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Shiftling
"Captures the wonder of youth, and the loss of that magic, in a way that reminded me of some of Ray Bradbury’s works and IT by Stephen King."
—Josef Hernandez, Examiner
One summer in 1985, the funfair came to the sleepy rural town of Ashthorpe, and with it the smells of hot dogs and candy floss, the allure of magicians and the Big Wheel, and the sounds of young girls giggling. But what promised to be the highlight of the season for a band of teenage boys soon turns to tragedy.
Years later, when Drew receives a mysterious phone call, he learns one of the most important lessons life has to the past can never be forgotten.
For the past wears many faces, and some of them are drenched in blood.
"Shiftling is a story of two stories, that meld together to form a brilliant, exciting and emotional story, that will appeal to all readers of dark fiction."
—Jim McLeod, Ginger Nuts of Horror
"A novella of staggering power and depth that not only will affect you emotionally, it will most likely leave you running to turn the lights on."
—Peter Schwotzer, Literary Mayhem
—Josef Hernandez, Examiner
One summer in 1985, the funfair came to the sleepy rural town of Ashthorpe, and with it the smells of hot dogs and candy floss, the allure of magicians and the Big Wheel, and the sounds of young girls giggling. But what promised to be the highlight of the season for a band of teenage boys soon turns to tragedy.
Years later, when Drew receives a mysterious phone call, he learns one of the most important lessons life has to the past can never be forgotten.
For the past wears many faces, and some of them are drenched in blood.
"Shiftling is a story of two stories, that meld together to form a brilliant, exciting and emotional story, that will appeal to all readers of dark fiction."
—Jim McLeod, Ginger Nuts of Horror
"A novella of staggering power and depth that not only will affect you emotionally, it will most likely leave you running to turn the lights on."
—Peter Schwotzer, Literary Mayhem
102 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 30, 2013
1 person is currently reading
77 people want to read
About the author
Steven Savile
246 books250 followersSteven Savile (born October 12, 1969, in Newcastle, England) is a British fantasy, horror and thriller writer, and editor living in Sala, Sweden.
Under the Ronan Frost penname (inspired by the hero of his bestselling novel, Silver) he has also written the action thriller White Peak, and as Matt Langley was a finalist for the People's Book Prize.
Under the Ronan Frost penname (inspired by the hero of his bestselling novel, Silver) he has also written the action thriller White Peak, and as Matt Langley was a finalist for the People's Book Prize.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
August 8, 2013
We call them carnivals in the United States, they are known as funfairs across the pond, but they are synonymous with horror everywhere. Based on the cover art, I expected the carnival to be the principal setting and, well, you need to read this to find out!
This horror novella is told through a series of flashbacks and present day scenes, from 1985 when the first person narrator, Drew, and his friends enjoy the carnival/funfair arrival in town and a present day police interrogation. Tragedy struck in 1985 and here we go again.
The story unravels like layers of an onion being peeled away with a scalpel's precision. There isn't a writer behind a story like this, only a skilled surgeon operating on the reader's brain. Every scene reels the reader closer to learning what really happened in 1985 and could be happening again in the present day.
Reading this is like solving a Rubik's cube of horror. Seasoned horror readers will likely figure it out before the ending, but it's still as much fun as riding the Ferris Wheel (Big Wheel); you know that getting to the top will come around again.
(Sidenote: found this a clever way of illustrating the cyclical nature of time)
I enjoy reading stories that twist my mind in different directions wondering what or who is the real monster. SHIFTLING is one of those rare horror reads that takes familiar horror components and blends them in a unique way. Those that enjoy a good mystery-horror hybrid will be unable to stop turning the pages to the end.
As mentioned earlier, the ending doesn't build to any huge reveal, which would have made this a perfect 5-star read for me, but it's a very strong 4.5 stars and highly recommended. Another glimmering star in the published by DarkFuse sky. 1,792 Kindle locations.
This horror novella is told through a series of flashbacks and present day scenes, from 1985 when the first person narrator, Drew, and his friends enjoy the carnival/funfair arrival in town and a present day police interrogation. Tragedy struck in 1985 and here we go again.
The story unravels like layers of an onion being peeled away with a scalpel's precision. There isn't a writer behind a story like this, only a skilled surgeon operating on the reader's brain. Every scene reels the reader closer to learning what really happened in 1985 and could be happening again in the present day.
Reading this is like solving a Rubik's cube of horror. Seasoned horror readers will likely figure it out before the ending, but it's still as much fun as riding the Ferris Wheel (Big Wheel); you know that getting to the top will come around again.
(Sidenote: found this a clever way of illustrating the cyclical nature of time)
I enjoy reading stories that twist my mind in different directions wondering what or who is the real monster. SHIFTLING is one of those rare horror reads that takes familiar horror components and blends them in a unique way. Those that enjoy a good mystery-horror hybrid will be unable to stop turning the pages to the end.
As mentioned earlier, the ending doesn't build to any huge reveal, which would have made this a perfect 5-star read for me, but it's a very strong 4.5 stars and highly recommended. Another glimmering star in the published by DarkFuse sky. 1,792 Kindle locations.
October 23, 2013
If average is expected, average can be good enough. From reviews of my friends I didn't really expect much from this one and was in no way disappointed. Decent, though familiar, story about a group of boys who find a creature in a spooky place and the ramifications they have to deal with 25 years later. The writing was ok, the plotting better, the author did a good job of telling the story by unpeeling layers, alternating between the past and the present, like a time machine onion of a storytelling device. More creature backstory/effects would have been welcome. Not amazing, but pretty good quick read. Bonus points for a carnival setting for part of the story.
August 12, 2013
SHIFTLING is the first book I've read by Steven Savile. His writing style and the dialogue he uses captured me immediately. His words are so "real"--vivid in the sense that while you're in his world, there are no doubts that everything he is describing is actually happening. At one point in the second third of the story, Savile writes that, "There are two kinds of people in the world.....those that shine at school, and can genuinely say that they were the best days of their lives.....Then there are others who weren't so blessed.....They didn't quite fit into their own skin...., and they had to grow into who they were." This was just one example of the almost lyrical, thought provoking prose that comprises this novella.
The story goes back and forth between events that transpired in 1985, and in the "present". In this novella, the technique was very effective in conveying necessary information without ever becoing frustrating. It was balanced so well that the end result seemed nearly seamless in its narration.
Another hit from the Dark Fuse novella line!
Highly recommended!
The story goes back and forth between events that transpired in 1985, and in the "present". In this novella, the technique was very effective in conveying necessary information without ever becoing frustrating. It was balanced so well that the end result seemed nearly seamless in its narration.
Another hit from the Dark Fuse novella line!
Highly recommended!
September 23, 2013
Drew and his friends need money to go to the fair so, they end up going around town offering to do yard work. One of the boys goes to the "creepy" neighbor's house and comes out a changed person. The "gift" he was given changes their lives forever; starting at the fair.
This is one of those books where the main character's mind plays tricks on him. You can't believe what he says so, there's guessing needed. But, with this read everything seems to be laid out for you. I'm conflicted as the climatic scenes were over in no time without much "hooplah." I don't feel elated nor deflated. I wasn't expecting much.
It was a good middle-of-the-road read.
This is one of those books where the main character's mind plays tricks on him. You can't believe what he says so, there's guessing needed. But, with this read everything seems to be laid out for you. I'm conflicted as the climatic scenes were over in no time without much "hooplah." I don't feel elated nor deflated. I wasn't expecting much.
It was a good middle-of-the-road read.
September 1, 2013
3.5 stars.
This novella didn't speak to me. I'm not sure why.
I love the carnival setting -it's worked for me in several of my favorite books, but only a small piece of this took took place at the carnival.
I also loved the portions from 1985, but I didn't get a lot of the pop culture references because most of them were English. I was familiar with some of the bands, but not many. In reference to an old radio(?), a character said it reminded him of Blake's 7. I have no idea what that is.
I couldn't help but make comparisons to Stephen King's IT. I remember the kids playing in the Barrens in that book, in this one it's the Batters. I also couldn't help but compare it to Something Wicked This Way Comes. In both comparisons, this novella came up a little short.
It sounds like I disliked this story, but I didn't. The characters were decent, the pacing was good, and I did like the horrific premise. It's just those comparisons I couldn't help but make, that brought this rating to 3.5.
This novella didn't speak to me. I'm not sure why.
I love the carnival setting -it's worked for me in several of my favorite books, but only a small piece of this took took place at the carnival.
I also loved the portions from 1985, but I didn't get a lot of the pop culture references because most of them were English. I was familiar with some of the bands, but not many. In reference to an old radio(?), a character said it reminded him of Blake's 7. I have no idea what that is.
I couldn't help but make comparisons to Stephen King's IT. I remember the kids playing in the Barrens in that book, in this one it's the Batters. I also couldn't help but compare it to Something Wicked This Way Comes. In both comparisons, this novella came up a little short.
It sounds like I disliked this story, but I didn't. The characters were decent, the pacing was good, and I did like the horrific premise. It's just those comparisons I couldn't help but make, that brought this rating to 3.5.
July 30, 2014
This is my first time reading anything by Savile and I was thoroughly impressed. The story starts in 1985 with Drew and his friends trying to gather up money to go to the local fair by doing odd jobs in the neighborhood. Scotty, the leader of the group, approached creepy Mr. Harrison but gets a key in return for the labor. Little did the boys know how much that key would impact their lives.
This was a quick entertaining read that kept me guessing until the end. The story flashes back and forth between 1985 and the present time which is usually annoying but Savile pulled it off wonderfully. Although I'm usually not a fan of stories told in the first person, again, Savile did an excellent job and I felt more connected to Drew by it. If you've never read anything by Savile, pick this up and read it to the end. Recommended!
This was a quick entertaining read that kept me guessing until the end. The story flashes back and forth between 1985 and the present time which is usually annoying but Savile pulled it off wonderfully. Although I'm usually not a fan of stories told in the first person, again, Savile did an excellent job and I felt more connected to Drew by it. If you've never read anything by Savile, pick this up and read it to the end. Recommended!
August 29, 2013
Just finished Shiftling, a very good quick read. This was one of the books I was looking forward to and it didn't disappoint. Now I'm going to dig out the books by SS that I have bought over the years and start reading them.
September 5, 2013
In 1985 the funfair arrives in the sleepy town of Ashthorpe and what promises to be a great summer for a gang of teenaged boys quickly turns into one of menace and tragedy. Years later, one of the boys - Drew - is called back to the town and realises that the past can never be forgotten - ‘for the past wears many faces and some of them are drenched in blood’. One of my favourite types of story is the coming-of-age tale and, with this, Savile (who, I should mention, I am friends with) has crafted one that works perfectly as a paean to the innocent loves and strong friendships of youth, whilst also examining how those states change as we get older. The cast of characters is relatively small - everything is told from Drew’s point of view - but all of them are clearly defined, even if it’s something as simple as a kid having freckles and red hair. Scotty was Drew’s best friend back in the day and it was those two that ventured onto The Batters (the town waste-ground), trying to find out where Old Man Harrison was dumping the dead cats and, instead, finding something much, much worse. With some impressive set-pieces, not least a kid called Spider on a big wheel and an ending that takes place in what appears to be Mrs Bates’ cellar, this has a pace and craft that literally pulls you along. As a respite from the story - it’s split between past and present day, with Drew also being interviewed by the police - he finally gets a chance with Rachel Corcoran, his unrequited love from his teens who now appears to be as damaged as he is and their tender moments are touchingly written. At one point she calls him “love” in a throwaway moment and there’s a wonderful passage where Drew imagines his teenaged self hearing it and I knew just how he felt, Savile had captured it perfectly. In addition, nostalgia is used wonderfully - and since Savile & I are the same age, our cultural reference points are the same - and builds a real sense of safety and comfort around the characters. In the 80s, who didn’t try to raise money by cleaning cars, who didn’t know the dance to Prince Charming or understand Blakes Seven and - around Rothwell, at least - who didn’t get called “you pilchard!” when they’d done something stupid. But all of this is just masking the fact that things are going to get very bad indeed and it’s nice to see the personification of that evil, the Shiftling of the title, being so well realised (is it really there?) with as much of its presence and physicality not told as is explained. A cracking story, told with great skill and affection, this is highly recommended.
October 3, 2013
Very interesting and very British horror/mystery/coming of age story. British writers really do well with supernatural mysteries and this one is a doozy. Great characters, both in their early years and later. A compelling mystery centered around unexplained and horrific events that happen to a group of young kids that draws them back in years later for resolution. Very strong sense of place and time and as I said the characters are expertly drawn. Steven Savile is one of the new writers for Darkfuse and I am grateful for the introduction to his fine work and am looking forward to reading more.
September 24, 2013
The Shiftling by Steven Savile alternates between two time periods. The first is during the youth of the main character, Drew, and his friends and the second is present day when the main character is middle aged and returns to his home town after being away for decades. Similar to novels like It by Stephen King which championed this type of plotline, something terrifying happened to the kids in 1985 which has haunted them ever since. In The Shiftling, Drew is returning home to visit his childhood friend Scotty who has been hospitalized in a psychiatric facility because of a mental health crisis. Of course, Drew – and the reader – knows that his illness is related somehow to the events that occurred in a fateful summer when they were 15 years-old. The story explores this series of supernatural events which forever altered the lives of the kids.
The novel is an engaging read. When we are in 1985, the perspective from a teenager is spot-on. The dialogue is believable; the brush strokes that created the characters are specific enough for the kids to have an identity of their own. Some of the action takes place at a traveling carnival at night, and those settings are naturally freakish. The atmosphere helps propel the story. As an aside, there are a number of references to British pop singers and groups which the author uses to anchor his story in 1985. None of them were familiar to me, so I could have lived without these references. There are a number of unsettling set pieces – something odd is happening in the house of an unsavory character, something horrible lives in the tunnels below the town, and there is the carnival itself. There is a scene involving a Ferris wheel which is quite imaginative which Mr. Savile uses to good effect.
Where the novel falters, I think, is in the present day narrative. I found this section more distracting and less absorbing. Minor characters play larger roles, and their presence doesn’t add much except distract the reader. There are a series of sections that involve a police interrogation. These aren’t convincing and the police officer’s demeanor changes unpredictably. By far, the passages involving the kids were considerably more interesting and gripping than the adult sections. The loss of focus on the teen experiences came with a cost to the narrative. I think the author should have maintained the storyline entirely in 1985 – even concluding the story within that time period. For me, that would have held the work together.
Altogether, I found The Shiftling to be a good read (about a 3.5) but not among the best from DarkFuse.
The novel is an engaging read. When we are in 1985, the perspective from a teenager is spot-on. The dialogue is believable; the brush strokes that created the characters are specific enough for the kids to have an identity of their own. Some of the action takes place at a traveling carnival at night, and those settings are naturally freakish. The atmosphere helps propel the story. As an aside, there are a number of references to British pop singers and groups which the author uses to anchor his story in 1985. None of them were familiar to me, so I could have lived without these references. There are a number of unsettling set pieces – something odd is happening in the house of an unsavory character, something horrible lives in the tunnels below the town, and there is the carnival itself. There is a scene involving a Ferris wheel which is quite imaginative which Mr. Savile uses to good effect.
Where the novel falters, I think, is in the present day narrative. I found this section more distracting and less absorbing. Minor characters play larger roles, and their presence doesn’t add much except distract the reader. There are a series of sections that involve a police interrogation. These aren’t convincing and the police officer’s demeanor changes unpredictably. By far, the passages involving the kids were considerably more interesting and gripping than the adult sections. The loss of focus on the teen experiences came with a cost to the narrative. I think the author should have maintained the storyline entirely in 1985 – even concluding the story within that time period. For me, that would have held the work together.
Altogether, I found The Shiftling to be a good read (about a 3.5) but not among the best from DarkFuse.
August 14, 2013
4.5 of 5 Stars
Kudos to the unsung hero(es) responsible for the cover design and cover art for Shiftling. Beautiful in it's own right and made more so with the way it ties in with this wonderful novella from Steven Savile and DarkFuse press.
Shiftling, which takes place in both 1985 and the present, starts off looking like a run of the mill coming of age story set right in the middle of the 80's, but somewhere along the way, the story becomes about monsters, of both the monstrous kind and the human kind.
When the story is set in '85, Steven Savile uses the music on the radio to help establish the times. With Savile being British and me being American, there were a number of bands/songs that were universally big and others that really never caught on in the good ol' USA. I found this to be a bit disconcerting, but I got the idea AND I never realized Bruce Willis was so big, as a singer, in the UK.
Another nice touch was the writer's use of a funfair or carnival as a backdrop for some of the story. Carnivals tend to creep me out. Ever since Bradbury's Something Wicked This Way Comes, carnivals have had a way of drawing me in and then scaring the bejesus out of me.
Spider, Scotty, Gazza, Ferret, and our story-teller, Drew, are the four principals who spend a summer afternoon washing cars and doing odd jobs to get enough cash to go to the funfair that's come to the commons in Ashthorpe. The last place they come to is Old Man Harrison's broken down house which sits just across from the commons. No one expected him to have a job for them, you see "Old Man Harrison is the archetypal creepy old hermit kids transform into vampires and cannibal child-eaters in their imaginations."
Scotty, however gets up the nerve to ask for work and, when he comes out of the house, convinces the gang to clean up the old man's property, but with no payment. And this is when things begin to get really weird.
Shiftling wasn't at all what I expected. Although it had me intrigued and creeped out out in no time, it took me in directions I didn't expect and didn't necessarily want to go.
Highly recommended and available now from DarkFuse press through Amazon.com
Kudos to the unsung hero(es) responsible for the cover design and cover art for Shiftling. Beautiful in it's own right and made more so with the way it ties in with this wonderful novella from Steven Savile and DarkFuse press.
Shiftling, which takes place in both 1985 and the present, starts off looking like a run of the mill coming of age story set right in the middle of the 80's, but somewhere along the way, the story becomes about monsters, of both the monstrous kind and the human kind.
When the story is set in '85, Steven Savile uses the music on the radio to help establish the times. With Savile being British and me being American, there were a number of bands/songs that were universally big and others that really never caught on in the good ol' USA. I found this to be a bit disconcerting, but I got the idea AND I never realized Bruce Willis was so big, as a singer, in the UK.
Another nice touch was the writer's use of a funfair or carnival as a backdrop for some of the story. Carnivals tend to creep me out. Ever since Bradbury's Something Wicked This Way Comes, carnivals have had a way of drawing me in and then scaring the bejesus out of me.
Spider, Scotty, Gazza, Ferret, and our story-teller, Drew, are the four principals who spend a summer afternoon washing cars and doing odd jobs to get enough cash to go to the funfair that's come to the commons in Ashthorpe. The last place they come to is Old Man Harrison's broken down house which sits just across from the commons. No one expected him to have a job for them, you see "Old Man Harrison is the archetypal creepy old hermit kids transform into vampires and cannibal child-eaters in their imaginations."
Scotty, however gets up the nerve to ask for work and, when he comes out of the house, convinces the gang to clean up the old man's property, but with no payment. And this is when things begin to get really weird.
Shiftling wasn't at all what I expected. Although it had me intrigued and creeped out out in no time, it took me in directions I didn't expect and didn't necessarily want to go.
Highly recommended and available now from DarkFuse press through Amazon.com
August 19, 2013
Steven Savile's Shiftling is a marvel and a must-read for anyone who feels that the horror genre is something they've grown too comfortably familiar with over the years. This isn't a book that resorts to cheap shocks or over-the-top violence to jar you out of your complacency, though--rather, Savile is intent on setting up situations you already know and then, with an eye towards naturalistic plot development rather than postmodernism genre-toying specifically, overturning them. You think you know the essentials of a horror story that begins with a handful of boys eager to see the funfair--you think you know it even more after they discuss how much better it will be after dark. But Savile's novel gestures towards these genre tropes before moving in entirely unexpected directions, and when I got to chapter two, I blinked, sat back a moment, and then grinned: while there's pleasure in well-worn roads, there's a thrill to having your expectations turned against you. This is a story about boys, but it's also a story about men, and if men with haunted childhoods also sounds familiar to you, rest assured that Savile has new material there, as well.
Appropriately for its title--and, without cheating, a certain aspect of its subject matter--Shiftling mutates and melts throughout, and what you think you know often isn't what's true. Timelines become difficult to determine, identity becomes an uneasy possible fiction, and the seeming urgency of establishing what happened is less important than the need to live in a world where things do shift (and often without your permission). It's a great, unsettling ride through this particular dark tunnel.
Appropriately for its title--and, without cheating, a certain aspect of its subject matter--Shiftling mutates and melts throughout, and what you think you know often isn't what's true. Timelines become difficult to determine, identity becomes an uneasy possible fiction, and the seeming urgency of establishing what happened is less important than the need to live in a world where things do shift (and often without your permission). It's a great, unsettling ride through this particular dark tunnel.
October 5, 2013
I read this book as one of the Darkfuse books of the month. Drew and his friends are trying to get enough money together to enjoy the funfair that is visiting their small town. They offer to do odd jobs around their neighbourhood including the local 'boogeyman', Mr Harrison. One of the boys, Scotty, receives something from Mr Harrison that leads to a traumatic experience, the event is still affecting their lives 25 years later.This story is told in two parts, through flashbacks to 1985 and in the present day. I was really drawn in by the story, I enjoyed Mr Saville's writing and was surprised at how quickly I got through the read. The plot kept me guessing up to the end. I did become concerned that it might start to unravel around the 3/4 mark but the author kept the plot tightly paced, pushing the story to a great finish. I've got more of this author's work lined up on my tbr and after reading this I'm really looking forward to sampling more of his work.Highly recommended.
September 10, 2013
This is the story of four friends. The carnival is coming to town and they decide to do odd jobs around the village to raise money for tickets. All goes well until they get to 'Old Man Harrisons' house. Suddenly life will never be the same again. Secrets will be hidden and traumas laid bare. Many years later those secrets will be revealed and the truths may be more than anyone can handle.
This read as a rites of passage/coming of age book very much in the vein of IT or Stand by Me. I enjoyed those and I enjoyed this just as much. The twin storylines were a brilliant idea and the convergence at the end made everything make sense. The setting of 1985 was a good one for me as I was a teenager then so I could identify with much of the history of that time. I loved the choices of music at the carnival, some of my favourite bands were played! This is another 5 star release from DarkFuse, may they keep on coming!
This read as a rites of passage/coming of age book very much in the vein of IT or Stand by Me. I enjoyed those and I enjoyed this just as much. The twin storylines were a brilliant idea and the convergence at the end made everything make sense. The setting of 1985 was a good one for me as I was a teenager then so I could identify with much of the history of that time. I loved the choices of music at the carnival, some of my favourite bands were played! This is another 5 star release from DarkFuse, may they keep on coming!
September 23, 2013
Drew and friends are innocent teens in 1985. The are all set to have fun at the Fun Fair but they need to earn some money. So when they clean Old Man Harrison's yard, Scotty spends time inside. He convinces Drew that something evil is living under the grate at the commons and they need to kill it. Then tragedy strikes one of their friends and they think it over until Drew is asked to return to town 20 years later to see Scotty who is in an institution and asking for him.
Creepy development Stephen King-ish treatment of teens vs. evil. A very good read
Creepy development Stephen King-ish treatment of teens vs. evil. A very good read
August 19, 2013
Very good coming of age story. Keeps one guessing until the end. Recommended.
June 1, 2024
This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 3.5 of 5
Middle-aged Drew returns to his British home after receiving a call that his childhood friend, Scotty, has been hospitalized in a mental institute. Drew knows that it must be connected to an event when the boys were 15, back in the mid-1980s. Visiting now coughs up the memories when a group of boys were excited at the idea of having the carnival (funfair) in town. In order to spend some time at the carnival, the friends need to make some money so they go around town doing odd jobs. At the home of one of the town's creepier citizens, one young lad returns a 'changed' individual.
The town itself has an edge to it (the boys want to catch Old Man Harrison, who has over 100 cats in his home, dumping dead cats somewhere) and once you toss in a carnival you get the perfect setting for a dark, foreboding horror story, not unlike something Stephen King or Peter Straub might write.
Here, author Steven Savile captures the youth of 1985 quite well. Though many of the British pop references pass me by this isn't unlike Stranger Things but on the other side of the pond. (Note: this book was published nearly ten years before Stranger Things hit the airwaves.)
The book shifts (no pun intended) time frames - rotating between 'present day' and 1985. Of course this helps us be present for the incidents of '85 which are silently acknowledged in the present day, rather than being told the story. But it's the story of the teens that really is most interesting and the guilt and fear and horror of the middle-aged men is generally underwhelming. The past can never be forgotten. We get it.
I did really like the characters (at both ages we see them) and the general setting was nice, though it did seem just a bit stereotypical and stale.
Looking for a good book? Shiftling by Steven Savile is a strong, character-driven horror tale, perfect for fans of the genre and looking for something that you generally won't find on the bestseller rack.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Middle-aged Drew returns to his British home after receiving a call that his childhood friend, Scotty, has been hospitalized in a mental institute. Drew knows that it must be connected to an event when the boys were 15, back in the mid-1980s. Visiting now coughs up the memories when a group of boys were excited at the idea of having the carnival (funfair) in town. In order to spend some time at the carnival, the friends need to make some money so they go around town doing odd jobs. At the home of one of the town's creepier citizens, one young lad returns a 'changed' individual.
The town itself has an edge to it (the boys want to catch Old Man Harrison, who has over 100 cats in his home, dumping dead cats somewhere) and once you toss in a carnival you get the perfect setting for a dark, foreboding horror story, not unlike something Stephen King or Peter Straub might write.
Here, author Steven Savile captures the youth of 1985 quite well. Though many of the British pop references pass me by this isn't unlike Stranger Things but on the other side of the pond. (Note: this book was published nearly ten years before Stranger Things hit the airwaves.)
The book shifts (no pun intended) time frames - rotating between 'present day' and 1985. Of course this helps us be present for the incidents of '85 which are silently acknowledged in the present day, rather than being told the story. But it's the story of the teens that really is most interesting and the guilt and fear and horror of the middle-aged men is generally underwhelming. The past can never be forgotten. We get it.
I did really like the characters (at both ages we see them) and the general setting was nice, though it did seem just a bit stereotypical and stale.
Looking for a good book? Shiftling by Steven Savile is a strong, character-driven horror tale, perfect for fans of the genre and looking for something that you generally won't find on the bestseller rack.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
November 22, 2020
Типическая история взросления, положенная на возвращение ГГ в родной город. Я хоумкаминг люблю и оттого даже излишняя сюжетная академичность меня здесь не сильно расстроила. Концовку, впрочем, можно было придумать и оригинальнее.
July 31, 2013
Review originally published here: http://www.iheartreading.net/reviews/...
Shiftling didn’t appeal all that much to me, at first glance. I’m not a huge fan of shifters in general, and the title suggested this would be another, albeit darker, werewolf story. But after reading a few more titles by the publisher, all of whom I enjoyed – some more than others – I was curious. Plus, seeing as this is a novella, I figured it would be a quick read.
Trust me, Shiftling isn’t about werewolves or anything at all. It’s far less cliché than that. However, the premise sounds like a bit of a cliché, I’ll give you that. Something happens during the summer of 1985 that continues to haunt the main character, Drew, until present day. Where have I heard that plot before? Oh, like in a bazillion other horror stories. Either way, I decided to read the book just for the heck of it, not expecting much.
Drew and his gang of friends, Scotty and Spider and some others who’s names I’ve already half-forgotten (they didn’t matter as much as the two mentioned) want to go to the fair. The year is 1985. Problem? They don’t have enough cash to go to the fair, so they start doing a bunch of odd jobs to get a sufficient amount of cash to go to the fair. One of these jobs includes working for Old Man Hamilton (okay, I’m not sure on his last name, I forgot, and I’m too lazy to check), an obscured, freaky old man who lives in a dilipidated building in the middle of nowhere. The old man agrees to have them tend his garden. For free. Which not everyone likes, but for some reason, Scotty, Drew and Spider agree to do it. Then Scotty gets a mysterious guy from the old man, and what ensures is a tale of darkness – of monsters and humans, of a past drenched in blood.
Mr. Savile manages to conjure a story that’s both dark and unsettling, but at the time starts of light and casual. It starts with introducing us to the main characters, and all seems nice and great. There’s a certain innocence to the young boys, a playfulness that seems lacking in today’s society. But the tone grows increasingly darker and more threatening. When Scotty and Drew confront the monster, their innocence is ripped away, and they’re left as mere shells of their former selves. The events that transpired have an effect on everyone, not just the boys in question. This novella has an astonishing amount of depth to it. The author manages to paint the gang of friends very convincly, as well as the strange events happening to them. The past is seen as something wonderful and amazing, but at the same time, dark and threatening.
The story may not be the most original, but the way Mr. Savile makes the characters and setting come to life is sublime. The monster encountered is convincing, and the effects on the present day life of the main characters, very unsettling. Well-written and thought-provoking, this novella is a must read for fans of dark fiction. My only pet pevee – and why I gave it a four as opposed to five star rating – is how easily I figured out what was going on, and the whole Spider business. I won’t say anything more as not to spoil anything, but that part of the book was a bit predictable.
Shiftling didn’t appeal all that much to me, at first glance. I’m not a huge fan of shifters in general, and the title suggested this would be another, albeit darker, werewolf story. But after reading a few more titles by the publisher, all of whom I enjoyed – some more than others – I was curious. Plus, seeing as this is a novella, I figured it would be a quick read.
Trust me, Shiftling isn’t about werewolves or anything at all. It’s far less cliché than that. However, the premise sounds like a bit of a cliché, I’ll give you that. Something happens during the summer of 1985 that continues to haunt the main character, Drew, until present day. Where have I heard that plot before? Oh, like in a bazillion other horror stories. Either way, I decided to read the book just for the heck of it, not expecting much.
Drew and his gang of friends, Scotty and Spider and some others who’s names I’ve already half-forgotten (they didn’t matter as much as the two mentioned) want to go to the fair. The year is 1985. Problem? They don’t have enough cash to go to the fair, so they start doing a bunch of odd jobs to get a sufficient amount of cash to go to the fair. One of these jobs includes working for Old Man Hamilton (okay, I’m not sure on his last name, I forgot, and I’m too lazy to check), an obscured, freaky old man who lives in a dilipidated building in the middle of nowhere. The old man agrees to have them tend his garden. For free. Which not everyone likes, but for some reason, Scotty, Drew and Spider agree to do it. Then Scotty gets a mysterious guy from the old man, and what ensures is a tale of darkness – of monsters and humans, of a past drenched in blood.
Mr. Savile manages to conjure a story that’s both dark and unsettling, but at the time starts of light and casual. It starts with introducing us to the main characters, and all seems nice and great. There’s a certain innocence to the young boys, a playfulness that seems lacking in today’s society. But the tone grows increasingly darker and more threatening. When Scotty and Drew confront the monster, their innocence is ripped away, and they’re left as mere shells of their former selves. The events that transpired have an effect on everyone, not just the boys in question. This novella has an astonishing amount of depth to it. The author manages to paint the gang of friends very convincly, as well as the strange events happening to them. The past is seen as something wonderful and amazing, but at the same time, dark and threatening.
The story may not be the most original, but the way Mr. Savile makes the characters and setting come to life is sublime. The monster encountered is convincing, and the effects on the present day life of the main characters, very unsettling. Well-written and thought-provoking, this novella is a must read for fans of dark fiction. My only pet pevee – and why I gave it a four as opposed to five star rating – is how easily I figured out what was going on, and the whole Spider business. I won’t say anything more as not to spoil anything, but that part of the book was a bit predictable.
September 30, 2013
If memories of your early teenage years remind you of having a good time with your friends at the fun fair and about adventures with your friends to places grownups seldom visit then Shiftling will provide a spin to this memory towards fear of the supernatural. I was delighted with the book. It both evokes a fear of the supernatural and the thriller of a good mystery story. If you are looking for the kind of setting where young boys find themselves getting deeper into trouble as they unravel the mysteries of an old house, its inhabitants and the dark things that can come to play in the dark then this book is a perfect fit for you.
The story begins in a well known setting where a group of young teenage boys decide to put their efforts to obtain enough money to spend at the fun fair that have just arrived in town. But what does happen when they decide to work for chores and the last house to visit is the typical haunted evil looking house no one has business to go there to begin with? There is the beginning of a mystery that Steven Sevile carefully unravels through the eyes of the youngsters. The story is told through the eyes of these boys in two different time frames. The past when they were teenagers and the present when some of them reunite to put an end to the evil they found as kids. Sounds like a familiar writing style? Yes indeed, but don't let this dissuade you from reading it. The author uses this writing technique well, keeping momentum and page turning flawlessly. Although the haunted house and the thing under the stairs theme has been explored many times before therefore making this a not very original theme, it is otherwise delivered with a fresh take that keeps the readers on their toes.
Although the ending is the expected confrontation of good vs evil, it is shockingly good and there is more than one moment when I was really scared out of my mind. In the end, you cannot go wrong with Mr. Savile book Shiftling.
The story begins in a well known setting where a group of young teenage boys decide to put their efforts to obtain enough money to spend at the fun fair that have just arrived in town. But what does happen when they decide to work for chores and the last house to visit is the typical haunted evil looking house no one has business to go there to begin with? There is the beginning of a mystery that Steven Sevile carefully unravels through the eyes of the youngsters. The story is told through the eyes of these boys in two different time frames. The past when they were teenagers and the present when some of them reunite to put an end to the evil they found as kids. Sounds like a familiar writing style? Yes indeed, but don't let this dissuade you from reading it. The author uses this writing technique well, keeping momentum and page turning flawlessly. Although the haunted house and the thing under the stairs theme has been explored many times before therefore making this a not very original theme, it is otherwise delivered with a fresh take that keeps the readers on their toes.
Although the ending is the expected confrontation of good vs evil, it is shockingly good and there is more than one moment when I was really scared out of my mind. In the end, you cannot go wrong with Mr. Savile book Shiftling.
October 28, 2013
One summer. One hair-raising secretive visit into underground tunnels. A group of boys forever changed.
I couldn't get Stephen King's "It" out of my mind while reading this. Not because there is a creepy clown in these tunnels, but the plot, atmosphere and the group of characters just felt so similar.
It took me a couple of chapters to really get into this story. I didn't connect immediately. But once I realized something sinister was afoot, I sat up and paid attention.
Now all grown up, Drew returns to the town of his childhood and old wounds are opened that he would rather leave in the past and forgotten. Though you can run from the past, you can't hide. And the truth comes to find Drew, whether he wants it or not.
But what exactly IS the truth?
Even I don't quite know. It is hard to distinguish fact from fiction in this story, because Drew himself can't seem to be certain of what really happened so many years ago.
This dark novella turned out to be a much more sinister and unpredictable storyline than I expected, on some levels. Muddy memories keep you guessing about what really happened that night in 1985 to these kids. Interesting quick read.
Review originally published on Bookluvrs Haven
** This was generously provided through Netgalley for an honest review. **
I couldn't get Stephen King's "It" out of my mind while reading this. Not because there is a creepy clown in these tunnels, but the plot, atmosphere and the group of characters just felt so similar.
It took me a couple of chapters to really get into this story. I didn't connect immediately. But once I realized something sinister was afoot, I sat up and paid attention.
Now all grown up, Drew returns to the town of his childhood and old wounds are opened that he would rather leave in the past and forgotten. Though you can run from the past, you can't hide. And the truth comes to find Drew, whether he wants it or not.
But what exactly IS the truth?
Even I don't quite know. It is hard to distinguish fact from fiction in this story, because Drew himself can't seem to be certain of what really happened so many years ago.
This dark novella turned out to be a much more sinister and unpredictable storyline than I expected, on some levels. Muddy memories keep you guessing about what really happened that night in 1985 to these kids. Interesting quick read.
Review originally published on Bookluvrs Haven
** This was generously provided through Netgalley for an honest review. **
September 22, 2013
I liked the concept of this story and always enjoy past and present type stories but there where a few things that bothered me. First off I hate books that describe the past and then later pretty much say that what I just read wasn't what really happens because it's been so long and his memory was fuzzy. When I read it, it said 1985 and not how I remember 1985 at the top of the chapters so I assume that the story I am being told is what happened. At the end of the book I didn't say to myself "wow what an awesome ending I never saw that coming!" Of course I didn't see it coming I was deliberately mislead with a false story. Also throughout the entire novella the cop is thinking he killed his buddy and not believing anything he says right? He even describes how he does a bad job of hiding that he don't believe what he is being told and wishes he could play poker with the guy and everything but then at the end he tells the cops he killed someone and they are just like we don't believe you your free to go. Seriously? Earlier he was trying to lure him into a lie about spider so he could prove he killed him but then he is just like naw you couldn't have killed him after he admits to it?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 25, 2013
I truly enjoyed the way the author chose to bring 1985 and the present together in separate chapters throughout the book and bring both together so smoothly at the end. Fascinating read!!!
Drew, in 1985, is 15 and a typical teenager. He and several of his friends work hard the day before funfair opens so that they have money to enjoy the games, goodies, and rides. There last stop is Mr. Harrison's house and only young Scotty is unafraid to ask for chores to do.
When Scotty returns he is in possession of an old key that opens a grate that is rumored to be the place where Mr. Harrison throws away his dead cats. Drew and Scotty decide to venture in and what they see and do will forever change their lives.
In the present, Scotty summons Drew to see him. After the visit Scotty himself disappears. For Drew, his haunting past has crept up with him and now he has no choice but to face the demons he thought he had buried 25 years earlier.
A recommended read for true horror lovers!
Drew, in 1985, is 15 and a typical teenager. He and several of his friends work hard the day before funfair opens so that they have money to enjoy the games, goodies, and rides. There last stop is Mr. Harrison's house and only young Scotty is unafraid to ask for chores to do.
When Scotty returns he is in possession of an old key that opens a grate that is rumored to be the place where Mr. Harrison throws away his dead cats. Drew and Scotty decide to venture in and what they see and do will forever change their lives.
In the present, Scotty summons Drew to see him. After the visit Scotty himself disappears. For Drew, his haunting past has crept up with him and now he has no choice but to face the demons he thought he had buried 25 years earlier.
A recommended read for true horror lovers!
September 7, 2013
I've always found the fair to be kind of creepy. Beyond very real worries about the structural integrity of rides that journey thousands of miles every year, there's something off-putting about the transitory nature of the whole affair.
That's not what Shiftling is about, though. The funfair is largely just a backdrop for part of the story. Rather, the story is about how traumas in childhood echo for the rest of a person's life. There are really two stories going on. One is about a literal monster and how it impacted the lives of Drew and his friends. The other story is about a human monster and how he impacted the lives of Drew and his friends. Is the literal monster something created by a damaged mind to protect against the truth? Or is the human monster a convenient, adult explanation for something that is otherwise beyond rational explanation?
The beauty of Shiftling is that each reader is going to come to their own conclusion to those questions, and for different reasons.
That's not what Shiftling is about, though. The funfair is largely just a backdrop for part of the story. Rather, the story is about how traumas in childhood echo for the rest of a person's life. There are really two stories going on. One is about a literal monster and how it impacted the lives of Drew and his friends. The other story is about a human monster and how he impacted the lives of Drew and his friends. Is the literal monster something created by a damaged mind to protect against the truth? Or is the human monster a convenient, adult explanation for something that is otherwise beyond rational explanation?
The beauty of Shiftling is that each reader is going to come to their own conclusion to those questions, and for different reasons.
September 5, 2013
This is one creepy little story, set in both 1985 and present. It's written well enough, and there are some pretty chilling parts. I like horror stories, but this one didn't do very much for me. There's nothing wrong with it, per se. I was still a little unclear on the whole thing about Spider Either way. This wasn't bad, but wasn't outstandingly good either. Solid 3 stars.
-I got this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review-
-I got this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review-
August 8, 2013
Shiftling was a very good DarkFuse novella by Steven Savile. His writing style is very crisp and clean.
I grew up right down the street from the local County Fair and really related to the sights and sounds of the funfair. The nostalgia seemed a bit forced at times, but it did not detract too much from the overall story, which was drawn out very well. I look forward to more from Mr. Savile.
I grew up right down the street from the local County Fair and really related to the sights and sounds of the funfair. The nostalgia seemed a bit forced at times, but it did not detract too much from the overall story, which was drawn out very well. I look forward to more from Mr. Savile.
August 14, 2013
Fabulous story of youth, friendship, love and the shadows that are probably somewhere in all of us. Told partly in flashback there is a strong nostalgic feel of a certain time when we were all young and not as wise as we are now. Maybe. As a group of friends discover on a summer they wont forget, there are monsters. And the monsters can sometimes come back.
September 14, 2013
This was a very thought provoking book. I really enjoyed the way he went from the past to the present revealing the story in tiny snippets. By the time the ending came I felt satisfied but I definitely had to think about it. It reminded me of a Gifune novel so that's a plus. I look forward to more from this author.
October 24, 2014
Shifting is a 'rite of manhood' story. The lives of 5 friends will be changed forever. This happens at a fun fair (carnival) where the 5 should just be having fun as young boys. But there is a dark side involved and it turns into a night of horror. For two of these 5, this horror carries over into their adult lives.
Shifting was a "I don't want to put down book".
Shifting was a "I don't want to put down book".
November 2, 2014
This is the first time reading a book by Savile and I found it to be pretty good. I found the start of the book was a little hard to get into but after a couple chapters it was harder to put down. I am going to recommend this book to read to everyone that likes reading this genre. I am going to start looking for more books by this author and see if they are as good as this one.
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