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The Farm
A new chilling horror novella by the author of "The Darkening."
Emery and his younger brother Frank saw the move to their grandfather's farm as a fresh start, a new beginning, a chance to leave their stale and cramped existence in Red Hook behind. Summer brought new and exciting adventures, new experiences, and the freedom to be anything they wanted.
But summer never lasts forever.
Emery and Frank soon learn that they aren't alone out on the farm, that the once-vibrant forest has become a much darker place, one hiding secrets they could never imagine. As the winter storms bury them in snow, the brothers are forced to not only confront the real-life horrors of isolation, but also those that are waiting in the woods beyond.
"The Farm" shows us that solitude has its disadvantages, and there are things worse than loneliness hiding out there in the snow...things with teeth.
Emery and his younger brother Frank saw the move to their grandfather's farm as a fresh start, a new beginning, a chance to leave their stale and cramped existence in Red Hook behind. Summer brought new and exciting adventures, new experiences, and the freedom to be anything they wanted.
But summer never lasts forever.
Emery and Frank soon learn that they aren't alone out on the farm, that the once-vibrant forest has become a much darker place, one hiding secrets they could never imagine. As the winter storms bury them in snow, the brothers are forced to not only confront the real-life horrors of isolation, but also those that are waiting in the woods beyond.
"The Farm" shows us that solitude has its disadvantages, and there are things worse than loneliness hiding out there in the snow...things with teeth.
63 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 23, 2016
61 people are currently reading
162 people want to read
About the author
Christopher Motz
17 books51 followersChristopher Motz grew up on a steady diet of horror and science fiction from some of the genres heavyweights: Stephen King, H.P. Lovecraft, Richard Laymon, William Hope Hodgson, Ray Bradbury, and Peter Straub. From a young age, Christopher was an avid reader and always had the goal to one day publish his own work.
His debut novel, “The Darkening,” marks the beginning of a journey that has been years in the making, but it’s only one step forward. The joy in writing is not knowing exactly where the journey will take you, where your characters will lead you, or how it’ll all turn out in the end.
This author’s story has yet to be written.
Christopher grew up in a small town in Pennsylvania, and his work mirrors that way of life. His work is peppered with his own memories of growing up, the friends he had, the places he has seen. It makes for a very authentic atmosphere in his stories and creates a touchstone for others who have similar memories of their childhood.
While he spends most of his time writing, Christopher still finds time to read his favorite authors, along with up-and-comers in a variety of genres. “The best way to become a good writer is to become a good reader.”
Outside of writing, Christopher is an avid collector of classic rock and heavy metal records, and for the past twenty years has been a drummer in a variety of different bands. In 2011 he married his High School sweetheart, and with his step-daughter and dog, Oy, has started a new chapter of his small-town story.
His debut novel, “The Darkening,” marks the beginning of a journey that has been years in the making, but it’s only one step forward. The joy in writing is not knowing exactly where the journey will take you, where your characters will lead you, or how it’ll all turn out in the end.
This author’s story has yet to be written.
Christopher grew up in a small town in Pennsylvania, and his work mirrors that way of life. His work is peppered with his own memories of growing up, the friends he had, the places he has seen. It makes for a very authentic atmosphere in his stories and creates a touchstone for others who have similar memories of their childhood.
While he spends most of his time writing, Christopher still finds time to read his favorite authors, along with up-and-comers in a variety of genres. “The best way to become a good writer is to become a good reader.”
Outside of writing, Christopher is an avid collector of classic rock and heavy metal records, and for the past twenty years has been a drummer in a variety of different bands. In 2011 he married his High School sweetheart, and with his step-daughter and dog, Oy, has started a new chapter of his small-town story.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
June 10, 2025
This was a solid horror story. However, I have a bit of mixed feelings on it. As I’m reading, Emery is a lonely widower, a traumatized veteran, who lost his entire family at an early age, was in foster care, and was raised in a very abusive, isolated situation, too. His brother liked to make up horror stories, his father was a nasty alcoholic who beat and overworked his sons whenever he felt necessary, moved them all to a broken down farm that he refused to manage, and the mother seemed to be fairly passive, allowing everything to take place within the family. So there was a ton of material to use as a catalyst for the major portion of the book, which was based on flashbacks. Now as I read this, I really enjoyed the comradery between Emery and Frankie. I grew up with an abusive, unstable, alcoholic father, a very passive mother, and lived through a life-threatening accident that impacted me for many years early on, including awful withdrawals from the heavy pain medication I was put on, too. All well before I hit double digits. After that, I did suffer from hallucinations, ie seeing creatures in the house, and suffered from insomnia, untreated anxiety, depression, and PTSD, and some other fun stuff. Is it any wonder why I’m so intrigued by horror? But my older sister and I banded together to endure a lot of what we experienced each day. We had no other support and no one else to rely on but each other. And there were times we swore we would not make it through a given night, or if we’d see our parents kill one another, the house destroyed, and we genuinely saw our father as a legitimate, dangerous monster. We just lived in constant fear. Now especially when you’re little, your mind takes off with itself. There are legitimate feelings and concerns, but you’re not old enough to manage them or process properly, so things can get twisted around. The reason I’m bringing all this up is that I couldn’t tell if the author was attempting to just use some of the wonderful framework established earlier to capitalize on the psychological aspect here, or if it was just a subplot of what would ultimately become a creature feature. It seemed that everything was carefully developed and constructed a certain way, but I finished this still unsure of the ultimate takeaway. Did Emery actually go through any of what he claimed, or was it just a menagerie of his life up to that point, all blurred together, just so he could reason with whatever he had actually been through? I wanted a little more clarification on that end. Needless to say, I see the story as either a good creature feature or a great psychological horror. Or maybe the author wanted to leave it for the reader to deduce? Either way, it made me reflect on past instances and feelings that were all too familiar to me, and created a situation where I pondered quite a bit about this book. Christopher Motz has a new fan in Peter Topside.
June 16, 2019
Em is old and looking back at the time that determinded all his later life: Living on the farm with mother, father and his little brother Frankie. His father turns more and more into an alcoholic, Frankie is writing horror stories and his mother is the quiet pole in the family. Suddenly things change and all of them are attacked by strange evil things. Will they survive? What happens to the farm and most of all what are those evil beings exactly? A fine horror novella, well written, good plotted and definitely worth the reading. Only the evil in the book strongly reminded me on the Critters (a famous horror movis) and should have done different. Otherwise great novella. Recommended!
March 11, 2018
Woo hoo! Would you like something different with your horror? Happy to divulge in non-stop action? Particular to the monsters that scare us all and make us check under the bed? Look no further.
Can a horror novel be fun? Hell yes! I was engaged for the ride with this novella. It packs punches early on as despicable "things" terrorise a family living on a farm. I don't want to meet one of those bad dudes ever. Nope. Keep them in the book.
The pace is fast, I read this book cover to cover without hardly noticing time go by. It's got that classic human vs non-human creatures plot line and it's a fight for survival. Some scenes totally had me on the edge of my seat. I think I yelled at the characters more than once. "Run!"
Some books just entertain really well and this horror gem is one of them. I had a great time with this novella. It's a great read.I have another book from Chris Motz to read and eager to soak that up too. 4 stars from a happy satisfied reader. This one gets the adrenaline pumping.
I received a copy of this novella from the author. All review opinions are entirely my own, blatantly honest and unbiased.
Can a horror novel be fun? Hell yes! I was engaged for the ride with this novella. It packs punches early on as despicable "things" terrorise a family living on a farm. I don't want to meet one of those bad dudes ever. Nope. Keep them in the book.
The pace is fast, I read this book cover to cover without hardly noticing time go by. It's got that classic human vs non-human creatures plot line and it's a fight for survival. Some scenes totally had me on the edge of my seat. I think I yelled at the characters more than once. "Run!"
Some books just entertain really well and this horror gem is one of them. I had a great time with this novella. It's a great read.I have another book from Chris Motz to read and eager to soak that up too. 4 stars from a happy satisfied reader. This one gets the adrenaline pumping.
I received a copy of this novella from the author. All review opinions are entirely my own, blatantly honest and unbiased.
June 20, 2017
There seemed to be more backstory to this novella than horror. Saying that, it was still an interesting read. The main characters were well rounded and the two boys were quite likeable.
