Once Upon a Zombie Apocalypse Books in Order

Once Upon a Zombie Apocalypse is a horror-leaning, episodic zombie saga connected to Jennifer Malone Wright and K.B. Miller. It is built around two survivors, Jade and Kylee, whose ordinary travel plans collapse into the end of the world. Chemical warfare has turned much of the population into flesh-eating zombies, and the survivors who are left have to decide whether to hide, run, or fight their way home.

The first episode is unusual because it lets readers meet the same disaster through two perspectives. Jade's side is the Wright entry in this database, while Kylee's side was written by Miller. That split helps establish the two women as friends with their own voices before the later episodes push them deeper into the same ruined landscape. It also makes the outbreak feel less like a headline and more like something happening to people you already know.

The setup is simple and mean.

Jade Warwick has been preparing for the end of the world for years, but even she did not expect zombies. She and Kylee are traveling from one author convention to another when the outbreak traps them in a nightmare. Their first goal is not to save the planet or solve the science behind the virus. They want to find their families. That personal goal gives the series its shape: every mile matters because someone they love might still be alive.

The second episode keeps them moving out of Virginia Beach toward the Mason Dixon line, where they hope to find Kylee's family. By then the virus is spreading faster than either of them expected. Society is collapsing, streets are dangerous, and many survivors have gone into hiding. Jade and Kylee do not choose that path. Their fear is real, but the need to reach their families is stronger.

This series has a different feel from Wright's vampire and paranormal romance books. The danger is bloodier, more immediate, and more grounded in survival horror. There are still bonds, loyalty, and sharp character moments, but the world gives the characters less room to pause. A mistake can mean death, infection, or losing the trail to the people they are trying to save.

Readers looking for Wright's supernatural mythology should start elsewhere. Readers who want a fast, violent detour about friendship under pressure, road-trip survival, and two women refusing to give up on their families will find this series the better fit.