Review of Elaine

[Laney K]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Elaine" by Cor Smuts.]

---

5 out of 5 stars

---

Share This Review

---

What started out as a romantic weekend getaway at the lake ended in disaster. Elaine finds herself alone and facing supernatural forces that threaten not only to kill her, but everyone else. The park rangers are all dead, and Oversight, a company designed to respond to emergency calls that otherwise might be missed, is not responding to her frantic calls. Lizard-like creatures are hunting her and seem immune to bullets. Will Elaine make it out alive? What is causing this all to happen? Read Elaine by Cor Smuts to find out!

As a fan of horror movies, I was interested to see how this genre would translate to a novel. I have not read a lot of horror, and this book did not disappoint. The mood was set from the opening page, with Elaine sitting and crying as she contemplates ending it with her boyfriend. A few pages later, her drama is the least of her concerns as things start to get weird. Elaine begins to feel unreasonable anger, and other symptoms appear. But worst of all are the creatures. Smuts did an excellent job describing the reptilian-like creatures in a manner that made them seem realistic yet absolutely horrifying. The different elements of the novel worked together to create a scary mood for the entire book.

I also enjoyed how the narration jumped around. While the majority of the book follows Elaine, there are chapters dedicated to some of the other characters as well. I enjoyed the chapters that followed the character of Brett. He worked at the Oversight facility, and, despite the regulations forbidding this, would be left to staff it alone. His job frustrations were palpable, and I feel could be quite relatable to many.

I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. The excellent editing, coupled with the thrilling horror elements, made for a heart-pounding read with nothing to dislike. Each page of the book kept me interested and terrified to learn what was going to happen next. For fans of horror, Elaine is an excellent option. However, if you are squeamish, perhaps look elsewhere. It is short enough to read in one sitting, which is good because once you start reading, you will not want to stop!

******
Elaine
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

[Onyemuwa-dave]

You've vividly captured the escalating terror, from Elaine's initial personal drama to the horrifying appearance of the bullet-immune, lizard-like creatures. Your praise for Smuts's ability to describe these monsters so realistically yet terrifyingly is a huge draw for horror enthusiasts. I also appreciate your note on the shifting narration, especially following Brett at the Oversight facility, which adds an interesting layer to the unfolding chaos and relatable job frustrations. Despite all these I am not a fan of horror genres.

[Kibet Hillary]

I have also not read much in the horror genre, but I am happy that the author did not fall short of your expectation. The fact that the book can be read in one sitting, undoubtedly, makes it very captivating, as one can complete it without a break. Thanks for the review, @Laney K.

[Spoorthy S]

Thanks for the review. I appreciate how you've captured the essence of the book.I agree with your thoughts on the plot and character depth. Your review made me reflect more on those parts. Well said!

[Onyemuwa-dave]

Thanks for the review. I appreciate how you've captured the essence of the book.I agree with your thoughts on the plot and character depth. Your review made me reflect more on those parts. Well said!

The character depths really makes reading the book worth while. It sounds like a really good book.

[Helen Waziri]

It's awesome that the author manages to make those creatures sound realistic and terrifying. And the way the narration jumps around, especially with that relatable character Brett at Oversight, sounds like it adds a cool layer to the horror. Definitely sounds like one to pick up if you're brave enough and want a truly heart-pounding read!