Snow

This is a book that makes no sense to me. I don't see the premise of the book at all. BORING AND SLOW GOING.

When I ordered this book for some reason I thought it was going to be about a beast roaming the woods and terrorizing the local residents based on the cover art as I had not read a review. To my surprise it was completely different. A band of travelers trying to get home for the Christmas holiday break down outside a remote town overrun by alien apparitions that inhabit the snow and are occupying the towns people and turning them into puppet-controlled zombies. A rather unique premise. I did enjoy the main characters Todd and Kate and found myself cheering for them. I can see Malfi's story being turned into a riveting movie such as 30 Days of Night

Malfi's Snow is the best horror I've read in quite a while. I picked it up off the shelf to kill a few minutes while I was waiting for someone and ended up reading the whole thing that day. Several of the previous reviewers praise this book's originality. The funny thing is that it does feel shocking and new, despite the fact that it wears its influences on its sleeve, so to speak (a heady mixture of John Carpenter's remake of The Thing, Romero's zombie movies, and Lovecraftian cosmic horror.) The best thing about it is the characters -- all the important characters feel well rounded and interesting, and with the leads especially you get that essential sense of what their lives are like outside of the events of the book, so you know what's at stake. Too many characters in horror books and movies seem to only exist within the confines of their stories, giving you no reason to root for them or care whether they live or die. Malfi reminded of me of Stephen King in that sense (characters always being King's biggest strength), with none of the latter's self-indulgent tendencies. Living in the midwest, not that far from where this book is set, I'm sure to think of this one again with a shiver at the next major snowfall. Highly recommended.

I want to first thank Leisure Books for bringing Ronald Malfi to their company. Guys like Malfi, Gord Rollo, Wrath James White, and Jeff Strand are the new generation of horror writers that deserve to be read by the masses. Next, I want to thank author Ronald Malfi for crafting a near perfect tale of horror. He has infused this original novel with every element I look for in a great horror story; a realistic setup dripping with thick, creepy atmosphere, an extremely dangerous antagonist, interesting yet flawed characters thrown into extreme situations, and characters that actually make smart decisions that help themselves instead of just being a tool to blindly help the author's story. And finally, of course - maybe the most important - the book has to scare me. And this did. This is the first horror novel I've given a full 5 stars to in over a year. Granted, I do have a propensity for stories taking place in snow storms. But still, with Snow, Malfi's done everything right. Beginning, middle, and end. I loved it. A real talent for vivid descriptions, Malfi also has great instincts for using smooth prose and an ear for natural dialogue. I simply cannot recommend this book enough. Snow is an easy candidate for the 2010 Bram Stoker Award.

When a group of travelers have their flight canceled due to bad weather, they rent a car and begin a treacherous journey home. They find themselves stranded in a seemingly deserted town. However, there's something alive in the snow...and it's hungry! Snow was a delight to read. LOL - I admit that I am sick of vampires, zombies, and werewolves (oh my!) and it was great to read something that was totally original. Now, I won't tell you what's alive in the snow - you need to read the book. And if that wasn't enough, Malfi's grasp of setting and character were stellar. Sure there's gore, but there are also creepy chills and characters you care about - a rare thing these days. I'm glad I read this and I'm looking forward to the author's next book!