PositiveLit ReactorThe creatures are just as nebulous and deadly as ever, and though we do learn a new thing or two about them, the author never fully reveals what they are, thus preserving their mystique. Much like its predecessor, the novel functions as both a taut adventure chock full of suspense and terror and a psychological character study about survival in a world quite literally gone berserk ... Malorie is, however, a solid next chapter in the Bird Box universe, one that stands on its own legs despite the massive shoes it must fill.
Josh Malerman
PositiveLit ReactorThere\'s much to love about Inspection. Malerman\'s sparse yet evocative prose helps move the narrative along, which is good since, in other hands, the same idea could have ended up being quite bloated. Characters both good and evil are completely fleshed out, with the latter especially believing themselves to be the heroes of the story, convinced their deplorable deeds are just. Malerman handles the point-of-views of his adolescent characters adeptly, capturing the heartache, confusion, longing, and ever-shifting quality of self-esteem that comes with the onset of puberty, especially as it applies to these extraordinary pre-teens, who live strange and extremely sheltered lives. Much of the novel relies on atmosphere and mystery, for \'quiet\' horror fans, but for those who appreciate some Grand Guignol levels of violence, Malerman has you covered there too. And yet, there\'s a pretty big oversight that mars Inspection ... But Inspection is still a worthy read, one that, despite its flaws, upholds Malerman\'s premiere horror author status. All that is good about it, stated above, remains intact, even if it\'s not entirely a knockout.
Ali Shaw
RaveLitReactorAll this heady introspection and excellent character work is balanced with a solid narrative that relies on both taut sequences of action and the overarching mystery of the forest and its creatures, as well as its tendency to alter time and space as we know it. The Trees is a longish book, but it reads about as quickly as a novel half its size, thanks to the author's immersive plotting ... The Trees should definitely make him a household name.
Blake Crouch
PositiveLitReactorDark Matter is one of those books that works better, the less you know about it going in. Especially in this case, because Blake Crouch doesn't wait long to grab ahold of your reader sensibilities and shake you, like a dog with its prey locked in its jaw. He flings you into realms of science fiction, mystery, action, horror and even hints of surrealism. The novel is smart, funny, entertaining, and engrossing, with fantastic and blind-siding plot twists.
Liz Moore
PositiveLitReactor[Moore] weaves together gorgeous and, at times, staggering sentences without sacrificing the work's accessibility. Her characters, furthermore, echo Moore's prose: intricate, certainly complex, but also relatable, identifiable, able to elicit empathy and sympathy from the reader ... The Unseen World is a finely-tuned and engrossing novel, one that touches upon the world we knew in the past, the world we know now, and the world we've yet to meet—the future.
Joe Hill
RaveLitReactorJoe Hill knocks another one out of the park, offering readers a novel that is both timely and timeless ... The Fireman is a novel rich with ideas and socially commentary, but in no way is it dense or didactic. Quite the contrary, the narrative is gripping, the prose both accessible and gorgeous, and the characters relatable and easy to root for. It is a thick read, but at the same time, it's hard to put down, so make sure to give your wrists and arms a good workout before diving in, else you'll likely cramp from holding the book so long.
Andrew Michael Hurley
RaveLit ReactorThe Loney is a wonderful, wholly engrossing debut from an author who is sure to keep his place on the map of current weird fiction heavy-hitters...Put another way, The Loney belongs to the Gothic tradition of supernatural storytelling, and it is a genuine standout even among its more hallmark titles.
