Our Winter Monster was a really interesting premise to a book. It started off really strong but after about 20% of the book I lost interest. The story felt very repetitive and I just did not feel connected to it or the characters.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

2.5 rounded up to 3.

I loved how fast paced the beginning of this was. I tend to dislike slow building horror novels where you can't even get a hint of the horror until almost halfway through. This was the opposite. In the first chapter we jump right into the meat of the plot. However, this was one of the most repetitive books I've read in a long time. While I understand why it was repetitive (and I can't really explain without spoiling the twist), it did become rather annoying to read because the same thing happened over and over again. There was also little to no explanation, which always annoys me. If you're going to create a monster, I want to know about the monster.

This book was good! I liked it but didn’t love it. I definitely see potential in it and look forward to seeing what else the author does.

When I picked up this book, I had the expectation of "creature feature". Which is definitely true. But this story is so much more. It takes a hard hitting, raw look at people in the throes of radical changes, indecisiveness and grief. Who really is the monster here? I really enjoyed this book and the more I sit with it, the more it causes me to think about how different forms of tragedy affect individuals in unique ways. How we can't every truly walk in another's shoes. This was a great novel and it's worth a pickup when it releases January 28, 2025. Thank you SO much to Netgalley for the eARC. Also thank you tremendously to Hell's Hundred & Soho press for sending me a finished copy for review. I'll be back to post a link to my article for this book on The Fandomentals (date TBD).

Thank you so much to NetGalley, the author, and Hell’s Hundred for the opportunity read this ARC.

The story follows a couple, Ben and Holly, who are struggling in their relationship, as they travel to a mountain ski resort. The story shifts from their perspectives, to the sheriff, Kendra, and the snow plow driver, Tanner.

I found the pacing of the story great. Some internal monologues were a bit repetitive but I enjoyed getting to know the characters (the queer representation did not feel forced at all). The flashbacks worked to break up the action as well.

However, there was some clear narrative issues. Certain reveals did not make a ton of sense, nor were there “bread crumbs” to lead to those developments. While I found the story tense at times, I would not say it scared me as I was more caught up in trying to understand the mystery. I wish there had been more of a folklore aspect, too.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read, and I’m curious to read more by this author. Thank you again for the ARC.

Dare I say that this was fun? I really enjoyed this winter thriller with a few horror elements thrown in to spice up the chills. I loved the atmosphere of this and the setting of being stranded in a strange, small town where a young couple faces their trauma in an unconventional way was a very entertaining read.

Holly and Brian are on the brink of a split when they travel to Pinebuck, NY to vacation away from a traumatic event that’s tearing them apart at the seams. On the way, they experience an accident during a blizzard and find their trauma being materialized between the both of them in the form of a snow monster. They have to battle through horrifying circumstances and make their way back to each other before this “monster” devours the people they once were and all is lost.

I thought this was a fun thriller that had an emotional perspective on how traumatic events can change people and their relationships. There were a lot of gruesome scenes, but I wouldn’t necessarily consider this horror-centered. I felt the characters were very accurate depictions of their roles in the story and I feel like many readers will be able to connect with their arcs. The pacing was great, the setting was chilling, and once I got a chance to fully sit down with this book, I flew through it. This is a great book for those looking for a fast paced, winter themed, supernatural thriller.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

70/100 or 3.50 stars

This was an interesting take for a monster story! I liked what the author was doing with the use of the monster for the relationship with Holly and Brian. There were some other issues that I had with the story that impacted my enjoyment of the book. I do think it has elements to the story that readers will enjoy. I would be interested in trying other works by Mahoney, as this is a good one to check out!

This was interesting. The concept that the protagonists ARE the monster was intriguing, but the logistics never quite worked for me in a way that felt satisfying or creepy. It was metaphorical horror, which is big now, but the metaphor was directly stated and early in the book, so there was no thrill of uncovering the metaphor.... it just WAS the story, if that makes sense. It's quick and relatively enjoyable, but the monstrousness was more traumatic than it was scary.

Snow, snow & more snow + horror. You will meet the locals of Pinebuck and find out what has happened in this small town. This was the perfect winter read. I appreciate that the chapters are relatively short and the plot does not drag out. I love when I always think I know what is going to happen; but the author has a surprise in store.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Okay, this was really good and not at all what I expected. This sounded like a really campy monster story but instead we got a story about failing relationships, past traumas and our inner monsters. I really enjoyed the story progression and how each time the story almost got stale the author threw in a new revelation or a twist to keep you guessing. I also enjoyed the casual queer rep.

Will definitely be checking out the authors future work as well.

Thanks to NetGalley, Soho Press, and Hells Hundred Books for this copy of "Our Winter Monster."

How to describe this book? It's first of all, a horror novel. But it's also touching, funny, and hopeful.

Brian and Holly had a traumatic tragedy a year ago (you'll find out what happened) and they've been struggling ever since to connect with each other about it.

They're on their way to Pinebuck for a winter vacation where 7 weeks ago, another young couple disappeared (but they don't know that).

While Holly is driving through blizzard-like conditions, Brian sees a white blob? monster? snow monster? chasing them. And then he's yanked from the car.

They frantically search for each other through the blizzard while trying to outrun the destructive snow monster. And they'll get some help from and learn more about the people of Pinebuck, too.

Well paced paranormal horror- with snow. Brian and Holly have had their problems but those were nothing compared to the monster. Kendra, the law enforcement officer in the small town where all of this happens is a terrific character. This isn't really my genre but I enjoyed this page turner.

I love a good, goofy winter horror, but I profoundly did not like this book. The characterization didn't work for me on almost any level.

Our Winter Monster follows Holly and Brian, a couple looking to reconnect on a vacation to the pristine ski village of Pinebuck. No vacation is complete without some chills and thrills, and quickly the couple finds themselves fighting for their lives.

I wouldn't necessarily call Our Winter Monster a horror novel - while there is a monster and there are some horrific moments in the book - this is truly a story of a relationship that has broken apart after a "bad date" that tore a rift through the main characters' once rose colored world.

Holly & Brian, while actively trying to determine the mystery of a monster that is seemingly terrorizing them through the snow, are also working through the problems of their relationship, their trauma, and the communication they've avoided working through since the big "bad date".

The story was atmospheric, emotional, and curious - a quick and easy read that, even when the answers to mysteries were revealed, it kept me intrigued enough to continue reading through to the end.

Holly and Brian have always been a typical couple. Until one year ago, when something happened to them that changed the dynamic of their relationship. Since then, the pair have become a magnet for bad luck and their relationship is slowly crumbling. They decide to take a trip to the snowy town of Pinebuck for a little getaway and some quality time together. When their car slides off the road on the outskirts of town, Holly & Brian find themselves in a battle to survive, and they aren't the only thing lurking in the frozen woods.

Over the course of one night, we follow the couple as they come face to face with what can only be described as a monster. Witnessing brutal and bloody deaths, they are forced to confront their past, and the question becomes: If Holly & Brian are able to make it through the night, will their relationship also survive?

Simultaneously, Pinebuck's sheriff, Kendra, is working hard to solve the mystery of strange occurrences and savage murders. Working as a black woman in a male-dominated field has already led Kendra to have a hardened shell, but the fact that another couple went missing in the small town less than two months ago has ignited her drive to bring the destruction to an end before the night is over.

This was a well-paced and chilling winter horror read. Each of the characters, even those with minor roles, felt well fleshed out, which added to the reading experience as I was able to truly root for certain people throughout. The added mysteries of the missing couple in Pinebuck, and what happened during 'the bad date' one year ago with Holly & Brian kept me intrigued, and the suspense was built very well. And, of course, I loved the concept of the creature in this novel. It was fascinating, unique, and tied in nicely with the characters and the complexity of their relationship & shared trauma.

This was my first book by Dennis Mahoney, but I found myself really enjoying his writing and I would definitely pick up more from this author. This was a solid, action-packed, yet carefully crafted horror story!

What would you do if the life you had been leading took a dramatic turn, and left you, and the person you love, in the grips of trauma?

All Holly and Brian want is a chance to reset their relationship, and hope it saves it. But they are finding out that no matter how far you try to run, you cannot truly heal until you face your past head on.

This story is told through 3 perspectives: Holly’s, Brian’s, and Kendra’s-Pinebuck’s town sheriff. Holly and Brian are fighting a monster they can’t see, and trying to get back to each other before the town ia destroyed and more people are killed. What they are starting to realize is this whole bloody ordeal may have more to do with them than they initially thought. They may also be the ones who can stop it.

Kendra is fighting her own battles and trying to stop a situation from repeating on her watch. She didn’t help a couple seven weeks before when she could have, and they disappeared. She won’t let that happen again. But is this Deja-vu, or something entirely different? She won’t stop until she finds out.

I enjoyed this story and its mash of supernatural and real life horror. It highlighted the monsters lurking just under the surface and what can happen if we allow pain, hurt, and trauma to fester. Mahoney also weaved in a parallel story of small town secrets, and dangerous facades. Who is the monster, and who is the good guy? Can you really trust your neighbor? And that ending? I didn’t see it coming.

If you are looking for a solid winter horror story with a dual storyline, this one’s for you.

I love winter survival horror, let me start there. This was gripping and the sense of mounting dread I had throughout this one was borderline uncomfortable at times - which is, I suppose, the point!

I did feel like it lost a bit of momentum around the halfway mark but it clawed it back again by the end. Can’t wait to see more from this author!

4.75 rounded up to 5.

Thanks to NetGalley and Soho Press for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Our Winter Monster was much more than just a gory, violent, scary story about a monster harassing a couple while they try to take a vacation to mend their strained relationship. This story surprised me, because it was such a great discussion about grief, trauma, and mental health. It was such a wonderful example of how hurt people, hurt people. The writing was fantastic, I really felt like I was immersed in the snowy atmosphere. The characters were very well-rounded, and I felt that I was also given a lot of insight into their motives and what made them act the way they did in certain situations. I was on the edge of my seat for the entire story and devoured this in two days.

This is exactly why horror stories are so amazing. They have the potential to have so much depth, such as this one. Because of this, the characters in this story were very relatable, because we all have gone through difficult patches as we get older, as all relationships have their ups and downs. There's the relationship of Kendra and Taz, and even Kendra's friendship with Cookie. Brian and Holly had been through an extremely traumatic experience, which impacted their lives so drastically both characters underwent opposite personality changes, essentially. I felt that in some way, there was some situation to relate to between the different characters, and what we learned about them as the story progressed. Our Winter Monster was an extreme example of one such couple trying to cope with their demons, while still being able to grow together as a couple. It also was an exploration of friendships and grief from loss, whether it's a physical loss of a loved one, or the loss of the person you thought you were.

I thought this book was surprisingly fantastic, and it wasn't what I expected at all in the best possible way.

This was a great atmospheric horror book perfect for cold winter nights. Although it took me a little bit to get into the story I enjoyed where it went.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review this book

I know I have said this several times before, but I love a thriller or horror book set in the middle of nowhere during a snowstorm, and this book is exactly that. The author takes us into the frozen wilderness of Pinebuck, New York, where the tranquility of falling snow hides monstrous dangers - both literal and emotional. While it left me grappling with unanswered questions that slightly dulled its impact, its atmospheric setting, layered characters, and exploration of trauma make it a worthwhile read.
 
The story begins with Holly and Brian, a couple whose strained relationship sets the emotional tone for the novel. Attempting to mend their fractured bond, they embark on a trip to a remote village, only to be caught in a blizzard along the way. Brian swears he sees something lurking in the snowstorm ahead of them just before their car spins out of control, setting off a chain of events that intertwine their lives with a monstrous force lurking in the snow-covered town. Upping the mystery even more is that another young couple recently went missing from this same area. Is there something hunting young couples, and will the local sheriff be able to figure it out before her town turns on her?
 
The author's strength lies in his ability to craft an atmosphere that perfectly fits the story. The snowstorm becomes a character in itself - a silent, omnipresent force that amplifies the isolation and danger the characters face. The juxtaposition of the storm's quiet beauty and its deadly potential mirrors the tension in Holly and Brian's relationship. As a reader who loves novels set in remote, snowbound locations, I found Mahoney's descriptions mesmerizing. From the way the snow muffles sound to how it obscures danger, the author perfectly captures the sensory experience of being trapped in a blizzard. This setting heightens the stakes, making every decision the characters make feel urgent and dangerous.
 
Holly and Brian are compelling protagonists, their fractured relationship serving as the emotional core of the novel. Both are haunted by a shared trauma that happened a year earlier and watching them confront their pain while navigating the escalating dangers of the night is gripping. Their journey feels authentic, and I appreciated how Mahoney avoided simple resolutions, instead letting their growth emerge naturally through their harrowing experiences. As we slowly unravel the mystery around what hunts (and, to an extent, haunts) them, we also learn what got them here in the first place. The reveal is expertly paced and is a real highlight of the story.
 
The side characters also shine, each contributing to the story in meaningful ways. Cookie, the diner owner, brings warmth, humor, and humanity to a bleak situation, while Kendra, the town sheriff, adds layers of determination and vulnerability. Her past losses make her deeply invested in Holly and Brian's survival, and her perspective adds emotional weight to the narrative. Tanner, the loner who drives the snowplow, plays an understated but crucial role in the overall plot.
 
Despite several strengths, the book still left me feeling like something was missing in the end - and I can't quite place my finger on what. Perhaps it was the lack of resolution to certain plot points or the absence of a clear explanation for the creature's origin. While ambiguity can effectively maintain mystery, it was a little frustrating in this case. In the end, I found myself with too many unanswered questions, detracting from the story's emotional payoff.
 
Overall, this is an atmospheric, character-driven thriller that excels in its depiction of isolation, danger, and the ways in which we are forced to deal with unresolved trauma, making it more than just a monster story. If you enjoy novels set in snowbound locales with complex characters and a touch of the supernatural, this book is worth picking up. Just be prepared for an ending that may leave you pondering what lies beneath the surface of both the storm and the story.