This was my first novel by Gage Greenwood and I thought it was pretty good and I would absolutely read more of his books. I was able to read this book before its publishing date thanks to Netgalley.
For me, this was a quick and easy read. There were some sort of tough-to-get-through points where the plot was slow and the characters a bit bland but once I powered through those it was pretty good. Along that same vein, there were aspects of the plot that felt neglected, and this did cause the book at times to feel a bit unauthentic in some of the situations. An example is Chapter 36, which gives the Langblass history through a secondary character, which felt a bit awkward and like it was an afterthought. I also wonder why the Langblass were so set on killing Tiffany and Doug as they weren't from one of the family lines that promised sacrifices to the Langblass.
This book opens up with a scene that grabs you and pulls you in with the family(a recently widowed father and his five children) playing a game in their new house. Suddenly, something goes awry and the oldest daughter, Wreath, is eaten alive by a monster while the rest of the family stands by watching in horror. The police don't believe the family's story and this eventually causes them to become ostracized by not only their community but with each other as well.
Jackson, who is the absentee father of the group ends up becoming an alcoholic after his daughter's death and leaving his children to whatever fate they'll come to. I despised Jackson's character for the way he treated his children, although I understand the role he was playing in the overall story. Brian, the oldest son wasn't around for long. He had a raging drug problem and unfortunately ended up overdosing. One of my favorite characters in the book was Charlie which was pretty disappointing since he ended up disappearing pretty early in the book. Angie and Chrissy were bitchy middle school girls whose characters I thought were kind of meh, and their arcs were kind of a letdown.
Outside of the main family group we had Charlie's friends, Tiffany and her brother, Doug, whom he met at the beach looking out at Block Island one night. Tiffany and Doug were interesting characters in the sense that they only wanted to be friends with Charlie and there weren't any underlying motivations such as bullying or romance in their interactions. The friendship was nice, and eventually heartbreaking when Charlie was begging the monster not to kill him since he had friends now. I will say that having Charlie's friends survive while he did not was a bit disappointing.
While this was a "horror" novel the monster was a bit dull. The Langblass had allegedly been brought over on a ship from the Black Forest in Germany. Tall, ghastly creatures with long claws and a vendetta against the Keating family and their new friends after the kids travel back to Block Island for closure. These creatures are brutal. I was disappointed, however, that these creatures didn't actually draw from German folklore as the book said they did, but instead seemed to be purely the author's creation.
While the Langblass were the physical monsters in this book it was another monster who I felt took center stage and was overall more unsettling and frightening. For me, the overwhelming terror of this book came from how grief can destroy lives in so many different ways. Each of the characters in this book experienced and coped with grief differently and eventually allowed it to win. And even at the end of the novel, we see that for the remaining characters grief is still in control, even though they escaped with their lives.

I went into this book completely blind. It feels very similar to something I have watched before in parts. But apart from this I really enjoyed this read! It shows how people deal with grief differently and how it can affect a family , with a bit of lore put into the story. I love gages writing style and will be reading more of his books for sure!

I’m going to start by saying I was pleasantly surprised to see the setting of this book is in Rhode Island, my home state. It’s always a treat when RI is mentioned, being the smallest state we tend to be forgotten. I’ve also been to Block Island a bunch of times so it was easier to envision the setting of the story as well as events.

There are 5 main characters and the reader follows each through a different narrative/perspective. Characters in this novel are diverse and morbid. My favorite is Chrissy, and Angela. There is a ton of family drama and tension, so if you’re into that, pick up this book asap.

My only small complaint would be the family bickering even during times of survival. It seems odd to me that characters would pick fights with each other during crucial moments.

This is my first time reading a book by this author and I like his writing. I’m definitely interested in reading more by him. The horror elements were spot on and the scene in the beginning of the book really set the tone for the entire novel. Creepy, disturbing and straight out of your nightmares.

It’s refreshing to read a creature feature that isn’t too cheesy and over the top. Much like the creatures in this story, I devoured this book.

"Horror wasn't a spotlight on evil, it was control. If a person could create beautiful sentences from horrific events, then any person could weave their way through life's trauma. You just had to make the grime shine."

Unfortunately, this one wasn't for me. The story started strong and captured my attention, but this book suffers from a serious case of "tell don't show." The dialogue was a bit unbelievable, and every plot point and character reaction is revealed through a monologue, which becomes repetitive.

I will say that the second half of the book is action-packed and held my attention, and the monsters are pretty wicked. The history of the island and the demons was interesting but not fleshed out enough for my liking.

Thank you to @netgalley and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a strange, atmospheric little book.

A story of four siblings and their alcoholic father who struggle to come to terms with the death of their oldest sister. No one believed them when they said a monster killed her. But they all know what they witnessed. An enormous creature eating their sister whole. Four years have passed and Brian, Charlie, Angela and Chrissy live disjointed lives steeped in fear and trauma of the thing that still haunts them. Because the monster isn't done with this family yet.

I had no idea what to expect with this story. I would describe it as quiet horror, with its creeping dread that sends shivers up your spine. Anyone who is a fan of The Haunting of Hill House series on Netflix will love this. Though it went off the rails towards the end, becoming a bit repetitive, I adored the writing style and can't wait to read more from this author.

After experiencing a horror in their home on Block Island, the Keating family struggles to put their lives back together in "On a Clear Day, You Can See Block Island" by Gage Greenwood. After reading this, you may just believe that monsters are real.

I initially picked up this book because it was a horror story with a local (to me) setting. I was not prepared for the journey on which I was about to embark. The characters were heartbreaking, and the PTSD/generational trauma was present. The settings were accurately described and I could see where everything was taking place. The novel has a great story arc, and it wasn't overwritten. The book is just the right length.

I finished this book a few days ago and it lives in my head rent-free.

----BREAK----

I didn't put this in the review that I'm posting, but in Chapter 29, the book says that Acadia is in Connecticut instead of Maine. I wanted to make sure that you were able to correct that before publication.

Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC! I enjoyed reading this book soo much omg, I haven't read a horror/thriller book in a while and this was the perfect book to get back into the genre. The writing is so engaging and will keep you in suspense. If you're a fan of the Haunting of Hill House, I highly recommend!

I was pretty impressed and honestly left in awe after reading this one. Gage is skilled at world-building, so much so you can almost visualize the entirety of this gritty, anxiety-inducing tale. Told through multiple POVs, this work is so well written it is seemingly effortless to keep each character straight given how well Greenwood characterizes each character, how well he builds a sense of impending doom, leading you to HAVE to keep reading and keep reading and keep reading to see when and how it all goes wrong and just how is it going to end?? I stopped to reread and appreciate MULTIPLE lines and paragraphs because they were just so brilliant, so thought/feeling provoking. His horror is immersive, poetic and at times entirely too real. Do not pass this one up!

5 STARS
Terrific creepy! More than once I felt the goosebumps popping up and the delicious shiver that accompanies the hair on my arms standing up on end. A nightmare come alive to the point that you want to whip your head around to see if someone is reading over your shoulder because it sure feels like it. Nicely done!
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Ahh thank you so much GAGE GREENWOOD & Netgalley for the ARC of this book

This is my FAV GAGE GREENWOOD to date. It was full of terrifying imagery, creating the most spooky vibes. It was gory and action packed while the plot was excellent and I loved the well thought out history to the creatures.

Each character was solidly developed, enough to make me care about the well-being for each. It was an emotional ride, with some moments that will absolutely rip your heart out but WOW I didn't want it to stop.

I am already missing the characters and being consumed by this story.

4.5/5

3.5 ⭐️

Thanks to Netgalley for my ARC

This is a horror novel with themes of loss, love, grief, generational trauma, and the various ways people cope with those things.

I have mixed feelings about this story. It started strong with a scary moment that hooked me. I looked forward to more of that kind of horror. I loved Chrissy and related to her character pretty easily. Her father was also interesting to read about. I enjoyed the first half quite a bit. There were lots of fun horror references thrown in which is always cool.

Somewhere in the middle it took a turn that didn't work very well for me. The action really picked up and I lost a little of my enthusiasm. I appreciated the writing itself, but the story ended up becoming a little too "out there" for my preference.

I would definitely be interested in reading more from this author.

THIS BOOK IS EVERYTHING! Seriously, EVERYTHING! I had high hopes for this book, which normally leads to a disappointment but this book not only MET my expectations but EXCEEDED them! This book was simultaneously horrifying, heartbreaking, heartwarming, and perfect!

Let’s start with characters - this book had so many full flushed out characters! I could picture each one in my mind’s eye and felt a connection to each one, even if they weren’t like me. The different perspectives flowed nicely and I felt attached to each character by the end! Also, as a member of the LGBT+ community, I super appreciated the representation in this book! Also, for those who have read this already - VINX!!!!

Now the horror - the scary moments were truly chilling. I felt completely sucked into the plot and legit could not stop reading, which is the best kind of book! I don’t want to spoil too much but the graphic detail of the horror scene was so intricate and visceral that I could truly seen them playing out like a movie. It takes an exceptional writer to get that level of detail!

Lastly, the story - THE STORY! This was such a good story! Aside from all over the other wonderful things about this book, the basic plot line was truly just so captivating and honestly beautiful in its own unique way. It was complex enough to keep me guessing, but easy to follow and understand. The connections that were made were twisty and I loved that!!

I cannot recommend this book enough, especially for horror fans!! Amazing, amazing job, Gage! This was my first book of his and I will one thousand percent be reading all of his other books as soon as I can get my hands on them! Seriously guys - BUY THIS BOOK!

Thank you to NetGalley and Gage Greenwood for this Advanced Reader's Copy of this book in exchange for this honest review.

4 years ago, tragedy struck family Keating as Jackson's wife Elaina died in a work related accident.
Together he and his children (Wreath, Brian, Charlie, Chrissy and Angela) tried to move past the Trauma. After moving to a big, old house on Block Island the father of the family feels as if they could try for a new start… but before Jackson knew it, his family faced the next massive tragedy.
This one even more monstrous, traumatising and shaking everyone to the core.

Today (4 years later) the Family is trying to come to terms with what happened on the Island, or rather they just try to forget because the reality is much worse than anything you could come up with in a horror movie… right!?

The 3 youngest siblings (Charlie, Chrissy and Angela) want to go back and find out what was real and what not. They want to lift that fog of this fateful night years ago.
On their way to seek the truth they will have to avoid many obstacles… question is is it really worth it?

¦ ߹ ¦ · ¦ ߹ ¦ · ¦ ߹ ¦ · ¦ ߹ ¦ · ¦ ߹ ¦ · ¦ ߹ ¦ · ¦ ߹ ¦ · ¦ ߹ ¦

I am not able to reveal too much about this Book, because the Mayhem starts after only two or thress pages.
Just one wrong word might mess up your reading experience, and that would just not be fair!

The Author did an outstanding job here. He didn't leave room for me, the Reader, or the characters in the Book to pause and take a breath for a second.

The Horror began almost instantly and pulled me in. All in all I read this Book in less than 12 hours.
The Author just piled it on me, bit by bit until I was in need of a whole Jar full of Fingernails to bite on!! The tnesion was almost unbearable at times.

What can I say except, this was amazing!!
This is what I need every now and then, pure Chaos and the prospect of an ending without a Happy Ending!
Was there a Happy End? I don't know how to answer that, after what happened.

Greenwood adhered to Stephen King's quote, "Kill your Darlings…"
And I am not sure if I can wholly forgive him, which is a good thing in my Book!

He get's 9.8 Stars from me. :)
(Btw, Block Island with its two Lighthouses? It is real, I googled it!)

𝑰 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒔 𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕 𝑯𝒐𝒓𝒓𝒐𝒓 𝒊𝒏 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒄𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒖𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒎𝒔 𝑯𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔! 𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒙𝒕 𝑫𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒊𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒃𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒇𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒃𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑫𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆.

P.S.: Long live Vinx!

"Welcome home, you pains in the ass"

On a Clear Day, You Can See Block Island is a terrifying, tension filled, shiver inducing, creature feature that turns into an otherworldly nightmare. It was one of those books that you couldn't devour fast enough yet wanted to savor it and make the feelings last forever. I could only stretch it out for 4 days. If I wasn't reading the book, then I was thinking about it. I don't want to say too much because this tragically devastating book needs to be experienced.
I highlighted so many lines, mostly because they were either deep and heartfelt, or jaw droppingly unexpected. I live for books that make me feel this way. Not just because it was a suspenseful adrenaline ride, but because Gage's writing was engaging. There were so many quotes that express how I feel about different aspects of my life but could never put into words. Somehow Gage did that for me in seemingly off-the-cuff remarks, little "ta-da" moments that make you catch your breath and mumble "oh my god! exactly!"
This is also one of those books where you realize that sometimes the ones who die are the lucky ones.

"This would break her. Today ended her in some way. If she survived, she'd go on, but she'd never be the same ______ again."

The poor family. They have tragedy after tragedy in their life. As I read this book, I just wanted to hug everyone. I read these pages and was very glad I was not where this group of people were. The more the family tried to get back to normal the further away they moved from that goal. The author sis a good job of describing both sides of the veil. The place inside the mist was bleak and cold. I could envision he horror the family was going through. This book definitely gave me the chills.

