Andrew Matarazzo is no stranger to fiction or drama, having appeared as an actor in series like 'Teen Wolf.' Now he brings that same passion for storytelling to the page. His three-part trilogy—BEDLAM, SWEVEN, and ZENITH—showcases his gift for immersive world-building, gripping twists, and unforgettable bonds between characters.
The perfect ending to an absolutely wild zombie adventure! Each book all leading to the finale in Zenith has its own unique world within the same apocalyptic universe. Zenith being the most contrasting and entertaining of the 3. Andrew masterfully created an ultimate divide between the cause of the virus and its consequences for those responsible and those who suffered from it. Absolutely LOVED this series. I hope this is not the end.
"People die twice. Once when their physical body passes away and again when the last person speaks their name."
The ending of ZENITH felt like a big hug — and at the same time, like I desperately needed one.
SWEVEN left us hanging with questions about the origin story of the virus, which were fastly answered in ZENITH and threw us into a whole new part of the world; an isolated utopia called Ylem. The third and final book in the series follows both Tye and Willa with a very well chosen dual point of view. Starting at different locations, their stories give us the chance to reunite with beloved characters from earlier books, while also introducing new ones — some of whom leave a lasting impression almost instantly (I have to mention Harlow, who became a new favourite the moment she appeared).
Having read BEDLAM and SWEVEN, I could really feel it in my bones that none of these characters would be safe until the very end, which kept me on the edge of my seat during the whole read. They go through hell and back, and even when there isn’t always time to mourn everything they’ve lost, Andrew still manages to capture their emotions in a painfully real way — their suffering, their anger towards their enemies, and the love they hold for each other. It gives them the drive and determination needed to see this journey through, no matter the cost.
After the first two books, I couldn’t imagine this story ever coming to an end — yet ZENITH never loses its pace. Instead, it carefully builds tension towards a powerful and emotional finale, leaving no question unanswered. I found myself making predictions along the way, thinking I knew where this would end — something that usually leads to disappointment for me. This time, however, the ending couldn’t have been any more perfect and I am sure it will leave everyone completely hooked and holding their breath until the last page. Andrew even managed to still keep a small opening for a possible spin-off epilogue, which I am honestly dying to read.
Even if this third book is longer than the other two, it didn't seem long at all as the story unfolded through the alternating points of view of Tye and Willa. I was both curious and worried to find out what would happen to the group of friends we followed since book 1, and then new friends added to the number of characters for me to be worried about. (Not that I'm complaining. I liked them, so I wanted them safe too.) I'll have to read the whole series again someday. It'll be nice to read it more calmly, knowing what to expect.