Scan barcode
A review by aemesserlie
Blood Kin by Steve Rasnic Tem
3.0
Blood Kin is a southern Gothic horror story about the strange goings on in a poor family. Michael Gibson, a Melungeon man from a small southern town, moves back home to take care of his elderly grandmother Sadie. As he is caring for her, she tells him stories of her childhood in the 1930's. As she tells him stories of a dark past, he begins to realize that the darkness of her childhood still exists and she is trying to prepare him for a final showdown with a family nightmare.
Honestly, I picked up this book because it had a cool cover and an interesting premise. Plus, I was impressed that the author was creating Melungeon characters; none of the people I know have even heard of Melungeons, let alone know anything about them.
However, I was slightly disappointed in this book. Although the characters and the story have a lot of promise, I think that promise was unfulfilled. The characters were compelling, but Rasnic Tem could have done so much more with them. And the writing was convoluted and had quite a few plot holes; for example, in one chapter, the Grans are described as being reclusive shut ins that almost no one in the family has ever seen, while just a few pages later, everyone in the family is showing up for a birthday party for them. This makes no sense.
However, I do have to say that Rasnic Tem does a wonderful job of evoking atmosphere; I really loved reading the parts about Sadie's life as a poor child in the 1930's. I was really able to put myself into the environment and that was wonderful. I just wish the rest of the book had been as good.
Honestly, I picked up this book because it had a cool cover and an interesting premise. Plus, I was impressed that the author was creating Melungeon characters; none of the people I know have even heard of Melungeons, let alone know anything about them.
However, I was slightly disappointed in this book. Although the characters and the story have a lot of promise, I think that promise was unfulfilled. The characters were compelling, but Rasnic Tem could have done so much more with them. And the writing was convoluted and had quite a few plot holes; for example, in one chapter, the Grans are described as being reclusive shut ins that almost no one in the family has ever seen, while just a few pages later, everyone in the family is showing up for a birthday party for them. This makes no sense.
However, I do have to say that Rasnic Tem does a wonderful job of evoking atmosphere; I really loved reading the parts about Sadie's life as a poor child in the 1930's. I was really able to put myself into the environment and that was wonderful. I just wish the rest of the book had been as good.