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the_epi_reader's review
5.0
Although I’m not too familiar with Italian horror master, Lucio Fulci (who this book is a tribute to), I enjoyed it thoroughly. Southard and Mangum combine 80’s Euro Horror with modern day splatterpunk to spin the perfect story. It read like any “what’s happening to the missing children at this orphanage” story with a mix of PS2’s “Evil Dead: A Fistful of Boomstick” vibes. This is the perfect book for anyone getting into splatterpunk based on it not being too gory, and having a great backstory. I highly recommend “The Final Gate” to all horror lovers
wwessex's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.25
Always loved Fulci movies especially The Gates of Hell trilogy so it is amazing to see a novel set in the world and it is well worth a read even if you have not heard of Fulci.
mk_oldman's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.5
I had a great time reading this book and would have written a typed review sooner, but I have been nursing an injured wrist.
The story centers around a group home / orphanage sort of facility and things are not as they should be. It opens with a punch and does not disappoint. No character is safe, which is something I always enjoy in horror. It's hard to be worried if you know for certain your MC or POV is going to live. The ending was not what I thought it would be, but I think better than what I was expecting. I would definitely recommend this to horror fans.
I would check trigger warnings before reading if you have any.
The story centers around a group home / orphanage sort of facility and things are not as they should be. It opens with a punch and does not disappoint. No character is safe, which is something I always enjoy in horror. It's hard to be worried if you know for certain your MC or POV is going to live. The ending was not what I thought it would be, but I think better than what I was expecting. I would definitely recommend this to horror fans.
I would check trigger warnings before reading if you have any.
drakaina16's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
5.0
Thank you to Encyclopocalypse and Book Sirens for providing a review copy.
I'm a big fan of both Wesley Southard and Lucas Mangum and a huge fan of Italian horror, so I jumped at the chance to read an ARC of The Final Gate. I don't think you need to be a big fan of giallo to enjoy the story, but at least passing familiarity with Fulci films adds a great bonus to the story. I loved everything about it and I could really picture the story as it unfolded. This one was a ton of fun and I would love to read a prequel or sequel.
I'm a big fan of both Wesley Southard and Lucas Mangum and a huge fan of Italian horror, so I jumped at the chance to read an ARC of The Final Gate. I don't think you need to be a big fan of giallo to enjoy the story, but at least passing familiarity with Fulci films adds a great bonus to the story. I loved everything about it and I could really picture the story as it unfolded. This one was a ton of fun and I would love to read a prequel or sequel.
michaellouisdixon's review
5.0
I love Lucas Mangum's stuff! This is my first Wesley Southard book, and I'm going to have to pick up more of his work too. This book was exactly what I wanted it to be. I could almost hear the dubbed voiceovers of the English version. Those voices that stamp themselves on the experience as a disconnected interface between me and the world unfolding on the screen in all its surreal madness. I mean this all in a good way. This book captures the experience I miss having when first watching Fulci films at the drive-in.
(Now's when I turn to the camera and you see that my eyes are bloody pits. I smile as a huge centipede crawls out of my mouth and falls into my naked lap.)
(Now's when I turn to the camera and you see that my eyes are bloody pits. I smile as a huge centipede crawls out of my mouth and falls into my naked lap.)
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