A review by ericarobyn
Shadow of the Hidden by Kev Harrison

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced

5.0

Shadow of the Hidden by Kev Harrison is a tale of friendship and curses, and of darkness and love, all centered around the race to find answers before it’s too late. 

Thank you to the publisher for adding a page at the start of the book to note the content warnings that were provided at the back of the book!

Some CW’s I’d like to note:
Animal mutilation and death, possession, child death, injury detail, blood, and suicide.

When a widow makes the rounds begging, a man named Oz refuses her. Things turn ugly and she places a curse on him and his family. Shocked and horrified, Oz’s friend Seb tries to comfort Oz and help him have fun that evening. But Oz is worried and can see the curse for what it is right away. Soon, Seb, who tried to reason the worry away, has to admit that the curse is genuine and that the djinn has settled in to make life miserable for Oz. Determined to reverse the curse, the two talk to a professor, and their duo becomes a trio, each determined to find answers to help stop the curse before anything else can happen.

The journey they embark on next changes them all forever. 

This was such a fun and scary read! It starts light and upbeat before the curse is uttered and things take a sharp turn. Throughout the story, there is so much tension as the horrors lurk around every corner, occasionally showing themselves just frequently enough to keep the terror top of mind and the readers on their toes. 

However, with that darkness, the time that the author takes to pause the tension with beautiful descriptions of art, architecture, and landscape is such a treat!

The author is skilled at making readers feel immersed in each scene! No matter what type of situation, whether it’s a relaxing pastry brake, a rushed and desperate need for coffee, or running for your life, readers will feel that they’re right there with the characters.

AND THAT ENDING. I cannot wait to read more from this author!

My Favorite Passages from Shadow of the Hidden –

Those words held so much gravity, almost lost my footing.

The late morning air was still fresh and cool in the shady, built-up district around the central station. We decided to grab more coffee and a pastry in a small bakery on the other side of the ornate garden out front.

I edged through the crowd, the people jostling to occupy the space after passed, like sand squeezing through the waist of an hourglass.

My Final Thoughts on Shadow of the Hidden–

This may have been my first Kev Harrison read, but it certainly won’t be my last!

Adventure horror fans, this is a must-read. You’re going to love this action-packed and terrifyingly tense journey!

Preorder your copy of Shadow of the Hidden by Kev Harrison today! This book releases on March 19th, 2024 from Brigids Gate Press.

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