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Monster
They’re the only humans. But they’re not alone.
Adam Hayes pilots a small team to a remote Antarctic research station. Their to investigate the loss of communications. Once there, the group of five find the station deserted, the radio smashed, and several strange piles of empty clothing. Forced to stay the night by a blinding snowstorm, they set out to solve the mystery of the missing crew. Eventually they will learn the horrifying truth—the station is not empty after all, and something unimaginable, dug up from the deep ice, roams the complex. Now they must fight for their lives against a cunning, thinking monster—and those who would unleash this terror on the rest of the world.
- GenresHorror
335 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 7, 2015
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34 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
February 21, 2015
Though I wasn't familiar with author Keith Ferrario, the blurb on this one was simply too good to pass up for a horror fan who counts John Carpenter's seminal The Thing among the best 20 films he's ever seen. A pilot leads a small team to investigate the sudden loss of communications with a remote Antarctic research station, only to end up fighting for their lives against a some kind of "cunning, thinking monster".
Well, that was literally only half the story. At about the 50% mark, Ferrario wraps up the whole Antarctic research station part of his novel, and suddenly shifts the action forward twelve years and onto the North American continent. Actually, "action" may have been a poor choice of words there, because like the first half of Monster, Ferrario has to then develop a whole new cast of characters, meaning this slows to a no-longer appropriate glacial pace. It's a daring move, and though the two stories do eventually intertwine and there is a pay off, there's way too much fat on this one and not enough meat for me to forgive the abandoning of the novel that is sold in the blurb. In short, having to go through two long build-up, character-setting phases was one too many for me.
Without giving anything away, the titular monster is interesting enough, though not as horrifying as that very cool cover shown above would imply. The characters never quite gelled for me either - especially as those who turn out to be more than they initially appear almost scream as much from the moment they enter the story. Which basically translated to zero surprises for me when the eventual third act twists (because there are two of those, remember) take place.
From his website, it would appear this is Ferrario's fourth published work, but the first in many years. I'm not sure if he took a huge break from writing or if this is the result of a decade plus of work. I hope the former. There are some enjoyable aspects to Monster, particularly in the novel's first half, but overall this was a slightly disappointing read that simply tried to do too much.
2.5 rounding up to 3 Enveloping Puddles of Ooze for Monster.
The preceding is based on a free eARC provided by Samhain Publishing through Netgalley.
Check out this review and a host of others like it at Horror After Dark.
Well, that was literally only half the story. At about the 50% mark, Ferrario wraps up the whole Antarctic research station part of his novel, and suddenly shifts the action forward twelve years and onto the North American continent. Actually, "action" may have been a poor choice of words there, because like the first half of Monster, Ferrario has to then develop a whole new cast of characters, meaning this slows to a no-longer appropriate glacial pace. It's a daring move, and though the two stories do eventually intertwine and there is a pay off, there's way too much fat on this one and not enough meat for me to forgive the abandoning of the novel that is sold in the blurb. In short, having to go through two long build-up, character-setting phases was one too many for me.
Without giving anything away, the titular monster is interesting enough, though not as horrifying as that very cool cover shown above would imply. The characters never quite gelled for me either - especially as those who turn out to be more than they initially appear almost scream as much from the moment they enter the story. Which basically translated to zero surprises for me when the eventual third act twists (because there are two of those, remember) take place.
From his website, it would appear this is Ferrario's fourth published work, but the first in many years. I'm not sure if he took a huge break from writing or if this is the result of a decade plus of work. I hope the former. There are some enjoyable aspects to Monster, particularly in the novel's first half, but overall this was a slightly disappointing read that simply tried to do too much.
2.5 rounding up to 3 Enveloping Puddles of Ooze for Monster.
The preceding is based on a free eARC provided by Samhain Publishing through Netgalley.
Check out this review and a host of others like it at Horror After Dark.
April 13, 2015
This story had me glued to it right from the beginning. It started off in Antarctica and for a few pages I was briefly reminded of another story of scientists faced with horror in that inhospitable environment (namely John Carpenter’s film ‘The Thing’), but I soon realized this was a very different story. The plot takes place in two different times, in two different locations. The ancient life form has lain dormant for millennia and the horrific way it attacks its victims was both original and scary.
The characters throughout – whether adult or child, acted and behaved authentically. For me, the switch of plot from the time and location of Part One to that of Part Two worked well and I had no idea how the author would resolve the story. I can understand why some readers might feel apprehensive about the apparent meshing of two stories into one, but from my perspective, this was most definitely one complete story. In short, the two parts needed to come together to make a whole, just as much as… No, I’m not giving you a spoiler here. You’ll have to read it for yourself. I recommend that you do. This is a novel that will appeal to both horror and sci-fi readers. There’s science in here and horrific chills, thrills and suspense aplenty. Loved it!
The characters throughout – whether adult or child, acted and behaved authentically. For me, the switch of plot from the time and location of Part One to that of Part Two worked well and I had no idea how the author would resolve the story. I can understand why some readers might feel apprehensive about the apparent meshing of two stories into one, but from my perspective, this was most definitely one complete story. In short, the two parts needed to come together to make a whole, just as much as… No, I’m not giving you a spoiler here. You’ll have to read it for yourself. I recommend that you do. This is a novel that will appeal to both horror and sci-fi readers. There’s science in here and horrific chills, thrills and suspense aplenty. Loved it!
October 19, 2015
[I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.]
Keith Ferrario’s Monster begins with the discovery an unknown substance buried very deep in the Antarctic ice. As a huge fan of John Carpenter’s The Thing, I was immediately lulled in by Monster‘s description. I’m a big fan of horror that uses extreme locations as its primary setting, and have a particular fondness for arctic climes. So, I figured this book would be right up my alley. Unfortunately (for me at least), the arctic horror is only, literally, half of the story.
Monster is divided into two parts. In the first part, we’re introduced to Adam Hayes, who pilots a small team to the Antarctic base after the researchers housed there have stopped communicating. This is a solid enough story and hit many of the right notes for me and then…it just sort of ended.
Part two acts as a pretty hard reboot halfway through, introducing us to all new characters in an all new setting. All of the momentum and tension that Ferrario built up in the tight confines of the research base completely disappears as readers are put back at square one and thrust into a medical mystery.
And this is really the main problem I had with Monster. It reads more like two novellas that were glued together by a faint thread. It’s not until the book is nearly finished that Ferrario starts layering in the connections in explicit detail, but by then the story has been bogged down in reorienting readers to an entirely new situation and unveiling all the subterfuge and conspiracy stuff that’s been happening around them.
Unfortunately, there’s just a little too much subterfuge for my liking here, on behalf of both the characters and Ferrario himself. Part Two snapped me so far out of the reading experience that I wasn’t able to ground myself in the story again, and I wasn’t nearly as interested in the happenings of the book’s second half as I was in the first. At a point where the driving force behind the story is at its highest, to suddenly have the rug pulled out from us and forced to start over felt more like a disheartening cheat than authorial cunning. Monster should have been rocketing toward its conclusion, instead of limping along with all-new introductions of everything. By the time the ending did near, I found myself increasingly indifferent to its resolution.
I’ll give Ferrario credit, though – upending reader’s expectations so ferociously and flipping the script entirely half-way through is an incredibly ballsy move. For me, it didn’t quite pay off, even if I do think the core idea behind the plot is not only solid, but damn intriguing.
Keith Ferrario’s Monster begins with the discovery an unknown substance buried very deep in the Antarctic ice. As a huge fan of John Carpenter’s The Thing, I was immediately lulled in by Monster‘s description. I’m a big fan of horror that uses extreme locations as its primary setting, and have a particular fondness for arctic climes. So, I figured this book would be right up my alley. Unfortunately (for me at least), the arctic horror is only, literally, half of the story.
Monster is divided into two parts. In the first part, we’re introduced to Adam Hayes, who pilots a small team to the Antarctic base after the researchers housed there have stopped communicating. This is a solid enough story and hit many of the right notes for me and then…it just sort of ended.
Part two acts as a pretty hard reboot halfway through, introducing us to all new characters in an all new setting. All of the momentum and tension that Ferrario built up in the tight confines of the research base completely disappears as readers are put back at square one and thrust into a medical mystery.
And this is really the main problem I had with Monster. It reads more like two novellas that were glued together by a faint thread. It’s not until the book is nearly finished that Ferrario starts layering in the connections in explicit detail, but by then the story has been bogged down in reorienting readers to an entirely new situation and unveiling all the subterfuge and conspiracy stuff that’s been happening around them.
Unfortunately, there’s just a little too much subterfuge for my liking here, on behalf of both the characters and Ferrario himself. Part Two snapped me so far out of the reading experience that I wasn’t able to ground myself in the story again, and I wasn’t nearly as interested in the happenings of the book’s second half as I was in the first. At a point where the driving force behind the story is at its highest, to suddenly have the rug pulled out from us and forced to start over felt more like a disheartening cheat than authorial cunning. Monster should have been rocketing toward its conclusion, instead of limping along with all-new introductions of everything. By the time the ending did near, I found myself increasingly indifferent to its resolution.
