Feeders

By: Caleb Stephens

Narrated by: Shelley Reece

Length: 9 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's summary

It’s just an average night at the Ink Tank, the tattoo shop in Austin, Texas, where Brynn works as a tattoo artist. After a long shift, all she wants to do is head home, pop a few pills from the fresh bottle of Roxicodone in her jacket pocket, and slip into a nice buzz. Her plans crumble when she’s abducted by her convict father, Alan, and forced into the road trip from hell: a cross-country trek to the Rocky Mountains and the shelter he built years ago to protect his family from the monsters living in his head, the monsters he says will erupt from the earth at any minute—the Feeders. With each mile, he unravels further, thrusting Brynn back into the childhood nightmare she thought she’d escaped forever. Alan is paranoid, and he’s definitely dangerous—but is he crazy? In this novel, we find that truth is not always what it seems, and that some secrets are better left buried.

©2023 Caleb Stephens (P)2023 Caleb Stephens

Critic reviews

“I read Feeders in one bleary-eyed sitting, and I swear by the end the words were wriggling right off the page. I thought I was devouring it, but nope, this book devoured me. First, it burrows. Then it erupts, taking what's left of your brain right with it.” (Clay McLeod Chapman, author of Ghost Eaters)

“If you’re looking for a book that’s going to make you feel safe and warm, Feeders is not the book for you. Stephens doesn’t pull any punches as he takes you on a journey that’s visceral, raw, and absolutely brutal. This book is a cult classic in the making.” (Caitlin Marceau, award-winning author of This Is Where We Talk Things Out)

“A thunder beneath your feet, a power you haven’t felt before gathering in the broken earth…it’s Caleb Stephens emerging fully formed, ready to tear out your willing heart with both hands.” (Andrew F. Sullivan, author of The Marigold and The Handyman Method)

Feeders

Brynn is an opioid addicted tattoo artist, just trying to stay afloat, when she is kidnapped by a huge man. Turns out to be her recently imprisoned father, Alan, coming to save her from creatures he calls Feeders. As the story unfolds, the reader learns that he might just be a bit crazy since he believes that there are creatures living under the ground, waiting to attack.

I read a lot of apocalyptic fiction and this book was a different addition to that genre. It was reminiscent of the movie "Tremors', with the characters trying to dodge the Feeders, who are more intelligent that you would think, setting traps beneath the roads and everywhere else. But, for some reason, Brynn seems to be attuned to these creatures and immune to their attacks.

As Brynn and Alan rush to his hidden shelter, she has to concentrate on keeping her addiction at bay, while also saving her brother, Mack. Of course, this wouldn't be a true apocalyptic book without the obligatory redneck villains, who will stop at nothing to take over the shelter.

The author has created an action-packed story while also focusing on the workings of an addicted mind and troubled family dynamics. At the end of things, Brynn learns what being a family truly means and is determined to save those she loves at any cost. If you are a fan of this type of horror, you will enjoy this book. It is well-written and the characters are well developed.

The narrator did a good and her pacing and different voices were perfect for the book. I was given the chance to listen to this audiobook by the author/publisher/narrator and chose to review it.

Great Creature feature, but so much more!

Feeders
By Caleb Stephens

I was provided a copy of this on audiobook in exchange for an honest review. Thanks, Caleb!!!

This book was a pleasant surprise for me. I read the blurb and thought it was going to be an action-packed, cheesy creature feature. Which, by the way, I love! But shoot, this hit me right in the feels!

This book dealt with some serious topics, and the author did an excellent job with it. Themes of loss, addiction, betrayal, and family were all prevalent. It focused much more on the characters than on the creatures, which worked so well. I had a hard time putting down this book. It was fast-paced with well-written characters and a plot that kept me hooked.

I'm giving this a 4.5⭐️ rating rounded up to 5 where applicable. I would recommend this book to creature feature fans who love action but want more depth to their read.

Survival of the fittest

This story is a mix bag of horror/ roadtrip and survival. The creature described in the story reminded me of Tremors which was a fun picture to see in my head while reading. I did enjoy the authors writing style. Everything flowed so well and the chapters didn’t feel long. S/O to the author for making unlikeable characters the underdogs because by the halfway point I was really rooting for them to survive. Even though Bryn was our MC she got on my nerves at times . Even Alan surprised me a couple do times. Despite their flaws this story was action-packed with some heart.

Fascinating book

I don’t usually read books that are filled with suspense. I am more inclined to choose love stories and historical fiction novels. Since, the author is my son, I wanted to listen to his book on audible after reading Feeders. I was surprised at how much the character development, setting descriptions, and twists/turns of the novel drew me into the storyline. I predominantly utilize audible for reading at this point in time and love it. The narrator was excellent, which makes or breaks audible books, in my opinion. The audible story came alive in my mind and kept me engaged throughout the book. I am not a speculative reader, so it was the twists/turns of the story, character development, interpersonal relationships, personal heartbreaks, failings/strengths and human struggles that enticed me. I gave it a 5 because I don’t usually read this genre, but I couldn’t stop listening/reading it until I finished the book. Thanks, to Ms. Reece for bringing the characters to life for me and Caleb for his ability to take me to another dimension in my book selections.

Thrilling Apocalyptic Creature Feature

This book does not take any time to get to the action. All Brynn wants it to go home pop a few pills, and instead, she is abducted, and all the painful memories of her childhood start to return.
This book takes you in a journey of survival and truth as the world starts erupting and the feeders emerge. The true nature of some are exposed so Brynn and her companions fight to survive.
This was a pretty solid story, though I was not entirely invested, I did enjoy it. For me there was a bried lull a few hours in but it picked back up. I would definitely read another book from this author.

It was good story

I was very lucky to receive a audiobook copy in exchange for review. I say lucky because I had literally just added it to my audible wishlist the night before. So when I saw the opportunity of course I jumped on it lol.
Feeders by Caleb Stephens is post apocalyptic style story of a young woman who is fighting opioid addiction all while first being kidnapped by her estranged , thought to be in prison father, and then goes to find her younger brother to try and make it to their dad’s shelter to safety after quickly realizing that their father was right all along about the event that unfolds beneath them.
I have read many, many post apocalyptic stories everything from zombies to EMP and because of that some things that happen were a bit predictable, tho I won’t say what. But again that could just be because I have read so many of these types. But that does not in the least take away from the quality of this book. The plot itself was good and flowed well enough and the characters that you are supposed to cheer for were likable. You don’t want to yell at them to much for their stupidity 😂only two small issues I had with the story was one, I wish the creatures were detailed and explained a little more. I mostly just went off cover photo to picture what they looked like in my head. And 2 was her brother, he’s supposed to be 17 and she I believe says she is 28. But the way especially he acted made me feel like he was closer to 12 and her 18. I just felt like she was constantly babying him and the way they interacted they just felt much younger. I grew up in house full of boys and at 17 they act like they’re going on 45 😂 they think they know everything and they act like they are the adult even tho you are older and you just want to smack them sometimes. Lol but maybe that’s just my pain in the ass brothers.😂 anyways over all I really enjoyed it and would honestly give it 3 half stars ⭐️ the ending was left off as tho there will be more and will be a series but it didn’t leave you with giant cliffhanger and could just be read as a single story. Overall I recommend giving it a go

Great post apocalyptic read

Really enjoyed listening to this! Love the MC. Can’t believe this is a debut novel, definitely will be keeping my eye out for the next novel.

Heart palpitations and hyperventilation await!

This book was a good time, if you think heart palpitations and hyperventilation are a good time. After the tiniest bit of a slow start, the story developed pretty quickly into an absorbing, disturbing, and compulsive read.

It had some unique ideas, terrifying creatures, and really strong characters. The characters were not always likable, but there were reasons for that, and satisfying opportunities for redemption appeared along the way. Once the action really got going, it was pretty full on until the end.

And speaking of the end, it was perfect. I'm not sure if it's setting up a sequel - it would work if that were the case. And I hope it is. But it also works in the event that there is no sequel.