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A review by raforall
The Dismembered by Jonathan Janz
5.0
Star review in the October 2022 issue of Library Journal and on the blog: https://raforall.blogspot.com/2022/10/what-im-reading-october-2022-library.html
I loved how this book took the well worn tropes of the Gothic and smashed them to bits, turning everything on its head. It was an homage but a thoroughly modern one. It plays with the trope in every way. Gere is an example-- the protagonist is the opposite of a strong man to save the day-- he is weak and not very observant and the women-- all of them-- outsmart him and save him. But there is more. That is but an example. Also this is VERY violent but in a good way. And fun.
Three Words That Describe This book: Gothic w/ a twist, gruesome, delightful
Draft Review:
Janz, a master of compelling, character driven Horror who never shies away from the gory details presenta a novella that gruesomely and delightfully turns the staid Gothic on its head. It is 1912 and the narrator, American Arthur Pearce, an author in the style of Poe, has fled Boston in disgrace after his ex-wife’s very public affair. On a train across the ocean in England, Arthur comes to the aid of a young woman, Sarah Coyle, convinces him to come to her family’s estate, Altarbrook, to help rescue her younger sister from the clutches of the dashing, older, possibly immortal, Count Dunning. But once Arthur and the reader arrive at Altarbrook, all can tell this is not your ordinary Gothic. While the characters all represent a cross section of what one should expect, and the setting and narrative voice are pitch perfect, there are hints at every turn that readers are in for a different ride. And once the twist comes, everything shifts and readers are treated to a visceral and terrifying tale of death, dismemberment, long held grudges, and dark family secrets, with a satisfying dash of new love. Beware, this is a story that will send readers flocking to your shelves by more from Janz.
Verdict: Fans of the Gothic will love how Janz uses well-worn tropes in more modern ways, while at the same time, readers of 21st Century Horror will gain a new appreciation for the genre’s roots. Suggest far and wide to anyone looking for a fast paced, fun, and scary read, but especially to those who enjoyed The Hacienda by Cañas or the Stoker’s Wilde series by Hopstaken and Prusi.
I loved how this book took the well worn tropes of the Gothic and smashed them to bits, turning everything on its head. It was an homage but a thoroughly modern one. It plays with the trope in every way. Gere is an example-- the protagonist is the opposite of a strong man to save the day-- he is weak and not very observant and the women-- all of them-- outsmart him and save him. But there is more. That is but an example. Also this is VERY violent but in a good way. And fun.
Three Words That Describe This book: Gothic w/ a twist, gruesome, delightful
Draft Review:
Janz, a master of compelling, character driven Horror who never shies away from the gory details presenta a novella that gruesomely and delightfully turns the staid Gothic on its head. It is 1912 and the narrator, American Arthur Pearce, an author in the style of Poe, has fled Boston in disgrace after his ex-wife’s very public affair. On a train across the ocean in England, Arthur comes to the aid of a young woman, Sarah Coyle, convinces him to come to her family’s estate, Altarbrook, to help rescue her younger sister from the clutches of the dashing, older, possibly immortal, Count Dunning. But once Arthur and the reader arrive at Altarbrook, all can tell this is not your ordinary Gothic. While the characters all represent a cross section of what one should expect, and the setting and narrative voice are pitch perfect, there are hints at every turn that readers are in for a different ride. And once the twist comes, everything shifts and readers are treated to a visceral and terrifying tale of death, dismemberment, long held grudges, and dark family secrets, with a satisfying dash of new love. Beware, this is a story that will send readers flocking to your shelves by more from Janz.
Verdict: Fans of the Gothic will love how Janz uses well-worn tropes in more modern ways, while at the same time, readers of 21st Century Horror will gain a new appreciation for the genre’s roots. Suggest far and wide to anyone looking for a fast paced, fun, and scary read, but especially to those who enjoyed The Hacienda by Cañas or the Stoker’s Wilde series by Hopstaken and Prusi.