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Hudsonville: What Lies Beneath
Fifteen-year-old Andy Kessler thought he’d finally found sanctuary in Hudsonville, a hidden city of supernatural beings. But when the fanatical monster hunters of The Natural Order breach their defenses with an army of kloons, Andy watches helplessly as his friends are dragged into the depths below.
Determined to save them, Andy descends into a labyrinth of ancient ruins. As he races through treacherous caverns and faces off against subterranean terrors, he discovers a troublesome the power needed to rescue his friends demands his memories as payment.
Now Andy must decide which pieces of himself he’s willing to lose to protect those he loves—because some things, once forgotten, can never be remembered again.
Hudsonville combines the quirky supernatural humor of Akbar Hassan’s All My Friends are Dead Things with explorations of identity and belonging found in Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas. This fast-paced adventure balances tension with moments of dry wit as its teenage protagonists navigate the strange underworld.
About the AuthorStewart Chisham grew up in Southwest Minnesota, in the sleepy railroad town of Tracy. He studied Film and Mass Communications at the University of Minnesota, Mankato, earning his Bachelors in Fine Arts in 2022.
Since then, Chisham has worked within the field of journalism, earning two first-place awards in state-wide competitions within the first year of his profession. This includes the Minnesota Society of Professional Journalists’ 2024 Page One Awards first place prize for Investigative Reporting, as well as first place in the Minnesota Newspaper Association’s Better Newspaper Contest for Government/Public Affairs Reporting.
After spending a year at The Globe in Worthington, Minnesota, he now works as the news editor for the Dickinson County News in Spirit Lake, Iowa. In his off time, he enjoys making traditional artwork and caring for his two cats, Archie and Bucket.
Determined to save them, Andy descends into a labyrinth of ancient ruins. As he races through treacherous caverns and faces off against subterranean terrors, he discovers a troublesome the power needed to rescue his friends demands his memories as payment.
Now Andy must decide which pieces of himself he’s willing to lose to protect those he loves—because some things, once forgotten, can never be remembered again.
Hudsonville combines the quirky supernatural humor of Akbar Hassan’s All My Friends are Dead Things with explorations of identity and belonging found in Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas. This fast-paced adventure balances tension with moments of dry wit as its teenage protagonists navigate the strange underworld.
About the AuthorStewart Chisham grew up in Southwest Minnesota, in the sleepy railroad town of Tracy. He studied Film and Mass Communications at the University of Minnesota, Mankato, earning his Bachelors in Fine Arts in 2022.
Since then, Chisham has worked within the field of journalism, earning two first-place awards in state-wide competitions within the first year of his profession. This includes the Minnesota Society of Professional Journalists’ 2024 Page One Awards first place prize for Investigative Reporting, as well as first place in the Minnesota Newspaper Association’s Better Newspaper Contest for Government/Public Affairs Reporting.
After spending a year at The Globe in Worthington, Minnesota, he now works as the news editor for the Dickinson County News in Spirit Lake, Iowa. In his off time, he enjoys making traditional artwork and caring for his two cats, Archie and Bucket.
238 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 9, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 13, 2025
Wow, what an adventure!
I didn't expect to go the places this story ended up taking me. From dangling/inverted cities to forgotten sand-lands, from clown creatures to mushroom-folk. There's so many crazy twists and turns that made it impossible for me to put this one down.
I'm a big fan of how Chisham incorporates his diverse cast of characters, from the sardonic Vick Roldan to the stoic, silent Tanya. The main character, Andy, is a thoughtful and complex character who struggles with his impulsiveness and his lycanthropic nature.
Even the side characters, like Meat-Man and the later-introduced Dink, have a lot going for them in terms of subtle character work and complexity. You can really tell the author put a lot of time and thought into making these characters shine. And the world really feels ALIVE. The glossary at the end is a nice touch.
The pacing is *mostly* really solid, taking you from scene to scene, setpiece to setpiece in a matter of minutes. Nothing really feels like it overstays its welcome beyond a few meandering underground sections.
I'm guessing this is the first book in a series? There's a lot of set-up for sequels that happens near the end. Or potential for some anyways. If it is, I would really love to read the whole thing.
Solid debut from a solid author.
I didn't expect to go the places this story ended up taking me. From dangling/inverted cities to forgotten sand-lands, from clown creatures to mushroom-folk. There's so many crazy twists and turns that made it impossible for me to put this one down.
I'm a big fan of how Chisham incorporates his diverse cast of characters, from the sardonic Vick Roldan to the stoic, silent Tanya. The main character, Andy, is a thoughtful and complex character who struggles with his impulsiveness and his lycanthropic nature.
Even the side characters, like Meat-Man and the later-introduced Dink, have a lot going for them in terms of subtle character work and complexity. You can really tell the author put a lot of time and thought into making these characters shine. And the world really feels ALIVE. The glossary at the end is a nice touch.
The pacing is *mostly* really solid, taking you from scene to scene, setpiece to setpiece in a matter of minutes. Nothing really feels like it overstays its welcome beyond a few meandering underground sections.
I'm guessing this is the first book in a series? There's a lot of set-up for sequels that happens near the end. Or potential for some anyways. If it is, I would really love to read the whole thing.
Solid debut from a solid author.
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November 12, 2025Hudsonville – What Lies Beneath is an intriguing YA urban fantasy that blends small-town mystery with supernatural undercurrents. Stewart Chisham builds a vivid, eerie world just beneath the surface of the ordinary, a place where secrets hum in the shadows and danger feels close enough to touch. The pacing is sharp, the atmosphere immersive, and the sense of discovery keeps you hooked throughout. A strong start to what feels like the beginning of a captivating series for fans of mysterious, character-driven fantasy.
June 24, 2026
this book is genuinely one of the easiest reads i've had in quite some time. it's super engaging and the pages genuinely fly by, it's very easy to sit down with and not even notice you're 80 pages in. the story is intriguing, and the characters are all memorable and unique without feeling contrived or corny. absolutely would recommend
December 8, 2025
This was such a fun concept and enjoyed the urban fantasy element in this book. I was engaged with what was happening and thought worked well as a young adult novel and was a great start to the Hudsonville series. I was engaged from start to finish and it has a strong message to this book. Stewart Chisham was able to create something that I was looking for and am excited for more in the Hudsonville series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews