Don't Fear the Reaper (2) (The Indian Lake Trilogy)
A Locus Award Finalist
NATIONAL BESTSELLER December 12th, 2019, Jade returns to the rural lake town of Proofrock the same day as convicted Indigenous serial killer Dark Mill South escapes into town to complete his revenge killings, in this "superb" (Publishers Weekly) sequel to My Heart Is a Chainsaw from New York Times bestselling author Stephen Graham Jones. Four years after her tumultuous senior year, Jade Daniels is released from prison right before Christmas when her conviction is overturned. But life beyond bars takes a dangerous turn as soon as she returns to Proofrock. Convicted Serial Killer, Dark Mill South, seeking revenge for thirty-eight Dakota men hanged in 1862, escapes from his prison transfer due to a blizzard, just outside of Proofrock, Idaho. Dark Mill South's Reunion Tour began on December 12th, 2019, a Thursday. Thirty-six hours and twenty bodies later, on Friday the 13th, it would be over. Don't Fear the Reaper is the "adrenaline-filled" (Library Journal, starred review) sequel to My Heart Is a Chainsaw from New York Times bestselling author Stephen Graham Jones.
NATIONAL BESTSELLER December 12th, 2019, Jade returns to the rural lake town of Proofrock the same day as convicted Indigenous serial killer Dark Mill South escapes into town to complete his revenge killings, in this "superb" (Publishers Weekly) sequel to My Heart Is a Chainsaw from New York Times bestselling author Stephen Graham Jones. Four years after her tumultuous senior year, Jade Daniels is released from prison right before Christmas when her conviction is overturned. But life beyond bars takes a dangerous turn as soon as she returns to Proofrock. Convicted Serial Killer, Dark Mill South, seeking revenge for thirty-eight Dakota men hanged in 1862, escapes from his prison transfer due to a blizzard, just outside of Proofrock, Idaho. Dark Mill South's Reunion Tour began on December 12th, 2019, a Thursday. Thirty-six hours and twenty bodies later, on Friday the 13th, it would be over. Don't Fear the Reaper is the "adrenaline-filled" (Library Journal, starred review) sequel to My Heart Is a Chainsaw from New York Times bestselling author Stephen Graham Jones.
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Community Reviews
First off, I love Stephen Graham Jones. He is one of the absolute coolest people Iâve met. His novels Mongrels and The Only Good Indians are fantastic. His short story collection After The People Lights Have Gone Off is one of my favorite short story collections out there.
But right now, letâs talk Donât Fear the Reaper.
If I had to describe it in one word: frustrating. Iâll go into that a bit more in a minute.
I was not a huge fan of Jade in the first book, but I totally loved her in this one. I love that Jones took her and tried to force Jade to be Jennifer. I loved it because it felt real. People do it all the time. They try to adjust to the life around them and even try to be someone that they are not. In the end, we get the real Jade back, but I loved the choice of trying to make her change. And you know what? Iâm ready for Jade to be Jade in book three!
I loved the serial killer (Dark Mills South). I enjoyed that entire aspect of the story, and it really is what kept me glued to the pages and pushing through the slower parts of the book. I had to see DMS v Jade. I loved most of the death scenes save for the one that I still donât understand but wonât mention because of spoilers.
Now, personally, I would have liked to have seen a couple of characters (I wonât say who so as not to spoil things) get killed. I like bigger characters meeting their untimely demise in books and movies. I think it adds another dose of reality to these crazy horror stories.
So whatâs my deal? Why am I frustrated by this book?
Why? Because of the unbound potential for Donât Fear the Reaper to be one of the most amazing books of the last decade. Much like its predecessor (My Heart is a Chainsaw) this book is just too long and too drawn out to really stab you right in the face with its awesomeness. In spots, like the beginning and most of the climax, this book is a killer that has you at the edge of your seat. BUT there are chunks (and chunks and chunks) of not super important info and redundancy. If maybe a hundred pages were cut here, I would be raving about this book. I get why he wrote these long passages and sections, you need to really construct your characters and know them inside and out, but as a reader, I only need about twenty-five percent of that. Again, this might just be me. I know a lot of people love both books in this trilogy, and that means they have no problem with what made the final manuscript.
Overall, cut out some of the fluff and this is just a brilliant book. Jones doesnât have to cut out anything, of course. Heâs just putting it all out there and it is working for him. I just prefer the less is more approach in most books. So sue me. I donât care that Iâve three-starred books one and two. I am honestly looking forward to book three and going in with high expectations. I know Jones can deliver. And even if it's less (or way more) than I want, I HAVE to see how Jadeâs story ends.
I give Donât Fear the Reaper 3 stabby stab stars.
But right now, letâs talk Donât Fear the Reaper.
If I had to describe it in one word: frustrating. Iâll go into that a bit more in a minute.
I was not a huge fan of Jade in the first book, but I totally loved her in this one. I love that Jones took her and tried to force Jade to be Jennifer. I loved it because it felt real. People do it all the time. They try to adjust to the life around them and even try to be someone that they are not. In the end, we get the real Jade back, but I loved the choice of trying to make her change. And you know what? Iâm ready for Jade to be Jade in book three!
I loved the serial killer (Dark Mills South). I enjoyed that entire aspect of the story, and it really is what kept me glued to the pages and pushing through the slower parts of the book. I had to see DMS v Jade. I loved most of the death scenes save for the one that I still donât understand but wonât mention because of spoilers.
Now, personally, I would have liked to have seen a couple of characters (I wonât say who so as not to spoil things) get killed. I like bigger characters meeting their untimely demise in books and movies. I think it adds another dose of reality to these crazy horror stories.
So whatâs my deal? Why am I frustrated by this book?
Why? Because of the unbound potential for Donât Fear the Reaper to be one of the most amazing books of the last decade. Much like its predecessor (My Heart is a Chainsaw) this book is just too long and too drawn out to really stab you right in the face with its awesomeness. In spots, like the beginning and most of the climax, this book is a killer that has you at the edge of your seat. BUT there are chunks (and chunks and chunks) of not super important info and redundancy. If maybe a hundred pages were cut here, I would be raving about this book. I get why he wrote these long passages and sections, you need to really construct your characters and know them inside and out, but as a reader, I only need about twenty-five percent of that. Again, this might just be me. I know a lot of people love both books in this trilogy, and that means they have no problem with what made the final manuscript.
Overall, cut out some of the fluff and this is just a brilliant book. Jones doesnât have to cut out anything, of course. Heâs just putting it all out there and it is working for him. I just prefer the less is more approach in most books. So sue me. I donât care that Iâve three-starred books one and two. I am honestly looking forward to book three and going in with high expectations. I know Jones can deliver. And even if it's less (or way more) than I want, I HAVE to see how Jadeâs story ends.
I give Donât Fear the Reaper 3 stabby stab stars.
Wow.
“Don’t Fear the Reaper” takes all of the great parts of “My Heart is a Chainsaw” and amps it up to a 10. It starts out strong and ceases to let up. Jade’s growth from the first novel to this one is immense, which made for an even better character that I easily fell in love with. The violence is graphic, which is exactly what I was hoping for. This was such a fun read, and I’m sad I’m already at the conclusion, but I’m so excited to see what is next in store for Jade.
“Don’t Fear the Reaper” takes all of the great parts of “My Heart is a Chainsaw” and amps it up to a 10. It starts out strong and ceases to let up. Jade’s growth from the first novel to this one is immense, which made for an even better character that I easily fell in love with. The violence is graphic, which is exactly what I was hoping for. This was such a fun read, and I’m sad I’m already at the conclusion, but I’m so excited to see what is next in store for Jade.
I have said many, many times that there's a formula when it comes to slashers. They're predictable, sure. The thing is though - you never know when or how those predictable events are going to happen exactly. It's that not knowing that's the true addiction regarding slashers: the build of up fear and suspense...your head on a swivel, checking all directions at once...your blood racing and your heart pounding so much so that it's almost a relief when the slasher finally does make an appearance.
Slasher sequels have a slight change in their formula: they have to stay true to the original formula but they have to up the stakes: everything has to be MORE. The fear, violence, murder, and the reason behind it all must all be raised to a higher level.
Stephen Graham Jones absolutely accomplished this. In spades. It's very difficult, because I have so much I want to pick apart and discuss, as well as predictions for the final book in the trilogy, but doing so would spoil the first book and this one. It's a conundrum. I tell you though, I suspected EVERYONE. Which is funny, especially when you finish reading it.
Immediately upon finishing, I wanted to move my chair away from the wall, start the book over and put up sticky notes and threads to connect events and characters because I'm quite sure there were some valuable things that might have been snuck in about where this series will go in the final book. Plus, there was so much going on that I feel sure I missed some things...and then there's just the old fashioned, it was so good that I want to reread MY HEART IS A CHAINSAW and DON'T FEAR THE REAPER back to back.
There was a time when I actually cheered - it's the kind of thing that people will holler, clap and cheer when it happens in a movie - which, speaking of - HOW HAS THIS SERIES NOT BEEN PICKED UP YET?! Give us Jade Daniels on the Big Screen already! She's earned it.
I. CANNOT. WAIT. FOR. THE. NEXT. BOOK. IN. THIS. SERIES!
Slasher sequels have a slight change in their formula: they have to stay true to the original formula but they have to up the stakes: everything has to be MORE. The fear, violence, murder, and the reason behind it all must all be raised to a higher level.
Stephen Graham Jones absolutely accomplished this. In spades. It's very difficult, because I have so much I want to pick apart and discuss, as well as predictions for the final book in the trilogy, but doing so would spoil the first book and this one. It's a conundrum. I tell you though, I suspected EVERYONE. Which is funny, especially when you finish reading it.
Immediately upon finishing, I wanted to move my chair away from the wall, start the book over and put up sticky notes and threads to connect events and characters because I'm quite sure there were some valuable things that might have been snuck in about where this series will go in the final book. Plus, there was so much going on that I feel sure I missed some things...and then there's just the old fashioned, it was so good that I want to reread MY HEART IS A CHAINSAW and DON'T FEAR THE REAPER back to back.
There was a time when I actually cheered - it's the kind of thing that people will holler, clap and cheer when it happens in a movie - which, speaking of - HOW HAS THIS SERIES NOT BEEN PICKED UP YET?! Give us Jade Daniels on the Big Screen already! She's earned it.
I. CANNOT. WAIT. FOR. THE. NEXT. BOOK. IN. THIS. SERIES!
Jade, Jade, Jade! or Jennifer. Here she is again, not seeing who she really is. I love a full cast narration and enjoyed listening to this book. There was a good follow-up of the living characters from My Heart is A Chainsaw but also a lot of new stories. This was not a rehashing but a continuation. I always listen to the very end of a book and was glad I did. The authors' acknowledgments provided even more depth and, if possible, endeared me even more to these characters. My only complaint is that there may have been too many POV's and that mannerisms or voice bled through them all, perhaps to the detriment of the story. I did love it, though, and Stephen Graham Jones is quickly becoming my favorite horror author.
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