Book Review for Dead Seasons by R.M James
Dead Seasons, by R.M. James, is about dancing off the edge of madness, all the while slipping further and further into the realms of the undead.
Separated into four parts, each part is named after the seasons. Spring introduces four friends, Phillip, Ela, Aspen, and Nicole, all of whom are driving to a wedding when they get into an unfortunate car crash that leaves them stranded. Summer details their nightmarish experiences in a mansion where lustful demons take the friends over. Autumn realizes the bloodshed of the cruel, sadistic game they’re trapped in. At last, Winter illustrates the rules of the game, as well as the price the players need to win, as they try not to lose themselves to the insanity surrounding them.
It was interesting to see James personify each season. Weldon was arguably the most sane, as well as the most moral. He did everything he could to keep his player safe, and as such, I admire him. Not only that, but his appearance was an ominous warning that the game has begun. Julie was summer, and represented the youth in a person’s life, full of love and passion. Hunter was a bit hellish, and reminded me of someone struggling to cling to the old joys of life. I also enjoyed his haunting air. Finally, Gabriel was winter. It made sense, considering his wisdom, as well as the fact that he helped Ela reach the end of the game. It was the end of one life, and the beginning of another. I found these characters to be a bit confusing at times, but it was interesting nonetheless. I was saddened by the fact that Ela had to leave her friends to survive, but nonetheless, she had to move on. She didn’t belong there.
I loved the inverted theme of death. As I’ve said before, each player represented a season. From the innocence of spring, to the cruel decadence of winter, and finally, there’s death. To be able to move on without any regret or remorse is a far off dream most ghosts would have, I imagine. Even when Ela moved on from that horrific place, I couldn’t help but feel there was something off about it, like she truly had died. The relationship between Gabriel and Ela perfectly manifested this theme, and is something I applaud James for.
At first, I thought this book a bit similar to the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, but when I realized that there was more to it than killing, I couldn’t put it down. It was beautiful in its own way, and played on death in a very interesting way. The symbolism and the use of the seasons was also wonderful. As such, I would give this book a rating of a 4.0 out of 5 stars, and would recommend it to those who enjoy the games Silent Hill and Little Nightmares.
