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Raven's Creek
An abandoned motel.
A woman flees an unknown danger, taking refuge in a motel. She is never seen again.
A mad scientist.
A geneticist stretches the boundaries of nature. His experiments, once human, are now something else. Something new. Something hungry.
The couple.
Michael and his husband Geoff have lost something precious. Their search takes them to a motel. What they find there will reveal a cruelty neither knew existed. And creatures beyond imagination.
Welcome to Raven's Creek.
A woman flees an unknown danger, taking refuge in a motel. She is never seen again.
A mad scientist.
A geneticist stretches the boundaries of nature. His experiments, once human, are now something else. Something new. Something hungry.
The couple.
Michael and his husband Geoff have lost something precious. Their search takes them to a motel. What they find there will reveal a cruelty neither knew existed. And creatures beyond imagination.
Welcome to Raven's Creek.
371 pages, Paperback
Published June 15, 2023
16 people are currently reading
178 people want to read
About the author
David-Jack Fletcher
18 books57 followersDavid-Jack Fletcher is an Australian author, specialising in LGBTQI+ horror fiction. He dabbles in comedy-horror and dark fiction, but his true love is body horror.
His debut novella, The haunting of Harry Peck, is a 2022 Amazon international best-seller across several lists including Gay Fiction, Horror, and Two-Hour Literature.
He has also appeared in several anthologies across the US, Canada, and the UK. David-Jack's latest novel is due for release in 2023, and he is currently working on the next one: Indentured, which focuses on a pair of bloodthirsty cursed dentures.
He is also a qualified editor, operating a small online business, Chainsaw Editing, where he specialises in copyediting and developmental editing for horror/thriller, dark fiction, mystery/suspense, and the occasional historical romance.
When not writing and editing, David-Jack can be found on the couch with a book, cuddling his dogs and his husband.
His debut novella, The haunting of Harry Peck, is a 2022 Amazon international best-seller across several lists including Gay Fiction, Horror, and Two-Hour Literature.
He has also appeared in several anthologies across the US, Canada, and the UK. David-Jack's latest novel is due for release in 2023, and he is currently working on the next one: Indentured, which focuses on a pair of bloodthirsty cursed dentures.
He is also a qualified editor, operating a small online business, Chainsaw Editing, where he specialises in copyediting and developmental editing for horror/thriller, dark fiction, mystery/suspense, and the occasional historical romance.
When not writing and editing, David-Jack can be found on the couch with a book, cuddling his dogs and his husband.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
February 18, 2023
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Firstly I would like to say thank you to David-Jack Fletcher for the opportunity to read and review this book early 😊. Please know that, regardless of my enjoyment level or reading experience, I am honored that you provided me with an early copy.
This novel was pitched as a survival creature feature horror story. I love survival stories, I love creature features, and I LOVE a good horror story. Based on that alone, this book should have been PERFECT for me. Unfortunately, this one just missed the mark.
I'm not sure where to start, so I'll start here, there were 3 SOLID ideas happening in this novel.
1. A crazy scientist "the surgeon" who wanted to play at being god with a capital G.
2. A black market for buying babies born of imprisoned surrogates.
3. A toxic "power play" relationship with an aspiring actress and a powerful man in the industry.
While I thought all of these ideas had the ability to shine on their own if provided their own storyline, I don't think they all necessarily worked together as one narrative. The story didn't flow, but instead felt disjointed from beginning to end. This I feel was largely because of the constant shift in focus and timeline. I usually enjoy multi pov/timeline stories as well, but it just didn't seem to work for me here. I guess I just couldn't get on board with the storytelling. Because we were following multiple characters through the events in this novel, I don't think that there was enough time put into establishing each character. None of them felt very fleshed out, and multiple of them had consistently polarizing feelings, thoughts, and actions that, to me, didn't seem to make sense for them as the character or the ultimate goal of the story.
Additionally, there was never a point, while reading, where I felt any sense of unease, suspense, or dread. There were a few scenes that involved body horror (yay), but I didn't feel like it went far enough. I both wanted and expected more gore. Whether that's in the beginning scene with Rose or the battles with the creatures, I just feel like it was lacking in the descriptions.
Man oh man the creatures. I was definitely disappointed with both the arena creatures (meh) and the "sub basement" creatures (felt like watered down zombies). None of the creatures felt very threatening or scary. It didn't feel like Michael and Geoff were really in any danger the whole time they were in the arena. I'm aware that they were, but I didn't believe it because I didn't FEEL it. Adelaide felt like a big ole plot convenience, so not much to say there. I also didn't care about what happened to any of the characters, if I were to pick one it would be Rose, but again we didn't get enough time with her for me to get invested in her fate.
There was also an "announcement", made by the surgeon to the audience watching what went down in the arena, that rubbed me the wrong way. Edmonds told the audience that Rose was a surrogate for Geoff and Michael and stated "we're going to have a baby". Nothing really came of this announcement though because most of the scenes involving the baby, occurred near the end when the audience were all dying/dead. From my understanding of what I read, there is no way that he (Edmonds) would have come across that information organically. Rose wouldn't have had time or cause after being kidnapped and drugged to provide that information to him. Geoff and Michael happened upon the motel, in much the same way Rose and company did. Again, in my opinion, they wouldn't have had the time or cause to provide that information to Edmonds or his henchmen. So it felt like the author had forgotten that only the reader knew this information because of prior exposition in the novel, but his other characters shouldn't/wouldn't/couldn't know this information. Maybe I interpreted that scene incorrectly, maybe I didn't, either way it bothered me and I couldn't shake it.
Lastly, the tone. I was never certain what tone this story was intending to portray to the reader. Was this supposed to be a fun romp? Was this supposed to be a weird messed up love story? Was this supposed to be dark and twisted? The tone fluctuated along with the focus of the story and it didn't make for a consistent reading experience. One tone didn't melt into another in a smooth manner, all three of the main focal points of the story had their own tone and it felt like all 3 were fighting one another for the spotlight. After reading the authors note, a lot of my thoughts and feelings began to make sense. He stated that this novel began as a novella and honestly, I feel for me personally, that it would have been more successful as one.
All in all, I'm happy to have had this experience. The ability to read and review an early copy like this was awesome, however I am bummed that this book didn't work for me. I know that this author is well loved for his works thus far, so I know this book will have no trouble finding its audience even if it isn't me.
Firstly I would like to say thank you to David-Jack Fletcher for the opportunity to read and review this book early 😊. Please know that, regardless of my enjoyment level or reading experience, I am honored that you provided me with an early copy.
This novel was pitched as a survival creature feature horror story. I love survival stories, I love creature features, and I LOVE a good horror story. Based on that alone, this book should have been PERFECT for me. Unfortunately, this one just missed the mark.
I'm not sure where to start, so I'll start here, there were 3 SOLID ideas happening in this novel.
1. A crazy scientist "the surgeon" who wanted to play at being god with a capital G.
2. A black market for buying babies born of imprisoned surrogates.
3. A toxic "power play" relationship with an aspiring actress and a powerful man in the industry.
While I thought all of these ideas had the ability to shine on their own if provided their own storyline, I don't think they all necessarily worked together as one narrative. The story didn't flow, but instead felt disjointed from beginning to end. This I feel was largely because of the constant shift in focus and timeline. I usually enjoy multi pov/timeline stories as well, but it just didn't seem to work for me here. I guess I just couldn't get on board with the storytelling. Because we were following multiple characters through the events in this novel, I don't think that there was enough time put into establishing each character. None of them felt very fleshed out, and multiple of them had consistently polarizing feelings, thoughts, and actions that, to me, didn't seem to make sense for them as the character or the ultimate goal of the story.
Additionally, there was never a point, while reading, where I felt any sense of unease, suspense, or dread. There were a few scenes that involved body horror (yay), but I didn't feel like it went far enough. I both wanted and expected more gore. Whether that's in the beginning scene with Rose or the battles with the creatures, I just feel like it was lacking in the descriptions.
Man oh man the creatures. I was definitely disappointed with both the arena creatures (meh) and the "sub basement" creatures (felt like watered down zombies). None of the creatures felt very threatening or scary. It didn't feel like Michael and Geoff were really in any danger the whole time they were in the arena. I'm aware that they were, but I didn't believe it because I didn't FEEL it. Adelaide felt like a big ole plot convenience, so not much to say there. I also didn't care about what happened to any of the characters, if I were to pick one it would be Rose, but again we didn't get enough time with her for me to get invested in her fate.
There was also an "announcement", made by the surgeon to the audience watching what went down in the arena, that rubbed me the wrong way. Edmonds told the audience that Rose was a surrogate for Geoff and Michael and stated "we're going to have a baby". Nothing really came of this announcement though because most of the scenes involving the baby, occurred near the end when the audience were all dying/dead. From my understanding of what I read, there is no way that he (Edmonds) would have come across that information organically. Rose wouldn't have had time or cause after being kidnapped and drugged to provide that information to him. Geoff and Michael happened upon the motel, in much the same way Rose and company did. Again, in my opinion, they wouldn't have had the time or cause to provide that information to Edmonds or his henchmen. So it felt like the author had forgotten that only the reader knew this information because of prior exposition in the novel, but his other characters shouldn't/wouldn't/couldn't know this information. Maybe I interpreted that scene incorrectly, maybe I didn't, either way it bothered me and I couldn't shake it.
Lastly, the tone. I was never certain what tone this story was intending to portray to the reader. Was this supposed to be a fun romp? Was this supposed to be a weird messed up love story? Was this supposed to be dark and twisted? The tone fluctuated along with the focus of the story and it didn't make for a consistent reading experience. One tone didn't melt into another in a smooth manner, all three of the main focal points of the story had their own tone and it felt like all 3 were fighting one another for the spotlight. After reading the authors note, a lot of my thoughts and feelings began to make sense. He stated that this novel began as a novella and honestly, I feel for me personally, that it would have been more successful as one.
All in all, I'm happy to have had this experience. The ability to read and review an early copy like this was awesome, however I am bummed that this book didn't work for me. I know that this author is well loved for his works thus far, so I know this book will have no trouble finding its audience even if it isn't me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 13, 2023
3.5 stars
Raven's Creek had a lot going on. There were a lot of POV changes and flashbacks, and I found it hard to keep the timeline straight at times. It was hard for me to get into this all the way because I felt like as soon as the action started picking up, I was whisked away into another flashback or POV change and it took a long time to get back to what was going on.
However, this was a fascinating read. Cloning and bettering the human genetic has been a hot topic for years, and it was really interesting to see it come together here. The combination of backwoods and sophistication was a fun dichotomy and I enjoyed what that brought to the story. I liked that this was too science heavy either; there was enough explanation that I understood what was happening, but not enough to bog me down and make my eyes cross.
