It’s a double quickie!
The HatchingAuthor: Ezekiel Boone
Series: The Hatching #1
Published by: Atria Books
Publication Date: July 5, 2016
Format: eARC
Pages: 352
Deep in the jungle of Peru, where so much remains unknown, a black, skittering mass devours an American tourist whole. Thousands of miles away, an FBI agent investigates a fatal plane crash in Minneapolis and makes a gruesome discovery. Unusual seismic patterns register in a Kanpur, India earthquake lab, confounding the scientists there. During the same week, the Chinese government “accidentally” drops a nuclear bomb in an isolated region of its own country. As these incidents begin to sweep the globe, a mysterious package from South America arrives at a Washington, D.C. laboratory. Something wants out.
The world is on the brink of an apocalyptic disaster. An ancient species, long dormant, is now very much awake.
I love spiders! I’ve had a tarantula for about 15 years now. I love her and will be devastated when she dies. So hell yeah, I wanted to read The Hatching. Unfortunately, I wasn’t totally feeling it.
I really like the use of different perspectives from all over so readers can get the scope of what’s going on, and how certain individuals and places are impacted. However, it got boring pretty quick.
There are interesting moments regarding the spiders that I liked, though. I didn’t find it creepy, but I can see how other people would. I mean, hordes of spiders are devouring people, after all.
Honestly, I don’t totally dislike it. I mostly feel indifferent about it, but still curious enough to read the sequel.
I'm Thinking of Ending ThingsAuthor: Iain Reid
Published by: Gallery Books
Publication Date: June 14, 2016
Format: eARC
Pages: 224
You will be scared. But you won’t know why…
In this deeply suspenseful and irresistibly unnerving debut novel, a man and his girlfriend are on their way to a secluded farm. What follows is a twisted unraveling and an unforgettable ending that will haunt you long after the last page is turned.
Jake and a woman known only as “The Girlfriend” are taking a long drive to meet his parents at their secluded farm. But when Jake takes a sudden detour leaving “The Girlfriend” stranded at a deserted high school, the story transforms into a twisted combination of the darkest unease, psychological frailty, and a look into the limitations of solitude.
With remarkable, masterful skill, Iain Reid builds a plot that steadily crescendos into a harrowing ending—one that will have you at the edge of your seats and one that you will never see coming.
The rambling … rambling … rambling … that was the horror of this book. I’m Thinking of Ending Things is aptly titled, because I was thinking of putting an end to the book the majority of the time. However, I needed to see where the road led (figuratively & literally) once it got to a certain point.
The clues are there, though, and it was fairly easy to figure out what was going on. There is an element of creepiness that I enjoyed and kept me invested, especially towards the end.
Unfortunately, it failed to impress. I sat there emotionless with a blank stare when it was over, wondering if that was it. I know people are praising its brilliance and all that jazz, and I get it. I promise, I really do. It’s just that I don’t care.
You have a spider as a pet for reals? Like in your home? The Hatching frwaked me out. Yes, I figured things out too soon in I Am Thinking of Ending Things but like you kept reading. I have had folks as me questions so many didn’t get it until the end.
lol – yep. I thought I had a picture on FB, but it’s only of her “skin” when she molted. I enjoyed freaking Liz out with it. 😀
Sorry that these two didn’t work as well for you. The Hatchling does sound really interesting and I’m thinking about taking the audiobook route with that story, and I’m Thinking of Ending Things sounded really good as well and I might pick up its audiobook if and when it becomes available.
Two bummer reads in a row, that sucks but it does happen. Hopefully your next read will be a better one.
I’ve read one other review for The Hatching and the more I hear about this book the more I like it. It sounds like Arachnophobia on steroids to me. I don’t mind spiders but that movie totally freaked me out. My mom’s boyfriend’s sister had a tarantula as a pet and I even got to hold him a few times. Totally freaked me out when he moulted and it looked there were two of them in the cage. lol
The Hatching sits unhappily on my shelf waiting for me to read it but as I freaking hate spiders, well apart from the little itsy bitsy so small you can barely see them ones.
The whole book sounds great apart from the spiders. Plus the sequel is called Skitter which just gives me the heebie jeebies.
My friend was devastated recently when her tarantula died, I’ll stick to my dog!!
It’s always complicated when we have books like that. I didn’t know about the 2 of them but well sorry it wasn’t that good
It’s good to know you have a tarantula, that way, I will be very, very careful if I ever come for a visit 😉
Sorry neither of these two books managed to wow you, Christy! I guess it happens sometimes.
I hope you’re having a fantastic week!!
Ick. You have a tarantula? What does it eat? *shudders*
I enjoyed Hatching – and I’m weirded out about I’m Thinking. The writing, and yes, the rambling. Gah. Get to the freaking point already!
Ugh, I hate spiders
Yeah me and spiders don’t really work. I would freak about having a pet tarantula in my house. Sorry neither of these worked for you. The second review made me laugh though!
The Hatching sounded so good in other reviews! I’m surprised it got boring but I’ve had that problem A LOT this year with book! I blame it on them being ARCs and hope it got fixed in the final copy… hopefully. And “I’m Thinking of Ending Things” never, ever appealed to me. I’m too immature that stuff 😛
I’m curious… did you buy your spider or did you get it wild? I wonder how many people pick them up in the desert? Hmmmm… And I had no clue they lived that long… awesome!!!!!!!
I bought her when she was really young. Females can live to around 20, and males die a lot sooner. Whenever you see a tarantula out and about, it’s most likely a male. They’re the ones who travel around to mate, while females stay close the burrow. We have males taking strolls around here during mating season, especially in the foothills.
I was in the foothills/desert of San Diego when I saw my spider and it probably was a male, out and about. I think it’s so cool you got a girl spider – LOVE!!!
SPIDERS ARE DEVOURING PEOPLE?! *runs away screaming* Not a fan of spiders Christy. Though I’m sure your tarantula is lovely in a very terrifying kind of way 😉 Definitely going to pass on The Hatching. *shudders*
Spiders are cool when in containment and I can look at them through glass. 🙂 I got the heebie jeebies while reading The Hatching and I enjoyed it but wasn’t wowed by it nor did I think it was scary. Not read that other books and don’t think I will. 🙂
A lot of meh. That stinks. Hope the next one goes a spot better.
Ughh…you had a spider! I’ll pass on both of these though the premise of the second had me intrigued until I read your review.
I recently ordered ‘I’m Thinking of Ending Things’ and quite disappointed that you didn’t enjoy it. However it’s not exactly a very long book so I’m excited to get to it.
I’d almost rather a bad read than one I just don’t care about. At least a book I hate I can work up emotion about it. Just being meh is disappointing. I’ve been on the fence with I’m Thinking of Ending Things and I think I might pass on it. It sounded like it bordered on being to clever which generally leaves me cold. The Hatching sounds creepy since I’m not a spider lover (not terrified but more neutral). I’ll look for that but I’ll probably go the library route. Hope your next read is great.
Great reviews! Sorry you didn’t like either of these; I thought they both were well done and I enjoyed them a lot. I totally get what you’re saying re: being underwhelmed though.
Oh gosh, I’m TERRIFIED of spiders, so I couldn’t handle the first one. I’m sorry I’m Thinking of Ending Thing wasn’t very good – I keep hearing similar things, but the summary sounded so good!
-Lauren
How are you not affected by these books? You’re my hero especially with the Hatching. you’re my hero!
I thought about reading The Hatchling. It sounded interesting. Too bad the story got boring. I can’t believe you have a pet spider. Wow!
No no no no no no spiders
I’m sorry both of these disappointed! I keep hearing wonderfull and scary things about The Hatching, and spiders are the creepiest thing ever, but I’m not sure so many perspectives would work for me. I never even heard about the other one.
Devouring people isn’t my problem… hoards of spiders… yea. 🙂 I’m one of those that believe that spiders are cool, but away from my person, please. 🙂 Sorry these both failed to please, but you did peak my interest with your spidey. Hey, I can handle it, it’s over the web (heh… get it?). 😀 Yea, it’s Friday… happy weekend!
oh Hatching sounds very intriguing here!!! My brother got a pet spider not too long ago, the rest of us are kinda freaked out by it though hehe But if you love spiders Tarantula’s make great pets. I am more of a tropical fish type of pet person hehe
I didn’t realize you had a tarantula as pet. I don’t really mind spiders, but I rather not have them in my house and I can see how having hordes of spiders eating people would be a bit creepy for most people. I hope you’ll enjoy the sequel more.
That’s too bad the second book fell a bit flat for you. I am glad you enjoyed the element of creepiness even though the book didn’t impress you. Great reviews!
Gah, I don’t understand why so many people are reading The Hatching, haha. I hate spiders. I could never have a tarantula! Sorry that both of the books weren’t as good you were hoping though :-/
Sorry these two didn’t work out well for you. I’m not a huge fan of spiders, but I’m not really scared of them. If they leave me alone, I will leave them alone. I have had The Hatching on my list to try on audio. I will attempt it one day. I have too many that I already own first. Great reviews on both.
I took both these books with me on a recent trip so it’s interesting to see them reviewed together. I went to my local bookstore and said ‘2 good books fast please’ and they gave me these two.
I liked them both. ‘Hatching’ gives exactly what it promises. Dumb, fast and fun.
‘I’m Thinking of Ending Things ‘is beautifully written. The casual discussion of relationship pros and cons, and indecision within said relationship, is excellent.
I really enjoyed reading it and found it neatly and interestingly finished.
Both books are great for beach reading. I can vouch for that.