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Red in Tooth and Claw
A brutal wilderness. Hungry, plague-ridden animals. A winter so cold it snaps wood. Chemosh, a scout imprisoned by the enemy, agrees to lead the way through this wilderness for his freedom. But both his knowledge and his resilience are put to the test, not just by the wilderness, but by the chaotic, violent man he guides. A man he must rely on if they are to survive.
151 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 1, 2020
33 people are currently reading
167 people want to read
About the author
Ryan Howse
4 books15 followersI'm funnier without context.
Okay, you want context.
I'm a mid-30s nerd, married, with two kids. Also two cats--Cathulhu and Necronomicat.
I like, in no particular order, tabletop gaming, board games, arguing over books, ancient history and religion, and puns.
I'm unconundrum on reddit.
Okay, you want context.
I'm a mid-30s nerd, married, with two kids. Also two cats--Cathulhu and Necronomicat.
I like, in no particular order, tabletop gaming, board games, arguing over books, ancient history and religion, and puns.
I'm unconundrum on reddit.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
March 31, 2021
First and foremost, Ryan is a close friend of mine who I work with on both Grimdark Magazine and Beforewegoblog.com. It may seem sketchy that I would give him a five-star rating, it isn't. I am a merciless reviewer, and if you give me something to read, I am happy to provide you with an objective opinion. Conversely, I will also sing your praises to the heavens and lay my dreams at your feet if you have written something incredible. The latter is what I have in Red in Tooth and Claw.
"He moves forward, footsteps crunching on frozen grass, and hears a low, pained bleating. He sees the hart on the ground, obviously injured. A back leg is crushed and bleeding, and there are scrapes and sores across its belly. But there is no other animal around. The hart looks at him with blank eyes. A ring of black around its mouth. The snow stops falling."
Red in Tooth and Claw is one of the most tension-filled novels I have ever read. Reading it was like feeling the vibrating inside when you are shaking with fright—being a caged bird bashing itself against the bars. Reading it is when the pit in your stomach drops because you know you are not the badest mofo in the room. Reading this is the psychological dread that you get when you are going to die and the futility of it all. All of these emotions are wrapped up in a story that has echoes of The Revenant but is solidly so much better.
"The death in those mountains would have been a far worse death. The spirits are obviously malevolent. So are they creating this winter to mess with the rot? Is the rot a different force the spirits hate? Is it a side effect of them trying to kill Chemosh or Agash or anyone else who stumbled into that ruined city? Or is it Mother?"
Emotions aside, what this story is about is a bit more challenging to explain. For one, this story employs ambiguity and an unreliable narrator. Those right from the first gives you a messy set of impressions expressed from both sides of a cultural chasm. This story is about the duality of two cultures represented by two central characters, Chemosh and Agash. We start the story in the cell of prisoner Chemosh. Chemosh is thinking about his hunger, his pain, his loneliness, and the cruelty of it all. Through a series of circumstances, Agash and Chimosh are thrust together to brave the cold, power and harsh forces of a night bent on killing the rot that permeates the land.
Chemosh is not some unknowledgeable yet quirky heathen which is an insulting and tired trope. Chemosh and his people have a rich language and culture, but Agash does not understand it, so to Agash, it is lesser. Agash, his jailer, similarly has his reasons for things, and there is no moment where Agash will get his comeuppance at being oh so mean to poor Chimosh. This is a much deeper and grittier story than that. It is not about the end goals but the journey. They are two individuals who are about to endure something terrifying.
This is also a very tight book. It is not a sweeping tale; it is a tight space of a story. Howse has to consider is page length and space of time to work with. 150 is not a lot of time to tell a story such as this, but he works flawlessly with what he has.
Red and Tooth and Claw is an excellent book, at least to me. Perspective is key to a book experience. I am claustrophobic, and some of the scenes made me want to throw up in fear. The book practically radiated the tension and anxiety that someone with claustrophobia has. It is that good.
You really should check this out. It is such a good book, and I hope it finds itself in many great folks' hands.
"He moves forward, footsteps crunching on frozen grass, and hears a low, pained bleating. He sees the hart on the ground, obviously injured. A back leg is crushed and bleeding, and there are scrapes and sores across its belly. But there is no other animal around. The hart looks at him with blank eyes. A ring of black around its mouth. The snow stops falling."
Red in Tooth and Claw is one of the most tension-filled novels I have ever read. Reading it was like feeling the vibrating inside when you are shaking with fright—being a caged bird bashing itself against the bars. Reading it is when the pit in your stomach drops because you know you are not the badest mofo in the room. Reading this is the psychological dread that you get when you are going to die and the futility of it all. All of these emotions are wrapped up in a story that has echoes of The Revenant but is solidly so much better.
"The death in those mountains would have been a far worse death. The spirits are obviously malevolent. So are they creating this winter to mess with the rot? Is the rot a different force the spirits hate? Is it a side effect of them trying to kill Chemosh or Agash or anyone else who stumbled into that ruined city? Or is it Mother?"
Emotions aside, what this story is about is a bit more challenging to explain. For one, this story employs ambiguity and an unreliable narrator. Those right from the first gives you a messy set of impressions expressed from both sides of a cultural chasm. This story is about the duality of two cultures represented by two central characters, Chemosh and Agash. We start the story in the cell of prisoner Chemosh. Chemosh is thinking about his hunger, his pain, his loneliness, and the cruelty of it all. Through a series of circumstances, Agash and Chimosh are thrust together to brave the cold, power and harsh forces of a night bent on killing the rot that permeates the land.
Chemosh is not some unknowledgeable yet quirky heathen which is an insulting and tired trope. Chemosh and his people have a rich language and culture, but Agash does not understand it, so to Agash, it is lesser. Agash, his jailer, similarly has his reasons for things, and there is no moment where Agash will get his comeuppance at being oh so mean to poor Chimosh. This is a much deeper and grittier story than that. It is not about the end goals but the journey. They are two individuals who are about to endure something terrifying.
This is also a very tight book. It is not a sweeping tale; it is a tight space of a story. Howse has to consider is page length and space of time to work with. 150 is not a lot of time to tell a story such as this, but he works flawlessly with what he has.
Red and Tooth and Claw is an excellent book, at least to me. Perspective is key to a book experience. I am claustrophobic, and some of the scenes made me want to throw up in fear. The book practically radiated the tension and anxiety that someone with claustrophobia has. It is that good.
You really should check this out. It is such a good book, and I hope it finds itself in many great folks' hands.
October 13, 2021
An excellent character driven grimdark fantasy book.
Only 135 pages in length but what a journey of reading enjoyment.
Author is spot on with his writing.
Can see why it was a close hard pick for the finalist in the spfbo 7 for team weatherwax.
Highly recommended to all my goodreads.
Only 135 pages in length but what a journey of reading enjoyment.
Author is spot on with his writing.
Can see why it was a close hard pick for the finalist in the spfbo 7 for team weatherwax.
Highly recommended to all my goodreads.
July 21, 2021
This and more reviews at superstardrifter.com~
Red in Tooth and Claw follows two characters. First we have Chemosh, who is a young man from one of the local tribes. He recently completed the ritual in which his people consider him an adult, and due to shenanigans that happened right after that, got captured by the enemy. Agash is the heir to the throne of that enemy, which is more or less the empire that has settled in this area. When one of their outposts is attacked, he is to investigate what happened, and brings Chemosh with him to scout for the party in exchange for his freedom. Things go south pretty quickly into this adventure.
This book was very short, coming in at just about 150 pages… but wow, does it pack a story into those pages. I was on the edge of my seat for a lot of this story, as once the party reaches the outpost, the story kickstarts and never lets up. We see Chemosh and Agash thrown into a solo adventure together, trying to get back to the outpost while also trying to figure out why the animals are suffering from ‘the rot’ – a disease being passed around the wilderness that makes the animals go insane. They face off against mad bears, other tribes of varying hostility, haunted cities, raging rivers, and berserker furies… among other things.
There were several things that outright shocked me about this book, but I won’t spoil them for you. Just know that I was rather pleasantly surprised by one or two of the turns this story took. The story gets pretty gritty, dark and at times actually rather scary.
Don’t underestimate this book because it’s short, because Ryan Howse made use of every page it has to tell a gripping and really intriguing story of two men from different cultures thrust together into an unlikely adventure. I had 8.5/10 stars of a good time with Red in Tooth and Claw, and if you like dark and gritty wilderness adventures, you’ll probably dig it too.
Red in Tooth and Claw follows two characters. First we have Chemosh, who is a young man from one of the local tribes. He recently completed the ritual in which his people consider him an adult, and due to shenanigans that happened right after that, got captured by the enemy. Agash is the heir to the throne of that enemy, which is more or less the empire that has settled in this area. When one of their outposts is attacked, he is to investigate what happened, and brings Chemosh with him to scout for the party in exchange for his freedom. Things go south pretty quickly into this adventure.
This book was very short, coming in at just about 150 pages… but wow, does it pack a story into those pages. I was on the edge of my seat for a lot of this story, as once the party reaches the outpost, the story kickstarts and never lets up. We see Chemosh and Agash thrown into a solo adventure together, trying to get back to the outpost while also trying to figure out why the animals are suffering from ‘the rot’ – a disease being passed around the wilderness that makes the animals go insane. They face off against mad bears, other tribes of varying hostility, haunted cities, raging rivers, and berserker furies… among other things.
There were several things that outright shocked me about this book, but I won’t spoil them for you. Just know that I was rather pleasantly surprised by one or two of the turns this story took. The story gets pretty gritty, dark and at times actually rather scary.
Don’t underestimate this book because it’s short, because Ryan Howse made use of every page it has to tell a gripping and really intriguing story of two men from different cultures thrust together into an unlikely adventure. I had 8.5/10 stars of a good time with Red in Tooth and Claw, and if you like dark and gritty wilderness adventures, you’ll probably dig it too.
July 4, 2020
A book has not made my heart race like this, especially from sheer danger, all year.
In this story, a prisoner (Chemosh) and the leader (Agash) of his captors are thrust together to brave a cold, harsh, and afflicted wilderness. More than once, I found myself whispering "Jesus, guys, is this even worth it?"
But of course it was. Not so much for their original goal, but for what this journey gave them both, and what we see of their world.
One thing I really appreciate was how small the "map" of all this felt. Without spoiling anything, one of the characters is from a society that has intruded upon previously established tribes, but rather than being able to blame it on some far off Empire of Empireness, they're just there. The buck stops with Agash's people, and everyone in the story seems to know it (even if they don't all care).
And really, I cannot overstate how shocked I was my the sense of danger in this novel. I'm usually terrible when it comes to reading action sequences about threats of bodily harm, but the way Howse describes the suffering caused and contextualizes the source of that harm as something that exists beyond these two characters is absolutely engrossing.
In this story, a prisoner (Chemosh) and the leader (Agash) of his captors are thrust together to brave a cold, harsh, and afflicted wilderness. More than once, I found myself whispering "Jesus, guys, is this even worth it?"
But of course it was. Not so much for their original goal, but for what this journey gave them both, and what we see of their world.
One thing I really appreciate was how small the "map" of all this felt. Without spoiling anything, one of the characters is from a society that has intruded upon previously established tribes, but rather than being able to blame it on some far off Empire of Empireness, they're just there. The buck stops with Agash's people, and everyone in the story seems to know it (even if they don't all care).
And really, I cannot overstate how shocked I was my the sense of danger in this novel. I'm usually terrible when it comes to reading action sequences about threats of bodily harm, but the way Howse describes the suffering caused and contextualizes the source of that harm as something that exists beyond these two characters is absolutely engrossing.
August 21, 2021
3.5 stars on the blog.
I really enjoyed this quick read. RTC
I really enjoyed this quick read. RTC
April 30, 2021
You know the way small/short people usually tend to have the most gusto and feist? Yeah, in this same way, this 151 page book blows into your life, causes a hurricane of terror, emotions and holy-shits and leaves a trail of wow behind it! It is of no surprise then, that like a force of nature, this fantasy horror title comes with a set of trigger warnings: Injured and dead animals (wilderness survivalism), Disease, Claustrophobia
The minute I read the blurb of the book, I was in. Short, to the point, instant intrigue with promise of outdoor survival hardships piling on left, right and centre. Love it. I mean, ‘ A winter so cold it snaps wood’ would have been enough to sell the book to me.
It takes skill to write so much story to a book with less than 200 pages. How much information is required for the reader to set the scene, to paint the setting, to convey the feeling – Howse seems to have it balanced just right. There isn’t a word too much or too little; and the impact is nonetheless shattering. Interestingly, while I enjoyed the scenes in the wilderness, and whilst the violent man was, indeed, mega intriguing, I have to admit, my favourite part of the book was the start. The start of the book covers off the TW of claustrophobia as Chemosh is imprisoned and dayum, did I feel it. I mean, the state Chemosh is in really hit me in the feels and I had no issue with placing myself there in the darkness with him to physically suffer and mentally teeter on the edge of madness.
Then, there’s the ‘violent man’ – we will keep him a mystery as to his background and such, but imagine a man larger than life with a bellowing voice, steely determination, physically the embodiment of the giants who walked the earth… yeah, well, then add this extreme anger issue and a freaking axe and kaboom!
But here’s another kaboom for you- Chemosh and the violent man both will surprise the reader by showing a different side to themselves! A nice surprising surprise, ha… I know, I can’t get any more vague than this! But I was reading about this surprising surprise with my mouth open, thinking: no way! and the book went: yes way!
Furthermore, the story is gelled together in the wilderness by the fantasy/horror element. That was interesting and the reader will know just enough to make the story compellingly edge-of-the-seat. It had this mythical feel to it nearly, a feel of some darker forces at play. The battles that our characters have to face out there in the wild are constantly placing us at death’s door.
Red in Tooth and Claw is entirely gung-ho from the opening to the closing sentence. Fans of fantasy/horror will surely enjoy this title, especially as it’s a rare gem of a quick enough read among the commitment demanding tomes. Sometimes, you just want to dive into a story and come up out of it for fresh air and change soon after. This title will allow readers to do that!
The minute I read the blurb of the book, I was in. Short, to the point, instant intrigue with promise of outdoor survival hardships piling on left, right and centre. Love it. I mean, ‘ A winter so cold it snaps wood’ would have been enough to sell the book to me.
It takes skill to write so much story to a book with less than 200 pages. How much information is required for the reader to set the scene, to paint the setting, to convey the feeling – Howse seems to have it balanced just right. There isn’t a word too much or too little; and the impact is nonetheless shattering. Interestingly, while I enjoyed the scenes in the wilderness, and whilst the violent man was, indeed, mega intriguing, I have to admit, my favourite part of the book was the start. The start of the book covers off the TW of claustrophobia as Chemosh is imprisoned and dayum, did I feel it. I mean, the state Chemosh is in really hit me in the feels and I had no issue with placing myself there in the darkness with him to physically suffer and mentally teeter on the edge of madness.
Then, there’s the ‘violent man’ – we will keep him a mystery as to his background and such, but imagine a man larger than life with a bellowing voice, steely determination, physically the embodiment of the giants who walked the earth… yeah, well, then add this extreme anger issue and a freaking axe and kaboom!
But here’s another kaboom for you- Chemosh and the violent man both will surprise the reader by showing a different side to themselves! A nice surprising surprise, ha… I know, I can’t get any more vague than this! But I was reading about this surprising surprise with my mouth open, thinking: no way! and the book went: yes way!
Furthermore, the story is gelled together in the wilderness by the fantasy/horror element. That was interesting and the reader will know just enough to make the story compellingly edge-of-the-seat. It had this mythical feel to it nearly, a feel of some darker forces at play. The battles that our characters have to face out there in the wild are constantly placing us at death’s door.
Red in Tooth and Claw is entirely gung-ho from the opening to the closing sentence. Fans of fantasy/horror will surely enjoy this title, especially as it’s a rare gem of a quick enough read among the commitment demanding tomes. Sometimes, you just want to dive into a story and come up out of it for fresh air and change soon after. This title will allow readers to do that!
October 29, 2020
In a word... wow! While a little on the short side at roughly 150pgs, 'Red in Tooth and Claw' features some of the finest prose I've ever read in genre Fantasy. I'm not normally a fan of anything written in the present tense (personal preference) but I can also say I've never seen it used as effectively as in this novella. Ryan Howse uses the convention to create a mood of urgency and immediacy and very real tension as we follow alternating POV characters, Chemosh and Agash, through a harrowing wilderness ordeal. The world building is fantastic, as are the two lead characters, who are very much fully-realized and distinct from each other.
This is the first I've read from Ryan Howse, and I'll definitely be looking up his other work.
This is the first I've read from Ryan Howse, and I'll definitely be looking up his other work.
April 27, 2021
WOW!
I have started and restarted this review so many times, and even now I’m not sure that I actually have the words to write this review, let alone describe this unique book in a way that will truly do it justice. Firstly, though I can say that I loved Red in Tooth and Claw and that it is a book that I will revisit again and again in the future. Although I have to admit that even once I’ve had a chance to reread this book, I’m still not sure I’d have the words to adequately sum up this one.
Part of that stems from the fact ambiguity is threaded throughout this book and used to great effect – asking questions of the characters, of the world and of the reader, without necessarily demanding answers carved in stone. This in turn is matched by an unreliable narrator. Two elements, which make Red in Tooth and Claw hard to pin down, and in some cases, that wouldn’t work. How often do we read books and look for the markers of familiarity even amongst the fantastical? We look for answers, and reasons and connections. We look for a map that we can follow. That is not what we get here. Certainly, there are points of familiarity – but for me, much of where that connection came from in this book was the emotions, both the characters and the feelings that this book invokes as you read it, and again that feeds into that ambiguity because emotions are endlessly subjective. My fear is not your fear. Your grief is different to mine. Yet we can understand the shape of them, we can dive into Chemosh’s feelings during his captivity and emphasize, even as we imagine how it might be if our places were reversed.
Red in Tooth and Claw is a story of simplicity and complexity. This isn’t a sweeping, epic tale – it can’t be within the space of 150 pages, and yet there is such depth to it within that space. It has the feeling of that wild space, seemingly empty, but if you watch and wait long enough, there is life and death and all its trappings to be seen and heard and felt.
I think if I was forced to choose a word to sum up this book, it would be resonance. It’s a book that resonates – emotionally and mentally, this book made me feel with every word and even now I can’t stop thinking about it. It’s about two individuals across a cultural divide, sharing a journey and finding points of understanding against the backdrop of a wilderness that you can feel in your very bones (I definitely shivered at more than one point).
Red in Tooth and Claw is a book that you need to experience for yourself, and it is an experience. One that is carefully crafted, and yet does not feel that way when you are in the middle of it. The writing was fantastic, the worldbuilding and descriptions were vivid enough to create visceral reactions on more than one occasion, and the pacing and tension carried this book along the knife-edge of survival. The two main characters – Chemosh and Agash – were fantastically realised as well, bringing distinct voices and experiences to the tale, their interactions and the journey they find themselves on. I honestly don’t think I could choose a favourite between them, and Howse does an excellent job of making them real and relatable and allowing us to see both sides of the divide that they find themselves on.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough. This is a book that is begging to be experienced by as many people as possible, that demands to be felt and deserves to be on as many shelves as possible.
I have started and restarted this review so many times, and even now I’m not sure that I actually have the words to write this review, let alone describe this unique book in a way that will truly do it justice. Firstly, though I can say that I loved Red in Tooth and Claw and that it is a book that I will revisit again and again in the future. Although I have to admit that even once I’ve had a chance to reread this book, I’m still not sure I’d have the words to adequately sum up this one.
Part of that stems from the fact ambiguity is threaded throughout this book and used to great effect – asking questions of the characters, of the world and of the reader, without necessarily demanding answers carved in stone. This in turn is matched by an unreliable narrator. Two elements, which make Red in Tooth and Claw hard to pin down, and in some cases, that wouldn’t work. How often do we read books and look for the markers of familiarity even amongst the fantastical? We look for answers, and reasons and connections. We look for a map that we can follow. That is not what we get here. Certainly, there are points of familiarity – but for me, much of where that connection came from in this book was the emotions, both the characters and the feelings that this book invokes as you read it, and again that feeds into that ambiguity because emotions are endlessly subjective. My fear is not your fear. Your grief is different to mine. Yet we can understand the shape of them, we can dive into Chemosh’s feelings during his captivity and emphasize, even as we imagine how it might be if our places were reversed.
Red in Tooth and Claw is a story of simplicity and complexity. This isn’t a sweeping, epic tale – it can’t be within the space of 150 pages, and yet there is such depth to it within that space. It has the feeling of that wild space, seemingly empty, but if you watch and wait long enough, there is life and death and all its trappings to be seen and heard and felt.
I think if I was forced to choose a word to sum up this book, it would be resonance. It’s a book that resonates – emotionally and mentally, this book made me feel with every word and even now I can’t stop thinking about it. It’s about two individuals across a cultural divide, sharing a journey and finding points of understanding against the backdrop of a wilderness that you can feel in your very bones (I definitely shivered at more than one point).
Red in Tooth and Claw is a book that you need to experience for yourself, and it is an experience. One that is carefully crafted, and yet does not feel that way when you are in the middle of it. The writing was fantastic, the worldbuilding and descriptions were vivid enough to create visceral reactions on more than one occasion, and the pacing and tension carried this book along the knife-edge of survival. The two main characters – Chemosh and Agash – were fantastically realised as well, bringing distinct voices and experiences to the tale, their interactions and the journey they find themselves on. I honestly don’t think I could choose a favourite between them, and Howse does an excellent job of making them real and relatable and allowing us to see both sides of the divide that they find themselves on.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough. This is a book that is begging to be experienced by as many people as possible, that demands to be felt and deserves to be on as many shelves as possible.
March 3, 2025
Red in Tooth and Claw is a dark and exciting novella that puts two completely different characters into a difficult situation where they must learn to cooperate to survive a freezing forest full of enemies and rot-infested beasts.
I found the characters interesting, and I enjoyed their inner dialogue, especially when it came about the other.
The problems I find in the book are small but exist. The rhythm in the second half of the book feels weird and the writing in some scenes can be a bit confusing and I couldn't fully understand what was happening.
Also, I have to mention there's a scene in the book that for me, came completely out of nowhere and I was surprised to read it, especially when it had almost no relevance to the plot.
Even so, the novella has great moments of action and for moments it feels like a movie in your head.
I found the characters interesting, and I enjoyed their inner dialogue, especially when it came about the other.
The problems I find in the book are small but exist. The rhythm in the second half of the book feels weird and the writing in some scenes can be a bit confusing and I couldn't fully understand what was happening.
Also, I have to mention there's a scene in the book that for me, came completely out of nowhere and I was surprised to read it, especially when it had almost no relevance to the plot.
Even so, the novella has great moments of action and for moments it feels like a movie in your head.
June 21, 2022
A fresh and well built story. The narrative style is a bit unique and very much fits the vibe of the story. Not every author could pull it off but this one did and it made the story feel that much more immersive.
June 22, 2022
This is a story that I really enjoyed. Short, but beautifully written, and set in a unique fantasy environment. Straddles horror at times. The rich characterization of the protagonists won me over, and I'm eager to read more from Ryan.
May 27, 2021
This was a RIDE. From start to finish, I was never sure as to what the next step for either of our protagonists was going to be. Red in Tooth and Claw is an expertly written, gorgeous entry into the realm of self-publishing. That being said, I did have a couple of minor issues with the piece, but nothing that would dock the score more severely than what I gave it. But I want to start off on a positive note!
Where I think Howse really shines is his prose. When you think of a horror novel, you think lots of swear words and Stephen King-type gore. Instead, readers are treated to an almost grimdark fantasy tale that leans more toward George R. R. Martin than anything King-related. His prose was something I instantly praised from the first chapter. In my area, there is a stigma around self-published authors that if you can’t get sold to a publisher, then you’re not good enough. I, personally, like to think authors like Howse are telling those naysayers where to shove their negative opinions. As an increase in self-published authors dominates the markets, so too will an increase in self-published readers.
Another thing I really appreciated that Howse did was combine a lot of the stereotypical survivalist elements and flip them on their heads. Instead of typical frostbite or zombie apocalypse, we were treated to what is colloquially known as “the rot.” I won’t give more away for fear of spoilers, but I will say that it was one of the most most interesting concepts for a transmitted disease I’ve ever read. However, herein does lie one of my gripes. I felt like there was so much fear surrounding the rot that we never got to truly know what it was. There was some talk about a potential source, but it was never really explained. The story is Neolithic, so there was never going to be a satisfactorily modern-day answer, but I would have at least liked to have known what caused the outbreak to begin with. I think if there had been some more background information regarding the rot and why/how it came into fruition (maybe even in just small asides) it could have been equally as effective.
What I want to cover next is the character development between the two protagonists, Chemosh and Agash. The names alone are filled with literary references. Chemosh was the name of the Moabite god and Agash in an anagram (with some of the letters removed) of the name Gilgamesh. As characters, Agash and Chemosh are very different. Agash is Ensi, a prince of a large city and Chemosh was a member of a nomadic tribe called the Yathirem. The former is plagued by what he calls “the red,” an essential curse which makes him a deadly berserker consumed by rage. For story purposes, our Ensi is married to a woman named Sahana. This “red” causes him to completely lose control in battle and often when he needs to maintain it the most. Keeping it in check is a struggle for him, and I think he is supposed to be some kind of foil for Chemosh in that way. Chemosh is a very meek character and it seems to me that they are meant to be opposite faces of the same coin.
The biggest issue I had was the intimacy scene toward the end of the book. It wasn’t because it was homosexual, quite the opposite. I was thrilled to see a non-heteronormative relationship in the beginning of the book, especially pre-civilization. What bothered me was that it felt forced and almost fetishized. It didn’t seem intentional by any means, but it was sudden and unexpected. I supposed that was the point, given the POV we were in, but it took the gravity and tension of the scene way down for me. I think without it this would have been an 8 or 9. This isn’t to say it was done in poor taste or anything, because it most certainly wasn’t, but it did make me question its existence, at least in the main novel. Fanfiction? Sure, have at it, you crazy hoes. But within the main body of work it felt a little…contrite? I’m not opposed to sex in books and this wasn’t particularly graphic. It just didn’t seem within the boundaries of the characters.
One more teeny gripe before I close up shop. There were some cases in which I questioned the necessity of two narrators. Sometimes, the story moved at a sloth’s pace. I know that not every page can be action-packed, but it felt like they wandered through the same woods over and over only to reach the same conclusion once again. Eventually, it all made sense, but I couldn’t help but mentally get my red pen out and start over-enthusiastically trying to help.
All in all, Red in Tooth and Claw truly was a treat to read. I know the last few paragraphs probably make it sound like I had more complaints than praise, but that truly isn’t the case. Howse writes with a bone-chilling fervor I have only encountered a few times. I look forward to more of Howse’s books, and I have a good feeling that he’ll be flying off the shelves in no time. He has the makings of a great writer, and I’m excited to see where his future takes him.
Where I think Howse really shines is his prose. When you think of a horror novel, you think lots of swear words and Stephen King-type gore. Instead, readers are treated to an almost grimdark fantasy tale that leans more toward George R. R. Martin than anything King-related. His prose was something I instantly praised from the first chapter. In my area, there is a stigma around self-published authors that if you can’t get sold to a publisher, then you’re not good enough. I, personally, like to think authors like Howse are telling those naysayers where to shove their negative opinions. As an increase in self-published authors dominates the markets, so too will an increase in self-published readers.
Another thing I really appreciated that Howse did was combine a lot of the stereotypical survivalist elements and flip them on their heads. Instead of typical frostbite or zombie apocalypse, we were treated to what is colloquially known as “the rot.” I won’t give more away for fear of spoilers, but I will say that it was one of the most most interesting concepts for a transmitted disease I’ve ever read. However, herein does lie one of my gripes. I felt like there was so much fear surrounding the rot that we never got to truly know what it was. There was some talk about a potential source, but it was never really explained. The story is Neolithic, so there was never going to be a satisfactorily modern-day answer, but I would have at least liked to have known what caused the outbreak to begin with. I think if there had been some more background information regarding the rot and why/how it came into fruition (maybe even in just small asides) it could have been equally as effective.
What I want to cover next is the character development between the two protagonists, Chemosh and Agash. The names alone are filled with literary references. Chemosh was the name of the Moabite god and Agash in an anagram (with some of the letters removed) of the name Gilgamesh. As characters, Agash and Chemosh are very different. Agash is Ensi, a prince of a large city and Chemosh was a member of a nomadic tribe called the Yathirem. The former is plagued by what he calls “the red,” an essential curse which makes him a deadly berserker consumed by rage. For story purposes, our Ensi is married to a woman named Sahana. This “red” causes him to completely lose control in battle and often when he needs to maintain it the most. Keeping it in check is a struggle for him, and I think he is supposed to be some kind of foil for Chemosh in that way. Chemosh is a very meek character and it seems to me that they are meant to be opposite faces of the same coin.
The biggest issue I had was the intimacy scene toward the end of the book. It wasn’t because it was homosexual, quite the opposite. I was thrilled to see a non-heteronormative relationship in the beginning of the book, especially pre-civilization. What bothered me was that it felt forced and almost fetishized. It didn’t seem intentional by any means, but it was sudden and unexpected. I supposed that was the point, given the POV we were in, but it took the gravity and tension of the scene way down for me. I think without it this would have been an 8 or 9. This isn’t to say it was done in poor taste or anything, because it most certainly wasn’t, but it did make me question its existence, at least in the main novel. Fanfiction? Sure, have at it, you crazy hoes. But within the main body of work it felt a little…contrite? I’m not opposed to sex in books and this wasn’t particularly graphic. It just didn’t seem within the boundaries of the characters.
One more teeny gripe before I close up shop. There were some cases in which I questioned the necessity of two narrators. Sometimes, the story moved at a sloth’s pace. I know that not every page can be action-packed, but it felt like they wandered through the same woods over and over only to reach the same conclusion once again. Eventually, it all made sense, but I couldn’t help but mentally get my red pen out and start over-enthusiastically trying to help.
All in all, Red in Tooth and Claw truly was a treat to read. I know the last few paragraphs probably make it sound like I had more complaints than praise, but that truly isn’t the case. Howse writes with a bone-chilling fervor I have only encountered a few times. I look forward to more of Howse’s books, and I have a good feeling that he’ll be flying off the shelves in no time. He has the makings of a great writer, and I’m excited to see where his future takes him.
January 11, 2022
A short, well-written novel of man vs. man. vs. nature, as two enemies are forced to rely on each other to survive in a brutal wilderness. The writing is tight and very character-driven. A good read!
June 4, 2022
Great
This book was incredible from the start to finish, but idk what to say , I'm gutted at the finale.
This book was incredible from the start to finish, but idk what to say , I'm gutted at the finale.
November 18, 2021
Solid 4⭐.
If you like the blurb, I think you will like this book. It is set in a grim fantasy world with horror elements.
First, why I took away one star. The ending felt a little sudden and there were some parts that could use a little more editing. I would have liked to see more of some elements, more on that in the spoiler section.
Now, what made me like this book so much. It was very immersive and memorable. The characters were interesting, the world was cold and unfamiliar and frightening. It made me feel alone and afraid, but in a good way.
While the book was short, it was unlike anything I have read before.
*** SPOILERS BELOW ***
I would have liked to see more of the supernatural elements. The ending left me with the impression that all the whispers in the dark, the things in the shadows were a part of the imagination of the characters. It was the unknowable nature of spirits and rot that made the book so alluring. To pass it all off as something entirely physical left me a little dissatisfied.
I liked the slight homoerotic element. It was unexpected, but I think it had a positive effect on the story.
If you like the blurb, I think you will like this book. It is set in a grim fantasy world with horror elements.
First, why I took away one star. The ending felt a little sudden and there were some parts that could use a little more editing. I would have liked to see more of some elements, more on that in the spoiler section.
Now, what made me like this book so much. It was very immersive and memorable. The characters were interesting, the world was cold and unfamiliar and frightening. It made me feel alone and afraid, but in a good way.
While the book was short, it was unlike anything I have read before.
*** SPOILERS BELOW ***
I would have liked to see more of the supernatural elements. The ending left me with the impression that all the whispers in the dark, the things in the shadows were a part of the imagination of the characters. It was the unknowable nature of spirits and rot that made the book so alluring. To pass it all off as something entirely physical left me a little dissatisfied.
I liked the slight homoerotic element. It was unexpected, but I think it had a positive effect on the story.
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