#BlogTour- ‘Savage Species’ by Jonathan Janz

Huge thanks to Anne Cater of Random Things for having me on this Flametree Press blogtour for ‘Savage Species’ by Jonathan Janz.

About The Book…

Jesse thinks he’s caught a break when he, Emma (the girl of his dreams), and her friend are assigned by their newspaper to cover the opening weekend of a sprawling new state park. But the construction of the park has stirred an evil that has lain dormant for nearly a hundred years, and the three young people―as well as every man, woman, and child unlucky enough to be attending the Algonquin Falls grand opening―are about to encounter the most horrific creatures to ever walk the earth.

The ionically named ‘Peaceful Valley’ holiday park is about to open, hundreds of families and soem quite hostile press have turned up to variously gloat, enjoy or protest at the park opening.

However, they are compeltely unaware that they are about to be sacrificed to an ancient creature whose appetite is never sated…the wendigo.

This is properly , balls to the wall, horror fiction at its best- reminiscent of early James Herbert mixed with a little Shaun Hutson and finished with a sprinking of Richard Laymon  I was immediately transported back to my misbegotten teen years of hiding my battered copy of ‘The Rats’ under the desk in the school library whilst my contemporaries were reading Sweet Valley High

Critics used to-and probably still do-say that this kind of visceral horror has no emrit and is gutwrenching for all the wrong reasons but I would absolutely disagree.

In this book, Jonathan Janz makes neat parrallels between man’s destruction of the natural environment and the wendigo-the need for self importance and drive for financial gain is supereceding the cultural significance of the Peaceful Valley, and highlights the way that American Indians are still treated as non people in their own country.

‘Savage Species’ starts with a horrific mauling and murder which sets the tone as the innocent townspeople gather to celebrate the opening of the park, but we, the reader, are keenly aware of what they are heading into and it isn’t pretty…

You gather your popcorn and sit down to munch as you ponder who amongst the characters will survive to the end and who will end up meat for the beast.

At the end you are left wondering whether the wendigo is the more savage of the species or if man is-the need for self importance drives man and creates a bigger, more devastating effect than any ancient evil. in today’s divisive climate of environmental destruction and human rights abuses, I would take my chances with a wendigo who is at least honest about its horrific appetite and needs, over obsfuscating politicians and corporations who would condemn their fellow man if it advanced their cause.

I would not hesitate to recommend ‘Savage Species’ to fellow horror fans and am very much looking forward to reading more from Flametree Press-I am on the upcoming blog tour for Jonathan’s ‘Wolfland’ so keep an eye out on social media for the amazing bloggers who are on this tour!

About The Author…

Jonathan Janz is the author of more than a dozen novels and numerous short stories.

His work has been championed by authors like Joe R. Lansdale, Jack Ketchum, and Brian Keene; he has also been lauded by Publishers Weekly, the Library Journal, and the School Library Journal.

His novel Children of the Dark was chosen by Booklist as a Top Ten Horror Book of the Year.

Jonathan’s main interests are his wonderful wife and his three amazing children.

You can sign up for his newsletter (http://jonathanjanz.us12.list-manage….),

and you can follow him on

Twitter @JonathanJanz

             @flametreepress

@annecater

Instagram @jonathan.janz