House Of Blood

Rating:
Summary: New Author Delivers!
Review: In his debut novel, Smith promises unimaginable brutality, bile-inducing fear, and unfathomable despair; and then delivers monumentally!

So you think you've heard this story before, met the characters, and visited this side of Hades more times than you can count? Well friends, you couldn't be more wrong! The plot is original, all consuming, and plays out like a Greek tragedy. As soon as you think these characters could not go through anymore, you realize Smith has only begun. Now I know you've heard that before, but since I hate giving out details for fear of spoiling you, you're going to have to trust me. Trust that you have never seen Hell until you've seen it through Bryan Smith's eyes!

Now as much as I would love to describe the pace and atmosphere, I can't. I was so immersed in the story and wrapped in the characters that I barely noticed the time flying and the smell of chlorine and sulfur. For the sake of argument let's just agree the speed was non-stop, and the air emitted odors so foul, that you might need to keep a paper bag handy. Smith's style of writing is natural, intense, and intimate. Instead of concentrating on only having you watch from the sidelines, he somehow manages to incorporate you into the story. Also, he resists the trap most beginners succumb to, instead of trying to prove how many big words he can use, he keeps it simple and to the point. I thank you.

While the characters were engrossing and the conflicts they faced interesting, the female characters were overtly stereotypical to extremes. The standout pathetic male character would be the angst, overly emotional, quote-unquote evil Master. Can you feel my pain?

As much as the character flaws appear irritating (see above), they are insignificant in the big picture. Get It!



Rating:
Summary: Great First Novel
Review: After barreling through this fast-paced return to the glory days of horror, you'll have a hard time believing Bryan Smith is a first-time novelist. Character, plot, pacing - this guy has it all figured out.

House of Blood takes off like a rocket and never lets up. Bryan serves up a handful of flawed, but redeemable characters, and then throws them to the wolves. Sometimes quite literally. Bryan moves the story forward with tantalizing hints of what's to come. Who is The Master and what's the deal with that neverending stairway the leads Below? Not to worry, all is revealed.

Richard Laymon fans take note. You'll love House of Blood.

Rating:
Summary: Another Good Old Fashioned Tribute
Review: House of Blood is a trip down memory lane for those who fondly remember 80's horror. It's a horror novel, and asks to be nothing more. It's a fun, entertaining read.

Rating:
Summary: Remember Friday the 13th?
Review: This book, although not a terrifying piece of horror fiction, reminded me a great deal of movies such as Friday the 13th, and any other storyline where there are a group of teenagers, or young people, traveling, who end up in the middle of nowhere, and are somehow not immediately phased by the fact that someone in their group goes missing, or is butchered by an unknown entity. The book starts out a bit slow, and the language is a bit choppy and uncertain at first, but picks up speed about mid way through the book. I had heard the author began writing the book years ago, and maybe that explains what appears to be difference in skill level from the first part to later parts. Good story, definately not similar to anything I've read in quite a while.