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A review by gladiolus17
Don't Fear the Reaper by Stephen Graham Jones
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Another solid book by Stephen Graham Jones. I absolutely loved My Heart is a Chainsaw and when I found that the second book was coming out soon, I had to nab it.
This book follows Jade after the events of the first books. Freshly out of jail, she returns to Proofrock only to find another slasher happening.
SGJ’s writing is kind of like a seesaw, or a rollercoaster, or something that goes back and forth really fast. You have to use your brain to read it. I read a lot of literary fiction so this was not a problem for me, but if you want easily accessible horror, this is not for you.
If you like slashers, this IS the book for you. (I actually don’t like slashers, but this did not hamper my enjoyment.) It’s chock full of slasher trivia and references. The story itself is a nod to the genre.
My two favorite characters, Letha and Hardy, appear once again. Idk, I just like badass girls and father-like figures? Handing in Hardy’s perspective really hit me in the feels at times.
Speaking of which, I really enjoyed the form of this book. We’re floating through the perspectives of many characters in Proofrock. Each one is like its own mini-story within the story. SGJ does an excellent job of making you feel for each character (whether affection or disgust).
I enjoyed the first book better, and I think it was because we had a lot of time in Jade’s head, so I had an emotional impact on ending with her dad etc., but this time the familial aspect was a little muted. I still had a good time though, and highly recommend!
This book follows Jade after the events of the first books. Freshly out of jail, she returns to Proofrock only to find another slasher happening.
SGJ’s writing is kind of like a seesaw, or a rollercoaster, or something that goes back and forth really fast. You have to use your brain to read it. I read a lot of literary fiction so this was not a problem for me, but if you want easily accessible horror, this is not for you.
If you like slashers, this IS the book for you. (I actually don’t like slashers, but this did not hamper my enjoyment.) It’s chock full of slasher trivia and references. The story itself is a nod to the genre.
My two favorite characters, Letha and Hardy, appear once again. Idk, I just like badass girls and father-like figures? Handing in Hardy’s perspective really hit me in the feels at times.
Speaking of which, I really enjoyed the form of this book. We’re floating through the perspectives of many characters in Proofrock. Each one is like its own mini-story within the story. SGJ does an excellent job of making you feel for each character (whether affection or disgust).
I enjoyed the first book better, and I think it was because we had a lot of time in Jade’s head, so I had an emotional impact on ending with her dad etc., but this time the familial aspect was a little muted. I still had a good time though, and highly recommend!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Violence
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship