Horror author Tyson Parks thinks his best days are behind him. He misses the heydays of the 1980s and 90s, when he was ruling the horror fiction charts, and now finds himself scrambling to remain a relevant author. He hasn’t had a hit in years, his agent won’t take his calls, and he’s never felt older.
Then, on his 59th birthday, his girlfriend gives him the gift of a lifetime: a monstrous antique desk. Rejuvenated by the desk’s mysterious energy, he begins writing with an all-consuming passion-and a savage darkness–he hasn’t felt in decades, and is eager to get his career back on track. Unfortunately, the desk, and the evil spirit that harbors within, has other plans. It won’t stop until it gets what it wants–even if it must destroy Tyson, and everyone he holds dear, in the process.
In this terrifying novel of art, obsession, and the horror of creation, Fracassi shows why he’s become a fan favorite among contemporary horror authors. Now in a brand-new edition, which includes a never-before-seen excerpt, Gothic is a dread-fueled dive into what a writer is willing to do to serve the muse, and his own desires.
My thoughts: I think every writer has felt the dreaded writer’s block at some point, but I don’t think any of them have wound up solving it by becoming a conduit to evil via a haunted desk.
Tyson Parks’ partner Sarah has bought him this incredible, intricately carved one for his birthday, to finally replace the battered desk he’s had since college. Unfortunately it’s actually a portal to some sort of hell dimension. And the things trapped it, well, they want him to tell their stories, and they also want blood.
As things inside the house go from bad to worse for the inhabitants, a strange woman who has been searching for the desk for years arrives in search of it, and she will not let anything stop her quest.
One of the characters describes it as “Christine, but with a desk” which made me laugh. For a horror novel, it’s actually pretty funny at times. I really enjoyed it, I can’t stand horror films, but books I can get into, especially as Fracassi is a great writer, the premise might sound a bit silly, but the story is clever and entertaining. Is Tyson particularly susceptible to the manipulation of the evil within, or would it work on anyone? You decide.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
ramblingmads 