Scan barcode
bmacenlightened's review against another edition
4.0
In a post apocalyptic setting unlike any other I've encountered we find our protagonist Dez, afloat in a world full of all the horrors of the mythical world brought back to life via dormant genes re-activated in our DNA. So once you get your suspension of disbelief past that, you're in for a fun ride. In true fashion Dez doesn't have powers, except for determination, luck, and a pretty strong stubborn streak. Meaning nearly everyone else left would love to catch and eat him.
Being a regular human he's spent most of the time since the apocalypse hiding to stay alive. And along the way he's lost everyone and everything that ever mattered to him at the hands of monsters. So he's done running and he's done hiding. We join him on the march straight to the heart of darkness to recover the woman he loves who was taken from him.
The action is plentiful and exciting, the horror still ever present, and the characters are fun and entertaining. Every face he meets along the way could be hiding something horrific, and often they are, keeping the tension high. And it's all leading towards an epic showdown involving cannibals, vampires, and some surprises.
Yes, the premise is a bit of a jump, but once you make that jump it's a fun ride throughout.
Being a regular human he's spent most of the time since the apocalypse hiding to stay alive. And along the way he's lost everyone and everything that ever mattered to him at the hands of monsters. So he's done running and he's done hiding. We join him on the march straight to the heart of darkness to recover the woman he loves who was taken from him.
The action is plentiful and exciting, the horror still ever present, and the characters are fun and entertaining. Every face he meets along the way could be hiding something horrific, and often they are, keeping the tension high. And it's all leading towards an epic showdown involving cannibals, vampires, and some surprises.
Yes, the premise is a bit of a jump, but once you make that jump it's a fun ride throughout.
raforall's review
4.0
Full disclosure before this review: My name appears in the acknowledgments. I was going to review this for Booklist but did not feel like that was 100% Kosher; in fact, I didn't know this until after I had written a review and turned it in. But here is a version of what my honest review would have been.
Three Words That Describe This Book: original, character focused, strong world building
Dez has survived for two years in a world decimated by a biological weapon attack, engineered by terrorists to reactivate the long buried genes of monsters humanity thought only existed in fiction. Turns out, monsters were real; their genes may have been suppressed, but their markers still lurked in human DNA. A world where werewolves, vampires, satyrs, and more jumped out of the myths of the past and into a very real present meant most “Latents,” people with no special powers like Dez, didn’t have much of a chance to survive. As the reader encounters him, Dez is desperately trying to find his girlfriend, stolen from him six months before, encountering many monsters along his route.
This original take on the post-apocalyptic trope is surprising and fun because of the unique threat, and its dogged focus on world building and character development. Janz takes time making this impossible world feel totally believable, peppering it with exciting fight sequences throughout. While the pacing here is never fast, it is extremely compelling; readers want to root for Dez’s success and learn more about the fascinating human-monsters they meet along the way. This is a perfect choice for fans of horror-science fiction hybrids such as Rebecca Roanhorse’s Sixth World series or Josh Malerman’s Bird Box novels.
On a side note: I loved that there were no zombies for once in a post-apocalyptic horror novel.
Longer version on blog here: http://raforall.blogspot.com/2020/06/what-im-reading-raven-by-jonathan-janz.html
Shorter version in Library Journal here: https://www.libraryjournal.com/?reviewDetail=the-raven
Three Words That Describe This Book: original, character focused, strong world building
Dez has survived for two years in a world decimated by a biological weapon attack, engineered by terrorists to reactivate the long buried genes of monsters humanity thought only existed in fiction. Turns out, monsters were real; their genes may have been suppressed, but their markers still lurked in human DNA. A world where werewolves, vampires, satyrs, and more jumped out of the myths of the past and into a very real present meant most “Latents,” people with no special powers like Dez, didn’t have much of a chance to survive. As the reader encounters him, Dez is desperately trying to find his girlfriend, stolen from him six months before, encountering many monsters along his route.
This original take on the post-apocalyptic trope is surprising and fun because of the unique threat, and its dogged focus on world building and character development. Janz takes time making this impossible world feel totally believable, peppering it with exciting fight sequences throughout. While the pacing here is never fast, it is extremely compelling; readers want to root for Dez’s success and learn more about the fascinating human-monsters they meet along the way. This is a perfect choice for fans of horror-science fiction hybrids such as Rebecca Roanhorse’s Sixth World series or Josh Malerman’s Bird Box novels.
On a side note: I loved that there were no zombies for once in a post-apocalyptic horror novel.
Longer version on blog here: http://raforall.blogspot.com/2020/06/what-im-reading-raven-by-jonathan-janz.html
Shorter version in Library Journal here: https://www.libraryjournal.com/?reviewDetail=the-raven
pbanditp's review against another edition
5.0
“Finding a dead body wasn’t uncommon -the creatures who ruled the world now didn’t scruple about leaving their victims exposed to the elements. But it was still a nasty jolt to find himself standing on a dead man’s forearm.”
Two years after the Four Winds bombs went off, Dez is alone and trying to find his wife who was taken to be sold. Human flesh is valuable to cannibals, vampires, and other creatures that had changed from the humans they use to be.
Dez is a Latent, someone who didn’t turn into a creature with special powers after The Shift happened with the bombs. He has to face down every other beast in an amazing universe filled with great characters, a great story and non-stop action.
This is a damn fun ride filled with blood, guts, and sympathetic creatures who do unspeakable atrocities in blood fueled frenzies. But can Dez overcome his perceived cowardice and track down his wife? Or is there anything left of his wife to track down?
This was my first Janz, but it will not be my last. It was so much fun.
Two years after the Four Winds bombs went off, Dez is alone and trying to find his wife who was taken to be sold. Human flesh is valuable to cannibals, vampires, and other creatures that had changed from the humans they use to be.
Dez is a Latent, someone who didn’t turn into a creature with special powers after The Shift happened with the bombs. He has to face down every other beast in an amazing universe filled with great characters, a great story and non-stop action.
This is a damn fun ride filled with blood, guts, and sympathetic creatures who do unspeakable atrocities in blood fueled frenzies. But can Dez overcome his perceived cowardice and track down his wife? Or is there anything left of his wife to track down?
This was my first Janz, but it will not be my last. It was so much fun.
pbanditp's review
5.0
4.5 “Finding a dead body wasn’t uncommon -the creatures who ruled the world now didn’t scruple about leaving their victims exposed to the elements. But it was still a nasty jolt to find himself standing on a dead man’s forearm.”
Two years after the Four Winds bombs went off, Dez is alone and trying to find his wife who was taken to be sold. Human flesh is valuable to cannibals, vampires, and other creatures that had changed from the humans they use to be.
Dez is a Latent, someone who didn’t turn into a creature with special powers after The Shift happened with the bombs. He has to face down every other beast in an amazing universe filled with great characters, a great story and non-stop action.
This is a damn fun ride filled with blood, guts, and sympathetic creatures who do unspeakable atrocities in blood fueled frenzies. But can Dez overcome his perceived cowardice and track down his wife? Or is there anything left of his wife to track down?
This was my first Janz, but it will not be my last. It was so much fun.
Thank you to NetGalley and Flame Tree Press for a copy of the ebook in exchange for an honest review.
Two years after the Four Winds bombs went off, Dez is alone and trying to find his wife who was taken to be sold. Human flesh is valuable to cannibals, vampires, and other creatures that had changed from the humans they use to be.
Dez is a Latent, someone who didn’t turn into a creature with special powers after The Shift happened with the bombs. He has to face down every other beast in an amazing universe filled with great characters, a great story and non-stop action.
This is a damn fun ride filled with blood, guts, and sympathetic creatures who do unspeakable atrocities in blood fueled frenzies. But can Dez overcome his perceived cowardice and track down his wife? Or is there anything left of his wife to track down?
This was my first Janz, but it will not be my last. It was so much fun.
Thank you to NetGalley and Flame Tree Press for a copy of the ebook in exchange for an honest review.
johnlynchbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Jonathan Janz is back! Few things in life satisfy the way a Janz novel does, and so obviously, this is an eagerly anticipated book for me.
The apocalypse has come to earth. An act of terrorism unleashes literal monsters upon the world. Turns out, they were just stories.
We follow Dez on a mission to save his companion, Susan. We’re dropped a few years into the apocalypse, where Dez has managed to survive despite having no abilities.
This was a fun read. There’s plenty of action, blood and guts and monster fun to be had. The book itself reads quick, and Janz ‘s writing is always easy to get into. I really enjoyed the action scenes here and I’m interested to see what Janz can do with this world. It’s one that I hope he will eventually come back to.
