Monsters in the Clouds

Author: Russell James
Category: Horror, Creature, Science Fiction, Thriller, Adventure, Dinosaurs
Suitable for: Adults
My Rating: 5 Stars
Format Read for Review: Kindle copy provided for judgement in the Indie Horror Book Awards.
Pages: 263

Description:

Paleontologist Dr. Grant Coleman reluctantly agrees to venture into the Amazon rainforest as an expert for a mysterious company known as Transworld Union. They are looking for traces of modern day Apatosaurus after catching an image of one on film. After arriving in the Amazon they quickly realize they are in over their heads and that there are things hidden in this world that should never have been disturbed.

In Short:

What a fun read! I blew through this one quickly and enjoyed every heart-stopping moment of it. Must read if you like the idea of a creature survival horror that expertly blends in real science and examples from nature to create a terrifyingly realistic world. The only way to beat these powerful monsters is to outsmart them. This is one of the scarier horrors I have read all year and I highly recommend it.

“Grant drew his machete and prepared to die.”

Pros:

I loved this book I don’t even know where to begin. As a little girl I loved dinosaurs and I loved Jurassic Park (even if it gave me nightmares) so this one really hit the mark. I think my favorite aspect was how well all of the dinosaurs, and all the other prehistoric creatures and fauna were described and explained. The author really made it believable that there could be this place in our world right now that has dinosaurs and other terrifying things. This was a super entertaining story and the creature’s behavior was always shocking and interesting. I never knew what was going to happen next or how they would overcome each threat. I really liked the cast. Whether they be likable or hate-able the characters were well crafted and many experienced unique development, assuming they lived long enough. I wont spoil it for you but be warned the deaths are a bit sad. It cannot be understated what a dangerous situation this team gets themselves into. It was such an exciting story with surprises around every corner. I really liked Janaina who came along as an advocate for any indigenous people they may encounter. The conversations between her and Grant were golden and they added a lot of humor to a very grim scenario. I definitely have to read the next one in the series and I hope I’ll get to see more of those two.

“He climbed down and stepped on the spongy earth. It crossed his mind that he was the first human being to set foot on this particular spot. It was like the feeling he had when he unearthed a fossil after it had been buried a few million years. Except that this sensation was more visceral, more alive.”

Cons:

My only super tiny issue with this book was when it ended! It was a solid ending but I really wanted it to continue and I wanted to see them safe! I guess I’ll have to read the next one in the series to see what happens next.

Parent’s Guide:

Contains blood, gore, monster violence, some language.

Find more info about this book plus a teaser on my Teaser Tuesday feature of it here.