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The Night Parade
One man’s gifted daughter may be the cure to a mysterious illness causing hallucinations and death in this horror novel by the author of Little Girls.
First the birds disappeared.
Then the insects took over.
And the madness began . . .
They call it Wanderer’s Folly—a disease of delusions, of daydreams and nightmares. A plague threatening to wipe out humanity.
After two years of creeping decay, David Arlen woke up one morning thinking that the worst was over. By midnight, he’s bleeding and terrified, his wife is dead, and he’s on the run in a stolen car with his eight-year-old daughter, who may be the key to a cure.
Ellie is a special girl. Deep. Insightful. And she knows David is lying to her. Lying about her mother. Lying about what they’re running from. And lying about what he sees when he takes his eyes off the road . . .
Praise for the writing of Ronald Malfi
“Best horror novel of the year.” —Hunter Shea
“Slowly but surely creeps under your skin.” —The Horror Bookshelf
“An emotionally compelling and interesting read.” —Booklist
“A beautiful and ultimately terrifying story.” —Shotgun Logic
First the birds disappeared.
Then the insects took over.
And the madness began . . .
They call it Wanderer’s Folly—a disease of delusions, of daydreams and nightmares. A plague threatening to wipe out humanity.
After two years of creeping decay, David Arlen woke up one morning thinking that the worst was over. By midnight, he’s bleeding and terrified, his wife is dead, and he’s on the run in a stolen car with his eight-year-old daughter, who may be the key to a cure.
Ellie is a special girl. Deep. Insightful. And she knows David is lying to her. Lying about her mother. Lying about what they’re running from. And lying about what he sees when he takes his eyes off the road . . .
Praise for the writing of Ronald Malfi
“Best horror novel of the year.” —Hunter Shea
“Slowly but surely creeps under your skin.” —The Horror Bookshelf
“An emotionally compelling and interesting read.” —Booklist
“A beautiful and ultimately terrifying story.” —Shotgun Logic
418 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 26, 2016
366 people are currently reading
8393 people want to read
About the author
Ronald Malfi
74 books3,758 followersRonald Malfi is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling, award-winning author of many novels and novellas in the horror, mystery, and thriller genres. In 2011, his novel, Floating Staircase, was nominated for a Bram Stoker Award for best novel by the Horror Writers Association, and also won a gold IPPY award. In 2024, he was presented with the prestigious William G. Wilson Award for Adult Fiction by the Maryland Library Association. Perhaps his most well-received novel, Come with Me (2021), about a man who learns a dark secret about his wife after she's killed, has received stellar reviews, including a starred review from BookPage, and Publishers Weekly has said, "Malfi impresses in this taut, supernaturally tinged mystery... and sticks the landing with a powerful denouement. There’s plenty here to enjoy."
His most recent novels include Senseless (2025) and Small Town Horror (2024), both of which received favorable reviews and saw Malfi stretch his authorial voice.
Come with Me (2021) and Black Mouth (2022), tackle themes of grief and loss, and of the effects of childhood trauma and alcoholism, respectively. Both books have been critically praised, with Publishers Weekly calling Black Mouth a "standout" book of the year. These novels were followed by Ghostwritten (2022), a collection of four subtly-linked novellas about haunted books and the power of the written word. Ghostwritten received a starred review from Publishers Weekly, which called the book a "wonderfully meta collection...vibrantly imagined," and that "Malfi makes reading about the perils of reading a terrifying delight."
Among his most popular works is December Park, a coming-of-age thriller set in the '90s, wherein five teenage boys take up the hunt for a child murderer in their hometown of Harting Farms, Maryland. In interviews, Malfi has expressed that this is his most autobiographical book to date. In 2015, this novel was awarded the Beverly Hills International Book Award for best suspense novel. It has been optioned several times for film.
Bone White (2017), about a man searching for his lost twin brother in a haunted Alaskan mining town, was touted as "an elegant, twisted, gripping slow-burn of a novel that burrows under the skin and nestles deep," by RT Book Reviews, and has also been optioned for television by Fox21/Disney and Amazon Studios.
His novels Little Girls (2015) and The Night Parade (2016) explore broken families forced to endure horrific and extraordinary circumstances, which has become the hallmark for Malfi's brand of intimate, lyrical horror fiction.
His earlier works, such as Via Dolorosa (2007) and Passenger (2008) explored characters with lost or confused identities, wherein Malfi experimented with the ultimate unreliable narrators. He maintained this trend in his award-winning novel, Floating Staircase (2011), which the author has suggested contains "multiple endings for the astute reader."
His more "monstery" novels, such as Snow (2010) and The Narrows (2012) still resonate with his inimitable brand of literary cadence and focus on character and story over plot. Both books were highly regarded by fans and reviewers in the genre.
A bit of a departure, Malfi published the crime drama Shamrock Alley in 2009, based on the true exploits of his own father, a former Secret Service agent. The book was optioned several times for film.
Ronald Malfi was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1977, the eldest of four children, and eventually relocated to Maryland, where he currently resides along the Chesapeake Bay.
When he's not writing, he's performing with the rock band VEER, who can be found at veerband.net and wherever you stream your music.
Visit
His most recent novels include Senseless (2025) and Small Town Horror (2024), both of which received favorable reviews and saw Malfi stretch his authorial voice.
Come with Me (2021) and Black Mouth (2022), tackle themes of grief and loss, and of the effects of childhood trauma and alcoholism, respectively. Both books have been critically praised, with Publishers Weekly calling Black Mouth a "standout" book of the year. These novels were followed by Ghostwritten (2022), a collection of four subtly-linked novellas about haunted books and the power of the written word. Ghostwritten received a starred review from Publishers Weekly, which called the book a "wonderfully meta collection...vibrantly imagined," and that "Malfi makes reading about the perils of reading a terrifying delight."
Among his most popular works is December Park, a coming-of-age thriller set in the '90s, wherein five teenage boys take up the hunt for a child murderer in their hometown of Harting Farms, Maryland. In interviews, Malfi has expressed that this is his most autobiographical book to date. In 2015, this novel was awarded the Beverly Hills International Book Award for best suspense novel. It has been optioned several times for film.
Bone White (2017), about a man searching for his lost twin brother in a haunted Alaskan mining town, was touted as "an elegant, twisted, gripping slow-burn of a novel that burrows under the skin and nestles deep," by RT Book Reviews, and has also been optioned for television by Fox21/Disney and Amazon Studios.
His novels Little Girls (2015) and The Night Parade (2016) explore broken families forced to endure horrific and extraordinary circumstances, which has become the hallmark for Malfi's brand of intimate, lyrical horror fiction.
His earlier works, such as Via Dolorosa (2007) and Passenger (2008) explored characters with lost or confused identities, wherein Malfi experimented with the ultimate unreliable narrators. He maintained this trend in his award-winning novel, Floating Staircase (2011), which the author has suggested contains "multiple endings for the astute reader."
His more "monstery" novels, such as Snow (2010) and The Narrows (2012) still resonate with his inimitable brand of literary cadence and focus on character and story over plot. Both books were highly regarded by fans and reviewers in the genre.
A bit of a departure, Malfi published the crime drama Shamrock Alley in 2009, based on the true exploits of his own father, a former Secret Service agent. The book was optioned several times for film.
Ronald Malfi was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1977, the eldest of four children, and eventually relocated to Maryland, where he currently resides along the Chesapeake Bay.
When he's not writing, he's performing with the rock band VEER, who can be found at veerband.net and wherever you stream your music.
Visit
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 732 reviews
March 8, 2019
I'm not even sure what to say about this book. I was thinking it was going to be about insects killing everyone! LOL! Yes, the insects are crazy everywhere after the birds disappear and some creepy stuff happen here and there but it's not an insect killing people book. :-)
David Arlen runs away in the night with his daughter Ellie because some peeps at the CDC want to experiment on her to see if she can cure THE DISEASE. That didn't work out so well for David's wife so they are on the run. But there IS something different about Ellie. <---let me backtrack and say, there is a part with an ice cream truck coming into the neighborhood at midnight that totally has me creeped out still. Nothing bad happens, it's just the thought and I can't get it out of my head!
So, moving on... Ellie has some things she can do. Uggg, how do I not give out spoilers! Anyway, she does these things and it kinda freaks her dad out but he still loves her and they are on the run to his brother Tim's place. He's a good guy too. David keeps getting calls on his phone from the doctors to bring her in and stuff. I wanted to smack him because.. uh.. trace the phone... hello! Throw it away.
And through-out the book Ellie is carrying around a box of birds eggs. They tell about it at the end of the book but I think the significance was lost on me. My little brain doesn't work that well. At any rate it's a sweet thing with the eggs.
Anyway, so like if you get this disease you just start wandering around and seeing things and other stuff before you keel over. I kept thinking this was the end of days with plagues and miracles and weird stuff, but then it could all just be the hallucinations. See, there is the twist. I'm sure someone with more smarts will figure it all out.
I did love Ellie's character. She's was a really good little girl and I think she's going to do great things. And I like the fact that good people still know what to do to the evil people. That's all I'm saying.
*I would like to thank Netgalley and Kensington Books for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.*
MY BLOG: Melissa Martin's Reading List
David Arlen runs away in the night with his daughter Ellie because some peeps at the CDC want to experiment on her to see if she can cure THE DISEASE. That didn't work out so well for David's wife so they are on the run. But there IS something different about Ellie. <---let me backtrack and say, there is a part with an ice cream truck coming into the neighborhood at midnight that totally has me creeped out still. Nothing bad happens, it's just the thought and I can't get it out of my head!
So, moving on... Ellie has some things she can do. Uggg, how do I not give out spoilers! Anyway, she does these things and it kinda freaks her dad out but he still loves her and they are on the run to his brother Tim's place. He's a good guy too. David keeps getting calls on his phone from the doctors to bring her in and stuff. I wanted to smack him because.. uh.. trace the phone... hello! Throw it away.
And through-out the book Ellie is carrying around a box of birds eggs. They tell about it at the end of the book but I think the significance was lost on me. My little brain doesn't work that well. At any rate it's a sweet thing with the eggs.
Anyway, so like if you get this disease you just start wandering around and seeing things and other stuff before you keel over. I kept thinking this was the end of days with plagues and miracles and weird stuff, but then it could all just be the hallucinations. See, there is the twist. I'm sure someone with more smarts will figure it all out.
I did love Ellie's character. She's was a really good little girl and I think she's going to do great things. And I like the fact that good people still know what to do to the evil people. That's all I'm saying.
*I would like to thank Netgalley and Kensington Books for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.*
MY BLOG: Melissa Martin's Reading List
September 11, 2024
Well, the last three/four chapters gave my emotional-content a severe work-out.
This definitely reminds me of Firestarter (Stephen King) - with a father and daughter on the run from the authorities. Both Charlie (Firestarter) and Ellie (The Night Parade) are around the same age; seven and eight, respectively. Although, Charlie McGee's - gift? - abilities (The Bad Thing) were far more potent. She could conflagrate the planet, causing total annihilation, whereas Eleanor 'Ellie' Arlen is the possible answer for a disease known as "Wanderer's Folly," which sounds like an STD - for some reason.
The main character (David Arlen) was a bit of an enigma - at times - in the way he feeds his eight-year-old daughter misinformation, and the lengths he's willing to go to - to feign an action - in the hope it'll keep her happy, and stop her asking awkward questions, he doesn't want to answer.
In conclusion: I'm still not sure what to make of David. It's obvious he loves/cares for his daughter, and will do anything to protect her. But I think he should have been more candid with her, from the start, instead of dancing around questions being asked. So, I guess, my feelings about how he handled certain situations, vacillated, every so often.
Final thought: I may have to reread the last two chapters, as I'm not entirely sure I fully understood what happened.
This definitely reminds me of Firestarter (Stephen King) - with a father and daughter on the run from the authorities. Both Charlie (Firestarter) and Ellie (The Night Parade) are around the same age; seven and eight, respectively. Although, Charlie McGee's - gift? - abilities (The Bad Thing) were far more potent. She could conflagrate the planet, causing total annihilation, whereas Eleanor 'Ellie' Arlen is the possible answer for a disease known as "Wanderer's Folly," which sounds like an STD - for some reason.
The main character (David Arlen) was a bit of an enigma - at times - in the way he feeds his eight-year-old daughter misinformation, and the lengths he's willing to go to - to feign an action - in the hope it'll keep her happy, and stop her asking awkward questions, he doesn't want to answer.
In conclusion: I'm still not sure what to make of David. It's obvious he loves/cares for his daughter, and will do anything to protect her. But I think he should have been more candid with her, from the start, instead of dancing around questions being asked. So, I guess, my feelings about how he handled certain situations, vacillated, every so often.
Final thought: I may have to reread the last two chapters, as I'm not entirely sure I fully understood what happened.
May 9, 2019
5 STARS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Full review up!
This was so great! One of the better post-apocalyptic books that I’ve read.
The Night Parade starts off with David Arlen racing away from his home, dead wife and the authorities looking for him and his daughter, Ellie. Ellie is a special girl and David must protect her at all costs.
The world has been contaminated with Wanderer’s Folly. Ronald Malfi does a excellent job of writing about this plague and the world that our characters are trying to survive in. His world building was great in this!
Wanderer’s Folly causes delusions, daydreams and nightmares. The nightmares become so real in your mind that you’ll kill yourself over the visions. Health officials do not understand how this disease is contacted and the world is slowly eating itself alive.
I loved the past and present chapters in The Night Parade. The sense of dread in this book is so good. While reading the past chapters in how Wanderer’s Folly is contacted, you're on the edge of your seat trying to understand how all this could happen. And then we're introduced to the present chapters in where David and Ellie are running for their lives. It just works!
I think what I loved the most about this book was how Ronald Malfi wrote emotion in this for the characters and all the scary obstacles they go through in order to survive. It’s a terrifying and great book that starts to creep under your skin!
Recommended to fans that love horror and post-apocalyptic books! I really don’t think you’ll be disappointed while reading this. I'm looking forward to reading more books by Malfi. His writing was excellent!
Full review up!
This was so great! One of the better post-apocalyptic books that I’ve read.
The Night Parade starts off with David Arlen racing away from his home, dead wife and the authorities looking for him and his daughter, Ellie. Ellie is a special girl and David must protect her at all costs.
The world has been contaminated with Wanderer’s Folly. Ronald Malfi does a excellent job of writing about this plague and the world that our characters are trying to survive in. His world building was great in this!
Wanderer’s Folly causes delusions, daydreams and nightmares. The nightmares become so real in your mind that you’ll kill yourself over the visions. Health officials do not understand how this disease is contacted and the world is slowly eating itself alive.
I loved the past and present chapters in The Night Parade. The sense of dread in this book is so good. While reading the past chapters in how Wanderer’s Folly is contacted, you're on the edge of your seat trying to understand how all this could happen. And then we're introduced to the present chapters in where David and Ellie are running for their lives. It just works!
I think what I loved the most about this book was how Ronald Malfi wrote emotion in this for the characters and all the scary obstacles they go through in order to survive. It’s a terrifying and great book that starts to creep under your skin!
Recommended to fans that love horror and post-apocalyptic books! I really don’t think you’ll be disappointed while reading this. I'm looking forward to reading more books by Malfi. His writing was excellent!
July 17, 2024
Wow. Am I glad to have finally made a point of reading this extraordinary Malfi novel. The Night Parade more than exceeded my expectations. Just wish it was a hundred pages longer so I could put off saying goodbye to these vibrant and courageous characters.
September 16, 2017
So this week I found myself in the path of Hurricane Irma. I will say I hate that bitch. We've been without power for almost five days now. I have discovered something about myself. Yes, I'm grateful that we didn't suffer more damage than we did and I feel heartbroken for all the people that did. Including my close neighbors. But what I discovered was...I'm not cut out for this shit. If the zombie apocalypse happens tomorrow..just look for me.
Anyways, enough of my boring TMI stuff. I was in need of book entertainment and since I snoozed and missed out on requesting the super popular Bone White I realized that I had another Malfi book that I was a total slacker and hadn't read yet. And of course with my luck the one I choose was an end of the world one. Perfect timing Shelby, you dumb ass.
Eight year old Ellie used to stand her toys up at attention at her door when she was younger, forming a "Night Parade" of protection in her sleep.
But what happens when the intruder is hidden? People have realized that the birds have disappeared and bugs are running rampant. (I hate birds and bugs both so I'm already shuddering)
Then people start displaying weird symptoms-such as delusions, weird bleeding and then death.
It's not the Zika, calm down. It's called Wanderer's Folly. I don't want to catch that stuff either.
Ellie's dad David is on the run with her. Her mom has died and David thinks that the 'government' is going to take Ellie to test on next.
This dang book. Get ready to eat all your fingernails off if you read it. You can't stop though. Something might happen! Or at least that's how I felt. I love when an author makes it so that you can't put the book down because your heart is beating faster and you HAVE to know what happens next.
Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review
Anyways, enough of my boring TMI stuff. I was in need of book entertainment and since I snoozed and missed out on requesting the super popular Bone White I realized that I had another Malfi book that I was a total slacker and hadn't read yet. And of course with my luck the one I choose was an end of the world one. Perfect timing Shelby, you dumb ass.
Eight year old Ellie used to stand her toys up at attention at her door when she was younger, forming a "Night Parade" of protection in her sleep.
But what happens when the intruder is hidden? People have realized that the birds have disappeared and bugs are running rampant. (I hate birds and bugs both so I'm already shuddering)
Then people start displaying weird symptoms-such as delusions, weird bleeding and then death.
It's not the Zika, calm down. It's called Wanderer's Folly. I don't want to catch that stuff either.
Ellie's dad David is on the run with her. Her mom has died and David thinks that the 'government' is going to take Ellie to test on next.
This dang book. Get ready to eat all your fingernails off if you read it. You can't stop though. Something might happen! Or at least that's how I felt. I love when an author makes it so that you can't put the book down because your heart is beating faster and you HAVE to know what happens next.
Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review
March 9, 2022
What started out as an interesting plot got tedious fast. The bouncing back and forth in time took away from the creepiness and story for me. Malfi should have started from the beginning of the disease, the fallout, and then current events. By the time I got to the end, I didn't care about any of it. I just wanted it to be over. Overall meh.
July 26, 2016
Wanderer's Folly-that's the name of the contagion at the center of The Night Parade. As far as plagues go, it does its own thing, but it usually involves bleeding copiously from the nose and intense hallucinations. It's not restricted to just humans either, some animals have also been infected. This is the background in which we find David and his 8, (almost 9!), year old daughter Ellie; both trying to avoid the plague and survive while on the run. If you want to know more than that, you'll have to read this excellent book.
What I liked most about this story was the building dread-the reader never had the chance to fully relax, because just when you thought everything was cool, it was NOT, and then you were right back where you started- which in my case was nibbling my nails and turning the pages. And that's another thing-the pacing. The chapters were mostly short and because there was a lot of action happening, or on the verge of happening, I just kept on going like the literary version of Nemo. Just keep reading...
The characters were good and memorable, but there isn't a big cast here which was fine with me. I think that contributed to the quick pacing as well.
So there you have it: a cool, scary plague, characters you can root for, fast pacing, and what I thought was an interesting plot, even if not altogether original. I recommend this book for all these reasons and not just to fans of horror, but to fans of thrillers and apocalyptic fiction as well. Pick up The Night Parade and see what it's all about. I think you'll dig it!
Available July 26th, you can get your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Night-Parade-R...
*Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. This is it. *
What I liked most about this story was the building dread-the reader never had the chance to fully relax, because just when you thought everything was cool, it was NOT, and then you were right back where you started- which in my case was nibbling my nails and turning the pages. And that's another thing-the pacing. The chapters were mostly short and because there was a lot of action happening, or on the verge of happening, I just kept on going like the literary version of Nemo. Just keep reading...
The characters were good and memorable, but there isn't a big cast here which was fine with me. I think that contributed to the quick pacing as well.
So there you have it: a cool, scary plague, characters you can root for, fast pacing, and what I thought was an interesting plot, even if not altogether original. I recommend this book for all these reasons and not just to fans of horror, but to fans of thrillers and apocalyptic fiction as well. Pick up The Night Parade and see what it's all about. I think you'll dig it!
Available July 26th, you can get your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Night-Parade-R...
*Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. This is it. *
May 14, 2024
This is Firestarter meets The Stand in all the most tributary, but not mimicky ways. I will never understand how Malfi isn’t a household name yet. He is such a great writer, and I’ve loved every single book of his I’ve read.
Character I Loved & Hated
Loved Tim for living off the grid, away from all that pesky, disgusting humanness (so jealous right now) while still being the most accepting, loving and trustworthy person in the whole book. Hated Solomon because you know, he doesn’t really have a good head on his shoulders
Themes
As a parent I picked up on the ongoing battle about how much information should be revealed to children. At what point is protecting them really doing them unintended harm? I struggle with this every day of my life.
Thing I’ll walk away with
A new understanding of rudimentary alarm systems, predicated on noises made from toppled objects
Character I Loved & Hated
Loved Tim for living off the grid, away from all that pesky, disgusting humanness (so jealous right now) while still being the most accepting, loving and trustworthy person in the whole book. Hated Solomon because you know, he doesn’t really have a good head on his shoulders
Themes
As a parent I picked up on the ongoing battle about how much information should be revealed to children. At what point is protecting them really doing them unintended harm? I struggle with this every day of my life.
Thing I’ll walk away with
A new understanding of rudimentary alarm systems, predicated on noises made from toppled objects
June 25, 2016
With so many authors and books on my radar, I’ve still somehow never come across a book by Ronald Malfi. I have to say, I’m pretty impressed with his style.
The categorization of this book as a horror novel is what initially piqued my interest. It’s no secret, I occasionally like to dabble in books that creep me out and this one delivered.
Think The Walking Dead, but without the zombies. We’re thrust into a story of a father and daughter on the run, in the middle of the night. They’re in a stolen car headed somewhere, but where? And why? The author does a great job of alluding to what is going on, but he doesn’t come right out and say it. Instead, you get to sit back and watch him piece the full story together with flashes between the past and present. The anticipation made it a fast-paced, but completely unnerving ride.
There were so many things that set me on edge - the ice cream truck (I surely will never look at one the same), the eerie paper plate masks, the increase in creepy crawlers (a spider eating a rat? *skin crawling*) and the sheer desolation of some areas. Not to mention, the madness. That had to be the worst part. Just the thought of contracting this unknown virus that attacks your brain and brings on hallucinations was enough to scare me. I can only imagine how much I would be freaking out in David and Ellie’s situation. And how could you put your trust in anyone?
And the bird eggs? What gives? Why in the heck was she dragging those around? I’m not sure if I still even get it. So if you’re reading this and you do, please tell me.
This story was so much more than just an apocalyptic meltdown. It’s was also about the unwavering love a father has for his daughter. Amongst all the bleakness, David and Ellie were definitely the light. His determination to protect her at all costs and her drive to help people had me rooting for them to make it. I could see what was coming, but I wanted to look the other way and pretend I didn’t. I wanted to be wrong.
I could go on and on, but suffice it to say, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The setting, the words, the ending. Color me impressed.
*ARC kindly provided by Kensington Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
The categorization of this book as a horror novel is what initially piqued my interest. It’s no secret, I occasionally like to dabble in books that creep me out and this one delivered.
Think The Walking Dead, but without the zombies. We’re thrust into a story of a father and daughter on the run, in the middle of the night. They’re in a stolen car headed somewhere, but where? And why? The author does a great job of alluding to what is going on, but he doesn’t come right out and say it. Instead, you get to sit back and watch him piece the full story together with flashes between the past and present. The anticipation made it a fast-paced, but completely unnerving ride.
“Maybe we’re all just ghosts floating about through the ether, occasionally bumping into one another.”
There were so many things that set me on edge - the ice cream truck (I surely will never look at one the same), the eerie paper plate masks, the increase in creepy crawlers (a spider eating a rat? *skin crawling*) and the sheer desolation of some areas. Not to mention, the madness. That had to be the worst part. Just the thought of contracting this unknown virus that attacks your brain and brings on hallucinations was enough to scare me. I can only imagine how much I would be freaking out in David and Ellie’s situation. And how could you put your trust in anyone?
And the bird eggs? What gives? Why in the heck was she dragging those around? I’m not sure if I still even get it. So if you’re reading this and you do, please tell me.
This story was so much more than just an apocalyptic meltdown. It’s was also about the unwavering love a father has for his daughter. Amongst all the bleakness, David and Ellie were definitely the light. His determination to protect her at all costs and her drive to help people had me rooting for them to make it. I could see what was coming, but I wanted to look the other way and pretend I didn’t. I wanted to be wrong.
I could go on and on, but suffice it to say, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The setting, the words, the ending. Color me impressed.
*ARC kindly provided by Kensington Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
April 28, 2019
Wow
Wow. I thought this would be a zombie book but it isn't. It's the end of the world. A disease known as Wonder's Folly is wiping out the human race. David and Ellie are on the run for reason you'll have to read to find out.
This book is great. The relationship David & Ellie have is beautiful and felt real. The questioning of what's right or wrong and how far would you go to protect your loved ones made this a 5 star read for me. Great job Ronald Malfi 👏🏻
Wow. I thought this would be a zombie book but it isn't. It's the end of the world. A disease known as Wonder's Folly is wiping out the human race. David and Ellie are on the run for reason you'll have to read to find out.
This book is great. The relationship David & Ellie have is beautiful and felt real. The questioning of what's right or wrong and how far would you go to protect your loved ones made this a 5 star read for me. Great job Ronald Malfi 👏🏻
June 28, 2016
THE NIGHT PARADE, by Ronald Malfi, is a book I've been looking forward to ever since I saw that it was scheduled to be released. As you can see by my rating, I was not at all disappointed.
Malfi is truly gifted when it comes to storytelling in general, and characterization. As soon as I began THE NIGHT PARADE, I fell completely into the lives of David Arlen and his daughter, Ellie. Their emotions, reactions, and conversations were all so vivid that they could have been happening--in the real world--right before you. These characters showed a true parent/child relationship that was real; something readers could identify with.
The "sickness" became known as "The Folly"--a disease of the brain that the afflicted could never be cured of. The method of how it was spread remained a mystery. The only thing David Arlen was certain of was that his daughter was . . . special . . .
"They're not looking for me, baby . . . They're looking for you . . . "
How far will a Father go to protect his only child?
There are no limits.
There are other characters in this novel that Malfi brings to life with the same expertise. David's wife, Kathy--who's emotional turmoil and sense of duty are so sadly poignant, that I felt I was with her, and able to understand her internal trauma. David's step-brother, Tim, who lived "off the grid" long before the world's latest problem began--his thoughts and motivations were just as plausible as were those who remained behind, in denial that the world as they knew it had changed.
". . . What changed your plans so drastically that you decided this horrible madness was the better option? . . . "
As this evocative journey continued, every little aspect brought to our attention--the sorrow, isolation, occasional chaos and madness--all combined to bring this tale alive. THE NIGHT PARADE is an emotional, suspenseful story that very often strayed from the path I was expecting, keeping my undivided attention throughout the entire novel.
Highest recommendation!
*I received an advance e-copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
Malfi is truly gifted when it comes to storytelling in general, and characterization. As soon as I began THE NIGHT PARADE, I fell completely into the lives of David Arlen and his daughter, Ellie. Their emotions, reactions, and conversations were all so vivid that they could have been happening--in the real world--right before you. These characters showed a true parent/child relationship that was real; something readers could identify with.
The "sickness" became known as "The Folly"--a disease of the brain that the afflicted could never be cured of. The method of how it was spread remained a mystery. The only thing David Arlen was certain of was that his daughter was . . . special . . .
"They're not looking for me, baby . . . They're looking for you . . . "
How far will a Father go to protect his only child?
There are no limits.
There are other characters in this novel that Malfi brings to life with the same expertise. David's wife, Kathy--who's emotional turmoil and sense of duty are so sadly poignant, that I felt I was with her, and able to understand her internal trauma. David's step-brother, Tim, who lived "off the grid" long before the world's latest problem began--his thoughts and motivations were just as plausible as were those who remained behind, in denial that the world as they knew it had changed.
". . . What changed your plans so drastically that you decided this horrible madness was the better option? . . . "
As this evocative journey continued, every little aspect brought to our attention--the sorrow, isolation, occasional chaos and madness--all combined to bring this tale alive. THE NIGHT PARADE is an emotional, suspenseful story that very often strayed from the path I was expecting, keeping my undivided attention throughout the entire novel.
Highest recommendation!
*I received an advance e-copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
February 10, 2017
This review and the rest of the crap I write can be seen @ my blog Bark's Book Nonsense . Stop by and say hey.
Set during the onset of an apocalypse in the form of a plague, The Night Parade is part road trip, part survivalist thriller, part emotional relationship drama and, fortunately for me, all parts were good.
The plague is dubbed Wanderer’s Folly because it makes you lose your marbles before killing you. You might wander about in your undies and do such strange things like setting your house aflame or walking off a cliff before dropping dead. Yikes, I don’t know about you but those images haunted me. It was horrifying and scary and seeing as I love these types of stories, I was in it from the very beginning.
David has blood on his sleeve and is trying to outrun the plague and keep his daughter Ellie safe from an evil doctor. That’s all about all we know when the story begins. As things slowly unravel, we learn everything but it takes its sweet time getting there and I will not spoil the trip for you. The getting there is all the fun (well, fun isn’t exactly the appropriate word for this emotional and grief laden story). The book is filled is with scary people, frighteningly large bugs and lots of them, fatherly love and strange discoveries.
There is such pain and sorrow in both David and Ellie’s past and nothing but fear in their future but they manage to keep going. I enjoyed reading about them both. It’s a gripping and well-paced read that, unlike many of these types of stories, never forgets about its characters. The world may have gone to shit but humanity still survives. I recommend it highly and hope there is another book set in this world because there are a few plot points I’d like to see expanded upon. 4 ½ Stars
*I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for a review.
Set during the onset of an apocalypse in the form of a plague, The Night Parade is part road trip, part survivalist thriller, part emotional relationship drama and, fortunately for me, all parts were good.
The plague is dubbed Wanderer’s Folly because it makes you lose your marbles before killing you. You might wander about in your undies and do such strange things like setting your house aflame or walking off a cliff before dropping dead. Yikes, I don’t know about you but those images haunted me. It was horrifying and scary and seeing as I love these types of stories, I was in it from the very beginning.
David has blood on his sleeve and is trying to outrun the plague and keep his daughter Ellie safe from an evil doctor. That’s all about all we know when the story begins. As things slowly unravel, we learn everything but it takes its sweet time getting there and I will not spoil the trip for you. The getting there is all the fun (well, fun isn’t exactly the appropriate word for this emotional and grief laden story). The book is filled is with scary people, frighteningly large bugs and lots of them, fatherly love and strange discoveries.
There is such pain and sorrow in both David and Ellie’s past and nothing but fear in their future but they manage to keep going. I enjoyed reading about them both. It’s a gripping and well-paced read that, unlike many of these types of stories, never forgets about its characters. The world may have gone to shit but humanity still survives. I recommend it highly and hope there is another book set in this world because there are a few plot points I’d like to see expanded upon. 4 ½ Stars
*I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for a review.
April 19, 2025
Another 5 ⭐️Malfi story! Another horror novel with a tear jerker of an ending…another action packed book, full of rich and vibrant characters, and plenty of ❤️. If you’ve never read one of Ronald Malfi’s books, do yourself a favor and change that pronto!!
October 12, 2022
4.5 rounded up to 5/5.
They call it Wanderer’s Folly—a disease of delusions, of daydreams and nightmares. A plague threatening to wipe out humanity.
After two years of creeping decay, David Arlen woke up one morning thinking that the worst was over. By midnight, he’s bleeding and terrified, his wife is dead, and he’s on the run in a stolen car with his eight-year-old daughter, who may be the key to a cure.
Ellie is a special girl. Deep. Insightful. And she knows David is lying to her. Lying about her mother. Lying about what they’re running from. And lying about what he sees when he takes his eyes off the road . . .
This was a slow burner but it was definitely worth sticking with it. I don’t know what it is about Malfi’s writing but he just has the knack of really drawing you into a character’s story; you really care and become invested in his characters, and David and Ellie were integral to the success of The Night Parade.
With apocalyptic vibes, The Night Parade read like a reimagined McCarthy’s ‘The Road.’ Filled with tension, suspense, mystery and an encroaching menace this book was an epic exploration of a father’s love for his daughter and the lengths people go to to survive.
Malfi is slowly taking his place as one of my favourite authors, he definitely has a particular style… if you enjoy intricate characterisation with depth and a slow burning plot you need to check Malfi out.
They call it Wanderer’s Folly—a disease of delusions, of daydreams and nightmares. A plague threatening to wipe out humanity.
After two years of creeping decay, David Arlen woke up one morning thinking that the worst was over. By midnight, he’s bleeding and terrified, his wife is dead, and he’s on the run in a stolen car with his eight-year-old daughter, who may be the key to a cure.
Ellie is a special girl. Deep. Insightful. And she knows David is lying to her. Lying about her mother. Lying about what they’re running from. And lying about what he sees when he takes his eyes off the road . . .
This was a slow burner but it was definitely worth sticking with it. I don’t know what it is about Malfi’s writing but he just has the knack of really drawing you into a character’s story; you really care and become invested in his characters, and David and Ellie were integral to the success of The Night Parade.
With apocalyptic vibes, The Night Parade read like a reimagined McCarthy’s ‘The Road.’ Filled with tension, suspense, mystery and an encroaching menace this book was an epic exploration of a father’s love for his daughter and the lengths people go to to survive.
Malfi is slowly taking his place as one of my favourite authors, he definitely has a particular style… if you enjoy intricate characterisation with depth and a slow burning plot you need to check Malfi out.
April 7, 2024
Wayyyyyy too many obvious The Last of Us 1 plot points and references for me to see much originality in this one. :(
Apocalyptic sudden sweeping never seen before disease
Ellie
She's immune
People want her for her ability(ies)
Man and girl go on harrowing cross country adventure
Man lies to girl a lot
Weird people want to do weird things to man/girl
Betrayal
Last of Us 1: 2013 release
This novel: 2016 copyright
Apocalyptic sudden sweeping never seen before disease
Ellie
She's immune
People want her for her ability(ies)
Man and girl go on harrowing cross country adventure
Man lies to girl a lot
Weird people want to do weird things to man/girl
Betrayal
Last of Us 1: 2013 release
This novel: 2016 copyright
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 21, 2019
3.5 Stars
This was a compelling apocalyptic novel that I would recommend for fans of The Fireman and The Walking Dead. Also, the premise of this book was weirdly similar to the video game The Last of Us. Regardless, Malfi is still a great storyteller, even if a lot of the events were predictable. I really liked the relationship between the father and daughter. This is not my favourite subgenre of horror to read, so if you love apocalyptic stories, then you will likely enjoy this story even more than I did.
This was a compelling apocalyptic novel that I would recommend for fans of The Fireman and The Walking Dead. Also, the premise of this book was weirdly similar to the video game The Last of Us. Regardless, Malfi is still a great storyteller, even if a lot of the events were predictable. I really liked the relationship between the father and daughter. This is not my favourite subgenre of horror to read, so if you love apocalyptic stories, then you will likely enjoy this story even more than I did.
March 12, 2025
Post-apocalyptic horror at its best.
“They’ll tell you to repent, repent! But what if we are faced with some greater truth? What if the magic has turned black? Perhaps repentance is no longer an option, children. Perhaps we are the marching doomed, a parade of devils, the hopeless dregs paying for the sins of a world that has gotten so out of control, so repulsively foul with sin—”
I've been a fan of Ronald Malfi's most recent novels so figured it time to delve a little further back into his works with this one.
My appreciation for his work has only heightened after reading this story.
This book does so many things well, pulling me into a world of decay and death, painting vivid scenes of broken minds and families of the same ilk, but what it does best is gazing an eye on human nature. How far we will go to protect ourselves and those we love and also what we would give up for the greater good. This for me was the thing that had me hooked and dying to know what happens next. It also had me wondering what I would do in a similar situation and how those choices may affect me or those I love.
"They were prehistoric in their hugeness, yet there was nothing mammalian about them. Instead, they appeared insectoid, multi-legged and wielding great segmented antennae, with shimmering, chitinous carapaces and eyes like swirling, gaseous planets"
Anyway, as always I'm not revealing any spoilers or plot details but I will happily state that if you want to read a great story set in a post-apocalyptic world, that is both full of dread and huge loss but also has moments of beauty and wonder, then you should try this!
“They’ll tell you to repent, repent! But what if we are faced with some greater truth? What if the magic has turned black? Perhaps repentance is no longer an option, children. Perhaps we are the marching doomed, a parade of devils, the hopeless dregs paying for the sins of a world that has gotten so out of control, so repulsively foul with sin—”
I've been a fan of Ronald Malfi's most recent novels so figured it time to delve a little further back into his works with this one.
My appreciation for his work has only heightened after reading this story.
This book does so many things well, pulling me into a world of decay and death, painting vivid scenes of broken minds and families of the same ilk, but what it does best is gazing an eye on human nature. How far we will go to protect ourselves and those we love and also what we would give up for the greater good. This for me was the thing that had me hooked and dying to know what happens next. It also had me wondering what I would do in a similar situation and how those choices may affect me or those I love.
"They were prehistoric in their hugeness, yet there was nothing mammalian about them. Instead, they appeared insectoid, multi-legged and wielding great segmented antennae, with shimmering, chitinous carapaces and eyes like swirling, gaseous planets"
Anyway, as always I'm not revealing any spoilers or plot details but I will happily state that if you want to read a great story set in a post-apocalyptic world, that is both full of dread and huge loss but also has moments of beauty and wonder, then you should try this!
September 13, 2016
There are writers and then there is Ronald Malfi. From the first chapter of The Night Parade, it was evident that Malfi's caliber of writing was a notch above what I'm used to seeing from the genre. The verbiage and imagery raised the writing into something majestic. It makes me want to throw away my laptop and quit pretending that I could ever write something of this quality. OK, maybe that's a bit harsh, but you get where I'm going with this.
The Night Parade starts out with David and his daughter Ellie on the run from the government. There's an illness going around called Wanderer's Folly and it makes people hallucinate and bleed out of their noses before they either drop dead, kill themselves or kill someone else. The CDC doesn't know if it's spread by air or contact or if it's somehow imbedded in our DNA and something has caused it to turn on in some people. All they know is David's wife, Kathy, was immune before they killed her off testing her to death and that Ellie is also immune...and they want her.
The story has a nice slow build up that ratchets the tension to the breaking point. Malfi also uses a series of flashbacks that slowly unravel the past slowly before our eyes. It's extremely effective in teasing the reader with just enough information that only leads to a whole slew of more questions that need answering. The characters are vivid and masterfully three-dimensional where you can literally feel the tension and exhaustion that David is going through in your bones. The Night Parade has shades of Firestarter, Swan Song, and The Dead Zone all mixed within, yet at no time does it feel derivative. It has everything that I look for in a great story - strong characters, realistic dialogue, a slow build up of tension that leads to a climactic ending, and a lasting impact that keeps you thinking about the story long after you've closed the cover.
5 Oriole Eggs out of 5
* I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
You can also read my other reviews and author interviews at:
https://kenmckinley.wordpress.com
http://intothemacabre.booklikes.com
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5...
The Night Parade starts out with David and his daughter Ellie on the run from the government. There's an illness going around called Wanderer's Folly and it makes people hallucinate and bleed out of their noses before they either drop dead, kill themselves or kill someone else. The CDC doesn't know if it's spread by air or contact or if it's somehow imbedded in our DNA and something has caused it to turn on in some people. All they know is David's wife, Kathy, was immune before they killed her off testing her to death and that Ellie is also immune...and they want her.
The story has a nice slow build up that ratchets the tension to the breaking point. Malfi also uses a series of flashbacks that slowly unravel the past slowly before our eyes. It's extremely effective in teasing the reader with just enough information that only leads to a whole slew of more questions that need answering. The characters are vivid and masterfully three-dimensional where you can literally feel the tension and exhaustion that David is going through in your bones. The Night Parade has shades of Firestarter, Swan Song, and The Dead Zone all mixed within, yet at no time does it feel derivative. It has everything that I look for in a great story - strong characters, realistic dialogue, a slow build up of tension that leads to a climactic ending, and a lasting impact that keeps you thinking about the story long after you've closed the cover.
5 Oriole Eggs out of 5
* I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
You can also read my other reviews and author interviews at:
https://kenmckinley.wordpress.com
http://intothemacabre.booklikes.com
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5...
October 28, 2016
Suspenseful story of a father and his young daughter on the run after a plague outbreak. I loved the supernatural elements, the writing was great but the ending was a bit melodramatic for a horror novel.
October 14, 2020
10/13/20 $1.99 for Kindle
* Review copy provided by NetGalley *
For some books part of the enjoyment is going in blind, and letting the story unfold as the author has written it.
This makes such books difficult to review, at least if your goal is to try to help others decide if they might enjoy a story and do it without spoilers. As a reader I know the frustration of trying to figure out if a book will be for me, when reviewers WON’T TELL ME ANYTHING, but also understanding and appreciating the desire not to spoil the book for others.
That is my dilemma with “The Night Parade”. The blurb reveals the world has fallen victim to a terrifying plague. That Ellie is “special”, “who may be the key to a cure”. And that her father David has taken her on the run. And I’m not going to reveal more of the plot in my review, because trust me, trust the author, learning what is going on in the way it’s revealed as written is an enjoyable ride. And I wouldn’t want to spoil that for anyone.
What would you do, how far would you go, to keep your kids safe?
David and Ellie, running through a world turned into a nightmare. All they have is each other. One man and his little girl.
We start off with David on the run with his 8 year old daughter Ellie. We don't know why, we don't know what from. But it is compelling and intriguing. I was hooked from the first page.
Then we start to get a glimmer of preceding events, which are told in occasional flashback chapters so that as we go along we’re given more and more information as to what is going on and what has lead up to where we are now.
In my opinion this technique is used effectively, keeping the action going and pulling us along, allowing us to learn more of the backstory without stopping the action too much. Both the present story and the events of the recent past are interesting and this book never drags.
And if you think clowns are creepy? (Yes, yes they are!) Forget clowns. This is creepy:
"The music grew louder, louder, until it was right outside the house in the street. In the summertime, that jocular little melody would send the neighborhood kids flooding into Columbus Court, anxious for a Rocket Pop or an Italian Ice. But now, in the dead of winter and in the middle of the night - David glanced at the alarm clock on the nightstand and saw that it was well after midnight - the sound of that tune unnerved him."
But the real power of this story are the characters, particularly of David and Ellie, and their relationship.
David isn’t all that special, just a regular man with a regular life. He’s not the Terminator, he’s not unusually strong, or brave. He’s a college professor. But he’ll do whatever he needs to do, whatever it takes, to protect his daughter and keep her safe.
Ellie is a strong kid, unusually insightful, but still a kid. She gets upset and scared. She gets angry at her dad even though she loves him. It takes talented writing to make a character feel so real and believable when they’re also given unique abilities.
But what really gives this story its heart is their relationship. And that I think is the subtle power of this story. Over the course of the story the love between father and daughter becomes almost tangible.
Although this story does have a creepy factor it seems more Suspense/Thriller than Horror to me. It reminds me a bit of “Firestarter” (one of my favorite Stephen King books). A man and his daughter on the run, the young girl special in a way that makes her valuable to powerful people.
I haven't read anything by this author before, and I am now wondering why.
I received a free (expiring) copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
* Review copy provided by NetGalley *
For some books part of the enjoyment is going in blind, and letting the story unfold as the author has written it.
This makes such books difficult to review, at least if your goal is to try to help others decide if they might enjoy a story and do it without spoilers. As a reader I know the frustration of trying to figure out if a book will be for me, when reviewers WON’T TELL ME ANYTHING, but also understanding and appreciating the desire not to spoil the book for others.
That is my dilemma with “The Night Parade”. The blurb reveals the world has fallen victim to a terrifying plague. That Ellie is “special”, “who may be the key to a cure”. And that her father David has taken her on the run. And I’m not going to reveal more of the plot in my review, because trust me, trust the author, learning what is going on in the way it’s revealed as written is an enjoyable ride. And I wouldn’t want to spoil that for anyone.
What would you do, how far would you go, to keep your kids safe?
David and Ellie, running through a world turned into a nightmare. All they have is each other. One man and his little girl.
We start off with David on the run with his 8 year old daughter Ellie. We don't know why, we don't know what from. But it is compelling and intriguing. I was hooked from the first page.
Then we start to get a glimmer of preceding events, which are told in occasional flashback chapters so that as we go along we’re given more and more information as to what is going on and what has lead up to where we are now.
In my opinion this technique is used effectively, keeping the action going and pulling us along, allowing us to learn more of the backstory without stopping the action too much. Both the present story and the events of the recent past are interesting and this book never drags.
And if you think clowns are creepy? (Yes, yes they are!) Forget clowns. This is creepy:
"The music grew louder, louder, until it was right outside the house in the street. In the summertime, that jocular little melody would send the neighborhood kids flooding into Columbus Court, anxious for a Rocket Pop or an Italian Ice. But now, in the dead of winter and in the middle of the night - David glanced at the alarm clock on the nightstand and saw that it was well after midnight - the sound of that tune unnerved him."
But the real power of this story are the characters, particularly of David and Ellie, and their relationship.
David isn’t all that special, just a regular man with a regular life. He’s not the Terminator, he’s not unusually strong, or brave. He’s a college professor. But he’ll do whatever he needs to do, whatever it takes, to protect his daughter and keep her safe.
Ellie is a strong kid, unusually insightful, but still a kid. She gets upset and scared. She gets angry at her dad even though she loves him. It takes talented writing to make a character feel so real and believable when they’re also given unique abilities.
But what really gives this story its heart is their relationship. And that I think is the subtle power of this story. Over the course of the story the love between father and daughter becomes almost tangible.
Although this story does have a creepy factor it seems more Suspense/Thriller than Horror to me. It reminds me a bit of “Firestarter” (one of my favorite Stephen King books). A man and his daughter on the run, the young girl special in a way that makes her valuable to powerful people.
I haven't read anything by this author before, and I am now wondering why.
I received a free (expiring) copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 17, 2023
This was my first book by Ronald Malfi, I heard a lot of good things about him and decided to check it out for myself and I was not disappointed!
I loved the relationship between the dad and daughter. It made it so easy to care for the characters. The pacing was perfect and u love how it was told in two timelines going back and forth. It really made it hard to stop reading. Just when the one timeline tension slows the other picked up.
I found a lot of the plot to be predictable, an offer of all of troops of story with virus that kills most. It made a lot of the story easier to predict and made the big moments not as hard hitting.
I loved the relationship between the dad and daughter. It made it so easy to care for the characters. The pacing was perfect and u love how it was told in two timelines going back and forth. It really made it hard to stop reading. Just when the one timeline tension slows the other picked up.
I found a lot of the plot to be predictable, an offer of all of troops of story with virus that kills most. It made a lot of the story easier to predict and made the big moments not as hard hitting.
October 6, 2016
Another homerun for Malfi. The Night Parade is both touching and chilling, a new look at a post apocalyptic world that will break your heart and give you shivers. There are scenes in here that will last with me for years and years (I'll never look at the ice cream man the same way again, that's for sure). This is the second year in a row that Ron Malfi has crafted my favorite read.
dnf
August 7, 2024Imagine if Joel from TLOU was an idiot and you've got this book.
vlog: https://youtu.be/QZs7fkGeMu0?si=7Lu1x...
vlog: https://youtu.be/QZs7fkGeMu0?si=7Lu1x...
April 29, 2019
It's been a while since I've read a book this large, this quickly. I chalk that up to a good story as well as a fun buddy-read. It was an emotional ride with lots of action, and I'm left at the end with my feelings all over the place. Malfi's writing was very good, and I look forward to reading more of his books.
July 21, 2016
First the birds disappeared.
Then the insects took over.
Then the madness began . . .
They call it Wanderer's Folly--a disease of delusions, of daydreams and nightmares. A plague threatening to wipe out the human race.
It's been two years since the disease started claiming lives and now David Arlen has gone on the run trying to protect his young daughter. In the beginning no one knew what was happening but once scientists developed a test for the Wanderer's Folly it was discovered David's wife was immune. She then volunteered to try to help cure the disease but now she's died and David is worried they will come after their daughter and he can't let that happen.
The Night Parade is a dystopian type of horror read that takes turns telling the story from what is happening in the present with the characters and alternating with flashing back to the beginning of the disease coming about. It's very easy to follow along with what is happening and get the story of how David and his daughter have come to be on the run.
I have to say this one reminded me a lot of The Fireman by Joe Hill while I was reading it. A disease slowly killing off the population and the characters hiding from those in charge so I knew getting started with this one I'd probably end up really enjoying it.
There are some pretty creepy moments all throughout this book. Early on an ice cream truck appears and as innocent as that sounds it just gave me the creeps. There's spiders big enough to eat mice.... yes, I'd be high tailing it out of there. And all along with the creepiness we have some great characters to follow along. David and his love for his family was incredibly touching and little Ellie was wise beyond what her years should allow.
Overall, great dystopian horror that I'd definitely recommend.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
Then the insects took over.
Then the madness began . . .
They call it Wanderer's Folly--a disease of delusions, of daydreams and nightmares. A plague threatening to wipe out the human race.
It's been two years since the disease started claiming lives and now David Arlen has gone on the run trying to protect his young daughter. In the beginning no one knew what was happening but once scientists developed a test for the Wanderer's Folly it was discovered David's wife was immune. She then volunteered to try to help cure the disease but now she's died and David is worried they will come after their daughter and he can't let that happen.
The Night Parade is a dystopian type of horror read that takes turns telling the story from what is happening in the present with the characters and alternating with flashing back to the beginning of the disease coming about. It's very easy to follow along with what is happening and get the story of how David and his daughter have come to be on the run.
I have to say this one reminded me a lot of The Fireman by Joe Hill while I was reading it. A disease slowly killing off the population and the characters hiding from those in charge so I knew getting started with this one I'd probably end up really enjoying it.
There are some pretty creepy moments all throughout this book. Early on an ice cream truck appears and as innocent as that sounds it just gave me the creeps. There's spiders big enough to eat mice.... yes, I'd be high tailing it out of there. And all along with the creepiness we have some great characters to follow along. David and his love for his family was incredibly touching and little Ellie was wise beyond what her years should allow.
Overall, great dystopian horror that I'd definitely recommend.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
October 10, 2017
I like Ronald Malfi. The dude can write. This one is a slow burn, apocalyptic-ish type tale that follows a man and his daughter as they seek comfort and shelter from those who are hunting them for their own agenda. During their travels, their stories will be revealed, secrets unburied and hope reborn. Nicely done. Had a wee Firestarter vibe to it too.
October 29, 2024
Take:
- an epidemic that decimates the world's population like in Stephen King's The Stand
- a father and daughter traveling cross-country in search of a safe place like in The Last of Us (the girl even has the same fucking name)
- the girl like in the afore-mentioned game/show
- the father like in McCarthy's The Road
- a few elements, such as whole species just disappearing, from other horror movies
Stirr, not shake.
I like apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic novels as well as dystopias. After reading a certain amount, certain repetitions are normal. However, so far, every author I've come across simply took certain ideas and then made them his or her own. Not Malfi. He took EXACTLY from other sources and simply glued them to the pages like letter cut-outs glued to a page of a ransom note.
Add to that the writing. The flow really wasn't bad, neither were the flashbacks, so the fact it lacked something that would have made it better (more thrilling).
And the characters! Ye gods! Ellie constantly bitching and criticizing - she is NINE! She might miss her mom, be scared, and have a few questions, but nothing like this. She was a walking talking morale-preacher, always knowing better, always on a high horse, never being happy with what her father did, perpetually nagging. Nothing was ever good enough for the brat, especially when she didn't get her way.
Sure, her dad was a fucking moron as well. I mean, I get that 99% of survivors wouldn't be super-capable survivalists that just adapted to a crumbling world perfectly and immediately, particularly after losing their partner. But he was so incapable, he shouldn't have been able to make it 10 minutes - above all considering that they were hunted and by pros!
Everything was just so ... flat. I rolled my eyes, didn't feel the stakes, didn't care one way or the other, no encounter was really creepy because you knew from the beginning which way it would go (I even predicted the EXACT way that first encounter went before it happened, the one with Solomon). That is a real killer and not in a good way.
Too bad, really, because I was looking forward to reading this based on the premise. *heavy sigh*
- an epidemic that decimates the world's population like in Stephen King's The Stand
- a father and daughter traveling cross-country in search of a safe place like in The Last of Us (the girl even has the same fucking name)
- the girl like in the afore-mentioned game/show
- the father like in McCarthy's The Road
- a few elements, such as whole species just disappearing, from other horror movies
Stirr, not shake.
I like apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic novels as well as dystopias. After reading a certain amount, certain repetitions are normal. However, so far, every author I've come across simply took certain ideas and then made them his or her own. Not Malfi. He took EXACTLY from other sources and simply glued them to the pages like letter cut-outs glued to a page of a ransom note.
Add to that the writing. The flow really wasn't bad, neither were the flashbacks, so the fact it lacked something that would have made it better (more thrilling).
And the characters! Ye gods! Ellie constantly bitching and criticizing - she is NINE! She might miss her mom, be scared, and have a few questions, but nothing like this. She was a walking talking morale-preacher, always knowing better, always on a high horse, never being happy with what her father did, perpetually nagging. Nothing was ever good enough for the brat, especially when she didn't get her way.
Sure, her dad was a fucking moron as well. I mean, I get that 99% of survivors wouldn't be super-capable survivalists that just adapted to a crumbling world perfectly and immediately, particularly after losing their partner. But he was so incapable, he shouldn't have been able to make it 10 minutes - above all considering that they were hunted and by pros!
Everything was just so ... flat. I rolled my eyes, didn't feel the stakes, didn't care one way or the other, no encounter was really creepy because you knew from the beginning which way it would go (I even predicted the EXACT way that first encounter went before it happened, the one with Solomon). That is a real killer and not in a good way.
Too bad, really, because I was looking forward to reading this based on the premise. *heavy sigh*
June 21, 2022
Ronald Malfi's plague novel that mirrors a lot of the problems facing every pandemic (misinformation, anti-intellectualism, group-think, etc) has some solid characterisation and creepy apocalyptic vibes, but it never quite pulls off the finale or stands apart from other stories in the field (The Road for example).
The introduction of children with psychic powers feels a bit too forced and the uneven plotting keeps cutting down the dramatic tension.
This isn't to say the book doesn't ever work. The sequence with the ice-cream truck was spectacular. There are some disturbing scenes like where the father going into an older man's home and finds a ton of blood, and a family dinner that's right out of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
I liked the dialog between the girl and her dad.
But the atmosphere of dread that the overall story is trying to convey never quite materialises. An interesting and fast read, but it needed something more. 6/10
A part of my giant sized Review Round-Up: https://www.patreon.com/posts/68034532
The introduction of children with psychic powers feels a bit too forced and the uneven plotting keeps cutting down the dramatic tension.
This isn't to say the book doesn't ever work. The sequence with the ice-cream truck was spectacular. There are some disturbing scenes like where the father going into an older man's home and finds a ton of blood, and a family dinner that's right out of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
I liked the dialog between the girl and her dad.
But the atmosphere of dread that the overall story is trying to convey never quite materialises. An interesting and fast read, but it needed something more. 6/10
A part of my giant sized Review Round-Up: https://www.patreon.com/posts/68034532
March 20, 2024
This is a post apocalyptic novel yet what is in the foreground is the emotional interactions between father and daughter. Normally, not exactly up my alley but the story and its characters just take you for an unforgettable ride. The main character, the father, maybe beset with many faults, but those faults are the ones that hit close to home. And whatever I would have done differently from him, at the end his final determination makes him larger than life. Fazit: Malfi delivers once more.
September 27, 2019
That was... that was... my god I don’t know what to write 😭.
That was probably one of the best books I’ve read in a long time.
It had just the right amount of suspense, horror, sorrow: you name it. My heart hurts and my mind is numb. Woah.
The book switches back and forth between past and present. The realizations of certain characters and certain twists did not go down smoothly, to say the least lol. They hit hard. This was truly a phenomenal book. Bravo, Malfi.
That was probably one of the best books I’ve read in a long time.
It had just the right amount of suspense, horror, sorrow: you name it. My heart hurts and my mind is numb. Woah.
The book switches back and forth between past and present. The realizations of certain characters and certain twists did not go down smoothly, to say the least lol. They hit hard. This was truly a phenomenal book. Bravo, Malfi.
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