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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
Late 20s Joel reluctantly returns to the small Texas town he couldn't wait to flee as a teen. He's there to help his troubled younger brother Dylan, the star player of the football team, but then Dylan goes missing. Nearly 500 pages to get to a somewhat intriguing finale, but none of the characters are remotely interesting.
I didn’t like it as much as I thought I would/should, but I’ll round it up to a 4. It was mostly very good. I guess it’s IT meets FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS, but gayer? IDK. Just get ready to make fucking flowcharts to keep up with the football players, their girlfriends, their parents, and their 10-years-older siblings. There are many.
CAWPILE: 7.14/10 - 4/5
Este libro vino recomendado de mi amigo Moi, y ambos pensamos lo mismo: el libro tiene sus fallas, el principio tarde un poco en despegar, el horror tarda en entrar y que haya múltiples puntos de vista hace que la historia, por momentos sea confusa.
Pero igual podemos ver una gran promesa en el final del libro, este libro tuvo increíble desenlace, jamás vi venir el plot twist del libro, y ver como poco a poco el feeling horripilante empieza a salir en la novela hacía que no podías parar de leer.
Al igual ver un personaje LGBTQ ya viviendo su vida y tratando de seguir con su vida luego del lugar donde creció.
Ya quiero leer algo mas del autor.
Este libro vino recomendado de mi amigo Moi, y ambos pensamos lo mismo: el libro tiene sus fallas, el principio tarde un poco en despegar, el horror tarda en entrar y que haya múltiples puntos de vista hace que la historia, por momentos sea confusa.
Pero igual podemos ver una gran promesa en el final del libro, este libro tuvo increíble desenlace, jamás vi venir el plot twist del libro, y ver como poco a poco el feeling horripilante empieza a salir en la novela hacía que no podías parar de leer.
Al igual ver un personaje LGBTQ ya viviendo su vida y tratando de seguir con su vida luego del lugar donde creció.
Ya quiero leer algo mas del autor.
**2.5/5**
Great start, boring middle, and the ending was so fast paced and confusing with all of the characters and viewpoints.
Great start, boring middle, and the ending was so fast paced and confusing with all of the characters and viewpoints.
I’ve seen this book when pandemic started and a lot are raving about this. This made me curious. Fast forward three years after, I chanced upon this book in the library, read it and well, it was good but I didn’t like the ending.
In a small town of Bentley in Texas, nothing like football and secrets make them alive. When their QB Dylan Whitley is missing after a game, his brother Joel sees himself back to the place he long ago escaped from. Joel left Bentley ten years ago after being shamed out and made a life as a gay man in New York. Joel’s return brings back painful memories to him and the town sheriff Starsha Clark with her missing brother as well. Joel and Clark team up to find the reason behind their bothers’ disappearance, unearthing the town’s secrets and crimes, without knowing they are putting themselves in a dangerous situation, the darkness, the nightmares, urban legends made real.
I really enjoyed the story, the pacing, the mysteries behind the disappearances, the small town story with its high school football team comes with lots of dramas. I really liked this up until 3/4 of the book and after that it all went downhill for me. The horror aspect with its supernatural make it a bit unbelievable. There are too many characters, which I’m totally fine, but it tend to overshadow the important characters. Despite being too long for a mystery, it’s a kind of a quick read and easy to get lost into the story. I just wish it has a different ending, it could have been a perfect mystery read.
In a small town of Bentley in Texas, nothing like football and secrets make them alive. When their QB Dylan Whitley is missing after a game, his brother Joel sees himself back to the place he long ago escaped from. Joel left Bentley ten years ago after being shamed out and made a life as a gay man in New York. Joel’s return brings back painful memories to him and the town sheriff Starsha Clark with her missing brother as well. Joel and Clark team up to find the reason behind their bothers’ disappearance, unearthing the town’s secrets and crimes, without knowing they are putting themselves in a dangerous situation, the darkness, the nightmares, urban legends made real.
I really enjoyed the story, the pacing, the mysteries behind the disappearances, the small town story with its high school football team comes with lots of dramas. I really liked this up until 3/4 of the book and after that it all went downhill for me. The horror aspect with its supernatural make it a bit unbelievable. There are too many characters, which I’m totally fine, but it tend to overshadow the important characters. Despite being too long for a mystery, it’s a kind of a quick read and easy to get lost into the story. I just wish it has a different ending, it could have been a perfect mystery read.
Edited to add: I’ve sat with my thoughts about this book for a few days and decided to give it 5 stars. I cannot stop thinking about the various layers and complexities of the characters and the overall metaphor. I really think this book is the start of something new & exciting in the literary world.
Thank you to John Fram and Hanover Square Press for my copy of this book.
When Joel Whitley receives some cryptic and alarming text messages from his younger brother Dylan about quitting football and no longer wanting to go to a strange place called The Bright Lands, he books a flight back to his conservative hometown of Bentley, Texas. His return is a harsh reminder of his experience a number of years earlier when he was publicly shamed and forced to leave after being outed as a gay man. Once Joel arrives however, Dylan, has gone missing, and Joel finds himself working alongside Deputy Starsha Clark to uncover the dark truth about what happened to Dylan.
I absolutely loved the expert blend of supernatural and crime fiction. There was a clear dark, eerie atmosphere throughout the book that kept me intrigued and curious until the very end. This was my favourite aspect of the book: the sense of impending doom and dread. Subtly and expertly done.
With multiple point of views, this book can become quite dense. There are multiple characters that provide the reader with glimpses of different events and plot lines, and each voice felt distinct from the others, making the reading experience even more enjoyable. The reader must work hard to remember each character’s involvement and what they know; but paying attention pays off in the end. And WHAT an ending. With an explosive climax and resolution, this is one book you are not going to want to miss.
Read If: you enjoy horror, supernatural elements, crime fiction, and a nice slow burn.
TW: homophobia, gore, death
Thank you to John Fram and Hanover Square Press for my copy of this book.
When Joel Whitley receives some cryptic and alarming text messages from his younger brother Dylan about quitting football and no longer wanting to go to a strange place called The Bright Lands, he books a flight back to his conservative hometown of Bentley, Texas. His return is a harsh reminder of his experience a number of years earlier when he was publicly shamed and forced to leave after being outed as a gay man. Once Joel arrives however, Dylan, has gone missing, and Joel finds himself working alongside Deputy Starsha Clark to uncover the dark truth about what happened to Dylan.
I absolutely loved the expert blend of supernatural and crime fiction. There was a clear dark, eerie atmosphere throughout the book that kept me intrigued and curious until the very end. This was my favourite aspect of the book: the sense of impending doom and dread. Subtly and expertly done.
With multiple point of views, this book can become quite dense. There are multiple characters that provide the reader with glimpses of different events and plot lines, and each voice felt distinct from the others, making the reading experience even more enjoyable. The reader must work hard to remember each character’s involvement and what they know; but paying attention pays off in the end. And WHAT an ending. With an explosive climax and resolution, this is one book you are not going to want to miss.
Read If: you enjoy horror, supernatural elements, crime fiction, and a nice slow burn.
TW: homophobia, gore, death
Okay I don’t know if I can actually call this a review.
I really don’t know how to rate this one.
⠀
I closed this book thinking “what did I just read?!” But I also kind of liked it?
⠀
There were a lot of aspects I liked, it kept me on my toes with the suspense.
The vibes in the town were super unsettling and it made for a great setting for the book.
I liked all the different perspectives, it kept you on your toes.
⠀
That said, the ending.
The last few chapters where everything comes to a head, felt chaotic and hard to follow. Then it got even weirder.
I don’t want to go into spoilers but if you’ve read this one, let’s discuss lol
⠀
All in all, I will stick with saying I liked it. Just know if you pick it up it will be a RIDE.
I really don’t know how to rate this one.
⠀
I closed this book thinking “what did I just read?!” But I also kind of liked it?
⠀
There were a lot of aspects I liked, it kept me on my toes with the suspense.
The vibes in the town were super unsettling and it made for a great setting for the book.
I liked all the different perspectives, it kept you on your toes.
⠀
That said, the ending.
The last few chapters where everything comes to a head, felt chaotic and hard to follow. Then it got even weirder.
I don’t want to go into spoilers but if you’ve read this one, let’s discuss lol
⠀
All in all, I will stick with saying I liked it. Just know if you pick it up it will be a RIDE.
Giving this 5 stars, because why not? I definitely side-eyed some of the plot's legitimacy (why weren't there this many bi-curious football players in my small hometown???), but this was honestly a triumph. Of course, it's super rare for me to pick up a book that's over 300 pages, but how could I resist a queer Southern Gothic horror-thriller? Those are the magic words for me as a reader. And despite my typically horrid attention span, I tore through this, never wanted to put it down, turned pages furiously, etc. It was plot-driven, but written excellently. A shit ton of characters, but easy to keep track of everyone and root for their different motivations. Evoked goosebumps and tension and emotion all at once. I'm obsessed with this and will be recommending to everyone.
Ok let’s talk about this... this is Friday Night Lights meets Eyes Wide Shut meets The Twilight Zone. But there’s also a murder mystery at the center of it? Show of hands if this works for anyone...
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:
Complicated