Very gory just like the first novel. Once you get past the gore I really like the story though. Very creepy novels!

I'm not normally a fan of horror, but this series has a hold on me! I found Don't Fear the Reaper to be really entertaining, clever, engaging, and terrifying (obviously). I do wish I had more knowledge of horror movies, because then I'd appreciate the references more.

I was slightly confused by some parts of the plot, but I think that's because I listened to the audio. For the next book in the trilogy, I'll read a physical copy so I can refer back to certain elements.

Overall, a strong Book 2 in this horror trilogy!

Thanks to Gallery Books for the gifted copy.

My heart is a chainsaw was awesome and I am so glad to follow these characters again. Jones writing is unparalleled and will stick with you for a long time. This is a must read from this author. Another winner!!!

4.5/5 stars! This is a dark horror story, a sequel to the author's "Don't Fear the Reaper," I really enjoyed this story. It is a twisted serial killer story and the consequences of the next round of murders in this small town. I found the writing to be a little dense at times, but overall I found it to be deeply and darkly satisfying. Jones does a phenomenal job of mixing the horror elements with the psychology of why killers do what they do. I will be reading more books from this author in the future.

I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was so action packed and gory - exactly what you'd expect from a slasher!

It did an excellent job recapping the events of the first book which I really did need since I listened to the first one on audio. You would think that doing two slashers would be hard because how many times could you read about someone being torn apart.... Many many times in the answer.

The ending was a bit unsatisfying for me, but Stephan Graham Jones is well on his way to being a favorite author of mine.

The writing was fantastic, the characters were fantastic, and the body horror made me feel sick to my stomach.

Proofrock, Idaho, is a small town marred by tragedy. The Independence Day Massacre that concluded My Heart is a Chainsaw, the first novel of Graham’s Indian Lake Trilogy, claimed more than a dozen lives. Eyewitness accounts of the chaos differed dramatically, but misfit high school senior Jennifer “Jade” Daniels found herself saddled with at least some of the blame. Volume 2 of the trilogy, Don’t Fear the Reaper begins four years after the bloodbath. Released from prison after a mistrial, Jennifer returns to the only home she’s ever known. While deep in her heart she knows that the nightmare isn’t over, that a legendary threat remains at large, she yearns to put the past behind her. But small towns have long memories, and everywhere she turns she finds herself confronted by the scarred and the grieving. Complicating matters even further is that her slouching return coincides with the blizzard-aided escape of Dark Mill South, an enigmatic serial killer hoping to add a few more bodies to his count.

Winner of the Bram Stoker award for Superior Achievement in a Novel, My Heart is a Chainsaw introduced readers to Jade Daniels, an angry and rebellious half-Indian girl with an encyclopedic knowledge of slasher movies. While much of the first book centered on her use of horror flick trivia to recognize and deal with a lethal menace in her hometown, it was also an achingly empathetic portrait of a deeply hurt and isolated young woman trying to make her way in an insular community that didn’t seem to have any place for her. She is, as Jones aptly sums up, a girl whose feelings are too big for her body. Don’t Fear the Reaper presents a slightly matured version of Jones’ Final Girl. She prefers to be called Jennifer now, not Jade. And after living through a very real nightmare, scary movies have lost their luster. Despite her attempts to move on, however, to the citizens of Proofrock she’s still the same old Jade. Circumstances also conspire to mire her in the past, as once again she finds herself in a real-life horror movie where knowing the tropes and rules of the game can mean the difference between living to see another day and joining the rapidly expanding ranks of the dead. Burying the past is a luxury she may not have.

Not only does Jennifer remain a captivating heroine, Jones extends his empathy to the surrounding cast of characters as well. Where the first book dealt with one traumatized girl, Don’t Fear the Reaper shows us a traumatized community. Horror movies usually end with the monster’s death, we’re spared the aftermath. But Proofrock is a small town. The loss of so many during the Independence Day Massacre is still keenly felt years later, and to each other the survivors are living reminders of the tragedy. The former sheriff now relies on a walker. The town beauty struggles with an ongoing regimen of prescription medications and reconstructive surgeries. Not all of the characters whose minds we’re invited into are sympathetic, some are fairly reprehensible, but Jones doesn’t play favorites. He makes us understand their motives, their regrets, their aspirations. (And then has them murdered in graphic, inventive ways worthy of the best slasher films.) For this reader, the humanity with which the characters are portrayed was the highlight of the book.

Both volumes share masterful characterization, but Don’t Fear the Reaper differs significantly from its predecessor in terms of pacing. Much of My Heart is a Chainsaw is a slow burn, but this follow- up volume is remarkably compressed. Excluding flashbacks, postscripts, and other asides, the heart of the book takes place in a matter of hours. The struggle for survival is absolutely relentless. Where before Dark Mill South’s killings may have been serial in nature—with victims separated by time and geography—when he arrives in Proofrock he launches an all-out spree. Cut off from the outside world by inclement weather, with power and phone lines failing, the residents of town find themselves immersed in a new massacre, one that many are fatally oblivious that is even occurring.

While Dark Mill South displays a degree of fortitude worthy of movie slashers Jason Voorhees and Michael Myers, as in My Heart is a Chainsaw many of the supernatural elements mentioned in Don’t Fear the Reaper remain tantalizing, more often hinted at than foregrounded. Not all of our narrators are reliable, and quite frequently these witnesses are amped up on adrenaline or mortally wounded during their brushes the otherworldly. During these passages, Jones switches to a more gauzy, impressionistic style that requires one to read between the lines. It seems that there are phantasmal elements in play even beyond the legendary Lake Witch described in the first volume. Questions remain unanswered, but the dots the reader are given to connect have begun taking on an intriguing shape.

Like Pulitzer Prize winner Michael Chabon, Stephen Graham Jones balances serious literary chops with an unashamed love of genre fiction. Both My Heart is a Chainsaw and earlier stand-alone novel The Only Good Indians (2020) have attracted accolades both within and outside the horror fiction community, and Don’t Fear the Reaper seems destined to enjoy the same recognition. It’s a satisfying follow-up that leaves one exhilarated and excited for the trilogy’s conclusion. Part of me wonders if three volumes is enough, however. As any scary movie fan can tell you, the best franchises have a habit of outgrowing trilogies.

Don’t Fear The Reaper by Blue Oyster Cult…strike that…Stephen Graham Jones is the sequel to Jones’ 2021 slasher novel My Heart is a Chainsaw from @sagasff . I received an eARC from the publisher through @netgalley but I also bought three print copies (two of which are signed) plus the audiobook and pre-ordered the @sstpublications signed and numbered edition…all opinions are my own. My Heart is a Chainsaw was one of my favorite books of 2021, if not of all time. It’s the story of Jade Daniels, a high school student in Proofrock Idaho who’s obsessed with slashers and interprets the changing landscape of her community, as well as the events of her life, through the lens of her encyclopedic cinematic knowledge. Before continuing, I think it’s helpful to consider that this trilogy is not Jones’ first slasher story (see The Last Final Girl 2012) nor was Chainsaw the only major horror novel of the sub-genre released that year (see The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix). Novels paying homage to decades-old gory killing spree movies are perhaps horror fiction’s answer to the popularity of true crime podcasts as well as perennially popular mystery, thriller, and legal books found in bookstores, airports, and libraries across America. Slashers are very much of the literary zeitgeist, and with Chainsaw Dr. Jones has delivered one of the finest contributions in recent memory. Having written such an excellent, and basically resolved book, it therefore seemed surprising to me that he decided to pen a sequel (in what is slated to be a trilogy.) But much like Jason’s sudden aquatic entrance in F13, this surprise is most welcome. I’d be lying if I said I liked this book as much as it’s progenitor, but it’s still pretty dang good. Many of my favorite characters from Chainsaw return and are joined by new cast members as a terrifying slasher enters the scene. Dark Mill South is a figure fit for haunting Freddy’s nightmares. Jones has crafted a great premise, even if it is occasionally bogged down by changing POVs from chapter to chapter, and the overall quantity of characters and plot lines that, when compounded by SGJ’s challenging prose, left this reader sometimes lost. Still, it’s chilling book with tons of meta slasher references for the initiated. At first I felt like Jones was trying to recapture or even out do his prior effort, but isn’t that the way of the genre? Be it Friday, or Halloween, or Scream, or any other slasher series…isn’t the convention more gore, more scares, more characters, more…of what made the original a success combined with references and homages to other great works of the genre? Jones has written a great slasher sequel that might or might not surpass Chainsaw, but is a worthy successor. It’s got a great ending that makes the series feel like a duology, but the good news is there’s more to come. I’m throughly looking forward to Indian Lake number 3! Overall ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️#dontfearthereaper #bookstagram #bookreview #horror #stephengrahamjones #myheartisachainsaw #netgalley #slasher

Some of the issues I had from the first book in this series really came out more in this one, IMO. The author's writing style is kind of hard for me to latch onto and really get invested in. The plot and characters for most of the book felt so distant to me, so I found myself not excited to pick up the book. Overall, though, I thought the story was interesting, and I'll probably read the third one in the trilogy.

Jade Daniels returns to Proofrock after four long years, but she's not going to catch a break.

Stephen Graham Jones is quickly becoming one of my favorite horror writers. His style is incredibly unique. He keeps you on your toes and devouring each page, the urgency to get through to the other side of the story is tangible.

Don't Fear the Reaper may be a sequel but it's stronger than the first, in my opinion. It encompasses more of the classic slasher vibe. It was like revisiting an old friend, catching up on their stories and experiences that have occured since your last visit. It was faster paced than the first and it was even more disgusting, a perfect balance. A perfect wintery gorefest for all who enjoy the genre. I cannot wait for the third book in this trilogy!

I want to thank NetGalley, Stephen Graham Jones, and Simon and Schuster Canada for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Love Stephen Graham jones. He really bring stories to life and has such a unique way of telling them. I was so excited to get this arc and wasn’t disappointed.

I’m sad to say that I was let down with this one. It felt too random, too many twists, and I just couldn’t connect. With MHIAC, I could follow along and be part of the journey but with DFTR I could never get into the story long enough

"Dark Mill South’s Reunion Tour began on December 12th, 2019, a Thursday. Thirty-six hours and twenty bodies later, on Friday the 13th, it would be over."
--------------------------------------
"…souls are like livers: they regenerate and regenerate, until you’ve finally poisoned them enough that the only thing they can do is kill you…"

First, while I suppose it is possible to read Don’t Fear the Reaper as a stand-alone, I would not advise it. It is the second entry in The Lake Witch Trilogy. I mean, would you read The Two Towers without having first read The Fellowship of the Ring? Sure, Jones fills in enough details here that you could get by, maybe. But why would you want to? There is too much from the first book that you should know before heading into this one. So, if you have not yet read book #1, My Heart is a Chainsaw, settle back in your favorite reading spot, have a go at that one first, then head back here.

Well, it had been a quiet week in Proofrock, Idaho, "the little town that time forgot and the decades cannot improve." But it somehow makes itself the Cabot Cove of slasherdom. A chapter walks us through the place’s dodgy past, which culminated in the Independence Day Massacre of Book #1, four years before Book #2 picks up.

Jennifer Daniels, Jennifer, not Jade, Jennifer, the kick-ass final girl last time, is out of jail, but only if she can keep from destroying any more government property (as if). It just so happens that there is an epically murderous killer also just out of jail, but not from having been released. Dark Mill South is not a typical name for a killer, for anyone really. But then his killings are not usual either, offering, in addition to severe personal carnage, the placing of bodies facing north. He is supposedly seeking revenge for the hanging of thirty-eight Dakota men in 1862. And, in a nod no doubt, to urban legends, DMS is short one hand, while being plus one hook. A very large, burly person as well, up past 6’5” Jason Voorhees, giving him the BMOC title for slashers. Whoo-hoo! And unlike the main killer of book #1, DMS is an actual flesh-and-blood (lots of blood) monstrosity, not an ageless spook. He can be killed.

"He wasn’t meant to make it as far as he does in the book. The way I initially conceived him, he was gonna be this big bad killer who comes to town, and then within a matter of minutes, he gets put down. But then I built him too bad. He couldn’t be put down easily." - from The Big Thrill interview

Even wildlife gets involved in this one. Not the first time of course. Jones did present a vengeful ungulate in The Only Good Indians, and unhappy ursines were a presence in My Heart is a Chainsaw.

It will give Jade, no, Jennifer, Jennifer, sheesh, the opportunity to go all Final Girl again, but she would rather not, thanks. Who will she identify as the FG this time?

"Her fingernails aren’t painted black, and her boots are the dress-ones her lawyer bought for her. The heels are conservative, there are no aggressive lugs on the soles, and the threads are the same dark brown color as the fake, purply-brown leather."

She has gone mainstream, even has long, healthy (Indian) hair now, and a passel of credits from community college correspondence courses. She is back in town after five years of dealing with the justice system from the wrong side of the bars. It is ten degrees, and there is a nasty winter storm making it tough to get around, effectively isolating Proofrock, and it’s unwelcome visitor. The local population will be compressed into a smaller piece of town, as survivors congregate where they might gain some security.

The bodies start piling up in short order, a range of unpleasantries foisted upon them, the local constabulary, per usual in slasher tales, offering a somewhat less than totally effective level of protection to the community.

At age 17, Jade (yes, she was Jade then) offered us a tutorial on slasher norms. And saw how what was happening in her town fit the slasher-film norms (maybe should be ab-norms?) Her encyclopedic knowledge of the genre gave her an edge, allowed her to predict the future by looking at what had been produced in the cinematic past. This was done in chapters titled Slasher 101. That has been much reduced here. Although there are a few essay chapters in which a student writes to her teacher about similar subject matter, replicating the Jade-Holmes connection. Additional intel is presented through several characters who share Jennifer’s encyclopedic knowledge of the genre.

As with its predecessor, DFtR is an homage to the slasher film genre, particularly the product of the late 20th century golden age. I thought about keeping track of the films named, but it was soon clear that this was a fool’s errand. Like Lieutenant Dunbar says in Dances with Wolves, when Kicking Bird asks how many white men will be coming, they are like the stars. I enjoy slasher films as much as most of you, but am not a maven, by any stretch. One can enjoy this book without being familiar with ALLLLL of the gazillion films that are mentioned, but it did detract from the fun of reading this to feel as if the slasher film experts were passing notes behind my back, and that I was missing the significance of this or that flick nod. Sure, some explanations are offered, but the book would have to be twice as long to explain all of the references, in addition to the dead weight it would have added to the forward progress of the story.

There was almost no weight to be added for this novel.

"Never planned on My Heart is a Chainsaw being the first installment of a trilogy, nope. But then in revisions, Joe Monti, my editor at Saga, said... what if everybody wasn’t dead at the end?
I hemmed and hawed, didn’t want to leave anyone standing, but gave it a shot anyway. And it worked, was amazing. And it meant Chainsaw felt like it wanted to now open up to a trilogy, which I think is the most natural form for a slasher to take." - from The Lineup interview

But Jones did not roll out bed knowing how to structure, to write a trilogy, so he studied some of his favorite film series, Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings, to see how it is done. He also corralled a novel into his self-study class and learned a lot, particularly on handling multiple character POVs.

"I wrote Don’t Fear The Reaper right at the end of rereading Larry McMurtry’s Lonesome Dove. And that’s in parts, and each part introduces a new character and then it goes into everything else. And it cycles through all their heads. So that’s what I tried to do in Don’t Fear the Reaper—-and following that model was really productive. I don’t think I could have written Don’t Fear the Reaper if I hadn’t just come out of Lonesome Dove." – from the Paste Magazine interview

Part of that cycling includes a peek inside the squirrelly brain of DMS, who, at one point, is in pursuit of two females and relishing the thought of skinning them both alive in a creative way.

There is some other pretty weird material in this one that might take up residence in your nightmares, substances that may or may not be real, that may be or may become human, or humanoid, or some sort of living creature. Thankfully, we do not see things through their eyes. (do they even have eyes?)

Many horror products, films, movies, TV shows, et al, get by with a simple surfacy fright-fest, counting bodies and maybe indulging in creative ways of killing, but the better ones add a layer. Jones looks at things from a Native American perspective, as well as that of a serious slasher-movie fan. Not only is Jennifer a Native American final girl (well, she was in the prior book anyway. We do not know straight away if she will be forced to reprise the role this time.) The Jason-esque killer is a Native American as well. Inclusion all around. As noted above, the literary references SGJ favors are to slasher films, but he is not above tossing in more classical literary references. I particularly enjoyed:

"In the summer of 2015 a rough beast slouched out of the shadows and into the waking nightmares of an unsuspecting world. His name was Dark Mill South, but that wasn’t the only name he went by."

Jones is offering here a reference to a world famous poem by William Butler Yeats, The Second Coming, which ends with an end-times image (what rough beast, its hour come round at last, Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?) of a nightmare realized. (You can read the poem in EXTRA STUFF) It will certainly be end-times for many residents of Proofrock.

One of the underlying elements of the slasher story is that it is a bubble inside which some form of justice will be meted out.

"Now in 2023, I think the reason we’ve been into slashers the last few years….I think the 24-hour news cycle has greatly contributed to that, and also the election in 2016 that resulted in the news feeding us daily images, hourly images of people doing terrible things at podiums, at rallies, and then walking away unscathed. And what the slasher gives us is the ability to engage for two hours, for six hours, whatever, a world that is brutally fair. A world where if you do something wrong, you’re getting your head chopped off. That sense of fairness is so alluring to us" - from the Paste interview

Maybe not so alluring for the collateral victims who clog up the streets, buildings, and waterways, but there is usually some justifiable revenge taking place. Bullies get comeuppance, which is always satisfying.

While Jade/Jennifer does not get our total attention this time ‘round, she remains our primary POV in a town where, really, not all the women are strong, only some of the men are good-looking, and a fair number of the children are, well, different. She is a great lead, having proven her mettle in Book #1, an outsider, that weird kid, charged with challenging a mortal assault on the residents of her town, her superpower her scary knowledge of slasher canon, and a hefty reservoir of guts. Rooting for Jade/Jennifer is as easy as falling off a log, but hopefully without the dire consequences such an event might have in Indian Lake. You will love her to pieces. There are plenty of twists and surprises to keep you in the story. There is creepiness to make you look around your home just to make sure everything is ok. There is a semi’s worth of blood and gore, a bit more tutorial on the genre, and the action is relentless. Once you begin this series one thing is certain. You are sure to get hooked.

"slashers never really die. They just go to sleep for a few years. But they’re always counting the days until round two."

Review posted - 3/3/23

Publication date – 2/7/23

I received an ARE of Don’t Fear the Reaper from Gallery / Saga Press in return for a fair review. Thanks, folks, and thanks to NetGalley for facilitating.

To see the review as it was intended, with images, links and all, please head over to https://cootsreviews.com/2023/03/03/dont-fear-the-reaper-by-stephen-graham-jones/

I am not a Slasher fan. I watch the Scream movies, but that’s about it. So, yes, I missed some of the references, but that doesn’t diminish my enjoyment. It also didn’t make me want to watch more slasher films though. And I rarely read horror. However, I loved the first in this trilogy, My Heart Is a Chainsaw, that I made Amber buy a copy. Don’t Fear the Reaper is just as good.

Jade Daniels is our star once again. It’s been four years since the Independence Day Massacre, and while this might work as a standalone, knowing the events and characters from the first will definitely make this one richer. Jade and her chosen final girl, Letha, have grown and changed as they’ve dealt with the consequences. Jade has been in jail and her conviction has just been overturned. Letha is married and has a young daughter. But Jade’s back in town, arriving, as is her luck, the same day an escaped serial killer shows up. Proofrock is in the middle of a massive snowstorm – no electricity, no cell service, no outside help – and a killer’s on the loose.

The book is bloody and violent. There are a lot of people killed in a lot of ways. It’s a little gruesome but it should be.

This time around, we see the action from a lot of viewpoints, almost too many. But that also meant that the victims, Jade, the witnesses, all get their say, are all more than just another body. For a story that moves so quick and has so many twists, the characters still get to shine. Or not shine – Dark Mill South is not the only bad guy in Proofrock.

Don’t Fear the Reaper is the middle book in a trilogy but was still a self-contained story, which I appreciate. Yes, I’m sure it’s setting up the next in the series if only based on who survived this one and I’m anxious to read the finale, but I’m not angry at how it ended. Actually, the ending was perfect, with Jade taking control of her destiny and protecting the people and town she cares about. It’s a lot of fun getting there though, if “fun” is the right word.

Four years after the events in My Heart Is a Chainsaw, Jade Daniels is released from prison and returns to the town of Proofrock. After her disastrous senior year culminated in the Independence Day Massacre that led to her conviction and imprisonment, Jade is now insisting to be called by her given name Jennifer and that her past is behind her. She soon finds herself caught up in yet another maelstrom as convicted serial killer Dark Mill South escapes his prison transport in a blizzard and lands in Proofrock. Hellbent on revenge for the hanging of 38 Dakota men in 1862, Dark Mill South soon leaves a trail of bodies that Jennifer isn't able to ignore for long...

Pros:
- What character development! What drama! What gore! This series has had it all so far. Buckle up for another wild ride.
- If you're a genre fan, you'll love the deep cuts namedropped here.

Cons:
- I found it hard to follow at times, mainly due to the abundance of POVs that are introduced. I feel that Jade is a strong enough character on her own, and I wanted to spend more time with her POV in here. Sometimes I found myself forgetting who I was with in the POV and what their backstory was. Perhaps more of a me issue, but worth mentioning.
- I really should have re-read Chainsaw before reading this and would advise others to do the same. There's a lot of characters and details I found I needed a refresher on from the first installment.

Four stars. It gets fairly convoluted at times, but Jade is such a compelling character that I can't wait to see how this trilogy plays out.

FFO: slashers, injustice, love letters to the genre

**I was given a copy of this book by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to Gallery Books and Netgalley*

Honestly I love anything this author puts out! I had such a good time reading this. It’s perfectly paced and I would highly
Recommend it to anyone :)

Horror fiction is certainly having a moment right now, a fact that may seem surprising in a world where real life is certainly more frightening than ever, thanks to a global pandemic, the ongoing threat of war, and rising civil unrest around the world, and the looming specter of climate change. Perhaps these nebulous real-world problems mean it’s more likely that the thought of facing an easily identifiable villain appeals to us as readers, but whatever the reason, there are more great horror books heading our way than seemingly ever before this year.

Though author Stephen Graham has written dozens of books, most people are probably familiar with him thanks to his 2020 breakout novel The Only Good Indians, in which four Blackfeet men are pursued by a vengeful elk spirit. But it’s his follow-up Indian Lake trilogy that has firmly established him as one of horror’s most exciting voices of the moment, a series that’s not just a love letter to the slasher genre, but also part history lesson, part meditation on classism in America, and a feminist exploration of what the age-old concept of a Final Girl really means.

The memory of my enjoyment of My Heart is a Chainsaw faded since my original read.. and I delayed picking this one up because of that. I'm so mad I waited. This was a step up from the first and I'm so excited for what's coming next.

A solid follow up to an absolute masterpiece, DFTR brings the gore, the scares and the deep dives into horror movie lore but fails to deliver the emotional punch of the first book in the series. Where Chainsaw kept the reader guessing what's real and what was the result of Jade's troubled psyche, DFTR leans into the set up of thriller/horror flick. Strong female characters still dominate, but the emotional landscape of the book has less pathos and nuance, taken over by the widely increased cast of characters, more fantastical elements and overly complicated plot lines. I would recommend this to any fans of Stephen King or David Wong; however, you will find his first novel in this series "My Heart is a Chainsaw" a superior read.

Thank you to the publisher for providing an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I never got to read book one but I enjoyed this one! This was everything I expected a horror novel to be- lots of gory scenes filled with death, a slightly distraught heroine, and high stakes to survive.

This was a fun ride and not my typical genre go to but I definitely enjoyed it and would read this author again!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you for the ARC!

This book is spine tingling, unnerving, riveting, and well written! The flow was nice from the first book. The author brings you in and doesn't let go!!