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Vertex #1
Monster
Bloodied corridors. Mangled bodies. Deranged test subjects. Just another day at Vertex, a corporation devoted to perfecting humanity by any means necessary. It's up to Jarod Samuels to keep the hallways pristine and safe, but scrubbing bloodstains and bagging bodies is losing its luster.
Then someone new joins his department, this man with a huge ego and an even huger mouth. Gabriel Anderson is infuriating but intriguing, as brash as he is beautiful, and almost enough to keep Jarod preoccupied. Almost.
But between workplace hazards, psychic sociopaths, and a mysterious formula that alters the human body, Jarod's doubts are surging. Should he stay with the corporation, or run like hell? This is Vertex, after all, where the walls watch with glass eyes, the laboratories groan with secrets - and employee termination ends more than just careers.
This romantic horror story is approximately 88,000 words in length.
Then someone new joins his department, this man with a huge ego and an even huger mouth. Gabriel Anderson is infuriating but intriguing, as brash as he is beautiful, and almost enough to keep Jarod preoccupied. Almost.
But between workplace hazards, psychic sociopaths, and a mysterious formula that alters the human body, Jarod's doubts are surging. Should he stay with the corporation, or run like hell? This is Vertex, after all, where the walls watch with glass eyes, the laboratories groan with secrets - and employee termination ends more than just careers.
This romantic horror story is approximately 88,000 words in length.
327 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 27, 2016
32 people are currently reading
334 people want to read
About the author
Soren Summers
6 books40 followersHi, Soren here. After 15 years spent working in lifestyle journalism and public relations I decided it was time to stop selling other people’s stories and start telling my own. I’m obsessed with writing about ordinary people struggling against overwhelming supernatural odds. I’ve also been told that I’m kind of charming. No, really.
I love video games, staying home on the weekends, and geeky guys. I'm great with animals and I have a soft spot for cats, dogs, and geeky guys. My favorite edibles are pizza, coffee, and geeky guys. My favorite shows are RuPaul's Drag Race, Better Off Ted, and anything that has geeky guys in it. Also my friends say I have a one-track mind but they have no idea what they're talking about.
I love video games, staying home on the weekends, and geeky guys. I'm great with animals and I have a soft spot for cats, dogs, and geeky guys. My favorite edibles are pizza, coffee, and geeky guys. My favorite shows are RuPaul's Drag Race, Better Off Ted, and anything that has geeky guys in it. Also my friends say I have a one-track mind but they have no idea what they're talking about.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
March 27, 2017
This book... it's very, very good.
If you're interested in knowing about the author, the book, his series, the author is on the blog with a giveaway as well.
http://ontopdownunderbookreviews.com/...
**Warning - not for fluffy consumption.**
For my fellow dark dystopian gay relationship-ish types. Monster delivers flawed and interesting characters with depth and this off-kilter charming quality that shouldn't be possible. Written well in third person present tense, giving intense and introspective emotions, combined with good dialogue, atmosphere and action, Monster is really interesting reading. It delivers an edgy, mistrustful feel combined with snark, humour and some sexy moments. The world building is centred around Vertex and builds throughout, never letting you down or off the ledge, even in lulls, or what you perceive is going to be a nice moment. I loved the MCs, they're quirky and offbeat - just the way I like them best - and the supporting cast didn't let me down either, no matter the colour of attire the company allocated. But my heart, it's with Jarod and Gabriel. I need more of them now.
Do not deny an active anomaly pudding. Just don't do it. Especially when they are telekinetic, and on level 17.
Oh, and ties. Some people hate them...
I'm not sure I'll be able to look at a garbage man from here on in without it having a whole new connotation.
Um, dear author, more. And so very asap.
If you're interested in knowing about the author, the book, his series, the author is on the blog with a giveaway as well.
http://ontopdownunderbookreviews.com/...
**Warning - not for fluffy consumption.**
For my fellow dark dystopian gay relationship-ish types. Monster delivers flawed and interesting characters with depth and this off-kilter charming quality that shouldn't be possible. Written well in third person present tense, giving intense and introspective emotions, combined with good dialogue, atmosphere and action, Monster is really interesting reading. It delivers an edgy, mistrustful feel combined with snark, humour and some sexy moments. The world building is centred around Vertex and builds throughout, never letting you down or off the ledge, even in lulls, or what you perceive is going to be a nice moment. I loved the MCs, they're quirky and offbeat - just the way I like them best - and the supporting cast didn't let me down either, no matter the colour of attire the company allocated. But my heart, it's with Jarod and Gabriel. I need more of them now.
Do not deny an active anomaly pudding. Just don't do it. Especially when they are telekinetic, and on level 17.
Oh, and ties. Some people hate them...
I'm not sure I'll be able to look at a garbage man from here on in without it having a whole new connotation.
Um, dear author, more. And so very asap.
Read
February 1, 2017 5 Hearts
Dear Soren Summers,
When I first came across your book Monster, I was intrigued. I love a good dark story and the blurb along with the cover checked off a few boxes for me. When I began reading, I took it nice and slow to blend in with this world Jarod Samuels was showing me as he went about this day. When Mr. Perfect shows up, I grinned. When he became snarky Gabriel I liked him but when he became the guy who loves stove top mac and cheese and drools while he sleeps, he became so adorable he needed to fit in my pocket. When Gabriel does the unthinkable, but the only thing he could have done for Jarod, I couldn’t turn the page fast enough and damn work or sleep, I needed to read. But all of this, was only at HALF of the wonderfully imaginable, creative, sexy and twisted story about two men finding love in a truly hopeless place. The rest, it sat me on my ass and blew my mind. So for that, I have to say thank you for this story, for Jarod and Gabriel’s story. Soren Summers, you now have a ginger reader who is now a big fan.
Sincerely,
Red
This book. It’s way different than I expected and that is such a good thing. I don’t really know what I expected but I expected things to be dark for the entire book. They ARE dark, don’t misunderstand but there are these moments where I hugged my Nook, I laughed, grinned and simply swooned over it. AND there are the moments where I was glad I stopped reading while I ate my lunch so that it wouldn’t come back up.
Let’s see if I can tell you a few things.
Told from the third person present tense POV of one Jared Samuels, we meet him as he is going about his day at work as a garbageman at Vertex, a research facility. You get the feeling that the world Jarod lives in is not like ours, it’s a sort of dystopian world where we are left to our imagination as to what happens outside the walls of Vertex and Jarod’s apartment. The early glimpses with the research that goes on inside Vertex is vague and the form of Jarod’s job as in waste management comes in to play when a call goes out that there is a runner on level 12. A runner, yup a runner is a medical test subject at Vertex who has decided they are done but one cannot be done when they have signed on the dotted line to participate. Jarod, being the fastest runner in his department comes up short when the patient is taken down before he can get there and Jarod isn’t happy about being shown up. The new guy, whom Jarod dubs Mr. Perfect is one hell of a snarky but good looking young kid who immediately rubs Jarod the wrong way and possibly the right, but Jarod doesn’t have time for getting attached to anyone or anything.
Jarod is a quiet man. He does his job well and keeps to himself. He’s learned the importance of when to listen, to speak and when to agree and states the company’s motto verbatim. The only real person he interacts with other than Esther the lunch lady or briefly with the other Ether, is Vanessa “Nessa” Wong who is Jarod’s best friend. Nessa is a lab technician, a researcher and currently in charge of her own project for a drug called Paragon. Paragon is a new formula create to make the body perfect, to heal all that ails or would kill you and it’s important to Vertex. In Nessa’s own words; “Paragon can heal the body and fix everything that’s wrong with it. It’ll take the disease away, but it won’t make you invincible.” Paragon itself has a paradox within in the story but I won’t spoil that for you. It’s far too interesting to let it get rancid.
When Jarod is called up on by his boss and given the privilege of showing Mr. Perfect aka the new guy aka Gabriel Anderson the ropes, the story begins to open up as well as the characters themselves.
