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Savages
It began as a vacation to the Cook Islands. But when seven friends are lost in the South Pacific after their boat goes down in a storm, they must survive at sea for several days in a small raft. Blown miles off course from their original position, and deep into open waters, they eventually encounter a small uncharted island.
Grateful to be alive, they begin their quest for survival, hopeful they’ll be rescued sooner than later. But the island is not the paradise it appears to be. Instead, it is a place of horror, death, torture and evil, of terrible secrets thought long buried and forgotten.
And they are not alone.
Something guards those horrible secrets, something evil and relentlessly violent, an ancient horror born of rage and vengeance, a blood-crazed predator that lives to kill and will stop at nothing to protect the island from those intruding upon its dark legacy.
The savage is loose, and there is no escape.
SAVAGES, the new novel from Greg F. Gifune
Grateful to be alive, they begin their quest for survival, hopeful they’ll be rescued sooner than later. But the island is not the paradise it appears to be. Instead, it is a place of horror, death, torture and evil, of terrible secrets thought long buried and forgotten.
And they are not alone.
Something guards those horrible secrets, something evil and relentlessly violent, an ancient horror born of rage and vengeance, a blood-crazed predator that lives to kill and will stop at nothing to protect the island from those intruding upon its dark legacy.
The savage is loose, and there is no escape.
SAVAGES, the new novel from Greg F. Gifune
274 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2016
34 people are currently reading
935 people want to read
About the author
Greg F. Gifune
81 books353 followersCalled "One of the best writers of his generation" by both the Roswell Literary Review and author Brian Keene, Greg F. Gifune is the author of numerous short stories, several novels and two short story collections. His work has been published in a wide range of magazines and anthologies all over the world, and has recently garnered interest from Hollywood. His novels include The Bleeding Season, Deep Night, Saying Uncle, A View From The Lake, Night Work, Drago Descending, Blood In Electric Blue and Dominion.
Along with his short story collections, Down To Sleep and Heretics, his work has been nominated for numerous awards and is consistently praised by readers and critics alike across the globe. For seven years he was Editor-in-Chief of Thievin' Kitty Publications, publishers of the acclaimed fiction magazines The Edge: Tales of Suspense (1998-2004) and Burning Sky: Adventures in Science Fiction Terror (1998-2003), and currently serves as Associate Editor at Delirium Books.
The son of teachers, Greg F. Gifune was educated in Boston and has lived in various places, including New York City and Peru. A trained actor and broadcaster, he has appeared in various stage productions and has worked in radio and television as both an on-air talent and a producer. Earlier in life he held a wide range of jobs, encompassing everything from journalism to promotions.
The author of numerous novels, screenplays and two short story collections, his work has been consistently praised by critics and readers alike, and has been translated into several languages and published all over the world. Greg and his wife Carol live in Massachusetts with a bevy of cats.
Discover more about his writing at GregFGifune.com and UninvitedBooks.com.
Along with his short story collections, Down To Sleep and Heretics, his work has been nominated for numerous awards and is consistently praised by readers and critics alike across the globe. For seven years he was Editor-in-Chief of Thievin' Kitty Publications, publishers of the acclaimed fiction magazines The Edge: Tales of Suspense (1998-2004) and Burning Sky: Adventures in Science Fiction Terror (1998-2003), and currently serves as Associate Editor at Delirium Books.
The son of teachers, Greg F. Gifune was educated in Boston and has lived in various places, including New York City and Peru. A trained actor and broadcaster, he has appeared in various stage productions and has worked in radio and television as both an on-air talent and a producer. Earlier in life he held a wide range of jobs, encompassing everything from journalism to promotions.
The author of numerous novels, screenplays and two short story collections, his work has been consistently praised by critics and readers alike, and has been translated into several languages and published all over the world. Greg and his wife Carol live in Massachusetts with a bevy of cats.
Discover more about his writing at GregFGifune.com and UninvitedBooks.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
May 26, 2025
I have never read Greg F. Gifune prior to this, and I'm sorry it took me this long to find him. This was a phenomenal book. Like Predator meets Gilligan's Island meets Frankenstein's Army. There were quite a few characters to follow, but each one was fleshed out and unique. You had your machismo type, the buxom blond, etc, and they all flowed nicely into the plot. And we saw dissension, comradery, and everything between each person, too. It got a bit easier as they start getting picked off one by one by our antagonist, so despite some initial trouble following everyone in the cast, it did smooth out. I originally figured this for a haunted island type of story, but it evolved into much more than that. It created some fantastic lore and made use of some real world events, before putting its own spin on them in a very creative way. And I really appreciated how little time the actual creatures got here, but the time present was fully utilized. Quinn was definitely the heart and soul of this story, and because of that, the very end was that much more impactful. So this one is Topsider approved 100%, and all fans of horror and the paranormal will have some solid takeaways from this one.
November 4, 2019
Given that my favorite read from last year was Children of Chaos by Greg F. Gifune, it is fair to say I had high hopes for Savages by the same author. I wasn’t disappointed.
Savages begins just as an idyllic vacation in the Cook Islands turns to disaster. With the sinking of their tour boat, surviving members of the group find themselves stranded on a remote – and probably uncharted – island.
They quickly realize that the picturesque splendor of the locale is deceiving. With members of their party injured, no tools or weapons, sharks patrolling the offshore reef, and precious little food or water – their primary source of calories being a difficult to crack supply of coconuts – they are already facing a struggle for survival. And their chances of success are set to take a downward spiral…
A horrific discovery leads to the revelation they are not alone, and it becomes clear that the island’s other occupant has sights firmly set on their group. Something evil exists in the jungle beyond the beach; something old and possessed with a solitary purpose; it is a savage thing, and it has been waiting a long time…the hunt has begun.
What started out as a page-turning journey into the unknown swiftly slips into a frenetic battle for survival, and as the ungodly truth reveals itself, Savages becomes a nightmare of hunted dread.
Savages opening pages introduce us to Dallas – a thirty-something, level headed professional, who works as a teacher – being washed ashore following the sinking of the group’s life raft. As Dallas sets to searching for his wife, Quinn, we meet the rest of the disparate cast; there’s Gino, a muscle-bound, condescending jock; Herm, a middle-aged guy who feels he’s never quite achieved in life, and who is now fuelled primarily by bitterness and snarky comments; Harper is the stereotypical Barbie girl, an enhanced blonde invited along for reasons other than her conversational skills; and then there is Murdock, the gruff-and-tough old sea captain.
These all appear stock characters for such a survivalist situation and in many ways they are, but this is where we begin to appreciate the craft of the storytelling. Anyone familiar with Gifune’s writing will know that he tends to strip layers from his protagonists, opening the reader up to the sharpest pains and tribulations of his characters, until everything is dissected and laid bare before them. He chooses not to do that with this group of survivors (at least not to such an incisive degree), and without doubt this was a conscious decision because it helps to keep the pace of the story moving.
We still learn plenty enough to make us want to care about these folk, as their fear (and ours) is ratcheted up when the true plight of their situation unfolds.
Gifune crafts each of the characters in such a way that our perceptions of them can change. Someone starting out being a bit of a dick may later seem a hero, or someone deserving of sympathy might turn out despicable. All of these character shifts are handled well, especially given the momentum at which Savages unfolds; and things really do move at a sharp pace.
Savages is a fine piece of horror fiction, crafted with something of a pulp feel. Nevertheless, at its heart it remains a character driven story of long buried secrets, monsters, and the primal desperation that exists within man – a need to survive that may ultimately produce savages.
Savages begins just as an idyllic vacation in the Cook Islands turns to disaster. With the sinking of their tour boat, surviving members of the group find themselves stranded on a remote – and probably uncharted – island.
They quickly realize that the picturesque splendor of the locale is deceiving. With members of their party injured, no tools or weapons, sharks patrolling the offshore reef, and precious little food or water – their primary source of calories being a difficult to crack supply of coconuts – they are already facing a struggle for survival. And their chances of success are set to take a downward spiral…
A horrific discovery leads to the revelation they are not alone, and it becomes clear that the island’s other occupant has sights firmly set on their group. Something evil exists in the jungle beyond the beach; something old and possessed with a solitary purpose; it is a savage thing, and it has been waiting a long time…the hunt has begun.
What started out as a page-turning journey into the unknown swiftly slips into a frenetic battle for survival, and as the ungodly truth reveals itself, Savages becomes a nightmare of hunted dread.
Savages opening pages introduce us to Dallas – a thirty-something, level headed professional, who works as a teacher – being washed ashore following the sinking of the group’s life raft. As Dallas sets to searching for his wife, Quinn, we meet the rest of the disparate cast; there’s Gino, a muscle-bound, condescending jock; Herm, a middle-aged guy who feels he’s never quite achieved in life, and who is now fuelled primarily by bitterness and snarky comments; Harper is the stereotypical Barbie girl, an enhanced blonde invited along for reasons other than her conversational skills; and then there is Murdock, the gruff-and-tough old sea captain.
These all appear stock characters for such a survivalist situation and in many ways they are, but this is where we begin to appreciate the craft of the storytelling. Anyone familiar with Gifune’s writing will know that he tends to strip layers from his protagonists, opening the reader up to the sharpest pains and tribulations of his characters, until everything is dissected and laid bare before them. He chooses not to do that with this group of survivors (at least not to such an incisive degree), and without doubt this was a conscious decision because it helps to keep the pace of the story moving.
We still learn plenty enough to make us want to care about these folk, as their fear (and ours) is ratcheted up when the true plight of their situation unfolds.
Gifune crafts each of the characters in such a way that our perceptions of them can change. Someone starting out being a bit of a dick may later seem a hero, or someone deserving of sympathy might turn out despicable. All of these character shifts are handled well, especially given the momentum at which Savages unfolds; and things really do move at a sharp pace.
Savages is a fine piece of horror fiction, crafted with something of a pulp feel. Nevertheless, at its heart it remains a character driven story of long buried secrets, monsters, and the primal desperation that exists within man – a need to survive that may ultimately produce savages.
November 11, 2019
Finally, I was able to read this book I bought over two years ago!
I shouldn't have waited for so long. Survivors of a shipwreck wash up on an island that has never before been charted on any map. Then, one by one, horrible things start happening to each of them. What fun!
Time is a precious commodity for me right now, so this review is brief. I'm used to Gifune's work as being more quiet and atmospheric, but no worries, because this was entertaining as hell and just what I needed!
If you're not reading the work of Greg Gifune, you should be!
Highly recommended!
You can get your copy here: https://amzn.to/2KbjmjQ
*I purchased this book with my hard earned cash and this review is voluntary and honest.*
I shouldn't have waited for so long. Survivors of a shipwreck wash up on an island that has never before been charted on any map. Then, one by one, horrible things start happening to each of them. What fun!
Time is a precious commodity for me right now, so this review is brief. I'm used to Gifune's work as being more quiet and atmospheric, but no worries, because this was entertaining as hell and just what I needed!
If you're not reading the work of Greg Gifune, you should be!
Highly recommended!
You can get your copy here: https://amzn.to/2KbjmjQ
*I purchased this book with my hard earned cash and this review is voluntary and honest.*
September 10, 2022
What an original and awesome horror story this was!! My first book from this author, Greg F. Gifune, and definitely won’t be my last. I like his writing style, and his storytelling, which was like watching a movie.
Six friends are on a boat trip to the Cook Islands, when they get lost in the Pacific. There is a storm, and despite some fatalities, they are washed ashore an uninhabited island.....but there is a terrible evil watching them from the jungle!!
This was frightening and exciting and I felt as though I was experiencing it all myself. I strongly recommend this to all horror fans, as it is something quite different!!
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ☺️
Six friends are on a boat trip to the Cook Islands, when they get lost in the Pacific. There is a storm, and despite some fatalities, they are washed ashore an uninhabited island.....but there is a terrible evil watching them from the jungle!!
This was frightening and exciting and I felt as though I was experiencing it all myself. I strongly recommend this to all horror fans, as it is something quite different!!
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ☺️
September 1, 2017
A chance (was it?) Goodreads suggestion, the story synopsis and the amazing old pulp fiction cover made me buy for my kindle this Greg F. Gifune (author unknown to me before) novel, expecting an horror funny summer reading about castaways and cannibals on a lost island... I was so wrong.
This was a thrilling and visceral rollercoaster survival horror at its best, with realistic characters and a really unexpected twist.
Mister Gifune just gained a new fan.
November 3, 2019
I think I've always been a fan of the "shipwrecked on a deserted island" trope. Watching an interesting/diverse cast of characters get thrown into hostile living conditions while trying to survive is pure unadulterated entertainment. Think, THE LORD OF THE FLIES by William Golding, CASTAWAYS by Brian Keene, THE FORGOTTEN ISLAND by David Sodergren and of course one of my favorite TV shows, LOST.
SAVAGES starts off in the act of being stranded. It's unclear to the reader, at first, what caused things to go awry--all we know is that a group of friends starts slowly washing up on the shore of the island in various states of physical health. Some are pretty unscathed while others are near death.
They are somewhere out in the Pacific and it is determined that they have gone off course. As soon as the group of people gathers together to address their immediate concerns and plans for survival, we get to watch a complicated dynamic begin to develop. There's a married couple, a couple that hasn't been together very long, a "third wheel" kind of guy, some friends that are missing and two crew members. Gifune does an amazing job with the set-up here. Identifying personality traits with potential conflicts and revealing some flaws/weaknesses that we get to tuck away for future reference. A very promising beginning.
Now, things start to happen on the island and I won't get into these plot details because this is where the element of surprise serves to enhance the horror.
I will say that I loved the way Gifune applies multiple sources of pressure to his characters.
Environmental pressures, pressures of basic survival, the pressure of getting along with people under stressful living conditions and a predatory pressure.
All of these layers build upon one another slowly like someone shaking a carbonated drink with their finger hovering over the pop-top. Something or someone is going to blow.
My favorite aspect of this story has to be the character arcs. When we first meet everyone, we are given a pretty standard rundown of who they are as a stereotype. The alpha-male. The bimbo. The nerdy outcast. But then, as they are stretched past their breaking points, their true natures are exposed under fire and we get to watch these stereotypes evolve into complicated, authentic individuals who are capable of the unexpected. My favorite being Quinn, but I'll let you figure that out for yourselves.
Now, I will go ahead and explain why 4 stars and not 5.
There was some big info dumps from one character and I felt like this one character was assigned too much--not only were they the most capable survivalist, but they were the most physically fit, had a good head on their shoulders AND knew the most information about what the group encounters on the island. I felt like the author should have spread the wealth and attributes and given the info dumps to another character so that I wasn't completely exhausted by the know-it-all guy. I grew weary of this character and wasn't as receptive as I should have been to the explanations that were given for certain things--I wasn't "buying it" as they say. The info dumps chipped away at the character's believability and ultimately, some big explanations for what was going on in the story.
But it's a small complaint. Mostly, I was addicted to this book--it's fast-paced, easy to read and fun.
I recommend it. As introductions to an author go, I will for sure buy more books from Greg F. Gifune and I've heard nothing but good things about the rest of his books. One to start collecting horror fans.
SAVAGES starts off in the act of being stranded. It's unclear to the reader, at first, what caused things to go awry--all we know is that a group of friends starts slowly washing up on the shore of the island in various states of physical health. Some are pretty unscathed while others are near death.
They are somewhere out in the Pacific and it is determined that they have gone off course. As soon as the group of people gathers together to address their immediate concerns and plans for survival, we get to watch a complicated dynamic begin to develop. There's a married couple, a couple that hasn't been together very long, a "third wheel" kind of guy, some friends that are missing and two crew members. Gifune does an amazing job with the set-up here. Identifying personality traits with potential conflicts and revealing some flaws/weaknesses that we get to tuck away for future reference. A very promising beginning.
