Book Reports From the Abyss episode 4
As promised, though a little later than I had hoped, we return to BOOK REPORTS FROM THE ABYSS! Another two books read and locked away in that “special” section of the library where only the intensely curious or the utterly depraved come for new literature.
First up this time is Camp Blaze: Author’s Enhanced Edition by Jon Athan. This felt very much like baby’s first slasher, with all the good and bad that entails. It’s an ok story overall, but the pacing and character competence is sorely lacking throughout most of the book. The last third of the book is where it has a chance to shine; after you get through the tedium of a subpar slasher story that only really dips its toe into the extreme side of horror because of the fairly large amount of child death, you get surprised by a pretty big supernatural turn with apocalyptic implications at the end. This one was just ok and probably the weakest of Athan’s writing I’ve read so far.
Next we have Raised By a Killer: Book 1: Age 4 by Sea Caummisar. I was not prepared for the emotional disembowelment held within its pages. As previously stated, I’m a father to a little girl so this was a tough read for all the right(?) reasons. So many things throughout my read just made me want hold that little girl and tell her everything would be ok, even if she has an incredibly stupid name, but I know it’ll only get worse for her as it goes. More than likely I’ll continue on with this series just to see if the author can keep up the torture of my emotions as I try to feel sorry for a small girl while she’s jabbing her finger in the eye of a future serial murder victim. I loved this one, it hurts in all the right ways.
For next time, I’ll be reading The Swine by McHardy and Hawker and Eternal Flower of Your Soul by Klaus Kinion. I’ve heard nothing but good things about both, so I hope they live up to the hype. See you next time splatter fans!