Reviews - Into the Wolves' Den

140 reviews for:

Into the Wolves' Den

Jon Athan

3.85 AVERAGE

rosiereadz's review against another edition

3.75

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: N/A

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: N/A

My second and probably last Jon Athan book. I started with The Groomer and it was also my first extreme horror novel. I read this book directly after as I watched a YouTuber recommend it as the most disturbing book she’d read in a long time — more so than The Groomer.

After sitting with this read for a while now, I think The Groomer was better. When I first read the description of this book I definitely thought they sounded nearly identical in basic plot. They ended up really not being very similar.

The gore and torture in this book was very different; while I remember vividly some of the images painted here, most of the torture we read in graphic detail happens to adults rather than children. The abuse does happen to kids too but it really isn’t described the way I was bracing myself for.

I really liked how this story was wrapped up and the revenge plot of it all.

I liked that after the father is able to save the older daughter and the sick freak runs off into the night, we get a nice time jump to satisfy the kill of all the monsters in the end. It’s not that it’s a realistic ending, but who wants that? If it had ended in the previous chapter it would’ve felt so bleak and depressing. I loved the vigilante murder mission the father went on in the end. I thought it was nice lol. I also really appreciated not witnessing ang of the abuse to the younger daughter who ends up dying. I felt like Jon Athan showed mercy on me after what I had to read in The Groomer lol. The gore that stuck with me the most was probably the thumb tack situation. Dear God.

Overall a good read if you’re able to stomach it, I did consider stopping several times near the beginning because it was SO graphic. Also put me in a serious rut when I finished because every thriller I started was so mild — as I wanted them to be — that I didn’t feel like my brain was being stimulated.

Tried another 2 Jon Athan’s to keep the itch going but they just weren’t feeling good to me. I started to wonder about his well being lol.

lianacolon's review against another edition

4.0

I wasn’t on the edge of my seat but this was good, definitely disgusting and ending was 10/10

zombiebabe's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

sea_caummisar's review against another edition

5.0

Devastating. I believe that word describes this book perfectly. Anything involving children is heart breaking. I love how Athan can not only write brutal books, but ALSO writes stories that makes me get the feels. 5 stars

optimisticbooknerd's review against another edition

5.0

Wow!

Jon Athan is such a talented author. I love so far everything I've read and this one is no exception. It's dark, sad, gritty and impossible to put down. Similar to The Groomer (also by Jon Athan) it discusses children and how sick some people are.

brilliantly told. If you can handle your triggers and enjoy horror, and love an author who knows how to write, pick up this one!

skullheadface's review against another edition

5.0

Holy shit. My ass has been kicked by Jon again. This time, it's not even horror. Oh, it's fucking horrifying, but this here tome is more like, ultra-hardcore true-crime, and it's utterly annihilating. I made audible groans of anguish while reading this. JFC, this book. THIS BOOK. Eat shit Jon. I hate loving you. I love hating you. YOU FUCKING RULE.

Into the Wolves' Den gets 5 Skulls from me.