I enjoyed the author's style of writing too.
I enjoyed the author's style of writing too.
August 29, 2019
Could Not Put This Down!
Bed time rolled around and I told myself, one more chapter. Midnight came and I put it down. Five minutes later, I picked it back up and read to the final page. This riveting, chilling story takes place on a farm in Buffalo, NY in 1958. Motz expertly submerses you into the characters' world then, following a timeline of summer to autumn to winter, he bares sharp fangs, long claws, and eyes only a monster could possess. If you're not checking under your bed, turning on the lights for you trip to the bathroom, I promise you'll at least shiver and reel at the intense horror within this book. Perfect HALLOWEEN READ!
Bed time rolled around and I told myself, one more chapter. Midnight came and I put it down. Five minutes later, I picked it back up and read to the final page. This riveting, chilling story takes place on a farm in Buffalo, NY in 1958. Motz expertly submerses you into the characters' world then, following a timeline of summer to autumn to winter, he bares sharp fangs, long claws, and eyes only a monster could possess. If you're not checking under your bed, turning on the lights for you trip to the bathroom, I promise you'll at least shiver and reel at the intense horror within this book. Perfect HALLOWEEN READ!
June 23, 2017
Christopher Motz is one helluva writer. There is an awful lot packed into this little story. Mr Motz treats us to some fantastic settings and gives us well fleshed out characters, not to mention plenty of action. A story packed with emotion as an old man looks back at his young life and the tragedy he suffered. Not a word is wasted in this tale. I encourage others to pick it up.
December 30, 2016
A tight, quick hitting spooky screamer from Motz for your reading pleasure, be sure to check it out!
April 24, 2025
Welcome to The Farm—where the scarecrow isn’t the creepiest thing lurking after dark.
The Farm is a sixty-three-page novella of pure “what in the demonic livestock is happening here?” perfection. It’s short, spooky, and has more emotional trauma than a tractor stuck in a week's worth of rain, mud, and heavy clay soil.
Emery is a widower, veteran, and a man who’s seen things. He's been to war, but nothing compares to The Farm. This isn’t the kind of place where your biggest worry is a faulty fence chasing cows back or a rogue chicken. This is the kind of place where bedtime stories become prophetic doom. The sort of haunting horrors of his life, the night he lost his entire family.
Emery was raised in an abusive household. Dear Papa is an alcoholic who spends most of the time with moonshine in the field, coming home when the moon is high or the next day in order to repeat the same pattern again. The times he is home, there is a lot of physical abuse, while the ghost of his mother doesn't care. Emery's younger brother, Frankie, has a comfort in the form of bedtime stories filled with horror.
Then with time, night falls, and noises start, before you can scream “NOT THE LIVESTOCK,” everything goes full demonic barn rave. Things were already weird before the actual monsters showed up.
Creatures crawl out of the dark—not your average shadows-under-the-bed creeps. These monsters are just terrifying, they're horny? Uncomfortable so. Lol These suckers are freaky, fleshy, and way too into self-pleasure. Like. A lot. I mean… a lot. Enough to make even monster erotica readers raise an eyebrow since this was only a sixty-three-page novella. Lol
I deducted a star, not because the writing wasn’t gripping, but because I now know way too much about what the monsters were doing with their idle hands and their monster self-love overload. I could have been told once that they really enjoy indulging themselves. Lol, I read smut and was thinking "Okay, I get it..." with sides of giggles. I shouldn't be giggling in a horror novel. Lol
That said, this story slaps. And by the end, you’re left with hay in your teeth, goosebumps on your arms, and a desire to never visit rural America again with someone telling you a haunted story.
The Farm is a sixty-three-page novella of pure “what in the demonic livestock is happening here?” perfection. It’s short, spooky, and has more emotional trauma than a tractor stuck in a week's worth of rain, mud, and heavy clay soil.
Emery is a widower, veteran, and a man who’s seen things. He's been to war, but nothing compares to The Farm. This isn’t the kind of place where your biggest worry is a faulty fence chasing cows back or a rogue chicken. This is the kind of place where bedtime stories become prophetic doom. The sort of haunting horrors of his life, the night he lost his entire family.
Emery was raised in an abusive household. Dear Papa is an alcoholic who spends most of the time with moonshine in the field, coming home when the moon is high or the next day in order to repeat the same pattern again. The times he is home, there is a lot of physical abuse, while the ghost of his mother doesn't care. Emery's younger brother, Frankie, has a comfort in the form of bedtime stories filled with horror.
Then with time, night falls, and noises start, before you can scream “NOT THE LIVESTOCK,” everything goes full demonic barn rave. Things were already weird before the actual monsters showed up.
Creatures crawl out of the dark—not your average shadows-under-the-bed creeps. These monsters are just terrifying, they're horny? Uncomfortable so. Lol These suckers are freaky, fleshy, and way too into self-pleasure. Like. A lot. I mean… a lot. Enough to make even monster erotica readers raise an eyebrow since this was only a sixty-three-page novella. Lol
I deducted a star, not because the writing wasn’t gripping, but because I now know way too much about what the monsters were doing with their idle hands and their monster self-love overload. I could have been told once that they really enjoy indulging themselves. Lol, I read smut and was thinking "Okay, I get it..." with sides of giggles. I shouldn't be giggling in a horror novel. Lol
That said, this story slaps. And by the end, you’re left with hay in your teeth, goosebumps on your arms, and a desire to never visit rural America again with someone telling you a haunted story.
December 30, 2016
The Farm is a bone-chilling read devourable in one evening. I found it mysterious in how one couldn't be sure at any time what was reality and what was the fantasy of a very imaginative boy. As was the case in Chris' first book The Darkening, the excellent use of imagery places the reader almost physically within the story simply with the use of descriptive words. I can't wait for the next book.
January 20, 2017
Aberration: a departure from the normal, usual, or expected, typically one that is unwelcomed. Anomaly, freak, rarity, oddity.
“They came for use”, and “we sent them back to Hell”.
New author, Christopher Motz gives you a very suspenseful tale that turns into unrelenting, vicious terror. He creates an excellent, claustrophobic, trapped environment with the dense, snowstorms, what is hidden underneath and beyond. The reader is kept on edge the whole time between the younger brother’s strange stories and the creaks, and whispers in the darkened farmhouse. Then the screeches and squeals from the forest. Also, great character development between the two brothers and their close bond. You feel their love, protection, loneliness, panic and extreme fear. Due to their dysfunctional family, 10-year-old Frankie and 14-year-old Emery have only each other to rely on. Back in 1958 no one spoke a word of what went on behind closed doors.
The only thing I didn’t like was that the author’s other published book somehow ended up front, with a paragraph from it, which confused me at first. This should have been configured better and belongs at the end of this story. This is why I subtracted a point.
So, this story starts with “Summer Days” and you meet the now 72-year-old Emery who is grieving over his wife Cindy. Trying for months to move on, but one day the news tells of a bad snowstorm in Buffalo NY, it will trigger horrifying memories, plus a secret he has kept hidden for years. Never even told his wife. As a child, he and his little brother Frankie used to live in Buffalo, NY, because his parents inherited a huge farmhouse. Their father is an alcoholic and they mother just shut her eyes. So, the two boys learned to deal and fend for themselves. So, there will be plenty of good times, but during fun explorations they accidentally awaken monstrous aberrations. Things from “Hell” that are watching with their beady eyes and waiting for their perfect calculating attack. Now they must fight to survive against the biting cold, snow and creatures that are hungry.
This is a great read and recommended for those that like , Monsters in the dark. Plus, I will definitely be looking forward to more of Mr. Motz's work in the future.
Reviewed by robinleesdarkside.com
“They came for use”, and “we sent them back to Hell”.
New author, Christopher Motz gives you a very suspenseful tale that turns into unrelenting, vicious terror. He creates an excellent, claustrophobic, trapped environment with the dense, snowstorms, what is hidden underneath and beyond. The reader is kept on edge the whole time between the younger brother’s strange stories and the creaks, and whispers in the darkened farmhouse. Then the screeches and squeals from the forest. Also, great character development between the two brothers and their close bond. You feel their love, protection, loneliness, panic and extreme fear. Due to their dysfunctional family, 10-year-old Frankie and 14-year-old Emery have only each other to rely on. Back in 1958 no one spoke a word of what went on behind closed doors.
The only thing I didn’t like was that the author’s other published book somehow ended up front, with a paragraph from it, which confused me at first. This should have been configured better and belongs at the end of this story. This is why I subtracted a point.
So, this story starts with “Summer Days” and you meet the now 72-year-old Emery who is grieving over his wife Cindy. Trying for months to move on, but one day the news tells of a bad snowstorm in Buffalo NY, it will trigger horrifying memories, plus a secret he has kept hidden for years. Never even told his wife. As a child, he and his little brother Frankie used to live in Buffalo, NY, because his parents inherited a huge farmhouse. Their father is an alcoholic and they mother just shut her eyes. So, the two boys learned to deal and fend for themselves. So, there will be plenty of good times, but during fun explorations they accidentally awaken monstrous aberrations. Things from “Hell” that are watching with their beady eyes and waiting for their perfect calculating attack. Now they must fight to survive against the biting cold, snow and creatures that are hungry.
This is a great read and recommended for those that like , Monsters in the dark. Plus, I will definitely be looking forward to more of Mr. Motz's work in the future.
Reviewed by robinleesdarkside.com
June 27, 2017
Beach read
Mindless beach read , easy to follow along . Beginning was interesting , but never really got the description of the monster /devil .
Mindless beach read , easy to follow along . Beginning was interesting , but never really got the description of the monster /devil .
April 28, 2018
Awesome!!
Compelling and frightening! I finished within 2hrs because I was so hooked! Don’t read thinking you can take a break and finish later, you’ll want to finish right then.
Compelling and frightening! I finished within 2hrs because I was so hooked! Don’t read thinking you can take a break and finish later, you’ll want to finish right then.
September 7, 2025
This novella combines a nostalgic coming of age story with a full frenzy creature feature.
Emery is seventy two years old and just lost his wife to cancer. He reflects on his childhood and the horrific events which happened to him and his family in 1958. His father is an alcoholic, suffering from PTSD from the big war and inherits an old farm.
Emery and his ten year old brother love the place at first. Coming from the city, they can run and play on the nature filled property all they want. Despite their father's absence most of the time, they're happy for the most part. Until the creatures show up.
What happens next is a pulse pounding terrifying bid for survival as the family finds their homestead overrun with horrific rat like monsters which are ravenous.
This is a fantastic novella that builds as it goes and gives a slice of life vibe before turning full on horrifying and bloody. I highly recommend it.
Emery is seventy two years old and just lost his wife to cancer. He reflects on his childhood and the horrific events which happened to him and his family in 1958. His father is an alcoholic, suffering from PTSD from the big war and inherits an old farm.
Emery and his ten year old brother love the place at first. Coming from the city, they can run and play on the nature filled property all they want. Despite their father's absence most of the time, they're happy for the most part. Until the creatures show up.
What happens next is a pulse pounding terrifying bid for survival as the family finds their homestead overrun with horrific rat like monsters which are ravenous.
This is a fantastic novella that builds as it goes and gives a slice of life vibe before turning full on horrifying and bloody. I highly recommend it.
July 4, 2017
A well crafted tale of horror,indifference, and a shot at redemption.
The father in this book is an alcoholic ho seems stuck in the past, it is a good look at PTSD and the way it eats away at you. The mother is rarely described but you feel for her. The boys are close and the older boy looks after the younger boy. Well written and thoughtful, this book invokes emotions and serves up tension and chills in massive doses. The author does a good job of making the reader feel for the characters. It also has excellent prose, which to me made it all the more enjoyable. I highly recommend this book to all Fans Of Modern Horror!
The father in this book is an alcoholic ho seems stuck in the past, it is a good look at PTSD and the way it eats away at you. The mother is rarely described but you feel for her. The boys are close and the older boy looks after the younger boy. Well written and thoughtful, this book invokes emotions and serves up tension and chills in massive doses. The author does a good job of making the reader feel for the characters. It also has excellent prose, which to me made it all the more enjoyable. I highly recommend this book to all Fans Of Modern Horror!
June 5, 2017
Wow
Usually I don't read novellas because I prefer to really get into the story. Few authors have the ability to make you lose yourself in a story no matter the number of pages. This author NAILED IT!!!!! I was so emotionally caught up with these characters and horrified at the nightmare going on around them. True story of horror, loss, survival and sacrifice. Definitely a must read!!!
Usually I don't read novellas because I prefer to really get into the story. Few authors have the ability to make you lose yourself in a story no matter the number of pages. This author NAILED IT!!!!! I was so emotionally caught up with these characters and horrified at the nightmare going on around them. True story of horror, loss, survival and sacrifice. Definitely a must read!!!
June 6, 2023
This novella is written like a kid's nightmare from an adult's POV. The monsters are as scary as a kid can make them, the adults as unhelpful, and time moves in a predictable slow-motion circle, exiting one horrifying circumstance to throw you into another.
I'm not sure how I feel about it. The adult character is far more interesting than the child, but he seems to be there only to pad out a short story.
I'm not sure how I feel about it. The adult character is far more interesting than the child, but he seems to be there only to pad out a short story.
December 23, 2017
Short and sweet
Really good novella about an isolated family who are savagely attacked by mysterious creatures . It doesn't help that the family is dysfunctional to begin with. The two young brothers are the highlight of the story, and there are some genuinely scary moments as the story escalates. Definitely worth a read!
Really good novella about an isolated family who are savagely attacked by mysterious creatures . It doesn't help that the family is dysfunctional to begin with. The two young brothers are the highlight of the story, and there are some genuinely scary moments as the story escalates. Definitely worth a read!
May 24, 2018
It was okay, it just never really pulled me into the story. I thought the setting of an isolated farm in the dead of winter was great, but I would have loved more details and maybe a greater sense of doom throughout the story to keep my attention. Otherwise, it's a quick and easy read.
June 25, 2018
What a compelling, terrifying story of a family of four fighting to survive against pure evil. This is the second book I've read by Christopher Motz and it definitely won't be the last. Fans of the horror genre need to read this and his other books.
May 17, 2020
Snow Horror
This was a great read, a fast paced short story, plenty of action and interesting characters who were very likeable, the author did a good job of telling the creepy tale, loved it and will be looking for another book by Mr Motz.
This was a great read, a fast paced short story, plenty of action and interesting characters who were very likeable, the author did a good job of telling the creepy tale, loved it and will be looking for another book by Mr Motz.
June 4, 2017
was not impressed
June 5, 2017
If you like far fetched out there suspense/horror books this is for you. It was just too out there for my liking.
July 22, 2017
Terrific story!
October 9, 2025
3.5/5 This weirdly got better the more I read. a little bizarre but a short decent read.
#31daysofhorrorshorts
#31daysofhorrorshorts
March 15, 2017
Loved it, wish it were longer. I can not wait to read the darkening!!
Love the suspense and creepiness! ! Perhaps one day this book will have an addendum with his brother in it!!
Love the suspense and creepiness! ! Perhaps one day this book will have an addendum with his brother in it!!
February 21, 2017
One issue really.
The story is interesting and compelling. However, I did not like the rant near the beginning of the book about people being on there phones all the time and how they need to interact more with those around them. Then he goes off on the joys of farm life and how great being away from other people is. Other than that the book is great. If you need a quick read I would recommend it all the way.
The story is interesting and compelling. However, I did not like the rant near the beginning of the book about people being on there phones all the time and how they need to interact more with those around them. Then he goes off on the joys of farm life and how great being away from other people is. Other than that the book is great. If you need a quick read I would recommend it all the way.
September 10, 2017
This is a quick bit powerful story. The voice of the narrative is very relatable and brings great description and tension to the story. Motz uses some fantastic description and utilizes the mood of the environment to his ultimate advantage. I also liked that wrapped up within this scary tale there is also some good treatment on subjects such as growing up, alcoholism, death and saying goodbye to loved ones. This is a cool story but it's also much more deep and complex than its length would suggest.
January 19, 2017
Modern horror worth a read.
This story starts out with some terrific character development and then bang, hits you right in face with horrific weirdness. Completely off the expected script. I wonder if hallucinogens were involved about halfway through the writing.
This story starts out with some terrific character development and then bang, hits you right in face with horrific weirdness. Completely off the expected script. I wonder if hallucinogens were involved about halfway through the writing.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews