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Mothman Mysteries #1
Wrong Side of the Grave
Eric Jansen is an alien. Offworlder. Take me to your leader, fall from the sky, space invading, phoning home, UFO jockey. A swipe of the tattoo on his arm will reveal his true form which locals call Mothman, a winged creature formed of ashen gray skin and glowing red eyes.
So when the recently deceased of Point Pleasant, West Virginia, start walking and talking, the Men in Black mark Eric as suspect number one. It will be up to Eric and the girl-next-door book blogger to solve the mystery before the black suits lock him up and throw away the key.
Are you ready for some campy fun? Fans of Doctor Who will love Wrong Side of the Grave, a suspenseful Teen Paranormal Mystery with a sci-fi twist. Grade 5 and up.
Check out the paperback with Special Edition cover designed by Joshua Labello of Envy Ink and behind the scenes commentary on the making of the cover on the author's site.
So when the recently deceased of Point Pleasant, West Virginia, start walking and talking, the Men in Black mark Eric as suspect number one. It will be up to Eric and the girl-next-door book blogger to solve the mystery before the black suits lock him up and throw away the key.
Are you ready for some campy fun? Fans of Doctor Who will love Wrong Side of the Grave, a suspenseful Teen Paranormal Mystery with a sci-fi twist. Grade 5 and up.
Check out the paperback with Special Edition cover designed by Joshua Labello of Envy Ink and behind the scenes commentary on the making of the cover on the author's site.
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First published March 3, 2015
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About the author
Bryna Butler
13 books95 followersShe fangirls over books and sometimes writes them too.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
February 19, 2017
Wrong Side of the Grave by Bryna Butler is a terrific fantasy novel that had me giggling through out the book! When my son had to check on me because I was making so much noise that he was worried, I knew this was a 5 star book! It is fast paced, great fantasy, crazy, snarky, action packed, and I loved it. Vamps, aliens, MIB, and so much more. A real crazy out-of-this-world drummer that is too funny. I received this book to read and the review is not an obligation.
April 15, 2017
I give this 3.5/5 pairs of drumsticks.
Weirdly, this is the third story that has an unusual twist to the regular version of stories that I have read this week. The first one was the unusual heroine, next a taboo romance and this alien-vampire thing. I did not plan to read them one after the other but the review deadlines were a day apart, so it was all decided for me without having to think about them consciously.
Vampires are aliens. Eric Jansen is an alien too. He is the Mothman who feeds on the vampires. He keeps the vampire population in check so they will not overrun and wipe out humans. When he is not hunting vampires, he plays as a drummer in a band.
Huh? This is my first time to hear that vampires are aliens and all other mythical creatures are also aliens like the mothman. I have read of vampire stories with a Nordic mythology twist but never the alien version. This is a new story for me. I have never heard before that these night creatures are extra-terrestrials. I like this fresh new take. I like all new versions of anything, retellings and all.
The dead coming back to life is a scary thought. Yes, a lot of people will be interested in finding out how this phenomenon is possible. Surely, this would cause a lot of stir and chaos. People who have dead loved ones would definitely want to know if they could bring back their dearly departed back to the land of the living. It would be amazing and horrifying at the same time, as it is also against the natural order of things. I would prefer to be immortal than dying and coming back to life. I think there is something final about death and even if you come back from it, I think a part of you will never be the same. Let us leave the dead alone.
I enjoyed the plot and how things were done in this book. I like the Men in Black spin of the story, of the hunter becoming the hunted. Adding in the mothman to save the day and chase the vampires away. It's a good material for a movie. The sci-fi spin is so fresh and it made the story very interesting.
I just thought the reason for all reawakening was very elementary and a bit cheesy. Well, a demented and delusional person could also set illusions of grandeur for himself. Who's to stop him? It was just so unexpected and quite a let-down to find out what his motives were for waking those resting in peace but I guess, it unbelievably worked. The ending was also surprising. Sad, in fact. But it also promises a next book which continues Eric and Bridget's adventures. The next story also introduces another alien who preys on the mothman like Eric. Hmmm, I wonder what type of creature this new predator that landed on Earth this time? This series is pregnant with characters of the alien food chain. Aliens eat aliens and the stage is the Earth. Sounds like this is fun.
I give this 3.5/5 pairs of drumsticks. Again, the-not-the-usual take on the mythical and paranormal creatures woven into sci-fi is very unique. I guess, Twilight has ruined the-vampire-falls-in-love-with-a-human story for everyone. I am thrilled that a lot of very talented authors are creating their own vampire stories that are too far from Twilight. I am excited to discover another author who will make another tale about vampires with an altogether different flavor. I liked surprising people than the one to be surprised but if they are in stories and books, I am all for it. Come on surprise me!
He's the missing piece, the skip between the heartbeats. So, even though he's gone, he's still part of us forever.
- Bryna Butler, Wrong Side of the Grave -
Thank you, Kathy of ebooksforreview.com for the copy.
Weirdly, this is the third story that has an unusual twist to the regular version of stories that I have read this week. The first one was the unusual heroine, next a taboo romance and this alien-vampire thing. I did not plan to read them one after the other but the review deadlines were a day apart, so it was all decided for me without having to think about them consciously.
Vampires are aliens. Eric Jansen is an alien too. He is the Mothman who feeds on the vampires. He keeps the vampire population in check so they will not overrun and wipe out humans. When he is not hunting vampires, he plays as a drummer in a band.
Huh? This is my first time to hear that vampires are aliens and all other mythical creatures are also aliens like the mothman. I have read of vampire stories with a Nordic mythology twist but never the alien version. This is a new story for me. I have never heard before that these night creatures are extra-terrestrials. I like this fresh new take. I like all new versions of anything, retellings and all.
The dead coming back to life is a scary thought. Yes, a lot of people will be interested in finding out how this phenomenon is possible. Surely, this would cause a lot of stir and chaos. People who have dead loved ones would definitely want to know if they could bring back their dearly departed back to the land of the living. It would be amazing and horrifying at the same time, as it is also against the natural order of things. I would prefer to be immortal than dying and coming back to life. I think there is something final about death and even if you come back from it, I think a part of you will never be the same. Let us leave the dead alone.
I enjoyed the plot and how things were done in this book. I like the Men in Black spin of the story, of the hunter becoming the hunted. Adding in the mothman to save the day and chase the vampires away. It's a good material for a movie. The sci-fi spin is so fresh and it made the story very interesting.
I just thought the reason for all reawakening was very elementary and a bit cheesy. Well, a demented and delusional person could also set illusions of grandeur for himself. Who's to stop him? It was just so unexpected and quite a let-down to find out what his motives were for waking those resting in peace but I guess, it unbelievably worked. The ending was also surprising. Sad, in fact. But it also promises a next book which continues Eric and Bridget's adventures. The next story also introduces another alien who preys on the mothman like Eric. Hmmm, I wonder what type of creature this new predator that landed on Earth this time? This series is pregnant with characters of the alien food chain. Aliens eat aliens and the stage is the Earth. Sounds like this is fun.
I give this 3.5/5 pairs of drumsticks. Again, the-not-the-usual take on the mythical and paranormal creatures woven into sci-fi is very unique. I guess, Twilight has ruined the-vampire-falls-in-love-with-a-human story for everyone. I am thrilled that a lot of very talented authors are creating their own vampire stories that are too far from Twilight. I am excited to discover another author who will make another tale about vampires with an altogether different flavor. I liked surprising people than the one to be surprised but if they are in stories and books, I am all for it. Come on surprise me!
He's the missing piece, the skip between the heartbeats. So, even though he's gone, he's still part of us forever.
- Bryna Butler, Wrong Side of the Grave -
Thank you, Kathy of ebooksforreview.com for the copy.
October 12, 2020
Growing up just down the road from Point Pleasant, West Virginia, it’s impossible to not have heard about the Mothman. In fact, there are probably as many stories and theories about Mothman as there are about Bigfoot or the Jersey devil. Stories, movies, TV shows – all with various ideas about this creature’s origins. So, yes, I’ve seen and read my fair share of tales about the mysterious Mothman, but I have to say that Bryna Butler’s Wrong Side of the Grave is the most fun and entertaining that I’ve come across.
The story is fast-paced and engaging from the beginning, and it doesn’t let up. Plus, it’s totally clean. We get aliens, the dead rising from the grave, vampires, men in black, and a pretty crazy villain, and I didn’t hear one single thing that I found objectionable in any way whatsoever. Aliens and the dead rising are completely outside my wheelhouse, and I usually shy away from both, but I found myself thoroughly enjoying this one. The story reminded me a bit of the teen detective books I read when I was growing up and even made me a little nostalgic for those stories and that simpler time.
James Fouhey is the narrator for this entertaining listen, and he does a terrific job as Eric, the Mothman’s cover. He somehow manages to sound like a teenage boy while also being a creature who has been here for ages, and he does it while sounding like he’s telling us his story, not just reading us a book. In my head, that is Eric’s voice, he does it that well.
To sum it up, Butler’s story and Fouhey’s narration work wonderfully together. So well that it made for a nice little bit of escapism from this chaotic world we live in. As an added bonus, I managed to get my thirteen-year-old to listen, and he loved the story as much as I did. That’s a feat in itself, and it became an even bigger deal when he asked me get the next book in the series – not something that happens very often. Wrong Side of the Grave is a story for any age. It is a mystery, but it’s also a story of friendship, loyalty, and protecting those we care about. It’s a great listen, and I can’t recommend it enough.
The story is fast-paced and engaging from the beginning, and it doesn’t let up. Plus, it’s totally clean. We get aliens, the dead rising from the grave, vampires, men in black, and a pretty crazy villain, and I didn’t hear one single thing that I found objectionable in any way whatsoever. Aliens and the dead rising are completely outside my wheelhouse, and I usually shy away from both, but I found myself thoroughly enjoying this one. The story reminded me a bit of the teen detective books I read when I was growing up and even made me a little nostalgic for those stories and that simpler time.
James Fouhey is the narrator for this entertaining listen, and he does a terrific job as Eric, the Mothman’s cover. He somehow manages to sound like a teenage boy while also being a creature who has been here for ages, and he does it while sounding like he’s telling us his story, not just reading us a book. In my head, that is Eric’s voice, he does it that well.
To sum it up, Butler’s story and Fouhey’s narration work wonderfully together. So well that it made for a nice little bit of escapism from this chaotic world we live in. As an added bonus, I managed to get my thirteen-year-old to listen, and he loved the story as much as I did. That’s a feat in itself, and it became an even bigger deal when he asked me get the next book in the series – not something that happens very often. Wrong Side of the Grave is a story for any age. It is a mystery, but it’s also a story of friendship, loyalty, and protecting those we care about. It’s a great listen, and I can’t recommend it enough.
November 17, 2018
Wrong side of the Grave was something I mainly chose to read because of the book blurb.It sounded so different to anything I had read before, Vampires and Mothman Type things who are all aliens and to top it off the vampires for once are not top of the food chain. Well, it just tickled my fancy I had to find out more.
So Wrong side of the grave is a totally clean, no hanky panky, no bad words, just wholesome fun and mystery sleuthing aimed at I would say the teen genre.
It reminded me a bit of a nancy drew novel if nancy was an ashen skinned, red eyed 7ft winged creature oh and male he he.
So we have Eric Jansen aka Mothman and his meddling sidekick Bridge. colluding together to solve the local mystery of why the local dead are mysteriously coming back to life.
This was an interesting read, I would have liked this story more if it was aimed at an older audience.But for the market, Wrong Side Of The Grave was geared towards it did an excellent job.
I would certainly recommend this story to my Sons I think they would find it super cool and fascinating. This story does what it says on the tin a good solid teen read.
I receive a free e-copy of this book and this is my honest unbiased opinion.
https://www.beckiebookworm.com/
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
So Wrong side of the grave is a totally clean, no hanky panky, no bad words, just wholesome fun and mystery sleuthing aimed at I would say the teen genre.
It reminded me a bit of a nancy drew novel if nancy was an ashen skinned, red eyed 7ft winged creature oh and male he he.
So we have Eric Jansen aka Mothman and his meddling sidekick Bridge. colluding together to solve the local mystery of why the local dead are mysteriously coming back to life.
This was an interesting read, I would have liked this story more if it was aimed at an older audience.But for the market, Wrong Side Of The Grave was geared towards it did an excellent job.
I would certainly recommend this story to my Sons I think they would find it super cool and fascinating. This story does what it says on the tin a good solid teen read.
I receive a free e-copy of this book and this is my honest unbiased opinion.
https://www.beckiebookworm.com/
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
August 16, 2020
This is a super speedy listen (at just under 5 hours) and I really enjoyed it. It was a refreshingly fun read.
Eric Jansen is a teenage drummer, all long blond hair and attitude. He’s also the legendary Mothman. An Offworlder alien who can swipe between winged Harbinger, invisible, and self-confident teen - a very handy skill for sleuthing, and not being sent to Area 51 for dismemberment.
He is best friends with book blogger, and human, Bridget North, “brother” to man-in-black Carey Warner and has a snarky consciousness uploaded to his ship/hideout.
This was first published in 2015 but it still feels current (well pre-pandemic current) and similar in tone to more recent reads. If you are a fan of A.I.D.A.N. in Illuminae or M. Bot in Skyward you’ll like Dewey. And Bridget being a book blogger was an added point of humour for me.
The alien 👽 vibe was a refreshing twist, with vampires coming from outer space and no longer being top of the food chain. I think it opens up lots of scope for future books and extra-terrestrial world building.
The mystery angle was a good hook too. When corpses start coming back to life mothman starts as a suspect but turns detective. The resolution was satisfying with just enough peril along the way.
Narrator James Fahey was excellent and I enjoyed his variety of accents, though cocky Eric and snarky Dewey were the stand outs.
If you like Buffy or Supernatural do give this a listen.
September 30, 2025
Eric Jansen is the object of female attention, being a young handsome drummer in a local Point Pleasant WV band. So what if some of those women are vampires? Because Eric only looks human. He's actually the world famous Mothman of Point Pleasant and he and vampires are aliens (and they are each other's prey). His tattoo is actually a device that alters his form to look human instead of huge, grey with wings and red glowing eyes.
The only person who knows this is young Bridget a would-be journalist who lost her father a few years back which becomes horribly relevant when the newly dead begin to rise, soon followed by the not-so-freshly dead. The last thing Eric wants is for Bridget to go through that. He and Bridge along with a new Men in Black agent, Warner, try to solve the mystery of who is causing the dead to rise. It gets even more personal when one of the dead is a young man with domestic violence potential who had plagued Eric and his friends.
The story is a fun mix of local legend written by a local. Eric is such an arrogant creature that you sort of want to slap him but has just enough charm to pull it off. Bridget is intelligent and doesn't do too stupid to live things so that's a bonus right there. The mystery has some real world consequences for Eric which will be interesting in future volumes. I'll have to get volume two next time I see Bryna at events (because yes, I'm a local too)
The only person who knows this is young Bridget a would-be journalist who lost her father a few years back which becomes horribly relevant when the newly dead begin to rise, soon followed by the not-so-freshly dead. The last thing Eric wants is for Bridget to go through that. He and Bridge along with a new Men in Black agent, Warner, try to solve the mystery of who is causing the dead to rise. It gets even more personal when one of the dead is a young man with domestic violence potential who had plagued Eric and his friends.
The story is a fun mix of local legend written by a local. Eric is such an arrogant creature that you sort of want to slap him but has just enough charm to pull it off. Bridget is intelligent and doesn't do too stupid to live things so that's a bonus right there. The mystery has some real world consequences for Eric which will be interesting in future volumes. I'll have to get volume two next time I see Bryna at events (because yes, I'm a local too)
May 9, 2016
Full review and more available at: http://oneguysguidetogoodreads.blogsp...
***3.5-STAR REVIEW***
*****
My Thoughts:
I have to say, I really didn't know what to expect when I first picked up Wrong Side of the Grave. The synopsis really left me interested, but I didn't quite know where to place it in my head. It's definitely not something I'd ever read before, but I couldn't wait to take the plunge. What did I think? Well, it's complicated.
I guess I should start out by saying that I love paranormal, but I'm not the biggest sci-fi fan. When the genres cross paths, I've seldom seen good results. Thankfully, to my surprise, Butler pulled it off pretty well. You see, I love vampires. They're among my favorite of all paranormal creatures, but I'd never quite seen anything like what Butler has done to the trope. Vampires depicted as otherworldly beings? Now that's a twist.
This being said, I'm not entirely sure the vampire aspect was quite what I was looking for. Butler did a great job with the world building in this novel. Keeps the mysterious, yet historical setting for the novel at an incredible pace, giving readers just enough to keep them reading, but not spoiling any surprises until the very end. This is were the vampire-aspect of the characters gets a bit odd. In all actuality, I don't see why it was important for the characters in question to be vampires, because in the end, the fact that they are actually aliens is what drives the story. When it comes to vampires, you really have to hit the historical aspect pretty hard on the head (in most instances), but, aside from one scene, this one fell flat on the vampire-trope for me.
Now that doesn't mean I didn't fall hard for the story, just don't go in expecting your standard run-of-the-mill vampire novel, because you will be disappointed,
Now, the alien, other-worldly aspect of Wrong Side of the Grave? Butler killed it. Seriously. Alien technology, secret government agencies, hidden spaceships: what's not to like? As I mentioned before, I'm generally not a sci-fi fan, but Butler did a great job capturing my attention from the very beginning.
Now that we've covered the genre aspect of the novel, let's talk about the story.
I have to say that I found the plot of WSotG to be very original. Butler has twisted an intriguing local legend (one that I even researched myself after reading) to craft a story that will delight readers young and old. I was genuinely surprised by the finale, but the exposition of the novel really created a literary world that left me flipping each page with anticipation.
The plot was fun. It was a pretty quick read. If anyone has read any of my reviews in the past for mystery novels, you'll know that mysteries are one of my least favorites for a number of reasons. They are often entirely too dramatic, predictable, and leave me more than disappointed. I am so glad to say Butler passed the mystery test. They always say the culprit in a mystery is supposed to be the last person you suspect, and I have to say I didn't see the mystery Butler gave us to be unraveled as it did.
As per the characters? I found them to be fairly relatable, but above all, realistic. I liked the characters sense of responsibility, but also their down-to-earth demeanor and maturity on most subjects. I'd really like to see more from Butler in the same vein as WSotG, as these characters were spot-on.
Now as you guys can see from the synopsis, this is a safe read for all ages. No sexual content, profanity, etc. That being said, I was actually kind of put off by how safe this read was. I give full respect to Butler for taking this approach as it is a great way to grab readers across all age groups, however I really would have loved to see this novel take a more adult direction. Rock stars in a small town high school? Attractive-otherworldly male lead? Corpses rising from the dead? I think this story could have really excelled as an upper-YA/NA or even adult series. While Butler does an incredible job appealing to all readers, I definitely believe an opportunity was missed here by not appealing to an older crowd. This is just my opinion. While I enjoyed the novel overall, I would have loved to see some adult content. Especially regarding language and adult content. At times WSotG read more like a middle-grade novel than a YA stories with Butler's word choices.
Butler really hits on some deep themes in WSotG. Especially regarding death. It's a strong subject that takes a truly talented author to explore its' depths. Too many authors merely lay it out there with little-to-no explanation or explaining the psychological impact it can have on characters. Butler used these events to further explore the psyche of her characters to really allow the readers to get into their minds and enjoy their story even more.
All of this being said, I was slightly let down by the ending of this one. Butler sets up the world for many more potential stories in the series, but we really don't have a clear vision if any are to come. I know that I would personally like to see more of this world expanded upon in future stories. As with most mysteries, the story does wrap up most loose ends and leaves you with a warm feeling in your bookish heart.
As you can see, I had some conflicted thoughts on Wrong Side of the Grave. It may not have been my favorite novel in either of the genres that it dabbles in, but I was still most definitely impressed by the story as a whole. I look forward to what Butler does with this series in the future. That being said, I am granting Wrong Side of the Grave a 3.5-star review. While it wasn't without it's issues, it was still a fun, past-paced read that left me finishing each chapter with anticipation. If this sounds like the story for you, don't miss out. Add this to your TBR today!
*****
***3.5-STAR REVIEW***
*****
My Thoughts:
I have to say, I really didn't know what to expect when I first picked up Wrong Side of the Grave. The synopsis really left me interested, but I didn't quite know where to place it in my head. It's definitely not something I'd ever read before, but I couldn't wait to take the plunge. What did I think? Well, it's complicated.
I guess I should start out by saying that I love paranormal, but I'm not the biggest sci-fi fan. When the genres cross paths, I've seldom seen good results. Thankfully, to my surprise, Butler pulled it off pretty well. You see, I love vampires. They're among my favorite of all paranormal creatures, but I'd never quite seen anything like what Butler has done to the trope. Vampires depicted as otherworldly beings? Now that's a twist.
This being said, I'm not entirely sure the vampire aspect was quite what I was looking for. Butler did a great job with the world building in this novel. Keeps the mysterious, yet historical setting for the novel at an incredible pace, giving readers just enough to keep them reading, but not spoiling any surprises until the very end. This is were the vampire-aspect of the characters gets a bit odd. In all actuality, I don't see why it was important for the characters in question to be vampires, because in the end, the fact that they are actually aliens is what drives the story. When it comes to vampires, you really have to hit the historical aspect pretty hard on the head (in most instances), but, aside from one scene, this one fell flat on the vampire-trope for me.
Now that doesn't mean I didn't fall hard for the story, just don't go in expecting your standard run-of-the-mill vampire novel, because you will be disappointed,
Now, the alien, other-worldly aspect of Wrong Side of the Grave? Butler killed it. Seriously. Alien technology, secret government agencies, hidden spaceships: what's not to like? As I mentioned before, I'm generally not a sci-fi fan, but Butler did a great job capturing my attention from the very beginning.
Now that we've covered the genre aspect of the novel, let's talk about the story.
I have to say that I found the plot of WSotG to be very original. Butler has twisted an intriguing local legend (one that I even researched myself after reading) to craft a story that will delight readers young and old. I was genuinely surprised by the finale, but the exposition of the novel really created a literary world that left me flipping each page with anticipation.
The plot was fun. It was a pretty quick read. If anyone has read any of my reviews in the past for mystery novels, you'll know that mysteries are one of my least favorites for a number of reasons. They are often entirely too dramatic, predictable, and leave me more than disappointed. I am so glad to say Butler passed the mystery test. They always say the culprit in a mystery is supposed to be the last person you suspect, and I have to say I didn't see the mystery Butler gave us to be unraveled as it did.
As per the characters? I found them to be fairly relatable, but above all, realistic. I liked the characters sense of responsibility, but also their down-to-earth demeanor and maturity on most subjects. I'd really like to see more from Butler in the same vein as WSotG, as these characters were spot-on.
Now as you guys can see from the synopsis, this is a safe read for all ages. No sexual content, profanity, etc. That being said, I was actually kind of put off by how safe this read was. I give full respect to Butler for taking this approach as it is a great way to grab readers across all age groups, however I really would have loved to see this novel take a more adult direction. Rock stars in a small town high school? Attractive-otherworldly male lead? Corpses rising from the dead? I think this story could have really excelled as an upper-YA/NA or even adult series. While Butler does an incredible job appealing to all readers, I definitely believe an opportunity was missed here by not appealing to an older crowd. This is just my opinion. While I enjoyed the novel overall, I would have loved to see some adult content. Especially regarding language and adult content. At times WSotG read more like a middle-grade novel than a YA stories with Butler's word choices.
Butler really hits on some deep themes in WSotG. Especially regarding death. It's a strong subject that takes a truly talented author to explore its' depths. Too many authors merely lay it out there with little-to-no explanation or explaining the psychological impact it can have on characters. Butler used these events to further explore the psyche of her characters to really allow the readers to get into their minds and enjoy their story even more.
All of this being said, I was slightly let down by the ending of this one. Butler sets up the world for many more potential stories in the series, but we really don't have a clear vision if any are to come. I know that I would personally like to see more of this world expanded upon in future stories. As with most mysteries, the story does wrap up most loose ends and leaves you with a warm feeling in your bookish heart.
As you can see, I had some conflicted thoughts on Wrong Side of the Grave. It may not have been my favorite novel in either of the genres that it dabbles in, but I was still most definitely impressed by the story as a whole. I look forward to what Butler does with this series in the future. That being said, I am granting Wrong Side of the Grave a 3.5-star review. While it wasn't without it's issues, it was still a fun, past-paced read that left me finishing each chapter with anticipation. If this sounds like the story for you, don't miss out. Add this to your TBR today!
*****
August 20, 2020
The Wrong Side of the Grave is the frost book in the Mothman Mysteries series. I thought this was an interesting premise. It's a Ya paranormal that I think would be appropriate for upper middle school. It reminded me a bit of Men in Black. Where aliens are real and living among us, but the average person isn't aware. I also liked the explanation behind vampires and Eric's identity. I thought his suit was really cool.
As for the mystery, it was engaging and surprising. I think younger readers will be completely engaged in the story. They will also be eager to spend time with Eric and his friend Bridge. They were great characters and their banter was fun. The ship's computer was hilarious. I listened to the audiobook and I would definitely recommend that platform. I will be reviewing the second book, Wrong Side of the Storm, late next week. So make sure to come back.
As for the mystery, it was engaging and surprising. I think younger readers will be completely engaged in the story. They will also be eager to spend time with Eric and his friend Bridge. They were great characters and their banter was fun. The ship's computer was hilarious. I listened to the audiobook and I would definitely recommend that platform. I will be reviewing the second book, Wrong Side of the Storm, late next week. So make sure to come back.
September 19, 2018
This book grabbed my attention fast. I didnt want to put it down. I love that someone local took the mothman legend and made something new out of it. Things i never thought of. I liked thay this was more of a mystery than a love story, but i gotta admit i was hoping for a little bit of a love story. The only thing that i didnt like was the ending....
I wanted more, so im hoping there is a 2nd book coming out. I hope so.
Oh and I met the author at the mothman festival and shes pretty cool too.
I wanted more, so im hoping there is a 2nd book coming out. I hope so.
Oh and I met the author at the mothman festival and shes pretty cool too.
January 13, 2023
Wow what an amazing read!!
The characters were phenomenal and I loved them all. Eric was such an awesome character to read about and get to know.
The storyline was incredible! It's very well written and it kept me on the edge of my seat and enjoying every single minute of this story! Highly recommended!
The characters were phenomenal and I loved them all. Eric was such an awesome character to read about and get to know.
The storyline was incredible! It's very well written and it kept me on the edge of my seat and enjoying every single minute of this story! Highly recommended!
May 4, 2017
Action packed, fast and easy to read with a fast paced and terrific plot and a unique and captivating plot. The characters were strong and intriguing. I loved it and would recommend it to everyone I can't wait to read more from the author.
August 11, 2020
Butler weaves multiple genres together seamlessly in her Mothman Mysteries series. The fast-paced YA story twists supernatural beings with sci-fi technology and a dash of romance. Wrong Side of the Grave is a great start to the series.
December 1, 2024
So much fun, with a title like that it was amusing to find it as a phrase inside the book. Loved the humor & realistic care for life. Interesting storyline & I would actually love to see more in this series and a possible future with Bridget and Eric.
February 25, 2017
I was given this book for a fair review. I enjoyed reading Wrong Side of the Grave. The twist on aliens and the Mothman was fresh and fun.
October 8, 2024
Mothman is an alien who inhales vampires (also aliens) and is drummer.
March 13, 2017
This was nothing like what I expected. It was full of twists and turns and suprizes.
You definitely cannot put this down once you start reading it.
It is full of aliens, vampire's, essentially mib (federal guys), and the dead being re awakened.
The Mothman or Eric is an alien that hunts his food on earth (which just happens to be vampire's).
Then there is his best friend Bridget or I should say his current best friend as we do not know how old this alien really is. She is full of spitfire, and ready to do anything to figure out why the dead are coming back to life. It gets her and her mother into immense amounts of danger.
This author is amazing and I will definitely be looking to read more from this author in the future.
5 stars
You definitely cannot put this down once you start reading it.
It is full of aliens, vampire's, essentially mib (federal guys), and the dead being re awakened.
The Mothman or Eric is an alien that hunts his food on earth (which just happens to be vampire's).
Then there is his best friend Bridget or I should say his current best friend as we do not know how old this alien really is. She is full of spitfire, and ready to do anything to figure out why the dead are coming back to life. It gets her and her mother into immense amounts of danger.
This author is amazing and I will definitely be looking to read more from this author in the future.
5 stars
March 21, 2017
I loved the idea of having The Mothman in the story. It's a shame that there's no real connection to the legend. Just some being who looks like the mothman as the main character. The introduction of the technology BRAND is both clever and unimaginable but with aliens anything is possible, I guess, so it's fine. Allthough I wonder just how everything came about within those first moments when 'Eric' came to earth and just how he found his way around. I'd loved to read more about that.
I also spy a Men in Black fan-fiction here. But to be fair: it's really fitting within this story.
I had some questions though even after finishing this book:
First off, how did Bridget found out about Eric? It's great that they're best friends and all but I'd like to know just how an old alien came in to contact with a young girl.
Also, what is a sluxneffer? It's clear that those sluxneffers are anoying as hell but again, I'm quite curious as to why and all.
And just how does this story develop afterwards? There'd better be a sequel to this because I'd like to know how... to continue without spoilers: how a certain promise will be kept and a certain resolution will be found.
I will definitely read the next installment if or when it comes out and will read another book of Bryna Butler because her writing style is quite enjoyable, funny at times and relaxing to read.
I also spy a Men in Black fan-fiction here. But to be fair: it's really fitting within this story.
I had some questions though even after finishing this book:
First off, how did Bridget found out about Eric? It's great that they're best friends and all but I'd like to know just how an old alien came in to contact with a young girl.
Also, what is a sluxneffer? It's clear that those sluxneffers are anoying as hell but again, I'm quite curious as to why and all.
And just how does this story develop afterwards? There'd better be a sequel to this because I'd like to know how... to continue without spoilers: how a certain promise will be kept and a certain resolution will be found.
I will definitely read the next installment if or when it comes out and will read another book of Bryna Butler because her writing style is quite enjoyable, funny at times and relaxing to read.
January 31, 2024
I absolutely could not stop reading it a page turner
April 30, 2015
I have a confession to make. The cover art is why I read this book. I loved the fun graphics. Then I read the blurb and it sounded like a fun misadventure. And it was.
The two main characters couldn’t be more different.
Hot looking drummer, Eric, is not what he seems. He’s an offworlder, an alien. He’s a lot older than the teen he poses as. He has this handy gadget, looks like a tattoo, that gives him a human form so he’ll blend in. His accidental exposure in his alien form led to the legend of the Mothman. He’s over 9 feet tall, gray skinned, with glowing red eyes.
Bridget is a book blogger into paranormal romances. She loves to share the books she’s read. I had to laugh when she went off about an author killing one of their characters that she liked. We had that in common and I liked her right away. Best friends with Eric, she knows what he is and what he does.
Eric is a Harbinger, licensed to kill vampires by the offworlder council, with Men in Black to monitor him. His weapon of choice, his drumsticks. He even has names for them. Gotta laugh at that.
