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Native Fear
Native Fear is a folk/cosmic horror, originally pitched as GET OUT meets THE THING.
“Debut author [C. F.] Page presents an intricate horror novel . . . an inventive take on a rural place filled with unspeakable malice.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“Native Fear is a blistering and evocative examination of man's darkness. A harrowing read.”
—Steve Stred, Splatterpunk-nominated author of Sacrament and Mastodon.
“Page manages to weave together strong undercurrents of cosmic horror, cult situations, splashes of sci-fi, and even some slasher flavors. There are creatures, mysteries, and creepy characters aplenty. . . . original and engaging, with nuanced characters that aren’t caricatures (and, in fact, mock the stereotypes).”
—Kyle J. Durrant, author of Beyond Dimensional Veils
“One of the most intelligent, compelling, and well-written horror novels I've ever read, full stop. The sophisticated prose is fluid and colorful enough to make every scene, character, and ungodly image vividly cinematic, and there's a richness to the world that gives the story itself both a crushing weight to smash about and a delicate hand to do it with. Native Fear blends subgenres of horror so brilliantly that the transition from gnarly folk horror to epic cosmicism feels as natural as the ‘monsters’ in this book are unnatural. Clever, perfectly crafted, and innately subversive, this novel is one you won't be able to put down.”
—Jay Alexander, author of Starving Grounds and The Lunchling
Winter 2017.
Olly Torrance—on the run, and hundreds of miles from his home in Illinois—winds up passing through Coyote Village, Michigan. If he’d taken a left or a right at the Main Street intersection, he’d be fine. But he—unaware of the ill-omened genius loci of the Elkhourne Ranch—went straight. He went up Old Willow Road. And not being a local, he hadn’t known about the sinister rumors. Everything ranging from Satanic worship to scientific experiments . . . and stranger things.
Olly finds himself in the care of the mysterious Elkhournes. They seem to accept him. They mend his broken bones, offer him a job as groundskeeper, but most of all: they don’t snoop into why he’s on the run . . . because if they knew what he’d done, they might turn him in.
Olly struggles against his own inner demons while simultaneously chipping away at the Elkhournes’ dark secret.
“Debut author [C. F.] Page presents an intricate horror novel . . . an inventive take on a rural place filled with unspeakable malice.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“Native Fear is a blistering and evocative examination of man's darkness. A harrowing read.”
—Steve Stred, Splatterpunk-nominated author of Sacrament and Mastodon.
“Page manages to weave together strong undercurrents of cosmic horror, cult situations, splashes of sci-fi, and even some slasher flavors. There are creatures, mysteries, and creepy characters aplenty. . . . original and engaging, with nuanced characters that aren’t caricatures (and, in fact, mock the stereotypes).”
—Kyle J. Durrant, author of Beyond Dimensional Veils
“One of the most intelligent, compelling, and well-written horror novels I've ever read, full stop. The sophisticated prose is fluid and colorful enough to make every scene, character, and ungodly image vividly cinematic, and there's a richness to the world that gives the story itself both a crushing weight to smash about and a delicate hand to do it with. Native Fear blends subgenres of horror so brilliantly that the transition from gnarly folk horror to epic cosmicism feels as natural as the ‘monsters’ in this book are unnatural. Clever, perfectly crafted, and innately subversive, this novel is one you won't be able to put down.”
—Jay Alexander, author of Starving Grounds and The Lunchling
Winter 2017.
Olly Torrance—on the run, and hundreds of miles from his home in Illinois—winds up passing through Coyote Village, Michigan. If he’d taken a left or a right at the Main Street intersection, he’d be fine. But he—unaware of the ill-omened genius loci of the Elkhourne Ranch—went straight. He went up Old Willow Road. And not being a local, he hadn’t known about the sinister rumors. Everything ranging from Satanic worship to scientific experiments . . . and stranger things.
Olly finds himself in the care of the mysterious Elkhournes. They seem to accept him. They mend his broken bones, offer him a job as groundskeeper, but most of all: they don’t snoop into why he’s on the run . . . because if they knew what he’d done, they might turn him in.
Olly struggles against his own inner demons while simultaneously chipping away at the Elkhournes’ dark secret.
490 pages, Paperback
Published September 28, 2022
43 people are currently reading
371 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
December 31, 2022
Native Fear is centred around a cult-like family living in a place called Coyote Village, and the people who encounter them.
Our main character is Olly, a Japanese-American on the run (but I won't give too much away there).
And our cult friends? The Elkhournes, your typical redneck types...at least until you start to dig a little deeper.
Page manages to weave together strong undercurrents of cosmic horror, cult situations, splashes of sci-fi, and even some slasher flavours. There are creatures, mysteries, and creepy characters aplenty.
Page has spoken about how Resident Evil is a major influence on his work, and I definitely saw the DNA in this book. However, he has formed something original and engaging, with nuanced characters that aren’t caricatures (and, in fact, mock the stereotypes). In a couple of places, maybe, the story recycled old tropes without subverting them, but that's going to happen in any story.
This is truly a tense and suspenseful ride. There are twists and turns throughout that keep you guessing, and it builds up to a truly mind-blowing finale.
It took me a long time to read this book, but that was nothing to do with the quality. I read it on ebook, which I struggle with. But I definitely enjoyed this book immensely. Page has a deep understanding of language, providing detailed descriptions and a great variety of word choices that always feel appropriate and not forced in.
There is an experimental style to this book that I struggled with at times. Tenses change, structures can sometimes be unconventional, and I didn't always get along with that, but overall I definitely enjoyed this book.
Thank you to the author for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. This review is based on a pre-release versions and so some comments may now be irrelevant.
Our main character is Olly, a Japanese-American on the run (but I won't give too much away there).
And our cult friends? The Elkhournes, your typical redneck types...at least until you start to dig a little deeper.
Page manages to weave together strong undercurrents of cosmic horror, cult situations, splashes of sci-fi, and even some slasher flavours. There are creatures, mysteries, and creepy characters aplenty.
Page has spoken about how Resident Evil is a major influence on his work, and I definitely saw the DNA in this book. However, he has formed something original and engaging, with nuanced characters that aren’t caricatures (and, in fact, mock the stereotypes). In a couple of places, maybe, the story recycled old tropes without subverting them, but that's going to happen in any story.
This is truly a tense and suspenseful ride. There are twists and turns throughout that keep you guessing, and it builds up to a truly mind-blowing finale.
It took me a long time to read this book, but that was nothing to do with the quality. I read it on ebook, which I struggle with. But I definitely enjoyed this book immensely. Page has a deep understanding of language, providing detailed descriptions and a great variety of word choices that always feel appropriate and not forced in.
There is an experimental style to this book that I struggled with at times. Tenses change, structures can sometimes be unconventional, and I didn't always get along with that, but overall I definitely enjoyed this book.
Thank you to the author for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. This review is based on a pre-release versions and so some comments may now be irrelevant.
September 30, 2022
I'm all about scanning first lines in books to see if I jive with the author's style. SO when this came in from the author himself, thank you, C.F. Page, I eagerly glanced at the first two, and, well, I did not want to stop there! Responsibilities out the window, I delved in and got lost in the vivid imagery. I mean, when the PROLOGUE gives you the creeps in horror, you know you're in for a treat!
So what's this about? It's about the dark and deadly mysteries surrounding the Elkhourne Ranch in Coyote Village, Michigan. People have seen wild animals behave very oddly here. And Michael, sheriff of the town has been haunted over the years by his father's mysterious death. It was before he was born, but was it really a bear...or something else?
The family at the Elkhourne Ranch are no help in the mystery. But why do they keep to themselves. Then one night when a runaway blows into town, everything will change...
This plot is so intricate, so well done, you will not believe this is a debut novel!! I highly recommend this one to any horror fan.
So what's this about? It's about the dark and deadly mysteries surrounding the Elkhourne Ranch in Coyote Village, Michigan. People have seen wild animals behave very oddly here. And Michael, sheriff of the town has been haunted over the years by his father's mysterious death. It was before he was born, but was it really a bear...or something else?
The family at the Elkhourne Ranch are no help in the mystery. But why do they keep to themselves. Then one night when a runaway blows into town, everything will change...
This plot is so intricate, so well done, you will not believe this is a debut novel!! I highly recommend this one to any horror fan.
January 31, 2023
This has a lot of moving parts. Part cannibals, part cult, part sci fi, part remote horror. I won’t lie my ADHD struggled to keep up but overall this was a very creative and interesting read.
June 3, 2023
[Imitations & Transmogrification]:// a review
It took me several chapters after the sensory-deprived, atmosphere-suffocating prologue until I finally placed a finger on Native Fear’s pulse. Or at least... I thought I had. The initial conclusion (which isn’t bad, all things considered) was that Page had tried his damned hardest to elevate, through considerate prose and unconventional story structure, what is a B-horror, popcorn-munching blockbuster—or, as the author has alluded to in several IG posts, a Resident Evil-esque survival horror video game in novel-form. I mean, a young man [socially, circumstantially, then literally] imprisoned by an eccentric family on an unsettling farm in very rural Michigan, in which we know, because of the prologue, that there’s something a lot more charnel and sinister under their seemingly innocent facades; it’s not a groundbreaking premise by any stretch of the imagination (although I’d say it’s a necessarily familiar one: more on that later).
And no matter how you dissect it, all of that is true. Sort of. Superficially, at least.
A lackadaisical reader, genre fiction junkie, or a page-skimmer may get turned off by Page’s incremental worldbuilding, because by all means it takes about 3 or 4 chapters to 'formally' meet our protagonist, who, via Page’s disciplined limited third-person perspective, is initially called 'the Runaway.' But for me, the consistent prose and polish were too obvious to assume a haphazard nonlinearity, nor to assume that breaking the Golden Rule of introducing the MC later than the first chapter was an indicator of amateur writing.
Which belatedly brings us to the character story threads, of which there are effectively 3 and 3/4. 1) The Runaway’s stay with the Elkhournes while literally and figuratively haunted by Anxiety (with a capital A, sometimes all-caps); 2) A local sheriff who speculates the Elkhournes may have had a role in his father’s death; 3) a woman searching for her missing husband; ¼) miscellaneous Elkhourne family members and the town locals; ¼) a mystery character called “The Astronaut”; and the final ¼) The somewhat technothriller-y nonlinear subplot of Sam Elkhourne, who may or may not be dead prior to our protagonist’s arrival at the Elkhourne Ranch.
But don’t worry. There’s a reason why this book is 500 pages. All these threads are weaved into their appropriate places throughout the narrative and are unravelled precisely when they should.
Similar to how I felt about John Langan’s The Fisherman, various Dan Simmons and Robert McCammon novels, and some of King’s earlier works like The Shining (which has been cited by the author as an influences, and you can tell), Native Fear is a Literary Horror novel. Sure, it’s got some hallmark tropes of the aforementioned 'B-horror', monsters, and murder, and visceral gore, oh my, but it’s elevated not by prose and structure as I’d prematurely theorised. Instead, it's elevated by themes.
The Elkhourne’s are an imitation of a family, their house an imitation of a house, and the novel’s genre an imitation of loud and flashy 'camp'. These are the novel’s early façades: but over time these faces slip and Page’s intentions (although not blatantly) transmogrify at the same rate as the genre weaves from the psychological to folk then finally something wedged between occult supernaturalism and cosmic.
Perhaps what impressed me most, as I’ve had a few days now to digest this chunky debut novel, is that almost all the characters’ emotional conflict are rooted to their worldviews. Their struggling with faith. Their existential anxieties. This hit harder than characters merely being motivated by money—or survival for survival’s sake. At its core, Native Fear is cleverly and perhaps necessarily disguised religious horror. As Nine Inch Nails once sang, 'Bow down before the one you serve, you’re going to get what you deserve...'
One last point. While I certainly don’t follow contemporary horror as much as I do with classic horror, and contemporary and classic science fiction and fantasy, I don’t think I’d have discovered Native Fear if I hadn’t stumbled across Anterior Skies’ open submissions, and had Page not accepted not just one but two of my stories, I’m not so sure I’d have read the book.
Which is a shame, because it seems to me the only thing holding Native Fear, not to mention C. F. Page himself, is a weird sort of unjustified lack of exposure. Someone get this man an agent. Or something.
A lot of reviewers have compared Native Fear to Nick Cutter, whom I haven’t read but apparently need to. Otherwise, recommend it to fans of Stephen King, Dan Simmons, and Robert McCammon, especially their earlier works. And even though it doesn’t read like Lovecraft necessarily, fans of his may appreciate where the stories go, and how he gets there.
It took me several chapters after the sensory-deprived, atmosphere-suffocating prologue until I finally placed a finger on Native Fear’s pulse. Or at least... I thought I had. The initial conclusion (which isn’t bad, all things considered) was that Page had tried his damned hardest to elevate, through considerate prose and unconventional story structure, what is a B-horror, popcorn-munching blockbuster—or, as the author has alluded to in several IG posts, a Resident Evil-esque survival horror video game in novel-form. I mean, a young man [socially, circumstantially, then literally] imprisoned by an eccentric family on an unsettling farm in very rural Michigan, in which we know, because of the prologue, that there’s something a lot more charnel and sinister under their seemingly innocent facades; it’s not a groundbreaking premise by any stretch of the imagination (although I’d say it’s a necessarily familiar one: more on that later).
And no matter how you dissect it, all of that is true. Sort of. Superficially, at least.
A lackadaisical reader, genre fiction junkie, or a page-skimmer may get turned off by Page’s incremental worldbuilding, because by all means it takes about 3 or 4 chapters to 'formally' meet our protagonist, who, via Page’s disciplined limited third-person perspective, is initially called 'the Runaway.' But for me, the consistent prose and polish were too obvious to assume a haphazard nonlinearity, nor to assume that breaking the Golden Rule of introducing the MC later than the first chapter was an indicator of amateur writing.
Which belatedly brings us to the character story threads, of which there are effectively 3 and 3/4. 1) The Runaway’s stay with the Elkhournes while literally and figuratively haunted by Anxiety (with a capital A, sometimes all-caps); 2) A local sheriff who speculates the Elkhournes may have had a role in his father’s death; 3) a woman searching for her missing husband; ¼) miscellaneous Elkhourne family members and the town locals; ¼) a mystery character called “The Astronaut”; and the final ¼) The somewhat technothriller-y nonlinear subplot of Sam Elkhourne, who may or may not be dead prior to our protagonist’s arrival at the Elkhourne Ranch.
But don’t worry. There’s a reason why this book is 500 pages. All these threads are weaved into their appropriate places throughout the narrative and are unravelled precisely when they should.
Similar to how I felt about John Langan’s The Fisherman, various Dan Simmons and Robert McCammon novels, and some of King’s earlier works like The Shining (which has been cited by the author as an influences, and you can tell), Native Fear is a Literary Horror novel. Sure, it’s got some hallmark tropes of the aforementioned 'B-horror', monsters, and murder, and visceral gore, oh my, but it’s elevated not by prose and structure as I’d prematurely theorised. Instead, it's elevated by themes.
The Elkhourne’s are an imitation of a family, their house an imitation of a house, and the novel’s genre an imitation of loud and flashy 'camp'. These are the novel’s early façades: but over time these faces slip and Page’s intentions (although not blatantly) transmogrify at the same rate as the genre weaves from the psychological to folk then finally something wedged between occult supernaturalism and cosmic.
Perhaps what impressed me most, as I’ve had a few days now to digest this chunky debut novel, is that almost all the characters’ emotional conflict are rooted to their worldviews. Their struggling with faith. Their existential anxieties. This hit harder than characters merely being motivated by money—or survival for survival’s sake. At its core, Native Fear is cleverly and perhaps necessarily disguised religious horror. As Nine Inch Nails once sang, 'Bow down before the one you serve, you’re going to get what you deserve...'
One last point. While I certainly don’t follow contemporary horror as much as I do with classic horror, and contemporary and classic science fiction and fantasy, I don’t think I’d have discovered Native Fear if I hadn’t stumbled across Anterior Skies’ open submissions, and had Page not accepted not just one but two of my stories, I’m not so sure I’d have read the book.
Which is a shame, because it seems to me the only thing holding Native Fear, not to mention C. F. Page himself, is a weird sort of unjustified lack of exposure. Someone get this man an agent. Or something.
A lot of reviewers have compared Native Fear to Nick Cutter, whom I haven’t read but apparently need to. Otherwise, recommend it to fans of Stephen King, Dan Simmons, and Robert McCammon, especially their earlier works. And even though it doesn’t read like Lovecraft necessarily, fans of his may appreciate where the stories go, and how he gets there.
September 30, 2022
Bookstagram's own @cfpage_author's debut novel, originally pitched as Get Out meets The Thing, but for bookstagram's sake I'd more compare it to The Deep meets Kin.
Teenager Olly Torrance is on the run from something bad and ends up in the little nowhere town of Coyote Village where he finds himself in the care of the Elkhourne family. They bring him back to health and put him to work. But Olly soon begins to realize he is in over his head.... because something is *very* wrong with the Elkhournes and there are powers involved- ancient, malevolent powers and more that are conspiring to keep him there. Will Olly be able to face his past to save his future?
Page was influenced by many different writers and forms of media. I definitely felt King and Resident Evil (Big RE7 and RE2 vibes) but I was struck by how much the writing reminded me of Nick Cutter (but Nick Cutter with a thesaurus 😅)!
This is a SOLID first novel and the author mentioned he believes he has a shot at a Bram Stoker award for debut novel---- and I have to agree.
This book may be influenced by Lovecraft, King, Resident Evil and more, but make no mistake, Page has a voice all his own and I think we'll be hearing a lot more of it in the future.
Teenager Olly Torrance is on the run from something bad and ends up in the little nowhere town of Coyote Village where he finds himself in the care of the Elkhourne family. They bring him back to health and put him to work. But Olly soon begins to realize he is in over his head.... because something is *very* wrong with the Elkhournes and there are powers involved- ancient, malevolent powers and more that are conspiring to keep him there. Will Olly be able to face his past to save his future?
Page was influenced by many different writers and forms of media. I definitely felt King and Resident Evil (Big RE7 and RE2 vibes) but I was struck by how much the writing reminded me of Nick Cutter (but Nick Cutter with a thesaurus 😅)!
This is a SOLID first novel and the author mentioned he believes he has a shot at a Bram Stoker award for debut novel---- and I have to agree.
This book may be influenced by Lovecraft, King, Resident Evil and more, but make no mistake, Page has a voice all his own and I think we'll be hearing a lot more of it in the future.
November 28, 2023
Native Fear is a folk/cosmic horror, originally pitched as Get Out meets The Thing. Deep in the forest of Michigan, near the small town of Coyote Village, lies an ancestral home known as the Elkhorne Ranch. The Elkhorne family keep to themselves and the townspeople only have rumors of what goes on there. By fate, or bad luck, several people have recently been drawn to the property. One of them is a young man named Olly Torrance, who is on the run after stabbing his stepfather. Arriving on their doorstep broken and bloody, the Elkhornes nurse Olly to health with an elixir made from the strange mushrooms they grow. But the more time he spends there, the more Olly realizes things aren’t as they seem. Will he escape the unholy horrors he has uncovered, or will he remain trapped by the unimaginable nightmares that reside at Elkhorne Ranch?
This is one of those books where a synopsis just can’t do it justice, and in fact it’s better to go in blind. Clocking in at just under 500 pages, Native Fear is an utterly mesmerizing, compelling, and immersive experience for the dedicated reader. Its experimental form and varying writing style may test some readers who prefer more straightforward narratives, but these creative endeavors work with the unconventional plot in a way that I found irresistibly alluring. It’s a hypnotic flow through different point of views, brief interludes, and diverging storylines where the macabre atmosphere is as much a protagonist as poor Olly.
It’s clear the author is honoring many horror pioneers - such as HP Lovecraft, Thomas Ligotti, Algernon Blackwood, Clive Barker, Adam Neville, and Stephen King - but C.F. Page manages to blend these influences into a style that is entirely his own. It’s also a novel that doesn’t fit cleanly into any one subgenre, existing outside of classification and combining elements of folk, rural, cosmic, cult, and body horror as well as dark science fiction, experimental fiction, and so much more. It’s also clear that this is part of a much more expansive Anterior mythos that the author is creating, and I’m really excited to see where it goes!
Native Fear touches on many different elements of horror and dark fiction that I really enjoy. If you like the authors mentioned above, plus other media such as Resident Evil and True Detective, then this is the book for you. The journey is unnerving and smothered in inexplicable dread and malice. It’s a beautiful, brutal, complex, terrifying read, and to say any more would be to ruin the experience. Go read it!
This is one of those books where a synopsis just can’t do it justice, and in fact it’s better to go in blind. Clocking in at just under 500 pages, Native Fear is an utterly mesmerizing, compelling, and immersive experience for the dedicated reader. Its experimental form and varying writing style may test some readers who prefer more straightforward narratives, but these creative endeavors work with the unconventional plot in a way that I found irresistibly alluring. It’s a hypnotic flow through different point of views, brief interludes, and diverging storylines where the macabre atmosphere is as much a protagonist as poor Olly.
It’s clear the author is honoring many horror pioneers - such as HP Lovecraft, Thomas Ligotti, Algernon Blackwood, Clive Barker, Adam Neville, and Stephen King - but C.F. Page manages to blend these influences into a style that is entirely his own. It’s also a novel that doesn’t fit cleanly into any one subgenre, existing outside of classification and combining elements of folk, rural, cosmic, cult, and body horror as well as dark science fiction, experimental fiction, and so much more. It’s also clear that this is part of a much more expansive Anterior mythos that the author is creating, and I’m really excited to see where it goes!
Native Fear touches on many different elements of horror and dark fiction that I really enjoy. If you like the authors mentioned above, plus other media such as Resident Evil and True Detective, then this is the book for you. The journey is unnerving and smothered in inexplicable dread and malice. It’s a beautiful, brutal, complex, terrifying read, and to say any more would be to ruin the experience. Go read it!
October 1, 2022
Let me start this review by saying I loved this book. It's exactly the kind of horror novel I enjoy reading. It's got a hero trapped in a tough and scary situation with a freaky family filled with dark secrets. There are human monsters and otherworldly creatures and a story that's deserving of the book's 500 pages. Native Fear just might be the best horror novel I've read this year.
Olly is on the lam after stabbing his awful stepfather who was abusing his sister (triggers galore here btw, but as author C.F. Page writes in his foreword, it is a horror novel. He's right; you've been warned). He makes an unfortunate decision and finds himself at the Elkhourne Ranch where he meets the aforementioned freaky family. They give him a special drink with super healing powers and hire him to take care of the property. Seems like a good deal. What could go wrong?
I love how the author pays tribute to weird and cosmic horror grandmasters like Lovecraft and Blackwood and gives his big Thankee-sai to Stephen King in many ways, including Olly's last name
(REDRUM!)
and the very cool parenthetical mid-sentence sentiments
(just breathe one two three)
that convey the character's thoughts as his mind races
(deer are herbivores four five six).
The writing here is polished and professional. There are familiar tropes and scenes that remind you of horror and sci-fi classics, but Page somehow avoids the traps of fan fiction and instead has written a novel that pays homage to legends and yet still manages to surprise the reader.
What a great book. Did I mention this is a debut novel? More, please.
And I want this in hardcover. It's a keeper.
Olly is on the lam after stabbing his awful stepfather who was abusing his sister (triggers galore here btw, but as author C.F. Page writes in his foreword, it is a horror novel. He's right; you've been warned). He makes an unfortunate decision and finds himself at the Elkhourne Ranch where he meets the aforementioned freaky family. They give him a special drink with super healing powers and hire him to take care of the property. Seems like a good deal. What could go wrong?
I love how the author pays tribute to weird and cosmic horror grandmasters like Lovecraft and Blackwood and gives his big Thankee-sai to Stephen King in many ways, including Olly's last name
(REDRUM!)
and the very cool parenthetical mid-sentence sentiments
(just breathe one two three)
that convey the character's thoughts as his mind races
(deer are herbivores four five six).
The writing here is polished and professional. There are familiar tropes and scenes that remind you of horror and sci-fi classics, but Page somehow avoids the traps of fan fiction and instead has written a novel that pays homage to legends and yet still manages to surprise the reader.
What a great book. Did I mention this is a debut novel? More, please.
And I want this in hardcover. It's a keeper.
September 8, 2023
Horror set in Michigan, bursting with wild imagery, unique prose, and spiritual/religious goodness that will make your head spin (in the best possible way)? Yes, please!
This book is a slow-burn done right. Never did boredom set in while I flipped the pages… in fact, I enjoyed the exploration of the characters’ innermost thoughts, significant flashbacks, and the air of mystery while embarking on a meandering journey toward a ramped-up ending that delivered all the horrific goodness my dark little heart desires.
A winning read by an exceptional author. I’ll have another, please. ☕️
This book is a slow-burn done right. Never did boredom set in while I flipped the pages… in fact, I enjoyed the exploration of the characters’ innermost thoughts, significant flashbacks, and the air of mystery while embarking on a meandering journey toward a ramped-up ending that delivered all the horrific goodness my dark little heart desires.
A winning read by an exceptional author. I’ll have another, please. ☕️
March 23, 2025
I always need a few days after I've finished one of Page's novels before I can gather my thoughts into a review. Finishing one of his books leaves me feeling like one of his main characters... I know I've witnessed something unfathomable and terrifying that has left me deeply anxious and unmoored. It takes a while to recover. His style is one of epic, dreadful prose full of terrifying endlessness that lives rent free in small hidden places in my psyche.
Influenced but by no means imitating, this world is distinctly Page's own. A small isolated town with an even more isolated family living in the wild woods of Michigan who harbour a terrifying history that Olly Torrance runs straight into and thoroughly disrupts. I love Olly. This poor traumatized kid, I just want to sit him down at a table with a warm meal and an anxiety-free week of rest and listening to Linkin Park. But will he survive this unknowably ancient family intact?
How Page has done this incredible thing of such terrible beauty on his first outing is simply astonishing, how he deftly describes the indescribable. This debut novel of his is out time for me - it's the third novel of his I've read, and yet I was an instant fan long before I read a single word of it. I was honoured last year not once, but twice, to be able to read his upcoming two novels. Not one of them has disappointed. Not ONE.
Native Fear is is that rare beast: a heady mix of horror sub-genres (cosmic, isolation, creature-feature, cults and dark entities) that are seamlessly blended into an epic tale that despite its hefty size, managed to whip by. This intricate delicacy of perfectly meshed horror elements is no slouch. It requires a commitment and an understanding by the reader that the reward is deeper and more insidious than you can imagine, and it will sear itself right into your psyche.
...I wonder how mad Page must be to write these things he sees in his mind, and how mad I become in reading them...
Influenced but by no means imitating, this world is distinctly Page's own. A small isolated town with an even more isolated family living in the wild woods of Michigan who harbour a terrifying history that Olly Torrance runs straight into and thoroughly disrupts. I love Olly. This poor traumatized kid, I just want to sit him down at a table with a warm meal and an anxiety-free week of rest and listening to Linkin Park. But will he survive this unknowably ancient family intact?
How Page has done this incredible thing of such terrible beauty on his first outing is simply astonishing, how he deftly describes the indescribable. This debut novel of his is out time for me - it's the third novel of his I've read, and yet I was an instant fan long before I read a single word of it. I was honoured last year not once, but twice, to be able to read his upcoming two novels. Not one of them has disappointed. Not ONE.
Native Fear is is that rare beast: a heady mix of horror sub-genres (cosmic, isolation, creature-feature, cults and dark entities) that are seamlessly blended into an epic tale that despite its hefty size, managed to whip by. This intricate delicacy of perfectly meshed horror elements is no slouch. It requires a commitment and an understanding by the reader that the reward is deeper and more insidious than you can imagine, and it will sear itself right into your psyche.
"Anterior evils come at night; you have to be dead enough or mad enough to see them -- flapping flapping."
...I wonder how mad Page must be to write these things he sees in his mind, and how mad I become in reading them...
November 15, 2022
🎃Gloom Review🎃
“How could he not believe in GOD if he’s seen the face of the DEVIL?”
NATIVE FEAR is a trippy, winding, and thorn-filled journey from the mind of @cfpage_author.👻
This big is thick, and that gave me trepidation. I’m typically not willing to risk committing so much time to a debut author I don’t know, but something about this book kept calling for my attention (and maybe it was the fact that the author send me a ARC paperback in the mail. Physical books tend to stare & judge more than their digital counterparts lol). It didn’t take long for my trepidation to fade as I fell heads first down the intoxicating rabbit hole that is Elkhourne Ranch.🔥
Elkhourne Ranch, is a location, don’t get that wrong, but it’s the characters who interact with the place that really brings this story alive. The cast isn’t too large, but it is diverse in all the right ways. The constant clashing amongst the different characters’ desires keep the book interesting, and I was invested quite quickly.👌🏼
This book is gross, funny, scary, and ironic. It’s got pop culture references galore, and offers complicated characters (a few of which you’ll love to hate) that bring American culture, in all its varied splashes, to life. It’s dizzying story that does a good job at keeping the reader off-balance. Page knows exactly how to write a psychedelic horror tale. Just when you think you’re starting to figure it out, you’ll be quickly reminded that everything is not as it seems.👀
This is John Carpenter’s The Thing meets Nick Cutter’s The Troop, meets Cabin In The Woods.💀
Fans of body horror, Resident Evil, Alien, and survivalism stories should definitely give this debut novel a read.😎
“How could he not believe in GOD if he’s seen the face of the DEVIL?”
NATIVE FEAR is a trippy, winding, and thorn-filled journey from the mind of @cfpage_author.👻
This big is thick, and that gave me trepidation. I’m typically not willing to risk committing so much time to a debut author I don’t know, but something about this book kept calling for my attention (and maybe it was the fact that the author send me a ARC paperback in the mail. Physical books tend to stare & judge more than their digital counterparts lol). It didn’t take long for my trepidation to fade as I fell heads first down the intoxicating rabbit hole that is Elkhourne Ranch.🔥
Elkhourne Ranch, is a location, don’t get that wrong, but it’s the characters who interact with the place that really brings this story alive. The cast isn’t too large, but it is diverse in all the right ways. The constant clashing amongst the different characters’ desires keep the book interesting, and I was invested quite quickly.👌🏼
This book is gross, funny, scary, and ironic. It’s got pop culture references galore, and offers complicated characters (a few of which you’ll love to hate) that bring American culture, in all its varied splashes, to life. It’s dizzying story that does a good job at keeping the reader off-balance. Page knows exactly how to write a psychedelic horror tale. Just when you think you’re starting to figure it out, you’ll be quickly reminded that everything is not as it seems.👀
This is John Carpenter’s The Thing meets Nick Cutter’s The Troop, meets Cabin In The Woods.💀
Fans of body horror, Resident Evil, Alien, and survivalism stories should definitely give this debut novel a read.😎
June 24, 2025
This book was a lot.
It was a very interesting concept and journey. Our main protagonist is a meek boy running away from one nightmare and being thrust into another. He's essentially forced into joining this strange mid west hillbilly family with some weird stuff going down on their property. There's mushrooms. There's cannibals. There's cosmic beings and pits of despair and magic powers, and gory deaths, and shape shifting and hallucinations and revenge and and and.
As the author states, this book was heavily influenced by mainstream horror, including primarily Lovecraft and Resident Evil. That would have been enough, but it seems the author compiled every horror author/topic he's ever enjoyed and tried to jam it all into a 600-page book.
The beginning of the book is great. But, moving on, there is so much going on between people, events, perspectives, and timelines that you quickly find yourself confused. The writing style also seems determined to confuse you more as if the 20 extra needless characters aren't already doing that for you.
There is some beautifully done gory deaths and an original-ish concept to boot, but extreme instances of racism and fat-shaming which added 0 to the contextual basis on top of the author using a thesarus for every other sentence left me sorely disappointed.
If this was edited down to 350-400 pages, it would be a very nice novel.
This book is self disclosed as having trigger warnings for "respectfully" being racist for no reason, describing every single character as fat and rape.
It was a very interesting concept and journey. Our main protagonist is a meek boy running away from one nightmare and being thrust into another. He's essentially forced into joining this strange mid west hillbilly family with some weird stuff going down on their property. There's mushrooms. There's cannibals. There's cosmic beings and pits of despair and magic powers, and gory deaths, and shape shifting and hallucinations and revenge and and and.
As the author states, this book was heavily influenced by mainstream horror, including primarily Lovecraft and Resident Evil. That would have been enough, but it seems the author compiled every horror author/topic he's ever enjoyed and tried to jam it all into a 600-page book.
The beginning of the book is great. But, moving on, there is so much going on between people, events, perspectives, and timelines that you quickly find yourself confused. The writing style also seems determined to confuse you more as if the 20 extra needless characters aren't already doing that for you.
There is some beautifully done gory deaths and an original-ish concept to boot, but extreme instances of racism and fat-shaming which added 0 to the contextual basis on top of the author using a thesarus for every other sentence left me sorely disappointed.
If this was edited down to 350-400 pages, it would be a very nice novel.
This book is self disclosed as having trigger warnings for "respectfully" being racist for no reason, describing every single character as fat and rape.
October 4, 2022
Content warning: Mental health issues, sexual abuse, racism
"We name things, to help us sleep at night."- Olly
Psychedelic. Aesthetic.
The Native Fear told the story of a creature that had been lingering around in a society for such a long time that the people were questioning if the creature was real or just a conjure of their hallucinations. In addition, a family who was living deep in the woods, seemed like an outcast and a cult, continued to draw in the mysteries that lingered around the said creature. What was the relation between the creature and the family? Was there such thing as a cult group that worshipped a deity that was not existed at all? Borderline cannibalism was a practice among the family members as they tried to maintain their human appearance, or else they would just a glob of something unexplainable...something unworldly.
I for one could not find the words to describe what I was experiencing while reading the Native Fear. And for a moment after finishing it, two words appeared in my mind; aesthetic and psychedelic. I know, those words aren't really used to describe a book but as far as I'm concern, those words described how I felt and what I thought of Native Fear. Of course, it is more than just aesthetic and psychedelic.
The beginning of this book had gotten me into thinking this was not an ordinary horror and thriller book. The author did more than just writing a story, he weaved life into it as well. I for one felt like I was living the life of Olly, the MC in Native Fear. CF Page vividly described the mental health issues that were troubling our Olly, reliving and revisiting the pasts that Olly was trying to run from.
Creepy. Suspense.
The writing was so well done that at a moment I felt the creature was real. It instantly reeled me in right from the beginning and I thought to myself, this is some real deal right here.
Unknown monster kept on popping up. Constantly made me questioned what was that thing that kept on lingering and lurking behind the shadow?
Cult. Insane. Vivid descriptions of the characters, the vibes, the events that took place. And almost could smell the atmospheres. One thing for sure, the Native Fear has gotten me hooked right from the beginning =.
"We name things, to help us sleep at night."- Olly
Psychedelic. Aesthetic.
The Native Fear told the story of a creature that had been lingering around in a society for such a long time that the people were questioning if the creature was real or just a conjure of their hallucinations. In addition, a family who was living deep in the woods, seemed like an outcast and a cult, continued to draw in the mysteries that lingered around the said creature. What was the relation between the creature and the family? Was there such thing as a cult group that worshipped a deity that was not existed at all? Borderline cannibalism was a practice among the family members as they tried to maintain their human appearance, or else they would just a glob of something unexplainable...something unworldly.
I for one could not find the words to describe what I was experiencing while reading the Native Fear. And for a moment after finishing it, two words appeared in my mind; aesthetic and psychedelic. I know, those words aren't really used to describe a book but as far as I'm concern, those words described how I felt and what I thought of Native Fear. Of course, it is more than just aesthetic and psychedelic.
The beginning of this book had gotten me into thinking this was not an ordinary horror and thriller book. The author did more than just writing a story, he weaved life into it as well. I for one felt like I was living the life of Olly, the MC in Native Fear. CF Page vividly described the mental health issues that were troubling our Olly, reliving and revisiting the pasts that Olly was trying to run from.
Creepy. Suspense.
The writing was so well done that at a moment I felt the creature was real. It instantly reeled me in right from the beginning and I thought to myself, this is some real deal right here.
Unknown monster kept on popping up. Constantly made me questioned what was that thing that kept on lingering and lurking behind the shadow?
Cult. Insane. Vivid descriptions of the characters, the vibes, the events that took place. And almost could smell the atmospheres. One thing for sure, the Native Fear has gotten me hooked right from the beginning =.
November 11, 2023
I was gifted a copy by the author via a giveaway.
In rural Coyote Village, Michigan, hides Elkhourne Ranch, a very uh unsettling property, the locals steer clear of. Our main character, Olly Torrance, fleeing a justified violent incident with his stepdad in Illinois, seeks refuge with the Elkhournes when he stumbles upon it, injured. They offer him shelter and a mysterious mushroom drink, revealing their sinister money-making secrets, and importantly not asking many questions about him. Despite the seemingly pleasant facade, the ranch conceals some pretty dark horrors, turning Olly's ranch hand job they hired him for, into a nightmare. A cosmic crazy nightmare.
Native Fear is an ambitious debut novel. It was quite intricate and inventive. Right away you can tell the author has been heavily influenced by some of the Weird Horror greats (which I later saw the book is dedicated to.) As a fan of weird horror and intricate novels I was intrigued.
The first quarter of this novel had me absolutely lost. It was difficult for me to grasp the story that was unfolding. It seemed the chapters would change POV unclearly and kind of jump back and forth in the timeline.
I slowed down my pace and re-read some and once I pushed through, oh man, was I happy I did. The book really took off and it was excellent from there on out if not a little verbose. The story continues to grow in complexity, but it holds together well, the narrative was gripping, and there were some truly brutal scenes.
For fans of the weird, brutal, and complex.
In rural Coyote Village, Michigan, hides Elkhourne Ranch, a very uh unsettling property, the locals steer clear of. Our main character, Olly Torrance, fleeing a justified violent incident with his stepdad in Illinois, seeks refuge with the Elkhournes when he stumbles upon it, injured. They offer him shelter and a mysterious mushroom drink, revealing their sinister money-making secrets, and importantly not asking many questions about him. Despite the seemingly pleasant facade, the ranch conceals some pretty dark horrors, turning Olly's ranch hand job they hired him for, into a nightmare. A cosmic crazy nightmare.
Native Fear is an ambitious debut novel. It was quite intricate and inventive. Right away you can tell the author has been heavily influenced by some of the Weird Horror greats (which I later saw the book is dedicated to.) As a fan of weird horror and intricate novels I was intrigued.
The first quarter of this novel had me absolutely lost. It was difficult for me to grasp the story that was unfolding. It seemed the chapters would change POV unclearly and kind of jump back and forth in the timeline.
I slowed down my pace and re-read some and once I pushed through, oh man, was I happy I did. The book really took off and it was excellent from there on out if not a little verbose. The story continues to grow in complexity, but it holds together well, the narrative was gripping, and there were some truly brutal scenes.
For fans of the weird, brutal, and complex.
February 6, 2024
“I am peering into the hole of the universe, comprehending its natural terror. I see the possibility of every scenario and it all leads to devastation. I see plains of chaos running eons and eons in every direction.” - Jordan CF Page
5/5 stars from me.
Folk/cult/cosmic/literary/body/cannablism horror.
Olly is running from something, but he ends up in a far worse nightmare at the Elkhourne Ranch.
To start, I would consider Native Fear by CF Page to be my first literary horror, which I never would have expected from a debut novel. There is a quote from the book that read "A crescendo of psychedelic madness...", which I think represents it well. I've been looking for a longer, modern horror book with compelling and haunting prose, and it definitely hit the mark. The story was described as The Thing x Get Out x Resident Evil, which I feel is really accurate.
Native Fear's detailed prose absorbed me in. The events, the setting details, and the characters' train of thoughts - it all created an experience for me rather than just telling me straight. Alongside the beautiful words, the way of typing also created an experience with added-in parentheses, mid-sentence breaks, and not to mention "the anxiety, Anxiety, ANXIETY." However, this is not a book for someone who is looking for a quick read. The storytelling is not always linear, so it needs your attention and focus. Believe it or not, the disjointedness and flashbacks add to the feelings. You just need to go with it. Each section ties back in and makes sense the longer you read. It also has multiple character point of views. You can start a chapter and just know that it wasn’t the last person’s perspective continuing into the next chapter.
That being said, this book honestly inspired distrust and suspicion in me, which I think was genius. You may think one thing, but let's see how that same event happened through another character’s eyes. I could not rely on what I thought was happening unless I kept reading. The contrast between caring and thoughtfulness, and the disturbing truth of the book’s reality, was chilling to read. The antagonists in this story seem almost reasonable, despite the terrors they commit. Their lifestyle is religiously-based, and it is all they know. There was a part in the book where a character explained the innocence of their lifestyle in comparison to regular society's lifestyle, and it genuinely made me pause to think. I don’t think you can hate many of these characters automatically, which is pretty alarming, considering the content. Don't let this fool you though. Native Fear is full of gore and horrors that will make you wince, which is apparent in the very first chapter.
As a debut novel, I thought it was ambitious, very impressive, and a "Thing" of nightmares. It deserves so much more attention than it's getting. If you didn't know, Native Fear is on the intentions list for the Books of Horror Brawl 2024, and it needs to be in the Top 32 finalists. I felt like I was reading a best-seller that I picked up from Barnes & Noble. I have yet to read anything like it. Needless to say, I cannot wait to read more from CF Page.
5/5 stars from me.
Folk/cult/cosmic/literary/body/cannablism horror.
Olly is running from something, but he ends up in a far worse nightmare at the Elkhourne Ranch.
To start, I would consider Native Fear by CF Page to be my first literary horror, which I never would have expected from a debut novel. There is a quote from the book that read "A crescendo of psychedelic madness...", which I think represents it well. I've been looking for a longer, modern horror book with compelling and haunting prose, and it definitely hit the mark. The story was described as The Thing x Get Out x Resident Evil, which I feel is really accurate.
Native Fear's detailed prose absorbed me in. The events, the setting details, and the characters' train of thoughts - it all created an experience for me rather than just telling me straight. Alongside the beautiful words, the way of typing also created an experience with added-in parentheses, mid-sentence breaks, and not to mention "the anxiety, Anxiety, ANXIETY." However, this is not a book for someone who is looking for a quick read. The storytelling is not always linear, so it needs your attention and focus. Believe it or not, the disjointedness and flashbacks add to the feelings. You just need to go with it. Each section ties back in and makes sense the longer you read. It also has multiple character point of views. You can start a chapter and just know that it wasn’t the last person’s perspective continuing into the next chapter.
