J Scott Sharp, Author: August 2013

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Review of "Frostwalker" by Brandon R. Luffman

So, as I am getting out of the book review business, and I am getting into the book writing business, this means I will do an occasional review, and a bunch of cover reveals, as they come up. I still have two more reviews that I promised I would get done and that I am very behind on.

And I'm really happy to bring you this one.!

There’s something in the woods behind Jake Marsden’s house – and someone wants him to find it. A strange dream shatters his sleep, night after night, and a compulsion to find the dark presence in the forest wars with his logical and ordered nature. What’s a geek to do?

When his small hometown of Wynn, North Carolina falls under an ancient curse, Jake will find himself in a battle against creatures worse than any he’s faced in a game. Playing for keeps, it will be geek versus god in the fight to stop an evil force bent on destroying everything he holds dear.

The Geek Shall Inherit The Earth – If They Live Long Enough.

First, Mr. Luffman is my kind of guy. He writes horror and has a respect for what is scary. It is so rare that I read anything that can fill me with a little dread and make me sweat a little while I read it because I am afraid for the characters.

This was one of those books. A nail-biter.

I totally bought into Wynn, North Carolina. The setting felt real for me, with enough description to keep me engaged, but not too much so I felt I was reading a travelogue. I know nothing about North Carolina, or it's inhabitants, but Mr. Luffman obviously does. It's not just because he lives there, either. Many of us live in our state and couldn't describe it to anyone. Mr. Luffman really transported me to North Carolina. For that I was happy. I have to admit that when I heard that this novel was set in North Carolina, I had a hard time seeing it as a setting for a survival horror book.

I was wrong.

It was the perfect setting.

I also really liked the character of Jake Marsden. He was well thought out and held the book together as the main character. I could feel the dilemma that he is in in this book. Mr. Luffman did a great job of making me feel that a couple of things were on the line for this character: his sanity and his life. I wasn't as happy with his buddy Eric Lawson. He felt a little cardboard to me and so I didn't look forward to their scenes together as much as I wanted to. It was the same for me concerning Eric's live-in girlfriend Wendy. They were very much like every other side/main character relationship that I have read before.

However, the main thing is the horror.

Oh yes, the horror.

Once things ramp up and all hell breaks out, Mr. Luffman really took me on a trip into an unstable place where almost anything terrifying could happen, and sometimes it does. It really turned into a landscape of uncertainty, and for a while, I had no idea where this book was going, but I was interested to find out....and a little scared to find out too.

All together I would give this book 4 out of 5 stars. It was a great read and I would recommend it.

Pick it up right away if you like horror and survival horror!