Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
Unnerving Magazine Review
Listen to my conversation with the author here: https://www.unnervingmagazine.com/single-post/2019/08/16/EP054---Talking-Skinwrapper-With-Stephen-Kozeniewski
This one is all meat, no fat. The pacing is lightning quick and the terror explores all the nooks and crannies of a small place while nasties parade the open spaces. The science is light and accessible. The horror is abundant and textured. The suspense is palpable.
Listen to my conversation with the author here: https://www.unnervingmagazine.com/single-post/2019/08/16/EP054---Talking-Skinwrapper-With-Stephen-Kozeniewski
This one is all meat, no fat. The pacing is lightning quick and the terror explores all the nooks and crannies of a small place while nasties parade the open spaces. The science is light and accessible. The horror is abundant and textured. The suspense is palpable.
3 Stars!
Thank you to Sinister Grin Press and the author for helping our Night Worms Review Team get plenty of copies for our Book Party!
I've said it before but Science-Fiction is a hard sell for me. Typically, extensive world-building, space travel, and unfamiliar settings/creatures are too much of a stretch for my tastes so I usually avoid Sci-Fi altogether. However, Sci-Fi/Horror hybrids still manage to catch my attention, as this one did.
This is a prequel to a book called, HEMATOPHAGES, but can be read as a standalone novella. SKINWRAPPER does not waste time. A slick 80 pages of high-octane, action-fueled space opera involving a young girl living on a space freighter with her parents. The ship is attacked by pirates called, SKINWRAPPERS who steal blood and organs.
Pretty terrifying. Just the name alone, SKINWRAPPERS is enough to evoke shudders.
The storytelling here is accessible for readers like me who are not seasoned Sci-Fi fans. There are a few brief introductions of some advanced technological "contraptions" (for lack of a better term) where I was a little confused as to their function but I just kept going and they eventually explain themselves (looking at you, 'glowing orb that acts like a pet').
I think the temptation here would be for readers to demand more substance and length to this story because not everything is extensively fleshed out but to be honest, I might not read a novel-length horror/Sci-Fi so this was the perfect size for me--a compact, dark, brutal story set in deep-space with an intelligent female protagonist trying to survive formidable, savage enemies.
3 stars simply because I like Science Fiction but I find it a rare thing to fall in love with it. Space is not my Jam.
I will definitely read more Kozeniewski and possibly go back for HEMATOPHAGES.
Thank you to Sinister Grin Press and the author for helping our Night Worms Review Team get plenty of copies for our Book Party!
I've said it before but Science-Fiction is a hard sell for me. Typically, extensive world-building, space travel, and unfamiliar settings/creatures are too much of a stretch for my tastes so I usually avoid Sci-Fi altogether. However, Sci-Fi/Horror hybrids still manage to catch my attention, as this one did.
This is a prequel to a book called, HEMATOPHAGES, but can be read as a standalone novella. SKINWRAPPER does not waste time. A slick 80 pages of high-octane, action-fueled space opera involving a young girl living on a space freighter with her parents. The ship is attacked by pirates called, SKINWRAPPERS who steal blood and organs.
Pretty terrifying. Just the name alone, SKINWRAPPERS is enough to evoke shudders.
The storytelling here is accessible for readers like me who are not seasoned Sci-Fi fans. There are a few brief introductions of some advanced technological "contraptions" (for lack of a better term) where I was a little confused as to their function but I just kept going and they eventually explain themselves (looking at you, 'glowing orb that acts like a pet').
I think the temptation here would be for readers to demand more substance and length to this story because not everything is extensively fleshed out but to be honest, I might not read a novel-length horror/Sci-Fi so this was the perfect size for me--a compact, dark, brutal story set in deep-space with an intelligent female protagonist trying to survive formidable, savage enemies.
3 stars simply because I like Science Fiction but I find it a rare thing to fall in love with it. Space is not my Jam.
I will definitely read more Kozeniewski and possibly go back for HEMATOPHAGES.
A very compelling read - short, terse, unrelenting, vividly real. Maybe one or two speed wobbles on first reading in establishing context, but I've no doubt that would be sorted out on closer inspection. [b:Rolling in the Deep|23634011|Rolling in the Deep (Rolling in the Deep, #0.5)|Mira Grant|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1417291618l/23634011._SX50_.jpg|43239096] meets [b:Nightflyers|67958|Nightflyers|George R.R. Martin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1240361401l/67958._SY75_.jpg|65889].
This is a little prequel novella to the author's book The Hematophages.
I think I ought to have read this actually AFTER the novel and it would've had more impact? I imagine the reveal of the name of the main character in this novella would've had more impact that way.
However it was really fun to read and I'm definitely going to be reading The Hematophages. The world building presented just within this novella is enough to hook me and I want to learn more about this 'world'.
I think I ought to have read this actually AFTER the novel and it would've had more impact? I imagine the reveal of the name of the main character in this novella would've had more impact that way.
However it was really fun to read and I'm definitely going to be reading The Hematophages. The world building presented just within this novella is enough to hook me and I want to learn more about this 'world'.
This is a short companion to The Hematophages, but it stands on its own as an intense and satisfying novella. The story is almost like an episode of the show 24—there are no chapter breaks, and no breaks for the nameless girl whose brain we’ve entered and can’t turn away from. It makes for a quick and exciting read, especially with the clear and evocative writing that never slows down to take us out of the story.
There are connections to The Hematophages to spot if you’ve read that novel, but I think the reverse order would work just as well, if you want to read Skinwrapper first.
As a special bonus in the print edition, there’s no text on the spine, so it kinda looks like a slice of meat on your bookshelf. Delicious!
There are connections to The Hematophages to spot if you’ve read that novel, but I think the reverse order would work just as well, if you want to read Skinwrapper first.
As a special bonus in the print edition, there’s no text on the spine, so it kinda looks like a slice of meat on your bookshelf. Delicious!
Non mi ha convinta moltissimo. Carina l'idea di base ma poteva essere sviluppata meglio, specialmente se il bello é arrivato tutto alla fine
I'm going to mini-cheat on this review. Since SKINWRAPPER is directly connected to THE HEMOTAPHAGES, I'm going to point you to that review first. Then come back here. I'll wait. Cool. Now while SKINWRAPPER is actually a prequel to THE HEMOTAPHAGES, I did read it second. Personally I think it works better this way. The ending would have been a bit anti-climatic if I didn't already know what happened next. I'm not going to say anything about the story because I think it will be better experienced fresh. If you like the one book, then you'll like the second. This one is probably more action packed than the other. At the same time, a bit less gory. The book was a great continuation of that world/universe; it was great getting a chance to visit it again. I would love to see more but at the same time, I'm good with whatever Kozeniewski wants to write next.
My two favorite genres are Science Fiction and Horror so when I first heard about The Hematophages I was stoked. The Hematophages is a blend of horror and science fiction. Kozeniewski had been most well known for his zombie detective bizarro novel Brain-eater Jones. The Hematophages is clearly Aliens worship and that is OK because it was awesome. Without standard tropes, it is a space vampire novel that was overflowing with ideas. I had it as a 'Dick like suggestion' on an episode of the Dickheads podcast and reviewed that novel here.
I said: "The Hematophages is one of the best books I have read so far this year. It is bold and weird science fiction that feels old school and insane at the same time. It is bizarro, dark sci-fi and horror in equal measure. A super neat book that I am glad I picked up. It is a little bit a parallel of Aliens, A reversal of Carpenter's The Thing (paranoia with all women) and with a world-building that reminded me of Neal Asher's The Skinner. That is a good mix."
Why have I spent so much time talking about that book? Well, Skinwrapper is a prequel and expansion of one of the coolest ideas found in The Hematophages was Cancer-ridden mutant mummy-like pirates that are forced to live in Zero-G called Skinwrappers.
Yes you read all that that correctly. The chaaracters in the first book that introduced the Skinwrappers was so powerful that I thought they deserved their own book. They only had one chapter in the first book. So thank you Mister Kozeniewski because you delivered more texture to a universe I already enjoyed. Now a 81 page novella is fun but I still could have lived with a whole novel with this story, in this universe. I didn't read the back cover and went in spoiler free and I suggest you do that. I hope I sold you on the bat-shit crazy bizarro space opera that has tons of ideas per page. Both books are super recommended. Anyhoo Spoiler warning has been given.
So this book is a prequel and gives an effective back story to one of the Skinwrapper pirate characters from The Hematophages. SK uses vivid description and characterization to make this world feel lived in. I think the story benefits from the first book but I suppose it could stand on it's own. The descriptions of the Skinwrappers and their lives are pretty powerful. It is funny because I thought this was almost a perfect novella. Almost, except for two things, the major problem is it was painful realizing that I only had 60 pages left as soon as I was totally invested. Damn you Kozeniewski I am going to end up reading The Hematophages again. The other complaint is silly and might just be me but for some reason, a character described herself as falling on her butt, and later the word butt was used and it just kinda amused me and took out of the story for a moment. I know that is a silly complaint after reading such a neat book.
Alright Kozeniewski you are hereby ordered to write a dozen more books in this universe. I am a fan.
I said: "The Hematophages is one of the best books I have read so far this year. It is bold and weird science fiction that feels old school and insane at the same time. It is bizarro, dark sci-fi and horror in equal measure. A super neat book that I am glad I picked up. It is a little bit a parallel of Aliens, A reversal of Carpenter's The Thing (paranoia with all women) and with a world-building that reminded me of Neal Asher's The Skinner. That is a good mix."
Why have I spent so much time talking about that book? Well, Skinwrapper is a prequel and expansion of one of the coolest ideas found in The Hematophages was Cancer-ridden mutant mummy-like pirates that are forced to live in Zero-G called Skinwrappers.
Yes you read all that that correctly. The chaaracters in the first book that introduced the Skinwrappers was so powerful that I thought they deserved their own book. They only had one chapter in the first book. So thank you Mister Kozeniewski because you delivered more texture to a universe I already enjoyed. Now a 81 page novella is fun but I still could have lived with a whole novel with this story, in this universe. I didn't read the back cover and went in spoiler free and I suggest you do that. I hope I sold you on the bat-shit crazy bizarro space opera that has tons of ideas per page. Both books are super recommended. Anyhoo Spoiler warning has been given.
So this book is a prequel and gives an effective back story to one of the Skinwrapper pirate characters from The Hematophages. SK uses vivid description and characterization to make this world feel lived in. I think the story benefits from the first book but I suppose it could stand on it's own. The descriptions of the Skinwrappers and their lives are pretty powerful. It is funny because I thought this was almost a perfect novella. Almost, except for two things, the major problem is it was painful realizing that I only had 60 pages left as soon as I was totally invested. Damn you Kozeniewski I am going to end up reading The Hematophages again. The other complaint is silly and might just be me but for some reason, a character described herself as falling on her butt, and later the word butt was used and it just kinda amused me and took out of the story for a moment. I know that is a silly complaint after reading such a neat book.
Alright Kozeniewski you are hereby ordered to write a dozen more books in this universe. I am a fan.
Full review here:
https://raforallhorror.blogspot.com/2019/10/31-days-of-horror-day-18-what-im.html
Three Words That Describe This Book: dark humor, strong world building, terrifying
https://raforallhorror.blogspot.com/2019/10/31-days-of-horror-day-18-what-im.html
Three Words That Describe This Book: dark humor, strong world building, terrifying
Skinwrapper, the latest from Stephen Kozeniewski, is a short novella serving as a prequel to his novel Hematophages. What first struck my interest in this book was the awesome cover. I haven’t read Hematophages yet, but after finishing Skinwrapper, it’s certainly coming off my shelf and onto my TBR pile.
Skinwrapper follows a young girl as she makes her way through the spaceship she lives on. Due to certain events, she may be the only person left aboard.
This book is fast-paced, tense, and atmospheric. The main character is slowly making her way through the ship, trying to avoid the Skinwrappers at all costs. It reads like a game of hide and seek, where the cost of losing is your life. It’s hard to say much about the book without giving it away, due to the length. What I can say is that I really dig the Sci-fi and horror blend, though short in length, Kozeniewski does an excellent job of using the pages to create a constant sense of tension and danger. No need to worry if you aren’t a fan of sci-fi, this book is an excellent fit for anyone looking for a gripping read.
4/5
Skinwrapper follows a young girl as she makes her way through the spaceship she lives on. Due to certain events, she may be the only person left aboard.
This book is fast-paced, tense, and atmospheric. The main character is slowly making her way through the ship, trying to avoid the Skinwrappers at all costs. It reads like a game of hide and seek, where the cost of losing is your life. It’s hard to say much about the book without giving it away, due to the length. What I can say is that I really dig the Sci-fi and horror blend, though short in length, Kozeniewski does an excellent job of using the pages to create a constant sense of tension and danger. No need to worry if you aren’t a fan of sci-fi, this book is an excellent fit for anyone looking for a gripping read.
4/5