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Screechers
In the apocalyptic fallout of the burned world, the screecher is a massive beast evolved to kill and built for survival. One screecher abandons its home among the crushed remnants of a city and moves to explore the wider world. Unbeknownst to it, one of its surviving nephews decides to tag along.
Far away, across the dusty sand dunes, three men flee the smoldering ashes of their community along with their regrets, looking for a new place to survive.
These two stories, of screechers and humans, alternate and dance around each other before the creatures and men intersect and weave into one story.
In the scorched remains, everything struggles to survive. The end of the world produced mutated monsters beyond imagination. When worlds collide, when man meets monster, who will survive in this new world?
What others said about the book:
"With apoc-wolves, giant crabs, and new-world carnage, Screechers is a bloody ripper of a tale." - Lee Murray, two-time Bram Stoker Award nominee and author of Into the Mist
A tale of beast and man - the perfect combination of beauty and brutality. This story gives you unexpected friendships, terrifying beasts and one of the best battles I’ve ever read. - Andrew Lennon, author of Ode to Death
“Screechers is full of badass creatures, engaging characters and great action as well. A fun, fast read.” - Mike Duke, author of Where the Gods Sleep
Old-school action packed post-apocalyptic sci fi pulp at its screeching best! Must read for fans of the genre - C.S. Anderson, author of Ocean Gores
Far away, across the dusty sand dunes, three men flee the smoldering ashes of their community along with their regrets, looking for a new place to survive.
These two stories, of screechers and humans, alternate and dance around each other before the creatures and men intersect and weave into one story.
In the scorched remains, everything struggles to survive. The end of the world produced mutated monsters beyond imagination. When worlds collide, when man meets monster, who will survive in this new world?
What others said about the book:
"With apoc-wolves, giant crabs, and new-world carnage, Screechers is a bloody ripper of a tale." - Lee Murray, two-time Bram Stoker Award nominee and author of Into the Mist
A tale of beast and man - the perfect combination of beauty and brutality. This story gives you unexpected friendships, terrifying beasts and one of the best battles I’ve ever read. - Andrew Lennon, author of Ode to Death
“Screechers is full of badass creatures, engaging characters and great action as well. A fun, fast read.” - Mike Duke, author of Where the Gods Sleep
Old-school action packed post-apocalyptic sci fi pulp at its screeching best! Must read for fans of the genre - C.S. Anderson, author of Ocean Gores
108 pages, Paperback
Published March 10, 2019
15 people are currently reading
94 people want to read
About the author
Kevin J. Kennedy
150 books329 followersKevin J. Kennedy is a Scottish horror author known for his fast-paced storytelling, dark humor, and unforgettable characters. He is also the curator of the bestselling The Horror Collection and Classic Monsters anthology series.
When he’s not writing tales of blood-soaked chaos, Kevin champions indie horror, supports fellow authors, and dreams up new ways to keep readers sleeping with the lights on.
When he’s not writing tales of blood-soaked chaos, Kevin champions indie horror, supports fellow authors, and dreams up new ways to keep readers sleeping with the lights on.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
June 11, 2019
2-3 stars. Not sure yet. Review to come for Sci Fi and Scary
Went with three stars, there are a couple places that redeemed it somewhat for me. Here is the full review from Sf&S
I have LOVE for post-apocalyptic horror/sci-fi stories. It’s my thing, my bag, I dig it. I also enjoy the intersection of this with creatures – War of the Worlds, The Mist, and on and on. So deciding to pick up SCREECHERS was a no-brainer for me.
First – the world created by Bergling and Kennedy is fantastic. The first part of the book puts us directly into the mind of the creature, and the world we see through its eyes is just what you’d expect. The world is ruined, by what it doesn’t say. It isn’t necessary. This is just over 100 pages and I think the authors did a great job of keeping this trim where it needed to be and detailed in other, more crucial, ways.
My biggest issues come in when the humans and creatures collide and then again in the ending. I can’t give details here, but I found these instances kind of unbelievable and honestly, a bit frustrating. I see that the authors were trying to do something different, to put a spin on the expected,…but it didn’t work for me at all.
Sandwiched between those two things is one of the best creature, monster, human battles I’ve read in quite awhile. There is stomping. Chomping. Just a blood and guts fest that really kept things moving. Here is where the details really come to the forefront – creature description and a battle extravaganza. Honestly, this is probably what kept this at a 3 instead of a 2 for me.
Overall, I had a good time. There are some pretty big issues for me, but in looking at all the other reviews it seems this may be a case of “it’s me, not you” – *shrugs*
Went with three stars, there are a couple places that redeemed it somewhat for me. Here is the full review from Sf&S
I have LOVE for post-apocalyptic horror/sci-fi stories. It’s my thing, my bag, I dig it. I also enjoy the intersection of this with creatures – War of the Worlds, The Mist, and on and on. So deciding to pick up SCREECHERS was a no-brainer for me.
First – the world created by Bergling and Kennedy is fantastic. The first part of the book puts us directly into the mind of the creature, and the world we see through its eyes is just what you’d expect. The world is ruined, by what it doesn’t say. It isn’t necessary. This is just over 100 pages and I think the authors did a great job of keeping this trim where it needed to be and detailed in other, more crucial, ways.
My biggest issues come in when the humans and creatures collide and then again in the ending. I can’t give details here, but I found these instances kind of unbelievable and honestly, a bit frustrating. I see that the authors were trying to do something different, to put a spin on the expected,…but it didn’t work for me at all.
