Polyphemus

by Zachary Ashford

When lead vocalist of Polyphemus Stephen Oaks’s near-fatal on-stage overdose leaves them under pressure from their label, the band’s remaining members must find a new vocalist, pick up the pieces and forge on without him. Unfortunately, he’s fresh from rehab and desperate to reunite with his old band, In fact, he’s so desperate that he’ll bargain with dark forces and sacrifice everything – and anyone!After the final encore is played and the house lights come down, there is no telling who will remain or who they’ll be in allegiance to. For Polyphemus, obsession costs far more than mere murder."A blood-soaked tale of compulsion and agony."-Aron Beauregard, Splatterpunk Award-winning author of Beyond Reform and Playground“This book is one hell of a ride. Ashford writes as easily about friendship, jamming, and obsession as he does about Faustian deals gone wrong and gore. His voice is assured and accessible, drawing you in; before you know it, you’re three hours past midnight and two hundred pages in. Polyphemus is tragic, compulsive, and wonderfully laced with allusions to Greek myth and death metal. I swear you can hear the screaming vocals and thudding bass while you read. Highly recommended.”-Geneve Flynn, Bram Stoker and Shirley Jackson Award-winning author, editor, and poetA dark foray into a blackened world where Ashford drags the reader in one direction, fully knowing the horrors that await in all directions. Polyphemus is uncomfortable, compelling and perfectly depraved.-Steve Stred, Splatterpunk-Nominated author of Sacrament and Mastodon “This book is a swirling maelstrom of culty, cosmic darkness, wrapped in a smokey haze of crushing death metal and I loved every bloody second of it.”-Kev Harrison, author of The Balance and Below"Polyphemus is a robust tale of addiction, masculinity, demons, and heavy metal. A big and brutal horror novel. Read it." -Mike Thorn, author of Shelter for the Damned and Darkest Hours"I devoured this book in a matter of hours. I was hooked by the depiction of death metal so authentic that I could HEAR the riffs! The deeply psychological and unflinchingly bleak portrayal of demonic influence and avarice was a wonderful train wreck to behold. One of the best books of the year!"-Valkyrie Loughcrewe, author of Crom Cruach“An unflinching odyssey into the abyss, where the seasons change but the ambitions, vices, and weaknesses of doomed humans don’t. Zachary steps up his damnation game and impales decorum on the twinned horns of hallucinatory horror and heavy metal with the demented glee of a diehard fan. Crank Polyphemus to eleven and count yourself lucky if you make it out of the pit in one piece.” – Matthew R. Davis, Shirley Jackson Award-nominated author of Midnight in the Chapel of Love and The Dark Matter of Natasha“Polyphemus is a dark deliverance into a world of death metal, Faustian deals and the cost of fame.” -Leanbh Pearson author of Bluebells “Aggressive. Throaty. Distorted. Let the screaming begin.Zachary Ashford’s POLYPHEMUS employs metal music as the very blood running through these pages. From the opening riffs to the twisted fade out on the last page. Every chapter hits harder than the last, the rhythm pounding in our ears, as we watch old friends come back together; some fighting their demons, while others embrace them. Ashford’s mastery of language rivals great lyrical composers while creating characters that will live on with us long after they leave the stage.I sorely need an encore.”-James Sabata, award-winning screenwriter, podcaster, and author of Fat Camp. "A darkly realized heavy metal nightmare that takes an unflinching look at the cost of fame and the lengths the worst- and best- among us will go to achieve and maintain it. For anyone who's spent time in 'the scene,' the real horror may not come from the Mephistophelean elements but how well Ashford has captured the psychology of the banality of a very particular type of evil endemic to the entertainment world." -Preston Fassel, IPPY Award Winning Author of Our Lady of the Inferno and Beasts of 42nd Street

Genres: Horror, Audiobook, Fiction

330 pages, Paperback

First published July 15, 2023

About the author

Zachary Ashford is the Aurealis Award-nominated author of When the Cicadas Stop Singing from Horrific Tales, Sole Survivor and Sole Survivor II from Unnerving - and Autotomy Cocktail and The Encampment by the Gorge & Blood Memory from Demain. His short fiction has been featured in Dark Moon Digest, the Elements of Horror: Earth anthology, Trickster's Treats 3 from Things in the Well, and Kyanite Press.

