Creatures of Want and Ruin

Name: Creatures of Want and Ruin
Price: 16.99 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781328710253

✍️ Molly Tanzer

Reader Score

4.5

(1 review)

$16.99

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

Ellie West investigates her father's cult in 1927 Long Island.

The narrative centers on Ellie West, a young woman balancing a fishing livelihood with illicit alcohol sales. Her world fractures when her father aligns himself with a church group possessing supernatural gifts. This affiliation reveals a deep-seated hostility toward immigrants within the community. The story examines how close relationships can mask dangerous ideologies and hidden powers. Readers witness the gradual erosion of trust as Ellie discovers she knows little about her father or her island.

Key Themes

supernatural church 1927 Long Island family betrayal

Literary Context

The text is set in 1927 on Long Island, a period marked by Prohibition and rising nativist sentiments. The narrative reflects the era's tension between traditional rural life and the influx of new cultural influences, specifically through the lens of a violent religious group targeting immigrants.

Difficulty

●●● Challenging

Recommended For Fans Of

Gothic horror enthusiasts · Fans of psychological unraveling in period settings

🗡️

Dark Fantasy

🏛 William Morrow & Company 📅 2018 📖 352 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781328710253

📝 Description: Creatures of Want and Ruin

Molly Tanzer returns with a sequel that shifts the setting to Long Island in 1927. The narrative follows Ellie West, who spends her days fishing and her nights selling moonshine to local residents. This dual existence provides a grounded view of her community before the supernatural elements take center stage. The plot intensifies when Ellie’s father joins a religious group. These parishioners hold supernatural abilities and harbor a violent animosity toward immigrants. This development forces Ellie to reevaluate her understanding of both her hometown and her family. The story explores the tension between personal loyalty and the disturbing realities of the community she thought she knew. Tanzer, known for her previous work Creatures of Will and Temper, crafts a narrative that blends historical fiction with gothic horror. The book suits readers interested in period pieces involving hidden magical societies and complex family dynamics. It may not appeal to those seeking fast-paced action or purely secular historical accounts. The focus remains on the psychological unraveling of characters within a specific social and temporal context.

💎 Our verdict on Creatures of Want and Ruin

“

🩸

Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

Tanzer crafts a compelling narrative that shifts from previous works to a 1927 Long Island setting, balancing mundane survival with supernatural dread. The protagonist’s investigation into her father’s cult affiliation reveals deep-seated community animosity and hidden gifts, creating a tense atmosphere of psychological unraveling. The story excels in examining the tension between personal loyalty and disturbing social realities. It suits readers who enjoy complex family dynamics and historical contexts involving hidden magical societies. While not for those seeking secular history or rapid pacing, it delivers a rich exploration of trust and identity within a specific temporal and social framework.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who appreciate the slow-burn tension of gothic horror and dark fantasy will find this sequel deeply rewarding. It offers a grounded perspective on community dynamics through Ellie West’s dual life of fishing and moonshine sales, which serves as a stark contrast to the supernatural revelations that follow. The book is ideal for those interested in how close relationships can mask dangerous ideologies and hidden powers. It provides a nuanced look at the erosion of trust within a family and hometown, making it perfect for audiences who enjoy historical fiction blended with cosmic and psychological horror elements rather than fast-paced action.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.5

Based on 1 reviews

Horror Reads editorial team

Tanzer crafts a compelling narrative that shifts from previous works to a 1927 Long Island setting, balancing mundane survival with supernatural dread. The protagonist’s investigation into her father’s cult affiliation reveals deep-seated community animosity and hidden gifts, creating a tense atmosphere of psychological unraveling. The story excels in examining the tension between personal loyalty and disturbing social realities. It suits readers who enjoy complex family dynamics and historical contexts involving hidden magical societies. While not for those seeking secular history or rapid pacing, it delivers a rich exploration of trust and identity within a specific temporal and social framework.