They looked amazing at first. Shur first saw one when she watched other students looking up at something. A huge monarch butterfly sat upon a school building, drying its wings in the breeze. Had it just hatched? Her twin brother Keene grabs his phone and reports that giant butterflies have appeared everywhere. The school alert system instructs all students to go to the gym. But Shur, Keene, and their friends Jenny and Nathan don’t relish that thought, and escape the school grounds.

After collecting their four year old brother (nicknamed Little) from daycare, they head back to the twin’s house and try to connect their mother. It seems as everyone has the same idea as the phone lines are soon jammed. The thought that these butterflies are just mutant versions of the delicate monarchs they grew up with, is soon shattered.

Up close and personal, but safe inside the car, they can see the legs of the insect are black and armoured like a crab. But worse is yet to come as the thorax of this giant bug separates to reveal a maw full of sharp teeth. Others outside the car aren’t so lucky as the butterfly numbers seem to be growing in the air and they suddenly attack. They flee home to the sounds of screams all around.

Shur and Keene are still dealing with the sudden loss of their father only months before, and Shur in particular still suffers from terrible anxiety and panic attacks. She knows she must take her meds and try to keep calm, or this strange situation will consume her. Keeping their little brother safe is something to focus on as she begins a lockdown with her twin and friends with no end date in sight.

The butterflies aren’t the worst thing outside their home. Armed men are roaming the streets, and bite victims are acting very strangely. Shur, Keene, Jenny and Nathan fight to survive, all while they try and prevent Little from seeing what they have seen.

A fascinating premise using butterflies as a worldwide threat to humanity. These insects so adored by many are a whole different ballgame when bigger than a man, with a set of sharp teeth and a desire to lay their eggs inside other living things.

The character development is excellent as the reader gets to know Shur, her back story and her friends. There are plenty of nail-biting scenes to hold reader’s attention as Shur tries to hold herself and her group together without adult input or advice.

The idea of mutant creatures being released onto the planet via Climate Change and Global Warming is imaginative and incredibly scary at the same time. What could be waiting for us all?

A gripping read indeed!

Author – Jennifer D Lyle

Age – 14+

(2023, Source Books, Horror, Family, Grief, Animals, Action, Blended Family, Courage, Twins, Mutant Butterflies, Climate Change, Survival, Lockdown, Cocoons, Insanity, Worries, Worry, Fear, Little brother, Four year old, Attack)