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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It brings me no joy to write this review. I’m sure the author spent a lot of time on this book, and, while the story kept me interested enough to finish it, the writing was, sadly, not good. A vapid protagonist, characters who are not fully-developed, a timeline that’s hard to follow but seems impossibly condensed, actions that are written in such a circumspect way that I had to re-read several passages and still couldn’t figure out what actually HAPPENED. A hint at some supernatural mysticism that STILL feels like it’s part of another story when it is fully introduced in the final 1/4 of the book. Characters that are given traits and characteristics early in the book who then act out of character or do not use the abilities that the author gave them later in the book when it makes sense for them to use them. To borrow a phrase, the whole thing is a “feathered fish.” It does not know what it wants to be. Is is a supernatural horror story? Is it a murder mystery? Is it a commentary on small-town prejudice? The answer is “Yes,” and, “No.”
On a personal bias note, I picked up this book because I’m a gay man who grew up in a “Friday Night Lights” town in West Texas. I knew early in life I wanted to escape, and I now live in a big city, like the protagonist, Joel (but different city). I know about religious upbringing and small-town gossip. I couldn’t find much about the book which rang true or seemed familiar. The use of the gay theme was “gay=bad, and should be hidden and punished” and was sad and gross to me. And frankly, considering the body count by the end of the book, the author glosses over the repercussions of the climax and how the town reacts to it.
To be fair, this author has at least one published book more than I do. But maybe he should look into getting a new editor. To the author, if he ever reads this: I liked the character, Kimbra. Good job with her.
On a personal bias note, I picked up this book because I’m a gay man who grew up in a “Friday Night Lights” town in West Texas. I knew early in life I wanted to escape, and I now live in a big city, like the protagonist, Joel (but different city). I know about religious upbringing and small-town gossip. I couldn’t find much about the book which rang true or seemed familiar. The use of the gay theme was “gay=bad, and should be hidden and punished” and was sad and gross to me. And frankly, considering the body count by the end of the book, the author glosses over the repercussions of the climax and how the town reacts to it.
To be fair, this author has at least one published book more than I do. But maybe he should look into getting a new editor. To the author, if he ever reads this: I liked the character, Kimbra. Good job with her.
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
this book is 90% my perfect mystery/thriller, with a blend of fascinating queer-character study thrown in for good measure. however, the book fumbles its ending, which feels the wrong tone and, to me, came out of no where.
My boyfriend: “What’s that book about?”
Me, frenzied after reading 150+ pages in one day: “SINISTER HOMOSEXUAL EVIL!”
But in all seriousness, I haven’t devoured any other book this year faster than THE BRIGHT LANDS. It has the same tense, addictive quality as any premium cable miniseries (which it will undoubtedly become someday), with a central mystery so twisty explanations are still being given 10 pages from the end. A panoply of salacious secrets permeate the core of every denizen; author Fram tantalizingly edges us from chapter one with bare whiffs of the grotesquely bonkers horrorshow burlesque that lies just below Bentley, Texas’s genteel small-town surface. Every one of the book’s three dozen plus characters is playing 3D chess, calculating exactly how much they want other characters (and the reader) to know about this world of football politics, outlandish bigotry, secret cruising spots, gossipy southern belles, whispered backwoods legends, collective nightmares, and Euphoria-levels of drugged-up teen bacchanalia. The cosmic horror elements almost take a backseat to the real terror: the existential agony of being closeted in a small red state hamlet, and how the yawning black pit of guilt, shame, jealousy, and loneliness feels like an inescapable Lovecraftian void, sending your fragile sanity careening over the lip.
The perfect final book to read before I leave Texas.
Me, frenzied after reading 150+ pages in one day: “SINISTER HOMOSEXUAL EVIL!”
But in all seriousness, I haven’t devoured any other book this year faster than THE BRIGHT LANDS. It has the same tense, addictive quality as any premium cable miniseries (which it will undoubtedly become someday), with a central mystery so twisty explanations are still being given 10 pages from the end. A panoply of salacious secrets permeate the core of every denizen; author Fram tantalizingly edges us from chapter one with bare whiffs of the grotesquely bonkers horrorshow burlesque that lies just below Bentley, Texas’s genteel small-town surface. Every one of the book’s three dozen plus characters is playing 3D chess, calculating exactly how much they want other characters (and the reader) to know about this world of football politics, outlandish bigotry, secret cruising spots, gossipy southern belles, whispered backwoods legends, collective nightmares, and Euphoria-levels of drugged-up teen bacchanalia. The cosmic horror elements almost take a backseat to the real terror: the existential agony of being closeted in a small red state hamlet, and how the yawning black pit of guilt, shame, jealousy, and loneliness feels like an inescapable Lovecraftian void, sending your fragile sanity careening over the lip.
The perfect final book to read before I leave Texas.
I am not sure what I just read…. Similar to Bunny by Mona Awad, I respect the author for just how out there the book is (but I enjoyed this one more than I enjoyed Bunny). It seemed to be a pretty par for the course thriller with (nicely done and realistic without being OTT) queer elements. The last 100 pages, with a Lovecraftian monster, a secret sex cult, and an all out gun battle was certainly a choice. I just think this book, fittingly for a Texas set novel, was too much— too many characters, too many plot strands, too many red herrings, too many twists at the end.
Overall, glad to support a new book store and enjoyable read, but I think a little too much “huh?” at the end for me. Now I do think he did a great job with creating a fascinating set up, and a spooky little town in Texas with a love for football that gets creepier as the book goes on. But I genuinely couldn’t keep who was who straight at the end of the book.
Overall, glad to support a new book store and enjoyable read, but I think a little too much “huh?” at the end for me. Now I do think he did a great job with creating a fascinating set up, and a spooky little town in Texas with a love for football that gets creepier as the book goes on. But I genuinely couldn’t keep who was who straight at the end of the book.
3.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
I went into this book with no background. At the outset, I thought it was solely a thriller/murder-mystery novel. However, it quickly became apparent that there were horror elements, as well. While I do enjoy horror from time to time, I found that the “bosheth” was completely unbelievable and did nothing to elevate the plot. Without that aspect, I would have enjoyed the book much more.
On the other hand, I really enjoyed this book as a depiction of what it can be like growing up gay in a small southern football town.
If the “bosheth” was eliminated from this story, it would have easily earned four stars.
I went into this book with no background. At the outset, I thought it was solely a thriller/murder-mystery novel. However, it quickly became apparent that there were horror elements, as well. While I do enjoy horror from time to time, I found that the “bosheth” was completely unbelievable and did nothing to elevate the plot. Without that aspect, I would have enjoyed the book much more.
On the other hand, I really enjoyed this book as a depiction of what it can be like growing up gay in a small southern football town.
If the “bosheth” was eliminated from this story, it would have easily earned four stars.
No rating - DNF'd at 50%. Couldn't hold my attention and I ended up confused. Throwing in the towel. Life is too short.
dark
mysterious
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
The Bright Lands is one of the most impressive debuts I’ve ever read. All the comparisons to Friday Night Lights meets Twin Peaks or Supernatural are spot on. This book is not going to be for everyone...it’s Queer Horror, but I absolutely loved it. John Fram’s newly given nickname, Stephen Queen, is so accurate! His writing is character driven & lets just say he’s not afraid to go THERE...I can’t wait to read what he writes next.
Messy, unfocused with too many characters to juggle on top of the 7 rotating POV that prevent us getting to know any character too deeply. Includes on page sexual assault and implies more and worse off-page.
The gay adults in town are revealed to all be sexual predators and pedophiles, every person in town is corrupt or inept. The evil gays have trailers in the middle of nowhere, and some of them wear gimp suits to get into character when they ply teens with drugs and do consensual and non-consensual sex acts with them, but only until they turn 18 and graduate.
The three straight women POV characters and a bunch of random straight footballers show up at the end to rescue all the gay teens from the evil adult gay pedophiles that have been grooming them, plying them with drugs, and blackmailing them.
Also an ancient evil is almost resurrected but then it isn’t.
Some people may or may not be involved in drug dealing or escort services in addition to or as part of the evil gay pedophile cabal.
The teen that died at the start of the book has POV at the end summarizing plot elements, followed by Joel the primary MC meeting with other characters and explaining all the plot holes together over coffee or dinner.
Incredibly frustrating. There’s great queer authors writing queer rep in the mystery, thriller, and horror genres, but this isn’t it.
The gay adults in town are revealed to all be sexual predators and pedophiles, every person in town is corrupt or inept. The evil gays have trailers in the middle of nowhere, and some of them wear gimp suits to get into character when they ply teens with drugs and do consensual and non-consensual sex acts with them, but only until they turn 18 and graduate.
The three straight women POV characters and a bunch of random straight footballers show up at the end to rescue all the gay teens from the evil adult gay pedophiles that have been grooming them, plying them with drugs, and blackmailing them.
Also an ancient evil is almost resurrected but then it isn’t.
Some people may or may not be involved in drug dealing or escort services in addition to or as part of the evil gay pedophile cabal.
The teen that died at the start of the book has POV at the end summarizing plot elements, followed by Joel the primary MC meeting with other characters and explaining all the plot holes together over coffee or dinner.
Incredibly frustrating. There’s great queer authors writing queer rep in the mystery, thriller, and horror genres, but this isn’t it.