The Shivering by Joseph W. BeboMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Review: THE SHIVERING by Joseph W. Beni
THE SHIVERING is a truly scary novel, and I gave 5 stars for two reasons: the innovative nature and mode of the horror and its implacability; and the rampant character evolution (and devolution). The character arcs in this story are really precious.
Our protagonist/hero evolves practically continuously throughout the novel (a requirement if he is to be able to face up to the otherworldly shenanigans and also to cope with the changes in practical matters (economic, interpersonal, friendships, legal, and so forth). Like a Timex of the mid-20th century, Mike Russo takes a licking and keeps on ticking. He is a genuinely "good guy" who also has a lot of compassion for others, even those who don't seem to elicit empathy.
Several other characters are delineated in much depth as they "keep on going through them changes." In their cases, though, it's character devolution but the author continues to illustrate it amazingly.
The evil is imaginative, unexpected, and as discovery of it unfolds, shows itself as nearly unstoppable (not to mention arrogant). There's black magic, ceremonial magic, white witchcraft, Nature worship, and then there's Mike himself, in a category all his own. I can definitely see myself rereading THE SHIVERING.
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