Book Review: The Sticks by Andy Dean Horror, 4 black cats

A Fun Character Driven Classic Werewolf Horror

The Sticks by Andy Deane is about a character named Brian who loves horror movies, and unfortunately for him, encounters a real werewolf one night after getting kicked out of a party his girlfriend and snotty friends are throwing. For some reason this book is getting harder to find a copy of so if you come across one check it out! 

The book is set in the small town of Jefferson, Virginia which sounds like any small town in America. The reader experiences everything through the first person point of view of the main character, Brian. I enjoyed reading this character. He is someone I can relate to and comes across as real and likable. He uses some strange metaphors and descriptions that I found amusing. The characters truthfulness kept me interested and reading.

The novel is supposed to be a horror, but I didn't find it scary. I'm pretty desensitized to horror as I watch and read tons of it, so to the less desensitized, it might be scary. I guess if I was really in the situation of the main character, I'd be scared out of my mind. I did find it entertaining and enjoyed reading it. There are some slow parts dealing with the development of the relationship between the main character and the girl he meets, Jessica, that some readers might not like in a horror novel, but as a girl, I found reading these sections written from a male point of view interesting. 

Plot wise, there is nothing new or clever. This novel is a traditional monster horror novel. Its the characters that make this novel interesting. If you like character driven novels, then you will enjoy this book. If you're looking for a super complicated multiple plot driven horror, then this might not be for you. 

I recommend this book if you are looking for a fun, uncomplicated, traditional horror story with interesting characters. 

Andy Dean's Band Bella Morte is excellent too so check that out too.