Sandwiched between those two things is one of the best creature, monster, human battles I’ve read in quite awhile. There is stomping. Chomping. Just a blood and guts fest that really kept things moving. Here is where the details really come to the forefront – creature description and a battle extravaganza. Honestly, this is probably what kept this at a 3 instead of a 2 for me.
Overall, I had a good time. There are some pretty big issues for me, but in looking at all the other reviews it seems this may be a case of “it’s me, not you” – *shrugs*
March 11, 2019
In a post-apocalyptic world, all beings are fighting for survival. Humans, deadly mutant wolves, gigantic hybrid crab-scorpions, and creatures with translucent skin and black eyes, known as screechers, are all hunters, but are also being hunted. When these species collide in an epic battle, all sides pay in blood for a chance at victory.
This fantastic novella takes the reader into the hearts and minds of both the humans and the screechers. Kennedy and Bergling alternate the chapters so that we experience the harsh reality of both species as they separately traverse the nightmarish world that has been left behind from nuclear fallout. When the paths of the humans and screechers intersect, the tension is extreme, and it seems impossible for the reader to pick a side.
Like any great story in the post-apocalyptic genre, the human characters are well rounded, and the authors take the time to highlight both the light and the dark sides of humanity. What makes this tale unique though, is that the time spent with the screechers also evokes an impressive amount of empathy. Once the two sets of characters meet, there’s conflict not only between them but within the reader as well.
By exploring the bonds of kinship within different species, Screechers is a creature feature with heart. But, if you’re the type of reader looking for gore and bloodshed, this fast-paced story has heaps of that too. With a great balance between violence and inner turmoil, this novella is a terrific read.
*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this work by the author in exchange for an honest review.*
This fantastic novella takes the reader into the hearts and minds of both the humans and the screechers. Kennedy and Bergling alternate the chapters so that we experience the harsh reality of both species as they separately traverse the nightmarish world that has been left behind from nuclear fallout. When the paths of the humans and screechers intersect, the tension is extreme, and it seems impossible for the reader to pick a side.
Like any great story in the post-apocalyptic genre, the human characters are well rounded, and the authors take the time to highlight both the light and the dark sides of humanity. What makes this tale unique though, is that the time spent with the screechers also evokes an impressive amount of empathy. Once the two sets of characters meet, there’s conflict not only between them but within the reader as well.
By exploring the bonds of kinship within different species, Screechers is a creature feature with heart. But, if you’re the type of reader looking for gore and bloodshed, this fast-paced story has heaps of that too. With a great balance between violence and inner turmoil, this novella is a terrific read.
*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this work by the author in exchange for an honest review.*
March 24, 2019
Thanks to the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I read everything I can get my hands on by Kevin J. Kennedy. I was very curious about this short story, because I usually read books that he puts together with short stories from other authors in it. This was a gory, creepy book and I loved all the different post-apocalyptic creatures.
A longer review can be found at Bite Into Books
Kevin J. Kenned has proven to me that he is able to write good books. I would definitely read other books by him and I would also read longer books. The writing style was great and the creative monsters and battles he and his co-writer came up with, were awesome!
I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes gory horror, crazy monsters and anything post-apocalyptic.
I read everything I can get my hands on by Kevin J. Kennedy. I was very curious about this short story, because I usually read books that he puts together with short stories from other authors in it. This was a gory, creepy book and I loved all the different post-apocalyptic creatures.
A longer review can be found at Bite Into Books
Kevin J. Kenned has proven to me that he is able to write good books. I would definitely read other books by him and I would also read longer books. The writing style was great and the creative monsters and battles he and his co-writer came up with, were awesome!
I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes gory horror, crazy monsters and anything post-apocalyptic.
March 8, 2019
For many in the horror world the name Kevin J. Kennedy immediately springs forth visions of fantastic, top-level horror collections. His output is staggering and time and time again he collects some of the best names in the genre to fill the pages (hint, hint – Kevin my inbox is always open!).
He is also an incredible horror author and recently announced a new collaboration with fellow author Christina Bergling. That collaboration – Screechers, and what a well done outing it is.
The novella is a quick sprint through a barren landscape. Life as we currently know it has ended some time ago. The authors allude to the setting being post-nuclear winter. The cities have been abandoned and lay in ruin. Some survivors still exist, but some new things have joined the world.
The story is split into two narratives. The first tale follows two brothers and a friend, aptly named Brooklyn, Denver and Austin as they make their way across the landscape, searching for what’s out there. They’ve been told that nothing exists beyond their settlement and that no other humans are out there. After an incident that the authors minimally fill in through a bit of back story, they’ve left the settlement and continue forward. The three don’t get along much but they’ve made a pact and are sticking together.
The other narrative is told from the Screechers point of view. These new creatures have also left the city behind, looking for new food sources. The story follows an infant creature and its uncle as they travel and inevitably run into our three humans.
To keep this spoiler free, the story takes an interesting turn from there and it was a nice change from the typical creature-feature, post-apocalyptic plot.
Overall I had fun with this one, I was able to devour it in one sitting and found the prose to be an effortless read. I found one big ‘battle’ scene to be a bit bogged down with a few random things, but that was a mild distraction!
For those looking for a new take on an old story, I would definitely recommend!
He is also an incredible horror author and recently announced a new collaboration with fellow author Christina Bergling. That collaboration – Screechers, and what a well done outing it is.
The novella is a quick sprint through a barren landscape. Life as we currently know it has ended some time ago. The authors allude to the setting being post-nuclear winter. The cities have been abandoned and lay in ruin. Some survivors still exist, but some new things have joined the world.
The story is split into two narratives. The first tale follows two brothers and a friend, aptly named Brooklyn, Denver and Austin as they make their way across the landscape, searching for what’s out there. They’ve been told that nothing exists beyond their settlement and that no other humans are out there. After an incident that the authors minimally fill in through a bit of back story, they’ve left the settlement and continue forward. The three don’t get along much but they’ve made a pact and are sticking together.
The other narrative is told from the Screechers point of view. These new creatures have also left the city behind, looking for new food sources. The story follows an infant creature and its uncle as they travel and inevitably run into our three humans.
To keep this spoiler free, the story takes an interesting turn from there and it was a nice change from the typical creature-feature, post-apocalyptic plot.
Overall I had fun with this one, I was able to devour it in one sitting and found the prose to be an effortless read. I found one big ‘battle’ scene to be a bit bogged down with a few random things, but that was a mild distraction!
For those looking for a new take on an old story, I would definitely recommend!
February 25, 2023
Absolutely disliked the characters and the plot. This one was not for me and I even tried skimming to see if it would get better… it didn’t.
So monsters roam the land and other creatures have evolved into killing machines, but human males take the time to have petty arguments continuously? 🤔
I mean I really like the idea of this story, but feel the human characters need a bit of a work over.
So monsters roam the land and other creatures have evolved into killing machines, but human males take the time to have petty arguments continuously? 🤔
I mean I really like the idea of this story, but feel the human characters need a bit of a work over.
March 12, 2019
Screechers is a post-apocalypse sci-fi horror with the best elements of all three genres. This novella is fast paced yet doesn’t scrimp on intrigue, tension, and terror.
The characterization in Screechers is incredibly impressive. Kennedy and Bergling do an excellent job of giving insight and persona to surviving post-apocalyptic lifeforms other than humans along with the characterization of the human survivors. They do this skillfully, vividly, and without overwriting.
This is a powerful quick read that will capture your mind, both intellectually and emotionally, without mercy and stay in your head long after the you have read the final written word.
Highly recommended for the post-apoc and sci-fi horror fan.
The characterization in Screechers is incredibly impressive. Kennedy and Bergling do an excellent job of giving insight and persona to surviving post-apocalyptic lifeforms other than humans along with the characterization of the human survivors. They do this skillfully, vividly, and without overwriting.
This is a powerful quick read that will capture your mind, both intellectually and emotionally, without mercy and stay in your head long after the you have read the final written word.
Highly recommended for the post-apoc and sci-fi horror fan.
November 15, 2019
I love this post apocalyptic horror novella. It seems to take place in a futuristic world where mankind is rare.
This book features a bunch of really interesting creepy creatures. (I think the Screechers are the most interesting of course.) This short novel is full of action and very interesting descriptions.
This is excellent for both science fiction and horror fans.
This book features a bunch of really interesting creepy creatures. (I think the Screechers are the most interesting of course.) This short novel is full of action and very interesting descriptions.
This is excellent for both science fiction and horror fans.
July 16, 2019
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In a short span of seventy-six pages, this novella packs a punch with vividly descriptive action scenes, atmospheric and emotive writing. Not a single page is bereft of action – the characters are either walking, running, killing, or protecting themselves. One wrong step, one moment of carelessness is enough to kill you. This keeps the humans—and the screechers—on tenterhooks resulting in a nail-biting, suspenseful read.
Although nothing is explained about the events that caused the apocalypse on Earth and turned it into the barren land, making humans a scarcity, it does not diminish the reading experience. Kennedy and Bergling make the fights between the predators engaging enough to not warrant questions about the past. The present is all that matters in this novella.
Even more astonishing than the fight scenes is the description of the emotions of the humans, screechers, and wolves in this brief span. Friendship, brotherhood, community, kinship – nothing is left untouched by Kennedy and Bergling, and neither was I untouched by any of these. However, the most important message that came through was love knows no bounds and recognizes no form. To say more would give away spoilers.
The eventful journey of the humans and the screechers resulted in a rewarding reading experience for me. If you want an action-packed, suspenseful, entertaining, savage post-apocalyptic novella to blow away your mind—and your guts—pick up Screechers. Not recommended for people below eighteen-years-old.
P.S.: There are some beautiful hand-drawn illustrations of the screechers waiting for you at the back of the book.
I received a free digital copy from the author. I opted to provide an honest review.
In a short span of seventy-six pages, this novella packs a punch with vividly descriptive action scenes, atmospheric and emotive writing. Not a single page is bereft of action – the characters are either walking, running, killing, or protecting themselves. One wrong step, one moment of carelessness is enough to kill you. This keeps the humans—and the screechers—on tenterhooks resulting in a nail-biting, suspenseful read.
Although nothing is explained about the events that caused the apocalypse on Earth and turned it into the barren land, making humans a scarcity, it does not diminish the reading experience. Kennedy and Bergling make the fights between the predators engaging enough to not warrant questions about the past. The present is all that matters in this novella.
Even more astonishing than the fight scenes is the description of the emotions of the humans, screechers, and wolves in this brief span. Friendship, brotherhood, community, kinship – nothing is left untouched by Kennedy and Bergling, and neither was I untouched by any of these. However, the most important message that came through was love knows no bounds and recognizes no form. To say more would give away spoilers.
The eventful journey of the humans and the screechers resulted in a rewarding reading experience for me. If you want an action-packed, suspenseful, entertaining, savage post-apocalyptic novella to blow away your mind—and your guts—pick up Screechers. Not recommended for people below eighteen-years-old.
P.S.: There are some beautiful hand-drawn illustrations of the screechers waiting for you at the back of the book.
I received a free digital copy from the author. I opted to provide an honest review.
March 9, 2019
My review is here https://wp.me/p5t5Tf-1Nu
March 8, 2019
Screechers by Kevin J. Kennedy and Christina Bergling is an action-packed post-apocalyptic novella filled with terrifying creatures and bloodshed, but also a heartwarming friendship.
I could not put this one down. So be prepared if you pick this up; you may want to set aside a couple of hours because you may get totally sucked in like I did!
Full disclosure: I was given a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my rating in any way.
There is so much that I want to talk about, but I don’t want to give too much away!
First things first, I really enjoyed that the story was told from different perspectives; from each of the creatures, and the humans. This varying perspective made the plot so interesting and powerful. The pacing was perfect and definitely on the faster side of things, which is just one of the many reasons why I couldn’t put this book down.
I loved each of the main characters; creature and human alike!
The three young adult men immediately interested me as we were dropped right in on them as they were leaving their settlement. While we learned a bit more about them over the course of the novella, I really like that much of their past remained a mystery.
I adored the creatures! I thought they were so unique and intriguing. I loved that they seemed like bloodthirsty and terrifying monsters at first, but then as you see them struggling with emotions that are rather new to them, and a bit similar to human emotion, you start falling for them. I really enjoyed seeing their interactions between one another, between themselves and the humans, and between themselves and other creatures of the word.
Speaking of, the creatures of the world that we got to learn about were absolutely terrifying!! But I’ll leave that discovery to you.
The scenes with action and bloodshed were wonderfully written. While brutal, they were also a bit whimsical, if you will. The scenes had the perfect level of description to help the reader really imagine what was going on without straying into too much detail and bogging down the pace.
Like all amazing novellas, when the story concluded I was both totally satisfied with how the tale ended, but also felt that I could easily read many more pages about this cast and the world they are in because it was so interesting!
My Favorite Passages
He craved the type of quiet that only came from being alone, just him between the ground and the vast sky.
They breeched the treeline as the sun reached its zenith in the sky, roasting above them. The trees twisted toward the sky, barren and lifeless, yet their wide, charred trunks managed to offer glimpses of shade.
Austin’s eyes wandered over to Burly. The white beast lumbered gracefully beside them, clearly shortening its larger steps to stay beside the tiny humans. When Austin watched its white flesh shine in the sunlight as it rippled over the beast’s muscles, he felt a strange combination of sheer terror and fascination. The large talons clicked and scraped in the sand, echoing the reminder of how lethal Burly really was.
The large creature carved through the pack like a sharp knife, leaving a trail of severed limbs and fallen corpses behind it. The two monsters turned the desert into Hell itself as carnage swelled over the dunes like the tide. The dead heaped until they covered the ground and the flight elevated on top of them.
My Final Thoughts:
I loved this read! This is definitely a tale that will stick with me for a long time, and I will certainly be rereading it time and time again.
My thanks again to Kevin J. Kennedy for sending this my way!
If you enjoy post-apocalyptic settings, terrifying creatures, fast-paced action, lots of bloodshed, interesting characters, and a heartwarming friendship, then this is a book for you!
I highly recommend this one!
I could not put this one down. So be prepared if you pick this up; you may want to set aside a couple of hours because you may get totally sucked in like I did!
Full disclosure: I was given a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my rating in any way.
There is so much that I want to talk about, but I don’t want to give too much away!
First things first, I really enjoyed that the story was told from different perspectives; from each of the creatures, and the humans. This varying perspective made the plot so interesting and powerful. The pacing was perfect and definitely on the faster side of things, which is just one of the many reasons why I couldn’t put this book down.
I loved each of the main characters; creature and human alike!
The three young adult men immediately interested me as we were dropped right in on them as they were leaving their settlement. While we learned a bit more about them over the course of the novella, I really like that much of their past remained a mystery.
I adored the creatures! I thought they were so unique and intriguing. I loved that they seemed like bloodthirsty and terrifying monsters at first, but then as you see them struggling with emotions that are rather new to them, and a bit similar to human emotion, you start falling for them. I really enjoyed seeing their interactions between one another, between themselves and the humans, and between themselves and other creatures of the word.
Speaking of, the creatures of the world that we got to learn about were absolutely terrifying!! But I’ll leave that discovery to you.
The scenes with action and bloodshed were wonderfully written. While brutal, they were also a bit whimsical, if you will. The scenes had the perfect level of description to help the reader really imagine what was going on without straying into too much detail and bogging down the pace.
Like all amazing novellas, when the story concluded I was both totally satisfied with how the tale ended, but also felt that I could easily read many more pages about this cast and the world they are in because it was so interesting!
My Favorite Passages
He craved the type of quiet that only came from being alone, just him between the ground and the vast sky.
They breeched the treeline as the sun reached its zenith in the sky, roasting above them. The trees twisted toward the sky, barren and lifeless, yet their wide, charred trunks managed to offer glimpses of shade.
Austin’s eyes wandered over to Burly. The white beast lumbered gracefully beside them, clearly shortening its larger steps to stay beside the tiny humans. When Austin watched its white flesh shine in the sunlight as it rippled over the beast’s muscles, he felt a strange combination of sheer terror and fascination. The large talons clicked and scraped in the sand, echoing the reminder of how lethal Burly really was.
The large creature carved through the pack like a sharp knife, leaving a trail of severed limbs and fallen corpses behind it. The two monsters turned the desert into Hell itself as carnage swelled over the dunes like the tide. The dead heaped until they covered the ground and the flight elevated on top of them.
My Final Thoughts:
I loved this read! This is definitely a tale that will stick with me for a long time, and I will certainly be rereading it time and time again.
My thanks again to Kevin J. Kennedy for sending this my way!
If you enjoy post-apocalyptic settings, terrifying creatures, fast-paced action, lots of bloodshed, interesting characters, and a heartwarming friendship, then this is a book for you!
I highly recommend this one!
April 8, 2019
You’ve gotta love a good old post-apocalyptic tale. And this certainly was a good one. The genre is saturated with stories where survivors turn on each other while trying to not die at the hands of whatever caused the apocalypse, or indeed the beasts that have taken over the world.
But what was great about Screechers was the story didn’t play out how I imagined it would, and this was very pleasing.
This world has changed, with mutant beasts and humans roaming the lands, trying their best to just last one more day. We don’t know the cause of the apocalypse, but who cares? Do we really need to get bogged down with the details? The human characters speak of the disaster, but they’re privy to information the reader isn’t, and they don’t have any ‘do you remember when…’ dialogue to spoon-feed us what happened.
Bad shit occurred, let’s just leave it at that.
The story opens with a beast, a Screecher, trying to find its way in the desolate city. It, like the humans, is just trying to survive. It may be a dis-service to it’s kind to arrogantly compare it’s thoughts to a human’s, but it is lost in the world. It’s only solace a species of plants that it gorges upon so its mind becomes numb to the horrors it has endured.
Although the Screecher is described as a monstrously built killing machine, you can’t help but empathise with it’s situation. Especially when it is united with a kid-version of itself, it’s nephew no less!
We’re treated to alternate chapters following the creature and then three humans who don’t exactly get along. The tale is leading up to a big meet-up, but what exactly is going to happen when their paths cross?
I’m not going to say, but as mentioned, it wasn’t exactly what I was expecting.
The finale is a battle where plenty of blood is unleashed, various mutant-hybrid creatures are killed and dismembered with vivid descriptions as the gore flows aplenty.
This short novella definitely showcased a new and refreshing light on the post-apocalyptic genre, and was a hell of a lot of fun.
Recommended for fans of monsters, violence, and survival stories.
But what was great about Screechers was the story didn’t play out how I imagined it would, and this was very pleasing.
This world has changed, with mutant beasts and humans roaming the lands, trying their best to just last one more day. We don’t know the cause of the apocalypse, but who cares? Do we really need to get bogged down with the details? The human characters speak of the disaster, but they’re privy to information the reader isn’t, and they don’t have any ‘do you remember when…’ dialogue to spoon-feed us what happened.
Bad shit occurred, let’s just leave it at that.
The story opens with a beast, a Screecher, trying to find its way in the desolate city. It, like the humans, is just trying to survive. It may be a dis-service to it’s kind to arrogantly compare it’s thoughts to a human’s, but it is lost in the world. It’s only solace a species of plants that it gorges upon so its mind becomes numb to the horrors it has endured.
Although the Screecher is described as a monstrously built killing machine, you can’t help but empathise with it’s situation. Especially when it is united with a kid-version of itself, it’s nephew no less!
We’re treated to alternate chapters following the creature and then three humans who don’t exactly get along. The tale is leading up to a big meet-up, but what exactly is going to happen when their paths cross?
I’m not going to say, but as mentioned, it wasn’t exactly what I was expecting.
The finale is a battle where plenty of blood is unleashed, various mutant-hybrid creatures are killed and dismembered with vivid descriptions as the gore flows aplenty.
This short novella definitely showcased a new and refreshing light on the post-apocalyptic genre, and was a hell of a lot of fun.
Recommended for fans of monsters, violence, and survival stories.
March 23, 2019
*This was kindly provided by the author for an honest review. Thank you for the chance to read your story!*
Imagine you were the last of your kind and how you would feel. The authors describe this feeling very well, painting a vivid picture, with beauty and sadness. There is no dialogue when we are in the “Screechers” point of view because they do not talk like we do. The descriptions of the creatures are enough. Normally, I get bored and lose focus on description heavy passages, but these are action-packed and written in such a way that I am never bored.
The writing style is great; It did have a repetitive phrase that I found took me out of the story each time I noticed it, but other than that, I’m thoroughly impressed with this little novella.
I 100% genuinely love this story. It was part gross (in a good way), part heartbreaking, but also full of heart, hope and made me smile. The story itself is fast paced and easy to sink your teeth into. I really enjoyed it and hope to read many more from the two authors involved.
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Phil Beachler did the cover art. It is amazing!
Imagine you were the last of your kind and how you would feel. The authors describe this feeling very well, painting a vivid picture, with beauty and sadness. There is no dialogue when we are in the “Screechers” point of view because they do not talk like we do. The descriptions of the creatures are enough. Normally, I get bored and lose focus on description heavy passages, but these are action-packed and written in such a way that I am never bored.
The writing style is great; It did have a repetitive phrase that I found took me out of the story each time I noticed it, but other than that, I’m thoroughly impressed with this little novella.
I 100% genuinely love this story. It was part gross (in a good way), part heartbreaking, but also full of heart, hope and made me smile. The story itself is fast paced and easy to sink your teeth into. I really enjoyed it and hope to read many more from the two authors involved.
---
Phil Beachler did the cover art. It is amazing!
March 11, 2019
It is a post apocalyptic world where three men leave their community in search of a new world to survive in. A Screecher is a huge beast that has adapted to survive in the world. Amongst them are Apoc-Wolves and giant Crab like Scorpions all fighting for survival. The story moves between the Screechers battle with the Wolves and Crabs, and the battle the men have among themselves and the creatures, to what happens when all of them come to meet.
This is a quick read, and quite easy to get into and to enjoy the fast pace of the story. The description of the characters is very good. I am not usually one to read sci-fi and I was a little hesitant at first, however, it was a really good read and I am glad that I read it.
This is a quick read, and quite easy to get into and to enjoy the fast pace of the story. The description of the characters is very good. I am not usually one to read sci-fi and I was a little hesitant at first, however, it was a really good read and I am glad that I read it.
March 22, 2019
As with a number of readers whose work I have enjoyed, I first came across their stories in anthologies. The same is true for both Kevin J. Kennedy and Christina Bergling. I did not even bother to find out what this book was about, confident that it would be worth reading, and it did not disappoint. At novella length, Screechers is a quick read, but manages to convey a reasonably detailed story. Set in a post-apocalyptic world, a group of human travellers’ face creatures they had not known existed, whilst the last remaining Screechers leave the familiarity of the city in search of food and adventure. Great characters, an easily envisaged world, and a highly entertaining final battle, all make for a five-star read.
March 9, 2019
Amazing,,,,
I’m not one who is usually into post apocalyptic stories but I am a huge Kevin Kennedy fan and had to check it out. I loved it. Very fast read and highly enjoyable. I love the description of the creatures and how you grow to like them. The humans characters are very believable and you either love them or hate them. Great plot and I think it would be cool if they did a back story to answer some questions that I have. Two thumbs way up!
I’m not one who is usually into post apocalyptic stories but I am a huge Kevin Kennedy fan and had to check it out. I loved it. Very fast read and highly enjoyable. I love the description of the creatures and how you grow to like them. The humans characters are very believable and you either love them or hate them. Great plot and I think it would be cool if they did a back story to answer some questions that I have. Two thumbs way up!
March 11, 2019
Strange Friendship Grows!
In the aftermath of nuclear destruction and the loss of their families and community , twins Austin, Denver and fellow survivor Brooklyn head out to find out if there is still anything left. Along the way they encounter a young Screecher. To find out more,you should really read this enjoyable tale. For fans of the supernatural genre.
In the aftermath of nuclear destruction and the loss of their families and community , twins Austin, Denver and fellow survivor Brooklyn head out to find out if there is still anything left. Along the way they encounter a young Screecher. To find out more,you should really read this enjoyable tale. For fans of the supernatural genre.
March 8, 2019
Entertaining, a little scary and you won't be able to put Screechers down. A Screecher is very large, very loud and oh so terrifying! In this book two Screechers and three humans are exploring what is left in a post-apocalyptic world. Can they survive together in the new world? A short novella that will leave you hungry for more!
February 20, 2021
Twins, Denver and Brooklyn, make their way from a home they once knew, while the surviving member of a screecher family sets out to explore the wider world. Unknown to them, the danger that hunts their progress has many teeth, coupled by ferocious appetites. Man and beast collide in an epic battle for survival in a hostile environment where the wrong step could mean death.
(WARNING: This review contains minor spoilers.)
I received this book in exchange for an honest review. I thank Kevin J. Kennedy for giving me the opportunity.
When it comes to post-apocalyptic fiction, there’s the tropes everyone expects nowadays, be it the man-eating monsters and typical conflict between factions of people, and while Screechers certainly incorporated those themes, it proved memorable in that it also attempted to set itself apart. Instead of jumping right into human survival as per, its opening depicted a strange creature venturing out into the landscape of a ruined planet in search of new meaning, therefore I really liked how the focal point was divided between the actual people as well as these non-human beasts specified as “screechers”. The setting which Kennedy and Bergling designed is teeming with lifeforms of all shapes and sizes; an unforgiving and alien ecosystem that perseveres without the interference of mankind, so it wasn’t as barren as one might have expected. I feel like I was given only a glimpse of this ravaged world – what I assumed to be the result of nuclear warfare – and I wanted to experience more of the imagination behind it, read about what other horrors nature had evolved. Survival was still paramount, but unlikely alliances between humans and screechers demonstrated that age old lesson that working together can accomplish more than working alone.
As fun and fast-paced as it was, there were aspects I felt weren’t adequately explained, or that struck me as not making much sense. By the end I had several questions, and it was an effort trying to come up with my own conclusions – an example is why the screechers deemed humans worth befriending to begin with, since they were described as killing machines that slaughtered indiscriminately, yet humans somehow evoked compassion without reason. And look, I like warm-fuzzy tales of unexpected companionship, but there needs to be some sort of basis behind it other than just because. I’m not going to list off every other element that didn’t work for me here, but there were a few things, such as how the twins were written with their exaggerated connection, that bugged me more than engaged me. Still, there were entertaining battle scenes that had all the violence and gore one could hope for, as well as the aforementioned world building, that made it a decent enough read.
In conclusion: Screechers was comprised of alternate chapters that followed two different sets of travellers in the apocalyptic aftermath, their paths eventually crossing when survival called for it. I loved the creative thinking that went into the monsters that served as wildlife, as well as the fighting that ensued among them, the last quarter pretty much all-out war with many gruesome details. If anything, I would’ve preferred it fleshed out more due to several plot points that I believe weren’t sufficiently made clear, but I enjoyed the overall chaos.
Notable Quote:
The apoc-wolves moved at a slow pace, keeping low to the ground as they hunted their prey.
© Red Lace 2021
Blog ~ Twitter
(WARNING: This review contains minor spoilers.)
I received this book in exchange for an honest review. I thank Kevin J. Kennedy for giving me the opportunity.
When it comes to post-apocalyptic fiction, there’s the tropes everyone expects nowadays, be it the man-eating monsters and typical conflict between factions of people, and while Screechers certainly incorporated those themes, it proved memorable in that it also attempted to set itself apart. Instead of jumping right into human survival as per, its opening depicted a strange creature venturing out into the landscape of a ruined planet in search of new meaning, therefore I really liked how the focal point was divided between the actual people as well as these non-human beasts specified as “screechers”. The setting which Kennedy and Bergling designed is teeming with lifeforms of all shapes and sizes; an unforgiving and alien ecosystem that perseveres without the interference of mankind, so it wasn’t as barren as one might have expected. I feel like I was given only a glimpse of this ravaged world – what I assumed to be the result of nuclear warfare – and I wanted to experience more of the imagination behind it, read about what other horrors nature had evolved. Survival was still paramount, but unlikely alliances between humans and screechers demonstrated that age old lesson that working together can accomplish more than working alone.
As fun and fast-paced as it was, there were aspects I felt weren’t adequately explained, or that struck me as not making much sense. By the end I had several questions, and it was an effort trying to come up with my own conclusions – an example is why the screechers deemed humans worth befriending to begin with, since they were described as killing machines that slaughtered indiscriminately, yet humans somehow evoked compassion without reason. And look, I like warm-fuzzy tales of unexpected companionship, but there needs to be some sort of basis behind it other than just because. I’m not going to list off every other element that didn’t work for me here, but there were a few things, such as how the twins were written with their exaggerated connection, that bugged me more than engaged me. Still, there were entertaining battle scenes that had all the violence and gore one could hope for, as well as the aforementioned world building, that made it a decent enough read.
In conclusion: Screechers was comprised of alternate chapters that followed two different sets of travellers in the apocalyptic aftermath, their paths eventually crossing when survival called for it. I loved the creative thinking that went into the monsters that served as wildlife, as well as the fighting that ensued among them, the last quarter pretty much all-out war with many gruesome details. If anything, I would’ve preferred it fleshed out more due to several plot points that I believe weren’t sufficiently made clear, but I enjoyed the overall chaos.
Notable Quote:
The apoc-wolves moved at a slow pace, keeping low to the ground as they hunted their prey.
© Red Lace 2021
Blog ~ Twitter
May 15, 2019
I have to admit that I went into SCREECHERS expecting another post-apocalyptic creature feature. And while it is that genre, it offers surprisingly more.
The world has been ravaged by an unstated apocalyptic event, and beasts have mutated to the new surroundings. One of these creatures is the Screecher. An intelligent killing machine that believes it is the last of its kind. It sets off from its home in a destroyed city to explore the world around it, not knowing that the is one more, younger, Screecher left alive. There are many dangers in this new world, Apoc-wolves, large crab-like creatures with stingers (think CLICKERS) and an unknown new discovery to the Screechers, humans.
Three survivors from a destroyed human community set off into the barrens to try and find a new home. Little do the know that the perils they encounter will bring them face-to-face with the Screehers, and the outcome will change their lives forever.
This is a great creature book with some outstanding monster battles throughout, including a very impressive and bloody final battle. The author's manage to give the creatures personality, so you are not just given a mindless killing machine, but a beast that thinks and reacts in ways that don't just rely on force.
But at it's core Screechers is a story about family. Not only is the relationship between the human survivors tested and strengthened, but we see the growing relationship between the two Screechers as they bond on their journey across the wasteland. And then finally the how the Screechers interact with the humans who cross their path.
Kevin Kennedy and Christina Bergling have crafted an entertaining, exciting, frightening and yes at times touching tale of life in an apocalyptic world. This novella is perfect for a fun weekend read.
The world has been ravaged by an unstated apocalyptic event, and beasts have mutated to the new surroundings. One of these creatures is the Screecher. An intelligent killing machine that believes it is the last of its kind. It sets off from its home in a destroyed city to explore the world around it, not knowing that the is one more, younger, Screecher left alive. There are many dangers in this new world, Apoc-wolves, large crab-like creatures with stingers (think CLICKERS) and an unknown new discovery to the Screechers, humans.
Three survivors from a destroyed human community set off into the barrens to try and find a new home. Little do the know that the perils they encounter will bring them face-to-face with the Screehers, and the outcome will change their lives forever.
This is a great creature book with some outstanding monster battles throughout, including a very impressive and bloody final battle. The author's manage to give the creatures personality, so you are not just given a mindless killing machine, but a beast that thinks and reacts in ways that don't just rely on force.
But at it's core Screechers is a story about family. Not only is the relationship between the human survivors tested and strengthened, but we see the growing relationship between the two Screechers as they bond on their journey across the wasteland. And then finally the how the Screechers interact with the humans who cross their path.
Kevin Kennedy and Christina Bergling have crafted an entertaining, exciting, frightening and yes at times touching tale of life in an apocalyptic world. This novella is perfect for a fun weekend read.
August 5, 2019
I received this book to give an honest review.
