Review: The Hatching by Ezekiel Boone

They lay dormant beneath the earth for over a thousand years. Now, they have awaken.

It begins with a tourist deep in the jungles of Peru.  A tourist is devoured by a skittering black mass.  Shortly thereafter, thousands of miles away, a plane plummets into the ground in Minneapolis.  The FBI agent investigating the crash makes a horrific discovery when he finds the passengers of the plane.  An earthquake lab in India reports startling seismic patterns.  In China, the government drops a bomb in an isolated part of the country, claiming it was an accident. In Washington D.C., a lab receives a specimen that is simultaneously remarkable and terrifying.

As the world begins to realize these events are all related, humankind must brace itself, battling to survive against this terrifying and formidable enemy.

 

*Shivers* Ok, so normal spiders don’t terrify me. I mean, they serve a purpose, right? But human-devouring spiders set out to eat and reproduce? Terrifying.  So yes, this book is spooky, graphic….but it is also rich with cheesy B-movie brilliance. It reminded me of those classic horror movies I used to watch with my father. But you know what? That’s what I loved about this book. It’s creepy enough to captivate my attention, but also pokes fun at itself so readers aren’t completely overwhelmed with the terror and gore.

Set up as the first in a series, I can’t wait to read the next title. It captivates you from the start, the pacing continuing, evenly, throughout.  There isn’t a single point in this book that I felt my attention waning. We’re introduced to a host of characters, including a spider-expert professor who just happens to be the ex-wife of the chief of staff to the female president.  Sure, it sounds a little contrived but it all works out brilliantly.  This has the makings of a brilliant horror movie. For once, I wouldn’t object to that adaptation!

This novel alternates between locations and characters and, like many first books in a series, devotes a lot of time to character introductions and development.  No complaints here, for I cannot wait to see how this cast of characters will come together and interact in subsequent books in this series.

All in all, a genuinely fun/terrifying read. Just one warning: be wary about the next spider you squash.  Its relatives may be watching.