"Oh my goodness! This book scared the living daylights out of me—more than the sum of all the horrifying horror movies and books I’ve ever devoured. And it’s not because of gore, gruesome imagery, or jump scares. It’s the raw, emotional terror of the situations these characters face� the slow, creeping fear that grows deeper every time a character you’ve connected with meets a haunting end.

This isn’t just a horror story—it’s about facing your own fears head-on. It triggered a level of anxiety and panic in me that I wasn't prepared for. It’s not about fictional villains or monsters under the bed; it’s about grief, trauma, feelings of inadequacy, fractured family dynamics, personal guilt, and the ugly truths we bury deep inside ourselves. It’s about those inner demons that keep us from truly living.

I highly recommend reading the author’s note at the end. It will resonate with anyone who has a complicated relationship with their parents—or has encountered real-life shapeshifters. You might even be one yourself.

The story begins with a young boy witnessing his father’s violent outburst—an eruption of fury that forces the boy to run away from home.

Then we meet Jess, a failed actress who recently moved to LA. After rejecting a sleazy advance from her boss, she’s blacklisted from top-tier restaurants and now works the graveyard shift at a rundown diner. She’s still reeling from the death of her estranged father and struggling to open up emotionally to her mother, Cookie, who lives in senior care.

One night, after accidentally stabbing herself with a junkie’s discarded needle while cleaning a vomit-covered restroom, Jess decides to head home early—thinking nothing could possibly make her night worse. But she’s wrong. As soon as she returns to her apartment, sipping a beer and googling what she might have been injected with, she hears strange sounds outside.

She discovers the young boy from the opening scene and takes him in—only to hear screaming from her neighbors. That’s when she realizes two terrifying things:

The boy’s father is hunting him.

Something between a wild bear and a monstrous wolf is attacking people nearby.

They have to run.

During their frantic escape, Jess discovers the horrifying truth: the boy’s father and the monstrous creature are one and the same. And to survive, she’ll have to uncover the deeper secrets surrounding this boy she’s trying so hard to protect� if escape is even possible.

Overall:
This was mind-blowing—terrifying, yes, but also surprisingly emotional, introspective, and thought-provoking. I felt an unexpected connection with the author and the story’s themes. I’m giving it five shapeshifting stars and can’t wait to read more of his work!

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group/Tor Nightfire for providing me with a digital reviewer copy of this unique and unforgettable horror novel in exchange for my honest thoughts.

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