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angus_mckeogh's review
1.0
What did I just read? Was this supposed to be YA? Because it definitely reads like it, but I think it’s supposed to be adult horror fiction. Was the sage main character a 60-year-old former police officer? No, he was a 15-year-old high school kid. Hmmm…he reads as if he’s 60. The dialogue doesn’t sound like any teenagers I’ve ever encountered and the thought processes of the kid seem like an accumulation of his wizened age. Nope. Most of the adults are morons and are intellectually inferior to the kids. Okay. Then the horror just sort of leaps into the story spontaneously about a quarter of the way through without any sort of reasonable purpose (and we’re talking about a horror novel here) and then only achieves a “gross out” level. Decapitations. Kids getting shot. Mangled wounds. Most of the violence is senseless and not really advancing the story at all (understood…it’s just a horror novel). But not very scary and the characters read as false and unrealistic. Not my favorite. Perhaps there’s better Janz out there?
lolamuy's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.75
This novel reads like a TV show, which I really enjoyed. The writing was fun and there was a good amount of gore and deaths for YA.
The first 200 pages were awesome, I couldn't put it down. The last 200 pages were a bit less exciting. Slightly repetitive and predictable.
You get attached to some characters and you hate some others.
Thecreatures were my favourite part. The parts about them were the best in the book. The parts about the Moonlight killer, I liked a bit less.
Overall I recommend this read, it was fun and exciting.
The first 200 pages were awesome, I couldn't put it down. The last 200 pages were a bit less exciting. Slightly repetitive and predictable.
You get attached to some characters and you hate some others.
The
Overall I recommend this read, it was fun and exciting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Addiction, Bullying, and Gore
Moderate: Gaslighting
Minor: Vomit
larry_yonce's review against another edition
3.0
Will Burgess...takes a licking and keeps on ticking
Slightly disappointing horror novel which stretches itself a bit too thin. The first half of the novel developed as a very good, scary, coming-of-age story. But the second half mostly dropped that thread and focused on what lurks in Savage Hollow, and I started to lose interest at that point. For this reader, the scariest and best written scenes were those involving Carl Padgett...The Moonlight Killer.
Some plot holes exist. Witness testimony should have led to a different ending for one character in particular. And the final paragraph or two could lead right into a sequel.
Overall I liked it and would read more from Jonathan Janz.
Slightly disappointing horror novel which stretches itself a bit too thin. The first half of the novel developed as a very good, scary, coming-of-age story. But the second half mostly dropped that thread and focused on what lurks in Savage Hollow, and I started to lose interest at that point. For this reader, the scariest and best written scenes were those involving Carl Padgett...The Moonlight Killer.
Some plot holes exist. Witness testimony should have led to a different ending for one character in particular. And the final paragraph or two could lead right into a sequel.
Overall I liked it and would read more from Jonathan Janz.
deannafemchonk's review
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Pedophilia
ventellina's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Bullying, Cannibalism, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Violence, and Murder
vinomanscott930's review
5.0
I can't wait for sequels. One of the best horror novels I've ever read. From beginning to end it was a non-stop scarefest. Jonathan Janz knows how to keep you on the edge of your seat!
sharron_joy_reads's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Opening line: “The week I saw seventeen people die didn’t begin with carnage, monsters, or a sadistic serial killer. It all began with a baseball game.”
Will, Chris and Barley have been friends forever, growing up in their small town with the usual crushes, bullies and the local legend of creatures in the woods. A notorious cannibal killer has escaped and is thought to be heading to their town and a terrible storm is on the way. Can Will, his friends, his family and the people of Shadeland.
My first book by this author and wow! This was relentless action, grotesque mutant monsters with a lust for human flesh, an escaped serial killer, family secrets long buried, small town prejudice and paranoia. Published before Stranger Things this has that feel, it is a twisted torturous story, the revelations as the story unfolds are shocking. It is also nostalgic reminding us of those halcyon days of youth running free with our friends.
This is an incredibly layered read that is not only a creature feature but a ripped open window into the evil of humanity. This reminds me of the stories of Richard Laymon, just as you think the adrenaline punch is over, bam another hit. This is incredible and I have now purchased every book he has, that’s how good this is, auto buy from now on.