rock_n_reads's review against another edition
4.0
By now you know that I love music as much as reading, so when I saw the cover art and synopsis for this novel, I knew I had to read it. So far, I’ve never been disappointed in horror featuring bands or musical artists, and this story was no exception. When I read, I typically see the story play out like a movie in my mind. A Voice So Soft is one that I can totally picture as an actual film or television adaptation. The premise of the story is really creative, and I was fully entertained from start to finish. The beginning grabbed my attention immediately, and the ending was satisfying, yet left me wanting to read even more (this is a good thing).
This novel has several elements that made it a solid read for me—characters, setting, great pacing, and a dash of humor in the right places. The characters are memorable and relatable. I felt a lot of empathy for Shawna, and in general I really enjoyed following all of the characters’ story arcs. The story takes place in Salem, Massachusetts, during the Halloween season, which added the perfect element of spookiness, and I also liked the backstory that we got on events from Angie and Shawna’s childhood. There were some great pop culture/musical references sprinkled in (I always enjoy these) and I thought that the author did a great job portraying the insanity of pop star fandom (especially with an evil element added to the mix).
I’ve actually been hoarding several of Patrick Lacey’s novels for a bit, but hadn’t had a chance to read them yet. I think that A Voice So Soft was a great place for me to start. I’d love to know what happens next for the main characters in this story, although I’m not sure if there are plans for a sequel. If so, I’ll be in line to read it. I’m definitely moving Lacey’s other work up on my TBR list. Like the song in the story, this one will linger in your mind long after you’ve closed the pages.
This novel has several elements that made it a solid read for me—characters, setting, great pacing, and a dash of humor in the right places. The characters are memorable and relatable. I felt a lot of empathy for Shawna, and in general I really enjoyed following all of the characters’ story arcs. The story takes place in Salem, Massachusetts, during the Halloween season, which added the perfect element of spookiness, and I also liked the backstory that we got on events from Angie and Shawna’s childhood. There were some great pop culture/musical references sprinkled in (I always enjoy these) and I thought that the author did a great job portraying the insanity of pop star fandom (especially with an evil element added to the mix).
I’ve actually been hoarding several of Patrick Lacey’s novels for a bit, but hadn’t had a chance to read them yet. I think that A Voice So Soft was a great place for me to start. I’d love to know what happens next for the main characters in this story, although I’m not sure if there are plans for a sequel. If so, I’ll be in line to read it. I’m definitely moving Lacey’s other work up on my TBR list. Like the song in the story, this one will linger in your mind long after you’ve closed the pages.
readingvicariously's review against another edition
4.0
The opening of the book is fantastic. It’s horrifying and gruesome, and it immediately gives you a sense of where the book is heading (introducing a main character and giving a first glimpse of the mysterious power behind the music). But instead of pausing to slowly build back up the tension the creepy moments continue on, with strange and unnatural occurrences happening every few pages. There’s lots to unsettle you and build anticipation for what’s to come, and I love how the book throws the reader right into all of it and doesn’t let up.
Without giving too much away, the book functions as sort of a spin on the “sell your soul to the devil” trope, but it’s told predominantly from the perspective of the victims to Angie’s insidious plan. I like how the story shifts back and forth between the POVs of Mike (the police officer tracking Angie’s moves), Josh (a down-on-his-luck music store owner), Esmeralda (a shop owner of the uncanny who regrets introducing Angie to secrets of another world…), and Shawna (Angie’s twin sister who suffers from bullying and low self-esteem).
The book is a lot of fun for numerous reasons, but it doesn’t break a lot of new ground (and in fact it reminds me a lot of a horror film called The Signal where a mysterious transmission that turns people into killers invades every cell phone, radio, and television). So you might have an idea of where the story is going as you read, but that’s okay. You’re still totally invested with the well-rounded characters, excellent writing, creepy moments, and humor interlaced throughout (this book is FUNNY!). There’s also a lot of the author telling us directly what characters are thinking and feeling. Normally I’m a big fan of “show, don’t tell,” but I actually think it works here and goes well with the humorous/suspenseful tone.
Again, the book may not be totally original but it’s still a blast. And to be fair it’s incredibly terrifying in parts and tackles a subject that isn’t entirely overdone (at least from what I’ve read/seen). There’s plenty of fresh blood for Angie to mine. I love seeing all the different ways the town (and world) starts to change from the effects of the hit song; how it bores into their brains, and what it makes them do in turn. Plus I’m always down for anything involving demonic rituals and weird cults! I think my biggest complaint is that the story waits until the last twenty pages to hit the climax, and then it ends with an epilogue that feels rushed. Overall this book gets a strong recommendation from me!
As the author states in the inscription, pop music is the devil!
Without giving too much away, the book functions as sort of a spin on the “sell your soul to the devil” trope, but it’s told predominantly from the perspective of the victims to Angie’s insidious plan. I like how the story shifts back and forth between the POVs of Mike (the police officer tracking Angie’s moves), Josh (a down-on-his-luck music store owner), Esmeralda (a shop owner of the uncanny who regrets introducing Angie to secrets of another world…), and Shawna (Angie’s twin sister who suffers from bullying and low self-esteem).
The book is a lot of fun for numerous reasons, but it doesn’t break a lot of new ground (and in fact it reminds me a lot of a horror film called The Signal where a mysterious transmission that turns people into killers invades every cell phone, radio, and television). So you might have an idea of where the story is going as you read, but that’s okay. You’re still totally invested with the well-rounded characters, excellent writing, creepy moments, and humor interlaced throughout (this book is FUNNY!). There’s also a lot of the author telling us directly what characters are thinking and feeling. Normally I’m a big fan of “show, don’t tell,” but I actually think it works here and goes well with the humorous/suspenseful tone.
Again, the book may not be totally original but it’s still a blast. And to be fair it’s incredibly terrifying in parts and tackles a subject that isn’t entirely overdone (at least from what I’ve read/seen). There’s plenty of fresh blood for Angie to mine. I love seeing all the different ways the town (and world) starts to change from the effects of the hit song; how it bores into their brains, and what it makes them do in turn. Plus I’m always down for anything involving demonic rituals and weird cults! I think my biggest complaint is that the story waits until the last twenty pages to hit the climax, and then it ends with an epilogue that feels rushed. Overall this book gets a strong recommendation from me!
As the author states in the inscription, pop music is the devil!
motherhorror's review against another edition
4.0
There has *always* been this suggestion that pop music is a bad influence on "today's youth". I remember something about TV networks not showing Elvis from the waist down because of his provocative hip gyrating. Madonna was responsible for girls losing their virginity and Tipper Gore took on "porn rock" like Prince's song, Darling Nikki and required parental advisory warning labels on albums with suggestive lyrics.
But what if there actually was some truth to the accusations? What if subliminal messages really were hidden in pop anthems that get stuck in your head? Bottom line: Could pop music be of the devil?
A VOICE SO SOFT by Patrick Lacey is about a young woman named Angie Everstein who wins an American TV singing talent show and becomes an instant icon.
On Halloween night, Angie is coming home (Salem, Massachusetts) to perform a concert. But there are a few people who want to prevent this from happening, Angie's twin sister and police officer Mallory, who believes that Angie is somehow tied to a series of murders.
This read is straight-up binge-worthy. Once you finish the shocking prologue, readers can expect a perfectly paced plotline with memorable characters you can invest in.
Shawna, Angie's twin sister, is a delight. There's one line she says towards the end, but it's a little revealing of some reading discovery, so I'm not going to quote it here but the whole story was peppered with great one-liners like that one.
I think the trick to enjoying this book is to have fun. Clearly, Pat Lacey had a great time writing it and it's evident in all the colorful details and cultural references like video games, music, and movies.
I especially liked the character, Esmeralda and her transformation through the book.
As far as stories with a music/horror mash-up, this one would make my top 10 list because it checks all the boxes. Falls a little short of a five-star rating simply because it flies under the adult horror genre into YA for me, even though it's not marketed as such.
But what if there actually was some truth to the accusations? What if subliminal messages really were hidden in pop anthems that get stuck in your head? Bottom line: Could pop music be of the devil?
A VOICE SO SOFT by Patrick Lacey is about a young woman named Angie Everstein who wins an American TV singing talent show and becomes an instant icon.
On Halloween night, Angie is coming home (Salem, Massachusetts) to perform a concert. But there are a few people who want to prevent this from happening, Angie's twin sister and police officer Mallory, who believes that Angie is somehow tied to a series of murders.
This read is straight-up binge-worthy. Once you finish the shocking prologue, readers can expect a perfectly paced plotline with memorable characters you can invest in.
Shawna, Angie's twin sister, is a delight. There's one line she says towards the end, but it's a little revealing of some reading discovery, so I'm not going to quote it here but the whole story was peppered with great one-liners like that one.
I think the trick to enjoying this book is to have fun. Clearly, Pat Lacey had a great time writing it and it's evident in all the colorful details and cultural references like video games, music, and movies.
I especially liked the character, Esmeralda and her transformation through the book.
As far as stories with a music/horror mash-up, this one would make my top 10 list because it checks all the boxes. Falls a little short of a five-star rating simply because it flies under the adult horror genre into YA for me, even though it's not marketed as such.
readswithdogs's review against another edition
4.0
A VOICE SO SOFT intrigued me right from the start because we've got mainstream Pop music being the devil's music instead of the traditional Metal or Rock. Not only is Pop music the devil, but the possessed evil-doer is none other than a beautiful teenager girl named Angie.
Angie's won an American singing competition and her hit single "Forever With You" is taking over radios across the country and causing more than just an earworm. Her fans (called Glitter Critters) are driven wild by the music and seem to be working up to some big event...
Patrick Lacey weaves a compelling take that seems probable-- especially around Halloweentime in Salem, Massachusetts!
I loved the altering viewpoints from Angie's twin sister (who predictably isn't an Angie fan), a police officer who connects some bizarre murders to "Forever With You", his friend a record producer and a psychology professor as they try to piece together the madness and try to stop Angie from ending the world.
However, there was a character I didn't care for whose storyline soured everything for me. A magic shop owner named Esmeralda who is consistently described as an overweight panting woman who is always eating fast food. Esmeralda deserved better than diabetes jokes and I didn't need to read about the struggles of a fat woman as fodder, it didn't add anything to the story and just made me angry that so much attention was placed on her weight. Why was it necessary?! The constant mentions of how all adult men wanted to fuck Angie was annoying, but I figured it was part of the lull of the power of her music. Esmeralda's high cholesterol levels didn't need mentioning and just was weird.
Other than that A VOICE SO SOFT was thoroughly entertaining popcorn Horror and has made me want to seek out more work from Patrick Lacey.
3.5 stars
Angie's won an American singing competition and her hit single "Forever With You" is taking over radios across the country and causing more than just an earworm. Her fans (called Glitter Critters) are driven wild by the music and seem to be working up to some big event...
Patrick Lacey weaves a compelling take that seems probable-- especially around Halloweentime in Salem, Massachusetts!
I loved the altering viewpoints from Angie's twin sister (who predictably isn't an Angie fan), a police officer who connects some bizarre murders to "Forever With You", his friend a record producer and a psychology professor as they try to piece together the madness and try to stop Angie from ending the world.
However, there was a character I didn't care for whose storyline soured everything for me. A magic shop owner named Esmeralda who is consistently described as an overweight panting woman who is always eating fast food. Esmeralda deserved better than diabetes jokes and I didn't need to read about the struggles of a fat woman as fodder, it didn't add anything to the story and just made me angry that so much attention was placed on her weight. Why was it necessary?! The constant mentions of how all adult men wanted to fuck Angie was annoying, but I figured it was part of the lull of the power of her music. Esmeralda's high cholesterol levels didn't need mentioning and just was weird.
Other than that A VOICE SO SOFT was thoroughly entertaining popcorn Horror and has made me want to seek out more work from Patrick Lacey.
3.5 stars
exorcismofemilyreed's review against another edition
4.0
3.5⭐
Patrick Lacey always has such fun story concepts, and A Voice So Soft definitely fits that bill. Music horror is something I've only been aware of in recent years, and all of the offerings in that subgenre have been entertaining so far.
I enjoyed seeing how everything played out in this book, and I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen. Unfortunately, I really struggled with the pacing of this book. It went very slowly, especially for such a short book, and it ended up feeling repetitive for me since it took a while for something different to happen.
I felt like there was a too much focus on Esmeralda's food choices. The character is obese, and has a lot of health problems, but I didn't really care for having all of her meals listed out everytime she ate. I get the point of showing that she had a psychological overeating issue, but it was carried throughout the entire book. It was just mundane details being repeated.
Although I had some issues with this book, I did enjoy the story for the most part. I was still interested in what was going on, and I think this will work well for readers who enjoy slower-paced horror stories. The magic and cult aspects were intriguing, and I hope there will be a second book since there's a door left open for one at the end.
Patrick Lacey always has such fun story concepts, and A Voice So Soft definitely fits that bill. Music horror is something I've only been aware of in recent years, and all of the offerings in that subgenre have been entertaining so far.
I enjoyed seeing how everything played out in this book, and I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen. Unfortunately, I really struggled with the pacing of this book. It went very slowly, especially for such a short book, and it ended up feeling repetitive for me since it took a while for something different to happen.
I felt like there was a too much focus on Esmeralda's food choices. The character is obese, and has a lot of health problems, but I didn't really care for having all of her meals listed out everytime she ate. I get the point of showing that she had a psychological overeating issue, but it was carried throughout the entire book. It was just mundane details being repeated.
Although I had some issues with this book, I did enjoy the story for the most part. I was still interested in what was going on, and I think this will work well for readers who enjoy slower-paced horror stories. The magic and cult aspects were intriguing, and I hope there will be a second book since there's a door left open for one at the end.
teamredmon's review against another edition
4.0
Angie Everson is a pop princess and the hottest musical act in the country. She has just won the most significant talent competition on television and has the number one song on pop radio. Angie is everywhere, and you can't turn on the radio, television, youtube, or any other media without hearing her song, Forever With You. She's on top of the world and wants to celebrate with a concert in Salem, MA, her hometown. Angie's twin sister, Shawna, hates her sister and wants her to stay away.
Since Angie's song has been blasting the airwaves, a series of crazy murders have been happening when Angie's music plays. Finally, Shawna's not the only one that believes her sister is evil. Detective Mike Mallory believes that Angie's music has hidden subliminal messages that are inspiring listeners to commit brutal acts of violence. As the Halloween concert draws near, Shawna and Detective Mallory have to team up to put an end to Angie's demonic pop music for good. However, Angie's rabid, cult-like fan might have something to say about that.
Although I was slow to start, once I got going on this one, I flew through it. It reads quite fast, and Lacey's writing is crisp and creative. I thought the story was an inventive twist on the "music is the devil" idea that is usually associated with metal, rock n roll, or hip hop and applies it to pop music with its bright colors and glitter. Angie's fans are called Glitter Critters, and what could be less intimidating than that?
I had one problem with this novel, and it centered around one character. Esmerelda runs a witchcraft tourist shop in Salem. Esmerelda is described as extremely obese. While I do not have a problem with a character being very overweight in this case, the character's weight was central to everything about her. Every time she's on the page, she is eating fast food, talking about her cholesterol, being the butt of diabetes jokes, etc. She's described at every opportunity as disgusting to the point that it took me out of the plot. It just felt overdone and that this character that should've been pretty interesting deserved better than what she ending up with. The way this character is written is the reason this is not a five-star book for me. Other than Esmerelda, I found very little that I didn't enjoy.
Overall, this is a highly entertaining story. I enjoyed it a great deal as I have with everything that I've read from Patrick Lacey. I would recommend this book to horror readers that enjoy stories of dark magic, possession, cults, or folk horror.
Since Angie's song has been blasting the airwaves, a series of crazy murders have been happening when Angie's music plays. Finally, Shawna's not the only one that believes her sister is evil. Detective Mike Mallory believes that Angie's music has hidden subliminal messages that are inspiring listeners to commit brutal acts of violence. As the Halloween concert draws near, Shawna and Detective Mallory have to team up to put an end to Angie's demonic pop music for good. However, Angie's rabid, cult-like fan might have something to say about that.
Although I was slow to start, once I got going on this one, I flew through it. It reads quite fast, and Lacey's writing is crisp and creative. I thought the story was an inventive twist on the "music is the devil" idea that is usually associated with metal, rock n roll, or hip hop and applies it to pop music with its bright colors and glitter. Angie's fans are called Glitter Critters, and what could be less intimidating than that?
I had one problem with this novel, and it centered around one character. Esmerelda runs a witchcraft tourist shop in Salem. Esmerelda is described as extremely obese. While I do not have a problem with a character being very overweight in this case, the character's weight was central to everything about her. Every time she's on the page, she is eating fast food, talking about her cholesterol, being the butt of diabetes jokes, etc. She's described at every opportunity as disgusting to the point that it took me out of the plot. It just felt overdone and that this character that should've been pretty interesting deserved better than what she ending up with. The way this character is written is the reason this is not a five-star book for me. Other than Esmerelda, I found very little that I didn't enjoy.
Overall, this is a highly entertaining story. I enjoyed it a great deal as I have with everything that I've read from Patrick Lacey. I would recommend this book to horror readers that enjoy stories of dark magic, possession, cults, or folk horror.
brennanlafaro's review against another edition
4.0
I love a story where I can assign or identify a what-if. For instance, what if James Bond was a werewolf, or what if an entire town were trapped within a dome. What would happen and what would the ramifications be? In the case of Patrick Lacey's A Voice So Soft, we explore what if the songs from the 60's, 70's, and 80's accused of containing subliminal satanic messages were real. How would these messages affect people, what would be the story behind them, and what would the endgame be.
This is the first book I've taken on by Pat Lacey, but I'm already looking at what's next. The author has a bit of a back catalog complete with some impressive collaborations. Based solely on my experience with this novel, there are two notable strengths Lacey demonstrates.
First, the story is streamlined. At 208 pages, it's the perfect length to fit the right amount of story. We get enough set up to understand the stakes and build the foundations for everything to come, without anything extra. Here's another book where the reader starts to panic fifteen pages from the end because how can we possibly wrap this up in a satisfying way in such a short time, but we're not let down. There's a bit of an open ending, and Lacey left himself the opportunity to write in this world again if he so chooses.
Second, the author is clearly having a blast writing this. When you, as a reader, can tell from the prose, the subject matter, the allusions, etc. that the storyteller had the time of their life writing this, you're going to enjoy the time you spend in that world. I'm very interested going forward to see whether this was a passion project, or if this is a feeling Lacey brings to all his work.
The main character, Shawna, is a teen with a hearing impairment who it's set up from the start, has always played second fiddle to her sister, the rising pop star. Shawna is well-developed and easy for the reader to attach themselves to. Angie, the sister, isn't quite as developed, but it feels like a very intentional choice for reasons that I won't go into here, but will become quickly evident to the reader. Some of the secondary characters that have their own arc or run parallel to the main story don't click quite as well, but it didn't really detract from the main narrative for me.
Also worth mentioning is the story being set in Salem, MA. I enjoyed this since it's about an hour north of me, but the town has such a historic notoriety that I believe it will resonate with readers everywhere. Realistically, the story could have been set anywhere, but putting it in Salem certainly adds another layer of interest. If you're into stories that have elements of music, witchcraft, cults, and third acts that go wildly off the rails, this book is likely for you. Enjoy.
I received a copy of this book from the author for review consideration.
This is the first book I've taken on by Pat Lacey, but I'm already looking at what's next. The author has a bit of a back catalog complete with some impressive collaborations. Based solely on my experience with this novel, there are two notable strengths Lacey demonstrates.
First, the story is streamlined. At 208 pages, it's the perfect length to fit the right amount of story. We get enough set up to understand the stakes and build the foundations for everything to come, without anything extra. Here's another book where the reader starts to panic fifteen pages from the end because how can we possibly wrap this up in a satisfying way in such a short time, but we're not let down. There's a bit of an open ending, and Lacey left himself the opportunity to write in this world again if he so chooses.
Second, the author is clearly having a blast writing this. When you, as a reader, can tell from the prose, the subject matter, the allusions, etc. that the storyteller had the time of their life writing this, you're going to enjoy the time you spend in that world. I'm very interested going forward to see whether this was a passion project, or if this is a feeling Lacey brings to all his work.
The main character, Shawna, is a teen with a hearing impairment who it's set up from the start, has always played second fiddle to her sister, the rising pop star. Shawna is well-developed and easy for the reader to attach themselves to. Angie, the sister, isn't quite as developed, but it feels like a very intentional choice for reasons that I won't go into here, but will become quickly evident to the reader. Some of the secondary characters that have their own arc or run parallel to the main story don't click quite as well, but it didn't really detract from the main narrative for me.
Also worth mentioning is the story being set in Salem, MA. I enjoyed this since it's about an hour north of me, but the town has such a historic notoriety that I believe it will resonate with readers everywhere. Realistically, the story could have been set anywhere, but putting it in Salem certainly adds another layer of interest. If you're into stories that have elements of music, witchcraft, cults, and third acts that go wildly off the rails, this book is likely for you. Enjoy.
I received a copy of this book from the author for review consideration.
tracyreads's review
4.0
“(Rhythm) is there in the cycles of the seasons, in the migrations of the birds and animals, in the fruiting and withering of plants, and in the birth, maturation and death of ourselves. –Mickey Hart (Grateful Dead):
“I would teach children music, physicas, and philosophy; but most importantly music, for the patterns in music and all the arts are the keys to learning.” – Plato
Writers in the American Romantic period looked for truth, for life, for themselves. Transcendentalist literature from Thoreau and Bryant (among others) chases some semblance of authenticity in both life and death. At risk of being completely cliche, where there is this light and truth, there must also exist darkness. Cue Poe, Melville, Hawthorne, and others as they explore “the other”, the more horrific side of truth and life.
I know, I know, “why the literature lesson, Robinson?” Because in this book Lacey has done something similar. Pop music is certainly not everyone’s favorite, but in general, music is meant to entertain, to inform, to bring joy. Ah, but what if entertainment means control? And information means to have your thoughts ripped from your head? And if joy is found in destruction? Enter Angie Everstein and her rise to pop queen stardom.
The action in this novel really starts moving in the beginning. The prologue has one of the creepiest scenes I’ve read this year, and I read A LOT. I should have expected this, after all Lacey is the guy that can make potatoes sinister. The movement continues on, at times it slows quite a bit and then towards the end it just explodes. As it should.
The characters in this book further prove that Lacey’s strength lies in knowing just how much information we need in order to care. Even the music and the setting (Salem , MA) become their own individual forces in affecting the plot. I love that the shining star in this book is a glittery pop song and the voice behind it – it’s easy to create evil death metal/bands – it is quite another to turn sunshine and rainbows into destruction. The juxtaposition of this makes this novel…sing.
Be sure to check this one out – it's a lesson in high, horror fidelity.
“I would teach children music, physicas, and philosophy; but most importantly music, for the patterns in music and all the arts are the keys to learning.” – Plato
Writers in the American Romantic period looked for truth, for life, for themselves. Transcendentalist literature from Thoreau and Bryant (among others) chases some semblance of authenticity in both life and death. At risk of being completely cliche, where there is this light and truth, there must also exist darkness. Cue Poe, Melville, Hawthorne, and others as they explore “the other”, the more horrific side of truth and life.
I know, I know, “why the literature lesson, Robinson?” Because in this book Lacey has done something similar. Pop music is certainly not everyone’s favorite, but in general, music is meant to entertain, to inform, to bring joy. Ah, but what if entertainment means control? And information means to have your thoughts ripped from your head? And if joy is found in destruction? Enter Angie Everstein and her rise to pop queen stardom.
The action in this novel really starts moving in the beginning. The prologue has one of the creepiest scenes I’ve read this year, and I read A LOT. I should have expected this, after all Lacey is the guy that can make potatoes sinister. The movement continues on, at times it slows quite a bit and then towards the end it just explodes. As it should.
The characters in this book further prove that Lacey’s strength lies in knowing just how much information we need in order to care. Even the music and the setting (Salem , MA) become their own individual forces in affecting the plot. I love that the shining star in this book is a glittery pop song and the voice behind it – it’s easy to create evil death metal/bands – it is quite another to turn sunshine and rainbows into destruction. The juxtaposition of this makes this novel…sing.
Be sure to check this one out – it's a lesson in high, horror fidelity.
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