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Kentucky Dragon
*2025 IngramSpark Editorial Selection in Horror*
"Park ably uses religious symbolism, as well as mythical motifs of ancient Germanic people, demons, and even a dragon, in a story that is certainly not for the faint of heart ... A twisty, violent tale of a brutal legacy." - Kirkus Reviews
A demonic debt destroys Mark’s family, until he grows up to face its collector, The Chicken Man.
*
“So slowly, slowly she got up,
And slowly she came to him,
And all she said when she came
‘Young man, I think you are dying.’”
Barbara Allen, traditional folk song
Mark is eleven years old the first time he meets the chicken man. A thin man with discolored fingernails, the chicken man tells Mark how to make people happy using an icepick and a metal hammer. Tap, tap, tap in through the eyes, until there are no more tears. As the snow in Kentucky melts from a mine fire deep underground, the chicken man collects a brutal debt that leaves Mark traumatized, until, with enough time, bourbon, and therapy, he convinces himself to forget it all.
And he does, for eighteen years.
Until, the chicken man returns. Then, from Kentucky to New York City to a German village, where a coal fire has been burning for three centuries, Mark discovers the dark truth about his family’s debt and the flames that never go out.
"Park ably uses religious symbolism, as well as mythical motifs of ancient Germanic people, demons, and even a dragon, in a story that is certainly not for the faint of heart ... A twisty, violent tale of a brutal legacy." - Kirkus Reviews
A demonic debt destroys Mark’s family, until he grows up to face its collector, The Chicken Man.
*
“So slowly, slowly she got up,
And slowly she came to him,
And all she said when she came
‘Young man, I think you are dying.’”
Barbara Allen, traditional folk song
Mark is eleven years old the first time he meets the chicken man. A thin man with discolored fingernails, the chicken man tells Mark how to make people happy using an icepick and a metal hammer. Tap, tap, tap in through the eyes, until there are no more tears. As the snow in Kentucky melts from a mine fire deep underground, the chicken man collects a brutal debt that leaves Mark traumatized, until, with enough time, bourbon, and therapy, he convinces himself to forget it all.
And he does, for eighteen years.
Until, the chicken man returns. Then, from Kentucky to New York City to a German village, where a coal fire has been burning for three centuries, Mark discovers the dark truth about his family’s debt and the flames that never go out.
- GenresHorror
317 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 30, 2025
31 people want to read
About the author
Michael Park
3 books4 followersMichael Park has been professionally publishing under other names since 2001. His work has been published by Scholastic Books, Sourcebooks, Tor Books, and (nonfiction) Verso Books.
Most recently, he is the author of the horror novels, Kentucky Dragon, The Glass-Face Man, and Good to Grave, all published by Fox Point Books.
An American writer, he now lives in Scotland, where he owns a pub.
Most recently, he is the author of the horror novels, Kentucky Dragon, The Glass-Face Man, and Good to Grave, all published by Fox Point Books.
An American writer, he now lives in Scotland, where he owns a pub.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
March 7, 2025
This is a dark novel about a debt owed to an ancient Germanic entity and how it affects a family's life through the ensuing years.
Mark was eleven years old when he meets a mysterious man called the chicken man. This man talks about crude lobotomies and he and his brothers dead sister. But it doesn't stop there. Some truly terrifying events will result in an event which leaves his brother without a tongue or thumbs, buckets full of body parts, and something which he can't escape.
Eighteen years later and he's convinced himself these horrific things didn't happen. That he made it all up to overcome a traumatic event. But you can't escape your debt to the chicken man and he soon finds everything he loves in danger as this supernatural force makes itself present yet again. This will take him from New York to Kentucky to a small German village as he seeks to play, and win, the chicken man's twisted sadistic game.
This book has dark lore from history and even some evil nazi occultism. It's a twisted intense novel filled with horrifying scenes and an emotional hook as Mark is about to lose everything while those around him thinks he might be losing his mind. There's a lot of really bizarre things that happen to him and others throughout the book and it makes for a heart pounding read. The ending was a bit abrupt and left some unanswered questions but I loved the terrifying journey. I highly recommend it.
I received an ARC of this book through Booksirens. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.
Mark was eleven years old when he meets a mysterious man called the chicken man. This man talks about crude lobotomies and he and his brothers dead sister. But it doesn't stop there. Some truly terrifying events will result in an event which leaves his brother without a tongue or thumbs, buckets full of body parts, and something which he can't escape.
Eighteen years later and he's convinced himself these horrific things didn't happen. That he made it all up to overcome a traumatic event. But you can't escape your debt to the chicken man and he soon finds everything he loves in danger as this supernatural force makes itself present yet again. This will take him from New York to Kentucky to a small German village as he seeks to play, and win, the chicken man's twisted sadistic game.
This book has dark lore from history and even some evil nazi occultism. It's a twisted intense novel filled with horrifying scenes and an emotional hook as Mark is about to lose everything while those around him thinks he might be losing his mind. There's a lot of really bizarre things that happen to him and others throughout the book and it makes for a heart pounding read. The ending was a bit abrupt and left some unanswered questions but I loved the terrifying journey. I highly recommend it.
I received an ARC of this book through Booksirens. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.
April 10, 2025
The chicken man? Murders? Folklore? Family curses? The first half of this story was absolutely chilling and twisting. I did get frustrated at times due to the family not communicating at all. So much could have been resolved or clarified if they had. Still, I was definitely freaked out by where the plot was heading.
The time jump to when Mark is an adult kind of sends the plot spinning out of control from that point onwards. So many weird decisions, descriptions and explanations felt overwhelming and unnecessary. I think if the author had stuck to just one supernatural plot device this would’ve kept my interest riveted to the narrative and the suspense/scariness of the story intact. There was so much to keep track of, it wasn’t enjoyable.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Fox Point Books for a copy!
The time jump to when Mark is an adult kind of sends the plot spinning out of control from that point onwards. So many weird decisions, descriptions and explanations felt overwhelming and unnecessary. I think if the author had stuck to just one supernatural plot device this would’ve kept my interest riveted to the narrative and the suspense/scariness of the story intact. There was so much to keep track of, it wasn’t enjoyable.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Fox Point Books for a copy!
March 29, 2025
Firstly, there is no dragon in the usual sense of dragon, in this novel. There is mention of a dragon but one is never encountered. There is a dragon in a metaphorical sense in the form of underground coal fires.
I received a free advance review copy and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you to the author, publisher and Booksirens for this opportunity.
Kentucky Dragon is so full of anxiety provoking scenes that you can start feeling that anxiety steadily growing inside yourself. The anxiety generates from the character of Mark, a young eleven year old boy at the beginning of the story, and continues to the end when Mark is a thirty year old man. The source of his anxiety? The Chicken Man, an evil messenger and torturer of an ancient evil.
When the Chicken Man appears on the family doorstep to speak to Mark's dad about a family debt it begins a decent into horror for Mark and his older brother, Don. It begins with the disappearance of Mark's only friend, his loyal dog, Calvin. It is frustrating and then angering that despite all of the time spent describing how much Calvin meant to Mark he didn't try to find Calvin. It is as if once Calvin is missing he is no longer important to the story. So disappointing.
As Mark and Don try to get to the bottom of the family debt, or curse, they are drawn into more and more horribly terrifying and physically deforming situations. After Mark's father is killed, Don is disfigured and Mark has a knife thrust through his hand the Chicken Man leaves the family alone for nineteen years.
As an adult Mark is living in NYC, a self-employed electrician, and has a girlfriend who he wants to marry. When Mark's girlfriend becomes unexpectedly pregnant the Chicken Man returns to torment him. The debt has to be paid, again.
More and more strange visions come to Mark, especially after his grandmother dies. Mark learns more about his Nazi grandfather, a gruesome lamp made by his grandfather, the debt and its ties to Germany. So, off to Germany and the source of the debt, Mark goes.
The trip to Germany and Mark's time there gets progressively stranger. The novel ends in an unsatisfying manner only to leave me to think that there has to be a sequel.
I received a free advance review copy and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you to the author, publisher and Booksirens for this opportunity.
Kentucky Dragon is so full of anxiety provoking scenes that you can start feeling that anxiety steadily growing inside yourself. The anxiety generates from the character of Mark, a young eleven year old boy at the beginning of the story, and continues to the end when Mark is a thirty year old man. The source of his anxiety? The Chicken Man, an evil messenger and torturer of an ancient evil.
When the Chicken Man appears on the family doorstep to speak to Mark's dad about a family debt it begins a decent into horror for Mark and his older brother, Don. It begins with the disappearance of Mark's only friend, his loyal dog, Calvin. It is frustrating and then angering that despite all of the time spent describing how much Calvin meant to Mark he didn't try to find Calvin. It is as if once Calvin is missing he is no longer important to the story. So disappointing.
As Mark and Don try to get to the bottom of the family debt, or curse, they are drawn into more and more horribly terrifying and physically deforming situations. After Mark's father is killed, Don is disfigured and Mark has a knife thrust through his hand the Chicken Man leaves the family alone for nineteen years.
As an adult Mark is living in NYC, a self-employed electrician, and has a girlfriend who he wants to marry. When Mark's girlfriend becomes unexpectedly pregnant the Chicken Man returns to torment him. The debt has to be paid, again.
More and more strange visions come to Mark, especially after his grandmother dies. Mark learns more about his Nazi grandfather, a gruesome lamp made by his grandfather, the debt and its ties to Germany. So, off to Germany and the source of the debt, Mark goes.
The trip to Germany and Mark's time there gets progressively stranger. The novel ends in an unsatisfying manner only to leave me to think that there has to be a sequel.
December 23, 2025
I do like a horror book so I decided to request this book from BookSirens. This was a book of two halves and this affected how I enjoyed this book. When our protagonist was younger I enjoyed the book immensely but as the story progressed to his adulthood and moved locations it somewhat lost me.If you like your horror mixed with folklore then you may enjoy it, but sadly not for me. Thanks to the author and BookSirens for the opportunity to read read and review this book.
September 27, 2025
2.25 ⭐️ rounded down for Goodreads.
This book was such an amalgamation of things, and I think it suffered from having too many different components. Nazi Germany, Kentucky coal mines, demons, monsters, and gods all came together in a messy pile of puzzle pieces that I struggled to put together. Once the picture did come together, it seemed like there were missing pieces or pieces that didn’t quite fit together correctly. I was intrigued enough by the story to keep reading, but ultimately I was a little disappointed with this book and its ending.
Thank you to NetGalley and Fox Point Books for providing me with an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All reviews will be posted to my socials (Goodreads, NetGalley, Fable, IG).
This book was such an amalgamation of things, and I think it suffered from having too many different components. Nazi Germany, Kentucky coal mines, demons, monsters, and gods all came together in a messy pile of puzzle pieces that I struggled to put together. Once the picture did come together, it seemed like there were missing pieces or pieces that didn’t quite fit together correctly. I was intrigued enough by the story to keep reading, but ultimately I was a little disappointed with this book and its ending.
Thank you to NetGalley and Fox Point Books for providing me with an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All reviews will be posted to my socials (Goodreads, NetGalley, Fable, IG).
April 28, 2025
This book was so much fun!
I'm a huge fan of horror, generational trauma horror, and gore. This book hit them all. I was very invested in the mystery set up in the begining third of the book and didn't let up until the last page.
This was my first by this author and I would definitely read another.
*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*
I'm a huge fan of horror, generational trauma horror, and gore. This book hit them all. I was very invested in the mystery set up in the begining third of the book and didn't let up until the last page.
This was my first by this author and I would definitely read another.
*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*
March 22, 2025
I received Kentucky Dragon by Michael Park as an ARC from BookSirens and have rated this one 4*
A rather bizarre horror following a family through the decades as the son, Michael tries to get to the bottom of curse that has a debt to pay by him.
With being a horror fan, I absolutely koved the gory details in the book, I wasn't so sure about the ending, seemed a little to fast after the amazing build up to get to the end. I think more detail would have rounded the book off nicely.
However a thoroughly enjoyable read I would recommend. And my appreciation and thanks for the ARC
A rather bizarre horror following a family through the decades as the son, Michael tries to get to the bottom of curse that has a debt to pay by him.
With being a horror fan, I absolutely koved the gory details in the book, I wasn't so sure about the ending, seemed a little to fast after the amazing build up to get to the end. I think more detail would have rounded the book off nicely.
However a thoroughly enjoyable read I would recommend. And my appreciation and thanks for the ARC
May 16, 2025
Thank you to Victory Editing for this free ARC through NetGalley.
Kentucky Dragon by Michael Park is an absolutely wild ride of discovering the dark parts of one's history and second guessing your own reality. Park does a great job throwing curveball after curveball to keep readers questioning what in the world is happening and engaged--making this book hard to put down. The only downside to that is the plot came across sometimes overly convoluted and slightly confusing, but not to its own detriment. Our main character, Mark, has relatable inner dialogue that is the gripping point to keep us planted despite the chaos that surrounds him.
My only other small gripe is that I was dying for a more satisfying ending. With a plot so wrapped in detail and depth, I wished that it had tied up more loose ends and given us more answers. Who really is the Kentucky dragon? Is Mark and his family free? Little details like this could have sent this book over the top and tipped it to five stars for me.
Kentucky Dragon by Michael Park is an absolutely wild ride of discovering the dark parts of one's history and second guessing your own reality. Park does a great job throwing curveball after curveball to keep readers questioning what in the world is happening and engaged--making this book hard to put down. The only downside to that is the plot came across sometimes overly convoluted and slightly confusing, but not to its own detriment. Our main character, Mark, has relatable inner dialogue that is the gripping point to keep us planted despite the chaos that surrounds him.
My only other small gripe is that I was dying for a more satisfying ending. With a plot so wrapped in detail and depth, I wished that it had tied up more loose ends and given us more answers. Who really is the Kentucky dragon? Is Mark and his family free? Little details like this could have sent this book over the top and tipped it to five stars for me.
April 21, 2025
I just finished this book, and wow—what a wild, eerie ride. It starts off strong with this super unsettling character called the chicken man (yes, really), who shows up when Mark is just eleven and says some pretty disturbing stuff about “making people happy” with an icepick. From there, it dives into this mix of childhood trauma, buried secrets, and a family debt that’s way darker than it first seems.
The writing is haunting in a really poetic way—like, the imagery of the mine fire burning underground and the snow melting in Kentucky was so vivid it almost felt symbolic of everything Mark was trying to forget. And for a while, the story really pulls you in, especially as Mark tries to move on with his life. You’re rooting for him… until the past inevitably catches up.
That said, the time jump threw me off a bit. It skips ahead eighteen years, and while that makes sense for the plot, it felt a little jarring. The pacing shifted, and I found myself a little confused trying to figure out where we were and what had actually happened in the gap. It didn’t totally ruin anything, but it did break the flow for me.
Still, once the chicken man reappears and things start unfolding across Kentucky, New York, and even a creepy village in Germany, the story picks back up and delivers some seriously intense moments. If you’re into dark, psychological stories with a touch of surreal horror, it’s definitely worth the read—just be ready for a few timeline hiccups along the way.
Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for allowing me this arc!
The writing is haunting in a really poetic way—like, the imagery of the mine fire burning underground and the snow melting in Kentucky was so vivid it almost felt symbolic of everything Mark was trying to forget. And for a while, the story really pulls you in, especially as Mark tries to move on with his life. You’re rooting for him… until the past inevitably catches up.
That said, the time jump threw me off a bit. It skips ahead eighteen years, and while that makes sense for the plot, it felt a little jarring. The pacing shifted, and I found myself a little confused trying to figure out where we were and what had actually happened in the gap. It didn’t totally ruin anything, but it did break the flow for me.
Still, once the chicken man reappears and things start unfolding across Kentucky, New York, and even a creepy village in Germany, the story picks back up and delivers some seriously intense moments. If you’re into dark, psychological stories with a touch of surreal horror, it’s definitely worth the read—just be ready for a few timeline hiccups along the way.
Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for allowing me this arc!
Read
March 16, 2025One fateful evening, the Morris family’s ordinary life is upended by the arrival of a mysterious man clutching a duffel bag. His presence casts an eerie spell over the household, rendering everyone—except the youngest brother, Mike—helpless under his trance. What does he want? What secrets does the duffel bag conceal? Why is a whiskey-bottle lamp that never turns off so significant? And who—or what—is "The Chicken Man," whose shadowy power looms over this family? The answers lie in the pages ahead, but be warned: this is no gentle journey. Brace yourself for a heart-pounding ride that will take you to the edge of reason and back.
At its core, this is a tale of debts unpaid, ancient German folklore, the eternal clash between heaven and hell, and the boundless power of love. It is also the story of a father’s desperate determination to shield his family from forces far beyond human comprehension. We follow Mike and his brother Don as they embark on a relentless quest for answers—answers that span decades, cross continents, and tear at the very fabric of their lives. The burning question at the heart of their odyssey: what truly happened to their older sister, Abby?
This book is not for the faint of heart. It brims with visceral gore, nail-biting suspense, and an ever-present spiritual undertone that cloaks the story in an air of the supernatural. Michael Park’s masterful prose flows like a river, carrying you through every twist and turn with breathtaking ease. From the very first page, I was utterly captivated. I found myself snatching moments throughout the day to dive back in, desperate to uncover the next revelation, the next thread the brothers would unravel in their search for truth.
Yet, even the most gripping tales are not without their flaws. For nearly the entire journey, I was convinced I was holding a five-star masterpiece in my hands. But as the story reached its climax in the final three chapters, the narrative began to falter. What had been a tightly woven tapestry suddenly felt disjointed and rushed, as though the threads were unraveling too quickly. By the time I turned the final page, I was left with more questions than answers, unsure if I had fully grasped the ending. Perhaps this story demands a second reading to unlock its deeper meanings. While the ending still showcased Park’s talent for beautiful prose, it lacked the cohesion and clarity that had defined the rest of the book.
Overall, this book earns a well-deserved 4 stars. Despite my reservations about the ending, it is an unforgettable journey that I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone who stumbles upon this review.
A special thanks to BookSirens for providing an ARC copy of this book. I am eager to explore more of Michael Park’s works in the future—this story has left an indelible mark on me.
At its core, this is a tale of debts unpaid, ancient German folklore, the eternal clash between heaven and hell, and the boundless power of love. It is also the story of a father’s desperate determination to shield his family from forces far beyond human comprehension. We follow Mike and his brother Don as they embark on a relentless quest for answers—answers that span decades, cross continents, and tear at the very fabric of their lives. The burning question at the heart of their odyssey: what truly happened to their older sister, Abby?
This book is not for the faint of heart. It brims with visceral gore, nail-biting suspense, and an ever-present spiritual undertone that cloaks the story in an air of the supernatural. Michael Park’s masterful prose flows like a river, carrying you through every twist and turn with breathtaking ease. From the very first page, I was utterly captivated. I found myself snatching moments throughout the day to dive back in, desperate to uncover the next revelation, the next thread the brothers would unravel in their search for truth.
Yet, even the most gripping tales are not without their flaws. For nearly the entire journey, I was convinced I was holding a five-star masterpiece in my hands. But as the story reached its climax in the final three chapters, the narrative began to falter. What had been a tightly woven tapestry suddenly felt disjointed and rushed, as though the threads were unraveling too quickly. By the time I turned the final page, I was left with more questions than answers, unsure if I had fully grasped the ending. Perhaps this story demands a second reading to unlock its deeper meanings. While the ending still showcased Park’s talent for beautiful prose, it lacked the cohesion and clarity that had defined the rest of the book.
Overall, this book earns a well-deserved 4 stars. Despite my reservations about the ending, it is an unforgettable journey that I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone who stumbles upon this review.
A special thanks to BookSirens for providing an ARC copy of this book. I am eager to explore more of Michael Park’s works in the future—this story has left an indelible mark on me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 29, 2025
Michael Park's 'Kentucky Dragon' is a chilling and unsettling novel that burrows under your skin from the very first chapter. The premise alone is enough to grab your attention: an eleven-year-old boy receives a horrifyingly violent lesson from a man he calls the 'chicken man' on how to erase sadness. This unsettling introduction sets the stage for a story steeped in trauma, dark secrets, and a persistent, almost supernatural, sense of dread.
Park skillfully crafts a protagonist, Mark, who is both sympathetic and deeply flawed. His attempts to bury the past through bourbon and therapy are relatable, even as the reader knows the past will inevitably resurface. The eighteen years of fragile peace are shattered with the chicken man’s reappearance, forcing Mark to confront a history he desperately tried to suppress.
The novel’s strength lies in its evocative imagery and unsettling atmosphere. The descriptions of the melting snow from an underground mine fire in Kentucky are particularly effective, serving as a powerful metaphor for the simmering darkness beneath the surface of Mark's life. The journey from Kentucky to New York City and ultimately to a German village with its own eternally burning coal fire underscores the pervasive nature of the past and its inescapable reach.
While the plot may feel somewhat fragmented at times, jumping between locations and time periods, this actually contributes to the overall sense of disorientation and unease that Mark experiences. The ambiguity surrounding the 'chicken man' and the true nature of the family debt adds a layer of mystery and keeps the reader guessing until the very end.
'Kentucky Dragon' is not for the faint of heart. It deals with themes of violence, trauma, and the lasting impact of childhood experiences in a raw and unflinching manner. However, for readers who appreciate dark and atmospheric thrillers with a hint of the surreal, Michael Park's novel is a compelling and thought-provoking read. It's a story that will stay with you long after you turn the final page, forcing you to consider the flames that burn unseen beneath the surface of our lives.
Park skillfully crafts a protagonist, Mark, who is both sympathetic and deeply flawed. His attempts to bury the past through bourbon and therapy are relatable, even as the reader knows the past will inevitably resurface. The eighteen years of fragile peace are shattered with the chicken man’s reappearance, forcing Mark to confront a history he desperately tried to suppress.
The novel’s strength lies in its evocative imagery and unsettling atmosphere. The descriptions of the melting snow from an underground mine fire in Kentucky are particularly effective, serving as a powerful metaphor for the simmering darkness beneath the surface of Mark's life. The journey from Kentucky to New York City and ultimately to a German village with its own eternally burning coal fire underscores the pervasive nature of the past and its inescapable reach.
While the plot may feel somewhat fragmented at times, jumping between locations and time periods, this actually contributes to the overall sense of disorientation and unease that Mark experiences. The ambiguity surrounding the 'chicken man' and the true nature of the family debt adds a layer of mystery and keeps the reader guessing until the very end.
'Kentucky Dragon' is not for the faint of heart. It deals with themes of violence, trauma, and the lasting impact of childhood experiences in a raw and unflinching manner. However, for readers who appreciate dark and atmospheric thrillers with a hint of the surreal, Michael Park's novel is a compelling and thought-provoking read. It's a story that will stay with you long after you turn the final page, forcing you to consider the flames that burn unseen beneath the surface of our lives.
April 11, 2025
Holy Crap. Just every now and again on Netgalley you get an ARC approval that reminds you why you are in this game.
I confess I thought at first that Kentucky Dragon was going to be a kinda weird niche genre novel that would be a good quick throwaway read BOY WAS I WRONG. This book is definitely a genre novel, and is even pretty darn gory at times, but this is really powerful work, my only problem is knowing where to start with the compliments:
The Horror
First of all, I love the horror genre, but recognize its hard to pull off sometimes. A lot of written works seems to try and imitate film horror conventions which don’t always work on the page (e.g. jump scares). Kentucky Dragon I would say is the opposite, its scary and gruesome in a way that feels extremely vivid and in the moment and could easily translate into a damn good film, but using literary techniques.
