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The Creeping
Eleven years ago, Stella and Jeanie disappeared. Only Stella came back.
Now all she wants is a summer full of cove days, friends, and her gorgeous crush - until a fresh corpse leads Stella down a path of ancient evil and secrets.
Stella believes remembering what happened to Jeanie will save her. It won’t.
She used to know better than to believe in what slinks through the shadows. Not anymore.
Now all she wants is a summer full of cove days, friends, and her gorgeous crush - until a fresh corpse leads Stella down a path of ancient evil and secrets.
Stella believes remembering what happened to Jeanie will save her. It won’t.
She used to know better than to believe in what slinks through the shadows. Not anymore.
416 pages, Hardcover
First published August 18, 2015
109 people are currently reading
21393 people want to read
About the author
Alexandra Sirowy
3 books472 followersAlexandra Sirowy is the author of several thrillers for young and old readers. When she's not writing from her island home in the Pacific Northwest, you can find her in her second life as an activist for women's rights, an investor in women-founded companies, traveling the world with her daughters and husband, and collecting folklore and art.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 592 reviews
October 17, 2015
"If you hunt for monsters, you'll find them."
3 1/2 stars. Wow. I hadn't dared to hope that this book would actually satisfy my craving for a creepy book just in time for Halloween, but The Creeping really is a strange and unsettling story.
I've heard this premise so many times. Two children disappear in a small town, only one returns. The "survivor" cannot remember what happened to them. The other child is never found. In this case, the two children are Jeanie and our narrator - Stella. And when Stella is found, all she does is repeat the same line over and over: "If you hunt for monsters, you'll find them."
Years later and Stella is a popular teenager with friends and crushes, but her life is tainted by the blurry memory of Jeanie. Then, on the anniversary of Jeanie's disappearance, a body of a young girl is found. Can it be Jeanie? Or is it just one more in a long line of something much older than their town?
There are so many things to praise.
For one, the creepy atmosphere. I would say the pacing is relatively slow for a typical YA novel, but that actually just heightened the tension for me. There's this ongoing sense of both the supernatural and human evil, and they are equally terrifying. It's hard to know which is worse: that an ancient evil lurks in the woods, or that the evil is in the hearts of people you have known all your life.
Secondly, the single biggest criticism I have seen for this book is about the dysfunctional friendship between Stella and her friend Zoey, though I personally loved it. I thought it was an interesting and honest portrait of the web of affections and jealousies between teenage girls.
Neither are particularly likable characters, but that makes the story ever more interesting. I also like that the author directly addresses slut-shaming and generally portrays the message that being a virgin, promiscuous or something in between is totally okay.
My criticism (hence the 3 1/2 rating) is the completely unnecessary romance. I'm not saying this because I hate romance, I'm saying it because it honestly feels like publishers list romance as a requirement for any YA book, whether the story needs one or not.
And this story definitely didn't. I wanted to skim read the romantic parts between Stella and Sam so I could get back to the good stuff.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this for those looking for a creepy read that constantly straddles the line between mystery and horror. It's the kind of book that keeps you wondering right up until the very end: monsters or men?
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September 1, 2015
In the instant before I make contact, the sludge shifts and bubbles under me and I’m knocked forward against the coffin lid. The jolt rocks her head to the side, but the red hair and the flap of skin that is her scalp stay put. “Naked” is the word my brain vomits. Her head is hairless. Skinned. Scalped. The membrane that she should be wearing as a crown is disconnected, limp in the mud, only placed near so it might look as though she’s in one piece.This book has a similar premise as In the Woods, one of my favorite books of all time. Children wander into the woods for an innocent afternoon of play. Only one emerges. The other missing, never to be found. The survivor now leads a normal life, seemingly well-adjusted, popular, but scars are hidden underneath until an event re-triggers the trauma. It is one of the better YA mysteries that I've ever read.
Seventeen year old Stella is the lucky one. Or so everyone tells her. You see, eleven years ago, Stella and her classmate Jeanie wandered into the woods. Stella was the only one that came out. Now, Stella is still living. Considered the lucky one. She is beautiful, popular--ironically, her mysterious past contributes to her popularity instead of making her an outcast.
Since my freshman year, my infamy as “the one who got away” has earned me an epic amount of popularity. I guess it could have turned out differently. If I’d been all morbid and gone goth in steel-toed boots and a safety pin through my eyebrow, then it would have turned me into a social pariah. Given that I’m more skinny jeans and ballet flats, am pretty with bright-green eyes, and have a monopoly on the whole survivor thing, my past has only added legend to my social status. It’s like those castles and forts you learn about in history that are glimmering museums full of tourists now but used to be leper colonies. That’s me, former leper colony.Stella has a very grudging attitude about the survivor, and she makes the best of her life. She has wonderful friends, the sparkling, effervescent Zoey and the scholastic Michaela. She's just a normal teenager---but despite her popularity, despite the fact that she's, well, alive, a part of her is bitter about being the survivor. She is living under the shadow of her past, under the weight of a dead girl
There’s a burden to being the one left behind, even though I don’t remember a pinch of it. A weight always pressing down on me, like Jeanie’s lifeless body is forever hitching a piggyback, steering me with her sticky hands coiled in my hair. I can’t escape her, and I resent it.That aside, life is pretty normal. Stella is just a normal teenager. She doesn't really know what she wants to be. She doesn't think too much about the future. She loves her friend. She flirts with boys. She just wants to have a good time. Until a fateful party on the anniversary of Jeanie's disappearance, a night the teenagers at her high school morbidly name The Day of Bones literally unearth a body. The discovery of a body triggers a desperation in Stella--could this be Jeanie at last? She runs towards it, digs through long-dead bodies buried in graves...until she comes across a freshly killed corpse.
All the things that should stay hidden at cemeteries are unearthed by the mudslide. Coffins exposed, either swept downhill by the slide or jutting at sharp angles from the ground like compound bone fractures piercing skin. Jaundiced partial skeletons litter the soil.
I must look like I’ve lost my mind as I sink down to my hands and knees. The slimy soil squishes and bubbles under me. I crawl carefully, so the earth doesn’t swallow me up. I choke back vomit as my hand brushes what I know is a human skull. Bones. Decomposed flesh. Eyeballs. Brain matter. Maggots. All the gross things that are likely in this soil seep into my hands and knees. But I have to get to that body. I have to make sure that it is a body and that I’m not seeing things. That I haven’t lost every last ounce of sanity I had.
There is a killer on the loose. Is there a connection between Stella's past and the present murder?
I absolutely loved Rob in this book's adult counterpart, In the Wood. While I didn't feel the same love for Stella, I really like her as a character. She's not perfect. She's just a normal teenager who wants to just forget it and not live under the weight of a dead girl. I liked her attitude. She presents a good image, but there's a part of her that's not so nice, and that's the part to which I relate. We can't all be saints, and we can't ascribe goodness to someone just because they've survived something horrible. She didn't like Jeanie back then and she still doesn't. She feels bad that Jeanie disappeared, but it sucks living up to the image of the survivor.
Because if I’m being honest, Jeanie probably would have grown up to be nothing more than average. She was chunky at six, her fleshy cheeks nearly swallowing up her pinprick eyes. While all the other kindergarteners were learning to read, she couldn’t write her own name. She was the alto with a lisp in a pack of singsongy chirping little girls. I know you shouldn’t say nasty things about the dead, but since she never had the chance to become something, it’s unfair that everyone assumes that if she had, it would have been bright and shiny. At six Jeanie was one of those dull pennies forgotten on the sidewalk that everyone steps over but no one stoops to pick up; she wouldn’t have been a diamond at seventeen.I like that part of her that's like "dude, it's in the past, let me move on, I don't give a fuck."
Stella is kind of a mean girl, but she's just trying to maintain her image. She is careless, and when she is cruel, she does have her doubts. I feel like she's a realistic character, and that's what makes the book for me. The mystery was well-written. The romance is not overwhelming. It was a solid, enjoyable book.
April 9, 2020
this might be the only horror novel in the world to feature the word "amazeballs" on its final page.
despite that claim to fame, this book wasn't as spooky as its cover, and the following paragraph is a perfect example of what made this such a frustrating read for me:
and then it continues to recount historical myths about minnesota's monsters and cannibalism.
so: we have the perfect setup; the "i'm about to drop some spooky shit on you, girl" scenario, with its traditional horror-genre pacing and the stalling for the benefit of the reader; the pause for distant gazing and sighing because "it's just too much to even talk about but imma do it anyway" and then, right when it's about to get all cool and cannibally, stella-the-listener just drifts off into daydreams and we have to read her reminiscences about how in some class two years ago, she used to get all shivery from feeling a guy's jeans rub her back. way to kill the mood, stella. and it's not even a situation where she's fantasizing about the speaker himself, getting lost in his eyes as he tells her a story that's making her heart race with fear which transitions into a heart racing with lust, which would be annoying but somewhat excusable, but NO - she's just off in the clouds in the middle of what should be a gripping tale with some actual relevance to what's happening all around her. so apart from "pay attention stella, jeez," it also messes with the reader who is trying to get caught up in a horror novel but keeps getting ripped out and plopped in a romance novel.
there's tons of people who will dig this - if you like it when shared supernatural adventures bring couples together because - comfort, then you'll probably be more into this than i was. i like my horror to be the kind where no one has any interest in lovemaking because they're covered in someone else's blood. or where no one's left alive to snuggle. however, i will say that in this book, at least stella is a proactive heroine type and it's not the "i'm so scared, quarterback hunk, let me fling myself into your bravery-arms!" brand of horror-romance.
regardless, all the breaks for pining and sexual tension kept ruining the murder/recovered memory tension for me which is a shame because there was such potential here. it has all the parts you need to make good horror: small town with long memories, mysterious disappearances, amnesia, recurring patterns of violence, animal sacrifices, unsettling folklore, intense friendships, etc and sirowy does a really great job keeping the reader seesawing between not knowing whether we're looking at a supernatural or a human explanation for the situation and sowing the seeds of ambiguity and general weirdness. i loved the descriptions of the town's … decorative reaction to what was happening, and i wish there had been a little more about that because i don't know if that's a common midwestern practice? it sounds more new englandy to me, but it set up an attitude/response i wanted a rounder explanation for.
because of its strengths and because i was desperate for a horror book to do its job during spooky season, i was willing to overlook so much - how free the police were in sharing information about ongoing and cold case investigations with local teenagers, the fact that there are no adults in this book and how stella especially is left alone overnight so frequently, despite what's going on in town and the physical and psychological stress it's having on her. it's hard to reconcile how a father who is presented as busy and distracted but also wonderful in every other way would choose to stay away all night at the office knowing there's a police detail posted outside his house for his daughter's safety. i'm pretty sure my own wonderful dad would consider "police detail" a handy backup plan, but would be on the front stoop with a sixer and a shotgun because cops are great and all, but it's a parent's job to protect their young. i was even able to overlook (although it was really squinty) the use of "epically random" on page 128, which is wrong on at least three levels, ruining the tone being the least of them.
the final explanation was fine on most of its points, although there are a few key things i don't understand:
so, not a scary book, but not a waste of time. you may find it amazeballs.
come to my blog!
despite that claim to fame, this book wasn't as spooky as its cover, and the following paragraph is a perfect example of what made this such a frustrating read for me:
"Have I ever told you about my grandmother?" he says.
My mouth purses, and I shake my head once.
"My grandma, my dad's mother, used to scare us kids to bed with stories when she visited us in Florida. She grew up here, in these woods." He's quiet for a full minute, eyes focused on the space behind me, head tilted like he's watching phantoms play on the wall. Then he sighs. "How much do you know about Minnesota's history?"
"We studied state history freshman year," I say, letting my own thoughts stray from this frustrating beige room. I can still feel the warmth of Sam's knees grazing my lower back as he sat behind me in class. I fake smiled at him every time he spoke to me in Mr. Flint's fifth period, but it made something quiver deep in me when his jeans touched the inch of bare skin between my waistband and shirt's hem.
and then it continues to recount historical myths about minnesota's monsters and cannibalism.
so: we have the perfect setup; the "i'm about to drop some spooky shit on you, girl" scenario, with its traditional horror-genre pacing and the stalling for the benefit of the reader; the pause for distant gazing and sighing because "it's just too much to even talk about but imma do it anyway" and then, right when it's about to get all cool and cannibally, stella-the-listener just drifts off into daydreams and we have to read her reminiscences about how in some class two years ago, she used to get all shivery from feeling a guy's jeans rub her back. way to kill the mood, stella. and it's not even a situation where she's fantasizing about the speaker himself, getting lost in his eyes as he tells her a story that's making her heart race with fear which transitions into a heart racing with lust, which would be annoying but somewhat excusable, but NO - she's just off in the clouds in the middle of what should be a gripping tale with some actual relevance to what's happening all around her. so apart from "pay attention stella, jeez," it also messes with the reader who is trying to get caught up in a horror novel but keeps getting ripped out and plopped in a romance novel.
there's tons of people who will dig this - if you like it when shared supernatural adventures bring couples together because - comfort, then you'll probably be more into this than i was. i like my horror to be the kind where no one has any interest in lovemaking because they're covered in someone else's blood. or where no one's left alive to snuggle. however, i will say that in this book, at least stella is a proactive heroine type and it's not the "i'm so scared, quarterback hunk, let me fling myself into your bravery-arms!" brand of horror-romance.
regardless, all the breaks for pining and sexual tension kept ruining the murder/recovered memory tension for me which is a shame because there was such potential here. it has all the parts you need to make good horror: small town with long memories, mysterious disappearances, amnesia, recurring patterns of violence, animal sacrifices, unsettling folklore, intense friendships, etc and sirowy does a really great job keeping the reader seesawing between not knowing whether we're looking at a supernatural or a human explanation for the situation and sowing the seeds of ambiguity and general weirdness. i loved the descriptions of the town's … decorative reaction to what was happening, and i wish there had been a little more about that because i don't know if that's a common midwestern practice? it sounds more new englandy to me, but it set up an attitude/response i wanted a rounder explanation for.
because of its strengths and because i was desperate for a horror book to do its job during spooky season, i was willing to overlook so much - how free the police were in sharing information about ongoing and cold case investigations with local teenagers, the fact that there are no adults in this book and how stella especially is left alone overnight so frequently, despite what's going on in town and the physical and psychological stress it's having on her. it's hard to reconcile how a father who is presented as busy and distracted but also wonderful in every other way would choose to stay away all night at the office knowing there's a police detail posted outside his house for his daughter's safety. i'm pretty sure my own wonderful dad would consider "police detail" a handy backup plan, but would be on the front stoop with a sixer and a shotgun because cops are great and all, but it's a parent's job to protect their young. i was even able to overlook (although it was really squinty) the use of "epically random" on page 128, which is wrong on at least three levels, ruining the tone being the least of them.
the final explanation was fine on most of its points, although there are a few key things i don't understand:
so, not a scary book, but not a waste of time. you may find it amazeballs.
come to my blog!
September 30, 2015
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
“You wanna know what goes bump in the night? I do. I’m the fucking monster.”
Welllllll . . . . .
WARNING: I really channeled my inner Dorothy Zbornak on this one. Don’t bother complaining about the gif usage. If you aren’t a fan of The Golden Girls you probably don’t belong anywhere near my review space to begin with.
The Creeping is the story of Stella – the “one who got away.” While playing with her friend Jeanie as a kid something happened and Jeanie was never seen again. Fast forward 11 years to the discovery of a dead girl who really bears a resemblance to Jeanie. Is it just coincidence or are the two incidents connected. And is it true what they say . . . .
“If you hunt for monsters, you’ll find them.”
So the premise was filled with a lot of awesome. Although unrealistic, I didn’t mind Stella trying to morph herself in to a supersleuth in order to solve the mystery of Jeanie’s disappearance and there were plenty of red herrings thrown about which made solving the puzzle a bit more difficult. What I had a problem with was the execution and the characters. I can’t remember the last time I read such unlikeable characters that I wasn’t supposed to dislike.
Let’s begin with our leads, who upon discovering a corpse and in the wake of the possible reappearance of a murderer decide to take their friendship to a new level . . .
“I wouldn’t need you to pull me in for a kiss. All you’d have to do is say the word and I’d be all over you.”
Next we add in the stereotypical mean girl BFF . . .
No YA novel is complete without an absentee parent. This time it’s ‘cause dear ol’ Dad is an attorney who has to work like 24 hours a day and can never take a day off – even when his daughter thinks she might end up the next victim of a serial killer . . .
And last but most certainly not least an anti-slut shaming message is continually brought up. Because that’s exactly what every good mystery/thriller needs to keep the story moving . . . .
If I may, let me just say I. DO. NOT. GET. characters repeatedly pointing out how messing around with a bunch of different dudes doesn’t make them a slut. They’re right. It doesn’t – but NEVER SHUTTING THE F UP about how “okay” they are with their behavior while being super self-conscious of said behavior makes it sound like they really aren’t. Dear Authors, please start writing these girls with a little more gumption and an “it is what it is” type of attitude instead of this apologetic mamby pamby B.S. Thanks in advance.
Bottom line is this one had a lot of potential, but the delivery failed pretty hardcore for me : (
“You wanna know what goes bump in the night? I do. I’m the fucking monster.”
Welllllll . . . . .
WARNING: I really channeled my inner Dorothy Zbornak on this one. Don’t bother complaining about the gif usage. If you aren’t a fan of The Golden Girls you probably don’t belong anywhere near my review space to begin with.
The Creeping is the story of Stella – the “one who got away.” While playing with her friend Jeanie as a kid something happened and Jeanie was never seen again. Fast forward 11 years to the discovery of a dead girl who really bears a resemblance to Jeanie. Is it just coincidence or are the two incidents connected. And is it true what they say . . . .
“If you hunt for monsters, you’ll find them.”
So the premise was filled with a lot of awesome. Although unrealistic, I didn’t mind Stella trying to morph herself in to a supersleuth in order to solve the mystery of Jeanie’s disappearance and there were plenty of red herrings thrown about which made solving the puzzle a bit more difficult. What I had a problem with was the execution and the characters. I can’t remember the last time I read such unlikeable characters that I wasn’t supposed to dislike.
Let’s begin with our leads, who upon discovering a corpse and in the wake of the possible reappearance of a murderer decide to take their friendship to a new level . . .
“I wouldn’t need you to pull me in for a kiss. All you’d have to do is say the word and I’d be all over you.”
Next we add in the stereotypical mean girl BFF . . .
No YA novel is complete without an absentee parent. This time it’s ‘cause dear ol’ Dad is an attorney who has to work like 24 hours a day and can never take a day off – even when his daughter thinks she might end up the next victim of a serial killer . . .
And last but most certainly not least an anti-slut shaming message is continually brought up. Because that’s exactly what every good mystery/thriller needs to keep the story moving . . . .
If I may, let me just say I. DO. NOT. GET. characters repeatedly pointing out how messing around with a bunch of different dudes doesn’t make them a slut. They’re right. It doesn’t – but NEVER SHUTTING THE F UP about how “okay” they are with their behavior while being super self-conscious of said behavior makes it sound like they really aren’t. Dear Authors, please start writing these girls with a little more gumption and an “it is what it is” type of attitude instead of this apologetic mamby pamby B.S. Thanks in advance.
Bottom line is this one had a lot of potential, but the delivery failed pretty hardcore for me : (
April 15, 2017
This book contains two major plot arcs, which seem to be equally important as far as the main character, Stella, is concerned.
1) Whoever murdered her childhood best friend is back, killing again, and Stella's probably next on the list.
2) So, like, she's dating this hot guy she doesn't like much because he's dumb, but he's super hot, and her bestie insists that she has to date a hottie because popular girls date hot jocks. But her ex from her tween years is so dreamy, and her tummy gets all fluttery when he's nearby! Will her bestie forgive her for dating an unpopular guy? zOMG, the pressure!
Not only is Plot 2 dumb, and predicating on the utterly abusive relationship Stella has with her best friend (that's totally ok, because really, her friend only insults her and controls every aspect of her life because she cares so deeply!), but it causes Stella The Straight-A Student to do some spectacularly stupid things. Like ditch the cops who are making sure she doesn't get murdered to go hang out with her Dreamboy in the woods where people get murdered. Because boys!
The mood whiplash caused by snapping back and forth between the dead-kids-and-Stella-is-next plot and the OMG-he's-so-dreamy plot defuses any tension the first manages to build, over and over until i just wanted to reach into the pages of this book and slap Stella until she stopped being a suicidal idiot.
1) Whoever murdered her childhood best friend is back, killing again, and Stella's probably next on the list.
2) So, like, she's dating this hot guy she doesn't like much because he's dumb, but he's super hot, and her bestie insists that she has to date a hottie because popular girls date hot jocks. But her ex from her tween years is so dreamy, and her tummy gets all fluttery when he's nearby! Will her bestie forgive her for dating an unpopular guy? zOMG, the pressure!
Not only is Plot 2 dumb, and predicating on the utterly abusive relationship Stella has with her best friend (that's totally ok, because really, her friend only insults her and controls every aspect of her life because she cares so deeply!), but it causes Stella The Straight-A Student to do some spectacularly stupid things. Like ditch the cops who are making sure she doesn't get murdered to go hang out with her Dreamboy in the woods where people get murdered. Because boys!
The mood whiplash caused by snapping back and forth between the dead-kids-and-Stella-is-next plot and the OMG-he's-so-dreamy plot defuses any tension the first manages to build, over and over until i just wanted to reach into the pages of this book and slap Stella until she stopped being a suicidal idiot.
November 8, 2018
3.5
La historia es muy buena, me encantó que hablara sobre leyendas nórdicas, el bosque como elemento constante dentro de la trama fue otro acierto.
Otra cosa a su favor es que el romance es minimo, porque al principio me dio la idea equivocada de que tendría una cantidad razonable de relleno y fue muy pero muy bueno descubrir que no fe así.
El misterio estuvo presente todo el tiempo y las escenas paranormales le daban una dosis de tensión que te enganchaba para no soltarlo hasta saberlo todo.
La explicación fue coherente y no divagó en tonterías, me sorprendió bastante.
La historia es muy buena, me encantó que hablara sobre leyendas nórdicas, el bosque como elemento constante dentro de la trama fue otro acierto.
Otra cosa a su favor es que el romance es minimo, porque al principio me dio la idea equivocada de que tendría una cantidad razonable de relleno y fue muy pero muy bueno descubrir que no fe así.
El misterio estuvo presente todo el tiempo y las escenas paranormales le daban una dosis de tensión que te enganchaba para no soltarlo hasta saberlo todo.
La explicación fue coherente y no divagó en tonterías, me sorprendió bastante.
October 19, 2017
Sorry guys, this book just wasn't for me. The writing was decent, but I never once liked any of the characters, which made it very difficult to care about what happened to them. I thought they were pretty awful people from beginning to end. And although the story started off as intriguing, I really really struggled to get through it.
I really enjoyed this author's other book, The Telling, so I think this was just a weird case of not clicking with the story. I'll definitely read more from her in the future.
I really enjoyed this author's other book, The Telling, so I think this was just a weird case of not clicking with the story. I'll definitely read more from her in the future.
August 14, 2016
The Creeping ...is not creepy.
DNF around 150 pages. I can see the character development setting up, but meh. I just don't care enough about anybody to go on, and neither the mystery (one we've seen many times before) nor the writing particularly wowed me. This book is also reaaally long and somewhat convoluted for what it is--I skimmed the rest and had to flip back and forth a few times at the end to see what actually happened.
It's fine. It just wasn't the thrilling read I was hoping for.
An advance copy was provided by the publisher. karen's review is a real one, and explains much better why she didn't love it, either: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
DNF around 150 pages. I can see the character development setting up, but meh. I just don't care enough about anybody to go on, and neither the mystery (one we've seen many times before) nor the writing particularly wowed me. This book is also reaaally long and somewhat convoluted for what it is--I skimmed the rest and had to flip back and forth a few times at the end to see what actually happened.
It's fine. It just wasn't the thrilling read I was hoping for.
An advance copy was provided by the publisher. karen's review is a real one, and explains much better why she didn't love it, either: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
August 7, 2015
***This review has also been posted on The Social Potato
The Creeping was a novel I was initially very excited about but when I dove in, I had a hard time really connecting to the characters. I LOVED the creepiness of it, and the dark atmosphere but when it came to the characters, there was only one I liked and he happened to be the love interest I thought the female lead did not deserve.
Half way through the book, I was ready to DNF because the characters were insanely frustrating but instead I put the book down and decided to pick it up the next day. When I picked it up, I found myself not hating the characters as much and instead I started to enjoy the story and its creepiness. Maybe, I was subconsciously muting out their annoyingness but I do think there was some character development that took place which was why I was able to enjoy the book more.
Stella is an okay main character. At first I just didn’t like her. She is a pushover and never really seems to realize it. Her entire life revolves on doing what her best friend, Zoey thinks is okay. All of her decisions are made based on how Zoey would react and whether or not she would approve. Stella doesn’t think for herself. We know she isn’t a horrible person but she does horrible thinks because that’s what her best friend wants and she never really regrets it. Given all that, I realllly did not like Stella. Especially since she treated the one person who was nice to her, Sam, like shit because of this. But as she becomes closer to Sam (who was her best friend back before Zoey made her choose), she starts to stand up on her two feet and make some decisions. She starts to become STELLA instead of Zoey’s pawn.
I did not like Zoey. She is a bitch (very simply put). She puts down other people, she is horrible to her best friend and she is controlling. My biggest problem with her character was that she never had any consequences for her horribleness because she is never actually made out to be a villain. She is Stella’s best friend and they care about each other. Her horribleness is explained away but she does become a lot more tolerable by the end of the book (after Stella calls her out on her shit.) Also, I kind of like how even though Zoey was awful, in her own way she is loyal to Stella. When Stella starts doing things she doesn’t approve up, she is pissed but she doesn’t decide to dump Stella. She still (kind of) sticks by her.
As I mentioned earlier, Sam was my favorite character. I LOVE HIM. I hate that he was so easy on Stella sometimes but I enjoyed it when he called her out on some of the stuff she had done. He made it clear he had feelings but when Stella pulled shit, she was not automatically given a get out of jail card. He would let her know it wasn’t cool. Sam was amazing and he was nice and SO RESPECTFUL. Seriously.
One of the best things about this book was hands down the mystery. This book is frightening and reminded me why horror can be so much fun to read. I happened to be reading this book in the middle of the night and I was scared. The atmosphere in this book comes to life and the haunting descriptions crawl under your skin to make the book a fantastic experience. I may not have gotten along with the characters (at least at first) but everything else in this book was perfect. I was actually scared even though the lights were on.
The way the mystery unravels is beautiful and I loved the twist that came at the end. I hadn’t expected it but it fit in very well and didn’t throw me off. It just made sense in the context of the book.
This book definitely had issues but in the long run, it was a very fun read because of how well the author incorporated elements of mystery and horror. Remember, if you look hard enough, you will find the monsters.
The Creeping was a novel I was initially very excited about but when I dove in, I had a hard time really connecting to the characters. I LOVED the creepiness of it, and the dark atmosphere but when it came to the characters, there was only one I liked and he happened to be the love interest I thought the female lead did not deserve.
Half way through the book, I was ready to DNF because the characters were insanely frustrating but instead I put the book down and decided to pick it up the next day. When I picked it up, I found myself not hating the characters as much and instead I started to enjoy the story and its creepiness. Maybe, I was subconsciously muting out their annoyingness but I do think there was some character development that took place which was why I was able to enjoy the book more.
Stella is an okay main character. At first I just didn’t like her. She is a pushover and never really seems to realize it. Her entire life revolves on doing what her best friend, Zoey thinks is okay. All of her decisions are made based on how Zoey would react and whether or not she would approve. Stella doesn’t think for herself. We know she isn’t a horrible person but she does horrible thinks because that’s what her best friend wants and she never really regrets it. Given all that, I realllly did not like Stella. Especially since she treated the one person who was nice to her, Sam, like shit because of this. But as she becomes closer to Sam (who was her best friend back before Zoey made her choose), she starts to stand up on her two feet and make some decisions. She starts to become STELLA instead of Zoey’s pawn.
I did not like Zoey. She is a bitch (very simply put). She puts down other people, she is horrible to her best friend and she is controlling. My biggest problem with her character was that she never had any consequences for her horribleness because she is never actually made out to be a villain. She is Stella’s best friend and they care about each other. Her horribleness is explained away but she does become a lot more tolerable by the end of the book (after Stella calls her out on her shit.) Also, I kind of like how even though Zoey was awful, in her own way she is loyal to Stella. When Stella starts doing things she doesn’t approve up, she is pissed but she doesn’t decide to dump Stella. She still (kind of) sticks by her.
As I mentioned earlier, Sam was my favorite character. I LOVE HIM. I hate that he was so easy on Stella sometimes but I enjoyed it when he called her out on some of the stuff she had done. He made it clear he had feelings but when Stella pulled shit, she was not automatically given a get out of jail card. He would let her know it wasn’t cool. Sam was amazing and he was nice and SO RESPECTFUL. Seriously.
One of the best things about this book was hands down the mystery. This book is frightening and reminded me why horror can be so much fun to read. I happened to be reading this book in the middle of the night and I was scared. The atmosphere in this book comes to life and the haunting descriptions crawl under your skin to make the book a fantastic experience. I may not have gotten along with the characters (at least at first) but everything else in this book was perfect. I was actually scared even though the lights were on.
The way the mystery unravels is beautiful and I loved the twist that came at the end. I hadn’t expected it but it fit in very well and didn’t throw me off. It just made sense in the context of the book.
This book definitely had issues but in the long run, it was a very fun read because of how well the author incorporated elements of mystery and horror. Remember, if you look hard enough, you will find the monsters.
December 31, 2014
4.5/5 stars
I can't believe I read this book 9 months early! But, I couldn't help myself. The minute I read the synopsis, I just knew I HAD to read the book. And I'm so glad I followed that instinct.
There's a reason I love murder mysteries and thrillers. The thrill of the chase, the trying to figure out what happened before the author reveals it... These things bring me great joy. But typically, I find myself a bit disappointed by the ending. The big reveal never seems to measure up to the actual lead up to it. HOWever, this was not the case with this book. I absolutely loved how the last several chapters played out. And the ending was particularly fascinated. It left me with a smile on my face, in spite of the grisly details of the story. I cannot wait to read more from this author.
More review closer to August, but in the meantime, this book should be on your radar!
I received a copy of this book via the publisher in exchange for an honest review. It did not affect my opinion in any way.
I can't believe I read this book 9 months early! But, I couldn't help myself. The minute I read the synopsis, I just knew I HAD to read the book. And I'm so glad I followed that instinct.
There's a reason I love murder mysteries and thrillers. The thrill of the chase, the trying to figure out what happened before the author reveals it... These things bring me great joy. But typically, I find myself a bit disappointed by the ending. The big reveal never seems to measure up to the actual lead up to it. HOWever, this was not the case with this book. I absolutely loved how the last several chapters played out. And the ending was particularly fascinated. It left me with a smile on my face, in spite of the grisly details of the story. I cannot wait to read more from this author.
More review closer to August, but in the meantime, this book should be on your radar!
I received a copy of this book via the publisher in exchange for an honest review. It did not affect my opinion in any way.
September 23, 2018
4.5 stars
okay this genuinely scared me at times. it filled me with a sense of dread and i will be reading the rest of alexandra sirowy's books! this is a great halloween read if you're looking for something really creepy and something that messes with your head.
okay this genuinely scared me at times. it filled me with a sense of dread and i will be reading the rest of alexandra sirowy's books! this is a great halloween read if you're looking for something really creepy and something that messes with your head.
August 10, 2015
DNF at 50%. I just couldn't bring myself to finish this one. The mystery wasn't compelling enough to wade through the train wreck relationship between Zoey and Stella. Who thinks that way? I honestly don't think normal teens think about sex and status as much as these two did. And their friendship was completely dysfunctional. I seldom DNF a book, but this one didn't show any signs of improving.
March 1, 2015
This book kept me reading until 4am. It was seriously smart and twisty. No spoilers here but I did not see the ending coming. Can't stop thinking about it. Stella is such an awesome main character and her best friends were the funniest and bravest girls. I'm totally in love with this book.
January 19, 2015
Great scary book! I have another new favorite author. Monster hunting at its best. Two little girls go out to play but only one returns. There's something BAD in the woods.
October 17, 2018
I enjoyed this book. Very creepy and semi disturbing, but not scary. I loved the main character Stella. She was well thought out, strong, but willing to own her flaws and mistakes. The romance left little to be desired, but the suspense was on point. Once I had this book in my hands it was really hard to put it down. I'm glad my daughter said, "Mom why don't you try this book." She really does have great taste in reading material.
October 31, 2015
This was such a surprise! I didn't have the highest hopes for this, but it was so good! I would have given it a 5/5 if not for the cheesiness of the final quarter of the novel. The excessive movie-like villain monologue that lasted pages and pages , the knight in shining armor scene, the overdone "something tragic just happened, let's immediately have sex" moment etc.
April 30, 2021
I have to say I enjoyed this book, it did get a little boring from time to time but it always had me wanting to read more to find out what happened. It had a couple parts that were a little unsettling and even a bit creepy which I thought was a really nice touch.
This story is about a girl named Stella who disappeared with her best friend Jeanie when they were six years old. Stella came back but Jeanie did not. Stella can't remember anything from that day but is desperate to try to remember and find out what happened to her childhood best friend with the help of her current and a reconnected best friend.
I liked Stella's character though she had some traits I didn't like so much. Stella and her a few of her friends including her current best friend are the popular girls in school and they're written in a way that's a little annoying because they have very stereotypical popular girl traits such as popular/mean girl language and phrases that you would hear in movies, acting better then others, and being mean to other classmates they feel are lesser then them. I'm not about that lol. BUT it is only a few times that it happens and the more you read on the better the main character, Stella, seems to get. But other then that I would say this book is a good YA thriller but I'd call it more of a chick lit YA thriller just because of some of the events that happened in the book. It was a good read though. Not the best, but still good.
This story is about a girl named Stella who disappeared with her best friend Jeanie when they were six years old. Stella came back but Jeanie did not. Stella can't remember anything from that day but is desperate to try to remember and find out what happened to her childhood best friend with the help of her current and a reconnected best friend.
I liked Stella's character though she had some traits I didn't like so much. Stella and her a few of her friends including her current best friend are the popular girls in school and they're written in a way that's a little annoying because they have very stereotypical popular girl traits such as popular/mean girl language and phrases that you would hear in movies, acting better then others, and being mean to other classmates they feel are lesser then them. I'm not about that lol. BUT it is only a few times that it happens and the more you read on the better the main character, Stella, seems to get. But other then that I would say this book is a good YA thriller but I'd call it more of a chick lit YA thriller just because of some of the events that happened in the book. It was a good read though. Not the best, but still good.
August 31, 2016
▶This book is ridiculously long.
▶I do not like Zoey. I can't stand her. She thinks she's the fucking queen of the world and I hate characters like that. Like you cannot fucking control everything. She was so abusive and controlling towards Stella. She would literally not let Stella do anything she didn't like.
▶Stella just needs to make Zoey happy. *rolls meh eyeballs*
▶The mystery is just meh. I honestly knew whodunit all along.
▶There is so much unnecessary drama and all that monster shit. *rolls meh eyeballs again*
*Yes I skimmed through and read the ending*
▶I do not like Zoey. I can't stand her. She thinks she's the fucking queen of the world and I hate characters like that. Like you cannot fucking control everything. She was so abusive and controlling towards Stella. She would literally not let Stella do anything she didn't like.
▶Stella just needs to make Zoey happy. *rolls meh eyeballs*
▶The mystery is just meh. I honestly knew whodunit all along.
▶There is so much unnecessary drama and all that monster shit. *rolls meh eyeballs again*
*Yes I skimmed through and read the ending*
August 14, 2025
Disclaimer: I do freelance work for the author and was sent a copy, all opinions are my own.
This is for all the girls who don't think you need to be nice to be worthy of love and friendship. The Creeping is a YA mystery with gothic vibes about a teen girl who once survived when her best friend disappeared at 6 years old. Now she's a teenager, hanging out with her popular friends and hooking up with hot boys. And yeah, they're all pretty mean to social losers, including the boy who was once one of her best friends and her first kiss at age 10. She can't remember anything about that day, but when the body of another red-headed little girl is found, her memories start to come back and she's determined to uncover the truth. Even if it means working with the boy who still makes her heart flutter, even if it shouldn't...
This was fantastic. Twisty and riveting- I read the second half of it in one sitting. It also has this messy but loyal female friendship at the center of it.
This is for all the girls who don't think you need to be nice to be worthy of love and friendship. The Creeping is a YA mystery with gothic vibes about a teen girl who once survived when her best friend disappeared at 6 years old. Now she's a teenager, hanging out with her popular friends and hooking up with hot boys. And yeah, they're all pretty mean to social losers, including the boy who was once one of her best friends and her first kiss at age 10. She can't remember anything about that day, but when the body of another red-headed little girl is found, her memories start to come back and she's determined to uncover the truth. Even if it means working with the boy who still makes her heart flutter, even if it shouldn't...
This was fantastic. Twisty and riveting- I read the second half of it in one sitting. It also has this messy but loyal female friendship at the center of it.
August 22, 2015
Holy Hades be prepared to be creeped out by this book because it was really creepy and scary all at the same time. I was reading this book in the dark to so I was like I need to turn on a lamp because lordy lordy I started to really get scared.
This unique story is about two best friends who disappear for only one to come back and the other to stay missing. The one who comes back only wants to live a normal life but people are always looking at her and wondering what happened to her best friend and why she came out and her best friend did not.
Then as things get semi normal a fresh corpse appears and has Stella scared because it takes her down a path of evil and secrets so ancient she does not understand why they bother her so. When Jeanie disappeared she was only six years old. She was out picking strawberries with Stella. Stella is starting to wonder if remembering what happened to her and Jeanie will save her but can't imagine the evil leaving her alone as it follows her and calls to her.
Stella will have to remember what happened to her and Jeanie when they disappeared and what they encountered and why she survived. All she knows is that a little red head girl has washed up in the graveyard and that triggers the memories of Stella who was redheaded and all the missing redheaded girls in town.
What happened to them will CREEP you out.........
This unique story is about two best friends who disappear for only one to come back and the other to stay missing. The one who comes back only wants to live a normal life but people are always looking at her and wondering what happened to her best friend and why she came out and her best friend did not.
Then as things get semi normal a fresh corpse appears and has Stella scared because it takes her down a path of evil and secrets so ancient she does not understand why they bother her so. When Jeanie disappeared she was only six years old. She was out picking strawberries with Stella. Stella is starting to wonder if remembering what happened to her and Jeanie will save her but can't imagine the evil leaving her alone as it follows her and calls to her.
Stella will have to remember what happened to her and Jeanie when they disappeared and what they encountered and why she survived. All she knows is that a little red head girl has washed up in the graveyard and that triggers the memories of Stella who was redheaded and all the missing redheaded girls in town.
What happened to them will CREEP you out.........
December 29, 2014
Alexandra Sirowy's THE CREEPING is a gripping Young Adult mystery that asks disturbing questions about the nature of evil. Seventeen-year-old Stella Cambren is known in the town of Savage Minnesota as the girl who survived a mysterious attack eleven years earlier. When she was only six, Stella's friend Jeanie Talcott disappeared while the two girls were picking strawberries at the edge of the woods. No trace of Jeanie was ever found, and Stella has no memory of what happened that afternoon. Was Jeanie abducted? Was she murdered? Was Stella a witness whose terrible memories have been irretrievably blocked? All Stella wants to do is have fun in the summer before her senior year of high school - she wants to hang out with her BFFs, hook up with hot guys, and forget that the disappearance of a childhood friend has forever changed the course of her life. But when the body of an unidentified six-year-old girl - a girl who looks remarkably like redheaded Jeanie - is found in the graveyard, everything for Stella is turned upside down once again. Is there a connection between this new murder victim and little Jeanie? And could the murderer - whoever he or she is - be after Stella, too, after all these years?
While the mystery of Jeanie's disappearance is at the heart of THE CREEPING, much of the story focuses on Stella's psychological trauma resulting from what happened when she was six. Stella tries very hard to be a normal teenage girl (after all, she's young, pretty, and popular), but she can't quite escape the image of Jeanie's face and the feeling that she should have been able to prevent whatever happened to her. Stella's friends, especially Zoey Walsh, are big on parties, drinking, and sex, and Stella wants to play, too. But it's not easy - especially when she begins to suspect that something bigger, and more terrifying, is behind Jeanie's disappearance. So as Stella fights her own fears (and the flashes of memory that begin to torment her), she begins to see glimpses of the person she used to be, the girl who disappeared along with Jeanie eleven years earlier.
I liked Stella - she's a strong and resourceful young woman whose life has been warped by loss. She has a distant father (he's a good guy, but overwork keeps him away from Stella), an absent mother (she left the family when Stella was ten), and friends that aren't always the best influence on her. I struggled a bit trying to like Zoey - her tendency to use various forms of the word "slut" in referring to Stella was off-putting (at times she referred to Stella as "psycho-slut," "Slutty Sherlock," "slutini," and "secret agent slut"). But I absolutely loved Sam Worth, Stella's best friend before Zoey forced her to choose between them - Sam is kind and compassionate and totally in love with her. Their romance is slow to build, but wonderfully fun and sexy, in all the right ways. Sam isn't one of the "cool kids" (in fact, Zoey always called him the "King of Loserdom"), and Stella's growing closeness to him jeopardizes her standing as one of the "in crowd." But there's something about Sam that brings Stella ever closer to the person she would have been had Jeanie not disappeared.
There is a sense of fantasy in THE CREEPING. Savage Minnesota has a history of creepy folklore (stories about cannibalistic psycho-killers abound), and it's difficult for Stella to dismiss the idea that some sort of evil entity (a monster or a demon) is behind what happened to little Jeanie. There's a pseudo-witch (complete with a witchy caldron and freaky cottage in the woods) as well as a cult of animal-sacrificers, and it isn't long before Stella is suspecting just about everyone of complicity in the monstrous goings-on. But what I liked best about this novel is the underlying assertion that monsters are, in the end, very human. It's far easier to look to some amorphous capital-E "Evil" to blame for the terrible things that happen to us. But it's usually something much closer to home. We can hunt monsters in an attempt to protect ourselves from evil, but we might not like what we find.
Bottom line, THE CREEPING is a dark, scary teen mystery novel with a strong protagonist and a chilling but satisfying ending. I would recommend it for older teens, however, since there is a fair amount of drinking, sex, and the usual language issues (Sirowy is clever in how she handles the language in this novel - it's only the potential "bad guys" who actually use the "f-word;" Stella and her friends use "effing" instead). If you like psychological horror stories with a touch of the supernatural (just a touch - this is a pretty realistic novel), THE CREEPING won't disappoint.
[Please note: I was provided a copy of this novel for review; the opinions expressed here are my own.]
While the mystery of Jeanie's disappearance is at the heart of THE CREEPING, much of the story focuses on Stella's psychological trauma resulting from what happened when she was six. Stella tries very hard to be a normal teenage girl (after all, she's young, pretty, and popular), but she can't quite escape the image of Jeanie's face and the feeling that she should have been able to prevent whatever happened to her. Stella's friends, especially Zoey Walsh, are big on parties, drinking, and sex, and Stella wants to play, too. But it's not easy - especially when she begins to suspect that something bigger, and more terrifying, is behind Jeanie's disappearance. So as Stella fights her own fears (and the flashes of memory that begin to torment her), she begins to see glimpses of the person she used to be, the girl who disappeared along with Jeanie eleven years earlier.
I liked Stella - she's a strong and resourceful young woman whose life has been warped by loss. She has a distant father (he's a good guy, but overwork keeps him away from Stella), an absent mother (she left the family when Stella was ten), and friends that aren't always the best influence on her. I struggled a bit trying to like Zoey - her tendency to use various forms of the word "slut" in referring to Stella was off-putting (at times she referred to Stella as "psycho-slut," "Slutty Sherlock," "slutini," and "secret agent slut"). But I absolutely loved Sam Worth, Stella's best friend before Zoey forced her to choose between them - Sam is kind and compassionate and totally in love with her. Their romance is slow to build, but wonderfully fun and sexy, in all the right ways. Sam isn't one of the "cool kids" (in fact, Zoey always called him the "King of Loserdom"), and Stella's growing closeness to him jeopardizes her standing as one of the "in crowd." But there's something about Sam that brings Stella ever closer to the person she would have been had Jeanie not disappeared.
There is a sense of fantasy in THE CREEPING. Savage Minnesota has a history of creepy folklore (stories about cannibalistic psycho-killers abound), and it's difficult for Stella to dismiss the idea that some sort of evil entity (a monster or a demon) is behind what happened to little Jeanie. There's a pseudo-witch (complete with a witchy caldron and freaky cottage in the woods) as well as a cult of animal-sacrificers, and it isn't long before Stella is suspecting just about everyone of complicity in the monstrous goings-on. But what I liked best about this novel is the underlying assertion that monsters are, in the end, very human. It's far easier to look to some amorphous capital-E "Evil" to blame for the terrible things that happen to us. But it's usually something much closer to home. We can hunt monsters in an attempt to protect ourselves from evil, but we might not like what we find.
Bottom line, THE CREEPING is a dark, scary teen mystery novel with a strong protagonist and a chilling but satisfying ending. I would recommend it for older teens, however, since there is a fair amount of drinking, sex, and the usual language issues (Sirowy is clever in how she handles the language in this novel - it's only the potential "bad guys" who actually use the "f-word;" Stella and her friends use "effing" instead). If you like psychological horror stories with a touch of the supernatural (just a touch - this is a pretty realistic novel), THE CREEPING won't disappoint.
[Please note: I was provided a copy of this novel for review; the opinions expressed here are my own.]
April 26, 2017
4 stars
"If you hunt for monsters, you'll find them."
As you can guess by the title and the cover, this won't be a campy summer read. Mind you, it wasn't THAT scary, but the atmosphere was.
The Creeping follows Stella, a girl who, eleven years ago, disappears with her friend Jeanie. Hours later, Stella returns but Jeanie was never found. Years later, something bad happened. This leads Stella to uncover what really happened the day she and Jeanie were taken and if monsters really do exist.
I've had this book since a year and a half ago. I've been meaning to read it but have been too busy with school and reading other books I've been meaning to read. So here I am now, finishing it.
“You keep squintin' in Savage's dark corners, you gonna wish yourself blind.”
If you like suspense and a bit of horror, then this book may be for you.
The story is like an onion, the more you peel, the more you get to the center of it, and once you get there, you'll be surprised by what waits for you.
First off, I really enjoyed the atmosphere of the story. It's set in a small town that is harboring secrets. Some of the residents are mysterious and the overall vibe of the town is very strange.
The mystery behind Stella and Jeanie's disappearance was also something I was invested in. Mind you, I did kind of figure out what happened 3/4ths of a way through the book, but before that, the mystery part was good. I was going back and forth between what was true and what was false.
That aside, the only gripes I have with the book would have to be the pacing and characters. The beginning had some problem with the pacing but it got better as the book went on. Character wise, you may not like Stella and her friend Zoey at first. Stella did grow on me personally, as well as Zoey. But many may not like them.
Verdict
A very haunting atmosphere with a good mystery. It may not be the best mystery, but it was good.
Thanks for reading my review!
-Cesar
"If you hunt for monsters, you'll find them."
As you can guess by the title and the cover, this won't be a campy summer read. Mind you, it wasn't THAT scary, but the atmosphere was.
The Creeping follows Stella, a girl who, eleven years ago, disappears with her friend Jeanie. Hours later, Stella returns but Jeanie was never found. Years later, something bad happened. This leads Stella to uncover what really happened the day she and Jeanie were taken and if monsters really do exist.
I've had this book since a year and a half ago. I've been meaning to read it but have been too busy with school and reading other books I've been meaning to read. So here I am now, finishing it.
“You keep squintin' in Savage's dark corners, you gonna wish yourself blind.”
If you like suspense and a bit of horror, then this book may be for you.
The story is like an onion, the more you peel, the more you get to the center of it, and once you get there, you'll be surprised by what waits for you.
First off, I really enjoyed the atmosphere of the story. It's set in a small town that is harboring secrets. Some of the residents are mysterious and the overall vibe of the town is very strange.
The mystery behind Stella and Jeanie's disappearance was also something I was invested in. Mind you, I did kind of figure out what happened 3/4ths of a way through the book, but before that, the mystery part was good. I was going back and forth between what was true and what was false.
That aside, the only gripes I have with the book would have to be the pacing and characters. The beginning had some problem with the pacing but it got better as the book went on. Character wise, you may not like Stella and her friend Zoey at first. Stella did grow on me personally, as well as Zoey. But many may not like them.
Verdict
A very haunting atmosphere with a good mystery. It may not be the best mystery, but it was good.
Thanks for reading my review!
-Cesar
September 15, 2014
I read an ARC of this book as a member of the Fearless Fifteeners. Stella Cambren survived an attack in the woods that her friend did not. Years later, another little girl is found dead, and Stella and her former childhood love, Sam, work to uncover the truth of what is happening in their small town. This is a true horror story about hunting monsters, and about finding them in unexpected places.
tbr-2
November 6, 2025
August 27, 2017
http://www.leslecturesdemylene.com/20...
17/20 - J'ai beaucoup aimé les personnages, l'ambiance, la tension qui monte jusqu'à la fin et les révélations explosives !!
17/20 - J'ai beaucoup aimé les personnages, l'ambiance, la tension qui monte jusqu'à la fin et les révélations explosives !!
October 23, 2015
The Creeping was one of my most highly anticipated reads of the summer. I love contemporary stories that straddle the line between contemporary and supernatural. I like not knowing if the villain in the story is something that can be seen or if it is just the dark parts of the human soul. The Creeping tried to do this but ended up falling short.
One of the reasons this book came up short was because I had hard time with the characters. Stella and her friends read as very immature in the beginning. I was happy to see that Stella grew and changed as the book progressed but none of the other characters did. I also couldn’t stand the overuse of slang. The dialogue felt out of place and more like a gimmick then what actual people would say.
I did enjoy the mystery of The Creeping though. When Stella was a child she and her friend Jeanie were taken from their front yard but only Stella returned. I loved that this novel investigated the town’s history, sources of their fear, and eventually led to a satisfying conclusion. It was too bad that the last 10% of this book really should have been the most exciting part but it just wasn’t. It all felt too tightly wrapped up.
The relationship between Stella and Sam was another aspect of this story that I enjoyed. They were childhood best friends and I liked how great Sam treated Stella. Even when she didn’t deserve it he was a great person. I also liked how Stella’s relationship with her best friend Zoey changed throughout this novel. There aren’t a lot of books that show the dynamics of a friendship as good as this one does.
Overall, there were parts of The Creeping that I really enjoyed and there were other parts that dragged. This novel could have been a lot shorter and a lot creepier. I have a feeling though that this will come with time and Alexandra Sirowy’s next novel will be even better!
One of the reasons this book came up short was because I had hard time with the characters. Stella and her friends read as very immature in the beginning. I was happy to see that Stella grew and changed as the book progressed but none of the other characters did. I also couldn’t stand the overuse of slang. The dialogue felt out of place and more like a gimmick then what actual people would say.
I did enjoy the mystery of The Creeping though. When Stella was a child she and her friend Jeanie were taken from their front yard but only Stella returned. I loved that this novel investigated the town’s history, sources of their fear, and eventually led to a satisfying conclusion. It was too bad that the last 10% of this book really should have been the most exciting part but it just wasn’t. It all felt too tightly wrapped up.
The relationship between Stella and Sam was another aspect of this story that I enjoyed. They were childhood best friends and I liked how great Sam treated Stella. Even when she didn’t deserve it he was a great person. I also liked how Stella’s relationship with her best friend Zoey changed throughout this novel. There aren’t a lot of books that show the dynamics of a friendship as good as this one does.
Overall, there were parts of The Creeping that I really enjoyed and there were other parts that dragged. This novel could have been a lot shorter and a lot creepier. I have a feeling though that this will come with time and Alexandra Sirowy’s next novel will be even better!
January 3, 2016
I received a free copy via Edelweiss for review purposes.
The Creeping was a great atmospheric horror. Twelve years earlier, Stella and her friend Jeanie vanished. Stella showed up minutes later with no memory of what had just happened, and Jeanie never showed up again. Now, Stella is seventeen and is looking forward to a summer of fun and freedom, and is famous in her town as the one who survived; a town which has a dirty secret. Then a new body is found and Stella can't help but think it's related to Jeanie's and her disappearance. Suddenly, memories start flooding back and Stella is determined to find out what's plaguing the town.
I don't read a lot of horror, partly because I'm a big softie and get scared very easily. Yet I'm so glad that I picked this one up because it's a great horror with a cleverly plotted murder mystery. At one point, I had to put it down because it was getting super creepy.
I didn't enjoy the romance aspect at all, in fact I found it completely unnecessary. Yet it didn't overshadow the plot and I still found it an enjoyable read. I didn't really like our protagonist Stella or her friend, Zoey who I thought was a horrible person, but the mystery, suspense and the horror made up for it.
Overall, a generally good and enjoyable horror story with some fantastic twists, and a neat resolution.
The Creeping was a great atmospheric horror. Twelve years earlier, Stella and her friend Jeanie vanished. Stella showed up minutes later with no memory of what had just happened, and Jeanie never showed up again. Now, Stella is seventeen and is looking forward to a summer of fun and freedom, and is famous in her town as the one who survived; a town which has a dirty secret. Then a new body is found and Stella can't help but think it's related to Jeanie's and her disappearance. Suddenly, memories start flooding back and Stella is determined to find out what's plaguing the town.
I don't read a lot of horror, partly because I'm a big softie and get scared very easily. Yet I'm so glad that I picked this one up because it's a great horror with a cleverly plotted murder mystery. At one point, I had to put it down because it was getting super creepy.
I didn't enjoy the romance aspect at all, in fact I found it completely unnecessary. Yet it didn't overshadow the plot and I still found it an enjoyable read. I didn't really like our protagonist Stella or her friend, Zoey who I thought was a horrible person, but the mystery, suspense and the horror made up for it.
Overall, a generally good and enjoyable horror story with some fantastic twists, and a neat resolution.
February 4, 2015
In the end, I liked The Creeping much more than I expected to. This is a book where I would tell readers to keep reading because the plot gets so much better as the story goes on. By mid-point, I felt myself getting super spooked by the plot.
The Creeping is unique because I liked not knowing exactly if the evil lurking in Stella’s town was real or imaginary. Even by the end, I wasn’t one hundred percent certain who the true monsters were. The pace felt a little slow in the first few chapters, but picked up tremendously as the mysteries started unraveling.
Stella grew on me as the story progressed. Her and her friends were a little annoying at first, but Stella eventually becomes a character I could root for. I think my feelings for her changed once the romance between her and Sam blossomed. I loved the two of them as a couple.
Although the romance was sweet, I definitely was more into the mystery of Janie. I thought I had it all figured out, but the author threw a curveball at the end. I love when an author surprises the reader completely.
Fans of YA mysteries with a touch of horror will definitely like The Creeping.
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the novel for review!
The Creeping is unique because I liked not knowing exactly if the evil lurking in Stella’s town was real or imaginary. Even by the end, I wasn’t one hundred percent certain who the true monsters were. The pace felt a little slow in the first few chapters, but picked up tremendously as the mysteries started unraveling.
Stella grew on me as the story progressed. Her and her friends were a little annoying at first, but Stella eventually becomes a character I could root for. I think my feelings for her changed once the romance between her and Sam blossomed. I loved the two of them as a couple.
Although the romance was sweet, I definitely was more into the mystery of Janie. I thought I had it all figured out, but the author threw a curveball at the end. I love when an author surprises the reader completely.
Fans of YA mysteries with a touch of horror will definitely like The Creeping.
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the novel for review!
August 14, 2015
"If you hunt for monsters, you'll find them."
There is nothing more satisfying than loving a book you have been dying to read and having it live up to your wild expectations. THE CREEPING was the perfect balance of my literary loves: mystery that kept me turning pages like a crazy-woman, a touch of romance that added to the story rather than detract from more important aspects and hauntingly beautiful imagery that made me feel a part of Stella's world.
"The sky is a milky black with tiny, twinkling tears in it's velvet. The canopy interlocks above us and there's a new spectrum of darkness. Even the stars can't see us now."
The whole idea behind this story intrigued me from the moment I read the synopsis. Little redheaded girls vanishing, showing up dead, a legend surrounding an insatiable monster and suspects that lurk around every corner. It was wonderfully creepy right from the very beginning and it was definitely a rollercoaster ride of a book. At times I was 100% sure I knew what was happening and what the outcome would be but then BAM! Revelations happened and I was back to square one.
"You keep squintin' in Savage's dark corners, you gonna wish yourself blind."
In my opinion characters make a story whether it be for better or for worse. THE CREEPING held such a rich mixture of personalities and I feel like they carried the story higher. Each character, even the secondary, not-so-important ones were so fleshed out and complex that I couldn't help but get sucked in to their individual stories, their experiences even when they had nothing to do with the story. I wanted to know everything and it's not often that you find more than the protagonists all that interesting. I would be content reading a whole book about each person's life.
Stella was a wonderful main character in that she really developed as a person. Let's be honest, she wasn't an A+ human being at the beginning. She was the ever-so-cliched popular girl with her head in the silver lined clouds where nothing ever looks less than perfect. Even with her being the 'lucky one' that escaped the clutches of Jeanie's killer, she's over it and seems to have detached herself completely from that girl. Throughout the story with the help of her first kiss, Sam, she slowly regains pieces of her old self - the brave, selfless one that I really grew to like.
Sam was my favourite character, maybe ever. He didn't let Stella's facade phase him even when she was a raging bitch. He knew who she was and he wasn't deterred by her mean girl mask. He was strong and certain and just the perfect guy, someone I think Stella couldn't have done without. He was unashamed of his feelings and isnt that just so refreshing? A guy who knows how to handle his feelings and isn't afraid to show them to the world. I got on board fast with this love interest.
"Muddy brown eyes that stick with you. Freckles like splattered honey. A smile like he knows better."
The romance between Stella and Sam was a touch of something perfect amongst the unsettling background of Savage. I really enjoyed the little snippets of their building relationship because, for me, it separated the story enough that when these parts were over I was ready to dive back in to the main story. Plus Sam is adorable, just so so sweet. I really loved his character.
"There's something so familiar, so comforting, about being near him. It's an irresistible taste of a home that's no longer mine."
As I said, the other characters helped make the story immensely stronger, even if I did hate at least a third of them, they still brought more life to the world of THE CREEPING. The only character who I absolutely could not stand all the way through the book was Zoey, Stella's (and I use this term very loosely here) best friend. I would have had a lot more respect for Stella if she had shown a better judge of character or even a backbone when she saw her 'best friend's' true character. Zoey was selfish, inconsiderate and incredibly insensitive. She really irked me right up until about the last 10%.
Now, the one and only thing I got confused about was when I went on Goodreads to check the genres. I wont say much about that because I don't want to inadvertently give anything away but I do think they should maybe be edited a bit to be more accurate...
Having taken psychology classes for two years helped me latch on to something one of the characters said about another to Stella. As soon as I read it I pretty much figured out a small part of the ending, not so much that it ruined it for me, not at all, but I think I was less surprised than I should have been when the big revelation came. I was still shocked as hell though!
Overall I gave this book 4 stars. The writing was some of the best I've read in a while with dialogue that mirrors exactly how teens actually speak rather than the stunted sentences that occur regularly in this age genre. The scenes were pieced together seamlessly to create a wonderfully creepy flow of events that kept me manically flipping the pages. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves the mystery genre with a touch of romance and a tad bit of 'eugh gross', ha! I will definitely be buying a physical copy for my collection because that cover is equal parts creepy and hauntingly gorgeous.
There is nothing more satisfying than loving a book you have been dying to read and having it live up to your wild expectations. THE CREEPING was the perfect balance of my literary loves: mystery that kept me turning pages like a crazy-woman, a touch of romance that added to the story rather than detract from more important aspects and hauntingly beautiful imagery that made me feel a part of Stella's world.
"The sky is a milky black with tiny, twinkling tears in it's velvet. The canopy interlocks above us and there's a new spectrum of darkness. Even the stars can't see us now."
The whole idea behind this story intrigued me from the moment I read the synopsis. Little redheaded girls vanishing, showing up dead, a legend surrounding an insatiable monster and suspects that lurk around every corner. It was wonderfully creepy right from the very beginning and it was definitely a rollercoaster ride of a book. At times I was 100% sure I knew what was happening and what the outcome would be but then BAM! Revelations happened and I was back to square one.
"You keep squintin' in Savage's dark corners, you gonna wish yourself blind."
In my opinion characters make a story whether it be for better or for worse. THE CREEPING held such a rich mixture of personalities and I feel like they carried the story higher. Each character, even the secondary, not-so-important ones were so fleshed out and complex that I couldn't help but get sucked in to their individual stories, their experiences even when they had nothing to do with the story. I wanted to know everything and it's not often that you find more than the protagonists all that interesting. I would be content reading a whole book about each person's life.
Stella was a wonderful main character in that she really developed as a person. Let's be honest, she wasn't an A+ human being at the beginning. She was the ever-so-cliched popular girl with her head in the silver lined clouds where nothing ever looks less than perfect. Even with her being the 'lucky one' that escaped the clutches of Jeanie's killer, she's over it and seems to have detached herself completely from that girl. Throughout the story with the help of her first kiss, Sam, she slowly regains pieces of her old self - the brave, selfless one that I really grew to like.
Sam was my favourite character, maybe ever. He didn't let Stella's facade phase him even when she was a raging bitch. He knew who she was and he wasn't deterred by her mean girl mask. He was strong and certain and just the perfect guy, someone I think Stella couldn't have done without. He was unashamed of his feelings and isnt that just so refreshing? A guy who knows how to handle his feelings and isn't afraid to show them to the world. I got on board fast with this love interest.
"Muddy brown eyes that stick with you. Freckles like splattered honey. A smile like he knows better."
The romance between Stella and Sam was a touch of something perfect amongst the unsettling background of Savage. I really enjoyed the little snippets of their building relationship because, for me, it separated the story enough that when these parts were over I was ready to dive back in to the main story. Plus Sam is adorable, just so so sweet. I really loved his character.
"There's something so familiar, so comforting, about being near him. It's an irresistible taste of a home that's no longer mine."
As I said, the other characters helped make the story immensely stronger, even if I did hate at least a third of them, they still brought more life to the world of THE CREEPING. The only character who I absolutely could not stand all the way through the book was Zoey, Stella's (and I use this term very loosely here) best friend. I would have had a lot more respect for Stella if she had shown a better judge of character or even a backbone when she saw her 'best friend's' true character. Zoey was selfish, inconsiderate and incredibly insensitive. She really irked me right up until about the last 10%.
Now, the one and only thing I got confused about was when I went on Goodreads to check the genres. I wont say much about that because I don't want to inadvertently give anything away but I do think they should maybe be edited a bit to be more accurate...
Having taken psychology classes for two years helped me latch on to something one of the characters said about another to Stella. As soon as I read it I pretty much figured out a small part of the ending, not so much that it ruined it for me, not at all, but I think I was less surprised than I should have been when the big revelation came. I was still shocked as hell though!
Overall I gave this book 4 stars. The writing was some of the best I've read in a while with dialogue that mirrors exactly how teens actually speak rather than the stunted sentences that occur regularly in this age genre. The scenes were pieced together seamlessly to create a wonderfully creepy flow of events that kept me manically flipping the pages. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves the mystery genre with a touch of romance and a tad bit of 'eugh gross', ha! I will definitely be buying a physical copy for my collection because that cover is equal parts creepy and hauntingly gorgeous.
August 25, 2015
"If you look for monsters....you'll find them...."
So I will have to admit...the first thing that grabbed my attention about this book....was the cover. I mean seriously....what an amazingly creepy and yet utterly gorgeous cover!!! Everything from the way the letters of the title are placed to the deep blue color and the spooky young girl in the tree ....fit the book perfectly. I immediately added The Creeping to my To Be Read list and waited impatiently for it to arrive.....
The Creeping is a story about the mystery surrounding young Jeanie's disappearance. Jeanie and Stella were out picking strawberry's one day and suddenly Jeanie disappeared and Stella returned but with no memory of what happened.
The story then picks up eleven years later when Stella is in high school and a young girl gets murdered and it brings up all the memories and questions of Jeanie's disappearance. Stella begins to question everything and everyone she knows. She is so confused on who to trust and who her true friends are.
The Creeping is so full of twists and turns that you never know what is going to happen. The scenery is so spooky and Stella always seems to find the creepiest places to visit....I loved the atmosphere of the story and not knowing whether the the killer is real or paranormal.... There are so many ghost stories and tales surrounding this small town that perfectly fit the creepiness of this story.
"Fear nips at my heels with every step, and I get the sense that we're being watched, followed, hunted even. The white disk of a moon casts enough light for us to see a few steps ahead, and the bramble on either side is black and impenetrable."
The Creeping is a spooky, creepy mystery with a hint of horror mixed in....and fans of young adult are going to love it!!! With Halloween right around the corner, The Creeping is the perfect late night story to start off the season!!!!
So I will have to admit...the first thing that grabbed my attention about this book....was the cover. I mean seriously....what an amazingly creepy and yet utterly gorgeous cover!!! Everything from the way the letters of the title are placed to the deep blue color and the spooky young girl in the tree ....fit the book perfectly. I immediately added The Creeping to my To Be Read list and waited impatiently for it to arrive.....
The Creeping is a story about the mystery surrounding young Jeanie's disappearance. Jeanie and Stella were out picking strawberry's one day and suddenly Jeanie disappeared and Stella returned but with no memory of what happened.
The story then picks up eleven years later when Stella is in high school and a young girl gets murdered and it brings up all the memories and questions of Jeanie's disappearance. Stella begins to question everything and everyone she knows. She is so confused on who to trust and who her true friends are.
The Creeping is so full of twists and turns that you never know what is going to happen. The scenery is so spooky and Stella always seems to find the creepiest places to visit....I loved the atmosphere of the story and not knowing whether the the killer is real or paranormal.... There are so many ghost stories and tales surrounding this small town that perfectly fit the creepiness of this story.
"Fear nips at my heels with every step, and I get the sense that we're being watched, followed, hunted even. The white disk of a moon casts enough light for us to see a few steps ahead, and the bramble on either side is black and impenetrable."
The Creeping is a spooky, creepy mystery with a hint of horror mixed in....and fans of young adult are going to love it!!! With Halloween right around the corner, The Creeping is the perfect late night story to start off the season!!!!
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