Shaun Hamill

A tender and terrifying literary horror novel, the author's debut tells the story of a family that created a haunted house attraction called the Wandering Dark and the hereditary monsters--both metaphorical and all-too-real--that haunt them.aunt them.

A Novel

A Cosmology of Monsters

Cindy McKee

Sorry it took e so long , but I needed the proper head space for this. That being said, what a wonderful story! I’m not a huge fan of horror, but I enjoy them when they have great characters and dialogue. That’s exactly what she’s this freshman novel by Mr. Hamill so compelling. Atmospheric, beautiful, and deserving of all the praise it’s garnered thus far. Bravo!

Jasmine

It’s only April and I’ve already read my favorite book of the year.

aoife

was expecting to read something scary/interesting/enjoyable and got none of that. it was a steady 3 stars until about 3/4 of the way through the book when it took a complete turn for the worst and didn’t do anything to redeem itself lmfao…boring and honestly homophobic. it might’ve been 2 stars if not for the (view spoiler)[ grooming of the main character that was justified by the author.  (hide spoiler)] not worth reading at all

Ana Vitória Soares 

I think the author really tought he was doing something hm?

Jordan Robinson

4.5 🌟 
This was so good! A really profound and beautifully story of family. Mixed with a bit of horror!

Anastaciya

3.75 ⭐
I really liked it. Great writing. Great story.
Can't put my finger on what doesn't let me give this book 4 stars, though.
Would still recommend. 🐙

Heather Harrington

Noah Turner's family knows a thing or two about monsters, both figuratively and literally. His father, Harry, was a huge horror fan and became obsessed with building an elaborate haunted house attraction in their backyard before he passed away. After Harry's passing, horrible nightmares of monsters started to plague his mother Margaret and sister Eunice. Then one day, his eldest sister Sydney is stolen away from her room and no trace can be found. Margaret and Eunice try their hardest to keep these horrors away from Noah, but unbeknownst to them, Noah has been dealing with his own. Every night since he was young, Noah has been visited by a furry beast with glowing orange eyes, and unlike the rest of his family, he invites the monster in.

Holy cow, was this book captivating! I was instantly hooked from the very start and it just kept getting better and better. The whole dynamic between every member of the Turner's is so interesting and complex. Seeing the changes in everyone, and the events that this family goes through, was so unsettling. Noah's relationship with the monster was disturbing, but also weirdly heartfelt at the same time. The way this handled mental illness and traumatic experiences felt very delicate and respectful, but also very real. Despite this book being full of flawed characters, dark themes and tragedy, there's an underlying thread of beauty and hope that not all monsters are what they seem.

"I loved it, and think you will, too." --Stephen King Stephen King's It meets Stranger Things in a tender and terrifying coming-of-age tale of haunted houses and the monster at the door. Noah Turner’s family are haunted by monsters that are all too real, strange creatures that visit them all: His bookish mother Margaret; Lovecraft-obsessed father Harry; eldest sister Sydney, born for the spotlight; the brilliant but awkward Eunice, a gifted writer and storyteller – the Turners each face their demons alone. When his terminally-ill father becomes obsessed with the construction of an elaborate haunted house – the Wandering Dark – the family grant his last wish, creating themselves a legacy, and a new family business in their grief. But families don’t talk about the important things, and they try to shield baby Noah from horrors, both staged and real. As the family falls apart, fighting demons of poverty, loss and sickness, the real monsters grow ever closer. Unbeknownst to them, Noah is being visited by a wolfish beast with glowing orange eyes. Noah is not the first of the Turners to meet the monster, but he is the first to let it into his room...

Natali Topliff

Heavily influenced by Lovecraft, a family find themselves haunted by monsters, one's which visit each generation. These monsters are looking for something, which they all manage to avoid until one family member invites one in!
There are a great deal of themes and topics approached in this book that will make you uncomfortable, including suicide and grooming, hidden in the guise of a monster. Overall A Cosmology of Monsters follows the generations of a dysfunctional family, making the horror of this book all too real!

Ben Nathan

Another horror-esque book in my recent pile. I highly enjoyed this. There wasn't that sense of dread and foreboding I look for in my horror, but there were some great moments and interesting what ifs. Cool characters, cool world, great interactions.

A Cosmology of Monsters A Novel

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