His new book, The Morass: Servant of the Fly God is available for pre-order now. (https://getbook.at/Morass)

Outside of that, he can be found listening to metal, hanging with his wife and kids, or watching as many schlocky horror films as he can.

Reviews

[Stitching Ghost · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever wondered what would happen if something akin to a crossroad demon got a fresh out of rehab not too bright and desperate death metalhead instead of a jazz musician? Haven't we all really, well, look no further this is exactly the question Ashford sets out to answer in Polyphemus.

The story is dripping in metal in the most delightful way but it would still be quite a solid read for someone who isn't into the genre at all (no knowledge of metal required to understand the story). The characters come across as pretty realistic, honestly most of them remind me of the type of guy-in-a-band™ that we all know and low-key wish we didn't know.

I'm tempted to call this a coming of age story even though it's one that comes way late but in the end what it really is is a bleak little story, which seems to be Ashford's specialty, and I love me a bleak one so I loved every minute of this one!

[Ross Jeffery · Rating 5 out of 5]

What Ashford has been able to achieve with Polyphemus is nothing short of brilliant. This debut novel has it all: a killer storyline (quite literally), gore (which Ashford does so well), nastiness (in both content and vile characters), addiction (in its many guises), a demonic subplot (which Ashford plays so well) and the unrelenting quest for fame and fortune.

The book is a metal song, full of crashing symbols and face melting guitar riffs, with lyrical prose that pierce the heart as well as shred the brain, as well as an ear for conversational dialogue which makes your feel as if you were a fly on the wall.

You feel at times like you’ve been in the mosh pit, taken your fair share of elbows to the face, punches to the gut and kidneys and when you tumble to the ground exhausted and spent, there are no hands to pick you up, no one’s coming to save you because when you’re down, when your body hits the floor of this story, Ashford sticks the boot in.

When you feel that all hope is lost and you finally crawl your way out, when you finally come up for air, scrambling through the legs and the swaying mass of the mosh pit, which is hellbent on your annihilation you discover that the ending was worth the pain and the pleasure and the punishment.

Polyphemus at times is an uncomfortable and disturbing read, but that’s why we read horror right? To be horrified? To be made to feel uncomfortable? Well, that’s why I read horror anyway!

I also loved the deep dive Ashford went into with regards to the ‘Metal Scene’ it felt at times like I was watching a documentary - there were so many moving parts, so many lives under the microscope, so many bands (fictitious or not) that I have to look up, so many dreams and passions and desires of individual for fame and fortune at whatever the cost.

[Aiden Merchant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Find the full review on www.wintrymonsterspress.com and in the July issue of WMP Dark Fiction Magazine.

"Polyphemus is a love letter to heavy metal and horror. With addiction and obsession at the forefront, you can expect the swallowing darkness of this novel to fuel you toward its final dying page."

[Ange ⚕ angethology · Rating 3 out of 5]

"This band was what mattered; what had always mattered, and after everything, they were going to make it mean something to the rest of the world. Finally."

[3.5 stars] Horror and metal are two of my favorite things, and I love the idea of actually bringing the whole 'Satanic Panic' into fruition in novels. Stephen Oaks just got out of rehab and is determined to bring his metal band Polyphemus back together and catapult themselves into fame and riches. But because of all the bad press he's accumulated due to his addiction, everyone else in the band is a little skeptical, especially with other aspects of their personal lives at stake. When Oaks meets Anton, a supposed life coach who can turn his life upside down, he transforms into an entirely different person — he seems to be a few steps closer to his dreams, but what would it take for him to get there?

I love the music references and the way the jam sessions, concerts, technical aspects are described in the book. It's very well-written in that regard and it's clear that the author has a great passion and has done his research in this department. They would often intertwine with this sort of surreal reality that ties in with the supernatural aspect that Oaks is exposed to. And while the characters seem like the typical rock stars dabbling in drugs and misogynistic attitudes at times, the author does satirize these elements and I didn't find their insufferable personalities to hinder my enjoyment of the novel. The main thing that I'm critical about is probably how much of the book is spent of investing time in the characters' personal lives, individually. It felt a bit slow-paced (which is not a huge issue at times) and stagnant, but then the action would come in full-force.

The cultish elements along with the gore and the entity are quite eerie, vile but hypnotic; also strangely sexual in a way that's not too outlandish or seemingly done out of shock value. I did manage to get a little more invested in Spiros' character and how his relationship with his family works out, that part feels a little more fleshed out. But India's character and most of the female characters that are mentioned feel even flatter than the rest, and it was hard for me to accept Oaks' immediate sincere attachment to India (and vice versa).

Besides those issues I still thoroughly enjoyed them, this is very much a horror novel for metal enthusiasts who love to see this sort of chaos being manifested in an over-the-top, sensationalized way with blood and guts on the top.

Thank you DarkLit Press and NetGalley for the review copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dang, this was awesome! Loved the exploration of a metal band trying to deal with a singer that just got out of rehab, as well as doing whatever they can to break into the big times. There's demon stuff too, and some gruesome bits, but I was almost more focused and enthralled with the struggles of a band and all their different lives.

Also, be ready to want to listen to a lot of different metal bands, because the references and easter eggs in here are totally going to get you hooked on discovering these songs.

[Mickey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this one. I mean, rock music, drugs, deals with the devil. What's not to like? Right?
Unfortunately it just didn't hit home for me. It took forever for the story to really start going anywhere, and honestly, it just felt like the majority of it was about the guys in the band smoking, drinking and doing drugs. Things finally started happening towards the end, but by then I had kind of lost interest and just was not enjoying it. I kind of speed read the ending just so I could finish reading.

[Ewreck82 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently reached out to Andrew of Dark Lit press to ask which of their publications could use some more eyes on them. He sent me a list and I went shopping. Polyphemus was on this list, but I couldn't find it to purchase. Andrew was kind enough to send me a copy of the ebook in exchange for an honest review. I have to say, I'm glad that he did.

Polyphemus is my second venture into the melding of horror and music, the first being The Final Reconciliation by Todd Keisling. Two books into this subgenre, and I'm a fan.

Horror and music are a match made in heaven, or would that be hell? The plot devices of metal music, deals with the devil, addiction in its many forms, and lifelong friendships come together in a way that makes you feel the passion and pain of the characters.

I felt for the main three characters, Oaks, Nathan, and Spiros, each for very different, unique reasons. They were all likable despite their flaws, and that made me want to see them realize their musical dream.

This would be a 5 star for me, but the pacing dragged for me at times. It was still a very enjoyable read, and I look forward to reading more by Ashford in the future.

[Dion Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

As Beavis and Butthead would say 'This book kicks Ass'

I've always like my music on the heavy side, not so much the Cookie Monster singing, but I love the speed and intensity of the drums and guitar, but as far as the book go's it doesn't matter what music your into, because this story is about the people and what they are willing to do to succeed, so you don't need to be a metal head to follow the story.

This is the 6th book that I've read from this author and he writing as always is exceptional well done, and easy to read, so much so that you almost feel like a fly on the wall, just watching things play out, unlike the satanic panic movies of the 80's and 90's these characters are well developed with other aspects to there lives making them more relatable.

I have to say that the cover art is outstanding, and reminds me of Utopia Records in Sydney, which is a iconic Metal music store for as long as I can remember, and the style of the internal illustrations remind me of some of my first horror books like Edger Allan Poe.

Fair warning, this book contains a lot of drug-use, and a animal sacrifice.

I'm at a point with this author that he is a automatic add to my to buy list.

[Anthony O'Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A Faustian pact with an ambitious death metal band" was an elevator pitch too delicious for me to ignore, however I was curious if talented Aussie writer Zachary Ashford (known for his creature feature novellas) would be able to sustain the tension and excitement for a novel length yarn.

Happily, the bloke has done a pearler of a job, introducing a cast of hopeless ne'er-do-wells who keep fucking up in increasingly spectacular ways, leading to troubles of the emotional, physical and supernatural kind. Despite being deeply flawed (like Mariana Trench deeply), they're an engaging group of affable nitwits, high on their on ambition, cheap beer and so much weed.

(Seriously, this book gave me a contact high on several occasions.)

Once the horror gets riffing, and the blood begins flowing, it's nasty, pulpy, compelling stuff with some striking imagery and splattery set pieces. It kind of feels like Metalocalypse meets Hellraiser with some well observed, believably hopeless characters and darkly demonic antics that live up to the rather striking cover illustration.

If you're looking for a jolting, engaging, rock-solid slice of hardcore horror then Polyphemus will very much be your jam.

[Milt Theo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm embarrassed to say that this was my first Ashford novel (but I'm already on my second, and soon on my third!): the man can WRITE! He also knows his music, the metal scene, and he has good taste in everything! 'Polyphemus' is a blast to the senses: not just well-written, with a terrific plot, but the characters, well, they feel so real one wonders if there's a true story somewhere behind it. There better not be, since the baddies are genuinely evil entities, and bargaining with them is described in extreme detail (perhaps too much detail: watch out for animal abuse), compellingly, and chillingly. Still, the development that upset me is the humanity of it all, staring you back from the page, the heavy sense of sinfulness and despair; showing how much indeed one is prepared to sacrifice in their quest for fame and fortune. This is a mosh pit of a novel, with brilliant storytelling and palpable horror that hits close to home - you won't be able to put it down!

Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC to review!

[Matthew Vaughn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read my first Zachary Ashford book, and by read, I mean, I listened to the audiobook! I loved it! As someone who listens to all the metal bands mentioned in the book, as well as played in bands in the local music scene, this book was like a chunk of my life minus the demons and killing! Zachary is a fantastic writer, this book was deep with the friendship the band had, as well as all the struggles they faced after their singer ruined their big chance. Then there was the killing I mentioned earlier, Zachary does a great job with the gore featured in this one.
I don't think you have to be a metal head or a musician to enjoy this wild book, but it definitely will feel special if you are! Shout out to Stephen Ragsdale for the great narration, too!
Thanks to Darklit Press for the audiobook!

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fresh take on the crossroads concept of musicians making dark pacts.

[Alexander Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Polyphemus: a ragtag band of musos, all fighting demons from their past - soon to be fighting literal demons.

Stephen Oaks, lead vocalist of metal band Polyphemus, is out of rehab. His one mission is to rejoin the band and get that dream going again. But some of the other members are looking to move forward without him. Pressure from their label dictates this, and relationships strain and snap.

Enter Anton, ringleader of a strange cult, who promises to fulfil Stephen's wish, as he has done for many other down and out people. Things are not what they seem, and Oaks witnesses an entity in the initiation ceremony - a being promising dream fulfilment for an insidious purpose.

What ensues is bloodshed, heavy metal, sex, betrayal, lies, and the quest for fame. Oaks will do anything for the entity - anything to get Polyphemus to the stars. So begins a bloodsoaked path lined in shed souls.

I'm fairly new to splatter horror, despite its popularity, so I went into this book ready for a bit of mayhem. Zachary Ashford delivered that mayhem and then some. As a fellow metal lover - all the vast subgenres of metal - this book was right up my alley, even down to the info about guitars and bass and instrumentation. Zac knows his stuff.

This is another fantastic release from Darklit Press. Congratulations on your debut novel, Zac. Two sets of devil horns. I just now scanned the bookmark and discovered the Polyphemus playlist. I wish I had blasted it while reading the book!

[Garth Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

A ten-tonne slab of doomed demonic fame-whoring shot through with leering doses of '80s Video Nasties and a marrow-deep passion for the majesty of Metal.

Shelve alongside Peak's 'Corpse Paint', McMillen's 'An Augmented Fourth', George RR Martin's 'The Armageddon Rag' (and maybe even Schow's 'The Kill Riff').

Horns up.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Polyphemus is one of those novels that had a lot of things going for it in terms of horror elements: rock music, deals with the devil, drug issues, relationship problems, a cool playlist, and so on. And while I really enjoyed the way the author intertwined the rock elements with the story, I did think it took way too long for the plot to get going. To be honest, it felt a lot more like a novel about musicians who were having difficulties with their careers, family, and life, with them drinking, doing drugs, and jamming rather than a horror novel.

First of all, the main characters were your stereotypical portrayals of musicians and it made me think the author did this deliberately. Except for Spiros, most of them cared little for others and concentrated solely on their music and the contract that was causing them huge problems. I disliked Nathan the most for the way he treated a woman who was looking for help, and while he was trying to make amends towards the end, it was little too late. When I did reflect on the men's attitudes and their behaviours and the way they were written though, it did seem as though the author was satirizing a lot of elements to showcase stereotypes and their annoying exploits made a lot more sense in that light. I love satire, but I'm not sure a lot of people get it when it's used in novels, but the author definitely exaggerates a lot of actions in this story to highlight problematic choices and behaviours.

The author does spend way too much time developing the personal lives of the individual characters which slows down the narrative. I do wish he had invested as much into the female characters however, as they were wither nagging or making stupid decisions. And I couldn't, for the life of me, understand where the relationship between Oaks and India developed from whatever to an actual relationship. The use of the trope of sympathetic woman begging for her love to be saved only to make stupid decisions on his behalf drives me crazy.

The plot itself took a long time to get going because the author spent too long developing the relationships between the characters. The story had a lot of potential, and there were some great nuggets throughout. When the chaos struck though, it struck well, and I really enjoyed those parts of the book. And I'm still not sure what I think of the ending; I liked it, but I think I wanted more.

Polyphemus is one of those books you can still enjoy even if you are not a heavy metal enthusiast. I am more of a classic rock girlie, but I still listened to the music list provided (and enjoyed it). I do think the author was trying to satirize the rock world and exaggerate the elements and stereotypes within, but it didn't quite work the way it was intended due to a plot that took too long to get moving and characters that were not relatable. Overall, the overall concept was cool, and although it missed its mark with me, I would recommend it to others, especially to those who like a slower burn and not as much blood-letting.

Thank you DarkLit Press for the review copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Polyphemus is made up of Nathan the guitar player Steven Oaks the lead singer Spiro the bass player and chops the drummer. they were on tour and on the verge of hitting the big time when their lead singer passed out on stage due to a drug overdose he has been riding lyrics while in rehab and wants the band to get back together but is scared of relapsing Nathan is obsessed with the band due to not having much else happening in his life and so when Oaks goes to see him and tells him he wants to do the lyrics for the album their label wants Nathan is all for it but knows there are others that have to agree Spyro it’s happy being a family man that loves his childhood friends and fellow band mates something his wife Pandora makes him feel guilty for despite the secrets she has her self. The drummer chops is flailing with nothing to do and is excited to sit in with The Violent Dead and he secretly hopes he will be asked to be the bands drummer. After rehab Steve and Oaks is sent to live in a halfway house where the nurse Aimaly, who is in charge he believes that she is selling drugs and one of her visitors is a man named Anton. Oaks knows if he is to stay sober he will have to do things differently so after Anton introduces himself and tells him that he is a life coach of sorts. He also invites him to a club to meet other members he claims that we’re just like oaks and with Anton‘s help they prospered. Not having much else to do Steven decides to go in on the first night meets a beautiful woman named India she is an artist and one of those Anton told him about in the tube become quite close quite quickly.. this is where I start having issues because this is like the first 30% of the book and even in the summary it doesn’t say what happens in the rest of the book it is a book I loved he makes a Faustian bargain with Anton, let me be clear however I do not have issues with the book I have issues writing this review and trying to convey how awesome this horror book is Without giving away the part of the book where I was like OMG are you serious? I did love in the end however the We the band mates almost became the good angel and the bad angel and that the demon was not a demon from hell but one much older and much more ancient been that. I’m sorry this review is so long I loved it and highly recommend it it had some of the most gruesome happenings in the book and I am one of those who can eat while reading extreme horror even this book had me cringing. I want to thank dark lit press and net galley for my free arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

[Alison C · Rating 3 out of 5]

After lead singer Stephen Oaks ODs on stage during a concert, metal band Polyphemus is in limbo: their record label is demanding an album to complete their contract but the band does not think Oaks, now out of rehab, is trustworthy enough to return, so they look to a new vocalist to help them out. Oaks, however, is desperate to return to “his” band and he will do anything - including seeking the aid of otherworldly beings - to bring the band back…. I received this book as part of Library Thing’s Early Reviewer program. Generally I’m not a big horror fan, but I particularly wanted to read this one because the premise resembles The Armageddon Rag, the second novel by George R.R. Martin published over 40 years ago, and I was curious to see a new take on the premise. Polyphemus updates the theme well, bringing in much more graphic sex and violence, and centering on a musical genre that’s well-suited to the story line. The structure of the book has each character telling part of the story; it’s interesting to me that all the characters are referenced by their first names or nicknames as each narrative is introduced except for Oaks, who is always referred to as Oaks, which maybe suggests a choice by the author to deliberately distance the reader from that character. Anyway, I liked the book alot, once I realized that however adult the characters are meant to be (in their 30s, I’d guess), they’re really stuck in mid-adolescence as so many man-boys are; that awareness made their casual misogyny, massive drug use and semi-hostile homoerotic attitudes toward each other all tolerable as opposed to being infuriating. If you don’t like explicit gore, don’t read this; otherwise, recommended!

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Polyphemus is everything I didn't know I needed and then some! The cover drew me in from the start, and I've read Zachary's 'The Morass', so I knew this would be gold, but I didn't know how much I would end up enjoying this.

Oaks struggles with addiction and the guilt that he feels from letting his friends and band mates down. Fresh out of rehab, he's introduced to Anton, a supposed life coach who can give him everything he needs to beat his addiction. But Anton gives him something more....

Despite all of his faults, I can't help but feel bad for Oaks. His struggles reminded me a little of Nikki Six and his path to being clean, and I really can't fault him for his choices in this book because addiction is a horrible thing. I've never faced it myself, but people in my life have, and I know how much of a struggle it can be to overcome it.

I think of all of them, Spiros was the one who got to me the most. Torn between his family and the band that meant the world to him, he was put into an impossible situation with no right answer. He had his faults, but he was trying his best, and he really didn't deserve the path that his story took.

There's something very tragic about this book, and that makes it all the more horrifying. At the heart of Polyphemus, Zachary touches on humanity and the impact that our choices have on those around us. While a touch long-winded, I really enjoyed my time with the band, demonic rituals and all!

Thank you, DarkLit, for letting me take a look at this one!

[Paula Michalowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book reminded me of musician friends of mine who spent the better part of their lives struggling with addiction, family, and the music that drives them. It follows a band that had been at the moment of mainstream breakout when their lead singer collapses, taking it all with him.

Fresh out of rehab, the singer, Steve, tries to atone and rejoin the band members who must still honor a recording contract. Friction from his friends over whether he can stay sober, he finds they are planning on replacing him. Enter a mysterious impresario with an offer he can't refuse, leading to murder and lots of gore.

The story starts slowly building a foundation of the metal bands background and bonds. While this feels necessary to the characters' development in terms of their friendship, most of the male characters except Spiros, the bassist, are just concerned about how they can succeed without any thought for others outside their sphere. The female characters in the story are not as defined, and I would have liked to have seen stronger, more well developed women.

Overall, I gave the book 4 stars as the core story of a pact to sell the soul with an entity was solid and a good twist on the trope. It was realistic in the musical band world and packed a punch with the realizing of the horror from the evil Steve invoked.

A worthwhile read. Thank you to DarkLit Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Chris Hookway · Rating 4 out of 5]

