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Infested
Something sinister is happening inside the New Leaf apartment building
Olivia wakes on her bedroom floor, head spinning in a pool of vomit. Something isn’t right. The power is off and her husband is missing.
But the vicious storm outside is nothing compared to the storm raging outside her apartment doors. A parasite has begun invading, possessing, the residents. Transforming them into twisted, murderous versions of their former selves with one thing on their mind. To kill.
Screams echo from the darkened hallway as Olivia, desperate to find her husband, ventures unknowingly into a world of violence and mayhem.
Trapped within the New Leaf’s endless corridors, she must face her fears and discover the dark, ancient secret behind the insanity. She must face the Infested.
Fans of Resident Evil and Walking Dead series will love this fast-paced visceral horror
*moments of extreme violence - death - gore - child death
Olivia wakes on her bedroom floor, head spinning in a pool of vomit. Something isn’t right. The power is off and her husband is missing.
But the vicious storm outside is nothing compared to the storm raging outside her apartment doors. A parasite has begun invading, possessing, the residents. Transforming them into twisted, murderous versions of their former selves with one thing on their mind. To kill.
Screams echo from the darkened hallway as Olivia, desperate to find her husband, ventures unknowingly into a world of violence and mayhem.
Trapped within the New Leaf’s endless corridors, she must face her fears and discover the dark, ancient secret behind the insanity. She must face the Infested.
Fans of Resident Evil and Walking Dead series will love this fast-paced visceral horror
*moments of extreme violence - death - gore - child death
270 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 1, 2022
163 people are currently reading
736 people want to read
About the author
C.M. Forest
18books91followersC.M. Forest, also known as Christian Laforet, is the author of the novel Infested, as well as the novella We All Fall Before the Harvest. A self-proclaimed horror movie expert, he spent an embarrassing amount of his youth watching scary movies. When not writing, he lives in Ontario, Canada with his wife, kids, three cats and a pandemic dog named Sully who has an ongoing love affair with a blanket. Find him online at ChristianLaforet.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews
May 23, 2025
I really appreciated CM Forest's acknowledgments at the very end. You could tell how much time and effort went into this book, and often times authors forget to reference those who make it all possible. So when I read the summary to this and it said fans of Resident Evil will love it, well, Forest definitely got the vibe of that series down. And I am a diehard fan, so that should say a lot. It literally felt just like a direct spinoff of the RE games. I felt like I was right back in an SD Perry novel all over again. Nonstop action, parasitic genetically-engineered bugs infecting people, creepy atmosphere, etc, all were on point. And the details to the environments, whether immediate areas like the apartments and even the larger-scale areas like the labs, gave you a vivid picture of what Forest wanted you to see. The premise was a bit much, but, again, if you are fans of the RE series, it will make sense. Sometimes you have to suspend disbelief to enjoy oneself. My main critiques would be that the ending felt a little rushed, and I really wanted some more depth to Olivia. With so much action and focus on the creatures, I felt like some of her potential was sacrificed. But that shouldn't take away from all of the really positive qualities of this book. Fans of both science fiction and horror can both have a very enjoyable time here.
April 20, 2024
I really enjoyed most of the book until really near the end. There's not a ton of graphic stuff but the descriptions of the infested were pretty cool and I liked the way the infestation aspect was done. Olivia was a generally compelling character and I did love to hate her husband so there was that too.
Spoilers ahead read the next paragraph at your own discretion. Near the end the main character gets onto a floor where, conveniently, there's both a lab and a board room, in the board room there is a file with convenient profiles of the residents of the building including a ridiculous psychological profile of herself. In the lab section there's a conveniently not password protected computer where the employee was also conveniently working on a report in very layman terms and not you know a bunch of data that would make little sense to someone who isn't working on the project. While yes that part did wrap everything up nicely it was a little too convenient and unnecessary.
3.5 Rounded up because the rest of the book was pretty good.
Spoilers ahead read the next paragraph at your own discretion. Near the end the main character gets onto a floor where, conveniently, there's both a lab and a board room, in the board room there is a file with convenient profiles of the residents of the building including a ridiculous psychological profile of herself. In the lab section there's a conveniently not password protected computer where the employee was also conveniently working on a report in very layman terms and not you know a bunch of data that would make little sense to someone who isn't working on the project. While yes that part did wrap everything up nicely it was a little too convenient and unnecessary.
3.5 Rounded up because the rest of the book was pretty good.
May 24, 2022
** Edited as review is now live on Kendall Reviews! **
Not so long ago, I was lucky enough to read Forest’s novella ‘We All Fall Before the Harvest.� This was my first experience with his writing, but, coincidentally, right around the time I was offered that book for review, I was also contacted about an ARC of his upcoming novel ‘Infested.� I agreed to both, and read the novella first, excited to see how each piece played out.
I have to say � I really enjoyed his novella, but after devouring ‘Infested� over this past weekend, this one really delivered. I’m not sure about the writing timeline and when each one was originally completed first, but ‘Infested� showed a progression in prose over ‘We All Fall…� which I really loved to see.
What I liked: ‘Infested� is a claustrophobic nightmare. We arrive in the thick of things. Olivia wakes us, her husband missing, a storm raging and the power out. Shortly, she finds people who’re brutalized and soon she sees the cause � massive earwig-like creatures that seemingly zombify the host body.
Forest does a great job of keeping the pacing high and the tension extreme. We gallop along, and you’ll find you’re flipping the pages as fast as you can, wanting to see just who will survive and what will be left of them.
He also does a great job of wrapping in a familial dynamic subplot, one that really worked well to heighten key aspects but also keep the reader guessing until the very end.
What I didn’t like: I almost found the beginning to be too claustrophobic and scattered. It’s hard to describe and remain spoiler-free, but we get a lot of stuff thrown at us immediately and I wanted the pacing to just back off a touch, learn more about Olivia and others.
Why you should buy this: ‘Infested� is a stomping, creature-feature that will bring you back to the joy of your youth when you’d read these crazy stories that made you squirm and flinch, but ultimately had you wrapped in its grasp until the very end.
Laforest deftly crafts a dark story with great characters and some fantastic twists and turns that really keep you guessing and wishing the power would just turn back on.
Really well done!
Not so long ago, I was lucky enough to read Forest’s novella ‘We All Fall Before the Harvest.� This was my first experience with his writing, but, coincidentally, right around the time I was offered that book for review, I was also contacted about an ARC of his upcoming novel ‘Infested.� I agreed to both, and read the novella first, excited to see how each piece played out.
I have to say � I really enjoyed his novella, but after devouring ‘Infested� over this past weekend, this one really delivered. I’m not sure about the writing timeline and when each one was originally completed first, but ‘Infested� showed a progression in prose over ‘We All Fall…� which I really loved to see.
What I liked: ‘Infested� is a claustrophobic nightmare. We arrive in the thick of things. Olivia wakes us, her husband missing, a storm raging and the power out. Shortly, she finds people who’re brutalized and soon she sees the cause � massive earwig-like creatures that seemingly zombify the host body.
Forest does a great job of keeping the pacing high and the tension extreme. We gallop along, and you’ll find you’re flipping the pages as fast as you can, wanting to see just who will survive and what will be left of them.
He also does a great job of wrapping in a familial dynamic subplot, one that really worked well to heighten key aspects but also keep the reader guessing until the very end.
What I didn’t like: I almost found the beginning to be too claustrophobic and scattered. It’s hard to describe and remain spoiler-free, but we get a lot of stuff thrown at us immediately and I wanted the pacing to just back off a touch, learn more about Olivia and others.
Why you should buy this: ‘Infested� is a stomping, creature-feature that will bring you back to the joy of your youth when you’d read these crazy stories that made you squirm and flinch, but ultimately had you wrapped in its grasp until the very end.
Laforest deftly crafts a dark story with great characters and some fantastic twists and turns that really keep you guessing and wishing the power would just turn back on.
Really well done!
February 9, 2023
This book had me tied up in knots. So many twists and turns to it.
First of all though, I saw the word hydro and I squeed. I felt like I was at home again with the Ontario slang.
I don’t ever want to be stuck in a huge building with no power when who knows what is in there with you.
Check trigger warnings before reading.
First of all though, I saw the word hydro and I squeed. I felt like I was at home again with the Ontario slang.
I don’t ever want to be stuck in a huge building with no power when who knows what is in there with you.
Check trigger warnings before reading.
June 4, 2022
Horror Bookworm Reviews
A brand new high-rise building is in the structural stages of an industrial conglomerate. The New Leaf construction presently houses business partners and share holders as the preparation for growth begins its wealthy road to success. Be that as it may, a menacing storm broods in the distance slowly making its way towards the corporate landscape of multi-storied apartments. With it brings a foreboding infestation of unbelievable terrors.
Author C.M. Forest casts the ultimate creepy shadow upon the horror fiction genre. His parasite packed novel entitled Infested, blends a maddening disease with a plague of horrid insect creatures that the worst of nightmares are made of. These varying monstrous forms of centipedes, earwigs and segmented bodies of Hell represent a feeding frenzy festering between each and every page. The novel is literally crawling with numerous “slapped-hand-over-silent-scream� moments.
C.M. Forest is quite skilled at descriptive visions of creepy crawly carnage. Besides the unexpected storyline that lays dormant among the skittering of little legs and the glistening mucus of a meat-host, this retching read pulls no punches. The offensive image-inducing chapters fuse together to create an unforgettable nitty-gritty atmosphere.
The thought of a wriggling insect sliding down one’s throat will remain embedded in my memory bank for a good long time. Damn you C.M. Forest and your writing skills! Infested is a full-tilt 10 out of 10 on the heebie-jeebies scale, and a 5 out of 5 stars on the Horror Bookworm Recommendation scale. Grab this one.
A brand new high-rise building is in the structural stages of an industrial conglomerate. The New Leaf construction presently houses business partners and share holders as the preparation for growth begins its wealthy road to success. Be that as it may, a menacing storm broods in the distance slowly making its way towards the corporate landscape of multi-storied apartments. With it brings a foreboding infestation of unbelievable terrors.
Author C.M. Forest casts the ultimate creepy shadow upon the horror fiction genre. His parasite packed novel entitled Infested, blends a maddening disease with a plague of horrid insect creatures that the worst of nightmares are made of. These varying monstrous forms of centipedes, earwigs and segmented bodies of Hell represent a feeding frenzy festering between each and every page. The novel is literally crawling with numerous “slapped-hand-over-silent-scream� moments.
C.M. Forest is quite skilled at descriptive visions of creepy crawly carnage. Besides the unexpected storyline that lays dormant among the skittering of little legs and the glistening mucus of a meat-host, this retching read pulls no punches. The offensive image-inducing chapters fuse together to create an unforgettable nitty-gritty atmosphere.
The thought of a wriggling insect sliding down one’s throat will remain embedded in my memory bank for a good long time. Damn you C.M. Forest and your writing skills! Infested is a full-tilt 10 out of 10 on the heebie-jeebies scale, and a 5 out of 5 stars on the Horror Bookworm Recommendation scale. Grab this one.
June 17, 2022
Great Story, fun read and fast paced!
If you are creeped out by crawlers and insects this book is perfect for you! Plus, are you freaked out by the thought they could infect you and control you?
Olivia wakes up in the dark of her apartment. A thunderstorm is roaring outside and her husband is nowhere to be found. She has a hangover and a splitting headache. She is trying to figure out what happened the night before. And then the building shakes. This is just the beginning for Olivia. During the rest of the night she fights for her life, tries to find her husband, tries to find out what exactly happened while she was sleeping, and what in the world are these creatures?
If you are creeped out by crawlers and insects this book is perfect for you! Plus, are you freaked out by the thought they could infect you and control you?
Olivia wakes up in the dark of her apartment. A thunderstorm is roaring outside and her husband is nowhere to be found. She has a hangover and a splitting headache. She is trying to figure out what happened the night before. And then the building shakes. This is just the beginning for Olivia. During the rest of the night she fights for her life, tries to find her husband, tries to find out what exactly happened while she was sleeping, and what in the world are these creatures?
June 24, 2022
Infested is a fast paced. Truly unsettling story with elements of body horror and truly skin Crawling sci-fi horror. A thrill ride, start to finish.
Thank You To the Publishing company Eerie River for sending me a copy of this for consideration of review. Loved the decision to put illustrations of insects on each chapters first page.
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This is a well thought out Scifi insect horror, filled with scenes of brutal body horror. I leaned over and said multiple times to my wife " this book is truly unsettling" for me to say that, it says alot about the effectiveness of the author's horror they have put down on the page. The author put alot of work into the back story on the insects and their origin as well. As a Scifi fan I appreciated that work being put into the origin.
The writing is well done, and lends itself to being able to be read very quickly. The chapters are very short and increase the pacing of the story in a way that I enjoyed. I feel that these quick chapters suck the reader in.
The MC was well fleshed out and has a great story arch. With exception of her I felt that the other characters lacked a little substance in my opinion. None of this hindered the story though in my opinion. I have other thoughts on certain character motivations and personalities that would be deemed spoilers but reach out if you want to chat.
Overall this was fun as hell and I highly recommend this book. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank You To the Publishing company Eerie River for sending me a copy of this for consideration of review. Loved the decision to put illustrations of insects on each chapters first page.
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°پԲ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Characters ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
ܲ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is a well thought out Scifi insect horror, filled with scenes of brutal body horror. I leaned over and said multiple times to my wife " this book is truly unsettling" for me to say that, it says alot about the effectiveness of the author's horror they have put down on the page. The author put alot of work into the back story on the insects and their origin as well. As a Scifi fan I appreciated that work being put into the origin.
The writing is well done, and lends itself to being able to be read very quickly. The chapters are very short and increase the pacing of the story in a way that I enjoyed. I feel that these quick chapters suck the reader in.
The MC was well fleshed out and has a great story arch. With exception of her I felt that the other characters lacked a little substance in my opinion. None of this hindered the story though in my opinion. I have other thoughts on certain character motivations and personalities that would be deemed spoilers but reach out if you want to chat.
Overall this was fun as hell and I highly recommend this book. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
June 2, 2022
This book is SUPERB! It is a fast-paced story with layers like an onion that slowly gets peeled away to reveal a horrifying conclusion. It is claustrophobic and nail-biting with just enough eebie jeebies to keep the goosebumps prickled and the hair raised on the back of your neck the entire time.
Quite possibly my favorite part was the beginning where the narration zeroes in on the limited perspective of the main protagonist. It draws you in because as a reader you are just as mystified by what the character is going through as the woman is. You know no more than she does and this is where the horror and terror begins
The story is well planned and ordered and everything is neatly tied up in the end with a satisfying though slightly rushed ending.
Let C.M. Forest grab you by the throat and take you on a journey of creepy crawly terror in Infested.
Quite possibly my favorite part was the beginning where the narration zeroes in on the limited perspective of the main protagonist. It draws you in because as a reader you are just as mystified by what the character is going through as the woman is. You know no more than she does and this is where the horror and terror begins
The story is well planned and ordered and everything is neatly tied up in the end with a satisfying though slightly rushed ending.
Let C.M. Forest grab you by the throat and take you on a journey of creepy crawly terror in Infested.
June 8, 2024
1.5/5 (rounded up for GoodReads)
I really wanted to like this, I really did but it was a total miss for me. I don’t know what it was but I didn’t connect with this story at all and struggled to care about the main character. Because of this, I didn’t find myself interested or invested in the read. The only reason I didn’t DNF is because I was hosting this as a group read for a Bookclub.
In theory, this should be really fun. A secluded brand new condominium, a horrific storm trapping all the occupants inside and a seemingly “zombie� outbreak but make it bugs infesting the humans. It’s fast-paced and has and starts with a bang. It just wasn’t for me. I will say, the side story from the boyfriend probably interested me the most but otherwise I was forcing myself to read the pages. I will say though, that I think there’s definitely potential here and I’m not writing this author off, I know he has a novella out that I plan on picking up next month.
I really wanted to like this, I really did but it was a total miss for me. I don’t know what it was but I didn’t connect with this story at all and struggled to care about the main character. Because of this, I didn’t find myself interested or invested in the read. The only reason I didn’t DNF is because I was hosting this as a group read for a Bookclub.
In theory, this should be really fun. A secluded brand new condominium, a horrific storm trapping all the occupants inside and a seemingly “zombie� outbreak but make it bugs infesting the humans. It’s fast-paced and has and starts with a bang. It just wasn’t for me. I will say, the side story from the boyfriend probably interested me the most but otherwise I was forcing myself to read the pages. I will say though, that I think there’s definitely potential here and I’m not writing this author off, I know he has a novella out that I plan on picking up next month.
May 18, 2022
Olivia wakes up in her own pool of vomit during a thunderstorm to find her husband absent and the electricity off. She goes in search of her missing husband and finds so much more than she planned.
This modern horror story made me cringe and even turn my head away from the words on the pages. It doesn’t shy away from any of the nasty things. And boy are there some hella nasty things going on in the New Leaf building.
My only issue was a character’s situation but believe the author was trying to support the struggles of those who identify as transgender. Especially considering they are one of the most likeable characters in the book. Almost all the characters are unlikable even the main character, though she definitely redeemed herself by the end.
I really enjoyed the modern day gothic horror vibes - the use of setting and weather played a brilliant part in building the anxiety and reflecting the characters own states of mind.
I had major nostalgia of playing the resident evil computer games mixed with many moments reminiscent of the Aliens movies.
If you like horror, it’s definitely worth checking out.
This modern horror story made me cringe and even turn my head away from the words on the pages. It doesn’t shy away from any of the nasty things. And boy are there some hella nasty things going on in the New Leaf building.
My only issue was a character’s situation but believe the author was trying to support the struggles of those who identify as transgender. Especially considering they are one of the most likeable characters in the book. Almost all the characters are unlikable even the main character, though she definitely redeemed herself by the end.
I really enjoyed the modern day gothic horror vibes - the use of setting and weather played a brilliant part in building the anxiety and reflecting the characters own states of mind.
I had major nostalgia of playing the resident evil computer games mixed with many moments reminiscent of the Aliens movies.
If you like horror, it’s definitely worth checking out.
May 17, 2022
Some how, Forest manages to keep ratcheting up the tension from the first page to the last!
Trapped, surrounded by danger, and with no answers, Olivia must figure out what's going on if she has any chance of staying alive. Who's the real enemy? Who can she trust? How far is she willing to go?
The juxtaposition of the modern building and the primal raging storm create the perfect setting for this slow-burn horror. The protagonist is easy to root for and the mysterious terror she faces is enough to make your skin crawl.
Trapped, surrounded by danger, and with no answers, Olivia must figure out what's going on if she has any chance of staying alive. Who's the real enemy? Who can she trust? How far is she willing to go?
The juxtaposition of the modern building and the primal raging storm create the perfect setting for this slow-burn horror. The protagonist is easy to root for and the mysterious terror she faces is enough to make your skin crawl.
May 9, 2022
Highrise Terror! Where to run when the whole building is awash with terrifying monster insects infesting every man and out to kill any still free. C. M. Forest forever builds tension in this science fiction horror. Too many questions go unanswered as Olivia seeks refuge from all. She must resolve them if she is to escape the terror that lurks everywhere - on every floor, behind every door, in every hallway or stairwell.
April 8, 2023
2.5 Reads like the novelization of a survival horror video game, but not necessarily in a bad way. Maybe the author should be writing Resident Evil spin-offs? Pulp monster horror, a woman is trapped in an isolated apartment building where giant bugs are crawling into people’s mouths and turning them into zombies. Not bad so much as shallow and repetitive. The basic ideas are good and it’s a reasonable b movie story but mostly pretty dumb.
May 17, 2022
Really enjoyed this book. It kept me on my toes.
June 3, 2022
*** NO SPOILERS ***
Make sure you have time open to read this book in one sitting. I couldn't put it down
I thought this was one of the best reads of the year for me. As I read as my primary source of entertainment, I read a lot.
From the beginning and for most of the book, we are experiencing things through the eyes of the protagonist - a young wife - who lives with her husband rent free in the first building of several that his company is building at some distance away from the city proper. She wakes up hung over, probably ill, very confused and things at home in the high rise aren't making sense. She can't remember much of the last night, finds a pill bottle at home that she didn't recognize. Having started off so well for the morning, everything else following is a high speed roller coaster of fear, panic, violence, uncertainty, and confusion among the other residents of the building. This is primarily her story of trying to hold herself together through it all, dealing with "the Infested" neighbors that are a true terror, and helping a few other survivors try to solve the mysteries of their building and what happened as well as why there has been no evidence of first responders to assist.
The writing is very visual, and I could easily see this as a movie in my head.
The story was well written, the characters with their development throughout the story were all believable. Human, flawed, with their own sets of strengths and weaknesses. The plot has several subplots as threads throughout the tale and there are a few twists, turn and surprises waiting for you.
If you are a horror thriller mystery fan, this is one not to miss. Highly recommended.
The one (tiny) negative comment is the book's cover art. Very evocative in its visual impact, but not quite representative of the story. Having said that, visually if is a great cover.
I received the ARC from Drew Starling's mailing list. My fair and objective reviews are never affected by the source of my ARC reviews, or the fact that it is an ARC review.
*** NO SPOILERS ***
Make sure you have time open to read this book in one sitting. I couldn't put it down
I thought this was one of the best reads of the year for me. As I read as my primary source of entertainment, I read a lot.
From the beginning and for most of the book, we are experiencing things through the eyes of the protagonist - a young wife - who lives with her husband rent free in the first building of several that his company is building at some distance away from the city proper. She wakes up hung over, probably ill, very confused and things at home in the high rise aren't making sense. She can't remember much of the last night, finds a pill bottle at home that she didn't recognize. Having started off so well for the morning, everything else following is a high speed roller coaster of fear, panic, violence, uncertainty, and confusion among the other residents of the building. This is primarily her story of trying to hold herself together through it all, dealing with "the Infested" neighbors that are a true terror, and helping a few other survivors try to solve the mysteries of their building and what happened as well as why there has been no evidence of first responders to assist.
The writing is very visual, and I could easily see this as a movie in my head.
The story was well written, the characters with their development throughout the story were all believable. Human, flawed, with their own sets of strengths and weaknesses. The plot has several subplots as threads throughout the tale and there are a few twists, turn and surprises waiting for you.
If you are a horror thriller mystery fan, this is one not to miss. Highly recommended.
The one (tiny) negative comment is the book's cover art. Very evocative in its visual impact, but not quite representative of the story. Having said that, visually if is a great cover.
I received the ARC from Drew Starling's mailing list. My fair and objective reviews are never affected by the source of my ARC reviews, or the fact that it is an ARC review.
*** NO SPOILERS ***
June 2, 2022
Olivia wakes up alone, on the floor of her apartment. A storm rages, her husband is gone and the power is out. What she doesn't realize is that hell has broken loose and there is no escaping the infested.
CM Forest starts with horror and builds the terror while trying to solve the mystery of what happened to Olivia and her husband while dodging rage fuelled fellow tenants. The plot is well thought out, with a good story arc for the heroine. Its been a while since a book scared me. I'd definitely recommend "Infested".
CM Forest starts with horror and builds the terror while trying to solve the mystery of what happened to Olivia and her husband while dodging rage fuelled fellow tenants. The plot is well thought out, with a good story arc for the heroine. Its been a while since a book scared me. I'd definitely recommend "Infested".
May 17, 2022
I really enjoyed reading this book. It's about a woman trapped in a building with 'infested' people and she has to figure out what is going on and survive.
It was well paced and the atmosphere the book created was really good. Some parts even creeped me out a bit. There was fighting and gore, so be warned.
The plot progressed well and there were a few different plot points going on but it all tied up well in the end.
Overall I would recommend this book if you like book like this.
It was well paced and the atmosphere the book created was really good. Some parts even creeped me out a bit. There was fighting and gore, so be warned.
The plot progressed well and there were a few different plot points going on but it all tied up well in the end.
Overall I would recommend this book if you like book like this.
March 26, 2022
This is a well paced, action packed tale; following Olivia's battle for her life and freedom. Filled with gory fight scenes, twisted science experiments and spine tingling horror. Finished in one day.
Trigger warnings: gore, violence to women
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
@EerieRiver
Trigger warnings: gore, violence to women
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
@EerieRiver
August 6, 2022
Fun twist on classic creature horror
This was a quick, riveting read. C.M. Forest does a great job of laying on atmosphere so thick, I felt like I was sweating and navigating an infested high rise alongside Olivia. Loved her character arc. Recommend for fans of creature horror. Well done.
This was a quick, riveting read. C.M. Forest does a great job of laying on atmosphere so thick, I felt like I was sweating and navigating an infested high rise alongside Olivia. Loved her character arc. Recommend for fans of creature horror. Well done.
April 14, 2022
This book will have you hooked from page one. Full of suspense and tension and just when you think you have it figured out it throws you a massive curveball. I 100% recommend Infested especially if you love horror.
Finished in one sitting.
@EerieRiver
Finished in one sitting.
@EerieRiver
June 2, 2022
I could not put it down, Great read, I loved the plot. For sure a must read.
April 30, 2022
Brief Overview:
Trigger warnings-mention of sexual and physical abuse, gore, violence, violence to a child.
�
Something sinister is happening inside the New Leaf apartment building
Olivia wakes on her bedroom floor, head spinning in a pool of vomit. Something isn’t right. The power is off, and her husband is missing.
But the vicious storm outside is nothing compared to the storm raging outside her apartment doors. A parasite has begun invading, possessing, the residents. Transforming them into twisted, murderous versions of their former selves with one thing on their mind. To kill.
Screams echo from the darkened hallway as Olivia, desperate to find her husband, ventures unknowingly into a world of violence and mayhem. Trapped within the New Leaf’s endless corridors, she must face her fears and discover the dark, ancient secret behind the insanity. She must face the Infested.
Review:
�
Darklings,
It seems that something is amiss at the apartment complex of New Leaf. A woman wakes to a hangover, heat wave, storm, missing husband, and a power failure. She braves leaving the apartment, after a fashion, and runs into an injured neighbor who claims she was hurt by her husband & that said husband took a girl. So (of course?) the protagonist goes looking...
Read the rest of Dark Rose's review at uncomfortablydark.com!
Trigger warnings-mention of sexual and physical abuse, gore, violence, violence to a child.
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Something sinister is happening inside the New Leaf apartment building
Olivia wakes on her bedroom floor, head spinning in a pool of vomit. Something isn’t right. The power is off, and her husband is missing.
But the vicious storm outside is nothing compared to the storm raging outside her apartment doors. A parasite has begun invading, possessing, the residents. Transforming them into twisted, murderous versions of their former selves with one thing on their mind. To kill.
Screams echo from the darkened hallway as Olivia, desperate to find her husband, ventures unknowingly into a world of violence and mayhem. Trapped within the New Leaf’s endless corridors, she must face her fears and discover the dark, ancient secret behind the insanity. She must face the Infested.
Review:
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Darklings,
It seems that something is amiss at the apartment complex of New Leaf. A woman wakes to a hangover, heat wave, storm, missing husband, and a power failure. She braves leaving the apartment, after a fashion, and runs into an injured neighbor who claims she was hurt by her husband & that said husband took a girl. So (of course?) the protagonist goes looking...
Read the rest of Dark Rose's review at uncomfortablydark.com!
June 2, 2022
Foster CM Infested
I'm not normally a fan of the 'Mutant bugs Conquer Earth' type story but I was impressed by the writer's ability to make the fear, nae terror, of the principal character all too believable. Despite seeing herself as a weak person deeply affected by the trauma of her past she manages to rise to the challenges that the infestation bring displaying almost superhuman abilities driven by fear and determination. They say that necessity is the mother of invention and she does come up with some interesting ways of defeating her enemies while discovering her neighbours warped upbringings and lifestyles en route. Learning of her unfaithful husband's action and its results she deals with the consequences before finally making a momentous decision about her future thereby revealing more of her character.
A well written book that will keep the reader enthralled. If I haven't revealed too much of the plot then that was my aim so that you enjoy it. Hopefully there will be a follow up since there are enough teasing loose ends to crochet a jumper such as with my cynical practical nature I wondered how anyone was going to explain events to the authorities once they were involved!
In the interests of honesty I confess that I got an ARC from Drew Starling's mailing list but the above is my honest humble opinion.
I'm not normally a fan of the 'Mutant bugs Conquer Earth' type story but I was impressed by the writer's ability to make the fear, nae terror, of the principal character all too believable. Despite seeing herself as a weak person deeply affected by the trauma of her past she manages to rise to the challenges that the infestation bring displaying almost superhuman abilities driven by fear and determination. They say that necessity is the mother of invention and she does come up with some interesting ways of defeating her enemies while discovering her neighbours warped upbringings and lifestyles en route. Learning of her unfaithful husband's action and its results she deals with the consequences before finally making a momentous decision about her future thereby revealing more of her character.
A well written book that will keep the reader enthralled. If I haven't revealed too much of the plot then that was my aim so that you enjoy it. Hopefully there will be a follow up since there are enough teasing loose ends to crochet a jumper such as with my cynical practical nature I wondered how anyone was going to explain events to the authorities once they were involved!
In the interests of honesty I confess that I got an ARC from Drew Starling's mailing list but the above is my honest humble opinion.
June 6, 2022
This book is full of mysterious suspense, thrilling twists and turns, dramatic plots and subplots, and of course, nightmare-inducing horror!! I loved every heart-pounding minute of this book and was quite disappointed when I reached the end and realized it was over and I had finished the book. I loved the perspective and first-person-shooter POV the story was in, just like I was dropped in the thick of it and experiencing everything myself. The author did an amazing job with world-building and with the characters in that world!! It was believable and made me so very thankful I didn't live there nor would I have to face the horrors and backstabbing those characters had to face!! This was an intense read but I loved every macabre minute of it!!
I received a copy of this book from Drew Starling's mailing list and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
I received a copy of this book from Drew Starling's mailing list and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
June 11, 2022
We're introduced to a claustrophobic gross-out scene from the very first page and Forest does not let us off the hook for the entire read. Infested is a top quality creature feature with scares and gore in glorious abundance. The story is completely enhanced by the author's ability to tease the reader with a puzzle as Olivia slowly pieces together just what the hell is going on. Infested is a really atmospheric and satisfying read with some fantastic descriptive work from Forest. The creatures had my skin crawling on numerous occasions and I winced at some of the injury detail. C.M. Forest is an author who paints great scenes and I felt I'd explored every inch of the apartment building where the story is set. Infested is my first time reading this author and it serves as a great introduction to his talents. I look forward to reading more.
June 1, 2022
Holy whoa!! I was not ready for this book, but it took me on such an epic journey. This book started very quickly with our main character waking up in a pool of their own vomit, and trying to figure out why their life had been tilted on its head.
Things I loved:
- the gore
- the atmosphere built by the writing
- the creepy crawly sensation I got when reading about the infested
- the desperation felt by the main character as she tried to figure out what was going on
- the evil cabal villain
- the twist at the end
- where the insects came from and how they reproduced (ughh it was both awful and amazing)
- the zombie like feel of the infested as they attacked
***Thank you to Drew Starling for my ARC of this novel!***
Things I loved:
- the gore
- the atmosphere built by the writing
- the creepy crawly sensation I got when reading about the infested
- the desperation felt by the main character as she tried to figure out what was going on
- the evil cabal villain
- the twist at the end
- where the insects came from and how they reproduced (ughh it was both awful and amazing)
- the zombie like feel of the infested as they attacked
***Thank you to Drew Starling for my ARC of this novel!***
June 9, 2022
I found myself sucked right in to this story and the claustrophobic world Forest created in this red-lit, storm-driven, parasite-infested novel. I love that the story is driven forward by a female character who pulls out more go-forth-and-conquer than I usually find in horror novels (usually girls are all resigned to useless, large-titted-and-in-need-of-rescuing characters.)
Forest's use of description and comparison is visceral and pulls no punches, and the action is driven forward in a compelling way through discovery and action leading seamlessly from one chapter to the next.
I recommend this novel to horror fans (and maybe entomologists?) everywhere, but be prepared for some gory, gross-out good fun.
Forest's use of description and comparison is visceral and pulls no punches, and the action is driven forward in a compelling way through discovery and action leading seamlessly from one chapter to the next.
I recommend this novel to horror fans (and maybe entomologists?) everywhere, but be prepared for some gory, gross-out good fun.
June 30, 2022
Well I'm no literary critic, but this story was freakin' awesome! My boring life was briefly made fabulous while reading. I guess I'm lucky because when there is a raging storm outside I can be cozy in my chair reading a horror story, and not like the characters in this book that had to do battle against some vile and disgusting creatures. Reading some of the descriptions made me feel like I swallowed the wrong way, and that is a wonderful thing, book-wise. Non stop action, good characters and a good plot. Love it.
June 2, 2022
Imagine waking up from a hangover, but instead of drunk text regret, you are smack dab in the middle of a nightmare escape room type situation that has you fighting for your life! I read this book in one sitting. A chilling, SciFi whodunnit that takes you on a thrilling ride from start to finish. I received an ARC of Infested from Drew Starling’s mailing list. Do yourself a huge favor and pick yourself up a copy of Sentinel right after you read Infested. Both are must haves!
June 2, 2022
I received this ARC from Drew Starling's group. I loved the book. It has so many surprises and the action keeps coming at you from start to finish. It was a book that was hard to put down. I think anyone who loves horror novels would enjoy this one. It is fast paced and grabs you from page 1. I read it in 3 days and couldn't wait to see how it all ended.
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