(Originally published 2011, Mass Market Paperback edition 539 pages)
Mr. Del Toro's and Mr. Hogan's first book in this trilogy, "The Strain," was
truly scary. The intensity of people being confronted and killed by actual
vampires made the novel a constant horror maze of thrills and chills. The second
book, "The Fall," was more of an action/adventure/mystery with a sprinkling of
scary moments. "The Night Eternal," however, is another matter. It is far
removed from the goosebump feel of the first novel. Two years have past since
the conclusion of the second book. The main protagonists, who are in hiding, are
barely scraping by and the head vampire known as The Master is reining over his
earthly domain. It's an apartheid system in which humans get the short end of
the deal. There are concentration camps and everything about the gloomy,
nearly-eternal-night environment is run with Nazi precision.
The vampires, who were so damn frightening in "The Strain," are relegated to a supporting cast role in this baby. Think of them as the Orcs in Peter Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" movie trilogy. Despite having superior speed, strength, agility and a nasty, bloodsucking weapon, they drop like friggin' flies when combatting the heroes of the book. I kept rolling my eyes because the vampires were never able to lay even one measly scratch on the humans. The scenarios in "The Strain" seemed almost plausible thus darned right scary. "The Night Eternal", on the other hand, comes across as a blending of "Lord of the Rings" and an Indiana Jones' film. The story also has strong biblical connections that should give any Goth Christians out there an orgasm.
Overall, the trilogy was inconsistent in its delivery. Readers who were hoping for a cornucopia of horror will likely be sorely disappointed in the second and third installments. They were entertaining reads, but devolved into a formulaic, spiritual adventure.
The vampires, who were so damn frightening in "The Strain," are relegated to a supporting cast role in this baby. Think of them as the Orcs in Peter Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" movie trilogy. Despite having superior speed, strength, agility and a nasty, bloodsucking weapon, they drop like friggin' flies when combatting the heroes of the book. I kept rolling my eyes because the vampires were never able to lay even one measly scratch on the humans. The scenarios in "The Strain" seemed almost plausible thus darned right scary. "The Night Eternal", on the other hand, comes across as a blending of "Lord of the Rings" and an Indiana Jones' film. The story also has strong biblical connections that should give any Goth Christians out there an orgasm.
Overall, the trilogy was inconsistent in its delivery. Readers who were hoping for a cornucopia of horror will likely be sorely disappointed in the second and third installments. They were entertaining reads, but devolved into a formulaic, spiritual adventure.
(Meyers - A few years ago, I
started writing, under the pseudonym Franklin the Mouse, short
reviews at Amazon's web site. This is my most recent review #321)
No comments:
Post a Comment