Culver City

Cassady and Kyle are best friends living in the shadow of movie magic. They live in Culver City, where MGM Studios is headquartered. They learn about the studio backlot, where various shows and films were shot. They trespass onto the lot and are floored by the treasures they find. One particular night, a late-night visit leaves them mesmerized by the lot. The boys spy on a captivating girl floating in a vivid light, but they flee, in a state of fear. The backlot has a special pull on Cassady and Kyle, so they return. They are greeted by a man named Ashley and a beautiful woman named Scarlett. Ashley reveals to the boys that they have found something special, a place where characters from favorite movies and shows come alive. 

Culver City is an excellent fantasy book with compelling elements of supernatural horror that beguiles from the beginning. Author Brant Vickers brilliantly captures the spirit of youthful rebellion and curiosity with the sentimentality attached to the golden age of cinema and television. Cassady is a social outcast whose friendship with Kyle is the only significant thing in his lamentable adolescence. Their discovery initially cements their bond, as they keep it a secret, exploring their find. 

The characters they interact with are unique in their quirks and mannerisms. Vickers poignantly illustrates how even secrets among friends can start to slowly erode relationships. The elements of horror are unveiled at a gradual pace, which makes their unveiling nonetheless shocking and gripping. Culver City lands with a deep resonance, a book about growing up, friendships, and the mystical. Written in beautiful prose, this novel features superior writing and characters that are lovable.