Reviews

Ancient Images by Ramsey Campbell

almostadorno's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

mistyuz's review against another edition

3.0

I found the first two thirds of the book lovelily cozy ironically- the house in the woods, letting the cats wander the yard at night, the roadtrips, interviews, and hotel check-ins. However the last third started to get tedious and a bit annoying.

Someone needs to count how many times the scarecrow things are explained away by surely being something else like wind or shadows. I'd say at least 20 which is mindblowingly repetitive.

gsatori's review against another edition

2.0

There is so much wrong with this novel. Sorry, Ramsey. This is a heavy handed work. Mr. Campbell beats the reader over the head with obvious and predictable foreshadowing. He also does little to develop character and the presence of a group of religious stalwarts provides little thematic support other than to provide fodder for the monsters.

I was reminded of The King In Yellow with the idea that the film at the center of the story is a one which has led to disaster for everyone who has had contact with it. However, that idea never received the proper treatment, and instead the story grinds into a boring mess.

zarco_j's review against another edition

2.0

Firstly this is not a new book, it's a republishing of a book that came out in 1989. I was heavily into horror back then and read it and enjoyed it. However, it's not aged particularly well.

The one-dimensional characters let the book down as do the tedious descriptions of motorway journeys, towns and hotel rooms.

I loved the premise of the cursed tape but wish this had either been left in the vaults or updated to a more modern setting.

Thanks to NetGalley and Flame Tree Press for a copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

zarco_j's review

2.0

Firstly this is not a new book, it's a republishing of a book that came out in 1989. I was heavily into horror back then and read it and enjoyed it. However, it's not aged particularly well.

The one-dimensional characters let the book down as do the tedious descriptions of motorway journeys, towns and hotel rooms.

I loved the premise of the cursed tape but wish this had either been left in the vaults or updated to a more modern setting.

Thanks to NetGalley and Flame Tree Press for a copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

vincent1126's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

a_monkey's review against another edition

2.0

I keep dithering on how much I liked this book. It was quite gripping and enthralling all the way through but it turned out to all be leading to a rubbish conclusion that undermined much of the preceding fun.

jayfr's review against another edition

2.0

Firstly this is not a new book, it's a republishing of a book that came out in 1989. I was heavily into horror back then and read it and enjoyed it. However, it's not aged particularly well.

The one-dimensional characters let the book down as do the tedious descriptions of motorway journeys, towns and hotel rooms.

I loved the premise of the cursed tape but wish this had either been left in the vaults or updated to a more modern setting.

Thanks to NetGalley and Flame Tree Press for a copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

jayfr's review

2.0

Firstly this is not a new book, it's a republishing of a book that came out in 1989. I was heavily into horror back then and read it and enjoyed it. However, it's not aged particularly well.

The one-dimensional characters let the book down as do the tedious descriptions of motorway journeys, towns and hotel rooms.

I loved the premise of the cursed tape but wish this had either been left in the vaults or updated to a more modern setting.

Thanks to NetGalley and Flame Tree Press for a copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

kilcannon's review against another edition

1.0

I liked the part where nothing happened for 280 pages and then everything that did happen was really stupid and happened for no reason.