I got this novel off the list of Bram Stoker Award winners. It won in the category for best first novel.
It starts off with a murder or two… three… four… They’re gruesome too, and the general consensus is that it’s either the work of a very deranged individual or a bear (to be fair, most of the action does take place in the wilds). Surprise, surprise then that it’s neither.
OK. So there are some well worn horror conventions on display here, but Crota does at least smack of authenticity. If the back page is to be believed, the author is of Choctaw-Cherokee descent, and the Native American lore and history he incorporates into the story makes for fascinating reading. Since this is a first novel, it is not as polished as could be, but it’s certainly relentless. It also reads pretty quickly, which makes it a nice bridge between meatier novels when you’re on a horror-devouring spree.
As you may have supposed, it does deal with themes from Native American mythology. I’m not sure whether the Crota legend is an actual legend or something the author made up, but it’s pretty cool all the same. I did find the descriptions of the beast itself a bit vague at times, so I was never quite sure how to envision it.
The novel is rather gory at times and the character development is basically non-existent, but considering that this whole story takes place in the space of a few days where the protagonists attempt to hunt and kill the bear-that-is-not-a-bear, only to be owned again and again, I suppose all is forgiven.
This is not the best creature feature I have ever read, nor is it the best horror novel I have ever read, but it is pretty entertaining and you could certainly do worse. 3.5 Stars. Recommended for those who like their critters big and mean. One thing is for sure, I won’t be walking alone in the woods at night anytime soon....