Review: Sunburn by Darren Dash

Title: Sunburn
Author: Darren Dash
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Release date: 13th April 2015
Synopsis: When three friends go on holiday to Bulgaria, protecting themselves from sunburn is their only concern. But when they run into a beast unlike any they've ever imagined, it becomes a savage fight for survival. They will burn in the day... but the night holds even darker terrors in store.A tale of friendship, holidays, relationships, sacrifice and growth, where one painfully vulnerable young man must come of age or perish at the hands of a monster like none you will have seen before. A fast-paced, grisly, tongue-in-cheek retelling of a legend as old as time

Review: If you go down to the woods today...DON'T! Do something else, in a crowded area with a lot of people and a decent phone signal. Preferably in the shade!

The title is lovely and ambiguous, I didn't know what to expect when I started reading and so I don't want to say too much and give away the little gems that make up this book. Bulgaria seemed like an OK place to visit, there are seemingly some good historical sites...however now I've read this I'm not so sure. If you've seen any of the Hostel films, those were the sort of gritty vibes I got from this book. However unlike Hostel the terror takes on a much less human form.

This book was a grower for me but it grew a grew and I was glad for that. I guess in many ways, like the hostel films, they have a a lot of set up and then shizzle hits the fan...and then hits it again for good meausre!

Martini ( a name which really had to grow on me, even with it's explanation), Dom and Curran are very recognisable characters, and if you aren't personally like one (or in my case a little of all) of them, then you probably know someone like them. And this worked really well as they all had their places and it felt like you were the fourth man sat with them on their trip ( it also made me want to go on holiday) and so you could relate to them in different ways.

And then things started to get interesting.

I loved the monsters perspective, hearing (well reading) his voice as he hunted through the forest and then in contrast seeing him through Dominic's perspective. There was a cunning anaimalistic quality, but also an element of human nature which was nice as can be in a monster. There were just little touches that made him creepy, and he played up to the big bad monster don't mess with me role very well.

This book has Darren written all over it (and quite literally too!) An I think both old fans and new fans will enjoy it, especially if you're looking for something with a bit of horror in it....so grab a copy and let me know what you think!

Watch out for our interview with the author coming soon!