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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
3.5 and then???????? was all I thought as my audiobook ended. great pace, easy writing, interesting story that left me wanting more.
This was my first Debra Casteneda book but it won’t be my last! I was initially intrigued by this book because of the sporror factor which I feel you don’t see much of and the cover is pretty eye catching!
When reporter Maria Hart disappears in the Nils forest chasing a story, her best friend, mother, and tech mogul David Eager tries to find her. What we have in a wildly interesting story revolving around Latin folklore and the power of fungi.
I really enjoyed this story and I thought the characters were nicely fleshed out. The plot was interesting as is mycelium in reality so I thought made for a good horror story. While I didn’t find it to be a book that provokes fear it was definitely a book that provokes the imagination into sporror.
When reporter Maria Hart disappears in the Nils forest chasing a story, her best friend, mother, and tech mogul David Eager tries to find her. What we have in a wildly interesting story revolving around Latin folklore and the power of fungi.
I really enjoyed this story and I thought the characters were nicely fleshed out. The plot was interesting as is mycelium in reality so I thought made for a good horror story. While I didn’t find it to be a book that provokes fear it was definitely a book that provokes the imagination into sporror.
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
(3.5 stars, I really enjoyed this!)
This is a fun summer read that takes place in the area of Mendocino, CA near the Lime Kiln State Parks. A journalist heads out to the Redwoods to do a story on a storm that brought down a lot of trees. She never returns. Her parents, Lori and Julian are determined to find her.
This would be perfect for readers who enjoy
- Eco-Thrillers/Horror
-Nature with healing or magic properties like Chuck Wendig's, Black River Orchard
-Sporror, fungus, mushrooms, mycelium
-Missing people mysteries
- Mexican folklore, brujeria, gods and goddesses
- cults
- the stories, style, and subject of V. Castro and Jennifer Givhan's River Woman, River Demon
This is a fun summer read that takes place in the area of Mendocino, CA near the Lime Kiln State Parks. A journalist heads out to the Redwoods to do a story on a storm that brought down a lot of trees. She never returns. Her parents, Lori and Julian are determined to find her.
This would be perfect for readers who enjoy
- Eco-Thrillers/Horror
-Nature with healing or magic properties like Chuck Wendig's, Black River Orchard
-Sporror, fungus, mushrooms, mycelium
-Missing people mysteries
- Mexican folklore, brujeria, gods and goddesses
- cults
- the stories, style, and subject of V. Castro and Jennifer Givhan's River Woman, River Demon
dark
medium-paced
This eARC was provided by Booksirens.com and I giving an unbiased review.
This is another installment into the 'Dark Earth Rising' books from this author. Admittedly, after having read the others, I was a bit disappointed in this particular novel. Though the story follows the general idea of the Earth retaliating in a strange fashion against humans, this one didn't feel the same. The ending was different, as to events that happened that leads one to believe a mysterious disappearance (or possible destruction) of the malignant force of nature, whereas this time, it was not only supported by followers, but assisted in flourishing. Does this mean a possible follow-up novel, that expands on this particular storyline? Not sure, but would be interesting to find out.
This is another installment into the 'Dark Earth Rising' books from this author. Admittedly, after having read the others, I was a bit disappointed in this particular novel. Though the story follows the general idea of the Earth retaliating in a strange fashion against humans, this one didn't feel the same. The ending was different, as to events that happened that leads one to believe a mysterious disappearance (or possible destruction) of the malignant force of nature, whereas this time, it was not only supported by followers, but assisted in flourishing. Does this mean a possible follow-up novel, that expands on this particular storyline? Not sure, but would be interesting to find out.
I love this series - each book can be read as a standalone, but there is a broader mythology at play here. In this installment, a journalist in need of a break finds much more than she bargained for in a creepy forest.
People have been disappearing in this forest, and by following Maria, we find out what it is. Every character, no matter how tangential to the story, is well crafted, and the writing is accessible and keeps you engaged.
Loved the Spore Queen and looking forward to the next book in the Dark Earth Rising series.
People have been disappearing in this forest, and by following Maria, we find out what it is. Every character, no matter how tangential to the story, is well crafted, and the writing is accessible and keeps you engaged.
Loved the Spore Queen and looking forward to the next book in the Dark Earth Rising series.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
i wish it explained things more. the ending was not clear.
2.5
Sigh. The Spore Queen started off promising. The setting, centered around an ancient forest, and the early perspectives of an ailing man living on its outskirts and beset by troubling visions, as well as the investigation of a reporter into a series of mysterious disappearances and illnesses in the forest was compelling and interesting. Sure, the writing was lacking in depth and nuance and the characters were uneven, but I was happy to keep turning pages. But then the mystery is revealed pretty early on and all sense of suspense went out the window for me, and the book just became a trek through the woods with tiresome people.
I plan on giving Castaneda's work another chance and will hope for better next time around.
Sigh. The Spore Queen started off promising. The setting, centered around an ancient forest, and the early perspectives of an ailing man living on its outskirts and beset by troubling visions, as well as the investigation of a reporter into a series of mysterious disappearances and illnesses in the forest was compelling and interesting. Sure, the writing was lacking in depth and nuance and the characters were uneven, but I was happy to keep turning pages. But then the mystery is revealed pretty early on and all sense of suspense went out the window for me, and the book just became a trek through the woods with tiresome people.
I plan on giving Castaneda's work another chance and will hope for better next time around.
I never expected for mushrooms to be creepy, but this book has absolutely changed my mind. This is a terrific example of eco horror and truly made me want to explore the sub-genre even more.
Speaking of exploring, I deeply appreciated how this story explored love, relationships, and the power of persuasion. I don’t normally expect horror to be more than a creepy story, but this was a welcome surprise. The themes tied in nicely with one another and none of them took away the unsettling vibe the book revealed entire storyline. Speaking of vibe, I really enjoyed the atmosphere presented to the readers. It ranged from deep woods to small town, to industrial, and none of which ever felt out of place or too far from the plot itself.
It was refreshing to see multiple different relationships having the focus throughout the storyline, as well as how each individual changed from the beginning to the end. It was interesting how all of them had the same primary focus of Maria, but not one of them was the same as the other, nor had the exact same outcome.
This was a surprisingly tender and thoughtful book, that left me less on edge and more. None the less this was still exceedingly creepy and hauntingly realistic. I loved the touch of nature cult, and the ever-present species of mushrooms sprinkled into the storyline. Overall this is a great piece of eco horror that is sure to pull at your heart strings
Speaking of exploring, I deeply appreciated how this story explored love, relationships, and the power of persuasion. I don’t normally expect horror to be more than a creepy story, but this was a welcome surprise. The themes tied in nicely with one another and none of them took away the unsettling vibe the book revealed entire storyline. Speaking of vibe, I really enjoyed the atmosphere presented to the readers. It ranged from deep woods to small town, to industrial, and none of which ever felt out of place or too far from the plot itself.
It was refreshing to see multiple different relationships having the focus throughout the storyline, as well as how each individual changed from the beginning to the end. It was interesting how all of them had the same primary focus of Maria, but not one of them was the same as the other, nor had the exact same outcome.
This was a surprisingly tender and thoughtful book, that left me less on edge and more. None the less this was still exceedingly creepy and hauntingly realistic. I loved the touch of nature cult, and the ever-present species of mushrooms sprinkled into the storyline. Overall this is a great piece of eco horror that is sure to pull at your heart strings