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Strandead: Prey
They thought it was going to be a fun, interesting field trip during their last days as high school seniors.
But what they didn't count on was the bus crashing on a remote, deserted dirt road in the woods.
And what they couldn't possibly have anticipated were the hideous horrors that lurked in those woods... mutated once-human monsters with a hunger for fresh meat...
And fresh souls...
_______________________________________________________________
Just days before their graduation, twelve high school seniors embark on a field trip to the bustling city of Chicago... but they never arrive. The bus ends up crashing on an old, deserted road in the bowels of a lush forest. Some students die in the crash. Others are injured. Few remain unscathed. How they managed to veer so far off the map is a mystery. And, calling for help proves useless, as nobody can receive a phone signal.
Since little daylight remains, and a fierce storm's brewing, they come to the conclusion that they must spend the night in this unfamiliar territory.
Before dawn, however, everyone is awakened by a girl's ferocious scream. It turns out to be the scream one of their own, who's gone missing. They also find proof of what roams these woods—deformed humanoids with the brute power of wild animals. The only difference is, these savages are smart, cunning and purposeful. Their goal—to devour the brains of everyone from the Number 13 bus in order to lengthen life and accumulate powers. It's up to Will Berilla, a confused but precocious teenager, to wage war against the evil that's stalking them, save his friends, and find his way back home.
But what they didn't count on was the bus crashing on a remote, deserted dirt road in the woods.
And what they couldn't possibly have anticipated were the hideous horrors that lurked in those woods... mutated once-human monsters with a hunger for fresh meat...
And fresh souls...
_______________________________________________________________
Just days before their graduation, twelve high school seniors embark on a field trip to the bustling city of Chicago... but they never arrive. The bus ends up crashing on an old, deserted road in the bowels of a lush forest. Some students die in the crash. Others are injured. Few remain unscathed. How they managed to veer so far off the map is a mystery. And, calling for help proves useless, as nobody can receive a phone signal.
Since little daylight remains, and a fierce storm's brewing, they come to the conclusion that they must spend the night in this unfamiliar territory.
Before dawn, however, everyone is awakened by a girl's ferocious scream. It turns out to be the scream one of their own, who's gone missing. They also find proof of what roams these woods—deformed humanoids with the brute power of wild animals. The only difference is, these savages are smart, cunning and purposeful. Their goal—to devour the brains of everyone from the Number 13 bus in order to lengthen life and accumulate powers. It's up to Will Berilla, a confused but precocious teenager, to wage war against the evil that's stalking them, save his friends, and find his way back home.
- GenresHorror
292 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 15, 2015
37 people are currently reading
345 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 19, 2016
A few days before graduation a group of students and a couple of teachers set off on a field trip to Chicago. Mysteriously, they all fall asleep and wake to find their bus has crashed in a remote forest. They have no cellphone reception and a few of their party is mortally wounded. They decide to explore the terrain they find themselves in but there are more in the woods than they bargained for and one of them is the real target of whatever has drawn them there.
A truly chilling and largely well written horror thriller, which sows intrigue and satisfies with the haunting folklore within. The characters are surprisingly well developed for a gory read and I could not stop reading this until the very last page.
Not for the faint hearted as there is much blood and a fair amount of terror in this novel, but if you like dark horror then it would be a shame to miss on reading this one.
A truly chilling and largely well written horror thriller, which sows intrigue and satisfies with the haunting folklore within. The characters are surprisingly well developed for a gory read and I could not stop reading this until the very last page.
Not for the faint hearted as there is much blood and a fair amount of terror in this novel, but if you like dark horror then it would be a shame to miss on reading this one.
February 16, 2020
This book's strength is in the characters. Mostly well fleshed out and actually very likable. Even the characters that are meant to be the less than desirable characters are ones that you actually do like. Somehow, even the characters that don't have much depth to them are still written with just the right voice so that you do care about them all.
The story never really hits a scary tone, it just stays in a tense feel that ramps up to action. The gore also never goes too far.
From what I read here, McCombs is a solid author. My only issues I have with the book is one sexual fantasy scene that is out of place and kind of caused a little "eyebrow raising" considering it was between a high school student and her teacher, from her perspective. It just was totally out of place and just . . . well . . . maybe I am a little bit of a prude.
I also have to wonder why there was an addition of three new characters about 3/4 into the book. They didn't serve any purpose at all and felt completely tacked on to the story.
Those two quibbles aside (oh, and the fact that the characters walked 6 miles in an hour, which would actually be a jogging pace . . . sorry), and one line that also caused an "eyebrow raise" aside, this is a really strong book. I will be adding Troy McCombs onto my list of authors to follow.
The story never really hits a scary tone, it just stays in a tense feel that ramps up to action. The gore also never goes too far.
From what I read here, McCombs is a solid author. My only issues I have with the book is one sexual fantasy scene that is out of place and kind of caused a little "eyebrow raising" considering it was between a high school student and her teacher, from her perspective. It just was totally out of place and just . . . well . . . maybe I am a little bit of a prude.
I also have to wonder why there was an addition of three new characters about 3/4 into the book. They didn't serve any purpose at all and felt completely tacked on to the story.
Those two quibbles aside (oh, and the fact that the characters walked 6 miles in an hour, which would actually be a jogging pace . . . sorry), and one line that also caused an "eyebrow raise" aside, this is a really strong book. I will be adding Troy McCombs onto my list of authors to follow.
January 29, 2019
Great story
Awesome characters and wicked good action. This book really could give a person nightmares. The creatures and situations have enough reality to make you think the supernatural elements could possibly maybe might just be true too. Troy McCombs is a very good writer. There are some editing errors that pull you out of the story a bit but overall a really great read.
Awesome characters and wicked good action. This book really could give a person nightmares. The creatures and situations have enough reality to make you think the supernatural elements could possibly maybe might just be true too. Troy McCombs is a very good writer. There are some editing errors that pull you out of the story a bit but overall a really great read.
August 17, 2017
Very Good Story
I liked this book very well. It has a good story line, believable characters, and just enough horrors to be somewhat shady. Really enjoyed it.
I liked this book very well. It has a good story line, believable characters, and just enough horrors to be somewhat shady. Really enjoyed it.
January 13, 2019
Wow
This was such an exciting story I couldn't put it down. It tells A tale of the most horrific field trip ever.
This was such an exciting story I couldn't put it down. It tells A tale of the most horrific field trip ever.
October 15, 2020
Prey
This book had me hooked from the beginning. I will not spoil it for you, take my advice and read it you won’t be disappointed.
This book had me hooked from the beginning. I will not spoil it for you, take my advice and read it you won’t be disappointed.
March 17, 2016
I received this book through a Goodreads giveaway.
Normally, I don't read book that may be deemed scary or in the horror genre, but this book goes beyond the rating of horror. I really did enjoy this book and kept turning the pages to see what would happen next. Students, two teachers, and their bus driver all awake to find that their bus has been in a crash and some of their classmates did not survive. Worse still, they are an abandoned road with no cell service, no other people around for miles, and no one has any memory of how they ended up there. The trials and obstacles that the group will encounter over the next few days push everyone to face who they really are inside. This book was a creative story with well-developed characters. The only warning I have to some readers is there is some crude language that might not be appropriate for some young readers.
Normally, I don't read book that may be deemed scary or in the horror genre, but this book goes beyond the rating of horror. I really did enjoy this book and kept turning the pages to see what would happen next. Students, two teachers, and their bus driver all awake to find that their bus has been in a crash and some of their classmates did not survive. Worse still, they are an abandoned road with no cell service, no other people around for miles, and no one has any memory of how they ended up there. The trials and obstacles that the group will encounter over the next few days push everyone to face who they really are inside. This book was a creative story with well-developed characters. The only warning I have to some readers is there is some crude language that might not be appropriate for some young readers.
June 11, 2016
4 Stars
Excellent horror story with great character interaction and an action packed plot. It starts out slowly with the kids in school, but once they leave for the fieldtrip the action really picks up. The story seemed to cross The Hills Have Eyes with The Watcher. The only issue I have with it is, there are quite a few grammar errors throughout. They do not detract from the story, but are an irritation. Without those errors, I would have given this a 5 star.
Excellent horror story with great character interaction and an action packed plot. It starts out slowly with the kids in school, but once they leave for the fieldtrip the action really picks up. The story seemed to cross The Hills Have Eyes with The Watcher. The only issue I have with it is, there are quite a few grammar errors throughout. They do not detract from the story, but are an irritation. Without those errors, I would have given this a 5 star.
November 2, 2015
Excellent horror story, just right for Halloween when I happened to read it. Even the font of the chapter headings fitted perfectly for that. Afetr a very chilling opening chapter, called "Premonition" we get into the lives of three teenage kids on their school trip and what happens next.
Fabulous monster horror for young adults, scary and well written. Quite a roller coaster.
Fabulous monster horror for young adults, scary and well written. Quite a roller coaster.
November 13, 2015
Fantastic read
From the very start this book captured my attention. Laughed, I cried, I was terrified... this book has it all. I highly recommend this book to any and everybody. I cannot wait to read everything I can from Mr. Mccombs
From the very start this book captured my attention. Laughed, I cried, I was terrified... this book has it all. I highly recommend this book to any and everybody. I cannot wait to read everything I can from Mr. Mccombs
February 3, 2016
Kepted you intrested
Had good characters, and a good plot. I would reccomend this book to my friends and aquaintences. This book is worth readind!
Had good characters, and a good plot. I would reccomend this book to my friends and aquaintences. This book is worth readind!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews