What do you think?
CRYPTID
Something is waiting in the woods.
Blake hoped the camping trip would fix what real life couldn’t.
Years of infertility treatments and emotional distance have begun tearing apart his relationship with Jessica. Hoping to reconnect, the two join their longtime friends Kyle and Norah for a weekend deep in the wilderness.
What begins as an uneasy getaway quickly descends into terror as strange sounds echo through the trees and unseen figures move beyond the firelight. When the group realizes they are being hunted by intelligent cryptid creatures deep within the forest, survival becomes their only goal.
But the forest already knows them.
As paranoia, grief, and violence consume the group, Blake is forced to confront a horrifying truth tied to his childhood and the nightmare his family convinced him never happened.
Some things were never meant to be found.
And some monsters never stopped watching.
CRYPTID is a psychological creature horror novel blending survival horror, suspense, grief, and atmospheric terror.
Blake hoped the camping trip would fix what real life couldn’t.
Years of infertility treatments and emotional distance have begun tearing apart his relationship with Jessica. Hoping to reconnect, the two join their longtime friends Kyle and Norah for a weekend deep in the wilderness.
What begins as an uneasy getaway quickly descends into terror as strange sounds echo through the trees and unseen figures move beyond the firelight. When the group realizes they are being hunted by intelligent cryptid creatures deep within the forest, survival becomes their only goal.
But the forest already knows them.
As paranoia, grief, and violence consume the group, Blake is forced to confront a horrifying truth tied to his childhood and the nightmare his family convinced him never happened.
Some things were never meant to be found.
And some monsters never stopped watching.
CRYPTID is a psychological creature horror novel blending survival horror, suspense, grief, and atmospheric terror.
- GenresHorror
276 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication October 6, 2026
About the author
Chris Levine
5 books13 followersChris Levine is a jack-of-all-trades in the creative world, juggling roles as an actor, producer, and now, an author. He's been writing tales since he could hold a pen, and his lifelong obsession with dinosaurs has finally led him to craft stories for kids, which he finds totally awesome. He's pumped to announce his debut children's book, "Dinosaur Discoveries," where young readers get to dive into a prehistoric world full of adventure and dino-rific fun. And guess what? There's even more dinosaur excitement coming your way with a scarier dinosaur book hitting shelves later in 2024 called Jurassic Terrors.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I loved the idea and the setup but not the execution. I even liked a couple of the characters a lot. This felt more like it was meant to be a movie than a novel.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I love a creature feature and this is definitely that. The atmosphere is impeccable and it does get a bit gory in the details. It also has some good twists and the characters were fairly fleshed out for this type of book. I ultimately was drawn to this by the cover and expected a campy book, but it wasn’t as much as I thought. The writing was a bit “telling” at times, but mostly it was solid. This was a fun book to read and I’d recommend it if you’re in the mood for a this type of book.
Thank you, NetGalley and Margo Neil Pictures for allowing me to read this book early. The opinion in this review is my own.
Thank you, NetGalley and Margo Neil Pictures for allowing me to read this book early. The opinion in this review is my own.
Review of advance copy
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I'm going to be honest, after reading the book, I contacted its author on instagram asking about AI usage in writing it. The information that it was a movie screenplay before the novel is freely available and when reading the book you can feel it on every page. That's why I asked if he used AI when changing the format. He said no, and I'm going to respect that because I still believe people are honest (and big kudos for how nice and quick he was when answering) On that note...
The choice of words and phrases is fascinating. It is written in simple terms with advanced words thrown into it. It's not like you don't understand them, but their use doesn't make sense. Somewhere in the middle of the book, I become so annoyed with it because I didn't know if it was just in my mind and other books describe scenery like that too, or if something weird was going on here, because it never happened when the characters were talking just when describing the set. As if you opened a thesaurus and changed every couple of words or added some new to sound more poetic and richer. In ruins the flow of the text, and it feels like the author had words count he needed to fill.
In the very first chapter we have a very stylistic choice of Not startled. Not afraid. Curious. and It was not anger. It was not a warning. It was ownership. Those phrases used a couple more times in the first chapter didn't make me feel optimistic about the rest of the book. And I was right. They are repeated in many parts and many other descriptions come in this formula of three. Other expressions were repeated too. "as if" was used so many times that on one page in chapter 13 it was used three times. One page! ("as though" was on the same page used once too, which is the same thing)
About the characters, they feel a bit like caricatures? Not fleshed out and their every decision doesn't make sense.
But not to be just negative, the premise is nice, the atmosphere feels scary and the description of the monsters is detailed enough to imagine it exactly right. As I said, the book reads a bit like a script, (and mind you, I didn't know about its origin when reading) the way the actions are described are like directions for the actors, but after a couple chapters you don't register it that much.
It wasn't a book for me, but that doesn't mean it was bad. I advise people who find the official summary fascinating to read it for themselves when it comes out, and I hope it finds many fans.
I'm going to be honest, after reading the book, I contacted its author on instagram asking about AI usage in writing it. The information that it was a movie screenplay before the novel is freely available and when reading the book you can feel it on every page. That's why I asked if he used AI when changing the format. He said no, and I'm going to respect that because I still believe people are honest (and big kudos for how nice and quick he was when answering) On that note...
The choice of words and phrases is fascinating. It is written in simple terms with advanced words thrown into it. It's not like you don't understand them, but their use doesn't make sense. Somewhere in the middle of the book, I become so annoyed with it because I didn't know if it was just in my mind and other books describe scenery like that too, or if something weird was going on here, because it never happened when the characters were talking just when describing the set. As if you opened a thesaurus and changed every couple of words or added some new to sound more poetic and richer. In ruins the flow of the text, and it feels like the author had words count he needed to fill.
In the very first chapter we have a very stylistic choice of Not startled. Not afraid. Curious. and It was not anger. It was not a warning. It was ownership. Those phrases used a couple more times in the first chapter didn't make me feel optimistic about the rest of the book. And I was right. They are repeated in many parts and many other descriptions come in this formula of three. Other expressions were repeated too. "as if" was used so many times that on one page in chapter 13 it was used three times. One page! ("as though" was on the same page used once too, which is the same thing)
About the characters, they feel a bit like caricatures? Not fleshed out and their every decision doesn't make sense.
But not to be just negative, the premise is nice, the atmosphere feels scary and the description of the monsters is detailed enough to imagine it exactly right. As I said, the book reads a bit like a script, (and mind you, I didn't know about its origin when reading) the way the actions are described are like directions for the actors, but after a couple chapters you don't register it that much.
It wasn't a book for me, but that doesn't mean it was bad. I advise people who find the official summary fascinating to read it for themselves when it comes out, and I hope it finds many fans.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⛺️ SOME MONSTERS NEVER STOP WATCHING... 🌲
If you are a fan of creature features that dig deep into psychological horror, you need to add CRYPTID by Chris Levine to your TBR immediately!
The Vibe: The Blair Witch Project meets a heart-wrenching emotional drama.
The Plot: Blake and Jessica take a camping trip into the deep wilderness with their longtime friends Kyle and Norah. They are hoping to heal the emotional distance left by years of painful infertility treatments. But what starts as an uneasy getaway quickly turns into absolute terror when strange sounds echo through the trees and unseen figures stalk the firelight. Intelligent, ruthless cryptid creatures hunt them. But the terrifying twist? The forest already knows them, and Blake is forced to confront a dark nightmare from his childhood.
Why I Couldn't Put It Down: Atmospheric Terror: The woods' claustrophobia is palpable. Levine builds suspense flawlessly, making every snapping twig feel like a threat.
Grief & Paranoia: This isn't just a monster book. It’s a deep dive into trauma, grief, and how quickly a group can fracture under pressure.
Fast-Paced Survival: Once the hunting begins, the pacing hits hyperdrive. It's a quick, punchy 233-page read that you can devour in a single weekend.
Levine blends survival horror and emotional devastation beautifully. It leaves you questioning what’s worse—the monsters in the woods, or the secrets we keep hidden.
If you are a fan of creature features that dig deep into psychological horror, you need to add CRYPTID by Chris Levine to your TBR immediately!
The Vibe: The Blair Witch Project meets a heart-wrenching emotional drama.
The Plot: Blake and Jessica take a camping trip into the deep wilderness with their longtime friends Kyle and Norah. They are hoping to heal the emotional distance left by years of painful infertility treatments. But what starts as an uneasy getaway quickly turns into absolute terror when strange sounds echo through the trees and unseen figures stalk the firelight. Intelligent, ruthless cryptid creatures hunt them. But the terrifying twist? The forest already knows them, and Blake is forced to confront a dark nightmare from his childhood.
Why I Couldn't Put It Down: Atmospheric Terror: The woods' claustrophobia is palpable. Levine builds suspense flawlessly, making every snapping twig feel like a threat.
Grief & Paranoia: This isn't just a monster book. It’s a deep dive into trauma, grief, and how quickly a group can fracture under pressure.
Fast-Paced Survival: Once the hunting begins, the pacing hits hyperdrive. It's a quick, punchy 233-page read that you can devour in a single weekend.
Levine blends survival horror and emotional devastation beautifully. It leaves you questioning what’s worse—the monsters in the woods, or the secrets we keep hidden.
August 30, 2026
Review of advanced copy received from NetGalley
First of all I want to thank NetGalley and BookBuzz.net for an ARC of this book!! Lately I wanted to deep my toes into the horror genre and this book was the perfect fit for this!!! And don’t worry hahahah I did not have nightmares after reading this whichever good because that was the part I was afraid of.
Tho at the beginning I want you to take a look at the trigger warnings because they were insane. It’s for your own safety!!
Now about the story, the scenery, the characters, the dialogue and cryptids…I enjoyed them soo much!! Like I was the entire time at the edge of my seat and couldn’t stop reading because I wanted to see what was going to happen next!! It was fast paced which I liked!! There wasn’t unnecessary plots or characters it was perfect the way it was.
The only negative part I have (but this may be just me) I kind of was confused with the ending…after I finished it I sat down and tried to figure it out and I guess it’s very obvious what happened but one the other side I guess my brain did not want to accept such an ending!! But other than that I really enjoyed this one!
Maybe some of you may say that this wasn’t the best cryptids/horror book and maybe you are right but for someone who is starting with this genre this was the perfect start!!! I will recommend this book to everyone who wants to start with cryptids or horror books! Also if you want to read it yourself this one comes out October 6, 2026, enjoy everyone!!!
First of all I want to thank NetGalley and BookBuzz.net for an ARC of this book!! Lately I wanted to deep my toes into the horror genre and this book was the perfect fit for this!!! And don’t worry hahahah I did not have nightmares after reading this whichever good because that was the part I was afraid of.
Tho at the beginning I want you to take a look at the trigger warnings because they were insane. It’s for your own safety!!
Now about the story, the scenery, the characters, the dialogue and cryptids…I enjoyed them soo much!! Like I was the entire time at the edge of my seat and couldn’t stop reading because I wanted to see what was going to happen next!! It was fast paced which I liked!! There wasn’t unnecessary plots or characters it was perfect the way it was.
The only negative part I have (but this may be just me) I kind of was confused with the ending…after I finished it I sat down and tried to figure it out and I guess it’s very obvious what happened but one the other side I guess my brain did not want to accept such an ending!! But other than that I really enjoyed this one!
Maybe some of you may say that this wasn’t the best cryptids/horror book and maybe you are right but for someone who is starting with this genre this was the perfect start!!! I will recommend this book to everyone who wants to start with cryptids or horror books! Also if you want to read it yourself this one comes out October 6, 2026, enjoy everyone!!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Okay… I fear this book was made specifically for
me because CRYPTID. That’s it. That’s the review.
I went in expecting creepy creature horror and Chris Levine really said oh, you like monsters? Let’s see how much you can handle.
The camping trip turning into an absolute nightmare had me HOOKED. Creepy woods, terrifying creatures, survival horror and enough gore to have me staring at the page like 👁️👄👁️. I was fully invested in figuring out what the hell was lurking out there.
And the cryptids?? Absolutely the star of the show for me. I loved the mystery, the atmosphere and the whole “maybe don’t go into those woods” feeling… while obviously wanting them to go into the woods because I needed to know what was happening!
PLEASE check the trigger warnings before reading because there are some heavy themes and graphic scenes.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC! This was exactly the kind of unhinged creature horror I wanted and I’m now suspicious of every forest I see!
me because CRYPTID. That’s it. That’s the review.
I went in expecting creepy creature horror and Chris Levine really said oh, you like monsters? Let’s see how much you can handle.
The camping trip turning into an absolute nightmare had me HOOKED. Creepy woods, terrifying creatures, survival horror and enough gore to have me staring at the page like 👁️👄👁️. I was fully invested in figuring out what the hell was lurking out there.
And the cryptids?? Absolutely the star of the show for me. I loved the mystery, the atmosphere and the whole “maybe don’t go into those woods” feeling… while obviously wanting them to go into the woods because I needed to know what was happening!
PLEASE check the trigger warnings before reading because there are some heavy themes and graphic scenes.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC! This was exactly the kind of unhinged creature horror I wanted and I’m now suspicious of every forest I see!
August 25, 2026
Damn. This horror left my jaw on the FLOOR.
Cryptid is dark, disturbing, graphic, and absolutely not for the faint of heart. Chris Levine does not shy away from making you uncomfortable, and there were definitely moments where I was sitting there thinking, Did I really just read that?!
I do want to give a very strong warning to PLEASE read the trigger warnings before going into this one. There is some pretty intense gore as well as sexual assault and other heavy content that could be extremely triggering for some readers. This is definitely a book where knowing your personal boundaries beforehand matters.
That being said, if you’re a horror reader who enjoys books that push boundaries, make you squirm, and leave you staring at the page in complete disbelief, Cryptid delivers. It was gruesome, unsettling, and completely unapologetic about what kind of story it wanted to be.
Not an easy read by any means, but definitely one I won’t be forgetting anytime soon.
4 ⭐
Cryptid is dark, disturbing, graphic, and absolutely not for the faint of heart. Chris Levine does not shy away from making you uncomfortable, and there were definitely moments where I was sitting there thinking, Did I really just read that?!
I do want to give a very strong warning to PLEASE read the trigger warnings before going into this one. There is some pretty intense gore as well as sexual assault and other heavy content that could be extremely triggering for some readers. This is definitely a book where knowing your personal boundaries beforehand matters.
That being said, if you’re a horror reader who enjoys books that push boundaries, make you squirm, and leave you staring at the page in complete disbelief, Cryptid delivers. It was gruesome, unsettling, and completely unapologetic about what kind of story it wanted to be.
Not an easy read by any means, but definitely one I won’t be forgetting anytime soon.
4 ⭐
Review of advance copy
Well, that was dark, horrific, and completely awesome. Mr. Levine, that was quite terrifying.
Well-built characters with believable backstories, heartfelt moments, disgusting moments, and several ‘oh wow, he really went there’ moments. This starts out a little like Harry and the Hendersons but it quickly veers into unsettling when the giant rocks start flying into the campsite and ends in a pile of guts. Found footage vibes. Something-is-definitely-out-there vibes. We-should-really-not-be-camping-here vibes. Cryptid horror at its absolute best.
I will say, there was an awful lot of “heavy/pressing silence” and “swallowed darkness.” Enough to occasionally make me roll my eyes, but nowhere near enough to dock a star.
The gore. The suspense. The fact that I devoured this in one sitting. Yeah, this one is a win.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Well-built characters with believable backstories, heartfelt moments, disgusting moments, and several ‘oh wow, he really went there’ moments. This starts out a little like Harry and the Hendersons but it quickly veers into unsettling when the giant rocks start flying into the campsite and ends in a pile of guts. Found footage vibes. Something-is-definitely-out-there vibes. We-should-really-not-be-camping-here vibes. Cryptid horror at its absolute best.
I will say, there was an awful lot of “heavy/pressing silence” and “swallowed darkness.” Enough to occasionally make me roll my eyes, but nowhere near enough to dock a star.
The gore. The suspense. The fact that I devoured this in one sitting. Yeah, this one is a win.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you so much to Netgalley for an ARC copy of this book to review!
This book had me invested from the beginning. The interpersonal relationships between the characters, had me invested in them, their back stories and what would become of them. The setting was so well and beautifully described, that I felt like I was there with them. The cryptids were terrifying and it was just a great journey overall.
I have to say this got a little intense for me at times, and I was shocked and really surprised, because it was really graphic, but I'm kind of into that personally. This was full of danger at ever turn. I never ever want to go camping. No thank you. This is a book I could read over and over again and I really enjoyed it.
You aren't going to want to miss this one! It comes out October 6, 2026!
This book had me invested from the beginning. The interpersonal relationships between the characters, had me invested in them, their back stories and what would become of them. The setting was so well and beautifully described, that I felt like I was there with them. The cryptids were terrifying and it was just a great journey overall.
I have to say this got a little intense for me at times, and I was shocked and really surprised, because it was really graphic, but I'm kind of into that personally. This was full of danger at ever turn. I never ever want to go camping. No thank you. This is a book I could read over and over again and I really enjoyed it.
You aren't going to want to miss this one! It comes out October 6, 2026!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
CRYPTID is exactly the kind of horror novel I hope to find when I pick up a creature feature. It doesn't waste time getting readers into the mystery, but it also gives you a reason to care about the people before everything falls apart. The camping trip starts as an attempt to repair a damaged marriage, then slowly becomes a desperate fight against something that has been hiding in the forest for far longer than anyone imagined. Every chapter made me want to know what was lurking just out of sight, and once the truth started coming together, I couldn't stop reading. If you enjoy survival horror with terrifying creatures, creepy forests, and secrets that stretch back into childhood, this is one you'll want on your reading list.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A big thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
This was one gory and action-packed hell of a novel! I found the horror elements to be done quite well and I enjoyed the characters and the cryptids. I thought it was well-paced and I was actually tearing up at parts toward the end. I found some smaller character actions to be a bit muddled, such as the two female characters sleeping, one waking up first, but then it is written a bit later that both are waking up at the same time, as an example. I also am personally not a fan of how one of the characters died, but that my own fault for not checking TWs beforehand. Overall, a very entertaining and horrific read! 4/5 ⭐️
This was one gory and action-packed hell of a novel! I found the horror elements to be done quite well and I enjoyed the characters and the cryptids. I thought it was well-paced and I was actually tearing up at parts toward the end. I found some smaller character actions to be a bit muddled, such as the two female characters sleeping, one waking up first, but then it is written a bit later that both are waking up at the same time, as an example. I also am personally not a fan of how one of the characters died, but that my own fault for not checking TWs beforehand. Overall, a very entertaining and horrific read! 4/5 ⭐️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What. Was. That?
This needs to be made into a movie ASAP! The concept was great, however the long winded descriptions and odd verbiage from the characters are what made this a 4 star read. It’s a 4 star read with a 5 star concept.
Talk about creepy! I definitely do not want to go into the woods for a while. The epilogue was actually great. It was a clever way to explain what had happened while still managing to throw in some gore and violence.
I actually really enjoyed this creature feature and definitely recommend. But maybe skip this one if you’re camping or live in the woods.
This needs to be made into a movie ASAP! The concept was great, however the long winded descriptions and odd verbiage from the characters are what made this a 4 star read. It’s a 4 star read with a 5 star concept.
Talk about creepy! I definitely do not want to go into the woods for a while. The epilogue was actually great. It was a clever way to explain what had happened while still managing to throw in some gore and violence.
I actually really enjoyed this creature feature and definitely recommend. But maybe skip this one if you’re camping or live in the woods.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A chilling blend of creature horror and survival suspense, CRYPTID drops readers into an unforgiving wilderness where every step deeper into the forest leads closer to unimaginable danger. As terrifying discoveries collide with long-hidden memories, the story delivers shocking twists, relentless danger, and an unforgettable battle against predators that refuse to remain legends. Perfect for readers who enjoy horror and suspense that never lets up.
September 26, 2026
This was a fun book!
I love a good spooky story set in the woods, and this one has some fun scares and set pieces.
However, I did feel that the plot dragged in some areas, and sometimes the writing itself was a bit clunky in a way that distracted from the drama and events going on.
But overall, it's not a bad read during spooky season (or any season if you love horror)!
*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I love a good spooky story set in the woods, and this one has some fun scares and set pieces.
However, I did feel that the plot dragged in some areas, and sometimes the writing itself was a bit clunky in a way that distracted from the drama and events going on.
But overall, it's not a bad read during spooky season (or any season if you love horror)!
*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I absolutely loved this. Literally like watching a movie (previously a script I believe) you are thrust in very quickly. Fast paced, enjoyable premise and doesn't undo itself by trying to show us too much information about the menace at hand. We just know they kill. It's an excellent nuance. Likeable characters and exactly the ending I wanted to see. Definitely worth a read. What horror should be for me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
*thank you netgalley for the ARC for me to read and give my honest review*
1st off trigger warnings are real in this book so check before starting. I like to say bravo this is the type of creature books i love with blood and guts and gore. All i got to say is dont go into thesw woods not just alone just dont go EVER!
1st off trigger warnings are real in this book so check before starting. I like to say bravo this is the type of creature books i love with blood and guts and gore. All i got to say is dont go into thesw woods not just alone just dont go EVER!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you Netgalley and Booksirens for a chance to read this ARC! This was a terrifying, disturbing and dark read. It's fast-paced and doesn't waste time getting into the action, but for a fairly short book, the characters do have some depth to them. There are some heavy themes of grief and trauma. If you like survival horror with plenty of gore, this one is for you.
October 6, 2026
4.5*
I really enjoyed this book. It was fast paced and had me anxiously on edge throughout. I found the characters very likeable, which made me that much more invested in their predicament. It is not a story for the faint of heart!
Thank you BookSirens for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
I really enjoyed this book. It was fast paced and had me anxiously on edge throughout. I found the characters very likeable, which made me that much more invested in their predicament. It is not a story for the faint of heart!
Thank you BookSirens for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A solid 2.5 stars. Conceptually so good but felt very rushed. There’s something super solid here story wise but the main characters have no personality and all of the dialogue is very bland. Would make an amazing horror movie though, just the writing wasn’t good for a book.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews