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Phantom Feast
Diana Barron
Barclay Books
June 2001
ISBN 1-931402-21-3
Reviewed by Phillip Tomasso, author of Third Ring
Surprising, non-stop, or in a word, compelling. Diana Barron must have an
unparalleled mind when it comes to imagination. Her first novel, Phatom
Feast, in my opinion, is a successful cross of genres. The book is full of
dark and bizarre horror ingredients, while magical fantasy is added to
spice up the already hot story. Topping off this 'Feast', is a mystery
that kept me turning pages.
Everything must start at the beginning. Phatom Feast is no different.
Barron introduces a line of characters that are each more unique than the
next and each with a background more mystifyingly intense then the one
before it. When a house touched by magic seemingly takes over the
city?when a jungle explodes into the heart of Hester, New York?when
everything was once considered sane and, if not normal, at least
explainable . . .
Some unknown horror stalks those who are unfortunate enough to find
themselves as victims of prey. If the city streets still resembled paved
roads instead of wintry woods full of carnivorous beasts, perhaps escaping
with your life might seem more possible. But when the unexpected is the
norm, then . . . good luck finding a sanctuary.
Phatom Feast is an almost guaranteed haunting read. Clever dialogue and
creative narrative allow a reader to become absorbed into the story, as if
an included character in Diana Barron's story. From the beginning until
the magical end, Barron's novel not only held my interest it demanded my
attention. I will impatiently be awaiting more from this talented writer.