Polyphemus
By Zachary Ashford

This one was a bit of a deep dive into the world of heavy metal music and the ins and out of bands just trying to make it big. It was a big of a slow burn, but one that was a real page turner. Ashford’s characters are engaging and interesting, and you want to just keep going with the story to see what happens to them. His smooth writing style makes it easy to get lost in the story. Do they make it or break it? It puts a nice spin on the old Robert Johnson seeking his soul legend, and without giving any details away, Ashford finds a way to tell it in a fresh manner. At it’s core, it is just a story about three friends trying to realize their dreams. Through all the drugs, sex, rock & roll, and demons (figuratively and literally) this is one story that once through it, will have you thinking, and quoting one of the band members, That shit’s metal af, dude”. Highly recommend checking this one out.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy horror books that revolve around metal music. I didn't like this as much as Grady Hendrix's book We Sold Our Souls, but it was still a good time. Many of the characters made decisions that made no sense to me, such as Lisa deciding to stay at Nathan's home when he made it clear he didn't want her there, or India confronting Anton despite how frustrated she became every time she speaks with him (fuck Anton, I'm glad he dies near the end). Also it was really irritating how Pandora kept demanding that Spiros give up the band to focus on her and their daughter. But still I enjoyed this book because of the friendship between Oaks, Nathan, and Spiros. I will reread this someday and check out more of Zachary Ashford's books.

[Kinsley Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

New Favorite Book!
I loved this book! It is brilliantly written, consistently engaging, and deliciously demonic. The dialogue feels so natural, each character is extremely flawed yet you can't help but love them. The author's passion for music is tangible on every page, making Polyphemus a love letter to the metal genre. I couldn't put this book down, every page had me on the edge of my seat. Countless times I audibly gasped at what was on the page, and I ended up having 100+ tabs in my book when I finished.
I highly recommend reading this book, it's thrilling, gruesome, and full of passion.

[Sandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh man, what a freakin’ ride! I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again - I love horror, and I love music. Combine the two, and chances are I’m gonna dig it. Throw in some metal and a demon? Oh yeah, I’m probably gonna love it.

This is a tragic story full of blood, sacrifice, and drug addiction, but softened (in a good way) by love, heartbreaking loss, and impossible decisions.

Polyphemus was a hit for me. Absolutely loved the references to bands throughout the story, and I HIGHLY recommend you check out the Polyphemus playlist on Spotify if you’re a metal head. I do believe the playlist was curated by Ashford himself. Metal AF!

[Kelly Rickard · Rating 4 out of 5]

What happens when a lead vocalist desperate for a second chance after his near fatal overdose on stage leaves his band high and dry and their dreams crushed? Well he decides the best thing to do is to make a Faustian deal and so we will discover just what lengths he will go to to be the best while destroying everything and everyone around him. 


This is based in the metal world and it was so refreshing to hear of bands and songs that I absolutely loved. Also that cathartic feeling of being in the pit and being one with the crowd.

[Bradford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Polyphemus
By Zachary Ashford

First of all, I want to give a huge thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC of this book to read and review!

Holy Guacamole, what a ride. This was metal through and through. The story, the music, the characters, all of it. This read like a classical tragedy but in a modern setting with metal band members. This was deep.

It was evident throughout the book that this was a passion project, and the author poured himself into it. I've only ever dipped my toes into metal music, but I could appreciate all the references and nods to bands in the book.

This gets a full 5 ⭐️ rating from me. I would highly recommend this.

[Jim Groves · Rating 4 out of 5]

How far would you go to be the biggest rock band in the world? Would you sell your soul? What about a friend's soul? This book is a wild ride once it gets started. It has an Eyes Wide Shut vibe at the beginning before spinning out of control. The only drawback was that I did not care for the main character. He was not sympathetic, he was selfish and short sighted. Overall the story is solid and the writing great.

[Alison Faichney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dope book!

This book was well written and the characters felt three dimensional. It was definitely a dark book with some graphic imagery, but the story was one that will stick with me.

I did have some unanswered questions regarding Anton’s network but beyond that this was a really fun read.

I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Rachel Jeffares · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice take on the lengths we are prepared to go to for success.
Lead singer in band on the brink of success succumbs to his vices and the future of the band is uncertain. Due to his vulnerability he is easy prey for manipulation, violence.and the occult.
Great book of flawed characters read in one go as it sucked me in!

[Stephen Ormsby · Rating 5 out of 5]

What ride. Full of loud music, mayhem and gore, this story never slows down, building to a climax that gives you everything you want.

Metal, cosmic horrors, and much more, I enjoyed this thoroughly. A great listen.

[Bonita Soley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dancing with the devil, the devil always leads - those deals just never end up how you thought. Shades of "Tales from the Crypt" in a hallucinogenic gore fest. No spoilers, but don't expect a real HEA ... but you knew that