would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this horror book

well my first by this author and hopefully not my last...i found this book very strange as its based on a folklore story that is very much american, but apart from that it had all the basic horror stuff blood guts fights slashing and real bad eating flesh stuff....

but it was the way the author wrote that grabbed me...the storyline flowed, the characters were believeable and you either liked them or not....and the way the author treated them well that doesnt happen very often....no spoilers but its well worth a read....

will be keeping an eye out for more horror books by this author

3 1/2 stars. I liked this one but it didn't really grab my attention like Creature did. This sort of fumbled around with an okay storyline but with some not so interesting characters.

From the outside, Misfits reminded me of Laymon’s Beast House series. It’s debauched, features bloodthirsty creatures and delights in terrorising the reader.

A night out at a club for friends Heidi and Marnie ends up in a vicious rape. This scene is heartbreaking and visceral, fueling the scenes of revenge that will follow. The Melonheads are an urban legend, the murderous creatures are rumoured to live in the woods near Dracula Drive.

In an attempt at retribution, her band of ragtag friends kidnap her attacker, leaving him at the mercy of the freakish band of Melonheads. The friends soon find out why the cannibalistic creatures are the source of many nightmares for their town.

Make no mistake, this is a raw horror novel with bloody scenes of pain and torture that holds no punches. But it is also compulsive and gripping. The group of misfits are endearing and realistic, each with their own back story. Their friendship is central to the story, as is their loyalty to each other. The 90s grunge setting of the novel was excellent, adding to the realism of the characters.

Misfits is my first Hunter Shea novel and if all of the author’s novels are this addictive and terrifying, then I can’t wait to read them.

Hunter Shea’s new release from Flame Tree Press is an interesting novel that dives deep into urban folklore and comes out with an original story that is set in the 90’s with a group of wayward teenagers who are fighting for their lives.

Shea has an interesting look in the world of horror who takes an interesting look at plots that have been tried before but puts his own spin on them to make them original and very much his own. His characters are not cut and dry good but strays into a grey zone that makes them thought provoking and interesting.

The story premise is interesting about a tribe called melon heads who inhabit the dark woods of a small town and although they keep themselves, be weary if you need to dispose of a problem and you have to call on this band of inbred merry men because everything comes at a cost. The plot is well constructed as it dives into the main group of teenagers whose lives are basically on the rough side. Neglectful parents, poor and lack of direction with the world and society against them, they try to make the best of what life has offered them.

Starting off with a slight mythos of the melon heads, we are then introduced to the cast of characters. One of the girls is raped and the group exact revenge on the perpetrator of the crime with the help of the melon heads which horribly goes wrong. This is where the plot starts to take off to its very original finality that fully satisfies the reader with its very own uniqueness.

The characters are very well written and are full of deep emotional core that helps the reader invest in their plights. The core characters relationships with each other are fluid and organic and feel real and right. There are some that you will like more than others as in any group of people but this add an interesting flavour to the proceedings.

The plot is very well developed and the reader is kept very much interested as you are propelled forward. There are some hard hitting scenarios found within the book but this lifts the story to a higher plateau then what we would normally find within the pages of this genre. Shea masterfully conducts this symphony of many components and weaves this into a masterwork to extremely high quality.

Overall, this is a great page turner with well-established three dimensional characters, a urban legend that does not take an easy way out but gives a conclusion that feels fully formed and satisfying. This is a guaranteed enjoyable horrific page turner that should win Shea some new fans and although it may be a bit heavy from some readers but those who give this a try will find an author that goes from strength to strength with every book. This is a must read for lovers of the genre and those who like to dip their toes in every now and then.

MISFITS is the first book I have read by Hunter SHEA but there is no way possible that it will be my last. It was amazing. I loved just everything about it. I actually can not fault it except to say that I was gutted when I got to the last page. I only knew a little about the Melon Heads so this book was a real treat for any creature-feature lovers. There was adventure, heartache, teen angst, mega violence and a shed load of gore. Being set in the 90s when I was a teen myself, really resonated with me as a reader too. I would easily give MISFITS 5/5.
I will post a full review on my blog and hopefully another big review site soon.

5 friends from Connecticut try to contact the Melonheads to obtain revenge on the man who raped one of them. They don't initially believe in the myth, but soon discover that the Melonheads are real. I was personally not familiar with this legend, until I read this book. It was pretty interesting.

The five kids were an unlikely bunch, drawn together by their love of getting high. But they were true friends. Sticking up for each other and protecting each other. I really liked the depiction of friendship here.

It took a little too long for me for the kids to see their first Melonheads, but once they do the action is nonstop. The descriptions are pretty creepy. I enjoyed reading this book.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

This is a book with some really tough subject matter so be forewarned that it covers topics concerning rape and it is very gory and has moments of extremes violence.

It is a fantastic horror story but it is very gruesome.
But I mean the book is about a mutant cannibalistic tribe so that's kind of to be expected but yowza...

If any of this sounds like to much for you than you might want to pass but otherwise if you want a terrifying nightmare giving book to read snatch it up!! The book is very well written is a legitimate nail biter from start to finish. This has a grunge vibe from the 90's era and does use an older urban legend from the region that I have actually had never heard of and well I love urban legends so WIN!! Although he name of the urban legend leaves a bit to be desired I don't find the name Melon Head that scary but these melon heads??? Um yeah super terrifying!!!

I received this book from NetGalley and Flame tree Press for an honest review.
#Misfits
#NetGalley

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the early copy.

As a horror books fan, I had been hearing about Hunter Shea for so long that it’s very surprising it’s the first time I read one of his books.

It’s even more surprising when you think about how I enjoyed it!
See, there was this legend when I was a kid, about werewolves living in the woods close to my house. Absolutely terrifying and kept us from going out at night (good job, parents).

So I can totally believe the legend of the Melon Heads, and greatly enjoyed discovering how absolutely terrifying they are. Cannibalistic monsters? Sign me up!

The group of main characters is also very enjoyable – they’re antiheroes, maybe, but still, you can’t help but fall for them.
It’s sufficiently gory for a horror book and might even sometimes step into the "too gory" territory, but after all, it’s easier to miss a few lines if blood and cannibalism aren’t your things.

Overall, a enjoyable and exciting read that had me completely hooked. The only weakness, in my opinion, is the ending, which I’m not too sure about. Despite that, I’ll happily read another one of Hunter Shea’s novels!

Excellent book from someone who is fast becoming. my favourite author in the horror genre. Easy to read, thrilling, engrossing and a story full of twists I didn't see coming. Loved the grunge era setting too. Keep up the good work Hunter Shea and I will definitely keep reading.

ARC received from Net Galley and Flame Tree Press.
Opinions are my own.

What can I say about Hunter Shea...he writes great monster stories. Fast-paced fun and fairly quick read, Mistfits delivers. Reminiscent of a Creepypasta it’s an entertaining and enjoyable story. I love the 90’s throwback. Brings back a lot of memories. Unlike a lot of stories involving kids, while the situations are extraordinary, the kids are own stories are pretty believable. Misfits and outcasts for one reason or another, we all know someone who fits these characters. Overall enjoyable and highly recommended.

Remember when you were a teenager and your friends were your family? No one understood you like your friends. They were your brothers and sisters - way more than anyone else could be, even those who shared your bloodlines.
Misfits is about a group of teens who are as close as family. They share the bonds of dysfunctional families and teenaged, misunderstood angst. After a brutal attack leaves one of them broken and bleeding, their search for revenge leads them to the fringes of their community. They encounter and incur the wrath of the Melon Heads - monstrous humanoid creatures thought to be an urban legend, a campfire tale. Now this group of misfits will need to fight for their very survival.
I loved this book. It is an awesomely good, bloody piece of storytelling. I found it to be full of nostalgia. I was able to relate with most of the characters - I found pieces of my teenage self in pretty much all of them. Hunter Shea once again wrote about people who made me care.
The ending threw me for a loop, and I love it when I can say that the ending was unexpected. I highly recommend this book! Definitely look for it when it comes out in September!
Thank you to NetGalley and FlameTree Press for the ARC of Misfits!

I am a huge Hunter Shea fan and will always read his books when they come out. I love his writing style and his true understanding of the horror genre. This book is no exception, just as great if not one of his best yet! I thought this one was very believable, and very frightening!

Rule of life #435:

Maybe, just maybe, don’t upset the mutant creatures that live in the woods.

Just don’t.

Now, our group of friends don’t *intend* to anger the mutants. They’re just looking for a little well-deserved vengeance. But does anything ever go right when you venture into that spot in the woods where legends just may be real?

Misfits is a whole lot of fun. However, there’s a ton of heartbreak mixed in with the fun. Much of what happens is spurred on by an act of brutality and the author doesn’t shy away from the horror of that moment.

Stepping away from that moment, it’s obvious that Shea had fun writing this – and you find yourself enjoying the ride. It’s fast, furious, and violent – and I loved what he did with the end of it all.

A highly entertaining read and not to be missed!

*ARC via Net Galley

First and foremost, I didn't expect to like this book as much as I did. I mean, I've enjoyed the authors novels in the past, but I never LOVED them enough to want to experience them all over again. Until this one... Misfits is an excellent horror novel and I was gripped by it from beginning to end.

I had high hopes for Misfits and the story certainly delivered. A group of five high school friends are driven to taking revenge when one of their friends is brutally raped.
There is a local legend of the Melonheads, a group of creatures once thought to have been released from a mental asylum, now turned feral, living in the local woods. They decide to capture the rapist and take him out there, just to scare him,but the Melonheads are real and want revenge of their own when one of them is injured.
I know the Melonheads are based on some real folklore in the US, but for me, personally, I simply couldn’t take the threat seriously when the creatures had such a silly name. I know H Shea obviously wanted to stick to local legend and kept their name,but I could only imagine people with heads that actually looked like watermelons and that wasn’t scary at all.
And that was the only thing that detracted for me from this story - my own PERSONAL reaction to a name. Apart from that, the story was very good, fast paced and intriguing.

I’ve been a fan of Hunter Shea for a few years and was originally attracted to his dumb, fast-paced creature features, which were often very humorous and violent horror novels which were great forms of escapism for a few hours. However, his recent output has upped the ante, blending a similar type of horror, but with stronger stories and more importantly characters which are more fully drawn and much more than the brief sketches from some of his earlier book. Shea’s previous novel Slash, a clever play on the final girl myth (with monsters) was a fine example, with an outstanding heroine. Misfits takes this to another level, bouncing a third person narrative around five friends in their final year of school in a no-name small town, Milbury, they would all love to leave.

This novel has an outstanding opening chapter which takes up back to Christmas Day 1977 and Chris has just got a new bike and is taken out by his much older teenage brother to try it out. They head to the infamous ‘Dracula Drive’ an area of town which is boarded up and encroaches on the forest. Chris does not want to cycle there but is dared by his brother who has his own, yet unknown, agenda. Once they are close to the woods Dylan slashes his little brother’s bike tire and leaves him. But why? And for what? What follows is a bolt from the blue, but there will be no spoilers from me.

Misfits then jumps to 1993 where most of the novel is set, and it throbs to a convincing grunge soundtrack which I know very well. Music throbs throughout the story and Shea makes a fine job of taking us back to 1993, where Nirvana dominated the airwaves, backed up by the likes of Soundgarden and Alice in Chains. And the days of underage drinking. Every small town has a dive which serves kids without ID! The town I grew up in had many, but hey, that’s Scotland and few drink like we do.

After a while you’ll realise where 1977 connects with 1993, meantime we’re introduced to the five best friends of Mick, Marnie, Chuck, Heidi and Vent. For the most part they are very different characters and could very well be the ‘misfits’ of the title and have one major thing in common: the love of smoking dope! They are serious stoners and spent a lot of time together, chilling, going out and listening to music.

