Sci-Fi & Scary

The Thirteenth Child is a truly satisfying horror read. David Dean is talented with setting the scene, and right from the beginning the atmosphere of the novel is one that starts the back of your neck prickling.

The evil attacking the town is interesting. Dean takes us back to a much scarier version of vampires, with one that is very animalistic yet undeniably evil. It is unrepentant, strong, fast, and hungry. It is also tricksy, manipulative, and fearful. An intriguing mix that combines to give you a ‘bad guy’ that scares you even more when you truly stop to consider him.

The characters are typical small-town to-dos for the most part, but that is part of their charm. The town drunk, Preston, is an incorrigible alcoholic with a PhD in English. As a result, he tends to sneer and put down people with an amusing eloquence that makes you want to slap him even as you smirk.

Overall, the pacing is great and the atmosphere is perfect. Dean’s writing sucks you in immediately, and even though romance is present, he doesn’t go overboard with it. Pretty much the only criticism I have is that I don’t feel the last chapter was really needed, but as that’s a common complaint of mine, it doesn’t mean much at all. I definitely recommend this book for horror fans looking for a quick but engrossing read.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.


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