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A review by c0d3nam3qt
Horrorstör by Grady Hendrix
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
3.5
I really had the wrong expectations of this book. The premise of a haunted ikea-knockoff was so ridiculous and along with the cover art and over all graphic presentation, I thought this was going to be so campy. Like Scooby-Doo meets Scream Queens or something. Just very over the top, a lot of fade to black insinuated violence.
But, I was very wrong. Although it started that way, it very much becomes a standard horror story and reads like a horror movie. I would say it’s a much lighter version of the Saw franchise, but it has similar vibes.Regular, everyday people are tortured by some megalomaniac on a power trip, who thinks it is retribution for their “sins”/“defects” This story is gruesome, violent and scary. It was just on the cusp of being too much for me, but I don’t read horror very often these days.
It is fast paced and action packed, full of tense moments, so if you like watching horror movies, I can’t see why you wouldn’t like this.
I thought the villain’s demise was a bit anti climactic and I thought more time could have been spent on it to give it a bit more weight.
—-
The over all message of being a slave to work, was heavy handed, but intentionally so, so I don’t think that’s a negative to point out. But that heavy handedness felt incongruent with the seriousness of the horror. I think it would have been better suited for a campier, cheesier story.
But, I was very wrong. Although it started that way, it very much becomes a standard horror story and reads like a horror movie. I would say it’s a much lighter version of the Saw franchise, but it has similar vibes.
It is fast paced and action packed, full of tense moments, so if you like watching horror movies, I can’t see why you wouldn’t like this.
—-
The over all message of being a slave to work, was heavy handed, but intentionally so, so I don’t think that’s a negative to point out. But that heavy handedness felt incongruent with the seriousness of the horror. I think it would have been better suited for a campier, cheesier story.