This book was a bit different than my normal read. It was enjoyable for me though I wanted more backstory. More of how did this happen? What made these creatures huge? What happened to the settlement? To me this was kind of two different things combining into one. We start off with the screechers who are looking for food and trying to survive to a group of boys trying to learn how to live without their community. I can say the cool battle that happens around the middle is pretty wicked.
This book was a bit different than my normal read. It was enjoyable for me though I wanted more backstory. More of how did this happen? What made these creatures huge? What happened to the settlement? To me this was kind of two different things combining into one. We start off with the screechers who are looking for food and trying to survive to a group of boys trying to learn how to live without their community. I can say the cool battle that happens around the middle is pretty wicked.
January 21, 2020
Great read!
I loved the pace of this story, splicing back and forth between the creatures of this new world and man until their paths inevitably intertwine. The creatures in this new terrifying world were well designed believable mutants that nurtured my curiosity.
A story with a slow build but once it all kicks off - IT ALL KICKS OFF AND IT IS EPIC! The battle scenes were tremendous - embedded with a good bit of tension and, of course, gore! I loved it and was very intrigued by this little world and the motivations of the Screechers.
I loved the pace of this story, splicing back and forth between the creatures of this new world and man until their paths inevitably intertwine. The creatures in this new terrifying world were well designed believable mutants that nurtured my curiosity.
A story with a slow build but once it all kicks off - IT ALL KICKS OFF AND IT IS EPIC! The battle scenes were tremendous - embedded with a good bit of tension and, of course, gore! I loved it and was very intrigued by this little world and the motivations of the Screechers.
April 28, 2023
Since it's a novella, there's not a lot of character development or explanations of how the world got to this post-apocalyptic state. There are a lot of bizarre creatures and carnage! There's an epic battle scene that takes up a great deal of the story, and provides plenty of gore. The ending is definitely weird, but also kind of sweet, which was unexpected.
April 16, 2019
A wonderful fast read
This is a totally fun novella to read. It's got people in danger, crab-scorpion hybrids, huge apps wolves, and if course Screechers. Good characters, plot, and monsters. Definitely add this to your library!
This is a totally fun novella to read. It's got people in danger, crab-scorpion hybrids, huge apps wolves, and if course Screechers. Good characters, plot, and monsters. Definitely add this to your library!
April 22, 2019
full review to come.
June 24, 2019
Ready for a sequal
A great, fun read, or scary, depending on you outlook. Regardless, I recommend you read it. 4 more words required
A great, fun read, or scary, depending on you outlook. Regardless, I recommend you read it. 4 more words required
June 4, 2020
The post-apocalyptic story separated itself from the usual virus or zombie narrative, instead it has werewolves. The story was more "survival" than "horror" (Survival horror, maybe?) as the plot focused on brothers Denver, Brooklyn, and Austin navigating the desolate landscape, trying to find food and avoiding werewolves and crab-like monsters. It was a creative story and the characters were both likable yet flawed. In fact, I grew attached to them and wanted to read where their journey led them.
Is it perfect? No. While the chapters dealing with creatures fighting were action-packed, they dragged on, were a little tedious to read, and at times hard to follow due to lack of names. Also, despite a rich, apocalyptic world that included ruined cities, I found there wasn't enough description and details to allow me to fully immerse myself into this world.
Regardless, its a fresh take on post-apocalypse fiction. I hope more books are written to expand on the world. Its a quick read and you can finish it in less than a day, so its perfect for busy people.
Is it perfect? No. While the chapters dealing with creatures fighting were action-packed, they dragged on, were a little tedious to read, and at times hard to follow due to lack of names. Also, despite a rich, apocalyptic world that included ruined cities, I found there wasn't enough description and details to allow me to fully immerse myself into this world.
Regardless, its a fresh take on post-apocalypse fiction. I hope more books are written to expand on the world. Its a quick read and you can finish it in less than a day, so its perfect for busy people.
April 24, 2023
Maybe Tends Toward 4-stars?
This is a peculiar tale, and I almost stopped it more than once during its first half.
The Authors presents The Screechers in a different way than The Reader might expect — but, truthfully, The Authors presented The Humans in a strange way, too. And, the state of The World was not explained well at all, so The Reader is left hanging, with a lot of assumptions.
Would I read this story, again, knowing how it goes? No.
But, maybe other Readers are more open-minded than I am …
This is a peculiar tale, and I almost stopped it more than once during its first half.
The Authors presents The Screechers in a different way than The Reader might expect — but, truthfully, The Authors presented The Humans in a strange way, too. And, the state of The World was not explained well at all, so The Reader is left hanging, with a lot of assumptions.
Would I read this story, again, knowing how it goes? No.
But, maybe other Readers are more open-minded than I am …
May 8, 2019
A slightly different take on post apocalyptic story. A quick read making it easy to pick up and devour in one sitting. Felt like a combination of a few different books/films, slightly mythical, think Clash of the Titans and Sinbad films. If it had been longer I'd liked to have seen some more character development. 3 stars feels about right.
November 16, 2024
Original and graphic, this book is hard to put down and even harder to not get wrapped up into the storyline. The world-building is phenomenal and totally original. There's a great balance of action and gore in this fast-paced book. If you're a fan of man vs. beast set in an apocalyptic setting, this is the book for you.
October 11, 2024
Started this yesterday finished it today it was absolutely amazing I loved it all the gore I loved how people cuddled still merge a friendship in hard time and let’s just say if this ever happened I’d be eaten hahaah I’d love to see this in a film xx
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