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The Primeval
After losing his grandmother and his job on the same day, Fran Rivera reconnects with his childhood friend Jack Catcher and begins working for him at his family’s construction company. As they begin work on a housing development in the forest they grew up playing in, unusual things begin happening.
Pieces of equipment go missing, strange markings are burned into the trees, and Jack’s troubled brother is found sleepwalking in the middle of the woods. These and other events bring back memories from Fran’s childhood that he thought were the imaginings of a child.
Behind schedule on the project, and desperate to find out who is behind the vandalism, Jack and a few others spend the night at the worksite and come face to face with an ancient evil that has been waiting for them in the forest. Fran will have to confront his troubled past in order to survive the night.
Pieces of equipment go missing, strange markings are burned into the trees, and Jack’s troubled brother is found sleepwalking in the middle of the woods. These and other events bring back memories from Fran’s childhood that he thought were the imaginings of a child.
Behind schedule on the project, and desperate to find out who is behind the vandalism, Jack and a few others spend the night at the worksite and come face to face with an ancient evil that has been waiting for them in the forest. Fran will have to confront his troubled past in order to survive the night.
187 pages, Paperback
Published September 20, 2019
17 people want to read
About the author
John Opalenik
6 books17 followersJohn Opalenik is the author of three novellas and a collection of short stories, The Primeval series, The Blue Beneath the Mountain, and Among the Willows and Other Strange Tales. He is an active member of the HOWL Society and a former member of the International Thriller Writers and the Horror Writers Association.
He currently lives in Connecticut with his wife, Amanda, and their dog, Zoey.
Web:www.johnopalenik.com
Instagram:www.instagram.com/johnopalenik/
Twitter:@opalenik_john
He currently lives in Connecticut with his wife, Amanda, and their dog, Zoey.
Web:www.johnopalenik.com
Instagram:www.instagram.com/johnopalenik/
Twitter:@opalenik_john
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 24, 2020
I was so absorbed in the story, characters, and lore that I read it cover to cover in one sitting. If you’re just beginning to dabble in horror, The Primeval is a wonderful place to start. And if you’re a horror veteran, read this ASAP. The cover art is beautiful and perfectly encapsulates the essence of the novella. I’m absolutely obsessed!!!
November 1, 2019
This is so good. Forget that this is a debut author. This is high class horror. I thoroughly enjoyed this. The Premeval is scary and well written. There is just enough back story without dragging it out. We jump into the scary scenes and the author gives enough descriptions to make this scary story come to life. I cannot wait for the next installment!
July 15, 2023
This duology is great fun. I read the pair like candy, just gobbled them up, back to back in 2 days. They tell a slightly overlapping story about a haunted New England wood being desecrated by a new housing development--with results that aren't quite predictable but are very satisfying.
October 30, 2019
Opalenik's extensive descriptions of setting and characters inherently transport the reader from wherever they are to the forest described. This book evokes the same ancient fear that has existed since our species was able to comprehend the emotion. The evil described within is one that frightens us to our cores. It is dark. It is ancient. It is immortal. It is patient. It is hungry. An absolute must for any horror or suspense fan!
November 19, 2019
From beginning to end, I was bewitched by this book. The story's details, characters and events were wonderfully crafted, but the mental image of the ancient evil that resides in the forest is something the author has left me thinking about long after I closed the book.
May 28, 2020
The owner of a little book store in Wethersfield Connecticut suggested this title to me and I'm so glad she did. This fun little novella held my interest from cover to cover.
The Primeval had very realistic characters, especially the construction worker people. My husband has worked with lots of those type of people and the author really captured their earnest gruffness.
The Primeval had very realistic characters, especially the construction worker people. My husband has worked with lots of those type of people and the author really captured their earnest gruffness.
July 19, 2020
This book had me hanging on every word waiting for the next thing to happen. Does not disappoint. Great horror/thriller.
January 30, 2023
Opalenik writes with compassion and depth. The real and the unreal come together to capture the internal conflict of a young person finding his way, coping with loss, and yearning for acceptance.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews