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Resurrection
In the beginning there was Adam.... A world-weary global backpacker working as a bartender in Southern England; his life starts to take a series of downward turns and his thoughts start to become dark, very dark. Supernatural forces are circling Adam and he makes a deal that will see him play host to one of the most demonic antagonists to grace the pages of History. His world is quickly overtaken as he bears witness to a series of encounters that will set off a chain of terrifying events in both the UK and the USA. Adam quickly learns the terrifying ease in which humanity can ultimately be corrupted.
A new leader rises in a religious cult/ militia that have waged war against a foreign enemy. Is this the same man?
A new leader rises in a religious cult/ militia that have waged war against a foreign enemy. Is this the same man?
400 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 23, 2020
1 person is currently reading
6 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
December 6, 2021
I want to set the tone for this review by giving you a snippet:
I think "old yellow" refers to a dog being dragged off by it's owner (presumably a reference to Disney's 'Old Yeller'). But clearly this would have been a horribly constructed sentence even if the author hadn't misspelled "sight" twice.
The last thing I would ever want to do is stamp on the aspiration of a budding writer. Though the first chapter was a little confusing, I was heartened by a few creative descriptions that made me chuckle and think that this could be an enjoyable read: my favourite of which was someone's outfit being referred to as a "Ralph Lauren fashion condom". I thought that was genuinely clever.
From that point on, however, the book became an exhausting slog. It's not even as though it's lacking in plot or good story ideas. The main issue is the obtuse language which puts up an impenetrable veil to whatever the author is describing:
This sentence is supposed to be helping me picture the interior of a pub, instead it leaves me utterly baffled. It's just one of many sentences I had to read two or three times trying to sieve some sort of intelligible meaning out of them.
The main protagonist comes across as a reprehensibly judgemental arse from chapter 2. Before he's even got to work, he's already thrown judgement on an emo kid simply for existing and had to suppress the urge to 'riverdance' because a dog's owner led it away.
The author employs the regrettable practice of transliterating people's accents, and not even accurately: one character is described as having a "harsh northern accent" (later specified as a Yorkshire accent) but the dialogue seems to be conveying either Irish or West Country. People from Yorkshire do not even remotely pronouce "I" as "oy".
The author name drops a LOT of celebrities throughout his prose, and it's hard to discern that this is a deliberate style choice. Far too many of his descriptions live or die by whether or not you understand the cultural or celebrity reference it hinges upon, and even some of the ones I did understand were frankly incomprehensible:
Aside from the bitter taste left by describing a nation's accent as 'acerbic', the author makes lots of other uncharitable and inaccurate references to other countries and cultures, such as:
- misspelling Afrikaans ("Africanse", he writes)
- lamenting the "all too familiar greeting 'Praise to Allah'" (presumably he is thinking of "Allahu Akhbar" which actually translates as "God is great"...and why "all too familiar"? In peaceful Islamic communities this is an everyday utterance as common and innocuous as the English expression "Thank god for that")
- an early observation of a stain on a taxi driver's jumper being "the last piece of Halal meat" from his last meal - as though a scrap of meat can be identified as Halal visually (not to mention that Halal is not a type of meat: it can be a property of several meats).
It conveys a real sense of ignorance on the author's part.
The author has a notable habit of describing a subject and then deploying a simile or metaphor, but then adding description to the simile as though the simile itself were the subject. Eg:
(Simply comparing the man to a Pez dispenser would actually have been quite darkly amusing and workable by itself, without the silly addition of 'expected' candy which really just amounts to over-explaining the joke.)
Ignoring the fact that "Weissbier" is misspelled, the author actually seems to catch himself in the act of simile transfer in that second one, because he follows with "I wasn't going to drink her hair, just merely pointing out the beauty of it." (And what could be more flattering than comparing a woman's hair to a cliché and a cheap, weirdly-specific German beer?)
In chapter 49, a scene depicting a missile strike on a crowd of protesters and counter-protestors reads more like a technical manual on the velocity and kill radius of an AGM-114 Hellfire missile than a portrayal of the atrocity it is.
Struggling through to the end with substantial skimming, I managed to get a sense of the plot, which has some promise and seemed serviceable. But the language was just like wading through treacle. I doubt the author employed any objective beta-readers, critique partners or editors before publishing this book, because honestly it's a mess. Misspelling aplenty, formatting errors, changes of tense and sentences that are just gibberish nonsense.
I hate to sound harsh, and I haven't provided all the above examples to shame the author. It's to demonstrate that my one-star review isn't just about this book being 'not my cup of tea', it's because the writing is genuinely terrible.
I hope that the author keeps writing and refining their style for future works. I would advise them to read some more books, maybe a few books about writing, and simplify their style to master the basics before trying to get clever with their prose. Don't run before you can walk.
"The site of the flea-bitten old yellow exiting stage left was a welcome site. I resisted every urge I could to riverdance."
I think "old yellow" refers to a dog being dragged off by it's owner (presumably a reference to Disney's 'Old Yeller'). But clearly this would have been a horribly constructed sentence even if the author hadn't misspelled "sight" twice.
The last thing I would ever want to do is stamp on the aspiration of a budding writer. Though the first chapter was a little confusing, I was heartened by a few creative descriptions that made me chuckle and think that this could be an enjoyable read: my favourite of which was someone's outfit being referred to as a "Ralph Lauren fashion condom". I thought that was genuinely clever.
From that point on, however, the book became an exhausting slog. It's not even as though it's lacking in plot or good story ideas. The main issue is the obtuse language which puts up an impenetrable veil to whatever the author is describing:
"The Rabbit's Foot was the perfect blend of the aesthetic for the rich and pretentious to salivate over, as they yearned for the mason's equivalent of a mistress they could escape to and feel up the folds of its silken negligee like a fumbling guffawing mid-life virgin".
This sentence is supposed to be helping me picture the interior of a pub, instead it leaves me utterly baffled. It's just one of many sentences I had to read two or three times trying to sieve some sort of intelligible meaning out of them.
The main protagonist comes across as a reprehensibly judgemental arse from chapter 2. Before he's even got to work, he's already thrown judgement on an emo kid simply for existing and had to suppress the urge to 'riverdance' because a dog's owner led it away.
The author employs the regrettable practice of transliterating people's accents, and not even accurately: one character is described as having a "harsh northern accent" (later specified as a Yorkshire accent) but the dialogue seems to be conveying either Irish or West Country. People from Yorkshire do not even remotely pronouce "I" as "oy".
The author name drops a LOT of celebrities throughout his prose, and it's hard to discern that this is a deliberate style choice. Far too many of his descriptions live or die by whether or not you understand the cultural or celebrity reference it hinges upon, and even some of the ones I did understand were frankly incomprehensible:
"One day this changed with a delicate flickering of the daintiest eyes a man could ever see. They belonged to a porcelain doll that would turn David Bowie into a quivering heap."
"He was equipped with an acerbic Hungarian accent that seemed to resemble a young Bela Lugosi's Impression of Count Dracula" (erroneous capitalisation of "Impression" preserved)
Aside from the bitter taste left by describing a nation's accent as 'acerbic', the author makes lots of other uncharitable and inaccurate references to other countries and cultures, such as:
- misspelling Afrikaans ("Africanse", he writes)
- lamenting the "all too familiar greeting 'Praise to Allah'" (presumably he is thinking of "Allahu Akhbar" which actually translates as "God is great"...and why "all too familiar"? In peaceful Islamic communities this is an everyday utterance as common and innocuous as the English expression "Thank god for that")
- an early observation of a stain on a taxi driver's jumper being "the last piece of Halal meat" from his last meal - as though a scrap of meat can be identified as Halal visually (not to mention that Halal is not a type of meat: it can be a property of several meats).
It conveys a real sense of ignorance on the author's part.
The author has a notable habit of describing a subject and then deploying a simile or metaphor, but then adding description to the simile as though the simile itself were the subject. Eg:
(Of a man bleeding from the throat) "I gazed down at this poor excuse for a Pez dispenser, pumping out a last trickle of claret instead of the expected chalk-laden candy."
(Simply comparing the man to a Pez dispenser would actually have been quite darkly amusing and workable by itself, without the silly addition of 'expected' candy which really just amounts to over-explaining the joke.)
(Of a woman's hair) "It shone like a clichéd shampoo ad, with a colour of amber gold that reminded me of the Erdinger Weisbeir, a taste that could swamp the taste buds and fog the mind."
