Flame Tree Press Blog Tour - The Raven

 

TITLE: The Raven

AUTHOR: Jonathan Janz

PUBLISHER: Flame Tree Press

PUBLISHING DATE: September 8, 2020

FROM GOODREADS: 

Fearing that mankind is heading toward nuclear extinction, a group of geneticists unleash a plot to save the world. They’ve discovered that mythological creatures such as werewolves, vampires, witches, and satyrs were once real, and that these monstrous genetic strands are still present in human DNA. These radical scientists unleash the bestial side of human beings that had been dormant for eons, and within months, most people are dead, and bloodthirsty creatures rule the earth. Despite the fact that Dez McClane has no special powers, he is determined to atone for the lives he couldn’t save and to save the woman he loves. But how long can a man survive in a world full of monsters?

MY THOUGHTS:  I am always excited to see what new releases Flame Tree Press has in store for readers each month and I'm doubly excited when I see it's something from Janz.  I've read several of his novels and have to admit, he never ceases to surprise me in some new way.

The Raven is different than the previous works I've read by him which are more on the lines of Gothic horror and creature features. However, something that plays over in most of his novels is the ability he has to create characters I can't stand and then systematically destroys them.  In this novel some "mad" scientists can't leave well enough alone and start playing with DNA.  They learn that the creatures that were once thought to be mythical actually exist and of course, being unable to leave well enough alone, start recreating them.  Dez is just an ordinary man searching for his lover Susan, who has been kidnapped.  What follows is an action-packed novel full of battles and interesting encounters.  

As I eluded, The Raven is kind of a mashup of dystopian, fantasy and horror.  Although I enjoy all of these genres, horror is my favorite of the three.  Just make sure you know going into this book that it's probably going to be different that the previous books you might have read by the author.  However, in this case, different is still good and I'm glad I gave this book a try.  I did feel like it kind of lost my attention in a few places but then something would happen and I would be quickly pulled back into the story.  A must-read for all of Janz's many fans and for people who love fantasy and don't read a lot of horror, this might be a good place to start if you want to dabble with some horror during this spooky season.  

RATING: 4 Paws

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jonathan Janz is the author of more than a dozen novels and numerous short stories. His work has been championed by authors like Josh Malerman, Joe R. Lansdale, Jack Ketchum, and Brian Keene; he has also been lauded by Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, and School Library Journal. His ghost story The Siren and the Specter was selected as a Goodreads Choice nominee for Best Horror. Additionally, his novel Children of the Dark was chosen by Booklist as a Top Ten Horror Book of the Year. Jonathan’s main interests are his wonderful wife and his three amazing children. You can sign up for his newsletter (http://jonathanjanz.us12.list-manage....), and you can follow him on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Amazon, and Goodreads.