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justinkhchen's review against another edition
4.0
4 stars
The Bright Lands is A LOT, at times on the verge of drowning in its own excess. But once you crack through its shell, this Gothic-supernatural-American-small town thriller is an incredible emotional roller coaster that goes to some extremely unexpected places.
In a less-assured hand, this could've easily turned into a cheap Wattpad paranormal erotica.
I sometimes describe novels as 'cinematic', but The Bright Lands reads like a television series, due to its extensive cast (has to be somewhere close to 15+ recurring characters), multiple story arcs with different POVs, and a dialog-forward writing style evoking the format of a screenplay. Without the benefit of a visual presentation, the beginning of The Bright Lands was definitely a struggle; new characters show up without introduction, leaving readers to piece together relationship/connection contextually as the story progresses. If you need your character relationship clearly mapped out, taking note is a must.
The Bright Lands is immensely atmospheric, interjecting the main story with unexplained violence and unsettling imagery. John Fram really captured the apocalyptic dread that is looming over this small Texan town. I also appreciate the ambiguity regarding the supernatural—which leaves the horror open for metaphorical interpretation...
... And what horror! It's hard to describe what happened without entering into spoiler territory, as the synopsis is pretty tight-lipped about its ultimate path. But it is definitely sexually explicit, psychologically disturbing and relentlessly violent. The finale circles around the loss of innocence, generational corruption, and crooked personal struggle disguised as rite of passage for all.
The Bright Lands's complexity is both its strength as well as its shortcoming; with so many subplots and forking paths, it ends up obscuring its central message. Nevertheless, The Bright Lands remains a daring accomplishment, leaning into the demonization of homosexuality in a ultra-conservative society, to paint a psychological Hell on Earth where inner demons thrive.
The Bright Lands is A LOT, at times on the verge of drowning in its own excess. But once you crack through its shell, this Gothic-supernatural-American-small town thriller is an incredible emotional roller coaster that goes to some extremely unexpected places.
In a less-assured hand, this could've easily turned into a cheap Wattpad paranormal erotica.
I sometimes describe novels as 'cinematic', but The Bright Lands reads like a television series, due to its extensive cast (has to be somewhere close to 15+ recurring characters), multiple story arcs with different POVs, and a dialog-forward writing style evoking the format of a screenplay. Without the benefit of a visual presentation, the beginning of The Bright Lands was definitely a struggle; new characters show up without introduction, leaving readers to piece together relationship/connection contextually as the story progresses. If you need your character relationship clearly mapped out, taking note is a must.
The Bright Lands is immensely atmospheric, interjecting the main story with unexplained violence and unsettling imagery. John Fram really captured the apocalyptic dread that is looming over this small Texan town. I also appreciate the ambiguity regarding the supernatural—which leaves the horror open for metaphorical interpretation...
... And what horror! It's hard to describe what happened without entering into spoiler territory, as the synopsis is pretty tight-lipped about its ultimate path. But it is definitely sexually explicit, psychologically disturbing and relentlessly violent. The finale circles around the loss of innocence, generational corruption, and crooked personal struggle disguised as rite of passage for all.
The Bright Lands's complexity is both its strength as well as its shortcoming; with so many subplots and forking paths, it ends up obscuring its central message. Nevertheless, The Bright Lands remains a daring accomplishment, leaning into the demonization of homosexuality in a ultra-conservative society, to paint a psychological Hell on Earth where inner demons thrive.
mwilkinson89's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
tdean3's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
finedanddandy's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
cameronpetrovich's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Sexual assault, Mass/school shootings, Pedophilia, Murder, Homophobia, Hate crime, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual violence, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual content, Death, Blood, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Moderate: Addiction
asumprer's review
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.75
bmhbooks's review against another edition
5.0
This book is groundbreaking, breathtaking, and absolutely unforgettable.
I have long been searching for a story like this one, and John Fram has delivered with an exceptional narrative which tears down the expectations and perceived limits of its genre. This book will stay with me for a very long time.
The Bright Lands is one of the most impressive books I have ever read, and I cannot wait for more from this author!
I have long been searching for a story like this one, and John Fram has delivered with an exceptional narrative which tears down the expectations and perceived limits of its genre. This book will stay with me for a very long time.
The Bright Lands is one of the most impressive books I have ever read, and I cannot wait for more from this author!
knmel's review against another edition
1.0
it’s so hard to rate this book because i can’t tell if i loved it or hated it. i feel like the ending both was rushed, and dragged on for too long. maybe i just didn’t pay attention enough, but all of the character names got confusing, and i don’t completely understand what happened. the book held my attention, though, and i feel like it was a very cool concept.