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The Ojanox #1
The Ojanox I: Scream in the Dark
"The Ojanox harkens back to the horror boom of the '70s and '80s, in a very good way. Manx has a knack for creating characters you'll love (or hate) and putting them through the ringer. His dialogue is sharp and storytelling gripping and fast paced. Now that I'm hooked, I need to read the rest!" – Duncan Ralston, Author of Woom and GhostlandThe year is 1979. A small New York town prepares to welcome the fall season in all the expected young children bicker and boast over Halloween costumes, secret lovers meet in clandestine corners, and a tortured soul plots wicked deeds. All the while, hidden just out of view, patient and hungry… an ancient evil lurks.Welcome to Garrett Grove, an unassuming community nestled within the foothills of the Watchung Mountains. The very definition of “Everytown, USA”, it is a largely self-contained municipality, most of the residents on a first-name basis. An almost postcard-perfect location.For ten-year-old Troy Fischer, eagerly awaiting the thrills of Halloween, autumn is his favorite time of year. This spooky season looks to be the best one yet - he has caught the eye of the new girl at school, and the haunted attraction he built in his garage, called Scream in the Dark, is guaranteed to have all of his classmates talking.But something is happening to the children of Garrett Grove. A mysterious outbreak threatens the community, leaving a handful of doctors and the town’s sheriff desperate to find the source of the contagion before it is too late.“Written with beautifully descriptive scenes, The Ojanox places you directly into the quaint, small town of Garrett Grove during the Halloween season where everything is pleasant…until it isn’t. An ancient, dark entity is accidently excavated and escapes into the world with chilling results. The Ojanox is a fresh, original, plot-driven page turner that I couldn’t put down. I highly recommend it and am looking forward to Part Two of this excellent series.” – Jeani Rector, Editor of The Horror Zine"In The Ojanox, Daemon Manx creates a community and cast of characters you feel like you know personally, like you’ve known them all your life. And when you lose one of those characters, you’ve lost one of your own. Manx makes you care and makes you hurt. The Ojanox is a masterclass on characterization." ~ Patrick C. Harrison III, Author of 100% Match and Grandpappy
- GenresHorror
252 pages, Paperback
Published July 16, 2024
265 people are currently reading
450 people want to read
About the author
Daemon Manx
37 books237 followersDaemon Manx is an author with a backstory. He is a recovering addict who spent nearly a decade in the prison system, where he focused on recovery and learned to perfect his horror writing craft. He has been featured in magazines in the US, the UK, and Germany and, in 2021, was nominated for a Splatterpunk award for his book Abigail. Daemon is the author of the Ojanox series, endorsed by Scream Queen actress, Felissa Rose (Sleepaway Camp). He was a bonus round winner on the gameshow Wheel of Fortune in 1999 and is infamously known for a motor vehicle accident involving President Ronald Reagan’s limousine. After struggling with addiction and incarceration, Daemon now uses his story to illustrate the positive outcome of sobriety and offer a glimpse at what life can be like when one receives a second chance.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 134 reviews
May 20, 2025
What Has Invaded Garrett Grove?
Small backstory:
The small town of Garrett Grove is preparing for Halloween and two friends, Troy and Rob have decided to make a haunted house project to give the kids of Garrett Grove a scare, but something stirs in the small town - something evil has invaded the heart and soul of the town bringing death to the small community.
The town will need to figure out why the people are dying and what is killing their friends/neighbors as it will consume them all if they don't find out how to stop it!
That is about all I can hand out with a small backstory so if you are intrigued then go read this book!
Thoughts:
This is my first time reading this author and "WOW" I was pulled right into the story line right away! Read the first 27% of the book within a few hours and could barely put it down! The author gives out visuals of the small town of Garrett Grove making it feel like you are really there experiencing the cool autumn air and the Halloween theme that has come into the town.
I loved all the characters in this book and they each have their own personality - I could feel their bewilderment of what was taking place in their town and could feel the horror weaving its tendrils around each of them as they tried to figure out what was going on.
The pace of the book never lets up as it careens along at a high rate of speed! I would find myself reading late into the night with this book and even stayed up till near 3 am one morning as I just could not put the book down!
This is a four part series and I am looking forward to stepping foot into book two here soon as I want to see what happens next! Giving this book five "Twisted Terror" stars!
Small backstory:
The small town of Garrett Grove is preparing for Halloween and two friends, Troy and Rob have decided to make a haunted house project to give the kids of Garrett Grove a scare, but something stirs in the small town - something evil has invaded the heart and soul of the town bringing death to the small community.
The town will need to figure out why the people are dying and what is killing their friends/neighbors as it will consume them all if they don't find out how to stop it!
That is about all I can hand out with a small backstory so if you are intrigued then go read this book!
Thoughts:
This is my first time reading this author and "WOW" I was pulled right into the story line right away! Read the first 27% of the book within a few hours and could barely put it down! The author gives out visuals of the small town of Garrett Grove making it feel like you are really there experiencing the cool autumn air and the Halloween theme that has come into the town.
I loved all the characters in this book and they each have their own personality - I could feel their bewilderment of what was taking place in their town and could feel the horror weaving its tendrils around each of them as they tried to figure out what was going on.
The pace of the book never lets up as it careens along at a high rate of speed! I would find myself reading late into the night with this book and even stayed up till near 3 am one morning as I just could not put the book down!
This is a four part series and I am looking forward to stepping foot into book two here soon as I want to see what happens next! Giving this book five "Twisted Terror" stars!
July 15, 2024
This is small-town horror perfection!! The Ojanox I: Scream in the Dark is a four part series. I loved book 1, and now I'm big mad because I have to wait!!! Honestly, I am very eager to see how this story progresses.
We find ourselves in a small town in New York in the year 1979. Our young characters are gearing up to celebrate their best Halloween to date, complete with their very own haunted house attraction. Little do they know that something scarier and more sinister is lurking in the shadows. The children thought fake rats and prop coffins were scary, but the true horrors were only just beginning.
Ya know, this is the second book I've read from Manx, the first one being Arcranium. And I can honestly say Manx is a phenomenal storyteller. I felt like I was there with his characters,they felt like real and relatable people. Hell, they could be my own children. I was so worried and invested in these kids!!! I want answers, and I want resolutions! This story let me go through an array of emotions, fear, heartbreak, shock, hope... I need more.
I received a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.
We find ourselves in a small town in New York in the year 1979. Our young characters are gearing up to celebrate their best Halloween to date, complete with their very own haunted house attraction. Little do they know that something scarier and more sinister is lurking in the shadows. The children thought fake rats and prop coffins were scary, but the true horrors were only just beginning.
Ya know, this is the second book I've read from Manx, the first one being Arcranium. And I can honestly say Manx is a phenomenal storyteller. I felt like I was there with his characters,they felt like real and relatable people. Hell, they could be my own children. I was so worried and invested in these kids!!! I want answers, and I want resolutions! This story let me go through an array of emotions, fear, heartbreak, shock, hope... I need more.
I received a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.
May 28, 2024
I was lucky enough to get an arc copy of this delight by Daemon Manx, and just wow, I loved it.
It's the story of an ancient evil that is attempting to run amok in this small, peaceful community terrorising kids and adults equally. There is a very childhood innocence of the 80's vibe in this book that I just loved. I grew up in the 90s but could still very much connect with many parts of this book. The book ended on a cliffhanger, but I dont mind that as it seems to be building to something amazing. This is the first book to have ever given me nightmares as there's a snake scene that just broke me. Solid 5/5 from me for this one
It's the story of an ancient evil that is attempting to run amok in this small, peaceful community terrorising kids and adults equally. There is a very childhood innocence of the 80's vibe in this book that I just loved. I grew up in the 90s but could still very much connect with many parts of this book. The book ended on a cliffhanger, but I dont mind that as it seems to be building to something amazing. This is the first book to have ever given me nightmares as there's a snake scene that just broke me. Solid 5/5 from me for this one
November 7, 2025
Daemon Manx is a very good writer and storyteller. But this book leaves a lot to yearn. This is book 1 in a series, but there's no story here yet...only story building. This was 230 pages of amazing character development, and small-town world-building. Where's the story? I feel like this was a complete tease.
The writing/storytelling reminds me of Dean Koontz, and the character development and world-building is ALMOST like Stephen King. But as the story starts to sort of get going, the book comes to an end.
I don't know if I'm salty because I was into it and wanted MORE, like a greedy reader, or if I want to continue at all, if this is the style of all the books. I believe its 4 books. I'm the type of reader that I'd rather have 1 complete story that is 1,200 pages in 1 book, than 4 individual books of 300 pages. We're splitting hairs here. I realize. But this book by itself, left me unsatisfied. And not in a good way. Kind of upset me, actually.
The writing/storytelling reminds me of Dean Koontz, and the character development and world-building is ALMOST like Stephen King. But as the story starts to sort of get going, the book comes to an end.
I don't know if I'm salty because I was into it and wanted MORE, like a greedy reader, or if I want to continue at all, if this is the style of all the books. I believe its 4 books. I'm the type of reader that I'd rather have 1 complete story that is 1,200 pages in 1 book, than 4 individual books of 300 pages. We're splitting hairs here. I realize. But this book by itself, left me unsatisfied. And not in a good way. Kind of upset me, actually.
July 16, 2024
This is the first in what will be a 4 book series, releasing monthly from July 16. Manx does a fantastic job of setting everything up for the rest of the series, the characters, the history, just enough to pull you in and get you immediately wanting more, leaving you on one hell of a cliffhanger and eager for the next installment. This is good, wholesome horror that reads like a great coming of age, but is so much more too. A little reminiscent of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, this is shaping up to be a classic hit series!
Daemon sets out to capture and recreate the childish wonder, nervous excitement and fear of Halloween time, a time we all remember from our youth, and that is exactly what he achieves. With the creepy autumn/fall ambience that sends shivers down your spine and goosebumps popping, tense anticipation rises and you will find yourself holding your breath on several occasions, so don't forget to breathe, or you may just pass out from the tension.
As the horror blows through Garrett’s Grove, like a malevolent whirlwind, it brings death, destruction and something worse, something utterly evil. Children getting sick, real sick, corpses leaving the mortuary, of their own accord, friendships tested to their limits…. and just, a fuck ton of strange and creepy shit!
Lois and her son Troy, are hosting a Halloween party for his friends. It's his favourite time of year and he and his Mom like to go all out for their guests. This year Troy has something really special to show them. Scream in the Dark is a haunted house/maze that he and his friend Rob painstakingly created in the garage, and they can't wait to see their friends' reactions. When Rob gets sick though, and can't make it to the party, Troy goes ahead with their plan and it's better than he ever could have imagined. Later on however, after everyone else has gone home, Rob does pay a visit, but there's something not right about him.
Troy is deeply disappointed when his Dad doesn't make it back to see his creation in action, but his Dad is part of a team of geological engineers, searching for places to mine on the mountain. When one particular blast opens up a whole lot of problems, in more ways than one, he has to stay and figure out what to do about it.
Nearby Mountain Ave, a great lookout/makeout spot that hosts the derelict Mountainside Sanitorium, abandoned and left to decay, is still attractive to the odd vagrant or horny teen, and is the perfect place for a fun Halloween hangout for the Tobin brothers and their friends. But the fun stops before it ever really starts when something hunts them down, and then stows away with them.
The excitement builds as quickly as the action and horror and you will definitely be left wanting more!
Read with caution, The Ojanox is highly addictive!! 🖤
Daemon sets out to capture and recreate the childish wonder, nervous excitement and fear of Halloween time, a time we all remember from our youth, and that is exactly what he achieves. With the creepy autumn/fall ambience that sends shivers down your spine and goosebumps popping, tense anticipation rises and you will find yourself holding your breath on several occasions, so don't forget to breathe, or you may just pass out from the tension.
As the horror blows through Garrett’s Grove, like a malevolent whirlwind, it brings death, destruction and something worse, something utterly evil. Children getting sick, real sick, corpses leaving the mortuary, of their own accord, friendships tested to their limits…. and just, a fuck ton of strange and creepy shit!
Lois and her son Troy, are hosting a Halloween party for his friends. It's his favourite time of year and he and his Mom like to go all out for their guests. This year Troy has something really special to show them. Scream in the Dark is a haunted house/maze that he and his friend Rob painstakingly created in the garage, and they can't wait to see their friends' reactions. When Rob gets sick though, and can't make it to the party, Troy goes ahead with their plan and it's better than he ever could have imagined. Later on however, after everyone else has gone home, Rob does pay a visit, but there's something not right about him.
Troy is deeply disappointed when his Dad doesn't make it back to see his creation in action, but his Dad is part of a team of geological engineers, searching for places to mine on the mountain. When one particular blast opens up a whole lot of problems, in more ways than one, he has to stay and figure out what to do about it.
Nearby Mountain Ave, a great lookout/makeout spot that hosts the derelict Mountainside Sanitorium, abandoned and left to decay, is still attractive to the odd vagrant or horny teen, and is the perfect place for a fun Halloween hangout for the Tobin brothers and their friends. But the fun stops before it ever really starts when something hunts them down, and then stows away with them.
The excitement builds as quickly as the action and horror and you will definitely be left wanting more!
Read with caution, The Ojanox is highly addictive!! 🖤
July 18, 2024
A Horror Bookworm Recommendation
The Ojanox Book 1: Scream In The Dark by Daemon Manx
https://horrorbookwormreviews.com/
It’s Fall of 1979, and Garrett Grove is gearing up for a Halloween celebration. However, when a dead body is discovered, a peculiar wound and lack of blood at the crime scene lead to a profound revelation. An evil presence seems to have descended on this little sleepy town where it’s about to get a whole lot worse.
The Ojanox: Book 1 Scream In The Dark by Daemon Manx sets the stage for the beginning of multiple storylines that mutates into one horrific tome. Violations by an unseen force and the fear it brings to the innocent is a whole new level of terror. Scream In The Dark is a creature feature that offers much more than an horrific monster, it’s a close encounter of the parasitic kind. You may never know the beast by its origin…for its name is Ojanox.
This is book one in a four part series of The Ojanox. Pain and anguish will be your tour guide as Manx delivers his fear factory with strange elements of the darkest kind. Its intoxicating atmosphere is a disturbing concept that guarantees the reader one heck of an unsettling good time. Book One, Scream In The Dark, garners a compelling enticement while leaving enough open ends to justify further books. I’m ready to dive into Book Two and see what lurks in the darkness and how this eerie series continues to grow.
Scream In the Dark achieves a real-life haunted house experience full of parasitic abnormalities. I say…let the feeding begin! A Horror Bookworm Recommendation.
The Ojanox Book 1: Scream In The Dark by Daemon Manx
https://horrorbookwormreviews.com/
It’s Fall of 1979, and Garrett Grove is gearing up for a Halloween celebration. However, when a dead body is discovered, a peculiar wound and lack of blood at the crime scene lead to a profound revelation. An evil presence seems to have descended on this little sleepy town where it’s about to get a whole lot worse.
The Ojanox: Book 1 Scream In The Dark by Daemon Manx sets the stage for the beginning of multiple storylines that mutates into one horrific tome. Violations by an unseen force and the fear it brings to the innocent is a whole new level of terror. Scream In The Dark is a creature feature that offers much more than an horrific monster, it’s a close encounter of the parasitic kind. You may never know the beast by its origin…for its name is Ojanox.
This is book one in a four part series of The Ojanox. Pain and anguish will be your tour guide as Manx delivers his fear factory with strange elements of the darkest kind. Its intoxicating atmosphere is a disturbing concept that guarantees the reader one heck of an unsettling good time. Book One, Scream In The Dark, garners a compelling enticement while leaving enough open ends to justify further books. I’m ready to dive into Book Two and see what lurks in the darkness and how this eerie series continues to grow.
Scream In the Dark achieves a real-life haunted house experience full of parasitic abnormalities. I say…let the feeding begin! A Horror Bookworm Recommendation.
April 13, 2024
This story hit the nail on the head for spooky retro vibes. I was swept up in the narrative and descriptions, feeling nostalgia for a time I haven’t even lived (90s baby here).
The author does a great job with the characters and the creature, creating a lot of anxiety and tension for the readers as we see what’s starting to unfold.
Something has awoken in the mountains of Garrett Grove. An insidious and intelligent presence is targeting the townsfolk; no one is safe, not even the children. As Halloween approaches, will there be anyone left to celebrate, or will there only be screams in the darkness as people are taken.
I was a bit bummed about the cliffhanger ending if I’m honest. I felt like things had just amped up and wham! It’s over! At least the next book in the series is available soon, because if you’re like me, things ending abruptly drive me batty! I need answers 😆
The author does a great job with the characters and the creature, creating a lot of anxiety and tension for the readers as we see what’s starting to unfold.
Something has awoken in the mountains of Garrett Grove. An insidious and intelligent presence is targeting the townsfolk; no one is safe, not even the children. As Halloween approaches, will there be anyone left to celebrate, or will there only be screams in the darkness as people are taken.
I was a bit bummed about the cliffhanger ending if I’m honest. I felt like things had just amped up and wham! It’s over! At least the next book in the series is available soon, because if you’re like me, things ending abruptly drive me batty! I need answers 😆
May 7, 2024
ARC Review
One has to hand it Daemon Manx – just when you think you know the type of story he’s going to hit you with, he emerges from the shadows with something decidedly different… and altogether thrilling. Looking at his prior output, one could assume that Manx is, and always planned to be, an author of short fiction only. But, with The Ojanox, he more than proves his mettle with long-form storytelling.
Set in the late 1970s within the Watchung Mountains of New Jersey, The Ojanox is, for all intents and purposes, a time machine in book form. Not only does the story take place in the 70s, Manx manages to make the narrative feel like it was written sometime during that decade as well – as though The Ojanox was only recently unearthed from the bowels of a shuttered bookstore for our reading pleasure. Seeing as how I was weaned on the horror stories from that era, I am in awe with how effectively Manx sets both the scene and the tone. This is one of those books that would have featured prominently in drug store and airport bookshops of the era, sporting an attention grabbing, three-dimensional cover (ridiculously popular at the time, and sorely missed with todays offerings), and featuring a gushing blurb from Dean Koontz or John Saul.
Like many a great epic from decades past (horror or otherwise), The Ojanox is a multi-character affair, with POV representation that spans genders, nationalities, and generations. Some characters get more page time than others, naturally. Sheriff Primrose, Vietnam vet and a cop like his father, makes for a great lead – the stoic everyman with deep emotions buried within, rising to the occasion not simply because of duty, but because of his own sense of honor. Troy Fischer, the son of the sheriff’s former flame, is the kind of kid we all wished we knew when we were that age: excitable, sweetly naïve, but fiercely devoted to friends and family. And then there’s Butchie Post, the mean-spirited SOB that every neighborhood seemed to have back then – angry, dangerous, and entirely unpredictable… like a feral dog wearing human skin.
And there’s plenty of other POVs along for the ride, as well, which a story like this requires. A fair number of events transpire over a limited number of days, and having multiple characters witnessing the events all across the township helps make The Ojanox feel appropriately epic. Manx even manages to make the child characters (of which there are several) both believable and enjoyable, something that many authors (and Hollywood as well) seem to struggle with. Just because they’re young doesn’t mean they’re dumb, and witnessing their awkwardness and determination is one of the book’s highlights.
As far as the villain of the tale is concerned, the less you know the better the reveal will be. We’ll just say that Manx weaves together cosmic horror and natural history in a way that is engaging, unique, and wonderfully unobtrusive.
Also, if you like your books to be full of characters sporting ironclad plot armor, emerging unscathed from each and every calamity that befalls them, then The Ojanox may not be for you. Not everyone makes it out in one piece, which, with a generously-sized ensemble, it exactly how it should be. This is a harsh tale, after all, with dangers lurking around every corner…
As far as mature content goes, The Ojanox has all the right ingredients for a gratuitous 70s grindhouse read-a-thon: boundless bundles of brutality, goops and gobs of gore, a healthy helping of hormone-driven horniness, and enough parallels to real-world problems (then and now) as to be immediately pertinent.
In other words: this book isn’t for those who find themselves easily offended.
In summary, The Ojanox proves that Manx is firing on all cylinders. At the height of his literary powers. There has never been a better time to find yourself in the grip of a little Manxiety. If you love old-school horror, if you love a well-developed ensemble, and if you love being surprised and shocked by plot twists and revelations, then this is the book for you. Come on down to Garrett’s Grove, get to know the inhabitants, and see what all the fuss is about. I have a sneaking suspicion that you won’t be disappointed.
One has to hand it Daemon Manx – just when you think you know the type of story he’s going to hit you with, he emerges from the shadows with something decidedly different… and altogether thrilling. Looking at his prior output, one could assume that Manx is, and always planned to be, an author of short fiction only. But, with The Ojanox, he more than proves his mettle with long-form storytelling.
Set in the late 1970s within the Watchung Mountains of New Jersey, The Ojanox is, for all intents and purposes, a time machine in book form. Not only does the story take place in the 70s, Manx manages to make the narrative feel like it was written sometime during that decade as well – as though The Ojanox was only recently unearthed from the bowels of a shuttered bookstore for our reading pleasure. Seeing as how I was weaned on the horror stories from that era, I am in awe with how effectively Manx sets both the scene and the tone. This is one of those books that would have featured prominently in drug store and airport bookshops of the era, sporting an attention grabbing, three-dimensional cover (ridiculously popular at the time, and sorely missed with todays offerings), and featuring a gushing blurb from Dean Koontz or John Saul.
Like many a great epic from decades past (horror or otherwise), The Ojanox is a multi-character affair, with POV representation that spans genders, nationalities, and generations. Some characters get more page time than others, naturally. Sheriff Primrose, Vietnam vet and a cop like his father, makes for a great lead – the stoic everyman with deep emotions buried within, rising to the occasion not simply because of duty, but because of his own sense of honor. Troy Fischer, the son of the sheriff’s former flame, is the kind of kid we all wished we knew when we were that age: excitable, sweetly naïve, but fiercely devoted to friends and family. And then there’s Butchie Post, the mean-spirited SOB that every neighborhood seemed to have back then – angry, dangerous, and entirely unpredictable… like a feral dog wearing human skin.
And there’s plenty of other POVs along for the ride, as well, which a story like this requires. A fair number of events transpire over a limited number of days, and having multiple characters witnessing the events all across the township helps make The Ojanox feel appropriately epic. Manx even manages to make the child characters (of which there are several) both believable and enjoyable, something that many authors (and Hollywood as well) seem to struggle with. Just because they’re young doesn’t mean they’re dumb, and witnessing their awkwardness and determination is one of the book’s highlights.
As far as the villain of the tale is concerned, the less you know the better the reveal will be. We’ll just say that Manx weaves together cosmic horror and natural history in a way that is engaging, unique, and wonderfully unobtrusive.
Also, if you like your books to be full of characters sporting ironclad plot armor, emerging unscathed from each and every calamity that befalls them, then The Ojanox may not be for you. Not everyone makes it out in one piece, which, with a generously-sized ensemble, it exactly how it should be. This is a harsh tale, after all, with dangers lurking around every corner…
As far as mature content goes, The Ojanox has all the right ingredients for a gratuitous 70s grindhouse read-a-thon: boundless bundles of brutality, goops and gobs of gore, a healthy helping of hormone-driven horniness, and enough parallels to real-world problems (then and now) as to be immediately pertinent.
In other words: this book isn’t for those who find themselves easily offended.
In summary, The Ojanox proves that Manx is firing on all cylinders. At the height of his literary powers. There has never been a better time to find yourself in the grip of a little Manxiety. If you love old-school horror, if you love a well-developed ensemble, and if you love being surprised and shocked by plot twists and revelations, then this is the book for you. Come on down to Garrett’s Grove, get to know the inhabitants, and see what all the fuss is about. I have a sneaking suspicion that you won’t be disappointed.
November 12, 2024
A re-telling of a classic horror trope: The unleashing of an ancient evil.
While I did enjoy the story, I am not vested enough to purchase multiple volumes. The author could benefit from the use of an editor.
In the introduction we learn the book developed quite quickly, amassing more than 500,000 words in the first writing. As such, the writing is not masterful, nor will this book challenge your vocabulary. But this books intent is not to elevate, merely to entertain in the style of 1980s horror: Quantity > Quality, Jump-Scare > Suspense, Gratification > Anticipation. It was a decade of excess and mass consumerism, and this book lives up the “if you print it, they will buy” philosophy.
Cannot recommend, but I do not regret the time spent reading it.
While I did enjoy the story, I am not vested enough to purchase multiple volumes. The author could benefit from the use of an editor.
In the introduction we learn the book developed quite quickly, amassing more than 500,000 words in the first writing. As such, the writing is not masterful, nor will this book challenge your vocabulary. But this books intent is not to elevate, merely to entertain in the style of 1980s horror: Quantity > Quality, Jump-Scare > Suspense, Gratification > Anticipation. It was a decade of excess and mass consumerism, and this book lives up the “if you print it, they will buy” philosophy.
Cannot recommend, but I do not regret the time spent reading it.
May 20, 2024
Daemon Manx's 'Scream In the Dark," the first part of his Ojanox tetralogy (pronounced "Oh-Zja-Nox," according to the book), is brimming with nostalgia for those amazing small-town horror books of the 1980s and the 1990s, some of which actually defined the whole contemporary horror scene and are still enjoyable today. Coupled with the cinematic atmosphere, several hair-raising moments, and the straightforward dialogue (most similar to a family TV series, to be fair), the book is an absolute delight: a complex though easy to follow, imaginative plotline, a large cast, characters you identify with almost immediately, a mysterious threat out of ancient legend - well, the honest, precise writing is just a bonus!
What impressed me most was the easy, somewhat cozy familiarity I felt while reading the book. This is in no way due to lack of originality - on the contrary, Manx has taken the best of small-town horror and crafted a unique, intriguing, hugely promising story that's downright harrowing and disturbing in places. Many times, however, I had the impression that I was watching a Flannagan show, that I was in a "safe place," so to speak, that I would not be disappointed, that I was in the presence of an author with amazing storytelling skills; Manx made everything seem so easy, so natural! The prose was flowing, and the characters acted like people I knew (or would like to!) The book is a definite page-turner, even though you yourself (along with the Sherriff, the coroner, the doctor, the parents and the kids in the book!) have very little understanding of what exactly it all adds up to. This is to be expected: being the first part of a four-volume series, the book explains little, much to the benefit of the story. I for one can't wait to see where the Ojanox series is going next. The first book ends in a sort of a cliffhanger, but, thankfully, Manx has included a link to an excerpt of the second volume.
I really hope everyone enjoys this winner! For readers who love a well-written horror story, this is a must-read!
What impressed me most was the easy, somewhat cozy familiarity I felt while reading the book. This is in no way due to lack of originality - on the contrary, Manx has taken the best of small-town horror and crafted a unique, intriguing, hugely promising story that's downright harrowing and disturbing in places. Many times, however, I had the impression that I was watching a Flannagan show, that I was in a "safe place," so to speak, that I would not be disappointed, that I was in the presence of an author with amazing storytelling skills; Manx made everything seem so easy, so natural! The prose was flowing, and the characters acted like people I knew (or would like to!) The book is a definite page-turner, even though you yourself (along with the Sherriff, the coroner, the doctor, the parents and the kids in the book!) have very little understanding of what exactly it all adds up to. This is to be expected: being the first part of a four-volume series, the book explains little, much to the benefit of the story. I for one can't wait to see where the Ojanox series is going next. The first book ends in a sort of a cliffhanger, but, thankfully, Manx has included a link to an excerpt of the second volume.
I really hope everyone enjoys this winner! For readers who love a well-written horror story, this is a must-read!
May 19, 2024
This book had all the spooky vibes and I LOVED it! This was my first time reading anything by Daemon and it definitely won’t be my last. Okay let’s dive in, shall we? 😈
Brief synopsis:
Scream in the Dark is the first in a 4 book series: The Ojanox. This story takes place in a sleepy town in NY during 1979. This story starts off at a children’s Halloween party but builds towards something sinister and absolutely terrifying. The small town is plagued by strange illnesses and one death after another. Then the bodies start going missing…
Something malevolent has awakened in the mountains and no-one is safe. 🩸🌲🎃👻🕸️
Daemon did an exceptional job writing this story. The plot was absolutely insane, the characters were well-thought out and the multiple POV’s was great because we got different perspectives while facing these horrors. The pacing was great and everything fell into place perfectly. 👏 This had all the nostalgia feels and the fact that it took place during Halloween was *chefs kiss* 🤌 This is a book that is sure to WOW every horror lover. The fact that this is only the first book in the series and we get 3 more is even more exciting!😱We are left on a giant cliffhanger after book one, so I’m looking forward to seeing how this story plays out as the series continues forward. 📚😈
Thank you, Daemon, for this ARC. The Ojanox I: Scream in the Dark (book 1) will be available on July 16, 2024.
Brief synopsis:
Scream in the Dark is the first in a 4 book series: The Ojanox. This story takes place in a sleepy town in NY during 1979. This story starts off at a children’s Halloween party but builds towards something sinister and absolutely terrifying. The small town is plagued by strange illnesses and one death after another. Then the bodies start going missing…
Something malevolent has awakened in the mountains and no-one is safe. 🩸🌲🎃👻🕸️
Daemon did an exceptional job writing this story. The plot was absolutely insane, the characters were well-thought out and the multiple POV’s was great because we got different perspectives while facing these horrors. The pacing was great and everything fell into place perfectly. 👏 This had all the nostalgia feels and the fact that it took place during Halloween was *chefs kiss* 🤌 This is a book that is sure to WOW every horror lover. The fact that this is only the first book in the series and we get 3 more is even more exciting!😱We are left on a giant cliffhanger after book one, so I’m looking forward to seeing how this story plays out as the series continues forward. 📚😈
Thank you, Daemon, for this ARC. The Ojanox I: Scream in the Dark (book 1) will be available on July 16, 2024.
July 18, 2024
For the last year, I've been reading mostly the horror greats from the 80's and 90's. Laymon, Herbert, Hutson, Laws, and the like. That fast paced, fun, but well written horror schlock has been about the only type of horror to really keep my attention when I get into a reading slump.
So when I was working with Daemon Manx during the cover creation of The Ojanox series, I was definitely drawn into the description and the covers we created. We also did interior designs as well and the more I drew and created for this series, the more curious I became about it. I knew I wanted to read it and see what the fuss was about.
I'm not a good book reviewer by any means, but Mand has managed to grasp that feel of books like Rats and The Wyrm while not being out of touch with the references or storytelling. And the story is gripping. His writing style is addictive. The pacing is quick. You'll fly through these pages, excited to read the next part.
Manx's writing style is similar to Laymon, something Jack Wells points out in the foreword. I completely agree. It's very Laymon-esque, just less horny and no rumps in sight, but it's also very uniquely Daemon Manx as well. The characters are easy to differentiate, something that can be difficult to do in large scale books, but he does so flawlessly. They're also so real. Nothing felt cookie cutter about any of them.
I'm not big on spoilers and stuff, so if you read the synopsis and think it sounds intriguing, I guarantee you will love the book. I certainly did.
So when I was working with Daemon Manx during the cover creation of The Ojanox series, I was definitely drawn into the description and the covers we created. We also did interior designs as well and the more I drew and created for this series, the more curious I became about it. I knew I wanted to read it and see what the fuss was about.
I'm not a good book reviewer by any means, but Mand has managed to grasp that feel of books like Rats and The Wyrm while not being out of touch with the references or storytelling. And the story is gripping. His writing style is addictive. The pacing is quick. You'll fly through these pages, excited to read the next part.
Manx's writing style is similar to Laymon, something Jack Wells points out in the foreword. I completely agree. It's very Laymon-esque, just less horny and no rumps in sight, but it's also very uniquely Daemon Manx as well. The characters are easy to differentiate, something that can be difficult to do in large scale books, but he does so flawlessly. They're also so real. Nothing felt cookie cutter about any of them.
I'm not big on spoilers and stuff, so if you read the synopsis and think it sounds intriguing, I guarantee you will love the book. I certainly did.
April 23, 2024
Thank you to Daemon for letting be me an ARC reader.
If you like Stephen King, you'll mostly likely enjoy this one! An ancient evil has begun terrorising a town... No one is safe. Not adults, not children.
Lots of different perspectives really allow the emotion and fear of the town to come through the book and to the reader. Manx does a fantastic job of building up dread and writing some creepy, and brutal scenes!
The story is descriptive, building up character development while also maintaining all the horror expected from this sort of theme. Overall, it's not that long so if you really want, you can feel the fear from beginning to end in just a few sittings.
I hear it's part of a series too! Which makes sense considering that ending!
One for the horror lovers!
If you like Stephen King, you'll mostly likely enjoy this one! An ancient evil has begun terrorising a town... No one is safe. Not adults, not children.
Lots of different perspectives really allow the emotion and fear of the town to come through the book and to the reader. Manx does a fantastic job of building up dread and writing some creepy, and brutal scenes!
The story is descriptive, building up character development while also maintaining all the horror expected from this sort of theme. Overall, it's not that long so if you really want, you can feel the fear from beginning to end in just a few sittings.
I hear it's part of a series too! Which makes sense considering that ending!
One for the horror lovers!
May 25, 2024
Not gonna lie this book was like a bag of maltesers you cannot stop at just one, in this analogy it's the Chapters. With an intense and detailed prologue, we are driven into Garrett Grove. Scenic views, picturistic mountain ranges then BOOM murder! Before I even registered it I was on chapter 9 on my first night reading this addictive snack. Every detail and story development filled me with the nostalgia I get from watching 70s/80s horror.
The coming of age story with Troy and his friends, his bond with his best friend Rob who mysteriously falls ill along with several more children in town.
Has a very plague vibe to it, mixed in with elements of Guillermo del Torros the Strain. Which has the secondary story of something lurking in a cave in the mountains. Which by the way is not far from a derelict hospital? Where Eric and his brother go to get drunk and jiggy with girls?
These are horror tropes that I adore but I feel like Manx was deliberately throwing those in there to deceive me. Lulling me into a false sense of security as he told me through Don Fischer (Troy’s dad) about the recent job they had done. So basically clearing areas to make sure they are ‘safe blast sites', one area of the mountain was cleared for blasting and low and behold they happened to find a cave. Full of ancient relics that may have been a ceremonial burial site? My response immediately was HAVE THESE PEOPLE NEVER SEEN POLTERGEIST, LEAVE ANCIENT BURIAL GROUNDS ALONE!
For One, the characters could not hear my outburst, so it was pointless and two, that movie was released in 1982 and we are based in 1979 with this story.
Either way I was getting angry at imaginary people at stupid o'clock at night because of how immersed I got into this book. Which is always the sign of a strong storyline and also, a great writer when you can become so consumed with the development of the characters. Let me tell you as far as a wide range of engaging characters is concerned, Manx nailed it. The past history of certain characters, the relationships between the families and the kids in general. All flowed pretty naturally and the way each one chapter flows into the other was almost seamless. This is a well crafted story that you can tell Daemon put his heart and soul into. You can feel that coming out of his work with the depths he went to with certain character backgrounds such as Butchie. That was a brutal backstory that showed how the character changed and developed over time in one chapter. The complexity and sheer research into medical situations, police protocol, autopsy procedures gives the story a realistic feel. This story pulled me in with its pace and atmosphere. Like I said, it did not feel like 250 pages because I shot through it in less time than I usually take reading a book this size.
However the story was grabbing my attention big time, I really loved the characters like Dr Malcolm and Sheriff Primrose, with their complex and intricate back stories that really pulled at my heartstrings.
This was not half arsed or came off that way at any point, he outdid himself with this book. Why you ask? That cliffhanger of an ending so now I need to get on book two Ashes to Ashes. Seriously need June 8th to hurry up for the continuation!
The coming of age story with Troy and his friends, his bond with his best friend Rob who mysteriously falls ill along with several more children in town.
Has a very plague vibe to it, mixed in with elements of Guillermo del Torros the Strain. Which has the secondary story of something lurking in a cave in the mountains. Which by the way is not far from a derelict hospital? Where Eric and his brother go to get drunk and jiggy with girls?
These are horror tropes that I adore but I feel like Manx was deliberately throwing those in there to deceive me. Lulling me into a false sense of security as he told me through Don Fischer (Troy’s dad) about the recent job they had done. So basically clearing areas to make sure they are ‘safe blast sites', one area of the mountain was cleared for blasting and low and behold they happened to find a cave. Full of ancient relics that may have been a ceremonial burial site? My response immediately was HAVE THESE PEOPLE NEVER SEEN POLTERGEIST, LEAVE ANCIENT BURIAL GROUNDS ALONE!
For One, the characters could not hear my outburst, so it was pointless and two, that movie was released in 1982 and we are based in 1979 with this story.
Either way I was getting angry at imaginary people at stupid o'clock at night because of how immersed I got into this book. Which is always the sign of a strong storyline and also, a great writer when you can become so consumed with the development of the characters. Let me tell you as far as a wide range of engaging characters is concerned, Manx nailed it. The past history of certain characters, the relationships between the families and the kids in general. All flowed pretty naturally and the way each one chapter flows into the other was almost seamless. This is a well crafted story that you can tell Daemon put his heart and soul into. You can feel that coming out of his work with the depths he went to with certain character backgrounds such as Butchie. That was a brutal backstory that showed how the character changed and developed over time in one chapter. The complexity and sheer research into medical situations, police protocol, autopsy procedures gives the story a realistic feel. This story pulled me in with its pace and atmosphere. Like I said, it did not feel like 250 pages because I shot through it in less time than I usually take reading a book this size.
However the story was grabbing my attention big time, I really loved the characters like Dr Malcolm and Sheriff Primrose, with their complex and intricate back stories that really pulled at my heartstrings.
This was not half arsed or came off that way at any point, he outdid himself with this book. Why you ask? That cliffhanger of an ending so now I need to get on book two Ashes to Ashes. Seriously need June 8th to hurry up for the continuation!
July 16, 2024
Something is definitely wrong in the town of Garrett Grove. It’s 1979 a week before Halloween and Troy has invited his friends over to show off his homemade haunted house (which is honestly pretty bad ass - rat room included).
When his best friend Rob, who got sick before the party, shows up not quite himself (understatement), things go downhill from there. Lemme just say, THIS is old school horror at its best and I loved every word.
Daemon is such an amazing storyteller and this book is my favorite of his (so far).
So nostalgic and creepy as hell, the first installment of The Ojanox: Scream in the Dark is packed with everything I love about horror. There are several scenes that were no joke and I couldn’t read it alone at night. 🤣 Love that for me (and all readers).
Think: teeth falling out and snakes. 😳
No spoilers here but it’s a crazy ancient evil kind of thing ravaging this small town, and it starts with the kids. There is a cliff hanger which I usually hate and didn’t love here but I’m def gonna read the next three in this series. Keep them coming please.
Easy to read and so fun with horror heart and soul, I’m so glad I read this one. Thanks to Daemon for my early copy. Happy pub day friend, you knocked this one out of the park. 😈
When his best friend Rob, who got sick before the party, shows up not quite himself (understatement), things go downhill from there. Lemme just say, THIS is old school horror at its best and I loved every word.
Daemon is such an amazing storyteller and this book is my favorite of his (so far).
So nostalgic and creepy as hell, the first installment of The Ojanox: Scream in the Dark is packed with everything I love about horror. There are several scenes that were no joke and I couldn’t read it alone at night. 🤣 Love that for me (and all readers).
Think: teeth falling out and snakes. 😳
No spoilers here but it’s a crazy ancient evil kind of thing ravaging this small town, and it starts with the kids. There is a cliff hanger which I usually hate and didn’t love here but I’m def gonna read the next three in this series. Keep them coming please.
Easy to read and so fun with horror heart and soul, I’m so glad I read this one. Thanks to Daemon for my early copy. Happy pub day friend, you knocked this one out of the park. 😈
April 30, 2024
I wish I could write a more positive review, but this did not hit for me. It had a lot of ideas and promise but didn’t realize them.
This is the first in a series of four books that are being released a month apart, and they were clearly written as a single story, as the author describes in the beginning. I knew that going in, so I wasn’t surprised, and yet still there is some disappointment. When you serialize a release there should be at least some self-contained element in the story, even if it is basically setting up for something larger. There is nothing like that here. This is clearly the first act that doesn’t even try to feel like a fully formed story, even one setting up for something else. It literally feels like a random page number or chapter count was reached and that is where the story was split apart. Again, I knew going in that this wasn’t a complete story, but I didn’t anticipate just how abrupt it would be. If you this going in, that the ending point feels arbitrary and that you really need to read all four in the series to have a single story, then I imagine it won’t be a problem.
Let me start with what I enjoyed, because this might be enough to bring some folks to the title(s). The author takes a very bird’s eye approach, moving all around this small town, which is a very nice way to develop the environment and pace the story. It reminded me of some vintage Stephen King in that way. We dropped in on more than a handful of different characters and would flit about, following each for a while before moving on, and seeing how this singular event in their town is spreading and affecting everyone. I also like that, even in this opening act of the story, there is no hesitancy to start the body count. Lots of stories will body a random person in the prologue and then thread you along until you’re about 2/3 of the way through before the bodies really start falling, or, less euphemistically, before the characters really start experiencing the effects of whatever antagonist they’re facing. That’s not the case here, and it is refreshing. It raises the stakes and that is compelling. Lastly, the ancient evil seems interesting enough. We don’t know enough about it, it could still fall into boring/unimaginative territory, but for now it seems to be a few different mythological ideas put together and it is exciting. (Really, the development in the later books will determine how fun this ancient evil really is as the story’s big bad).
So, what’s less than awesome? Firstly, and this might be the kind of fundamental difficulty, was that the writing itself felt somewhere between clunky and uninspired. We moved between so many characters that the style of prose felt like an author’s bio at the back of a book. It was kind of plain and didactic and felt like it was from a technical manual. There are a few occasions where it got more stylized, but this just felt out of place, in context, it felt like it was effortful, or trying too hard. I generally would rather err on the side of stripped back prose than purple prose, but here it didn’t inspire any real excitement or feeling. Added to that is what I felt were rather generic characters, and a lack of narrative focus. We met a lot of characters, and many of them were given random assortments of facts that served as their backstories, but ultimately they felt like the archetypical expectations of who would populate a small town. None of them felt particularly genuine or lived-in, but just there to meet the expectation of the role. This is where the writing style and the constant movement between characters didn’t do the story any favors. If the prose was more stylized then we might have felt more emotions in relation to these characters, we may have had more to grab onto when exploring their lives. But the dry delivery combined with almost biographic explanations meant I wasn’t drawn to any of them. And, seemingly, neither was the author, because it is hard to pinpoint who is the central, or central-adjacent, character. Even when the story really is about the whole town, and jumps around, we need at least one person that we can really identify with and experience the story along with. In this kind of story, it would usually be the local sheriff or the young child at the beginning of the conflict, and we do spend time with both of them, but not enough to distinguish them as more central than anyone else, really. I never felt like I was going on a journey with anyone, because the characters all felt flat and none of them stood out as audience surrogate (or as being anywhere adjacent to audience surrogate). Between what felt like flat writing, uninspired characters, and a somewhat absent narrative thrust, and add in maybe just a little racism (when this ancient evil is released it muses to itself that the humans in the world now are much more “intellectually evolved” than the ones who had locked it, presumably the Lenape indigenous peoples, who are frequently mentioned throughout the story) and I came really close to DNF’ing this story. The only thing that stopped me was it did move quickly, and given the pacing I was interested to see how this part of the story would end to set up for something more in book two (only to find out this part of the story doesn’t really end, as I mentioned already).
It is hard for me to recommend this. It is following a tried and tested trope; an ancient evil is accidentally released and wreaks havoc on a small town. There is a lot of gold to mine there, and Manx has definitely shown that he sees that gold, he knows it is there, I just didn’t feel like the story was particularly successful in taking the next step to mine any of it. It might be the case that reading the other parts redeem this one, but that would just go to show that it wasn’t wise to split the story into various publications in the way it was split. If you really like “small town in distress” vibes then you might have fun here, it just didn’t come together for me.
I want to thank the author, the publisher Last Waltz Publishing, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is the first in a series of four books that are being released a month apart, and they were clearly written as a single story, as the author describes in the beginning. I knew that going in, so I wasn’t surprised, and yet still there is some disappointment. When you serialize a release there should be at least some self-contained element in the story, even if it is basically setting up for something larger. There is nothing like that here. This is clearly the first act that doesn’t even try to feel like a fully formed story, even one setting up for something else. It literally feels like a random page number or chapter count was reached and that is where the story was split apart. Again, I knew going in that this wasn’t a complete story, but I didn’t anticipate just how abrupt it would be. If you this going in, that the ending point feels arbitrary and that you really need to read all four in the series to have a single story, then I imagine it won’t be a problem.
Let me start with what I enjoyed, because this might be enough to bring some folks to the title(s). The author takes a very bird’s eye approach, moving all around this small town, which is a very nice way to develop the environment and pace the story. It reminded me of some vintage Stephen King in that way. We dropped in on more than a handful of different characters and would flit about, following each for a while before moving on, and seeing how this singular event in their town is spreading and affecting everyone. I also like that, even in this opening act of the story, there is no hesitancy to start the body count. Lots of stories will body a random person in the prologue and then thread you along until you’re about 2/3 of the way through before the bodies really start falling, or, less euphemistically, before the characters really start experiencing the effects of whatever antagonist they’re facing. That’s not the case here, and it is refreshing. It raises the stakes and that is compelling. Lastly, the ancient evil seems interesting enough. We don’t know enough about it, it could still fall into boring/unimaginative territory, but for now it seems to be a few different mythological ideas put together and it is exciting. (Really, the development in the later books will determine how fun this ancient evil really is as the story’s big bad).
So, what’s less than awesome? Firstly, and this might be the kind of fundamental difficulty, was that the writing itself felt somewhere between clunky and uninspired. We moved between so many characters that the style of prose felt like an author’s bio at the back of a book. It was kind of plain and didactic and felt like it was from a technical manual. There are a few occasions where it got more stylized, but this just felt out of place, in context, it felt like it was effortful, or trying too hard. I generally would rather err on the side of stripped back prose than purple prose, but here it didn’t inspire any real excitement or feeling. Added to that is what I felt were rather generic characters, and a lack of narrative focus. We met a lot of characters, and many of them were given random assortments of facts that served as their backstories, but ultimately they felt like the archetypical expectations of who would populate a small town. None of them felt particularly genuine or lived-in, but just there to meet the expectation of the role. This is where the writing style and the constant movement between characters didn’t do the story any favors. If the prose was more stylized then we might have felt more emotions in relation to these characters, we may have had more to grab onto when exploring their lives. But the dry delivery combined with almost biographic explanations meant I wasn’t drawn to any of them. And, seemingly, neither was the author, because it is hard to pinpoint who is the central, or central-adjacent, character. Even when the story really is about the whole town, and jumps around, we need at least one person that we can really identify with and experience the story along with. In this kind of story, it would usually be the local sheriff or the young child at the beginning of the conflict, and we do spend time with both of them, but not enough to distinguish them as more central than anyone else, really. I never felt like I was going on a journey with anyone, because the characters all felt flat and none of them stood out as audience surrogate (or as being anywhere adjacent to audience surrogate). Between what felt like flat writing, uninspired characters, and a somewhat absent narrative thrust, and add in maybe just a little racism (when this ancient evil is released it muses to itself that the humans in the world now are much more “intellectually evolved” than the ones who had locked it, presumably the Lenape indigenous peoples, who are frequently mentioned throughout the story) and I came really close to DNF’ing this story. The only thing that stopped me was it did move quickly, and given the pacing I was interested to see how this part of the story would end to set up for something more in book two (only to find out this part of the story doesn’t really end, as I mentioned already).
It is hard for me to recommend this. It is following a tried and tested trope; an ancient evil is accidentally released and wreaks havoc on a small town. There is a lot of gold to mine there, and Manx has definitely shown that he sees that gold, he knows it is there, I just didn’t feel like the story was particularly successful in taking the next step to mine any of it. It might be the case that reading the other parts redeem this one, but that would just go to show that it wasn’t wise to split the story into various publications in the way it was split. If you really like “small town in distress” vibes then you might have fun here, it just didn’t come together for me.
I want to thank the author, the publisher Last Waltz Publishing, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 27, 2025
This story starts in a small New York town. The year is 1979. It's the season when children are excited about Halloween 🎃 , costumes, sweets, etc. This little town of Garret Grove which is situated not far from the Watchung Mountains. The people who live there are mostly on a first name basis. Everyone knows everyone's business.
The characters Troy and his best friend Rob, with the descriptions of them both, I found that I got attached to them. Both of them have made a Halloween attraction in Troys garage, so that the other children they know are going round to Troys, it goes very well all of them were scared 😨😨 it scared the crap out of them it was amazing. Rob becomes very unwell later, but weirdly, he is not the only child in the town. Why are they falling so ill?
The story has it all. It was well written and flowed very well. Creepiness, compelling, lots of icky bits not for anyone with a weak stomach, supernatural elements with folklore. There is an ancient evil lurking in the mountains and has awakened .... it's hungry!!! Will it prey on those who are weak? The town's residents don't have any idea what is happening, especially to the children. The evil that is lurking in the shadows is super agile and hungry for any human that gets in its way.
It was a fun, fast read for me, and for any avid horror reader, it had it all and kept me booked throughout. The ending ... shock, horror, oh my, NOT FAIR!!! Oh dear, there was one scene hissssssing scene really freaked me out lol 🐍🐍!! Can't wait to find out what happens next in book 2. Loved it!! A cracking read!!!
The characters Troy and his best friend Rob, with the descriptions of them both, I found that I got attached to them. Both of them have made a Halloween attraction in Troys garage, so that the other children they know are going round to Troys, it goes very well all of them were scared 😨😨 it scared the crap out of them it was amazing. Rob becomes very unwell later, but weirdly, he is not the only child in the town. Why are they falling so ill?
The story has it all. It was well written and flowed very well. Creepiness, compelling, lots of icky bits not for anyone with a weak stomach, supernatural elements with folklore. There is an ancient evil lurking in the mountains and has awakened .... it's hungry!!! Will it prey on those who are weak? The town's residents don't have any idea what is happening, especially to the children. The evil that is lurking in the shadows is super agile and hungry for any human that gets in its way.
It was a fun, fast read for me, and for any avid horror reader, it had it all and kept me booked throughout. The ending ... shock, horror, oh my, NOT FAIR!!! Oh dear, there was one scene hissssssing scene really freaked me out lol 🐍🐍!! Can't wait to find out what happens next in book 2. Loved it!! A cracking read!!!
July 17, 2024
This story is a fabulous trip down memory lane for us Gen X folks. Manx does a brilliant job telling us the story through a kid’s eyes and experiences.
Troy is a kid who loves Halloween and has created a surprise for his friends who attend his party. Little does he know that an ancient evil has awakened and is hungry. Hungry for people, but prefers the essence of innocence.
Manx introduces us to multiple characters that are easily placed in our minds. This story really took me back to my childhood and all the great memories that we had in a different time. This is a fun story with plenty of horror intertwined.
This is a series I’m definitely looking forward to finishing! Go out now and grab this gem!
Troy is a kid who loves Halloween and has created a surprise for his friends who attend his party. Little does he know that an ancient evil has awakened and is hungry. Hungry for people, but prefers the essence of innocence.
Manx introduces us to multiple characters that are easily placed in our minds. This story really took me back to my childhood and all the great memories that we had in a different time. This is a fun story with plenty of horror intertwined.
This is a series I’m definitely looking forward to finishing! Go out now and grab this gem!
August 18, 2024
The Ojanox- Book 1, Scream In The Dark is an amazing thriller/horror book! The premise of the story is unique and very interesting. I loved reading about the different characters, their lives, and how they are intertwined together in the small town. Taking place around Halloween, and the 70’s/80’s era, is an added bonus for the awesome creepiness factor.
This is my first book from this author and I really enjoy his writing style. The book is very well written.
This is book 1 in a series of 4. I can’t wait to read book 2!!
Thank you to NetGalley for an ecopy of this fantastic and creepy book!
This is my first book from this author and I really enjoy his writing style. The book is very well written.
This is book 1 in a series of 4. I can’t wait to read book 2!!
Thank you to NetGalley for an ecopy of this fantastic and creepy book!
July 16, 2024
I looked forward to reading this book since it was announced. The book impressed me greatly. I wasn't born in the 70s but I've seen horror movies from that time period. Let me tell you that this book has that vibe.
An ancient creature is terrorizing a small community and no one knows what it is. The book gives me mini series vibes like the ones I saw when I was a kid.
It starts off slow but quickly picks up the pace and never really stops. The hype for the book was warranted. Now I need to wait for book two. What a ride it's been so far.
An ancient creature is terrorizing a small community and no one knows what it is. The book gives me mini series vibes like the ones I saw when I was a kid.
It starts off slow but quickly picks up the pace and never really stops. The hype for the book was warranted. Now I need to wait for book two. What a ride it's been so far.
June 28, 2024
It’s the late 70s in the small town of Garrett Grove, and it’s Halloween season. This is all it took to gain my interest. This book was absolutely gripping! It doesn’t take long to be pulled into the story. If the great characters don’t grab you, the descriptive writing and mystery will. Manx nailed the small-town vibe and the nostalgic feel of 70s/80s horror. He really did an amazing job with this, and I cannot wait for the next book!
August 12, 2024
This is book 1 in what will be a 4 book series. This book has everything I love in a horror book. Small town horror, nostalgia, something sinister, and so much more. Daemon Manx is truly an amazing storyteller. His characters and the way he sets the scene in the book just really connect with the reader and draw them in. I'm looking forward to the rest of this series.
June 1, 2025
A strong start to a throwback horror series with serious Stranger Things and early Stephen King energy. Set in a small town in 1979, it’s full of atmosphere, well-paced suspense, and genuinely creepy moments. Looking forward to book 2.
October 16, 2024
A really fun read for the Halloween season: creepy, Gen X nostalgic, and well written. I had trouble putting it down!
March 1, 2025
This book has everything. History and ancient diety, scientists, old school cops (like harper from stranger things), young childhood crushes and imagination (also similar to strnager things), adult love and what ifs, demonic possession.
The only negative point would be that you get to the end on a cliff hanger starving for more...but then you instantly grab the next book and continue the story!
The only negative point would be that you get to the end on a cliff hanger starving for more...but then you instantly grab the next book and continue the story!
April 10, 2024
"There is a presence, delivered on the breeze, that only shows itself on Halloween. You feel it in the shiver crawling up your spine and hear it in the rustle of fallen leaves." ~Lois Fischer
Nestled in New York is the small town of Garrett Grove where they love Halloween and nearly every lawn is decked to the nines with everyone trying to outdo the other. There is a sense of community that resonates throughout this story even as the tension builds. Even after all the things that happen during Scream in the Dark this still feels like my dream town. Our story begins with a citizen named Felix who normally works the night shift. He enjoys his overtime hours but little does he know he's in for the night of his life.
What follows is a tale of intricately woven characters who make the small town of Garrett Grove all the more special. When an unexpected sickness begins to befall the children of the Grove the local doctor is stumped. What begins as the flu is turning into much much more. I am huge into scary movies from the 70s that feature unknown creatures that make themselves known as the movie goes forward. They always make me feel the nostalgia of sitting with my mom before she passed away with a bowl of buttery popcorn trying to decide when to close my eyes. The Ojanox is that creature. You get filled with a sense of dread from beginning to end and there are times I want to close my eyes here, but I could not. I have always been a fan of Daemon Manx due to way he tells his story. He is so descriptive and every detail ties together leaving you always want more. Let me just say. I want more. I can not wait for the next part of this journey. If you love well written characters, an amazing story line, and to look over your shoulder after reading this one is for you. I will leave you with this amazing excerpt from the book.
"There is a presence, delivered on the breeze, that only shows itself on Halloween. You feel it in the shiver crawling up your spine and hear it in the rustle of fallen leaves. A menacing darkness has entered the town, and it knows where you live. It lurks in the shadows, it hides in the woods, waiting for you to do the shortcut through the graveyard. It holds no physical form but watches through the eyes of the jack-o'-lanterns as you make your way home from school. It circles from above, waiting for you to trip and loose your footing. Then it strikes."
Will you be the one it strikes next?
Nestled in New York is the small town of Garrett Grove where they love Halloween and nearly every lawn is decked to the nines with everyone trying to outdo the other. There is a sense of community that resonates throughout this story even as the tension builds. Even after all the things that happen during Scream in the Dark this still feels like my dream town. Our story begins with a citizen named Felix who normally works the night shift. He enjoys his overtime hours but little does he know he's in for the night of his life.
What follows is a tale of intricately woven characters who make the small town of Garrett Grove all the more special. When an unexpected sickness begins to befall the children of the Grove the local doctor is stumped. What begins as the flu is turning into much much more. I am huge into scary movies from the 70s that feature unknown creatures that make themselves known as the movie goes forward. They always make me feel the nostalgia of sitting with my mom before she passed away with a bowl of buttery popcorn trying to decide when to close my eyes. The Ojanox is that creature. You get filled with a sense of dread from beginning to end and there are times I want to close my eyes here, but I could not. I have always been a fan of Daemon Manx due to way he tells his story. He is so descriptive and every detail ties together leaving you always want more. Let me just say. I want more. I can not wait for the next part of this journey. If you love well written characters, an amazing story line, and to look over your shoulder after reading this one is for you. I will leave you with this amazing excerpt from the book.
"There is a presence, delivered on the breeze, that only shows itself on Halloween. You feel it in the shiver crawling up your spine and hear it in the rustle of fallen leaves. A menacing darkness has entered the town, and it knows where you live. It lurks in the shadows, it hides in the woods, waiting for you to do the shortcut through the graveyard. It holds no physical form but watches through the eyes of the jack-o'-lanterns as you make your way home from school. It circles from above, waiting for you to trip and loose your footing. Then it strikes."
Will you be the one it strikes next?
April 24, 2024
Cosmic horror is a genre that is not easily written or portrayed. The horrors in the tales often include those that can not be seen or are hard to describe/comprehend. Having said that, let me say that Daemon Manx got it right in The Ojanox I: Scream in the Dark! The story begins on Halloween in 1979 which, right away, increases the creep-factor of the whole setting. The small New York town in which The Ojanox takes place is rocked by the strange occurrences that begin on this night. From illness to missing bodies, and supernatural creatures to maniacs in the making, this book has everything you could possibly want in a cosmic horrorfest! Never once did I get bored with the filler in between the action because it is all important to the plot and kept me on the edge of my seat. The characters are well rounded and each story line that will, at one point, culminate into an unbridled, knotted chain of chaos, is written in such a way that it is easy to keep up with the side stories and the main one without getting too lost in all the madness. I am really looking forward to the next installments and I am looking forward to becoming increasingly fearful of the The Ojanox!
April 25, 2024
The Ojanox is a horror like horror should be. It’s creepy and slowly crawls into your mind.
The whole host of characters are coming into full blown beings. The shadow I’m sure is going to be a full on nightmare.
This is just the first in the series! I’m on edge waiting for the others.
The whole host of characters are coming into full blown beings. The shadow I’m sure is going to be a full on nightmare.
This is just the first in the series! I’m on edge waiting for the others.
August 19, 2025
I think this is 23/32 for the indie brawl and I'm totally running out of time to read the other books.
I really don't like the cover of this book and never would have picked it up because I, like most people, totally judge books by the cover. However, I did read it and I have quite a few thoughts. I think reading this right after Helloween by Duncan Ralston was a mistake because the books have a similar plot. The general story is that an entity is released shortly before Halloween, causing chaos in a small town. The Ojanox was published first, and the differences are distinct enough that It's not like Helloween copied this book. I just wouldn't recommend reading these one after another because you can't help but compare. I'd say that The Ojanox has a more serious tone, and the campiness is more minimal.
Anyways, I really liked the way this book started out. We get our first glimpse of the entity basically right away (but without giving too much away) and then we get to focus on a kids halloween party, which I enjoyed a lot. Troy's homemade haunted house was fun. I enjoyed all the information we got during that section about Troy's different relationships with other characters. Information was revealed in a way that felt really natural.
Then the book starts jumping around between a ton of different perspectives. Similar to my complaints about Helloween, there's just a lot of characters when you're trying to involve a whole town. The Ojanox wasn't as confusing, but I definitely still struggled a little but with who's who.
There were a few scenes that were quite spooky. I really liked
I didn't end up loving this book for a few reasons:
1. The author removes pretty much all the mystery from the book because everything is revealed to the reader before the characters. This happens because we will learn something though one characters perspective and then they don't share this information with everyone else (sometimes for good reason and sometimes not). I enjoyed the beginning where we experienced some strange things through the eyes of the kids. I even enjoyed when the doctors started to see some bizarre developments with the kids who were admitted. When we started to get sections from the perspective of the entity, the mystery was gone. We suddenly know the entity, it's motives, and how it works. I don't love when I know significantly more than the characters because it just makes me annoyed with their behavior.
2. I knew this was part of a series, but I didn't enjoy the way the novel was structured. We spend some time getting to know a lot of characters, their links to each other, and their history, which is nice, however it makes for a very fragmented story. I'm sure the pieces will come together eventually, but this book didn't feels like it had a beginning, middle, and end. It just felt like a beginning. It ends with a "to be continued" pretty much right in the middle of the action. Some people might consider that a cliffhanger, but it wasn't because we didn't end on a brand new revelation or a main character being in danger. Also, some characters were introduced but did nothing in the story yet and I feel like it may have been better to wait and introduce them later when they might matter more. I'm thinking of the priest.
3. This book trades horror for action part way through. Some people might like that. I prefer my horror to be atmospheric, shrouded in mystery, and having a serious sense of danger. People were killed off a little too fast for me.
4. It gets a little goofy. During most of the kills, I kept thinking of This book seemed like it would have a more serious tone than Helloween, which it mostly does, until they go and do something like that.
5. I really didn't like Butchie's character. He seems totally unnecessary and exists just to be shocking and uncomfortable.
If I'm going to keep comparing this to Helloween, I'll say that The Ojanox is a more compelling entity. While I hated the chapters from it's perspective, I do find it more interesting. I like that the cast of characters isn't too big. I enjoyed that the author did a reasonably good job explaining the geography of the town so we know whereabouts we are. I liked the writing. There wasn't a time during this book that I was bored, but I don't know if I'll continue with this series just because I wasn't into the direction it was going at the end.
I really don't like the cover of this book and never would have picked it up because I, like most people, totally judge books by the cover. However, I did read it and I have quite a few thoughts. I think reading this right after Helloween by Duncan Ralston was a mistake because the books have a similar plot. The general story is that an entity is released shortly before Halloween, causing chaos in a small town. The Ojanox was published first, and the differences are distinct enough that It's not like Helloween copied this book. I just wouldn't recommend reading these one after another because you can't help but compare. I'd say that The Ojanox has a more serious tone, and the campiness is more minimal.
Anyways, I really liked the way this book started out. We get our first glimpse of the entity basically right away (but without giving too much away) and then we get to focus on a kids halloween party, which I enjoyed a lot. Troy's homemade haunted house was fun. I enjoyed all the information we got during that section about Troy's different relationships with other characters. Information was revealed in a way that felt really natural.
Then the book starts jumping around between a ton of different perspectives. Similar to my complaints about Helloween, there's just a lot of characters when you're trying to involve a whole town. The Ojanox wasn't as confusing, but I definitely still struggled a little but with who's who.
There were a few scenes that were quite spooky. I really liked
I didn't end up loving this book for a few reasons:
1. The author removes pretty much all the mystery from the book because everything is revealed to the reader before the characters. This happens because we will learn something though one characters perspective and then they don't share this information with everyone else (sometimes for good reason and sometimes not). I enjoyed the beginning where we experienced some strange things through the eyes of the kids. I even enjoyed when the doctors started to see some bizarre developments with the kids who were admitted. When we started to get sections from the perspective of the entity, the mystery was gone. We suddenly know the entity, it's motives, and how it works. I don't love when I know significantly more than the characters because it just makes me annoyed with their behavior.
2. I knew this was part of a series, but I didn't enjoy the way the novel was structured. We spend some time getting to know a lot of characters, their links to each other, and their history, which is nice, however it makes for a very fragmented story. I'm sure the pieces will come together eventually, but this book didn't feels like it had a beginning, middle, and end. It just felt like a beginning. It ends with a "to be continued" pretty much right in the middle of the action. Some people might consider that a cliffhanger, but it wasn't because we didn't end on a brand new revelation or a main character being in danger. Also, some characters were introduced but did nothing in the story yet and I feel like it may have been better to wait and introduce them later when they might matter more. I'm thinking of the priest.
3. This book trades horror for action part way through. Some people might like that. I prefer my horror to be atmospheric, shrouded in mystery, and having a serious sense of danger. People were killed off a little too fast for me.
4. It gets a little goofy. During most of the kills, I kept thinking of This book seemed like it would have a more serious tone than Helloween, which it mostly does, until they go and do something like that.
5. I really didn't like Butchie's character. He seems totally unnecessary and exists just to be shocking and uncomfortable.
If I'm going to keep comparing this to Helloween, I'll say that The Ojanox is a more compelling entity. While I hated the chapters from it's perspective, I do find it more interesting. I like that the cast of characters isn't too big. I enjoyed that the author did a reasonably good job explaining the geography of the town so we know whereabouts we are. I liked the writing. There wasn't a time during this book that I was bored, but I don't know if I'll continue with this series just because I wasn't into the direction it was going at the end.
September 30, 2024
Spooky Good
5 Star Rating
4 Skull Dread Rating
lost review from my post on July 21, 2024
Book 1 in The Ojanox 4-part series: Scream in the Dark by Daemon Manx
The Ojanox I: Scream in the Dark snagged me from the get-go with its '80s horror vibes in full swing and the spooky appeal of Garrett Grove at Halloween. Toe-curling horror, nail-biting tension, and poignancy melt into one coming-of-age tale. It is a masterful blend that keeps you fully hooked from beginning to end.
Picture Garrett Grove in full Halloween swing, jack-o - lanterns flickering on every doorstep, the crisp autumn air alive with promise, and an undercurrent of unease so real you can feel it like a shiver. And Troy Fischer, with his infectious love for Halloween and his haunted attraction, Scream in the Dark, suddenly found himself facing more than just playful scares. Strange and unsettling events are set in motion, children fall desperately sick, and a crack in the facade of the idyllic Garrett Grove opens to show its dark secrets that have stayed hidden for far too long. This paves the way for an epic battle: one of innocence and ancient evil, hell-bent on consuming everything in its path.
The story contains highly intense elements that keep pounding with heart-rending regularity: fear, evil, and the unknown. It's not only about the supernatural lurking in the shadows, though there's plenty of that. It's more about what happens when the force of these collides with the genuine fears and struggles of the characters. Garrett Grove's vibe transforms dramatically as unsettling events unravel, exposing the eerie underbelly beneath the festive surface, which, at first so idyllic, becomes a terrifying playground where every corner holds chilling secrets.
Every twist of the plot leaves you gasping for more.
Tension and mystery hang like a noose over the text, creating a vibrant picture in the mind that makes one feel like they are walking in the dark alongside the characters.
The characters are what connected me to the story. They are vibrant and real. Troy is energetic, and his enthusiasm for Halloween is infectious, but then there's Buckie. Buckie isn't just another villain or a run-of-the-mill antagonist; oh, no. He is something far more sinister, a psychopath haunting the dark alleyways of Garrett Grove. His eerie interactions and sinister schemes add a spine-chilling layer to the tale; every meeting with him pulses suspensefully.
Enhancing the character lineup, quirky coroner Burt Lively and Sheriff Carl Primrose, who are all business, struggle through their investigations while Doctors Ethan Ziegler and John Malcolm look for answers to the cause of the children's illnesses.
Daemon Manx's writing immerses you in Garrett Grove with vivid descriptions and evocative prose. You can almost feel the autumn breeze and hear the whisper of secrets in the night. The atmosphere is rich in detail and suspense, enveloping you in a world where every shadow hides a potential threat. Manx masterfully crafts a sense of dread that grows with each page, creating an eerie, unsettling environment. The relentless suspense builds with every twisty turn and revelation, making you feel as if you are right there alongside the characters. The mood is not just about the scares but about creating a world so immersive that you feel you are right there in the heart of the story, experiencing the fear and anticipation firsthand.
The Ojanox I: Scream in the Dark struck a chord with me. It is the essence of what a horror book should be. The story is a creepy read, yet it is so much more; it's a path into human fears and the resilience needed to face them. The unsettling atmosphere and continuous tension kept me on the edge of my seat, and the cliffhanger ending left me eager to uncover more secrets haunting Garrett Grove. — creepy, intense, and unforgettable.
The Ojanox I: Scream in the Dark is a chilling exploration of fear, evil, and the unknown in the haunting town of Garrett Grove. Daemon Manx's evocative prose and vivid descriptions create an immersive narrative that delves deep into the supernatural and the human psyche. This novel is a must-read for horror enthusiasts, offering a journey into the darkest corners of fear and the strength needed to confront it. So, brace yourself to be lost in the eerie embrace of Garrett Grove. It is going to be a memory you will never forget. I can't wait to see where Daemon Manx takes us next in Garrett Grove.
The Ojanox I: Scream in the Dark (The Ojanox Series Book 1)
The Ojanox II: Ashes to Ashes (The Ojanox Series Book 2) Releasing August 6, 2024
The Ojanox III: All Fall Down (The Ojanox Series Book 3) Releasing September 3, 2024
The Ojanox IV: Lonesome Mountain (The Ojanox Series Book 4) Releasing October 1, 2024
5 Star Rating
4 Skull Dread Rating
lost review from my post on July 21, 2024
Book 1 in The Ojanox 4-part series: Scream in the Dark by Daemon Manx
The Ojanox I: Scream in the Dark snagged me from the get-go with its '80s horror vibes in full swing and the spooky appeal of Garrett Grove at Halloween. Toe-curling horror, nail-biting tension, and poignancy melt into one coming-of-age tale. It is a masterful blend that keeps you fully hooked from beginning to end.
Picture Garrett Grove in full Halloween swing, jack-o - lanterns flickering on every doorstep, the crisp autumn air alive with promise, and an undercurrent of unease so real you can feel it like a shiver. And Troy Fischer, with his infectious love for Halloween and his haunted attraction, Scream in the Dark, suddenly found himself facing more than just playful scares. Strange and unsettling events are set in motion, children fall desperately sick, and a crack in the facade of the idyllic Garrett Grove opens to show its dark secrets that have stayed hidden for far too long. This paves the way for an epic battle: one of innocence and ancient evil, hell-bent on consuming everything in its path.
The story contains highly intense elements that keep pounding with heart-rending regularity: fear, evil, and the unknown. It's not only about the supernatural lurking in the shadows, though there's plenty of that. It's more about what happens when the force of these collides with the genuine fears and struggles of the characters. Garrett Grove's vibe transforms dramatically as unsettling events unravel, exposing the eerie underbelly beneath the festive surface, which, at first so idyllic, becomes a terrifying playground where every corner holds chilling secrets.
Every twist of the plot leaves you gasping for more.
Tension and mystery hang like a noose over the text, creating a vibrant picture in the mind that makes one feel like they are walking in the dark alongside the characters.
The characters are what connected me to the story. They are vibrant and real. Troy is energetic, and his enthusiasm for Halloween is infectious, but then there's Buckie. Buckie isn't just another villain or a run-of-the-mill antagonist; oh, no. He is something far more sinister, a psychopath haunting the dark alleyways of Garrett Grove. His eerie interactions and sinister schemes add a spine-chilling layer to the tale; every meeting with him pulses suspensefully.
Enhancing the character lineup, quirky coroner Burt Lively and Sheriff Carl Primrose, who are all business, struggle through their investigations while Doctors Ethan Ziegler and John Malcolm look for answers to the cause of the children's illnesses.
Daemon Manx's writing immerses you in Garrett Grove with vivid descriptions and evocative prose. You can almost feel the autumn breeze and hear the whisper of secrets in the night. The atmosphere is rich in detail and suspense, enveloping you in a world where every shadow hides a potential threat. Manx masterfully crafts a sense of dread that grows with each page, creating an eerie, unsettling environment. The relentless suspense builds with every twisty turn and revelation, making you feel as if you are right there alongside the characters. The mood is not just about the scares but about creating a world so immersive that you feel you are right there in the heart of the story, experiencing the fear and anticipation firsthand.
The Ojanox I: Scream in the Dark struck a chord with me. It is the essence of what a horror book should be. The story is a creepy read, yet it is so much more; it's a path into human fears and the resilience needed to face them. The unsettling atmosphere and continuous tension kept me on the edge of my seat, and the cliffhanger ending left me eager to uncover more secrets haunting Garrett Grove. — creepy, intense, and unforgettable.
The Ojanox I: Scream in the Dark is a chilling exploration of fear, evil, and the unknown in the haunting town of Garrett Grove. Daemon Manx's evocative prose and vivid descriptions create an immersive narrative that delves deep into the supernatural and the human psyche. This novel is a must-read for horror enthusiasts, offering a journey into the darkest corners of fear and the strength needed to confront it. So, brace yourself to be lost in the eerie embrace of Garrett Grove. It is going to be a memory you will never forget. I can't wait to see where Daemon Manx takes us next in Garrett Grove.
The Ojanox I: Scream in the Dark (The Ojanox Series Book 1)
The Ojanox II: Ashes to Ashes (The Ojanox Series Book 2) Releasing August 6, 2024
The Ojanox III: All Fall Down (The Ojanox Series Book 3) Releasing September 3, 2024
The Ojanox IV: Lonesome Mountain (The Ojanox Series Book 4) Releasing October 1, 2024
Displaying 1 - 30 of 134 reviews