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A review by petite_madeline
Out of Salem by Hal Schrieve
4.0
Note: This review is of the ARC
A zombie, werewolf, and "monster" story that explores topics like xenophobia, Islamophobia, transphobia, homophobia, immigration, classism, and racism in an Oregon town.
I enjoyed the mythology of this story, how it described the ways the US government and society would act if zombies, werewolves, shape-shifters, witches, etc. existed in our country, not just as abnormalities, but as visible fixtures in our communities.
The tone of this story may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I love the dark and slow horror feel that could be described as a pacific northwest gothic.
I think the only criticism that I have is that the ending felt confusing and abrupt. The imagery and events of the climactic scene were a bit choppy and hard to follow. The sudden end of the story also felt less like the thrill of a cliffhanger, and more like suddenly hitting a wall. I expected to turn the page and see one last chapter to wrap everything up or lead into a possible sequel, but there was nothing. I'm all here for ambiguous endings, but this felt blunt and unsatisfying (especially after the chaos of the climax!)
Overall, I enjoyed the bulk of this book and I can't wait to see what else Hal Schrieve comes out with in the future!
A zombie, werewolf, and "monster" story that explores topics like xenophobia, Islamophobia, transphobia, homophobia, immigration, classism, and racism in an Oregon town.
I enjoyed the mythology of this story, how it described the ways the US government and society would act if zombies, werewolves, shape-shifters, witches, etc. existed in our country, not just as abnormalities, but as visible fixtures in our communities.
The tone of this story may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I love the dark and slow horror feel that could be described as a pacific northwest gothic.
I think the only criticism that I have is that the ending felt confusing and abrupt. The imagery and events of the climactic scene were a bit choppy and hard to follow. The sudden end of the story also felt less like the thrill of a cliffhanger, and more like suddenly hitting a wall. I expected to turn the page and see one last chapter to wrap everything up or lead into a possible sequel, but there was nothing. I'm all here for ambiguous endings, but this felt blunt and unsatisfying (especially after the chaos of the climax!)
Overall, I enjoyed the bulk of this book and I can't wait to see what else Hal Schrieve comes out with in the future!