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Scowler
Imagine your father is a monster. Would that mean there are monsters inside you, too?
Nineteen-year-old Ry Burke, his mother, and little sister scrape by for a living on their dying family farm. Ry wishes for anything to distract him from the grim memories of his father's physical and emotional abuse. Then a meteorite falls from the sky, bringing with it not only a fragment from another world but also the arrival of a ruthless man intent on destroying the entire family. Soon Ry is forced to defend himself by resurrecting a trio of imaginary childhood protectors: kindly Mr. Furrington, wise Jesus, and the bloodthirsty Scowler.
Nineteen-year-old Ry Burke, his mother, and little sister scrape by for a living on their dying family farm. Ry wishes for anything to distract him from the grim memories of his father's physical and emotional abuse. Then a meteorite falls from the sky, bringing with it not only a fragment from another world but also the arrival of a ruthless man intent on destroying the entire family. Soon Ry is forced to defend himself by resurrecting a trio of imaginary childhood protectors: kindly Mr. Furrington, wise Jesus, and the bloodthirsty Scowler.
304 pages, Library Binding
First published March 12, 2013
About the author
Daniel Kraus
58 books1,109 followers“Kraus brings the rigor of a scientist and the sensibility of a poet.” – The New York Times
DANIEL KRAUS is a New York Times bestselling writer of novels, TV, and film. WHALEFALL received a front-cover rave in the New York Times Book Review, won the Alex Award, was an L.A. Times Book Prize Finalist, and was a Best Book of 2023 from NPR, the New York Times, Amazon, Chicago Tribune, and more.
With Guillermo del Toro, he co-authored THE SHAPE OF WATER, based on the same idea the two created for the Oscar-winning film. Also with del Toro, Kraus co-authored TROLLHUNTERS, which was adapted into the Emmy-winning Netflix series. His also cowrote THE LIVING DEAD and PAY THE PIPER with legendary filmmaker George A. Romero.
Kraus’s THE DEATH AND LIFE OF ZEBULON FINCH was named one of Entertainment Weekly‘s Top 10 Books of the Year. Kraus has won the Bram Stoker Award, Scribe Award, two Odyssey Awards (for both ROTTERS and SCOWLER), and has appeared multiple times as Library Guild selections, YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults, and more.
Kraus’s work has been translated into over 20 languages. Visit him at danielkraus.com.
DANIEL KRAUS is a New York Times bestselling writer of novels, TV, and film. WHALEFALL received a front-cover rave in the New York Times Book Review, won the Alex Award, was an L.A. Times Book Prize Finalist, and was a Best Book of 2023 from NPR, the New York Times, Amazon, Chicago Tribune, and more.
With Guillermo del Toro, he co-authored THE SHAPE OF WATER, based on the same idea the two created for the Oscar-winning film. Also with del Toro, Kraus co-authored TROLLHUNTERS, which was adapted into the Emmy-winning Netflix series. His also cowrote THE LIVING DEAD and PAY THE PIPER with legendary filmmaker George A. Romero.
Kraus’s THE DEATH AND LIFE OF ZEBULON FINCH was named one of Entertainment Weekly‘s Top 10 Books of the Year. Kraus has won the Bram Stoker Award, Scribe Award, two Odyssey Awards (for both ROTTERS and SCOWLER), and has appeared multiple times as Library Guild selections, YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults, and more.
Kraus’s work has been translated into over 20 languages. Visit him at danielkraus.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 438 reviews
September 2, 2016
It puzzles me -- and sometimes frustrates me to no end -- how or why some books get categorized/released as Young Adult. These days it seems the label has become so loosey-goosey all that's required is that there be a teen protagonist. Content, language, themes -- all of the meatier, important elements of any book are blithely ignored in the rush to market and movie deals.
There are definitely books that walk the hinterland -- the very, very outer reaches of YA and upon reading them you realize that there's way more 'Adult' in the pages than 'Young'. On any given Sunday it shouldn't really matter ....except for when it does. In the case of Scowler it makes me think about how many people will ignore it and miss out turned off by its YA label, and then it makes me think about the young teen readers who will lack the emotional maturity and mental resilience to process such a dark and disturbing tale.
Scowler is firmly planted in the Rural Lit / Country Noir tradition. Really, if someone had handed me this book and told me it was written by Donald Ray Pollock or Daniel Woodrell I wouldn't have blinked an eye.
Yes, it's that good and that dark. Patriarch Marvin Burke is as chilling and disturbing a villain as any I've encountered and belongs in the pages of a Frank Bill novel. The language is vibrant and pulsing -- a living, breathing thing:
The cracks in the dirt now yawned to proportions slutty with thirst...I had originally shelved this as 'horror' but am now removing it because while Scowler is horrific in parts, it has much more in common with realistic, gritty fiction that has a psychological underbelly.
There it was. A miracle, really, finding this speck of bone in a world of dust. There was a brown spot of blood on the tooth's root, and to Ry it seemed the encapsulation of the bum deal of life: a once-perfect thing plucked and bloodied and tossed to the dirt.
I highly recommend this one.
December 15, 2014
Personal prolegomena:
This book fell into my mitts courtesy of another round of library roulette. About a quarter of the way in, things reached such a level of WTF that I broke one of my (made up) roulette rules, and just had to look it up to get a bead on this Scowler business.
Given the bit that I had just finished, I was surprised (at the very least) to find that it's actually classified as "young adult" and/or juvenile fiction. I'm relatively new to this "horror" business, but, still, really?!? That's not to say that a "young adult" couldn't handle it, but, nonetheless, this had me picturing "juveniles" à la Mary Ellen Mark's photograph of a nine-year-old, "Amanda And Her Cousin Amy."
'Bout the book:
Trudi's take will probably give you a better sense of things than I'll be offering here, but the gist involves a college-aged protagonist, Rye, who tends to the farm, his mother, and his younger sister, Sarah, in the wake of their (now imprisoned) menacing father, Marvin Burke. Things are not going well, the land is dried up, they've never recovered from whatever it is that Marvin did, and we know there's something involving "the unnamed three" looming over it all.
What, if anything, felt "young adult" to me about this book was the dearth of subtlety in foreshadowing. The book took me by surprise big time early on (if you've read it, then I'm guessing you know what I'm hinting at here*), but after that I felt like the twists and turns were a bit too projected. On the flip side, I suppose that's how one builds suspense.
Cartoon connections:
For fans of South Park , the parallels with Cartman's trajectory in the 1% episode are pretty great (though, I'm guessing, unintentional).
____________________________________________
* Fine, I'll spell it out for you:
This book fell into my mitts courtesy of another round of library roulette. About a quarter of the way in, things reached such a level of WTF that I broke one of my (made up) roulette rules, and just had to look it up to get a bead on this Scowler business.
Given the bit that I had just finished, I was surprised (at the very least) to find that it's actually classified as "young adult" and/or juvenile fiction. I'm relatively new to this "horror" business, but, still, really?!? That's not to say that a "young adult" couldn't handle it, but, nonetheless, this had me picturing "juveniles" à la Mary Ellen Mark's photograph of a nine-year-old, "Amanda And Her Cousin Amy."
'Bout the book:
Trudi's take will probably give you a better sense of things than I'll be offering here, but the gist involves a college-aged protagonist, Rye, who tends to the farm, his mother, and his younger sister, Sarah, in the wake of their (now imprisoned) menacing father, Marvin Burke. Things are not going well, the land is dried up, they've never recovered from whatever it is that Marvin did, and we know there's something involving "the unnamed three" looming over it all.
What, if anything, felt "young adult" to me about this book was the dearth of subtlety in foreshadowing. The book took me by surprise big time early on (if you've read it, then I'm guessing you know what I'm hinting at here*), but after that I felt like the twists and turns were a bit too projected. On the flip side, I suppose that's how one builds suspense.
Cartoon connections:
For fans of South Park , the parallels with Cartman's trajectory in the 1% episode are pretty great (though, I'm guessing, unintentional).
____________________________________________
* Fine, I'll spell it out for you:
August 11, 2016
Horrifically gory and intense, in a way you don't see that much in YA. Billy Dent has nothing on Marvin Burke.
March 8, 2015
Oh man. OK. SO this book. If I were rating this purely on my own personal book preferences and tastes, I think I would have immediately given it five stars. Unfortunately, because I am a librarian who works with kids, I cannot rate books without thinking about them in terms of the intended audience. So. I downgraded it (almost painfully, mind you) to four.
What I loved:
This book is true horror. Not horror in the sense that EEK! something might jump out at you, but horror in a deep, visceral, cerebral way. Horror in the way I like it. Pervasive terrifyingness based on the fact that everything you thought was safe and comfortable is monstrous -- including your own being.
The writing is beautiful. Beautifully terrifying. I kept finding myself reading passages out loud for their chill-inducing horrifyingness. I love beautifully horrific language. It's like Ray Bradbury except instead of describing the feeling of a summer's day you're describing everything you know and understand just crumbling apart into terribleness.
The structure and setting choices. I am not quite sure why this book takes place in 1981 instead of present day...but for some reason it just needs to. It feels right. It was smart.
Why I gave it one less star:
I really ... really don't think this is a teen novel. It is about a nineteen year old. It is about confronting your parents and to some extent growing from a boy into a man. And those ways, it is DEFINITELY a teen novel. The problem is, I cannot think of ONE patron who I would give this book to who is under the age of 18. I just...can't. It's so brutal, and while I know there are teens out there who will love it, I don't think I will recommend it unless I come across the exact right kid. Because it's kind of traumatizing. I'm glad I read it though, because I think it is brilliant and there ARE teens out there who need this book. But I will not be recommending it widely. I can't wait to find the teen who this book speaks to though, because I think connecting the RIGHT teen to this book would be magical. Maybe someone who has read all of Steven King and is looking for their next book.
Upper upper high school. Abuse and language and violence and sex and pretty much everything in extreme.
What I loved:
This book is true horror. Not horror in the sense that EEK! something might jump out at you, but horror in a deep, visceral, cerebral way. Horror in the way I like it. Pervasive terrifyingness based on the fact that everything you thought was safe and comfortable is monstrous -- including your own being.
The writing is beautiful. Beautifully terrifying. I kept finding myself reading passages out loud for their chill-inducing horrifyingness. I love beautifully horrific language. It's like Ray Bradbury except instead of describing the feeling of a summer's day you're describing everything you know and understand just crumbling apart into terribleness.
The structure and setting choices. I am not quite sure why this book takes place in 1981 instead of present day...but for some reason it just needs to. It feels right. It was smart.
Why I gave it one less star:
I really ... really don't think this is a teen novel. It is about a nineteen year old. It is about confronting your parents and to some extent growing from a boy into a man. And those ways, it is DEFINITELY a teen novel. The problem is, I cannot think of ONE patron who I would give this book to who is under the age of 18. I just...can't. It's so brutal, and while I know there are teens out there who will love it, I don't think I will recommend it unless I come across the exact right kid. Because it's kind of traumatizing. I'm glad I read it though, because I think it is brilliant and there ARE teens out there who need this book. But I will not be recommending it widely. I can't wait to find the teen who this book speaks to though, because I think connecting the RIGHT teen to this book would be magical. Maybe someone who has read all of Steven King and is looking for their next book.
Upper upper high school. Abuse and language and violence and sex and pretty much everything in extreme.
March 12, 2013
If you want true YA horror, look no further.
Ry's father Marvin was an abusive, horrific man. His father put his mother through hell, and it was Ry who helped save his mother back when he was way too young, too impressionable, and too vulnerable to have that sort of responsibility heft upon him. But Marvin was locked up years ago for it.
Things change now that the meteorite is predicted to hit. The first clue is the appearance of a stranger on the family farm, claiming an explosion at the high security prison allowed him to get free. The second clue is that Ry's father isn't locked up where they thought he was locked up.
He was locked up at the prison where the explosion occurred.
Marvin is coming back to the family farm, and he's out for blood.
Kraus's book is incredible dark and creepy, with tension and pacing keeping one another in check. The story is set in the 1980s, and it has to be for a number of reasons: the plausibility is one of them (though it's forgivable) and also, it's a historical setting -- this isn't set up so readers believe it happened today. Rather, it's purposefully in the past because that enhances the chill factor when the book ends. The questions lingering are as important as those answered.
Ry compartmentalized and repressed the fear and hatred toward his father when he was young and watched as his mother . In doing so, he took on three personas: Jesus Christ, Mr. Furrington, and Scowler. Though toys, they aren't really toys: they're very different parts of his personality, and it's through the course of his past converging with his present that Ry is able to rectify these three elements of self. There is also the brilliant metaphor of the meteorite, of the dying farm, of family and saving, and of whether or not monsters can ever really know what they truly are.
This isn't a light read. It's not for the weak of stomach. It's graphic, it's disturbing, it's unsettling, and it's gory. Even as someone who has a tough stomach for these things, it was a tough read. Ry, his mother, and his sister are good characters, so watching what happens to them is tough. Knowing what obstacles stand in their course isn't enjoyable. But that's the whole point of a book like this -- sometimes, we have to face what's ugly. And in Ry's case, sometimes, it's not just the things outside himself.
Give this to readers who want horror, who want dark, and who want to be shaken. It's not just about the gritty plot: Kraus has writing chops. The marriage of the two is excellent.
Full review here: http://www.stackedbooks.org/2013/03/s...
Ry's father Marvin was an abusive, horrific man. His father put his mother through hell, and it was Ry who helped save his mother back when he was way too young, too impressionable, and too vulnerable to have that sort of responsibility heft upon him. But Marvin was locked up years ago for it.
Things change now that the meteorite is predicted to hit. The first clue is the appearance of a stranger on the family farm, claiming an explosion at the high security prison allowed him to get free. The second clue is that Ry's father isn't locked up where they thought he was locked up.
He was locked up at the prison where the explosion occurred.
Marvin is coming back to the family farm, and he's out for blood.
Kraus's book is incredible dark and creepy, with tension and pacing keeping one another in check. The story is set in the 1980s, and it has to be for a number of reasons: the plausibility is one of them (though it's forgivable) and also, it's a historical setting -- this isn't set up so readers believe it happened today. Rather, it's purposefully in the past because that enhances the chill factor when the book ends. The questions lingering are as important as those answered.
Ry compartmentalized and repressed the fear and hatred toward his father when he was young and watched as his mother . In doing so, he took on three personas: Jesus Christ, Mr. Furrington, and Scowler. Though toys, they aren't really toys: they're very different parts of his personality, and it's through the course of his past converging with his present that Ry is able to rectify these three elements of self. There is also the brilliant metaphor of the meteorite, of the dying farm, of family and saving, and of whether or not monsters can ever really know what they truly are.
This isn't a light read. It's not for the weak of stomach. It's graphic, it's disturbing, it's unsettling, and it's gory. Even as someone who has a tough stomach for these things, it was a tough read. Ry, his mother, and his sister are good characters, so watching what happens to them is tough. Knowing what obstacles stand in their course isn't enjoyable. But that's the whole point of a book like this -- sometimes, we have to face what's ugly. And in Ry's case, sometimes, it's not just the things outside himself.
Give this to readers who want horror, who want dark, and who want to be shaken. It's not just about the gritty plot: Kraus has writing chops. The marriage of the two is excellent.
Full review here: http://www.stackedbooks.org/2013/03/s...
April 17, 2015
The only book I LISTENED to that terrified me----was the radio drama Brave New World. My parents were on a road trip to MS and they played this dramatized version during our nighttime travels. I had nightmares for weeks. This book here had me equally as terrified while I road tripped to Wisconsin. What was so amazing, is I wasn't even EXPECTING it. Here I thought was going to get a kiddie "creepy" version of Stephen King----and nope. FULL. BLOWN. OUT. OF. MY. COMFORT. ZONE.
Let's talk about my stages of comfort.
The first few CD's-----I was more or less---at this stage:
Which quickly morphed into being at this point---a few discs later when he
KRAUS HAD ME SCREAMING AND TALKING TO MY SELF---The end of the book when you've gone through a whole 24+ hours after impact (based off the book timeline):
I'm SURE the drivers on the road where terrified of me. I was constantly screaming "NOOOOOO!!! JESUS TAKE THE WHEEL" "OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG!!!! WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYY----F*$K YOU MARVIN."
It has been a long time since I powered through a book that INSANELY outside my regular reading material. This book drained me, but I feel I've come so far in just undergoing that uncomfortable experience. I have some friends I would definitely recommend this book too---and some who would behave like:
In the end, I didn't regret my decision. I can see why this book won awards, and while the plot could be consider somewhat convoluted----I would still persevere. Kraus did an excellent job, and I was happy that didn't end in complete despair.
Let's talk about my stages of comfort.
The first few CD's-----I was more or less---at this stage:
Which quickly morphed into being at this point---a few discs later when he
KRAUS HAD ME SCREAMING AND TALKING TO MY SELF---The end of the book when you've gone through a whole 24+ hours after impact (based off the book timeline):
I'm SURE the drivers on the road where terrified of me. I was constantly screaming "NOOOOOO!!! JESUS TAKE THE WHEEL" "OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG!!!! WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYY----F*$K YOU MARVIN."
It has been a long time since I powered through a book that INSANELY outside my regular reading material. This book drained me, but I feel I've come so far in just undergoing that uncomfortable experience. I have some friends I would definitely recommend this book too---and some who would behave like:
In the end, I didn't regret my decision. I can see why this book won awards, and while the plot could be consider somewhat convoluted----I would still persevere. Kraus did an excellent job, and I was happy that didn't end in complete despair.
May 9, 2013
The writing is pretentious and Kraus overplays his hand with foreshadowing and symbolism that is frequently undercut by how stupid and/or impossible actions are. In reaction to news of his father's prison escape, Ry bends over to throw up and the vomit runs across the significant-as-it-was-inflicted-by-his-father scar on his forehead between his brows. Except--wouldn't his nose be in the way? And in the end, Ry is determined to bury his father's dog--significant!--despite broken bones, multiple lacerations, and over a day of trauma. Shock, what's medical shock?
Ry is helped by the Unnamed Three, who are probably imaginary friends. I think Kraus is trying to create an unsettling atmosphere with these creatures intruding into normal life, but since normal life is so haphazardly and carelessly portrayed, they just seem like another heap of bullshit. Some concrete examples: the characters who are 9 and 10 seem more like 6 or 7 year-olds; injuries don't have realistic repercussions or even always realistic causes (Ry's sister slides down a slope into a hot meteorite in a pool of hot water and only burns her fingers, not even her palm; Ry's father gets third degree burns and walks about half a mile and can still try to kill Ry--and more!); the neighbors and an escaped convict show up just in time for plot-mandated actions. Actually, most of the characters behave in a plot-mandated rather than a character-driven manner.
Just plain objectionable: manhood is explicitly linked to violence.
Also, one random chapter from Sarah's point of view, and one from Jo Beth's. ???
Ry is helped by the Unnamed Three, who are probably imaginary friends. I think Kraus is trying to create an unsettling atmosphere with these creatures intruding into normal life, but since normal life is so haphazardly and carelessly portrayed, they just seem like another heap of bullshit. Some concrete examples: the characters who are 9 and 10 seem more like 6 or 7 year-olds; injuries don't have realistic repercussions or even always realistic causes (Ry's sister slides down a slope into a hot meteorite in a pool of hot water and only burns her fingers, not even her palm; Ry's father gets third degree burns and walks about half a mile and can still try to kill Ry--and more!); the neighbors and an escaped convict show up just in time for plot-mandated actions. Actually, most of the characters behave in a plot-mandated rather than a character-driven manner.
Just plain objectionable: manhood is explicitly linked to violence.
Also, one random chapter from Sarah's point of view, and one from Jo Beth's. ???
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 28, 2014
Gritty, unflinching, and inventive. There are some fantasy-like elements, but the entire story is infused with a very real sort of horror. I haven't seen this often in YA, so the brutality caught me off guard, but I couldn't look away from it.
Very well done. This one puts Krause on my read-everything-from-this-author list.
Very well done. This one puts Krause on my read-everything-from-this-author list.
April 24, 2013
Scowler without a doubt was the scariest and darkest book I have ever read in the young adult genre. It makes I Hunt Killers look like Sesame Street. It's Stephen King meets Silence of the Lambs and it held me captive from page one. Disturbing imagery, and heart-racing scenes had me completely spellbound as I searched for closure from this nightmare. This was a thrilling ride and I enjoyed every dark, gritty, heart pounding moment.
The tale begins when we meet Ry Burke, his little sister Ella and their mom. Their farm is in shambles and the fields dormant since their father was sent to jail nine years ago after one of his abusive episodes went too far and ended with Ry being hospitalized. The farm is up for sale, money is tight but still Ry doesn’t want to let go of his home. Meteorites fall from the sky bringing a monster to their door and the tale that unfolds forces Ry to resurrect his imaginary friends from childhood to protect him once again.
At this point in my review I usually describe the characters but I think it’s important that you discover the quirks and personalities of Ry, his mom and little Ella for yourself. I will say that they are fleshed out and you have a very strong sense of who they are and the events that carved them into the characters we meet before the meteorite hits. At the age of nine three toy figurines come to life and aid Ry during one of the darkest moments of his childhood. They are a kindly British chap named Mr. Furrington, a Gumby Jesus figure handed out in Sunday school and a handmade figure made from metal and cloth dubbed Scowler. At nineteen he no longer hears or plays with his childhood toys but as events unfold he must once again call on his imaginary friends.
Scowler is a violent, dark, gritty, suspenseful tale that sent shivers down my spine and left me with images I shall never forget. The tale unfolds slowly with occasional flashbacks that help us understand Ry, his figurines and the father that tormented them all. The tale unfolds over the course of several days both preceding the meteorite and after. The family lives on a remote farm far from their closest neighbors leaving them isolated as the events unfold. Krauss crafts a story that reminded me of a Stephen King novel from his writing style to imagery. It is brutal, violent, and hand-wringing the type of book you cannot set down as the suspense and drama play out. While this is dubbed young-adult it pushes the envelope with its language and imagery. Unspeakable things happen at this farm and it’s not for the faint of heart. Through characters and events the author does a wonderful job of foreshadowing as he builds towards climatic scenes. The toys Ry uses and the explanation of what they represent to Ry was brilliantly done. It was a fascinating look into the human mind's ability to cope with the unimaginable.
Fans of horror and suspenseful mind-blowing thrillers will enjoy Scowler. Not for the faint of heart Kraus delivers a spine-chilling novel you won't soon forget. This was my first experience with the author and after reading Scowler I discovered he wrote a book called Rotters that from reviews promises classic horror at its finest. I will definitely be picking it up.
Four and half cups of espresso out of five
ARC provided in exchange for unbiased review
See more of my reviews @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer
The tale begins when we meet Ry Burke, his little sister Ella and their mom. Their farm is in shambles and the fields dormant since their father was sent to jail nine years ago after one of his abusive episodes went too far and ended with Ry being hospitalized. The farm is up for sale, money is tight but still Ry doesn’t want to let go of his home. Meteorites fall from the sky bringing a monster to their door and the tale that unfolds forces Ry to resurrect his imaginary friends from childhood to protect him once again.
At this point in my review I usually describe the characters but I think it’s important that you discover the quirks and personalities of Ry, his mom and little Ella for yourself. I will say that they are fleshed out and you have a very strong sense of who they are and the events that carved them into the characters we meet before the meteorite hits. At the age of nine three toy figurines come to life and aid Ry during one of the darkest moments of his childhood. They are a kindly British chap named Mr. Furrington, a Gumby Jesus figure handed out in Sunday school and a handmade figure made from metal and cloth dubbed Scowler. At nineteen he no longer hears or plays with his childhood toys but as events unfold he must once again call on his imaginary friends.
Scowler is a violent, dark, gritty, suspenseful tale that sent shivers down my spine and left me with images I shall never forget. The tale unfolds slowly with occasional flashbacks that help us understand Ry, his figurines and the father that tormented them all. The tale unfolds over the course of several days both preceding the meteorite and after. The family lives on a remote farm far from their closest neighbors leaving them isolated as the events unfold. Krauss crafts a story that reminded me of a Stephen King novel from his writing style to imagery. It is brutal, violent, and hand-wringing the type of book you cannot set down as the suspense and drama play out. While this is dubbed young-adult it pushes the envelope with its language and imagery. Unspeakable things happen at this farm and it’s not for the faint of heart. Through characters and events the author does a wonderful job of foreshadowing as he builds towards climatic scenes. The toys Ry uses and the explanation of what they represent to Ry was brilliantly done. It was a fascinating look into the human mind's ability to cope with the unimaginable.
Fans of horror and suspenseful mind-blowing thrillers will enjoy Scowler. Not for the faint of heart Kraus delivers a spine-chilling novel you won't soon forget. This was my first experience with the author and after reading Scowler I discovered he wrote a book called Rotters that from reviews promises classic horror at its finest. I will definitely be picking it up.
Four and half cups of espresso out of five
ARC provided in exchange for unbiased review
See more of my reviews @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer
May 18, 2017
I was not properly prepared for Scowler. I was expecting a somewhat dark story, but nothing compared to what I got--a boy who finds his mom in a position that can literally cause nightmares, a magnetic meteor that causes everyone's brains to go haywire, a devious childhood toy...
There is gore galore and I was pleasantly surprised by it. I didn't have low expectations for this necessarily; I just didn't have any expectations at all. Scowler did not let that happen for long--I was thrown directly into this without any preamble.
Ry's story is a tough one. It's dark and harsh, with very little in the way of encouraging the reader to believe all will turn out okay. It is full of unusual interactions and unhinged minds and I couldn't help but wonder who the demographic was for this book. I assumed it was YA, but this was significantly more traumatizing than most YA these days so I can't really tell who it is for. Regardless, it is a fantastically written story and I will be cringing away from a needle and thread for a very long time after this.
There is gore galore and I was pleasantly surprised by it. I didn't have low expectations for this necessarily; I just didn't have any expectations at all. Scowler did not let that happen for long--I was thrown directly into this without any preamble.
Ry's story is a tough one. It's dark and harsh, with very little in the way of encouraging the reader to believe all will turn out okay. It is full of unusual interactions and unhinged minds and I couldn't help but wonder who the demographic was for this book. I assumed it was YA, but this was significantly more traumatizing than most YA these days so I can't really tell who it is for. Regardless, it is a fantastically written story and I will be cringing away from a needle and thread for a very long time after this.
April 29, 2013
For the discerning YA/adult reader who found The Marbury Lens and Passenger too fuzzy and straightforward...
It will be a long time before I forget this novel. Take my advice and don't read the last 80 pages right before bed. Review to come.
It will be a long time before I forget this novel. Take my advice and don't read the last 80 pages right before bed. Review to come.
August 27, 2013
One of the darkest and creepiest YA books I have ever read. Being a huge fan of Koontz and loving a good chill, this book had me wrapped up on a warm summer day. Taking place on an Iowa farm, Ry Burke, his mom and his sister are saying their final good-byes to their beloved home and moving somewhere where Mrs. Burke expects to find hope. The once prospering farm is now dead, Mr. Burke is behind bars and Jo Beth wants to give her family a new start. That is until a knock on the door brings a stranger into their lives and their past is relived all over again with more drama then anyone could ever handle. Mr. Burke was an abusive man to both his wife and his children and what landed him in the slammer is only something you would view on a horror film. To read about Mr. Burke abuse, to do something of such magnitude and then go about your business like nothing happened, that takes one cold-hearted individual. I introduce Mr. Burke. Mr. Burke is cold, he is all business and strict none-the-less. Ry, takes refuge from his father’s abuse with the help of his toys: Mr. Furrington, Jesus and Scowler. These three toys have their own personality and with the help of Ry, they help him deal with the frustration his father abuse has on him. What a fantastic combination and what a way to combat your fears. I, myself, have always fantasized about the possibility of toys talking or if they had a personality what they would be like, well Mr. Kraus did a wonderful job guiding my imagination. The story flashes back to the 1970’s where some of this story takes place but the majority of the story takes place in the 1980’s when a meteor falls from the sky. As the stranger enters their lives, the Burke trio wishes they had never opened the door and helped the stranger out. As their world comes crashing down before them, who can they call on to help them?
What a creepy and fantastic read. I almost couldn’t believe it was a YA novel. I loved the character of Ry, he was so drawn into his three toys and the energy he got off them. They were his companions, people he thought he could rely on when he needed strength and yet years later, he still thought of them. He was so committed to them. The relationship with Ry and his sister was perfect for this book. I felt so sorry for Jo Beth – as you read about her journey, you feel her tears, and her strength, her determination, and you just feel shoulders sag. Great read if you like horror.
Mature readers as there is language, graphic scenes and horror.
What a creepy and fantastic read. I almost couldn’t believe it was a YA novel. I loved the character of Ry, he was so drawn into his three toys and the energy he got off them. They were his companions, people he thought he could rely on when he needed strength and yet years later, he still thought of them. He was so committed to them. The relationship with Ry and his sister was perfect for this book. I felt so sorry for Jo Beth – as you read about her journey, you feel her tears, and her strength, her determination, and you just feel shoulders sag. Great read if you like horror.
Mature readers as there is language, graphic scenes and horror.
September 23, 2018
"Scowler", while marketed as YA, might be a little intense for younger readers, as it deals with such themes as spousal abuse and , toward the end of the book, an episode of cannibalism.
I enjoyed the read, but didn't find it particularly frightening....
The meteor strike was an interesting touch...I kept expecting a form of alien life to come into the story, but it never did...
I enjoyed the read, but didn't find it particularly frightening....
The meteor strike was an interesting touch...I kept expecting a form of alien life to come into the story, but it never did...
October 6, 2024
What a lovely and weird horror book. My favorite kind
October 6, 2013
Daniel Kraus wrote the book Scowler with all intentions of scaring the reader. The book is supposed to shock and terrify people as they read about delusionary Ry and his murderous, vengeful father Marvin. The author uses demonic ideas of torture and abuse to give readers a chill or a thrill, depending on how they view the book. There is no educational value to this novel, for it is meant to be read for fun only. The story follows Ry and his family as they try to survive another encounter with their father, Marvin, who escapes jail when a meteor obliterates a wall of the prison. The subject of the story is survival in the face of madness, and it is told through the third person view of Ry. The book is aimed at teenagers, and it uses common swear words and phrases associated with modern teens, such as the f-word and other derogatory names. Young children would not understand some of the references, and older adults would probably be disgusted by some of the topics or ideas expressed throughout the novel. This goes to show again that this book was written to entertain teenagers by telling the horror story of Ry and Marvin.
