Review of Small Town Monsters by Dom Fera
Hey there, fellow bookworms! Let’s chat about Small Town Monsters, the latest from Dom Fera that caught my attention during Halloween festivities—yes, I’m still clinging to those spooky vibes even as November scoots us closer to the holidays. (I might as well be calling for a never-ending October, right?) I dove into this book mostly by candlelight (not quite a Victorian setting, but it set an atmospheric mood), which felt perfect for the thematic explorations of darkness, both literal and metaphorical.
The premise revolves around Max, a teenager whose mom becomes entrenched in a health and wellness community that turns out to be a front for something much darker: a cult intent on summoning a demon. Desperate for help, Max seeks out Vera, a goth loner shunned for her family’s supposed ties to the occult. It’s a classic tale of outsiders banding together, yet it takes some clever turns that kept me intrigued. While I initially expected a deeper commentary on the heart of human nature—think The Twilight Zone’s “The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street”—what I got was a conventional possession narrative, which was a bit of a letdown.
Max’s character could be both relatable and frustrating. I mean, here’s a guy freaking out while embarking on a quest to save his family—a relatable enough scenario! Yet he spends a good chunk of the book whining about Vera, who, let’s be real here, seems to just be a misunderstood girl trying to help him out. Their dynamic, while bearing hints of classic teen romance, didn’t quite hit the mark for me. It sometimes felt like Max was reluctant to see Vera’s true character, with his previous ignorance of her plight revealing a deeper commentary on social perceptions and biases that the author seemed to at least attempt to explore.
On the flip side, the writing style, especially the extensive italics representing the demon’s perspective, didn’t work as intended for me. Something about pages of italics makes my mind glaze over—perhaps it’s my inner pedant wanting a straightforward narrative? It reminded me of those old Vegas performances where the act keeps interrupting itself for comedic bits. Finish the song already!
Despite its flaws, Small Town Monsters kept me engaged without constantly sending my heart racing. I appreciated that it didn’t rely on cheap jump scares and gave room for character development instead. There’s something refreshing about a lighter approach to horror, and Fera definitely isn’t afraid to subvert expectations, particularly in how he portrays Max—an often irrationally terrified male protagonist. It was unique and exactly the kind of character I could see myself embodying in a horror scenario.
So who might enjoy this book? If you’re in the market for a YA horror that’s playful yet has enough depth to provoke thought, you’ll likely find Small Town Monsters to be an entertaining read. It holds the potential to attract readers who appreciate exploration over terror or those who enjoy a blend of humor wrapped in spookiness.
In the end, I came away feeling surprisingly uplifted. The story’s not just a fright fest; it’s about navigating fears, both internal and external, and ultimately embracing the bizarre twists of small-town life, making it a worthwhile addition to my reading list. It left me pondering some deep truths while still being a feather-light read—a delightful balance that had me grinning even as I howled at the moon.