Review: FREAKED ME OUT!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 10 10, 2012
At the climax of the story Marshal says, "OhmyGod! OhmyGod! OhmyGod!"  That was pretty much the thought running through my head at that point.  And I couldn't wait to see what else was going to happen, and how it was all resolved.  Cuz the novella was an adrenalin rush practically from word one.The main character Jenny is a geek that has spent most of her life alone (by choice and circumstance) and she is pissed off about it.  She is at a point in her young life where decisions have to be made when she gets an e-mail from her dead grandfather.  This prompts an unwilling opening past memories, and the discovery of a hand crafted hatchet, which incidentally feels as natural in her grip as the game controllers.The story quickly picks up momentum as Jenny makes her decision to visit the old man, and perform the seemingly simple task of hanging out in a deer stand just after dusk, sight down on the raging beast that killed all the livestock with special ammo provided, and then spend time getting to know a long lost relative with secrets to disclose.If you're thinking "yeah right" at this point so was I, and so was Jenny.  The tension and pacing of the unfolding story had my legs cramping and my jaw clenching with anticipation.  Each word seemed specifically chosen to evoke an emotional and physical response - humor, nausea, skepticism, and mostly TERROR.I warn you Blood Fugue is not for the squeamish.  It has foul language, extreme violence and gore, and will completely freak you out.  You'll be able to smell the decaying horse, feel like retching with Jenny, and see the image of the great beast thundering towards her.  I'm sure to have nightmares tonight, thank you very much EJ!The gore was well written, the foul language appropriate to theme, the psychological tension expertly built, and the action left me on the edge of my seat.  And ducking; the imagery was that vivid.Don't start this at night; lock all the doors and windows; and be sure the family is away so they don't hear you scream along with Jenny and Marshal (not to mention you're likely to bite them for the interruption).........dhole