A Strong Premise That Doesn’t Quite Stick the Landing

⭐⭐⭐

I’m always up for anything involving zombies or virus outbreaks, so The Splits by M.V Clark immediately felt like something right up my street. It has that kind of premise that promises tension, collapse, and all the messy human reactions that come with it—and going in, I was expecting to really get pulled into it.

To be fair, the premise is easily the strongest part. There’s a genuinely compelling idea at the core, and early on it sets things up in a way that makes you think you’re in for a gripping ride. There are moments where that potential really shines through, especially in the quieter, more reflective scenes where the writing slows down and lets the atmosphere build.

That said, it didn’t fully land for me. The pacing feels uneven—some sections linger a bit too long, while others rush through moments that could have had a lot more impact. It creates this slightly off rhythm where it’s hard to stay fully immersed.

I also found myself getting a bit lost once the story started leaning more into the psychological side of the virus, especially with the introduction of the “ghosts” (I’m trying to avoid spoilers the best I can). It’s an interesting direction in theory, but for me, it muddied what had initially felt like a clear and gripping concept. Instead of adding depth, it made things feel a bit unfocused, and I struggled to stay grounded in what was actually happening.

The characters are another mixed bag. On paper, they’re interesting, and you can see what the author is aiming for, but I never quite felt properly connected to them. Because of that, some of the emotional beats didn’t hit as hard as they probably should have, especially in a story where those reactions are such a big part of the appeal. The other issue I had with the characters is that (without naming names) some are deep into the epidemic, but then don’t react the way you think they should to things happening right around them. And for me, in any zombie media, the characters are where the real plot is, and I just didn’t feel this way about them, except for one who only appears in the novel in sporadic moments.

Overall, I’d say The Splits is a decent read with a strong concept—especially if you’re already a fan of zombie or virus fiction like I am—but it doesn’t quite reach the level it feels like it’s aiming for. Still worth a look, just maybe go in with slightly tempered expectations.