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Churn the Soil
Two hundred miles north of the town of Basco sits The Border. It’s a quiet, off-the-grid settlement, where the residents have developed a tentative agreement with those that live on the other side of the clearing.
But things are about to change forever.
As night falls, a teenage girl is brutally murdered as she flees across the clearing.
Now, it’s up to Basco PD officers Brown and Reynolds to find her killer.
But the truth is far worse than they could possibly imagine, and the more the officers uncover, the bolder the things beyond the clearing grow.
‘Under an icy snowfall…’
‘Under a clear, blue moon…’
North of The Border lies a land unseen by man. A land where things are ready and waiting… to feed.
Splatterpunk-Nominated author Steve Stred, who brought you ‘Mastodon’ and ‘Incarnate,’ delivers a pulse-pounding, high-stakes story where if the cold doesn’t kill you, the Forest Guards will.
But things are about to change forever.
As night falls, a teenage girl is brutally murdered as she flees across the clearing.
Now, it’s up to Basco PD officers Brown and Reynolds to find her killer.
But the truth is far worse than they could possibly imagine, and the more the officers uncover, the bolder the things beyond the clearing grow.
‘Under an icy snowfall…’
‘Under a clear, blue moon…’
North of The Border lies a land unseen by man. A land where things are ready and waiting… to feed.
Splatterpunk-Nominated author Steve Stred, who brought you ‘Mastodon’ and ‘Incarnate,’ delivers a pulse-pounding, high-stakes story where if the cold doesn’t kill you, the Forest Guards will.
294 pages, Paperback
First published February 17, 2023
105 people are currently reading
1949 people want to read
About the author
Steve Stred
89 books680 followersAn award-winning author, Steve Stred lives in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, with his wife and son.
Known for his novels, ‘Mastodon,’ ‘Churn the Soil,’ and his series ‘Father of Lies’ where he joined a cult on the dark web for four years, his work has been described as haunting, bleak and is frequently set in the woods near where he grew up. He’s been fortunate to appear in numerous anthologies with some truly amazing authors.
His novel ‘Mastodon’ will be translated into Czech and Italian over the next few years.
His novel 'Churn the Soil' won the Best Horror Novel award in the 2024 Indieverse Awards.
His novel 'Mastodon' and his novella' Sacrament' were both nominated for Splatterpunk Awards.
He is represented by Kodie Van Dusen at The Rights Factory and Alec Frankel at Independent Artist Group.
Outside of writing, Steve received his Bachelor Degree in Kinesiology from the University of the Fraser Valley in 2008, and became a Certified Canadian Pedorthist in 2013.
Known for his novels, ‘Mastodon,’ ‘Churn the Soil,’ and his series ‘Father of Lies’ where he joined a cult on the dark web for four years, his work has been described as haunting, bleak and is frequently set in the woods near where he grew up. He’s been fortunate to appear in numerous anthologies with some truly amazing authors.
His novel ‘Mastodon’ will be translated into Czech and Italian over the next few years.
His novel 'Churn the Soil' won the Best Horror Novel award in the 2024 Indieverse Awards.
His novel 'Mastodon' and his novella' Sacrament' were both nominated for Splatterpunk Awards.
He is represented by Kodie Van Dusen at The Rights Factory and Alec Frankel at Independent Artist Group.
Outside of writing, Steve received his Bachelor Degree in Kinesiology from the University of the Fraser Valley in 2008, and became a Certified Canadian Pedorthist in 2013.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 195 reviews
April 1, 2023
“Churn the Soil” by Steve Stred started great as I was immediately hooked and interested in what was about to go down. The intro set some solid creepy tones as it kicks off with a nice mystery to this folk horror novel. I was genuinely shocked by what happened and loved how it blurred reality with fantasy.
Now, before I jump into my review, just a quick trigger warning. There is some violence against dogs but nothing graphic, descriptive, or anything gory. It does insinuate some violence due to the horror situations and events but again, nothing to be worried about if you’re triggered by violence against animals. I thank and appreciate Stred for this because he wrote those events with dogs perfectly.
Moving along, this was a pretty quick read for me with how it was mostly short chapters. Usually, I don’t mind short chapters like this but I felt in “Churn the Soil” they were way too short. It didn’t make sense to have just one-page or two-page chapters as the overall formatting was a bit off. I did like the story at first but as I kept reading, things started to drag on and get pretty boring.
Things started to get too repetitive for me, to be honest. I’m talking repeated dialogue going over events that already happened, recapping situations again that already occurred, and that all got annoying real quick. I felt this was added fluff when it wasn’t needed as it would have been better to keep progressing the story. I thought the characters were fine for the most part but I felt this needed more horror and gore instead of all this extra dialogue and walking around talking so much.
Speaking of the dialogue, towards the end, things got too cheesy for me where it felt more like an 80s action movie than a true horror novel. I usually don’t mind this but I felt this style of dialogue that happened during what were supposed to be scary events just took me out of the story as well. In real horror, what was said would never have been said during those situations. I get that “Churn the Soil” is a folk horror novel but it would have been genuinely scarier to keep that dialogue horror-centric than cheesing it up during the ending.
On top of that, I did find a few typos and missing words from dialogue that drove me nuts. I think this novel needed another proofread by an editor as they were pretty big errors. Errors like this immediately take me out of the story and is a huge no-no in my book.
When it comes to the ending, the main plot twist was so painfully obvious, you could immediately see it coming once you hit the halfway point of this novel. I won’t ruin anything for you but I kept saying in my head that it was just way too obvious what was about to be revealed and sure enough, I guessed the ending and everything. It was a letdown as again, it just felt more like an action movie than a true horror novel which is what I was expecting with such an epic cover. It was okay but nothing that blew me away.
I give “Churn the Soil” by Steve Stred a 2/5 as I loved the book cover and the beginning of this novel very much. I wish that continued but things started to fizzle out at around the 30% mark and it just bored me due to how repetitive things got. There is way too much dialogue and with typos/missing words, this had the potential to be a great horror novel but fell flat to me as it needed more polishing. I think if this was a tighter read by removing all the excess dialogue and focusing more on the horror aspect of this plot, it could have been solid but it just didn’t do it for me, unfortunately.
Now, before I jump into my review, just a quick trigger warning. There is some violence against dogs but nothing graphic, descriptive, or anything gory. It does insinuate some violence due to the horror situations and events but again, nothing to be worried about if you’re triggered by violence against animals. I thank and appreciate Stred for this because he wrote those events with dogs perfectly.
Moving along, this was a pretty quick read for me with how it was mostly short chapters. Usually, I don’t mind short chapters like this but I felt in “Churn the Soil” they were way too short. It didn’t make sense to have just one-page or two-page chapters as the overall formatting was a bit off. I did like the story at first but as I kept reading, things started to drag on and get pretty boring.
Things started to get too repetitive for me, to be honest. I’m talking repeated dialogue going over events that already happened, recapping situations again that already occurred, and that all got annoying real quick. I felt this was added fluff when it wasn’t needed as it would have been better to keep progressing the story. I thought the characters were fine for the most part but I felt this needed more horror and gore instead of all this extra dialogue and walking around talking so much.
Speaking of the dialogue, towards the end, things got too cheesy for me where it felt more like an 80s action movie than a true horror novel. I usually don’t mind this but I felt this style of dialogue that happened during what were supposed to be scary events just took me out of the story as well. In real horror, what was said would never have been said during those situations. I get that “Churn the Soil” is a folk horror novel but it would have been genuinely scarier to keep that dialogue horror-centric than cheesing it up during the ending.
On top of that, I did find a few typos and missing words from dialogue that drove me nuts. I think this novel needed another proofread by an editor as they were pretty big errors. Errors like this immediately take me out of the story and is a huge no-no in my book.
When it comes to the ending, the main plot twist was so painfully obvious, you could immediately see it coming once you hit the halfway point of this novel. I won’t ruin anything for you but I kept saying in my head that it was just way too obvious what was about to be revealed and sure enough, I guessed the ending and everything. It was a letdown as again, it just felt more like an action movie than a true horror novel which is what I was expecting with such an epic cover. It was okay but nothing that blew me away.
I give “Churn the Soil” by Steve Stred a 2/5 as I loved the book cover and the beginning of this novel very much. I wish that continued but things started to fizzle out at around the 30% mark and it just bored me due to how repetitive things got. There is way too much dialogue and with typos/missing words, this had the potential to be a great horror novel but fell flat to me as it needed more polishing. I think if this was a tighter read by removing all the excess dialogue and focusing more on the horror aspect of this plot, it could have been solid but it just didn’t do it for me, unfortunately.
March 8, 2023
Churn the Soil had great atmosphere, gore, and tons of action!
The book starts off with Basco PD officers investigating the death of a teenage girl. She is murdered on the other side of a clearing next to The Border, a isolated area on the border of Alaska and the Yukon territory of northwest Canada.
The Border is a community of people that have chosen to live away from society, keep to themselves and do not trust law enforcement or authority.
Police Officer Brown use to live there when he was a kid. He doesn’t remember much of the place, why they don't cross the clearing, or the pact that's been put in place for decades with the land next to their homes.
When Brown and his partner, Reynolds investigate the brutal killing of the teenaged girl, the actions that take place will change the police officers forever along with the residents of The Border.
I enjoyed this one and thought the action was nonstop.
I did figure out who was responsible for the girl’s death about half way in the book.
Maybe other readers will figure this out or I’m completely jaded at this point and suspect everything.
Likely the former. 😉
Even with suspecting who and what is doing the killing, it doesn't take away from the entertainment, tension and suspense in this one.
Put on your gore suits because this one was a bloody ride!
The book starts off with Basco PD officers investigating the death of a teenage girl. She is murdered on the other side of a clearing next to The Border, a isolated area on the border of Alaska and the Yukon territory of northwest Canada.
The Border is a community of people that have chosen to live away from society, keep to themselves and do not trust law enforcement or authority.
Police Officer Brown use to live there when he was a kid. He doesn’t remember much of the place, why they don't cross the clearing, or the pact that's been put in place for decades with the land next to their homes.
When Brown and his partner, Reynolds investigate the brutal killing of the teenaged girl, the actions that take place will change the police officers forever along with the residents of The Border.
I enjoyed this one and thought the action was nonstop.
I did figure out who was responsible for the girl’s death about half way in the book.
Maybe other readers will figure this out or I’m completely jaded at this point and suspect everything.
Likely the former. 😉
Even with suspecting who and what is doing the killing, it doesn't take away from the entertainment, tension and suspense in this one.
Put on your gore suits because this one was a bloody ride!
October 30, 2023
**3.5-stars rounded up**
🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤
Churn the Soil kicks off with a bang and doesn't let up; not once. In the beginning we have a murdered young girl, mutilated in a somewhat sacred area at The Border.
Basco PD officers get alerted to the gruesome crime and travel to The Border to investigate. At this point, you may be asking, what the heck is The Border?
The Border is an area outside of Basco and the border with the Yukon territory. There is a community of people there that have chosen to cut themselves off from the rest of society. They're none too trusting of authority, particularly the local police.
When Officers Brown and Reynolds arrive, the Border dwellers are less than forthcoming about the dead girl. Luckily, Officer Brown actually was a resident at The Border when he was child and still has one friend within the settlement, a woman named, Nancy.
Nancy wants to help. She realizes something is off with the general flow of life at The Border. This type of thing hasn't happened in recent memory. She wants to get to the bottom of it as much as the next guy.
Little do they know, it's about to get worse. Wayy worse.
Churn the Soil is a high octane Horror story. Stred somehow seamlessly blended an Action movie with Folk Horror and a good old fashioned Police Procedural into one work. I'm not sure how he did it, but he definitely pulled it off.
I am not going to say too much more about the plot, because frankly, I feel like it is best going in knowing next to nothing, as I did. This story is full of surprises.
I will say one little thing for Readers who have tastes close to mine. There is a dog in this story. The most perfect Cane Corso that the world has ever seen. He is a K9 police officer named Bruiser and he plays a significant role.
If this concerns you, if perhaps animal content is triggering for you, please read the following:
I was impressed with how quickly Stred hooked me. There's no unnecessary build-up, or silly filler, and I was really digging his writing style from first few pages. I am looking forward to picking up more of his stories.
Additionally, this is one of those cold-weather Horror stories that will have you adding an extra layer to your wardrobe while you're reading. I feel like Stred really succeeded in building-out a powerful setting. The backdrop of this landscape gets under your skin.
I'm not going to lie, this gets wild. W-I-L-D. The threat feels real. In fact, it almost seems hopeless. These characters are up against an incredible evil. I definitely wondered how anyone would make it out alive.
Overall, this story kept me up well into the night. It's a creative and creepy Horror tale. Solid work from new-to-me author, Steve Stred. This was a lot of cringe-worthy, run-faster, don't look behind you, fun!!
🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤
Churn the Soil kicks off with a bang and doesn't let up; not once. In the beginning we have a murdered young girl, mutilated in a somewhat sacred area at The Border.
Basco PD officers get alerted to the gruesome crime and travel to The Border to investigate. At this point, you may be asking, what the heck is The Border?
The Border is an area outside of Basco and the border with the Yukon territory. There is a community of people there that have chosen to cut themselves off from the rest of society. They're none too trusting of authority, particularly the local police.
When Officers Brown and Reynolds arrive, the Border dwellers are less than forthcoming about the dead girl. Luckily, Officer Brown actually was a resident at The Border when he was child and still has one friend within the settlement, a woman named, Nancy.
Nancy wants to help. She realizes something is off with the general flow of life at The Border. This type of thing hasn't happened in recent memory. She wants to get to the bottom of it as much as the next guy.
Little do they know, it's about to get worse. Wayy worse.
Churn the Soil is a high octane Horror story. Stred somehow seamlessly blended an Action movie with Folk Horror and a good old fashioned Police Procedural into one work. I'm not sure how he did it, but he definitely pulled it off.
I am not going to say too much more about the plot, because frankly, I feel like it is best going in knowing next to nothing, as I did. This story is full of surprises.
I will say one little thing for Readers who have tastes close to mine. There is a dog in this story. The most perfect Cane Corso that the world has ever seen. He is a K9 police officer named Bruiser and he plays a significant role.
If this concerns you, if perhaps animal content is triggering for you, please read the following:
I was impressed with how quickly Stred hooked me. There's no unnecessary build-up, or silly filler, and I was really digging his writing style from first few pages. I am looking forward to picking up more of his stories.
Additionally, this is one of those cold-weather Horror stories that will have you adding an extra layer to your wardrobe while you're reading. I feel like Stred really succeeded in building-out a powerful setting. The backdrop of this landscape gets under your skin.
I'm not going to lie, this gets wild. W-I-L-D. The threat feels real. In fact, it almost seems hopeless. These characters are up against an incredible evil. I definitely wondered how anyone would make it out alive.
Overall, this story kept me up well into the night. It's a creative and creepy Horror tale. Solid work from new-to-me author, Steve Stred. This was a lot of cringe-worthy, run-faster, don't look behind you, fun!!
August 8, 2025
3.5 stars. I really appreciated the depth and effort that Steve Stred put into this. And the degree that he took the lore here was really fascinating. Almost reminded me, in some ways, of The Village, but more modernized. And the author is always diligent about explaining why and how he crafts his stories, too, giving the reader full transparency. Now, I liked most things about this book. It did get repetitive, as we were just brought in and out of The Border, into the area where the creatures resided multiple times. I felt like it could have all been a bit shorter and had the same, if not a greater, effect. The ending was also a bit of a letdown, as it felt like with such buildup, it ended in sort of an unrealistic firefight between the officers and the creatures. But the plot is top notch, the general progression and pacing of the characters and story is on point, and there is an amazing amount of atmosphere created, too. Very creepy and spooky, with the occasional gore, which was done just right. Not without some issues, but, then again, what book is perfect? A ton more to enjoy than dislike here.
Another good showing from Steve Stred.
Another good showing from Steve Stred.
March 17, 2023
Spooky & Suspenseful!
Small Backstory:
A small settlement called The Border is home to people that want to be away from civilization and they have no trust for any authority outside their own way of life. They have their own elders that they confer with in case they need to discuss matters of importance.
When the murder of a teenager happens in the settlement someone calls in the outside law enforcement to have it checked out and the townspeople do not want the law coming in as they take care of their own, but when officers Brown and Reynolds ends up losing one of their own is when the stakes have been raised and "whatever" is out there killing will be brought to justice one way or another!
That is about all I can give on a small backstory without giving away spoilers so if you want to know more than you need to go read this book!
Thoughts:
This was my first time reading this author as far as a full novel as I had just finished reading one of his stories in an anthology this month and I read a story in an anthology last year as well. This was a great creepy creature feature story with tons of folklore weaved throughout the story along with some police procedure tucked in the book as well.
I loved the suspense and spooky vibes radiating off the pages of the book which kept me wrapped in a cocoon of mystery as I delved deep into the storyline. There was some creature carnage thrown in for good measure and I had to grab my gore suit for this one as the chaos goes into full throttle when the story goes into overdrive!
Looking forward to reading more books by this author as I own a few more by him tucked away on my kindle. Giving this book five "Frightening Folklore" stars!
For images/gifs of this review, please see my blog:
https://booknookretreat.blogspot.com/...
Small Backstory:
A small settlement called The Border is home to people that want to be away from civilization and they have no trust for any authority outside their own way of life. They have their own elders that they confer with in case they need to discuss matters of importance.
When the murder of a teenager happens in the settlement someone calls in the outside law enforcement to have it checked out and the townspeople do not want the law coming in as they take care of their own, but when officers Brown and Reynolds ends up losing one of their own is when the stakes have been raised and "whatever" is out there killing will be brought to justice one way or another!
That is about all I can give on a small backstory without giving away spoilers so if you want to know more than you need to go read this book!
Thoughts:
This was my first time reading this author as far as a full novel as I had just finished reading one of his stories in an anthology this month and I read a story in an anthology last year as well. This was a great creepy creature feature story with tons of folklore weaved throughout the story along with some police procedure tucked in the book as well.
I loved the suspense and spooky vibes radiating off the pages of the book which kept me wrapped in a cocoon of mystery as I delved deep into the storyline. There was some creature carnage thrown in for good measure and I had to grab my gore suit for this one as the chaos goes into full throttle when the story goes into overdrive!
Looking forward to reading more books by this author as I own a few more by him tucked away on my kindle. Giving this book five "Frightening Folklore" stars!
For images/gifs of this review, please see my blog:
https://booknookretreat.blogspot.com/...
March 14, 2023
CHURN THE SOIL is a fast-paced, creature-feature, evil-in-a-small-town mash-up and I just loved it!
A few hundred miles north of Basco is: The Border. The Border is a strange little town. It's off the grid, it's quiet and has been for decades. But now, a young woman has been murdered. The Basco PD is on the case, but this is no normal murder and The Border is not a normal town. Not only do the police have to work with the townspeople of the Border, but they must also deal with their beliefs. There is a clearing on the other side of town, a clearing which Border folk may not enter. Why? Will the Basco police figure it out? Will they be able to solve the murder? You'll have to read this to find out!
Steve Stred has his own distinctive voice as an author and I like his style: it's compulsively readable. I enjoyed the isolation he created smack dab in the middle of the Canadian wilderness, and I felt like I could actually feel the cold every minute of the way. He creates his characters in such a way that they feel real, and then he puts them through the wringer and takes your heart along with them. And we won't even talk about Bruiser. (LOVE YOU, BRUISER!)
Steve Stred was kind enough to join the Horror Aficionados group here at Goodreads, as we read this together and it's been a lot of fun having him on hand to answer our questions about the story and his process. He will continue to be there until the end of the month, so you still have a chance to join us in reading this brutal tale together! (Hope to see you there!)
CHURN THE SOIL is the best thing I've read yet from Mr. Stred. I feel like I'm getting in on the ground floor of what is sure to be an extensive and hopefully prolific career as an author.
Highly recommended!
*Thank you to Steve for the paperback he kindly provided with no strings attached, AND for the notes inside. Steve, you are a true gentleman and a great writer! I'm proud and happy to know you.
Thanks so much, man!*
A few hundred miles north of Basco is: The Border. The Border is a strange little town. It's off the grid, it's quiet and has been for decades. But now, a young woman has been murdered. The Basco PD is on the case, but this is no normal murder and The Border is not a normal town. Not only do the police have to work with the townspeople of the Border, but they must also deal with their beliefs. There is a clearing on the other side of town, a clearing which Border folk may not enter. Why? Will the Basco police figure it out? Will they be able to solve the murder? You'll have to read this to find out!
Steve Stred has his own distinctive voice as an author and I like his style: it's compulsively readable. I enjoyed the isolation he created smack dab in the middle of the Canadian wilderness, and I felt like I could actually feel the cold every minute of the way. He creates his characters in such a way that they feel real, and then he puts them through the wringer and takes your heart along with them. And we won't even talk about Bruiser. (LOVE YOU, BRUISER!)
Steve Stred was kind enough to join the Horror Aficionados group here at Goodreads, as we read this together and it's been a lot of fun having him on hand to answer our questions about the story and his process. He will continue to be there until the end of the month, so you still have a chance to join us in reading this brutal tale together! (Hope to see you there!)
CHURN THE SOIL is the best thing I've read yet from Mr. Stred. I feel like I'm getting in on the ground floor of what is sure to be an extensive and hopefully prolific career as an author.
Highly recommended!
*Thank you to Steve for the paperback he kindly provided with no strings attached, AND for the notes inside. Steve, you are a true gentleman and a great writer! I'm proud and happy to know you.
Thanks so much, man!*
February 8, 2023
Supernatural, folk horror lovers everywhere, rejoice!! This is a fantastic read from Steve, that fits that bill perfectly! 🖤
Saska knows she is pushing her luck whilst leaving the safety of her village, known as The Border, to explore further afield. She is well aware of the stories, but she enjoys the feeling of freedom it brings more, and she's heard the song….
Graham Brown is a police officer in the sleepy, cold town of Basco, and when he and his partner, Raymond, are sent to The Border to investigate a gruesome killing, they could never have imagined just what was awaiting them. And when Brown eventually finds out who is behind it all, it's a bitter pill to swallow, but one he's more than ready to dissolve…
Nancy and Crow, natives of The Border, are sent to try and stop whatever it is that's happening on the outskirts of the village. They head into the forest of snow covered trees, and other things that live amongst them….
The Forest Guards have honoured their centuries old agreement with the residents of The Border….until now! But why has it been broken, and by who?
And then we have Bruiser!!! My absolute favourite character in this book….I dare you not to fall in love with him! He's a true badass, and a sweetheart! 🖤
A tale of strange traditions, an eerie, haunting song, that once heard, must be obeyed, and a patch of land that must be kept bare, and avoided at all costs when the snows come! The culmination of this story was full of malevolent, controlling forces and pure evil, but also some genuinely heartwarming moments.
A chilling, unsettling atmosphere throughout, I got the feeling I was being watched the whole time I was reading this….utterly foreboding! The creepy mystique got right into my bones, leaving me with a permanent chill! Steve has a way of setting the scene and making the atmosphere around you feel so realistic, I honestly had cold shivers whilst reading….in both senses of the phrase!
I also loved the short chapters, I always tend to read a book more quickly when the chapters are short, as it makes it easier to say, and read, "Just one more chapter!" This book also gave me The Ritual by Adam Nevill vibes in parts! Awesome stuff!
Saska knows she is pushing her luck whilst leaving the safety of her village, known as The Border, to explore further afield. She is well aware of the stories, but she enjoys the feeling of freedom it brings more, and she's heard the song….
Graham Brown is a police officer in the sleepy, cold town of Basco, and when he and his partner, Raymond, are sent to The Border to investigate a gruesome killing, they could never have imagined just what was awaiting them. And when Brown eventually finds out who is behind it all, it's a bitter pill to swallow, but one he's more than ready to dissolve…
Nancy and Crow, natives of The Border, are sent to try and stop whatever it is that's happening on the outskirts of the village. They head into the forest of snow covered trees, and other things that live amongst them….
The Forest Guards have honoured their centuries old agreement with the residents of The Border….until now! But why has it been broken, and by who?
And then we have Bruiser!!! My absolute favourite character in this book….I dare you not to fall in love with him! He's a true badass, and a sweetheart! 🖤
A tale of strange traditions, an eerie, haunting song, that once heard, must be obeyed, and a patch of land that must be kept bare, and avoided at all costs when the snows come! The culmination of this story was full of malevolent, controlling forces and pure evil, but also some genuinely heartwarming moments.
A chilling, unsettling atmosphere throughout, I got the feeling I was being watched the whole time I was reading this….utterly foreboding! The creepy mystique got right into my bones, leaving me with a permanent chill! Steve has a way of setting the scene and making the atmosphere around you feel so realistic, I honestly had cold shivers whilst reading….in both senses of the phrase!
I also loved the short chapters, I always tend to read a book more quickly when the chapters are short, as it makes it easier to say, and read, "Just one more chapter!" This book also gave me The Ritual by Adam Nevill vibes in parts! Awesome stuff!
January 9, 2023
This was SO good. I couldn’t put it down. Even with a weekend full of socializing plans I picked this up every moment I could and finished it quick.
I’m a sucker for a good ‘creature feature’ and Churn the Soil definitely delivers. The atmosphere was incredibly creepy and the creatures scared the shit out of me. The character development was so good, as the story went on I was so invested in the main character’s. I’m sad that it’s over! This was fun, emotional, terrifying, and adventurous. Churn the Soil would make such an amazing movie. I must of said that to my husband 100x while reading haha.
As always, Stred knocked it out of the park and I’m so honoured to have been able to read it pre-release.
I’m a sucker for a good ‘creature feature’ and Churn the Soil definitely delivers. The atmosphere was incredibly creepy and the creatures scared the shit out of me. The character development was so good, as the story went on I was so invested in the main character’s. I’m sad that it’s over! This was fun, emotional, terrifying, and adventurous. Churn the Soil would make such an amazing movie. I must of said that to my husband 100x while reading haha.
As always, Stred knocked it out of the park and I’m so honoured to have been able to read it pre-release.
April 20, 2023
An action-packed folk horror/creature feature.
'They’d been told their entire lives that with the darkness came whatever it was that lived on this side of the clearing, that prowled this part of the land.'
This story follows Detective Brown when he is called to investigate an incident at an isolated village called the Border. Once there he discovered a body which has been left in very strange and bloody circumstances. From this point, events escalate at a frantic pace.
For the most part, I enjoyed reading this story, but later on in the story some of the character's actions and situations that they ended up in felt almost laughable and ultimately led to me losing a little interest towards the end. Also, I felt that things became a little convoluted towards the conclusion, I ultimately didn't connect or truly understand the motivation for many of the events throughout this story.
Although quite simple, Stred's writing was well-paced and conjured up a creepy and claustrophobic atmosphere on occasions. Ultimately I felt the writing lacked a little flair, which would for me have made it a more compelling read. There was a lot of potential in the story, which wasn't quite fulfilled in my opinion.
'The five officers hustled across the darkened field where once bountiful food would’ve grown. It was now a void where nothing living existed, and where blackness had layers and levels of corrupted shadows.'
What this book lacked in flair and ambition, it certainly made up for it in terms of gore and action.
'They’d been told their entire lives that with the darkness came whatever it was that lived on this side of the clearing, that prowled this part of the land.'
This story follows Detective Brown when he is called to investigate an incident at an isolated village called the Border. Once there he discovered a body which has been left in very strange and bloody circumstances. From this point, events escalate at a frantic pace.
For the most part, I enjoyed reading this story, but later on in the story some of the character's actions and situations that they ended up in felt almost laughable and ultimately led to me losing a little interest towards the end. Also, I felt that things became a little convoluted towards the conclusion, I ultimately didn't connect or truly understand the motivation for many of the events throughout this story.
Although quite simple, Stred's writing was well-paced and conjured up a creepy and claustrophobic atmosphere on occasions. Ultimately I felt the writing lacked a little flair, which would for me have made it a more compelling read. There was a lot of potential in the story, which wasn't quite fulfilled in my opinion.
'The five officers hustled across the darkened field where once bountiful food would’ve grown. It was now a void where nothing living existed, and where blackness had layers and levels of corrupted shadows.'
What this book lacked in flair and ambition, it certainly made up for it in terms of gore and action.
December 30, 2023
I don’t scare easy with horror movies or novels – I have watched and read too many, and a few of them way too early, and now I am not exactly blasé, because I still enjoy them, but rarely will I think to myself “hmmm… better not get into this too close to bed time”. But I did make a point to read “Churn the Soil” when it was bright outside. This may be a city-slicker thing, but I find the woods both beautiful AND creepy as fuck, so folk horror that involves creatures that Lovecraft would have written about freak... me... out... This book made me want to never go visit the Yukon. Good job, Mr. Stred.
“Churn the Soil” is a short but fast-paced and utterly brutal mashup of creature feature and police procedural, set on the border between Yukon and Alaska, far from what most people would think of as civilization. A small off-the grid settlement known to the locals as The Border sits on the edge of a clearing the residents maintain, in order to respect a long standing truce with the creatures who live in the woods beyond that clearing. But one day, a young girl is brutally killed, the police is alerted and Graham Brown, who was born in the settlement and eventually moved to the city, is forced to go back to investigate what is going on in that strange place. Soon, his past and present will collide, when it becomes apparent that the truce has been broken and that the creatures are coming for them.
Let’s get this out of the way: Bruiser the K9 officer was my favorite character, and the one I really rooted for. The human characters are interesting, if slightly underdeveloped due to the book’s low page count, but that dog had my whole entire heart the whole time. I wasn’t familiar with the Cane Corso breed before reading this book and now I kinda want one because they are so big and awesome.
But back to the book! This is not for weak stomachs: Stred is known for his splatterpunk, and there is a lot of evisceration, dismemberment, beheading and just general gore, descriptions of sights and smells that are quite disgusting… You’ve been warned! And if you like creepy creatures, you are in for a treat with this one, as they are remarkably scary and gross.
I only docked a star because I think I would have like both setting and characters to be fleshed out a bit more, and because the ultimate “villain” and his motivation felt a little weak… I really enjoyed this book, and will be looking for more Steve Stred, as I am quite impressed with how much he creeped me out!
“Churn the Soil” is a short but fast-paced and utterly brutal mashup of creature feature and police procedural, set on the border between Yukon and Alaska, far from what most people would think of as civilization. A small off-the grid settlement known to the locals as The Border sits on the edge of a clearing the residents maintain, in order to respect a long standing truce with the creatures who live in the woods beyond that clearing. But one day, a young girl is brutally killed, the police is alerted and Graham Brown, who was born in the settlement and eventually moved to the city, is forced to go back to investigate what is going on in that strange place. Soon, his past and present will collide, when it becomes apparent that the truce has been broken and that the creatures are coming for them.
Let’s get this out of the way: Bruiser the K9 officer was my favorite character, and the one I really rooted for. The human characters are interesting, if slightly underdeveloped due to the book’s low page count, but that dog had my whole entire heart the whole time. I wasn’t familiar with the Cane Corso breed before reading this book and now I kinda want one because they are so big and awesome.
But back to the book! This is not for weak stomachs: Stred is known for his splatterpunk, and there is a lot of evisceration, dismemberment, beheading and just general gore, descriptions of sights and smells that are quite disgusting… You’ve been warned! And if you like creepy creatures, you are in for a treat with this one, as they are remarkably scary and gross.
I only docked a star because I think I would have like both setting and characters to be fleshed out a bit more, and because the ultimate “villain” and his motivation felt a little weak… I really enjoyed this book, and will be looking for more Steve Stred, as I am quite impressed with how much he creeped me out!
December 29, 2022
I've been a fan of Stred's work for a while now, and Churn the Soil is up there with his best. This fantastic horror tale set in the cold Canadian tundra is part police procedural, part folklore, and blends the two together to create a page-turner with loads of gore and surprises and heart. Highly recommended!
January 29, 2023
Responding to a report of a child's murder, Basco, BC police arrive at The Border, a small commune of off-the-gridders. Not even the rumors surrounding life at The Border can prepare the responding officers, Brown and Reynolds, for what surrounds them in the woods. The people of The Border have a made a deal with...well, not quite the devil, but that's not exactly wrong either. The Forest Guardians are legion, and The Border has maintained a pact with them for their own survival for decades, but now the surety of that pact is in danger and the death of a child who has trespassed beyond the clearing and into the woods is only the first body to fall.
Part folk-horror, part police procedural, part creature feature with more than a few dashes of siege horror for good measure, and highly cinematic the whole damn way through, Steve Stred has offered up yet one more reason I will forever and always say "fuck you" to camping because my fat ass is not going into any goddamned fucking woods ever. I know how that shit ends. I'm much better off sitting in my chair, reading stories like this, safe within the comforts of my home...even if Stred does show some fine examples here that not even one's own homestead is safe from the horrors of what lurks outside. And there's plenty of horrors out there, to be sure. Stred nails 'em all down pretty damn effectively here, and throws in a creepy little kid's jingle for good measure. Ugh.
Part folk-horror, part police procedural, part creature feature with more than a few dashes of siege horror for good measure, and highly cinematic the whole damn way through, Steve Stred has offered up yet one more reason I will forever and always say "fuck you" to camping because my fat ass is not going into any goddamned fucking woods ever. I know how that shit ends. I'm much better off sitting in my chair, reading stories like this, safe within the comforts of my home...even if Stred does show some fine examples here that not even one's own homestead is safe from the horrors of what lurks outside. And there's plenty of horrors out there, to be sure. Stred nails 'em all down pretty damn effectively here, and throws in a creepy little kid's jingle for good measure. Ugh.
March 9, 2023
Best to go into it blind
Hell, I didn't even know what the thing was, that I was scared of for half of the book.
Ya know, it's good if the chills can be based on atmosphere and suspense alone. But things..... happen ...
It's gory and dark, and I. Am. Here. For. It.
Just a creeptastic good time!!
And look, dog lovers...this book had me GRIPPING THE EDGE OF MY SEAT. The second I hear that animals are an integral part of the story in horror, I'm usually dreading it, But this is 10/10
Overall this book is right up my alley. I don't know how I continue to hike after the amount of "demon in the woods" stories I've consumed throughout my life but still, hey, after this one, I"ll be avoiding any weird rogue settlements on the edge of town for a while...
Hell, I didn't even know what the thing was, that I was scared of for half of the book.
Ya know, it's good if the chills can be based on atmosphere and suspense alone. But things..... happen ...
It's gory and dark, and I. Am. Here. For. It.
Just a creeptastic good time!!
And look, dog lovers...this book had me GRIPPING THE EDGE OF MY SEAT. The second I hear that animals are an integral part of the story in horror, I'm usually dreading it, But this is 10/10
Overall this book is right up my alley. I don't know how I continue to hike after the amount of "demon in the woods" stories I've consumed throughout my life but still, hey, after this one, I"ll be avoiding any weird rogue settlements on the edge of town for a while...
March 9, 2023
This was an amazingly good creature feature set in the Canadian woods. Steve Stred is quickly growing to be one of my new favorite authors.
May 3, 2023
I have just finished "Churn the soil" by Steve Stred by reading it on my tablet thanks to the kindle unlimited subscription of my girfriend.
In the middle of nowhere, in the North, there is a place called "The Border" where the inhabitants have a truce with those who live on the other side of the clearing. The problem arises when the truce appears to be broken, and the first murder occurs. The police from the nearby town, Basco, sets out to investigate the murder, only to discover that there is more than meets the eye in that area.
This police thriller meets the best of horror movies (but be aware of the tons of blood, gore, and vivid descriptions). While reading the story, it reminded me sometimes (especially with the action scenes) of reading one of the Resident Evil game series, passing through chapters to finally get to the final combat against the final boss of the game, something that I really liked.
With chapters no more than three pages long, Steve achieves a fast-paced and entertaining story. If you're a fan of horror stories, you'll love this one. I promise!
In the middle of nowhere, in the North, there is a place called "The Border" where the inhabitants have a truce with those who live on the other side of the clearing. The problem arises when the truce appears to be broken, and the first murder occurs. The police from the nearby town, Basco, sets out to investigate the murder, only to discover that there is more than meets the eye in that area.
This police thriller meets the best of horror movies (but be aware of the tons of blood, gore, and vivid descriptions). While reading the story, it reminded me sometimes (especially with the action scenes) of reading one of the Resident Evil game series, passing through chapters to finally get to the final combat against the final boss of the game, something that I really liked.
With chapters no more than three pages long, Steve achieves a fast-paced and entertaining story. If you're a fan of horror stories, you'll love this one. I promise!
November 23, 2022
"Churn the Soil" is the best piece of unrelenting cold-weather horror since John Carpenter's "The Thing", so it's only fitting that it's also Steve Stred's most cinematic work to date
March 8, 2023
Steve Stred's story straddles several genres (folk horror, creature feature, mystery-thriller, police procedural) and manages to satisfy and sometimes exceed the expectations that come when reading each of those genres.
CHURN THE SOIL gets high marks for building a sense of dread beginning with a short nightmarish prologue and maintaining it throughout the novel while increasing the anxiety level through an elevated threat and a rapidly increasing body count. I would have preferred more detail about the isolated community at the Border and the origins of the curious relationship with the frightening inhabitants of the forest on the other side - - but this does get some later explanation albeit at a minimal level. Same goes for the identity of the culprit behind the betrayal, which many readers may deduce before the main characters do.
There is good character development here. One of the things I appreciated as a different approach is the characterization of chief of police Graham Brown, a flawed character who makes poor decisions throughout. However, this wouldn't be the book that it is without those bad choices. Decisions have consequences, and many of those do not turn out well for a good percentage of the players involved.
The ending was satisfying, although some explanations and reveals were generalized and left to readers to decipher the specifics. Steve Stred shows a lot of promise as a horror writer, and I believe his knock-out novel is somewhere in the future.
This earns 3.5 stars but I haven't figured out how to rate in fractions on Goodreads. Thanks to Horror Afficanados for selecting CHURN THE SOIL as a March group read with the author, who provided some interesting insights and reveals to participants.
CHURN THE SOIL gets high marks for building a sense of dread beginning with a short nightmarish prologue and maintaining it throughout the novel while increasing the anxiety level through an elevated threat and a rapidly increasing body count. I would have preferred more detail about the isolated community at the Border and the origins of the curious relationship with the frightening inhabitants of the forest on the other side - - but this does get some later explanation albeit at a minimal level. Same goes for the identity of the culprit behind the betrayal, which many readers may deduce before the main characters do.
There is good character development here. One of the things I appreciated as a different approach is the characterization of chief of police Graham Brown, a flawed character who makes poor decisions throughout. However, this wouldn't be the book that it is without those bad choices. Decisions have consequences, and many of those do not turn out well for a good percentage of the players involved.
The ending was satisfying, although some explanations and reveals were generalized and left to readers to decipher the specifics. Steve Stred shows a lot of promise as a horror writer, and I believe his knock-out novel is somewhere in the future.
This earns 3.5 stars but I haven't figured out how to rate in fractions on Goodreads. Thanks to Horror Afficanados for selecting CHURN THE SOIL as a March group read with the author, who provided some interesting insights and reveals to participants.
March 15, 2023
Churn the Soil was definitely creepy and filled with gore. Some of the events of the book were a bit bonkers even for supernatural splatter horror. But like. It did what it promised to do. The writing didn't feel overly professional; maybe one more pass from an editor would've caught some of my bigger gripes like "the dog cared less" which, if you insist on using the phrase, should've been "couldn't care less"...whatever. I'm being nit-picky probably. Still a fun time.
November 29, 2022
I've been a fan of Steve Stred's for a while now. I always look forward to his new releases, and with each one his mastery of the writing craft astounds me. His newest tale of supernatural horror, Churn the Soil, is no different.
Set in the wintery tundra of Basco Canada, we follow two police officers as they try to figure out what led to the gruesome murder of a young girl from an off-the-grid settlement called The Border. The residents of The Border live steeped in tradition, and the arrival of the outsiders threaten to disrupt the treaty they have with mysterious creatures that live in the woods.
This book is a page turner that will have you on the edge of your seat trying to figure out what is going on and what is coming next.
From the remarkable landscapes he constructs, the striking folklore he creates, the vivid depth of his characters and his wildly imaginative storytelling, Steve Stred is one of my favorite modern writers.
Set in the wintery tundra of Basco Canada, we follow two police officers as they try to figure out what led to the gruesome murder of a young girl from an off-the-grid settlement called The Border. The residents of The Border live steeped in tradition, and the arrival of the outsiders threaten to disrupt the treaty they have with mysterious creatures that live in the woods.
This book is a page turner that will have you on the edge of your seat trying to figure out what is going on and what is coming next.
From the remarkable landscapes he constructs, the striking folklore he creates, the vivid depth of his characters and his wildly imaginative storytelling, Steve Stred is one of my favorite modern writers.
December 14, 2022
Churn the Soil mingles fine prose with suspenseful horror and pulp sensibility. Steve Stred's works are blunt, scary, and above all, fun. He makes the reader feel this northern setting, with cold winds blowing and the setting so vividly crafted that it appears almost cinematic.
You can read Zach's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
You can read Zach's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
March 5, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. The author said he was aiming for a mash up of 30 Days of Nights meets Seven. He nailed it.
Read
November 7, 2022This was a great piece of winter folk horror. I always enjoy Stred's stories.
March 27, 2023
3.5-4
I began reading this book and I felt like I had already missed something. Well, I guess I was supposed to. But I had that feeling the whole book. It was good and easy to read, but I had a bit of trouble keeping up which creature we were talking about. Might have just been me. There was also a lot of back and forth— lots. Here to there then back again, then same.
The area and the pact with the creatures was interesting and the cover is scary. I had a feeling about the culprit. Yeah, what a butthole. I knew ‘they’ would have a part in it.
The coldness of the area and the snow was written perfectly. I had to pile on the blankets.
These creatures, they seemed to hunger for flesh but they just seemed okay with bloodshed in general right? They didn’t always ‘ finish their …’ ? Was that so some could become what they were?! Terrible thing to look forward to. I’d move the hell outta there.
If you like gore , cold horror, terrible legacies, and conversations w monsters that want to eat you then this should be fun. It’s a unique horror story w plenty of hair raising moments.
I began reading this book and I felt like I had already missed something. Well, I guess I was supposed to. But I had that feeling the whole book. It was good and easy to read, but I had a bit of trouble keeping up which creature we were talking about. Might have just been me. There was also a lot of back and forth— lots. Here to there then back again, then same.
The area and the pact with the creatures was interesting and the cover is scary. I had a feeling about the culprit. Yeah, what a butthole. I knew ‘they’ would have a part in it.
The coldness of the area and the snow was written perfectly. I had to pile on the blankets.
These creatures, they seemed to hunger for flesh but they just seemed okay with bloodshed in general right? They didn’t always ‘ finish their …’ ? Was that so some could become what they were?! Terrible thing to look forward to. I’d move the hell outta there.
If you like gore , cold horror, terrible legacies, and conversations w monsters that want to eat you then this should be fun. It’s a unique horror story w plenty of hair raising moments.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 13, 2023
CHURN THE SOIL, by Steve Stred, is a novel not to be missed! I've been a fan of this author's work since his first collection of 100 word-stories, and to see him progress into full novel format has only increased my admiration for his versatility in style.
In the town of Bosco, there's a small settlement "off grid", that usually handles its own problems.
At least, they did--until the day a young teenager is murdered and the incident is called into the police.
Having to investigate, they come across a settlement that has an "agreement" not to enter beyond a clearing that leads to the forest. Superstitions of a backward community, or something . . . more . . .?
The characters here were fleshed out and believable in the roles they played. The tenuous connection of Officer Brown--who lived in the settlement as a very young child until being taken out, and into the town--is having trouble reconciling the very little he remembers from early childhood with what he's now being faced with.
There is gore and carnage galore to satisfy any horror lover! Nightmarish creatures will positively haunt your dreams after this one. I particularly loved the layers of implications made in "churning the soil".... In fact, the only thing I could say I was slightly disappointed by was that it was obvious to me early on who was behind part of this mystery. However, that was minimal in comparison to the action and other characters involved.
Another incredible book by author Steve Stred!
Recommended.
In the town of Bosco, there's a small settlement "off grid", that usually handles its own problems.
At least, they did--until the day a young teenager is murdered and the incident is called into the police.
Having to investigate, they come across a settlement that has an "agreement" not to enter beyond a clearing that leads to the forest. Superstitions of a backward community, or something . . . more . . .?
The characters here were fleshed out and believable in the roles they played. The tenuous connection of Officer Brown--who lived in the settlement as a very young child until being taken out, and into the town--is having trouble reconciling the very little he remembers from early childhood with what he's now being faced with.
There is gore and carnage galore to satisfy any horror lover! Nightmarish creatures will positively haunt your dreams after this one. I particularly loved the layers of implications made in "churning the soil".... In fact, the only thing I could say I was slightly disappointed by was that it was obvious to me early on who was behind part of this mystery. However, that was minimal in comparison to the action and other characters involved.
Another incredible book by author Steve Stred!
Recommended.
June 19, 2024
Despair can feel as heavy as a boulder on one’s back if it’s allowed to settle.
4.5 🌟 rounded up for Goodreads
Churn The Soil was an atmospheric, gripping, supernatural folklore horror that will have you at the edge of your seat. It was fast paced and immediately pulled me into the story.
The plot was solid and there was no fluff whatsoever. The gore and violence was well described and, I felt like I was in every scene with these characters. This entire book, from cover to cover, has an overwhelming sense of dread that sends shivers down your spine- I love it.
I loved the setting for this book too. A small town, creepy woods and add gloomy weather. That was the perfect setting for a read like this one. Everything just fits into place perfectly and flows so smoothly. No long drawn out scenes, no unnecessary drama, just horror and terror all throughout.
This was my first time reading Stred but it definitely won't be my last. A very good time was had with this one.
4.5 🌟 rounded up for Goodreads
Churn The Soil was an atmospheric, gripping, supernatural folklore horror that will have you at the edge of your seat. It was fast paced and immediately pulled me into the story.
The plot was solid and there was no fluff whatsoever. The gore and violence was well described and, I felt like I was in every scene with these characters. This entire book, from cover to cover, has an overwhelming sense of dread that sends shivers down your spine- I love it.
I loved the setting for this book too. A small town, creepy woods and add gloomy weather. That was the perfect setting for a read like this one. Everything just fits into place perfectly and flows so smoothly. No long drawn out scenes, no unnecessary drama, just horror and terror all throughout.
This was my first time reading Stred but it definitely won't be my last. A very good time was had with this one.
April 5, 2023
Brought a chill to my bones. Highly recommended.
I have yet to read a book by Steve Stred that I haven’t enjoyed. Churn The Soil was no different. Being a northerner, the setting alone resonated with me and really creeped me out. Part creature feature, part mystery, part folktale, with a dose of good old fashioned gore, I loved it all. I could literally feel the cold and the isolation as I tore through the pages. Steve really knows how to ramp up the suspense. And wait until you read about ”The Clearing.” What a cool concept; I think I’ll steal that idea for myself one day. Then there’s “Bruiser.” You’re going to fall in love with him. But, I’ll say no more, except, well done, Steve, well done. Highly recommended.
I have yet to read a book by Steve Stred that I haven’t enjoyed. Churn The Soil was no different. Being a northerner, the setting alone resonated with me and really creeped me out. Part creature feature, part mystery, part folktale, with a dose of good old fashioned gore, I loved it all. I could literally feel the cold and the isolation as I tore through the pages. Steve really knows how to ramp up the suspense. And wait until you read about ”The Clearing.” What a cool concept; I think I’ll steal that idea for myself one day. Then there’s “Bruiser.” You’re going to fall in love with him. But, I’ll say no more, except, well done, Steve, well done. Highly recommended.
March 6, 2023
Entertaining story although I could have done with less travel back and forth between town and the border.
6/10
6/10
February 28, 2023
This book reminded me of so many movies (in a good way). You have the "Border" where a young woman is found in the snow dead, murdered. Police from the city come out to check it out and end up wrapped in the mystery. That sort of reminded me of the (fantastic) movie, WIND RIVER.
Then, you have the "stay on this side of the clearing/stay out of the woods for fear of the "Forest Guard". This part reminded me of the initial (good) part of M. Night Shyamalan's THE VILLAGE.
By the end, once we figure out most of what's happening and the main part of town is now under siege, I definitely got Stred's 30 Days of Night vibes.
What I'm saying is that CHURN THE SOIL is a heck of an action-packed horror novel. Stred continues to show growth as a storyteller and I can't wait to go back and check out his last novel, MASTODON.
Cinematic, bloody, and a story that pays homage to other great monster horror stories that came before, CHURN THE SOIL is worth your time!
Then, you have the "stay on this side of the clearing/stay out of the woods for fear of the "Forest Guard". This part reminded me of the initial (good) part of M. Night Shyamalan's THE VILLAGE.
By the end, once we figure out most of what's happening and the main part of town is now under siege, I definitely got Stred's 30 Days of Night vibes.
What I'm saying is that CHURN THE SOIL is a heck of an action-packed horror novel. Stred continues to show growth as a storyteller and I can't wait to go back and check out his last novel, MASTODON.
Cinematic, bloody, and a story that pays homage to other great monster horror stories that came before, CHURN THE SOIL is worth your time!
March 7, 2023
THAT…WAS…AMAZING!! It only took a few sentences to get me hooked on Steve Stred’s CHURN THE SOIL! By the end of the Prologue, I was so completely invested in his novel, already knowing I wouldn’t be able to turn the pages on my Kindle fast enough!!
The book is so wonderfully written! I love Steve Stred’s writing style and his imagery. He weaves his words in such a way as to heighten the level of suspense and foreboding. The story he tells is one rooted in legend, haunting and unearthly. It is reminiscent of a ghost story told around a campfire, one that elicits fear beyond your wildest imaginings.
Taking center stage are the woods, its trees, and the evil living there— an evil shrouded in mystery, making it all the more terrifying. The forest appears to talk and sing to those who venture inside - angelic voices, but evil personified.
The main characters are brilliantly developed, and also incredibly relatable. The strong relationships between and among these characters only act to further invest you in the story. As I read the book, the fear coming from the characters, from the pages, was palpable, causing my heart to race. It was like a nightmare you can’t wake up from. I have to say that I really loved the protagonists in CHURN THE SOIL, but my very favorite was without a doubt, Bruiser. As soon as this sweet, heroic, massive, extraordinary dog was introduced into the story, I knew he’d steal my heart. And he did!
In my opinion, CHURN THE SOIL has something for every reader— a mystery to solve, nail-biting suspense, horror of course, wonderful characters, and a unique, imaginative plot with twists you won’t expect. It also offers us a couple of miracles. But be forewarned — if you’re like I am, you’ll become so emotionally involved in what’s happening on the pages, rooting so hard for our heroes, that once your finished reading, you’ll realize it’s a story that will stay with you for a long time. It will for me!
And before signing off, I have to say the book has a fabulous, creepy, memorable cover!! Oh, and as Steve Stred writes in his Afterward, perhaps we will see a sequel. Fingers crossed!!
The book is so wonderfully written! I love Steve Stred’s writing style and his imagery. He weaves his words in such a way as to heighten the level of suspense and foreboding. The story he tells is one rooted in legend, haunting and unearthly. It is reminiscent of a ghost story told around a campfire, one that elicits fear beyond your wildest imaginings.
Taking center stage are the woods, its trees, and the evil living there— an evil shrouded in mystery, making it all the more terrifying. The forest appears to talk and sing to those who venture inside - angelic voices, but evil personified.
The main characters are brilliantly developed, and also incredibly relatable. The strong relationships between and among these characters only act to further invest you in the story. As I read the book, the fear coming from the characters, from the pages, was palpable, causing my heart to race. It was like a nightmare you can’t wake up from. I have to say that I really loved the protagonists in CHURN THE SOIL, but my very favorite was without a doubt, Bruiser. As soon as this sweet, heroic, massive, extraordinary dog was introduced into the story, I knew he’d steal my heart. And he did!
In my opinion, CHURN THE SOIL has something for every reader— a mystery to solve, nail-biting suspense, horror of course, wonderful characters, and a unique, imaginative plot with twists you won’t expect. It also offers us a couple of miracles. But be forewarned — if you’re like I am, you’ll become so emotionally involved in what’s happening on the pages, rooting so hard for our heroes, that once your finished reading, you’ll realize it’s a story that will stay with you for a long time. It will for me!
And before signing off, I have to say the book has a fabulous, creepy, memorable cover!! Oh, and as Steve Stred writes in his Afterward, perhaps we will see a sequel. Fingers crossed!!
February 11, 2023
Release Feb. 17
Somewhere deep within the Canadian North Woods is a small, generally peaceful, community of off-gridders and others wishing to remain apart from the world. Functioning quite like an Indigenous tribe, The Border is mostly cohesive, directed when essential by a group of five, called by their numbers (Number One, etc.) The sole essential stricture relates to a clearing: during the Spring and Summer, it must be tended, cleared of weeds; but with the first snowfall, it becomes Verboten, for this is the contract made generations ago by the first people in the area, with the constantly devouring "Forest Guards." But suddenly and inexplicably the contract has been annihilated. Now no protection, no peace remains.
Somewhere deep within the Canadian North Woods is a small, generally peaceful, community of off-gridders and others wishing to remain apart from the world. Functioning quite like an Indigenous tribe, The Border is mostly cohesive, directed when essential by a group of five, called by their numbers (Number One, etc.) The sole essential stricture relates to a clearing: during the Spring and Summer, it must be tended, cleared of weeds; but with the first snowfall, it becomes Verboten, for this is the contract made generations ago by the first people in the area, with the constantly devouring "Forest Guards." But suddenly and inexplicably the contract has been annihilated. Now no protection, no peace remains.
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