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A review by motherhorror
Red Station by Kenzie Jennings
5.0
RED STATION by Kenzie Jennings is Book 7 in the Splatter Western series published by Death's Head Press. It now joins THE MAGPIE COFFIN by Wile E. Young as being the best in the bunch-both 5 star reads. If the Splatter Western genre is enticing to you but you're intimidated by the size of the series, it's useful for you to know that they are standalone novels and MAGPIE and RED STATION are my two 5 star reads so far. THE NIGHT SILVER RIVER RUN RED by Christine Morgan is up there as a standout as well.
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Now then!
Kenzie Jennings has a legit flare for cinematic storytelling. I could see the story play out in my mind. The character development and authentic dialog made for easy investment right upfront. A group of weary travelers is offered a hot meal and the promise of a comfortable place to sleep for the night. Gracious to have rest on their long journey, they accept.
The intensifying dread and suspense are delicious.
Much like a well-paced horror movie, Jennings offers her audience little hints as to what's coming. It's so alluring. By the time the climax sounds off and chaos is in full swing, there is no way to put this book down. Some writers have a difficult time writing action sequences and the violence becomes muddy and hard to follow. What impressed me most about this book are the vivid, detailed, and colorful descriptions of all the nuanced movements so that the action is playing out with crystal-clear pictures.
I can't stress how cinematic my experience was.
My favorite character, the woman in the red dress, Clyde Northway, emerged as a new, all-time favorite literary badass. I fucking love her and I want more of her, now. Jennings assigns this woman an amazing backstory--just enough to entice readers and leave them longing for a prequel or a sequel or both (PLEASE).
I feel like I must take this opportunity to express how exciting this Splatter Western series can be in the hands of capable writers. I'm sure there is an audience for Horror Westerns that skimp on story and character in order to give the spotlight to the violence but for me, I want some meat on my bones. I want something to sink my teeth into and let my heart get fully invested so that when horrible things happen, I feel it hard in my guts. I want flesh and blood characters that feel real so that every cut, every stab, all the torture is meaningful. I want to cheer for the good guys (and the baddies). I want justice and revenge.
I need to feel my fucking feelings.
If a writer's definition of "Splatterpunk" is just the splatter and none of the punk, it will always fall short for this reader.
As for RED STATION, this is the gold standard by which all is measured.
..
Now then!
Kenzie Jennings has a legit flare for cinematic storytelling. I could see the story play out in my mind. The character development and authentic dialog made for easy investment right upfront. A group of weary travelers is offered a hot meal and the promise of a comfortable place to sleep for the night. Gracious to have rest on their long journey, they accept.
The intensifying dread and suspense are delicious.
Much like a well-paced horror movie, Jennings offers her audience little hints as to what's coming. It's so alluring. By the time the climax sounds off and chaos is in full swing, there is no way to put this book down. Some writers have a difficult time writing action sequences and the violence becomes muddy and hard to follow. What impressed me most about this book are the vivid, detailed, and colorful descriptions of all the nuanced movements so that the action is playing out with crystal-clear pictures.
I can't stress how cinematic my experience was.
My favorite character, the woman in the red dress, Clyde Northway, emerged as a new, all-time favorite literary badass. I fucking love her and I want more of her, now. Jennings assigns this woman an amazing backstory--just enough to entice readers and leave them longing for a prequel or a sequel or both (PLEASE).
I feel like I must take this opportunity to express how exciting this Splatter Western series can be in the hands of capable writers. I'm sure there is an audience for Horror Westerns that skimp on story and character in order to give the spotlight to the violence but for me, I want some meat on my bones. I want something to sink my teeth into and let my heart get fully invested so that when horrible things happen, I feel it hard in my guts. I want flesh and blood characters that feel real so that every cut, every stab, all the torture is meaningful. I want to cheer for the good guys (and the baddies). I want justice and revenge.
I need to feel my fucking feelings.
If a writer's definition of "Splatterpunk" is just the splatter and none of the punk, it will always fall short for this reader.
As for RED STATION, this is the gold standard by which all is measured.