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4.09 AVERAGE
4.09 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This one was a struggle to finish. The narrative constantly shifts between first and third person POV, and the main character thinks and acts way too mature for a sixteen-year-old boy, to the point of being unrealistic, while all other characters are one-note. There is much drama revolving around becoming a priest and leaving earthly pleasures behind, supposedly for the sake of character development. Fracassi's writing is beautiful, yet it feels like he's trying too hard to come up with a deep coming-of-age story in a setting that doesn't allow him to do so.
The horror sections aren't much better. You can't tell whether the boys are possessed or not because they all act like little brats all the time. The demonic force never feels especially threatening; you just know it's going to end with the predictable "The power of Christ compels you," and the book doesn't disappoint in its lack of originality.
"Boys in the Valley" is an okay book, as long as you don't expect anything other than an average religious horror story. The tons of five-star reviews this is getting can make it seem like it's some kind of horror masterpiece. It definitely isn't.
The horror sections aren't much better. You can't tell whether the boys are possessed or not because they all act like little brats all the time. The demonic force never feels especially threatening; you just know it's going to end with the predictable "The power of Christ compels you," and the book doesn't disappoint in its lack of originality.
"Boys in the Valley" is an okay book, as long as you don't expect anything other than an average religious horror story. The tons of five-star reviews this is getting can make it seem like it's some kind of horror masterpiece. It definitely isn't.
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
mysterious
relaxing
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I found this to be an enjoyable horror read. The characters serve their purpose, but nobody really sticks out as noteworthy. The most interesting parts of the book are when the POV focuses on people other than the main character, and you get to understand how they’re viewing the current events. Not too graphic but enough to make you squirm in your seat.
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
This had such a strong set-up: the unnerving isolation of a rural valley on the eve of a hard winter, the horrors of an early 20th century orphanage and it's ruthlessly archaic disciplinary methods, the vulnerability of the children. When the strange man was brought in, I felt dread for what the rest of the novel would hold if this is how hard it kicked off at only a third of the way in.
Unfortunately though, this ended up being another example of why I struggle to engage with this subgenre of horror. The heavy reliance on the power of Jesus and Christian faith (despite the criticisms of the institution) was handled so abruptly and generically that I struggled to take it seriously. I'm used to suspending my disbelief with occult horror as an atheist, but at times this bordered on feeling like a Catholic PSA without a shred of irony.
If you don't think kids being violent and blasphemous is the height of terror and is more reminiscent of Children of the Corn and all it's campy glory, this is going to fall flat pretty quickly. It was especially hard to take it seriously when contrasted with the too-real and very graphic child abuse.
Still, that first third was so well done I'm sticking with three stars.
Unfortunately though, this ended up being another example of why I struggle to engage with this subgenre of horror. The heavy reliance on the power of Jesus and Christian faith (despite the criticisms of the institution) was handled so abruptly and generically that I struggled to take it seriously. I'm used to suspending my disbelief with occult horror as an atheist, but at times this bordered on feeling like a Catholic PSA without a shred of irony.
If you don't think kids being violent and blasphemous is the height of terror and is more reminiscent of Children of the Corn and all it's campy glory, this is going to fall flat pretty quickly. It was especially hard to take it seriously when contrasted with the too-real and very graphic child abuse.
Still, that first third was so well done I'm sticking with three stars.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes