Steve Stred's Blog, page 38

3Q’s – Chris Kosarich – shapeshifter!

Today’s guest is a super-talented writer, always supportive friend and someone who constantly encourages everyone around him!

I’m super happy to have Chris Kosarich today as my 3Q’s guest!

Welcome Chris!

Steve: What does your writing time look like? Do you try and write at the same time each day? Do you have a word count you attempt to hit?

Chris: Like many of us that also work full-time, I generally find time when I’m either enjoying a day off or a nice quiet morning for a couple hours before I go in for a shift. I don’t ever bother with a word count and I’m just pleased to get a few good solid hours of writing time in. Mostly mornings and afternoons work best for me.

Steve: You end up at an estate sale and discover an unpublished manuscript from an author you love. Do you keep it just for yourself or do you share it with the world?

Chris: *Evil chuckle* I’ll never tell…

Steve: Tell me about your newest release (novel/story/poem/novella) and why someone should read it!

Chris: So, I’ve finished up work on the third and final book in my Roseblood trilogy called Bloodlust, which I’m doing revisions on now and hope to have out be Halloween or shortly after. The Roseblood novellas haven’t been my best-selling horror novels but since these books spun out of my first ever published horror story called “Roseblood,” I’ve become quite attached to telling her blood-soaked story. And honestly, if it wasn’t for my editor Erin Al-Mehairi wanting to know more after she read a new Roseblood short story I’d written several years ago, and wisely suggested there’s more of a story here, I’d probably never have written these books. That’s credit to her!

Also, I’ve had a story called “Lizard Kingdom” appear in the just released Summertime horror anthology Dead Heat from Crimson Pinnacle Press that I’m quite proud of.

Steve: Bonus Question! You wake up in a comic book. What is your comic book character and what is your superpower?

Chris: Hmmmm. Tough one. I’m a big Marvel fan, love the MCU for the most part, so maybe like a badass shapeshifter that’s kind of a good guy but not always. Complex superheroes are much more fascinating to me.

That’s an excellent choice!

Thanks so much Chris!

To find more of his work, check the links!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Chris-Kosarich/e/B08ZMCKLQL

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CKosarich

Website: http://horrorgasms.blogspot.com/

Book Review: Left to You by Daniel J. Volpe

Title: Left to You

Author: Daniel J. Volpe

Release date: November 10, 2021

We live in some strange times right now, don’t we?

The rise/return of white extremist terrorism and white supremacy. People being outwardly and despicably racist. And over the last number of months, significant anti-Semitism. We of course are currently dealing with a particular rapper whom is getting way more air time than he should be allowed to have and having his hateful views spouted all over major networks and social media. I’m not sure why people still support the guy, but I digress.

The reality is, we’re only 80 years removed from World War II and Nazi’s and their beliefs are far too prominent in day-to-day life. And, as a Canadian (and we are not that much better about his, or our treatment of Indigenous people and ethnicities), it blows my mind that this is happening in America. The country that previously was ‘the greatest country in the world.’ At least that’s what was hammered into me growing up in movies, tv shows and news stories.

Normally, I would’ve passed on this novel. But, ‘Left to Me’ is recommended to me weekly in DM chats. It’s been inching up my TBR for some time and I’ve always gotten on really well with Daniel. He’s a nice guy, solid writer, supports many and I’ve been meaning to check out something of his. Seeing as this is the one I get told to read the most it made sense.

But I went in with significant trepidation. About seven years ago, I went through two traumatic incidents. This led me to seek counselling to get my PTSD in check and give me tools to not become significantly depressed. I manage well, with my anxiety and anxiety meds under control. In one of the first meetings I had with the counsellor, he discussed my interests and knowing I liked to read, he suggested I read ‘Man’s Search for Meaning’ by Viktor Frankl. Released in 1946, it shares Viktor’s experience being imprisoned in a Nazi concentration camp. It was profound, awful, uplifting, horribly sad and a book that helped me gain perspective. Going into ‘Left to You,’ as I do with any books that involve Nazi aspects, I wanted to see how much of the novel revolved around that, versus any characters impacted and their story arc’s.

What I liked: Told in two time lines, now, then and back to now, Volpe unravels a story of a survivor of Auschwitz whom has inadvertently been saddled with a horrific truth. A hanger on that has allowed him to live longer than most. But his end is near and, after befriending a young man at the grocery story, Robert, he wants to pass this blessing/curse onto him, in the hopes that Robert will use it to save his mother, who is dying of Cancer.

