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Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite
Doom Phage: Hellmouth by Dreagen Grim follows sixteen-year-old Megan, who was diagnosed with cancer two years earlier and faces ongoing chemotherapy treatment after radiation fails. Megan relies heavily on her best friend Tera for emotional support due to family trouble, including her absent mother and alcoholic father. During a severe storm, Megan, along with Tera, Seth, Steve, Bridget, and twins Kyle and Max, become stranded inside a museum where they explore off-limits lower levels despite warnings. They discover a sealed ritual chamber containing a black stone pyramid and a chained, tarp-covered object surrounded by human bones and disturbing murals linked to the “Hellmouth.” Max and Kyle pressure Seth to smear his blood on the object, which he does. In the flickering light, the shape of a monstrous creature strains against its restraints...and then, the chains snap.
Doom Phage: Hellmouth by Dreagen Grim is a really intense and supremely thrilling read, marked by strong writing and several surprising twists. Dreagen Grim does well in making each member of the group distinct and identifiable. Better still, their conversations feel authentic, and their fears and conflicts unfurl organically in a situation that is anything but. I like the museum setting, and the fact that there is no real way out provides genuinely claustrophobic vibes. Grim has formatted the story by iteration, and each chapter has sort of a Hilbert curve, with points of view that take a single character arc and bend it not just within the whole story, but within the iteration itself. It's a skillset in writing that is rare, and I've only seen it done properly by Michael Crichton. Grim nails it and it's highly effective. Overall, this is a fantastic horror tale with strong storytelling, pitch-perfect dread, and a totally unexpected ending. Recommended.
