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Eight
TERROR HAS A NEW SPECIES
Deep in the Amazon, the solution to the global energy crisis has been found; a mysterious source of power set to end our dependency on oil.
When she receives stunning photographs related to the discovery – courtesy of expedition leader and former partner, Ed Reardon – entomologist Rebecca Riley finds herself on the next flight to Brazil, heading down to join the team of scientists assembling there. She hasn’t seen Ed for more than a year, and their relationship hadn’t ended well.
But his revelation is impossible to ignore.
What she and Ed uncover is beyond imagination: strange statues in the jungle… a ruined city built by the refugees of a lost Pacific continent… and a terrifying new species of animal.
Forced to confront a crippling childhood phobia she’d thought long dead and buried, Rebecca realises this new species is no ordinary enemy.
It is an ancient enemy, one whose very existence has implications for all of humankind… and the planet itself.
Deep in the Amazon, the solution to the global energy crisis has been found; a mysterious source of power set to end our dependency on oil.
When she receives stunning photographs related to the discovery – courtesy of expedition leader and former partner, Ed Reardon – entomologist Rebecca Riley finds herself on the next flight to Brazil, heading down to join the team of scientists assembling there. She hasn’t seen Ed for more than a year, and their relationship hadn’t ended well.
But his revelation is impossible to ignore.
What she and Ed uncover is beyond imagination: strange statues in the jungle… a ruined city built by the refugees of a lost Pacific continent… and a terrifying new species of animal.
Forced to confront a crippling childhood phobia she’d thought long dead and buried, Rebecca realises this new species is no ordinary enemy.
It is an ancient enemy, one whose very existence has implications for all of humankind… and the planet itself.
558 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 13, 2016
669 people are currently reading
897 people want to read
About the author
W.W. Mortensen
4 books33 followersWW Mortensen is the international #1 bestselling author of EIGHT and other thrillers.
He draws his inspiration from a number of genres, and his stories are a high-octane blend of action, adventure, and sci-fi horror.
For more information about the writer and his books visit wwmortensen.com
He can be emailed at wwmortensen@gmail.com
He draws his inspiration from a number of genres, and his stories are a high-octane blend of action, adventure, and sci-fi horror.
For more information about the writer and his books visit wwmortensen.com
He can be emailed at wwmortensen@gmail.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews
March 8, 2018
3.5 - 4.0★
This was pretty good. I may change my rating after I've had more time to think about it, and after the effects of chocolate have worn off.
This book is insane; especially the last forty percent of it. The action rarely ceased.
Rebecca Riley, an Entomologist, is sent an email by her ex, Ed Reardon, which contains twelve photos of something that shouldn't exist - so she ends up taking the next available flight from New York to Gogotha, Colombia, to Leticia - which is the gateway to the Amazon. From there she takes a Float-plane to Monte Oeste; where she needs to find a friend of Ed's - Chad Higgins. He'll be taking her most of the way downstream in his boat: The Tempestade.
The journey will take a few days travel time. When she finally reaches her destination, Ed is waiting for her on the riverbank, and she's then escorted to the Base Camp, where she's introduced to some of the other scientists/hired hands at the Site. Then she gets to see in person what was in the email that Ed had sent her. After some probing (probing gives you knowledge), she notices something about the specimen that was overlooked in her initial analysis - and it's not good.
Anyway, she wants to return to New York, but Ed wants her to stay a bit longer as there's something else he needs to show her - which is located at Site 2 (S2) - something he's very excited about. With a bit of rhetoric, he convinces her to stay. S2 - is the Advanced Base Camp; but they'll need to stop at Site 1 (S1) first, which should take them a days hike; then another days hike to S2. There are eight people at Base Camp and Priscilla, Enrique's Monkey. Two of them will stay behind at the Camp, whilst the other six (and Priscilla) head to Site 1.
There was an intriguing conversation between Owen and Jessy when they stopped to take a break on their way to Site 1 - about the Awa-Tribe, in which Owen explains to her, how the Awa women breastfeed Monkeys. After consulting the all-knowing Oracle - I found out they breastfeed other baby animals, too.
Anyway, they eventually reach Site 2 - and Rebecca isn't as prepared as she thought she was, at the sight before her.
There are multiple POV - and it switches between them every few chapters. Also, the Arachnids aren't the only threat in the jungle, as there's a plethora of other dangers, too.
For some reason, there was a scene that reminded me of 'The Hobbit.'
I spent a lot of time looking stuff up, so it's evident the author has done his research.
Even though I'm not particularly fond of spiders; I do have a certain amount of respect for them. They've been crawling and creeping around for 380 million years: they survived the Chicxulub Impactor; the event that killed 75% of all animal and plant life on the planet; including the dinosaurs.
It's interesting how the author interweaves mythology, science, history, speculative science, etc, into the story.
In summation: I really enjoyed this novel; despite the subject matter. I'm not sure what to make of some of the things these critters' were able to do, as I don't think the 'laws of physics' would allow it. At least, I hope not. Apparently, there's a sequel in the works, so I'm looking forward to seeing which direction the story takes next.
Final thought: If I'm ever reincarnated, I'm coming back as a Monkey.
This was pretty good. I may change my rating after I've had more time to think about it, and after the effects of chocolate have worn off.
This book is insane; especially the last forty percent of it. The action rarely ceased.
Rebecca Riley, an Entomologist, is sent an email by her ex, Ed Reardon, which contains twelve photos of something that shouldn't exist - so she ends up taking the next available flight from New York to Gogotha, Colombia, to Leticia - which is the gateway to the Amazon. From there she takes a Float-plane to Monte Oeste; where she needs to find a friend of Ed's - Chad Higgins. He'll be taking her most of the way downstream in his boat: The Tempestade.
The journey will take a few days travel time. When she finally reaches her destination, Ed is waiting for her on the riverbank, and she's then escorted to the Base Camp, where she's introduced to some of the other scientists/hired hands at the Site. Then she gets to see in person what was in the email that Ed had sent her. After some probing (probing gives you knowledge), she notices something about the specimen that was overlooked in her initial analysis - and it's not good.
Anyway, she wants to return to New York, but Ed wants her to stay a bit longer as there's something else he needs to show her - which is located at Site 2 (S2) - something he's very excited about. With a bit of rhetoric, he convinces her to stay. S2 - is the Advanced Base Camp; but they'll need to stop at Site 1 (S1) first, which should take them a days hike; then another days hike to S2. There are eight people at Base Camp and Priscilla, Enrique's Monkey. Two of them will stay behind at the Camp, whilst the other six (and Priscilla) head to Site 1.
There was an intriguing conversation between Owen and Jessy when they stopped to take a break on their way to Site 1 - about the Awa-Tribe, in which Owen explains to her, how the Awa women breastfeed Monkeys. After consulting the all-knowing Oracle - I found out they breastfeed other baby animals, too.
Anyway, they eventually reach Site 2 - and Rebecca isn't as prepared as she thought she was, at the sight before her.
There are multiple POV - and it switches between them every few chapters. Also, the Arachnids aren't the only threat in the jungle, as there's a plethora of other dangers, too.
For some reason, there was a scene that reminded me of 'The Hobbit.'
I spent a lot of time looking stuff up, so it's evident the author has done his research.
Even though I'm not particularly fond of spiders; I do have a certain amount of respect for them. They've been crawling and creeping around for 380 million years: they survived the Chicxulub Impactor; the event that killed 75% of all animal and plant life on the planet; including the dinosaurs.
It's interesting how the author interweaves mythology, science, history, speculative science, etc, into the story.
In summation: I really enjoyed this novel; despite the subject matter. I'm not sure what to make of some of the things these critters' were able to do, as I don't think the 'laws of physics' would allow it. At least, I hope not. Apparently, there's a sequel in the works, so I'm looking forward to seeing which direction the story takes next.
Final thought: If I'm ever reincarnated, I'm coming back as a Monkey.
June 27, 2021
"Eight" is a scifi-horror-action thriller set in the steamy jungles of Colombia that really delivers all the hallmarks of a great summer escapism novel but which also suffers from a lot of the pitfalls of mass market blockbuster entertainment.
W.W. Mortensen's rather lengthy debut starts off strong as an amphibious plane crashes into the jungle canopy during a terrific thunderstorm, with the occupants encountering unseen terrors just outside the wreckage. Then it cuts to a group of scientists on an expedition to discover a lost ancient city. The whole thing has a Michael Crichton vibe, especially reminiscent of "Congo" and "Jurassic Park" mixed in with a bit of Edgar Rice Burroughs pulp adventure to create a solid and enjoyable creature feature. But when the Green Berets and a band of smugglers get involved in the otherwise simple plot, the book evolves into an outrageous Schwarzenegger-style military action yarn where things go "boom."
And boy, do things go "boom!" Monster jumps out of the ground. "Boom!" Rocket launcher strikes a Black Hawk. "Boom!" Helicopter crashes into the jungle. "Boom!" Guy hurls a satchel-charge at a creature. "Boom!" Monster pisses out silly string. "Boom!" By the last act of the novel, I couldn't even follow what the hell was going on--there was just so much fighting and struggling and shooting and jumping and screaming and stabbing and running and things going "Boom!" And the author allows for absolutely no break from the action for almost four-hundred pages or about two-thirds of the book. The reader and the characters are exhausted, bruised and battered, and yet more keeps coming. It never ends! Just when you think our heroes are out of danger, something else happens to make the situation worse. Heroes fighting a monster? Let's throw in more monsters! Our heroes are getting away from monsters? Let's have them face crazed natives AND more monsters! Heroes escape the monsters and natives? Let's have them fall and hang precariously hundreds of feet in the air and being shot at while monsters and villains and crazy natives are all making things go "Boom" all over the place!
Because of this, the book was not very scary, though I must admit there are some claustrophobic scenes involving spiders that will bring out the arachnophobia in anyone.
All of this certainly makes for some exciting reading, but due to the length of the novel and the unrelenting nature of the escalating perils that reach ridiculous proportions, the book begins to outstay it's welcome. Fortunately, the author does create a cast of characters that are rather likeable and engaging. This is quite a feat considering the amount of people he introduces through the whole narrative and the abundance of non-world-building action that limits the ability to fully flesh out the cast beyond wooden tropes and two-dimensional cartoons. You do enjoy following the exploits of these people, though there are so many of them that the narrative has to shift from chapter to chapter (sometimes even paragraph to paragraph) between points of view that the novel suffers from serious ADHD.
Still, this book would have earned four stars had it not been for irritating two of my pet peeves when it comes to action-writing.
First of all, the random "oh shit" and "not good" and "this is bad" outbursts from characters and narrator alike get very repetitive and serve no purpose other than to make the voice of the novel sound more like a bunch of teenage boys on a hypercoaster. In fact, "Eight" features variations of the exclamation "Shit!" 47 times.
When our heroes are surrounded by a dozen giant spiders while trapped in an underground catacomb, we don't need the narrator to tell us "this is bad" multiple times. A little bit of this adds some levity to a tense situation, or may help draw attention to an otherwise unflappable character who has now reached their limit, thus signaling an increase in stakes. But to write like this constantly lowers the collective artisitc IQ of a work of fiction. Alfred Hitchcock didn't need to have his characters say "This is bad" every 10 minutes in order to build suspense, and Shirley Jackson didn't have her people running around "Hill House" going "Shit! Shit, shit, shit! Oooohhh, SHIIIT!" for us to be able to understand a character's panic. Yes, I suppose in reality when someone's life is being threatened, there will be some profane explicatives regurgitated, but in literature this comes across as immature and... well, shitty. It signifies when authors have ceased to craft prose and are simply just getting carried away with themselves.
Here is my second pet peeve about action-heavy novels--the repeated and constant physical injury done to heroes that are simply shrugged off or which are only survived by pure coincidence or contrivance of plot rather than solid storytelling. The characters here are some tough cookies, but they're not supposed to be immortal. What's the point in bombarding the reader with hundreds of pages of escalating bodily peril when none of the physical consequences actually increase the sense of immediacy? I always found the Gamera films more interesting than many of the Godzilla franchise because the monsters in the Gamera movies actually shed blood and lost body parts when fighting, requiring them to need to retreat and regroup before the decisive battle. Similarly, though Indiana Jones went through some outrageous physical injury throughout the franchise, the infamous scene in "The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" where Indy survives an atomic explosion inside a refrigerator required too much suspension of disbelief, and so investment was lost by even long-time fans.
And speaking of "The Crystal Skull," "Eight" shares similarities with that film on how it jumps the shark, and is certainly guilty of pushing the boundaries of what is believable fantasy vs. laughable cartoonish farce. Overall, the novel plays it pretty straight, and I feel the reader is supposed to take most things pretty seriously, but the execution is such that it becomes unintentionally comical. I think if Mortensen had thrown in just a little more evidence of self-awareness in his writing, the extremes would have been more forgiveable. But without this "meta" element, the constant stereotypical cliffhangers and ridiculous pushing of the limits of physical endurance of characters threaten to take the reader out of the story rather than completely immerse them.
And so, though I found this to be a highly enjoyable read, I ultimately think it will largely be forgotten by its audience within a few months of finishing it, lost in vague memories from countless action set pieces in film and books that we've all experienced before. "Boom! Boom! BOOM! Shit."
W.W. Mortensen's rather lengthy debut starts off strong as an amphibious plane crashes into the jungle canopy during a terrific thunderstorm, with the occupants encountering unseen terrors just outside the wreckage. Then it cuts to a group of scientists on an expedition to discover a lost ancient city. The whole thing has a Michael Crichton vibe, especially reminiscent of "Congo" and "Jurassic Park" mixed in with a bit of Edgar Rice Burroughs pulp adventure to create a solid and enjoyable creature feature. But when the Green Berets and a band of smugglers get involved in the otherwise simple plot, the book evolves into an outrageous Schwarzenegger-style military action yarn where things go "boom."
And boy, do things go "boom!" Monster jumps out of the ground. "Boom!" Rocket launcher strikes a Black Hawk. "Boom!" Helicopter crashes into the jungle. "Boom!" Guy hurls a satchel-charge at a creature. "Boom!" Monster pisses out silly string. "Boom!" By the last act of the novel, I couldn't even follow what the hell was going on--there was just so much fighting and struggling and shooting and jumping and screaming and stabbing and running and things going "Boom!" And the author allows for absolutely no break from the action for almost four-hundred pages or about two-thirds of the book. The reader and the characters are exhausted, bruised and battered, and yet more keeps coming. It never ends! Just when you think our heroes are out of danger, something else happens to make the situation worse. Heroes fighting a monster? Let's throw in more monsters! Our heroes are getting away from monsters? Let's have them face crazed natives AND more monsters! Heroes escape the monsters and natives? Let's have them fall and hang precariously hundreds of feet in the air and being shot at while monsters and villains and crazy natives are all making things go "Boom" all over the place!
Because of this, the book was not very scary, though I must admit there are some claustrophobic scenes involving spiders that will bring out the arachnophobia in anyone.
All of this certainly makes for some exciting reading, but due to the length of the novel and the unrelenting nature of the escalating perils that reach ridiculous proportions, the book begins to outstay it's welcome. Fortunately, the author does create a cast of characters that are rather likeable and engaging. This is quite a feat considering the amount of people he introduces through the whole narrative and the abundance of non-world-building action that limits the ability to fully flesh out the cast beyond wooden tropes and two-dimensional cartoons. You do enjoy following the exploits of these people, though there are so many of them that the narrative has to shift from chapter to chapter (sometimes even paragraph to paragraph) between points of view that the novel suffers from serious ADHD.
Still, this book would have earned four stars had it not been for irritating two of my pet peeves when it comes to action-writing.
First of all, the random "oh shit" and "not good" and "this is bad" outbursts from characters and narrator alike get very repetitive and serve no purpose other than to make the voice of the novel sound more like a bunch of teenage boys on a hypercoaster. In fact, "Eight" features variations of the exclamation "Shit!" 47 times.
When our heroes are surrounded by a dozen giant spiders while trapped in an underground catacomb, we don't need the narrator to tell us "this is bad" multiple times. A little bit of this adds some levity to a tense situation, or may help draw attention to an otherwise unflappable character who has now reached their limit, thus signaling an increase in stakes. But to write like this constantly lowers the collective artisitc IQ of a work of fiction. Alfred Hitchcock didn't need to have his characters say "This is bad" every 10 minutes in order to build suspense, and Shirley Jackson didn't have her people running around "Hill House" going "Shit! Shit, shit, shit! Oooohhh, SHIIIT!" for us to be able to understand a character's panic. Yes, I suppose in reality when someone's life is being threatened, there will be some profane explicatives regurgitated, but in literature this comes across as immature and... well, shitty. It signifies when authors have ceased to craft prose and are simply just getting carried away with themselves.
Here is my second pet peeve about action-heavy novels--the repeated and constant physical injury done to heroes that are simply shrugged off or which are only survived by pure coincidence or contrivance of plot rather than solid storytelling. The characters here are some tough cookies, but they're not supposed to be immortal. What's the point in bombarding the reader with hundreds of pages of escalating bodily peril when none of the physical consequences actually increase the sense of immediacy? I always found the Gamera films more interesting than many of the Godzilla franchise because the monsters in the Gamera movies actually shed blood and lost body parts when fighting, requiring them to need to retreat and regroup before the decisive battle. Similarly, though Indiana Jones went through some outrageous physical injury throughout the franchise, the infamous scene in "The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" where Indy survives an atomic explosion inside a refrigerator required too much suspension of disbelief, and so investment was lost by even long-time fans.
And speaking of "The Crystal Skull," "Eight" shares similarities with that film on how it jumps the shark, and is certainly guilty of pushing the boundaries of what is believable fantasy vs. laughable cartoonish farce. Overall, the novel plays it pretty straight, and I feel the reader is supposed to take most things pretty seriously, but the execution is such that it becomes unintentionally comical. I think if Mortensen had thrown in just a little more evidence of self-awareness in his writing, the extremes would have been more forgiveable. But without this "meta" element, the constant stereotypical cliffhangers and ridiculous pushing of the limits of physical endurance of characters threaten to take the reader out of the story rather than completely immerse them.
And so, though I found this to be a highly enjoyable read, I ultimately think it will largely be forgotten by its audience within a few months of finishing it, lost in vague memories from countless action set pieces in film and books that we've all experienced before. "Boom! Boom! BOOM! Shit."
January 3, 2017
Eight, is about a new power source that was found deep in the Amazon jungle. After the main character, Rebecca Riley, views a few photos emailed to her by her ex, Ed Reardon, she immediately flew to the Amazon jungle to join him. Once in the jungle, Rebecca and Ed along with their group face a terrifying new predator hell-bent on destroying them for invading its territory.
Oh my goodness, this book was a RIDE! I read it in two sittings only because I forced myself to put the book down to get some sleep for work. It has been a long time since I felt such anticipation while reading a book. It brought back memories of how I felt when I read my first Stephen King novel, IT. I did not want to stop reading, yet, the tingling fear in my body being tweaked, made me hesitant to change the page. I LOVE IT!!!! I love being scared and feeling out of control and reading this book, I became so engrossed in the storyline and characters that I felt their fear, hope, amazement, and love, yes, love (c'mon, an email from an ex, feelings will rise back up after not seeing each other in a long time).
WW Mortensen wrote the book in the third person which I love, Thank You, Sir! All of you know I do not enjoy first person books and so I was so excited to see it was a third person format. The chapters are broken up into sections so the reader knows where they are in the storyline. There is no going back and forth from past to present like so many books are written today, it is a smooth transition in a unified way. For being a debut novel, the author wrote like a skilled wordsmith with no mistakes noticed in the writing format.
The characters were multi-dimensional and real to the reader which allows the reader to become emotionally invested in them and their plight they are facing. Throughout the novel, I felt the wonderful tingling anticipation for what was coming next. WW Mortensen brought the old school childhood fears people have to the forefront with a mega-twist (that's a hint for ya).
Oh my goodness, this book was a RIDE! I read it in two sittings only because I forced myself to put the book down to get some sleep for work. It has been a long time since I felt such anticipation while reading a book. It brought back memories of how I felt when I read my first Stephen King novel, IT. I did not want to stop reading, yet, the tingling fear in my body being tweaked, made me hesitant to change the page. I LOVE IT!!!! I love being scared and feeling out of control and reading this book, I became so engrossed in the storyline and characters that I felt their fear, hope, amazement, and love, yes, love (c'mon, an email from an ex, feelings will rise back up after not seeing each other in a long time).
WW Mortensen wrote the book in the third person which I love, Thank You, Sir! All of you know I do not enjoy first person books and so I was so excited to see it was a third person format. The chapters are broken up into sections so the reader knows where they are in the storyline. There is no going back and forth from past to present like so many books are written today, it is a smooth transition in a unified way. For being a debut novel, the author wrote like a skilled wordsmith with no mistakes noticed in the writing format.
The characters were multi-dimensional and real to the reader which allows the reader to become emotionally invested in them and their plight they are facing. Throughout the novel, I felt the wonderful tingling anticipation for what was coming next. WW Mortensen brought the old school childhood fears people have to the forefront with a mega-twist (that's a hint for ya).
April 21, 2017
Give me a book about people in a thick jungle filled with hidden dangers including horrific beasts and I am sold.
"Eight" by W.W. Mortensen was an enjoyable read. Rebecca Riley is an entomologist who travels to the Amazon after seeing incredible photos she has been sent. She joins a group of scientists which includes her ex partner, Ed Reardon but little does she know that there is even more to discover in the jungle and she will end up in a desperate fight for her life.
The story was fast paced from the beginning and I found the book hard to put down. The author describes the Amazon so well that I felt as if I were there too and I loved the atmosphere of the book. The only gripe I have is that there seemed to be a bit of overkill. The horrific creatures were more than enough and I found the added "bad guy" to be a bit too much for my taste. I didn't feel it was necessary and detracted from the story line. Otherwise than that, I really enjoyed reading the novel very much.
I received a copy of this book from the publishers via Netgalley for free in exchange for an honest review.
"Eight" by W.W. Mortensen was an enjoyable read. Rebecca Riley is an entomologist who travels to the Amazon after seeing incredible photos she has been sent. She joins a group of scientists which includes her ex partner, Ed Reardon but little does she know that there is even more to discover in the jungle and she will end up in a desperate fight for her life.
The story was fast paced from the beginning and I found the book hard to put down. The author describes the Amazon so well that I felt as if I were there too and I loved the atmosphere of the book. The only gripe I have is that there seemed to be a bit of overkill. The horrific creatures were more than enough and I found the added "bad guy" to be a bit too much for my taste. I didn't feel it was necessary and detracted from the story line. Otherwise than that, I really enjoyed reading the novel very much.
I received a copy of this book from the publishers via Netgalley for free in exchange for an honest review.
February 8, 2017
It’s safe to say I’m always up for an Amazon jungle adventure, and this one, going by the blurb, had a distinct James Rollins flavor to it. So I figured I’d give it a try. I thought the author did quite well sticking with genre expectations and delivering a fun adventure story set in an exotic locale. He also did his research going by the way the Amazon jungle and river environs make their presence felt like actual characters in the story. There’s plenty of suspense and danger and cloak and dagger conspiracy plots. Plenty of pulse-bounding action. Big scary spiders. Big scary lots of things, really.
The novel is a place where big ideas meet big action, for instance. The author didn’t just do his homework with respect to the Amazon jungle region, but with respect to mythological studies, pseudo-science, and actual science going on around the world that converges in such a way as to support some pretty far out ideas put forth in the novel. Original theories about Atlantis, Lemuria, and other prior ancient civilizations are proponed. It’s still some pretty wild speculation, but it’s the fun kind that usually goes a long way to powering these kinds of stories.
If you like your thrillers and travel lit to come together under one cover, you like the future and the past to intermingle, you could do a lot worse than Eight. Is the book on par with Rollins’ own work? Probably not. But it’s damn close. And if you’ve run out of Rollins books to read, or you just can’t get enough of this sub-genre of thriller, you might want to move this author and this book up your tbr list.
Note: I want to thank NetGalley for supplying a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
The novel is a place where big ideas meet big action, for instance. The author didn’t just do his homework with respect to the Amazon jungle region, but with respect to mythological studies, pseudo-science, and actual science going on around the world that converges in such a way as to support some pretty far out ideas put forth in the novel. Original theories about Atlantis, Lemuria, and other prior ancient civilizations are proponed. It’s still some pretty wild speculation, but it’s the fun kind that usually goes a long way to powering these kinds of stories.
If you like your thrillers and travel lit to come together under one cover, you like the future and the past to intermingle, you could do a lot worse than Eight. Is the book on par with Rollins’ own work? Probably not. But it’s damn close. And if you’ve run out of Rollins books to read, or you just can’t get enough of this sub-genre of thriller, you might want to move this author and this book up your tbr list.
Note: I want to thank NetGalley for supplying a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
October 14, 2025
What do a man trying to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps, an entomologist, the US Military and some drug runners have in common? Even they can’t imagine what it is. But its out there. Waiting to introduce itself.
What started out to be a race to discover a new source of energy turns into a death trap no one could have seen coming. The author really built on this, fleshing out his character’s so you form connections, dribbling in why each one would even be on this expedition, then dropping you into a tropical hell of mega proportions.
I can’t imagine too many things more terrifying than being in a tropical jungle, far from any chance of rescue, being attacked by huge…things. You get a front row seat. I live in a tropical state and can get the gist of what the stifling humidity must have been like. The swarms of mosquitoes too. But the bugs that burrow under your skin and make themselves at home? Nope. And who knows what’s out there watching you from the dark. So close and unable to be seen. Not to mention some nasty humans with their own agendas.
While the beginning of the book is all about getting there and the who’s who of the characters, just you wait. The last half of the book steamrolls with suspense and horror. Good thing I don’t get nightmares easily. Some of the scenes would have me peeking through my fingers if this were a movie..
The blurb does nothing to give away what lurks in these pages so I won’t either. Suspense, thrills and horror are the order of the day here. If that sounds like your cuppa tea, give this a go.
What started out to be a race to discover a new source of energy turns into a death trap no one could have seen coming. The author really built on this, fleshing out his character’s so you form connections, dribbling in why each one would even be on this expedition, then dropping you into a tropical hell of mega proportions.
I can’t imagine too many things more terrifying than being in a tropical jungle, far from any chance of rescue, being attacked by huge…things. You get a front row seat. I live in a tropical state and can get the gist of what the stifling humidity must have been like. The swarms of mosquitoes too. But the bugs that burrow under your skin and make themselves at home? Nope. And who knows what’s out there watching you from the dark. So close and unable to be seen. Not to mention some nasty humans with their own agendas.
While the beginning of the book is all about getting there and the who’s who of the characters, just you wait. The last half of the book steamrolls with suspense and horror. Good thing I don’t get nightmares easily. Some of the scenes would have me peeking through my fingers if this were a movie..
The blurb does nothing to give away what lurks in these pages so I won’t either. Suspense, thrills and horror are the order of the day here. If that sounds like your cuppa tea, give this a go.
February 6, 2017
I’m always confused about what genre to classify books like this one under. However, being a fan of Mathew Reilly and James Rollins I knew I had to read this one.
I’m one of those weird people who not only aren’t afraid of spiders, but I also kinda like them. And yes this book is about spiders, a fact the author takes far too long to get too. It felt like watched a tv series with breaks for ads because the picture Ed sends Rebecca are oh so secret. While I appreciate the fact that the author was trying to draw out the suspense of what the creatures are I think it could have been more skilfully done.
What I really enjoyed about this book had nothing to do with the spiders at all. It was the location, statues and the ancient buildings that really appealed to me. Also the whole idea that this ancient city might hold the answer to a renewable non exhaustible source of energy was intriguing.
What I didn’t like about this story boils down to two main things, Rebecca and the length of this book. Rebecca is supposed to be the spider expert and with whom the storyline progresses for the most part. The problem is, as a main character whose strength is supposed to be information on the new species, she’s pretty ineffectual. In fact most of the initial observations are pointed out by Jessy, Ed’s new girlfriend. On top of that, Rebecca isn’t a particularly likeable character. Every explanation she has to give is drawn out. For example when Kriedman wants to stay at camp but she thinks it’s a bad idea she says no we need to leave at least twice or thrice before finally explaining why they need to leave. The relationship between her and Ed was supposed to be complex fraught with sexual tension (I think), but really didn’t add anything to the story line and only served to make Rebecca look bad. Perhaps this would have been a far more thrilling read if told from the viewpoint of the soldiers or maybe even Ed.
This book is a whopping 500+ pages long. The problem is the constant action scenes tend to get repetitive and therefore, boring and less and less believable with every new thing thrown at the characters. Owen and Roberto’s tangent storyline added no value to the main story arc and only served to prolong the story.
The climax of the book should have revolved around finding the mysterious renewable source of energy. However while it is found (and used) I have no idea what happened to it and our main characters have to suffer through at least three more harrowing situations before finally getting out and safe. Which I think is a bit too over the top and served only to dampen my enjoyment of the whole thing. Maybe cut down on the extraneous impossibilities in this book and reduce the number of pages by 200.
This last point isn’t really a problem per se, but I do think this book would be better served if it had maps of where all the action was taking place so people can better picture what’s going on where.
It was just an alright read for me.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
I’m one of those weird people who not only aren’t afraid of spiders, but I also kinda like them. And yes this book is about spiders, a fact the author takes far too long to get too. It felt like watched a tv series with breaks for ads because the picture Ed sends Rebecca are oh so secret. While I appreciate the fact that the author was trying to draw out the suspense of what the creatures are I think it could have been more skilfully done.
What I really enjoyed about this book had nothing to do with the spiders at all. It was the location, statues and the ancient buildings that really appealed to me. Also the whole idea that this ancient city might hold the answer to a renewable non exhaustible source of energy was intriguing.
What I didn’t like about this story boils down to two main things, Rebecca and the length of this book. Rebecca is supposed to be the spider expert and with whom the storyline progresses for the most part. The problem is, as a main character whose strength is supposed to be information on the new species, she’s pretty ineffectual. In fact most of the initial observations are pointed out by Jessy, Ed’s new girlfriend. On top of that, Rebecca isn’t a particularly likeable character. Every explanation she has to give is drawn out. For example when Kriedman wants to stay at camp but she thinks it’s a bad idea she says no we need to leave at least twice or thrice before finally explaining why they need to leave. The relationship between her and Ed was supposed to be complex fraught with sexual tension (I think), but really didn’t add anything to the story line and only served to make Rebecca look bad. Perhaps this would have been a far more thrilling read if told from the viewpoint of the soldiers or maybe even Ed.
This book is a whopping 500+ pages long. The problem is the constant action scenes tend to get repetitive and therefore, boring and less and less believable with every new thing thrown at the characters. Owen and Roberto’s tangent storyline added no value to the main story arc and only served to prolong the story.
The climax of the book should have revolved around finding the mysterious renewable source of energy. However while it is found (and used) I have no idea what happened to it and our main characters have to suffer through at least three more harrowing situations before finally getting out and safe. Which I think is a bit too over the top and served only to dampen my enjoyment of the whole thing. Maybe cut down on the extraneous impossibilities in this book and reduce the number of pages by 200.
This last point isn’t really a problem per se, but I do think this book would be better served if it had maps of where all the action was taking place so people can better picture what’s going on where.
It was just an alright read for me.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
March 8, 2022
TERROR HAS A NEW SPECIES
Deep in the Amazon, the solution to the global energy crisis has been found; a mysterious source of power set to end our dependency on oil.
When she receives stunning photographs related to the discovery – courtesy of expedition leader and former partner, Ed Reardon – entomologist Rebecca Riley finds herself on the next flight to Brazil, heading down to join the team of scientists assembling there. She hasn’t seen Ed for more than a year, and their relationship hadn’t ended well.
But his revelation is impossible to ignore.
What she and Ed uncover is beyond imagination: strange statues in the jungle… a ruined city built by the refugees of a lost Pacific continent… and a terrifying new species of animal.
Forced to confront a crippling childhood phobia she’d thought long dead and buried, Rebecca realises this new species is no ordinary enemy.
It is an ancient enemy, one whose very existence has implications for all of humankind… and the planet itself.
What did I think:
My rating: 5
OMG this book was and is a great read, it had me hooked from the very start to the very end, as well as sitting on the edge of my bed, so glad that I picked it up, and as soon. I can I'm picking up a copy to add to my library. Once again thinks NetGalley for helping me find a new book as well as a new author to check out, all so I would like to say I was giving a chance at reading it in a change for my honest opinion and this is 100 % my honest opinion,also on a side note don't pick this up if you want to sleep a night.
Deep in the Amazon, the solution to the global energy crisis has been found; a mysterious source of power set to end our dependency on oil.
When she receives stunning photographs related to the discovery – courtesy of expedition leader and former partner, Ed Reardon – entomologist Rebecca Riley finds herself on the next flight to Brazil, heading down to join the team of scientists assembling there. She hasn’t seen Ed for more than a year, and their relationship hadn’t ended well.
But his revelation is impossible to ignore.
What she and Ed uncover is beyond imagination: strange statues in the jungle… a ruined city built by the refugees of a lost Pacific continent… and a terrifying new species of animal.
Forced to confront a crippling childhood phobia she’d thought long dead and buried, Rebecca realises this new species is no ordinary enemy.
It is an ancient enemy, one whose very existence has implications for all of humankind… and the planet itself.
What did I think:
My rating: 5
OMG this book was and is a great read, it had me hooked from the very start to the very end, as well as sitting on the edge of my bed, so glad that I picked it up, and as soon. I can I'm picking up a copy to add to my library. Once again thinks NetGalley for helping me find a new book as well as a new author to check out, all so I would like to say I was giving a chance at reading it in a change for my honest opinion and this is 100 % my honest opinion,also on a side note don't pick this up if you want to sleep a night.
August 24, 2017
This was SUCH a fun read. I was in the mood for a bit of a sci-fi story but nothing too fantasy/"space'y" driven - this was just what I was looking for. I love that this is set in the Amazon - an extremely creepy environment in its own right. While it does feel like a long book, and you don't think there is any way possible for these characters to survive their many, many predicaments, the book somehow manages to keep a relentlessly fast and exciting pace. One thing I was disappointed in was a handful of unanswered questions... does this mean a sequel, perhaps?
Without giving away what "IT" is, I can definitely say it gave me real nightmares!
Thank you Netgalley for my advance copy!!
Without giving away what "IT" is, I can definitely say it gave me real nightmares!
Thank you Netgalley for my advance copy!!
December 30, 2021
The first thing I would say is that if you are an arachnophobe, you may want to think twice before reading this book.
This is an adventure novel, set in the Amazon jungle, and it has the pacing and story elements of an Indiana Jones movie. It does require a big chunk of suspension of disbelief, as our heroes survive ever-increasingly over-the-top scenarios. If you're happy to switch off the critical thinking part of your brain, this book is a lot of fun.
This is an adventure novel, set in the Amazon jungle, and it has the pacing and story elements of an Indiana Jones movie. It does require a big chunk of suspension of disbelief, as our heroes survive ever-increasingly over-the-top scenarios. If you're happy to switch off the critical thinking part of your brain, this book is a lot of fun.
August 4, 2017
Spiders!!!
Now I have your attention I will try and draw you into this this action packed book!
Ed Reardon is obsessed, he's spent his life following in his grandfathers footsteps, searching for something in the Amazon, something that will justify his grandfathers work and will bring him some sort of peace. As he moves further into the Amazon he comes across something that puzzles and intrigues him, something that he needs to talk to his ex about, entomologist Rebecca Riley, something with eight legs and bigger than she's seen before!
This is a spider filled, action packed and 'Congo' reminiscent book and one I thoroughly enjoyed!
We have the spiders, the humour, the action, the tension and the hope for a sequel as we run along head first into it all.
You take each step with these characters, curling up with them in their tents at night, walking through streams, climbing walls and watching the spiders as they protect their home.
I love books about spiders and am extremely lucky that I managed to be approved for this. I am throughly hooked and wait patiently for anymore books the author chooses to write!
*Huge thanks to W.W. Mortensen and NetGalley for this copy which I chose to read and all opinions are my own *
Now I have your attention I will try and draw you into this this action packed book!
Ed Reardon is obsessed, he's spent his life following in his grandfathers footsteps, searching for something in the Amazon, something that will justify his grandfathers work and will bring him some sort of peace. As he moves further into the Amazon he comes across something that puzzles and intrigues him, something that he needs to talk to his ex about, entomologist Rebecca Riley, something with eight legs and bigger than she's seen before!
This is a spider filled, action packed and 'Congo' reminiscent book and one I thoroughly enjoyed!
We have the spiders, the humour, the action, the tension and the hope for a sequel as we run along head first into it all.
You take each step with these characters, curling up with them in their tents at night, walking through streams, climbing walls and watching the spiders as they protect their home.
I love books about spiders and am extremely lucky that I managed to be approved for this. I am throughly hooked and wait patiently for anymore books the author chooses to write!
*Huge thanks to W.W. Mortensen and NetGalley for this copy which I chose to read and all opinions are my own *
July 23, 2017
Eight had me from the first plane ride until the final crash landing...
There's a lot of things to love--and squeal over--in this book. The tension of lost romance and non-stop action lulls you into safety right before the featured creatures knock you out cold. Bodies fly apart, world-views get tossed upside down, and indigenous peoples team up with crazy making arachnids--making this a great summer read.
Mortensen does a great job of infusing lots of fun facts into his story world. I learned more than I thought I'd be interested in about the Amazon and its inhabitants. His descriptions made me feel like I was wearing a pair of 3D Google glasses. He masterfully mixed his imaginary monsters and dangerous real-life Amazonian animals with reckless abandon--all the more fun for the reader.
I rated it a four instead of a five as I thought the book could be condensed and could be a bit tighter overall.
This book should definitely be made into a movie. I really enjoyed the read--and I'll be watching for the sequel.
There's a lot of things to love--and squeal over--in this book. The tension of lost romance and non-stop action lulls you into safety right before the featured creatures knock you out cold. Bodies fly apart, world-views get tossed upside down, and indigenous peoples team up with crazy making arachnids--making this a great summer read.
Mortensen does a great job of infusing lots of fun facts into his story world. I learned more than I thought I'd be interested in about the Amazon and its inhabitants. His descriptions made me feel like I was wearing a pair of 3D Google glasses. He masterfully mixed his imaginary monsters and dangerous real-life Amazonian animals with reckless abandon--all the more fun for the reader.
I rated it a four instead of a five as I thought the book could be condensed and could be a bit tighter overall.
This book should definitely be made into a movie. I really enjoyed the read--and I'll be watching for the sequel.
February 3, 2017
EIGHT is the debut novel of WW Mortensen, and is very much in a similar vein as much of the work of his fellow Ozzie, Greig Beck. At over 550 pages (I read my copy on the iPad so Im not really sure of the page count), it is plenty long enough to sink one's teeth into. I enjoyed it very much, in the same way as a top-notch "B" movie thriller (for which it could actually be perfectly adapted).
Entomologist/Arachnologist Rebecca Riley is summoned to a deep uncharted region of the Amazon by her ex-lover Ed Reardon when he sends her series of stunning pictures. Problems start on the river and don't quit until the end of this fast paced novel. Once Becca arrives and finds Ed, his undergrad girlfriend Jessy and the rest of the team, the real trek just begins. There are plenty of twists and turns and the novel turns into a sort of "Indiana Jones and the Spiders from Mars", except that the part of Indie is split between Becca, Ed, and a few other characters. This one has little bits of everything but Nazis and vampires. Lost ancient civilizations, Easter Island, ancient super technology, pyramids, drug runners, helicopters and of course the eponymous EIGHT, standing for the number of legs define arachnids. But these arachnids are like nothing Becca or anyone has seen before. These spiders are BIG!
The biology of the spiders is described in horrifyingly specific detail, as are the other dangers (aplenty) in the jungle and the river. There are death defying feats of bravery, cowardice, betrayal, and twists and turns galore. The writing is a little better than OK - there are no horrifying blunders, but it could be better. And I think Mortensen will improve as he keeps writing. As with many indie publications, there are some failures of editing and proofreading (but not too many and fewer than average). But of course the main thing is the plot, and that is first rate. At its advertised length, one might think that there should be a lot of fat to cut but I enjoyed every page and twist and turn, laughing with delight at a few of the big reveals.
Recommended.
JM Tepper
Entomologist/Arachnologist Rebecca Riley is summoned to a deep uncharted region of the Amazon by her ex-lover Ed Reardon when he sends her series of stunning pictures. Problems start on the river and don't quit until the end of this fast paced novel. Once Becca arrives and finds Ed, his undergrad girlfriend Jessy and the rest of the team, the real trek just begins. There are plenty of twists and turns and the novel turns into a sort of "Indiana Jones and the Spiders from Mars", except that the part of Indie is split between Becca, Ed, and a few other characters. This one has little bits of everything but Nazis and vampires. Lost ancient civilizations, Easter Island, ancient super technology, pyramids, drug runners, helicopters and of course the eponymous EIGHT, standing for the number of legs define arachnids. But these arachnids are like nothing Becca or anyone has seen before. These spiders are BIG!
The biology of the spiders is described in horrifyingly specific detail, as are the other dangers (aplenty) in the jungle and the river. There are death defying feats of bravery, cowardice, betrayal, and twists and turns galore. The writing is a little better than OK - there are no horrifying blunders, but it could be better. And I think Mortensen will improve as he keeps writing. As with many indie publications, there are some failures of editing and proofreading (but not too many and fewer than average). But of course the main thing is the plot, and that is first rate. At its advertised length, one might think that there should be a lot of fat to cut but I enjoyed every page and twist and turn, laughing with delight at a few of the big reveals.
Recommended.
JM Tepper
September 13, 2017
A thrilling action adventure, featuring giant spiders inhabiting inaccessible parts of the Amazon jungle, along with a group of scientists, adventurers and military types. There are quite a few highly unlikely cliff hangers and escape sequences, but this is only to be expected and adds to the enjoyment. Just suspend belief, it's interesting and entertaining. The book is well written and has been proof read.
December 24, 2017
This book would make a great horror/archaeology movie. Kept me clued to my kindle wondering how in the world they were going to get out of this mess alive. This is not for the faint of heart to read, especially if you have a problem with spiders. Very fast-paced, especially the last half. The only problem I had was with the characters, I really didn't like them or dislike them except for De Sousa. They struck me as being immature and selfish, but I was glad they survived.
I received this from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review.
I received this from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review.
November 11, 2018
It started out strong, and for someone with a fear of spiders I was willing to see where it went. Unfortunately, it just led to disappointment. The climax of the book went on for an incredibly long time. One of the major plot points didn’t lead anywhere, and the last half of the book ended on a fizzle. Also, so many cliffhangers. Like I get that you put a cliffhanger in so that I keep reading, but a cliffhanger at the end of every chapter? At the end of almost every paragraph? Just a tad over the top.
February 18, 2018
Started ok, but the last 30% was completely over the top
The over the top action in last last third of the book spoilt it.
Repeated sentences such as "and that was when he saw it" followed by a spider the size of a bus.
I think less is more, like in the movie jaws. No need for this amount of continuous unrealistic chaos. Again, the first half was engaging enough.
The over the top action in last last third of the book spoilt it.
Repeated sentences such as "and that was when he saw it" followed by a spider the size of a bus.
I think less is more, like in the movie jaws. No need for this amount of continuous unrealistic chaos. Again, the first half was engaging enough.
July 28, 2018
Much too long. Jumped around endlessly.
I couldn't wait until this book ended. I almost put it aside more than once.
The storyline was positively FULL of "0h no!" situations ... so much so that surviving each & every one of them was unrealistic; bordering on cartoonish.
I couldn't wait until this book ended. I almost put it aside more than once.
The storyline was positively FULL of "0h no!" situations ... so much so that surviving each & every one of them was unrealistic; bordering on cartoonish.
March 1, 2023
Some quotes from this book:
"Flash. Bang."
"Shit!"
"SHIT!"
My only conceivable comment:
Ugh.
"Flash. Bang."
"Shit!"
"SHIT!"
My only conceivable comment:
Ugh.
March 15, 2022
Back in the early 1900s there were stories circulating asbout a lost city in the amazon that had lots of gold and some amazing technology. Henry Reardon went looking for this city but never found it. He spun lots of stories to his grandson Ed Reardon who grew up being very determined to find this lost city. So now Ed is in the Amazon searching for this lost city and he has sent his ex-wife Rebecca some photos.
Ed and his team have come across a very large spider and he sent some photos to his ex-wife Bec. He did not specifically ask her to come down - he just sent her some photos - knowing that she could not resist a possible new find. So Bec chose of her own accord to go down to the Amazon to investigate.
Base camp is somewhere west of Leticia which is a (real) town in Southern Columbia. Leticia is Columbia's only known access to the Amazon river. It is also situated right on the border of Northern Brazil and NE Peru.
The land west of Leticia is mostly Native Indigenous protected territory under FUNAI protection and located in the foothills of the Andes.
When Bec arrives at the base camp they show her the dead spider they found. She does an info dump and theorizes just why and how they can grown so large. This dead spider had a body the size of a watermelon and legs as much as 8 inches long. Bec is interested in the predator-prey dynamics. She knows how spiders hunt and attack.
The team leaves 2 men back at base camp to look after things. As the main team walk into the foothills of the Andes, they begin to find unusual looking statues - that look exactly like the Moai statues from Easter Island (aka Rapanui). Bec floats a theory that perhaps the moai come from the lost continent of mu, said to have sunk beneath the pacific ocean. But perhaps some of the survives paddled to the west and crossed over peru, climbed the mountains and settled into the amazon valley on the jungle side of the mountains. This is of course just a hypothesis, an idea.
From Base Camp they head to Advanced Site 1 and then to Advanced Site 2. From there they eventually find the lost city. It is located in a depression with a temple in the centre sticking up. The stone walls of the city have long since crumbled and fallen into disarray. There is just one problem. The entire depression and city is covered by a huge silk web - almost like a spiders web. Slowly one by one team members start going missing.
Back at the base camp, the 2 men left behind are captured by an unknown Native tribe who force them to be dropped down pits that open up into what they eventually discover is part of a spiders nest.
And to make things interesting, a pirate team is also in the area to recover $8 million worth of diamonds that was stolen from them and tracked to the same area.
So with 3 Points of view - Bec's team, the pirate team and the 2 man team from base camp, we get stories of battles with these huge spiders and what happens when they get to the central nest. And also what happens after.
This book had 119 chapters. Some were pretty short, but most were of medium length. I felt that the story was great up until the team arrived at the lost city, discovered its secrets and escaped the huge spiders. But I was too drained and tired to read about more battles as they fought their way back to base camp. That's when I technically stopped reading - at chap 97.
But I skipped ahead to see if anyone survived - yes 5 of the original 8 team members survived, and none of the pirates.
If you think you can handle large spiders, you may enjoy this thriller. Sadly I have to call this a horror story!! I hate large spiders.
I give this 3 stars. The writing is good, but it went on for perhaps several chapters too long.
PS The title Eight probably refers to the 8 Eyes that these spiders have!!
Ed and his team have come across a very large spider and he sent some photos to his ex-wife Bec. He did not specifically ask her to come down - he just sent her some photos - knowing that she could not resist a possible new find. So Bec chose of her own accord to go down to the Amazon to investigate.
Base camp is somewhere west of Leticia which is a (real) town in Southern Columbia. Leticia is Columbia's only known access to the Amazon river. It is also situated right on the border of Northern Brazil and NE Peru.
The land west of Leticia is mostly Native Indigenous protected territory under FUNAI protection and located in the foothills of the Andes.
When Bec arrives at the base camp they show her the dead spider they found. She does an info dump and theorizes just why and how they can grown so large. This dead spider had a body the size of a watermelon and legs as much as 8 inches long. Bec is interested in the predator-prey dynamics. She knows how spiders hunt and attack.
The team leaves 2 men back at base camp to look after things. As the main team walk into the foothills of the Andes, they begin to find unusual looking statues - that look exactly like the Moai statues from Easter Island (aka Rapanui). Bec floats a theory that perhaps the moai come from the lost continent of mu, said to have sunk beneath the pacific ocean. But perhaps some of the survives paddled to the west and crossed over peru, climbed the mountains and settled into the amazon valley on the jungle side of the mountains. This is of course just a hypothesis, an idea.
From Base Camp they head to Advanced Site 1 and then to Advanced Site 2. From there they eventually find the lost city. It is located in a depression with a temple in the centre sticking up. The stone walls of the city have long since crumbled and fallen into disarray. There is just one problem. The entire depression and city is covered by a huge silk web - almost like a spiders web. Slowly one by one team members start going missing.
Back at the base camp, the 2 men left behind are captured by an unknown Native tribe who force them to be dropped down pits that open up into what they eventually discover is part of a spiders nest.
And to make things interesting, a pirate team is also in the area to recover $8 million worth of diamonds that was stolen from them and tracked to the same area.
So with 3 Points of view - Bec's team, the pirate team and the 2 man team from base camp, we get stories of battles with these huge spiders and what happens when they get to the central nest. And also what happens after.
This book had 119 chapters. Some were pretty short, but most were of medium length. I felt that the story was great up until the team arrived at the lost city, discovered its secrets and escaped the huge spiders. But I was too drained and tired to read about more battles as they fought their way back to base camp. That's when I technically stopped reading - at chap 97.
But I skipped ahead to see if anyone survived - yes 5 of the original 8 team members survived, and none of the pirates.
If you think you can handle large spiders, you may enjoy this thriller. Sadly I have to call this a horror story!! I hate large spiders.
I give this 3 stars. The writing is good, but it went on for perhaps several chapters too long.
PS The title Eight probably refers to the 8 Eyes that these spiders have!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 22, 2017
As a long time fan of horror and paranormal, it’s not surprising the blurb grabbed my attention. An ancient ruined city that shouldn’t exist? Check. Isolated jungle location? Check. Cryptic references to a mysterious and terrifying new species? Double-check. By any measure, this book was tailor-made for me. I went in with high hopes and for the most part, came out the other side with few disappointments.
One of the biggest strengths to the story was the level of detail in the scientific explanation behind the absolute shit ton of crazy stuff happening throughout this story. The minutiae got a little tricky to follow every so often but it provided an element of plausibility that allowed the reader to suspend disbelief and simply enjoy the ride.
Mortensen also had a knack for ending chapters in mini cliffhangers or mysteries that often kept me reading well past my normal bedtime. Here’s an excerpt from the beginning that left me thinking “Oh yeah, I’m in. Sign me up.”
"Pistol in hand, he managed to force the door open and peer out.
Despite expectations, nothing could have prepared him for what lay beyond.
‘Meu Deus…’ he whispered, crossing himself.
My God.
At that moment, he sensed a presence in the shattered window beside Maria. She didn’t get the chance to scream. Nor did he.
Outside, the scurrying became more frantic, thunderous above the drumming rain."
As always, I do have a few small things that bothered me ever so slightly and feel an obligation to point out:
1. The majority of the action didn’t really start until the main characters arrived at the central location in the story. In my opinion, it took a little too long to get there. Up until that point, the story was moving like the Chrysler K-Car I drove in college. You get where you want to go but it takes longer than it should.
2. In some places, there was a little bit of the classic “telling instead of showing” that got a teensy bit tedious.
3. The number of improbably narrow escapes was a little too high for my taste. I can buy a few but these people were pulling MacGyvers over and over. There might have been a few eye rolls involved. Just sayin’.
Despite these nitpicky issues, I honestly enjoyed this book overall. The idea is original and the plot’s complexity keeps things interesting all the way through. Once the pace picks up, the story becomes a wild roller coaster-ride-from-hell that keeps you guessing to the very end. If you’re looking for something outside the run-of-the-mill horror genre you could do much worse than Eight.
One of the biggest strengths to the story was the level of detail in the scientific explanation behind the absolute shit ton of crazy stuff happening throughout this story. The minutiae got a little tricky to follow every so often but it provided an element of plausibility that allowed the reader to suspend disbelief and simply enjoy the ride.
Mortensen also had a knack for ending chapters in mini cliffhangers or mysteries that often kept me reading well past my normal bedtime. Here’s an excerpt from the beginning that left me thinking “Oh yeah, I’m in. Sign me up.”
"Pistol in hand, he managed to force the door open and peer out.
Despite expectations, nothing could have prepared him for what lay beyond.
‘Meu Deus…’ he whispered, crossing himself.
My God.
At that moment, he sensed a presence in the shattered window beside Maria. She didn’t get the chance to scream. Nor did he.
Outside, the scurrying became more frantic, thunderous above the drumming rain."
As always, I do have a few small things that bothered me ever so slightly and feel an obligation to point out:
1. The majority of the action didn’t really start until the main characters arrived at the central location in the story. In my opinion, it took a little too long to get there. Up until that point, the story was moving like the Chrysler K-Car I drove in college. You get where you want to go but it takes longer than it should.
2. In some places, there was a little bit of the classic “telling instead of showing” that got a teensy bit tedious.
3. The number of improbably narrow escapes was a little too high for my taste. I can buy a few but these people were pulling MacGyvers over and over. There might have been a few eye rolls involved. Just sayin’.
Despite these nitpicky issues, I honestly enjoyed this book overall. The idea is original and the plot’s complexity keeps things interesting all the way through. Once the pace picks up, the story becomes a wild roller coaster-ride-from-hell that keeps you guessing to the very end. If you’re looking for something outside the run-of-the-mill horror genre you could do much worse than Eight.
August 8, 2017
received this book months ago from Netgalley. Then I realized it was over 550 pages and the Prologue did not "grab" my attention. I kept it on my Kindle and was often reminded that I needed to read this book. Two days ago I re-started and this time I was engrossed in the story. The first 50% of the book was interesting and kept me reading at a usual pace. The second half was an intense, edge of the seat, non-stop drama reading rate. This book read like an exciting adventure movie. You have the build up and then POW you are hit with the action you have been building up for. We follow Rebecca as she ventures off to the Amazon to meet her ex-boyfriend, who has made a huge discovery in both of their fields of study. This adventure leads them right into the middle of a spider species (hence the title, Eight) no one has ever encountered or at least never lived to tell about the encounter. There is a side adventure story of Owen and Sanchez which keeps you wondering why they cannot catch a break. And of course, we have a cute and cuddle monkey whose life we worry about along the way also. When I see a book is 500+ pages, I often wonder if it really needs to be that long, looking back, yes would be my answer in this case. I am so glad I kept this on my Kindle constantly reminding me of its existence. I am giving this a definite 4 star review. In fairness, I hardly rate books a 5 star. Kudos, Mr. Mortensen you sure know how to end a book with a bang!
January 8, 2017
This book is awesome!! When I started it, I didn't exactly know what to expect or what I was getting into. I rarely read the synopsis for books. I love the surprise and mystery. To say I'm arachnophobic is an understatement, but this book was one I simply could not stop reading! I HAD to figure out what was really going on. When I couldn't read, I'd think about what I had read and still be in "book mind" frame. I just finished it and I have to say it was a phenomenal journey and I was part of the group every step of the way! I do hope that Mr. Mortensen will continue with this story. The Epilogue left me wanting more. I would highly recommend this book to everyone, even arachnophobes like me. In one word... Fantastic!
July 25, 2017
Sci-Fi
Well, I don't remember how far I was into this read when someone said, "Oh, that's sci-fi." I didn't realize that was the case. Reading along, I'd enjoyed the adventure, the characters and the web that was being developed that connected them. Everything for the most part seemed plausible . . .
Obviously, there are things in the water(s) and deep jungle that we have yet to discover, so, the door is open -- allow your mind to be receptive and author with a vivid imagination and prepared with adequate research to embellish with enough detail to make it believable and the blank slate can become a reality for a little. A pause to think 'what if, the realm of possibility'.
Enough 'sci-fi' for me for awhile . . .
Well, I don't remember how far I was into this read when someone said, "Oh, that's sci-fi." I didn't realize that was the case. Reading along, I'd enjoyed the adventure, the characters and the web that was being developed that connected them. Everything for the most part seemed plausible . . .
Obviously, there are things in the water(s) and deep jungle that we have yet to discover, so, the door is open -- allow your mind to be receptive and author with a vivid imagination and prepared with adequate research to embellish with enough detail to make it believable and the blank slate can become a reality for a little. A pause to think 'what if, the realm of possibility'.
Enough 'sci-fi' for me for awhile . . .
June 7, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is a long one. Started out with a light plane crash which had two people aboard. Thought it was going to be a survivor-type book. Then a man "Ed"in search of a lost archaeology site joins the story. Ed's team as they are going through the jungle have a spider jump them. The spider's body was a foot long (not including the legs). He kills the spider and sends pictures to a scientist whose field is arachnids. Scientist sees the photos and joins the team and discovers the spider is just a baby. From there on the story takes off adding more and more events.
September 5, 2023
To say that this novel is one of non-stop action would be very much understating the situation. The intensity of the action never stops. At times. I thought it could use a little Shakespearean comic relief! And the author crams every fanciful theme possibility into one novel that he can. Lost tribes in the Amazon, lost treasure in the Amazon, extraterrestrial influences in the Amazon. And that doesn't include all the scary creatures imaginable such as spiders, spiders and more spiders, sharks, and anacondas. I'm sure I'm missing a few. Nonetheless, it is gripping and keeps one addictively reading to see how it's all going to play out in the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 18, 2018
Mortensen takes readers on an amazing adventure into the dark and foreboding Amazon jungle, where treasure-hunter Ed Reardon and entomologist Rebecca Riley discover a giant pyramid and lost city. Of course, there is more than meets the eye – an unknown energy source, giant spiders, diamond smugglers, murderous natives and much more. At some point, the reader will ask: How much more pain and agony can these explorers endure? Nonetheless, it’s a nail-biter with more than 140 short chapters that entice you to read one more before turning off the light for the night.
June 29, 2019
I am enjoyed the book, it was fast paced and interesting, the characters likeable and fairly well developed.
At 80 percent read, unfortunately ,it gets stupid, with a bad guy that wasn’t needed, thwarted the story and was a real disappointment.
At 90% red the monsters get ridiculous as the bad guy gets to become the focal point.
The epilogue sucked.
I gave it 3 stars because it was still a mediocre read. Had he left the bad guy out and stuck with non aquatic monsters, it would have been a 4.
At 80 percent read, unfortunately ,it gets stupid, with a bad guy that wasn’t needed, thwarted the story and was a real disappointment.
At 90% red the monsters get ridiculous as the bad guy gets to become the focal point.
The epilogue sucked.
I gave it 3 stars because it was still a mediocre read. Had he left the bad guy out and stuck with non aquatic monsters, it would have been a 4.
October 10, 2023
I was intrigued by the setting of this book as much as anything as I just returned from hiking the Inca Trail and spending time in the Amazon. Spiders are always a good subject for a horror story too. At times, this novel was very exciting and was capable of keeping me on the edge of the seat. But, it was far too long. After a while, the sort chapters became a bit tedious, as the action felt as though it was repeating. To be honest, I found myself rooting for the spiders. But for anyone with arachnophobia, it is a fun read.
May 16, 2024
Classic creature thriller.
Easy five stars. After an interesting but slow start, once the action starts it becomes relentless and utterly compelling. Chapters are short and often end in a cliffhanger fashion making you want to read further. The main characters are well drawn and likeable so you become invested in willing them to survive. The main plot revolves around a downed sea plane which has a valuabe cargo aboard. Set in the Amazon rainforest this book is a must read for horror creature thriller fans. If you follow James Rollins you will love this thrill ride.
Easy five stars. After an interesting but slow start, once the action starts it becomes relentless and utterly compelling. Chapters are short and often end in a cliffhanger fashion making you want to read further. The main characters are well drawn and likeable so you become invested in willing them to survive. The main plot revolves around a downed sea plane which has a valuabe cargo aboard. Set in the Amazon rainforest this book is a must read for horror creature thriller fans. If you follow James Rollins you will love this thrill ride.
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