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Bee Tornado
From the author of THE NIGHTMARE ROOM and SUCKERVILLE...
Derek Stratton, a broke and widowed storm chaser, is trying his best to support his daughter Mel. Their lives take a dangerous turn when a colossal tornado releases a swarm of prehistoric bees from the Colorado soil, plunging them into a treacherous fight for survival. Derek finds an unexpected partnership with an eccentric bee expert and his sister-in-law, a local cop. Together, they embark on a harrowing race against the clock to rescue Mel from the Bee Tornado.
Derek Stratton, a broke and widowed storm chaser, is trying his best to support his daughter Mel. Their lives take a dangerous turn when a colossal tornado releases a swarm of prehistoric bees from the Colorado soil, plunging them into a treacherous fight for survival. Derek finds an unexpected partnership with an eccentric bee expert and his sister-in-law, a local cop. Together, they embark on a harrowing race against the clock to rescue Mel from the Bee Tornado.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 31, 2023
34 people are currently reading
77 people want to read
About the author
Chris Sorensen
66 books156 followersChris Sorensen spends many days and nights locked away inside his own nightmare room. He is the narrator of over 200 audiobooks (including the award-winning The Missing series by Margaret Peterson Haddix) and the recipient of three AudioFile Earphone Awards. Over the past fifteen years, the Butte Theater and Thin Air Theatre Company in Cripple Creek, Colorado have produced dozens of his plays including Dr. Jekyll’s Medicine Show, Werewolves of Poverty Gulch and The Vampire of Cripple Creek. He is the author of the middle grade book The Mad Scientists of New Jersey and has written numerous screenplay including Suckerville, Bee Tornado and The Roswell Project.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
August 8, 2023
Sometimes, you're just in the mood for the literary version of a B horror film. Hello, BEE TORNADO!
Two moronic spelunkers lower themselves down into a cavern and discover some flowers that seem to get people high. Seeing fortunes in their future, they try to take some flowers and everything goes south. Accidentally, these two morons released some prehistoric, small dog sized, bees. That's right, bees. These are, of course, no ordinary bees. With stingers that can pierce windshields, what ensues is what I call pure horror cheese!
Add in a bunch of interesting characters: Derek, a down on his luck tornado chaser that recently lost his wife; Shelby, a police officer and the sister of Derek's dead wife; and Mel, Derek's smart young daughter who just wants to go on a bug hunt. There are secondary characters that you're rooting for to die, but you'll have to read this yourself to find out how and why.
This novella was a ton of fun. The pages fly by with lots of action and side story to fill them. These quick novellas by Sorensen, (also see SUCKERVILLE), are perfect bite-sized bits of horror that put me in mind of the 70's horror novels I loved, like The Swarm or Grizzly.
BEE TORNADO was pure, unadorned, horror shlock, and it was exactly what I needed! Maybe it's exactly what you need right now too? Highly recommended!
Two moronic spelunkers lower themselves down into a cavern and discover some flowers that seem to get people high. Seeing fortunes in their future, they try to take some flowers and everything goes south. Accidentally, these two morons released some prehistoric, small dog sized, bees. That's right, bees. These are, of course, no ordinary bees. With stingers that can pierce windshields, what ensues is what I call pure horror cheese!
Add in a bunch of interesting characters: Derek, a down on his luck tornado chaser that recently lost his wife; Shelby, a police officer and the sister of Derek's dead wife; and Mel, Derek's smart young daughter who just wants to go on a bug hunt. There are secondary characters that you're rooting for to die, but you'll have to read this yourself to find out how and why.
This novella was a ton of fun. The pages fly by with lots of action and side story to fill them. These quick novellas by Sorensen, (also see SUCKERVILLE), are perfect bite-sized bits of horror that put me in mind of the 70's horror novels I loved, like The Swarm or Grizzly.
BEE TORNADO was pure, unadorned, horror shlock, and it was exactly what I needed! Maybe it's exactly what you need right now too? Highly recommended!
August 4, 2023
Please keep these wild creature features coming! Sometimes a reader (me, okay, it’s me) wants something creepy crawly, sorta ridiculous but maybe completely plausible too . . . Bee Tornado is all of these things and just like Suckerville (Chris Sorensen's recent release), the pages fly!
Things start off when two young dudes decide that spelunking down a cavern to retrieve some wonky flowers will bring them riches. Instead their adventure brings them something else entirely. They’ve unwittingly released a hell-storm of prehistoric bees who form themselves into, you guessed it, a BEE TORNADO! Can one down-on-his-luck hapless hero save everyone from a deadly stinging?
Read Bee Tornado to find out. I hate it when others say that about books JUST TELL ME ALREADY lol but here I go saying it just the same. Also just read Bee Tornado if you want a fun Syfy movie in book form. It has some gross moments but I didn’t find it quite as disgusting as Suckerville. It is a fast and furious adventure but it’s also populated with a few characters who you’ll surprisingly want to root for. Derek is the first to discover the threat of the bees. He’s a mess of a character but damn if I didn’t feel for him in the end. This story may be a creature feature filled with pigeon-sized (omg) bees but it’s also rooted in grief and has a good heart at its center. It also has a sneaky bigfoot appearance which is something more books need, if you ask me.
Give it a go if you need some buggy fun in your reading life.
4 ½ Stars
Things start off when two young dudes decide that spelunking down a cavern to retrieve some wonky flowers will bring them riches. Instead their adventure brings them something else entirely. They’ve unwittingly released a hell-storm of prehistoric bees who form themselves into, you guessed it, a BEE TORNADO! Can one down-on-his-luck hapless hero save everyone from a deadly stinging?
Read Bee Tornado to find out. I hate it when others say that about books JUST TELL ME ALREADY lol but here I go saying it just the same. Also just read Bee Tornado if you want a fun Syfy movie in book form. It has some gross moments but I didn’t find it quite as disgusting as Suckerville. It is a fast and furious adventure but it’s also populated with a few characters who you’ll surprisingly want to root for. Derek is the first to discover the threat of the bees. He’s a mess of a character but damn if I didn’t feel for him in the end. This story may be a creature feature filled with pigeon-sized (omg) bees but it’s also rooted in grief and has a good heart at its center. It also has a sneaky bigfoot appearance which is something more books need, if you ask me.
Give it a go if you need some buggy fun in your reading life.
4 ½ Stars
July 6, 2024
Bee Tornado captures the spirit of a 90's disaster action movie in book form which is harder than you might think. A forty-something loser dad who runs an oddities museum and researched cryptids is also a tornado hunter with his teenage daughter. This colorful pair is still grieving the death of his wife and her mother but is called into action by a local disaster to save their town and avoid going broke. A moderately funny disaster/monster movie hybrid reads like a solid movie script with sort of a ridiculous, unfilmable monster. What's fun is the action starts early on when a (titular) tornado of dog-sized bees attacks a Shakespeare-themed beer festival in a small Colorado town and the town's tough female mayor has a meltdown, needing our hero's (and his daughter's) help. I mean, technically it's not great but it's like a wholesome PG-13 family action comedy with good intentions. In an alternate universe, this movie came out in 1996 and was a modest success.
July 28, 2023
'Bee Tornado' - it is what it says, and it's hugely entertaining!
Chris Sorensen writes in a way that makes you forget you're reading at all. You might as well be mainlining a movie - in this case, a fast-paced, action-packed, and engaging creature feature that's packed full of humour but doesn't skimp on the horror. If I close my eyes, I can still see those monstrous prehistoric bees. I can hear the drone of that swarm: the low, ominous vibration in my bones coupled with the higher-pitched buzzing that sets my teeth on edge and chills me with terror. Worse, I think I know exactly how those bees would feel to touch. For some reason, it's their legs more than anything else I find so repulsive. Maybe I just don't want to dwell on those cold, alien, compound eyes, or the deadly venom in those gigantic stingers!
Definitely not one for the melissophobics out there, but for the rest of us this is terrific fun.
Chris Sorensen writes in a way that makes you forget you're reading at all. You might as well be mainlining a movie - in this case, a fast-paced, action-packed, and engaging creature feature that's packed full of humour but doesn't skimp on the horror. If I close my eyes, I can still see those monstrous prehistoric bees. I can hear the drone of that swarm: the low, ominous vibration in my bones coupled with the higher-pitched buzzing that sets my teeth on edge and chills me with terror. Worse, I think I know exactly how those bees would feel to touch. For some reason, it's their legs more than anything else I find so repulsive. Maybe I just don't want to dwell on those cold, alien, compound eyes, or the deadly venom in those gigantic stingers!
Definitely not one for the melissophobics out there, but for the rest of us this is terrific fun.
August 27, 2023
This is definitely a “B” style story. It’s grandiose, over the top, and plain crazy at some parts.
Ultimately I wasn’t a huge fan of the characters- they were there to drive the plot but didn’t really grow on me.
I could definitely see this being made into a movie for the syfy channel as well.
Thank you to BookSirens and the author for a copy.
Ultimately I wasn’t a huge fan of the characters- they were there to drive the plot but didn’t really grow on me.
I could definitely see this being made into a movie for the syfy channel as well.
Thank you to BookSirens and the author for a copy.
August 9, 2023
This is the best bee tornado book that I have ever read. Chris Sorensen certainly didn’t bumble this, it’s the bee’s knee’s. Great characters, a story like a beloved B movie and the busy bees. It was lots of fun. Killer.
August 19, 2023
BELIEVE THE BUZZ.
No, really. I'm a huge fan of cheesy horror paperbacks, but many suffer from poor writing and hard-to-follow plots. This book has everything wonderful about those wacky tales WITH fantastic writing, memorable characters, and plot points that always pay off. Worth a read and a recommendation for sure.
I wrote this review voluntarily after a chance to read the ARC for free. Thank you so much for the opportunity! I can't wait to badger my husband to check it out, too.
No, really. I'm a huge fan of cheesy horror paperbacks, but many suffer from poor writing and hard-to-follow plots. This book has everything wonderful about those wacky tales WITH fantastic writing, memorable characters, and plot points that always pay off. Worth a read and a recommendation for sure.
I wrote this review voluntarily after a chance to read the ARC for free. Thank you so much for the opportunity! I can't wait to badger my husband to check it out, too.
October 7, 2023
It's got Bees! It's got a tornado! It may or may not have Big foot! It's funny, terrifying, heartbreaking. A huge adventure that will have you nervous! It's like watching a Bee rated movie. You aren't going to want to miss this one!
March 23, 2024
I mean my expectations were low, but dang...this is bad
August 9, 2023
You can tell Chris has had mad fun writing this.
It's pretty much a B-Movie in book form. The kind of over-the-top horror you'd expect.
Horror comedy done right.
A little creature feature to bring you right out of a reading slump.
Good stuff.
A solid four stars.
It's pretty much a B-Movie in book form. The kind of over-the-top horror you'd expect.
Horror comedy done right.
A little creature feature to bring you right out of a reading slump.
Good stuff.
A solid four stars.
July 31, 2023
Tornados
Derek is a storm chaser. He is trying to find a storm to film to make money. Two young men go looking for a special cave full of very special flowers. They find something much more deadly. These bees are very big, very mad, and make bee tornados. Can Derek save the town and his daughter? Or will the bees destroy it all. Fast-paced creature feature. If you hear them buzzing, it's too late.
Derek is a storm chaser. He is trying to find a storm to film to make money. Two young men go looking for a special cave full of very special flowers. They find something much more deadly. These bees are very big, very mad, and make bee tornados. Can Derek save the town and his daughter? Or will the bees destroy it all. Fast-paced creature feature. If you hear them buzzing, it's too late.
August 1, 2023
Are you here to see what the BUZZ is about? Let me tell you, you could get blown away.
OK, I will stop with puns and jokes. This is serious business.
Bee Tornado is pretty much what you expect going into a book called Bee Tornado. There are giant bees, a tornado, chaos, and lots of stinging.
It's also kinda sweet and pulls at your heart strings. I might have cussed at Chris in the privacy of my home for risking those characters' lives. ( Sorry, Chris)
If you have ever caught yourself saying, "I wish I could read a syfy movie," here is your chance. It's a perfect blend of killer bees and heartstrings.
OK, I will stop with puns and jokes. This is serious business.
Bee Tornado is pretty much what you expect going into a book called Bee Tornado. There are giant bees, a tornado, chaos, and lots of stinging.
It's also kinda sweet and pulls at your heart strings. I might have cussed at Chris in the privacy of my home for risking those characters' lives. ( Sorry, Chris)
If you have ever caught yourself saying, "I wish I could read a syfy movie," here is your chance. It's a perfect blend of killer bees and heartstrings.
September 30, 2023
Welcome to the third annual ShakesBeer Festival, the premier beer and bard event this side of the Rocky Mountains!
Oh what a honey of a wild story! Truth bee told, this book was a lot of fun! I'm not sure if you'll beelieve me, but I enjoyed the story more than "Suckerville", which was also a very good time. I mean, who doesn't absolutely break out in hives thinking about getting stung by a bee? And truly, in this twister of a tale, you'll get the full bees-ness if you have any phobias about same! Seriously, I wondered if maybee I shouldn't have had an ebee-pen ready to go after a few pages! I know I'll be buzzing about Chris Sorensen's exbeertise in giving us a wonderful version of a genuhive Bee-movie with both the giggles and the shivers!
It was no pigeon. It was a bee the size of a rotisserie chicken.
Can I stop now? OH thank the gods! All kidding aside fans and other members of the hivemind - dang it! - this was a hoot! And yes, though I wouldn't call it a full-fledged phobia, I am not fond of the thought of getting stung by bees or wasps or any of nature's (too) many flying creatures with sharp, pointy butts. Let's call my level of discomfort much more pronounced - and even potentially more realistic - than my fear of being attacked by mutant radioactive leeches. I mean, I don't really go anywhere that is all that populated by leeches. On the other hand, there's a bee in my living room right now slamming against the window, again and again. Waiting. Planning. HATING!
The funnel roared like a giant monster from a Saturday night creature feature show.
In terms of the whys and wherefores of this tale of whimsy, again, Sorensen has put together not only an enjoyable and wacky romp, but he's done it while also creating a group of sympathetic or at least extremely believable characters. So no, it's not just another "all the losers meet at the local dive bar" escapade. This time we get genuine human emotion and caring and even some Grade A (thought I was going to say B, didn't you?) humor to boot! Does everyone survive? Um, a combination of bees and tornadoes and a town full of drunken tourists? Of course not everyone survives! Michael Myers is probably reading this and drooling right now!
He’d always fancied himself the PT Barnum of the Rockies. Now, his reputation was coming back to bite him.
I will also say that this time Sorensen's writing felt more, well, organized. Like he was really moving this along with a plan which of course is always helpful if you're going to include foreshadowing along the way! And though my initial paragraph above may qualify as a spoiler, the book is absolutely packed with apian-based puns! Oh and since this is taking place in the middle of what must be one of Colorado's plethora of yearly Shakespearean festivals, you can well imagine what comes from THAT portion of the story. To bee or… no, just no.
The swarm moved in a great arc, spinning slowly on a central axis. The bees were forming their own twister.
All-in-all a quick read but very fun and with great characters. There's some good non-bee and/or non-twister fun times as well and needless to say it reads quite smoothly. Bee-sides, with a title like this, what's not to love? OK, admittedly there are no scenes with zom-bees or a beezillion boo-bees like you find in a lot of slasher films! But as I did check out my copy on Kindle Unlimited, it was indeed a free-bee and worth every drop of mead and … um … line? Hee hee. Bee good, y'all!
Oh what a honey of a wild story! Truth bee told, this book was a lot of fun! I'm not sure if you'll beelieve me, but I enjoyed the story more than "Suckerville", which was also a very good time. I mean, who doesn't absolutely break out in hives thinking about getting stung by a bee? And truly, in this twister of a tale, you'll get the full bees-ness if you have any phobias about same! Seriously, I wondered if maybee I shouldn't have had an ebee-pen ready to go after a few pages! I know I'll be buzzing about Chris Sorensen's exbeertise in giving us a wonderful version of a genuhive Bee-movie with both the giggles and the shivers!
It was no pigeon. It was a bee the size of a rotisserie chicken.
Can I stop now? OH thank the gods! All kidding aside fans and other members of the hivemind - dang it! - this was a hoot! And yes, though I wouldn't call it a full-fledged phobia, I am not fond of the thought of getting stung by bees or wasps or any of nature's (too) many flying creatures with sharp, pointy butts. Let's call my level of discomfort much more pronounced - and even potentially more realistic - than my fear of being attacked by mutant radioactive leeches. I mean, I don't really go anywhere that is all that populated by leeches. On the other hand, there's a bee in my living room right now slamming against the window, again and again. Waiting. Planning. HATING!
The funnel roared like a giant monster from a Saturday night creature feature show.
In terms of the whys and wherefores of this tale of whimsy, again, Sorensen has put together not only an enjoyable and wacky romp, but he's done it while also creating a group of sympathetic or at least extremely believable characters. So no, it's not just another "all the losers meet at the local dive bar" escapade. This time we get genuine human emotion and caring and even some Grade A (thought I was going to say B, didn't you?) humor to boot! Does everyone survive? Um, a combination of bees and tornadoes and a town full of drunken tourists? Of course not everyone survives! Michael Myers is probably reading this and drooling right now!
He’d always fancied himself the PT Barnum of the Rockies. Now, his reputation was coming back to bite him.
I will also say that this time Sorensen's writing felt more, well, organized. Like he was really moving this along with a plan which of course is always helpful if you're going to include foreshadowing along the way! And though my initial paragraph above may qualify as a spoiler, the book is absolutely packed with apian-based puns! Oh and since this is taking place in the middle of what must be one of Colorado's plethora of yearly Shakespearean festivals, you can well imagine what comes from THAT portion of the story. To bee or… no, just no.
The swarm moved in a great arc, spinning slowly on a central axis. The bees were forming their own twister.
All-in-all a quick read but very fun and with great characters. There's some good non-bee and/or non-twister fun times as well and needless to say it reads quite smoothly. Bee-sides, with a title like this, what's not to love? OK, admittedly there are no scenes with zom-bees or a beezillion boo-bees like you find in a lot of slasher films! But as I did check out my copy on Kindle Unlimited, it was indeed a free-bee and worth every drop of mead and … um … line? Hee hee. Bee good, y'all!
July 18, 2023
For those who fell in love with Sorenson’s horror debut ‘The Nightmare Room,’ book one in his Messy Man series, it felt like an excruciatingly long wait between book two and book three. I mean, not Rothfuss or RR Martin long of a wait for the next in the series, but it was still a solid break and once released, we all devoured it.
And then the next wait began. The wait for Chris’ next book. And when we finally got word on it arriving, earlier this year, we all collectively held our breath. Chris then deployed a fantastic marketing plan for his novel ‘Suckerville,’ which I had the honor of beta-reading. And he knocked it out of the park. But – and this was met with a collective gasp – within days of ‘Suckerville’ dropping – Chris hinted at another book on the horizon. ‘Bee Tornado.’ I shit you not. And, once again, to my sheer amazement and surprise, Chris reached out to ask if I’d like to give it an early read. ABSO-FUCKING-LUTELY.
I’m having a hard time remembering the last time we had two back-to-back creature-feature bangers like what Chris has done with ‘Suckerville’ and ‘Bee Tornado.’ It would be akin to going to a drive-in theatre and watching ‘Tremors’ and ‘Lake Placid’ on a double bill. Two different-but-same movies, both filled with heart, some humor and ultimately some of the best survive-at-all-costs-against-the-insane-things-trying-to-kill-us moments.
What I liked: ‘Bee Tornado’ follows Derek. He’s struggling to carry on, after his wife was killed in a horrible accident involving a tornado, leaving him and his early-teenaged daughter to continue. He’s drifting through life, his and his wife’s ‘odditorium’ store shuttered and the bills piling up.
But what he doesn’t know is that someone trying to make a quick buck has disturbed something that had been hibernating in the hills for centuries, and now they’re loose and looking for their nectar.
From that point on, it’s completely a battle between massive bees and those trying their all to stop them. We get some amazing secondary characters, fantastic action sequences and some truly over-the-top deaths which will make anyone who’s ever been stung second guess staying put the next time a bee comes near them.
The ending to this was spot on and really topped the emotional cake with a really nice topper. The father-daughter relationship that we watched weave between poor and poorer throughout came back around and it made for a wonderful way to see this one finish.
What I didn’t like: There are some secondary characters who you immediately know are simply there to be stung and killed off – its expected – but a few of them seem to be a bit more heavily invested in, only for their storyline to mean almost nothing. It happens, but for a few of them it made for an odd moment when you realize some of what you’ve followed won’t be tied up in a neat little bow!
Why you should buy this: I mean, if you loved ‘Suckerville,’ this is a no-brainer. But if you haven’t read that and are looking for a fun, over-the-top, action-packed thrill-ride, look no further. Sorenson is in his wheelhouse here and has created a totally awesome, cinematic horror novel.
Loved it.
And then the next wait began. The wait for Chris’ next book. And when we finally got word on it arriving, earlier this year, we all collectively held our breath. Chris then deployed a fantastic marketing plan for his novel ‘Suckerville,’ which I had the honor of beta-reading. And he knocked it out of the park. But – and this was met with a collective gasp – within days of ‘Suckerville’ dropping – Chris hinted at another book on the horizon. ‘Bee Tornado.’ I shit you not. And, once again, to my sheer amazement and surprise, Chris reached out to ask if I’d like to give it an early read. ABSO-FUCKING-LUTELY.
I’m having a hard time remembering the last time we had two back-to-back creature-feature bangers like what Chris has done with ‘Suckerville’ and ‘Bee Tornado.’ It would be akin to going to a drive-in theatre and watching ‘Tremors’ and ‘Lake Placid’ on a double bill. Two different-but-same movies, both filled with heart, some humor and ultimately some of the best survive-at-all-costs-against-the-insane-things-trying-to-kill-us moments.
What I liked: ‘Bee Tornado’ follows Derek. He’s struggling to carry on, after his wife was killed in a horrible accident involving a tornado, leaving him and his early-teenaged daughter to continue. He’s drifting through life, his and his wife’s ‘odditorium’ store shuttered and the bills piling up.
But what he doesn’t know is that someone trying to make a quick buck has disturbed something that had been hibernating in the hills for centuries, and now they’re loose and looking for their nectar.
From that point on, it’s completely a battle between massive bees and those trying their all to stop them. We get some amazing secondary characters, fantastic action sequences and some truly over-the-top deaths which will make anyone who’s ever been stung second guess staying put the next time a bee comes near them.
The ending to this was spot on and really topped the emotional cake with a really nice topper. The father-daughter relationship that we watched weave between poor and poorer throughout came back around and it made for a wonderful way to see this one finish.
What I didn’t like: There are some secondary characters who you immediately know are simply there to be stung and killed off – its expected – but a few of them seem to be a bit more heavily invested in, only for their storyline to mean almost nothing. It happens, but for a few of them it made for an odd moment when you realize some of what you’ve followed won’t be tied up in a neat little bow!
Why you should buy this: I mean, if you loved ‘Suckerville,’ this is a no-brainer. But if you haven’t read that and are looking for a fun, over-the-top, action-packed thrill-ride, look no further. Sorenson is in his wheelhouse here and has created a totally awesome, cinematic horror novel.
Loved it.
August 1, 2023
This book is akin to the movie Sharknado, if Sharknado was set on land, with bees, and was actually well written!
Derek Stratton is a widowed storm chaser, still grieving after the loss of his wife, struggling to parent his daughter Mel, and trying (and failing) to make ends meet. He has bills up to his ears and they are on the verge of eviction from their home and self-created odditorium tourist attraction. The last thing Derek expects to get caught up in is some beekeeping. But this is no ordinary beekeeping. Through a chain of calamitous events, a swarm of prehistoric bees are released from an underground cavern system, and they are determined to kill everything that crosses their path. Derek has to team up with his sister-in-law, who blames him for her sister’s death, and as a result, hates him. Together they find the local eccentric bee expert and have to race to save Mel, who has inadvertently headed straight into the swarm's path.
I outright loved this humorous sci-fi romp. It took me back to my teenage years, before TV on demand, when I would get up at 3:00 am to watch Tales From The Crypt, and other camp B movie horrors. Chris Sorensen has a way of writing which makes you feel that you are reading one of these movies. You are wildly entertained, absolutely engrossed in the madcap story, and you have left and sense of normality at the door. You are here to be entertained, to be taken on an action-packed ride, and to see humans defeat some prehistoric giant bees.
For all of its B movie-esque trappings, the story contains good characters, with the relationships developing and the story evolving alongside the action. The writing is excellent, at points, you can almost feel the downdraft of the bee's wings on your neck. Overall this was a fabulous sci-fi tale, that didn’t take itself too seriously and provided some nostalgic, retro entertainment. I loved it!
*I received a copy of this book for review from BookSirens, but all opinions are my own.
Derek Stratton is a widowed storm chaser, still grieving after the loss of his wife, struggling to parent his daughter Mel, and trying (and failing) to make ends meet. He has bills up to his ears and they are on the verge of eviction from their home and self-created odditorium tourist attraction. The last thing Derek expects to get caught up in is some beekeeping. But this is no ordinary beekeeping. Through a chain of calamitous events, a swarm of prehistoric bees are released from an underground cavern system, and they are determined to kill everything that crosses their path. Derek has to team up with his sister-in-law, who blames him for her sister’s death, and as a result, hates him. Together they find the local eccentric bee expert and have to race to save Mel, who has inadvertently headed straight into the swarm's path.
I outright loved this humorous sci-fi romp. It took me back to my teenage years, before TV on demand, when I would get up at 3:00 am to watch Tales From The Crypt, and other camp B movie horrors. Chris Sorensen has a way of writing which makes you feel that you are reading one of these movies. You are wildly entertained, absolutely engrossed in the madcap story, and you have left and sense of normality at the door. You are here to be entertained, to be taken on an action-packed ride, and to see humans defeat some prehistoric giant bees.
For all of its B movie-esque trappings, the story contains good characters, with the relationships developing and the story evolving alongside the action. The writing is excellent, at points, you can almost feel the downdraft of the bee's wings on your neck. Overall this was a fabulous sci-fi tale, that didn’t take itself too seriously and provided some nostalgic, retro entertainment. I loved it!
*I received a copy of this book for review from BookSirens, but all opinions are my own.
October 12, 2023
What’s that coming over the hill, is it a monster?
Nope it’s a Bee Tornado
What’s it about?
We start the story with two spelunking idiots looking for the next big thing in the world of psychedelics. When they climb down a crevasse in Colorado, they happen upon some form of prehistoric vegetation that indeed meets their requirements. What they don’t realise is that the cavern also has another inhabitant - prehistoric, armour plated giant bees.
In the meantime, Derek, a recently widowed storm chaser is attempting to capture footage of the incredible destructive forces of mother nature so that he can sell it to earn some cash, aid his constant struggle to bring up his daughter and keep his museum of the weird and wonderful open.
Derek is constantly struggling. His sister in law thinks he got his wife killed. The mayor of the town wants to evict him and in between that he knows that the release of the bees and their destruction will cause trouble, especially when there’s a festival known as Shakesbeer (a festival of The Bard and Beer).
This book is unconscionably silly. It takes all the tropes of the creature feature and adds a dose of Irwin Allen’s The swarm, and it is marvellous fun. It really is!
It’s silly, predictable and totally over the top. The characters are all the archetypes that you would expect and it thrusts them under your nose without apology.
However, whilst it is all those things, Chris Sorenson manages to perfectly capture the essence of ‘B’ movie. Not only that, he manages to write in a believably cinematic way that is full of action, car chases, storms and a little bit of pathos.
I’ll be honest, I couldn’t help but like this book and if you want some zany action, creature feature horror then look no further, and get carried away by the Bee tornado.
Nope it’s a Bee Tornado
What’s it about?
We start the story with two spelunking idiots looking for the next big thing in the world of psychedelics. When they climb down a crevasse in Colorado, they happen upon some form of prehistoric vegetation that indeed meets their requirements. What they don’t realise is that the cavern also has another inhabitant - prehistoric, armour plated giant bees.
In the meantime, Derek, a recently widowed storm chaser is attempting to capture footage of the incredible destructive forces of mother nature so that he can sell it to earn some cash, aid his constant struggle to bring up his daughter and keep his museum of the weird and wonderful open.
Derek is constantly struggling. His sister in law thinks he got his wife killed. The mayor of the town wants to evict him and in between that he knows that the release of the bees and their destruction will cause trouble, especially when there’s a festival known as Shakesbeer (a festival of The Bard and Beer).
This book is unconscionably silly. It takes all the tropes of the creature feature and adds a dose of Irwin Allen’s The swarm, and it is marvellous fun. It really is!
It’s silly, predictable and totally over the top. The characters are all the archetypes that you would expect and it thrusts them under your nose without apology.
However, whilst it is all those things, Chris Sorenson manages to perfectly capture the essence of ‘B’ movie. Not only that, he manages to write in a believably cinematic way that is full of action, car chases, storms and a little bit of pathos.
I’ll be honest, I couldn’t help but like this book and if you want some zany action, creature feature horror then look no further, and get carried away by the Bee tornado.
September 22, 2023
Another creature feature from Chris Sorensen, and all I have to say is keep 'em comin'...
Okay, maybe that's not all I have to say, but seriously, as long as this author keeps writing these types of books, I'll probably keep reading them. I love the humor. I love the characters. And I love the way that Sorensen can make a totally unbelievable situation seem aaaalmost believable.
Bee Tornado gives the characters a little more depth and tougher backstories than the characters had in Suckerville (which I enjoyed as well. Don't get me wrong.)
The main character's wife passed away, leaving him to raise his only daughter on his own, and he's not always the best at it. But they both try to make the best of it, and I like the way him and his daughter grow throughout the book.
He owns an Odditorium, and I have to add that I'm coming to the conclusion I love books that feature places like his Odditorium. Which have Sasquatch exhibits, proof of flying saucers, and other oddities. They're simply such fun places to feature in books.
But he's also a struggling storm chaser. As you can imagine, this skill may come in handy when facing a Bee Tornado. Though not everyone in town likes him much, including the chief of police and mayor. Two people you probably wouldn't want to be on the bad side of.
There are also some great side characters. I really liked the main character's sister-in-law who's a police officer, and didn't always trust the main character's decision making skills. Then there's the cooky, mead selling beekeeper who makes for another fun, helpful character. And even characters with smaller parts have a purpose and get enough backstory to make you care when they die.
Anywho, this was an enjoyable, b-movie horror read. I highly recommend it for those who like these 80's junk candy type books, but with a little more depth and characters who aren't one dimensional.
I received an ARC of this book, and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
Okay, maybe that's not all I have to say, but seriously, as long as this author keeps writing these types of books, I'll probably keep reading them. I love the humor. I love the characters. And I love the way that Sorensen can make a totally unbelievable situation seem aaaalmost believable.
Bee Tornado gives the characters a little more depth and tougher backstories than the characters had in Suckerville (which I enjoyed as well. Don't get me wrong.)
The main character's wife passed away, leaving him to raise his only daughter on his own, and he's not always the best at it. But they both try to make the best of it, and I like the way him and his daughter grow throughout the book.
He owns an Odditorium, and I have to add that I'm coming to the conclusion I love books that feature places like his Odditorium. Which have Sasquatch exhibits, proof of flying saucers, and other oddities. They're simply such fun places to feature in books.
But he's also a struggling storm chaser. As you can imagine, this skill may come in handy when facing a Bee Tornado. Though not everyone in town likes him much, including the chief of police and mayor. Two people you probably wouldn't want to be on the bad side of.
There are also some great side characters. I really liked the main character's sister-in-law who's a police officer, and didn't always trust the main character's decision making skills. Then there's the cooky, mead selling beekeeper who makes for another fun, helpful character. And even characters with smaller parts have a purpose and get enough backstory to make you care when they die.
Anywho, this was an enjoyable, b-movie horror read. I highly recommend it for those who like these 80's junk candy type books, but with a little more depth and characters who aren't one dimensional.
I received an ARC of this book, and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
August 1, 2023
I was prepared to like this book. I was not expecting to love this book. But I did.
It has all the elements you want in a creature feature- unique location, inventive creatures, quirky characters, and more twists than an Oliver audition. Really, every time I thought I could see where this was going, the author zigged when I was sure he was about to zag.
What truly set this book apart for me was the humanity of it all. The characters are more than quirky, they’re genuine. Their stories feel real, and familiar, and warm. You can’t help rooting for the good guys. And against the bad guys. It’s a testament to the book that they aren’t always what you think they are.
I don’t even want to give too much away by spoiling plot points. Just read it and enjoy it. I’m already anxiously awaiting what I hope will be a sequel.
It’s a quick read. In fact, i immediately went back and reread it to catch subtleties I missed initially.
Have I mentioned I loved this book?
I’m inspired now to go back and check out the rest of Sorensen’s catalog.
It has all the elements you want in a creature feature- unique location, inventive creatures, quirky characters, and more twists than an Oliver audition. Really, every time I thought I could see where this was going, the author zigged when I was sure he was about to zag.
What truly set this book apart for me was the humanity of it all. The characters are more than quirky, they’re genuine. Their stories feel real, and familiar, and warm. You can’t help rooting for the good guys. And against the bad guys. It’s a testament to the book that they aren’t always what you think they are.
I don’t even want to give too much away by spoiling plot points. Just read it and enjoy it. I’m already anxiously awaiting what I hope will be a sequel.
It’s a quick read. In fact, i immediately went back and reread it to catch subtleties I missed initially.
Have I mentioned I loved this book?
I’m inspired now to go back and check out the rest of Sorensen’s catalog.
August 8, 2024
Alright, so this is a monster book where a whole town is endangered by prehistoric bees. It's also a nice story about a widower whose obsession with not working a nine-to-five job is really interfering with his relationship with his daughter. Mostly, it's just an exciting tale about a couple of people trying to figure out how to survive a plague of terrier-sized bees.
Every reader will pick up on the early foreshadowing with the tornado suit—a piece of armor with cameras attached designed to let our hero get good film footage of twisters. There are a lot of other nicely sprinkled hints at how the town will deal with this problem as well. If there is one big surprise, however, it's how many people survive. When giant bees swarm the town, I was pretty much expecting 99.9% casualties, but it's not nearly that extreme.
There is a fun cast in this novel and an epic threat. I wouldn't be surprised if this one gets made into a movie.
Every reader will pick up on the early foreshadowing with the tornado suit—a piece of armor with cameras attached designed to let our hero get good film footage of twisters. There are a lot of other nicely sprinkled hints at how the town will deal with this problem as well. If there is one big surprise, however, it's how many people survive. When giant bees swarm the town, I was pretty much expecting 99.9% casualties, but it's not nearly that extreme.
There is a fun cast in this novel and an epic threat. I wouldn't be surprised if this one gets made into a movie.
March 8, 2024
I had a jolly good time reading this story. I love "Creature Features" in both books and movies, and this sure fit the bill.
A swarm of monster bees erupt from an ancient crevice in the ground, forming a tornado-like funnel as they swarm and attack the local town folk. They must be conquered and eliminated.
This was a fast paced story, with lots of action going on both day and night, one page to the next, with very few pauses to catch your breath. But the characters were such likeable folk, you just had to find out what was going to happen next, and before you know it, you are done. If you like a little horror with a lot of fun, you'll find this story more than just enjoyable. I highly recommend it.
A swarm of monster bees erupt from an ancient crevice in the ground, forming a tornado-like funnel as they swarm and attack the local town folk. They must be conquered and eliminated.
This was a fast paced story, with lots of action going on both day and night, one page to the next, with very few pauses to catch your breath. But the characters were such likeable folk, you just had to find out what was going to happen next, and before you know it, you are done. If you like a little horror with a lot of fun, you'll find this story more than just enjoyable. I highly recommend it.
April 5, 2024
For those of you who live a good creature feature you’ll probably enjoy this one but you may want to make sure and bee ready for a good comedy with this one. It’s filled with some great bee movie tropes and silly characters.
Pros:
+ fun characters, including our main reluctant hero (also a bumbler)
+ silly monsters
+ fun setting for the events
Cons:
- I wouldn’t call it a deep story nor would I say there’s a ton of growth (but come on you’re reading something called Bee Tornado)
- can’t believe I’m saying this… but more bee tornado would be alright. There’s plenty of great bees though!
If you enjoy movies like Lavalantula then this is for you.
Pros:
+ fun characters, including our main reluctant hero (also a bumbler)
+ silly monsters
+ fun setting for the events
Cons:
- I wouldn’t call it a deep story nor would I say there’s a ton of growth (but come on you’re reading something called Bee Tornado)
- can’t believe I’m saying this… but more bee tornado would be alright. There’s plenty of great bees though!
If you enjoy movies like Lavalantula then this is for you.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 11, 2023
First, it was a sharknado then it was lavalantula; now we must protect ourselves from a prehistoric bee tornado! One man will go to extreme lengths to protect his family and community from this new enemy; it will just require a little creative problem-solving. The author keeps the pace quick, the dialogue snappy, and the characters believable. You can't help but cheer for the good guys in this story. I soo want to see this book turn into a movie!
I received an advanced copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advanced copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 3, 2023
This one starts a little slowly and I wondered what the connection with tornadoes and bees was to begin with.
When it gets going though I could not stop reading.
I thought it would be a bit sharknado and a bit tongue in cheek but it wasn’t. The tornado chasing especially was intense and there were great moments of terror. Although the author did manage to sneak in a reference to one of his other books; Suckerville.
This kept me on toes till the end and was a lot more serious than I thought.
This would make a great movie.
When it gets going though I could not stop reading.
I thought it would be a bit sharknado and a bit tongue in cheek but it wasn’t. The tornado chasing especially was intense and there were great moments of terror. Although the author did manage to sneak in a reference to one of his other books; Suckerville.
This kept me on toes till the end and was a lot more serious than I thought.
This would make a great movie.
July 13, 2024
This book was a tornado of Bee-grade movie style fun.
When I picked this up, I was expecting a dodgy creature feature, something like ‘Sharknado’, but what I got was more like the movie ‘Tremours’ there is lots of action, the characters were interesting and likeable, the writing is smooth and very easy to read, allowing me to fly through it in record time.
If you love a good creature feature like The Rats by James Herbert, or the Crabs books by Guy N Smith, then I highly recommend giving this a read.
When I picked this up, I was expecting a dodgy creature feature, something like ‘Sharknado’, but what I got was more like the movie ‘Tremours’ there is lots of action, the characters were interesting and likeable, the writing is smooth and very easy to read, allowing me to fly through it in record time.
If you love a good creature feature like The Rats by James Herbert, or the Crabs books by Guy N Smith, then I highly recommend giving this a read.
February 5, 2024
This came up as a .99 deal on Amazon and curiosity got me to fork over my money. Sharknado was delightfully entertaining so why not bees? It was a quick read but a wild ride with creepy gigantic bees galore! The characters were nothing special but moved the plot forward. The dialogue was a bit stilted at times, but this read better than some trending/BookTok reads I've attempted recently! Overall, a solid 3 stars.
December 16, 2024
As far as creature features go this one was a blast to read. It was well written, with great pacing and characters you enjoyed. Plus it was a tale of doubt, redemption , loss and bonding that made you feel for the characters. This is my first Sorensen story but not my last for sure. I don’t rate 5 stars too often but to me this one is well worth the 5. So if you want a great fast read pick this up and let me know what you think.
July 31, 2023
Bee Tornado is a fun and terrifying tale that makes you empathise with the characters. A tornado of bees the size of birds, touching character development, hope, love, despair, and terror. This is a 100% must read story! Chris makes horror funny and heartfelt which is not an easy accomplishment.
July 28, 2025
4.5/5
Upon its 2023 release, Bee Tornado generated quite a buzz, and I finally got around to checking it out. I was not disappointed! This novel champions the underdog, offering enough laughs, grit, and giddy romance to provide a welcome escape from the economic disparities and health concerns prevalent this summer.
Upon its 2023 release, Bee Tornado generated quite a buzz, and I finally got around to checking it out. I was not disappointed! This novel champions the underdog, offering enough laughs, grit, and giddy romance to provide a welcome escape from the economic disparities and health concerns prevalent this summer.
August 1, 2023
This is an enjoyable read! I did like pretty much all of it! Great idea, scary! There is some angst running through the whole story, due to the main characters circumstances which is balanced by the lighter moments so overall a good fun read!
November 29, 2023
Scary book, I hate bees and boy did this book get to me. The story was very good like one of those creature feature movies. It was detailed enough to make it creepy. Bees are one of my top fears, along with clowns, so the whole idea of the book made me want to hide.
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