Wild Silver and Lead: A Dark Military Romance

by Lexie Axelson

In a world undone by a terrifying virus, a fierce female survivor and a cruel military captain fight the living, the dead, and their lethal desire in this genre-shattering dark dystopian romance.

I survived ten years after the Raven virus turned the dead into monsters. Then elite soldier Slade Reece put a bullet through my chest.

I was searching for my family, torn from me in a raid, when the ruthless ex–Delta Force captain found me. He should have left me to die. Instead, he dragged me to his military base, where a lethal, classified armed force guards civilization in the frozen North. Outsiders are forbidden. Execution is the penalty.

Our chance encounter ignited an obsession he can’t control. His solution? Marriage—the only way to keep me alive. The my body for his protection, help finding my family for my vows.

I should hate him—I do—but hate turns to fire as he kills anyone who threatens me.

Falling for Slade is blurring everything I know about survival. But now his enemies have discovered my existence—and they’re hunting me. I must the family I’ve lost, or the devil who’s claimed me.

Genres: Dark Romance, Dystopia, Romance, Military Fiction, Enemies To Lovers, Military Romance

343 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication October 6, 2026

About the author

Lexie Axelson is a Hispanic Author from South Texas. She is a military spouse currently residing on the East Coast. She loves to pen angsty, heartbreaking love stories. When she isn't reading a book, she loves to watch horror movies and travel with her family.

Reviews

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wild Silver and Lead is a mix of The Walking Dead, The Last of Us, and a whole lot of sex.

Slade and Scottie have undeniable chemistry. Slade has a mouth on him. So many of the things he was saying to Scottie throughout the book though just gave me the ick. Why is it cool to call a 25-year-old virgin a whore repeatedly?

I felt like I wanted to know more about the civilization in general. I feel like we are missing key details as readers and maybe that’s for a particular reason as this seems to be the first in the series. Also, who is Mary? I need to know more and the cliffhanger just pissed me off.

[Raquel · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a huge The Walking Dead fan, this book had me hooked from the beginning. I love a good zombie dystopian, and the survival aspect kept me turning the pages.

This was my first dystopian dark romance, and Slade definitely didn’t disappoint. He’s ruthless, protective, and will do whatever it takes to make Scottie his. Their chemistry, the action, and the nonstop tension made this such an addictive read.

Then Lexie hit me with that plot twist… followed by THAT cliffhanger.

I literally finished the book and just sat there staring at the wall trying to process what I had just read.

🖤 Dark dystopian romance
🧟‍♀️ Post-apocalyptic survival
🪖 Morally gray military MMC
🔥 “Touch her and die”
💍 Marriage of convenience

Thank you to Lexie Axelson and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC. I’m leaving my review voluntarily, and all opinions are my own.

[BookishKB]

🩶 Wild Silver and Lead 🩶

📖 Bookish Thoughts

My full review will be shared closer to the publication date.

🩸What to Expect
• Dark Dystopian
• Military MMC
• Zombie Apocalypse
• Morally Gray Hero
• Touch Her and Die
• Forced Proximity
_ _ _

📅 Pub Date: October 6, 2026
Thank you to Montlake and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

[wisteria · Rating 5 out of 5]

first, i want to thank montlake and lexie axelson for the arc copy in exchange for an honest review. this book is set to release on october 6, 2026.

oh my god.

that’s it. that’s the review.

okay, not really, but genuinely that is the primary thought rattling around in my brain after finishing this book. the speed in which i devoured it needs to be studied. i saw this available as a read now, did a little research, and as a resident evil girlie i knew i needed this book the same way i need air to breathe.

the world building was absolutely immaculate. the setting? perfect. the flashbacks? perfect. the explanations behind the outbreak? PERFECT. every piece of information felt intentional and added another layer to the story. as someone who loves apocalyptic movies, books, and games, this was everything i could have wanted. i also loved that we got to know so much more than just slade and scottie. the supporting characters felt important and added so much life to the world.

and speaking of slade and scottie… your honor, i love them.

their banter, their chemistry, the tension, the constant will-they-won’t-they of it all had me completely hooked. they are soulmates in their own deeply fucked up apocalypse-coded way and i was eating up every second of it.

and then THAT ENDING.

i would like to formally file a lawsuit for emotional distress because what do you MEAN?! this book isn’t even out yet and somehow i already have to suffer waiting for the next one? absolutely criminal behavior. a crime against humanity, if you ask me. and by humanity, i mean me.

if you’re a fan of the last of us, resident evil, or the walking dead, please put this on your radar immediately. i had an absolute blast with this one and i already need the sequel in my hands.

[Amber (Ambee & Ink) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review and more can be found on my Bookstagram & Booktok @ Ambeeandink!

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Montlake & Lexie Axelson for the review copy and exchange for an honest review!

TROPES:
🧟‍♂️Enemies-to-Lovers
💜Military MMC
🧟‍♂️Dystopian/Zombies
💜Age Gap
🧟‍♂️Dark Romance
💜Forced Proximity

2026 is suppose to be the healed version of me, but here I am drooling over a man as toxic as Slade like he doesn’t throw red flags right and left. I am a big fan of dystopian books, especially those after a zombie apocalypse. Though I did spend a good part of this book wanting more information and needing more, I can see how leaving readers in the dark and questioning left the cliffhanger of an ending as startling as it was. This is my first Lexie Axelson novel, but I do have faith that she is going to give us all of those answers as the series goes on. I really enjoyed our female main character, though she had moments where I questioned things she did or said I also took into account the brief history of her upbringing and how she could be in naïve a lot of things outside of her sheltered life. I do appreciate her growth and self discovery throughout the book and I am excited to see more as the series continues on. Slade, besides me drooling and his filthy mouth that had me blushing, has a tragic backstory that made certain behaviors of his understandable but I still have loads of questions regarding what is going on with him. Overall I did really enjoy Wild Silver and Lead and after that cliffhanger, I can’t wait to see what is in store next!

[Tiffany Schulz · Rating 4 out of 5]

ArC review
I’m not normally a reader of apocalyptic tales but this one had an intriguing cover and sucked me in. Scottie is our MFC living in a world post virus and trying to search for her family amongst those infected and trying to kill her. We have flashbacks that are heart rendering, very emotional and help build the trauma base that makes her..her. After 10 years of being alone she ends up in a compound that is rebuilt by hundreds who are uninflected and trying to stay same inside the sanity the world has become.
Enter our MMC called Slade who is big and bad and military prowess with green eyes that melt our girl. We have a nice enemies to lovers situation with tension and training and skills of military warriors beating down the infected.
It’s fun to see Scottie’s side of things with her going from being alone for 10 years to suddenly surrounded by all sorts of people. It’s a fun view of an apocalyptic world, with the undertones of flirtation and love.

[Jineth Vazquez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cliffhanger!!! 😱 I NEED Book 2 because I have so many questions!

This is only the second book I’ve read by Lexie Axelson, and after loving Mariposa, I had a feeling I’d love this one too—and I was right. I couldn’t put it down!

This story has everything I enjoy: dark romance, enemies to lovers, survival, and plenty of suspense. Scottie reminded me to trust your instincts and pay attention to the little details because those uneasy feelings are sometimes there for a reason.

I’m definitely rooting for Slade and Scottie, but that ending has me questioning Slade a little… 👀 And can we talk about how possessive he is?!

If you love dark, suspenseful romance with an ending that leaves you desperate for more, I definitely recommend this book. Lexie Axelson has officially become a must read author for me! 🖤📚

[Ashleigh · Rating 1 out of 5]

This isn’t a romance novel. There’s nothing romantic about it and I don’t see how people with a grip on mental health and abuse could romanticize this story.

I’m not one to immediately discredit a story for being taboo, but there were multiple inconsistencies in this story that made it difficult to finish. I lost interest halfway through and got frustrated trying reflect on various scenes to piece together the gaping plot holes I encountered as I completed it.

Here are just a few of my issues with this story:

- the FMC is an abused, naive, and easily manipulated person. her character has serious inconsistencies and essentially survives multiple assassination attempts due to plot armor.

despite being trained by a military family, she is consistently compromised and receives multiple nearly fatal injuries that leave her extremely vulnerable. she seems to have little-to-no spatial awareness which is entirely inconsistent with her alleged strengths/training

she’s also put in unrealistic situations that she would not be able to navigate due to her unhealed injuries. she should have been in much more pain throughout the story and her tolerance for various encounters + her ability to rescue herself from tricky situations should have been near to nonexistent. even the nipple piercings—there’s no way those wouldn’t have been excruciating if someone’s ripping on them in the weeks after she gets them done (they take months to heal with good care) especially considering how much pain she was in when she got them. not to mention they would have gotten infected

her flawed memory is the main driver of this plot…and even that element doesn’t add up all things considered. I don’t see why she would be left to recover her past memories. I don’t see why so much of her story revolves around dreams, nightmares, and remembering what happened to her.

Both of the main characters are untrustworthy narrators and the story falls apart because of how flawed its foundation becomes as the plot unfolds.

- the MMC is supposed to be evil. that’s his whole gag and that alone is massively inconsistent with his flip-flopping demeanor / the peeks we get into his brain

Separately, the entire point of a lovable villain is that they’re redeemable or able to be forgiven because of progress…even if that’s limited to how they behave with their romantic partner.

slade (and numerous other residents in this novel) seems to have multiple personalities that are directly at conflict with each other. we are provided multiple chapters from his POV and see that he actually believes himself to be in love / to be making a genuine effort to care for the fmc / that he feels remorse for his actions and the things he has done / that he acts with good intentions. That doesn’t fit with the profile of a clinically diagnosed psychopath.

Those warm and fuzzy thoughts, plus their inspired actions (I.e. building a house based on what Scottie loves and what would make her happy) also don’t correlate with the behaviors and resulting actions the author crafts for his character.

As you approach the end of the book, you’re supposed to believe that Slade has premeditated every second of the story that has taken place: capturing scottie, getting her to fall in love, keeping her from her family, etc. You’re supposed to see that he is lying to Scottie and controlling her for his own gain. That he is using her to unlock new abilities for himself in their little military outpost. There is no way you see someone like that and think “what a lovable villain” for while you want to root…

Simultaneously casting him as a devoted, caring, falling-in-love character in all of the chapters that are written from his own POV doesn’t keep the reader guessing. It creates inconsistencies that are near impossible to explain away.

Slade is also supposed to be the one person who doesn’t need to heed any of the rules? Why then would he need to use Scottie to get a house…why would he break one rule to meet the requirements of another? None of it makes any sense.

Even thinking of his best friend King who is painted as someone who has limited awareness of her Scotties story and the relationship Slade has developed with her. Who is supposed to believe that Scottie makes Slade happy and that this is a serendipitous outcome he should encourage Slade to let himself to accept.

How is it that he is also aware of the larger plot? And is actively keeping Scottie away from her family too? He was also one of the people who let Scottie leave the Hollows, as an active guard on the gate she left through.

Why would they let Scottie get away twice if any of this was true?

The only explanation for the differences in the soldiers’ personalities would be that they are controlled with some sort of medical testing/experimentation that makes all of the citizens strangers to themselves. But there’s nothing that suggests this would be true at that wide of a scale.

Following the logic of this story is such a headache that I don’t even care to get the answers from the second installment of the series. Even the cliffhanger is once again reliant on plot armor as it places the FMC in a nearly impossible situation that should kill her. One that somehow took shape despite months of training with her perfect soldier husband and all the skills that would come with being a member of Snake Ops. It’s nonsensical.

Because this book is entirely unbelievable, it becomes disappointing and extremely unsexy. What could possibly be an appealing but dark taboo is rendered disgusting and sad. This is like reading the story ROOM and rooting for the captor from that book.

As the reader, you realize that you are watching someone be actively abused and manipulated and by the end of the book you see there is no positive spin for her. The possible outcomes are: death, birthing and mothering an unwanted child (Slade doesn’t want a kid and she now believes she can’t have a kid and has begun to rationalize that outcome for herself), surviving in an abusive community where various citizens want her dead, or escaping and living in a post apocalyptic wasteland on her own…

What’s the point of hinging so much of this on her finding her family only to completely kill that notion at the end? It’s just devastating if you really want to think about it.

I received this as an ARC, but I am writing this review without bias.

[Josie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

honestly, i had an inkling of what i signed up for when i grabbed this book. due to this, my review is mixed as my expectations truly weren't extremely high in the first place. this was very wattpad-esque: an easy read that allowed my brain to just kind of shut off and that's what i was looking for when i snagged this. don't get me wrong though!! because i did, in fact, enjoy this.

Wild Silver and Lead is a dark military, apocalyptic romance. Our FMC is Scottie, a 26 yr old who was separated from her family and can't remember much... and then, while looking for said family, gets shot by our MMC Slade, who was 'just hunting' a deer. i think this book has a lot of potential. the plot is fun, the situation of the world is dire, and there is a mystery of the 'disappearance' of Scottie's family and the role that Slade may have in it. all in all, i am intrigued by where this story is going because i feel like a few big bangers of plot points have been set up.

my main issue with this book is that the characters would constantly feel... mischaracterized, i guess? Scottie was supposed to be this extremely strong woman, raised in an apocalypse by two military parents, strong, great at everything, etc., and yet she always failed to deliver until the plot swooped in to protect her. Slade also felt like he flipped flopped constantly. he went from stating that he'd never love her to then declaring something akin to love for her and being willing to try, and then back to disliking her? even when in his POVs it's all about possession and ownership of Scottie? i don't know. i felt like i got whiplash with these two because they were not consistent in their actions or words very often.

my last three gripes because otherwise i'll go on and on: (1) Scottie would consistently call Slade an 'alphahole' in the beginning.., this isn't a werewolf romance & that word shouldn't even exist in their apocalyptic world??? & (2) Scottie got her nips pierced and then Slade was chewing on them not too long after. talk about recipe for infection bc those things take forever to heal, and (3) to me, the world building/plot felt a bit off, at least for Scottie's character. she supposedly lost some of her memories, but only later realized how much she lost, and then things would be revealed that felt forced and dropped in just to push the story along. it felt a bit disjointed near the end and could've been sprinkled in more effectively.

2.75/5 stars, rounded up to 3 on corresponding sites. didn't hate this, didn't love this, it was what it was and i will probably still pick up the second book in the series because i am a glutton for punishment.

[whatthesmutt · Rating 1 out of 5]

I honestly hate to give an unreleased book a low rating. But ARCs are exchanged for honest reviews and that’s all I can give.

Tropes:
-Enemies To Lovers
-Dark Romance
-Military
- Forced Proximity
- Insta Lust
- Marriage of Convenience
- Zombies

Initially when I started this book I was hooked, walking dead vibes with military presence and a morally grey to pitch black MMC. Sign me up! Everything was there to write an incredible book and as far as the writing went, it isn’t bad, it flowed in parts and the world building worked for the most part.

Now I have to be honest, there were some vast inconsistencies here within the book, the FMC is alleged to have a photographic memory, and is only missing the night she got separated from her family. Yet she somehow forgot the whole ass entire man she was engaged to as she was given to him from her father.

Scottie should have died from an infection or at least gotten one. With the injuries she got (yes I know it’s fiction) no one’s healing and up and about so quickly. The girl gets stabbed and 16 hours later is dying her hair and having her nipples pierced, if there was another time jump Im sorry but it wasn’t clear.

There’s almost no chemistry between our MCs. Slade says he cannot fall in love, he doesn’t love her and it’s all a deal yet his actions and words say exactly the opposite. Scottie says she’s falling for him and yet keeps reminding him their marriage etc is all fake and for convenience. It’s flawed, I shouldn’t get to 80% and wonder if these people even like each other.

Scottie is also an inexperienced Virgin when she meets Slade, and the consistencies here are harrowing in my opinion. Our MC uses 3 fingers in our virgin FMC and not a peep about pain or dialogue, yet when they finally do the deed she’s in agony and says it hurts etc. All the while our MC knowing she’s never been kissed, never had sex, he still asks her dumb questions like “have you ever been f*caked against a wall” (im paraphrasing here) and obviously no..do you even know this girl?

It truly felt that the author felt the need to throw in as much sob story, drama and tropes she could possibly fit in. We had dead wife and child, a druggie abusive fiancé, an arranged marriage, lost family members, shot in the chest, stabbed and attempted SA, drowning in a lake. And this girl is supposed to be an elite sniper, well trained and a force to be reckoned with and yet she’s really a damsel for the most part. A target. We also need to address the fact Slade mentions that Scotties darkness is akin to his, yet Scottie can’t handle him torturing someone that held a gun to her head.

I genuinely really wanted to vibe well with this book. It has such promise and everything I was waiting and wanting for a new romance with zombies etc high stakes and morally grey mmc, and it just fell flat.

[Ash M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book completely pulled me in! It was dark, gritty, and definitely more on the taboo side, which made it such an addicting read. It wasn’t perfect and there were a few moments that felt confusing or rushed, but I was so invested that I couldn’t stop turning the pages!

If you’re a fan of post apocalyptic stories like The Last of Us or The Walking Dead and enjoy dark romance this is such a fun read! The worldbuilding was one of my favorite parts. Learning about the Raven virus, the outbreak, and how the world fell apart made everything feel believable and immersive. I loved all of the action and can’t wait to see more of the zombies and this world as the series continues!

Scottie was such a fun FMC. She was independent, strong, and determined, and I loved watching her fight for herself and the people she cared about. After spending so many years just trying to survive, it was really nice to see her slowly realize there could be more to life than that. I do wish we had gotten to see even more of her strength and independence because I think there was so much potential there, but she was still easy to root for.

