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Arachnoid
Stay away from the trees!
In Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Kira Brine hires a group of friends to help restore her private cottage. The fun little endeavor quickly turns tense as they hear strange noises in the woods. Branches snap and leaves rustle in the distance. Animals seem uncharacteristically frightened, then mysteriously disappear as the hours go on.
The tension escalates into panic with the revelation that something is stalking the group. Something large. Something unnatural.
Its claws can slice through bone with ease. Its web will ensnare anything at the slightest touch. Its venom can immobilize a human within seconds. It is a corruption of nature; a genetically spliced nightmare; an Arachnoid.
Now, it is loose, and it needs to feed.
In Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Kira Brine hires a group of friends to help restore her private cottage. The fun little endeavor quickly turns tense as they hear strange noises in the woods. Branches snap and leaves rustle in the distance. Animals seem uncharacteristically frightened, then mysteriously disappear as the hours go on.
The tension escalates into panic with the revelation that something is stalking the group. Something large. Something unnatural.
Its claws can slice through bone with ease. Its web will ensnare anything at the slightest touch. Its venom can immobilize a human within seconds. It is a corruption of nature; a genetically spliced nightmare; an Arachnoid.
Now, it is loose, and it needs to feed.
271 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 22, 2021
127 people are currently reading
123 people want to read
About the author
Michael R. Cole
40 books116 followersMichael R. Cole is an author of creature horror and science fiction. He was born in Toledo, Ohio and grew up in lower Michigan. He has a profound love for monster movies and book as well as the action genre. In addition to writing, his hobbies include martial arts and fishing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
March 18, 2024
ARACNOIDE. Libro actualmente sin traducción al español. Bastante entretenido, con buenos personajes y aunque tiene una trama típica de película de Serie "B" está muy bien desarrollado.
Un experimento genético con ADN de araña y escorpión se escapa de un laboratorio en los bosques de Michigan. Coincidentemente un grupo de amigos se reúne en una cabaña del lugar con la intención de repararla y pasar un buen fin de semana. El aracnoide pronto irá tras ellos. En paralelo, una pareja de cazadores contratada por la empresa dueña del experimento intentará recuperar el espécimen que es más inteligente de lo que aparenta.
Novela entretenida, con muy buenos personajes y harta acción. El aracnoide resulta amenazante y hay varias situaciones límite que enganchan. Mi único "pero" es el segundo tercio. El autor alarga demasiado los capítulos en la cabaña, donde hay un montón de situaciones que no conducen a nada. Lo típico: planes que los personajes se demoran páginas y páginas en preparar para que al final no funcionen.
El final también es un poco contraproducente hay un montón de muertos pero los pocos sobrevivientes se dan el tiempo para planear un futuro juntos como si nada.
Aún así, una aventura muy entretenida con mucha acción. ¡recomendada!
Un experimento genético con ADN de araña y escorpión se escapa de un laboratorio en los bosques de Michigan. Coincidentemente un grupo de amigos se reúne en una cabaña del lugar con la intención de repararla y pasar un buen fin de semana. El aracnoide pronto irá tras ellos. En paralelo, una pareja de cazadores contratada por la empresa dueña del experimento intentará recuperar el espécimen que es más inteligente de lo que aparenta.
Novela entretenida, con muy buenos personajes y harta acción. El aracnoide resulta amenazante y hay varias situaciones límite que enganchan. Mi único "pero" es el segundo tercio. El autor alarga demasiado los capítulos en la cabaña, donde hay un montón de situaciones que no conducen a nada. Lo típico: planes que los personajes se demoran páginas y páginas en preparar para que al final no funcionen.
El final también es un poco contraproducente hay un montón de muertos pero los pocos sobrevivientes se dan el tiempo para planear un futuro juntos como si nada.
Aún así, una aventura muy entretenida con mucha acción. ¡recomendada!
June 18, 2021
2 stars audio
3 B rated horror entertaining stars story
3 B rated horror entertaining stars story
June 20, 2023
I would say it’s around 3.5/5.0 stars, maybe not enough to warrant going with 4, but I gave it the benefit of the doubt 😁. It was pretty much exactly what I was expecting, in a good way. A fun creature feature. I think I would have liked it a lot better if there were any characters I could get behind or connect with, but not so much this time. Anyway, it was a fun (definitely creepy-crawly) read for the summer.
May 25, 2021
What could go wrong when you have a genetically modified giant spider that gets lose in the woods? It was a ok book. While reading it felt like I was watching it on a movie screen. There are a few things I would have done differently in the book but it didn’t but it didn’t
take away from it. Example: The author has a away of repeating himself in some event which is the only thing that bothered me.
take away from it. Example: The author has a away of repeating himself in some event which is the only thing that bothered me.
May 14, 2021
fun read!
June 14, 2021
Good read, but.....
The book was good. The story is worth reading..
What I had problems with was the typos. I frequently had to go back and reread.
The book was good. The story is worth reading..
What I had problems with was the typos. I frequently had to go back and reread.
August 31, 2021
Otherwise enjoyable creature feature burdened with unlikable characters.
June 16, 2021
Michael Cole, you had me at "Arachnoid!"
I became engrossed, not only in the relationships between the friends and lovers, but also that of the hunters and the slippery scientific genius, Dr. Myles. Yes, it is because of his ambition and conditional employment at a multi-billion dollar company that this beast comes into fruition. Alas, who cares if his multi-million dollar project escapes? Well, Myles does. He is also the type to do whatever it takes to save himself and his prized creation, and he is careful to eradicate witnesses. Put a few unsuspecting friends, including one with a tarnished background, and the other with the skills of Bear Grylls, as well as an adrenaline seeking huntress and her reluctant husband into the mix, I mean the woods, and it is fighting and feeding time.
A mixture of two deadly species, the arachnoid is a formidable, intelligent foe. It 'plans' and spins a web that exceeds expectations. Even the way it immobilizes its victims and feeds on them is grossly astonishing. Escape? Maybe. Maybe not, especially when another surprise springs forth. I did say that Dr. Myles is a slippery scientific genius. There's always a "little detail" that he failed to reveal.
Additionally, while reading, you learn a plethora of spider anatomy and likely 'know' what is coming, but you will not stop reading. Do you know why? You want to find out who will reign victorious in the battle of man v. man-made beast.
By the way, there are a few grammatical errors, but they should not pull you away from the story.
I became engrossed, not only in the relationships between the friends and lovers, but also that of the hunters and the slippery scientific genius, Dr. Myles. Yes, it is because of his ambition and conditional employment at a multi-billion dollar company that this beast comes into fruition. Alas, who cares if his multi-million dollar project escapes? Well, Myles does. He is also the type to do whatever it takes to save himself and his prized creation, and he is careful to eradicate witnesses. Put a few unsuspecting friends, including one with a tarnished background, and the other with the skills of Bear Grylls, as well as an adrenaline seeking huntress and her reluctant husband into the mix, I mean the woods, and it is fighting and feeding time.
A mixture of two deadly species, the arachnoid is a formidable, intelligent foe. It 'plans' and spins a web that exceeds expectations. Even the way it immobilizes its victims and feeds on them is grossly astonishing. Escape? Maybe. Maybe not, especially when another surprise springs forth. I did say that Dr. Myles is a slippery scientific genius. There's always a "little detail" that he failed to reveal.
Additionally, while reading, you learn a plethora of spider anatomy and likely 'know' what is coming, but you will not stop reading. Do you know why? You want to find out who will reign victorious in the battle of man v. man-made beast.
By the way, there are a few grammatical errors, but they should not pull you away from the story.
June 27, 2021
This book is okay, just okay. As I read it, I kept thinking that it reads like a B movie that I might have seen at a drive in movie. That doesn't make it a bad book, just predictable. You have all the cliches - A group of young friends spending time at an isolated cabin, A greedy corporate stooge interested only in the bottom line, a big game hunter down on his luck needing a big score and, of course, your scientifically modified critter running amok. You just know there's trouble a'brewin. There is enough gore to satisfy the most hardened horror aficionado and a healthy dose of chills.
There are a lot of novels out there featuring big, scary bugs. This is one of the better ones but still not up to five-star level.
There are a lot of novels out there featuring big, scary bugs. This is one of the better ones but still not up to five-star level.
