Review: The Spitting Post by Jason R. Barden
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Summary:
Vincent Carpenter’s life is a wreck. He has given up his dreams. He has lost his job after an economic disaster. His ten-year marriage is crumbling. Then he awakens in a maniacal land of frighteningly vivid realism with skull trees, glowing forests, ravenous beasts, and other psychologically haunting adversity.
While traveling through this demented unearthly world, he has a chance encounter with a beautiful maiden dressed in green; before he can start a conversation, she disappears into the unknown. Vincent must try to find her at a fantastical place known as the Spitting Post. But first he must overcome many macabre misfortunes and face nightmares that question his sanity. Will he reach her? What will the Spitting Post reveal? Will he suffer more disappointment and tragedy? Or will he find peace at last?
Review:
Rating: 4 stars
Vincent Carpenter’s life is a wreck. He has given up his dreams. He has lost his job after an economic disaster. His ten-year marriage is crumbling. Then he awakens in a maniacal land of frighteningly vivid realism with skull trees, glowing forests, ravenous beasts, and other psychologically haunting adversity.
While traveling through this demented unearthly world, he has a chance encounter with a beautiful maiden dressed in green; before he can start a conversation, she disappears into the unknown. Vincent must try to find her at a fantastical place known as the Spitting Post. But first he must overcome many macabre misfortunes and face nightmares that question his sanity. Will he reach her? What will the Spitting Post reveal? Will he suffer more disappointment and tragedy? Or will he find peace at last?
Review:
I didn't know what to expect when I
started to read The Spitting Post. After all, the horror/dark fantasy genre
isn't exactly what I'm used to reading. The story started fairly innocuously,
though I did think Vincent's reaction to Erika's statement about not wanting to go to
the restaurant for their 10th anniversary a bit weird. However, by
the time Vincent got into the accident, entered the blue forest and met the
Green Maiden, I was mesmerized and hopelessly fascinated.
What followed was an amazing
adventure into the land of the strange, yet it wasn't a random strangeness.
Here, Vincent has to defeat a monster to rescue the Green Maiden, though not
without some detours along the way that only raises more questions than answer
them.
The ending came with a surprise
twist that stunned me and kept my eyes glued to the page. My advice to those
who normally jump to read the last chapter--please don't do it here. You'll
miss out on the full effect of the revelation. Be patient and I guarantee it'll
be worth every bit of your restraint.
That said, this story continued to
stay with me long after I closed the book. It was then that I had a thought--
***major spoiler***
That I'm not sure what happened to
Erika is possible. Sure, she could have a split personality--or multiple
personalities--but to take on the personality of another human being? Not sure
that's possible, or if it's still in the realm of multiple personalities.
Usually, the second or third or fourth personality grew out from within the
same person because the other personality/ies isn't able to cope with some new
situation. I'm not an expert even if I did major in psychology as my undergrad
course, so don't take my word for it.
***end spoiler***
Rating: 4 stars
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