Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
(Kindle)
I’m going to start writing my reviews in pros and cons format, because I cannot/ to lazy to write a snazzy wordy review.
Pros
-it’s a short read
-the chapters aren’t to long
-the book gives “until dawn” vibes Iykyk
-loved the setting
-I liked the monster/Wendigo antagonist
-Didn’t shy away from the gore descriptions
Cons
-why did the characters make so many stupid decisions???! None of them had any survival instincts
-I cared about NOT ONE of the characters
-The love story/love triangle was more than half the book
-The one character who had his shit together, died
-The dog died
-I wish I knew the backstory of the monsters instead of 8 chapters of a boring love story
I’m going to start writing my reviews in pros and cons format, because I cannot/ to lazy to write a snazzy wordy review.
Pros
-it’s a short read
-the chapters aren’t to long
-the book gives “until dawn” vibes Iykyk
-loved the setting
-I liked the monster/Wendigo antagonist
-Didn’t shy away from the gore descriptions
Cons
-why did the characters make so many stupid decisions???! None of them had any survival instincts
-I cared about NOT ONE of the characters
-The love story/love triangle was more than half the book
-The one character who had his shit together, died
-The dog died
-I wish I knew the backstory of the monsters instead of 8 chapters of a boring love story
Well that was terrifying. Funnily enough it actually snowed while I was reading this (it never really snows where live) so I felt very immersed. These creatures sounded absolutely terrifying, they almost sounded like eight feet tall stick men like from the children’s book Stick Man but like if Stick Man went on a cocaine bender and popped some steroids. I’m sorry it’s very late when I’m writing this
The plot was... eh. The characters were all pretty meh. The dog was great.
Back to the plot: huuuuge plot holes from the start that I couldn't ignore. Wendigo folklore gone wrong. Not impressed.
Back to the plot: huuuuge plot holes from the start that I couldn't ignore. Wendigo folklore gone wrong. Not impressed.
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 was a decent creature feature type horror novel. To be honest if this wasn’t an audiobook I probably would have DNFed this book, it was a bit more annoying than scary. The ending is legit the only reason it got a 2.75 cause it did pick up pretty good in the end.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
2022 Horror Reading Challenge: Survival Horror
There are few things I love more than a creature horror story, set in a inescapable winter setting. It’s a weird niche genre but it is my jam. The Shuddering is everything I look for in a horror story. Ania creates an incredible cast of flawed yet super relatable individuals. The two leads are a twin siblings, Who are dealing with the trama of their childhood. They and their childhood friends are all going up to the family cabin for one last hoorah before they go their separate ways. The way Ania made me care about all these people was heartbreaking, because I got attached to them, knowing not all of them could make it out. The pace was something I loved as well, plenty of character development with plenty of attacks from the creepy creatures, to keep the adrenaline pumping. The creatures and their description was another strength of the novel. Their appearance is basically pumpkinhead, which is one of the best designs of all time. On top of everything I was treated to incredibly creepy and intense scenes that left me covered in goosebumps. This is the perfect winter book to curl up with. I couldn’t recommend it enough.
There are few things I love more than a creature horror story, set in a inescapable winter setting. It’s a weird niche genre but it is my jam. The Shuddering is everything I look for in a horror story. Ania creates an incredible cast of flawed yet super relatable individuals. The two leads are a twin siblings, Who are dealing with the trama of their childhood. They and their childhood friends are all going up to the family cabin for one last hoorah before they go their separate ways. The way Ania made me care about all these people was heartbreaking, because I got attached to them, knowing not all of them could make it out. The pace was something I loved as well, plenty of character development with plenty of attacks from the creepy creatures, to keep the adrenaline pumping. The creatures and their description was another strength of the novel. Their appearance is basically pumpkinhead, which is one of the best designs of all time. On top of everything I was treated to incredibly creepy and intense scenes that left me covered in goosebumps. This is the perfect winter book to curl up with. I couldn’t recommend it enough.
It's not Stephen King type scary, but there's something interesting about this writer's style. She has a way with developing her main characters. I liked the creepy snowbound setting and the mysterious nature of the monsters. The only thing I didn't like was that the book sometimes read as a horror movie. I could practically see the way it would play out on the big screen, and that type of formulaic style bores me with horror writing.
Sort of underwhelming, a little dull. The characters were so annoying and pretentious and i wasn't really rooting for them at all. It was interesting at times though. The writing made me cringe and roll my eyes at times.
The Shuddering reads, to me, exactly what it feels like to watch a horror movie where the main cast of characters are a group of friends being stalked by a monster - or monsters in this case. Not a slasher, like Nightmare On Elm Street, a creature feature, like The Descent. But set in a snowy landscape, not within the depths of an underground cave.
I feel like some of the characters are written here not to be the most likeable to give it that previously mentioned “‘00s, group of friends, inevitably torn apart by monsters, horror movie” feeling as you read it? I may be mistaken, but that’s what I think the author’s intentions were here.
The Shuddering does not take long to get into the action. It has a great opening chapter which is gore-filled from the get-go, so you know these creatures mean business. They will be tricky to defeat.
Twins, Ryan and Jane Adler, go on one last snowboarding holiday with their closest friends; Lauren, Sawyer and Sawyer’s fiancé April. They stay the Adlers’ parents’ mountain cabin home that is about to go up for sale.
Ryan and Lauren clearly have some feelings towards one another. Jane is hoping to reconcile with Sawyer, as they used to date one another, but all hopes are dashed when he brings along April.
As this drama unfolds between the friendship group, what is lurking in the snow-covered mountains, behind the trees?
A freak blizzard leaves the group stranded and the creatures in the darkness begin to close in… Who will make it out alive? They must fight for their survival or they could end up ravaged to death in the snow…
This was the first Ania Ahlborn book I’ve read, and I must say I’m impressed, she seems like a fresh voice in horror fiction who writes engaging and fast-paced stories. I can see why she is talked about so often in horror groups and on booktok.
This was a solid 4 star read, and I’m curious to check out her other highly praised titles; Brother and Dark Across The Bay very soon.
I feel like some of the characters are written here not to be the most likeable to give it that previously mentioned “‘00s, group of friends, inevitably torn apart by monsters, horror movie” feeling as you read it? I may be mistaken, but that’s what I think the author’s intentions were here.
The Shuddering does not take long to get into the action. It has a great opening chapter which is gore-filled from the get-go, so you know these creatures mean business. They will be tricky to defeat.
Twins, Ryan and Jane Adler, go on one last snowboarding holiday with their closest friends; Lauren, Sawyer and Sawyer’s fiancé April. They stay the Adlers’ parents’ mountain cabin home that is about to go up for sale.
Ryan and Lauren clearly have some feelings towards one another. Jane is hoping to reconcile with Sawyer, as they used to date one another, but all hopes are dashed when he brings along April.
As this drama unfolds between the friendship group, what is lurking in the snow-covered mountains, behind the trees?
A freak blizzard leaves the group stranded and the creatures in the darkness begin to close in… Who will make it out alive? They must fight for their survival or they could end up ravaged to death in the snow…
This was the first Ania Ahlborn book I’ve read, and I must say I’m impressed, she seems like a fresh voice in horror fiction who writes engaging and fast-paced stories. I can see why she is talked about so often in horror groups and on booktok.
This was a solid 4 star read, and I’m curious to check out her other highly praised titles; Brother and Dark Across The Bay very soon.
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No