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Rave
A 24-hour slasher tale of angst and survival.
One night in 1999 sends four ravers into a living hell when they carelessly get their DNA on an unexplainable beheading.
There’s no liberation for Seth as he and his friends fight for their lives in the night woods. The RCMP will completely believe that these drugged-out kids at an illegal festival saw a horned man-beast decapitating people—right?
Even as the head-chopper closes in, Seth is fixated on his consumptions and love conundrums between the Rave King Dimitri and his friend April. Oh, and his older cousin Floyd shows up to shed light on the tenth anniversary of his brutal crime. These four kids are in for the rave of a lifetime.
Recognition:
A B.R.A.G. Medallion Honoree
eLit Awards, Bronze in the Horror Category 2022
Book Excellence Awards, Finalist 2022
American Book Fest, Best Book Award Finalist 2022
One night in 1999 sends four ravers into a living hell when they carelessly get their DNA on an unexplainable beheading.
There’s no liberation for Seth as he and his friends fight for their lives in the night woods. The RCMP will completely believe that these drugged-out kids at an illegal festival saw a horned man-beast decapitating people—right?
Even as the head-chopper closes in, Seth is fixated on his consumptions and love conundrums between the Rave King Dimitri and his friend April. Oh, and his older cousin Floyd shows up to shed light on the tenth anniversary of his brutal crime. These four kids are in for the rave of a lifetime.
Recognition:
A B.R.A.G. Medallion Honoree
eLit Awards, Bronze in the Horror Category 2022
Book Excellence Awards, Finalist 2022
American Book Fest, Best Book Award Finalist 2022
306 pages, Paperback
Published May 20, 2021
6 people are currently reading
59 people want to read
About the author
Konn Lavery
36 books156 followersKonn Lavery is a Canadian author whose award-winning fiction has reached the bestselling charts on Amazon and in his hometown, Edmonton.
Konn's Recommended Release
Read More
● GOLD Medal in Dan Poynter's Global Ebook Awards 2023 Fantasy/Contemporary Category
Fugitive Lola Cabello is hellbent on avenging her mother's death in this multi-award-winning adventure.
---
His work has been described as uncanny and immersive and frequently falls under the Dark Fantasy and Horror genres. Each of his stories are housed within the expanding universe known as the Macrocosm spanning across time and space.
He has been recognized by reviewers such as Reader Views, Readers’ Favorite, Literary Titan, and by award programs such as indieBRAG, The Wishing Shelf Book Awards, eLit Awards, and Dan Poynter’s Global Ebook Awards. His work has also been curated into the Edmonton Public Library’s Capital Press collection.
Konn started writing stories at a young age while being a homeschooled vegetarian, enthralled with storytelling. After graduating college, he began professionally pursuing his writing with his first release, Reality, in 2012 while balancing his graphic design business. Konn’s visual communication skills have been transcribed into the formatting and artwork found within his publications, supporting his fascination with transmedia storytelling.
Konn's Recommended Release
Read More
● GOLD Medal in Dan Poynter's Global Ebook Awards 2023 Fantasy/Contemporary Category
Fugitive Lola Cabello is hellbent on avenging her mother's death in this multi-award-winning adventure.
---
His work has been described as uncanny and immersive and frequently falls under the Dark Fantasy and Horror genres. Each of his stories are housed within the expanding universe known as the Macrocosm spanning across time and space.
He has been recognized by reviewers such as Reader Views, Readers’ Favorite, Literary Titan, and by award programs such as indieBRAG, The Wishing Shelf Book Awards, eLit Awards, and Dan Poynter’s Global Ebook Awards. His work has also been curated into the Edmonton Public Library’s Capital Press collection.
Konn started writing stories at a young age while being a homeschooled vegetarian, enthralled with storytelling. After graduating college, he began professionally pursuing his writing with his first release, Reality, in 2012 while balancing his graphic design business. Konn’s visual communication skills have been transcribed into the formatting and artwork found within his publications, supporting his fascination with transmedia storytelling.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
May 20, 2021
A terrifying book set in Canada that shows you life isn't going to be what you expect. Seth is a young man kind of going through the motions. Not certain in his sexuality, no clue for his future, no clue what to do, no clue where to go. Seth simply lives for his next high, the next rave and the next make-out session.
Add to him a small cadre of similarly lost youth and add a serial killer and watch the fun unfold. This book was a scream. It really, at times, makes one wonder what they did last summer.
A very, very accurate portrayal of the rave lifestyle of the late '90s. You can feel you are in the underbelly of society in British Colombia. At times, the gore can really grip a reader. The sense of being hunted leaves a reader on edge. A well-written book, Rave sits well in the thriller genre. Take a journey into the hazy world of raves and then watch out for the sharp knife. Recommended to fans of slasher films and books.
Disclaimer: I received a copy from the author in the hopes I'd review it.
My Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by: Mr. N
This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/po...
Add to him a small cadre of similarly lost youth and add a serial killer and watch the fun unfold. This book was a scream. It really, at times, makes one wonder what they did last summer.
A very, very accurate portrayal of the rave lifestyle of the late '90s. You can feel you are in the underbelly of society in British Colombia. At times, the gore can really grip a reader. The sense of being hunted leaves a reader on edge. A well-written book, Rave sits well in the thriller genre. Take a journey into the hazy world of raves and then watch out for the sharp knife. Recommended to fans of slasher films and books.
Disclaimer: I received a copy from the author in the hopes I'd review it.
My Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by: Mr. N
This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/po...
July 18, 2021
Great read. ✨📚
.
Rave is gritty new tale of angst and survival. It’s a great work of fiction. Poor Seth and his friends witness a baffling, inscrutable murder and due to negligence they get involved because of their DNA on the crime scene. Deoxyribonucleic acid, more commonly known as DNA, is a complex molecule that contains all of the information necessary to build and maintain an organism.
.
This book is meant for all those who feel they are misfits in the society. Within a day the four kids of the story have gone through so much and are about to encounter so much more, an experience they will not forget throughout their lifespan.
.
If you feel isolated and disconnected this ones for you. Reading this book was like a new milestone for me. I have never read anything of this sort before and I enjoyed the whole journey of this book earnestly.
.
I read this quote somewhere and I thought I should share; ‘When the Fox hears the Rabbit scream he comes running, but not to.
.
Rave is gritty new tale of angst and survival. It’s a great work of fiction. Poor Seth and his friends witness a baffling, inscrutable murder and due to negligence they get involved because of their DNA on the crime scene. Deoxyribonucleic acid, more commonly known as DNA, is a complex molecule that contains all of the information necessary to build and maintain an organism.
.
This book is meant for all those who feel they are misfits in the society. Within a day the four kids of the story have gone through so much and are about to encounter so much more, an experience they will not forget throughout their lifespan.
.
If you feel isolated and disconnected this ones for you. Reading this book was like a new milestone for me. I have never read anything of this sort before and I enjoyed the whole journey of this book earnestly.
.
I read this quote somewhere and I thought I should share; ‘When the Fox hears the Rabbit scream he comes running, but not to.
October 6, 2021
Review originally published at https://amanjareads.com/rave-horror-n...
Thank you to author Konn Lavery for providing me with a copy of Rave in exchange for this honest review.
Konn Lavery's Rave does what few books can, it takes the traditional structure of a horror movie and translates it to a book without suffering from sluggish pacing. Slashers usually work best in a tight 80 minutes with a kill in the first 15, a slow down for a little plot, and then a bunch of kills in the last 20. Usually when a book or a television show tries to mimic the slasher genre they get really boring really fast.
Rave does not suffer from such weaknesses. It follows this structure well but instead of padding out the extra pages with dumb backstory about a haunted camp or mystery solving nonsense we're treated to things like character development and relationship building. This is what movie slashers don't have time for, they don't often get us to care about the potential victims. Rave does.
Rave is about a group of hard partying young adults in Canada. They're getting ready for a drug fueled orgy in the woods on the anniversary of an infamous murder. Classic. Predictably, one of the partiers ends up dead. What isn't predictable is everything that happens next.
Rave is about a group of hard partying young adults in Canada. They're getting ready for a drug fueled orgy in the woods on the anniversary of an infamous murder. Classic. Predictably, one of the partiers ends up dead. What isn't predictable is everything that happens next.
I really enjoyed reading this horror novel and getting to know these characters. It's a cast I haven't seen a thousand times before. Including a less common love triangle between two women and a bisexual man!
Rave still does contain many horror tropes and what in a different author's hands could be called cliches. Lavery handles all of the staples like the harbinger, misdirects, and false safety scares with a loving grace that could only come from a true horror fan.
The reader will have to create all of the gore in their own minds but we are given some very cool psychadelic image pages after each murder. This adds an extra dimension to make Rave stand out even further from any other horror novel.
I love horror movies, huge gigantic fan, but I don't actually read a lot of horror novels. Rave made me glad to take the risk. I suggest you do the same.
Thank you to author Konn Lavery for providing me with a copy of Rave in exchange for this honest review.
Konn Lavery's Rave does what few books can, it takes the traditional structure of a horror movie and translates it to a book without suffering from sluggish pacing. Slashers usually work best in a tight 80 minutes with a kill in the first 15, a slow down for a little plot, and then a bunch of kills in the last 20. Usually when a book or a television show tries to mimic the slasher genre they get really boring really fast.
Rave does not suffer from such weaknesses. It follows this structure well but instead of padding out the extra pages with dumb backstory about a haunted camp or mystery solving nonsense we're treated to things like character development and relationship building. This is what movie slashers don't have time for, they don't often get us to care about the potential victims. Rave does.
Rave is about a group of hard partying young adults in Canada. They're getting ready for a drug fueled orgy in the woods on the anniversary of an infamous murder. Classic. Predictably, one of the partiers ends up dead. What isn't predictable is everything that happens next.
Rave is about a group of hard partying young adults in Canada. They're getting ready for a drug fueled orgy in the woods on the anniversary of an infamous murder. Classic. Predictably, one of the partiers ends up dead. What isn't predictable is everything that happens next.
I really enjoyed reading this horror novel and getting to know these characters. It's a cast I haven't seen a thousand times before. Including a less common love triangle between two women and a bisexual man!
Rave still does contain many horror tropes and what in a different author's hands could be called cliches. Lavery handles all of the staples like the harbinger, misdirects, and false safety scares with a loving grace that could only come from a true horror fan.
The reader will have to create all of the gore in their own minds but we are given some very cool psychadelic image pages after each murder. This adds an extra dimension to make Rave stand out even further from any other horror novel.
I love horror movies, huge gigantic fan, but I don't actually read a lot of horror novels. Rave made me glad to take the risk. I suggest you do the same.
May 2, 2021
Filled with murder, mayhem, and uncanny, the award-winning Lavery’s unsettling latest takes readers on a thrilling journey into grit and horror.
It’s 1999. Struggling with the tediousness of the small town of Prince George, Seth is ready for the greatest rave of the year with his friends. But a brutal murder leaves the group running from the RCMP, unaware a great evil is lurking in the shadows, ready to pounce at the first chance.
Lavery’s world is gritty and intense, fashioned from the Canadian Rockies, the vast, desolate woods, mountain crags, and towns populated by richly drawn characters, each haunted by the past. Enduring friendships, young adult drama, and high stakes keep the reader invested.
Lavery handles the mystery plot well and continues to build bloody momentum as gore and evil take over, propelling the winding plot to a shockingly satisfying climax. Along the way, he explores friendship, trauma, solidarity, and survival.
Horror fans won’t be able to put down this gripping blend of mystery and occult.
It’s 1999. Struggling with the tediousness of the small town of Prince George, Seth is ready for the greatest rave of the year with his friends. But a brutal murder leaves the group running from the RCMP, unaware a great evil is lurking in the shadows, ready to pounce at the first chance.
Lavery’s world is gritty and intense, fashioned from the Canadian Rockies, the vast, desolate woods, mountain crags, and towns populated by richly drawn characters, each haunted by the past. Enduring friendships, young adult drama, and high stakes keep the reader invested.
Lavery handles the mystery plot well and continues to build bloody momentum as gore and evil take over, propelling the winding plot to a shockingly satisfying climax. Along the way, he explores friendship, trauma, solidarity, and survival.
Horror fans won’t be able to put down this gripping blend of mystery and occult.
April 25, 2021
I have been a fan of Konn's since the beginning. I had read just about everything he's written, and let me tell you, his newest novel did not disappoint. As a horror novelist, he added the prefect blend of mystery to suck this reader in, never wanting to put it down. He had be second guessing every decision the characters made, and had me worry for their safety. It's been a long time since I talked to my book while I read, and he had me making noises and talking to the characters just about every page.
I adored that the setting was based in Canada, and it really touched home. I felt more connected to the characters and the story line. And the way the he ended the book off.. oh man. I really hope he makes a sequel.
I adored that the setting was based in Canada, and it really touched home. I felt more connected to the characters and the story line. And the way the he ended the book off.. oh man. I really hope he makes a sequel.
December 13, 2023
A deer man is killing people by beheading them in this novel. Seth is one of those being hunted by the killer. While trying to protect his friends, he suspects the killings might have something to do with a crime his cousin was involved in ten years ago. I've been meaning to check this out since I noticed while scrolling through the Libby app. I'm so glad I finally read it because it is really fun. Also, Konn Lavery narrates the audiobook himself, and adds sound effects, which makes the listening experience even more cinematic. I will definitely be checking out more of Konn Lavery's other books.
May 11, 2021
This is a book for people who like thrillers, who don’t mind blood scenes, who really loved being shocked, awed, grossed out, and, frankly, moved to emotion. “Rave” will have you shaking your head, putting down the book, then immediately picking it back up again.
We meet Seth, obsessed with sex and bisexual to boot; surprisingly, in a small town in the 90's, no one had an issue with it, minus shitty neighbours. At the same time, Seth is confused and hurt by his sex life, dead end job, crappy home life, and being burdened with the last name Hazen, which his cousin sullied by committing a brutal crime. He's the protagonist with agony. Seth’s few saving graces are his friends, Tanis, Joel, April, and his crush du jour, Dimitri.
I really love the part in the beginning where Seth is compared to a saint, a saviour, helping customers to "wash away their sins". It flows perfectly into the scene him standing at his shitty liquor store job ringing people through, as he "saves souls". The term “liquor saint” is sprinkled in throughout the story, much to my delight!
Seth and his friends make their way to a rave in a remote area of Alberta. They need to blow off steam from their run-of-the-mill lives in a small town. Maybe it's the pandemic, but I experienced the anticipation for them to finally get to the party. Because I get to go too!
There are lots of likenesses to animals and the animal kingdom in here. Appropriate, considering the sexual tension the characters face, and the killer vs. their victims. It's the hunter and its prey with both areas of "Rave", a really interesting dichotomy and layering.
The one thing I wish that Lavery touched on more was exploring the accusations against Seth’s best friend, Tanis. After the first kill, some of the ravers start to get wary of her, believing her claim that she saw “the devil” to be suspicious. That would have put another interesting dynamic in the group, but it was plenty interesting, what with all the murder.
One of the last chapters, “Dancing”, set up the tensest moments of the whole book. Not really a spoiler, but the descriptive of sounds of decapitation, sloshing blood, and cracking bones are NOT for the faint of heart. It's barbaric yet incredibly effective. I audibly uttered "Gross" more times than I can count.
You may need to take a pause to get through the intense parts, but “Rave” has something everyone will like – a love story, thrilling scenes, emotion, poetic interjections, and a frightening antagonist. If you’re up for something wildly different, with 90’s slang like crunk, jiggy, and scrub, you NEED to read “Rave”!
We meet Seth, obsessed with sex and bisexual to boot; surprisingly, in a small town in the 90's, no one had an issue with it, minus shitty neighbours. At the same time, Seth is confused and hurt by his sex life, dead end job, crappy home life, and being burdened with the last name Hazen, which his cousin sullied by committing a brutal crime. He's the protagonist with agony. Seth’s few saving graces are his friends, Tanis, Joel, April, and his crush du jour, Dimitri.
I really love the part in the beginning where Seth is compared to a saint, a saviour, helping customers to "wash away their sins". It flows perfectly into the scene him standing at his shitty liquor store job ringing people through, as he "saves souls". The term “liquor saint” is sprinkled in throughout the story, much to my delight!
Seth and his friends make their way to a rave in a remote area of Alberta. They need to blow off steam from their run-of-the-mill lives in a small town. Maybe it's the pandemic, but I experienced the anticipation for them to finally get to the party. Because I get to go too!
There are lots of likenesses to animals and the animal kingdom in here. Appropriate, considering the sexual tension the characters face, and the killer vs. their victims. It's the hunter and its prey with both areas of "Rave", a really interesting dichotomy and layering.
The one thing I wish that Lavery touched on more was exploring the accusations against Seth’s best friend, Tanis. After the first kill, some of the ravers start to get wary of her, believing her claim that she saw “the devil” to be suspicious. That would have put another interesting dynamic in the group, but it was plenty interesting, what with all the murder.
One of the last chapters, “Dancing”, set up the tensest moments of the whole book. Not really a spoiler, but the descriptive of sounds of decapitation, sloshing blood, and cracking bones are NOT for the faint of heart. It's barbaric yet incredibly effective. I audibly uttered "Gross" more times than I can count.
You may need to take a pause to get through the intense parts, but “Rave” has something everyone will like – a love story, thrilling scenes, emotion, poetic interjections, and a frightening antagonist. If you’re up for something wildly different, with 90’s slang like crunk, jiggy, and scrub, you NEED to read “Rave”!
May 18, 2021
www.curiosityboughtthebook.com
Rave is the story of Seth and his friends set in 1999 in Canada. They all come from a small town, you know the ones where everyone knows everyone. He hates his shitty job, his home situation and the fact that his last name is tainted. Ten years ago his cousin was involved in the murder of a girl, and well small towns never forget.
He makes his way to a rave in the middle of nowhere with his friends. This is supposed to be the ultimate party night, along with finally getting some alone time with his crush Dimitri.
But things have a way of not working out, and soon the friends find themselves hunted by a horned man-beast. All of this while on drugs. Sounds fun, right?
I love Konn Lavery’s style of storytelling. He doesn’t just write an engaging horror thriller, but he also adds lots of humor. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book where the author addresses the characters directly. It’s unique and refreshing!
If you like reading about the 90s, drug fueled raves, and friendship; then this is your jam!
Thank you Konn for the review copy!
Rave is the story of Seth and his friends set in 1999 in Canada. They all come from a small town, you know the ones where everyone knows everyone. He hates his shitty job, his home situation and the fact that his last name is tainted. Ten years ago his cousin was involved in the murder of a girl, and well small towns never forget.
He makes his way to a rave in the middle of nowhere with his friends. This is supposed to be the ultimate party night, along with finally getting some alone time with his crush Dimitri.
But things have a way of not working out, and soon the friends find themselves hunted by a horned man-beast. All of this while on drugs. Sounds fun, right?
I love Konn Lavery’s style of storytelling. He doesn’t just write an engaging horror thriller, but he also adds lots of humor. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book where the author addresses the characters directly. It’s unique and refreshing!
If you like reading about the 90s, drug fueled raves, and friendship; then this is your jam!
Thank you Konn for the review copy!
August 29, 2021
3.5/5
Konn Lavery is a new to me author, one who is also a local author. It’s been great connecting with him, as I’ve not met many other Edmonton based writers who write dark fiction. My first experience with his writing was in the ‘Prairie Gothic’ anthology, and so I was excited to dive into ‘Rave.’
I grew up in a very small town, in the West Kootenays of British Columbia. Knowing this was set in Prince George, a town I had family in, I was excited to see what type of carnage would ensue.
What I liked: ‘Rave’ follows a group of four friends who struggle with living their current reality. Seth, Tanis, Joel and April, all dream of leaving their small town lives behind, but all are afraid to actually make that leap. So, they drown their sorrows and fill their time when not at work with drugs and alcohol, as is the nature of many small town residents.
On this particular weekend, the four manage to snag tickets to an exclusive underground rave that is happening far out in the wilderness. Once there, things take a turn, when a strange thing arrives and people begin to die.
Lavery adds in a layer of mystery with a backstory surrounding Seth’s cousin, which has brought a sour taste to his family and anyone associated with his last name.
We also get to see the group unravel as they come down from a night of ingesting a lot of mind bending drugs. Lavery fills the final quarter of the book with a Major Motion picture level of blood and gore, ensuring that no one is safe and no one is spared.
What I didn’t like: Oddly, I didn’t really connect with any of the characters. Where I should’ve been shocked and horrified when characters met a bloody and gruesome ending, instead I just shrugged and carried on.
As well, there were moments where an odd narrator type POV came along and I wasn’t sure if I’d missed something from the beginning or if this was a way to move action along.
Lastly, there were a lot of exclamation points. I found it started to create a comedic effect when it should’ve been a serious moment or an action moment.
Why you should buy this: I’m a massive fan of ‘things going crazy in the woods’ stories and this one will tick all those boxes. Lavery delivers some fantastic dark moments and truly stressful, tense situations. With this one, people will really love the ‘survive at all costs’ turns and it makes for a fast propulsive read.
Konn Lavery is a new to me author, one who is also a local author. It’s been great connecting with him, as I’ve not met many other Edmonton based writers who write dark fiction. My first experience with his writing was in the ‘Prairie Gothic’ anthology, and so I was excited to dive into ‘Rave.’
I grew up in a very small town, in the West Kootenays of British Columbia. Knowing this was set in Prince George, a town I had family in, I was excited to see what type of carnage would ensue.
What I liked: ‘Rave’ follows a group of four friends who struggle with living their current reality. Seth, Tanis, Joel and April, all dream of leaving their small town lives behind, but all are afraid to actually make that leap. So, they drown their sorrows and fill their time when not at work with drugs and alcohol, as is the nature of many small town residents.
On this particular weekend, the four manage to snag tickets to an exclusive underground rave that is happening far out in the wilderness. Once there, things take a turn, when a strange thing arrives and people begin to die.
Lavery adds in a layer of mystery with a backstory surrounding Seth’s cousin, which has brought a sour taste to his family and anyone associated with his last name.
We also get to see the group unravel as they come down from a night of ingesting a lot of mind bending drugs. Lavery fills the final quarter of the book with a Major Motion picture level of blood and gore, ensuring that no one is safe and no one is spared.
What I didn’t like: Oddly, I didn’t really connect with any of the characters. Where I should’ve been shocked and horrified when characters met a bloody and gruesome ending, instead I just shrugged and carried on.
As well, there were moments where an odd narrator type POV came along and I wasn’t sure if I’d missed something from the beginning or if this was a way to move action along.
Lastly, there were a lot of exclamation points. I found it started to create a comedic effect when it should’ve been a serious moment or an action moment.
Why you should buy this: I’m a massive fan of ‘things going crazy in the woods’ stories and this one will tick all those boxes. Lavery delivers some fantastic dark moments and truly stressful, tense situations. With this one, people will really love the ‘survive at all costs’ turns and it makes for a fast propulsive read.
July 17, 2021
Teenager Seth is full of angst. While he is attracted to several people, including two female friends, the current focus of his attention is Dimitri. Hoping to hook up with him at a Rave, Seth and his friends venture out to the location that is hidden in the Canadian woods. Unfortunately, things don’t go quite the way anybody expects that night. When one of Seth’s friends is found decapitated, he and his friends take off into the forest. Things take a turn for the worse when the creature who attacked their friend comes after them. Seth and his two female friends witness another horrific murder, and escape to a cabin in the woods. The cabin happens to be occupied by Seth’s cousin Floyd, who went to prison for being involved with a murder ten years ago in which the victim was also decapitated. It is the anniversary of that night. Seth seeks answers from Floyd and gets a story he wasn’t expecting and they’re all in a fight for their lives as they try to make it back home.
Wow! That is the first thought that came to mind after I finished reading “Rave.” I found myself holding my breath through much of this fast-paced story. The author Konn Lavery did a fantastic job of creating a novel that is full of complicated characters affected by a tragedy from the past.
Intertwined into the horror are the characters who are more like social misfits trying to find their way. Feeling like outcasts from the mainstream teen population helps them to connect with each other. Fighting for their lives together seals the connection, but unfortunately, they will still have losses. This aspect adds a twist of the knife to their already complicated stories. Teens full of angst, and their grown up versions will really be able to relate to the characters. The horrific acts by a deranged killer add a great deal of suspense and horror to this story.
I both loved “Rave” and hated it, because Lavery made me feel really uncomfortable as I followed along. This made it a perfect horror novel, because I am looking to be unsettled. I highly recommend “Rave” to fans of horror and teens who get to pick their own summer reading books.
Wow! That is the first thought that came to mind after I finished reading “Rave.” I found myself holding my breath through much of this fast-paced story. The author Konn Lavery did a fantastic job of creating a novel that is full of complicated characters affected by a tragedy from the past.
Intertwined into the horror are the characters who are more like social misfits trying to find their way. Feeling like outcasts from the mainstream teen population helps them to connect with each other. Fighting for their lives together seals the connection, but unfortunately, they will still have losses. This aspect adds a twist of the knife to their already complicated stories. Teens full of angst, and their grown up versions will really be able to relate to the characters. The horrific acts by a deranged killer add a great deal of suspense and horror to this story.
I both loved “Rave” and hated it, because Lavery made me feel really uncomfortable as I followed along. This made it a perfect horror novel, because I am looking to be unsettled. I highly recommend “Rave” to fans of horror and teens who get to pick their own summer reading books.
August 2, 2021
We are proud to announce that RAVE by Konn Lavery has been honored with the B.R.A.G.Medallion (Book Readers Appreciation Group). It now joins the very select award-winning, reader-recommended books at indieBRAG.
May 20, 2021
“Rave” is sexual angst, insane amounts of drugs, and good bone-crunching slaughter!
As a Canadian, reading “Rave” reminded me of the first time I read Clive Barker’s “Cabal” except this time, not only is the geographic setting familiar, it also has characters that any small town weirdo and outcast can empathise with. Seth is a very relatable protagonist in that he is written with all of the doubts and pride and shame of a young adult who has been on the outside for his entire life. He sees himself as both victim and hero and when s*** starts getting crazy at the Rave, he responds with a believable fear and horror, combined with a strong resolve.
Something I really appreciated about “Rave” was the early build-up to what should have been the protagonist’s best night ever. When you live in a small town, the rare big event isn’t just a big deal, it’s the BIGGEST deal. This rave has a capital R. You plan your life around it and you can definitely feel Seth’s excitement and anticipation. It starts off slowly with the main characters living their regular lives, going to work, butting heads with the local jerks, and builds speed as they arrive at their destination where everything goes completely off the rails.
If I could change anything, I would have liked to have seen more from Seth’s best friend, Tanis. Maybe the author will write her story next! In any event, “Rave” is a great ride for anyone who still remembers what it was like being an 18-20 year old and loves a good slaughterfest.
As a Canadian, reading “Rave” reminded me of the first time I read Clive Barker’s “Cabal” except this time, not only is the geographic setting familiar, it also has characters that any small town weirdo and outcast can empathise with. Seth is a very relatable protagonist in that he is written with all of the doubts and pride and shame of a young adult who has been on the outside for his entire life. He sees himself as both victim and hero and when s*** starts getting crazy at the Rave, he responds with a believable fear and horror, combined with a strong resolve.
Something I really appreciated about “Rave” was the early build-up to what should have been the protagonist’s best night ever. When you live in a small town, the rare big event isn’t just a big deal, it’s the BIGGEST deal. This rave has a capital R. You plan your life around it and you can definitely feel Seth’s excitement and anticipation. It starts off slowly with the main characters living their regular lives, going to work, butting heads with the local jerks, and builds speed as they arrive at their destination where everything goes completely off the rails.
If I could change anything, I would have liked to have seen more from Seth’s best friend, Tanis. Maybe the author will write her story next! In any event, “Rave” is a great ride for anyone who still remembers what it was like being an 18-20 year old and loves a good slaughterfest.
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January 11, 2022I picked this up on Audible because in 1999, I was 14 years old, living in Prince George. I lived there from 1996 to 2000 and I guess I was feeling nostalgic or something.
I was too young, too nerdy and too straightlaced to be a part of the rave scene, so yeah, it didn't exactly bring memories flooding back, haha. Some of the regionally specific language did, though.
Anyway. It was an interesting piece. The author chose to have electronic ambient sound throughout. I can see where it added atmosphere, but... it made me drowsy?
I clearly wasn't the intended audience. The more-or-less first person narrative of a teenaged raver whose focus is on getting laid didn't grab me. Not even when his focus shifted to staying alive.
I didn't hate it.
I was too young, too nerdy and too straightlaced to be a part of the rave scene, so yeah, it didn't exactly bring memories flooding back, haha. Some of the regionally specific language did, though.
Anyway. It was an interesting piece. The author chose to have electronic ambient sound throughout. I can see where it added atmosphere, but... it made me drowsy?
I clearly wasn't the intended audience. The more-or-less first person narrative of a teenaged raver whose focus is on getting laid didn't grab me. Not even when his focus shifted to staying alive.
I didn't hate it.
May 16, 2021
A gory and thrilling ride!
Rave is a fast paced, blood soaked ride through a horrific turn of events for a group of friends, simply looking for an escape from reality. The author does a brilliant job of submerging the reader instantly and completely into the drug induced world of the rave scene. A mysterious and terrifying beast-human interrupts their plan. The story is gripping, the characters are cool and interesting, and the tension is high.
Warning: if you pick up Rave, you won't be able to put it down.
Rave is a fast paced, blood soaked ride through a horrific turn of events for a group of friends, simply looking for an escape from reality. The author does a brilliant job of submerging the reader instantly and completely into the drug induced world of the rave scene. A mysterious and terrifying beast-human interrupts their plan. The story is gripping, the characters are cool and interesting, and the tension is high.
Warning: if you pick up Rave, you won't be able to put it down.
May 20, 2021
Konn is a master of atmospheric urban thrills, and Rave is likely his best yet. A whodunit wrapped in the supernatural(?), a glimpse into a time and place you can almost feel, and enough visceral moments to make you a bit queasy, but still turn the page to see what happens. It really is the perfect balance. Great job, Konn!
May 21, 2021
Konn has done it again. From the first sentence you're sucked into a world of parties, drugs and horror, watching it all unfold in front of you.
Get ready for a pulse pounding read that will keep you up all night turning pages.
Get ready for a pulse pounding read that will keep you up all night turning pages.
June 11, 2021
Very good setting when first reading and I love how it pulls you into the book like you are right along with them.
June 29, 2024
The idea of this book was great. The pages were littered with crazy pieces of artwork of the characters portrayed within. You found yourself bouncing between 4 different possibilities about what could be killing people off only to be so wrong. It definitely had a late 90's early 2000's feel that had me cringing as a lot of it was familiar to me as a late teen aged person during that time. The raves, the slang, the super edginess 🤣. Some of the story fell a little flat for me but it was decent all in all. There was killing, a possible creature, Nine Inch Nails references, and a super horny main character that just couldn't focus. I don't know if the writing style and age of the characters were for me but, it definitely took me back a couple decades.
June 26, 2021
A modern horror story that takes place in Canada. The story has its share of horror and violence. The characters all see their share of both, and many lose their life. However, some real shockers keep the reader interested. The story is modern because it deals with a Rave with drug and alcohol using young people entrenched in that culture. The young people have dropped out of society to live the Rave life. All in all, a good story that will entertain the reader.
March 30, 2024
Rave had me hooked from the first Chapter. Growing up in a small BC town made it all the more intriguing and relatable for me.
This is a book for any horror/thriller lover that doesnt mind a little gore. The characters are very relatable and the storyline was amazing. For the first time, in a long time, I had troubles wanting to put a book down!
This is a book for any horror/thriller lover that doesnt mind a little gore. The characters are very relatable and the storyline was amazing. For the first time, in a long time, I had troubles wanting to put a book down!
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