Overall: 🐢🐢🐢🐢
Storyline:
Writing Style:
Character Growth:
Enjoyment:
“‘Think about it, Alena. To the fly the spider is the devil, or evil or whatever you choose to name it. But if that same spider chose not to eat the fly, well, then he would be a merciful god.’“
Golem by PD Alleva
The Story:
On November 1, 1951, war hero John Ashton was promoted to detective. His first assignment: find the district attorney’s missing daughter. But his only lead is Alena Francon, a high society sculptor and socialite committed to Bellevue’s psychiatric facility.
Alena has a story for the new detective. A story so outlandish John Ashton refuses to heed the warning. Alena admits to incarnating Golem, a demonic force, into her statue. A devil so profound he’s infiltrated every part of New York’s infrastructure. Even worse, he uses children to serve as bodily hosts for his demonic army, unleashing a horde of devils into our world.
When Alena’s confidant, Annette Flemming, confirms the existence of Golem, John is sent on a collision course where fate and destiny spiral into peril, and the future of the human race hangs in the balance.
The Devil Is In The Details!
Key Elements:
Horror, Thriller, Demons, Torture, Abuse, Gore, Folklore, Children, Possession, Rituals, Detective, Fear, Paranormal
Why This Rating?
Gather around the fire everyone and get ready for one hell of a ghost story! Or should I say demon story?
I was jumping at every little sound while reading, which is how I know I was getting into the book because the world around me went away! This story gets into your mind you guys. I haven’t walked into a basement in quite a minute unless it was lit nice and bright! Also, I will never be able to look at/hear a goat with a bell the same way ever again. Thanks for that one Alleva!
I felt having essentially the plot-mover be a detective was a prefect pick to help get the ball rolling and moving throughout the book. I didn’t feel like it was a detective story though. A majority of the book was focused on Part 2 which was in Alena’s point-of-view nearly the entire time and about what had happened to her years before. I only remembered that this was a recounting of her tale when we were pulled back by a musing of Ashton’s. Although, being a detective, he had so much more freedom to go looking around and investigating the story in Part 3 after listening to Alena. And for those who read the book (which you should!), Don’t forget about the first lady, Annette, you meet! She does show back up. Even though it might not seem that way while you are listening to Alena. I only say this because I did forget about her and when she showed up again it took me a moment to place her.
Alleva’s writing is wonderful! I loved the super details that we have throughout the entire book! The portrayal of the time period that was picked and the use of real myths and legends are all fantastic. The horror element was brilliant and all the gore and fear was written great! My biggest complaint towards the writing was some of the expressions and turn of phrases were a tad repetitive. Sometimes these were a few chapters apart, but there were a few moments were they were closer to a page separating the same use of a sentence a couple times over (excluding the ritual moments, for obvious reasons). I know there are intentional moments when an author wants to get a point or phrase to stand out to the readers; however, over using something can also remove a reader from your world too. These as a whole weren’t terrible and definitely didn’t take away from the reading as a whole. The few time that the repetition did get annoying, you are quickly taken into a different scene and it isn’t repeated for some time.
Creepiest part is easily Sophia. Every time she shows up after her ceremony. I have something seriously against humans crawling around in a spider-like manner. *shivers* It just isn’t natural! And the scratching sound that accompanies her movements… Hard NOPE! My ass is gone ya’ll! I mean, yeah, the heart eating and murders that happen are pretty horrifying and creepy too. But I have my priorities and it is removing myself from this creepy little girl. Thanks, but no thanks. Bye! 🙂
Can I be real though. Even though I know Golem is trying to steal souls. And to spread his demonic-ness all over the place. And to grow his horde of demonic children… ok so those are all super, super bad. Besides all of those horrible things, I would totally love someone cooking me food all the time. You know toss in a few chores getting done around the house. Keep the maintenance up around the place. Taking care of all the troubles Adulting gives you. That sounds so freaking nice! Not soul giving levels, but nice none the less.
Totally recommend this book! It is a perfect pump up for the Halloween fiends out there (myself included). Also, if you are into the scary, psychological horror books this is totally one for you! The biggest warning I would put on this book is the amount of torture and abuse that happens not only to the adults but the amount that happens to the children. If those are a trigger for you at all, I wouldn’t read it. I know the gore had me wincing at times because there is a LOT of it, but I still throughly enjoyed the reading. If you are looking for a goo reading time to pick this up. I wouldn’t suggest reading it late at night while alone in the house or while eating (I know I couldn’t, I’m far to visual of a reader). Any other time though, absolutely!
Be careful who you open the door for and don’t look them in the eyes!
Time to get lost in the next story!
