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Toroa
Infants are vanishing all over Waitangi, a small island nestled in the Pacific Ocean. The local tribe believes a colossal albatross is responsible. Worse still, they are convinced that the seabird had been trained to carry out these sinister kidnappings. On the other side of the globe, in England, a troubled Maori girl falls in love with Aryan — a charismatic fire-breather. As their doomed relationship unfolds, a tragedy strikes, leaving her forever changed. Grieving, she travels to the island in desperate search of her estranged father and seeking answers to her shrouded origins. Will her actions influence the mysterious events occurring on the isle?
- GenresHorror
239 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 15, 2018
1 person is currently reading
27 people want to read
About the author
Erik Hofstatter
39 books46 followersErik Hofstatter is a dark fiction writer, born in the wild lands of the Czech Republic. He roamed Europe before subsequently settling on English shores, studying creative writing at the London School of Journalism. He now dwells in Kent, where he can be encountered consuming copious amounts of mead and tyrannizing local peasantry. His work appeared in various magazines and podcasts around the world such as Morpheus Tales, The Literary Hatchet, Wicked Library, Manor House Show, and The Black Room Manuscripts Volume IV. Other works include The Hurricane Caged Inside of Her and Stone Martyrs.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 19, 2018
UPDATE: Apparently this author believes that if you are a horror fan, you better be game for anything. You're not allowed to be sensitive about certain subjects or have any triggers and nothing is off the table in terms of graphic content. I learned this from his Twitter where he suggested I'm in the wrong industry but lacked the nerve to call me out directly. If you're an author and can't handle a less than glowing review, perhaps you are in the wrong industry? Just a thought.
Proceed:
Thank you to Sinister Grin Press for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review.
Toroa is a very unique story in so many ways-Hofstatter's debut novel is not one I'll easily forget. Qualities of this book made a lasting impact in a good way and some, not so good.
I love character driven horror and I was pleased to discover in just a few pages that character development is in his wheelhouse. Our protagonist, Mahi comes alive right away. The reader experience quickly becomes very intimate as we get familiar with her through Hofstatter's fast paced narrative told primarily through (double spaced) dialog. There are very few moments of actual storytelling and a lot of dialog which I think was working for me for awhile but then I felt myself desiring to go deeper--which just isn't possible if your reading experience is mostly just a "fly on the wall" as the characters exchange words.
The scenes between Mahi and a boy she meets named Aryan are some of the stand out moments for me; I really took to Aryan's character but I feel like I need to say that the author has an off-putting way of describing intimacy between lovers. I don't really need to say more than that but there was some sexual verbiage sprinkled throughout the book and it almost always made my skin crawl. And maybe that was the intention? In any case, I'm glad there wasn't a lot of it.
Mahi's mother Beatrix was a terror--it created some much needed tension to push the story towards some horror with teeth. She made for an unpredictable, scary antagonist.
I really got into this book when Mahi left her circumstances and went to the island. This is where a vibrant horror novel was starting to take shape and I wish the author would have spent more time developing this half of the story and less time with the set up. The last 50 pages had the most engaging storytelling but again, it was told in dialog so it was these big, backstory info dumps that just seemed really rushed to me.
After spending some time writing this review, the most important thing I want to say is that this book had so much potential. I think Erik is talented and there were some moments where I could see how his voice is his own, set apart from the fray and I treasured those glimpses because otherwise, I was distracted by the format (no chapter breaks) and the excessive dialog and I wasn't a fan of one of the more graphic plot lines with the giant bird (what it feeds on) it really made me sick and I skimmed over those parts.
I buddy read this with some friends and I know one of them enjoyed this book so I'm willing to say that this particular offering just tapped a variety of things that didn't work well for me, personally as a reader of horror. I would definitely read more from this author.
Proceed:
Thank you to Sinister Grin Press for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review.
Toroa is a very unique story in so many ways-Hofstatter's debut novel is not one I'll easily forget. Qualities of this book made a lasting impact in a good way and some, not so good.
I love character driven horror and I was pleased to discover in just a few pages that character development is in his wheelhouse. Our protagonist, Mahi comes alive right away. The reader experience quickly becomes very intimate as we get familiar with her through Hofstatter's fast paced narrative told primarily through (double spaced) dialog. There are very few moments of actual storytelling and a lot of dialog which I think was working for me for awhile but then I felt myself desiring to go deeper--which just isn't possible if your reading experience is mostly just a "fly on the wall" as the characters exchange words.
The scenes between Mahi and a boy she meets named Aryan are some of the stand out moments for me; I really took to Aryan's character but I feel like I need to say that the author has an off-putting way of describing intimacy between lovers. I don't really need to say more than that but there was some sexual verbiage sprinkled throughout the book and it almost always made my skin crawl. And maybe that was the intention? In any case, I'm glad there wasn't a lot of it.
Mahi's mother Beatrix was a terror--it created some much needed tension to push the story towards some horror with teeth. She made for an unpredictable, scary antagonist.
I really got into this book when Mahi left her circumstances and went to the island. This is where a vibrant horror novel was starting to take shape and I wish the author would have spent more time developing this half of the story and less time with the set up. The last 50 pages had the most engaging storytelling but again, it was told in dialog so it was these big, backstory info dumps that just seemed really rushed to me.
After spending some time writing this review, the most important thing I want to say is that this book had so much potential. I think Erik is talented and there were some moments where I could see how his voice is his own, set apart from the fray and I treasured those glimpses because otherwise, I was distracted by the format (no chapter breaks) and the excessive dialog and I wasn't a fan of one of the more graphic plot lines with the giant bird (what it feeds on) it really made me sick and I skimmed over those parts.
I buddy read this with some friends and I know one of them enjoyed this book so I'm willing to say that this particular offering just tapped a variety of things that didn't work well for me, personally as a reader of horror. I would definitely read more from this author.
Read
August 19, 2018Thank you to Sinister Grin for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I don't want to write this review. But I know it will show up on Twitter, and I have reviewer friends and reader friends there, and I think they deserve to know what happened.
Sinster Grin press sent this book to me and one of my friends. We intended to read it together from the moment it arrived. It got shuffled around in or TBRs, but recently the author messaged my friend and politely asked if we were still going to make his book a priority. We decided to pick it up and buddy read it immediately after we finished our then current reads.
My friend finished her other book first and got a head start. It's not a long book, and so she ended up finishing it before I was even halfway done. I was enjoying it. The characters are intriguing, the Maori legends about Albatrosses are fascinating, and I was genuinely invested in the story. Then things got crazy.
Like a number of people who review books, even horror, my friend has a trigger that is prevalent in this novel. She gave a very fair review of the book, especially considering that she had to skim the trigger areas, and even said that one negative review wasn't a deal breaker for her, and that she would definitely give this author another chance. Sadly, the author chose to attack her on Twitter, and said some rather unsavory things about her review and her personally. He didn't name her specifically, which was even worse, but she is the only person to give this novel a negative review so far, and I'm sure she won't be the last. I've learned two things from my writer friends. The first is expect rejection. And two, you will get negative reviews. Every writer gets them. Last year a gave Stephen King a negative review. It's going to happen, no matter who you are.
So unfortunately, instead of talking about his book and how much I enjoyed it, I'm wasting a review to talk about this writer's character. I cannot allow my friend to be attacked for doing what she does everyday and not stand by her. It is not OK to attack book reviewers for negative reviews. I've had multiple people message me asking who the writer is so that they can avoid his work because of his behavior, so I feel that I owe it to the community to explain exactly what happened. Hofstatter, you were going to get a good review from me. I enjoyed your book. But now I'm not giving it a star rating because of your behavior.
I don't want to write this review. But I know it will show up on Twitter, and I have reviewer friends and reader friends there, and I think they deserve to know what happened.
Sinster Grin press sent this book to me and one of my friends. We intended to read it together from the moment it arrived. It got shuffled around in or TBRs, but recently the author messaged my friend and politely asked if we were still going to make his book a priority. We decided to pick it up and buddy read it immediately after we finished our then current reads.
My friend finished her other book first and got a head start. It's not a long book, and so she ended up finishing it before I was even halfway done. I was enjoying it. The characters are intriguing, the Maori legends about Albatrosses are fascinating, and I was genuinely invested in the story. Then things got crazy.
Like a number of people who review books, even horror, my friend has a trigger that is prevalent in this novel. She gave a very fair review of the book, especially considering that she had to skim the trigger areas, and even said that one negative review wasn't a deal breaker for her, and that she would definitely give this author another chance. Sadly, the author chose to attack her on Twitter, and said some rather unsavory things about her review and her personally. He didn't name her specifically, which was even worse, but she is the only person to give this novel a negative review so far, and I'm sure she won't be the last. I've learned two things from my writer friends. The first is expect rejection. And two, you will get negative reviews. Every writer gets them. Last year a gave Stephen King a negative review. It's going to happen, no matter who you are.
So unfortunately, instead of talking about his book and how much I enjoyed it, I'm wasting a review to talk about this writer's character. I cannot allow my friend to be attacked for doing what she does everyday and not stand by her. It is not OK to attack book reviewers for negative reviews. I've had multiple people message me asking who the writer is so that they can avoid his work because of his behavior, so I feel that I owe it to the community to explain exactly what happened. Hofstatter, you were going to get a good review from me. I enjoyed your book. But now I'm not giving it a star rating because of your behavior.
June 25, 2018
4 stars for this horrific story of betrayal. The author did a great job making me hate the protagonist and her journey was brutal. My full review is posted here ---> https://wp.me/p5t5Tf-1BQ
August 17, 2018
Toroa is Erik Hofstatter’s debut novel and it soars! On the surface, this book focuses on a girl named Mahi. Mahi does not know her dad, her mother is the opposite of ideal, and she just met a fire-breather at a local festival who turns her world upside down in a sense. All we know up front is that her dad is from a small island in the Pacific and that her mother had a one-night stand with him. Things start to get troublesome, tragic, and crazy for Mahi and she ultimately goes on a mini-quest to find her father. Is she prepared to learn the truth of it all?
Toroa was a quick read for me, partly because it is somewhat dialogue-heavy. And the dialogue came across naturally and real to me. I enjoyed the back and forth between characters and how their conversations just seemed so real.
My favorite parts of the book upon reading were the beginning and the end. What about the middle, you say? I got a little bothered in the middle due to a HUGE twist in the plot that we were exposed to (which I will not go into here; you will need to read it to find out for yourself!) I just could not believe the way a couple of characters were reacting to what was happening! As I kept reading and got closer to the end (THAT ENDING!!) it all made sense and I was no longer irked by what bothered me mid-way.
Ok. That ending! We get hit with a big sack of truth bombs in the face at the end and I am still recovering. There was so much revealed… and then that last paragraph and those final sentences are chilling and haunting to me. I love when a book makes me visualize how I would experience the story as if I was watching a movie… I start imagining what music would be playing, the cinematography and setting, the character facial expressions… all of it… and this book did that once I got to the end! The ending just changed me. Still reeling…
A huge thanks to Sinister Grin Press and Erin Al-Mehairi for this copy in exchange for a read and review! Always great things happening over at Sinister Grin Press! 4.5 out of 5 stars for me!
Toroa was a quick read for me, partly because it is somewhat dialogue-heavy. And the dialogue came across naturally and real to me. I enjoyed the back and forth between characters and how their conversations just seemed so real.
My favorite parts of the book upon reading were the beginning and the end. What about the middle, you say? I got a little bothered in the middle due to a HUGE twist in the plot that we were exposed to (which I will not go into here; you will need to read it to find out for yourself!) I just could not believe the way a couple of characters were reacting to what was happening! As I kept reading and got closer to the end (THAT ENDING!!) it all made sense and I was no longer irked by what bothered me mid-way.
Ok. That ending! We get hit with a big sack of truth bombs in the face at the end and I am still recovering. There was so much revealed… and then that last paragraph and those final sentences are chilling and haunting to me. I love when a book makes me visualize how I would experience the story as if I was watching a movie… I start imagining what music would be playing, the cinematography and setting, the character facial expressions… all of it… and this book did that once I got to the end! The ending just changed me. Still reeling…
A huge thanks to Sinister Grin Press and Erin Al-Mehairi for this copy in exchange for a read and review! Always great things happening over at Sinister Grin Press! 4.5 out of 5 stars for me!
June 25, 2018
TOROA is a solid debut novel by Erik Hofstatter that doesn't shy away from any of the shocking or bloody elements that the book contains. It's a quick read packed with some truly deep betrayals that will have readers eager to find out what happens next. Mahi is an intriguing character who possesses a disturbing dark side that I loved discovering throughout the novel. The build-up of her character really takes off during the second half of the book, which delves into a truly gruesome journey of psychological torment that I loved seeing play out until the very end. I look forward to seeing what Hofstatter comes up with next!
March 21, 2019
Review copy
"The word Toroa refers to the Northern royal albatross, a bird that is sometimes used metaphorically to represent a psychological burden that may or may not weigh heavy on the soul as if it were a curse."
After reading this new work from Erik Hofstatter, I must say he has certainly succeeded in conveying the ideas in that definition into the novel's theme.
Abandoned by her father and abused by her mother, Mahi has grown up fast and when Aryan shows her affection she quickly falls in love, resulting in an unplanned pregnancy. Her seduction is somewhat violent and may ruffle some feathers.
Each person who comes into Mahi's life is a disaster and little of what happens to her is pleasant. When she flees to Aukland in search of her long-lost father, she finds answers, but not the ones she hoped for.
It's difficult to say more about Toroa without giving away too many of its secrets. When those secrets are all revealed, I found myself nodding my head and thinking. "Yeah, now it all makes sense."
Toroa is one of those novels where every character is flawed. In the end, even Mahi is irredeemable. This is not a book which I can easily recommend. However, if you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited, go ahead and read it. You may have a totally different reading experience.
Published by Sinister Grin Press, Toroa is available now in paperback and for the Kindle. If you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited you can read it at no additional charge. Also, if you are an Amazon Prime member you can read it for FREE using the Kindle Owners Lending Library.
About the author - Erik Hofstatter is a dark fiction writer and a member of the Horror Writers Association. Born in the wild lands of the Czech Republic, he roamed Europe before subsequently settling on English shores, studying creative writing at the London School of Journalism. He now dwells in Kent, where he can be encountered consuming copious amounts of mead and tyrannizing local peasantry. His work appeared in various magazines and podcasts around the world such as Morpheus Tales, Crystal Lake Publishing, The Literary Hatchet, Sanitarium Magazine, Wicked Library, Tales to Terrify and Manor House Show. Rare Breeds is out now via Dark Silo Press.
"The word Toroa refers to the Northern royal albatross, a bird that is sometimes used metaphorically to represent a psychological burden that may or may not weigh heavy on the soul as if it were a curse."
After reading this new work from Erik Hofstatter, I must say he has certainly succeeded in conveying the ideas in that definition into the novel's theme.
Abandoned by her father and abused by her mother, Mahi has grown up fast and when Aryan shows her affection she quickly falls in love, resulting in an unplanned pregnancy. Her seduction is somewhat violent and may ruffle some feathers.
Each person who comes into Mahi's life is a disaster and little of what happens to her is pleasant. When she flees to Aukland in search of her long-lost father, she finds answers, but not the ones she hoped for.
It's difficult to say more about Toroa without giving away too many of its secrets. When those secrets are all revealed, I found myself nodding my head and thinking. "Yeah, now it all makes sense."
Toroa is one of those novels where every character is flawed. In the end, even Mahi is irredeemable. This is not a book which I can easily recommend. However, if you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited, go ahead and read it. You may have a totally different reading experience.
Published by Sinister Grin Press, Toroa is available now in paperback and for the Kindle. If you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited you can read it at no additional charge. Also, if you are an Amazon Prime member you can read it for FREE using the Kindle Owners Lending Library.
About the author - Erik Hofstatter is a dark fiction writer and a member of the Horror Writers Association. Born in the wild lands of the Czech Republic, he roamed Europe before subsequently settling on English shores, studying creative writing at the London School of Journalism. He now dwells in Kent, where he can be encountered consuming copious amounts of mead and tyrannizing local peasantry. His work appeared in various magazines and podcasts around the world such as Morpheus Tales, Crystal Lake Publishing, The Literary Hatchet, Sanitarium Magazine, Wicked Library, Tales to Terrify and Manor House Show. Rare Breeds is out now via Dark Silo Press.
September 30, 2018
The concept for this story is good but you never really get to know the characters. Mahi is all over the place, I understand that plays with the story, but I ended up not liking her in the end. Maybe this is what was meant to happen. She is evil, that is obvious. The whole book is about her but I never felt a connection!! But would read more from this author.
July 22, 2018
A lot of this tale is very shocking, some of it made for some very uncomfortable reading and I wasn't sure if I liked any of the characters, but I loved the book!
Toroa kicks off at Rochester Castle at the Medieval Merriment festival when Mahi, a young woman meets an enigmatic fire breathing stranger, Aryan, a young man completely free in life. Mahi, stuck in life and tethered to a cycle of shocking abuse can't resist his appeal.
Like a bird, the very creatures Mahi has a life long obsession with, he takes himself where he pleases, lives life with only one aim of being happy which reignites old questions inside Mahi. Who is her father and what is her Maori ancestry?
This is a tale about transformation, shocking and brutal. A very macabre coming of age story. I ended up hating Mahi but also at the same time I really pitied her. In the end she becomes a figure, sort of a dark god who comes to represent female suffering.
For me this was a very emotional tale as I ended up really hating a lot of the characters in this book, this is no good vs evil story, it is about the ugly side of human nature. All humans have the capacity for evil.
The ending is like the most explosive Jerry Springer episode ever so I can't say too much about it.
It would be cool to see a follow up to this as it's a very strong debut but also works really well as a stand alone novel.
Toroa kicks off at Rochester Castle at the Medieval Merriment festival when Mahi, a young woman meets an enigmatic fire breathing stranger, Aryan, a young man completely free in life. Mahi, stuck in life and tethered to a cycle of shocking abuse can't resist his appeal.
Like a bird, the very creatures Mahi has a life long obsession with, he takes himself where he pleases, lives life with only one aim of being happy which reignites old questions inside Mahi. Who is her father and what is her Maori ancestry?
This is a tale about transformation, shocking and brutal. A very macabre coming of age story. I ended up hating Mahi but also at the same time I really pitied her. In the end she becomes a figure, sort of a dark god who comes to represent female suffering.
For me this was a very emotional tale as I ended up really hating a lot of the characters in this book, this is no good vs evil story, it is about the ugly side of human nature. All humans have the capacity for evil.
The ending is like the most explosive Jerry Springer episode ever so I can't say too much about it.
It would be cool to see a follow up to this as it's a very strong debut but also works really well as a stand alone novel.
Read
March 21, 2019I'm tapping out at 40% I just couldn't take Mahi anymore.
This may contain spoilers ahead, so stop here.
I have zero triggers. Lord I tried here, I really did. But the ridiculous arm-pit raping and then immediate pregnancy was one thing. The abusive mother was another thing. Heck, I didn't even get turned away by the infanticide by bird. Fits the story. Then the mother shows up says all's well and she forgives her daughter and makes Mahi tea. Shocker, the tea was laced.
The characters reactions and decisions in the hospital, as well as the annoying dialogue there were enough for me.
Tough break. I really wanted to make an effort to give this one a bit of love if it was warranted.
This may contain spoilers ahead, so stop here.
I have zero triggers. Lord I tried here, I really did. But the ridiculous arm-pit raping and then immediate pregnancy was one thing. The abusive mother was another thing. Heck, I didn't even get turned away by the infanticide by bird. Fits the story. Then the mother shows up says all's well and she forgives her daughter and makes Mahi tea. Shocker, the tea was laced.
The characters reactions and decisions in the hospital, as well as the annoying dialogue there were enough for me.
Tough break. I really wanted to make an effort to give this one a bit of love if it was warranted.
March 24, 2019
"THE TOROA IS A SACRED, MAJESTIC CREATURE - WE SHOULDN'T HAVE INTERFERED WITH ITS FATE. NATURE SHOULD'VE DECIDED FOR US. BESIDES, THEY'RE WANDERERS, MAHI. THEY DON'T COPE WELL IN CAPTIVITY"
Wow. This book put me through an emotional ringer - something I had been warned about. This novel is about Mahi, a Maori girl born through a one night stand during her mothers uni days, after a trip to the small island of Waitangi.
Set partly in the town of Rochester, Mahi starts down her troubled path after a chance meeting with a charismatic fire-breather, Aryan. But tragedy follows Mahi like a ghost and sends her careening down a dark path. Their quick and passionate relationship is the key to unlock the tragedy generations in the making and beyond their control - all they can do is watch and suffer..
This novel definitely has a unique writing style, and I found it to be incredibly powerful in it's reveal of the dark secrets hidden within the island of Waitangi. Toroa is definitely not for the faint of heart as it does deal with some incredibly sensitive subjects, however for me they tied in perfectly for the increasing darkness surrounding Mahi. At times I couldn't put this novel down, I needed to know what happened next, to see if the theories spiraling in my head would bleed true.
Toroa contains graphic content that leaves you breathless, as from the blurb we know that the local Waitangi tribe believe that a colossal Albatross [Northern Royal Albatross, also known as Toroa] is responsible for the vicious kidnappings of infants all over Waitangi. But the truth behind these sinister disappearances is beyond your wildest and darkest expectations.
This the third book I have read from Erik Hofstatter, and this could well be my favourite. It's dark and disturbing but the passion bleeds through the pages. I will definitely recommend this book to every one I know - then I'll proceed to delve into the next work from this incredible author.
Wow. This book put me through an emotional ringer - something I had been warned about. This novel is about Mahi, a Maori girl born through a one night stand during her mothers uni days, after a trip to the small island of Waitangi.
Set partly in the town of Rochester, Mahi starts down her troubled path after a chance meeting with a charismatic fire-breather, Aryan. But tragedy follows Mahi like a ghost and sends her careening down a dark path. Their quick and passionate relationship is the key to unlock the tragedy generations in the making and beyond their control - all they can do is watch and suffer..
This novel definitely has a unique writing style, and I found it to be incredibly powerful in it's reveal of the dark secrets hidden within the island of Waitangi. Toroa is definitely not for the faint of heart as it does deal with some incredibly sensitive subjects, however for me they tied in perfectly for the increasing darkness surrounding Mahi. At times I couldn't put this novel down, I needed to know what happened next, to see if the theories spiraling in my head would bleed true.
Toroa contains graphic content that leaves you breathless, as from the blurb we know that the local Waitangi tribe believe that a colossal Albatross [Northern Royal Albatross, also known as Toroa] is responsible for the vicious kidnappings of infants all over Waitangi. But the truth behind these sinister disappearances is beyond your wildest and darkest expectations.
This the third book I have read from Erik Hofstatter, and this could well be my favourite. It's dark and disturbing but the passion bleeds through the pages. I will definitely recommend this book to every one I know - then I'll proceed to delve into the next work from this incredible author.
May 30, 2018
Toroa is a harrowing story. It broke my heart at the same time it was making me cringe with horror. Not an easy thing to do! Erik Hofstatter is very adept at writing characters that your heart bleeds for then ripping your heart out with their horrifying acts. Mahi is a girl whose life takes a turn from bad to worse thanks to her abusive mother. Suffering from a devastating loss she sets out to find her absentee father in New Zealand with horrific consequences leading to an ending that was so twisty it made my head spin. A highly recommended 4 star read.
July 20, 2018
I enjoyed the world-creation and Erik's ability to make me hate the protagonist, but understand her anguish, throughout. Brutal and layered. I honestly think that I'm going to feel the cringe for a long while.
December 13, 2018
I’ll admit, the premise of this book didn’t draw me in initially. I’d enjoyed the fantastic Rare Breeds by Erik Hofstatter and thought that that story was a man on top form. Perhaps I worried that this wouldn’t live up to that one, or something. Maori folklore was not a big draw for me either, I don’t know why, I’ve nothing against it, but it just didn’t scream ‘read me, you bastard’ like other books do.
I shouldn’t have worried.
This novel was a great story that paced along perfectly. The story is engaging, the characters all have that air of ‘can they be trusted?’ around them, and the payoff at the end worked really well.
Mahi is a lady with a less-than-favourable life. Her mother is a, well, bitch, and she doesn’t even know who her father was. The product of a one night stand between her mom and a local she met whilst studying birds in New Zealand, Mahi seems to have gone through life with something missing.
But alas, she finally meets a guy, they fall in love, and she becomes pregnant. Aww, what a lovely tale. But this is a horror novel, so as you can imagine, things go downhill for her. And fast.
To say too much more would be spoiler-esque of me, so I won’t. But Mahi ends up visiting her father’s homeland to track him down. Is it for closure, to finally meet him, or is it because her life seems to be falling apart around her? Does her would-be father even know she exists?
This novel reeks of creepiness. As mentioned earlier, it’s hard to know who to trust in this story, as the vibe surrounding it creates an unnerving atmosphere around Mahi and her journey.
There’s some gore here that some may find too much, but although shocking it had me engrossed from the beginning. There’s also a dark humour just hiding under the surface that you kind of want to laugh at, but feel you’re letting your guard down if you do.
A toroa is an albatross (a northern royal albatross no less – yes I was paying attention), and the bird theme is present throughout, although not always centre stage. The background of birds ends up being extremely important in the plot, one that’s only subtlety hinted at but lingers with you throughout.
I enjoyed this much more than expected, even though I wasn’t really sure what I was expecting. It won’t be to everybody’s tastes, of course but mine were delighted.
Mahi was an interesting character. At times I wondered what the hell she was actually on about, and thought a few of her actions were kind of bitchy. But then, she’s been through some shit, stuff that I’ve never had to go through (and definitely won’t) so I suppose I can forgive her for that.
The ending is great, and I flew through the finale in no time. Plus I learned a new word; maschalagnia – check it out.
I would recommend this book very much, but would also warn that there are some brutal and potentially upsetting scenes within. So just grab a copy and get involved with some ornithological-horror-gore action!
I shouldn’t have worried.
This novel was a great story that paced along perfectly. The story is engaging, the characters all have that air of ‘can they be trusted?’ around them, and the payoff at the end worked really well.
Mahi is a lady with a less-than-favourable life. Her mother is a, well, bitch, and she doesn’t even know who her father was. The product of a one night stand between her mom and a local she met whilst studying birds in New Zealand, Mahi seems to have gone through life with something missing.
But alas, she finally meets a guy, they fall in love, and she becomes pregnant. Aww, what a lovely tale. But this is a horror novel, so as you can imagine, things go downhill for her. And fast.
To say too much more would be spoiler-esque of me, so I won’t. But Mahi ends up visiting her father’s homeland to track him down. Is it for closure, to finally meet him, or is it because her life seems to be falling apart around her? Does her would-be father even know she exists?
This novel reeks of creepiness. As mentioned earlier, it’s hard to know who to trust in this story, as the vibe surrounding it creates an unnerving atmosphere around Mahi and her journey.
There’s some gore here that some may find too much, but although shocking it had me engrossed from the beginning. There’s also a dark humour just hiding under the surface that you kind of want to laugh at, but feel you’re letting your guard down if you do.
A toroa is an albatross (a northern royal albatross no less – yes I was paying attention), and the bird theme is present throughout, although not always centre stage. The background of birds ends up being extremely important in the plot, one that’s only subtlety hinted at but lingers with you throughout.
I enjoyed this much more than expected, even though I wasn’t really sure what I was expecting. It won’t be to everybody’s tastes, of course but mine were delighted.
Mahi was an interesting character. At times I wondered what the hell she was actually on about, and thought a few of her actions were kind of bitchy. But then, she’s been through some shit, stuff that I’ve never had to go through (and definitely won’t) so I suppose I can forgive her for that.
The ending is great, and I flew through the finale in no time. Plus I learned a new word; maschalagnia – check it out.
I would recommend this book very much, but would also warn that there are some brutal and potentially upsetting scenes within. So just grab a copy and get involved with some ornithological-horror-gore action!
October 30, 2023
I purchased the novel Toroa last year when it was published by Demain. The cover has an old photo of a Maori woman, in traditional garbs, her face hidden behind a splash of blood. I was looking forward to reading this book, believing that it would be a dark fantasy story based on ancient Maori culture and myths. Boy was I wrong. Toroa is a contemporary story about a Maori woman living in England and involves a touch of Maori folklore.
Despite my misunderstanding, this book is well written and such a joy to read. Folk magic involving an albatross was unique and fascinating. The story was moody and compelling, the writing an easy and enjoyable to read.
I was surprised but the graphic violence and gruesome content of this story. Living and reading books in an era of "Trigger Warnings" and "Sensitivity Readers", I never ever thought I would be reading the brutal murder of babies and vivid sexual abuse of a woman. The horror is truly horrifying and pulls no punches. I applaud both the writer and the editor for being so bold and allowing this book to exist at all. I like to be challenged when I read a book and watch a movie and everything in the mainstream media these days fails to do this.
While the horror was superb. The ending was just horrible. The last 20 pages was just the psychotic mother behaving like a cartoonish villain, spewing out page after page of monologue explaining her diabolical plans for her daughter.
Other then the piss-weak ending, there was a lot to admire about this book and I would be interested in reading other books by the same author.
Despite my misunderstanding, this book is well written and such a joy to read. Folk magic involving an albatross was unique and fascinating. The story was moody and compelling, the writing an easy and enjoyable to read.
I was surprised but the graphic violence and gruesome content of this story. Living and reading books in an era of "Trigger Warnings" and "Sensitivity Readers", I never ever thought I would be reading the brutal murder of babies and vivid sexual abuse of a woman. The horror is truly horrifying and pulls no punches. I applaud both the writer and the editor for being so bold and allowing this book to exist at all. I like to be challenged when I read a book and watch a movie and everything in the mainstream media these days fails to do this.
While the horror was superb. The ending was just horrible. The last 20 pages was just the psychotic mother behaving like a cartoonish villain, spewing out page after page of monologue explaining her diabolical plans for her daughter.
Other then the piss-weak ending, there was a lot to admire about this book and I would be interested in reading other books by the same author.
September 24, 2018
The central image of Toroa, that of a giant bird that devours infants, is an undeniably terrifying one. Unfortunately, Hofstetter's attempts to structure a story around this central idea only work intermittently, and there were a few major issues that greatly detracted from my enjoyment of this novel.
Firstly, I had no issue with the story's more horrific content. I actually thought that these sections were some of the most effective in the novel. The scenes of extreme horror are never played for shock value or cheap pathos, but simply demonstrate how far the main character has fallen. Likewise, the depiction of decidedly unglamorous backpacker haunts felt lived-in and authentic. Hofstetter's descriptions of dodgy hostels and campsites will be familiar to anyone who has ever headed overseas on the cheap.
Characterisation is the novel's weakest point. We never really get a sense that anyone has much of an inner life. Characters appear, spout tin-eared dialogue that undercuts the narrative tension, then march offstage once they've done what they need to move the plot forward. Nobody has an agenda beyond serving the story, and the less said about Hofstetter's attempts at giving these characters quirks to differentiate themselves from each other, the better.
I really wrestled with the question of whether I should or shouldn't mention this next issue. On a few occasions the main character uses terms like "pikey" and "mongoloid" to describe people they encounter. These pejoratives might not pack the same punch as the N-word and -- at least in the case of "pikey" -- might not mean much to a US audience at all, but their inclusion still made me uncomfortable. This isn't an overly-sensitive reader issue. If you want to create a morally complex heroine, you can't let the racist slurs they utter go unexamined.
There is something here and I hope Hofstetter continues to write. I'd love to see him take on something more suited to his strengths, something that keeps to the one setting, with a limited cast of characters trying to accomplish a clear goal. Toroa is an interesting first effort, but between the lurching structure and cardboard characters, the story never manages to get out of its own way.
Firstly, I had no issue with the story's more horrific content. I actually thought that these sections were some of the most effective in the novel. The scenes of extreme horror are never played for shock value or cheap pathos, but simply demonstrate how far the main character has fallen. Likewise, the depiction of decidedly unglamorous backpacker haunts felt lived-in and authentic. Hofstetter's descriptions of dodgy hostels and campsites will be familiar to anyone who has ever headed overseas on the cheap.
Characterisation is the novel's weakest point. We never really get a sense that anyone has much of an inner life. Characters appear, spout tin-eared dialogue that undercuts the narrative tension, then march offstage once they've done what they need to move the plot forward. Nobody has an agenda beyond serving the story, and the less said about Hofstetter's attempts at giving these characters quirks to differentiate themselves from each other, the better.
I really wrestled with the question of whether I should or shouldn't mention this next issue. On a few occasions the main character uses terms like "pikey" and "mongoloid" to describe people they encounter. These pejoratives might not pack the same punch as the N-word and -- at least in the case of "pikey" -- might not mean much to a US audience at all, but their inclusion still made me uncomfortable. This isn't an overly-sensitive reader issue. If you want to create a morally complex heroine, you can't let the racist slurs they utter go unexamined.
There is something here and I hope Hofstetter continues to write. I'd love to see him take on something more suited to his strengths, something that keeps to the one setting, with a limited cast of characters trying to accomplish a clear goal. Toroa is an interesting first effort, but between the lurching structure and cardboard characters, the story never manages to get out of its own way.
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