Scan barcode
A review by always_need_more_books
The Sorrows by Jonathan Janz
4.0
This is my second book by Jonathan Janz having enjoyed The Siren and the Spectre earlier this year. The Sorrows is actually his first novel, and was named by Brian Keene as "the best horror novel of 2012". Recently reissued by Flame Tree Press, I was lucky enough to be invited on the blog tour.
The Sorrows is an island off the coast of California. The castle has been empty since a series of gruesome murders in 1925, but the owners needs money to pay off gambling debts, so allows movie composers Ben and Eddie, along with some female friends to stay for a month in Castle Blackwood. Totally cutoff from the outside world, Ben is hoping the isolation and the spooky location will inspire him to come up with a film score. But they soon discover something is waiting for them at the castle, a malevolent being that has been trapped for nearly a century and wants to feed.
Ben and Eddie have been friends for a while and work together on film scores. Ben is morning the loss of his marriage and lack of access to his young son. Eddie is a playboy who wants Ben to get on with the score to meet their deadline to horror movie maker Lee Stanley. With them is Claire, a music intern and Eva, who is sent along by Lee Stanley to keep an eye on them.
Janz is excellent at hitting the ground running with his stories. Almost as soon as they arrive on the island, things get spooky with each of the members having strange dreams. The horror is gruesome and quite discusting in places (but I don't mind that being a lover of all things horror). There is also lots of sex and swearing.
I also liked the way we see the history of Blackwood Castle and discover the origin of the horror that occurs there.
Intense and entertaining, this is definately a book for grown up fans of horror! I look forward to readings more books from Janz!
The Sorrows is an island off the coast of California. The castle has been empty since a series of gruesome murders in 1925, but the owners needs money to pay off gambling debts, so allows movie composers Ben and Eddie, along with some female friends to stay for a month in Castle Blackwood. Totally cutoff from the outside world, Ben is hoping the isolation and the spooky location will inspire him to come up with a film score. But they soon discover something is waiting for them at the castle, a malevolent being that has been trapped for nearly a century and wants to feed.
Ben and Eddie have been friends for a while and work together on film scores. Ben is morning the loss of his marriage and lack of access to his young son. Eddie is a playboy who wants Ben to get on with the score to meet their deadline to horror movie maker Lee Stanley. With them is Claire, a music intern and Eva, who is sent along by Lee Stanley to keep an eye on them.
Janz is excellent at hitting the ground running with his stories. Almost as soon as they arrive on the island, things get spooky with each of the members having strange dreams. The horror is gruesome and quite discusting in places (but I don't mind that being a lover of all things horror). There is also lots of sex and swearing.
I also liked the way we see the history of Blackwood Castle and discover the origin of the horror that occurs there.
Intense and entertaining, this is definately a book for grown up fans of horror! I look forward to readings more books from Janz!