Dark Hollow by Brian Keene Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Dark Hollow
Book Review: There's something in the woods....
Summary: 5 Stars
I think it's a safe bet that in the horror section of any bookstore, there are more books under "K" than any other author. It's almost certain given since Stephen King and Dean Koontz are a couple of the biggest selling authors, each with an extensive list of titles that remain in print. According to the back of Dark Hollow, the Horror Review calls Brian Keene the next Stephen King. That may be a bit of hyperbole; more likely, he will be the author next to Stephen King in the bookstore.
Actually, Dark Hollow is a pretty good book and there is a certain King-like quality to it. After all, the main character is a writer (very common to King protagonists) and he likes to throw in rock `n roll references here and there (another King trait). The hero in Dark Hollow is Adam Senft, a writer who is just beginning to be successful enough to be a full-time novelist. He and his wife Tara live in a small Pennsylvania town that abuts a large, old forest. One morning while walking his dog, Adam goes into the forest and stumbles upon a female neighbor indulging in rather kinky acts with what turns out to be a satyr.
Of course, Adam doesn't realize this at first, but soon enough, he realizes that there is a supernatural being living in the forest, one that can play its pipes and hypnotically seduce any woman. As women begin to disappear, and even Tara hears the call of the satyr, Adam recruits his nearby friends to take action. This will involve looking into a decades-old murder case as well as more excursions into the forest, where it will turn out the satyr is not the only strange creature.
Keene may not stylistically be the most original author, but he works well in the horror genre. Dark Hollow is an effective thriller which keeps the pages turning and leads to a satisfying concluding twist. He may not be Stephen King, but Keene is still worth reading.
Book Review: Thoroughly enjoyable modern horror
Summary: 4 Stars
Not just a good, original story, but the characters were beautifully described. I felt like I knew these men by the end of this book. I could feel the main characters pain, and this may seem strange to some of you, but I desire that in a story. If you dont care about the characters you just dont care about the story. I would describe this book as Stephen King, if he had bigger balls. I would gaurantee that any fan of the horror genre would greatly enjoy this book. I cant wait to see what he comes up with next. He truly is a demented yet extremely talented genius. Hope this review helps your decision.Book Review: Thoroughly entertaining!
Summary: 4 Stars
Brian Keene's success in telling a story is based upon his ability to create characters that you care about. I think this is an area where so many horror writers fail. In Dark Hollow, we meet writer Adam Senft, his dog, and his good 'ol boy neighbors that are the kind of salt of the earth every-men you know in your own neighborhood. The plot could take us in any direction at this point because we care about these people and we are even interested in the minutiae of their daily lives. Keene exposes us to the surreal very early in the novel and it captivates our attention immediately. The other facet of Keene that makes his writing enjoyable, is the fact that he creates a pretty detailed mythos behind every novel. In fact, if you are reading one of his novels, there is a good chance that it began as a short story in the early stages oh his career. While Brian Keene is not writing literature, his writing is entertaining throughout. Great Summertime reading! Beneath the Surface: 13+ Shocking Tales of TerrorBook Review: Thus far the best Keene novel I've read
Summary: 4 Stars
before this I read Keene's zombie novels. The Rising I felt was entertaining and certainly a good start for an author, I think that the ending it had was weak but I still liked it. City of the Dead almost destroyed Keene for me, it was more like an action flick and had an even weaker ending. Regardless I read Dead Sea and once again found myself saying Keene sucks, then I read the plot synopsis for Dark Hollow. I couldn't help but laugh so I ordered the book and after reading I liked it. This book is funny, although I felt that explaining the puns he put in screwed up the humor. The best parts were the descriptions of sex with the Satyr, they were funny and at the same time kind of erotic, I think Keene would do well as an erotic novelist. The action is slow to start, but I think that's a good thing. It allows for character development, which is essential to writing a great novel. Keene has been hailed as the next Stephen King, the last three books of his came no where near this title, Dark Hollow is the first novel he's written that nears King's level. In time Keene may make that statement true, but he still has plenty of room for improvement (this is no where near the level of the Shining or It). However this like all his earlier novels suffers from a weak ending, if there's anything Keene needs to work on it's making endings that aren't predictable or just an attempt at morbidity.Book Review: Top Keene
Summary: 4 Stars
I read this awhile back when it was called "The Rutting Season" and I really enjoyed it. If your a follower of Keene then you will of course enjoy all the subtle references to some of his other characters/stories. The story itself is a good one. You can easilly connect with the main character and find most of the sideliners likeable. The bad guy in this is a demented bastard which you hope takes a beating. Keene once again pulls no punches when it comes to his characters well being.. some messed up stuff happens to them. So pick this up.. its a good one. I give it a 4/5 because at some points it drags a tad.. but isnt that big of a deal.