Feral

by Holly Schindler

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I’m not going to lie, Feral is creepy. This is a psychological thriller that keeps the reader doubting what is real and what is imagined.

Claire survived a horrific attack. I mean, it was hard to read and I cannot imagine going through so much pain, physical and physiological damage. She is so strong and truly tries to “get over it”. I’m not sure how anyone around her – her friends and dad – can think that she can be okay after such a traumatic event. When she moves to Peculiar, things start to get weird for her.

Serena and Claire’s stories intermingled until it’s hard to know what’s real. Some of the other characters felt more like a vague supporting cast and I felt like they could have played a bigger role. There is no romance in the book, not that it needed it. Just take the book as it is and enjoy the mystery of it all.

The setting is mysterious, foggy woods, cold weather, locked basements… you get the idea. Not only that, but the feral cats are freaky. Now, I’ve never been a cat lover, I’m both a little scare of them and allergic to them, but these cats are something else. The story is twisted, and I have to confess to being somewhat confused for part of it. I still love Schindler’s writing, which in Feral is more moody and darker. It paints pictures that are clear, allude to the senses and holds the reader captive.

Overall, Feral is a creepy, freaky, unique emotional thriller that will keep you enthralled till the end.