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ephemeralnat's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
3.0
It was just fine. Like that’s something I read. It said literary horror and I was expecting a lot more horror. There was just creepy vibes to it. It’s pretty fast paced everything happens in the course of 24 hours. My favorite thing about it was the letters from the friend.
savvyrosereads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Out now! [Thank you to the publisher for the free copy!]
Rating: 3/5 stars
Case arrives in rural Texas to visit her friend…but gets sucked into a mystery when her friend is nowhere to be found.
I was super intrigued when I read the synopsis for this one, and it was a really interesting read. It was a relatively fast read, although I will admit that part of me wanted it to be longer because I wanted the characters to be developed a bit more. That said, I think the best part about horror is when it creates a creeping feeling of dread as you wonder what will happen next, and this book definitely had that in spades!
As a bonus, one of my all-time favorite mysteries is THE LIKENESS by Tana French, and this had some similar vibes, which was also super fun!
CW: Violence/blood/injury; fire/burns; animal cruelty/death
Rating: 3/5 stars
Case arrives in rural Texas to visit her friend…but gets sucked into a mystery when her friend is nowhere to be found.
I was super intrigued when I read the synopsis for this one, and it was a really interesting read. It was a relatively fast read, although I will admit that part of me wanted it to be longer because I wanted the characters to be developed a bit more. That said, I think the best part about horror is when it creates a creeping feeling of dread as you wonder what will happen next, and this book definitely had that in spades!
As a bonus, one of my all-time favorite mysteries is THE LIKENESS by Tana French, and this had some similar vibes, which was also super fun!
CW: Violence/blood/injury; fire/burns; animal cruelty/death
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Animal cruelty, Violence, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
skimreads's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
1.0
curlyheadedone's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
3.0
The book follows are main character Case who goes to visit her friend Drea after telling her to come. Drea has been living in a house with friends from college ever since the huge disaster happened. But when Case arrive, Drea isn’t there and her friends aren’t saying anything. Now it’s up to Case to find out what happened and get out of that house before it’s too late.
Oh how I wish I liked this book more. There were bits that I liked but not enough that made me love love the book. We (the readers) get bits and pieces of the back story through out the book. There’s mentions of a disaster but we don’t really learn what it is until almost the end of the book. Honestly the whole thing felt disjointed and there were moments that were hard to follow. I think my biggest issue is the book isn’t long enough so there’s not enough time to get into it.
Huge thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy of this book!
I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review
jan_coco_day's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
5.0
Reads more like a missing-girl thriller with a folk horror atmosphere, than true horror, so it's great for readers who want the horror vibe, but not to be too scared. When I say that we need to include children's and teen fiction in discussions about literary fiction, I am talking about this book specifically.
The book is so good, I will forgive Samantha Mabry for choosing the actual extinct volcano that is thirteen miles from my house to erupt. (Rude)
Also noteworthy: there are no adults and no romance in this book.
One of the best books I read in 2023.
The book is so good, I will forgive Samantha Mabry for choosing the actual extinct volcano that is thirteen miles from my house to erupt. (Rude)
Also noteworthy: there are no adults and no romance in this book.
One of the best books I read in 2023.
booksatlunch's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
- 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? It's complicated
3.0
Huh. What a weird little book. It's getting three stars because it kept me engaged, but the ending was extremely anti-climactic. Overall the book was too short for the many things it was trying to do. The atmosphere was solid which helped it a lot. Not a standout by any means.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Animal death
hollielovesromance's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
When Case’s friend writes her a letter asking her to come visit her at a house on the outskirts of their remote hometown, she decides to show up. Only when Case gets to the home her friend is gone and her friend’s roommates aren’t forthcoming in where she is.
This book tried to do big things which I admire but I ultimately think it fell a bit short. In attempt to be mysterious the author waits to reveal information about backstory regarding how the characters got to the house until like 67% in. Case is a morally grey character and I didn’t really like her or feel like I could trust her but I did know she would do anything to find her friend. The pacing felt a bit off for me and I found myself bored in some parts and then it was rushed to a not so satisfying ending. I really wanted to like this book more because the premise is so cool and mysterious but it didn’t fully deliver.
This book tried to do big things which I admire but I ultimately think it fell a bit short. In attempt to be mysterious the author waits to reveal information about backstory regarding how the characters got to the house until like 67% in. Case is a morally grey character and I didn’t really like her or feel like I could trust her but I did know she would do anything to find her friend. The pacing felt a bit off for me and I found myself bored in some parts and then it was rushed to a not so satisfying ending. I really wanted to like this book more because the premise is so cool and mysterious but it didn’t fully deliver.
booknerd_charlie's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Clever Creatures of the Night was a departure from my usual reading choice, but I'm glad I made the leap of faith. Samantha Mabry's writing drew me in and kept me captivated from the beginning. The story was a quick read, but I still felt like there was enough time devoted to character development and action so it felt well-rounded and fully developed.
I'll admit that Case is perhaps a morally gray character that perhaps doesn't fall into the "but is still lovable" category. I couldn't really find myself rooting for her, but I think in the end, that's ok. It's a nice departure to have a heroine that I don't necessarily root for, who is complicated in sometimes troubling ways, and who makes choices that I don't always understand. She is human, and part of what we should do when we read is try to put ourselves into the shoes of characters unlike ourselves so that we can we can be better humans.
I debated on whether I wanted to give this a 3.75 or 4-star rating, but in the end, the intrigue of the plot and the complexities that Case brought to the story really made the decision for me. If you're looking for a quick, fascinating, suspenseful read, then I would definitely recommend this story. I'm looking forward to seeing more from Samantha Mabry in the future.
I'll admit that Case is perhaps a morally gray character that perhaps doesn't fall into the "but is still lovable" category. I couldn't really find myself rooting for her, but I think in the end, that's ok. It's a nice departure to have a heroine that I don't necessarily root for, who is complicated in sometimes troubling ways, and who makes choices that I don't always understand. She is human, and part of what we should do when we read is try to put ourselves into the shoes of characters unlike ourselves so that we can we can be better humans.
I debated on whether I wanted to give this a 3.75 or 4-star rating, but in the end, the intrigue of the plot and the complexities that Case brought to the story really made the decision for me. If you're looking for a quick, fascinating, suspenseful read, then I would definitely recommend this story. I'm looking forward to seeing more from Samantha Mabry in the future.
whitwein's review against another edition
3.0
I loved Tigers, Not Daughters so I was very excited to read this horror novel.
Case gets a letter from her friend Drea inviting her to her house for a short visit. But when Case gets there Drea is no where to be seen and Drea’s roommates are creepy and evasive. Case needs to find Drea and quickly!
Honestly I expected to like this more than I did… it was just kinda meh. I liked Case and her drive to find her friend but the plot moved slow and the creepy factor was lacking vibes. Maybe an audiobook would have been the way to go??
Thanks to NetGalley and Algonquin Press for an eARC.
Case gets a letter from her friend Drea inviting her to her house for a short visit. But when Case gets there Drea is no where to be seen and Drea’s roommates are creepy and evasive. Case needs to find Drea and quickly!
Honestly I expected to like this more than I did… it was just kinda meh. I liked Case and her drive to find her friend but the plot moved slow and the creepy factor was lacking vibes. Maybe an audiobook would have been the way to go??
Thanks to NetGalley and Algonquin Press for an eARC.
cait_reads_and_drinks's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Thank you partner Novel Suspects and Algonquin Young Readers or the gifted copy!
Alright, this one starts off kind of wonky. I couldn’t wrap my head around the timeline of events (reflecting on the past like it was a long time ago but it was only actually a few years ago?) and the age of the characters. I kept thinking they were older but they were actually high school/early college age. This is a YA book I guess so that makes sense but their ages just didn’t seem realistic within the context of the storyline.
Things did start to make more sense as the story unfolds but overall it felt a little disjointed. The ending was a bit rushed and ultimately underwhelming which was so disappointing because it had so much potential. That being said, I couldn’t put it down.
Kind of gives Lord of the Flies and Spahn Ranch vibes. Check it out if you’re looking for a quick read with a bit of mystery and thrill but don’t get too hung up on the details.
Alright, this one starts off kind of wonky. I couldn’t wrap my head around the timeline of events (reflecting on the past like it was a long time ago but it was only actually a few years ago?) and the age of the characters. I kept thinking they were older but they were actually high school/early college age. This is a YA book I guess so that makes sense but their ages just didn’t seem realistic within the context of the storyline.
Things did start to make more sense as the story unfolds but overall it felt a little disjointed. The ending was a bit rushed and ultimately underwhelming which was so disappointing because it had so much potential. That being said, I couldn’t put it down.
Kind of gives Lord of the Flies and Spahn Ranch vibes. Check it out if you’re looking for a quick read with a bit of mystery and thrill but don’t get too hung up on the details.