Robert is the main focus of the beginning and the end, while Josef is the main focus of the middle/then portion. It plays off really well with each other and shows that the two do have a special bond and friendship. We get to see how Robert is struggling, dealing with two jobs, a woman he wishes to date if things were different and the reality that his mother doesn’t have long to live.

Josef, meanwhile, makes for an emotional foil, in that we see him delicately manipulate Robert and his friendship enough, to get him to ultimately agree to come over and discover the horrible truth of what Josef has been carrying around for many years.

I did like the ‘reveal’ and seeing what this thing was and how it was an even bigger manipulator than Josef had led us to believe.

The ending was good, even if I wished another element hadn’t been introduced, but it really showed the true power of this being.

What I didn’t like: Personally, I didn’t find the concentration camp aspect to be of an true necessity for the overall portion of the story. It could’ve been easily done in any other context, so I would’ve loved a foreword or afterword maybe explaining the ‘why’ or even if the author had a connection with this historical moment. 

I also hated the storyline of Sarah and what happens. She was a solid character and how Robert ultimately flipped was an odd choice and something that ultimately felt added in and unresolved.

Lastly, as I mentioned, the final element added at the end diluted Robert’s journey a bit. I would’ve loved to see it wrapped up with Robert, but alas it wasn’t meant to be.

Why you should buy this: If the real world issues that we’re dealing with are something you find horribly affecting to your day to day life, you may want to pass this one. If you’re looking for an escape and a survival story with some historical fiction mixed in, this may be up your alley. Personally, I really enjoyed the ‘now’ sections, which were intriguing and showed a son dealing with the finality of his mother’s life. The ‘then’ section didn’t add much overall for me. Which did dampen the emotional impact of Robert’s portion.

Overall, a solid read, if not a difficult experience based on real world events.

4/5

3Q’s – Alicia Hilton is completely persuasive!

Greatly excited for today’s guest! Alicia Hilton is a fantastic author and poet and continues to release new and exciting work all the time. She’s always been super supportive and now, I’m happy to welcome her as today’s 3Q’s guest!

Welcome Alicia!

Steve: What does your writing time look like? Do you try and write at the same time each day? Do
you have a word count you attempt to hit?

Alicia: I don’t tend to write at the same time each day. My writing schedule depends on the projects that I’m working on and whether I’m traveling. I tend to be most productive when I’m in a quiet room, so I don’t play music while I write. When the words are flowing, I keep working—sometimes until past 3:00 AM. Rather than setting word count goals, I set project goals. For instance, today I edited one of my short stories and wrote a new poem.

Steve: You decide to host a writer’s retreat. One weekend in a luxury house on an island. What
three other authors do you invite to come along?

Alicia: That’s a tough question. There are so many fantastic authors that I’d like to invite! If I was compelled to narrow the list to three people, I’d invite A.C. Wise because of her vivid imagination, Jeff VanderMeer because of his appreciation for nature, and Joe Lansdale because of his wonderful sense of humor.

Steve: Tell me about your newest release (novel/story/poem/novella) and why someone should
read it!

Alicia: My latest release is Alternative Holidays, published by B Cubed Press. I co-edited the anthology and contributed a story and a poem. Alternative Holidays transports readers from the bottom of the sea to Mount Olympus, from shopping malls in hell to a bathtub in a cheap motel. Cthulhu awakens. Cupid becomes a vigilante. Santa grants deadly wishes. And that is just the beginning of your journey into visions of the holidays we know, love, and sometimes fear.

Steve: Bonus Question! You receive an invitation in the mail from one of these two people. The invitation
invites you to have dinner and spend the night in their home. Do you accept the invitation from Victor
Frankenstein or Dracula and why?

Steve: Could I resist an invitation from Dracula? Vampires are terrifying and alluring. Immortality, the power to shape-shift, the ability to fly—all are tempting reasons to succumb to a bite and become a bloodsucker, but I’d rather remain a mortal. If I dined with Dracula, I’d persuade the Prince of Darkness and his undead friends to keep their fangs away from my flesh.

Fantastic! Thank you so much, Alicia!

