Scan barcode
wannabekingpin's review
2.0
all reviews in one place:
night mode reading ;
skaitom nakties rezimu
About: An expedition with military reinforcements sets out into a deep, dark, and damp forest, often drowned in mist, in search of proof on possible gold deposits in the area. Strange things happened here before. People disappeared before too. Thus the military interference. But whatever lurks in the dark fog can’t be killed by mere bullets. It is an old creature, a predator, with great knowledge of the terrain they’re all on.
Mine: Not only was the plot dull, full of standard tropes that were painfully predictable, it lacked logic too. Characters were horribly two-dimensional, behavior set in a pattern, even when it made no sense whatsoever, even when there was no gain, neither moral points, nor monetary ones: they still did what was necessary to stall the plot, create thin sense of tension. To add to that, this is the first book in the series, so why did it feel like I’m missing something?
Sorry, but this was not my cup of tea, by far. 2 out of 5 is the best I can offer.
night mode reading ;
skaitom nakties rezimu
About: An expedition with military reinforcements sets out into a deep, dark, and damp forest, often drowned in mist, in search of proof on possible gold deposits in the area. Strange things happened here before. People disappeared before too. Thus the military interference. But whatever lurks in the dark fog can’t be killed by mere bullets. It is an old creature, a predator, with great knowledge of the terrain they’re all on.
Mine: Not only was the plot dull, full of standard tropes that were painfully predictable, it lacked logic too. Characters were horribly two-dimensional, behavior set in a pattern, even when it made no sense whatsoever, even when there was no gain, neither moral points, nor monetary ones: they still did what was necessary to stall the plot, create thin sense of tension. To add to that, this is the first book in the series, so why did it feel like I’m missing something?
Sorry, but this was not my cup of tea, by far. 2 out of 5 is the best I can offer.
vikingwolf's review
2.0
What attracted me to this book was firstly the cover and secondly the idea of there being a scary dinosaur in the forests of New Zealand, a location we rarely see in horror reads. I was really excited to read this one.
A high number of missing people have been reported in the national park and a military team that was sent in to find out what happened has also disappeared. Major Arnold decides to put a second team led by Taine McKenna into the park to find out what happened to the other team and solve the mystery. They go undercover as a military security team for an official scientific expedition to find gold in the area and try to use the opportunity to scout around for any sign of the missing people. However what they find instead is a legendary monster that has been on a killing spree and is determined to add everyone on the expedition to the lunch menu.
The actual main story was interesting. The monster is totally lethal and deadly so just being a few steps adrift of the group can be enough to cost you your life. The monster is scary and the attack scenes are pretty brutal so I liked those parts of it. The expedition does seem to go round in circles though as the team try to trek out after their first encounters with the monsters and then trek back in again, then try to get out again. I would expect a military team to decide to get everyone out immediatly and if two people are idiot enough to go back to try and set a trap for the beast, surely the military has a duty to get the others to safety first and then consider going to fetch the idiots? I found it a very strange decision to take everyone back into the danger zone they were just getting out of.
I'm not much for mystical plot threads about local legends in my horror books so I did struggle a bit with that in this book. A local man is visited by an image of the beast which makes him block the road into the national park and try to stop people going into the danger zone, knowing that a monster is waiting for them. But we then get dream sequences where he goes out walking and meets and talks to the monster and I felt that these additions kept slowing down the plot. I sort of lost interest in this dreamwalker stuff every time it appeared.
I was also a bit disinterested in the conspiracy plots which for me felt a bit half hearted. We have the story of how the gold sample was planted to make everyone think the land is gold rich and the person putting together the survey team was then blackmailed into adding someone to the team but I'm not really clear on the purpose of all this. Someone from Geotech also persuades someone to be a front for their company based on reports of what is in the jungle but again it was all a bit vague as to why this was going on. Add in the militant young locals who are prepared to kill the people on the expedition as they don't want outsiders in their forest despite elders giving permission, and some jungle camp getting attacked and I felt a good horror plot descended into a bit of a mess. I just didn't feel that all this extra stuff added anything to the story and it just slowed things down too much.
Overall, I didn't love this book. I did enjoy the monster bits but not much else about it really appealed to me I'm afraid. I finished it because I needed it for my World Reads challenge but I did consider DNFing it at one point. I decided not to read the sequel. For me it just didn't quite deliver what I was hoping for and just wasn't my thing.
2.5 stars
A high number of missing people have been reported in the national park and a military team that was sent in to find out what happened has also disappeared. Major Arnold decides to put a second team led by Taine McKenna into the park to find out what happened to the other team and solve the mystery. They go undercover as a military security team for an official scientific expedition to find gold in the area and try to use the opportunity to scout around for any sign of the missing people. However what they find instead is a legendary monster that has been on a killing spree and is determined to add everyone on the expedition to the lunch menu.
The actual main story was interesting. The monster is totally lethal and deadly so just being a few steps adrift of the group can be enough to cost you your life. The monster is scary and the attack scenes are pretty brutal so I liked those parts of it. The expedition does seem to go round in circles though as the team try to trek out after their first encounters with the monsters and then trek back in again, then try to get out again. I would expect a military team to decide to get everyone out immediatly and if two people are idiot enough to go back to try and set a trap for the beast, surely the military has a duty to get the others to safety first and then consider going to fetch the idiots? I found it a very strange decision to take everyone back into the danger zone they were just getting out of.
I'm not much for mystical plot threads about local legends in my horror books so I did struggle a bit with that in this book. A local man is visited by an image of the beast which makes him block the road into the national park and try to stop people going into the danger zone, knowing that a monster is waiting for them. But we then get dream sequences where he goes out walking and meets and talks to the monster and I felt that these additions kept slowing down the plot. I sort of lost interest in this dreamwalker stuff every time it appeared.
I was also a bit disinterested in the conspiracy plots which for me felt a bit half hearted. We have the story of how the gold sample was planted to make everyone think the land is gold rich and the person putting together the survey team was then blackmailed into adding someone to the team but I'm not really clear on the purpose of all this. Someone from Geotech also persuades someone to be a front for their company based on reports of what is in the jungle but again it was all a bit vague as to why this was going on. Add in the militant young locals who are prepared to kill the people on the expedition as they don't want outsiders in their forest despite elders giving permission, and some jungle camp getting attacked and I felt a good horror plot descended into a bit of a mess. I just didn't feel that all this extra stuff added anything to the story and it just slowed things down too much.
Overall, I didn't love this book. I did enjoy the monster bits but not much else about it really appealed to me I'm afraid. I finished it because I needed it for my World Reads challenge but I did consider DNFing it at one point. I decided not to read the sequel. For me it just didn't quite deliver what I was hoping for and just wasn't my thing.
2.5 stars
katbotdiaries's review against another edition
2.0
The book has pacing issues, but the main reason I rated this book two stars is because the female characters are used as bait, motivation for the male characters, and one is even fridged to set up the climax of the story where another female character is used as bait. I googled the author as well because I was positive this was written by a man, considering how the women were treated. I was wrong.
I read this for a Decolonize Your Bookshelf challenge, and while the Māori culture was cool, the issues outweighed the things I liked.
I read this for a Decolonize Your Bookshelf challenge, and while the Māori culture was cool, the issues outweighed the things I liked.
johnlynchbooks's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars rounded to 5
A few years ago I had read a military fantasy series by Myke Cole called Shadow Ops. More recently I’ve been wondering why can’t I find a good military/horror crossover. That’s not to say there isn’t anything of the sort, I just hadn’t found it yet. I came across Into the Mist, by Lee Murray and I’m pleased to say that if this book is indicative of rest of the series, I’ve found what I’m looking for.
Sergeant Taine Mckenna, a member of the New Zealand Defence Force and his squad are tasked with providing security for a civilian research team in the Te Urewera National Park. What’s initially seen as a babysitting task turns life or death for not only the task force, but local separatists as well. The atmosphere of this book is incredible. The author's love and respect for her homeland shines through in the story, with her descriptions of the setting and her infusion of Māori language and legends. I loved being able to flip to the back of the book and discover the meaning of the unfamiliar words that I was reading, this glossary also extends to some of the military acronyms readers may be unfamiliar with. The book is very well written and contains both likable characters, and one character just begging to be slaughtered. I wish that we had gotten to know more about Mckenna in this book, and that’s about the only issue I have as far as characterization goes. Once things pick up, the book maintains a constant level of tension. Murray does an excellent job of creating a creature that is steeped in Māori legend, while at the same time being based on a native species which in turn leads to a believable killing machine. The creature in this book is death incarnate. Murray writes good action sequences and brings gruesome death to those in the way of this mythological creature come to life.
Into The Mist, by Lee Murray is an excellent creature novel. It’s well constructed , the characters are believable and the creature here is relentless. Murray’s use of the New Zealand setting, local Māori legend and the fusion of military and horror come together to create an amazingly fun read. The story in these pages felt like a cross between Jurassic Park and the Predator. This is one of my favorite creature horrors I’ve ever read, I’m buying the sequels soon and I recommend you buy Into the Mist.
A few years ago I had read a military fantasy series by Myke Cole called Shadow Ops. More recently I’ve been wondering why can’t I find a good military/horror crossover. That’s not to say there isn’t anything of the sort, I just hadn’t found it yet. I came across Into the Mist, by Lee Murray and I’m pleased to say that if this book is indicative of rest of the series, I’ve found what I’m looking for.
Sergeant Taine Mckenna, a member of the New Zealand Defence Force and his squad are tasked with providing security for a civilian research team in the Te Urewera National Park. What’s initially seen as a babysitting task turns life or death for not only the task force, but local separatists as well. The atmosphere of this book is incredible. The author's love and respect for her homeland shines through in the story, with her descriptions of the setting and her infusion of Māori language and legends. I loved being able to flip to the back of the book and discover the meaning of the unfamiliar words that I was reading, this glossary also extends to some of the military acronyms readers may be unfamiliar with. The book is very well written and contains both likable characters, and one character just begging to be slaughtered. I wish that we had gotten to know more about Mckenna in this book, and that’s about the only issue I have as far as characterization goes. Once things pick up, the book maintains a constant level of tension. Murray does an excellent job of creating a creature that is steeped in Māori legend, while at the same time being based on a native species which in turn leads to a believable killing machine. The creature in this book is death incarnate. Murray writes good action sequences and brings gruesome death to those in the way of this mythological creature come to life.
Into The Mist, by Lee Murray is an excellent creature novel. It’s well constructed , the characters are believable and the creature here is relentless. Murray’s use of the New Zealand setting, local Māori legend and the fusion of military and horror come together to create an amazingly fun read. The story in these pages felt like a cross between Jurassic Park and the Predator. This is one of my favorite creature horrors I’ve ever read, I’m buying the sequels soon and I recommend you buy Into the Mist.
waheela's review
5.0
This was a very nice surprise. Read it in one go - because I just had to know what happened next.
A bit of a slow start, but the rest of the book certainly makes up for that. The monster was great. The characters were great and not too cliche. There was just enough back ground information to get to know them but not enough to take my attention away from the real reason I read the book - the monster. Even the love story was tactful and very well written.
The kill order surprised me which for me is a big plus. I liked the interwoven mythology but I guess that could put some readers off.
All in all a great book and I will definitely be looking for the next one.
A bit of a slow start, but the rest of the book certainly makes up for that. The monster was great. The characters were great and not too cliche. There was just enough back ground information to get to know them but not enough to take my attention away from the real reason I read the book - the monster. Even the love story was tactful and very well written.
The kill order surprised me which for me is a big plus. I liked the interwoven mythology but I guess that could put some readers off.
All in all a great book and I will definitely be looking for the next one.
vondav's review
3.0
I think the majority of people have heard of Godzilla and King Kong. Larger than life creatures that had remained undiscovered until an expedition group came across them.
Into the Mist is set in Te Urewera National Park, New Zealand. Gold has been found on ancient ground and the army has been tasked with the protection of the contractors. As the investigations continue, the group are in danger not just from Militant Tuhoe separatists, but something larger than life. Putting the group in danger was an ancient monster from Māori legend known as a Taniwha. Whilst everyone in the Māori community had heard of this creature, no-one had seen one.
Sergeant McKenna and his group were good at what they do, but this did not mean that they would survive this mission. They were a close knitted team who played on their strengths. Trying to protect the scientists was not an easy task and whilst Dr Jules Asher had her own personal problems of being out in the field, Dr Christian de Haas and Richard Foster would have made any man turn a gun on them, they were the most pompous pair of characters that I have read about in a while.
Just outside the National Park, Temera was having visions of the danger, an elderly gentleman known as a matakite. Although he was seen as eccentric, he was comfortable with his gift and over time understood what the visions were telling him.
The bond between McKenna and Temera was strong and showed that even though the Sergeant was up to date with modern technology, he still held on to his Māori heritage. The mixture of the modern and ancient story blended smoothly and it has got me curious about other cultures.
This book was fast-paced, the only time it slowed was when the story concentrated on the separatists, whilst they met the creature, I felt that they did not add anything to the story. The attacks were bloody and detailed which added to the monster ferocity and you could sense just how dangerous the mission was. If you are looking for an adventure into the unknown then this is a good story to get you started and with no cliffhanger an added bonus.
Into the Mist is set in Te Urewera National Park, New Zealand. Gold has been found on ancient ground and the army has been tasked with the protection of the contractors. As the investigations continue, the group are in danger not just from Militant Tuhoe separatists, but something larger than life. Putting the group in danger was an ancient monster from Māori legend known as a Taniwha. Whilst everyone in the Māori community had heard of this creature, no-one had seen one.
Sergeant McKenna and his group were good at what they do, but this did not mean that they would survive this mission. They were a close knitted team who played on their strengths. Trying to protect the scientists was not an easy task and whilst Dr Jules Asher had her own personal problems of being out in the field, Dr Christian de Haas and Richard Foster would have made any man turn a gun on them, they were the most pompous pair of characters that I have read about in a while.
Just outside the National Park, Temera was having visions of the danger, an elderly gentleman known as a matakite. Although he was seen as eccentric, he was comfortable with his gift and over time understood what the visions were telling him.
The bond between McKenna and Temera was strong and showed that even though the Sergeant was up to date with modern technology, he still held on to his Māori heritage. The mixture of the modern and ancient story blended smoothly and it has got me curious about other cultures.
This book was fast-paced, the only time it slowed was when the story concentrated on the separatists, whilst they met the creature, I felt that they did not add anything to the story. The attacks were bloody and detailed which added to the monster ferocity and you could sense just how dangerous the mission was. If you are looking for an adventure into the unknown then this is a good story to get you started and with no cliffhanger an added bonus.
westcoastreign82's review
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
bjswann's review
4.0
A fast-paced adventure that blends action and horror in a fun combination.
Into the Mist sees the always likeable NZDF Sergeant Taine McKenna come up against a primordial lizard of mythical significance. The result is pure escapist entertainment. In a world of grimdark horror books striving to be ominous and emotionally traumatizing, this book is a breath of fresh and welcome air, providing the reader with an unashamedly fun ride full of action, suspense, mystery, horror, and romance. Murray’s prose, as always, is crisp and readable, her action scenes vivid and cinematic. Influences from Maori myth and legend add a welcome fantasy element to proceedings, enriching the depth of the narrative and creating a multi-layered work with both a temporal and mythical dimension. But most of all, this book is fun! If you’re after a mix of action, horror and fantasy that is both grisly and rollicking by turns, look no further than Into the Mist.
Into the Mist sees the always likeable NZDF Sergeant Taine McKenna come up against a primordial lizard of mythical significance. The result is pure escapist entertainment. In a world of grimdark horror books striving to be ominous and emotionally traumatizing, this book is a breath of fresh and welcome air, providing the reader with an unashamedly fun ride full of action, suspense, mystery, horror, and romance. Murray’s prose, as always, is crisp and readable, her action scenes vivid and cinematic. Influences from Maori myth and legend add a welcome fantasy element to proceedings, enriching the depth of the narrative and creating a multi-layered work with both a temporal and mythical dimension. But most of all, this book is fun! If you’re after a mix of action, horror and fantasy that is both grisly and rollicking by turns, look no further than Into the Mist.
aliciasirvid's review
5.0
Love this book. I really felt like I'd been dropped into the New Zealand outback.
Great fun, plenty of action.
I loved the characters, and all the compelling twists and turns in this fast-paced novel. But, just to be different and sheer away from the heroic Taine, My fav character was Jules - because she's a rare sciency character who actually acts like a scientist and not a caricature.
And such a fun monster, totally riveting.
Great fun, plenty of action.
I loved the characters, and all the compelling twists and turns in this fast-paced novel. But, just to be different and sheer away from the heroic Taine, My fav character was Jules - because she's a rare sciency character who actually acts like a scientist and not a caricature.
And such a fun monster, totally riveting.
brucemri's review
4.0
Ohh, this was so much fun.
When I was younger, I read a lot of technothrillers and related techie adventure stories. But as I grew up, I felt less and less comfortable with the rampant sexism and other bad attitudes. When I heard that a woman from New Zealand was writing that kind of thing and getting favorable mention from people surveying women in the horror field and their work, I thought I'd check it out. And I'm so glad I did!
What we have here is the story of a scientific party surveying part of a national park that's part of the territory of a Maori tribe who didn't ever formally submit to the national government, with some of the scientists on secret agendas of their own, and the unit of New Zealand Defence Force troops assigned to protect them and also look into a mysterious rash of disappearances in that area. It turns out there really is a mysterious creature in there, explained by pleasingly fluffy paleontology. Complications ensue. People get eaten. Clear thinking, solid cooperation, and general cluefulness save the day.
The broad shape of all this was delightfully familiar, well-executed, and thoroughly satisfying. But it also had some features that deserve specific note.
The villains of the piece are Australian industrialists who are capable of doing some real harm to New Zealand concerns, and willing to do so. That's a refreshing change of pace for an American like me.
Maori shamanism works. A spirit-traveling local resident is crucial to saving the day, working in tandem with the leader of the military force, who briefly gets to see and communicate with him. Some technothrillers do this, though most don't, and it was interesting to read a treatment whose details I could look up and confirm were the product of some significant research.
Romance blooms, but in a way that respects both of the people involved as something more than a body to throw at the other for gratification.
This is the first of a series bearing the name of the military commander, and I'm going to want to read more. This really scratched a long-neglected itch in a way that satisfied me deeply.
When I was younger, I read a lot of technothrillers and related techie adventure stories. But as I grew up, I felt less and less comfortable with the rampant sexism and other bad attitudes. When I heard that a woman from New Zealand was writing that kind of thing and getting favorable mention from people surveying women in the horror field and their work, I thought I'd check it out. And I'm so glad I did!
What we have here is the story of a scientific party surveying part of a national park that's part of the territory of a Maori tribe who didn't ever formally submit to the national government, with some of the scientists on secret agendas of their own, and the unit of New Zealand Defence Force troops assigned to protect them and also look into a mysterious rash of disappearances in that area. It turns out there really is a mysterious creature in there, explained by pleasingly fluffy paleontology. Complications ensue. People get eaten. Clear thinking, solid cooperation, and general cluefulness save the day.
The broad shape of all this was delightfully familiar, well-executed, and thoroughly satisfying. But it also had some features that deserve specific note.
The villains of the piece are Australian industrialists who are capable of doing some real harm to New Zealand concerns, and willing to do so. That's a refreshing change of pace for an American like me.
Maori shamanism works. A spirit-traveling local resident is crucial to saving the day, working in tandem with the leader of the military force, who briefly gets to see and communicate with him. Some technothrillers do this, though most don't, and it was interesting to read a treatment whose details I could look up and confirm were the product of some significant research.
Romance blooms, but in a way that respects both of the people involved as something more than a body to throw at the other for gratification.
This is the first of a series bearing the name of the military commander, and I'm going to want to read more. This really scratched a long-neglected itch in a way that satisfied me deeply.