Stephen Graham Jones is in my top ten as far as horror novelists go. He tells stories from a Native American point of view that is rare in books and even rarer in horror books. This was the first time I was left a little disappointed after finishing one of his novels.
I Was a Teenage Slasher follows Tolly, a teenage boy in Lamesa, Texas who witnesses another teen’s dead body exact revenge on those who harmed him. When whatever illness that animated that body found a new host in Tolly, he goes on a killing spree. His best friend, Amber, gives him all the knowledge about the rules of slasher movies that he can handle from why he is killing and who is Final Girl is.
This novel is told through the eyes of a man looking back on a horrific past. The voice through which its told isn’t the greatest and I found Tolly to be one of those characters who I should sympathize with but don’t. Am I supposed to root for this kid? Am I supposed to root for Amber? I don’t know, but I found myself rooting for neither.
About halfway through this, I started getting bored because I did not relate to the characters or the story, which is crazy since slasher movies are my jam. I muddled through the second half of the book waiting for a twist. Something to make reading Tolly’s point of view worth it. There was little there, though I did enjoy the novel giving a red herring of a Final Girl before the real finale ensued.
There are positives. The author’s descriptions of the horrifying events are filled with gore and inventive kills of characters who probably deserved what they got. This was also the first time I had seen a peanut allergy used as both a torture device used by mean teenagers and as a slasher’s kryptonite. Probably my favorite part of this novel, really.
It’s not perfect, but this novel is an okay read. Neither here nor there. I guess mid is probably the word for it.
3 out of 5 stars.
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Becky Tyler Art and Photography 
Stephen Graham Jones is in my top ten as far as horror novelists go. He tells stories from a Native American point of view that is rare in books and even rarer in horror books. This was the first time I was left a little disappointed after finishing one of his novels.
I Was a Teenage Slasher follows Tolly, a teenage boy in Lamesa, Texas who witnesses another teen’s dead body exact revenge on those who harmed him. When whatever illness that animated that body found a new host in Tolly, he goes on a killing spree. His best friend, Amber, gives him all the knowledge about the rules of slasher movies that he can handle from why he is killing and who is Final Girl is.
This novel is told through the eyes of a man looking back on a horrific past. The voice through which its told isn’t the greatest and I found Tolly to be one of those characters who I should sympathize with but don’t. Am I supposed to root for this kid? Am I supposed to root for Amber? I don’t know, but I found myself rooting for neither.
About halfway through this, I started getting bored because I did not relate to the characters or the story, which is crazy since slasher movies are my jam. I muddled through the second half of the book waiting for a twist. Something to make reading Tolly’s point of view worth it. There was little there, though I did enjoy the novel giving a red herring of a Final Girl before the real finale ensued.
There are positives. The author’s descriptions of the horrifying events are filled with gore and inventive kills of characters who probably deserved what they got. This was also the first time I had seen a peanut allergy used as both a torture device used by mean teenagers and as a slasher’s kryptonite. Probably my favorite part of this novel, really.
It’s not perfect, but this novel is an okay read. Neither here nor there. I guess mid is probably the word for it.
3 out of 5 stars.
Discover more from Becky Tyler Art and Photography
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
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