King Sorrow by Joe Hill

I've liked Joe Hill's previous novels and short stories, but with his latest novel, King Sorrow, I've been converted to a full-on fan. This book, an epic tale of greed, ambition, and friendship, is his best yet. 

Arthur, Colin, Allie, Van, Donna, and Gwen are college friends who enjoy experimenting with the occult. When Arthur is blackmailed into stealing rare books from the college library, they band together to summon a dragon, King Sorrow from the Long Dark. Little do they realize that their seemingly innocent act will have grave consequences, as they find themselves in a lifelong pact with the dragon--they must choose a sacrifice every year or one of them will be the next victim. This burden weighs heavily on their shoulders. 

Spanning decades, the book follows the friends as they mature and go their separate ways. Bound by the pact with King Sorrow, they face a never-ending commitment to finding a yearly sacrifice, often with innocent individuals as collateral damage. Arthur explores ways to end the Faustian agreement, but not all his friends are willing to relinquish their power. As the rift among the friends deepens, they each face a moral dilemma that strains their relationships, inviting the reader to empathize with their predicament. If you enjoy horror stories with great characters facing morally dubious situations, I recommend this book. 

5/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and William Morrow, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is October 21, 2025.

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North Woods by Daniel Mason

 

What a fantastic book! Although it took a while to get used to the format, once I did, I was transported to a world of remarkable characters—all housed in a yellow house in the mountains of Western Massachusetts.

Seeking freedom from their Puritan colony, a couple escapes and builds a house in the woods. What follows are the lives and passions of the people who come to inhabit the house over the centuries: a soldier and his twin daughters whose apple orchard is the envy of the community, an escaped enslaved person trying to get to Canada, a landscape artist whose forbidden affair wreaks havoc, a mother trying to deal with her son suffering from schizophrenia, and many more. Each inhabitant leaves their mark on the house, and the house, in turn, sometimes offers more than just shelter.

I love how Mason interconnects inhabitants' lives; the house is also a character. The writing is superb, and the storyline is original and intricate. I found myself reading more slowly toward the end of the book because I didn't want it to end. I haven't read a book this good in a long time. 

5/5 stars.

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