Author: Max Brooks
Publisher: Del Ray Books
Release: June 16^th, 2020
Received: NetGalley
Warnings: Graphic injuries, animal death
Rating:

I received a copy of Devolution in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Remember World War Z? Well, the author behind that novel, Max Brooks is back, and this time he’s writing all about Sasquatches. Devolution is his latest works, and fans will be pleased with what they find here.

Mount Rainier has erupted and brought with it untold destruction and devastation. Lives were lost, roads were destroyed, and people were trapped. This tale is going to focus on those that were trapped.

There is little worse than being trapped in an isolated town with a hoard of hungry Sasquatches on the way. At least, not according to Kate’s journal, a tale of struggle and battle for every day. This is not a tale of the friendly Big Foot, that is certain.

“At first, I still suspected a hoax. I’m old enough to remember the notorious “Hitler’s Dairies.” However, as I finished the last page, I couldn’t help but believe her story. I still do.”

Warnings: Devolution contains graphic detailing about death, injuries, and a combination of the two. There is also animal death that occurs within these pages.

Devolution is easily one of the most intense and graphic novels I’ve read this year. I feel like that’s saying something. Given how World War Z went, I knew that this wasn’t going to be a tale of friendly and happy Big Foots (Big Feet?) roaming the land. Still, I wasn’t prepared for what happened within these pages.

This is a novel told in two perspectives. The first is by a journalist, who is writing about the research he has done on the matter surrounding a journal. The latter, unsurprisingly, is that very journal. But to be clear, the focus is entirely on Kate’s (the author of the journal) story.

Fans of Brooks’ other works will be happy about the formatting, as it did hold true here. Though it held firmly to one storyline and followed it through to the end. So that is something else that fans will surely be happy about, myself included.

Devolution was graphic and harrowing. Brooks did not make any attempt to shy away from just how bad a conflict between humans and Sasquatches could be. Especially when those humans were unarmed and unprepared.

I really enjoyed this read, though I can arguably see why others didn’t or wouldn’t. Not being a believer or crazy about Sasquatch lore, I didn’t have much of a foundation to compare to. So I don’t know how others will receive those elements.

One thing I will say about this novel that Brooks probably couldn’t have planned for: the reception of it during a pandemic. I read the entire thing while in social isolation, and it hit SO hard because of it. The anxiety of being trapped, of not knowing what’s going on, and even the concern about access to food. It’s all there, and it feels more real than ever.

I can’t believe that after all this waiting, Devolution is finally here. It was absolutely worth diving into, even if I have to wait for whatever Max Brooks comes out with next.