Review: Horror Novel Reviews: Honesty in the Terror
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 08 1, 2013
I'm going to run through a little synopsis breakdown of a novel. I want you to ask yourself a couple of questions: Does this sound familiar, and can I guess the novel? Here we go... A group of kids come together to thwart the offensive of an ancient evil. Their success is heavily reliant on their ability to survive and attack as a group. After a taut battle, they believe they've successfully put this villainous presence to rest. But wait, fast forward a few decades and one member of this group - now estranged - is calling the old bunch together, because that evil has returned, and they seem to be the only ones alive with the know-how to once more bring (at the least temporary) closure to a nightmarish reality.Any guesses?That's right, Stephen King's It... and Russell James', Sacrifice.It was necessary to kick this review off on that note, because the extent of my complaints about Sacrifice don't stretch far, beyond the fact that this one feels remarkably similar to King's beloved mammoth novel. The likeness at times feels uncanny, and that does admittedly distract the reader, at least any reader who's checked out King's It. That said, there's also something strangely inviting in the familiarity of this one. To an extent, we know where James is headed, right from the jump, and while that may typically work as a detractor, it's a bit... warm in this case.James excels in some pretty key areas, primarily pacing. Next to, It (we'll stick with this angle, since that's exactly how this review started), Sacrifice reads remarkably smooth. James' pacing is superior to King's because Russell has no desire to draw out unnecessary sequences, while King's work could have been trimmed a healthy 200 pages without suffering. Don't get me wrong, there are moments in which it feels as though James rushes (the moment in which our protagonists accept the existence of the Woodsman feels admittedly rushed, as your typical senior in high school has so much crap on his mind that squeezing in an enigma and challenge of this nature isn't something I'd expect anyone to leap to embrace) things a bit, and a downshift to flesh obstacles out would have been welcomed with open arms. However, for the most part, Russell nails fluidity while maintaining a solid measure of legit continuity. Sacrifice is a fast read that yanks the reader in.I'm not going to leap to brand this novel frightening, but it has its moments. The fact that our antagonist, The Woodsman - as he's been branded - is an unsettling figure who targets children doesn't sit well in the psyche. Any time an author opts to place youth on the frontlines, things become disconcerting. James doesn't twist that approach in any overly sadistic fashion though, and he keeps the pulse of hope strong enough to focus on the grand goal of good (ending this monstrosity's run of terror) rather than the bleaker elements of the tale. Sacrifice won't challenge the audience, but it should please anyone out to unearth a quick, fun read. The novels shortcomings are far outweighed by its strengths, and in the end, that's all that really matters. Sacrifice is worth a go, no doubt about it.Written by Matt Molgaard from Horror Novel Reviews. Horror Novel Reviews does not receive payment for reviews. All books are promotional copies.