A Different Virus: Heartfire

A Different Virus #1

by Crystal Scherer

In the future, everyone who's bitten by a zombie turns into one... until Diane doesn't. Seven days later, she's facing consequences she never imagined.

* * * * *

As civilization collapses under a relentless wave of zombies, Diane and her friends take shelter in a military base. However, while she's rescuing another survivor, Diane gets bitten by one of the monsters. She knows if anyone finds out about the bite she'll be driven away, so she keeps it hidden. But she soon discovers she isn't turning into a zombie, she's turning into something else.

---------

I looked up and stared. My reflection looked back at me in the mirror of the dark room. My eyes were literally glowing, there was no mistaking it. It was not a reflection of light, or any of the other excuses I had used or others had assumed. They were glowing a light sapphire blue color. It was not a bright glow, but it was definitely a glow.

Glowing eyes were not normal.
Okay, at this point I had to admit it, I was no longer normal.
What was I then? For that, I had no answer.

Genres: Zombies, Thriller, Science Fiction, Dystopia, Paranormal, Fantasy, Survival

583 pages, ebook

First published April 4, 2016

About the author

I am a writer with several published works and several free rough drafts.
Amazon, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, as well as free drafts on Wattpad, RoyalRoad, Inkitt, and several other platforms.

Reviews

[Kristine Padilla]

I've read it 3 times in wattpad. And I want to read it again but then you have to pay now to read this in wattpad😢

[Country Goose]

Update: Dec 31, 2021
I have finished this book on the last day of this year, and OHMYGOSH!!!! I highly recommend this book. Scherer gave this book her all, and it shows. I didn't want to put it down! Some things happen that I wasn't fond of, but overall? Very well written. Well worth the purchase, AND! I would still on-click a paperback, just saying.

I can't really review with a synopsis. Way too much happens that would be a spoiler. It's not a romance, though there is love. It's a really good apocalyptic action (thriller?), there are zombies and traitors and swifts! Whoah swifts... anyway, that's what I have for now.

[Maleikha]

Although the book is quite long, it is still very interesting to read and I really enjoyed it

[gaby]

5 stars on goodreads? for a Wattpad original? yes. and I’m not taking it back. *ever.*

I remember reading this back in 2016 (before it had been a Wattpad original) and I seriously loved it. it was still unedited by that time, but a lot of things were already intact.

I came across it again this month, and bought it as soon as I saw it. the premise was amazing, and I didn’t really have anything to do — so, I picked it up.

ADVH is a wonderful read that caters to all audiences. both teens and adults can read it and enjoy it all the same. although some may be intimidated by the 198 chapters the book has, it’s intriguing and well-paced enough for you to not drop the book out of boredom (as I usually do with books in the same genre)

Diane is a great, well-developed main character; and plenty of the side characters are memorable as well. they’ve been imprinted onto my life more than any other characters in other books. the prose is easy to read, and the Wattpad comments are a bonus for most of their remarks. the world building (sort of) is great as well! the virus is tackled on and how it works, and there’s so much science behind it that for a sci-fi, it feels realistic.

definitely recommend this to anyone! I can’t get enough of how good this book is and can’t put into words how much of an experience I had while reading it. this book was one of the first that actually made me squeal, smile, and sob in one day. if you have the chance — read it whenever you can. it’s worth it.

PS be careful of the comments (particularly the ones containing “#rr”) if you don’t want spoilers, though :) I personally didn’t see as much to spoil the good parts, and had a great laugh at the non-spoiler comments.

[Annabelle Leeuwen]

This book is absolutely amazing and definitly worth it to keep in your shelves

[Marigold Suspeñe]

I've read this multiple times already including the other book, Laura's point of view. It's such a good read that I feel so immersed in her world, all the while wishing I could have her special skills. I really wish someone discovers it up for a movie.

[Kiemmar]

This is my new favourite book of all time, it had my attention from start to finish and my emotions went on the roller coaster of a life time. I’m sad now that I’ve finished it, my gosh I loved this book.

[Kindra]

I have read this book 5 times. That is not an exaggeration; I can not get enough. The writing style and presentation of the plot is the best I’ve ever read.

[Vanessa Plackett]

Absolutely an amazing book. I have never liked anything about zombies just not my thing but from start to finish I couldn't put this book down. It has everything u need in a good book to read. So go ahead dig ur claws into it . My only wish is to have it as a paper back to add it to my ever growing collection of amazing books in my makeshift library xx

[Daphne]

This book is exceptional. I've never read something like this in my entire life.

