Book Review: Gone To The Wolves by John Wray

 

 

I wanted to like this book so much more. Three teenage rock fans from Florida get into death metal, go to LA for the Glam scene, then end up in Norway during the height of the Black Metal craze. A metal version of Forrest Gump. 

The characters are unlikeable. They never really click as a unit. Their conversations are always antagonistic or purposefully misleading. They never say what they feel. That gets old quick.

The cameos felt forced. The climax was very rushed. And the epilogue was terrible. Kira, who is way too Manic Pixie Dream Girl, is so poorly resolved that I feel she will still have problems unless she gets into therapy or rehab. I was hoping to read that in the epilogue, but sadly there is no sign of real growth among any of the characters. And what happened to the international authorities and the other victims?

Lastly, as a Tampa resident, there is no such place as Downtown Ybor City (pg 68) and if one were to take the quickest route to Venice from Tampa International Airport (southbound I-275), I-75 is way more than 15 minutes away (pg 252).

So much potential.

Grade 3.5. A 3 is too low, but I feel like a 4 is too high.

Book Review: Smashed, Squashed, Splattered, Chewed, Chunked, and Spewed by Lance Carbuncle

 

Ever read a book and ask yourself "what the hell did I just read?"? Not in the way that it wasn't in English, or didn't make sense, but in the way that it was such a trip that you are taken back and knocked on your heels from the sheer insanity of the written word.

From the simple premise of a man driving from Florida to Ohio to pick up his dog comes a wild adventure featuring roadside explosions, deals with the Devil, stolen wiener mobiles, and copious amounts of drug use.

I met Lance at a convention a few years ago. He is a very creative and interesting artist and author. His stuff borders on the weird. Correction: his stuff is weird. Very weird. In a fun way. In a crazy road trip through a hurricane trying to find a basset hound via a spiritual connection sorta way. But you have to stop off in small town Tennessee first to pick up your soul because you traded it for a one-night stand with a bar wench.

If that makes sense, or if that piques your interest in any way, shape, or form, I highly recommend you pick up Smashed, Squashed, Splattered, Chewed, Chunked, and Spewed anywhere weird books are sold. 

TITLE REVEAL: Chaos in the Corner COMING SOON

 

I am super excited. My new novel is coming soon. The rough draft is done. I have to review it a few times and let some folks look at it for content accuracy, then get the cover, then the formatting, then get it out to the world.

I've been working on this for a few years. Time to hit the home stretch.