The Wordless Book

Wild, outlandish, and gory, The Wordless Book promises a thrill of a summer slasher.

I don’t usually read books like this, but The Wordless Book was definitely an interesting surprise. It pulls you into the characters with vivid details and brings something fresh and unexpected. Definitely recommend it!

This book really had me on my toes and that's what I seek in a book of this genre!

What follows is a pulse-pounding descent into a cursed world where ancient evil, elemental forces, and myth become terrifyingly real.

This book grabs you from the first page with its eerie atmosphere, relentless tension, and richly imagined lore. The Fire Reaper is a villain straight from your nightmares—menacing, intelligent, and terrifyingly unstoppable. As wildfires consume the woods and shadows twist into monsters, the suspense only grows, turning every chapter into a nail-biting experience.

But this isn’t just horror for horror’s sake. At its heart, this is a story of courage, sacrifice, and unlikely heroes. Emma, Robert, and Jessica are compelling, complex characters who fight not just to survive, but to push back against darkness—literal and emotional. The relationships feel real, the pacing is sharp, and the world-building is both original and immersive.

This is an interesting but not very well explained horror/supernatural story. Robert’s parents purchased land and built Camp Wolf Creek. He spent most of his childhood there living in his parent’s cottage. After they pass away, he decides to reopen the camp for school aged children. What he doesn’t expect are supernatural creatures wreaking havoc during the camp opening. The book never really explains why the camp or Robert is being attacked. It does involve a book that can be wordless or can provide information. The names of the beings can be difficult to keep track of too. This book had the potential to be a fantastic horror story. It is an ok read, just not a good or excellent read.

I received an ARC and this is my personal opinion.

The Wordless Book by Shawn Spencer is a thrilling fantasy that will appeal to fans of horror. It has everything that excites me - horror, adventure, mystery, and the supernatural. The story follows Robert, a Korean-American camp caretaker, and Jessica, a dedicated teacher, as they navigate a nightmarish series of events at Camp Wolf Creek. Emma Moon discovers the Wordless Book and unleashes a Fire Reaper as a fire breaks out and dark, sinister forces emerge, led by a wicked fire manipulator named Tate. As the fires intensify, everyone evacuates except for Robert and Jessica, who must confront reaper entities and fight against time to save Emma. As they confront terrifying creatures, including skeletal beings and a three-headed fire beast, Robert and Jessica discover that the camp's history is linked to otherworldly realms and powerful, cursed artifacts. Will Robert and Jessica be able to withstand the onslaught of supernatural enemies, even after an artifact gives Robert the ability to manipulate fire?
Shawn Spencer is a gifted author in the genre. The flawed characters, engaging prose, and sparkling dialogue captivated me in this imaginative horror tale. The descriptions are terrific, especially Tate's sinister gestures. Characters like Robert, Jessica, and Emma are fleshed out with personal struggles, from Robert's grief over his parents to Emma's innocence and bravery. The setting moves between the seemingly idyllic camp and the dark, ominous realms of the "Impossible," a universe between worlds filled with monstrous beings and ancient magic. I enjoyed how Spencer uses vivid imagery, especially in the depiction of supernatural battles, creating a tense, captivating atmosphere. The Wordless Book is fast-paced, with great dialogue and a well-crafted conflict that moves the story in unpredictable directions.

The Wordless Book starts with a typical camp legend and slowly ignites. Once the Fire Reaper emerges, it's non-stop tension—forest fires, supernatural terror, and desperate characters fighting for their lives. If you're into survival horror with a fiery supernatural twist, this one looks like it could be the one for you

The Wordless Book is the debut novel by Shawn Spencer.

Following the discovery of a significantly dangerous book at Camp Wolf Creek; Robert, Jessica, and Emma come face-to-face with a Fire Reaper who is hellbent on freeing his allies through the form of forest fires. The Wordless Book sees the trio having to save the camp and defeat the Fire Reaper. However, Robert discovers a fire orb which allows him to inhabit fire-wielding powers, whether this becomes a blessing or a curse is up to him.

I really enjoyed this book! It isn't something I would usually pick up, but it was a pleasant surprise. The opening was lighthearted and exciting, and you couldn't predict where the rest of the plot was going to go. The readers are thrust into a cursed world that is home to arguably the most evil and dangerous beings who will seek havoc for their own gain. Causing rapid wildfires to the camp, The Fire Reaper is the driving force of the plot, forcing Robert, Jessica, and Emma to have to fight for the lives in an attempt to save each other.

The writing style is gripping and leaves you hooked. What is done particularly well, in my opinion, is the descriptive writing, especially character and setting descriptions. The characters and dialogue are well written, also. I would say that these things in particular are what keep you interested because where the plot may lack, the writing style and pacing makes up for it.

Overall, an exciting and thrilling read. I would definitely recommend this to someone who is looking to try something new or someone who is looking for another fun read to add to their TBR.

I received a copy of The Wordless Book via the author in exchange for an honest review.

Kudos to the author on his first novel and one of the things I found the most interesting is that the story itself he originally intended to be a video game. Overall I liked the story. It has all the makings of the things I enjoy magic, evil entities seeking ultimate power and control, magical worlds, and more. The pace of the book starts a little slow but once it gets going it absolutely does not slow down and the main characters are constantly being thrown through the wringer. I do wish the backstory and the characters were fleshed out better because even though you do get some explanations they weren’t enough. I wanted to feel more for the characters than I did but what information we were given made it a unique story.