Slade was definitely toxic at times, but I knew exactly what I was getting into with a dark romance so it didn’t bother me. He was broody, protective, full of secrets, and exactly the type of morally gray MMC I enjoy reading about. His past made him a complicated character, and I really enjoyed seeing his softer side come out around Scottie. I do wish the enemies to lovers aspect had lasted a little longer because their relationship developed faster than I expected, but once they settled into it I really believed in their connection.

The spice was honestly the perfect amount. I went into this expecting it to be a lot steamier based on what I had heard, but I thought it was really well balanced. It added to the chemistry between Scottie and Slade without taking away from the plot, and it fit the story perfectly.

The side characters were another highlight for me. Sai and Katana completely stole my heart! Slade’s dogs were such a fun addition to the story and brought some lighter moments to such a dark world. I loved every scene they were in and really hope we get even more of them in the next book. I’m also so excited to see more of King. He was such an interesting character, and I have a feeling there’s so much more to his story. I’m looking forward to seeing more of him and the rest of the group because they all made this world feel even more alive.

And that ending… I need book two immediately! That cliffhanger left me with so many questions, and I can’t wait to see where this series goes next. If you enjoy dark dystopian romance with military elements, survival, enemies to lovers, marriage of convenience, mystery, and a broody protective MMC, this is definitely one to add to your TBR!

[Kate Laycoax · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yeah, so this is basically The Last of Us if you swapped the father/daughter relationship for a dark enemies to lovers military romance, and I really thought it was SO wild in the best possible way.

Be warned that this is dark, gritty, and there is a lot going on, but Lexie Axelson absolutely nailed the worldbuilding. I loved getting the full background on the Raven virus, the outbreak, and how the world ended up the way it is. The level of detail was fantastic and I was really immersed in this world. I think it is hard to make something like this believable and realistic but it was.

I really loved Scottie as our FMC. After spending ten years isolated with her family and then desperately searching for her family when they get separated, she stumbles upon a fully functioning town and start to feel hope again and it was one of my favorite parts of the book. I saw her perspective shift and she realized there might be more to life than just surviving and not getting close to anyone, and her entire mind and life changes. I loved the determination and fierceness she had.

Slade and Scottie's dynamic was fascinating, but also complicated. The chemistry between them is undeniable and SO hot, but Slade definitely frustrated me. He's a widower who still wears his wedding ring and genuinely believes he's betraying his dead wife just by being attracted to another woman. I understood where a lot of his issues came from (six military deployments followed by the literal end of the world will do that to a person) but he was definitely an ass at times.

And MAJOR SPOILER ALERT, so beware...

But, I cannot lie... I got the biggest ick when he called Scottie by his dead wife's name.

I do wish the enemies to lovers aspect had lasted longer because the transition felt a little too fast for me. It went from "I hate you, I can't marry you, we can only hook up" to "let's get married to keep you alive" pretty quickly, and there was definitely some instalust happening. However, once they settled into their relationship, I could see why they worked. They genuinely understand each other, they make a great team, and their connection felt believable given the circumstances. Again, it's a hard sell given the dystopian type of world they live in, but Lexie pulls it off in such a great way.

The action was fantastic, the side characters were great, and I loved all of the zombie (or rather, criers) fighting. It was dark, spicy, intense, and just a lot of fun to read. Plus THAT cliffhanger?! Wow. I need the next book immediately! I cannot wait because I just NEED to know!

Thank you to NetGalley, Lexie Axelson, and Montlake for the eARC of this book.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐
🌶🌶🌶🌶
Dual POV

What the actual hell??? What do you mean it ended on a cliffhanger!!

A couple of questions,
1-What are Slade's true intentions?
2-What doesn't Scottie remember that Slade and King know about and don't want her to ever find out?
3-What really happened on the night of the attack?
4-Why did Mary lock herself up? Orders? Jelausoy?
5-Did Kaleb know and purposely take her coms for that reason?
6-Why is Slade so special that he needs to give blood? Immunity?
7-What are the Commander and Pricilla hiding?

Ok, spice-wise..... that was... interesting. I'm going to leave it at that.

Ok, so this is my opinion, not to icking someone's yum. But the overly dominant and protective is such an ick, especially when a strong FMC just gives in so quickly, and suddenly they aren't their "No-bs, no disrespect to me, strong" person, and they fold so easily if the MMC simply smiles.

🚩The MMC- Slade was genuinely such a big ick and an even redder flag, very, very hot and cold, and sometimes sweet and sometimes a complete ass, and when he called Scottie his ex-wife's name, I have never felt so disgusted before. I genuinely don't understand him at all. I can't tell if he really loves Scottie or just wants to use her. Sure, he feels protective of her, but it's not the same; it feels more like he "owns" her and sees her as property, and less of a romantic feeling. Overall, he was not a good MMC. He wasn't even that hot aside from being fit.

😐The FMC- Scottie wasn't horrible, but I hated how she just folded so easily to Slade. He was never kind or sweet or anything to her; he was just plain mean and cruel. She deserves so much better than him and is definitely settled, even in a believer. A love for everything she had with him was not love; she even said so. Scottie was a pretty great character, but I feel like she was always in some way being betrayed and taking so much shit from people who have never given her the time of day. She is never put first, even with Slade. And she just takes it, finding comfort in it, because it's what she is used to. When it comes to Slade, she takes all of his shit and receives nothing in return other than an orgasm. Overall, she deserves so much better and can do so much better.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with this ARC.

[Melanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

First of all, that cover is gorgeous. I pick a lot of my reads based on their covers, and this one immediately caught my attention. The blurb seemed very interesting as well. A dark dystopian romance? An arranged marriage? A deadly virus? Zombies? Count me in.
Thank you to Montlake and NetGalley for the ARC.

I unfortunately ended up DNFing this at 43%. While the story itself is intriguing, there are a lot of awkward phrasings and mistakes that greatly impacted my enjoyment. Don't get me wrong : I understand that I was reading an ARC, and advanced copies are expected to contain errors, but they seemed disproportionate in this case. I feel like this needed a couple more rounds of editing before ARCs were sent out. Not because I expect ARCs to be perfect, but because it's very hard to concentrate on the story and provide a fair rating when the writing keeps distracting you.

I could list a multitude of sentences that don't quite make sense, but I'll keep this short and give just one example :

The mayor tells her that "yes, (I'm) a psychiatrist. I loved medical school, plus blood doesn't make me queasy". Isn't that the most asinine reason to choose psychiatry as a specialty? I loved school, and I don't mind blood, so I picked a speciality that generally wouldn't require me to be in contact with blood?

I could go on (and I originally had), but I decided to trim down my review because I don't want to come across as petty. The example I provided is one of many sentences I underlined because they were confusing, went nowhere, or felt like filler. I was often left wondering whether certain words were poorly chosen of if they were intended as foreshadowing. The fact that I kept asking myself that question led me to conclude that, either way, the execution wasn't quite right.

That said, I do think this story has potential, and I can see why the premise would appeal to many readers. If the final version gets the editing polish it needs, I could imagine it landing much better for me. As it stands, though, this one just wasn't for me.

[Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to get an ARC from NetGalley after I had already pre-ordered the book.
All in all I really liked the story, it’s different, something new, and keeps you guessing. I just have a few complaints. At times it felt rushed and a little clunky, like some things were more of an after thought. The FMC, Scottie, was supposed to be this badass woman who her father taught not to trust people and not to wear her heart on her sleeve, not to feel her emotions etc., but I didn’t really get that feeling other than being told that. She was, in my opinion, pretty trusting right out the gate, she was relatively emotional, which is all fair she’s in a fucked up situation but it just fell a little flat for me. Though I like Scottie I wish she was fleshed out a little better.
Another thing is Slade. I like that he is actually a morally grey MMC, a lot of times that gets lost in other books trying to make the MMC not look too much like an asshole. But there are times where it’s confusing, like if he actually cares for her at all or just wants to own her, which I know is the point I just wish I had a better understanding. (And that might also just be a me thing.)
I love the spicy scenes. I love a book with hardcore elements and MMCs that are just mean, and that is Slade almost to a T. One thing I do not like, and it’s a completely personal thing, is FMCs that are virgins. Scottie is a virgin and her first time is (obviously) with Slade, but it seems to create a strong emotional tie for her. Which gets to my other gripe of Scottie and Slade’s deal. While I think it is a mutually beneficial deal, Scottie is more emotionally invested in it than Slade seems to be, which again make sense, but it goes back to the “no I have to be tough and push people away” but she doesn’t.. at all. Barely even tries. So it just feels contrived to me.
But all in all I like the characters, I think it’s a great story line and I just thoroughly enjoyed this book. I’m super excited for the next one because that cliffhanger is gonna make me pull my hair out.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ 4.5 Stars

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this one! If you’re looking for a dark dystopian romance with zombies, military operations, survival, mystery, and a protective, morally gray MMC, this is definitely worth picking up.

Scott has spent months trying to find her family after they were separated during a raid. On her way to the location they agreed to meet if they were ever split up, she’s accidentally shot by Slade, the captain of an elite military unit known as Snake Ops. Instead of leaving her behind, he takes her back to his compound to recover. As Scott begins uncovering the secrets hidden within Snake Ops, the two make a deal that changes both of their lives.

Slade was hands down my favorite part of this book. He’s exactly the kind of hero I love—dangerous, protective, and completely unapologetic when it comes to protecting the people he cares about. He’s spent the last ten years surviving in a brutal world, and it shows. Watching Scott slowly bring out a softer, more vulnerable side of him without taking away what made him such a badass was one of my favorite parts of the story.

Scott was just as amazing. She’s a strong FMC who knows how to fight, refuses to give up, and never waits around for someone else to save her. She can absolutely hold her own, which made me love her even more.

I also loved the mystery surrounding Snake Ops. Every time I thought I had things figured out, another secret was revealed. The action, suspense, romance, and constant twists kept me hooked from beginning to end.

And can we talk about that ending?! That cliffhanger was absolutely insane. I immediately wanted the next book because I need to know what happens next.

If you enjoy:
🧟 Zombie apocalypse
🪖 Military romance
❤️ Marriage of convenience
🖤 Protective, morally gray MMC
💥 Strong badass FMC
🔎 Mystery & hidden secrets
🔥 Action-packed suspense

…then I definitely recommend giving Wild Silver and Lead a try. I’m already looking forward to the next book in the series!

[Kelsea Labas · Rating 5 out of 5]

NetGalley, as always, thank you for coming through and providing the best advanced copies of incredibly talented authors.

As a heads-up: this is dark romance. These people are more than a little f*cked, morally questionable, and completely unhinged… as they should be. There’s a zombie apocalypse. This is not your average meet-cute. It’s literally (and I cannot emphasize this enough) giving the lyrics, “shot through the heart and you’re to blame, you give love a bad name…”

LA just knows how to push a plot. I usually hit a point in romance where the spice starts feeling repetitive or thrown in because it’s expected. I never felt that here. Maybe it’s because the world is so brutal and the relationships are forged under impossible circumstances, or maybe Lexie just knows how to make it work. Either way… I was invested.

Slade and Scottie completely had me. Their dynamic is chaotic, messy, and exactly what this story needed.

Now let’s talk about that ending.

That cliffhanger was borderline diabolical. I’m convinced whatever we’re about to learn about Slade and Scottie is going to absolutely blow our minds, because there are way too many unanswered questions. And can we please discuss the missing family? It’s one of the central mysteries of the entire book and we still don’t have answers.

WHAT IS GOING ON?!

If you’re looking for Call of Duty® vibes, Walking Dead World, cowboys, zombies, marriage of convenience, morally gray characters, survival horror, more questions than answers, and enough tension to keep you up way past bedtime, Wild Silver and Lead absolutely delivers.

Now excuse me while I impatiently wait for book two ARC because I have questions… and I think only Slade has the answers.

PS. Also, Lexie, if you are seeing this, we will need to circle back and have a conversation because if anything happens to either one of those Belgian Malinois, I will riot.

[Miranda Aucoin · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️.8
🌶️🌶️
🧟‍♂️ PostApocolyptic 🦌 Enemies to Lovers ❄️ Found Family 🩸Dark Military Romance

Think: The Walking Dead/ The Last of Us/ Resident Evil with LOTS of sex!

First off, I have so many questions! My mind is reeling and I am trying to work through everything because I was NOT expecting that CLIFFHANGER!!!
I should’ve realized it was a possibility when I was nearing the end with so many questions left unanswered. Mrs. Axelson LOVES to keep us guessing and on the edge of our seats like with her Scarred Executioners Series!


Scottie, the FMC, was raised to be focused, to follow orders no questions asked, and taught how to survive by her 2 military background parents. After escaping raiders and being separated from her family, the only people she’s known for the last 10 years since the Raven virus ravaged life as the world knew it; she finds herself in a settlement after being “accidentally shot” by its top secret military Captain. Slade Reece, the MMC: is cold, calculated, and the perfect emotionless soldier with skeletons in his closet.

Slade and Scottie have undeniable chemistry but keep each other at arms length due to their own inner turmoil. The world building was greatly executed, and the flashbacks were amazing! I do wish there was a bit more about Slade’s past other than the details of his late wife/family, as well as more flashbacks/recall of Scottie’s last day with her family. I have to keep reminding myself that Lexie is setting us up for another book and intends to answer all the questions we have!

There were a few inconsistencies in a couple of scenes and others lacked dialogue I felt was needed, but overall Wild Silver and Lead was a great opener for a new series!
Sidenote: The interior art inside is INCREDIBLE! Wish that was used as the Cover!

Thank you to Montlake, for providing this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

[Reanna Abare · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Lexi Axelson and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was definitely a unique read! It has dual POV, dark military, enemies to lovers, plenty of tension and chemistry, secrets, survival elements, and strong post apocalyptic vibes that reminded me of The Walking Dead. Normally that kind of setting isn't my favorite (it stresses me out! 😂), but somehow it really worked for me here.

Slade is the broody, protective MMC with a heartbreaking past, and I really enjoyed every chapter from his perspective. My only complaint is that I wanted so much more of his POV! Scottie is an absolute badass FMC who's trying to piece together the truth while carrying plenty of emotional baggage herself. Watching the two of them slowly learn to trust each other was one of my favorite parts of the story.

I did find myself confused at times. A lot of scenes felt like they jumped ahead before I was fully caught up, and I wasn't always sure if that was intentional or if I had missed something. Either way, I think a few more flashback chapters or a little more transition between certain scenes would have helped me connect the dots.

I also have to give a shoutout to Sai and Katana because they completely stole my heart. They were such great side characters!

As for the spice I went in expecting something much steamier based on what I'd heard, but I actually thought it was pretty balanced and fit the story well.

And then THAT CLIFFHANGER. 😭 I absolutely need answers in book two. There are so many mysteries still unfolding. And I'm interested to see where King's story goes next too.

If you enjoy darker romance with military elements, slow building tension, survival, mystery, and a broody but protective MMC, this is definitely one to check out. I'll definitely be picking up the next book to see where this story goes!

[justclayreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m being reductive, but this is really just a zombie story with sex. Very much resident evil with a lot of spice—as far as we know there’s no “Alice” clone type character and the world building is not rich. If you manage your expectations for this book then I don’t see why you wouldn’t like it. Also I wouldn’t say this is dystopian. It’s post-apocalyptic and those are not the same thing. I mean they’re not living in a utopia by any means, but I wouldn’t say they’re being oppressed (from what we know)like people living in a dystopia.

For a 25 y.o Scottie was childish and it was really annoying. I get she was sheltered, but not listening to orders and sneaking around in life or death situations was stupid. Also was very tired of her talking about her family every two seconds like we get it…

Also I’m begging authors to retire the whole “virgin” trope. It’s really tired and it’s setting women back years. You don’t have to be a virgin to be desirable by a man. Has anyone met a man, they will literally smash anyone… it’s just straight up misogynistic. there’s also something to be said there about rape culture and pedophilia, but I’ll let y’all connect those dots.

Anyway, Slade’s switch up from “I hate you, I have a wife” to “I want to fuck you” was genuinely so insane. Happened so fast. I usually hate the insta love but Slade and Scottie were hot together so I almost didn’t care.

That cliffhanger got me real good. Had I known this was gonna be a series I would have waited until it was finished because I actually am desperate to know what’s going on. The actual world in this story and the whole zombie plot was very interesting for me and I really liked it. I’m really excited to see that more fleshed out in the second book. So many players introduced in this one and I feel like I still know nothing.

[Michelle Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lexie has done it again and completely captured my heart with a cowboy soldier in the middle of a zombie apocalypse. Seriously... how does she do it?

From the very first page, I felt like I'd been dropped right into this world, completely submerged in the chaos of the Raven virus and the fight for survival. The descriptions were vivid, the atmosphere was haunting, and every scene played like a movie in my head.

Watching enemies fall into a marriage of convenience was everything I hoped it would be. Both Slade and Scottie come from traumatic backgrounds, and as the virus tears the world apart, their connection slowly becomes the one thing worth holding onto.

Slade—code name Priest—is our hot, grumpy cowboy soldier who steals hearts one kill at a time. He's a rough, born killer whose team always comes first... until he meets Scottie. Watching his world slowly flip upside down as he tries to balance protecting his team while figuring out what it means to have a wife was one of my favourite parts of the book.

Scottie is an absolute badass. She follows the rules... just not the ones Slade sets. She constantly keeps him on his toes, challenges every order, and refuses to back down. All she wants is to find the family she lost, but getting tangled up with Slade forces her to question what's truly important to her.

This book was immersive, intense, cold, and brutal, packed with twists I never saw coming and a romance that was completely swoon-worthy.

But... OH. MY. GOD. THAT ENDING.

I'm sorry... what?! Please tell me there's a book two because I need answers. I need to know what happens next!

This story got under my skin in the best way. The Raven virus spread through its victims, and somehow this book spreads through me the same way—leaving me desperate to find my own Priest to save me from drowning. 🧟‍♀️

[Locdgalreads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Montlake and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wild Silver and Lead blends dystopian survival with dark romance, delivering a story filled with danger, morally gray characters and impossible choices. The post virus world was gritty and atmospheric and I enjoyed the constant sense of tension as the characters fought to survive.

The relationship between the two leads was definitely the heart of the story. The forced marriage, protective antihero and enemies to lovers dynamic created plenty of emotional conflict (in my opinion they were barely even enemies). Slade is the kind of possessive, ruthless hero dark romance readers will likely enjoy, though I found myself wishing the emotional development between him and the heroine had been explored a little more before I was fully convinced by their connection.

The pacing was a bit uneven for me. While the opening immediately hooked me, the middle slowed down enough that I occasionally lost momentum,I was hoping to see more zombie killing than romance. Thankfully, the action picked back up in the final chapters, leaving me interested to see where the series goes next.

Overall, Wild Silver and Lead was an enjoyable start to what looks to be an exciting series. It didn’t completely blow me away but it had an intriguing premise, strong survival elements and enough romance and suspense to keep me invested.

If you enjoy:

* 🖤 Dark dystopian romance
* 💍 Forced marriage
* ⚔️ Morally gray, possessive heroes
* 🧟 Post-apocalyptic survival
* 🔥 Enemies-to-lovers vibes
* ❤️ Protective “touch her and die” energy

This one had a lot of potential and I’m curious to see how the Snake Ops series develops from her

[Sami · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW. I loved everything about this book. It’s a true enemies to lovers. It’s not just a playful, “I hate you, let’s make out.” Only took me two days to read it because I just couldn’t put it down.

The dynamics are brutal and harsh in this apocalyptic, zombie infested world. Scottie’s missing some of her memories and can’t find the only family she’s ever known. Slade lost his entire family before the peak of the outbreak. They have a twisted, dark dynamic between them that only they could understand. They thrive on the pain. Both Scottie and Slade have a dark soul, but Slade’s is just void of anything normal from the world before and that’s okay with Scottie. It’s hard, being the woman to come after the first wife.

The book itself was so well-written it was almost like watching a movie or tv series. All the characters are getting developed and will probably show more of everyone’s true colors in the second book. The plot twist at the end? I could go feral. I haven’t read many dark romance books like this, but this one, hands down, is top tier.

The plot is actually insane and engaging. It’s well-thought out from start to finish, no plot holes that I could find. I wasn’t left in the dark about key factors of the book, obviously everyone has their secrets and that’s why there’ll hopefully be a second book coming soon after release. You don’t really know people or their motives throughout the story, so it’s almost like a mystery/thriller as well. The spice is through the roof, I would give it a 4/5 on that level.

“You’re burning me, Scottie, and I think I like the taste of your flames.”

Seriously, cannot wait for the next one.

[Momo · Rating 3 out of 5]

So first of all. I did enjoy the story and the spice. It was fun and action packed. And I didn’t take it too seriously and was here for a fun spicy ride.

But I did want more. Through the whole story I wanted more world building, I wanted to know more about how things in this post apocalyptic world worked. I wanted the characters do develop more and not just lust over each other.

I did have a love and hate relationship with the two characters. I sometimes loved them and sometimes really hated their decision. I wish Slade wasn’t as cruel and mean at times. He did things that made no sense. When he said he will lie and cheat to keep her. Then showed her the house he was building I found myself thinking he’s just lying now. I ended up not liking him anymore.

I also found Scottie being so well trained and badass presented to us by telling not showing enough. There were moments she could take someone 2 times her seize. Then a smaller woman would give her a hard fight. It didn’t feel consistent.

I do find the writing to be a bit of a step down from Mariposa. A lot of the dialogue here made me cringe, the scenes were thrown in a bit randomly and I sometimes felt like things came out of nowhere.

But don’t get me wrong I still enjoyed most of it and I think others will too. But once the actual proposal happened I started questioning the story lol I thought the rule of no outsiders didn’t make sense as it said some people joined a year ago. If there is no outsiders. How do you get in then. I just didn’t think that part made sense. Felt thrown in for arranged marriage trope.

[Mercurio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh wow... where do I even begin? This book is an absolute rollercoaster from start to finish.

Set in a brutal dystopian world ravaged by the Raven virus, the story follows Scottie, a fierce survivor searching for the family she lost during a raid. When she crosses paths with Slade Reece, a ruthless ex-Delta Force captain, he puts a bullet through her chest... then saves her life and takes her to a secret military base where outsiders are forbidden. The only way for him to keep her? A marriage of convenience. In exchange for his protection and his help finding her family, Scottie agrees to become his wife.

From the very first page, I was hooked. This story is filled with relentless action, dark secrets, shocking revelations, and ghosts from the past that refuse to stay buried.

The chemistry between Slade and Scottie is undeniable. What starts as an enemies to lovers relationship evolves into a dark and complicated bond built on hatred, desire, secrets, and impossible choices.
Slade is a hot cowboy, merciless with his enemies but fiercely protective of those he considers his own. Scottie becomes the one person capable of challenging him in ways no one else can. She is his little fire, his sanity.
At Smoke Hollow Peak, she is finally free to make her own choices and discover what it truly means to live.

This book completely shattered my heart, leaving me in desperate need of the sequel.

Thank you to @netgalley and @lexieaxelson for the chance to read this ARC

Releasing on October 6th! 📅

Tropes:
🕷Dark Dystopian Military Romance
🕷Secret Military Society
🕷Marriage of Convenience
🕷Enemies to Lovers
🕷Ruthless MMC
🕷Baddie FMC
🕷 Spicy
🕷Yearning

[bluevioletbb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the author, NetGalley and the publisher, Montlake for the e-ARC. This review is my own opinion and left voluntarily.

I was so pulled in by the synopsis. A dystopian, apocalyptic zombie world? Say less—I was all in. Unfortunately, it just didn't live up to my expectations.

