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The Sorrows #2
Castle of Sorrows
You can’t escape the creature in the catacombs! A year ago composer Ben Shadeland traveled to the Sorrows, a reportedly haunted island off the California coast, to find inspiration for a horror movie music score. Instead, he found madness, murder, and an ancient evil. His family barely survived the nightmare, and Ben swore he’d never return to the island or its accursed castle. Now Ben’s infant daughter has been kidnapped and Ben is convinced that the malevolent creature that lives in the catacombs beneath Castle Blackwood is responsible. Ben joins three federal agents, a sultry medium, and others in an attempt to save his daughter. But what awaits them is far worse than they ever imagined. The creature—an ancient god named Gabriel—has grown more powerful than ever. It has summoned unspeakable monsters to the island—both human and supernatural. And Gabriel won’t rest until he has his revenge.
346 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2014
10 people are currently reading
927 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan Janz
60 books2,078 followersJonathan Janz is an author and public schoolteacher. His sci-fi horror novel VEIL is now available, and you can find his story "Lenora" in THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT: NEW TALES OF STEPHEN KING'S THE STAND. He’s represented for Film & TV by Adam Kolbrenner of Lit Entertainment, and his literary agent is Lane Heymont. His ghost story The Siren and the Specter was selected as a Goodreads Choice nominee for Best Horror. Additionally, his novels Children of the Dark and The Dark Game were chosen by Booklist and Library Journal as Top Ten Horror Books of the Year. Jonathan’s main interests are his wonderful wife and his three amazing children. You can sign up for his newsletter (http://jonathanjanz.us12.list-manage....), and you can follow him on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Amazon, Threads, Bluesky, TikTok, and Goodreads.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
June 24, 2021
I have read two other Jonathan Janz books before this and loved them. That is why it pains me a bit to have to report my mediocre experience with this one. I think it is a book that can still be appreciated by those who are really into gore and shock value in their horror stories, but for me it did not work as well as the others.
Castle of Sorrows is the sequel to The Sorrows. I LOVED The Sorrows – I thought it was perfectly creepy with the right level of horror, gore, shock value, etc. But, as perfect as The Sorrows was is as overbalanced I felt with Castle of Sorrows. It seemed like it had very little coherent plot for the sake of lots of gory shock value scenes frequently using gratuitously violent sex. I am okay with everything in the previous sentence as long as the entire plot doesn’t lean on it and it helps move the story along. In this case, it kind of felt like those Saw movies: how many gruesome ways can we kill people for no really good reason.
But I have to step back and say that I do enjoy the Saw movies, and I like a good slasher film every now and then. I guess with those I kind of just expect mindless, gory entertainment. In this case, after reading The Sorrows I expected more intricately woven plot driven horror and gore. But instead I just got an 80s horror b-movie highlight reel.
Maybe gore and shocks are what you are looking for. If that is the case, this is a book worthy of your attention. Just be sure to read The Sorrows first as it is a much better and well-crafted book overall, in my opinion.
Castle of Sorrows is the sequel to The Sorrows. I LOVED The Sorrows – I thought it was perfectly creepy with the right level of horror, gore, shock value, etc. But, as perfect as The Sorrows was is as overbalanced I felt with Castle of Sorrows. It seemed like it had very little coherent plot for the sake of lots of gory shock value scenes frequently using gratuitously violent sex. I am okay with everything in the previous sentence as long as the entire plot doesn’t lean on it and it helps move the story along. In this case, it kind of felt like those Saw movies: how many gruesome ways can we kill people for no really good reason.
But I have to step back and say that I do enjoy the Saw movies, and I like a good slasher film every now and then. I guess with those I kind of just expect mindless, gory entertainment. In this case, after reading The Sorrows I expected more intricately woven plot driven horror and gore. But instead I just got an 80s horror b-movie highlight reel.
Maybe gore and shocks are what you are looking for. If that is the case, this is a book worthy of your attention. Just be sure to read The Sorrows first as it is a much better and well-crafted book overall, in my opinion.
March 17, 2022
This is a sequel to The Sorrows, the first book. It really should be read first to better understand the castle, but this one has enough info that the reader will "get it". The story begins a bit slow but quickly picks up when all the characters arrive on the island. I found that this on is more brutal, bloody and gory than the first book so if you are squeamish at all you might want to skip both of these books, but if you love a good scary roller-coaster ride...these two books are right up your ally.
Read
June 23, 2019Writing up a review for Cemetery Dance
October 16, 2016
4.5 stars!
CASTLE OF SORROWS, by Jonathan Janz is the sequel to his first novel, THE SORROWS. While the majority of the book takes place on the island known as The Sorrows--and in Castle Blackwood, itself--we do get to see the sole survivors from the first novel; Ben Shadeland, his son Joshua, new wife Claire, along with their infant daughter, Julia. For myself, it was exciting to get back into the lives of these characters. However, the focus soon turns mainly to Ben and a new set of characters, entirely. As much as I enjoyed THE SORROWS, Janz really takes it up a notch in regards to his writing in this tale.
As I've come to expect from this author, his atmospheric setting is practically a character itself--permeating every aspect of the novel so that the oppressive fear, and "wrongness" of the island never leaves the reader. One of my favorite comparisons of this location is: ". . . this whole island . . . It's like a geyser through which the flames of hell are pouring. It's concentrated evil." Janz uses his words not only to describe physical occurrences, but also to connect us to the emotions the characters are feeling.
". . . The music wasn't echoing through the walls. It was bleeding through the walls . . ."
Make no mistake, this author knows his craft. I particularly enjoyed how he interspersed the back stories of his characters throughout the novel, giving us a little at a time--almost teasing us with the way the connections are clicking into place. Rather than just "tell" us their stories, we are able to virtually "live" them with the people they are connected to. This really helped to cement them in my mind as actual people. There is no shortage of vivid descriptions, either, to give further illumination as to the emotional distress our characters are assaulted by.
". . . The odor of something that had been chewed on but not devoured by the bottom feeders in the sunless depths . . . the hair was swamp black, rotten skeins of seaweed threading through it like vomit-colored extensions . . . "
Although this tale is technically centered around the legendary Gabriel, kidnapped "son" of the late Robert Blackwood, his presence is mostly "felt" or projected throughout the majority of the novel.
Perhaps my favorite quote in the book that summarizes my own interpretation of the haunting, unwelcoming, discomfort of the island is this: ". . . This place was as haunted as they said, only it was worse, because this wasn't just a place of ghosts, it was your own personal ghosts that resided here . . ."
Another fantastic read from an author on my "must-read" list.
Highly recommended!
CASTLE OF SORROWS, by Jonathan Janz is the sequel to his first novel, THE SORROWS. While the majority of the book takes place on the island known as The Sorrows--and in Castle Blackwood, itself--we do get to see the sole survivors from the first novel; Ben Shadeland, his son Joshua, new wife Claire, along with their infant daughter, Julia. For myself, it was exciting to get back into the lives of these characters. However, the focus soon turns mainly to Ben and a new set of characters, entirely. As much as I enjoyed THE SORROWS, Janz really takes it up a notch in regards to his writing in this tale.
As I've come to expect from this author, his atmospheric setting is practically a character itself--permeating every aspect of the novel so that the oppressive fear, and "wrongness" of the island never leaves the reader. One of my favorite comparisons of this location is: ". . . this whole island . . . It's like a geyser through which the flames of hell are pouring. It's concentrated evil." Janz uses his words not only to describe physical occurrences, but also to connect us to the emotions the characters are feeling.
". . . The music wasn't echoing through the walls. It was bleeding through the walls . . ."
Make no mistake, this author knows his craft. I particularly enjoyed how he interspersed the back stories of his characters throughout the novel, giving us a little at a time--almost teasing us with the way the connections are clicking into place. Rather than just "tell" us their stories, we are able to virtually "live" them with the people they are connected to. This really helped to cement them in my mind as actual people. There is no shortage of vivid descriptions, either, to give further illumination as to the emotional distress our characters are assaulted by.
". . . The odor of something that had been chewed on but not devoured by the bottom feeders in the sunless depths . . . the hair was swamp black, rotten skeins of seaweed threading through it like vomit-colored extensions . . . "
Although this tale is technically centered around the legendary Gabriel, kidnapped "son" of the late Robert Blackwood, his presence is mostly "felt" or projected throughout the majority of the novel.
Perhaps my favorite quote in the book that summarizes my own interpretation of the haunting, unwelcoming, discomfort of the island is this: ". . . This place was as haunted as they said, only it was worse, because this wasn't just a place of ghosts, it was your own personal ghosts that resided here . . ."
Another fantastic read from an author on my "must-read" list.
Highly recommended!
Want to read
September 3, 2016This is copy 14 of 60 signed and numbered copies signed by Jonathan Janz.
July 9, 2014
5 bloody stars!
Borrowing a word I've seen others use, Castle of Sorrows was "unputdownable"!
For now,
I'll be back to write more later.
Borrowing a word I've seen others use, Castle of Sorrows was "unputdownable"!
For now,
I'll be back to write more later.
October 10, 2020
If the rest of Janz’s novels are anywhere near as good as this one and House of Sorrows then I am a fan for life and will read anything written by him. I thought House of Sorrows was fantastic but this book is on a whole other level of greatness and I still can’t quite get over how good it was. This is the kind of horror I crave, brutal and fucking gory but with a lot of heart that hits me right in the feelings and this book had that in spades. It was the perfect sequel, even better than I could have hoped for and it had me on the edge of my seat the whole way through. I just couldn’t put it down, I had an almost compulsive need to find out how it would all end. This is one hell of a horror story and you’d be missing out if you don’t pick up this book and its predecessor!
July 23, 2019
Omg omg this book scared me completely and brought the goosebumps out. I reacted viscerally and to top it all, I read the book bang on the bewitching hour, the midnight.
Ben's daughter was kidnapped by an ancient evil residing in the island off California coast The Sorrows. He had barely survived the evil in book 1 and his life had just come back to some kind of normal when he was struck by the beast again. He went back to the Sorrows with a group of characters, and things turned ugly.
Jonathan Janz is the master of horror, and this book made me feel everything the book intended, excitement, fear, anger, desperation, helplessness. This was book 2 in the Sorrows series, but I didn't have a problem understanding the story. Book 1 was explained quite well in its scenes without really giving away the twists.
I loved the way Janz had set the atmosphere in the story. The Castle and the entire island exponentially increased the fears and inner evil of everyone who stepped in it. Every negative deed or thought became alive with no route to escape. It was literally a place which breathed malice
The initial chapters felt a little disjointed till the connected them beautifully. The action was non stop, I got to know the characters via their deeds both past and present. The excitement filled with dread rose so high in me that I literally wanted to push Ben and his child off the island.
This was one rocking ride from beginning to end, my midnight read, and now I plan to sleep with the lights on.
Ben's daughter was kidnapped by an ancient evil residing in the island off California coast The Sorrows. He had barely survived the evil in book 1 and his life had just come back to some kind of normal when he was struck by the beast again. He went back to the Sorrows with a group of characters, and things turned ugly.
Jonathan Janz is the master of horror, and this book made me feel everything the book intended, excitement, fear, anger, desperation, helplessness. This was book 2 in the Sorrows series, but I didn't have a problem understanding the story. Book 1 was explained quite well in its scenes without really giving away the twists.
I loved the way Janz had set the atmosphere in the story. The Castle and the entire island exponentially increased the fears and inner evil of everyone who stepped in it. Every negative deed or thought became alive with no route to escape. It was literally a place which breathed malice
The initial chapters felt a little disjointed till the connected them beautifully. The action was non stop, I got to know the characters via their deeds both past and present. The excitement filled with dread rose so high in me that I literally wanted to push Ben and his child off the island.
This was one rocking ride from beginning to end, my midnight read, and now I plan to sleep with the lights on.
August 10, 2014
Ben Shadeland thought he'd left the horrors of The Sorrows far behind him, after he, his young son, and newfound love, Claire, escaped the haunted island and Castle Blackwood. But over a year later, and more recent mysterious disappearances of two FBI agents investigating the place, Ben is dragged back to The Sorrows after his infant daughter is suddenly kidnapped. No one knows the real reason for this, or would believe him, because the beast, Gabriel, has lived for a thousand years and its lust for flesh and blood is insatiable. Accompanied by a ragtag group that includes the widow Blackwood, a petite Russian psychic, a college professor obsessed with the dark history of The Sorrows, a grizzled retired cop turned private eye, and a trio of new Feds, you'd think this cast of characters would be too much...but did I mention there's also a gang of killers headed by the Irvin crime family, out for Christina Blackwood's money, or her head? All of this culminates in a deftly managed and at times brutally violent orgy of horror, and arguably, Janz's darkest novel to date. The climax is a mind-blower, and begs the question: Will we see another Sorrows novel in the future?
If you have yet to read Jonathan Janz, this reviewer highly recommends all of his novels.
If you have yet to read Jonathan Janz, this reviewer highly recommends all of his novels.
December 4, 2019
I first have to admit that when I committed to reading this book, I didn't realize it was a sequel. I honestly wish I'd read the first one, partly because I'm anal about things like that and secondly so I could provide some sort of comparison. However, that being said, I really felt like I was able to jump into "Castle of Sorrows" rather quickly and that in the beginning, enough backstory was slowly provided so that the book made sense and I didn't feel like I was missing anything.
Due to some incidents that happen early on, Ben heads back to Castle Blackwood. He travels under the direst of circumstances which is exactly what was needed to make him face the demons, both literally and figuratively, of his past. Along for the ride are Widow Blackwood, a medium, a PI, several FBI agents and a gang of mobsters.
Castle Blackwood has a life of its own and it feeds on people, their darkest secrets and their scariest emotions. It makes people do unimaginable things and Janz has done an excellent job of making the setting an atmospheric character of its own. Just this week I had mentioned how I needed more spooky castle settings in books and behold, "Castle of Sorrows" is just what I was talking about.
Janz's book is full of colorful characters and little by little, we learn more about them. In the end, as a reader I was cheering some on to succeed, and yearning for the downfall and demise of others. Any true horror lover needs to pick up a Janz novel, whether it's this one or some of his others, and give him a try. He has quickly become an auto-read author for me so bring it on Jonathan! I'm ready!
Due to some incidents that happen early on, Ben heads back to Castle Blackwood. He travels under the direst of circumstances which is exactly what was needed to make him face the demons, both literally and figuratively, of his past. Along for the ride are Widow Blackwood, a medium, a PI, several FBI agents and a gang of mobsters.
Castle Blackwood has a life of its own and it feeds on people, their darkest secrets and their scariest emotions. It makes people do unimaginable things and Janz has done an excellent job of making the setting an atmospheric character of its own. Just this week I had mentioned how I needed more spooky castle settings in books and behold, "Castle of Sorrows" is just what I was talking about.
Janz's book is full of colorful characters and little by little, we learn more about them. In the end, as a reader I was cheering some on to succeed, and yearning for the downfall and demise of others. Any true horror lover needs to pick up a Janz novel, whether it's this one or some of his others, and give him a try. He has quickly become an auto-read author for me so bring it on Jonathan! I'm ready!
October 23, 2016
One year ago, Ben Shadeland traveled to the haunted island of Sorrow. He went to get inspiration to write music for a new horror movie. After all the murders and the terrifying things that happened on the island, Ben swore that he would never go back to that hellhole. Over the last year, two FBI agents, disappeared on the island. Ben now has a new wife Claire and baby daughter name Julia. Ben's daughter has been kidnap and he fears that the monster Gabriel, from Sorrow is behind it. On his return trip, Ben is joined by the widow Blackwood, a retired cop, turned private eye, a Russian medium, a college professor, who obsessed with the very dark history of Sorrow and three FBI agents. Gabriel has become more powerful and will stop until he gets his revenge against Ben.. There is also a bunch of gangsters on the island, who are after the money of Christina Blackwood. Can Ben rescue his daughter from Gabriel? Janz, does a great job of weaving all these characters to fit in this tale of horror. Jonathan Janz, is a very good writer and a excellent storyteller. I highly recommend this book.
September 29, 2016
OHHHHHHHHHHH......
Considering that I feel that "The Castle of Sorrows" is almost mundane as a title, I completely do not have that opinion about the sequel to "The Sorrows". Mr. Janz is a gem. The story starts off a bit slowly but takes off at breakneck speed once the main group and the gangsters arrive at the island. From that point, it is just action, action, action.... I really feel that my favorite part about what Mr. Janz does is the creation and the telling of the back stories of each of the characters. I was completely enamoured with Teddy's back story and was thrilled with the Jessie and Troy connection. All I can say now is: WHERE THE HECK IS PART 3... Lol.
Considering that I feel that "The Castle of Sorrows" is almost mundane as a title, I completely do not have that opinion about the sequel to "The Sorrows". Mr. Janz is a gem. The story starts off a bit slowly but takes off at breakneck speed once the main group and the gangsters arrive at the island. From that point, it is just action, action, action.... I really feel that my favorite part about what Mr. Janz does is the creation and the telling of the back stories of each of the characters. I was completely enamoured with Teddy's back story and was thrilled with the Jessie and Troy connection. All I can say now is: WHERE THE HECK IS PART 3... Lol.
August 24, 2019
This was actually the third book by
Jonathan Janz
that I read in a streak.
The first book by Janz that I read ( House of Skin ) was addictive in its gruesome and gory glory and so I immediately, upon finishing it, went on to The Sorrows ), which was equally good, if not better as I hadn't the slightest clue what to expect when I picked up House of Skin and therefore had some mixed feelings after finishing it.
In my opinion, Janz belongs to the same category of author as Poppy Z Brite , by whom I've read (and honestly didn't like) Lost Souls and Exsquite Corpse , with his carnal, graphical and at times completely gratuitious violence.
I've said it before; I'm not a fan of violence just for the sake of it - and there were times where I felt that Janz also used violence a tad too generously - but overall I think that the violence in all aforementioned Janz-books served a purpose and brought something to the stories.
So. Now that my praising of Janz is out of the way: on to the book at hand.
---
[A quick "FYI" before I get into the Castle of Sorrows: I had meant to review The Sorrows and had actually written about half when I, in a fugue state of the mind, closed down the browser. Without saving. As this is the sequel to The Sorrows, having had completed that review could maybe have helped any potential reader of this review. Sorry 'bout that.]
In Castle of Sorrows we're re-introduced to Ben Shadeland, one of the hottest movie music composers of the day, his (now) wife Claire and their son, Joshua. We also get to meet Julia, their newborn daughter.
After the previous Summer, Ben and Claire are happy. As happy as they can be having just barely survived the horrors of The Sorrows, a privately owned island haunted by both ghosts and gods.
But not all is bliss. Ben and Claire are the sole survivers out of ten people - including the very wealthy owner of the island, Robert Blackwood, his son, Chris, the famous movie maker Lee Stanley, Ben's ex wife and her new fiancée - who visited the island the year prior. Ben claims he doesn't remember much of what happened on the island, but the FBI agents assigned to the case don't believe him. Neither does the private investigator hired by Christina Blackwood, the widow and mother of the two deceased Blackwoods.
But it's not until the unthinkable happens, when Julia is kidnapped, that Ben is willing to face the demons of the past. He knows who took her, and he knows where she's been taken.
And so Ben agrees to return to The Sorrows with the FBI agents, to once again face the horrors of the island and its cruel master, Gabriel.
Castle of Sorrows feels very contemporary and while I usually have a higher tolerance for that when it comes to horror than I do with fantasy, I'm still not the biggest fan of a "modern tale". That being said, I was sucked in by Janz' story from the start and it didn't bother me that the setting wasn't that of the 19th century England.
There is a lot of focus on the sexual, and if you're sensitive to sexual violence, heads up! There's plenty of it. There's also plenty of graphical descriptions of violence.
I actually thought that The Sorrows was sliightly better than this sequel, but this was still a great read and I'm already off to find a fourth Janz book to devour.
The first book by Janz that I read ( House of Skin ) was addictive in its gruesome and gory glory and so I immediately, upon finishing it, went on to The Sorrows ), which was equally good, if not better as I hadn't the slightest clue what to expect when I picked up House of Skin and therefore had some mixed feelings after finishing it.
In my opinion, Janz belongs to the same category of author as Poppy Z Brite , by whom I've read (and honestly didn't like) Lost Souls and Exsquite Corpse , with his carnal, graphical and at times completely gratuitious violence.
I've said it before; I'm not a fan of violence just for the sake of it - and there were times where I felt that Janz also used violence a tad too generously - but overall I think that the violence in all aforementioned Janz-books served a purpose and brought something to the stories.
So. Now that my praising of Janz is out of the way: on to the book at hand.
---
[A quick "FYI" before I get into the Castle of Sorrows: I had meant to review The Sorrows and had actually written about half when I, in a fugue state of the mind, closed down the browser. Without saving. As this is the sequel to The Sorrows, having had completed that review could maybe have helped any potential reader of this review. Sorry 'bout that.]
In Castle of Sorrows we're re-introduced to Ben Shadeland, one of the hottest movie music composers of the day, his (now) wife Claire and their son, Joshua. We also get to meet Julia, their newborn daughter.
After the previous Summer, Ben and Claire are happy. As happy as they can be having just barely survived the horrors of The Sorrows, a privately owned island haunted by both ghosts and gods.
But not all is bliss. Ben and Claire are the sole survivers out of ten people - including the very wealthy owner of the island, Robert Blackwood, his son, Chris, the famous movie maker Lee Stanley, Ben's ex wife and her new fiancée - who visited the island the year prior. Ben claims he doesn't remember much of what happened on the island, but the FBI agents assigned to the case don't believe him. Neither does the private investigator hired by Christina Blackwood, the widow and mother of the two deceased Blackwoods.
But it's not until the unthinkable happens, when Julia is kidnapped, that Ben is willing to face the demons of the past. He knows who took her, and he knows where she's been taken.
And so Ben agrees to return to The Sorrows with the FBI agents, to once again face the horrors of the island and its cruel master, Gabriel.
Castle of Sorrows feels very contemporary and while I usually have a higher tolerance for that when it comes to horror than I do with fantasy, I'm still not the biggest fan of a "modern tale". That being said, I was sucked in by Janz' story from the start and it didn't bother me that the setting wasn't that of the 19th century England.
There is a lot of focus on the sexual, and if you're sensitive to sexual violence, heads up! There's plenty of it. There's also plenty of graphical descriptions of violence.
I actually thought that The Sorrows was sliightly better than this sequel, but this was still a great read and I'm already off to find a fourth Janz book to devour.
May 2, 2017
In all, an improvement over its predecessor, but damn do I ever hate the 'missing kid' MacGuffin in horror fiction. It tends to override and dominate and become all-encompassing to the point of irritation. This was almost a 5-star book for me, but the last 75 pages were so dominated by the infuriating 'My baby, my baby!!!!' mentality in every step the protagonist took that it dropped to a frustrating 2. There was enough redemption in the final few pages that I wound up rating it a 4 overall, but be warned that at one point the protagonist refuses to fire a gun at an encroaching zombie/specter because he's 'worried it will damage the hearing' of the wailing baby he's carting around. Fortunately, the book is more or less saved by the skillful craft of the author. It is deftly written and quite riveting, aside from the aforementioned reliance on that all-too-common trope of fear, "Daddy Wants Kid Back."
I love Jonathan Janz as a writer. I dig his style, I usually applaud his audacity, and I appreciate many of the aspects of horror that manifest in his books. I will continue reading Janz and will probably enjoy most of his stuff, but I have to say here and now that Ben Shadeland is an annoying protagonist who I would relish punching in the face, were it not for the fact that he seems to have transformed from a chubby horror score composer to Arnold Schwarzenegger in the space of about 9 months between the two books. So he'd probably kick my ass, same as he somehow manages to do to Federal agents, gangster bodyguards, and even the Great God Pan.
I love Jonathan Janz as a writer. I dig his style, I usually applaud his audacity, and I appreciate many of the aspects of horror that manifest in his books. I will continue reading Janz and will probably enjoy most of his stuff, but I have to say here and now that Ben Shadeland is an annoying protagonist who I would relish punching in the face, were it not for the fact that he seems to have transformed from a chubby horror score composer to Arnold Schwarzenegger in the space of about 9 months between the two books. So he'd probably kick my ass, same as he somehow manages to do to Federal agents, gangster bodyguards, and even the Great God Pan.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 23, 2020
Jonathan Janz - and lead protagonist Ben Shadeland - returns to Castle Blackwood in Castle of Sorrows, the sequel to this author's debut novel, The Sorrows.
Set a year after the horrors Shadeland and his now-wife Claire encountered on the Sorrows, a haunted island off the coast of California, Ben again finds himself back in the thick of things after his infant daughter, Julia, is abducted. The authorities think the child's violent kidnapping may be related to the local mobsters that have been watching Shadeland for the past year, but Ben knows differently. A part of him, in fact, has been dreading the fact that this day would eventually come. Ever since escaping the demonic terrors of Gabriel Blackwood the previous summer, he's grown more and more paranoid and afraid of leaving his family alone and unprotected. Fueled by grief and guilt, Shadeland manipulates his way back onto the island, using a small team of FBI agents investigating last year's terrible events as his key into Castle Blackwood.
One of the aspects that I really enjoyed here is the intriguing web of characters and their relationships to each other, and the way this infuses the spine and ribs of the story itself. Shadeland finds himself at the center of this web, pulling on each of their strings in order to save and protect his daughter. In addition to the trio of FBI agents, we also have Christine Blackwood, whose son and husband met their demise last summer. She wants to know what happened to her family, and has assigned a PI to get answers out of Ben. Circling around all of them are a group of local gangsters that Christine's son owed money to - money they are now trying to coerce out of Christine. When they all find themselves trapped on the Sorrows, guided by their own somewhat dubious if not outright devious plans, there's hell to pay.
And that's not even getting into the castle freak Shadeland knows is there waiting for all of them...
Rather than trying to capture lightning in a bottle twice by aping the slow-burn gothic horror stylings of The Sorrows, this sequel just about hits the ground running. Having already established the haunted nature of Castle Blackwood and the threat of Gabriel, a horned, cloven-footed demon in the Great God Pan style, Janz goes straight for the throat. With all the secrets of the Sorrows peeled back previously, Castle of Sorrows presents itself as a horrifying actioneer, with gunplay aplenty as it ramps up to an enormous monster-laden finale.
Castle of Sorrows largely fires on all cylinders. Janz does an incredible job capturing Ben's paranoia and fear for the safety of his wife and children in the wake of their experiences in the previous book. It's a believable, and entirely understandable, progression for this character. When his worst fears come true, though, it's a shocking, horrifying payoff, and Janz writes this inciting incident with adrenalized tension. It's a marvelous kick-off to the plot and the shocks that go along with it do well to prepare us for the journey ahead.
What didn't entirely work for me, though, was one interpersonal relationship between two of the secondary characters. I don't want to spoil things, though, so I'll just say that I found the personal histories connecting them to be a bit too coincidental. The lengths that Janz goes to in tying them together feels like a bridge too far and strains credibility, particularly for a background that doesn't feel entirely necessary to the proceedings to begin with. I found myself struggling with the happenstance nature of how and why these two were linked to each other, and it came across as a bridge too far. It's an extra piece of shock value that wasn't really needed, but thankfully it's such a fairly minor aspect of the story overall that it's inclusion doesn't really damage the overarching narrative or our loyalties to this book's characters.
Speaking of loyalty -- now, Ben Shadeland is a protagonist I feel confident in following just about anywhere. He's a strong presence, and Janz does a great job earning our sympathies for him. What I most appreciated was Janz's depiction of fatherhood, and his views on family, using Shadeland as a cipher to explore these issues. Family and family dynamics (or lack of them) have been a central element of a number of Janz's works, and Castle of Sorrows feels all the more intimate as a result. While Shadeland has bulked up quite a lot since The Sorrows, its not his newfound muscles that give him strength and allow him to protect his family - it's his heart, his compassion, and his sheer selflessness to do whatever it takes to save his daughter. Janz has spoken of his own upbringing in various interviews, of growing up fatherless (if I recall correctly), and having only his grandfather as a strong, male role model in his life. Shadeland is the ideal father figure, one that I suspect Janz based, in part, in tribute to his grandfather, as well as the type of father Janz either views himself as or wants to be. Shadeland's a wonderfully idealized character, albeit one with some very human flaws, and Janz captures the theme of family well here.
Whether or not we ever get to see Shadeland again... Well...
Janz certainly leaves the door open for a third installment, and given that it's now been six years since Castle of Sorrows was originally published, I can only hope we get a definitive conclusion soon. It'd be nice to finally be able to lock the doors to Castle Blackwood once and for all!
Set a year after the horrors Shadeland and his now-wife Claire encountered on the Sorrows, a haunted island off the coast of California, Ben again finds himself back in the thick of things after his infant daughter, Julia, is abducted. The authorities think the child's violent kidnapping may be related to the local mobsters that have been watching Shadeland for the past year, but Ben knows differently. A part of him, in fact, has been dreading the fact that this day would eventually come. Ever since escaping the demonic terrors of Gabriel Blackwood the previous summer, he's grown more and more paranoid and afraid of leaving his family alone and unprotected. Fueled by grief and guilt, Shadeland manipulates his way back onto the island, using a small team of FBI agents investigating last year's terrible events as his key into Castle Blackwood.
One of the aspects that I really enjoyed here is the intriguing web of characters and their relationships to each other, and the way this infuses the spine and ribs of the story itself. Shadeland finds himself at the center of this web, pulling on each of their strings in order to save and protect his daughter. In addition to the trio of FBI agents, we also have Christine Blackwood, whose son and husband met their demise last summer. She wants to know what happened to her family, and has assigned a PI to get answers out of Ben. Circling around all of them are a group of local gangsters that Christine's son owed money to - money they are now trying to coerce out of Christine. When they all find themselves trapped on the Sorrows, guided by their own somewhat dubious if not outright devious plans, there's hell to pay.
