To the Death
there can be only one winner in this zombie-filled dystopian thriller, for fans of The Hunger Games and The Last of Us
Published on 26. March 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
336 pages
978-1-4449-8076-9 (ISBN)
Description
Welcome to Blood Island, where the struggle for survival against the bloodthirsty undead is captured on camera for entertainment.
*PRE-ORDER Hunting Season, the heart pounding sequel to To the Death*
'Welcome back, dystopia. Welliver delivers a razor-sharp assault on life, death and media itself. To the Death doesn't just raise the stakes, it lights them on fire.' - Bill Wood
'Melissa Welliver is redefining dystopia for a whole new generation. To the Death is a riotous, bloodthirsty triumph and her best work yet.' - Cynthia Murphy
When Bloodwatch, the shadowy organisation behind the ever-watchful cameras, descends upon the island to shoot a new high-stakes reality show, Astrid finds herself thrust into the spotlight. The prize at stake? A coveted ticket off the island. Paired with Luke, a risk-taking outsider harbouring secrets of his own, Astrid discovers the perilous costs of winning the adoration of a legion of fans.
Caught in a deadly game where the undead and other contestants close in, Astrid must navigate her developing feelings for Luke and the treacherous terrain of reality TV, where there can be only one winner.
Escaping the past is impossible when the present threatens to devour you.
A heartstopping zombie dystopia horror, perfect for fans of The Last of Us, The Walking Dead and The Hunger Games.
More praise for To the Death:
'I picked this up and suddenly the entire evening was gone. To the Death is pure adrenaline - tense, ferocious, and impossible to put down. Melissa Welliver drops you straight into a brutal world where survival is a spectacle and every choice has consequences. It's smart, savage fun with real emotional bite, delivering twist after twist. You'll be gasping. A thrilling feast for fans of The Hunger Games and The Last of Us - gripping, relentless, and leaving you desperate for more.' - Josh Silver
'To the Death is everything fans of The Hunger Games could want - but with much sharper teeth! Prepare for a fast-paced, heart-pounding horror adventure with monsters - both human and not-so-human - lurking around every corner. Buckle up, and let the games begin!' - Kat Ellis
'Fast, fun, and bloodthirsty, To the Death brings the dystopian genre back to life with sharp teeth and cutting commentary on reality TV's hunger for spectacle. Melissa Welliver is on fire, and I can't wait to see what she writes next.' - Kathryn Foxfield
'Perfect for fans of The Hunger Games and The Last of Us, this is a chilling, gory thriller with plenty of bite! Dystopias are back and Melissa Welliver is at the helm.' - Amy McCaw
'To the Death is a wild ride from start to finish - you won't want to put it down. Welliver is in her element and is bringing dystopia back with an epic story of zombie vampires . . . Loved it.' - Naomi Gibson
*PRE-ORDER Hunting Season, the heart pounding sequel to To the Death*
'Welcome back, dystopia. Welliver delivers a razor-sharp assault on life, death and media itself. To the Death doesn't just raise the stakes, it lights them on fire.' - Bill Wood
'Melissa Welliver is redefining dystopia for a whole new generation. To the Death is a riotous, bloodthirsty triumph and her best work yet.' - Cynthia Murphy
When Bloodwatch, the shadowy organisation behind the ever-watchful cameras, descends upon the island to shoot a new high-stakes reality show, Astrid finds herself thrust into the spotlight. The prize at stake? A coveted ticket off the island. Paired with Luke, a risk-taking outsider harbouring secrets of his own, Astrid discovers the perilous costs of winning the adoration of a legion of fans.
Caught in a deadly game where the undead and other contestants close in, Astrid must navigate her developing feelings for Luke and the treacherous terrain of reality TV, where there can be only one winner.
Escaping the past is impossible when the present threatens to devour you.
A heartstopping zombie dystopia horror, perfect for fans of The Last of Us, The Walking Dead and The Hunger Games.
More praise for To the Death:
'I picked this up and suddenly the entire evening was gone. To the Death is pure adrenaline - tense, ferocious, and impossible to put down. Melissa Welliver drops you straight into a brutal world where survival is a spectacle and every choice has consequences. It's smart, savage fun with real emotional bite, delivering twist after twist. You'll be gasping. A thrilling feast for fans of The Hunger Games and The Last of Us - gripping, relentless, and leaving you desperate for more.' - Josh Silver
'To the Death is everything fans of The Hunger Games could want - but with much sharper teeth! Prepare for a fast-paced, heart-pounding horror adventure with monsters - both human and not-so-human - lurking around every corner. Buckle up, and let the games begin!' - Kat Ellis
'Fast, fun, and bloodthirsty, To the Death brings the dystopian genre back to life with sharp teeth and cutting commentary on reality TV's hunger for spectacle. Melissa Welliver is on fire, and I can't wait to see what she writes next.' - Kathryn Foxfield
'Perfect for fans of The Hunger Games and The Last of Us, this is a chilling, gory thriller with plenty of bite! Dystopias are back and Melissa Welliver is at the helm.' - Amy McCaw
'To the Death is a wild ride from start to finish - you won't want to put it down. Welliver is in her element and is bringing dystopia back with an epic story of zombie vampires . . . Loved it.' - Naomi Gibson
Reviews / Votes
Welcome back, dystopia. Welliver delivers a razor-sharp assault on life, death and media itself. To The Death doesn't just raise the stakes, it lights them on fire. * Bill Wood * Fast, fun, and bloodthirsty, To the Death brings the dystopian genre back to life with sharp teeth and cutting commentary on reality TV's hunger for spectacle. Melissa Welliver is on fire, and I can't wait to see what she writes next. * Kathryn Foxfield * To The Death is everything fans of The Hunger Games could want - but with much sharper teeth! Prepare for a fast-paced, heart-pounding horror adventure with monsters - both human and not-so-human - lurking around every corner. Buckle up, and let the games begin! * Kat Ellis * I picked this up and suddenly the entire evening was gone. To the Death is pure adrenaline - tense, ferocious, and impossible to put down. Melissa Welliver drops you straight into a brutal world where survival is a spectacle and every choice has consequences. It's smart, savage fun with real emotional bite, delivering twist after twist. You'll be gasping. A thrilling feast for fans of The Hunger Games and The Last of Us - gripping, relentless, and leaving you desperate for more. * Josh Silver * Melissa Welliver is redefining dystopia for a whole new generation. To the Death is a riotous, bloodthirsty triumph and her best work yet. * Cynthia Murphy * Perfect for fans of The Hunger Games and The Last of Us, this is a chilling, gory thriller with plenty of bite! Dystopias are back and Melissa Welliver is at the helm. * Amy McCaw * To the Death is a wild ride from start to finish - you won't want to put it down. Welliver is in her element and is bringing dystopia back with an epic story of zombie vampires . . . Loved it. * Naomi Gibson * Not only is this a gripping horror novel that you won't be able to put down, but, like all good dystopia, it's a biting commentary . . . on our own world. * Bryony Pearce *More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Hachette Children's Group
Target group
Young adult
Interest Age: From 14 years
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 196 mm
Width: 131 mm
Thickness: 32 mm
Weight
238 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4449-8076-9 (9781444980769)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Melissa Welliver
To the Death
there can be only one winner in this zombie-filled dystopian thriller, for fans of The Hunger Games and The Last of Us
E-Book
03/2026
Hodder Children's Books
€4.49
Available for download
Person
Melissa Welliver is a speculative fiction author who loves to write about how The End Of The World is never really the end of the world. She was born and raised in Stockport and now lives in the High Peak with her bassetoodle, Zelda. She has a cinema membership card and watches pretty much every movie release after wanting to be a film director growing up. Melissa is a computer nerd who built her own PC and has worked in IT and Video Games journalism, as well as a stint as a waitress and selling Avon door-to-door. As a dual citizen for both America and the UK, Melissa enjoys writing fiction that bridges the gap across the pond. She has travelled to several states and enjoys putting herself out of her comfort zone, having jumped off the top of the Stratosphere in Vegas; and stayed overnight in Chernobyl and Pripyat. Melissa runs a podcast on her love of tropes alongside podcaster Jamie Greenwood and YA author Naomi Gibson called The Chosen Ones and Other Tropes. She has published two standalone dystopian rom-coms, My Love Life and the Apocalypse and Soulmates and Other Ways to Die, and one darker dystopian book, The Undying Tower. Melissa's books have been longlisted for the Berkshire Book Award and won the Write Blend Bookshop award for YA fiction in 2022. Melissa's writing has also listed in the Mslexia Prize; The Bath Novel Award; The Northern Writers Awards; and the Wells Book for Children prize.