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Season of the Monster #1
Season of the Monster Part 1 | SPRING
Ghini Freeman is a single mother who doesn’t know the meaning of the word quit. Even though it has been six months since her thirteen-year-old daughter disappeared during a class field trip, she continues to pour everything into finding her daughter.
But, when a detective notices that Ghini has a mysterious doppelgänger, things begin to spiral out of control. Could monsters be to blame for her daughter's abduction? Ghini doesn’t want to believe it.
Unfortunately, such beliefs are starting to look like a luxury as more disappearances begin to occur around Ghini's small mountain town.
You thought you knew about monsters, but you don’t know about the Queen of them all. She and her progeny are the originators of the entire monster mythos. And, they walk amongst us all in the daylight . . .
They are -- The Vespids.
But, when a detective notices that Ghini has a mysterious doppelgänger, things begin to spiral out of control. Could monsters be to blame for her daughter's abduction? Ghini doesn’t want to believe it.
Unfortunately, such beliefs are starting to look like a luxury as more disappearances begin to occur around Ghini's small mountain town.
You thought you knew about monsters, but you don’t know about the Queen of them all. She and her progeny are the originators of the entire monster mythos. And, they walk amongst us all in the daylight . . .
They are -- The Vespids.
- GenresHorror
160 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 11, 2022
5 people are currently reading
54 people want to read
About the author
A.J. Humphreys
9 books29 followersAJ Humphreys is an emerging author of spooky thrillers, mysteries, and dreadful tales. The small-town serialized four-volume supernatural mystery saga, Season of The Monster served as his debut within the publishing world.
A member of the Horror Writers’ Association, AJ is also the founder, owner, and chief operating officer of Dark Journeys Press.
When AJ isn’t writing, he can often be found outdoors, possibly walking eighteen holes with his parents, brother, or cousin.
Otherwise, it’s almost a sure bet he will have his best buddy, Kobe The Husky, at his side. Together, they both enjoy hiking, and swimming. AJ operates as an amateur landscape and wildlife photographer, which fits in well with the pair’s thirst for outdoor adventuring!
A member of the Horror Writers’ Association, AJ is also the founder, owner, and chief operating officer of Dark Journeys Press.
When AJ isn’t writing, he can often be found outdoors, possibly walking eighteen holes with his parents, brother, or cousin.
Otherwise, it’s almost a sure bet he will have his best buddy, Kobe The Husky, at his side. Together, they both enjoy hiking, and swimming. AJ operates as an amateur landscape and wildlife photographer, which fits in well with the pair’s thirst for outdoor adventuring!
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
March 23, 2024
I’ve been trying to read this book on and off all day. It’s just not capturing my attention… too much dialogue and not really getting to the point of the story. Theres also repetitive typos of the same words (likkle instead of little for example).
This story definitely wasn’t for me.
This story definitely wasn’t for me.
November 12, 2024
This is the first book I've read from A.J. I've heard good things about this one. I have to be honest I was a bit nervous as it got off to a slow start and I was like come on. However, once I got through the lore-building, it turned into a fun read.
The characters were a bit hard to follow, but once I re-read certain parts, it became fun to read. The scenery and descriptions were well-written and got me hooked once I got past the slow start. I think this is gonna be a fun series. I look forward to the next books.
Also, I have to say the cover art caught my attention and I mean that in a good way, hehe.
The characters were a bit hard to follow, but once I re-read certain parts, it became fun to read. The scenery and descriptions were well-written and got me hooked once I got past the slow start. I think this is gonna be a fun series. I look forward to the next books.
Also, I have to say the cover art caught my attention and I mean that in a good way, hehe.
November 19, 2024
This was a fast and exciting read! The book was so descriptive and definitely kept my attention. I had a hard time putting it down. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series!
September 22, 2023
This is a captivating book with an interesting premise.
I found myself completely invested in the storyline as soon as the first chapter ended.
🌟 Plot 🌟
Alternating between the different characters' points of view really helped drive the story in a well-paced manner. It's almost always fun to follow one character's movements, jump to another, and find their paths logically crossing.
My biggest gripe of all about the plot is how the book frustratingly ends on a cliffhanger without anything being resolved. Look, I love reading series. I don't mind cliffhangers either. But in my opinion and personal experience, a good book in a series still resolves a major plot point to give some sort of closure. Each book still has to go through the climb to the climax and come back down like how a television series resolves a plot point per episode but still has this season-long plot to resolve so you keep going. This book ended in what feels like the middle of the climb toward the novel's climax and that really caught me off guard.
🌟 Characters 🌟
Overall, the story had a great variety of personalities. They were established well so they're distinguishable enough but some are more impressionable than others. For example, Samuel and Detective Dak feel like they're supposed to have some major participation in the story but they felt more like plot devices than real people to me. Ghini's character was really interesting in the beginning but got swallowed by the plot as the chapters went by. However, Bernie, Kari, Mel, and Sierra are really interesting characters. The Queen herself feels like she's hiding a really complex storyline.
🌟 Writing Style 🌟
I really like a lot of elements in this story's writing style. First, it's easy to understand so reading the book just makes me feel like I'm watching a movie in my head. The scenery and the characters move so seamlessly. Second, every chapter's pacing felt just right. It establishes the point of view quickly and wraps up the scenes nicely. Lastly, the writing just feels so immersive. I had no trouble picturing what Black Hills was supposed to look like and it gave a great backdrop to this whole mystery. Plus, the Queen and Kari's overwhelming feelings really flow out of the pages. Take this paragraph for example:
I think the author just really describes the character's views so clearly and I love that. Here's another paragraph that paints another scene so well:
🌟 Recommendation 🌟
This is a captivating book with an interesting premise. If you're in the mood to read about humanoid monsters with insect genes starting their nest in what feels like a typical secluded, small town in paranormal movies, then this will be an interesting read. It has a creeping build of mystery and suspense that'll get you into the Halloween mood and kickstart your spooky reads. The story truly builds up. I would just suggest having the next book in the series ready as it feels incomplete on its own.
I found myself completely invested in the storyline as soon as the first chapter ended.
🌟 Plot 🌟
Alternating between the different characters' points of view really helped drive the story in a well-paced manner. It's almost always fun to follow one character's movements, jump to another, and find their paths logically crossing.
My biggest gripe of all about the plot is how the book frustratingly ends on a cliffhanger without anything being resolved. Look, I love reading series. I don't mind cliffhangers either. But in my opinion and personal experience, a good book in a series still resolves a major plot point to give some sort of closure. Each book still has to go through the climb to the climax and come back down like how a television series resolves a plot point per episode but still has this season-long plot to resolve so you keep going. This book ended in what feels like the middle of the climb toward the novel's climax and that really caught me off guard.
🌟 Characters 🌟
Overall, the story had a great variety of personalities. They were established well so they're distinguishable enough but some are more impressionable than others. For example, Samuel and Detective Dak feel like they're supposed to have some major participation in the story but they felt more like plot devices than real people to me. Ghini's character was really interesting in the beginning but got swallowed by the plot as the chapters went by. However, Bernie, Kari, Mel, and Sierra are really interesting characters. The Queen herself feels like she's hiding a really complex storyline.
🌟 Writing Style 🌟
I really like a lot of elements in this story's writing style. First, it's easy to understand so reading the book just makes me feel like I'm watching a movie in my head. The scenery and the characters move so seamlessly. Second, every chapter's pacing felt just right. It establishes the point of view quickly and wraps up the scenes nicely. Lastly, the writing just feels so immersive. I had no trouble picturing what Black Hills was supposed to look like and it gave a great backdrop to this whole mystery. Plus, the Queen and Kari's overwhelming feelings really flow out of the pages. Take this paragraph for example:
"Then there are her eyes. She isn't sure Kari even realizes it, with each blink they flip. They swell into an elongated alien blanket of hazel, honeycombed in oblong black pupils. Then as if nothing had changed, a single blink shrinks the colorful tapestry, restoring the whites to her eyes, with only a single oily black orb at the center of a hazel ring."
I think the author just really describes the character's views so clearly and I love that. Here's another paragraph that paints another scene so well:
"With silence consuming the room, Ghini notices the sun's glare shimmering on thin wisps of peach fuzz peppering Bernie's face."
🌟 Recommendation 🌟
This is a captivating book with an interesting premise. If you're in the mood to read about humanoid monsters with insect genes starting their nest in what feels like a typical secluded, small town in paranormal movies, then this will be an interesting read. It has a creeping build of mystery and suspense that'll get you into the Halloween mood and kickstart your spooky reads. The story truly builds up. I would just suggest having the next book in the series ready as it feels incomplete on its own.
July 30, 2023
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
"So, if it’s bout to be any season, it’s gonna be the season of the monster, and should we encounter ‘em, we’ll need a plan.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The lore building in the book was amazing! It presented you with the information so organically that I highly enjoyed it. The characters were sometimes hard to follow in the beginning, of figuring out who and what they were to the story, but I put the pieces together after about 20% of the way through. I am so intrigued to find out more and see how the story and characters develop in the next book.
If you enjoy a quick, easy story with mystery, monsters, and that makes your skin crawl, this is most definitely for you.
"So, if it’s bout to be any season, it’s gonna be the season of the monster, and should we encounter ‘em, we’ll need a plan.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The lore building in the book was amazing! It presented you with the information so organically that I highly enjoyed it. The characters were sometimes hard to follow in the beginning, of figuring out who and what they were to the story, but I put the pieces together after about 20% of the way through. I am so intrigued to find out more and see how the story and characters develop in the next book.
If you enjoy a quick, easy story with mystery, monsters, and that makes your skin crawl, this is most definitely for you.
May 14, 2025
What did I just read?!
I…..am so confused but also thoroughly invested in whatever tf this book was. I normally don’t read horror/thrillers but….i have to say this has me intrigued! This book was written in such an interesting way. At times it delved into a different language almost, and at other times it just left you utterly confused. The more information we gleamed, the more questions I had. I fear I will have to read the rest of the seasons cause I hate having unanswered questions. There’s so much we now know but also so much that makes no sense yet.
I…..am so confused but also thoroughly invested in whatever tf this book was. I normally don’t read horror/thrillers but….i have to say this has me intrigued! This book was written in such an interesting way. At times it delved into a different language almost, and at other times it just left you utterly confused. The more information we gleamed, the more questions I had. I fear I will have to read the rest of the seasons cause I hate having unanswered questions. There’s so much we now know but also so much that makes no sense yet.
October 16, 2022
Well-paced, unsettling, and left me craving for more. SOTM was a highly enjoyable, thrilling read. The writing style is easy to get into, and the story likewise. It sucks you into this world which doesn't seem that far off from reality. The gore sometimes reminded of Nick Cutter. Characters are somewhat two dimensional but I believe that it's because this is only part one, so they'll have plenty of room to grow into the fully fleshed out characters I know Humphreys can accomplish. Looking forward to the next!
3.5
3.5
January 12, 2024
Let me just say upfront that I really enjoyed this book, and I’m looking forward to reading the next one!
That being said, I did have a couple of issues with it:
1) First of all, there were several instances where words were misspelled in the text (it kind of made me wonder if the book was written with dictation, because often the words were misspelled as homonyms). it probably would’ve benefited from one more editing pass before going to print.
2) secondly, this didn’t feel like a full story to me. There was no real resolution to a particular conflict in this book. It was a lot of set up, which makes sense, considering there’s two more to read.
It took a minute to get going, but around the halfway mark, approximately 75 pages in it started to hook me and I read the rest of it in a single sitting. like I said, I can’t wait to pick up the next one and see how the story continues!
That being said, I did have a couple of issues with it:
1) First of all, there were several instances where words were misspelled in the text (it kind of made me wonder if the book was written with dictation, because often the words were misspelled as homonyms). it probably would’ve benefited from one more editing pass before going to print.
2) secondly, this didn’t feel like a full story to me. There was no real resolution to a particular conflict in this book. It was a lot of set up, which makes sense, considering there’s two more to read.
It took a minute to get going, but around the halfway mark, approximately 75 pages in it started to hook me and I read the rest of it in a single sitting. like I said, I can’t wait to pick up the next one and see how the story continues!
May 19, 2023
5☆☆☆☆☆
There are monsters roaming the Black Hills. People are disappearing with no explanation. This was a great read, thrilling and creepy. This is book 1 in the series and definitely a great start.
There are monsters roaming the Black Hills. People are disappearing with no explanation. This was a great read, thrilling and creepy. This is book 1 in the series and definitely a great start.
July 18, 2024
Slow start but once it gets going, doesn't stop
December 4, 2022
Unique and different from anything I have read. Makes me wonder what is next.
July 1, 2022
This book was a fantastic read! I would highly recommend. It's one of the best horror books I've read and it introduces a new monster. It should be at the top of your TBR list!
July 19, 2023
If you don’t like bugs don’t read this review. This book started a little rocky, I feel that within chapters and transitions into chapters were a little rough.
However..am I going to trust any bugs? Nope. He took my love of camping and totally creeped me out. These Vespids have totally got my skin crawling. He created a really awesome new creature that would really make an awesome flick!
Read this book you won’t regret it!
-Amy
However..am I going to trust any bugs? Nope. He took my love of camping and totally creeped me out. These Vespids have totally got my skin crawling. He created a really awesome new creature that would really make an awesome flick!
Read this book you won’t regret it!
-Amy
October 1, 2022
a rare treat
It was a rocky start but the author quickly made up for it. It has been a long time since I’ve taken the time to read a story in completion so fast but I was drawn to the monsters, trying to figure out what they were and if Ghini ever gets her daughter back. Definitely looking forward to reading the next book.
It was a rocky start but the author quickly made up for it. It has been a long time since I’ve taken the time to read a story in completion so fast but I was drawn to the monsters, trying to figure out what they were and if Ghini ever gets her daughter back. Definitely looking forward to reading the next book.
July 5, 2022
I only read through part 7 of this Kindle Vella story and thought it was pretty good but I'm not sure I'm sold on the serialized format of vella.
September 5, 2024
I read this book in one sitting. It kept my attention with how unique it was and how much I wanted to get to the bottom of what these “monsters” truly are. I’m keen to finish this series!
April 25, 2023
People going missing with little to no leads sees police battle to come up with information that can point them in the right direction but as more people appear to be going missing can they get to the bottom of things before it's too late?
The fact that rumours and myths have to come from somewhere means that surely you can never dismiss anything but on the other hand can you believe in something when you simply can't find the evidence to prove it?
This book is one that is well written, delivers a well thought out and delivered story and for me is a great start to what could easily become a series with many books as the development plus potential for more is very clear for the reader to see.
An excellent start to the series and book 2 is all lined up next.
The fact that rumours and myths have to come from somewhere means that surely you can never dismiss anything but on the other hand can you believe in something when you simply can't find the evidence to prove it?
This book is one that is well written, delivers a well thought out and delivered story and for me is a great start to what could easily become a series with many books as the development plus potential for more is very clear for the reader to see.
An excellent start to the series and book 2 is all lined up next.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews