The Hunger | 
panThe story of the Donner Party is already horrific and could make a very scary story. The supernatural elements introduced here just made it.... less. Less scary, less interesting, less contemplative. Add a skosh of racism (in the story, of course the characters would be racist), and just FAR too much romantic intrigue and I just can't say this was well-done. The actual writing was good tho.
pickA fictionalized account of the Donner tragedy. Interesting, well written. Not sure the fictionalization was any better than the actual story. A 3.5 stars at best.
Prompt #2 😃🙌 #gruesome #wickedwhispers
This one is still in my TBR!
pickI really liked this one. A historical fiction horror about the Donner Party.
so-soThis story was fine, but to be honest, I don't think the scary explanation was necessary or even more scary than the actual story. I read a nonfiction book about the Donner Party (The Indifferent Stars Above by Daniel James Brown) in 2020, that I remember as being both more poignant and more terrifying than this novelized version. Externalizing the threat gives the reader an excuse to avoid self-reflection and neutralizes the horror.
Yesterday I had a migraine, and Camille helped by perching on my belly and trying to intimidate the headache away with her glare. It worked! (With the help of a nap, medication, and time.)
Still working on the tagged book. It's kind of dragging, but I'm getting closer to the end!
Only 1 kid came to the door tonight, but had 4 on Saturday @ least. Now settled in for creepy nighttime read by flashlight
@ShelleyBooksie sent me this *AMAZING* Haunted Hallow Swap package! The bookmarks and everything in the notepad holder are gorgeous. I'm so glad the card is in there saying who created it so I can check out more from them. And the book/ereader sleeve! 😍 Books also seem like my kind of disturbing read, now to decide which to read first. Is it wrong to enjoy a snack while reading The Hunger? 🤔
@wanderinglynn #HHS #hauntedhallow #hauntedhallowswap
pickI liked this but didn‘t love it. It is heavier on historical fiction/speculative fiction with horror elements. An alternative history version of the tragic Donner party incident. 3.5⭐️
#bookspinbingo - bingo! #littenlisten #bodycountbingo #Scarathlon2022 #TeamMonsterMash #31in31 #Spookathon
By setting the book at the end of WWII, Katsu captures the conflicted feelings of everyday Germans. And then, she injects a level of fantasy and horror that makes the story even more compelling. Set near the legendary Reinhardswald forest, there's magical history here. But the darkness of Nazi Germany overtakes anything potentially heartwarming. This is all about sharp teeth and claws, whether wolflike or warlike. ⬇️
This book isn't in the database so I tagged another book by this author I loved.
@Reggie just highlighted this story about a #Creature in a post earlier and now I'm even more excited to read it this month.
#Scarathlon #Scarathlon2022 #ScarathlonDailyPrompts @Clwojick
pickReviews on Goodreads are all over the place but I absolutely loved it! Definitely a slow build for most of the story up until the last quarter which was a complete thrill ride. Not so much horror as suspense/thriller. I‘m a sucker for the frontier and the Donner Party, so this was a lot of fun for me. A fun take on the history associated with the Donner Party tragedy. I‘m for sure gonna read more of Alma Katsu‘s books.
#thoughtfulthursday
📖 I rarely read horror, but this was one that @Reggie had picked for our #LMPBC group and I read it in one sitting. Horror, yes, but so well written and not gory. I wouldn‘t have otherwise picked it up so I‘m thankful to Reggie!
📖 🦄🧝🏻♀️🧝🏼♂️🧙🏻🧙🏻♂️🧚🏻♀️🧚🏻🐲🏰 because I love to escape into other worlds
📖 Either. Sometimes it‘s the cover that catches my eye. Sometimes it‘s the title.
bailedDNF! I couldn‘t get past 40% of this bore me to death book! Great premise weaving supernatural elements into the Donner Party tragedy. Idea was awesome, execution was a mess.
pickI really enjoyed this. As if crossing America isn't scary enough now the Donner party has to deal with monsters too ☠
#Scarathlon2021 #TeamHendrix
#Wickedathon @StayCurious
#Screamathon @4thhouseontheleft
#BBRC #YeahBaby #Monster @LibrarianRyan
#LittensDressedInBlood @MidnightBookGirl
#Spookoween @TheSpineView
#LittenListen @aperfectmjk
#BookspinBingo #BookSpin @TheAromaofBooks
#Bfc21 @wanderinglynn
#OutstandingOctoberReadathon @Andrew65
#scarathlon #scarathlon2021 #photochallenge
I wanted a #thriller with a supernatural element for today‘s prompt so it matched #teamhendrix & I this this one does it nicely. It‘s tagged as both #supernaturalthriller & #historicalthriller on Amazon. I really liked the audiobook when I listened to it a couple of years ago. 😱 Very creepy!
pickGotta love Alma Katsu! I didn't really think this is where this story was going but if anything could turn me off of a cross-country wagon trip....it was this book!
10.5hrs
Non team theme: 5pts
#littenlisten :105pts
#screamathon :105pts
#wickedathon :105pts
#bookspinbingo :105pts
#spookoween :105pts
#scarsthlon2021 #teamslaughter @Clwojick @TheAromaofBooks @4thhouseontheleft @aperfectmjk @StayCurious @TheSpineView
pickThis is a twofer for #littensdressedinblood as I‘m behind!
(Hungry like the wolf AND Dead Man‘sParty)
Katsu reimagines the Donner Party story to have a supernatural influence in this novel, and it is creepy. Recommend visiting Donner Pass immediately after reading 😜
Some #Screamathon 2021 alternates. I‘ll tag the titles below (in case anyone‘s still forming their list & is investigating possibilities).
pickI liked this different take on what happened to the Donner party. It kept me interested thru the whole book and I did not have the feeling of hurry up and get this over.
pickAlma Katsu is good at historical fiction. This is the Donner party that I (inexplicably) learned about in my US education, complete with the names, dates, and events of their ill-fated trip west, but extra creepy with a supernatural element that was very well done. The pervasive sense of dread is palpable, and Katsu created some cool backstories and developed the characters so well that I found myself hoping for a happier outcome.😬
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Reed stared at him. "So you believe this story of monsters in the woods?"
"I don't believe in monsters," Stanton said. "Only men who behave like them."
#currentlyreading #inprogress #bookblurbs
pickFor some reason this book ended up on my TBR list - I don't remember how. But I'm glad it did. I loved the atmosphere of a constant danger, without really knowing what lies out there in the dark. But even more I was stunned to read about the journey the characters are taking. Only at the end I learned that this book is based on real events, and of course the added reading list made my TBR a little longer 😁
@TheAromaOfBooks #BookSpinBingo
Finished a couple of books yesterday and scores several Bingos 😄 Now it's time to clear the board and, as always, catch up with Litsy posts ❤
@TheAromaOfBooks #BookSpinBingo
pickI really enjoyed this book. It‘s the story of the Donner Party but with a supernatural spin. Some characters were added, some people not included, and some backstories... fudged. It does start off a bit slow but builds on itself over time, fast-paced at the end.
Loved some of the characters, loved to hate some of the characters.
Not for the faint of heart in terms of gore.
pickThis horror novel about the Donner Party was such a fun read! Dark and scary and interesting on a historical level all at the same time!
Another amazing #AllHallowsReadSwap gift from @wanderinglynnn 😍 I love this so much! I'm hiding the chocolate from my Japan-obsessed son 🤣 And I can't wait to try the coffee. The washi tape and pen are going right to my #bujo kit and I LOVE that candle. I've always wanted to try but they are so much to ship here. I love Alma Katsu and had this from the library but never finished so I can't wait to dig in. Thank you sooo much!
Happy Halloween 😘
Just opened my #HaubtedHallowsSwap #HHS Box before work. What a great way to start my day. Thank you @katy4peas it's wonderful. Looking forward to reading The Hunger and I love the Scary Stories to Tell in The Dark! I used to read it when I was a kid so I love having a copy. Thank you! @wanderinglynn
#thoughtfulthursday
1. No. It‘s just me and I live on a sub-tropical island, so produce quickly becomes a science experiment.
2. Orange!
3. Tagged. Can‘t say it‘s the spookiest I‘ve ever read, but it‘s the most recent spookiest.
Tagging some of my new followers. Take a screenshot, create your own post, tag @MoonWitch94 & play along! @KristabellaBooks @thepinkpumpkin @ShelleyBooksie @starrdom
bailedIn a super slump and only 63% done with this extremely slow burn... it's well detailed and well written but so so slow. It's due back at the library and 1 person is waiting so I'll have to come back to it some day.
pickBefore starting this, I wasn't familiar with the Donner Party. I have read a few other fictional stories about the pioneers and of course loved playing the Oregon Trail game growing up but let me tell you, dysentery and snake bites are a walk in the park compared to what these poor souls ended up going through. 👇
pickThis book maintains such a feeling of dread for so long. I really enjoyed it!
I‘ve heard such good things about this book, and the wait list was shorter than for her new one.
pickEwwwwww.... You thought the Donner Party story couldn‘t get any crazier? You were wrong! This ridiculous potboiler of a gothic historical horror novel is truly bonkers. I fully enjoyed it. I can‘t help but wonder how descendants of the actual Donner Party feel about this book. 🤔
pickI already knew a good bit about the story of The Donner Party but the way Katsu puts her own fictional spin on this made it even more terrifying. I was engrossed. I hated almost every single man and most of the women. I hated that people wouldn‘t just listen to each other. But I couldn‘t stop reading. I thoroughly enjoyed this tragic twist on an already tragic story. I really liked what she did here to flip it around and up the creep factor.
panWhat an odd book. A mix of fiction and paranormal. This isn't the type of book I would usually read. It's a slow burner, for sure, so if you're looking for fast paced action, this won't be the book for you. Most are familiar with the Donner party, and this book takes a unique spin on the tale with someone... Or something.... Out to get Donner & Co.
I found it pretty slow and not that gripping or exciting. Spoiler alert: nearly everyone dies.
Nearly halfway through. This is quite a strange read, indeed. It's completely outside my usually realm.
My March reads!
Favorite: definitely The Hunger, read it in all in a day! And Untamed Shore/King of Scars were also favorites.
Least favorite: The Tomb, not horrible just a bit dated with some of the terms and language used.
After having an immensely horrible start to 2020, I‘m hoping to focus more on books and Litsy again, because the world is a damn mess. Hope everyone is doing well and staying safe! ❤️
A little morning reading before I try getting some work done. I am a glass half full person, and something I am really enjoying is lazy mornings in bed reading.
Hopefully I will be able to finish this one today. I have a stack of netgalleys and never mind how many physical and ebooks to read. I‘m trying to stay focused on that.
After my failed attempt at getting groceries today I'm sufficiently annoyed and calling it a night. The world has lost it's damn mind and I'm already fed up with the chaos.
Fitting book for the evening I think
#TheHunger #Mood #FirstTheTPNowTheChicken #WheresTheBeef
