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It Came from the Sea
The sea-side city of Ocean Coast is smack-dab in the middle of their summer tourist season. Then, one day, a strange black mass washes in on the tide. Shortly after its arrival, the town's water is tainted with unknown toxic elements. The main beaches are closed and summertime activities are at a standstill. As time passes, people start being drawn to the beaches against their will,strange mangled creatures emerge from the ocean, and a few folks find out what happens when you drink the water.
The tides turns deadly for Ocean Coast when...It Came from the Sea!
The tides turns deadly for Ocean Coast when...It Came from the Sea!
- GenresHorror
155 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 19, 2022
5 people are currently reading
71 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
August 21, 2022
Matt Wildasin goes the Lovecraftian route with It Came from the Sea, positing "something unusual; something massive and unlike anything he had ever seen before, nor could possibly describe" appearing off the beach of Ocean Coast city just in time to mow down on some tasty tourists.
While we don't get much in the way of vivid descriptions for this nasty sea-dweller (it does get bigger and bigger with each turn of the page, it seems, and has enormous tentacles that rise into the sky and can be seen for miles and miles), Wildasin thankfully spares very little in detailing the carnage that follows this monstrosity's arrival. Beachgoers are mesmerized and overcome with bloodlust before walking into the parted seas to become crunchy vittles for the big beastie. We get to witness the mayhem unfolding through a pair of retiree besties, Berk and Larry; Courtney, a teenage worker for the boardwalk ice cream shop; and young Brian and his family. It's always cool to see the old folks get their druthers up in apocalyptic horror rather than just serve a cannon fodder (see Brian Keene's Earthworm Gods as a terrific example), and Wildasin does a great job giving Berk and Larry integral roles in the awfulness unfolding around them.
It Came from the Sea is a ton of fun, but not without its flaws in terms of writing. As Wildasin notes in his introduction, this novella is based on, and starts off with, a short story of the same name that initially appeared in his Horrors Untold Volume 2, and that his writing style has improved in the interim. He's a bit modest here, but I will say I noticed a significant improvement in his writing after a few chapters. The earlier segments feel a bit too mechanical and workmanlike, eventually giving way to more a naturalistic style. There's a few odd constructions and word choices here and there, but not to the point that it proves detrimental to the overall story being told, and certainly nothing that couldn't be brushed up with another round of editing and proofreading. Some of it may just be colloquial, too, as Wildasin hails from Pennsylvania, a strange land where they allow wealthy New Jersey elites to run as state senators, so who knows what the hell is happening over there.
Although it takes a bit for the writing to grow more fluid, the story itself hits the ground running damn near right from page one. While Wildasin's main priority is to tell us a kick-ass sea terror creature feature - and he certain succeeds on that front! - he still manages to sneak in a few, small dashes of commentary surrounding abusive relationships, toxic masculinity, and prejudice, without beating readers over the head with it. When Courtney squares off against a wife-beating customer, for example, I could not wait for that asshole to get his just deserts on this increasingly bloody beach. We also get a really nifty Jurassic Park reference involving in a crazed, mutated, possessed horse instead of a dinosaur, and that's just some good goddamn entertainment right there!
It Came from the Sea succeeds, first and foremost, at being a rousing, gory summertime romp of a read -- just maybe not one you'll want to take to the beach.
While we don't get much in the way of vivid descriptions for this nasty sea-dweller (it does get bigger and bigger with each turn of the page, it seems, and has enormous tentacles that rise into the sky and can be seen for miles and miles), Wildasin thankfully spares very little in detailing the carnage that follows this monstrosity's arrival. Beachgoers are mesmerized and overcome with bloodlust before walking into the parted seas to become crunchy vittles for the big beastie. We get to witness the mayhem unfolding through a pair of retiree besties, Berk and Larry; Courtney, a teenage worker for the boardwalk ice cream shop; and young Brian and his family. It's always cool to see the old folks get their druthers up in apocalyptic horror rather than just serve a cannon fodder (see Brian Keene's Earthworm Gods as a terrific example), and Wildasin does a great job giving Berk and Larry integral roles in the awfulness unfolding around them.
It Came from the Sea is a ton of fun, but not without its flaws in terms of writing. As Wildasin notes in his introduction, this novella is based on, and starts off with, a short story of the same name that initially appeared in his Horrors Untold Volume 2, and that his writing style has improved in the interim. He's a bit modest here, but I will say I noticed a significant improvement in his writing after a few chapters. The earlier segments feel a bit too mechanical and workmanlike, eventually giving way to more a naturalistic style. There's a few odd constructions and word choices here and there, but not to the point that it proves detrimental to the overall story being told, and certainly nothing that couldn't be brushed up with another round of editing and proofreading. Some of it may just be colloquial, too, as Wildasin hails from Pennsylvania, a strange land where they allow wealthy New Jersey elites to run as state senators, so who knows what the hell is happening over there.
Although it takes a bit for the writing to grow more fluid, the story itself hits the ground running damn near right from page one. While Wildasin's main priority is to tell us a kick-ass sea terror creature feature - and he certain succeeds on that front! - he still manages to sneak in a few, small dashes of commentary surrounding abusive relationships, toxic masculinity, and prejudice, without beating readers over the head with it. When Courtney squares off against a wife-beating customer, for example, I could not wait for that asshole to get his just deserts on this increasingly bloody beach. We also get a really nifty Jurassic Park reference involving in a crazed, mutated, possessed horse instead of a dinosaur, and that's just some good goddamn entertainment right there!
It Came from the Sea succeeds, first and foremost, at being a rousing, gory summertime romp of a read -- just maybe not one you'll want to take to the beach.
August 28, 2022
Excellent lovecraftian horror at its best!
December 28, 2022
I've read a few different pieces by Matt now, and this is absolutely my favorite so far! It Came From the Sea* takes an idyllic, seaside town where most people try to escape to, and smashes it. A vacation destination becomes a grisly graveyard filled with monsters far beyond the normal reach of the imagination!
I loved the approach Matt uses, where we follow different people in various locations around the city at the heart of the story, giving us a wider look at the terror unfolding from a variety of perspectives. Young adults, older, retired folks, and a family with a young son have motives across the spectrum from revenge to the most basic desire to survive.
He made a great choice with a massive creature of unknown origin, because the options for mutations and other accompanying entities are limitless. Fish-like humanoids, horrendous bugs, and everyday animals that shouldn't have tentacles, but do, wreak havoc along every inch of the coast. However, as in most apocalyptic situations, humans have the amazing capability to "out-monster" the monsters. In circumstances where we should be banding together, we turn on each other in some of the worst ways possible. We look to each other for somewhere to place blame, project our emotions on the crowd around us, and lash out (think The Mist).
On a totally unrelated note... have you SEEN this book cover?! These calming, tranquil colors rope you in, and then BEAT you with the chaos and mayhem they hide!
I loved the approach Matt uses, where we follow different people in various locations around the city at the heart of the story, giving us a wider look at the terror unfolding from a variety of perspectives. Young adults, older, retired folks, and a family with a young son have motives across the spectrum from revenge to the most basic desire to survive.
He made a great choice with a massive creature of unknown origin, because the options for mutations and other accompanying entities are limitless. Fish-like humanoids, horrendous bugs, and everyday animals that shouldn't have tentacles, but do, wreak havoc along every inch of the coast. However, as in most apocalyptic situations, humans have the amazing capability to "out-monster" the monsters. In circumstances where we should be banding together, we turn on each other in some of the worst ways possible. We look to each other for somewhere to place blame, project our emotions on the crowd around us, and lash out (think The Mist).
On a totally unrelated note... have you SEEN this book cover?! These calming, tranquil colors rope you in, and then BEAT you with the chaos and mayhem they hide!
October 10, 2022
It Came from the Sea by @Matt_Wildasin was outstanding! Full disclosure, "Ocean Coast" is based on my hometown. I loved being able have all 5 senses engaged as I was reading, because I knew these places and the sounds and smells that came with them.
I went in expecting ocean horror, but was met with fantastic cosmic horror instead. Matt does a wonderful job describing the terror the characters are facing, while leaving just enough for your imagination. I'll be recommending this book for a long time.
I went in expecting ocean horror, but was met with fantastic cosmic horror instead. Matt does a wonderful job describing the terror the characters are facing, while leaving just enough for your imagination. I'll be recommending this book for a long time.
September 16, 2022
Monsters and weirdness galore
This book gets started with the action and strange monsters pretty fast. There is so much going on, to so many people in different places, and action, that it took me quite a while to feel any sort of connection with any one person. There are fantastic creatures and gore and violence, and strangeness up the wazoo. The ending puts you in a time warp and is quite unexpected (for me anyways).
This book gets started with the action and strange monsters pretty fast. There is so much going on, to so many people in different places, and action, that it took me quite a while to feel any sort of connection with any one person. There are fantastic creatures and gore and violence, and strangeness up the wazoo. The ending puts you in a time warp and is quite unexpected (for me anyways).
August 23, 2022
This is cosmic horror done right. Being not a big cosmic horror fan I have to say this was an excellent book. Matt Wildasin took me to the beach and now I never want to go back. Easily a top ten read for this year and top 5 in cosmic horror reads. Beware of the fish people and don't drink the water, other then that sit back and enjoy.
November 3, 2022
It Came From the Sea is a thrill ride of cosmic horror. What begins as a mysterious shape in the ocean quickly turns to chaos. Matt Wildasin delivers a cast of memorable characters and subjects them to brutal moments you won’t soon forget.
This is Matt’s strongest work to date and a must read for fans of cosmic horror.
This is Matt’s strongest work to date and a must read for fans of cosmic horror.
May 17, 2023
4.5 stars. This is the best Matt Wildasin book so far. Superb, likable characters, and a fun summer action plot. A highly enjoyable creature feature. Editing could still use some work.
September 2, 2022
The deep sea is almost uniquely suited for cosmic horror. It's a place of mystery, of vastness, and it's so commonplace and close to us, that this only drives the horror on. This is a reality Matt Wildasin knows and takes head on in "It Came From the Sea," a solid deep sea cosmic horror yarn that centers characters and horror all together.
Something has washed up on the shore and something big, hungry and dangerous is emerging from the sea, possibly foretelling a mass apocalypse. To start with the praise, Wildasin absolutely nails the pure, unfathomable horror of monsters arriving from the ocean. They're eldritch, alien monstrosities that want nothing more than food with all of humankind on the menu. The story reads like a series of grim vignettes as the blood begins to flow and the characters are left as spectators to a ringside world downfall.
This book is fun. It's an unpretentious romp from the ocean, not without flaws, but a delightfully entertaining story that brings the blood-soaked beasts from the waters and gives you characters to care about from start to finish. Not without flaws, and its brevity indeed gives us the idea that there's so much more we should see. The character rotation is an interesting thought and it ends up working splendidly well in the end.
I look forward to more from Wildasin here!
Something has washed up on the shore and something big, hungry and dangerous is emerging from the sea, possibly foretelling a mass apocalypse. To start with the praise, Wildasin absolutely nails the pure, unfathomable horror of monsters arriving from the ocean. They're eldritch, alien monstrosities that want nothing more than food with all of humankind on the menu. The story reads like a series of grim vignettes as the blood begins to flow and the characters are left as spectators to a ringside world downfall.
This book is fun. It's an unpretentious romp from the ocean, not without flaws, but a delightfully entertaining story that brings the blood-soaked beasts from the waters and gives you characters to care about from start to finish. Not without flaws, and its brevity indeed gives us the idea that there's so much more we should see. The character rotation is an interesting thought and it ends up working splendidly well in the end.
I look forward to more from Wildasin here!
August 22, 2022
It Came From The Sea by Matt Wildasin is a tale of horror set in a seaside town where the monsters aren’t the only things to be feared.
If you’ve been feeling the call to the sea recently, perhaps you should hold off on that trip and give this a read instead.
I had such a blast reading It Came From The Sea. Horror set near the ocean is always a hit for me, and this one sure knocked it out of the park.
I’m going to be second guessing my urges to go to the beach for a long while after reading this one! And whenever I do go, I am most certainly going to remember this tale when I see something in the water and find myself trying to squint to see what it is. Perhaps it’s safer if I don’t know…
Full disclosure: I was given a free copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my rating in any way. I also purchased an ebook copy and will get a physical copy later for my shelves.
Check out my full review here: https://www.ericarobynreads.com/book-...
If you’ve been feeling the call to the sea recently, perhaps you should hold off on that trip and give this a read instead.
I had such a blast reading It Came From The Sea. Horror set near the ocean is always a hit for me, and this one sure knocked it out of the park.
I’m going to be second guessing my urges to go to the beach for a long while after reading this one! And whenever I do go, I am most certainly going to remember this tale when I see something in the water and find myself trying to squint to see what it is. Perhaps it’s safer if I don’t know…
Full disclosure: I was given a free copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my rating in any way. I also purchased an ebook copy and will get a physical copy later for my shelves.
Check out my full review here: https://www.ericarobynreads.com/book-...
September 7, 2022
This was a really well written and exciting horror with a lovecraftian feel. Really impressive and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews