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The Fallen Boys
The road to forgiveness is covered in blood!
Marshall Deakins has tried to come to terms with the tragic suicide of his young son. But it still tortures him. His search for answers will lead him down a twisted path paved with secrets and grotesque lies. Instead of peace he finds madness, held captive as part of a deranged plan filled with suffering…and blood. As the nature of his captors’ insanity is revealed, Marshall will need to confront the truth about his son and his own past if he hopes to have a future.
Marshall Deakins has tried to come to terms with the tragic suicide of his young son. But it still tortures him. His search for answers will lead him down a twisted path paved with secrets and grotesque lies. Instead of peace he finds madness, held captive as part of a deranged plan filled with suffering…and blood. As the nature of his captors’ insanity is revealed, Marshall will need to confront the truth about his son and his own past if he hopes to have a future.
304 pages, Paperback
First published October 2, 2012
About the author
Aaron Dries
15 books235 followersAvid traveler, former pizza boy, retail clerk, kitchen hand, aged care worker, video director and copywriter, Aaron Dries was born and raised in New South Wales, Australia. When asked why he writes horror, his standard reply is that when it comes to scaring people, writing pays slightly better than jumping out from behind doors. He is the author of the award-winning House of Sighs, and his subsequent novels, The Fallen Boys and A Place for Sinners are just as--if not more--twisted than his debut. Feel free to drop him a line at aarondries.com. He won't bite. Much.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
May 2, 2020
oh, god, the pressure... the very first review of this book on goodreads.com. this means i can't just cut-and-paste someone else's review like i usually do.* but this is like being early to a fancy wine and cheese party, and no one wants to be the first one to grab the entire wheel of brie and stuff it in their mouth.i guess that responsibility falls on me.
so, gather round, sickfucks, you know who you are.
this book is one seething pit of torture porn. and if the above scenario were real, the wheel of brie in question would have been covered in maggots and shoved down into someone, or up into someone, and there would be a lot of blood involved. and i would politely excuse myself from the party.
i do not have a problem with violent books. i have a pretty solid stomach for reading about truly disgusting things, but sometimes the descriptions in this one veered into the cartoonish.
for example:
i am spoilering it for the gentler readers.
i mean, everything after "rusted nail" is kind of overkill, yeah? at that point, you're just beating a dead horse. although this "horse" is, unfortunately, still breathing.
and i don't think one slash of a whip, however many razor blades were attached to it, would slice both nipples off. you would need at least two lashes to do that, right?
but apart from the occasionally gratuitous nature of the torture, the story is fine, if this is your thing. and the final scene - oh god, super gross and effective. and the scene that came earlier and is a foreshadowing of the final scene. good god, that is some sickness!
if you like splatter and dismemberment and when horrible things happen to mostly good people, if you like suicide and keeping your relatives close after they have passed, if you like flensing and decapitation and saving money on pig-feed, allow me to recommend this book to you, you big sicko!
and now i am leaving the party, with a napkin over my mouth, gagging a little.
*dear goodreads.com lawyers, i have never done this.
come to my blog!
so, gather round, sickfucks, you know who you are.
this book is one seething pit of torture porn. and if the above scenario were real, the wheel of brie in question would have been covered in maggots and shoved down into someone, or up into someone, and there would be a lot of blood involved. and i would politely excuse myself from the party.
i do not have a problem with violent books. i have a pretty solid stomach for reading about truly disgusting things, but sometimes the descriptions in this one veered into the cartoonish.
for example:
i am spoilering it for the gentler readers.
i mean, everything after "rusted nail" is kind of overkill, yeah? at that point, you're just beating a dead horse. although this "horse" is, unfortunately, still breathing.
and i don't think one slash of a whip, however many razor blades were attached to it, would slice both nipples off. you would need at least two lashes to do that, right?
but apart from the occasionally gratuitous nature of the torture, the story is fine, if this is your thing. and the final scene - oh god, super gross and effective. and the scene that came earlier and is a foreshadowing of the final scene. good god, that is some sickness!
if you like splatter and dismemberment and when horrible things happen to mostly good people, if you like suicide and keeping your relatives close after they have passed, if you like flensing and decapitation and saving money on pig-feed, allow me to recommend this book to you, you big sicko!
and now i am leaving the party, with a napkin over my mouth, gagging a little.
*dear goodreads.com lawyers, i have never done this.
come to my blog!
August 16, 2016
This book lulls you in with a quiet, insidious sort of horror then takes a turn down torture lane and I was absolutely not at all prepared (despite being warned).
Honestly, as I was reading I was wondering why so many reviews were making such a big deal out of the gore level. It wasn’t any worse than most horror novels I’ve read and most of the terror came from real life fears. Sure, what happens was heartbreaking and tragic but what wimps these other people must be, thought I, all smug and desensitized. But then, just as I was feeling like nothing would ever bother me again (and wondering if the problem might be me), I was hit with some truly disturbing images and a despair that doesn’t ever let you go. Yep, it’s gross, it’s horribly disturbing and it’s all up in your face. Everything they said before me? It’s true.
I’m not going to ruin the plot mainly because I’m just too lazy. I’ll just say it’s about love, family, grief and all of the ugly emotions that’ll tear you apart. And then throw in a madman or two and some flesh eating piggies and a giant Mason jar that'll give you nightmares.
This was a rough read, I cannot lie, and it took me weeks to finish. Not because the writing was awful (it wasn’t) or because the character were jerks (the innocents were not) but because it was so incredibly bleak. I think I’m the one getting whimpy because I had to take breaks even before the atrocities and body horror smacked me in the face. There’s only so much despair one can take in a sitting . . .
This was the epitome of life: graceless torture.
Honestly, as I was reading I was wondering why so many reviews were making such a big deal out of the gore level. It wasn’t any worse than most horror novels I’ve read and most of the terror came from real life fears. Sure, what happens was heartbreaking and tragic but what wimps these other people must be, thought I, all smug and desensitized. But then, just as I was feeling like nothing would ever bother me again (and wondering if the problem might be me), I was hit with some truly disturbing images and a despair that doesn’t ever let you go. Yep, it’s gross, it’s horribly disturbing and it’s all up in your face. Everything they said before me? It’s true.
I’m not going to ruin the plot mainly because I’m just too lazy. I’ll just say it’s about love, family, grief and all of the ugly emotions that’ll tear you apart. And then throw in a madman or two and some flesh eating piggies and a giant Mason jar that'll give you nightmares.
This was a rough read, I cannot lie, and it took me weeks to finish. Not because the writing was awful (it wasn’t) or because the character were jerks (the innocents were not) but because it was so incredibly bleak. I think I’m the one getting whimpy because I had to take breaks even before the atrocities and body horror smacked me in the face. There’s only so much despair one can take in a sitting . . .
This was the epitome of life: graceless torture.
April 6, 2017
THE FALLEN BOYS, by Aaron Dries, is #67 in Thunderstorm Books' Black Voltage line. This is one of the most "unique" approaches to a novel that I've read in some time. It almost seemed to be two separate halves of a novel, that are joined together only by the most tenuous of links--one that doesn't reveal itself fully until close to the ultimate conclusion.
"A child's flesh is tender. It does not heal with ease."
In the first half, we join a family in Australia: Marshall, his wife Claire, and their eleven year old son, Noah. Only we know--according to the synopsis--that the Deakins family will not remain as they are for very long.
We go along with them through the most emotionally potent journey possible, for a parent. Somehow "knowing" a main part of what was to come made this story even MORE difficult to put down. I found myself trying to capture every word, emotion, and location that they went through until the inexorable horror finally transpired, severing their peaceful lives forever.
". . . only the more Marshall ran the more he realized you can't remember what you can't first forget."
After this defining event, we travel overseas to North America. Several years later, Marshall is barely clinging to a life that he's not sure he even wants to live anymore. Randomly going through a box of memories, he comes upon a Flash-drive that falls out of the seam of an old teddy bear. Clinging to this in his quest for answers, Marshall will soon find himself learning more than he ever expected to.
". . . The internet is just a big beach with lots of crisscrossing footsteps in the sand, only the footsteps never get washed away."
This part of the novel takes us to the very depths of depravity and suffering, and then goes even further. Diseased minds that view the torture of innocents as a road to "Forgiveness" will haunt you with the extremes to which they so casually go. This path of bloodshed and pain which knows no end, is where Marshall must go to find the answers to his questions.
". . . Men could dream up any justification for why they tortured others, but at the sad and bitter end of it all, Marshall knew these men were torturers because they wanted to be."
There are some questions better left unanswered.
Aaron Dries had me completely captivated from the very beginning of this horrendous, yet unforgettable novel. He gets to the core of the reader's heart before savagely ripping it out. The emotions this story evoked felt so real that I couldn't get them out of my mind. An author that wields this enormity of power with his words alone, is one worth watching out for. Even at it's worst--when I almost didn't want to know anymore, myself--I was unable to turn away.
"The unlucky ones live."
Dries has constructed a novel so painful--yet artfully--connected, that I'm in absolute awe of his talent. I will be picking up everything that he writes from this point on!
Highly recommended--for fans of extreme horror.
"A child's flesh is tender. It does not heal with ease."
In the first half, we join a family in Australia: Marshall, his wife Claire, and their eleven year old son, Noah. Only we know--according to the synopsis--that the Deakins family will not remain as they are for very long.
We go along with them through the most emotionally potent journey possible, for a parent. Somehow "knowing" a main part of what was to come made this story even MORE difficult to put down. I found myself trying to capture every word, emotion, and location that they went through until the inexorable horror finally transpired, severing their peaceful lives forever.
". . . only the more Marshall ran the more he realized you can't remember what you can't first forget."
After this defining event, we travel overseas to North America. Several years later, Marshall is barely clinging to a life that he's not sure he even wants to live anymore. Randomly going through a box of memories, he comes upon a Flash-drive that falls out of the seam of an old teddy bear. Clinging to this in his quest for answers, Marshall will soon find himself learning more than he ever expected to.
". . . The internet is just a big beach with lots of crisscrossing footsteps in the sand, only the footsteps never get washed away."
This part of the novel takes us to the very depths of depravity and suffering, and then goes even further. Diseased minds that view the torture of innocents as a road to "Forgiveness" will haunt you with the extremes to which they so casually go. This path of bloodshed and pain which knows no end, is where Marshall must go to find the answers to his questions.
". . . Men could dream up any justification for why they tortured others, but at the sad and bitter end of it all, Marshall knew these men were torturers because they wanted to be."
There are some questions better left unanswered.
Aaron Dries had me completely captivated from the very beginning of this horrendous, yet unforgettable novel. He gets to the core of the reader's heart before savagely ripping it out. The emotions this story evoked felt so real that I couldn't get them out of my mind. An author that wields this enormity of power with his words alone, is one worth watching out for. Even at it's worst--when I almost didn't want to know anymore, myself--I was unable to turn away.
"The unlucky ones live."
Dries has constructed a novel so painful--yet artfully--connected, that I'm in absolute awe of his talent. I will be picking up everything that he writes from this point on!
Highly recommended--for fans of extreme horror.
October 17, 2012
Yowzers, this is some pretty sick, disturbing shit, but I'm not going to label it 'torture porn'. The Fallen Boys avoids that fate by offering: 1) a solid story that takes its time to unfold and 2) strongly developed characters who I spent pretty much the entire novel scared to death for their safety.
The tension throughout the story is coiled and lethal. While there are a few uneven parts where the momentum lags for a bit and seems to meander, overall it is a pacing that builds, and builds and continues to build towards a crashing climax. At times I couldn't move my eyes fast enough across the page just to get to the next scene and towards some sense of light and hope. Let me end the suspense right now -- there is no light and hope. I'm sorry if you think that's spoilery, but I want you to know what you're up against before you pick it up. This book is unrelentingly dark and damaged and absolutely merciless as it moves towards its final destination. I also loved that there were a few twists thrown into this story that I didn't quite see coming.
The ending -- argh!!!!!
While not quite as strong as these horror classics of the same ilk, this book could keep company with The Summer I Died, The Girl Next Door, and Let's Go Play At The Adams'. That is the highest compliment I can pay, believe me. If you have the stomach and nerves for dark, damaged and desperate, this is the book for you.
April 8, 2017
THE FALLEN BOYS, by Aaron Dries, is #67 in Thunderstorm Books' Black Voltage line. This is one of the most "unique" approaches to a novel that I've read in some time. It almost seemed to be two separate halves of a novel, that are joined together only by the most tenuous of links--one that doesn't reveal itself fully until close to the ultimate conclusion.
"A child's flesh is tender. It does not heal with ease."
In the first half, we join a family in Australia: Marshall, his wife Claire, and their eleven year old son, Noah. Only we know--according to the synopsis--that the Deakins family will not remain as they are for very long.
We go along with them through the most emotionally potent journey possible, for a parent. Somehow "knowing" a main part of what was to come made this story even MORE difficult to put down. I found myself trying to capture every word, emotion, and location that they went through until the inexorable horror finally transpired, severing their peaceful lives forever.
". . . only the more Marshall ran the more he realized you can't remember what you can't first forget."
After this defining event, we travel overseas to North America. Several years later, Marshall is barely clinging to a life that he's not sure he even wants to live anymore. Randomly going through a box of memories, he comes upon a Flash-drive that falls out of the seam of an old teddy bear. Clinging to this in his quest for answers, Marshall will soon find himself learning more than he ever expected to.
". . . The internet is just a big beach with lots of crisscrossing footsteps in the sand, only the footsteps never get washed away."
This part of the novel takes us to the very depths of depravity and suffering, and then goes even further. Diseased minds that view the torture of innocents as a road to "Forgiveness" will haunt you with the extremes to which they so casually go. This path of bloodshed and pain which knows no end, is where Marshall must go to find the answers to his questions.
". . . Men could dream up any justification for why they tortured others, but at the sad and bitter end of it all, Marshall knew these men were torturers because they wanted to be."
There are some questions better left unanswered.
Aaron Dries had me completely captivated from the very beginning of this horrendous, yet unforgettable novel. He gets to the core of the reader's heart before savagely ripping it out. The emotions this story evoked felt so real that I couldn't get them out of my mind. An author that wields this enormity of power with his words alone, is one worth watching out for. Even at it's worst--when I almost didn't want to know anymore, myself--I was unable to turn away.
"The unlucky ones live."
Dries has constructed a novel so painful--yet artfully--connected, that I'm in absolute awe of his talent. I will be picking up everything that he writes from this point on!
Highly recommended--for fans of extreme horror.
"A child's flesh is tender. It does not heal with ease."
In the first half, we join a family in Australia: Marshall, his wife Claire, and their eleven year old son, Noah. Only we know--according to the synopsis--that the Deakins family will not remain as they are for very long.
We go along with them through the most emotionally potent journey possible, for a parent. Somehow "knowing" a main part of what was to come made this story even MORE difficult to put down. I found myself trying to capture every word, emotion, and location that they went through until the inexorable horror finally transpired, severing their peaceful lives forever.
". . . only the more Marshall ran the more he realized you can't remember what you can't first forget."
After this defining event, we travel overseas to North America. Several years later, Marshall is barely clinging to a life that he's not sure he even wants to live anymore. Randomly going through a box of memories, he comes upon a Flash-drive that falls out of the seam of an old teddy bear. Clinging to this in his quest for answers, Marshall will soon find himself learning more than he ever expected to.
". . . The internet is just a big beach with lots of crisscrossing footsteps in the sand, only the footsteps never get washed away."
This part of the novel takes us to the very depths of depravity and suffering, and then goes even further. Diseased minds that view the torture of innocents as a road to "Forgiveness" will haunt you with the extremes to which they so casually go. This path of bloodshed and pain which knows no end, is where Marshall must go to find the answers to his questions.
". . . Men could dream up any justification for why they tortured others, but at the sad and bitter end of it all, Marshall knew these men were torturers because they wanted to be."
There are some questions better left unanswered.
Aaron Dries had me completely captivated from the very beginning of this horrendous, yet unforgettable novel. He gets to the core of the reader's heart before savagely ripping it out. The emotions this story evoked felt so real that I couldn't get them out of my mind. An author that wields this enormity of power with his words alone, is one worth watching out for. Even at it's worst--when I almost didn't want to know anymore, myself--I was unable to turn away.
"The unlucky ones live."
Dries has constructed a novel so painful--yet artfully--connected, that I'm in absolute awe of his talent. I will be picking up everything that he writes from this point on!
Highly recommended--for fans of extreme horror.
February 16, 2016
This is one of the best examples of real-world horror I've ever read. Period. The comparisons to Ketchum are inevitable but Dries has a distinct voice all his own. The narrative is at first a slow crawl but once everything is set in place, the book's pacing increases exponentially. Normally, I would take issue with such a slow first act but the way Dries paints characters is hypnotic. There's an emotional honesty that runs throughout this book that's gut-wrenching. Even in the scenes between the horror, there is dread under the surface. I truly can't say enough good things about this book. I rarely re-read novels but this is an exception to the rule. I'll be diving back into this one in the future for sure. Once isn't enough. Not with a book as great as this. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to read everything else this man has written.
September 19, 2012
As I began to read "The Fallen Boys" my first thought was, "Oh hell in a hand basket". No, seriously. Aaron Dries opens up this novel by touching on one of my worst fears: waking up in the middle of the night to a total stranger standing over you. And said stranger is not there because you've somehow managed to conjure him from your wettest wet dream. No, he's there to hurt you. Bad.
From that point on, every real fear I've ever had as a living, breathing, feeling human being was brought to life within the pages of this book. Yet I could. not. stop. reading. Even with my stomach in knots, muscles tense, and anxiety level steadily climbing - my mantra throughout this novel was "Just one more chapter".
Dries is indeed a master storyteller. All five of my senses were engaged with his vivid descriptions and use of imagery. You weren't just reading about what was going on "in the basement" - man, you were there! He also implemented the best use of weather I've read to date to create atmosphere in the story. It really set the mood for certain scenes making one almost believe the weather was used to convey not just the setting but the inner psyche of the characters involved. Speaking of psyche...or rather, psychos...The Fallen Boys has more than its fair share of them. And trust me when I say - you won't see them coming.
This was like some Texas Chain Saw Massacre meets Psycho meets Frailty ish! Definitely not for the faint-hearted, there are very graphic scenes of violence and death and subject matter that may be troubling to some readers (ie. the suicide of a child). What I thought was absolutely brilliant on the part of the author was, as I think back over the novel, there were no 'actual' scenes of torture but the way he describes the after effects of the torture was so horrifying that you believe you actually played witness to the acts of depravity and degradation the characters endured. A true psychological horror, this story did more than just disturb me - It got under my skin.
I'm the type of reader who can accept that with most horror novels, there is no happy ending. But Dries doesn't just introduce you to his characters and then move quickly on to the story. No, he takes the time to get you to know these characters and care - really care - about what happens to them by bringing such a realism to them as people that you almost forget you're reading fiction and by the end of the novel, you're so glad you are. I had a hard time coping with this ending because I really wanted the 'good guy' to win. Uuuggh! Some may find the pace of the novel a bit slow - I was almost 200 pages into the novel before the protagonist met his adversary - but not one time did I feel as if the novel was moving too slowly. Again I could. not. stop. reading. Even though every sane part of my brain begged me to. I am in no way comparing the two but I will say that fans of Ryan C. Thomas' The Summer I Died should feel right at home with this novel.
The Fallen Boys not only reminded me of why I fell in love with the horror genre, it also reminded me that there is horror and then there is horror. There is the kind of horror that speaks of monsters lurking in the closet and boogeymen residing under the bed. Then there's the horror of realizing that the most disturbing of monsters are the ones found behind the smile of a trusted friend, the seemingly innocent greeting of a stranger, or the face that looks back at us from a mirror. From the engaging characters to an awesome story line with villains you pray you never meet in person - all of these elements combined make this novel deserving of nothing less than my highest rating.
From that point on, every real fear I've ever had as a living, breathing, feeling human being was brought to life within the pages of this book. Yet I could. not. stop. reading. Even with my stomach in knots, muscles tense, and anxiety level steadily climbing - my mantra throughout this novel was "Just one more chapter".
Dries is indeed a master storyteller. All five of my senses were engaged with his vivid descriptions and use of imagery. You weren't just reading about what was going on "in the basement" - man, you were there! He also implemented the best use of weather I've read to date to create atmosphere in the story. It really set the mood for certain scenes making one almost believe the weather was used to convey not just the setting but the inner psyche of the characters involved. Speaking of psyche...or rather, psychos...The Fallen Boys has more than its fair share of them. And trust me when I say - you won't see them coming.
This was like some Texas Chain Saw Massacre meets Psycho meets Frailty ish! Definitely not for the faint-hearted, there are very graphic scenes of violence and death and subject matter that may be troubling to some readers (ie. the suicide of a child). What I thought was absolutely brilliant on the part of the author was, as I think back over the novel, there were no 'actual' scenes of torture but the way he describes the after effects of the torture was so horrifying that you believe you actually played witness to the acts of depravity and degradation the characters endured. A true psychological horror, this story did more than just disturb me - It got under my skin.
I'm the type of reader who can accept that with most horror novels, there is no happy ending. But Dries doesn't just introduce you to his characters and then move quickly on to the story. No, he takes the time to get you to know these characters and care - really care - about what happens to them by bringing such a realism to them as people that you almost forget you're reading fiction and by the end of the novel, you're so glad you are. I had a hard time coping with this ending because I really wanted the 'good guy' to win. Uuuggh! Some may find the pace of the novel a bit slow - I was almost 200 pages into the novel before the protagonist met his adversary - but not one time did I feel as if the novel was moving too slowly. Again I could. not. stop. reading. Even though every sane part of my brain begged me to. I am in no way comparing the two but I will say that fans of Ryan C. Thomas' The Summer I Died should feel right at home with this novel.
