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Final Days #4
The Willows
No one guessed the zombies would reach our rural town so fast. We thought we had time. We believed we were safe.
It was pure chance that I found Russ by the side of the road the day our world fell apart. The first boy I ever loved was hardly my first choice for riding out the apocalypse with. But he wasn’t my last choice either. Thing is, the business of surviving the end times gets lonely.
None of us can go back to before the zombies shattered our illusions of safety. And that goes double for Russ and me. Our relationship ended long before the virus changed everything. The bonds of the family we’ve built from the ashes of society mean more than taking a second chance at romance. True love doesn’t mean much when heartbreak could be the distraction that gets us all killed out in the wilds.
Still, with the gnawing fear of a fate worse than death as a constant companion, it’s easy to seek comfort in old habits. Russ doesn’t make it easy to keep my emotional distance, but we get by on furtive moments stolen together. Until our niece gets sick and we’re her best shot at a cure. Only, it turns out our situation is even more dire than we knew, and in exchange for saving Lily, we’re sent on a hopeless mission. I’m not sure which is worse, facing certain death, or watching the man I can’t have risk everything by my side.
CW: This book contains mention of pregnancy/infant loss, allusions to trafficking, violence, gore, body horror/zombies.
The Willows is a part of the Final Days MM romance multiauthor series. Each apocalyptic book can be read as a standalone, but there are more thrilling zombie tales to enjoy, so why not grab them all?!
It was pure chance that I found Russ by the side of the road the day our world fell apart. The first boy I ever loved was hardly my first choice for riding out the apocalypse with. But he wasn’t my last choice either. Thing is, the business of surviving the end times gets lonely.
None of us can go back to before the zombies shattered our illusions of safety. And that goes double for Russ and me. Our relationship ended long before the virus changed everything. The bonds of the family we’ve built from the ashes of society mean more than taking a second chance at romance. True love doesn’t mean much when heartbreak could be the distraction that gets us all killed out in the wilds.
Still, with the gnawing fear of a fate worse than death as a constant companion, it’s easy to seek comfort in old habits. Russ doesn’t make it easy to keep my emotional distance, but we get by on furtive moments stolen together. Until our niece gets sick and we’re her best shot at a cure. Only, it turns out our situation is even more dire than we knew, and in exchange for saving Lily, we’re sent on a hopeless mission. I’m not sure which is worse, facing certain death, or watching the man I can’t have risk everything by my side.
CW: This book contains mention of pregnancy/infant loss, allusions to trafficking, violence, gore, body horror/zombies.
The Willows is a part of the Final Days MM romance multiauthor series. Each apocalyptic book can be read as a standalone, but there are more thrilling zombie tales to enjoy, so why not grab them all?!
- GenresRomanceUnfinishedZombies
339 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 31, 2022
11 people are currently reading
29 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 30, 2022
This is one of the books in The Final Days series. Marley and Russ have known each other since they were teens. Once the virus spread, they went to live at the farmhouse with a bunch of people that came by. Fast forward 12 years and they have a complicated relationship. With doing as much as they could to survive the zombies, they slowly start to build their relationship. Loved it. This is the third book that I have read in this series and will be enjoying the Gamble.
I received a copy of this book for my review.
I received a copy of this book for my review.
November 3, 2022
The Willows is book four on the Final Days series. A virus has spread and now the zombie apocalypse has hit, and Russ and Marley must save their family members and head to Marley’s family farm. Marley and Russ had a past and still love each other. They will do anything to protect their family including going into town to save their young niece. Marley and Russ are given a second chance in this fast paced, harrowing story. Overall, a fantastic read!! Kept me glued to the pages.
March 26, 2025
Not rating DNF at 7%. This reads like a dry history book. I just couldn’t get into it.
October 29, 2022
I really enjoyed this book. I loved the Marley and Russ chemistry and their complicated emotions.
I loved how different people from across the rainbow were also represented, and it didn't feel faked, as I've seen in the past.
I also appreciated how many aspects of daily life we take for granted were brought up naturally as being drastically different in the story, and how much adapting they had to do to survive.
It was extremely difficult to put this book down when I HAD to leave for work, and I ended up leaving early to finish reading it. I will absolutely keep following this author!
(I did receive my copy of this book in exchange for my honest review)
-Sarah
I loved how different people from across the rainbow were also represented, and it didn't feel faked, as I've seen in the past.
I also appreciated how many aspects of daily life we take for granted were brought up naturally as being drastically different in the story, and how much adapting they had to do to survive.
It was extremely difficult to put this book down when I HAD to leave for work, and I ended up leaving early to finish reading it. I will absolutely keep following this author!
(I did receive my copy of this book in exchange for my honest review)
-Sarah
November 8, 2022
Marley and Russ have history, complicated emotions, and…an apocalyptic nightmare to navigate. This is part of the “Final Days” series, and it blends end-of-the-world tension and fight for survival with romance. There’s a nice blend of character development, complex feelings evolving into a solid relationship, and peril and adventure (because, you know, zombie apocalypse and all). I found these characters super easy to care about and their story impossible not to get invested in– all in all, a really compelling read.
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
November 9, 2022
Marley and Russ ❤
Absolutely loved this as part of the final days series the willows is book 4 and in this fight for survival against the zombie apocalypse working together to stay alive we have Marley and Russ doing everything they can to protect their family and other survivors they meet on the way for a cure it's scary, gory and dangerous love these two together they are amazing recommend so much. ❤
Absolutely loved this as part of the final days series the willows is book 4 and in this fight for survival against the zombie apocalypse working together to stay alive we have Marley and Russ doing everything they can to protect their family and other survivors they meet on the way for a cure it's scary, gory and dangerous love these two together they are amazing recommend so much. ❤
November 1, 2022
Great story
This was not my typical genre to read but I gave it a chance and I’m so glad that I did. This was a wonderful second chance story, full of hope and love. I really enjoyed this story. It was also a little scary because I could see the story become a reality. It was that well written.
This was not my typical genre to read but I gave it a chance and I’m so glad that I did. This was a wonderful second chance story, full of hope and love. I really enjoyed this story. It was also a little scary because I could see the story become a reality. It was that well written.
November 21, 2022
Marley and Russ have a history but when you're facing the end of the world as you know it, things start to look a little different. As they face their emotions while working to save their families, love is found. Now, if they can only survive the zombies.
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November 8, 2022Noped out due to a low tolerance for angst. I love Alex Silver, & I'm sure lots of horror-loving folks will get a kick out of it, but (shudders,) not for me.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews