If you love high-stakes adventure with a strong horror twist, this book is a must-try! The Siberian wilderness setting is immersive and haunting, lending a relentless sense of dread and wonder. Fans of survival tales, monster myths, and stories about humans versus unknown forces will find this tale hard to put down. The character development and fresh take on cryptid legends like Bigfoot keep things intriguing from start to finish.

Who May Not Like This Book:

Those looking for a fast-paced start may find the beginning sluggish, as the story takes time to build. Some readers noted issues with editing, including spelling and grammar, which might be distracting. If you’re not a fan of horror, gory survival tales, or dark themes about greed and isolation, this might not be your cup of tea.

A tense, atmospheric creature feature with a Russian twist - well worth a try for horror and adventure fans, even if the pacing and editing aren’t perfect.

About:

'Master of the Forest' by Artyom Dereschuk is a gripping horror story set in Siberia, revolving around a young man's desperate quest for a better life. The plot unfolds as he delves into the dangerous world of Mammoth tusk hunting, only to unearth the ancient skeleton of the 'master of the forest.' This discovery triggers a series of horrifying events as the current masters of the forest seek revenge on those who disturb their domain. The narrative is filled with suspense, vivid imagery of the Russian landscape, and a unique blend of ancient myth and modern life, making it a thrilling and thought-provoking read.

The author's writing style draws readers into the oppressive atmosphere of the tale, creating an intense and suspenseful experience. The diverse cast of characters, the inclusion of fossil hunting, and the intricate character development add depth to the story, while the exploration of internal changes in the protagonist adds layers to the plot. Overall, 'Master of the Forest' offers a fresh take on the horror genre, blending elements of adventure, mystery, and adrenaline-inducing suspense.

Characters:

The characters are well-developed, showcasing a spectrum from those driven by desperation to antagonists representing the perils of greed.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is immersive and descriptive, effectively balancing action and character development, albeit with some noted areas for improvement.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot involves a man's desperate quest for wealth and the ensuing chaos that results from awakening a powerful ancient creature, highlighting themes of human greed and survival.

Setting:

The setting is the eerie and remote Siberian wilderness, enhancing feelings of dread and serving as a backdrop for supernatural events.

Pacing:

The pacing begins slowly but accelerates to a gripping and suspenseful climax, particularly in the latter half.

Everything is grey. The sky is grey 90% of the year, and everything else is grey permanently. Grey buildings, grey asphalt. Grey dirt on the cars and grey dirt beneath our feet. Grey paint on everythi...

Notes:

The story's protagonist leaves his hometown for better opportunities in Moscow.

He becomes a telephone marketer, but poorly, before getting involved in a risky venture.

The main character steals from an investor to fund his search for mammoth tusks in Siberia.

A 'tusk finder' digs up mammoth tusks to sell to the Chinese for profit, similar to historical gold rushes.

The character's quest leads him to discover the ancient skeleton of a powerful creature known as the Master of the Forest.

Disturbing this ancient entity leads to violent retribution against the digging crew.

The book is characterized by a mysterious and foreboding atmosphere, drawing comparisons to horror films.

It presents a fresh take on man vs monster, set within a unique cultural context.

Readers appreciate the author's character development, especially the internal struggles of the protagonist.

The novel blends archaeology with horror, exploring themes of greed and its consequences in a supernatural setting.

Bigfoot plays a significant role in the story, depicted as a terrifying creature, which surprised many readers.

The book starts slowly but becomes action-packed and suspenseful, keeping readers on the edge of their seats.

The writing is vivid, providing rich imagery of the Russian wilderness and the creatures within it.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include themes of violence and gore, as well as existential dread.

From The Publisher:

At the edge of the world, unknown and unseen, he endures and survives even in our digital era...

THE BEST HORROR NOVEL OF 2019 ACCORDING TO "READER'S FAVOURITE"

★★★★★ "This was an incredible book! The characters are well-described, the action is consistent, and the imagery, specifically the personification, is wonderful! There were moments I could feel the forest around me, breathing down my neck. Remarkable!" [Lana Mowdy, a Professional Editor]

A young man leaves his backdoor Russian town and heads to Moscow, never to be poor again. With each day, he grows more and more desperate until he meets an old geologist with an intriguing and surprisingly profitable offer: to join him on his trip to the depths of Siberia, the largest forest on the planet, and become a "black digger" - one of those who find and excavate mammoth tusks with the purpose of selling them as ivory to the highest bidder.

With nothing much to lose, our hero agrees, venturing to the edge of the Earth, beyond the borders of civilization and into the untouched wilderness. There, thousands of miles from home, in a race against the clock before the cold seals the ground, he has to face nature, other diggers, his inner demons and, most importantly, the enigmatic "Master of the Forest" - a prehistoric creature and the origin of all local legends, who ferociously protects his domain.

Praise for "Master of the Forest":

"Spine chilling, horrifying, breathtaking, and heart stopping. A must read!!!!" - ★★★★★

"…the writer kept me turning the pages." - ★★★★★

"Nothing I've read on this subject is this good." - ★★★★★

"…it paints a bleak and somehow beautiful picture of post Soviet Russia." - ★★★★★

"…fresh and thought-provoking." - ★★★★★

"You will love the hero and hate the villains." - ★★★★★

"Great setting. Good writing. Intriguing story." - ★★★★★

"Strong characters and complex, living locations helped make this book one of the best pieces of Russian Horror I have read lately." - ★★★★★

"I was glued. Couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next." - ★★★★★

"The author paints a vivid picture in your mind on each page." - ★★★★★

"Crazy scary. Couldn't put the book down." - ★★★★★

"It's a blending of wilderness adventure together with a predator hunting the adventurers to extinction." - ★★★★★

"…this is as much literature as it is horror. The thought processes of the "hero" remind me of Crime and Punishment. I loved the intelligence of this book." - ★★★★★

"RUSSIAN HORROR FICTION" is a series of stand-alone horror novels set in Russia, with every book exploring new facets of both the horror genre and the biggest, most enigmatic country in the world.

October 2018

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305 pages

Ratings (1)

It Was OK (1)

Reader Stats (4):

Read It (1)
Want To Read (2)
Not Interested (1)

1 comment(s)

ColorfulLeo92

It Was OK

1 year

Wanted to love this book more then I did. It still was quite enjoyable and fun but wasn't quite the exciting horror creature book that got me on the edge of the seat. But decent nevertheless

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Master of the Forest

Artyom Dereschuk

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