Ignoring the fact that "Weissbier" is misspelled, the author actually seems to catch himself in the act of simile transfer in that second one, because he follows with "I wasn't going to drink her hair, just merely pointing out the beauty of it." (And what could be more flattering than comparing a woman's hair to a cliché and a cheap, weirdly-specific German beer?)
In chapter 49, a scene depicting a missile strike on a crowd of protesters and counter-protestors reads more like a technical manual on the velocity and kill radius of an AGM-114 Hellfire missile than a portrayal of the atrocity it is.
Struggling through to the end with substantial skimming, I managed to get a sense of the plot, which has some promise and seemed serviceable. But the language was just like wading through treacle. I doubt the author employed any objective beta-readers, critique partners or editors before publishing this book, because honestly it's a mess. Misspelling aplenty, formatting errors, changes of tense and sentences that are just gibberish nonsense.
I hate to sound harsh, and I haven't provided all the above examples to shame the author. It's to demonstrate that my one-star review isn't just about this book being 'not my cup of tea', it's because the writing is genuinely terrible.
I hope that the author keeps writing and refining their style for future works. I would advise them to read some more books, maybe a few books about writing, and simplify their style to master the basics before trying to get clever with their prose. Don't run before you can walk.
July 14, 2022
Dark and Harrowing.
When that little voice that talks to us all starts to talk to Adam, a down-on-his-luck Australian backpacker, he tries to ignore it. But following a particularly horrendous beating, it turns out that his inner monologue is something much darker. This story is one of demonic possession and the subsequent mayhem that ensues; starting in the UK before the main bulk of the story takes place in the US. Only a lone female agent stands between the entity that now calls itself Abraham and total bloodthirsty chaos.
This is not one for the easily offended. The language and approaches of the demon make for a dark read, and some of its observations will upset people. But reading through this, what you have is a good story with excellent use of language and metaphors which enhances the story to be eminently readable. I particularly enjoyed the US scenes with the cult; the author shows the manipulation of the existing church group into what it becomes very well, playing on modern prejudices and the horrors that can come about from this. A smattering of the demons history keeps you well engaged. One for fans of horror where going against social norms won't bother you.
When that little voice that talks to us all starts to talk to Adam, a down-on-his-luck Australian backpacker, he tries to ignore it. But following a particularly horrendous beating, it turns out that his inner monologue is something much darker. This story is one of demonic possession and the subsequent mayhem that ensues; starting in the UK before the main bulk of the story takes place in the US. Only a lone female agent stands between the entity that now calls itself Abraham and total bloodthirsty chaos.
This is not one for the easily offended. The language and approaches of the demon make for a dark read, and some of its observations will upset people. But reading through this, what you have is a good story with excellent use of language and metaphors which enhances the story to be eminently readable. I particularly enjoyed the US scenes with the cult; the author shows the manipulation of the existing church group into what it becomes very well, playing on modern prejudices and the horrors that can come about from this. A smattering of the demons history keeps you well engaged. One for fans of horror where going against social norms won't bother you.
November 13, 2021
This is written in first person, which I find very interesting. It starts out with a normal scene with a dude working in a bar, and it takes a sharp left turn into psycho town. At first, felt myself sympathizing with the man, as he works in a bar with annoying customers. Anyone who has worked in the restaurant industry can surely understand the point of view. I like how the author captures the bull$%^# of working in the service industry. Full of rage and hopelessness. We also look into the main character's living situation. It is set in the modern-day U.K., but ends up jumping to the US, and then back across the pond at the end.
I love a good unreliable narrator, and our main character here defiantly fits that bill. I found myself wondering if this was really happening, or if our boy was just straight-up crazy, or both. Later in the story, we start to see that something bigger is going on here, at it evolves into good vs. evil.
The story fluctuates between his work at the restaurants and flat and roommates. The author paints a man who is stuck in a run, who is driving himself crazy in his job, and stuck in his own fantasies. It is hard to distinguish between reality and imagination, and you start to doubt yourself and what you are thinking. Things take a turn when he falls for a new waitress, and we see his dark side come out. He ends up getting arrested, and it's here we see him refer to his "alter ego" and you start to realize that our boy is seriously screwed In the head.
As the story goes on, through a series of more and more disturbing events, we see that our main character is seriously flawed. I found myself actually rooting for this psychopath to snap out of it, to get his shit together, but I also found myself wondering what was really going on if he had committed even more heinous acts that he wasn't telling us.