And that's not even getting into the castle freak Shadeland knows is there waiting for all of them...
Rather than trying to capture lightning in a bottle twice by aping the slow-burn gothic horror stylings of The Sorrows, this sequel just about hits the ground running. Having already established the haunted nature of Castle Blackwood and the threat of Gabriel, a horned, cloven-footed demon in the Great God Pan style, Janz goes straight for the throat. With all the secrets of the Sorrows peeled back previously, Castle of Sorrows presents itself as a horrifying actioneer, with gunplay aplenty as it ramps up to an enormous monster-laden finale.
Castle of Sorrows largely fires on all cylinders. Janz does an incredible job capturing Ben's paranoia and fear for the safety of his wife and children in the wake of their experiences in the previous book. It's a believable, and entirely understandable, progression for this character. When his worst fears come true, though, it's a shocking, horrifying payoff, and Janz writes this inciting incident with adrenalized tension. It's a marvelous kick-off to the plot and the shocks that go along with it do well to prepare us for the journey ahead.
What didn't entirely work for me, though, was one interpersonal relationship between two of the secondary characters. I don't want to spoil things, though, so I'll just say that I found the personal histories connecting them to be a bit too coincidental. The lengths that Janz goes to in tying them together feels like a bridge too far and strains credibility, particularly for a background that doesn't feel entirely necessary to the proceedings to begin with. I found myself struggling with the happenstance nature of how and why these two were linked to each other, and it came across as a bridge too far. It's an extra piece of shock value that wasn't really needed, but thankfully it's such a fairly minor aspect of the story overall that it's inclusion doesn't really damage the overarching narrative or our loyalties to this book's characters.
Speaking of loyalty -- now, Ben Shadeland is a protagonist I feel confident in following just about anywhere. He's a strong presence, and Janz does a great job earning our sympathies for him. What I most appreciated was Janz's depiction of fatherhood, and his views on family, using Shadeland as a cipher to explore these issues. Family and family dynamics (or lack of them) have been a central element of a number of Janz's works, and Castle of Sorrows feels all the more intimate as a result. While Shadeland has bulked up quite a lot since The Sorrows, its not his newfound muscles that give him strength and allow him to protect his family - it's his heart, his compassion, and his sheer selflessness to do whatever it takes to save his daughter. Janz has spoken of his own upbringing in various interviews, of growing up fatherless (if I recall correctly), and having only his grandfather as a strong, male role model in his life. Shadeland is the ideal father figure, one that I suspect Janz based, in part, in tribute to his grandfather, as well as the type of father Janz either views himself as or wants to be. Shadeland's a wonderfully idealized character, albeit one with some very human flaws, and Janz captures the theme of family well here.
Whether or not we ever get to see Shadeland again... Well...
Janz certainly leaves the door open for a third installment, and given that it's now been six years since Castle of Sorrows was originally published, I can only hope we get a definitive conclusion soon. It'd be nice to finally be able to lock the doors to Castle Blackwood once and for all!
July 20, 2018
The Sorrows by Jonathan Janz is one of the best horror novels of the last decade. The novel’s final line left me shattered, enough so that I promptly emailed Janz with a comment that can plainly be summarized in one emotionally compounded word burst: “Dude!?!?”. The aforementioned final line could have capped the book with a perfectly satisfying open ending. But some things are better off not being left as is and I can tell you that when I heard a sequel was in the works I was beyond thrilled.
Once again we return to Castle Blackwood, which resides on hellish island of the Sorrows, off of the California coast. Some familiar faces are back, as well as a new crop of fully-fleshed out and memorable characters, some good, others devilishly bad. Janz does his finest character work here in Castle of Sorrows, crafting each of the new players with real substance and giving the reader an inside glimpse into their personal fears, and in some cases, often dubious pasts. If the wretchedly evil and haunted history of Castle Blackwood was itself a character in the first book, this time around the grim blackness of human depravity takes center stage.
It is this plummet into the abyss of darkness that propels Castle of Sorrows beyond the realm of just a mere sequel and into the territory of something much grander. Castle of Sorrows deftly illustrates that Janz has unquestionably evolved into one of the premiere talents in the horror genre. He knows what makes the evil heart tick and he damn well is not afraid to show it.
Once again we return to Castle Blackwood, which resides on hellish island of the Sorrows, off of the California coast. Some familiar faces are back, as well as a new crop of fully-fleshed out and memorable characters, some good, others devilishly bad. Janz does his finest character work here in Castle of Sorrows, crafting each of the new players with real substance and giving the reader an inside glimpse into their personal fears, and in some cases, often dubious pasts. If the wretchedly evil and haunted history of Castle Blackwood was itself a character in the first book, this time around the grim blackness of human depravity takes center stage.
It is this plummet into the abyss of darkness that propels Castle of Sorrows beyond the realm of just a mere sequel and into the territory of something much grander. Castle of Sorrows deftly illustrates that Janz has unquestionably evolved into one of the premiere talents in the horror genre. He knows what makes the evil heart tick and he damn well is not afraid to show it.
August 19, 2019
A well-done follow-up to THE SORROWS, CASTLE OF SORROWS takes us back to the island where Castle Blackwood sits ominously with its lurking, horned beast and hardly lets you breathe.
Ben finds himself heading back to The Sorrows after his mother is murdered and his baby daughter is kidnapped. He instantly knows it's Gabriel, the beast from the island, and ends up on the island with some FBI agents, all while some gangsters follow them out there with intentions of killing all but the widowed Mrs. Blackwood so they can extract an arbitrary fee that her son incurred from them before dying on the island a year ago. No one believes Ben about the monster that lurks the island, but they're all about to find out just how wrong they were to ever doubt him.
So the setup happens early on, wasting zero time getting things moving along, and before we know it, we're back on the island. For about 7/8 of this book, the monster is (mostly) only spoken of or seen in shadow or periphery. But don't take that to mean nothing is going on. There's a hellacious gun battle on the island with the agents and the gangsters, and chaos reigns while Ben tries to stay alive and find his missing baby girl. Eventually, the cast is whittled down to the essentials, and the horror of Gabriel is unleashed.
Janz knows how to get the action moving briskly, and he does a good job of it here. There's never a moment to get slow down here, though we do get some more history with the Widow Blackwood, her husband, and the fearsome Gabriel. Much of this book reads like a strange mobster movie in an odd setting, but the undercurrent of horror and our knowledge of what happened on the island before and what is certainly lurking there for our characters now helps to amp up the tension. When the monster finally does show up and things explode, the horror is as visceral and intense as the first book was, mirroring some aspects, but managing to give us a unique and new story to sink our teeth into that's a lot of fun.
Claire, who met Ben in the first book and was a major character, is hardly in this one, even though she's married to Ben now and they have a child together. However, Janz didn't just forget about her, and when she and her role come into view, we have what may well be the set up for a third Sorrows book, something I hope I'm not wrong about. As different as this book was from its predecessor, it fits nicely into this ongoing story, and would serve as a terrific "Empire Strikes Back" style sequel, a perfect second entry in what I hope will be a trilogy.
I've read and reviewed now 8 Jonathan Janz novels, including this one, and he is consistently good. Even great. I've yet to be disappointed in his work, and I like that, like Stephen King or Lee Child, I can always pick up another of Janz's work and instantly feel right at home. There's no awkward period getting used to the writing before I really get invested; it happens right from the first page. And thus far, he hasn't missed.
If you liked The Sorrows, Castle of Sorrows is a must for you. The climax is quite gripping, perhaps not as much as the first one, but it's close, and further, it's the epilogue that really grabs you by the short and curlies, gasping for air. And it makes for quite a sinister entry.
Another no-brainer for not only fans of Janz, but for newcomers as well, though I do recommend reading the first book before this one because you'll be lost otherwise. This is a full-blown sequel, not a stand-alone novel, but it's a fine entry you don't want to miss.
Ben finds himself heading back to The Sorrows after his mother is murdered and his baby daughter is kidnapped. He instantly knows it's Gabriel, the beast from the island, and ends up on the island with some FBI agents, all while some gangsters follow them out there with intentions of killing all but the widowed Mrs. Blackwood so they can extract an arbitrary fee that her son incurred from them before dying on the island a year ago. No one believes Ben about the monster that lurks the island, but they're all about to find out just how wrong they were to ever doubt him.
So the setup happens early on, wasting zero time getting things moving along, and before we know it, we're back on the island. For about 7/8 of this book, the monster is (mostly) only spoken of or seen in shadow or periphery. But don't take that to mean nothing is going on. There's a hellacious gun battle on the island with the agents and the gangsters, and chaos reigns while Ben tries to stay alive and find his missing baby girl. Eventually, the cast is whittled down to the essentials, and the horror of Gabriel is unleashed.
Janz knows how to get the action moving briskly, and he does a good job of it here. There's never a moment to get slow down here, though we do get some more history with the Widow Blackwood, her husband, and the fearsome Gabriel. Much of this book reads like a strange mobster movie in an odd setting, but the undercurrent of horror and our knowledge of what happened on the island before and what is certainly lurking there for our characters now helps to amp up the tension. When the monster finally does show up and things explode, the horror is as visceral and intense as the first book was, mirroring some aspects, but managing to give us a unique and new story to sink our teeth into that's a lot of fun.
Claire, who met Ben in the first book and was a major character, is hardly in this one, even though she's married to Ben now and they have a child together. However, Janz didn't just forget about her, and when she and her role come into view, we have what may well be the set up for a third Sorrows book, something I hope I'm not wrong about. As different as this book was from its predecessor, it fits nicely into this ongoing story, and would serve as a terrific "Empire Strikes Back" style sequel, a perfect second entry in what I hope will be a trilogy.
I've read and reviewed now 8 Jonathan Janz novels, including this one, and he is consistently good. Even great. I've yet to be disappointed in his work, and I like that, like Stephen King or Lee Child, I can always pick up another of Janz's work and instantly feel right at home. There's no awkward period getting used to the writing before I really get invested; it happens right from the first page. And thus far, he hasn't missed.
If you liked The Sorrows, Castle of Sorrows is a must for you. The climax is quite gripping, perhaps not as much as the first one, but it's close, and further, it's the epilogue that really grabs you by the short and curlies, gasping for air. And it makes for quite a sinister entry.
Another no-brainer for not only fans of Janz, but for newcomers as well, though I do recommend reading the first book before this one because you'll be lost otherwise. This is a full-blown sequel, not a stand-alone novel, but it's a fine entry you don't want to miss.
July 11, 2014
Damn but Jonathan Janz is a good writer!! His sense of pace is simply brilliant.
He is very skilled at grabbing you right from the start of his novels, and then pulling you along relentlessly by your tearing shirt towards the climax while jostling you back and forth between the walls of his imagination full of malevolent, diseased creatures reaching out to grab you along the way.
In this follow up novel to his equally exciting and accomplished The Sorrows, we head back to Castle Blackwood and all the horrors therein and there about contained. A horrific event drives Ben and a few others to the island to face their worst nightmares. Bloody action ensues at breakneck speed.
Castle Blackwood is eerie as hell and when you look up the inspiration for this dreadfull place, Craigeivar Castle in Scotland, you'll be able to picture it even better in its terrible glory. That is one weird looking castle.
So, give yourself a treat. If you haven't read The Sorrows, then start there. Then pick up this and be ready for a hell of a ride!
He is very skilled at grabbing you right from the start of his novels, and then pulling you along relentlessly by your tearing shirt towards the climax while jostling you back and forth between the walls of his imagination full of malevolent, diseased creatures reaching out to grab you along the way.
In this follow up novel to his equally exciting and accomplished The Sorrows, we head back to Castle Blackwood and all the horrors therein and there about contained. A horrific event drives Ben and a few others to the island to face their worst nightmares. Bloody action ensues at breakneck speed.
Castle Blackwood is eerie as hell and when you look up the inspiration for this dreadfull place, Craigeivar Castle in Scotland, you'll be able to picture it even better in its terrible glory. That is one weird looking castle.
So, give yourself a treat. If you haven't read The Sorrows, then start there. Then pick up this and be ready for a hell of a ride!
July 20, 2015
Book Review originally published here: http://www.iheartreading.net/uncatego...
Jonathan Jantz is an excellent writer. Castle of Sorrows was the first book I read by him, but I didn’t get around to reviewing it until now. The pacing in this book is immaculate, the characters are amazing, the plot has some unique storylines, and overall, it’s just a very, very good book. It managed to creep me out in more ways than one, and the ending…Well, I won’t spoil it, but it wasn’t what I expected. The author also manages to make the reader care about all of the characters (or hate them, but you can’t get away with feeling nothing). Despite not usually being a fan of “monster” books, this one handles the topic extremely well. Recommended to horror fans!
Jonathan Jantz is an excellent writer. Castle of Sorrows was the first book I read by him, but I didn’t get around to reviewing it until now. The pacing in this book is immaculate, the characters are amazing, the plot has some unique storylines, and overall, it’s just a very, very good book. It managed to creep me out in more ways than one, and the ending…Well, I won’t spoil it, but it wasn’t what I expected. The author also manages to make the reader care about all of the characters (or hate them, but you can’t get away with feeling nothing). Despite not usually being a fan of “monster” books, this one handles the topic extremely well. Recommended to horror fans!
August 26, 2020
Janz is a wonderful writer of the macabre, and CASTLE OF SORROWS was no exception.
Interestingly, I read this book as a standalone, not realizing it was a sequel to THE SORROWS, which I have not read. There are many allusions to the past book, but at no point did it bother me. In fact, I thought it was kind of cool the author was alluding to this complex and amazing backstory! Now that I know that backstory exists, I will 100% be checking it out.
CASTLE OF SORROWS, like most Janz novels I've read, is a great mix of hardcore horror and balls-to-the-wall violence. Janz is not for the squeamish, and CASTLE delivers some considerable body-horror blows as well as healthy dose of character-driven drama.
Pure, adrenaline-fueled entertainment by one of the modern masters of the genre.
Interestingly, I read this book as a standalone, not realizing it was a sequel to THE SORROWS, which I have not read. There are many allusions to the past book, but at no point did it bother me. In fact, I thought it was kind of cool the author was alluding to this complex and amazing backstory! Now that I know that backstory exists, I will 100% be checking it out.
CASTLE OF SORROWS, like most Janz novels I've read, is a great mix of hardcore horror and balls-to-the-wall violence. Janz is not for the squeamish, and CASTLE delivers some considerable body-horror blows as well as healthy dose of character-driven drama.
Pure, adrenaline-fueled entertainment by one of the modern masters of the genre.
November 21, 2016
Janz takes everything great about The Sorrows and cranks it up to 11 for this sequel. It is a dark, brutal and violent ride. Non stop action and tension. Gabriel is still a terrifying creature but the human baddies in this sure give him a run for his money.
August 5, 2019
*I was given a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for my fair and honest review.*
Jonathan Janz is back to rip your heart out- and some guts, with this well crafted sequel to his hit The Sorrows. The Castle of Sorrows certainly does not fall victim to the fate that many sequels do- not living up to the reputation of it's predecessor. Instead it breezes by it, dare I say beating out the first one in my popularity contest? Janz bring the thrills and chills and kicks them up a notch!
A year ago composer Ben Shadeland, his wife and son, traveled to the Sorrows, a supposedly haunted island off the coast of California, hoping to find inspiration for a score he was to compose. Instead he found unspeakable horror and an ancient evil that his family barely survived. Ben swore he would never go back to the Sorrows again. Now Ben's infant daughter has been kidnapped and Ben is sure that it is the malevolent creature that lives in the catacombs beneath Castle Blackwood on the Sorrows that is responsible. Ben joins three federal agents, a medium, and others in an attempt to save his daughter. But what awaits them is more than they could ever have imagined. The creature- an ancient god named Gabriel, has grown more powerful and has summoned horrific monsters to the island-both human and supernatural. And Gabriel won't rest until he gets his revenge.
Jonathan Janz is one of my favorite horror authors, and I was super excited to get a copy of this book to review. But then I became a bit hesitant. I thought The Sorrows was a fantastic book, and sequels, no matter who the author, a lot of the time fall flat. And I was afraid that this was going to be the case. Thankfully, he wrote a sequel equal to or better than the first and set my fears aside.
So for those of you who are not familiar with Jonathan Janz's work, The Castle of Sorrows is a sequel to The Sorrows. But fear not, this book can be read as a standalone. It had been a while since I had read The Sorrows, so I did a quick reread before this book arrived. I didn't need to. Janz does a great job at taking the reader back to visit all of the important events that happened in the first book at the beginning of the novel. No messy, mash up of events, but quick, and well articulated footnotes to catch the reader up to speed.
The characterization was on point. Now, for those of us who read the first book, we are already well acquainted with Ben, and his family, but these characters, while briefly visited in the beginning, get traded out for the new characters- most of whom are helping Ben with his search. Janz took his time to develop these new characters. Some you will like, some you won't- but those characters usually don't make it to the end anyway! With the new characters, Janz, in a way, pulls us back in time, discovering each new character as if we are walking right beside them. This helped me connect with the new characters and made them more real in my mind. Janz has a knack for writing fantastic characters, characters that are likable, that you root for and care about. Ben is a great example.
The first time I ventured to The Sorrows with Ben and his family, I was not really on guard, not aware of what awaited us. This time I was fully aware, and Janz will definitely make sure you as well! His vivid and lush descriptions of the island and the castle amps your anxieties and fears-and nothing has even happened yet! His description of Castle Blackwood just makes it seethe with an inherent evil that seems to bring out the worst in anyone who enters it, forcing them to lay their sins bare for all to see, touch, smell. The structure thrived on evil. Janz writes in this visceral, raw fashion that only makes the tension thick and the frightening parts eerily more realistic.
And frightening parts? Oh yeah! There are plenty of heart pounding, bloody twists that you won't see coming that will knock the wind right out of you. Or pee your pants. Or both. Janz keeps the pace fast with his captivating short chapters which keeps the reader turning the pages.
The ancient evil in The Sorrows didn't forget about the Shadeland family. It didn't forget about you either. It's evil,ever evolving as it plotted and schemed to settle the score with the Shadeland family. What does the delightfully gruesome inhabitant of The Castle of Sorrows have planned for you?
Jonathan Janz is back to rip your heart out- and some guts, with this well crafted sequel to his hit The Sorrows. The Castle of Sorrows certainly does not fall victim to the fate that many sequels do- not living up to the reputation of it's predecessor. Instead it breezes by it, dare I say beating out the first one in my popularity contest? Janz bring the thrills and chills and kicks them up a notch!
A year ago composer Ben Shadeland, his wife and son, traveled to the Sorrows, a supposedly haunted island off the coast of California, hoping to find inspiration for a score he was to compose. Instead he found unspeakable horror and an ancient evil that his family barely survived. Ben swore he would never go back to the Sorrows again. Now Ben's infant daughter has been kidnapped and Ben is sure that it is the malevolent creature that lives in the catacombs beneath Castle Blackwood on the Sorrows that is responsible. Ben joins three federal agents, a medium, and others in an attempt to save his daughter. But what awaits them is more than they could ever have imagined. The creature- an ancient god named Gabriel, has grown more powerful and has summoned horrific monsters to the island-both human and supernatural. And Gabriel won't rest until he gets his revenge.
Jonathan Janz is one of my favorite horror authors, and I was super excited to get a copy of this book to review. But then I became a bit hesitant. I thought The Sorrows was a fantastic book, and sequels, no matter who the author, a lot of the time fall flat. And I was afraid that this was going to be the case. Thankfully, he wrote a sequel equal to or better than the first and set my fears aside.
So for those of you who are not familiar with Jonathan Janz's work, The Castle of Sorrows is a sequel to The Sorrows. But fear not, this book can be read as a standalone. It had been a while since I had read The Sorrows, so I did a quick reread before this book arrived. I didn't need to. Janz does a great job at taking the reader back to visit all of the important events that happened in the first book at the beginning of the novel. No messy, mash up of events, but quick, and well articulated footnotes to catch the reader up to speed.
The characterization was on point. Now, for those of us who read the first book, we are already well acquainted with Ben, and his family, but these characters, while briefly visited in the beginning, get traded out for the new characters- most of whom are helping Ben with his search. Janz took his time to develop these new characters. Some you will like, some you won't- but those characters usually don't make it to the end anyway! With the new characters, Janz, in a way, pulls us back in time, discovering each new character as if we are walking right beside them. This helped me connect with the new characters and made them more real in my mind. Janz has a knack for writing fantastic characters, characters that are likable, that you root for and care about. Ben is a great example.
The first time I ventured to The Sorrows with Ben and his family, I was not really on guard, not aware of what awaited us. This time I was fully aware, and Janz will definitely make sure you as well! His vivid and lush descriptions of the island and the castle amps your anxieties and fears-and nothing has even happened yet! His description of Castle Blackwood just makes it seethe with an inherent evil that seems to bring out the worst in anyone who enters it, forcing them to lay their sins bare for all to see, touch, smell. The structure thrived on evil. Janz writes in this visceral, raw fashion that only makes the tension thick and the frightening parts eerily more realistic.
And frightening parts? Oh yeah! There are plenty of heart pounding, bloody twists that you won't see coming that will knock the wind right out of you. Or pee your pants. Or both. Janz keeps the pace fast with his captivating short chapters which keeps the reader turning the pages.
The ancient evil in The Sorrows didn't forget about the Shadeland family. It didn't forget about you either. It's evil,ever evolving as it plotted and schemed to settle the score with the Shadeland family. What does the delightfully gruesome inhabitant of The Castle of Sorrows have planned for you?
July 8, 2025
Having recently completed The Sorrows by Jonathan Janz, I enjoyed it so much I decided to rearrange my reading list so I could read its sequel, Castle of Sorrows much sooner than I otherwise would have. It turned out to be an excellent decision, as I loved it even more than its predecessor, and that was a pretty damn high bar! While Castle of Sorrows is a direct sequel to The Sorrows, taking place a year after the events of such, it is an entirely different experience. With but a handful of the characters from the first outing returning a number of new characters are introduced, and let's just say there are a few more less-than-wholesome individuals this time around. The action starts about 135 pages in and continues until the final 8 words, with well-placed respites for further character development throughout. (On a side note, it seems as though Professor Peter Grant got a bit lost in the shuffle, but in the end, he certainly served his purpose!) Jonathan Janz typically takes up residence in the Action-Horror sub-genre, but this one dives head first into Extreme-Action-Horror! As a result, it may be a bit too intense for the casual horror fan; it is unnerving, unflinching, and unapologetic, to the point where it's more akin to a middle finger followed by a, "If you can't stand the heat, get the hell out of the kitchen!" Personally though, I couldn't put it down, and that ending...Absolute Perfection!
July 30, 2019
I search and I search for horror movies. I love to be scared, but I can never find anything that does it for me. I knew Castle of Sorrows was a horror novel, but I had no idea it would actually scare me! Oh, Jonathan Janz has just jumped right into my favorite author pile. Holy crow. I’m so impressed, I haven’t been able to get this one out of my head.
I read this novel as a standalone, and did fine understanding everything. However, now I have to go back and read the first book because I know it’s going to be just as good!
The atmosphere in this novel…the pace…the characters…the plot. Wow. Just wow. I am so impressed with how captivating and terrifying this novel was. I was glued to the pages, but needed to turn on another light because it freaked me out. Love it.
I want to keep going on and on about how much I loved this book, but I’m taking up your reading time. Go grab this one and the first book while you’re at it. Make sure you leave the light on while you’re reading!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book as part of a blog tour with Random Things Tours. All opinions are my own.*
Find this review and more on my blog: https://jessicabelmont.wordpress.com/
I read this novel as a standalone, and did fine understanding everything. However, now I have to go back and read the first book because I know it’s going to be just as good!
The atmosphere in this novel…the pace…the characters…the plot. Wow. Just wow. I am so impressed with how captivating and terrifying this novel was. I was glued to the pages, but needed to turn on another light because it freaked me out. Love it.
I want to keep going on and on about how much I loved this book, but I’m taking up your reading time. Go grab this one and the first book while you’re at it. Make sure you leave the light on while you’re reading!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book as part of a blog tour with Random Things Tours. All opinions are my own.*
Find this review and more on my blog: https://jessicabelmont.wordpress.com/
August 31, 2019
I borrowed this from my library with Hoopla.
This is a second book in what seems to be a series.
I highly recommend the first one since this continues the story of Ben Shadeland...however, the author has done a great job at a cliff notes summary so one can read this as a stand alone.
In this story, Ben, Claire and Joshua seem to be the only ones that know what really happened at the Sorrows a year ago. The Feds are very interested as well as the Mob, but only because Christina owes them money and also wants to know what really happened to her late husband and son.
Ben wishes he could forget about the island but it seems it won't forget him. Ben and Claire had a daughter, Julia, and she has been taken from their home. The Feds blame the Mob but Ben thinks it's the Beast that haunts the Sorrows. Ben knows he has to go back to the Sorrows if he wants his daughter back but is she already dead by the Beast or does the Mob actually have her? Will anyone survive the trip since only three people made it barely alive last time? Pick this up and find out!!! Great series!!!
This is a second book in what seems to be a series.
I highly recommend the first one since this continues the story of Ben Shadeland...however, the author has done a great job at a cliff notes summary so one can read this as a stand alone.
In this story, Ben, Claire and Joshua seem to be the only ones that know what really happened at the Sorrows a year ago. The Feds are very interested as well as the Mob, but only because Christina owes them money and also wants to know what really happened to her late husband and son.
Ben wishes he could forget about the island but it seems it won't forget him. Ben and Claire had a daughter, Julia, and she has been taken from their home. The Feds blame the Mob but Ben thinks it's the Beast that haunts the Sorrows. Ben knows he has to go back to the Sorrows if he wants his daughter back but is she already dead by the Beast or does the Mob actually have her? Will anyone survive the trip since only three people made it barely alive last time? Pick this up and find out!!! Great series!!!
July 14, 2019
If you follow me on social media, you might’ve noticed me coveting this book for some time now. I scoured the internet to no avail trying to find a previously-released copy for a reasonable price. Thankfully, my whining ended when the Flame Tree Press version arrived a bit early. It might seem trivial to others, but having this long-awaited book from a favorite author arrive when it did was a blessing in disguise. I lost my dad a week before receiving this book, and it provided an emotional escape that I needed at the time.
CASTLE OF SORROWS is a solid follow-up to its predecessor. Like all Janz novels, it’s packed with unforgettable characters, excellent pacing, and bits of humor and heart. I was rooting for the protagonist, appalled by some of the villains, and left hoping that this storyline will become a trilogy.
As with all of the Janz novels I’ve read before, this one was difficult to set aside once I started reading. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for a third book in this series, and will continue singing this author’s praises as I await what comes next.
CASTLE OF SORROWS is a solid follow-up to its predecessor. Like all Janz novels, it’s packed with unforgettable characters, excellent pacing, and bits of humor and heart. I was rooting for the protagonist, appalled by some of the villains, and left hoping that this storyline will become a trilogy.
As with all of the Janz novels I’ve read before, this one was difficult to set aside once I started reading. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for a third book in this series, and will continue singing this author’s praises as I await what comes next.
September 27, 2019
Excellent followup to The Sorrows.
One year after the horrible events on the island, Ben and Claire are married with a child of their own. Ben is devoted to their baby daughter, determined to keep her safe at all costs. But when baby Julia is taken from their home, Ben knows this is no ordinary kidnapping. Something on that terrible island has followed them here, something he thought was dead, something not human. He must return once more to the Sorrows to search for her.
Fast paced and character driven, this novel is yet another winner from Jonathan Janz.
As for the very ending...I turned the page, and...
Let's just day I hope Jonathan Janz takes us back to the island one last time.
One year after the horrible events on the island, Ben and Claire are married with a child of their own. Ben is devoted to their baby daughter, determined to keep her safe at all costs. But when baby Julia is taken from their home, Ben knows this is no ordinary kidnapping. Something on that terrible island has followed them here, something he thought was dead, something not human. He must return once more to the Sorrows to search for her.
Fast paced and character driven, this novel is yet another winner from Jonathan Janz.
As for the very ending...I turned the page, and...
Let's just day I hope Jonathan Janz takes us back to the island one last time.
December 6, 2022
Ya en sí la novela tenía todas las de perder: aparece la mafia, y cuando la mafia o los deportes entran en la historia mi interés salta por la ventana. Pero esto no ha sido lo peor. El ritmo es un desastre, el final no llegaba, ha sido una tortura aguantar hasta la última página con tantos personajes detestables (el protagonista y su mujer son los peores) y tanta "sorpresa". Sé que mucha gente ha hablado de inmensas cantidades de gore, pero yo habría apreciado que hubiera mucha más violencia para compensar lo blando del resto.
Más adelante intentaré hacer una relectura. Tal vez no es (solo) la novela sino yo, teniendo un mal día. Tal vez es menos lamentable... pero incluso el título me da la razón.
Más adelante intentaré hacer una relectura. Tal vez no es (solo) la novela sino yo, teniendo un mal día. Tal vez es menos lamentable... pero incluso el título me da la razón.
September 1, 2020
In this one we are back in The Sorrows, back in Gabriel’s world where your sins, fears and deepest secrets are used to terrorize you and your loved ones! Wow, it could be Castle of Blood and Guts! Janz gives us knives, guns and just about anything within reach that can be used to slice, perforate, mutilate, disfigure, or cut appendages off! This is not for the squeamish! But it works here and I think we have a cliffhanger ending folks!!
January 8, 2024
This is the third book I’ve read of Jonathan Janz’s. The Sorrows and The Siren And The Specter were the first two. Jonathan books don’t disappoint. Castle of Sorrows had some good gory action. It’s a real page turner. Looking forward to reading anything by Jonathan Janz. He has easily become one of my favorite authors.
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