From the Bookshelf of Creatures, Creatures Everywhere!…

The Ruins

Scott Smith

Start date: July 1, 2023

Finish date: July 31, 2023

Discussion: Group Reads

Find A Copy At

Libraries

Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of 60 topics — 2,477 comments total

Group Reads

* Feb 2024 Deviant- The Shocking True Story of Ed Gein
By Latasha · 19 posts · 25 views

last updated Mar 02, 2024 06:38PM

This topic has been closed to new comments.

* Listing of Group Reads
By Tyler · 2 posts · 92 views

last updated Jan 07, 2023 12:28PM

showing 4 of 4 topics view all »

What Members Thought

Apr 22, 2022 Michelle rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, 2022, horror

I watched the movie based on this book a few years ago and loved it. So, when I heard so many people talking about how great the book was, I thought I might as well give it a go. And I'm so glad I did!!

Maybe all we can do is wait and hope and endure for as long as we’re able. The food will run out. Our bodies will fail. And the vine will do whatever it’s going to do.

There is no downside to this book - great writing, fantastic plot, relatable characters, twists and turns, and dark unexpected mome ...more

44 likes · Like · see review

May 01, 2016 Latasha rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: horror, 2016-challenge

going into this book, I already knew what was going on. no, I haven't seen the movie but it was spoiled for me. anyways, that being said, this book was so cringe worthy! oh man, they aren't.... but yes, they did!! I liked it way more than I thought I would. now I'm going to watch the movie. ...more

13 likes · Like · see review

Oct 08, 2011 Kasia rated it really liked it · review of another edition

From the very beginning the reader is catapulted into a dark and forlorn tale of doom.
When four friends and some new acquaintances decide to venture out into the lush jungles of Mexico they take a gamble that will cost them the ultimate price. Jeff, Eric, Stacy, Amy, Mathias and Pablo are on a mission to find someone. Mathias informs them that his brother followed the love of his life into a mysterious archeological excavation and that they should go and find them, he ultimately drags them into ...more

10 likes · Like · see review

Aug 25, 2018 Ami Morrison rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: creature-features, horror, favorites, tbr-challenge-2018, ha-reads, audio-book, re-read, killer-nature, physical-copy, tbr-challenge-2023

Full review on Creature From the Book Lagoon blog

Trapped in the Mexican jungle, a group of friends stumble upon a creeping horror unlike anything they could ever imagine.

Two young couples are on a lazy Mexican vacation–sun-drenched days, drunken nights, making friends with fellow tourists. When the brother of one of those friends disappears, they decide to venture into the jungle to look for him. What started out as a fun day-trip slowly spirals into a nightmare when they find an ancient ruins s Full review on Creature From the Book Lagoon blog

Trapped in the Mexican jungle, a group of friends stumble upon a creeping horror unlike anything they could ever imagine.

Two young couples are on a lazy Mexican vacation–sun-drenched days, drunken nights, making friends with fellow tourists. When the brother of one of those friends disappears, they decide to venture into the jungle to look for him. What started out as a fun day-trip slowly spirals into a nightmare when they find an ancient ruins site . . . and the terrifying presence that lurks there.

First, I need to start off with this- this book was pretty damn scary. Now, I've been reading and watching horror since I was a wee little babe, and now days it takes a LOT to scary me. I can't even remember the last book or movie that scared me. Sure, there have been stories where I have a shiver or two, or where I snuggle up under the blanket. But nothing that has really given me the big scares. Ok, so, The Ruins.... totally, 100%, legit scary. And not just one type of scare, either. It was a multi-level scare situation going on. Real life horror and then the creature horror.

Whether it is real life horror, or creature horror, this book gets your heart rate up and running. The tension just keeps going up and up and you never get a break from it. All the way to the last page, it feels like your heart is about to jump out of your chest. The atmosphere was so terrifying in it's isolation and an over all creepy sensation, adding even more tension. You begin to feel the tension, panic and fear just as much as the characters of the book.

Hands down I would recommend this book to everyone. I don't even care if you don't like horror that much. This book is one to read. Horror and creature feature fans for sure need to read this. Bottom line - READ. THIS. BOOK. That is all.

The Ruins is filled with high tension and lots of scares. It may be a big book but you will not want to put it down. It is interesting to watch people dealing with fear in different ways and it is easy to relate. Very creepy atmosphere and is a must read. ...more

8 likes · Like · see review

Aug 01, 2008 Elke rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: review, novels, horror

For months I wanted to read this book, but somehow I always delayed it, until now. Maybe this long waiting, combined with the hype this book got in the press, has pushed my expections even higher, therefore added to the disappointment I felt after finally reading it.

Like most people, I was not able to sympathize with the characters, a bunch of thoughtless selfish juveniles. At more than one time I wanted to slap them or shake some sense into them because of their completely stupid actions which ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Aug 22, 2018 Mike rated it it was ok

Shelves: horror, fiction

2 and a half stars. The extra half is for some good character development.

A long slog to an obvious conclusion. By the halfway point, I had little hope of anything surprising me plot-wise, and I was right. I can't say much more on that without giving stuff away.

Written well, but totally didn't grab me.

...more

1 like · Like · see review

Jul 20, 2022 Becca marked it as dnf

DNF @ 42%

I didn’t like this. That’s it, that’s all I have to say.

1 like · Like · see review

Nov 15, 2015 Bookish_predator rated it liked it

3.5 stars

This book felt so long! Longer than A Game of Thrones and that's a long ass book.

I think I had the movie in my head too much and I didn't like that movie at all, it seemed to cloud my sleep addled brain and that little bastard at the back going, 'well that's different than the film and so is that', little fucker that he is would not shut up!!

Maybe a re-read one day is in order to see if my view changes but I don't think that's gonna be for a while yet, gots lots more books to read and I ...more

Like · see review