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Book Review: The Fear by Rae Louise


The Fear by Rae Louise

Black Rose Writing, 2017

ISBN: 9781612968186

Available: print, ebook

After an accidental fire caused by her mother engulfs Mia’s home. Mia inherits her recently deceased uncle’s house. Mia’s mother is struggling with the frustrations and limitations of early onset Alzheimer’s, while Mia is still dealing with her divorce, taking care of her daughter, Louise, and semi-raising her younger, troubled, sister Jamie. Their dog starts acting up shortly after they move in, and Louise begins to exhibit disturbing behavior, and talks about the shadow man. Mia’s nightmares are just beginning; she just doesn’t know it yet.

The Fear is a fast-paced read. It grabs the reader quickly and forcefully, much like the demonic entity that is taking hold of Mia and her family. Nearly everyone who steps over the threshold of the property experiences loss, pain, death, or worse. The entity feeds on the fears of its victims, starting slowly, using dreams and visions until the characters experience sheer terror. That fear gives it the strength to grow stronger and manifest physically. The weaker the mental state of the character, the stronger the demon grows. This is especially true of the characters that are confronting their personal traumas and, as a result, are in a weakened state psychologically and emotionally. I’m loath to go into too much detail here, as it would result in massive spoilers.

That being said, I do feel I have to mention a few things that I found to be uncomfortable about the content. I have a hard time reading stories where sexual assault and rape are used as a means of driving story conflict. Such a thing happens to Jamie, the minor in this novel, when she is attacked by the demonic force in the house. Second, there is language referring to a character with exceptionalities that some readers may find offensive. Finally, the family dog meets an extremely violent demise at the hands of a character that is experiencing a demonic attack. Recommended, but with extreme reservations for more sensitive readers.

Reviewed by Lizzy Walker

Contains: gore, rape, violence against animals

 

 

Posted on July 10, 2017 by , Reply

Book Review: The Halloween Children by Brian James Freeman and Norman Prentiss

The Halloween Children by Brian James Freeman and Norman Prentiss

Hydra, 2017

ISBN: 9780399180972

Available: Used hardcover, Kindle edition

 

The Halloween Children, a novel of suburban and familial horror from Bram Stoker Award winner Norman Prentiss and Brian James Freeman of Cemetery Dance Publications, takes place at the Stillbrook Apartments. There, the grounds and property are well maintained, the tenants are diverse, and the problems of the day seem to slip away once they get home. On the surface, everything is perfect. However, things start to happen when the annual Halloween party is cancelled…bad things.

We see the trouble unfold through three different characters’ narratives. Harrison Naylor, the maintenance man lives on site with his wife Lynn and their two children Mattie and Amber, reveals his story in a type of confessional. Harrison is aggressive toward everyone. He resents his wife and complains of the way she neglects their son, instead giving her attention to their daughter. There are clearly some marital issues going on here. His story is delivered as a type of confessional, Then there is his job. Harrison’s work life is mostly satisfying, but his boss has been  making things difficult recently. Harrison is instructed by management to deliver fliers to tenants cancelling the annual Halloween party, under the guise of keeping them safe. When Harrison receives a call one night from a tenant he’s particularly annoyed by, he reluctantly goes to investigate noises in the vacant apartment above her, and finds the first of the grisly events to come.

Lynn’s narrative is laid out in a sort of diary she is writing at the recommendation of her marriage counselor, who she sees without her husband. Lynn is suspicious and passive-aggressive toward her husband, and resents her role as caretaker of the children and household. She works from home, so she always knows what’s going on in the neighborhood, but the only contact she has with the outside world is as a troubleshooter of tech problems for disgruntled people. Could her isolation from the world, her marital issues, and the fact she has started spying on Mattie and Amber be affecting her mind? One thing is certain: she fears her children.

Tenant Jessica Shephard’s story is told through disturbing and cryptic emails that she sends to a friend, asking bizarre questions about the human body, and making reference to the other tenants of the complex, and the Halloween Children. Who are they, and why are they always watching?

The author creates a lot of tension from the first page. Much of what happened caused me to question the accuracy of Harrison’s and Lynn’s narrations as they are clearly at odds with themselves, their relationship, and the children. However, as things unravel, it is clear there is more going on than just paranoia, guilt, and familial problems. The question is, what is going on at Stillbrook Apartments? Recommended.

Contains: Gore

Reviewed by Lizzy Walker

 

 

Posted on July 10, 2017 by , Reply

Book Review: Tell The Story To Its End by Simon P. Clark

Tell The Story To Its End by Simon P. Clark

St. Martin’s Griffin, 2015

ISBN-13: 978-1250066756

Available: Hardcover, paperback, Kindle edition

 

Oli’s mum has suddenly, and without explanation, decided the two of them should go to the country and visit his uncle, Rob. Rob has been estranged from Oli’s parents for many years, and although no one is telling him anything, Oli knows something bad has happened. In an effort to distract him, Rob suggests that Oli explore the attic, and once the attic door is opened, strange things begin to happen in the house.

As Oli explores the village it becomes clear that something about his family is being held against him, but no one will tell him exactly what it is. He becomes friends with Em, who is fascinated by local legends and stories, and shares with him the tale of Full Lot Jack, who offers children their heart’s desire in exchange for their dreams. Her stories, in combination with the strange things that have been happening since the attic door was opened, and a need to escape his family’s lies, drive him to explore the attic, where he meets Eren, a creature that lives in the attic and feeds on stories. As frightening as Eren is, Oli can’t stay away. There is more truth to Eren’s dark stories than in Oli’s everyday life, and Oli must make a decision about which one he most wants to escape.

In some ways, this book reminded me of A Monster Calls. There’s a lonely boy with nightmares, who calls a monster to him in an effort to make sense out of fear and lies, with a parent who has something seriously wrong going on. As in A Monster Calls. there is a great deal about the power of story. But there the similarities end. Tell The Story To Its End lacks the powerful illustrations combined with primal emotion that make A Monster Calls an outstanding read. Instead, it’s a story packed in cotton wool, with muted emotions and dissociated relationships. The beginning of the book suggests its end, and Clark’s skill with creating gothic nightmares instills a sense of dread from the very first page, that only increases as the reader turns the pages, knowing what is likely to unwind. Despite that feeling of inevitability, the book doesn’t unfold in a predictable manner. Readers who enjoy dark tales that play cleverly with plot, structure, and narrative will be surprised, and may find something to like, but those seeking deep emotional connection or expecting a happy ending will want to look elsewhere.  Appropriate for ages 11 and up.

Posted on June 18, 2017 by , Reply
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