IF WE SURVIVE THIS

Four teens navigate a world ravaged by a rabies mutation.

Since her older brother, Cain, was injured during a supply run, Flora, who has OCD, has had to sharpen her survival skills to stay alive in a world brimming with flesh-hungry, zombielike rabids. Their mom died around the time of the initial outbreak, and their dad left months ago to scout out a cabin in Northern California, where the family spent numerous summers vacationing. A mysterious radio message suggests that their dad might still be alive, and Flora and Cain prepare to journey north, away from their home in an increasingly dangerous Los Angeles. The siblings run into two other survivors—their old friend Crisanta and her companion, Adán. While Crisanta and Adán keep the details of their history secret, Flora contends with her growing feelings for Crisanta, whose past romantic entanglement with Cain complicates matters. An uneasy alliance forms as the foursome travels through a rabid-infested California. Occasionally tense but rarely spine-chilling, this apocalyptic tale primarily focuses on the group’s gruesome road trip, with occasional chapters spotlighting a pre-outbreak excursion taken by Flora’s family. Marie leans heavily into juicy, grotesque gore, whose shock value dulls as the story goes on. An overreliance on genre tropes mars the otherwise fine character work. Flora and Cain are of Colombian and Irish descent. Adán, who’s trans, has Colombian and Mexican heritage, and Crisanta is cued Mexican American.

Full of bites and intermittent sparks.