The Hatching by Ezekiel Boone

July 5th, 2016 Kimberly Review 63 Comments

5th Jul
The Hatching by Ezekiel Boone
The Hatching
by Ezekiel Boone
Series: The Hatching,
Genres: Horror
Source: BEA, Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon *affiliate
Goodreads
Rating: One StarOne StarOne StarOne StarHalf a Star

An astonishingly inventive and terrifying debut horror novel about the emergence of an ancient race of carnivorous spiders, dormant for ten thousand years but now very much awake. There's a reason we're afraid of spiders...

A local guide is leading wealthy tourists through a forest in Peru when a strange, black, skittering mass engulfs him and most of the party. FBI Agent Mike Rich is on a routine stakeout in Minneapolis when he's suddenly called by the director himself to investigate a mysterious plane crash. A scientist studying earthquakes in India registers an unprecedented pattern in local seismic readings. The US president, her defence and national security advisers and her chief of staff are dumped into crisis mode when China "accidentally" drops a nuclear bomb on a desolate region of its own country. As such unsettling occurrences mount, the president's old friend (and her chief of staff's ex-wife), spider expert Melanie Guyer, receives a box at her lab at American University that contains an ancient egg unearthed at a South American dig.
So begins The Hatching, the hair-raising saga of a single week in which an ancient, frighteningly predatory species of spider re-emerges in force. When the unusual egg in Melanie Guyer's lab begins to vibrate and crack, she finds herself at the epicentre of this apocalyptic natural disaster. Working closely with her ex-husband and his very powerful boss, she has to find some way to stem the brutal tide of man-eating arachnids.

warning apocalypse

“There’s a reason we’re afraid of spiders”

Forget zombies! Spiders are going to rise and WE ALL GONNA DIE. The Hatching by Ezekiel Boone is the first novel in a new terrifying series. Turn the lights on, check for spiders and awaken your darkest fear.

The Hatching

Disclosure: I DO NOT LIKE BUGS. I don’t care if some are useful or that spiders eat other insects…if one comes near me I will scream and kill it if necessary or leave the vicinity.

My fears are deeply rooted and they began at the tender age of five. It was a bright summer morning and I burst out of bed eager to begin my day. Independent at an early age I reached in the closet grabbed a sundress and quickly whipped it over my head before heading down to breakfast. That is when the horror began….my dress started jumping, I could feel something crawling along my skin. It was trapped. I WAS TRAPPED!

*pants as heart races* You are probably asking yourself, “Why the heck are you reading The Hatching?” The answers are simple. The thrill of fear and those heart-pounding moments as you flip pages, swallowing your fear and wanting to flee. Simply put I am a tad twisted. Self-torture is a thing.

Five Terrifying Reasons to read The Hatching:

  • It was refreshing to read an apocalyptic novel that does not involve Zombies. Sure, I love those slow-moving brain eaters and the fear of being bitten would have me hiding but this ancient race of CARNIVOROUS spiders that emerge are scary as F@ck. Think about it. How do you hide from spiders? Lock your doors and close your windows? Gulp. Spiders get in. We KNOW they get in! Now imagine a hoard of them. Go on; take a minute to digest that.
  • The writing was intense and shared perspectives all over the world as this outbreak began. I started this late one Friday evening and sat up until its conclusion. Which by the way is only the beginning, as this story continues with SKITTER in 2017. The story has a fantastic flow to it, weaving back and forth between key characters, catastrophic events and terrifying attacks. Boone carefully weaved all the threads together creating suspense and fear in this addictive tale.
  • The premise of this ancient race of CARNIVOROUS spiders was fascinating. Boone introduced American University professor and leading spider expert Dr. Melanie Guyer. She becomes involved when an ancient egg is shipped to her for study after being unearthed during a dig in South America. She is even more intrigued when it appears to vibrate and crack. Guyer, the ex-wife of the President’s Chief of Staff will be instrumental in sharing knowledge and terrifying theories about this predator.
  • The Hatching unfolds in bits, introducing us to characters from FBI Agent Mike Rich in Minneapolis to scientists studying seismic activity for earthquakes. We follow the U.S. President and her closest advisors after China drops a nuclear bomb on its own country. The events take place over a single week creating a fast paced, edge of your seat read. IT WILL give you the heebie-jeebies. Boone terrifyingly describes the swarm of spiders and shares their acts. He brings us up close and personal with a few of those attacks providing graphic details from the perspective of eyewitnesses. Just when I thought, it could not get any more horrifying he reveals twists that will unleash a blood-curdling scream from the reader as the knowledge of these reveals are digested.
  • The Hatching was engaging providing that rush of adrenaline that comes with an epic horror story and it is only the beginning. The ending of this tales comes with reveals that let the reader know the horror has only just begun. The Hatching would do well in theaters, but trust me when I tell you I will not be going. I might love to read horror stories but viewing them is another kind of crazy. Skitter the next book will release in May 2017.

The Hatching

Want to be freaked out? The Hatching offers all the thrills and chills and the best part…it’s only the beginning. Read it if you dare!

Grab your copy: Amazon|B&N

Caffeinated's terrifying review of The Hatching by Ezekiel Boone #horror #apocalyptic Share on X
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About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram

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63 Responses to “The Hatching by Ezekiel Boone”

  1. Mandy

    Amazing review. I’ve had my eye on this one. However spiders don’t bother me like they do some. I actually watched 8 legged freaks a few weeks ago craving larger killer spiders. I’ll have to check this one out. Thanks for sharing.

  2. Melanie Simmons

    I’m not anti-spiders, but I don’t want them on me. I’m very much of the mind, if they leave me alone, I will leave them alone. Ticks are the bug that really creeps me out. I will scream at the top of my lungs if one is on me. I do want to try this book. I’m going to see if my library has it.

  3. Heather

    Oh I just freaked the F out at those spiders on your page. I got sent an ARC of this and in the envelope the lovely publicist put in some “amusing” plastic spiders. I hate spiders but I want to read this but I am a little freaked.

    One night I was happily reading my Kindle in bed, in the dark and all of a sudden a freaking massive spider ran across the screen, I was not a happy bunny!

    • kimbacaffeinate

      LOL..yes and the packaging on the book is creepy too. I picked up a copy at BEA. so thankfully no plastic spiders. I am getting the audio and plan to listen to it soon.
      Oh hell no…I would have been freaking out. Hopefully someone was there to kill/remove it for you. I would still be sleeping with lights on!

  4. La La in the Library

    There will be payback for that second spider gif my wonderful friend! Gahhhhh! I don’t mind little hairless spiders, but any furry ones, or eight legged beasties bigger than a quarter and I am out of there. My punishment when I was a kid was to bring in fire wood from the big pile by the woods. There were hairy wood spiders bigger than quarters in that stack and my motherboard knew I hated them. Ha ha. This does sound very different. I don’t mind reading about big spiders I just don’t like looking at them. Fab review!

  5. Katiria Rodriguez

    Ahh I hate spiders with a passion I had a few roaming in my apartment Last year that I lie too you not I killed like seven of those creepy crawlers just no. But I absolutely love horror books and movies and this one looks and sounds absolutely fantastic! Thank you for your great review and post Kim.

  6. Eva

    Great review! I also really liked this one — something about the way it was written was terrifying but also just refreshing! I loved the way the story was told and I can’t wait for book 2!!

  7. Christy LoveOfBooks

    LOL! Your story and the gif (I love it!). My feelings for this got better after I took time away from it. Thank goodness there’s a 2nd book, because I feel SO much better about it now.

  8. Rita

    Yes, I have a dislike of all creepy-crawlies, including spiders. Yes, I do still want to read this!
    Excellent review, Kim! Best one I’ve seen on this title around.

  10. Braine Talk Supe

    The GIFs are already freaking me out!

    I’m not that creeped out by bugs except when it’s a swarm or it’s flying like bees, wasps, etc. This is on a differet level though. Goosebumps and yuck factor is always a great combo even if it’s unsettling.

  11. Kristin

    I need to give this book to my mom. I can just mention there’s something in her hair and she freaks-the-shit-out!!! We almost got into a car accident once b/c she thought there was a spider down by her feet as she was driving. I LOVE this review!!! The spiders absolutely MADE it 😉

    Now that I know what the book is about, I may actually read this – it sounds soooo good!!!

  12. Felicia the Geeky Blogger

    I did not fault China at all. This is why I should never be in charge of that button (spiders don’t bug me but anything flying does—I would be like burn it all down) 🙂

  13. Maja (The Nocturnal Library)

    Where did you find these spiders? I am thoroughly creeped out. And I was just considering this on audio, trying to decide whether to read it or not. And I will! I look forward to it.

  14. Candace

    I couldn’t even finish reading the description, that alone would give me nightmares! You are one brave lady!

  15. Lorna

    Sorry I just can’t. I don’t do spiders and Aracnpbobia about did me in. It sounds like my kind of book if it hadn’t been spiders! Great review though!

  16. Stormi Johnson

    I think I am going to be reading this one when I get done with the one I am reading now, every time I see it pop up on someones blog I am like I want to read it and well heck I have it so I need to read it…lol. 🙂

  17. Debbie Haupt

    OMG, no, no, no, no! I WILL NOT watch a tv show or movie about spiders, this is someone who still freaks out at the word arachnophobia, get me. But in a written tale, baby bring it on this sounds fabulous. Oh nice touch with the creepy crawlers Kim.

  18. Jessica

    I want to read this, but there’s no doubt that it will completely traumatize me. Is it worth it? 😛

      • Jessica

        I probably will too then. Bugs and spiders FREAK me out so much. Like my family and friends often think I need therapy because of it (bugs = me sobbing). But it’s just fiction, right? It’ll be fun. *sweats nervously* Great review, btw!

  19. Sophia Rose

    Imma guessing this one makes Arachnidphobia seem like a cute Disney fairytale. I’m both repulsed and intrigued at the same time. What to do…. haha!

  20. kindlemom1

    This would horrify me as well but in a good way. 😉 I must read this one. Off to see if my library has it.

  21. Melissa

    Talk about heebie-jeebies! I got them just reading this. Thanks for almost giving me a heart attack! LOL

  22. LeKeisha

    I like horror, but I’m afraid I’ll have to pass on this. My flesh is crawling right now just from this review.

  24. AngelErin

    Love your review! That’s pretty much how I feel about the book. I can’t wait for the sequel! I am terrified of bugs, yet I still read it and loved it haha!! FYI the spiders on your review is so NOT COOL. Haha!!! 😉

  25. Kathy

    I really wish I’d read this one when offered. I’m so arachnophobic and in the words of Jim Stafford, I don’t like spiders and snakes… I do think I’d like this book, though.

  27. Lizzy

    Dude. I have GOT to read this. I sense it will be one of those books I have to dedicate an entire Saturday to.

  28. Nick

    KIM. Why would you put those spider gifs and share that childhood story?? I”m so grossed out.
    I’ve been seeing this book everywhere and as much as praise it’s getting, I’m not going anywhere close to it. It’s too much of a horrifying premise.
    I need brain bleach now, so see you later!!

  29. Leona

    Ah! I think Felicia was talking about this book too!! It looks so good, but me and spiders just don’t mix! And you are so wrong for putting the spiders literally in your review >(

  30. Mary Kirkland

    I’m sitting here two hours after taking my sleeping medication and as I’m scrolling down the page to read the review…creepy crawlies are skittering across my laptop screen! You got me two times, two! I screamed the first time (it’s just after midnight) and hubby comes running out of the bedroom, (he was a sleep) and asked me what was wrong. I point to the screen and he shakes his head and heads back to the bedroom. Then I see the other crawling spider and almost screamed again. You are wicked. But this sounds like just the right amount of creepy and crawly along with a great story. Dang.