A review by literarybitch
The Z Word by Lindsay King-Miller

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!

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

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

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