Come and play with Shadowclaw
Thanks to NetGalley for the arc of Shadowclaw by Dylan Roche.
2⭐️
This was such an interesting concept, another boogeyman - like book. This cover is amazing, and creepy. The Shadowclaw parts were creepy and adds chills to the air. But the overall story fell flat. Felt repetitive between the chapters. The characters felt one dimensional, no personality, very generic. This is marketed as a YA but felt more like a middle grade with blood and curse words. I feel that if this was a bit more flushed out and a little longer, that it would have a higher rating. #shadowclaw #BookReview #netgalley #horrorbook #bookstagram
Having read Shadowclaw by Dylan Roche, I found the concept of a boogeyman-like entity truly intriguing and atmospheric, especially with the eerie depiction of the Shadowclaw itself. The cover art immediately drew me in, setting the perfect tone for a spooky read. However, as I progressed, I noticed the story sometimes felt repetitive, with similar scares and situations recurring between chapters. The characters seemed somewhat flat and didn’t develop much personality, leaving me less emotionally invested in their fates than I hoped. Interestingly, though it's marketed as a Young Adult (YA) horror book, I felt the tone and language sometimes felt closer to middle grade, but with mature elements like blood and curse words, which made the target audience a bit unclear. I think with deeper character development and a longer page count to explore the story’s full potential, Shadowclaw could have offered a more compelling experience. From my perspective, books that delve into classic horror archetypes like boogeymen benefit greatly from layering suspense and character complexity, which helps the unease linger long after reading. If you enjoy atmospheric horror with creepy monsters but don’t mind a simpler narrative, Shadowclaw could be an interesting pick. Just be prepared that it may not fully satisfy readers looking for richly developed characters or a tightly woven plot. Overall, it’s a fresh take on horror with room to grow, and I’d recommend it to those curious about new boogeyman stories with a chilling vibe.