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Freeze
A raging snowstorm has stranded Tess and Warren in their mountain home with no power and little heat. When an accident leaves Tess coughing up pools of blood, Warren has no choice but to brave the storm in search for help.
He's afraid he'll be too late.
But what he should be afraid of are the creatures slinking through the blizzard and watching his every move.
He's afraid he'll be too late.
But what he should be afraid of are the creatures slinking through the blizzard and watching his every move.
141 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2011
About the author
Daniel Pyle
22 books96 followersDaniel Pyle is the author of Advent, Breakdown, Dismember, and many novellas and short stories. He lives in Springfield, Missouri, with his wife and three children. Visit him online at danielpyle.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
January 30, 2012
I gave it four stars:
A great monster romp with very unusual (and quite nasty) creatures. I would love to read a sequel to learn more about these monsters--where they come from and what they are up to. In a time when every other horror novel is about zombies, how often do you get to enjoy a story about a completely different kind of creature?
Atmosphere. I will admit that I really love stories where the characters are isolated and left to their own devices and I could really feel the arctic chill in the air. It was almost a toss up at times which was more deadly: the creatures or the blizzard.
Pacing was great. Read it in one sitting. It was exactly as long as it should be. Pyle kept the story simple, limiting it mainly to 2 characters and kept the story humming along. It never felt rushed yet never slagged in pace. Well done.
Fun. Plenty of humor. Pyle knows exactly how to write this type of story. Monster romps should be fun and this one sure was. Also, he avoided the typical cliches. These characters were not buff, brilliant, young athletic types capable of making devastating weapons out of a few pieces of wire and a couple of garden tools. They are middle aged, not particularly fit, and are about as far from mechanical engineers as you can get. They are baffled and unprepared for their circumstances, but they fight like hell and I cheered for them.
I will be reading the rest of Pyle's books and I bet that they will be just as good.
A great monster romp with very unusual (and quite nasty) creatures. I would love to read a sequel to learn more about these monsters--where they come from and what they are up to. In a time when every other horror novel is about zombies, how often do you get to enjoy a story about a completely different kind of creature?
Atmosphere. I will admit that I really love stories where the characters are isolated and left to their own devices and I could really feel the arctic chill in the air. It was almost a toss up at times which was more deadly: the creatures or the blizzard.
Pacing was great. Read it in one sitting. It was exactly as long as it should be. Pyle kept the story simple, limiting it mainly to 2 characters and kept the story humming along. It never felt rushed yet never slagged in pace. Well done.
Fun. Plenty of humor. Pyle knows exactly how to write this type of story. Monster romps should be fun and this one sure was. Also, he avoided the typical cliches. These characters were not buff, brilliant, young athletic types capable of making devastating weapons out of a few pieces of wire and a couple of garden tools. They are middle aged, not particularly fit, and are about as far from mechanical engineers as you can get. They are baffled and unprepared for their circumstances, but they fight like hell and I cheered for them.
I will be reading the rest of Pyle's books and I bet that they will be just as good.
July 18, 2011
******Full Disclosure**** This was an ARC copy, that was received through the GoodReads Advance program. I am grateful for the chance to have read this novel, which I might not have purchased otherwise.
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I believe this book starts with a lot of potential but it doesn't quite reach it in the end. The plot is extremely simplistic: in the middle of the blizzard, a couple leaving in an isolated house in the Rockies is attacked by "freezing" monsters (although they don't realize it from the beginning). The couple tries to save their lives. The end.
I think this is the main problem: the plot is too simplistic for a 110-page story. I found the first 65% of the book was very exciting - it keep me guessing what would happen next. But after that, only fighting the monsters became insufficient and I simply lost interest in what happened to the characters.
The good: Mr. Pyle's descriptions are outstanding, vivid and that is IMO the best part of his writing style. The details about the weather, the environment are passed to us with so much accuracy that you can imagine yourself in the middle of the blizzard. Also, the "fights" are good and sentient.
However, there are some writing issues:
1) for both characters, the introspection becomes unrealistic once the monsters attack - they are simply too articulate and not aghast enough. For instance Warren just figured out that he faced a "supernatural" creature that would probably kill him and his first thought was "Are you kidding? You’re trying to fight off an ice monster with a goddam snowball?" Maybe it's just me, but I believe the vast majority of folks would think something down these lines: OMG, I don't wanna die...
2) both characters have their introspection told in the second-person voice: "But the little one didn’t seem to have a problem. How do you explain that?" Most people reflect in the first-person voice (What should I do? I don't understand! etc). It is a rare peculiarity for someone to think of himself/herself in the second-person. Hence, after a while, I didn't hear anymore Warren or Tess meditating - I heard only the author speaking for them.
3) there is an overabundant employment of the word "like:" either when it shouldn't be used at all or when "that" should be used instead. For instance: "That seemed like the only option." I understand that everyone uses "like" in oral speech, but this shouldn't leak in writing, except maybe for dialogue.
4) at the beginning of chapter 12, there is a paragraph in which the voice changes from various POVs (which is typical for 99% of the book) to the omniscient narrator. "If you’d been there to see it, you could have watched Warren exit the house and..." I'm sure this can be fixed for the next editions, but as it is now, it stands out and it breaks the narration flow.
To end my review, I think it's a chilling novelette, which perhaps should have been either shorter to accommodate the simple plot, or longer and having a more intricate story.
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I believe this book starts with a lot of potential but it doesn't quite reach it in the end. The plot is extremely simplistic: in the middle of the blizzard, a couple leaving in an isolated house in the Rockies is attacked by "freezing" monsters (although they don't realize it from the beginning). The couple tries to save their lives. The end.
I think this is the main problem: the plot is too simplistic for a 110-page story. I found the first 65% of the book was very exciting - it keep me guessing what would happen next. But after that, only fighting the monsters became insufficient and I simply lost interest in what happened to the characters.
The good: Mr. Pyle's descriptions are outstanding, vivid and that is IMO the best part of his writing style. The details about the weather, the environment are passed to us with so much accuracy that you can imagine yourself in the middle of the blizzard. Also, the "fights" are good and sentient.
However, there are some writing issues:
1) for both characters, the introspection becomes unrealistic once the monsters attack - they are simply too articulate and not aghast enough. For instance Warren just figured out that he faced a "supernatural" creature that would probably kill him and his first thought was "Are you kidding? You’re trying to fight off an ice monster with a goddam snowball?" Maybe it's just me, but I believe the vast majority of folks would think something down these lines: OMG, I don't wanna die...
2) both characters have their introspection told in the second-person voice: "But the little one didn’t seem to have a problem. How do you explain that?" Most people reflect in the first-person voice (What should I do? I don't understand! etc). It is a rare peculiarity for someone to think of himself/herself in the second-person. Hence, after a while, I didn't hear anymore Warren or Tess meditating - I heard only the author speaking for them.
3) there is an overabundant employment of the word "like:" either when it shouldn't be used at all or when "that" should be used instead. For instance: "That seemed like the only option." I understand that everyone uses "like" in oral speech, but this shouldn't leak in writing, except maybe for dialogue.
4) at the beginning of chapter 12, there is a paragraph in which the voice changes from various POVs (which is typical for 99% of the book) to the omniscient narrator. "If you’d been there to see it, you could have watched Warren exit the house and..." I'm sure this can be fixed for the next editions, but as it is now, it stands out and it breaks the narration flow.
To end my review, I think it's a chilling novelette, which perhaps should have been either shorter to accommodate the simple plot, or longer and having a more intricate story.
July 15, 2011
This is a
Reading Good Books
review.
I live in Southern California but I love snow. Last Christmas, I was walking in the middle of a blizzard in New York City. It was horrible but fun at the same time. But after reading this novella, I may have to rethink my opinion about snow.
Tess and Warren are snowed in by a ranging snowstorm, cutting off their electricity and phone lines. There was no safe way of getting down with their truck damaged by the snow and ice. Trekking on foot is suicide. Suddenly, strange things begin to happen. Tess becomes injured in a freak accident and started coughing up blood. And if that isn’t scary enough, there are strange creatures lurking
The author wastes no time. The action starts from the first sentence and does not let up until the very end. The descriptions are so vivid that I felt like I was right there with them. Pyle made sure that you know that it was cold, you know they were in the middle of an extraordinary blizzard, you know how hard it is out there in the middle of it all. The writing was very solid and the characters felt real. I have a soft spot for dogs so I appreciated that there’s a dog in the story. It was fast-paced, it definitely kept me on my toes… and awake so late at night because I wanted to finish it right away!
Come to think of it, the plot was pretty simple… two main characters (three, if you add the dog), trapped in a storm, monsters are after them; how to get out? The glacial… monstrosities. What the hell are they? The author left the field wide open, giving mere hints of what they are and what they look like, leaving so much to the reader’s imagination. Pyle made them sound so terrifying. Where did they come from? What did they want? They scared me, to be honest. I can only imagine what if they were real.
This reminded me a lot of Stephen King’s short stories. The simplicity of the plot, minimal characters, and how subtle yet scary it is, very well done. I do have the author’s other work and I can’t wait to check them out.
Rating: 5/5.
Recommendation: Try reading this on a cold night, snowing, wind howling outside. And you’re home. Alone. Haha, no really… if you want to get spooked, try this.
I live in Southern California but I love snow. Last Christmas, I was walking in the middle of a blizzard in New York City. It was horrible but fun at the same time. But after reading this novella, I may have to rethink my opinion about snow.
Tess and Warren are snowed in by a ranging snowstorm, cutting off their electricity and phone lines. There was no safe way of getting down with their truck damaged by the snow and ice. Trekking on foot is suicide. Suddenly, strange things begin to happen. Tess becomes injured in a freak accident and started coughing up blood. And if that isn’t scary enough, there are strange creatures lurking
The author wastes no time. The action starts from the first sentence and does not let up until the very end. The descriptions are so vivid that I felt like I was right there with them. Pyle made sure that you know that it was cold, you know they were in the middle of an extraordinary blizzard, you know how hard it is out there in the middle of it all. The writing was very solid and the characters felt real. I have a soft spot for dogs so I appreciated that there’s a dog in the story. It was fast-paced, it definitely kept me on my toes… and awake so late at night because I wanted to finish it right away!