Eventually, we get to a pact made in blood, and the story really gets going. I found myself reading page after page, pulled into the story, and wanting to know what happens next. It does end on a hopeful note, and we see a sense of reflection from the main character.
In summary, this is a very engaging, interesting story. It moved along briskly, and keep me entertained. A great read to curl up on a crisp cold evening, although much like the main character at the end of this story, it might leave you with nightmares. 5 out of 5 for originality, engaging plot, and entertainment.
I love a good unreliable narrator, and our main character here defiantly fits that bill. I found myself wondering if this was really happening, or if our boy was just straight-up crazy, or both. Later in the story, we start to see that something bigger is going on here, at it evolves into good vs. evil.
The story fluctuates between his work at the restaurants and flat and roommates. The author paints a man who is stuck in a run, who is driving himself crazy in his job, and stuck in his own fantasies. It is hard to distinguish between reality and imagination, and you start to doubt yourself and what you are thinking. Things take a turn when he falls for a new waitress, and we see his dark side come out. He ends up getting arrested, and it's here we see him refer to his "alter ego" and you start to realize that our boy is seriously screwed In the head.
As the story goes on, through a series of more and more disturbing events, we see that our main character is seriously flawed. I found myself actually rooting for this psychopath to snap out of it, to get his shit together, but I also found myself wondering what was really going on if he had committed even more heinous acts that he wasn't telling us.
Eventually, we get to a pact made in blood, and the story really gets going. I found myself reading page after page, pulled into the story, and wanting to know what happens next. It does end on a hopeful note, and we see a sense of reflection from the main character.
In summary, this is a very engaging, interesting story. It moved along briskly, and keep me entertained. A great read to curl up on a crisp cold evening, although much like the main character at the end of this story, it might leave you with nightmares. 5 out of 5 for originality, engaging plot, and entertainment.
December 2, 2021
I really enjoyed my time with Resurrection by R.I. Lockett. On the face of it, this book is a supernatural thriller about a man with some very, very dark thoughts and disturbances , but beyond that, deep under the surface, is a sort of subtext, and within that is a story of humanity, as well as life and death, good and evil.
I found Adam to be an intriguing character. He comes across as quite normal, but you quickly start to realise that there is something not quite right about him, and that you cannot really trust what he is saying in his story. The reason for this is that not even Adam can be sure with his reality or current situation. In some ways this felt like American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis, and it certainly gave me the same sort of vibes. The author is clever in crafting this sort of narrative as when it is done badly it is noticeable, but when it is good it is oh so good.
The actual story was really well put together. Adam takes us deeper into his darkness, with some increasingly more bizarre and disturbing events unfolding in front of him. This adds to the mystery and the general sense of not quite knowing what is going on. It is splattered with violence that only increases as Adam is pressed more by the demonic, supernatural forces that compel him. This really kept me engaged.
The writing can, on occasion, feel a little bloated. By this I mean descriptions and the narrative can feel extensive, with some very long paragraphs. I guess this is a personal preference though, as some like this sort of thing, but I would like to have a leaner story where every word counts.
This is a novel that will resonate well with those who understand what is going on, in that it is told by someone who isn’t sure himself. The supernatural/paranormal element is more adult than other books in this genre, and this is why it works so well.
I found Adam to be an intriguing character. He comes across as quite normal, but you quickly start to realise that there is something not quite right about him, and that you cannot really trust what he is saying in his story. The reason for this is that not even Adam can be sure with his reality or current situation. In some ways this felt like American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis, and it certainly gave me the same sort of vibes. The author is clever in crafting this sort of narrative as when it is done badly it is noticeable, but when it is good it is oh so good.
The actual story was really well put together. Adam takes us deeper into his darkness, with some increasingly more bizarre and disturbing events unfolding in front of him. This adds to the mystery and the general sense of not quite knowing what is going on. It is splattered with violence that only increases as Adam is pressed more by the demonic, supernatural forces that compel him. This really kept me engaged.
The writing can, on occasion, feel a little bloated. By this I mean descriptions and the narrative can feel extensive, with some very long paragraphs. I guess this is a personal preference though, as some like this sort of thing, but I would like to have a leaner story where every word counts.
This is a novel that will resonate well with those who understand what is going on, in that it is told by someone who isn’t sure himself. The supernatural/paranormal element is more adult than other books in this genre, and this is why it works so well.
December 14, 2020
The bizarre and uncanny riff on mortality in Lockett’s engrossing debut supernatural thriller.
Smart and practical Adam, a native Australian and global backpacker, is content for the time being to make a living as a bartender in Southern England, but unexpected circumstances force him to make a deal with a dark entity. What begins as a simple deal, offering a chance at new life takes an uncanny turn into the supernatural, starting a series of events that will set off a chain of terrifying incidents in both the UK and the USA.
Lockett creates a sense of menace and intimacy through the supernatural force as it slowly encircles Adam into its web of darkness and deceit. The mystery of hovering darkness is drawn out gradually until it becomes a fully fleshed-out character in itself.
Adam is deeply realized, relatable character, and his eventual fate won’t be easily forgotten by the reader.
Lovers of supernatural will be intrigued.
Smart and practical Adam, a native Australian and global backpacker, is content for the time being to make a living as a bartender in Southern England, but unexpected circumstances force him to make a deal with a dark entity. What begins as a simple deal, offering a chance at new life takes an uncanny turn into the supernatural, starting a series of events that will set off a chain of terrifying incidents in both the UK and the USA.
Lockett creates a sense of menace and intimacy through the supernatural force as it slowly encircles Adam into its web of darkness and deceit. The mystery of hovering darkness is drawn out gradually until it becomes a fully fleshed-out character in itself.
Adam is deeply realized, relatable character, and his eventual fate won’t be easily forgotten by the reader.
Lovers of supernatural will be intrigued.
January 25, 2022
Truly, it is painful for me to write a purely negative review on a book, but I don't know how to avoid doing so. Let me begin by saying- I DNFED this book 15% in. Read below to find out why- spoilers in content.
The main character from page one is pretentious, arrogant, self absorbed, And as time goes on you realize he’s also homophobic and belongs in his moms basement. It’s not endearing, or entertaining. He’s obviously the kind of bro who rejects everyone around him before they can reject him or point out his abundant flaws.
I strongly suggest a well versed editor, and citing works when quoted in the book. A fair use on the copy write page - also a copy write page and an advisory page - is important. The chapter titles and the MCs character are problematic in places, coming across as anti just about everything except Adam like male. Women are seen as objects, whores, and sluts. Other men are seen as either competition or wanting to screw the MC. Even the woman he’s interested in, he feels the need to “subtly put down”. There is nothing to redeem Adam. Nothing.
I had to DNF this book. Once I hit Adam telling Amy she was a tainted slut for being raped I was done. Maybe some people would enjoy this story. I did not and I think most wouldn’t get through it either. I so so strongly urge sensitivity readers, trigger warnings, and an editor. Maybe the premise was sound. I will never know because I chose to not put myself through any more.
The main character from page one is pretentious, arrogant, self absorbed, And as time goes on you realize he’s also homophobic and belongs in his moms basement. It’s not endearing, or entertaining. He’s obviously the kind of bro who rejects everyone around him before they can reject him or point out his abundant flaws.
I strongly suggest a well versed editor, and citing works when quoted in the book. A fair use on the copy write page - also a copy write page and an advisory page - is important. The chapter titles and the MCs character are problematic in places, coming across as anti just about everything except Adam like male. Women are seen as objects, whores, and sluts. Other men are seen as either competition or wanting to screw the MC. Even the woman he’s interested in, he feels the need to “subtly put down”. There is nothing to redeem Adam. Nothing.
I had to DNF this book. Once I hit Adam telling Amy she was a tainted slut for being raped I was done. Maybe some people would enjoy this story. I did not and I think most wouldn’t get through it either. I so so strongly urge sensitivity readers, trigger warnings, and an editor. Maybe the premise was sound. I will never know because I chose to not put myself through any more.
November 16, 2021
A well written and engaging dystopian tale
This book was a little out of my comfort zone but had come recommended – I am not a fan of fantasy or sci-fi, but I found this book difficult to place firmly in a particular genre.
However, and despite my difficulty in trying to grasp the story straight away, the writing is beautiful; a blend of well-constructed prose, street ‘lingo’ and a form of narration that was the central character talking to himself and, I know that feeling – this is all sufficient to draw the reader into the novel. In fact I read this almost straight through.
A wayward Aussie backpacker suffers a series of emotional and physical blows. He knows not which way to turn until he is offered a choice, whilst recovering from a brutal attack in hospital; he can get what he deserves and recover a life full of a merited future. At that time in his life he can see no way out of his downward spiral and, thinking he is dreaming, he accepts the offer of ‘redemption’ or is it ‘resurrection’? I thought it more a case of possession, but was it real to him.
What follows is an almost chaotic series of events that I at first thought was revenge but was, in fact, so much more. I am not sure I could even offer a synopsis that would clarify this most engaging plot. It is violent, it is disturbing on so many levels, but it is a good read… 5 stars.
This book was a little out of my comfort zone but had come recommended – I am not a fan of fantasy or sci-fi, but I found this book difficult to place firmly in a particular genre.
However, and despite my difficulty in trying to grasp the story straight away, the writing is beautiful; a blend of well-constructed prose, street ‘lingo’ and a form of narration that was the central character talking to himself and, I know that feeling – this is all sufficient to draw the reader into the novel. In fact I read this almost straight through.
A wayward Aussie backpacker suffers a series of emotional and physical blows. He knows not which way to turn until he is offered a choice, whilst recovering from a brutal attack in hospital; he can get what he deserves and recover a life full of a merited future. At that time in his life he can see no way out of his downward spiral and, thinking he is dreaming, he accepts the offer of ‘redemption’ or is it ‘resurrection’? I thought it more a case of possession, but was it real to him.
What follows is an almost chaotic series of events that I at first thought was revenge but was, in fact, so much more. I am not sure I could even offer a synopsis that would clarify this most engaging plot. It is violent, it is disturbing on so many levels, but it is a good read… 5 stars.
February 20, 2021
A global backpacker at heart, the bright and discontented Adam is working as a bartender in Southern England when an unforeseen misfortune sends him at a crossroad between life and death. After a supernatural force offers him a tempting deal, there’s no reason for Adam to say no to the entity. But soon the darkness takes over his body. As Adam struggles to regain his identity, the supernatural chimes in to direct the course of his actions, initiating a series of frightening events in both the UK and the USA.
Though, the supernatural in the story is a fully realized character by itself, it stays in Adam’s mind for a good chunk of the narrative, especially in the beginning, and Lockett uses Adam’s fluctuating emotions to invoke it. The pacing and flow of the narrative is hampered by slack plotting, but Lockett’s depiction of Adam as a man initially marred by unfairness and inequality, and later driven by revenge is as convincing as it is scary.
There are plenty of grotesqueries, and the scenes of bloodshed and violence makes it suitable for the mature readers. The suspense is tangible, and the heartening ending will leave readers satisfied.
Lovers of dark paranormal won’t want to miss this chilling read.
Though, the supernatural in the story is a fully realized character by itself, it stays in Adam’s mind for a good chunk of the narrative, especially in the beginning, and Lockett uses Adam’s fluctuating emotions to invoke it. The pacing and flow of the narrative is hampered by slack plotting, but Lockett’s depiction of Adam as a man initially marred by unfairness and inequality, and later driven by revenge is as convincing as it is scary.
There are plenty of grotesqueries, and the scenes of bloodshed and violence makes it suitable for the mature readers. The suspense is tangible, and the heartening ending will leave readers satisfied.
Lovers of dark paranormal won’t want to miss this chilling read.
February 15, 2022
Fantastic book, I loved every aspect of the read. 5/5
The constant struggle between life and death was uniquely thrilling and made it a great dystopian fiction.
The main character is at times potentially aggravating however his complexity provides a unique insight and in my opinion makes the story even more engaging.
I loved the avid descriptions and supernatural aspects of the read.
5 stars, would love to see more books like this.
The constant struggle between life and death was uniquely thrilling and made it a great dystopian fiction.
The main character is at times potentially aggravating however his complexity provides a unique insight and in my opinion makes the story even more engaging.
I loved the avid descriptions and supernatural aspects of the read.
5 stars, would love to see more books like this.
February 15, 2022
I absolutely loved this volume. Would recommend for all ages. I am a university professor and suggested for my class and they were infatuated with it; could not put it down. 6 stars out of 5
December 13, 2021
Resurrection is the dark story of a man possessed. What begins as a run-of-the-mill down on his luck protagonist quickly transforms into something much more sinister. I have broken the review up into several sections:
PLOT: The story starts with a bang. Honestly, considering what the story becomes, I would have liked to get to the possession scene a little quicker, as everything before that was just set up. If I were to outline the plot here, I think everyone would agree the concept was both uniquely thrilling and horrifying. One positive aspect was I literally could not guess where the story was going at any given moment. However, there were plenty of times where I found myself skimming. I think a good 20% cut of the non-essential elements would work wonders for the pace. The constant complicated metaphors and similes are partly to blame for this, which brings us to the writing.
WRITING: I am torn when it comes to the author’s writing style. I’ll start by saying, it was the best part of the book. It was also was the worst part of the book. How both those statements can be true is the paradox of Resurrection. In terms of creativity, I’ll give the author an A+, and some of the descriptions are nothing short of genius. There was a lot of thought put into them, and the author has a true gift for making connections. Another reviewer referred to the author as a "new author." I don't know if that is true, but that would make me feel much better because with a little refinement this writing style could be something special.
When describing a woman’s hair he writes, “with a colour of amber gold that reminded me of the Erdinger Weisbeir, a taste that could swamp the taste buds and fog the mind.”
My problem with these descriptions is that they sometimes get in the way of the storytelling. As a reader, I found myself getting tripped up too many times in places that should have flowed smoothly.
CHARACTERS: Despite the investigators tracking Abraham, and some flashbacks, I still would have liked more information on what the demon exactly was, along with its motivations. Bad guys as main characters are tough to pull off. Although he had some great moments throughout the story, I don’t know if Abraham was charismatic enough to make me truly hate him and root for his downfall. I found myself mildly interested to see what would happen, instead of turning the pages feverishly and rooting for his demise. Maybe he should have killed some more innocent animals or something, I don’t know. Taking over crazy corrupted religious cults almost makes me root FOR him if anything.
There is an interesting female character introduced later in the story, probably the best in the novel. Everyone else in the story is pretty one-dimensional and unlikeable, but I suppose that was intentional.
CONCLUSION: Overall, I will say this story is definitely serviceable with a good, quality editor. I don’t think the cover matches the story very well, as that cover looks more like a thriller or mystery than horror. That might hurt its marketability. As it stands, I’m afraid I can only recommend this book to the more hardcore fans of violent horror who enjoy a twisted sense of humor. *3.5 STARS*
PLOT: The story starts with a bang. Honestly, considering what the story becomes, I would have liked to get to the possession scene a little quicker, as everything before that was just set up. If I were to outline the plot here, I think everyone would agree the concept was both uniquely thrilling and horrifying. One positive aspect was I literally could not guess where the story was going at any given moment. However, there were plenty of times where I found myself skimming. I think a good 20% cut of the non-essential elements would work wonders for the pace. The constant complicated metaphors and similes are partly to blame for this, which brings us to the writing.
WRITING: I am torn when it comes to the author’s writing style. I’ll start by saying, it was the best part of the book. It was also was the worst part of the book. How both those statements can be true is the paradox of Resurrection. In terms of creativity, I’ll give the author an A+, and some of the descriptions are nothing short of genius. There was a lot of thought put into them, and the author has a true gift for making connections. Another reviewer referred to the author as a "new author." I don't know if that is true, but that would make me feel much better because with a little refinement this writing style could be something special.
When describing a woman’s hair he writes, “with a colour of amber gold that reminded me of the Erdinger Weisbeir, a taste that could swamp the taste buds and fog the mind.”
My problem with these descriptions is that they sometimes get in the way of the storytelling. As a reader, I found myself getting tripped up too many times in places that should have flowed smoothly.
CHARACTERS: Despite the investigators tracking Abraham, and some flashbacks, I still would have liked more information on what the demon exactly was, along with its motivations. Bad guys as main characters are tough to pull off. Although he had some great moments throughout the story, I don’t know if Abraham was charismatic enough to make me truly hate him and root for his downfall. I found myself mildly interested to see what would happen, instead of turning the pages feverishly and rooting for his demise. Maybe he should have killed some more innocent animals or something, I don’t know. Taking over crazy corrupted religious cults almost makes me root FOR him if anything.
There is an interesting female character introduced later in the story, probably the best in the novel. Everyone else in the story is pretty one-dimensional and unlikeable, but I suppose that was intentional.
CONCLUSION: Overall, I will say this story is definitely serviceable with a good, quality editor. I don’t think the cover matches the story very well, as that cover looks more like a thriller or mystery than horror. That might hurt its marketability. As it stands, I’m afraid I can only recommend this book to the more hardcore fans of violent horror who enjoy a twisted sense of humor. *3.5 STARS*
March 31, 2023
"Resurrection" is a dark and gripping supernatural thriller that follows the story of Adam, a world-weary backpacker working as a bartender in Southern England. As his life takes a series of downward turns, Adam makes a deal with supernatural forces that will change his life forever. Soon, Adam finds himself hosting one of the most demonic antagonists in history, and his world is quickly overtaken by terrifying events that set off a chain reaction of violence and corruption in both the UK and the USA. Alongside Adam's story, readers are introduced to Sarah, an undercover operative tasked with infiltrating a religious cult that has waged war against a foreign enemy. As she uncovers the cult's monstrous plans, she must race against time to stop their leader before it's too late. Lockett's writing style is engaging and descriptive, with a good balance between action and character development. The characters are well-drawn, with realistic motivations and flaws that make them feel authentic and relatable. The plot is full of twists and turns, with plenty of suspense and horror to keep readers on the edge of their seats. Throughout the novel, Lockett explores themes of corruption, redemption, and the nature of evil, all while keeping the tension high and the stakes even higher. Overall, "Resurrection" is a thrilling and thought-provoking novel that is sure to appeal to fans of supernatural horror and suspense.
April 11, 2023
Diving into the first paragraphs of Resurrection, I found I adored the twisted humour in the writing. The story opens with Aussie backpacker Adam, a disaffected and bored young man working in a bar in the south of England. He’s on a particularly tedious shift, fantasising over murdering his most annoying patrons. But these fantasies have a power of their own and before too many pages have gone by, Adam is putting his fantasies into practice. It’s easily any hospitality worker’s inner monologue.
Adam soon proves himself to be a conflicted and possibly obnoxious human being and he is spiralling downwards. After he brutally murders a dog and his owner lands him in hospital, it seems nothing will prevent Adam from taking a positive turn. Where there might have been hope of something good, some sort of resurrection, instead there is evil, in the form of Abraham, a demon who takes possession of Adam. From here, the demon takes Adam on a killing frenzy, first in the UK, and then in the US and the appearance of a new religious cult leader. Is there anything redeemable about Adam?
A well-crafted tale of good and evil that is imaginative, compelling and very, very dark.
Adam soon proves himself to be a conflicted and possibly obnoxious human being and he is spiralling downwards. After he brutally murders a dog and his owner lands him in hospital, it seems nothing will prevent Adam from taking a positive turn. Where there might have been hope of something good, some sort of resurrection, instead there is evil, in the form of Abraham, a demon who takes possession of Adam. From here, the demon takes Adam on a killing frenzy, first in the UK, and then in the US and the appearance of a new religious cult leader. Is there anything redeemable about Adam?
A well-crafted tale of good and evil that is imaginative, compelling and very, very dark.
November 23, 2022
Reading this novel can feel like sitting in the shoes of a deranged violent maniac such as Hannibal Lecter, especially in the first chapter. There is some extreme violence. The first person narrative also throws in numerous pop culture references to various movies and TV shows. So this novel can be a jolt and feel jarring at times. But I believe that's what the author is trying to accomplish. The story revolves around an Australian man working in England. He lives a life of little consequence and ambition. But inside his mind he harbors dark inner thoughts and dreams. As a reader you get to see things from his point of view including his frustrations. Then one day his life dramatically morphs and devolves into something far more sinister. The story is definitely surprising in some ways with how it unfolds. But I imagine the plot and writing won't be everyone's cup of tea. This novel is probably best for people willing to dive into a supernatural violent thriller with apocalyptic themes.
January 2, 2022
I really enjoyed reading Resurrection by R.I. Lockett.
I found the mc to be an intriguing and thought provoking character. Written in first person, I felt this highlighted the complexities of his thoughts. He comes across a average joe bloke but underneath it all there's other things brewing.
The overall suspense in the story put well together and I found myself curious as to what would come next.
Would recommend.
I found the mc to be an intriguing and thought provoking character. Written in first person, I felt this highlighted the complexities of his thoughts. He comes across a average joe bloke but underneath it all there's other things brewing.
The overall suspense in the story put well together and I found myself curious as to what would come next.
Would recommend.
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