Book review by Corey
Grind
Grind is the eighth book in the Slow Burn series and puts Zed’s anger toward Mark right at the centre of the story. After everything he has lost, Zed finally decides he is done trying to rise above it and sets out to track Mark down, even though revenge in this world is never as simple as it sounds.
The book still has the fast survival feel of the earlier entries, but it is more personal because Zed’s choices are being driven by grief and hatred as much as by survival. Murphy is there to balance him out, and their chemistry keeps the story from becoming too heavy even when Zed is clearly heading into trouble.
The Goods
- Strong revenge storyline
- Zed and Murphy are still great together
- Fast, easy pacing
- More emotional than some earlier books
- Good buildup toward the end of the series
The Bads
- Zed can be frustratingly reckless
- Some situations feel familiar
- The revenge focus can feel repetitive
- A few side characters are underused
- Works best if you know the earlier books
My Recommendation
This is a strong entry for readers who are already invested in Zed and Murphy and want to see the story get more personal. Grind leans heavily into Zed’s anger and need for revenge, which gives the book a darker edge without losing the fast pace and humour that make the series fun. If you like zombie fiction where the characters’ emotional baggage matters just as much as the infected, this one fits very well into the later part of the Slow Burn series.