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A review by brennanlafaro
A Voice So Soft by Patrick Lacey
4.0
I love a story where I can assign or identify a what-if. For instance, what if James Bond was a werewolf, or what if an entire town were trapped within a dome. What would happen and what would the ramifications be? In the case of Patrick Lacey's A Voice So Soft, we explore what if the songs from the 60's, 70's, and 80's accused of containing subliminal satanic messages were real. How would these messages affect people, what would be the story behind them, and what would the endgame be.
This is the first book I've taken on by Pat Lacey, but I'm already looking at what's next. The author has a bit of a back catalog complete with some impressive collaborations. Based solely on my experience with this novel, there are two notable strengths Lacey demonstrates.
First, the story is streamlined. At 208 pages, it's the perfect length to fit the right amount of story. We get enough set up to understand the stakes and build the foundations for everything to come, without anything extra. Here's another book where the reader starts to panic fifteen pages from the end because how can we possibly wrap this up in a satisfying way in such a short time, but we're not let down. There's a bit of an open ending, and Lacey left himself the opportunity to write in this world again if he so chooses.
Second, the author is clearly having a blast writing this. When you, as a reader, can tell from the prose, the subject matter, the allusions, etc. that the storyteller had the time of their life writing this, you're going to enjoy the time you spend in that world. I'm very interested going forward to see whether this was a passion project, or if this is a feeling Lacey brings to all his work.
The main character, Shawna, is a teen with a hearing impairment who it's set up from the start, has always played second fiddle to her sister, the rising pop star. Shawna is well-developed and easy for the reader to attach themselves to. Angie, the sister, isn't quite as developed, but it feels like a very intentional choice for reasons that I won't go into here, but will become quickly evident to the reader. Some of the secondary characters that have their own arc or run parallel to the main story don't click quite as well, but it didn't really detract from the main narrative for me.
Also worth mentioning is the story being set in Salem, MA. I enjoyed this since it's about an hour north of me, but the town has such a historic notoriety that I believe it will resonate with readers everywhere. Realistically, the story could have been set anywhere, but putting it in Salem certainly adds another layer of interest. If you're into stories that have elements of music, witchcraft, cults, and third acts that go wildly off the rails, this book is likely for you. Enjoy.
I received a copy of this book from the author for review consideration.
This is the first book I've taken on by Pat Lacey, but I'm already looking at what's next. The author has a bit of a back catalog complete with some impressive collaborations. Based solely on my experience with this novel, there are two notable strengths Lacey demonstrates.
First, the story is streamlined. At 208 pages, it's the perfect length to fit the right amount of story. We get enough set up to understand the stakes and build the foundations for everything to come, without anything extra. Here's another book where the reader starts to panic fifteen pages from the end because how can we possibly wrap this up in a satisfying way in such a short time, but we're not let down. There's a bit of an open ending, and Lacey left himself the opportunity to write in this world again if he so chooses.
Second, the author is clearly having a blast writing this. When you, as a reader, can tell from the prose, the subject matter, the allusions, etc. that the storyteller had the time of their life writing this, you're going to enjoy the time you spend in that world. I'm very interested going forward to see whether this was a passion project, or if this is a feeling Lacey brings to all his work.
The main character, Shawna, is a teen with a hearing impairment who it's set up from the start, has always played second fiddle to her sister, the rising pop star. Shawna is well-developed and easy for the reader to attach themselves to. Angie, the sister, isn't quite as developed, but it feels like a very intentional choice for reasons that I won't go into here, but will become quickly evident to the reader. Some of the secondary characters that have their own arc or run parallel to the main story don't click quite as well, but it didn't really detract from the main narrative for me.
Also worth mentioning is the story being set in Salem, MA. I enjoyed this since it's about an hour north of me, but the town has such a historic notoriety that I believe it will resonate with readers everywhere. Realistically, the story could have been set anywhere, but putting it in Salem certainly adds another layer of interest. If you're into stories that have elements of music, witchcraft, cults, and third acts that go wildly off the rails, this book is likely for you. Enjoy.
I received a copy of this book from the author for review consideration.