Mick has the toughest story and has been abandoned by his mother and stepfather, living in a caravan in the forest which has no running water. He shoots squirrels with a bb-gun for food, sells dope, and is helped particularly by Vent who comes from a steady family and excels at school. The dynamics between the five characters is highly convincing, floating between the different voices, their rushes, problems and dreams. Where is the horror you might ask?

Every small town has its own myths and legends, many are very localised and in Milbury it goes along the lines of “If you don’t watch out the Melon Heads will get you”. Lots of towns will have their own variations of an old wives’ tale of creatures in the forest, Big Foot or some long lost ghost of a dead hitchhiker. After a horrific incident where one of the five is raped they decide to take revenge on the assailant by driving them out to the woods. Big mistake. Things do not go as they planned.

At that point Hunter Shea really begins to move through the gears and although it sounds corny ‘nobody does it better’ blending bone-crunching action sequences with vicious body horror. This is even more hurtful as you really care about the five teenagers who end up fighting for their lives. In between the chase and fight sequences the author still finds time to develop the characters, their personal interactions and the other casualties as the body count begins to mount up.

If I was to spell out what happens I would forgive you for saying it sounds dumb, however, this author is an absolute master of turning very far out plots into slick pieces of fiction. Yup, it is stupid, it is not believable, but at the same time you care about the characters and it is very easy to be swept along with the action. At 288 pages Misfits comes in at a perfect length, and although the action sequences are numerous, they never become repetitive, this is probably because all the characters are fighting for their lives and deep out of their comfort zone.

Misfits was a very enjoyable piece of horror trash from one of the most reliable authors in the genre. Keep them coming Hunter!

Thanks to Netgalley and Flame Tree Press for the ARC! 3.5 stars.

Good, dark, and creepy story. Hunter Shea delivers a solid horror read!

4 and 1 / 2 stars

On Christmas morning, seven-year old Chris is impatient to ride his new bike. Badgering his cranky parents does him no good until his teenage brother Dylan says he'll take him out.

Several years later, Marnie is assaulted by her former boyfriend's father. He is very drunk. Marnie is badly hurt and her friends Heidi and Chuck attempt to help her. She won't let them call the police or take her to a hospital. When she turns to another friend Mick. He is determined to set the record straight in a rather unconventional manner. Vent is the fifth member of the friends.

The five friends thus set out on an unbelievable (no one believes their tale when they try to tell it), adventure. They are on their own. They set out to protect their families, friends and t he little town in which they live. Their plan goes awry almost at once. The violence begins. Many deaths occur. Sadly, some of our heroes do not survive.

A huge surprise brings the book to a close.

This is a very well written and plotted book, as are all of Hunter Shea's novels. It is filled with one action scene after another. It reads very fast and it so entertaining and entrancing that the pages just fly by. I stayed up way to late to read on. I liked the gang of five kids. They were brave in spite of their fears, they were honest with one another and most of all, loyal to their group. Very well done, MR. Shea. Keep 'em coming!

I want to thank NetGalley and Flame Tree Press for forwarding to me a copy of this most delicious book for me to read, enjoy and review.

**This book is not yet available to review on Amazon or BookBub.

I have been enjoying a lot of the books sent released by Flame Tree Press and had high hopes for this one - and those hopes were achieved! This is a novel I found hard to put down, so hard in fact I read it within 24-hours of being provided an ARC. A quick pace, some gruesome scenes and an fantastically weird ending make for a great novel. I have never read anything by Hunter Shea before but I will certainly be checking his other novels out. Recommended for fans of backwoods horror with a great throwback to the 90's as well - enjoyed the music references dotted throughout!

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC of this book. I loved this so much. The legend of the melon heads was one I had never heard of, being from the south. We have a lot of legends here as well and this was indeed an interesting one. Always love this authors books. Keep up the great work.