While it presents a unique take on the classic vampire and werewolf tropes, this novel just fell short for me overall. The main character was bland, the storyline didn’t have much propelling it, and the amount of unnecessary romances was confusing. There were a few more intriguing characters introduced in the latter half of the novel, and I wish they had been developed more fully.

I actually finished this a bit ago, but wanted to think a while before writing the review. You see, I saw so many unabashed five star reviews of this online and I was just: I mean, I liked it…

The book is good. You have a main character who is almost iconic. There are breathtaking action sequences and moments of pure heartbreak. And…I liked it. I didn’t completely love it.

You see, it took me a while to buy into this world. I had so many questions about the various supernaturals and the hows and the whys and especially about the cannibals that it kind of interrupted the world for me. At times, instead of just enjoying the ride, my mind was full of questions. While the author did eventually answer each one of those questions, it wasn’t a seamless read for me.

I still liked it. I love the author and will be first on board for whatever he brings me next. This one just gave me the occasional hiccup.

*ARC Provided via Net Galley

This is the fastest ARC I have ever read because I just couldn't put it down. It was fantastic and I was actually sad to finish it. It was excellently written.and I loved all of the characters, even the naughty ones! It was violent and gory with being gratuitous and the dialogue and backstory always felt needed and never just extra words. It is safe to say that I am a HUGE fan of Jonathan Janz and will most definitelt be traling through his back catalogue to order more. I would 100% recommend this book and give it a thoroughly deserved 10/10.
There will be a full review on my blog at Janine's Ghost Stories coming soon.

The Raven is a veritable monsters ball of action horror which doesn't let up from the first pulse pounding fight scene to the epic bloodbath of a conclusion.

Dez is a latent living in a world of mythological creatures made real thanks to a near extension-level-event caused by a group of rouge scientists who released airborne pathogens into the atmosphere - either killing or transforming the worlds human populace. However, a select few survived in their 'native' state, and that's where The Raven comes in.

The book is largely a dark and dangerous search and rescue mission with survival horror and action themes as Dez travels far and wide in search of his partner Susan who had been taken by force by a band of marauders.

Along the way Dez encounters werewolves, cannibals, a telekinetic, and a bunch of other mythical creepies; dispatching some with brutal efficiency while taking licks from others - the fighting is relentless.

The setting is intimidating and intriguing and the concept allows for further exploration of the new world inhabitants and their stories. Fingers crossed this is the start of something much larger.

The world ended two years ago. Okay, maybe that’s an oversimplification. The world transformed two years ago or at least most people did. Into what, you might ask. Werewolves, vampires, cannibal, satyrs are all real again. Why do I use the world “again”? Because they were real once. Yep, I know, unbelievable but still true. Most people but not everyone. Most people died. The ones who stayed alive but didn’t develop any powers are called Latents. In this case it means no power at all, as in not even latent ones.
Your next question could be: how did the world end? How did people end up transformed? Why? Humans did it, scientists to be precise. Some geniuses thought that bringing back humanity’s monster side would be a good idea. A fat lot of good it did.
Dez is a Latent. He is all alone now, struggling to survive in this godforsaken world. He just wants to find the woman he loves and the man who took her. But how and for how long can a man without powers survive?

Jonathan Janz never disappoint. The Raven is the third book I’ve read by him and this was as crazy a ride as his other books. So I’m giving 500 stars...well you will only see the 5 but still…The Raven is insane, scary, creepy and fun. I just loved it soooooooo much.

Dez is our protagonist. He is a good narrator, really. He explains how this new world came to be, what happened and why. That is a very important part of the story, helps you understand and get more into the story. He is not your typical protagonist. He doesn’t have special powers, he is not faster, not stronger, he is plain human. But still, he has more strength than most. He is persistent, tenacious. I liked him very much.
The book centers mostly on Dez but there are some other characters worth mentioning. One of them is Iris. We get to know her a little and mostly at the end of the book. She is basically a positive character even if she had to do bad things. If there will be a second book - and I hope there will be - I hope she will have more role in the story.
The other is Keaton. Now he is your typical villain. Evil to the core. He is one of those people who uses others to get what he wants and cares for no one.

I love the way Janz writes. The story is easy to follow, it doesn’t have too many characters.

I enjoyed the whole book, it was fast-paced, full of action and monsters.

Highly recommended.

Thank you to Flame Tree Press and NetGalley for my copy. All opinions are my own.

1st off, thank you @flametreepress and @netgalley for allowing me the privilege of reading an advance copy of this novel.
It's taken me a while to collect my thoughts about this new book by Jonathan Janz - I've been thinking about it a lot over the last several days.
The premise of this world and this frightening landscape is a very cool idea - our world now changed and populated by the mythological creatures of old.
I very much enjoyed being introduced to many of the characters in this story.
One issue I had was that I found it difficult to connect to Dez, our main protagonist. Even though he had interesting scenes and met intriguing characters, his unending inner voice was a bit trying. However, once the book began to hit its stride, I did find it to be almost unputdownable. I loved the character of Iris, and I want to learn more about Smile, Levi, and Jim the werewolf. The ending of this book led me to believe that there would be at least a sequel, if not a whole series in the making.
I feel that the book ended on a very strong note, and I am eager to give a sequel a read. I find that many 1st books in a series struggle a bit in the beginning, and then get stronger as they move further into the story. I feel that this may be the case in this book/series. I give it 3.5 stars, but will round up as half stars are not used by most platforms.

Wow, this was a good book. I love post-apocalyptic fiction but it’s tiring to read the same premise over and over again. The Raven is not the same old done to death ideas. Monsters of all kinds have taken over and The Raven is one heck of a book. I would love to see a sequel of some sort. Great job Jonathan!

I really enjoyed The Raven! The story starts with a bang and each successive scene and chapter causes the tension to rise and the pace to quicken as we are introduced in various ways to werewolves, cannibals, vampires or psychics. Dez, our hero, is a Latent and has no special ability. When the world went to hell after scientists activated human junk DNA, Dez was left in a brutal kill or be killed world. The characterisation is fun and the twists and turns keep you on your toes. The writing flows so beautifully you almost forget that you’re reading and I raced through this story.
Highly recommend!

This is a rock-em, sock-em adventure through a terrifying post-apocalyptic land and it’s glorious. After a group of scientists unleash a virus that alters humankind’s DNA, the mythological monsters of old suddenly become very real. Vampires, witches, werewolves and worse hunt people across the globe. Though some remain unchanged. One of those is Dez McClane and when his girlfriend is taken from him by cannibals to be sold in a flesh market, it sets in motion a path of vengeance and redemption paved in blood.
The Raven is a fun, very readable fantasy horror adventure.

This is a large-scale horror story, with a premise which is a bit silly, but still fun. The author unleashes werewolves and vampires, who happen to be dormant within human DNA. As far as mad scientists go, this is at least original. A fun romp.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Jonathan Janz, and Flame Tree Press for a chance to review this book. I was given this book for free in exchange for my fair and honest opinion. I have not felt compelled, in any way, by the author, the publisher, or NetGalley to alter my sincerest thoughts on this book. Every word of this review is solely and completely mine.

Anyone that follows the blog knows that I'm an ardent reader, to the point where I will eschew television, movies, or actual real-life chores just to bury my nose in a book. I wouldn't say that my life is so boring that I need to live a different life every week, it's more like four lives every week. I had never read anything Jonathan Janz so he was a brand new author to me. So when I checked out NetGalley and I saw the cover to this work, I was intrigued.

On the cover, it blatantly states that this book is a post-apocalyptic thriller by Janz "the modern master of horror and suspense." I don't believe that Janz wrote that little blurb himself, but I felt there was a really huge set of grapefruits advertising this work for someone I had never even heard of. Yet, I still wanted to check it out.

The post-apocalyptic world being constructed fascinated me. A virus had been unleashed by American geneticists in an attempt to prevent what appeared to be an imminent nuclear war. The road to ill is paved with good intentions, as we well know. The nuclear war is avoided, but the dark bits of humanity begin to disseminate through the population to the extent that otherwise fantastical, and fictional monsters are birthed in humanity. Vampires, werewolves, satyrs, and inhuman cannibals are among the diaspora of humanity that is now, depending on your point of view, less than/more than human.

With that bit of world building, he was off to the races. The main character named Dez, enters very quickly into a harrowing situation that he must try to extricate from and he does so while demonstrating the way things organically happen in this world. Most latents (normal people who have not yet developed a bestial ability) are thin, because they must hide and run with very little to eat. When someone is heavy-set or thick in some way, they must be bestial because only the bestial get to eat well, enjoy life, experience health.

Dez is looking for his woman, who was taken from him. It has been a while since her disappearance, so she may have been sold to vampires, and therefore no longer alive, but he feels compelled to find out. His travels take him to a bar that's a converted church.

At the door, he is greeted by a seer that calls him the Raven and foreshadows what is to come. There are some really good action sequences, rife with extensive horror elements and tropes turned on their ear. If you like gore, this book doesn't skimp on the gore. If you enjoy suspense, there is suspense that is organically built as opposed to being contrived out of thin air. The characters are strong and I'm sure we shall see them again. Janz didn't take such care to build this world, not to use it again. I will read Janz again. High recommendation!

If this book wasn’t a ride and a half…….so thank you, Netgalley, Jonathan Janz and Flame Tree Press for the admission!

I have been a Janz fan since Savage Species. I think I devoured that series in about two weeks and, by Cthulhu if The Raven was just as engrossing as the Species series. In following a man’s journey after a man-made apocalypse, it’s a gradual learning experience until the proverbial crap hits the fan. So many monsters. This is nearly a monster lover’s dream of a novel. It was almost fun in a way, trying to figure what who had what powers, what powers had been awakened, what monster our hero would meet next. The main character, Dez, isn’t a perfect hero and quite frankly, good. All perfect heroes can go the way of the hero in the bar in the first Feast film. I have not come across the premise of such a story before, a virus created by man in order to prevent something worse from happening that turns humans into the stuff of fairy tales, legends and mythology. When was the last time you read a modern tale involving a human able to transform into a Minotaur? Yea, you heard me. Janz choose not to just highlight the more “traditional” monsters and I can appreciate the inclusion of even powers that we would only prescribe to the X-men. In my humble opinion, it made the story better instead of keeping within a clichéd niche. Now with that being said, I better get a second book quick, fast and in a hurry. Mr. Janz, are you listening?

This review will be available at Cemetery Dance closer to the release date.

Blurb:
"It’s my opinion that Janz has found a new niche genre for himself with THE RAVEN. I’m pleased that ending leaves this story and this universe, wide open for more. I’m a fan."

The Raven is a post apocalyptic horror/action/thriller landscaped by werewolves, cannibals and vampires. Written with a sinister rite of passage, Jonathan Janz brings plenty of tense moments for the highest level of horror bibliophile. Never knowing what creature may be concealed behind every impassive face results in a surprise lurking behind every page. With a few fear-twisted fiends thrown in for good measure, Janz accomplishes a classic “All Monsters Attack” vibe.

I knew from the description that this book was a departure from what Janz usually produces, and while I'm always open to seeing what my favourite authors produce even if it's in a marked shift from the type of fare I enjoy most from them, I keep an open mind. This novel places the book into action/adventure and RPG adaptation fare. Definitely there are troubling and all too real aspects of our current unprecedented global pandemic in this novel although thankfully we don't have vampires or supernatural monsters to contend with. If you're itching to get your hands on as much post-apocalyptic fiction as you can, this is going to satisfy that desire big time.

I've read almost all of Jonathan Janz' books prior to this one, and some of them have been on the high end of the scare-o-meter (please disregard the ridiculous name; I can't think of a better one at this point), which is a rare thing for me to say about both books and movies within the genre.

