Here are some reviews for Blake's books!
 

"Razor’s Edge" in my opinion is the definitive story of the cruel and gritty beginnings of Freddy Krueger. Everything you have ever wanted to know about the origin of the razor gloved maniac is covered in horrific and meticulous detail. The novel moves at a good pace along with strong character development. Whether you are a new fan of the franchise or a die hard like myself, you don’t want to pass up this spine-tingling page turner!"

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-Shane, North Carolina, 7/7/2023

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"Finished "Whispers In The Woods" last night. I enjoyed it! It was quite the ride for being a short story! I loved the supernatural aspect of it which is what I’ve been looking for in a “Woods” setting. The gore was awesome. I am always for that especially in movies, which is how the book played in my head. Can't wait to read more from you!"

 

-Brittany, Oklahoma, 6/23/2023

 

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September 27th, 2021

 

RAZOR'S EDGE (WITH SPOILERS)        

WRITTEN BY BLAKE BEST

REVIEW WRITTEN BY CORY SHOFFLER JR.

INTRODUCTION:

Earlier today I received my signed copy of the re-released "Razor's Edge" written by Blake Best and as a big fan of "The Nightmare on Elm Street" film franchise, I couldn't wait to tear the package open and read from cover to cover. What followed was a rollercoaster ride of emotions as I went on the dark and twisted journey of Frederick Charles Krueger from birth to rebirth and ultimately, his demise as every Nightmare fan is very aware of. In this review I'll be going over why I loved the book as much as I did and do and why YOU will too!

 

REASON #1 - TRUE TO THE SOURCE MATERIAL:

Being that "Razor's Edge" is meant to be a look into the fedora wearing, finger-knived monster's transformation into the horror icon we all know, staying true to the source material while adding your own spin on his backstory is quite a daunting task that was handled beautifully. Straying too far away from what fans love and know always has its ups and downs, pros and cons, lovers and haters, but I can definitely say that Blake knocked it out of the park with his novel. Not only does the story tie in perfectly with the first film, it also ties in with the rest of the franchise as well by way of including characters that we all love and know be it as a central character or mention that makes us point to the name and say "Hey I know who that is, they're in *insert film title here*, that's awesome!".

In "Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare" we really only get a glimpse into his life before becoming an immortal dream demon and Blake has expanded upon this brilliantly. When I saw that Freddy was out in the yard playing with his daughter I said aloud "Oh God" because I knew what was coming and no, that is by no means a bad thing as it only adds to the already high anticipation that has built up to this point. And boy does the anticipation grow...

 

REASON #2 - THE FRED MAN HIMSELF:

While you can make a case that the following ties in with Reason #1 above, it most certainly does but hear me out. Not only did Blake do such an incredible job staying within the confines of what came before while adding his own take, he also managed to portray a depiction of Freddy that's very much in tune with Robert Englund's performances. This doesn't just come in the form of his kills or dialogue alone however, the look inside his mind is very much so what we can expect to come from such a sinister character (despite his more comical depictions later on in the films).

We can see the conflict within him that although he loves his wife and daughter quite literally more than anything in the whole world, he also has come to terms with who and what he is as all of his victims would come to find out with a very important set of them on a much more personal level. I couldn't help but picture Robert's portrayal of the character with every action, with every turn of the page and that is exactly what any fan would come to expect out of anything that has to do with the "Nightmare" franchise.

"Razor's Edge" also brings Freddy back to his dark self and this is a VERY welcome depiction as I myself prefer when the character wasn't cracking one liners. Not that there's anything wrong with a "Welcome to prime time b*tch!" here and there just...not all the time ya know?

 

REASON #3 - THE RELATIONSHIPS:

One of the most shocking, if not even THE most shocking, relationships to come out of "Razor's Edge" is none other than the friendly bond between the Krueger's and Thompson's. Yes... the THOMPSON's of all people. I could not even imagine what Donald and his wife were feeling when Freddy's dark secret came to light especially taking into account the fact that they welcomed the "Springwood Slasher" into their own home!

And although we don't actually see the end result of Donald's and Marge's relationship in the book itself, we certainly get one hell of a lead into it by seeing what exactly transpired during what they all believed to be the end of Freddy and his reign of terror over the town. We also see just how united the town was even before his "Demise" as everyone bands together wanting nothing more than for the killer to be brought to justice for what had been taken from them. We do see this to a degree in the 2010 remake of "A Nightmare on Elm Street" but what "Razor's Edge" does that the film doesn't, is dig further into just how much of an impact the murders have had on the town and what caused Freddy to go free in the first place.

There were divorces and suicides because of what Freddy did and was going to continue to do if he hadn't been dealt with when he had been. Of course, as we all know, he would eventually come back and continue his reign of terror but in that moment when he burned alive you can call it a major case of "You get what you deserve".

 

REASON #4 - THE TONE:

As with what I mentioned in Reason #2 in regards to Freddy, the story itself is dark from beginning to end and provides an excellent sense of dread much like the original film as an example. But don't fret as there is also various light hearted moments that break up the darkness that fills the pages from top to bottom. These moments showcase a side of the Freddy Krueger character that is rarely seen in the films and adds another dimension to him other than being exactly what he is, the "Son of a hundred maniacs!".

You will also find yourself drawn in wanting to know what happens next and even if you think you have an idea as to what will come next, you just may be in for a surprise! This is a Freddy that everyone should be terrified of and then some.

 

CLOSING COMMENTS:

I would also like to take a moment and commend Heath Hellsing for the brilliant work he did on the cover for "Razor's Edge" as it in itself is an excellent representation of what you're about to read. I would even go as far as saying that the story may be difficult for some to read because of how dark it really is because as Blake said himself: "It's not for the faint of heart!".

I highly recommend "Razor's Edge" for any fan of the "Nightmare" films and even those who might not have ever even seen one of them. But if you are a fan or fan of horror in general then this book is definitely for you.

5/5 and two thumbs way up!!