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shawn_of_the_read's review against another edition
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? Yes
2.75
em_harring's review against another edition
1.0
I'm working on writing up a proper review, but here's my short version:
This book is hella racist and appropriates native culture without understanding the history behind the folklore used, and, assumedly, has no basic understanding of the horrific ramifications of settler colonialism.
I would recommend checking out this article for more information: https://www.nwpb.org/2018/10/26/horror-older-than-america/
And, for the love of god, if you love horror, please stop supporting cliché racist narratives such as this one. It's 2019. We all have to do better.
This book is hella racist and appropriates native culture without understanding the history behind the folklore used, and, assumedly, has no basic understanding of the horrific ramifications of settler colonialism.
I would recommend checking out this article for more information: https://www.nwpb.org/2018/10/26/horror-older-than-america/
And, for the love of god, if you love horror, please stop supporting cliché racist narratives such as this one. It's 2019. We all have to do better.
colorfulleo92's review against another edition
3.0
Savage species is a horror novel about horrific creatures that walks around on earth and three people who tries to survive. It was alright. Didn't really grab my attention and didn't get invested in the story.
zooloo1983's review against another edition
5.0
Okay so I am going to sound like a massive fangirl now (Sorry Eva pinching your saying now!) but my god can this man do any wrong! As you are all aware I would totally say I am in love with Jonathan Janz and his books! In my eyes, he IS the KING OF HORROR! Don’t believe me, then you need to check out his books and see why Flame Tree Press have brought up most of his back catalogue! Says it all in my eyes, an awesome partnership, my favourite publisher and favourite author. Anyway enough gushing (kiss assing some may think) you want to know about the book!!
This book reminded me so much of Richard Laymon (my other favourite author of the blood gore and guts) and his gruesome messed up worlds without the sex. This did feel like a love letter to him and I think he would be in awe of the writing. The beasts were freaky as hell, absolutely savage and as just as scary, there is just SO MUCH BLOOD and gore! You have your jack ass men, the pretty women and the car crash horror! EPIC!
It takes 50 pages, that is it, 50 pages out of the 292 pages for it to all go to hell! I just could not see how this could carry on for so many pages, but it did. I found I had to keep re-reading paragraphs because the book is so high tempo with the carnage I felt my eyes blitzing the pages in the same state of frenzy to keep up. So really it was my own fault, not to do the writing.
The book is unrelenting! You have a few stolen moments of calmness where the characters interact when they are not screaming at each other, learning about each other, their desires of course and learn a bit more about the savages but the main body of the book is a high octane gorefest. Also, like Laymon, Janz has thrown in some comical moments and some sexually charged moments, all to keep the reader interested and lighten the dark moments. But in these calm and peaceful moments, you are on edge waiting for the next intense massacre which you know is around the corner.
There are the characters I was hoping would see the light of day and others you could not wait to be caught and ripped to pieces…ok that was harsh….maybe characters you hoped that the big beasties might want to play a game with for a while, how is that? All of these people were realistically written, Janz made them come alive on the pages, with us the reader, urging them to safety.
My next read for Mr Janz is Wolfland and I have my eye on the next four books to be read too. I love how he can flit from the gore and gruesome over to the paranormal and the terrifying and it all seems so seamless and easy for him.
Hmmmm….I think this sounds more like a love letter to the author, whoops!
This book reminded me so much of Richard Laymon (my other favourite author of the blood gore and guts) and his gruesome messed up worlds without the sex. This did feel like a love letter to him and I think he would be in awe of the writing. The beasts were freaky as hell, absolutely savage and as just as scary, there is just SO MUCH BLOOD and gore! You have your jack ass men, the pretty women and the car crash horror! EPIC!
It takes 50 pages, that is it, 50 pages out of the 292 pages for it to all go to hell! I just could not see how this could carry on for so many pages, but it did. I found I had to keep re-reading paragraphs because the book is so high tempo with the carnage I felt my eyes blitzing the pages in the same state of frenzy to keep up. So really it was my own fault, not to do the writing.
The book is unrelenting! You have a few stolen moments of calmness where the characters interact when they are not screaming at each other, learning about each other, their desires of course and learn a bit more about the savages but the main body of the book is a high octane gorefest. Also, like Laymon, Janz has thrown in some comical moments and some sexually charged moments, all to keep the reader interested and lighten the dark moments. But in these calm and peaceful moments, you are on edge waiting for the next intense massacre which you know is around the corner.
There are the characters I was hoping would see the light of day and others you could not wait to be caught and ripped to pieces…ok that was harsh….maybe characters you hoped that the big beasties might want to play a game with for a while, how is that? All of these people were realistically written, Janz made them come alive on the pages, with us the reader, urging them to safety.
My next read for Mr Janz is Wolfland and I have my eye on the next four books to be read too. I love how he can flit from the gore and gruesome over to the paranormal and the terrifying and it all seems so seamless and easy for him.
Hmmmm….I think this sounds more like a love letter to the author, whoops!
sjgomzi's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars
Man, Jonathan Janz doesn’t play nice with his toys. He runs his characters to the ground, and then stomps on them, eviscerates them, and then does it again! This is a raw, viscous novel, with a very high body count. Non stop action with gore aplenty. Loved it!
Man, Jonathan Janz doesn’t play nice with his toys. He runs his characters to the ground, and then stomps on them, eviscerates them, and then does it again! This is a raw, viscous novel, with a very high body count. Non stop action with gore aplenty. Loved it!
claws13's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book which surprised me because I don't usually get into monsters all that much. I loved the 80's dumb college kid feel to it. One of the professors really annoyed me which in turn made me hope he got killed by one of the mor amorous monsters. But hey karma still got him. I will definitely be looking into more books by this author.
kkehoe's review against another edition
4.0
A fun monster story with twists and turns! Seemed just a bit too long near the end.
pbanditp's review against another edition
2.0
I never thought a book could have too much action. It just never stops and got repetitive. I didn’t connect with any of the characters
johnlynchbooks's review against another edition
4.0
A creature feature horror filled with violence and gore from a modern master of horror, Jonathan Janz. That is all I needed to pick this book, although to be fair, I pick up any book written by Jonathan Janz. I've only discovered the author within the last two years, but I've been slowly working my way through the back catalog.
This one, unless I'm mistaken, is one of the authors longer works, although from the pacing you would never know it. This book hits the ground running fairly early on and never gives you a chance to breathe. Janz credits Laymon as an influence for this particular one, and that is clear from reading it, although it also is very much a Jonathan Janz book. The author has one of the best grips on the English language that you're going to find in modern, straight up horror. What does that mean? It means that you're going to go from a character being infatuated with the female body, to blood and gore streaked scenes all done with beautifully written prose in between.
This is one of my favorite Jonathan Janz books I have read so far. It is not quite at the level of my two favorites, The Siren and the Specter, and The Dark Game but that is not a fault of the book or the author, those are two damn fine books that be at the top of any author's catalog. This one sits just beneath those, in my opinion.
If you have yet to read Savage Species I highly recommend you do so.
This one, unless I'm mistaken, is one of the authors longer works, although from the pacing you would never know it. This book hits the ground running fairly early on and never gives you a chance to breathe. Janz credits Laymon as an influence for this particular one, and that is clear from reading it, although it also is very much a Jonathan Janz book. The author has one of the best grips on the English language that you're going to find in modern, straight up horror. What does that mean? It means that you're going to go from a character being infatuated with the female body, to blood and gore streaked scenes all done with beautifully written prose in between.
This is one of my favorite Jonathan Janz books I have read so far. It is not quite at the level of my two favorites, The Siren and the Specter, and The Dark Game but that is not a fault of the book or the author, those are two damn fine books that be at the top of any author's catalog. This one sits just beneath those, in my opinion.
If you have yet to read Savage Species I highly recommend you do so.
richardneary's review against another edition
4.0
Incredibly fast paced gory horror. There was almost too much going on but once the carnage started I couldn't put this down. Great fun!