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foxygma's review
4.0
Werewolves are my favorite horror monster, but it seemed their days of popularity had waned and were reduced to sexy, shirtless puppy boys in modern books, so I moved on to other horror. When I had the privilege of reading The Hobgoblin of Little Minds as an ARC, it reignited my faith in modern werewolf stories and was the fresh take I had been looking for.
Matthews uses poetic phrasing in a way that can twist a terrifying scene into something still so beautiful in its complexity you can’t stop reading. There were a few scenes that truthfully gave me chills; a certain creature reveal in the lower levels of the old psychiatric hospital come to mind. I had to re-read them so I could take in the luscious word choices, even in such horrifying, cruel descriptions. This book definitely did not disappoint in its horror moments thanks to his skill in descriptions that hit the core of emotion and didn't lean too much on cliche.
While the idea of combining mental health and horror has been done before and makes sense, there has been a shortage of the connection in werewolf stories. Luckily, Matthews was here to apply his expanse of knowledge in his working field with his love and talent for writing, giving cerebral horror fans what they may not have known they wanted. Peter Driscoll lives with bipolar disorder and that comes with struggles on its own for his family life or lack of. Mixing that idea with being the element that creates a better werewolf and you've elevated a metaphor that will carry the story to new heights. You can tell he knows what he is talking about with the medical side of things in the story and, as someone who also lives with mental health conditions, that touch of realism mixed with fantasy gave the best horror aspect.
I loved that the female protagonist, Kori, was not weak. She was opinionated, stubborn, and a character with motives and emotions that fit her backstory and the world around her. She was enjoyable to read and you could relate to her. There also wasn’t a single love interest or unnecessary love triangle forced in to weigh down a story that had no place for it. Huzzah! This story has depth and connection and it hurts. I felt the struggle of emotions between Kori and her father in this tale, even when I had not experienced their situation in my life….the not having my father, not that my dad is a werewolf. I really liked that we got to see his perspective too in chapters. His voice was obviously different from hers in a way that felt visceral when read. You could see the shift in his voice between flashbacks and the now, as he is transformed over time. There were places where I missed Kori after switching to other characters for a while and that is how I knew she was a good character. Every main or secondary character had a well-rounded emotional pull to what was happening in the story. They expressed parts of themselves that were real and flawed, but also caring, sympathetic parts that made you understand them, even the “villains.” “Villains” are my favorite kind.
This book is an emotional ride that doesn’t shy from tough topics or rawness. You’ll want to read it in one sitting and will be sad when you have to put it down for a spell. My only gripe is that the ending left me feeling that Hobgoblin deserves a sequel and I’m craving for it, so I hope to read more about this world from Matthews in the future.
Matthews uses poetic phrasing in a way that can twist a terrifying scene into something still so beautiful in its complexity you can’t stop reading. There were a few scenes that truthfully gave me chills; a certain creature reveal in the lower levels of the old psychiatric hospital come to mind. I had to re-read them so I could take in the luscious word choices, even in such horrifying, cruel descriptions. This book definitely did not disappoint in its horror moments thanks to his skill in descriptions that hit the core of emotion and didn't lean too much on cliche.
While the idea of combining mental health and horror has been done before and makes sense, there has been a shortage of the connection in werewolf stories. Luckily, Matthews was here to apply his expanse of knowledge in his working field with his love and talent for writing, giving cerebral horror fans what they may not have known they wanted. Peter Driscoll lives with bipolar disorder and that comes with struggles on its own for his family life or lack of. Mixing that idea with being the element that creates a better werewolf and you've elevated a metaphor that will carry the story to new heights. You can tell he knows what he is talking about with the medical side of things in the story and, as someone who also lives with mental health conditions, that touch of realism mixed with fantasy gave the best horror aspect.
I loved that the female protagonist, Kori, was not weak. She was opinionated, stubborn, and a character with motives and emotions that fit her backstory and the world around her. She was enjoyable to read and you could relate to her. There also wasn’t a single love interest or unnecessary love triangle forced in to weigh down a story that had no place for it. Huzzah! This story has depth and connection and it hurts. I felt the struggle of emotions between Kori and her father in this tale, even when I had not experienced their situation in my life….the not having my father, not that my dad is a werewolf. I really liked that we got to see his perspective too in chapters. His voice was obviously different from hers in a way that felt visceral when read. You could see the shift in his voice between flashbacks and the now, as he is transformed over time. There were places where I missed Kori after switching to other characters for a while and that is how I knew she was a good character. Every main or secondary character had a well-rounded emotional pull to what was happening in the story. They expressed parts of themselves that were real and flawed, but also caring, sympathetic parts that made you understand them, even the “villains.” “Villains” are my favorite kind.
This book is an emotional ride that doesn’t shy from tough topics or rawness. You’ll want to read it in one sitting and will be sad when you have to put it down for a spell. My only gripe is that the ending left me feeling that Hobgoblin deserves a sequel and I’m craving for it, so I hope to read more about this world from Matthews in the future.
curiosityboughtthebook's review against another edition
5.0
Also reviewed on www.curiosityboughtthebook.com
The Hobgoblin of Little Minds is the story of Kori, who has been suffering through her dad’s mental illness for most of her life. He was in and out of hospitals, and his mood was unpredictable and changed in a matter of minutes. The last time she saw him was in a psychiatric hospital. The same hospital that is now closed and about to be torn down. Kori has been haunting the hospital halls for years, looking for answers and her father. Once she finds him it becomes clear that what lives in this empty building is no longer her beloved dad at all.
Looking at the cover of The Hobgoblin of Little Minds, you might expect a good ole’ werewolf horror story. Like myself, you might also not be a big fan of the werewolf trope. Well, let me assure you this book is so much more than that. What Matthews did here is amazing and deserves a much better review than I will ever be able to give. He combines the supernatural with the world of mental illness, and does a phenomenal job at that.
Now, there are still a lot of horror elements in the book. The creatures are creepy and gruesome. But at the essence, they are broken human beings that have been let down by the people they trusted the most to help them.
Mark Matthews truly is a special gem, and I look forward to reading a lot more of his works to come.
Thanks to Wicked Run Press and Netgalley for the advanced copy.
The Hobgoblin of Little Minds is the story of Kori, who has been suffering through her dad’s mental illness for most of her life. He was in and out of hospitals, and his mood was unpredictable and changed in a matter of minutes. The last time she saw him was in a psychiatric hospital. The same hospital that is now closed and about to be torn down. Kori has been haunting the hospital halls for years, looking for answers and her father. Once she finds him it becomes clear that what lives in this empty building is no longer her beloved dad at all.
Looking at the cover of The Hobgoblin of Little Minds, you might expect a good ole’ werewolf horror story. Like myself, you might also not be a big fan of the werewolf trope. Well, let me assure you this book is so much more than that. What Matthews did here is amazing and deserves a much better review than I will ever be able to give. He combines the supernatural with the world of mental illness, and does a phenomenal job at that.
Now, there are still a lot of horror elements in the book. The creatures are creepy and gruesome. But at the essence, they are broken human beings that have been let down by the people they trusted the most to help them.
Mark Matthews truly is a special gem, and I look forward to reading a lot more of his works to come.
Thanks to Wicked Run Press and Netgalley for the advanced copy.
karlakayjenniges's review
5.0
"Everything breathes, everything speaks, with a voice that fades but is never silenced."
First of all the cover is an absolute beautiful work of art.
This is not the typical story of the beasts that howl at the moon. It is the making of a creature so profound that it will have you looking at mental health with a whole new introspection or even extrospection.
As someone who is familiar with many disorders and the affects that medications have and the overall affects that can cause severe negative reactions, not once has it entered my mind to consider comparing it to the cycle of a werewolf. But it makes so much sense, as we all know that the changes in the atmosphere can affect the personalities of anyone that has a diagnoses of a mental illness or disease. It is a cycle of highs and lows and manic episodes. And it can be heartbreaking to watch a loved one go through these battles.
I loved the perspective taken and the prose was wonderful. There really is no happiness here, it is a very dark novel that takes us on a journey of a daughters love for her father and not wanting to leave him. A deceitful and villainous Doctor who really has no respect for humanity and is in it for her own selfish purposes, wanting to create a perfect species, but creating mostly abominations that are thrown into the dark pits of despair and depravity. They are creatures of the moon and cycle like a werewolf. They are powerful and hungry. Also, the fact it is mostly set in an old Asylum creates that unsettling feeling as most of them have the history of inhumane practices upon the patients.
The afterward is not to be left unread, it sheds a light on the whole idea of this novel as written from the author as a licensed professional counselor and a writer of horror fiction.
This one is dreadful, creepy and scary, it hits the heart, and punctures the soul!
First of all the cover is an absolute beautiful work of art.
This is not the typical story of the beasts that howl at the moon. It is the making of a creature so profound that it will have you looking at mental health with a whole new introspection or even extrospection.
As someone who is familiar with many disorders and the affects that medications have and the overall affects that can cause severe negative reactions, not once has it entered my mind to consider comparing it to the cycle of a werewolf. But it makes so much sense, as we all know that the changes in the atmosphere can affect the personalities of anyone that has a diagnoses of a mental illness or disease. It is a cycle of highs and lows and manic episodes. And it can be heartbreaking to watch a loved one go through these battles.
I loved the perspective taken and the prose was wonderful. There really is no happiness here, it is a very dark novel that takes us on a journey of a daughters love for her father and not wanting to leave him. A deceitful and villainous Doctor who really has no respect for humanity and is in it for her own selfish purposes, wanting to create a perfect species, but creating mostly abominations that are thrown into the dark pits of despair and depravity. They are creatures of the moon and cycle like a werewolf. They are powerful and hungry. Also, the fact it is mostly set in an old Asylum creates that unsettling feeling as most of them have the history of inhumane practices upon the patients.
The afterward is not to be left unread, it sheds a light on the whole idea of this novel as written from the author as a licensed professional counselor and a writer of horror fiction.
This one is dreadful, creepy and scary, it hits the heart, and punctures the soul!
j_reads_nightmares's review
3.0
This breaks my heart to say this, but this was not my favorite. I’ve read other books and stories from Mark Matthews, and enjoy his writing style. Something about this one just didn’t do it for me. The characters felt a bit flat, and some of the plot just become repetitive. I was super intrigued by the premise, and you could see what Matthews wanted to achieve with this. Perhaps with stronger editing I would have enjoyed this more. With that said, I’ll still be picking up his next!
booklovingcatmom's review
4.0
The Hobgoblin of Little Minds is an absolutely profound and perfect allegory showcasing bipolar type 1 through the eye of lycanthropy. Wicked Run Press is absolutely correct: “You’ll never think of a werewolf the same way again.”
I love the religious themes that Matthews uses throughout his writing and, like the delicate subject of mental illness, I feel he is respectful and very aware of all potential audiences.
Matthews’ afterward put to rest any lingering questions regarding his thoughts on mental health professionals and medications, and while fiction doesn’t necessarily reflect an author’s opinions, it was reassuring to me that he included his thoughts in the mentioned afterward.
I do have concerns for readers who struggle with bipolar and/or depression. And this is coming from a reader that personally struggles with these topics.
I feel that the tone was very dark and didn’t offer any hope or warmth to the characters who struggled with their bipolar. Peter Driscoe’s storyline in particular was depressing and hard to read. And I think anyone who identifies with the mental illnesses portrayed will feel that sense of hopelessness from the story.
It takes incredible writing skills to be able to make the reader feel real and true feelings like this, but I would caution potential readers. I am so glad I didn’t read this book during one of my depressive episodes; I know it would have been very damaging had I done so. Please don’t read this book if you’re feeling depressed - wait for your mood to change.
This book won’t be for every reader. It deals with mental illness in a dark mood and the horror genre. But I absolutely do recommend it to the readers who are looking for profound introspection in their horror.
Thank you so much to the author for sending me an advance copy after I expressed interest in reading it!
This book is going to stay with me for a long long time. You have a new fan
I love the religious themes that Matthews uses throughout his writing and, like the delicate subject of mental illness, I feel he is respectful and very aware of all potential audiences.
Matthews’ afterward put to rest any lingering questions regarding his thoughts on mental health professionals and medications, and while fiction doesn’t necessarily reflect an author’s opinions, it was reassuring to me that he included his thoughts in the mentioned afterward.
I do have concerns for readers who struggle with bipolar and/or depression. And this is coming from a reader that personally struggles with these topics.
I feel that the tone was very dark and didn’t offer any hope or warmth to the characters who struggled with their bipolar. Peter Driscoe’s storyline in particular was depressing and hard to read. And I think anyone who identifies with the mental illnesses portrayed will feel that sense of hopelessness from the story.
It takes incredible writing skills to be able to make the reader feel real and true feelings like this, but I would caution potential readers. I am so glad I didn’t read this book during one of my depressive episodes; I know it would have been very damaging had I done so. Please don’t read this book if you’re feeling depressed - wait for your mood to change.
This book won’t be for every reader. It deals with mental illness in a dark mood and the horror genre. But I absolutely do recommend it to the readers who are looking for profound introspection in their horror.
Thank you so much to the author for sending me an advance copy after I expressed interest in reading it!
This book is going to stay with me for a long long time. You have a new fan
lauriereadslohf's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
This book is heavy but I wasn’t expecting a light-hearted monster fest when I started a book written by Mark Matthews. He writes about the realistic heavy shit infused with the horror-fantastic. I’ve read Milk-Blood, On the LIps of Children, and Garden of Fiends: Tales of Addiction Horror, and they’ve all been solid grueling reads. The Hobgoblin of Little Minds is not an exception.
This time Matthews tackles lycanthropy and mental health - specifically bipolar and melds the two into a compelling, painful, imaginative journey. If you’ve struggled and/or have family and friends who’ve struggled you know this is going to be a heavy hitter. I don’t even know how to get this review started so I guess I’ll say a little bit about the plot.
Kori grew up with a bipolar dad who has been missing for years. Her mother is screwing off to another state with a new man and Kori isn’t quite ready to let her dad go forever. She visits the Northville Psychiatric Hospital before it’s demolished because it was the last place her dad was seen. What she finds there isn’t at all what she expected. I mean, really, what she finds is a nightmare hellscape and something NO ONE would ever expect. That’s where the horror-fantastic comes in.
Dr. Zita started out with good intentions but somewhere along the way she became less compassionate doctor and more mad scientist and that’s all I really want to say about that because you should discover this stuff on your own. I spent most of my notes writing “WTF is going on here?” and you should experience that too. Just know she is a captivating villain. You’ll root for her to perish but she’ll also fascinate you with her completely dastardly and horribly disturbing plans.
I recommend but with the caveats that in addition to some spectacular deaths (one that made me laugh, actually I’m still laughing when I think about it) that are gory and disturbing it’s the human aspects that might bother one more. The talk of suicide, of abortion, of depression, of a home that feels unsafe and leaves one feeling untethered, and the effects it has on everyone in that circle of pain. Be warned but do read it if you’re in the right headspace because it is excellent.
“But nothing was safe in this house.”
Ouch. If you feel that ouch, heed my warning.
This time Matthews tackles lycanthropy and mental health - specifically bipolar and melds the two into a compelling, painful, imaginative journey. If you’ve struggled and/or have family and friends who’ve struggled you know this is going to be a heavy hitter. I don’t even know how to get this review started so I guess I’ll say a little bit about the plot.
Kori grew up with a bipolar dad who has been missing for years. Her mother is screwing off to another state with a new man and Kori isn’t quite ready to let her dad go forever. She visits the Northville Psychiatric Hospital before it’s demolished because it was the last place her dad was seen. What she finds there isn’t at all what she expected. I mean, really, what she finds is a nightmare hellscape and something NO ONE would ever expect. That’s where the horror-fantastic comes in.
Dr. Zita started out with good intentions but somewhere along the way she became less compassionate doctor and more mad scientist and that’s all I really want to say about that because you should discover this stuff on your own. I spent most of my notes writing “WTF is going on here?” and you should experience that too. Just know she is a captivating villain. You’ll root for her to perish but she’ll also fascinate you with her completely dastardly and horribly disturbing plans.
I recommend but with the caveats that in addition to some spectacular deaths (one that made me laugh, actually I’m still laughing when I think about it) that are gory and disturbing it’s the human aspects that might bother one more. The talk of suicide, of abortion, of depression, of a home that feels unsafe and leaves one feeling untethered, and the effects it has on everyone in that circle of pain. Be warned but do read it if you’re in the right headspace because it is excellent.
“But nothing was safe in this house.”
Ouch. If you feel that ouch, heed my warning.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Mental illness, and Forced institutionalization
biblio_beth's review
dark
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
michelareads's review
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
"She was going to find a way to fix bipolar disorder. To siphon out the worst parts, and make the best parts boil to the top. She had to try something new, because foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds. The same efforts bring same results."
Kori has been suffering though her father's mental illness since she was a child. She witnessed his sudden mood swings and his pain until he was admitted in the Northville Psychiatric Hospital, and this is where she last saw him years ago. Now that the hospital is closed and its patients transferred to other facilities far away, Kori wants to visit his father and she finds him living in that very same abandones hospital. But he is not the person she expected, and he is not alone...
Let me start by saying that I was drawn to this book by its stunning cover, which caught my attention on bookstagram and brought me to Netgalley. And since there's scary werewolf holding a human heart in front of a huge red moon, I was expecting a nice horror story with hairy howling creatures. But The Hobgoblin of Little Minds turned out to be so much more: yes it's a horror story, but it also describes mental illness and bipolar disorder in a way that I personally found very respectful and real. There's action and tension, internal monologues and a very well written villain, which was also my favorite character.
I admit that I didn't immediately connect with Kori or the other characters, as I found the first third of the book a bit confusing (mostly because of the time jumps and my inability to remember names), but then I really enjoyed the story and loved the ending. I was also really happy when I found out that there is going to be a second book, I feel like this story has more to give and I can't wait to read it! 4 stars.
* Thank you to Wicked Run Press and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Kori has been suffering though her father's mental illness since she was a child. She witnessed his sudden mood swings and his pain until he was admitted in the Northville Psychiatric Hospital, and this is where she last saw him years ago. Now that the hospital is closed and its patients transferred to other facilities far away, Kori wants to visit his father and she finds him living in that very same abandones hospital. But he is not the person she expected, and he is not alone...
Let me start by saying that I was drawn to this book by its stunning cover, which caught my attention on bookstagram and brought me to Netgalley. And since there's scary werewolf holding a human heart in front of a huge red moon, I was expecting a nice horror story with hairy howling creatures. But The Hobgoblin of Little Minds turned out to be so much more: yes it's a horror story, but it also describes mental illness and bipolar disorder in a way that I personally found very respectful and real. There's action and tension, internal monologues and a very well written villain, which was also my favorite character.
I admit that I didn't immediately connect with Kori or the other characters, as I found the first third of the book a bit confusing (mostly because of the time jumps and my inability to remember names), but then I really enjoyed the story and loved the ending. I was also really happy when I found out that there is going to be a second book, I feel like this story has more to give and I can't wait to read it! 4 stars.
* Thank you to Wicked Run Press and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
charshorrorcorner's review
4.0
Seeing that cool looking werewolf on the cover with a heart in its hand, makes you think you know what this book is about. You don't! THE HOBGOBLIN OF LITTLE MINDS is full of surprises and werewolves are the least of them.
Kori's father is bi-polar and his meds aren't working very well or at all. When they do work, her dad is not himself-he's numbed. When they're not working or when they become less effective, he becomes the exciting father she knows and loves. He's full of surprises...at least until the mania cycles out and the depression sinks in. One or the other of her father's mental states often ends in a visit from the police and a trip to the psychiatric hospital. Unfortunately, his last visit to the hospital became permanent. There, he met Doctor Zita and his life changed forever. Is this a good change or a bad one? You'll have to read this to find out!
There are several people in this cast of characters that intrigued me, but most especially: Dr. Zita. I'm a horror and dark fiction fan, so I've read the gamut of tales about villains and secret medical experiments, etc..., but rarely have I come across such an intriguing villain. Even though I ended up hating her guts, I felt like I could almost understand how she got to where she was. Aren't those the best types of villains?
THE HOBGOBLIN OF LITTLE MINDS had a personal effect on me, other than just the enjoyment of the novel. A few family members, including my mom, are bipolar, so I have some experience of it in my own life. I saw first hand many of the situations in this book. Medications that don't work, meds that entirely change a person's personality-so much so that they're not recognizable anymore. I've often wondered in those cases whether the meds were worse than the disease? Reading this book, all of the matters regarding mental illness rang very, very true. That's mostly likely because Mark Matthews has worked in the behavioral health industry and is a licensed counselor.
I know that I'm focusing more on the mental health aspect to this book, rather than the werewolf aspect, but make no mistake! These...creatures are scary as hell, but also objects of pity. They're not exactly werewolves, but they cycle with the moon just the same. I'm not sure if this is a werewolf tale with psychological aspects, or a psychological horror tale with a werewolf aspect. As I was reading, I had Stephen Graham Jones' book MONGRELS in the back of mind, but I actually liked HOBGOBLIN better, (and I ADORE SGJ!)
“A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds”
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
Overall, this novel is creative, linking the cycling of disease with other types of cycling in a unique way. We have a dark, manipulative villain in Dr. Zita, we have some commentary and observations on behavioral health and how it's treated in this country, and lastly, we also have some scary-ass abominations that are hungry.
You know you want to read it, so TREAT YOURSELF!
Recommended!
Available January 28th, 2021, but you can pre-order here: https://amzn.to/3rmsWUK
*Thank you to the author for the paperback ARC provided, in exchange for my honest feedback.*
Kori's father is bi-polar and his meds aren't working very well or at all. When they do work, her dad is not himself-he's numbed. When they're not working or when they become less effective, he becomes the exciting father she knows and loves. He's full of surprises...at least until the mania cycles out and the depression sinks in. One or the other of her father's mental states often ends in a visit from the police and a trip to the psychiatric hospital. Unfortunately, his last visit to the hospital became permanent. There, he met Doctor Zita and his life changed forever. Is this a good change or a bad one? You'll have to read this to find out!
There are several people in this cast of characters that intrigued me, but most especially: Dr. Zita. I'm a horror and dark fiction fan, so I've read the gamut of tales about villains and secret medical experiments, etc..., but rarely have I come across such an intriguing villain. Even though I ended up hating her guts, I felt like I could almost understand how she got to where she was. Aren't those the best types of villains?
THE HOBGOBLIN OF LITTLE MINDS had a personal effect on me, other than just the enjoyment of the novel. A few family members, including my mom, are bipolar, so I have some experience of it in my own life. I saw first hand many of the situations in this book. Medications that don't work, meds that entirely change a person's personality-so much so that they're not recognizable anymore. I've often wondered in those cases whether the meds were worse than the disease? Reading this book, all of the matters regarding mental illness rang very, very true. That's mostly likely because Mark Matthews has worked in the behavioral health industry and is a licensed counselor.
I know that I'm focusing more on the mental health aspect to this book, rather than the werewolf aspect, but make no mistake! These...creatures are scary as hell, but also objects of pity. They're not exactly werewolves, but they cycle with the moon just the same. I'm not sure if this is a werewolf tale with psychological aspects, or a psychological horror tale with a werewolf aspect. As I was reading, I had Stephen Graham Jones' book MONGRELS in the back of mind, but I actually liked HOBGOBLIN better, (and I ADORE SGJ!)
“A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds”
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
Overall, this novel is creative, linking the cycling of disease with other types of cycling in a unique way. We have a dark, manipulative villain in Dr. Zita, we have some commentary and observations on behavioral health and how it's treated in this country, and lastly, we also have some scary-ass abominations that are hungry.
You know you want to read it, so TREAT YOURSELF!
Recommended!
Available January 28th, 2021, but you can pre-order here: https://amzn.to/3rmsWUK
*Thank you to the author for the paperback ARC provided, in exchange for my honest feedback.*
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