Review: An Impressive Contribution to the Horror Genre
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 08 3, 2013
Beneath the Willow is a short horror story that serves as a powerful reminder of what the genre is about. Horror stories should unsettle you, give you an uncomfortable feeling in your gut, and the author successfully accomplishes that. Gemma's story has all of the elements of good horror. As you uncover more and more of the event taking place, the protagonist's feelings for what he's lost make it impossible for him to turn back, as he heads toward the inevitable.So what is it about? It is a vampire story returning to the roots of the legend. The vampire is gritty and monstrous, haunting and alien, and most importantly unpredictable. What happens when you loved the person before their inevitable demise? Is it love or guilt that drives the protagonist to do what he must not? With the relationship of the characters, it is easy to accept the decisions made that drives this story. I could see myself making similar choices.The author needs to make more of her short stories available. This was a very impressive introduction to an author that understands the elements of horror and is worth reading.