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Makanda
394 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 30, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really really hate writing negative reviews. Writing a novel is difficult and I applaud any author who does so. However, once in a very great while I have to DNF a book and, unfortunately, this was one of those.
It started out pretty strong. The first few chapters had some good bloody kills from a creature which was almost like a Bigfoot. So I kept reading. And reading. And reading some more but after 200 pages (out of 324) nothing else happened to advance what was supposed to be a creature feature type novel.
Characters were described in detail, stilted conversations which were not natural took place, and other characters were introduced and never appeared again. One dimensional comes to mind. No nuance to any of them really. There were "good" people and "bad" people and the good ones had no flaws seemingly and the bad ones had no redeeming qualities. They were all racist, sexist, and hateful.
And that's okay except it went on and on like that. There are several chapters attempting to describe how this "creature" is created but even that was at times a convoluted slog about parasitic organisms and their journey from an ant to a snake to a deer....all in agonizing detail.
Again, perhaps in the last 134 pages which I didn't read things might pick up but by this point, I didn't even care if all the characters were killed.i received an ARC of this book through Netgalley. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.
It started out pretty strong. The first few chapters had some good bloody kills from a creature which was almost like a Bigfoot. So I kept reading. And reading. And reading some more but after 200 pages (out of 324) nothing else happened to advance what was supposed to be a creature feature type novel.
Characters were described in detail, stilted conversations which were not natural took place, and other characters were introduced and never appeared again. One dimensional comes to mind. No nuance to any of them really. There were "good" people and "bad" people and the good ones had no flaws seemingly and the bad ones had no redeeming qualities. They were all racist, sexist, and hateful.
And that's okay except it went on and on like that. There are several chapters attempting to describe how this "creature" is created but even that was at times a convoluted slog about parasitic organisms and their journey from an ant to a snake to a deer....all in agonizing detail.
Again, perhaps in the last 134 pages which I didn't read things might pick up but by this point, I didn't even care if all the characters were killed.i received an ARC of this book through Netgalley. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.
October 3, 2026
Immersive, Brutal and Impossible to Put Down
Makanda pulled me in from the very first chapter. Jeffery Alvey’s writing is incredibly immersive! There were so many moments where I genuinely felt like I was standing in the room with the characters rather than simply reading about them.
Finding out that the creature is inspired by reported local sightings and police incidents made the whole thing even eerier. That little bit of real-world folklore sitting underneath the story adds such a creepy edge and made the atmosphere hit even harder.
And the gore? VERY descriptive 😂 There were multiple points where I caught myself turning my head away from the page as if that was somehow going to shield me from what I was reading. The descriptions are vivid enough that you don’t just read the horror —you picture it.
What surprised me most, though, was how attached I became to the characters. There’s a really diverse cast, plenty of personality, some genuinely funny moments, and enough warmth between the darker scenes that I found myself caring about these people far more than I expected to.
The tension builds really well too. There were sections where I could physically feel myself reading faster because I needed to know what happened next. I also really liked the way the monster was handled and how the story occasionally shifts perspective in ways that give it more depth than simply being “something scary chasing people.”
There are also moments of humour that completely caught me off guard and had me laughing in the middle of all the carnage 😂
This isn’t normally my genre, which probably says even more about how much I enjoyed it. Makanda is atmospheric, brutal, funny in unexpected places, packed with memorable characters and genuinely difficult to put down.
A vivid, immersive and unapologetically gory horror read — and a brilliant introduction to the genre for someone who usually stays very comfortably over in fantasy
Makanda pulled me in from the very first chapter. Jeffery Alvey’s writing is incredibly immersive! There were so many moments where I genuinely felt like I was standing in the room with the characters rather than simply reading about them.
Finding out that the creature is inspired by reported local sightings and police incidents made the whole thing even eerier. That little bit of real-world folklore sitting underneath the story adds such a creepy edge and made the atmosphere hit even harder.
And the gore? VERY descriptive 😂 There were multiple points where I caught myself turning my head away from the page as if that was somehow going to shield me from what I was reading. The descriptions are vivid enough that you don’t just read the horror —you picture it.
What surprised me most, though, was how attached I became to the characters. There’s a really diverse cast, plenty of personality, some genuinely funny moments, and enough warmth between the darker scenes that I found myself caring about these people far more than I expected to.
The tension builds really well too. There were sections where I could physically feel myself reading faster because I needed to know what happened next. I also really liked the way the monster was handled and how the story occasionally shifts perspective in ways that give it more depth than simply being “something scary chasing people.”
There are also moments of humour that completely caught me off guard and had me laughing in the middle of all the carnage 😂
This isn’t normally my genre, which probably says even more about how much I enjoyed it. Makanda is atmospheric, brutal, funny in unexpected places, packed with memorable characters and genuinely difficult to put down.
A vivid, immersive and unapologetically gory horror read — and a brilliant introduction to the genre for someone who usually stays very comfortably over in fantasy
October 4, 2026
All I can say is WOW. This book had me hooked from the start and I found it hard to put down. Unexpected twists and turns. The suspense gave me goosebumps, as if the Cryptid was behind me. Spoilers aren't my thing so I won't say too much. I can say that the characters are relatable, the setting creepy and the ending leaving you wanting more. Any horror fans should add this to their reading list.
September 25, 2026
Wow - what a wild, twisty, and dark ride this was! Alvey writes with such a strong and relatable voice that I was ready to follow his characters anywhere…Even if it meant delving into the terrifying ravines of Giant City Trail! This was such a fun read; I loved trying to unravel the truth alongside Janice. She was a tough female character that I felt truly connected to throughout the read and I love when I can vibe with a character like that! The atmospheric setting lent to the scare factor and felt authentic to the writer. The descriptions were so visceral and intense that I was scared to keep going but too intrigued to put it down. Alvey puts a unique spin on the body horror and cryptid thriller genres; I honestly can’t wait to see what he writes next! He has a new fan in me, for sure.
July 11, 2026
Makanda is a horror novel rooted in southern Illinois, where local legend, forensic investigation, cryptid folklore, and biological terror all feed into the same creeping nightmare. The story begins with Janice Redfield investigating mutilated bodies in Giant City State Park, then stretches back to 1973 to show how the area’s old fear of the Big Muddy Monster never really disappeared. By the time the book states, “Terror was on its way,” it’s not just setting a mood. It’s warning the reader that the past and present are about to overlap in a very bloody way.
What makes the book feel personal is how much time it spends with Janice and Frank Redfield. Their marriage is funny, affectionate, blunt, and lived-in, full of teasing, coffee, anxiety, sex jokes, hiking, hunting, and the kind of shorthand that only comes from deep love. Frank’s anxiety and Janice’s emotional exhaustion give the horror a human center, so the monster isn’t just something stalking the woods. It’s something pressing against the fragile comfort of their everyday life.
The creature itself is a mix of cryptid nightmare and biological experiment, and that combination gives the book its identity. The science around spores, hosts, cocoons, cytoplasm, and genetic recombination turns the local monster legend into something physical and evolutionary. At the same time, the story keeps the folklore texture alive through old memories, whispered fear, sightings, and people who know more than they want to say. When the book later says, “The hunt was on,” it lands because the monster has become more than a rumor. It has a target.
The novel is also graphic, and its violence is meant to be felt. Bodies are torn apart, heads are destroyed, and death is often described in close, messy detail. But the gore isn’t the only thing driving the story. The book keeps circling grief, abuse, racism, trauma, and the damage people carry after seeing something they can’t explain. Gladys and Jonas bring in the scientific curiosity, Janice and Frank bring the emotional weight, and the older townspeople bring the history that makes Makanda feel haunted before the monster ever steps into the light.
Makanda is a creature-horror novel with a strong sense of place and a lot of heart beneath the blood. It’s about the woods, the stories people tell about them, and the terrifying idea that legends might simply be misunderstood biology waiting for the right conditions to return. The book works best when it lets its characters talk, joke, worry, and love each other before the horror crashes in. That makes the final stretch hit harder because by then the reader isn’t only afraid of what’s in the trees. They’re afraid of what it can take from people who’ve become real.
What makes the book feel personal is how much time it spends with Janice and Frank Redfield. Their marriage is funny, affectionate, blunt, and lived-in, full of teasing, coffee, anxiety, sex jokes, hiking, hunting, and the kind of shorthand that only comes from deep love. Frank’s anxiety and Janice’s emotional exhaustion give the horror a human center, so the monster isn’t just something stalking the woods. It’s something pressing against the fragile comfort of their everyday life.
The creature itself is a mix of cryptid nightmare and biological experiment, and that combination gives the book its identity. The science around spores, hosts, cocoons, cytoplasm, and genetic recombination turns the local monster legend into something physical and evolutionary. At the same time, the story keeps the folklore texture alive through old memories, whispered fear, sightings, and people who know more than they want to say. When the book later says, “The hunt was on,” it lands because the monster has become more than a rumor. It has a target.
The novel is also graphic, and its violence is meant to be felt. Bodies are torn apart, heads are destroyed, and death is often described in close, messy detail. But the gore isn’t the only thing driving the story. The book keeps circling grief, abuse, racism, trauma, and the damage people carry after seeing something they can’t explain. Gladys and Jonas bring in the scientific curiosity, Janice and Frank bring the emotional weight, and the older townspeople bring the history that makes Makanda feel haunted before the monster ever steps into the light.
Makanda is a creature-horror novel with a strong sense of place and a lot of heart beneath the blood. It’s about the woods, the stories people tell about them, and the terrifying idea that legends might simply be misunderstood biology waiting for the right conditions to return. The book works best when it lets its characters talk, joke, worry, and love each other before the horror crashes in. That makes the final stretch hit harder because by then the reader isn’t only afraid of what’s in the trees. They’re afraid of what it can take from people who’ve become real.
September 10, 2026
I had such a good time with this novel. When the horror kicked off, the descriptions were rich and visceral. I found myself cringing multiple times—which is a great sign! I also loved how each character was uniquely voiced in the dialogue, it really brought the story to life. I highly recommend this novel for lovers of all things cryptids.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews