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A review by sallysimply
The Angel of Indian Lake by Stephen Graham Jones
5.0
My initial review for this book was: "I’m gonna need some time to collect my thoughts and recover emotionally, but WOW, what a way to end a trilogy."
When I first picked up My Heart Is a Chainsaw, I did so thinking it was a standalone. I loved it, but I didn't think it needed any follow-ups and was hesitant to continue. Don't Fear the Reaper was good, though not quite as good as MHIAC; my hesitation returned. And I'm glad I ignored any part of me that didn't want to finish the trilogy because now that I've had a couple of days to sit with it, I can say for sure that this is one of my favorite conclusions to any trilogy or series ever. It also makes me appreciate the story overall and Jade's journey in particular so much more.
The Angel of Indian Lake takes place four years after DFTR and eight years after MHIAC, and it does not ease you into anything. You get dropped right in with another intense opener, one that lets you know that this book might be a bloodbath. Things slow down at points, but it really picks up again around the 75% mark and does not stop after that.
Throughout the book, there are a lot of references to the first two books, which were fun and appreciated. (I will say that I wish I had re-read them both for a refresher because sometimes I had a hard time remembering if I was supposed to already know the person or situation somebody was talking about. After staring off into space for 30ish seconds, it would usually come back to me, but I may have missed some things.)
It's also worth noting that we are in Jade's POV, first person narrative, so if you're one of those people who do not like her but are still reading, this may not be the ending for you. As somebody who absolutely adores Jade, I loved it! Give me all the rambling, all the questioning, all the references to movies I do and do not know.
Which brings me to the ending... Y'all... To say I was emotionally wrecked would be an understatement. I sobbed for so much of it, finally recovered, and then cried again at the author's note. I was not okay.
Ultimately, this book simply has a ton of heart. There is such love here for Jade as a character, for horror and slashers, for anybody who feels like an outcast or weirdo -- full of love and unsure where to place it.
What a fucking trilogy this is. I can't wait to read them all again.
When I first picked up My Heart Is a Chainsaw, I did so thinking it was a standalone. I loved it, but I didn't think it needed any follow-ups and was hesitant to continue. Don't Fear the Reaper was good, though not quite as good as MHIAC; my hesitation returned. And I'm glad I ignored any part of me that didn't want to finish the trilogy because now that I've had a couple of days to sit with it, I can say for sure that this is one of my favorite conclusions to any trilogy or series ever. It also makes me appreciate the story overall and Jade's journey in particular so much more.
The Angel of Indian Lake takes place four years after DFTR and eight years after MHIAC, and it does not ease you into anything. You get dropped right in with another intense opener, one that lets you know that this book might be a bloodbath. Things slow down at points, but it really picks up again around the 75% mark and does not stop after that.
Throughout the book, there are a lot of references to the first two books, which were fun and appreciated. (I will say that I wish I had re-read them both for a refresher because sometimes I had a hard time remembering if I was supposed to already know the person or situation somebody was talking about. After staring off into space for 30ish seconds, it would usually come back to me, but I may have missed some things.)
It's also worth noting that we are in Jade's POV, first person narrative, so if you're one of those people who do not like her but are still reading, this may not be the ending for you. As somebody who absolutely adores Jade, I loved it! Give me all the rambling, all the questioning, all the references to movies I do and do not know.
Which brings me to the ending... Y'all... To say I was emotionally wrecked would be an understatement. I sobbed for so much of it, finally recovered, and then cried again at the author's note. I was not okay.
Ultimately, this book simply has a ton of heart. There is such love here for Jade as a character, for horror and slashers, for anybody who feels like an outcast or weirdo -- full of love and unsure where to place it.
What a fucking trilogy this is. I can't wait to read them all again.