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Book Review: The Cabin at the End of the World [+ Link to Author Interview]

Updated: Jan 11, 2023

Read Paul Tremblay's book before you watch M. Night Shyamalan's film "Knock at the Cabin"

Book cover of The Cabin at the end of the world. The book is an image of a cabin silhouette in blue. Behind the cabin are tree trunks and an eerie red sky (?) that darkly glows between the trees. This image is meant to be viewed with the book in a landscape position.

Author: Paul Tremblay

Released: June 2018

Genre: Fiction, Horror

Pages: 272

Audiobook Length: 9 hours (approx.)

Awards/Acclaim

Bram Stoker Award for Best Novel (2018)

Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Horror (2018)

Locus Award for Horror Novel (2019)

ITW Thriller Award Nominee for Hardcover Novel (2019)

Review

This was my first Paul Tremblay novel and will not be my last.

There are typically two reactions to the book: those who loved it and those who despised the ending. I get it. For a few moments after finishing the book I sat dumbfounded.

However, authors take us on an adventure with their written words. Not all adventures are meant to satisfy every urge. Books are a creative medium and I appreciate the artwork Tremblay presented.

Upon reflection, it felt like modern-day lore.

Plot

Eric, Andrew, and their young daughter Wen are vacationing in remote woods to unwind and unplug. Four strangers soon emerge from seemingly nowhere and break into the family's cabin. The quartet offers the family a horrifying vision of impending doom and an apocalypse that, they claim, this one family can prevent.

Additional Comments

M. Night Shyamalan, was catapulted to fame after writing and directing The Sixth Sense. His newest project will be a film adaptation of Paul Tremblay's The Cabin at the End of the World. This undoubtedly has sparked excitement from fans of both individuals' respective work.

Trailer for the film:

About the Author

Paul Tremblay has won the Bram Stoker, British Fantasy, and Massachusetts Book awards and is the author of eight published books.

Of interesting note, Mr. Tremblay has a master's in mathematics and as of, at least 2020, he worked as an AP calculus teacher at a private Catholic school. In addition, he organized a creative writing club for his students. Hear more about Paul here (the link is especially interesting for writers and creatives of all types).

Content Warnings

Violence

Verdict

Score: 9.5/10

I read this book in two sittings. An absolute page-turner from beginning to end.

Yes, get it! Pick it up at your library, local bookstore, or favorite online retailer.

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