Dweller

This is a very disturbing and bittersweet morality tale of horror where a young boy discovers a monster in the woods and befriends him. Through 55 years, the book blurs the relationship with the creature as the reader slowly discovers the real monster. Very well written with characters the reader will both love and hate. Extremely well done climax. Amidst all the suspense, gore and horror I truly felt sorry for both the creature and the man. He truly screwed up his life and it does make one wonder if one would have done very much different under those circumstances. Great horror on many levels. Well done, Mr. Strand!

Soo, Yeah, I slammed this book in 3 hours straight. I couldn't stop, I took it to the bathroom, kitchen, slammed it down at 3am, exhausted.
Jeff, people do need to get some sleep around here, and be productive. What you are doing isn't fair!
"One more chapter then I am going to bed"
::finishes book, flips off light::
::lays awake wondering what happens to that monster::
::flips light back on::

The truth is, I loved this story! It was poignant, and a truly horrifying account of a love shared between man and ugly beast. Humans are SO CRUEL. I wish the world had more beasts and less Humans.
There will be a huge gaping hole in the shape of a monster with long sharp talons in my heart forever... fondly remembering where Owen used to be. show more *tears*
That was the first time I actually enjoyed the ending of the book! show less

I have read quite a few of Jeff Strand's lighter horror novels. Make no mistake, those books are dark and twisted, but there is a humorous tone that really sets them apart. I wasn't sure what one of his serious horror novels was going to be like. It didn't take long to realize why this was nominated for the Bram Stoker. This is dark fiction with real heart and insight.

Dweller has a dark humor to the story, to be sure. But it is the humor of a man who is deceiving himself and we cringe each time he does it--begging him to reconsider. It is the humor that masks deep hurt and alienation....and rage. You are left many times wondering who the real monster is in this story: "Owen"--the creature, or "Toby"--the boy who finds him.

A tragedy show more about a pair of outcasts who find each other. There is very quickly a bond that can't be broken. A choice is made by both and the cards fall into place from there. And along the way the reader is treated to a fascinating character study of a very damaged yet dangerous man and his relationship with a noble yet only partially controllable beast. Safety is an illusion as one cannot change one's true nature, even through love. Reality and other people keep getting in the way. The sacrifices made by each of them are inevitable and the deepest that one can make.

Deeply moving with profound insight into the many ways we fool ourselves. Toby is one of the most interesting characters I have come across in a long time, and Owen one of the most tragic. This is a very, very good book. show less

Jeff Strand does an amazing job with this book.
Young Toby encounters a monster in the woods, but when he tells his family no one will believe him.
So begins a lifelong relationship between Toby and the monster.
The reason I say Jeff Strand did an amazing job is twofold. First, you really care for Toby, even though his relationship with the monster takes some nasty turns (and when I say nasty, I mean VERY nasty). You can't help but feel sorry for him. Second, you really care for the monster although he does some horrific things. Mr. Strand brings an humanity to the monster that I didn't expect, but it worked.
In my opinion, this story isn't really scary in the usual way. What's scary about it is how far these two will go to maintain show more their friendship, above ALL else. I know people say this all the time, but I couldn't put this book down. It is fast paced and well written and best of all, it is a fascinating story that will keep you engaged. show less

Before I start this review, I have a confession to make about the movie "King Kong." I cry at the ending. I did when I was a little boy with the original and I still do now. Then again tears when I was older and saw the remake with Jeff Bridges. (Any crying during the Peter Jackson remake was more due to how poor the film was than anything else.) Here was a creature that was living a happy life who finally thought he found love only to be kidnapped to a foreign country and then killed while defending his love. How that could not stir tears in anyone, I don't know.

Jumping forward to the book DWELLER, it will evoke a lot of the same feelings. Toby is a misfit teenager who through a series of events makes friends with a big-toothed, show more massive-clawed creature in the woods. They keep this friendship for decades and through many life changes. Like many friendships, it's not always easy but the friendship does persevere. All the way to the end of the book. Yes, the idea might seem a little crazy that someone could make friends with such a creature but so is a gigantic ape falling in love with a blonde human sacrifice. If you just go with it, you'll find that the book is well worth it and extremely entertaining. It will pull you in very quickly and you won't want to stop reading. This was one of those books I could barely put down and which I stayed up late reading. As always, I look forward to more books by Strand. show less

Young Toby is a loner. Not necessarily because he wants to be, but because he is a little over imaginative and odd. Bullies torment him to the point of madness and it is this torment and loneliness that drives him to create a life long bond with a fierce creature that lives in the woods. It's a friendship that will last through all of life's multiple cycles, even murder doesn't split the pair apart.

Dweller is the story of a young man who meets a monster in the forest behind his home. It's the story of a life long friendship between a man and a monster at times funny, scary, sad and heart wrenching.

One of the best stories I've read and I would highly recommend this one.

Ack I just knew this would have a depressing ending. Surprisingly good book with more complexity of emotion that I figured from the plot synopsis and then the playful writing style. The MC is genuinely humorous but the story holds a lot of sadness and emotion in it. Full review to come.