Beasts of New York [Kindle Edition]

Jon Evans (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

`EPIC!

`Beasts of New York is about a squirrel named Patch who, out of desperation and need, adventures beyond his home in Central Kingdom to try and save it. While it seems that fate is conspiring against him, taking him further from his home than any squirrel has traveled, his journey is a necessary step to saving all of Central Kingdom from the evil trying to consume it....

`This book reads like a fantasy novel, even though it is set in New York City. The horrors that Patch encounters at times seemed so unreal to me, despite knowing where they were. Seeing them from another pair of eyes gave some things a new air of terror and others one of wonder.

`This is not a light novel. It is very dark, and at times absolutely horrifying, but I connected so much to Patch as a hero that, in the end, I was left with tears of relief and happiness in my eyes.'

(Kate GoodReads )

`More than anything else, Evans's book is about communication, physical, verbal, and instinctual; about gossip, eavesdropping, and a series of messages sent, received, misinterpreted, and mistimed. How his various creatures find their ``voices'' in their moments of need and manage to be understood by each other and their enemies is artfully imagined and constructed.

`Through the eyes and hearts of Evans's furry characters, Beasts of New York gets at a lot of complex stuff: issues of identity, specifically nature versus nurture, are explored without being heavy-handed, and the real-life distances between bravery and cowardice, loyalty and disloyalty, hope and despair are often revealed to be just a hair's breadth apart.'

--(Julie Eakin ForeWord Magazine )

Review

`Thought-provoking ... Invisible Armies is an intriguing, pacy read and Mr Evans shows great potential.'

(The Economist )

`A sharp debut [Dark Places] that never lets up on the tension, with a denouement that is both shocking and utterly right ... Jon Evans ... isn't about to develop into something special -- he's already there.'

(January Magazine )

`Reading Blood Price reminded me of being a kid running down a too-steep hill, going faster and faster so that you can barely get your feet in front of you quickly enough to stop, loving every second of it. You can't stop. You don't want to stop.... I wanted to keep reading to find out what the hell happened next'

(Quill & Quire )

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Product Details

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 407 KB
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
• Language: English
• ASIN: B003X27VOA
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #224,654 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

More About the Author

I always wanted to be a writer. I travel a lot - more than 70 countries across six continents, to date. My novel DARK PLACES won Canada's Arthur Ellis Award, and has been translated into Dutch, German, and Japanese; my recent Vertigo Crime graphic novel THE EXECUTOR was nominated for a Spinetingler Award, appeared on several best-of-the-year-lists, and has been translated into Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese. My most recent book, and I think my favorite, is my "children's book for grown-ups" BEASTS OF NEW YORK. I'm not so secretly planning to write a sequel or two. I write novels, scripts, magazine journalism, a weekly column for the irreverent tech site TechCrunch, and software. (If you're a traveller and you have an iPhone or an Android phone, check out my free app iTravelFree.) It is fair to say that I am easily bored.

For far, far more about me than you probably ever wanted to know, see my web site rezendi.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Belated but Well Deserved Review, August 26, 2010

By 

dirtymc (new jersey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beasts of New York (Kindle Edition)

Mr. Evans's work "Beasts of New York" is one of those tomes that stick with you for a very longtime. I was immediately taken aback, when I realized that all of the characters are animals. In this book, humans play a tertiary role, as the animals confront the effects of humanity's collective abuse of nature. Their behaviors are reflective of complex entities struggling to make wise life choices, while also having to deal with the effects of humans and machines on their environment. I don't want you to leave with the impression that this book is some sort of philosophical diatribe, because it most certainly is not. I think Mr. Evans exceeds all expectations, in the amount of energy that he expands in bringing his characters and their environments to life, while also allowing us to grow a bond with them. I feel that this balance, is perhaps, one of the most difficult to strike in all of fiction writing. A book rich in detail, whose characters are aloof, is one in which few people will build a literary shelter- that is unless your an Ayn Rand fan. However, where Mr. Evans does clearly struggle is in ending a story. Yet, even in this there is a certain beauty. One immediately senses that he adores and loves his characters even more than he lets on. The amorphous hawk or cute squirrels are all the same, something to be cherished and adored. In it you will find, hints of some of the greatest naturalists, such as Ralph Waldo Emerson or Henry David Thoreau. Their earlier works being reflected in the rich details that Mr. Evans hones in on, when describing the book's world, whether it be Central Park, an ocean, or a seedy sewer. I think that there are also allusions to human traits within his characters, the rats are conniving salesman, while the squirrels are noble but petty and divided. Ultimately, the characters' personalities grow and change over time -this is also tough to accomplish in fiction writing- as they form alliances and/or stumble across lie altering events. I can't stress enough, the fun that I had following along with these characters. I still joke around with my wife, mentioning the name "Patches" as if it were a holy site. I even called a lady that I met in Whitehorse, Canada, Patches: I did so because her small frame, delicate voice, yet adventurous spirit reminded me of the chief protagonist in the story. Such is the strength of Mr. Evans's writing in this book. I am proud to recommend this book to all of you, whether you are an adult or a teenager, I believe that this book will not only appeal to you but also change you. Mr. Evans thank you for giving me a new take on nature, one which a city boy like me, would never have been able to adopt where it not for you and your fabulous story.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Really Liked This Book!, October 19, 2010

By 

angsmi (Houston,Tx) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beasts of New York (Kindle Edition)

I just finished reading this book a couple of days ago and I must say I really enjoyed it, it kept me turning the pages and I haven't been a huge reader since I was younger. I just bought a kindle because I wanted to get back into reading and I downloaded this book because the title captured my attention "Beasts of New York - A children's book for grown-ups". I love the afterword how everything was explained and how he came about all the characters in the story. A must read IMO!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great adventure...well written, February 26, 2011

By 

Olive books - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beasts of New York (Kindle Edition)

Fantastic read that takes you into the world of animals living and co-exsisting in NYC. This book may be about a very brave squirrel and his friends, family and enemies, but it is not for children. Mr. Evans weaves a tale that is difficult to put down, and once completed, comes back to you. You will never look at small "wild" animals the same way.

Enjoy.