Now, things start to happen on the island and I won't get into these plot details because this is where the element of surprise serves to enhance the horror.
I will say that I loved the way Gifune applies multiple sources of pressure to his characters.
Environmental pressures, pressures of basic survival, the pressure of getting along with people under stressful living conditions and a predatory pressure.
All of these layers build upon one another slowly like someone shaking a carbonated drink with their finger hovering over the pop-top. Something or someone is going to blow.
My favorite aspect of this story has to be the character arcs. When we first meet everyone, we are given a pretty standard rundown of who they are as a stereotype. The alpha-male. The bimbo. The nerdy outcast. But then, as they are stretched past their breaking points, their true natures are exposed under fire and we get to watch these stereotypes evolve into complicated, authentic individuals who are capable of the unexpected. My favorite being Quinn, but I'll let you figure that out for yourselves.
Now, I will go ahead and explain why 4 stars and not 5.
There was some big info dumps from one character and I felt like this one character was assigned too much--not only were they the most capable survivalist, but they were the most physically fit, had a good head on their shoulders AND knew the most information about what the group encounters on the island. I felt like the author should have spread the wealth and attributes and given the info dumps to another character so that I wasn't completely exhausted by the know-it-all guy. I grew weary of this character and wasn't as receptive as I should have been to the explanations that were given for certain things--I wasn't "buying it" as they say. The info dumps chipped away at the character's believability and ultimately, some big explanations for what was going on in the story.
But it's a small complaint. Mostly, I was addicted to this book--it's fast-paced, easy to read and fun.
I recommend it. As introductions to an author go, I will for sure buy more books from Greg F. Gifune and I've heard nothing but good things about the rest of his books. One to start collecting horror fans.
October 18, 2019
Spooktober read #5!
“The longer we’re really stuck here, Dal, the less human we’re going to get.”
I’m glad it wasn’t my first book by Gifune, because I might have misjudged the book based on its rather stereotypical set up (and very pulpy cover art – though I do have a weak spot for those): a group of people shipwreck on a small island in the South Pacific and try to survive, as they believe it unlikely that they’ll be rescued. But after “The Bleeding Season” (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) and “Children of Chaos” (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...), I knew better than to expect a cheap slasher story… After all, he quotes the classic “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” movie on the very first page: that should give you a hint that the horrors within will be of a subtler kind than simple monsters…
No time is wasted getting the reader into the thick of the story: Dallas wakes up on the beach, after three days on a raft, drifting away from where his ship’s captain sent a May Day signal. He is, against all hopes, reunited with his wife and most of their companions from the boat, who also drifted on the island after the raft sank in a storm. While they try to set up a system for surviving, under the instructions of Gino, a friend with plenty of adventure vacation experience, the tensions start running high in the group of traumatized survivors – especially since the wounded and blinded captain insists that the island they are on simply shouldn’t exist, that there is no land in this region of the ocean… Dallas’ wife Quinn has the nasty feeling she is being observed through the jungle foliage, and was ready to dismiss this feeling to trauma, until a few discoveries hint that the small group is not alone on the small island.
Gifune doesn’t create characters so much as he dissects them, I find. He gives them plenty of room to take the reader a bit off guard, to show you sides of themselves you wouldn’t have guessed were there when you picked up the book. He also knows how to pack so much tension in his relatively short books that I inevitably feel utterly exhausted and emotionally drained by the last page. In all of his books, Gifune digs at the concept of evil – human evil, more specifically. I also love that you can tell how well-read he is: his references and inspiration are really rich and he makes very clever associations between other works. Reading “Savages”, I was reminded of “The Lord of the Flies” and “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”, but also of “High Rise”; books that look at the animals under the veneer of civilization. When push comes to shove and survival is what’s at stake, the mask slips and a person is revealed to be an entirely different creature than the one their friends and family knew.
Gifune also creates a tense atmosphere like nobody’s business: the chapters end just at the right place, and the dialogues strike the right beat to make the reader squirm uncomfortably. This is not a long book, but it's an even quicker read because it’s hard to find a good stopping point.
The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is simply because I liked his previous books better than this one – which doesn’t take anything away from “Savages”, it just means that “The Bleeding Season” and “Children of Chaos” were a bit more down my alley than this one. I would still recommend this very cool novel to horror fans, and Gifune fans who haven’t gotten around to it.
“The longer we’re really stuck here, Dal, the less human we’re going to get.”
I’m glad it wasn’t my first book by Gifune, because I might have misjudged the book based on its rather stereotypical set up (and very pulpy cover art – though I do have a weak spot for those): a group of people shipwreck on a small island in the South Pacific and try to survive, as they believe it unlikely that they’ll be rescued. But after “The Bleeding Season” (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) and “Children of Chaos” (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...), I knew better than to expect a cheap slasher story… After all, he quotes the classic “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” movie on the very first page: that should give you a hint that the horrors within will be of a subtler kind than simple monsters…
No time is wasted getting the reader into the thick of the story: Dallas wakes up on the beach, after three days on a raft, drifting away from where his ship’s captain sent a May Day signal. He is, against all hopes, reunited with his wife and most of their companions from the boat, who also drifted on the island after the raft sank in a storm. While they try to set up a system for surviving, under the instructions of Gino, a friend with plenty of adventure vacation experience, the tensions start running high in the group of traumatized survivors – especially since the wounded and blinded captain insists that the island they are on simply shouldn’t exist, that there is no land in this region of the ocean… Dallas’ wife Quinn has the nasty feeling she is being observed through the jungle foliage, and was ready to dismiss this feeling to trauma, until a few discoveries hint that the small group is not alone on the small island.
Gifune doesn’t create characters so much as he dissects them, I find. He gives them plenty of room to take the reader a bit off guard, to show you sides of themselves you wouldn’t have guessed were there when you picked up the book. He also knows how to pack so much tension in his relatively short books that I inevitably feel utterly exhausted and emotionally drained by the last page. In all of his books, Gifune digs at the concept of evil – human evil, more specifically. I also love that you can tell how well-read he is: his references and inspiration are really rich and he makes very clever associations between other works. Reading “Savages”, I was reminded of “The Lord of the Flies” and “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”, but also of “High Rise”; books that look at the animals under the veneer of civilization. When push comes to shove and survival is what’s at stake, the mask slips and a person is revealed to be an entirely different creature than the one their friends and family knew.
Gifune also creates a tense atmosphere like nobody’s business: the chapters end just at the right place, and the dialogues strike the right beat to make the reader squirm uncomfortably. This is not a long book, but it's an even quicker read because it’s hard to find a good stopping point.
The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is simply because I liked his previous books better than this one – which doesn’t take anything away from “Savages”, it just means that “The Bleeding Season” and “Children of Chaos” were a bit more down my alley than this one. I would still recommend this very cool novel to horror fans, and Gifune fans who haven’t gotten around to it.
September 14, 2016
Review copy
Reminiscent of the pulp fiction stories of the 30s through the 50s or perhaps the B-Movies popular at drive-ins in the 70s and 80s, Greg F. Gifune's new novel, Savages, is every bit as good as the best of that sub-genre.
Prior to the start of the book, the author quotes the 1920 film "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde." A man cannot destroy the savage in him by denying its impulses. The only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it...
The story that follows is about a group of friends and acquaintances, shipwrecked, adrift for days, and washed ashore on a seemingly uninhabited island...and that's the good news.
Just days before they'd all been so happy and carefree, on vacation, so certain their lives were playing out just as they should, and that nothing could go wrong...and now this...
I really enjoy a good closed group story. People pitted against the elements...and each other. And in this case something even more unexpected and terrifying. The suspense in Savages is sky high and the tenseness builds slowly giving Gifune time to develop his characters fully before they have to face the inevitable.
Told with a bit of humor, and this works well to relieve the tension. A smart move because even with a few laughs along the way, as a reader I was left drained by the end of the story.
Savages will grab you, shake you, and leave you breathless. Recommended without reservation.
Also, kudos to artist, Zach McCain, who perfectly captures the feel of the old pulp magazines with his cover for this book..
Savages is available in both paperback and e-book formats from Sinister Grin Press.
From the author's bio - Greg F. Gifune has been called "One of the best writers of his generation" by both the Roswell Literary Review and author Brian Keene, He is the author of numerous short stories, several novels and two short story collections. Greg was educated in Boston and has lived in various places, including New York City and Peru.
Reminiscent of the pulp fiction stories of the 30s through the 50s or perhaps the B-Movies popular at drive-ins in the 70s and 80s, Greg F. Gifune's new novel, Savages, is every bit as good as the best of that sub-genre.
Prior to the start of the book, the author quotes the 1920 film "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde." A man cannot destroy the savage in him by denying its impulses. The only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it...
The story that follows is about a group of friends and acquaintances, shipwrecked, adrift for days, and washed ashore on a seemingly uninhabited island...and that's the good news.
Just days before they'd all been so happy and carefree, on vacation, so certain their lives were playing out just as they should, and that nothing could go wrong...and now this...
I really enjoy a good closed group story. People pitted against the elements...and each other. And in this case something even more unexpected and terrifying. The suspense in Savages is sky high and the tenseness builds slowly giving Gifune time to develop his characters fully before they have to face the inevitable.
Told with a bit of humor, and this works well to relieve the tension. A smart move because even with a few laughs along the way, as a reader I was left drained by the end of the story.
Savages will grab you, shake you, and leave you breathless. Recommended without reservation.
Also, kudos to artist, Zach McCain, who perfectly captures the feel of the old pulp magazines with his cover for this book..
Savages is available in both paperback and e-book formats from Sinister Grin Press.
From the author's bio - Greg F. Gifune has been called "One of the best writers of his generation" by both the Roswell Literary Review and author Brian Keene, He is the author of numerous short stories, several novels and two short story collections. Greg was educated in Boston and has lived in various places, including New York City and Peru.
June 20, 2017
SAVAGES, by Greg Gifune was a book that had all of the elements to make a great horror story, and then some! Not only did this novel flow naturally--making it near impossible for me to find a "good place" to stop reading for the night-- but the scenes and occurrences that were taking place were so original, that I honestly didn't know what to expect next.
We start off with a group of friends, (Dallas and his wife Quinn, Andre and his wife Natalie, Gino and his IQ-challenged girlfriend Harper, Herm--a fellow teacher and friend to Dallas, and Murdoch, the captain of the boat they'd been on), who find themselves washed up on the shore of an island that "shouldn't" exist. This is about the only horror cliche you'll find in this novel.
"The white sand, the palm trees and jungle, the enormous blue sky and clear water, it all should have been so beautiful . . . but it was something else too, something dangerous and deadly . . . holding them hostage from the rest of the world . . ."
Gifune wastes no time in getting into the thick of this story--he holds nothing back. By simply "observing" the scenes, we gather a deep knowledge of each of the characters, their strengths, weaknesses, and motivations. We are able to discern all of this through their various interactions, the group dynamics, one-on-one conversations, and the occasional personal details that each person intimately knows, even if they only admit it to themselves. The truly impressive nature of this type of characterization is that we get to see as their personalities begin to change and adapt naturally as the situation goes on. Nothing about these individuals ever feels "forced"; rather, their emotional progression comes about in a way that the readers, themselves, can feel and appreciate as completely normal under the conditions they are now in.
". . . It was about living and dying now, nothing more. Maybe it always had been . . . "
While an uncharted island might be considered unusual in these days of modern technology, Gifune takes every advantage of the hardships the friends now face AFTER surviving the shipwreck. The survival skills, search for drinking water, food, and other essentials, take precedence at once--showcasing the harsh and dangerous environment that still surrounds them.
"The longer we're stuck here . . . the less human we're going to get."
In this fast paced novel,the horrors--both emotional and physical--are always present. Even the personalities of each of the survivors begin to morph into something else . . . something more--primal--than they originally were. With each drop of water taken, each injury, each new discovery, they all begin to think in terms of what they need to do to insure their individual survival.
The title, SAVAGES, fits this story perfectly on multiple levels. Even the one character who seems to revel in taking charge of situations eventually shrinks back when faced with their disagreeable predicament: "I don't want to be right, . . . Not this time . . . "
Of course, there are enigmatic "surprises" that even seasoned horror readers will be hard-pressed to predict. Throughout the journey, the jungle itself is a danger--as much so as the humans.
". . . they kept trying to conjure something specific . . . something big . . . but it didn't work . . . Until it did."
Just how much these characters are up against is kept in the shadows for the majority of the novel, but the parts that DO come in as early harbingers of . . . other . . . things to come are more than enough to get your heart racing and propel you to keep reading on. Gifune utilizes psychological horror, visceral horror, the loss of basic survival necessities, human intimidation, the primal fear of the "unknown", and of course, plenty of bloodshed and gore.
Overall, a fantastic addition to any horror lover's library. SAVAGES has just about every element you could want, and then some. The pacing, characters, and relentless atmosphere of danger and isolation present in each and every scene, brings this novel to its stunning conclusion before you're even ready for it.
"She'd been wrong all along . . . There was such a thing as monsters . . . "
Highest recommendation!
We start off with a group of friends, (Dallas and his wife Quinn, Andre and his wife Natalie, Gino and his IQ-challenged girlfriend Harper, Herm--a fellow teacher and friend to Dallas, and Murdoch, the captain of the boat they'd been on), who find themselves washed up on the shore of an island that "shouldn't" exist. This is about the only horror cliche you'll find in this novel.
"The white sand, the palm trees and jungle, the enormous blue sky and clear water, it all should have been so beautiful . . . but it was something else too, something dangerous and deadly . . . holding them hostage from the rest of the world . . ."
Gifune wastes no time in getting into the thick of this story--he holds nothing back. By simply "observing" the scenes, we gather a deep knowledge of each of the characters, their strengths, weaknesses, and motivations. We are able to discern all of this through their various interactions, the group dynamics, one-on-one conversations, and the occasional personal details that each person intimately knows, even if they only admit it to themselves. The truly impressive nature of this type of characterization is that we get to see as their personalities begin to change and adapt naturally as the situation goes on. Nothing about these individuals ever feels "forced"; rather, their emotional progression comes about in a way that the readers, themselves, can feel and appreciate as completely normal under the conditions they are now in.
". . . It was about living and dying now, nothing more. Maybe it always had been . . . "
While an uncharted island might be considered unusual in these days of modern technology, Gifune takes every advantage of the hardships the friends now face AFTER surviving the shipwreck. The survival skills, search for drinking water, food, and other essentials, take precedence at once--showcasing the harsh and dangerous environment that still surrounds them.
"The longer we're stuck here . . . the less human we're going to get."
In this fast paced novel,the horrors--both emotional and physical--are always present. Even the personalities of each of the survivors begin to morph into something else . . . something more--primal--than they originally were. With each drop of water taken, each injury, each new discovery, they all begin to think in terms of what they need to do to insure their individual survival.
The title, SAVAGES, fits this story perfectly on multiple levels. Even the one character who seems to revel in taking charge of situations eventually shrinks back when faced with their disagreeable predicament: "I don't want to be right, . . . Not this time . . . "
Of course, there are enigmatic "surprises" that even seasoned horror readers will be hard-pressed to predict. Throughout the journey, the jungle itself is a danger--as much so as the humans.
". . . they kept trying to conjure something specific . . . something big . . . but it didn't work . . . Until it did."
Just how much these characters are up against is kept in the shadows for the majority of the novel, but the parts that DO come in as early harbingers of . . . other . . . things to come are more than enough to get your heart racing and propel you to keep reading on. Gifune utilizes psychological horror, visceral horror, the loss of basic survival necessities, human intimidation, the primal fear of the "unknown", and of course, plenty of bloodshed and gore.
Overall, a fantastic addition to any horror lover's library. SAVAGES has just about every element you could want, and then some. The pacing, characters, and relentless atmosphere of danger and isolation present in each and every scene, brings this novel to its stunning conclusion before you're even ready for it.
"She'd been wrong all along . . . There was such a thing as monsters . . . "
Highest recommendation!
February 19, 2017
This was an excellent book! I loved every thing about it. I had never read this author before, but I will definitely be reading more by him. The book started with a boating accident which left vacationers drifting in the open ocean. If that fear is not enough, some of them ended up stranded on a remote island that wasn't on any map. Of course having a variety of personalities in a life or death situation creates problems and tensions. However, on this island there was something else there and it seemed to be hunting the survivors.
This book was filled with fear and tension that continued to build until there was no way to put the book down. I had to read on to find out what was going on and who was going to survive. The characters were well done and their thoughts and feelings were tangible. The mystery surrounding the island was also excellent. The way it was unraveled and revealed as part of history made it very interesting. The horror was real and the violence graphic! It had everything a reader could want.
I recommend this to anyone who likes horror and a fast paced read.
This book was filled with fear and tension that continued to build until there was no way to put the book down. I had to read on to find out what was going on and who was going to survive. The characters were well done and their thoughts and feelings were tangible. The mystery surrounding the island was also excellent. The way it was unraveled and revealed as part of history made it very interesting. The horror was real and the violence graphic! It had everything a reader could want.
I recommend this to anyone who likes horror and a fast paced read.
April 21, 2021
I recently read this book with the Night Worms review team as a group read. This is the fourth book I've read this year with basically the same plot. I suppose I'm not tired of them if I keep reading them, and it sounds as if other people are still into them too, since writers keep writing them.
This is a simple synopsis of all four books: Group of people suddenly end up on a deserted, uncharted island. However, something/someone is on the island and now they are being hunted. Group of people are picked off in extremely grisly ways one by one.
Obviously all four books have more going on that just that, but they all share that basic plot structure. Gifune takes his castaways and lets them wash up on the island and try to set up some kind of camp before amping up the action. The initial tension in SAVAGES is between the group of friends that have survived their boat being capsized. One character is an alpha-male adventurer type who is the obvious leader, but continues to butt heads with the one friend who has been picked on and bullied all of his life. The group also has to deal with missing friends, and those that are probably mortally wounded. Things are not looking good for our group of survivors. Then a new threat appears.
As the friends are hunted their base instincts kick in, and all of them have to dig deep within themselves to survive this new threat. But horror has a pattern, and readers expect lots of blood and carnage before the last epic fight/stand off with the Final Girl. Even though these stories all end up the same way, they have details that set them apart and make each reading experience unique. And all of the antagonists are very different. Gifune's bad guy is really interesting and not something that I saw coming.
I liked some of his characters and had mixed feelings for others, but I was definitely invested in Gifune's group of castaways. Some deaths were definitely more painful for the reader than others. And like I said, the thing that is hunting this group of friends is not something that's been done before, and so I didn't see it coming at all. Well, I mean up to a point. At some point in SAVAGES it becomes mostly clear what the friends will be dealing with.
I had a good time reading this book so no, I'm not tired of Islands filled with carnage stories, even though I've read four of them this year alone. I think I liked a couple of the others a little more, but Gifune's book is still worth picking up. I mean, If you are reading this, I'm assuming you like island castaway carnage stories too.
This is a simple synopsis of all four books: Group of people suddenly end up on a deserted, uncharted island. However, something/someone is on the island and now they are being hunted. Group of people are picked off in extremely grisly ways one by one.
Obviously all four books have more going on that just that, but they all share that basic plot structure. Gifune takes his castaways and lets them wash up on the island and try to set up some kind of camp before amping up the action. The initial tension in SAVAGES is between the group of friends that have survived their boat being capsized. One character is an alpha-male adventurer type who is the obvious leader, but continues to butt heads with the one friend who has been picked on and bullied all of his life. The group also has to deal with missing friends, and those that are probably mortally wounded. Things are not looking good for our group of survivors. Then a new threat appears.
As the friends are hunted their base instincts kick in, and all of them have to dig deep within themselves to survive this new threat. But horror has a pattern, and readers expect lots of blood and carnage before the last epic fight/stand off with the Final Girl. Even though these stories all end up the same way, they have details that set them apart and make each reading experience unique. And all of the antagonists are very different. Gifune's bad guy is really interesting and not something that I saw coming.
I liked some of his characters and had mixed feelings for others, but I was definitely invested in Gifune's group of castaways. Some deaths were definitely more painful for the reader than others. And like I said, the thing that is hunting this group of friends is not something that's been done before, and so I didn't see it coming at all. Well, I mean up to a point. At some point in SAVAGES it becomes mostly clear what the friends will be dealing with.
I had a good time reading this book so no, I'm not tired of Islands filled with carnage stories, even though I've read four of them this year alone. I think I liked a couple of the others a little more, but Gifune's book is still worth picking up. I mean, If you are reading this, I'm assuming you like island castaway carnage stories too.
August 16, 2016
It's a rare thing, but sometimes you come across a book that feels like it was custom made for you, hitting all the right sweet spots, all the right fist-pumping beats, as it swallows you whole into its world. Savages by Greg F. Gifune was such a book for me. Naturally, your mileage may vary, but for me, this was a sweet, sweet read.
Opening with an epigraph quoting the 1920 film version of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, you get a good idea of what's in store for you. "A man cannot destroy the savage in him by denying its impulses. The only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it..." It's a powerful quote, and Gifune's book has the darkness to match as the author tackles the themes suggested here.
Savages is a short novel, and a lot of its power is derived from the unknown. So I won't say much about it. You can read the book's synopsis, but the shorter gist of it is this: a small group of survivors wash up on the beach of a mysterious island. They think they're alone, until gruesome evidence begins to say otherwise. Yes, there's evil afoot, lurking in the jungles that surround them - but I will say no more.
The surprises these survivors uncover is simply too good to spoil, but know that Gifune's epigraph works on multiple levels here. There's plenty of savagery to be found, as well as heaping doses of primal needs for survival. This is, I think, survival horror at its finest.
As for those sweet spots it hit for me? You've got the deserted island trope, which I'm a bit of a sucker for, an awesome threat that relates directly to mankind's own savageness, and a strong, fierce heroine. Plus, the group itself - there's some good character work here, and despite most of them being friends, their personalities and traits allow for plenty of strain and tension, as well as worry over in-group violence that could boil over at any moment. This is simply a compulsively readable title, and once Gifune starts weaving in the background of the threat this group is facing, it's a full-tilt boogie of mad-dash horror straight on through to a dark, beleaguering finale.
Savages is a horror book that's perfectly crafted, from it's beautiful, vintage cover, straight on through to the story's last page, and a new instant-favorite for me. Read it!
[Note: This review is based on an advanced copy provided by Sinister Grin Press via Hook of a Book Media and Publicity.]
Opening with an epigraph quoting the 1920 film version of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, you get a good idea of what's in store for you. "A man cannot destroy the savage in him by denying its impulses. The only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it..." It's a powerful quote, and Gifune's book has the darkness to match as the author tackles the themes suggested here.
Savages is a short novel, and a lot of its power is derived from the unknown. So I won't say much about it. You can read the book's synopsis, but the shorter gist of it is this: a small group of survivors wash up on the beach of a mysterious island. They think they're alone, until gruesome evidence begins to say otherwise. Yes, there's evil afoot, lurking in the jungles that surround them - but I will say no more.
The surprises these survivors uncover is simply too good to spoil, but know that Gifune's epigraph works on multiple levels here. There's plenty of savagery to be found, as well as heaping doses of primal needs for survival. This is, I think, survival horror at its finest.
As for those sweet spots it hit for me? You've got the deserted island trope, which I'm a bit of a sucker for, an awesome threat that relates directly to mankind's own savageness, and a strong, fierce heroine. Plus, the group itself - there's some good character work here, and despite most of them being friends, their personalities and traits allow for plenty of strain and tension, as well as worry over in-group violence that could boil over at any moment. This is simply a compulsively readable title, and once Gifune starts weaving in the background of the threat this group is facing, it's a full-tilt boogie of mad-dash horror straight on through to a dark, beleaguering finale.
Savages is a horror book that's perfectly crafted, from it's beautiful, vintage cover, straight on through to the story's last page, and a new instant-favorite for me. Read it!
[Note: This review is based on an advanced copy provided by Sinister Grin Press via Hook of a Book Media and Publicity.]
September 30, 2016
After their chartered fishing boat capsized during a violent storm, survivors drift in the South Pacific until they end up, miraculously, on a deserted tropical island. But they have virtually no supplies and must scavenge their new environs for food and water if they have any hope of surviving. Because where they've landed, way off course on an uncharted island, they may never be found.
And soon they discover they're not alone...and must face a relentless horror beyond imagining.
Brutal, primal, and gut punches with both raw visceral horror and what survival really means and at what cost. Don't miss one of Greg Gifune best horror novels to date...and one of this reviewer's Top Picks of 2016.
Highest of recommendations!
And soon they discover they're not alone...and must face a relentless horror beyond imagining.
Brutal, primal, and gut punches with both raw visceral horror and what survival really means and at what cost. Don't miss one of Greg Gifune best horror novels to date...and one of this reviewer's Top Picks of 2016.
Highest of recommendations!
November 10, 2016
Greg Gifune has outdone himself yet again. He has established himself firmly as one of the finest horror authors out there and anyone that has read my reviews knows that he's definitely one of my favorites. Simply put, I have yet to read anything mediocre by him. If he has a clunker in his catalog, it hasn't passed my eyes yet. And that brings me to Savages which, in my opinion, is an absolute masterpiece.
A group go sailing in the remote South Pacific when a storm sinks the boat they were on. Drifting for days, one of the crew dead, a passenger missing, and the captain along with another passenger badly injured, they fight dehydration, the scorching sun, and hungry sharks to finally drift onto an uninhabited and uncharted island that no one even knew existed. With no supplies, no tools, no food, and barely any clothing on, the harsh reality of their bleak situation hits home like a ton of bricks. Just when they thought that things couldn't get any worse, they discover that their deserted island isn't so deserted and it's inhabitant isn't happy to see them.
The strength in Ginfune's tale is it's realistic characters and the way he ratchets up the dread as the story goes along. I'm not joking. You could literally cut the tension in this book with a knife. He also adds some fantastic top secret WWII setting in here. Damn this was so good. I'm going to stop drooling all over this one and give it to you straight - quit reading reviews trying to decide what book you want to buy next. Your search is now officially over. Immediately grab this one and start reading!
5 Hidden Tunnels out of 5
You can also follow my reviews at the following links:
https://kenmckinley.wordpress.com
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/A2J1...
A group go sailing in the remote South Pacific when a storm sinks the boat they were on. Drifting for days, one of the crew dead, a passenger missing, and the captain along with another passenger badly injured, they fight dehydration, the scorching sun, and hungry sharks to finally drift onto an uninhabited and uncharted island that no one even knew existed. With no supplies, no tools, no food, and barely any clothing on, the harsh reality of their bleak situation hits home like a ton of bricks. Just when they thought that things couldn't get any worse, they discover that their deserted island isn't so deserted and it's inhabitant isn't happy to see them.
The strength in Ginfune's tale is it's realistic characters and the way he ratchets up the dread as the story goes along. I'm not joking. You could literally cut the tension in this book with a knife. He also adds some fantastic top secret WWII setting in here. Damn this was so good. I'm going to stop drooling all over this one and give it to you straight - quit reading reviews trying to decide what book you want to buy next. Your search is now officially over. Immediately grab this one and start reading!
5 Hidden Tunnels out of 5
You can also follow my reviews at the following links:
https://kenmckinley.wordpress.com
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/A2J1...
April 14, 2017
Exploring familiar territory via unexpected paths, this is survival horror at it's visceral best. Gifune adds a welcome dose of his patented psychological horror, along with a deep, pitch perfect understanding of the human dynamic, ripping away the thin veil of civilization as "survival of the fittest" becomes the only law.
Highest possible recommendation....a must read!
Highest possible recommendation....a must read!
May 23, 2018
"Perhaps there was no rescue from this hell, no escape. Perhaps there never had been. Perhaps it no longer mattered…”
There are few things that could be worse than being stranded on a deserted jungle island in the middle of the South Pacific with hardly a chance of ever being saved. At least you have 6 of your closest friends with you. Well, 5 anyway. Make that 4…3…2. Shit.
I guess there are worse things after all. The island isn’t deserted. Fug.
A little bit of a departure for Gifune, who usually writes more on the darker side of psychological fiction than a straight out “horror story” such as Savages. Yes, the darkness is still there. Just cocooned in a b-movie shell. And it works. What appears to be at first, stock horror movie characters, becomes something deeper as the story progresses and we find out what each of the characters are really made of. Some from the inside out. Literally.
Overall an enjoyable and well written Predator-style monster romp a la Gifune. 4+ Stars
There are few things that could be worse than being stranded on a deserted jungle island in the middle of the South Pacific with hardly a chance of ever being saved. At least you have 6 of your closest friends with you. Well, 5 anyway. Make that 4…3…2. Shit.
I guess there are worse things after all. The island isn’t deserted. Fug.
A little bit of a departure for Gifune, who usually writes more on the darker side of psychological fiction than a straight out “horror story” such as Savages. Yes, the darkness is still there. Just cocooned in a b-movie shell. And it works. What appears to be at first, stock horror movie characters, becomes something deeper as the story progresses and we find out what each of the characters are really made of. Some from the inside out. Literally.
Overall an enjoyable and well written Predator-style monster romp a la Gifune. 4+ Stars
March 2, 2022
** Edited as review is now live on Kendall Reviews! **
Recently, I’ve been on a bit of a ‘Jungle’ adventure kick. Between the Jungle Cruise movie, the Jumanji movies and recently reading an ARC of Carl John Lee’s newest, ‘Cannibal Vengeance,’ the Amazon and the jungles have been firmly in my path of entertainment and enjoyment.
So, this led me to finding ‘Savages’ by Greg F. Gifune sitting at the top of my TBR, as though the abandoned island inhabitants had sneakily moved it up the list.
One reason I was so happy to see this arrive – my good pal Steven Gomzi LOVES Gifune’s writing and keeps telling me to read his work. And you know what? Steven’s right! Gifune is a fantastic writer.
What I liked: OK, listen to me for one second – if you hate reading jungle-based books because it’ll all be the same, ignore that intuition. Sure, the set-up isn’t anything new (and that’s just absolutely ok!) but it works to get the ball rolling.
A group of friends are on a vacation book ride when a storm hits and they find themselves washed up on a beach of an island that shouldn’t exist. Some have lived, some are hurt, and others didn’t survive. It doesn’t take long before we learn who has survival skills, who doesn’t and how each of the people’s strengths and weaknesses will ultimately be responsible for their fates.
Now, what Gifune does so well here, is that he flips the script on us by not having the trees filled with Indigenous people attacking the foreigners, or crazy creatures lost to history. Instead, we get a plausible discovery with a paranormal outcome and it works so, so very well. I honestly can’t go into too many details, as I wanna let this surprise you like it did me, but when it clicks and comes together it is just phenomenal.
Each character was done so very well, and as things get worse and then even worse, we see their true colors revealed and Gifune holds nothing back.
The writing is crisp and the action is intense. This was so great, I could practically feel the humidity while reading it.
What I didn’t like: Three minor things. At first, it did feel like more of the same and I was worried that we’d end up with a cookie-cutter ‘cannibal’ story. We don’t get that, so hold on. The second thing – one of the characters has a mental breakdown and is caught in a horrible act on the beach by Quinn. I didn’t really see the reason for it needing to happen. Gifune led us there and it made sense, but it just felt a bit unnecessary. And lastly, I almost wish there wasn’t an epilogue. I thought the ending was solid enough to not warrant the last bit, but it did work and this is totally a minor detail I’m being a bit of a knob about haha!
Why you should buy this: Gifune strikes gold here and from page one we see people pushed to their limits and ultimately so far past it, you’ll be amazed to see their character arcs. The true horror of the island was fantastic and had me Googling the real-life history about it and that is saying something.
This is not your typical ‘lost on an island’ book and the reader is all the better for that.
Recently, I’ve been on a bit of a ‘Jungle’ adventure kick. Between the Jungle Cruise movie, the Jumanji movies and recently reading an ARC of Carl John Lee’s newest, ‘Cannibal Vengeance,’ the Amazon and the jungles have been firmly in my path of entertainment and enjoyment.
So, this led me to finding ‘Savages’ by Greg F. Gifune sitting at the top of my TBR, as though the abandoned island inhabitants had sneakily moved it up the list.
One reason I was so happy to see this arrive – my good pal Steven Gomzi LOVES Gifune’s writing and keeps telling me to read his work. And you know what? Steven’s right! Gifune is a fantastic writer.
What I liked: OK, listen to me for one second – if you hate reading jungle-based books because it’ll all be the same, ignore that intuition. Sure, the set-up isn’t anything new (and that’s just absolutely ok!) but it works to get the ball rolling.
A group of friends are on a vacation book ride when a storm hits and they find themselves washed up on a beach of an island that shouldn’t exist. Some have lived, some are hurt, and others didn’t survive. It doesn’t take long before we learn who has survival skills, who doesn’t and how each of the people’s strengths and weaknesses will ultimately be responsible for their fates.
Now, what Gifune does so well here, is that he flips the script on us by not having the trees filled with Indigenous people attacking the foreigners, or crazy creatures lost to history. Instead, we get a plausible discovery with a paranormal outcome and it works so, so very well. I honestly can’t go into too many details, as I wanna let this surprise you like it did me, but when it clicks and comes together it is just phenomenal.
Each character was done so very well, and as things get worse and then even worse, we see their true colors revealed and Gifune holds nothing back.
The writing is crisp and the action is intense. This was so great, I could practically feel the humidity while reading it.
What I didn’t like: Three minor things. At first, it did feel like more of the same and I was worried that we’d end up with a cookie-cutter ‘cannibal’ story. We don’t get that, so hold on. The second thing – one of the characters has a mental breakdown and is caught in a horrible act on the beach by Quinn. I didn’t really see the reason for it needing to happen. Gifune led us there and it made sense, but it just felt a bit unnecessary. And lastly, I almost wish there wasn’t an epilogue. I thought the ending was solid enough to not warrant the last bit, but it did work and this is totally a minor detail I’m being a bit of a knob about haha!
Why you should buy this: Gifune strikes gold here and from page one we see people pushed to their limits and ultimately so far past it, you’ll be amazed to see their character arcs. The true horror of the island was fantastic and had me Googling the real-life history about it and that is saying something.
This is not your typical ‘lost on an island’ book and the reader is all the better for that.
February 14, 2017
Wow- once this story gets going, it REALLY gets going, to the point where I had to read until the very end without stop. This book becomes more and more compulsively readable as it continues. A boat gores down in a storm, and 8 survivors on a raft land on a mysterious island, figuring it is an uncharted territory near the Cook Islands. Blown way off course, they figure that the chances of being found are slim. Worse than that? It appears as though they are not alone on this island. Now, I had many theories, but trust me- whatever you think is residing on this island, I guarantee you are wrong. Told with an incredible amount of horrific detail and imagination, this truly frightening novel makes everything- including the human survivors- extremely terrifying. Well done! A fast paced, brutal read. -Jen from Quebec :0)
November 9, 2019
Savages holds every horror trope I love. Deserted island, survival, evil forces, the exploring of abandoned buildings, gore, guts, and more gore. YES PLEASE!
Set in an uncharted small island, Savages begins with a small chapter titled After, quickly gripping you with the aftermath of the events that are about to unfold. So right there you are HOOKED! Then we rewind and fall into chapter one with one of my favorite characters in the book, Dallas, floating in the ocean alone and hurt. See, him, his wife and some friends were on vacation when a storm hits them, while on a boat and leaves them in shambles, out to sea trying to survive for several days. Separated from his friends he comes upon land and shortly thereafter reunited with most of his crew along with the captain of the boat. I mean just right there we have an amazing story. Survival on an island with no rescue in sight is a horror story within itself but nope that’s not all we’re dealing with. NOPE. Add to this an evil force willing to protect this island by killing anything in sight, now we have double the horror, AND I’M ALL FOR IT!!!!!
This book was enthralling from beginning to end, and might I add it has the perfect cover and title for its content. I definitely fell in love with Gifune’s writing style. The way each chapter ended so ominously making the transition from chapter to chapter feel like the closing of a curtain in a play. “Night was on its way, and there’d be no stopping it. All they could hope for now was that it planned to come alone.” Another aspect of the book I thoroughly enjoyed was the character development. Each character had its change from start to end but I think I was greatly pleased, albeit quite disturbed, with Herm’s development, adding a touch more to the title of the book.
Overall a very enjoyable fast-paced read! Now please excuse me as I go buy all of Greg’s other books!
Set in an uncharted small island, Savages begins with a small chapter titled After, quickly gripping you with the aftermath of the events that are about to unfold. So right there you are HOOKED! Then we rewind and fall into chapter one with one of my favorite characters in the book, Dallas, floating in the ocean alone and hurt. See, him, his wife and some friends were on vacation when a storm hits them, while on a boat and leaves them in shambles, out to sea trying to survive for several days. Separated from his friends he comes upon land and shortly thereafter reunited with most of his crew along with the captain of the boat. I mean just right there we have an amazing story. Survival on an island with no rescue in sight is a horror story within itself but nope that’s not all we’re dealing with. NOPE. Add to this an evil force willing to protect this island by killing anything in sight, now we have double the horror, AND I’M ALL FOR IT!!!!!
This book was enthralling from beginning to end, and might I add it has the perfect cover and title for its content. I definitely fell in love with Gifune’s writing style. The way each chapter ended so ominously making the transition from chapter to chapter feel like the closing of a curtain in a play. “Night was on its way, and there’d be no stopping it. All they could hope for now was that it planned to come alone.” Another aspect of the book I thoroughly enjoyed was the character development. Each character had its change from start to end but I think I was greatly pleased, albeit quite disturbed, with Herm’s development, adding a touch more to the title of the book.
Overall a very enjoyable fast-paced read! Now please excuse me as I go buy all of Greg’s other books!
November 15, 2021
I had so much fun reading this slasher-style story. It’s super fast-paced and keeps you hungry for that “one more page”. I am a big fan of survival stories, especially ones on a far off island, so this was perfect. It reminds me of the show Lost, but with bloody horror.
The characters are the familiar stereotypes, such as the married couple, the nerds, and the bimbo. I thought it had the best ending it could possibly have (I’ll let you read that that bit for yourself ) and the author did a perfect job creating the survival of the fittest atmosphere.
All in all, it’s perfect for horror fans who love a bloody, murderous island experience. Plus, that cover! Oh I love it so.
The characters are the familiar stereotypes, such as the married couple, the nerds, and the bimbo. I thought it had the best ending it could possibly have (I’ll let you read that that bit for yourself ) and the author did a perfect job creating the survival of the fittest atmosphere.
All in all, it’s perfect for horror fans who love a bloody, murderous island experience. Plus, that cover! Oh I love it so.
September 12, 2016
Holy Samurai Swords! This was a great stranded-on-a-deserted-island story. Fun characters. Interesting villains. And the author does a great job making the struggle for survival feel real. One of my favorite novels of the year. Another winner from Sinister Grin Press.
November 28, 2022
Stranded on an uncharted island, a group of friends battle a supernatural entity. They also have to take on their own egos, & learn to survive in an unforgiving environment.
I couldn’t imagine trying to build shelter, forage, and explore the jungle all while in extreme heat with little water and food. Plus dealing with trauma on top of that. Oh and a killing machine!
This was an enthralling read, and I loved the characters, especially Dallas. I couldn’t stop until I reached the end, needing to know what happens!
I’ll be recommending this one to my sister who has visited the Cook Islands, and it’s a fantastic read for anyone going on vacation!! Just uhhh, double check on the quality of the boat/captain if you’re doing any overnight fishing trips!
I couldn’t imagine trying to build shelter, forage, and explore the jungle all while in extreme heat with little water and food. Plus dealing with trauma on top of that. Oh and a killing machine!
This was an enthralling read, and I loved the characters, especially Dallas. I couldn’t stop until I reached the end, needing to know what happens!
I’ll be recommending this one to my sister who has visited the Cook Islands, and it’s a fantastic read for anyone going on vacation!! Just uhhh, double check on the quality of the boat/captain if you’re doing any overnight fishing trips!
February 16, 2017
This book was SO much better than I expected it to be!
It was written in such a way that every character had meaning and a reason to be included in the story which is something that doesn't always occur in most books much less a horror.
It incorporated history with real terror and I'm probably going to go and check to see if there was truth behind what was said. And if it was...God help us.
It was written in such a way that every character had meaning and a reason to be included in the story which is something that doesn't always occur in most books much less a horror.
It incorporated history with real terror and I'm probably going to go and check to see if there was truth behind what was said. And if it was...God help us.
November 2, 2024
I really enjoyed this book and I thought the concept of the story was awesome, need to check out more by this author
February 26, 2017
I read this novel thanks to a group I'm a member of (Gore and More) and boy am I thankful to be a member after finishing. In the beginning, although I was enjoying the character descriptions and dialogue if I'm honest I wasn't expecting much. I couldn't have been more wrong, this read had me hooked and on the edge of my seat throughout. Of course the genre is not for everyone, but if you like horror/gore then I would highly recommend you add 'Savages' to your shelves today.
November 4, 2016
Savages from Greg F. Gifune is an energetic, fun, and quite a satisfying read. It’s my first read from Mr. Gifune (after a many missed opportunities) and I’m glad Savages crossed my path as this book points out, yet again, that I’ve missed the bus on an author. This one with a pretty vast library behind him, and I have no excuses.
From page one Savages presents a rather cinematic reading experience. The ordeal, the backdrop, the cast, the nasty are all pieces that fit together to paint a vivid picture that is easy to get wrapped up in, to get absorbed.
The narrative plays out fluidly, wildly. A tangible sense or desperation sets in as the situation that these folks are stuck in devolves into chaos. The first good chunk of the read is devoted to character development, building a connection with a solid cast of personalities. Which is always a positive attribute. The survival aspect plays out believably as alpha characters step out and on beta characters and the inevitable power play rears its head. Maybe those beta or wild cards… that’s for you to discover.
But when the shit hits the sand is when this read shines. The back third is a full blown riot of tension and action set pieces. Nothing short of entertaining. I dug this baddie quite a bit and Greg isn’t afraid to make a mess of things… and people. It’s an endearing quality that speaks directly to me as a reader.
I have survived this island. A little worse for wear, but alive and breathing.
Hello Greg, my name is Zakk and I am eager to dig into some of your back catalogue. Thanks for the ride.
Overall score: 4.5/ 5
Zakk is a big dumb animal!
https://zdubbzattmom.wordpress.com
**Note: I received a review copy of this book from the publisher/ publicist on the promise of an honest review. These are my unbiased feelings.
From page one Savages presents a rather cinematic reading experience. The ordeal, the backdrop, the cast, the nasty are all pieces that fit together to paint a vivid picture that is easy to get wrapped up in, to get absorbed.
The narrative plays out fluidly, wildly. A tangible sense or desperation sets in as the situation that these folks are stuck in devolves into chaos. The first good chunk of the read is devoted to character development, building a connection with a solid cast of personalities. Which is always a positive attribute. The survival aspect plays out believably as alpha characters step out and on beta characters and the inevitable power play rears its head. Maybe those beta or wild cards… that’s for you to discover.
But when the shit hits the sand is when this read shines. The back third is a full blown riot of tension and action set pieces. Nothing short of entertaining. I dug this baddie quite a bit and Greg isn’t afraid to make a mess of things… and people. It’s an endearing quality that speaks directly to me as a reader.
I have survived this island. A little worse for wear, but alive and breathing.
Hello Greg, my name is Zakk and I am eager to dig into some of your back catalogue. Thanks for the ride.
Overall score: 4.5/ 5
Zakk is a big dumb animal!
https://zdubbzattmom.wordpress.com
**Note: I received a review copy of this book from the publisher/ publicist on the promise of an honest review. These are my unbiased feelings.
February 15, 2017
A shipwrecked ensemble forced into survival mode on an uncharted island is the setup for this Greg Gifune 2016 novel. The survivors soon learn there are greater threats than just finding food and shelter. The plot is heavily inspired by pulp fiction from early last century and was the first thing that drew me to the book. I love exploring those old stories that often seem to exist just to offer pure entertainment and shock value. One look at the 1st printing cover is a dead giveaway as well. It was also a chance to group read it with the author, who offered some of his comments along the way. Gifune has a mature, lyrical writing style that's easy to appreciate. He's descriptive but doesn't drone, and the writing is not overstuffed with excessive adjectives and other fluff. I think the primary strength of the writing however is the strong character studies and cast interactions. The evolution of the group dynamic as their situation evolves and the threats grow increasing dire make this an exciting and horrific read.
September 27, 2016
This was a wonderful stranded-on-a-deserted-island story.
It started off kind of slow for me but once it got going I couldn't put it down. Another great book by the amazingly talented Greg F. Gifune.
It started off kind of slow for me but once it got going I couldn't put it down. Another great book by the amazingly talented Greg F. Gifune.
January 11, 2018
This book is not the stereotypical stranded ‘on-an-island’ survival horror where a band of shipwrecked characters are slowly picked off by savages – even though it may seem so at first. What I thought would be a B-grade horror, turned out to be A-grade suspense.
Savages is a menacing tale of the macabre. Marooned on an seemingly uninhabited island, a group of shipwreck survivors steadily and shockingly fall victim to something buried beneath the sunshine and palm tree veneer of what is a parasitic paradise, a playground for a blood starved predator. No character is safe which adds to the allure of the broader story; anyone at any time can fall victim; the author quick to instill a theme of casualties without caution.
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed Savages. While some of the characters did little for me, the majority felt real enough to develop some feelings towards them but the island itself is the big attraction; picturesque as it may seem, its own horrors quickly surface.
My rating: 4/5 stars.
Savages is a menacing tale of the macabre. Marooned on an seemingly uninhabited island, a group of shipwreck survivors steadily and shockingly fall victim to something buried beneath the sunshine and palm tree veneer of what is a parasitic paradise, a playground for a blood starved predator. No character is safe which adds to the allure of the broader story; anyone at any time can fall victim; the author quick to instill a theme of casualties without caution.
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed Savages. While some of the characters did little for me, the majority felt real enough to develop some feelings towards them but the island itself is the big attraction; picturesque as it may seem, its own horrors quickly surface.
My rating: 4/5 stars.
October 10, 2017
Meh....
I don’t know why.... but this book didn’t speak to me. It seemed almost anticlimactic, I guess. On the plus side, the characters were fleshed-out and relatable. The pacing was decent, as well. However, the story itself was just... (bland?) for lack of a better description.
I don’t know why.... but this book didn’t speak to me. It seemed almost anticlimactic, I guess. On the plus side, the characters were fleshed-out and relatable. The pacing was decent, as well. However, the story itself was just... (bland?) for lack of a better description.
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