The Doom that Came to Astoria Paperback – August 27, 2021

there are so many things to say i don’t know where to start. i’ll preface this review with the fact that this book is NOT my typical genre of choice. the 3rd person writing style was hard for me to get into at first but once i understood the flow of the writing it was a WILD RIDE!you go into the story knowing something big is going to happen. it’s written in the title itself. DOOM! but what happened was.. completely and utterly way more intense than i expected. chills. the author was able to write in such detail that you could imagine the exact picture each scene was playing in. the house charlie stayed in, the bar scenes, the truck rides, and the INSANE events near the end of the book (the doom!)one part, for example, was the description of charlie stumbling out of the bar like a newborn giraffe and i laughed out loud. beautiful.and ellie?! ellie was the star of the show. because i feel like i knew her on a deeper, more personal level. she grew up in astoria (as well as i) and goes into detail about how everyone always talks about leaving or “getting out” but they never do.. because let’s face it, astoria is a black hole. you’re lucky if you can find your way out.!!!SPOILER SPOILER!!!eventually, sweet little alcoholic ellie finds her way out.. by the means of a bullet to the dome 😭 rip sweet girl. i wish that never happened. however, if astoria just happened to… cease existence like so, i don’t think i would be very disappointed.10/10 stars.ps. the old burgundy honda appearance made my heart swell. ❤️

Charlie West sets off to Astoria, Oregon to create a new life as a high school English teacher. We learn at the onset that he is also seeking to escape his difficult past (one marked by violence, abandonment, and a dark secret) and finally conquer his own demons. We root for Charlie as it becomes apparent that his escape will require dealing with dangerous forces.Craig Randall succeeds in helping his readers understand the emotional chaos, the darkness, and the frustrations and fears that Charlie faces as he deals with his deep seated anxieties and the power of The Order, the organization which is hunting him down.When he gets to town, he meets Trent and Ellie. Each comes to illustrate the possibility that someone can see and support the light in us or choose to lead us further into darkness. The omniscient narration allowed me to empathize with their situations as well as Charlie’s, and their development allowed me to hold onto hope and to wonder if that hope would be ill-placed. By the way, I really liked Ellie.The beauty and ferocity of Astoria lends itself well as the setting of Charlie’s initial stop towards his future. Oregonians, or anyone who has visited this city, will enjoy the many references to iconic local landmarks and the mention of movies filmed there.I’m eager to find out what Charlie will face in the second book of this trilogy and how his experiences in Astoria have made him stronger and better prepared to face whatever comes his way. I’ll order book two as soon as it’s available. I’ll also be looking for Craig’s poetry.

I felt like I waited forever to read this story and am glad I finally got the chance! The story does such a great job showing the complexities of anxiety in a way that felt relatable. The story follows Charlie as he embarks on his journey to become a teacher in Astoria. For some it would be not a big deal, but for Charlie, who has lived in the same area his whole life, it's a big change. Charlie is determined to get through all his anxiety and internal struggles... to start fresh and succeed at this opportunity. Once he gets to Astoria, though, things will never quite be the same! The story introduces us to some great characters and really shows us the ups and downs of Charlie's internal emotional monologue. Then something big happens... DOOM happens, but what that doom is and the story that gets us there... you'll have to read for yourself, which I suggest doing asap! I am already looking forward to the next 2 books in the series!

I like horror, but Lovecraftian was never my forte. So I was pleasantly surprised when I was completely wrapped up in this book. The plot has hooked me and I can’t wait to see what happens next in the series!But what I truly love about this book is that we rarely see characters in fiction who have realistic and well described reactions to mental health issues like PTSD, depression, and anxiety. Craig Randall has done an excellent job at really making you feel Charlie struggle. Honestly, Charlie’s characterization is more of a draw for me than the plot (even though I enjoyed the plot) because I really related to some of the issues he’s experienced with his mental health and how he’s tried to manage them.I recommend this book to horror fans. But I recommend it even more to those who struggle with mental health issues and want to have a character to relate to and understand.

This was such an intense read! From the very beginning you are pulled into Charlie’s inner world and you can feel the desperation and intensity of his conflicting emotions. I absolutely loved the setting of this book and could not get enough of the detail! I haven’t read a book in the Lovecraft horror genre until now, and it definitely got my mind spinning, almost reminiscent to the twilight zone. It was easy to imagine this series in movie or mini series form! The first book certainly left me on a cliffhanger so I can’t wait to find out what’s going to happen in book 2!

I'm not usually a fan of psychological horror but I couldn't put this book down, especially in the latter half. Anyone who has dealt with anxiety will be able to relate to the main character's state of mind, and much of the books could be seen as him coming to terms with it. The twists and turns keep coming and it ends in a much different place than I expected, can't wait for the next in the series!

The Doom That Came To Astoria was a very unique book. The book built the characters and was very descriptive. I loved how I could feel the emotions if Charlie and understand that the author really tapped into his own emotions. I have the feeling the next book will be even better. Great read!

Couldn’t put it down. From the beginning Craig Randall draws you into Charlie’s world. It’s so descriptive that you feel like you are there with him him every step of the way both physically & mentally. Towards the end I didn’t know if I was reading a book or playing a movie in my head, I was so immersed in it. I can’t wait to see where Charlie’s journey takes him and how he handles his next life challenges. Thought provoking and enlightening.