That being said, this book honestly inspired distrust and suspicion in me, which I think was genius. You may think one thing, but let's see how that same event happened through another character’s eyes. I could not rely on what I thought was happening unless I kept reading. The contrast between caring and thoughtfulness, and the disturbing truth of the book’s reality, was chilling to read. The antagonists in this story seem almost reasonable, despite the terrors they commit. Their lifestyle is religiously-based, and it is all they know. There was a part in the book where a character explained the innocence of their lifestyle in comparison to regular society's lifestyle, and it genuinely made me pause to think. I don’t think you can hate many of these characters automatically, which is pretty alarming, considering the content. Don't let this fool you though. Native Fear is full of gore and horrors that will make you wince, which is apparent in the very first chapter.
As a debut novel, I thought it was ambitious, very impressive, and a "Thing" of nightmares. It deserves so much more attention than it's getting. If you didn't know, Native Fear is on the intentions list for the Books of Horror Brawl 2024, and it needs to be in the Top 32 finalists. I felt like I was reading a best-seller that I picked up from Barnes & Noble. I have yet to read anything like it. Needless to say, I cannot wait to read more from CF Page.
December 18, 2025
I purchased a copy of this book from the author. All views and opinions are my own.
-
It's December, and in the Northern Hemisphere The Winter Solstice, the time of Yuletide draws near. What does that have to do with Native Fear? Everything! Yuletide is a time to embrace life, while facing the cold, the void, and everything that entails. Not only does Native Fear take place during this particular cycle, of the wheel of the year, it takes that concept of "embracing the cycle of life and death" and forces the reader to consider what that means, beyond the comfortable confines of a pure human existence. Events unwind in a distorted and askew chronological manner, letting the truly horrific scope and nature of everything hit the reader in cascading waves.
I came to C.F. Page's writing through his collection of short stories "Orphans of the Atercosm". One can definitely find the connecting threads (the mycelial network, if you will) leading from that book back to Native Fear, and out again to everything he has written since. The author himself makes clear the inspirations, the creative yeasts, which he drew from, that caused Native Fear to Ferment and take shape. However, here we come to an interesting aspect of weird fiction, or any prose work. The author may have specific things that inspired them to create said work, but what the reader draws connections to, is beyond their control. Such is the case with Native Fear. Admittedly, going to into reading this book, I was aware the media sources that served as much of Page's inspiration for the book. Even so, I was struck by, what to me were clear connections, admittedly not direct, to other stories other creations. The Podcast "DeadFall, Wisconsin" for instance, there are certain similarities between that podcast, and this book, which further affirm, for myself, that at some level we are all dipping our creative brains into a vast ocean of ideas, and sometimes those ideas rhyme or echo each other. Where DeadFall leans in on the absurd, and loaded with absolutely bonkers humor, Native Fear doubles down on the unsettling, dark horror. Both are examples of looming Cosmic Horror, tucked away down forgotten back roads of the midwest.
Drawing from the Cosmic, Native Fear deals quite extensively with people grappling with "the horror of self" the struggles and terrors to be found in humanity.... or for that which seeks to mirror or replace people. It's in this sphere that I found myself drawing connections between Native Fear and the works of author Drew Huff, namely "The Divine Flesh" and "My Name isn't Paul". Once again, there is no direct connection between the work of Huff and Page. The wonderful thing about reading these book is finding those creative voices, that are in thematic harmony.
There is more contained in Native Fear, it's a novel full to bursting, let it draw you into its inky depths. This is an excellent choice for a Yuletide Horror Read, for those who can see into the darkness beyond the festive lights and gaudy decorations.
-
It's December, and in the Northern Hemisphere The Winter Solstice, the time of Yuletide draws near. What does that have to do with Native Fear? Everything! Yuletide is a time to embrace life, while facing the cold, the void, and everything that entails. Not only does Native Fear take place during this particular cycle, of the wheel of the year, it takes that concept of "embracing the cycle of life and death" and forces the reader to consider what that means, beyond the comfortable confines of a pure human existence. Events unwind in a distorted and askew chronological manner, letting the truly horrific scope and nature of everything hit the reader in cascading waves.
I came to C.F. Page's writing through his collection of short stories "Orphans of the Atercosm". One can definitely find the connecting threads (the mycelial network, if you will) leading from that book back to Native Fear, and out again to everything he has written since. The author himself makes clear the inspirations, the creative yeasts, which he drew from, that caused Native Fear to Ferment and take shape. However, here we come to an interesting aspect of weird fiction, or any prose work. The author may have specific things that inspired them to create said work, but what the reader draws connections to, is beyond their control. Such is the case with Native Fear. Admittedly, going to into reading this book, I was aware the media sources that served as much of Page's inspiration for the book. Even so, I was struck by, what to me were clear connections, admittedly not direct, to other stories other creations. The Podcast "DeadFall, Wisconsin" for instance, there are certain similarities between that podcast, and this book, which further affirm, for myself, that at some level we are all dipping our creative brains into a vast ocean of ideas, and sometimes those ideas rhyme or echo each other. Where DeadFall leans in on the absurd, and loaded with absolutely bonkers humor, Native Fear doubles down on the unsettling, dark horror. Both are examples of looming Cosmic Horror, tucked away down forgotten back roads of the midwest.
Drawing from the Cosmic, Native Fear deals quite extensively with people grappling with "the horror of self" the struggles and terrors to be found in humanity.... or for that which seeks to mirror or replace people. It's in this sphere that I found myself drawing connections between Native Fear and the works of author Drew Huff, namely "The Divine Flesh" and "My Name isn't Paul". Once again, there is no direct connection between the work of Huff and Page. The wonderful thing about reading these book is finding those creative voices, that are in thematic harmony.
There is more contained in Native Fear, it's a novel full to bursting, let it draw you into its inky depths. This is an excellent choice for a Yuletide Horror Read, for those who can see into the darkness beyond the festive lights and gaudy decorations.
June 20, 2023
This one took me a long time to read, but it was due more to circumstance than anything.
There's enough other reviews that fill you in on plot and character details that I won't bother. Here's what you probably need to know...
Page wears a lot of his influences on his sleeve and they show up on the page. However, that being said, despite the obvious influences, he's developed his own very unique style of telling a story. For me, I will say I found it intensely readable, but I can also see how some may find it off-putting. Basically, unlike most novels, Page tends to eschew the standard practice of climbing inside the character's head, then giving the reader only the observations and thoughts of that viewpoint character. You do get those thoughts and observations, but Page also gives you more of a god's eye view of the proceedings, often adorning his characters' observations with parenthetical asides that could only come from an all-knowing narrator.
Most of the time, I had no problem with this, though I did find it a little heavier toward the end and I personally felt it slowed the pacing just a touch.
There was also an interlude toward the end that I honestly could have done without, where one character ruminates that, if he was a character in a novel, this is likely what the author would have done with him, but here's what happened instead.
So, while I wasn't crazy about that section—and really, it was only three or four pages—here's what I will say about the narrative style Page chose: it was a very bold choice, it was a very unconventional choice, and I absolutely applaud him for the the courage and willingness to try something different. Because, quite frankly, 99% of the time, it succeeded. I really did enjoy the writing style, more than I have in a long time.
I'm guessing I probably missed some fun stuff, as the author states that this book is a rather obvious love letter to Resident Evil, a game I am completely unaware of. But overall, I really enjoyed the book, and I am looking forward to seeing what else is crawling around inside Page's brain.
There's enough other reviews that fill you in on plot and character details that I won't bother. Here's what you probably need to know...
Page wears a lot of his influences on his sleeve and they show up on the page. However, that being said, despite the obvious influences, he's developed his own very unique style of telling a story. For me, I will say I found it intensely readable, but I can also see how some may find it off-putting. Basically, unlike most novels, Page tends to eschew the standard practice of climbing inside the character's head, then giving the reader only the observations and thoughts of that viewpoint character. You do get those thoughts and observations, but Page also gives you more of a god's eye view of the proceedings, often adorning his characters' observations with parenthetical asides that could only come from an all-knowing narrator.
Most of the time, I had no problem with this, though I did find it a little heavier toward the end and I personally felt it slowed the pacing just a touch.
There was also an interlude toward the end that I honestly could have done without, where one character ruminates that, if he was a character in a novel, this is likely what the author would have done with him, but here's what happened instead.
So, while I wasn't crazy about that section—and really, it was only three or four pages—here's what I will say about the narrative style Page chose: it was a very bold choice, it was a very unconventional choice, and I absolutely applaud him for the the courage and willingness to try something different. Because, quite frankly, 99% of the time, it succeeded. I really did enjoy the writing style, more than I have in a long time.
I'm guessing I probably missed some fun stuff, as the author states that this book is a rather obvious love letter to Resident Evil, a game I am completely unaware of. But overall, I really enjoyed the book, and I am looking forward to seeing what else is crawling around inside Page's brain.
February 22, 2025
I always need a few days after I've finished one of Page's novels before I can gather my thoughts into a review. Finishing one of his books leaves me feeling like one of his main characters... I know I've witnessed something unfathomable and terrifying that has left me deeply anxious and unmoored. It takes a while to recover. His style is one of epic, dreadful prose full of terrifying endlessness that lives rent free in small hidden places in my psyche.
Influenced but by no means imitating, this world is distinctly Page's own. A small isolated town with an even more isolated family living in the wild woods of Michigan who harbour a terrifying history that Olly Torrance runs straight into and thoroughly disrupts. I love Olly. This poor traumatized kid, I just want to sit him down at a table with a warm meal and an anxiety-free week of rest and listening to Linkin Park. But will he survive this unknowably ancient family intact?
How Page has done this incredible thing of such terrible beauty on his first outing is simply astonishing, how he deftly describes the indescribable. This debut novel of his is out time for me - it's the third novel of his I've read, and yet I was an instant fan long before I read a single word of it. I was honoured last year not once, but twice, to be able to read his upcoming two novels. Not one of them has disappointed. Not ONE.
Native Fear is is that rare beast: a heady mix of horror sub-genres (cosmic, isolation, creature-feature, cults and dark entities) that are seamlessly blended into an epic tale that despite its hefty size, managed to whip by. This intricate delicacy of perfectly meshed horror elements is no slouch. It requires a commitment and an understanding by the reader that the reward is deeper and more insidious than you can imagine, and it will sear itself right into your psyche.
...I wonder how mad Page must be to write these things he sees in his mind, and how mad I become in reading them...
Influenced but by no means imitating, this world is distinctly Page's own. A small isolated town with an even more isolated family living in the wild woods of Michigan who harbour a terrifying history that Olly Torrance runs straight into and thoroughly disrupts. I love Olly. This poor traumatized kid, I just want to sit him down at a table with a warm meal and an anxiety-free week of rest and listening to Linkin Park. But will he survive this unknowably ancient family intact?
How Page has done this incredible thing of such terrible beauty on his first outing is simply astonishing, how he deftly describes the indescribable. This debut novel of his is out time for me - it's the third novel of his I've read, and yet I was an instant fan long before I read a single word of it. I was honoured last year not once, but twice, to be able to read his upcoming two novels. Not one of them has disappointed. Not ONE.
Native Fear is is that rare beast: a heady mix of horror sub-genres (cosmic, isolation, creature-feature, cults and dark entities) that are seamlessly blended into an epic tale that despite its hefty size, managed to whip by. This intricate delicacy of perfectly meshed horror elements is no slouch. It requires a commitment and an understanding by the reader that the reward is deeper and more insidious than you can imagine, and it will sear itself right into your psyche.
"Anterior evils come at night; you have to be dead enough or mad enough to see them -- flapping flapping."
...I wonder how mad Page must be to write these things he sees in his mind, and how mad I become in reading them...
March 28, 2024
Firstly, this was one uniquely written novel, which added so much to the way I imagined the characters and the way I got into the mindset of the most main character, Olly. It's like a fever dream for the majority. I don't even feel comfortable providing a synopsis because...that's the fun in it.
It's strange. Usually, most books will show a progression of a sane character going insane, slipping hopelessly into madness. However, in Native Fear, it's sort of the opposite. At first, you're going through these chapters and getting different points of view and a character who has hallucinations so...is he really seeing what he's seeing? But...about halfway through, we start to see his mind start to come back together. It goes from fever dream and stream of consciousness in panic mode to...acceptance and a mind assured of reality.
You definitely see the nods to Lovecraft; The Dunwich Horror is mentioned a couple times, which is funny to me because I just finished that while in the middle of reading this, but also a bit of The Whisperer in Darkness, The Festival, and one scene felt a little like The Nameless City.
Overall, I enjoyed this one. I do think it may be a stretch for some being over 500 pages, but if you like atmosphere and a slow burn Lovecraftian/Folk/Cult horror, then give it a try!
There are a lot of characters, but I think you get enough of each to really grasp their part in the story. Also, being in the Bible belt of the US, I definitely had a few laughs. I know the author already said that it has some rather hurtful language concerning a larger bodied character, but there's a point, I promise. There's also a bit of racist/homophic things but it's mostly from one character that you're supposed to not like.
A few scenes really got me. I got a big laugh on page one from the fear of clowns reference. It's definitely one of those reads that will mess with your mind a bit. As I said before, it works almost backwards...not in timeline, but in overall style. I liked it.
Gave me Lovecraft meets Wrong Turn meets Appalachian/Ozark folklore vibes. 4.5/5!
It's strange. Usually, most books will show a progression of a sane character going insane, slipping hopelessly into madness. However, in Native Fear, it's sort of the opposite. At first, you're going through these chapters and getting different points of view and a character who has hallucinations so...is he really seeing what he's seeing? But...about halfway through, we start to see his mind start to come back together. It goes from fever dream and stream of consciousness in panic mode to...acceptance and a mind assured of reality.
You definitely see the nods to Lovecraft; The Dunwich Horror is mentioned a couple times, which is funny to me because I just finished that while in the middle of reading this, but also a bit of The Whisperer in Darkness, The Festival, and one scene felt a little like The Nameless City.
Overall, I enjoyed this one. I do think it may be a stretch for some being over 500 pages, but if you like atmosphere and a slow burn Lovecraftian/Folk/Cult horror, then give it a try!
There are a lot of characters, but I think you get enough of each to really grasp their part in the story. Also, being in the Bible belt of the US, I definitely had a few laughs. I know the author already said that it has some rather hurtful language concerning a larger bodied character, but there's a point, I promise. There's also a bit of racist/homophic things but it's mostly from one character that you're supposed to not like.
A few scenes really got me. I got a big laugh on page one from the fear of clowns reference. It's definitely one of those reads that will mess with your mind a bit. As I said before, it works almost backwards...not in timeline, but in overall style. I liked it.
Gave me Lovecraft meets Wrong Turn meets Appalachian/Ozark folklore vibes. 4.5/5!
December 30, 2023
Native Fear by C. F. Page
This book was so good and so much fun to read. It was dark, heavy, deep, & intricate.
Page weaved together multiple storylines and I was not quite sure what was going on for the first half of the book. Normally that would be frustrating but everything that was going on was so intriguing, I wanted to know where the heck this book was taking me. Once things started making more sense, and other plot points were revealed the pace really picked up. While there was quite a bit of graphic violence/gore it was written so expertly that it didn’t feel forced or added for shock value at all. Page did not rush this book. This is a slow burn that reveals things only as you need to know them. It is the kind of book you’ll want to curl up with and get absolutely lost in. I highly recommend going in blind, and letting everything come together organically.
This is Page’s debut novel which is absolutely jaw dropping, as it reads like a seasoned writer. It’ll really appeal to those of you who enjoy epic horror to the likes of older King, Simmons, McCammon.
It’s been a wild ride (and a pleasure) and I really can’t wait to see where your writing future goes.
This book was so good and so much fun to read. It was dark, heavy, deep, & intricate.
Page weaved together multiple storylines and I was not quite sure what was going on for the first half of the book. Normally that would be frustrating but everything that was going on was so intriguing, I wanted to know where the heck this book was taking me. Once things started making more sense, and other plot points were revealed the pace really picked up. While there was quite a bit of graphic violence/gore it was written so expertly that it didn’t feel forced or added for shock value at all. Page did not rush this book. This is a slow burn that reveals things only as you need to know them. It is the kind of book you’ll want to curl up with and get absolutely lost in. I highly recommend going in blind, and letting everything come together organically.
This is Page’s debut novel which is absolutely jaw dropping, as it reads like a seasoned writer. It’ll really appeal to those of you who enjoy epic horror to the likes of older King, Simmons, McCammon.
It’s been a wild ride (and a pleasure) and I really can’t wait to see where your writing future goes.
February 9, 2024
Just finished this! Unfortunately, my review does not do this book justice!
This was the first folk-cosmic horror book I have ever read and quite frankly the first book I have ever read by this author. Let me just tell you it absolutely won't be the last. The buildup is slow, but it is intense. This book did a fantastic job of keeping you interested the entire time. At no point could I have guessed on what was going to happen next. The author does an amazing job with his point of view that he almost invites you into the mind of the Main character himself. You almost become that character. You are provided with his account of events but also with his thoughts and even his fear. There are monsters, gore, cannibalism and so much more. I have never read a book like it! Over a week after reading it and I still can't get it out of my head. If you are considering buying this book, just do it! You will not be disappointed!!
5/5 stars
This was the first folk-cosmic horror book I have ever read and quite frankly the first book I have ever read by this author. Let me just tell you it absolutely won't be the last. The buildup is slow, but it is intense. This book did a fantastic job of keeping you interested the entire time. At no point could I have guessed on what was going to happen next. The author does an amazing job with his point of view that he almost invites you into the mind of the Main character himself. You almost become that character. You are provided with his account of events but also with his thoughts and even his fear. There are monsters, gore, cannibalism and so much more. I have never read a book like it! Over a week after reading it and I still can't get it out of my head. If you are considering buying this book, just do it! You will not be disappointed!!
5/5 stars
October 22, 2025
Hard to think of the last time I really clicked with a novel this much. It’s rare that an author can maintain a horror tone over a book this long, but Native Fear kept me guessing and freaked out throughout. Olly was a great lead character and he was surrounded by a fascinating cast. The vivid descriptions of gnarly violence and supernatural beasts continuously managed to impress me.
Page’s influences are basically all things I love as well. I rarely see video game influences applied in a literary context and when I do, it’s usually something too goofy and meta like Ready Player One. Here, though, the clear inspirations for this worked much better for me. Body horror, eldritch Lovecraftian horror, True Detective-y horror, hillbilly cannibal horror…all that’s my fucking jam!
As an author-to-be with similar influences (and also coming from a similar film education background), I very much felt inspired by C.F. Page’s literary debut. He definitely has a new fan with me!
Page’s influences are basically all things I love as well. I rarely see video game influences applied in a literary context and when I do, it’s usually something too goofy and meta like Ready Player One. Here, though, the clear inspirations for this worked much better for me. Body horror, eldritch Lovecraftian horror, True Detective-y horror, hillbilly cannibal horror…all that’s my fucking jam!
As an author-to-be with similar influences (and also coming from a similar film education background), I very much felt inspired by C.F. Page’s literary debut. He definitely has a new fan with me!
April 22, 2025
🍄 Review: Native Fear 🍄
Novel by Jordan CF Page
It is hard to fathom that THIS is a debut novel... WOW 🤯
Native Fear is a 539-page, prose driven tale rife with cosmic cultism & grotesque body horror.
Imagine if Christopher Nolan directed a Resident Evil sequel with Lovecraft executive producing. It's unlike anything I've ever read and loved every bit it.
Page does an unbelievable job shifting POVs, running concurrent timelines & providing the reader jusssst enough insight to keep you turning pages until the absolutely incredible, explosive finale.
I highly recommend that you pick up Native Fear if you're craving something "more" from your next read. Page has an unbelievable voice within the indie horror scene and I look forward to devouring everything he puts to page. I will certainly be reflecting upon this novel for weeks to come.
Novel by Jordan CF Page
It is hard to fathom that THIS is a debut novel... WOW 🤯
Native Fear is a 539-page, prose driven tale rife with cosmic cultism & grotesque body horror.
Imagine if Christopher Nolan directed a Resident Evil sequel with Lovecraft executive producing. It's unlike anything I've ever read and loved every bit it.
Page does an unbelievable job shifting POVs, running concurrent timelines & providing the reader jusssst enough insight to keep you turning pages until the absolutely incredible, explosive finale.
I highly recommend that you pick up Native Fear if you're craving something "more" from your next read. Page has an unbelievable voice within the indie horror scene and I look forward to devouring everything he puts to page. I will certainly be reflecting upon this novel for weeks to come.
September 12, 2025
This is one of those horror books that packs a lot into the narrative but manages to swing from one bizarre situation to another effortlessly.
So, we have a cult, a redneck cannibal family, some otherworldly mushrooms, eldritch creatures, a secretive organization involved with it all, and a young Japanese man who is, more or less, forced to work for this family.
That's just the tip of this horrific bloody iceberg because, just like the subject matter, it's written from various verb tenses and characters. Sometimes alternating within the same chapter, first person, third person, and even second person narratives are used to tell this feverish story. It's a book that demands you pay attention and rewards you with frenetic scenes of gooey cosmic body horror.
This is definitely a novel that you'll likely never forget and I highly recommend it.
So, we have a cult, a redneck cannibal family, some otherworldly mushrooms, eldritch creatures, a secretive organization involved with it all, and a young Japanese man who is, more or less, forced to work for this family.
That's just the tip of this horrific bloody iceberg because, just like the subject matter, it's written from various verb tenses and characters. Sometimes alternating within the same chapter, first person, third person, and even second person narratives are used to tell this feverish story. It's a book that demands you pay attention and rewards you with frenetic scenes of gooey cosmic body horror.
This is definitely a novel that you'll likely never forget and I highly recommend it.
November 12, 2022
I am absolutely blown away with how fantastic this book was. It's unequivocally riveting. Mixing equal parts monster horror, splatter punk, eldritch horror, and sci-fi, you really get a good mixture of everything. You can definitely see the influences in the work, but you're getting a unique novel with its own voice. I've never read anything like this before and I wish I had more to read. Sometimes bordering on (dare I say?) artistic and experimental styles of writing and execution; you get a surprising challenge without it being frustrating with one hell of a story on the way.
Seriously, such a contemporary masterpiece and one like nothing I've experienced (old or new.) I truly hope this gets more readers because it's well deserving of the high praise.
Seriously, such a contemporary masterpiece and one like nothing I've experienced (old or new.) I truly hope this gets more readers because it's well deserving of the high praise.
June 13, 2025
This was a mind-bending read, to say the least. I must admit I was confused for most of this book as to what was going on. I did have points where I thought, " Hey, I think I'm getting it," only to slip down another rabbit hole. And yet I just couldn't leave it alone. It did take me a couple of chapters to get used to the writing style, but once I had, it became a lot easier to understand. I have read so many books where I know where the story is headed, which is fine. Reading this, however, is like walking down a pitch black corridor, never knowing what the hell is going to jump out at you next. I can already see this book influencing my dreams for weeks to come. Will definitely be following this author from now on.
November 12, 2023
Native Fear takes the reader into a dark, uncanny world. The believable characters and attention to detail in the settings makes this a particularly unsettling tale, as if this were no other world but our very real own. Masterful build of dread, from the opening scenes through each strange new character we meet. The hint of some unfathomable cosmic undercurrent pervades every page. You looking for a horror to absorb into your subconscious? Look no further. Strongly recommended for fans of Stephen King, H.P. Lovecraft, and everything in between. This book hits all the sweet spots of horror.
March 23, 2024
📚4/5 ⭐️
This was a super unique read and not for everyone. Cosmic horror is the perfect explanation. It took a bit to get into the reading style. It truly was cosmic, my mind had to adjust to the flow to read it the way it was meant to be written, in a flowing maybe not all there reality. Once I accepted that and just read without overanalyzing I was hooked!
Also a lot of horror but the first chapter was the worst part of the book for me. The rest I could easily deal with.
If you can handle horror I highly recommend.
This was a super unique read and not for everyone. Cosmic horror is the perfect explanation. It took a bit to get into the reading style. It truly was cosmic, my mind had to adjust to the flow to read it the way it was meant to be written, in a flowing maybe not all there reality. Once I accepted that and just read without overanalyzing I was hooked!
Also a lot of horror but the first chapter was the worst part of the book for me. The rest I could easily deal with.
If you can handle horror I highly recommend.
December 29, 2023
Native Fear is a very imaginative book about Coyote Village, the Elkhournes, and those that come in contact with them. Things get wild pretty quickly, and don't slow down until the very end. There are times when the changing POVs gets a little confusing, but it is interesting to see things from multiple sides. This was a really creative book and I'm looking forward to checking out more by this author.
January 22, 2024
Native Fear…..all I can say is WOW! C.F. Page knocks this one out of the park! The story is a perfect blend of horror with a splash of cult, sprinkle of sci-fi and a heck of a good time! Page does a wonderful job building characters and story line. The prologue drew me right in and I wasn’t able to put the book down! This one is definitely worth the read!
August 10, 2024
Native Fear is a genre-bending, experimental debut novel with heavy horror influences like Stephen King and Resident Evil.
Brief synopsis: A young man on the run, Olly Torrance, finds himself hiding out with a Strange Family, and that's all I'm going to tell you because the book is so weird that you should just read it.
Brief synopsis: A young man on the run, Olly Torrance, finds himself hiding out with a Strange Family, and that's all I'm going to tell you because the book is so weird that you should just read it.
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