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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Thrasher is Scary Good, June 1, 2011
This review is from: Gravestone: A Novel (Solitary Tales Series) (Paperback)
Shattered. There's no other way to describe Chris Buckley's life. Absolutely shattered by the events that ended Solitary, Chris now has to return to school like everything is a-ok when in reality nothing has ever been more wrong. Last year, when Travis Thrasher released Solitary, the first book in The Solitary Tales, I was absolutely blown away by everything about the book. Theme. Plot. Beginning. Middle. End. Writing style. In fact, I picked it as my favorite book of 2010. Needless to say, I was highly anticipating Gravestone. I had no idea where Thrasher was taking the story, I just hoped it would be an exciting and fascinating journey. Second installments of series can be difficult. First installments introduce the world--characters, initial plot, overarching theme, and many other things that make for a good stories. They're like the initial downhill plunge of a roller coaster. Maybe kind of slow at first as the world is built, but then you whoosh down that initial hill. The momentum for the series is set. Second installments can either coast along and take things easy or take the reader on a series of dips, dives, and loops that make for an exhilarating ride. Gravestone is definitely the latter. The book begins with Chris trying to somehow go back to normal life and ignore the catastrophic events at the end of Solitary that are now being covered up. He's got to do something, but what can he do? In the journey to find justice and seek out the evil in Solitary, Chris finds a few new friends, a few new enemies, and many more questions. The more Chris looks into the matter, the more he finds that the source of evil in Solitary rests on New Beginnings Church and Pastor Jeremiah Marsh. Gravestone, is in a way the tale of Chris Buckley v. Jeremiah Marsh. The odd hints on the pastor received in Solitary blossom as the pastor unveils his true colors. But everyone but Chris--and maybe a few others--seem oblivious to it. Thrasher respectfully moves on from the shocking end of Solitary, giving it the emotional weight it deserved without bogging down the pacing of the story. Perhaps my favorite parts were the scenes of Chris speaking with Iris at Crag's Inn, where he ends up getting a job. So much alluded to, so much left unsaid, such a great storyline. Like Solitary, Gravestone ends on cliffhanger that's jaw dropping. It answers as many questions as it raises, for as one layer is revealed a new layer presents itself. Where will Chris go from here? I have no idea...but I can't wait to find out. Hopefully five years from now, The Solitary Tales will be known as the series that launched Thrasher's writing into the bestseller's lists. It's certainly deserving of being there.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Second verse, same as the first...except better, May 28, 2011
This review is from: Gravestone: A Novel (Solitary Tales Series) (Paperback)
Last year I received a copy of Solitary from a publicist and tossed it in my bag on the way to a family reunion, whereupon I ended up blowing all sorts of people off since I got so engrossed in it. Thanks, Travis Thrasher. This time I have a pile of papers to grade, yet the second installment in the series--Gravestone--showed up on my doorstep, and I've done nothing for the past several hours except plow through it. Now my students thank you, Travis Thrasher. Gravestone picks up immmediately where Solitary left off, right after New Year's Eve and all the events that happened. Chris Buckley is alone and terrified and wondering in whom to believe. Oh, and there's a snowstorm, and there's no phone or Internet service. This scene sets things in motion that are an even wilder ride than Solitary was. It's hard to tell much about the book without giving any spoilers, but the main thread is Chris trying to find someone, anyone, he can confide in and trust about the increasingly frightening happenings and menacing people in town. In addition to the previous characters, we're introduced to several new people--Kelsey in Chris's art class; Jared, Chris's unknown cousin; and Iris, a mysterious elderly lady who lives on a hill, each of whom provides another piece of the sinister mosaic that is Solitary. The increasingly-ominous Pastor Jeremiah Marsh begins to take center stage. How much does Chris's mom know about what's going on? Will Chris ever see his dad again? What about the mysterious church underneath the falls? Gravestone has some out-and-out horror moments and so many twists that you're wondering whom you can trust right along with Chris. As well, it examines Chris's faith, or lack of it, in greater detail and shows us yet again that nothing and no one is exactly what it seems. The book leaves us with another shocking, unexpected ending, and we have to wait until June 2012 for the next installment and June 2013 for the final installment. Thanks, Travis Thrasher!
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great follow up, leaves you wanting more., February 7, 2012
This review is from: Gravestone: A Novel (Solitary Tales Series) (Paperback)
I was skeptical at first when I picked up Solitary simply because I have been spoiled by the likes of Ted Dekker's novels. Needless to say Dekker is a powerhouse among the thriller/suspense/supernatural genre if such a genre exists. But the solitary tales have lived up every bit. The characters are truly engaging giving the reader a true sense of how each one feels. The interlacing of stories between all the characters give the novel a true depth and body. That being said Gravestone took the empty spaces left by Solitary and filled them with just as much depth and interest. The sequel brings to light many new aspects of the solitary tales that leaves the reader wanting more. I just wish i had all 4 novels in my hand now. Patience is a virtue well received when ending on the cliffhangers.
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