Trailer Park Trickster-Review

Intro

Adam Binder is back again! For those following my thoughts on David R. Slayton, I utterly adored White Trash for several reasons, most of which continue here in the sequel. Trailer Park Trickster continues the winning streak of Slayton, and I am all for it.

Writing

Picking up where the last book left off, Adam finds himself up against a sinister druid who is picking off his family members for unknown reasons. In a similar vein to White Trash Warlock, Slayton explores real-world troubles, such as dysfunctional families or generational trauma, via the lens of the fantastical. In this case, Trailer Park Trickster examines the unpleasant and often casual hostility of homophobia, either against Adam or Vick. Other traumas include the death of family members and tyrannical father figures. Slayton nicely mirrors Sliver’s experiences with his authoritarian father and Adam, both monsters for different and similar reasons. I love this as Slayton uses the fantasy genre as it should be: to explore the natural world through the lens of metaphor.

I enjoyed seeing Vick’s perspective in this story; his ordinary POV against the fantastical allows for good interactions between him and Achron/Sliver. I am not saying it is the most original thing in the world, but it is executed well. Vick isn’t wholly stone-faced. He is uniquely different than other Isikai-eques protagonists, and I think it works well here.

I have some concerns about the prose, namely that Slayton uses adverbs and tells how the characters feel as opposed to us, the reader experiencing it. Granted, it isn’t too big of an issue as the telling is often followed up by emotive solid words, and the adverbs are not entirely overwhelming. However, it is an issue that might become worse depending on how Deadbeat Druid turns out.

Conclusion

I have noticed that Slayton spends a bit too much time explaining what the character is feeling instead of making the reader feel the character’s emotions. Also, the use of adverbs has become noticeable in parts. But he more than makes up for it in character, humanity, and thrills.

Acknowledgments

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