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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
Let me start this off by saying there are tons of fans of this book and I urge you to read all the reviews. I think this one just missed the mark for me and I’ll explain why below but always remember reading is subjective.
I had literally seen this book everywhere and you better believe I was intrigued. John so gratuitously reached out and had the publisher send me a copy. Thank you for the chance to read your book.
Fans had told me I would love this one because I love football and I live in Texas. Many have called this Friday Night Lights meets Stephen King. I’ve caught your interest right?!?!? I think the description is accurate but I personally wanted more football action!
I’m not a huge horror fan so I was interested to see where Fram would take this. The pacing was a little off for me. This is a almost 500 page book and that’s definitely not in my comfort zone.
There are a TON of characters and while I enjoyed each of them I wanted more. They seemed one dimensional. I could sense the depth to each of them but I didn’t quite get that out of the story.
So after struggling a bit with 300 or so pages we get to the conclusion and to me it felt very rushed and confusing and honestly quite bizarre. Maybe that’s where the horror comes in and loses me.
I find this one hard for me to recommend but again urge you to seek out other opinions.
I had literally seen this book everywhere and you better believe I was intrigued. John so gratuitously reached out and had the publisher send me a copy. Thank you for the chance to read your book.
Fans had told me I would love this one because I love football and I live in Texas. Many have called this Friday Night Lights meets Stephen King. I’ve caught your interest right?!?!? I think the description is accurate but I personally wanted more football action!
I’m not a huge horror fan so I was interested to see where Fram would take this. The pacing was a little off for me. This is a almost 500 page book and that’s definitely not in my comfort zone.
There are a TON of characters and while I enjoyed each of them I wanted more. They seemed one dimensional. I could sense the depth to each of them but I didn’t quite get that out of the story.
So after struggling a bit with 300 or so pages we get to the conclusion and to me it felt very rushed and confusing and honestly quite bizarre. Maybe that’s where the horror comes in and loses me.
I find this one hard for me to recommend but again urge you to seek out other opinions.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I enjoyed this book, but the end felt rushed and disjointed. The plot seemed to build towards a big spooky reveal, but I thought the reveal of the Bright Lands, while definitely a departure from the expected, felt largely out of place with the rest of the story. The paranormal aspect also felt rushed and skimmed over after so much slow build throughout the book, and overall, the pacing was off for me.
I liked the cast of characters and multiple POVs, but I felt like this story didn't quite hit the mark the way I wanted it to.
I liked the cast of characters and multiple POVs, but I felt like this story didn't quite hit the mark the way I wanted it to.
Joel Whitely grew up in the small town of Bentley, Texas. First chance he got, he left and never looked back. Now a successful man in New York, Joel never thinks about Bentley except when his younger brother Dylan (Bentley star quarterback and local celebrity) cries out for help.
Joel decides he must return if only to get his brother out, to save him from a life Joel would never choose. Joel knows that town all too well. The town has not changed but has it really?
When Dylan disappears after the Friday night game, Joel sets about uncovering the mystery. But the town has secrets and won’t give them up easily, especially not to an outsider like Joel.
A queer horror supernatural mystery which reminded me of a cross between early X-Files with a queer prodigal son story.
Some of the storytelling was clunky in places. There were a lot of characters and POVs to keep up with. But overall this was a strong debut novel with a fresh and much needed perspective. I look forward to reading more by this author.
Joel decides he must return if only to get his brother out, to save him from a life Joel would never choose. Joel knows that town all too well. The town has not changed but has it really?
When Dylan disappears after the Friday night game, Joel sets about uncovering the mystery. But the town has secrets and won’t give them up easily, especially not to an outsider like Joel.
A queer horror supernatural mystery which reminded me of a cross between early X-Files with a queer prodigal son story.
Some of the storytelling was clunky in places. There were a lot of characters and POVs to keep up with. But overall this was a strong debut novel with a fresh and much needed perspective. I look forward to reading more by this author.
An unsatisfying conclusion let this decent book down. I will also say that this author has this preconceived idea of what Texas is and what Texans are like...I don't think he's ever met, talked, or been to Texas before.
I absolutely loved the first two thirds of this book. I couldn’t read it fast enough. But then it switches gears in a way that I am not sure I completely understand. The uncovered town secret is so over the top that the shock factor play didn’t sit well with me. The clipped ending chapters told from every characters’ viewpoint caused a disjointed story. I also wonder if the intended point of the book - we should be able to be our authentic selves- is lost because of certain elements in the story. I definitely need to think more about this. Maybe I am missing something.
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
No. Sorry. I didn't like this one. I wouldn't consider it "horror" even though it was nominated as best horror for 2020. It seemed like the supernatural element was forced in after the author finished the real story about a bigoted town who worshiped their high school football team. The characters were sort of one dimensional. It would have been a much better story without the gross version of Lord of the Flies at the end as well.