by Ezekiel Boone
Series: The Hatching #2
Genres: Horror
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon *affiliate
Tens of millions of people around the world are dead. Half of China is a nuclear wasteland. Mysterious flesh-eating spiders are marching through Los Angeles, Oslo, Delhi, Rio de Janeiro, and countless other cities. According to scientist Melanie Gruyer, however, the spider situation seems to be looking up. Yet in Japan, a giant, truck-sized, glowing egg sack gives a shocking preview of what is to come, even as survivors in Los Angeles panic and break the quarantine zone. Out in the desert, survivalists Gordo and Shotgun are trying to invent a spider super weapon, but it’s not clear if it’s too late, because President Stephanie Pilgrim has been forced to enact the plan of last resort: The Spanish Protocol. America, you are on your own.
Last year I shared my fear of spiders and my review of THE HATCHING book one in the Hatching trilogy. SKITTER by Ezekiel Boone is the second novel, and once again he takes us around the world as the second wave of spiders gets ready to emerged. Creepy and realistic this apocalyptic tale will leave you screaming.
The first wave of spiders mysteriously died but not before killing millions and leaving cocoons all over the world. While scientist scramble to determine what will happen next leaders from around the world, as well as individuals cut off from society, are devising plans to save civilization. Spiders are freakin’ scary, and Boone’s spiders brought to life all of my darkest fears.
While SKITTER wasn’t as fast-paced as its predecessor the HATCHING, it did a stellar job with the apocalyptic aspects of this tale. Some countries nuked entire areas, and here in the US, some military officials wanted to nuke LA and surrounding areas. It was intense.
There are key characters we follow; the President of the United States, Stephanie Pilgrim, her chief of staff, Guyer, and leading spider expert Dr. Melanie Guyer. We also get perspectives from Agent Mike Rich who has been on the ground since the first outbreak. I found myself more attached to these characters in SKITTER. The secondary characters like Shotgun, his husband Fred, Gordo, his wife Amy and their dog Claymore are survivalists located in Desperation. I laughed as boredom gave way to ingenuity. Some of my favorite chapters are from those featuring Aonghas, his Vietnamese fiancé Thuy and Aonghas’s grandfather Padraig They are stranded on a remote island in the Outer Hebrides. While far removed from the spiders they do make an interesting discovery. Their thread provided a breather from the pulse-pounding terror that was unfolding.
While I loved the chills, thrills and action scenes with spiders what I found truly fascinating was how government officials handled things. Some ideas were irrational, perhaps driven by fear and others almost succeeded. President Pilgrim goes head to head with her advisors before they enact The Spanish Protocol. You’ll have to read the novel to find out what that entails.
Boone gives us perspectives from individuals, like the Preacher, and those of people just trying to get home. By sharing different points of view in each chapter, he gives us a panoramic view of this apocalyptic disaster from how quickly it spreads to our reactions.
The mystery of these spiders and the way in which they act and evolve sent shivers down my spine. We fear them for a reason, people!! So many brave individuals that crawled into caves touched cocoons and shared what they found all brought the horror to life while raising the suspense level. The synopsis shares that in Japan, a giant, truck-sized, glowing egg sack is found and let me tell you…WE’RE ALL GONNA DIE!!!
OMG! Boone knows how to terrify his readers from the horrific descriptions to the build up of what is to come. With every discovery our characters make and each decision something new unfolds. While SKITTER suffered a little from second book syndrome, it did leave me screaming for book three.
There is a reason we fear spiders!! Skitter by Ezekiel Boone Share on X
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
La La in the Library
I had a feeling you were going to make me jump with a spider gif on this review, so I was ready for the first one, but the second one got me. You win! I still have to read The Hatching. Thanks for sharing your review. 🙂
Darlene
I really enjoyed The Hatching, and I had to take a look at your rating for Skitter. Yay! I’ll come back to read your review after I’ve read the book!
Barb
I live in Australia, we already have too many creepy crawlies lol
Tiffany
WHY DID YOU PUT THOSE CRAWLING SPIDERS?!? OMG! Hahahaha… I have the first novel. It sounded good, but I still haven’t read it. Good review! Now I guess I need to jump on this series.
The Bibliophile Babe
*frantically scratches at and brushes off any and all exposed skin* Just reading that gave me chills, haha. It does sound gripping!
Laura Thomas
Hee hee! Love the review and spiders. I loved the first book and started Skitter but had to set it aside. Going to get start over with it tonight. What a coincidence! It’s funny that I have a fear of spiders but am drawn to movies and books about them that scare the pants off me.
Lampshade Reader
Creepy! But totally worth looking into! Wonderful review Kimba. 🙂 ~Aleen
Michele
Ahhhh! I am currently reading this book, so I am bookmarking this review so I can come back and devour what you say once I know ALL THE THINGS. I’m so happy to see those four coffee cups up there — and in the words of Arnold, I’ll be back.
Michele
I told you I’d be back! I’m so glad you enjoyed this sequel. Great review, and I love the spider additions, as well lol. That ending was painful; I need the next book right away!
Sophia
KIMBA! YOU’RE GOING TO SCARE EVERYONE AWAY WITH THEM SPIDERS.
Spiders aside, though, I really like the concept of this one, along with the cover. It’s simple yet there’s something about it that’s really appealing. (I don’t know, my minor is talking now.)
Felicia GeekyBlogger (
I picked up the audio. I loved the first one and was hoping this one stood up 🙂 YEAH 🙂
Mary Kirkland
That sounds so good. I remember the review of the first book and this series is sounding better and better. Love the crawling spider graphics.
Heidi
Sigh… I am torn on this one. I read the first one last summer when I started blogging again, I liked it but I wasn’t too fond of all the view points. This one is getting good reviews, so I am tempted to pick it up. ARGH!
Geybie's Book Blog
OMG.. this sounds SO scary and the spiders on your spider gifs are not helping. They look real!! Haha
Fantastic review, Kim. Thanks for sharing! ❤️
Karen Blue
I had no idea that The Hatching had a follow up. I am delighted to hear that you enjoyed this. Great review!
Stormi Johnson
Ooooh, forgot I had this one I need to put it up on my list for this month. 🙂
Anna
Spiders! Why did it have to be spiders. (I hope you know the quote I butchered.) hehehe
Anna from elements of emaginette
Angie
Awesome that you enjoyed this one so much! I am not so afraid of spiders. It’s snakes for me! But I think one the size of a truck might put the fear of God into me.
Great review.
Debbie Haupt
Okay thanks but no thanks Spiders creep me out even worse than Zombies yikes. Thanks for the review Kim I did have to scroll really fast past the arachnid.
kindlemom1
This was an intense read and even with all the different POVs, I still adored it. It creeped me out for days…okay, I’m still creeped out by it. 😉
Ailyn Koay
SHOULD not have read this review!!! I live in australia, where the spiders already have birds for dinner Q.Q you just made me scared…
Leona
This sounds so good!!! But you are so wrong for that spider gif!
Nadene
A book about flesh eating spiders, I am intrigued, but not sure if I woukd want to venture into that world.
cindy
Wow! Creepy, I just cannot read this one but who knows it does look very tempting! I love the spiders crawling on the post!!! Great graphics Kimberly.
Sophia Rose
Those ‘we’re all gonna die’ ones are always tempting to me and this one sounds way up there on the list of good ones, but I just can’t. 🙂 I’ll live vicariously on your review, Kimberly.
Melliane
It looks like the universe is really well done! I heard good things about this one so I’m quite curious now
Silvia
Spiders?? *shivers* Why, why, would you suggest such a thing? I can’t . . . I just can’t read something like that . . . although, this apocalyptic tale sounds creepily good . . . No, Silvia! Hey Kimberly, you’re responsible for my next nightmare!!
blodeuedd
I know I should not but the cover is so dull