Skip to main content

A review of Keith Thomas's "The Dunnie"

Keith Thomas’s “The Dunnie” hits all the right notes in a nostalgic horror novel loosely based on folklore. Beth and her son, Asher, have to go to Pa’s house to help the older man move. His dementia is making it harder for him to live alone. Even worse, his state of mind is making it impossible for him to control the Dunnie, a creature that he’s been feeding and hiding for years. As the Dunnie’s hunger grows and Pa’s power wains, Asher must find a way to destroy the monster, or else its appetite could put more people at risk. 

This novella is a tight, well-crafted read. It uses a load of great tropes: creepy basement, old house away from town, a strange man who practices folk magic in the woods... The hero is the kid, which we all love in horror, right? I also appreciate how detailed the descriptions of the creature are. It is easy to picture while reading. There is some graphic gore as well. 

Basically, this is a fun read suitable for a weekend which most fans of horror will find satisfying, the kind of book I would have picked up off the wire rack at the Rexall back in the day. I’d even say this would be a good read for middle-school-age kids who want something a little creepy. I received the book from NetGalley in exchange for my review.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Book Review of "The Dare Club: Nita" by Laurie Bradach and Kim “Howard” Johnson

Laurie and Kim will be awarding a $20 Amazon Gift Card to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour, so make sure to leave a comment here and visit the other stops on the tour: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2012/11/virtual-review-tour-dare-club-nita-by.html Series:  The Dare Club Format:  E-book & Paperback Genre: Contemporary YA, Mystery Length:  330 pages in paperback Blurb: Nita Conroy has relocated to the most boring town on the planet. That is, until would-be boyfriend Brad Keeley spills the beans about a secret group of girls known as The Dare Club. During her subterranean initiation below the high school, Nita overhears a plan by contractors and school officials to embezzle millions of dollars in grant money. When she is betrayed, The Dare Club's pranks become deadly serious. With the clock ticking, Nita will need the help of her new friends to expose the chilling plot--and hopefully survive long enough to snag a date to the homecoming dance. Exce...

Show, Don't Tell!

Another common error young writers make is telling a story, rather than showing a story. This is probably because many of the short stories they have been exposed to are fairy tales, which have a distant point of view and summary-like narration. They start with phrases like "There once was..." and use direct characterization, like "She was the kindest girl in all the land." When we write, we need to show our stories, using vivid verbs, specific details, and deep point of view. Here's an example of a passage that is told. The action is summarized and the reader feels as if the action is happening far away: It was June of 1943. Eric's older brother had gone away to become a fighter pilot. Eric wanted to be a pilot too, so he got in the family's crop dusting plane and started it up. He flew it out of the barn and crashed it into the old oak tree in the yard. He hit his head. The doctor had to come. His brother came back, injured from the war. The two healed...

Review of "Lords of Prophecy" by Michael A. Rothman

Leave a comment for a chance to win a $50 gift card to Amazon! Check out all the stops to improve your odds: http://goddessfishpromotions. blogspot.com/2013/01/review- tour-lords-of-prophecy-by.html Blurb The Riverton brothers have completed their training, and despite their own personal skills, they worry about the forces arrayed against them. Knowing the barrier that's kept the people of Trimoria safe for over five centuries is weakening, the brothers ready their ragtag army of humans, dwarves, and elves for battle.  In the meantime, on the other side of the ancient barrier, a growing army of demons have readied themselves for the final battle against the people of Trimoria.  As the barrier weakens, Ryan is struck by bouts of debilitating madness. As the barrier crumbles, so does the hope of Trimoria's citizens.  Excerpt A light-hearted scene where the main characters are watching their youngest siblings interacting with a mysterious young dwarf. As the soldier affirmed...