This book takes off a bit slow through maybe the first third of it, with quite a bit of character development to the main characters. All the while you get glimpses at the monsters through different side-characters in town running into them, sort of teasing you to what's coming. Then the main characters finally get it, and wow that's when this book took off for me. I was a bit nauseated, heartbroken, horrified and absolutely filled with endorphins at different points throughout. That sounds awful but that's kind of what I want out of a simple creature horror novel. I want a rollercoaster, and The Shuddering really brings it. This novel kicks you down, picks you back up again, then kicks you even harder. Loved it and I will always endorse this book as an extremely fun, easily consumed creature horror.