How do you make an infamous historic event involving cannibalism even more terrifying? You add werewolf and wendigo mythology. The Hunger is about the doomed Donner party, a group that went down in history for making some horrific decisions that led to them being trapped in the mountains in the dead of winter. This version of the Donner party is a group that is rife with power struggles and distrusts, full of people who escaped to the West expecting the secrets they left behind being hidden, but all too soon having them resurface and haunt them, much like whatever is stalking the group. The strength of the book is the beginning, as you'll never find a wide open setting feel more claustrophobic. And as the party continues, the overwhelming feeling of doom is palpable. As families turn on each other, the situation worsens, with some of the families oblivious to the horror that is following them. Suspicions are cast on beautiful and arrogant Tamsen Donner, who some think is a witch, while James Reed, the only man who seems to realize the danger the group is in, is resented for his manner and bullied by the other men. And then there is the unsettling fact there is no wildlife and the local Native Americans have taken to whispering stories about a cursed god.
Alma Katsu makes the wilderness a creeping horror that the settlers can't escape from. The further they head West, the deeper into danger they go, not only from the elements, but from physical monsters. The unsettled family relations also lead to the feeling of dread, as everyone has secrets of such a catastrophic nature they would kill to protect them. The last fourth of the book is a bit rushed after the group realizes what is actually going on, but the rest of it is so strong you will never look at a Conestoga wagon the same way again.
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AuthorA librarian who likes to travel and experience life. CategoriesArchives
June 2022
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