What Lurks in the Shadows


Fiction - Dystopia
390 Pages
Reviewed on 02/12/2022
Buy on Amazon

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.

Author Biography

S.C. Shannon has worked in law enforcement for over a decade. She grew up in Southern California in a close knit family. She graduated with a bachelor's in criminal justice and went on to obtain her master's in forensic psychology. S.C. Shannon remains in California, where she continues to serve her community and write.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Nicholus Schroeder for Readers' Favorite

What Lurks in the Shadows by S. C. Shannon is set in a dystopian version of Earth. “Who am I? And who was I?" are questions that Grace Baker often asks herself as she comes to terms with the new world she now resides in. Grace had an ordinary life before it all began, filled with love and companionship, but such things no longer exist. All that remains now is the fear of one’s impending gruesome death at the hands of another human or invisible monster. Grace, however, hasn’t lost her humanity and continues to work toward rebuilding a world where love and safety can be found once more. To wake up in such a world, though, she will have to overcome the fierce monsters of the night that strike fear in even the bravest of souls. Will Grace triumph against the monsters? Or will they have their fill?

I’ve always loved reading books set in a dystopian world as the plots are always thrilling. What Lurks in the Shadows has a plot that was well worth reading. I enjoyed how the story played out. Another thing I liked about the plot was how enticing it was as after each chapter the book left me wanting more. I have never read a book that made it so difficult to take a break, and it’s just crazy how each chapter kept reeling me in further. S. C. Shannon has my respect and praise for having written such a gripping and phenomenal plot. Aside from the plot, I also loved how well-developed the characters were in this book, and Grace, in particular, was my favorite as her courage was inspiring. The descriptions of the world and scenes were great too as they were informative but not overwhelming. The author wrote a concise book with no filler content. There was also some humorous banter spread out over the chapters that was hilarious and greatly appreciated. All in all, I have nothing but praise for this book and have no problem recommending it to readers that enjoy dystopian books. It ticked all the right boxes for me.

Pikasho Deka

What Lurks in the Shadows by S.C. Shannon is a survival tale set in a post-apocalyptic world full of terrifying monsters. Twenty-year-old Grace Baker's humdrum life in the southern California suburbs turns upside down when the entire world seems to come to a grinding halt, with unexplained power outages. Soon, human civilization enters a futuristic dystopia as the nations across the planet become embroiled in a full-scale nuclear war. As Grace and her family try to survive and acclimatize themselves to the new normal, another far greater threat emerges that splits their family wide apart. With survival skills honed into her psyche by her father, Grace battles thugs and monsters alike to make it to the next day. But as survival becomes increasingly difficult, the emergence of an old friend infuses Grace with renewed hope.

If movies like A Quiet Place are your jam, you'll have a blast reading What Lurks in the Shadows. S.C. Shannon weaves a gripping survival tale filled with tension and intrigue that will have you biting your nails in anticipation of what's going to happen next. The narrative is divided into two timelines. One follows Grace with her family before the dawn of the apocalypse, and the other is set in the present. There is a sense of dread and terror permeating each scene that keeps your eyes glued to the pages. Grace is a likable protagonist you find yourself easily attached to, and her relationship with Nick drives the second half of the narrative. Recommended to fans of post-apocalyptic stories.

Michaela Gordoni

Told from an alternating view of the past and the present, What Lurks in the Shadows is a perilous tale of apocalyptic romance featuring a 20-year-old American young woman, Grace, as the protagonist. It was a laid-back easygoing life for Grace before the terrorist attacks started and the nocturnal man-eating creatures showed up, but her strong ties to her parents and older brother are what keep her going. With her dad’s help and preparation, she becomes capable of much more than she can imagine. Grace struggles to survive but somehow finds hope and even love amidst the madness.

I loved reading What Lurks in the Shadows. I found myself wishing the book had not ended so soon. The apocalyptic fiction genre is dominated by male protagonists, so the fact that the protagonist was a female was very attractive to me and it made the book interesting. It would make a fantastic film! I would be thrilled to see it made into a screenplay. Overall, the work is quite well written, and S.C. Shannon truly did a great job writing it. The chapters switching back and forth from Grace’s past to the present time was a unique and stimulating aspect. There are many action scenes and tense moments that had me on edge, which is good because it means that S.C. Shannon was able to keep me entertained and emotionally connected. I thoroughly enjoyed What Lurks in the Shadows, and I was surprised at the impression it has left on me.