This one was a slow burn, but was ultimately satisfying to me. Fantastic horror writing with vivid, Clive Barker-esque touches were the breadcrumb trail I followed through Cutter’s forest of marginally believable characterizations and set pieces. I have to read more by Nick Cutter, but my first impression is that he prefers to write characters who are larger than life. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but his characterizations reduce the overall believability or realism of this novel. Still, it’s been a fun read, and the scenes with creatures, possessed children, and the psychotic preacher are all excellent.