Fear

Rating:
Summary: Didn't Finish
Review: I read Kelly's Blood Kin and figured I needed to give this author another try. Blood Kin was a fun read, and Kelly seems to be able to deliver a good story. Fear was even better than Kin, and I'm so glad I picked it up.

Jeb is a normal ten-year-old growing up in Pikesville, Tennessee in the late 40s. He lives with his ailing grandmother and his father, Sam, who came back from fighting the Nazis with his "brains adled." Jeb has a lot on his mind when his small town finds itself at the mercy of a menacing creature that starts out killing livestock and then moves on to some tastier treats. When no one believes him about the creature, Jeb sets out with his father, his bluetick hound named Buckshot, and a traveling bluesman, Roscoe Ledbetter, to find the Granny Woman in Fear County. Jeb is hoping that she has some special magic that will help him, his family, and his town. Kelly then takes the reader on an adventure with these heroes, and he introduces a series of creepy events and bizarre characters. Will Jeb find the magic he needs to help his father and his grandmother? Will he win the heart of the rich girl he loves? What will happen to this group of adventurers?

Jeb is a wonderfully drawn character. I enjoyed reading about his journey and was eager to find out how things would turn out for him. Kelly is a great storyteller, and I could almost hear him telling this story around a campfire. Fear is a well written, enjoyable book, and I am now a confirmed Kelly fan.

Rating:
Summary: Ronald Kelly does it again.
Review: I've been a fan of Ronald Kelly every since I read his novel BLOOD KIN. Not only because he's a fellow Tennessean but because his work is just so damn fun. Kelly is a natural storyteller, with a nice southern flair, and he always delivers entertaining horror. FEAR is no exception and he really pulls out all the stops with this one. It's just after WWII in the small town of Pikesville, TN and young Jeb Sweeny finds himself on the edge of personal tragedy and a greater evil that is devouring livestock and abducting children in the night. It's up to him, his handicapped war veteran father, and an old blues player Roscoe Ledbetter to save the town and find some kind of salvation. And if the bloodthirsty creature roaming Pikesville wasn't enough, they face even greater horrors when they venture into Fear County to seek help from a local legend known as The Granny Woman. Not only is this book full of dark adventure, but it's got a lot of heart. You'll find yourself cheering Jeb Sweeny on until the very end. A fun read and a great book. The only question I had when I turned the last page was: when's your next novel, Mr. Kelly?

Rating:
Summary: Great, fun, scary, and lots of heart
Review: Okay, so I see a lot of negative reviews here, but I think people are missing one very very important fact. This book is fun. I enjoyed and was totally enthralled by every page. What's funny about this book is that the parts with the main monster are fairly anticlimatic, but I think Kelly intend it this way. You begin the novel thinking "Oh...monster killing kids...looks like a snake...got it." but only later realize where the book TRULY gets its monster and its name. Fear County may be full of cliches but it's an exciting, scary, and 110% worthwhile trip all the way. Jeb, Roscoe, and Sam are great characters and I found myself all but cheering out loud for them many times throughout reading. Further, I was totally impressed with the fact the author used so little gore and such a miniscule body count, yet still created more horror than any Steven King slaughterfest. Buy this book, read it on a lazy afternoon in the shade and prepare for a truly memorable adventure.

Rating:
Summary: Great, fun, scary, and lots of heart
Review: Okay, so I see a lot of negative reviews here, but I think people are missing one very very important fact. This book is fun. I enjoyed and was totally enthralled by every page. What's funny about this book is that the parts with the main monster are fairly anticlimatic, but I think Kelly intend it this way. You begin the novel thinking "Oh...monster killing kids...looks like a snake...got it." but only later realize where the book TRULY gets its monster and its name. Fear County may be full of cliches but it's an exciting, scary, and 110% worthwhile trip all the way. Jeb, Roscoe, and Sam are great characters and I found myself all but cheering out loud for them many times throughout reading. Further, I was totally impressed with the fact the author used so little gore and such a miniscule body count, yet still created more horror than any Steven King slaughterfest. Buy this book, read it on a lazy afternoon in the shade and prepare for a truly memorable adventure.

Rating:
Summary: stay away from Ronald Kelly!
Review: RK's got to be the worst writer in horror i've ever read. his descriptions are so obvious. i know you can't use that word about descriptions, but in this case you can. you can actually see the descriptions coming. a monster hunting. yes, and...? it attacks? yes, i guessed as much. no, that seems to be it. RK introduces some characters we are supposed to feel sorry for. and he describes how they are outcasts, etc. i was waiting for the story to develop. but that seemed to be the story. how much a pityit was. so sad. they were not tolerated. it's not even written well, and it has nothing to do with horror. i've read another book by RK too. exactly the same stuff!

Rating:
Summary: Very good book.
Review: This is one of the best books I've read in a while. I bought and read it in the same day. I stayed up the entire night becuase I couldn't put it down. Very good book, and I would highly reccomend it to anyone.

Rating:
Summary: I couldn't put it down!
Review: This is one of the best books I've read in a while. I bought it and read the entire book in the same day. I stayed up the entire night so I could finish it. Very good book.

Rating:
Summary: Great book!
Review: This was a great book that kept me glued to the last page. I really enjoyed the travels of the young "hero", on his way through "Fear" county. I thought this book was great and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good horror story.