The Fallen Boys not only reminded me of why I fell in love with the horror genre, it also reminded me that there is horror and then there is horror. There is the kind of horror that speaks of monsters lurking in the closet and boogeymen residing under the bed. Then there's the horror of realizing that the most disturbing of monsters are the ones found behind the smile of a trusted friend, the seemingly innocent greeting of a stranger, or the face that looks back at us from a mirror. From the engaging characters to an awesome story line with villains you pray you never meet in person - all of these elements combined make this novel deserving of nothing less than my highest rating.
October 29, 2018
The greatest gift a human can be given is the gift of a child. To lose them can be torture.
I am a mother so I found this book not only heart breaking but bloody terrifying.
We worry 24/7 about our kids safety be it at school, in public, or on social media. Aaron Dries not only chose to write a parent’s worst nightmare but described it so insidiously that I was a nervous wreck. I had tears, I felt anger, my heart ached. And that was just the first half of the book.
If you like to read horror, Dries is your go to guy. Not only was this read horrific but I honestly did not see the psychological direction it was heading in until I was in too deep. It was masterful. Absolutely creatively terrorising.
Dries had an interesting way of capturing the readers attention that I didn’t feel when I read House Of Sighs. Besides the story content, the book is made up of very short chapters and very short sentences. I personally enjoyed this format, it suited the story and didn’t overload with useless information.
If your feeling brave and looking for a good psychological horror I highly recommend this book.
5 stars
I am a mother so I found this book not only heart breaking but bloody terrifying.
We worry 24/7 about our kids safety be it at school, in public, or on social media. Aaron Dries not only chose to write a parent’s worst nightmare but described it so insidiously that I was a nervous wreck. I had tears, I felt anger, my heart ached. And that was just the first half of the book.
If you like to read horror, Dries is your go to guy. Not only was this read horrific but I honestly did not see the psychological direction it was heading in until I was in too deep. It was masterful. Absolutely creatively terrorising.
Dries had an interesting way of capturing the readers attention that I didn’t feel when I read House Of Sighs. Besides the story content, the book is made up of very short chapters and very short sentences. I personally enjoyed this format, it suited the story and didn’t overload with useless information.
If your feeling brave and looking for a good psychological horror I highly recommend this book.
5 stars
April 30, 2018
Damn! This one starts off brutal. Then gets brutal in a different way, so much so that I forgot the beginning sequence and then it all came back around and got even more brutal. Damn!
This was not an easy read despite it being very well written and engaging. The subject matter is heavy and there is a true sense of sadness and gloom that blankets this one in a heavy fog of despair.
I almost didn’t want to like it, and perhaps “like it” may not be the best phrasing, but it was good. Real good. And a bit painful to read.
This was not an easy read despite it being very well written and engaging. The subject matter is heavy and there is a true sense of sadness and gloom that blankets this one in a heavy fog of despair.
I almost didn’t want to like it, and perhaps “like it” may not be the best phrasing, but it was good. Real good. And a bit painful to read.
September 10, 2012
Man-oh-man, what a book. I'm still in shock. Shaking - and in the best possible way.
I was terrifically impressed with Dries' first novel, "House of Sighs" a balls-to-the-wall page turner, so I'd been waiting for his sophomore effort with baited breath. I consider myself lucky to have devoured an advance readers copy, and WOW, it was worth the wait. It's a blood-splattered masterpiece that makes Richard Laymon read like a walk in the park.
Like Jack Ketchum before him, Dries does disturbing in a way that manages to not feel exploitative. Added to this, "The Fallen Boys," like Ketchum's best (The Girl Next Door) genuinely moved me. I was 100% on board with Marshall Deakins, a father who journeys into hell (a madman's basement) in the hope of discovering why his young son has committed suicide. We watch, helpless as he falls into a trap that we know will undo him.
And on this note, I think it's important for readers to know that this novel explicitly deals with the topic of teen suicide and internet bullying ... taken to a very sad, and inevitable conclusion. It's also about the fight against vigilantism and revenge, and how that temptation can change victim into villain, a theme that was also explored in "House of Sighs".
And that's why it gets under your skin. And stays there. This is not the kind of book you can shake off easily. It lures you in with its layered mystery (how does a child's suicide relate to murders on the other side of the planet?), then drags you in further with its morality play (how far would you go to find out the truth and how would it change you?) and then, about half way through, TRAPS you in a terrify situation (think Stephen King's "Misery") and never lets you go - not even to the very last sentence. And it's very dark and disturbing down in that grimy basement. Dries is one of those authors who puts you in a nightmare scenario and refuses to let you out or offer you release. And to me, that's the very essence of horror. Otherwise, what's the point?
This is a descent into darkness with subtext to spare. I'd dare even say it's an important novel. It also helps that it's absolutely terrifying. There may be those who believe that it goes too far - but that's the nature of cautionary tales. The good ones, at least. Which this one very much is.
The characters are richly layered and humane; it's gut-wrenching to watch them fall from grace. The plot is labyrinthian and truly unexpected, throwing superbly constructed twist after twist after twist. It's also wonderfully written in an evocative style that never becomes over-written. It's touching too, the little details of Marshall's marriage, the code words and memories ... The violence is explicit in parts, yes, but it DOES serve the plot - it's cannily delivered, may I also add. You experience a sequence of extreme horror that plants in your mind a dread of what's to come, only to have that inception never eventuate, instead taking you in a COMPLETELY different (and often much darker) direction.
I'm not easily caught off guard, but this damn book did it to me over and over and over again. Kudos where it's due, Mr. Dries.
"The Fallen Boys" is a story ripped straight from the headlines. I'm sure the author believes, above all else, that the greatest evil a man can do is manipulate a child into believing they are not loved. You wouldn't think it at first, but this book has a very moral core. And that's why it soars.
It'll upset you. It'll disturb you. It may offend. It will trick you with its plot. It will make you wince - but it's certainly NOT torture porn (the purpose of porn is to titillate and this most certainly does not). And above all else, it's impossible to not be moved by.
Reading this book is something you'll never forget. In fact, it'd make one hell of a movie. HIGHLY recommended.
I'm still breathless.
I was terrifically impressed with Dries' first novel, "House of Sighs" a balls-to-the-wall page turner, so I'd been waiting for his sophomore effort with baited breath. I consider myself lucky to have devoured an advance readers copy, and WOW, it was worth the wait. It's a blood-splattered masterpiece that makes Richard Laymon read like a walk in the park.
Like Jack Ketchum before him, Dries does disturbing in a way that manages to not feel exploitative. Added to this, "The Fallen Boys," like Ketchum's best (The Girl Next Door) genuinely moved me. I was 100% on board with Marshall Deakins, a father who journeys into hell (a madman's basement) in the hope of discovering why his young son has committed suicide. We watch, helpless as he falls into a trap that we know will undo him.
And on this note, I think it's important for readers to know that this novel explicitly deals with the topic of teen suicide and internet bullying ... taken to a very sad, and inevitable conclusion. It's also about the fight against vigilantism and revenge, and how that temptation can change victim into villain, a theme that was also explored in "House of Sighs".
