This is a great example of Dystopian Sci-Fi, no zombies but sections of it were very reminiscent of Kirkman's The Walking Dead. This is absolutely NOT a trashy read as many of these types of stories can be - you need to go into it with your brain switched on. I even had to google some words... (I really enjoy that though! New words! yes!)

There were some great characters, I especially enjoyed Zooey, who brought a bit of sassy girl energy to the proceedings, Rib was also an interesting character, and I also enjoyed how the story was led without spoon feeding you all of the backstory and information from the get-go. Once again - you need your brain switched on for this.

Is it Horror? I guess some parts of it are, but if I was to give this book a label, I'd go with Sci-Fi, set in the not too distant future, there's also elements of adventure (mid section of the book). I couldn't guess where it was going in regards to the reveal at the end - original premise, I read a lot of this genre and I don't think I've come across this plot/trope before (or at least not very often).

I'm not sure whether this was intended to be an allegory for depression and the human psyche - I had a read about the Author and feel this maybe the case - in which case this really is an excellent read as there are many levels you could choose to interpret this on (think Piranesi vibes.) Are the Shivers references to the Black dog? I certainly thought of it this way and it added another level to the story and meaning for me.

Look your monsters in the face and you'll realise they're really not that scary.

We all have personal “monsters in our shadows” – Cembal masterfully translates that horrific reality into a stunning novel

Book Information

The Monsters in our Shadows is written by Edward J Cembal. Thank you to the author for providing me with an Advance Readers Copy for review. The book is due to be published on February 28th, 2023, and is his first novel. Cembal is a Canadian Author who toured as a musician before a diagnosis of Muscular Dystrophy. He subsequently dove into writing that explores existential horrors—to all of our benefit if this book is any indication.

Summary

Imagine if you were stalked by a monster every day. One that was focused solely on you and that you knew would eventually kill you, no matter what you did. That's life in Atlas…….the last human settlement.

Anthem is the city's “Exilist”. He has the dangerous and thankless job of trapping the monsters and banishing them to the deadlands outside the city's protective walls. The lives of every person in the city rest in his hands. Anthem has his own problems too, and a daughter to protect. He finds himself unprepared for the new challenge thrust upon him, one with life-and-death consequences for him, his daughter, and all of humanity.

My Thoughts

Wow. Just wow,

I enjoyed everything about this book. It is beautifully written. Has great character development. Makes you care for the city, its inhabitants, and their survival.

It also introduces a new horrific kind of monster (at least for me). One that is tied directly to each individual. That lives with you. That stalks you every day—each day getting just a bit closer. A monster that others can see but ignore at best or shun you at worst. One that literally eats you alive.

I don’t think it’s a spoiler to highlight the somewhat obvious symbolism here (again, at least for me) that we all have monsters. Things we hide that eat at us and will consume us completely if we don’t find a way to deal with them or get help with them. It could be depression, mental illness, disability, loneliness, or even just long-harbored secrets. It could be a multitude of things. The author creates a whole society that is driven by this concept and does so in a wonderfully horrific and dystopian way.

Anthem, the protagonist, is a great and well-written character. His heart, drive, and moral compass showing strongly even as he battles his own shadows and self-doubt. Cembal's ability to paint a picture of the city, the “deadlands” and the horrors (and beauty) of each fantastic, especially for a first novel.

Dystopian, science fiction, paranormal, horror, and mystery all skillfully wrapped up in a bow allowing the reader to self-identify with that story. Extraordinary!

Recommendation

Read it. Preorder it. Get it. Read it.

You will not be disappointed.

Rating

5 Monstrous Shadowy Stars

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC to read and review.

One of the best books I have read this year. I honestly enjoyed it very much and glad that I made the decision to read this.

The monsters in our shadows offered me thrilling experience with a touch of horror and existential crisis that I crave sometimes. The darkness in this flowing and emotional storytelling fed the dark parts of my soul, made me experience something that I wouldn't want to in real life. I loved all the pain and madness our main character Anthem went through and cheered him all the way to the end. I appreciate the writer for giving us somehow good ending in this horrible universe.

The writing style and the character depth as well as the storytelling made me addicted to this book. I recommend this book to everyone who likes darkness and adventure in their books. 5/5 masterpiece!

I posted this review in Goodreads as well!

One word: enthralling.
More words: Somewhere between the smoke monster from 'Lost' and a Flubber version of Venom.

This book kept me interested from the first chapter. I read a lot of horror and science fiction, but the concept of the "monsters" is this book was fantastic. It was not just something in the dark that goes BOO, it was deeper. It made you think about humans as a species, our demons, and the psychological things we endure to maintain our humanity.

The story followed one character exclusively, weaving in and out of other side character appearances, but it was written in such a way that you care about ALL of the citizens of this end of the world town that aren't given a voice.

Overall, a very unique concept, fast paced, and solid writing.

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review!
Spoiler free review: I really enjoyed this read, I definitely need to get back into more horror/dystopian books and this one really resparked that interest for me. The pacing is good, world building was phenomenal (and I am not envious of the inhabitants of Atlas whatsoever) and great action scenes. It’s hard not to care about the characters and I was just rooting for Anthem hardcore the whole time.
I will definitely be checking out more of Cembal’s books in the future.

This story was great, I sped through the first half of the book within a day.
We fallow Anthem, an Exilist who lives in the walled city of Atlas. The post apocalyptic world is dark and bleak, one where monsters called Shivers haunt the living until they are hungry enough to devour them alive. Anthem is tasked with moving the afflicted and their shivers out of Atlas and to keep the city safe. This is not an envious role within the community, people see the Exilists as horrible people who bring death to their doors.
Anthem, a broken man, who wants to help the city and cares deeply for the habitants, is thrown out of the city and has a new job, one that could save or destroy his people.

This world is dark, bleak and humanity is on the brink of extinction. The journey is hard but the rewards could be the change that humanity needs to survive.

I really enjoyed this story. The characters were great and you cared for the habitants of Atlas, the stress and fear they must be under is terrible. The world building was great, I really liked hearing about Anthems day to day role within the city. The twist at the end was a little obvious but didn’t detract from the overall story.

4/5 - very good story, one I’m very glad I picked up.

🐦 - @readsgavin

I received this as an ARC to rate and review. This is my honest feedback.

This novel was such a fun, fast-paced, horrifically wonderful, action packed book! I don't want to spoil anything for anyone by saying too much but I was on the edge of my seat the entire book. I finished this in just a few short hours and could not put it down! I highly suggest going into this one without knowing too much as I feel you will get the most out of it that way. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

This is a fast paced, action-packed novel. It's a good winter read when you are looking for a page turner. It is horror/sci fi and a new take on apocalyptic fiction. The book is set in the future where people are attacked by monsters called Shivers when it is their time to Die. Anthem is called the Exiler and helps them pass more peacefully. He decides to go on a quest to defeat the shivers and save his child.

Placed in the future, certain people are doomed to a fateful ending with an ominous shadow creature that ultimately eats them when their time is up. But one curious person thinks he can solve the mystery and put an end to it but me must do it soon to save himself and his daughter.

A post apocalyptic setting, terrifying creatures that attach themselves to individual humans, and a man whose job is to exile these creatures are all a part of this fantastic surreal world created by the author.

Trying desperately to find a cure, our protagonist, Anthem, is haunted by the death of his wife due to her Shrivel (as they're called) and he has also been afflicted with his own so he knows his time is short. He has a daughter who he loves and would do anything to ensure her survival.

This is a dark sci-fi/horror novel and the author is working with a lot of different elements and characters. For the most part, they work wonderfully. The Shivers themselves are frightening and the way they kill "their" human is unique and different. I truly enjoyed reading about these creatures and how they operate.

Anthem is a fantastic protagonist and, luckily, we spend the book with him firmly taking the lead. Some other characters could have used some fleshing out (such as Sal and the farm guy). There's a character we don't meet until the last seventy pages or so that is wonderfully written but a little too conveniently placed at just the right time to be believable.

But, overall, I definitely recommend this book. I love the Shivers and the main narrative and it's always a joy to see this creativity in horror books.

In a post-apocalyptic future, a dystopian society hangs on against a terrifying new breed of creature - the Shivers, within the faltering walls of Atlas. The story follows Anthem, the city's Exilist, an unenviable job. Full of baited breath and just the right amount of dread, this is a great horror pick for anyone hankering for something to follow Jonathan Maberry, Josh Malerman or Stephen Graham Jones.