When we first meet Gabriel, he’s cocky and snarky and you wonder how Jarod will ever be able to deal with him. But when Jarod begins giving him a tour of the facility, we get the opportunity to see a different side of the men. We learn that they have a common ground, a schooling at Bairston Public under the guidance and pseudo mothering of Coach Bennet the track coach. Both men are fast, Jarod held the school record for until Gabriel beat it. It’s a sore spot for Jarod but it leads to a sense of camaraderie with the men and provides for excellent banter. With that banter, we see that Gabriel’s cockiness does have a vulnerability and we see that as Jarod shows him into the “white room”. Man, Vertex is one crazy place and these two, they are going to need someone to vent with when the shit gets crazy because, you know it will.
As the story unfolds, we get character development and growth with Jarod and Gabriel. From secrets that lead to friendship, friendship that leads to saving and saving that leads to the care of another person, the man have obstacles yet the small things begin to bring them closer together. The secret Gabriel keeps drives Jarod crazy! He’s come to care for this drooling in his sleep spider monkey who loves stop top mac and cheese and takes exactly three minutes to drive off after a shower and all he wants to do is help. Jarod begins to recognize that the way Gabriel acts, his self-preservation is like looking in a mirror but he needs to know why. When he follows Gabriel one night after work, he gets a visual for what keeps his new friend away from home for hours but still doesn’t know the truth and he needs it. That need? It’s translated from words to feelings to one hell of a first kiss to a whole lot of truth spilling and it had me engaged and swooning so much that I read that entire chapter over again.
But Jarod is paranoid and cautious with Gabriel after his confessions though he wants to have blind trust in him. His past mistake in high school gnaws at this conscious but he really needs to let that go. Sure, what Gabriel told him could lead to a world of trouble and maybe injury and possibly death considering how Vertex operates but what can Jarod do? What does Jarod do and what happens to those Jarod trusts and loves?
*whistles*
Yeah, this is a twisted and dark book but the romance elements sat me on my ass and did it with gusto. I wasn’t prepared for the amount of feelings I would get with Jarod and Gabriel. They really are an amazing couple but I also wasn’t prepared to become attached to other characters or even test subjects either.
I know I have given details to the story, a lot of them actually and yet I am not even scratching the surface to what is in this. It’s one of those time when I want to sit down and tell you all about, show you all my highlights but I also want to keep those hidden away as the things with suckers and tentacles on level 18. They aren’t ready to be shared so I’ll keep them under lock and key for now.
I will tell you to that this story doesn’t let up. It feels as if you’re given a break but the surprises come out of the dark shadows all the way until the end.
This story, it’s a stellar debut from the author and I cannot wait to get more from this universe. The world building was amazing and I slid into it like warm butter. There was no confusion, just this place that existed and the people with it. I have learned a few things from reading it though like never to deny an anomaly pudding, don’t get attached to the test subjects, the most important people who monitor Armory’s, visitation or food are named Esther, and that risking everything for love, even among monsters is worth the risk.
***End Note: If you decide to pick this up, do not pass on the offer of the free companion book, Siren , to read once you are finished as it takes place in the same time line as Monster. I will tell you, it's quite possibly everything I wish I knew while reading Monster and it was a wonderful surprise.
Dear Soren Summers,
When I first came across your book Monster, I was intrigued. I love a good dark story and the blurb along with the cover checked off a few boxes for me. When I began reading, I took it nice and slow to blend in with this world Jarod Samuels was showing me as he went about this day. When Mr. Perfect shows up, I grinned. When he became snarky Gabriel I liked him but when he became the guy who loves stove top mac and cheese and drools while he sleeps, he became so adorable he needed to fit in my pocket. When Gabriel does the unthinkable, but the only thing he could have done for Jarod, I couldn’t turn the page fast enough and damn work or sleep, I needed to read. But all of this, was only at HALF of the wonderfully imaginable, creative, sexy and twisted story about two men finding love in a truly hopeless place. The rest, it sat me on my ass and blew my mind. So for that, I have to say thank you for this story, for Jarod and Gabriel’s story. Soren Summers, you now have a ginger reader who is now a big fan.
Sincerely,
Red
This book. It’s way different than I expected and that is such a good thing. I don’t really know what I expected but I expected things to be dark for the entire book. They ARE dark, don’t misunderstand but there are these moments where I hugged my Nook, I laughed, grinned and simply swooned over it. AND there are the moments where I was glad I stopped reading while I ate my lunch so that it wouldn’t come back up.
Let’s see if I can tell you a few things.
Told from the third person present tense POV of one Jared Samuels, we meet him as he is going about his day at work as a garbageman at Vertex, a research facility. You get the feeling that the world Jarod lives in is not like ours, it’s a sort of dystopian world where we are left to our imagination as to what happens outside the walls of Vertex and Jarod’s apartment. The early glimpses with the research that goes on inside Vertex is vague and the form of Jarod’s job as in waste management comes in to play when a call goes out that there is a runner on level 12. A runner, yup a runner is a medical test subject at Vertex who has decided they are done but one cannot be done when they have signed on the dotted line to participate. Jarod, being the fastest runner in his department comes up short when the patient is taken down before he can get there and Jarod isn’t happy about being shown up. The new guy, whom Jarod dubs Mr. Perfect is one hell of a snarky but good looking young kid who immediately rubs Jarod the wrong way and possibly the right, but Jarod doesn’t have time for getting attached to anyone or anything.
...Jarod Samuels. A little bland, a little bleary, five years a garbageman. Maybe even for the rest of his life.
Jarod is a quiet man. He does his job well and keeps to himself. He’s learned the importance of when to listen, to speak and when to agree and states the company’s motto verbatim. The only real person he interacts with other than Esther the lunch lady or briefly with the other Ether, is Vanessa “Nessa” Wong who is Jarod’s best friend. Nessa is a lab technician, a researcher and currently in charge of her own project for a drug called Paragon. Paragon is a new formula create to make the body perfect, to heal all that ails or would kill you and it’s important to Vertex. In Nessa’s own words; “Paragon can heal the body and fix everything that’s wrong with it. It’ll take the disease away, but it won’t make you invincible.” Paragon itself has a paradox within in the story but I won’t spoil that for you. It’s far too interesting to let it get rancid.
When Jarod is called up on by his boss and given the privilege of showing Mr. Perfect aka the new guy aka Gabriel Anderson the ropes, the story begins to open up as well as the characters themselves.
When we first meet Gabriel, he’s cocky and snarky and you wonder how Jarod will ever be able to deal with him. But when Jarod begins giving him a tour of the facility, we get the opportunity to see a different side of the men. We learn that they have a common ground, a schooling at Bairston Public under the guidance and pseudo mothering of Coach Bennet the track coach. Both men are fast, Jarod held the school record for until Gabriel beat it. It’s a sore spot for Jarod but it leads to a sense of camaraderie with the men and provides for excellent banter. With that banter, we see that Gabriel’s cockiness does have a vulnerability and we see that as Jarod shows him into the “white room”. Man, Vertex is one crazy place and these two, they are going to need someone to vent with when the shit gets crazy because, you know it will.
None of Vertex’s training could have prepared any of them for this. Gray, white, orange, black, it doesn’t matter. Tonight, the colossus runs red.
As the story unfolds, we get character development and growth with Jarod and Gabriel. From secrets that lead to friendship, friendship that leads to saving and saving that leads to the care of another person, the man have obstacles yet the small things begin to bring them closer together. The secret Gabriel keeps drives Jarod crazy! He’s come to care for this drooling in his sleep spider monkey who loves stop top mac and cheese and takes exactly three minutes to drive off after a shower and all he wants to do is help. Jarod begins to recognize that the way Gabriel acts, his self-preservation is like looking in a mirror but he needs to know why. When he follows Gabriel one night after work, he gets a visual for what keeps his new friend away from home for hours but still doesn’t know the truth and he needs it. That need? It’s translated from words to feelings to one hell of a first kiss to a whole lot of truth spilling and it had me engaged and swooning so much that I read that entire chapter over again.
