Ezekiel Boone’s debut novel brings an epic apocalyptic horror worthy of summer blockbuster proportions.  Even better is that this world’s doom lay not with boring zombies, but with skin crawling spiders.  What begins with a freak incident deep in the jungle of Peru soon sets off a chain of events on a global scale.  From a nuclear bomb dropped by China on its own soil, to unexplainable seismic activity in India, to a freak plane crash in Minneapolis, strange occurrences begin popping up all over the world in short order.  The strange events are all connected by an ancient, deadly species that’s been awakened.

Invoking the classic old school horror spirit, Boone’s novel effectively captures the massive scope in which the story is set.  The narrative bounces around all over the world at break neck speed, setting up the inevitable catastrophe as well as introducing us to the cast of characters.  Each chapter brings a new perspective from a different part of the world.  Some chapters bring the introduction of a major player, like entomologist Melanie or FBI Agent Rich, and some chapters bring new terror with the latest spider activity.  Each chapter is an important plot thread that Boone is carefully weaving into one seamless, grand narrative.

Ezekiel Boone’s debut novel brings an epic apocalyptic horror worthy of summer blockbuster proportions.

In typical doomsday fashion, the books antagonist behaves similar to a world ending plague.  The way in which humanity is unaware as the symptoms slowly appears globally only to realize too late that it’s all connected.  This enemy, too, is legion. Though enough is revealed about the spiders early on to know how much of a threat they pose, Boone cleverly peels back the curtain bit by bit.  The graphic detail in which the extent of what these spiders can do is terrifying.  As though it’s not enough that this species inexplicably work together, the spiders’ eating habits is enough to induce arachnophobia in anyone.  Yet even as skin crawling as that is, it doesn’t hold a candle to their breeding habits. The mysterious and terrifying nature of the novel’s antagonists drives the entire narrative.

Over the course of many chapters, a few characters emerge as the main protagonists; the characters we know are going to play a pivotal role in the battle for survival of the human race.  It’s the character work here that proves the weak link.  While Boone interestingly sets up a cast half comprised of tough-as-nails women in varying positions of power, including U.S. President, none of the characters feel fleshed out beyond their occupation.  Entomologist Melanie, President Stephanie, and Marine leader Kim are each established as take charge women with a healthy sexual appetite.  Other than their occupation, it’s difficult to differentiate between them. The women fare just a little better than the men, who seem to be defined by their relationships with the women.  The characters seem to exist solely to deliver exposition or move the plot forward.

Despite weak character work and whiplash inducing location jumping, Boone’s writing style and creation of a very unique foe makes for one spellbinding page turner.

Yet, it’s tough to fully count this as a flaw because just as the novel is winding to a close that it becomes clear that Boone and his spiders aren’t nearly done, yet.  This gripping thriller serves as the first entry in a continuing series.  We’ve only barely been introduced to these characters and their harrowing battle.  If this is only the beginning of the horror, I can’t even imagine what’s in store. Despite weak character work and whiplash inducing location jumping, Boone’s writing style and creation of a very unique foe makes for one spellbinding page turner. It’s a new take on a horror classic, and it’s downright addictive.  Damn you, Mr. Ezekiel Boone, I’m hooked.

The Hatching was published July 5th, 2016. The hatching 2