Arctodus

by L.J. Vitanza

It has always lived among us, its existence unknown or long forgotten. After a long and brutal winter, this opportunistic predator has finally awoken. Driven by hunger and forced from its territory in search of food, it leaves Wyoming’s Wind River Range for a small, sleepy town.

Jim Wendell, a Wyoming Game and Fish warden receives the task of taking down the creature that feeds upon the residents of Pine Creek. Soon, he realizes it is not a grizzly bear or an easy assignment. Something massive and more aggressive is stalking the locals. Can Jim track this fierce and elusive predator before it claims its next victim?



ABOUT ARCTODUS

L.J. Vitanza originally published Arctodus in a serialized format on Amazon’s Kindle Vella platform.

Readers chose Arctodus as a Top Faved story on the Kindle Vella platform.

For updates on current works, please follow L.J. Vitanza's Amazon Author Page and L.J. Vitanza on Facebook.

Genres: Horror, Fiction

370 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 5, 2024

About the author

L.J. Vitanza spent her childhood immersed in horror movies like Jaws, Creature From the Black Lagoon, and Alien (yes, she was an odd kid). When L.J. was old enough to read (compelling stories, anyway), authors like Stephen King and Clive Barker filled her head with haunting images, sparking her need to write and create books.

During high school, and unlike her classmates, L.J. turned in pieces about werewolves, the plague, and other terrifying themes. Much to her delight, the creative writing teacher willingly accepted them with a broad smile (she later admitted to loving them).

Adulthood halted any dreams of writing. Work, marriage, family, and friends became a priority. Now older (and wiser, maybe?) with more free time, L.J. has revisited the dream of writing, completing her first novel, Dirus, in only three months. She now publishes her work on Amazon's Kindle Vella platform and Ream, with plans to release many more books worldwide.

L.J. has traveled the world and lived in multiple states, settling in the foothills of a small Wyoming mountain town. This isolated location, surrounded by the eerie and nightly yip of coyotes, inspires and drives her love of writing horror stories. When not writing, reading, or watching horror movies, L.J. enjoys wildlife photography and exploring the isolated trails of the Rockies. She never knows what creatures lurk on the footpaths ahead.

Reviews

[Steve Chaput]

In this book a gigantic type of bear thought extinct begins a killing spree. Characters from the first book appear in secondary roles.

[Jen]

One of the dumbest books I've ever read. I was rooting for the bear to eat everyone.

[Paul Pope]

Not precisely horror, but definitely a high-tension thriller.
Can recommend,

[Codylyn Hazel]

Arctodus by L.J. Vitanza is the kind of book that leaves you looking at the modern world a little differently. There’s something deeply unsettling about its vision—especially the sense that creatures we thought were safely buried in the fossil record might not be as gone as we believe.

Vitanza builds a creeping atmosphere of foreboding, where the return of extinct animals feels less like a miracle and more like a warning. The further the story progresses, the more you get the uncomfortable feeling that these ancient creatures aren’t simply coming back—they’re encroaching. Our roads, neighborhoods, cities, and everyday lives suddenly seem like temporary human territory.

I enjoyed the escalating sense of dread and the way the premise makes extinction feel disturbingly reversible. At times I wanted even more depth in the world-building and consequences, which is why I’m landing at four stars rather than five.

Still, Arctodus has an eerie hook that sticks with you. After reading it, the idea of seeing an extinct animal in the distance doesn’t feel impossible—it feels like the beginning of something we should be very, very afraid of.

[Bob Cantrell]

My first impression of this book this is Jaws without a big shark. Well that is pretty close to true but it was still a good story. It didn't imitate Jaws too much, but how can you have a story like this and not have some of the same tropes. The bear is awesome for the good guys to face. This bear is one of the megafauna that foamed North America many years ago. I liked that angle, because it is in the realm of possibilities. But this is fiction so don't turn out your lights and huddle in the darkness.But should you hear something bump in the night and feel your house shake maybe it is just an earthquake as for me after this story I just inside with the lights out and the covers pulled over my head(even though I don't think this would stop an Arctodus from eating my face off.

[Jessica McBrayer]

Surprisingly good. Best in class!

I love creature horror, but often the writting leaves me unsatisfied. I`m happy i took the chance. I loved the character development of every character, especially the bear. Well chosen and perfectly revealed facts added to my enjoyment. The storyline, plot, details were well Written. last, I selected the book because of the genre, but the final decider was the setting. I lived in Wyoming for 27 years, and Vitanza captured the beauty and magic of the place. I highly recommend this book and have already downloaded the other two books in the series.

[Tamara Dyer]

I really enjoyed this one. It’s several years after the first one but this time it’s a prehistoric bear instead of dire wolves. Some old characters are back and there’s new ones as well. I love how engaging the characters are and I found myself hating some of them (and secretly hoping they became bear chow). This story made me cry, and laugh. I’m now looking forward to the next one. L.J Vitanza has written another great creature survival story. And the narrator does an excellent job with the audio book

[The Drifter]

I loved the simple but engaging narrative. Not an ambitiious plot. The ending, however, seemed hastily written and had some loopholes. How did the bear track Jim's house? Did it follow his scent, when Jim always took a car going around town? What attracted it to enter his house? Was it the burnt bacon? I wish there was some background on the events that led to this final encounter on the POV of the bear. Then, it would have been stronger, more satisfying ending for me.

[K. Mcca]

I read the first book so I really have only myself to blame fornreading this one.. I loved the idea of the story but the execution fell short. I'm not sure if English is this author's first language but even that is a weak excuse in the internet age. The lack of contractions, real character development, or even basic research on weapons terminology makes me want to scream. Weird stilted conversations and odd scenes stand out the most. I'm so happy this was just a free read.

[Marilyn Clark]

Absolutely one of the best books I have read

I have read both books. Once upon started I couldn't stop. I am waiting for the next one. Thank you for a book so professionally written and at the same time literally climbing into the minds of animal and the people involved. Excellent.

[Charles Tucker]

Look For the Bear Necessities!

A well written novel, that displayed a rare glimpse into the creature's or in this case the bear's mind as it ravages the small town and the surrounding forests.

Was reminiscent of the creature features of the 60s and 70s. Think Jaws on land and you won't be too far off.

[Claudia A.]

Very Good

I really liked this book and the main character. The story was well told and believable. This is the second book by this author I have read and was very pleased with how this one played out. Well done, this was a very well written story with unsettling events and lots of heart.

[irv Russell]

A great book to read.

You taken on a journey that involves Park Rangers and town police and issues they have . When people get killed by some kind animal and the local police take in strange direction . They are afraid of scaring everyone tourists are important to the town , this were this go real strange. The author did a great job with the book they keep you wanting more.

[Kim]

I love grizzly bears



Living in Australia we don’t see grizzlies but I am none- the-less fascinated by them. Living in the time period when these particular ones were around must have been harrowing.
My only criticism about this book is that where there is a baby, there must be a mother and father. Perhaps it will appear in the area later?

[Brit (Circus_of_Damed)]

Second in a trilogy, of interconnected standalones with some character overlap. A monster thriller at the core of the novel, but with Ice Age animals. Those elements were well done, however much like the first novel in the trilogy there was unnecessary and oddly placed sexism. The characters also felt one dimensional and stiff.

[Stephanie]

Another great read in this series!! I loved that Dale was one of the MCs since he was in the last book with the dire wolves. I also live that Sam made appearances in this story for a little while!! The predator in this story was creepy!! A huge extinct short faced bear! It was flippin huge!! And it def got around on a murder spree!! So scary!! Cant wait to read more!

[MIKE OKELLEY]

any one who has hunted in the woods, fished in woods, hiked in woods, picnicked in woods, lived in the woods , lived close to woods, been to the zoo, farmed near woods, this book will give you nightmares for a long long time.

[bruce smith]

Loved it

A really good four legged villain, so tome two legged ones too. Jim is a great protagonist, and the bear a real enemy. Really enjoyed it. Looking forward to the other stories. Ok 9

[Susan Slater]

Edge of your seat read !

Wow, this was an intriguing book. I laughed with the characters, and cried with the characters. That's how you know it was a good book, when you share your emotions with characters in your book. Very scary stuff if this bear was brought back! Great book!

[Norm S]

5 Stars

I've read both books in the Predation Series giving both 5 stars but in my opinion this one was the best 5 + stars for this one about a thought extinct Short Faced Bear causing havoc in the town of Pine Creek.

[Cheri Ogg]

It was okay...

It was a decent story as far as man-eating bears go. However, I kept getting distracted by the terrible dialog; that and everyone winking at one another. Glad this book was free.

[wayne peters]

Review of this book.

A super fantastic book. I loved the ending! The book was well thought out and written. The action and drama were top notch. I was on the edge of my chair while reading the ending. The hunting by both the bear and the people was was planned and written.

[Karen Pratt]

Another amazing book! L.J. Vitanza has a way of pulling you into her stories and making you not want to stop reading.
I loved the atmospheric creepiness and the characters. I’ll give no spoilers but I needed some tissues!

[Jane K. Stecker]

An excellent read

This is one of the better horror adventure novels I have read. The short-faced bear really existed. The characters are well drawn and the scenes are completely believable. I intend to read book one of this series next.

[Glenn Berg]

A fast read

Fascinating storytelling! I was easily sucked into the story and the mystery behind what turned out to be a huge beast, he'll bent on killing and consuming whatever prey happened along.
Moving on to the next story.

[Grace Hutson-Miller]

Cool

Very good book but it sucks that although Dale survived the dire wolves in the first book, he was not able to survive the bear attack. But at least his friend partially named his newborn after him.

[Patt Lisenbee]

Arctodus by L. J. Vitanza

The second book in the Predation series.
A new predator! More dangerous than Dire Wolves, it kills humans without fear. Can Jim kill the prehistoric beast before more innocent people die?

[randy kranjec]

Well written adventure

Just a good story set in rural Wyoming. The author had me in Pine Creek with Fish and Game looking for the monster bear. t started slow but picked up and read well as the bear became more aggressive.

[Margaret Lea]

This isn’t the genre I’d usually read, but someone gave me the book, so I read it. The start was a little slow, but by about the fourth chapter I was hooked. It was well written and kept my interest. I liked that the gory parts weren’t super spelled out.

[Christy]

Just wow

Holy Moly! This book kept me wanting to read and kept me guessing at what would happen next!! I was shocked by the ending events, but it made for a great read! Awesome writing!!! On to the third book now :) 😀