The sole complaint I had with this one is that maybe a third of the way in, we get to a point that feels like a huge chunk of the book is just one scene. It isn’t, but a lot of the book takes place in a certain area in a short time frame. For me it made an epic journey feel slightly less epic. I do want to make it a point to say that it’s not that big of a deal, it was just something I noticed.
I had a lot of fun with The Raven. Janz fans looking for something a bit more action oriented, while still maintaining horror and gore will find a lot to love here.
The apocalypse has come to earth. An act of terrorism unleashes literal monsters upon the world. Turns out, they were just stories.
We follow Dez on a mission to save his companion, Susan. We’re dropped a few years into the apocalypse, where Dez has managed to survive despite having no abilities.
This was a fun read. There’s plenty of action, blood and guts and monster fun to be had. The book itself reads quick, and Janz ‘s writing is always easy to get into. I really enjoyed the action scenes here and I’m interested to see what Janz can do with this world. It’s one that I hope he will eventually come back to.
The sole complaint I had with this one is that maybe a third of the way in, we get to a point that feels like a huge chunk of the book is just one scene. It isn’t, but a lot of the book takes place in a certain area in a short time frame. For me it made an epic journey feel slightly less epic. I do want to make it a point to say that it’s not that big of a deal, it was just something I noticed.
I had a lot of fun with The Raven. Janz fans looking for something a bit more action oriented, while still maintaining horror and gore will find a lot to love here.
scottneumann's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
liisp_cvr2cvr's review
4.0
Yup, you have all sorts of mythological creatures in The Raven. You also got cannibalism. Yikes. Luckily, it’s not described as the creepy type where a waft of lovingly made stew turns out to be someone’s grandmother. That type makes me gag, always. In The Raven, it’s the gory type. I can handle that. Weird. Anyway, the point is, as you may have got by now, the world is in shits, there are mostly mythological creatures roaming the earth and a few Latents (humans without any special powers) and every new face one meets can be the last face they meet because munch-munch. As far as post-apocalyptic horror thriller goes, it’s entertaining as heck and would make a really decent movie!
The Raven starts with action taking the reader straight down to business and giving a feel of the world as it is currently for our central character Dez, or the Raven as he will also be nicknamed. With the particulars and a look into the threats and dangers of the post-apocalyptic world out of the way, the book continues to give insight into the background of how we got here, the point of this desolate and kill or be killed world, why we’re on this treacherous journey with Dez (there’s a woman!) and what he is like as a person. Make no mistake though, you think you get to know this nerdy literature loving professor but he seems to be a gift that keeps on giving! ^^
There is plenty time for Dez to mull over his innermost thoughts as he ventures on his own. It’s interesting what the human mind can bring up… Things of import and not. I think author took a great risk, making a character vulnerable like that – one could easily bore a reader…. but as I mentioned earlier, Dez is one of those gifts that keeps on giving. He has so many inner conflicts, well, the past mistakes weighing heavily on his mind and there’s a woman. There’s always a woman. Goddammit, ladies, we make this world go around!
The Raven starts with action taking the reader straight down to business and giving a feel of the world as it is currently for our central character Dez, or the Raven as he will also be nicknamed. With the particulars and a look into the threats and dangers of the post-apocalyptic world out of the way, the book continues to give insight into the background of how we got here, the point of this desolate and kill or be killed world, why we’re on this treacherous journey with Dez (there’s a woman!) and what he is like as a person. Make no mistake though, you think you get to know this nerdy literature loving professor but he seems to be a gift that keeps on giving! ^^
There is plenty time for Dez to mull over his innermost thoughts as he ventures on his own. It’s interesting what the human mind can bring up… Things of import and not. I think author took a great risk, making a character vulnerable like that – one could easily bore a reader…. but as I mentioned earlier, Dez is one of those gifts that keeps on giving. He has so many inner conflicts, well, the past mistakes weighing heavily on his mind and there’s a woman. There’s always a woman. Goddammit, ladies, we make this world go around!
rock_n_reads's review against another edition
4.0
Sometime last year, I caught myself moving too quickly through the work of Jonathan Janz. In fear that I'd run out of reads, I slowed my roll. I think it's now safe to catch up, as he has several new releases on the way. Instead of opting for one of the unread titles still on my shelf, I decided to start back up with THE RAVEN, Janz's upcoming September release.
I was a bit hesitant to take on a post-apocalyptic story, as they aren't usually my favorite. However, Janz is one of the authors that I trust can write in any genre and create something special. I was pleasantly surprised at the unique spin he placed on this topic. The apocalyptic event and its aftermath are unlike anything I've read before, so that got things started on the right foot.
As with other books by this author, I enjoyed the infusion of heart and humor that flows within the horror. Right away I was drawn to the character of Dez and enjoyed getting to know his backstory. There were several other memorable characters along the way-- some favorable and others downright vicious, and they all came to life among the pages. I liked that the villains in this world were not all alike. The apocalyptic event created many different predators, each with their own set of skills and traits that made them feared by others.
My favorite parts of this novel were those in which Dez was on the move and making connections with other people. The reader witnesses his strong survival skills in action but also sees a softer side as we're given access to his thoughts and memories. I struggled a bit with a portion of the book leading up to the climax; it was just a bit drawn out for my liking.
Overall, I enjoyed this novel. It's creative and entertaining, with all the features that make Jonathan Janz a master at his craft. Time spent in the worlds he creates is always comfortable, exciting, and worthwhile.
I was a bit hesitant to take on a post-apocalyptic story, as they aren't usually my favorite. However, Janz is one of the authors that I trust can write in any genre and create something special. I was pleasantly surprised at the unique spin he placed on this topic. The apocalyptic event and its aftermath are unlike anything I've read before, so that got things started on the right foot.
As with other books by this author, I enjoyed the infusion of heart and humor that flows within the horror. Right away I was drawn to the character of Dez and enjoyed getting to know his backstory. There were several other memorable characters along the way-- some favorable and others downright vicious, and they all came to life among the pages. I liked that the villains in this world were not all alike. The apocalyptic event created many different predators, each with their own set of skills and traits that made them feared by others.
My favorite parts of this novel were those in which Dez was on the move and making connections with other people. The reader witnesses his strong survival skills in action but also sees a softer side as we're given access to his thoughts and memories. I struggled a bit with a portion of the book leading up to the climax; it was just a bit drawn out for my liking.
Overall, I enjoyed this novel. It's creative and entertaining, with all the features that make Jonathan Janz a master at his craft. Time spent in the worlds he creates is always comfortable, exciting, and worthwhile.
willhartzo's review
5.0
Another stellar read from Jonathan Jazz. I only hope we get to read more stories set in the world of The Raven.
readingvicariously's review
5.0
Basically the earth is overrun by creatures from myth and folklore after that a group of scientists thought it would be a good idea to trigger dormant monster DNA in humans. In this post apocalyptic hellscape humans are in the minority, and Dez McClane is one of the few left trying to survive in a world of werewolves, vampires, cannibals, and other monstrosities. Dez is facing all odds to find his wife, and along the way he comes across many colorful characters, even teaming up with a few by the end.
So I’m COMPLETELY onboard just from the premise (the whole post-apocalyptic monster world thing), but then Janz goes in with the quality writing, interesting well-developed characters, and top notch action/suspense and this became a book I read voraciously. Like I was on vacation and I just wanted to ignore everyone and read. It didn’t take but till page 40 that I knew I had something special in my hands. So many memorable characters and scenes, and so many cool ideas!
Apart from the obvious monsters, I love the idea that Latents are still out there, meaning anyone could at any moment turn into something crazy (which does indeed happen in the balls-to-the-wall insane climax of the book). There’s also plenty of suspense, brutal violence, and well-balanced humor throughout. I’m seriously trying to avoid writing this like a gushing fanboy, and likely failing. I just enjoyed this book so much!! It’s also set up perfectly for a sequel, so I’m gonna need @jonathan.janz to hurry up with that
So I’m COMPLETELY onboard just from the premise (the whole post-apocalyptic monster world thing), but then Janz goes in with the quality writing, interesting well-developed characters, and top notch action/suspense and this became a book I read voraciously. Like I was on vacation and I just wanted to ignore everyone and read. It didn’t take but till page 40 that I knew I had something special in my hands. So many memorable characters and scenes, and so many cool ideas!
Apart from the obvious monsters, I love the idea that Latents are still out there, meaning anyone could at any moment turn into something crazy (which does indeed happen in the balls-to-the-wall insane climax of the book). There’s also plenty of suspense, brutal violence, and well-balanced humor throughout. I’m seriously trying to avoid writing this like a gushing fanboy, and likely failing. I just enjoyed this book so much!! It’s also set up perfectly for a sequel, so I’m gonna need @jonathan.janz to hurry up with that