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Lauded as the Indigenous Stranger Things, this evocative, spine-tingling thriller from Dogrib Dene author Richard Van Camp blends supernatural horror with 1980s nostalgia.
Lawson Sauren's life has always been entwined with the lives of the Cranes brothers. Cody Cranes became an unexpected friend when they shared a tent at summer camp—but now he's disappeared. Star athlete Stanley Cranes survived the canoe accident that killed Lawson's mother but has been a shell of himself ever since. Silver Cranes—jeez, the guy was downright scary even before he made some kind of occult pact resurrecting the Dead One, a ghoulish, cruel, powerful spirit hellbent on destroying peace treaties like the centuries-old one between the Dogrib and Chipewyan which Lawson and the Cranes boys are tasked with preserving. Determined to save his community from the Dead One's ravenous maw, Lawson must step into his role as a Dogrib Yabati, or protector, and recruit his friends Isaiah Valentine, a Cree Grass Dancer, and Shari Burns, a Metis psychic, to face what Silver Cranes has called back.
This latest feat of storytelling magic by celebrated author Richard Van Camp blends sharply observed realism and hair-raising horror as it plays out against a 1980s-era backdrop replete with Platinum Blonde songs and episodes of Degrassi Junior High. Set in the same fictional town of Fort Simmer, Northwest Territories as previous Van Camp stories, Beast delivers a gripping, spirited tale that pits the powers of tradition against the pull of a vengeful past.
"Van Camp, a member of the Dogrib (Tłįchǫ) Dene Nation, weaves '80s pop culture references and supernatural elements into a page-turning thriller... . [Beast] delicately balances a gripping storyline with well-rendered cultural elements and accessible writing." —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"An eerie thriller... . The cast of characters offers a unique glimpse into some of the more intimate practices of various Indigenous cultures, and fun pop culture nods firmly cement this supernatural work in its 1980s setting." —Booklist
"A rousing supernatural novel." —Foreword Reviews
"Beast by Richard Van Camp is an enthralling blend of horror and heritage, set against the evocative backdrop of the Northwest Territories. This young adult novel follows Lawson, a Tłı̨chǫ (Dogrib) warrior, as he faces a malevolent spirit threatening his community. Infused with '80s nostalgia, Van Camp's chilling and lyrical prose creates a dark tapestry where youthful innocence clashes with primordial evils. Beast is a spellbinding journey that will worm its way into the darkest corners of your mind, lingering long after the last page is turned." —Shane Hawk, editor of Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology
"Beast is a singular force. It's the offspring of Stranger Things, Stephen King, and vintage Van Camp. Rich in lore, terror, pop culture, and traditional knowledge, this novel is a page-turning, spine-tingling delight." —David A. Robertson, author of The Barren Grounds
This information about Beast was first featured
in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.
Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Born in Fort Smith, NWT, bestselling author Richard Van Camp is a member of the Dogrib (Tłįchǫ) Dene Nation. A graduate of the En'owkin Centre's writing program in Penticton, BC, he completed his BFA in writing at the University of Victoria and received an MFA in creative writing from the University of British Columbia. His work has won many awards and honours, among them the Blue Metropolis First Peoples Literary Prize and the title of Storyteller of the Year from the Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers and Storytellers.
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