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High Tide: A Survival Monster Horror
Not yet published
Expected 15 Mar 26The tide is rising, and it's got teeth.
Nia Morgan used to be confident and capable, but recent trauma has broken her. She and her friends want to spend a few weeks in Thailand and forget the world. Surfing, getting high, seeing the sights — all seems well until events force them to change plans.
They decide to spend a few days on a private island that no one else seems to know about. It's cheap, and it's all for them. Until the only way back to the mainland is cut off. Until hungry and impossible creatures rise from the depths and pursue them.
As the group breaks down, fighting themselves and nature as much as they do the monsters, Nia must call on long forgotten strength to get herself and those she cares about off the island before the tides swallow them all.
Nia Morgan used to be confident and capable, but recent trauma has broken her. She and her friends want to spend a few weeks in Thailand and forget the world. Surfing, getting high, seeing the sights — all seems well until events force them to change plans.
They decide to spend a few days on a private island that no one else seems to know about. It's cheap, and it's all for them. Until the only way back to the mainland is cut off. Until hungry and impossible creatures rise from the depths and pursue them.
As the group breaks down, fighting themselves and nature as much as they do the monsters, Nia must call on long forgotten strength to get herself and those she cares about off the island before the tides swallow them all.
- GenresHorror
254 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication March 15, 2026
15 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
Review of advance copy
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I am one of those people where the book they are reading turns into a movie in my head.
I kept finding I didn't want to put the book down and just wanted to finish it in one go. But alas everyday responsibilities like work prevented that.
It has the right amount of suspense without fear or stress, just enough to be like wait what's gonna happen next. Legit like watching a movie.
While certain characters like Miles I hate with a passion they all had depth to them and you learned backstories without it deviating from the ultimate plot of the book.
The monster itself I loved! I kept telling coworkers about it. It's form of… harm? It does. 100% loved. When you realize some things later in the book it really makes you think. I hope the book becomes popular enough that someone makes fan art of the monster. Because what a concept, I found I sometimes routed for it, while others I was definitely not.
I've found since finishing the book I have had the thought of 'I should watch High Tide again' to then remember it's a book and I read it lol.
10/10.
Will reread again here soon.
I am one of those people where the book they are reading turns into a movie in my head.
I kept finding I didn't want to put the book down and just wanted to finish it in one go. But alas everyday responsibilities like work prevented that.
It has the right amount of suspense without fear or stress, just enough to be like wait what's gonna happen next. Legit like watching a movie.
While certain characters like Miles I hate with a passion they all had depth to them and you learned backstories without it deviating from the ultimate plot of the book.
The monster itself I loved! I kept telling coworkers about it. It's form of… harm? It does. 100% loved. When you realize some things later in the book it really makes you think. I hope the book becomes popular enough that someone makes fan art of the monster. Because what a concept, I found I sometimes routed for it, while others I was definitely not.
I've found since finishing the book I have had the thought of 'I should watch High Tide again' to then remember it's a book and I read it lol.
10/10.
Will reread again here soon.
Review of advance copy received from Author
If this book’s title and cover art has you expecting yet another tired take on Jaws, think again. It could be better described as The Ruins set against Thai culture and mythology, with a man-eating menace that’s far more unsettling than either a shark or invasive parasitic plants. While the author is well-versed in Asian mythology and has borrowed liberally from the Japanese pantheon of gods and monsters for past books, for this one he delved deep into his imagination to conjure up an original monster that nevertheless feels like it could fit right into ancient Asian folklore. The result is nothing less than horrifying.
A drawback of this novel is a cast of largely unlikeable characters with questionable judgment and sense, although the main protagonists are at least sympathetic and somewhat more likeable than the rest. I do appreciate that the Final Girl figure is not a “girl boss,” but is realistically portrayed as an average woman who has to stretch way beyond her comfort zone to be resourceful in her fight to survive.
This book contains what some may consider “woke” elements that will please some while being off-putting to others. But the author doesn’t seem to be making a political statement regarding this topic one way or the other -- it’s simply part of the story, and this particular character’s orientation ends up being a catalyst for landing the group in this situation.
All in all, I enjoyed this book, though not as much as those I’ve read in the author’s Black Sun series. But that has more to do with personal preferences than the quality of the writing, which is outstanding, and so I deduct no stars. All in all, this was a fun read, and I’m still thinking about it days after finishing it, which is the mark of a great book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
A drawback of this novel is a cast of largely unlikeable characters with questionable judgment and sense, although the main protagonists are at least sympathetic and somewhat more likeable than the rest. I do appreciate that the Final Girl figure is not a “girl boss,” but is realistically portrayed as an average woman who has to stretch way beyond her comfort zone to be resourceful in her fight to survive.
This book contains what some may consider “woke” elements that will please some while being off-putting to others. But the author doesn’t seem to be making a political statement regarding this topic one way or the other -- it’s simply part of the story, and this particular character’s orientation ends up being a catalyst for landing the group in this situation.
All in all, I enjoyed this book, though not as much as those I’ve read in the author’s Black Sun series. But that has more to do with personal preferences than the quality of the writing, which is outstanding, and so I deduct no stars. All in all, this was a fun read, and I’m still thinking about it days after finishing it, which is the mark of a great book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Author
The cover of High Tide by Sean Brooks immediately gave me Jaws vibes — a girl in the ocean with something clearly not right in the water. I’m not usually a straight horror reader (I lean more toward Dark romance and monster romance), so this was a bit outside my usual picks.
The first twenty minutes took me a moment to settle into, but once it clicked, I was completely hooked.
The story follows a group of friends staying on an island in Thailand when things start to go very, very wrong. I won’t say more than that because this is definitely a book best read without spoilers.
One thing I really loved was the setting. I actually live in Thailand and spend time on beaches like the ones in this book, and it felt incredibly well observed. The names of the characters were spot on, and the way the locals spoke to tourists was 10/10. It felt authentic in a way that’s quite rare to see.
The pacing was great, and the length felt just right… no dragging, no filler. And even though I’m someone who normally enjoys a bit of monster romance, under no circumstances did I want a romance to appear in this book.
The final stretch of the book is where it really shines. The last quarter genuinely had me on the edge of a cliff. The moments between the characters were unexpectedly emotional. At one point I honestly thought I might cry while reading it in immigration today, which would have been fairly embarrassing. For a book that isn’t especially long, it still managed to hit me right in the feels.
I read this on my Kobo Libra Colour and ended up annotating it more than any other book I’ve read since getting it.
Easy five-star read for me.
I received an advance copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The first twenty minutes took me a moment to settle into, but once it clicked, I was completely hooked.
The story follows a group of friends staying on an island in Thailand when things start to go very, very wrong. I won’t say more than that because this is definitely a book best read without spoilers.
One thing I really loved was the setting. I actually live in Thailand and spend time on beaches like the ones in this book, and it felt incredibly well observed. The names of the characters were spot on, and the way the locals spoke to tourists was 10/10. It felt authentic in a way that’s quite rare to see.
The pacing was great, and the length felt just right… no dragging, no filler. And even though I’m someone who normally enjoys a bit of monster romance, under no circumstances did I want a romance to appear in this book.
The final stretch of the book is where it really shines. The last quarter genuinely had me on the edge of a cliff. The moments between the characters were unexpectedly emotional. At one point I honestly thought I might cry while reading it in immigration today, which would have been fairly embarrassing. For a book that isn’t especially long, it still managed to hit me right in the feels.
I read this on my Kobo Libra Colour and ended up annotating it more than any other book I’ve read since getting it.
Easy five-star read for me.
I received an advance copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy
Nia Morgan is spending her holiday with friends in Thailand. What starts as one big party, soon spirals down into a horrific nightmare..
As soon as I read Chapter 1 I knew I hit the jackpot for choosing to read High Tide. This fast paced monster survival horror has everything. Persistent tension, likeable and unlikeable characters, an amazing setting, summer vibes and then of course we have this horrifying aquatic monster. Omg, I loved everything about it. Its features, how it acts and especially how it feeds. The killings are brutal, relentless and utterly fascinating. One must have a huge imagination to create such a unique and terrifying creature, respect! Only after a few pages I was totally submerged in it. All I wanted to do was read and soon I forgot about all of my usual daily chores and tasks. 🔥😂
The storytelling was vivid. I could see the story unfolding on my retinas just like a movie and I have high hopes for High Tide as a movie adaption. 🙏🏼 The characters were interesting and in addition to the monster plot the story touches themes like friendship, betrayal and domestic violence, all of this in a perfect balance. Two characters in particular had my heart and their lovely bond touched me deeply. Therefor some of the outcomes were heartbreaking, but I love tragic and bleak stories, so this one will stick with me for a long time. 🖤 If you’re into tragedy, creepy ass monsters and pure horror, this one’s for you!
As soon as I read Chapter 1 I knew I hit the jackpot for choosing to read High Tide. This fast paced monster survival horror has everything. Persistent tension, likeable and unlikeable characters, an amazing setting, summer vibes and then of course we have this horrifying aquatic monster. Omg, I loved everything about it. Its features, how it acts and especially how it feeds. The killings are brutal, relentless and utterly fascinating. One must have a huge imagination to create such a unique and terrifying creature, respect! Only after a few pages I was totally submerged in it. All I wanted to do was read and soon I forgot about all of my usual daily chores and tasks. 🔥😂
The storytelling was vivid. I could see the story unfolding on my retinas just like a movie and I have high hopes for High Tide as a movie adaption. 🙏🏼 The characters were interesting and in addition to the monster plot the story touches themes like friendship, betrayal and domestic violence, all of this in a perfect balance. Two characters in particular had my heart and their lovely bond touched me deeply. Therefor some of the outcomes were heartbreaking, but I love tragic and bleak stories, so this one will stick with me for a long time. 🖤 If you’re into tragedy, creepy ass monsters and pure horror, this one’s for you!
Review of advance copy
I absolutely loved this one from Shawn. Sticking with the mythology element based in Cthulhu style Eldrich horror, this book kept the tension rising.
I enjoyed the subtle LGBTQIA+ inclusion in this one, I felt it didn't take over the overall plot but gave a very subtle nod for those in the c0mmunity that may not see much of this in the horror/thriller genre. I'll be interested to see what else this could be put into for future books although this does not need to be in everything. Our LGBTQ character in this one retains their personality without having their gender identity being their only characteristic, which I have seen often in many novels of varying genres.
As usual, Shawn tackles the darker themes of the human condition such as trauma and some domestic violence elements, so those who may be affected should be mindful when reading. This is not a strong theme or something that is heavily leant into often so does not subtract from the horror they are experiencing throughout.
Loved the setting, I felt like this was a new avenue that was explored, interested to see what else is to come!
Creepy, unsettling and weird, just how I like my Eldrich based horror.
I enjoyed the subtle LGBTQIA+ inclusion in this one, I felt it didn't take over the overall plot but gave a very subtle nod for those in the c0mmunity that may not see much of this in the horror/thriller genre. I'll be interested to see what else this could be put into for future books although this does not need to be in everything. Our LGBTQ character in this one retains their personality without having their gender identity being their only characteristic, which I have seen often in many novels of varying genres.
As usual, Shawn tackles the darker themes of the human condition such as trauma and some domestic violence elements, so those who may be affected should be mindful when reading. This is not a strong theme or something that is heavily leant into often so does not subtract from the horror they are experiencing throughout.
Loved the setting, I felt like this was a new avenue that was explored, interested to see what else is to come!
Creepy, unsettling and weird, just how I like my Eldrich based horror.
Review of advance copy
High Tide gives The Ruins vibes but wetter and way worse. This book does not ease you in. The horror hits in chapter one and doesn’t let up.
There aren’t many things worse than what these characters endure. I’m fairly certain Shawn Brooks just wormed *ba dum tsss* his way into my nightmares and put them on the page. Teeth falling out will always traumatize me and that’s just the beginning of the trauma.
This is not subtle horror. Brooks fully commits to the body horror, and it is gross, gooey, claustrophobic, and relentless in the best way.
I will say, the use of they/them for one character occasionally made certain passages confusing… especially when the monsters are also referred to as “they.” When multiple “theys” stacked up in a sentence, things are bound to get muddled. And after all that careful use of they/them, specifically having “boy” and “girl” cabins felt… odd.
That said? This book is a win. It’s fast-paced, merciless, and I couldn’t put it down. If you like your horror slimy, suffocating, and brutal, read this.
Five stars. I’m never going in the ocean again.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
There aren’t many things worse than what these characters endure. I’m fairly certain Shawn Brooks just wormed *ba dum tsss* his way into my nightmares and put them on the page. Teeth falling out will always traumatize me and that’s just the beginning of the trauma.
This is not subtle horror. Brooks fully commits to the body horror, and it is gross, gooey, claustrophobic, and relentless in the best way.
I will say, the use of they/them for one character occasionally made certain passages confusing… especially when the monsters are also referred to as “they.” When multiple “theys” stacked up in a sentence, things are bound to get muddled. And after all that careful use of they/them, specifically having “boy” and “girl” cabins felt… odd.
That said? This book is a win. It’s fast-paced, merciless, and I couldn’t put it down. If you like your horror slimy, suffocating, and brutal, read this.
Five stars. I’m never going in the ocean again.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Author
The cover gives Jaws vibes — girl in the ocean, something not right in the water, absolutely nobody should be swimming today.
My shelves are mostly dark romance & monster smut, which means I usually want my monsters scary & sexy, dangerous & possessive.
This monster?
No.
Absolutely not.
Hard pass.
1/10 monster boyfriend potential. (Not saying never. Monsters can change.)
Would not date.
Would not fix him.
The story follows a group of friends on an island in Thailand when things start going very, very wrong. The last quarter had me on the edge of a bloody cliff. At one point I almost cried straight up embarrassing. Don’t tell my mom.
Easy six-star read. Minus one star for monster boyfriend potential.
I received an advance copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.
My shelves are mostly dark romance & monster smut, which means I usually want my monsters scary & sexy, dangerous & possessive.
This monster?
No.
Absolutely not.
Hard pass.
1/10 monster boyfriend potential. (Not saying never. Monsters can change.)
Would not date.
Would not fix him.
The story follows a group of friends on an island in Thailand when things start going very, very wrong. The last quarter had me on the edge of a bloody cliff. At one point I almost cried straight up embarrassing. Don’t tell my mom.
Easy six-star read. Minus one star for monster boyfriend potential.
I received an advance copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy
I really enjoyed getting to read this book, it had that horror element that I was expecting from the description. I enjoyed the idea of the horror of an monstrous husband and how that was a shadow hanging over Nia. I was engaged with what was happening and thought the overall journey was done well. The characters were well written and I cared about what was happening with them. Shawn Brooks has a strong writing style and thought this was a fantastic read.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Author
White Lotus meets Triangle of Sadness meets HP Lovecraft in all his horrific glory. A fast-paced story of a group of young people who find themselves isolated and trapped on a 'private resort' island in Thailand. Relationships are tested as the group battles terrifying entities that live in the waters surrounding the island. Nearly invisible and invincible, destroying everyone they touch, the travelers desperately plot how to leave the island. Stand together? Or every man for himself?
As always, Brooks writes his women fierce & heroic!
As always, Brooks writes his women fierce & heroic!
Review of advance copy
Nia and her friends go on the vacation of a lifetime, ready to relax and enjoy their time on a beautiful island.
This story pulls you in quickly. It’s relentless horror, creepiness , and fear- but you will definitely not want to stop reading as you can feel the desperation of the group as they try to escape their trip from hell. A thriller in every sense of the word.
I received an advance copy, and am leaving this review voluntarily.
This story pulls you in quickly. It’s relentless horror, creepiness , and fear- but you will definitely not want to stop reading as you can feel the desperation of the group as they try to escape their trip from hell. A thriller in every sense of the word.
I received an advance copy, and am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy
I really enjoyed reading this book, although it was a little hard to read in places as the grammar didn’t flow quite right. It’s a really good horror story, very Cthulhu inspired, and really freaked me out at times! Couldn’t put it down - highly recommend.
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.
March 4, 2026
A group of friends visiting Thailand get taken to a private beach but they’re not alone.
This was a great creature feature! I enjoyed the plotting and how the story unfolded. There were no bits that dragged, it moved at a fast pace the whole book. The creatures were interesting too. Awesome story.
This was a great creature feature! I enjoyed the plotting and how the story unfolded. There were no bits that dragged, it moved at a fast pace the whole book. The creatures were interesting too. Awesome story.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews