Freak Camp

M/M Paranormal Romance (A Monster by Any Other Name, Book 1)

By: Laura Rye, Bailey R. Hansen

Narrated by: Christian Leatherman

Monsters are evil, so why does Jake want to rescue one?

Tobias can't remember why he was locked inside Freak Camp when he was five. All he knows are the camp rules: Other monsters are not your friends. Never disobey the guards. Don't expect anything to get better. The world is safer with him behind these iron-reinforced walls.

But then he meets a hunter's son who defies all the rules. Jake is not just the only bright spot in his world but proof that goodness exists.

The heir to a long line of monster hunters, Jake's only purpose is to stamp out evil. He carries his faith that all monsters are evil to the government-run Freak Camp, where shy, sweet-natured Tobias shakes up all he's ever known and shifts his purpose from hunting monsters to protecting one.

Two lonely boys, damaged in different ways, find themselves drawn together despite the odds.

Freeing Tobias into a world where he can define his own rules could cost Jake his family and the only life he's ever known. But failure carries an even higher price, for Tobias’s life hangs in the balance.

FREAK CAMP is the first book in A Monster By Any Other Name, a slow-burn M/M paranormal romance series for adult listeners. Book One is the hurt that leads to the comfort, and each book ends with a happy for now / happily ever after.

Content notes: scenes include abuse and neglect of children, sexual and physical assault, institutional dehumanization, and reference to domestic violence causing a miscarriage. Please see the full content notes inside the book or on the Freak Camp website before listening.

©2022 Laura Rye (P)2025 Laura Rye

I like crying romance typically, this is just dark.

I hate everything in this book, but it is a good book, dark as hell, mix of supernatural the TV show and a concentration camp.

“Jake always keeps his promises.”

The story was honestly so sweet and wholesome that it low-key punched me in the feelings. The character arcs were solid and the way the two leads grew together felt really natural. The drama had me clutching my chest like I was in a soap opera. The father and son tension was so real I could practically feel it sitting in the room with me. The dialogue flowed and the world building was clear enough that I never felt lost (which hurt even more with the way the guards from freak camp would treat these poor souls)

I cried more than I want to admit at the mess Tobi and Jake had to go through, but the little flicker of hope they kept holding onto made it impossible not to root for them.

There were a few moments where things were explained a little too much and I forgot what the main point was supposed to be, but it didn’t pull me out of the story. I was still cheering them on like an overly invested bystander.

O.M.G - I need more!

This book gives all the feels and emotions draws you in and have you right there, outraged at characters, crying at other times and sympathizing. i cannot wait for the reminder of the series to come out. This is an emotional roller coaster that has you on edge, from beginning to end

Grabs ahold of you and doesn’t let go

What a powerful way to immerse yourself into the world of hunters and monsters. The books are absolutely fantastic, but there is something about listening that really grabs a hold of your heart strings and gives a great big yank. I can’t wait for the rest of the series to come out on Audible also!

So good!

I have been waiting so for long the audio version of this series! Book one was great, I can’t wait to listen to the rest of the series.