Don’t Fear the Reaper: Vol. 1, is the latest horror novel by Lex Sinclair. His experience in the genre shines through a story that ventures into the supernatural world of death. In fact, Sinclair mixes up a few elements we’ve seen before, creating something unique to his style and taste. With an obviously high-quality standard of writing, Sinclair brings to life the Grim Reaper.
The world is about to experience a small apocalypse, a prophecy needs to be fulfilled, and the Reaper has to protect the one who is going to continue his work. All over the globe, a strange fog is plaguing the citizens. At the same time strange and horrible things are occurring without motive. A man butchers his family with an axe, a group of girls unknown to each other commit mass suicide, and to make matters worse, a meteor is on course to hit earth.
In between the chaos is Rev. Anthony Perkins, a man who has been experiencing vivid nightmares while losing his faith. As he struggles with the decision to leave the church, his pregnant sister undergoes a traumatic experience, making him only doubt his faith more. Little does he realize he’ll need his faith more than ever when he comes face to face with every mortal’s deepest fear, death.
I knew exactly what to expect when reading the first chapter because it’s the third book I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing by Sinclair. I had no idea what the plot was going to entail, or how it was going to unfold. But I knew I had to get ready for a style that’s very precise in its execution. More than anything, Sinclair is a writer who takes the art very seriously and it shows in his work.
With a very sophisticated tone, Sinclair starts the story with a scene featuring the Reaper and the evil green fog. The first thing you’ll notice from the introduction is that Sinclair pays attention to detail, painting a very vivid picture. His talent to describe something as if it is sitting right in front of you is amazing. This is only empowered by his extensive vocabulary and research.
That being said, the story does follow a relatively slow pace. This is a good thing for readers who like to fall deep into the content of the pages, but it could be a little frustrating to readers who prefer things to happen faster. The amount of characters who are introduced can also get a little overwhelming, so it’s critical to keep track from the first page.
Overall, I can honestly say that Sinclair hasn’t lost his creative touch on a classic idea. I consider his latest novel, along with those I’ve read before, to be among the “higher quality” reads within indie circles, although I don’t consider them “easy-reads”. There’s originality, skill and an interesting plot, which is consistent elements for Sinclair. He demands the reader’s full attention, otherwise, the story might not grab you the way it’s meant to. So, for the horror fans who want to invest themselves in a good book, I suggest picking up this new release from Sinclair.
Reviewed by Damnetha Jules
Damnetha is a staff writer, horror book and movie critic.
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