Wow! I can’t even explain how wild, impactful, sleep depriving, addicting and surreal this book is. I don’t have all the words, trust me this is a must read.

** I received an electronic ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

I really enjoyed World War Z, and like many others, I was really looking forward to Devolution. While I enjoyed reading it, I found it a bit more straightforward, and it definitely didn't hit the highs of Z. I will say, Brooks did a fantastic job of making Bigfoot scary, and there were some really intense scenes that played very realistic, not like some sort of cheesy episode of Finding Bigfoot or whatever. It took its time, but built to a nice climax. Definitely check it out if you are a Brooks fan or a Bigfoot aficionado.

At the end of this book, the author thanks a friend of his for giving him back the novel rights to a screenplay he wrote. I'm guessing this book was originally a screenplay- it sort of reads that way plotwise.

How the book is constructed- it's mostly the journal of Kate Holland, the main character. This is a bit of a shame because you pretty much know that she must survive at least until the end of the story. There are also the interviews and pieces of other media information inserted throughout the book in a similar fashion to World War Z. In this case, Kate's brother is searching for her, and he including pieces of sasquatch lore as he describes his search.

So- Kate and her husband Dan end up in a green community out in the Washington wilderness. They are staying in Kate's brother's house and looking after the place while he's gone. This community is high tech- everything you need to order is flown in by drones, the wifi network is state of the art, smart houses, composting, solar panels, electric cars, you name it.

HOWEVER- Mount Ranier erupts. This totally destroys the community infrastructure. No more internet, no more deliveries, and no one even has a walkie talkie that works or a hammer in their house because they just didn't think they'd need one. And no one knows exactly where the community is and the government is so overwhelmed with emergency response that this community isn't even on their radar.

Kate is an accountant. She's hyper organized, hyper neurotic, and not what you'd call a rugged survivalist type. BUT- she and Dan are pegged by a community neighbor named Mostar (if you've heard of the place, you'll know her backstory) as allies in a sudden survival situation.

Most of the people in this little community are in denial about the seriousness of their situation. They'll have to figure out how to feed themselves through the winter unless help comes, because their one access road has been cut off by lava flow.

THEN- if things weren't bad enough, you know by the giant footprint on the cover of the book that Sasquatch will be involved. Brooks posits a species of giant ape-like hominids that have been hidden this whole time, but who now have to be on the move because of the volcano. And with resources scarce, they can't afford to be picky eaters...

So there you have the plot. Kate must dig deep to survive and transcend her former self. There's bloodshed and gore. There's fast paced action. There's suspense.

I didn't rate it higher because by the time everyone in the community was described, I was pretty sure who was going to die and who was going to live. I was right. So, it's a quick and exhilarating ride, but predictable when it comes right down to it. The author has some things to say about modern society's lack of preparedness for disaster that hits home especially hard at this time.

Recently started this book and it was just a little to real and too intense for me with current life events! I will definitely have to return to this one at a more calm time in the world! Recommended to those who love post apocalyptic type books.

I have to say I was skeptical about this book, but it caught my eye and I enjoyed World War Z, also by Max Brooks. so I asked to read the ARC. I'm so glad I did! Once I started Devolution I couldn't stop reading. The subtitle on the cover reads "A Firsthand Account of the Ranier Sasquatch Massacre." Brooks set up the book as a fictional "factual" accounting, complete with interviews with disaster personnel, park rangers, families of the residents, and experts in cryptozoology,

At the opening of the book, the author is given Kate Holland's journal in hopes of getting it published and tracking her down. Kate has been missing for thirteen months - her body was not with the others. The story is told through Kate's journal entries and the aforesaid interviews and articles. Kate and her husband moved to Greenloop - an experimental community isolated in the mountains of Washington state. Everything is "smart" - the house functions can be accessed on a special Greenloop iPad, groceries and other deliveries come by drone or driver-less electric cars. The scenery is gorgeous, the homes are green and mesh perfectly with the environment. Kate is welcoming the chance to de-stress and save her marriage to Dan, who has been depressed since his business died. The other residents of Greenloop are quirky, as you might expect. Everyone is welcoming, for the most part. The founder and his gorgeous wife have thought of everything. That is until Mt. Ranier erupts. Tony Durant did his due diligence and located Greenloop well out of the way of the lava flow. What he didn't take in to account were the mud slides that cut off the roads, and the power outages and disruption of the satellite and wireless by the dense clouds of ash that permeate the atmosphere. One of the inhabitants, an older artist called "Mostar", survived the decimation of her village in the Croatian Wars years before, but hasn't forgotten those skills . She takes Kate and husband Dan under her wing and immediately has them planting a garden in the garage and accounting for all their available food. Together with the rest of the Greenloop community, they had a good chance of surviving until someone remembered they. were there and sent help. Nature had other plans - a troop of giant ape-like beings - often identified as Sasquatch or Bigfoot - are forced out of their territory by the lava and mud flow, As indicated by the book title, they are not friendly creatures. What happens next is the stuff of nightmares.

Max Brooks is an amazing writer. The book was so detailed and well-developed that I had to keep reminding myself it is fiction (I hope!). It was definitely violent and very gory in parts but there was no explicit sex. I think mature teens would enjoy Devolution as would adults of any age. I enjoyed this book immensely and appreciate the chance to read the ARC.

I recieced an advance copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Let me be upfront, I'm a wuss. I don't watch horror movies, even now the X-Files freaks me out. I had to read Max Brooks' [book:World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War|8908] in daylight only, preferably surrounded by other people. All that being said, I find the storytelling device of interviews, diaries, articles, and book excerpts to be a compelling way to tell a story, especially one like this.

Set at some point in the very near future, Devolution brings in two background fears of my childhood (Sasquatch and Mount Rainier erupting) and uses them to tell a story I had a hard time looking away from. The primary text within the story is Kate Holland's diary of her time at Greenloop, a ecotech utopia in the foothills of Mount Rainier. (For those familiar with the area, I just pictured it being outside Greenwater, based on textual comments.) At Greenloop, you are seamlessly connected to society online while using the methane from your own poop to help power the community, along with solar panels, organic food, and all that other expensive environmentally-friendly stuff that people love. The downside? Because of the community's reliance on the internet and help from the external world, there's no satellite phone, no basic home repair tools, and certainly no weapons (that starving cougar is just looking for help, dear!). When Rainier erupts, Greenloop is cut off from contacting the world, with no food stores, no way to get help, and no defense against anything.

When noises come from the woods and a crushed animal skeleton is found, things get creepy. When the community is bombarded with head-sized rocks, it gets worse. The eruption has driven a troop of Sasquatch out of the wilderness, and they see the humans as competition... or food.

I stayed up TOO LATE finishing this last night, and when I was done, I was pretty satisfied. I love the basic concepts of the story, from the plot to the storytelling device, but at points, what I wanted more of was what was going on in the rest of the area? Kate catches snatches on the radio about unequal evacuations, snipers, and riots, but nothing was expanded upon, and while I know it's supposed to be focused on their tiny group of people and how they respond to the situation, I got bored of them after a while. Brooks is happy to skewer the vegan lesbians who adopted a Bangladeshi orphan and present her as some sort of trophy, the anxious startup guy who just needed physical work to become a good person, and Kate's encyclopedic knowledge of calorie counts. The subtle mockery of people got boring after a while, and I wanted more sources beyond the three or four used. Even if it was faux Seattle Times articles about the riots happening outside the blast zone, give me a bigger picture. Honestly, I'm far more concerned with a Rainier eruption than murderous Sasquatch in real life.

I have been reading a lot of fluffy comfort escapist stuff, this was a dramatic departure from my pandemic reading and it was worth it. Recommended to dystopia and horror/suspense fans with a sense of humor.

I have never, ever, been so grateful to live in a city than when I was reading this book. It has made me throw out any potential plans to go camping again, because I'll always be wondering if the creaking tree branches are just the wind or something a little more 2-legged.
This isn't my typical genre but World War Z was so good that I'm willing to read anything by Max Brooks and this one definitely did not disappoint. I read it in a weekend and was on the edge of my seat for most of it. It's practically begging to be made into a movie and I'll be first in line to buy tickets.
I would recommend it to patrons and have already made my family read it. My library will definitely be buying a copy.

Bigfoot!
When Kate Holland becomes a resident of a new eco-community in the woods of Washington, she believes that it's a fresh start for her and her husband. Combining the latest technology with an emphasis on green living, the community is home to a range of personalities, ages, and experiences. When Mt. Rainier erupts, their connection to the rest of the world is severed. Now it's a race to survive the upcoming winter with limited supplies and resources. As the community tries to work together to survive, cracks in their relationships begin to form. Personalities clash, weaknesses are exposed, and a terrifying new threat endangers them all.
It's only later, when Kate's journals are discovered, that the biggest threat to the community wasn't a lack of food or supplies, it was a race of beings that can only be described as Bigfoot. Kate's journals, paired with interviews and evidence discovered in the bloody wreckage of the community describe a time of complete terror and desperation.
Devolution is a gripping tale of survival, strength, and the lengths we will go to survive. Fast paced, gripping, and emotional, Devolution is a terrifying horror story from start to finish.
This was so good! I love when a story combines seemingly intelligent people with real world disaster and they just completely fall apart. The reliance of the community on technology is their greatest downfall-no surprise there, and their inability to cope was like watching a train wreck. You couldn't help feeling fascinated by how quickly they fell apart. One member does seem to have an idea of how to survive in the woods and tries to lead the group. Her attempts at making weapons are a little too successful and her knowledge of the beings, or Bigfoot, too advanced. How does she know what they are? How does she know how to defeat them? How is she communicating with them? How many are there? So many questions, so many twists and turns, so many ways to keep you on the edge of your seat.


Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for an advanced copy of this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own.

Devolution by Max Brooks

I’d been thinking a lot about Max Brooks lately. This pandemic has made me looking for my copy of his Zombie Survival Guide. When I requested an eARC from NetGalley months ago, I never imagined that the world would start to resemble something from one of his novels.

I have enjoyed Max Brooks’s work for years. I still remember picking up the Zombie Survival Guide at the Borders bookstore in Columbus Circle from the new paperback table. I knew nothing about it and was instantly hooked. Later, I devoured World War Z - it was so creative and well thought out. It felt very realistic. Too realistic.

I saw Max Brooks at New York Comic Con a few years ago, talking about some of his comic work. He didn’t want to talk about the execrable World War Z movie, and neither do I (but I expected better from a script by J. Michael Straczynski). Brooks was cool, and funny, and thoughtful, and kind. I love it when authors I like turn out to be cool people in real life!

I was stoked when I got this book, hoping I would enjoy it as I did World War Z. It did not disappoint. Devolution is about. Bigfoot attack that wipes out a small enclave of about a dozen homes. It is presented as the diary/journal kept by a woman for her therapist, annotated by a researcher and supplemented with a few interviews. Max Brooks has an incredibly readable style and this is quite the page turner. Sometimes the conceit of the structure of the novel worked against it - there were times where I just stopped and said to myself “no one would actually write a journal like this” or “ if these events were happening, this woman would’ve quit journaling by now.” That being said, it was a super fun book. The monster biology was interesting and the human dynamics felt very real.

But a lot of this novel hits home a little too hard during this pandemic. I’m sure that Max Brooks didn’t know when he wrote it how jarring it would be to reference the hospital ship Comfort heading to a major metropolitan area to help out during a disaster, or how raw it would feel to read about some isolated lonely people desperate for the world they once thought was safe.

I saw the video Max Brooks posted with his dad about social distancing. I read his piece in the New York Times in March. I think he might agree that while this is a great book, it not necessarily a great book for right now.

I listened to World War Z over six years ago - and I really enjoyed it - so I have long kept an eye out for another novel from Max Brooks. When I first heard that this one wasn't a zombie tale, but instead a Bigfoot story, I was even more excited to get my hands on a copy because I love a good creature feature! So, I was ecstatic when my wish came true on NetGalley! And even though I had a lot of hype and excitement for this one, I wasn't in the least disappointed!

I really enjoyed this! Honestly, now I can't wait to get a physical copy just to loan it to my dad who I know will also really enjoy it. The format is a bit unconventional, but I really appreciated the combination of primarily journal entries, excerpts from Bigfoot related materials and interviews. It all blends together to make a creature feature that oozes authenticity and downright believability. It's thrilling, surprisingly visual and completely riveting from start to finish. I barely was able to set this aside at all to take care of necessary functions! It's well-written, fast-paced and totally engrossing!

Plus, there's a Jaws reference and really nice character growth. I really loved it - definitely up there with my 2020 favorites so far! And I sure would love a sequel!! But, either way, I am totally on board for whatever Brooks writes next!

An experimental community in the woods of the Pacific Northwest. The eruption of Mt. Rainer and the ecological and societal fallout. A lost species that becomes caught in the middle of the run to survive. Max Brooks proves again that an epistolary novel can be just as nerve-wracking and character-driven as any other text.

Focusing primarily of the diary entries of Kate, one of the members of the community, the book is a slow burn at first. The reader learns all the personalities from of the small core of people who have chosen to rid themselves of pull of the city. From Tony the slightly-arrogant, ideologue Silicon-Valley transplant who is the leader of the camp… to the Mostar, the badass leader who emerges as the one who may have what it takes to care protect the isolated group.

Brooks does an excellent job shifting the documents to create both an intricate story of the core participants as well as provide the important historical information so we understand the misshapen America he has created. But there’s also the scientific evidence connected to the beast, and how professional pride may have hindered further research into the creatures. It is a complex multilayer anxiety-ridden ride that Brooks puts forth for the reader to sift through. I enjoyed every freaking second of it!

In this book you’re going to find intense group dynamics that are constantly threatening to fall apart, a fast slip into nonstop action, and different perspectives that will make your head spin. This ain’t Harry and the Hendersons… these descriptions are in the moonlight, up close, and scary. The tension will rise and fall… Who will survive the eruption? Will these marriages last? And what will happen when they come face to face with the legend of Bigfoot?

Highly recommended. A 5-star read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Del Rey Books, and the author for an advanced copy for review.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this work in exchange for an honest review. I was initially interested by the approach of a factual account of an incident with Sasquatches. For me, it held the same appeal as a found-footage horror film, a genre I love. To some degree, the novel did have much the same feel as a FF film., consisting mostly of the journal entries of a character involved in the encounter, supplemented with occasional excerpts from an interview with a law enforcement officer. However, some suspension of disbelief is required in accepting the journal entries as factual. It's difficult to believe that a character would record as much detail as the main character does, especially when we are to believe that this journal is being written in the midst of terror. The book also takes a bit too long to finally get to the involvement of the cryptids (again, much like a FF film). Once the true action starts, the work picks up its pace and suspense is increased. The images of red eyes reflecting from the thick of trees is particularly effective. All in all, Devolution was an entertaining work and receives extra points for taking such an unusual approach to telling a story. I would love to see it filmed (of course as a FF film). I have yet to read Mr. Brooks's World War Z but will do so quite soon. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this.

I remember how many people were frustrated when Brooks announced that WWZ would be his only novel. I'm delighted he changed his mind and you will be too, even if the idea of a diary inspired by sasquatch sounds a little far-fetched at first. Brooks' gift is voices. He brings each voice in this story alive and keeps them unique and distinct, even when presenting overlapping information. At the heart of the story is a green community that seeks to combine the best of high-tech life (smart houses, solar panels, farm to table food) with isolation and nature. The one problem? No one planned for what might happen if they get cut off in that nature! I won't spoil what becomes of the community and the diary writer we meet in the pages of Devolution - but I will tell you not to hesitate to order this one!

I’ve never been into the Bigfoot mystique but I do really like zombies, which led me to Max Brooks’s previous books, The zombie survival guide and World war z. I wasn’t disappointed and I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I liked that Brooks mixed in real science based on the great apes behavior and evolution to explain how Bigfoot might have migrated to the new world and survived without being definitively found. The book is told through interviews and entries from one of the character’s journal entries, which is very similar to the style of World war z. I think it works for this book given how the story plays out, but I am curious to see if he’ll continue using the style in any future books and whether it will get stale. While I am hoping for more zombie books from Brooks, I didn’t mind spending time with Bigfoot.

You might recognize this author from his disturbingly awesome book World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War (2006) turned movie World War Z (2013, with Brad Pitt). You might also recognize his name from his extensive work in the graphic novel field, or his Minecraft novels for middle grade students. Or you might simply know him as Mel Brooks’ son. But no matter where you know him from, Max Brooks has a new novel coming out. .
Mount Rainier has erupted, sending the area into panic as people fled and tried to survive the natural onslaught. However, noone worried about the group of people living on an eco-commune called Greenloop. The residents were trapped, with no avenues to reach the outside world, for weeks. When people finally thought to look for them, the remains of their community were found, broken and disheveled, blood splattered all over the ground. No survivors were found. The evidence found in the surrounding area, once added to the detailed journal entries of Kate Holland, suggests there might be creatures in the world that have long been considered folklore.
Devolution follows in the path of World War Z in terms of style and storytelling. Where World War Z is written as a series of interviews AFTER the zombie apocalypse, piecing together a timeline of key events, Devolution is written in the form of journals, interviews, speeches, etc. as a researcher pieces together the events of the now-titled Greenloop Massacre. I love this type of format as it leaves wiggle room for ambiguity (I know a lot of people hate that) in the story while also providing the opportunity to engage with multiple perspectives. Brooks is a master at weaving his narrative using these rarely used structures to build a unique perspective to his worlds.
Using the journals of one of the occupants of Greenloop was a great way for Brooks to get into the heads of Greenloop residents. We learn, as they do, about the predicament they find themselves. How will they survive? What drives their decision making? This also provides a unique method for slowly piecing together what’s lurking in the shadows - both within the fellow survivors as well as the surrounding landscape - as the group learns they aren’t alone in this forest.
I’m giving Devolution 4-out-of-5 Awesome Austin Points. I thoroughly enjoy Brooks’ writing and this was just one more example of his expertise in storytelling. This book was originally due to be published mid-May but it’s publication date was pushed back to mid-June now. Either way, you should keep this one in mind for a future read and check out World War Z in the meantime! I hope to hear about your current or favorite reads here on Tumblr, through my Instagram or out on Goodreads.

Loved this book. A great follow up to World War Z. The world building was solid and the characters were fully fleshed out. Pacing a excellent, nothing too slow at all about this one.

Greenloop was designed to be a high-tech, eco-friendly enclave nestled in the midst of pristine wilderness. Kate barely has time to revel in the edenic scenery before Mt. Rainier goes off, destroying the internet connection and the only road out. They ought to be fine in their perfectly planned and self-sustaining homes. But as the geological upheaval destroys the local ecosystem, the humans of Greenloop realize their true place in the food chain. Everyone from the suave visionary to the gruff artist undergoes a remarkable metamorphosis as the horror of the situation sets in. Slowly builds to a frenzy of violence.

The town of Greenwood is nestled in a small valley below the peaks of Mt. Rainier and Kate and Dan are thrilled to be moving in. The town is made up of only a small number of houses, all of which are self-sufficient and green, relying on solar power and methane gases from waste to power and heat the buildings. Soon after they move in however, Mt. Rainier erupts, disrupting not just the usual wildlife in the area. As the normal food chain flees the area, the residents of Greenwood find themselves to be the only surviving prey in the area. Devolution is smart, timely and topical to the natural disasters we are seeing with more frequency. Add a long-held myth to that and you have a brilliant book.

Probably one of the best books to read while on quarantine. I want to thank the publishers and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this e-arc.

If you're familiar with Max Brooks writing (World War Z) then you should expect it to be somewhat in the same style. Interviews and also some journal readings from a missing woman who wrote in her journals for herself and therapist and who is now missing. The setting is in the Pacific Northwest where I am from so I was even more intrigued by this book (plus WWZ is one of my faves) and set in a dystopian little town called Greenloop. They created their own little safe place community but after mount rainier erupted strange things start to happen, from strange footprints, howling sounds and more.

This book was so fun and mainly a lot of it is reading journal entries but that doesn't stop from making the book intense and such a roller coaster. Definitely glad to have read this during this crazy time as i love books like this.

Devolution is truly a masterpiece. Finding such a gem is like finding a needle in a haystack after a lifetime of horror fiction. I'd wondered if horror had all been written, every avenue explored, every dark corner come to light but Devolution opens up a whole new look at an old legend. An absolute delight to read, not just for horror fans but anyone who loves more than just a good story. Devolution has it all. The characters do come alive and die, according to the nature of the beasts they are fighting be it themselves or their big hairy relatives in the woods. Kate's journal of her experience in this tiny community is brought vividly to life and legitimized by the interspersed excerpts from the experts. For me this was a totally original explanation of the origin of the species so to speak as well as tale of modern horror crouching in our own backyards. A must read for fans of horror, followers of bigfoot, lovers and students of nature.