Horror Aficionados discussion

Our group read #2 for June is This Wretched Valley by Jenny Kiefer.
Please remember to use spoiler tags as appropriate and page number/chapters to let everyone know where you are in the book.
Happy discussing!

I read this one last year and enjoyed it! I look forward to reading the comments :)

This has been on my tbr for a bit now! Very excited to have an opportunity to read it!!

My library has it on audio, so I will be joining in!

I actually just read this before it popped up as an option to vote on. It kinda felt like a combo of a fictional account of the Dyaltov Pass incident, the Donner Party, and the movie The Thing

I’ve been waiting to read this one!

Got my copy. Excited for this one

This one sounds great, I’m looking forward to reading it and joining in the chat,

Oh! I’ve read this, really good read!

This book was alright! Reminded me of the TV show Yellowjackets

Picking up my copy from the library on Tuesday. Looking forward to reading this!

This was on my radar since its nomination for Superior Achievement in a First Novel at this year's Bram Stoker Awards. I will join later in the month.

I will join in with the audiobook for this one. Fingers crossed the narration brings the right amount of terror.

Just took a look at it and decided to give it a go, especially since it'll neatly fit one of the items for the Summer Reading Challenge. From what I gathered, sounds like I'll be liking it, at least the concept =)

Chris wrote: "I will join in with the audiobook for this one. Fingers crossed the narration brings the right amount of terror."

I’ve just finished the Audiobook, I thought it was excellently narrated!

I read this book last summer and really enjoyed it! :) I look forward to seeing what everyone else thinks!

my library hold just came in. i'll start it soon.

A new author for me, and I only read it because of this group read. It was 5 stars for me, I absolutely loved it! Blood, guts and gore, a creepy and ominous setting, I was completely engrossed!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I’m 46% in and it’s so good! I really, really hope it’s something supernatural. Idk if this is a spoiler or not so I’ll put it in there just in case.
(view spoiler)[ there’s all kinds of rumors and conspiracy theories about aliens & the government moving stuff/aliens/ whatever in tunnels through out Appalachia. I don’t think KY is in the mountain range but it’s close enough. I really hope this doesn’t turn out to be some kind of government thing. (hide spoiler)]

Just finished this one! Unfortunately, I didn’t love it as much as I wanted to. :( It definitely had some really solid horror moments that I’d normally love, but for some reason it just didn’t work for me.

Half way through this and it is giving The Ruins, by Scott Smith vibes. I am enjoying it.

Oof, oh boy. So, I went on a little side-quest because I kept hearing and reading great things about Dept Q now that the new adaptation is out, so I finished Off Season and then feasted upon the first book of that one in three days flat, lmao? So, I'll take a recovery day and then finally sink my teeth into this one. Can't wait!

4 stars ⭐️
A research trip/hiking trip gone horribly wrong when the crew realizes this land is hungry for them. The overall sense of dread in this novel is powerful. This was a fantastic novel, like reading a really good horror film.

I loved the first part and am hating then end of this. I’m just ready for it to end.

Progress: 50% through. So far, so good! Not loving it, for sure, but still, plenty of meat to it to sink the teeth into.
A couple of thoughts:
(view spoiler)[For one, I'm liking this sort of implication that the site has some kind of pull on the people in it, especially for Dylan, Clay and the old timey pioneers, but that at the same time it's not all on its own, but rather it's like it knows what buttons to push (Dylan's obsession with climbing, Clay's ego and desire to make it big, the Pioneers' religious sentiments). I just wish it would've been a little more developed a priori, instead we've only got a little of Clay, a little of Dylan, and some extrapolations we can make regarding the Pioneers, though in contrast, the way the last ones were presented works really well too.
On the other hand, there's the whole thing with the climbing - I've got to admit it's hella effective as a tool to introduce tension for me because I'm freaking afraid of heights, ha! (hide spoiler)]

I thought this was good but not great. It definitely has Dyatlov Pass vibes and does have some nice imagery and gory moments.

There is no suspense though as the opening chapter tells you the fate of every character. This really negates the 'action' sections as you already know the outcome so all jeopardy is lost. Take out the first chapter and the book would be considerable improved, despite the fact the opening chapter is probably the best in the book as it's the only one with a proper sense of mystery.

A mixed bag.

My hold expired. Can someone plz spoil the ending for me? Use spoiler tags! Or I can send me a msg, either one is fine with me.

Finally read it through! I fell into a bit of a slump only a little after I hit the halfway point thanks to Dept Q, but once I grabbed it back up, I finished it in only a couple of days.
Some thoughts:
(view spoiler)[The best part was definitely the setting for me. Not only am I a sucker for woodsy, outdoorsy settings, but the way Kiefer straight up characterized it really did it for me. It's giving Mystery Flesh Pit National Park meets Southern Reach's Area X sorta vibes.
On that note, I've seen the The Thing comparisons, couldn't really feel them myself. If anyone asked me, I'd say more a mix of, yeah, the Dyatlov Pass incident, minus the snow, with some Annihilation, The Ritual, and the kind of hungry cosmic horror of things like the Mystery Flesh Pit National Park or In the Cave of Delicate Singers.
But on the other hand, I do see how it doesn't really grab a hold of and keep that same hold on everybody, it does fall a little flat, especially in the second half. More so after Sylvia's death, it starts to feel a) like too much noise, and b) kind of rushed. Honestly, kind of hard to explain, but like the first half really took its time (for better and worse) to build up to what would be the ultimate fate of the characters, only to deflate in the end, sort of speak. Though I did like the very end of the main story with Dylan, that's fairly evocative imagery and it really shows a way to stick with its guns, particularly with the coherence of her character, versus, say, Luke. (hide spoiler)]

I just finished! (I was reading The Stand for the first time through most of June so I was late getting to it). I agree that the first half was better, but I love the concept of the very earth rising up to devour bodies and the idea of this kind of area where time and reality weakens. Fun read, and one I've been wanting to read for a while and hadn't gotten to!

Couldn’t get into the audiobook with this. I think if I read a physical copy I would appreciate it much more. The cover pulled me right in but in my opinion it was a 9 hour snooze fest.

Hayley wrote: "I just finished! (I was reading The Stand for the first time through most of June so I was late getting to it). I agree that the first half was better, but I love the concept of the very earth risi..."

Oh yes, I agree so much, the concept of the place itself is definitely the best element of the book as a whole (that and some of the climbing), and it works wonderfully with the cast characters too. Great choice on the part of the author!