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Thanks to NetGalley and Atria for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Release Date: Available Now
352 Pages
Synopsis: 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.
They’re baaack! Those creepy eight-legged critters from The Hatching have returned to cause even more monstrous mayhem in this thoroughly enjoyable sequel. Once again the somewhat large cast of characters makes it difficult to really get to know them all that well, but some of their individual stories are developed a bit more this time around. Adding to the horror of man-eating spiders, is the way the U.S. government is forced to respond in order to try to contain the threat. In some ways, Skitter is definitely a filler book. While the plot advances from the first book, except for the Spanish Protocol and discovering what the spiders’ endgame might be, it mostly goes back and forth between countries and characters. The ending is a huge cliffhanger which perfectly sets things up for the final book. Will the spiders prevail and jump to the top of the food chain, or will human ingenuity win in the end? If you’re a horror fan and love movies like Arachnophobia and Eight Legged Freaks, I highly recommend The Hatching and Skitter. While there are plenty of scenes that will make you squirm, there’s also instances of sly humor. I’m eagerly looking forward to seeing how the Author wraps everything up in the final book.
Frank Frisson said:
Haven’t read a good monster book in a while. I’m very interested in reading this book. Thanks for this review.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
These are really fun creepy crawly books. If you give them a try I hope you enjoy them!
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Bionic Book Worm said:
Oh no no no no!! Spiders. My skin is already crawling!! This would give me nightmares for months!!
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
After reading both books I kept feeling crawling sensations on me for a couple of days!
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Bionic Book Worm said:
Ewww no omg. There’s only two things in life I can’t handle. Spiders and clowns! 😂
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Right?!😱
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Birdie said:
That wolf image is awful!! I want to show everyone I know who’s afraid of spiders!
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Birdie said:
spider, I mean. LOL. I wish there was an edit button.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
I completely emphasize!😡
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Mowahaha!😏
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Drew @ The Tattooed Book Geek said:
Love these books, overall I preferred The Hatching but Skitter is great to, just good dumb entertaining fun that is enjoyable to read. Can’t wait for the last book in the trilogy!😀🕷️🕸️
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Exactly! You don’t have to think while reading. They’re just fun. Besides the spiders, if I had to pick some more favorites it would be the survivalist, especially Gordo and Shotgun.
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Drew @ The Tattooed Book Geek said:
Ha, those two are great though I’m apprehensive about that group as they have Claymore and nothing better happen to the dog else I won’t be happy with Boone!😠
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Same here Drew. I hate it when animals are hurt or killed in books and movies!😕
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Eddy Winko said:
I had to scroll the gif off my screen to read the review. I will not be reading this book 🙂
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Tee Hee Hee! I almost went with a cute cartoon spider, but the evil side of me won out Eddy.😈
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Carrie said:
I might have to try these sometime, although all I need is a fear of creepy crawlies attacking. LOL
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
These really are fun reads Carrie!😁
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Carrie said:
I don’t know if I’d call spiders “fun”. 😛
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Aw c’mon! Man-eating spiders are totally misunderstood!😏
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Carrie said:
LOL
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Felicia Denise said:
SPIDERS??? Nope! *Runs to the exit!*
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Hahaha!😁😏
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Jay said:
So I’d need to start withthefirst, I take it?
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Definitely. Jay, I think you’ll love these!
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Lekeisha The Booknerd said:
I don’t think I’ll try this series. Spiders freak me out. I would spend the whole time scratching while reading. LOL
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Hahaha!😂
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mikealixonline said:
Has everybody run out of bug spray?
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
I don’t think there’s enough bug spray in the world to kill these suckers!😁
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mikealixonline said:
Have you checked?
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Haha! No, but I think I’d rather go with flame throwers!😂
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Books, Vertigo and Tea said:
I am so glad this series continues to deliver. I have yet to start The Hatching, but it has been on my TBR for some time 🙂
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
I’d love to hear your thoughts on these if you get to them Danielle!😊
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beetleypete said:
Flesh-eating spiders? That’s a film franchise if I ever saw one!
Best wishes, Pete.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Ha!And not just flesh eating ones Pete. Some of these buggers hatch inside of people and tear them apart! Sorry. I just had to share that lovely image.😈 There actually have been rumors that they’re turning this into a movie so we’ll see. It certainly reads like one.
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vinnieh said:
As Pete said, this would make a cracking movie.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Absolutely!
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vinnieh said:
A good creature feature.
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Jackie @ toomuchofabooknerd said:
That Gif of the spider just gave me the SHIVERS!!! 😀
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
MOWAHAHA!😈
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Jackie @ toomuchofabooknerd said:
😀 😀
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Well, I just got my just desserts. I just went into our family room and there was this huge friggin’ spider on the ceiling. I screamed so loudly my husband thought someone was killing me. Thankfully he smashed it with his sneaker. My hero!
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Jackie @ toomuchofabooknerd said:
Ahh! He truly is a hero! I could never kill a spider myself, I always have to get my dad to do it! 😀
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KrystiYAandWine said:
Bah!!! I do not think I can handle this book! My worst fears realized. Eeep!!! Great review though, Kim! So glad that you enjoyed it!
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Thanks Krysti! It’s definitely not the type of book for everyone.😏
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ignitedmoth said:
Ugh, that spider gif!! *shudders* I feel like if I ever tried reading these books I’d constantly be stopping myself to look around for any creeping spiders. lol
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
I know. I’m sorry. I just couldn’t resist!😏 I think the Powers That Be gave me payback though when I walked into our family room only two see a large, very icky looking spider on the ceiling. Thankfully my husband has great reflexes!
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ignitedmoth said:
Yikes! Thank goodness for your husband’s spider-killing skills! I hate when I see a spider and someone else in the room is like “I’ll kill it” and they fail as hard as they possibly can and the spider scuttles away and disappears. lol
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
😁😁😁
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theorangutanlibrarian said:
Arghh that gif made me jump!!! Yikes!!!
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
MOWAHAHA!😈
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theorangutanlibrarian said:
hahahaha
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
😏
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LizScanlon said:
I totally hate spiders but having read a few reviews for the two books, I am bloody intrigued to read them… even though I know I’d be sooo itchy 😀 Great review, to the point… and that gif is the worst I’ve ever seen 😀
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
I’m so sorry about the gif. That was definitely sadistic of me. As for the books Liz, they’re not examples of the “Great American Novel”, but they’re a lot of fun particularly if you’re a fan of monster movies like Arachnohobia that have that sly sense of humor.
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LizScanlon said:
Hahaha.. not to worry, Drew did kind of ‘desensitize’ me towards the spider gifs when he was writing his reviews XD but I am trying to overcome my fear of them so I try to be all cool about it 🙂 Maybe that’s why I want to read the books as well… just challenge myself. They do sound very good!
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
I’m a total wuss. I make my husband kill the creepy critters that show up in our house!
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LizScanlon said:
You know, I used to make he husband do the dirty work as well.. but he was feeling so guilty every time I asked him to, that I just said- OK, I have to do it myself. It probably helps with the fear a bit.. just having to approach them. Makes me sound awful though… yikes 😛
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
I don’t mind little ones. I actually usually try to catch them in a Dixie cup and release them outside. It’s those bigger sketchy looking ones that I can’t stand. Oh, and daddy long legs completely freak me out!
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LizScanlon said:
I know right? Creepy as hell!
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Ugh!
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Lashaan (Bookidote) said:
I swear, that GIF is enough to kill me. I thoroughly hate spiders, especially those that just appear out of nowhere. The idea that you don’t know where they could be or what they could do (how the hell we supposed to know if it has venom or nah?!?!). However, I do like fictional spiders, especially when they’re tamed/controlled by humans. I have.. the first book.. and I’m quite aware that it’s much more of a “just for fun and entertaining” kind of book than a literary masterpiece, but maan, I need some sort of bigger push to really start this one. Maybe some day I’ll pick it up from my shelves and start it, or maybe I’ll wait for the finale. 😛 Great and honest review, as always, Kim! 😀
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
I’m sorry Lashaan. That really was cruel of me. It seems I have a bit of a sadistic streak. I think these would be summer beach reads!
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