rchll's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
literally crying rnðŸ˜ðŸ˜
The real action didn't really get started until the last 20% or so of the book, and while yes, it was very gripping, the real star of the show was the relationship between Kate and Andrew. The love and care they have for each other is truly unparalleled. Is it always perfect? Hell no, but thats what makes it so real and so touching. The creature itself almost seems inconsequential in the face of everything they have gone through and the way they're able to draw strength from each other. The ended gutted me ugh!
The author's afterword mentioned how his own wife is also suffering from a range of autoimmune diseases - I have to admit when I realized the author of this book was not a woman I was quite shocked as I feel like I rarely see this level of emotional depth (especially in a romantic relationship) in books written by men, but knowing that his own love for his wife shines through in this book...ugh cue another crying sesh
The real action didn't really get started until the last 20% or so of the book, and while yes, it was very gripping, the real star of the show was the relationship between Kate and Andrew. The love and care they have for each other is truly unparalleled. Is it always perfect? Hell no, but thats what makes it so real and so touching. The creature itself almost seems inconsequential in the face of everything they have gone through and the way they're able to draw strength from each other. The ended gutted me ugh!
The author's afterword mentioned how his own wife is also suffering from a range of autoimmune diseases - I have to admit when I realized the author of this book was not a woman I was quite shocked as I feel like I rarely see this level of emotional depth (especially in a romantic relationship) in books written by men, but knowing that his own love for his wife shines through in this book...ugh cue another crying sesh
mims_is_reading's review against another edition
5.0
EVERYONE SHOULD READ THIS BOOK, ASAP. There. That's my review.
pbanditp's review against another edition
5.0
Andrew is trying to give Kate the best end of life he can. Kate is young and is dying, nothing can help, so her husband Andrew rents a cabin on Round Lake in Maine with practically no one around for miles, allowing Kate the peace and solitude to rest.
That is all I can say without spoilers. My emotions are boiling over and...Aghhhh!! I can’t talk about it. Hunter! You... mmmmm... biting my lip.. tensing up... please just go get this and read or listen to it because WTH!!
That is all I can say without spoilers. My emotions are boiling over and...Aghhhh!! I can’t talk about it. Hunter! You... mmmmm... biting my lip.. tensing up... please just go get this and read or listen to it because WTH!!
johnlynchbooks's review against another edition
5.0
I tried to think of one word that jumped at me to start this review. I couldn’t. So here are a few words that come to mind as I reflect on what I just read. Powerful, sad, tense, brutal, and emotional. This book is all of those things and more. Creature is considered by many to be the best book by Hunter Shea, and while I haven’t read his other works to be able to speak on that, I CAN tell you that it’s one hell of an impressive book.
Creature follows Kate and Andrew, a married couple who’s lives have been put through the ringer due to a number of autoimmune diseases that Kate suffers from and the havoc the treatments wreak on her body. Daily pain and suffering had made every day a test of will for Kate while Andrew is tasked with caring for his wife and working an office job he hates for the medical benefits. Not everything is how it seems and illness won’t be the only monster the couple must face.
Creature is a slow burn of a novel. We spend a large portion of the book witnessing the horrors of Kate’s medical conditions and the physical and emotional toll they take on Kate and Andrew, not only as individuals, but on their marriage as well. This is most definitely a monster novel, but the most effective horror on display here is the daily agony Kate is forced to withstand. The time Shea spends developing these characters pays dividends, as you genuinely care about them and want them to pull through. The feelings you have for them turn out to be a double edged sword as they’re also the reason why agony experienced by Kate will literally cause the reader to wince in pain. I’m no easy scare and I don’t cringe easily but there were a few parts of Kate’s ordeal that I can only describe as truly disturbing. This is all before the monster even shows up. When it does, the shit really hits the fan.
I was pleasantly surprised by Creature. I thought it would be a straightforward monster horror, instead what’s on display here is a deeply personal, horrific story of a married couple doing the best they can with the bad hand Kate was dealt. The real monster here is the litany of illnesses Kate suffers and the medical torture she endures to treat them. It’s worth mentioning that in the authors notes Shea mentions the story being inspired by his wife and it shows in the care and effort he takes telling the story of Kate and Andrew. This is a must buy for any horror fan.
Creature follows Kate and Andrew, a married couple who’s lives have been put through the ringer due to a number of autoimmune diseases that Kate suffers from and the havoc the treatments wreak on her body. Daily pain and suffering had made every day a test of will for Kate while Andrew is tasked with caring for his wife and working an office job he hates for the medical benefits. Not everything is how it seems and illness won’t be the only monster the couple must face.
Creature is a slow burn of a novel. We spend a large portion of the book witnessing the horrors of Kate’s medical conditions and the physical and emotional toll they take on Kate and Andrew, not only as individuals, but on their marriage as well. This is most definitely a monster novel, but the most effective horror on display here is the daily agony Kate is forced to withstand. The time Shea spends developing these characters pays dividends, as you genuinely care about them and want them to pull through. The feelings you have for them turn out to be a double edged sword as they’re also the reason why agony experienced by Kate will literally cause the reader to wince in pain. I’m no easy scare and I don’t cringe easily but there were a few parts of Kate’s ordeal that I can only describe as truly disturbing. This is all before the monster even shows up. When it does, the shit really hits the fan.
I was pleasantly surprised by Creature. I thought it would be a straightforward monster horror, instead what’s on display here is a deeply personal, horrific story of a married couple doing the best they can with the bad hand Kate was dealt. The real monster here is the litany of illnesses Kate suffers and the medical torture she endures to treat them. It’s worth mentioning that in the authors notes Shea mentions the story being inspired by his wife and it shows in the care and effort he takes telling the story of Kate and Andrew. This is a must buy for any horror fan.
oddly's review against another edition
4.0
This is one of those books that really sticks with you.
It centers on Kate, who has autoimmune diseases that keep her bedridden with intense pain, pumped full of drugs, and at the doctor's office to try out experimental treatments. Her supportive husband, Andrew, is doing his best, but is also pushed to the breaking point between caring for her and working a stressful job.
The book develops these characters and their relationship in such a brilliant way; rarely do characters come off the page so clearly as fully-formed people. You really feel Kate's struggles and her pain—her physical pain, which is described in excruciatingly specific detail, and the emotional pain she feels at constantly putting a burden on the people she loves. The book gets into each of their heads—they aren't perfect, but they are trying their best to show up for each other and make what they can out of each day.
The tension builds as the couple take their dog Button and try to escape to an idyllic lakeside cabin for a few weeks of relaxation. But that's when strange things begin to happen.
I loved the build-up of the story, getting to know the characters, and the strange little happenings that built suspense more than the reveal and the action toward the end. After such a suspenseful and well-built story, the gory action was a bit jarring, and seemed to be overkill for this type of narrative.
But in the end, I definitely recommend this book. It actually has something for everyone: beautifully written characters you will emotionally attach to, suspense, and crazy action and kills. I can't wait to read my next Hunter Shea!
My thanks to Flame Tree Press for sending this one to read and review.
It centers on Kate, who has autoimmune diseases that keep her bedridden with intense pain, pumped full of drugs, and at the doctor's office to try out experimental treatments. Her supportive husband, Andrew, is doing his best, but is also pushed to the breaking point between caring for her and working a stressful job.
The book develops these characters and their relationship in such a brilliant way; rarely do characters come off the page so clearly as fully-formed people. You really feel Kate's struggles and her pain—her physical pain, which is described in excruciatingly specific detail, and the emotional pain she feels at constantly putting a burden on the people she loves. The book gets into each of their heads—they aren't perfect, but they are trying their best to show up for each other and make what they can out of each day.
The tension builds as the couple take their dog Button and try to escape to an idyllic lakeside cabin for a few weeks of relaxation. But that's when strange things begin to happen.
I loved the build-up of the story, getting to know the characters, and the strange little happenings that built suspense more than the reveal and the action toward the end. After such a suspenseful and well-built story, the gory action was a bit jarring, and seemed to be overkill for this type of narrative.
But in the end, I definitely recommend this book. It actually has something for everyone: beautifully written characters you will emotionally attach to, suspense, and crazy action and kills. I can't wait to read my next Hunter Shea!
My thanks to Flame Tree Press for sending this one to read and review.
rock_n_reads's review against another edition
5.0
This was my first read from Hunter Shea and certainly not my last. Emotional, gripping, and had me on the edge of my seat for the last third or so. Shea takes his time with character development in the first half of this book, and it pays off. You could call it a slow burn in regards to when the monster enters the picture, but the entire novel is a page-turner because of the psychological elements. I love a slow burn and a book that drips with emotion, and was not disappointed.
makethegrade's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Shea has always been a master of monster horror, but here he evolves into blending it with literary themes of struggles and loss.
unwrappingwords's review against another edition
5.0
Chronic illnesses, incurable diseases, doctors and experimental treatments are all part of Kate’s life. Leaving Kate mostly confined to her house with her dog, Buttons, and her husband Andrew. Though Kate puts a brave face on everything, the battle with her own body has taken its toll, not just on her but on Andrew, too, as he struggles with anger issues and mounting frustration at the world.
In an attempt to give them both a slice of happiness, he rents a remote, lakeside cabin in Maine for the summer, but dead animals and strange night-time noises soon make it clear this isn’t going to be the idyllic retreat they both hoped for.
The horror in the first part of this novel is quiet and, for many people, very, very real. The inner turmoil for both Kate and Andrew is laid bare for the reader, making it at times difficult to read, but completely drawing the reader into the lives of these characters. Andrew does everything he can for Kate, but there are moments things just become too much for both of them. The dual POV is used to great effect, letting the reader not just see from Kate’s fantastically written viewpoint, but to gain a deeper understanding of how this situation affects Andrew, too.
The relationship between Kate and Andrew is a big strength, showing a very realistic couple dealing with a complex situation. The banter and affection allow us to see some real, tender moments between them. Despite their frustrations, it’s clear they would do anything for each other. The arguments feel real too, as they both grabble with the situation, and the moments where we see Andrew slip into blaming Kate, or Kate’s jealously, don’t impact negatively on the characters, but enhance them.
When the more overt horror comes in, we’re so deeply invested in the characters we really do care what happens to them, and are completely caught up in the events and outcomes.
It’s hard to convey just how powerful this novel is, with genuine, heartfelt moments alongside the deeper horror when the title Creature emerges, terrorizing the couple in what should be their peaceful, ideal cabin. The strength definitely comes from the quiet moments, the relationship between Andrew and Kate, and the story of this couple played out against the background horror.
A fantastic novel, Creature is definitely one not to miss, and I’m eager to read more of Shea’s work.
I should also add, staying in a wooden cabin while reading this (not remote, luckily, but at the bottom of a garden) made it that much more atmospheric, with creatures scratching and skittering across the roof and at the sides of the cabin in the middle of the night. Hard not to get completely absorbed in the novel with that backdrop. Maybe not something I would recommend, especially if you’re staying on your own with a fairly big garden between you and the main house where the rest of your family are.
(Review originally appeared on deadheadreviews.com)
In an attempt to give them both a slice of happiness, he rents a remote, lakeside cabin in Maine for the summer, but dead animals and strange night-time noises soon make it clear this isn’t going to be the idyllic retreat they both hoped for.
The horror in the first part of this novel is quiet and, for many people, very, very real. The inner turmoil for both Kate and Andrew is laid bare for the reader, making it at times difficult to read, but completely drawing the reader into the lives of these characters. Andrew does everything he can for Kate, but there are moments things just become too much for both of them. The dual POV is used to great effect, letting the reader not just see from Kate’s fantastically written viewpoint, but to gain a deeper understanding of how this situation affects Andrew, too.
The relationship between Kate and Andrew is a big strength, showing a very realistic couple dealing with a complex situation. The banter and affection allow us to see some real, tender moments between them. Despite their frustrations, it’s clear they would do anything for each other. The arguments feel real too, as they both grabble with the situation, and the moments where we see Andrew slip into blaming Kate, or Kate’s jealously, don’t impact negatively on the characters, but enhance them.
When the more overt horror comes in, we’re so deeply invested in the characters we really do care what happens to them, and are completely caught up in the events and outcomes.
It’s hard to convey just how powerful this novel is, with genuine, heartfelt moments alongside the deeper horror when the title Creature emerges, terrorizing the couple in what should be their peaceful, ideal cabin. The strength definitely comes from the quiet moments, the relationship between Andrew and Kate, and the story of this couple played out against the background horror.
A fantastic novel, Creature is definitely one not to miss, and I’m eager to read more of Shea’s work.
I should also add, staying in a wooden cabin while reading this (not remote, luckily, but at the bottom of a garden) made it that much more atmospheric, with creatures scratching and skittering across the roof and at the sides of the cabin in the middle of the night. Hard not to get completely absorbed in the novel with that backdrop. Maybe not something I would recommend, especially if you’re staying on your own with a fairly big garden between you and the main house where the rest of your family are.
(Review originally appeared on deadheadreviews.com)
booksandsalt's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-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
4.0