Apex Predator

by Andrew Gates

Author Andrew Gates's first foray into the horror genre is a claustrophobic shock to all five senses. With only sporadic memories of the last several hours, two American pilots in World War II awaken to find themselves in a sadistic Japanese deathtrap. With no knowledge of how or why they came to be here, the two strangers must band together to survive. Struggling to escape, both men break free from their captors and retreat to a nearby island. The island’s shores are as black as night and their pursuers dare not follow them to it. Something about the sight of this place fills the hearts of the Japanese with paralyzing fear, forcing them to call in an aircraft to eliminate the escaped prisoners by air.Knowing that the aircraft is on its way, the escaping men hide inside a deep cave at the heart of the mysterious island. Falling into it, they are soon lost within the cave itself with no way to climb back out. Deep inside, they are cut off not only from the world, but also from light itself. Blinded and lost in the pitch-black darkness, both men must rely on their other senses to navigate the treacherous caverns.But they are not alone. A predator rules this cave. And unlike the men, the darkness cannot slow it down, for darkness is all it has ever known.

122 pages, Paperback

Published December 9, 2019

Reviews

[Märtha Custis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mixing history and fantasy, Andrew Gates’s Apex Predator: A World War II Giant Kaiju Story, is a gripping tale of courage and determination.
The story focuses on pilot Charles Fu who has been captured by the Japanese after his plane was shot down. He then meets another pilot and they have a series of hair raising and gruesome adventures involving scientific experiments of the Japanese.
I liked the camaraderie that Gates created between the two men in the story, and also how he brings to light a part of WWII history concerning the Japanese treatment of prisoners and civilians that many people don’t know of.
Overall, a ‘keep you on the edge of your seat’ read, Apex Predator is an exciting novel and I look forward to seeing what else Gates has in store as an author.

[Marina Lujan · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you enjoy the horror genre, you will enjoy this book.
In “Apex Predator” by Andrew Gates, two American pilots in World War II awaken to find themselves in a sadistic Japanese deathtrap. Both men escape their captors and flee to a nearby island, having no idea how or why they ended up there. The escaping men now hide inside a deep cave at the heart of the mysterious island and become trapped within the cave with no way out. They are not alone, however, because this cave is ruled by a predator.


The plot is fascinating and keeps you on the edge of your seat the entire time. Gates created
well-developed characters.
I highly recommend this book to everyone who enjoys reading this kind of genre.

[Juan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a quite short read but so amazing that its pages are more than enough. I truly believe if the details were a little more it could have made the book a bit boring.
The pages are full of action and mystery and it’s unthinkable the things that a war pilot have to face. I would never want to be in their shoes.
This interesting piece has an intriguing and reasonably complex plot, and I did enjoy reading it. The story, set during the Second World War, focuses on two American pilots that have to fight together to survive to mysterious events and to a predator who, unlike them, knows the area very well.
To conclude, it's a decent and fascinating book and I do recommend it.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

WW2 with Kaiju

What do you get when you mix WW2 action with the horror and thriller of the Japanese Kaiju? This book, Apex Predator where two American pilots who are captured as POW's manage to escape their captors. However, the island is not only their refuge and they will soon have e to survive against a monstrous being known to the Japanese in their folk tales. This book combines multiple genres and does a great job of it. I liked the main characters, they were dogged, determined and while they were up against unsurmountable odds, they still had the courage to go on.

[Brent Myers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Likeable protagonist, so so monsters.

It's easy to identify with the main character of this short story. The story moves along at a good pace -as a short story must. Without too much trite dialogue the secondary character dies and we feel sad but, not devastated,just before the warm ending.

[Mark Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short horror novel of survival under harrowing circumstances. Two downed American pilots (WWII, Pacific Theater) struggle with the physical and psychological ordeals of being trapped in a lightless cave system with giant kaiju, perhaps genetically engineered by the Japanese. The author tells us that he wanted a story that would be unfilmable, suppressing the visual and concentrating on the other senses to up the visceral impact. Well done, with only a small amount of editing issues.