The Vetala Zone: December and Friday's Zombie Cruise

Sebastian Strange masterfully stitches together two visceral novellas in The Vetala Zone: December and Friday’s Zombie Cruise. In “December,” a corpse in the morgue awakens with feral hunger, dragging you through corridors thick with dread and crackling with gore. “Friday’s Zombie Cruise” shifts the scene to a stranded cruise ship, where EMT Friday Goode’s wry humor keeps the tension taut as she fights off the undead. What I appreciated most was the break-neck pacing—there’s not a wasted page—and the vivid, sensory writing that makes every creak of the ship or drip in the morgue hall a moment of pure unease. Friday Goode’s dry wit offers welcome relief from the relentless suspense, though I would have loved to see more back-story for some of the secondary characters to deepen the emotional stakes. Overall, if you’re after short, sharp jolts of horror with memorable protagonists and no filler, this is a must-read. Strange proves you don’t need hundreds of pages to leave a lasting chill.

What do you get when you mix 2 chaotic characters, a cruise ship, and a zombie outbreak? Pure, blood splattered mayhem. December and Friday are great. This book is here to slap your brain with fire, friendship and chaos until you are laughing at things you probably shouldn't. Great read!

A wild zombie ride with unexpected depth. Dessi and Friday make a lovable, quirky duo, and Pepper the zombie-sniffing dog steals the show. It’s got humor, action, and just enough emotion to keep you hooked.

An entertaining read, A wild, heartfelt thrill ride! This book mixes humor, horror, and heart perfectly—zombies, family, and one brave dog make this cruise unforgettable!

What makes The Vetala Zone especially stand out is how it perfectly captures the spirit of a YA adventure without dumbing down the stakes. It's smart, fast-paced, and surprisingly touching, offering readers thrilling action, strong friendships, and a tender exploration of grief, loyalty, and courage.

This book is a pretty wild adventure full of dynamic characters that I wasn't expecting to love so much. Hold on tight and get ready to laugh!