April 14, 2021
Kind of an old story retold. Man creates monster for profit and monster is released upon unsuspecting society. Obviously monster does what is created to do and that is eat, reproduce and generally cause chaos. Mad scientist tries for recapture but obviously misses, to continue the plot. And in the end the general public rallies to destroy the monster. The plot moved quickly and the monster research was top notch. The blood and gore was not overly too graphic. There were definitely quite a few jump scenes the novel. It is not a book to be read at night alone in your house. The suspense is that good.
April 4, 2021
Mixing a spider with a scorpion ...what could go wrong?
I must say that I have never thought much about how spiders eat but after reading this, I can't stop thinking about it. This is another good creature/horror book by Michael Cole. I don't want to spoil the story so I will just say if you like books with great characters and a great story behind all the action, read this. It is one of those books that make you feel as if you are in the story. And, it is one of those books that make you glad you're not in it once the arachnoid starts eating.
I must say that I have never thought much about how spiders eat but after reading this, I can't stop thinking about it. This is another good creature/horror book by Michael Cole. I don't want to spoil the story so I will just say if you like books with great characters and a great story behind all the action, read this. It is one of those books that make you feel as if you are in the story. And, it is one of those books that make you glad you're not in it once the arachnoid starts eating.
November 8, 2024
Another solid monster of the week novel by Cole. I will keep HEARING because they are fun to to hear while working.
On this book we follow a bunch of characters trying to survive the monster that escape the lab but it's not a normal spider - oh no dear reader, it's a mix of spider\scorpion but huge. We are introduced to the lab people and mercenaries bound to get it back plus the CEO of that company.
Most of the first 50 pages nothing really happens is just the main characters moving around and we , as a reader, getting to know them and then all hell breaks loose with deaths, betrayals, cowardice and honourable stuff. There is nothing here that will make you WOW because is just a horror B movie that would rate 4 out of 10 in IMBD. Serves the purpose. You know who the villains are (even the moustache one) and you get the feeling as usual that the CEO is even worse human than , well the monster.
Overall it serves the purpose of 45/10
On this book we follow a bunch of characters trying to survive the monster that escape the lab but it's not a normal spider - oh no dear reader, it's a mix of spider\scorpion but huge. We are introduced to the lab people and mercenaries bound to get it back plus the CEO of that company.
Most of the first 50 pages nothing really happens is just the main characters moving around and we , as a reader, getting to know them and then all hell breaks loose with deaths, betrayals, cowardice and honourable stuff. There is nothing here that will make you WOW because is just a horror B movie that would rate 4 out of 10 in IMBD. Serves the purpose. You know who the villains are (even the moustache one) and you get the feeling as usual that the CEO is even worse human than , well the monster.
Overall it serves the purpose of 45/10
April 26, 2022
Good Monster...that's about it.
A scientist uses gene-splicing shenanigans to create a spider/scorpion monster and (shock) it gets out and starts killing.
Roll in some dumbass characters for Mr. spidey to chomp and a hardass hunter to find it and you have this book.
I love creature and pulp horror books but I didn't enjoy this one. A LOT of time was spent on just the prey (the dumbass characters) talking, talking, and talking. I couldn't get behind anyone.
In the end, I wanted the spider to win.
A scientist uses gene-splicing shenanigans to create a spider/scorpion monster and (shock) it gets out and starts killing.
Roll in some dumbass characters for Mr. spidey to chomp and a hardass hunter to find it and you have this book.
I love creature and pulp horror books but I didn't enjoy this one. A LOT of time was spent on just the prey (the dumbass characters) talking, talking, and talking. I couldn't get behind anyone.
In the end, I wanted the spider to win.
October 8, 2021
Fun
Every now and then I read a book like this full of all the things SYFY movies should be move of and this book here lines up with the stars.
How dangerous and greedy can man be???
Get ready for ALL action.
Every now and then I read a book like this full of all the things SYFY movies should be move of and this book here lines up with the stars.
How dangerous and greedy can man be???
Get ready for ALL action.
November 14, 2021
Read another review that was banned on Amazon.
“They were just like their mother, only two-feet in length with a meter-long leg-span. One became two. Two became four. In seconds, they were crowding the door.”
