What do you think?
Rate this book
Abominable Snowman
Formed of ice, shaped with madness. Malignant, bloodthirsty. This Christmas holiday, not all snowmen come with puffy red noses and a pink flower in their hat or chew on corncob pipes and sing whimsical melodies with a gang of kids in tow. No, there's a new Snowman in town, and the magic behind him is anything but jovial. This year, there's a nightmare in the snow, and the people will soon learn that some snowmen are not what they seem.
221 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 20, 2022
8 people are currently reading
318 people want to read
About the author
Brian G. Berry
56 books286 followersa.k.a Brian Berry
Brian G Berry is new to the world of writing. He writes everything from 1980s inspired horror, SCIFI/Action-horror, to the strange. His biggest influences are the writers of the weird including Lovecraft, Howard, Clark Ashton Smith, to the pulp horror authors of the golden age 70s/80s- and a splattering of others. Author of The Pail, A Bloody Christmas, Splatter Fiend Series, Slasherback Series, Campfire Tales Beneath a Pallid Moon, Accursed Ground, Blood Lanes, The Night Mutilator, Thanksgiving Day Massacre, and his newest: SNOW SHARK.
Brian G Berry is new to the world of writing. He writes everything from 1980s inspired horror, SCIFI/Action-horror, to the strange. His biggest influences are the writers of the weird including Lovecraft, Howard, Clark Ashton Smith, to the pulp horror authors of the golden age 70s/80s- and a splattering of others. Author of The Pail, A Bloody Christmas, Splatter Fiend Series, Slasherback Series, Campfire Tales Beneath a Pallid Moon, Accursed Ground, Blood Lanes, The Night Mutilator, Thanksgiving Day Massacre, and his newest: SNOW SHARK.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
May 10, 2025
First off, this is one of the most gorgeous covers that I’ve ever seen. But this is Brian Berry, so I have high expectations, and he rarely disappoints. Second, I desperately need him to write a crossover between this book and Snow Sharks. It has such tremendous potential. Please make it happen! Third, if the SyFy channel doesn’t sign Mr Berry up to write all the scripts for their movies, they should be ashamed of themselves. This, like most of his other works, is just well-written, enjoyable, and still a scary horror outing. Now I dabbled in some black magic in the late 80s, specifically with putting human organs into inanimate objects, like snowmen, to bring them to life. I must have forgotten to say the right chant or pray to the wrong hellish entity, but it didn’t work. Oops, I think I just admitted guilt to several crimes. Oh well, it’s probably time for me to take the fall. Ok, joking aside, I had a great time here. This book is a perfectly crafted seasonal horror at its finest. The characters all served a decent purpose, whether as victims or vigilantes, the snowmen were gnarly and uber violent, and it honestly hit all the right notes. My only critique here is that there was a ton of violence towards children, which was very hard to get through, but that’s just a personal preference. Horror is meant to take its audience out of its comfort zone, and our killer snowmen definitely did that here. Brian Berry puts out a ton of books, and somehow keeps his quality in check. And I’ve had some great back-and-forths with him, so I can also vouch that he’s not only very talented, but someone that I’m proud to call a colleague, too. The literary world tends to be very self-focused and self-serving, and it’s rare to find someone like Brian Berry that is a well rounded talent, inside his craft and beyond. If you haven’t read his stories yet, take a leave of absence from school or work and get started. And if you have, you can expect another memorable book.
December 22, 2024
A Christmas story like no other. A story that embraces some of the horror tropes of slashers but adds a lot of heart.
A small town. A chain of grizzly murders that are still unsolved. Bodies that appear with their chests burst open and their hearts stolen.
The sheriff is trying to keep the people safe this Christmas season but is miserably failing.
Some of the town citizens have claimed to see violent snowmen come to life. Unfortunately nobody believes them. As the snowmen are killing entire families in town, the survivors gather to come up with a plan to defeat these icy creatures.
A supernatural fun Christmas horror story with a great cast of characters. The winter atmosphere, the small town vibes and the survivors working together to end this evil, give this book so much heart and manages to deliver a compelling story. This novel definitely surpassed my expectations and more people looking for Christmas horror should read it.
A small town. A chain of grizzly murders that are still unsolved. Bodies that appear with their chests burst open and their hearts stolen.
The sheriff is trying to keep the people safe this Christmas season but is miserably failing.
Some of the town citizens have claimed to see violent snowmen come to life. Unfortunately nobody believes them. As the snowmen are killing entire families in town, the survivors gather to come up with a plan to defeat these icy creatures.
A supernatural fun Christmas horror story with a great cast of characters. The winter atmosphere, the small town vibes and the survivors working together to end this evil, give this book so much heart and manages to deliver a compelling story. This novel definitely surpassed my expectations and more people looking for Christmas horror should read it.
May 6, 2023
A scary seasonal horror story! Be warned there is a staggering amount of gore and violence (and human hearts ripped from chests), but red does go so well splashed over a winter wonderland.
It’s a fun and twisted romp through a snow entrapped town; you’ll never look at a snowman the same after reading this ☃️
I will say I was hoping for a faster pace in this book, but since the main monster has no legs, it makes sense for a slower pace.
It’s a fun and twisted romp through a snow entrapped town; you’ll never look at a snowman the same after reading this ☃️
I will say I was hoping for a faster pace in this book, but since the main monster has no legs, it makes sense for a slower pace.
December 13, 2023
The Abominable Snowman is a murderous thrill ride full of heart (figuratively and literally) and dark humor. Brian Berry is an author who writes whatever he wants whenever he chooses...and never misses! He worships horror fiction in all media forms and it shows here. But, it also has its distinct voice (or, rather, distinct bellow of torment).
In this novel, we begin with Carlin McAneney. He keeps looking out the window at the snow falling, unhappy with the idea that the snow plows will not prioritize his road. He drinks his beer and stares out the window, noticing a pickup truck idling outside his house. His mind begins to turn to the darkest possibility: a murderer who is harvesting the hearts of their victims (which has been happening in his area). His fears are confirmed when a maniac dispatches him (already taking care of Carlin's wife). The maniac, whose name is Ricky, breaks for the pickup truck. This is one of the final stops for Ricky and Julie-Ann (his girlfriend/captive), who soon perish. Before dying, Ricky tells Julie-Ann to transplant HIS heart into a human-shaped vessel and recite an incantation. She does so right before being mowed down by police bullets, stuffing the heart into a snowman. This is when we are introduced to the TRUE antagonist of our winter slaughter-land story: Uvhash, a power-hungry, bloodthirsty God of darkness and evil (also known as Lord of the Red System). Uvhash is ushered into our world and all falls to ruin fairly quickly. Who will survive the ravenous death-march of the Abominable Snowman?
This was such a fun, brutal and mean story of carnage, snow and (surprisingly) cosmic horror! This takes the idea of a killer snowman (like Jack Frost) and takes it to much darker, more intricate depths. Brian Berry has a rich vocabulary that channels Lovecraft and adds a rich, macabre aesthetic to the narrative as a whole. And the ending...yeah, you need to read it.
All Hail Uvhash, Lord of the Red System!
This gets ☠️x5 from me!
In this novel, we begin with Carlin McAneney. He keeps looking out the window at the snow falling, unhappy with the idea that the snow plows will not prioritize his road. He drinks his beer and stares out the window, noticing a pickup truck idling outside his house. His mind begins to turn to the darkest possibility: a murderer who is harvesting the hearts of their victims (which has been happening in his area). His fears are confirmed when a maniac dispatches him (already taking care of Carlin's wife). The maniac, whose name is Ricky, breaks for the pickup truck. This is one of the final stops for Ricky and Julie-Ann (his girlfriend/captive), who soon perish. Before dying, Ricky tells Julie-Ann to transplant HIS heart into a human-shaped vessel and recite an incantation. She does so right before being mowed down by police bullets, stuffing the heart into a snowman. This is when we are introduced to the TRUE antagonist of our winter slaughter-land story: Uvhash, a power-hungry, bloodthirsty God of darkness and evil (also known as Lord of the Red System). Uvhash is ushered into our world and all falls to ruin fairly quickly. Who will survive the ravenous death-march of the Abominable Snowman?
This was such a fun, brutal and mean story of carnage, snow and (surprisingly) cosmic horror! This takes the idea of a killer snowman (like Jack Frost) and takes it to much darker, more intricate depths. Brian Berry has a rich vocabulary that channels Lovecraft and adds a rich, macabre aesthetic to the narrative as a whole. And the ending...yeah, you need to read it.
All Hail Uvhash, Lord of the Red System!
This gets ☠️x5 from me!
December 30, 2024
"To call it a slaughter was mild compared to what it really was. It was a blood party, a feast, a banquet. And the meal? Humans."
When you hear about a killer on the loose and then you hear it's a freaking snowman, you roll your eyes and go on with your day. Then all these bodies with ripped-out hearts are being found with this suspicion that maybe Frosty is back to get his revenge.
Now when a snowman is going around murdering the young and the old, you expect it to be the most bizarre story that you have ever read. Then you end up getting this. Entertaining but not very bizarre. I wanted melted puddles, gruesome deaths, and all we got was normality with a killer snowman. That's not what I was expecting nor wanting. *sigh*
It was okay for what it was but I felt kind of let down.
When you hear about a killer on the loose and then you hear it's a freaking snowman, you roll your eyes and go on with your day. Then all these bodies with ripped-out hearts are being found with this suspicion that maybe Frosty is back to get his revenge.
Now when a snowman is going around murdering the young and the old, you expect it to be the most bizarre story that you have ever read. Then you end up getting this. Entertaining but not very bizarre. I wanted melted puddles, gruesome deaths, and all we got was normality with a killer snowman. That's not what I was expecting nor wanting. *sigh*
It was okay for what it was but I felt kind of let down.
December 22, 2022
You would think something as innocuous and simple as a snowman would be the least terrifying thing imaginable…but then again we aren’t Brian G. Berry who’s twisted mind is capable of crafting something so dark, gory, and creepy in Abominable Snowman.
I’ve been a fan of Berry for awhile so the fact that he was able to pull off something this crazy isn’t a surprise. Just like his previous entries in the horror genre, Snowman excels in the descriptive phrasing of bloodshed and truly great visuals of rampaging snowmen. And, like Tim Curran, Berry really sets himself apart from many less talented independent horror authors out there.
As this one dealt with quite a few murders of kids, it wasn’t my favorite of his books (still waiting for another bleak creature feature like the phenomenal Night Weaver), I can’t deny it was still a a lot of fun.
If you want something that truly ups the ante with holiday themed horror, and works as an entirely worthy successor to any Curran book, then look no further. Berry is a great author and I continue to expect amazing things from him.
I’ve been a fan of Berry for awhile so the fact that he was able to pull off something this crazy isn’t a surprise. Just like his previous entries in the horror genre, Snowman excels in the descriptive phrasing of bloodshed and truly great visuals of rampaging snowmen. And, like Tim Curran, Berry really sets himself apart from many less talented independent horror authors out there.
As this one dealt with quite a few murders of kids, it wasn’t my favorite of his books (still waiting for another bleak creature feature like the phenomenal Night Weaver), I can’t deny it was still a a lot of fun.
If you want something that truly ups the ante with holiday themed horror, and works as an entirely worthy successor to any Curran book, then look no further. Berry is a great author and I continue to expect amazing things from him.
February 25, 2026
Brian G Berry might be the "new" Tim Curran. This means, on the plus side, he writes eloquent prose describing a supernatural threat doling out glorious carnage in gratifying detail. The less good side is Berry has the tendency to get lost in unnecessarily long-winded descriptions, the result of which is to adversely affect the pace of the story.
But wow, Berry knows how to off a character spectacularly. I was frequently blown away by the newest way he found to kill another recently established character. No-one (and I mean no-one is safe.
Yet that also means no character is ever well-established, so when they die, there is no attachment to them and no sense of loss at their demise. It's a bit of a double-edged sword.
I'll be back to read more by this author, and if you're an extreme horror fan, I'd recommend you give him a read - with the above caveats in mind.
3 Stolen Hearts for Abominable Snowman.
But wow, Berry knows how to off a character spectacularly. I was frequently blown away by the newest way he found to kill another recently established character. No-one (and I mean no-one is safe.
Yet that also means no character is ever well-established, so when they die, there is no attachment to them and no sense of loss at their demise. It's a bit of a double-edged sword.
I'll be back to read more by this author, and if you're an extreme horror fan, I'd recommend you give him a read - with the above caveats in mind.
3 Stolen Hearts for Abominable Snowman.
December 27, 2022
4.5 Stars
The beginning of this story really pulled me in, so creepy!. Cult Killers are on the loose fleeing and they hide organs in a snowman, then he comes alive in the forest and goes on a rampage killing them and the police who have gone in to investigate. This starts a snowman killing spree, made more sinister by the innocence of children who become victims in a horrifying graphic way and and the disbelief of characters that snowmen could be responsible. Gore is plenty as the giant killers wipe out full families. The scene is set so well with the cold, rattling windowpanes and scraping noises etc, eeeek, I will never look at a snowman the same again!!
The beginning of this story really pulled me in, so creepy!. Cult Killers are on the loose fleeing and they hide organs in a snowman, then he comes alive in the forest and goes on a rampage killing them and the police who have gone in to investigate. This starts a snowman killing spree, made more sinister by the innocence of children who become victims in a horrifying graphic way and and the disbelief of characters that snowmen could be responsible. Gore is plenty as the giant killers wipe out full families. The scene is set so well with the cold, rattling windowpanes and scraping noises etc, eeeek, I will never look at a snowman the same again!!
December 31, 2023
Review to come.
December 9, 2025
I think it’s safe to say that we’re all in some deep shit.
Have you ever wondered what it would be like if all those snowmen (snowpersons?) you and the other neighborhood kids used to build in the winter (this was before climate change really kicked in and we got snow every year) suddenly came to life and went on a brutal killing spree? You know, imagining that such a thing were possible anyway, because "certainly, a monument of ice and snow, a carrot nose, and stick arms couldn’t harbor life." Could it? Well, have I got good news for you! Brian Berry's "Abominable Snowman" is a honest-to-gosh splatterpunk gore-fest that brings one joyous and beautifully decorated small town to an absolutely blood-filled end! Pretty soon you'll be amazed that there's any white left to see despite the never-ending snowstorm as enough goo, viscera, and offal a'plenty are splattered everywhere!
There was enough blood to fill a small swimming pool. It was pretty horrible really.
Now I don't know if it's ironic or not, but this is the second "Christmas" book I've read in the past few days that has at its heart - "a black and evil organ that took root like a seed and veined the interior with a seething, virulent, sentience" - demon possession. Because "Snowman" begins with the police hot on the trail of two serial killers on the lam - also an interesting but oft-used holiday theme - who have left a long trail of horrifying evidence behind them. Evidence that naturally features cutting out hearts of their victims, which they intend to use to summon Uvhash, immortal harbinger and quaffer of sanguine dreams and nightmares, Vampiric Dread Lord of the Red System and/or Star beyond the rim (noting his, sorry, His title changes a little each time we see it). And apparently, Big U - who can easily be described as "monstrous (and) abominable; a leering frost-devil out of fables and legends" - is both thirsty AND hungry, because it doesn't take long after his summoning - which takes place at about the coolest part of the book imho - for the mayhem to begin and the body count to grow faster than a rocket's fast-spinning altimeter (heading upwards naturally).
It was a blood party, a feast, a banquet. And the meal? Humans.
And in full disclosure as well, I don't know how much some of the usual "literary excellence" stuff really matters when it comes to splatterpunk. I will say that overall I think Berry does a good job putting a decent enough story together. Now I'm not convinced that we have total agreement throughout the book in terms of tenses getting along (translation: there are lots of tense disagreements) and there's a pretty significant splattering of other editing mishaps as well, but the book is still very readable. Granted after a while there's no real character-development (these folks don't live long enough to be developed) or what I might call situational framing (very little scenery left with things either get smashed, burned, or covered in the liquidy remains of those briefly appearing characters from before), but I would strongly suggest you not visit this tome looking for either anyway. This is as I think I've already said once before a pure bloodfest that seeks only to put Uvhash - whose breath even smells "of old tombs and nurseries gutted by flames" - on our list of truly nasties to avoid by any means necessary.
You need to … carve out my heart and offer it to a vessel. Anyone … anything—in the shape of a man.
But yeah, when the dead girl's lower half - that Mom and Dad have lovingly brought inside for some odd reason - begins dancing around and fountaining out a new dose of gore, you know things are going to be pretty nasty up to the bitter end (and quite possibly beyond). The neighborhood not only tries to fight back with their unsuitable "weapons of man" but they are faced with an army that grows in number ("…the horde of mutant-visaged snowmen monsters came forward, tearing them to pieces.") well beyond just Uvhash, who by the end of things is 10 feet tall and 6 feet wide, standing himself "monstrous (and) abominable; a leering frost-devil out of fables and legends." Trust me, the next time the wee tykes from next door ask if it's okay to build a snowman in YOUR yard, then definitely tell them "HELL NO!" But, you know, politely or some shit.
The snowman … struck him between the eyes, taking the top of his head off like a can of tomato soup.
Overall then a fun read and probably one of the closest "holiday books" I've picked up this season that I'd call true horror. Berry has a way with words, especially when he's building tension among a bunch of half-drunk losers playing militiamen in a thick forest in horrible weather where they KNOW there are at least two killers possibly still present. I mean, if I know the police have been looking and no one can contact these same officers anymore, then I, for one, have no issue pointing out that I would not be qualified to jump in and try my luck at saving the day. No, no, I am very much from the school of running away as fast as I can and avoiding any kind of frozen demons that want to eat my entrails and perform Predator-esque removal of my spinal and, um, skull-al parts! I mean, that'd sting for sure!
Have you ever wondered what it would be like if all those snowmen (snowpersons?) you and the other neighborhood kids used to build in the winter (this was before climate change really kicked in and we got snow every year) suddenly came to life and went on a brutal killing spree? You know, imagining that such a thing were possible anyway, because "certainly, a monument of ice and snow, a carrot nose, and stick arms couldn’t harbor life." Could it? Well, have I got good news for you! Brian Berry's "Abominable Snowman" is a honest-to-gosh splatterpunk gore-fest that brings one joyous and beautifully decorated small town to an absolutely blood-filled end! Pretty soon you'll be amazed that there's any white left to see despite the never-ending snowstorm as enough goo, viscera, and offal a'plenty are splattered everywhere!
There was enough blood to fill a small swimming pool. It was pretty horrible really.
Now I don't know if it's ironic or not, but this is the second "Christmas" book I've read in the past few days that has at its heart - "a black and evil organ that took root like a seed and veined the interior with a seething, virulent, sentience" - demon possession. Because "Snowman" begins with the police hot on the trail of two serial killers on the lam - also an interesting but oft-used holiday theme - who have left a long trail of horrifying evidence behind them. Evidence that naturally features cutting out hearts of their victims, which they intend to use to summon Uvhash, immortal harbinger and quaffer of sanguine dreams and nightmares, Vampiric Dread Lord of the Red System and/or Star beyond the rim (noting his, sorry, His title changes a little each time we see it). And apparently, Big U - who can easily be described as "monstrous (and) abominable; a leering frost-devil out of fables and legends" - is both thirsty AND hungry, because it doesn't take long after his summoning - which takes place at about the coolest part of the book imho - for the mayhem to begin and the body count to grow faster than a rocket's fast-spinning altimeter (heading upwards naturally).
It was a blood party, a feast, a banquet. And the meal? Humans.
And in full disclosure as well, I don't know how much some of the usual "literary excellence" stuff really matters when it comes to splatterpunk. I will say that overall I think Berry does a good job putting a decent enough story together. Now I'm not convinced that we have total agreement throughout the book in terms of tenses getting along (translation: there are lots of tense disagreements) and there's a pretty significant splattering of other editing mishaps as well, but the book is still very readable. Granted after a while there's no real character-development (these folks don't live long enough to be developed) or what I might call situational framing (very little scenery left with things either get smashed, burned, or covered in the liquidy remains of those briefly appearing characters from before), but I would strongly suggest you not visit this tome looking for either anyway. This is as I think I've already said once before a pure bloodfest that seeks only to put Uvhash - whose breath even smells "of old tombs and nurseries gutted by flames" - on our list of truly nasties to avoid by any means necessary.
You need to … carve out my heart and offer it to a vessel. Anyone … anything—in the shape of a man.
But yeah, when the dead girl's lower half - that Mom and Dad have lovingly brought inside for some odd reason - begins dancing around and fountaining out a new dose of gore, you know things are going to be pretty nasty up to the bitter end (and quite possibly beyond). The neighborhood not only tries to fight back with their unsuitable "weapons of man" but they are faced with an army that grows in number ("…the horde of mutant-visaged snowmen monsters came forward, tearing them to pieces.") well beyond just Uvhash, who by the end of things is 10 feet tall and 6 feet wide, standing himself "monstrous (and) abominable; a leering frost-devil out of fables and legends." Trust me, the next time the wee tykes from next door ask if it's okay to build a snowman in YOUR yard, then definitely tell them "HELL NO!" But, you know, politely or some shit.
The snowman … struck him between the eyes, taking the top of his head off like a can of tomato soup.
Overall then a fun read and probably one of the closest "holiday books" I've picked up this season that I'd call true horror. Berry has a way with words, especially when he's building tension among a bunch of half-drunk losers playing militiamen in a thick forest in horrible weather where they KNOW there are at least two killers possibly still present. I mean, if I know the police have been looking and no one can contact these same officers anymore, then I, for one, have no issue pointing out that I would not be qualified to jump in and try my luck at saving the day. No, no, I am very much from the school of running away as fast as I can and avoiding any kind of frozen demons that want to eat my entrails and perform Predator-esque removal of my spinal and, um, skull-al parts! I mean, that'd sting for sure!
July 12, 2023
Wow ! what a crazy read! This one was really good, better than the other one i read from him. (Night Weaver) Brian G. Berry has an excellent writing, filled with gore and blood spilled description. A unique story that i really enjoyed!
5 stars!
5 stars!
January 6, 2023
To me, Brian G. Berry's best book to date, but not his most brutal. That honor is reserved for Thanksgiving Day Massacre.
December 23, 2023
Bruh wtf 😭😭
Crazy gory and entertaining I would read more by this author.
Crazy gory and entertaining I would read more by this author.
December 27, 2023
Love the cover! If you love Chucky, you'll love this book. Lots of blood violence and gore. These snowmen are unstoppable!
September 17, 2024
Great read during snow storms for sure lol.
May 26, 2025
Written by a five year old in the dark
December 3, 2025
Frosty
Frosty the snowman has nothing on Uhvesh. I liked this o e and I think it deserves a sequel. I'll be keeping a watch out for that. Brilliant .
Frosty the snowman has nothing on Uhvesh. I liked this o e and I think it deserves a sequel. I'll be keeping a watch out for that. Brilliant .
December 29, 2025
3.5. That was a fun book. Lots of graphic gore. lol. I’ll
Read more from this author.
Read more from this author.
December 16, 2023
Abominable Snowman is interesting! While the cover is amazing, it does look quite silly in comparison to how dark the book actually is. Overall, the novel has a few pros and cons.
Pro 1: The sheriff is not the main character! Brian Berry loves making sheriffs the center of most of his books, so I was very satisfied that the sheriff wasn’t the lead here.
Pro 2: The beginning is fantastic! Hands down one of the best intros of any slasher book.
Con 1: Not a strong cast of characters. There wasn’t a main set of characters that you follow throughout the book. This made most of the deaths less impactful.
Con 2: Too many pointless character deaths. More than half of the characters in this book are introduced and then killed off that chapter. They serve no purpose but to rack up the kill count.
Taking everything into consideration I would say Abominable Snowman is worth the read. Read this one in December or January!
Pro 1: The sheriff is not the main character! Brian Berry loves making sheriffs the center of most of his books, so I was very satisfied that the sheriff wasn’t the lead here.
Pro 2: The beginning is fantastic! Hands down one of the best intros of any slasher book.
Con 1: Not a strong cast of characters. There wasn’t a main set of characters that you follow throughout the book. This made most of the deaths less impactful.
Con 2: Too many pointless character deaths. More than half of the characters in this book are introduced and then killed off that chapter. They serve no purpose but to rack up the kill count.
Taking everything into consideration I would say Abominable Snowman is worth the read. Read this one in December or January!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews