The Deading BY Nicholas Belardes

The Deading is a harrowing dystopian novel blending elements of Stephen King's Under the Dome with the post-apocalyptic intensity of The Last of Us. The story is set in Baywood, a small seaside town known for its birding community and oyster farm, which becomes ground zero for a terrifying, ocean-borne contagion.

An insidious evil emerges from the ocean, beginning with sea snails washing ashore and attacking whatever they touch. This mysterious infection rapidly spreads, transforming wildlife, the landscape, and eventually, the townspeople. Infected residents start "deading"—collapsing and dying, only to rise again, altered both mentally and physically. With the town quarantined by the government, the uninfected, including the introverted bird enthusiast Blas and his jaded older brother Chango, must navigate the chaos.

Baywood becomes a breeding ground for disturbing beliefs and autocratic rituals led by the death-worshiping Risers. The town's inhabitants are forced to choose how to survive, whether to seek safety or to betray those they care about. As paranoia and isolation take hold, tensions mount, pushing Blas, Chango, and the other survivors to decide whether to escape or succumb to this horrifying new reality.

The Deading is both claustrophobic and haunting, capturing the disintegration of society and the chilling nature of survival and adaptation. Through its lyrical prose, the novel explores the unexpected solace found in connections with nature and fellow humans, even amidst the horror. It's a tale of desperation, resilience, and the profound impact of an unseen menace on a fragile community.