I love Michael and Geoff, and I'm not sure if I'm mad for that. The author made me like them, made me want them to survive over all else, and I completely forgot and proceeded to disregard what they do in their spare time. Even faced with it in the end, I can't shake my love for them. They were easily my favourite characters in the story, and I can't help but to pull for them.
I had a good time with this despite the frequent segues away from the action! I'd recommend this to my friends who enjoy horror and speculative fiction!
Raven's Creek had a lot going on. There were a lot of POV changes and flashbacks, and I found it hard to keep the timeline straight at times. It was hard for me to get into this all the way because I felt like as soon as the action started picking up, I was whisked away into another flashback or POV change and it took a long time to get back to what was going on.
However, this was a fascinating read. Cloning and bettering the human genetic has been a hot topic for years, and it was really interesting to see it come together here. The combination of backwoods and sophistication was a fun dichotomy and I enjoyed what that brought to the story. I liked that this was too science heavy either; there was enough explanation that I understood what was happening, but not enough to bog me down and make my eyes cross.
I love Michael and Geoff, and I'm not sure if I'm mad for that. The author made me like them, made me want them to survive over all else, and I completely forgot and proceeded to disregard what they do in their spare time. Even faced with it in the end, I can't shake my love for them. They were easily my favourite characters in the story, and I can't help but to pull for them.
I had a good time with this despite the frequent segues away from the action! I'd recommend this to my friends who enjoy horror and speculative fiction!
February 24, 2023
Raven’s Creek is a surprising, brutal, original tale that has you squirming and guessing through the entire story. The character development is top-notch. The monsters feel real—and they’re not always who you think they are. Bravo to Fletcher for a fast-paced dark story jam-packed with elements readers will love.
June 17, 2023
Monsters
Michael and Geoff are looking for Rose and their baby. They stop at the town of Ravens Creek. This town is hiding a secret. Someone is experimenting . There are monsters here. The monsters have escaped. Can Michael save his family? Unexpected ending. Unique story.
Michael and Geoff are looking for Rose and their baby. They stop at the town of Ravens Creek. This town is hiding a secret. Someone is experimenting . There are monsters here. The monsters have escaped. Can Michael save his family? Unexpected ending. Unique story.
June 18, 2023
It's summer so naturally I am rotting inside reading psychotic books, this was an amalgamation of 90s creature feature, sci fi and slasher horror which I think was utterly innovative, its fast paced and the writing is great, plus how spooky is the cover?
.
.
June 21, 2023
A Horror Bookworm Recommendation:
Raven’s Creek by David-Jack Fletcher
https://horrorbookwormreviews.com/
Michael and Geoff finally make the monumental decision to hire a surrogate to carry and deliver a child for the couple. As the pregnancy progresses the mother mysteriously vanishes. The two men begin their own investigation into the disappearance of the woman. Not only do all leads point to a small backwater town called Raven’s Creek, but the isolated run-of-the-mill motel holds many sick and sinister secrets. The two quickly discover they are in way over their heads with twisted perversions and inhuman morality.
David-Jack Fletcher hits on all horror cylinders by operating at full-gore capacity. Establishing a foundation of nano-serums, neuromuscular operatives and paralytic agents, Body Horror is at full tilt in this ample sized book. Throwing all ethics out the window, Fletcher blends bizarre abominations and brutal depravities allowing chaos to roam free within the pages of his disturbing novel. This read is not for the faint of heart.
I hear not all the rooms have been claimed at the Raven’s Creek Motel. So if you see the Vacancy sign glowing in the darkness be sure to bring your surgical masks and blood-drenched apron, this one is gonna get uncomfortable. Just keep telling yourself, “out of chaos comes opportunity,” along with the understanding that survival will be nearly impossible.
David-Jack Fletcher is the master of misdirection as he persuades the reader to digest the story they want to believe, then slowly injects his own full dosage of mature themed inhumane behavior. His writing method consists of sleight of hand building blocks of abhorrent horror. Talk about a constant sense of impending doom coming to fruition.
Ok my friends, this is one of those rare times where I was totally captivated by a novel. I’m talking so enthralled I would forget to take notes for this review. I’m talking so entranced I hid in the bathroom stall at work to finish the book because I couldn’t wait for the ending. A Horror Bookworm Recommendation.
Raven’s Creek by David-Jack Fletcher
https://horrorbookwormreviews.com/
Michael and Geoff finally make the monumental decision to hire a surrogate to carry and deliver a child for the couple. As the pregnancy progresses the mother mysteriously vanishes. The two men begin their own investigation into the disappearance of the woman. Not only do all leads point to a small backwater town called Raven’s Creek, but the isolated run-of-the-mill motel holds many sick and sinister secrets. The two quickly discover they are in way over their heads with twisted perversions and inhuman morality.
David-Jack Fletcher hits on all horror cylinders by operating at full-gore capacity. Establishing a foundation of nano-serums, neuromuscular operatives and paralytic agents, Body Horror is at full tilt in this ample sized book. Throwing all ethics out the window, Fletcher blends bizarre abominations and brutal depravities allowing chaos to roam free within the pages of his disturbing novel. This read is not for the faint of heart.
I hear not all the rooms have been claimed at the Raven’s Creek Motel. So if you see the Vacancy sign glowing in the darkness be sure to bring your surgical masks and blood-drenched apron, this one is gonna get uncomfortable. Just keep telling yourself, “out of chaos comes opportunity,” along with the understanding that survival will be nearly impossible.
David-Jack Fletcher is the master of misdirection as he persuades the reader to digest the story they want to believe, then slowly injects his own full dosage of mature themed inhumane behavior. His writing method consists of sleight of hand building blocks of abhorrent horror. Talk about a constant sense of impending doom coming to fruition.
Ok my friends, this is one of those rare times where I was totally captivated by a novel. I’m talking so enthralled I would forget to take notes for this review. I’m talking so entranced I hid in the bathroom stall at work to finish the book because I couldn’t wait for the ending. A Horror Bookworm Recommendation.
March 13, 2025
Raven's Creek was genuinely horrifying and had me squirming in my seat. It has been sitting rent-free in my head since the time I read it. It's the kind of book that will shake and rattle you, pushing the limits to what you can stomach along the way. Creepy motels always get me, and this book upped the ante by exposing me to some serious body horror. Yowza!
2025 Update:
I reread this book as an audiobook and found it was just as much fun to read as the print version. Listening to it seemed to amplify things, so lightweights beware.
2025 Update:
I reread this book as an audiobook and found it was just as much fun to read as the print version. Listening to it seemed to amplify things, so lightweights beware.
August 19, 2023
Such an innovative slasher/monster story!! Kinda reminded me of Resident Evil & Cabin in the Woods! Loved the characters, the way some of them evolved, and the overall arc. Very haunting ending as well!
June 8, 2023
I got my hands on an ARC of David-Jack Fletcher’s ‘Raven’s Creek,’ thanks to the author offering early digital copies for review on Books of Horror Freeview. This is a big book, densely written, full of flashbacks, twisty cliffhangers, and lots of mysteries. In a word: monsters. I’ve never read a book with so many monsters before: quite literally, everyone is already a monster or gets turned into one. In this book, you can find them monsters everywhere: in the basement, the barn, the office, the academy, the police, the laboratory, the clinic – and, of course, the supposedly abandoned motel of Raven’s Creek, where people always disappear. The point is not precisely about survival (though you do have lots of that!); apparently, it’s about what happens when ethics goes out the window.
I would not call this story a standard creature feature: sure, there are tons of creatures, hungry for flesh and blood, yet there’s such top-notch characterization, so many intricate plotlines, such a thoughtful, albeit cold and sinister portrayal of science, that ‘Raven’s Creek’ transcends the boundaries of a typical horror novel and provides, on top of emotional turmoil and a pervasive feeling of dread, huge intellectual entertainment as well.
Admittedly, some people won’t respond favorably to such complexity: the flashbacks are way too many, the cynicism well-placed but too strong, the story-telling labyrinthine with multiple characters and a variety of motivations, including the so-called “bad guys”, who are supposed to be the villains of the piece but get more and more human as the story progresses. Still, speaking for myself, I felt there’s so much action that the flashbacks allowed me to take a breath, very much needed as the plotlines start converging; the cynicism and the cruelty, mostly about surrogate pregnancy, babies, and the sickness of watching people fight to the death, struck me as quite realistic; whereas the love of the gay couple, presented without much commentary or any fuss, felt entirely natural and gave focus to the story. The ending seemed to strengthen the overall tone of the story; I wasn’t surprised, nor did I predict exactly where this was going, but it certainly provided closure, even if it worked against the only character in the book I found deserved much better!
All in all, this is one of those novels whose brutality and pace give the impression that they should be read, perhaps, a bit tongue in cheek; unless wild, dark, and plainly frightening rides are your cup of tea. In that case, buckle up and get this on June 15th, when it releases!
I would not call this story a standard creature feature: sure, there are tons of creatures, hungry for flesh and blood, yet there’s such top-notch characterization, so many intricate plotlines, such a thoughtful, albeit cold and sinister portrayal of science, that ‘Raven’s Creek’ transcends the boundaries of a typical horror novel and provides, on top of emotional turmoil and a pervasive feeling of dread, huge intellectual entertainment as well.
Admittedly, some people won’t respond favorably to such complexity: the flashbacks are way too many, the cynicism well-placed but too strong, the story-telling labyrinthine with multiple characters and a variety of motivations, including the so-called “bad guys”, who are supposed to be the villains of the piece but get more and more human as the story progresses. Still, speaking for myself, I felt there’s so much action that the flashbacks allowed me to take a breath, very much needed as the plotlines start converging; the cynicism and the cruelty, mostly about surrogate pregnancy, babies, and the sickness of watching people fight to the death, struck me as quite realistic; whereas the love of the gay couple, presented without much commentary or any fuss, felt entirely natural and gave focus to the story. The ending seemed to strengthen the overall tone of the story; I wasn’t surprised, nor did I predict exactly where this was going, but it certainly provided closure, even if it worked against the only character in the book I found deserved much better!
All in all, this is one of those novels whose brutality and pace give the impression that they should be read, perhaps, a bit tongue in cheek; unless wild, dark, and plainly frightening rides are your cup of tea. In that case, buckle up and get this on June 15th, when it releases!
February 17, 2023
Ravens Creek by David-Jack Fletcher is a nightmarish wild ride that keeps you asking "who's the good guy?" With gore galore, it'll satisfy all who need a good slash-read fix. Sick and twisted scientists/doctors abandon ethics and morals to fuel their own God Complexes, pulling outsiders into their webs in very different ways.
We all remember the line from Jurassic Park: "You spent so much time proving you can, you didn't stop to think if you should. " -something like that. Well most of the scientists in this novel are Hammond and his workers morally perverted cousins twice removed. Yep, Jurassic Park and Jigsaw a book baby!
Vividly written! Villains, protagonists, and tragic heroes leap off the page. And by the end, you may even question your own ethics and morals. -Lacey D.
We all remember the line from Jurassic Park: "You spent so much time proving you can, you didn't stop to think if you should. " -something like that. Well most of the scientists in this novel are Hammond and his workers morally perverted cousins twice removed. Yep, Jurassic Park and Jigsaw a book baby!
Vividly written! Villains, protagonists, and tragic heroes leap off the page. And by the end, you may even question your own ethics and morals. -Lacey D.
February 17, 2024
Ravens Creek is the 2023 novel by Australian horror author, David-Jack Fletcher. It follows Michael and husband, Geoff, on the search for their missing surrogate—she’s skipped town with their baby and could be in danger. Their search leads them to a shady motel situated in hole-in-the-wall place, Raven’s Creek (Hey, that’s the name of the book!). Tired and at the end of their rope, little do they know their night is only beginning. A harrowing series of events begin to unfold with dire consequences. The result? A predicament you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy. Their search descends into a waking nightmare. Finding themselves pitted against creatures beyond imagination, will they survive? What a fun ride this book was! It surprised me. I didn’t expect this level of action in a horror book. Filled with thrills and chills from the outset—and it didn’t let up. A real page turner. Well paced with intriguing characters and an equally intriguing plot. Kudos to Mr. Fletcher for turning out just a real solid novel. You’re in excellent hands here. Fletcher is an expert storyteller. All the story threads were neatly tied. I look forward to a re-read in the near future. I give it five out five ravens.
July 25, 2023
Welcome to Raven’s Creek! Passing through? Godspeed!
Need a place to stay the night? Uh-oh, you might be in trouble.
See, the only motel in town has sinister stuff going on. Better drive on, unless you have a dying wish.
You do? Alrighty then, get ready for the ride of your life!
With monsters aplenty, both human and not,
with buckets of gore and rivers of blood,
Fletcher paints a picture of greed and despair,
so dark and troubling, it’ll rob you of air.
Doctors without ethics, traffickers with no remorse,
cliffhangers and flashbacks, and yes, much more gore!
Witness the tale of modern Moreau,
where identity and morals are crushed blow-by-blow.
Readers of the extreme rejoice in the visceral,
but take care to notice the thread of love, the sacrificial.
Searching for justice? You won’t find it here,
instead, an abundance of cruelty and fear.
Trust me, dear reader, invest in this book,
you’ll be utterly creeped out or thoroughly hooked!
Need a place to stay the night? Uh-oh, you might be in trouble.
See, the only motel in town has sinister stuff going on. Better drive on, unless you have a dying wish.
You do? Alrighty then, get ready for the ride of your life!
With monsters aplenty, both human and not,
with buckets of gore and rivers of blood,
Fletcher paints a picture of greed and despair,
so dark and troubling, it’ll rob you of air.
Doctors without ethics, traffickers with no remorse,
cliffhangers and flashbacks, and yes, much more gore!
Witness the tale of modern Moreau,
where identity and morals are crushed blow-by-blow.
Readers of the extreme rejoice in the visceral,
but take care to notice the thread of love, the sacrificial.
Searching for justice? You won’t find it here,
instead, an abundance of cruelty and fear.
Trust me, dear reader, invest in this book,
you’ll be utterly creeped out or thoroughly hooked!
March 14, 2023
I recieved this ARC free for an honest review!
The plot(s) are a great! The waters got a bit muddied with the back and forth character/past-tense/present storylines and not all had a header, but it was well enough to follow. There was also little time to fall in love/hate characters. Still, I would read it again.
There's a few plot holes, but nothing end game.
I would like a page of a blueprint for the set up of the main scene if I owned a physical copy. Probably in the back of the book so as to not give spoilers. I got a bit confused with the layout.
Overall, excellent read. Some concepts are old school but told well.
The plot(s) are a great! The waters got a bit muddied with the back and forth character/past-tense/present storylines and not all had a header, but it was well enough to follow. There was also little time to fall in love/hate characters. Still, I would read it again.
There's a few plot holes, but nothing end game.
I would like a page of a blueprint for the set up of the main scene if I owned a physical copy. Probably in the back of the book so as to not give spoilers. I got a bit confused with the layout.
Overall, excellent read. Some concepts are old school but told well.
October 25, 2025
Found myself skimming over a chapter here and there once got into it. Found them not warranted in the story. Main characters were disappointing in the end considering what they went through in the book. Put the book down a few times and hard to get back into maybe just the premise of the book wasn’t my cup of tea. Fair bit of gore and good theme on the basis of the science behind it. Prefer other horror books
March 22, 2024
I had to DNF not even halfway through. not only was the quad pov unbalanced and beyond hard to understand, there was little to no context between the different povs at all. great concept, but they were definitely doing to much in too little time for it to be an enjoyable read.
July 9, 2023
There are more monsters than you think in Raven’s Creek. Who can be trusted? Can the man made monsters actually feel pain, grief, anger? Do the human monsters? Can a man REALLY be a god? Live forever? What are the consequences of trying to do so? How far is one willing to go to cure Parkinson’s, or even become immortal?
This book is not for those with a light stomach. Be prepared to question your own morals, what you consider right and wrong, and how far you would go to protect yourself and your own humanity?
This book is not for those with a light stomach. Be prepared to question your own morals, what you consider right and wrong, and how far you would go to protect yourself and your own humanity?
April 26, 2024
A rollercoaster ride whose ending would have been served with a bit less flashback early on.
August 21, 2023
This is a gory, brutal, action packed novel about science gone rogue and the monstrosities created when that happens.
This is a mad scientist book, really, but for our modern times. Genetics, DNA, and cell manipulation are being researched by a doctor and his protoge. But when funding is refused for their fringe research, they decide to go it alone with horrifying results.
Geoff and Michael are a married couple looking for a surrogate to give them a child. They find Rose and choose her and everything seems fine. Until it's not.
We'll find out why Rose absconded with their baby before birth and why they're tracking her down but they'll all wind up at a motel in Ravens Creek. And nobody ever leaves this motel!
The atrocities committed on human beings in the name of science are at the forefront of this novel. Hideous, deformed, terrifying creatures that were once humans and are now used as killing machines in an underground lair.
This book is very bloody and violent but it also has a compelling story with multiple characters and timelines. There are secrets to be revealed in this book, including a shocking one at the end that you won't see coming.
If you're a fan of action filled, creature feature, disturbing bloody novels, I recommend this book!
This is a mad scientist book, really, but for our modern times. Genetics, DNA, and cell manipulation are being researched by a doctor and his protoge. But when funding is refused for their fringe research, they decide to go it alone with horrifying results.
Geoff and Michael are a married couple looking for a surrogate to give them a child. They find Rose and choose her and everything seems fine. Until it's not.
We'll find out why Rose absconded with their baby before birth and why they're tracking her down but they'll all wind up at a motel in Ravens Creek. And nobody ever leaves this motel!
The atrocities committed on human beings in the name of science are at the forefront of this novel. Hideous, deformed, terrifying creatures that were once humans and are now used as killing machines in an underground lair.
This book is very bloody and violent but it also has a compelling story with multiple characters and timelines. There are secrets to be revealed in this book, including a shocking one at the end that you won't see coming.
If you're a fan of action filled, creature feature, disturbing bloody novels, I recommend this book!
December 10, 2023
A concoction of classics!
This is a fun book. It's pieces of so many great things glued together in an original way. It's Strangers, Squid Games, Dr. Moreau, Way of the Gun, and more with an LGBT theme and a cast of intriguing characters, and an array of original monsters. I saw the twist coming from the beginning but I wasn't upset because it's a delicious twist. I would have been more disappointed if it had been a red herring.
I think the real impact of this book comes from just how insanely difficult it is for gay men to adopt a baby. They are made to advertise and sell themselves and find their own surrogates and even after the birth the woman has time to change her mind. Its cruel and often embarrassing. It comes with horrors of its own that I've seen with people close to me in real life. The book is extreme with its violence and monsters and altered DNA but I think it still makes a statement. The book is about how far Michael and Geoff are willing to go just to get what so many others get so easily even when they don't want or appreciate it. When the book is finished, there's a much deeper conversation to be had.
This is a fun book. It's pieces of so many great things glued together in an original way. It's Strangers, Squid Games, Dr. Moreau, Way of the Gun, and more with an LGBT theme and a cast of intriguing characters, and an array of original monsters. I saw the twist coming from the beginning but I wasn't upset because it's a delicious twist. I would have been more disappointed if it had been a red herring.
I think the real impact of this book comes from just how insanely difficult it is for gay men to adopt a baby. They are made to advertise and sell themselves and find their own surrogates and even after the birth the woman has time to change her mind. Its cruel and often embarrassing. It comes with horrors of its own that I've seen with people close to me in real life. The book is extreme with its violence and monsters and altered DNA but I think it still makes a statement. The book is about how far Michael and Geoff are willing to go just to get what so many others get so easily even when they don't want or appreciate it. When the book is finished, there's a much deeper conversation to be had.
October 6, 2023
As much as I wanted to love this book I couldn't continue reading.
At some point I felt like I was reading 2 different books.
I found it hard to remember what I'd read as there were flashbacks going on in the current story.
Made it to 60% then gave up.
2/5
At some point I felt like I was reading 2 different books.
I found it hard to remember what I'd read as there were flashbacks going on in the current story.
Made it to 60% then gave up.
2/5
May 15, 2024
(Rounded up from 4 1/2)
I loved most everything that Raven's Creek offered, but I absolutely wish there had been more of it.
The opening of this is so strong. I started this right before my crazy ARC/review season so I had to put it down and I was worried I'd have to start over by the time I was able to pick it back up. Fortunately, I remembered exactly where I was because it had me so hooked. I had no trouble slipping back into the story.
I think this book was so ambitious in the amount of things it decided to take on. I saw in a couple of the other reviews that some readers felt the different perspectives/subplots should have been more interconnected, but I really resonated with the presentation. There are all these disturbing threads that to me, tell the story of a place more than of any one individual character. It made the setting feel much stronger and more lived in, which added a much needed element of grounding to these highly speculative situations.
The one complaint I did have was that the perspective chapters that interested me most, seemed to be the ones that got the least attention. The same sort of went for characters? I felt like there was a lot of time and exposition given to certain elements of the story that I like to think I could have picked up from context, whereas I definitely wanted to see more into the minds of characters who felt less explored. I suppose that's always the case with stories that have multiple POVs, we want to see more of the ones that we like best.
Otherwise, I thought the story was exceptional. It played with a lot of interesting concepts, it was unafraid to venture into dark territory, and I think the writing was very engaging. I knew from reading Fletcher's short fiction that I was a fan of his style, but I'm glad to see that translates to long form horror as well. I can't wait to read more.
I loved most everything that Raven's Creek offered, but I absolutely wish there had been more of it.
The opening of this is so strong. I started this right before my crazy ARC/review season so I had to put it down and I was worried I'd have to start over by the time I was able to pick it back up. Fortunately, I remembered exactly where I was because it had me so hooked. I had no trouble slipping back into the story.
I think this book was so ambitious in the amount of things it decided to take on. I saw in a couple of the other reviews that some readers felt the different perspectives/subplots should have been more interconnected, but I really resonated with the presentation. There are all these disturbing threads that to me, tell the story of a place more than of any one individual character. It made the setting feel much stronger and more lived in, which added a much needed element of grounding to these highly speculative situations.
The one complaint I did have was that the perspective chapters that interested me most, seemed to be the ones that got the least attention. The same sort of went for characters? I felt like there was a lot of time and exposition given to certain elements of the story that I like to think I could have picked up from context, whereas I definitely wanted to see more into the minds of characters who felt less explored. I suppose that's always the case with stories that have multiple POVs, we want to see more of the ones that we like best.
Otherwise, I thought the story was exceptional. It played with a lot of interesting concepts, it was unafraid to venture into dark territory, and I think the writing was very engaging. I knew from reading Fletcher's short fiction that I was a fan of his style, but I'm glad to see that translates to long form horror as well. I can't wait to read more.
November 9, 2023
I’m not even going to lie, I think this is my favourite read of 2023.
I’ll keep the story part brief, because I went in blind other than the blurb on the back and I honestly think that this helped me enjoy it so much more. (Namely because at every single turn I did NOT know where the story was going to go!)
Briefly – a gay couple are trying to find the surrogate who is carrying their child. They follow her to a motel in Raven Creek. Then all hell breaks loose.
that’s as much as you need to know.
The characters in this were unreal! Every single one of them were flawed, they were heroic, they were goodies and villains. I’m on a whole LGBTQI+ horror kick this year and one thing that I loved about Raven Creek was that they gay couple at the centre of the story were just a couple and they were just as flawed as every other character. (Just like you know….real people!)
The gore and blood shed in the book were brilliantly written and when the blood flows – it explodes! This is part thriller, part creature feature, part family drama and a whole lot more.
It’s just shy of 400 pages (I think), so it’s a hefty read, but I honestly couldn’t put it down once I started. This is one of those books that I am probably going to bore everyone to death with for the next few months when people ask me for a recommendation, but for me, it really was one of the best horror books I’ve read this year.
5/5 from me!
I’ll keep the story part brief, because I went in blind other than the blurb on the back and I honestly think that this helped me enjoy it so much more. (Namely because at every single turn I did NOT know where the story was going to go!)
Briefly – a gay couple are trying to find the surrogate who is carrying their child. They follow her to a motel in Raven Creek. Then all hell breaks loose.
that’s as much as you need to know.
The characters in this were unreal! Every single one of them were flawed, they were heroic, they were goodies and villains. I’m on a whole LGBTQI+ horror kick this year and one thing that I loved about Raven Creek was that they gay couple at the centre of the story were just a couple and they were just as flawed as every other character. (Just like you know….real people!)
The gore and blood shed in the book were brilliantly written and when the blood flows – it explodes! This is part thriller, part creature feature, part family drama and a whole lot more.
It’s just shy of 400 pages (I think), so it’s a hefty read, but I honestly couldn’t put it down once I started. This is one of those books that I am probably going to bore everyone to death with for the next few months when people ask me for a recommendation, but for me, it really was one of the best horror books I’ve read this year.
5/5 from me!
December 17, 2023
A highly Entertaining Horror!
How far would you go to realise your dreams and ambitions?
To save the ones you love? To find a cure for cancer and countless other diseases?
Raven’s Creek isn’t just another isolated roadside motel/psycho story but something that delves deeper into some of life’s bigger questions. It’s also part creature feature meets body horror. And blood? Well there’s plenty of that too. These are the things I really enjoyed about this book.
Each character is driven by their own purpose and backstory which makes the events throughout all the more enticing. So if you’re looking for a highly entertaining horror with twists and turns galore, then I definitely recommend David -Jack Fletcher’s Raven’s Creek. 5/5.
How far would you go to realise your dreams and ambitions?
To save the ones you love? To find a cure for cancer and countless other diseases?
Raven’s Creek isn’t just another isolated roadside motel/psycho story but something that delves deeper into some of life’s bigger questions. It’s also part creature feature meets body horror. And blood? Well there’s plenty of that too. These are the things I really enjoyed about this book.
Each character is driven by their own purpose and backstory which makes the events throughout all the more enticing. So if you’re looking for a highly entertaining horror with twists and turns galore, then I definitely recommend David -Jack Fletcher’s Raven’s Creek. 5/5.
August 3, 2023
Do you like monsters (both literally and figurately)? Do you like gore? Do you like Saw? Do you like psychological games? If you said yes to any of these then this is the book for you. It's a wild, fast paced and unique ride and it hit all the right notes for me to make it one of my favourite reads of the year.
The story follows a couple Michael and Geoff who are trying to follow up on the disappearance of their surrogate mother and baby and find themselves at a hotel where not everything is as it seems and what lays beneath the surface is more horrible then can be imagined.
The story takes the reader through a journey that doesn't let up and has some unexpected surprises along the way.
The story structure and pacing keeps the reader highly entertained and there's no filler which is impressive with a novel this size.
Definitely well worth your time, I look forward to more of what David-Jack Fletcher has to offer in the future.
The story follows a couple Michael and Geoff who are trying to follow up on the disappearance of their surrogate mother and baby and find themselves at a hotel where not everything is as it seems and what lays beneath the surface is more horrible then can be imagined.
The story takes the reader through a journey that doesn't let up and has some unexpected surprises along the way.
The story structure and pacing keeps the reader highly entertained and there's no filler which is impressive with a novel this size.
Definitely well worth your time, I look forward to more of what David-Jack Fletcher has to offer in the future.
April 20, 2024
Pure Carnage
What appears to be a simple motel is in reality the sight of monsters, mutants, and psychopathic scientists. I read the first chapter of this novel with my mouth agape. When you can do that to your reader, it’s possible that you’ve got a strong story. Gruesome from start to finish, this book did not curtail the violence, shock, and gore. Some of the carnage was a little over the top, but horror fans will want to know how this turns out. The twist at the end was certainly a surprise, although I was hoping for a different conclusion. Well written and highly recommended for die-hard horror fanatics.
What appears to be a simple motel is in reality the sight of monsters, mutants, and psychopathic scientists. I read the first chapter of this novel with my mouth agape. When you can do that to your reader, it’s possible that you’ve got a strong story. Gruesome from start to finish, this book did not curtail the violence, shock, and gore. Some of the carnage was a little over the top, but horror fans will want to know how this turns out. The twist at the end was certainly a surprise, although I was hoping for a different conclusion. Well written and highly recommended for die-hard horror fanatics.
March 21, 2023
I was given an ARC of this novel in return for my opinion on the book.
Without including spoilers... I enjoyed this book! I thought it was fun, a bit wild, and I definitely couldn't wait to see where it was going!
It was a lot of different ideas put together way better than i thought they could've worked together in any other setting.
There were some bits that were confusing with the timeline, and there were some instances of what i thought were continuity errors, but they were resolved further into the book with the time jumping.
Overall, i enjoyed it and it's worth a read!
Without including spoilers... I enjoyed this book! I thought it was fun, a bit wild, and I definitely couldn't wait to see where it was going!
It was a lot of different ideas put together way better than i thought they could've worked together in any other setting.
There were some bits that were confusing with the timeline, and there were some instances of what i thought were continuity errors, but they were resolved further into the book with the time jumping.
Overall, i enjoyed it and it's worth a read!
May 5, 2023
I was lucky enough to have received this as an ARC from the author. I really enjoyed this book. It definitely had some twists that I didn't see coming. I liked that it had some Sci fi feels mixed in with the horror. The only thing i didnt enjoy about this book was all the jumping back and forth from past to present. It confused me at some parts but was still good to understand a bit of a back story for some of the characters. I would definitely be interested in reading a sequel to this book. It was a fun read and think everyone should add it to their tbr now!
October 15, 2023
Raven’s Creek by David-Jack Fletcher starts out brutal with body horror and then flips to a creature feature. It’s completely disturbing yet fascinating and nothing is as it seems. It will have you wondering who the real monsters are as the backstory of each character involved is peppered through the pages of this book. These details with have you questioning everything and everyone.
Raven’s Creek is the perfect concoction of madness. Where the line to morals and ethics is not just crossed but shattered.
Raven’s Creek is the perfect concoction of madness. Where the line to morals and ethics is not just crossed but shattered.
November 30, 2023
I agree with other reviews about the jumping timeline, it was unnecessary to get everyone's POV and I felt that Michael and Geoff were absolutely insufferable (not because of what they did to Rose, but simply based on how whiny they were)
I managed to skim through the rest of the book at around 71% and honestly was upset that Edmonds did not ''win'' because with what the book was giving me, I was rooting for him to end them all.
I really wished they focused more on being descriptive in terms of the gore and focus less on giving us POVs.
I managed to skim through the rest of the book at around 71% and honestly was upset that Edmonds did not ''win'' because with what the book was giving me, I was rooting for him to end them all.
I really wished they focused more on being descriptive in terms of the gore and focus less on giving us POVs.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 4, 2023
*** I received this ARC for an honest review***
Raven's Creek was an amazing read! If you are in the mood for surprises around every corner, brutality, gore, monsters and mad scientists then this book is the one for you. This book takes multiple concepts and brings them all together perfectly. The author did a phenomenal job at building the characters along with the plot lines. Nothing is what you think but it is better than you can expect.
Raven's Creek was an amazing read! If you are in the mood for surprises around every corner, brutality, gore, monsters and mad scientists then this book is the one for you. This book takes multiple concepts and brings them all together perfectly. The author did a phenomenal job at building the characters along with the plot lines. Nothing is what you think but it is better than you can expect.
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