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thefancifulreader 's review for:
Small Town Monsters
by Diana Rodriguez Wallach
Roaring Creek is a small town that seems to be cursed. Explosions, car accidents, hurricanes, all sorts of tragedies happen with an uncanny frequency. But home is home, so what can you do? Two such people who call Roaring Creek home are soon to be seniors Vera Martinez and Maxwell Oliver. One, the daughter of renowned demonologists, shunned by everyone for her association with all things creepy and scary. One, the son of a woman who, in her grief over the loss of her husband, falls into a pit of despair that leaves her open and vulnerable to a demonic entity. Now Max must ask Vera for help to save his family. But how do you ask for the help of someone you've never spoken to and actively avoided your entire life? And will Vera be able to do anything if she is willing to let bygones be bygones, or is it already too late?
I absolutely adored Small Town Monsters. The setting was interesting, the characters were endearing, the demon appropriately terrible, and of course, the concept in and of itself is one that I couldn't help but be drawn to. I was not surprised to read in the acknowledgements that the author was watching The Conjuring when she came up with this concept.
The setting of Roaring Creek, a small town in America, was a good choice for the story I believe. I have never lived in a small town like that, always living in the suburbs of a major city, but talking to people who grew up in smaller communities, I get the impression that they are more tight knit. Everyone knows everyone. That is certainly the case in Roaring Creek. And as such, this leaves Vera open to being avoided and gossiped about. In a larger town or city, this just wouldn't be possible. Inside her school, sure, but the community as a whole would have no real way of knowing who she is. The small town aspect is also a good way of providing a somewhat isolated feeling.
I loved both Vera and Max as main characters. We follow each of them in their own POV chapters, and with them we learn about the circumstances that bind them, what the town means to them, and what they mean to each other. I could relate to Vera especially. While I have never been ostracised to the extent that she was, I have been the outsider in many situations. The strange one. Bullied and occasionally outcast. And I admired Vera's ability to go about life with these unfair circumstances not really holding her back. I also loved that she was an MC, rather than her parents. She is less familiar with demons and other evils, and less capable than her parents at handling them. As much as I love experiencing this kind of story through expert eyes (like in the films based around the Warrens and their exploits), it is refreshing to follow someone in the know, but without experience. I also loved that, despite how terrible people have been to her, she wants to become a doctor and help people in her own way.
Max was also a fun main character. He is a hard worker, keeping the family business running after his father's death and mother's withdrawal, while also attending school and looking after his sister. He is a classic example of a hard life with a seemingly easy veneer. His concern for his sister is truly heart warming, and his refusal to give up on his mother endearing. But also the way he recognises that he has been party to hurting Vera all her life, and now needs her help, is nice to see. Some might try to sweep it all under the rug, but he does his best to show Vera that he's sorry.
Both of these characters are of Latin descent, written by a Latina author, so it is good to see this representation here. I feel like horror is becoming a more and more diverse sphere, but every time I discover a new author that provides a new voice and outlook, I am extremely pleased, and excited that more people will be able to see themselves in these stories.
As far as the demonic aspects go, what instigates them and spreads them, I can't really say much. As I have said in other reviews, if I say much I will spoil things, which I would absolutely hate to do. There are some creepy elements, some classics, and I enjoyed it a great deal. I don't know if I could classify this book as scary, as I do not scare when I consume horror media, but it definitely had its eerie moments, and the reflections of the real world were often hard hitting.
So, if you enjoy stories about people facing off against evil, doing their best in life, then I would recommend Small Town Monsters to you. Grief does play a big role in the book and is explored by the characters, so if grief over a loved one is a touchy subject for you, do be careful and stay safe. Otherwise, enjoy, and try not to accidentally invite a demon into your life!
I absolutely adored Small Town Monsters. The setting was interesting, the characters were endearing, the demon appropriately terrible, and of course, the concept in and of itself is one that I couldn't help but be drawn to. I was not surprised to read in the acknowledgements that the author was watching The Conjuring when she came up with this concept.
The setting of Roaring Creek, a small town in America, was a good choice for the story I believe. I have never lived in a small town like that, always living in the suburbs of a major city, but talking to people who grew up in smaller communities, I get the impression that they are more tight knit. Everyone knows everyone. That is certainly the case in Roaring Creek. And as such, this leaves Vera open to being avoided and gossiped about. In a larger town or city, this just wouldn't be possible. Inside her school, sure, but the community as a whole would have no real way of knowing who she is. The small town aspect is also a good way of providing a somewhat isolated feeling.
I loved both Vera and Max as main characters. We follow each of them in their own POV chapters, and with them we learn about the circumstances that bind them, what the town means to them, and what they mean to each other. I could relate to Vera especially. While I have never been ostracised to the extent that she was, I have been the outsider in many situations. The strange one. Bullied and occasionally outcast. And I admired Vera's ability to go about life with these unfair circumstances not really holding her back. I also loved that she was an MC, rather than her parents. She is less familiar with demons and other evils, and less capable than her parents at handling them. As much as I love experiencing this kind of story through expert eyes (like in the films based around the Warrens and their exploits), it is refreshing to follow someone in the know, but without experience. I also loved that, despite how terrible people have been to her, she wants to become a doctor and help people in her own way.
Max was also a fun main character. He is a hard worker, keeping the family business running after his father's death and mother's withdrawal, while also attending school and looking after his sister. He is a classic example of a hard life with a seemingly easy veneer. His concern for his sister is truly heart warming, and his refusal to give up on his mother endearing. But also the way he recognises that he has been party to hurting Vera all her life, and now needs her help, is nice to see. Some might try to sweep it all under the rug, but he does his best to show Vera that he's sorry.
Both of these characters are of Latin descent, written by a Latina author, so it is good to see this representation here. I feel like horror is becoming a more and more diverse sphere, but every time I discover a new author that provides a new voice and outlook, I am extremely pleased, and excited that more people will be able to see themselves in these stories.
As far as the demonic aspects go, what instigates them and spreads them, I can't really say much. As I have said in other reviews, if I say much I will spoil things, which I would absolutely hate to do. There are some creepy elements, some classics, and I enjoyed it a great deal. I don't know if I could classify this book as scary, as I do not scare when I consume horror media, but it definitely had its eerie moments, and the reflections of the real world were often hard hitting.
So, if you enjoy stories about people facing off against evil, doing their best in life, then I would recommend Small Town Monsters to you. Grief does play a big role in the book and is explored by the characters, so if grief over a loved one is a touchy subject for you, do be careful and stay safe. Otherwise, enjoy, and try not to accidentally invite a demon into your life!