Predator X

I settled in for what I thought would be a sea monster tale and found myself wrapped in a rather dark and horrifying story.The characters are well written and feel interesting especially since it is told from a single person's perspective.This brought back caving memories for me and wrapped them in some heavy psychological stuff. The atmosphere of the story was almost a character unto itself and it played marvelously with the story.At fist the story seems like a strait forward monster tale but it takes a sudden and very unexpected left turn to freaky town and never looks back.The feeling of dread this inspires plays to all those worst fears of dark places we had as kids, something unknown and horrifying lies in wait and it knows all your fears.The author framed this piece just right, I think giving us a single perspective really gave the horror more legitimacy as you, the reader, aren't detached from it. You're right there with the protagonist the whole way.I will not spoil it but the twisting and turning at the end are great and work in the stories favor.I was at first concerned with how short the story is, but now I think it reminds me of Stephen King's short story work where he is most terrifying. This author captures that and the story is just long enough to be fascinating and thrilling.So if you like monsters, giant sea creatures, and deep psychological horror I absolutely recommend this.Sit back, kill the lights, and enjoy!

I would have given this book 5 stars, but it just left too much unexplained. I loved the concept of the book. Loved the feel that the author was able to portray into words - I could feel the cold and darkness. BUT, then the book turned... well.... kind of odd. Entertaining, but odd. I think had the author closed up a few of the loose ends in the novel, I would have bumped it up to 5 stars. But as it stands there just seems too much was left open to interpretation, which is something I really don't find appealing in a book.

What a terrific read! The plot, the characters (not knowing who is truly a danger), the way the story is told, just fantastic!!!My imagination was on a visual overload with each word I read but I was really wishing this was a movie without all the CGI (too much of that now a days), plus I've been so desperate for a story full of suspense and action without the main character focusing on a brewing romance (cause I'm so sick of FM romances in every freakin genre)!And, let me just say, I don't think Id like exploring caves at all. Lol Not after this.There are several things I appreciated in this story...1. Meg's attraction to Janos wasn't overwhelming. Usually in books you think are non romance, you have to suffer through page after page of, "She's so model perfect beautiful, she's so impressive, she's blah, blah, blah! Oh, I want her but I don't or oh he's gorgeous but I can't, but I want him."And of course there has to be attitude and angry words then stare at each other across a room. -rolls eyes-You will find none of that nonsense in this little jewel of a story.2. I appreciated the fact that there was more than one female. Many reads similar to this has the one female ( and of course it's for the love interest), pooh!------------------------- SPOILER ALERT ----------------------------3. What the heck is wrong with these people. They cry sacrilege about using a dead body to save themselves yet the person who is close to death they want to put a bullet through his head or hope he jumps off cliff.And not because that person is in pain but because that person may slow them down.So using a person who is already gone to save themselves is a no go but letting someone die, oh that's perfectly fine. Seriously! WTF!! The others I could care less how they felt but I lost so much respect for Meg after that.But the entire scene seemed sad but real to me.------------------------- SPOILER ALERT OVER ----------------------------There is just so much more I enjoyed about this story! I'm looking forward to reading more stories front this author for sure!!

I purchased this thinking it would be about Predator X, or a giant prehistoric marine reptile, you know, as the cover, title and blurb suggests. Boy was I wrong. Instead we go off on some tangent talking about aliens and a colony. For a book titled Predator X we actually only see the creature maybe three times, and the rest of the time is all about aliens and ancient civilisations. Which is a real shame, because the opening descriptions of an underwater ocean ecosystem essentially isolated from the rest of the world were fantastic. But then it goes off on a tangent, leaving this reader feeling cheated. I think a lot of people could read this and think "actually, I could try and write this and do a better job" simply on how misleading the title and cover are. Feeling cheated.

This is a face-paced page turner that I just couldn't put down. I read this book in one day, a new personal best for me, and it had me hooked from chapter one right up until the devilishly clever ending, that screams write me a sequel. Which I have no doubt will be on the cards. Each character is richly defined and there is never any confusion between them.If CJ Waller is not a spelunking, cave-dwelling, scientist come archeologist, then she must have some seriously messed up nightmares. I was stuck on that subterranean island with them. The claustrophobic atmosphere was so intense that I actually went out to the pictures halfway through reading it for some light hearted entertainment, only I couldn't stop thinking about it and came straight back to it afterwards.Don't listen to the haters this book was great, and so much more than meets the eye.

I've just finished reading Predator X by C.J. Waller and have to say it was a heck of a ride. Right from the off the reader is drawn into the world underground and all the emotions and events evolving within the characters, who are all totally believable. I don't intend giving any information that would act as a spoiler, but I will say that the ending was surprsing, with a clever twist. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves sci-fi mixed with horror - brilliantly written. Am off to read the next one.

Fantastic sci-fi horror from CJ Waller. The set up is intriguing - a rescue team of cavers and scientists sent after a missing expedition to a newly-discovered underground sea - and things get more and more interesting from there. Soon the rescue team is itself trapped, and finds itself facing terrors beyond its comprehension - not least of which is the titular Predator X, a prehistoric sea creature of unparalleled ferocity and power. Predator X has it all - pace, tension, immediacy, twists, turns and an uncomfortably close view of a group of characters rapidly unravelling.

If you like this kind of stuff, which I do, then this is a great read. It requires the willing suspension of disbelief which is what I want from a book like this, so I know I am going to enjoy it within the first few pages. I don't know if the author has ever been caving but she does a pretty good job of making it realistic at the start of the story and so I trust her to take me on the rest of the journey with the required technical plausibility.Good characters and the thoughts and dialogue flow effortlessly.Looking back on it now, I am thinking Jules Verne but modernised. That is not a criticism! I enjoyed it immensely and await the next.I also know the author, but if I didn't like it I might not say so, but I wouldn't give it a good review!