Feeders
A Novel
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3.0 • 2 Ratings
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- $14.99
Publisher Description
From “one of the best new voices in horror fiction” (Brian Keene, Bram Stoker Award–winning author), this darkly satirical supernatural thriller follows a would-be influencer whose dreams of online fame spiral into nightmare territory when she encounters a mysterious and dangerous social media platform—perfect for fans of Grady Hendrix and Joe Hill.
When a video depicting the brutal murder of a former classmate leaks online, Kylie Bennington’s—whose dreams of becoming a successful influencer remain frustratingly elusive—curiosity gets the better of her, leading to the discovery of an off-the-grid social media app called MonoLife. As it turns out, there are certain cryptic rules in the user agreement that must be adhered to, such as interacting with other users at least twice daily or risk losing it all…and never, ever speaking of MonoLife’s existence to non-users or risk dire consequences.
For this is a platform that primarily rewards the worst in human behavior, and which begins chipping away at Kylie’s sanity across post after post for an ever-increasing audience of immoral fans. Now Kylie’s going to find out just how far she’s willing to go on her unyielding rise to the top—even if that means coming face-to-face with the frightening and ruthless forces behind MonoLife, who see all from deep within the shadows…
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Serafini (Graffiti Tombs) attempts to skewer social media in this underbaked satirical horror novel. Kylie Bennington, 19, has always felt like second best. She's neglected by her parents and, more importantly, struggling to gain Instagram followers compared to her best friend, Erin, who's already a successful influencer. When a video of the bloody murder of a local woman leaks online, Kylie's interest piques, and her investigation leads her to dark web social media platform MonoLife. MonoLife is no simple app; the feed is a mix of typically banal content and gruesome acts of violence, with users required to log in twice a day and never speak of the app to nonusers. Finally, Kylie has found her online niche. She launches a successful account on the app, committing more and more grotesqueries and watching her follower count rise in response. But as her IRL relationships deteriorate and her body undergoes bizarre changes, Kylie begins to realize the price of fame. The gore is copious and creative, but the cultural commentary falls flat. Serafini's Gen-Z characters stud their speech with outdated references and don't have enough depth to bring anything new to his familiar critiques of internet culture. Readers in it just for the macabre delights of Kylie's slashing spree may be satisfied, but those hoping for something deeper should look elsewhere.
