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4.15 AVERAGE
4.15 AVERAGE
My first impressions with this are completely different to my final feelings.
When I started this I was hooked. The whole thing was eerie and had me gripped. To be fair, this never stopped. I didn’t want to put it down and the short chapters were perfect for keeping me reading.
The idea behind the book was super interesting with a “spirit realm” created by what can only be described as a monster of a human.
I’m not easily disturbed but some of the descriptions in this towards the end made me highly uncomfortable and distressed. I totally understand this was the aim.
What ruined it for me was the ending. More specifically the epilogue. Why did such a creepy and distressing book required a somewhat “happy” ending.
It also left me with more questions than answers.
When I started this I was hooked. The whole thing was eerie and had me gripped. To be fair, this never stopped. I didn’t want to put it down and the short chapters were perfect for keeping me reading.
The idea behind the book was super interesting with a “spirit realm” created by what can only be described as a monster of a human.
I’m not easily disturbed but some of the descriptions in this towards the end made me highly uncomfortable and distressed. I totally understand this was the aim.
What ruined it for me was the ending. More specifically the epilogue. Why did such a creepy and distressing book required a somewhat “happy” ending.
It also left me with more questions than answers.
Thanks to Flame Tree Press and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
I guess I don’t know where to start, I just finished reading this and have some dried up tears I’m yet to wipe away. I really connected with the characters especially our main protagonist John. Messed up dreams, a shitty boss, a failing relationship, John has a lot going on. But, once John starts trying to decipher the dreams and get to the root of them things kick off. This book explores grief, regret, anger, irrationality and it’s done so in such a short but yet satisfying way. Excited to pick this one up and many more of Rolfe’s works. A+ and my favorite book of 2021 thus far.
I guess I don’t know where to start, I just finished reading this and have some dried up tears I’m yet to wipe away. I really connected with the characters especially our main protagonist John. Messed up dreams, a shitty boss, a failing relationship, John has a lot going on. But, once John starts trying to decipher the dreams and get to the root of them things kick off. This book explores grief, regret, anger, irrationality and it’s done so in such a short but yet satisfying way. Excited to pick this one up and many more of Rolfe’s works. A+ and my favorite book of 2021 thus far.
I received an advanced e-copy from NetGalley and the publisher, Flame Tree Press, in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own.
Since the publication of [b:Blood and Rain|25547303|Blood and Rain|Glenn Rolfe|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1431770869l/25547303._SY75_.jpg|45340474] in 2015, Glenn Rolfe has not stopped. Like a man on edge or a character possessed, Rolfe refuses to let anything deter him from giving life to some of our most dreaded fears. His passion for the bizarre and the macabre (spanning the gamut are werewolves, serial killers, demonic possession, vampires, hauntings and more,) are seemingly bottomless. What's more, his brand of storytelling isn't one-dimensional, albeit dark, very disturbing, and unequivocally adult-themed. What he delivers isn't your typical horror. Instead, he presents common clichés and spins them on their tops, and then pens narratives that only he can. But despite their bleakness, there's inevitably light. There is hope, even for the damned. Maybe especially for the damned. He writes with heart and soul, and I think that's what I admire most about his work.
Similar to his local counterpart, Stephen King, Rolfe's stories are often set in small Maine towns. They also tend to be coming-of-age tales set in the 80s and 90s, with a palpable nostalgic feel, whose primary focus are children.
"What makes you think he gets to pick one?" August, a tall kid with a clawed hand, asked. His hollow eyes matched the straight black hair that touched his funny shoulders. Johnny thought it looked like he was wearing shoulder pads made of baby skulls beneath his faded blue Superman t-shirt. Johnny didn't like that August's shoulders made him think of baby skulls, but he thought that was August's fault. Somehow. And those damn eyes. Just two black holes..
From the initial sentence, the author made the overall mood and tone of Spears Corner clear. Over time, he painted images of a town almost reliant on deception, ambition, greed and angst. Spears Corner was complex and secretive. It felt, in a lot of ways, like my hometown, all of which made it scarier and more relatable.
True to life, there were pockets within August's Eyes that brazenly defied explanation. Sometimes spiritual, often psychological, the intricate tale spun by Rolfe felt seamless, horrific, and was, in turn, downright magnetic. Regardless of the unexplained, those pockets were primarily rooted in trauma, yet they were also mysterious. Those scenes were the epitome of creativity, fascination, and originality. The entire novel was a lot of fun, but Graveyard Land, in particular, was pure delight.
"Dreams are a gateway to the spirit world," the doc said. "The shaman I mentioned, he delved into places beyond our realm. Places we are not meant to tread. Not the way he intended, at least."
The spirit world played a significant role, though the reader and characters didn't unearth those truths until much later. In fact, I shudder to think how different things might've turned out if not for a certain Passamaquoddy man. August's Eyes was a much stronger work because of the Indigenous mythology, which gave it some really nice fantastical elements. They were compelling on their own, but they helped deepen the mystery and profoundly strengthened the work as a whole. The Native elements were really refreshing and I wouldn't want August's Eyes without them. I can't see it any other way. More impressive yet, the character, Dr. Rik Soctomah, wasn't just there to aid John's journey. His purposes were numerous. His character was fully realized.
https://passamaquoddypeople.com/passamaquoddy-history
I loved the believability of these characters and the fact that they're vulnerable and deeply flawed. There were times I cheered them on; grieved with them, sympathized with their suffering. There were times that I genuinely empathized. There was one emotionally brutal scene when I was SHOCKED by John's actions. I remember feeling very angry. I really felt the sense of loss and betrayal. And as much as I loved John, Sarah, and Dr. Soctomah, I adored Pat even more. He's one of those characters with instant likability, as though etched from the fabric of real life. I can't begin to convey my adoration for Pat. Or how much I wish he was real. We all need a friend like Pat.
It was true, Spears Corner was a shiny, happy, American flag-flying town on the outside. Pot luck dinners at the local churches every weekend, yard sales by the dozens, and as much school pride as any of the football-loving Texas towns of the South, but beneath it all was an oozing river of deceit, jealousy, and outright hatred between the haves and have-nots.
However, there were a few things Rolfe could've handled better. The ending, for one. It was too easy, too neatly wrapped up. Given everything that came before, particularly the vile nature of the villain, I was expecting further complexities. Which isn't to imply a lack of escalation, but I was anticipating something grand. Diabolical. I really wish the antagonist had been three-dimensional, as opposed to your typical serial killer dossier. Interestingly enough, Rolfe was inspired by John Wayne Gacy, the prolific serial murderer commonly known as the "Killer Clown," in suburban Chicago, circa 1970s. With that in mind, I'd hoped for a more diverse creation, someone I could relate to on some level. Even an abstract one. I wanted more gray and less black and white. My third and final critique centers around the mythology of Graveyard Land. More than anything, I wanted--maybe needed-- to know how it became a reality. Its origin, the role of the shaman and everything pertinent. It was such a cool and creative pocket, entrenched in Passamaquoddy lore, but knowing those big details piqued my curiosity about the small ones.
Throughout this incredible experience, I couldn't help but compare it to The Window
(the only other book I've read by Glenn Rolfe,) and I marveled at how far he's come in only three years. His prose was more refined, the concepts felt fresh and inviting; the storytelling flowed with ease, like ink streaming across the page; the wording was more precise; the primary characters were fully realized.
Highly addictive, delightfully strange, creepy as hell and exceptionally written. Plausibly Rolfe's finest yet.
*A note regarding possible trigger warnings: they include cruelty to children and rape. Although they were present and gut- wrenching, it was never gratuitous. The author should be commended for that. Those horrible things happened, but they were never given specific details. They were only mentioned, and that's an excellent example of "Show, Don't Tell" being the exception to the rule.*
August’s Eyes is my very first Glenn Rolfe, but it will definitely not be my last. John Colby is a hard working man married to the love of his life. He has a good life, but he starts having terrible nightmares. Is he simply having bad dreams or are his dreams trying to tell him something?
I really liked this book. It was part serial killer horror and part supernatural horror. Rolfe does an excellent job of meshing these two genres together to create an exciting fast paced read. I am a horror junkie and there were some scenes that actually had me cringing and I even cried at one point. In essence Rolfe wrote a beautifully horrific story that made me feel something . . . and isn’t that the very reason we read horror? Five glorious stars for August’s Eyes. .
I really liked this book. It was part serial killer horror and part supernatural horror. Rolfe does an excellent job of meshing these two genres together to create an exciting fast paced read. I am a horror junkie and there were some scenes that actually had me cringing and I even cried at one point. In essence Rolfe wrote a beautifully horrific story that made me feel something . . . and isn’t that the very reason we read horror? Five glorious stars for August’s Eyes. .
*Thank you to NetGalley and Flame Tree Press for an arc in exchange for an honest review.*
This is my first time reading something written by Glenn Rolfe and I definitely have thoughts on this one.
This story is a pretty standard plot, something tragic happened when the main character was younger and now the characters past is coming back to haunt them.
I actually do like this sort of plot, as long as the author tries to go about it in a new and different way. I will say, I do think that was the author’s intent with this story. They tried to make the plot fresh and unique. However, it wasn’t fully successful.
There is a good blend of real human evil and the supernatural, which are two areas of horror that I enjoy immensely. However, I feel as though the supernatural elements were not as strong as they could’ve have been. I was left feeling a little puzzled on how everything meshed together. I honestly would have preferred the author focus on the more human/realistic route and forgo the supernatural part entirely. That is just my personal opinion, but the supernatural elements were just lackluster and didn’t add anything to the story.
I really liked the idea of the plot, it does deal with molestation and pedophilia, so be warned if that is something you aren’t interested in reading.
I also felt the writing was just a little choppy and didn’t flow completely. Some of the dialogue between characters felt too forced and unrealistic. I was left thinking, “I don’t believe this conversation would have occurred this way in real life” too many times. It felt a little too over the top at points. I also felt that the characters themselves were a little unrealistic, there were a few times I was taken out of the story because of how unrealistic it made everything feel.
I also enjoyed the last half of the book way more than the beginning half, but the ending was just a little too abrupt and a little too obvious for my liking. The second half of the book really picked up speed and I did find myself enjoying it a bit more, but it was just too predictable for me. I knew what kind of ending was going to occur before it even had, which is always a letdown for me.
Overall, the story was okay. I don’t think it particularly stands out as anything crazy original, but it’s definitely not a bad book. I liked some aspects more than others and wish some things had been different, but that’s just me. I would definitely be open to reading more from this author in the future.
This is my first time reading something written by Glenn Rolfe and I definitely have thoughts on this one.
This story is a pretty standard plot, something tragic happened when the main character was younger and now the characters past is coming back to haunt them.
I actually do like this sort of plot, as long as the author tries to go about it in a new and different way. I will say, I do think that was the author’s intent with this story. They tried to make the plot fresh and unique. However, it wasn’t fully successful.
There is a good blend of real human evil and the supernatural, which are two areas of horror that I enjoy immensely. However, I feel as though the supernatural elements were not as strong as they could’ve have been. I was left feeling a little puzzled on how everything meshed together. I honestly would have preferred the author focus on the more human/realistic route and forgo the supernatural part entirely. That is just my personal opinion, but the supernatural elements were just lackluster and didn’t add anything to the story.
I really liked the idea of the plot, it does deal with molestation and pedophilia, so be warned if that is something you aren’t interested in reading.
I also felt the writing was just a little choppy and didn’t flow completely. Some of the dialogue between characters felt too forced and unrealistic. I was left thinking, “I don’t believe this conversation would have occurred this way in real life” too many times. It felt a little too over the top at points. I also felt that the characters themselves were a little unrealistic, there were a few times I was taken out of the story because of how unrealistic it made everything feel.
I also enjoyed the last half of the book way more than the beginning half, but the ending was just a little too abrupt and a little too obvious for my liking. The second half of the book really picked up speed and I did find myself enjoying it a bit more, but it was just too predictable for me. I knew what kind of ending was going to occur before it even had, which is always a letdown for me.
Overall, the story was okay. I don’t think it particularly stands out as anything crazy original, but it’s definitely not a bad book. I liked some aspects more than others and wish some things had been different, but that’s just me. I would definitely be open to reading more from this author in the future.
This is my first Glenn Rolfe novel and I have to say I enjoyed it.
Just a warning to say that it has some triggering subjects including child abuse and kidnapping.
I enjoyed the dream aspect and the spiritual involvement. Stuff like that always peaks my interest. I think some of the character development could have been explained a bit more between the two Caswell cousins and how Alvin took over the despicable horrors, but I don't think it took away anything in enjoying the book.
The spiders gave me the creeps, Im an arachnophobe and could swear I saw them everywhere!
I had an "ah ha" moment when it was revealed about "August's eyes" I thought that was clever and I called the ending for Sarah.
All in a good read and I will look out for other books by this author.
Just a warning to say that it has some triggering subjects including child abuse and kidnapping.
I enjoyed the dream aspect and the spiritual involvement. Stuff like that always peaks my interest. I think some of the character development could have been explained a bit more between the two Caswell cousins and how Alvin took over the despicable horrors, but I don't think it took away anything in enjoying the book.
The spiders gave me the creeps, Im an arachnophobe and could swear I saw them everywhere!
I had an "ah ha" moment when it was revealed about "August's eyes" I thought that was clever and I called the ending for Sarah.
All in a good read and I will look out for other books by this author.
“We all have a price to pay for our sins, even the ones we forget.”
August's Eyes checked a lot of boxes for me. Coming-of-age. Weird dreams. Memory loss. Grief. Redemption.
John has begun having strange dreams about being a 12-year-old boy in Graveyard Land, where he needs to pick his grave. August and One-Eye have already picked their graves, and it's Johnny's turn. In his waking life, John is a stressed out social worker. He attributes the dreams to his stress and decides to take a vacation. But the dreams aren't from work. He watched his friend Ethan get abducted and killed as a child, and forgot all about it. In his dreams, his guilt is eating him alive.
This book was such a fun time. There were a lot of 90s nods, and while I was a bit small in the 90s, I still appreciated it. Knowing Glenn from his social media presence really made it a bit special for me. I also really enjoyed the social worker plot. John is such a good man, and I loved watching how he interacted with Pat and his family.
The only thing about this book I didn't enjoy was a spoiler, but for those who have read the book, you probably know which part I'm talking about. It's a different reaction for different people, and I'm sure other people won't react as badly as I have.
The ending also had me in tears. A good book is a book that made you cry.
Thank you to Net Galley, Flame Tree Press, and Glenn Rolfe for this advanced review copy! August's Eyes releases August 17th.
August's Eyes checked a lot of boxes for me. Coming-of-age. Weird dreams. Memory loss. Grief. Redemption.
John has begun having strange dreams about being a 12-year-old boy in Graveyard Land, where he needs to pick his grave. August and One-Eye have already picked their graves, and it's Johnny's turn. In his waking life, John is a stressed out social worker. He attributes the dreams to his stress and decides to take a vacation. But the dreams aren't from work. He watched his friend Ethan get abducted and killed as a child, and forgot all about it. In his dreams, his guilt is eating him alive.
This book was such a fun time. There were a lot of 90s nods, and while I was a bit small in the 90s, I still appreciated it. Knowing Glenn from his social media presence really made it a bit special for me. I also really enjoyed the social worker plot. John is such a good man, and I loved watching how he interacted with Pat and his family.
The only thing about this book I didn't enjoy was a spoiler, but for those who have read the book, you probably know which part I'm talking about. It's a different reaction for different people, and I'm sure other people won't react as badly as I have.
The ending also had me in tears. A good book is a book that made you cry.
Thank you to Net Galley, Flame Tree Press, and Glenn Rolfe for this advanced review copy! August's Eyes releases August 17th.
It's the first book I read by Glenn Rolfe and WOW, it's excellent.
It's high on adrenaline, entertaining, a true horror that kept me hooked and spooked till the last page.
Excellent character development and world building, good storytelling and tightly knitted plot.
Strongly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
It's high on adrenaline, entertaining, a true horror that kept me hooked and spooked till the last page.
Excellent character development and world building, good storytelling and tightly knitted plot.
Strongly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
When John was a child, he witnessed something so traumatic that his mind has blocked it out. Now years later he is suffering from strange nightmares in which he is still a kid. John may have forgotten what he saw all those years ago, but it has not forgotten him! As his dreams begin to interfere with his real life they also threaten people around him, putting himself and his wife at risk. Do they still count as dreams if other people can see them too?
This was a very dark tale that takes place in a town with an evil history. I'm not usually one to bother with trigger warnings because I assume horror readers are expecting and prepared for some horrifying events. In this case, since the synopsis I was given does not really give much detail I feel that I should mention that this book contains child molestation and child murders. Not in an overly graphic way, but it is a big part of the story. It's a supernatural horror but a very emotional read. Some readers may recognize some of the names used, others may not, and I thought it was kind of cool to see the author has enjoyed some of the same works as I have. If you don't recognize them that's ok too, it doesn't detract from the story either way.
I received an advance copy for review.
This was a very dark tale that takes place in a town with an evil history. I'm not usually one to bother with trigger warnings because I assume horror readers are expecting and prepared for some horrifying events. In this case, since the synopsis I was given does not really give much detail I feel that I should mention that this book contains child molestation and child murders. Not in an overly graphic way, but it is a big part of the story. It's a supernatural horror but a very emotional read. Some readers may recognize some of the names used, others may not, and I thought it was kind of cool to see the author has enjoyed some of the same works as I have. If you don't recognize them that's ok too, it doesn't detract from the story either way.
I received an advance copy for review.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was the first book by Glenn Rolfe that I have had the pleasure of reading, and it will not be the last! I absolutely LOVED this book. With equal parts horror and mystery, this book was a thriller until the very last page. The fast pace of everything makes sure that you are flipping pages until you discover what is really happening. John Colby was once a young boy who saw something that he should not have. His developing mind blocked it from memory, but it continues to haunt him. The legacy of one of the darkest serial killers that his small town has faced hangs over him and casts dark shadows on his life. The main characters despite facing some dark struggles, were likable and you as the reader will root for them. John's journey into his inner psyche to discover the secrets of his childhood. This story is a dark blend of the themes of coming of age and not letting your past define you. Check this book out, because you will not be disappointed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Grief
Minor: Pedophilia, Blood, Stalking