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rainbow_reviewss's review
5.0
Stations of Shadow is such a dark story with well-defined characters and a very unique plot. Sebastian (Hydra Lerna) and his Adrian (Hera Wynn) are drag queens in New York City. The relationship between the two is complex. There is love, jealousy, lust, and appreciation. The book starts with a magnificent jaw-dropping underground performance by Sebastian as Hydra Lerna which makes Adrian envious about it and curious to know his friend’s secret. “Hydra Lerna faced the crowd, two extra heads now grown out of her neck, viper teeth and dragon scales glittering with gore as the last of her flesh costume was ripped away and plopped in a gummy heap on the stage”
The story takes place in different periods where we get to see the pasts of Sebastian, Adrian, and Lilith. This circle of friends has it all too. Both Lilith and Adrian are in love with Sebastian and they cannot stand each other. When the two are talking to each other their dialogue is witty and droll. I loved the characters' personal stories a lot. They are not something unusual and I am sure many readers would relate to them. “What Lilith hated the most was that Adrian met Sebastian first, to which he used as sacred ammunition. He knew it was a trigger for her”'
Another big side of the story is Sebastian’s relationship with his psychiatric Dr. Veronica Pazzesca. As you read about his past you will understand his mental health issues and the split personality he had. At times as a reader, I was confused about what was real and what was not. Was this Hydra just one side and one of the personalities of Sebastien or was it this demon creature that was living inside him and came out whenever she wanted? I love it when a book plays tricks on my mind. I feel this was intentionally done this way by J. Daniel Stone and I have to say it is brilliant because like the protagonist you will also be confused as a reader and want to know more.
Despite how one might think that Sebastian was a complex and bossy character, I feel he was not. The guy had his problems but as he said at one point that everybody was thinking about him as a leader while in reality, he was just a guy who wanted to forget his past! He was considered a leader because he brought them all together. He acted like the glue that made them stick together
Stations of Shadow is not your regular cliche supernatural horror story. It has a lot more depth to it which needs you to be focused and concentrating on the events happening. The vivid scenes make the story comes alive before your eyes. Sometimes this can be scary because of the amount of darkness some of the scenes have. The dark horror and the complex LGBTQ characters combined together made this a wonderful reading experience. I don’t know if all J. Daniel Stone’s books have the same tone of depth, darkness, and complexity as this is the first book I read for him. I guess I will know that when I read more of his work.
“She was the shade of end times, the color of blaspheme; she was the pigment of plaque”
Many thanks to the author for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange for this honest and unbiased review.
The Review
The story takes place in different periods where we get to see the pasts of Sebastian, Adrian, and Lilith. This circle of friends has it all too. Both Lilith and Adrian are in love with Sebastian and they cannot stand each other. When the two are talking to each other their dialogue is witty and droll. I loved the characters' personal stories a lot. They are not something unusual and I am sure many readers would relate to them. “What Lilith hated the most was that Adrian met Sebastian first, to which he used as sacred ammunition. He knew it was a trigger for her”'
Another big side of the story is Sebastian’s relationship with his psychiatric Dr. Veronica Pazzesca. As you read about his past you will understand his mental health issues and the split personality he had. At times as a reader, I was confused about what was real and what was not. Was this Hydra just one side and one of the personalities of Sebastien or was it this demon creature that was living inside him and came out whenever she wanted? I love it when a book plays tricks on my mind. I feel this was intentionally done this way by J. Daniel Stone and I have to say it is brilliant because like the protagonist you will also be confused as a reader and want to know more.
Despite how one might think that Sebastian was a complex and bossy character, I feel he was not. The guy had his problems but as he said at one point that everybody was thinking about him as a leader while in reality, he was just a guy who wanted to forget his past! He was considered a leader because he brought them all together. He acted like the glue that made them stick together
Stations of Shadow is not your regular cliche supernatural horror story. It has a lot more depth to it which needs you to be focused and concentrating on the events happening. The vivid scenes make the story comes alive before your eyes. Sometimes this can be scary because of the amount of darkness some of the scenes have. The dark horror and the complex LGBTQ characters combined together made this a wonderful reading experience. I don’t know if all J. Daniel Stone’s books have the same tone of depth, darkness, and complexity as this is the first book I read for him. I guess I will know that when I read more of his work.
“She was the shade of end times, the color of blaspheme; she was the pigment of plaque”
Many thanks to the author for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange for this honest and unbiased review.
The Review
thomaswjoyce's review against another edition
5.0
As we can derive from the synopsis for the book, Sebastian and Adrian are drag performers, known by their stage names of Hydra Lerna and Hera Wynn, respectively. Through flashbacks, we are given insight into Sebastian’s extremely troubled childhood, and his subsequent time spent in a psychiatric facility. These flashbacks are interspersed throughout the story, intertwined with the present-day narrative to help us understand the disturbing nature of Sebastian’s darkest thoughts. This method is much more effective than an “info-dump” of exposition, and Stone should be commended for the way he handled it. As he should for the sensitive way he conveyed Sebastian’s psychological problems. He instils compassion for Sebastian in the mind of the reader, which is especially effective when the true nature of the Hydra comes to the fore.
Stone introduces us to the world of drag performance in New York City, the camaraderie and competition, the cliques and confrontations. Through his desperation to be the best, Sebastian has made enemies along the way; some jealous of the Hydra, others angered by his relentless pursuit of the crown. While Adrian is considered a friend (although he wishes it were more), and Hera Wynn is seen as an understudy to the Hydra, there are those in the community who wish to fuel an explosive feud between the two. Alone, it makes for an intriguing concept for a story, especially for those unfamiliar with the scene. But things take a cosmically horrific turn when Sebastian loses control of the Hydra onstage, and the aftermath is felt by all in the community. Many dismiss it as superior practical effects employed by Sebastian to cement his place at the top. But the reader discovers, through internal monologue and Sebastian’s interactions with Adrian, that there really is something otherworldly going on. And Stone’s portrayal of this is wonderful.
His previous work has been complimented by authors such as Kathe Koja and Josh Malerman, who have described it as “fierce” and “refreshing as hell” respectively. Indeed, his writing style continues to be just as lavish and dark and evocative as ever. Descriptions of the clubs are as shadowy as the alleys and abandoned buildings the performers call home, and the blood flows freely when Stone ramps up the horror. Aside from the drama of the complex relationships, there are more than a few horrific set pieces throughout, not least of all the scene towards the end when some of the main cast are surrounded by zombie-like denizens of the dark, fans of the drag scene who, urged on by the Hydra’s bloody performances, want to see the final battle between the Hydra and Hera Wynn.
The book feels like it could be the culmination of much of Stone’s previous work, bringing together characters and storylines from previous novels and short stories to one, magnificent and bloody battle. However, given the grand setting of NYC and the diverse nature of its inhabitants, there are undoubtedly many more stories to be told. And, based on the experience of reading his latest art, there are surely few people more qualified to deliver jet black poetic tales from the shadowy streets of the Big Apple than J. Daniel Stone. As he says in the book: “It takes an open mind to really understand a city’s underbelly; you can’t just shut it out and act like the world is turning without them.” As long as there are writers like Stone to tell the stories, we certainly won’t be shutting them out.
Stone introduces us to the world of drag performance in New York City, the camaraderie and competition, the cliques and confrontations. Through his desperation to be the best, Sebastian has made enemies along the way; some jealous of the Hydra, others angered by his relentless pursuit of the crown. While Adrian is considered a friend (although he wishes it were more), and Hera Wynn is seen as an understudy to the Hydra, there are those in the community who wish to fuel an explosive feud between the two. Alone, it makes for an intriguing concept for a story, especially for those unfamiliar with the scene. But things take a cosmically horrific turn when Sebastian loses control of the Hydra onstage, and the aftermath is felt by all in the community. Many dismiss it as superior practical effects employed by Sebastian to cement his place at the top. But the reader discovers, through internal monologue and Sebastian’s interactions with Adrian, that there really is something otherworldly going on. And Stone’s portrayal of this is wonderful.
His previous work has been complimented by authors such as Kathe Koja and Josh Malerman, who have described it as “fierce” and “refreshing as hell” respectively. Indeed, his writing style continues to be just as lavish and dark and evocative as ever. Descriptions of the clubs are as shadowy as the alleys and abandoned buildings the performers call home, and the blood flows freely when Stone ramps up the horror. Aside from the drama of the complex relationships, there are more than a few horrific set pieces throughout, not least of all the scene towards the end when some of the main cast are surrounded by zombie-like denizens of the dark, fans of the drag scene who, urged on by the Hydra’s bloody performances, want to see the final battle between the Hydra and Hera Wynn.
The book feels like it could be the culmination of much of Stone’s previous work, bringing together characters and storylines from previous novels and short stories to one, magnificent and bloody battle. However, given the grand setting of NYC and the diverse nature of its inhabitants, there are undoubtedly many more stories to be told. And, based on the experience of reading his latest art, there are surely few people more qualified to deliver jet black poetic tales from the shadowy streets of the Big Apple than J. Daniel Stone. As he says in the book: “It takes an open mind to really understand a city’s underbelly; you can’t just shut it out and act like the world is turning without them.” As long as there are writers like Stone to tell the stories, we certainly won’t be shutting them out.
findingmontauk1's review against another edition
4.0
Stations of Shadow immediately intrigued me with its plot revolving around drag culture and the macabre/supernatural. How could I say no to that?! But what I got was even more than I expected. The writing style in this book is rich with evocative details, Queer and pop culture references, and characters with such intricate and complex mindsets, situations, and personalities. Stage names Hera Wynn and Hydra are fierce competitors and I they are described with such vivid imagery each time. Their relationship is definitely not an easy one, and the more you read the story, the more you are pulled deeper in it. Some of the scenes appeared in slow motion in my head when reading. It was as if I was watching the show and I could see the lights flashing and hear the beat of the music but time was slowed down as everything was unraveling around me.
This is the first of J. Daniel Stone I have read and I have already bought more! The way he can shine a light onto the scene and tell a compelling story is something I am eager to continue exploring. 4 stars!
This is the first of J. Daniel Stone I have read and I have already bought more! The way he can shine a light onto the scene and tell a compelling story is something I am eager to continue exploring. 4 stars!
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