What do you think?
Rate this book
Of Men and Monsters
“OF MEN AND MONSTERS is one hell of a wild ride! Lightning pace, relatable characters and scary twists you will not see coming. Tom Deady hit this one way out of the park.” -Jonathan Maberry, NY Times bestselling author of V-WARS and INK
In June of 1975, Ryan Baxter's mom moves him and his brother, Matt, to the small seaside town of Bayport, MA to escape their abusive father. For an eleven-year-old, spending lazy days hanging out at the beach and the arcades sounds like a dream.
When he meets Leah and she agrees to be his girlfriend, Ryan is happier than he's been in his young life. Then the "Sea Monkeys" knock-off he bought from the back of a comic book starts to grow...and grow and grow.
As Ryan and Matt struggle with their new lives and new friends, they begin to receive mysterious phone calls. As the sea monster in their house begins to get out of control, the real monster draws nearer to Bayport in the shape of their father.
In June of 1975, Ryan Baxter's mom moves him and his brother, Matt, to the small seaside town of Bayport, MA to escape their abusive father. For an eleven-year-old, spending lazy days hanging out at the beach and the arcades sounds like a dream.
When he meets Leah and she agrees to be his girlfriend, Ryan is happier than he's been in his young life. Then the "Sea Monkeys" knock-off he bought from the back of a comic book starts to grow...and grow and grow.
As Ryan and Matt struggle with their new lives and new friends, they begin to receive mysterious phone calls. As the sea monster in their house begins to get out of control, the real monster draws nearer to Bayport in the shape of their father.
120 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 28, 2021
About the author
Tom Deady
38 books200 followersTom Deady's first novel, HAVEN, won the 2016 Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a First Novel. He has since published several novels and novellas. He has a Master's Degree in English and Creative Writing and is a member of both the Horror Writers Association and the New England Horror Writers Association. He resides in Arizona where he is working on his next novel.
Be sure to follow Tom on BookBub for the latest on sales: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/tom-d...
Be sure to follow Tom on BookBub for the latest on sales: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/tom-d...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
May 6, 2021
This is a fantastic novella! I can't wait until you guys get to read it.
Tom Deady takes us back to a simpler time when first loves and summer fun was all that mattered. But life for this pair of brothers isn't all comic books and girls, no, and the monster in the tank is not the only danger lurking...
OF MEN AND MONSTERS is tense, magical, and gut-wrenching. It's the perfect summer novella.
Tom Deady takes us back to a simpler time when first loves and summer fun was all that mattered. But life for this pair of brothers isn't all comic books and girls, no, and the monster in the tank is not the only danger lurking...
OF MEN AND MONSTERS is tense, magical, and gut-wrenching. It's the perfect summer novella.
June 20, 2021
Bram Stoker award-winning author Tom Deady’s latest novella offers the perfect summer read with a Coming-of-Age tale of first loves, comic books and murderous sea creatures.
After an incident at home becomes the final straw for his mother, Ryan, along with his older brother Matt, find themselves driven across the country to a beautiful beach-front property at Bayport, escaping their abusive father and hoping to start a new life.
Things start off promisingly for the boys as they make friends quickly, meet some girls, and soon settle into their new normal. The spectre of their father looms large, however, and ominous phone calls suggest he may have found them. Coupled with the mysterious creature that has made a home in their bathroom, these events will come to a head, resulting in a summer the two brothers will never forget.
There was a lot about ‘Of Men and Monsters’ that really spoke to me, and that I enjoyed a great deal. The idyllic seaside setting was very evocative and the relationship between the two brothers was heart-warming and felt very genuine. I particularly like how the darker, more unpleasant suggestions of domestic violence and abuse were told from the perspective of an eleven-year-old, somebody who obviously sees the negative impact it is having on his family, but may not have a sense of the wider implications, leaving the reader in the position of perhaps having a greater understanding of the protagonist’s situation than the protagonist themself.
The fact that the lead character is eleven years old, however, forms perhaps the only major issue I had with the book. As much as I liked Ryan, to my ear at least, he does not talk, act or think like an eleven-year-old. He comes across as astonishingly adult, his phrasing often that of a particularly articulate grown-up and his interactions with his mother, in particular, come across as two peers and not a mother-son relationship. Nowhere is this more evident than with his burgeoning relationship with Leah. What should be a sweet summer romance between two pre-teens reads as far too mature, like a couple several years older. It is jarring and pervades the whole book and while it didn’t lessen my enjoyment of the story, I would have enjoyed the book a whole lot more if its lead had acted more authentically their age.
I am an absolute sucker for coming-of-age tales however and, coupled with some killer sea monsters, it is a book that is a lot of fun, whilst also tackling some tough themes, deftly managing the two so that the book never wallows in the darker subject matter, but always maintains a low-key sense of dread throughout. ‘Of Men and Monsters’ was an enjoyable summer read and as my first experience reading Tom Deady, it’s a book that has made me curious to check out his other work.
You can read more reviews of new and upcoming horror releases at https://www.myindiemuse.com/richard-m...
I also promote indie horror via Twitter and Instagram - @RickReadsHorror
After an incident at home becomes the final straw for his mother, Ryan, along with his older brother Matt, find themselves driven across the country to a beautiful beach-front property at Bayport, escaping their abusive father and hoping to start a new life.
Things start off promisingly for the boys as they make friends quickly, meet some girls, and soon settle into their new normal. The spectre of their father looms large, however, and ominous phone calls suggest he may have found them. Coupled with the mysterious creature that has made a home in their bathroom, these events will come to a head, resulting in a summer the two brothers will never forget.
There was a lot about ‘Of Men and Monsters’ that really spoke to me, and that I enjoyed a great deal. The idyllic seaside setting was very evocative and the relationship between the two brothers was heart-warming and felt very genuine. I particularly like how the darker, more unpleasant suggestions of domestic violence and abuse were told from the perspective of an eleven-year-old, somebody who obviously sees the negative impact it is having on his family, but may not have a sense of the wider implications, leaving the reader in the position of perhaps having a greater understanding of the protagonist’s situation than the protagonist themself.
The fact that the lead character is eleven years old, however, forms perhaps the only major issue I had with the book. As much as I liked Ryan, to my ear at least, he does not talk, act or think like an eleven-year-old. He comes across as astonishingly adult, his phrasing often that of a particularly articulate grown-up and his interactions with his mother, in particular, come across as two peers and not a mother-son relationship. Nowhere is this more evident than with his burgeoning relationship with Leah. What should be a sweet summer romance between two pre-teens reads as far too mature, like a couple several years older. It is jarring and pervades the whole book and while it didn’t lessen my enjoyment of the story, I would have enjoyed the book a whole lot more if its lead had acted more authentically their age.
I am an absolute sucker for coming-of-age tales however and, coupled with some killer sea monsters, it is a book that is a lot of fun, whilst also tackling some tough themes, deftly managing the two so that the book never wallows in the darker subject matter, but always maintains a low-key sense of dread throughout. ‘Of Men and Monsters’ was an enjoyable summer read and as my first experience reading Tom Deady, it’s a book that has made me curious to check out his other work.
You can read more reviews of new and upcoming horror releases at https://www.myindiemuse.com/richard-m...
I also promote indie horror via Twitter and Instagram - @RickReadsHorror
May 25, 2021
I’ve read Deady before. Backwater. Just revisited that review and it mentioned his stories being thoroughly decent takes on popular genre motifs. And sure enough, this novella definitely fits that bill. It may not be the most original of premises, in fact it is reminiscent of not one but two stories from the first season of Creepshow, but it’s well done and the premise is nostalgia steeped comic book flavored to perfection.
It’s the summer of 1975. Two young brothers and their mom have fled their abusive father and are all set for a fresh start in a small quaint beach town. Life holds every promise…sun soaked days and warm starlit nights by the ocean, girls, comic books conveniently left behind by the former tenants. Perfect…with sinister undertones, such as the looming threat of being found by their father or corpses washing up on the shore. And then there are sea monsters, ordered on a whim off the back of a comic and, unlike other cheap merch of the same providence, these guys live up to their name.
With consistently decent writing, engaging characters and genuinely entertaining story, it’s fairly easy to ignore the story’s immense (to the extent of using the dramatic finale for cover art) predictability. It’s what you might refer to as light on surprises, heavy on tentacles sort of thing. Overall a pretty fun quick read. Would fit right in Creepshow. Many thanks to the publishers for providing a free copy for review purposes.
This and more at https://advancetheplot.weebly.com/
It’s the summer of 1975. Two young brothers and their mom have fled their abusive father and are all set for a fresh start in a small quaint beach town. Life holds every promise…sun soaked days and warm starlit nights by the ocean, girls, comic books conveniently left behind by the former tenants. Perfect…with sinister undertones, such as the looming threat of being found by their father or corpses washing up on the shore. And then there are sea monsters, ordered on a whim off the back of a comic and, unlike other cheap merch of the same providence, these guys live up to their name.
With consistently decent writing, engaging characters and genuinely entertaining story, it’s fairly easy to ignore the story’s immense (to the extent of using the dramatic finale for cover art) predictability. It’s what you might refer to as light on surprises, heavy on tentacles sort of thing. Overall a pretty fun quick read. Would fit right in Creepshow. Many thanks to the publishers for providing a free copy for review purposes.
This and more at https://advancetheplot.weebly.com/
May 13, 2021
While many of us might struggle to recall our viewpoints of life at fourteen, let alone age eleven, Tom Deady has this information on tap, and he makes readers vividly understand and empathize with these two young not-yet-men, Ryan at eleven and Matthew at fourteen--brothers whose lives have been blighted in a not-uncommon fashion, by domestic violence, self-centeredness, alcoholism. Indeed, as the novella unfolds, it becomes clear that these two are far from the only afflicted young persons among their group of new friends. Mr. Deady manages to elicit tremendous sympathy, and even readers who were blessed with happy childhoods can relate as the boys, their determined mother, and their friends, strive to make their way in peace and friendship and compassion.
The "monstrous" element is approached subtly, and really, one may well decide that human evil far surpasses creature life and predation, because humans have consciousness and presumably thought to discern right from wrong, good from evil, morality from immorality. One might think.
The "monstrous" element is approached subtly, and really, one may well decide that human evil far surpasses creature life and predation, because humans have consciousness and presumably thought to discern right from wrong, good from evil, morality from immorality. One might think.
June 21, 2021
I love how Tom's stories always infect me with a sense of nostalgia, like I'm chatting with an old pal. Of Men and Monsters was such an enjoyable read. Highly recommended!
July 17, 2021
3. 5 rounded up for Goodreads
Recommending to fans of coming-of-age, small-town horror, and summer-beachy vibes.
Review coming to Cemetery Dance soon.
Recommending to fans of coming-of-age, small-town horror, and summer-beachy vibes.
Review coming to Cemetery Dance soon.
May 12, 2021
With the clever combination of my all-time favorite sub genres (coming-of-age and creatures). this novella easily swept me off my feet and into old-school horror paradise. Of course such a story works best when it provides that distinct retro touch, so it takes place in the 70s, where internet and mobile phones were still a mostly theoretical concept, and kids still spent their time reading comic books instead of typing and swiping on their cells. Ryan is one of those kids, and of course he is immediately fascinated by he advertisement on one of those comic books, which is not just for those silly little sea monkeys, but sea monsters. This is my second read about this kind of creature, but while the other book was a full-blown creature feature, 'Of Men and Monsters' has its focus on Ryan and his family. Having fled from an abusive father, his mother took Ryan and his brother Matt to a seaside town to start a new and better life. However, what feels like vacation with never-ending beach days and the magic of first love soon turns into a nightmare when Ryan's father is threatening to find them and destroy this newfound safety. The writing is top notch (as expected), and the characters felt believably real and relatable. This story easily put me in my reading comfort zone and therefore receives my highest recommendation.
October 1, 2021
Despite this book not being really horror it does show some of the darkest and nastiest sides of human nature as well as showing how our fears can become an unbearable monster we carry with us.
Ryan, his brother Max and his mom move to a small town by the sea that is mostly deserted during winter. They are escaping their past, looking for a new beginning and moving to a place where no one knows who they are should have done the trick.
However no matter how much we try to escape from the things we fear the most, they always end up catching up with us one way or another.
The metaphors used in this book and how grief is combined almost with horror fantasy was beautiful to see. A moving coming of age story with a lot of heart.
Ryan, his brother Max and his mom move to a small town by the sea that is mostly deserted during winter. They are escaping their past, looking for a new beginning and moving to a place where no one knows who they are should have done the trick.
However no matter how much we try to escape from the things we fear the most, they always end up catching up with us one way or another.
The metaphors used in this book and how grief is combined almost with horror fantasy was beautiful to see. A moving coming of age story with a lot of heart.
July 8, 2021
Absolutely brilliant coming of age story. Could not put this one down. Great characters, great setting, brilliant story line and pacing. Loaded with nostalgia. A perfect read. Bravo Mr Deady!
May 8, 2021
First of all, I was a kid in the 70's so the setting and descriptive detail within this novella took me right back. Having said that, I defy anyone not to connect with the memories of that first kiss, sunny summers spent at the beach, the anxiety of being the new kid, and the sense of responsibility and sudden enlightenment that comes with being on the brink of adulthood.
The prose flowed with ease, so I read this in just two sittings.
There were comic moments, tender moments, yet dig deeper and you'll find the anguish of a family in tatters and two boys who have to deal with the repercussions.
The main character, Ryan, is thoughtful, cautious, just the sweetest eleven-year-old you could ever wish to meet. My eleven-year-old self fell in love with him; my adult self wanted to adopt him.
The supernatural horror elements somehow feel believable, and when you reach the end, you will fully understand what the title really means.
N.B. I received an ARC of this novella in exchange for a fair and honest review
The prose flowed with ease, so I read this in just two sittings.
There were comic moments, tender moments, yet dig deeper and you'll find the anguish of a family in tatters and two boys who have to deal with the repercussions.
The main character, Ryan, is thoughtful, cautious, just the sweetest eleven-year-old you could ever wish to meet. My eleven-year-old self fell in love with him; my adult self wanted to adopt him.
The supernatural horror elements somehow feel believable, and when you reach the end, you will fully understand what the title really means.
N.B. I received an ARC of this novella in exchange for a fair and honest review
August 5, 2021
This book is wonderfully written in Ryan’s first-person as he and his family learn to negotiate arms against the monsters in their lives, be they found in funny books or the bus ride home. Amongst the horror lies the story of a troop of characters who feel real enough to reflect on well after reading. Partly because Tom Deady does a great job bringing us Ryan’s story, not in the voice of an 11-year-old, but that of a grown-up who went through some serious shit when he was young. This makes it feel more authentic in a way. Remembering childhood can be a sketchy-ass trip.
You can read Sean's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
You can read Sean's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
August 2, 2021
1970s Coming of Age Dark Tale
I usually tend more towards the extremely scary or splatter-punk-type entertainment. Although this was written as a Young Adult novel, I truly enjoyed it. Tom Deady captured the feel of the 1970s, and how a pre-teen and a teenage brother are affected by their bleak real life. Deady really made you fall in to that era, and it was amazing to reminisce as a 1970s child myself. It is written more in the vein of Stephen King’s “Stand By Me”, but Deady made it all his own. Extremely enjoyable read!
I usually tend more towards the extremely scary or splatter-punk-type entertainment. Although this was written as a Young Adult novel, I truly enjoyed it. Tom Deady captured the feel of the 1970s, and how a pre-teen and a teenage brother are affected by their bleak real life. Deady really made you fall in to that era, and it was amazing to reminisce as a 1970s child myself. It is written more in the vein of Stephen King’s “Stand By Me”, but Deady made it all his own. Extremely enjoyable read!
May 26, 2021
Ryan and Matt's mother has moved them to a New England beach-house to escape her abusive husband. Once settled, the boys dive head-first into new relationships, all the while knowing their father is searching for them, and getting closer. On a lark, Ryan orders a packet of sea monsters from the back of a comic book and, as was the case with this entire move and a fresh start on a new life, gets much more than he bargained for.
Set in the summer of 1975, Tom Deady's Of Men and Monsters has a nostalgic Spielbergian feel to it thanks its coming-of-age framing, and the slim novella has a warm, almost comforting, familiarity. Reading it, I was reminded a number of other stories in this vein to one tonal degree or another, but not necessarily in a bad way. You can feel the influence of works like Jaws and E.T., but also Stephen King's The Body, and even more recent but no less nostalgic coming-of-age horrors like Hunter Shea's Just Add Water, which this book borrows a particular plot beat from, and Creepshow's adaptation of Joe Hill's short story “By the Silver Water of Lake Champlain.” Jason Ciaramella's script for the hokey, slapdash TV version bears little resemblance to Hill's original piece, and while Deady's story shares elements with that Tom Savini-directed effort it manages to out-class it in every way.
Where Of Men and Monsters shines brightest is in its characters. The story is narrated by Ryan, presumably from the present day, and shows off Deady's knack for smooth delivery and gives the book a natural, conversational tone. I found myself invested in Ryan and his relationships right from the outset and was charmed by his reminisces of his first love as an 11-year-old.
Of Men and Monsters doesn't break any new ground, but it is assuredly written and ultimately, and most importantly for me, enjoyable. I do wish more had been done with the sea monster component because, hey, who doesn't want more sea monster stuff? A few nitpicks aside, Deady has made here a loving homage that wears it influences loud and proud and will certainly help kill a few hours at the beach.
Set in the summer of 1975, Tom Deady's Of Men and Monsters has a nostalgic Spielbergian feel to it thanks its coming-of-age framing, and the slim novella has a warm, almost comforting, familiarity. Reading it, I was reminded a number of other stories in this vein to one tonal degree or another, but not necessarily in a bad way. You can feel the influence of works like Jaws and E.T., but also Stephen King's The Body, and even more recent but no less nostalgic coming-of-age horrors like Hunter Shea's Just Add Water, which this book borrows a particular plot beat from, and Creepshow's adaptation of Joe Hill's short story “By the Silver Water of Lake Champlain.” Jason Ciaramella's script for the hokey, slapdash TV version bears little resemblance to Hill's original piece, and while Deady's story shares elements with that Tom Savini-directed effort it manages to out-class it in every way.
Where Of Men and Monsters shines brightest is in its characters. The story is narrated by Ryan, presumably from the present day, and shows off Deady's knack for smooth delivery and gives the book a natural, conversational tone. I found myself invested in Ryan and his relationships right from the outset and was charmed by his reminisces of his first love as an 11-year-old.
Of Men and Monsters doesn't break any new ground, but it is assuredly written and ultimately, and most importantly for me, enjoyable. I do wish more had been done with the sea monster component because, hey, who doesn't want more sea monster stuff? A few nitpicks aside, Deady has made here a loving homage that wears it influences loud and proud and will certainly help kill a few hours at the beach.
December 25, 2021
Gutted! Absolutely GUTTED!!
This was an intense little story. I immediately fell in love with the characters because I could relate to them. It was a brutal read, with a extremely sensitive subject matter. I had to take little breaks because I kept crying.
It definitely had an effect on me.
This was an intense little story. I immediately fell in love with the characters because I could relate to them. It was a brutal read, with a extremely sensitive subject matter. I had to take little breaks because I kept crying.
It definitely had an effect on me.
May 4, 2022
Great Coming of Age Tale
This is a coming of age story about a an 11 year old boy, Ryan, his 14 year old brother Matt, and their mom moving to a new town to escape their abusive alcoholic father/husband. They live next to a beach where they get to meet new people and having a great start to their summer,and that’s when things start happening.
I have decided that I really love coming of age tales. It brings me back to my adolescent years which were so simple, yet so much fun and magical. Summer off school and being with friends by the lake,.riding bikes, playing tag, first love and first kisses.
If you love coming of age tales, this is such a good one. It’s a short, fast paced and fun read.
This is a coming of age story about a an 11 year old boy, Ryan, his 14 year old brother Matt, and their mom moving to a new town to escape their abusive alcoholic father/husband. They live next to a beach where they get to meet new people and having a great start to their summer,and that’s when things start happening.
I have decided that I really love coming of age tales. It brings me back to my adolescent years which were so simple, yet so much fun and magical. Summer off school and being with friends by the lake,.riding bikes, playing tag, first love and first kisses.
If you love coming of age tales, this is such a good one. It’s a short, fast paced and fun read.
May 27, 2021
Ryan and his brother have just moved to a new home with their mom to escape an abusive husband/father. Things are going along fine at first until the phone calls begin. No one ever speaks but the thought of his father trying to track them down has Ryan on guard until that fateful day he makes a discovery on the beach! Unwittingly Ryan allows a reporter to interview him for the evening news. After realizing his mistake, the family must decide to stand and face the man who calls himself father or go back on the run.
This coming of age story takes it up a notch with some wicked twists. Deady hits it dead-on with his characters. The family is totally relatable, and you feel their emotions. Even the whole vibe of the time period is spot-on. All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable read!
This coming of age story takes it up a notch with some wicked twists. Deady hits it dead-on with his characters. The family is totally relatable, and you feel their emotions. Even the whole vibe of the time period is spot-on. All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable read!
June 3, 2021
What a great read! I felt like I could smell the sea air and feel the sand in my toes as I was reading this, such descriptive writing. But I could also feel the anxiety and dread of our main character and what he was dealing with. Just a perfect summer horror tale. 5/5 sea monster skulls 💀
June 7, 2021
A beautiful and brutally laid out book. It is as impossible to put down as it is to just eat a single potato chip. You must keep going until the entire thing is consumed. If you miss this book, you are depriving yourself of a future classic.
August 27, 2021
Tom Deady’s excellent novella Of Men and Monsters is undoubtedly aimed at the adult market, but it has a very strong YA vibe pumping through it. The thirteen or fourteen-year-old version of myself would have sped through these 88-pages in a single sitting, I might not have picked up on the heavy family abuse overtones but would have loved the convincing coming-of-age story set over a long hot summer and the cute girls hanging around in the background. Nostalgically set in 1975 the narrator Ryan Baxter, his brother Matt and their mother suddenly move to a small seaside town, which is generally empty when season is over. Ryan who is eleven, and in particular fourteen-year-old Matt are very sad to end up in Bayport (MA) but are on the run from their abusive father. However, they quickly make new friends and more importantly, both brothers meet girls.
I really enjoyed the relationship between the two brothers and their mother and their struggles to escape the shadow of their father and had fond recollections of my own childhood summers which seemed to go on forever. However, I was not convinced by eleven-year-old kids having girlfriends and talk of “going through the bases”, come on ELEVEN, when I was that age, I was somewhat behind Ryan who gets his first kiss over the course of the novella. The supernatural element was very cleverly introduced into the story, with Ryan finding a huge pile of old comics in the attic, then bonds with his brother through shared reading, before filling in a coupon which leads to the arrival of a strange package. The uneasiness which this begins is cleverly balanced with the trials of first love and the dangerous shadow of the father, the silent telephone caller. In the end it was a moving story, perhaps the ending was a tad too bleak for YA readers (and me!) but it was a great little book which said and crammed a lot into its engrossing 88-pages. AGE RANGE 14+
I really enjoyed the relationship between the two brothers and their mother and their struggles to escape the shadow of their father and had fond recollections of my own childhood summers which seemed to go on forever. However, I was not convinced by eleven-year-old kids having girlfriends and talk of “going through the bases”, come on ELEVEN, when I was that age, I was somewhat behind Ryan who gets his first kiss over the course of the novella. The supernatural element was very cleverly introduced into the story, with Ryan finding a huge pile of old comics in the attic, then bonds with his brother through shared reading, before filling in a coupon which leads to the arrival of a strange package. The uneasiness which this begins is cleverly balanced with the trials of first love and the dangerous shadow of the father, the silent telephone caller. In the end it was a moving story, perhaps the ending was a tad too bleak for YA readers (and me!) but it was a great little book which said and crammed a lot into its engrossing 88-pages. AGE RANGE 14+
January 31, 2023
Of Men and Monsters is a novella that reads almost like a full-length novel. How Tom Deady managed to put so much into such a little book, I don't know, but I loved this book. It's a coming-of-age tale that borders on horror. The horror aspects are minor, or perhaps I should say that they are rooted in real-life terrors of being young and not in control of your environment; the reality of child abuse. That last sentence makes this book sound grim, but it's not. It is a tale of being young and full of life and wonders along with fears and tragedies.
Oh, I should mention that there is a monster, but I'm going to leave it at that for fear of spoiling anything. Of Men and Monsters is fun and reminded me of what it was like being a kid again.
Oh, I should mention that there is a monster, but I'm going to leave it at that for fear of spoiling anything. Of Men and Monsters is fun and reminded me of what it was like being a kid again.
January 19, 2022
Three-and-a-half: the steady development of the adolescence-under-duress is applause-worthy. Sturdy character-building scenes, which I enjoyed following. Relatively late-in-the-game there's accretion of romantic tension and suspense and then quite a bit that comes together in dramatic action. The structure of this novella gives an honest accounting for the protagonist, but without much in the way of foreshadowing--and with such a solid foundation it'd be fun to see some stylistic risk-taking. In the place of the maybe-missed opportunities is a nice homage to being an outsider at shore towns, with compensation coming from old comic book discoveries--especially as found in the cheesy ads in the back pages.
May 31, 2021
Another excellent book!
Tom Deady has quickly become a lifetime favorite of mine, the same way Stephen King, Robert McCammon, Richard Laymon, and Jack Ketchum did years ago. More recently it's Bracken McLeod, Ronald Malfi, Greg Go find, and Josh Malerman.It's the quality of the storytelling. It's the quality of the stories. It's the innate humanity that shines through in the authors words. It's the ability to takes back to being that boy that loved comics, horror stories, Rock n Roll, and of course one great book after the other. I'm 60 years old now, but inside I'm still that boy and love the same things. Thank you Tom Ready for taking me away on another wonderful adventure.
Tom Deady has quickly become a lifetime favorite of mine, the same way Stephen King, Robert McCammon, Richard Laymon, and Jack Ketchum did years ago. More recently it's Bracken McLeod, Ronald Malfi, Greg Go find, and Josh Malerman.It's the quality of the storytelling. It's the quality of the stories. It's the innate humanity that shines through in the authors words. It's the ability to takes back to being that boy that loved comics, horror stories, Rock n Roll, and of course one great book after the other. I'm 60 years old now, but inside I'm still that boy and love the same things. Thank you Tom Ready for taking me away on another wonderful adventure.
July 14, 2021
Loved this book, great coming of age story, with characters that are as real as you can get. Great story line, and the ending was in some ways not what I expected but very realistic. I loved the setting nice beach sort of reminds me of a place I went to as a young teen and the fun of falling in love.
August 30, 2021
Not just a Monster Story
In the vain of Stand by Me, this is a coming of age story full of heart and emotion. The monsters are both human and not. This book hits the feels hard and never stops.
In the vain of Stand by Me, this is a coming of age story full of heart and emotion. The monsters are both human and not. This book hits the feels hard and never stops.
May 30, 2021
Coming of age stories are some of my favorites, and this one did not disappoint. Filled with nostalgia, love, and heartbreak. And of course some monsters mixed in for good measure. But sometimes the scariest monsters of all are the real ones. Perfect little horror read for the summertime.
July 2, 2021
As he often does Deady perfectly blends the coming-of-age drama with a wonderful dash of B-movie horror. A good quick read that tells all that need to be told in it's small amount of pages, with characters and stories that are fully out without any unneeded filler.
May 24, 2021
Another great coming of age book from Tom Deady. After reading his epic tale, Haven, I had to revisit his world. I loved Of Men and Monsters, and wish I the story was long, giving me more time with these characters. It was a fast read and was over before I knew it.
May 28, 2021
Of Men and Monsters
Author: Tom Deady
Publisher: Crystal Lake Publishing
Page count: 120pp
Release date: 28th May 2021
Summer 1975
Our narrator, Ryan, 11, his Mom and his older brother Matt,14, have just moved to a new town and a ramshackle beachside property.
Whereas Matt feels lost, Ryan loves the feel of sand beneath his feet.
And at least they’re safe from their Dad.
Alone whilst Matt is with some local kids and his mon naps, Ryan does the thing that most eleven year old kids do; explores his home and in the out of order, rusted and gurgling bathroom, finds the hidden steps to the attic.
In the attic he finds unexpected treasure: old comic books. Cutting out one of the ads from the back of a scary comic, he orders the growable ‘sea monster’ he’s pretty sure it’ll just be like the sea monkeys of old.
From the local diner to the town of Bayport itself, the setting is delightfully retro; the perfect backdrop to a coming of age story both wonderful and poignant.
This carries the atmosphere of classics such as The Body by Stephen King aka Stand by Me and packs an emotional punch. It deals in a very honest way with the dangers and repercussions of alcohol abuse and other forms of abuse, whilst still holding moments of humour and sweetness. The sweetness comes in the form of teen romance as the brothers meet two local girls who have a focal point in the book.
Amidst the darker themes is the ambience and sincerity here that almost feels like a novella version of a Creepshow story.
In fact I urge Deady to send it in to them.
The cover by Ben Baldwin is marvellous, reflecting the piece itself; funny, dark, beautiful and heartwarming all at the same time.
A terrific trip down comic-book memory lane.
Author: Tom Deady
Publisher: Crystal Lake Publishing
Page count: 120pp
Release date: 28th May 2021
Summer 1975
Our narrator, Ryan, 11, his Mom and his older brother Matt,14, have just moved to a new town and a ramshackle beachside property.
Whereas Matt feels lost, Ryan loves the feel of sand beneath his feet.
And at least they’re safe from their Dad.
Alone whilst Matt is with some local kids and his mon naps, Ryan does the thing that most eleven year old kids do; explores his home and in the out of order, rusted and gurgling bathroom, finds the hidden steps to the attic.
In the attic he finds unexpected treasure: old comic books. Cutting out one of the ads from the back of a scary comic, he orders the growable ‘sea monster’ he’s pretty sure it’ll just be like the sea monkeys of old.
From the local diner to the town of Bayport itself, the setting is delightfully retro; the perfect backdrop to a coming of age story both wonderful and poignant.
This carries the atmosphere of classics such as The Body by Stephen King aka Stand by Me and packs an emotional punch. It deals in a very honest way with the dangers and repercussions of alcohol abuse and other forms of abuse, whilst still holding moments of humour and sweetness. The sweetness comes in the form of teen romance as the brothers meet two local girls who have a focal point in the book.
Amidst the darker themes is the ambience and sincerity here that almost feels like a novella version of a Creepshow story.
In fact I urge Deady to send it in to them.
The cover by Ben Baldwin is marvellous, reflecting the piece itself; funny, dark, beautiful and heartwarming all at the same time.
A terrific trip down comic-book memory lane.
May 28, 2021
As mentioned previously on my blog, I’m a big advocate for Crystal Lake Publishing and the content they release. Coming of age horror is one of my favourite subgenres, so I was delighted to get an arc for ‘Of Men and Monsters’.
Of Men and Monsters is the story of pre-teen Ryan Baxter and his brother, Matt. The brothers move to the seaside location of Bayport. A long Summer on the beach and the arcades awaits the brothers, it’s like a dream escape from their old life. Romance is in the air for the young brothers when they meet cousins, Kelly and Leah.
Ryan’s naivety and youth shine through when he purchases “Sea Monsters” from the back of old comics he finds in their rented house.
The seaside location is described in cinematic detail – I could feel the sand under my feet, feel the sun on my face and hear the waves crashing. The 1975 setting was nostalgic and the writer captures the voice of 11 year old Ryan really well, we are with him throughout his Summer adventure.
The feelings of excitement and the first pangs of lust are beautifully described, sending me back in my thoughts to my own first romantic encounters. The relationship between nerdy, comic-loving Ryan and too cool older brother, Matt is very touching. The scene where Matt invites Ryan to the beach to meet some of his new friends tugged at my heartstrings.
But shadows loom over the youngsters in this tale. The lighter, childish segments are interspersed with dark moments. While Ryan’s “Sea Monsters” grow, so do the real-life threats from the boy’s abusive father.
To summarise, this is a touching and bittersweet horror tale of family and growing up. Of Monsters and Men reminds the reader that monsters are real, but they may not be the ones lurking under the bed.
Of Men and Monsters is the story of pre-teen Ryan Baxter and his brother, Matt. The brothers move to the seaside location of Bayport. A long Summer on the beach and the arcades awaits the brothers, it’s like a dream escape from their old life. Romance is in the air for the young brothers when they meet cousins, Kelly and Leah.
Ryan’s naivety and youth shine through when he purchases “Sea Monsters” from the back of old comics he finds in their rented house.
The seaside location is described in cinematic detail – I could feel the sand under my feet, feel the sun on my face and hear the waves crashing. The 1975 setting was nostalgic and the writer captures the voice of 11 year old Ryan really well, we are with him throughout his Summer adventure.
The feelings of excitement and the first pangs of lust are beautifully described, sending me back in my thoughts to my own first romantic encounters. The relationship between nerdy, comic-loving Ryan and too cool older brother, Matt is very touching. The scene where Matt invites Ryan to the beach to meet some of his new friends tugged at my heartstrings.
But shadows loom over the youngsters in this tale. The lighter, childish segments are interspersed with dark moments. While Ryan’s “Sea Monsters” grow, so do the real-life threats from the boy’s abusive father.
To summarise, this is a touching and bittersweet horror tale of family and growing up. Of Monsters and Men reminds the reader that monsters are real, but they may not be the ones lurking under the bed.
May 29, 2021
I was 14 years old in 1975. I devoured the same “nightmare” and “scream” comic books as the main character, Ryan, and even bought Sea Monkey’s, not Sea Monsters, from the local drug store because it was the current fad at the time.
Needless to say, I had a big smile on my face while reading Of Men and Monsters. The author perfectly captures the experience of being a kid in the 70’s during the summer. I thought the story had a Stranger Things vibe (set a decade earlier) as a group of kids get together and do what has to be done to fight the ‘monsters’ and ‘demons’ of the story.
This may be the shortest review I’ve ever written, but it’s a quick read, a novella, and I don’t want to give anything away. It was fun, sad, tragic, and suspenseful. A wonderful story by Tom Deady. 5 Stars.
I was given a a complimentary ARC from the publisher in return for an honest review.
Needless to say, I had a big smile on my face while reading Of Men and Monsters. The author perfectly captures the experience of being a kid in the 70’s during the summer. I thought the story had a Stranger Things vibe (set a decade earlier) as a group of kids get together and do what has to be done to fight the ‘monsters’ and ‘demons’ of the story.
This may be the shortest review I’ve ever written, but it’s a quick read, a novella, and I don’t want to give anything away. It was fun, sad, tragic, and suspenseful. A wonderful story by Tom Deady. 5 Stars.
I was given a a complimentary ARC from the publisher in return for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews