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Savage #2
Monstrous
The city of Boston isn’t prepared for the coming storm in this sequel to the “unpredictable” ( VOYA ) and “fast-paced” ( School Library Journal ) Savage from New York Times bestselling author Thomas E. Sniegoski.
Sidney and her friends have survived the storm that came to the small island of Benediction, bringing with it almost unimaginable darkness and horror. But now the storm has reached Boston. The terror continues as Sidney and her friends work to protect the city from the newly crazed rampage of animals and try to figure out the origins of the storm and its power.
Boston isn’t prepared for what’s coming in this suspenseful sequel to Savage from New York Times bestselling author Thomas E. Sniegoski.
Sidney and her friends have survived the storm that came to the small island of Benediction, bringing with it almost unimaginable darkness and horror. But now the storm has reached Boston. The terror continues as Sidney and her friends work to protect the city from the newly crazed rampage of animals and try to figure out the origins of the storm and its power.
Boston isn’t prepared for what’s coming in this suspenseful sequel to Savage from New York Times bestselling author Thomas E. Sniegoski.
448 pages, Paperback
First published May 30, 2017
7 people are currently reading
181 people want to read
About the author
Thomas E. Sniegoski
281 books1,105 followersThomas E. Sniegoski, often credited as Tom Sniegoski is the author of more than two dozen novels for adults, teens, and children. His teen fantasy YA series Fallen was adapted into a trilogy of monstrously successful TV movies by ABC Family Channel. His other books for teens include Sleeper Code, Sleeper Agenda, and Force Majeure, as well as the upcoming series The Brimstone Network. The author's first adult novel, A Kiss Before the Apocalypse, hit the shelves in 2008, with its sequel, Dancing on the Head of a Pin to be released in 2009.
Sniegoski's work for younger readers includes Billy Hooten: Owlboy, and the fantasy quartet OutCast, which he co-authored with Christopher Golden. OutCast is in development as a film at Universal. Sniegoski and Golden have also collaborated on the adult dark fantasy series The Menagerie, and multiple creator-owned comic book series, including The Sisterhood, which is being prepped for a feature film by InterMedia, and Talent, currently in development at Universal after a major bidding war.
As a comic book writer, Sniegoski's work includes Stupid, Stupid Rat Tails, a prequel miniseries to international hit, Bone. Sniegoski collaborated with Bone creator Jeff Smith on the prequel, making him the only writer Smith has ever asked to work on those characters. Sniegoski and Golden also wrote the graphic novel BPRD: Hollow Earth, a spinoff from Hellboy.
Sniegoski was born and raised in Massachusetts, where he still lives with his wife LeeAnne and their Labrador Retriever, Mulder. Tom recently completed the new young adult novel, Legacy, which is set to be released in October of 2009.
Sniegoski's work for younger readers includes Billy Hooten: Owlboy, and the fantasy quartet OutCast, which he co-authored with Christopher Golden. OutCast is in development as a film at Universal. Sniegoski and Golden have also collaborated on the adult dark fantasy series The Menagerie, and multiple creator-owned comic book series, including The Sisterhood, which is being prepped for a feature film by InterMedia, and Talent, currently in development at Universal after a major bidding war.
As a comic book writer, Sniegoski's work includes Stupid, Stupid Rat Tails, a prequel miniseries to international hit, Bone. Sniegoski collaborated with Bone creator Jeff Smith on the prequel, making him the only writer Smith has ever asked to work on those characters. Sniegoski and Golden also wrote the graphic novel BPRD: Hollow Earth, a spinoff from Hellboy.
Sniegoski was born and raised in Massachusetts, where he still lives with his wife LeeAnne and their Labrador Retriever, Mulder. Tom recently completed the new young adult novel, Legacy, which is set to be released in October of 2009.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
June 16, 2017
MONSTROUS is an enjoyable, fast read with lots of action, evil alien invaders, likable characters and a charming dog. Hope Mr. Sniegoski will continue this Y/A series!
September 13, 2020
2019
Sidney and Company make it off their little island and onto Boston, where the big storm continues to rage.
There is an entirely new company of survivors that we get to meet, some greet, and watch some die.
Sidney has realized that the storm (or the Silver Eye Infection Alien Thing) views her as a threat and she is determined to make their worries a reality.
Sidney and Company make it off their little island and onto Boston, where the big storm continues to rage.
There is an entirely new company of survivors that we get to meet, some greet, and watch some die.
Sidney has realized that the storm (or the Silver Eye Infection Alien Thing) views her as a threat and she is determined to make their worries a reality.
August 28, 2017
2.5 stars
As much as I loved the first one, this one really lost the plot for me :c
As much as I loved the first one, this one really lost the plot for me :c
March 20, 2024
Monstrous is the sequel to Savage, a YA sci-fi horror thriller of when humans face against an animal apocalypse. Sidney Moore could not believe that she and her few friends had managed to reach safety when her island home becomes the starting point of the animal attacks. She found the source, and was thought to have extinguished the alien lifeform behind it all. But she was wrong. In Boston, Delilah, a nurse, notices something strange when her handicapped patients starts to assault the hospital staff. And then a similar animal uprising begins on the civilians. Realizing the danger that is starting on the mainland, Sidney volunteers to go with a small crew to Boston, along with her allies to put a stop to this monstrosity.
While Savage had somewhat wooden characters, the plot was a interesting in a classic man vs nature scenario. Monstrous continues that with the same formula. Sidney is still the lead, but there is more focus on the supporting characters which becomes a higher count here than previously. Although there is some extra focus, the character depth doesn't go too much. Delilah serves as perspective of what was happening in Boston while Sidney and her crew attempted to make their way by the end. The story is also similarly more plot-driven, which is not bad, as the deranged wildlife becomes much more aggressive here than in the first book. There is also some more background on the alien lifeform here and how it came to Earth. The pacing is relatively balanced between breathers, emotional moments, and action scenes. However, I did not like how the last few pages seems to do a mind screw with us. Without giving into spoilers, it appears Sniegoski was unsure what would be the best ending to use, so he goes by giving both a twist and an ambiguous ending.
It really felt like there was a big setup to what was going on, and the ending didn't answer a lot of the threads that were both started here and in Savage. What were the aliens doing? How did Sidney recover herself? What is the connection with Isaac, the special needs boy? What was the outcome for the rest of those who made it to the ending? There were a lot of questions going on, that the epilogue seems to imply a continuation. Although, as of writing this review, a third book has yet to be published, and very unlikely to continue. It does feel like a twist that the author wanted to confuse us with, but the sloppy execution just left me perplexed. I did like Sniegoski's writing style, a fact that shows in his other books I've read, but if he had one kind of ending, it would have left me give a better rating that what I ended up with. It's still a good war against nature with a heavy touch of horror and sci-fi, if only you don't take the confusing last pages too much to heart.
While Savage had somewhat wooden characters, the plot was a interesting in a classic man vs nature scenario. Monstrous continues that with the same formula. Sidney is still the lead, but there is more focus on the supporting characters which becomes a higher count here than previously. Although there is some extra focus, the character depth doesn't go too much. Delilah serves as perspective of what was happening in Boston while Sidney and her crew attempted to make their way by the end. The story is also similarly more plot-driven, which is not bad, as the deranged wildlife becomes much more aggressive here than in the first book. There is also some more background on the alien lifeform here and how it came to Earth. The pacing is relatively balanced between breathers, emotional moments, and action scenes. However, I did not like how the last few pages seems to do a mind screw with us. Without giving into spoilers, it appears Sniegoski was unsure what would be the best ending to use, so he goes by giving both a twist and an ambiguous ending.
It really felt like there was a big setup to what was going on, and the ending didn't answer a lot of the threads that were both started here and in Savage. What were the aliens doing? How did Sidney recover herself? What is the connection with Isaac, the special needs boy? What was the outcome for the rest of those who made it to the ending? There were a lot of questions going on, that the epilogue seems to imply a continuation. Although, as of writing this review, a third book has yet to be published, and very unlikely to continue. It does feel like a twist that the author wanted to confuse us with, but the sloppy execution just left me perplexed. I did like Sniegoski's writing style, a fact that shows in his other books I've read, but if he had one kind of ending, it would have left me give a better rating that what I ended up with. It's still a good war against nature with a heavy touch of horror and sci-fi, if only you don't take the confusing last pages too much to heart.
July 10, 2018
This was gory, fast-paced and... it scared me to death. Monstrous is one of the first horror books I've read and I've never really been one for horror, and this scared me to death. I'm not really sure how to rate it. Is being scared to death a good thing or a bad thing?
If it's meant to be horror (which I'm sure it is), then yes, being terrified to the point of not being able to sleep is a good thing. If it was only meant to be science fiction (you know, the nice science fiction that's fast-paced and can be kinda creepy but doesn't scare you), then... being scared isn't a good thing. I think I'll add my rating after I see what other people think - if it's meant to be horror or not.
At first, it was kind of confusing, but that's my fault. I read this without reading the first book. But still, Sniegoski's writing style kind of annoyed me, but after a while, I got used to it.
The story sort of drags, repeating over and over again, with all the animal attacks and all. It didn't really get that fast-paced until later on.
This is really, really, gory, with tons of violence and a heck of a lot of swearing. There's also a lot of "oof!" moments, or the cringe, when you just know what's going to happen, but your dear characters don't. Sometimes the characters act almost idiotic, but I guess it's hard to keep your head straight in situations like this.
And the ending. THAT ENDING. Please, Thomas E. Sniegoski, write something to follow this, 'cause that was massive tormentation there. First you find Delilah's family to have been taken over by the aliens, with no info on Mason. Or Doc Martin and Isaac. Then it ends with Sidney being asked for help with the alien invasion. Even though I didn't love this book (not sure if I even liked it, as I said, I'm not one for horror) I want to know.
June 6, 2017
The terror and the unknown had been defeated. The world had returned to some semblance of sanity and the island of Benediction could finally take a breath. Family...Friends... everyone had lost someone or something and now it was time to recover and to heal.
But...then...the day turns and the horror returns. Only now, it's not just a little, quiet, peaceful island. the battle has found it's way to the mainland - to Boston - and what was only a brief nightmare has now become a raging night terror.
Thomas Sniegoski has delivered the second book in the SAVAGE series and there's no sophomore jinx here. The sequel only builds upon the first giving us the handful of survivors from the original battle now joined by an array of new supporting characters who are thrown into the maelstrom.
Sniegoski is a master at building suspense and truly exercises his skills as each chapter builds the tension ... the anticipation ...higher and higher interspersed with brief quieter interludes that, rather than disrupt the tempo and rhythm of the story, only increase the rush as your emotions are pushed further and further.
Readers of Thomas will truly love this book ... and ... if you're new to the author, I think you will be looking for more of his books once you're done here.
BTW... there is a revelation in the story regarding the origins of the attacks. I did NOT see it coming!!!
ENJOY!!!
But...then...the day turns and the horror returns. Only now, it's not just a little, quiet, peaceful island. the battle has found it's way to the mainland - to Boston - and what was only a brief nightmare has now become a raging night terror.
Thomas Sniegoski has delivered the second book in the SAVAGE series and there's no sophomore jinx here. The sequel only builds upon the first giving us the handful of survivors from the original battle now joined by an array of new supporting characters who are thrown into the maelstrom.
Sniegoski is a master at building suspense and truly exercises his skills as each chapter builds the tension ... the anticipation ...higher and higher interspersed with brief quieter interludes that, rather than disrupt the tempo and rhythm of the story, only increase the rush as your emotions are pushed further and further.
Readers of Thomas will truly love this book ... and ... if you're new to the author, I think you will be looking for more of his books once you're done here.
BTW... there is a revelation in the story regarding the origins of the attacks. I did NOT see it coming!!!
ENJOY!!!
May 27, 2017
Just as action-packed as the first book, this sequel offered a lot more in regards to the beings behind the catastrophes, which continue to be just as vivid, brutal, and frightening as I'd expect from a Sniegoski novel. The story picks up literally the next day from SAVAGE and introduces some new characters (love Delilah!) as they struggle to figure out what's happening and how to endure it. Sidney is back and stronger than ever, and her actions had me biting my nails to the end. Doc Martin and Isaac had a great storyline, and I feel like Cody is starting to mature a little more. Characters aside, Sniegoski continues to create a terrifying, high-adrenaline atmosphere that will make you give any animal a wary eye for a couple seconds in Real Life. I wasn't sure how I felt about the ending, and I can only hope there will be more books after this one, because I refuse to accept that ending as the end! There's too many unanswered questions and story threads to be tied off! Definitely check this out if you're looking to read and intense, action-packed horror story!
December 19, 2017
Sniegoski, Thomas E. Monstrous (Savage #2), 430 pages. Simon, 2017. $19. Content: R (major violence, swearing)
Though Sidney and her friends seem to have saved their small town, they have not won the war. The entity is not dead – in fact, it hasn’t even really retreated. Not only will it come back stronger in order to get its revenge on the town, but it has set its sights on Boston as a platform to then take over the world.
Now that Stranger Things has arrived, the Savage series will probably become more popular. This sequel, however, is even more violent than the original.
HS – OPTIONAL. Cindy, Library Teacher
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017/...
Though Sidney and her friends seem to have saved their small town, they have not won the war. The entity is not dead – in fact, it hasn’t even really retreated. Not only will it come back stronger in order to get its revenge on the town, but it has set its sights on Boston as a platform to then take over the world.
Now that Stranger Things has arrived, the Savage series will probably become more popular. This sequel, however, is even more violent than the original.
HS – OPTIONAL. Cindy, Library Teacher
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017/...
February 25, 2020
I felt this one pailed in comparison to the first one. I had a hard time connecting to the characters and the struggle just felt very long and it seemed to drag on and on without a lot of progress or answers.
I though this was supposed to wrap up the story but instead it seems to be leading to a third book. Is Sniegoski writing a sequel to this? I don't know, it's been three years since this was published and I can't find any news on it.
Just a little disappointed that a great book just felt hollowed out and gutted by this sequel without an ending.
I though this was supposed to wrap up the story but instead it seems to be leading to a third book. Is Sniegoski writing a sequel to this? I don't know, it's been three years since this was published and I can't find any news on it.
Just a little disappointed that a great book just felt hollowed out and gutted by this sequel without an ending.
July 4, 2017
This was really creepy as it shifted from the viewpoints of Sidney, Doc Martin, and Delilah. All of these folks were put through the wringer, battling the alien gelatinous beasties from another dimension. I found it very disturbing how the aliens used human technology to bring us under their sway. I will never look at a teenager and his cellphone in the same way again. But I will be checking for a suspicious silver gleam in the right eye.
September 11, 2017
This is the kind of book that would be right up my alley. But for some reason, it just didn't live up to my expectations. I would, however read the first one.
The characters were meh. Except for the dog and the nurse.
I also would like to ask... When all animals are attacking in droves? Why be surprised (and unprepared) when you get in a boat and a shark does the same?
At any rate, it's fast paced and the ending was OK.
2.5 stars
The characters were meh. Except for the dog and the nurse.
I also would like to ask... When all animals are attacking in droves? Why be surprised (and unprepared) when you get in a boat and a shark does the same?
At any rate, it's fast paced and the ending was OK.
2.5 stars
August 19, 2023
More of the same from the first novel. I was very disappointed in how oblivious some of the characters behave through this crisis. For example, why didn't someone keep a closer eye on Isaac and look into the reason for his discomfort through his hearing aids? Why would Doc Martin be so opposed to Isaac helping to find the "bad radio" since the obvious consequence of not finding it is human annihilation? People are not generally this clueless which makes it more frustrating. Cool idea of an alien invasion but the execution could have been better.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 5, 2017
I really liked this story, but I was bummed out to find out I read the second book in a series first. I really like Sniegoski's storytelling,
The Fallen
is one of my favorite series. This series is a bit different, less celestial, but still mysterious and supernatural.
3 stars
3 stars
August 19, 2017
I didn't like this one nearly as much as I liked the first one. Too much crap with aliens. I liked it more when it was about some mysterious natural phenomenon that was turning the animals psycho.
But I'll read the next one anyways.
But I'll read the next one anyways.
June 6, 2018
This is a non-stop action with lots of killing from the start to the end. You will really have time to take a breather following the characters running and fighting for their life, trying hard to stay alive at every turn.
June 7, 2020
Meh. I enjoyed the first one better! This one just lost me.
Full review on instragram: JSanders_bookreview
Full review on instragram: JSanders_bookreview
February 28, 2022
I do not understand how you can ruin a series so monumentally with just the second book. The series should have ended after the first book. The whole book felt like a climax and he didn't know where to take the series after that.
September 6, 2025
Book 2 is way better than book 1. Its faster paced and has more of a sci-fi feel where book 1 felt more cosmic horror.
January 4, 2018
This sequel to Savage continued the story in a way that kept the book in my hand until I finished reading it. Again, this young adult science fiction novel pushes the boundaries of plausibility while still maintaining enough reality to make me "feel" what the characters are experiencing. I liked reading this as much as the first title--introducing new characters and advancing the concepts introduced in Savage helped round out the story. However, if you read Savage and didn't care for it, don't bother reading Monstrous. It's pretty much Savage on steroids!!
June 1, 2017
Wow, this book was absolutely fantastic! Such a great sequel, so heart-pounding! So creepy! Loved it!
May 12, 2020
This was VERY fast-paced, wow. It took me about two hours to read all of it.
Review to come later.
Review to come later.
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May 22, 2017Reviewed for VOYA Magazine.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews