Cover Image: Creature

Creature

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Hunter Shea is responsible for bringing a LOT of monsters into the world, and that's a wonderful thing. His stories of legendary beasts and Nature-gone-mad are always a lot of fun, typically highlighted by some twisted humor and plenty of blood-spattered goodness.

CREATURE is a rather stark departure from the Saturday matinee creature-feature type tale I've come to know from Mr Shea.

There IS plenty of horror here, powerful and intimate horror. CREATURE is particularly scary because the terror is REAL and inescapable. I found myself caring deeply for the married couple in this book, and the escalating fear that consumes their lives was absolutely gut-wrenching, at times.

Though quite different from Mr. Shea's other work, CREATURE is a damn good story, and it demonstrates a writer at the top of his game. Give it a read, but be prepared for some seriously strong "feels".

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When Andrew suggests a get away to a wood cabin by the lake, Kate is excited to spend some time away hoping it will distract her from her life of pain and health professionals trying to cure her host of autoimmune diseases. But something is lurking outside of their idyllic cottage...

Creature certainly is an unusual concept for a horror novel and is refreshingly very character driven. The main characters are indeed interesting; Kate is an unwell woman, almost bedridden by a host of auto-immune diseases that are eating away at her from the inside and Andrew is her doting husband who is trying his best to look after and support his wife but has anger issues and a drink problem. Kate’s portrayal in particular is heart breaking and a unique point of view. Although they are both interesting, the characters both feel a little two dimensional at times which makes the first part of the book feel a little repetitive before the supernatural elements kick in.

The second half of the book feels almost too fast paced by contrast. I found myself having to go back over certain parts as I missed vital information that was buried and skipped over in a previous paragraph. The supernatural element, although interesting, confused me greatly and left me with more questions than it answered. I actually thought I had guessed what was going to happen two thirds into the book and was a little disappointed that my guess was better than the actual outcome, in my opinion!

One thing I feel I have to mention is the incorrect first aid which is given in this book which annoyed me greatly. This doesn’t give away any spoilers but when Kate is having a seizure we are assured that Andrew knows exactly how to deal with it and has done so many times before. He then proceeds to stick a book in her mouth and enlist someone’s help in holding her down – two things you must NEVER do to someone having a seizure. Although this is a small point I do feel that putting misinformation in books like this can be dangerous as a reader may subconsciously remember it and then try to use it at a later date harming the person they think they are helping. The treatment isn’t essential to the plot and so could easily be changed or gotten rid of completely.

Overall Creature is an interesting concept for a horror novel but I feel it fell a little flat in being slow and repetitive in its beginning and conversely too fast paced and confusing in its ending. Unfortunately it hasn’t impressed me enough to break my 3 star max on horror genre books which seems to be the trend at the moment for me. Thank you to NetGalley and Flame Tree Press for a copy of the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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"Creature" was a bit of a departure for Hunter Shea, this author usually writes fast paced and trashy monster novellas which are loaded with big action sequences and laced with humour. This book was not like this at all, and has a much, much slower pace than these creature features. If anything it was too slow. A couple rent a big house on a remote Maine lake to get away from the city and to try and deal with the wife's long-term, potentially fatal illness. She has lupus and other autoimmune diseases meaning she is sick and in pain most of the time. The novel is seen from both points of view, with the husband trying his best to deal with the invalid wife.

All of the first half of the novel deals with the illness stuff and the "Creature" part of what lurks in the woods, or the psychology behind her illness and its manifestation of her illness just take too long to get going. I was not even sure they gelled together very well? It is always interesting to see an author explore a different area of writing, but this particular book did not convince me and by the time the creature stuff kicked in I was struggling to finish the book.

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CREATURE, by Hunter Shea, is--in my opinion--his strongest, most focused, "heaviest" (in terms of theme), and character-driven novel to date.  This is a novel that incorporates many sub-genres of horror:  psychological, human suffering, suspense, visceral, supernatural, and fear-inducing, among many others.  If you're like myself and normally have a couple of books going at all times, you'll soon discover that this is simply not a book that can be read "lightly".  CREATURE is a tale that demands your undivided attention and focus at all times.

We start with a couple, Kate and Andrew Woodson, who have the misfortune of Kate living with a host of autoimmune diseases, including Lupus and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome.  While this obviously makes Kate's physical existence a challenge in and of itself, its affect on Andrew is no less potent.

"She'd forgotten what it was like to wake up and not be in agony . . . "

The strength of their union, their love and dependance on one another is the backbone of this story.  Through their everyday thoughts and actions, the reader is "shown" just how close Kate and Andrew are, without the need for obvious statements.  We can feel them--the pain and frustration that each deals with in their own ways.

". . . what they had survived made them different from most people . . . "

I cannot stress enough how REAL these two characters are to me.  I feel like they are people I actually know in life, such is the power of Shea's words.

". . . Her body might be weak, but her will could break a football lineman in half . . . "

Deciding that they need a break form everyday life, Andrew arranges for them to take the summer off, and vacation at a remote lakeside cottage in Maine.  Along with Kate's constant companion, an older beagle named Buttons, they set out.

". . . she waved goodbye to their house, a house that doubled as a hospital and prison . . . "

While the main focus overall is on the characterization, once they reach Maine, the atmosphere comes more prominently into play, as well.  The beauty of this quaint cottage nestled in the woods, with a gorgeous lake beyond, and only a few "neighbors"--too far away to be seen--is an excellent contrast to the pain raging throughout Kate's weekend body.

"Promise me we can stay here forever?"

Of course, neither could have predicted that something . . . else . . . might be inhabiting those very same woods.

While Kate's battles with her own body are always present, there are so many other intrusions that begin to enter into their world--some subtle, some less so.  This is where Shea showcases just how "real" he can make his novels.

". . . the woods were nothing but shadows, and the only things that didn't belong were themselves."

In addition to the spectacular characterization, he begins to build up the apprehension and unease for each in a myriad of ways.  Yet all of it rings true for the reader.  Some of the most horrific discoveries are things they choose to keep to themselves, for reasons that make complete sense to us, as it concerns each personality.

"How could she be a part of their lives when she couldn't even partake of her own?"

Some are purposely left ambiguous so that even the reader wants to question "Is this real"?  Other things are brought to light in such a brutal manor that it is impossible to deny something is amiss.

". . . her dream lake cottage.  Yet here she was . . . trapped in more ways than one . . . "

This is what a great horror novel is all about.  Shea is able to bring out those feelings of despair and fear that we have all experienced to some extent, making these scenes ring so true in our minds.  Once our undivided attention has been captured, even more problems and terror begin to bombard us at every turn.

"He's my husband . . . If anyone's going to stab him repeatedly, it should be me . . . "

No matter how "improbable" the scene, at this stage our minds are open to any and every possibility out there.  In addition to the internal battles, the external threat and carnage heat things up to an explosive level.

". . . when there was nothing left to lose, there was no reason to hold back . . . "

Overall, a remarkable, unforgettable novel in so many ways!  The raw emotion of the characters, the physical problems both within and without the cottage, and the ultimate questions of "what, why, and how", will leave you hanging on every written word.  As I stated in the beginning, this is not a "light" story, but it is one that will reel you in so that you can practically feel every moment of it right up until the final, unpredictable, end.  Without question, this is one of my top reads of the year.

Highly recommended!

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Kate has many health problems. She has almost died several times and she gets worse everyday. Andrew, her husband loves her very much and is afraid of Kate dying. Together they have faced so much. Andrew takes Kate to a cabin on the lake in Maine, to spend time away from all the painful treatments that she will need to start again in a few months. Kate wishes that they would never have to go back home. Kate hears things outside the cabin. It's probably just the medications she is on. One night, Andrew hears it and it is frightening especially when rocks are thrown on the roof of their cabin. Ryker, her brother is a motivational speaker and is trying to teach her how to meditate and let go of her pain. Ryker and his wife Nikki come for a weekend visit. Andrew talks to Ryker about what is happening and about all the dead animals he has found in the woods. The sounds get worse. A large creature is seen on the porch. They decide to leave, but the creature attacks and Ryker is injured. Is it Sasquatch or something else? Will they be able to get away with Kate so sick and the creature watching them? This is a must read. It's a tale of love,horror and death. It's a different take on monsters. It's a scary, scary story in more ways than one. If you love horror, it's the one for you. I received this book from Net Galley and Flame Tree Press for a honest review and no compensation otherwise.

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Once again Shea delivers on his ability to write horror and make you actually feel terrified. Shea has quickly become one of my go to and favorite authors. This story was both scary and sad. and I adored the main characters relationship.

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When I requested this book from NetGalley I hadn’t read the blurb, but instead I chose the book based on the title and cover alone.  Having not read the blurb, I wasn’t expecting the book what I read.

I thought it would be all horror and scary stuff  from the start. But in actual fact, the first half concentrates on the main characters Kate and Andrew and their struggles of coping with Kate’s numerous medical conditions and character development. Then slowly the horror and gore part kicks in and that’s when the book becomes so gripping that I couldn’t read it fast enough.

I really liked the descriptions and language that is used throughout the book. For me there was not too much and not too little description, just the way I like my books.

I haven’t read a good horror book in a while until now that that is, definitely recommend this book if you are looking for something slightly different to a normal horror book.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Flame Tree Press for my eARC in return for an unbiased review.

Oh I forgot to mention don't skip the Afterwords at the end of the book.

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5 stars

I read the Kindle edition.

First off, I really liked Kate and her husband Andrew. They were a very loving couple and that is heartwarming. It was very hard to read bout Kate’s illness and all her medications. She was unable to get out of bed very much and slept quite a bit. Yet Andrew stayed by her, supporting her with love and gentle humor.

After we get to know the characters very well and marvel at their relationship, the horror beings.
Andrew leaves his job and moves Kate and himself into a Maine cottage. It sounds like a beautiful place and I would love to visit there. Then things begin to go very wrong. Some creature is hanging about the home, terrifying Kate. There are dead animals left about the cabin. Rocks are tossed at the little cabin.

Brilliant Mr. Shea, just brilliant. This story is a different twist on his usual action-packed horror from the get go stories. The reader gets the opportunity to know the main characters quite well and have an admiring relationship with them. About half way through the book, the tension begins and doesn’t let up until the end. Mr. Shea’s use of language to paint pictures was very well done. I admire his abilities to write so well. Bring on the next one, please!

I want to thank NetGalley and Flame Tree Press for forwarding to me a copy of this remarkable book for me to read, enjoy and review.

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Hunter Shea knows all about horror. An author with a score of books to his name, podcaster for Monster Men and The Final Guy, and writer of Video Vision posts for Cemetery Dance, all point toward a man who has lived and breathed the horror genre since he was a boy. He knows and writes about cryptids, ghosts, crazed killer animals, and plenty more in-between. But he also knows about real horror, true horror, like when your body begins to fail and suffer from a handful of maladies, any of which on their own could be fatal, the person slowly degenerating into a life that is more misery and pain than anything else.

Kate suffers from a host of autoimmune disorders and lives in a state of chronic pain. Her joints slip out of their sockets with painful regularity and a mason jar filled to the brim with her daily regiment of pills sits on the nightstand beside the bed she only rarely leaves. Her husband, Andrew, is her caretaker, reliant on his dayjob to provide them with the medical benefits that help keep her alive, although the specter of chemotherapy is an ever-present threat, as are worries of emergency surgeries and cardiac arrest.

Kate doesn't get to enjoy her life very much. Mostly, her only company consists of her small dog, Buttons, and classic black-and-white movies on television or her computer tablet. Frustrated by his lack of time with her, and a growing dissatisfaction with work, Andrew takes a leave of absence and rents a lakeside cottage in Maine for the two of them to enjoy and while away their summer. He hopes the change of scenery will help, and that, just maybe, Kate can enjoy some sun and sand.

Their arrival, unfortunately, doesn't exactly go as planned. There's something in the woods surrounding their summer retreat. Strange, violently loud animal cries awaken them in the middle of the night, along with the noise of rocks pelting the house as whatever is out there attempts to lure them outside. What began as a hope for escape soon grows into a dire struggle for survival as the creature in the woods, and the monsters within Kate's own body, threaten to kill them.

Right from the very beginning of Creature it's clear that Shea has plenty of first-hand experience dealing with severe, chronic medical disorders. As it happens, his own wife suffers from afflictions similar to Kate's, and Creature oftentimes feels like a highly autobiographical work. It's honest and unflinching in its depictions of struggle from the perspective of both the afflicted and the partner cum caretaker. When they were dating, neither Kate nor Andrew expected their marriage to take the direction it has, and there's an ever-present sense of loss over the things that could, and should, have been. But there's also an overriding sense of love and compassion for one another, a love that has borne them through the worst of things and will carry them along no matter how grim things get. They manage to carve out moments of happiness, but still bicker and fight when emotional currents run high.

Kate and Andrew aren't a perfect couple, but they work well with what they've been given, and Shea does an excellent job portraying the reality of their relationship, warts and all. He bleeds onto each and every page, imbuing this couple and their shared life with a perfect sense of well-lived in realism. When drawing so heavily on personal experience, once might be inclined to glamorize the characters involved or tack on overly saccharine sentimentalities, but I never got that sense here. Kate and Andrew never struck me as being drawn in any way other than completely and utterly honest, and oftentimes to heartbreaking effect. Kate's disorders are awfully severe and it's impossible to not sympathize with her constant ordeals, and Andrew's by extension.

By now, you're probably wondering about the titular creature. I've spent an awful lot of time here discussing the people, but not the monster. Monsters, of course, are Shea's bread and butter! I can only say, have no worry, because Creature's creature is absolutely present, but oftentimes in omnipresent ways. We hear the creature and see the aftermath of its visits for a good long while before we're presented with it in a fully in-your-face appearance on the page. Creature is a slow-burn, one that constantly builds its way toward a grand climax, and Shea meticulously places the various pieces of his frightfest with careful deliberation.

Shea is more widely known for his fun, gloriously violent, B-movie inspired creature feature romps. Creature is a bit of a departure from stories like Megalodon in Paradise or Jurassic, Florida, but readers who came to Shea by way of We Are Always Watching will have a grand idea of what to expect here. This isn't a mile a minute gorefest, but it packs in a number of scares that are absolute powerhouses thanks to their authenticity and realism. Creature is a slower, characters-first work of horror, but make no mistake, Shea certainly delivers on the horror and in a number of particularly gut-churning, all too-human ways.

[Note: I received an advance reading copy of this title from the publisher, Flame Tree Press.]

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Generally, I read Hunter Shea for light-hearted horror. A little silly and a whole lot of fun.

Creature, while still fun, proves that Hunter Shea has some serious horror writing chops!

This is a scary and heartbreaking story that kept me on edge all the way through. I loved our couple so much – their relationship was what every relationship should be! And, oh, I so worried for both of them.

As I worried over their marriage and Kate’s health, Shea brings on some extremely scary situations – the kind where you peek over your shoulder as you read.

Warning; light gore and heavy heartbreak are very much present here and the anxiety is relentless.

This is quite possibly his best work yet and it lingers. I’m still not over this read.

5 Very well deserved stars.

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