The Z Word

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What to expect

Packed with action, humor, sex, and big gay feelings, The Z Word is the queer Zombieland you didn’t know you needed.

Chaotic bisexual Wendy is trying to find her place in the queer community of San Lazaro, Arizona, after a bad breakup—which is particularly difficult because her ex is hooking up with some of her friends. And when the people around them start turning into violent, terrifying mindless husks, well, that makes things harder. Especially since the infection seems to be spreading.

Now, Wendy and her friends and frenemies—drag queen Logan, silver fox Beau, sword lesbian Aurelia and her wife Sam, mysterious pizza delivery stoner Sunshine, and, oh yeah, Wendy’s ex-girlfriend Leah—have to team up to stay alive, save Pride, and track the zombie outbreak to its shocking source. Hopefully without killing each other first.

The Z Word is a propulsive, funny, emotional horror debut about a found family coming together to fight corporate greed, political corruption, gay drama, and zombies.

Critics Review

  • “This cinematic romp has something for nearly every reader; humor, gore, heat, action, and mystery all swirl in the San Lazaro desert.”

    Booklist (starred review)
  • “Sexy, thoughtful, and fast-paced…Will have readers cheering for her queer heroes and questioning their own brand loyalties.”

    Library Journal
  • “With an endearingly messy protagonist and wonderfully complicated relationship dynamics among the entirely queer cast, King-Miller skillfully explores real issues facing the LGBTQ community while cleverly pairing the beats of a romance novel with the visceral gut punches of survival horror.”

    Publishers Weekly
  • “Sexy, scathing, delightful, and intimately devastating.”

    Gretchen Felker-Martin, author of Manhunt
  • “King-Miller brings a delightful appetite for rollicking weirdness, queerness, sexiness, and chainsaw prowess. An absolute blast.”

    Hailey Piper, Bram Stoker Award–winning author
  • “Comic and gruesome in turn, The Z Word is that rare can’t-put-it-down, miss-your-stop-on-the-subway kind of read.”

    Calvin Kasulke, author of Several People Are Typing

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