Title: When We Fall
Author: Peter Giglio
Genre: Dark Fiction, Horror, Novella
Rating: 3 stars
Purchase: Amazon
Review copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
In the summer of 1985, thirteen-year-old Ben Brendel, still grieving the loss of his best friend, forms an unlikely friendship with the seventeen-year-old girl across the street. Aubrey Rose shares his love for film and soon helps him rekindle his passion for filmmaking.
But shortly after their first film is sent to the developing lab, Ben finds himself haunted by bizarre visions and nightmares. And when he brings the film home, nothing can prepare him for the dark secret it will reveal, bending the fragile bonds of family and friendship past the breaking point, and testing the courage and strength of a boy on the cusp of manhood.
WHEN WE FALL is a dark coming-of-age tale you won’t soon forget.
When We Fall isn’t exactly terrifying. In fact, it’s anything but terrifying. It’s dark though, with emotional themes that rock main character, thirteen-year-old Ben, to his core. After his best friend dies, Ben’s world is turned upside down. There’s no one left to help him make the films he and his best buddy always dreamed of. Then another death occurs, this time that of his nemesis, a boy who always bullied him. Meanwhile, Ben strikes up an unusual friendship with the seventeen-year-old girl next door, Aubrey Rose.
The characterization of thirteen-year-old Ben was spot on. He acts and behaves like a typical boy his age. The severity of the events that happened is also described well, and the reader can genuinely relate to Ben’s pain over losing his friend. The tone is dark, unsettling, and one senses right away something bad is about to happen.
For a dark fiction novella, the plot wasn’t all that dark though. The writing was all right, but I missed the creepy factor in this book.
All in all, an okay read, but I would’ve preferred had the story been a bit darker and scarier.
Speak Your Mind