Reviews

Ex-Boogeyman by Kristopher Triana

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dethklok1985's review

medium-paced

4.0

It was a good premise. The beginning and climax were great, but the ending dragged.

Okay so, I want to preface this by saying this book is not for me. You will probably enjoy it, but I did not.

Despite what my profile may say, it takes me on average 2–5 days to finish a book if there are no extenuating circumstances. Five days is actually quite a long time for me. Sometimes I forget to update if I’ve finished it, or forgot to mark it as reading. Sometimes I read a whole book in one day. This book took me a month and a half to finish. And it was quite a let down, considering how much praise I have seen this book get. I think the main problem is that I don’t watch slashers that often. Probably one or two a year at the most. This book would be great for people who love slashers, but I am not one of those people. Also, slashers, in my opinion, don’t work well in book format. The main problem with this book is that I was bored. I was so bored. I kept putting it down over and over, hoping it would just get to some action. And when it did, it presented another problem. I did not have an attachment to any character, and there were too many characters (even if that is characteristic for a slasher), and the ones that I felt were decent just weren’t indulged in enough, but even then I didn’t like or cheer on any of them. The gore wasn’t even intriguing enough to keep me reading. I was hoping at least it would be a ‘so gory I couldn’t look away’ type novel, but even then I was bored. Rachel was boring, Noah was meh, Ellie was annoying as hell, because, duh, kids can be annoying and clingy so I guess that was a plus, a child character was well written. Also I found it kinda weird that Ellie referred to full grown adults, and full grown adults referred to Ellie, a twelve year old, as their friend, which, I don’t know, it just felt weird. I am an adult and I would not refer to a twelve year old as a friend.

One of my favorite parts of reading a book is looking forward to reading it, or being excited to get your hands back on that book so you can finish it. Every time I looked over at this book on my desk, it mocked me, spitting in my face, making me dread picking it back up again because it was such a slog. When I am reading a book, the story consumes all the empty space in my mind, I think about it often, pondering all the little details and how much I liked it, but this one, I just couldn’t wait to be done with. It was the biggest weight off my shoulders once I finished it. Finally, I can move on.

Overall the book was well written and would be great if I enjoyed slashers more but I don’t. I don’t hate them, they’re just not my favorite. Don’t take my review to heart though, it just wasn’t my cup of tea.

brackus's review

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adventurous dark funny mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

jessicamap's review

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5.0

Slashers are always a go-to choice for me, especially when I need something to have on in the background while I do other stuff (apparently that’s weird to all my friends, because why would my comfort movies be gory and bloody)

I think it’s incredibly clear what my favorite slasher franchise is, and I couldn’t help but hear Kirby rattling off ALL of the remakes (as of 2011) that were being made.

The reboots and remakes are seemingly never-ending, and those of us wanting the nostalgia love to see the OG actors return. That’s what Jonathan Zain was hoping would happen for him. Starring in a slasher franchise that rivals Michael Myers, he skyrocketed into fame, but now he’s struggling and no longer the star he once was.

Hearing that a reboot was happening for the Lunatic franchise, he thought this was his chance because his final girl costar was involved AND it was being filmed in the same location (makes me think of Scream 2022 and Stu’s house making a comeback). Nope, the studio wants a fresh face for Nicky Hector and something in Zain snaps.

For fans of the glorious and campy 80s slashers, this is a no-brainer. Things played out in my mind like a film would, and I loved every second of it. All the suspense and build-up and anticipation kept me flipping the pages. There were some characters I hoped would die and made me think about watching horror movies with Chandra and us guessing who will be first and just getting mad when it wasn’t who we wanted it to be 😂 Everything is so vivid and bloody and exactly what you want – I personally loved the meat cleaver for the weapon.

If you like getting into the head of a killer, then you’re in for a treat. You can tell how much Triana loves and appreciates this horror genre, and it was such a fun ride from start to finish!

toasterstrubes's review

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dark tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

candyapplereads's review

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5.0

A Must Read for Horror Junkies!

If you're a fan of slasher movies and love getting into the spooky spirit, this book is an absolute must-read for you!

From the very first chapter, I was completely hooked. Triana had me pulled me in with the immediate action, and I LOVE that the entire thing was a movie within a book. The main character, Jonathan Zain, is a has-been slasher movie star desperately hoping for a comeback. The story captures the struggles of fame, attachment, and the relentless pursuit of success.

The characters in Ex Boogeyman are so well-developed and relatable. I instantly fell in love with and connected with sisters Ellie and Rachel, and I couldn't help but root for them as they embarked on a terrifying adventure in a cabin in the woods. Triana also introduces us to numerous side characters who bring an exciting dynamic to the story, but he does so in a way that’s not overwhelming.

I think Kristopher Triana's writing style is pure brilliance. He effortlessly brings together suspense, horror, and a dash of humor, that keeps me on the edge of my seat. In Ex-Boogeyman, the pacing is spot on, with each chapter building up the tension. I was constantly trying to guess what would happen next & I loved it!

This is the PERFECT read for spooky season. It captures the essence of classic slasher movies while also keeping it fresh and modern. It definitely satisfied my spooky vibe cravings.

Overall, I cannot rave enough about Ex Boogeyman. It's a thrilling and nostalgic masterpiece that will have you flipping pages faster than your brain can keep up. Kristopher Triana has truly outdone himself with this book, and duh, that’s why he’s one of my all-time favorite authors in the horror genre.