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The Hunt
The night brings more than darkness after the Fall. With her fangs bared, Tilla attacks a camp of savages until a mysterious young girl emerges from the wrecked, post-apocalyptic landscape. The Hunt was originally published as Retrograde and won first prize in the 2009 Boutique du Vampyre Short Story Contest.
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First published October 14, 2012
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About the author
J. Thorn
172 books172 followersWant a story that’s rooted in a fundamental aspect of being human?
I believe reading dark fiction can be healing. My overriding mission is to connect with you through my art, and I hope to inspire you to do the same. I’m a word architect and driven visionary. I’m obsessed with heavy metal, horror films and technology. And I admire strong people who are not afraid to speak their mind.
I grew up in an Irish Catholic, working class family and was the first to go to college. I didn’t have expensive toys, so I used my own imagination for entertainment. And then I abused alcohol for entertainment. I spent the first thirty years of my life convincing myself I wasn’t an addict and the last ten worrying about all the potential threats the substances hid from me.
Anxiety and depression are always hiding in the corner, waiting to jump me when I start to feel happiness.
I had to break through family programming and accept the role of the black sheep. In my 30s I started writing horror and formed a heavy metal band while my family rolled their eyes, sighed and waited for the “phase” to end.
I spent years paralyzing myself with self-loathing and criticism, keeping my creativity smothered and hidden from the rest of the world. I worked a job I hated because that’s what Irish Catholic fathers do. They don’t express themselves, they pay the damn mortgage. I may have left my guilt and faith behind long ago, but the scars remain.
My creativity is my release, my therapy and my place to work through it all. I haven’t had a drink in a long time, but the anxiety and depression are always lurking. Writing novels and songs keeps it at bay. I scream over anxiety with my microphone and I turn my guitar up loud enough to drown out the whispers of self-doubt.
I hope to leave a legacy of art that will continue to entertain and enrich lives long after I’m gone. I want others to see that you don’t have to conform to the mainstream to be fulfilled.
Don’t be afraid of the dark. Embrace it.
Experience:
By the end of 2014, J. Thorn will have published over one million words and sold over 100,000 ebooks, worldwide.
J. Thorn is a Top 100 Most Popular Author in Horror, Science Fiction, and Fantasy (Amazon Author Rank). In March of 2014 Thorn held the #5 position in Horror with his childhood idols Dean Koontz and Stephen King at #4 and #2 respectively. He is an official, active member of the Horror Writers Association and a member of the Great Lakes Association of Horror Writers. J. is a contributor to disinformation.com and a staff writer for HeavyPlanet.net as well as a founding board member of the Author Marketing Institute.
Thorn earned a B.A. in American History from the University of Pittsburgh and a M.A. from Duquesne University. He has spent the last twenty years researching mysticism and the occult in colonial American history.
I believe reading dark fiction can be healing. My overriding mission is to connect with you through my art, and I hope to inspire you to do the same. I’m a word architect and driven visionary. I’m obsessed with heavy metal, horror films and technology. And I admire strong people who are not afraid to speak their mind.
I grew up in an Irish Catholic, working class family and was the first to go to college. I didn’t have expensive toys, so I used my own imagination for entertainment. And then I abused alcohol for entertainment. I spent the first thirty years of my life convincing myself I wasn’t an addict and the last ten worrying about all the potential threats the substances hid from me.
Anxiety and depression are always hiding in the corner, waiting to jump me when I start to feel happiness.
I had to break through family programming and accept the role of the black sheep. In my 30s I started writing horror and formed a heavy metal band while my family rolled their eyes, sighed and waited for the “phase” to end.
I spent years paralyzing myself with self-loathing and criticism, keeping my creativity smothered and hidden from the rest of the world. I worked a job I hated because that’s what Irish Catholic fathers do. They don’t express themselves, they pay the damn mortgage. I may have left my guilt and faith behind long ago, but the scars remain.
My creativity is my release, my therapy and my place to work through it all. I haven’t had a drink in a long time, but the anxiety and depression are always lurking. Writing novels and songs keeps it at bay. I scream over anxiety with my microphone and I turn my guitar up loud enough to drown out the whispers of self-doubt.
I hope to leave a legacy of art that will continue to entertain and enrich lives long after I’m gone. I want others to see that you don’t have to conform to the mainstream to be fulfilled.
Don’t be afraid of the dark. Embrace it.
Experience:
By the end of 2014, J. Thorn will have published over one million words and sold over 100,000 ebooks, worldwide.
J. Thorn is a Top 100 Most Popular Author in Horror, Science Fiction, and Fantasy (Amazon Author Rank). In March of 2014 Thorn held the #5 position in Horror with his childhood idols Dean Koontz and Stephen King at #4 and #2 respectively. He is an official, active member of the Horror Writers Association and a member of the Great Lakes Association of Horror Writers. J. is a contributor to disinformation.com and a staff writer for HeavyPlanet.net as well as a founding board member of the Author Marketing Institute.
Thorn earned a B.A. in American History from the University of Pittsburgh and a M.A. from Duquesne University. He has spent the last twenty years researching mysticism and the occult in colonial American history.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 25, 2014
This is the second book I've read by the author. On the plus side, the author is a good storyteller who sets the scene, ramps up the tension and develops the plot nicely. I have no issues with his writing skill or ability as an author.
This story just didn't really appeal to me. It has a dystopian fantasy kind of feel about it and it has vampires so I would have expected to like it but for some reason it just didn't appeal to me. I'm not really sure why. I guess I didn't really connect to the characters or plot. Still I guess we can't like everything we read. I'm going to give this poor author a break and not review anything else he writes!
If you like vampires, don't let my rating put you off as this story has won horror awards. Give it a go and decide for yourself.
This story just didn't really appeal to me. It has a dystopian fantasy kind of feel about it and it has vampires so I would have expected to like it but for some reason it just didn't appeal to me. I'm not really sure why. I guess I didn't really connect to the characters or plot. Still I guess we can't like everything we read. I'm going to give this poor author a break and not review anything else he writes!
If you like vampires, don't let my rating put you off as this story has won horror awards. Give it a go and decide for yourself.
February 15, 2017
Not quite a 4, but more than a 3.
A flash horror with a beginning, middle, and end. Yet the characters are like puppets. Or props. Connected to its surroundings, but not to the reader.
Because the story, overall, is developed and well written, I'm definitely looking up more of this author's works!
A flash horror with a beginning, middle, and end. Yet the characters are like puppets. Or props. Connected to its surroundings, but not to the reader.
Because the story, overall, is developed and well written, I'm definitely looking up more of this author's works!
September 19, 2014
I gather from "The Hunt" that I will spend much time in the future enjoying the works of J Thorn. This short story combines a lot of elements that vampire fiction fans tend to find appealing - the fall of man, the apocalypse, and of course, vampirism.
Thorn has a way with words which separates him from many authors in the genre. He combines lucid, dark description with a dose of simile to produce a flowing prose. You will sink your teeth into it.
Many good stories end with a twist, and though I don't wish to spoil the story for anyone, there is a good twist here, too.
Excellent work, and highly recommended.
Thorn has a way with words which separates him from many authors in the genre. He combines lucid, dark description with a dose of simile to produce a flowing prose. You will sink your teeth into it.
Many good stories end with a twist, and though I don't wish to spoil the story for anyone, there is a good twist here, too.
Excellent work, and highly recommended.
June 26, 2016
Just finished reading "The Hunt", by J. Thorn. A chilling vampire short story. This is my first read by this author. If this little gem is any indication of his other work he has a fan in me. I was actually read along with the author's reading of the book and found his storytelling very compelling. Loved it.
Overview: The night brings more than darkness after the Fall. With her fangs bared, Tilla attacks a camp of savages until a mysterious young girl emerges from the wrecked, post-apocalyptic landscape. The Hunt was originally published as Retrograde and won first prize in the 2009 Boutique du Vampyre Short Story Contest.
Overview: The night brings more than darkness after the Fall. With her fangs bared, Tilla attacks a camp of savages until a mysterious young girl emerges from the wrecked, post-apocalyptic landscape. The Hunt was originally published as Retrograde and won first prize in the 2009 Boutique du Vampyre Short Story Contest.
October 16, 2012
Disclosure: This short story was included in a free edition of two of J. Thorn's novellas, in which it was called "Retrograde". I read it in the Preta's Realm novella, review linked here.
Synopsis: A short story featuring a vampire, a little girl, savages and what happens when two worlds collide.
My thoughts: Bonus Short Story Retrograde: Chilling, beautifully evocative, with an ending that made me say "uh-oh." Wonderful.
Short but sweet - highly recommended.
Synopsis: A short story featuring a vampire, a little girl, savages and what happens when two worlds collide.
My thoughts: Bonus Short Story Retrograde: Chilling, beautifully evocative, with an ending that made me say "uh-oh." Wonderful.
Short but sweet - highly recommended.
October 22, 2012
The Hunt turned out to be quite a read...an impactful short story both diabolical and clever. I really loved it because it was so well-written and the ending was....well provocative. Treat yourself to J.Thorn soon.
November 7, 2012
This was a pretty short story about a vampire, Tilla, after the end of the world. She is one of the few of both vampires and people left. The story was mildly gruesome and had a chilling ending. It was ok. 2 stars.
November 23, 2015
A well written story seen from various viewpoints. An interesting take on old stories that will pull you in, and leave you wanting more. Very atmospheric, haunting and bloody - love it!
Short and sweet, but very neat!
Short and sweet, but very neat!
January 9, 2017
It's not a bad story there was something, I have saw with my eyes a bad story and I know what's a bad story. The story "The Hunt" was kind of dry, it could be better, even the words were kind of odd.
February 22, 2013
This was an interesting short story, good for a one time read. If you like horror with ambiguous type endings, this is for you. Otherwise, skip it.
February 6, 2015
awesome short read
J. Thorn doesn't disappoint. This was an awesome story. Definitely recommended if you're looking for a quick and dark fright.
J. Thorn doesn't disappoint. This was an awesome story. Definitely recommended if you're looking for a quick and dark fright.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews