Requiem of the Dead
Leila Calloway’s last moments were filled with agony and betrayal. The people she loved most—her best friend, Ellie, and her boyfriend, Jace—stole her supplies, took her weapons, and left her to die in the jaws of the undead. As the infection consumed her, she vowed that if given another chance, she would never trust so blindly again.
When she wakes up three months before the apocalypse, that chance is hers. This time, she won’t be the one left behind. Determined to change her fate, Leila sets out to prepare—stockpiling resources, securing a shelter, and strengthening herself for the horrors to come. But as she walks the road of survival, she finds herself drawn to Kai Darrow, a hardened survivor with his own ghosts to battle. Unlike the love that once destroyed her, Kai's loyalty is built in fire and blood. But can she trust love again when her past has already proven it can be her downfall?
As the undead rise and rival factions fight for control, Leila must navigate a world where betrayal is as deadly as the virus itself. Will her second chance lead her to vengeance—or to a love strong enough to survive the end of the world?
This story has an interesting premise, but it feels like it's missing a lot of key details. Some important moments that should have been fleshed out are instead rushed through in just a few lines, making it hard to fully understand the progression of events. At times, it feels as if large chunks of the story are skipped, leaving me confused—like I’ve missed several chapters in between. The pacing also feels inconsistent. For example, the FL was initially determined not to trust anyone, yet she suddenly starts trusting the ML and even kisses him after just a few words. Similarly, despite knowing the true colors of certain characters from her past life, she still chooses to work with them again, which doesn’t quite make sense. Character backstories are also unclear. How did they all meet? What happened during the three months leading up to the apocalypse? Details about the FL’s life before everything changed—like whether she was rich, poor, or middle class—are vague. The setting also shifts abruptly, such as her going from living in an apartment to suddenly staying in a jungle cottage, with no clear explanation. While the suspense and dark atmosphere are engaging, they sometimes overshadow the main apocalypse theme, making it feel even darker than expected. Additionally, some scenes seem to be written mainly to lead to romantic moments rather than developing the plot naturally. Overall, while the story has potential, it could benefit from more consistent pacing, better transitions between events, and deeper character development to make the narrative feel more cohesive and immersive.
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