What do you think?
Tamara
High school can be hell. Especially for Tamara Riley. Bullied and humiliated by her classmates, her only solace is in her deceased mother's strange and tattered grimoires. When the bullying takes a sudden and shocking turn, Tamara finds herself transformed from a meek victim to a sexy and powerful avenger. Empowered by a dark magic, she now knows the fears and hidden desires of her tormentors. They thought they put her through hell? Tamara's going to show them what hell really is...
- GenresHorrorFictionParanormal
168 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 27, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
June 29, 2023
This is a fast-paced read about a high-school girl who happens to practice witchcraft.
I felt like it was written like a movie script. It worked, though.
Excellent well-developed characters.
Tamara is a victim of bullying, and I felt sympathy towards her.
She's deceived and ends up tragically killed.
She comes back from the dead to get her revenge, but in the process, innocent people are killed. So I couldn't sympathise with her after that.
I'd be into reading a sequel.
Thanks to the author and BookSirens for the ARC, this was a fun read.
A perfect novella for horror fans!
I felt like it was written like a movie script. It worked, though.
Excellent well-developed characters.
Tamara is a victim of bullying, and I felt sympathy towards her.
She's deceived and ends up tragically killed.
She comes back from the dead to get her revenge, but in the process, innocent people are killed. So I couldn't sympathise with her after that.
I'd be into reading a sequel.
Thanks to the author and BookSirens for the ARC, this was a fun read.
A perfect novella for horror fans!
July 3, 2023
This is a fast-paced read about a high-school girl who happens to practice witchcraft.
I felt like it was written like a movie script. It worked, though.
Excellent well-developed characters.
Tamara is a victim of bullying, and I felt sympathy towards her.
She's deceived and ends up tragically killed.
She comes back from the dead to get her revenge, but in the process, innocent people are killed. So I couldn't sympathise with her after that.
I felt like it was written like a movie script. It worked, though.
Excellent well-developed characters.
Tamara is a victim of bullying, and I felt sympathy towards her.
She's deceived and ends up tragically killed.
She comes back from the dead to get her revenge, but in the process, innocent people are killed. So I couldn't sympathise with her after that.
July 8, 2023
Review left on paperback edition!!
June 15, 2023
I really liked this book, and looking forward to reading more from these two author/screenwriters.
Tamara is 17 and isn’t one of the “popular” kids at high school… to be honest, she lives a miserable life with her alcoholic father, since her mother died.
One day after a particularly bad day at high school, she is looking through her mother’s books, and finds one which has love spells inside. She decides to cast one of these spells, in the hope that Mr Natolly, her “married” English teacher, will notice her.
One night, after playing a cruel prank on Tamara, which results in her death, the kids bury her in the woods… but this is not “the end” for Tamara, who seeks retribution.
This book had my attention from the first page, until the last. Now I just have to watch the 2005 movie, starring Jenna Dewan as Tamara.
4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to BookSirens for sending me a free ARC, in return for a honest and free review, which I gladly give voluntarily.
Tamara is 17 and isn’t one of the “popular” kids at high school… to be honest, she lives a miserable life with her alcoholic father, since her mother died.
One day after a particularly bad day at high school, she is looking through her mother’s books, and finds one which has love spells inside. She decides to cast one of these spells, in the hope that Mr Natolly, her “married” English teacher, will notice her.
One night, after playing a cruel prank on Tamara, which results in her death, the kids bury her in the woods… but this is not “the end” for Tamara, who seeks retribution.
This book had my attention from the first page, until the last. Now I just have to watch the 2005 movie, starring Jenna Dewan as Tamara.
4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to BookSirens for sending me a free ARC, in return for a honest and free review, which I gladly give voluntarily.
July 28, 2023
Tamara is a high school student who is often bullied by her classmates. An article she wrote pushes all of this into overdrive and now the target on her back is even bigger. A prank goes a bit too far and changes everything. The bullies find out the hard way that Tamara dabbled in dark magic and now they are going to pay for what they did.
This closely follows the movie. There are a few things that were different, but I’d say I liked the book more. It offered more detail throughout, especially with a couple of scenes that were much tamer in the movie. It was entertaining and the pace really picks up when Tamara starts dishing out her revenge. I also enjoyed the characters, especially Tamara’s. Who doesn’t like to see someone get back at those that made their life hell? If you enjoy stories about revenge and B horror this is worth a read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
“I'm a cheerleader. I like games. But instead of playing with pom-poms...I'm going to play doctor. And see what your insides look like.”
This closely follows the movie. There are a few things that were different, but I’d say I liked the book more. It offered more detail throughout, especially with a couple of scenes that were much tamer in the movie. It was entertaining and the pace really picks up when Tamara starts dishing out her revenge. I also enjoyed the characters, especially Tamara’s. Who doesn’t like to see someone get back at those that made their life hell? If you enjoy stories about revenge and B horror this is worth a read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
“I'm a cheerleader. I like games. But instead of playing with pom-poms...I'm going to play doctor. And see what your insides look like.”
July 8, 2023
This was very good.
This novelisation is pretty close to the movie, the sex scenes are a little more graphic, but the story is the same.
The story is nothing new, nerd get bullied, then turns into a monster and go's on a rampage, very similar to Carrie by Stephen King, but with a bit more sexiness to it like the movie Jennifer's Body.
If you liked the movie you will like the book.
This novelisation is pretty close to the movie, the sex scenes are a little more graphic, but the story is the same.
The story is nothing new, nerd get bullied, then turns into a monster and go's on a rampage, very similar to Carrie by Stephen King, but with a bit more sexiness to it like the movie Jennifer's Body.
If you liked the movie you will like the book.
November 25, 2014
Originally I purchased the book because the author Jeffrey is a super cool and very nice guy. And it was a bargain on Kindle! I hadn't seen the movie version he wrote a few years back but I know he said the novel was the story as he wanted it.
It was easy to get through, a relatively quick read. Very easy to get caught up in the story and the action so much so that there were a couple mornings I didn't leave for work on time! ;) I had a bit of a hard time remembering the difference between Shawn and Patrick but they both seemed rotten so there wasn't much difference between those jerks.
Creepy story of retribution and inequity in stature/social class. It's sad to think of how many people have realities like this, the hidden evils/tragedies that lurk under the surface.
Where we would have initially sided with Tamara out of pity, her actions became despicable and unjustified. That is part of the message. The character of Chloe helps to push the issue of personal choices and boundaries.
Now I'll have to hunt down the movie and compare it. I'm sure the book is a smidge better because it is more true to the original intent of the creator. I remember when I met Jeffrey a year ago, he told us the book was forthcoming so it's nice to have read it. Good job, Jeffrey!! :)
It was easy to get through, a relatively quick read. Very easy to get caught up in the story and the action so much so that there were a couple mornings I didn't leave for work on time! ;) I had a bit of a hard time remembering the difference between Shawn and Patrick but they both seemed rotten so there wasn't much difference between those jerks.
Creepy story of retribution and inequity in stature/social class. It's sad to think of how many people have realities like this, the hidden evils/tragedies that lurk under the surface.
Where we would have initially sided with Tamara out of pity, her actions became despicable and unjustified. That is part of the message. The character of Chloe helps to push the issue of personal choices and boundaries.
Now I'll have to hunt down the movie and compare it. I'm sure the book is a smidge better because it is more true to the original intent of the creator. I remember when I met Jeffrey a year ago, he told us the book was forthcoming so it's nice to have read it. Good job, Jeffrey!! :)
July 10, 2023
Thank you to Encyclopocalypse Publications and BookSirens for providing a review copy.
Tamara is a whole lot of fun! I vaguely remember seeing the movie it was based on when it came out, but I pretty much didn't remember anything going into the book. I do love a good revenge story, and this one is cheesy, gory fun!
Tamara is a whole lot of fun! I vaguely remember seeing the movie it was based on when it came out, but I pretty much didn't remember anything going into the book. I do love a good revenge story, and this one is cheesy, gory fun!
August 1, 2023
(4.5)
"...Her solace in life is her mother’s witchcraft books and grimoire (and secretly her English teacher too). Something terrible really does happen, and the spells in the grimoire come to good use. But is it for the best? I thought so! I loved the addition of the occultism and witchery, it adds an air of mystery and darkness that without it, wouldn’t be quite the same. When it’s time for Tamara to get her revenge, of course there could’ve been the classic route of crazy murder, but the magick made it special."
Read the full review over on deaf sparrow:
https://www.deafsparrow.com/2023/07/2...
"...Her solace in life is her mother’s witchcraft books and grimoire (and secretly her English teacher too). Something terrible really does happen, and the spells in the grimoire come to good use. But is it for the best? I thought so! I loved the addition of the occultism and witchery, it adds an air of mystery and darkness that without it, wouldn’t be quite the same. When it’s time for Tamara to get her revenge, of course there could’ve been the classic route of crazy murder, but the magick made it special."
Read the full review over on deaf sparrow:
https://www.deafsparrow.com/2023/07/2...
September 3, 2023
Very poignant and brain numbing, It felt like a poorly thought through revenge fantasy that failed to deliver on several fronts. The biggest crime this book has committed was being extremely unmemorable and offering nothing to the reader…
May 19, 2023
I am going to start off by saying I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily on my own accord.
Thank you BookSirens and Jeffrey Reddick for allowing me to read Tamara early. This quick story totally brought me back to my love of cheesy horror movies and books the more and more I read of it. I grew up loving Fear Street and such but this book is a bit more graphic than Fear Street and somethings do happen makes you go wow. And it was not done for shock factor, more so it fit the story since Tamara is seeking out her vengeance on people who wronged her. Tamara is your typical horror character that goes from the bottom of the totem pole to a crazy psychopath. I did have a feeling I knew where the story was going to go, but there was still some things that did catch me by surprise which was nice. If you do like quick little thriller stories and love classic cheesy horror movies you should read this story at least once. It is only 179 pages which makes it a quick read.
Thank you BookSirens and Jeffrey Reddick for allowing me to read Tamara early. This quick story totally brought me back to my love of cheesy horror movies and books the more and more I read of it. I grew up loving Fear Street and such but this book is a bit more graphic than Fear Street and somethings do happen makes you go wow. And it was not done for shock factor, more so it fit the story since Tamara is seeking out her vengeance on people who wronged her. Tamara is your typical horror character that goes from the bottom of the totem pole to a crazy psychopath. I did have a feeling I knew where the story was going to go, but there was still some things that did catch me by surprise which was nice. If you do like quick little thriller stories and love classic cheesy horror movies you should read this story at least once. It is only 179 pages which makes it a quick read.
September 17, 2023
Okay, so, I remember watching Tamara when it came out nearly two decades ago. By pure coincidence I recently considered rewatching it, and I’m so glad I hadn’t before picking up this ARC through Book Sirens, because holy hell, I know for a fact that I definitely enjoyed this novelisation more than I ever had the movie.
Now, as I mentioned, the film came out a while ago, and knowing that, it weirded me out a bit that the story had been modernised, but seeing as it is partially a coming of age story, with a heavy focus on teen social dynamics, slightly tweaking minor elements to make them more contemporary works to the benefit of not alienating a younger target audience of the horror community.
I did like the blatant, and stated, nod to Stephen King’s Carrie as there are some clear similarities and common themes between the two stories, but if anything, this would be Carrie by way of a Jennifer’s Body/The Craft hybrid.
I know this horror novelisation is more mainstream than extreme, but I would highly recommend it to even, if not especially, grudgepunk horror fans.
Now, as I mentioned, the film came out a while ago, and knowing that, it weirded me out a bit that the story had been modernised, but seeing as it is partially a coming of age story, with a heavy focus on teen social dynamics, slightly tweaking minor elements to make them more contemporary works to the benefit of not alienating a younger target audience of the horror community.
I did like the blatant, and stated, nod to Stephen King’s Carrie as there are some clear similarities and common themes between the two stories, but if anything, this would be Carrie by way of a Jennifer’s Body/The Craft hybrid.
I know this horror novelisation is more mainstream than extreme, but I would highly recommend it to even, if not especially, grudgepunk horror fans.
June 21, 2017
Just like the movie
I have the DVD of the movie that was based off this novella and I watch it every Halloween! I did not know that there was a book, so I was so excited when I found it. Thinking back to the movie, they stuck very close to the novella. I could basically play the movie and see the scenes in my head as I was reading. I could even picture the actors as their respective characters. Glad I found the book and I would encourage horror movie fans to watch the movie as well.
I have the DVD of the movie that was based off this novella and I watch it every Halloween! I did not know that there was a book, so I was so excited when I found it. Thinking back to the movie, they stuck very close to the novella. I could basically play the movie and see the scenes in my head as I was reading. I could even picture the actors as their respective characters. Glad I found the book and I would encourage horror movie fans to watch the movie as well.
May 21, 2023
This book was very true to the movie. Part of me wishes that the authors would have made it longer and added more detail, but the other part of me thinks it is perfect just as it is. This novel truly embodies early 2000s horror, and as someone who was just discovering horror in this time period I find it extremely comforting. I really appreciate that the ending leaves room for the story to be continued without ending on a cliff hanger. I would definitely recommend this book, and if a sequel ever comes out count me in!
May 9, 2023
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book is based on the movie. Tamara is a lonely high school student with a troubled life. The other kids at school are mean to her, and she wants to be loved and powerful. Witchcraft for the win. Tamara is done wrong at a party, and gets her revenge. This book was short and I enjoyed the story. If you saw the movie, you know how it goes, but the book expands on Tamara's life more. A decent read.
This book is based on the movie. Tamara is a lonely high school student with a troubled life. The other kids at school are mean to her, and she wants to be loved and powerful. Witchcraft for the win. Tamara is done wrong at a party, and gets her revenge. This book was short and I enjoyed the story. If you saw the movie, you know how it goes, but the book expands on Tamara's life more. A decent read.
July 11, 2023
I stayed up all night to read this one and I really liked it, I saw the movie a while back and thought I'd check out the book. The author really fleshed out the story from the movie and gave better insights into some of the characters as a whole. I've always liked novelizations and this one didn't disappoint. I would definitely recommend it and would read something from this author again.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 17, 2021
Despite the numerous spelling errors, I actually liked this book. It was engaging and followed pretty closely to the movie’s plot.
I won’t lie: the lesbian subplot did seem a little preachy, but for what it was, it made it its own thing (word was that it was part of the original script).
All in all, this was a pretty solid read.
I won’t lie: the lesbian subplot did seem a little preachy, but for what it was, it made it its own thing (word was that it was part of the original script).
All in all, this was a pretty solid read.
June 28, 2023
I've always had a soft spot for horror novels about bullied girls getting even. Tamera is just that, and it's a glorious read. Kept me flipping the pages from beginning to end.
It is also worth watching if you haven't seen the movie
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily..
It is also worth watching if you haven't seen the movie
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily..
January 24, 2024
Horror story that keeps your attention from the start. Tamara was a victim until one day she discovers something that she inherited from her family. Now she stronger, no longer a victim and ready for revenge. A magnificent horror story with amazing characters.
Disclaimer: I received this review copy and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Disclaimer: I received this review copy and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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June 24, 2023I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
It’s not the next great American novel but I remember seeing the movie years ago and I loved it. The book was pretty enjoyable a quick fast paced read. Would recommend if you enjoyed the film!
It’s not the next great American novel but I remember seeing the movie years ago and I loved it. The book was pretty enjoyable a quick fast paced read. Would recommend if you enjoyed the film!
July 21, 2023
Pretty straight forward revenge horror story. The titular character is bullied, dies, then comes back through witchcraft. It's fun though, and the movie isn't too bad either.
Recommended.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Recommended.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 23, 2024
If you enjoyed the movie and can overlook the spelling/grammatical errors and the fact that the writing felt a bit rushed at the end, then you'll enjoy this book. The errors took me out of it sometimes, but I enjoyed it overall!
June 28, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. I zoomed through it and just could not put it down..highly recommended!
July 29, 2023
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I have neither seen the 2005 movie of which this is an adaptation or read anything by the author Jeffrey Reddick, so I had little expectations for the novelization of Tamara. The only indication was the date of release for the movie, which was - I think it's safe to say - a rather dim time in horror movie history, making my expectations admittedly rather low.
But I have always enjoyed novelizations, and the synopsis of the story did intrigue me. There were many similarities to TV shows and movies I had enjoyed, and I sensed a very 80's feel to the synopsis, so I decided to give it a go.
The story follows a rather familiar theme. A bullied and unloved girl undergoes a dramatic change that allows her the justice she deserves. We have seen this before, but rarely in quite the same way. When a cruel joke becomes a tragic accident Tamara dies and her body is hidden by an eclectic group of her contemporaries. Some are glad of her demise, others are haunted by it, but everyone is equally shocked when the following day a new and improved Tamara arrives at school and turns everyone's world upside down.
This Tamara is thirty pounds lighter, and is transformed by her new body and the approving looks it receives. But there is more to what she had become. Tamara can command approval now, she can even command obedience, and it is this obedience that she uses to dispatch those who had so cruelly abused her in the past.
If it had been told from the point of view of Tamara we would have a story not too dissimilar to King's Carrie. It would emphasize the audience's empathy with Tamara, and paint her victims more clearly as villains deserving of their fate. The author opts for a different approach, telling the tale from a select group of her victims. This humanizes them and subsequently dehumanizes Tamara. This is a choice that changes the story significantly, and may (I reiterate that I have not seen it) accurately reflect the movie's stance most accurately.
A quick search on the author indicates he was the original scriptwriter for this movie. So, I would assume the book accurately represents the movie version of Tamara. This discovery illustrates one of the main things that define novelizations in general. They tend to retell the movie without getting "under the skin" of the story's protagonists. Acting mainly as an expansion of the script rather than an expansion of the story the script represents.
This is not a criticism of novelizations in general or Tamara in particular, but rather an observation of the difference between the skills of scriptwriting and the writing of prose.
Tamara is an entertaining plot-focused read that feels like a tale told in the 70's or 80's rather than 2005. This - obviously - I mean as a good thing. There's an emphasis on what I have always thought of as pop-horror rather than hard-horror. Which is to say it is written to entertain rather than disturb its audience; and entertain it does.
I think perhaps the best indicator of whether I enjoy a novelization is my subsequent desire to watch the movie it was derived from, and I find I really do want to watch Tamara The Movie. Unfortunately it seems a hard one to find in any high-definition format. As a novelization that’s probably the best result an author could ask for, as they are derivative by their very nature (as they are derived from another source).
Tamara is a competently written novelization. As you’d expect from a seasoned scriptwriter the plot is well constructed and it does throw in enough changes to a well trodden tale to keep things interesting. However there’s not a great deal of character depth, which is a shame, as the story could have easily spoken more deeply about issues of loneliness and alienation that result in horrible acts.
If you enjoy novelizations and understand their conventions then Tamara is an entertaining read. If you enjoy quick books that won’t drag you too deeply into the darkness, you will enjoy it. But if you are looking for something more than that you may find the book an underwhelming experience and see it as a bit of a missed opportunity.
Personally I enjoyed it, but I knew it could have been so much more.
I have neither seen the 2005 movie of which this is an adaptation or read anything by the author Jeffrey Reddick, so I had little expectations for the novelization of Tamara. The only indication was the date of release for the movie, which was - I think it's safe to say - a rather dim time in horror movie history, making my expectations admittedly rather low.
But I have always enjoyed novelizations, and the synopsis of the story did intrigue me. There were many similarities to TV shows and movies I had enjoyed, and I sensed a very 80's feel to the synopsis, so I decided to give it a go.
The story follows a rather familiar theme. A bullied and unloved girl undergoes a dramatic change that allows her the justice she deserves. We have seen this before, but rarely in quite the same way. When a cruel joke becomes a tragic accident Tamara dies and her body is hidden by an eclectic group of her contemporaries. Some are glad of her demise, others are haunted by it, but everyone is equally shocked when the following day a new and improved Tamara arrives at school and turns everyone's world upside down.
This Tamara is thirty pounds lighter, and is transformed by her new body and the approving looks it receives. But there is more to what she had become. Tamara can command approval now, she can even command obedience, and it is this obedience that she uses to dispatch those who had so cruelly abused her in the past.
If it had been told from the point of view of Tamara we would have a story not too dissimilar to King's Carrie. It would emphasize the audience's empathy with Tamara, and paint her victims more clearly as villains deserving of their fate. The author opts for a different approach, telling the tale from a select group of her victims. This humanizes them and subsequently dehumanizes Tamara. This is a choice that changes the story significantly, and may (I reiterate that I have not seen it) accurately reflect the movie's stance most accurately.
A quick search on the author indicates he was the original scriptwriter for this movie. So, I would assume the book accurately represents the movie version of Tamara. This discovery illustrates one of the main things that define novelizations in general. They tend to retell the movie without getting "under the skin" of the story's protagonists. Acting mainly as an expansion of the script rather than an expansion of the story the script represents.
This is not a criticism of novelizations in general or Tamara in particular, but rather an observation of the difference between the skills of scriptwriting and the writing of prose.
Tamara is an entertaining plot-focused read that feels like a tale told in the 70's or 80's rather than 2005. This - obviously - I mean as a good thing. There's an emphasis on what I have always thought of as pop-horror rather than hard-horror. Which is to say it is written to entertain rather than disturb its audience; and entertain it does.
I think perhaps the best indicator of whether I enjoy a novelization is my subsequent desire to watch the movie it was derived from, and I find I really do want to watch Tamara The Movie. Unfortunately it seems a hard one to find in any high-definition format. As a novelization that’s probably the best result an author could ask for, as they are derivative by their very nature (as they are derived from another source).
Tamara is a competently written novelization. As you’d expect from a seasoned scriptwriter the plot is well constructed and it does throw in enough changes to a well trodden tale to keep things interesting. However there’s not a great deal of character depth, which is a shame, as the story could have easily spoken more deeply about issues of loneliness and alienation that result in horrible acts.
If you enjoy novelizations and understand their conventions then Tamara is an entertaining read. If you enjoy quick books that won’t drag you too deeply into the darkness, you will enjoy it. But if you are looking for something more than that you may find the book an underwhelming experience and see it as a bit of a missed opportunity.
Personally I enjoyed it, but I knew it could have been so much more.
May 10, 2023
(Rounded up from 4 1/2 stars)
I received an ARC of this and I have very rarely been so excited by a novelization of a movie. Not only was I a big fan of this very underrated film, but I am also a fan of Jeffrey Reddick's other work. It also just so happens that one of my all time favorite artists did the cover.
There were a lot of things that I liked better about the book than I did about the movie. The framing gave context to the dark magic aspect of it, a lot of the deaths/punishments felt more intense, and I liked how it painted Tamara as so complex.
I did have just a couple pet peeves.
One is an issue that is pretty typical for novelizations, where this does feel paced more like a movie than a book. It jumps around a lot rather than letting a moment sit with any one character for too long. While that keeps us from missing any of our favorite on-screen moments, there's always one or two characters that I would rather spend more time with. In this case it was our titular character, Tamara.
The other caught me by surprise and that was the pop-culture references. I have nothing against pop culture references in media, but I did think they were a little funny here. It's called out specifically that Lady Gaga is "over" and then immediately moves into a John Hughes reference. Most of the following references are to the 80s or 90s and I realized at some point I don't actually know what year this takes place. I assumed in or around 2005 when the movie came out, but I was in school around that time and some of the cultural aspects felt off.
Overall though, aside from a couple little nitpicky things, I really enjoyed this. Being a fan of the movie certainly helped, I'm sure, but there were aspects that the book handled better. I liked the additional context, and details, and a couple scenes in particular benefitted from a more forward style of storytelling.
It was also a very quick read. Sometimes novelizations seem to drag on, and it feels like they are padding the page count some, but I didn't experience any of that with TAMARA. I read it in a single sitting and thoroughly enjoyed myself.
I received an ARC of this and I have very rarely been so excited by a novelization of a movie. Not only was I a big fan of this very underrated film, but I am also a fan of Jeffrey Reddick's other work. It also just so happens that one of my all time favorite artists did the cover.
There were a lot of things that I liked better about the book than I did about the movie. The framing gave context to the dark magic aspect of it, a lot of the deaths/punishments felt more intense, and I liked how it painted Tamara as so complex.
I did have just a couple pet peeves.
One is an issue that is pretty typical for novelizations, where this does feel paced more like a movie than a book. It jumps around a lot rather than letting a moment sit with any one character for too long. While that keeps us from missing any of our favorite on-screen moments, there's always one or two characters that I would rather spend more time with. In this case it was our titular character, Tamara.
The other caught me by surprise and that was the pop-culture references. I have nothing against pop culture references in media, but I did think they were a little funny here. It's called out specifically that Lady Gaga is "over" and then immediately moves into a John Hughes reference. Most of the following references are to the 80s or 90s and I realized at some point I don't actually know what year this takes place. I assumed in or around 2005 when the movie came out, but I was in school around that time and some of the cultural aspects felt off.
Overall though, aside from a couple little nitpicky things, I really enjoyed this. Being a fan of the movie certainly helped, I'm sure, but there were aspects that the book handled better. I liked the additional context, and details, and a couple scenes in particular benefitted from a more forward style of storytelling.
It was also a very quick read. Sometimes novelizations seem to drag on, and it feels like they are padding the page count some, but I didn't experience any of that with TAMARA. I read it in a single sitting and thoroughly enjoyed myself.
December 22, 2015
Tamara
By Jeffrey Reddick; JD Matthews
Reminiscent of the classic Stephen King work, Carrie, Tamara by Jeffrey Reddick takes high school bullying to another level completely. .Although similar to King's cult classic movie/book, Reddick gives readers a tale that most certainly surpasses its predecessor when it comes to a tale about a crazy, mistreated, vengeful teenage girl.
Tamara is your stereotypical loner, or outsider. She's praised by her teachers for her academic ability and ridiculed by her peers for everything. Tamara lives in deplorable conditions with her widowed, alcoholic father.
As if life wasn't hard enough her peers continue to find ways to shame and humiliate Tamara. But this time the joke was deadly and those responsible will not walk away laughing.
Tamara was a quick and easy read. Although not my favorite book ever, it was entertaining. Although slightly predictable, Tamara struggled for some sort of surprise for readers - which I feel it achieved slightly.
Reddick does tangle some touchy subject matter but not in too grave detail. The most concerning is sexual content that some might find difficult to read. In addition the overall cruelty Tamara was treated with could cause readers to have an uncomfortable feeling in one's gut.
I feel Tamara is a decent read that will tickle anyone's paranormal/horror fancy. If you were a Carrie fan, the similarities are enough you'd most likely enjoy this. If you weren't a Carrie fan the differences are substantial enough that I'd recommend giving Tamara a try
www.tabbyafae.com
By Jeffrey Reddick; JD Matthews
Reminiscent of the classic Stephen King work, Carrie, Tamara by Jeffrey Reddick takes high school bullying to another level completely. .Although similar to King's cult classic movie/book, Reddick gives readers a tale that most certainly surpasses its predecessor when it comes to a tale about a crazy, mistreated, vengeful teenage girl.
Tamara is your stereotypical loner, or outsider. She's praised by her teachers for her academic ability and ridiculed by her peers for everything. Tamara lives in deplorable conditions with her widowed, alcoholic father.
As if life wasn't hard enough her peers continue to find ways to shame and humiliate Tamara. But this time the joke was deadly and those responsible will not walk away laughing.
Tamara was a quick and easy read. Although not my favorite book ever, it was entertaining. Although slightly predictable, Tamara struggled for some sort of surprise for readers - which I feel it achieved slightly.
Reddick does tangle some touchy subject matter but not in too grave detail. The most concerning is sexual content that some might find difficult to read. In addition the overall cruelty Tamara was treated with could cause readers to have an uncomfortable feeling in one's gut.
I feel Tamara is a decent read that will tickle anyone's paranormal/horror fancy. If you were a Carrie fan, the similarities are enough you'd most likely enjoy this. If you weren't a Carrie fan the differences are substantial enough that I'd recommend giving Tamara a try
www.tabbyafae.com
July 6, 2023
Tamara is the girl who blends in - she tries to hide under the radar, but unfortunately, she’s at the hands of a very cruel joke that changes her. Now, she’s out for revenge…and it’s a bloody good time!
———-
I don’t know what it is about revenge books recently for me: I want them, I need them, I crave them. Tamara is a novella based on the movie starting Jenna Dewan. I actually did not know that until after I finished the story….then I went back in to watch the movie. The movie is sort of cheesy, but it’s definitely watchable. The novella? Loved it. Fills in the gaps of what the movie leaves out and expands upon the crucial scenes. And I love that this is coming out over a decade later after the movie.
As to the character of Tamara - she’s Carrie White-esque, mixed with sex appeal later on. She’s a succubus, a seductress, and she plays with the minds of those who did her wrong. I love characters like this, and root for them all the way through, good or bad (we love a good “villain”). I’m leaving out a ton of plot points with Tamara’s character because I want you to read this.
The strange thing about this? I almost feel like you need to read the novella AND watch the movie because they are companions to one another. There are kill scenes I could visualize in my head while reading, and then see them in the movie. The matchup of both made my little black heart so happy.
I definitely will be purchasing this novella
———-
I don’t know what it is about revenge books recently for me: I want them, I need them, I crave them. Tamara is a novella based on the movie starting Jenna Dewan. I actually did not know that until after I finished the story….then I went back in to watch the movie. The movie is sort of cheesy, but it’s definitely watchable. The novella? Loved it. Fills in the gaps of what the movie leaves out and expands upon the crucial scenes. And I love that this is coming out over a decade later after the movie.
As to the character of Tamara - she’s Carrie White-esque, mixed with sex appeal later on. She’s a succubus, a seductress, and she plays with the minds of those who did her wrong. I love characters like this, and root for them all the way through, good or bad (we love a good “villain”). I’m leaving out a ton of plot points with Tamara’s character because I want you to read this.
The strange thing about this? I almost feel like you need to read the novella AND watch the movie because they are companions to one another. There are kill scenes I could visualize in my head while reading, and then see them in the movie. The matchup of both made my little black heart so happy.
I definitely will be purchasing this novella
June 24, 2023
You know, it seems like people have a really hard time writing a female killer. I'll accept killing for love, I'll even accept revenge killing, but I won't accept an "Ivy-league smart" girl turning into someone obsessed with being beautiful and killing because she can. Tamara's personality did a complete 180, and it made no sense. For as smart as she was supposed to be, she acted like a complete idiot.
I think the worst bit was all the joking about suicide, eating disorders, date rape, and LGBTQ. I absolutely understand having characters who are prejudiced and the like, but making jokes out of sensitive topics like that didn't gel with me. There are ways to go about including these topics without coming across as insensitive.
I hate the way the women were written in this book. The only one who had any backbone was Chloe, and even then, she was your stereotypical "edgy" girl from the early 2000s. None of the female characters had any depth whatsoever. And what was Kisha doing with the book? Who was she intending on using the spells on? That part was a little too vague, I thought.
This just didn't do it for me. I almost DNF'd several times, but I continued on, thinking that it would pick up before the end. Unfortunately, I just couldn't get into it at all.
Thank you, BookSirens and Encyclopocalypse, for the ARC. Everything in this review is my own.
I think the worst bit was all the joking about suicide, eating disorders, date rape, and LGBTQ. I absolutely understand having characters who are prejudiced and the like, but making jokes out of sensitive topics like that didn't gel with me. There are ways to go about including these topics without coming across as insensitive.
I hate the way the women were written in this book. The only one who had any backbone was Chloe, and even then, she was your stereotypical "edgy" girl from the early 2000s. None of the female characters had any depth whatsoever. And what was Kisha doing with the book? Who was she intending on using the spells on? That part was a little too vague, I thought.
This just didn't do it for me. I almost DNF'd several times, but I continued on, thinking that it would pick up before the end. Unfortunately, I just couldn't get into it at all.
Thank you, BookSirens and Encyclopocalypse, for the ARC. Everything in this review is my own.
May 11, 2023
Student Tamara Riley is a social parahia at Sebastian High. Her life sucks-- vampire style. And her loser dad is just an added bonus. But something's got to give and it's definitely not her looks. It's Mr. Natolly. Tamara sees herself as Mrs. Natolly but at what cost? Witchcraft of course.
Where do I start? The huge mash-up on page 157 or the love spell that seems to have worked in every way except on Mr. Natolly?! She goes from Plain Jane to Gorgeous Vixen in just 2 days, she gains magical powers and gets her revenge served both cold and bloody but she still has to beg Mr. Natolly for it? Which is ludicrous because then what was the whole point of it being a love spell?! Wow, her life really does suck if not even a love spell can get her the man! The typos were hard to miss, too. There were a few good moments such as the gore, though, and I loved the concept and the originality. It just missed the mark by a few metres.
*I received this book from BookSirens in exchange for an honest review.
Where do I start? The huge mash-up on page 157 or the love spell that seems to have worked in every way except on Mr. Natolly?! She goes from Plain Jane to Gorgeous Vixen in just 2 days, she gains magical powers and gets her revenge served both cold and bloody but she still has to beg Mr. Natolly for it? Which is ludicrous because then what was the whole point of it being a love spell?! Wow, her life really does suck if not even a love spell can get her the man! The typos were hard to miss, too. There were a few good moments such as the gore, though, and I loved the concept and the originality. It just missed the mark by a few metres.
*I received this book from BookSirens in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 17, 2023
Okay, so, I remember watching Tamara when it came out nearly two decades ago. By pure coincidence I recently considered rewatching it, and I’m so glad I hadn’t before picking up this ARC through Book Sirens, because holy hell, I know for a fact that I definitely enjoyed this novelisation more than I ever had the movie.
Now, as I mentioned, the film came out a while ago, and knowing that, it weirded me out a bit that the story had been modernised, but seeing as it is partially a coming of age story, with a heavy focus on teen social dynamics, slightly tweaking minor elements to make them more contemporary works to the benefit of not alienating a younger target audience of the horror community.
I did like the blatant, and stated, nod to Stephen King’s Carrie as there are some clear similarities and common themes between the two stories, but if anything, this would be Carrie by way of a Jennifer’s Body/The Craft hybrid.
I know this horror novelisation is more mainstream than extreme, but I would highly recommend it to even, if not especially, grudgepunk horror fans.
Now, as I mentioned, the film came out a while ago, and knowing that, it weirded me out a bit that the story had been modernised, but seeing as it is partially a coming of age story, with a heavy focus on teen social dynamics, slightly tweaking minor elements to make them more contemporary works to the benefit of not alienating a younger target audience of the horror community.
I did like the blatant, and stated, nod to Stephen King’s Carrie as there are some clear similarities and common themes between the two stories, but if anything, this would be Carrie by way of a Jennifer’s Body/The Craft hybrid.
I know this horror novelisation is more mainstream than extreme, but I would highly recommend it to even, if not especially, grudgepunk horror fans.
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