Review and Giveaway: The Hike by Drew Magary

The Hike
Author:  Drew Magary
Publisher:  Viking, August 2, 2016
Format:  Hardcover and eBook, 288 pages
List Price:  US$26.00 (print); US$12.99 (eBook)
ISBN:  9780399563850 (print); 9780399563867 (eBook)

From the author of The Postmortal, a fantasy saga unlike any you’ve read before, weaving elements of folk tales and video games into a riveting, unforgettable adventure of what a man will endure to return to his family

When Ben, a suburban family man, takes a business trip to rural Pennsylvania, he decides to spend the afternoon before his dinner meeting on a short hike. Once he sets out into the woods behind his hotel, he quickly comes to realize that the path he has chosen cannot be given up easily. With no choice but to move forward, Ben finds himself falling deeper and deeper into a world of man-eating giants, bizarre demons, and colossal insects.

On a quest of epic, life-or-death proportions, Ben finds help comes in some of the most unexpected forms, including a profane crustacean and a variety of magical objects, tools, and potions. Desperate to return to his family, Ben is determined to track down the “Producer,” the creator of the world in which he is being held hostage and the only one who can free him from the path.

At once bitingly funny and emotionally absorbing, Magary’s novel is a remarkably unique addition to the contemporary fantasy genre, one that draws as easily from the world of classic folk tales as it does from video games. In The Hike, Magary takes readers on a daring odyssey away from our day-to-day grind and transports them into an enthralling world propelled by heart, imagination, and survival.

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Qwill's Thoughts

Ben arrives at a hotel in Pennsylvania for a business meeting, decides to take a hike near the hotel and everything changes. He initially thinks he's lost but he's really stuck on a path from which deviation means death though staying on the path could mean death as well. Watching Ben deal with the troubles he faces on his journey is a fascinating study in character. He is required to do impossible things while at the same time coming to grips with who he is and what he wants. Ben's path is unique to him and along the way he relives pivotal moments in his life while dealing with a world that is not his own. Ben's love for his wife and children is palpable and moving. His loss of them while on the path is heartbreaking.

There is so much good humor in The Hike among the bizarre creatures, unusual tasks and odd encounters. Ben's adventure on the path is surreal, frightening, exhausting, exhilarating, and deeply engaging. Ben is the hero on his quest and what a strange quest it is. Magary's imagination knows no bounds!

The Hike is gorgeously written and will transport you onto the path with Ben. This is a fabulous fantasy filled with deep emotion, strange events, and extraordinary creatures including a wonderfully rude crab. Nothing is really as it seems in this novel. The Hike is a delight to read and is a deeply satisfying story with exceptional twists and surprises. The Hike is without doubt one of the best novels, and quite possibly the best novel, I've read this year.

The Giveaway

What:  Three entrants each will win a copy of The Hike by Drew Magary from the publisher. US ONLY

How:  Log into and follow the directions in the Rafflecopter below.

Who and When:  The contest is open to all humans on the planet earth with a US mailing address. Contest ends at 11:59 PM US Eastern Time on August 20, 2016. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 years old or older to enter.

*Giveaway rules and duration are subject to change without any notice.*

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