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It Came from the Floodwaters
"So you're like a vampire? All we have to do is survive until morning?"
Silence settled over the apartment as everyone processed this. The Elder "You won't."
Tam is alone in their Savannah apartment when a hurricane blows in.
Rain falls, streets flood. When water comes pouring into the building's lobby, it brings with it an old pine box.
Inside that box is something ancient, something evil. It arises, and it begins its feast.
Now as people are dying, the survivors gather together in one small apartment, desperate to live through the storm and live through the night.
But the evil lurks right outside their door. It's hungry, it's patient, and it has all night long to kill every last one of them.
Silence settled over the apartment as everyone processed this. The Elder "You won't."
Tam is alone in their Savannah apartment when a hurricane blows in.
Rain falls, streets flood. When water comes pouring into the building's lobby, it brings with it an old pine box.
Inside that box is something ancient, something evil. It arises, and it begins its feast.
Now as people are dying, the survivors gather together in one small apartment, desperate to live through the storm and live through the night.
But the evil lurks right outside their door. It's hungry, it's patient, and it has all night long to kill every last one of them.
139 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 13, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
February 9, 2026
Huge thanks to the author for sending me an arc of It Came From The Floodwaters in exchange for an honest review! This novella comes out March 13th and I cannot recommend it more!!!
I had such a blast reading this!!! The atmosphere in this is so tense and eerie, made even more intense by reading it during a storm - highly recommend doing so yourself!! I had genuine chills at one point because everything added together to give me a right spookin’!
And when I tell you it’s not just a vampire novella, it’s an Eldritch-style vampire!! Get out of TOWN!!! I loved it!! So creepy, and malevolent!! So sinister!! No notes, except Seann - prequel?? Sequel??? Anything more??? Please 🥹
I think the real measure of a horror story in any medium is how it conveys it’s societal message - as all the best horrors are really about the actual world - and I really, really loved the exploration and discussion around personal identity in this; from gender and sexual identity, to the emotional fulfillment of kink lifestyles, it was respectfully and beautifully done.
Tam is a great main character, and I loved Britt so damn much!! The characters are all so wildly different and from such an array of backgrounds, and they read so very real; the writing is very well done here! I slipped into the world so quickly too, which you need with a novella!
I could go on and on about how much I enjoyed this and why, so how about March 13th you get this, read it, and we can chat away about it, whatdya say? 😉 😘
I had such a blast reading this!!! The atmosphere in this is so tense and eerie, made even more intense by reading it during a storm - highly recommend doing so yourself!! I had genuine chills at one point because everything added together to give me a right spookin’!
And when I tell you it’s not just a vampire novella, it’s an Eldritch-style vampire!! Get out of TOWN!!! I loved it!! So creepy, and malevolent!! So sinister!! No notes, except Seann - prequel?? Sequel??? Anything more??? Please 🥹
I think the real measure of a horror story in any medium is how it conveys it’s societal message - as all the best horrors are really about the actual world - and I really, really loved the exploration and discussion around personal identity in this; from gender and sexual identity, to the emotional fulfillment of kink lifestyles, it was respectfully and beautifully done.
Tam is a great main character, and I loved Britt so damn much!! The characters are all so wildly different and from such an array of backgrounds, and they read so very real; the writing is very well done here! I slipped into the world so quickly too, which you need with a novella!
I could go on and on about how much I enjoyed this and why, so how about March 13th you get this, read it, and we can chat away about it, whatdya say? 😉 😘
February 11, 2026
Since WHEN can a vampire just enter of its own accord?
Enter scene, we find Tam, our NMC, that’s right, NONBINARY main character, moping about their apartment, daydreaming about being anywhere but alone during the treacherous hurricane occurring outside.
You see Tam is polyamorous, and has a few partners, but one in particular, Heather, is their main partner that they live in the apartment with. And Heather doesn’t like it when their home is left unattended. After all, someone has to be around to make sure their non-existent pets don’t go hungry…
Anyway, as Tam is busy being melancholy, some of the other tenants of the building are experiencing the nightmare of all nightmares, and it starts when one of them finds that the lower floor lobby of the building is flooded, and they are all trapped.
Not only that, but out from the depths of the floodwaters, a long, plain wooden box that is suspiciously the size of a coffin floats its way to the surface, and someone… or something… is knocking from the inside of it.
When some would be hero pries open the box, it unleashes hell upon the rest of the building, and Tam, along with a very stereotypical rag tag crew of other tenants, just have to survive the night without getting caught up in the darkness of The Elder.
This book was fun, campy, and cinematic. It read like I was watching a movie.
A very different take on the usual lore surrounding vampirism, but we love a bit of creativity to give a little spin to an existing concept.
The book was short, coming in at 139 pages, so not a huge amount of room for character development, but I think Tam’s story was nicely well rounded. The other characters were definitely mostly cookie cutter stereotypes, but I think it worked for what the author was going for.
Enter scene, we find Tam, our NMC, that’s right, NONBINARY main character, moping about their apartment, daydreaming about being anywhere but alone during the treacherous hurricane occurring outside.
You see Tam is polyamorous, and has a few partners, but one in particular, Heather, is their main partner that they live in the apartment with. And Heather doesn’t like it when their home is left unattended. After all, someone has to be around to make sure their non-existent pets don’t go hungry…
Anyway, as Tam is busy being melancholy, some of the other tenants of the building are experiencing the nightmare of all nightmares, and it starts when one of them finds that the lower floor lobby of the building is flooded, and they are all trapped.
Not only that, but out from the depths of the floodwaters, a long, plain wooden box that is suspiciously the size of a coffin floats its way to the surface, and someone… or something… is knocking from the inside of it.
When some would be hero pries open the box, it unleashes hell upon the rest of the building, and Tam, along with a very stereotypical rag tag crew of other tenants, just have to survive the night without getting caught up in the darkness of The Elder.
This book was fun, campy, and cinematic. It read like I was watching a movie.
A very different take on the usual lore surrounding vampirism, but we love a bit of creativity to give a little spin to an existing concept.
The book was short, coming in at 139 pages, so not a huge amount of room for character development, but I think Tam’s story was nicely well rounded. The other characters were definitely mostly cookie cutter stereotypes, but I think it worked for what the author was going for.
March 1, 2026
3.5
This is my third Seann Barbour read, and at this point I can confidently say I’m really enjoying his style. He has a knack for writing fast, campy, horror that doesn’t take forever to get to the chaos.
Set over the course of a single hurricane soaked night, this novella wastes no time. The survival horror kicks in quickly with flooded streets, a dark apartment building, rising water, and something ancient crawling out of a pine box. The contained setting gives it that claustrophobic tension. It honestly gave me Evil Dead Rise vibes.
The atmosphere works well. You can feel the damp and the darkness. The shifting POVs help build the sense of panic among the survivors, and for the most part, they fit the story. I will say, with so many characters and so much going on, I do think this concept might have benefited from a full novel length. There’s enough meat here, emotionally and monstrously, that I would’ve loved more room to breathe.
Overall, it’s a fast, fun, bloody night of queer survival horror with a solid sense of dread.
This is my third Seann Barbour read, and at this point I can confidently say I’m really enjoying his style. He has a knack for writing fast, campy, horror that doesn’t take forever to get to the chaos.
Set over the course of a single hurricane soaked night, this novella wastes no time. The survival horror kicks in quickly with flooded streets, a dark apartment building, rising water, and something ancient crawling out of a pine box. The contained setting gives it that claustrophobic tension. It honestly gave me Evil Dead Rise vibes.
The atmosphere works well. You can feel the damp and the darkness. The shifting POVs help build the sense of panic among the survivors, and for the most part, they fit the story. I will say, with so many characters and so much going on, I do think this concept might have benefited from a full novel length. There’s enough meat here, emotionally and monstrously, that I would’ve loved more room to breathe.
Overall, it’s a fast, fun, bloody night of queer survival horror with a solid sense of dread.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to the author for the copy for review.
Residents are trapped in an apartment building in Savannah during a hurricane that has knocked out the power and flooded the main floor. Unfortunately, the floodwaters have also swept in a coffin holding an ancient hungry horror. A group of survivors need to band together to survive the night.
As if being trapped in a flooded apartment building wasn't scary enough this book adds a vampire into the mix. The isolated setting really adds to the tension. The characters are all very different and forced to work together in an attempt to survive. The clash of personalities under stress is very interesting to read. The most interesting character is Tam who is nonbinary and polyamorous. Their is a slight unique flair to the vampire lore in this book, but the main creature is very recognizably vampire. This quick novella is just over 100 pages and packs a punch. I do wish a few more pages were spent on character building and the ending. I recommend this read to fans of creature features, vampires, and isolated settings.
Residents are trapped in an apartment building in Savannah during a hurricane that has knocked out the power and flooded the main floor. Unfortunately, the floodwaters have also swept in a coffin holding an ancient hungry horror. A group of survivors need to band together to survive the night.
As if being trapped in a flooded apartment building wasn't scary enough this book adds a vampire into the mix. The isolated setting really adds to the tension. The characters are all very different and forced to work together in an attempt to survive. The clash of personalities under stress is very interesting to read. The most interesting character is Tam who is nonbinary and polyamorous. Their is a slight unique flair to the vampire lore in this book, but the main creature is very recognizably vampire. This quick novella is just over 100 pages and packs a punch. I do wish a few more pages were spent on character building and the ending. I recommend this read to fans of creature features, vampires, and isolated settings.
March 3, 2026
A flooded building, beings coming from the water, and a group of neighbours trying to find out what’s happening.
It Came from the Floodwaters is almost like Rec meets the Strain, where the residents take centre stage.
For me, this book is all about the characters, their differences, their background stories, their struggles, and of course, the mesmerising beings that dig deep into one’s hopes and dreams.
All told in a quick pace, with short chapters that grab your attention beginning to end.
If you’re into inclusive books with character development, classical monsters (ish), and the supernatural, I will recommend you to take a look at this book.
This review and more here:
Instagram | Tiktok | Youtube
It Came from the Floodwaters is almost like Rec meets the Strain, where the residents take centre stage.
For me, this book is all about the characters, their differences, their background stories, their struggles, and of course, the mesmerising beings that dig deep into one’s hopes and dreams.
All told in a quick pace, with short chapters that grab your attention beginning to end.
If you’re into inclusive books with character development, classical monsters (ish), and the supernatural, I will recommend you to take a look at this book.
This review and more here:
Instagram | Tiktok | Youtube
December 7, 2025
Thank you to the author for an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) of this novella in exchange for an honest review. At the time of writing, It Came From The Floodwaters is due out March 13th, 2026. It is available for digital preorder on Kindle, Apple Books, Thalia and more.
It Came From The Floodwaters is a multi-POV and wonderfully queer survival story told over the course of a night. Literally no character we meet is safe from a grizzly demise (which I always love) and the book is fast-paced and quickly gets stuck into the premise.
The great cast of characters is well developed considering the length of the book. I appreciated the injection of diversity, as queerness and horror go hand-in-hand, though it was the toxic male perspective that was the most interesting to experience the story through. The story has a lot of fun with monster survival horror tropes but does little to subvert or elevate them. I think a novella was the right choice for this story, but it would benefit from another 20-ish pages to better explore the connection between the main character’s identity and the antagonist.
Overall, a quick and easy read that was a fun time. My main critique would be that there’s nothing particularly memorable or unique. I doubt I will think of this again or find a reason to recommend it over other horror novellas. I would be interested in reading more from this author, however, especially if they tackled a novel-length horror story.
3.5/5 stars
It Came From The Floodwaters is a multi-POV and wonderfully queer survival story told over the course of a night. Literally no character we meet is safe from a grizzly demise (which I always love) and the book is fast-paced and quickly gets stuck into the premise.
The great cast of characters is well developed considering the length of the book. I appreciated the injection of diversity, as queerness and horror go hand-in-hand, though it was the toxic male perspective that was the most interesting to experience the story through. The story has a lot of fun with monster survival horror tropes but does little to subvert or elevate them. I think a novella was the right choice for this story, but it would benefit from another 20-ish pages to better explore the connection between the main character’s identity and the antagonist.
Overall, a quick and easy read that was a fun time. My main critique would be that there’s nothing particularly memorable or unique. I doubt I will think of this again or find a reason to recommend it over other horror novellas. I would be interested in reading more from this author, however, especially if they tackled a novel-length horror story.
3.5/5 stars
January 26, 2026
3.5⭐️
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review
It Came from the Floodwaters is a fast, atmospheric horror novella that wastes no time getting to the chaos.
A group of apartment residents are trapped inside their building during a violent storm that knocks out the power and floods the lobby — and then something ancient arrives with the water. What follows is a claustrophobic fight for survival as the building becomes a battleground.
Barbour does a great job giving each character a distinct personality, which made it easy to follow a large cast even in a short page count. The setting is especially effective — the flooded, darkened apartment building adds to the tension and sense of isolation, and the story moves at a brisk, cinematic pace.
My only small gripe is that I wanted more: more history behind the antagonist, and a bit more space to let the ending breathe. The story leaves some questions unanswered, which will work for some readers, but I personally would’ve loved a little extra flesh on the bones.
That said, this is a fun, quick horror read with strong atmosphere and a great premise, and I’ll absolutely be checking out more from Seann Barbour in the future.
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review
It Came from the Floodwaters is a fast, atmospheric horror novella that wastes no time getting to the chaos.
A group of apartment residents are trapped inside their building during a violent storm that knocks out the power and floods the lobby — and then something ancient arrives with the water. What follows is a claustrophobic fight for survival as the building becomes a battleground.
Barbour does a great job giving each character a distinct personality, which made it easy to follow a large cast even in a short page count. The setting is especially effective — the flooded, darkened apartment building adds to the tension and sense of isolation, and the story moves at a brisk, cinematic pace.
My only small gripe is that I wanted more: more history behind the antagonist, and a bit more space to let the ending breathe. The story leaves some questions unanswered, which will work for some readers, but I personally would’ve loved a little extra flesh on the bones.
That said, this is a fun, quick horror read with strong atmosphere and a great premise, and I’ll absolutely be checking out more from Seann Barbour in the future.
December 4, 2025
It Came From the Floodwaters is a gripping, pulse-tightening plunge into creature horror at its most atmospheric. Seann Barbour creates a world where rising waters don’t just threaten homes,they threaten humanity itself. The dread is slow-building yet explosive, creeping in through every ripple, shadow, and bubbling surface.
The creature at the core of this story is unforgettable. Barbour balances vivid, cinematic horror with grounded human emotion, making the terror hit even harder. The pacing stays tight, the stakes rise quickly, and the tension never lets up.
If you enjoy horror that feels both classic and fresh—something that blends folklore with environmental fear—this is an absolute standout.
A must-read for fans of creature features, eerie landscapes, and stories that linger long after the final page.
March 16, 2026
“It Came From the Floodwaters” is a novella that will have you looking at vampire lore through a new lens. In only 139 pages, the story is told well through excellent pacing and ample character development, a feat that is often hard to accomplish with a shorter page count. With an intriguing setting and diverse cast of characters, I was pulled in immediately. I especially loved the representation in our main character, Tam, who is BIPOC, nonbinary, and in a poly relationship! The characters are truly the heart of this story, making it quite the enjoyable read!
❗️Content warnings: animal harm / death, body horror
Thank you to Seann Barbour for a ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
❗️Content warnings: animal harm / death, body horror
Thank you to Seann Barbour for a ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
February 6, 2026
This creepy novella was such a fun read! Part vampire, part zombie, part locked in horror and the perfect amount of darkness. I enjoyed following this motley crew of characters trying to survive being trapped in an apartment building during a hurricane, trying to survive the night as the floodwaters and body counts rise. The atmosphere is suffocating and the “creatures” were so perfectly terrifying and unique in a way that will keep me thinking about this one for a long time.
Many thanks to the author for the opportunity to read the arc in exchange for an honest review!
Many thanks to the author for the opportunity to read the arc in exchange for an honest review!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Disclaimer: I received an e-ARC from the author.
A flood caused by a hurricane carries an old box inside the lobby of an apartment building. With it comes a hungry creature, who plans to use tonight to feast. The first few people are soon picked off, their bodies turned into puppets for the creature, and Tam finds themself trapped in an apartment with their next-door and upstairs neighbors. As tension rises inside the apartment and the creature waits patiently outside the door, they need to find a way to survive until morning.
Part creeping vampire horror, part zombie flick, part trans polyamory drama, this novella is a short, fun and tense read. I really loved Tam’s POV and how their experiences with gender and the creature were shown, although I would have loved if the story had gone into more detail with Tam’s & the creatures connection, as that was my favorite part (as a fellow nonbinary monster-relater here :D), but what was there was delightfully messy and creepy and enjoyable. I also really loved the way the creature was described, it was terrifying and felt truly powerful and inescapable in the best way.
If you enjoy short, creepy novellas that explore the ways people can clash during times of crisis and why as well as a really fun take on vampires, you should check this out. At points, the side characters could have been explored in more detail, but the way atmosphere is built and tension is held is incredibly well done and I had a lot of fun reading this.
TW: death, grief, lesbophobia, misgendering, mentions of sexual assault, murder, sexism, transphobia, violence
A flood caused by a hurricane carries an old box inside the lobby of an apartment building. With it comes a hungry creature, who plans to use tonight to feast. The first few people are soon picked off, their bodies turned into puppets for the creature, and Tam finds themself trapped in an apartment with their next-door and upstairs neighbors. As tension rises inside the apartment and the creature waits patiently outside the door, they need to find a way to survive until morning.
Part creeping vampire horror, part zombie flick, part trans polyamory drama, this novella is a short, fun and tense read. I really loved Tam’s POV and how their experiences with gender and the creature were shown, although I would have loved if the story had gone into more detail with Tam’s & the creatures connection, as that was my favorite part (as a fellow nonbinary monster-relater here :D), but what was there was delightfully messy and creepy and enjoyable. I also really loved the way the creature was described, it was terrifying and felt truly powerful and inescapable in the best way.
If you enjoy short, creepy novellas that explore the ways people can clash during times of crisis and why as well as a really fun take on vampires, you should check this out. At points, the side characters could have been explored in more detail, but the way atmosphere is built and tension is held is incredibly well done and I had a lot of fun reading this.
TW: death, grief, lesbophobia, misgendering, mentions of sexual assault, murder, sexism, transphobia, violence
Review of advance copy received from Author
I am never disappointed by Seánn’s wildly creative take on classic horror themes, and It Came from the Floodwaters was no exception.
As someone who has lived through hurricanes my whole life, I can say there is nothing that sets the stage for horror better than terrible weather, storm surges, power outages, and that awful feeling of being trapped in a situation far beyond your control. The setup for this story was perfect, dark, tense, and full of creeping dread.
I really enjoyed getting to know the cast of characters scattered throughout the building. The forced proximity added its own kind of discomfort, especially in a world where so many of us barely know our neighbors anymore. That tension worked well for me and made the story feel even more claustrophobic.
Overall, I did enjoy this novella. My biggest challenge was reconciling the heavy sexual themes woven throughout the book. I do not mind those details here and there, but against the backdrop of such a horrific event, it sometimes pulled me out of the story. That disconnect made it a little harder for me to stay fully immersed. That said, I still appreciated the creativity quite a bit. And I found the take on vampires especially interesting because it challenged some of my own expectations about what vampire stories usually are. Even when it did not fully land for me, it was still doing something fresh, strange, and memorable, which is something I have come to expect from Seánn’s work.
I appreciate the opportunity to read and review.
As someone who has lived through hurricanes my whole life, I can say there is nothing that sets the stage for horror better than terrible weather, storm surges, power outages, and that awful feeling of being trapped in a situation far beyond your control. The setup for this story was perfect, dark, tense, and full of creeping dread.
I really enjoyed getting to know the cast of characters scattered throughout the building. The forced proximity added its own kind of discomfort, especially in a world where so many of us barely know our neighbors anymore. That tension worked well for me and made the story feel even more claustrophobic.
Overall, I did enjoy this novella. My biggest challenge was reconciling the heavy sexual themes woven throughout the book. I do not mind those details here and there, but against the backdrop of such a horrific event, it sometimes pulled me out of the story. That disconnect made it a little harder for me to stay fully immersed. That said, I still appreciated the creativity quite a bit. And I found the take on vampires especially interesting because it challenged some of my own expectations about what vampire stories usually are. Even when it did not fully land for me, it was still doing something fresh, strange, and memorable, which is something I have come to expect from Seánn’s work.
I appreciate the opportunity to read and review.
December 5, 2025
This novella is a nasty little story about a decidedly frightening vampire and the a terrifying night trying to stay alive.
A savage storm rips through Savannah Georgia and floods the streets and, unfortunately, floods the lobby if an apartment building, leaving the residents trapped inside. But something came with the flood. Something ancient, horrific, and extremely hungry.
As it eats its way through the building in the course of a single night, a rag tag varied group are holed up in one apartment while the vampiric creature turns its victims into undead slaves. Even if the survivors can last until daybreak, they might not be able to survive each other as tensions run high.
The setting of this book gives off those creepy claustrophobic vibes and the vampire in question is truly a terrifying one. There's nothing sparkly or romantic about it.
The characters are vastly different and well written. A non-binary, a couple of younger dudes who love video games, a woman who's boyfriend has become part of the undead horde, and a conservative gun nut type who kinda detests them all. This leads to a lot of friction as they're all locked in the same apartment together trying to survive.
It won't take you long to read but it'll still give you all those dread filled feelings. I highly recommend it. I received a copy of this book from the author. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.
A savage storm rips through Savannah Georgia and floods the streets and, unfortunately, floods the lobby if an apartment building, leaving the residents trapped inside. But something came with the flood. Something ancient, horrific, and extremely hungry.
As it eats its way through the building in the course of a single night, a rag tag varied group are holed up in one apartment while the vampiric creature turns its victims into undead slaves. Even if the survivors can last until daybreak, they might not be able to survive each other as tensions run high.
The setting of this book gives off those creepy claustrophobic vibes and the vampire in question is truly a terrifying one. There's nothing sparkly or romantic about it.
The characters are vastly different and well written. A non-binary, a couple of younger dudes who love video games, a woman who's boyfriend has become part of the undead horde, and a conservative gun nut type who kinda detests them all. This leads to a lot of friction as they're all locked in the same apartment together trying to survive.
It won't take you long to read but it'll still give you all those dread filled feelings. I highly recommend it. I received a copy of this book from the author. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received this book from the author in exchange for a fair review.
An action-packed horror novella, It Came from the Floodwaters is like Evil Dead meets Vampires.
This is a very quick read that is very fun. We mainly follow Tam, but the story gives us glimpses into the points of view of some other characters, all of which have distinct voices. While I don’t think the book should have been a full novel, a couple more scenes with the core group of survivors, or perhaps one other character, would have been great. I love a disparate group survival situation, and I could have used a bit more of them together.
Aspects of some characters were handled in a sort of tongue-in-cheek critique way, which was well done, as while there was a clear stance, it wasn’t an agenda (which is hard to pull off!). I loved the non-binary representation and how the vampire situation was a mirror to Tam’s emotional/romantic situation. This book, despite being on the surface an Eldritch vampire slasher, isn’t just a vampire slasher with disposable characters (though there is of course some cannon fodder along the way).
That being said, though I’m not sure how it could have been discovered, a bit more lore or history on the vampire would have made this 5-stars for me.
Yet, if you’re looking for a fast, fun, queer, vampire story that’s bloody, a bit funny, and quick-paced, check it out!
An action-packed horror novella, It Came from the Floodwaters is like Evil Dead meets Vampires.
This is a very quick read that is very fun. We mainly follow Tam, but the story gives us glimpses into the points of view of some other characters, all of which have distinct voices. While I don’t think the book should have been a full novel, a couple more scenes with the core group of survivors, or perhaps one other character, would have been great. I love a disparate group survival situation, and I could have used a bit more of them together.
Aspects of some characters were handled in a sort of tongue-in-cheek critique way, which was well done, as while there was a clear stance, it wasn’t an agenda (which is hard to pull off!). I loved the non-binary representation and how the vampire situation was a mirror to Tam’s emotional/romantic situation. This book, despite being on the surface an Eldritch vampire slasher, isn’t just a vampire slasher with disposable characters (though there is of course some cannon fodder along the way).
That being said, though I’m not sure how it could have been discovered, a bit more lore or history on the vampire would have made this 5-stars for me.
Yet, if you’re looking for a fast, fun, queer, vampire story that’s bloody, a bit funny, and quick-paced, check it out!
Review of advance copy received from Author
A diverse cast of characters with nothing in common except for the apartment building they reside in are brought together with one common goal... to survive the night.
Two life-threatening situations are occurring at once. The flood waters are rising, and so are the dead. Or should I say the undead? The hurricane is only one danger the residents will face. As the water rises, trapping them in the building with no way to escape and no way to call for help, it carries with it a coffin that has something hungry inside.
Storms are one of my favorite horror tropes. Nothing grabs my interest quicker than a dark and stormy night. When a supernatural element is thrown in, with no means of escape, it's an extra added bonus. This was a quick and intense read that takes place over the course of a single evening in the lives of people who probably would not normally have bothered with each other. The fast pace and clash of personalities drew me in right away. This "Elder" that has come out of the coffin seems to have a connection to one of the characters. I wish that had been explored in more depth, but otherwise I would not change a thing.
My thanks to Seann Barbour for the paperback copy
Two life-threatening situations are occurring at once. The flood waters are rising, and so are the dead. Or should I say the undead? The hurricane is only one danger the residents will face. As the water rises, trapping them in the building with no way to escape and no way to call for help, it carries with it a coffin that has something hungry inside.
Storms are one of my favorite horror tropes. Nothing grabs my interest quicker than a dark and stormy night. When a supernatural element is thrown in, with no means of escape, it's an extra added bonus. This was a quick and intense read that takes place over the course of a single evening in the lives of people who probably would not normally have bothered with each other. The fast pace and clash of personalities drew me in right away. This "Elder" that has come out of the coffin seems to have a connection to one of the characters. I wish that had been explored in more depth, but otherwise I would not change a thing.
My thanks to Seann Barbour for the paperback copy
Review of advance copy received from Author
Very high 3.5 stars rounded up
Our story focuses on the residents of an apartment buidling that is hammered by a storm. When the power goes out, everyone assumes that's the worst thing that's going to happen to them tonight. Until the lobby begins to flood, and with the water comes an ancient and thirsty evil. As the residents are picked off one by one, a few barricade themselves in an apartment to try and survive the night.
This was a wild and bloody ride with a little something for every horror fan. A pinch of zombies, a dash of vampires, a sprinkling of "we're trapped here till morning", and a whole gallon of blood.
Seann did an excellent job painting scences, I could picture everything in my mind so clearly, to the point that it almost felt like reading a novilization of a movie.
I was nervous when the cast of characters just kept getting bigger and bigger, but Seann made it easy to keep track of everyone. Honestly, I wish we'd gotten more lore on The Elder and how it picked its target.
But I think we can all agree, Heather ain't shit and I hope Tam dumped her.
Thank you to the author for giving me the chance to read and ARC of this story!
Our story focuses on the residents of an apartment buidling that is hammered by a storm. When the power goes out, everyone assumes that's the worst thing that's going to happen to them tonight. Until the lobby begins to flood, and with the water comes an ancient and thirsty evil. As the residents are picked off one by one, a few barricade themselves in an apartment to try and survive the night.
This was a wild and bloody ride with a little something for every horror fan. A pinch of zombies, a dash of vampires, a sprinkling of "we're trapped here till morning", and a whole gallon of blood.
Seann did an excellent job painting scences, I could picture everything in my mind so clearly, to the point that it almost felt like reading a novilization of a movie.
I was nervous when the cast of characters just kept getting bigger and bigger, but Seann made it easy to keep track of everyone. Honestly, I wish we'd gotten more lore on The Elder and how it picked its target.
But I think we can all agree, Heather ain't shit and I hope Tam dumped her.
Thank you to the author for giving me the chance to read and ARC of this story!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This vampire novella packs a lot into a short space without feeling like it is trying to do too much. It accomplishes a complete story with a range of characters. The focus is on one character that receives most of the development and the other characters are developed to the extent of their roles. I do wish that there was more development or explanation of the particular vampire lore in the novella. There is also a tie to the Tam Lin folktale that could be brought in a little stronger.
While it was a complete story, I would love to read more. This would be perfect for additional stories or novellas using the same vampire, maybe with unrelated characters or a follow up from this one.
The technical writing is well-done. The descriptions make it easy to imagine, and there was enough to give the characters dimension. There is enough here for a full novel, but the novella did not feel incomplete.
I received a copy of this novella from the author, and I am leaving this review independently.
While it was a complete story, I would love to read more. This would be perfect for additional stories or novellas using the same vampire, maybe with unrelated characters or a follow up from this one.
The technical writing is well-done. The descriptions make it easy to imagine, and there was enough to give the characters dimension. There is enough here for a full novel, but the novella did not feel incomplete.
I received a copy of this novella from the author, and I am leaving this review independently.
Review of advance copy received from Author
"...Then there was only darkness. Then there was only nothing".
This is a vampire horror novella with an eerie and unsettling atmosphere that immediately pulls you into the story. The story unfolds in just 139 pages, with short chapters that made the pacing feel engaging. It’s a multi-POV story, allowing the reader to experience the story from different perspectives.
The plot centers around a group of neighbors trapped inside a flooded building during a hurricane. As they try to understand what’s happening around them, strange and terrifying events begin to occur in the building. The tension builds steadily, creating a sense of panic, fear and horror that becomes even more intense towards the end of the book.
Despite being a short novella, the narrative unfolds smoothly and the character development is strong. I really appreciated the diversity among the characters-each of them had their own background and story to tell, which made the situation feel more engaging.
Huge thank you to Seann Barbour for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review:)
This is a vampire horror novella with an eerie and unsettling atmosphere that immediately pulls you into the story. The story unfolds in just 139 pages, with short chapters that made the pacing feel engaging. It’s a multi-POV story, allowing the reader to experience the story from different perspectives.
The plot centers around a group of neighbors trapped inside a flooded building during a hurricane. As they try to understand what’s happening around them, strange and terrifying events begin to occur in the building. The tension builds steadily, creating a sense of panic, fear and horror that becomes even more intense towards the end of the book.
Despite being a short novella, the narrative unfolds smoothly and the character development is strong. I really appreciated the diversity among the characters-each of them had their own background and story to tell, which made the situation feel more engaging.
Huge thank you to Seann Barbour for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review:)
Review of advance copy received from Author
What a thrilling, swift read! A heartfelt thank you to the author for giving me an ARC.
Seann Barbour has truly sunk their fangs into me with this novella! Firstly, I was so happy with the LGBTQ and BIPOC representation. I don’t see that too much in the authors I read, and it was a welcome change. The character and world-building were truly impressive, crafted with such a short page count. Barbour’s writing style is reminiscent of Stephen King, making you care about even the smallest of characters.
The action in this novella is as fast-paced as a vampire’s midnight chase, and absolutely no character is safe, leading to jaw-dropping moments that left me breathless.
It Came From the Floodwaters comes out March 13, 2026, and you don’t want to miss it!
Seann Barbour has truly sunk their fangs into me with this novella! Firstly, I was so happy with the LGBTQ and BIPOC representation. I don’t see that too much in the authors I read, and it was a welcome change. The character and world-building were truly impressive, crafted with such a short page count. Barbour’s writing style is reminiscent of Stephen King, making you care about even the smallest of characters.
The action in this novella is as fast-paced as a vampire’s midnight chase, and absolutely no character is safe, leading to jaw-dropping moments that left me breathless.
It Came From the Floodwaters comes out March 13, 2026, and you don’t want to miss it!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Oh this was fantastically fucked up in the best way, trapped in a small room due to what started out as just some bad weather and soon buried into a murder fest, these people are panicked, stressed and desperate to survive the storm and whatever is picking them off.
I tried so hard not to get attached to any of the characters because when I am reading anything that’s a multi POV type and marked as horror, I know there’s a chance my favorite wont make the final scene, but Sean made that very hard to do.
As this thing closes in on those left in the building, with no way to get out, with out dying in the storm raging outside, the pickins are looking real easy and when they start to turn on each other, even if they survive the creeper, they might not survive each other.
I tried so hard not to get attached to any of the characters because when I am reading anything that’s a multi POV type and marked as horror, I know there’s a chance my favorite wont make the final scene, but Sean made that very hard to do.
As this thing closes in on those left in the building, with no way to get out, with out dying in the storm raging outside, the pickins are looking real easy and when they start to turn on each other, even if they survive the creeper, they might not survive each other.
December 25, 2025
3.5 Stars. Thank you to the author for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
The strongest thing about this novella was its cast of characters, they were all well developed and I enjoyed learning more about them and their stories.
My main critique is, I wanted to learn more about the Elder and why they were there - what was their purpose? That was never really fleshed out; we never learn what their ultimate goal is.
It’s obvious the Elder and Tam are connected somehow - this is hinted at but never really explained.
I’d like to read more from this author, particularly I’d like to see what they could do with a full-length book!
The strongest thing about this novella was its cast of characters, they were all well developed and I enjoyed learning more about them and their stories.
My main critique is, I wanted to learn more about the Elder and why they were there - what was their purpose? That was never really fleshed out; we never learn what their ultimate goal is.
It’s obvious the Elder and Tam are connected somehow - this is hinted at but never really explained.
I’d like to read more from this author, particularly I’d like to see what they could do with a full-length book!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Scurry was one of my favorite reads of 2025. Sean Barbour follows that terrific novel with this tight, single location horror gem. Even in novella form he fills his story with great character work. There is a scene early on where we go from apartment to apartment meeting each of the residents of this doomed building. Each only get a paragraph or two but it’s enough to get not only a feel for character but also a smart way of mapping out our location going forward. Just an amazing way of set building and character work. Couldn’t put this down and finished in a couple hours. Give yourself a great evening read, you will not be disappointed!
February 6, 2026
Received an ARC from the author - I thought it was good, I haven’t read a whole lot of vampire-esc stories so I liked that it felt a little folky, I liked the characters, I felt like they were all written really well. I just wish there was more back story of the elders and the clear connection between them and the main character.
Otherwise a fun and short read, thank you for sending me the ARC!
Otherwise a fun and short read, thank you for sending me the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Author
3.5 This reads like a little found footage flick. We are exploring the lives of some tenants of an apartment that are locked in due to flooding. The flooding is insane and ends up taking a supernatural turn. I would have loved more page time with the, “elders.”
I think this would be a good read for someone looking for an easy horror that isn’t super unsettling. Might turn you off late night walks through apartments though.
Thank you Seann for the arc.
I think this would be a good read for someone looking for an easy horror that isn’t super unsettling. Might turn you off late night walks through apartments though.
Thank you Seann for the arc.
April 5, 2026
I finished “It Came From the Floodwaters" by Seann Barbour. The story was really fun and very thrilling. Sean put himself in the shoes of queer people, bondage aficionados, incels, and happy trigger gun lovers. The novella perfectly breathes the current Zeitgeist. Yes, the novella has some Vampire tropes, but the rest is typical Seann Barbour writing, who clearly dissects the circumstances and connects these ones to a compelling story. I almost missed my bus stop, because of the compelling nature of the novella.
June 9, 2026
The story is something of an ensemble piece where a bunch of one dimensional stereotypes are trapped in an apartment complex. A flood hits their coastal city, and a bunch of poorly thought out zombie/vampires try to turn the residents.
This is one of the most amateur feeling books that I have finished. One of the advantages of the indie horror community is that they are so supportive of each other, but I also think that sometimes we get books like this as a result.
This book is all about telling, not showing, in almost every single aspect of the book; from painting character roles with internal dialogue where they are explaining everything to themselves to the zombie/vampires literally explaining what they are through a monologue to our standees through a doorway waiting to get to them.
The author really wants us to know how they feel about each of the cookie cutter personalities: the gun toting insecure libertarian, the toxic anime dude, the video game guy, the sub kink girl, and our nonbinary poly hero. It might not have felt so egregious if we didn’t have shallow first person PoVs. I would have loved any nuance.
There was so much repetition to the prose and the internal monologues. I felt like an editor could have trimmed a 1/4 of this down to the essentials. I kept saying “this again” over and over. It was exhausting.
The physicality of the space didn’t make much sense for an action driven plot. Lots of characters just suddenly being where the author needed them to be rather than any logic how they got there.
The villain motivation felt bolted on and didn’t hold up to any scrutiny, with the logic of the climax feeling flimsy.
There were a ton of digressions. Nothing felt like it was in service to the story that was being told.
I liked one horror sequence, but didn’t find much else here to like.
This is one of the most amateur feeling books that I have finished. One of the advantages of the indie horror community is that they are so supportive of each other, but I also think that sometimes we get books like this as a result.
This book is all about telling, not showing, in almost every single aspect of the book; from painting character roles with internal dialogue where they are explaining everything to themselves to the zombie/vampires literally explaining what they are through a monologue to our standees through a doorway waiting to get to them.
The author really wants us to know how they feel about each of the cookie cutter personalities: the gun toting insecure libertarian, the toxic anime dude, the video game guy, the sub kink girl, and our nonbinary poly hero. It might not have felt so egregious if we didn’t have shallow first person PoVs. I would have loved any nuance.
There was so much repetition to the prose and the internal monologues. I felt like an editor could have trimmed a 1/4 of this down to the essentials. I kept saying “this again” over and over. It was exhausting.
The physicality of the space didn’t make much sense for an action driven plot. Lots of characters just suddenly being where the author needed them to be rather than any logic how they got there.
The villain motivation felt bolted on and didn’t hold up to any scrutiny, with the logic of the climax feeling flimsy.
There were a ton of digressions. Nothing felt like it was in service to the story that was being told.
I liked one horror sequence, but didn’t find much else here to like.
March 15, 2026
It Came from the Floodwaters is the best vampire novel I've read in a decade. The residents of a high rise are trapped by a hurricane and rising floodwaters. When the power goes out the residents learn the darkness has teeth. Something ancient, evil, and hungry has been freed by the raging hurricane. This novel gave me the creeps and a heavy dose of goosebumps. Highly recommended.
March 10, 2026
Thank you to the author for a copy of the arc!
This serves as an interesting read from a couple connected points and I felt a lot of disconnect from the rest as far as a solid overall point or theme.
This serves as an interesting read from a couple connected points and I felt a lot of disconnect from the rest as far as a solid overall point or theme.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Vampire stories are always my go to, and this story was incredible. So well written, the characters are relatable in their battles, and this is a thrilling, on the edge of your seat read.
Review of advance copy received from Author
this was a fun little vampire story and i enjoyed it a lot!! some pretty good queer rep as well! all the men in this one sucked (realistic) but even the unlikable characters were well written
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