Gore and More discussion

This is the thread for The Jersey Devil by Hunter Shea. We'll be starting this January 15th. So far, we have reading with us:

Natalie
Ken
Lee
Tim
Anyone else want to join in?

I've seen this book recommended in a few places. I'd like to join.

Lee wrote: "I've seen this book recommended in a few places. I'd like to join."

Great! Shea has been carving out a nice niche with his cryptozoology tales. I expect nothing less from this one.

This book is currently only £0.90 on Kobo. I know it is not as popular as Kindle, but I have one so is good news for me.

I just checked on Amazon.
The eBook version is available there for $0.99.
https://www.amazon.com/Jersey-Devil-H...

Maybe some more people will grab it now and join us in our buddy read. :)

Ok. I couldn't refuse the price. I'm reading other books though so not sure how fast I'll be able to read this one too.

Where there's a will, there's a way ;-)

Yeah, I would love to read this, but not sure that I can do it when everyone else is. I am broke until the end of the month. Plus I am also reading 4 other books at the moment. Will definitely add it to my list though.

Tammy wrote: "Yeah, I would love to read this, but not sure that I can do it when everyone else is. I am broke until the end of the month. Plus I am also reading 4 other books at the moment. Will definitely add ..."

Good news, Tammy. It is dirt cheap on Amazon right now.

Was only gonna at this to my 'eventually check out' list, but since it's only $0.99 right now for the kindle version, might as well join in.

Tim wrote: "Was only gonna at this to my 'eventually check out' list, but since it's only $0.99 right now for the kindle version, might as well join in."

Glad to have you, Tim.

Anyone else?!?

Ken wrote: "Where there's a will, there's a way ;-)"

True. I'll start it today and see if it can lure me from my other books.

Nope, do not even have the poor 99 cents on my card LOL. This usually happens after I pay all my bills

I read the first chapter yesterday. It's already worth the price I paid!

I've wanted to read this for a while now, and I finally just scooped it up!

Sorry to soins like a noob, but how do we do this? Start reading on 15th and update this thread with comments?

Durr! Just read the Buddy Read thread Ken wrote. Thanks Ken.

I just finished chapter 14.
So far, the story is quite entertaining. Very creepy and gory in places.

Who else has already read some chapters?

I've read a couple chapters.

Starting it tonight.

Started it yesterday and only read one chapter.

First line :
Jane Moreland couldn’t believe how heavy Henry was, now that he was deadweight and starting to ripen.

Good first line. Instant introduction to a character and a good hook for us horror fans. I'm guessing that the first chapter is the prologue. We have a bird like creature that can swoop down and grab people as easy as a pelican grabs fish. The hook just went in a little deeper.

Read a couple more chapters. I'm getting into it now.

Heights has always made me feel queasy. Staring down at the ground from high up sends my heart racing. Seeing the ground disappear beneath your feet whilst leathery wings whip at your face would scare the hell out of me. Like it does to Jane in chapter one.

Count me in. Never joined in on a buddy read before.
Looking forward to reading this one. I have read a few of Hunter Shea's books in the past.

30% In and it is getting better. The family have started to develop in to actual characters. Better than the first few people introduced just to be killed by the devil.

I'm 50% in now.
I agree with you, Lee.
After the first 10 or so chapters we know who the main characters are. In the beginning, I found it a little hard to get into the story, because there were so many different characters introduced. I'm wondering if those of them who are still alive, will appear again sometime later in the story.

Finished!
That has been quite a wild ride.
Can't wait what you others think about it.

Actually finished it about two days ago, but finally have the time to post.

Overall, I've got to say I enjoyed the book. Had some trouble at first getting into it because of the character jumping, but once I picked up on the b-grade monster movie vibe it had I ended up rolling with it and enjoyed it for what it was.

Lee wrote: "Heights has always made me feel queasy. Staring down at the ground from high up sends my heart racing. Seeing the ground disappear beneath your feet whilst leathery wings whip at your face would sc..."

Me too. I can't go on carnival rides that drop you. It's just no fun. Hell for me would be a helicopter.

Tim wrote: "but once I picked up on the b-grade monster movie vibe it had I ended up rolling with it and enjoyed it for what it was."

I like this description. I got caught up reading something else but I feel I want to finish this now.

Nearly finished. I am definitely intrigued as to what is going on. The devils have a kind of intelligence beyond a mere animal and share some kind of special link with the family.

I've read up on the Jersey Devil and looked into it reported origins and so far Shea has kept a lot of the traditional folklore accurate whilst putting his own spin on the myth.

For what it is worth, my guess is that it has something to do with the barrels being dumped in chapter one by the locals. The time lines seem to add up. Dumping who knows what for a few years and the sighting and attacks start in the last few years.

Have to wait and see.

Urgh! Just found out how they have been reproducing!

I think I'm close to that part. I have my suspicions.

Done. Overall I'd say it was average. Not terrible as some of these splatter house books can be. A ridiculous idea but told in a very mature and adult fashion. But then let down by the ending.

The early parts of the book were definitely more enjoyable. Characters were developed well and the story was unfolding with intrigue.

The ending felt so rushed you have to wonder if the author had a deadline.

Lee wrote: "[...] But then let down by the ending."
I agree.

(view spoiler)[The whole festival thing was unnecessary in my opinion. I've already got it earlier that these creatures are very hungry and aggressive. No need for such a gorefest. Boompa could have died a hero, anyway. It probably would have been more intense, if the devils had attacked just the family. (hide spoiler)]

I did think the ending pushed believeability too much, but you can see the author trying to set up a big finish rather than just another attack like the others.

Overall I liked it. I'm glad I took the recommendation.

Aw NUTS! I only found this thread NOW when everyone has finished, yet I am only 28% in to Hunter's book, and I am loving it! Anyone happen to be lurking around these here parts...? --Jen from Quebec :0)

Just finished a group read of one of his other books.

Jennifer Lynn wrote: "Aw NUTS! I only found this thread NOW when everyone has finished, yet I am only 28% in to Junter's book, and I am loving it! Anyone happen to be lurking around these here parts...? --Jen from Quebe..."

Hey Jennifer! Thank you for reading it. I hope you like it so far. It gets wilder as it rolls along. :)