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johnlynchbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Curse of the Pigman comes our way courtesy of Asher Ellis and Silvershamrock publishing. Can Asher keep that Shamrock glory going strong?
Jason Dillon arrives in town after life doesn’t go quite the way he expected. Unfortunately for him, that’s a trend that continues from the opening page all the way through the book.
I really enjoyed the small town setting here. East Valley plays well into the small town cut off from the world trope. Ellis finds a way to do this which makes sense, and serves the story well. Despite the book taking off straight from the starting line, something about it had me struggling to connect initially. I’m still not sure quite what that was, so I’ll chalk that up to my mood at the time. Once it connected, I had a blast.
I really enjoyed what was going on with the residents, and I think Ellis had a really cool idea to explain it. The books is vicious and funny. Just when the books begins to slow down, it picks back up and reels you back in. Dialogue between characters felt a little awkward sometimes, and occasionally characters interactions with each other seemed somewhat off. That didn’t really spoil it for me because when the books is chugging along, it’s really going.
There’s a lot to like here in Curse of the Pigman. If you enjoy a crazy story in a small town cut off from the world, plagued by cultists and ancient entities, you’re going to want to pick this up.
Jason Dillon arrives in town after life doesn’t go quite the way he expected. Unfortunately for him, that’s a trend that continues from the opening page all the way through the book.
I really enjoyed the small town setting here. East Valley plays well into the small town cut off from the world trope. Ellis finds a way to do this which makes sense, and serves the story well. Despite the book taking off straight from the starting line, something about it had me struggling to connect initially. I’m still not sure quite what that was, so I’ll chalk that up to my mood at the time. Once it connected, I had a blast.
I really enjoyed what was going on with the residents, and I think Ellis had a really cool idea to explain it. The books is vicious and funny. Just when the books begins to slow down, it picks back up and reels you back in. Dialogue between characters felt a little awkward sometimes, and occasionally characters interactions with each other seemed somewhat off. That didn’t really spoil it for me because when the books is chugging along, it’s really going.
There’s a lot to like here in Curse of the Pigman. If you enjoy a crazy story in a small town cut off from the world, plagued by cultists and ancient entities, you’re going to want to pick this up.
good_peony's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Gore, Blood, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, and Murder
wellwortharead's review against another edition
5.0
Storms, cannibals, and demonic swine OH MY! How could I not love this book, it had everything I could hope for in a fast paced home town horror, complete with cannibals, a curse, and a group of unlikely heroes who band together to defeat the ancient evil that had been unleashed by greedy and gluttonous men. Who could ask for anything more? Not this happy horror fan. When the hurricane passes, Jason is injured and his roof is demolished. With no supplies on hand he sets out on foot to seek shelter at a neighbor's but instead finds himself interrupting a cult's human sacrifice.
"Ten years, a meal. That's the deal"
With the ritual broken, the curse of the Pigman takes effect and few will survive.
I was hooked like a side of pork in the butcher's window from page one.
I received an advance copy for review.
"Ten years, a meal. That's the deal"
With the ritual broken, the curse of the Pigman takes effect and few will survive.
I was hooked like a side of pork in the butcher's window from page one.
I received an advance copy for review.
teamredmon's review against another edition
3.0
Jason Dillion has just moved to East Valley, Vermont when a tropical storm makes landfall and knocks a tree onto his new house. While looking for help from his neighbors, he comes across a little girl bound and gagged in the woods. Clearly, she has been kidnapped. Jason cuts her free and attempts to bring her to safety, only to be chased by the cult that was going to sacrifice her. When the sacrifice doesn't take place, the town falls victim to a curse leaving everyone in town ravenously hungry.
Things I loved: This book opens with a bang. The first 50-75 pages are unrelenting, interesting, and fun. I absolutely loved the action and pace that the initial scenes provided. Once things started to settle down, we are treated to some highly entertaining scenes, in particular, the scenes in the local diner and scene with a man and the neighbors' cat. We also meet some other well fleshed out characters, including some delightful teenage stoners. The characterization in this book is quite good as all characters felt that they had individual voices and logical motivations. I always appreciate it when I can see where the 'bad guys' are coming from.
Things I didn't love: the inconsistencies. There are several moments during this book that I found myself saying "wait but I thought..." and while that's not a deal-breaker, it is something that I noticed. The dialogue is also somewhat unrealistic or juvenile at times, it's rare but when it happens the word choice is jarring and took me out of the moment. Finally, I found the middle of the book to be a bit of a slog. While there is a ton of action that is supposed to be happening, there are long swaths of pages where nothing really happens. There's lots of walking and talking and I found those sections to be boring. I also wanted more from the actual Pigman but what we got was great.
That said, I quite enjoyed this book and the time I spent in East Valley. I really REALLY loved the idea of a town going banana pants crazy because of a failed cult ritual. I thought the beginning of Curse of the Pigman to be exceptional and the conclusion to be wildly entertaining even if it was a scosh too quickly resolved.
Recommend this to fans of folk horror.
Things I loved: This book opens with a bang. The first 50-75 pages are unrelenting, interesting, and fun. I absolutely loved the action and pace that the initial scenes provided. Once things started to settle down, we are treated to some highly entertaining scenes, in particular, the scenes in the local diner and scene with a man and the neighbors' cat. We also meet some other well fleshed out characters, including some delightful teenage stoners. The characterization in this book is quite good as all characters felt that they had individual voices and logical motivations. I always appreciate it when I can see where the 'bad guys' are coming from.
Things I didn't love: the inconsistencies. There are several moments during this book that I found myself saying "wait but I thought..." and while that's not a deal-breaker, it is something that I noticed. The dialogue is also somewhat unrealistic or juvenile at times, it's rare but when it happens the word choice is jarring and took me out of the moment. Finally, I found the middle of the book to be a bit of a slog. While there is a ton of action that is supposed to be happening, there are long swaths of pages where nothing really happens. There's lots of walking and talking and I found those sections to be boring. I also wanted more from the actual Pigman but what we got was great.
That said, I quite enjoyed this book and the time I spent in East Valley. I really REALLY loved the idea of a town going banana pants crazy because of a failed cult ritual. I thought the beginning of Curse of the Pigman to be exceptional and the conclusion to be wildly entertaining even if it was a scosh too quickly resolved.
Recommend this to fans of folk horror.
brennanlafaro's review against another edition
4.0
Fresh out of Asher Ellis’ story, “Expertise” in Grindhouse’s Worst Laid Plans anthology, I was anxious to see what a full-length novel from the author would be like. The opening chapter, functioning as a prologue, drags the reader kicking and screaming into the narrative. Seriously, it’s creepy, atmospheric, and reminiscent of an 80’s movie.
The pacing doesn’t die off from there as we’re introduced to Jason, who’s just moved to East Valley, Vermont. We might think we’re going to settle in and see how he’s adjusting to town, but instead get thrown into the action before page 5. Jason’s lot in life boils down to an injury that kept him from becoming a professional athlete. While storylines like this can be hokey, and frequently has, Ellis uses it effectively here without bludgeoning the reader over the head.
Curse of the Pigman fits neatly into a very specific sub-genre of horror lit. Outsider moves into a small town and realizes things are not quite as they seem. Ellis sprinkles in cults, conspiracies, cannibalism, and other tropes that just don’t fit the alliteration as well. The fear is tied smartly together with a fun, and unexpected, cast of characters. Tracy, another outsider and who fits into the story in an organic manner. Jimmy McDoyle, a very unlikely source of help. Also, Sophia who is the heart of the story and arguably the biggest reason Jason works as a man character.
I liked this book a lot more than I ever expected to like a book called Curse of the Pigman. In found notes of Stephen King's Desperation presents, but more importantly, combines an urban legend most people won’t be familiar with enough known entities to allow the story to resonate. Another quality Silver Shamrock release that I’d recommend to fans of small town, cult, and urban legend horror.
I received a copy from the publisher for review consideration.
The pacing doesn’t die off from there as we’re introduced to Jason, who’s just moved to East Valley, Vermont. We might think we’re going to settle in and see how he’s adjusting to town, but instead get thrown into the action before page 5. Jason’s lot in life boils down to an injury that kept him from becoming a professional athlete. While storylines like this can be hokey, and frequently has, Ellis uses it effectively here without bludgeoning the reader over the head.
Curse of the Pigman fits neatly into a very specific sub-genre of horror lit. Outsider moves into a small town and realizes things are not quite as they seem. Ellis sprinkles in cults, conspiracies, cannibalism, and other tropes that just don’t fit the alliteration as well. The fear is tied smartly together with a fun, and unexpected, cast of characters. Tracy, another outsider and who fits into the story in an organic manner. Jimmy McDoyle, a very unlikely source of help. Also, Sophia who is the heart of the story and arguably the biggest reason Jason works as a man character.
I liked this book a lot more than I ever expected to like a book called Curse of the Pigman. In found notes of Stephen King's Desperation presents, but more importantly, combines an urban legend most people won’t be familiar with enough known entities to allow the story to resonate. Another quality Silver Shamrock release that I’d recommend to fans of small town, cult, and urban legend horror.
I received a copy from the publisher for review consideration.
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