Scan barcode
lilyn_g's review
3.0
This is the second work I’ve read from Sara Booke – first being The Zyne Project – and my first impression is holding true. Sara Brooke is a good horror writer, and her books are definitely a fun read. However, she’s not living up to her potential. In The Zyne Project, she gave us too much of a good thing, not seeming capable of understanding where to say “enough is enough”. In Child of the Dead, Book 2 in the Bloodmane Chronicles, she uses weak writing tactics to propel the story forward (gotta love how a communique can magically explain and push everything forward).
Nonetheless, Child of the Dead is a fast-paced read that invites you to just forget about the world and lose yourself in the story for a while. There’s definitely some creepy scenes that happen, the librarian’s –Yes, she’s a librarian! How awesome is that?– abilities are Sixth Sense-esque, the climax isn’t at all what you were expecting, and there’s a few minorly steamy scenes between Renda and her paramour (who happens to be a ghost). On the other hand, the dialogue is stilted at times, the author apparently only knows one word for that particular part of the male anatomy, and while it was a fun read, it also leaves you feeling strangely unfulfilled. This felt like three-quarters of a novel, or one third more of a short story than was needed.
Overall, it’s a pleasant way to waste a few hours, and I’m definitely not giving up on this particular author yet. I bet she has something brilliant banging around in that brain, and eventually it’ll emerge in all it’s awesomeness.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
For this and other science fiction and horror reviews, please visit Sci-Fi & Scary.
Nonetheless, Child of the Dead is a fast-paced read that invites you to just forget about the world and lose yourself in the story for a while. There’s definitely some creepy scenes that happen, the librarian’s –Yes, she’s a librarian! How awesome is that?– abilities are Sixth Sense-esque, the climax isn’t at all what you were expecting, and there’s a few minorly steamy scenes between Renda and her paramour (who happens to be a ghost). On the other hand, the dialogue is stilted at times, the author apparently only knows one word for that particular part of the male anatomy, and while it was a fun read, it also leaves you feeling strangely unfulfilled. This felt like three-quarters of a novel, or one third more of a short story than was needed.
Overall, it’s a pleasant way to waste a few hours, and I’m definitely not giving up on this particular author yet. I bet she has something brilliant banging around in that brain, and eventually it’ll emerge in all it’s awesomeness.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
For this and other science fiction and horror reviews, please visit Sci-Fi & Scary.
More...