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the_weirdling's review
4.0
Neverland is a tight, well ordered, nicely executed dark fantasy. While it may not be groundbreaking, it should happily satisfy the appetites of any lover of horror or dark fiction. It definitely does not disappoint.
Neverland is the story of former police detective Mark Boyd and his son Abe. After a traumatic event, Mark decides to move to the small town of Button Creek, Oklahoma in search of a better, simpler life. As befits a scary story that takes place in a small town, Button Creek has dark secret. (Queue spooky background music here.) I leave it to you find out more about what that secret is. Saying much more would give it away.
One of Dosser’s best accomplishments in this story can’t be fully elucidated without spoilers. I will say this much: the “baddies” of this story are extremely well tread territory for dark fiction. I should have groaned when I realized where Dosser was taking me. I should have, but I didn’t. Instead, I became more excited for the journey ahead. Impressively, Dosser manages to bring something new, interesting, and even clever to an area of dark fiction where it is nearly impossible to do so.
There’s a lot that Dosser does right in his story telling. Any story set in a small town requires a fine and stead supporting cast of local characters. Dosser manages to avoid getting lost in countless pages of “world creation”, like Stephen King. (I adore King, but there are times when he might not need to add 300 pages of background on all his characters and their history in his books.) Instead, Dosser sticks carefully to the tale he’s trying to tell. You have all the hints you need to suggest a full-formed and real town. Yet the only characters you really meet are the ones you need.
This last one is a thing that matters mostly to me: Dosser’s tale is the perfect length for the tale he is telling. At 264 pages, there’s neither wasted space nor are you left wondering about plot points that don’t get wrapped up (or are sloppily wrapped up). He doesn’t complicate an already complete story with numerous sub-plots.
Prospective readers should be warned that there are a few pretty intense scenes in the book. In particular, the intensity of the opening scene can be upsetting to some readers.
For me, characters, plot, setting, narrative, story, themes, etc are what matters most to me. On this level, I thoroughly enjoyed Neverland. My only criticism of the book would be that it could have used a better editor. There were errors that on occasion distracted me.
Neverland is the story of former police detective Mark Boyd and his son Abe. After a traumatic event, Mark decides to move to the small town of Button Creek, Oklahoma in search of a better, simpler life. As befits a scary story that takes place in a small town, Button Creek has dark secret. (Queue spooky background music here.) I leave it to you find out more about what that secret is. Saying much more would give it away.
One of Dosser’s best accomplishments in this story can’t be fully elucidated without spoilers. I will say this much: the “baddies” of this story are extremely well tread territory for dark fiction. I should have groaned when I realized where Dosser was taking me. I should have, but I didn’t. Instead, I became more excited for the journey ahead. Impressively, Dosser manages to bring something new, interesting, and even clever to an area of dark fiction where it is nearly impossible to do so.
There’s a lot that Dosser does right in his story telling. Any story set in a small town requires a fine and stead supporting cast of local characters. Dosser manages to avoid getting lost in countless pages of “world creation”, like Stephen King. (I adore King, but there are times when he might not need to add 300 pages of background on all his characters and their history in his books.) Instead, Dosser sticks carefully to the tale he’s trying to tell. You have all the hints you need to suggest a full-formed and real town. Yet the only characters you really meet are the ones you need.
This last one is a thing that matters mostly to me: Dosser’s tale is the perfect length for the tale he is telling. At 264 pages, there’s neither wasted space nor are you left wondering about plot points that don’t get wrapped up (or are sloppily wrapped up). He doesn’t complicate an already complete story with numerous sub-plots.
Prospective readers should be warned that there are a few pretty intense scenes in the book. In particular, the intensity of the opening scene can be upsetting to some readers.
For me, characters, plot, setting, narrative, story, themes, etc are what matters most to me. On this level, I thoroughly enjoyed Neverland. My only criticism of the book would be that it could have used a better editor. There were errors that on occasion distracted me.
kenne's review against another edition
4.0
Okay, not bad at all! There were a few typos that were distracting and oddly enough, seem to be more common towards the end. Even still I greatly enjoyed this read. It was fast pace and pretty rounded in terms of plot and advancement.
My only real complaint would be the development and then the overwhelming focus on Heather. I liked her just fine but we really miss a lot of Abe at the end he becomes just another of the wild boys in town... Which is too bad.
Barring that, I liked the ending very much! It's probably what got me to bumping and keep the rating a four. I'm not upset that this book somehow found its way onto my Kindle!
My only real complaint would be the development and then the overwhelming focus on Heather. I liked her just fine but we really miss a lot of Abe at the end he becomes just another of the wild boys in town... Which is too bad.
Barring that, I liked the ending very much! It's probably what got me to bumping and keep the rating a four. I'm not upset that this book somehow found its way onto my Kindle!
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