I really wanted to love this as much as the previous author's book, but I found myself skimming parts and didn't really connect with the characters. My spoiler-free review is that the ending really picked things up for me, but it took a while to get there.

This book was very fun to read, I preferred it to his other novel, World War Z.  The format is easy to follow with the story told as a journal, not numerous narrators from around the globe.  It is suspenseful and stressful, not a great choice for bedtime reading, but very entertaining and engrossing.

This is my first cryptid novel. I'll admit I wasn't sure if I could get into a book about Bigfoot, but this was a great surprise for me. I didn't expect this to also be written so similarly to World War Z but it works for this story.  Great cast of characters(although I found some of the names to be weird). Fearsome monsters....much scarier than I had expected. The mysterious ending....great fantastic read.

This was a fun eco-thriller/horror novel about Sasquatch that was a perfect switch-up from some lighter fare I had been reading at the time. Max Brooks does horror extremely well, pacing his novels perfectly and take the reader on a wild ride. I look forward to his next release.

I enjoy the crap out of Max Brooks's books. He is amazing at breaking down disasters and hypothesizing how society would react. I never would have thought that a zombie book would be one of my all-time favorites yet here we are. Reading a book about bigfoots (bigfeet?)

There were so many parts of this book that were amazing. I especially liked how realistic the reaction was to the Mount Rainier eruption. There were a lot of parallels to the California wildfires this past summer. The part about the fragility of our food infrastructure is alarming and also incredibly topical.

Spoilers ahead!
My main (tiny!) beef with this story is that it didn't actually need the sasquatch portion to be scary. A group of privileged people trying to survive the wilderness over the winter is a terrifying story in and of itself. In fact, a modernized Donner Party scenario would have been scarier and I'm sad that Brooks didn't at least utilize it a bit more in the story.

In fact, the timeline of this story is the most unrealistic part. The eruption is at the beginning of October and the last journal entry is October 27th. The first sighting was a week after the eruption. So it only took a week after a disaster for a bigfoot tribe to escalate from fishing to deer to people? Even less believable, it took two weeks to turn a bunch of privileged wealthy people into doomsday preppers? I think it would take a fair amount of time for people to come to terms with not being rescued right away, even with a person like Mostar there. Even longer for them to start trying to ration their food or garden.

I wish that the story had stretched into the middle of November or the beginning of December when it started to get a lot colder and the food was starting to run out. It would have created more desperation both with the humans and the sasquatch tribe. I thought the mention of the veganism was foreshadowing to cannibalism later on and I'm almost sad that it didn't happen.

Yep, this book has me saying I'm sad cannibalism didn't happen.

So good.

Also, that epilogue is bananas on a I Am Legend scale.

Devolution: A Firsthand Account of the Rainier Sasquatch Massacre by Max Brooks is a novel of terror and horror and the hubris of man that is so long overdue. The fact that he chooses the somewhat comical pop culture icon of Bigfoot to do it with only shows you the courage and wit of the author who is willing to take such monumental risks. Take them, own them, and succeed with them!

"...Those poor bastards didn't want a rural life. They expected an urban life in a rural setting. They tried to adapt their environment instead of adapting to it. And I really can sympathize. Who doesn't want to break from the herd? I get why you'd want to keep the comforts of city life while leaving the city behind. Crowds, crime, filth, noise. Even in the burbs. So many rules, neighbors all up in your business. It's kind of a catch-22, especially in the United States, a society that values freedom, when society, by nature, forces you to compromise that freedom. I get how the hyper-connectivity of Greenloop gave the illusion of zero compromise.
But that's all it was, an illusion.
Her eyes wander to the vast expanse of empty map behind the volcano.
It's great to live free of the other sheep until you hear the wolves howl..."

As the ash and chaos from Mount Rainier's eruption began to clear, the small tech driven community of Greenloop found themselves cut off from the rest of the world. They had moved to this remote location in hopes of a better and cleaner life. Only they found that their sense of self-sufficiency was no more than a façade. They were only playing at living off the land and getting back to nature, for when nature turned on them; they learned the truth about mother nature. Her reality and her cruelty. They also learned that there are things that live in the remote wilderness, creatures who are myth and legend. Creatures who are nothing like their pop culture figures. Creatures who see them as only prey.

The massacre at Greenloop after the eruption of Mount Rainer would have become the stuff of urban legend had it not been for the journals of resident Kate Holland. The carnage of Greenloop told of in the pages of Holland's journal is one of a town cut off from civilization and of creatures whose hunger and bloodlust the resident's of Greenloop were not prepared to battle. Creatures we refer to as Sasquatch and Bigfoot. A tale of horror and bloodshed that cannot be verified and one we don't want to believe. Because its author, Kate Holland, is missing.

Max Brooks is an original. He takes characters and locations and he just twists the tale enough that it becomes a rather believable horror story. He did it with Zombies in World War Z and he does an amazing job of it here with Bigfoot. These creatures are not your fun Harry and the Hendersons furballs, these are more like the second coming of the Wendigo. Massive predators that think and kill and have a taste for human flesh.

Devolution reads as part documentary and part horror story and all around fun.

A terrific read you don't want to miss!

Max Brooks never disappoints. I wasn't sure how an author would go about tackling a book about Bigfoot in a not hokey way. Afterall, Bigfoot is...Bigfoot. Often a man in a suit, a blurry video, or probably a hungry skinny bear. If you can't tell, I'm not a believer. 
However, Devolution was still a wild, fascinating ride. The story begins with a tech guru and his wife setting up a small, isolated commune type village. Everyone has moved there to disconnect from city life and be one with nature. They get all the convenience of the modern world with a beautiful panoramic view, and very few neighbors. Our main character moves there with her husband, their marriage troubled. Her husband is unemployed and aimless, and she's desperately trying to reconnect with nature, herself, or really anything to figure out a solution for everything that seems wrong in her life. 
Things start to go downhill when a natural disaster occurs, cutting the group off from civilization. There are several truly interesting characters in the book, and I loved reading as the dynamics between them unfold. 
And that's before Bigfoot shows up.
Devolution's story is not entirely unexpected or a twist, but I was still left a little stunned by it. I was left wanting to follow our characters, wherever their path led. That factor is what truly made this book a great read. And Brooks continues with his characteristic epistolary style, if that is something you enjoyed from World War Z. If you like Max Brooks, but weren't sure about whether you wanted to read a novel about bigfoot, trust me. You won't regret picking up this book.

While I was skeptical about the premise, Brooks delivers a taut and harrowing horror story. Yes, it's about Bigfoot. It is also a frightening page turner and indictment of contemporary society, as all good horror should be. I highly recommend this book for horror fans who hold old-school King and Koontz in high esteem.

Devolution
By Max Brooks

Devolution is a fantastic story told through the eyes of Kate Holland's journals and the Greenloop massacre. Strange occurrences are happening after Mount Rainier's eruption. The writing by Max Brooks was incredible! The character development and the way the story was told in this part horror, scifi, thriller and mystery in one that I could not get enough of. This is such an addictive read that you will not be able to put down or turn the pages fast enough! I adored this book and highly recommend. Fantastic read not to be missed.

Kate Holland and her husband, Dan, moved to the eco-community, Greenloop seeking a different life. Kate's therapist suggested that she keep a journal documenting their experiences at Greenloop to help her adjust. It was Kate's journal that allowed the authorities to piece together the events that took place at the secluded community.  They were cut off from the rest of the world after the Mt. Rainier eruption, but they were not alone. The little community had to band together in order to protect themselves for what lurked in the forest. It is because of Kate's journal that they know what happened.  And it is something out of a horror movie, but is it possible that Kate survived?

I think that Devolution goes on the top of the "favorites" list this year.  The book is told mostly as the reading of Kate's journal. In between journal entries, there are interviews and excerpts from things written by Jane Goodall and Charles Darwin.   You know how I love a good "end of the world" story and there is an element of that with Greenloop being cut off from civilization and forced to fend for themselves. Kate is a great main character because she is not the kind of person you would expect to step up and take control. Her early journal entries make her seem a little scattered and flighty. By the end of the journal, I envision her a warrior. The end of the book left me with some unanswered questions, but it makes me wonder if the author is setting up a sequel. -CLICK HERE FOR SPOILERS 

Bottom Line - Devolution read like the script of a blockbuster movie. I suspect it won't be long before the movie rights are sold and the cast is revealed.  And I can't wait. 

Details:
Devolution by Max Brooks
On Twitter
Pages:304
Publisher: Del Rey 
Publication Date: 6/16/2020
Buy it Here!       
Thank you to NetGalley for the book in exchange for a review.

Thoroughly enjoyed this title. Quickly ordered a copy for my library when it was published. Interesting and original premise.

First, I am totally burned out on horror books right now. It seems like all the books right now have this gore element and I'm just not into it. I also know this should have deterred me from attempting this one given that thought, but I also felt like this was the perfect addition to my October reads. Everyone is raving about this one as an audiobook so maybe I should have tried that route instead.

Like World War Z, this book is written a little differently. I'm going to give it a solid three stars because while I liked the idea behind the story I found myself wanting the story to get on with it. At first, I was concered there was something within this book that I wasn't understanding... So I reached out to a few fellow book reviews that I knew who also requested it and read it. They said the same thing. After discussing the plot with them I have come to the conclusion that most of the book was an after thought, even the parts that were supposed to be rather larger plot points. That being said, I'm still going to give it that third star because of the writing style and language - it's well written from a lit point of view, there was just something else missing that caused the book to fall short.

HOLY HELL!! I can’t believe this book hasn’t been all over instagram!! I can’t speak for the 👀 reading experience, but this audiobook was fantastic! Let me set the stage👇🏻

Mt. Rainier erupts and a small town called Greenloop is isolated and has virtually no contact with the outside world. They start settling in for the long haul by creating a garden and helping each other stay alive before help comes. THEN BIG FOOT 😳

The book is a compilation of journal entries by a woman named Kate Holland (narrated by the fabulous JUDY GREER) and other Sasquatch...professionals? Fans? It reads like an NPR interview. Apparently, the reviews are a bit negative towards Devolution because “how could a woman find the time to write down pages and pages of their encounter with Big Foot?” And other reviews led me to believe maybe reading the book is a snore, so definitely do the audiobook!

I personally found this audiobook riveting. I could not stop listening. The narration was incredibly done and the story was gripping! There is a bit of gritty gore but honesty, it just added to the experience and I didn’t mind it. 

DEVOLUTION is out TODAY! Thank you @penguinrandomhouse and @librofm

I liked the how main character, Kate, relates her current experiences back to what she experienced during the earthquake in California. Like seeing the evacuation traffic stuck on the highways, comparing the Earthquakes happening at night, the differences in the shaking, general lifestyles, etc. Being from California, she calls I-5 “the 5” which apparently is a California thing; in the Seattle area we do NOT call it “the 5.” I found it clever whenever she addressed something ridiculous they needed to do to Siri to point out how reliant on technology they’d become.

I liked Dan’s character-change from when he first arrives to when another kicked him into action, the foreshadowing in the brother’s/park ranger’s notes: the first “find” of the animal remains, etc.

The use of bigfoot lore added to the “realism” of the story: the smells, knocking/banging/howls, rock-throwing, mention of Grover Krantz a couple of times, etc. As did the use of PNW details: blackberry bushes (are EVERYWHERE in the PNW), there really is a Whole Foods on Denny Way, Puyallup “Did I spell that right?” Heck, not even locals can spell or pronounce it right!

During the final batter, I liked the use of broken glass and their cars. The exploding houses were gratuitous but I liked it.

I had to Google what “Devolution” means:

Definition, from Google: noun - the transfer or delegation of power to a lower level, especially by central government to local or regional administration. This seems appropriate, as this is a story of the transfer of power from, eventually, the Bigfoots to the group.
Similar: Decentralization, delegation, dispersal, distribution, transfer, surrender, relinquishment. - All appropriate for this book.
FORMAL: descent or degeneration to a lower or worse state. Definitely the characters of Tony and Yvette.
LAW: the legal transfer of property from one owner to another. Applies to Kate’s house? Wasn’t it her brother's?
Some things I wasn’t crazy about:

It’s written as a “journal” or “found footage” - I’m not a fan of that style of writing. The book had footnotes. Which were only necessary because of the “journal” trope. They should have been worked into the narrative somehow. But since it’s supposed to be a “real” book about these events, I guess it fits. I was confused about the parts that aren’t Kate’s journals. Who’s writing them? Her brother? The “author” of the book? Multiple people?

I didn’t relate to any of the characters, so I didn’t really care about any of them. They were all caricatures or stereotypes. There was so much talk/info in the beginning of the book about the Mount St. Helen eruption that I forgot about the current setting, the modernity of Greenloop, that I thought the book was taking place around the time of that eruption. I didn’t remember the current-day setting until we got back to Greenloop. I was 42% in, and there was still no horror. Not even much suspense. Just the vague sense of foreboding that’s telegraphed from the parts that aren’t Kate’s journals… and the book jacket. Mostly just “this thing happened. Then this thing happened.” At about 60% in we finally get some action/thriller-type stuff.

I’m not a fan of graphic descriptions of gore. There was a lot in the final battle. Yeah, it’s sold as a horror novel so I expected it at some point, still don’t like it.

A couple of other items:

For someone writing a journal or letters to her brother or whatever, that wasn’t fond of the idea in the first place, Kate sure is good at writing and noting every little detail.

The end. While I kinda liked the author/brother/whoever is writing trying to come up with logical things that could have happened to Kate and Pal based on evidence, I didn’t like not knowing. It felt kind of like the ending the Clue movie: “but here’s what REALLY happened!” Give us a scene with a helicopter landing and seeing them cowering in a doorway, give us a scene of them walking out of the mountain into a SAR bivouac, give a reunion scene with Kate and her brother. Actually end Kate’s story.

Note, I was given a copy of this book by the publisher to participate in the Emerald City Comic Con Horror Book Club, which was canceled along with the Con due to the COVID-19 virus plaguing the Seattle area (and many other places).

My husband and I both enjoyed Max Brooks's World War Z several years back, so when I saw his new release about a Big Foot invasion I was intrigued and knew I had to check it out. What unfolds is the story of a utopic, high tech community called Greenloop that finds itself under attack following the volcanic explosion at Mount Ranier. The main character, Kate, and her husband have recently move to the community and their worth is truly tested immediately following the explosion and in the days that follow.

I love a great natural disaster story, and there are so many great things Max Brooks does in the story. Written as a nonfiction "true account," Brooks manages to keep the pacing alive, interspersing Kate's journal entries with interviews with her family members and National Parks workers who were involved in the recovery effort. The story is truly compelling - I didn't want to put this book down until the final page.

Not only do the pages just fly by with thriller speed, but Brooks really forces the reader to think about the human race's present day relationship to nature, where many people have anthropomorphized dangerous animals to sometimes fatal consequences (for example, all those people that get charged by elk in Yellowstone every year.) He also forces the reader to contend with the romantic notion of "convening" with nature as the residents of Greenloop attempted to do with their exclusive little community, when nature at times can be brutally violent. The characters in Devolution are dynamic and interesting, revealing how crisis can bring out the very best or the very worst of us. 

Overall, I loved this book and recommend it for fans of survival stories, natural disaster stories, and fiction told from a documentarian perspective.

This book starts off with a mystery and a truly diverse and often contentions cast of characters. The story and writing style are quirky and not perfect but have definite appeal. Good for suspense and/or horror fans who want something a bit off the beaten track.

While the book started slower than I would have liked I really enjoyed this book by the end and recommend it for all horror readers.

I attempted to read this multiple times, but was defeated by boredom each time. This lacks the charm (for lack of a better word) of World War Z, and to be honest, I think zombies are more fun than Bigfoot. However, that's a personal opinion, and I'm sure most readers will enjoy this.

This was a great book! I devoured it. I was unsure how much I would like it since I really enjoyed World War Z and I don't think it lived quite up to that one but it was really engaging and creative. Definitely kept me on the edge of my seat.