We start off with an accident, and mad scientist Dr. Myles Bower is out with his assistant Alex Fincher on some mid-Michigan dirt road looking for trucker Bob Graf who had disappeared with Bower’s valuable cargo. And find it they must, as Bower owes his employer Jedlinsky, of Jedlinsky Corporation big time, and this is not a time to fail a man like Jelinsky, who doesn’t take failures lightly. Especially when you owe him money. And, of course, they find it, to one of this party’s regret.
And since they find the missing truck, Bower and Fincher also find what Graf was transporting for Bower, and it is loose, and it is on a rampage, and it is quite hungry.
Meanwhile, six “friends”, Kira, Laurie (Kira’s BFF), Marshall (Kira’s ex). Chris (Laurie’s creepy ex-con boyfriend), and the couple Sue and Tyler are headed up to due some repairs and renovations at Laurie’s summer cottage, and they’re heading right into hell.
As they arrive at their destination, Bower is arranging to have a handler contact the only man who would take the job of capturing it. Off the books, of course, as Bower doesn’t want Jelinsky to know how Bower has fubared everything up. The trouble is that big game hunter Ethan Fekete is a man who was left crippled from a previous mission for Bower, and it will take the combined efforts of Fekete’s handler, Fekete’s white hot, but insane wife, Bryce, and one hefty fee from Brower to get Fekete to take the job.
From there on circumstances start to weave themselves together into one whole. Bower and company, Kira and company, and Bower’s large spider hybrid will all run headlong into each other into a deadly free-for-all.
What we have here in Arachnoid by Michael Cole is a bog-standard creature feature, with all of the faults and features that you would expect from such a genre story. First of all, all of the characters are right out of central casting. We have the over-the-top, sociopathic mad scientist; the adrenaline-fueled big game hunter; the over-sexed young people; the sleazy, cowardly boyfriend, etc.
On-the-other-hand, the story, once established, starts to steamroll into a helluva rollercoaster, with the suspense being as to who’ll get picked off next. A fun ride as long as you don’t expect too much from it, with Cole tossing in a few twists here and there. The story though moved quite briskly, and so I was never bored, and I was always entertained.
“They were just like their mother, only two-feet in length with a meter-long leg-span. One became two. Two became four. In seconds, they were crowding the door.”
We start off with an accident, and mad scientist Dr. Myles Bower is out with his assistant Alex Fincher on some mid-Michigan dirt road looking for trucker Bob Graf who had disappeared with Bower’s valuable cargo. And find it they must, as Bower owes his employer Jedlinsky, of Jedlinsky Corporation big time, and this is not a time to fail a man like Jelinsky, who doesn’t take failures lightly. Especially when you owe him money. And, of course, they find it, to one of this party’s regret.
And since they find the missing truck, Bower and Fincher also find what Graf was transporting for Bower, and it is loose, and it is on a rampage, and it is quite hungry.
Meanwhile, six “friends”, Kira, Laurie (Kira’s BFF), Marshall (Kira’s ex). Chris (Laurie’s creepy ex-con boyfriend), and the couple Sue and Tyler are headed up to due some repairs and renovations at Laurie’s summer cottage, and they’re heading right into hell.
As they arrive at their destination, Bower is arranging to have a handler contact the only man who would take the job of capturing it. Off the books, of course, as Bower doesn’t want Jelinsky to know how Bower has fubared everything up. The trouble is that big game hunter Ethan Fekete is a man who was left crippled from a previous mission for Bower, and it will take the combined efforts of Fekete’s handler, Fekete’s white hot, but insane wife, Bryce, and one hefty fee from Brower to get Fekete to take the job.
From there on circumstances start to weave themselves together into one whole. Bower and company, Kira and company, and Bower’s large spider hybrid will all run headlong into each other into a deadly free-for-all.
What we have here in Arachnoid by Michael Cole is a bog-standard creature feature, with all of the faults and features that you would expect from such a genre story. First of all, all of the characters are right out of central casting. We have the over-the-top, sociopathic mad scientist; the adrenaline-fueled big game hunter; the over-sexed young people; the sleazy, cowardly boyfriend, etc.
On-the-other-hand, the story, once established, starts to steamroll into a helluva rollercoaster, with the suspense being as to who’ll get picked off next. A fun ride as long as you don’t expect too much from it, with Cole tossing in a few twists here and there. The story though moved quite briskly, and so I was never bored, and I was always entertained.
October 30, 2021
How is this rated so high? This book is terrible. The writing is clunky. The last half or, if I'm being generous, third of the book was excruciating to get through.
Why did the garbage human get a redemption arc? Ethan had no redeeming qualities.
Why did Kira immediately, I mean immediately, fall back in with Marshall? Like instantly they're boning. Was she not deceived into it by Marshall and Laurie? Seemed kinda scummy to me.
The dialogue made me want to gouge my eyes out. Who talks like this? Laurie feels like an alien. Tyler and Sue seem like they're imitating a human couple. Kira and Laurie are calling people dude which seems weird.
I could go on but I don't want to waste any more of my time on this shit.
This was written like the goal was for it to be a movie. It was envisioned as a movie. All that was missing was the script format. Throw in some stage directions. Make it what you want to be, DUDE.
Why did the garbage human get a redemption arc? Ethan had no redeeming qualities.
Why did Kira immediately, I mean immediately, fall back in with Marshall? Like instantly they're boning. Was she not deceived into it by Marshall and Laurie? Seemed kinda scummy to me.
The dialogue made me want to gouge my eyes out. Who talks like this? Laurie feels like an alien. Tyler and Sue seem like they're imitating a human couple. Kira and Laurie are calling people dude which seems weird.
I could go on but I don't want to waste any more of my time on this shit.
This was written like the goal was for it to be a movie. It was envisioned as a movie. All that was missing was the script format. Throw in some stage directions. Make it what you want to be, DUDE.
March 1, 2022
I find Michael Cole's writing a little hit and miss. Some of his stories are fun, some are terrible, but most of his books usually have the same basic premise - a brilliant but crazy scientist messes around with genetics and splices together some hybrid killer creature for sinister government or military applications. Of course the creature escapes and murders a bunch of the locals, forcing the scientist to bring a goon squad along to capture it. A few innocents get caught in the final showdown, the bad guys get killed by their own creation and the heroes live happily ever after.
Arachnoid doesn't differ at all from the above description. That said, this is actually a fun read. It's all you can expect with a book about a giant killer spider/scorpion monster. I could do without the ridiculous amount of f bombs though.
Arachnoid doesn't differ at all from the above description. That said, this is actually a fun read. It's all you can expect with a book about a giant killer spider/scorpion monster. I could do without the ridiculous amount of f bombs though.
April 22, 2021
A classic vintage B movie book, that would have gotten one more star if the last page hadn’t been written.
October 23, 2022
I am so glad that I found Michael Cole
I loved this book from the first page right to the end, I could have binged it in one sitting.
I was a little skeptical and kind-of-hated that we found out about the creature so fast, I mean you know from the title it's spiders, and Arachnoid vs Arachnid gives you the hint that its either a robot, a created creature, or a prehistoric animal (resurrected Jurassic Park style or discovered Lost Island/Centre of the Earth style. Anyways I still think that you could have bumped the reveal back two or three chapters to give it a little more mysteriousness and suspense.
But I totally loved the ending, I completely liked all the characters, and the character building, simple but not as crappy as some creature feature books (so sorry Brian Keene, but Castaway characters..Yikes)
I loved this book from the first page right to the end, I could have binged it in one sitting.
I was a little skeptical and kind-of-hated that we found out about the creature so fast, I mean you know from the title it's spiders, and Arachnoid vs Arachnid gives you the hint that its either a robot, a created creature, or a prehistoric animal (resurrected Jurassic Park style or discovered Lost Island/Centre of the Earth style. Anyways I still think that you could have bumped the reveal back two or three chapters to give it a little more mysteriousness and suspense.
But I totally loved the ending, I completely liked all the characters, and the character building, simple but not as crappy as some creature feature books (so sorry Brian Keene, but Castaway characters..Yikes)
November 12, 2022
По принцип Коул може повече, тъй като в тази книга действието малко влачеше по средата, а част от героите не ми бяха особено симпатични, та не усетих голяма тъга в себе си, когато паякът ги изяде. Всъщност достатъчно ми хареса само лудата ловджийка Брис и самия арахноид, който по неописуемо жесток начин се справяше с жертвите си. Книгата имаше 330 финала, ще рече заключителни моменти и това малко ме умори накрая, но все пак става за любители на гадорийки с чудовища. Към днешна дата имам такова високо доверие в Майкъл Р. Коул, че дори по-посредствени негови предложения ми идват добре, така че няма да спирам да го чета – най-много леко да разнообразя, но и за това не давам гаранции.
Цялото ми ревю прочетете в Цитаделата:
https://citadelata.com/arachnoid/
Цялото ми ревю прочетете в Цитаделата:
https://citadelata.com/arachnoid/
March 28, 2022
Made it to 34%
This started entertaining and devolved into just nastiness. The other book, Helicoprion, wasn't like this. There the women were strong characters who contributed. Here the women are spoiling for fights, slapping people, pushing people into unwanted relationships, s*xually manipulative, calling each other derogatory names because they like s*x. I don't have the patience to ensure that the spider eats all of them. But I hope it does.
This started entertaining and devolved into just nastiness. The other book, Helicoprion, wasn't like this. There the women were strong characters who contributed. Here the women are spoiling for fights, slapping people, pushing people into unwanted relationships, s*xually manipulative, calling each other derogatory names because they like s*x. I don't have the patience to ensure that the spider eats all of them. But I hope it does.
September 4, 2021
Writing is good as always. Fast paced action when it started.
Subtracting 1 star due to the cliché, boring, way too long and unnecessay love story and because the action didn't start until 20 % into the book.
The hunters were very fun characters and could be fun to read about some of their earlier adventures.
Subtracting 1 star due to the cliché, boring, way too long and unnecessay love story and because the action didn't start until 20 % into the book.
The hunters were very fun characters and could be fun to read about some of their earlier adventures.
August 13, 2021
Almost DNF.
A short tale of People Acting Stupid, single formula characters and improbability.
On top of this, it seems like the authors knowledge of arachnids comes from a very short children's book.
No suspense, just mindless "action".
A short tale of People Acting Stupid, single formula characters and improbability.
On top of this, it seems like the authors knowledge of arachnids comes from a very short children's book.
No suspense, just mindless "action".
September 5, 2021
Great as usual!
Michael Cole never disappoints true old school Monster Story Fans! Characters are always well developed and defined and storyline is interesting. Fast paced, action packed edge of your seat non stop Graphic Violence and Gore Galore! Excellent!
Michael Cole never disappoints true old school Monster Story Fans! Characters are always well developed and defined and storyline is interesting. Fast paced, action packed edge of your seat non stop Graphic Violence and Gore Galore! Excellent!
March 18, 2021
Fun read
Like watching a B movie from the 60s. Hit the accelerator from beginning to end. Definitely recommend reading thus book.
Like watching a B movie from the 60s. Hit the accelerator from beginning to end. Definitely recommend reading thus book.
May 21, 2021
Good Read!
Action a plenty with some good suspense...I hate spiders and any derivatives.....the very thought of this is horrifying..,the best books to read.
Action a plenty with some good suspense...I hate spiders and any derivatives.....the very thought of this is horrifying..,the best books to read.
July 27, 2021
Itsy bitsy spider 🕷 it’s not!
Full of action and gore from the start. Great summer read up north at the cottage! Highly recommend can’t wait to read more of this author!
Full of action and gore from the start. Great summer read up north at the cottage! Highly recommend can’t wait to read more of this author!
August 3, 2021
I expect nightmares from this one.
August 6, 2021
Frankenstein’s monster
Interesting read. Bit of mad science/horror. Nice to read something different. A bit slow to get going but good towards the end.
Interesting read. Bit of mad science/horror. Nice to read something different. A bit slow to get going but good towards the end.
August 19, 2021
Michael Cole
I loved this book. I have read several books from this author and he keeps you wanting more. He has become one of my favorite authors.
I loved this book. I have read several books from this author and he keeps you wanting more. He has become one of my favorite authors.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews