Micah Dean Hicks

This book is…. weird. It’s a strange mashup of sci-fi, horror, fantasy, and family. The town of Swine Hill (Swain Hill), already in decay from loss of industry, has become a mostly deserted, post-apocalyptic, ruin of ghosts, pig-men, corporate greed, and angry, despairing people. The only industry still operating is the slaughter house, run by a mysterious corporate entity.

Our protagonists are teen-aged siblings Jane and Henry. Their whole family is possessed by ghosts; Jane’s tells show more her everyone’s secrets and Henry’s is a genius engineer who compels him to build amazing machines- and work on living flesh, too. Jane considers her ghost a sort of friend, while Henry’s takes over his body and leaves Henry missing time when the ghost departs. Lately, Henry has been working at the meat processing plant, on what, he doesn’t know. But of late, a person named Walter Hogboss has been promoted to plant manager, and he’s calling Henry.

Swine Hill is a horrible place. There are no safe spots. I wondered at times if the whole world was afflicted like Swine Hill was. It’s a story of racism, grief, whether it’s all right to eat intelligent animals, ethics, slavery, and much more. It’s a hard book to read; I found myself wondering if there was any spot of beauty in this world of dirty air and falling down buildings. There is, in some character’s souls-and not just the human ones. Five stars, even though it’s not a comfortable book to read. show less

It is really fitting that this is my last read of 2020. It is a story about a failing town, whose main industry is a pork packing plant. The town is full of literal ghosts that attach themselves to the towns people. Most of the times the ghosts bring destruction and despair (although there were a few instances where the ghosts had a seemingly benign influence). When a teenage boy's ghosts enables him to create people out of pigs, the new pig-men threaten to take the all the factory jobs show more away. Being faced with the loss of their livelihood brings out the worst in people. The book was very bleak. All of the characters and their ghosts lived depressing oppressive lives. The town was full of violence and death and there was little hope of escape. Any bit of hope that a character would have a happy outcome was usually squashed along with that character. At another time, with another frame of mind, I may have appreciated what the author seemed to be saying about dying towns in the rust belt and how they and their residents are haunted by the past - but after the year we have all had I definitely wanted something less bleak. show less

First off, let me start by saying that this book is unique. It will mess with your mind and not in a good way. However, this translate to a book that you must read. If you are a fan of horror books than you will want to pick up a copy today.

This is a family affair. Jane and her brother, Henry were not just the only ones trying to battle the evilness that encroaches on their town. While, I did find Jane to be strong; she was not the only strong female character in this story. Bethany kicked show more some serious ass as well. Yet, here is where the stuff of nightmares is at...walking, talking pigs. This is what the ghost that inhibits Henry's body has him creating. Turning pigs into people. They are replacing the jobs of the townfolk.

This book is so bizarre but at the same time I could not stop reading it. Just when I thought it could not get more weirder; something else would happen in the story that would have me in awe. I can't really explain this book in a way that gives it justice, so you will just have to check it out for yourself. show less

A spooky, at times brutal, and quite unusual read, with themes of coping with change, living with grief and starting afresh. Swine Hill is a heavily haunted town and not just its buildings and physical spaces but also its people. Every one in town hosts a ghost inside them that compels them to do strange things, gives them unusual powers, and keeps them from leaving this broken town. Amidst it all are a brother and sister who try to navigate this unpredictable and sinister place - especially show more now as the pig people have arrived, fear is gripping the town, and as society spirals out of control events are escalating. show less