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Clowders
Clervaux, Luxembourg. This secluded, picturesque town in the middle of Europe is home to more cats than people. For years, tourists have flocked to this place – also known as “cat haven” - to meet the cats and buy cat-related souvenirs.
When Aidan, Jess and their five-year-old daughter, Eleonore, move from America to Clervaux, it seems as if they've arrived in paradise. It soon becomes clear, though, that the inhabitants' adoration of their cats is unhealthy. According to a local legend, each time a cat dies, nine human lives are taken as a punishment. To tourists, these tales are supernatural folklore, created to frighten children on cold winter nights. But for the inhabitants of Clervaux, the danger is darkly, horrifyingly real.
Initially, Aidan and Jess regard this as local superstition, but when Jess runs over a cat after a night out in the town, people start dying, one by one, and each time it happens, a clowder of cats can be seen roaming the premises.
Are they falling victim to the collective paranoia infecting the entire town? Or is something horrible waiting for them? Something unspeakably evil.
Aidan and Jess' move to Europe may just have been the worst decision they ever made.
When Aidan, Jess and their five-year-old daughter, Eleonore, move from America to Clervaux, it seems as if they've arrived in paradise. It soon becomes clear, though, that the inhabitants' adoration of their cats is unhealthy. According to a local legend, each time a cat dies, nine human lives are taken as a punishment. To tourists, these tales are supernatural folklore, created to frighten children on cold winter nights. But for the inhabitants of Clervaux, the danger is darkly, horrifyingly real.
Initially, Aidan and Jess regard this as local superstition, but when Jess runs over a cat after a night out in the town, people start dying, one by one, and each time it happens, a clowder of cats can be seen roaming the premises.
Are they falling victim to the collective paranoia infecting the entire town? Or is something horrible waiting for them? Something unspeakably evil.
Aidan and Jess' move to Europe may just have been the worst decision they ever made.
280 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 1, 2018
28 people are currently reading
172 people want to read
About the author
Vanessa Morgan
13 books299 followersVanessa Morgan is an author, screenwriter, and blogger. Two of her works, The Strangers Outside and A Good Man, have been turned into films. Her short film script Next to Her is currently in pre-production. When she's not working on her latest book, you can find her reading, watching horror movies, digging through flea markets, or photographing felines for her blog Traveling Cats.
"Vanessa Morgan has the gift of pacing and spookiness" - Scott Nicholson, author of They Hunger and The Farm
"A startling new voice in horror" - Lucky McKee, director of May and The Woods
"Vanessa Morgan has the gift of pacing and spookiness" - Scott Nicholson, author of They Hunger and The Farm
"A startling new voice in horror" - Lucky McKee, director of May and The Woods
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
February 22, 2018
Are you a cat lover? Welcome to Clervaux where cats are more than a tourist attraction, more than the mysterious creatures with nine lives, they are everything. They can be terrifying, they are everywhere. They can say who lives and who dies and no one can stop them. CLOWDERS by Vanessa Morgan is a dark and deadly look at a town controlled by cats and a mysterious creature that stalked through the night.
It was a huge move, uprooting his family, taking them to a tiny hamlet in Luxembourg, but Aidan had no idea what this move would cost the young veterinarian. The legend states that for every cat killed, nine humans will die. When Jess accidentally runs over a cat, it becomes clear that the legend is more than myth and the cheerful town folk are both prisoners and slaves to the wishes of their feline friends.
Not only will Aidan, Jess and their daughter, Eleonore find themselves trapped in a living nightmare, marital bonds will be tested, lies will be told and resentments will grow.
Cat lovers beware, those purring bundles of fluff may be more mysterious than their reputations could say. They can be a deadly nightmare come to life..perhaps you would like to go change that litter box now, instead of tomorrow?
Start to finish, this dark “tail” will show a cat does not have to be black to bring bad luck! Ms. Morgan has certainly scratched out a special niche in the horror genre with CLOWDERS. Off to hug my dogs...just in case...
I received a complimentary ARC copy from Vanessa Morgan!
Publication Date: March 1, 2018
Publisher: Vanessa Morgan
Genre: Horror
Print Length: 275 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
It was a huge move, uprooting his family, taking them to a tiny hamlet in Luxembourg, but Aidan had no idea what this move would cost the young veterinarian. The legend states that for every cat killed, nine humans will die. When Jess accidentally runs over a cat, it becomes clear that the legend is more than myth and the cheerful town folk are both prisoners and slaves to the wishes of their feline friends.
Not only will Aidan, Jess and their daughter, Eleonore find themselves trapped in a living nightmare, marital bonds will be tested, lies will be told and resentments will grow.
Cat lovers beware, those purring bundles of fluff may be more mysterious than their reputations could say. They can be a deadly nightmare come to life..perhaps you would like to go change that litter box now, instead of tomorrow?
Start to finish, this dark “tail” will show a cat does not have to be black to bring bad luck! Ms. Morgan has certainly scratched out a special niche in the horror genre with CLOWDERS. Off to hug my dogs...just in case...
I received a complimentary ARC copy from Vanessa Morgan!
Publication Date: March 1, 2018
Publisher: Vanessa Morgan
Genre: Horror
Print Length: 275 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
November 28, 2018
The rating is kinda closer to 2,5 stars, but let's just round it up.
This book was definitely inspired by (if not outright ripping off) Hex by Thomas Olde Heuvelt, and that gave me some strong feelings of deja vu. A village in Europe (Hex was originally published in Dutch and set in the Netherlands), that has been cursed with a creature of some sort, that can come and go as they please as they check on the villagers one by one during the day, and something bad will happen if you provoke them, and the villagers all know about it but still stay there and just put their heads down and obey the rules? And they also have a festival all about the curse just to make it seem fake? Yeah.
The truth is, it's not the similarities with Hex that put me off, but the writing style. The sentences are clunky and almost childish. "Aidan was thinking about his wife. His wife had beautiful auburn hair and was sitting next to him. Jess had always been with him and they had always been happy. They arrived at Clervaux, the city seemed beautiful. Their landlord met them on the street, "Hey, are you the new residents?", he said" It seemed so amateur-ish. Not that huge, purple-language paragraphs are better, but it was hard to get into the atmosphere of the book.
The reason why the book still gets 2,5/ 3 stars is the creepy scenes. Anything that was directly related to the Tengu's appearances was very well paced and presented to us, and also very effective, at least for me. I enjoyed those scenes.
....One more thing: I really dislike the use of the word "tengu" for the cat creature. "Tengu" is a specific word for a specific creature in Japanese folklore, and it even translates to "heavenly DOG". It kind of felt like Vanessa Morgan just thought the word was cool and decided to use it, but... it doesn't work like that?
All in all, it wasn't bad, but I wanted more.
**Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this book**
This book was definitely inspired by (if not outright ripping off) Hex by Thomas Olde Heuvelt, and that gave me some strong feelings of deja vu. A village in Europe (Hex was originally published in Dutch and set in the Netherlands), that has been cursed with a creature of some sort, that can come and go as they please as they check on the villagers one by one during the day, and something bad will happen if you provoke them, and the villagers all know about it but still stay there and just put their heads down and obey the rules? And they also have a festival all about the curse just to make it seem fake? Yeah.
The truth is, it's not the similarities with Hex that put me off, but the writing style. The sentences are clunky and almost childish. "Aidan was thinking about his wife. His wife had beautiful auburn hair and was sitting next to him. Jess had always been with him and they had always been happy. They arrived at Clervaux, the city seemed beautiful. Their landlord met them on the street, "Hey, are you the new residents?", he said" It seemed so amateur-ish. Not that huge, purple-language paragraphs are better, but it was hard to get into the atmosphere of the book.
The reason why the book still gets 2,5/ 3 stars is the creepy scenes. Anything that was directly related to the Tengu's appearances was very well paced and presented to us, and also very effective, at least for me. I enjoyed those scenes.
....One more thing: I really dislike the use of the word "tengu" for the cat creature. "Tengu" is a specific word for a specific creature in Japanese folklore, and it even translates to "heavenly DOG". It kind of felt like Vanessa Morgan just thought the word was cool and decided to use it, but... it doesn't work like that?
All in all, it wasn't bad, but I wanted more.
**Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this book**
March 5, 2018
It says that the author is called the 'female Stephen King'. I'm not sure who calls her this or if they've ever read Stephen King, but no. Just no.
This is basic horror. More old-fashioned than old-school, there are very few surprises here. Likable characters include the couple's daughter, their cat, and a guy named David. Unlikable characters include...everyone else.
The author chose to make one character American and another one who is Irish, but seems to have spent many years in America, yet they never sound the least bit American or somewhat American. It took me a bit to figure out why Aidan was in a cabinet lol.
The atmosphere of the book is nicely spooky, but rarely very scary. I never, ever believed that this town would bring in an outsider as a veterinarian if their lives literally depended upon it. (Also, can some kind reader of the book tell me how we added up to nine? I seem to have forgotten someone. We had someone BEFORE the accident, but I'm coming up short AFTER. It could be they just didn't make an impression?)
In any case, the book is an okay read. Certainly not earth shattering in the world of horror and absolutely no comparison with Stephen King aside from...it's a book and it's horror.
This is basic horror. More old-fashioned than old-school, there are very few surprises here. Likable characters include the couple's daughter, their cat, and a guy named David. Unlikable characters include...everyone else.
The author chose to make one character American and another one who is Irish, but seems to have spent many years in America, yet they never sound the least bit American or somewhat American. It took me a bit to figure out why Aidan was in a cabinet lol.
The atmosphere of the book is nicely spooky, but rarely very scary. I never, ever believed that this town would bring in an outsider as a veterinarian if their lives literally depended upon it. (Also, can some kind reader of the book tell me how we added up to nine? I seem to have forgotten someone. We had someone BEFORE the accident, but I'm coming up short AFTER. It could be they just didn't make an impression?)
In any case, the book is an okay read. Certainly not earth shattering in the world of horror and absolutely no comparison with Stephen King aside from...it's a book and it's horror.
May 3, 2018
3.5 Stars
This was such a wonderfully quirky horror novel involving a small town held captive by an ancient presence. Given the synopsis, one could easily underestimate this story. I initially expected a campy creature feature involving crazy cat ladies. Instead, this was an intelligent piece of classic horror with a family at the heart of the story.
While not particularly scary, I found the narrative to be engrossing. The main characters were well developed with relatable motivations and flaws. This was my first experience reading this author's work and I was thoroughly impressed by her storytelling abilities. I look forward to reading more from this (new-to-me) female horror author.
Whether you are a cat-lover or cat-hater, I would recommend this entertaining horror novel to anyone who looking to read an engaging story of a town haunted a demonic feline curse.
I receive an e-copy of this book via Netgalley.
This was such a wonderfully quirky horror novel involving a small town held captive by an ancient presence. Given the synopsis, one could easily underestimate this story. I initially expected a campy creature feature involving crazy cat ladies. Instead, this was an intelligent piece of classic horror with a family at the heart of the story.
While not particularly scary, I found the narrative to be engrossing. The main characters were well developed with relatable motivations and flaws. This was my first experience reading this author's work and I was thoroughly impressed by her storytelling abilities. I look forward to reading more from this (new-to-me) female horror author.
Whether you are a cat-lover or cat-hater, I would recommend this entertaining horror novel to anyone who looking to read an engaging story of a town haunted a demonic feline curse.
I receive an e-copy of this book via Netgalley.
May 15, 2018
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book!
First of all, I'm going to say that my review will probably veer into spoiler territory, although not too much more than what the blurb implies. Basically this is the story of Aiden and Jess, and their daughter Eleonore, who move from America to Luxemburg. Aiden is a restless spirit, drawn to travel and adventure, but his wife Jess is not. She seeks stability for her daughter, and couldn't bear letting Aiden go, and so the mitchmatched family all try to do their best with the situation. Things start to spiral out of control; Aiden repeats constantly that he'd never cheat on Jess, then makes out with a client while on a night out with both her and Jess. Then on the night home a tired Jess is persuaded to drive and runs over a cat, and the group fall under a curse.
Basically most of this is hinted at in the blurb, and despite the fact that the Tengu visits them multiple times to suss them out, there is zero suspense to this story. We get told over and over that people who hurt/kill cats in this town get killed by the Tengu. Guess what happens? They all get killed by the Tengu. Oh except sometimes we don't even get to see them die, sometimes they just die off screen. And the magic Tengu number is nine, but I missed some of the deaths, I counted 7?
I should add that the reviews attached to this are a bit misleading; I believe you should never compare authors and Vanessa Morgan in the published reviews gets compared as a female Stephen King. Not a good comparision; there is no tension and the writing could probably use another going over here.
It's not to say I didn't enjoy SOME parts of it, like a town dedicated to cats, and the relationship between Jess and Eleonore. I guess I just wanted more. Three stars.
First of all, I'm going to say that my review will probably veer into spoiler territory, although not too much more than what the blurb implies. Basically this is the story of Aiden and Jess, and their daughter Eleonore, who move from America to Luxemburg. Aiden is a restless spirit, drawn to travel and adventure, but his wife Jess is not. She seeks stability for her daughter, and couldn't bear letting Aiden go, and so the mitchmatched family all try to do their best with the situation. Things start to spiral out of control; Aiden repeats constantly that he'd never cheat on Jess, then makes out with a client while on a night out with both her and Jess. Then on the night home a tired Jess is persuaded to drive and runs over a cat, and the group fall under a curse.
Basically most of this is hinted at in the blurb, and despite the fact that the Tengu visits them multiple times to suss them out, there is zero suspense to this story. We get told over and over that people who hurt/kill cats in this town get killed by the Tengu. Guess what happens? They all get killed by the Tengu. Oh except sometimes we don't even get to see them die, sometimes they just die off screen. And the magic Tengu number is nine, but I missed some of the deaths, I counted 7?
I should add that the reviews attached to this are a bit misleading; I believe you should never compare authors and Vanessa Morgan in the published reviews gets compared as a female Stephen King. Not a good comparision; there is no tension and the writing could probably use another going over here.
It's not to say I didn't enjoy SOME parts of it, like a town dedicated to cats, and the relationship between Jess and Eleonore. I guess I just wanted more. Three stars.
June 20, 2018
Read this review and more on my blog.The Book Return Blog
Aiden, who is Irish, moves his family from America to Clervaux, Luxembourg. He is excited for the new adventure. His American wife, Jess, is not. The city of Clervaux turns out to be literally ruled by clowders of cats (a clowder is a group of cats like a pack is a group of dogs).
I really don't read much horror but I was intrigued by the concept of a horror book centering on cats and one centered on a real town. I really had no idea where 'Clowders' would lead me.
All of 'Clowder's' characters were unlikable. Even Aiden and Jess's five-year daughter was not very endearing . Aiden is self-centered. Jess is mentally weak and gives in to everything Aiden wants. Eleonore is bratty and not well-behaved. This innate likeableness is really what drove the story along and left a foreboding feeling of what would happen next.
I really enjoyed having no idea if the impending doom was real or just a figment of the townspeople's imagination. It really left me second guessing what was truly going on. The first 3/4 of the book seemed like a normal story then suddenly it was terrifying.
A few things that I found a little off was that in fact Jess was American. The phrases she used ,words she used, and her way of speaking seemed very British to me. I had to remind myself that she was from Connecticut. Also, Elenore really seemed older than five. She spoke more like an adult than a child.
April 20, 2018
First the good..
This was a creative and creepy tale with a decent back story that tells the legend of this cursed village. Personally I love stories about creepy little towns with strange inhabitants who are all in on a secret that leaves the newcomers in peril.
This picturesque town of Clervaux delivers that along with a demonic being who will take revenge on anyone who kills a cat. The main characters are Aidan, a controlling, selfish, yet weak willed veterinarian who expects his wife to just go along with every whim he has, and Jess the put upon wife who can't be bothered to stand up for herself..
The not so good..
The characters behavior sometimes came across as unnatural. There were some strange choices that defy the logic of what someone would do in certain situations. Some things just lacked a natural flow and resolution, like angry villagers chasing you with murderous intent but then you get home and..nothing. I guess they gave up and went home. It didn't really say.There were also some strange bits of narrative, for example "He plucked a strand of hair from behind her face and put it tenderly behind her ear."
All in all not a bad story, and some very creative ideas.
I received a complimentary copy for review.
This was a creative and creepy tale with a decent back story that tells the legend of this cursed village. Personally I love stories about creepy little towns with strange inhabitants who are all in on a secret that leaves the newcomers in peril.
This picturesque town of Clervaux delivers that along with a demonic being who will take revenge on anyone who kills a cat. The main characters are Aidan, a controlling, selfish, yet weak willed veterinarian who expects his wife to just go along with every whim he has, and Jess the put upon wife who can't be bothered to stand up for herself..
The not so good..
The characters behavior sometimes came across as unnatural. There were some strange choices that defy the logic of what someone would do in certain situations. Some things just lacked a natural flow and resolution, like angry villagers chasing you with murderous intent but then you get home and..nothing. I guess they gave up and went home. It didn't really say.There were also some strange bits of narrative, for example "He plucked a strand of hair from behind her face and put it tenderly behind her ear."
All in all not a bad story, and some very creative ideas.
I received a complimentary copy for review.
April 13, 2024
3 is generous. Poorly written and plot that takes itself too seriously. Author is better at Pinterest than at writing. On her profile it says she has been called ‘the female version of Stephen King’. Whoever said that is suffering late stage dementia and requires immediate hospitalization.
March 7, 2020
Picturesque, almost anachronistic, Clerveaux, Luxembourg--tucked into a forest, nearby are an historic castle and abbey, within the tiny village are bakery, chocolatier, veterinary practice, friendly townsfolk. And cats: healthy, people-friendly, delightful cats. What a "purr-fect" environment. Not!
The townspeople are effectually servants to the cats, more specifically to the cats' Protector. "Nine lives of a cat" means one cat demise = nine humans decease. And woe unto anyone who accidentally or intentionally kills a cat, even in euthanasia!
The premise and the supernatural elements are quite intriguing. But the characters put me off [I quite disliked Aidan, the husband-father-veterinarian, who is more of a Peter Pan than a responsible adult; and Lorenza, the selfish femme fatale], and those I did like, wife-mother Jess, and veterinary assistant David, I found wimpy. Also at times the writing didn't seem the best use of language and was stilted.
This is a 3.5 rating.
The townspeople are effectually servants to the cats, more specifically to the cats' Protector. "Nine lives of a cat" means one cat demise = nine humans decease. And woe unto anyone who accidentally or intentionally kills a cat, even in euthanasia!
The premise and the supernatural elements are quite intriguing. But the characters put me off [I quite disliked Aidan, the husband-father-veterinarian, who is more of a Peter Pan than a responsible adult; and Lorenza, the selfish femme fatale], and those I did like, wife-mother Jess, and veterinary assistant David, I found wimpy. Also at times the writing didn't seem the best use of language and was stilted.
This is a 3.5 rating.
April 1, 2018
Clowders by Vanessa Morgan is a first-rate horror story. When Adrian Burns is offered a job as a vet in a cat clinic in Luxembourg, it seems a dream come true for his wanderlust. The little village of Clervaux is a cat lover’s paradise. People come from all over to see the cats.
But Clervaux hides a dark secret. Cats must die a natural death here. If humans cause the death of a cat, maliciously or accidentally, the guardian spirit that protects the cats will retaliate by taking the lives of nine humans in return. When Jess hits a cat on the way back from a party, its death releases the curse upon the tiny town once more.
I really enjoyed this story. It reminded me of Thomas Olde Heuvelt's HEX. Morgan did a marvelous job with Jess’ emotions and psychology. Moving is difficult, especially if you do so reluctantly. I felt so bad for her as Aidan didn't seem to appreciate the sacrifice she made for him by going along with this move. She's an introverted person, and, well, we handle change about as well as Clervaux’s cats. We don't like it. I really didn't like Aidan at all. That he would so readily be willing to cheat on Jess at all, and that he ignores her messages and is inconsiderate by breaking commitments, gives the impression of a shallow personality.
I was a bit confused by the legend surrounding Clervaux, with the guardian spirit of the cats being a beastie from Japanese mythology. Especially since said beastie is more associated with birds. The description and behaviour seem reminiscent of the cait sidhe of Celtic lore. Aidan’s Irish heritage further supports this. I am not as familiar with Belgian or Luxembourg lore, though, and it could that it's a being with a similar name. I would also like to know why the creature is here. However, as an entertaining horror tale, Clowders fits the bill. You won't look at a cluster of cats the same way again!
***Many thanks to Silver Dagger Tours and the author for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
But Clervaux hides a dark secret. Cats must die a natural death here. If humans cause the death of a cat, maliciously or accidentally, the guardian spirit that protects the cats will retaliate by taking the lives of nine humans in return. When Jess hits a cat on the way back from a party, its death releases the curse upon the tiny town once more.
I really enjoyed this story. It reminded me of Thomas Olde Heuvelt's HEX. Morgan did a marvelous job with Jess’ emotions and psychology. Moving is difficult, especially if you do so reluctantly. I felt so bad for her as Aidan didn't seem to appreciate the sacrifice she made for him by going along with this move. She's an introverted person, and, well, we handle change about as well as Clervaux’s cats. We don't like it. I really didn't like Aidan at all. That he would so readily be willing to cheat on Jess at all, and that he ignores her messages and is inconsiderate by breaking commitments, gives the impression of a shallow personality.
I was a bit confused by the legend surrounding Clervaux, with the guardian spirit of the cats being a beastie from Japanese mythology. Especially since said beastie is more associated with birds. The description and behaviour seem reminiscent of the cait sidhe of Celtic lore. Aidan’s Irish heritage further supports this. I am not as familiar with Belgian or Luxembourg lore, though, and it could that it's a being with a similar name. I would also like to know why the creature is here. However, as an entertaining horror tale, Clowders fits the bill. You won't look at a cluster of cats the same way again!
***Many thanks to Silver Dagger Tours and the author for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
May 2, 2018
Clowders aka The Cats is an interesting horror novel that is an interesting read but at times the characters let it down somewhat. Starting off with a superstition that piques the interest of the reader about a small town in Europe that celebrates cats and the consequences of those, that do not honour their fur babies.
Mason has done an excellent job setting up the rules and folk tale of this community. She has a fully realised feel for the environment and the town itself. Even her supporting characters come across as organic to the small town for which they live. Mason excels in this aspect.
Unfortunately, her main characters at times don’t always come across as very unlikeable and this created a little bit of a problem for me. Interestingly enough, Jess at the beginning of the story I found irritating and her personality was one of constant disappointment with lack of drive. Aiden’s character was a bit more likeable but interestingly enough, these roles midway through the story switch and Aiden becomes a deplorable character. This set up a personal problem with me because without revealing spoilers, the conclusion didn’t hit me the same way if the characters were more likable.
My hats are off to Mason for her ending. She didn’t settle and she hit the right plot points to really give a fantastic ending. I admire an author that doesn’t settle but in fact, hits the subject hard in which she does do convincingly.
Overall, Chowder is a good read with interesting plot, well developed background with secondary characters that drive this to an enjoyable horror thriller. The main characters are well intentioned and at times, on a personal level, a bit irritating but the plot more than makes up for this. If you are looking for a good horror with a folklore backing, then this is for you. I recommend this for anyone who wants a good intelligent scare.
Mason has done an excellent job setting up the rules and folk tale of this community. She has a fully realised feel for the environment and the town itself. Even her supporting characters come across as organic to the small town for which they live. Mason excels in this aspect.
Unfortunately, her main characters at times don’t always come across as very unlikeable and this created a little bit of a problem for me. Interestingly enough, Jess at the beginning of the story I found irritating and her personality was one of constant disappointment with lack of drive. Aiden’s character was a bit more likeable but interestingly enough, these roles midway through the story switch and Aiden becomes a deplorable character. This set up a personal problem with me because without revealing spoilers, the conclusion didn’t hit me the same way if the characters were more likable.
My hats are off to Mason for her ending. She didn’t settle and she hit the right plot points to really give a fantastic ending. I admire an author that doesn’t settle but in fact, hits the subject hard in which she does do convincingly.
Overall, Chowder is a good read with interesting plot, well developed background with secondary characters that drive this to an enjoyable horror thriller. The main characters are well intentioned and at times, on a personal level, a bit irritating but the plot more than makes up for this. If you are looking for a good horror with a folklore backing, then this is for you. I recommend this for anyone who wants a good intelligent scare.
March 16, 2018
Full review available at: warmdayswillnevercease.wordpress.com.
I liked a lot about this book! The plot is really intriguing because it’s about a fictional myth that Morgan has created, not based on an actual myth, and I thought that this was very clever. The ‘myth’ ensures the safety of the town’s cats as the locals believe that if a cat is killed (by unnatural causes) then nine people will die as recompense. Cats seem to have more rights than humans in the town of Clervaux. I find cats creepy anyway so this book well and truly creeped me out.
Clowders is full of suspense and, until the end, I did consider it more of a thriller than a horror novel because it’s was mainly about building tension and the ‘what if…’ factor. However, that all changes at the end of the book as it becomes graphically violent. I wouldn’t say that the novel scared me at all but it did keep me on the edge of my seat. The ending was good too because it was oddly normal, in a really good way, almost as if the locals didn’t care about what was going on in their town.
There’s a subplot that involves an affair between Aiden, one of the main characters, and a woman called Lorenza. I didn’t enjoy this subplot at all. I know that it was to create more tension between the two main characters, Jess and Aiden, but it just made me uncomfortable.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and it’s full of suspense and terror. It’s even more terrifying if you’re already wary of cats like I am. I’d recommend this to fans of thriller and horror novels.
I liked a lot about this book! The plot is really intriguing because it’s about a fictional myth that Morgan has created, not based on an actual myth, and I thought that this was very clever. The ‘myth’ ensures the safety of the town’s cats as the locals believe that if a cat is killed (by unnatural causes) then nine people will die as recompense. Cats seem to have more rights than humans in the town of Clervaux. I find cats creepy anyway so this book well and truly creeped me out.
Clowders is full of suspense and, until the end, I did consider it more of a thriller than a horror novel because it’s was mainly about building tension and the ‘what if…’ factor. However, that all changes at the end of the book as it becomes graphically violent. I wouldn’t say that the novel scared me at all but it did keep me on the edge of my seat. The ending was good too because it was oddly normal, in a really good way, almost as if the locals didn’t care about what was going on in their town.
There’s a subplot that involves an affair between Aiden, one of the main characters, and a woman called Lorenza. I didn’t enjoy this subplot at all. I know that it was to create more tension between the two main characters, Jess and Aiden, but it just made me uncomfortable.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and it’s full of suspense and terror. It’s even more terrifying if you’re already wary of cats like I am. I’d recommend this to fans of thriller and horror novels.
April 24, 2018
A town being run, first and foremost, by keeping all the cats safe and healthy or else. I found this story to be very creepy and creative. In league with Stephen King or Dean Koontz? No. But it was interesting and atmospheric. I thank Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
May 25, 2018
Super creepy and quirky - which is exactly what I was expecting from the cover and synopsis. This story did not disappoint! I do wish there was a bit more suspense (hence the missing star rating) but overall this was definitely worth my time. I recommend to all fans who love a good shiver-causing read.
June 10, 2018
This review was originally posted on my blog, Paradise Found.
I received a free ebook copy of this book from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was expecting a thrilling tale going into Clowders but unfortunately I closed the book in the end fairly disappointed. The plain truth is: I was a lot more bored than thrilled while reading it and I kept waiting for a turning point that would have changed my opinion but the real rush of fear never came and I was eventually left with an empty feeling regarding the book.
Clowders tells the story of a family who moves to a small town in Luxemburg that is famous for its high cat population. Aidan and Jess, who take their 5 year old daughter Eleonore with them too, soon realize that people in the town act strangely, especially when a cat's life is in danger. They learn about a legend that keeps the townspeople in fear and that makes sure they treat the cats of the town well. When a cat dies in an accident and a mysterious feral creature starts stalking Jess and Eleonore, the legend turns out to be real. The only question is whether the family can escape from the crazy cat town in time to avoid the gruesome fate they can expect after being involved in the incident.
More than half of the novel is about Aidan and Jess trying to patch up their broken relationship. I confess I didn't like these characters at all. Aidan is the one who wanted to move to Europe, he basically dragged Jess and his little girl with him because he wanted some adventure in his life again. Almost as soon as they arrive to Clervaux he starts an affair with with a horrible woman who likes playing around with (sometimes married) men just for fun. Aidan doesn't give a fig that Jess hates their new home, that she's slowly becoming depressed because she has nothing to do all day.
I didn't like Jess mostly because she was very slow to understand what was going on around her (just like Aidan, actually) and because she complained too much about things rather than doing something to solve them. She didn't like driving Eleonore to and from school for expample, but at the same time she was always going on about how she didn't have anything to do all day. Partly I understand why the situation was tough for her but many times she annoyed me with her utter helplessness. Even when Eleanore was around, she just put the kid in front of the telly rather than playing with her. They hardly ever did anything together, mother and daughter, which was kinda strange to me.
The half-human half-cat creature wasn't scary enough for me because for the longest time it didn't do anything at all other than stalk people by standing in their bedrooms at night. It didn't attack anyone unless a cat had been killed and even then, she made a quick job of getting rid of the guilty party. What made the whole thing creepy (and why I gave it two stars/pineapples in the end instead of one) was the town's reaction; they worked together with this monster/catgirl, they actually helped the creature eliminate the cat killers. Clervaux was a little bit like the village in the movie Hot Fuzz (only that movie is waaay better than this book).
No one tried to stop the creature. Like... what?? I'm not kidding. People tried to escape but they didn't try to fight. They accepted without question that it cannot be defeated and the only thing they tried was to outrun it.
I didn't feel like I was entertained, I asked the question why??? a million times while reading the book and in the end I didn't understand why this story had to be told. It's a shame, the premise was excellent. It could have been so much more than what it became.
I received a free ebook copy of this book from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was expecting a thrilling tale going into Clowders but unfortunately I closed the book in the end fairly disappointed. The plain truth is: I was a lot more bored than thrilled while reading it and I kept waiting for a turning point that would have changed my opinion but the real rush of fear never came and I was eventually left with an empty feeling regarding the book.
Clowders tells the story of a family who moves to a small town in Luxemburg that is famous for its high cat population. Aidan and Jess, who take their 5 year old daughter Eleonore with them too, soon realize that people in the town act strangely, especially when a cat's life is in danger. They learn about a legend that keeps the townspeople in fear and that makes sure they treat the cats of the town well. When a cat dies in an accident and a mysterious feral creature starts stalking Jess and Eleonore, the legend turns out to be real. The only question is whether the family can escape from the crazy cat town in time to avoid the gruesome fate they can expect after being involved in the incident.
More than half of the novel is about Aidan and Jess trying to patch up their broken relationship. I confess I didn't like these characters at all. Aidan is the one who wanted to move to Europe, he basically dragged Jess and his little girl with him because he wanted some adventure in his life again. Almost as soon as they arrive to Clervaux he starts an affair with with a horrible woman who likes playing around with (sometimes married) men just for fun. Aidan doesn't give a fig that Jess hates their new home, that she's slowly becoming depressed because she has nothing to do all day.
I didn't like Jess mostly because she was very slow to understand what was going on around her (just like Aidan, actually) and because she complained too much about things rather than doing something to solve them. She didn't like driving Eleonore to and from school for expample, but at the same time she was always going on about how she didn't have anything to do all day. Partly I understand why the situation was tough for her but many times she annoyed me with her utter helplessness. Even when Eleanore was around, she just put the kid in front of the telly rather than playing with her. They hardly ever did anything together, mother and daughter, which was kinda strange to me.
The half-human half-cat creature wasn't scary enough for me because for the longest time it didn't do anything at all other than stalk people by standing in their bedrooms at night. It didn't attack anyone unless a cat had been killed and even then, she made a quick job of getting rid of the guilty party. What made the whole thing creepy (and why I gave it two stars/pineapples in the end instead of one) was the town's reaction; they worked together with this monster/catgirl, they actually helped the creature eliminate the cat killers. Clervaux was a little bit like the village in the movie Hot Fuzz (only that movie is waaay better than this book).
No one tried to stop the creature. Like... what?? I'm not kidding. People tried to escape but they didn't try to fight. They accepted without question that it cannot be defeated and the only thing they tried was to outrun it.
I didn't feel like I was entertained, I asked the question why??? a million times while reading the book and in the end I didn't understand why this story had to be told. It's a shame, the premise was excellent. It could have been so much more than what it became.
April 23, 2018
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley.
There is a town in Luxembourg where cats in their dozens roam the streets freely, the lives of the feline residents valued more highly than those of the humans living there. Superstition says that the town of Clervaux is cursed.
Veterinarian Aidan and his wife and daughter, Jess and Eleonore (and Eleonore's cat Avalon), move to Clervaux from the USA as Aidan has secured a job at the local cat clinic. When a seriously ill cat is brought in to the clinic Aidan is shocked at the reaction of the owner when Aidan suggests that the kindest thing would be to put the poor animal out of its misery. But this is not the way things work in Clervaux. Cats must be saved at all costs, otherwise the townsfolk will pay the ultimate price.
I really wanted to love this book but an awful lot of time is spent describing extremely mundane, tedious family life and the actual 'horror' story is very sparse and basic, though it does pick up a little in the last quarter. There are also some very strange phrases and misused words in the writing every now and again. Editing hiccups perhaps but this was very distracting and off putting and even made me wonder whether the book was originally written in a different language, maybe, and has not been translated as well as it might have been. I don't know. On a positive note, the author has succeeded admirably in writing a cast of thoroughly unlikable characters (with the exception of Eleonore who is, mostly, a very sweet child) and it is a pleasure to watch them fear for their lives, looking over their shoulders at every turn.
The idea of this story is a very original one and I was expecting something wonderful. In the end it was an okay read but instantly forgettable.
There is a town in Luxembourg where cats in their dozens roam the streets freely, the lives of the feline residents valued more highly than those of the humans living there. Superstition says that the town of Clervaux is cursed.
Veterinarian Aidan and his wife and daughter, Jess and Eleonore (and Eleonore's cat Avalon), move to Clervaux from the USA as Aidan has secured a job at the local cat clinic. When a seriously ill cat is brought in to the clinic Aidan is shocked at the reaction of the owner when Aidan suggests that the kindest thing would be to put the poor animal out of its misery. But this is not the way things work in Clervaux. Cats must be saved at all costs, otherwise the townsfolk will pay the ultimate price.
I really wanted to love this book but an awful lot of time is spent describing extremely mundane, tedious family life and the actual 'horror' story is very sparse and basic, though it does pick up a little in the last quarter. There are also some very strange phrases and misused words in the writing every now and again. Editing hiccups perhaps but this was very distracting and off putting and even made me wonder whether the book was originally written in a different language, maybe, and has not been translated as well as it might have been. I don't know. On a positive note, the author has succeeded admirably in writing a cast of thoroughly unlikable characters (with the exception of Eleonore who is, mostly, a very sweet child) and it is a pleasure to watch them fear for their lives, looking over their shoulders at every turn.
The idea of this story is a very original one and I was expecting something wonderful. In the end it was an okay read but instantly forgettable.
October 13, 2025
They say cats have nine lives. What that means in the lovely isolated town of Clervaux, Luxemburg is they take nine. That’s right. When a cat dies, nine human lives are taken.
When an American family moves to Clervaux, they believe the legend is just that, a legend. But then a cat is killed and not long after someone dies. One down, eight to go.
This started out so hopeful. A scenic little town, friendly inhabitants, and lots of cats. But slowly, the atmosphere darkens. Strange noises are heard. Something prowls in the house at night. Claws click across the floor. Food disappears, Shadows hide a hunched over figure. And the friendly neighbors become not so friendly. Sounds like a good movie, doesn’t it? Thanks to the author’s talent for showing the story, it felt like I was watching it.
It takes a lot to give me the creeps. I’ve read a bunch of horror stories and watched lots of movies. A few scenes in this book are so creeptastic! There’s this scene where something is stalking the next victim. It moves boldly through the crowd of tourists. They think it’s part of something put on to entertain and take pictures of it, even as it attacks. I’d like to think I’d know the difference. I read it over again and still got creeped out.
Soft kitty. Warm kitty. Little ball of fur….. Not!
I received a complimentary copy. My review is voluntarily given.
When an American family moves to Clervaux, they believe the legend is just that, a legend. But then a cat is killed and not long after someone dies. One down, eight to go.
This started out so hopeful. A scenic little town, friendly inhabitants, and lots of cats. But slowly, the atmosphere darkens. Strange noises are heard. Something prowls in the house at night. Claws click across the floor. Food disappears, Shadows hide a hunched over figure. And the friendly neighbors become not so friendly. Sounds like a good movie, doesn’t it? Thanks to the author’s talent for showing the story, it felt like I was watching it.
It takes a lot to give me the creeps. I’ve read a bunch of horror stories and watched lots of movies. A few scenes in this book are so creeptastic! There’s this scene where something is stalking the next victim. It moves boldly through the crowd of tourists. They think it’s part of something put on to entertain and take pictures of it, even as it attacks. I’d like to think I’d know the difference. I read it over again and still got creeped out.
Soft kitty. Warm kitty. Little ball of fur….. Not!
I received a complimentary copy. My review is voluntarily given.
March 1, 2018
A clowder of cats – and more
Belgian author Vanessa Morgan is an author, screenwriter (three of her works have been made into movies), and blogger on her site called Traveling Cats. She is also an avid cat photographer – an avocation that enhances her books about felines.
Vanessa provides the ‘set’ for her very cinematic book with an Introduction that bears sharing (in part): ‘Outsiders called Clervaux quaint, but the locals called it something else – cursed. How it came to be known as such had been lost in the memories of those who inhabited nearby towns outside the perimeter of the dense forest, but everyone accepted the curse as being legitimate. Through the years, several inhabitants of surrounding towns disappeared, and the story grew that they had stumbled upon Clervaux, never to return. Its reputation was solidified in the late 1700s after the appearance of a personal journal page found in the pocket of a rotting corpse. Written in now fading ink, it carefully preserved the terror that struck for the first time so many years ago in Eselborn, one of its closest neighbors. “It has been a cold winter in Eselborn this January of 1789, but our stalwart inhabitants hold against the never-ending cold, shortage of food, starving animals and children. Scraping together every last morsel of food, the people congregated in a local church on the evening of the 23rd, hoping to come to a solution to our predicament.‘
She then moves us into a Prologue that again establishes the mood and forecast for the tale – ‘MAY 2015 - They held the memorial service in the crematorium on the outskirts of Luxembourg City. Camille stared at the coffin sitting in the middle of the commemoration room and at the framed picture of the 17-year-old boy that stood beside it. Perfect arrangements of flowers filled tier after tier behind the altar, much more than she would have thought the place could hold. As she waited for the service to begin, Camille looked around her, scanning the location for familiar faces. Because she had met Jörgen at summer camp almost three years ago, most of the people here were from his hometown, Echternach, and thus unknown to her. For these people, neighbors were just as important as family. The psychological wounds inflicted on this community by the boy's passing would take longer to heal than anyone yet realized. It wasn't just the loss of someone they saw and spoke to every day that was hard to bear, but the injustice that a boy so young had been taken away from them without an apparent reason. The music swelled. The murmurs and whisperings stopped. Camille prepared herself to bite back the tears that would well up in the next half hour.’
The stage is set and the story unravels eloquently – ‘Clervaux, Luxembourg. This secluded, picturesque town in the middle of Europe is home to more cats than people. For years, tourists have flocked to this place – also known as “cat haven” - to meet the cats and buy cat-related souvenirs.
When Aidan, Jess and their five-year-old daughter, Eleonore, move from America to Clervaux, it seems as if they've arrived in paradise. It soon becomes clear, though, that the inhabitants' adoration of their cats is unhealthy. According to a local legend, each time a cat dies, nine human lives are taken as a punishment. To tourists, these tales are supernatural folklore, created to frighten children on cold winter nights. But for the inhabitants of Clervaux, the danger is darkly, horrifyingly real. Initially, Aidan and Jess regard this as local superstition, nothing to worry about, but when Jess runs over a cat after a night on the town, people start dying, one by one, and each time it happens, a clowder of cats can be seen roaming the premises. Are they falling victim to the collective paranoia infecting the entire town? Or is something unspeakably evil waiting for them? Aidan and Jess' move to Europe may just have been the worst decision they ever made.’
One very fine writer for both books and screen – Vanessa has a style that is intoxicating.
Belgian author Vanessa Morgan is an author, screenwriter (three of her works have been made into movies), and blogger on her site called Traveling Cats. She is also an avid cat photographer – an avocation that enhances her books about felines.
Vanessa provides the ‘set’ for her very cinematic book with an Introduction that bears sharing (in part): ‘Outsiders called Clervaux quaint, but the locals called it something else – cursed. How it came to be known as such had been lost in the memories of those who inhabited nearby towns outside the perimeter of the dense forest, but everyone accepted the curse as being legitimate. Through the years, several inhabitants of surrounding towns disappeared, and the story grew that they had stumbled upon Clervaux, never to return. Its reputation was solidified in the late 1700s after the appearance of a personal journal page found in the pocket of a rotting corpse. Written in now fading ink, it carefully preserved the terror that struck for the first time so many years ago in Eselborn, one of its closest neighbors. “It has been a cold winter in Eselborn this January of 1789, but our stalwart inhabitants hold against the never-ending cold, shortage of food, starving animals and children. Scraping together every last morsel of food, the people congregated in a local church on the evening of the 23rd, hoping to come to a solution to our predicament.‘
She then moves us into a Prologue that again establishes the mood and forecast for the tale – ‘MAY 2015 - They held the memorial service in the crematorium on the outskirts of Luxembourg City. Camille stared at the coffin sitting in the middle of the commemoration room and at the framed picture of the 17-year-old boy that stood beside it. Perfect arrangements of flowers filled tier after tier behind the altar, much more than she would have thought the place could hold. As she waited for the service to begin, Camille looked around her, scanning the location for familiar faces. Because she had met Jörgen at summer camp almost three years ago, most of the people here were from his hometown, Echternach, and thus unknown to her. For these people, neighbors were just as important as family. The psychological wounds inflicted on this community by the boy's passing would take longer to heal than anyone yet realized. It wasn't just the loss of someone they saw and spoke to every day that was hard to bear, but the injustice that a boy so young had been taken away from them without an apparent reason. The music swelled. The murmurs and whisperings stopped. Camille prepared herself to bite back the tears that would well up in the next half hour.’
The stage is set and the story unravels eloquently – ‘Clervaux, Luxembourg. This secluded, picturesque town in the middle of Europe is home to more cats than people. For years, tourists have flocked to this place – also known as “cat haven” - to meet the cats and buy cat-related souvenirs.
When Aidan, Jess and their five-year-old daughter, Eleonore, move from America to Clervaux, it seems as if they've arrived in paradise. It soon becomes clear, though, that the inhabitants' adoration of their cats is unhealthy. According to a local legend, each time a cat dies, nine human lives are taken as a punishment. To tourists, these tales are supernatural folklore, created to frighten children on cold winter nights. But for the inhabitants of Clervaux, the danger is darkly, horrifyingly real. Initially, Aidan and Jess regard this as local superstition, nothing to worry about, but when Jess runs over a cat after a night on the town, people start dying, one by one, and each time it happens, a clowder of cats can be seen roaming the premises. Are they falling victim to the collective paranoia infecting the entire town? Or is something unspeakably evil waiting for them? Aidan and Jess' move to Europe may just have been the worst decision they ever made.’
One very fine writer for both books and screen – Vanessa has a style that is intoxicating.
September 3, 2022
Clowders is a book that reminded me a lot of vintage, small-town European horror from the likes of Herbert, Hutson, Clark, and Campbell. Vanessa Morgan weaves a creepy, suspenseful tale about urban legends and rural superstitions, with a plot that feeds on paranoia and fear. Moreover, while she does play cat-and-mouse with the mystery of what's really happening, she digs in the supernatural claws about halfway through, delivering a cold climax that's entirely fitting.
Clervaux, a small village in Luxembourg, is famous for its cats. We're not talking ugly, rabid strays, but healthy, well-fed cats who belong to whomever they choose. They are so well-tended, in fact, that their adopted humans flock to the veterinarian's office at the slightest sign of illness or injury, knowing that the village will reimburse any medical costs. As Aidan, Jess, and Eleonore discover (too late, sadly) there is no higher calling in Clervaux than saving the life of a cat.
Kill one, or merely allow one to die, and you will be one of the nine human lives taken in exchange.
Morgan wastes no time putting us on edge, with a first chapter that opens with a funeral, proceeds to talk about the cats, and ends with a young girl blowing her own brains out - in the car with her parents - rather than face feline retribution. In case you were tempted to think it's all a silly superstition or a tourism gimmick, that scene drives home the fact that these people BELIEVE.
This a book that's full of anticipation and dread. Clervaux is a beautiful little village, and the people seem very friendly (for the most part), but the cats are everywhere, there are sounds at night, and there is a persistent feeling of being watched. Even then, it's easy to dismiss events as superstitious coincidences, but the entire tone of the story changes after a half-drunk Jess runs over a cat one night, causing their village friends to flee the car in terror, and prompting the entire village to shun the family.
It is also at this point that Aidan begins to see past his own wishful thinking, past his affair with a beautiful woman, and starts to fear that his family's nightmare tales of seeing a massive, angry cat-lady stalking them in the dark might just be true. He's an interesting protagonist, largely a good man, but one with flaws. Seeing him succumb to temptation is unfortunate, but we do see him try to make amends. However, there is one decision he makes very late in the book that honestly shocked me, and changed what I wanted in a climax.
I will stop there, because I've said enough already, but Clowders is a fantastic bit of horror that refuses to shy away from its own legends, and never holds back on the consequences of felicide. It's tightly told, with just the right amount of backstory and local color to make the village come alive, and the psychological aspects carry well into the supernatural ones. I wasn't sure Morgan would follow through, but the ending was perfect.
http://beauty-in-ruins.blogspot.ca/20...
Clervaux, a small village in Luxembourg, is famous for its cats. We're not talking ugly, rabid strays, but healthy, well-fed cats who belong to whomever they choose. They are so well-tended, in fact, that their adopted humans flock to the veterinarian's office at the slightest sign of illness or injury, knowing that the village will reimburse any medical costs. As Aidan, Jess, and Eleonore discover (too late, sadly) there is no higher calling in Clervaux than saving the life of a cat.
Kill one, or merely allow one to die, and you will be one of the nine human lives taken in exchange.
Morgan wastes no time putting us on edge, with a first chapter that opens with a funeral, proceeds to talk about the cats, and ends with a young girl blowing her own brains out - in the car with her parents - rather than face feline retribution. In case you were tempted to think it's all a silly superstition or a tourism gimmick, that scene drives home the fact that these people BELIEVE.
This a book that's full of anticipation and dread. Clervaux is a beautiful little village, and the people seem very friendly (for the most part), but the cats are everywhere, there are sounds at night, and there is a persistent feeling of being watched. Even then, it's easy to dismiss events as superstitious coincidences, but the entire tone of the story changes after a half-drunk Jess runs over a cat one night, causing their village friends to flee the car in terror, and prompting the entire village to shun the family.
It is also at this point that Aidan begins to see past his own wishful thinking, past his affair with a beautiful woman, and starts to fear that his family's nightmare tales of seeing a massive, angry cat-lady stalking them in the dark might just be true. He's an interesting protagonist, largely a good man, but one with flaws. Seeing him succumb to temptation is unfortunate, but we do see him try to make amends. However, there is one decision he makes very late in the book that honestly shocked me, and changed what I wanted in a climax.
I will stop there, because I've said enough already, but Clowders is a fantastic bit of horror that refuses to shy away from its own legends, and never holds back on the consequences of felicide. It's tightly told, with just the right amount of backstory and local color to make the village come alive, and the psychological aspects carry well into the supernatural ones. I wasn't sure Morgan would follow through, but the ending was perfect.
http://beauty-in-ruins.blogspot.ca/20...
April 5, 2018
Aidan lives in America with his wife Jess and daughter Eleonore. Aidan has always been a nomad and is used to moving around a lot. When he gets a job as a veterinarian in Clervaux, Luxembourg, they pack up their belongings and move to Europe. Clervaux is a small town that has more cats than human residents. It's also know as 'cat haven'. Tourists go there all the time to meet the cats and to buy cat themed souvenirs from the local shops. Having a cat themselves you'd think that Aidan and his family would fit right in. Aidan soon finds out that the cats are worshipped by the local residents. Is Clervaux really their new home like they thought it would be?
Jess and Aidan are very different. Jess likes to stay home and is perfectly fine with being with her own little family. If it would have been up to her the move would never have happened. She follows Aidan to keep their family together and is trying to make a new life for her and Eleonore. Aidan works long hours, because there's always a cat that needs medical care. Jess feels watched, hears strange noises in their house and food mysteriously disappears. When she gets into a car accident that cost the life of a cat, their new found friends change their behavior and stay away from them. Legend says that for every cat that doesn't die of a natural cause, nine human lives are taken as punishment by the protector of the cats, Tengu. If this legend is true Jess's days are numbered, who will be safe and who will be taken by the Tengu?
Aidan thought he was doing the right thing by moving to Europe. He needs this change to feel alive again. In the beginning he thinks that being in Clervaux will help his family to go back to the loving unit they once were, but in reality he's more away than at home. If Clervaux teaches Jess one thing, it's that she'll no longer stay quiet just to please others. She has her flaws, but she's learning to be strong and independent. Eleonore is a bright and sweet young girl and I loved how she connects with other people. Aidan and Jess love each other deeply, but they need a wake up call to remind themselves why they fell in love in the first place. I was really hoping that it wouldn't be to late for them to work through their differences.
Clowders is a bone chilling story about cats and their protector. I loved that the story takes place in Luxembourg since this is a country I've been to myself. Clervaux is an existing place and this made the story come to life even more. I love animals and we had several cats when I was a young girl. Cats are animals with a mind of their own and this suits the story perfectly. Vanessa Morgan's vivid descriptions of the town and the cats made it easy for me to picture the story in my mind. The creepiness never leaves the story and I was eager to find out how it would end for Aidan and his family. I'm a big fan of creepy stories and loved this surprisingly scary book.
Jess and Aidan are very different. Jess likes to stay home and is perfectly fine with being with her own little family. If it would have been up to her the move would never have happened. She follows Aidan to keep their family together and is trying to make a new life for her and Eleonore. Aidan works long hours, because there's always a cat that needs medical care. Jess feels watched, hears strange noises in their house and food mysteriously disappears. When she gets into a car accident that cost the life of a cat, their new found friends change their behavior and stay away from them. Legend says that for every cat that doesn't die of a natural cause, nine human lives are taken as punishment by the protector of the cats, Tengu. If this legend is true Jess's days are numbered, who will be safe and who will be taken by the Tengu?
Aidan thought he was doing the right thing by moving to Europe. He needs this change to feel alive again. In the beginning he thinks that being in Clervaux will help his family to go back to the loving unit they once were, but in reality he's more away than at home. If Clervaux teaches Jess one thing, it's that she'll no longer stay quiet just to please others. She has her flaws, but she's learning to be strong and independent. Eleonore is a bright and sweet young girl and I loved how she connects with other people. Aidan and Jess love each other deeply, but they need a wake up call to remind themselves why they fell in love in the first place. I was really hoping that it wouldn't be to late for them to work through their differences.
Clowders is a bone chilling story about cats and their protector. I loved that the story takes place in Luxembourg since this is a country I've been to myself. Clervaux is an existing place and this made the story come to life even more. I love animals and we had several cats when I was a young girl. Cats are animals with a mind of their own and this suits the story perfectly. Vanessa Morgan's vivid descriptions of the town and the cats made it easy for me to picture the story in my mind. The creepiness never leaves the story and I was eager to find out how it would end for Aidan and his family. I'm a big fan of creepy stories and loved this surprisingly scary book.
July 18, 2020
Arrgh, I can't tell you how much I hate leaving bad reviews. I really wanted to like this book. I loved the idea of a horror novel about cats. Cats are little carnivorous predators we willingly bring into our homes...there's so much potential there. They are closely related to animals who would gladly eat us or basically any moving creature smaller than themselves. Cats revert to their feral instincts so easily when stressed or abandoned, there is a real sense of bringing the wild into our homes (without the idiocy of keeping a tiger in one's yard or actually keeping a wildlife captive and miserable in one's home, of course.) There was so much potential...
Unfortunately, reading this book was an uphill battle. A (total?) lack of editing sent the reader through a mine field of grammatical and syntactical errors and a lot--a whole lot--of repetition I felt like I was reading the same scene over and over and over. Over and over, I felt like I was reading the same scene. Repeatedly, the same scene seemed to appear. I can't count how many times I found myself thinking, "I don't think that word means what you think it means." So many details felt like they were wedged into the story straight out of the author's research folder, without fitting them into the story or using them in a way that sounded natural to the situation. The characters reactions often feel farcical, overblown, and often plain unrealistic. Why doesn't anyone just *talk* to each other about *anything* in this book? Even about obvious stuff. No one communicates. They just punch each other in the face and walk away without explaining themselves (this is an actual example from the story). Characters seem to be one trick ponies of emotion. Here's "angry guy", there's "deceptive woman", then there's "victim complex person", and so on. When they have a change of heart about something it's sudden and without reason. It left me wishing they would all die faster so the book would be over. I could not have cared less about what happened to these flat, boring people.
I am sorry to be so rough on this book, but I really felt like the author didn't try hard enough. That they threw it into publication without doing the revision and editing that make a book more than a first draft. Clean your babies up before you send them out into the world. Please.
Unfortunately, reading this book was an uphill battle. A (total?) lack of editing sent the reader through a mine field of grammatical and syntactical errors and a lot--a whole lot--of repetition I felt like I was reading the same scene over and over and over. Over and over, I felt like I was reading the same scene. Repeatedly, the same scene seemed to appear. I can't count how many times I found myself thinking, "I don't think that word means what you think it means." So many details felt like they were wedged into the story straight out of the author's research folder, without fitting them into the story or using them in a way that sounded natural to the situation. The characters reactions often feel farcical, overblown, and often plain unrealistic. Why doesn't anyone just *talk* to each other about *anything* in this book? Even about obvious stuff. No one communicates. They just punch each other in the face and walk away without explaining themselves (this is an actual example from the story). Characters seem to be one trick ponies of emotion. Here's "angry guy", there's "deceptive woman", then there's "victim complex person", and so on. When they have a change of heart about something it's sudden and without reason. It left me wishing they would all die faster so the book would be over. I could not have cared less about what happened to these flat, boring people.
I am sorry to be so rough on this book, but I really felt like the author didn't try hard enough. That they threw it into publication without doing the revision and editing that make a book more than a first draft. Clean your babies up before you send them out into the world. Please.
June 23, 2018
Review also posted on my blog: https://bennilovesbooks.wordpress.com...
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This book has content warnings for cat death, human death, gore, car accidents, physical violence, and toxic relationships.
This book was a mixed bag for me because while I thought the premise was fascinating and thought that the horror aspects of the book were really good and creepy, I felt frustrated with much of the rest of the book. To start with, I could not stand Aidan. After the move to Clervaux he almost immediately started cheating on Jess, whom he dragged to a different continent with him. (I also had a LOT of issues with the woman that Aidan was "seduced" by being a Latina-coded, stereotypical homewrecker. She was the only person in the book that was coded as a person of color, and that felt very icky to me because OF COURSE the cheating isn't the white man's fault...) His tone was also irritating and he was overall pretty boring. Jess was a little better, but not by much; it was clear that she cared about her child and her relationship, but her behaviors bothered me a lot and she was also difficult to read.
I also had issues with literally every other character in this book that was not either a child or a feline... Eleonore was fine and didn't bother me because she acted like a small child could be expected to. Everybody else got on my nerves at all times. What frustrated me the most, I think, was how literally no one bothered to even try to explain to the newcomers (Aidan and Jess) why the town had rules against killing cats. This was written off as "too difficult to do" by one of the characters, but it just seemed silly because it's written in the book description and telling someone a legend should not be that difficult. This really weird aversion to actually explaining what was going on to these characters was an okay mystery at first, but it got really tired really quickly and made the pacing feel very off.
I did enjoy the legend itself and the cats and the horror aspects of the book, but these didn't really shine through because so much effort was put into masking these elements and making the book feel more like a mystery than a horror story. I think I would have liked this book a whole lot better if all humans were removed from the book and it was just the cats. With this town's luck and history, it seems like this could be something that happens eventually anyway.
Final rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This book has content warnings for cat death, human death, gore, car accidents, physical violence, and toxic relationships.
This book was a mixed bag for me because while I thought the premise was fascinating and thought that the horror aspects of the book were really good and creepy, I felt frustrated with much of the rest of the book. To start with, I could not stand Aidan. After the move to Clervaux he almost immediately started cheating on Jess, whom he dragged to a different continent with him. (I also had a LOT of issues with the woman that Aidan was "seduced" by being a Latina-coded, stereotypical homewrecker. She was the only person in the book that was coded as a person of color, and that felt very icky to me because OF COURSE the cheating isn't the white man's fault...) His tone was also irritating and he was overall pretty boring. Jess was a little better, but not by much; it was clear that she cared about her child and her relationship, but her behaviors bothered me a lot and she was also difficult to read.
I also had issues with literally every other character in this book that was not either a child or a feline... Eleonore was fine and didn't bother me because she acted like a small child could be expected to. Everybody else got on my nerves at all times. What frustrated me the most, I think, was how literally no one bothered to even try to explain to the newcomers (Aidan and Jess) why the town had rules against killing cats. This was written off as "too difficult to do" by one of the characters, but it just seemed silly because it's written in the book description and telling someone a legend should not be that difficult. This really weird aversion to actually explaining what was going on to these characters was an okay mystery at first, but it got really tired really quickly and made the pacing feel very off.
I did enjoy the legend itself and the cats and the horror aspects of the book, but these didn't really shine through because so much effort was put into masking these elements and making the book feel more like a mystery than a horror story. I think I would have liked this book a whole lot better if all humans were removed from the book and it was just the cats. With this town's luck and history, it seems like this could be something that happens eventually anyway.
Final rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
April 1, 2018
When I read the synopsis of this book I thought I would absolutely enjoy reading Clowders. But now that I have finished reading Clowders I feel that my expectations had not being met satisfactorily, though I agree I had quite a high amount of expectations. Anyways jumping straight to the review, first I would talk about the good points then I would let you on to why this book kind of disappointed me.
First thing that I loved about the book were the two characters Jess and Eleonore. Jess’ character was especially very good. She was a very good wife and even better mother. She was in inner turmoil and mental pain many times but still she managed to put a happy face and managed to enjoy, only for the sake of her daughter. Eleonore’s character was quite good too, she was a very sweet girl.
The whole book was filled with suspense and there were quite a few horrifying and scary scenes in the book, especially the climax was very scary. The last four deaths happened one after another therefore, the last 10% or so was really terrifying.
Now coming to the things, that rendered this book not quite satisfying. There are two things that I didn’t like about the book. The first one was Aiden’s character. He was just not likeable, I know there are people like him out there and maybe I don’t have the right to judge someone, but I just didn’t like his character. The other thing, and my biggest bummer was the infidelity subplot, it was present for most part of the book, and it kind of shifted away the focus from the main plot. So some of the scary scenes somehow lost it’s intensity as my focus was elsewhere. This infidelity plot just proved to be quite annoying, because sometimes I was more interested to know whether he would cheat or not rather than been interested in who is the ghost or if the Burns family would make it alive.
Even though there were a few things that I didn’t like about this book, but still it was a good read, and succeeded to keep my interest riveted to it because of the suspense making it quite a page turner.
Final words
If you are in mood for a horror story in a small town setting, then this book is definitely recommend for you.
First thing that I loved about the book were the two characters Jess and Eleonore. Jess’ character was especially very good. She was a very good wife and even better mother. She was in inner turmoil and mental pain many times but still she managed to put a happy face and managed to enjoy, only for the sake of her daughter. Eleonore’s character was quite good too, she was a very sweet girl.
The whole book was filled with suspense and there were quite a few horrifying and scary scenes in the book, especially the climax was very scary. The last four deaths happened one after another therefore, the last 10% or so was really terrifying.
Now coming to the things, that rendered this book not quite satisfying. There are two things that I didn’t like about the book. The first one was Aiden’s character. He was just not likeable, I know there are people like him out there and maybe I don’t have the right to judge someone, but I just didn’t like his character. The other thing, and my biggest bummer was the infidelity subplot, it was present for most part of the book, and it kind of shifted away the focus from the main plot. So some of the scary scenes somehow lost it’s intensity as my focus was elsewhere. This infidelity plot just proved to be quite annoying, because sometimes I was more interested to know whether he would cheat or not rather than been interested in who is the ghost or if the Burns family would make it alive.
Even though there were a few things that I didn’t like about this book, but still it was a good read, and succeeded to keep my interest riveted to it because of the suspense making it quite a page turner.
Final words
If you are in mood for a horror story in a small town setting, then this book is definitely recommend for you.
March 22, 2018
In Eselborn in 1789 there is a horrible winter that found the residence freezing and starving. People would go out to hunt but would disappear. Those that went out looking for them never returned. But it seems the author of the journal entry discovered something strange in Clervauz.
Clervauz, Luxembourg is also known as “cat haven.” There are more cats to humans and tourists visit to see the cats and buy cat merchandise. But on May 2015, Camille learns that the curse she learned as a child is true. That there is more to the curse than when a cat is killed nine people must die.
In present day, veterinarian Aidan Burns has moved his family from America to Clervauz. But it seems there is more happening in this little town than just the curse. Things start going badly for Aidan and Jess, lies are told, hearts are broken, and people are dying.
Being a crazy cat lady meant I couldn’t get through my TBR list fast enough to start reading it. I liked the premise and it started out with just the right amount of creep to peak my curiosity. When a cat is killed nine people must die?! Heck yeah! And when she comes after you, there is nowhere to hide.
But I have to say the whole portion where the trouble between Aidan and Jess gets rough could have been left out. I know it was there to make things tougher for them but I didn’t really feel it in the story. Killer cats was enough for me.
Over all this is a good thriller. This is the first book of Vanessa Morgan’s that I have read but I am hooked. I can’t wait to get another one. This is a good thriller to check out, especially if you like or are afraid of cats.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
Clervauz, Luxembourg is also known as “cat haven.” There are more cats to humans and tourists visit to see the cats and buy cat merchandise. But on May 2015, Camille learns that the curse she learned as a child is true. That there is more to the curse than when a cat is killed nine people must die.
In present day, veterinarian Aidan Burns has moved his family from America to Clervauz. But it seems there is more happening in this little town than just the curse. Things start going badly for Aidan and Jess, lies are told, hearts are broken, and people are dying.
Being a crazy cat lady meant I couldn’t get through my TBR list fast enough to start reading it. I liked the premise and it started out with just the right amount of creep to peak my curiosity. When a cat is killed nine people must die?! Heck yeah! And when she comes after you, there is nowhere to hide.
But I have to say the whole portion where the trouble between Aidan and Jess gets rough could have been left out. I know it was there to make things tougher for them but I didn’t really feel it in the story. Killer cats was enough for me.
Over all this is a good thriller. This is the first book of Vanessa Morgan’s that I have read but I am hooked. I can’t wait to get another one. This is a good thriller to check out, especially if you like or are afraid of cats.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
April 30, 2018
The town of Clervaux is the perfect cat sanctuary. Set somewhere in Luxembourg, the town is small, picturesque, and a tourist attraction for any cat lover. All residents of this small town seem to adore their feline friends, doing anything they can in order to keep them safe. And we do mean anything, at all costs.
Aidan, a vet , moves to Clervaux with his wife, and Jess , and their daughter. The place is quiet, beautiful and magical. But when Jess accidentally kills a cat on a car accident, things will start going horribly wrong. One by one, people either disappear or get killed. What is going on in this town? Why is everyone so terrified of cats getting hurt? What is that clicking sound they keep hearing every night in their house?
Clowders is a thriller novel with a unique and interesting concept. The author has created a very beautiful and atmospheric setting, and the story was actually quite scary at times.
However, I found the story to be too long at points where it didn't really matter. There where too many family scenes that had no contribution to the plot, and far too many relationship details of the protagonists. That would be great if the relationships actually had anything to do with the story's main pointy or its ending, but in Clowders it doesn't matter at all, thus making it irrelevant. Moreover, some of the protagonists' decisions felt unnatural and completely illogical. The ending had a very interesting touch, a frightening climax, but was somewhat disappointing. In order not to spoil the ending, I will not elaborate on this, but let's just say the end left the reader somewhat unsatisfied.
All in all, Clowders had a very good concept. It just felt that it needed less irrelevant scenes, and a little more effort on editing.
Aidan, a vet , moves to Clervaux with his wife, and Jess , and their daughter. The place is quiet, beautiful and magical. But when Jess accidentally kills a cat on a car accident, things will start going horribly wrong. One by one, people either disappear or get killed. What is going on in this town? Why is everyone so terrified of cats getting hurt? What is that clicking sound they keep hearing every night in their house?
Clowders is a thriller novel with a unique and interesting concept. The author has created a very beautiful and atmospheric setting, and the story was actually quite scary at times.
However, I found the story to be too long at points where it didn't really matter. There where too many family scenes that had no contribution to the plot, and far too many relationship details of the protagonists. That would be great if the relationships actually had anything to do with the story's main pointy or its ending, but in Clowders it doesn't matter at all, thus making it irrelevant. Moreover, some of the protagonists' decisions felt unnatural and completely illogical. The ending had a very interesting touch, a frightening climax, but was somewhat disappointing. In order not to spoil the ending, I will not elaborate on this, but let's just say the end left the reader somewhat unsatisfied.
All in all, Clowders had a very good concept. It just felt that it needed less irrelevant scenes, and a little more effort on editing.
August 22, 2018
Who wouldn’t like cats? Raise your hands, don’t be shy. Who is afraid of cats? Who has suffered an attack from a cat? Who does not love cats? Cats …
The author of this book is said to be a female version of Stephen King. True, when I read the story, it reminded me the Pet Sematary and Sleepwalkers, but it was also like any other horror movie I have ever seen, where a nice family or couple move into new town, somewhere that is not too crowded and somewhere that is somewhat secluded from rest of the world. Everything is so peaceful and romantic at the beginning, but there is evil underneath it all from the start and it gets scarier with every new scene. Even the evil spirit is just like in any other movie – child size, ditty, long dark hair in from of its face, walks on all four, and there are shining eyes and fangs behind the.
Yes the story is chilling and well put together, but there are so many things that irked me. I really did not get the reason behind this “no talking about our legend to the new settlers” thing. It’s a disaster waiting to be happened, especially if the cats are everywhere and the protagonist is a veterinarian. And I was baffled by the action of some of the characters, and the reasoning for those actions that the author gave – they really did not make any sense and didn’t give anything to the story either.
The story is good, it’s just a got the feeling like it was a pre movie movie script, like the author was not thinking about readers but was thinking of the viewers. I so wanted to like this story, but it was not in the stars. And I’m so glad I did not have cat with me while I was reading this book :).
The author of this book is said to be a female version of Stephen King. True, when I read the story, it reminded me the Pet Sematary and Sleepwalkers, but it was also like any other horror movie I have ever seen, where a nice family or couple move into new town, somewhere that is not too crowded and somewhere that is somewhat secluded from rest of the world. Everything is so peaceful and romantic at the beginning, but there is evil underneath it all from the start and it gets scarier with every new scene. Even the evil spirit is just like in any other movie – child size, ditty, long dark hair in from of its face, walks on all four, and there are shining eyes and fangs behind the.
Yes the story is chilling and well put together, but there are so many things that irked me. I really did not get the reason behind this “no talking about our legend to the new settlers” thing. It’s a disaster waiting to be happened, especially if the cats are everywhere and the protagonist is a veterinarian. And I was baffled by the action of some of the characters, and the reasoning for those actions that the author gave – they really did not make any sense and didn’t give anything to the story either.
The story is good, it’s just a got the feeling like it was a pre movie movie script, like the author was not thinking about readers but was thinking of the viewers. I so wanted to like this story, but it was not in the stars. And I’m so glad I did not have cat with me while I was reading this book :).
February 12, 2018
Brilliant, I loved it!! There were so many things I enjoyed about this story. Vanessa Morgan has done a fantastic job in writing a book that just grabs your attention, and doesn’t let go. Besides being well written, I liked the fact that I didn’t know where the story was going to end up, and I was left continually guessing right up until the very end. It’s quite a clever and unique plot.
Moving to Clervaux, Luxembourg certainly sounds exciting, and it should have been for Aidan, Jess and their daughter Eleonore, and it certainly would have been if it wasn’t for the cats. Jess still couldn’t understand why Aidan wanted to leave their home in the US, and come to a place where she didn’t speak the language, and they had no family or friends close by. However, Jess was prepared to make a go of things, even though it was very different from their life back in Connecticut. Fair enough that Clervaux was a well-known destination for tourists because of all the cats, and it seemed like the perfect place with Aidan being a vet, except the locals seemed a little bit strange. Maybe Jess should have insisted on them leaving the town, when she first started to sense that something wasn’t quite right, but Aidan wanted to stay, and he didn’t believe that there was anything wrong. What ever you do, don’t kill a cat!! This is certainly a story that I will remember for a long time. It’s well worth a read.
I was provided with a copy for an unbiased review
Moving to Clervaux, Luxembourg certainly sounds exciting, and it should have been for Aidan, Jess and their daughter Eleonore, and it certainly would have been if it wasn’t for the cats. Jess still couldn’t understand why Aidan wanted to leave their home in the US, and come to a place where she didn’t speak the language, and they had no family or friends close by. However, Jess was prepared to make a go of things, even though it was very different from their life back in Connecticut. Fair enough that Clervaux was a well-known destination for tourists because of all the cats, and it seemed like the perfect place with Aidan being a vet, except the locals seemed a little bit strange. Maybe Jess should have insisted on them leaving the town, when she first started to sense that something wasn’t quite right, but Aidan wanted to stay, and he didn’t believe that there was anything wrong. What ever you do, don’t kill a cat!! This is certainly a story that I will remember for a long time. It’s well worth a read.
I was provided with a copy for an unbiased review
May 11, 2018
Princess Fuzzypants here: Normally, I am ecstatic about a book where cats play an integral role and clearly with the title of Clowders, we are the main focus. I am not a huge horror fan to begin but when my species is the source of evil, I am not a purring camper. Let me tell, this is downright creepy and scary.
Jess, Aidan, Eleanore and kitty, Avalon, leave everything behind so Aidan can live his dream of working in Europe. He is a vet and starts working at a cat clinic in their new town in Luxembourg. Be careful what you wish for as dreams can turn to nightmares. There is a creature who roams the town protecting all cats from any harm. It sounds like my kind of creature except its definition of harm is anything that leads to death, even if that death would have been merciful. Out of terror, the inhabitants refuse to euthanize even when the cat is in distress.
Everyone who lives in the town knows this and avoids it like the plague. Unfortunately, our intrepid family discover the truth far too late and the revenge exacted on those who were there when a cat died is horrible and gruesome.
Aidan is a selfish and cowardly character but no one deserves the fate they are meted. Having said all that, if you like horror and do not mind casting felines as villains, it is a scary tale indeed. It is not one I will pick up and read again. That does not mean it lacks merit.
I give it three and a half purrs and one half a shivering paw up.
Jess, Aidan, Eleanore and kitty, Avalon, leave everything behind so Aidan can live his dream of working in Europe. He is a vet and starts working at a cat clinic in their new town in Luxembourg. Be careful what you wish for as dreams can turn to nightmares. There is a creature who roams the town protecting all cats from any harm. It sounds like my kind of creature except its definition of harm is anything that leads to death, even if that death would have been merciful. Out of terror, the inhabitants refuse to euthanize even when the cat is in distress.
Everyone who lives in the town knows this and avoids it like the plague. Unfortunately, our intrepid family discover the truth far too late and the revenge exacted on those who were there when a cat died is horrible and gruesome.
Aidan is a selfish and cowardly character but no one deserves the fate they are meted. Having said all that, if you like horror and do not mind casting felines as villains, it is a scary tale indeed. It is not one I will pick up and read again. That does not mean it lacks merit.
I give it three and a half purrs and one half a shivering paw up.
March 10, 2018
Clervaux, Luxembourg is the town that the book , Clowders, is centered upon as it is controlled by cats with a twist. The twist is that every time a cat dies, nine human lives are taken to fill the void.
I admit, this was a hard read for me this week, but I pushed forward thinking my dearest Naya who passed over her own rainbow bridge this very same week I received this book for its book tour. The irony did not fail me throughout my reading.
Superstition and paranoia are at the forefront of what tourists deem folklore and locals deem reality. We follow Aidan (a vet), Jess, and their daughter Eleonore, after their move from Connecticut and the happen stances that follow in the "cat haven" that is Clervaux. When Jess runs over a cat on accident, the quaint history of the town which started in the 1700s starts coming to life.
Smoothly written, yet soft horror versus hard horror and suspense. The main characters are likable, including their own cat, while the rest of the town were written to be mostly unlikable. The "clowders" of cats made for a nice read in which my kids will enjoy reading, after they have come to terms with our own cat's death this week.
I admit, this was a hard read for me this week, but I pushed forward thinking my dearest Naya who passed over her own rainbow bridge this very same week I received this book for its book tour. The irony did not fail me throughout my reading.
Superstition and paranoia are at the forefront of what tourists deem folklore and locals deem reality. We follow Aidan (a vet), Jess, and their daughter Eleonore, after their move from Connecticut and the happen stances that follow in the "cat haven" that is Clervaux. When Jess runs over a cat on accident, the quaint history of the town which started in the 1700s starts coming to life.
Smoothly written, yet soft horror versus hard horror and suspense. The main characters are likable, including their own cat, while the rest of the town were written to be mostly unlikable. The "clowders" of cats made for a nice read in which my kids will enjoy reading, after they have come to terms with our own cat's death this week.
March 12, 2018
Talk about a unique story! I love a good thriller, that is based round local legend. This book is just such a read, and gives you so much detail that you are left completely engrossed in the story, wondering what will happen in the mysterious story and how it might affect the local community.
I did find the book took a little bit to get moving, but once it started rolling, you were thrown into it so deep that you wondered if the clowders might get you as well. The detail and depth in which the author contributed to the story and legend were excellent.
I loved getting to know the characters, filled with a love and hate for them, depending on the time and place. I also liked guessing whether or not pieces of the puzzle were real or just part of the crippling fear that gripped the community.
Overall, this was a great and very interesting read. I think a lot of thriller lovers would enjoy it, especially those who are interested in mythical/legend thrillers.
I did find the book took a little bit to get moving, but once it started rolling, you were thrown into it so deep that you wondered if the clowders might get you as well. The detail and depth in which the author contributed to the story and legend were excellent.
I loved getting to know the characters, filled with a love and hate for them, depending on the time and place. I also liked guessing whether or not pieces of the puzzle were real or just part of the crippling fear that gripped the community.
Overall, this was a great and very interesting read. I think a lot of thriller lovers would enjoy it, especially those who are interested in mythical/legend thrillers.
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