SYNOPSIS: Aside from a quaint amusement park, the small town of Lakeview offers little excitement for Duane, Savannah, and their friends. They’re about to endure their ten-year high school reunion when their lives are shattered by the arrival of an ancient, vengeful evil.
The werewolf. The first attack leaves seven dead and four wounded. And though the beast remains on the loose and eager to spill more blood, the sleepy resort town is about to face an even greater terror. Because the four victims of the werewolf’s fury are changing. They’re experiencing unholy desires and unimaginable cravings. They’ll prey on the innocent and the depraved. They’ll settle old scores and act on their basest desires. Soon, they’ll plunge the entire town into nightmare. Lakeview is about to become Wolf Land. WEREWOLVES!!! One of my first horror loves, and in a book written by Jonathan Janz (who's more than made my auto-buy list). I knew I'd love this one, and I did, but there are a couple of caveats I need to add for other readers. An author's note at the beginning says, "This one, friends, is dark-- probably darker than anything I've ever written." I wrote in my notebook, "fingers crossed this refers to level of violence and not sexual assault". I now laugh sadly at my former self, because HOLY SHIT. People with rape triggers will want to be careful of this one. A lead character suffers extreme sexual abuse at the hands of her father and brothers, and there are references/memories of child molestation. There's a lot of misogyny in general here, from the horrifying example above to the more commonplace "not allllll men hey I'm a nice guy why won't you date me" variety. It's not rewarded by the text in any way, the people who deserve a comeuppance most certainly get one, but it's still a rough read. That said, I'm a huge fan of Janz's writing style-- the characters always feel real, whether you're rooting for them or hoping they get cannonballed into the sun-- and I know to time reading his endings after the kids go to bed because the final battle scenes move like bullets and Mom Is Not Getting Interrupted Thanks. This is a fast-paced, almost splatterpunk style read, and if you know you can handle the stuff mentioned above then absolutely grab a copy. Again, werewolves. ;) Quotes/Lines: ((spoilers below!)) -- Awww, the dedication. Jack Ketchum. <3 -- ...I like the sound of the Antonov sisters and hope they're referenced again, though the blonde, black and red hair has me picturing the Hocus Pocus witches oops -- "You had sex with girls back in high school, Glenn. What makes it so different now?" Die by werewolf, Weezer. And yes, Duane, why *do* you hang out with him? His scintillating conversational skills and enviable morals? -- "That's the problem with the world," Weezer said meditatively. "Not enough honesty. I say what's on my mind, and you two get all high and mighty on me." Throw him from the carrrrrr -- Oh Duane, sweetie, I'm sorry your parents were dickheads (you still need to throw Weezer from the car though) -- So, Mike, you lie to an 18-year old and tell her you're her age instead of 22. You lie to women about what you've actually been through to get them to sleep with you. Also, 'hot Hispanic chick'? 'some skank'? You're fucking gross, stay away from Savannah. -- So far Barb is my favorite -- oh god why are in Weezer's pov he's loathsome enough I don't need to be seeing his creepy-ass thoughts -- "Here's what's going to happen," she said slowly. "You're going to walk away and not talk to me again tonight." Her eyes swept him up and down. "Preferably not ever. I'm not interested in you. At all. Does that make sense?" HOT DAMN MELODY I LOVE YOU -- 'Duane hoped Melody hadn't been too vicious with him.' WHY? Why would you hope that when you *know* what he's like?? -- Aw, Joyce. *hugs* -- 'It was Glenn's friend, the one who looked like he'd own a Confederate flag.' OHHHHHHH -- 'Joyce took a moment to appraise him more carefully.' Nope, do *not* go down that road, you had it right the first time. -- 'Nor would it help to point out that Melody was a walking petri dish who was probably carrying about thirty strands of venereal disease.' Yes. Please denigrate another woman to soothe this predator of high-school girls. Good choice. -- oh good Weezer just went into the woods alone heeeeere werewolf -- GAH MIKE. ((also Glenn, damn. I have some problems with your choice of friends but that was honorable. Good on you.)) -- "Won't you flee so I can experience the pleasure of running you down?" Yeah, that'd be time for 'I don't have to outrun the werewolf, I just have to outrun you'. See ya, former classmates, I'm already gone -- Joyce, as much as I appreciate the 'I have to try' sentiment, you are gonna die -- Savannah just choked a werewolf with barbed wire I'm gonna propose -- "Run," he muttered to Savannah. "Fuck you," she said.' **heart eyes** -- oh no Melody is a werewolf now nooooo -- 'It was common knowledge she'd known a lot of guys. Not that Duane had ever enjoyed the privilege.' NOT THE TIME DUDE. -- Okay so Glenn, Melody, and Joyce are all wounded but still alive. According to the back cover, that leaves one more to turn. -- NO not Weezer he's awful enough without getting werewolf strength come on -- oh MELODY. It's okay, you're a werewolf now, go eat your brothers -- shit, your dad too. Eviscerate him he deserves it. -- oh god the possum ew ew EW -- Bubba Ho-Tep! <3 <3 <3 -- "Who's in it?" "Bruce Campbell." "Who?" *gasp* SAVANNAH. -- okay unless Melody goes full wolf and murders the hell out of her family I do *not* want to read the pole barn scene I'm just gonna skim until I see justified violence -- "Why're you growling, girl?" KILL 'EM ALL, SWEETHEART -- what no why are they still alive dammit -- "I've been good to you, Savannah. I've treated you like an honest-to-goodness person." Soooo now that you've been nice you get sex? -- "It's certainly my business because I've been the one who's treated you with respect." Just stop while you're way behind, Duane. -- "I was the one who stayed behind, who