Demon Seed: A horror novel

by Jason R. Davis

First the nightmare came alive…

Then it killed his father…

Now it is after him…

David was a normal nine year old boy until he watched as a creature born from his own nightmares brutally murdered his father. Now the monster is after him, and it is killing anyone that keeps it from it’s prey.

Genres: Horror

312 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 25, 2025

About the author

Jason R. Davis is an Alumni of Columbia College Chicago who has continued on to be an author, event organizer and filmmaker. He is the founder of The Chicago Horror Film Festival and author of the zombie apocalypse series, "Invisible Spiders." Jason spends much of his time promoting and working to develop independent artists and hosts a weekly podcast, "Shriek Speak." For more information please visit jasonrdavis.net

Reviews

[Kate Victoria RescueandReading · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a scary story! Very, very creepy at first and then escalates to total carnage.

If you liked Josh Malerman’s “Incidents Around the House” then you’ll love “Demon Seed” (and as a bonus you aren’t stuck with a toddler narrator who says Mommy and Daddo constantly!). It starts off with Davey’s fears about the monster in his closet. Then people start dying in horrible ways. Soon, this poor child will learn why these nightmare demonic beings are after him.

“His closet door was open just an inch, but the thing hiding beyond it lay in wait for him. He heard its breathing, the harsh rasps punctuated by a long growl.”

This story does not let up, so buckle in for a crazy journey!

[Bookaholic__Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Demon Seed is definitely creepy!!! This kind of gave me "Incidents around the house vibes," but truthfully, I liked this better! This book had me side eyeing closets and reading with an anxious pit deep in my belly! Yikes!

[Bookishme_lisamarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

That monster in your closet?
It's real.

When you wonder why you feel so different from your loved ones...are they your true family?

Do you have power over your fears? Do you shape them and allow them to grow and take over?

This book was scary, gory, emotional, and bigger than I thought it was going to be. It held me in suspense until the very end and took away any safety nets my mind created, destroying beliefs that anyone was truly safe.

If you're a horror fan, read this. Share it with everyone you know. This author and this book deserve success and our support. I'm impressed and so happy I won a signed copy of this book from the author. I really look forward to reading his other work.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5⭐️

[Angel Medina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book starts off as your classic monster in the closet, but believe me, it becomes much more than that. Imagine this is the same creature you were 'imagining' and it ends up killing your father. That is what happens to young David. The only thing is that it's not a nightmare he can get up from, it's his reality. Despite his best efforts, this monster refuses to leave him alone as the story goes.

You need to read until the end because it throws in quite the monkey wrench that I wasn't expecting. It will be something that will change David forever.

The story starts of slow, but the slow burn is quite rewarding once you get to the intense parts. Trust me, there is plenty of gore, and Jason isn't afraid to show off the good stuff, hehe.

If you love creature horror mixed in with demons, then give this one a read for sure!

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now, this is a HORROR!!!

Wow, the way I was creeped out from the very beginning! This book is exactly what I have been looking for. I don't recommend reading this in the dark. It reminds me of a true horror film a little gory, but hey, I love it!

[Josette Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished this book wondering how I would write a review. Thinking of the right words to describe how this novel made me feel made my head hurt. Right from the opening chapter there is so much blood and gore. I am not much into extreme horror but this novel got my attention because I like books about demons and how they can easily slip into our world and begin to destroy humans. The monsters were something out of my worst horror movies only on testosterone. I felt so awful for David. He could sense that something was after him and he was just trying to hide. He had some great protectors. Then all of a sudden tings changed. The reader realizes the creatures are after David. The shift in the plot was so subtle that I had to go back a few chapters to find where the switch started. Then the real chaos began. I was so enthralled by the writing that before I realized, I was at the epilogue. This book was a really good high octane horror ride that I could not get off until I closed the book.

[Rainbeaux Harvest · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book reminded me as to why I "hate" this type of horror. Who likes reading books with their butt cheeks puckered together? I forgot how much a story like this could get my anxiety doing the Tootsie Roll.

But let's get into the story. David says there's a monster in his closet. Of course, no one believes him until they see it for themselves. And when that happens,it's too late! I thought I knew where it was going with the storyline, but jokes on me! Not Even Close! The ending was not what I expected on my 2025 bingo card

I could have easily finished this book in sitting, but my anxiety had me at peak level. I had to take breaks to chill myself out.

[Ali O · Rating 5 out of 5]

Demon Seed by Jason R. Davis
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This is a fantastic and truly scary horror story!
Who doesn’t love a demon?😈
When David was 9 years old, he witnessed a horrible creature kill his father. This frightening monster turned out to be from his nightmares! After this crazy murder, this creature won’t leave David alone.
The author wrote a very detailed and exciting story, and I was totally hooked! The intensity of the book stayed strong the entire time! Shocking ending too!

Thank you to Jason R. Davis for an arc of this awesome book! I really loved it!!
*It’s out now, so make sure to grab a copy of this wild story!!*

[Haley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow this was a wild ride! I honestly did not know where this story was gonna go…and wow I was not expecting the ending AT ALL! Talk about the shock I felt when I got to THAT part of the ending! Blew me out of the water!

Also, the beginning started off like right away and someone was killed basically within the first chapter! Wow this was a crazy ride, but it was so worth the ride! I feel so bad for the boy especially after the ending! I’m excited to see where their story leads after this one!

If you like horror and demons, then this is the book for you! You will definitely enjoy this!

[Kristen Moran · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book for true horror readers! David starts seeing monsters in his closet, and his father, trying to convince him they are not real, takes him to one of his movie sets. This is where everyone finds out the monsters are real and they are willing to kill anyone to get to David.

David knows there's something wrong with him. Why can he feel what they feel? How can know when they are close? What makes him different from everyone else?

This horror gives you all the spooky vibes you need to continually look into the shadows to check that nothing is lurking from within. Constantly reminding you that spooky season is every season and that monster in your closet just might be real.

[Emily Haynes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nightmares

David has nightmares. But what if his nightmares are real? Something is after David, it is very determined. Pulse pounding read. Are nightmares real?

[Christy Barecky · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read. I enjoyed the horror movie easter eggs sprinkled throughout the book. Get ready for the carnage!

[Stefanie Silvestri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book tells the story of David, a nine-year-old boy who sees monsters are coming out of the dark. His dad tries to prove to him that monsters don't exist, so he takes David to one of his movie sets, where all hell breaks loose and everyone discovers that monsters are real. Soon David will learn that the monsters are after him.
I loved reading this book. The vivid details the author provided, describing both the monster and its vicious attacks on victims, were utterly horrific. This book took me on a wild ride filled with blood and gore as well as an ending that I wasnt expecting.

[Robin Kegg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let me just start by blaming my 4th grade teacher, Mrs. Rogers, for my less-than-glowing review, and add right up front that I enjoyed the story very much! Unfortunately, the author did not have a Mrs. Rogers in his life to hammer some basic rules of grammar into him—specifically subject/verb tense agreement. And just so I don’t come across as a completely hypercritical, evil b*tch, let me just state that it wasn’t by any means a random one-off! I’m an occasional victim of my phone’s Autocorrect often enough to understand that it can happen to anyone! Unfortunately, when you continue to run across errors in spelling or grammar, it yanks you out of the fictional world and makes you overly conscious of the writing itself. And that’s never a good thing! I do not lay this completely on the author, however. Certainly the book was examined by a professional proofreader prior to publication, but I would have a hard time believing it. It’s disappointing to the reader and a disservice to the author. Despite the bobbles, the story itself was entertaining and I would not have any reluctance to read the author’s work again or to recommend it to others—albeit with the caveat that some bumps along the ol’ grammar road will be encountered.

[Mark F · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a review of Demon Seed, by Jason R. Davis, set to release on February 25, 2025. This story starts off with David, a nine-year-old boy having a nightmare. Common enough, until the monster of his nightmares comes to life, causing extraordinary terror and loss to David and his family. But will it stop there? Will those who try to help him succeed, or will they all fall victim to the evil unleashed?

I really enjoyed this book. The story was great, as well as a bit different than anything I’ve read before. There was good character development, and the monsters were described so well that I couldn’t help but see them in my mind’s eye. And when the monsters attacked their victims? Such great detail in that, making it even more terrifying. This is a true horror story.

A slight negative was that I found Clara’s brother, Andy, extremely annoying. Both his personality and his extreme overuse of the word “bruh” had me hoping for his quick demise at the hands of one of the creatures. Hey, monster has to eat, why not feed on someone I find annoying, right? I must confess that perhaps this is due to being the age that I am. 😊

All in all, it’s a great horror story, and I highly recommend it to any horror fan. I rated it a 4 out of 5.

[Jim Donohue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jason R. Davis has taken one of the oldest horror tropes, the ol' "monster in my closet", and turned it on its head, giving us a wonderfully twisted tale of young David, who tries to convince everyone that he's not imagining things. But no one believes him. That is, until they do.
And by then, well, one of David's parents winds up dead.
And that's when the fun begins.
I won't tell you too much so as not to spoil this ride for you, but I will tell you to have fun trying to guess the ending. And what an ending it is!
This book drops at the end of February, and I suggest you gobble it up as soon as it does. As a horror reader of over 50 years, I say kudos to Mr. Davis for breathing new life into an old friend.

[Mieke Janssens · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like how the story jumps right into the action from the very first chapter — no slow buildup, just straight to the good stuff. That said, it took me a little while to really get into it. At first, the characters felt somewhat random, and I found it hard to connect with any of them. But as the plot gained momentum, I became completely absorbed.

Some storylines, however, seemed to fade away without resolution (like the nephews, the film studio, and the aunt), which left me with a few unanswered questions. At one point, the sheer number of different creatures got a bit confusing, though everything eventually tied together nicely. The ending, though — bloody, intense, and thoroughly satisfying — made the ride well worth it.

[Erica smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to finish this book , I got half way through and just couldn't do it anymore . From the beginning more than half the story line is just descriptive words that are pretty much unnecessary. I more often than not found myself reading multiple pages and couldn't take anything in because it just went on and on about nothing in particular. ( descriptive words yet again). The characters annoyed me more than anything especially the mother and I don't know if the cop involved has anything to do with the big picture since I never finished it , but also found that character to be annoying and I didn't care about his story .

[Katlyn Bolingbroke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Boy oh boy this novel can give pet sematary a run for it's money in giving me the heeby geebies while reading. Demon seed is about this young boy named David who has nightmares that come to life and how he goes about handling them. A lot of interesting and scary things happen that make you feel all sorts of creepy vibes. Not going to give to much away here. Definitely a must read this spooky season. I highly recommend reading.

[Yesenia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book’s gripping narrative sent chills down my spine. From the intense pacing to the shocking twist, I was captivated by David’s terrifying ordeal. The author skillfully portrays David’s struggle with the supernatural, questioning the shadows. Each page evoked fear and fascination, keeping me on edge. If you’re ready to confront your fears, this book will stir your emotions and make you question every bump in the night.

[JUNK · Rating 5 out of 5]

came across this author on tiktok and figured i'd give him a try

man from page 1 to the end i was absolutely hooked on this story

the details, imagery and storyline were captivating and nasty!! i loved it

[Amanda Jeppeson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Demon Seed grabbed me from the start with nonstop horror and shocking twists. It’s dark, twisted, and totally gripping, and the ending stuck with me long after I finished. Jason Davis always delivers a horror story you won’t soon forget.