A review by nzlisam
It Waits in the Woods by Josh Malerman

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

Creature Feature is a collection of six Amazon-Original scary stories, each focusing on a different monster, penned by well-known authors in the horror and thriller genres. This is story 3/6.

It Waits in the Woods by Josh Malerman – 2 Pumpkins 🎃🎃

Since the 1970’s there have been whispers of a faceless creature named Ospo, haunting Michigan's, Ucatanani National Forest, killing victims to steal their faces. Three years ago, Brenda's sister, Amanda went missing in said forest. And now that Brenda is 18, she intends to venture into the woods to capture video proof of the creature's existence.

It Waits in the Woods dragged on relentlessly for six and a half exhausting chapters. The ending was the highlight, resourceful and unexpected, although unbelievable. The monster itself was kind of cool – akin to a troll living under a bridge which has always freaked me out. Question: Do all Josh Malerman’s horror stories feature insufferable parents? I've concluded this author isn't for me. So much detail of Brenda traipsing through the woods reflecting on the trauma of her missing sister, and how her parents blame her, even though Brenda was only a young teen herself when Amanda went missing. And with little opportunity for dialogue, the story was all ‘tell’ which contributed to the slow pace.

I'd like to thank Netgalley, Amazon, and Josh Malerman for the e-ARC.

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