Name: Cindy McKee's review of The Dissonance by Shaun Hamill
Item: The Dissonance
Rating: 5
Author: Cindy McKee

Shaun Hamill

From the acclaimed author of A Cosmology of Monsters ("I loved it" —Stephen King) comes an epic contemporary fantasy, a mixture of The Magicians and It: a story of dark magic, terrible mistakes, and second chances. "You can never go home again," the saying goes—but Hal, Athena, and Erin have to. In high school, the three were students of the eccentric Professor Marsh, trained in a secret system of magic known as the Dissonance, which is built around harnessing negative emotions: alienation, anger, pain. Then, twenty years ago, something happened that shattered their coven, scattering them across the country, stuck in mundane lives, alone. But now, terrifying signs and portents (not to mention a pointed Facebook invite) have summoned them back to Clegg, Texas. There, their paths will collide with that of Owen, a closeted teenager from Alabama whose aborted cemetery seance with his crush summoned something far worse: a murderous entity whose desperate, driving purpose includes kidnapping Owen to serve as its Renfield. As Owen tries to outwit his new master, and Hal, Athena, and Erin reckon with how the choices they made as teens might connect to the apocalyptic event unfurling over the Lone Star State, shocking alliances form, old and new romances brew, and three unsuccessful adults and one frightened teen are all that stand between reality and oblivion. From one of the boldest, most brilliant voices in modern fantastical horror, The Dissonance is a thrilling and beautifully written story of magic and monsters, forgiveness and friendship.

A Novel

The Dissonance

Cindy McKee

There always seems to be a lot of pressure put on authors second novels. After all, they probably spent years crafting and redrafting the story before finally having it published, so how can we expect them to deliver another gem so soon after that one that will shine as brightly, never mind brighter? Well, worry not my friends, for Shaun Hamill’s second novel is that brighter gem! 

The Dissonance is a novel of magic, both of the mystical kind, but even more of the magic (and messiness) of friendship. I loved these layered, multifaceted, imperfect characters so very much, even when they were doing things that made me angry. I was 100 % with them for this ride. 

Longtime best friends discover that there is a magic that can be wielded called Dissonance. Tutored under the stern Professor Marsh (Peter’s Grandfather and his only family) they form a coven and embark on a journey together, even though they are in it for different reasons.

The story weaves easily back and forth between their youth to where they are now, each dealing with the aftermath of all that came before. It doesn’t flinch from the ugly parts of friendship, or of life. It does, however, definitely leave you wanting more of their story to continue. So, if Mr. Hamill is so inclined to ever write a sequel to The Dissonance, I will be first in line to read it!!

 Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book!

There always seems to be a lot of pressure put on authors second novels. After all, they probably spent years crafting and redrafting the story before finally having it published, so how can we expect them to deliver another gem so soon after that one that will shine as brightly, never mind brighter? Well, worry not my friends, for Shaun Hamill’s second novel is that brighter gem! 

The Dissonance is a novel of magic, both of the mystical kind, but even more of the magic (and messiness) of friendship. I loved these layered, multifaceted, imperfect characters so very much, even when they were doing things that made me angry. I was 100 % with them for this ride. 

Longtime best friends discover that there is a magic that can be wielded called Dissonance. Tutored under the stern Professor Marsh (Peter’s Grandfather and his only family) they form a coven and embark on a journey together, even though they are in it for different reasons.

The story weaves easily back and forth between their youth to where they are now, each dealing with the aftermath of all that came before. It doesn’t flinch from the ugly parts of friendship, or of life. It does, however, definitely leave you wanting more of their story to continue. So, if Mr. Hamill is so inclined to ever write a sequel to The Dissonance, I will be first in line to read it!!

 Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book!

Cindy McKee &
The Dissonance by Shaun Hamill

Reviews

Join the club

Cindy McKee &The Dissonance by Shaun Hamill

Reviews

Join the club

Cindy McKee &
The Dissonance by Shaun Hamill