Lex Sinclair’s nightmare continues with Don’t Fear the Reaper Part 2. It picks up where the first book ended, and you can be sure that you’ll be getting that distinct Sinclair style with it. This is a man who will stay true to his precise way of writing, and he’s not showing any signs of losing his touch. Thus, he sets the stage for another dark ride.
Sapphire, a young boy who only knows an overly-protected life, is on the run. He is running from the Grim Reaper with the help of ex-reverent Perkins, the guardian who has managed to keep him safe – until now. Unable to understand his true purpose of saving mankind, especially in the aftermath of the apocalypse, he begins to rebel. And it might not be such a bad thing if Death wasn’t chasing them.
On the other end of the spectrum is another young boy, Elias. Gradually he changes into a monster his parents can’t recognize, and the nastier he becomes, the more powerful he gets. He is also part of the bigger picture regarding the shift of dangerous power. Humanity has already experienced a great ordeal. Can it withstand a bigger one?
After finishing the first book I was very anxious to see what Sinclair would dig up for the sequel. I loved the plot the first time round, so I had my expectations with the follow-up story. I can honestly say that Sinclair stayed true to form and delivered a solid story. The quality of the writing is very old-school and particular, characteristics I’ve noticed in all of Sinclair’s books I’ve read so far, and the plot never fails to keep you interested. But I’ve also noticed a little more character building as supposed to plot development. Sinclair was very focused on establishing Sapphire’s torment regarding his predestined path, and how he handles it.
When it came to the pacing, I was a little surprised. This time round it felt like Sinclair wanted to speed things up a bit and break away from the way he usually approaches it. Of course, there are the detailed scenery and the convincing characters, but Sinclair is also more aware of stopping at crucial moments and cutting to a new scene.
I’ve probably said this before, but I regard Sinclair as a writer who takes his art very seriously. He’s patient, articulate, and he connects with his audience. And with this particular book, he’s exploring his options and getting a feel for growing his fan base.
For those who haven’t read any of Sinclair’s books yet, you can look forward to some interesting images that will haunt you before you go to sleep. But he’s not so much hardcore as he is descriptive. Sinclair can make a moderate amount of violence work in his favor because he knows how to sell the “thrill” element.
I’d definitely recommend Don’t Fear the Reaper Part 2, along with every one of Sinclair’s work to readers who love the intimate details. If you’ve got the time to really get lost in a story, this is a book you should definitely devour. In fact, anybody who appreciates a good horror story will enjoy it!
Reviewed by Damnetha Jules
Damnetha is a staff writer, horror book and movie critic.
Also by Lex Sinclair:
You must be logged in to post a comment.