1.36k reviews for:

Boys In the Valley

Philip Fracassi

4.09 AVERAGE

valtherizzle's review against another edition

4.0

dark emotional sad tense medium-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: Yes

elia_stucki's review against another edition

4.0

dark emotional sad tense medium-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: Yes

queenofgotham's review against another edition

4.5

dark reflective tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

smallbutmighty9's review against another edition

5.0

dark 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

xandra87's review against another edition

3.5

dark emotional sad tense medium-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: Complicated

lharris6's review against another edition

4.5

challenging dark tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

mac_daydreams's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-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

slippy89's review against another edition

4.25

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

ombraluce's review against another edition

4.25

challenging dark sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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Horror novels set in remote orphanages are rife in literature, as are priests who have very little in common with Christianity. In this respect, Boys in the Valley doesn't differ much from the cliché. And yet, there are some decidedly powerful characters, such as the protagonist Peter, orphaned by a horrendous act of domestic violence, but who nevertheless manages to grow up to become a balanced and mature teenager, full of hope and trust in humanity, and the young priest who takes care of his education. Horror enters the orphanage in the form of the most classic of diabolical possessions, bringing out the best and the worst in everyone and forcing those in positions of power to face their past. As is right and proper, catharsis arrives through an act of faith and a redemptive sacrifice.
The novel is very good, almost impossible to put down once you've started, due to its continuous plot twists and the tumultuous evolution of the characters. However, reflecting on it once finished, there are still some small knots to untie, some small clues left here and there that are not fully developed.

patrick_canoli's review against another edition

2.0

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This could’ve been a DNF