Scan barcode
divebarbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Thanks to NetGalley and Flame Tree Press for a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
This is my first dive into Shea's work and it definitely won't be my last. A priest experiences a terrible tragedy and gets sucked into a life of booze and pills. This at first is a great character study and a good look at grief and how some people deal with it. 80 % of this book was 5 stars for me but I did have a lot of problems with the ending.
The ending not landing for me is not at fault of the author, it's actually pretty epic in scale. Just certain elements I don't like in my horror. Overall I would definitely recommend!
This is my first dive into Shea's work and it definitely won't be my last. A priest experiences a terrible tragedy and gets sucked into a life of booze and pills. This at first is a great character study and a good look at grief and how some people deal with it. 80 % of this book was 5 stars for me but I did have a lot of problems with the ending.
The ending not landing for me is not at fault of the author, it's actually pretty epic in scale. Just certain elements I don't like in my horror. Overall I would definitely recommend!
veroperovero's review
2.0
This could’ve been the perfect creepy read for the fall, but its sluggish development and clumsy climax make for a discombobulated and unsatisfying ending. Raul, a family man and priest, witnesses via cellphone his family’s brutal murder while stuck in a downpour. Unable to cope with his loss and guilt, he abandons his career and moves into an inherited house only to find out he’s being followed by a sinister force. Shea succeeds in creating a spooky and gloomy setting and somewhat relatable main characters, but the exposition drags until readers are suddenly hit with eyebrow-raising revelations. If there’s anything to take away from this, humans can’t be trusted, supernatural events happen (maybe), the devil is mediocre, and writers can combine too many horror subgenres. It's also important to note that the book contains infantile deaths, addiction, and suicide ideation, which may be a red flag to some. It’s not a title worth adding to a collection, but it’s fun enough for anyone willing to overlook questionable details for a quick thrill.
seang81's review against another edition
4.0
What an opening. The novel starts with a bang which, literally, made me hold my breath. The scenes were written so well it almost felt like I was in the novel - well done to Hunter Shea for such visceral writing! This novel is staying with me and, whilst I enjoyed the twists, the characters were well written, the ending felt a little flat - but all is forgiven as this is still a brilliant read. I've read a few Hunter Shea novels and i'll definitely be coming back for more!
kellyvandamme's review
4.0
Faithless hits the ground running with a first chapter that is positively shocking. Father Raul Figeuroa is driving home when caught off guard by a rainstorm. Nervous about driving in such poor conditions and eager to get home, he calls his wife. As they’re talking on the phone, Raul hears someone crashing into his home, assaulting his family. He races to get home but he’s much too late, his family has been slaughtered.
After those horrifying first chapters, Faithless loses some of its speed and starts to burn more slowly. In the aftermath of losing his family, Raul also loses his faith. How can he take care of his flock when he couldn’t save his own family, when he can’t even take care of himself. He abandons the cloth, his parish, his life, and goes to live in the remote house he’s inherited from his aunt. Before long, he becomes convinced that his family is not really gone. That they’re there with him, calling to him.
Meanwhile, the police are getting nowhere in their investigation into who killed the Figeuroa family, and why, and Raul’s childhood friend Felix, just back from a stint in prison, decides to do a little investigating of his own. Felix is no stranger to violence and darkness, and he’s convinced that there must be a reason why the killings happened, and that he’s the person to find out.
The slow-burning drama of Raul’s loss broke my heart. The love for his wife, for his kids is palpable and it’s fairly unusual for a horror novel to make me feel such empathy for its characters, but Faithless sure did and it made the consequent events even more harrowing.
There is so much I would love to tell you about this story, in particular about the nail-bitingly tense finale, but everything I do say might ruin your reading experience cos for me, the slow unravelling of what lies beneath, gradually starting to see the bigger picture, feeling that shock and betrayal, is what was absolutely brilliant about this novel. Let’s just say I did NOT end up where I expected to end up, not in the slightest. I went from one WTF moment to the next until the very last chapter.
If you’re looking for a horror novel that has it all (not specifying cos spoilers), do get your hands on a copy of Faithless!
After those horrifying first chapters, Faithless loses some of its speed and starts to burn more slowly. In the aftermath of losing his family, Raul also loses his faith. How can he take care of his flock when he couldn’t save his own family, when he can’t even take care of himself. He abandons the cloth, his parish, his life, and goes to live in the remote house he’s inherited from his aunt. Before long, he becomes convinced that his family is not really gone. That they’re there with him, calling to him.
Meanwhile, the police are getting nowhere in their investigation into who killed the Figeuroa family, and why, and Raul’s childhood friend Felix, just back from a stint in prison, decides to do a little investigating of his own. Felix is no stranger to violence and darkness, and he’s convinced that there must be a reason why the killings happened, and that he’s the person to find out.
The slow-burning drama of Raul’s loss broke my heart. The love for his wife, for his kids is palpable and it’s fairly unusual for a horror novel to make me feel such empathy for its characters, but Faithless sure did and it made the consequent events even more harrowing.
There is so much I would love to tell you about this story, in particular about the nail-bitingly tense finale, but everything I do say might ruin your reading experience cos for me, the slow unravelling of what lies beneath, gradually starting to see the bigger picture, feeling that shock and betrayal, is what was absolutely brilliant about this novel. Let’s just say I did NOT end up where I expected to end up, not in the slightest. I went from one WTF moment to the next until the very last chapter.
If you’re looking for a horror novel that has it all (not specifying cos spoilers), do get your hands on a copy of Faithless!
zarco_j's review
5.0
How do you survive hearing your family being brutally murdered over the phone? For Father Raul Figeuroa, all faith and hope are lost. Turning away from the priesthood behind, he retreats to his aunt's empty farmhouse in upstate New York, hoping to drink himself to oblivion. But he's not alone in the house. Something is trying to reach out to him. Or is he losing his grip on reality? When his childhood friend Felix comes to visit, things take a darker turn. The deeper they dig into the mystery, the closer they get to hell literally breaking loose.
Hunter Shea has done it again, another strong horror novel from the brilliant author. The publisher Flame Tree Press is one of my go to's when I need a good read.
This is a book about grief and how it haunts you and self destructive behaviour.
Thank you to Flame Tree Press and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
Hunter Shea has done it again, another strong horror novel from the brilliant author. The publisher Flame Tree Press is one of my go to's when I need a good read.
This is a book about grief and how it haunts you and self destructive behaviour.
Thank you to Flame Tree Press and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
dnemec's review
5.0
Hold onto your hats, folks! This one is nuts!
Father Raul Figeuroa is on the phone with his wife when intruders break in and murder her and their children. Police have no leads, only being able to confirm that there were multiple assailants. Raul is lost, and decides to give up his church and move to his deceased Aunt Ida's house in the country. He slowly begins to drink and drug himself to death, making sure not to overdo it too much so he can suffer for not being present to save his family. But then strange things start to happen. He hears little footsteps running around upstairs and voices coming from the basement. Is the alcohol and drug combo causing him to hallucinate? Or are his dead wife and children haunting him? Raul's old friend, Felix, comes to visit when he learns of the tragedy that has befallen him. What Felix finds is a shell of a man. But is Raul losing his mind, or is something else going on in the old house?
What a total emotional roller coaster! You can't help but feel Raul's devastation and heartbreak. But when Felix arrives and subsequently leaves... things go nuts.
I can't say more without spoiling, but trust me when I say this tale is well worth the price of admission.
Father Raul Figeuroa is on the phone with his wife when intruders break in and murder her and their children. Police have no leads, only being able to confirm that there were multiple assailants. Raul is lost, and decides to give up his church and move to his deceased Aunt Ida's house in the country. He slowly begins to drink and drug himself to death, making sure not to overdo it too much so he can suffer for not being present to save his family. But then strange things start to happen. He hears little footsteps running around upstairs and voices coming from the basement. Is the alcohol and drug combo causing him to hallucinate? Or are his dead wife and children haunting him? Raul's old friend, Felix, comes to visit when he learns of the tragedy that has befallen him. What Felix finds is a shell of a man. But is Raul losing his mind, or is something else going on in the old house?
What a total emotional roller coaster! You can't help but feel Raul's devastation and heartbreak. But when Felix arrives and subsequently leaves... things go nuts.
I can't say more without spoiling, but trust me when I say this tale is well worth the price of admission.
jayfr's review
5.0
How do you survive hearing your family being brutally murdered over the phone? For Father Raul Figeuroa, all faith and hope are lost. Turning away from the priesthood behind, he retreats to his aunt's empty farmhouse in upstate New York, hoping to drink himself to oblivion. But he's not alone in the house. Something is trying to reach out to him. Or is he losing his grip on reality? When his childhood friend Felix comes to visit, things take a darker turn. The deeper they dig into the mystery, the closer they get to hell literally breaking loose.
Hunter Shea has done it again, another strong horror novel from the brilliant author. The publisher Flame Tree Press is one of my go to's when I need a good read.
This is a book about grief and how it haunts you and self destructive behaviour.
Thank you to Flame Tree Press and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
Hunter Shea has done it again, another strong horror novel from the brilliant author. The publisher Flame Tree Press is one of my go to's when I need a good read.
This is a book about grief and how it haunts you and self destructive behaviour.
Thank you to Flame Tree Press and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
osstockton's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
pbanditp's review against another edition
4.0
This was either the beginning of righteous retribution, or the moment his soul was damned.”
FAITHLESS by Hunter Shea drops on October 19th. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Father Raul is a priest with a good parish and a great family. Everything was wonderful, until it wasn’t. Life steers off course in the blink of an eye and beliefs change. What kind of God would allow such things to happen?Raul renounces his priesthood and moves in to his aunts abandoned home where he used to spend summers as a child. Something follows him.
Raul spirals down into despair fuels by grief, guilt and alcohol. He just wants to die. He starts hearing noises-hallucinations that sound like his wife and children- are they a blessing or a curse?
It is hard not to give any spoilers but Raul is a true human. He makes realistic choices after what happened to him as well as when the tense, and creepy paranormal kicks in.
With the help of a childhood friend, will Raul face his demons? find the guilty party? and get revenge?
More importantly-should he?
Will he find a way to be with his family again?
Good choice for those that love the paranormal, religious questions, and cults.
Thanks to NetGalley and Flame Tree Press for a copy of the eARC for an honest review
FAITHLESS by Hunter Shea drops on October 19th. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Father Raul is a priest with a good parish and a great family. Everything was wonderful, until it wasn’t. Life steers off course in the blink of an eye and beliefs change. What kind of God would allow such things to happen?Raul renounces his priesthood and moves in to his aunts abandoned home where he used to spend summers as a child. Something follows him.
Raul spirals down into despair fuels by grief, guilt and alcohol. He just wants to die. He starts hearing noises-hallucinations that sound like his wife and children- are they a blessing or a curse?
It is hard not to give any spoilers but Raul is a true human. He makes realistic choices after what happened to him as well as when the tense, and creepy paranormal kicks in.
With the help of a childhood friend, will Raul face his demons? find the guilty party? and get revenge?
More importantly-should he?
Will he find a way to be with his family again?
Good choice for those that love the paranormal, religious questions, and cults.
Thanks to NetGalley and Flame Tree Press for a copy of the eARC for an honest review