Thank you Netgalley, Macmillian Audio/Tor and Leigh Radford for the audio of One Yellow Eye
Narrated by Sofia Engstrand

One Yellow Eye is a slow burn zombie horror that is both horrifying and touching all at once. Kesta is spends her life actively avoiding people and peering down a microscope. The only person she loves is her husband Tim so when he is one of the last people to be bitten by a Zombie. It's a race to try and find an antidote.

One Yellow Eye really surprised me. Not only do we have elements of a zombie apocalypse, gory scenes ( but not overly ) we get to see the rawness, the emotions and the desperation of the lengths we go to to save the ones we love. The plot line and direction was well balanced with these elements and coupled with good character building made for a very emotive read. And yes, I shed a tear or two. For me that makes a great book. I would love to read more of Leigh Radford's work in the future, maybe without crying at the end?!

4.5 stars, rounded up to 5 for other review sites.

Thank you Macmillan UK Audio, Tor Nightfire & Netgalley for this A-ARC.

This is a zombie novel, but not in the way you might expect. Radford delivers something refreshingly grounded, eerily plausible, especially in a post 2020 world. That’s where the real horror lives, what’s stopping something like this from happening?

We follow Kesta Shelley, a scientist trying to maintain order in the middle of collapse. Her name feels like a quiet homage to Mary Shelley, and the book mirrors that same blend of science, humanity, and tragedy. Kesta is harbouring a secret… her husband Tim has turned, and she’s keeping him hidden, clinging to the hope of saving him. From the outset, we’re thrust into her emotional chaos, her grief and obsession.

As the story progresses, so does Kesta’s unravelling. The pressure of her secret life, her emotional and physical exhaustion, and her descent into alcohol fuelled coping mechanisms feel painfully real. The science throughout is dense but convincing—it doesn’t feel like fiction at all, and the audio made this such a pleasant experience, all the emotions conveyed so beautifully that you really feel everything.

Overall One Yellow Eye is more than a zombie story—it’s about loss, survival, and the fragile thread of the hope we cling to. I did really enjoy this book

Thank you to Netgalley and the UK publishers for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a zombie book, but it also isn't a zombie book at all. Not in the way we know it. It's about the human side of it; coping with loss, what we would do to save the ones we love. The line between doing things for selflessness and selfishness. And I loved it for that.

This was so unique and carried so much emotion behind it. I thought the ending was perfect. The only critique I could give is that the sciency parts were a bit long winded for me, but otherwise I thought it was a breath of fresh air.

Go into this not expecting your normal gory zombie tale, and I think you will absolutely love it!

**One Yellow Eye** by Leigh Radford really worked for me—not because it’s another zombie novel, but because it’s not. It’s quieter, more intimate, and honestly a lot more disturbing for it. The story follows Kesta, a virologist in post-infection London, who’s keeping her half-zombified husband chained up in their flat while she works for the government project that’s supposed to be “curing” people like him. Except, of course, there’s no real cure, just increasingly grim trade-offs. What I liked is how small the focus stays—this isn’t about saving the world, it’s about saving one person, even if doing that wrecks you. The science feels grounded, but it never gets in the way of the emotion. It’s clinical and messy at the same time, like grief often is. I found myself on Kesta’s side longer than I probably should’ve been, which is part of what makes the book so effective. It’s not trying to shock you with gore—it’s trying to quietly ask how far you’d go for someone you love when the rest of the world says, “Let go.”

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I really enjoyed this story
It wasn’t the traditional zombie apocalypse I was expecting going in!
I did however feel it was going to be a little more horror/thriller from the cover but that’s a me issue being judgey
I loved that the zombies had human emotion still in them.
I felt it was more a love story but I enjoyed very much

This was not the zombie book I was expecting and I'm not mad at that.

I loved the fresh take on it. The insight the pandemic has given us on how the current world reacts to mass outbreaks, using that and applying it to a zombie outbreak. It made it so much more relatable than a classic Zombie story.

I really enjoyed the pieces falling into place about how the virus came about and the work going into finding a cure.

All this wrapped around a heart breaking story of grief and dealing with loss.

Like i said, not the zombie story I thought I was getting but a beautiful zombie story it was.

Book Review - One Yellow Eye by Leigh Radford (synopsis in comments)

This is not just a book about zombies it’s about the lengths and risks you would go to for someone you love. Make this your first ever zombie read.

It was a journey of emotions for me with the main character Kesta, the risks she takes keeping a zombie at home - what if he should escape. I found this strange behaviour. The way she treats her best friend Jess, only a true best friend would see past this and continue to try and help Kesta.

Kesta reflects back on life before zombies with Tim, the author did a great job of turning how I felt about Kesta around. I started to like and admire her. Although I was still shouting at her towards the end of the book. It also meant that I now saw Tim as a person and not just a zombie.

I definitely enjoyed the surprising and interesting explanation of how the spread of the infection began, and a fascinating look at patient zero's infection. Also how the story then linked through to America, and other parts of the world.

Kesta's risk taking in the laboratory at work left me aghast, but her work colleagues still had faith in her.

There was a moment towards the end of the book when for a brief second (mostly because of the countryside setting) I had a Day of the Triffids vibe. Which is indeed a great compliment. 

The ending is emotional, and thought provoking. This is about science and the fight of doing what is right and less about zombies and combat.

Book Available to buy from the 17th of July.

5 star read ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

I did a joint reading and listen of One Yellow Eye 🟡👁️ thanks to an audiobook from @netgalley the narrator did a great job and really kept me engaged.
Pr-ad   Many thanks to @bookbreakuk and @torbooksuk for a review paperback copy.

The narration for this was great. Unfortunately, the story itself didn't really hit for me.

I thought the synopsis sounded really interesting but the actual execution was a little too meandering and I wasn't particularly invested at any point. I didn't care much for the characters and the themes quickly became repetitive and droning.

I am usually a sucker for any type of zombie apocalypse type books and this one had such a strong synopsis. I’m sitting here unfortunately reviewing at closer to a 2-2.5 star.

I couldn’t tell what this really wanted to be.. it wasn’t “scary” or uncomfortable enough for horror, it wasn’t moving enough to be more of a literary romance and it wasn’t nerve racking enough to be a thriller. It did bring up some great conversation especially between my spouse- so I did enjoy that, because the idea of what would you do in that type of scenario was just too fun not to discuss. But unfortunately the story as a whole.. fell utterly flat for me. I struggled to get through it.

Note review for the audio- I don’t think it’s at much fault to the narrator but I definitely think I needed to read this one vs listen as I just kept finding myself zoning out then having to rewind and repeat. I didn’t connect at all.

It just did not click here unfortunately!

Thank you so much for the early audio in exchange of a review.

A unique take on the zombie outbreak trope sees us follow Kesta, a scientist working in cancer research join a secret lab looking to find the queue for the zombie virus. I was gripped from the first 10 minutes and found myself listening every opportunity I had.
Following Kesta as she struggles with balancing the needs of her research and her self imposed responsibilities to her husband, Tim, is a rollercoaster ride of emotions. Wonderfully written and expertly narrated.

A refreshingly weird spin on the whole zombie apocalypse thing, honestly, it’s less “brains!” and more “aww,” which was unexpectedly sweet.

But here’s the thing: despite the undead running amok, the real horror was how little I connected with the characters. The protagonist just felt off and I wanted to root for someone but ended up emotionally invested in… no one. Even the pacing was like a zombie shuffle: slow, disjointed, and occasionally tripping over itself.

Also, can we talk about the setting of this book, London - One of the most diverse cities on the planet and yet we’re following the adventures of Kesta, Tim, Cooke, Jess, Dudley etc etc. I mean, what is this, the cast list for a BBC sitcom from 1994? Representation matters, folks!

Did this book go through an editing process or?

It was ok, 2.5 stars

I found this to be a wonderful fresh take on the often-trodden zombie genre. From the very first chapter, I was completely engrossed by this emotional and scientifically-driven story.
What sets this book apart is its point of view: that of a dedicated doctor/scientiy refusing to surrender her husband to the zombie apocalypse. Set eight months into the devastating London outbreak, we follow Kesta as she embarks on an almost unthinkable quest to cure her bitten husband.
The lengths our protagonist goes to are both heartbreaking and awe-inspiring. Her journey takes her from illicitly acquiring medications from her former hospital workplace to collaborating with the brightest minds in a secret lab, all in a desperate bid to find a cure or a vaccine. The presence of "patient zero" right there in the morgue adds a illegal layer to the investigation, making the stakes incredibly high.
Radford has masterful blended the visceral horror of a zombie-infested world with the poignant exploration of love, grief, and unwavering hope. The medical details feel authentic, and the character's unwavering dedication is truly moving. This isn't just another zombie story; it's the apocalyptic trope of the power of human connection in the face of unimaginable odds.
I highly recommend "One Yellow Eye" to anyone looking for a unique, character-driven, and captivating zombie book. It will challenge your perceptions of the undead and leave you thinking long after the final chapter. As a fan of MR Carey's "girl with all the gifts" I think this is of a similar theme and think fanss of that book will really love this one too

i generally don’t care much for zombies but i actually really enjoyed this book! it definitely wasn’t a typical ‘grrrr bah bah zombie grrr 🧟’ type of story (which is why i usually don’t care much for them lol) but was so obviously a metaphor, which the author’s acknowledgements explain even further

i just thought it was a lovely storyline, i didn’t think it was much of a horror story, if anything i felt bad for kesta all the way through, and again quite sad but also happy at the bittersweet ending!

thank you so much to macmillan uk audio / tor nightfire & netgalley for this advance listener copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review! <3

After a 6 week virus outbreak in London turns sufferers into the living dead via even the smallest of bites, the race is on to find a cure. Especially so for Kesta, who has her husband Tim chained to the radiator in the spare room of her flat in Wapping.

Unsettling at times, and funny in others, this book is full of hope and despair in equal measure. I felt for Kesta, in her desperate attempts to save the only thing she has in her life that would be worth living for. However, some of her actions did make me question her mental stability, and I wasn't entirely sure whether I liked her for much of the book.

I loved the relationship Kesta developed with Cooke, who brought some light-hearted moments to this otherwise rather dark novel.

The narration was phenomenal, and really added an extra layer to this book. I felt every word and every troubled thought.

Thank you to the publisher for allowing me to listen an advance copy of this book via Netgalley.

This was so good! The narrator brought this book to LIFE and I absolutely adored this audiobook!
The story itself was so good, i loved the balance between jargon and lay language, the way the story progressed. I was on the edge of my seat, stomach in knots and the ending was exactly what it needed to be albeit absolutely HEARTBREAKING!!! The choice of virus origin was novel and the parallels between project dawn and Tim at home were so interesting!! It was all completely devastating, and so awful— the author did such a bloody good job w the emotional side of the story, and it made for such a fantastic book!!

Really enjoyed this one even if it made my stomach hurt from stress & heartbreak 😭

I was initially drawn to One Yellow Eye by its stark cover design and intriguing title, and I was delighted to be approved for the NetGalley ALC. My reading schedule has been hectic lately, and most of June was already planned, but then I saw that The Broken Binding edition of this book was going on presale. I had to decide whether to jump on it.
I figured I’d sample a few chapters and go back to my current reads. Nope. As soon as I started reading, I was hooked. The tone was surprisingly light and witty in places while still being dark and intense. I really liked that balance, and the writing pulled me in straight away.
The audiobook production is excellent, and the narrator does a great job conveying a wide range of emotions. I think this book hits even harder in the aftermath of COVID. There are a few lines referencing lockdowns that now resonate differently.
I loved the science lab elements, the duality of the lead character, and the way it made me think of films like Contagion or the ending of I Am Legend, with its more humanizing view of the infected.
Something I always appreciate in zombie fiction is those heartbreaking moments when family members can’t accept that their loved one is gone. This story taps into that emotional territory really well.
While the first third absolutely gripped me, I did find my attention drifted a bit in the middle. However, it’s ultimately a solid read with a fresh approach to the zombie genre.

I have no criticism on the book whatsoever, It just wasn’t for me. I lost interest pretty early on. I tried to go back and give it another try, but I just couldn’t get into it.

Leigh Radford’s One Yellow Eye is everything I didn’t know I needed in a post-apocalyptic novel: sharp, darkly funny, heart-wrenching, and utterly original. If you think you’ve read every type of zombie story out there, think again.

The plot follows Kesta Shelley, a brilliant British scientist whose husband, Tim, becomes one of the final victims of a zombie outbreak. Except—she doesn’t let him go. Instead, she hides him in their home, injecting him with stolen drugs in the hope of a cure, and slowly unraveling in the process. What begins as a desperate act of love transforms into a chilling exploration of obsession and the human cost of hope.

Radford’s writing is compulsively readable. Her characters feel raw and real, especially Kesta, whose grief-driven choices are at once horrifying and heartbreakingly understandable. This isn't just a horror novel—it’s a deeply emotional meditation on what we’re willing to sacrifice to hold onto the people we love.

This book surprised me in the best way. It’s witty, tense, tragic, and at times shockingly tender. Imagine if Warm Bodies met Station Eleven, then went to therapy with Frankenstein. That's One Yellow Eye.

Highly recommended for fans of genre-bending fiction, dark humor, and stories that linger long after you’ve finished the final page.