The Final Gate by Lucas Mangum and Wesley Southard

3/5 stars

The Final Gate was unlike anything I’ve ever read before. Unapologetically gory, Wesley and Lucas went for the jugular in this homage to Lucio Fulci’s storytelling genius. From the introduction by Ryan Harding, I knew that this was going to be something to remember.

I really felt for Brandon in this. He finally got his life back together just in time for it to completely fall apart; poetic irony at its finest. All he wanted was his little brother, but instead, he found a situation that he was totally unprepared for. When Jillian saw him again, my heart broke for her and what she must have felt seeing him like that.

I love how creative this story was. I’ve read a lot of horror and murder mysteries, but The Final Gate had some of the most creatively brutal murders I’ve ever read. I’ve not watched any of Lucio’s movies, but if Harding’s introduction is correct, then Signore Fulci would surely be proud of what’s been accomplished here!

My only gripe is that I thought it was hard to keep the series of events straight. With the POV bouncing around as much as it did, I couldn’t tell what was happening in what sequence. Was Brandon’s adventure after Annie and the pig pen? Before? I just wish that the timeline would’ve been clearer.

This was a beautifully intense read, and definitely one that I’ll remember for a long time!