Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

So this got lost on my Kindle - I just found it again and I'm so glad I did!

This is a seriously fun holiday horror!

While a bit silly in parts, it's also really creepy and the author has so much fun with it that you soon forget the silly bits and just get lost in the sheer entertainment of it!

Parts are rather gruesome, some parts are horribly sad, and the rest is simply chilling!

I really enjoyed this one and can't wait to read the author again!

There are certain situations that are frightening on premise alone. Snowball starts with a wreck during a blizzard that causes a backup on the highway. A backup of cars with occupants being trapped for the night. The idea of this happening in real life causes anxiety from the beginning. Add this to something strange happening in the winds of the blizzard, and the impending doom of nobody coming to rescue them, and I knew that this was going to be one of those novels that is riveting and bone-chilling.

Snowball has a great story and the characters are each introduced in the first few chapters, but as the night gets later and the characters start to get closer, all meeting in a warm RV, you start to feel that most of this large cast of characters is fairly well developed and that you are stuck in the snow with them. In the first half of the book, one of the things that they do to pass the time is tell the memories of their worst winter, and each of them have a story, one that really adds depth to the psyche of the people stuck in this situation, deep in the snows of an impassable highway.

There are moments when you feel the cold winds and deep snow as they are going out to get more people or to try to figure out a way to free themselves. Gregory Bastianelli does a good job of creating the scene, making us feel the claustrophobia of being in the RV with several strangers while you do not know if any help is going to arrive. While they are passing time, telling stories, you start to feel the same sort of dread the characters must be feeling, like are they going to ever get out of this situation.

The first half is a situational horror and the second half is a supernatural horror. I liked the first half better than the second, but I think the novel as a whole is pretty well done. The only character that feels a little two dimensional is Tucker, who is a truck driver and is referred to as big and heavy about thirty times once he becomes central to the story, but other than that, I enjoyed this novel and when next Christmas comes around, I will probably recommend it to all of my horror reading friends.

I received this as an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

What a fun ride this book was. Motorists stranded in the snow and spooky stories to fill their time. After spending time in an RV telling scary stories, the group experience paranormal entities.

"The snowman moved forward into the front seat, turning its head to look at them, its coal black eyes boring through his."

----------------------------------

Nobody wants to be travelling on Christmas Eve. They want to be home, in the warm, with their families. So what could be worse? Being stranded on a deserted highway in the middle of a snowstorm?
A group of motorists all find themselves in this situation, and they are all afraid they won't make it home by morning. They all congregate in a big RV, hoping to wait out the storm. But soon strange things start happening, and they realise they may not be making it home at all.

The story is in two parts.
Part one we are introduced to all the motorists, find out why they're on this road on Christmas Eve, and see their fear as they realise what a predicament they're in. It's a slow start, but it starts to pick up once they're all in the RV together.
Part two is when everything becomes crazy. Supernatural beings start appearing and the motorists try to find a way to escape.

This was suck a great read. Full of suspense, it had me hooked and I couldn't read it fast enough. I thoroughly enjoyed the supernatural element of the story and the twists thrown in along the way.
The ending did not disappoint.
A great Christmas read.

I wasn't really a fan. There was just too much information, about characters that weren't critical to the story. It felt dragging, and carried on way too long. I found myself skimming to the end to see what happened.

A creepy, supernatural story that will torment you, days after reading it. This books delivers a great read and a scary ride! Recommended!

This was right up my alley. It reminds me of the really fun 80s and early 90s movies where people get trapped and tormented. Please write more!

Requested solely based off the cover, and did not expect to love it this much! Very interesting concept and the author pulled it off well. Highly recommended if you want a creepy read in the winter time!

This has to be the BEST horror book I've read in a long time and I couldn't stop reading it! What starts when two young boys are on a school playground and one of them throws a snowball at his friend - the plot just "snowballs" from there until they are adults. All of the characters are connected in some way and they end up together stuck in a snow storm. The author winds all their stories together to an explosive ending!!! This book will keep you up at night!

Absolutely enjoyed from start to finish, u didn't want the book to end. Highly recommended, if you like books that keep you guessing and on the edge of your seat.

I love a good scare...and this book delivered! I kept imagining myself in the same situation. It would be terrifying to be stranded....but stranded with a malevolent being toying with your life? That adds a whole new dimension to things. The story builds revealing a bit more about what's actually going on...but just a bit at a time. The ending was great! This would be a perfect book for a horror lover to read while it's snowing outside. Unfortunately, here in NC this year, no snow yet. So I had to enjoy a snow-free experience...but still enjoyed the story!

I am not sure I still understand what was happening in this book but it didn’t detract from the story. It was enthralling and kept me reading late into the night. The question that still comes to mind is ‘where is the snow plot driver’? I kept expecting the group to find him eventually. Would look for more books from this author and would tell everyone to read this.

The settings were set quickly and the writer made things clear from the beginning itself that you are up for a thrilling tale of horror.

It was a snowstorm and a damn scary night to be out, but it was not just the storm that was scary. The stranded people soon face evils of their worst nightmares and I liked the treatment given to the monsters by the writer. These were not typical cliché monsters seen in most books but were kind of like your worst nightmare coming true.

Being a horror, apocalypse fan, I kind of liked the setting where a group of people is stranded on the road; survival being their next move. I liked the way the author describes the blizzard, you can almost feel the sting of icy wind on your face and also the warmth when you get inside the safety of your vehicle.

I like the way books are written these days, it’s almost like a movie script, and you can move along with the characters. Snowball is no different. You can feel the tension of the backstories of each character and somehow can relate to all their stories.

Character treatment was another good aspect of the book. Each one was there for a reason, and there was enough meat in every character. However, the relation built up between Shelby and Clark was kind of abrupt and misplaced. But I suppose it had to be done for the sake of the flow of the story.

The story kind of loses its shine for a bit halfway; but the ending makes up for that. When you will finally get to the end you will be left with a bag of emotions. I won’t go further as it would ruin the story for you; so go ahead and pick this book if you are a genuine fan.

Thank you Netgalley and Flame Tree Press for the ARC of this book. I regret that I didn't get to it sooner as I really enjoyed this book! I don't usually like supernatural stuff but this was done so effectively that it worked for me - I was genuinely creeped out at times!
At the beginning the story jumped right in; by the end of the first chapter I was hooked. I really liked the atmosphere the author created, it really added to the creepy feel. Inside the cars it felt so claustrophobic - I was on edge at some points!
This book included quite a few perspectives, it added depth to the story and it was interesting to see how each character thought and felt.
The characters felt real, each one was properly fleshed out, physically, mentally, the reader knows their motivations, fears and attitudes. I felt like I really understood them.
There was no time wasted in this book. Everything that happened had a purpose and nothing dragged on.
I loved the parallels that were drawn between the past and present throughout the story, it was so clever.
Something I was a little disappointed with was Shelby and Clark's relationship, I felt it was a little undercooked so it appeared quite unrealistic. I understand the purpose of the relationship and I feel like if it had been a little more developed I would've really liked it.
I found this book to be so original. I can wholeheartedly say I've never read anything like it though I'm no frequenter of the supernatural genre.
A solid supernatural horror.

Snowball was one heck of a ride. It kept my attention and had me page turning till the end. The story was action packed with supernatural elements, suspense and terror. Any horror/supernatural fans would enjoy it.

I read this book over Christmas, and it was perfects timing, a bunch of strangers stranded in the middle of a snowstorm on a deserted stretch of road. Slowly throughout the night unexplained terrors begin to plague the group, as the ordeal progresses it becomes clear that maybe they aren't strangers and maybe there is a reason these specific people are being tormented.
The story treads a fine line between horror and paranormal. Personally I prefer my horror straight up but the paranormal aspect did bring something different to the plot.

Snowball
Author: Gregory Bastianelli
Publisher: Flame Tree Press
Page count: 256pp
Release date: 30th January 2020

Starting very much like a traditional Dean Koontz, Stephen King novel, Snowball starts on Christmas Eve, focusing of a number of passengers all trapped in a blizzard, their vehicles stalled, no phone signal, no idea of what road they’re on.
That’s enough to give the reader chills, until we realise that each set of characters in their own car or truck, are behaving strangely.
Four of the men, have gone to examine the leading, empty snowplough, finding traces of blood.
What exactly happened to the snowplow driver?
Concern soon turns to fear; then nothing.
No one can remember what they’re supposed to be concerned about, and efficiency consultant, Dean Hagen is overheating, winding his car window down and taking off layers. In a snow blizzard.
Student Kirk, and his girlfriend, huddle in the backseat under blankets, oblivious to the snow swirling outside and covering their car.
The opening is almost reminiscent of the ‘Donner Party’ legend of the Nineteenth century, novelised by Alma Katsu.
Nature vs man, but this is no ecological horror. This is so much more.
We get to read snippets of the past of each character, before they tried to travel in a potential blizzard, and Mason and Joy’s story is particularly ironic, almost humorous - if grim.
These late night travellers are so close to potential warmth and hope, but stranded and no nearer to help arriving.
Part of the novel involves different memories of other winters; each person thinking back to their worst winter moments, so for a little while, this almost feels like an old portmanteau film, with all myriad of monstrous snowy images described.
The wintry scenes, disquieting, haunting imagery and odd, very strange occurrences, make for a creepy read, indeed.
Yet, as these individual stories progress, realisation dawns that all of these people are linked by a name.
And bam! Creepy turns to visceral; and deadly delight of blood-spattered snowy terrain, and creatures who only exist in legends.
A number of characters follow necessary clues to try and find a way out, and with the denouement, it’s clear Bastianelli has littered the novel with hints and foreshadowing to lead Clark, our main POV, and the reader, to the answers.
Channelling seasonal and snow-driven horror such as ‘The Shining’, ‘Krampus’ and ‘Where the Dead Go to Die’ by Aaron Dries and Mark Allan Gunnells, this novel subverts cliche and delivers top notch character’s fear and tension, as well as stunning yet horrific imagery.
The perfect read for a cold, blistery night.

RATING: 9/10

As horror movies or books go, one of the best traditions is making stories around childhood, whether that be children themselves or childlike things. It is a little boy who introduces us to “RED RUM” in The Shining – and let us not forget the twin girls begging us to “come play” with them. Pet Sematary centers around a dead child coming back to life to try to kill his parents. Chuckie is a murderous doll. And anyone who has seen the scene from Poltergeist where the little girl says “they’re heeeerrre” can attest it is something one never forgets.

Snowball is Gregory Bastianelli’s attempt to continue that tradition.

While there are no actual creepy kids in this book, the plot is driven by childlike things: the characters are trapped in the Game Master’s snow globe created in another dimension and function as pieces in a kids’ board game. Once they realize this, they have have to find a way to beat the game and get out before they are killed.

Not only is the plot based on a board game, but there is a puzzle for the characters (and the reader) to solve in background: how they are all connected. The author expertly drops clues along the way, some more obtuse than others. The reader should not be shocked that everything comes together in the end, but I found the full explanation to be surprising. I like the way the author planned twenty steps ahead and ended up without a hair out of place. The plot mechanic of a puzzle within a game gave off a kind of Inception-like vibe was a great way to keep the reader engaged throughout the whole book.

Snowball is very well-paced, as well. The overall story builds beginning with each character’s situation and being trapped in the snowstorm, to connecting with each other, all the way to the climax and the main problem with the board game; but, there are several mini-moments of tension along the way as each character is encouraged to tell a story about a horrifying event on a previous Christmas Eve. This intricate story weaving creates a series of small ebbs and flows throughout the book that I enjoyed as a reader and kept me intrigued as the main story continued to build to its own end.

Speaking of ends… I love how this novel ends. I am not trying to spoil it for anyone, so I will not say any more about it other than the author took a big risk ending it the way he did, and I applaud him for it. The gamble paid off big time.

Flame Tree Press continues to IMpress (*winky face because words are fun*) with its horror portfolio. Snowball is an excellent addition to the genre, and I recommend it for all horror fans. Snowball was released for publication on January 30, 2020.

Underwhelming.

Snowball is a supernatural horror by Gregory Bastianelli that has a strong start but about halfway, its plot starts to weaken.

It's Christmas Eve and a group of people get stranded on a highway in the middle of a snowstorm. As they await a rescue team, they share stories of their worst winters and realize that there's a strange connection between them. On seeing a light in the woods, a few of them undertake the mission to go seek help and thus begins their nightmare.

I enjoyed reading the start because it was gripping and seemed fast-paced. But the supernatural elements and the twists and the turns, all felt a little bland. The chapters are short and it's a quick and fun read but sadly, it didn't meet my expectations. The writing is great but I didn't get attached to any of the characters which made reading this book a mediocre experience. I wouldn't recommend it.

[I'd like to thank NetGalley, Gregory Bastianelli and Flame Tree Press for this ARC.]