Reviewed by Lee Ashford for Readers' Favorite

Transformed by Rene David Rivero is an esoteric tale of several men who set out to hunt and kill a Wendigo in the winter of 1885. While most motile living organisms either were going, or had already gone south for the winter, these intrepid adventurers were heading north of the Arctic Circle. The story details the individual personalities of the group, and relates how their personalities interacted, for good or otherwise. It won’t take an advanced degree in Psychiatry or Clinical Psychology to realize the man they all call “boss” is seriously obsessed with having a Wendigo trophy to display, perhaps to prove they exist, or to prove he is a greater hunter than anybody else is. Regardless of his reason, he is definitely obsessed. At times his obsession is so out of control that some of his companions consider killing him, so they can leave the frigid northern winter and return to a saner climate. Among the crew is a Native American tracker of uncertain lineage, and a “boy” who is alleged to be the only person who can interpret for the tracker. Throughout the tale it is apparent that these two have some type of relationship with each other that, in 1885, was probably safer to keep secret. Only in the concluding pages of the tale do we understand what that relationship truly was.

Rivero writes at a level or two above most “popular fiction”. His choice of words and his command of the English language require the reader to think. For that reason, this is a story best read in a single sitting. If you set it down for a couple days, then try to pick up where you left off, you will find yourself re-reading quite a bit of it, just to re-engage your brain again. Not to worry, though; you will find that you WANT to read this in one sitting. Rivero’s descriptions are so accurate you will want to turn up the heater, or put on a heavier sweater. Transformed is a very well written and thought-provoking story.