Lucas Mangum

REVISED EDITION: I originally read and reviewed the original release of this book last year. Since then, Lucas Mangum decided to have it re-edited (by yours truly) and add a post script short story. This revised edition has been released by Madness Heart Press. Lucas and John and I put a lot of love and work into bringing you this new edition of this powerful and disturbing story. My original review is below, and my opinion of the story stands, minus the notation about errors.

Mania by Lucas Mangum is fast-paced, engrossing, and merciless. The story grabbed me from the first page, and I had a very hard time putting it down. It owned me. I ultimately read the whole thing in one day. I had other things to do, but I couldn’t not finish the story.

As some other reviewers have mentioned, this book does have some editing errors in it. More than a few. I feel the story is strong enough and the writing otherwise excellent enough to overlook those errors in this case. That is saying something because as a bibliophile and editor, I tend to be unforgiving of such things. Let me just say the errors are not tragic and the story is worth it.

Lucas Mangum has taken the urban legend premise of the haunted play/movie/book/etc. to glorious heights of creative genius. Despite the classic nature of the premise, he manages to maintain an element of unpredictability and driving suspense, due in no small part to the compelling characters and vivid imagery. Mania’s backstory is fantastic! It is well thought out, skillfully presented, agonizingly revealed piece by piece.

I cannot emphasize enough how enthralling this storyline is. The synopsis and cover art do not do it justice. It is neither trite nor gratuitous. Mania is a shelf-worthy book I will read again and again.… (más)