bookworm311's review
3.0
I love Shea, but this was just meh. Very tame for a Shea book. This is kind of a companion to They Rise but no where near as gory. Least favorite Shea book so far.
villyidol's review
2.0
2.5 stars, rounded down. However, it was fun.
At different marine parks orcas turn against their trainers and ultimately kill several people. While it isn’t unheard of that an orca attacks its trainer, it quickly becomes clear to marine biologist Chet Clarke that this is something very different. First of all, there are several orcas that attack people at exactly the same time. And moreover, not only are they showing this sort of behavior in captivity, a pod of orcas also attacks an offshore oil rig.
This is the book equivalent of a b-movie, which is what I had expected. Most of this is pretty silly, and quite fun, in a lowbrow sort of way. I was just a little concerned that the orcas would be cast as the villains here. Which they are not. I’ve watched Blackfish recently, and the author apparently did so as well, before he wrote this book. He even lets one of his characters refer to that documentary, which showed exactly how badly these majestic creatures are treated by humans. I was relieved to see that Shea did not turn them into senseless killers by nature, but came up with another reason for their behavior. Even if it was a rather silly one.
What Blackfish does really well, and this book at least tries to do, is to show how intelligent and social orcas are. What that documentary also does well, but this book never really achieves, is to build a lot of tension before the terrible things which we all along knew would happen finally do. This book pretty much immediately puts you in the midst of the action, as Chet and his girlfriend Rosario, an orca trainer, go from one scene of carnage to the next, traveling from the US to Europe and back to the US again, before they are picked up by the Navy to help them solve this problem once and for all.
It is fast-paced and fun, but could have been even better with a few moments of calm before the storm. Even without that, though, it was good enough for three stars, until I realized I’m already running out of pages and there still wasn’t anything resembling a climax, and the bad guys also hadn’t really shown up yet. If there ever was a rushed ending, this is it. The whole thing fell completely flat on its face when the big bad was taken care of pretty much on a single page and the showdown as a whole happened in the blink of an eye, and also in an extremely silly way. Even for a book like this.
Alas. This could have been much better.
At different marine parks orcas turn against their trainers and ultimately kill several people. While it isn’t unheard of that an orca attacks its trainer, it quickly becomes clear to marine biologist Chet Clarke that this is something very different. First of all, there are several orcas that attack people at exactly the same time. And moreover, not only are they showing this sort of behavior in captivity, a pod of orcas also attacks an offshore oil rig.
This is the book equivalent of a b-movie, which is what I had expected. Most of this is pretty silly, and quite fun, in a lowbrow sort of way. I was just a little concerned that the orcas would be cast as the villains here. Which they are not. I’ve watched Blackfish recently, and the author apparently did so as well, before he wrote this book. He even lets one of his characters refer to that documentary, which showed exactly how badly these majestic creatures are treated by humans. I was relieved to see that Shea did not turn them into senseless killers by nature, but came up with another reason for their behavior. Even if it was a rather silly one.
What Blackfish does really well, and this book at least tries to do, is to show how intelligent and social orcas are. What that documentary also does well, but this book never really achieves, is to build a lot of tension before the terrible things which we all along knew would happen finally do. This book pretty much immediately puts you in the midst of the action, as Chet and his girlfriend Rosario, an orca trainer, go from one scene of carnage to the next, traveling from the US to Europe and back to the US again, before they are picked up by the Navy to help them solve this problem once and for all.
It is fast-paced and fun, but could have been even better with a few moments of calm before the storm. Even without that, though, it was good enough for three stars, until I realized I’m already running out of pages and there still wasn’t anything resembling a climax, and the bad guys also hadn’t really shown up yet. If there ever was a rushed ending, this is it. The whole thing fell completely flat on its face when the big bad was taken care of pretty much on a single page and the showdown as a whole happened in the blink of an eye, and also in an extremely silly way. Even for a book like this.
Alas. This could have been much better.
paperbackstash's review
3.0
The plight of the Orcas is a depressing situation close to my heart - as usual, man rarely treats animals and marine life as well as we should. There's some preaching about that in here too - or, instead of preaching, let me say that the main characters agree with me. Besides the first part of the book you don't get up and close to Orcas much - it's mainly two trainers traveling from this place and that to try and figure out what's going on. The explanation is downright odd, but I suppose any explanation of giant orcas coming together to attack would be. Full review to come.
trish204's review
3.0
What can I say? Hunter Shea's novels are like some of the best creature features or other b-movies I've grown up with. Moreover, I love orcas so the blurp for this one was sooo promising.
We meet marine biologist Chet, who has made it his mission to work with certain aquariums in order to make sure the captive orcas held there are at least treated well, if he can't prevent them from being captured and held in captivity in the first place.
But one day something goes horribly wrong. An orca not only attacks its trainer but many other people, wreaking havoc - and it's far from the only orca to do so.
What is causing this kind of behavior?
Thus, the reader is taken on a mad dash from the US to Europe and back. We meet the US Navy, some scientists, some conspiracy theorists and some really furious orcas.
Sadly, while the story itself isn't bad, I didn't get the righteous carnage I had hoped for and the answers presented here were also ... not too far fetched considering the author's other books, but not really working well with the orca theme if you ask me.
I did have fun, but not as much as with his other stories.
We meet marine biologist Chet, who has made it his mission to work with certain aquariums in order to make sure the captive orcas held there are at least treated well, if he can't prevent them from being captured and held in captivity in the first place.
But one day something goes horribly wrong. An orca not only attacks its trainer but many other people, wreaking havoc - and it's far from the only orca to do so.
What is causing this kind of behavior?
Thus, the reader is taken on a mad dash from the US to Europe and back. We meet the US Navy, some scientists, some conspiracy theorists and some really furious orcas.
Sadly, while the story itself isn't bad, I didn't get the righteous carnage I had hoped for and the answers presented here were also ... not too far fetched considering the author's other books, but not really working well with the orca theme if you ask me.
I did have fun, but not as much as with his other stories.
ericarobyn's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Fury of the Orcas by Hunter Shea is a fast paced and brutal tale. From the first drop of blood that hits the water, to the very last sentence, this story is sure to leave readers reeling!
When orcas start to get violent, a man named Chet Clarke is called in. Chet has built his career around taking care of orcas in captivity, even though he doesn’t agree with it. Partnered with his assistant and new girlfriend, orca trainer, Rosario Benitez, the two are shocked at the sudden change in the behavior of the whales. But it’s not only trainers that are getting ripped apart, the whales are going after the people in the viewing sections as well.
Things seem pretty dire, and a team of people band together to run tests to see if it’s an infection or something biological that is affecting them. But they’re about to find out that it’s much worse than they thought.
This story starts with an orca hitting its head against the wall if its tank. When the first drop of blood hits the water, it’s an all out frenzy!
There are many scenes with gore that are so intense. Other scenes are incredibly tense. There are a few scattered scenes that allow readers to catch their breath, but not many!
This is a book you should definitely pick up when you can read straight through!
My Favorite Passages from Fury of the Orcas
To do so would be an admission that man had been wrong, and as a species, accountability was a dirty word.
She’d often said the line between genius and madness was thinner than a mouse’s ass crack.
My Final Thoughts on Fury of the Orcas
Let met just say… this tale did not help with my irrational fear of orcas!
djerra's review
4.0
Orcas suddenly attacking humans everywhere, body parts floats in blood drenched waters.
The book mixes a quick-pace horror/thriller story with aqua mayhem and an up-to-date twist theory.
Great piece by cryptid master Hunter Shea.
The book mixes a quick-pace horror/thriller story with aqua mayhem and an up-to-date twist theory.
Great piece by cryptid master Hunter Shea.
bookertsfarm's review
3.0
Anyone who follows my blog knows that Shea is has quickly become a favorite of mine. I love his horror but I think this is better categorized as a action-adventure/thriller. Suddenly and without warning, orcas across the world have started turning on those who take care of them at marine facilities as well as in the open seas. Basically lots of people AND orcas are dying and Chet, who has worked with them for years, and his assistant/lover, Rosario, travel all over the world while they try to figure out what is going on.
This books is brutal. When I was young, I wanted to be a marine biologist which is a pretty lofty goal for someone who has lived her entire life in a landlocked stated. Sure, it could have been done, but I was persuade to turn my attentions elsewhere. So needless to say, I have a soft spot for dolphins, killer whales and even sharks. Thus, it was hard to see some of the orcas massacred in this book and I often found myself cheering them on as they killed various humans because I also do not believe they should be kept in captivity. Once again, Shea isn't afraid to kill off characters in this latest book and there is quite a bit of action. However, unlike some of his other books, there is also a lot of sex. Now far be it from me to shun a book because of it because it doesn't bother me in the least, however, in this setting, it really wasn't needed. For example, during the middle of an orca attack do we really need to know how beautiful Chet thinks Rosario is without her makeup.
While my rating is not as strong as what I've given some of Shea's other books, he is still an author I will automatically read. I can't wait to see what his imagination has in store for his readers in the future. Many people will enjoy "Fury of the Orcas" and any Shea fan will be glad to add this to their shelves. It just wasn't one of my favorites.
This books is brutal. When I was young, I wanted to be a marine biologist which is a pretty lofty goal for someone who has lived her entire life in a landlocked stated. Sure, it could have been done, but I was persuade to turn my attentions elsewhere. So needless to say, I have a soft spot for dolphins, killer whales and even sharks. Thus, it was hard to see some of the orcas massacred in this book and I often found myself cheering them on as they killed various humans because I also do not believe they should be kept in captivity. Once again, Shea isn't afraid to kill off characters in this latest book and there is quite a bit of action. However, unlike some of his other books, there is also a lot of sex. Now far be it from me to shun a book because of it because it doesn't bother me in the least, however, in this setting, it really wasn't needed. For example, during the middle of an orca attack do we really need to know how beautiful Chet thinks Rosario is without her makeup.
While my rating is not as strong as what I've given some of Shea's other books, he is still an author I will automatically read. I can't wait to see what his imagination has in store for his readers in the future. Many people will enjoy "Fury of the Orcas" and any Shea fan will be glad to add this to their shelves. It just wasn't one of my favorites.
lilyn_g's review
3.0
I think I need to take a break from creature features for a while. I enjoyed Fury of the Orcas, mostly. I guess mildly would be a better term? It was not one that I could ever lose myself in. I felt sorry for the orcas, but that was about the extent of my investment as a reader.
There were some good lines in there, but there was some stuff that also made me twitch, as well. Like
I'm reading to escape the clusterfudge going on right now, and then I come across his name in a story. I eye-rolled, then I dropped my head back and gave a despairing sigh before I went back to reading.
I... don't have anything more to say. This was an okay read, but it's already escaping my mind, as i can't even remember what the main character's first name was.
Definitely highly prefer some of Hunter Shea's other works like his Mail Order Massacre series. This one just sort of fizzled for me.
There were some good lines in there, but there was some stuff that also made me twitch, as well. Like
“I bet they think we’re being pulled in for some sort of interrogation. Or for voting for Trump,” he said to Rosario.
I'm reading to escape the clusterfudge going on right now, and then I come across his name in a story. I eye-rolled, then I dropped my head back and gave a despairing sigh before I went back to reading.
I... don't have anything more to say. This was an okay read, but it's already escaping my mind, as i can't even remember what the main character's first name was.
Definitely highly prefer some of Hunter Shea's other works like his Mail Order Massacre series. This one just sort of fizzled for me.
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