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Shock Waves
You can’t run. You can’t hide. There’s no escape.
Seventeen-year-old Danny Hartford thinks his life is over when his girlfriend, Stacy, tells him she’s pregnant. Before either can grasp that they’ll be teenage parents, they’re thrown another curve ball.
While the young couple work the night shift at The Lone Star Land Amusement Park, a huge explosion at a nearby construction site knocks out the power to the area, trapping them at separate rides.
Then the real terror begins.
The blast unleashes a horde of mutated creatures that quickly overrun the park, slaughtering and devouring all in their path.
With no help in sight and another wave of bloodthirsty monstrosities on the way, time is running out.
To reunite with Stacy, Danny and a small band of survivors must cross the treacherous fairgrounds where ravenous, multi-legged beasts lurk in the darkness.
Only hours earlier, Danny dreaded what was in store for his future. Now, he’s locked in a primal battle to keep it alive. And as the night grows darker, the group quickly becomes… the park’s main attraction.
Seventeen-year-old Danny Hartford thinks his life is over when his girlfriend, Stacy, tells him she’s pregnant. Before either can grasp that they’ll be teenage parents, they’re thrown another curve ball.
While the young couple work the night shift at The Lone Star Land Amusement Park, a huge explosion at a nearby construction site knocks out the power to the area, trapping them at separate rides.
Then the real terror begins.
The blast unleashes a horde of mutated creatures that quickly overrun the park, slaughtering and devouring all in their path.
With no help in sight and another wave of bloodthirsty monstrosities on the way, time is running out.
To reunite with Stacy, Danny and a small band of survivors must cross the treacherous fairgrounds where ravenous, multi-legged beasts lurk in the darkness.
Only hours earlier, Danny dreaded what was in store for his future. Now, he’s locked in a primal battle to keep it alive. And as the night grows darker, the group quickly becomes… the park’s main attraction.
166 pages, Paperback
First published April 12, 2023
14 people are currently reading
671 people want to read
About the author
Matt Kurtz
41 books78 followersAuthor of THE ROTTING WITHIN, A DARKNESS UNSEEN, KINFOLK, and SHOCK WAVES, the 2024 Imadjinn Award Winner for Best Horror Novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
May 26, 2023
Full review available at The Mort Report:
https://www.uncomfortablydark.com/bla...
As an arachnophobe, any cover with a spider will get my attention.
As a kid who grew up in the 80’s, any story taking place in that timeframe will get me interested.
As a horror fan, any stories with oversized insects and monsters runs the risk of leaving the reader with…hmm, it’s been done before.
This is only the second book I’ve read by this author and, though I was greatly impressed with KINFOLK, I managed to miss his releases after that.
And, damn it, if I have to judge by this one, I have been missing out!
This story was a blast to read and I am surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Like a rollercoaster ride that gets the adrenaline up in all the right places, the pace of this story kept me in a state of constant fear/excitement.
There was enough info on the characters to create development and empathy, and I’ll be damned if I wasn’t rooting for the guy to actually get the girl alive and well, to be able to save her from an imminent, painful death.
I loved this tale, and I can recommend it to horror fans, even those who are not usually into bugs.
5 Stars!
https://www.uncomfortablydark.com/bla...
As an arachnophobe, any cover with a spider will get my attention.
As a kid who grew up in the 80’s, any story taking place in that timeframe will get me interested.
As a horror fan, any stories with oversized insects and monsters runs the risk of leaving the reader with…hmm, it’s been done before.
This is only the second book I’ve read by this author and, though I was greatly impressed with KINFOLK, I managed to miss his releases after that.
And, damn it, if I have to judge by this one, I have been missing out!
This story was a blast to read and I am surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Like a rollercoaster ride that gets the adrenaline up in all the right places, the pace of this story kept me in a state of constant fear/excitement.
There was enough info on the characters to create development and empathy, and I’ll be damned if I wasn’t rooting for the guy to actually get the girl alive and well, to be able to save her from an imminent, painful death.
I loved this tale, and I can recommend it to horror fans, even those who are not usually into bugs.
5 Stars!
July 11, 2025
A very fun-filled creature feature. More monsters than you could shake a stick (Or spear) at! Matt Kurtz kept the premise very simple and kept his focus on where it needed to be, on the creatures and action. And that took up a very strong majority of the book, as it should have. Some decent depth with Danny and Stacey, with a nice romantic subplot to break things up a bit. Again, it was light on where the creatures came from and other character depth, but books like this tend to go that route, and it's fine. It brought me back to Eight-Legged Freaks, but had a better variety of creatures. Again, not a deep thinker or anything beyond surface-level spectacle, but just an enjoyable thrill ride. This was my first Matt Kurtz book and I look forward to seeing more of his offerings.
June 7, 2023
A fun, fast-paced, blood-soaked thriller of a ride! I was anxious to finish just so I could shake off the feeling of bugs crawling on me.
June 30, 2023
A creature feature to make your skin crawl!
Shock Waves is the kind of horror that feels reminiscent of the sci-fi horror films of the 1950’s–Tarantula (1955), Attack of the Crab Monsters (1957), etc. That being said, the story doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s just gory fun.
Giant creepy crawlies of every kind escape an enormous hole in the ground and attack a nearby amusement park. Among the prey…er I mean people fighting to survive are teenagers Danny Hartford and his girlfriend Stacey who has just dropped news that she’s pregnant. Where did these creatures come from? Why are they the size of elephants? Could this be a government cover-up unleashed? A science experiment gone wrong? Is there a world of evolved super creatures living beneath the Earth’s surface unbeknownst to man? We don’t know! In this story, it’s survival first, questions later.
My last experience with author Matt Kurtz’s writing involved paranoia and creeping dread from his novella The Rotting Within. This time, it seems like Kurtz was in the mood for fast-paced, campy, gory, fun and terror with body counts and hungry spiders! I had a blast reading it. If large bugs and reptiles make your skin crawl or you’re on the hunt for a one-sitting wild ride of a creature feature, Shock Waves is calling your name.
Shock Waves is the kind of horror that feels reminiscent of the sci-fi horror films of the 1950’s–Tarantula (1955), Attack of the Crab Monsters (1957), etc. That being said, the story doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s just gory fun.
Giant creepy crawlies of every kind escape an enormous hole in the ground and attack a nearby amusement park. Among the prey…er I mean people fighting to survive are teenagers Danny Hartford and his girlfriend Stacey who has just dropped news that she’s pregnant. Where did these creatures come from? Why are they the size of elephants? Could this be a government cover-up unleashed? A science experiment gone wrong? Is there a world of evolved super creatures living beneath the Earth’s surface unbeknownst to man? We don’t know! In this story, it’s survival first, questions later.
My last experience with author Matt Kurtz’s writing involved paranoia and creeping dread from his novella The Rotting Within. This time, it seems like Kurtz was in the mood for fast-paced, campy, gory, fun and terror with body counts and hungry spiders! I had a blast reading it. If large bugs and reptiles make your skin crawl or you’re on the hunt for a one-sitting wild ride of a creature feature, Shock Waves is calling your name.
June 10, 2023
Sometimes I miss ‘80s horror; it seems current horror books are either mixed with fantasy or splatterpunk. I like those things, but a straight horror book is hard to find in 2023. Thankfully, I found it with this book!
This is set in 1988, at The Lone Star Land Amusement Park in, you guessed it, Texas. Our protagonist, Danny, is 17 and has recently found out his girlfriend, Stacy, is pregnant. They both work at the park, and after an argument about abortion at lunch, Danny isn’t feeling into work. He’s hoping that an approaching storm will close down the park, so he can get together with Stacy and re-examine their situation.
This ends up not working, as while on a rollercoaster doing an inspection, the coaster stops (one of my biggest fears is being stuck at the top of a roller coaster) and power to the entire park goes out. An explosion from a nearby construction site has caused…something…to happen, and there are now giant insects on a killing spree through the park.
The story is about Danny trying to find Stacy, and also keep the people with him (a few customers and coworkers) safe. Speaking of ‘80s horror, this reminded me of early works of Stephen King (and later ones too, as this felt like “The Mist” met “Joyland”). My only complaint is that this had a YA feel, and I would have liked to know more about the bugs and the backstory there. This did seem open to a sequel though, so we will see. 3.5 stars for this one, rounded up for the nostalgia and ‘80s mix tape!
(Thank you to Matt Kurtz for the physical ARC in exchange for my review.)
This is set in 1988, at The Lone Star Land Amusement Park in, you guessed it, Texas. Our protagonist, Danny, is 17 and has recently found out his girlfriend, Stacy, is pregnant. They both work at the park, and after an argument about abortion at lunch, Danny isn’t feeling into work. He’s hoping that an approaching storm will close down the park, so he can get together with Stacy and re-examine their situation.
This ends up not working, as while on a rollercoaster doing an inspection, the coaster stops (one of my biggest fears is being stuck at the top of a roller coaster) and power to the entire park goes out. An explosion from a nearby construction site has caused…something…to happen, and there are now giant insects on a killing spree through the park.
The story is about Danny trying to find Stacy, and also keep the people with him (a few customers and coworkers) safe. Speaking of ‘80s horror, this reminded me of early works of Stephen King (and later ones too, as this felt like “The Mist” met “Joyland”). My only complaint is that this had a YA feel, and I would have liked to know more about the bugs and the backstory there. This did seem open to a sequel though, so we will see. 3.5 stars for this one, rounded up for the nostalgia and ‘80s mix tape!
(Thank you to Matt Kurtz for the physical ARC in exchange for my review.)
May 13, 2023
"From somewhere high above, flapping wings broke the silence. Followed by an unholy screech."
This one is a fast paced, creepy, kick ass creature feature!! Definitely pick it up if you love a gory, horror fueled ride!
This one is a fast paced, creepy, kick ass creature feature!! Definitely pick it up if you love a gory, horror fueled ride!
July 3, 2025
Sort of like a "Goosebumps" gone off the rails. It goes from easy dialogue to beheadings and impalings. Not over the top gore. Enough to keep it interesting. Pretty short, but a nice read.
A group of teens are working an amusement park when an explosion happens at a construction site next door. All kinds of creatures come up and feast upon the park goers. A group fights its way out.
A group of teens are working an amusement park when an explosion happens at a construction site next door. All kinds of creatures come up and feast upon the park goers. A group fights its way out.
May 6, 2023
This book is so so amazing! I loved the 80s creature feature theme (and go to the back of the book if you want to know the perfect soundtrack to play while reading!!).
It was filled with gore and landlines and so many weird mutant bug/lizard/eel/arachnid nasty ass monsters!
There were some light moments and humour sprinkled here and there which I loved (Billy had me laughing out loud with his foul commentary and spitting/swearing antics).
I loved the main characters, especially Todd & Kyra!! I’d love to see a sequel! I just have a kindle version of this book, but it’s so great I’ll definitely be getting a physical copy as well!!
Thank you so much to the author for a copy to read and review!!!
It was filled with gore and landlines and so many weird mutant bug/lizard/eel/arachnid nasty ass monsters!
There were some light moments and humour sprinkled here and there which I loved (Billy had me laughing out loud with his foul commentary and spitting/swearing antics).
I loved the main characters, especially Todd & Kyra!! I’d love to see a sequel! I just have a kindle version of this book, but it’s so great I’ll definitely be getting a physical copy as well!!
Thank you so much to the author for a copy to read and review!!!
December 26, 2025
2.5⭐ rounded up. This one was just okay, I liked Kinfolk from this author a bit better.
Shock Waves starts out good with some fun and bloody creature feature action, but for a short 150 page novel, it sure does waste a lot of page space with repetitive description, characters wandering around trying to escape the theme park, and spends too much time on Danny's love for his GF/Fiance, Stacy. I didn't care about the characters that much especially the romance angle.
Overall it was okay/a light good but I wanted more action and more scares or suspense. It felt kind of basic and not well realized, and the characters were all one dimensional.
Fine but nothing noteworthy. Still, I may check out Matt Kurtz's other novels eventually.
Shock Waves starts out good with some fun and bloody creature feature action, but for a short 150 page novel, it sure does waste a lot of page space with repetitive description, characters wandering around trying to escape the theme park, and spends too much time on Danny's love for his GF/Fiance, Stacy. I didn't care about the characters that much especially the romance angle.
Overall it was okay/a light good but I wanted more action and more scares or suspense. It felt kind of basic and not well realized, and the characters were all one dimensional.
Fine but nothing noteworthy. Still, I may check out Matt Kurtz's other novels eventually.
December 3, 2023
Once you start reading this book it's like a roller coaster to the very end. This book was non-stop survival against all of these wild creatures that came out of nowhere. I LOVED it. If you're looking for a fun creature feature, this is it.
May 27, 2023
*Book provided for an honest review*
If crazy monster movies from the ’80s and ’90s are a guilty pleasure for you as much as for me, you will love this book.
Tremors, Lake Placid, and Gremlins were some of my favorites as a kid and this book brings back all the fun, suspenseful action of those films. With giant mutant creatures, bloody deaths, and a rag-tag group of misfits working together to try to survive, “Shock Wave” is a masterful monster story.
Set in the ‘80s at an amusement park where giant mutant creatures have swarmed out of a divide in the earth provides an excellent start. The pacing is perfect, we get just enough setup to understand the situation and the characters, without dragging it out.
Then the action starts quickly. The dangerous trip to flee the over-run park carries on just long enough with enough mini battles and surprise attacks to make it interesting. I’ll say right now I’m begging this to be made into a movie. I would pay to see it for the scene with the tentacle turtles plinking down the water slide alone.
The creatures are creative, some mutant in size, some mutant in nature. I don’t want to spoil anything, but there’s a scene where the group walks through a field and faces a surprise attack that I thought was so clever and creepy, definitely one of my favorite parts.
Though there is plenty of monster madness, the book doesn’t drag out too long. It was a fast read for me because I did not want to put it down. I will absolutely be checking out Matt Kurt’s other works now.
If crazy monster movies from the ’80s and ’90s are a guilty pleasure for you as much as for me, you will love this book.
Tremors, Lake Placid, and Gremlins were some of my favorites as a kid and this book brings back all the fun, suspenseful action of those films. With giant mutant creatures, bloody deaths, and a rag-tag group of misfits working together to try to survive, “Shock Wave” is a masterful monster story.
Set in the ‘80s at an amusement park where giant mutant creatures have swarmed out of a divide in the earth provides an excellent start. The pacing is perfect, we get just enough setup to understand the situation and the characters, without dragging it out.
Then the action starts quickly. The dangerous trip to flee the over-run park carries on just long enough with enough mini battles and surprise attacks to make it interesting. I’ll say right now I’m begging this to be made into a movie. I would pay to see it for the scene with the tentacle turtles plinking down the water slide alone.
The creatures are creative, some mutant in size, some mutant in nature. I don’t want to spoil anything, but there’s a scene where the group walks through a field and faces a surprise attack that I thought was so clever and creepy, definitely one of my favorite parts.
Though there is plenty of monster madness, the book doesn’t drag out too long. It was a fast read for me because I did not want to put it down. I will absolutely be checking out Matt Kurt’s other works now.
May 6, 2023
A Horror Bookworm Recommendation
Shock Waves by Matt Kurtz
https://horrorbookwormreviews.com/
As the The Lone Star Land Amusement Park features its themed attractions, rides and games, ominous clouds begin to form in the far off distance. As the storm slowly approaches, a freak explosion from the nearby construction site generates a most unusual terror. Unleashing hell from beneath the earth, the laughter and excited cheers from the park employees and guests are replaced with terrified screams of horror.
Author Matt Kurtz brings forth his elaborate theme park of surreal malformations. This creature feature entitled Shock Waves is the perfect opus of monstrosities. Flying creatures, mutated spiders, gigantic centipedes and an atmosphere of doom, dread and desperation are the main ingredients. Engulfed with what stalks above and what lurks below, all visitors become prey as the struggle for survival supersedes the festive atmosphere. The onslaught of mayhem and carnage will satisfy all fans of Stephen King’s The Mist or H.G. Wells The Food Of The Gods.
One of my favorite type of stories is when there is a group of people trapped within a confines of a small area while a horrifying species blocks the their only path to freedom. Kurtz accomplishes this by plunging the reader into his disturbing darkness of the unknown, then shining his omnipotent flashlight towards only what he wants you to see.
Matt Kurtz uses one of the most common types of phobias, an extreme fear of insects, then proceeds to focus on that anxiety with intense horrific sights, smells and sounds. There were several scenarios within this book, graphic enough that only a nature show on PBS could get away with. Those brutal moments got to me, ugh, I think they’re permanently etched in my brain’s temporal lobe.
Purchase your one way ticket to the most unpredictable roller coaster ride of your life. Will you survive the sudden twists and sharp turns of Matt Kurtz’s Shock Waves? A solid five star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Horror Bookworm Recommendation.
Shock Waves by Matt Kurtz
https://horrorbookwormreviews.com/
As the The Lone Star Land Amusement Park features its themed attractions, rides and games, ominous clouds begin to form in the far off distance. As the storm slowly approaches, a freak explosion from the nearby construction site generates a most unusual terror. Unleashing hell from beneath the earth, the laughter and excited cheers from the park employees and guests are replaced with terrified screams of horror.
Author Matt Kurtz brings forth his elaborate theme park of surreal malformations. This creature feature entitled Shock Waves is the perfect opus of monstrosities. Flying creatures, mutated spiders, gigantic centipedes and an atmosphere of doom, dread and desperation are the main ingredients. Engulfed with what stalks above and what lurks below, all visitors become prey as the struggle for survival supersedes the festive atmosphere. The onslaught of mayhem and carnage will satisfy all fans of Stephen King’s The Mist or H.G. Wells The Food Of The Gods.
One of my favorite type of stories is when there is a group of people trapped within a confines of a small area while a horrifying species blocks the their only path to freedom. Kurtz accomplishes this by plunging the reader into his disturbing darkness of the unknown, then shining his omnipotent flashlight towards only what he wants you to see.
Matt Kurtz uses one of the most common types of phobias, an extreme fear of insects, then proceeds to focus on that anxiety with intense horrific sights, smells and sounds. There were several scenarios within this book, graphic enough that only a nature show on PBS could get away with. Those brutal moments got to me, ugh, I think they’re permanently etched in my brain’s temporal lobe.
Purchase your one way ticket to the most unpredictable roller coaster ride of your life. Will you survive the sudden twists and sharp turns of Matt Kurtz’s Shock Waves? A solid five star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Horror Bookworm Recommendation.
May 1, 2023
Thanks to Matt Kurtz's generosity on Books of Horror Freview, I got an ARC of his new book. I went in, expecting a monster movie of the '80s, and I was not disappointed! Creepy crawlies everywhere, bat-like monsters, huge spiders, blood-thirsty eels, hungry ants - whatever you want, Kurtz's book's got it. But what made this a fantastic reading experience, was the tight and emotionally charged story: absolutely relatable characters, situations that keep you at the edge of your seat, realistic killings, witty dialogue, interesting setting, but most of all - again, the characters! Danny Hartford, the 17-year-old foreman of the amusement park where most of the carnage takes place, is thoughtful enough to hold one's attention to the end; Kyra, the aspiring gymnast, a lovable young woman with smarts and real fears, complements Danny perfectly; all the survivors and their plight - they keep you gripped, as the story never stops building suspense, turning into a gorey, blood-drenched ride (yes, pun intended, I couldn't help myself!) My one -and very minor- complaint is that there could be more gore, and more one-on-one fights with the monsters. But, this minor quip aside, you'll have a great time with this one!
May 3, 2023
This was such a stellar creature feature and I really enjoyed it! Matt Kurtz' words flow so smoothly which is why I devoured this book in a day and a half, not to mention the absolute badassness of the giant monstrosities that were surging out of the earth and into the amusement park. It starts off with a teen working his station at the roller coaster Shock Waves when suddenly the construction site across the street erupts into chaos. These subterranean creatures make their way up out of the ground and wreak havoc on the amusement park, littering their path with blood and body parts. Our main character, and a small group of survivors battle their way through the park to find his pregnant girlfriend. This was just an all around suspenseful, fun read and I had a blast with it! After absolutely loving Kurtz' The Rotting Within, and now this, anything he puts out is a must-read for me.. 5/5 skulls 💀
June 2, 2023
Review coming soon.
June 13, 2025
it was just an okay read for me. I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it. it gave me the book/show Goosebumps feelings.
June 13, 2023
Oh, man! “Shock waves were non-stop action from the beginning to the end. Let me tell you, there were more than just spiders terrorizing these people. Kurts unleashed chaos with gigantic spiders, flying creatures, and monstrous centipedes. My skin was crawling.
May 10, 2023
Just finished this insanely gory & awesome creature feature last night! Is it weird to have nostalgia for a time period you weren’t even born in? Just so you can understand how incredible this book was, I LOATHE creature/monster stories. Every creature story I ever read before this one was always less than memorable or just not scary to me.
This book had everything! Character development, beautiful descriptive writing, and sick monsters. An intense “rollercoaster” ride. I half expected Crow & Tom Servo to chime in with some comments.
This book had everything! Character development, beautiful descriptive writing, and sick monsters. An intense “rollercoaster” ride. I half expected Crow & Tom Servo to chime in with some comments.
May 2, 2023
I love a good creature feature, and this one certainly fit the bill. There was no lacking of creatures in fact.
We start off at the Lone Star Amusement Park. Our boy Danny, who works at the amusement park as the foreman of the Shock Wave coaster, recently found out he's going to be a father. He's still pondering what this means for his future when an explosion at a nearby construction site rips open a hell-mouth....or something. Because lots of...things...come pouring out of the new fissure in the earth and are headed right for the park!
Now poor Danny is torn between keeping his riders safe, and going into the park to find his girlfriend, Stacy, who works on another ride.
The park is dark and full of monsters. Some can fly, some are reptilian, some are unseen aside from monstrous tentacles (which brings to mind The Mist which is one of my favorite novella's).
However, a large number of the creatures seem to be arachnid in nature. Through much of the book whenever a creature was encountered I couldn't help but play the sound effects of the movie Eight Legged Freaks in my head. It added a little lightheartedness to the massive amount of entrails this book contained.
The only downside to this read was that I didn't feel any real attachment to the characters. There were a few flashbacks to make us feel more for Danny and Stacy and for us to hope for a safe reunification of the couple, but they fell flat for me. While I absolutely loved every abomination filled minute, I could have cared less if Danny found Stacy in on piece or not. I didn't mourn any of the fallen comrades either.
If I were someone who gave deeper meaning and underlying themes to what I read then I'd say the monsters poor Danny faces on his way to find Stacy was a metaphor for the terror of upcoming fatherhood. But I'm not one of those people. I take my cave mutants and human evisceration at face value.
If you are also a fan of creepy crawly (and sometimes flappy) creatures from the depth of the earth, and bountiful intestine filled mutilations, or if you just want to know if Danny an Stacy are safely reunited or if "Big Mamma" manages to eviscerate the whole lot of them, then this book is for you!
We start off at the Lone Star Amusement Park. Our boy Danny, who works at the amusement park as the foreman of the Shock Wave coaster, recently found out he's going to be a father. He's still pondering what this means for his future when an explosion at a nearby construction site rips open a hell-mouth....or something. Because lots of...things...come pouring out of the new fissure in the earth and are headed right for the park!
Now poor Danny is torn between keeping his riders safe, and going into the park to find his girlfriend, Stacy, who works on another ride.
The park is dark and full of monsters. Some can fly, some are reptilian, some are unseen aside from monstrous tentacles (which brings to mind The Mist which is one of my favorite novella's).
However, a large number of the creatures seem to be arachnid in nature. Through much of the book whenever a creature was encountered I couldn't help but play the sound effects of the movie Eight Legged Freaks in my head. It added a little lightheartedness to the massive amount of entrails this book contained.
The only downside to this read was that I didn't feel any real attachment to the characters. There were a few flashbacks to make us feel more for Danny and Stacy and for us to hope for a safe reunification of the couple, but they fell flat for me. While I absolutely loved every abomination filled minute, I could have cared less if Danny found Stacy in on piece or not. I didn't mourn any of the fallen comrades either.
If I were someone who gave deeper meaning and underlying themes to what I read then I'd say the monsters poor Danny faces on his way to find Stacy was a metaphor for the terror of upcoming fatherhood. But I'm not one of those people. I take my cave mutants and human evisceration at face value.
If you are also a fan of creepy crawly (and sometimes flappy) creatures from the depth of the earth, and bountiful intestine filled mutilations, or if you just want to know if Danny an Stacy are safely reunited or if "Big Mamma" manages to eviscerate the whole lot of them, then this book is for you!
February 18, 2025
This was only solid for me, unfortunately. I have really liked Matt Kurtz's other novels but this one was written in such a way that I'm assuming Kurtz was suggesting Shock Waves for a Fear Street age group (middle/high school YA horror). Not only was the writing simplified, the story was streamlined, and there were many eye-rolling moments of cliche/mushy dialogue and actions. Like "we got your back, bro" kind of moments. That stuff really annoys me and feels disingenuous based on my life experience. In other words, a lot of the dialogue brought to mind kids shows that do not accurately prepare for you for the real world. I think had these moments not been scattered throughout, I would have enjoyed this more. That being said, I do appreciate Kurtz writing a mayhem novel. This story is definitely full of action and gore if that's your thing. Lots of death and bloody visuals are conjured. People get torn to pieces pretty often. If you want something with ample amounts of destruction and monsters, you might really enjoy this one (especially if you don't mind simplified/streamlined writing). I just know Kurtz is capable of so much more than this, so I was let down. But maybe he was going for a younger age group and I was just unaware of his change in direction. Regardless of my complaints, this is a solid "oh my God, what the hell is that thing?!" kind of book. And there are some cool sequences. Like the co-worker being swallowed slowly by the enormous lizard. Or the teens getting snipped in half near the end. Stuff like that was memorable.
May 28, 2023
This was fun read though let the cover speak for itself. If you don't like bugs, especially spiders, they're too much, this book is probably not for you.
It's over the top, gory, filled with moments that alternate between fun adrenaline leaps to the next point of safety and Mist-like horrors grabbing people and eating them up. The book does well at providing a likable cast you root for, hoping they make it, and just bond with. I also laughed over the MC's description of Mike. Poor Mike, he must have done something to get his name immortalized in this book.
There's also some truly horrific moments that make you stop and think what the heck would you do? Strapped down and at the top of a roller coaster, strapped into a water ride, trapped in a gridlocked traffic stop... all with mammoth spider monsters waging war? Icky.
I enjoyed the style and the narration though some of the gore felt overdone for what the perspective of the MC should be. We get close up, including sensations like warm blood, narrations of violence that wouldn't be possible given either how far the MC is from the actual attack or how quick he's witnessing it. I didn't mind the extreme gore (which this definitely is), just some of it didn't fit in for what the MC was doing. Since this story is completely told from the MC's perspective, it sometimes pulled me out of that view.
That is really my only gripe. The monsters were fun, the adventure a sadistic survivalist game for these poor people, I don't like spiders but this helped confirm why, the characters are believable, and it's a quick read.
It's over the top, gory, filled with moments that alternate between fun adrenaline leaps to the next point of safety and Mist-like horrors grabbing people and eating them up. The book does well at providing a likable cast you root for, hoping they make it, and just bond with. I also laughed over the MC's description of Mike. Poor Mike, he must have done something to get his name immortalized in this book.
There's also some truly horrific moments that make you stop and think what the heck would you do? Strapped down and at the top of a roller coaster, strapped into a water ride, trapped in a gridlocked traffic stop... all with mammoth spider monsters waging war? Icky.
I enjoyed the style and the narration though some of the gore felt overdone for what the perspective of the MC should be. We get close up, including sensations like warm blood, narrations of violence that wouldn't be possible given either how far the MC is from the actual attack or how quick he's witnessing it. I didn't mind the extreme gore (which this definitely is), just some of it didn't fit in for what the MC was doing. Since this story is completely told from the MC's perspective, it sometimes pulled me out of that view.
That is really my only gripe. The monsters were fun, the adventure a sadistic survivalist game for these poor people, I don't like spiders but this helped confirm why, the characters are believable, and it's a quick read.
May 30, 2023
I LOVED THIS BOOK!!
"Survive the night" feels with relentless action, gore, & constant hope that love prevails all doubt and uncertainty in this crazy messed up world!
Read if you like:
•Creature Features ✔️
•80s Nostalgia ✔️
•"Campy" Horror ✔️
•Short Chapters ✔️
•Loveable MCs ✔️
Oh! if you happen to start blasting 80s power ballads after reading, don't worry, you're not alone!
🕷💀🕷💀🕷💀🕷💀🕷
Brief Description:
A stormy evening at The Lone Star Land Amusement Park turns into a chaotic night of terror as the ground from the neighboring construction site breaks open, releasing a unique version of hell!
17 year old Danny and his gang of friends will stop at nothing to find his pregnant girlfriend, Stacy, and make their way to safety!! After all, working at the amusement park gives them a unique advantage. They just have to hope their strength and unity are more insync than "what" chatters from below!
"Survive the night" feels with relentless action, gore, & constant hope that love prevails all doubt and uncertainty in this crazy messed up world!
Read if you like:
•Creature Features ✔️
•80s Nostalgia ✔️
•"Campy" Horror ✔️
•Short Chapters ✔️
•Loveable MCs ✔️
Oh! if you happen to start blasting 80s power ballads after reading, don't worry, you're not alone!
🕷💀🕷💀🕷💀🕷💀🕷
Brief Description:
A stormy evening at The Lone Star Land Amusement Park turns into a chaotic night of terror as the ground from the neighboring construction site breaks open, releasing a unique version of hell!
17 year old Danny and his gang of friends will stop at nothing to find his pregnant girlfriend, Stacy, and make their way to safety!! After all, working at the amusement park gives them a unique advantage. They just have to hope their strength and unity are more insync than "what" chatters from below!
May 25, 2023
This was my first Creature Feature and it did not disappoint! It gave me massive Joyland (King) vibes, and I love that book.The setting was completely up my alley, it being an amusement park in the 80s, and I always love it when writers know what they are writing about (I was nerding out over the featured coaster and the author has worked as a ride foreman as a teen).
This story is fast paced, gory and very amusing! And I hope there will be a sequel in the works someday.
Thank you Matt Kurtz for sending me this book, I really enjoyed it!
This story is fast paced, gory and very amusing! And I hope there will be a sequel in the works someday.
Thank you Matt Kurtz for sending me this book, I really enjoyed it!
July 2, 2023
1.5 stars, rounded up. Reminded me of a SyFy movie… all monsters, no storytelling. I could just picture the bad CGI in my head.
Apologies to the author, who I could tell had a lot of fun writing this. ❤️
And it seems everyone else rated this much higher than me, so what do I know?
Apologies to the author, who I could tell had a lot of fun writing this. ❤️
And it seems everyone else rated this much higher than me, so what do I know?
May 7, 2023
Loved this book! All of the creatures are already scary, but then add getting stuck on a Rollercoaster, and it becomes truly terrifying! Fast fun read that even older kids would enjoy. I was generously gifted this book from the author.
May 1, 2023
I just finished Shock Waves by Matt Kurtz. He was kind enough to send me a physical copy (signed, and with a lot of awesome swag) in exchange for a review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Shock Waves is a blast. It’s a quick paced read that jumps right into the action. We follow a group of amusement park employees and patrons as they try to escape a brutal assault from creatures that should not exist. It’s never dull, there is action around every page and plenty of gore. I really enjoyed it, and plan on getting more books by Matt. My only complaint (which isn’t a complaint) is that I wish it was longer. That’s only because I wanted to spend more time with these characters and in this environment. Hopefully there will be more books that live in this universe. Danny and his friends may not be ready, but I am.
Grab a copy and enjoy the ride.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Shock Waves is a blast. It’s a quick paced read that jumps right into the action. We follow a group of amusement park employees and patrons as they try to escape a brutal assault from creatures that should not exist. It’s never dull, there is action around every page and plenty of gore. I really enjoyed it, and plan on getting more books by Matt. My only complaint (which isn’t a complaint) is that I wish it was longer. That’s only because I wanted to spend more time with these characters and in this environment. Hopefully there will be more books that live in this universe. Danny and his friends may not be ready, but I am.
Grab a copy and enjoy the ride.
May 27, 2023
I don’t typically read creature feature stories, but I couldn’t pass up this plot. Scary creatures at an amusement park in the 80s?! This novella was such a fun read. There was great buildup and suspense throughout, and it was action packed. The only warning is that it’s gory, which I don’t mind, but maybe not for everyone. A great summer horror read, I definitely recommend. I read this while camping and that definitely added an extra layer!
May 27, 2023
This was a fun, quick read. Loved the setting and monsters. Was left interested in finding out where the creatures came from, and would be excited to read a sequel to find the answer. Juan was the best part of the book and would love to see him and his relationship expanded on more in a future book, if he decides to write one. I recommend this to anyone who wants to go on a 3 hour adventure into a monster filled, 80s theme park.
June 21, 2023
2.5/3
June 18, 2023
It was giving cozy horror more than horror vibes. I was looking for a sad/depressing ending, like his other novella. However, it was still a thrilling ride with a happy ending. Nothing better than an 80s ‘horror’ to get you outta a reading slump.
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