The theme of the book is indirectly stated, but it can be identified as the idea of fighting madness with madness. Ry’s father, Marvin, was put in jail for sewing his wife to her bed, and he attempted to kill Ry after discovering that Ry was the one to free her. Ry survives by making three of his childhood toys real in his mind, and they guide him through a perilous escape in the woods. Marvin was put in jail, but he escapes after a freak accident involving a meteor sets him free. Marvin returns to his house with vengeance on his mind, and Ry must “resurrect” his three toy figures in his mind to survive his insane father once again. The author describes in detail Marvin’s lunacy, and throughout the novel readers watch as Ry becomes more and more crazy. The entire book is a testament to the old saying of “Sometimes you must fight fire with fire”, for Ry has to become crazy in order to save his family from the already crazed and homicidal father.
The book was written as a description, and the reader feels like they are experiencing all of the events first hand. Even when the story follows a “flash back” in Ry’s memory, it is told as if it was happening in present time. The style was effective and sometimes I really did feel like I was running through the dark forest of the Black Glade alongside Ry. The flashbacks helped to provide clarity in the story, and it showed more of the back story that readers are initially unaware of. The author’s style also includes a very descriptive style of writing, almost to the point of excess: “She would go blind that way, and Ry knew that was bad; also bad, though, was the unhappy notion that this flat, dull stretch of moribund farmland contained the realm of fascination that in all his years he’d been either unwilling or unable to notice. (Page 3)” The details are very good at painting a clear picture of the action, and the style is overall very effective for this novel.
In my opinion, I did not care for the book very much. The plot was so twisted and convoluted that sometimes I lost track of the story’s main focus. The whole idea of the meteorite was supposed to be a driving force in the story, but it lost track around halfway through. I was not sure where the novel was headed in the first half, and it lacks a clear focus on what the point of the novel is supposed to be. I liked some of the ideas that the author had in writing the novel, such as the visualization of childhood fantasies, but the execution of these ideas was poorly done, in my opinion. In addition, the amount of detail in the novel was appreciated, but some of the sentences were so wordy that it detracted from the overall feel of the story. It felt as if the author was trying a little too hard to put detail into the story, and it distracted me from the plot sometimes. The book is similar to another book titled Lockdown, for they are both horror stories that use graphic details in order to shock and terrify their readers.
October 13, 2014
Reviewed first Brunner's Bookshelf
This fall I haven't had this big list of horror books to-read for the Halloween season. The RIP challenge finally started up for this year and I really didn't have much read to go.Thank you to my library and the Overdrive app on my iPhone to supply me with a steady stream of audio books. I decided to pull up the Horror genre and see what was available. Right away this cover caught my eye. Reading over the summary I started to think this was really interesting and I was going to give it a shot. Again, I had no idea this was a YA title until half way through the book so my trying to aviod YA titles for a little bit wasn't going so well.
Here is the Goodreads description:
Nineteen-year-old Ry Burke, his mother, and little sister scrape by for a living on their dying family farm. Ry wishes for anything to distract him from the grim memories of his father's physical and emotional abuse. Then a meteorite falls from the sky, bringing with it not only a fragment from another world but also the arrival of a ruthless man intent on destroying the entire family. Soon Ry is forced to defend himself by resurrecting a trio of imaginary childhood protectors: kindly Mr. Furrington, wise Jesus, and the bloodthirsty Scowler.
This book was nothing but random trips to crazy town. The flashbacks that popped in and out of the story were not done well. Most of the time it caused the flowing action of the story to just stop. Its like if you were running and feeling good them crashed into a brick wall. It would take awhile to get going again and that is how I felt about these. I understand the author't desire to make use understand just how bad things are for Ry but really I felt it was more crazy filler.
The other thing I didn't care for with this book was that I didn't like any of the characters. They were all horrible and ranged from both sides of the spectrum. They were either terribly pathetic or horribly insane. There wasn't a middle ground and made it really hard for me to care what happened to them. I actually found myself counting down sections to the end of the book because I just wanted it to end. I should have put it down and moved on to something else but this was short enough that I just struggled through.
I may not have had anything great to say about this book but I didn't hate it. I was just disappointed with this one. I give it 2 out of 5 stars. Sadly I judged a book by its cover and was let down. One last note as more of an FYI. I'm not a teen and haven't been one for a long time. I didn't realize this was a teen novel because some of the events that happened were written in graphic detail. It wasn't something I would expect from a YA novel but I might just be out of touch with what teens are like these days.
This fall I haven't had this big list of horror books to-read for the Halloween season. The RIP challenge finally started up for this year and I really didn't have much read to go.Thank you to my library and the Overdrive app on my iPhone to supply me with a steady stream of audio books. I decided to pull up the Horror genre and see what was available. Right away this cover caught my eye. Reading over the summary I started to think this was really interesting and I was going to give it a shot. Again, I had no idea this was a YA title until half way through the book so my trying to aviod YA titles for a little bit wasn't going so well.
Here is the Goodreads description:
Nineteen-year-old Ry Burke, his mother, and little sister scrape by for a living on their dying family farm. Ry wishes for anything to distract him from the grim memories of his father's physical and emotional abuse. Then a meteorite falls from the sky, bringing with it not only a fragment from another world but also the arrival of a ruthless man intent on destroying the entire family. Soon Ry is forced to defend himself by resurrecting a trio of imaginary childhood protectors: kindly Mr. Furrington, wise Jesus, and the bloodthirsty Scowler.
This book was nothing but random trips to crazy town. The flashbacks that popped in and out of the story were not done well. Most of the time it caused the flowing action of the story to just stop. Its like if you were running and feeling good them crashed into a brick wall. It would take awhile to get going again and that is how I felt about these. I understand the author't desire to make use understand just how bad things are for Ry but really I felt it was more crazy filler.
The other thing I didn't care for with this book was that I didn't like any of the characters. They were all horrible and ranged from both sides of the spectrum. They were either terribly pathetic or horribly insane. There wasn't a middle ground and made it really hard for me to care what happened to them. I actually found myself counting down sections to the end of the book because I just wanted it to end. I should have put it down and moved on to something else but this was short enough that I just struggled through.
I may not have had anything great to say about this book but I didn't hate it. I was just disappointed with this one. I give it 2 out of 5 stars. Sadly I judged a book by its cover and was let down. One last note as more of an FYI. I'm not a teen and haven't been one for a long time. I didn't realize this was a teen novel because some of the events that happened were written in graphic detail. It wasn't something I would expect from a YA novel but I might just be out of touch with what teens are like these days.
April 2, 2013
It took me a while to read Kraus's previous book, Rotters, but I was blown away by it when I finally did. I knew I had to read Scowler as soon as I could get my hands on it, and it did not disappoint. In both books, Kraus writes about the darkest places in an adolescent boy's soul. Even though Rotters is about a couple of graverobbers, I found Scowler to be even more intense and raw. There are no corpses here (okay, there are, but they're fresh), but the mounting tension of a terrifying father returning to seek revenge on his family after he breaks out of prison is only intensified by the madness brought on by the crashing of a radioactive meteoroid.
I found it fascinating to see the parallels in these two books. Both feature a father and son, estranged from one another. The son wants to distance himself from the horrible thing the father is, but must eventually embrace it, leading him into madness, in order to ultimately overcome that part of himself. In Scowler, as a child Ry saved his mother from his abusive father. The level of abuse will turn your stomach, so if you can't handle horrific domestic abuse, I'd stay away from this one and read Gossip Girl or something instead.
When Ry saved his mother, he had three of his toys with him during a night in the woods with his father in an unending pursuit: Mr. Furrington, a stuffed bear, Jesus, a bendy Christ figurine, and Scowler, a disturbing piece of folk art that would strike fear in any heart. Even with his father in jail for years, Ry never quite recovered from that night. When they find out that his father has escaped and is gunning for them, Ry must once again rely on the "unnamed three" to help him harness his own emotions in order to fight his father.
One interesting aspect of this book was the descent into madness by the two main male characters, while the women really hold it together. Ry's mother is able to hold her own against the man who nearly destroyed her, and is also able to stand up to her son when he's completely losing his marbles. She stays cool and collected during the worst of ordeals, and is an incredibly strong character. Likewise, Ry's little sister has her own moments of heroic greatness, and despite being ill, manages to play an important role in the family's struggle for survival.
I barely even mentioned the meteoroid, but that plays a huge role too. This book has a lot of thematic depth and incredibly well-drawn characters. It's also quite terrifying. Over and over, I was reminded of The Shining while reading this, which is high praise. I think readers with the stomach for the darkest spaces of the human psyche will love Scowler. I can't wait to see what nightmare Kraus dreams up next.
I found it fascinating to see the parallels in these two books. Both feature a father and son, estranged from one another. The son wants to distance himself from the horrible thing the father is, but must eventually embrace it, leading him into madness, in order to ultimately overcome that part of himself. In Scowler, as a child Ry saved his mother from his abusive father. The level of abuse will turn your stomach, so if you can't handle horrific domestic abuse, I'd stay away from this one and read Gossip Girl or something instead.
When Ry saved his mother, he had three of his toys with him during a night in the woods with his father in an unending pursuit: Mr. Furrington, a stuffed bear, Jesus, a bendy Christ figurine, and Scowler, a disturbing piece of folk art that would strike fear in any heart. Even with his father in jail for years, Ry never quite recovered from that night. When they find out that his father has escaped and is gunning for them, Ry must once again rely on the "unnamed three" to help him harness his own emotions in order to fight his father.
One interesting aspect of this book was the descent into madness by the two main male characters, while the women really hold it together. Ry's mother is able to hold her own against the man who nearly destroyed her, and is also able to stand up to her son when he's completely losing his marbles. She stays cool and collected during the worst of ordeals, and is an incredibly strong character. Likewise, Ry's little sister has her own moments of heroic greatness, and despite being ill, manages to play an important role in the family's struggle for survival.
I barely even mentioned the meteoroid, but that plays a huge role too. This book has a lot of thematic depth and incredibly well-drawn characters. It's also quite terrifying. Over and over, I was reminded of The Shining while reading this, which is high praise. I think readers with the stomach for the darkest spaces of the human psyche will love Scowler. I can't wait to see what nightmare Kraus dreams up next.
February 13, 2013
4.5 stars
You know that commercial during the Super Bowl about the farmers that everyone loved? I didn't. In fact, I couldn't watch the whole thing. I had to walk away but I kept thinking about it, despite my efforts to stop.
It reminded me of this book. This book, set on a rundown farm in middle of nowhere Iowa. This book, turning my stomach with some of the descriptions of absolute mutilation. This book, which takes the childhood dependency on make-believe friends and turns it into something so comforting and so disturbing at the same time. This book, scaring the bejesus out of me and yet not letting me put it down. This book, making me so upset at the end that I swore at the author.
I still can't watch that commercial. And I don't think I'll be signing up for any farm trips any time soon. But I'll gobble up whatever Daniel Kraus wants to write.
You know that commercial during the Super Bowl about the farmers that everyone loved? I didn't. In fact, I couldn't watch the whole thing. I had to walk away but I kept thinking about it, despite my efforts to stop.
It reminded me of this book. This book, set on a rundown farm in middle of nowhere Iowa. This book, turning my stomach with some of the descriptions of absolute mutilation. This book, which takes the childhood dependency on make-believe friends and turns it into something so comforting and so disturbing at the same time. This book, scaring the bejesus out of me and yet not letting me put it down. This book, making me so upset at the end that I swore at the author.
I still can't watch that commercial. And I don't think I'll be signing up for any farm trips any time soon. But I'll gobble up whatever Daniel Kraus wants to write.
May 22, 2014
Slow-paced, horror, suspense novel. Slow-paced and suspenseful? Yes. Scowler is also both a psychological horror novel and a blood-and-guts horror novel. There were several moments that were gut-punchy heartbreaking because Ry is so broken and other moments that were oh-my-god-is-this-really-happening-I-might-have-just-puked-in-my-mouth-a-little disgusting. Daniel Kraus really gets to the meat (pun intended) of true horror - that what's most terrifying in the world may be inside of us. There were times I just had to look away.
Read
March 27, 2013I'm still not sure how I felt about this book. Like Kraus's other book that I've read, Rotters, it was beautifully written with some extremely creepy stuff going on. I mean, there were parts of this that made my skin crawl.
The first 2/3 of the book really worked for me. The last 1/3 I'm still on the fence about. It was either brilliant or went completely off the rails. I'd definitely recommend this book.
The first 2/3 of the book really worked for me. The last 1/3 I'm still on the fence about. It was either brilliant or went completely off the rails. I'd definitely recommend this book.
March 17, 2014
Viscerally horrific. Wow, what writing. What narrating. Not a book for everyone, but completely believable.
RA notes: language, seriously graphic abuse and murder, talk about sex but no actual sex, insanity
RA notes: language, seriously graphic abuse and murder, talk about sex but no actual sex, insanity
August 22, 2017
I'm not 100% sure I'd call this young adult, I've read a lot of books labelled adult horror with significantly less disturbing content and events. Either way I liked the general descent into madness, the characters were solid and the author did a great job building overall atmosphere.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 5, 2013
Horrifying and dark. Reminiscent of Stephen King at his best--well-written and ultimately hopeful in spite of the murder and mayhem.
September 27, 2014
Disturbing. Soul destroying. Definitely not for kids. It gave me nightmares.
December 30, 2015
i really liked rotters by this author, but scowler just didn't do it for me - thankfully the narration by Kirby Heyborne was great (and damn he makes some freaky sounds during the narration)
November 1, 2018
Book Title & Genre
1. Does the reader get to experience the crime or crisis event? When does this event take place in the book (beginning, middle, end, etc.) Describe the crime/crisis event that happens in the book.
The crisis that occurred was that a meteorite hit there farm and the father is abusive.The father escape from prison because part of the meteorite hit the prison that he was in and tries to kill his family.
2. Does the majority of the book deal with how a character or characters will die? Describe these characters. No but it explains there back stories and how the dad went to prison.
3. Do the characters know they are in danger? If yes, how do they know? If not, does this make the story more or less suspenseful for the reader?
It makes you think about what might happen so I think it makes the book more suspenseful.
4. Does the story cause readers to have a visceral reaction? Do readers feel afraid, panicked, anxious, unsafe, etc. as they read the book? If yes, at what point are readers most afraid and why? If no, why not?
I felt anxious about the characters dying until I learned that this was a dream caused by drug that the main character took to make the farm in the book look and feel real to ry the main character.
5. Who would you recommend this book to and why? Who would you not recommend this book to and why?
People who like horror/suspense novels and I would not recommend this to people that dont like descriptive killing.
1. Does the reader get to experience the crime or crisis event? When does this event take place in the book (beginning, middle, end, etc.) Describe the crime/crisis event that happens in the book.
The crisis that occurred was that a meteorite hit there farm and the father is abusive.The father escape from prison because part of the meteorite hit the prison that he was in and tries to kill his family.
2. Does the majority of the book deal with how a character or characters will die? Describe these characters. No but it explains there back stories and how the dad went to prison.
3. Do the characters know they are in danger? If yes, how do they know? If not, does this make the story more or less suspenseful for the reader?
It makes you think about what might happen so I think it makes the book more suspenseful.
4. Does the story cause readers to have a visceral reaction? Do readers feel afraid, panicked, anxious, unsafe, etc. as they read the book? If yes, at what point are readers most afraid and why? If no, why not?
I felt anxious about the characters dying until I learned that this was a dream caused by drug that the main character took to make the farm in the book look and feel real to ry the main character.
5. Who would you recommend this book to and why? Who would you not recommend this book to and why?
People who like horror/suspense novels and I would not recommend this to people that dont like descriptive killing.
June 7, 2020
How is this book a YA book? There are some sense of darkness in the book but there also some parts which were a little confusing but overall it’s an alright book.
December 30, 2022
It started off interesting, but then it did a nosedive once the meteorite hit. So much unreal stuff that happens in just 24 hours that I was rolling my eyes so much and it just fell really flat for me. :(
October 19, 2015
Now, before picking up this audio book, I heard quite a lot of things. Mostly about how the language of the text and voice of the narrator make for one hell of a nightmarish story that will leave you awake in the middle of the night for days. As a horror buff, I don't know about that but, I do have to say that this was one heck of a great and truly scary story. Ry's father is a monster, true to the word. Abusive, both physically and emotionally, to Ry and his family, this poor 11 year old child had to fend for himself and learn the hard facts of life way before his time. Eight years later, after his father was sent to prison around the same time, a meteor strikes and along with it comes a man hellbent on destroying the already desolate and fragile farm this slightly broken family live on along with each member. The monster is coming back and Ry is more terrified than ever before. There are several flashbacks between Ry's abused childhood and the present, which counts down to the meteor shower that is destined to doom the family. The narrator's voice is amazing when it comes to the characters. There are different accents, powerful intonation, and a monstrous voice that will have you look over your shoulder when he voices Marvin, Ry's father.
There's graphic, gory language aplenty so this might not be suitable for the faint of heart, especially towards the end of the novel. The novel has this amazing buildup that left me feeling as anxious as Ry and the ending didn't disappoint with the climax. All in all, this creepy book was well worth the eleven hours I spent listening to it. I'll also add that this was my first time listening to an audiobook and though it took me a lot longer to finish the story and it also took some getting used to I actually really liked it! If you're a fan of the oral tradition of storytelling or just have a long trek to work everyday I would definitely advise you to pick this one up! It's a screamer.
There's graphic, gory language aplenty so this might not be suitable for the faint of heart, especially towards the end of the novel. The novel has this amazing buildup that left me feeling as anxious as Ry and the ending didn't disappoint with the climax. All in all, this creepy book was well worth the eleven hours I spent listening to it. I'll also add that this was my first time listening to an audiobook and though it took me a lot longer to finish the story and it also took some getting used to I actually really liked it! If you're a fan of the oral tradition of storytelling or just have a long trek to work everyday I would definitely advise you to pick this one up! It's a screamer.
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