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A review by sclark99
Don't Fear the Reaper by Stephen Graham Jones
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The best thing about Reaper is just Jade. She's such a full character. She's a tragic heroine who doesn't see her own worth. The characters around her can't see who she really is -- they all have expectations of her that are unfair. I love the way her spirit and heart comes through, especially in the scenes focused on her, that almost directly opposes the inner monologue she's always demeaning herself in. The scenes with Jade and Letha are beautiful and, at times, moving.
I honestly wasn't particularly swayed by the antagonist(s?) in this book -- I feel like Dark Mill South could have been handled differently to make it more impactful. I can kind of see what Jones is going for but I don't think it came across the way it should have. DMS is definitely the weakest element of this book. I wanted something more with him, either a connection or disconnection between him and Jade, the contrast of these two Native Americans ending up so differently despite parallels or something, but it never quite came.
Jones, as always, delivers on the horror in a huge way -- both the visceral and unrivaled descriptions of the killings and the loving homages to classic and new slasher and horror flicks. It's maybe a little bit of a cop-out to base all the killings on ones that have already been done, but as Jones states in the acknowledgements, all writers are derivative at their core. He at least does justice to his source material.
I'm not normally one to say this but I wanted a little more symbolism. Chainsaw was rife with it, and while I'm not normally a fan of heavy handed symbolism, Jones normally handles it delicately and to great effect, usually slamming you in the face with it only in the final paragraphs of the book. I didn't quite get the intense, cathartic release of tension that The Only Good Indians and Chainsaw gave me. I wish there had been another Melanie chapter, a chapter in her headspace as the white elk. In Chainsaw, there's a moment when Jade "gets it" and the whole story of Stacy and the timeline of her life and death on Indian Lake gets summed in an explosive burst of understanding. I wish we had gotten that with Melanie. Even in the chapter of hers that we do have, I didn't really feel like she was the kind of person to enact a revenge plot. Maybe it's about how, after we die, we don't really have control of the story of our lives and what happens afterwards? I don't know, it just wasn't quite there for me.
Overall, I still really like the book and will maybe get a hardcover set when the third book comes out. Jones' writing style is extremely appealing to me. I love the way he uses words and I love his characters, even when I hate them. The most satisfying part of Reaper is the figurative evisceration of the new History teacher, although I REALLY wish I had actually gotten slashed up by someone. Truly a disgusting person, and affront to Mr. Holmes' memory.
Also should note -- I read the audiobook, which is performed by a whole host of very talented readers. I was impressed by every one of them, especially the one who did Letha's bits. The voice she gave Letha was perfect.
I honestly wasn't particularly swayed by the antagonist(s?) in this book -- I feel like Dark Mill South could have been handled differently to make it more impactful. I can kind of see what Jones is going for but I don't think it came across the way it should have. DMS is definitely the weakest element of this book. I wanted something more with him, either a connection or disconnection between him and Jade, the contrast of these two Native Americans ending up so differently despite parallels or something, but it never quite came.
Jones, as always, delivers on the horror in a huge way -- both the visceral and unrivaled descriptions of the killings and the loving homages to classic and new slasher and horror flicks. It's maybe a little bit of a cop-out to base all the killings on ones that have already been done, but as Jones states in the acknowledgements, all writers are derivative at their core. He at least does justice to his source material.
I'm not normally one to say this but I wanted a little more symbolism. Chainsaw was rife with it, and while I'm not normally a fan of heavy handed symbolism, Jones normally handles it delicately and to great effect, usually slamming you in the face with it only in the final paragraphs of the book. I didn't quite get the intense, cathartic release of tension that The Only Good Indians and Chainsaw gave me.
Overall, I still really like the book and will maybe get a hardcover set when the third book comes out. Jones' writing style is extremely appealing to me. I love the way he uses words and I love his characters, even when I hate them.
Also should note -- I read the audiobook, which is performed by a whole host of very talented readers. I was impressed by every one of them, especially the one who did Letha's bits. The voice she gave Letha was perfect.