Misfits by Hunter Shea | Blog Tour

I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

"I don't know how Hunter Shea keeps churning out terrifying stories that feel original, but I want more." – Cedar Hollow Reviews
During the height of the 90s grunge era, five high school friends living on the fringe are driven to the breaking point. When one of their friends is brutally raped by a drunk townie, they decide to take matters into their own hands. Deep in the woods of Milbury, Connecticut, there lives the legend of the Melon Heads, a race of creatures that shun human interaction and prey on those who dare to wander down Dracula Drive. Maybe this night, one band of misfits can help the other. Or maybe some legends are meant to be feared for a reason.
FLAME TREE PRESS is the new fiction imprint of Flame Tree Publishing. Launched in 2018 the list brings together brilliant new authors and the more established; the award winners, and exciting, original voices.

misfits

/ˈmɪsfɪt/

noun

a person whose behaviour or attitude sets them apart from others in an uncomfortably conspicuous way: “a motley collection of social misfits”

The definition behind the word is a whole spectrum of meanings.  What is your definition of normal and do you fit nicely inside it.  I would probably class myself as a bit of a misfit, I don’t follow the crowd, I don’t follow trends and I’m a massive geek. 

This is a story about a group of five friends, those who have never fitted in, who have never fitted into that perfect mould that society has deemed, normal.  The stoners, the kids with traumatic childhoods and those who are tired of being kicked around.  They are different, but does that necessarily mean that they are wrong or evil? 

Chuck, Marnie, Mick, Heidi and Vent are our merry band of unlikely heroes.  They are mature, they know how to support each other through the hard times.  Its more than nipping down the park and swigging on cider and smoking weed.  There’s an admirable comradery between them all.  They accept each other, warts and all.  There’s no judgement and they’ve got each other’s backs. 

I’m sure at some point in all our lives we have felt like a misfit.  Do we try and fight against it or just go with the flow.  Hunter Shea has created a brutal tale of shifting change.  A violent act changes the potential outcome of how their school career would end.  Revenge is the only motive that pulses through their veins.  It takes root and imprisons them until they act upon it.  They need to put the universe to rights. What happens when they do? What’s lurking just beneath the surface, an old wives tale about a hideous being…

Misfits has a chilling narrative that is the supreme standard that Hunter Shea excels at.  Its written to such an extent that we are given a screenshot into the characters thoughts.  Sometimes we are given insight but sometimes it’s a bleak place to be.  This is humanity – we try to hide the deepest part of us, a black veil if you will.  However, sometimes, a glimpse is given and what happens when its finally out in the open? 

Misfits is the perfect read for spooky season and I recommend every Halloween/horror fan add this to their TBR. 

Thanks to Anne @ Random Things Tours and Flame Tree Press for my spot on the blog tour and a copy of the book.

Hunter Shea is the product of a misspent childhood watching scary movies, reading forbidden books and wishing Bigfoot would walk past his house. He doesn’t just write about the paranormal – he actively seeks out the things that scare the hell out of people and experiences them for himself. Hunter’s novels can even be found on display at the International Cryptozoology Museum. His video podcast, Monster Men, is one of the most watched horror podcasts in the world. You’ll also find him every week on the Final Guys podcast, available everywhere. He’s a bestselling author of over 25 books, all of them written with the express desire to quicken heartbeats and make spines tingle. Living with his wonderful family and two cats, he’s happy to be close enough to New York City to gobble down Gray’s Papaya hotdogs when the craving hits.