 All said and done, this novel is worth your time as an ok, unusual read with all too few sparks of excellence. Don’t Go to Wheelchair Camp by David Irons Publisher : Severed Press (22 Sept. 2021) Language : English Paperback : 247 pages ISBN-10 : 1922551058 ISBN-13 : 978-1922551054 A Horror Book Review by Astrid Addams First off, my feelings towards this book are very mixed. A lot of the characters are downright arseholes, and not in a good way. The arseholes in this story are so awful that the story is hard to read in places. It seems that every character, except some of the wheelchair using kids are basically scum bags. I came very close to giving up on this story several times just because I didn’t want to read about the bullying and awful treatment of disabled kids anymore. Also, for slasher fiction, there was far too much of a delay before the murders start. Most of which happen in the final part of the novel, when it all goes sort of Battle Royal, with that level of violence, bloodshed and plans going wrong. Another major flaw is that the narrative and the eventual reveal of the murderer just feel like they do not match up. The revealed murderer could have been made more believable without giving the twist away, but it wasn’t for unknown reasons. Also, I was disappointed by the final ending which I feel was a bit of a cop out and didn’t fit with the rest of the narrative. What I think is great about this book, is that the wheelchair using kids feel like real teenagers and real people struggling with their role in a world not designed or fully adapted for them. One of the people I love is a wheelchair user who spent time in a special school, a lot of the feelings, frustrations and experiences of the campers fit with the experiences she has told me over the years. Also, as the narrative comes along, it gets more gripping and engrossing, and you get a deep sense of satisfaction from the unpredictable nature and the brutal deaths. You find yourselves rooting for the campers and hoping they will succeed in overcoming their tormentors. All said and done, this novel is worth your time as an ok, unusual read with all too few sparks of excellence. DON'T GO TO WHEELCHAIR CAMP |
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