But Jarod is paranoid and cautious with Gabriel after his confessions though he wants to have blind trust in him. His past mistake in high school gnaws at this conscious but he really needs to let that go. Sure, what Gabriel told him could lead to a world of trouble and maybe injury and possibly death considering how Vertex operates but what can Jarod do? What does Jarod do and what happens to those Jarod trusts and loves?
*whistles*
Yeah, this is a twisted and dark book but the romance elements sat me on my ass and did it with gusto. I wasn’t prepared for the amount of feelings I would get with Jarod and Gabriel. They really are an amazing couple but I also wasn’t prepared to become attached to other characters or even test subjects either.
“I don’t know how much you know about Vertex, but this isn’t your run-of-the-mill research outfit.”
“You don’t say.”
I know I have given details to the story, a lot of them actually and yet I am not even scratching the surface to what is in this. It’s one of those time when I want to sit down and tell you all about, show you all my highlights but I also want to keep those hidden away as the things with suckers and tentacles on level 18. They aren’t ready to be shared so I’ll keep them under lock and key for now.
I will tell you to that this story doesn’t let up. It feels as if you’re given a break but the surprises come out of the dark shadows all the way until the end.
This story, it’s a stellar debut from the author and I cannot wait to get more from this universe. The world building was amazing and I slid into it like warm butter. There was no confusion, just this place that existed and the people with it. I have learned a few things from reading it though like never to deny an anomaly pudding, don’t get attached to the test subjects, the most important people who monitor Armory’s, visitation or food are named Esther, and that risking everything for love, even among monsters is worth the risk.
***End Note: If you decide to pick this up, do not pass on the offer of the free companion book, Siren , to read once you are finished as it takes place in the same time line as Monster. I will tell you, it's quite possibly everything I wish I knew while reading Monster and it was a wonderful surprise.
October 22, 2016
This was great I really hope there's more to come. If you love creepy corporation's that do experimental work on people then this is excellent.
October 4, 2016
Really well written
While the market is fairly flooded with dystopian zombie novels, this one does stand out as being among the best.
Jerod, the protagonist, works at a creepy lab that does experiments on people. He vascillates between being philosophical about the fact that the place is a nightmare and just being in denial. The story is told from his POV in third person present tense, so the reader is always right in the moment with him. And I think the author takes great advantage of this with his portrayal of a character not always at peace with himself.
When Gabriel starts work at the factory, Jerod hates him. Then he develops a hate lust. Then he starts to like him. Then he starts to love him.
The characters are exceptionally well developed. And really the book is much less predictable than you'd think for the genre, as the author doesn't always take the easy path. The romance is completely non-saccharine and very believable, and romantic for its imperfections.
And this book is my new gold standard for explicit sex scenes that forward a plot rather than being gratuitous.
I didn't find it a page turner - it's a little cerebral for that and there is a lot of character development. However it's very well paced and there is no point at which it stalls. It just doesn't move fast, and it focuses more on what the events mean for Jerod than what's happening at any given time. Supporting characters are a bit underdeveloped.
While the market is fairly flooded with dystopian zombie novels, this one does stand out as being among the best.
Jerod, the protagonist, works at a creepy lab that does experiments on people. He vascillates between being philosophical about the fact that the place is a nightmare and just being in denial. The story is told from his POV in third person present tense, so the reader is always right in the moment with him. And I think the author takes great advantage of this with his portrayal of a character not always at peace with himself.
When Gabriel starts work at the factory, Jerod hates him. Then he develops a hate lust. Then he starts to like him. Then he starts to love him.
The characters are exceptionally well developed. And really the book is much less predictable than you'd think for the genre, as the author doesn't always take the easy path. The romance is completely non-saccharine and very believable, and romantic for its imperfections.
And this book is my new gold standard for explicit sex scenes that forward a plot rather than being gratuitous.
I didn't find it a page turner - it's a little cerebral for that and there is a lot of character development. However it's very well paced and there is no point at which it stalls. It just doesn't move fast, and it focuses more on what the events mean for Jerod than what's happening at any given time. Supporting characters are a bit underdeveloped.
December 4, 2016
Got my new blog going. Will be reading more stuff now.
http://cockyreviews.com/monster-soren...
Don't care about stars but it's A for Freaking Awesome!
I had this recced to me and I’m glad I took my time to read it. I like ideas of futuristic worlds and how people have their own vision of what might be on its way, there’s no date stamp on when this is set but it seems like sometime in the near future. I had chills up my spine as I read so there’s a cool creep factor to it, Soren Summers gets ordinary dudes and throws them into a world of complications. I don’t know how Jarod did as good as he did for his first 5 years at Vertex because he’s pretty kind in a weird way, but I guess he’s uncomplicated and doesn’t overthink most things, except he does overthink being close to Gabriel. Then he’s a bit WTF? What does this mean? Gabriel’s like a terrier dog, he bounces around and latches onto things without thinking it all the way through. He seems pretty confident but he needs some tummy rubs too. Like a terrier he can just go for it half arsed and hope it will work out. You put a guy who’s a basic unit with a guy who has reasons to turn stuff upside down in a creepy workplace and you get Monster, and Monster is all kinds of epic!
http://cockyreviews.com/monster-soren...
Don't care about stars but it's A for Freaking Awesome!
I had this recced to me and I’m glad I took my time to read it. I like ideas of futuristic worlds and how people have their own vision of what might be on its way, there’s no date stamp on when this is set but it seems like sometime in the near future. I had chills up my spine as I read so there’s a cool creep factor to it, Soren Summers gets ordinary dudes and throws them into a world of complications. I don’t know how Jarod did as good as he did for his first 5 years at Vertex because he’s pretty kind in a weird way, but I guess he’s uncomplicated and doesn’t overthink most things, except he does overthink being close to Gabriel. Then he’s a bit WTF? What does this mean? Gabriel’s like a terrier dog, he bounces around and latches onto things without thinking it all the way through. He seems pretty confident but he needs some tummy rubs too. Like a terrier he can just go for it half arsed and hope it will work out. You put a guy who’s a basic unit with a guy who has reasons to turn stuff upside down in a creepy workplace and you get Monster, and Monster is all kinds of epic!
Read
March 30, 2017Pretend I wrote something cute and clever here.
Dark material ahead, outright horror in places. No real warnings apart from graphic violence. Proceed with caution.
You're the best <3
Edit: The sequel, Parasite, is now available. For the full story, you can also download a free copy of Siren, Monster's companion novella and book #1.5 of the series.
Dark material ahead, outright horror in places. No real warnings apart from graphic violence. Proceed with caution.
You're the best <3
Edit: The sequel, Parasite, is now available. For the full story, you can also download a free copy of Siren, Monster's companion novella and book #1.5 of the series.
April 20, 2017
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.75 stars
Monster was a pleasant surprise. It was enjoyable from the beginning, but it evolved into something completely different by the end. On the surface it’s an occasionally slow developing romance between two men who start as competitors but advance into partners both at work and home. Gabriel, especially, has his secrets and he isn’t as honest as he should be with Jarod, but they still mesh as a couple. Jarod comes off as wearied and settled in his life and only reluctantly agrees to the whirlwind of a romance. Yet he and Gabriel are loyal to one another with an absolutism that I found refreshing and sweet. Their relationship develops believability against the backdrop of their increasingly dangerous job. The pacing is a little slow, but this is often counterbalanced by the anticipatory thread running through the plot — we know something is coming, but we don’t know quite what.
I’m going to work very hard not to give away any spoilers regarding the ending. I will say there is at least one sequel, which gives the ending a bit more gravity. We are exposed to the realities of research at Vertex through several instances of “cleanup” that Jarod and Gabriel must endure. Aside from questionable ethics, there are very real questions about how and why Vertex conducts its trials in such a way. As a result, there are often more than one kind of monster roaming the halls Vertex and all of them are a threat. One of the major themes in the book is that each character must decide at some point if the work they do is helping or hurting and at what point do the ends no longer justify the means.
Read Sue’s review in its entirety here.
4.75 stars
Monster was a pleasant surprise. It was enjoyable from the beginning, but it evolved into something completely different by the end. On the surface it’s an occasionally slow developing romance between two men who start as competitors but advance into partners both at work and home. Gabriel, especially, has his secrets and he isn’t as honest as he should be with Jarod, but they still mesh as a couple. Jarod comes off as wearied and settled in his life and only reluctantly agrees to the whirlwind of a romance. Yet he and Gabriel are loyal to one another with an absolutism that I found refreshing and sweet. Their relationship develops believability against the backdrop of their increasingly dangerous job. The pacing is a little slow, but this is often counterbalanced by the anticipatory thread running through the plot — we know something is coming, but we don’t know quite what.
I’m going to work very hard not to give away any spoilers regarding the ending. I will say there is at least one sequel, which gives the ending a bit more gravity. We are exposed to the realities of research at Vertex through several instances of “cleanup” that Jarod and Gabriel must endure. Aside from questionable ethics, there are very real questions about how and why Vertex conducts its trials in such a way. As a result, there are often more than one kind of monster roaming the halls Vertex and all of them are a threat. One of the major themes in the book is that each character must decide at some point if the work they do is helping or hurting and at what point do the ends no longer justify the means.
Read Sue’s review in its entirety here.
June 5, 2017
4.5 stars
So this first in the series is basically a story of "the before" the zombie apocalypse happens. Which is interesting because usually in zombie apocalypse stories it starts in the middle of it or at the start, never before it happens.
But this is exactly what this is, the why and how the zombie apocalypse starts.
Of course, we get some romance thrown in there. But this story is basically half world building of Vertex, the place Jarod works, as well as setting up the main plot of the series, and half romance.
The only thing that frustrated me throughout the story was not getting much of Gabriel's feelings for Jarod. Like, he says that he loves Jarod halfway, but Gabriel was set up as such an untrustworthy character, as someone who was potentially just using Jarod - although this is from Jarod's POV and so we only get that feeling because that is how Jarod feels - that I didn't believe it at all when he said he loved him. I think we got enough (one very hot sex scene, which I enjoyed a lot) to know that he is definitely attracted to Jarod, but I feel like Jarod was so weary of being betrayed and so untrustworthy of most around them, that he kept a distance with Gabriel that left me not feeling much about Gabriel, because I didn't really get to know Gabriel.
Also, the story and Gabriel says he's so used to lying that he doesn't know how to, so even when he most likely tells Jarod the truth, I wasn't sure if it was. I guess because we have such a close POV with Jarod and we don't get Gabriel's perspective at all, it was just hard to get a read on Gabriel. That frustrated me, because I wanted to like Gabriel and cheer for these two, but there just hasn't been enough between these two for me to feel that yet.
I was starting to feel it toward the end, now that these two are sticking together, but I'm hoping we get a deeper connection with them in the next book, which skips forward quite some time. But I love zombie apocalypse stuff and so that's my jam. I'm excited to read the next book.
And I did enjoy this, don't get me wrong, and I think there is definitely something there between Jarod and Gabriel - I just wish there had been more on the romance front so that I could feel more than just "something there" between them. But I guess that's what the following books are for, getting them to that in love stage.
I did enjoy some secondary characters, like Robbie, and his friendship with Jarod, and the what happens at the climax of the books is crazy and OMG and can't-put-down-have-to-know-what-happens worthy.
A lot of the book is build up, but it layers out the creepiness that is Vertex throughout until the climax, so you know that something is definitely not right with this place.
Just goes to show you that sometimes it is not better to try and eradicate death to the point that humans would be perfect. Because then you get zombies, woohoo....
Anyway, this is an enjoyable book, and I did liked it a lot, and I do get that this is the first in the series and we weren't going to get Jarod and Gabriel's happily-ever-after just yet. (Still think there could have been more with Gabriel though, less of a distance with him so the reader could have gotten more of a connection with him).
So this first in the series is basically a story of "the before" the zombie apocalypse happens. Which is interesting because usually in zombie apocalypse stories it starts in the middle of it or at the start, never before it happens.
But this is exactly what this is, the why and how the zombie apocalypse starts.
Of course, we get some romance thrown in there. But this story is basically half world building of Vertex, the place Jarod works, as well as setting up the main plot of the series, and half romance.
The only thing that frustrated me throughout the story was not getting much of Gabriel's feelings for Jarod. Like, he says that he loves Jarod halfway, but Gabriel was set up as such an untrustworthy character, as someone who was potentially just using Jarod - although this is from Jarod's POV and so we only get that feeling because that is how Jarod feels - that I didn't believe it at all when he said he loved him. I think we got enough (one very hot sex scene, which I enjoyed a lot) to know that he is definitely attracted to Jarod, but I feel like Jarod was so weary of being betrayed and so untrustworthy of most around them, that he kept a distance with Gabriel that left me not feeling much about Gabriel, because I didn't really get to know Gabriel.
Also, the story and Gabriel says he's so used to lying that he doesn't know how to, so even when he most likely tells Jarod the truth, I wasn't sure if it was. I guess because we have such a close POV with Jarod and we don't get Gabriel's perspective at all, it was just hard to get a read on Gabriel. That frustrated me, because I wanted to like Gabriel and cheer for these two, but there just hasn't been enough between these two for me to feel that yet.
I was starting to feel it toward the end, now that these two are sticking together, but I'm hoping we get a deeper connection with them in the next book, which skips forward quite some time. But I love zombie apocalypse stuff and so that's my jam. I'm excited to read the next book.
And I did enjoy this, don't get me wrong, and I think there is definitely something there between Jarod and Gabriel - I just wish there had been more on the romance front so that I could feel more than just "something there" between them. But I guess that's what the following books are for, getting them to that in love stage.
I did enjoy some secondary characters, like Robbie, and his friendship with Jarod, and the what happens at the climax of the books is crazy and OMG and can't-put-down-have-to-know-what-happens worthy.
A lot of the book is build up, but it layers out the creepiness that is Vertex throughout until the climax, so you know that something is definitely not right with this place.
Just goes to show you that sometimes it is not better to try and eradicate death to the point that humans would be perfect. Because then you get zombies, woohoo....
Anyway, this is an enjoyable book, and I did liked it a lot, and I do get that this is the first in the series and we weren't going to get Jarod and Gabriel's happily-ever-after just yet. (Still think there could have been more with Gabriel though, less of a distance with him so the reader could have gotten more of a connection with him).
November 12, 2016
Boy, was this one creepy story! Jarod is an employee at Vertex, a mysterious company that is searching for disease cures and whatnot “for the betterment of mankind.” It is basically a test facility, or one big lab where humans are tested and experimented on with what seems like mostly disastrous results, a few of which we get the gory details. Many of the subjects are terminally ill, signing up for the tests as a last resort. The company is highly secure, with cameras everywhere being watched by central command. When subjects cause incidents and get out of hand, or expire, Jarod and his crew are basically the first responders. They are the security, touted as heroes who keep everyone safe, though the lab technicians and other staff are the main concern.
Much of the beginning of this story centers around the company and it’s facility and Jarod’s actual job. When a new guy is brought on, Jarod is tasked with showing him the ropes. Gabriel is a bit of a mystery for a while, and it takes Jarod a while to warm up to him. But he opens up his heart and home to Gabriel once he learns Gabriel is basically homeless and without friends. They dance around a bit and have quite a few trust issues to deal with before they become more than friends. It isn’t until just after halfway through the story that that actually happens and they partake in I believe the only sex scene in the story.
The rest of the story involves Jarod’s realizations about Gabriel and his motives, his work at Vertex and what they actually do there and his coming to grips with it all. In the end, the two embark on what seems like a new journey after things with Vertex go flying in another direction leaving the story somewhat open-ended.
This was quite an interesting story with everything surrounding Vertex and the budding relationship between Jarod and Gabriel. While I found the first half to be a bit slow going, things get rather exciting in the second half which kept me turning pages and longing for more story at the end. If you enjoy creepy sci-fi-ish stories with a hint of romance, you’ll be sure to enjoy this one. It was a nice change of pace from the rest of the books I have been reading, and I will definitely be on the lookout for more of this story, as well as more of this author’s work.
Received in exchange for a fair and honest review written for Love Bytes Reviews.
Much of the beginning of this story centers around the company and it’s facility and Jarod’s actual job. When a new guy is brought on, Jarod is tasked with showing him the ropes. Gabriel is a bit of a mystery for a while, and it takes Jarod a while to warm up to him. But he opens up his heart and home to Gabriel once he learns Gabriel is basically homeless and without friends. They dance around a bit and have quite a few trust issues to deal with before they become more than friends. It isn’t until just after halfway through the story that that actually happens and they partake in I believe the only sex scene in the story.
The rest of the story involves Jarod’s realizations about Gabriel and his motives, his work at Vertex and what they actually do there and his coming to grips with it all. In the end, the two embark on what seems like a new journey after things with Vertex go flying in another direction leaving the story somewhat open-ended.
This was quite an interesting story with everything surrounding Vertex and the budding relationship between Jarod and Gabriel. While I found the first half to be a bit slow going, things get rather exciting in the second half which kept me turning pages and longing for more story at the end. If you enjoy creepy sci-fi-ish stories with a hint of romance, you’ll be sure to enjoy this one. It was a nice change of pace from the rest of the books I have been reading, and I will definitely be on the lookout for more of this story, as well as more of this author’s work.
Received in exchange for a fair and honest review written for Love Bytes Reviews.
November 1, 2016
“Running is vital in waste management. It helps to get you to the scene of an incident as quickly as possible. It also helps when you’re running away from the situation, or anything in the vicinity that might want to destroy, eat, or borrow your vital organs.” ~ Jarod Samuels, garbageman
Author Soren Summers’ outstanding debut novel, Monster, tells a story of man vs science, and succumbing to the temptation to play God when knowledge and access to the right resources breed hubris—all for the greater good. Or so the party line goes. But, the road to hell and whatnot, right? Reading this book made me feel a lot like I did the first time I read some of my favorite Michael Crichton, Stephen King, and Dean Koontz novels; the adrenaline rush is so addictive, and I can’t wait to see what Summers has up his creative sleeve for the continuation of this story.
Corporate intrigue and the ethical question of using humans as guinea pigs to test Vertex’s latest innovation, Paragon—a scientific breakthrough that will make mankind better, faster, stronger, virtually impervious. And dangerous—gives this novel its dark and gritty edge. Summers’ writing is perfection, every scene is brimming with action, suspense and/or curiosity piquing, and the moral dilemma of right and wrong and who the monsters truly are elevates this novel to another level of excellence in the horror genre. Of course, whenever man interferes with the natural order of life and death, nothing good can come of it, which creates the twist in this novel—once the pin is pulled from the grenade, there’s no turning back. I loved the way the author sprinkled bits of information here and there in what seemed to be an innocuous way, when what was being revealed was not only disturbing but could be downright bone-chilling as well. There are some heartbreaking and brilliantly frightening scenes in this story, too, some great human touches within the inhumanity that gives it an emotional punch I wasn’t at all expecting.
As the story’s protagonist, garbageman Jarod Samuels plays company drone. Jarod is in waste management at Vertex, which is not at all as simple as disposing of office refuse. “Out here in Pleasance, he’s just the department’s best runner, but hey, he’ll take what he can get.” Vertex’s “grays” serve a very different role, a macabre cog in the God machine that pushes the moral ambiguity question even further into the…gray area. There’s justifying what he does for a living as just a job. But then, there’s also the question of that job separating Jarod from his own humanity in his ability to compensate his conscience by detaching emotionally from what is expected of him. When Gabriel Anderson storms onto the scene and into Jarod’s life, neither man is prepared for the bond that grows between them. They are nemesis and pawn at the outset, but things change as they begin to see each other in a more humane way—a jarring contrast to their willingness to protect each other, no matter the cost to themselves.
There isn’t much pleasant about Pleasance, Paragon is the epitome of horror, and Vertex seems to be the apex predator at the top of the Machiavellian food chain. The end of Monster leaves questions unanswered—for the city, for the corporation, and for Jarod and Gabriel—and I’m salivating for its sequel. All the characters in this novel so richly serve the story—some giving the world a sense of normalcy; others, not so much—and every single detail of this cautionary tale is just sublime. If you love a great psychological thriller, Monster is that and so much more.
Also, as a bonus to readers who subscribe to Soren Summers’ newsletter, there’s a free companion short story up for grabs, called Siren. I grabbed it. As Monster is told from Jarod’s point of view, getting a bead on Gabriel’s actions and motives can be murky, at best. Being able to read some of the novel’s key scenes from Gabriel’s point of view not only added great insight but left me still on the fence as to whether they’re the heroes or antiheroes of their story, which is another brilliant hook for readers.
Reviewed by Lisa for The Novel Approach Reviews
Author Soren Summers’ outstanding debut novel, Monster, tells a story of man vs science, and succumbing to the temptation to play God when knowledge and access to the right resources breed hubris—all for the greater good. Or so the party line goes. But, the road to hell and whatnot, right? Reading this book made me feel a lot like I did the first time I read some of my favorite Michael Crichton, Stephen King, and Dean Koontz novels; the adrenaline rush is so addictive, and I can’t wait to see what Summers has up his creative sleeve for the continuation of this story.
Corporate intrigue and the ethical question of using humans as guinea pigs to test Vertex’s latest innovation, Paragon—a scientific breakthrough that will make mankind better, faster, stronger, virtually impervious. And dangerous—gives this novel its dark and gritty edge. Summers’ writing is perfection, every scene is brimming with action, suspense and/or curiosity piquing, and the moral dilemma of right and wrong and who the monsters truly are elevates this novel to another level of excellence in the horror genre. Of course, whenever man interferes with the natural order of life and death, nothing good can come of it, which creates the twist in this novel—once the pin is pulled from the grenade, there’s no turning back. I loved the way the author sprinkled bits of information here and there in what seemed to be an innocuous way, when what was being revealed was not only disturbing but could be downright bone-chilling as well. There are some heartbreaking and brilliantly frightening scenes in this story, too, some great human touches within the inhumanity that gives it an emotional punch I wasn’t at all expecting.
As the story’s protagonist, garbageman Jarod Samuels plays company drone. Jarod is in waste management at Vertex, which is not at all as simple as disposing of office refuse. “Out here in Pleasance, he’s just the department’s best runner, but hey, he’ll take what he can get.” Vertex’s “grays” serve a very different role, a macabre cog in the God machine that pushes the moral ambiguity question even further into the…gray area. There’s justifying what he does for a living as just a job. But then, there’s also the question of that job separating Jarod from his own humanity in his ability to compensate his conscience by detaching emotionally from what is expected of him. When Gabriel Anderson storms onto the scene and into Jarod’s life, neither man is prepared for the bond that grows between them. They are nemesis and pawn at the outset, but things change as they begin to see each other in a more humane way—a jarring contrast to their willingness to protect each other, no matter the cost to themselves.
There isn’t much pleasant about Pleasance, Paragon is the epitome of horror, and Vertex seems to be the apex predator at the top of the Machiavellian food chain. The end of Monster leaves questions unanswered—for the city, for the corporation, and for Jarod and Gabriel—and I’m salivating for its sequel. All the characters in this novel so richly serve the story—some giving the world a sense of normalcy; others, not so much—and every single detail of this cautionary tale is just sublime. If you love a great psychological thriller, Monster is that and so much more.
Also, as a bonus to readers who subscribe to Soren Summers’ newsletter, there’s a free companion short story up for grabs, called Siren. I grabbed it. As Monster is told from Jarod’s point of view, getting a bead on Gabriel’s actions and motives can be murky, at best. Being able to read some of the novel’s key scenes from Gabriel’s point of view not only added great insight but left me still on the fence as to whether they’re the heroes or antiheroes of their story, which is another brilliant hook for readers.