I’ll give Ferrario credit, though – upending reader’s expectations so ferociously and flipping the script entirely half-way through is an incredibly ballsy move. For me, it didn’t quite pay off, even if I do think the core idea behind the plot is not only solid, but damn intriguing.
June 7, 2015
Review from horrorunderground.org
Monster (2015)
Samhain Publishing
Author: Keith Ferrario
Pilot Adam Hayes, takes a small research team to a remote Antarctic research station to investigate the loss of communication from the previous team. Upon arrival, Adam and the team quickly learn that this is not a simple loss of communication due to the weather. They discover that someone or something has killed the original research team. This simple investigation quickly turns into a fight for survival against something hiding in the shadows of this research base.
With a plot summary like that, you would assume that Keith Ferrario’s Monster is just another rip-off of John Carpenter’s The Thing. Luckily, it is not. If anything, this film has more in common with the X-Files episode “Ice” than Carpenter’s highly regarded remake. Instead of being an all-out monster story, despite the title, this is more of a horror medical thriller a la Robin Cook meets Stephen King.
Also, of large note regarding the plot, this is only half of the story that is broken into two parts. The second portion of this novel jumps forward to 2003, the first portion took place in 1991, where we meet Brandon Dahl, a young child dying of cancer. Dr. Hamliine, a doctor and cancer researcher, invites Brandon to stay at his research facility where he experiments on children in order to develop a cure for cancer and other diseases that ail these young children.
The second half of Monster holds the medical thriller/mystery of the first half while adding a bit of ghost story in the mix. The result is fascinating. I loved the monster horror elements of the first half but I felt that the second half was a more developed story with stronger characters.
Ferrario takes a huge risk by pulling the reader out of the story and placing them in a completely different one in the middle of the book. For me, this worked. It worked well. I can see why others would take issue with it, but to me, it was fitting and well timed as it kept the story from becoming boring and potentially repetitive.
So everyone is aware, yes, the second part of Monster connects to the first. Hang in there. Give the story a chance to develop. If you are willing to do that, you will be rewarded with a rich story that enhances the first part of the book.
In the end, Ferrario has delivered a well-researched dive into medical horror. There is tension and horror with every turn of the page. With the multiple story structure, the plot threads wrap up and start anew before becoming stale. This is a fresh take on the “research base in the Antarctic” that holds its own among the competition.
Monster (2015)
Samhain Publishing
Author: Keith Ferrario
Pilot Adam Hayes, takes a small research team to a remote Antarctic research station to investigate the loss of communication from the previous team. Upon arrival, Adam and the team quickly learn that this is not a simple loss of communication due to the weather. They discover that someone or something has killed the original research team. This simple investigation quickly turns into a fight for survival against something hiding in the shadows of this research base.
With a plot summary like that, you would assume that Keith Ferrario’s Monster is just another rip-off of John Carpenter’s The Thing. Luckily, it is not. If anything, this film has more in common with the X-Files episode “Ice” than Carpenter’s highly regarded remake. Instead of being an all-out monster story, despite the title, this is more of a horror medical thriller a la Robin Cook meets Stephen King.
Also, of large note regarding the plot, this is only half of the story that is broken into two parts. The second portion of this novel jumps forward to 2003, the first portion took place in 1991, where we meet Brandon Dahl, a young child dying of cancer. Dr. Hamliine, a doctor and cancer researcher, invites Brandon to stay at his research facility where he experiments on children in order to develop a cure for cancer and other diseases that ail these young children.
The second half of Monster holds the medical thriller/mystery of the first half while adding a bit of ghost story in the mix. The result is fascinating. I loved the monster horror elements of the first half but I felt that the second half was a more developed story with stronger characters.
Ferrario takes a huge risk by pulling the reader out of the story and placing them in a completely different one in the middle of the book. For me, this worked. It worked well. I can see why others would take issue with it, but to me, it was fitting and well timed as it kept the story from becoming boring and potentially repetitive.
So everyone is aware, yes, the second part of Monster connects to the first. Hang in there. Give the story a chance to develop. If you are willing to do that, you will be rewarded with a rich story that enhances the first part of the book.
In the end, Ferrario has delivered a well-researched dive into medical horror. There is tension and horror with every turn of the page. With the multiple story structure, the plot threads wrap up and start anew before becoming stale. This is a fresh take on the “research base in the Antarctic” that holds its own among the competition.
April 13, 2015
Book Review originally published here: http://www.iheartreading.net/reviews/...
Monster is a disjointed collection of two stories with a faint connection between them. While the first part of the book holds high hopes, the second doesn’t deliver at all.
When they lose contact with an Antarctic research station, Adam Hayes pilots a small team to the station, to check out what happened, and why communication with the station was lost. But the five find something horrifying instead, with the station deserted and the radio smashed. A snowstorm forces them to spend the night, and while searching through the compound, they start finding what remains of the researchers that once inhabited the station. They learn that something terrible roams the complex, and now the monster is out to get them.
The book is long, probably too long. The first half of it focuses on the research station and on Adam trying to survive. The POV switches often from one character to another, leaving little time to actually get to know them, or care for them. Then halfway through, we make a twelve year time jump and are introduced to a whole new set of characters. It’s annoying, and it drags on the plot, while I wouldn’t have minded if it ended after the first part. It means a lot of build up, having to meet a new cast of characters two times, and in general, it doesn’t work too well. If the book had stopped after the first part, I would’ve given it a higher rating. The second part was too dull, and too much of a struggle to get through. The story do overlap eventually, but it’s not enough to warrant the latter half. It feels like two books sloppily glued together.
As for the first part, it is good and definitely has some merits. The writing is enjoyable for the most part, and we do get a suspenseful build up. I liked the monster – it was original, and rather scary. While I didn’t feel much of a connection to the characters, I did enjoy the plot.
Monster is a disjointed collection of two stories with a faint connection between them. While the first part of the book holds high hopes, the second doesn’t deliver at all.
When they lose contact with an Antarctic research station, Adam Hayes pilots a small team to the station, to check out what happened, and why communication with the station was lost. But the five find something horrifying instead, with the station deserted and the radio smashed. A snowstorm forces them to spend the night, and while searching through the compound, they start finding what remains of the researchers that once inhabited the station. They learn that something terrible roams the complex, and now the monster is out to get them.
The book is long, probably too long. The first half of it focuses on the research station and on Adam trying to survive. The POV switches often from one character to another, leaving little time to actually get to know them, or care for them. Then halfway through, we make a twelve year time jump and are introduced to a whole new set of characters. It’s annoying, and it drags on the plot, while I wouldn’t have minded if it ended after the first part. It means a lot of build up, having to meet a new cast of characters two times, and in general, it doesn’t work too well. If the book had stopped after the first part, I would’ve given it a higher rating. The second part was too dull, and too much of a struggle to get through. The story do overlap eventually, but it’s not enough to warrant the latter half. It feels like two books sloppily glued together.
As for the first part, it is good and definitely has some merits. The writing is enjoyable for the most part, and we do get a suspenseful build up. I liked the monster – it was original, and rather scary. While I didn’t feel much of a connection to the characters, I did enjoy the plot.
April 7, 2015
Antarctica and a monster - hmmm déjà vu!
I love stories, especially horror, that take place on Antarctica or in the Arctic regions. Sub-freezing temperatures and monsters - oh my. Think THE THING (the original of course) or 30 DAYS OF NIGHT.
I wasn't quite sure what to expect with MONSTER by Keith Ferrario. But, first of all, I expected the entire story to take place on Antarctica - it didn't - and I was disappointed by this.
Part 1 takes place on Antarctica in 1991 at the United States Research Institute, Station 7. A mixed group of people is flown in to see why all communication has stopped from the Station. Very soon after landing the creepiness starts and people start dying.
I really enjoyed this half of the book - five stars worth. Fast paced, gory with chills and thrills. Believable characters and some well-written surprises round out this section.
Part 2 takes place in 2003 back in the United States (I am assuming U.S. even though it doesn't say - just mentions the name of a town). At this point in the story it becomes a medical thriller, which I did NOT expect and is not my favorite genre of books. The second half of the book is a decent read but I wish the story had continued on its original path.
There were sympathetic characters in this last half of the book and surprises too. By the end of the book the two halves meshed and all became clear.
So, loved the first half and the second half was worth reading.
NOTE: I received a free advance copy of this book from Samhain Publishing, via NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased review.
I love stories, especially horror, that take place on Antarctica or in the Arctic regions. Sub-freezing temperatures and monsters - oh my. Think THE THING (the original of course) or 30 DAYS OF NIGHT.
I wasn't quite sure what to expect with MONSTER by Keith Ferrario. But, first of all, I expected the entire story to take place on Antarctica - it didn't - and I was disappointed by this.
Part 1 takes place on Antarctica in 1991 at the United States Research Institute, Station 7. A mixed group of people is flown in to see why all communication has stopped from the Station. Very soon after landing the creepiness starts and people start dying.
I really enjoyed this half of the book - five stars worth. Fast paced, gory with chills and thrills. Believable characters and some well-written surprises round out this section.
Part 2 takes place in 2003 back in the United States (I am assuming U.S. even though it doesn't say - just mentions the name of a town). At this point in the story it becomes a medical thriller, which I did NOT expect and is not my favorite genre of books. The second half of the book is a decent read but I wish the story had continued on its original path.
There were sympathetic characters in this last half of the book and surprises too. By the end of the book the two halves meshed and all became clear.
So, loved the first half and the second half was worth reading.
NOTE: I received a free advance copy of this book from Samhain Publishing, via NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased review.
May 17, 2015
Classic Horror scenario taken to a new level
As you have no doubt read, this story is the classic setup of a deserted ice station with strange happenings. For true horror/thriller connoisseurs, this is always a delight, as this scenario guarantees a suspenseful read of thrills and chills. But to my added delight, I discovered this story was so much more. The author has taken this story to a new level and steered this classic scenario into uncharted waters.
First of all, the author created a monster based on actual science and then based its behavior on this science. Not to give away any details, but the concept was very well thought out and very believable. And then next, he takes the adventure beyond the ice station. In my opinion, this made the book.
The writing style was well done and professional. I thoroughly enjoyed spending each night curled up with this book, anxiously waiting to see what happened next. It was suspenseful, thrilling, and, in some parts, very emotional. This book will go on my book shelf as one of my favorites.
As you have no doubt read, this story is the classic setup of a deserted ice station with strange happenings. For true horror/thriller connoisseurs, this is always a delight, as this scenario guarantees a suspenseful read of thrills and chills. But to my added delight, I discovered this story was so much more. The author has taken this story to a new level and steered this classic scenario into uncharted waters.
First of all, the author created a monster based on actual science and then based its behavior on this science. Not to give away any details, but the concept was very well thought out and very believable. And then next, he takes the adventure beyond the ice station. In my opinion, this made the book.
The writing style was well done and professional. I thoroughly enjoyed spending each night curled up with this book, anxiously waiting to see what happened next. It was suspenseful, thrilling, and, in some parts, very emotional. This book will go on my book shelf as one of my favorites.
January 26, 2015
Doesn't Feel Like One Book
Monster, by Keith Ferrario, is written in two parts and feels like two distinctly different books.
Part 1 takes place in an Arctic research station. While scary and suspenseful, it very much mirrors every single Arctic Research Station horror or SF book/movie you've experienced: Researchers find something in the ice. Something bad. No one hears from them so someone is sent to check. Scary things happen.
Part 2 takes place in a medical facility that is testing new procedures on dying children. Again, you've likely read similar things: Medical procedure offers help to the hopeless. Miracles seem to happen. But wait…something's not right here. Something's very, very wrong…
Each section of the book is well written, fast-paced, and extremely interesting. They kept me riveted to each page. Familiar though they were, I still wanted to keep reading.
However, though the sections are linked and are definitely part of the same book, they really felt like two different books. In fact, at some part while I was reading section two, I reminded myself that I needed to leave a review for that cool Arctic horror book I had recently read…then I realized that was just part 1 I was remembering.
While I would dearly have loved some of the atmosphere in part 1 to continue into part 2, I understood the reason why they were so radically different. Aside from the different setting, the 'monster' itself has undergone some changes. It makes sense, but there was a definite disconnect.
3.5 Stars. While derivative, I loved part 1, but was a bit disappointed in part 2. Still a good read!
*ARC Provided by Netgalley for review purposes.
Monster, by Keith Ferrario, is written in two parts and feels like two distinctly different books.
Part 1 takes place in an Arctic research station. While scary and suspenseful, it very much mirrors every single Arctic Research Station horror or SF book/movie you've experienced: Researchers find something in the ice. Something bad. No one hears from them so someone is sent to check. Scary things happen.
Part 2 takes place in a medical facility that is testing new procedures on dying children. Again, you've likely read similar things: Medical procedure offers help to the hopeless. Miracles seem to happen. But wait…something's not right here. Something's very, very wrong…
Each section of the book is well written, fast-paced, and extremely interesting. They kept me riveted to each page. Familiar though they were, I still wanted to keep reading.
However, though the sections are linked and are definitely part of the same book, they really felt like two different books. In fact, at some part while I was reading section two, I reminded myself that I needed to leave a review for that cool Arctic horror book I had recently read…then I realized that was just part 1 I was remembering.
While I would dearly have loved some of the atmosphere in part 1 to continue into part 2, I understood the reason why they were so radically different. Aside from the different setting, the 'monster' itself has undergone some changes. It makes sense, but there was a definite disconnect.
3.5 Stars. While derivative, I loved part 1, but was a bit disappointed in part 2. Still a good read!
*ARC Provided by Netgalley for review purposes.
June 24, 2015
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is in no way reflected in my opinion of this novel.
Monster was a hard read for me. The first part should have been great since I love the whole trapped in a hostile environment with something trying to eat you thing. The setting was there, the monster was there, but then we get to the characters. In most stories like this you have at least one kick-ass character who's ready to save the day. With Monster you get characters who are more focused on the big, scary guns than the fact that something is picking them off for lunch. The characters refusal to get over their aversion to guns in order to protect themselves was just ridiculous to me. It's like a ripped off version of The Thing without Kurt Russell. Part two was totally different from part one. You don't see any of the characters from part one until the last few pages. It focused on three children and a doctor at an experimental clinic. The children all have terminal illnesses that the secretive staff at The Hamline Clinic are trying to cure. But of course their really doing deadly experiments. I can say that I enjoyed the writing in part two more than the first part but only by comparison. I can't really recommend this 2.5 star book.
March 9, 2016
There's a lot to like in Keith Ferrario's Monster, a lotta bang for your buck. The horror novel is constructed fascinatingly: the first half details an Arctic expedition to discover what has happened to a missing science exploratory team; the second half switches unpredictable gears and plays out as an almost YA/MG horror tale. What ties them together? I won't spoil it here, but the titular monster rears its head in both parts. There are surprising twists and turns (some that this jaded horror author never saw coming) as the book propels toward its exciting conclusion. The only thing keeping me from doling out a five star rating? At times, the POV switches within the same scene which reads as a little jarring. But I'm nitpicking; if I could give it 4-1/2 stars, I definitely would. Recommended for horror fans and I look forward to Ferrario's future work.
March 9, 2016
Honestly, the second half of this book is what made me end up loving it. In the same spirit as "The Thing", the first half takes place in some cold, remote research facility where they have discovered something that should have been left buried. The horror ride continues and you wonder if anyone will survive. The second half leaves you wondering how the two are connected until the pieces of the puzzle start to fall into place and then the whole story is wrapped up with a beautiful ribbon and topped with a bow. I'm a sucker for a good ending and this one made me quite happy.
April 25, 2015
I really enjoyed this book, but it was like reading two diffent stories in one. The one at the ice station was really, really good. the second one was fairly good but no as well asthe first. I will definatel look into more stuff by this author.
If you enjoy different, this is the book for you
If you enjoy different, this is the book for you
January 3, 2026
Not what was expected.
I thought for sure it would be good but no. Too much readying for terror (which leading up to was great) but didn’t give good read. Too much confusion on characters and not enough creep factor! Maybe bland is a good description? Not sure exactly, just not scary enough.
I thought for sure it would be good but no. Too much readying for terror (which leading up to was great) but didn’t give good read. Too much confusion on characters and not enough creep factor! Maybe bland is a good description? Not sure exactly, just not scary enough.
February 26, 2015
This was a disjointed book. It was as if the author took two entirely separate stories and smashed them together. The first half, set in the research station, would have made an incredible book by itself. But the second half was rushed and underdeveloped, with an ending that came too fast and a resolution that didn't make much sense.
Free copy received from NetGalley.
Free copy received from NetGalley.
May 4, 2015
Unfortunately I'm jumping on the review bandwagon and saying the second half of this story really drags the whole book down. A monster, isolation,snow screams The Thing which I actually enjoyed both the original and some of the "prequel". So I was all in and then time jump different and much more boring story dragged the whole book down.
April 10, 2016
Interesting novel. Split in two sections, each a different timeline, and very different storytelling. First part seems like a straight rip off of The Thing, second half more medical thriller. That said, I found myself enjoying the book, despite a ton of stereotypes.
March 20, 2015
A novel whose parts are greater than its whole
For a full review, please go to http://www.examiner.com/review/monste... and follow me on Twitter @josenher
For a full review, please go to http://www.examiner.com/review/monste... and follow me on Twitter @josenher
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