I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I Was a Teenage Slasher by Stephen Graham Jones Published by Saga Press on July 16 2024
Genres: Adult, Horror, slasher horror
Pages: 384
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher
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The nitty-gritty: 80s nostalgia and slashers come together in this top notch coming-of-age story full of humor, horror and heart.
Slashers are in Stephen Graham Jones’ blood, as evidenced by his Indian Lake trilogy and now his latest, I Was a Teenage Slasher. This time we follow the story through the eyes of the killer, a seventeen-year-old boy from Lamesa Texas, who experiences a life changing event during the summer before his senior year, causing him to go on a bloody rampage. I loved this book so much, and while it’s planted firmly in the slasher genre—expect lots of brutal, bloody killings—I mostly loved it because of the two main characters, Tolly and Amber, who have one of the purest friendships I’ve ever come across. Pick this up if you’re a fan of slashers, Stephen Graham Jones or just plain good writing, and be transported by Jones’s ability to infuse his tale with emotion and heartbreak.
Tolly Driver isn’t the most popular kid in his class. In fact, he has to crash parties in order to get “invited.” Case in point: it’s the summer of 1989 and Deek Masterson is holding a big blowout at his house, complete with the marching band kids and plenty of beer. Tolly and his best friend Amber show up, but it turns out to be the worst idea ever. After way too many drinks and an ill-timed cannonball into Deek’s pool, Tolly finds himself tied to a lawn chair and struggling to breathe—Tolly has a life threatening allergy to peanuts, and someone has slipped one into his drink.
Things only get worse from there, and the next day Tolly finds himself…changing. A sudden urge to kill makes him realize he’s become a slasher, and Amber, a devoted fan of slasher movies, is all too eager to explain the rules to him. As the bodies pile up, Tolly must come to terms with his new abilities and his drive to kill—and his place in Lamesa, a town that will never be the same again.
I loved this take on the slasher subgenre. Not only do we see everything through Tolly’s eyes, but Jones gives his story a supernatural twist to explain what’s happened to him, which almost makes Tolly a victim as well as a killer. Tolly is telling his story to Amber (this book) seventeen years after the horrible events in 1989, but it’s not really clear whether Amber is alive, since Tolly hasn’t seen her since that last fateful day. Tolly tends to ramble and go off on tangents as he’s recounting what happened, but each detour reveals important details that seem insignificant at first, but later take on profound meaning.
And while there is plenty of great slasher action, the real draw for me was the characters, particularly Tolly and Amber. Both are outcasts in their small town, and they rely on each other in order to survive their brutal classmates. Amber is the only Native student at school and is mercilessly teased (there’s one poignant scene involving her braids that I still haven’t recovered from), and Tolly is a social disaster. No matter what happens to them, though, they are always there for each other. Their friendship becomes even more important when Tolly becomes a slasher, although the dynamic takes on a more ominous tone. I also loved Tolly’s father, who died in a horrible truck accident before the story begins. Memories of his father often bubble to the surface as Tolly is dealing with everything, and you can tell some of the best moments of his childhood centered around his dad. It was nice for a change to have a protagonist who grew up in a tight-knit, loving family.
The story has a bit of Stephen Graham Jones himself in it, as he was seventeen in 1989, and just like Tolly, he grew up in Lamesa, Texas. Because of this, Jones nails the 1980s Texas vibe (I’m assuming since I didn’t grow up there myself) You can practically hear Mötley Crüe and Poison playing in the background as Tolly slashes his way through town. Tolly also mentions movies of that era like Top Gun and An Officer and a Gentleman, which took me right back to that time period. I guess what I’m trying to say is this story was so immersive, just like all of Jones’s books.
There’s also a lot of humor throughout (some of it very dark), especially when Tolly and Amber are discussing slasher movies. At one point Tolly pulls a knife out of the kitchen drawer and it makes a distinct Schting! sound (imagine every horror film you’ve ever seen and you’ll know what I’m talking about), but when Amber tries, there’s no sound at all, lol. Clearly Tolly has slasher superpowers and Amber does not!
A book that makes me laugh and cry is always going to be memorable, and yes, there were tears shed at the end of I Was a Teenage Slasher. The last chapter includes the bloody showdown you’d expect, but with a twist and a lot more heart. Tolly’s inevitable, chaotic rush to the bitter ending left me in awe. Highly recommended!
Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.
I love me some 80s nostalgia! I love the scene you described with the knife making a schting sound with Tolly but not with Amber. Sounds like a really great book. Thanks for sharing!
That scene was so funny, lol.
My previous experience with this author’s short story about not-rampaging mannequins was all but positive, so I would be very cautious about trying any of his works again, but your review and the themes explored here more than piqued my curiosity, so I might give Graham Jones another chance, one of these days…
Thanks for sharing!
Maddalena@spaceandsorcery recently posted…GHOST STATION, by S.A. Barnes
His style is definitely unusual, but this book had so much emotion in it, I couldn’t help but love it:-)
Great review! I’m really looking forward to this one.
Thanks Lauren, I hope you get to read it:-)
Slasher books are quickly becoming some of my faves and can’t wait to read this one. So glad you gave it 5/5! I have a physical copy sitting right here beside my computer!
Barb @ Booker T’s Farm recently posted…Feed Your TBR – These Vengeful Wishes
I hope you love it too!
I’ve never read a slasher book before, and it doesn’t seem to really be my genre, however I am curious about this one bc of the amazing-sounding friendship AND that there’s a supernatural explanation for the character’s actions? Sounds so good! So glad this was a 5 star read for you. 🙂
aimee @ aimee can read recently posted…I Got a 9-Year-Old Boy to Read the Percy Jackson Graphic Novels. Here’s What He Thought!
LOL they are definitely not for everyone!
80s nostalgia and slasher story make this sound so good. I still haven’t read this author yet, I meant to check out his earlier trilogy, but I might have to give this one a try first. Glad you enjoyed it so much 😀
Pages and Tea recently posted…Book Review: Legends & Lattes (Legends & Lattes #1) by Travis Baldree
He’s such a good writer and his style is very different from other authors, so I always look forward to his new books:-)
That reminds me of the Joker movie that was the making of a villain and where I got sympathy for young Joker and what he went through… Joaquin Phoenix was amazing by the way LOL
Yes, sort of like that!
I’d like to try something by this author someday, and this sounds like an absolute blast! Great review, Tammy! 😀
Lashaan Balasingam recently posted…Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf
Thanks Lashaan, he’s worth trying for sure:-)
I’m glad you enjoyed this one so much. Slashers aren’t really my thing but it’s nice to know that this one had some other focus points too. From the title I definitely wouldn’t have expected it to contain a strong friendship for instance. It definitely sounds like the authors talented.
He’s very talented:-)
“Humor, horror and heart!” What a great combo, right? 🙂
Three of my favorite things:-)
Just started this one and I’m still in the early parts. Not sure how I feel about the stream of consciousness style of narration so far, but your rating makes me feel optimistic!
This is so not my cup of tea and still you made me want to read it badly!
I don’t know why but I don’t feel this author quite works for me. Which is a shame because this sounds so good.
Lynn 😀