Reviewed by Lisa for The Novel Approach Reviews
August 30, 2018
Really excellent take on how a dark and bloody dystopia might start.
A lot of build up and signs - really how could a giant organisation manipulating genes and trying to end all diseases possibly go wrong ?
Jarod and Gabriel are messed up emotionally , and quite young, and work at Vertex ( the giant organisation) doing what is euphemistically called cleanup when they witness something very disturbing, again.
Its a bit messy in parts, and a lot of information provided but gripping and fun to read.
Also not a romance, the main relationship is between 2 men, but that for me was the weakest part of the book as it fell foul of misunderstandings and lack of communication all the way through.
Straight into the next one though - as I want to know what happens next !
A lot of build up and signs - really how could a giant organisation manipulating genes and trying to end all diseases possibly go wrong ?
Jarod and Gabriel are messed up emotionally , and quite young, and work at Vertex ( the giant organisation) doing what is euphemistically called cleanup when they witness something very disturbing, again.
Its a bit messy in parts, and a lot of information provided but gripping and fun to read.
Also not a romance, the main relationship is between 2 men, but that for me was the weakest part of the book as it fell foul of misunderstandings and lack of communication all the way through.
Straight into the next one though - as I want to know what happens next !
December 10, 2016
I was so not expecting this book to be such a crazy ride but it was worthwhile. The first half was slow moving but it was all for the sake of setting up the story and introducing the characters, which made perfect sense. I've learned that sometimes a slow burn pays off. At the 70% mark everything started coming together and SO MUCH HAPPENED. It was epic! I need more M/M horror/suspense/sci-fi reads in my life because this was 4.5 stars of weirdo fun.
July 11, 2017
DNF at 30%
What a snoozefest!
What a snoozefest!
maybe
March 6, 2020Free on Amazon 02/14/2018
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01...
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01...
December 20, 2016
Monster (Vertex Series Book 1)
By Soren Summers
By the author, 2016
ISBN: 9781533745996
Five stars
A new writer with a new universe. And it’s not pretty. Welcome to world of Vertex, where Jarod Samuels is in waste management, and Gabriel Anderson is the new guy who both irritates and intrigues him.
Summers is a very good writer. No nonsense. Elegant, just descriptive enough to create a vivid sense of the foreboding nature of the Vertex headquarters outside of Pleasance, somewhere in America. Jarod is a regular guy, bullied in high school, who took refuge in track with the support of a gruff but loving female coach. His ability to run faster than anyone else is one of his key skills at Vertex. When something goes wrong, he and the other gray-uniformed waste managers have one job: protect the scientists, and then clean up the mess. His other key skill is not thinking too deeply about what it is he’s cleaning up or why it’s there.
Gabriel shares part of Jarod’s past – at least the track coach part of it. Other than that, he’s an odd guy in spite of his speed in the Vertex corridors. Jarod is put off and attracted at the same time, and ultimately his kind nature leads to increasing intimacy. And that’s when things start to get even stranger.
It’s hard to describe how deftly Summers weaves in various little plot points, discreetly emphasizing aspects of these men’s personalities, as well as carefully offered details about other characters who appear in the narrative. Everything he gives us has a purpose; everything will make sense eventually as the increasingly sinister atmosphere of Vertex builds page by page.
The plot moves along smoothly, almost quietly in a kind of sci-fi paranoia for about two-thirds of the book, and then a cataclysmic paranormal moment appears to knock the book off the rails…it really bugged me. And then I realized that it was supposed to bug me, because it was merely a distraction from an even bigger, more appalling revelation at the end. Well done, Mr Summers.
This is the start of a series, and I honestly don’t know what will come next. But the final words in the book, “This isn’t over,” sit there on the page, and I’m not quite sure if it’s a promise or a threat. Either way, I’ll be back to see where Vertex takes me next.
By Soren Summers
By the author, 2016
ISBN: 9781533745996
Five stars
A new writer with a new universe. And it’s not pretty. Welcome to world of Vertex, where Jarod Samuels is in waste management, and Gabriel Anderson is the new guy who both irritates and intrigues him.
Summers is a very good writer. No nonsense. Elegant, just descriptive enough to create a vivid sense of the foreboding nature of the Vertex headquarters outside of Pleasance, somewhere in America. Jarod is a regular guy, bullied in high school, who took refuge in track with the support of a gruff but loving female coach. His ability to run faster than anyone else is one of his key skills at Vertex. When something goes wrong, he and the other gray-uniformed waste managers have one job: protect the scientists, and then clean up the mess. His other key skill is not thinking too deeply about what it is he’s cleaning up or why it’s there.
Gabriel shares part of Jarod’s past – at least the track coach part of it. Other than that, he’s an odd guy in spite of his speed in the Vertex corridors. Jarod is put off and attracted at the same time, and ultimately his kind nature leads to increasing intimacy. And that’s when things start to get even stranger.
It’s hard to describe how deftly Summers weaves in various little plot points, discreetly emphasizing aspects of these men’s personalities, as well as carefully offered details about other characters who appear in the narrative. Everything he gives us has a purpose; everything will make sense eventually as the increasingly sinister atmosphere of Vertex builds page by page.
The plot moves along smoothly, almost quietly in a kind of sci-fi paranoia for about two-thirds of the book, and then a cataclysmic paranormal moment appears to knock the book off the rails…it really bugged me. And then I realized that it was supposed to bug me, because it was merely a distraction from an even bigger, more appalling revelation at the end. Well done, Mr Summers.
This is the start of a series, and I honestly don’t know what will come next. But the final words in the book, “This isn’t over,” sit there on the page, and I’m not quite sure if it’s a promise or a threat. Either way, I’ll be back to see where Vertex takes me next.
December 23, 2016
This book was recommended by Jay over at Cocky Reviews, so I decided to pick it up via Kindle Unlimited. I don’t read many M/M horror stories so I was anxious to see how this one would turn out and it was badass!
Monster is Soren Summers’ debut novel. The story follows Jarod, a guy who works in waste management at Vertex. Waste management does not mean what you think it means. Vertex is a billion dollar company that dabbles in a bit of everything. On the outside, it appears to be a bastion of scientific research, but multiple underground floors hide away some insane experiments.
Jarod’s job is to contain the subjects (many have volunteered for these experiments) when they escape. He’s also tasked with sweeping up the aftermath in laboratories when things go awry. Aftermath = blood and gore. He also takes out the trash at night. The bags are filled with things Jarod suspects are body parts, but he never asks questions. For the most part, he keeps his head down to keep the paycheck coming in. What makes Jarod so good at his job is his ability to disconnect from his duties. He leads a relatively mundane life, but he also wants to move up in the company.
Vertex hires a new guy, Gabriel. Gabriel has a connection to Jarod (which they discover during their initial encounter), and because Jarod is so good at his job, his supervisor enlists him to teach Gabriel the ins and outs of Vertex. Jarod finds Gabriel to be cocky and he’s itching to fuck up his world.
This is where our story picks up.
Monster wasn’t anything that I anticipated.
I LOVED IT.
Holy moly at the 70% mark I was flipping pages like no one’s business. Summers’ writing grips you. I don’t want to give too much away, but I’m a greedy reader. The best part about the bonus ending is you get things from Gabriel’s perspective which helps fill in the blanks to some degree. Well, if you sign up for Soren’s mailing list which I happily did. I cannot wait to read more from this author. I eagerly await Book Two!
I give Monster (Vertex Book 1) five fantastic stars.
The book is currently on sale via Kindle Countdown for $0.99, grab it while you can if you don’t have a Kindle Unlimited membership!
Reviewed for Gay Book Reviews
http://gaybook.reviews/2016/12/23/mon...
Monster is Soren Summers’ debut novel. The story follows Jarod, a guy who works in waste management at Vertex. Waste management does not mean what you think it means. Vertex is a billion dollar company that dabbles in a bit of everything. On the outside, it appears to be a bastion of scientific research, but multiple underground floors hide away some insane experiments.
Jarod’s job is to contain the subjects (many have volunteered for these experiments) when they escape. He’s also tasked with sweeping up the aftermath in laboratories when things go awry. Aftermath = blood and gore. He also takes out the trash at night. The bags are filled with things Jarod suspects are body parts, but he never asks questions. For the most part, he keeps his head down to keep the paycheck coming in. What makes Jarod so good at his job is his ability to disconnect from his duties. He leads a relatively mundane life, but he also wants to move up in the company.
Vertex hires a new guy, Gabriel. Gabriel has a connection to Jarod (which they discover during their initial encounter), and because Jarod is so good at his job, his supervisor enlists him to teach Gabriel the ins and outs of Vertex. Jarod finds Gabriel to be cocky and he’s itching to fuck up his world.
This is where our story picks up.
Monster wasn’t anything that I anticipated.
I LOVED IT.
Holy moly at the 70% mark I was flipping pages like no one’s business. Summers’ writing grips you. I don’t want to give too much away, but I’m a greedy reader. The best part about the bonus ending is you get things from Gabriel’s perspective which helps fill in the blanks to some degree. Well, if you sign up for Soren’s mailing list which I happily did. I cannot wait to read more from this author. I eagerly await Book Two!
I give Monster (Vertex Book 1) five fantastic stars.
The book is currently on sale via Kindle Countdown for $0.99, grab it while you can if you don’t have a Kindle Unlimited membership!
Reviewed for Gay Book Reviews
http://gaybook.reviews/2016/12/23/mon...
May 2, 2017
Horror for those who love horror and for those who don't
This book was nothing like I expected and everything I could possibly have hoped for!
I am not a horror reader usually. I don't enjoy it in books or movies. Blood, guts, bodies, gore, screaming, all these things tend to drive me away. And even with those exact descriptors in the blurb for this book, something about it intrigued me. I 'm really glad it did because the book was nothing like its blurb.
Vertex surprised me, because I couldn't figure out how such a place would be allowed, but it was actually quite simple; it is a completely legal research facility. To the public it is a famous lab that researches everything from cures to biomechanics to defences. Yes, there is human testing, but it is all done with forms, legalities, agreements, and terminal patients. Suddenly having a lab with so many deaths makes sense on the surface. But then you go into Vertex through Jarod's eyes and everything takes this creepy turn.
There is definitely blood and guts present in this book but at first it's hardly even a bother. There is this dissociation from it through Jarod, that this is simply part of the job, and it may not even be human blood. There is this constant reinforcement that what Vertex does is for the good of others, so things tha t happen are alright. After all, a job at Vertex pays well, has good health coverage, and has advancement opportunities. It is as the book continues on that every bit of that takes a downward turn.
There is this pervasive sense of fear and paranoia in the book that only builds. It never lets down, even in times of what you would think are tenderness. There is a constant question about what each person is working for and how it will affect the others they know.
The concept of a Monster is challenged in this book. Are the monsters the test subjects, the things with tentacles and chips in their head? Are they the lab techs who actually do these experiments and subject people and animals to the experiments? Are they the garbage men, these workers who subdue and clean without asking question? Or are they the faceless leaders of the corporation, allowing all of this to happen? By the end of the book, amidst the growing paranoia, you'll be pretty sure that everyone is a monster, and no one at all.
This book does end on a bit of a cliffhanger. Not only do we see something at the end that will change the world, there are also some lingering questions that invade your mind. This book was an excellent out of the norm one for me and I look forward to the rest of the series!
This book was nothing like I expected and everything I could possibly have hoped for!
I am not a horror reader usually. I don't enjoy it in books or movies. Blood, guts, bodies, gore, screaming, all these things tend to drive me away. And even with those exact descriptors in the blurb for this book, something about it intrigued me. I 'm really glad it did because the book was nothing like its blurb.
Vertex surprised me, because I couldn't figure out how such a place would be allowed, but it was actually quite simple; it is a completely legal research facility. To the public it is a famous lab that researches everything from cures to biomechanics to defences. Yes, there is human testing, but it is all done with forms, legalities, agreements, and terminal patients. Suddenly having a lab with so many deaths makes sense on the surface. But then you go into Vertex through Jarod's eyes and everything takes this creepy turn.
There is definitely blood and guts present in this book but at first it's hardly even a bother. There is this dissociation from it through Jarod, that this is simply part of the job, and it may not even be human blood. There is this constant reinforcement that what Vertex does is for the good of others, so things tha t happen are alright. After all, a job at Vertex pays well, has good health coverage, and has advancement opportunities. It is as the book continues on that every bit of that takes a downward turn.
There is this pervasive sense of fear and paranoia in the book that only builds. It never lets down, even in times of what you would think are tenderness. There is a constant question about what each person is working for and how it will affect the others they know.
The concept of a Monster is challenged in this book. Are the monsters the test subjects, the things with tentacles and chips in their head? Are they the lab techs who actually do these experiments and subject people and animals to the experiments? Are they the garbage men, these workers who subdue and clean without asking question? Or are they the faceless leaders of the corporation, allowing all of this to happen? By the end of the book, amidst the growing paranoia, you'll be pretty sure that everyone is a monster, and no one at all.
This book does end on a bit of a cliffhanger. Not only do we see something at the end that will change the world, there are also some lingering questions that invade your mind. This book was an excellent out of the norm one for me and I look forward to the rest of the series!
April 23, 2017
5 stars+...This is the first book by this author and i'll definitely be reading more and definitely be re-reading this.....I admit it was slow to get going but not boring slow...It kept me turning the pages and didn't get confused....I'm a big fan of The Walking Dead and Resident Evil so i had a pretty good idea I'd love this.....Everything was described easily so you won't get confused at what's going on.....Jarod and Gabriel are pretty cool together and I loved them both from the start....I'm not gonna go into what happens in the book but just say I loved it and am looking forward to reading book 2 x
on-sale-to-read
July 22, 2017
June 17, 2018
Lame, boring, not fun and bloody grossness Like i was promised...LoL
Read 2/3rds
Anyone read this and was into it? Let me know what you think.
Read 2/3rds
Anyone read this and was into it? Let me know what you think.
March 20, 2017
I'm not one to shy away from a horror sci-fantasy tome, and this book did not disappoint. In a genre that can be hit-and-miss this book is a breath of fresh air with a hint of nostalgia for me as I can't help but be reminded of River and the Alliance from Firefly... Can't wait to start the second book in the series.
September 16, 2017
There's not much I can add that hasn't already been covered in the numerous glowing reviews of MONSTER, so I won't even attempt to rehash the brilliance of the plot, the world building, or Soren Summers' ability to describe everything with such vivid detail. This is a book that's really going to stick with me. It inspires me as both a reader and a writer, and I'm ready to jump right into the next installment. Well done, Mr. Summers. You're the best.
Want to read
March 17, 20173/17/17 Happy St. Paddy's Day 99c sale:
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Monster-Vertex...
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Monster-Vertex...
dnf
July 23, 2020Rating: DNF.
This book is just not grabbing me. I think it's because in the short time I'm reading it, I don't like either of the MCs. Maybe it's not fair because I really have seen anything from Gabriel's point of view, but what I've read I haven't liked. I'm not a big fan of the other MC Jarod either. Top it off by not really liking the author's writing style and I'm giving up. Luckily, I got it through Amazon's KU program so no biggie.
This book is just not grabbing me. I think it's because in the short time I'm reading it, I don't like either of the MCs. Maybe it's not fair because I really have seen anything from Gabriel's point of view, but what I've read I haven't liked. I'm not a big fan of the other MC Jarod either. Top it off by not really liking the author's writing style and I'm giving up. Luckily, I got it through Amazon's KU program so no biggie.
July 29, 2017
A 3.5 star review by The Blogger Girls
I am a bit flummoxed as to what to make of this story. I loved it and didn’t in almost equal parts. Such an odd place to be when trying to review a book with pure and honest intentions. On the one hand, I almost gave up in the beginning and called it a day because I was just not getting into it the way I wanted to. I went back and read all the great reviews and decided to keep trudging through waiting to get to the good parts. Therein lies my conundrum – I don’t want to trudge through to the good parts, I want to be captivated enough to keep reading. Did this book pick up and end on a positive note? Yes. So, there is my issue.
Jarod and Gabriel have really disgusting jobs. The whole human experiments and laboratory creepiness, the “garbage”men job descriptions, and the on-edge when the alarm sounds was enough to keep me on board. I liked that. Makes you wonder if stuff like that actually happens, and what really creeped me out the most was that it probably does. So, in the middle of all this grossness, is the early competition between Jarod and new hire, Gabriel. It doesn’t take long for a sweet romance to blossom between the two and that secondary romance is what kept some of the unsavory aspects of this story at bay.
So, I am back to trying to put my thoughts into one single category and I’ve realized that it is just not possible. The story is unique, creepy, gross, kind of funny in places, while also being sweet and romantic at the same time. I guess now that I really think about it and have put my thoughts down on paper, it really is a good story that just started out a little slow. My recommendation is to let it play out and see for yourself if the ending exceeds the beginning. My bet is that it will.
I am a bit flummoxed as to what to make of this story. I loved it and didn’t in almost equal parts. Such an odd place to be when trying to review a book with pure and honest intentions. On the one hand, I almost gave up in the beginning and called it a day because I was just not getting into it the way I wanted to. I went back and read all the great reviews and decided to keep trudging through waiting to get to the good parts. Therein lies my conundrum – I don’t want to trudge through to the good parts, I want to be captivated enough to keep reading. Did this book pick up and end on a positive note? Yes. So, there is my issue.
Jarod and Gabriel have really disgusting jobs. The whole human experiments and laboratory creepiness, the “garbage”men job descriptions, and the on-edge when the alarm sounds was enough to keep me on board. I liked that. Makes you wonder if stuff like that actually happens, and what really creeped me out the most was that it probably does. So, in the middle of all this grossness, is the early competition between Jarod and new hire, Gabriel. It doesn’t take long for a sweet romance to blossom between the two and that secondary romance is what kept some of the unsavory aspects of this story at bay.
So, I am back to trying to put my thoughts into one single category and I’ve realized that it is just not possible. The story is unique, creepy, gross, kind of funny in places, while also being sweet and romantic at the same time. I guess now that I really think about it and have put my thoughts down on paper, it really is a good story that just started out a little slow. My recommendation is to let it play out and see for yourself if the ending exceeds the beginning. My bet is that it will.
January 22, 2018
Well wholly crap....that was a trip!
This book was recommended to me, no words were sent, just a link to the book...a quick read of the synopsis and there started my adventure in the Vertex world. I am a big fan of dystopian fiction, suspense, horror, mystery and m/m...this book delivers on all fronts.
Mr Summers has weaved together an alternate universe where human testing is known and accepted, things in giant black body bags may or may not be animal or mineral and a red tie can make anything a uniform.
We are told the story from the point of view of Jarrod, who is in "waste management" for the Vertex Corp, a large very wealthy and very influential company that is working toward the betterment of mankind.....(mmm hmm...right)
I hate reviews with spoilers so ill just say that the book was awesomesauce. Following the story was almost like anticipating the height of a crescendo, you knew it was coming, had an idea what it might be but when it happens it still makes your heart pound and your eyes blink and your inner voice say wholly crap!
Very well written with a story that leaves you wanting more.....and more I shall have, on to book two!
This book was recommended to me, no words were sent, just a link to the book...a quick read of the synopsis and there started my adventure in the Vertex world. I am a big fan of dystopian fiction, suspense, horror, mystery and m/m...this book delivers on all fronts.
Mr Summers has weaved together an alternate universe where human testing is known and accepted, things in giant black body bags may or may not be animal or mineral and a red tie can make anything a uniform.
We are told the story from the point of view of Jarrod, who is in "waste management" for the Vertex Corp, a large very wealthy and very influential company that is working toward the betterment of mankind.....(mmm hmm...right)
I hate reviews with spoilers so ill just say that the book was awesomesauce. Following the story was almost like anticipating the height of a crescendo, you knew it was coming, had an idea what it might be but when it happens it still makes your heart pound and your eyes blink and your inner voice say wholly crap!
Very well written with a story that leaves you wanting more.....and more I shall have, on to book two!
May 8, 2017
This one took me a while to get into. I think it was because there's a lot of world building at the start. The world is dark and full of depths we never get to experience or fully understand because Jarod, the narrator, never is able to understand them.
I really liked Jarod. He was such an honest character, really believable. I think part of why I never felt sure of Gabriel is because of how Jarod feels for him. He shows us the world exactly as he sees it, and causes the reader to also see and feel it with him. This was so well written. I never felt like the author ever took us above and beyond Jarod's capabilities. I never had trouble believing the narrator's voice.
I'm honestly torn as to whether or not I want to read the rest of this series, though. I have read a lot of zombie and dystopian horror in the past, but not recently. With this book, I felt so much of what Jarod was feeling and seeing because of how well it was written, that I'm not sure my heart and spirit can handle more.
I really liked Jarod. He was such an honest character, really believable. I think part of why I never felt sure of Gabriel is because of how Jarod feels for him. He shows us the world exactly as he sees it, and causes the reader to also see and feel it with him. This was so well written. I never felt like the author ever took us above and beyond Jarod's capabilities. I never had trouble believing the narrator's voice.
I'm honestly torn as to whether or not I want to read the rest of this series, though. I have read a lot of zombie and dystopian horror in the past, but not recently. With this book, I felt so much of what Jarod was feeling and seeing because of how well it was written, that I'm not sure my heart and spirit can handle more.
May 12, 2017
If you're a fan of dark romance, then this Soren Summers book is the one for you. I had never read this author before, but I have to say that I was quite impressed. The plot was engaging, the imagery extremely vivid, and the characters complex and well thought out. These characters are so real, raw, and unapologetically and beautifully flawed. They completely draw you into the story and make you believe in this extraordinary world the author has created. Two men come together under outlandish circumstances and against all odds, they manage to find love. I found this book to be intriguing, provocative, gripping, darkly romantic and riveting. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an utterly compelling read.
*I was given an ARC of this book and voluntarily chose to review. All opinions are my own.
*I was given an ARC of this book and voluntarily chose to review. All opinions are my own.
December 26, 2019
Monster is the first book in The Vertex Book
This is a great start to a new paranormal/Horror / Zom Apocalypse series this book is about a young man who works at a pharmaceutical company named Vertext /Umbrella Corp. if you know what I mean (Resident Evil) . This company is into many industries such as weapons to Fast Food franchises to cutting edge medicine our protagonist works in the clean-up unit of Vertex . He and his co-workers are charged with making sure none of the test subjects at Vertex do not escape or cause any harm to the researchers . Not only that but if there are any accidents in the labs they are charged too clean up the mess there are many strange things happening at Vertex especially in their human testing lab's . This is a story about what can happen when human testing go horribly wrong and something inhuman is released on the world .
This is a great start to a new paranormal/Horror / Zom Apocalypse series this book is about a young man who works at a pharmaceutical company named Vertext /Umbrella Corp. if you know what I mean (Resident Evil) . This company is into many industries such as weapons to Fast Food franchises to cutting edge medicine our protagonist works in the clean-up unit of Vertex . He and his co-workers are charged with making sure none of the test subjects at Vertex do not escape or cause any harm to the researchers . Not only that but if there are any accidents in the labs they are charged too clean up the mess there are many strange things happening at Vertex especially in their human testing lab's . This is a story about what can happen when human testing go horribly wrong and something inhuman is released on the world .
May 4, 2017
This was a very impressive read, which was well executed and moderately paced. It had a slow start for me, but eventually it became a rollercoaster ride that ends with a bang. The characterization was fascinating and I must say that Nessa :D was one of my favorites. I was continuously wondering if she was good or sinister. Gabriel really irked me at the end, but I definitely did like the ending. This was ultimately a significantly detailed and captivating story. :) After reading this, I will always share my pudding. :D
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