Welcome to Cavus, Montana. A charming little town with friendly residents and an intriguing history. Once upon a time the Indians that lived close by called this land bad and refused to settle there, but that was a long time ago and sure there have been some odd events now and then. Like young Lucy that apparently ate her husband and then disappeared and, of course, the well-known mining accident that claimed all the residents except one person. But that was a long time ago, this is a sweet ordinary town. And, now the yearly festival his here and it's bound to be an exceptional event…

John and Erma are traveling across the country to start anew and happen to get stranded in the town because of car problem. But it's such a charming town with friendly people so they decided to go to the festival and when the car is fixed continue travel. But something is really wrong in the town, people are acting strange and could it be something true to the old saying that the land is cursed?

Reading this book was like riding a rollercoaster. Everything starts slowly and suddenly it's free fall and it you just have to cling to the handles and just enjoy the ride. Well, it's a bit different when it comes to this book since riding a rollercoaster wagon doesn't include gore, blood, and horror.
I really liked the interesting back-story with the mining accident. I just knew that there must have been something more than just an accident and I eagerly turned the pages to learn what the hell is wrong with the people and the city, what really happened in the past?

This is a book for people with a strong stomach. The story can be a bit nasty and there are children involved in this story and if you have a problem with that should you probably not read it. I actually could take it better than I usually do, but I think that's because it's not a thriller, but a horror book. I find crime closer the reality actually worse than things that are paranormal. But as a horror book it's really good, well written and interesting and there are no parts that bog down the story. In other words a really good horror book!

I received this copy from the publisher through NetGalley and from TLC Book Tours in return for an honest review! ( )

I liked the first half of the book, but I loved the second half. During the first half, the point of view skipped around quite a bit. At times, it wasn't exactly clear to me which character was talking. It was also hard in the beginning to see how all the characters and stories will come together.

I really started to enjoy the book about half way through, when we were introduced to Jessi's diary. The story of the circus coming to town was really interesting. After that, everything started coming together and the story became action packed.

This book spoke of the age old battle between good and evil. How both are inside of us, and how easy it is to let the evil out. ( )

3.5 stars

The publisher likens Heather Herrman's debut novel, Consumption, to the work of Stephen King, Joe Hill, and Sarah Langan, and the comparison is apt. Consumption is a classic horror story and, thus, predictable, but the characters are interesting and the story is well-paced. I might even have been inclined to give it 4 stars, were it not for a confusing timeline at the beginning (revolving around the interactions of Star, her father, and Riley) and a few abruptly dropped plot threads.

Verdict: a fun, quick summer read from a new author worth watching.

I received a free copy of Consumption through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. ( )

Review copy

Something terrible happened before the fire that destroyed Cavus, Montana, in 1937. Now, it's happening again.

There was a lot I liked about Consumption. For example, the story of how John and Erma met and fell in love was magical; wonderfully crafted, ultimately believable, which made what happened next so heartbreaking.

I also liked the story of Lucy McClarin, told through her journal, the circus, and what happened in 1937.

Then there's the Black Squirrel Festival and finally, the Feeder and it's influence over the people in this small Montana town.

For the longest time, it seems something big is about to happen, but it just remains hidden. There are moments of brilliance in Heather Hermann's writing and at times what is happening in Cavus is truly disturbing. As a reader, you just need to be patient with this story, when it all comes together, it does so with a big bang, and it all works rather well.

Overall, this is quite an imaginative horror story. I love the words the author has for her mother in the acknowledgements, "Mom, if it helps you can pretend this is just a children's book for adults." That it is.

Consumption is available as an e-book from Hydra, an imprint of Random House.

Recommended. ( )

The small, old mining town of Cavus, Montana holds a dark past that stems from an ancient evil. Most of the town does not know the true events that led up to the fire that killed all of the residents of Cavus except one girl named Jessi and the now famous black squirrels. Jessi’s husband, Pill now keeps the secret of what truly happened all those years ago, and he sees the signs of the evil coming back… just in time for the town’s annual Black Squirrel festival. Some members of the town notice that something is just not right with their friends, family and neighbors, but for most it is already too late. The Feeder has found a way to spread itself quickly and efficiently through the town’s brand new beet sugar plant.
Consumption is a classic type of horror story with a slow burning plot and an interesting monster. From the prelude, where we first meet the monster, The Feeder, as it likes to be called, I was intrigued. I liked that this is a smart monster that takes over people and changes them little by little, bringing out their darker side and a hunger for human flesh. I liked that all of the characters who noticed the changes were underdogs: John and Erma Scott are trying to move on with their lives in the face of tragedy by moving across the country, Star, a teen going through a rough time, Javier, and immigrant determined to make more of his life, and Pill, an older man whom everyone discounts. While there are a lot of characters introduced, the characters stories are rich enough that they are easily distinguishable and the writing weaves the subtle horror aspects throughout each of their stories and eventually bringing them together. Some of my favorite parts were of the Feeder’s past, when it inhabited Lucy in 1908, and Jessi’s journal about its reappearance in 1930’s. The ending was very strong for me, exciting and suspenseful as the Feeder showed its full potential and those left over decided how they would act.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review. ( )