And that's why it gets under your skin. And stays there. This is not the kind of book you can shake off easily. It lures you in with its layered mystery (how does a child's suicide relate to murders on the other side of the planet?), then drags you in further with its morality play (how far would you go to find out the truth and how would it change you?) and then, about half way through, TRAPS you in a terrify situation (think Stephen King's "Misery") and never lets you go - not even to the very last sentence. And it's very dark and disturbing down in that grimy basement. Dries is one of those authors who puts you in a nightmare scenario and refuses to let you out or offer you release. And to me, that's the very essence of horror. Otherwise, what's the point?
This is a descent into darkness with subtext to spare. I'd dare even say it's an important novel. It also helps that it's absolutely terrifying. There may be those who believe that it goes too far - but that's the nature of cautionary tales. The good ones, at least. Which this one very much is.
The characters are richly layered and humane; it's gut-wrenching to watch them fall from grace. The plot is labyrinthian and truly unexpected, throwing superbly constructed twist after twist after twist. It's also wonderfully written in an evocative style that never becomes over-written. It's touching too, the little details of Marshall's marriage, the code words and memories ... The violence is explicit in parts, yes, but it DOES serve the plot - it's cannily delivered, may I also add. You experience a sequence of extreme horror that plants in your mind a dread of what's to come, only to have that inception never eventuate, instead taking you in a COMPLETELY different (and often much darker) direction.
I'm not easily caught off guard, but this damn book did it to me over and over and over again. Kudos where it's due, Mr. Dries.
"The Fallen Boys" is a story ripped straight from the headlines. I'm sure the author believes, above all else, that the greatest evil a man can do is manipulate a child into believing they are not loved. You wouldn't think it at first, but this book has a very moral core. And that's why it soars.
It'll upset you. It'll disturb you. It may offend. It will trick you with its plot. It will make you wince - but it's certainly NOT torture porn (the purpose of porn is to titillate and this most certainly does not). And above all else, it's impossible to not be moved by.
Reading this book is something you'll never forget. In fact, it'd make one hell of a movie. HIGHLY recommended.
I'm still breathless.
February 26, 2018
Brutal and raw. This book will make you squirm and beg the author to do the right thing over and over. A rollercoaster psychological nightmare I couldn't stop reading.
February 27, 2022
Horror novel. Grossly so. The author has a very twisted imagination. Set in Oz, USA and Canada mainly. It centres around a fairly normal middle class family – Mum, Dad and young son, 12 ish. The latter becomes moody and distant which they ascribe to his age and hormonal changes. But perhaps it is more.. I would avoid reading it and eating at the same time!
January 11, 2015
An incredible story of how deep grief can take people into darkness. Brutal and harrowing, yet addictive.
November 29, 2020
Wow. This novel left me absolutely devastated. A man seeks to uncover the reason behind his son's suicide and uncovers more than anything he could have possibly imagined. There are two story lines here, one taking place in Australia and one in the Pacific Northwest, and when they finally intersect all hell breaks loose. A novel about love, loss, family, forgiveness and so much more. This is the third novel that I've read by Aaron Dries and by far my favorite. The violence is explosive and written with extreme skill. This is not a read for those with a sensitive stomach. Aaron writes in a very cinematic fashion and I think that is why I have found all of his work so powerful. A truly wonderful, emotional, horrifying and exhausting ride. The last page had me on the verge of tears and my jaw in my lap.
5 out of 5 teddy bears.
5 out of 5 teddy bears.
October 30, 2022
Very very slow burn. Don't read this book expecting disturbing or brutal. There's some bloody scenes but short and at the end of the book. This book is more about losing a child, and how to deal with the pain, for 75% for it. I'm really sorry for the author, but it was absolutely not what I was expecting.
December 12, 2012
The Fallen boys had a few things going for it that made me excited to read it. The trailer was fab. The cover art is compelling. The blurbs were a great tease.
Overall, it was a great story and fairly original which is tough these days. There is nothing new under the sun, but Dries language sheds a dark light on familiar situations.
If you liked characters like Hayley Stark in Hard Candy and the Killer in Haute Tension, then you will find those extremes here. On the flip-side, there are regular-ish everyday-type guys and gals with enough edge to be likable and enough soft spots to be realistic. I guess the same could be said for the story itself.
Where I deduct a star (or only a half-star if I could)is for some overly long passages that only a parent could love... and even then one with a flair for sympathy. That is only a part of it, the rest is style. Italics were used quite heavily and in several spots took away from the rhythm for me. The memories being in italics made sense, but i prefer them as a light seasoning only in the plain body. Then a few typos, but that is not the fault of the author in my opinion. The content easily smooths out these small bumps, since it is a damn good read.
It is not torture-porn, not at all. What it is, however, is a fairly articulate portrayal of the darkness of a damaged soul. Then, a few souls spiral downward together, and we get to watch.
Overall, it was a great story and fairly original which is tough these days. There is nothing new under the sun, but Dries language sheds a dark light on familiar situations.
If you liked characters like Hayley Stark in Hard Candy and the Killer in Haute Tension, then you will find those extremes here. On the flip-side, there are regular-ish everyday-type guys and gals with enough edge to be likable and enough soft spots to be realistic. I guess the same could be said for the story itself.
Where I deduct a star (or only a half-star if I could)is for some overly long passages that only a parent could love... and even then one with a flair for sympathy. That is only a part of it, the rest is style. Italics were used quite heavily and in several spots took away from the rhythm for me. The memories being in italics made sense, but i prefer them as a light seasoning only in the plain body. Then a few typos, but that is not the fault of the author in my opinion. The content easily smooths out these small bumps, since it is a damn good read.
It is not torture-porn, not at all. What it is, however, is a fairly articulate portrayal of the darkness of a damaged soul. Then, a few souls spiral downward together, and we get to watch.
March 6, 2018
This book is fantastic, just straight up fantastic. Aaron Dries can write, and write well. He told a very brutal, despair-ridden book that rips your heart out of your chest and leaves you standing there in awe.
This book follows Marshall, an Aussie man who is living a happy life. He notices his son has been acting a bit strange, but, nothing too out of the normal. Anyways, one day, the son commits suicide in a public area and a very horrific way. The suicide shakes Marshall and his wife Claire to the core. It ruins their marriage and leaves Marshall a husk of his former self. That is until he finds a USB with pages of documents. He then goes on a quest to find the person who is responsible for all his pain.
This is a novel told with pure emotion, it's shocking, it's brutal, it's sad, it puts you through the ringer. Dries is a writer who has the talent to evoke those emotions from the reader. I don't want to give too much of this book away, other than, it needs to be read.
My only complaint is, well, the violence. I feel at times it was a bit TOO extreme and it took me out of the text a little bit.
Final Judgement: You don't want forgiveness
This book follows Marshall, an Aussie man who is living a happy life. He notices his son has been acting a bit strange, but, nothing too out of the normal. Anyways, one day, the son commits suicide in a public area and a very horrific way. The suicide shakes Marshall and his wife Claire to the core. It ruins their marriage and leaves Marshall a husk of his former self. That is until he finds a USB with pages of documents. He then goes on a quest to find the person who is responsible for all his pain.
This is a novel told with pure emotion, it's shocking, it's brutal, it's sad, it puts you through the ringer. Dries is a writer who has the talent to evoke those emotions from the reader. I don't want to give too much of this book away, other than, it needs to be read.
My only complaint is, well, the violence. I feel at times it was a bit TOO extreme and it took me out of the text a little bit.
Final Judgement: You don't want forgiveness
July 9, 2018
Brutal, uncompromising, unflinching, relentless. This is truly awful stuff brilliantly written. Quite an experience.
February 26, 2017
I find it very hard to talk about this book as it deals with the death of a child. Being a father makes these stories tougher. Having said that I also will tell you that this is an incredible book. The characters are all too real as is the monster of the story. In this case a human deprived of humanity.
Aaron Dries is quite adept in being able to write the 'wow I didn't see that coming' scene as attested by a major shift in tonality at about 3/4 of the way into the book.
And while I would never reveal the twist, I will say when it comes it literally goes from the story of a man looking for answers all the way to the darkest corner of Richard Laymon's basement. And we are the voyeurs. It really is a testament to Aaron's ability as a storyteller that he can write this rather touching story of a man that can't let go so well that it will lull you into a false sense of security. Then just as easily he pulls the curtain back, pushes us inside, and we are left staring at the proverbial train crash. And you can't look away.
Aaron Dries will be around for a long time to come.
Aaron Dries is quite adept in being able to write the 'wow I didn't see that coming' scene as attested by a major shift in tonality at about 3/4 of the way into the book.
And while I would never reveal the twist, I will say when it comes it literally goes from the story of a man looking for answers all the way to the darkest corner of Richard Laymon's basement. And we are the voyeurs. It really is a testament to Aaron's ability as a storyteller that he can write this rather touching story of a man that can't let go so well that it will lull you into a false sense of security. Then just as easily he pulls the curtain back, pushes us inside, and we are left staring at the proverbial train crash. And you can't look away.
Aaron Dries will be around for a long time to come.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 9, 2016
I don't know how he does it, but Dries has a knack for writing horrible things, beautifully. Where you literally want to read the same sentence a few times to make sure you've grasped both the beautiful and horrible. He definitely understands that the scariest things in life are humans and all it takes to end up in one's own horror story is to make bad decisions or to simply be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
March 10, 2017
Excellent nail biter involves a young son's suicide, a wife's betrayal, revenge, a religious fanatic, and torture. Reading it is like watching an impending train wreck and being helpless to stop it. Highly recommended.
February 22, 2018
Hot damn... this may be the most singularly savage, depressing, disturbing book I’ve read since Jack Ketchum’s “The Girl Next Door”. It makes sense, as Aaron Dries feels like the heir apparent to the dear, departed Dallas Mayr. From the opening pages, there is palpable dread lurking in the shadows. The cruel intersections of fate and human depravity feel almost akin to Greek tragedy. I would recommend going into the novel knowing as little as possible, but you should know a few things - a child meets a brutal end. There are some unparalleled scenes of abuse and violence - occasionally explicit sexual violence. This isn’t “torture porn” - it feels much more like the splatterpunk extremes mixed with heartbreaking empathy. A lot of the splatter artists of the 80s just didn’t have much affinity for people, but Dries obviously does. That doesn’t mean they get out unscathed, or even alive.
If you are an avid reader of hardcore horror, if you’ve taken a deep dive into Ketchum, if you have a strong constitution and don’t mind being a little shattered by a book, you should read this. Anyone else should steer clear and avoid the heartache.
If you are an avid reader of hardcore horror, if you’ve taken a deep dive into Ketchum, if you have a strong constitution and don’t mind being a little shattered by a book, you should read this. Anyone else should steer clear and avoid the heartache.
December 18, 2012
What a book!!!!! It left me shattered in so many great ways. The story could have been ripped straight from today's headlines, but the issue of cyber bullying is explored in such an original and cautionary way that you can't help be impressed how Dries pulled it all off. It's grisly for sure, but it's certainly NOT torture porn, as one earlier review mentioned. It's a novel about the torture of loss, and how much of what you love is stripped away from you as you fall from grace.
It's intense, superbly plotted (twist after twist after twist - and every one of them earned), suspenseful (it builds fantastically, as did Dries' first novel, House of Sighs) and a fantastic character study. Each character is fully fleshed out, explored and three-dimensional ... which in this age of pedestrian vampire, werewolf and zombie stories, is very rare indeed.
The Fallen Boys reminded me of Thomas Harris at his best. Dries is one of my newest favorite voices in the genre. Drop everything and read this book now. Love or hate it, you'll never ever forget it.
It's intense, superbly plotted (twist after twist after twist - and every one of them earned), suspenseful (it builds fantastically, as did Dries' first novel, House of Sighs) and a fantastic character study. Each character is fully fleshed out, explored and three-dimensional ... which in this age of pedestrian vampire, werewolf and zombie stories, is very rare indeed.
The Fallen Boys reminded me of Thomas Harris at his best. Dries is one of my newest favorite voices in the genre. Drop everything and read this book now. Love or hate it, you'll never ever forget it.
April 8, 2013
It constantly demands your attention the whole time you're reading it. Perfectly put together for a horror book. I will definitely be reading this one again and again.
June 1, 2020
The Fallen Boys by Aaron Dries is a wicked dark, twisted tale filled with very graphic situations that will make you cringe! But like all my favorite twisted tales, there was also a lot of heart, hope, and determination.
Trigger Warning: Suicide
Ooooh this book. It’s another one that’s impossible to discuss as I think you’d best go in blind. In my notes below, I will discuss two elements that I loved, but I won’t speak about the plot.
I had two favorite elements of this story; the gore and the descriptive writing. Each of which could go hand in and and play off one another wonderfully, or they could be used as a stark contrast between the lighter scenes versus the dark scenes.
So first we have the body horror. My god, I was so uncomfortable reading quite a bit of the scenes here… and it’s really difficult to make me squeamish! It was all written perfectly. It was certainly very vivid in many scenes. I loved that the author took things right up to the line, and then sometimes took a large step over the line. Each time that happened, I couldn’t help but cringe! But even so, the author didn’t over do any of the scenes with too much detail that could bog the story down.
Then we have the descriptive writing. As you can take away from my paragraph above, the description related to the violence was intense! But there were also plenty of really beautiful chapters about certain characters lives that was absolutely beautiful. I mean, just the way characters described or thought about their loved ones was so heartwarming. I found that even if I didn’t want to feel for specific characters, some of the beautiful character-building chapters had me waffling. But more importantly, it was the little things that were perfectly described that really got me. Like the description of light coming in through a window or the movement of a girls hair.
My Favorite Passages
Starke entered his house a detective, slipped off his shoes and became a husband and father.
He went to the refrigerator and opened the door, looking for answers to mysteries he would never comprehend. He closed it and settled for water instead.
Napier was surprised by how easily it was to get Joe to come around. Almost too quick, really. But then again, the best monsters are born of desperation.
…change is never easy and is often unwelcome. But that doesn’t stop it from coming your way. You can’t cheat change, just like you can’t cheat the hands were dealt.
My Final Thoughts
My toes will always hurt when thinking about this tale. Eek! Such a heartbreaking and absolutely brutal tale.
In this book, there was a quick mention of a certain bus driving character that got me curious. When I googled, I saw that she appears in another of Aaron’s tales. Guess I’ll have to pick that one up soon!
I highly recommend this one if you enjoy body horror and don’t mind a little darkness.
Trigger Warning: Suicide
Ooooh this book. It’s another one that’s impossible to discuss as I think you’d best go in blind. In my notes below, I will discuss two elements that I loved, but I won’t speak about the plot.
I had two favorite elements of this story; the gore and the descriptive writing. Each of which could go hand in and and play off one another wonderfully, or they could be used as a stark contrast between the lighter scenes versus the dark scenes.
So first we have the body horror. My god, I was so uncomfortable reading quite a bit of the scenes here… and it’s really difficult to make me squeamish! It was all written perfectly. It was certainly very vivid in many scenes. I loved that the author took things right up to the line, and then sometimes took a large step over the line. Each time that happened, I couldn’t help but cringe! But even so, the author didn’t over do any of the scenes with too much detail that could bog the story down.
Then we have the descriptive writing. As you can take away from my paragraph above, the description related to the violence was intense! But there were also plenty of really beautiful chapters about certain characters lives that was absolutely beautiful. I mean, just the way characters described or thought about their loved ones was so heartwarming. I found that even if I didn’t want to feel for specific characters, some of the beautiful character-building chapters had me waffling. But more importantly, it was the little things that were perfectly described that really got me. Like the description of light coming in through a window or the movement of a girls hair.
My Favorite Passages
Starke entered his house a detective, slipped off his shoes and became a husband and father.
He went to the refrigerator and opened the door, looking for answers to mysteries he would never comprehend. He closed it and settled for water instead.
Napier was surprised by how easily it was to get Joe to come around. Almost too quick, really. But then again, the best monsters are born of desperation.
…change is never easy and is often unwelcome. But that doesn’t stop it from coming your way. You can’t cheat change, just like you can’t cheat the hands were dealt.
My Final Thoughts
My toes will always hurt when thinking about this tale. Eek! Such a heartbreaking and absolutely brutal tale.
In this book, there was a quick mention of a certain bus driving character that got me curious. When I googled, I saw that she appears in another of Aaron’s tales. Guess I’ll have to pick that one up soon!
I highly recommend this one if you enjoy body horror and don’t mind a little darkness.
February 10, 2022
I have a lot of mixed feelings about this book. I really wanted to love it. Unfortunately, the flaws kept adding up as the book continued. I don’t regret reading it, but I’m very disappointed in the product.
I found the first half of the novel to be extremely compelling. I wanted answers. I was curious for more. I was invested in the characters.
Going into this, I knew that it was an extreme horror book. I expected the twist. However, instead of one or two engaging twists that increase the stakes of the story, there were countless nonsensical twists, each more ridiculous than the last.
My investment withdrew into disbelief. Characters were thrown into the fray with little to no backstory or development. Established characters’ personalities became inconsistent and unpredictable. It felt like the author was just coming up with the story as he was writing it.
Another problem that I had was the depictions of mental illnesses. Without going into spoiler territory, there are characters who demonstrate symptoms of psychosis and/or dissociative identity disorder. It is never fully fleshed out, and it feels very trope-y. The violence-inducing hallucinations was frustrating to read. The whole reasonable-character-with-a-violent-alternate-personality thing was a massive turn off. If you’re going to try to write characters with mental disorders, do some research first, keep it consistent, and keep it respectful.
This specific issue is small in terms of presence in the book, but it keeps bothering me. There is a character who is a Japanese woman. She plays a very small role in the plot; she probably could have been taken out entirely. My problem is that she is constantly referred to as a racial slur used against Japanese people. The racism is not brought up anywhere else in the book, and it has no impact on the story. It’s just there. It’s so incredibly unnecessary, especially when the author is a white man. I’m fine with racism being depicted in novels, but there has to be a reason for it.
This all was really disappointing, because the first half of the book was so promising. Had it stayed within the realms of believability (and consistency,) this easily could have been a 4 or 5 star book. I was honestly tempted to give it a 3 star rating, but the depictions of mental illness, the unnecessary racism, and the complete bs that was the ending made me give it a 2.
If you want a similar book of much higher quality, just read “The Summer I Died” by Ryan C. Thomas.
I found the first half of the novel to be extremely compelling. I wanted answers. I was curious for more. I was invested in the characters.
Going into this, I knew that it was an extreme horror book. I expected the twist. However, instead of one or two engaging twists that increase the stakes of the story, there were countless nonsensical twists, each more ridiculous than the last.
My investment withdrew into disbelief. Characters were thrown into the fray with little to no backstory or development. Established characters’ personalities became inconsistent and unpredictable. It felt like the author was just coming up with the story as he was writing it.
Another problem that I had was the depictions of mental illnesses. Without going into spoiler territory, there are characters who demonstrate symptoms of psychosis and/or dissociative identity disorder. It is never fully fleshed out, and it feels very trope-y. The violence-inducing hallucinations was frustrating to read. The whole reasonable-character-with-a-violent-alternate-personality thing was a massive turn off. If you’re going to try to write characters with mental disorders, do some research first, keep it consistent, and keep it respectful.
This specific issue is small in terms of presence in the book, but it keeps bothering me. There is a character who is a Japanese woman. She plays a very small role in the plot; she probably could have been taken out entirely. My problem is that she is constantly referred to as a racial slur used against Japanese people. The racism is not brought up anywhere else in the book, and it has no impact on the story. It’s just there. It’s so incredibly unnecessary, especially when the author is a white man. I’m fine with racism being depicted in novels, but there has to be a reason for it.
This all was really disappointing, because the first half of the book was so promising. Had it stayed within the realms of believability (and consistency,) this easily could have been a 4 or 5 star book. I was honestly tempted to give it a 3 star rating, but the depictions of mental illness, the unnecessary racism, and the complete bs that was the ending made me give it a 2.
If you want a similar book of much higher quality, just read “The Summer I Died” by Ryan C. Thomas.
November 27, 2020
Damn! This book mentally broke me after reading it... And it was so good!
(NO spoilers)
I heard about this novel a while back and had an interest in seeing what it was about. I'm a bit late to reading it, but this story is amazing and I'd highly recommend it.
Also a quick disclaimer: This book avoids the torture porn label and doesn't fall into that category. Though this book still does contain a fair bit of violence, nothing worse than the writings of Jack Ketchum though.
Here are the pros and cons of this story. The pros are numerous. First, the story runs smoothly and I think portions of the book being nonlinear really aided the story. Second, the writing is descriptive and uses strong word choice with modern realistic slang and for me nothing was too overboard. Third, the violence isn't as bad as many might make it out to be. It's graphic but not too graphic. Finally, the horror of the story was well done and reading it for the first time I never knew what would happen next.
The cons are fewer but there are a few. These did not take away from the story for me and don't impact my rating too much. First, the italics, my god, I can't believe the overuse and heavy reliance on them. I get that it mattered in some cases but it was just too much, if you read this novel you will understand. Second, there are portions when this book slows down and those chapters were a bit of a chore to get through, but it wasn't too bad because the chapters are short and even the dull chapters built and added to the story.
Conclusion: This is the type of writer I wished Stephen King was. No offense to him, his writing is good and it's what I read as a kid, but this felt like if King stripped down the descriptions that didn't affect the story and the fluff from his book. This felt like reading an amazing Jack Ketchum story, but with enough writing and story telling differences to be wholly unique. To put it shortly I was extremely impressed. I would highly recommend this story for any horror fan, especially those who want to start getting into more hardcore horror or for those who already enjoy the harder side of horror.
I would also briefly mention that the day I got this book in I read it from the early afternoon to late evening and finished this story in one day. That's how good Aaron Dries writing is.
(NO spoilers)
I heard about this novel a while back and had an interest in seeing what it was about. I'm a bit late to reading it, but this story is amazing and I'd highly recommend it.
Also a quick disclaimer: This book avoids the torture porn label and doesn't fall into that category. Though this book still does contain a fair bit of violence, nothing worse than the writings of Jack Ketchum though.
Here are the pros and cons of this story. The pros are numerous. First, the story runs smoothly and I think portions of the book being nonlinear really aided the story. Second, the writing is descriptive and uses strong word choice with modern realistic slang and for me nothing was too overboard. Third, the violence isn't as bad as many might make it out to be. It's graphic but not too graphic. Finally, the horror of the story was well done and reading it for the first time I never knew what would happen next.
The cons are fewer but there are a few. These did not take away from the story for me and don't impact my rating too much. First, the italics, my god, I can't believe the overuse and heavy reliance on them. I get that it mattered in some cases but it was just too much, if you read this novel you will understand. Second, there are portions when this book slows down and those chapters were a bit of a chore to get through, but it wasn't too bad because the chapters are short and even the dull chapters built and added to the story.
Conclusion: This is the type of writer I wished Stephen King was. No offense to him, his writing is good and it's what I read as a kid, but this felt like if King stripped down the descriptions that didn't affect the story and the fluff from his book. This felt like reading an amazing Jack Ketchum story, but with enough writing and story telling differences to be wholly unique. To put it shortly I was extremely impressed. I would highly recommend this story for any horror fan, especially those who want to start getting into more hardcore horror or for those who already enjoy the harder side of horror.
I would also briefly mention that the day I got this book in I read it from the early afternoon to late evening and finished this story in one day. That's how good Aaron Dries writing is.
April 15, 2021
Ну, это было ужасно, буквально.
Плохая, дрянная книга.
Под конец истории автору окончательно отказало чувство вкуса и меры. Все без исключения действующие лица стали обливаться, простите, говном, мочой, потом, сукровицей, словом, всеми возможными выделениями живого и мертвого тела. Просто как полковые лошади, в промышленных масштабах. Это, мать его, что такое?
Сюжет окончательно потерял всякую связность. Этот убил этого, этого — эта, эту — вон тот. Причем сюжетная функция у большинства движителей просто отсутствует напрочь. Мотивация ущербна, идея Прощения — вообще какой-то детский лепет, она мало того что не раскрыта, неубедительна и вульгарна, так еще и подана читателю на лопате.
История, что начиналась как мистерия и трагедия одной семьи скатилась в какой-то быдло-балаган с воистину беспомощной конструкцией касательно отцовства Ноя.
Про авторский инструментарий, образность, достоверность описи чувства утраты я уже писал в теме на форуме. Существуют десятки жанровых (sic!) книг, в которых эта боль и в общем-то конец движения твоего мира выписаны куда как более убедительно и проникновенно. В принципе, единственное, что заставило меня обратиться к роману, — это как раз желание посмотреть на то, как автор справится с этой безусловно сложной писательской задачей. Ну, может, еще и сама мистерия немного интриговала. Однако же, ни первое, ни второе (особенно) Драйзу не удались. Боль утраты обернулась в бесконечное чувство тошноты, второе — в требуху, экскременты и всякое отсутствие логики и вкуса.
Плохая, дрянная книга.
Под конец истории автору окончательно отказало чувство вкуса и меры. Все без исключения действующие лица стали обливаться, простите, говном, мочой, потом, сукровицей, словом, всеми возможными выделениями живого и мертвого тела. Просто как полковые лошади, в промышленных масштабах. Это, мать его, что такое?
Сюжет окончательно потерял всякую связность. Этот убил этого, этого — эта, эту — вон тот. Причем сюжетная функция у большинства движителей просто отсутствует напрочь. Мотивация ущербна, идея Прощения — вообще какой-то детский лепет, она мало того что не раскрыта, неубедительна и вульгарна, так еще и подана читателю на лопате.
История, что начиналась как мистерия и трагедия одной семьи скатилась в какой-то быдло-балаган с воистину беспомощной конструкцией касательно отцовства Ноя.
Про авторский инструментарий, образность, достоверность описи чувства утраты я уже писал в теме на форуме. Существуют десятки жанровых (sic!) книг, в которых эта боль и в общем-то конец движения твоего мира выписаны куда как более убедительно и проникновенно. В принципе, единственное, что заставило меня обратиться к роману, — это как раз желание посмотреть на то, как автор справится с этой безусловно сложной писательской задачей. Ну, может, еще и сама мистерия немного интриговала. Однако же, ни первое, ни второе (особенно) Драйзу не удались. Боль утраты обернулась в бесконечное чувство тошноты, второе — в требуху, экскременты и всякое отсутствие логики и вкуса.
April 21, 2018
4 AND 1/2 STARS
The one thing that this book proves is that Aaron Dries can write, and boy does he do it well. Gripping, flawed characters and a heartbreaking journey delve into a pit so dark, some readers might never find themselves back into the light. The Fallen Boys is a seriously adult story with a hell of a twist. A blend of Jack Ketchum, Edward Lee, and Richard Laymon. This book is the real deal but squeamish readers should be warned. The final third is extremely graphic and brutal, nearing the level of writer Wade H. Garrett. My only problem with the book was a scene in a morgue, where author Dries very briefly jumped the shark and what began as a realistic, emotional story entered into the land of Troma films and out-of-left-field gore for no reason. This pulled me right out of the story, but fortunately, the small section was over quickly and the story returned back to earth with its realism. One of the best books I've read this year. Aaron Dries has catapulted into my top 15 must read horror writers being published today.
The one thing that this book proves is that Aaron Dries can write, and boy does he do it well. Gripping, flawed characters and a heartbreaking journey delve into a pit so dark, some readers might never find themselves back into the light. The Fallen Boys is a seriously adult story with a hell of a twist. A blend of Jack Ketchum, Edward Lee, and Richard Laymon. This book is the real deal but squeamish readers should be warned. The final third is extremely graphic and brutal, nearing the level of writer Wade H. Garrett. My only problem with the book was a scene in a morgue, where author Dries very briefly jumped the shark and what began as a realistic, emotional story entered into the land of Troma films and out-of-left-field gore for no reason. This pulled me right out of the story, but fortunately, the small section was over quickly and the story returned back to earth with its realism. One of the best books I've read this year. Aaron Dries has catapulted into my top 15 must read horror writers being published today.
September 7, 2022
The Fallen Boys by Aaron Dries
is a masterpiece of psychological, extreme horror. This series of escalating gut punches and “oh shit” moments sets the bar to a new level of dark.
The morning after I finished the book, I picked my device up to keep reading because I had momentarily forgotten that I had finished. That’s how into this book I was. While I was reading it, the book didn’t allow my mind to do anything else in my free time.
A family is destroyed by the death of their young son. Years later, a thumb drive turns up that sheds light on unanswered questions pertaining to the death. These answers set the father on a path that may lead to the destruction of his mind, body, and soul.
is a masterpiece of psychological, extreme horror. This series of escalating gut punches and “oh shit” moments sets the bar to a new level of dark.
The morning after I finished the book, I picked my device up to keep reading because I had momentarily forgotten that I had finished. That’s how into this book I was. While I was reading it, the book didn’t allow my mind to do anything else in my free time.
A family is destroyed by the death of their young son. Years later, a thumb drive turns up that sheds light on unanswered questions pertaining to the death. These answers set the father on a path that may lead to the destruction of his mind, body, and soul.
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