Many thanks to Anne Cater and Random Things Tours for my spot on this Blog Tour.
Omg omg this book scared me completely and brought the goosebumps out. I reacted viscerally and to top it all, I read the book bang on the bewitching hour, the midnight.
Ben’s daughter was kidnapped by an ancient evil residing in the island off California coast The Sorrows. He had barely survived the evil in book 1 and his life had just come back to some kind of normal when he was struck by the beast again. He went back to the Sorrows with a group of characters, and things turned ugly.
Jonathan Janz is the master of horror, and this book made me feel everything the book intended, excitement, fear, anger, desperation, helplessness. This was book 2 in the Sorrows series, but I didn’t have a problem understanding the story. Book 1 was explained quite well in its scenes without really giving away the twists.
I loved the way Janz had set the atmosphere in the story. The Castle and the entire island exponentially increased the fears and inner evil of everyone who stepped in it. Every negative deed or thought became alive with no route to escape. It was literally a place which breathed malice
The initial chapters felt a little disjointed till the connected them beautifully. The action was non stop, I got to know the characters via their deeds both past and present. The excitement filled with dread rose so high in me that I literally wanted to push Ben and his child off the island.
This was one rocking ride from beginning to end, my midnight read, and now I plan to sleep with the lights on.
I received a free ARC from NetGalley and publisher Flame Tree Press, and this is my journey into its pages, straight from the heart!! STRICTLY HONEST AND UNBIASED.
All my reviews can be read here
Jonathan Janz grew up between a dark forest and a graveyard, which explains everything. Brian Keene named his debut novel The Sorrows “the best horror novel of 2012.” The Library Journal deemed his follow-up, House of Skin, “reminiscent of Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House and Peter Straub’s Ghost Story” Since then Jonathan’s work has been lauded by writers like Jack Ketchum, Edward Lee, Tim Waggoner, Bryan Smith, and Ronald Kelly. Novels like The Nightmare Girl, Wolf Land, Savage Species, and Dust Devils prompted Thunderstorm Books to sign Jonathan to an eleven-book deal and to give him his own imprint, Jonathan Janz’s Shadow Side. His novel Children of the Dark received a starred review in Booklist and was chosen by their board as one of the Top Ten Horror Books of the Year (August 2015-September 2016). Children of the Dark will soon be translated into German and has been championed by the Library Journal, the School Library Journal, and Cemetery Dance. In early 2017, his novel Exorcist Falls was released to critical acclaim. Jonathan’s primary interests are his wonderful wife and his three amazing children, and though he realizes that every author’s wife and children are wonderful and amazing, in this case the cliche happens to be true.
Website
www.jonathanjanz.com
A year ago composer Ben Shadeland traveled to the Sorrows, a reportedly haunted island off the California coast, to find inspiration for a horror movie music score. Instead, he found madness, murder, and an ancient evil. His family barely survived the nightmare, and Ben swore he’d never return to the island or its accursed castle.
Now Ben’s infant daughter has been kidnapped and Ben is convinced that the malevolent creature that lives in the catacombs beneath Castle Blackwood is responsible. Ben joins three federal agents, a sultry medium, and others in an attempt to save his daughter. But what awaits them is far worse than they ever imagined. The creature – an ancient god named Gabriel – has grown more powerful than ever. It has summoned unspeakable monsters to the island – both human and supernatural. And Gabriel won’t rest until he has his revenge.
Publication Date: 25th July 2019
Publisher: Flame Tree Press
33 Responses
Haha…well, you know me when it comes to horror: I love it! So hearing this (and the fact that I have never heard of this writer before, sorry 🙈🙈😅😅) makes me add this one to my reading list. It sounds absolutely great. Although I will probably switch off the lights though…..😂😂😂
Hahaha you are strong… I switched off too… But kept a watch for strange noises
He’s becoming a firm favourite with me for a good horror story x
Mine too. But this is my second one. Hope to read more
Snap 🙂
😂
Sometimes you just have to have a good book scare! Wonderful review, Shalini, as it gave me a couple of chills.
This was something different… Since I haven’t read book 1 I found the description of the devil a bit incomplete
Loved this review! I felt the same way when reading this book. Janz is absolutely becoming one of my favorite authors 🙂
Ooh this is just my second book by him. Have to check his books out
What other book do you have? I’ve read this and Nightmare Girl- and bought three of his others lol
Ahhh I didn’t even about this until yesterday gutted I’m not on it!! Fab review ❤️ Will be buying this as I loved the first book xx
I have yet to read the first… I think the first would have been better… Here you would know what the beast was going to do. There it would have been a shocker
I am wondering if I should buy book 1
I would get the first one, if you don’t know the beast it’s explained in that one it’s good
Oooh I have been recommended that book.. So babes you are at fault when the bills come 😂😂
🤣🤣 I am happy to take the blame for Janz that’s for sure lol
Love those scary tales! 🙀 so glad you enjoyed this story, Shalini! Super review and Happy Friday too! 🌸
Marialyce
Happy Friday
And have a wonderful weekend
Oh excellent review once again Shalini. I particularly loved this: “literally a place which breathed malice” GOOD one!
Aww thank you.. I think I should write my reviews at 2am…😂 😂
This sounds so good! Awesome review!
At 2 am I can write baby… 😂 😂 😂 😂
If it scared you it would probably make me wet my pants 😉
Hahaha no it would not
fantastic review!
Oh wow this definitely sounds like a satisfyingly creepy read! Fab review. xx
I think I am loving this author
🤣😂🤣😂 the cover is scary enough on its own!😉😍📚💕
Agreed… I am loving horror 😂😂😂
Thank you so much. Sorry you were in spam
I’m on this one tomorrow! Great review!! ❤❤
Woohoo I am sure it would be a great review 😍
😘😘😘