If you love your horror dark, icy, and drenched in apocalyptic despair, "The Cold" is just your flavor. Hawkins is a master of atmosphere - his bleak, snowbound landscapes and nightmarish monsters feel genuinely menacing. Fans of Lovecraftian horror and creature features will be hooked by the relentless sense of dread, fast-paced gore, and the sheer hopelessness that somehow keeps you glued to the page. Perfect for those who prefer their end-of-the-world stories with extra chills and don't need all their questions answered.

Who May Not Like This Book:

Some readers felt like they'd been here before - if you know Stephen King’s "The Mist" or have read Hawkins’ previous work, the formula might seem too familiar, with a noticeable sense of déjà vu. Others found the characters a bit flat or felt the narrative was weighed down by relentless grimness, never letting up for long enough to let you breathe. And if you need your horror with a glimmer of hope, or crave deeply developed characters to latch onto, this icy journey could leave you cold.

A brutal, fast-paced ride through a bleak apocalypse packed with monsters and gore - compelling in its visceral darkness, but maybe not reinventing the wheel. Worth a try if you love dystopian, creature-heavy horror, but don’t expect much warmth (or sunshine).

About:

'The Cold' by Rich Hawkins is a post-apocalyptic horror novel that follows the story of Seth, who wakes up in the aftermath of a train crash caused by a freak snowstorm. As he embarks on a journey of survival and discovery, the narrative unfolds with a blend of monstrosities, mayhem, and a sense of hopelessness. The book takes the reader through a nightmarish scenario where humanity is plagued by bloodthirsty creatures, creating a bleak and gore-filled wasteland. The writing style of Rich Hawkins is described as visceral and bleak, with a talent for creating tension and a sense of impending doom.

Characters:

The characters are generally underdeveloped and serve as vessels for plot progression, with the protagonist displaying limited agency in a dire situation.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is characterized by sparse prose with vivid, descriptive horror elements, creating a bleak atmosphere that prioritizes action.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot features familiar elements of apocalyptic horror, with an anti-hero's journey through relentless snow and monstrous threats, emphasizing a bleak survival narrative.

Setting:

The setting is a chilling apocalyptic world blanketed by snow, filled with monstrous threats, enhancing the overall sense of dread.

Pacing:

The pacing is rapid and maintains tension, but some elements contribute to a feeling of repetition, especially towards the end.

The people on the station platform waited for the train, preoccupying themselves with phones and paperback novels, newspapers and magazines. Those without distractions stared down at their feet or at ...

Notes:

Rich Hawkins creates a bleak and despairing post-apocalyptic atmosphere.

The plot features an anti-hero named Seth stuck during an apocalypse triggered by relentless snow and monstrous creatures.

Hawkins' writing involves vivid gore and action, giving readers a visceral experience.

The setting in The Cold is chilling, literally and metaphorically, as it involves a heavy snow backdrop.

This novel has been compared to Stephen King's The Mist, but with snow instead of mist.

Characters often feel interchangeable and less developed, focusing more on horror than individual stories.

Seth is portrayed as a weak character, leading to mixed feelings from readers about his portrayal.

Survivors in the story face constant threats from massive, flesh-eating monsters.

Hawkins is known for blending elements of inner and outer horror in his storytelling.

Readers find moments of dread as the survivors confront overwhelming odds against monstrous creatures.

The novel leaves a sense of hopelessness, which some readers interpret as intentional.

There is a significant focus on monstrous set pieces rather than deep character development.

Some readers appreciated the fast pacing but wanted more originality in the writing.

The narrative includes themes of survivor's guilt and existential dread among chaotic circumstances.

Despite being a quick read, some felt the ending was rushed and disappointing.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Triggers include graphic violence, gore, body horror, and themes of hopelessness.

From The Publisher:

It was an English summers day like any other until the snow began to fall and kept falling. Within hours, the entire country was buried beneath a freezing white blanket. And hidden within the blizzard conditions things began to move and kill and feast.

Seth is one of the few passengers to survive the train crash. Now he and his fellow survivors face a new world of snow, ice and freezing fog, where they will be hunted like prey in the ruins of Great Britain.

They must run.

They must hide.

They must survive THE COLD.

July 2019

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208 pages

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Reader Stats (8):

Read It (1)
Want To Read (6)
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The Cold

Rich Hawkins

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