Urbex Predator Blog Tour: Guest Post + Giveaway

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the URBEX PREDATOR by Jens Boele Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 

URBEX PREDATOR: Take nothin but pictures, leave nothing but bodies. A Deadly Survival Story.
Author: Jens Boele
Release Date: February 4, 2024
Publisher: Jens Boele
Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook
Pages: 394

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon

Read for FREE with a Kindle Unlimited membership! 

Abandoned Horrors. Deranged Souls. A Deadly Survival Story.

In the chilling new horror novel, "Urbex Predator," by Jens Boele, a group of intrepid urban explorers embarks on what they believe to be a routine trip to an abandoned barracks in the middle of nowhere.
As a relict from the Cold War era, they are a popular destination for photographers, influencers, and adventurers. A place that is closely guarded and harbors a multitude of risks. But it’s not just the derelict buildings that pose a danger.

Nela and her friend Tess venture to the eerie ruins to complete their photography thesis, only to find themselves relentlessly pursued through the darkened corridors by a group of ruthless thugs.

Zander, Yelka, her sister Vivien, and her manager Damon set out on a photo shoot, only to be unexpectedly cornered by a gang of depraved youths. As night descends, the boundaries between life and death blur, and the group is forced to confront the darkest corners of their own souls.

As the night deepens, will they fall victim or rise as hunters in the shadows?

Inspired by early works from literary giants like Jack Ketchum and Richard Laymon, "Urbex Predator" promises readers a heart-pounding journey through the realms of fear and survival, where every turn reveals a new nightmare. Yet, this spine-tingling narrative is not just the product of imagination; it's also a reflection of author Jens Boele's real-life experiences as an Urban Explorer, who spent many years venturing into the very places he describes in his book.

Book Trailer:

Top 5 Favorite Scenes and Why

Talking about my top 5 scenes from "Urbex Predator" is like walking through a minefield of spoilers, so proceed at your own risk.

First things first – I ended up falling for a bunch of my book's characters, even the ones wearing the villain hat. Now, this leads us to a crucial point: most characters have their share of flaws. Damon Duke, a commercial bigwig, embodies the toxic manager – ego-driven, selfish, and arrogant. Trust me, real-life Damons are no picnic to deal with. So, my 5th favorite scene is when Damon crosses paths with Henry. After convincing Tess to ditch her friend Nela for a shot at a social media career, Damon tries to outsmart the stranger, only to fail miserably. Watching him get put in his place (even if just for a moment) felt like a sweet dose of justice. 

Now, my 4th favorite scene – Yelka's whiff of death moment. Abandoning her sister and losing all hope, Yelka is hands down my favorite character in the book. While writing this chapter, I could feel her desperation and hopelessness. Her ordeal in the sewer, drowning and rising back to life, is one of those scenes that tugs at the heartstrings. I've got to fight back tears every time, no joke. 

Let's talk about Ben Marshall, the old security guy – probably the only male character in the book with a pure heart. Willing to sacrifice himself to save Nela from the gang, Ben showed some serious bravado when facing off with Henry, even though he knew he wouldn't survive the gang's reaction. If I picture Ben as a real person, he could be a role model for me – an old guy who wouldn't sell out, wouldn't leave his friends behind, and wouldn't compromise his principles for anyone. 

And that leads us to my second favorite scene. Initially, "Urbex Predator" was supposed to be an unjust plot where everyone bites the dust in the end, except the bad guys. But during the writing journey, I just couldn't go through with it. It felt like betraying the reader and the characters. It might sound a bit odd, but sometimes as a writer, you form a bond with the characters and start rooting for them (I hope I'm not the only one who feels this). It happens with every book I write. So, one of my favorite scenes is Ben Marshall still kicking. Letting him die in the end just didn't sit right. 

Now, urbexing – it's all about exploring abandoned buildings. Over time, most of these places fall victim to vandalism and slowly wither away if not protected properly. Within the story, you not only see a lot of these places but also encounter abandoned souls – quite literally. Most gang members grew up in foster care, their inner selves vandalized, and they've been abusing each other for ages. That's why the abandoned barracks feel like home to them. 

Zander Regan is another abandoned soul. Watching his character's decline as he gets infected by the gang's toxic ways is fascinating. His character's ambiguity – is he a schizophrenic killer or does he have supernatural powers? – adds an intriguing layer. 

Can't say I fell in love with Zander, but he's definitely one of my favorite characters because he's so out of place. Unfortunately, I can't pinpoint a specific scene, but maybe the one where the transformed Zander meets Damon for the final time and spirals into total madness. Let me know how you feel about his story and if you'd want more about Zander.

Jens Boele, a veteran media designer in the entertainment industry, brings over two decades of cinematic expertise to his writing. Born in Germany in 1975, Jens embarked on his writing odyssey in his youth, culminating in the publication of his debut book, "Sunshine," in 2015. This was followed by "Hurensohn," and his latest spine-tingling creation, "Urbex Predator."

Jens is a genre-bending author, specializing in horror and crime thrillers. His narratives often blur genre lines, weaving intricate tales that plunge readers into the darkest corners of the human psyche. Jens's storytelling brilliance lies in his fascination with the criminal mind; his villains are always profoundly human, offering readers a chilling examination of the psychological aspects of the criminally insane.

Jens sets himself apart by seamlessly integrating classic horror with the gritty authenticity of the present day. This innovative fusion imbues his narratives with a dynamic quality, seamlessly blending archaic thrills with contemporary intrigue, resulting in an immersive reading experience that resonates with both vintage enthusiasts and present-day readers alike.

Jens Boele's latest endeavor takes his work across borders, as "Urbex Predator" becomes his first book to be translated into English. A globetrotter with deep connections to the United States, Jens's passion for exploration and his international perspective, nurtured by family and friends in the US, shine through in his writing, offering readers a captivating blend of horror and cultural diversity.

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(2) winners will receive an URBEX PREDATOR T-shirt - International.

Ends March 8th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:
Week One:

2/5/2024	@darkfantasyreviews	IG Post
2/6/2024	Kountry Girl Bookaholic	Guest Post/IG Post
2/7/2024	jlreadstoperpetuity	IG Post/TikTok Post
2/8/2024	@bookish_aly_cat	IG Post
2/9/2024	A Dream Within A Dream	Guest Post/IG Post

Week Two:

2/12/2024	Writer of Wrongs	Guest Post
2/13/2024	Two Chicks on Books	Guest Post/IG Post
2/14/2024	Lady Hawkeye	Guest Post/IG Post
2/15/2024	GryffindorBookishnerd	IG Review
2/16/2024	Rajiv's Reviews	Review/IG Post
2/17/2024	Review Thick And Thin	Review/Guest Post/IG Post

Week Three:

2/18/2024	@books.mo.reads	IG Review
2/19/2024	#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog	Review/IG Post
2/20/2024	Books and Zebras	IG Review
2/21/2024	Confessions of the Perfect Mom	Review/Guest Post/IG Post
2/22/2024	Country Mamas With Kids	Review/IG Post
2/23/2024	@enthuse_reader	IG Review/TikTok Post

Week Four:

2/26/2024	@evergirl200	IG Review
2/27/2024	@dana.loves.books	IG Review/TikTok Post
2/28/2024	PopTheButterfly Reads	Review/IG Post
2/29/2024	The Momma Spot	Review
3/1/2024	One More Exclamation	Review/IG Post

Review: The Woods Are Always Watching by Stephanie Perkins

The Woods Are Always Watching
Author: Stephanie Perkins
Genre: YA Contemporary Fiction/Suspense/Survival
Release Date: August 31, 2021
Publisher: Dutton Books for Young Readers

Description:

New from bestselling author Stephanie Perkins, and the perfect companion to her New York Times bestseller There's Someone Inside Your House, soon to be a Netflix feature.

Bears aren't the only predators in these woods.

Best friends Neena and Josie spent high school as outsiders, but at least they had each other. Now, with college and a two-thousand-mile separation looming on the horizon, they have one last chance to be together—a three-day hike deep into the woods of the Pisgah National Forest.

Simmering tensions lead to a detour off the trail and straight into a waking nightmare … and then into something far worse. Something that will test them in horrifying ways.

Stephanie Perkins, the bestselling author of There's Someone Inside Your House, returns with a heart-stopping, gut-wrenching novel about friendship, survival, and navigating unmarked paths even as evil watches from the shadows.

'The Woods Are Always Watching' is a new standalone survival thriller from bestselling author Stephanie Perkins. The story follows two best friends, Neena and Josie, as they embark on a three-day camping trip in the mountains surrounding their hometown. The girls soon realize that they aren't just trying to survive their natural surroundings but something much worse is also watching them from among the trees. The girls' friendship and very lives are threatened as things become more frantic and dangerous in the forest.

This is the first book by this author that I've read. I'm a huge fan of young adult thrillers so this novel jumped out at me immediately. It ended up not being what I had expected or hoped for, which was a disappointment. The main characters, Neena and Josie, are realistic enough and I enjoyed getting to know each of them throughout the story. They were a bit lacking in some aspects and I felt like a lot of stereotypes got thrown in - not just with the girls but with the story overall. Neena and Josie's friendship is interesting and I was empathetic to their situation - with them being separated across the country because of the colleges they were attending. The cultural references mentioned felt a bit forced and overdone to me and it actually ended up bothering me more than I thought it would.

Another aspect of the book that I personally didn't care for was the writing style. The story is told from the third person and divided into three sections - when the girls are together, when they are separated, and when they are reunited. In the second section, where they are separated, each chapter is told from the specific perspective of one of the girls. I don't like the third-person POV because I don't think it allows a deeply personal connection between the reader and the narrator. That definitely holds true for this book. If it had been told from either of the girls' perspectives or even alternating points of view, I would have liked it so much more. This is only my personal opinion and other readers aren't going to agree with me.

The overarching themes of friendship, survival, and hope were woven into the story seamlessly and fit perfectly with the story and characters. Although this book didn't turn out to be what I had hoped or wanted, I know that other readers will definitely enjoy it. I'd recommend it to fans of YA, contemporary fiction, survival stories, action/adventure, and fans of the author's other books.

 

Bad Call Blog Tour: Review

Bad Call
Author: Stephen Wallenfels
Genre: YA Mystery/Survival
Release Date: December 19, 2017
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Description:

It was supposed to be epic.

During a late-night poker game, tennis teammates Colin, Ceo, Grahame, and Rhody make a pact to go on a camping trip in Yosemite National Park. And poker vows can’t be broken.

So the first sign that they should ditch the plan is when Rhody backs out. The next is when Ceo replaces him with Ellie, a girl Grahame and Colin have never even heard of. And then there’s the forest fire at their intended campsite.
But instead of bailing, they decide to take the treacherous Snow Creek Falls Trail to the top of Yosemite Valley. From there, the bad decisions really pile up.

A freak storm is threatening snow, their Craigslist tent is a piece of junk, and Grahame is pretty sure there’s a bear on the prowl. On top of that, the guys have some serious baggage (and that’s not including the ridiculously heavy ax that Grahame insisted on packing) and Ellie can’t figure out what their deal is.

And then one of them doesn’t make it back to the tent.
Desperate to survive while piecing together what happened, the remaining hikers must decide who to trust in this riveting, witty, and truly unforgettable psychological thriller that reveals how one small mistake can have chilling consequences.  

 

Bad Call is a young adult survival/adventure story that fans of the genre will surely enjoy. I was under the impression that it was going to be more mystery/thriller as well, but that part fell flat, which left the book lacking for me. Don't get me wrong - the story is well done with complex characters, an interesting plot with lots of action and deadly survival scenarios. I just personally wish there would have been more thriller included. It would've made a big difference in my experience. On top of the great descriptions and vivid imagery, the author wrote the book in my favorite style - first person with the bonus of multiple characters' points of view. I love when stories are written this way because it allows the reader a deeper connection with the characters and you can usually invest more into the story. I think the author picked the perfect writing style for the novel and it made a huge plus for me personally. Although this one wasn't quite what I was hoping for or expecting, it was still a good book with lots of great aspects. I recommend it to fans of YA contemporary, action, adventure, and survival stories.

I wrote freelance in the health and fitness industry for twelve years before re-committing myself to my first love - writing fiction. After publishing several short stores for kids, I wrote and published my first novel, POD (namelos.com | Penguin/Ace), a YA scifi survival story set in Prosser, Washington and Los Angeles, California.
 
My second novel, BAD CALL (2017 with Disney/Hyperion) is a YA survival thriller set in one of my favorite stomping grounds, Yosemite National Park.
 
My third novel, TANUM CREEK BRIDGE (2018 - Disney/Hyperion) is another YA survival thriller set in the Pacific Northwest.
 
I grew up in the northeast and enjoyed backpacking and later, during my college years in California and Montana, rock climbing and wilderness survival.
 
My favorite books to read (and write) are centered around real characters dealing with extraordinary circumstances and how they rise to meet those challenges.
 
My passions are my family, reading, writing, cooking, racquet sports, and the environment--particularly climate change. The basic rule in wilderness survival is shelter first. (Author bio and photo taken from Goodreads.)

Links:
http://stephenwallenfels.com/  

*A huge thanks to the wonderful people at Disney-Hyperion for sending me a copy of the book for review!*