itsmarkyall's review against another edition
4.0
This book is hot and sticky like the Florida sun. Each page is fire and you can’t stop turning or you’ll get burned. Can’t wait to read the other books in this series. Steph Post is the real deal.
zzzrevel's review against another edition
2.0
Sorry...did not like the style of writing, the weak
characters, nor the flimsy plot.
characters, nor the flimsy plot.
bmgoodyear's review
4.0
Short Summary: When Judah Cannon is released from prison and returns to his hometown of Silas, Florida, he finds himself swiftly wrapped up in the troublesome workings of his family once again except this time may not result in prison, but death.
Thoughts: Steph Post has written a riveting noir-style story about revenge and betrayal that switches up the typical Appalachian setting of most Southern Gothic novels and gives us a peek at the dynamic and dangerous world of Florida scrub country.
Verdict: Daniel Woodrell, Donald Ray Pollock, and Cormac McCarthy are all big names of the often lurid genre but Steph Post proves with [b:Lightwood|30316211|Lightwood (Judah Cannon, #1)|Steph Post|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1466596265s/30316211.jpg|50804842] that her name is just as deserving to be listed amongst them.
I received this book free from the Author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Thoughts: Steph Post has written a riveting noir-style story about revenge and betrayal that switches up the typical Appalachian setting of most Southern Gothic novels and gives us a peek at the dynamic and dangerous world of Florida scrub country.
Verdict: Daniel Woodrell, Donald Ray Pollock, and Cormac McCarthy are all big names of the often lurid genre but Steph Post proves with [b:Lightwood|30316211|Lightwood (Judah Cannon, #1)|Steph Post|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1466596265s/30316211.jpg|50804842] that her name is just as deserving to be listed amongst them.
I received this book free from the Author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
alexcarbonneau's review against another edition
5.0
This book is pure Southern Grit-Lit that you light up with a dynamite stick and throw in the belly of a meth-fueled trailer only to watch the flames and chemical fumes going at you faster than a shotgun bullet. Y
Not so long ago, I promised myself I would stop giving 5-star ratings so easily, just because I liked a character or a passage in the novel and this might seem like my words aren't worth a damn, but good lord this book was a fun ride !
And it is definitely worth a 5-star rating in its genre.
I truly hope that if the author reads this, she will take it as a huge compliment, but for those of you who aren't familiar with the work of Steph Post, Lightwood could be described as The Quinn Colson Series of Florida. Her prose is very much like Ace Atkins' and she owns Florida like Atkins owns North Mississippi, like Connelly owns L.A. and like Stephen King owns Maine.
With Lightwood, Post did much more than just write a great novel that reads itself. She created a universe where she could dig deep and easily offer us a few more installements.
Steph Post has a refreshing prose and emerges as a very strong voice of Southern Lit. She is one of the few at work on the page who will manage to make you feel like you know a great deal about who her characters are just by paying attention to their names (see : Judah, Sherwood, Jack O'Lantern). A detail you don't see very much often and that I could get a lot more of in many novels.
Read it and ask for more !!
Not so long ago, I promised myself I would stop giving 5-star ratings so easily, just because I liked a character or a passage in the novel and this might seem like my words aren't worth a damn, but good lord this book was a fun ride !
And it is definitely worth a 5-star rating in its genre.
I truly hope that if the author reads this, she will take it as a huge compliment, but for those of you who aren't familiar with the work of Steph Post, Lightwood could be described as The Quinn Colson Series of Florida. Her prose is very much like Ace Atkins' and she owns Florida like Atkins owns North Mississippi, like Connelly owns L.A. and like Stephen King owns Maine.
With Lightwood, Post did much more than just write a great novel that reads itself. She created a universe where she could dig deep and easily offer us a few more installements.
Steph Post has a refreshing prose and emerges as a very strong voice of Southern Lit. She is one of the few at work on the page who will manage to make you feel like you know a great deal about who her characters are just by paying attention to their names (see : Judah, Sherwood, Jack O'Lantern). A detail you don't see very much often and that I could get a lot more of in many novels.
Read it and ask for more !!
belle0819's review against another edition
4.0
This was a good thrill ride through rural Florida. It was done right. I have a nagging feeling that I have read or seen this plot on TV before and it bugged me all the way through reading the book. The ending was well done and I will read the next in the Judah Cannon series just to see how it goes with Judah and Ramey.
moreadsbooks's review against another edition
2.0
Florida grit lit. When you leave prison after serving a term because you wouldn't turn on your Crime Family, of course you'll be sucked back into doing another job with your Crime Dad and Crime Brother. Along with the expected big score, this book adds to that narrative the wrinkles of a hapless biker gang with an ineffectual leader, and a terrifying church lady with colorless eyes who tortures her nephew and her congregation in the name of the lord. I feel like I've read this book before, but it's a good jumping off point for someone who's not been exposed to a lot of grit lit, and I did enjoy the admirable job Post does with the sweltering scenery.
mcf's review against another edition
4.0
Reading a recent interview with Post and Alex Segura in which she talked about the influence Justified has had on this series prompted me to give it a try, and I'm happy that I did. I love seedy crime stuff in general, and the southern, small town setting was nicely drawn here, as well as deeply relevant to the story and its characters. Post also imbues the community she creates an intriguing mix of bland normalcy and near-surreality, which gives the environment a very singular feel.
I'm definitely in for book two.
I'm definitely in for book two.
More...