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A Clearing of Cryptids
While visiting her grandmother's house, Clea Lang uncovers evidence that Grandma might be living a secret life as a hunter and researcher of legendary beasts like Bigfoot and chupacabra.
While trying to get his hands on Grandma's research, a shapeshifting cryptid known as the skinwalker invades her home and leaves Clea's grandmother hospitalized.
Clea, accompanied by her nextdoor neighbor, Curtis, ventures into the woods searching for more mythical creatures and for some way to help her grandmother.
Clea will try to tell the good monsters from the bad as she crashes a gathering of cryptids, befriends a young Bigfoot and follows the trail of the skinwalker.
While trying to get his hands on Grandma's research, a shapeshifting cryptid known as the skinwalker invades her home and leaves Clea's grandmother hospitalized.
Clea, accompanied by her nextdoor neighbor, Curtis, ventures into the woods searching for more mythical creatures and for some way to help her grandmother.
Clea will try to tell the good monsters from the bad as she crashes a gathering of cryptids, befriends a young Bigfoot and follows the trail of the skinwalker.
150 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 1, 2020
1 person want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 11, 2020
A Clearing of Cryptids is a whimsical and entertaining book (middle grade fiction) with a bewitching premise and wonderful sense of adventure. It features a colorful cast of unique characters presented in a world that feels just a heartbeat away from our own reality. The world-building is generally sound, the narrative perspectives are believable, and the pacing is superb. The cover doesn't do it justice -- so definitely don't judge this book by its cover.
While the writing is understandably kept a bit simpler than I'm used to in order to appeal to much younger audiences, I felt that, in some places, the sentences could have been a bit smoother. I also felt that some random details along the way (e.g. a bowl of cereal shaped like ghosts in purple milk) clashed heavily with other realistic elements and made it hard for me to pinpoint if this story is meant to be in our world -- including surreal elements of course, like, say, the Vampire Diaries or the beginning/ending chapters of The Chronicles of Narnia -- or in another world altogether. I wanted the former, because I felt it would be more relatable, but I couldn't quite pinpoint it as such. Those were my only -- and very minor -- qualms with the story.
In particular, I appreciated how Milner does such an excellent job of infusing a kid-friendly story with bursts of horror that would make even an adult's blood curdle (if you stop to imagine yourself in such a scenario), and which I can easily envision in a blockbuster horror flick (2015's The Visit came to mind a couple times).
"Then it turned again. Didn’t just turn this time but shook. It rattled the door in its frame. Then the banging started.
It built slowly but soon something on the other side of that door was furiously pounding and twisting the knob trying to open the door. Trying to get out.
Clea shouted for her grandmother. She was just down the hall. “Grandma Sherman!”
But she didn’t come.
Clea shouted over and over, pulled the sheets over her head. Grandma never arrived. The pounding stopped eventually but Clea didn’t sleep that night and would never sleep in an upstairs room again."
Yet it never really goes overboard, and it's generally counterbalanced beautifully with an ordinary interaction, slowly building up the suspense and a sense of trepidation. The beginning reminded me of C.S.Lewis' "The Magician's Nephew", which I very much liked. Part of it read like a deliciously horrible twist on the Little Red Riding Hood story, part of it like a delightful drawn-out take on Where the Wild Things Are.
It's not all fun and games and scares, of course. There's a backbone to this skeleton, and it's encapsulated in what's probably my favorite line in the book: "The couch was soft and safe. She could wait it out there and she’d never learn what lurked in the attic. Her parents would take her home and she would never find out what happened here tonight. She would go on not knowing which would turn eventually into not caring. And the not caring would spread to every scary and mysterious thing she encountered for the rest of her life."
While the writing is understandably kept a bit simpler than I'm used to in order to appeal to much younger audiences, I felt that, in some places, the sentences could have been a bit smoother. I also felt that some random details along the way (e.g. a bowl of cereal shaped like ghosts in purple milk) clashed heavily with other realistic elements and made it hard for me to pinpoint if this story is meant to be in our world -- including surreal elements of course, like, say, the Vampire Diaries or the beginning/ending chapters of The Chronicles of Narnia -- or in another world altogether. I wanted the former, because I felt it would be more relatable, but I couldn't quite pinpoint it as such. Those were my only -- and very minor -- qualms with the story.
In particular, I appreciated how Milner does such an excellent job of infusing a kid-friendly story with bursts of horror that would make even an adult's blood curdle (if you stop to imagine yourself in such a scenario), and which I can easily envision in a blockbuster horror flick (2015's The Visit came to mind a couple times).
"Then it turned again. Didn’t just turn this time but shook. It rattled the door in its frame. Then the banging started.
It built slowly but soon something on the other side of that door was furiously pounding and twisting the knob trying to open the door. Trying to get out.
Clea shouted for her grandmother. She was just down the hall. “Grandma Sherman!”
But she didn’t come.
Clea shouted over and over, pulled the sheets over her head. Grandma never arrived. The pounding stopped eventually but Clea didn’t sleep that night and would never sleep in an upstairs room again."
Yet it never really goes overboard, and it's generally counterbalanced beautifully with an ordinary interaction, slowly building up the suspense and a sense of trepidation. The beginning reminded me of C.S.Lewis' "The Magician's Nephew", which I very much liked. Part of it read like a deliciously horrible twist on the Little Red Riding Hood story, part of it like a delightful drawn-out take on Where the Wild Things Are.
It's not all fun and games and scares, of course. There's a backbone to this skeleton, and it's encapsulated in what's probably my favorite line in the book: "The couch was soft and safe. She could wait it out there and she’d never learn what lurked in the attic. Her parents would take her home and she would never find out what happened here tonight. She would go on not knowing which would turn eventually into not caring. And the not caring would spread to every scary and mysterious thing she encountered for the rest of her life."
February 12, 2020
Nathan Milner`s A Clearing of Cryptids is a quick and delightful read. Even though the book is tagged as for "middle grade", this one`s for everyone who likes to read simple and imaginative stories. There are some interesting characters (monsters!).
I will look forward to Nathan`s next book.
I will look forward to Nathan`s next book.
April 16, 2020
A Clearing of Cryptids may have been written for children, but I enjoyed reading it as an adult. It has the sort of magic that transports you, like the Chronicles of Narnia series. The characters are layered. My favorite character is Curtis, the weird neighbor kid who spends his free time building tunnels in the backyard, just in case he ever needs to escape a werewolf. I was kept guessing as Clea, our brave heroine, unravels a mystical mystery. This story took me to all sorts of unexpected places and I enjoyed the ride!
April 7, 2020
Nathan Milner’s ‘A Clearing of Cryptids’ is a spellbinding adventure story targeting the younger reader. The author’s imagination runs amok as he skilfully constructs this riveting adventure story.
Young Clea is tasked with unraveling the cause of her grand-mothers sudden mysterious illness. Monsters and strange happenings conspire to make this an almost impossible task, but a determined Clea tackles head the numerous challenges that confront her. The tension builds with every page, nothing is as it appears. But I’ve said enough, you’ll have to read this enchanting story to discover more.
While this is not my usual read, I have to admit the story gripped me. After a sedate start the momentum builds, I found it impossible to put down. The author is a skilled storyteller, I give it top marks.
January 27, 2020
Though I'm long past the age "A Clearing of Cryptids" was written for, I think any middle grade fantasy lover would enjoy this book. It is well written, with even pacing, and full of imagination.
The story begins with Clea visiting her grandma, who is clearly a keeper of secrets. Clea's grandmother lives near a boy named Curtis, whose "weirdness [knows] no bounds". Together they investigate Grandma's secrets, and discover that she's immersed in the world of monsters. (Incidentally, I thought the title referred to clearing away the monsters i.e. cryptids, but turns out that's what you call a gathering of monsters--a clearing of cryptids.) About halfway through, Grandma is overcome by one very creepy monster, a skinwalker who takes on the form of others, and at that point, all normalcy is abandoned and the book falls headfirst into a whimsical, creature-filled forest. Some of the creatures are friendly, some not so much. Clea has to figure out how to navigate this dangerous new world and save her grandma, Curtis, and herself.
The book reminded me of Fablehaven, and anyone who enjoyed that series will surely want to get a copy of A Clearing of Cryptids.
The story begins with Clea visiting her grandma, who is clearly a keeper of secrets. Clea's grandmother lives near a boy named Curtis, whose "weirdness [knows] no bounds". Together they investigate Grandma's secrets, and discover that she's immersed in the world of monsters. (Incidentally, I thought the title referred to clearing away the monsters i.e. cryptids, but turns out that's what you call a gathering of monsters--a clearing of cryptids.) About halfway through, Grandma is overcome by one very creepy monster, a skinwalker who takes on the form of others, and at that point, all normalcy is abandoned and the book falls headfirst into a whimsical, creature-filled forest. Some of the creatures are friendly, some not so much. Clea has to figure out how to navigate this dangerous new world and save her grandma, Curtis, and herself.
The book reminded me of Fablehaven, and anyone who enjoyed that series will surely want to get a copy of A Clearing of Cryptids.
February 2, 2020
A Clearing of Cryptids by Nathan Milner is a short and quirky YA novel about a determined teenage girl who embarks on an adventure to uncover the mysteries of her grandmother’s house. This leads to a thrilling paranormal adventure that isn’t perfect but is tense and dramatic throughout.
From the opening chapters it is clear that this book will be filled with mystery and horror. The plot starts off simple - a locked room towards an out-of-bounds attic - but continues to develop, and soon layer upon layer of the mystery is unwrapped. But we are only left with more questions! Milner has to be credited for this as the plot is well controlled and engaging, with little clues sprinkled here and there that foreshadow the ending.
The writing on a whole was good but at times was a little bland. In particular, some of the descriptions I feel need development (sometimes we are just told the name on the monster and expected to fill in the blanks ourselves). Also, some of the similes are a little clumsy in places (‘up ahead she noticed with the darkness a circle of deeper darkness, like an ice cube bobbing in the ocean’). As a result, Clea’s encounters with the monsters are initially tense, however the tension soon evaporates as we are not sure about what it is she is looking at and we cannot draw suitable examples. Instead it feels like to keep the plot moving, Clea mostly glances at the monsters and then runs away, when it would have been better to either hide or fight.
Although I was constantly wanting to solve the mystery of Clea’s grandmother, the ending I thought was a little predictable, and one of the revelations came across as a bit of an afterthought (the fur in the cage). In short, this novel would feature very well as part of a series, and I would like to see two or three short stories from the author in a single volume. I will be interested to pick up/review more books of his in the future.
From the opening chapters it is clear that this book will be filled with mystery and horror. The plot starts off simple - a locked room towards an out-of-bounds attic - but continues to develop, and soon layer upon layer of the mystery is unwrapped. But we are only left with more questions! Milner has to be credited for this as the plot is well controlled and engaging, with little clues sprinkled here and there that foreshadow the ending.
The writing on a whole was good but at times was a little bland. In particular, some of the descriptions I feel need development (sometimes we are just told the name on the monster and expected to fill in the blanks ourselves). Also, some of the similes are a little clumsy in places (‘up ahead she noticed with the darkness a circle of deeper darkness, like an ice cube bobbing in the ocean’). As a result, Clea’s encounters with the monsters are initially tense, however the tension soon evaporates as we are not sure about what it is she is looking at and we cannot draw suitable examples. Instead it feels like to keep the plot moving, Clea mostly glances at the monsters and then runs away, when it would have been better to either hide or fight.
Although I was constantly wanting to solve the mystery of Clea’s grandmother, the ending I thought was a little predictable, and one of the revelations came across as a bit of an afterthought (the fur in the cage). In short, this novel would feature very well as part of a series, and I would like to see two or three short stories from the author in a single volume. I will be interested to pick up/review more books of his in the future.
March 22, 2020
Short, simple, and weird - A Clearing of Cryptids, by Nathan Milner, is a solid book. It is at times predictable, others repetitive, but interestingly quirky. A solid mid-lister of the middle grade age category. And there is nothing wrong with that.
We are first introduced to Clea and Curtis as the former pays a visit to her grandmother, and the latter endeavors to be a goofball. Not long after the dynamic duo find out that Clea’s grandmother is not whom she appears to be. What follows next is a series of unraveling mysteries that are deftly plotted.
Now, that is the good. The bad…There really isn’t any bad, per-se. Let’s just call it the “not-to-my-taste,” bit. The writing for me is over simple. Now I am sure the target audience will actually appreciate this. But I was always a weird kid, like Curtis. Secondly there are things that just jar the grumpy reader in me. Repetitive word usage, chief among them. In addition, the dialogue just felt off. These together, along with action whose rhythm was at times out-of-synch, pulled together a novel that just didn’t hook me.
I am about 30 years gone from my time reading this sort of novel, so take my qualms with a grain of salt. In the end I still think this book was worth the time, and I am sure others out there will feel the same.
We are first introduced to Clea and Curtis as the former pays a visit to her grandmother, and the latter endeavors to be a goofball. Not long after the dynamic duo find out that Clea’s grandmother is not whom she appears to be. What follows next is a series of unraveling mysteries that are deftly plotted.
Now, that is the good. The bad…There really isn’t any bad, per-se. Let’s just call it the “not-to-my-taste,” bit. The writing for me is over simple. Now I am sure the target audience will actually appreciate this. But I was always a weird kid, like Curtis. Secondly there are things that just jar the grumpy reader in me. Repetitive word usage, chief among them. In addition, the dialogue just felt off. These together, along with action whose rhythm was at times out-of-synch, pulled together a novel that just didn’t hook me.
I am about 30 years gone from my time reading this sort of novel, so take my qualms with a grain of salt. In the end I still think this book was worth the time, and I am sure others out there will feel the same.
March 12, 2020
A Clearing of the Cryptids, by Nathan Milner, is a middle-grade fantasy adventure with chills and thrills. For a young reader who wants a mystery full of creatures and a fun story, this could fit the bill.
When teen Clea goes to visit her Grandma, she unravels the secret that Grandma is living among monsters. With the help of neighbor-boy Curtis, she embarks on an adventure to uncover the secrets of a forest-fantasy world. Young readers of fantasy and lovers of mythical beasts will likely not be disappointed, though at times the descriptive writing could've given more. The plot, however, has plenty of scary twists and turns, moving at a pace that will keep kids engaged, and the interactions between characters feels realistic.
A rollicking fantasy adventure that young readers will like for its thrills and chills, A Clearing of the Cryptids is a good middle-grade story.
When teen Clea goes to visit her Grandma, she unravels the secret that Grandma is living among monsters. With the help of neighbor-boy Curtis, she embarks on an adventure to uncover the secrets of a forest-fantasy world. Young readers of fantasy and lovers of mythical beasts will likely not be disappointed, though at times the descriptive writing could've given more. The plot, however, has plenty of scary twists and turns, moving at a pace that will keep kids engaged, and the interactions between characters feels realistic.
A rollicking fantasy adventure that young readers will like for its thrills and chills, A Clearing of the Cryptids is a good middle-grade story.
December 1, 2019
I am a skeptic when it comes to bigfoot and the like but I love a good story about the squatch-man and cryptid are new to me completely! So it turns out that I love this stuff and this is a great story for a younger crowd than I am - say about middle school. Clea and Curtis are awesome characters along with a young squatch and some very interesting monsters. Oh, just get this book because your 4th, 5th or whatever (I had some 9th-grade kids who loved it but you would be hard-pressed to get them to admit it). I hope for more of these books by this author
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 3, 2020
An adventurous monster hunt
I really didn’t think I will like the book. It started a little slow at first, but, the pace soon increased and so was my interest in the plot. Clea faced her ultimate fear and was able to use her fear to her advantage when it came to time to hunt and fight a monster that had plagued her family. It was indeed an adventurous story worth every read.
I really didn’t think I will like the book. It started a little slow at first, but, the pace soon increased and so was my interest in the plot. Clea faced her ultimate fear and was able to use her fear to her advantage when it came to time to hunt and fight a monster that had plagued her family. It was indeed an adventurous story worth every read.
May 15, 2020
Although marked as a children’s book, I enjoyed the mystery/fantasy. Clea faces her fears and handles more than “things that do bump in the night.”
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews