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The Stinger #2
Shaula
The sight of the body did not sicken Ben. Not right away. Guilt was what got him: the mounting consequences rising in his throat, and the truth which would inevitably come spilling out.
Sometime after the events at Duncastor (See Lesath), two men are dispatched to make a delivery.
It was a straightforward assignment: take the sealed cargo—a container roughly the size of a child’s casket—and deliver it to a reclusive specialist residing in a lakeside cabin. What this specialist did or specialized in was never mentioned. Not that it mattered, when the task was simple—simple enough that even a young and inexperienced bureaucrat like Ben could handle it. If only he weren’t charged with keeping an eye on his wayward senior.
The lakeside cabin was the last remnant of a closed down resort, which Ben guessed was bought by a dummy corporation belonging to their employers. All the other cabins were torn down, leaving them with an empty property that served to distance the lakeside cabin from public grounds. Something about it reminded Ben of the horticultural practice of pruning spent flowers to further enhance the beauty of the crowning blossom. Not that it did anything to improve the cabin’s appearance he observed, as they stood in front of the stocky wooden building, sheltered under interlacing branches of towering evergreens. Much like the faded photos, an eerie hush permeated the place: no breeze ruffled the reflected image on the lake’s surface, nor susurrated through the green needles above.
It was all very quiet.
Sometime after the events at Duncastor (See Lesath), two men are dispatched to make a delivery.
It was a straightforward assignment: take the sealed cargo—a container roughly the size of a child’s casket—and deliver it to a reclusive specialist residing in a lakeside cabin. What this specialist did or specialized in was never mentioned. Not that it mattered, when the task was simple—simple enough that even a young and inexperienced bureaucrat like Ben could handle it. If only he weren’t charged with keeping an eye on his wayward senior.
The lakeside cabin was the last remnant of a closed down resort, which Ben guessed was bought by a dummy corporation belonging to their employers. All the other cabins were torn down, leaving them with an empty property that served to distance the lakeside cabin from public grounds. Something about it reminded Ben of the horticultural practice of pruning spent flowers to further enhance the beauty of the crowning blossom. Not that it did anything to improve the cabin’s appearance he observed, as they stood in front of the stocky wooden building, sheltered under interlacing branches of towering evergreens. Much like the faded photos, an eerie hush permeated the place: no breeze ruffled the reflected image on the lake’s surface, nor susurrated through the green needles above.
It was all very quiet.
306 pages, Paperback
First published September 30, 2021
1 person is currently reading
234 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
February 21, 2021
I received a free advanced copy of Shaula from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review - my sincerest thanks to both the author and the publisher. :)
Disclaimer, I have not read the first book in the series. Kherbash states at the start of this novel that it is not required but the book does reference some events that occurred in #1. That being said going into this blind did not diminish my overall enjoyment of the book.
The authors prose flows easily and is good at painting the images into your head. There's a very definite X-Files feel here in terms of the plot. especially in the first half or so. Then hold onto your pants folks because many things are not as they seem and there's some excellent twists throughout.
The first half or 1/3rd of the book is more slow and even a bit generic in my humble opinion however I think that was the author's intention, lulling you into some sense of malaise before hitting you with some incredible stuff out of left field.
That said, sadly my copy had a few typos or a missing word here and there. It would have benefited from a bit more proofreading. Overall 3.5 stars rounded down rather than up for the editing errors. If you can look past those and know the beginning is most likely on purpose there's a real interesting plot and world here. I am going to seek out #1 and hope there is a #3.
Disclaimer, I have not read the first book in the series. Kherbash states at the start of this novel that it is not required but the book does reference some events that occurred in #1. That being said going into this blind did not diminish my overall enjoyment of the book.
The authors prose flows easily and is good at painting the images into your head. There's a very definite X-Files feel here in terms of the plot. especially in the first half or so. Then hold onto your pants folks because many things are not as they seem and there's some excellent twists throughout.
The first half or 1/3rd of the book is more slow and even a bit generic in my humble opinion however I think that was the author's intention, lulling you into some sense of malaise before hitting you with some incredible stuff out of left field.
That said, sadly my copy had a few typos or a missing word here and there. It would have benefited from a bit more proofreading. Overall 3.5 stars rounded down rather than up for the editing errors. If you can look past those and know the beginning is most likely on purpose there's a real interesting plot and world here. I am going to seek out #1 and hope there is a #3.
May 6, 2021
Just a quick note to address a few concerns.
1. Typos:
The trade-off of gaining early access is that oftentimes the product may still contain a few bugs to be worked out of its system. It’s partly why there’s a span of months between ARCs and their release date.
This being my second book, it is also the second time that I hire an editor and proof-reader to revise the final draft with me. So you can imagine my surprise when a few kind reviewers alerted me in private about a handful of typos that slipped past the copyreaders' scrutiny. To be fair, (and lest anyone be under the impression the number of typos was shamefully vast,) there were less than fifty instances, most of which were cases of a missing article, atomic typos (e.g. heath vs. health; causal vs. casual), and a couple of periods gone AWOL. There is a point at which your mind imperceptibly slides into autopilot mode to streamline the reading experience, leaving you blind to such errors. And while this is not an excuse, it explains their presence in early versions of the ARC.
Voice-to-text apps can assist with catching them, though not in the case of homophones, and AI-based processors are helpful but still have a ways to go.
When it comes to proof-reading, a fresh pair of eyes are your best bet. It’s why readers often catch what others might have missed and why consecutive re-reads usually are required. The only downside is that the process takes time since one can only scan so many blocks of text before growing cross-eyed and failing to notice that “public” is lacking that crucial “l.”
But this was back in late January, so the good news is I’ve spent the past period going over the novel with a fine-toothed comb before uploading the revised version on NetGalley.
2. Prequel/Lesath:
I was somewhat surprised to hear that a couple of reviewers found it difficult to locate copies of Lesath. At the time of writing this, Amazon is offering both paperback and hardback at low prices; US and UK residents wishing to support indie bookstores can find it on Bookshop.org; other countries should be able to order it from Book Depository.
If audiobooks are more your speed, you’ll find it available on several outlets like Audible, iTunes, Chirp, Nook, Kobo, and Storytel. This also includes libraries in some regions.
If you’re still struggling to locate a copy, you can always check my website for more info.
Now, the E-book format is another story. I’ve been unhappy with its limited distribution, and if you ever tried locating a Kindle version of Lesath, you can probably see why. I’m in the process of switching to another platform to see if I can attain a more broad distribution. My aim is to have it available by the end of March.
In the end, I just want to thank you all for reading and reviewing Shaula! Nothing gladdens me more than to hear back from those who enjoyed it and were kind enough to share their thoughts. It’s also wonderful to see that despite not having read the first book, many of you still considered it a solid stand-alone, and I hope you get a chance to pick up the first one for a more complete experience.
1. Typos:
(Before I address this, I would like to say that the current NetGalley version should be error-free.)
Edit: Just to clarify, I was able to upload an error-free version to NetGalley around Feb 28, 2021, but that doesn't mean it automatically applies all changes to the ePUB/MOBI file you downloaded before that date. I bring this up because one reviewer, who downloaded the old version, thought they were reading the corrected version and remarked that it still had some typos. If you have an early version but have yet to read it, and typos are the kind of thing that affect your reading experience, I recommend you download the current corrected version.
The trade-off of gaining early access is that oftentimes the product may still contain a few bugs to be worked out of its system. It’s partly why there’s a span of months between ARCs and their release date.
This being my second book, it is also the second time that I hire an editor and proof-reader to revise the final draft with me. So you can imagine my surprise when a few kind reviewers alerted me in private about a handful of typos that slipped past the copyreaders' scrutiny. To be fair, (and lest anyone be under the impression the number of typos was shamefully vast,) there were less than fifty instances, most of which were cases of a missing article, atomic typos (e.g. heath vs. health; causal vs. casual), and a couple of periods gone AWOL. There is a point at which your mind imperceptibly slides into autopilot mode to streamline the reading experience, leaving you blind to such errors. And while this is not an excuse, it explains their presence in early versions of the ARC.
Voice-to-text apps can assist with catching them, though not in the case of homophones, and AI-based processors are helpful but still have a ways to go.
When it comes to proof-reading, a fresh pair of eyes are your best bet. It’s why readers often catch what others might have missed and why consecutive re-reads usually are required. The only downside is that the process takes time since one can only scan so many blocks of text before growing cross-eyed and failing to notice that “public” is lacking that crucial “l.”
But this was back in late January, so the good news is I’ve spent the past period going over the novel with a fine-toothed comb before uploading the revised version on NetGalley.
2. Prequel/Lesath:
I was somewhat surprised to hear that a couple of reviewers found it difficult to locate copies of Lesath. At the time of writing this, Amazon is offering both paperback and hardback at low prices; US and UK residents wishing to support indie bookstores can find it on Bookshop.org; other countries should be able to order it from Book Depository.
If audiobooks are more your speed, you’ll find it available on several outlets like Audible, iTunes, Chirp, Nook, Kobo, and Storytel. This also includes libraries in some regions.
If you’re still struggling to locate a copy, you can always check my website for more info.
Now, the E-book format is another story. I’ve been unhappy with its limited distribution, and if you ever tried locating a Kindle version of Lesath, you can probably see why. I’m in the process of switching to another platform to see if I can attain a more broad distribution. My aim is to have it available by the end of March.
In the end, I just want to thank you all for reading and reviewing Shaula! Nothing gladdens me more than to hear back from those who enjoyed it and were kind enough to share their thoughts. It’s also wonderful to see that despite not having read the first book, many of you still considered it a solid stand-alone, and I hope you get a chance to pick up the first one for a more complete experience.
February 7, 2021
Shaula is what happens when you mix two most enjoyable main characters, a cult, a ghost town, and a creepy sea creature. This was a story that begs to be read with immediacy!
This story follows our secret agent main characters, Grim and Ben, as they are tasked with delivering mysterious cargo to a man in the middle of nowhere. They quickly realize that most residents of this town have left, leaving room for a cult to take over in their wake. The ensuing story deals with what happens when things don’t necessarily go as anticipated.
Shaula combines great character development and incredibly fun sci-fi elements. I enjoyed this book quite a lot, though it made me wish I’d read the first book in the series before devouring this one. That being said, Shaula functions exceedingly well on its own.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this eBook to read and rate.
This story follows our secret agent main characters, Grim and Ben, as they are tasked with delivering mysterious cargo to a man in the middle of nowhere. They quickly realize that most residents of this town have left, leaving room for a cult to take over in their wake. The ensuing story deals with what happens when things don’t necessarily go as anticipated.
Shaula combines great character development and incredibly fun sci-fi elements. I enjoyed this book quite a lot, though it made me wish I’d read the first book in the series before devouring this one. That being said, Shaula functions exceedingly well on its own.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this eBook to read and rate.
February 17, 2022
ARC received via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
It's always tough writing a review when you didn't enjoy a book and can't really see yourself recommending it to anyone, but such is life.
Sad to say that this really did not live up to expectations. Having read and not particularly liked the author's previous book, Lesath (purely a matter of personal taste, in that instance), I was excited to see how this second one might turn out, as I saw something in the author's potential that I felt I could enjoy.
What I got was not an improved version of the red-coloured, strobing mass of insane asylum horror of the previous book, however, but rather a flat and ultimately uninteresting story that lacked a sorely-needed pervasive sense of dread. Paired with the unnecessarily cumbersome, stilted prose, I found myself slogging through the book, hoping for some kind of twist or surprise at the end to make the journey worthwhile, but no such luck.
In short, where Lesath left some kind of an imprint on my mind (again, mental images of red-coloured, strobing insane asylum horror), Shaula simply lacked enough substance to achieve even that.
It's always tough writing a review when you didn't enjoy a book and can't really see yourself recommending it to anyone, but such is life.
Sad to say that this really did not live up to expectations. Having read and not particularly liked the author's previous book, Lesath (purely a matter of personal taste, in that instance), I was excited to see how this second one might turn out, as I saw something in the author's potential that I felt I could enjoy.
What I got was not an improved version of the red-coloured, strobing mass of insane asylum horror of the previous book, however, but rather a flat and ultimately uninteresting story that lacked a sorely-needed pervasive sense of dread. Paired with the unnecessarily cumbersome, stilted prose, I found myself slogging through the book, hoping for some kind of twist or surprise at the end to make the journey worthwhile, but no such luck.
In short, where Lesath left some kind of an imprint on my mind (again, mental images of red-coloured, strobing insane asylum horror), Shaula simply lacked enough substance to achieve even that.
February 28, 2021
I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for providing a copy for review.
A solid creature feature / body horror to scratch any fan's horror itch!
I was really excited to read Shaula upon seeing its mysterious premise promising lake monsters and creepy cults, and this book doesn't disappoint on those fronts. I also definitely recommend going into this without trying to find out more, as it really puts you in the head of its naive point-of-view character. Kherbash does a great job of building tension through keeping us in the dark, and that's a large part of why I found this book so compelling. Not a lot happens in the book, but there's a sense of urgency throughout, especially since this book takes place over the span of maybe three or four days. Kherbash also knows how to write horrific things, with an excellent restraint when it comes to description that made me squirm far more than if there had been excess gore.
I did have some issues with the writing. This will not be an issue for everyone, as I've read several reviews that say they really liked the prose, and I recognize that I pay A LOT more attention to writing than others. I found that the somewhat lofty diction and convoluted syntax clashed with how I expected the characters to think, as so much time is spent in the head of an inexperienced twenty-something in the 21st century. There's also a lot of speaker tags that use words other than "said," which definitely got on my nerves and was noticeable every single time. Again, it didn't ruin my experience, and most of the writing was lush and full without feeling too wordy. It was a large part of why I felt so compelled while reading. There's just some tightening up in terms of diction and syntax that could be done, as well as a once-over on the grammar.
Overall, definitely recommended to body horror fans and those just looking for a good, solid story. I'll certainly be looking out for this author's next release.
3.5/5 stars
A solid creature feature / body horror to scratch any fan's horror itch!
I was really excited to read Shaula upon seeing its mysterious premise promising lake monsters and creepy cults, and this book doesn't disappoint on those fronts. I also definitely recommend going into this without trying to find out more, as it really puts you in the head of its naive point-of-view character. Kherbash does a great job of building tension through keeping us in the dark, and that's a large part of why I found this book so compelling. Not a lot happens in the book, but there's a sense of urgency throughout, especially since this book takes place over the span of maybe three or four days. Kherbash also knows how to write horrific things, with an excellent restraint when it comes to description that made me squirm far more than if there had been excess gore.
I did have some issues with the writing. This will not be an issue for everyone, as I've read several reviews that say they really liked the prose, and I recognize that I pay A LOT more attention to writing than others. I found that the somewhat lofty diction and convoluted syntax clashed with how I expected the characters to think, as so much time is spent in the head of an inexperienced twenty-something in the 21st century. There's also a lot of speaker tags that use words other than "said," which definitely got on my nerves and was noticeable every single time. Again, it didn't ruin my experience, and most of the writing was lush and full without feeling too wordy. It was a large part of why I felt so compelled while reading. There's just some tightening up in terms of diction and syntax that could be done, as well as a once-over on the grammar.
Overall, definitely recommended to body horror fans and those just looking for a good, solid story. I'll certainly be looking out for this author's next release.
3.5/5 stars
June 27, 2021
Grim and Ben are dispatched to deliver a sealed container to a reclusive specialist residing in a lakeside cabin. They don't know the content of the container or what the specialist is working on. But because they noticed that he's not working alone (as he should), their employers ask them to keep an eye on his and on the people who visit him. A simply task that quickly turns in a very complicated and dangerous mission...
Shaula is the second book of The Stinger series but it can be read as a standalone without any problems. Compared to its predecessor Lesath, this novel is easier to read, less confusing and... more fun. I really enjoyed the relationship between our two protagonists, so different from each other but deep down with the same sense of duty and justice. Their chemistry is the first thing I noticed and what made the story easy to follow and fun: Grim is an old man, grouchy and shady sometimes, while Ben is young and still learning how to act in complicated situations. Between snarky comments and suspicious suggestions, it was a pleasure to follow these two men trying to sneak into a cult, helping each other out but also hiding things.
When we discover what's inside the box, everything changes and things become... pretty crazy! I won't reveal what it is, of course, but I really didn't expect THAT!
This book is classified as horror, but for me it's more a thriller with a few horror elements: very dark, interesting plot, the ending is a bit predictable but still it's a great book that I enjoyed a lot and finished in a couple of sittings.
4.5 stars, rounded up to 5.
* I'd like to thank A.M. Kherbash and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Shaula is the second book of The Stinger series but it can be read as a standalone without any problems. Compared to its predecessor Lesath, this novel is easier to read, less confusing and... more fun. I really enjoyed the relationship between our two protagonists, so different from each other but deep down with the same sense of duty and justice. Their chemistry is the first thing I noticed and what made the story easy to follow and fun: Grim is an old man, grouchy and shady sometimes, while Ben is young and still learning how to act in complicated situations. Between snarky comments and suspicious suggestions, it was a pleasure to follow these two men trying to sneak into a cult, helping each other out but also hiding things.
When we discover what's inside the box, everything changes and things become... pretty crazy! I won't reveal what it is, of course, but I really didn't expect THAT!
This book is classified as horror, but for me it's more a thriller with a few horror elements: very dark, interesting plot, the ending is a bit predictable but still it's a great book that I enjoyed a lot and finished in a couple of sittings.
4.5 stars, rounded up to 5.
* I'd like to thank A.M. Kherbash and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
March 2, 2021
Since no one brought it up yet, I thought I’d make myself useful and answer a question no one asked.
“Should I read Lesath before Shaula?”
The short and cheap answer is: It depends.
Some people might get scared by Lesath. It’s dark, heavy, and Kubrickian in that it’s very atmospheric but also very opaque. Maybe not on the same level as House of Leaves, which for all its ostentatious layers and Escher-like text, still got read a ton. Some on a dare, I’m sure, but whatever.
To be honest, I like Lesath for what it is. It bends you over and unapologetically fucks your mind without holding your hand. That’s fine with me. I want to read the bloody story, not take it for a moonlit stroll.
Shaula, on the other hand, is its gentler half. If Lesath was an acid trip, Shaula is smoking a joint with a friend with questionable motives. It explains things and guides you in a way Lesath never allowed. But that has more to do with the cast of characters: with Lesath, you follow a MC who’s as clueless as the reader and is told almost nothing. Meanwhile, Shaula follows two MCs, one more experienced than the other, so you have someone to explain things when things need explaining. This is done without the dreaded “As you know” trope.
Since the sequel got many positive reviews from people who never read the first one, I’m almost tempted to answer the question by saying, Nah, you don’t have to.
It’s not that the events in Shaula won’t make sense, but there’s obviously some depth that you’ll miss. If you ever watched a sequel movie before the original, you’ll know what I mean.
I know I'm making a weak argument for picking up the first, but hey, I’m just here to give an honest opinion. But if you find yourself eyeing that black and red cover, just be warned it’s a different beast.
“Should I read Lesath before Shaula?”
The short and cheap answer is: It depends.
Some people might get scared by Lesath. It’s dark, heavy, and Kubrickian in that it’s very atmospheric but also very opaque. Maybe not on the same level as House of Leaves, which for all its ostentatious layers and Escher-like text, still got read a ton. Some on a dare, I’m sure, but whatever.
To be honest, I like Lesath for what it is. It bends you over and unapologetically fucks your mind without holding your hand. That’s fine with me. I want to read the bloody story, not take it for a moonlit stroll.
Shaula, on the other hand, is its gentler half. If Lesath was an acid trip, Shaula is smoking a joint with a friend with questionable motives. It explains things and guides you in a way Lesath never allowed. But that has more to do with the cast of characters: with Lesath, you follow a MC who’s as clueless as the reader and is told almost nothing. Meanwhile, Shaula follows two MCs, one more experienced than the other, so you have someone to explain things when things need explaining. This is done without the dreaded “As you know” trope.
Since the sequel got many positive reviews from people who never read the first one, I’m almost tempted to answer the question by saying, Nah, you don’t have to.
It’s not that the events in Shaula won’t make sense, but there’s obviously some depth that you’ll miss. If you ever watched a sequel movie before the original, you’ll know what I mean.
I know I'm making a weak argument for picking up the first, but hey, I’m just here to give an honest opinion. But if you find yourself eyeing that black and red cover, just be warned it’s a different beast.
February 7, 2021
Mysterious lake creatures, a cult, and an (almost) ghost town? Yes, please. This is a very solid sci-fi horror that kept me up well into the night.
Two agents from a stealth organization are sent to delivery a mysterious package to a man by the lake. It’s not until they arrive in town that they discover most people have left and a local cult has taken roots. When things don’t go as expected, the agents must navigate their shady organization, local towns folks and Thane, the dangerous cult leader.
I enjoyed the relationship between the two agents, and the character development for Ben, the younger of the two, is especially well done. There are a lot of details to take in and the reader is left with a lot of questions, but that’s fair game in a series. It’s important to note that I enjoyed this book despite not reading the first in the series.
Big thanks to the publisher and #NetGalley for the ARC.
Two agents from a stealth organization are sent to delivery a mysterious package to a man by the lake. It’s not until they arrive in town that they discover most people have left and a local cult has taken roots. When things don’t go as expected, the agents must navigate their shady organization, local towns folks and Thane, the dangerous cult leader.
I enjoyed the relationship between the two agents, and the character development for Ben, the younger of the two, is especially well done. There are a lot of details to take in and the reader is left with a lot of questions, but that’s fair game in a series. It’s important to note that I enjoyed this book despite not reading the first in the series.
Big thanks to the publisher and #NetGalley for the ARC.
February 25, 2021
Really good book including likeable main characters, creepy monsters and weird cults. I really enjoyed this one! Good news is since the first book in the series was hard to find, you didn't have to read the first one before this book to understand what was going on. The backstory would have been nice, but Shaula did a good job of filling in some of the blanks enough so that you could start here.
March 16, 2021
I loved this book. The Author knows exactly how to make a situation go from regular to very sinister and quite scary. It had great pacing, no parts felt too drawn out or dull, and the general menace of the Organisation is a quiet danger in the back of your mind. I can only hope that there are more in this series as I want to see what happens in the long run.
If you like horror then I suggest you read this book.
If you like horror then I suggest you read this book.
February 25, 2021
Oh boy. Let me start by saying I couldn’t find the first book in this series ANYWHERE to read before jumping on this. I may have missed A LOT of context by missing out on the first book. However, per the book itself:
0/1 World: I think the story took place in America? Maybe middle America? The place with the most character was the Tea shop and even that left a lot to the imagination. The characters often spoke about “the organization” and “HQ” but aside from some super secret science implications there’s no real indication what this place does. It does sound very CIA/Men in Black but beyond that..?
0.5/1 Characters: I hate Ben. Not because of any fault of his personality wise but just the way he’s written. If half of anything he did made sense... I might have liked him. Half the cast didn’t need to exist and served zero purpose beyond some weird Swiss cheese subplot. Grim and Olivia were acceptable and interesting (though I would have liked more on Olivia!) so... half a point.
0.5/1: Obviousness: so much about this book should have been obvious but the subplot had me thinking one way and the main plot... didn’t make any damn sense. It gets half a point for the fact I didn’t see the ending coming.
0/0 Readability: maybe the author is too smart for me or maybe it was typos (advanced reading copy) but there were words in this book that I had never heard and I couldn’t figure out from context. That and the whole mess just didn’t make any sense. There was very obviously the beginning of a plot but then it fell off the face of the planet and disappeared. A lot of jumping around and character POV changes too which pulled me right out of the story all together.
And finally:
0/0 Discrepancies: It’s really hard to get a zero from me on this honestly. Sometimes yeah your mind has to make it’s own connections and follow some implications but this book was everywhere. Characters disappeared after having half chapters dedicated to them. Things happened to other sub characters who weren’t even in the story to begin with and then they just... anyway. The whole thing was a mess and it seemed very half finished to me (even though those subplots were supposedly resolved at the end?) so yes - lots of discrepancies.
1/5 Overall: Hopefully with some editing and a bit more time this book can be polished but if it stays close to the advanced read... well... it ain’t great.
0/1 World: I think the story took place in America? Maybe middle America? The place with the most character was the Tea shop and even that left a lot to the imagination. The characters often spoke about “the organization” and “HQ” but aside from some super secret science implications there’s no real indication what this place does. It does sound very CIA/Men in Black but beyond that..?
0.5/1 Characters: I hate Ben. Not because of any fault of his personality wise but just the way he’s written. If half of anything he did made sense... I might have liked him. Half the cast didn’t need to exist and served zero purpose beyond some weird Swiss cheese subplot. Grim and Olivia were acceptable and interesting (though I would have liked more on Olivia!) so... half a point.
0.5/1: Obviousness: so much about this book should have been obvious but the subplot had me thinking one way and the main plot... didn’t make any damn sense. It gets half a point for the fact I didn’t see the ending coming.
0/0 Readability: maybe the author is too smart for me or maybe it was typos (advanced reading copy) but there were words in this book that I had never heard and I couldn’t figure out from context. That and the whole mess just didn’t make any sense. There was very obviously the beginning of a plot but then it fell off the face of the planet and disappeared. A lot of jumping around and character POV changes too which pulled me right out of the story all together.
And finally:
0/0 Discrepancies: It’s really hard to get a zero from me on this honestly. Sometimes yeah your mind has to make it’s own connections and follow some implications but this book was everywhere. Characters disappeared after having half chapters dedicated to them. Things happened to other sub characters who weren’t even in the story to begin with and then they just... anyway. The whole thing was a mess and it seemed very half finished to me (even though those subplots were supposedly resolved at the end?) so yes - lots of discrepancies.
1/5 Overall: Hopefully with some editing and a bit more time this book can be polished but if it stays close to the advanced read... well... it ain’t great.
March 13, 2021
Really enjoyed the main characters Grim and Ben. Their relationship is fun to watch and follow, and it develops quite nicely. This book is part of a series but can be read on it’s own and you won’t get lost. This book is a fun read and sometimes creepy and the element of the cult leader really gives the book an extra push. A must read for those whose like books that are a bit different.
March 22, 2021
Stars: 4 ⭐
What happens when you combine humor and horror? This book gives you the answer.
Shaula combines the humor of the main and secondary characters, but with that touch of horror, a sea creature and cults.
I liked the team that Grim and Ben formed from the beginning, leaving a good mix of horror and humor with their sarcastic comments.
The creature, I liked all the darkness of the creature theme, as well as being my favorite creature.
In the story, it is always accompanied with horror and too many bloody scenes, and the ghost town with a mysterious cult.
To clarify, this is the second book of The Stinger, but it is not necessary to read the first (something they tell you from the beginning).
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ebook.
What happens when you combine humor and horror? This book gives you the answer.
Shaula combines the humor of the main and secondary characters, but with that touch of horror, a sea creature and cults.
I liked the team that Grim and Ben formed from the beginning, leaving a good mix of horror and humor with their sarcastic comments.
The creature, I liked all the darkness of the creature theme, as well as being my favorite creature.
In the story, it is always accompanied with horror and too many bloody scenes, and the ghost town with a mysterious cult.
To clarify, this is the second book of The Stinger, but it is not necessary to read the first (something they tell you from the beginning).
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ebook.
January 8, 2025
this way acc wayy better than the first book. probably bc the mc was fine esp his grey eyes so cute and he was acc smart too but not the unrealistic kind of smart. also, it was much more readable than book 1 bc i had no idea what was going on in book 1. the ending was great too and the writing was so intense. so beautiful even though i didnt understand some phrases.
February 23, 2021
I was really interested in this book because it was really in line with my interests and it seemed like a slam dunk for me. The first half of the book was awesome. I really enjoyed getting to sort of know Grim and Ben. I came to picture Grim in my face as this older man who everyone in the neighborhood is afraid of, but that quality made him kind of endearing. The balance between amount of detail given and mystery was perfect and I loved the creepy small town with a cult on the outskirts of town. About halfway through there is a shift when Ben and Grim figure out what they were delivering that knocked me off course. It changed the book for me and I struggled to get through it. I would classify this more as a Thriller/Fantasy novel or a Mystery with hints of Fantasy in it instead of the way it was currently categorized. The writing was amazing and the imagery was so strong so I did really enjoy that part of it. It was just not a book for me.
June 10, 2021
I want to thank NetGalley and the author for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
What will you do when you must choose between survival and duty?
Two delightful characters, a spooky town, and a mythical creature what else one can need into a horror-thriller book. Shaula is a perfect blend of thrill and horror.
The story revolves around two agents Grim and Ben, they have a task to deliver the mysterious cargo to a man in the mysterious town, where most residents have left the town. The things getting uncanny soon after they arrive in the town.
Though it is a second book of the series, you can read it as a standalone, as the character development and story are woven together very well. I love the way the author develops and the relationship of Grin and Ben, it was fun and sympathetic at the same time. the sci-fi elements and punch of thrills make this an interesting read.
Overall! I find this an interesting read. I will definitely recommend this book who like thrillers with cults.
What will you do when you must choose between survival and duty?
Two delightful characters, a spooky town, and a mythical creature what else one can need into a horror-thriller book. Shaula is a perfect blend of thrill and horror.
The story revolves around two agents Grim and Ben, they have a task to deliver the mysterious cargo to a man in the mysterious town, where most residents have left the town. The things getting uncanny soon after they arrive in the town.
Though it is a second book of the series, you can read it as a standalone, as the character development and story are woven together very well. I love the way the author develops and the relationship of Grin and Ben, it was fun and sympathetic at the same time. the sci-fi elements and punch of thrills make this an interesting read.
Overall! I find this an interesting read. I will definitely recommend this book who like thrillers with cults.
June 17, 2021
More of a 2.5 for me, but since half stars aren't allowed, I rounded up.
Shaula is the sequel to horror novel Lesath, but it would also function decently as a standalone. Like Shaula, I received Lesath through Netgalley when it came out and reviewed it, also settling on a score of 3/5. Unlike Lesath, this sequel ended up striking more of a "sci-fi thriller" tone than horror which was a bit of a surprise considering how it was billed on Netgalley. Lesath was an interesting experiment insofar as it never held the reader's hand and left tons of questions. It was an entertaining if frustrating read. Shaula can be descried in a similar vein.
The majority of the problems I had personally with Lesath continued in Shaula, namely world building and prose style. While I understand the author is purposely going for an "unconventional narrative, rife with uncertainty" as stated on his review posted on Lesath, the world building simply makes it difficult for me to get completely invested. We are unsure where this takes place, what timeframe we are in, and vague terms such as "HQ" and "the organization" are tossed out without enough background context to really allow readers to fully grasp the stakes that the characters are thrust into. We understand that main characters Grim and Ben are tasked with a very important mission by their "HQ" but we don't fully empathize with their plight when things go awry as the consequences and ramifications in the book-world to this are unclear.
Regarding the prose, I described it in Lesath as being "dreamlike and surreal", which of course behooves a horror novel that doesn't reveal much to the reader. At times it was a bit verbose but mostly worked. Shaula seems to take that to the next level, and while I am impressed by the sheer vocabulary page by page I didn't feel that it was authentic or realistic for either of the main characters as they were presented which tended to take me out of the immersion while reading. Grim in particular seemed to me at times to be a cartoonish and brutish figure which clashed with the thesaurus-grabbing dialogue and prose his sections contained.
It most likely seems that this review is full of complaints, but despite what I've written above, this is an entertaining book. It's the type of book that if it were adapted would make for a fun thriller on the SyFy channel, complete with a cult, secret experiments, a mysterious creature, and an action hero protagonist (Grim) wearing enough plot armor to allow him to survive at least three seemingly impossible situations. Kherbash also does answer some questions from Lesath, and balances that out by leaving some more questions at the end of Shaula.
**I was given a copy of this book by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to
Netgalley and the author**
Shaula is the sequel to horror novel Lesath, but it would also function decently as a standalone. Like Shaula, I received Lesath through Netgalley when it came out and reviewed it, also settling on a score of 3/5. Unlike Lesath, this sequel ended up striking more of a "sci-fi thriller" tone than horror which was a bit of a surprise considering how it was billed on Netgalley. Lesath was an interesting experiment insofar as it never held the reader's hand and left tons of questions. It was an entertaining if frustrating read. Shaula can be descried in a similar vein.
The majority of the problems I had personally with Lesath continued in Shaula, namely world building and prose style. While I understand the author is purposely going for an "unconventional narrative, rife with uncertainty" as stated on his review posted on Lesath, the world building simply makes it difficult for me to get completely invested. We are unsure where this takes place, what timeframe we are in, and vague terms such as "HQ" and "the organization" are tossed out without enough background context to really allow readers to fully grasp the stakes that the characters are thrust into. We understand that main characters Grim and Ben are tasked with a very important mission by their "HQ" but we don't fully empathize with their plight when things go awry as the consequences and ramifications in the book-world to this are unclear.
Regarding the prose, I described it in Lesath as being "dreamlike and surreal", which of course behooves a horror novel that doesn't reveal much to the reader. At times it was a bit verbose but mostly worked. Shaula seems to take that to the next level, and while I am impressed by the sheer vocabulary page by page I didn't feel that it was authentic or realistic for either of the main characters as they were presented which tended to take me out of the immersion while reading. Grim in particular seemed to me at times to be a cartoonish and brutish figure which clashed with the thesaurus-grabbing dialogue and prose his sections contained.
It most likely seems that this review is full of complaints, but despite what I've written above, this is an entertaining book. It's the type of book that if it were adapted would make for a fun thriller on the SyFy channel, complete with a cult, secret experiments, a mysterious creature, and an action hero protagonist (Grim) wearing enough plot armor to allow him to survive at least three seemingly impossible situations. Kherbash also does answer some questions from Lesath, and balances that out by leaving some more questions at the end of Shaula.
**I was given a copy of this book by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to
Netgalley and the author**
April 25, 2021
“In a time of creatively bankrupt mainstream media, we give our thanks for classics and independent artists.” —If you know, you know.
Confession time: I was nervous when I requested Shaula. Some of it was your commonplace fear of rejection, but I was more concerned how the sequel would play out. Would my theories hold up? Could the second book live up to its predecessor? You know, the usual stuff. I’m sure my rating answers the second question, but it doesn’t tell you everything. You see, I like the ambiguity of the first book, the questionable reality of Greg’s perspective down to the last page. I was afraid the next book might hastily explain things and ruin the mystery.
Compared to Lesath, Shaula is the light side of the moon. If Lesath was dark and impenetrable, Shaula is so easy to digest that even reviewers who did not read the prequel were able to follow the story. Yes it hearkens back to events established in the previous novel (answering a few questions along the way), but it also focuses on the present misadventures of our two main characters and the consequences of their actions. The result is a neat, self-contained story that on its own is at least (in my opinion) a solid 4 stars.
What raised it to 5 stars and makes me hope for good things from the author was that Yes, I wanted to know more about Greg/Grim’s story, but I would have hated to find the events have been rushed or contorted to resolve that and tie loose ends, something that some impatient authors are guilty of doing. Here, the author lets things take their natural course and lets its central characters have their arcs without going off-course to reach a specific end goal. Shaula also ties things up a little more neatly than the first, though the author certainly left enough room (and a few unanswered questions!) for a third book.
I would like to thank the publisher and Netgalley for providing a copy for review in exchange for an honest review.
Confession time: I was nervous when I requested Shaula. Some of it was your commonplace fear of rejection, but I was more concerned how the sequel would play out. Would my theories hold up? Could the second book live up to its predecessor? You know, the usual stuff. I’m sure my rating answers the second question, but it doesn’t tell you everything. You see, I like the ambiguity of the first book, the questionable reality of Greg’s perspective down to the last page. I was afraid the next book might hastily explain things and ruin the mystery.
Compared to Lesath, Shaula is the light side of the moon. If Lesath was dark and impenetrable, Shaula is so easy to digest that even reviewers who did not read the prequel were able to follow the story. Yes it hearkens back to events established in the previous novel (answering a few questions along the way), but it also focuses on the present misadventures of our two main characters and the consequences of their actions. The result is a neat, self-contained story that on its own is at least (in my opinion) a solid 4 stars.
What raised it to 5 stars and makes me hope for good things from the author was that Yes, I wanted to know more about Greg/Grim’s story, but I would have hated to find the events have been rushed or contorted to resolve that and tie loose ends, something that some impatient authors are guilty of doing. Here, the author lets things take their natural course and lets its central characters have their arcs without going off-course to reach a specific end goal. Shaula also ties things up a little more neatly than the first, though the author certainly left enough room (and a few unanswered questions!) for a third book.
I would like to thank the publisher and Netgalley for providing a copy for review in exchange for an honest review.
February 28, 2021
3.5 stars
I received a free advanced copy of Shaula from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review, thanks to the author and the publisher.
I have not read the first book of the series and dived right into this one since the author stated it can be read as a standalone, albeit there are references to some events taken place in Stinger #1. Shaula is a blend of a cult, a ghost town, a mysterious lake creature, and two agent main characters.
Shaula is a sci-fi horror that follows our main characters, Grim and Ben, who are sent to send a mysterious package to a man who lives by a lake. They notice immediately that most of this town's inhabitants have left, leaving room for a cult to take over in their wake. The tale that follows deals with what happens when things do not actually go as planned. I really enjoyed the first half of the book, slowly getting to know the characters and the plot that entailed.
The novel combined great character development and enjoyable sci-fi elements. I loved the creepy town and the cult on the outskirts, and I loved the relationship between the characters. The author did a great job balancing between the amount of information they provided and the mystery.
It’s a great read, albeit with a very obvious plotline. It didn’t impact me much in any way, but I would recommend it to people if they are looking for a fresh book of the thriller/fantasy genre or a mystery with hints of fantasy, with great, rich writing and strong, amazing imagery. I would also recommend reading the first book before getting to this one because I sure do regret not doing that myself. The ARC I was provided with also has a ton of typos and errors and the novel could definitely use some proofreading. I hope it gets good polishing before it is released. Otherwise, an enjoyable read!
I received a free advanced copy of Shaula from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review, thanks to the author and the publisher.
I have not read the first book of the series and dived right into this one since the author stated it can be read as a standalone, albeit there are references to some events taken place in Stinger #1. Shaula is a blend of a cult, a ghost town, a mysterious lake creature, and two agent main characters.
Shaula is a sci-fi horror that follows our main characters, Grim and Ben, who are sent to send a mysterious package to a man who lives by a lake. They notice immediately that most of this town's inhabitants have left, leaving room for a cult to take over in their wake. The tale that follows deals with what happens when things do not actually go as planned. I really enjoyed the first half of the book, slowly getting to know the characters and the plot that entailed.
The novel combined great character development and enjoyable sci-fi elements. I loved the creepy town and the cult on the outskirts, and I loved the relationship between the characters. The author did a great job balancing between the amount of information they provided and the mystery.
It’s a great read, albeit with a very obvious plotline. It didn’t impact me much in any way, but I would recommend it to people if they are looking for a fresh book of the thriller/fantasy genre or a mystery with hints of fantasy, with great, rich writing and strong, amazing imagery. I would also recommend reading the first book before getting to this one because I sure do regret not doing that myself. The ARC I was provided with also has a ton of typos and errors and the novel could definitely use some proofreading. I hope it gets good polishing before it is released. Otherwise, an enjoyable read!
April 2, 2021
I want to thank NetGalley and the author for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here expressed are my own.
Shaula is a solid sci-fi horror thriller that delivers on all three fronts. In the beginning, the story moves intentionally slowly, pulling you into the mystery and fly-trapped-in-amber like atmosphere of the story. Telling it through the eyes of the clueless and endearingly green side-kick Ben was a really nice touch, I thought. In the second half, the story begins moving faster, and there are plenty of twists and unexpected turns that keep it fresh and the reader turning the pages ever faster.
I did not read the first book in the series, but I didn't feel like I was missing out on anything - there are a few places where it's referenced, but everything is explained well enough without leaving the reader hanging.
Although the author has stated in their review that the current copy should be free of typos (or as free as an ARC can be), I still found plenty, alongside grammar gone awry and commas that had no business being where they were - stuff like that happens in writing and text-blindness is a real thing; but I do hope the book does receive a final once-over and polishing before it is published, as I did find them a little distracting.
Personally, I also wasn't a fan of the in parts flowery prose, but that comes down to personal taste, and since plenty of people have already pointed out how much they liked that aspect of the novel, your mileage may very well differ.
I would recommend this to anyone who likes atmospheric creature horror and/or stories with cults.
Shaula is a solid sci-fi horror thriller that delivers on all three fronts. In the beginning, the story moves intentionally slowly, pulling you into the mystery and fly-trapped-in-amber like atmosphere of the story. Telling it through the eyes of the clueless and endearingly green side-kick Ben was a really nice touch, I thought. In the second half, the story begins moving faster, and there are plenty of twists and unexpected turns that keep it fresh and the reader turning the pages ever faster.
I did not read the first book in the series, but I didn't feel like I was missing out on anything - there are a few places where it's referenced, but everything is explained well enough without leaving the reader hanging.
Although the author has stated in their review that the current copy should be free of typos (or as free as an ARC can be), I still found plenty, alongside grammar gone awry and commas that had no business being where they were - stuff like that happens in writing and text-blindness is a real thing; but I do hope the book does receive a final once-over and polishing before it is published, as I did find them a little distracting.
Personally, I also wasn't a fan of the in parts flowery prose, but that comes down to personal taste, and since plenty of people have already pointed out how much they liked that aspect of the novel, your mileage may very well differ.
I would recommend this to anyone who likes atmospheric creature horror and/or stories with cults.
August 11, 2025
Shaula is a loose sequel to the horror novel Lesath, which dives deeper into the secrets of cryptic black sites, nefarious Organization, cults, and local krakens. I was critical of Lesath and didn't feel particularly enthused about the sequel - yet my curiosity won over, and here we are. I am glad I caved in, because Shaula was overall a huge improvement! It is a much more self-contained and focused novel that commits to character work and proper, gradual exploration of the setting. I loved its murky and disquieting yet dreamlike atmosphere. Ben and Grim work great as protagonists; Ben, being an amateur and a rat, infuses his parts with proper tension and anxiety, while Grim is mysterious and charismatic enough to justify everyone being obsessed with him in the first book. I loved both the awareness of and the actual physicality between them. Made me realize how rarely characters in media touch each other without any intent, just as a part of the conversation.
As is customary these days, the last third of Shaula is unfortunately a mess. The cult storyline is neither here nor there, Grim suddenly develops terminal stupidity in the most crucial moments, and the way everything wraps and the ending itself feel tacked on and largely hollow. In many ways, just like Lesath, this novel gives me the impression of knowing what elements and story bits it wants to include but not what it ultimately wants to say. The vibes were excellent though. I am even more excited now to check out A.M. Kherbash's standalone works and see the future trajectory of her writing.
As is customary these days, the last third of Shaula is unfortunately a mess. The cult storyline is neither here nor there, Grim suddenly develops terminal stupidity in the most crucial moments, and the way everything wraps and the ending itself feel tacked on and largely hollow. In many ways, just like Lesath, this novel gives me the impression of knowing what elements and story bits it wants to include but not what it ultimately wants to say. The vibes were excellent though. I am even more excited now to check out A.M. Kherbash's standalone works and see the future trajectory of her writing.
May 13, 2021
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Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
2.5, rounded up.
“The more I learn, the less I feel like I understand what the hell is happening.”
This quote explains how I felt about this book as a whole. It’s hard to pinpoint my feelings in this review because the pacing was fast, and I finished it to know what was happening. But- I still don’t know what was happening. Perhaps it was just me and my struggle with the writing style, or perhaps it was the plot itself. It wasn’t that I disliked the book – it was that I didn’t care. The writing style was somewhat jarring. Other reviews seem to praise the style of the prose, however, I struggled with it. There were many times I had no idea who was talking, or who was being referred to. The plot summary that we are given also doesn’t explain much at all about the story. This plot summary is, in fact, not at all what the book is about.
I left with more questions than answers, and that’s not my favorite thing.
Full review will be posted on September 6th, 2021.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
2.5, rounded up.
“The more I learn, the less I feel like I understand what the hell is happening.”
This quote explains how I felt about this book as a whole. It’s hard to pinpoint my feelings in this review because the pacing was fast, and I finished it to know what was happening. But- I still don’t know what was happening. Perhaps it was just me and my struggle with the writing style, or perhaps it was the plot itself. It wasn’t that I disliked the book – it was that I didn’t care. The writing style was somewhat jarring. Other reviews seem to praise the style of the prose, however, I struggled with it. There were many times I had no idea who was talking, or who was being referred to. The plot summary that we are given also doesn’t explain much at all about the story. This plot summary is, in fact, not at all what the book is about.
I left with more questions than answers, and that’s not my favorite thing.
Full review will be posted on September 6th, 2021.
April 15, 2021
I read Lesath before reading Shaula - the latter I received as an advance copy from NetGalley.
I hate being negative about books, but I really found this a tough read.
I love horror, thriller and mystery usually, but for me the structure of this book made it so hard for me to follow that I just felt lost. I had to keep turning pages back thinking, wait what just happened? Which is exactly what happened with Lesath.
The first half of the story is quite dull, then when it begins to pick up later on it’s almost so fast that o struggled to comprehend it. There are also characters introduced, plot lines and plot twists touched on that are never revisited. Some of the complex language used also feels like it’s been put in there unnecessarily and doesn’t add anything to the overall effect.
The characters are somewhat likeable. However, the world of the book isn’t elaborated enough for me. I don’t even know where it took place, despite having read both books, I assume it’s America? But I really don’t know.
I really wanted to like this book more than Lesath, and I’ve seen so many good reviews, but it’s not the one for me unfortunately.
I hate being negative about books, but I really found this a tough read.
I love horror, thriller and mystery usually, but for me the structure of this book made it so hard for me to follow that I just felt lost. I had to keep turning pages back thinking, wait what just happened? Which is exactly what happened with Lesath.
The first half of the story is quite dull, then when it begins to pick up later on it’s almost so fast that o struggled to comprehend it. There are also characters introduced, plot lines and plot twists touched on that are never revisited. Some of the complex language used also feels like it’s been put in there unnecessarily and doesn’t add anything to the overall effect.
The characters are somewhat likeable. However, the world of the book isn’t elaborated enough for me. I don’t even know where it took place, despite having read both books, I assume it’s America? But I really don’t know.
I really wanted to like this book more than Lesath, and I’ve seen so many good reviews, but it’s not the one for me unfortunately.
June 13, 2023
Shaula by A. M. Kherbash
Wow! This is one creepy and right up my alley type of book. Two men who are working for some secret organization are tasked with delivering something to a man who lives by a lake. But not just any lake. One with only one cabin left standing and a cult who has taken claim on the property. There are no residents and the other cabins had been torn down to distance the last remaining one from public grounds. Then you add in a sea monste and things that do not go as planned and you have one of the best sci-fi books ever. I have to read the first book now although you do not need to in order to enjoy this book. The author has done an amazing job with the character development and meshing everything together in or to ensure the reader is roped in and will not want out. I have never read a book that has a lot of science fiction elements to it such as this one but I love, love, love this book as ell as it’s extremely talented author.
5 out of 5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley as well as the author and publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my unbiased and honest review.
Wow! This is one creepy and right up my alley type of book. Two men who are working for some secret organization are tasked with delivering something to a man who lives by a lake. But not just any lake. One with only one cabin left standing and a cult who has taken claim on the property. There are no residents and the other cabins had been torn down to distance the last remaining one from public grounds. Then you add in a sea monste and things that do not go as planned and you have one of the best sci-fi books ever. I have to read the first book now although you do not need to in order to enjoy this book. The author has done an amazing job with the character development and meshing everything together in or to ensure the reader is roped in and will not want out. I have never read a book that has a lot of science fiction elements to it such as this one but I love, love, love this book as ell as it’s extremely talented author.
5 out of 5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley as well as the author and publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my unbiased and honest review.
March 2, 2021
I received a free advanced copy of Shaula from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
This book was not for me. I am not a fan of horror, but I love a good thriller, and this book was definitely more in the "horror" category than the "thriller" category.
The premise is that two men are sent to deliver a package. The delivery men seem to be members of some sort of organization- shady, secret agent sort of organization- and the town that they are delivering the package to is a virtual ghost town, taken over by members of a nearby cult. The story picks up pace as it moves along and there are plenty of twists and surprises awaiting the reader.
I suspect if you like horror or science fiction type horror, you may enjoy this book. I had not read the first book in the series, and I understood most of what took place in this book without having read it. Other reviewers have made comments about typos, but I think some of those are to be expected in ARC's, and I didn't notice any issues that made me struggle with comprehending the novel.
This book was not for me. I am not a fan of horror, but I love a good thriller, and this book was definitely more in the "horror" category than the "thriller" category.
The premise is that two men are sent to deliver a package. The delivery men seem to be members of some sort of organization- shady, secret agent sort of organization- and the town that they are delivering the package to is a virtual ghost town, taken over by members of a nearby cult. The story picks up pace as it moves along and there are plenty of twists and surprises awaiting the reader.
I suspect if you like horror or science fiction type horror, you may enjoy this book. I had not read the first book in the series, and I understood most of what took place in this book without having read it. Other reviewers have made comments about typos, but I think some of those are to be expected in ARC's, and I didn't notice any issues that made me struggle with comprehending the novel.
May 5, 2021
This was labelled as horror on Netgalley where I requested a copy for review and, for me, it’s more thriller than horror - just a heads up for those of you expecting horror so as not to be disappointed! Not that I was disappointed, more just a little meh about this novel. I hadn’t read the first in the series, however, the author states that you don’t have to have read the first to understand the second.
So, it’s a cult novel, with a mystery surrounding an abandoned town and the two protagonists brought into this by way of a package. So far, so interesting. Which is to say, I enjoyed the first half of the novel and then didn’t enjoy the second half. It’s weird, I can’t quite work out what bugged me - the characters were there, the plot was trundling along and then something happened that flips the plot on its head and made me go ‘oh’. Typos throughout didn’t help but hey, it’s a review copy. All in all, an okay book. Probably more recommended if you’ve read the first and want some more from the characters but an okay read.
So, it’s a cult novel, with a mystery surrounding an abandoned town and the two protagonists brought into this by way of a package. So far, so interesting. Which is to say, I enjoyed the first half of the novel and then didn’t enjoy the second half. It’s weird, I can’t quite work out what bugged me - the characters were there, the plot was trundling along and then something happened that flips the plot on its head and made me go ‘oh’. Typos throughout didn’t help but hey, it’s a review copy. All in all, an okay book. Probably more recommended if you’ve read the first and want some more from the characters but an okay read.
March 14, 2021
This is my first ever ARC from Netgalley. Many thanks to the author and publisher.
The story revolves around two main characters, Grim and Ben, who had been tasked to send a package to someone in a shack. The someone ended up dead under mysterious circumstances and it's up to the duo to find out the cause of death, and stop more deaths from happening.
This took me a few chapters to get into, but once it picked up I was hooked! Cults, experiments, a mythical creature.
Other reviewers have probably mentioned what the mystical creature is but the unveiling is part of the surprise... Although it was foreshadowed in an earlier chapter by a disgruntled Grim.
I enjoyed the book overall; the struggle between the protagonists on choosing between duty and survival, the descriptions of the mythical creature. There's a cult in there somewhere, with a cult leader, but I felt this was more of a filler.
The story revolves around two main characters, Grim and Ben, who had been tasked to send a package to someone in a shack. The someone ended up dead under mysterious circumstances and it's up to the duo to find out the cause of death, and stop more deaths from happening.
This took me a few chapters to get into, but once it picked up I was hooked! Cults, experiments, a mythical creature.
Other reviewers have probably mentioned what the mystical creature is but the unveiling is part of the surprise... Although it was foreshadowed in an earlier chapter by a disgruntled Grim.
I enjoyed the book overall; the struggle between the protagonists on choosing between duty and survival, the descriptions of the mythical creature. There's a cult in there somewhere, with a cult leader, but I felt this was more of a filler.
August 18, 2021
Two men are sent to make a delivery to a reclusive specialist residing in a lakeside cabin. It was a straightforward assignment: take the sealed cargo, a container roughly the size of a child’s casket, and see to it that no-one knows. But things don't go as planned and get more and more complicated. The complications involve a lot of secrets, a monster on the loose, an uncooperative cult leader and a dead specialist.
Shaula by A.M. Kherbash is the sequel to Lesath, but even though it references some things from the previous book I would say you can read it as a stand-alone. I was confused a lot while reading because there are quite a few twists and turns and heaps of details to pick up on. The story is thrilling and even though it took some time to get to know the characters, they were interesting. There are many layers and you never know who or what to trust. Scary and a bit supernatural. I would highly recommend this book to all thriller fans.
Shaula by A.M. Kherbash is the sequel to Lesath, but even though it references some things from the previous book I would say you can read it as a stand-alone. I was confused a lot while reading because there are quite a few twists and turns and heaps of details to pick up on. The story is thrilling and even though it took some time to get to know the characters, they were interesting. There are many layers and you never know who or what to trust. Scary and a bit supernatural. I would highly recommend this book to all thriller fans.
March 12, 2022
**Thank you to NetGalley and A.M. Kherbash for the free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review**
While this was the second book in a series from this author, it was highlighted that this could be read as a stand alone which is one of the reasons that I requested it.
I did find the writing to be enjoyable and the horror/gore aspects of it align with things that I typically read. I couldn’t connect with this story as much as I would have liked to since I didn’t get the references to the first book. This is no fault of the author and I feel that I enjoyed Shaula enough to check out other works from them!
Check this book out if you like spooky elements, mysteries, and thrillers that leave you guessing!
While this was the second book in a series from this author, it was highlighted that this could be read as a stand alone which is one of the reasons that I requested it.
I did find the writing to be enjoyable and the horror/gore aspects of it align with things that I typically read. I couldn’t connect with this story as much as I would have liked to since I didn’t get the references to the first book. This is no fault of the author and I feel that I enjoyed Shaula enough to check out other works from them!
Check this book out if you like spooky elements, mysteries, and thrillers that leave you guessing!
January 24, 2022
Although it says in the back that the novel can be read as a stand-alone, the fact that it is a second volume really feels very much. And I haven't read the first volume. This made it practically impossible for me to understand the relationships between the characters, how and why they're engaged in the hunt for a kind of Alien but not alien, what the situation of the world in which the events take place is, and so on. Trifles in short, that an author writing a second volume and wanting it to be read as a stan-alone should take into consideration. I only made it to the end because I liked Grim immediately.
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