Title: Starers
Series: (possibly)
Author: Nathan Robinson
Published: Snakebite Publishing; 2012
146 pages, kindle edition
Source: Review copy provided by author
Description:
Imagine if you found yourself the attention of the entire world . . .
The dysfunctional Keene family awaken one Saturday to find several strangers and neighbours staring at their home. Events turn more bizarre when more hypnotised strangers arrive, all seemingly transfixed with those within the Keene household. As the ominous crowd gathers and grows larger by the hour the Keene’s find themselves under siege in their own home. With hundreds, then thousands of bodies pressing against the walls of their home, a rising body count and grim premonitions plaguing their dreams, the family must work together to discover who or what is controlling the Starers.
The dysfunctional Keene family awaken one Saturday to find several strangers and neighbours staring at their home. Events turn more bizarre when more hypnotised strangers arrive, all seemingly transfixed with those within the Keene household. As the ominous crowd gathers and grows larger by the hour the Keene’s find themselves under siege in their own home. With hundreds, then thousands of bodies pressing against the walls of their home, a rising body count and grim premonitions plaguing their dreams, the family must work together to discover who or what is controlling the Starers.
Author Bio:
Horror author Nathan Robinson lives in Scunthorpe with his darling four year old twin boys, his patient wife/editor and a three legged cat named Dave. So far he’s had numerous short stories published by www.spinetinglers.co.uk, Rainstorm Press, Knight Watch Press, Pseudopod, Static Movement and many more.
He writes best in the dead of night or travelling at 77mph. He is a regular reviewer for www.snakebitehorror.co.uk, which he loves because he gets free books. He likes free books. His first novel “Starers” was released by Severed Press to rave reviews. This was followed by his short story collection “Devil Let Me Go.” His novelette “Ketchup with Everything” is the first publication from Snakebite Horror Publishing.
My Thoughts:
Let me start by saying that I am normally not a fan of horror. I don't get a kick from scaring myself. I really don't see the point of it. If I am scared of something I steer clear of it. I don't go on rollercoasters, climb mountains, walk on glass balconies, go in elevators (if I can help it) or anything else like that because heights scaring the living daylights out of me. Why would I want to purposely sit down on a Friday evening and pop in a movie / pick up a book and purposely scare myself then? The answer is I don't... well, until now.
Starers was the first real "horror" book I have ever read and actually enjoyed. It was extremely well-written with well-developed characters and a chillingly suspenseful plotline. The story was engaging with plenty of action and drama to keep me engaged. It had my heart racing in all the appropriate places and, even more surprisingly, laughing my head off too. Lennon was simply hilarious! His humour really helped to balance out the gory and ugly horror scenes.
I think what really, really made this book work so much for me was the Starers themselves. They were so damn freaky and I love how we were left clueless to what they wanted, what they were doing, what they were. The suspense was practically palpable. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time trying to figure out what was happening, how they were going to get out of the situation, who the mysterious he was, what he wanted... it was great how enthralling the plot was.
What let this down? The two main things for me were:
1. Lucy - she acted way, way, way too old for her age. I understand that the author is a guy so doesn't have the personal experience of going through that awkward age but it honestly isn't like that. Lucy acted more like a young adult than a preteen.
2. The ending - it left way too much unexplained and was unfortunately rather anticlimactic. I really am hoping for a second part to make up for it. I have so many questions about everything! I mean... where to even start? There seriously is a lot left up in the air and my curiosity is killing me.
To conclude this was an extremely well-written horror story that I would hastily recommend to unenthusiastic readers wanting a good introduction to the horror genre. It was a pleasant surprise and I don't regret picking it up at all.
Note: a copy was provided courtesy of Nathan Robinson in exchange for an honest review. No compensation was given or taken during this process.
Let me start by saying that I am normally not a fan of horror. I don't get a kick from scaring myself. I really don't see the point of it. If I am scared of something I steer clear of it. I don't go on rollercoasters, climb mountains, walk on glass balconies, go in elevators (if I can help it) or anything else like that because heights scaring the living daylights out of me. Why would I want to purposely sit down on a Friday evening and pop in a movie / pick up a book and purposely scare myself then? The answer is I don't... well, until now.
Starers was the first real "horror" book I have ever read and actually enjoyed. It was extremely well-written with well-developed characters and a chillingly suspenseful plotline. The story was engaging with plenty of action and drama to keep me engaged. It had my heart racing in all the appropriate places and, even more surprisingly, laughing my head off too. Lennon was simply hilarious! His humour really helped to balance out the gory and ugly horror scenes.
I think what really, really made this book work so much for me was the Starers themselves. They were so damn freaky and I love how we were left clueless to what they wanted, what they were doing, what they were. The suspense was practically palpable. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time trying to figure out what was happening, how they were going to get out of the situation, who the mysterious he was, what he wanted... it was great how enthralling the plot was.
What let this down? The two main things for me were:
1. Lucy - she acted way, way, way too old for her age. I understand that the author is a guy so doesn't have the personal experience of going through that awkward age but it honestly isn't like that. Lucy acted more like a young adult than a preteen.
2. The ending - it left way too much unexplained and was unfortunately rather anticlimactic. I really am hoping for a second part to make up for it. I have so many questions about everything! I mean... where to even start? There seriously is a lot left up in the air and my curiosity is killing me.
To conclude this was an extremely well-written horror story that I would hastily recommend to unenthusiastic readers wanting a good introduction to the horror genre. It was a pleasant surprise and I don't regret picking it up at all.
Note: a copy was provided courtesy of Nathan Robinson in exchange for an honest review. No compensation was given or taken during this process.
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