Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.52 AVERAGE
3.52 AVERAGE
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.5. The story wasn’t super riveting, but if you like gore and cannibalism, go for it. It pushes the boundaries. 12/10 for that aspect. I read the unrevised version and I recommend it.
I am on a quest, a quest to find a well-written splatterpunk novel. I know it is out there, and like all noble knights on a quest, I will not stop until I find it. Unfortunately Off Season by Jack Ketchum is not it.
Now I enjoyed Off Season the way I enjoy a good (and not so good) slasher film. This was just not a well written story. So I guess my quest will continue.
Now I enjoyed Off Season the way I enjoy a good (and not so good) slasher film. This was just not a well written story. So I guess my quest will continue.
dark
sad
tense
fast-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
A New York editor rents a cabin in the woods in Maine and waits for friends to arrive. A wild family living nearby decide to bring a night of terror down on their heads. None will walk away without scars.
I mostly went into this blind. I found the writing to be really solid and engaging. The description of horror was just detailed enough to be disturbing without drawing out scenes too long. The imagery was gory and terrible to read. The pacing was nice, nothing was needlessly added or fluffed up.
I wouldn't recommend this for the faint of heart, but if you enjoy horror movies and books, then you'll like this one. You'll never see a fire the same way again! I was left pretty shell shocked by the end of it all.
I received this book from Amazon first reads for free.
I mostly went into this blind. I found the writing to be really solid and engaging. The description of horror was just detailed enough to be disturbing without drawing out scenes too long. The imagery was gory and terrible to read. The pacing was nice, nothing was needlessly added or fluffed up.
I wouldn't recommend this for the faint of heart, but if you enjoy horror movies and books, then you'll like this one. You'll never see a fire the same way again! I was left pretty shell shocked by the end of it all.
I received this book from Amazon first reads for free.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Police brutality, Cannibalism
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder
challenging
dark
tense
fast-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
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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
This solidified I’m not much of a fan of horror that’s centered around physical violence and gore. It was hard for me to buy into the idea of a cannibalistic group of people going undetected in Maine for so long, so I didn’t find it scary per se, just gross mainly
This was not a bad book, in a "mutant hill people murderfest" kind of way.
The plot is solid, with a creepy cannibal clan preying on tourists and other isolated people near the town of Dead River. An editor from New York rents a cabin to work in isolation, but hosts her sister and 4 other friends before buckling down.
This was Ketchum's first published novel, and it shows. The book is rather obsessed with sex, despite it not being the primary subject matter. It also falls into the "protagonist examining themselves in the mirror" trap, and characters get bizarrely distracted by sex at completely unreasonable times, like Marjorie thinking about Laura's breasts in the middle of fleeing for their lives. Ketchum also plays extremely fast and loose with the effects of trauma and the ease of certain types. Way too many skulls break open way too easily.
Despite its warts, the story keeps the tension high and the plot moving along once it gets rolling. Ketchum uses the switch between view points (the victims, local police, and members of the cannibal clan) to good effect. The ending is nicely bittersweet.
It's extremely gory, violent, and graphic - if that sort of book bothers you, definitely give this one a miss.
The plot is solid, with a creepy cannibal clan preying on tourists and other isolated people near the town of Dead River. An editor from New York rents a cabin to work in isolation, but hosts her sister and 4 other friends before buckling down.
This was Ketchum's first published novel, and it shows. The book is rather obsessed with sex, despite it not being the primary subject matter. It also falls into the "protagonist examining themselves in the mirror" trap, and characters get bizarrely distracted by sex at completely unreasonable times, like Marjorie thinking about Laura's breasts in the middle of fleeing for their lives. Ketchum also plays extremely fast and loose with the effects of trauma and the ease of certain types. Way too many skulls break open way too easily.
Despite its warts, the story keeps the tension high and the plot moving along once it gets rolling. Ketchum uses the switch between view points (the victims, local police, and members of the cannibal clan) to good effect. The ending is nicely bittersweet.
It's extremely gory, violent, and graphic - if that sort of book bothers you, definitely give this one a miss.
dark
tense
medium-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book is extremely brutal, violent and not for the faint of heart. I live dark stories and twisted stories but often times I was reading and found myself having to take a break from the brutality.
It’s also EXTREMELY slow to start. For the first 100 pages not much happens and it’s a lot of set up. But keep with it because it ramps up after that.
I’m not sure if I liked Ketchum’s style of writing. Sometimes he writes very eloquently and beautiful and then he talks about cocks and breasts. It was a little jarring but this is novel with very mature and violent themes. It also seemed very slow because there was little dialogue throughout the book.
Overall, I enjoyed this novel and horror would also like it.
It’s also EXTREMELY slow to start. For the first 100 pages not much happens and it’s a lot of set up. But keep with it because it ramps up after that.
I’m not sure if I liked Ketchum’s style of writing. Sometimes he writes very eloquently and beautiful and then he talks about cocks and breasts. It was a little jarring but this is novel with very mature and violent themes. It also seemed very slow because there was little dialogue throughout the book.
Overall, I enjoyed this novel and horror would also like it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Violence, Vomit, Cannibalism