After the death of his wife Jackson took his five kids and moved to a beautiful home on block island because she died in a fire they were paid millions of dollars in compensation and we’re trying to move on with their life. They were playing a game and when it was Reeves turn when she went into the room they waited anticipating her to sing a song but what they were expecting never came instead a monstrous version of the song was heard along with chomping. When Jackson and his oldest son Brian knocked down the door they were greeted with a monster eating their oldest sister. It’s been a few years since that day the father has turned to alcohol the oldest son Brian his turn to drugs and the other three kids live with their aunt from pillow to post and try to deal with their own mental issues from that day. It isn’t until Christine sees a book about myths and ghost on Block Island and then she learns of an artist who draws pictures of the ghost that they finally returned to Block Island. Unfortunately their return to the location of their horrible event will only bring new horror but it also may help them end it or maybe it won’t? I find Gage Greenwood has a great nack from making lovable characters that always seem to be flawed but intelligent and tenacious he also makes some of the best monsters in the horror genre and has been my favorite horror writer for a long time I have read all of his books and I’m so thankful he is such a great writer he has new books coming out all the time. I never heard of the Langlais before it really made for a great story I also love the way he mentioned other monsters like the lamp post and his books I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to anyone who loves horror great monsters and even better plots and characters you definitely need to read On A Clear Day You Can See Block Island BY gage Greenwood a true lover of hora will not be disappointed! I would like to thank gauge Greenwood and Net Galley for my free arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

This wasn’t my kind of book at all! Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read it in exchange for an honest review.

"On a clear day you can see Block Island" started with a bang and didn't let up until the end. I love a book that doesn't waste any time getting to the action and this lives up to that. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and will definitely seek out more by this author. If you love a good creature feature with lots of family drama, then this book will be right up your alley.

If you're a fan of the supernatural this might appeal to you. The Keating family was devastated by the death of their sister and the remaining siblings have been in decline ever since. This aspect of the story rang true and was heartbreaking. However, the supernatural elements of the story were a little silly especially concerning the escapes and the aftermath. It wasn't a bad book, it just didn't appeal to me.

On A Clear Day, You Can See Block Island, by Gage Greenwood

Quick Bite: Gage Greenwood is absolutely fearless.

(*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*)

Duckies, this past week has been a lot. Like a LOT a lot. World events are giving me big anxiety, and another election is barrelling toward us and I just can’t. You know? I can’t look away, I can’t get my poor brain around all of it, and if it weren’t for yarn and books, well, I would probably be freaking out in some very loud, very public way.

And speaking of Big Feelings…

On A Clear Day, You Can See Block Island begins four years ago,when a grieving father and his five children moved into a big old house on Block Island. They’ve received a windfall following the sudden, tragic death of their wife and mother, which makes the place feel dark and tainted from the start. But another horrific tragedy occurs almost immediately, and this one is far more terrifying.

Now Jackson is an alcoholic and his children are living with his sister - mostly ignored, dealing with poverty, addiction, and pretty much the whole range of issues you’d expect in traumatized children when they grow older without any help navigating the nightmare they lived. But the demons of Block Island aren’t done with this family…

My beloved Nerdlings, I have lots of conflicted feelings about this book. First and foremost, I want to give a full-throated OMG HE DID NOT JUST DO THAT. Because as I mentioned above, Mr. Greenwood is the star pupil of the School of Kill Your Darlings, and he does so with the kind of heartless, malicious, sadistic glee I haven’t seen outside of Game of Thrones. No one is safe, and each death is somehow gory, visceral, and heartbreaking at the same time. It’s a testament to his writing that the reader can feel so deeply about even minor characters.

But sometimes, that heavy grief vibe is just a shade too much. I love that Mr. Greenwood is not afraid to hurt my feelings, but I also felt a little too bogged down at times, a little too deep in those feelings to appreciate the (also very well written) scenes of tension, action, terror, and so on.

That said, the story itself is absolutely fantastic. The monster is completely original, and felt so “real” that I had to pause my reading to google it, searching for more lore. The kids are great characters. Even though the youngest ones felt a bit overly precocious at times, well, there are very good reasons they are old for their ages.

And I absolutely loved the way that the story went in a direction that I did not expect. I can see the influence of a certain famous work that will not be named, and I dig it.

The Nerd’s Rating: FOUR HAPPY NEURONS (and some seashells and Beach Life, please, I’ve had enough winter.)