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vikingwolf's review
2.0
*I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
Two strangers enter a small town, one is Evil disguised as a raving preacher, the other a drifter set on saving the town from the Evil. Both enter a battle of wills and magic to try to defeat the other while murder, rape and destruction are committed by people in town under the preacher's influence.
This is the third book I've read by the author and the first one that I didn't really like but hey, I didn't like all of Richard Laymon and Stephen King's books either and it never put me off picking up the next one. So it won't put me off reading more work by the author as I really enjoyed the other books I tried. The issues I had with this book were more about what I like and don't like in plot than anything that the author did. I got tired of the constant religious rants of the preacher at every church service and in the end I started to skip these parts of the book totally. Also the bits about these Gods and stuff just didn't really interest me. Other reviews have indicated that this stuff is covered in the writing of Lovecraft. Well maybe it is because I don't read Lovecraft that these parts held little interest for me and went a bit over my head. I don't know if reading Lovecraft makes a difference or not, but added to the religious rants, it just didn't hold my attention.
There were good things about the book. The sequences where the people were being killed or doing evil under the influence of the preacher were well written as always and our boy hero is very likeable. I didn't personally find any fault in the writing or the way the story was told. It was just the plot that I didn't enjoy. I think that plenty people will enjoy this horror tale so don't let my review put you off reading it.
As I said, I will continue to try other books by this author.
Two strangers enter a small town, one is Evil disguised as a raving preacher, the other a drifter set on saving the town from the Evil. Both enter a battle of wills and magic to try to defeat the other while murder, rape and destruction are committed by people in town under the preacher's influence.
This is the third book I've read by the author and the first one that I didn't really like but hey, I didn't like all of Richard Laymon and Stephen King's books either and it never put me off picking up the next one. So it won't put me off reading more work by the author as I really enjoyed the other books I tried. The issues I had with this book were more about what I like and don't like in plot than anything that the author did. I got tired of the constant religious rants of the preacher at every church service and in the end I started to skip these parts of the book totally. Also the bits about these Gods and stuff just didn't really interest me. Other reviews have indicated that this stuff is covered in the writing of Lovecraft. Well maybe it is because I don't read Lovecraft that these parts held little interest for me and went a bit over my head. I don't know if reading Lovecraft makes a difference or not, but added to the religious rants, it just didn't hold my attention.
There were good things about the book. The sequences where the people were being killed or doing evil under the influence of the preacher were well written as always and our boy hero is very likeable. I didn't personally find any fault in the writing or the way the story was told. It was just the plot that I didn't enjoy. I think that plenty people will enjoy this horror tale so don't let my review put you off reading it.
As I said, I will continue to try other books by this author.
gma2lana's review
3.0
This book reminds me of some of Stephen King's work or Dean Koontz. It was confusing at the beginning, but still captured my attention. However towards the end I was ready to move on. I didn't think some of the language was necessary, but that's my opinion. 2nd book I have read by J.G. Faherty, I didn't enjoy this one as much as I did the first book I read. Both books were through the early reviewers program.
ravencrantz's review
4.0
Not really what I expected, but still very entertaining. The only issue I had was why Billy Capshaw was immune to the Stranger's influence while so many others were not. Considering all that could have gone wrong with this book, that's really nothing to hold a grudge for.
I was entertained from beginning to end, with only slight confusion when all characters were being introduced. After you got to know who everyone was, the story started moving. I think what I really liked was all the gore. At first, I was wondering why some of these characters were hurting others. The police do a lot of murdering random townspeople and beating the crap out of suspects. I wondered how they got away with it and then once I realized it was just the influence of the Stranger, I more readily accepted it. The general gore level was very high and very graphic and I loved it. The average reader probably won't be okay with it, but I have always loved gory stories and movies. If I had to compare the gore level to a movie, I'd say The Departed because of all the seemingly senseless violence and murder that goes on.
Really, that's what kept me going. I read it for the review, but continued reading it for the gore. Had it not been present, I don't think I would have enjoyed it nearly as much. The magical fight scenes were fun, but since this is really just a Good versus Evil story line, we all knew who would win. The Stranger's attacks were so much more interesting visual wise than John's were because John used mainly words and defensive spells whereas the Stranger focused on physical attacks and making the town fearful and hateful. It was interesting that he brainwashed most of the town into killing each other and believing in ancient Gods of Chaos while they assumed they would be going to a normal church sermon.
I still can't get my mind off of Billy Capshaw. I just feel like there's something missing with his story.
All in all, it was an entertaining story with plenty of gore. I enjoyed it.
I was entertained from beginning to end, with only slight confusion when all characters were being introduced. After you got to know who everyone was, the story started moving. I think what I really liked was all the gore. At first, I was wondering why some of these characters were hurting others. The police do a lot of murdering random townspeople and beating the crap out of suspects. I wondered how they got away with it and then once I realized it was just the influence of the Stranger, I more readily accepted it. The general gore level was very high and very graphic and I loved it. The average reader probably won't be okay with it, but I have always loved gory stories and movies. If I had to compare the gore level to a movie, I'd say The Departed because of all the seemingly senseless violence and murder that goes on.
Really, that's what kept me going. I read it for the review, but continued reading it for the gore. Had it not been present, I don't think I would have enjoyed it nearly as much. The magical fight scenes were fun, but since this is really just a Good versus Evil story line, we all knew who would win. The Stranger's attacks were so much more interesting visual wise than John's were because John used mainly words and defensive spells whereas the Stranger focused on physical attacks and making the town fearful and hateful. It was interesting that he brainwashed most of the town into killing each other and believing in ancient Gods of Chaos while they assumed they would be going to a normal church sermon.
I still can't get my mind off of Billy Capshaw.
Spoiler
Didn't people wonder what happened to him? John never really wondered why he never saw Billy in the church and all we know is that he was killed as a sacrifice.All in all, it was an entertaining story with plenty of gore. I enjoyed it.
katrinia17's review
2.0
Chapter by chapter the book became annoying and cliche. I just had to do a big eye roll at one chapter in which the officers get a call that a new comer into town was seen taking a boy to his hotel room and coming out 20 mins later. What is their first thought of this? "Do you think he's the one who has been killing all those young ladies?" (not an actual quote). WTF? He wasn't even in town when the first murder happened! AND, why would you suspect him of killing girls (teens and older it seems) over the fact that he took a child to his hotel. Shouldn't your first thought be...child molestation? After the run in with the police, the next day our character finds that everyone in town thinks he's a child molester or the murderer of all those teen girls. So what does he do? When a beautiful teen girl comes in asking him out of 20 plus men from her small town, to help with her car he says yes. When she offer's him a ride he jumps on in with the whole world watching knowing that no one will be around when she drops him off. And when she comes up dead he's just shocked by it all. Ummm...they have already told you they suspect you of the killings of teenage girls...why are you driving around in the car of a teenage girl...*sigh*...and it continues...all for the sake of moving the plot along that is. This book is filled with little things of this sort.
The good part is that the general idea is really good and the writing style is not bad at all. Just so many eye rolls throughout the whole mess.
The good part is that the general idea is really good and the writing style is not bad at all. Just so many eye rolls throughout the whole mess.
revslick's review
2.0
The Burning Time is set in the tradition of the classic Cthulhu mythos. If you are familiar with Lovecraft and the ancient gods then you'll want to add this one to the list. It pays wonderful homage to the original tales. My only critique is that there's a place in middle where Faherty turns the pacing into sludge. It muddles for quite awhile until it picks up the pace just short of the end. With this in mind, I'd say if you haven't learned to quake at the name of Cthulhu and salivate at the chance to be destroyed last then skip this one a begin with the master - Lovecraft!
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