The Kraken of Cape Madre: A Creature Feature Horror Suspense by J.P. Barnett

Jun 25, 2019 Ash †Reviews of a FearStreetZombie† rated it it was amazing

Barnett has skills. He has the ability to take a reader anywhere and everywhere and make you feel every bit of emotions his characters are feeling.

I hate sea books. Won't even lie there. But I loved Barnett's first Lorestalker book, so I knew I could trust this book would be just as amazing. It. Did. Not. Fail.
Oh man, this book is one of a kind for me, literally. Haha.

The pacing was perfect and the tension. Oh gosh the tension was crazy. I felt like a rubberband pulled to tight. The buildup ...more

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May 04, 2019 Amanda rated it it was amazing

I liked this one even more than the first book in the series! The characters got fleshed out further without sacrificing the fast-paced nature of his writing. He is such an intelligent writer, and I found line after witty line that I can’t imagine finding anywhere else. I love watching the progression of this author and his characters! I was rather sad to see the book end. ...more

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May 28, 2019 Alicia Smock rated it it was amazing

2019 is proving to be an amazing year for talented new authors in the writing community and many of these authors are coming from the publisher readers need to keep their eye on: Evolved Publishing. One such author, J.P. Barnett, released his debut novel, The Beast of Rose Valley, in early March. This debut marked the first in his creature feature suspense Lorestalker Series. Now, just a few months later, readers can read the next in Barnett’s promising new series with the release of The Kraken 2019 is proving to be an amazing year for talented new authors in the writing community and many of these authors are coming from the publisher readers need to keep their eye on: Evolved Publishing. One such author, J.P. Barnett, released his debut novel, The Beast of Rose Valley, in early March. This debut marked the first in his creature feature suspense Lorestalker Series. Now, just a few months later, readers can read the next in Barnett’s promising new series with the release of The Kraken of Madre Cape on June 3rd.

Two years have passed since the Beast terrorized the small town of Rose Valley. Two years have passed since Miriam witnessed her brother’s massacre and her life was changed forever. Trying to forget her haunting past, Miriam travels to Cape Madre with her newfound friend Macy for a fun Spring Break at the beach. The fun does not last long when Miriam finds herself saving a tourist from something lurking under the water… something big and very dangerous. Seafaring legends and Norse mythology point her in the direction of a sea creature she aims to find and destroy, yet her past as a hunter for creatures of legend is the past she so longs to forget. Now, Miriam faces the battle of her life to not only save Cape Madre from becoming the next victim to a creature of the deep, but to save herself from becoming someone she is not meant to be.

Barnett has not only succeeded in telling yet another exciting new story for fans of monsters and folklore, he has strengthened his writing and storytelling skills in The Kraken of Cape Madre. His short, sweet, and to the point writing style still takes readers on a fast-paced adventure, but he slows down just a touch in his newest novel, giving readers more detail behind the characters of the story and the recent disappearances of people from Cape Madre. His storytelling is just as clever as it was in The Beast of Rose Valley and has gained a bit more of the suspense/ horror aspect the first seemed to have been lacking.

While the monster in The Kraken of Cape Madre is more well-known than the Beast Barnett introduced, this new monster is not what it seems. Readers may have it pegged for what the title gives away; however, Barnett has worked his magic and put a clever spin on a legend told since the times of pirates and Vikings. Introducing the monster right away, Barnett continues his trademark of not leaving the readers saying, “Reveal what the threat is already!”, rather, having his readers say, “Wow, that was fast! Tell me more!”. A very clever technique Barnett has developed right at the start of his writing career is giving just enough detail to keep readers guessing without giving away the mystery. For example, there are parts in the story where the monster is mentioned and described to the readers, but at the same time, it isn’t described. Without even realizing it, readers will have a clear image of the monster in their minds with very minimal detail given.

While the cast of characters in The Beast of Rose Valley was small, it is even smaller in The Kraken of Cape Madre. In all honesty, this was an excellent decision on Barnett’s part. While he developed his former characters very well, there were still certain aspects of some that remained a mystery. The handful of characters in this story, some readers already know and some brand new faces, are given the chance to grow and develop as the story goes on. His characters’ dialog is just as strong in this installment as his first, but the most noteworthy character is the main protagonist, Miriam. While she did not have as much time in the spotlight before, readers will most certainly learn about her now. Her character is so complex and beautifully written. She longs to hunt the monster to avenge her brother’s death, yet also does not want to revisit her past of how she was trained to track down folklore. She is sure of herself, yet at the same time, indecisive. She portrays the perfect blend of stubbornness and grief, a combination many readers can most likely relate to.

Fans of monsters and folklore are in for yet another treat as Barnett continues his new Lorestalker Series with a second strong installment. The Kraken of Cape Madre offers readers what The Beast of Rose Valley did and more. His fast-paced storytelling and the mystery and suspense of his monster keep readers intrigued and wanting to know more. It offers a bit more of a horror aspect in addition to the suspense and thrills and more adventure. If anything, Barnett’s new series is almost turning into a crazy new version of Scooby Doo: no talking dog and goofiness, but plenty of thrills and hunting of monsters not in a costume. This series of unknown length is becoming one to keep an eye on. Pick up a copy of The Kraken of Cape Madre on June 3rd and readers will also get a first look at the third in the series, The Witch of Gray’s Point, releasing in December of this year.

**Originally published on my blog Roll Out Reviews on May 28, 2019** ...more

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May 05, 2019 Rachael rated it it was amazing

The latest books from one of my favorite new authors is the kind I couldn't put down. It's the perfect book for a day at the beach, although you might want to swim before you start it as there are some scary things happening in the waters of a coastal Texas town. The characters became my friends quickly and still surprised me at times with the wisdom they shared. It's a fast paced mystery and a quick read but this author is so good at weaving in some of the complexities of life: the pull of ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Jun 23, 2019 Crystal's Book World ~ Crystal Cordova rated it it was amazing

Wow! J.P. Barnett blew me away with The Kraken of Cape Madre! It is hard for me to really get into a thriller, folklore story. But Barnett will hold his readers captive and drawn to the mystics of his characters with this book. Mariam, she was perfection. I felt her need to protect. I could feel the hair on my arms standing. Book friends! If you need some suspense, thriller, folklore in you life, THIS IS IT!

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Jun 07, 2019 Dean Palmer rated it it was amazing

Once again Mr. Barnett takes the reader on a fast, energy filled journey into the world of Cryptids. His writing is smooth and fast. Not only is the story fast paced but it reads fast. The author doesn't put in a lot of extraneous things that pull you out of the story. I was able to read the entire book in one plane trip, reading the last page as the plane touched down. From his first book you can see that Mr. Barnett has honed his craft and is keeping the story exciting and well written.

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May 16, 2019 Lisa Perez rated it it was amazing

This book was so GREAT! One of the best books I've read in a long time. I seriously couldn't put it down. I read the whole book in just 36 hours. The characters were fleshed out and I really cared about them. There were no slow spots. It was funny, intelligent, and surprising. I absolutely loved it. Miriam is my favorite.

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May 04, 2019 Mistie Walser rated it it was amazing

Exiting and hard to put down! Loved it. Really enjoy having a smart, badass girl for the main character.

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Jul 17, 2019 Kyle May rated it it was amazing

I liked the first book, but thought this one showed growth in Barnett's writing. I liked the pace of the story and I felt the suspense of the story pushing me to finish the book quicker than planned.

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Nov 05, 2019 Shaun Little rated it it was amazing

Exciting read from start to finish! Looking very much forward to the next in the series. Do yourself a favor and read this book, and the first one too.

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Oct 25, 2019

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Sep 09, 2019

Jun 18, 2019 Ash †Reviews of a FearStreetZombie† rated it it was amazing

Barnett has skills. He has the ability to take a reader anywhere and everywhere and make you feel every bit of emotions his characters are feeling.

I hate sea books. Won't even lie there. But I loved Barnett's first Lorestalker book, so I knew I could trust this book would be just as amazing. It. Did. Not. Fail.
Oh man, this book is one of a kind for me, literally. Haha.

The pacing was perfect and the tension. Oh gosh the tension was crazy. I felt like a rubberband pulled to tight. The buildup ...more

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

May 04, 2019 Amanda rated it it was amazing

I liked this one even more than the first book in the series! The characters got fleshed out further without sacrificing the fast-paced nature of his writing. He is such an intelligent writer, and I found line after witty line that I can’t imagine finding anywhere else. I love watching the progression of this author and his characters! I was rather sad to see the book end. ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

May 28, 2019 Alicia Smock rated it it was amazing

2019 is proving to be an amazing year for talented new authors in the writing community and many of these authors are coming from the publisher readers need to keep their eye on: Evolved Publishing. One such author, J.P. Barnett, released his debut novel, The Beast of Rose Valley, in early March. This debut marked the first in his creature feature suspense Lorestalker Series. Now, just a few months later, readers can read the next in Barnett’s promising new series with the release of The Kraken 2019 is proving to be an amazing year for talented new authors in the writing community and many of these authors are coming from the publisher readers need to keep their eye on: Evolved Publishing. One such author, J.P. Barnett, released his debut novel, The Beast of Rose Valley, in early March. This debut marked the first in his creature feature suspense Lorestalker Series. Now, just a few months later, readers can read the next in Barnett’s promising new series with the release of The Kraken of Madre Cape on June 3rd.

Two years have passed since the Beast terrorized the small town of Rose Valley. Two years have passed since Miriam witnessed her brother’s massacre and her life was changed forever. Trying to forget her haunting past, Miriam travels to Cape Madre with her newfound friend Macy for a fun Spring Break at the beach. The fun does not last long when Miriam finds herself saving a tourist from something lurking under the water… something big and very dangerous. Seafaring legends and Norse mythology point her in the direction of a sea creature she aims to find and destroy, yet her past as a hunter for creatures of legend is the past she so longs to forget. Now, Miriam faces the battle of her life to not only save Cape Madre from becoming the next victim to a creature of the deep, but to save herself from becoming someone she is not meant to be.

Barnett has not only succeeded in telling yet another exciting new story for fans of monsters and folklore, he has strengthened his writing and storytelling skills in The Kraken of Cape Madre. His short, sweet, and to the point writing style still takes readers on a fast-paced adventure, but he slows down just a touch in his newest novel, giving readers more detail behind the characters of the story and the recent disappearances of people from Cape Madre. His storytelling is just as clever as it was in The Beast of Rose Valley and has gained a bit more of the suspense/ horror aspect the first seemed to have been lacking.

While the monster in The Kraken of Cape Madre is more well-known than the Beast Barnett introduced, this new monster is not what it seems. Readers may have it pegged for what the title gives away; however, Barnett has worked his magic and put a clever spin on a legend told since the times of pirates and Vikings. Introducing the monster right away, Barnett continues his trademark of not leaving the readers saying, “Reveal what the threat is already!”, rather, having his readers say, “Wow, that was fast! Tell me more!”. A very clever technique Barnett has developed right at the start of his writing career is giving just enough detail to keep readers guessing without giving away the mystery. For example, there are parts in the story where the monster is mentioned and described to the readers, but at the same time, it isn’t described. Without even realizing it, readers will have a clear image of the monster in their minds with very minimal detail given.

While the cast of characters in The Beast of Rose Valley was small, it is even smaller in The Kraken of Cape Madre. In all honesty, this was an excellent decision on Barnett’s part. While he developed his former characters very well, there were still certain aspects of some that remained a mystery. The handful of characters in this story, some readers already know and some brand new faces, are given the chance to grow and develop as the story goes on. His characters’ dialog is just as strong in this installment as his first, but the most noteworthy character is the main protagonist, Miriam. While she did not have as much time in the spotlight before, readers will most certainly learn about her now. Her character is so complex and beautifully written. She longs to hunt the monster to avenge her brother’s death, yet also does not want to revisit her past of how she was trained to track down folklore. She is sure of herself, yet at the same time, indecisive. She portrays the perfect blend of stubbornness and grief, a combination many readers can most likely relate to.

Fans of monsters and folklore are in for yet another treat as Barnett continues his new Lorestalker Series with a second strong installment. The Kraken of Cape Madre offers readers what The Beast of Rose Valley did and more. His fast-paced storytelling and the mystery and suspense of his monster keep readers intrigued and wanting to know more. It offers a bit more of a horror aspect in addition to the suspense and thrills and more adventure. If anything, Barnett’s new series is almost turning into a crazy new version of Scooby Doo: no talking dog and goofiness, but plenty of thrills and hunting of monsters not in a costume. This series of unknown length is becoming one to keep an eye on. Pick up a copy of The Kraken of Cape Madre on June 3rd and readers will also get a first look at the third in the series, The Witch of Gray’s Point, releasing in December of this year.

**Originally published on my blog Roll Out Reviews on May 28, 2019** ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

May 05, 2019 Rachael rated it it was amazing

The latest books from one of my favorite new authors is the kind I couldn't put down. It's the perfect book for a day at the beach, although you might want to swim before you start it as there are some scary things happening in the waters of a coastal Texas town. The characters became my friends quickly and still surprised me at times with the wisdom they shared. It's a fast paced mystery and a quick read but this author is so good at weaving in some of the complexities of life: the pull of ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Jun 23, 2019 Crystal's Book World ~ Crystal Cordova rated it it was amazing

Wow! J.P. Barnett blew me away with The Kraken of Cape Madre! It is hard for me to really get into a thriller, folklore story. But Barnett will hold his readers captive and drawn to the mystics of his characters with this book. Mariam, she was perfection. I felt her need to protect. I could feel the hair on my arms standing. Book friends! If you need some suspense, thriller, folklore in you life, THIS IS IT!

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Jun 07, 2019 Dean Palmer rated it it was amazing

Once again Mr. Barnett takes the reader on a fast, energy filled journey into the world of Cryptids. His writing is smooth and fast. Not only is the story fast paced but it reads fast. The author doesn't put in a lot of extraneous things that pull you out of the story. I was able to read the entire book in one plane trip, reading the last page as the plane touched down. From his first book you can see that Mr. Barnett has honed his craft and is keeping the story exciting and well written.

flag 1 like · Like · see review

May 16, 2019 Lisa Perez rated it it was amazing

This book was so GREAT! One of the best books I've read in a long time. I seriously couldn't put it down. I read the whole book in just 36 hours. The characters were fleshed out and I really cared about them. There were no slow spots. It was funny, intelligent, and surprising. I absolutely loved it. Miriam is my favorite.

flag 1 like · Like · see review

May 04, 2019 Mistie Walser rated it it was amazing

Exiting and hard to put down! Loved it. Really enjoy having a smart, badass girl for the main character.

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Nov 05, 2019 Shaun Little rated it it was amazing

Exciting read from start to finish! Looking very much forward to the next in the series. Do yourself a favor and read this book, and the first one too.

flag Like · see review

Jul 11, 2019 Kyle May rated it it was amazing

I liked the first book, but thought this one showed growth in Barnett's writing. I liked the pace of the story and I felt the suspense of the story pushing me to finish the book quicker than planned.

flag Like · see review