Not just another apocalyptic zombie book, Survivor Song is exactly the read you didn't know you needed while on lockdown during a global pandemic. Tremblay wastes no time setting the stage. Immediate agoraphobic anxiety is created as Natalie waits and worries for her husband to get home. The tension is palpable then and for the entirety of the novel as ticking time-bomb Natalie and friend "Rams" are put through one nail-biting moment after another. The pacing is cutting and well-schemed, leaving you breathlessly waiting for the next blow.

An eerie credible likeness of 2020's COVID-19 woes—from the lack of PPE to the Presidental underreaction—is painted as the protagonists face this new rabid reality and set off on their own. Woefully bleak, Survivor Song is emotional and visceral with characters you immediately can find relatable. Tremblay's ability to convey human emotion sometimes even overshadows the plot. From the difficult decisions to the heartbreak, it's hard not to become emotionally invested in these characters, knowing it will just gut you when it all goes pear-shaped. Even then, it's not all doom and gloom. While the overall storyline is dark, ultimately the undercurrent is humanity, friendship, and standing with someone through it all.

Review originally featured in Unnerving Magazine