TITLE: ONCE UPON AN APOCALYPSE
GENRE: ZOMBIE LOVE STORY
AUTHOR: CAITRIONA DEXLER
PUBLICATION: JUNE 05TH, 2025
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Synopsis
As quickly as her dreams come true, the world around Lori turns into a desolate, post-apocalyptic nightmare. And it’s not just the undead she fights against to survive. Subjected to cruel experiments and inhumane treatments as a prisoner in a secret underground facility has turned her into a weapon fueled by enmity.
Escape finally comes at the moment she embraces death. A stranger named Amos takes her to a survivor camp known as The Valley. Surrounded by hills and the farmlands of Central Pennsylvania, this community has remained hidden away from the hordes of zombies decimating the world. The Valley offers a glimmer of hope and a chance at a new beginning for Lori.
Danger lurks in the world beyond, but she will risk it all. Risk her safety, risk her humanity, in order to save those she loves. With her unique powers and her unwavering spirit, Lori becomes a force to be reckoned with, a beacon of hope in a world consumed by flesh-eating monsters.
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My Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 𝐕I𝐁R𝐀T𝐎R G𝐈R𝐋 𝐒T𝐀R𝐒
📚 𝙾𝙽𝙲𝙴 𝚄𝙿𝙾𝙽 𝙰𝙽 𝙰𝙿𝙾𝙲𝙰𝙻𝚈𝙿𝚂𝙴 📚 Is a full length zombie apocalypse love story by new to me author 'Caitriona Dexler' This story focuses on our heroine Lori..
Tropes:
Dystopian/Zombie
Friends to lovers
Trauma/healing
Forced proximity
Found family
Touch Her and die
Slow burn
(Her first Love) Lori has lived next door to her bestie and brother her whole life, she'd always had a crush on Jonah but it wasn't until much later that they declared their feelings for each other. Prom night as a couple was mean't to be magical but it turned into anything but. that's when the world they knew ceased to exist. Staying safe from the zombie outbreak they holed at Lori's, raiding surrounding neighbours houses, reaching the six month mark they have to make a supply run to the local grocers.
Both are kidnapped and taken hostage. Neither will be the same again.
For years Lori is put through the most harrowing torture, modified into a fast killing machine at the hands of a sadistic scientist. Made to kill time and time again.
Fight. Survive. Live... A daily mantra which ran rampant through Lori's mind.
(Her second love) she's rescued by Amos and taken to a safe haven. where a beautiful slow burn friendship ensnares itself around our hearts as it slowly morphs into love.
I really enjoyed this one, a unique zombie apocalypse book I’ve ever read, this took me a while to get into, but once I settled into the storyline I found myself hooked, this got my blood pumping, my heart rate increased as I felt utter despair for our heroine and all she had endured at the hands of a scientist.
You can’t help but feel connected to these characters, it wasn’t all about zombies it was more about strength, friendship and survival.
As she settles into her new surroundings, Lori finally feels a sense of security that has eluded her for so long. This tight-knit community, filled with people who believe in the values of maintaining their humanity, history, and culture becomes a place where Lori can dream again. And maybe find love again.
However, Lori quickly realizes that sitting around playing house is not for her. Knowing she possesses special abilities from her time as an experiment, abilities that could be invaluable in the fight against the undead, she must prove herself to her new friends. To Amos.