[Lyza]

one of the best!

[ROse]

The story is a masterpiece! I've been re-reading it for almost 4 years now, and I will read it again.

[Madelyn]

An interesting and exciting take on the apocalyptic world.

[Tessie]

it’s pretty slow but keeps you hooked through the entire book i really enjoyed it!

[Nevunite Mueun]

Where do I even start? My goodness, I absolutely fell in love with this book. From the very beginning, it pulled me in and made me care about the world, the characters, and everything they were fighting to survive. 🎲🎲🎲🎲🎲🎲🎲🎲🎲🎲🎲🎲🎲🎲🎲🎲

What I loved most was how Crystal built the world around the foragers, the settlements, and the different ways people tried to survive after everything fell apart. It was not just about zombies or danger. It was also about community, survival, trust, fear, and the difficult choices people have to make in a broken world. The character development was also one of the strongest parts of the book for me. The characters felt real, and I enjoyed seeing how they changed, struggled, and grew as the story continued. I became genuinely invested in what would happen to them, which made the emotional moments even more powerful. I also really appreciated the little details the author included, like edible plants and other survival knowledge. Those small things made the story feel so much more real in my head. It was so much fun to imagine the world because it felt believable, like I was actually there with the characters, learning how they lived and survived.

This book gave me everything I love in a zombie apocalypse story: tension, survival, world-building, strong characters, and that constant feeling that anything could happen. I would totally recommend this to anyone who enjoys zombie apocalypse books, especially readers who love stories with both action and emotional depth. Honestly, this is the kind of book I only read on days when my mood is good, because I want to fully enjoy it and take it all in. It is one of those stories that deserves your attention, and I love being in the right headspace for it.

This is a long Book! Hoping that it'll have a physical copy!!!!!! 5 stars!!!!

[Reader]

I have read this book so many times that I genuinely love everything about it. The book has slices of life that follow her everyday activities during a zombie apocalypse. There’s also an insight into how she manages to cope with the constant change, sadness, happiness, and love. She is a wonderful writer who I have read many other books from. I would buy most of her other titles in a heartbeat. I only wish that there were more books like it. My only complaint is that I am a big fan of romance, so I wish there were some more “intimate” scenes, but I do understand keeping those things “behind closed doors.” I enjoy how her characters such as this one are very level headed. Very realistic to real people.

[Danielle McGhee]

I read this on Wattpad after you had to buy it. I bought the whole subscription just for this and The Virus Within. I fell in love, head over heels for these two books, how original the story was, and how invested I became. I was not able to read it again when the author republished her books because I could no longer afford it and because my account was stolen from me by Wattpad. However, these books were amazing and quickly became my number 1 favorite books. So whatever the author did to publish the books only means that more brilliance was added to her already incredible work.

[JORDAN LEE]

I have only read the preview but it is an exciting and thrilling book that has you on the edge of your seat before you know it. Is the book only on Wattpad? If so, you should think of publishing it, because I think that it could become a book that starts a new generation of writers.

[Ashley]

Great story. It is long but it flies. Great zombie book.
I hated reading it on the app called "wattapp". Whether it was the app or not, there was so many repetitive sections. For example, if the paragraph didn't end on that page the next page would have half the paragraph that you just read.

[David Clark]

An interesting book that follows Diane, who gets bitten by a zombie and develops a different virus.
It's quite long and some parts can be a bit slow, but the characters and problems Diane faces keep you hooked.

[PKyoa]

This was genuinely one of my favourite stories ever and I've reread it like four times reading Laura's version and additional three. A shame its not a physical book and hope Crystal can do that in tbe future

[Donovan]

Now this book deserves 5 star. From creativeness to just the courage it must've taken to write a novel like this. This is one of those novels that noly deserve more attention but why arent more people trying to make this into a movie. Or at least a SERIES smh I dont understand.

[Kaye Lendio]

wew

[Berthy Marcelo]

Agradable

[Sharon Wills]

Hi how will i read this story
Am new on this app and i don't know how to use it
Please help me

[Misheck]

How do I access the book.

[Aliah Paalan]

I've read it so many times that i didn't even remember how many times 😂 but all i can say that it is worth it if you love this kind of genre you won't be disappointed

[Yannie]

I want to read this for a long time but i don't have money to buy it....if only I read this first before The Virus Within

[Neida]

Incredible book! Absolutely love the writing style, the characters, world building. I recommend it to everyone.

[Skye]

read this before had to pay for it. it was great then i dont know if there been changes