stayshiny's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Terminal illness, Hate crime, and Racism
pbanditp's review against another edition
5.0
Ronald Kelly is quickly becoming a favorite author of mine and is definitely on the instant buy list. The settings and characters feel familiar like you are coming home, Kelly reminds me of Robert McCammon with the southern atmosphere and charm.
FEAR is a coming-of-age story about a 10 year old boy named Jeb, although the poor kid has already had to grow up plenty. Jeb lives at his sick grandmothers along with his father Sam who was injured in the war and resulted in him having the mind of a child.
Jeb’s problem with bully’s at school turns into a minor inconvenience when the family’s prize pig is taken by a vicious nightmare creature leaving only the pigs ear behind. Things go from bad to worse when children start to disappear from their bedrooms in the middle of the night.
Jeb knows where the creature is taking the children and when the sheriff won’t help him, Jeb gathers a ragtag group to seek answers in the only place that might be more dangerous than the creatures lair, Fear County.
Can Jeb, his father Sam, a traveling musician named Roscoe, and Jeb’s dog Buckshot find a way to defeat the creature and save the children, and will Fear County let them live long enough to try?
FEAR is a coming-of-age story about a 10 year old boy named Jeb, although the poor kid has already had to grow up plenty. Jeb lives at his sick grandmothers along with his father Sam who was injured in the war and resulted in him having the mind of a child.
Jeb’s problem with bully’s at school turns into a minor inconvenience when the family’s prize pig is taken by a vicious nightmare creature leaving only the pigs ear behind. Things go from bad to worse when children start to disappear from their bedrooms in the middle of the night.
Jeb knows where the creature is taking the children and when the sheriff won’t help him, Jeb gathers a ragtag group to seek answers in the only place that might be more dangerous than the creatures lair, Fear County.
Can Jeb, his father Sam, a traveling musician named Roscoe, and Jeb’s dog Buckshot find a way to defeat the creature and save the children, and will Fear County let them live long enough to try?
cdanziger's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
kittykallen's review against another edition
5.0
Wowwwwwwww!
I'll start by saying that the cover art might steer a lot of people away - not that I could draw anything better of course. But the illustration on the cover compared to the depth of the book is much different. It's a very "Don't Judge A Book By Its Cover" type of deal.
This easily is one of the best books I've ever read, and I mean that.
I stumbled across this book suggestion on Reddit when I was looking for books that gave off the same kind of energy of a podcast I follow called Old Gods of Appalachia and I was not disappointed.
This was a southern-style horror as well as a coming-of-age tale. Detailed characters. Small old town vibes. Fantasy. Creature folklore. Gore. Genuine love. Amazing food descriptions. Villains that will make you squirm with rage. Southern Charm. All of it. Many times through the book I laughed or cried and managed to finish this 400+ page book in a couple of days because I couldn't put it down during any of my free time.
It was a magical experience and really moved me. Do read this book. I'll be back in the future to peep new reviews on it that I haven't yet read.
I'll start by saying that the cover art might steer a lot of people away - not that I could draw anything better of course. But the illustration on the cover compared to the depth of the book is much different. It's a very "Don't Judge A Book By Its Cover" type of deal.
This easily is one of the best books I've ever read, and I mean that.
I stumbled across this book suggestion on Reddit when I was looking for books that gave off the same kind of energy of a podcast I follow called Old Gods of Appalachia and I was not disappointed.
This was a southern-style horror as well as a coming-of-age tale. Detailed characters. Small old town vibes. Fantasy. Creature folklore. Gore. Genuine love. Amazing food descriptions. Villains that will make you squirm with rage. Southern Charm. All of it. Many times through the book I laughed or cried and managed to finish this 400+ page book in a couple of days because I couldn't put it down during any of my free time.
It was a magical experience and really moved me. Do read this book. I'll be back in the future to peep new reviews on it that I haven't yet read.
paperbackstash's review
4.0
I read this years and years ago...most books not long after I read them, even if I really loved them during the read. I read so many books, they become like broken records after awhile. Fear, however, always stayed with me. I loved it then, and after I found another copy recently, I love it now just as much.
It reads almost like an adult fairy tale type. Young adults could read and enjoy this one as much as adults, but that shouldn't put off the 'grown up' readers. It almost seems like Kelly took every horrible thing he could think of out of his brain and placed it in this book. There’s not just one monster there’s this one, that one, and even that one over there. The atmosphere in different areas of the county the woods, or the water, or the cabin all were amazing.
Much of the beginning is focused on the internal issues Jeb has, so some may feel impatient to get the action moving, but while there isn't as much action present, it was all interesting and fun. I really felt drawn to the characters in a real, emotional way, cheering them on the whole time.
Dialogue is told through a small-town, hickish type dialect, with words such as "'ol," "how're," "gonna," and "dangrum." Surprisingly this doesn't get annoying. The style of writing is easily comprehended, straightforward, and consistent. The ending was one that was happy and miserable at the same time. Kelly relies on as much internal dialogue as external. "Fear" is written in multiple POV viewpoints, mainly third person flexible, but the majority is seen through the eyes of the child 'Jeb.'
I heard from somewhere that Kelly hasn’t been writing anymore; if this is true, it’s a shame, because he has talent.
It reads almost like an adult fairy tale type. Young adults could read and enjoy this one as much as adults, but that shouldn't put off the 'grown up' readers. It almost seems like Kelly took every horrible thing he could think of out of his brain and placed it in this book. There’s not just one monster there’s this one, that one, and even that one over there. The atmosphere in different areas of the county the woods, or the water, or the cabin all were amazing.
Much of the beginning is focused on the internal issues Jeb has, so some may feel impatient to get the action moving, but while there isn't as much action present, it was all interesting and fun. I really felt drawn to the characters in a real, emotional way, cheering them on the whole time.
Dialogue is told through a small-town, hickish type dialect, with words such as "'ol," "how're," "gonna," and "dangrum." Surprisingly this doesn't get annoying. The style of writing is easily comprehended, straightforward, and consistent. The ending was one that was happy and miserable at the same time. Kelly relies on as much internal dialogue as external. "Fear" is written in multiple POV viewpoints, mainly third person flexible, but the majority is seen through the eyes of the child 'Jeb.'
I heard from somewhere that Kelly hasn’t been writing anymore; if this is true, it’s a shame, because he has talent.
splatterelli's review
4.0
There was this heart-warming, 1950's Southern Americana, dirt country Tennessee feeling about it that I just loved.
Jeb is a really innocent and brave kid from the wrong side of the tracks. He is faced with a few horrific challenges all at once in his young little life, one being a cunning snake-like monster thing that is taking out the townsfolk. In order to save them all, he must be brave and go on quite an epic adventure into the mouth of Fear County, facing its many hellish foes, along with a few special companions.
All of the characters were bursting with personality and many of them just so endearing. It took me longer than normal to finish this one just because I found myself savoring it. At the mention of his granny making the most delicious southern breakfast spread with cathead biscuits, I actually took a pause and made them myself!
Jeb is a really innocent and brave kid from the wrong side of the tracks. He is faced with a few horrific challenges all at once in his young little life, one being a cunning snake-like monster thing that is taking out the townsfolk. In order to save them all, he must be brave and go on quite an epic adventure into the mouth of Fear County, facing its many hellish foes, along with a few special companions.
All of the characters were bursting with personality and many of them just so endearing. It took me longer than normal to finish this one just because I found myself savoring it. At the mention of his granny making the most delicious southern breakfast spread with cathead biscuits, I actually took a pause and made them myself!
nikkijames611's review
5.0
I don’t feel like any words could describe what an amazing wonderful book this is. Its a coming of age story with a very unique storyline. It’s one of those books that you are so sad when it ends and leaves you wanting more. It took me on an emotional ride with all the feels and is a truly magical, beautiful story with amazing characters. This has definitely moved into my top 5 of all time! If you haven’t read it, you need to, you won’t be disappointed.
buildhergender's review
5.0
I enjoyed this book immensely. Set in the years post World War 2. The description of the life that the protagonist lived and his surroundings felt fleshed out and was a pleasure to read.
Spoilers
I expected a book about a town taken over by some type of lizard monster and that the protagonist, Jeb, would have to kill it. Did not expect any kind of magical elements or much of a story besides a paint by numbers monster comes to town, kills people, kid kills monster.
And at first that is how this book starts. The reptile comes into town, starts with animals but as it grows it begins to capture and feed off of humans. Despite the size of the monster you would at first be mistaken to think this animal could be substituted for any other type and the book stay the same.
But then the story takes a turn and we find that it has intelligence. And more than that it is from the county below which is named Fear. Most of the book is filled with Jeb's trip into Fear county in order to talk to a Granny lady who is said to be the one good thing in Fear county.
And unlike most books where they might just hint there is some magic in the world and at play, this book embraces it.
Jeb's journey through Fear county reads a bit like the gunslingers journey's through the wastelands in the Stephen King series, however shorter yet still interesting and well written.
There are a few main conflicts besides the monster, Jeb's grandmother having cancer, his father being brain addled from the war, and his friend/guide being a black man in a white filled country, and they are no surprises with how these end up.
The book will probably not have any surprises for you plot wise, but it is still a good read for the journey taken and how well it is written.
Spoilers
I expected a book about a town taken over by some type of lizard monster and that the protagonist, Jeb, would have to kill it. Did not expect any kind of magical elements or much of a story besides a paint by numbers monster comes to town, kills people, kid kills monster.
And at first that is how this book starts. The reptile comes into town, starts with animals but as it grows it begins to capture and feed off of humans. Despite the size of the monster you would at first be mistaken to think this animal could be substituted for any other type and the book stay the same.
But then the story takes a turn and we find that it has intelligence. And more than that it is from the county below which is named Fear. Most of the book is filled with Jeb's trip into Fear county in order to talk to a Granny lady who is said to be the one good thing in Fear county.
And unlike most books where they might just hint there is some magic in the world and at play, this book embraces it.
Jeb's journey through Fear county reads a bit like the gunslingers journey's through the wastelands in the Stephen King series, however shorter yet still interesting and well written.
There are a few main conflicts besides the monster, Jeb's grandmother having cancer, his father being brain addled from the war, and his friend/guide being a black man in a white filled country, and they are no surprises with how these end up.
The book will probably not have any surprises for you plot wise, but it is still a good read for the journey taken and how well it is written.
shanblackman's review against another edition
4.0
Creature horror with a ton of heart. Really enjoyed it.
charshorrorcorner's review against another edition
5.0
4.5/5*
FEAR was a crazy mixture of: creature feature/coming of age/evil in a small town horror. It just doesn't get much more fun than that!
In the backwoods of Tennessee, young Jeb Sweeney is fighting for his family. His farmer father has been turned into a simpleton, thanks to a war injury. His mother is gone and his grandmother is gravely ill. There are bullies around their small town and on top of that, some kind of creature has arrived and it's killing anything it can get its hands on. What is a young man supposed to do about all this? You'll have to read FEAR to find out!
I have to admit that this book brought me back to the old days when I first started reading horror. (For me, those old days are in the late 70's, early 80's.) Back then, there were a lot of tales like this and they were beefy ones too-500 pages or more. You really would settle in with a book and it would go everywhere with you until you finished it. Coming of age tales were especially popular during that time, but not all of them were great. FEAR was though and I'll tell you why.
We have a family we can care for, more than one antagonist, a compelling setting, and best of all? A creature that can only be described as....SCARY. Sprinkle in some older women busy working their mojo, a traveling blues-man and an entire county of scary creatures, and you have the recipe for F-U-N!
This tale did start out slowly as we got to know everyone, the town, and the stories surrounding Fear County. Around about the halfway point, things ramped up and then the pace flew through the second half- I had a very hard time putting it down. I suspect that these days, an editor would have cut down the word count a bit, and even though I enjoyed the slower pace of the beginning, I can't deny that a few words could have been cut without hurting the book overall. For that I deducted half a star.
FEAR is exactly the type of book that inspired in me a love of horror fiction and dark fiction in general. We have a dirt poor family, a young man to root for, a setting of the small town, and nearby? A place so haunted and scary that no one ever goes there. I mean, really, for a horror fan-what's not to like? I highly recommend this book, especially to fans of coming of age horror and creature features.
Get your copy here: https://amzn.to/2F7eSYa
*I purchased my copy with my hard earned cash back in 2014. I'm so glad I finally read this book!*
**Ronald Kelly was kind enough to join the Horror Aficionados Group for a group read of this story. Thank you, Mr. Kelly! I had a great time!**
FEAR was a crazy mixture of: creature feature/coming of age/evil in a small town horror. It just doesn't get much more fun than that!
In the backwoods of Tennessee, young Jeb Sweeney is fighting for his family. His farmer father has been turned into a simpleton, thanks to a war injury. His mother is gone and his grandmother is gravely ill. There are bullies around their small town and on top of that, some kind of creature has arrived and it's killing anything it can get its hands on. What is a young man supposed to do about all this? You'll have to read FEAR to find out!
I have to admit that this book brought me back to the old days when I first started reading horror. (For me, those old days are in the late 70's, early 80's.) Back then, there were a lot of tales like this and they were beefy ones too-500 pages or more. You really would settle in with a book and it would go everywhere with you until you finished it. Coming of age tales were especially popular during that time, but not all of them were great. FEAR was though and I'll tell you why.
We have a family we can care for, more than one antagonist, a compelling setting, and best of all? A creature that can only be described as....SCARY. Sprinkle in some older women busy working their mojo, a traveling blues-man and an entire county of scary creatures, and you have the recipe for F-U-N!
This tale did start out slowly as we got to know everyone, the town, and the stories surrounding Fear County. Around about the halfway point, things ramped up and then the pace flew through the second half- I had a very hard time putting it down. I suspect that these days, an editor would have cut down the word count a bit, and even though I enjoyed the slower pace of the beginning, I can't deny that a few words could have been cut without hurting the book overall. For that I deducted half a star.
FEAR is exactly the type of book that inspired in me a love of horror fiction and dark fiction in general. We have a dirt poor family, a young man to root for, a setting of the small town, and nearby? A place so haunted and scary that no one ever goes there. I mean, really, for a horror fan-what's not to like? I highly recommend this book, especially to fans of coming of age horror and creature features.
Get your copy here: https://amzn.to/2F7eSYa
*I purchased my copy with my hard earned cash back in 2014. I'm so glad I finally read this book!*
**Ronald Kelly was kind enough to join the Horror Aficionados Group for a group read of this story. Thank you, Mr. Kelly! I had a great time!**