Beast - by Richard Van Camp (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Lauded as the Indigenous Stranger Things, this evocative, spine-tingling thriller from Dogrib Dene author Richard Van Camp blends supernatural horror with 1980s nostalgia.

Lawson Sauren's life has always been entwined with the lives of the Cranes brothers. Cody Cranes became an unexpected friend when they shared a tent at summer camp--but now he's disappeared. Star athlete Stanley Cranes survived the canoe accident that killed Lawson's mother but has been a shell of himself ever since. Silver Cranes--jeez, the guy was downright scary even before he made some kind of occult pact resurrecting the Dead One, a ghoulish, cruel, powerful spirit hellbent on destroying peace treaties like the centuries-old one between the Dogrib and Chipewyan which Lawson and the Cranes boys are tasked with preserving. Determined to save his community from the Dead One's ravenous maw, Lawson must step into his role as a Dogrib Yabati, or protector, and recruit his friends Isaiah Valentine, a Cree Grass Dancer, and Shari Burns, a Metis psychic, to face what Silver Cranes has called back.

This latest feat of storytelling magic by celebrated author Richard Van Camp blends sharply observed realism and hair-raising horror as it plays out against a 1980s-era backdrop replete with Platinum Blonde songs and episodes of Degrassi Junior High. Set in the same fictional town of Fort Simmer, Northwest Territories as previous Van Camp stories, Beast delivers a gripping, spirited tale that pits the powers of tradition against the pull of a vengeful past.

Review Quotes

"Van Camp, a member of the Dogrib (Tlįchǫ) Dene Nation, weaves '80s pop culture references and supernatural elements into a page-turning thriller. . . . [Beast] delicately balances a gripping storyline with well-rendered cultural elements and accessible writing." --Kirkus, STARRED REVIEW, Editor's Pick

"A rousing supernatural novel." --Foreword Reviews

"Richard Van Camp's Beast takes us deep into the heart of the Northwest Territories. There, against the backdrop of the 1980s, tradition and supernatural forces collide as Van Camp--as always--masterfully weaves a tale of friendship, duty, and the haunting legacies of the past. Lawson's journey to uphold a centuries-old peace treaty is compelling and profound, making Beast a standout in contemporary young adult fiction. Van Camp's storytelling is vivid and chilling, seizing the essence of a community grappling with its history and the unknown. Beast is another testament to Van Camp's exceptional longevity and talent as a writer. Van Camp has blessed us with another must-read, one filled with a story so indelibly crafted that years later, we will all undoubtedly recall this work as a memory, an experience." --Morgan Talty, national bestselling author of Night of the Living Rez and Fire Exit: A Novel

"Reading Richard Van Camp is like coming home. It's like pushing your chair back from the family dinner table with a full belly, sore face from laughing and eager ears still hungry for more stories. No one does horror, and no one does a funny, awkward, gangly teen hero like Richard Van Camp. Is Beast like the Indigenous Stranger Things?! Kind of, but also with Ceremony, community, and even more metal! This book is as cool as an Iron Maiden album cover. It's the literary equivalent of Corey Hart and Sebastian Bach having a baby. This book is like a mixed tape with lots of AC/DC. I love this book!" --katherena vermette, author of A Girl Called Echo

"Beast by Richard Van Camp is an enthralling blend of horror and heritage, set against the evocative backdrop of the Northwest Territories. This young adult novel follows Lawson, a Tlı̨chǫ (Dogrib) warrior, as he faces a malevolent spirit threatening his community. Infused with '80s nostalgia, Van Camp's chilling and lyrical prose creates a dark tapestry where youthful innocence clashes with primordial evils. Beast is a spellbinding journey that will worm its way into the darkest corners of your mind, lingering long after the last page is turned." --Shane Hawk, editor of Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology

"Beast is a singular force. It's the offspring of Stranger Things, Stephen King, and vintage Van Camp. Rich in lore, terror, pop culture, and traditional knowledge, this novel is a page-turning, spine-tingling delight." --David A. Robertson, author of The Barren Grounds