One of my biggest issue were the main characters. I wasn't a fan of either of them. Scottie is supposed to be this badass FMC who was trained by her father, and there are moments where you can clearly see she's highly skilled. But then the story constantly portrays her as weak or incapable in certain situations (I guess since she’s so controlled, she want to do the opposite?). The inconsistency gave me a bit of whiplash.

Speaking of whiplash... the relationship between Scottie and Slade just didn't work for me. I never really bought into their chemistry, and some of their dialogue felt unnatural. It was especially hard to believe considering Scottie is written as a virgin—it just didn't seem to fit her characterization or the conversations they were having. Slade is…an interesting MMC. I’ll leave it at that.

Her memory loss also felt odd. Instead of adding intrigue, it mostly left me confused and disconnected from what was happening.

The ending does have a cliffhanger that makes me a little curious about what happens next... but not enough to outweigh my experience with this book. I was soooooclose to DNFing around the 30% mark, but I pushed through to the end.

Overall, I'm landing somewhere between 3 and 3.5 stars, but after sitting with my thoughts for a while, it's much closer to a 3-star read for me.

[irem · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ (4.75/5)
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Right from the beginning, I couldn't help but become engrossed in this story. The post-apocalyptic environment hooked me from the very start, and I found myself invested in the mystery regarding the missing family of the heroine. The pace was perfect – not too slow, but never too quick either – and I always wanted to know what would happen next.
The thing I enjoyed most about this book is the characters. Slade and all of his team members were just so much fun to read about, and I enjoyed watching their interactions throughout the story. There was great chemistry between the main characters, and some scenes had me smile.
I absolutely adored the first half of the novel. It did such a good job at incorporating elements of survival, mystery, action, and emotion into the plot. However, once the romance took center stage, I felt like it detracted somewhat from the plot that was so appealing to me in the first place.
On the other hand, the action scenes were very interesting, and the emotionals parts worked perfectly. The ending of this book left me craving for more, making me eager to find out what happens next in the sequel.
In general, this was a very interesting and entertaining book with its post-apocalyptic world, likeable characters, and great suspense. I highly recommend it to those who love post-apocalyptic romance books with lots of action, mystery, and open-door romance.
I can't wait to get book two

[Ari Mason · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’ve been wanting to read more dystopian-style stories, so when I read the description, I knew I had to give it a try! I loved the concept of warring factions and a lawless continent trying to survive in the face of a mass tragedy, but I found that a lot of the world building fell a little flat for me. Maybe some of it is due to Scottie’s sheltered upbringing, but I wish there had been a bit more exploration about the shift from organized society to what they’re living through now. Since most of the novel is spent within Smoke Hollows Peak, the stakes also felt lower than I originally thought they would, as most of Scottie’s time is spent doing things around town that felt very routine. In the moments where she is able to show off her military training it either felt unrealistic (because she’d just had a life-threatening injury) or she didn’t succeed, which felt like a contradiction to her characterization. In terms of Scottie’s relationship with Slade, I felt like there was a lot of back and forth about whether it was a real relationship or just a deal between the two, so I wasn’t quite sure where they stood by the end of the novel and couldn’t root for their relationship. I liked the inclusion of all the different side characters because I think it did help fill out the story more and give a better view of what life in the town is like. The ending felt a bit abrupt, but it did leave me curious for what was going to happen next.

Thank you Montlake and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

[Fatima · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lexie, you can't do this!! Please tell me everything will be ok.

No seriously. This book ends in a cliffhanger so be aware of that going in, but also your trigger warnings. This is a dark romance, military, gritty, and spice heavy book. Let me just say thank you to Netgalley, Lexie, and Montlake for the chance to arc. This is my honest review and thoughts.

The first introduction, Slade shoots Scottie and she is forced to heal in Hallows Peek. She is in search of her family and wants to find them, but Hallows Peek has strict rules with not welcoming to outsiders. The sense of hell no and we must get out alive set in, but also the reality of not trusting anyone. Or do you?

Slade is a top military soldier for Hollows Peek called snake Ops. Everything is top Secret, snake Ops will always be at the fore front of everything and anything against it will get you killed. Slade is not a grumpy sunshine type of guy and he has seen and lost people close to his heart. He is shaped by the outcomes of his surroundings and by the notion of protector of Hollows peek. Scottie tests that and everything that follows is a hot, dark, tense, taboo, and suspicious series of events that leaves Scottie in a very complicated situation.

Have I mentioned there's zombies? Yeah! Definitely had me wanting more zombies, more action and more scary situations, but I'm hoping there's more to come as this is book one. I need to know what happens next, where is Slade? What happened to Scottie's family? What other secrets is there? I have so many questions!

[Pinkie’s Library · Rating 3 out of 5]

•.*•.*•🧟‍♂️🐕Review❄️🌲•*.•*.•
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

I read Wild Silver and Lead by Lexie Axelson on Netgalley and I liked it!

I’ve never read a book set in an apocalyptic world (usually I read more classically dystopian books), even though I love these kinds of settings in other media, like TV series and videogames.
The vibes of Wild Silver and Lead are so much like the beginning of The Last of Us part 2, with the snowy environment and the small town of survivors where most of the story takes place. I really loved it!

Also, the mysteries and the storylines of the various characters kept me glued to the page, especially Scottie’s: I’m so curious to see the truth behind her story in future!

I liked the characters in general: some are better characterized than others, but it’s ok.

The only big downside for me was the love story between Scottie and Slade: in some scenes I liked them and I found them cute, in others I thought they were repetitive and inconsistent with themselves: they change what they feel very quickly and in a way that is pretty nonsense to me.

Overall, it’s a good book, but, please, beware: it’s a dark romance so read the trigger warnings, there are some heavy scenes that may trigger some readers!

Wild Silver and Lead by Lexie Axelson is expected to be published on October 6, so, if you want a post-apocalyptic military dark romance, with the vibes of The Last of Us and The Walking Dead, this book is for you!