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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
This book is a meld of Guillermo Del Toro's The Strain and Scott Smith's The Ruins, all involving a bunch of teenagers and their oddly inspiring troop leader. Plenty of gross-out horror and likable characters; withholding a bit of repetition and predictability, it's good writing through and through. Definitely a worthwhile read.
Closer to 4.5 stars. Really good.
For when I forget: the one with the really gross worms and the really good creepy descriptions and the one serial killer kid.
For when I forget: the one with the really gross worms and the really good creepy descriptions and the one serial killer kid.
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I finished this book. Honestly, I have no idea why this book has such a high rating. Was I reading the same book as everyone else?
The book didn't scare me. It never got me on the edge of my seat. It did not interest me. It did not entertain me. If I could give it a lower rating I would.
What did this book manage? It did have me questioning the age of these boys for a hundred pages or so... physical descriptions would have me believe these were pre-teens, but the insults they hurled at each other were on par with seven year olds. I know some 12 year old boys. This is not how they speak to each other. The dialogue is just unbelievable. They tell each other to 'fuck off' a few times and make crude penis jokes--as boys this age would, right?-- only to turn around and use these mature insults: 'tinkle-dink,' 'pork-chop,' or 'creepazoid.'
It did have me questioning the reliability of these characters. What terribly stupid things were done, all in order to advance the plot. Seriously, how far could this story have gotten without the incredibly moronic behavior of these characters?
It did give me pause, when I came upon yet another strange metaphor.Starting the book, I had to stop every paragraph because the author slid in some obscure metaphor that didn't quite fit. There are other ways to be descriptive.
And most of all, it did creep me out. It did gross me out. And then, I kind of wanted to vomit. So, CONGRATULATIONS Nick Cutter! You've successfully wrote a horror novel if you can make your reader vomit with disgust!--no? As I see it, the 'horror' generated in this novel is mustered up in 2 ways: 1. The descriptions of how afraid the characters are, like how REALLY afraid they feel, will make the reader afraid; and 2. grossness. For the record, the first way only managed to annoy me, and the second only managed to gross me out. Gore and shock value, does not a horror novel make.
The book didn't scare me. It never got me on the edge of my seat. It did not interest me. It did not entertain me. If I could give it a lower rating I would.
What did this book manage? It did have me questioning the age of these boys for a hundred pages or so... physical descriptions would have me believe these were pre-teens, but the insults they hurled at each other were on par with seven year olds. I know some 12 year old boys. This is not how they speak to each other. The dialogue is just unbelievable. They tell each other to 'fuck off' a few times and make crude penis jokes--as boys this age would, right?-- only to turn around and use these mature insults: 'tinkle-dink,' 'pork-chop,' or 'creepazoid.'
It did have me questioning the reliability of these characters. What terribly stupid things were done, all in order to advance the plot. Seriously, how far could this story have gotten without the incredibly moronic behavior of these characters?
It did give me pause, when I came upon yet another strange metaphor.Starting the book, I had to stop every paragraph because the author slid in some obscure metaphor that didn't quite fit. There are other ways to be descriptive.
And most of all, it did creep me out. It did gross me out. And then, I kind of wanted to vomit. So, CONGRATULATIONS Nick Cutter! You've successfully wrote a horror novel if you can make your reader vomit with disgust!--no? As I see it, the 'horror' generated in this novel is mustered up in 2 ways: 1. The descriptions of how afraid the characters are, like how REALLY afraid they feel, will make the reader afraid; and 2. grossness. For the record, the first way only managed to annoy me, and the second only managed to gross me out. Gore and shock value, does not a horror novel make.
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
Holy wow, this book. It's like Lord of the Flies meets Slither, and I am HERE FOR IT. The story was absolutely horrifying and traumatizing, but so well written and engaging that I HAVE to give it 5 stars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Death
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Do not advise reading this before/during/after a meal... but f**k was this so good!
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A Horrifying Masterpiece with a Dash of Madness
"The Troop" by Nick Cutter snags a hefty 4.25 stars from me for its raw, unapologetic dive into the depths of horror. This book is like a horror buffet - if you dare to partake, prepare for a feast of fear.
Cutter's prose is both beautiful and brutal, painting scenes so vivid you can almost smell the terror. The premise, a Boy Scout camping trip turned nightmare, is executed with such intensity you'd think you were there. It's a mix of survival horror, psychological breakdown, and the kind of body horror that makes you squirm. The pacing is relentless, pulling you through each chapter with a morbid fascination.
The characters, a varied group of Scouts, are more than just fodder for the horrors they face; they're well-developed, each with personal demons that only amplify the external threats. The document-style inserts, like medical reports and diary entries, enrich the narrative, grounding the fantastical elements in a chilling reality.
Where it stumbles slightly is in the realm of gore - there's a lot, and sometimes it feels like overkill, more for the sake of shock than story. And while the horror is top-notch, there are moments where the plot's twists might feel a bit forced, designed to keep the fear factor at 11.
But let's not mince words: "The Troop" is a horror gem. It's a book that grips you, makes you question how much horror you can handle, and leaves you with an unsettling aftertaste. If you're in the mood for something that will haunt your thoughts and maybe your dreams, this is your next read. Just maybe don't eat while reading.
"The Troop" by Nick Cutter snags a hefty 4.25 stars from me for its raw, unapologetic dive into the depths of horror. This book is like a horror buffet - if you dare to partake, prepare for a feast of fear.
Cutter's prose is both beautiful and brutal, painting scenes so vivid you can almost smell the terror. The premise, a Boy Scout camping trip turned nightmare, is executed with such intensity you'd think you were there. It's a mix of survival horror, psychological breakdown, and the kind of body horror that makes you squirm. The pacing is relentless, pulling you through each chapter with a morbid fascination.
The characters, a varied group of Scouts, are more than just fodder for the horrors they face; they're well-developed, each with personal demons that only amplify the external threats. The document-style inserts, like medical reports and diary entries, enrich the narrative, grounding the fantastical elements in a chilling reality.
Where it stumbles slightly is in the realm of gore - there's a lot, and sometimes it feels like overkill, more for the sake of shock than story. And while the horror is top-notch, there are moments where the plot's twists might feel a bit forced, designed to keep the fear factor at 11.
But let's not mince words: "The Troop" is a horror gem. It's a book that grips you, makes you question how much horror you can handle, and leaves you with an unsettling aftertaste. If you're in the mood for something that will haunt your thoughts and maybe your dreams, this is your next read. Just maybe don't eat while reading.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Torture, Violence