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A review by kbaker20
The Troop by Nick Cutter
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
This was my favorite read from last year and is my favorite Nick Cutter book so far, having also read The Deep and listened to The Breach. It is a coming of age story that occurs in a short period of time in the most extreme and frightening of conditions.
It starts off with the innocence of a group of boys on an annual camping trip. They are on that cusp of maturity when they are finding who they are and these long held traditions are losing their magic as they progress to the next stage of their lives. Heartbreaking in of itself. Throw in death and isolation and we are facing not just losing belief in Santa, but confronting the harsh reality and cruelty of society, humanity, and life. The boys face these things and each other with no guidance and at the risk of something more horrifying than death.
Probably not a book for the “faint of heart,” lots of body horror with children involved. This is also why I think its horror factor is high. The other reason being it has a factor of relatability in that you either knew that type of kid, were that type of kid, or know the exact moment when you also had to learn those lessons just not in the face of these circumstances. I was on edge the whole book and could not put it down.
Grim endings is a Nick Cutter thing, but this one was a doozy for me because he did a great job of the investment in the characters. Although, perhaps the investment was easier to attain since the main characters were also young and relatable to me. If Lord of the Flies left you unsatisfied in its level of darkness, then this should scratch that itch to the point that you bleed a little.
Happy reading horror fiends! 👹
It starts off with the innocence of a group of boys on an annual camping trip. They are on that cusp of maturity when they are finding who they are and these long held traditions are losing their magic as they progress to the next stage of their lives. Heartbreaking in of itself. Throw in death and isolation and we are facing not just losing belief in Santa, but confronting the harsh reality and cruelty of society, humanity, and life. The boys face these things and each other with no guidance and at the risk of something more horrifying than death.
Probably not a book for the “faint of heart,” lots of body horror with children involved. This is also why I think its horror factor is high. The other reason being it has a factor of relatability in that you either knew that type of kid, were that type of kid, or know the exact moment when you also had to learn those lessons just not in the face of these circumstances. I was on edge the whole book and could not put it down.
Happy reading horror fiends! 👹
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, and Child death