Screechers by Kevin J. Kennedy and Christina Bergling

Publisher: Independently published

ISBN-13: 978-1798052655

Available: Paperback, Kindle edition

Screechers by Kevin Kennedy and Christina Bergling is a novella about a devastated, post-apocalyptic earth that is populated by a few bands of humans and monstrous hybrids. The time, the location, and the cause of the earthshattering catastrophe are unstated. Several mysteries egg the reader on.  What do the screechers look like? The authors only gradually describe them as giant-sized humanoids with translucent skin, rippling muscles, scaled backs, talons and fanged mouths.

Whatever caused the apocalypse accelerated mutations and produced hybrids. Screechers might have arisen from humans and another species, perhaps avian. They hatch from eggs, and females don’t leave the nest to hunt. Other monsters in this post-apocalyptic scenrio include pack-hunting apo-wolves with an elephant-sized alpha female, and crabs with scorpion tails, spewing venom. Each monster is vying to be the top apex predator. Way down on the list are the human survivors, who hunt small prey in ruins of a city.

A lightning storm destroys the screechers’ nest, forcing a lone surviving adult male and an infant to seek food far afield. The adult becomes addicted to a strange plant– another mystery. Then the humans’ community is burned out, and the three survivors flee the city. The humans and monsters meet in an epic free-for-all battle. Each species relies on its particular deadly gifts. Will a possible kindred between screechers and humans come into play?

The point of view of each chapter alternates between screechers, humans and apo-wolves. Adults and teenagers will enjoy this fast-paced novella: I only wished that it were longer, and answered more of the mysteries. Recommended.

Contains: graphic violence, mild profanity

Reviewed by Robert D. Yee