Monsterland


Fiction - Horror
232 Pages
Reviewed on 10/31/2017
Buy on Amazon

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Author Biography

Michael Okon is an award-winning and best-selling author of multiple genres including paranormal, thriller, horror, action/adventure and self-help. He graduated from Long Island University with a degree in English, and then later received his MBA in business and finance. Coming from a family of writers, he has storytelling in his DNA. Michael has been writing from as far back as he can remember, his inspiration being his love for films and their impact on his life. From the time he saw The Goonies, he was hooked on the idea of entertaining people through unforgettable characters.

Michael is a lifelong movie buff, a music playlist aficionado, and a sucker for self-help books. He lives on the North Shore of Long Island with his wife and children.

Email:
michaelokonbooks@gmail.com

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    Book Review

Reviewed by K.J. Simmill for Readers' Favorite

In Monsterland by Michael Okon, Vincent Konrad swept into the fading town of Copper Valley like a knight in shining armour. He bought the rights to the pipeline, ensuring people could have water, built a new medical centre, and breathed life and renovation into a dying town. There was, of course, a catch. He had selected this area for his new theme park, and the government had no objections to the rather unusual idea. Vincent proposed the display of victims of a plague to bring in the tourists. But this was not your normal plague, and no decision had been reached as to whether these 'people' should have rights. Following a devastating event, things Vincent referred to as 'zombies' began to appear, but that is not all Monsterland has to offer; oh no, vampires and werewolves are also offered sanctuary, a place to be safe and thrive. Monsterland is about to execute simultaneous openings all over the world, where monsters and humans come face to face in real life for the first time. What could possibly go wrong? It is time to settle the debate once and for all - who is the better monster ... vampire, werewolf, zombie, or human?

Monsterland by Michael Okon is a gripping urban, supernatural read. This book has a charm often lost in supernatural stories. Michael Okon sets a brilliant scene where you can hear and see the world coming to life before your eyes. You don't read this book, you live it. It is filled with atmosphere, horror, heart warming character interactions, and an excellent level of tension building and attention to detail. The book dynamics, down to the strife in Wyatt's home, are perfect. Monsterland makes for a fun yet harrowing horror read, with injections of comedy, and masterful execution.

Lit Amri

“Monsterland is dedicated to the nightmares that have created this world. They have kept us frozen in fear and unable to move forward as a society. Only when we are no longer afraid, do we truly begin to live.” Monsterland by Michael Okon is a YA supernatural horror where the creatures of the night can be visited in a zoo-like environment, thanks to one man. Dr. Vincent Konrad built theme parks that enclose zombies, werewolves, and vampires from the rest of the world. Teenager Wyatt Baldwin admires Konrad and his grand plan to reshape the dwindling economy and cure the virus pandemic that occurred two years ago. A chance meeting with his idol lands him and his friends invitations to attend the grand opening of Monsterland.

The Monsterland concept instantly reminded me of Jurassic Park. Safety is highly guaranteed with the help of advanced security systems-until something goes wrong anyway. The strength of Okon’s story lies in the way he gives the classic supernatural and horror theme a fresh spin and captures the essence of monsters that readers like to romanticize. The plot is fast paced and has some solid twists. In terms of characterization, Okon gives readers a number of protagonists that are worth cheering on. Personally, I rooted for the werewolves from the get go. I found the ending justifies the entire story. All in all, this is an enjoyable read that has a good balance of dark and lighthearted elements, and is well-written for its intended readers.





Melinda Hills

Monsters are really cool, until they’re not! In Monsterland by Michael Okon, Wyatt Baldwin, his brother Sean and some friends have a running argument about which monster is the best. Since a virus turned a large portion of the world’s population into zombies, werewolves were discovered in the Everglades, and vampires have been allowed to live among the general population, opinions have changed. Excited by the opening of the Monsterland theme park in their home town and in other sites around the world, thanks to the generosity and science of Dr. Vincent Konrad, the group will finally get their chance to see the monsters up close and learn more about them. Opening day brings out Dr. Vincent Konrad, all the dignitaries and news trucks, as well as Carter White, the boys’ stepdad, who is a town police officer. Once inside the park, though, things are not what the group expects and the real analysis of which monsters are the best suited to survive takes on a new meaning. The big question is, are the monsters the real villains in the ensuing madness?

Michael Okon has created an amazing story filled with teenage curiosity, adult greed, and the very personal need to fight for survival. Fast paced and full of action, some of which may not be suited for younger readers, the story lets you experience a wide range of real emotions from the points of view of all the characters, dead, undead and those hoping to be neither. The choices faced by the group can really make you think about where you stand in life, not in abstract but in very real terms because many of the struggles these characters face represent everyday decisions. This book is certainly worth reading. Well written and gripping! Amazing depth to say 'kids' are the protagonists. A lot of current events hidden in the text!

Divine Zape

Monsterland by Michael Okon is the kind of book for fans who are itching to be plunged into a world of horror. It catapults the reader into a world with its own rules — and they aren't rules for mere humans. In his senior year, life doesn't look so promising for young Wyatt Baldwin. He is still suffering from the effects of his parents' divorce and the mysterious death of his father, which have left him with a stepfather who is far from anything any boy his age would want. His social life in school isn't interesting. But all this is about to change as he and his friends seize the chance to experience something exciting. They are attending the grand opening of Monsterland, a unique theme park that allows guests to interact with werewolves, vampires, and zombies. Instead of becoming a fun ride, this turns out to be a deadly game and it seems no one can come out of Monsterland alive.

Michael Okon is a great entertainer with a bubbling imagination. His novel is well-plotted and the characters feel so real, even the monsters reflect something of our humanity. The setting creates the perfect atmosphere for a horror novel. Readers will love the well-developed characters, the intensity of the action and the powerful conflict. The plot is well-constructed to arouse the reader's curiosity. We enter into a world of teenagers, real characters with frustrations and dreams that young people are familiar with. The shift comes quickly and the reader will enjoy following a game of survival. I enjoyed the beautiful prose, the great characters, and the exciting plot. It's hard to read this novel without getting emotionally involved.

Arya Fomonyuy

Unfortunate things have happened to young Wyatt Baldwin, whose senior year seems to be characterized by heartbreaking situations — the divorce of his parents and the mysterious death of his father. Carter White doesn’t fill the void competently as a stepfather. But things are going to get even worse, grimmer and scarier pretty fast for the teenage boy. The girl he loves seems to fancy someone else, and his friends know about it. Invited to the grand opening of Monsterland, Wyatt sees an opportunity for a fun escape and, with his friends, they set out for the innovative theme park where vampires, werewolves, and zombies come to life. Only they don’t know that everything is about to go wrong with the scariest creatures as the center of attraction. Monsterland by Michael Okon is electrifying and entertaining, the kind of novel no one wants to read just before heading to bed.

Horror fiction at its core, thoroughly engaging and heart pounding, Michael Okon's Monsterland thrusts readers into the very midst of chaos, with characters that are as real and emotional as one can imagine. The writing is first rate, and the narrative voice is unique and compelling. The plot is well-imagined and the construction leaves nothing to chance. The result is a scary world that gives readers goose bumps, plunging them into a very creepy realm where monsters are rulers. Monsterland is an emotional rollercoaster, the perfect entertainment for fans of horror. This novel weaves together the different elements of a riveting story — great characters, vivid and exciting settings, a strong storyline — and delivers a punch that will have readers reeling for a long time.