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A review by angethology
Polyphemus by Zachary Ashford
3.5
"This band was what mattered; what had always mattered, and after everything, they were going to make it mean something to the rest of the world. Finally."
[3.5 stars] Horror and metal are two of my favorite things, and I love the idea of actually bringing the whole 'Satanic Panic' into fruition in novels. Stephen Oaks just got out of rehab and is determined to bring his metal band Polyphemus back together and catapult themselves into fame and riches. But because of all the bad press he's accumulated due to his addiction, everyone else in the band is a little skeptical, especially with other aspects of their personal lives at stake. When Oaks meets Anton, a supposed life coach who can turn his life upside down, he transforms into an entirely different person — he seems to be a few steps closer to his dreams, but what would it take for him to get there?
I love the music references and the way the jam sessions, concerts, technical aspects are described in the book. It's very well-written in that regard and it's clear that the author has a great passion and has done his research in this department. They would often intertwine with this sort of surreal reality that ties in with the supernatural aspect that Oaks is exposed to. And while the characters seem like the typical rock stars dabbling in drugs and misogynistic attitudes at times, the author does satirize these elements and I didn't find their insufferable personalities to hinder my enjoyment of the novel. The main thing that I'm critical about is probably how much of the book is spent of investing time in the characters' personal lives, individually. It felt a bit slow-paced (which is not a huge issue at times) and stagnant, but then the action would come in full-force.
The cultish elements along with the gore and the entity are quite eerie, vile but hypnotic; also strangely sexual in a way that's not too outlandish or seemingly done out of shock value. I did manage to get a little more invested in Spiros' character and how his relationship with his family works out, that part feels a little more fleshed out. But India's character and most of the female characters that are mentioned feel even flatter than the rest, and it was hard for me to accept Oaks' immediate sincere attachment to India (and vice versa).
Besides those issues I still thoroughly enjoyed them, this is very much a horror novel for metal enthusiasts who love to see this sort of chaos being manifested in an over-the-top, sensationalized way with blood and guts on the top.
Thank you NetGalley and DarkLitPress for the review copy in exchange for an honest review.
[3.5 stars] Horror and metal are two of my favorite things, and I love the idea of actually bringing the whole 'Satanic Panic' into fruition in novels. Stephen Oaks just got out of rehab and is determined to bring his metal band Polyphemus back together and catapult themselves into fame and riches. But because of all the bad press he's accumulated due to his addiction, everyone else in the band is a little skeptical, especially with other aspects of their personal lives at stake. When Oaks meets Anton, a supposed life coach who can turn his life upside down, he transforms into an entirely different person — he seems to be a few steps closer to his dreams, but what would it take for him to get there?
I love the music references and the way the jam sessions, concerts, technical aspects are described in the book. It's very well-written in that regard and it's clear that the author has a great passion and has done his research in this department. They would often intertwine with this sort of surreal reality that ties in with the supernatural aspect that Oaks is exposed to. And while the characters seem like the typical rock stars dabbling in drugs and misogynistic attitudes at times, the author does satirize these elements and I didn't find their insufferable personalities to hinder my enjoyment of the novel. The main thing that I'm critical about is probably how much of the book is spent of investing time in the characters' personal lives, individually. It felt a bit slow-paced (which is not a huge issue at times) and stagnant, but then the action would come in full-force.
The cultish elements along with the gore and the entity are quite eerie, vile but hypnotic; also strangely sexual in a way that's not too outlandish or seemingly done out of shock value. I did manage to get a little more invested in Spiros' character and how his relationship with his family works out, that part feels a little more fleshed out. But India's character and most of the female characters that are mentioned feel even flatter than the rest, and it was hard for me to accept Oaks' immediate sincere attachment to India (and vice versa).
Besides those issues I still thoroughly enjoyed them, this is very much a horror novel for metal enthusiasts who love to see this sort of chaos being manifested in an over-the-top, sensationalized way with blood and guts on the top.
Thank you NetGalley and DarkLitPress for the review copy in exchange for an honest review.