Title: Trog

Author: Zachary Ashford

Release date: March 11th, 2025

*Huge thanks to Zachary for sending me a digital ARC of this one!*

While completely unrelated to Eddie Generous’ ‘Terror at Back Woods Lodge,’ Ashford’s newest can be seen an a thematic companion to that novella, both through cover art styling, but also content. This could be an indication of things to come for ‘Unnerving,’ or, rather, if you know both of those authors, it could simply be that they both continue to release super fun, solid, and dark creature-feature releases, though on opposite sides of the world.

I was really intrigued to see what Ashford was going to deliver with this one. After his novellas ‘The Encampment by the Gorge & Blood Memory,’ ‘Sole Survivor’ (one and two!), ‘When the Cicadas Stop Singing,’ and ‘The Morass,’ he took a slight detour with ‘Polyphemus’ when it comes to releasing straight forward creature-features. Not taking anything away from the stunning Faustian novel that is ‘Polyphemus,’ but ‘Trog’ solidifies that when Ashford is describing crazy beasts causing carnage (say that fast three times!) he’s in his wheelhouse and ‘Trog’ certainly cements his place as the reigning Outback Creature-Feature leader (again, three times, say it, like super fast!).

What I liked: The story follows a mom, dad and teen daughter, Aisha, who’ve moved to the countryside to get away from the ‘dangers of the city,’ Classic set up. In this case, there was an incident where a man broke into their house and terrified the daughter. He then stalks her, traumatizing the family. Dad, decides to take them away from that and start anew.

But this is a horror story and as such, doesn’t realize what the history of the house is. A famed/mythical person, Shackleton, used to own the property many, many years ago. Deep in the bowels of a forgotten cave, he’s captured and trapped a Yowie, he’s named Trog. The plan had been to exhibit the beast and make millions.

The crux of the story takes place over one night, when Aisha’s parents go out for dinner, leaving her alone. Three masked robbers arrive, wanting to steal, torture and kill whoever is at home.

Ashford sets this up nicely and, as you can predict, along the way, Trog gets free. The story is really fun up until that moment, but as soon as Trog breaks free from his cage, the shit hits the fan, the heads start flying (even just look at the cover art!) and it becomes a matter of who’ll be standing when we see the words THE END.

I’ve always been a big fan of Ashford’s action-based terror. He seems to be writing at his best when the antagonist is eight feet tall (or taller/longer) and the humans within the book become their target. We also get a lot of layered emotions within this. A dad and mom feeling guilt over what’s happened to their daughter. A dad and mom feeling guilt over going out for dinner when the three scum bags arrive. And later on, we see how those who survive have to deal with life without those who don’t.

The ending and epilogue were great and it does leave the door open for a follow up, should Ashford decide to return us to a story involving Yowie’s.

What I didn’t like: The only thing that really stood out for me was that when the trio moved to the home, the mom and dad scoffed and ignored Aisha when she was telling them she was hearing something from below the house. After having just gone through an incident involving a horrible person and their daughter, and the fact that they moved to try and get away from everything involved, the idea that they wouldn’t listen to her was a bit suspect on my end.

Why you should buy this: As I mentioned earlier, Ashford is easily the current King of Aussie Outback Creature Features. Yes, Baxter and Chapman and Murray and Davis and etc. etc. etc. write creature features, but they also move fluidly through cult fiction and cosmic horror and grief horror and etc. etc. etc. None of them have put out release after release at such high regard as Ashford and having them focused around creature features. So, if you’re looking for a fun, insane big Yowie book, this is perfect. If you’re a bigfoot fan, cryptid fan, or simply love home invasion books gone wrong, look no further.

Ashford is a writer who always brings his best to the table and I wouldn’t be surprised to see a surge in Yowie books after this one arrives.

5/5