I had no idea what this book was about when I started reading it, but it didn’t take me long to figure it out. The first chapter had Eric dispatching a very nasty vampire.
And get this. Vampires are aliens too. The author gave a very interesting spin on this.
Then the story takes a really fun turn and the dead start rising in Point Pleasant. Kind of zombies, but not. They are recently dead, not prepared for burial yet, and they don’t eat people.
I like zombies any way I can get them so this amped up the fun and suspense for me.
A light hearted adventure, with vampires, aliens, and a book blogger. What a great scenario.
And I’m happy to be able to recommend this book to all ages. No sex. No bad language. No gore. Just clean, campy fun.
I received this book for my honest review.
The two main characters couldn’t be more different.
Hot looking drummer, Eric, is not what he seems. He’s an offworlder, an alien. He’s a lot older than the teen he poses as. He has this handy gadget, looks like a tattoo, that gives him a human form so he’ll blend in. His accidental exposure in his alien form led to the legend of the Mothman. He’s over 9 feet tall, gray skinned, with glowing red eyes.
Bridget is a book blogger into paranormal romances. She loves to share the books she’s read. I had to laugh when she went off about an author killing one of their characters that she liked. We had that in common and I liked her right away. Best friends with Eric, she knows what he is and what he does.
Eric is a Harbinger, licensed to kill vampires by the offworlder council, with Men in Black to monitor him. His weapon of choice, his drumsticks. He even has names for them. Gotta laugh at that.
I had no idea what this book was about when I started reading it, but it didn’t take me long to figure it out. The first chapter had Eric dispatching a very nasty vampire.
And get this. Vampires are aliens too. The author gave a very interesting spin on this.
Then the story takes a really fun turn and the dead start rising in Point Pleasant. Kind of zombies, but not. They are recently dead, not prepared for burial yet, and they don’t eat people.
I like zombies any way I can get them so this amped up the fun and suspense for me.
A light hearted adventure, with vampires, aliens, and a book blogger. What a great scenario.
And I’m happy to be able to recommend this book to all ages. No sex. No bad language. No gore. Just clean, campy fun.
I received this book for my honest review.
February 26, 2016
I have to admit, just the description of this book had me intrigued: ‘offworlders’, ‘mothmen’, ‘aliens’…this was definitely not going to be your typical YA book. And I was not wrong. And to take it a step further, many of these ‘offworlders’ are vampires. But not your typical vampire you read about in most books. They act the same as most, but it turns out their origin is from space – they’re actually aliens. I guess it could definitely make sense, since they’re certainly not human.
I liked many of the things the author wrote about that were a different look at what we have read about in several other books – for instance, dead people are coming back to life, but Eric, the main character (who, by the way is also a Mothman from another world) refuses to accept that this is zombie lore finally coming true. He’s from another planet – he knows there’s hundreds of other possibilities; he also knows that no matter what world you’re from, dead is dead.
I also enjoyed that the writing was very smooth, and the banter between all of the characters – many different types of characters – was light, and often very witty, but serious when necessary.
I would have liked to have seen the book be a little more in depth, possibly more about the history of the characters, how they came to be, and since many have been alive for centuries, maybe more than the brief flashbacks we were given.
Although the story wrapped up, it did certainly leave a good non-cliffhanger door open for future books, so I would certainly be interested to see what the future holds for many of our main characters now that big things have changed.
I liked many of the things the author wrote about that were a different look at what we have read about in several other books – for instance, dead people are coming back to life, but Eric, the main character (who, by the way is also a Mothman from another world) refuses to accept that this is zombie lore finally coming true. He’s from another planet – he knows there’s hundreds of other possibilities; he also knows that no matter what world you’re from, dead is dead.
I also enjoyed that the writing was very smooth, and the banter between all of the characters – many different types of characters – was light, and often very witty, but serious when necessary.
I would have liked to have seen the book be a little more in depth, possibly more about the history of the characters, how they came to be, and since many have been alive for centuries, maybe more than the brief flashbacks we were given.
Although the story wrapped up, it did certainly leave a good non-cliffhanger door open for future books, so I would certainly be interested to see what the future holds for many of our main characters now that big things have changed.
March 6, 2015
OMG this is one of the best YA books I've read in a while. Super fun with vampires AND alien beings (actually, the vampires ARE some of the alien beings which is a really cool idea), this took me just a few hours to read as it was so light and easy. I absolutely loved it!
It's a very unique take on the whole vampire tale which will have you sitting on the edge of your seat for sure. I totally fell in love with Eric, he is such a likeable character with his cute rocker look (he carries his drumsticks in his back pockets and then uses them to kill.... no that would be telling you too much!) and swagger. His best friend is a bit of a geeky book blogger which really appealed to me (for obvious reasons) and he lives in a space ship! What's not to love? The waking dead, graveyard visits, funeral homes and Men in Black just makes this a really quirky, fun read.
I'm trying to find something negative to say but I just can't... there isn't a single thing I didn't like about this book.
I also love the fact that it's suitable for every age group with no profanity and no sexual content. I highly recommend it!
It's a very unique take on the whole vampire tale which will have you sitting on the edge of your seat for sure. I totally fell in love with Eric, he is such a likeable character with his cute rocker look (he carries his drumsticks in his back pockets and then uses them to kill.... no that would be telling you too much!) and swagger. His best friend is a bit of a geeky book blogger which really appealed to me (for obvious reasons) and he lives in a space ship! What's not to love? The waking dead, graveyard visits, funeral homes and Men in Black just makes this a really quirky, fun read.
I'm trying to find something negative to say but I just can't... there isn't a single thing I didn't like about this book.
I also love the fact that it's suitable for every age group with no profanity and no sexual content. I highly recommend it!
February 14, 2016
●▬▬▬▬๑۩ 5 STAR REVIEW ۩๑▬▬▬▬▬●
If you are looking for a funny YA with no sex, no foul language, then this story is for you.
Eric is your young hot rocker, but not everything is what it seems. He is an alien, and he is not as young as he looks like. Mothman is what people calls him. When he finds himself with police trouble there will be only one person that can help him.
Bridget is your typical book blogger, she is a huge fan of the paranormal genre, so when Eric reaches out to her to clear his name she will not hesitate to help him.
This was a different story than what am used to reading and let me tell you it was refreshing. Love how this story was fun and clean with no sex or foul language it is perfect with for all ages. If you or your younger children like a fun story then this is for you.
Gifted by author in exchange for an honest review.
https://www.facebook.com/Bookaholican...
September 21, 2016
I was asked for an honest review free of persuasion from the author or anyone else affiliated with this book.
This was a good book. It was a clean teenage paranormal book. That being said, it didn't seem to have the depth and details that I am used to. It was a good book. The minute I finished the book, I handed it to my 14 year old daughter. I think she will like it as well. I personally would have liked more back story, more information, and more depth to the characters. The action did keep my interest in the story and I was able to quickly read the book. It wasn't a "I cant put down" book, but it was fun for a casual read during down time. This is the first book I have read by Bryna Butler. I look forward to trying more of her work.
This was a good book. It was a clean teenage paranormal book. That being said, it didn't seem to have the depth and details that I am used to. It was a good book. The minute I finished the book, I handed it to my 14 year old daughter. I think she will like it as well. I personally would have liked more back story, more information, and more depth to the characters. The action did keep my interest in the story and I was able to quickly read the book. It wasn't a "I cant put down" book, but it was fun for a casual read during down time. This is the first book I have read by Bryna Butler. I look forward to trying more of her work.
May 2, 2015
I received this book from the author and Paranormal Romance & Authors That Rock for an honest review. A very good Y.A. suited for all ages. Eric is a cutie, he's the drummer in a band and is way older than the teen ager he's pretending to be. His best friend is Bridget,she's a book blogger, points in my book, and knows everything about Eric. Toss in aliens of all shapes and sizes, men in black, Mothman and the dead coming back to life and you end up with a really fun, light hearted, campy story. No sex or bad language just good clean fun for all ages.I will definitely recommend this to my young neice.
May 17, 2016
The cast of characters is broad and leaves a lot to expect from future books (dare I hope, Bryna Butler?). I LOVED reading about my town and even though names of places were changed within it, I could pick out pretty quickly which actual place the author was referring to. I also have to thank her for making me notice Tu Endu Wei Park. I’ve lived here for so long that, while I still admire it and respect it, I don’t always think about it or even look in its general direction. Now I find myself looking at the obelisk monument every time I go to the Piggly Wiggly and wonder what’s really up there
June 18, 2016
*I was provided a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
I'm originally from Eastern Ky, and Mothman is a BIG part of the heritage in that area. This story completely makes an awesome addition to the legend.
I would never have thought of him as an alien.... Much less one that works with the MIB!
A fun fast read, I was left asking for more!!!! I need to know what happens win Bridgett!!!
A+ Read!
~Dowie
I'm originally from Eastern Ky, and Mothman is a BIG part of the heritage in that area. This story completely makes an awesome addition to the legend.
I would never have thought of him as an alien.... Much less one that works with the MIB!
A fun fast read, I was left asking for more!!!! I need to know what happens win Bridgett!!!
A+ Read!
~Dowie
June 4, 2015
Great characters, great plot, great story. A YA novel that is sure to entice young readers into wanting to read more.
FTC stuff; I received this book though a Goodreads, Firstreads contest.
FTC stuff; I received this book though a Goodreads, Firstreads contest.
April 13, 2016
4.5 stars
March 26, 2017
I do read ya books but not really into them at all. I have to say this one pulled me right in. What great read.
Plot was amazing nothing was giving away until very end by the way I love that.
Two main characters Eric and Bridget worked out great even if they are totally different from each other. One in a band and alien and one book blogger amd human. Know they are trying to help find out why dead is coming back to life.
Once they find out at very heavy cost Bridget loses someone close to her.
Something is starting to develop between Eric and bridget where will that lead?
So want to read more about them!!!!
Bloggin with m. Brennan
Plot was amazing nothing was giving away until very end by the way I love that.
Two main characters Eric and Bridget worked out great even if they are totally different from each other. One in a band and alien and one book blogger amd human. Know they are trying to help find out why dead is coming back to life.
Once they find out at very heavy cost Bridget loses someone close to her.
Something is starting to develop between Eric and bridget where will that lead?
So want to read more about them!!!!
Bloggin with m. Brennan
March 29, 2017
I was skeptical about this book with the UFO alien aspect, but it worked for this author. I was surprised with this quick fun story. The book was well written with an interesting plot. I enjoyed all the twist and turns and has a feel like Joshua Mott’s book Returned. It was a great Scooby-Doo storyline with a twist on thriller mystery.
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