When I saw that The Raven was available as an ARC on Netgalley, I was thrilled! Not only was it by one of my favorite contemporary horror authors, but the plot sounded incredibly promising - a biological weapon mutated human DNA to allow for the re-emerging of vampires, werewolves etc!

I loved that Janz drew from the fact that most (if not all) corners of the world have their own take on a lot of the same myths and combined it with bio warfare changing human DNA.
Unfortunately, this is one horror book that left me without a shiver down my spine. It read more like an action movie interlaced with gore a plenty.

Initially I found that Dez was a, if not an entirely sympathetic main character, at least very relatable. At a point his inner monologues turned repetitive and slightly annoying.

Overall, I'd say that this book rates about a 3 for me. It's not terrible, it's not great, but for the right reader (i.e. maybe someone who enjoys action/horror mixes with emphasis on the action), it's definitely enjoyable.

What a depraved, bloody, morbid, and . . . hilarious work.

Post-apocalyptic fiction was ripe for parody well before "The Raven." It's still ripe for parody, because Mr. Janz doesn't so much satirize the genre as much as enliven it with a lot of silliness and sarcasm. The eponymous Raven, a scarred survivor making pilgrimage through a savage landscape, isn't a soldier or a prophet . . . he's an English teacher, and a rather neurotic one at that. He isn't just doing battle with werewolves, cannibals, or vampires in this hellscape . . . he's doing battle with all three, plus a few other mythic creatures who didn't make the cut for Neil Gaiman's "American Gods" but are having a fine time here. And he makes sense of this nightmarish new world not through science or mysticism, but through . . . popular culture. Trying to remember which "Welcome Back, Kotter" character the cannibal bent on devouring you most resembles sounds ridiculous, because it is ridiculous . . . and it's probably a thought that many a Boomer or Gen-Xer would have if confronted with a flesh-eating Horshack.

It's not a perfect book. The writing seems intentionally amateurish, which is amusing most of the time but annoying when Mr. Janz takes three paragraphs to describe a decapitation which really merits a couple of sentences, if that. The intensity of the carnage plateaus a little too soon, and the main character has experienced real and intense loss, which makes a reader feel a little bit guilty for giggling at lines like "only cannibals looked virile enough to star in toothpaste commercials." But if history repeats first as tragedy, then as farce, it's logical to assume that it would end with a combination of the two, which "The Raven" manages admirably.

Jonathan Janz is the kind of writer you can read all day. This is another instance when I'm glad I found the writing community on Twitter. The Siren and the Specter was my first Janz read (and if you haven't read that one, I highly recommend remedying that situation) and I was thrilled to receive an eARC of his latest.

You're also going to want to put The Raven on your list. Set in a post-apocalyptic world where a virus has eradicated most of humanity, leaving only the worst of the worst in its wake, Dez is a Latent--a human with no discernible powers or abilities--and his goals are simple: survive, and find Susan, his lost love. His search takes him into some pretty nasty territories where he encounters acts of depravity and soul-crushing gory violence.

It's difficult to do a monster story well. They've been told, retold, deconstructed, reconstructed, and after a while, they lose their charm and originality. It is in this area that Janz excels. He offers a fresh take on the world of vampires, werewolves, and other dark creatures of the night, highlighting the idea that they aren't separate from us--mysterious beings who've lurked on the fringes of civilization waiting for their moment to attack--but that they are us, our inner-most evils given free reign of the post-apocalyptic world. While this bit of social commentary might not be new, it is relevant and so, so important to emphasize, especially in the current state of affairs in which we find ourselves. Chaos can bring out the worst in people, and Janz is at his best when he's exploring the horrible things people will do to each other when free of social judgment or consequence.

Sounds bleak, when I put it that way, but there's also a solid underlying humor in Dez, and I particularly appreciated his interactions with Jim and Iris. Because really, what is the end of civilization without a few jokes? The sarcasm and witty banter was well-placed and added to the development of the characters, giving them a lighter side in a world where cannibals crush skulls for eyeball delicacies.

Really, Janz is a horror staple. Dez reminded me of the best parts of The Gunslinger--his quest, the gritty acceptance of pain, his wariness of forming attachments. Other parts reminded me of Netflix's Z Nation--without the zombies, oddly enough, but there are plenty of terrifying creatures where zombies would almost feel silly in Shadeland. And if Keaton doesn't give you Negan vibes--but with an actual reason as to *why* people listen to him--then I don't know what to tell you.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed The Raven and look forward to Janz' next work. If you're a fan of dire settings, apocalyptic nightmares, or dark characters with brass hearts and good humor, this is definitely the book for you. I have a feeling that the horror community will be talking about this one for a while. Big thanks to Flame Tree and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for honest review consideration.

The Raven, Jonathan Janz’s latest horror romp, is both a departure from the neo-gothic style he’s perfected over the course of his career with works like The Sorrows, House of Skin, and The Dark Game, and a continuation of several familiar hallmarks from the author’s career. It treads new ground for Janz, while also feeling a bit like a culmination of the man’s work to date with a promise to chart new horizons in the immediate future.

Dez is the survivor of an apocalyptic event known as the Four Winds, which populated the world with monsters. He’s also a Latent, one of the few humans left that do not possess any type of supernatural power, which makes him an easy target for the cannibals, vampires, werewolves, and other assorted nasties populating this changed Earth. Hunting for his kidnapped lover, Susan, he routinely comes into contact with these monstrosities, and Janz wastes no time showing us the marked depravity to which humanity has succumbed.

The Raven hits the ground running with an opening sequence of high brutality that immediately lets you know Janz ain’t playing around here and sets the tone for the story that follows. Over the course of roughly a dozen novels, Janz has shown an impeccable knack for crafting immediately loathsome characters, while also giving us some unexpected twists on common tropes. The Raven has a planet full of deplorable characters, but few are as bad as Keaton, a barman and trafficker of humans for the cannibals and vampires of Indiana’s wilderness. The book itself is also a nifty, off-beat twist on the post-apocalyptic genre itself, taking the premise of “humans are the worst monsters” to the next level by literally making humans into actual, honest-to-goodness monsters of legend and lore.

Two years ago, terrorists launched an attack with the aid of rogue scientists who had managed to unlock the mysteries of the junk DNA in our genetic code. Turns out, all the horror legends we’ve grown up with in books and movies actually existed long ago. Vampires were as real as you and I once upon a time, as were werewolves, witches, and all the rest, but as mankind’s population grew these horrifying traits were bred or persecuted out out of human genes. The Four Winds terror attack managed to re-trigger these ancient abilities and destroy contemporary mankind, returning society to a state of barbarism populated almost entirely by monsters.

It’s a premise that coasts along on pulpy comic book or video game logic, so don’t expect a lot of actual hard science here. You just have to enjoy it for the fun premise it is. It’s also a premise that allows Janz to go back to some familiar creatures he’s dabbled with previously in works like Dust Devils and Wolf Land, as well as mash together a few genres to create some layered tones and atmosphere that work exceptionally well. With its focus on a lone hero wandering the wastelands to save his girl and bring justice to those who captured her, heading for Keaton and his tavern of depravities, The Raven has a rich Western genre aesthetic to it, at times feeling like a post-apocalyptic, creature-laden Man With No Name flick. I'm always game for some Weird Westerns, and I good and truly dug that Janz leaned hard into this mode of storytelling. The Raven is assuredly some fun post-apocalyptic monster mayhem, but what makes it all the more special for me is the fact that it's a post-apocalyptic spaghetti western!

The Raven is also the first in a proposed series, and Janz leaves enough plot threads dangling to lure readers back for more. Thankfully, Janz has created a monstrous enough world filled with plenty of potential and promise that I’m more than eager to return to again. There's a lot of directions this series can take and I'm curious to see what directions Janz goes in with future installments and how the relationships between Dez and his small cadre of fellow survivors develop.

The Raven by Jonathan Janz: Dystopian Future, Monsters, and Mythology

First off I would like to express my sincere gratitude to NetGalley #netgalley , Jonathan Janz #jonathanjanz , and the publisher Flame Tree Press #flametreepress for providing me with the ARC book The Raven #TheRaven. It has been an honor and a privilege to have read this book, and my pleasure to provide an honest and fair review. I have attempted to make this review as spoiler free as possible.

I had not read any Jonathan Janz novels until I requested The Raven. I have heard much praise for Janz’s works from the administrator of the Facebook group Book Nerds, and throughout the Goodreads community. I was extremely excited to be chosen to read this work prior to publication!

Jonathan had me engaged and hooked from the beginning of the book, and all the way up to the very end! As the story began Janz throws you right into the middle of a maelstrom of a situation with a character named Dez. The world has come to an end, and what transpires is terrifying!

Jonathan really has a way of jerking you right into another world right from the start. Normally a book beginning in this manner would bother me, but Janz pulls you into this dystopian world fantastically! Jonathan’s writing is as smooth as silk, and he uses his vocabulary very skillfully to paint an amazing mind escape!

Jonathan Janz, in my humble opinion, pulls a hat trick with The Raven. Not only is the story taking place in a post apocalyptic future, but he integrates horrific monsters and mythological creatures into the mix in a manner I have never seen! Janz definitely does not hold back any punches when it comes to a gruesome landscape of death. There are amazing action passages, as well as ultra violence. I personally loved the gore, but this novel is not for the faint of heart!

As Janz propels you through Dez’s journey he masterfully feeds you tiny bits of information, previously unknown in the beginning of the book, and it really makes for a major page turner! I found myself wondering more about the characters, what would happen next, and the Easter eggs! I recognized, or caught, several Easter eggs in regards to film, literature, and nods to actors and authors I believe. I found this extremely intoxicatingly fun!

Janz writes such a fast paced story it is so hard to put the book down! Jonathan’s dystopian world of monsters and myth throws all of the tropes out the window! Jonathan creates his own very unique realm, and his vision of the monsters is completely mind blowing! Strengths, weaknesses, and stereotypes are all gone! For the most part. Thus replaced with Janz’s sinister and dark take on said monsters and mythical beings.

Although Janz writes fast paced he does provide small respires, or breathers, throughout The Raven. Which is refreshing because I found myself holding my breath at points because the book gets extremely intense! I felt that the story was a powerful work of fiction, and could even see it adapted to film. Janz writes absolutely splendidly! His characters are so fleshed out, and are very quick to grow on you. I started to care about the characters, and could not wait to see where the journey would lead to next! Dez is fantasic! Jim was a very intriguing character. Keaton is an amazing nemesis! Chaney, Iris, Smile/Michael, and Hunter are all great! Not to mention all the baddies that Dez encounters on the road, and at the Four Winds!

I understand this review may be a bit vague, but I really do not want to spoil anything at all! If you love post apocalyptic horror, monsters, mythology, or even just Jonathan Janz this is a must read! There are so many gruesome, brutal, and action packed sequences! All the way up to the ending Janz had me guessing how the coin would fall. This work of horror is not predictable! The ending had me wondering… will there be a series that comes out of The Raven? Maybe. Maybe not. I suppose only Jonathan knows for sure.

Overall, I rate this book 5 🌟 out of 5 🌟! You have to read The Raven! You can get your own copy worldwide in hardcover, paperback, and ebook on 09/08/20 according to NetGalley. Mark the date! Pre-order! Don’t miss out on this one! You have to read this book! Jonathan Janz is a horror mastermind and I only see his star shining brighter in years to come!

Thank you once more for the honor and privilege! I look forward to reading Jonathan Janz’s prior works, and the ones that are destined to come! #netgalley #TheRaven #flametreepress #jonathanjanz

This blog was written by Andrew C. on 03/20/20.