To find more of her work, check the links!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Alicia-Hilton/e/B07ZBMWM5G

Twitter: https://twitter.com/aliciahilton01

Website: https://aliciahilton.com/

Book Review: The Talosite by Rebecca Campbell

Title: The Talosite

Author: Rebecca Campbell

Release date: October 4th, 2022

You know what always blows me away/freaks me out? When you read as much as I do, I have three books usually on the go – a pleasure read, a TBR read (my TBR is ordered for my OCD reading brain) and a review book. Well, what freaks me out is when those three somehow miraculously line up and share very similar narratives/aspects/story lines. Case in point. I just finished reading ‘Dark Days’ by D. Randall Blythe, where he shares his experience being incarcerated in an old prison in the Czech Republic. At the same time, I started reading ‘Left to You’ by Daniel Volpe, which focuses on something occurring in a Nazi Prison Camp. And here I was, diving into Rebecca Campbell’s masterful novella ‘The Talosite,’ which is set in an alternative history during World War I. Three random books, plucked from my Kindle shelves that line up. 

Anyways, let’s move away from the freaky aspect and talk about the freakiness within. I’m a bit ashamed to say – I’ve heard of fellow Canuck, Rebecca Campbell, but had not read any of her work leading into this. I had kind of had my fingers crossed I would’ve somehow gotten a hold of a digital ARC of this novella from Undertow, but alas, didn’t make the list. No worries – look at the cover, look at the synopsis and – considering two of my favorite novellas ever are from Undertow (looking at you Armageddon House and Helpmeet) – I bought this one and watched it rise up my TBR until reaching the top.

This one is almost a spiritual sibling to Helpmeet, in the sense of the dark, brooding, thing’s done in the shadows narrative and the body horror that is done so very, very well. But it’s Undertow – what else would you expect.

What I liked: The story follows Anne, daughter of a famous physician who has worked diligently to find a way to resurrect the dead and use them in the war to defeat the Nazi’s. At first. That is stage one. Ultimately, the resurrected would become part of modern society, working the menial jobs many don’t want to work as well as the harder, dirtier jobs. Think coal mines etc.

Campbell writes like how you might imagine Shelley writing Frankenstein. Smile on her face with maniacal laugh happening at the end of every third or fourth paragraph after she’s reread the absolute brutality she’s envisioned and brought to life. (I don’t actually know this, but the way the words flow from the page and paint a picture in your mind, it’s safe to say it was possible.) 

We also get to see how things are occurring in the world around Anne through her partner (though not an official boyfriend or fiancée, but more like a really good friend with benefits), Ned. Ned can’t believe the levels of derangement Anne is going to and it makes for some emotional moments, especially near the end and as things come to light.

I was really intrigued with where Campbell would take the ‘experiments’ and I have to say, the last quarter was fantastic and really creepy, to see just where Anne decided to go and where her mind followed.

What I didn’t like: There is a significant amount of ambiguity near the ending. I know it’s purposeful and I personally usually love ambiguous endings, but for this particular novella I was hoping for more definitive closure.

Why you should buy this: I mean, look at the cover. If that doesn’t make your mind think of ‘In the Hills, the Cities’ by Barker and get you excited, I don’t know what will. Then, look at the synopsis. Look at the publisher. And understand that this novella packs an entire historical re-imagining within its sleek 100 pages, where not a word is spared and where not a single breath from the reader is allowed. Just another phenomenal piece of dark fiction and I’m so happy to have read this one.

5/5

3Q’s – Kelvin Allison gets us all twisted in a knot!

Welcome to another fun 3Q’s today!

Kelvin is a talented author, hilarious meme sharer and all around supportive guy. It’s been great seeing him release so much fun new stuff!

I’m super happy to welcome Kelvin to the 3Q’s hot seat today!

Welcome!

Steve: What does your writing time look like? Do you try and write at the same time each day? Do you have a word count you attempt to hit?

Kelvin: Nighttime is the right time for me. I work from home and also home school two of our four children, so day times are often extremely hectic. However, when the clan have all gone to bed at night, usually about 6pm, the wife included, I sit and write, often through till the early hours. I try and hit 8 pages a night, sometimes I do more, some days I crash after a few words.

Steve: You end up at an estate sale and discover an unpublished manuscript from an author you love. Do you keep it just for yourself or do you share it with the world?

Kelvin: I’d share it. I know that sounds all goody goody, but I am a reader first and foremost and these things are written to be read. I can’t think of anything more heartbreaking that a book with no-one to love it

Steve: Tell me about your newest release (novel/story/poem/novella) and why someone should read it!

Kelvin: On October 1st my monster novel Knot; Book One of the Underpeople is released. It is built on fond memories of watching Ron Perlman and Linda Hamilton in beauty and the beast, and the fascination I had with the underground city and tunnels that the beast and his people called home. Also, Cabal by the great Clive Barker and the film it spawned Nightbreed, are two of my favourite things in life. I love the idea that monsters can be the good guys too. If you loved Beauty and the Beast or Nightbreed, you might like Knot.

Steve: Bonus Question! You wake up in a comic book. What is your comic book character and what is your superpower?

Kelvin: Oh, I love comics and have been reading them since about ’78 when I was 5, and me and my wife used to own a comic shop in the UK where we live. Right, my name would be Clone, and I would be able to assume the form and voice of anyone that I wanted to. Oh the fun I would have

Oh, great answer! Love that one!

Thanks again for doing this Kelvin!

To find more of his work, check the links!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Kelvin-Allison/e/B088W9JMMJ/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/allison_author

Book Review: Dark Days: My Tribulations and Trials by D. Randall Blythe

Title: Dark Days: My Tribulations and Trials

Author: D. Randall Blythe

Release date: June 24, 2014

I’m not a typical non-fiction reader. Some of it’s great, some of it’s middle of the road and some of it I have zero interest in. The biggest thing for me, is that I already know what’s happened. Obviously not all of the details, but I usually know the basics, the beginning middle and ending.

Such is the case with this novel.

I’m a huge Lamb of God fan – even have a LoG tattoo – and was fortunate enough to not only meet the band previously but did so while acting as part of their security team at a signing event in Vancouver at the former Scrape Records. I’ve seen them close to a dozen times and continue to spin their albums weekly. While I’m still partial to Ashes of the Wake as my fav LoG album, each one hits some fantastic musical places and for this metalhead, it’s always a good time

For those who are unaware – in 2011 (and I still remember how shocking it was) Lamb of God arrived in the Czech Republic to play a show, and their singer, one D. Randall Blythe was arrested for manslaughter. A year prior at a show, he’d pushed a stage crasher off the stage. The young man fell, hit his head on the concrete, and died a few months later.

I remember following this story as much as I could, wondering why Randy was still in jail, buying a ‘Free Randall Blythe’ wrist band to support his legal fees and after it was all said and done, watching the documentary that detailed the events.

This novel is a bit different, in that not only does it focus on Randall’s alcoholism and quest to get sober and stay sober, but also his time incarcerated and the behind the scenes look at his trail.

What I liked: Having already followed this case, I didn’t find anything that was ‘new’ or stand out for me. It was “enjoyable” (and I use that word loosely because, let’s face it, he was in prison) seeing his descriptions of events within the prison, the other inmates he befriended or met and the guards – both inept and kind. 

Blythe has an easy way of writing, which works well for the darker moments but also the comedic spots and he’s been frequently labelled the nicest and most easy going front man out there, which really does shine here as he discusses doing what’s right and the ramifications this had on the victim’s family.

At times this was powerful and shows how fast things can go bad and get worse, but Randall handled it in stride and gave a really solid, straightforward perspective, which in a world of people who frequently get angered or enraged at the drop of a hat, was refreshing.

What I didn’t like: I found a lot of the prison scenes/chapters to be a lot. As in, unnecessary and plodding where it really takes you out of the pacing of some of the other scenes.

As well, if you already know what happens, you won’t really gain any new exciting insight to anything here, other than exactly what you’d expect being in prison would be like.

Why you should read this: If you’re a LoG completist or a metalhead fan and want to read this memoir, definitely dive in. If you’ve been a fan of the band for many years and read all the news stories and the interviews etc, you may want to pass. There’s some solid writing here and it is always great to see Randall’s calm approach to situations.

For this reader, it was good and I’m glad to have read it.

3/5

Book Review: Division X by August Hill

Title: Division X

Author: August Hill

Release date: October 20, 2022

Huge thanks to the publisher and the author for sending me a copy of this novel.

Check out the synopsis on this one. When a novel teases that not only are you going to be getting creatures galore, family drama AND a secret government type project – it gets my interest immediately but is also one that you know you need to dive into and see what craziness awaits.

From what I gather, this is the first part of a series, so do keep that in mind if you’re thinking of also diving in! What I mean with that is that you know full well not every question will be answered.

What I liked: The story starts out with a literal rampaging scene where strange deaths linked to stranger creatures has been occurring. At a family dinner, one of those creatures attacks and only two sisters survive.

From there, Hill weaves a story that bounces between what this secretive group is up to, as well as the struggles the two sisters face, both in their relationship but also in how they are going forward. It’s an interesting dynamic, and seeing how Hill keeps playing it back and forth for the reader added a great extra layer to the happenings.

As expected, we get a truly solid ending that also leaves us with a number of doors open about where the second one may go and just where the characters who survive will travel.

The creature aspects within here are really great and just a blast for readers. It also gives us a ton of rampaging carnage, which is always a blast.

What I didn’t like: I did find there was a significant amount of characters throughout. I tend to read a number of books at one time, so maybe if I was focusing purely on this one, I wouldn’t have found it to be that overwhelming, but as is, it did often take me a minute to remember who was who.

I did also find some of the early interactions between the sisters to be a bit odd. As an example, Randi, the older sister, gets taken one night after she transforms and her family member witnesses it and freaks out. She calls home and talks to her younger sister and says that she got a new job and left in the middle of the night and that’s it. Just accepted and we move on. It’s one very odd interaction that didn’t feel like a solid, realistic way to change character venues.

Why you should buy this: Do you enjoy the lycanthrope-based stories? If so, you’ll want to dive into this one and see what howling action Hill delivers. This one feels like a Hollywood blockbuster werewolf movie made just for the reader and if that doesn’t entice you, I don’t know what will.

4/5

 

Book Review: Patron Tales by Russell Smeaton

Title: Patron Tales

Author: Russell Smeaton

Release date: November 9th, 2022

One thing I’ve always been a fan of, is discovering the multi-talented folks in the dark fiction community. Those who write but also narrate or do cover design fascinate me and it’s always so cool seeing them share their various works.

Case in point – Russell Smeaton. I’ve loved seeing his Pumpkin Guys and have backed a couple of his Kickstarter’s that he’s done, seeing the very cool things he’s designed and illustrated and created.

His writing is also stellar and I’ve had the pleasure of reading two of his collections already. When he reached out about reading this one, I jumped all over it, knowing that I’d be in for some flash fiction – and slightly longer – works that always hit home.

What I liked: Smeaton’s ‘Patron Tales’ is made up of a batch of short stories that he originally had released through his Patreon page. We get a wide array of topics and characters, but each is crafted so very well and will keep you guessing about the ‘reality’ of each story.

Each story within was really well done. I’ve always loved flash fiction because within less than a thousand words, you fall into a world, meet characters and have to buckle up to see what type of carnage they need to attempt (and hopefully) survive.

The absolute highlight for me was the longer piece, ‘Confessions of a Drummer.’ It follows a musician who takes the leap and buys a house in a quaint suburb. He works from home and is initially enamored with the friendly neighbors. But they have secrets and once they are exposed the story ramps up so very nicely. I wish this was a novella or novel, it was really well done.

What I didn’t like: A few of the short stories seemed a little ‘paint by numbers’ in that you know exactly what is going to happen far before it happens. That isn’t a negative in the sense that they were still fun, it’s more that when put into a collection instead of a weekly website release, it did lower some of the flow of the experience.

Why you should buy this: Every time I dive into something new from Russell, I continue to see better, more thorough pieces with characters you root for in strange and crazy scenarios. This one, for many, could very well be a single sitting read, but that’s not a negative towards the collection. No, it just shows how compulsive the stories are that Russell’s created.

5/5

 

3Q’s: Kate DeJonge just wants to hang!

Got another Canuck author today and I was so excited to see just how excited Kate was to be a 3Q’s guest! Delivering some truly dark and decayed reads, Kate has some great responses!

Please, do welcome Kate!

Steve: What does your writing time look like? Do you try and write at the same time each day? Do you have a word count you attempt to hit?

Kate: This is the toughest question for me to answer, and I’m going to tell you why with the hopes that it helps another author out there who struggles like I do. I’ve lived with Chronic Insomnia, Anxiety, Major Depressive Disorder and CPTSD all of my life. I’ve been on medications to manage those things since I was 27, which turned me into a low-functioning zombie. I’m not always able to work outside of the home because the physical pain and brain fog are just too much to handle, but I’ve always been filled with stories to tell.

I decided to try writing something to self-publish in 2018, and it took 2 years to finish it. I tried to establish a regular writing routine, but my brain just wouldn’t cooperate. Imagine appearing totally healthy, but on the inside you are scrambling to remember why you opened a new tab on your browser and screaming in pain. I went through a lot of self-hatred, not understanding why I couldn’t just buckle down and do it, and I heard the whispered comments that I was just lazy.

4 years later, I’ve managed to produce 2 novels, a short story collection, a novella and a few other short pieces, but it feels like they were cobbled together here and there when I was lucid enough to focus. My self-esteem hit an all time low this summer (2022), and then a ray of hope came. I was diagnosed with ADHD in August, taken off all of those zombie meds, and am currently working up to the full dosage of Vyvanse, the capsule that most likely saved my life. I can already feel myself waking up, and am hopeful that I’ll be able to develop a good writing routine so I can finish some of the dozens of partial books in my pending file!

So, what’s my point in sharing all of this as an answer to what my writing routine looks like? I used to hate myself every time I read about an author who had it all together, who stuck to a regular schedule, because I couldn’t. I want writers to know that having a great schedule is NOT something that comes naturally to all of us, and that even if you’re a walking zombie like me, there’s hope. Try not to pressure yourself to be like anyone else, just do what you can. And also, ADHD is seriously underdiagnosed, especially in adult females. I’m almost 50, and finally have answers to lifelong questions about my functional abilities. My plan now is to read all of Steve’s 3Q’s interviews for tips from other authors about how they keep themselves on pace. If I can learn self-discipline this late in the game, anyone can!

Steve: You decide to host a writer’s retreat. One weekend in a luxury house on an island. What three other authors do you invite to come along?

Kate: Oh man, only 3?? I’d have to start with Kelley Armstrong. She’s a prodigious Canadian horror author from my area, and she seems really nice (on Twitter, at least!). I’d love to learn about the steps she took to get her work out there, and pick up some killer tips for writing a bestseller. Edgar Allen Poe’s ghost would be invited because he seems like he’d be fun to party with, and would probably inspire a whole heap of new material. My third choice is Hank Wesselman. If you’ve never read his Spiritwalker trilogy, he’s an anthropologist who visited his future self through meditation and wrote about the journey. It’s absolutely fascinating! I have a feeling he could talk forever about quantum reality, which is one of the things I really enjoy nerding out about. So yeah, a Canadian lady of horror, a dead morose poet, and a psychedelic anthropologist. Sounds like the beginning of a good joke…

Steve: Tell me about your newest release (novel/story/poem/novella) and why someone should read it!

Kate: My latest release was Soup back in July. It’s a dark horror novella about a morgue assistant who survived an abusive father. She has serious issues as a result, and takes out her anger on the corpses of pedophiles and child murders. She even plays with treasures she takes from their bodies on a webcam for her followers. When someone from her underground web group contacts her with a business proposition involving her morgue’s new Alkaline Hydrolysis system, she can’t say no.

It’s gory in a few parts, but not extreme. I’m thrilled with the response it’s getting, and I’ve listened to the feedback that I end my stories too abruptly so there will be a sequel! I’ve started it, I swear! I’m hoping to have it ready to go for December 2022!

Steve: Bonus Question! You receive an invitation in the mail from one of these two people. The invitation invites you to have dinner and spend the night in their home. Do you accept the invitation from Victor Frankenstein or Dracula and why?

Kate: I’ve read both books, so Dracula is a definite NO. That guy has mad brainwashing skillz and I’m already a little much after a few glasses of wine. Victor Frankenstein would be an interesting host; I’d love to play in his mad scientist lab and peek in his closets. Tales of grave robbing by the fire, listening to his crazy theories, hangin’ with Igor, I’d be down for that!

Great choice! And hope you dig all of the 3Q’s as you read through them!

I want to thank Kate for coming on today! To find more of her work, check the links!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Kate-DeJonge/e/B09C8ZSJT2

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GhostStoryGirl1

Website: https://hamilton-writers-association.square.site/kate-dejonge

Book Review: The Guardians by Andrew Pyper

Title: The Guardians

Author: Andrew Pyper

Release date: January 4th, 2011

‘When we were young, the future was so bright
The old neighborhood was so alive
And every kid on the whole damn street
Was gonna make it big and not be beat’

Those opening lyrics from The Offspring song ‘The Kids Aren’t Alright’ (minus the woah-oh’s) always hit me every time I listen to them. There’s a few things you probably already know about me, if you’ve read my reviews, any of my interviews or read any of my work. The first, is that I am from a very small town in British Columbia, Canada. The second is that I often write about themes of isolation, the struggle to find where we belong, and that I am a massive Andrew Pyper fan.

I first read this novel back in March of 2020. Back then, in my review, in my ‘what I didn’t like’ section, I wrote this; It’s hard to sum up, but what I didn’t like was the main character Trevor and how much he reminded me of myself. Trevor left small town Grimshaw and owned a night club and was a big deal, according to him. He doesn’t want to go back, but he knows he must for his friend and to try and put closure on what happened all those years ago. I did a similar thing. For me, I longed and desired to leave where I grew up as fast as I could and for many, many years, I had my nose raised at those that stayed behind and never left. But who am I to judge? If they are happy, great. It’s their life. It took me many years to let myself let go of my snobbish views. So, reading how Trevor was acting and reacting reminded me a lot of my younger self. Uncomfortably so.

Honestly, now having finished this for a second time, that sentiment has been driven home even more. 

For this re-read, I did something a little different. I put out a post seeing if any one else would like to join me in a read along! I’ve previously only done two read along’s – each just with a buddy. It was a ton of fun, and when five other folks signed up, I was over the moon. It lead to some fantastic discussions and it was neat to see that the one thing we all agreed upon was how compulsive Andrew’s prose is. I’ve often said that when I read Andrew’s work, it is as though he’s written the story just for me, that I fall into his words and get carried along and it was neat to see others respond that way and want to race ahead and finish the book.

What I liked: The novel follows 40-year-old Trevor, recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s, who has sold his night club and wants to live a sheltered life away from people seeing his shakes and difficulties. That possibility is shattered when he gets a phone call late at night from one of his old high school friends, letting him know that Ben, one of their best friends, has taken his own life.

From there, Andrew jumps between past and present, between how things used to be between the four friends with their entire lives and dreams ahead of them, and how things turned out. How one is an addict, one is a failed actor, one is dealing with a neurological disease and one took their own life. A life that was spent watching out of his attic bedroom window at the old Thurman house, a house that holds a dark place in their respective histories.

Once again, I felt drawn into this read. This was a coming-of-age story that hit a number of high notes and as I’m a 40-year-old male from a small town, really connected. I’ve often wondered if I might need to look into speaking to a counsellor or therapist regarding some of my feelings about my upbringing and where I came from. About how ‘that place’ has left an indelible mark on my character and mannerisms and how I not only miss so much about where I came from, but also how much I detest and have anger towards things. It’s a lot to unpack, but some sentences Andrew includes throughout really hit the bullseye and a few times I was left in tears. I don’t know if Andrew reads my reviews of his work (maybe if he reads this, he’ll send me a DM or message that says ‘Leafs Rule!’ ha!) but once again, I’m left wondering how much of this book was an autobiographical approach to personal catharsis through the veil of a ghost story. Funny enough – I just messaged that exact sentiment to the group chat! 

The ending of this one was, as Andrew has been known to occasionally do (looking at you The Demonologist) vague and open to interpretation. I personally loved seeing how Trevor subtly changed, but I wanted to have a firmer grip on how his high school love, Sarah, and his relationship progressed. She was the perfect foil to his immaturity towards settling down and being with someone that loved him and I think a bit more to that would’ve been nice.

‘Now the neighborhood’s cracked and torn
The kids are grown up, but their lives are worn
How can one little street swallow so many lives?’

What I didn’t like: As with the last time, what I didn’t like was very much how poignantly personal this one rang home. It reinforced that I still have work to do with my own journey of trying to understand where I came from and how I got to where I am today. 

I will say, for other readers, this one is very much a small-town, coming-of-age in Canada story, so for some readers, this just may not connect. It is very male-centric, which also may cause some readers to not connect as much with it as I did.

Why you should read this: Written about a decade before Craig Davidson’s fantastic ‘The Saturday Night Ghost Club,’ fans of that book will definitely want to dive into this one. I would be interested to know if Craig was influenced at all by this one. ‘The Guardians’ is another great example of Andrew’s ‘Literary Dark Fiction,’ how he writes like a master craftsman who (deservedly so) publishes with a Big Five publisher, but remains rooted in the horror world, in the spooky and unnerving and has those indie author leanings towards gore and graphic moments. 

It should be no surprise to anyone that I loved this one and if you’re looking for a Canadian high school, small town, ghost story, look no further.

5/5