torgiepie's review
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I can't remember the last time a story captivated me the way this one did. It was full of mystery and horrors and it was just such a great read. I think this is a good book for people just getting into horror and also fans of the genre will appreciate this as well.
imakeworlds's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
holl3640's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
jelenar620's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
jaded_angel's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
jelissak's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
sarianotsorry's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Gore
bosermoki's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
4 stars. It's easy to see how this won a stoker award. It's a fast paced plot driven story and hits all the best points for monster horror.
The characters are interesting, some are more likable than others. Unfortunately, too many of them are cops which I find to be dreadfully boring but it doesn't shy too much from showing characters both at their best and worst.
The titular Crota is a magical monster from another time as malevolent as it is brutally violent. The book doesn't shy away from graphic violence but never gets gratuitous about it. An element of the book that's interesting is that there are broad streaks of "Indian magic" as in the Native American characters utilize their ancestral knowledge and literal magic to save the day. Typically, this is an exhausting and boring trope but as the author is themselves Native American, the Native characters actually have their own agency and storyline rather than being ancillary to the white characters.
The book also has one of the more funny lines I've read in a while. Wherein the Native American game warden is relating the history of the monster and how it has a grudge against the natives who entrapped it when the white guy asks why it's killing people then and they reply "The Crota is not a good sport."