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What has been awakened is unbound. The Boy is getting his first taste of freedom. As their comrades fall, fear threatens to consume the survivors in part four of The Boy in the Iron Box.
Liev’s get his men out of this ancient stone prison, take their chances with the wolves, and descend the summit at first light. But in this snowbound hell, there’s soon to be a frightening new twist to survival.
From Academy Award–winning filmmaker Guillermo del Toro comes Risen, part four of The Boy in the Iron Box, a blood-chilling series of short stories about an ancient secret that was never meant to be unleashed, featuring exclusive interior artwork. Each can be read or listened to in one breathless sitting.
Liev’s get his men out of this ancient stone prison, take their chances with the wolves, and descend the summit at first light. But in this snowbound hell, there’s soon to be a frightening new twist to survival.
From Academy Award–winning filmmaker Guillermo del Toro comes Risen, part four of The Boy in the Iron Box, a blood-chilling series of short stories about an ancient secret that was never meant to be unleashed, featuring exclusive interior artwork. Each can be read or listened to in one breathless sitting.
24 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2024
632 people are currently reading
1172 people want to read
About the author
Guillermo del Toro
154 books5,028 followersGuillermo del Toro is a Mexican director mostly known for his acclaimed films Pan's Labyrinth, The Devils Backbone, Crimson Peak and the Hellboy film franchise. His films draw heavily on sources as diverse as weird fiction, fantasy, horror, and war. In 2009, Del Toro released his debut novel, The Strain, co-authored with Chuck Hogan, as the first part of The Strain Trilogy, an apocalyptic horror series featuring vampires. The series continued with The Fall in 2010 and concluded with The Night Eternal in 2011.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 164 reviews
July 28, 2024
Adding The Walking Dead to the Thing, The mummy and Prometheus vibes.
“It’s like we’re in another realm here. There’s almost a sense—of eternity.”
“What you’re telling me is—we’re screwed.”
This is the fourth installment of The Boy in the Iron Box book and so far, after their plane crash, the group of missionaries have found a shelter in a mysterious maze-like structure in the middle of nowhere.
They are in darkness and freezing cold and their radio is sabotaged.
Oh and they were set upon by hungry wolves, found an ancient iron box with a statue of a boy inside it and then when they opened the box again, somehow the boy was gone and one of their own men went missing.
We’re on our own here. But we’re not alone.
They say miracles happen, but sometimes ‘they’ couldn’t be more wrong.
Things are getting weirder, creepier and messier and I doubt any miracle would be forthcoming for this doomed group.
“It’s like we’re in another realm here. There’s almost a sense—of eternity.”
“What you’re telling me is—we’re screwed.”
This is the fourth installment of The Boy in the Iron Box book and so far, after their plane crash, the group of missionaries have found a shelter in a mysterious maze-like structure in the middle of nowhere.
They are in darkness and freezing cold and their radio is sabotaged.
Oh and they were set upon by hungry wolves, found an ancient iron box with a statue of a boy inside it and then when they opened the box again, somehow the boy was gone and one of their own men went missing.
We’re on our own here. But we’re not alone.
They say miracles happen, but sometimes ‘they’ couldn’t be more wrong.
Things are getting weirder, creepier and messier and I doubt any miracle would be forthcoming for this doomed group.
August 13, 2024
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this 6-part mini-series! It kicks off with a dead boy found in a box—a chilling start. But as the team tries to figure out what's going on, things take a dark and dangerous turn. Each short book is full of action and suspense, keeping you hooked and eager to find out what happens next!
July 7, 2024
I’m going to try and avoid spoilers since this horror title depends on being surprised and shocked.
There’s plenty of that.
The description lets a reader know that the Boy is trouble and the mercenaries have escaped what was likely his ancient prison.
Del Toro and Hogan have some more gruesome details to add, this one is also a page turner and the cliff hanger endings are just that now.
I’m starting to wonder how the writers will wind this up in a couple more short stories. We still know very little about the origin of the Boy and that’s OK. The mercenaries only knowing what they see has been fun so far and I’m trusting our team to bring this ship of horrors into port.
On to the next story.
There’s plenty of that.
The description lets a reader know that the Boy is trouble and the mercenaries have escaped what was likely his ancient prison.
Del Toro and Hogan have some more gruesome details to add, this one is also a page turner and the cliff hanger endings are just that now.
I’m starting to wonder how the writers will wind this up in a couple more short stories. We still know very little about the origin of the Boy and that’s OK. The mercenaries only knowing what they see has been fun so far and I’m trusting our team to bring this ship of horrors into port.
On to the next story.
August 6, 2024
3.5 Stars for Risen: The Boy in the Iron Box, Book 4 (audiobook) by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan read by Ralph Ineson.
Fear is running through the group of men as the boy is getting his first taste of blood.
Fear is running through the group of men as the boy is getting his first taste of blood.
July 3, 2024
Something Will Rise
Review of the Amazon Original Stories Kindle eBook edition (July 1, 2024), released simultaneously by Audible Originals in audio format (July 1, 2024)
Something will rise. Cover illustration (which is hidden behind the title script) by Fabrizio De Tommaso for the eBook edition, colorized in the Audible edition.
The team of black-ops mercenaries is now down to five "living" members in this continuing series. But it now appears that some past members may be counted as "undead" and are joining forces with The Boy. So it is turning into a mixed vampire and zombie tale. Someone on Audible called it "the strigoi version of The Siberian Incident" (2019). I still think it is inspired by F. Paul Wilson's The Keep (1981).
In any case, Del Toro and Hogan keep the chills coming and i'm boosting my rating accordingly.
Risen is the fourth of six stories in The Boy in the Iron Box series released on July 1, 2024 by Amazon Originals & Audible Originals.
Trivia and Links
Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan have collaborated several times in the past, especially on The Strain trilogy (2009-11), which was later adapted for a TV series (2014-2017).
Review of the Amazon Original Stories Kindle eBook edition (July 1, 2024), released simultaneously by Audible Originals in audio format (July 1, 2024)
Radimir said, exasperated, "So now you're willing to entertain the thought that we are up against something that can't be explained?"
Something will rise. Cover illustration (which is hidden behind the title script) by Fabrizio De Tommaso for the eBook edition, colorized in the Audible edition.
The team of black-ops mercenaries is now down to five "living" members in this continuing series. But it now appears that some past members may be counted as "undead" and are joining forces with The Boy. So it is turning into a mixed vampire and zombie tale. Someone on Audible called it "the strigoi version of The Siberian Incident" (2019). I still think it is inspired by F. Paul Wilson's The Keep (1981).
In any case, Del Toro and Hogan keep the chills coming and i'm boosting my rating accordingly.
Risen is the fourth of six stories in The Boy in the Iron Box series released on July 1, 2024 by Amazon Originals & Audible Originals.
Trivia and Links
Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan have collaborated several times in the past, especially on The Strain trilogy (2009-11), which was later adapted for a TV series (2014-2017).
July 8, 2024
The stakes just keep getting higher and higher. After the dead body of one of their comrades disappears, their leader, Liev, makes a decision. Against almost impossible odds, Liev has decided that they will leave their shelter and try to trek back to civilization. Realizing that they need food before their trek through the snow, the survivors leave the shelter and retrieve a dead wolf they shot. Upon returning to the shelter, one of their deceased comrades opens fire on them, wounding one of the survivors. They now know that The Boy who is eating hearts is controlling their dead comrades and enjoying his new game. I like most of these characters and feel sympathetic towards them so I really hope they can kill The Boy, or at least get him locked back into his box.
December 3, 2024
Alas... poor Yuri. 💀
July 1, 2024
Things are really heating up at this point and it’s all very gory!
December 1, 2024
Impossible Situation
Just when the Special Forces team thought the situation couldn’t be more dire, their dead was turning on them. Where was the evil boy that slowly destroyed what was left of their team?
Five stars leaving me wanting more.
Just when the Special Forces team thought the situation couldn’t be more dire, their dead was turning on them. Where was the evil boy that slowly destroyed what was left of their team?
Five stars leaving me wanting more.
October 14, 2024
Can't say we didn't see it coming.
As a consequence, less tension in this chapter but certainly still horrifying.
I do really like these characters and I feel we've gotten closer to them all by now - I'm certainly invested in what's going to happen to them.
So far it's all been pretty predictable, but the writing keeps it on the edge. I'd really like something unexpected to happen soon, though.
As a consequence, less tension in this chapter but certainly still horrifying.
I do really like these characters and I feel we've gotten closer to them all by now - I'm certainly invested in what's going to happen to them.
So far it's all been pretty predictable, but the writing keeps it on the edge. I'd really like something unexpected to happen soon, though.
July 6, 2024
Gore! Revenants! Guns!
August 23, 2024
it just keeps getting more unsettling!!
July 21, 2024
I am enjoying the story over and will finish it but this one seemed a bit repetitive of what has already taken place and didn’t add a lot of new information. But still a fun read so far.
July 21, 2024
Schrödinger’s cat isn’t the only thing both dead and alive.
