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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This absorbing mystery/horror novel is f*cked up in the best possible way.
UPDATE 1/21: Despite my initial reaction I HAVE NOT STOPPED THINKING ABOUT THE TWIST IN THIS BOOK SINCE I READ IT LAST MAY. Definite 5 star read, was in my top 5 books of 2020. Gayest and most outlandish book I’ve ever read and will be giving it a re-read soon.
I just finished this book, so I’m still processing what the FUCK I just read...my initial rating is gonna be a 4.5 (rounding up to a 5 cause I wanna support this).
There really isn’t much more I can say about this book besides what’s included in the synopsis without giving away some sort of spoiler (things start getting spoilery around as early as page 50), but let me say that this is a very LGBTQ focused novel with lots of ‘hahahah what the fuck did I just read’ moments.
There’s a Josh Malerman quote on the cover, and he couldn’t have been a more appropriate author to give this book a stamp of approval - 10/10 would recommend if you’re a fan of Malerman. And let me just say when I found out what ‘the bright lands’ really are...my sexy mind was kinda blown.
The ONLY reason this wasn’t quite a 5 star read for me is that it does kind of get confusing with the huge amount of characters we’re introduced to in this book, especially within the first 100 or so pages. It was a little difficult at first to keep track of who was who, and who did what, and some characters just disappear from the story for hundreds of pages before you see their name again. However, that was just a personal issue, and it is hard to fault the book for this because the author does an excellent job at making sure ALL the characters we follow are important to the story. It’s a very character driven story which I love.
I just finished this book, so I’m still processing what the FUCK I just read...my initial rating is gonna be a 4.5 (rounding up to a 5 cause I wanna support this).
There really isn’t much more I can say about this book besides what’s included in the synopsis without giving away some sort of spoiler (things start getting spoilery around as early as page 50), but let me say that this is a very LGBTQ focused novel with lots of ‘hahahah what the fuck did I just read’ moments.
There’s a Josh Malerman quote on the cover, and he couldn’t have been a more appropriate author to give this book a stamp of approval - 10/10 would recommend if you’re a fan of Malerman. And let me just say when I found out what ‘the bright lands’ really are...my sexy mind was kinda blown.
The ONLY reason this wasn’t quite a 5 star read for me is that it does kind of get confusing with the huge amount of characters we’re introduced to in this book, especially within the first 100 or so pages. It was a little difficult at first to keep track of who was who, and who did what, and some characters just disappear from the story for hundreds of pages before you see their name again. However, that was just a personal issue, and it is hard to fault the book for this because the author does an excellent job at making sure ALL the characters we follow are important to the story. It’s a very character driven story which I love.
3.5 rounded up bc the beginning slapped but the end was eh
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I hated this book.
I finished The Bright Lands a few days ago and absolutely loved it. I have been reading a lot of thrillers lately and this one was perfect for me! It follows a man named Joel, who was shamed out of Bentley, his small, football-obsessed Texas hometown. Joel returns as his brother vanishes and he teams up with a local female police officer that has her own experience with a brother that has disappeared. The two begin to understand that the people of Bentley are hiding some dark secrets and they are determined to get to the bottom of it.
This book also has a paranormal aspect as something starts to haunt everyone's dreams. Is it just an urban legend? What are The Bright Lands? And why will no one tell the truth?
This book was so mysterious! A great combination of thriller, mystery, and horror. The things that go on in this town are mind-blowing. I love that the author also adds plenty of social commentary in this small Texas setting. I couldn't put this one down!
This book also has a paranormal aspect as something starts to haunt everyone's dreams. Is it just an urban legend? What are The Bright Lands? And why will no one tell the truth?
This book was so mysterious! A great combination of thriller, mystery, and horror. The things that go on in this town are mind-blowing. I love that the author also adds plenty of social commentary in this small Texas setting. I couldn't put this one down!
This book was OK. I listened to it on audio and maybe that wasn’t the best thing. I got bored sometimes and couldn’t follow the story. The ending was pretty weird though, so I liked that!
Another incredible debut author for 2020! John Fram’s THE BRIGHT LANDS brings us a suspenseful thriller with a hint of horror. I will admit, the page count (almost 500 pages) had me apprehensive, mainly because most thrillers stick to around the 300ish page mark. However, when I saw all of the rave reviews I knew it definitely should be worth it!
A small Texas town that is borderline obsessed with their high school’s football team is where our story takes place. I feel like this is something a lot of readers can relate to – change football to hockey and that was my high school in Minnesota (let’s be real, as soon as you could skate it was an obsession for some parents). We are introduced to a wide array of characters and all are so well-developed. When you have multiple POVs there are times where some characters get lost in the background, but Fram gives us such authentic and relatable characters throughout the book.
In most of the book, the suspense continues to mount and culminates into one hell of an ending that I wasn’t expecting! The last part of the book I finished in one sitting because I had to know what was going to happen next. I was expecting a little more horror elements to it, but they are definitely present in certain parts and there was an overall creepy/eerie vibe.
I’m anxious to see what Fram releases next and I highly recommend adding this to your TBR. Don’t let the page count deter you like it almost did for me. I’m so happy I listened to Chandra (and others) and moved this to the top of the list once I got my hands on it.
A small Texas town that is borderline obsessed with their high school’s football team is where our story takes place. I feel like this is something a lot of readers can relate to – change football to hockey and that was my high school in Minnesota (let’s be real, as soon as you could skate it was an obsession for some parents). We are introduced to a wide array of characters and all are so well-developed. When you have multiple POVs there are times where some characters get lost in the background, but Fram gives us such authentic and relatable characters throughout the book.
In most of the book, the suspense continues to mount and culminates into one hell of an ending that I wasn’t expecting! The last part of the book I finished in one sitting because I had to know what was going to happen next. I was expecting a little more horror elements to it, but they are definitely present in certain parts and there was an overall creepy/eerie vibe.
I’m anxious to see what Fram releases next and I highly recommend adding this to your TBR. Don’t let the page count deter you like it almost did for me. I’m so happy I listened to Chandra (and others) and moved this to the top of the list once I got my hands on it.
I don't even know where to start to review this book. It's definitely original. Think of Texas/southern football culture and the toxic masculinity that goes along with it. Throw in some gay secrets and an ancient creature that needs blood. At the end, add some gasoline and automatic weapons. Then you have The Bright Lands.
In some ways, the vibes of The Bright Lands reminded me of the Stephen King novel, Desperation.
I enjoyed the book, but I got confused at times because there were SO many characters to keep track of. I mean, I guess you have to have a lot of characters if you're writing about a football team. But still. It was a lot for me.
I liked how it was a horror book NOT based on ghosts or vampires. There were some pretty scary parts. Tons of gore and NSFW aspects. I do recommend it. I guess I'd give it 3.5 stars.
In some ways, the vibes of The Bright Lands reminded me of the Stephen King novel, Desperation.
I enjoyed the book, but I got confused at times because there were SO many characters to keep track of. I mean, I guess you have to have a lot of characters if you're writing about a football team. But still. It was a lot for me.
I liked how it was a horror book NOT based on ghosts or vampires. There were some pretty scary parts. Tons of gore and NSFW aspects. I do recommend it. I guess I'd give it 3.5 stars.
Welp, this was a freaking ride from start to finish. Joel Whitley never thought he’d return to the conservative hometown that caused him so much pain, but when his quarterback kid brother sends him some distressed messages from back home, he makes the choice to return in order to be the big brother he’s failed to be in the past. But when he arrives, his brother soon goes missing and puts into motion a series of events that draw connection to other missing football players of the past and something disturbing that has it’s hold on the town of Bentley.
This was nothing like I thought it was going to be, but it was a great read all the same. I was expecting a paranormal horror story of sorts, but what I got was a thrilling mystery with lots of twists and little notes of horror. It was also gay to the max which I can appreciate, especially in a genre that’s been overwhelmingly hetero in the past. This book was full of plot twists around every turn and it kept me guessing the whole time. This story, however, is incredibly dark and disturbing so do keep that in mind if you’re planning on picking up this book. Some of the themes it deals with are racial profiling, homophobia, corrupt police, and grooming.
It took me a bit to connect to the characters in this one, but once I started to learn more about everyone they really added to the story. I especially enjoyed the multiple perspectives and found they really added to the sense of mystery of the book. For example, seeing things from the perspective of a police officer interrogating someone, and then switching to the perspective of the person being interrogated really added intrigue to the narrative.
Overall, this was a great book! I don’t want to say I enjoyed it because that was DISTURBING AF, but I definitely recommend it. If you’re looking for a twisted mystery that deals with some real issues, this one’s for you!
TW: Homophobia, sexual assault, outing, drug abuse, suicide, pedophilia, and extreme violence
This was nothing like I thought it was going to be, but it was a great read all the same. I was expecting a paranormal horror story of sorts, but what I got was a thrilling mystery with lots of twists and little notes of horror. It was also gay to the max which I can appreciate, especially in a genre that’s been overwhelmingly hetero in the past. This book was full of plot twists around every turn and it kept me guessing the whole time. This story, however, is incredibly dark and disturbing so do keep that in mind if you’re planning on picking up this book. Some of the themes it deals with are racial profiling, homophobia, corrupt police, and grooming.
It took me a bit to connect to the characters in this one, but once I started to learn more about everyone they really added to the story. I especially enjoyed the multiple perspectives and found they really added to the sense of mystery of the book. For example, seeing things from the perspective of a police officer interrogating someone, and then switching to the perspective of the person being interrogated really added intrigue to the narrative.
Overall, this was a great book! I don’t want to say I enjoyed it because that was DISTURBING AF, but I definitely recommend it. If you’re looking for a twisted mystery that deals with some real issues, this one’s for you!
TW: Homophobia, sexual assault, outing, drug abuse, suicide, pedophilia, and extreme violence
The Bright Lands is set in a small Texas town, where the disappearance of the high school’s star quarterback, Dylan Whitley, reveals deeper secrets that some of the townspeople are desperate to keep hidden. It is marketed as a horror novel, but it read more like a mystery story with a hint of an urban legend/supernatural element (that wasn’t particularly well executed in my opinion). The story is told from a lot of different perspectives, but we never really got to know any of the characters, which made it hard for me to care about them. A disappointing read for me, but I’m sure others will enjoy it.