Come to think of it, the plot was pretty simple… two main characters (three, if you add the dog), trapped in a storm, monsters are after them; how to get out? The glacial… monstrosities. What the hell are they? The author left the field wide open, giving mere hints of what they are and what they look like, leaving so much to the reader’s imagination. Pyle made them sound so terrifying. Where did they come from? What did they want? They scared me, to be honest. I can only imagine what if they were real.
This reminded me a lot of Stephen King’s short stories. The simplicity of the plot, minimal characters, and how subtle yet scary it is, very well done. I do have the author’s other work and I can’t wait to check them out.
Rating: 5/5.
Recommendation: Try reading this on a cold night, snowing, wind howling outside. And you’re home. Alone. Haha, no really… if you want to get spooked, try this.
May 22, 2011
I’m definitely a fan of this author’s work. He sent me this book shortly after it was released and I snatched it up to read right away hoping to find something to grab me while I was traveling. I won’t say that it kept me up at night. It’s a pretty typical monster story with a very atypical monster. Very smart on his part for sure. I definitely had little to no idea what I was in for!
The writing is what we’ve come to expect from Pyle, very well done and very clean. Descriptive, yet not so much so that I want to take a chainsaw to the book when I done. (what? you don’t do that?) I didn’t notice any glaring errors or anything like that.
And this is where it probably isn’t very fair to the author. It’s like comparing children, right? But my problem with the story is that I was expecting more. I STILL get a little bit of a chill at times when I think about his book, Dismember, which was phenomenal (Really, go buy it. Now!). So, perhaps knowing what he’s done in the past and knowing how amazing that book was has jaded me a little. I find it hard to not compare. I know. I know. But for me, I don’t actually care about the characters when it’s a story that absolutely cannot be true (and my ability to suspend belief can be pretty strong here). So, I found myself not really caring what happened to the people in the story. That’s a rough one for me.
However, I must remember that while the previous book was a “this could maybe possibly happen and OMG!” that this book is a monster book. Totally different sub-genre of horror, I realize. No one can deny that this is an excellent monster book, that’s for sure. The story line is well developed (if a little rushed at the end) and it was a great ride. His ability to bring the monster to life and to leave me rooting for the good guys made it highly worth reading. Ultimately, it’s a monster story and ultimately it’s a well done book so I’m still rating this one high.
This is recommended for those horror readers out there that like a good monster story. I’m looking forward to see what he puts out next… this dude is seriously twisted.
The writing is what we’ve come to expect from Pyle, very well done and very clean. Descriptive, yet not so much so that I want to take a chainsaw to the book when I done. (what? you don’t do that?) I didn’t notice any glaring errors or anything like that.
And this is where it probably isn’t very fair to the author. It’s like comparing children, right? But my problem with the story is that I was expecting more. I STILL get a little bit of a chill at times when I think about his book, Dismember, which was phenomenal (Really, go buy it. Now!). So, perhaps knowing what he’s done in the past and knowing how amazing that book was has jaded me a little. I find it hard to not compare. I know. I know. But for me, I don’t actually care about the characters when it’s a story that absolutely cannot be true (and my ability to suspend belief can be pretty strong here). So, I found myself not really caring what happened to the people in the story. That’s a rough one for me.
However, I must remember that while the previous book was a “this could maybe possibly happen and OMG!” that this book is a monster book. Totally different sub-genre of horror, I realize. No one can deny that this is an excellent monster book, that’s for sure. The story line is well developed (if a little rushed at the end) and it was a great ride. His ability to bring the monster to life and to leave me rooting for the good guys made it highly worth reading. Ultimately, it’s a monster story and ultimately it’s a well done book so I’m still rating this one high.
This is recommended for those horror readers out there that like a good monster story. I’m looking forward to see what he puts out next… this dude is seriously twisted.
September 28, 2011
Rating: 4.8 out of 5
I usually start out these reviews with a bit of exposition about select themes I find within a given book, but this time I’d like to focus on something that is, in itself, a part of writing.
Voice.
Some writers know theirs. Some don’t. With the best authors, you know who they are from the moment you read the first sentence. It’s a comforting, and important, trait to have. King has it. Robbins has it. Layman and Lovecraft had it. Hemingway had it in spades, as did Fitzgerald.
And so does Daniel Pyle.
From the second I picked up Freeze, this author’s new novella, I was immediately sucked in. I felt the same exact way I did when I opened Down the Drain and Dismember, previous works by Pyle – like I was about to be taken on one massive, wildly-swinging ride of terror. Needless to say, I wasn’t disappointed.
Freeze is the story of Warren and Tess, an older couple living high in the mountains with their dog during the snowstorm of the century. There are strange goings-on about the house after the power goes out, adding to the feeling that this isn’t your garden-variety blizzard. A window breaks, showering Tess with glass. There are strange sounds outside. The family car has been seemingly vandalized. And all the while the cold and isolation creep in on this tight little family, until finally, after an emergency, Warren is forced to try and brave his way down the mountain in search of help. Little does he know, there are strange beings waiting for him out in the frigid wilderness, creatures that would love nothing more than to tear him apart.
The plot is very basic – couple trapped, flees from monsters, fights monsters, encounter terrors they never thought imaginable. However, it’s the way the story is constructed – the voice I spoke of earlier – that makes this such an entertaining and unrelenting read.
Pyle does something very interesting here, and it’s a way of constructing a story that I appreciated to no end. He makes the setting, the weather, the storm and cold, as important a character as Tess, Warren, Bub, or the strange creatures outside. I read this book outside, sitting in ninety-degree heat, and on more than one occasion I found myself shivering. That, my friends, takes copious amounts of talent. The seclusion of Pyle’s words wraps around you, the wind blows inside your ears, and you can’t help but empathize with what these poor characters are going through. In effect, we are placed directly in their shoes, made to feel their fear, anger, and desperation.
In many ways, this book reads like an episode of The Twilight Zone with a little Tales from the Darkside mixed in for good measure. Nothing is explained, the ending is open to the reader’s imagination. All we’re left with are the sensations involved. It’s like being plunked in the middle of a nightmare scenario and forced to fend for ourselves, which is refreshing, and also common with Pyle. Just as in Down the Drain, there isn’t page after page of details about the nature of the monsters. They’re there, they’re frightening, and that’s all you need to know. Is that enough? It damn well should be.
There is only one aspect of the writing that I didn’t like, and it’s the single issue keeping it from receiving a perfect score. On more than one occasion, the internal dialogue of the characters’ seemed to be too much for the given situation. There were a couple examples of ill-timed, ironic thoughts that I, personally, don’t think would go through the mind of someone experiencing that kind of terror. It slowed the momentum for me a bit when this occurred, but thankfully this only happened a few times, five at most. I can forgive an author for trying too hard sometimes, and that’s what those little snippets felt like to me. And it could also just have been my mood at the time, so my point dockage is very small.
In conclusion, Freeze is a gem of a short novel that will leave you panting by the end. It’s the perfect creature feature, hitting all the right emotional notes, making you care, cringe, and rattle your teeth at the same time. And once you finish, you’ll never be able to hear a scratch at your window on a cold winter night and pass it off as nothing again. There will always be that nibble of panic in the back of your mind that says, but what if…
Which is the type of effect that all horror – hell, all fiction – should aim to accomplish.
So congrats to Daniel Pyle, because he’s created something wonderful.
Plot - 10
Characters - 10
Voice - 10
Execution - 8
Personal Enjoyment – 10
Overall – 48/50 (4.8/5)
I usually start out these reviews with a bit of exposition about select themes I find within a given book, but this time I’d like to focus on something that is, in itself, a part of writing.
Voice.
Some writers know theirs. Some don’t. With the best authors, you know who they are from the moment you read the first sentence. It’s a comforting, and important, trait to have. King has it. Robbins has it. Layman and Lovecraft had it. Hemingway had it in spades, as did Fitzgerald.
And so does Daniel Pyle.
From the second I picked up Freeze, this author’s new novella, I was immediately sucked in. I felt the same exact way I did when I opened Down the Drain and Dismember, previous works by Pyle – like I was about to be taken on one massive, wildly-swinging ride of terror. Needless to say, I wasn’t disappointed.
Freeze is the story of Warren and Tess, an older couple living high in the mountains with their dog during the snowstorm of the century. There are strange goings-on about the house after the power goes out, adding to the feeling that this isn’t your garden-variety blizzard. A window breaks, showering Tess with glass. There are strange sounds outside. The family car has been seemingly vandalized. And all the while the cold and isolation creep in on this tight little family, until finally, after an emergency, Warren is forced to try and brave his way down the mountain in search of help. Little does he know, there are strange beings waiting for him out in the frigid wilderness, creatures that would love nothing more than to tear him apart.
The plot is very basic – couple trapped, flees from monsters, fights monsters, encounter terrors they never thought imaginable. However, it’s the way the story is constructed – the voice I spoke of earlier – that makes this such an entertaining and unrelenting read.
Pyle does something very interesting here, and it’s a way of constructing a story that I appreciated to no end. He makes the setting, the weather, the storm and cold, as important a character as Tess, Warren, Bub, or the strange creatures outside. I read this book outside, sitting in ninety-degree heat, and on more than one occasion I found myself shivering. That, my friends, takes copious amounts of talent. The seclusion of Pyle’s words wraps around you, the wind blows inside your ears, and you can’t help but empathize with what these poor characters are going through. In effect, we are placed directly in their shoes, made to feel their fear, anger, and desperation.
In many ways, this book reads like an episode of The Twilight Zone with a little Tales from the Darkside mixed in for good measure. Nothing is explained, the ending is open to the reader’s imagination. All we’re left with are the sensations involved. It’s like being plunked in the middle of a nightmare scenario and forced to fend for ourselves, which is refreshing, and also common with Pyle. Just as in Down the Drain, there isn’t page after page of details about the nature of the monsters. They’re there, they’re frightening, and that’s all you need to know. Is that enough? It damn well should be.
There is only one aspect of the writing that I didn’t like, and it’s the single issue keeping it from receiving a perfect score. On more than one occasion, the internal dialogue of the characters’ seemed to be too much for the given situation. There were a couple examples of ill-timed, ironic thoughts that I, personally, don’t think would go through the mind of someone experiencing that kind of terror. It slowed the momentum for me a bit when this occurred, but thankfully this only happened a few times, five at most. I can forgive an author for trying too hard sometimes, and that’s what those little snippets felt like to me. And it could also just have been my mood at the time, so my point dockage is very small.
In conclusion, Freeze is a gem of a short novel that will leave you panting by the end. It’s the perfect creature feature, hitting all the right emotional notes, making you care, cringe, and rattle your teeth at the same time. And once you finish, you’ll never be able to hear a scratch at your window on a cold winter night and pass it off as nothing again. There will always be that nibble of panic in the back of your mind that says, but what if…
Which is the type of effect that all horror – hell, all fiction – should aim to accomplish.
So congrats to Daniel Pyle, because he’s created something wonderful.
Plot - 10
Characters - 10
Voice - 10
Execution - 8
Personal Enjoyment – 10
Overall – 48/50 (4.8/5)
December 3, 2011
When I got this book and was ready to read it, I thought "Could he keep it up? Can he possibly make another book that even comes close to the 8 star book that "Dismember" is?" Well folks, apparently, he can.
I read absolutely nothing about the story on "Freeze" so I had no idea what to expect. I figured if he wrote it I'd give it a chance. Well it packed a whole lot of scare in for a 37,000 word book. The creep started at the get-go. "Freeze" just showed his skills in the other arenas of horror and (in the words of Tosh.0) "For that, we thank you." The things that stalk and prey on the characters could easily have be funny, silly, or boring if written wrong. Mr. Pyle knows how to make them move and what they should sound like, so that doesn't happen, so it translates to an upsetting situation and not cheesy. I cannot wait to read what he has in store for us next.
He can do a murderous "family man" and frozen creatures and somehow never fall flat.
I read absolutely nothing about the story on "Freeze" so I had no idea what to expect. I figured if he wrote it I'd give it a chance. Well it packed a whole lot of scare in for a 37,000 word book. The creep started at the get-go. "Freeze" just showed his skills in the other arenas of horror and (in the words of Tosh.0) "For that, we thank you." The things that stalk and prey on the characters could easily have be funny, silly, or boring if written wrong. Mr. Pyle knows how to make them move and what they should sound like, so that doesn't happen, so it translates to an upsetting situation and not cheesy. I cannot wait to read what he has in store for us next.
He can do a murderous "family man" and frozen creatures and somehow never fall flat.
May 16, 2018
A short and fast paced book that could of been a lot better in my opinion. This is the first book I read by Mr. Pyle. One of the main reasons in doing so was a blurb on his other book, Dismember. Something about the late Richard Laymon would of loved it. I can't speak for that because I have yet to read it.
This one is about two people in a remote house/cabin in the middle of one of the worst blizzards on record. In their midst are frozen creatures that pop up out of nowhere. This was a great premise for me. Blizzard. Man against the elements. Creature feature. But in the end it just had me wondering. Like, where the hell did these THINGS come from? The real let down was the ending. It was left so open, you could drive a turbo snowmobile threw it. This could of been a bit longer to get the blood pumping more. Not bad.
This one is about two people in a remote house/cabin in the middle of one of the worst blizzards on record. In their midst are frozen creatures that pop up out of nowhere. This was a great premise for me. Blizzard. Man against the elements. Creature feature. But in the end it just had me wondering. Like, where the hell did these THINGS come from? The real let down was the ending. It was left so open, you could drive a turbo snowmobile threw it. This could of been a bit longer to get the blood pumping more. Not bad.
May 7, 2011
Daniel Pyle seems to start with a bang and never let go!
Freeze is quite a great quick read clocking in at about 111 ePub pages, and I read it in one sitting!
Pyle creates a story in which what ISN'T being told to you stands out, and adds to the suspense. Every room that is entered, every breath that they take an implied sense of urgency is displayed.
There are not that many characters in the book, and I consider the Winter Storm a background character in this book as much as the monsters that appear in the night.
He takes on the fear of being isolated, and unable to get help, and it all blends together into a satisfying conclusion, especially for the type of tale that's being told.
Highly recommend it!
Freeze is quite a great quick read clocking in at about 111 ePub pages, and I read it in one sitting!
Pyle creates a story in which what ISN'T being told to you stands out, and adds to the suspense. Every room that is entered, every breath that they take an implied sense of urgency is displayed.
There are not that many characters in the book, and I consider the Winter Storm a background character in this book as much as the monsters that appear in the night.
He takes on the fear of being isolated, and unable to get help, and it all blends together into a satisfying conclusion, especially for the type of tale that's being told.
Highly recommend it!
August 2, 2011
If you're looking for a great monster novella, Pyle's "Freeze" really fits the bill. Pyle's depiction of the painfully bitter cold in this book was especially vivid and made me shiver (even in the middle of an Arizona summer). The characters were appropriately developed for a book of this type--we don't get to know their life stories, but their relationship does feel real enough to care about their fate. The only thing I found distracting were the occasional use of parentheticals that, at first, I thought were editing marks left in by mistake. It doesn't happen that often, but was distracting when it did.
This book delivers on just about every level, and I still find myself thinking about the ending weeks after I finished reading. Definitely recommended.
This book delivers on just about every level, and I still find myself thinking about the ending weeks after I finished reading. Definitely recommended.
December 28, 2011
This was a quickie - only 136 pages. A really, really good premise - NO SPOILERS - but it left me a little incomplete. I would've liked to have known more about the "bad guys" - they were, to say the least, super interesting and had lots of potential for…what…I don't know. The main characters - Tess and Warren - were super likable and Mr. Pyle's writing did an excellent job of putting you in the action - snow, ice, noise, visuals, etc. The ending was not at all what I expected…not sure what my takeaway is. OVERALL - I would've given the book 3.5 stars if able - this was a great story and good writing by Mr. Pyle. For me…its only my opinion…the ending was lacking and a I needed to know more about the "bad guys."
December 16, 2011
Wasted no time getting into the chilling fun. At times the descriptions were so good that I could imagine my breath while reading. The author does an excellent job handling the winter mountain setting. The story is fairly simplistic with a couple, their dog going against some kind of ice monster. I would have liked to learn a little more about the characters (what made them different than any other nice couple and their dog?) and the origins of the monsters. Clearly this skilled writer knows how to deliver what monster-loving readers in this genre crave. I'll read more by Mr. Pyle. Recommended for horror fans.
January 22, 2012
Nice, Goodreads. Go ahead and erase my whole review when I hit "post." Fuck you too.
Anyway, this is a fast paced, creepy little horror gem. I hope the author made the whole thing up, because it's blowing snow outside my window right now and the creatures in this book are plenty creepy (and authentic sounding to anyone who has lived through a Michigan winter).
Never boring, this book held my interest right to the end, and the author didn't try to bog down the story by over explaining anything. It's snowy, there's creatures outside, run and hide before they kill you. Simple as that. This kind of fun horror story reminds me why I started liking horror in the first place.
Anyway, this is a fast paced, creepy little horror gem. I hope the author made the whole thing up, because it's blowing snow outside my window right now and the creatures in this book are plenty creepy (and authentic sounding to anyone who has lived through a Michigan winter).
Never boring, this book held my interest right to the end, and the author didn't try to bog down the story by over explaining anything. It's snowy, there's creatures outside, run and hide before they kill you. Simple as that. This kind of fun horror story reminds me why I started liking horror in the first place.
August 9, 2011
Loved it! It had me right from the beginning and I couldn't put it down! I really liked the relationship between the husband and wife .. it was very real between them and they loved each other so much! The dog was great..if you've ever had one you know how the people were feeling..he brought something normal to a very abnormal situation! The sounds made by the creature were described very well! I could really hear it moving closer! I wanted to know more..about the couple..the creatures..etc.. It's a great book to get lost in for a bit!
July 10, 2011
Freeze is a horror novella in the tradition of H.P. Lovecraft and early Stephen King. It's scary enough to satisfy the most hardened horror aficionado. It's fast paced and it'll grab you on the first page and never let go. But before you start, you might want to lock all your doors and windows. And, whatever, you do, don't read this during a blizzard!
January 5, 2012
This was a good book it keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout the whole thing wanting to know what is gonna happen.I had likes and dislikes about the monster I mean really???? And the book is a little predictable when they finally fight the monster and come on shouldn't they be dead by. With all that cold weather??but it also makes you think by the end of the book I would read this again
February 13, 2012
Wow, fast paced and well written horror. Tess and Warren are getting ready to ride out ther blizzard that is raining down on their mountain home, but as the storm grows worse they find out that there is something worse in the snow than the cold. I could not put this down and it was the first sleet ridden night of the winter and I had to look around when I heard any little noise. Well done!!!
September 26, 2011
Review of member giveaway eBook
This horror novella hits the ground running. A couple snowed in find that the cold is the least of their worries. Outside something strange is happening in the ice.
This was a creepy, gory, entertaining read.
This horror novella hits the ground running. A couple snowed in find that the cold is the least of their worries. Outside something strange is happening in the ice.
This was a creepy, gory, entertaining read.
October 21, 2011
"Freeze" is a short novel that is entertaining and an easy read. While Pyle brings in a little too much detail at times (the description of Tess’ projectile blood-vomit may make you queasy) the story is intriguing and unforgettable.
Read my full review at www.crazybookreviews.com!
Read my full review at www.crazybookreviews.com!
August 6, 2011
This book for me was a little cheesy. Not as good as the authors book "Dismember". Might have made a better movie with better special effects. Descriptions in the book just didn't do it for me.
October 21, 2020
This book had good bones.
But that's about it.
I believe this one came to me as a freebie from Amazon Prime Kindle first of the month reads.
We are thrust right into the moment that acts as the catalyst for the stories unfolding events. Sometimes this can be done well but in this case, we are given nothing to really allow us as the reader, time to know the characters and care for what happens to them. In fact, the only one I cared about was the dog. And this was still true as I came to the abrupt conclusion.
I feel like I read a really fleshed out outline, but not the finished story. Our characters are put into situations that require superhuman strength, the oh so convenient arrival of a savior (who just as quickly, departs, giving our main character the means to return to his wife and dog), and the ability to remain conscious and breathing through extreme bodily damage and blood loss.
The monsters are formidable, and yet, something as simple as heat is a danger to them. (This is comparable to the aliens in Signs going to a planet that is 71% water when water is toxic to them.)
And the ending is open-ended. This is not clever, it is lazy writing.
So I'm calling this what it is; A decent first draft.
But that's about it.
I believe this one came to me as a freebie from Amazon Prime Kindle first of the month reads.
We are thrust right into the moment that acts as the catalyst for the stories unfolding events. Sometimes this can be done well but in this case, we are given nothing to really allow us as the reader, time to know the characters and care for what happens to them. In fact, the only one I cared about was the dog. And this was still true as I came to the abrupt conclusion.
I feel like I read a really fleshed out outline, but not the finished story. Our characters are put into situations that require superhuman strength, the oh so convenient arrival of a savior (who just as quickly, departs, giving our main character the means to return to his wife and dog), and the ability to remain conscious and breathing through extreme bodily damage and blood loss.
The monsters are formidable, and yet, something as simple as heat is a danger to them. (This is comparable to the aliens in Signs going to a planet that is 71% water when water is toxic to them.)
And the ending is open-ended. This is not clever, it is lazy writing.
So I'm calling this what it is; A decent first draft.
July 18, 2018
Interesting book. Quick fast read. the ending leaves you hanging.
January 20, 2019
First half was a waste of time. Last half not entirely a waste of time.
January 15, 2012
There's a huge blizzard going on and the power is out. Warren and Tess decide to ride it out, they have a fireplace to keep warm and hopefully the storm stops soon. While Warren is out in the storm gathering firewood for the next few days, Tess is in the kitchen. She hears something and looks out the window - but it explodes and glass rains down upon her.
Warren and their dog, Bub, get inside as quickly as they can when they hear her screams. Warren cleans her up the best he can but fears she may have swallowed some glass and wants to take her to the hospital. But the truck engine is iced over so they decide that they'll see how she does overnight and decide what to do the next morning.
Tess wakes up in the middle of the night coughing up a lot of blood. Scared, Warren bundles up and decides to hike to their nearest neighbor, three miles away, for help. But while he is gone, monsters made from ice invade the house. Tess and the dog battle for their lives.
Warren is attacked by the ice creatures on his hike, but is saved by his neighbors, but after he takes a thorough beating. But on the snowmobile with the neighbors, they are attacked again. Warren just wants to get back to his wife to ensure her safety, but no one can survive in the storm, especially with killing ice creatures after them. Or can they?
Freeze is a chilling tale that will remain with you long after the last page is turned. I could easily see this made into a movie - the action and the tense situations are treated with just the right amount of drama and emotional appeal. Fans of horrific suspense will savor Freeze! I can't wait to read more from this talented author.
Warren and their dog, Bub, get inside as quickly as they can when they hear her screams. Warren cleans her up the best he can but fears she may have swallowed some glass and wants to take her to the hospital. But the truck engine is iced over so they decide that they'll see how she does overnight and decide what to do the next morning.
Tess wakes up in the middle of the night coughing up a lot of blood. Scared, Warren bundles up and decides to hike to their nearest neighbor, three miles away, for help. But while he is gone, monsters made from ice invade the house. Tess and the dog battle for their lives.
Warren is attacked by the ice creatures on his hike, but is saved by his neighbors, but after he takes a thorough beating. But on the snowmobile with the neighbors, they are attacked again. Warren just wants to get back to his wife to ensure her safety, but no one can survive in the storm, especially with killing ice creatures after them. Or can they?
Freeze is a chilling tale that will remain with you long after the last page is turned. I could easily see this made into a movie - the action and the tense situations are treated with just the right amount of drama and emotional appeal. Fans of horrific suspense will savor Freeze! I can't wait to read more from this talented author.
August 30, 2012
Plot: A couple and their dog are spending some time in a winter cabin when a blizzard comes along. The couple is surprised when they discover that there could be someone or something else out there with them.
Spoiler-free ending: I thought the ending worked well for the book, but I can't say it was completely realistic how they got there. You're going to have to read the 100+ pages in this book to find out more than that though.
Characters: Both the man and the woman main characters in this book were physically super human. Not really, but they sure could live through a lot. Their love for each other brought them together to the cabin, and it kept them fighting to survive. I didn't pick u on many character traits for them though. I guess the author was going for an 'average person' vibe.
Style: I liked the author's style overall, but the author sometimes added on to sentences when they were fine without it. And there were some hit-or-miss similes throughout. There was one point where the author described someone as being covered in blood similar to Carrie, but to even be close to that the person who lost blood would have to be closer to death than the character seemed to be.
Other thoughts: The 'creatures' didn't seem to be completely consistent in their actions. They were super-aggressive in some parts and slow in others, despite their limitations.
Recommend? It's not one of the first books I'd recommend, but sure. The book isn't perfect, but there are bits of action that were interesting, and it wasn't too long.
Spoiler-free ending: I thought the ending worked well for the book, but I can't say it was completely realistic how they got there. You're going to have to read the 100+ pages in this book to find out more than that though.
Characters: Both the man and the woman main characters in this book were physically super human. Not really, but they sure could live through a lot. Their love for each other brought them together to the cabin, and it kept them fighting to survive. I didn't pick u on many character traits for them though. I guess the author was going for an 'average person' vibe.
Style: I liked the author's style overall, but the author sometimes added on to sentences when they were fine without it. And there were some hit-or-miss similes throughout. There was one point where the author described someone as being covered in blood similar to Carrie, but to even be close to that the person who lost blood would have to be closer to death than the character seemed to be.
Other thoughts: The 'creatures' didn't seem to be completely consistent in their actions. They were super-aggressive in some parts and slow in others, despite their limitations.
Recommend? It's not one of the first books I'd recommend, but sure. The book isn't perfect, but there are bits of action that were interesting, and it wasn't too long.
May 31, 2012
A solid 3. Entertaining and enjoyable. Fast paced and suspenseful. But too many unanswered questions and the absence of any resolution feels a little bit like making the reader do too much work to squeeze out any meaning from the story. The relationship between the husband and wife was complex enough that we could have benefitted from more interaction between them, something a little deeper than the played out "I AM MAN I MUST SAVE WIFE FROM DANGER ARRGGHHHHH".
Major points in the end though for making this skeptic suspend her disbelief and really feel afraid of what the characters end up confronting. I will say that at times Mr. Pyle's language choice is phenomenal in creating just the right mood for that particular plot point. He avoids the hokey and goofy which would have ruined everything.
In the end, the bad and good cancel each other out and you're left with a short read that with just enough imagination will transport you to a world you'll never want to be in again.
Major points in the end though for making this skeptic suspend her disbelief and really feel afraid of what the characters end up confronting. I will say that at times Mr. Pyle's language choice is phenomenal in creating just the right mood for that particular plot point. He avoids the hokey and goofy which would have ruined everything.
In the end, the bad and good cancel each other out and you're left with a short read that with just enough imagination will transport you to a world you'll never want to be in again.
November 11, 2013
There was a terrible blizzard going on outside. Tess was working in the kitchen, while her husband Warren and their dog Bub were gathering wood for the fire. Tess thought she saw a hand in the window. She pressed her face against the window. At first there was a spider crack in the window and then the window blew in catching Tess in the face. Warren heard the scream from the shed and knew his wife was in trouble. Warren found Tess with about a dozen cuts on her face. It appeared that maybe Tess swallowed a small piece of glass from the window. Tess was coughing up blood and Warren knew that she need help immediately. Warren ventured out in the blizzard to get his truck. He found the truck but it would not start. Now there is only one way that Warren can help Tess. He will need to walk three miles to the nearest neighbor. What Warren confronts on the way to get help, he will never forget. It will haunted him for the rest of his life.
January 31, 2012
The ending was a lazy cop out. If you could even call that an ending. The writing isn't bad at all, most of the characters are likeable -- especially the dog. You get involved in the epic battle and root hard for them to win (especially the dog), reading through it page after page (could've been trimmed some), then, bam! It's over. No ending. Maybe the author was trying to be clever or provocative or somehow leave it to the reader's imagination to finish the story, but I put a lot of time into reading it and I wanted an ending. Especially I want to know what happens to the dog. Just smelled like the author ran out of ideas or was too lazy to finish or, I don't know, maybe he thought he was being literary or something. I'm glad I did not pay for this book as it was free the day I downloaded it. I would've asked for my money back if I'd paid even 99cents for it.
January 26, 2019
Wow, this is something else! I would have given it 4* if it weren't for the ending but then again maybe the way it ends just signals their end. It is pretty graphic at times and I was there with the people fighting these creatures. I wish it was a little longer as I was enjoying the story.
November 25, 2012
It's the snow storm of the century and the power is out. Besides that minor inconvenience, most people might find this kind of thing to be a welcome respite from their daily grind. What's so terrible about being snowed in for a day or two with your loved ones as long as you have a roaring fire? But something ominous and other-worldly lurks... thriving on the fatal cold.
This story starts out great. It's got a good pace and keeps you wanting to read. But, you are left wondering if they survive; are there more monsters lurking outside... what about Bub? It feels like the author brought you to the zenith and just left you there. I'm giving it 4 stars because, despite the end, it's a great read.
This story starts out great. It's got a good pace and keeps you wanting to read. But, you are left wondering if they survive; are there more monsters lurking outside... what about Bub? It feels like the author brought you to the zenith and just left you there. I'm giving it 4 stars because, despite the end, it's a great read.
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