Everything you know about realism is a lie - this book was crazy! I feel like everything was so undeniably vibrant and intense, it made you feel on edge. I enjoyed the reality aspects of this book a lot, it was a great mixture of fantasy and reality.

5
Plot 5/5
Writing 5/5
Characters 5/5
I was lucky enough to receive this ebook from NetGalley. Went in blind and enjoyed every second of it. A unique plot, relatable characters, and lots of deep underlying messages throughout the book.
Some quotes that seemed to hit home for me:
"One of these things is the thing that's been missing.
One of these things will fix me.
One of these things will tell me who I am in a way I can finally trust."
"It is not always in our power to decide what a thing is ...
claimed."
But what a thing means? That power may often be
"Death may be a loss of humanness, of the ways of knowing to which you are accustomed. But I feel certain that human ways of knowing are not the only ways. And nothing, not death nor loss of mind nor memory, can remove us from nature."

Strange Animals, published by Ballantine books, is classified as science-fiction/fantasy. This story is about a man who needs to find himself. Green has a horrible event that has happened in his life that sets him on a path that could either lead to his happiness or completely destroy him. He sets out on his path, being led by some feeling that he is being called to go somewhere specific. When he arrives at his destination, Green starts to see things that are hard to believe in. Creatures that make no sense. He meets two women who help change the way he sees the world around him. Valentina becomes his teacher in the study of cryptids. Just as he understands his new role in the world and starts to find his happiness, one of the cryptids that is highly dangerous threatens to destroy everything he has come to love. What can he do? Was it all for nothing?

Unfortunately, I did not particularly like the style of writing. It felt like I was reading one of those Ai written stories where the paragraph and sentence endings and beginnings aren't where they should be. Like it is stuttered. This makes the reading hard to push through in spots. I did finish it, and I did like the story.

Strange Animals is a strange book, but in such an enjoyable way. I love the Appalachians (and think more stories need to be set here), I love cryptids and having a deep sense of curiosity and wonder about the world. And this book hits all of that!

Parts of the book don't flow as well as I'd like and the dialogue sometimes feels a bit choppy/out of place, but overall I enjoyed this story!

This book really just wasn't for me. The writing felt stilted and juvenile, and I wasn't able to connect to the story or the plot. The lack of feeling engaged made this an absolute chore to read, and a disappointment.

Cryptids, the strange and bizzare creatures. Pseudo science that grows and grows because imagination is neverending! These creatures and strange phenomenon have been the focus of some of my favorite media like stranger things, Dnd, Welcome to Nightvale, and so many other works!

This story in the smokey and mysterious mountains is perfect for looking for the supernatural. Surellistic writing in the campgrounds makes a really atmospheric read.

Green decides to move to the mountains in search of purpose and a new start but he soon discovers things are far from what they see. He meets a hermit who studies cryptids and has done so for far longer then is humanly possible and together they delve into the mysteries of the forest and alternate worlds.

A hidden world of supernatural creatures in the Appalachian mountains. Sounds like a magical cozy fantasy with found family and a magical mentor. Until things take a darker turn when danger threatens to take everything he has come to love from him. I truly was engrossed from the beginning and completed this read in less then 24 hours. I could not put it down. The plot was fascinating and the writing was well done. Though there were times where the information was so heavy it slowed a bit, for the most part it just flowed well. This story made me want to move to the Appalachian mountains, search for fantasy creatures and dedicate my life to becoming a student of supernatural history. Searching for a mentor now. Overall I really enjoyed this story. It’s part whimsical magic and part science fiction mystery.

Low-key I wish I was the MC and this happened to me. A wonderful little adventure into the world of cryptids and I would happily read more!

Jared K. Anderson helps readers to rediscover the magic that lies just beyond our doorsteps (and in the case of this book, sometimes closer) My new personal favorite of his work, this story intertwines the eerie whispers of folklore with a gentle nudge to awaken the childlike wonder buried deep within us. He’s written a captivating, cozy and creepy adventure that draws you into a realm of cryptid encounters and whispered legends set in the Appalachian mountains. This unique book offers more than just a story, it's a heartwarming invitation to reconnect with the natural world and the people around you. An uncanny and eerie adventure with wild mysteries that inspire our imaginations while rekindling a childlike yearning to wander AND wonder. A truly exquisite read that lingers long after the last page!!

Written beautifully with prose that had me highlighting passages every few pages or so, Strange Animals was a compelling read with elements of horror and suspense. I went into the novel not realizing how creepy it was. I am admittedly a baby when it comes to horror, so this book wasn’t exactly my cup of tea.

Strange Animals is a quiet, offbeat fantasy about finding meaning in unexpected places. Green’s life falls apart in the most surreal way possible, and instead of answers, he finds himself deep in the Appalachian wilderness surrounded by creatures no one else seems to see.
The cryptids are weird and memorable—giant moths, one-eyed squirrels, strange doorways—and the whole book leans into that sense of wonder without getting too whimsical.
The story moves slowly and sometimes holds back when I wanted it to dig in, especially with Green’s emotional arc. But the world is well-drawn, the tone is consistently delightful, and it stuck with me after I finished. It’s not a flashy book, but it’s a satisfying and unusual one.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of Strange Animals from Ballantine Books and NetGalley in return for an honest review.

From the first page, Strange Animals sinks its claws into you with a uniquely eerie and captivating premise. When Green narrowly escapes death only to find himself face-to-face with a reality-bending giant crow and an oddly menacing acorn, it's clear this isn’t your typical wilderness adventure. Jarod K. Anderson masterfully crafts a fresh twist on magical realism that truly deserves that elusive descriptor, "fresh."

The plot revolves around Green's sudden, bewildering journey away from city comforts into the heart of the mysterious Catskill Mountains, specifically the bizarre yet intriguing Candle-Fly Camp. This isn't just another "escape the city and find yourself" narrative; it explores the thin veil between ordinary life and something unsettling lurking in the wild.

The characters Anderson introduces along the way add rich layers to the story. Green, anxious, and relatable, makes for an authentic protagonist whose struggle with the surreal makes every strange encounter feel immediate and personal. Dancer, the delightfully odd camp owner, Alf and Jerome, the enigmatic duo at the gas station, and Valentina, a mysterious neighbor with her own intriguing presence, help balance the narrative with warmth, eccentric humor, and quiet intensity.

My only critique is that some readers might initially find surrealism a bit overwhelming. The narrative throws you straight into deep, strange waters and takes a moment to acclimate. However, once you're immersed, the storytelling becomes thoroughly engaging.

Anderson skillfully weaves suspense, mystery, and a dash of humor, maintaining a delicate balance that never lets the reader feel at ease. Perfect for those who love their fantasy tinged with a hint of the uncanny. Every twist feels earned and impactful, making the reading experience truly gripping.

Strange Animals is a fantastic pick for anyone seeking a unique, atmospheric tale that blurs the lines between horror, magical realism, and self-discovery. If you're a fan of Dan Simmons or Stephen King, this will feel like familiar territory, but with an entirely fresh perspective. Anderson has delivered something strange and wonderful, making me eager to see where his imagination will take us next.

Strange Animals by Jarod K. Anderson reads like stepping into a misty forest just before dusk—quietly unsettling, beautifully rendered, and humming with something just beyond comprehension. It’s a novel where the uncanny grows like moss on tree bark: slowly, deliberately, and all around you before you realize what you’ve walked into.

This isn’t a story that rushes to explain itself. In fact, the beginning is a bit of a plunge—disorienting and metaphor-rich, like a dream you’re half awake in. The first few chapters walk a fine line between confusion and intrigue, as characters speak in riddles and symbols swirl just out of reach. But if you stick with it, you’ll be rewarded. By the time the plot finds its rhythm, the earlier strangeness begins to click into place like pieces of a puzzle you didn’t know you were solving.

Anderson’s prose is the real star here—lush, lyrical, and meditative. There’s a reverence for the natural world woven into every sentence, turning landscapes into emotions and small creatures into omens. I often found myself pausing just to reread a line, not for clarity, but to savor how it felt.

The story revolves around cryptids, folklore, and things that blur the line between metaphor and magic. It was my first real dip into cryptid-focused fiction, and it pulled me into a space between speculative fantasy and eerie Americana.

Green, our protagonist, feels like a man already halfway changed when we meet him. I would have loved to see a glimpse of his ordinary life before the oddities began—something to contrast the strange with the familiar. Still, his quiet evolution is compelling, especially in how it’s reflected through his encounters with Valentina and the forest’s many hidden truths.

For readers who like:
-Cryptids, folklore, and surreal encounters
-Speculative fiction
-Quiet horror

Final Verdict
Strange Animals is not a book that spells things out for you—and that’s part of its charm. With prose that shimmers and a story that asks you to trust its pace, it’s a gently haunting journey into the odd and the unknown. It might take a few chapters to find your footing, but once you do, it’s a path worth wandering.

Grateful to NetGalley, Ballantine Books and Jarod K. Anderson for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.

Blog Post Run Date: Feb 5, 2026

If you're a fan of cryptids and creepy stories, you'll love this book like I did! It was very well written and captivating. I do wish it felt a little more atmospheric but that is personal preference.

If “cozy creepy” is a genre, Strange Animals should be its poster child. This novel is delightfully atmospheric and speculative. It is full of woodsy unease, otherworldly tension, and an undercurrent of folkloric magic that pulls you in.

The prose is gorgeous, especially in its descriptions of the natural world. I caught myself pausing to take in some of the writing and really digest how it made me feel. Cryptids are a completely new concept for me and it was fun to be taken into a new niche of fantasy.
That said, the novel’s first 10% is a lot to take in. The story dives first into the surreal, with speculative and symbolic elements (like the crow and the acorn) that are difficult to make sense of at first. The dialogue in these early scenes (like with Alf and with Dancer) is so strange that it’s hard to get grounded in the plot. Things begin to stabilize once Green meets Valentina and more natural character interactions begin. From that point on, the story begins to cohere and, by around the 60% mark, many of the earlier oddities are cleverly and satisfyingly explained.

I do wish the Appalachian setting had played a more active role. Giving some of the characters regional accents or anchoring more of the story in the cultural texture of the area would have added depth and atmosphere. Similarly, I would’ve loved a chance to know Green in his everyday life before the story launched into the surreal. That extra grounding would have made the bizarre and beautiful moments that followed even more impactful.

Strange Animals is an intricately written, original novel with strong ideas and stunning prose. A little more clarity up front would have gone a long way in helping me fully appreciate the strange magic Harris has crafted.