held you while you bawled." Her eyes narrowed. "And you did it all out of the kindness of your heart, didn't you? You didn't have any ulterior motive." GET HIM. -- "No matter what he does, all guys are evil sex maniacs." Evil sex maniacs? Nope. Some liable to fall for "waaaaah I'm a Nice Guy why won't you sleep with me and give me a chance" bullshit? Yep. -- "But it's possible," he pressed on, "that guys can be good people too." Not any of the ones in this book. gtfo with your whiny entitled 'no *you're* the superficial one' bullshit. And if you so much as think the word 'friendzone'... -- "That'd be fitting," he said, "since I'm the one who got him to sleep." You did NOT just... Do you want a goddamn cookie? She's been taking care of her child for *years* and you think an hour of bedtime stories makes you a hero? -- okay no I'm not done you want her to know you're a good guy, that you're trustworthy, but you're close friends with someone like Weezer? That tells her that *you* are unsafe, because you don't care enough about the hateful shit he says to ever give him consequences. -- 'But Mya knew she had a great body, and that could often contaminate what was between the ears.' Go meet a silver bullet, Glenn. -- ((I do however agree that Patricia Arquette in True Romance was *amazing*. I haven't seen that in forever. Need to rewatch sometime.)) -- 'on his own he knew he'd never have the guts to separate one of them from the herd' THEY'RE NOT GAZELLES, DICK. -- 'Was the man gay?....How did one go about turning down a homosexual proposition?' Y'know what, I...yeah. Go away, Duane. Keep going. Further... -- Duane as a kid painting the picture window white the protect the birds is so sweet. -- "Oh, shut up for a second, would you? You're either staring at my tits or treating me like I'm the Queen of England. Just pretend I'm a person for once." SAVANNAH. -- "Great," Duane said. "Time to trot out the negative male stereotypes." "Duane?" "What?" "Shut your goddamned mouth." "What if I don't want to?" "I'll rip off your nut sack and drop it down the garbage disposal." We're going to have a spring wedding. -- "It's like I need a goddamned translator." No you don't. You just don't want to hear what she's saying. Shut up and take the opportunity, because she didn't have to give you this chance. -- "We didn't choose this. .... But we can make the most of it." Um, Joyce? Honey? You okay over there? -- Melody!! Hi sweetheart -- "I know what she's trying to say," Barb said, "because she said it. We don't need you to interpret for us." BARB c'mere I'm gonna hug you -- Man, the rest of that chapter. Barb you are my current favorite please live -- "I'm tired, Joyce. Down to my bones. I want some rest. Plus, I think I ate a muskrat." *cackling* -- someone go shoot Weezer repeatedly and *fast* -- "Please don't hurt me" too fucking late for that you abusive s.o.b. die horribly and take most of your kids with you -- oh shit Melody *no* you deserve a chance at life without them -- Short Pump ((Duane)) glared at Barb. "What do you have against him? You ever talked to him?" YOU HAVE. You know what Weezer's like; you know that she's right. -- "Why not appeal to my better nature? Maybe I'll spare you if I see the error of my ways." "I don't need sparing." godDAMN Barb -- This fight scene holy shit -- 'And even if Weezer had spoken offensively to Savannah, at heart he was the same tortured kid he'd always been.' 1) IF?!?!? 2) yes, yes, poor baby, bullied as a kid and so had no choice but to grow up and become a misogynistic predator. I'm crying for him right now. -- I was hoping they were the Three! -- oh god Jessica and the kiddos *are* dead dammit Weezer why are you still alive -- Joyce is so damn brave. -- Duane hitting a werewolf with a chair. You dumbass. <3 -- BARB. I'm composing your superhero theme song as we speak -- ohhhhh shit we found Joyce's trigger -- MELODY FUCK YEAHHHHH -- 'Duane glanced down at Barb's bloody shirt, and wondered how the woman wasn't dead yet.' Because Barb, that's how. -- noooooooo I can't believe I have to go around with a 'Justice for Barb' pin AGAIN -- 'To kill Weezer, which wouldn't be such a loss.' I love that you're snarky even as a werewolf, Melody. -- 'And by God, Melody thought, she wasn't escaping from one prison to willfully enter another. Fuck that." If Melody dies I riot. -- Joyce. You did so, so well. -- 'Enabler. The word imprinted itself in his mind's eye. You're an enabler. You're part of the problem, one of the reasons why scum like Weezer end up victimizing innocent kids.' Good, NOW you get it! -- NO Savannah never turn your back until it's definitely dead did you never watch Halloween -- Duane a whole bunch of children are about to be massacred this may not be the time to make notes on a woman's butt -- 'With a start, Duane realized Weezer was eyeballing the children. His chest was heaving, there was an unwholesome look in his eyes. And...holy shit. Weezer had an erection.' So we're done defending him now? Maybe should've listened to Barb and Savannah when they told you what he was? Should've listened to Weezer himself when he made comment after comment? DO BETTER NEXT TIME assuming you live through this -- Miss Hayward you'd better get Teacher of the Year -- 'You should have helped him see more. You should have believed in him.' Not your job. You were busy raising a kid, and he was still hanging around Weezer. He's an adult. -- Wolf Land, in which Savannah, Our Lady of Improvised Weaponry, fights off a werewolf with a goddamned BELT -- 'He had just about resolved to drop-kick the yellow werewolf in the face like some flabby Caucasian Bruce Lee' *snerk* -- Melody stopped to make sure the dogs didn't starve I love 1) amazing werewolf.
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A WORLD WITH A BLUER SUNMy reviews are set up a little like live-tweets: I write down lines I like/impressions as I read, and then transcribe. Reviews will contain spoilers, but I'll give a warning before they start. Archives
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