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One Yellow Eye, is the debut novel by Leigh Radford. I always look forward to reading debut books. I know that the finished product is truly a labor of love. An author has put in so much of themselves into writing this book, which usually makes it a great read.
What did I think of One Yellow Eye? Read on for my spoiler free review.
One Yellow Eye Synopsis via Amazon:
In this heart-wrenching and unique spin on the zombie mythos, a brilliant scientist desperately searches for a cure after a devastating epidemic while also hiding a monumental secret—her undead husband.
How far would you go to save your marriage? For British scientist Kesta Shelley, there is no limit.
Having always preferred the company of microbes, Kesta has spent her life looking down the barrel of a microscope rather than cultivating personal relationships. But that changed when Kesta met Tim—her cheerleader, her best friend, her absolute everything. So, when he was one of the last people in London to be infected with a perplexing virus that left the city ravaged, Kesta went into triage mode.
Though the government has rounded up and disposed of all the infected, Kesta is able to keep her husband (un)alive—and hidden—with resources from the hospital where she works. She spends her days reviewing biopsy slides and her evenings caring for him, but he’s clearly declining. The sedatives aren’t working like they used to, and his violent outbursts are becoming more frequent. As Kesta races against the clock, her colleagues start noticing changes in her behavior and appearance. She is withering away, self-medicating with alcohol, and has stopped attending her mandated ZARG (Zombie Apocalypse Recovery Group) meetings. Her care for Tim has spiraled into absolute obsession.
There are whispers of a top-secret lab working on a cure, and Kesta clings to the possibility of being recruited like a lifeline. But can she save her husband before he is discovered? Or worse…will they trigger another outbreak?
My Thoughts
The synopsis of this book intrigued me so much, I knew immediately I wanted to read it. Truth be told, zombies, are not usually my preferred genre. I am slowly becoming a fan of zombie movies. I decided I wanted to branch out into zombie books as well. This book is unique and isn’t a stereotypical zombie story. This isn’t a world-ending apocalypse. It is contained to the London area. As we know, pandemics can have devasting results. Unfortunately for our main character, Kesta, her husband, her soul mate, Tim, is a victim of this pandemic.
When the order was received to round up euthanize all the infected persons, Kesta does the thing we all would do for someone we love, she keeps him hidden. Kesta is a scientist and works tireless to find a cure. But her husband is declining. She hopes to save her husband, Tim, before he is discovered. Does she? You will have to read to find out.
The story is beautifully bleak. I had no idea this story would live inside my head. I was compelled to read this book, I read it in about 2 days. The world Leigh Radford creates is atmospheric. I don’t believe it is a coincidence that Kesta’s last name is Shelley. This book gives off gothic Frankenstein vibes, but in modern times. The science isn’t overwhelming or difficult to understand. The mix of science and horror was a perfect blend. The characters are fairly developed and portrayed. The book is more plot based than character based. The root of the story though is grief and loss and the emotions we experience.
I appreciated the freshness of the zombie lore. It made this a fascinating read that I compulsively read wanting to know how this story ends. The ending is a realistic ending and I loved that about this book as well.
My Final Thought
Leigh Radford creates a gothic world in modern times. A horrific story that centers around love and grief. The ultimate “what if” scenario. How far would you go to save someone? This is a unique zombie book, I believe it will satisfy the zombie fan as long as you are open to a different take on zombie lore. It also will intrigue the non- zombie fans with the fresh take on zombie lore. I’m, without a doubt, looking forward to Leigh Radford’s next novel.
One Yellow Eye is available now both digital and physical copies at most retailers. You may learn more about the author Leigh Radford on her website.
