Candy House

by Kate Jonez

A brilliant young scientist moves back home with his parents because his explosive temper has ruined his career. His neighbors, a family of witches, imps and demons, are charged with keeping science under control. They must, by using their debauched and twisted magic, stop Roland before he fulfills his destiny and makes a deadly discovery that will change the nature of humanity forever.

Genres: Horror, Paranormal, Supernatural

260 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2013

About the author

Dark fantasy and horror author Kate Jonez has twice been nominated for the Bram Stoker Award ® and once for the Shirley Jackson.

She is also the chief editor at the Bram Stoker Award winning press Omnium Gatherum which is dedicated to publishing unique dark fantasy, weird fiction and horror.

Kate is a student of all things scary and when she isn’t writing she loves to collect objects for her cabinet of curiosities, research obscure and strange historical figures and photograph Southern California where she lives with a very nice man and two little dogs who are also very nice but could behave a little bit better.

Reviews

[Debra · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Received a copy of this book from the Author in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars

This is a book where I wasn't sure if I liked it or not (at the time I was reading it) but it definitely held my attention. I think the reason that I wasn't sure if I liked it was because I wasn't entirely sure what was going on at times. Was everything that happened to Roland and his family real? Was this the picture of a man's descent into madness? Was it all a delusion? Was there really a witch next door who needed to destroy 3 scientists (Roland being the third)? I definitely wanted to know what was going to happen next as I read the book. This book definitely made me think and kept me thinking. I like books that do this. Upon finishing the book, I found myself still thinking about it. The more I thought about the book, the more I liked it. It crept up on me and perhaps that is the magic of Kate Jonez's writing. I think the author did a good job of showing the inner voice/thoughts of her characters. Most of the thoughts were bizarre, perverse, angry, appropriate and funny at times. Her characters were interesting yet not very likable. They each had their own story and agenda. Magic and Madness ruled in this book. This book may not be for everyone, but I think those who enjoy fantasy, dark fantasy, etc. will enjoy this book.

[Sarah-Jayne Briggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

(This review may contain spoilers).

I think this is one of those books that I'm not entirely sure I liked - though it was really well-written. I've given it four stars because of the way it held my attention and the way I got pulled into the world through the descriptions and thoughts of the characters.

This was definitely very dark, very graphic fantasy. I'm not sure I could say I really liked any of the characters, though they were certainly well-written. I did like the fantasy concept, though there were several moments when I was quite confused. The flashback scene when Roland sneaks into Hespheria's house as a child springs to mind - I didn't realise it was the past for quite a while.

I felt sorry for Glory. I would have liked to see a better fate for her. I think she might have been the only character I truly liked.

I'm not sure I quite understand the ending - how much of what happened was real and how much was a symptom of a mental disorder? I don't think I quite understand the effects of what Roland injected himself with, either, or what he was trying to do.

The voice in Roland's head was a strange concept and I'm not sure I understood what it was - just the darker impulses that exist in all humans, or some kind of demon that had taken up residence inside him?

I didn't like Julia at all. She came across as quite obsessive - and I felt it was odd that, knowing her history, the psychiatric doctor was so willing to release her into the custody of people who didn't even know her. (If her hands had to be restrained, she was clearly a threat to other people).

I did notice several contradictions, mainly where Roland's mother goes from trying to throw Roland and Julia together in a romantic relationship to wanting them to act as if they're brother and sister. (I didn't much like his mother, either, to be honest).

Aubrey was... a strange character. So was Finn. I felt sorry for Hesperia, but I also felt that she came across as quite weak. She tended to react to things, rather than take any kind of initiative herself.

A lot of this book read as if it was about one man's descent into madness. I'm left wondering how much was real and how much was in his head. This book is definitely one that'll stay with me for a while.

[John Patterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free kindle edition from the author.

Candy House is an urban fantasy in which a not very good scientist named Roland Childe (yep) is cursed by immortals at a young age with the intention of offering him up as a sacrifice when he is older. Things go awry when his executioner, Hesperia (not sure if she is supposed to be the mythical nymph or just named after the nymph), falls in love with him.

The characters can be a bit over the top but are still fun. The overbearing mother, the frustrated and taciturn father, the psychotic girlfriend. The main protagonist is a bit frustrating as he won't lift a finger to save himself in spite of the warnings given to him by other characters, although to be fair to the author I think she meant this to be a sort of a lesson.

Individual scenes were entertaining, often intense and graphic, and sometimes hilarious. My favorite is when he injected himself with the concoction he made and spent a chapter convinced that he had superpowers.

One thing that made this novel a bit of a difficult read was large groups of sentences of approximately the same length. This gives large sections of the novel a sort of monotonous rhythm.
A way to fix this would be to join sentences that have dependent clauses into a compound sentence (something that should be done anyway). Another way would be to fragment the occasional sentence for dramatic effect. This problem was more prevalent in the first few chapters then seemed to be less so in later chapters.

One more gripe before I am done. It is a pet peeve of mine when an author has a favorite expression. Even if that author only uses it once per novel I still cringe when I see it. For example Terry Goodkind loves the phrase "inextricably intertwined." This author likes to use the phrase "She pulled her lips back into a bow," and uses it several times throughout the novel. When I first saw it I thought it was a great metaphor for a mirthless smile. Seeing it again and again got somewhat annoying.

Recommended for fans of urban fantasy.

[Bandit · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very strange read, yet it seems that Kate Jonez's amazing writing held me in a sort of hypnotic sway. The last half or third even of the book just got progressively weirder and odder and sort of brought the overall impression down somewhat, but the first half was so good. At times frustrating, at times exhausting, consistently strange throughout, strange to start with, but also so wildly original and interesting and captivating. Not quite horror, more of a dark fantasy with plenty of horrific elements. Normally a dark fantasy by a female author seems to feature a heavily muscled vampire/vampire slayer/otherworldly someone on the cover, this book was nothing like that. Here Jonez created a stylish, moody story of family of immortals and a human who is destined to them. With bizarre,occasionally almost satirical, yet very well crafted and fascinating beings, mortal and otherwise, the story twists and turns, dealing alternatively with love, obsession, science, magic, desire and madness. It's a strange book to summarize, to read and to recommend, but it's also very much one of a kind and introduces an author of a very impressive talent and terrific imagination.

[Brent Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love wild character transformations, and Candy House didn't disappoint. The characters in this story are rich and original. It's buckets of fun seeing how their ambitions and follies hammer them into new creatures. At the heart of the story is Roland, who has a beast within constantly pushing him to perform vicious acts. While brilliant as a scientist, Roland is an awkward man who lets those closest to him dictate his behavior. Little by little, he pushes off those shackles to become his own man. Soon Roland becomes tangled in new webs - dangerous ones. Who are his friends? Who are his enemies?

My favorite character was Aubrey. He's a smooth, slinky fellow who says "darling" a lot. He's as charming as he is cunning, and I hope Ms. Jonez gives Aubrey a book of his own soon.

This book is full of vivid characters and creepy details that kept the pages flipping by. I highly recommend it.

[S.P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this delightful debut novel by Kate Jonez, a witch and her weird companions must prevent a young scientist from proving a theory which has the power to thwart black magic. Complicating the situation is a long-term emotional and sexual attraction on both sides.

It's an epic struggle and I won't spoil the book by telling you who wins. This is a well-written fairy tale for grownups. There is nothing whimsical about it. Actions, even magical actions, have consequences here. The whole story is weighted with a grandly eloquent wisdom and propelled by a witty narrative. The descriptions are so marvelous and vivid, you won't want to leave this magical world when the story ends.

[Mark Kirkbride · Rating 5 out of 5]

The writing bursts with vibrancy, hauling us into the world of Candy House just as Roland Childe is hauled into the world of his mysterious neighbour Hesperia. But she’s not the only woman seeking possession of him. There’s also the beautiful but disturbed Julia. That’s if either of them can prise him from the clutches of his mother. But then Roland has some secrets of his own. Familiarity with Hansel and Gretel won’t prepare you for the treats and shocks in store in this spellbinding tale.

[Johnny Worthen · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you were lucky, you grew up with fairy tales and had your sleep troubled by The Brothers Grimm's grim tales of witches and wolves. If you were really lucky and your parents had an overly truthful bent to them, you heard the stories in their un-edited versions, where children are cooked and evil step-mothers learn to dance in red-hot iron shoes. But what if the tales had been edited all along and the truth was even more terrible than we'd imagined? What if the witch in Hansel and Gretel was just one of many? What if the witches had a purpose and a society?

That is the premise of Kate Jonez's wonderful debut horror Candy House and it is not for kids.

However, childhood is central to the story, and here is where the story really shines. As a child Roland, the protagonist, meets Hesperia, the witch who is charged with his destruction. But he's just a child at the time. Normally, this wouldn't be a problem for witches who throw kids into ovens and num them right up, but the rules of the game mean that he's given time to mature (fatten up, so to speak) before the fateful feasting. Though he's allowed to grow, Roland does not actually grow up. Even as an accomplished adult scientist, he is very much a child. The spells and machinations of the witches have kept him in a state of adolescence that belies his true age. His domineering mother and passive father further the psychological prison that holds Roland in suspense for the coming day.

Looked at it in this way, the book takes on a dual possibility - one where the action is a product of magic and one where it could be of madness.

Julia, a troubled adolescent recently removed from a sanitarium, then becomes a counter-point to the witches and the story unravels in waves of realities that bespeak a tyranny of bureaucracies among the witches that might only be a projection of Roland's own inner demons and over-eager imaginations. He is haunted by inner voices, which could be signs of witchcraft or proof of insanity.

Jonez's metaphorical use of childhood and magic, madness and love create a rich thematic tapestry. The chills are effective and haunting, the characters believable and not always sympathetic. I particularly liked the idea of witches having a societal purpose, one in opposition to run-away science, and a police force to keep everyone in line.

All in all Candy House is a strong debut novel; simple on the outside but with subtle and rewarding layers of meanings within.

[Melissa B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free e-book copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

When I first started reading this, I wasn't 100% sure I was going to like it. It was confusing and seemed almost disjointed. I persevered, because A) I can't leave a book unfinished and B) I was truly interested in the story from the beginning despite my initial confusion. This is dark fantasy, bordering on horror, and definitely not for children or the faint of heart.

Roland hits rock bottom and returns to live with his parents. He has this new scientific theory that he has published. He is denied the grant that he needs to do the research on his theory. Not much is mentioned of exactly what the theory is until probably about 75% into the book. As I stated before the book seemed disjointed, as you bounce from scene to scene, character to character, and only get small hints on exactly what is going on. Flashbacks are inserted in seemingly random places, but they help develop the intricate story of witches, imps, and demons whose duty it is to destroy scientists before they make their big discoveries. They use devious tricks, charms, and debauchery to halt these scientists in their tracks.

Hesperia is the woman next door who is imprisoned in her home until she completes her punishment: to destroy three scientists. Roland is the third. Yet, Hesperia has her reasons for trying to save Roland.

Julia is a troubled young woman who Roland's mother brings home as she is Julia's godmother. At the time, Julia seems like a random person just sort of thrown into the story. As time goes on, you begin to see how important she truly is.

None of the characters are 'good'. Roland's parents both seem quite a bit off-kilter and Roland, himself, has a dark side that comes out from time to time.
The ending was perfect for a dark fantasy novel. I won't say too much more because I don't want to ruin it for anyone. I really did enjoy the story. The disjointedness that I sensed early on began to make sense. It was truly the perfect way to show Roland's descent into madness.

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

*free ebook version received from author in exchange for an honest review*

During the beginning of the story I was not sure how I would end up liking it. This occurred due to several factors. I found the way the author would shift between speech and thoughts with characters, as well as shift between characters for the viewpoints a little confusing/distracting. I also found it strange that nearly every character in the story would be classified as having a mental disorder and it does not, for most of the story, take place in a mental institution. Does this mean the author feels everyone is at least a little insane? If so, then do we really know what insane is?

The strange thing with this is just when I was getting to the point of total annoyance, I found myself captivated by the story. It morphed into some amalgam of Alice in Wonderland and Grimm's Fairy Tales (specifically Hansel and Gretel). I couldn't stop reading at that point. The total descent into madness was richly described.

Even with this added enjoyment from the story I found myself confused at times when it would suddenly shift ahead in time. More annoying, why did the main character keep going and changing his mind on who he 'loved and should end up being with'. In the end he just sounded like slut who had no clue about intense feelings. I found myself hating him more for that than anything else.

There were a couple of minor parts to the story I really enjoyed. I loved how the chapters were all named after cards of the tarot. I also greatly enjoyed the humor injected with the voice of Roland's beast. I kept finding myself laughing at what it said.

I would recommend Candy House to all fans of dark horror/fantasy. However, with all the violence, both random and domestic, as well as strong language (the beast swears more than a drunken sailor) I would caution against this being read by children/young adults.

[Hal Bodner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll preface by saying that Kate Jonez is a very promising new writer. She's got a definite facility for language and a wonderful aptitude for creating mood, both the atmospheric mood of her story as well as instilling a particular mood resulting from an emotional response she's evoked in her readers.

The concept of CANDY HOUSE (her first novel) is nothing short of wonderfully creative. In brief, a young scientist on the verge of an earth-changing discovery just shy of atomic energy is targeted by a group of supernatural Fae who are tasked with protecting the human race from the power inherent in just these sorts of discovery. This shockingly original idea, coupled with Jonez's literary flair is enough to keep the book going for quite some time.

However, Jonez also tries to work within a non-linear dreamlike structure with the obvious intent of making the reader wonder how much of the books plot is "real" and how much is within the mind of the protagonist. Ultimately, Jonez reaches too far for even her capable talents to handle and, as a result, the piece partially collapses under the weight of everything she's tried to pile onto it.

Don't get me wrong. CANDY HOUSE is far from a bad read. It's certainly exciting and compelling at times. But it's also a frustrating read. Those who like to THINK when reading a horror/fantasy will enjoy it immensely and will find layers and layers of meaning and nuance to the work. But those who read with an eye toward simple enjoyment may be disappointed and end up writing off Jonez as a novelist--which would be a damned shame.

I'm very much eager to see what this author has in store for us with a more straight forward and linear book. I think there's a lot of potential here and, eventually, we may see something truly great emerge from Jonez' obviously fertile literary imagination.

[Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Candy House is a sensual and intoxicating tale that follows a young man's ongoing encounters with his next door neighbours - which sounds fairly innocuous, were it not for the fact that said neighbours just happen to be The Addams Family on acid, comprising a wonderfully alluring witch, Hesperia (in my head she was like a black magic version of Joan from Mad Men), her cat (of course) and her oddball occult clan. You see, they've got business with the young man, Roland, and they've been playing the long game, observing and bewitching him since childhood with a heady blend of spells and sensuality. It's because they're a kind of occult police force, and adult Roland is on the verge of upsetting the delicate equilibrium via his scientific pursuits. This is the conflict of the book and an engrossing one it is, too. It's not a linear narrative, and at times, the plot can be a little tricky to navigate. Roland in particular was a complex character, being an adult yet with the mind of a young boy - and an agenda of his own. Yet I suspect this is entirely deliberate. The author is setting out to make our reading experience reflect the dreamy, otherworldly sensuality of the world within; and it's the wonderfully crafted language of Candy House and its memorable cast of characters that keep you reading until the end. Kate Jonez has an appropriately uncanny knack of creating a world in which you fear to tread, yet are unable to resist exploring. It's literary opium, just the thing with which to recline on a chaise longue and slip away with.

[Wednesday Friday · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a dark fantasy book but had plenty of horror too. This story of a boy who eventually becomes a man, a witch and her enemies, and a troubled young woman takes a few wild turns and goes to some unexpected places. I loved not being able to see what was ahead, and enjoyed the characterizations very much. I wasn't always sure of what motivated characters to act as they did, but that's to be expected when the characters in question are a little...off.

This was a fun and enjoyable read. I empathized easily with Roland and was instantly entranced by Hesperia and her lifestyle. Candy House sucked me in early on and kept me interested all the way through.

Full disclosure: I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. A totally twisted tale, at times gruesome and at others hilarious, takes you into a realm of magic and madness. With a great story and plot, I felt transported into this created world and loved the ending because it was definitely not what I was expecting. The writing was very descriptive and flowed with an intense build up to an amazing ending. There were times in the beginning of the story that I felt the writing was not as strong as it was throughout the rest of the book. It felt somewhat choppy and confusing, but smoothed out after a bit. This book was given to me for my honest review.

[Christopher Irvin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Roland, a brilliant young scientist, loses his prestigious job and is forced to move back home with his parents. If that weren’t bad enough, his neighbors are a family of witches, imps and demons.

It has been quite a while since I read any Dark Fantasy, but I’ll be seeking out more after reading CANDY HOUSE. I found Jonez’s writing to be very engaging, especially the scenes at the neighbors. The vibe of CANDY HOUSE reminded me of Brother’s Grimm and Alice and Wonderland – full of odd/bizarre moments, unreliable characters, and dream-like sequences. It took me a little bit to get into the book, but once the full extent/agenda of the neighbors is revealed, I was hooked.

[Shaun Meeks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recently read this book and although I had never read any work by her before, I know I will be on the lookout for more now. The book is well crafted and dark and kept me intrigued the entire time. The characters, while not necessarily likable, are very realistic, well-crafted and most importantly, they are believable. Highly recommend this one.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Candy House is a book full of dark mystery and wonder. There is magic at work here in the plot as well as in the sentences which induce a dreamlike state. This is a novel to float through, if you try to hard to make sense of it you'll lose your footing but trust it like a sweat-lodge vision and you'll be rewarded with something extraordinary.

[Susan Wisnewski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. It's about Roland a scientist on the verge of discovering something that will change humankind and his next door neighbors that don't want that discovery to become know. This is a real page turner.

[Cheryl · Rating 1 out of 5]

No idea

I finished the book figuring it could only come together and make sense = but that never happened. Not something I will remember or recommend

[Kara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Candy House is a horror fairy-tale in a league of its own. With a setting reminiscent of the Hansel and Gretel story, Candy House is full of devious witches and demons, mad scientists, and dark and disturbing imagery that stays with the reader long after the page has turned.

Roland is a scientist with a violent streak that caused him to lose his job and move back home with his parents. He has an odd relationship with his supernatural neighbors, but does not understand why - however, the reader is made privy to their evil agenda which involves stopping Roland (by the most disturbing means necessary) from making a scientific discovery that will change the world.

The reader is inside Roland's head for much of Candy House, which makes for a confusing read at times because he himself is confused and is being driven mad, courtesy of his neighbors. It is difficult to discern what is real, imagined, or hallucinated (the reason for a 3 star rather than 4 star review). But the end result is a well-written tale like no other, and a dark adventure that fans of horror will likely enjoy.

[Alysa H. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

If David Lynch and Rob Zombie got together and decided to make an NC-17 cable TV show very loosely inspired by the idea of a modern-day A Midsummer Night's Dream (and also Tarot cards), it might look something like this book. In fact, this might work better as a TV show than as a novel...

On the whole, it was okay. There's some truly impressive, elaborate scary imagery to be found, and I liked the basic premise. I also liked how the chapter structure was based around tarot cards, which was an interesting touch. However, a few things made me not love this book: almost universally unlikeable characters, the incomprehensible idea that every single female seems to have a thing for Roland, a few -isms casually thrown around, the confusing character motivations. I didn't always feel like I knew what was going on, and while at times this was intentional (e.g. illusions vs reality; multiple characters being mentally unstable) at other times it was not (e.g. the roles of all the bit players at Hesperia's house).

As a first novel, this is a valiant effort, and all in all I'm glad that I was given the opportunity to read it. I plan to check out other things that Kate Jonez writes.

[Andra Weis · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a free e-copy of Candy House from the author, Kate Jonez, to read and provide an honest review (thank you).
This “Dark Fantasy” book is outside of my usual reading genre’s but thought I would give it a try. Unfortunately I was not over the moon about the book. I must have been intrigued (and determined) to some certain degree as I actually finished the book despite my saying several times, I should just move on. I guess I was hoping as I continued I would enjoy it more. I found the writing decent, though at times it was hard to follow whose inside voice was speaking and it appeared disjointed.
The premise of the story itself could have been engaging, though it took me an inordinate amount of reading to have the story meld for me, if it ever did.
Overall, a good attempt in my opinion, but maybe I am just the wrong reader to enjoy the book? Or maybe a second read in the future will make the story more understandable. Time will tell.

[Maxine · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was given a free copy of this book by the author for review purposes.

The book is Jekyll & Hyde meets Hansel & Gretel for grown-ups. The pace is very fast throughout and you travel through the story at a constant running speed - there is no lull. The book is very very dark. I didn't enjoy the book at all I'm afraid. There was no light and shade ,just shade. I seemed to be on a constant roller coaster of misery and madness. I couldn't empathize with any of the characters and didn't like them.

I must point out however that the book was very well written,and the author conveyed her themes and images beautifully, I just didn't enjoy them.

This book was not for me, although I am sure others will love it.

[Reading · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not like the story. It was very confusing. I do not really understand what was happening through out the book. Is this suppose to a spin off of the witch from the Hanzil and Gretel fable? Was Roland crazy throughout the whole story or was he driven mad by everything that happened? What was with all the other people in Hesperia's house? Also I do not under the scene where Roland is using the mask to see what the house really looked like. Is it suppose to be a metaphor for hell? I thought they were all witches, then that scene makes them out to be demons, that is really confusing. Overall the story was plain confusing. Nothing made sense.

[Miera · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book for an honest review.
I started this book a a while ago and i never seemed to get into it. don't get me wrong, it was VERY well written. It just didn't appeal to me as I though it would when I first marked it as To-Read. I think I was just too immature to understand it or something. I usually enjoy books with more youthful characters and that have a more teenage feel to it. Though, I liked the IDEA of the novel, it just wasn't my cup of tea.

[Jill · Rating 2 out of 5]

Firstly I'd like to thank Kate Jonez for giving me the opportunity to read her book.It took me a while to read this book as I had trouble getting into it. I found some parts confusing and had to re-read some parts several times to understand what I was reading. I'm glad I read it and lok forward to reading more of Kate Jonez work.

[Carolyn Valdez · Rating 1 out of 5]

I received a free ebook copy from the author for my honest review.

I don't know if I got a bad ebook or it is just me. I have to agree with Kaleen Drake's review. This book was confusing, did not make any sense, and I did not understand what was going on in it at all. I can not recommend this book to anyone.

[Moon Shine Art Spot ~ Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wickedly entertaining & somewhat surreal.

[Taiyewo · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm sorry. I tried, I really did. This book.....Ugh! I just couldn't finish it. Maybe some other time.

[Aita · Rating 3 out of 5]

very interesting read