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Snowblind #1
Snowblind
They come at night.
Forward.
A stranger staggers out of the wilderness under the cover of a blizzard and stumbles into a diner full of people. He collapses in the entryway, unzips his jacket, and allows the object hidden inside to fall out. Screaming commences.
Down.
Four old college buddies embark upon their annual elk hunting trip into the Rocky Mountains. This promises to be their last, for the passage of time is as merciless and unpredictable as the Colorado weather. And they’re not alone.
Help.
There are other hunters in the mountains, stalking game of a different breed. They know exactly what they’re doing, because they’ve been hunting in these woods for a long, long time. And no one ever survives to betray their existence.
Forward.
A stranger staggers out of the wilderness under the cover of a blizzard and stumbles into a diner full of people. He collapses in the entryway, unzips his jacket, and allows the object hidden inside to fall out. Screaming commences.
Down.
Four old college buddies embark upon their annual elk hunting trip into the Rocky Mountains. This promises to be their last, for the passage of time is as merciless and unpredictable as the Colorado weather. And they’re not alone.
Help.
There are other hunters in the mountains, stalking game of a different breed. They know exactly what they’re doing, because they’ve been hunting in these woods for a long, long time. And no one ever survives to betray their existence.
129 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2012
279 people are currently reading
2246 people want to read
About the author
Michael McBride
122 books480 followersMichael McBride was born in Colorado and still resides in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains. He hates the snow, but loves the Avalanche. He works with medical radiation, yet somehow managed to produce five children, none of whom, miraculously, have tails, third eyes, or other random mutations. He writes fiction that runs the gamut from thriller to horror to science fiction...and loves every minute of it.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 200 reviews
September 15, 2021
Really scary and tense read about a group of four men, out on their annual elk hunting trip in the Rocky Mountains. After one of them is injured, and it starts to snow heavily, they find shelter in an abandoned old homestead. Then they start to hear noises in the woods… I don’t want to give anything else away. I thoroughly enjoyed this totally eerie read. It was very descriptive, with the freezing weather, the feeling of being watched, the unfolding horror. A great story, but my only complaint is that I didn’t like how the story ended.
August 7, 2024
Below is just one (of many) terrifying and atmospheric excerpts found interspersed all throughout this rapid fire page turner:
"Barely audible, like the gentle transfer of weight from one foot to the next. Stealthy movement. Slow. Deceptive. More snow fell through the hole and landed with a soft thump. There was definitely something up there. Coburn raised his rifle and tracked the footsteps with his barrel. Moving toward the hole. Closer. Closer still. He tightened his finger on the trigger."
The exceptionally descriptive and graphic writing is phenomenal. All four of the main characters are well developed, with solid backstories.
Just glad for having chosen to read Snowblind during the dog days of summer. Even so, it was impossible to avoid imagining the bitter blizzards and pain all the characters were suffering through. And all the while fighting for their lives against unidentifiable killing machines...
"Barely audible, like the gentle transfer of weight from one foot to the next. Stealthy movement. Slow. Deceptive. More snow fell through the hole and landed with a soft thump. There was definitely something up there. Coburn raised his rifle and tracked the footsteps with his barrel. Moving toward the hole. Closer. Closer still. He tightened his finger on the trigger."
The exceptionally descriptive and graphic writing is phenomenal. All four of the main characters are well developed, with solid backstories.
Just glad for having chosen to read Snowblind during the dog days of summer. Even so, it was impossible to avoid imagining the bitter blizzards and pain all the characters were suffering through. And all the while fighting for their lives against unidentifiable killing machines...
February 20, 2019
Four friends get together for their annual hunting trip in the mountains. Except this time, there is a blizzard. And something else. Something terrifying.
This was a quick read. The tension constantly builds and builds throughout the story and then WHAM! The ending is like a punch in the gut. I just love stories like this. If you like to have your breath taken away by a story, then I recommend you try this one.
This was a quick read. The tension constantly builds and builds throughout the story and then WHAM! The ending is like a punch in the gut. I just love stories like this. If you like to have your breath taken away by a story, then I recommend you try this one.
November 22, 2020
The book started extremely compelling. A hunting party is hunted down by an invisible enemy. Is it an animal, a human or something different? Will one of them survive the brutal attacks? Will Coburn does everything to stay alive but nature and a merciless foe are against him. In the course of the story we have too many one word sentences or motivation paroles (forward, down, help). This makes the story quick but gets on your nerves after some time. Also the abrupt ending didn't fully convince me. Overall a solid, very intriguing survivor in the snow story. The winter is coming so you might have a look at it.
August 5, 2024
Do not read this book before you go to bed and expect to have a good nights sleep, especially if the wind is blowing. Even though I love to hike and backpack, I will definitely be more aware of my surroundings on my next adventure.
This is book is the definition of visceral terror. Great action with enough suspense the reader could cut it with a knife. Every thought and action brings them into the killing field.
I enjoyed this little tidbit of terror and I think my fellow GR friends will also. Enjoy the ride into the unknown.
February 11, 2016
This book was awesome fast paced action from the start to finish it did not stop.
Four friends set off on their annual hunting trip to the mountains everything was going okay until they heard a noise which sounded like a bear growling but sounded more threatening the way they were killed was terrifying only leaving one left at the end.
The tension kept building chapter by chapter i could not put it down a well written novel by Michael Macbride.
Will read more of his books loved this
Four friends set off on their annual hunting trip to the mountains everything was going okay until they heard a noise which sounded like a bear growling but sounded more threatening the way they were killed was terrifying only leaving one left at the end.
The tension kept building chapter by chapter i could not put it down a well written novel by Michael Macbride.
Will read more of his books loved this
June 24, 2018
This was such an intense and scary ride into horror. I loved it for all the great elements a horror story should be. This was a lot of fun to read but in a dark, spooky way. The wonderful descriptive writing had me, and I was experiencing the frigid snow storm and feeling the fear that was present in the characters. What a delight!I
I am so looking forward to book two. I highly recommend this book and rated it 4 🌟🌟🌟🌟 frozen stars!!
I am so looking forward to book two. I highly recommend this book and rated it 4 🌟🌟🌟🌟 frozen stars!!
February 6, 2023
Four old college friends go on their annual hunting trip in the Rocky Mountains when something goes wrong and one of them gets hurt. It’s going to be a long and exhausting trip, carrying their injured friend back to the civilization. Their hunting trip is already a disaster. And it’s about to get a lot worse. Something’s watching them, stalking them. The friends quickly realize that on this year’s hunting trip they’re not the hunters, they’re the prey.
A quick and gripping horror read. The story starts a bit mysterious and atmospheric. And the tension is gradually built up, until the story simply explodes with horror scenes aplenty. What the writer does so well here, is that he keeps both us and the characters in the dark for so long. He keeps us guessing. Because there’s nothing scarier than the unknown.
A quick and gripping horror read. The story starts a bit mysterious and atmospheric. And the tension is gradually built up, until the story simply explodes with horror scenes aplenty. What the writer does so well here, is that he keeps both us and the characters in the dark for so long. He keeps us guessing. Because there’s nothing scarier than the unknown.
October 26, 2016
He repeats three words over and over in his mind.
Forward.
Down.
Help.
They are the only conscious thoughts he’s capable of forming, the residue of the plan he formed when he set out. He had known at the time that it really wasn’t much of a plan, but its simplicity was what had allowed him to survive beyond the point when his faculties abandoned him. As long as he continued to move forward and follow the mountainous topography ever downward, he would eventually find a cabin or a town or someplace where he would be able to find help. And they would definitely help him…especially when he showed them what he had tucked under his jacket, against his chest.
I sought out this novella as a mental respite from the dog days of summer. It’s amazing how the mind works; perusing the pages I swear I could feel every bit of that biting cold and swirling blizzard. The fantastic opening chapter throws you right into the action. Although there were plenty of hints as to what might be terrorizing our group, the author smartly kept that terror hidden through most of the story. Unfortunately, with only minimal character development, I was never really invested in anyone's ultimate survival, thus my interest level waned in parts. But McBride was able to reel me back in somewhat, with a terrific conclusion.
Forward has served him well and fades from the repetition.
Down vanishes when he hits the tiled floor.
He is left with help and he knows how to receive it.
He opens his jacket and his proof falls to the floor with a thud.
There is a long moment of silence.
And then the screaming begins.
Forward.
Down.
Help.
They are the only conscious thoughts he’s capable of forming, the residue of the plan he formed when he set out. He had known at the time that it really wasn’t much of a plan, but its simplicity was what had allowed him to survive beyond the point when his faculties abandoned him. As long as he continued to move forward and follow the mountainous topography ever downward, he would eventually find a cabin or a town or someplace where he would be able to find help. And they would definitely help him…especially when he showed them what he had tucked under his jacket, against his chest.
. . .Snowblind is a story of four friends on their annual excursion into the Colorado Rockies. They like to call it an elk hunt, but it’s essentially just an excuse to check out of their real lives for a week, catch up with old friends, drink and reminisce about the glory days. This year trouble finds them, when one of the boys slips down a hillside and shatters his leg. Then compounds, during the rescue effort, when scattered flurries build into a full blown blizzard. They soon find themselves lost in whiteout conditions, but are fortunate to stumble upon an abandoned cabin offering some temporary shelter from the storm. However, the storm and the broken leg are the least of their troubles, when something far, far worse lurks out there in the dark.
I sought out this novella as a mental respite from the dog days of summer. It’s amazing how the mind works; perusing the pages I swear I could feel every bit of that biting cold and swirling blizzard. The fantastic opening chapter throws you right into the action. Although there were plenty of hints as to what might be terrorizing our group, the author smartly kept that terror hidden through most of the story. Unfortunately, with only minimal character development, I was never really invested in anyone's ultimate survival, thus my interest level waned in parts. But McBride was able to reel me back in somewhat, with a terrific conclusion.
. . .Shadows race toward him. He hears the clatter of plates and the thunder of footsteps on his way down. Voices everywhere—loud, penetrating—but he doesn’t understand the words.
Forward has served him well and fades from the repetition.
Down vanishes when he hits the tiled floor.
He is left with help and he knows how to receive it.
He opens his jacket and his proof falls to the floor with a thud.
There is a long moment of silence.
And then the screaming begins.
July 2, 2019
When Snowblind begins, it wastes absolutely no time and throws you right into the terror; drops you right in the middle of three college buddies helping their friend who's been injured on their annual elk hunting trip in the Colorado Rockies. They end up off the usual trail and soon they are fighting for their lives while being hunted by an unseen force in the raging blizzard.
I really wanted a fast-moving, exciting creature feature and I got that and more with this novella. What I wasn't expecting was how well-written it was. I was impressed by the skill Michael McBride showed at setting up a potent atmosphere almost immediately through his prose. The never-ending snow, the biting cold, the deep dark, I felt it all. And the tension is maintained almost throughout the book entirely, never letting up. The creatures stalking our characters are wisely kept unseen for most of the book, adding to the suspense and the experience. Although I felt that the climax section of the book got a bit repetitive, I still felt like I needed a box of popcorn and a bag of Sour Patch Kids for this exciting horror matinee!
I really wanted a fast-moving, exciting creature feature and I got that and more with this novella. What I wasn't expecting was how well-written it was. I was impressed by the skill Michael McBride showed at setting up a potent atmosphere almost immediately through his prose. The never-ending snow, the biting cold, the deep dark, I felt it all. And the tension is maintained almost throughout the book entirely, never letting up. The creatures stalking our characters are wisely kept unseen for most of the book, adding to the suspense and the experience. Although I felt that the climax section of the book got a bit repetitive, I still felt like I needed a box of popcorn and a bag of Sour Patch Kids for this exciting horror matinee!
November 30, 2020
This was a bit longer than a short story but a bit shorter than a novella. I didn’t time it but it was a quick read. Basically four friends go into the Colorado wilderness for their annual elk hunting trip. Only one makes it out alive. They learn they are not the only hunters in this area but the other hunters have been at it for much longer.
I can’t say much without spoilers because at this length there is no filler, it’s all story. And it’s savage and brutal - but I didn’t find it scary. I grabbed this (free on Kindle Unlimited) because I do like stories set in the cold. I don’t know why, it just is! And I’m wondering why I have been avoiding horror for so long. Maybe the books with the creeping menace are a bit scarier but this sort of bloodfest will never get my pulse racing. Still, I don’t recommend this to anyone who is at all squeamish. There’s not much more to say. There was a lot of blood!
THEY COME AT NIGHT!
I can’t say much without spoilers because at this length there is no filler, it’s all story. And it’s savage and brutal - but I didn’t find it scary. I grabbed this (free on Kindle Unlimited) because I do like stories set in the cold. I don’t know why, it just is! And I’m wondering why I have been avoiding horror for so long. Maybe the books with the creeping menace are a bit scarier but this sort of bloodfest will never get my pulse racing. Still, I don’t recommend this to anyone who is at all squeamish. There’s not much more to say. There was a lot of blood!
THEY COME AT NIGHT!
December 15, 2024
If I Had Known!
I didn’t know what this book would be about. I emphatically didn’t know it would be about what it is about. I can’t say it without spoiling it for those who want to read it.
I’ve had this book in my library for a few years. I just now put it on my reading list. I also have the sequel. I doubt if I will be reading the sequel.
The story has some interesting elements and I think that it would make a good fantasy film for those who love rumors. Not sure about urban fantasy. More like legends and stuff.
The book is filled with gore and horror. It has lots of suspense in it. The story gets three stars from me.
Three stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I didn’t know what this book would be about. I emphatically didn’t know it would be about what it is about. I can’t say it without spoiling it for those who want to read it.
I’ve had this book in my library for a few years. I just now put it on my reading list. I also have the sequel. I doubt if I will be reading the sequel.
The story has some interesting elements and I think that it would make a good fantasy film for those who love rumors. Not sure about urban fantasy. More like legends and stuff.
The book is filled with gore and horror. It has lots of suspense in it. The story gets three stars from me.
Three stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
November 3, 2013
Snowblind is a story that focuses on four ex college buddies that go on an annual Elk hunt in the Rockies, for some it’s a chance to cling frantically to a youth that’s long been left behind, for others it’s another chance to remember a past semblance of humanity long gone, they all have a reason for making this trip and for them all it’s about to turn into something terrifying, they are about to become the hunted.
A novella that almost immediately starts to ramp up the tension and never lets up, a freezing blizzard that makes conditions unbearable and a refuge that’s horrifyingly been used before. There are some genuinely scary moments in an incredible build up and proof that’s it’s more chilling and suspenseful when you lay off the detail for as long as possible, makes the reveal that more hard hitting. The ending was torture you’ve gotta feel for the guy, survives a harrowing near death experience and …… Read it, you’ll steer clear of the Rockies for sure.
A novella that almost immediately starts to ramp up the tension and never lets up, a freezing blizzard that makes conditions unbearable and a refuge that’s horrifyingly been used before. There are some genuinely scary moments in an incredible build up and proof that’s it’s more chilling and suspenseful when you lay off the detail for as long as possible, makes the reveal that more hard hitting. The ending was torture you’ve gotta feel for the guy, survives a harrowing near death experience and …… Read it, you’ll steer clear of the Rockies for sure.
January 27, 2016
There's something in the woods not just one or two, but a whole pack of them. Something that was once thought of as a myth, but is very much alive and out for their blood.
The hunter's are about to become hunted.
Right away I found the tension hit me this is a fast pace of a tale. There are some really scary moment's in this book that hits you, and Michael McBride really set's the tone in the beginning of the book. It's a short tale, but packed full with Intense moment's you can't help rooting for the char's. The end gave me a bit of a what?! I wasn't expecting that. But that said I couldn't put this book down!
Highly recommended! p.s wrap up warm while reading this book. :)
The hunter's are about to become hunted.
Right away I found the tension hit me this is a fast pace of a tale. There are some really scary moment's in this book that hits you, and Michael McBride really set's the tone in the beginning of the book. It's a short tale, but packed full with Intense moment's you can't help rooting for the char's. The end gave me a bit of a what?! I wasn't expecting that. But that said I couldn't put this book down!
Highly recommended! p.s wrap up warm while reading this book. :)
November 13, 2015
I have a bit (OK, more than a bit) of a soft-spot for horror stories set in frigid, snowy climes, where our plucky band of survivors are picked off one by one by mysterious entities. When they're done with as much skill as demonstrated in this work from Michael McBride, I really cannot help but fall in love all over again with this particular subset of the horror genre.
The writing is crisp and economical, the gore is nicely realized, and the atmosphere is frighteningly realized. There's a dictum in writing that demands "show, don't just tell," and, in regards to the primary threat of Snowblind, McBride nails that here. Neither the readers nor the protagonists know quite what they're up against until fairly late in the book, which makes it all the scarier. We're in this together with these four friends, lost in the woods after a hunting mishap and finding refuge in an old, abandoned cabin, forced to fill in the blanks of what, exactly, is out there. McBride gives us a few hints before the big unveiling, which is a neat little twist.
Throughout, we're kept in a constant state of suspense that fires the pages forward, one after the other. If it weren't for the demands of my bill-paying job, I would have easily read this in one sitting. The story is just so propulsive that it's impossible to break away from it (unless life gets in the way and absolutely demands it...).
The writing is crisp and economical, the gore is nicely realized, and the atmosphere is frighteningly realized. There's a dictum in writing that demands "show, don't just tell," and, in regards to the primary threat of Snowblind, McBride nails that here. Neither the readers nor the protagonists know quite what they're up against until fairly late in the book, which makes it all the scarier. We're in this together with these four friends, lost in the woods after a hunting mishap and finding refuge in an old, abandoned cabin, forced to fill in the blanks of what, exactly, is out there. McBride gives us a few hints before the big unveiling, which is a neat little twist.
Throughout, we're kept in a constant state of suspense that fires the pages forward, one after the other. If it weren't for the demands of my bill-paying job, I would have easily read this in one sitting. The story is just so propulsive that it's impossible to break away from it (unless life gets in the way and absolutely demands it...).
June 18, 2016
Review of Snowblind by Michael McBride Forward.
Down.
Help.
Four long-time friends trek into the Rocky Mountain for their annual elk hunting trip. It isn't long before they find out that they are not alone and that something is hunting <i> them </i>. Add in a near white-out blizzard and hell just froze over.
This fast-paced novella from Michael McBride is all adrenaline, no-frills and well worth your time.
Down.
Help.
Four long-time friends trek into the Rocky Mountain for their annual elk hunting trip. It isn't long before they find out that they are not alone and that something is hunting <i> them </i>. Add in a near white-out blizzard and hell just froze over.
This fast-paced novella from Michael McBride is all adrenaline, no-frills and well worth your time.
May 13, 2016
This was my first Michael McBride novel. I love a good horror story set in the snow with a monster involved and this is exactly what I got here, my only problem with this novel was that it was very short however I just discovered there is a part two. So happy fucking days!!!!!
January 27, 2016
The setting and the weather change as you read this.
March 17, 2015
Snowblind was a fast and furious read. McBride's tale, of an annual elk hunting trip for four college buddies now pushing towards their forties, is full of atmosphere and paranoia. While hunting, one of the hunters breaks his leg just as a blizzard is dumping foot after foot of the white stuff on the mountain. Visibility is zero and they're lost. They eventually stumble onto a dilapidated cabin to get out of the miserable weather. Unfortunately for the hunters, they aren't alone.
Snowblind was a fun story that fills the reader with dread as you try to put yourself in the characters shoes. What would I do if I were them? Would I be able to survive or would I be the next victim? Great stuff. The only reason that it's a four star read and not a five is because I would've liked to have seen a little more character development. It's not that they were cardboard cut outs. They were actually interesting and I wanted to know more about them and their backgrounds. I think that would've ratcheted the dread up even more by being more invested in the characters.
4 out of 5 stars
You can also follow my reviews at the following links:
https://kenmckinley.wordpress.com
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/A2J1...
TWITTER - @KenMcKinley5
Snowblind was a fun story that fills the reader with dread as you try to put yourself in the characters shoes. What would I do if I were them? Would I be able to survive or would I be the next victim? Great stuff. The only reason that it's a four star read and not a five is because I would've liked to have seen a little more character development. It's not that they were cardboard cut outs. They were actually interesting and I wanted to know more about them and their backgrounds. I think that would've ratcheted the dread up even more by being more invested in the characters.
4 out of 5 stars
You can also follow my reviews at the following links:
https://kenmckinley.wordpress.com
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/A2J1...
TWITTER - @KenMcKinley5
April 24, 2015
Four longtime friends were going elk hunting in the Rocky Mountains. Little did they know but they were about to cross the gates of hell. Once you cross them, there is no way out! There is a blizzard that is dumping unbelievable amounts of snow, with no let up in sight. The snow was like a curtain and the men could not see in front of them. They were lost and would not be able to find their way back to camp. The group stumbles on to this little run down cabin where they can hold up until the blizzard was over. Little did they know that they were not alone. While in the cabin, one of the men thinks that he sees something moving outside. How can this be? It must be his mind playing tricks on him. What type of evil awaits them in the foothills of the Rockies? The story was so intense that I could not put it down. This was a fast pace action adventure. This is the first book that I have read by Michael McBride and it won't be the last. McBride weaves a tale like very few can. I highly recommend this book!
February 4, 2013
Another of the great novellas from Darkfuse. They are putting out some of the best dark fiction around. I am a member of their e-book club and consider it the smartest money that I have spent on reading next to my Kindle.
This was my first book by Michael McBride and prompted me to buy more immediately. Snowblind is pretty much a perfect monster romp. Good characters that you root for. Good build up and suspense. Well written. Really, really (yes, really) nasty monsters and great ending. I am not alone in my opinion. This book was one of four works to win a Darkfuse Novella Reader's Choice award for 2012.
After thoroughly enjoying this book I bought the much darker and more serious Innocents Lost (review upcoming) as well as several others. McBride is now on my list of writers to follow and I placed quite a few of his books on my Amazon wish list.
Four and half stars. Highest recommendation.
This was my first book by Michael McBride and prompted me to buy more immediately. Snowblind is pretty much a perfect monster romp. Good characters that you root for. Good build up and suspense. Well written. Really, really (yes, really) nasty monsters and great ending. I am not alone in my opinion. This book was one of four works to win a Darkfuse Novella Reader's Choice award for 2012.
After thoroughly enjoying this book I bought the much darker and more serious Innocents Lost (review upcoming) as well as several others. McBride is now on my list of writers to follow and I placed quite a few of his books on my Amazon wish list.
Four and half stars. Highest recommendation.
June 17, 2016
Snowblind is a tale of man versus self, nature, and beast, and it is perfect all the way through. A short novel that keeps on moving, with a gritty, blistering atmosphere smothered in escalating tension and suspense, McBride's novel earns its accolades. I can easily give it 5 stars, particularly since I liked it so much and generally despise horror (as opposed to horror comedy) based on this legendary creature.
The medical jargon gets a little heavy at times, but the story is almost entirely from the point of view of a surgeon, so the language is certainly fitting. There's really nothing not to like about this one - finely tuned prose and perfectly crafted tale. Highly recommended.
The medical jargon gets a little heavy at times, but the story is almost entirely from the point of view of a surgeon, so the language is certainly fitting. There's really nothing not to like about this one - finely tuned prose and perfectly crafted tale. Highly recommended.
October 12, 2014
Forward.
Down.
Help.
Four long-time friends trek into the Rocky Mountains for their annual elk hunting trip. It isn't long before they find out that they are not alone and that something is hunting them . Add in a near white-out blizzard and hell just froze over.
This fast-paced novella from Michael McBride is all adrenaline, no-frills and well worth your time.
Down.
Help.
Four long-time friends trek into the Rocky Mountains for their annual elk hunting trip. It isn't long before they find out that they are not alone and that something is hunting them . Add in a near white-out blizzard and hell just froze over.
This fast-paced novella from Michael McBride is all adrenaline, no-frills and well worth your time.
February 28, 2016
This is not a spoiler: never leave your bed, fuck adventures. Don't go to mountains, don't have friends. Avoid nights in the outdoors, avoid being a meal.
Do read this book.
Do read this book.
July 20, 2014
Without meaning to riff off the title, I went into this one completely blind. I'd never read anything by Michael McBride, nor was I overly familiar with his type of work. I seemed to recall some critics comparing him to Michael Crichton, and that was sufficient enough to steer me away. But when this novella came up as the monthly book read at Horror Aficionados, I opted to give it a shot.
And I'm certainly glad I did.
McBride here serves up a fast-paced, tension-filled survival horror about four friends on a hunting trip who get trapped up a mountain as they are hunted by ... something. I was quickly drawn in as McBride wasted no time in proving how deadly the things out in the snow could be. I also enjoyed the way that any pause in the action served to emphasise the bleakness of the characters' plight. The violence in Snowblind, when it occurs, is fast and brutal, but stops far short of being excessive or indulgent.
True, if I'm being picky, there is a little bit of an over focus on medical jargon when it comes to describing wounds - even if this is because the POV character is a surgeon - and it won't be long before most readers start to guess what is doing the hunting. But the reveal of said hunters is handled fantastically well, and the ending, for me, was note perfect.
McBride has definitely won himself a new fan today.
Highly recommended to those who enjoy their horror mean, fast and packing a punch.
4.5 Hunting Accidents for Snowblind.
And I'm certainly glad I did.
McBride here serves up a fast-paced, tension-filled survival horror about four friends on a hunting trip who get trapped up a mountain as they are hunted by ... something. I was quickly drawn in as McBride wasted no time in proving how deadly the things out in the snow could be. I also enjoyed the way that any pause in the action served to emphasise the bleakness of the characters' plight. The violence in Snowblind, when it occurs, is fast and brutal, but stops far short of being excessive or indulgent.
True, if I'm being picky, there is a little bit of an over focus on medical jargon when it comes to describing wounds - even if this is because the POV character is a surgeon - and it won't be long before most readers start to guess what is doing the hunting. But the reveal of said hunters is handled fantastically well, and the ending, for me, was note perfect.
McBride has definitely won himself a new fan today.
Highly recommended to those who enjoy their horror mean, fast and packing a punch.
4.5 Hunting Accidents for Snowblind.
August 23, 2016
Hunters Become Prey- 4.5 stars...
In Snowblind, four college friends have been going hunting every year together but this year instead of hunting, they are being hunted. Someone or something is stalking them through the woods & every time they think they have a planned worked out to thwart their stalkers, their stalkers are two steps ahead of them...
I absolutely loved it! It's the perfect story for a cold weather night - or even when it's a 100 degrees in the shade as it is here. Since the temp doesn't ever seem to want to drop around here, I have to read these cold weather stories and imagine the wind and snow on my face. The imagery in this one was perfect for this, but the terrifying feel of being hunted had my heart racing and my adrenaline pumping so cooling down went completely out of the picture.
McBride subtly but perfectly incorporates his "horror elements" (avoiding spoilers) and uses the landscape to increase the tension which I think is even more thrilling and terrifying then a story that uses a bunch of over-the-top unrealistic elements.
If you have any plans for a winter hunting trip or vacation in the mountains, you might not want to read this before you go. It definitely made me appreciate the intense heat & flat rolling grasslands a little more. : )
In Snowblind, four college friends have been going hunting every year together but this year instead of hunting, they are being hunted. Someone or something is stalking them through the woods & every time they think they have a planned worked out to thwart their stalkers, their stalkers are two steps ahead of them...
I absolutely loved it! It's the perfect story for a cold weather night - or even when it's a 100 degrees in the shade as it is here. Since the temp doesn't ever seem to want to drop around here, I have to read these cold weather stories and imagine the wind and snow on my face. The imagery in this one was perfect for this, but the terrifying feel of being hunted had my heart racing and my adrenaline pumping so cooling down went completely out of the picture.
McBride subtly but perfectly incorporates his "horror elements" (avoiding spoilers) and uses the landscape to increase the tension which I think is even more thrilling and terrifying then a story that uses a bunch of over-the-top unrealistic elements.
If you have any plans for a winter hunting trip or vacation in the mountains, you might not want to read this before you go. It definitely made me appreciate the intense heat & flat rolling grasslands a little more. : )
February 9, 2016
I love the way Michael McBride has left the door of this brilliant short novel open (even though that door is cold and there is snow coming in!!) for a sequel. I also found his notes informative and very useful for the enjoyment and progression of the story, in particular the subtleties in the naming of the “Alferd Packer Grill”
The use of landscape blended with unexpected and extreme weather conditions is a very powerful tool in the hands of an accomplished author. Who can ever forget Jack Torrance newly appointed caretaker at the isolated and snowbound Overlook Hotel and the sad events that followed.
4 friends Coburn, Baumann, Shore and Vigil are once again embarking on their yearly elk hunting expedition to the aptly named and snowbound Mt Isolation. They are forced to seek refuge when Vigil suffers severe trauma and injury in a fall and are now along surrounded by the harsh elements of nature and something evil and unknown....the scene is set! “Someone or something was still out there. Watching them. Waiting”...
A horror story (to appreciate the full effects!) is best enjoyed alone and possibly with the aid of an alcoholic beverage as the silence and tension can be unbearable. I sometimes read very early in the morning and approaching winter, here in the UK, the wind may be howling accompanied by a little rain....and then I read the following....
“Coburn crept closer, prepared to grab the branch, toss it away from the house, and sprint back toward the open window. He had already loosened his grip on the rifle when his brain caught up with his eyes. It wasn’t a branch. It was a hand. A human hand at the end of a severed forearm.Tied to a bent, rusted nail in the door by a tendon. Swinging gently back and forth at the behest of the wind. The curled fingers raking the wood.Scratch.....Scratch....Scratch...”
An important element I use to judge a good story is....Do I think about it the following day? Where is the author going? Are the characters real? Can I sympathize with them?....more importantly in a horror story....does it scare the hell out of me?? Let me tell you dear readers of my review that I cycle to and from work each day (ok you say what has that got to do with it....hold on I will tell you!) My 12 mile route home in the evenings is dark and lonely with only me my bike and my little light for company...the mind plays funny things and “Snowblind” became my mental companion this week as I struggled through the darkness....what was that I began to see to my left and right....????
“A lone silhouette separated from the shadows. Large and hunched. Low to the ground. Was it a bear? He couldn’t....couldn’t quite tell. He tried to zero in on it through the scope- Another silhouette materialized from the woods to the right of the first...another to its left...”
Michael McBride has written a novel that blends all the elements of good horror writing to produce a masterpiece of tension and fear and one I will remember for a very long time. Highly recommended!
The use of landscape blended with unexpected and extreme weather conditions is a very powerful tool in the hands of an accomplished author. Who can ever forget Jack Torrance newly appointed caretaker at the isolated and snowbound Overlook Hotel and the sad events that followed.
4 friends Coburn, Baumann, Shore and Vigil are once again embarking on their yearly elk hunting expedition to the aptly named and snowbound Mt Isolation. They are forced to seek refuge when Vigil suffers severe trauma and injury in a fall and are now along surrounded by the harsh elements of nature and something evil and unknown....the scene is set! “Someone or something was still out there. Watching them. Waiting”...
A horror story (to appreciate the full effects!) is best enjoyed alone and possibly with the aid of an alcoholic beverage as the silence and tension can be unbearable. I sometimes read very early in the morning and approaching winter, here in the UK, the wind may be howling accompanied by a little rain....and then I read the following....
“Coburn crept closer, prepared to grab the branch, toss it away from the house, and sprint back toward the open window. He had already loosened his grip on the rifle when his brain caught up with his eyes. It wasn’t a branch. It was a hand. A human hand at the end of a severed forearm.Tied to a bent, rusted nail in the door by a tendon. Swinging gently back and forth at the behest of the wind. The curled fingers raking the wood.Scratch.....Scratch....Scratch...”
An important element I use to judge a good story is....Do I think about it the following day? Where is the author going? Are the characters real? Can I sympathize with them?....more importantly in a horror story....does it scare the hell out of me?? Let me tell you dear readers of my review that I cycle to and from work each day (ok you say what has that got to do with it....hold on I will tell you!) My 12 mile route home in the evenings is dark and lonely with only me my bike and my little light for company...the mind plays funny things and “Snowblind” became my mental companion this week as I struggled through the darkness....what was that I began to see to my left and right....????
“A lone silhouette separated from the shadows. Large and hunched. Low to the ground. Was it a bear? He couldn’t....couldn’t quite tell. He tried to zero in on it through the scope- Another silhouette materialized from the woods to the right of the first...another to its left...”
Michael McBride has written a novel that blends all the elements of good horror writing to produce a masterpiece of tension and fear and one I will remember for a very long time. Highly recommended!
August 23, 2014
Review of Snowblind by Michael McBride
5 stars
Readers who enjoy Blake Crouch’s thrillers are going to love “Snowblind,” as I did. I don’t think there was a single moment of relaxation of tension in this story-it caught me by the throat from the first sentences and never let go, and that ending! In addition, author Michael McBride (who definitely knows his medical terminology and medical care!) proffers an Author’s Note which explains a whole lot more than I think I really wanted to know about some of the material in the story-and no, I won’t say more because I refuse to spoil a really exciting storyline.
Up in the high Rockies of Colorado, a quartet of long-term friends embarks on their 14th annual Elk Hunt. Why do they do it? To reawaken, for a week, the boys they formerly were in college, when the world was before them and life was, if not carefree, at least hopeful. But this November, the Elk Hunt becomes something more-and other-and none of the four will remain as they were.
5 stars
Readers who enjoy Blake Crouch’s thrillers are going to love “Snowblind,” as I did. I don’t think there was a single moment of relaxation of tension in this story-it caught me by the throat from the first sentences and never let go, and that ending! In addition, author Michael McBride (who definitely knows his medical terminology and medical care!) proffers an Author’s Note which explains a whole lot more than I think I really wanted to know about some of the material in the story-and no, I won’t say more because I refuse to spoil a really exciting storyline.
Up in the high Rockies of Colorado, a quartet of long-term friends embarks on their 14th annual Elk Hunt. Why do they do it? To reawaken, for a week, the boys they formerly were in college, when the world was before them and life was, if not carefree, at least hopeful. But this November, the Elk Hunt becomes something more-and other-and none of the four will remain as they were.
August 25, 2016
An annual elk hunting trip goes terribly wrong for four old college buddies as the tables get turned and the hunters become the hunted. Trapped in a broken down cabin, the tension and suspense are palpable, as the college friends try and understand their enemy and defend themselves against a creature(s) they cannot see, while in the midst of a horrible blizzard. With visibility down to almost nothing, the survivors must decide to make a stand and fight, or try and run and risk getting lost and dying of exposure anyway. Not exactly the reunion they had planned.
Michael McBride knows how to write an engaging tale and certainly does not disappoint with his novella Snowblind. A classic creature feature for sure. This one reads fast and is a hard one to put down. For a novella size work there is just enough character development to get a vested interest in the characters welfare and his tension building in a short period of time is perfect! Solid 4+ Stars - Highly Recommended!
Michael McBride knows how to write an engaging tale and certainly does not disappoint with his novella Snowblind. A classic creature feature for sure. This one reads fast and is a hard one to put down. For a novella size work there is just enough character development to get a vested interest in the characters welfare and his tension building in a short period of time is perfect! Solid 4+ Stars - Highly Recommended!
October 27, 2013
This was a fun read. Intense survival story that'll put you off wilderness. Four friends' hunting trip turns into a blizzard wrapped nightmare and there is someone/thing out there that likes to hunt as well. So the hunters become the hunted and you have to read the book to see by whom. Loved the reveal, great ending and the very informative trivia afterword. Solid writing and lighting quick pace, took just over an hour to read. Thank you, Charlene. Recommended.
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