Creature

Kate Woodson suffers with autoimmune disease. Her health problems are slowly killing her. As an escape from her mounting physical problems and the subsequent damage to their relationship, her husband Andrew rents a cottage in Maine for the summer and takes a 3 month leave of absence from his job. They both need a break from their day-to-day lives. But, in the woods surrounding the seemingly idyllic cabin lurks something so horrible, something so monstrous it might just destroy them both. The Creature....it lurks, it waits, it knows them.....

I love Hunter Shea's books. I love horror stories with monsters and Hunter Shea always delivers! He has creeped me out with everything from legendary beasties like the Jersey Devil to urban rats. show more This book hits close to home for me as I deal with physical and health issues on a daily basis. I identified with Kate Woodson and her husband. Physical pain and limitations have a direct and sometimes destructive effect on daily life and relationships. I wanted them to enjoy their summer in the backwoods of Maine.....and the downward spiral their attempt to escape took was horrifying in itself. I let myself get pulled totally into this story, reading it on my front porch in a comfy chair.....at night....in the dark....all alone....dark woods right across the street..... Even the cup of hot, sweet, caramel flavored coffee sitting next to me wasn't enough to keep me from getting very much creeped out as the Woodsons started hearing leaf-crunching, branch breaking, heavy footsteps circling their cabin.....then rocks being thrown on the roof.....and a snuffling, roaring beastie standing just outside the door. The realization that the monster could bust through the glass patio doors at any time terrified not only the Woodsons, but me too. Perfect! I was immersed in this story from start to finish. I love how the plot relates to Hunter Shea's real life. I think that is why the story seems so real and grabbed my interest so thoroughly. Loved it!

Hunter Shea is the author of several other horror novels including The Montauk Monster and Jurassic Florida. Any lover of creature features or monster tales will love his books! This book gets full stars from me because of the personal connect I had with the characters and the totally creepy experience! Can't wait for his next book!

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Flame Tree Press via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own. No monsters were harmed in the writing of this review, although I did suffer quite a scare when my cat hopped on my lap while I was reading it in the dark. No permanent injuries to either of us. Luckily.** show less

Creature by Hunter Shea is a fantastically creepy read that kept me awake far into the night. Kate is under siege by her own body. Afflicted by lupus and another disorder that causes dangerously loose joints, she spends the majority of her time in excruciating pain. Pain and medicine cause extreme fatigue, resulting in Kate sleeping at the drop of a hat except for the bouts of night-time insomnia). Making matters worse, if she's not careful her joints pop out, amplifying the pain until they can be popped back in place.

After a particularly horrid treatment regimen, Kate's husband Andrew books a cottage in the Maine woods for a three month vacation hoping a change of pace will help her. Unsurprisingly, it doesn't improve Kate's health. show more Indeed, her 'bad feels’ are joined by 'microwave feels’, where her body feels like it's burning up inside. Add to this the creeping stress of loud noises in the night. When Kate’s brother Ryker comes to visit the creepy activity escalates. A creature is stalking the cabin, a beastie born of pain, and anger. A creature with a unique link to Kate.

I've had the pleasure of reading several of Shea’s books thus far. Most fall into the 'cheesy’ light horror that I love. Creature was a different kettle of fish altogether. I empathised with Kate so much. I suffer from an autoimmune condition myself, and grokked the fatigue, the insidious ever-present pain leaching joy out of life, the plethora of pills to be taken daily. Shea did a marvelous job of getting across just what it's like to suffer from conditions like these. Likewise, Andrew’s inner conflict and frustration was written with depth and truth. It can be difficult faced with a loved one who suffers from a chronic debilitating illness that can only be managed, not cured.

The creature itself was interesting. Or rather, the circumstances of its creation. I felt it was akin to a tulpa or an egregore, albeit one accidentally created by an unconscious metaphysical Frankenstein. Without clearly delineated instructions regarding protection, the creature acted on its instincts. It could also be personified Shadow aspects, distilled from Kate’s illnesses and her feelings around them, and her inability to function normally. Either way, the creature, and the book itself, is a great metaphor for exactly how monstrous these types of illnesses can be, how they can consume a person, and their caregivers alike. Highly recommended.

***Many thanks to Netgalley and Flame Tree Press for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. show less

CREATURE! It. Knocked. My. Socks. Off.

Kate and Andrew have certainly been tested. Her health, (a horrible litany of problems due to auto-immune diseases and problems arising from the treatment of them), and his care of her, has tested the strength of their marriage at every turn. Now with Kate trying an experimental treatment, they are in for their biggest test ever. In an attempt to alleviate the tension and bring some relaxation to their lives, Andrew rents an isolated cabin in Maine for the summer. Instead of being the serene, quiet time they had both hoped for, their cabin becomes the target of something in the woods. Will they return from their vacation relaxed and refreshed? You'll have to read this to find out!

This is not the show more book I expected from Hunter Shea. What I expected was a creature-feature, (one of those words is right there in the title after all), and it sort of was. But what it mainly was, was the story of a strong marriage and how chronic disease attacks every component of your life-and this is a tale I recognize from my own life. I had a period of years with an un-diagnosed disease, which in the end WAS diagnosed as an auto-immune condition. I know what it is to be frustrated, to have my patience tested, to be told it's all in my head, and to be poked, prodded, and experimented with like a lab rat. So, when Mr. Shea wrote about Kate's inner thoughts I totally understood and I recognized the pure truth of them.

What Mr. Shea did with Kate's thoughts is another thing entirely. It was brutal, yet beautiful at the same time. The imagination and creativity here was astounding. It was also frightening and spellbinding. I read the last 40% of this book straight through, because that was what the story demanded of me. I loved these characters, each and every one of them, and I rooted so hard for them all-I simply could not leave them at the height of their struggle.

Now, I find myself almost speechless, (and if you know or follow me, you know that's rare!). I want you to understand that this is a powerful tale, about so much more than what it appears to be on the surface. I hope that if you've ever trusted a review based solely on a reviewer's word, that you choose this one to trust. You will not be disappointed.

CREATURE gets my highest recommendation!

Available everywhere on September 6th, but you can pre-order here: https://www.amazon.com/Creature-Fiction-Without-Frontiers-Hunter-ebook/dp/B07GJV...

*Thank you to Flame Tree Press via NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest feedback. This is it.* show less

I’ll get straight to what I liked about this book, the time and energy Shea put into building character. Or as some writing gurus will tell you, write what you know. And in Shea's own words, elements of this story are very personal.

It's a slow development of character for a good two thirds of the story. The creature in question doesn’t rear its ugly head until the bitter end, but that's okay. The story isn’t really about the creature itself, but of the creature as a manifestation brought on by the every day horrors of living with a brutal and uncompromising disease. Literally.

Kate is the one who lives in pain every day of her life. Her husband Andrew loves her and just wants her to be well, but her ever constant need for care show more wears on him as well. So they take a trip to the wilds of Maine hoping to enjoy nature and some alone time for healing.

But the disease isn’t forgiving, and the creature in question is eventually drawn to it.

I’m not going to give away any more spoilers than that. The slow development of the plot to get to the final moments of horror is essential to this story (in my opinion), so stick with it.

I’m glad I did. show less

It took me a while to decide about the rating for this one. There were things that I really liked about it and a few things that I didn't. I finally decided that the good things out won out. The reading it is not really easy...but it's also nearly impossible to put down. Though the protagonist is loaded with chronic illnesses...none of which are not a pleasant place to be. However, her marriage to Andrew is wonderful and fulfilling... warts and all. The warts are what help to make it so charming, because it's just plain real. It's a working marriage that's genuine, not "Prince Charming" and "Sugar Plum Fairies". It's a love story far more romantic than many of the romances I've read. Andrew makes choices...his wife and staying where he show more is when he has every opportunity to leave. This is as much a story about a relationship as it is about a monster that terrorizes a couple whose only desire is to spend a peaceful, relaxing summer. When Kate's brother and his wife arrive, the monster comes more out into the open. Kate asks of Andrew, "Promise me we can stay here forever?" Of course, neither could have predicted that something . . . else . . . might be inhabiting those very same woods and overhearing her request. Overall, it's a remarkable and unforgettable novel in so many ways. The raw emotion of the characters...the physical problems both within and without the cottage...the ultimate questions of "what, why, and how" is one that will reel you in so that you can practically feel every moment of it right up until the final, unpredictable end. show less

I have been a fan of Hunter Shea for a few years now. I believe I have read most if not all of his work. I can usually count on his books to remind me of lazy Saturdays as a kid reading through my horror comics or watching the creature double feature on my old TV that got 3 channels back in the 80s. I've often described his books as "a fun read."
Creature is a whole other level of horror than I was expecting. It's much more dark and serious. It feels real. If you have ever suffered chronic pain you are going to find an instant kinship with Kate. It will take you back to your darkest days. If you have not known this kind of pain you will at least feel sympathy for her and her husband Andrew, who due to her debilitating illnesses has had show more to become her caretaker yet somehow remained a real husband. Kate and Andrew despite everything have remained madly in love. Not that fake romance novel type love either, I mean the real kind where you sometimes get on each other's nerves to the point that you can't stand to be in the same room together but before you walk out you still make damned sure they have everything they need, and you know you're coming back. Andrew would do anything for Kate, and it is in that spirit that he takes her to a lake house for the summer where he hopes she can find some relief and some happiness before her next horrible round of doctor appointments in the fall. This was a 5 star read for me.

I received an advance copy for review. show less

After reading the first couple of pages, I had to double check to make sure this book was really written by Hunter Shea, unchallenged master of the 'Creature Feature' (at least in my opinion). The first half of the novel (also unusual, as a lot of his works are novella length) really caught my breath. Though nothing really happened in terms of monsters action, the writing was just so great!

I love it when an author manages to capture my attention like that, writing about (seemingly) nothing spectacular but still making it special. I learned to love that kind of writing when reading my first horror books, which happened to be the early Stephen King works. King always takes his time (and lots of it, often it takes two thirds of a book) show more before actually letting anything significant happen (again, in terms of action). So I was thrilled to see another of my favorite authors doing it just as well.

So when the monster finally revealed its face and the fighting began, it felt like slipping back into familiar and much appreciated creature territory while at the same time I was a bit disappointed to leave the more quiet path that lead there. The ending also felt ambivalent, as it brought peace and pain in equal measure.

A very personal, challenging and surprisingly different story from one of my favorite horror authors. Highest recommendation!

(Thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for a copy of the book, all opinions are my own) show less