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Primeval Valley
Reserve is a secluded enclave high in the Rocky Mountains where folks do their best to live quiet lives away from the chaos of civilization. The town’s peace is shattered when a young boy is taken by a strange creature, and a distraught father goes on a desperate hunt only to uncover a valley that shouldn’t exist. A world where dinosaurs roam hunting prey. A world better left hidden.
- GenresHorror
193 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 13, 2019
136 people are currently reading
72 people want to read
About the author
Edward J. McFadden III
66 books63 followersEd cut his teeth reading John Christopher, Tolkien, Poe, Brooks and Zelazny, and graduated to Joe Haldeman, Allen Steele, Arthur C. Clark and Jack Vance. For the last twenty years he’s done a deep dive on apocalyptic fiction, and he really enjoyed learning at the feet of Elmore Leonard, Philip K. Dick, Lawrence Block, Ray Bradbury, Carl Hiaasen, Stephen King, Joe Lansdale, and F. Paul Wilson. His recent publications include Hell Creek, Too Much Grit, The Cryptid Club, Keepers of the Flame, Quick Sands, Sandbagged, Dogs Get Ten Lives, Barracuda Swarm, Dinosaur Red, Drop Off, and Jurassic Ark. His sea thrillers, The Breach and Shadow of the Abyss were Amazon #1 Best Sellers and the audio version of The Breach was a #1 Hot New Release. His other novels include Throwback, Sea Tremors, Primeval Valley, AWAKE, The Black Death of Babylon, and HOAXERS. He lives on Long Island with his wife Dawn, and their daughter Samantha.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 24, 2025
Dinosaurs are scary as hell. Beautiful and amazing in their own regards, but still scary. When scientists figured out that they had feathers and drew up depictions several years ago, the dinosaurs somehow looked twice as scary with said feathers. So I was glad to see this book honor that finding, and provide such a rich background of the dinosaurs. They were not just running around killing people, but were shown as behaving like instinctual, predatory creatures. But they still ate people and gave multiple memorable chase and fight scenes here. And there was a great variety of them, too. So plenty of action and gore in this adventure. My favorite part of the book was the first chapter with Gill and Brian encountering the raptor. Gill is such a bad ass and man does he prove his worth in that scene and then throughout the story. Now I wasn’t into the love triangle with Rajim, Gill, and Nicki. I felt like the story had so much going on already that it wasn’t needed. And it was fairly obvious how it would play out. A little bit of a surprise at the end there, but still went a certain path. Gill was, by far, the standout here, and you really felt awful for the terrible circumstances he’s had to experience. The ending was very powerful and showed that he was determined to get closure on Brian, one way or another. I had a great time here and it made me wish that there was a remake of Dino Crisis on one of the new gaming platforms. Would be epic! Anyway, this was just a great first experience with Edward J. McFadden III.
July 23, 2021
Don't let love get in the way of being eaten by a T-Rex
I like a good dino story as much as the next fella (probably more), but please don't sully up all the chomping, stomping dino goodness/tension with romantic mud. If you put two blokes and a sheila (girl) on a deserted island - 10 to 1, the blokes will start fighting over her. The old Love Triangle thing. I was disappointed to find that more than 50% of this book was taken up with that cliched nonsense. And oh! Some of the clunky similes: That he hadn't been the one to save Nicki sat in his stomach like a bad shrimp. Or this one: He went forward with new care and concern, another worry seeping through him like sewage. Hehehe. That last one was a bit funny.
The scene description was good in the opening few chapters...excellent in fact. But it was pretty confusing after that. Same as the characters and their deep, dark secrets that I didn't want to know about and couldn't care less about. The dino action scenes were okay but I got a bit sick of hearing how the various toothy lizards were drooling and slobbering on poor Gill's head.
This book would have been so much better if all the romantic bullshit was left out and the page count reduced to about 100 (down from 190). Frequent references from The Lost World and Jurassic Park and In Search of the Lost World weren't needed, although I may have just been imagining those. Speaking of Greig Beck's excellent book, in one brief scene Titanoboa was thrown into the story but seemingly only as a page-filler. It was too brief and no follow-up action with that scary hombre. I was very disappointed that, when seeing the rarest creature on modern Earth for the first time (a T-Rex), instead of being awed and amazed, the guys just want to shoot it dead. Bastards! I just wanted to kick them both in the family jewels.
The ending was abrupt and rather unsatisfying. This was a book I struggled to get through. Maybe you'll enjoy it more.
I like a good dino story as much as the next fella (probably more), but please don't sully up all the chomping, stomping dino goodness/tension with romantic mud. If you put two blokes and a sheila (girl) on a deserted island - 10 to 1, the blokes will start fighting over her. The old Love Triangle thing. I was disappointed to find that more than 50% of this book was taken up with that cliched nonsense. And oh! Some of the clunky similes: That he hadn't been the one to save Nicki sat in his stomach like a bad shrimp. Or this one: He went forward with new care and concern, another worry seeping through him like sewage. Hehehe. That last one was a bit funny.
The scene description was good in the opening few chapters...excellent in fact. But it was pretty confusing after that. Same as the characters and their deep, dark secrets that I didn't want to know about and couldn't care less about. The dino action scenes were okay but I got a bit sick of hearing how the various toothy lizards were drooling and slobbering on poor Gill's head.
This book would have been so much better if all the romantic bullshit was left out and the page count reduced to about 100 (down from 190). Frequent references from The Lost World and Jurassic Park and In Search of the Lost World weren't needed, although I may have just been imagining those. Speaking of Greig Beck's excellent book, in one brief scene Titanoboa was thrown into the story but seemingly only as a page-filler. It was too brief and no follow-up action with that scary hombre. I was very disappointed that, when seeing the rarest creature on modern Earth for the first time (a T-Rex), instead of being awed and amazed, the guys just want to shoot it dead. Bastards! I just wanted to kick them both in the family jewels.
The ending was abrupt and rather unsatisfying. This was a book I struggled to get through. Maybe you'll enjoy it more.
December 5, 2019
Dinosaurs alive and well in America?
This book is an excellent read along the lines of Conan Doyle and Crichton. It really gets the imagination going.
A group of people follow the footprints of an unknown predator that has taken a small child. They find an unknown world full of creatures thought long dead. There of them get through th tunnel before it collApses be their adventures follow.
A personal look at loss and also at relationships and how they survive.
An excellent read for anyone interested in dinosaurs and in slaying your own demons.
This book is an excellent read along the lines of Conan Doyle and Crichton. It really gets the imagination going.
A group of people follow the footprints of an unknown predator that has taken a small child. They find an unknown world full of creatures thought long dead. There of them get through th tunnel before it collApses be their adventures follow.
A personal look at loss and also at relationships and how they survive.
An excellent read for anyone interested in dinosaurs and in slaying your own demons.
June 8, 2019
Primeval Valley
I gave five stars because the book was not filled with profanity, although the story itself was four stars. Anyway, I liked the story. The dino action was intense and fast paced and the characters were believable. There was action and sadness, but lots of hope. The ending had a bit of a twist and I am looking for another book to continue the story on this lost valley. Would I recommend this book. Definitely!
I gave five stars because the book was not filled with profanity, although the story itself was four stars. Anyway, I liked the story. The dino action was intense and fast paced and the characters were believable. There was action and sadness, but lots of hope. The ending had a bit of a twist and I am looking for another book to continue the story on this lost valley. Would I recommend this book. Definitely!
November 26, 2019
WOW!!! ABSOLUTELY BELIEVABLE!
I was a bit hesitant to start reading this book, since I was in a mood. But by the third page. I wished I had started it sooner!This is a great story that captures your interest and imagination almost immediately,and holds into them even after you finish the book. Everything could be believable. Nothing is predictable, even if you think you have it all figured out. A terrific novel that I'm sure you'll enjoy!
I was a bit hesitant to start reading this book, since I was in a mood. But by the third page. I wished I had started it sooner!This is a great story that captures your interest and imagination almost immediately,and holds into them even after you finish the book. Everything could be believable. Nothing is predictable, even if you think you have it all figured out. A terrific novel that I'm sure you'll enjoy!
November 20, 2021
Shallow Hal
I just didn't like this book,I read it to the end but didn't change my mind, I enjoyed the dinosaurs bit but could not get with the main character Gill , he comes across as very shallow , if I had lost my wife/husband and then my child in such an awful way would I feel attraction to someone within days? I tried to like him but no there was nothing that redeems him, Shame he wasn't killed.
I just didn't like this book,I read it to the end but didn't change my mind, I enjoyed the dinosaurs bit but could not get with the main character Gill , he comes across as very shallow , if I had lost my wife/husband and then my child in such an awful way would I feel attraction to someone within days? I tried to like him but no there was nothing that redeems him, Shame he wasn't killed.
October 13, 2019
Even Dinosaurs Couldn't Save This Tale
Really didn't care much for anything about this book, but especially disliked the wooden and poorly portrayed characters. I wish the T-rex had eaten them all in chapter one, end of story.
Really didn't care much for anything about this book, but especially disliked the wooden and poorly portrayed characters. I wish the T-rex had eaten them all in chapter one, end of story.
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February 13, 2020Good book.
I liked it. It was a little different than what I normally read. Great plot although brought tears to my eyes. Gill was a great and pitiful guy. But the adventure was great. I would like more of the same. Thanks.
I liked it. It was a little different than what I normally read. Great plot although brought tears to my eyes. Gill was a great and pitiful guy. But the adventure was great. I would like more of the same. Thanks.
April 19, 2022
Interesting
A lot of unanswered questions in this book leaving one with a feeling of incompleteness. The travels of the characters kept me for awhile , but by the end I just lost interest.
A lot of unanswered questions in this book leaving one with a feeling of incompleteness. The travels of the characters kept me for awhile , but by the end I just lost interest.
September 11, 2019
A trip back in time
A different look at how dino affect us. It has a great story line. This book has an all familiar plots and endings. It is worth the escape.
A different look at how dino affect us. It has a great story line. This book has an all familiar plots and endings. It is worth the escape.
September 18, 2022
NOT like Jurassic Park at all, as the reviews said :(
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May 17, 2023Hope there is a sequel
Liked the story line. It was well written. But when in the woods ?? A .22?!? Hope there is a sequel.
Liked the story line. It was well written. But when in the woods ?? A .22?!? Hope there is a sequel.
September 4, 2020
Edward McFadden I give him five stars for creativity. I would rate this as a horror tale. What is more horrible than your young son being carried away by a Velociraptor. This man's struggle is aided by a rescue team that gradually gets decimated by terrain and following the Raptors into a tunnel that leads to a hidden valley full of prehistoric monsters. A gripping horror story.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews