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The Sorrows
Unavailable
The Sorrows
Unavailable
The Sorrows
Ebook405 pages6 hours

The Sorrows

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

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Currently unavailable

Currently unavailable

About this ebook

"Anyone who likes a good ghost story is going to enjoy The Sorrows. Anyone who likes a ghost story where there’s no doubt the ghosts are undoubtedly real will love this novel." - New York Journal of Books 


The Sorrows, an island off the coast of northern California, and its castle have been uninhabited since a series of gruesome murders in 1925. But its owner needs money, so he allows film composers Ben and Eddie and a couple of their female friends to stay a month in Castle Blackwood. Eddie is certain a haunted castle is just the setting Ben needs to find inspiration for a horror film. But what they find is more horrific than any movie. Something is waiting for them in the castle. A malevolent being has been trapped for nearly a century. And he’s ready to feed. 


FLAME TREE PRESS is the new fiction imprint of Flame Tree Publishing. Launching in 2018 the list brings together brilliant new authors and the more established; the award winners, and exciting, original voices.

LanguageEnglish
Release dateNov 30, 2018
ISBN9781787580596
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The Sorrows
Author

Jonathan Janz

Jonathan Janz is the author of more that fifteen novels and numerous shorter works. Since debuting in 2012, Jonathan’s work has been lauded by Booklist, Publishers Weekly, The Library Journal, and many others. He lives in West Lafayette, Indiana. Jonathan Janz grew up between a dark forest and a graveyard, which explains everything. Brian Keene named his debut novel The Sorrows “the best horror novel of 2012.”

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Reviews for The Sorrows

Rating: 4.148148148148148 out of 5 stars
4/5

27 ratings8 reviews

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  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Good, old-fashioned, full throttle horror. Gothic mixed with slasher flick mixed with creature feature, this is anything but boring. Lots of twists and action, but moments of authentic emotion (other than the expected terror) as well.Many thanks to Flame Tree Press for the ARC.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Jonathan Janz's, "The Sorrows", is a creepy, atmospheric thriller that's reminiscent of some of Richard Laymon's better books. Janz writes in a style that is as interesting, as it is descriptive. He doesn't "dumb down" to horror aficionados, like a lot of horror authors do, which this reader really appreciated. Keep your dictionary handy because you'll need it as you work your way through "The Sorrows". The story revolves around two musicians who decide to spend some time at a (supposed) haunted castle in order to drum up some material for a film score that they have to create quickly. What they discover turns their inspiration into perspiration as they battle for their lives. The characterization of the novel is terrific - especially the bad guys. As I found out when reading an earlier work of Janz' ("Old Order"), he appears to have a great time writing from the evil side of his personality. The star of the novel, however, is the castle known as "The Sorrows". Located off the coast of California, the castle holds plenty of aforementioned secrets that the protagonists discover should have been left alone. This supernatural story really picks up the pace after the first third of the book as the body count and creepiness factors increase. There are plenty of twists and turns in this book which will keep even the most inveterate horror fan guessing.I really like what I saw here from this relatively new author. He does remind me of a younger version of Richard Laymon, though writing at a higher level. I think Laymon fans will be pleased.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    The Sorrows, an island off the coast of northern California, and its castle have been uninhabited since a series of gruesome, unexplained murders in 1925. But its owner needs money, so he allows film composers Ben and Eddie and a couple of their female friends to stay a month in Castle Blackwood. Eddie is certain an eerie and reportedly haunted castle is just the setting Ben needs to find musical inspiration for a horror film.The Sorrows is a shocking story: uncomfortable, extraordinary, compelling book. Janz...receives high marks for a well-constructed plot and his particular talent at depicting action-packed scenes. The mystery is an intriguing one and its twists and turns don't lead where we think they will. I was very impressed by the novel and am looking forward to reading more books by Jonathan Janz.I absolutely loved this book. Everything about this book was downright creepy from the setting to the characters to the storyline. The author was really able to weave a fantastic of characters.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Fantastic Book!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Janz's first novel and it shows the potential that he's capable of. The Sorrows is a unique take on the Shirley Jackson classic, The Haunting of Hill House and the movie House on Haunted Hill. I've always had a problem with the whole overused and tired premise of trying to drag a bunch of characters to a secluded house where bad things have happened and making it seem realistic. It has always come across as a bad B-movie with idiots for characters. Janz did a good job coming up with a reason to justify that and have it seem plausible. The characters are in the horror movie business and are looking for inspiration to score the music for the next blockbuster they are working on. And what better place to get an inspiration than a creepy castle located on a secluded island off of California where murders took place in the 1920s? OK. I can buy it. Janz offering does have the feel of a B-movie. In some places it works quite well. He takes inspiration from Brian Keene's Dark Hollow and offers us up a very unique monster whose exploits will stay with you long after you've finished the book. In other places, there's still some of that tired cliche-like characters that feel a little like wooden stereotypes and not realistic people. But, Janz produces a slow burn throughout The Sorrows and gives us some wonderful eerie moments that overcome any short comings it might have. All in all, an enjoyable read and insight on what's to come from one of the new heavy hitters in horror.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This book surely was written just for me!!! It was right up the "Ghost Story Junkie's" alley. Ben and Eddie are composers who specialize in film scores. They’ve just been hired to score a major new horror movie, but Ben has writer’s block. Eddie thinks that spending some time in a castle on an island off the coast of Northern California will help Ben get his groove back. But no one has lived there since a bunch of people were killed there in the 20’s. Only one way on or off the island...what could possibly go wrong? Horror, gore, and more ensue. I wish we had been able to find out a little more about the entity and the island’s multiple mysteries since as I still had questions in the end. I see there is a sequel called Castle of Sorrows, so maybe we will find out more. It feels like there’s more to this island and I will definitely be scheduling a return trip!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    In looking over the other reviews for this book, I'm finding myself in the minority. Most people seem to really love it; I found the book good but not great. There were a couple items that detracted from me enjoying it more. However, I am with the majority in liking Janz as an author and wanting to continue reading more of his books. Ben Shadeland and Eddie Blaze are two film composers who are having problems writing the score to their latest project: a big budget horror movie by Lee Stanley. To find their muse and get the music completed, they isolate themselves on the Sorrows: an island and castle owned by Chris Blackwood, the gambling-addicted heir to the Blackwood fortune. They really aren't isolated since Claire (a fan of Ben and want-to-be composer) and Eva (Lee Stanley's assistant) join them. When mixing those four characters (and more) with the haunted history of the island and of the Blackwood family, the result spells doom for several of them.While there were a lot of characters, I didn't have any problems keeping track of them. Each fit their character-type enough to remember. However, they were more cliche than real. Chris' father was the work-focused, unforgiving father who completely rejects his son. Ben's ex-wife's new boyfriend was a sleaze who physically abuses one kid and sexually abuses another. And Eva played the role of hot woman who solves things with sex. She was actually the most annoying because it was never clear why she was on the island other than to be a sexual catalyst. Plus when we readers discover her motivation, she became more confusing. In order to get revenge on the man who hooked her mom on drugs and then sexually abused her, Eva gets into a sadomasochistic relationship with the same guy so she can write an expose about it? WTF?! Then the whole second helicopter flying out to the island was too convenient. Anyway, I don't want to vent. Overall, the book is good but with a bit too much suspense of belief. I'm rating it 3.5 but rounding it up to 4 since it was written by Janz and I would prefer he get more positive attention than negative.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Every time I pick up a book by Jonathan Janz, I know I am in for a treat. One of the things I love about his books is that they do not follow any particular formula but are all original in their own right. One book might focus on a serial killer, another book may center on a murderous retreat for writers or mythological creatures during Armageddon. There always seems to be a romance but the stories vary so much.I am a sucker for gothic novels so "The Sorrows" was an especially enjoyable read. Janz really knows how to create the proper atmosphere for the story he is trying to tell. He also is able to weave the characters in so well in a way that does not distract from the story itself. You get a sense for what makes people tick. I liked the way he was able to fluidly move from the present day to the past. Sometimes, it can be jarring and distracting but he was able to pull it off.I had no idea that this was actually his first novel so I have to say I am impressed.Thank you to Jonathan Janz, Flame Tree Press, and Netgalley for the chance to read this book. I received this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.