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The Eyebiter Saga #1
The Terror of Willow Falls
Welcome to Willow Falls, where the shadows conceal menacing secrets.
Thirteen-year-old Joey Speight never anticipated the bone-chilling horrors awaiting him in this small river town. Forced to abandon the city due to his father's job loss, Joey's resentment festers as he's compelled to live with a Great-Grandma he never knew existed.
Joey soon finds companionship in Len and Anne, two friends with secrets as mysterious as the town they now call home. Len entertains them with tales of the Eyebiter, a local legend lurking in the park beside Joey's new residence. What begins as innocent banter soon transforms into a nightmarish reality as eerie occurrences envelop Willow Falls.
As the trio's friendship deepens, so does their awareness of the sinister force gripping the town. The Eyebiter, once dismissed as mere folklore, emerges from the shadows, casting a chilling dread over Willow Falls.
The quest for survival thrusts Joey, Len, and Anne into a terrifying pursuit of the Eyebiter. Within a lightless cavern where whispered terrors of the past echo, they confront the harrowing truth of the nightmare they sought to unveil.
With a relative he barely knows offering ominous advice, can Joey and his friends unravel the legend’s shocking secrets before the Eyebiter claims them as its own or is something more sinister awaiting them?
Thirteen-year-old Joey Speight never anticipated the bone-chilling horrors awaiting him in this small river town. Forced to abandon the city due to his father's job loss, Joey's resentment festers as he's compelled to live with a Great-Grandma he never knew existed.
Joey soon finds companionship in Len and Anne, two friends with secrets as mysterious as the town they now call home. Len entertains them with tales of the Eyebiter, a local legend lurking in the park beside Joey's new residence. What begins as innocent banter soon transforms into a nightmarish reality as eerie occurrences envelop Willow Falls.
As the trio's friendship deepens, so does their awareness of the sinister force gripping the town. The Eyebiter, once dismissed as mere folklore, emerges from the shadows, casting a chilling dread over Willow Falls.
The quest for survival thrusts Joey, Len, and Anne into a terrifying pursuit of the Eyebiter. Within a lightless cavern where whispered terrors of the past echo, they confront the harrowing truth of the nightmare they sought to unveil.
With a relative he barely knows offering ominous advice, can Joey and his friends unravel the legend’s shocking secrets before the Eyebiter claims them as its own or is something more sinister awaiting them?
288 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 26, 2024
197 people are currently reading
614 people want to read
About the author
Jay Bower
48 books300 followersJAY BOWER is a horror author living outside St. Louis, MO in the forest of Southern Illinois. He spends his time reading, writing, and convincing his wife the dark stories he writes do not involve her.
One time punk-rock skateboarder and heavy metal kid of the 80s, Jay approaches his work with the same indie attitude as those early punk bands.
He's the author of several dark novels and short stories. He can be reached at jay@jay-bower.com.
One time punk-rock skateboarder and heavy metal kid of the 80s, Jay approaches his work with the same indie attitude as those early punk bands.
He's the author of several dark novels and short stories. He can be reached at jay@jay-bower.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
February 26, 2024
The Terror of Willow Falls by Jay Bower is Jay's beginning to his eyebiter mythos. Eyebiter is a creature that Jay debuted in a book we co-wrote together. A creature that readers kept asking for more of, and Jay thankfully obliged. You don't need to read the novella, eyebiters revenge, as this is the first book, timeline wise. It reads like a coming of age/creature feature, but much bloodier. I have been something of a Bower fanboy for a little while now, and this book is my personal favorite, which prior to this was cadaverous. The story feels larger, the characters more real, the stakes higher. Highly suggest reading this one, it feels like it is going to be "the book" that really poises Bower for the big time.
February 14, 2025
Jay has done it again. A sinister story , a creature that craves blood. This book was phenomenal. It's creepy, bloody, and terrifying. I love the Eyebitter story in the Conservator Collection, and this was icing on the cake. Willow Falls has a deep secret... a family secret that can tear the town apart.
" If you wake it, bad things will happen!"
"You are him now. You are the one. Forever will you remain tied to this land, seeking blood and flesh to feast upon. Your fate is sealed."😧😬
" If you wake it, bad things will happen!"
"You are him now. You are the one. Forever will you remain tied to this land, seeking blood and flesh to feast upon. Your fate is sealed."😧😬
March 10, 2024
Jay Bower has once again demonstrated his skill in crafting a creepy and suspenseful tale with 'The Eyebiter'. This book had me engaged from the beginning, and held my attention throughout. Certain parts of the story did make me feel uneasy, but overall it was a thrilling read. This definitely kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time I read it.
The story follows Joey and his parents as they move in with his grandma Ruth after his father lost his job in Chicago. Joey starts having these weird spells where he starts hearing whispers, and then eventually faints. His new friend Len tells him about the story of The Eyebiter, is it just a lore or is it real? That’ll be something you will have to figure out as you read the book yourself.
The story follows Joey and his parents as they move in with his grandma Ruth after his father lost his job in Chicago. Joey starts having these weird spells where he starts hearing whispers, and then eventually faints. His new friend Len tells him about the story of The Eyebiter, is it just a lore or is it real? That’ll be something you will have to figure out as you read the book yourself.
August 1, 2024
Deliberate stupidness kind of ruined it.
IMO the main character is a piece of sh** got what he deserved in the end. I realize he’s only 13, but he’s written with the maturity of 10 and CONSTANTLY makes irrational stupid decisions. And not just new ones, he literally repeats the same thing. After a big event about 3/4 of the way in I was rooting for something horrible to happen to him. He’s the real Terror of Willow Falls.
IMO the main character is a piece of sh** got what he deserved in the end. I realize he’s only 13, but he’s written with the maturity of 10 and CONSTANTLY makes irrational stupid decisions. And not just new ones, he literally repeats the same thing. After a big event about 3/4 of the way in I was rooting for something horrible to happen to him. He’s the real Terror of Willow Falls.
July 5, 2025
Coming of age in a small town with a local myth make this story the success it is. The addition of some backstory was a nice touch as were the nods and winks from the locals whilst keeping quiet. Solid storytelling with enough detail for coming of age and didn't feel forced. When the horror comes it's creepy and graphic, there's also a sinister undercurrent throughout. The story can easily be expanded with a prequel or sequel and I enjoyed the ending. 4*
March 3, 2025
So creepy! The name Eyebiter is terrifying… I loved this story. 🫀🫀🫀🫀🫀
March 2, 2024
The Eyebiter is back! Having read The Conservator's Collection, I was so excited when Jay announced he was releasing an origin story. This answered so many questions that I had and made me really curious about where this world goes from here!
Jay really knows how to build suspense, and he did a wonderful job of keeping me on the edge of my seat waiting for Joey's big discovery. The Terror of Willow Falls was so atmospheric, and I loved the small town setting. I live in small town, Illinois, so this was a fun nod to what it's like to live in a small town. I do wish that he would've leaned more into the sheer disbelief that city people have when they come downstate to small towns and their weird reactions to certain things, though.
Joey about drove me nuts with his refusal to do things that would actively help him, but I think that's part of what made him a great main character. He was a kid who thought he knew how to handle the situation and found out too late that he was in over his head. He serves as a good reminder that often the most necessary lessons in life are sometimes the harshest to learn, but we have to keep pushing through regardless and keep living.
The Terror of Willow Falls is a very solid story, and Jay is already teasing more stories in this world! I'm so intrigued by the characters and how they will evolve to catch up to Eyebiter's Revenge. Big thank you to Jay for giving me the opportunity to read this early!
Jay really knows how to build suspense, and he did a wonderful job of keeping me on the edge of my seat waiting for Joey's big discovery. The Terror of Willow Falls was so atmospheric, and I loved the small town setting. I live in small town, Illinois, so this was a fun nod to what it's like to live in a small town. I do wish that he would've leaned more into the sheer disbelief that city people have when they come downstate to small towns and their weird reactions to certain things, though.
Joey about drove me nuts with his refusal to do things that would actively help him, but I think that's part of what made him a great main character. He was a kid who thought he knew how to handle the situation and found out too late that he was in over his head. He serves as a good reminder that often the most necessary lessons in life are sometimes the harshest to learn, but we have to keep pushing through regardless and keep living.
The Terror of Willow Falls is a very solid story, and Jay is already teasing more stories in this world! I'm so intrigued by the characters and how they will evolve to catch up to Eyebiter's Revenge. Big thank you to Jay for giving me the opportunity to read this early!
July 4, 2024
I absolutely could not stop reading this book! (Even with my gag reflex kicking in, lol!) I never could predict how they story was going to end, and I was really surprised by how it did end! Highly recommend!
May 3, 2024
13 year old Joey has his whole life uprooted when his dad loses his job, and they find themselves moving from Chicago to Willow Falls. Joey becomes friends with Len, who tells him all about the local legend of the Eyebiter. Soon, Joey starts hearing voices, and torn up bodies start appearing. Joey is desperate to find out if this creature is real before it's too late.
This was a great read filled with plenty of gore and a supernatural twist. I couldn't put this one down once I started and I really hope there will be a follow up.
This was a great read filled with plenty of gore and a supernatural twist. I couldn't put this one down once I started and I really hope there will be a follow up.
March 18, 2024
Another superb story by Jay Bower! It’s the prequel to his Eyebiter’s Revenge story in the Conservator’s Collection and it’s a doozy! Willow Falls has a secret and when Joey and his family have to move there to live with his Grandma, he gets up close and personal with this secret and bad things happen. I highly recommend picking this up finding out all the bloody details!! I gladly rate this 5 stringy eyeballs!
February 12, 2024
An absolute beast of a tale. Creepy, terrifying and just all around thrilling story.
April 14, 2025
Jay Bower is always releasing great books and this one is no exception. In this one, the reader explores the myth of the 'eyebiter'. A legend that spans from the late 1700s to haunt the humble town of Willow Falls. A young kid Joey hears about the legend of the eyebiter, only to find out he has more to do with the legend than he ever imagined.
The world-building in this one is well done, as Joey goes from the busy streets of Chicago to the quiet town of Willow Falls. I also liked that Jay showed how the legend of the eyebiter came to be by displaying events from the 1700s. The legend of the eyebiter is one Joey gets excited about discovering as he overhears it. However, it will be something he wished he had left alone.
The best part is that there is a second book in the series. I look forward to seeing how the years have passed for Joey after meeting the eyebiter. This is looking like a fun series that I need to finish. The eyebiter gets 5/5 bitten eyes.
As much as I wanted to spoil it, I could not do it. You'll just have to read it for yourself!
The world-building in this one is well done, as Joey goes from the busy streets of Chicago to the quiet town of Willow Falls. I also liked that Jay showed how the legend of the eyebiter came to be by displaying events from the 1700s. The legend of the eyebiter is one Joey gets excited about discovering as he overhears it. However, it will be something he wished he had left alone.
The best part is that there is a second book in the series. I look forward to seeing how the years have passed for Joey after meeting the eyebiter. This is looking like a fun series that I need to finish. The eyebiter gets 5/5 bitten eyes.
As much as I wanted to spoil it, I could not do it. You'll just have to read it for yourself!
March 3, 2025
3 stars but more like 3.5 or 3.75. I listened to the audiobook version.
This was a good, well written coming of age story. Which is why the rating is in the low side. I don’t care for coming of age stories much. Luckily the creature here and the lore behind it are interesting. At first it felt like an adult goosebumps almost but some of the kills are pretty gruesome so I wouldn’t really call it that. Bowyer has some good writing chops but I can’t say he has a distinct voice. I would definitely read more from him in the future.
Joe Hempel did a good job on the audio as well. He has a nice crisp voice that never becomes grating or annoying.
Overall a good book for horror fans of all stripes. Nothing over the top and nothing too underwhelming. Just right there in the middle.
This was a good, well written coming of age story. Which is why the rating is in the low side. I don’t care for coming of age stories much. Luckily the creature here and the lore behind it are interesting. At first it felt like an adult goosebumps almost but some of the kills are pretty gruesome so I wouldn’t really call it that. Bowyer has some good writing chops but I can’t say he has a distinct voice. I would definitely read more from him in the future.
Joe Hempel did a good job on the audio as well. He has a nice crisp voice that never becomes grating or annoying.
Overall a good book for horror fans of all stripes. Nothing over the top and nothing too underwhelming. Just right there in the middle.
May 12, 2024
This is such a great book!!! The story is so intense and exciting! I loved the way the author was so thorough with the story line and imagery! There is horror, gore and suspense throughout the story! I really enjoyed this read!!
Thank you Jay Bower for the ebook to read!
Thank you Jay Bower for the ebook to read!
May 10, 2025
This book definitely went darker than I expected it to! It started out fairly tame, but the violence and gore definitely ramped up as I got into it. There were some pretty gnarly moments. There’s a reason the antagonist is called The Eyebiter! 🤢
I definitely appreciated that a lot of the story concerned thirteen year olds, and they actually spoke and behaved as accordingly. Some of the reveals were pretty much obvious from the moment they were introduced. All in all a decent listen!
I definitely appreciated that a lot of the story concerned thirteen year olds, and they actually spoke and behaved as accordingly. Some of the reveals were pretty much obvious from the moment they were introduced. All in all a decent listen!
September 23, 2024
I had a difficult time trying to figure out if this was juvenile fiction or adult horror. It’s not the first time the protagonist was a young kid (see “It”), but the writing was very uneven. I ended up not enjoying this very much.
March 29, 2025
The Eyebiter is a truly terrifying creature, and after following Joey and Len’s quest for the truth, it’s hard not to become attached to the characters. It’s a fast-paced read, lots of suspense, gore, solid characters, and icky eyeball scenes. If you’re looking for your next great read, this is it!
October 29, 2024
Uh, did the author know all these readers who gave this unoriginal story 5 stars?
What started as what I thought was going to be a really creepy story about this scary and creepy sounding creature called 'The Eyebiter' turns into the most silly and stupid story about an annoying and dumb 13 year old kid, who I was actually WAITING for the eyebiter to eat and take out of this so un scary story. The first half of the book I really liked, except the two timelines, which I thought ruined this book. Then the stupid and silly storyline about the grandmother character was so predictable it could do nothing BUT have the worst ending. I cannot recommend this book to anyone who is over the age of 14.
Not impressed......
2 so whats.
What started as what I thought was going to be a really creepy story about this scary and creepy sounding creature called 'The Eyebiter' turns into the most silly and stupid story about an annoying and dumb 13 year old kid, who I was actually WAITING for the eyebiter to eat and take out of this so un scary story. The first half of the book I really liked, except the two timelines, which I thought ruined this book. Then the stupid and silly storyline about the grandmother character was so predictable it could do nothing BUT have the worst ending. I cannot recommend this book to anyone who is over the age of 14.
Not impressed......
2 so whats.
February 26, 2024
Oh my! What an amazing story! I loved every word of it. Jay Bower has a way with words for sure. I love that he doesn’t spend a lot of time with descriptions and what not and just tells the story. So looking forward to the next piece of the story!
October 22, 2024
Mmmm, 3.8, maybe. But rounded down because of this dumb child and the historically inaccurate ghost.
So!
Pros:
+ gore. So much gore. Great nightmare inducing stuff that's really fun.
+ parents that do care about their kid*
+ great spooky autumnal vibes
+ Pacing is good 👍
+ fun local legend ✨️
Cons:
-- so the gore is presented to ...our 13 year old protagonist. One, I was never sure if this was an adult novel with a child mc, or a book meant for kids that was just gorey. And two, hey KIDS? Hey CHILDREN? The level of gore that these kids see first hand, like stumbles onto a murder scene where the murdee is still dying would be TRAUMATIZING and yet the kids just go to a therapist once a murder and are fine (lol yall if therapy was that efficient 💀) I'm baffled. They mention briefly like yeah I see him when I close my eyes. But I wanted *more*. I wanted to feel the spiders of terror creeping into this kid's mind because I secretly wanted an unreliable narrator and all this to be unreal because
-- I really felt like the town and characters glossed over these murders. Like yall. I know you're "small creepy town with horrifying hollowed history," but come on! The people were just like, yeah, he was mutilated, but jeez, that's just a Tuesday night here. Was the danger that no one cared??
-- *the parents cared to an extent ...like didn't seem to think maybe we should contact other relatives to get out of here. Hey, our kid has been at the scene of like two murders and talks about a girl that doesn't exist and keeps passing out. Is this a period piece of the 80s? Keep him at home. Fucking ask for his homework to be sent home because he dangerously passes out all the time. Wtf.
-- oh and Beth was from the late 1700s, and Joey didn't know she dressed weird?? Yall, my job is making literally making 1760-80s clothes. They dressed different. You'd notice. Can she change clothes?? As a demon ghost?? And she can ride a bike?? A thing that didn't exist until the 1920s?? I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS.
And my big, nah I'm done con was -
Joey literally just let his friend die. Like he watches Len get shredded and hopes he died earlier in the mutilation, so he doesn't feel his eyeball being popped out. Like, I kinda want to go over that part again to double-check, but he just watches. He doesn't get up and attack Sam. His leg? Hurts. Isn't broken or ripped off. He just knocks it on a rock. But he's like oh man my friend is dying. Oh man that sucks. Oh man. And then runs away. And then doesn't tell anyone where Len's body is even though he hears Len's mom crying outside his hospital room.
Nah. Nah nah nah. If Joey wasn't a little shit and tried to save his friend then this would be a 4/ 4.5 for me but. Fuck that kid.
Don't let your friends get savagely murderer by centuries old zombies y'all!
Overall? Honestly, fine! It was enjoyable, but I needed so much to be cleared up and be more defined. I wanted more development and maybe some more research on stuff that's easily found.
So!
Pros:
+ gore. So much gore. Great nightmare inducing stuff that's really fun.
+ parents that do care about their kid*
+ great spooky autumnal vibes
+ Pacing is good 👍
+ fun local legend ✨️
Cons:
-- so the gore is presented to ...our 13 year old protagonist. One, I was never sure if this was an adult novel with a child mc, or a book meant for kids that was just gorey. And two, hey KIDS? Hey CHILDREN? The level of gore that these kids see first hand, like stumbles onto a murder scene where the murdee is still dying would be TRAUMATIZING and yet the kids just go to a therapist once a murder and are fine (lol yall if therapy was that efficient 💀) I'm baffled. They mention briefly like yeah I see him when I close my eyes. But I wanted *more*. I wanted to feel the spiders of terror creeping into this kid's mind because I secretly wanted an unreliable narrator and all this to be unreal because
-- I really felt like the town and characters glossed over these murders. Like yall. I know you're "small creepy town with horrifying hollowed history," but come on! The people were just like, yeah, he was mutilated, but jeez, that's just a Tuesday night here. Was the danger that no one cared??
-- *the parents cared to an extent ...like didn't seem to think maybe we should contact other relatives to get out of here. Hey, our kid has been at the scene of like two murders and talks about a girl that doesn't exist and keeps passing out. Is this a period piece of the 80s? Keep him at home. Fucking ask for his homework to be sent home because he dangerously passes out all the time. Wtf.
-- oh and Beth was from the late 1700s, and Joey didn't know she dressed weird?? Yall, my job is making literally making 1760-80s clothes. They dressed different. You'd notice. Can she change clothes?? As a demon ghost?? And she can ride a bike?? A thing that didn't exist until the 1920s?? I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS.
And my big, nah I'm done con was -
Joey literally just let his friend die. Like he watches Len get shredded and hopes he died earlier in the mutilation, so he doesn't feel his eyeball being popped out. Like, I kinda want to go over that part again to double-check, but he just watches. He doesn't get up and attack Sam. His leg? Hurts. Isn't broken or ripped off. He just knocks it on a rock. But he's like oh man my friend is dying. Oh man that sucks. Oh man. And then runs away. And then doesn't tell anyone where Len's body is even though he hears Len's mom crying outside his hospital room.
Nah. Nah nah nah. If Joey wasn't a little shit and tried to save his friend then this would be a 4/ 4.5 for me but. Fuck that kid.
Don't let your friends get savagely murderer by centuries old zombies y'all!
Overall? Honestly, fine! It was enjoyable, but I needed so much to be cleared up and be more defined. I wanted more development and maybe some more research on stuff that's easily found.
May 6, 2025
The Terror of Willow Falls: An Eyebiter Novel (The Eyebiter Saga Book 1)
by Mr. Jay Bower
Publisher: Shadow Forest Publishing
Release Date: March 26, 2024
Pages: 288
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Dread Factor: 💀💀💀💀💀
Trigger Warnings: Gore, child endangerment, loss, grief, eye trauma (yeah, it lives up to the name)
What Did I Just Walk Into?
Mr. Jay Bower said, “You know what small towns need? Generational trauma, folklore horror, and something that eats your eyeballs,” and honestly? I didn’t ask for that—but I stayed for it. The Terror of Willow Falls is like a haunted Scooby-Doo episode if it were written by Stephen King and then dipped in blood. Thirteen-year-old Joey moves from big city Chicago to rural creep-central Willow Falls, where local legends don’t just whisper… they scream. Add in mysterious fainting spells, ancestral secrets, and a creature literally called Eyebiter, and you’ve got a story that crawls under your skin and sets up camp.
Here’s What Slapped:
• Mr. Jay Bower absolutely nails the small-town horror vibe. You can feel the unease in every chapter.
• Joey is the perfect “reluctant kid hero”—awkward, curious, and just brave enough to survive his own bad ideas.
• The dual timelines add depth without dragging the pace. The past chapters felt like folklore being unearthed in real time.
• The Eyebiter? Creepy as hell. The descriptions are vivid enough to make you blink a little harder every time you read its name.
Okay But Let’s Talk Trash (With Love):
There were a couple of moments where the pacing dipped—not a crawl, more like a “oh, we’re catching our breath before the next nightmare?” Also, Joey’s fainting spells felt a little like a plot button at times. That said, Mr. Jay Bower earns those moments by swinging right back into bloody chaos every time.
Vibe Check:
It’s giving: coming-of-age wrapped in dread, buried family secrets, and a creature feature that’ll have you checking dark corners before bed.
Perfect for Readers Who Love:
📖 Creepy folklore that doesn’t play around
📖 Dual timelines that build dread across generations
📖 Horror from a kid’s POV without watering anything down
📖 Monsters with lore, purpose, and teeth (so many teeth)
📖 Indie horror that punches way above its weight class
Reviewed by Robin’s Review
Series Order:
The Conservator's Collection: Derelict
By Jay Bower, John Durgin and John Lynch
Reintroduced as
Eyebiter's Revenge
The Terror of Willow Falls: An Eyebiter Novel (The Eyebiter Saga Book 1)
Book 1 of 2: The Eyebiter Saga
The Burden of Life: An Eyebiter Novel (The Eyebiter Saga Book 2)
Book 2 of 2: The Eyebiter Saga Releasing May 13, 2025
by Mr. Jay Bower
Publisher: Shadow Forest Publishing
Release Date: March 26, 2024
Pages: 288
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Dread Factor: 💀💀💀💀💀
Trigger Warnings: Gore, child endangerment, loss, grief, eye trauma (yeah, it lives up to the name)
What Did I Just Walk Into?
Mr. Jay Bower said, “You know what small towns need? Generational trauma, folklore horror, and something that eats your eyeballs,” and honestly? I didn’t ask for that—but I stayed for it. The Terror of Willow Falls is like a haunted Scooby-Doo episode if it were written by Stephen King and then dipped in blood. Thirteen-year-old Joey moves from big city Chicago to rural creep-central Willow Falls, where local legends don’t just whisper… they scream. Add in mysterious fainting spells, ancestral secrets, and a creature literally called Eyebiter, and you’ve got a story that crawls under your skin and sets up camp.
Here’s What Slapped:
• Mr. Jay Bower absolutely nails the small-town horror vibe. You can feel the unease in every chapter.
• Joey is the perfect “reluctant kid hero”—awkward, curious, and just brave enough to survive his own bad ideas.
• The dual timelines add depth without dragging the pace. The past chapters felt like folklore being unearthed in real time.
• The Eyebiter? Creepy as hell. The descriptions are vivid enough to make you blink a little harder every time you read its name.
Okay But Let’s Talk Trash (With Love):
There were a couple of moments where the pacing dipped—not a crawl, more like a “oh, we’re catching our breath before the next nightmare?” Also, Joey’s fainting spells felt a little like a plot button at times. That said, Mr. Jay Bower earns those moments by swinging right back into bloody chaos every time.
Vibe Check:
It’s giving: coming-of-age wrapped in dread, buried family secrets, and a creature feature that’ll have you checking dark corners before bed.
Perfect for Readers Who Love:
📖 Creepy folklore that doesn’t play around
📖 Dual timelines that build dread across generations
📖 Horror from a kid’s POV without watering anything down
📖 Monsters with lore, purpose, and teeth (so many teeth)
📖 Indie horror that punches way above its weight class
Reviewed by Robin’s Review
Series Order:
The Conservator's Collection: Derelict
By Jay Bower, John Durgin and John Lynch
Reintroduced as
Eyebiter's Revenge
The Terror of Willow Falls: An Eyebiter Novel (The Eyebiter Saga Book 1)
Book 1 of 2: The Eyebiter Saga
The Burden of Life: An Eyebiter Novel (The Eyebiter Saga Book 2)
Book 2 of 2: The Eyebiter Saga Releasing May 13, 2025
March 3, 2026
"The Terror of Willow Falls" by Jay Bower is a 1980s set coming of age story and the first novel in the Eyebiter trilogy.
This book follows Joey, a 13-year-old boy who moves with his family to the town of Willow Falls to live with his great-grandmother Ruth after Joey's father loses his job. Like many coming of age novels, Joey realizes that the town is not quite as peaceful as it seems. He makes some new friends, Len and Anne, who tell him about the local legend, the cannibalistic Eyebiter, who has haunted the town for almost three hundred years, eating the eyes of its victims. Once Joey arrives in town, he begins to experience blackouts, hears whispers, and has fainting spells. He soon begins to feel that these symptoms are involved with the darkness surrounding the town. As he is exploring his new home, he finds a family journal that reveals the history and link between his bloodline and the origins of the Eyebiter. As the bodies begin to accumulate, Joey thinks that maybe the mythos known as the Eyebiter is actually real. Who will survive and who will parish? Make sure to read the book.
This book was awesome. It is my first book by Bower and does not disappoint. There are shifting time frames that connect the origins of the Eyebiter with Joey in the present. It quickly becomes brutal and there are passages that show the reader the mind of the Eyebiter. Bower does a great job helping the reader become emotionally invested in the characters (including the Eyebiter). I have read so many books where, when describing a scene or scenario, an author will "tell" more than "show". Mr. Bower does a great job with "showing" and making the reader feel part of Joey's world. The only small thing that didn't quite work for me involves Joey's parents. Too frequently, perhaps a bit excessively, Joey's parents call him "son". When I hear the word "son", I think of "male offspring" which is rather impersonal. It makes it feel, at times, that there is a lack of personal connection between Joey and his parents. Beyond this minor piece of feedback, I had a great time reading the beginning of Mr. Bower's trilogy.
If you are looking for a coming of age novel that is descriptive, has a lot of depth, is brutal at times as well as emotional, give this book a read! I am excited to continue the series and see how the story progresses!
This book follows Joey, a 13-year-old boy who moves with his family to the town of Willow Falls to live with his great-grandmother Ruth after Joey's father loses his job. Like many coming of age novels, Joey realizes that the town is not quite as peaceful as it seems. He makes some new friends, Len and Anne, who tell him about the local legend, the cannibalistic Eyebiter, who has haunted the town for almost three hundred years, eating the eyes of its victims. Once Joey arrives in town, he begins to experience blackouts, hears whispers, and has fainting spells. He soon begins to feel that these symptoms are involved with the darkness surrounding the town. As he is exploring his new home, he finds a family journal that reveals the history and link between his bloodline and the origins of the Eyebiter. As the bodies begin to accumulate, Joey thinks that maybe the mythos known as the Eyebiter is actually real. Who will survive and who will parish? Make sure to read the book.
This book was awesome. It is my first book by Bower and does not disappoint. There are shifting time frames that connect the origins of the Eyebiter with Joey in the present. It quickly becomes brutal and there are passages that show the reader the mind of the Eyebiter. Bower does a great job helping the reader become emotionally invested in the characters (including the Eyebiter). I have read so many books where, when describing a scene or scenario, an author will "tell" more than "show". Mr. Bower does a great job with "showing" and making the reader feel part of Joey's world. The only small thing that didn't quite work for me involves Joey's parents. Too frequently, perhaps a bit excessively, Joey's parents call him "son". When I hear the word "son", I think of "male offspring" which is rather impersonal. It makes it feel, at times, that there is a lack of personal connection between Joey and his parents. Beyond this minor piece of feedback, I had a great time reading the beginning of Mr. Bower's trilogy.
If you are looking for a coming of age novel that is descriptive, has a lot of depth, is brutal at times as well as emotional, give this book a read! I am excited to continue the series and see how the story progresses!
February 21, 2025
The Terror of Willow Falls: An Eyebiter Novel by Jay Bower Delivers everything you could want in a fast-paced, action-packed horror novel. It blends classic coming-of-age storytelling with eerie atmospheric horror and plenty of gore, making for an intense and engaging read.
The story follows 13-year-old Joey Speight, who has just been uprooted from Chicago and moved with his parents into his great-grandmother’s house in the seemingly quiet town of Willow Falls. As he struggles with loneliness and adjusting to a new school, he befriends Len and Anne—two kids who may not be entirely what they seem. Meanwhile, a sinister force begins to stir, and eerie occurrences soon escalate into gruesome deaths. As the legend of the Eyebiter resurfaces, Joey and his friends must confront the growing terror before it’s too late.
Bower expertly balances nostalgia, suspense, and horror, crafting a story that evokes the spirit of It by Stephen King while maintaining a distinct voice and vision. His character work is immersive, making Joey and his friends feel authentic and relatable. The town of Willow Falls is richly imagined, and Bower’s ability to weave tension throughout the narrative keeps the reader hooked from start to finish.
I was gifted the audiobook version by Jay Bower, and it was narrated by the ever-talented Joe Hemple. His narration only enhances the experience. Hemple’s ability to bring characters to life and immerse listeners in the story is unmatched—if he narrated a soap bottle, I’d probably listen to it. His performance adds an extra layer of depth to an already gripping tale, making this a must-listen for horror audiobook fans.
With its mix of supernatural horror, small-town dread, and coming-of-age adventure, The Terror of Willow Falls is a thrilling read that will keep you turning the pages (or listening intently) until the very end. Jay Bower has crafted a compelling and eerie tale that horror fans won’t want to miss!
The story follows 13-year-old Joey Speight, who has just been uprooted from Chicago and moved with his parents into his great-grandmother’s house in the seemingly quiet town of Willow Falls. As he struggles with loneliness and adjusting to a new school, he befriends Len and Anne—two kids who may not be entirely what they seem. Meanwhile, a sinister force begins to stir, and eerie occurrences soon escalate into gruesome deaths. As the legend of the Eyebiter resurfaces, Joey and his friends must confront the growing terror before it’s too late.
Bower expertly balances nostalgia, suspense, and horror, crafting a story that evokes the spirit of It by Stephen King while maintaining a distinct voice and vision. His character work is immersive, making Joey and his friends feel authentic and relatable. The town of Willow Falls is richly imagined, and Bower’s ability to weave tension throughout the narrative keeps the reader hooked from start to finish.
I was gifted the audiobook version by Jay Bower, and it was narrated by the ever-talented Joe Hemple. His narration only enhances the experience. Hemple’s ability to bring characters to life and immerse listeners in the story is unmatched—if he narrated a soap bottle, I’d probably listen to it. His performance adds an extra layer of depth to an already gripping tale, making this a must-listen for horror audiobook fans.
With its mix of supernatural horror, small-town dread, and coming-of-age adventure, The Terror of Willow Falls is a thrilling read that will keep you turning the pages (or listening intently) until the very end. Jay Bower has crafted a compelling and eerie tale that horror fans won’t want to miss!
March 23, 2024
If I could give Jay Bower more stars for this book then I would. The story surrounds Joey, his new buddy Len and Ann and their involvement in a local decades old legend. It all starts when Joey’s family moves in with his great grandma Ruth (in small town, USA) and a secret she has kept for many years.
Grandma Ruth offers her home to Joey’s family when his fathers lost his job and money is running short. Was this all a plan to get the family to Willow Falls? Once there, Joey starts experiencing fainting spells and hearing whispering. Is this all connected to the legend??
Jay has written a scary, somewhat bloody and gory story about a creature (the locals call the Eyebiter) and Joey and Len’s curiosity to find it in a cave not far from where Joey lives. This is a story of young boys and their beliefs that they can destroy this creature, if it’s real, save the townsfolk and become heroes. Unfortunately their adventures turn out to be much more ominous and dangerous then expected.
This was definitely a page turner and I wanted to keep on reading even late into the night (keeping the light on obviously)! You can’t go wrong with this one if you like a well written horror. It can be read as a stand-alone however Jay has left the door open for future additions to The Eyebiter saga. Read it if you dare!
Grandma Ruth offers her home to Joey’s family when his fathers lost his job and money is running short. Was this all a plan to get the family to Willow Falls? Once there, Joey starts experiencing fainting spells and hearing whispering. Is this all connected to the legend??
Jay has written a scary, somewhat bloody and gory story about a creature (the locals call the Eyebiter) and Joey and Len’s curiosity to find it in a cave not far from where Joey lives. This is a story of young boys and their beliefs that they can destroy this creature, if it’s real, save the townsfolk and become heroes. Unfortunately their adventures turn out to be much more ominous and dangerous then expected.
This was definitely a page turner and I wanted to keep on reading even late into the night (keeping the light on obviously)! You can’t go wrong with this one if you like a well written horror. It can be read as a stand-alone however Jay has left the door open for future additions to The Eyebiter saga. Read it if you dare!
February 28, 2024
The Terror of Willow Falls is the first book I’ve read by Jay Bower and it definitely won’t be my last. I’ve already bought another book by him!
I’m grateful I was given the opportunity to read an ARC of TOWF. The book grabbed my attention from the beginning and had me on the edge of my seat at times.
Joey and his family relocated to Willow Falls, after his dad lost his job and was unable to find employment. They went to live with Joey’s grandma Ruth, whom he had never met. Joey wasn’t excited about the move, however, he quickly made friends with Len and Anne, two neighborhood kids, which filled his days when he wasn’t in school.
Joey soon learned of the town folklore The Eyebiter…or was it a folklore? There were negative vibes coming from the cave and park. Joey found himself fainting and blacking out in Willow Falls. He had never experienced that before.
What was Grandma Ruth’s story? She didn’t give off the grandmotherly mojo.
Supernatural things were happening in Willow Falls. Were they real? Or were they folklore? Should Joey and Len stay away from the cave? You’ll need to read this book to find out for yourself!
The Terror of Willow Falls will be released on Amazon on March 26th.
I’m grateful I was given the opportunity to read an ARC of TOWF. The book grabbed my attention from the beginning and had me on the edge of my seat at times.
Joey and his family relocated to Willow Falls, after his dad lost his job and was unable to find employment. They went to live with Joey’s grandma Ruth, whom he had never met. Joey wasn’t excited about the move, however, he quickly made friends with Len and Anne, two neighborhood kids, which filled his days when he wasn’t in school.
Joey soon learned of the town folklore The Eyebiter…or was it a folklore? There were negative vibes coming from the cave and park. Joey found himself fainting and blacking out in Willow Falls. He had never experienced that before.
What was Grandma Ruth’s story? She didn’t give off the grandmotherly mojo.
Supernatural things were happening in Willow Falls. Were they real? Or were they folklore? Should Joey and Len stay away from the cave? You’ll need to read this book to find out for yourself!
The Terror of Willow Falls will be released on Amazon on March 26th.
July 28, 2024
I had previously read Bower's novella, Eyebiter's Revenge, so I had an idea of what to expect. This book had plenty of gory, gruesome horror, but not enough to make me quit reading!
Joey and his family have moved to Willow Falls to live with his great grandmother, Ruth. Moving to this small town is quite a change for them since it is so much different than Chicago. Joey quickly makes a couple of friends and they decide to explore the local legend of the Eyebiter. (Bad idea...)
The chapters devoted to Joey are interwoven with chapters about the origin of the Eyebiter legend. The author does a good job with this and the story progresses nicely along both timelines. The ending is vague enough that I could see plenty of sequels coming. This book is part coming of age as Joey discovers things about his family and his new hometown, along with the loss of friends and horrors nobody should ever face. This author has quickly become one of my favorites in the Indie horror world and I always know that I am going to be sucked into his world with each book.
The narrator, Joe Hempel, is one of my favorites, especially in the horror world. He does his usual awesome job with this one.
Joey and his family have moved to Willow Falls to live with his great grandmother, Ruth. Moving to this small town is quite a change for them since it is so much different than Chicago. Joey quickly makes a couple of friends and they decide to explore the local legend of the Eyebiter. (Bad idea...)
The chapters devoted to Joey are interwoven with chapters about the origin of the Eyebiter legend. The author does a good job with this and the story progresses nicely along both timelines. The ending is vague enough that I could see plenty of sequels coming. This book is part coming of age as Joey discovers things about his family and his new hometown, along with the loss of friends and horrors nobody should ever face. This author has quickly become one of my favorites in the Indie horror world and I always know that I am going to be sucked into his world with each book.
The narrator, Joe Hempel, is one of my favorites, especially in the horror world. He does his usual awesome job with this one.
May 18, 2025
A checklist for my kind of horror novel. First, something supernatural in a rural setting. Second, some sort of lore with a long history. Third, the woods at night. Fourth – it takes place in the 1980s.
The Terror of Willow Falls by Jay Bower meets all these requirements. The book did not disappoint.
Joey and his family move to Willow Falls to be live-in caretakers of Grandma Ruth. Joey, a 12-year-old kid, is upset he had to leave his friends in Chicago behind. He meets a couple of kids, Len and Anne. He becomes friends. During this time, strange things are happening that the town knows about. Also, Joey has mysterious blackouts and is hearing things.
The lore of the small town is the Eyebiter – a ravenous, cannibalistic creature that ate its victims. Rumors suggest its been around since the early 1800s, but that’s just superstition, right.
Bowers crafts his prose wonderfully, using good descriptions and storytelling with great characters, story and dialogue that creates a great pace. The tension is palpable, especially towards the end that kept me from putting the book down. My only complaint was that the ending was a bit rushed with an info dump without a fully satisfying resolution. Still, this is a must read if you have a checklist like mine.
The Terror of Willow Falls by Jay Bower meets all these requirements. The book did not disappoint.
Joey and his family move to Willow Falls to be live-in caretakers of Grandma Ruth. Joey, a 12-year-old kid, is upset he had to leave his friends in Chicago behind. He meets a couple of kids, Len and Anne. He becomes friends. During this time, strange things are happening that the town knows about. Also, Joey has mysterious blackouts and is hearing things.
The lore of the small town is the Eyebiter – a ravenous, cannibalistic creature that ate its victims. Rumors suggest its been around since the early 1800s, but that’s just superstition, right.
Bowers crafts his prose wonderfully, using good descriptions and storytelling with great characters, story and dialogue that creates a great pace. The tension is palpable, especially towards the end that kept me from putting the book down. My only complaint was that the ending was a bit rushed with an info dump without a fully satisfying resolution. Still, this is a must read if you have a checklist like mine.
February 26, 2024
The Terror of Willow Falls by Jay Bower
This book was great! Who doesn’t love a good origin story. If you’ve read The Conservator’s Collection, you’ll be familiar with Jay’s story of the Eyebiter (if not why 🤨, and yes I’m definitely judging you for that). Either way, I dont think it will matter what order you read these 2 stories, one will not spoil the other. In the Terror of Willow falls, Jay explores the origins, through past and present day, plus we get a little coming of age storyline as well. He does a great job (I guess 🤢 🤭) with the gory descriptions, they aren’t over the top, just enough to make someone like me a bit queasy. His writing and character development are spot on, and I wasn’t left with any lingering questions other than “when can I expect the next book?”
As a side note, I love the little Easter eggs ?!? Or honorable mentions ?!? that I keep finding in all these books. This book and the previous have tie in mentions and it just makes my heart all dark and fuzzy (maybe that’s mold, I should have that checked out).
Anyway read both books I mentioned, they’re awesome and so much fun.
This book was great! Who doesn’t love a good origin story. If you’ve read The Conservator’s Collection, you’ll be familiar with Jay’s story of the Eyebiter (if not why 🤨, and yes I’m definitely judging you for that). Either way, I dont think it will matter what order you read these 2 stories, one will not spoil the other. In the Terror of Willow falls, Jay explores the origins, through past and present day, plus we get a little coming of age storyline as well. He does a great job (I guess 🤢 🤭) with the gory descriptions, they aren’t over the top, just enough to make someone like me a bit queasy. His writing and character development are spot on, and I wasn’t left with any lingering questions other than “when can I expect the next book?”
As a side note, I love the little Easter eggs ?!? Or honorable mentions ?!? that I keep finding in all these books. This book and the previous have tie in mentions and it just makes my heart all dark and fuzzy (maybe that’s mold, I should have that checked out).
Anyway read both books I mentioned, they’re awesome and so much fun.
February 15, 2025
So I snagged this as an audiobook when I was on a Jay Bower kick, and this was so fucked up.
I didn't think I had a eyeball thing, but I might now, because this eye biter situation, makes my skin crawl.
Joey, I already felt bad for, having to move, when your young, majorly sucks, and it cant feel good knowing how things are going with your dads job, and moving in with a older family member, in a town you don't really know, that's some hell, I used to move around a lot, it sucks.
The whole scene on the school bus, I was like okay this might be serious, I had been thinking like maybe his grandma was going to end up being a crazy murderer or something, but no, this Eye thing is a whole situation, and frankly one that actually is horrifying , I cant wait for more but also don't want to hope for more Eye Biter stories but this was wild and I cant stop thinking about it.
That cave, absolutely not, but here go these kids, and the tension, I could barely breathe in some spaces.
Willow Falls as a fucked up secret, will the kids learn what it is before it gets them, and the others?
I didn't think I had a eyeball thing, but I might now, because this eye biter situation, makes my skin crawl.
Joey, I already felt bad for, having to move, when your young, majorly sucks, and it cant feel good knowing how things are going with your dads job, and moving in with a older family member, in a town you don't really know, that's some hell, I used to move around a lot, it sucks.
The whole scene on the school bus, I was like okay this might be serious, I had been thinking like maybe his grandma was going to end up being a crazy murderer or something, but no, this Eye thing is a whole situation, and frankly one that actually is horrifying , I cant wait for more but also don't want to hope for more Eye Biter stories but this was wild and I cant stop thinking about it.
That cave, absolutely not, but here go these kids, and the tension, I could barely breathe in some spaces.
Willow Falls as a fucked up secret, will the kids learn what it is before it gets them, and the others?
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