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Bleeding Hearts (2026-) #3 (Bleeding Hearts
Poke returns to his horde after meeting Mama and Rabbit profoundly changed and a bit confused. He’s experiencing things he cannot explain…things like compassion and sadness. He’s tried his best to convince Mama that he means them no harm and that they should stay hidden, but for Mama, trust is something hard-earned. So how much of a risk is she willing to take? And can Poke keep the latest hunting party from descending upon their hiding spot?
Kindle Edition
Published April 8, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 10, 2026
Bleeding Hearts #3 keeps getting better. The dual POVs really shine here—seeing both sides struggle to understand each other adds a ton of tension, but also a surprising amount of heart. I loved how the communication barrier isn’t just a gimmick, it actually drives the story.
Rabbit was a standout this issue. That innocence and lack of baggage gives her a clearer understanding of what’s happening, which adds a really interesting layer compared to everyone else reacting out of fear or hunger.
Great issue with strong character work and a fresh take on the zombie dynamic.
Rabbit was a standout this issue. That innocence and lack of baggage gives her a clearer understanding of what’s happening, which adds a really interesting layer compared to everyone else reacting out of fear or hunger.
Great issue with strong character work and a fresh take on the zombie dynamic.
April 12, 2026
So far we’ve had an issue exploring the zombie side and the human side, and now actually getting to see those two worlds properly crash and interact is incredibly interesting and a lot tougher than I thought. It never occurred to me that once a species moved to a different level of the food chain, they conversation and thought would be completely lost to the point that humans and zombies can’t understand each other at all. It’s as if someone was trying to talk to a dog or horse, which some of the zombies now even argue (at their zombie council of course) that is the basic level of intelligence living people have, as if at one point they were not all living themselves, lol. But following one’s natural instincts it does make it easier to kill and eat a living creature if you don’t believe it can think or feel. But that’s also poke’s main problem, isn’t it? He’s come down with a serious case of empathy. And as we pick up from the last issue as Cara is pointing her gun at poker while he listens to the screeches coming from rabbit as she tries to explain to her mother that poke is a good boy…poke eventually lets his actions speak louder than the words that get lost in translation as he picks up rabbit and carries her safely over to her mother. Cara is in a lot of pain since hurting her leg and is yelling a lot, which will only draw attention. Poke tries to explain this to her, only for Cara to throw her boot at him instead. He promptly tucks it away as he leads them back to the ball room on the school where he barricaded them in with supplies as he suddenly remembered a meeting he must attend.
That’s right, as I mentioned the zombies have a council where they get together as a horde and listen to the ancient corpses “argue the themselves to life.” Fun word play aside, their arguments boil down to two sides. Either that humans have rudimentary consciousness or none at all. But poke knows and literally feels the truth, he meets up with Mush where he covers for his absence at the suburbs…only for mush to end up smelling humans on the shoe Poke has hidden in his jacket. It worries me what those mushrooms whisper to him sometimes, but mush then invites Poke out for a hunt later as a couple zombies heard screeching over by the school.
As we jump back to Cara and Rabbit, Cara does not intend to stay around so that zombie can save them for later. Even though rabbit is adamant that the little bit was helping them, Cara reminds rabbit of their mission. To get to the red woods in California where there is rumored to be a settlement up in the trees where they can safely live. Cara uses a pulley system to knock the ball rooms gate off its hinges so they can retreat outside. But the moment get out there they start to see other zombies heading towards the school. Cara and like retreat behind a few trees as Cara assumes the worst…that poke just shoved them off to the side to fall for the rest of his group to get them. Cara is willing to do anything to protect Rabbit, even of it means using their last bullet to end her life before she is ripped apart. But before Cara can pull the trigger, they watch as like comes running towards the horde of zombies with the shoe proudly shown as he reports the humans are going a completely different direction and he almost had them. The horde immediately takes off as rabbit points out that poke once again saved them and made the zombies go away. Mush came up to talk to poke where he got a familiar smell from the shoe, almost like he already smelled it earlier, before running along with the rest of the horde to find the humans. Cara and rabbit retreat to the ball room where they lock the laces away, and it could have come at a perfect time as from all the pain Cara is about ready to pass out. They will have to stay here for now, no matter what.
That’s right, as I mentioned the zombies have a council where they get together as a horde and listen to the ancient corpses “argue the themselves to life.” Fun word play aside, their arguments boil down to two sides. Either that humans have rudimentary consciousness or none at all. But poke knows and literally feels the truth, he meets up with Mush where he covers for his absence at the suburbs…only for mush to end up smelling humans on the shoe Poke has hidden in his jacket. It worries me what those mushrooms whisper to him sometimes, but mush then invites Poke out for a hunt later as a couple zombies heard screeching over by the school.
As we jump back to Cara and Rabbit, Cara does not intend to stay around so that zombie can save them for later. Even though rabbit is adamant that the little bit was helping them, Cara reminds rabbit of their mission. To get to the red woods in California where there is rumored to be a settlement up in the trees where they can safely live. Cara uses a pulley system to knock the ball rooms gate off its hinges so they can retreat outside. But the moment get out there they start to see other zombies heading towards the school. Cara and like retreat behind a few trees as Cara assumes the worst…that poke just shoved them off to the side to fall for the rest of his group to get them. Cara is willing to do anything to protect Rabbit, even of it means using their last bullet to end her life before she is ripped apart. But before Cara can pull the trigger, they watch as like comes running towards the horde of zombies with the shoe proudly shown as he reports the humans are going a completely different direction and he almost had them. The horde immediately takes off as rabbit points out that poke once again saved them and made the zombies go away. Mush came up to talk to poke where he got a familiar smell from the shoe, almost like he already smelled it earlier, before running along with the rest of the horde to find the humans. Cara and rabbit retreat to the ball room where they lock the laces away, and it could have come at a perfect time as from all the pain Cara is about ready to pass out. They will have to stay here for now, no matter what.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 11, 2026
It just keeps getting better and better!
This issue solidifies why I like Poke so much. He's not just your average zombie who wants nothing other than to follow the herd and feed. It's here that things become very strategic and thoughtful with this series' writing. The more we see Poke interact (or try to anyway) with Cara and Rabbit, the more we're able to see the humanity still left in him. Unlike his compadres who are on the hunt, he's actually quite the opposite. He's got more than just a one-tracked mind, he's showing compassion. Gold stars for him for sending his brethren away so that Cara and Rabbit could get away, temporarily. It's interesting to see a few things in this issue. There's a zombie council and mandatory meetings that all zombies must attend. As well, there's Poke actually studying the communication patterns of Cara and Rabbit. This issue is a turning point. Cara is forced to consider that Poke is actually helping them. Simply amazing!
This issue solidifies why I like Poke so much. He's not just your average zombie who wants nothing other than to follow the herd and feed. It's here that things become very strategic and thoughtful with this series' writing. The more we see Poke interact (or try to anyway) with Cara and Rabbit, the more we're able to see the humanity still left in him. Unlike his compadres who are on the hunt, he's actually quite the opposite. He's got more than just a one-tracked mind, he's showing compassion. Gold stars for him for sending his brethren away so that Cara and Rabbit could get away, temporarily. It's interesting to see a few things in this issue. There's a zombie council and mandatory meetings that all zombies must attend. As well, there's Poke actually studying the communication patterns of Cara and Rabbit. This issue is a turning point. Cara is forced to consider that Poke is actually helping them. Simply amazing!
April 12, 2026
Each issue of this book has been better than the one before. The story has been solid so far, but not up to the sky-high expectations of a new Deniz Camp series. Little details in each issue show that this book could build to something very great indeed. This issue, we learn that humans and zombies cannot communicate with one another. That will make developing what seems to be the core relationship of the book - Poke, Rabbit + Cara - very difficult indeed. Camp and Morian are building a big world here, and I'm okay with a slow burn with these creators.
April 30, 2026
Issue three continues to add to this touching, emotionally tense story. We get quite a bit of characterization, and a good amount of world-building. The Zombies have an expansive societal system and the communication barrier seems like an interesting obstacle to overcome.
May 7, 2026
Still enjoying the charm of this book.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews