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raforall 's review for:
The Bright Lands
by John Fram
Review in the June 2020 issue of Library Journal and on the blog: https://www.libraryjournal.com/?detailStory=horror-reviews-column-june-2020-adam-cesare-josh-malerman-malorie
Three Words That Describe This Book: supernatural mystery, shifting pov, terrifyingly realistic
Draft Review:
Bentley, Texas loves its football, and when star quarterback, Dylan, contacts his older brother, Joel, their unsettling conversation leads Joel back to the town where his personal demons still thrive. But when Dylan goes missing, it quickly becomes apparent that something even more sinister is happening, and has been happening in Bentley for quite some time. Written in a style that is an homage to Bentley Little, a satisfying supernatural mystery where the town itself is at the heart of the evil, the point of view bounces quickly between multiple, well developed characters, all harboring their own destructive secrets, and a creeping darkness builds relentlessly, increasing the anxiety and the dread, until it bursts, encapsulates the town, its characters, and the reader in a terror denser than the “Friday night lights” can ever hope to penetrate.
Verdict: Fram refers to himself as “Stephen Queen,” and while it is an apt sound bite, it sells this debut short. More than a gay, King readalike, this is a confident, thought provoking tale that manages to honestly explore complex issues issues like family dynamics, sexuality, religion, and coming of age anxieties, within a solid horror frame. A great choice for fans of character centered, occult mysteries with strong world building like those by Victor LaValle or Ania Alhborn.
Three Words That Describe This Book: supernatural mystery, shifting pov, terrifyingly realistic
Draft Review:
Bentley, Texas loves its football, and when star quarterback, Dylan, contacts his older brother, Joel, their unsettling conversation leads Joel back to the town where his personal demons still thrive. But when Dylan goes missing, it quickly becomes apparent that something even more sinister is happening, and has been happening in Bentley for quite some time. Written in a style that is an homage to Bentley Little, a satisfying supernatural mystery where the town itself is at the heart of the evil, the point of view bounces quickly between multiple, well developed characters, all harboring their own destructive secrets, and a creeping darkness builds relentlessly, increasing the anxiety and the dread, until it bursts, encapsulates the town, its characters, and the reader in a terror denser than the “Friday night lights” can ever hope to penetrate.
Verdict: Fram refers to himself as “Stephen Queen,” and while it is an apt sound bite, it sells this debut short. More than a gay, King readalike, this is a confident, thought provoking tale that manages to honestly explore complex issues issues like family dynamics, sexuality, religion, and coming of age anxieties, within a solid horror frame. A great choice for fans of character centered, occult mysteries with strong world building like those by Victor LaValle or Ania Alhborn.