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princessleopard's review
3.0
Preface: I received a free copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review
Explicit content: Gore, violence, death, mentions of rape, attempted sexual assault, gun violence, murder
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
I have somewhat mixed feelings on this one. Overall, it was just a solid horror/thriller monster story. As far as that goes, it's fine. It has all the violence and tension you'd expect. It does make an attempt at decent characterization and character arcs. It tries to have sympathetic protagonists, and you do root for them, at least part way through the story. It does have some weird flubs, though. The central monsters are pretty unrealistic and aren't really explained. It's not particularly clear why they're so out of control now, vs being apparently dormant the past six years. There's sort of an explanation at the end with the lil twisteroo, but that twist is another weaker part of the story. In my opinion, it undermines the central character of the story and damages their likability pretty significantly. It fills in some plot holes, but just creates others. Then, there's just the implausibility of the whole beginning scenario - the accidental shot, the murder rap, the prison sentence, all of that was pretty silly and contrived.
I dunno. I think overall if you just want a turn-your-brain-off monster-fest similar to The Troop, this will quench that thirst - but don't really expect anything more.
Explicit content: Gore, violence, death, mentions of rape, attempted sexual assault, gun violence, murder
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
I have somewhat mixed feelings on this one. Overall, it was just a solid horror/thriller monster story. As far as that goes, it's fine. It has all the violence and tension you'd expect. It does make an attempt at decent characterization and character arcs. It tries to have sympathetic protagonists, and you do root for them, at least part way through the story. It does have some weird flubs, though. The central monsters are pretty unrealistic and aren't really explained. It's not particularly clear why they're so out of control now, vs being apparently dormant the past six years. There's sort of an explanation at the end with the lil twisteroo, but that twist is another weaker part of the story. In my opinion, it undermines the central character of the story and damages their likability pretty significantly. It fills in some plot holes, but just creates others. Then, there's just the implausibility of the whole beginning scenario - the accidental shot, the murder rap, the prison sentence, all of that was pretty silly and contrived.
I dunno. I think overall if you just want a turn-your-brain-off monster-fest similar to The Troop, this will quench that thirst - but don't really expect anything more.
rmdavies92's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
aly36's review
3.0
I really thought this book would be something I would enjoyed based on the synopsis, but it wasn't as gripping as I hoped. The creature the author created were creepy but I was just hoping for more. I think I have very high hopes for horror books and most do not do what I think. I want to be scared and creeped off my feet and I was not with this book either. *This book was given to me for free at my request from NetGalley and I provided this voluntary review.*
spookshow's review
3.0
You can find this review and all of my others over at www.readbookrepeat.wordpress.com
I received a copy of this book from the publisher, BooksGoSocial, and the author via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book follows a few different POVs. The most prominent is Tyler, a man recently released from prison after a six year stint, he was put away because he was found guilty of murdering a young man in Glaveston State Park. Though the wounds were extensive and Tyler only shot the gun that ended the man's life, he was found guilty of not only murdering the poor man, but also the disappearances of several other people across the years. The city needed a scape goat, and Tyler was their chosen one. In the present day we follow a few different people at the state park on the same day and night. All of them are thrown into a whirlwind of turmoil when they start getting attacked by strange black blobs with razor shard spines and teeth. No one knows exactly what the creatures are, besides the fact that they resemble giant leeches, and no one knows where they came from. It's a race against the clock as they try and work together to all get out of it alive, but will they succeed?
This story was very fast paced and was go, go, go pretty much from the start. It jumps point of view ever now and again, sometimes showing us characters that are completely away from each other, other times, showing us characters POVs when they're all in the same room. This style gives us a unique look into the different ways that all the characters perceive the situation they're in, as well as into their thoughts and feelings about the situation, as well as each other.
The creatures were interesting, seeing as they are basically giant, mutant, monster leeches, there is definitely some ick factor involved. As for me personally, normal leeches creep me out, as I'm sure they do most everyone else. So having giant ones with teeth and a bloodlust that seemingly can't be sated adds brings the shudder inducing, creepiness that all good horror stories can benefit from.
I would definitely class this as a horror story. There is swearing, gore, violence, hate, revenge, and redemption involved, it's a gritty telling of a young man who feels like the world has finally given up on him, as he tries to come to terms with the guilt that he feels about basically his whole life. Enter Dakota, the little sister to the guy that Tyler was convicted of killing, and we have a whole other dimension to the story. We get to see if from her view which I really enjoyed. She's gone off the rails since her big brother was taken from her, and the only thing she's been able to focus on the past six years is revenge. She wants to make her brother's killer pay for what he did, for everything that happened because he took her brother from her, he took her protector away and now her life has gone down one massive fucked up slope of anger, hurt, rage and despair. She blames Tyler for all of this. But when she is faced with the possibility that he wasn't responsible for what happened, he whole life is turned on her axis as everything she thought she knew could be a lie.
I enjoyed the characters. We had got to have a look into a view different kinds of people, the rage filled little sister, the man responsible for her downward spiral of life after killing her brother, the frat boys who just want to party and chase tail, the married couple where the love seems one sided these days, and the park ranger who is just going about his job and wants to help people. I found the characters well rounded and each of them was necessary, there was no character added just as extra padding to the cast list, so to speak.
One thing that did irk me a little with this story was the constant dropping of comparisons in the writing. They felt forced and as though they were added to bolster the word count, which I honestly don't believe is true, that's just how it felt to me. Each time I came across an unnecessary comparison sentence, it kind of jolted me out of the story a bit. I don't know why they irritated me so much, I honestly believe it was just that they seemed unnecessary to me. One example is something along the lines of "Mark is splattered with blood, the blotches remind him of those arsehole painters who get paid millions for just throwing paint on a canvas" that is not a direct quote as I can't remember it exactly, and I know it'll take me ages to find it in the book again. But this is just an example of the kind of comparisons. There were a lot of them. I don't mind the author dropping them in order to give the reader a good idea on how the character was feeling, but I just felt that there were too many pushed into the story, and that they felt forced, as I said earlier.
All in all, this was a good story, I did enjoy it and it was fast paced. I didn't see the revelation coming near the end and I thought it was brilliant, and it actually made me go "Oh wow. Okay." I'd still like to know where the hell those creatures came from, but maybe it's more unsettling NOT knowing.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher, BooksGoSocial, and the author via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book follows a few different POVs. The most prominent is Tyler, a man recently released from prison after a six year stint, he was put away because he was found guilty of murdering a young man in Glaveston State Park. Though the wounds were extensive and Tyler only shot the gun that ended the man's life, he was found guilty of not only murdering the poor man, but also the disappearances of several other people across the years. The city needed a scape goat, and Tyler was their chosen one. In the present day we follow a few different people at the state park on the same day and night. All of them are thrown into a whirlwind of turmoil when they start getting attacked by strange black blobs with razor shard spines and teeth. No one knows exactly what the creatures are, besides the fact that they resemble giant leeches, and no one knows where they came from. It's a race against the clock as they try and work together to all get out of it alive, but will they succeed?
This story was very fast paced and was go, go, go pretty much from the start. It jumps point of view ever now and again, sometimes showing us characters that are completely away from each other, other times, showing us characters POVs when they're all in the same room. This style gives us a unique look into the different ways that all the characters perceive the situation they're in, as well as into their thoughts and feelings about the situation, as well as each other.
The creatures were interesting, seeing as they are basically giant, mutant, monster leeches, there is definitely some ick factor involved. As for me personally, normal leeches creep me out, as I'm sure they do most everyone else. So having giant ones with teeth and a bloodlust that seemingly can't be sated adds brings the shudder inducing, creepiness that all good horror stories can benefit from.
I would definitely class this as a horror story. There is swearing, gore, violence, hate, revenge, and redemption involved, it's a gritty telling of a young man who feels like the world has finally given up on him, as he tries to come to terms with the guilt that he feels about basically his whole life. Enter Dakota, the little sister to the guy that Tyler was convicted of killing, and we have a whole other dimension to the story. We get to see if from her view which I really enjoyed. She's gone off the rails since her big brother was taken from her, and the only thing she's been able to focus on the past six years is revenge. She wants to make her brother's killer pay for what he did, for everything that happened because he took her brother from her, he took her protector away and now her life has gone down one massive fucked up slope of anger, hurt, rage and despair. She blames Tyler for all of this. But when she is faced with the possibility that he wasn't responsible for what happened, he whole life is turned on her axis as everything she thought she knew could be a lie.
I enjoyed the characters. We had got to have a look into a view different kinds of people, the rage filled little sister, the man responsible for her downward spiral of life after killing her brother, the frat boys who just want to party and chase tail, the married couple where the love seems one sided these days, and the park ranger who is just going about his job and wants to help people. I found the characters well rounded and each of them was necessary, there was no character added just as extra padding to the cast list, so to speak.
One thing that did irk me a little with this story was the constant dropping of comparisons in the writing. They felt forced and as though they were added to bolster the word count, which I honestly don't believe is true, that's just how it felt to me. Each time I came across an unnecessary comparison sentence, it kind of jolted me out of the story a bit. I don't know why they irritated me so much, I honestly believe it was just that they seemed unnecessary to me. One example is something along the lines of "Mark is splattered with blood, the blotches remind him of those arsehole painters who get paid millions for just throwing paint on a canvas" that is not a direct quote as I can't remember it exactly, and I know it'll take me ages to find it in the book again. But this is just an example of the kind of comparisons. There were a lot of them. I don't mind the author dropping them in order to give the reader a good idea on how the character was feeling, but I just felt that there were too many pushed into the story, and that they felt forced, as I said earlier.
All in all, this was a good story, I did enjoy it and it was fast paced. I didn't see the revelation coming near the end and I thought it was brilliant, and it actually made me go "Oh wow. Okay." I'd still like to know where the hell those creatures came from, but maybe it's more unsettling NOT knowing.
vondav's review
5.0
Tyler is an ex-con released after 6 years after “killing” a man. Dakota is the sister he wronged. Both wanting to draw a line under the past, they unbeknown to each other, go to the spot of that fatal day.
Jason Parent has a way of making you route for the underdog. Throughout the story, Tyler’s past is revealed and you find yourself drawn to him. Not much is known about Dakota at the start, she is just a figure that haunts Tyler, the girl with the piercing blue eyes, but as the story continues you find out that she is a very determined young woman who is fixated in getting her revenge.
The story starts with the original incident that puts Tyler in prison, jump forward 6 years and you find out what is in the park. As the story continues, you are introduced to a handful of characters, Charlie is Tyler’s parole officer, Karl and Abigail, a coupe who are hiking to save their marriage, Merwin the park ranger, Mark, Bo and Luc, 3 obnoxious frat boys and the poor boy they are hazing Frosh. Each character has their own tale to tell about the eventful day, but their stories are intertwined to make a story that you want to read to the end. The description of the creatures leave nothing to your imagination and some of the kills will make you cringe. Their attacks are non stop and you are willing the characters to survive, but like most stories that is not always the case.
From the start you are drawn into a story that is a blend of horror and a thriller and just like this author’s other work, the story is not clear cut so expect a few surprises. This story had a feel of a Shaun Hutson novel to it and I for one loved it.
Jason Parent has a way of making you route for the underdog. Throughout the story, Tyler’s past is revealed and you find yourself drawn to him. Not much is known about Dakota at the start, she is just a figure that haunts Tyler, the girl with the piercing blue eyes, but as the story continues you find out that she is a very determined young woman who is fixated in getting her revenge.
The story starts with the original incident that puts Tyler in prison, jump forward 6 years and you find out what is in the park. As the story continues, you are introduced to a handful of characters, Charlie is Tyler’s parole officer, Karl and Abigail, a coupe who are hiking to save their marriage, Merwin the park ranger, Mark, Bo and Luc, 3 obnoxious frat boys and the poor boy they are hazing Frosh. Each character has their own tale to tell about the eventful day, but their stories are intertwined to make a story that you want to read to the end. The description of the creatures leave nothing to your imagination and some of the kills will make you cringe. Their attacks are non stop and you are willing the characters to survive, but like most stories that is not always the case.
From the start you are drawn into a story that is a blend of horror and a thriller and just like this author’s other work, the story is not clear cut so expect a few surprises. This story had a feel of a Shaun Hutson novel to it and I for one loved it.
shh_reading85's review against another edition
4.0
Oh man! This was the best campy (pun intended ;) ) horror novel that I have read in a long, long time.
Thanks to this novel, I'll remain agoraphobic and plan not to camp any time soon, at least not where the book was set either. Yikes. Also, I'm not keen on sleeping on the lumpy ground, haha. But I definitely do not want the oily, poop shaped leech monsters that eat people to ruin it either.
Oh lord, though, these characters were some of the most abhorrent of people. I was kind of gladdened that these terrible people aren't real people but OOF, to die to the... hands? No, no hands: just big leechy mouths. Anyhow, to die like that those poor people and also yuck.
Absolutely the best read. If you're a camping aficionado, don't read this book before you go, you may end up lying awake all night worrying about man-eating poop slugs. (Or bears, yeah probably bears).
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
To read more reviews like this, visit me at Shh I am Reading
Thanks to this novel, I'll remain agoraphobic and plan not to camp any time soon, at least not where the book was set either. Yikes. Also, I'm not keen on sleeping on the lumpy ground, haha. But I definitely do not want the oily, poop shaped leech monsters that eat people to ruin it either.
Oh lord, though, these characters were some of the most abhorrent of people. I was kind of gladdened that these terrible people aren't real people but OOF, to die to the... hands? No, no hands: just big leechy mouths. Anyhow, to die like that those poor people and also yuck.
Absolutely the best read. If you're a camping aficionado, don't read this book before you go, you may end up lying awake all night worrying about man-eating poop slugs. (Or bears, yeah probably bears).
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
To read more reviews like this, visit me at Shh I am Reading
mysternightowl's review against another edition
4.0
https://mysternightowl.wordpress.com/2018/04/15/they-feed-by-jason-parent/
wellwortharead's review against another edition
4.0
Tyler is freshly released from jail when he decides to head to the park, back where all his troubles first started. He's not alone.There's also a woman with a grudge against him, and some other unsavory characters. There is something else in the woods at Galveston State Park. It's hungry, and it's evil, and it's anxious to welcome Tyler home. I'm really not sure what the hell it is but it looks like slugs and can take on the form of it's victims. It reminded me a little bit of The Ruins by Scott Smith, although that had talking vines that could infect your body and mind, and this has slug like creatures with unusual abilities.
Stories like this are why my idea of camping involves renting a house on a lake with a door that locks and not being a sitting duck in the forest with nothing but a flimsy tent for protection. They Feed is full of gory fun.
4 out of 5 stars
I received a complimentary copy for review.
Stories like this are why my idea of camping involves renting a house on a lake with a door that locks and not being a sitting duck in the forest with nothing but a flimsy tent for protection. They Feed is full of gory fun.
4 out of 5 stars
I received a complimentary copy for review.
motherhorror's review against another edition
3.0
(3.5) Thank you to Erin Sweet Al-Mehairi and SinisterGrin Press for sending the Night Worms this book in exchange for an honest review.
It's a good thing I hate camping. Jason Parent's monster infested woods are no place I'd want to be!
They Feed is a gorefest. It also reads like watching a B rated horror flick like the Blob or a fun Creature Feature like Tremors. The characters are all pretty despicable people with some campy lines but they made me laugh. Some of the dialog made my eyes roll though, it felt a little juvenile.
I especially liked the scene with the husband and wife out on a hike--the wife clearly didn't want to be there in the hot sun, making this useless trek up a rocky trail and her inner mind chat was cracking me up.
Parent has this unflinching, tells-it-like-it-is style of narrating that just grabs you by the shirt and sucks you into the story, maybe even before you decide if you want to. Ha!
A friend mentioned in a review I just read, that this reminded him of an X-Files episode and I would agree--these creatures are calculating and smart even though based on appearances, it would be easy to underestimate their ability.
It was fun watching a group of people, who would make unlikely friends given their circumstances, forced to come together and survive.
Not normally my typical, go-to favorite sub-genre of horror but this was entertaining and I enjoyed it.
It's a good thing I hate camping. Jason Parent's monster infested woods are no place I'd want to be!
They Feed is a gorefest. It also reads like watching a B rated horror flick like the Blob or a fun Creature Feature like Tremors. The characters are all pretty despicable people with some campy lines but they made me laugh. Some of the dialog made my eyes roll though, it felt a little juvenile.
I especially liked the scene with the husband and wife out on a hike--the wife clearly didn't want to be there in the hot sun, making this useless trek up a rocky trail and her inner mind chat was cracking me up.
Parent has this unflinching, tells-it-like-it-is style of narrating that just grabs you by the shirt and sucks you into the story, maybe even before you decide if you want to. Ha!
A friend mentioned in a review I just read, that this reminded him of an X-Files episode and I would agree--these creatures are calculating and smart even though based on appearances, it would be easy to underestimate their ability.
It was fun watching a group of people, who would make unlikely friends given their circumstances, forced to come together and survive.
Not normally my typical, go-to favorite sub-genre of horror but this was entertaining and I enjoyed it.
charshorrorcorner's review against another edition
4.0
You know, I'm just unclear about why people insist on camping and enjoying "the great" outdoors. If they read the kind of books I read, they wouldn't do that. THEY FEED is one of those books.
I'm going to keep this short because there are plenty of reviews already out there. If terrible people getting chased and eaten by creatures that resemble moving pieces of poo sounds like your idea of fun, this book is for you! And I'm not talking fun or humorous pieces of poo, like Mr. Hankey here:
I'm talking fast moving pieces of poo with teeth. Pieces that talk to each other, commune, if you will, to gang up on their victims.
There are some interesting characters here, none of whom comes of the woods in the same condition in which they went in. Which brings me full circle, back to the woods. Just don't go in there! Don't do it!
Highly recommended for horror fans, most especially fans of creature features! Hidey Ho!
*I was provided a free e-book in exchange for my honest review. This is it. Further, I consider Jason Parent to be a friend, both online and off, but that did not affect the content of my review.*
I'm going to keep this short because there are plenty of reviews already out there. If terrible people getting chased and eaten by creatures that resemble moving pieces of poo sounds like your idea of fun, this book is for you! And I'm not talking fun or humorous pieces of poo, like Mr. Hankey here:
I'm talking fast moving pieces of poo with teeth. Pieces that talk to each other, commune, if you will, to gang up on their victims.
There are some interesting characters here, none of whom comes of the woods in the same condition in which they went in. Which brings me full circle, back to the woods. Just don't go in there! Don't do it!
Highly recommended for horror fans, most especially fans of creature features! Hidey Ho!
*I was provided a free e-book in exchange for my honest review. This is it. Further, I consider Jason Parent to be a friend, both online and off, but that did not affect the content of my review.*