Adam Hammond is at home with his wife, Addy, and son, Tate, when the end of the world begins. The sirens that blast from the city below the suburbs are an indication that something is wrong. They are a message that something has changed in the world and their lives will never be the same. Adam and his family watch live TV as a street reporter is murdered by something unseen and they know that whatever is hunting for flesh in those urban blocks will soon arrive in their neighborhood.
It is time to leave their home and head for the mountains, where hopefully, the creatures now roaming the Earth won’t follow. If they don’t escape the suburbs, soon, they will fall victim to the horrible monsters who are coming to their street. Unfortunately, once they arrive at their destination in the Rockies, they realize the monsters have beaten them there, and they come to understand those creatures may not be the worst of their fears. While the monsters, who only come out at night, arrive at their door appearing to be other people, people they know and love, there is another threat brewing. A nearby family, in a cabin like theirs, seems to be evil in their own way, even for people surviving the end of the world. As Adam will come to find, this family may pose a worse threat than the beasts who bury themselves in the ground during daylight.
When an awful incident arises, and Adam seeks justice, he comes to meet someone who needs his help desperately. This person needs him, and he needs her, but she may not be who he believes her to be, and she may present the greatest risk of all.
Night after night, the monsters come to his front door disguised as those he has lost, begging to be let in. They torture him but not nearly as much as the girl he has saved.
In the end, the secret she reveals will devastate him more than anything that came before.
Be prepared. Be ready for the coming dystopian horror and hope you can survive it all. Adam’s ready. If everything goes his way, in the end, he'll still be here. Will you?
Charles Welch has been a home designer and builder, a middle school and high school teacher, education administrator, corporate learning and development professional and writer, previously publishing the spiritual book Walking Softly. His formal education includes a Bachelor of Arts in Social Science Teaching, a Master of Education in Learning and Technology, and an Educational Doctorate in eLearning.
I’m Still Here by Charles Welch is a dystopian horror novel. The story centers on the Hammond family, Addy, Tate and Adam. Overnight Colorado gets over run by fluid like creatures who hunt at night, and can take the shape of a person. Told through the POV of Adam, we embark on a journey about his struggle for survival against these monsters.
The plot of this story was engaging, very reminiscent of other dystopian stories. Adam’s character was likable, choosing to maintain his humanity throughout his ordeals. His character is easy to sympathize with as you read about the immense pressure he feels to protect his family. The pacing felt a little slow at times, but I did enjoy the “reveal” at the end. The story unfortunately leaves you with more questions than answers, but I do appreciate that the author acknowledges this. He leaves the ending up to the readers interpretation, contemplating his return to this universe.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
The synopsis gave me zombie vibes which is honestly what I was looking for. Zombie lovers beware, if you’re looking for a gory brain feeding frenzy, this isn’t the novel. However, very early on in the story you learn a bit about the monsters and, as the story progressed, I was heavily intrigued by their abilities and behaviors.
The story has many twists and turns, leaving you wondering who’s more dangerous: the monsters of the night, or the humans they’re hunting?
I had previously read several of Charles Welch's books, but it had been a while. I remember why I enjoyed reading his other n9vels. I'm going to read the sequel right now.
Excellent read. I really enjoyed the storyline, great characters and fast-paced action. I've already bought book two and am ready to I've in for another marathon read