October 24, 2024
As instalment four opens, the body of Avva, who released the Boy from his captivity, has just disappeared. The mercenaries discuss the shocking discoveries they have just made and try to form a plan of action, but a further awful development throws a spanner in the works. Overall rating 3 stars.
November 29, 2024
"When the shooting stopped, all that was left was a savage mess, the distorted fun-house echo of the reports, and a cloud of pungent rifle smoke."
As expected this mission has pretty much gone to sh*t now.☺
As expected this mission has pretty much gone to sh*t now.☺
January 20, 2025
Full review will be on final part of the series (Encounter).
July 9, 2024
Yes! Russian merc zombies!
August 17, 2024
Not a bad series but think I will end here as i’m just not invested in any of the characters and that’s a must for me.
September 8, 2024
Book 4/6 in this short story series and the best one yet this is wild
November 26, 2024
Turning on themselves
The Boy is still loose and it appears that he can control those he has killed. Thing are only growing worse.
The Boy is still loose and it appears that he can control those he has killed. Thing are only growing worse.
July 14, 2024
This is a brilliant collection of six books written as an Amazon Original Story, which, when put together, make up the whole novella, The Boy In The Iron Box.
Consisting of Falling Down, The Pit And The Box, The Hunted, Risen, Siege and Encounter.
I've been trying to get back to the love of my youth - horror! And this was such a great choice for my next read.
Being a novella, we really need a swift introduction to make sure that we're all invested right from the off and this first book does this to perfection.
We meet all the characters as they're travelling to a mission - all mercenaries and all well used to dangerous situations.
When things go wrong and the plane crashes, the team have to find a way to survive the conditions until help arrives and they make their way to an odd structure for shelter.
Given their job, the men were definitely not the type of people that I could relate well to, but the dynamics of the group help us to integrate and I liked how we were given extra background information about each member of the team.
Learning about Liev, the leader's home life - Avva and Timur being brothers and the determined loyalty and respect amongst the whole group. This made me feel more connected too.
I loved the way this set off at a great pace right from the first page. The isolated and bleak setting was well described and sucked us straight into this creepy atmosphere.
This level of detail ran through each book which built up the tension and suspense and had me on edge right to the last line!
Each book adds a new layer to the story, filling us with both despair and hope and leaving us with questions and dangling on a mini cliffhanger at each break.
And that ending! Well you'll have to grab a copy and let me know what you think!
I loved both the format and the writing style of these books and would definitely recommend them to all lovers of the genre - and if you're new to horror, this would be the ideal first read! Enjoy!
Consisting of Falling Down, The Pit And The Box, The Hunted, Risen, Siege and Encounter.
I've been trying to get back to the love of my youth - horror! And this was such a great choice for my next read.
Being a novella, we really need a swift introduction to make sure that we're all invested right from the off and this first book does this to perfection.
We meet all the characters as they're travelling to a mission - all mercenaries and all well used to dangerous situations.
When things go wrong and the plane crashes, the team have to find a way to survive the conditions until help arrives and they make their way to an odd structure for shelter.
Given their job, the men were definitely not the type of people that I could relate well to, but the dynamics of the group help us to integrate and I liked how we were given extra background information about each member of the team.
Learning about Liev, the leader's home life - Avva and Timur being brothers and the determined loyalty and respect amongst the whole group. This made me feel more connected too.
I loved the way this set off at a great pace right from the first page. The isolated and bleak setting was well described and sucked us straight into this creepy atmosphere.
This level of detail ran through each book which built up the tension and suspense and had me on edge right to the last line!
Each book adds a new layer to the story, filling us with both despair and hope and leaving us with questions and dangling on a mini cliffhanger at each break.
And that ending! Well you'll have to grab a copy and let me know what you think!
I loved both the format and the writing style of these books and would definitely recommend them to all lovers of the genre - and if you're new to horror, this would be the ideal first read! Enjoy!
July 12, 2024
The Boy in the Iron Box by Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan
Split into six chapters we follow a group of mercenaries as they try to survive an unspeakable and unknowable evil in an ancient temple built to imprison this unstoppable demon.
Falling Down
Plane crashes and the survivors make their way to a monument that they saw during the plane going down.
The Pit and the Box
One of the soldiers finds a chest in the ancient monument and of course opens it hoping for treasure
The Hunted
The team search for their missing team mate and find something unexpected.
Risen
Fallen comrades become the enemy whilst the remaining try desperately to stay alive
Siege
The soldiers plan to stay alive and make plans to fight the unknown.
Encounter
The last battle between good and evil. Will good prevail?
Sold as six interweaving stories it is in fact six chapters of the same story so a little cheeky of Amazon to sell in parts. Overall it is a single short story. I enjoyed it immensely and definitely recommend. There is plenty of blood and gore as well as creepy, scary moments. As you would expect very similar in style to The Strain series.
Split into six chapters we follow a group of mercenaries as they try to survive an unspeakable and unknowable evil in an ancient temple built to imprison this unstoppable demon.
Falling Down
Plane crashes and the survivors make their way to a monument that they saw during the plane going down.
The Pit and the Box
One of the soldiers finds a chest in the ancient monument and of course opens it hoping for treasure
The Hunted
The team search for their missing team mate and find something unexpected.
Risen
Fallen comrades become the enemy whilst the remaining try desperately to stay alive
Siege
The soldiers plan to stay alive and make plans to fight the unknown.
Encounter
The last battle between good and evil. Will good prevail?
Sold as six interweaving stories it is in fact six chapters of the same story so a little cheeky of Amazon to sell in parts. Overall it is a single short story. I enjoyed it immensely and definitely recommend. There is plenty of blood and gore as well as creepy, scary moments. As you would expect very similar in style to The Strain series.
January 21, 2025
This six-part novella released by Amazon and free from the Prime Reading library was a fun diversion into the horrors of a Siberian undercover mission that turns into an unexpected supernatural zombie survival thriller. When their plane crashes attempting to infiltrate Russia for some unclear mercenary goals, six intrepid fighters find themselves fighting for their lives in the snowy tundra. They find a safe haven in the show; a strange shrine like manmade structure that seems to have been built by ancient superhumans. There are dusty bones guarding this place, and the unexpected horrors that come when an iron box is discovered at the bottom of a pit reveals unimaginable terrors for the surviving crew. A really fun read that was a blast to fly through, this is a supernatural horror that isn’t for the weak of heart. Perfect for bite-size dips into a completely different world similar to and perfect for fans of The Thing.
July 9, 2024
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September 23, 2024
All Right - Now I'm Confused About Something
"Risen" takes the foundation built by the first three books of this series, and adds to it in such a way that is as exceptionally well-written as what has come before, but actually has me confused. This confusion springs from the author' change to the vampire mythology, and how it works. Despite that, I'm still giving this instalment 5-stars. This is because everything else is excellent - the writing, the characters, the plot pacing, etc. I hope that the issue from which my confusion comes - I don't want to go into detail here, and give spoilers - will be explained over the next part of the story.
So, have you read the excellent first three parts of "The Boy in the Iron Box"? Then I must suggest that you also read "Risen"!
"Risen" takes the foundation built by the first three books of this series, and adds to it in such a way that is as exceptionally well-written as what has come before, but actually has me confused. This confusion springs from the author' change to the vampire mythology, and how it works. Despite that, I'm still giving this instalment 5-stars. This is because everything else is excellent - the writing, the characters, the plot pacing, etc. I hope that the issue from which my confusion comes - I don't want to go into detail here, and give spoilers - will be explained over the next part of the story.
So, have you read the excellent first three parts of "The Boy in the Iron Box"? Then I must suggest that you also read "Risen"!
Read
September 23, 2025With the upcoming feature adaptation of this series coming to Netflix I thought I'd read the written word before it premiers. It gets better with each new installment. Each book in the 6 book series seems to average around 30 pages each
"What has been awakened is unbound. The Boy is getting his first taste of freedom. As their comrades fall, fear threatens to consume the survivors in part four of The Boy in the Iron Box.
Liev’s get his men out of this ancient stone prison, take their chances with the wolves, and descend the summit at first light. But in this snowbound hell, there’s soon to be a frightening new twist to survival."
"What has been awakened is unbound. The Boy is getting his first taste of freedom. As their comrades fall, fear threatens to consume the survivors in part four of The Boy in the Iron Box.
Liev’s get his men out of this ancient stone prison, take their chances with the wolves, and descend the summit at first light. But in this snowbound hell, there’s soon to be a frightening new twist to survival."
August 1, 2024
Now this instalment of the story was absolutely amazing! For some reason, listening to Ralph Ineson's voice wasn't difficult and it kept me hooked. It was like listening to a book by Greig Beck, and I've never compared anyone to his work! The military aspect, being hidden away in such a desolate and haunting location with something hunting you... that can bring back the dead... and keep me hooked was OTT!
I have two more instalments to go, but I love this series, and thanks to Audible for making it not only and audio-listen, but providing the PDF images to see what' taking place.
Cheers!
I have two more instalments to go, but I love this series, and thanks to Audible for making it not only and audio-listen, but providing the PDF images to see what' taking place.
Cheers!
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