Nate Gajac is given a second chance at life. While serving a prison sentence, a mysterious stranger offers him an impossible bargain: a job, a cure for his sister's illness, and a home in an isolated, idyllic community. The price is simple. Clean up after the creatures that live there. For years, Nate has done exactly that, bound by fear and the knowledge that some monsters are better left undisturbed. But now something new has arrived—a predator that doesn't belong.
It hunts the town's monstrous inhabitants as prey, and as a brutal war erupts between horrors beyond human understanding, Nate must decide which nightmare deserves to survive. The Neonate: And Other Anomalies also features a collection of dark tales filled with cosmic dread, Lovecraftian horror, creature horror, and unforgettable nightmares. Perfect for readers who enjoy small-town horror, weird fiction, and horror stories where the unknown is far more terrifying than the monsters themselves.
This was a fairly strong collection that has a lot to like. The main story focuses on the prisoner getting out and becoming embroiled in these strange incidents in a small-town community as a cleaner for a race of monsters that everyone is familiar with but is willing to live with, before being targeted by something else that emerges in the town, killing others. That all is immensely likable and effective at creating the kind of small-town mentality that works incredibly well here, focusing on the build-up of the different factors in their life and these strange conditions that are in play because of the people involved in this community, which is handled well enough to be quite likable. The atmosphere here is rather effective and immersive, all making everything quite a worthy read. The complimentary stories alongside this one are a fun touch as well, with a wide range of styles, influences, and topics that are equally fun, including these after the main story, all making for a great piece overall.
4.5/5
Comments
Post a Comment