Fiction, particularly horror fiction, is all about hypothetical scenarios, and the characters are avatars for the readers who judge their decisions based on the decisions they think they’d make in the same scenarios.
Go out the door instead of in the closet!
Shoot him in the head, not the heart!
Don’t just hide; grab a weapon and go down fighting!
It’s this interactive association with the text that makes horror so much fun to read. Author Candace Nola has submitted her own contribution to the interactive horror genre with her novel, Bishop. Below is my review of Bishop.
Bishop plot summary
When his sister and her daughter go missing in the Alaskan wilderness, Troy Spencer heads to join the search team to look for them. His hope of finding them is high, knowing that his sister, Erin, and his niece, Casey, are well-prepared and capable of survival.
To speed up the search, Troy enlists the help of a local man named Bishop to aid in the search. Bishop is a man of few words, though he has a reputation as a great tracker. What Troy doesn’t know is that Bishop has tracking abilities far beyond those of an average human.
Bishop also knows that an other worldly creature lurks in the woods, one who preys on humans and attaches themselves to those it detects, and it will stop at nothing to find and rip them to pieces. Bishop has a personal history with this creature, and as he gets to know Troy, he grows determined to protect him and his family at all costs.
The story
Bishop is a short but fully-formed action-packed horror novel that blends real world horror with supernatural/cryptid elements. The Alaskan setting serves as the perfect backdrop for the isolation and danger that Erin and Casey face. Yet, they’re far from helpless, giving them a chance in this long shot of a rescue.
The danger, though, is very real. The creature that’s after them is strong, smart, and ancient. Despite their knowledge, skills, and equipment, they are no match for it.
That is where Bishop comes in. Without giving anything away, though the cover of the book might, he’s a formidable opponent for the villain, and he has experience fighting it in the past.
At the heart of the story, though, is the theme of human connection. Erin and Casey are Troy’s entire life. So, he does not hesitate to do what he needs to in order to find them.
Bishop is a notorious loaner, yet the family’s closeness rubs off on him and makes them worthy of protection in his eyes. This brings out his humanity and gives him the mental strength needed to take on the beast. It also warms him up to that human side that he has repressed for so long.
The characters
This is ultimately a story of good versus evil, and as a result, every character except for the creature is presented as a good person. The town rallies around the search efforts, likely because they know the dangers that lurk in the wilderness, even the normal ones, such as bears and moose. The cause is worthy, and they all play their parts in helping to search for the missing mother and daughter, even though they’re not one of their own.
Troy is an everyman who is brave yet willing to take a back seat when necessary to let those with more skills and knowledge about the terrain take over. However, he’s willingly along for the ride and determined to do what he can without getting in the way. It makes him more likable and someone who the audience can root for.
Erin and Casey are presented as resourceful and capable yet still in peril, as anyone would be under the circumstances. Erin is level-headed, yet she also exudes warmth and protectiveness.
Though a young teen, Casey has grown into a respected survivalist online. This respectability leads to companies sending her equipment to test out on her adventures. Yet, her confidence in her abilities wanes as she seeks out to find help for her mother, and her doubt leads her to return to her mother and await rescue.
Then, there’s Bishop, the man with the tragic backstory and the shocking powers that make him the best man to take on this mission. What he lacks in social skills he makes up for in his genuineness and protectiveness. And there are still many more layers to peel away from this hero.
My recommendation
What’s so admirable about this book is the author’s ability to tell such a full story in so few pages. It’s very character-driven despite the survival plotline. It shifts perspectives in order to be able to cover a lot of ground from chapter to chapter. And it’s full of twists and turns that keep you guessing as to what’s going to happen next. Nobody is safe, and nothing is guaranteed.
The wintery Alaskan landscape is such a strong presence that it comes across as its own character. As someone who doesn’t do well in cold weather, I can’t imagine wanting to join Erin and Casey on their quest. And the elements serve as their own brand of danger in this already dangerous situation.
The setting heightens the stakes and shortens the time that the rescuers have to find the two. It also creates vivid imagery and serves as the perfect isolated yet vast spot to allow the supernatural elements to thrive in a very realistic way.
I will warn that the story does get very dark. It also has some gore. But these elements are handled with the care and respect that its characters deserve. However, it helps to see just what our heroes are up against.
This story wraps up pretty neatly. However, it leaves a lot open for future storylines. And there are sequels already in publication. I for one am eager to read more about Bishop, his backstory, and his future heroics.
I recommend Bishop to anyone looking for a short, engaging read that is not strictly horror but satisfies the horror cravings that some readers seek out. From its well-crafted characters to its unpredictable plot, this is definitely a world that I will be returning to.
My rating
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