HOUSE OF BLOOD by Bryan Smith

(out of 4)

THE SALT ON THE RIM: I had never heard of Bryan Smith before picking up this novel. With new authors, you never quite know what to expect. Some times you get a fresh, amazing new novel, as in the case of Joe Hill's surprisingly captivating HEART-SHAPED BOX. Other times, you get the literary equivalent of a two-year-old's dirt-encrusted fingers being forced into your mouth--you've gotta accept it or the two-year-old is going to become distraught. And by distraught, I mean, they're going to bawl.

This was the case with HOUSE OF BLOOD. I didn't quite know what to expect and I'm glad I didn't go in with any preconceptions.

THE LIME: HOUSE OF BLOOD starts off like any number of shlock horror films do: a bunch of young people traveling and their vehicle breaks down. Ok, I can dig it. But then it becomes painfully clear that this isn't simply a horror novel of perversions and terror.

It's a quest novel.

Someone is meant to do something because it's their destiny.

I absolutely detest novels of like this. They're meant for the Fantasy genre and, maybe, if deftly handled, the mainstream genre. They are NOT meant to be mixed in with horror. There's no reason for it. Incidently, this is the reason I despised Edward Lee's CITY INFERNAL. It just didn't mix well for me. Although, I'll be the first to defend Lee's introduction of a sci-fi plot smack dab in the middle of his horror novel, COVEN. Why did I not mind that but hate quest novels? (shrug) I have no good reason. It simply didn't sit well with me.

As is the case with HOUSE OF BLOOD.

THE TEQUILA: Bryan Smith has two more novels out by Leisure and I have high hopes for THE FREASKSHOW (his current release). While I wasn't a big fan of HOUSE OF BLOOD, I could tell that Smith is a strong storyteller that just needs to get his bearings and find his own way. I'm hoping THE FREAKSHOW has led him down the right path.

-Jack