Hemlock Grove A Novel | Review

rating: 4.5 stars
I have heard of the show first before the book. My sister told me that this show is pretty good and knowing it's a werewolf show, i had high doubts about it but man, when i started reading the book, i was blown away how first of all, the writing was so effing good. I have watched two episodes of season 1 and the transformation of Peter into a wolf was so freaking good i just had to screen shot it. 

Peter's transformation into a wolf

In the book, it was accurately described: a snout emerged through its lips and worked open and shut, its old face bunched around it in an obsolete mask. 

I say this novel is a delicious concoction of Gothic and paranormal! 
Hemlock Grove: A Novel by Brian McGreevy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

One of my absolute favourite gothic reads this year.


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Okay, first things first. 
Let's polish our vocab, shall we? Big words found in this book (or words that quite tickle my fancy)

Gesundheit - German, used to wish good health to a person who just sneezed
deliquescing - become liquid, typically during decomposition
augur - (of an event or circumstance) portend a good or bad outcome
golliwog - a soft doll with bright clothes, a black face, and fuzzy hair
Peripeteia - a sudden reversal of fortune or change in circumstances, especially in  reference to fictional narrative

This novel follows Peter, a half Italian, half gypsy young man, moving into Hemlock Grove with his mother in a trailer off the side of the road. Peter is no ordinary boy. In fact, he came from a line of werewolves, and he turns into one when the sun sets during a 'Harvest Moon'.

He had an unfortunate encounter with this weird girl named Christina, admitting to her he was a werewolf, in a jest and she started to spread gossip around school that he was and this caused Peter to suffer several bullying episodes, even though he could not care less.

The Godfreys are the town's most influential family. They own several buildings and business including a hospital that has a special unit for 'experimentation'. Peter has befriended the young heir, Roman Godfrey, who had fascination for blood and has an uncanny talent of influencing people's actions through intense eye contact. 

Peter was also quite fascinated with Roman's sister, a giant girl with a glowing blue face (much like when you read your phone in the dark except it's like blue backlight and it's coming from her features) which also made other students bully her endlessly. Roman would rescue her sister as he is very fond of her and regard her quite tenderly. Shelley is her name and she is Roman's tender spot. Godfreys tend to stick to each other and no brainer that Roman is also tight with his cousin Letha Godfrey, his uncle Norman Godfrey's sociable daughter.

Now, amidst all that's happening between school and the blossoming friendships among these young people, a mangled body of a young girl was found which appears to have been attacked by a wild animal and this drove Peter and the other kids to find out who is responsible for the murder. The murders kept coming and it would occur during night time, preferably when the moon is full. Now, going back to the gossip Christina made, Peter is now being suspected by everybody for all these murders. Roman accompanies Peter in finding out who the real killer of these poor innocent girls.

First of all, the writing is very gothic and a little bit like Lemony Snickett-y which i like pretty much. Also, the book has only 319 pages but it felt like it should have been a trilogy instead. It's brilliant in such a way that you get a lot of goings on in such a short book. The writing takes a little bit used to, sometimes it feels like the author is slowly pushing you forward in a dense foggy forest and suddenly you find yourself in the edge of the cliff and falling, fallling! 

My favourite character is Shelley, the big gentle giant. She reminds me a bit of Herman Munster, huge and tall, but gentle in spirit. Unlike Herman, though, Shelley is extremely intelligent.

In one of her letters to her uncle Norman Godfrey, she goes:

"And more important, i feel as though Mother took note. I am more than some living--albeit unweildy--marionette who will dance obediently at the manipulation of her strings; as you have been so kind to suggest, i am an intelligent, autonomous individual with valid desires."

Also, there is an introduction to the story of an unusual creature, a Valgurf,a wolf gone insane. He attacks regardless if it's hungry or not, provoked or not for the sheer pleasure of attacking. 

The story does not only revolve around Hemlock Grove and the kids and their sleuthing around but it delves deeper into the lives of the older generation... the parents of young Roman Godfrey and Peter's grandfather Nicolae, the lone werewolf and how these old families' past affected the most recent generations.

I felt like there should be more to the book, it felt like there should be a more concrete closure to each of the families. It's the only reason i'm taking a half star out of my ratings.

All in all, i was quite fascinated by the magical elements of this story, how  each of the characters have influenced each other's lives indirectly and the scary choices that each of the kids have to face and above all, heroic acts that lead them to pursue and vanquish the real enemy.

Lastly, i am sad to say i was spoiled with the ending of Season 2 of the show, and reading the book, the cliffhanger DID NOT happen in the book. This leads me to believe that the producers plan to extend the book and build more into story than what the book can offer. I can totally understand where it's coming from because the book is so rich in plot that they would be able to do so. 

"Don't hunt when you're not hungry; when you do hunt, go for the flank, thus avoiding antlers in front and hooves in the rear; and when you are filled with the song of the universe, the breathing spirit that passes through and unites all things, throw your head back and close your eyes and join in" - Hemlock Grove

"Our love must not be a thing of words and fine talk. It must be a thing of action and sincerity." - Hemlock Grove