obtained a evaluation copy from the writer. This doesn’t have an effect on the contents of my evaluation and all opinions are my very own.

One Yellow Eye by Leigh Radford

Mogsy’s Score: 3.5 of 5 stars

Style: Horror

Sequence: Stand Alone

Writer: Gallery Books (July 15, 2025)

Size: 352 pages

Creator Info: Web site

I’ve learn a variety of zombie books, and plenty of of them function comparable themes of chaos within the streets or a determined combat for survival. As soon as in a uncommon whereas, nevertheless, I’ll come throughout one which’s way more intimate and slow-burning.

In One Yellow Eye, creator Leigh Radford delivers her introspective tackle a zombie apocalypse that feels deeply private. Set in a near-future London simply months after the outbreak of a contagious virus that turns individuals into senseless, violent husks for his or her former selves, the town has principally managed to include the pandemic. With the contaminated purged, the federal government can lastly now flip its consideration to discovering a remedy. Dubbed Undertaking Daybreak, the brand new initiative is drawing a number of the nation’s greatest and brightest scientific minds, every decided to uncover the origins of the virus and be sure that one thing like this may by no means occur once more.

Considered one of these analysis scientists is our protagonist Kesta Shelley. Like many others, she desires to be a part of the hassle to safeguard the way forward for the world, besides Kesta can also be hiding a horrible secret. Whereas the federal government claims that the disaster is over and all infections have been eradicated for now, Kesta’s husband Tim, one of many final to be contaminated, continues to be alive. And he’s presently chained up of their house, the place he exists in a state of fixed sedation to forestall his violent urges from surfacing—and to purchase Kesta extra time. Unable to let Tim go, her solely hope is to safe a place in Undertaking Daybreak and secretly use its sources for her personal analysis earlier than anybody discovers what she’s hiding at residence. However because the clock ticks down and Tim will get more and more tougher to regulate, Kesta should face the query of how far she’s prepared to go to save lots of the person she loves.

For probably the most half, I actually loved this e-book, particularly the primary half. From a conceptual standpoint, there’s loads that makes One Yellow Eye particular. Whereas Radford is definitely not the primary creator to humanize her zombies, I appreciated the best way she added a layer of tragedy right here by letting them retain glints of their id and recollections nonetheless trapped contained in the jail of the virus. I additionally appreciated the emphasis on the science behind the outbreak. Very like The Final of Us, it options an origin for the zombie virus with roots within the pure world, and I at all times discover these sorts of connections fascinating. Higher but, even in case you’re somebody who’s burned out on pandemic fiction, there’s simply sufficient sci-fi right here to maintain it from feeling like yet one more COVID-inspired novel.

However arguably, the primary promoting level of One Yellow Eye is the heartbreaking nature of it. Kesta’s scenario is terrible, and her desperation is palpable. The story is most participating when she is interacting along with her husband, even in his zombified state. Although we solely see him as a shell of the person he as soon as was, Kesta’s recollections assist paint a fuller image of who he was once and what he meant to her, permitting readers to grasp the depth of her devotion. Her love for Tim drives your entire plot, however over time, it turns into clear that the creator can also be inviting us to query when love crosses the road into unhealthy obsession. Due to this, Kesta’s motivations aren’t at all times simple to empathize with, however the thought of loving somebody a lot that you simply’d do something to save lots of them is undeniably relatable, even when her decisions generally really feel excessive.

I additionally felt that, whereas the primary half of the e-book constructed sturdy emotional and thematic foundations, the second half was a bit messier by comparability. The plot started to really feel a bit scattered, with just a few sub threads petering out right here and there with out decision. The pacing additionally began to flag, weighed down by extra than simply Kesta’s questionable selections at this level, as repetitive conflicts with the identical individuals and issues began cropping up. In the end, I discovered myself wishing the ending had been extra cohesive and impactful.

That stated, I didn’t remorse my time with One Yellow Eye. Regardless of my points with it, I nonetheless discovered it to be a wise and considerate debut that brings one thing new to the zombie horror style. Leigh Radford’s writing was additionally compelling, hitting the appropriate notes on the proper components to be each poignant and disturbing. If you need a “conventional” zombie novel, this isn’t it. However in case you’re within the temper for one thing extra private and introspective, and the premise pursuits you, One Yellow Eye is effectively value a glance.