The motley team of volunteers, clashing with villagers and each other, advances west into Downtown. Evading pursuit and pressed for time, they leave everything they know and walk into the midst of the tainted zombies.

This third collection, episodes 15-22, reveals how the tainted girl Bianca and her long lost friend, creative Rossi, were profoundly shaped by their lives in rural New Village versus the small town wasteland Downtown. With no backup, only the supplies they could sneak out with, they discover the woods are contaminated. An unknown disease blackens and twists plants. Tainted animals appear, and someone is following them. Tension mounts as animosity erupts from all sides. They face those who distrust them. They learn the suburbs house more tainted than imagined, and cover to stay hidden is scarce.

This is the last book in "Season 1", and "Season 2" is coming up! Fans of post-apocalyptic hopepunk and supernatural fantasy will enjoy this ongoing series. If you enjoyed "Station Eleven" or "Sweet Tooth," then you'll love this character-driven saga of found family and long lost friends enduring wasteland survival with "Practical Magic" style witchcraft. Follow Rachel H. White for future episodes.