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carlilong8's review against another edition
3.0
I found the atmosphere and cold, snowy setting to be enjoyable. The plot and setup were intriguing and kept me engaged. The suspense was palpable and it’s a novella that will keep you on the edge of your seat. However, I did have some reservations regarding the portrayal of women and mental health. I must mention that I have read several books from Triana since then and have noticed significant improvement, especially in his depiction of women. It's commendable to see him grow as a writer in this aspect.
Despite my concerns about certain portrayals, the nature of the story made it an engaging and thrilling experience.
Overall, it was a decent read with room for improvement.
Despite my concerns about certain portrayals, the nature of the story made it an engaging and thrilling experience.
Overall, it was a decent read with room for improvement.
spestock's review
4.0
A man goes hunting with bow and arrow on Christmas Eve. He crosses paths on a snowy mountain with a woman running barefoot, who claims to have just escaped her kidnapper. Then, he runs into the alleged kidnapper, who says the woman has extreme mental illness, and she's his wife. What a premise! Brief chapters interspersed throughout the main narrative give us some backstory on the man, Joe, who finds himself between a rock and a hard place. Who does he believe? Who can he trust?
Sometimes horror is defined by whether or not it's scary. For me, I often find tension more unbearable, and more heart-pumping, than scares. This book really hit that tense button for me. I had to set it down a couple of times and switch to reading something else before bed. Very well-done, especially considering that Joe was never handed the idiot ball to advance the plot.
I did feel the post-climax denouement was a little rushed; I would have enjoyed reading more of a resolution. But, I understand why the author wrapped it up the way he did. I guess that's a testament to a good story, that I wanted just a little bit more.
Night Worms has been knocking it out of the park lately!
Sometimes horror is defined by whether or not it's scary. For me, I often find tension more unbearable, and more heart-pumping, than scares. This book really hit that tense button for me. I had to set it down a couple of times and switch to reading something else before bed. Very well-done, especially considering that Joe was never handed the idiot ball to advance the plot.
I did feel the post-climax denouement was a little rushed; I would have enjoyed reading more of a resolution. But, I understand why the author wrapped it up the way he did. I guess that's a testament to a good story, that I wanted just a little bit more.
Night Worms has been knocking it out of the park lately!
a_chickletz's review
3.0
One of my Night Worms 2021 reads.
This was a solid read. I think what kept me from giving it a full 4 or 5 star read rating is that there were times when an action was done the person (mostly the main character) would be in one location and then the next they're not in that location but in a different area all together. Or thought processes weren't really complete.
It was a good story, had me questioning who to believe. I liked the main character, but I wasn't quite sure with what his wife's cancer diagnosis and her death had to do with the story. The incidents and issues with his brother and guns was a more solid flashback focus.
This was a solid read. I think what kept me from giving it a full 4 or 5 star read rating is that there were times when an action was done the person (mostly the main character) would be in one location and then the next they're not in that location but in a different area all together. Or thought processes weren't really complete.
It was a good story, had me questioning who to believe. I liked the main character, but I wasn't quite sure with what his wife's cancer diagnosis and her death had to do with the story. The incidents and issues with his brother and guns was a more solid flashback focus.
charm_city_sinner's review
4.0
A signed, limited edition of A Cold Place for Dying was exclusive to November's Night Worms box. Even by their standards, this was incredible, so thanks to you all for that!
The protagonist Joe is out for an Xmas Eve hunting trip as a way to jumpstart his new year's resolution to live a healthier life. Having lost his wife to cancer, and no real family left, he's sympathetic and very likeable.
Joe's trip is almost instantly interrupted by Katie, a woman running barefoot through the forest who claims to have escaped the clutches of Dan, the madman holding her captive. Dan enters the fold quickly after this, claiming to be Katie's husband and that she is mentally disturbed and off her medication.
Things devolve QUICKLY.
Poor Joe! You really have to feel for This guy. All he wanted was a peaceful hunting trip, and now he has to deal with this madness. Who's telling the truth? One of them? Neither of them?
Consider me an official disciple of Triana, because by this time next year, I plan to have have bought and read everything he's released.
4.5/5⭐
This edition also includes Love Nest, another short story I can't even get to here, but it also didn't disappoint
The protagonist Joe is out for an Xmas Eve hunting trip as a way to jumpstart his new year's resolution to live a healthier life. Having lost his wife to cancer, and no real family left, he's sympathetic and very likeable.
Joe's trip is almost instantly interrupted by Katie, a woman running barefoot through the forest who claims to have escaped the clutches of Dan, the madman holding her captive. Dan enters the fold quickly after this, claiming to be Katie's husband and that she is mentally disturbed and off her medication.
Things devolve QUICKLY.
Poor Joe! You really have to feel for This guy. All he wanted was a peaceful hunting trip, and now he has to deal with this madness. Who's telling the truth? One of them? Neither of them?
Consider me an official disciple of Triana, because by this time next year, I plan to have have bought and read everything he's released.
4.5/5⭐
This edition also includes Love Nest, another short story I can't even get to here, but it also didn't disappoint
pepperandpages's review
1.0
Spoilers in this review. I am so disappointed in this book. I got this in a Nightworms box and was so excited. The cover and the premise of the book had me so stoked.
But oof was this not great.
After losing his wife, Joe Whitaker decides to go back to basics and decides to spend sometime alone, hunting in the mountains. He is quickly interrupted by a woman, Nicole, who says she's on the run from the man who kidnapped her. But the man who kidnapped her and catches up soon after says he is her husband and that she has serious mental health issues.
The writing of Nicole really rubbed me the wrong way. She was crude and cursed constantly and was always shouting. She is meant to be seen as either crazy or really distraught and I feel like her character tone was so one note and that this author just did not know how to present a female character (and I think her having a mental illness and her being frightened because she was kidnapped would be conveyed differently. But he just made her seem "crazy" regardless).
This book is basically a lot of arguing back and forth between the three characters. And Joe is stuck in the middle trying to decide what's right. In the end, Dan was telling the truth about Nicole's mental instability but he wasn't exactly treating her well as he did bind her to a bed during her serious episodes. And I mean...overall this book isn't treating mental health kindly. And it isn't presenting women characters kindly. I was sooo disappointed by the ending. I feel like there could have been so many directions that could have been done, and this one was so predictable and ugh, I am so bummed honestly because I really wanted to like this one.
I didn't read the second story in the book. This writing style didn't click for me at all.
But oof was this not great.
After losing his wife, Joe Whitaker decides to go back to basics and decides to spend sometime alone, hunting in the mountains. He is quickly interrupted by a woman, Nicole, who says she's on the run from the man who kidnapped her. But the man who kidnapped her and catches up soon after says he is her husband and that she has serious mental health issues.
The writing of Nicole really rubbed me the wrong way. She was crude and cursed constantly and was always shouting. She is meant to be seen as either crazy or really distraught and I feel like her character tone was so one note and that this author just did not know how to present a female character (and I think her having a mental illness and her being frightened because she was kidnapped would be conveyed differently. But he just made her seem "crazy" regardless).
This book is basically a lot of arguing back and forth between the three characters. And Joe is stuck in the middle trying to decide what's right. In the end, Dan was telling the truth about Nicole's mental instability but he wasn't exactly treating her well as he did bind her to a bed during her serious episodes. And I mean...overall this book isn't treating mental health kindly. And it isn't presenting women characters kindly. I was sooo disappointed by the ending. I feel like there could have been so many directions that could have been done, and this one was so predictable and ugh, I am so bummed honestly because I really wanted to like this one.
I didn't read the second story in the book. This writing style didn't click for me at all.
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