any horror fan who wants a bit of spice.
Thank you so much Hayleigh for giving me the opportunity to read your book 🖤
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
What happens when two of my favourite worlds collide? You get this book! I love horror movies, especially zombie movies and 28 days later is one of my favourite films of all time. I also love a romance book and who knew the two would meet!
This book follows Meaghan who is surviving (barely) 3 months after a huge virus outbreak. She has 3 rules; travel alone, don’t stay anywhere longer than necessary and trust no one. When Jesse turns up it throws all of her rules out of the window and the last thing she was expecting was to find love.
I really enjoyed this book, it is very much survival and undead focused with the romance running as an undercurrent theme, which means the burn is slow. Which is perfect and fits with the setting so well. This book is dark and horror focuses, not just from the undead but also the other humans all fighting for survival. This book is perfect for Halloween season or any horror fan who wants a bit of spice.
Thank you so much Hayleigh for giving me the opportunity to read your book 🖤
October 25, 2025
Hayleigh is coming out swinging with this debut novel.
Meaghan is a tough girl surviving the aftermath of a virus that's changed the world. She is holding her own and doesn't need saved by anyone. I love the attitude of this character, making her someone you want to befriend and have on your side.
Jesse is exactly the comedic relief every novel needs. His optimistic personality adds the right amount of banter without losing the intensity of the situation the world has become.
I enjoyed the writing; dialog and descriptions were right on point.
The description of scenery, and the characteristics of undead - with each of their stages - pulls you right into the storyline.
Meaghan is a tough girl surviving the aftermath of a virus that's changed the world. She is holding her own and doesn't need saved by anyone. I love the attitude of this character, making her someone you want to befriend and have on your side.
Jesse is exactly the comedic relief every novel needs. His optimistic personality adds the right amount of banter without losing the intensity of the situation the world has become.
I enjoyed the writing; dialog and descriptions were right on point.
The description of scenery, and the characteristics of undead - with each of their stages - pulls you right into the storyline.
March 18, 2026
Intriguing story!
I enjoyed this post apocalyptic story, the characters and their banter kept things moving along with an interesting build to the end. FMC/MMCs characters both developed, although I wanted to know a bit more.
Time also jumped a bit within the plot (i wanted more time in some of the locations) but it didn’t detract from the story - an easy read to binge and looking forward to book 2!
I enjoyed this post apocalyptic story, the characters and their banter kept things moving along with an interesting build to the end. FMC/MMCs characters both developed, although I wanted to know a bit more.
Time also jumped a bit within the plot (i wanted more time in some of the locations) but it didn’t detract from the story - an easy read to binge and looking forward to book 2!
October 17, 2025
I really enjoyed this book! The descriptiveness of every scene was wonderful!
Sometimes it reads almost like a fan fiction, which is why I gave it five stars! It took me back to staying up late, reading until my eyes burned, enjoying every word.
I can’t wait for the next one!
Sometimes it reads almost like a fan fiction, which is why I gave it five stars! It took me back to staying up late, reading until my eyes burned, enjoying every word.
I can’t wait for the next one!
November 15, 2025
I enjoy dystopia books and zombie stories, so this was right up my alley. The story follows two people on different paths who are forced together in a survive or die scenario fighting monsters both human and undead.
The descriptiveness of the zombies and the unique staging of the disease was fantastic. Perfection gory and gross. While the writing seems choppy at times it actually gives the feel of the characters journaling their experiences firsthand as they make their way to their sanctuary.
Just when I thought it was all wrapped up, the author throws a twist at the end that threw me off and left me wanting to dive right in to the next book.
The descriptiveness of the zombies and the unique staging of the disease was fantastic. Perfection gory and gross. While the writing seems choppy at times it actually gives the feel of the characters journaling their experiences firsthand as they make their way to their sanctuary.
Just when I thought it was all wrapped up, the author throws a twist at the end that threw me off and left me wanting to dive right in to the next book.
May 1, 2026
I’m so sorry to rate this this low—I genuinely hate doing it, but I had to be honest. I received this as an ARC and was really excited by the premise.
Right away, I struggled. The prose felt very YA to me, and just adding the occasional F-bomb doesn’t make it read as adult. The MMC’s internal dialogue was especially hard to get through at times—it came across as a bit cringey.
This author has a great idea and some interesting characters, but it never really lets us sit with them. Everything feels very on-the-go, with frequent time skips that make the emotional beats feel rushed. There was a moment where the characters were separated, and it didn’t land for me—it felt far too early in their relationship for that level of impact.
The romance overall felt very YA as well, more attraction than love. I never fully believed in the connection because we’re often told how the characters feel, rather than seeing it develop through their actions.
My biggest issue was the prose itself. It felt like it needed more editing—there’s a lot of telling rather than showing, and quite a bit of exposition. If you’re after an easy read where you don’t have to put much thought into it, you might really enjoy this. It gives you most of the information upfront. Personally, I prefer to read between the lines and watch relationships develop more naturally.
I also read book two and ended up DNF’ing around the middle, then skipping to the end. And, unfortunately, there was another time jump.
I’m sorry I’m not a fan—I really wish I was. It’s clear a lot of people love these books, and I can see why they work for others.
Right away, I struggled. The prose felt very YA to me, and just adding the occasional F-bomb doesn’t make it read as adult. The MMC’s internal dialogue was especially hard to get through at times—it came across as a bit cringey.
This author has a great idea and some interesting characters, but it never really lets us sit with them. Everything feels very on-the-go, with frequent time skips that make the emotional beats feel rushed. There was a moment where the characters were separated, and it didn’t land for me—it felt far too early in their relationship for that level of impact.
The romance overall felt very YA as well, more attraction than love. I never fully believed in the connection because we’re often told how the characters feel, rather than seeing it develop through their actions.
My biggest issue was the prose itself. It felt like it needed more editing—there’s a lot of telling rather than showing, and quite a bit of exposition. If you’re after an easy read where you don’t have to put much thought into it, you might really enjoy this. It gives you most of the information upfront. Personally, I prefer to read between the lines and watch relationships develop more naturally.
I also read book two and ended up DNF’ing around the middle, then skipping to the end. And, unfortunately, there was another time jump.
I’m sorry I’m not a fan—I really wish I was. It’s clear a lot of people love these books, and I can see why they work for others.
May 22, 2026
Okay for this being my FIRST zombie apocalypse romance, I had a fun time.
This book throws you straight into survival mode... there's infected people everywhere, dangerous strangers, zero trust, and complete chaos.
Meaghan survives by following three rules: travel alone, trust no one, and never stay in one place too long. Simple enough? Wrong! Why? Well because then Jesse shows up and absolutely wrecks her routine. He’s cocky, optimistic, hiding secrets, and constantly pushing her buttons while she’s trying not to lose her mind. And the banter between them was GOOD.
I loved that Meaghan felt genuinely strong without losing her emotional depth. She can survive, fight back, and stand her ground but she still feels HUMAN.
While Jesse, is the typical MMC that can handle anything until Meaghan humbles him. ( and quickly too LOL)
The survival aspects honestly felt so believable too. Not just the zombies......but the people...... with the desperation, chaos, and absolute weirdos that would definitely emerge during the apocalypse.
By the end I immediately needed book two because now I HAVE to know what happens next.
Thanks to the author Hayleigh Huntley for the gifted book. All thoughts are mine.
Confession: If there was a zombie apocalypse.... I'd probably get caught because the enemies finally became lovers and I screamed.
QOTD: What’s your zombie apocalypse survival plan?
This book throws you straight into survival mode... there's infected people everywhere, dangerous strangers, zero trust, and complete chaos.
Meaghan survives by following three rules: travel alone, trust no one, and never stay in one place too long. Simple enough? Wrong! Why? Well because then Jesse shows up and absolutely wrecks her routine. He’s cocky, optimistic, hiding secrets, and constantly pushing her buttons while she’s trying not to lose her mind. And the banter between them was GOOD.
I loved that Meaghan felt genuinely strong without losing her emotional depth. She can survive, fight back, and stand her ground but she still feels HUMAN.
While Jesse, is the typical MMC that can handle anything until Meaghan humbles him. ( and quickly too LOL)
The survival aspects honestly felt so believable too. Not just the zombies......but the people...... with the desperation, chaos, and absolute weirdos that would definitely emerge during the apocalypse.
By the end I immediately needed book two because now I HAVE to know what happens next.
Thanks to the author Hayleigh Huntley for the gifted book. All thoughts are mine.
Confession: If there was a zombie apocalypse.... I'd probably get caught because the enemies finally became lovers and I screamed.
QOTD: What’s your zombie apocalypse survival plan?
April 15, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶
I freaking DEVOURED this book. Like… what do you mean I have a life?? I could NOT put it down.
The writing is so vivid and immersive, and since it’s set in Canada, everything felt so real and easy to picture. The apocalypse?? INSANE. Hayleigh absolutely nailed it especially the stages. It felt intense, gritty, and way too believable.
I love how Hayleigh adds in the characters’ backstories. It makes everything hit so much harder. You actually understand them, feel what they’re feeling, and get completely attached.
Meghan?? I would die for her. Her grief felt so raw and real, and she’s such a strong, badass FMC. Watching her grow and push through everything?? UGH I LOVED HER.
And JESSE??? Sir??? The “Princess” nickname?!?! I was GONE. Completely feral. No thoughts, just him 🥵
The banter between them had me kicking my feet and smiling like an idiot. It added the perfect balance to all the intensity.
This is a slow burn, but when the spice finally hits.... IT. HITS. The tension, the emotion, the intimacy
you feel everything.
And that ending?!?! I am NOT OKAY. Absolutely wrecked. Destroyed. RUINED.
That cliffhanger??? Im not okay and I need book two like yesterday.
🌶🌶
I freaking DEVOURED this book. Like… what do you mean I have a life?? I could NOT put it down.
The writing is so vivid and immersive, and since it’s set in Canada, everything felt so real and easy to picture. The apocalypse?? INSANE. Hayleigh absolutely nailed it especially the stages. It felt intense, gritty, and way too believable.
I love how Hayleigh adds in the characters’ backstories. It makes everything hit so much harder. You actually understand them, feel what they’re feeling, and get completely attached.
Meghan?? I would die for her. Her grief felt so raw and real, and she’s such a strong, badass FMC. Watching her grow and push through everything?? UGH I LOVED HER.
And JESSE??? Sir??? The “Princess” nickname?!?! I was GONE. Completely feral. No thoughts, just him 🥵
The banter between them had me kicking my feet and smiling like an idiot. It added the perfect balance to all the intensity.
This is a slow burn, but when the spice finally hits.... IT. HITS. The tension, the emotion, the intimacy
you feel everything.
And that ending?!?! I am NOT OKAY. Absolutely wrecked. Destroyed. RUINED.
That cliffhanger??? Im not okay and I need book two like yesterday.
April 15, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🔥🔥
Book 1 of The Undead Duology
Never mind surviving the chaos of whatever lies out on the open road. Or even the strangers now sleeping in the same house as us. No. I have to survive her and her witty remarks. Her challenges. Even fight my own need to protect her. Fuck me… - Jesse
This was my first Zombie Apocalypse Book and I have to say I really enjoyed it! It pulled me in and I didn't want to put it down. Really looking forward to reading Euphoria to find out what happens next!!
Meaghan is one strong FMC, I love a FMC who can hold herself and isn't going to take shit. But also is a woman so things can break her!
Jesse is your typical MMC thinks he big man until he gets knocked down a peg of two by meaghan. He is also hiding a big secret, that will either make or break their new found "partnership".
Everything about this book screams just how I could imagine the world going of this really happened. Every man for themselves with the weirdo's out to play.
I most definitely recommend this to anyone who is venturing into something new!
It does contain a few Triggers so make sure to read them. Your Mental Health Matters 💋
October 19, 2025
I REALLY enjoyed this book. It has Zombies and Romance, what more could you want?
It follows Meaghan and Jesse as they make their way thru the apocalyptic waste land the Canadian prairies have become. Her description of the different stages of zombies is amazing and I was actually grossed out by it (not a bad thing!) I loved that we could follow along on where they were headed by the use of actual places along the Trans Canada highway.
Definitely a slow burn in terms of the romance but when it happens it’s spicy! Well worth the wait.
I teared up near the end as things were beginning to wrap up , but Hayleigh delivered an amazing cliffhanger which leaves you begging to read the second book.
It follows Meaghan and Jesse as they make their way thru the apocalyptic waste land the Canadian prairies have become. Her description of the different stages of zombies is amazing and I was actually grossed out by it (not a bad thing!) I loved that we could follow along on where they were headed by the use of actual places along the Trans Canada highway.
Definitely a slow burn in terms of the romance but when it happens it’s spicy! Well worth the wait.
I teared up near the end as things were beginning to wrap up , but Hayleigh delivered an amazing cliffhanger which leaves you begging to read the second book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 19, 2025
zombie apocalypse but with smut ?? ding ding ding (no not sex with zombies get your mind out of the gutter)
i love smut , i love zombie books. To have found an apocalypse book that has both? JACKPOT.
it isnt like 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶 spicy but its enough! (i wont say no to spicer lol) considering youre in the mist of the apocalypse.
I was hooked from the beginning. and i really formed a connection to the 2 main characters.
the world building was amazing, and the in depth decriptions of everything including the zombies was awesome!
the cliffhanger tho? sooo fucking mean.
but i do still highly recommend this book. im emotionally tortured until book 2
i love smut , i love zombie books. To have found an apocalypse book that has both? JACKPOT.
it isnt like 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶 spicy but its enough! (i wont say no to spicer lol) considering youre in the mist of the apocalypse.
I was hooked from the beginning. and i really formed a connection to the 2 main characters.
the world building was amazing, and the in depth decriptions of everything including the zombies was awesome!
the cliffhanger tho? sooo fucking mean.
but i do still highly recommend this book. im emotionally tortured until book 2
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 23, 2026
This book was such a fun, unexpected win for me. It’s very survival-focused and pretty dark at times (the zombie descriptions are gross in the BEST way), with the romance running quietly underneath instead of taking over. Meaghan is a strong, capable lead who feels realistic for the world she’s in, and Jesse brings just enough humour and heart without killing the vibe. The pacing worked, the banter was AWESOME (I live for character-banter), and that ending was chef's kiss. If you like zombie apocalypse stories with slow-burn romance, this one’s worth picking up.
October 30, 2025
Super solid 3.75 sooo close to being a 4 for me!
I loved it. Zombies AND romance? What? Sign. Me. Up.
I ate that shit uppppp. The banter? Loved it. The strong female? Amazing. The silly boy? Ugh. So good.
But you know what? I want to know more about the zombies. The levels. The infection time (did I miss it?) and the 3 month jump? I’m dying over here. What happened?
I’ll definitely be waiting for book two now!
I loved it. Zombies AND romance? What? Sign. Me. Up.
I ate that shit uppppp. The banter? Loved it. The strong female? Amazing. The silly boy? Ugh. So good.
But you know what? I want to know more about the zombies. The levels. The infection time (did I miss it?) and the 3 month jump? I’m dying over here. What happened?
I’ll definitely be waiting for book two now!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 7, 2025
I very much enjoyed this story about Zombies.
Meaghan was a typical college student until she went home to find her parents had turned into zombies and were eating her younger siblings. Meghan was on her own for a while until she went into an apartment to hide out for awhile. Then in comes Jesse and he is funny and he falls hard for Jesse. He is amine to the zombie bites.
Book 2 please, after that cliffhanger :)…
I received this book as an Arc read and decided to leave an honest review.
Meaghan was a typical college student until she went home to find her parents had turned into zombies and were eating her younger siblings. Meghan was on her own for a while until she went into an apartment to hide out for awhile. Then in comes Jesse and he is funny and he falls hard for Jesse. He is amine to the zombie bites.
Book 2 please, after that cliffhanger :)…
I received this book as an Arc read and decided to leave an honest review.
January 28, 2026
WHERE IS BOOK TWO?!???
Because, wow!! That ending was perfect!! I thought it would be so heart wrenching after we watching them fall so madly in love and then be separated but it was thrilling!! Just like the rest of the book — we went from hate to love and did it all while traveling cross country during the zombie apocalypse!! Absolutely amazing!!
Because, wow!! That ending was perfect!! I thought it would be so heart wrenching after we watching them fall so madly in love and then be separated but it was thrilling!! Just like the rest of the book — we went from hate to love and did it all while traveling cross country during the zombie apocalypse!! Absolutely amazing!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 14, 2025
This book was great,not going to lie but it grossed me out in some parts but still I enjoyed it, I love zombie apocalypse survival books (and tv shows) and this book wasn't the exception
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews