#rizzlewrites

Cover art for Love In A Time of the Zombie Apocalypse by RizzleWrites.

Inspired by Penguin Classics covers.

LIATOTZA commission I did for dramioneslytherinqueen on Instagram

Scene from fanfic:

Love in a Time of the Zombie Apocalypse by @rizzlewrites

Love In A Time Of The Zombie Apocalypse by Rizzlewrites (Rated MA) After Voldemort, there was this. The clock is ticking to create a cure to the unimaginable horror that currently grips the world. Hermione finds herself unwillingly allied with the most hated man in Wizarding Britain.

COMPLETE: Yes TYPE: Multi-Chapter CATEGORY: Alternate universe, Post-Voldemort, EWE

MY OPINION: This fanfic is definitely unique and written well. I can definitely say that the zombie story is more prominent than any romance between Draco and Hermione and their story is INSIDE the main story. Unfortunately for me, it dragged on a bit especially at the end and Hermione was a bit OOC as well. With that being said, it definitely felt like I was reading the Maze Runner or a similar story because that side of it was brilliant. It was unfortunately the Dramione side that I didn't enjoy as much. ETL Echo did an amazing job once again with this podfic!

Rating: 3/5

Genre: Post-apocalyptic fiction, Sci-Fi thriller, Fantasy, Dystopian Fiction, Action-Adventure

Author: @rizzlewrites

Word Count: 355K 

OVERVIEW: An addictive, visceral, and immersive epic that masterfully places our favorite comfort characters into a gritty, volatile world, LIATOTZA will have science-fiction and slow-burn fans brimming with anticipation as the story unfolds at a breathtaking pace.

If you are looking for a plot-driven war AU of the utmost quality in the fandom, this fic is for you.

EXTERNAL PLOT: First and foremost, LIATOTZA is an epic that reads like a long-form television series. Wary readers may be turned off by the seemingly bizarre premise—zombies? Wizards? Science? Magic? Muggle weapons? Are we even in Harry Potter territory? Before you dismiss this masterpiece, hear me out—rizzle makes this work, and perhaps that is her most impressive accomplishment. This dystopian world that we’re thrown into just makes sense.

Narratively, it is a delight to read—there are so many twists and unexpected developments. The premise is so unique, the action so palpable, the world-building so immersive, that initially, I thought this could be published into its own standalone novel. That’s how good it is. However, upon further thought, I don’t think it would work. Here is why: rizzle doesn’t build this world to be an AU, she expands on the world that JK Rowling already established in canon. Without giving major plot details away, the entire basis of the external plot—how the virus starts, the source of political conflict, and the final resolution—is deeply rooted in the world and characters that JKR has established. It only works because of canon HP.

Pacing-wise, it is done very well. My ADHD-addled brain did find some parts to be slow, but there wasn’t a single arc or conflict that I didn’t enjoy. The plot doesn’t meander, except perhaps towards the end, during the resolution stage. From a literary perspective, this doesn’t quite work. However, this is fanfic, where rules don’t apply—and given that we are all in this fandom because of our undying love for Draco and Hermione (and really, we just want to see them whole and happy), this is a good thing!

ROMANTIC ARC: As you can gather, this is not a quiet, introspective fic, in which Draco and Hermione have time to speculate in-depth on their feelings for each other. However, for as much spotlight as the external plot gets, the romantic elements propels the narrative forward—rizzle is able to balance both elements so well that I would argue that one doesn’t outshine the other. In fact, both are made better because of each other (as in, the romantic plot-line is amplified because of the external plot; the external plot is appealing because of the romance).

This is a slow-burn—there is so much chaos in the world that our characters are pitted together, then torn apart, again and again—that when they finally get a moment of reprieve, the emotional (and sexual!) payoff is deserved and I think some of the best scenes in the fandom. In fact, the smut (while not frequent) is amongst the most intense, sexy, beautiful, explicit, and satisfying reads in Dramione fanfiction. 

I love drama. I love angst. I love smut. I love epic, passionate love, in which our characters have to go through hell and fight for each other. If this appeals to you, you’ll love LIATOTZA.

SETTING: Admittedly, the world-building took me a while to get used to, because it is so unfamiliar. This isn’t a comfort fic. There are familiar places mentioned (Grimmauld Place, Malfoy Manor, Hogwarts)—but they are not what we are used to reading. While the world-building is undoubtedly one of rizzle’s greatest strengths, it may also be one of the greatest deterrents for readers who don’t want a dense, intelligent read and would prefer something mindless and familiar.

I was thoroughly impressed to see how rizzle blends magical and muggle characters together so well in a post-apocalyptic world. The prejudice and fear of the muggle world that we see only touched upon in canon HP is exacerbated to the fullest extent in this work. With the Statute of Secrecy effectively obliterated, the tension between the magical and muggle world drastically rises and the crisis becomes global. It is grand.

SIDE CHARACTERS: There is a very balanced mix of canon and OC characters, and you will love (or hate!) all of them. Every single character is crafted carefully and effectively used to drive the plot forward. For those who don’t care for OCs, let me just say—they are absolutely necessary to make the world even bigger. There are BAMFs galore.Keep in mind that no one is safe, as many characters’ fates will have you gasping in shock.

DRACO CHARACTERIZATION: In-character? Hard to say, but I would err on the side of no (let’s be real, canon Draco would not survive a zombie apocalypse aside from barricading himself in his manor LOL). But because this world is so unfamiliar and chaotic, our beloved Draco is stripped of his aristocratic upbringing, and turned into an efficient, ruthless, lethal, emotionally closed-off antihero. He is an outlaw who ended up on the wrong side of the tracks. You’ll find no sniveling, showboating, poncy arse Draco here!

Similar to how Draco is portrayed in most war-time fics, he doesn’t care about the cause. He’s in it for Hermione, and he’s willing to raze the world to the ground if it means keeping her safe.

However, the biggest criticism that I’ve heard for this characterization of Draco is this: there really isn’t a justification for why he loves Hermione, merely that he is fascinated by her. From what I recall, there is no mention about their time or interactions at Hogwarts.

Nevertheless, I’ve heard that this is many, many peoples’ favorite characterization of Draco, because he is so attractive and competent and badass and sexy. Truly a wonderful romantic lead.

HERMIONE CHARACTERIZATION: Yes, in-character, but not unique. Like many fanon characterizations, Hermione is a do-gooder, wide-eyed, innocent, pure, and ultimately, cares about the cause above all else. But she is also brave, relentless, highly intelligent, and sacrificial—ultimately, a lovely heroine that you’ll root for.

TECHNICAL WRITING: Rizzle is a gifted writer—one of the most competent writers I’ve seen in the fandom. She is a masterful storyteller with impressive range who adeptly handles world-building, characterization, plot, and romance equally. Stylistically, her writing is dense and meticulous, similar to George R.R. Martin. That said, LIATOTZA is not an easy, quick read—it will require you to sink your teeth into it and work through it.

CLOSING THOUGHTS: LIATOTZA is genuinely a labor of love, and you can tell how much pre-planning and effort went into crafting this epic masterpiece. I haven’t read any of rizzle’s other work, but I suspect this may be her magnum opus, as it is difficult to comprehend that another story could be this epic. This is truly, truly a unique piece of art, and the fandom is incredibly lucky to have this gift.  

Lastly, it is worth mentioning that my favorite Dramione Audiobook of all time, @etl-echo-audiobooks has this available on Spotify, complete with voice acting and wonderful accents. Thank you, ETL Echo!

If you liked LIATOTZA, you may also enjoy: Manacled by SenLinYu, The Auction by LovesBitca8

Love in a Time of the Zombie Apocalypse but make it ✨80s✨