NIGHT OF THE UPIOR

by Joe Augustyn

Narrated by: Jesse Lorn

Production by: Perun Press

A Chilling Return to Classic Creature Horror

What begins as a miserable family camping trip quickly descends into unimaginable horror when Marti Miller and her family become trapped in a night-long fight for survival against a savage species of vampire born from an ancient Slavic curse. As a deadly fog rolls across the isolated campground, every infectious bite creates even more bloodthirsty creatures, turning the night into a relentless nightmare.

Drawing from ancient folklore, Night of the Upior delivers a brutal old-school horror experience featuring monstrous vampires far removed from romanticized legends. As terror spreads and the body count rises, Marti must do everything possible to protect her family and survive until sunrise—if sunrise comes at all.

The author, Joe Augustyn, delivers a gripping horror novel that captures the feel of classic vintage creature horror while still feeling fresh and engaging for modern audiences. The writing embraces the atmosphere and intensity that made old-school horror so effective, steadily building dread while unleashing brutal moments of terror throughout the story. The pacing remains tense and fast-moving, rarely allowing readers a chance to relax before the next horrifying encounter unfolds.

The dialogue feels authentic to both the situations and personalities involved, allowing the characters to react believably under extreme fear and pressure. Character development is particularly strong, with each individual possessing depth, emotional flaws, and realistic reactions that make their struggles feel personal rather than superficial. The relationships and family dynamics also feel genuine, adding emotional weight to the horror as the characters fight not only for survival, but for the people they care about most. Combined with the frightening creature design, strong atmosphere, and relentless suspense, the novel delivers a highly satisfying dose of good old-fashioned horror that maintains its intensity from beginning to end.

The narrator, Jesse Lorn, delivers an exceptionally engaging performance that greatly enhances the eerie atmosphere woven throughout the story. Her delivery captures both the creeping dread and explosive horror that define classic creature fiction, drawing listeners deeper into the suspense with every chapter. Lorn speaks clearly and maintains a strong, steady pace that allows the tension to build naturally while keeping the story highly engaging.

The character voices are subtly varied in ways that make conversations easy to follow and help listeners keep the characters distinct without sounding exaggerated or distracting. Her tonal shifts and emotional delivery effectively reflect the fear, exhaustion, and desperation experienced by the characters as the nightmare unfolds around them. Paired with the author’s gripping storytelling, Jesse Lorn’s narration creates an audiobook experience that becomes incredibly difficult to pause, even when sleep is probably the smarter choice.

Combining relentless suspense, emotionally grounded characters, terrifying creature horror, and immersive narration, Night of the Upior delivers a chilling and intensely entertaining audiobook experience that horror fans will find difficult to stop listening to.

There were no issues with the quality or production of this audiobook.

Disclaimer: This Audiobook was provided free of charge by the author, narrator, and/or publisher in exchange for a non-biased, honest review.