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shrikebait's review
funny
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The Z Word was a lot of fun! This is definitely a character-driven story, with no shortage of queer drama. I appreciate that the antics add levity while revealing each character's quirks and hidden insecurities. I also love the serious critiques of rainbow capitalism compounded by zombie horror.
With that focus in mind, I see this as more "queer horror" than "zombie horror." Don't get me wrong, there's plenty of zombies complete with guts and gore. I was just more invested in the characters' messy relationships and ethical dilemmas than in the undead.
Thank you to Quirk Books for the chance to check this book out through a giveaway! I'm leaving this review of my own accord
With that focus in mind, I see this as more "queer horror" than "zombie horror." Don't get me wrong, there's plenty of zombies complete with guts and gore. I was just more invested in the characters' messy relationships and ethical dilemmas than in the undead.
Thank you to Quirk Books for the chance to check this book out through a giveaway! I'm leaving this review of my own accord
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infidelity, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Cannibalism, Suicide attempt, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Police brutality, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Animal death, Emotional abuse, and Car accident
ishymuu's review
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
When I first started this book, I didn’t think I was going to like it, but I am glad I stuck with it. The book is your zombie horror romp from the 2000s but make it involve queer community and pride. If you like that genre, you will enjoy this book. I like the slight changes made for the zombies all while keeping them pretty classic and loved the character and all their flaws. They are all messes, but in a way that is real for lots of folks. I wouldn’t say it is a life changing story, but it was definitely a fun zombie thriller!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, and Car accident
Minor: Fatphobia and Vomit
moonyreadsbystarlight's review
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
A wild action-filled romp with messy queer drama and critique of rainbow capitalism. A good balance of lightness and seriousness for the sort of story that it is. I also think that the mixing in of other POV and the chapters from the past added to it. I really enjoyed it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Infidelity, Racism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Hate crime and Transphobia
Minor: Pregnancy
Face biting - unsure if it qualifies for the cannibalism tag. No one is explicitly pregnant, but there is a bit of a pregnancy scare that spans the book that is mentioned, but it's the day after/getting plan b. Also, someone uses a racial slur but they don't have it on the page, so I tagged racism rather than the slur.bookdragonkatie's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Police brutality, and Grief
Minor: Body shaming
literarybitch's review
dark
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
February 13, 2024:
This book comes out this May! I got my hands on an advance reader copy (arc) because I just couldn't wait.
Last year, I read an okay apocalyptic book and a very bad queer drama book and thought to myself "I would love to write a relatable suburban apocalypse book like this, but populated with queer characters & community, where the main character isn't a natural-born leader & feels that her skills don't contribute to the group." (Because that's often the way I feel) Unfortunately, I've never finished writing anything in my life, and likely never will.
So imagine my happiness when Lindsay King-Miller did it for me!
So imagine my happiness when Lindsay King-Miller did it for me!
Babes, this is it. Main character who isn't a superstar: Yes. People hurting each others' feelings: Yes. Controversial sponsor for Pride events: Yes. Very Mid sex with a drag queen: Yes. Excellent sex with a lesbian: Yes. Mysterious nonbinary pizza delivery driver: Yes. Sexually desirable fat characters: Yes. Humanizing the victims of the zombie outbreak: Yes.
Let me highlight that last part again-- I loved the alternate point-of-view chapters, which got into the heads of someone undergoing the change from normal to Rage Zombie. It's not an undead situation, and it's not a medical transformation; it's all emotional. The victim starts having meaner thoughts than usual, maybe even notices they're acting out of character. Their aggression rises and their inhibitions lower, and we get to see that in real time. Zombie media tends to absolve the human characters of guilt by making the zombies monstrous, but this book really makes you feel the loss of a whole person, even if it's a necessary death for the survivors to live.
Another thing I appreciate is the characters feel realistic, and that's a word that I hesitate to use in general because this is fiction, after all. What I mean by that is: often in books with queer characters front-and-center, it can sound like the author is going out of their way to make sure all the characters are as Unproblematic as possible, giving them all overly-sanitized dialogue that feels forced and weird. In The Z Word, characters act natural and it's such a breath of fresh air. Not that they're misgendering people or using slurs or whatever, I just mean that they have existing interpersonal relationships that are correctly in the spotlight, against the backdrop of queer-friendly language. The ex-girlfriends are understandably bitchy to each other instead of walking in like robots saying "Hello fellow homosexuals. Let us discuss and explain our usage of pronouns today."
My favorite character is Sunshine, the aforementioned mysterious nonbinary pizza delivery driver. They're really great comic relief for the reader, while not being overtly funny in-universe. They don't tell jokes, they're just so inscrutable it's hilarious. Thank you, Sunshine. I love you.
9/10
#WhatsKenyaReading
#WhatsKenyaReading
This was not a giveaway in exchange for review, not sponsored, and I have no affiliate links. But I do encourage you to preorder (or request from your local library!) The Z Word by Lindsay King-Miller to support authentic queer representation in books for adults
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Police brutality