Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
Okay, that was a wild ride! A fantastic horror thriller that grabs your hand and takes off running, pulling you along as it runs through the plot. No wasted scenes, enough exposition that you can accept it and roll, and a monster that truly delivers.
If your library has hoopla, I recommend you go find the audio version right now. Well worth it.
If your library has hoopla, I recommend you go find the audio version right now. Well worth it.
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I’ve had this one on my TBR list for awhile and finally
picked up a copy at The Last Bookstore in L.A. I have such a soft spot for old horror novels from the 90s and an even softer spot for good creature features!
Crota follows an ancient indigenous evil as it awakens and terrorizes a small town. At first being mistaken for a bear, the vicious Crota is able to take numerous lives before being confronted by four very different men that seem to be chosen by the spirits to finally defeat this ancient evil.
This was a fun book with lots of Native American lore, gore, action, and creepiness. While this book was a lot of fun, it wasn’t phenomenal which is why I gave it 3 stars. If you like vintage horror or a good creature feature this one is definitely worth your time.
picked up a copy at The Last Bookstore in L.A. I have such a soft spot for old horror novels from the 90s and an even softer spot for good creature features!
Crota follows an ancient indigenous evil as it awakens and terrorizes a small town. At first being mistaken for a bear, the vicious Crota is able to take numerous lives before being confronted by four very different men that seem to be chosen by the spirits to finally defeat this ancient evil.
This was a fun book with lots of Native American lore, gore, action, and creepiness. While this book was a lot of fun, it wasn’t phenomenal which is why I gave it 3 stars. If you like vintage horror or a good creature feature this one is definitely worth your time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood
Pretty good if you're looking for a cozy, old school pulp horror. There are a few surprises, some hokey dialogue and at least one use of a cliche that made me sigh angrily, but overall it's pretty charming.
CROTA is Owl Goingback’s short novel about a very fierce, old monster that emerges near a small town after an earthquake. Sheriff Skip has a run-in with it, but his second-in-command Lloyd refuses to believe it’s anything stranger than a bear. Game warden and shaman Jay Little Hawk finds its lair, has a vision of what exactly it is, and tries to warn Lloyd. Lloyd heads off into the caverns trusting that a gun can take down anything–and he’s very, very wrong. Soon Skip teams up with Jay and another, very old, shaman who has a reputation for being able to help with anything. Will it be enough to take on the Crota?
This is a great classic creature-feature horror novel. There are some not-very-likable people to see get killed. There are chills and thrills. There are some very nicely-detailed Indigenous ceremonies and legends that go into this. There’s a bizarre monster, and some satisfying blood and gore (content note for animal harm and death).
The narration is very vivid–it’s easy to picture what’s going on. The characters are interesting and have some depth to them. Even though we didn’t see her much I particularly liked Skip’s wife–for having so few paragraphs devoted to her, she has a surprising amount of personality.
I was a little disappointed that Skip’s disabled son had so little to do with the story, particularly given how things ended up (trying not to spoil anything here), but that was a minor issue. All in all this is a very satisfying horror tale.
Original review posted on my blog: http://www.errantdreams.com/2020/04/short-take-crota-owl-goingback/
This is a great classic creature-feature horror novel. There are some not-very-likable people to see get killed. There are chills and thrills. There are some very nicely-detailed Indigenous ceremonies and legends that go into this. There’s a bizarre monster, and some satisfying blood and gore (content note for animal harm and death).
The narration is very vivid–it’s easy to picture what’s going on. The characters are interesting and have some depth to them. Even though we didn’t see her much I particularly liked Skip’s wife–for having so few paragraphs devoted to her, she has a surprising amount of personality.
I was a little disappointed that Skip’s disabled son had so little to do with the story, particularly given how things ended up (trying not to spoil anything here), but that was a minor issue. All in all this is a very satisfying horror tale.
Original review posted on my blog: http://www.errantdreams.com/2020/04/short-take-crota-owl-goingback/
Yes, finally an audiobook that I really enjoyed! This novel definitely gave me Stephen King vibes, but better! It didn't include the unnecessary vulgarity and exposition which is typical of King's works. I also really loved the Native American folklore and representation in this novel.
Wow, this was what I was looking for and needed. A good scary book. An ancient monster, caves, Indian mythology and a crime drama. It was a fun ride. Definitely going to look for more by Owl Goingback. I think Stephen King may have read this before writing The Outsider and I see some similar plot points in both.
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
My first novel by Owl Goingback. I found it hard to get lost in it, but here lately I can't tell if that's me personally or because of the book itself. All I know is Goingback's work has been highly recommended, and there were elements of Crota that I liked quite well. Unfortunately, it doesn't feel like its aged well.
Overall, though, an okay read and I'll read more from him in the future.
Overall, though, an okay read and I'll read more from him in the future.