Review: They Feed by Jason Parent

Rating: 7.5/10

Synopsis

The night uncovers all we wish not to see.

A troubled man enters a dusky park before sunset. A young woman follows, hidden in shadow. Both have returned to the park to take back something the past has stolen from them, to make right six long years of suffering, and to find justice or perhaps redemption—or maybe they’ll settle for some old-fashioned revenge.

But something evil is alive and awake in those woods, creatures that care nothing for human motivations. They’re driven by their own insatiable need: a ravenous, bottomless hunger.

The campgrounds are full tonight, and the creatures are starving. Before the night is over, they will feed.

An unrelenting tale of terror from Jason Parent.

Review

Thanks to the author for a reading copy of They Feed for review consideration. This did not influence my thoughts or opinions.

A creature feature where everyone who goes into the woods gets what’s coming for them. I mean, what is there not to like about terrible being getting eaten and dismembered by giant slug-like creatures? I feel like I am on sort of a roll with reading books where people get their comeuppance and I AM LOVING IT.

Parent isn’t a new name to me, though I have yet to read one of his works until now. He is a solid writer with straightforward prose and knows just where the balance is between humor and bloodsplatter. These types of novels are palate cleansers for me as they aren’t really my go-to in the horror genre, what with constant gore, campy dialogue, and no real reread value, but they are still an enjoyment while they last. It is like a B-rate horror movie that you watch just for the creatures and their murder sprees.

The characters are quite surface level minus our main protagonist, Tyler, who ends up having a bit more in his closet that previously thought. You really are coming into this for the scary beasties, but it is interesting how Parent brings all of the characters together (for the most part) in order to fight for survival. At least there is a guarantee that no one will be the same in the end.

I can definitely guarantee you that I won’t be hiking anytime soon (thanks Jason, and in part, Kealan Patrick Burke’s The Tent) and if I do, go ahead and shoot me before my foot hits the dirt.