In terms of the gore this is possibly the most bloody book I’ve read for some time, and usually I’m not a fan of overdone blood-and-guts, just to reassure thought the story is balanced, so that when the horrific stuff does happen its suitably shocking and high impact without derailing the more emotive and character driven elements.
The Story
Another element that often horror stories struggle with is having a solid story beneath the scary/horror stuff. Often any attempt to have a story is undermined or overshadowed by the horror elements (it’s hard to have a compelling story alongside a Freddy Gruger type trying to kill everyone) and you often end up the story just being an awkward mystery or coming of age drama with scary moments. Kentucky Dragon is kinda both (not awkward) somehow capturing real life moments alongside solving the mystery haunting the MC.
While some of the individual scenes can be a bit tropey they are well incorporated so I never felt my eyes roll or deep sighs through the story.
And finally there is an air of mystery to this book, not every mythology is fully explained (what is the game!?!) – I’m not sure if the author is planning a sequel or shared universe books to explain more but I would be happy either way.
I confess I thought at first that Kentucky Dragon was going to be a kinda weird niche genre novel that would be a good quick throwaway read BOY WAS I WRONG. This book is definitely a genre novel, and is even pretty darn gory at times, but this is really powerful work, my only problem is knowing where to start with the compliments:
The Horror
First of all, I love the horror genre, but recognize its hard to pull off sometimes. A lot of written works seems to try and imitate film horror conventions which don’t always work on the page (e.g. jump scares). Kentucky Dragon I would say is the opposite, its scary and gruesome in a way that feels extremely vivid and in the moment and could easily translate into a damn good film, but using literary techniques.
In terms of the gore this is possibly the most bloody book I’ve read for some time, and usually I’m not a fan of overdone blood-and-guts, just to reassure thought the story is balanced, so that when the horrific stuff does happen its suitably shocking and high impact without derailing the more emotive and character driven elements.
The Story
Another element that often horror stories struggle with is having a solid story beneath the scary/horror stuff. Often any attempt to have a story is undermined or overshadowed by the horror elements (it’s hard to have a compelling story alongside a Freddy Gruger type trying to kill everyone) and you often end up the story just being an awkward mystery or coming of age drama with scary moments. Kentucky Dragon is kinda both (not awkward) somehow capturing real life moments alongside solving the mystery haunting the MC.
While some of the individual scenes can be a bit tropey they are well incorporated so I never felt my eyes roll or deep sighs through the story.
And finally there is an air of mystery to this book, not every mythology is fully explained (what is the game!?!) – I’m not sure if the author is planning a sequel or shared universe books to explain more but I would be happy either way.
September 1, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Fox Point Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Kentucky Dragon is a visceral, disturbing horror novel that sinks its claws in from the very first scene. Michael Park crafts a story that mixes Southern gothic, folk horror, and psychological terror into something grotesque, heartbreaking, and unforgettable.
The novel opens with young Mark and his siblings growing up in rural Kentucky, where their family has long been burdened by an unspoken curse. When the terrifying “chicken man” arrives—an almost mythic, grotesque figure who comes to collect on an ancient debt—their lives are shattered. The chicken man’s presence is both surreal and horrifying, blurring the line between legend and lived experience. What he wants, and the violence he leaves behind, defines the siblings’ lives for years to come.
Eighteen years later, Mark is a teacher trying to keep a safe distance from his haunted past, but he’s dragged back in when his sister’s disappearance resurfaces and the chicken man’s influence creeps across borders and decades. The narrative shifts between timelines, showing how trauma lingers, how curses feel inherited, and how family bonds can both save and destroy.
Park’s prose is vivid and unflinching—there are passages of body horror so visceral they’re almost unbearable, but never gratuitous. The imagery is deeply unsettling: feathers, blood, and grotesque transformations that symbolize the corrosive weight of generational trauma. At times, the pacing falters around the time jump, but the second half builds momentum toward a shocking and brutal climax that feels both inevitable and surreal.
The novel works best as a meditation on inheritance—of secrets, guilt, violence, and resilience. Mark is a flawed but compelling protagonist, and the chicken man is one of the most chilling horror villains I’ve encountered in recent years: part folkloric monster, part embodiment of generational rot.
Kentucky Dragon isn’t for everyone—it’s gruesome, bleak, and often emotionally draining—but readers who appreciate horror that pushes boundaries will find themselves both horrified and strangely moved.
Kentucky Dragon is a visceral, disturbing horror novel that sinks its claws in from the very first scene. Michael Park crafts a story that mixes Southern gothic, folk horror, and psychological terror into something grotesque, heartbreaking, and unforgettable.
The novel opens with young Mark and his siblings growing up in rural Kentucky, where their family has long been burdened by an unspoken curse. When the terrifying “chicken man” arrives—an almost mythic, grotesque figure who comes to collect on an ancient debt—their lives are shattered. The chicken man’s presence is both surreal and horrifying, blurring the line between legend and lived experience. What he wants, and the violence he leaves behind, defines the siblings’ lives for years to come.
Eighteen years later, Mark is a teacher trying to keep a safe distance from his haunted past, but he’s dragged back in when his sister’s disappearance resurfaces and the chicken man’s influence creeps across borders and decades. The narrative shifts between timelines, showing how trauma lingers, how curses feel inherited, and how family bonds can both save and destroy.
Park’s prose is vivid and unflinching—there are passages of body horror so visceral they’re almost unbearable, but never gratuitous. The imagery is deeply unsettling: feathers, blood, and grotesque transformations that symbolize the corrosive weight of generational trauma. At times, the pacing falters around the time jump, but the second half builds momentum toward a shocking and brutal climax that feels both inevitable and surreal.
The novel works best as a meditation on inheritance—of secrets, guilt, violence, and resilience. Mark is a flawed but compelling protagonist, and the chicken man is one of the most chilling horror villains I’ve encountered in recent years: part folkloric monster, part embodiment of generational rot.
Kentucky Dragon isn’t for everyone—it’s gruesome, bleak, and often emotionally draining—but readers who appreciate horror that pushes boundaries will find themselves both horrified and strangely moved.
June 14, 2025
If you enjoy Faustian bargains, you may enjoy Kentucky Dragon.
The writer has a knack for disturbing imagery and visceral gore as well as bringing some interesting horror concepts like the chicken man and disappearing spaces to life.
This one starts out rather interesting and turns into somewhat of a mess. Developmentally, I had difficulty with the story. It’s a strange story in terms of structure and storylines. The start is compelling, yet lacks enough information, muddying the waters. Then, a time jump occurs and there’s suddenly way too much information. Then there’s a brief time where the story seems quite fine, as you see the future characters, their lives, their lingering issues—this was the part of the story I actually began to really enjoy, feeling quite hopeful as I was beginning to understand the first part of the story better and it left me intrigued and uneasy.
After which, the storyline swerves, runs out of control with some events (such as when he travels — this just didn’t execute well for me, specifically the package and what it required for transport).
The subsequent unraveling of information and background context in the German village made me lose all patience as a reader. Then it all came to an abrupt end.
I also didn’t care for the context of the latter part of the story. However I didn’t factor this into my rating, because the author has his story to tell regardless of how I feel about it. As a reader, it was much too convenient to try to explain away true human evil when the truth is much more terrifying. There were also missed opportunities with the sins of the father(s), returning to haunt the sons on several emotional levels.
Where did the dog go? This doesn’t haunt the reader as intended. One line would have created greater unease rather than annoyance. One line of connection to something, anything. It frustrated me and not in the right way.
However, many, many of the author’s depictions were genuinely effective horror—both gross and disturbing.
3/5
The writer has a knack for disturbing imagery and visceral gore as well as bringing some interesting horror concepts like the chicken man and disappearing spaces to life.
This one starts out rather interesting and turns into somewhat of a mess. Developmentally, I had difficulty with the story. It’s a strange story in terms of structure and storylines. The start is compelling, yet lacks enough information, muddying the waters. Then, a time jump occurs and there’s suddenly way too much information. Then there’s a brief time where the story seems quite fine, as you see the future characters, their lives, their lingering issues—this was the part of the story I actually began to really enjoy, feeling quite hopeful as I was beginning to understand the first part of the story better and it left me intrigued and uneasy.
After which, the storyline swerves, runs out of control with some events (such as when he travels — this just didn’t execute well for me, specifically the package and what it required for transport).
The subsequent unraveling of information and background context in the German village made me lose all patience as a reader. Then it all came to an abrupt end.
I also didn’t care for the context of the latter part of the story. However I didn’t factor this into my rating, because the author has his story to tell regardless of how I feel about it. As a reader, it was much too convenient to try to explain away true human evil when the truth is much more terrifying. There were also missed opportunities with the sins of the father(s), returning to haunt the sons on several emotional levels.
Where did the dog go? This doesn’t haunt the reader as intended. One line would have created greater unease rather than annoyance. One line of connection to something, anything. It frustrated me and not in the right way.
However, many, many of the author’s depictions were genuinely effective horror—both gross and disturbing.
3/5
April 11, 2025
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Kentucky Dragon by Michael Park was such a strange, unsettling, and oddly immersive read. It felt like stepping into someone else's nightmare and never quite being sure what was real and what wasn’t. And honestly, I think that was the point.
The mystery of the Chicken Man kept me hooked the entire time. Nothing about him really made sense, but it never felt like it was supposed to. The story leans hard into that feeling of unreliability — like if Mark didn’t understand what was happening, neither would we. That worked really well in making me question everything, including whether or not Mark was just completely losing it.
Despite how weird and eerie the story is, it’s also grounded in very human struggles. Mark’s trauma, grief, and constant wrestling with his past made him feel like a fully fleshed-out character. The way he carried the weight of what happened in his childhood was both sad and very believable. I found myself rooting for him, hoping he would find some kind of peace or closure after everything he had endured.
The time jump worked really well, too. It gave the story some breathing room and let things unfold in a way that allowed pieces to start clicking together, even if not everything was totally clear. I liked that the book didn’t tie everything up perfectly — some mysteries just stayed mysteries.
It’s a weird book, but in the best way. The writing pulled me in, and the atmosphere kept me feeling unsettled in a way that fit the story perfectly. If you like books that play with unreliable narrators, unsettling folklore vibes, and dark family secrets, Kentucky Dragon is absolutely worth a read. It held my attention from start to finish, and I really enjoyed where it ended up taking me.
Kentucky Dragon by Michael Park was such a strange, unsettling, and oddly immersive read. It felt like stepping into someone else's nightmare and never quite being sure what was real and what wasn’t. And honestly, I think that was the point.
The mystery of the Chicken Man kept me hooked the entire time. Nothing about him really made sense, but it never felt like it was supposed to. The story leans hard into that feeling of unreliability — like if Mark didn’t understand what was happening, neither would we. That worked really well in making me question everything, including whether or not Mark was just completely losing it.
Despite how weird and eerie the story is, it’s also grounded in very human struggles. Mark’s trauma, grief, and constant wrestling with his past made him feel like a fully fleshed-out character. The way he carried the weight of what happened in his childhood was both sad and very believable. I found myself rooting for him, hoping he would find some kind of peace or closure after everything he had endured.
The time jump worked really well, too. It gave the story some breathing room and let things unfold in a way that allowed pieces to start clicking together, even if not everything was totally clear. I liked that the book didn’t tie everything up perfectly — some mysteries just stayed mysteries.
It’s a weird book, but in the best way. The writing pulled me in, and the atmosphere kept me feeling unsettled in a way that fit the story perfectly. If you like books that play with unreliable narrators, unsettling folklore vibes, and dark family secrets, Kentucky Dragon is absolutely worth a read. It held my attention from start to finish, and I really enjoyed where it ended up taking me.
April 20, 2025
Kentucky Dragon is what you get when Stranger Things, House of Leaves, and Stephen King’s IT all get drunk together at a southern Gothic funeral. Told through the eyes of eleven-year-old Mark Morris, the novel starts with a deceptively cozy new-home setup and spirals—quickly—into psychological horror, generational trauma, and mythological nightmare wrapped in a Southern suburb.
What starts off as “who the hell is this creepy chicken man at our front door?” snowballs into the lamp is possessed, our sister might still be alive, our dog has vanished, and our grandmother had a lobotomy and possibly saw the future. Throw in a haunted Catholic school, shady parental cover-ups, and flashbacks wrapped in folklore, and you’ve got yourself a terrifying family mystery you won’t want to solve—but can’t stop reading.
The writing is unsettling in the best way. It takes the innocence of childhood and shreds it with surreal dread. The horror builds subtly: it’s not just the chicken man and his surgical monologues, but the way the adults say too little or too much, the strange smells, the off-kilter reactions, and the feeling that nobody is telling the truth. And that’s scarier than any jump scare.
Why 4.5 stars?
Because it lingers. The atmosphere is masterfully crafted and unsettling as hell. The pacing drags slightly in the midsection (the library sequence could’ve been tighter), and while Mark’s voice is compelling, you sometimes wish Don had more depth. But those are tiny gripes in a big, creepy, brain-tickling story.
Also, props for including historical, psychiatric horror elements—particularly the lobotomy subplot—which adds a layer of disturbing realism that elevates this beyond your average “kids vs. creepy neighbor” tale.
What starts off as “who the hell is this creepy chicken man at our front door?” snowballs into the lamp is possessed, our sister might still be alive, our dog has vanished, and our grandmother had a lobotomy and possibly saw the future. Throw in a haunted Catholic school, shady parental cover-ups, and flashbacks wrapped in folklore, and you’ve got yourself a terrifying family mystery you won’t want to solve—but can’t stop reading.
The writing is unsettling in the best way. It takes the innocence of childhood and shreds it with surreal dread. The horror builds subtly: it’s not just the chicken man and his surgical monologues, but the way the adults say too little or too much, the strange smells, the off-kilter reactions, and the feeling that nobody is telling the truth. And that’s scarier than any jump scare.
Why 4.5 stars?
Because it lingers. The atmosphere is masterfully crafted and unsettling as hell. The pacing drags slightly in the midsection (the library sequence could’ve been tighter), and while Mark’s voice is compelling, you sometimes wish Don had more depth. But those are tiny gripes in a big, creepy, brain-tickling story.
Also, props for including historical, psychiatric horror elements—particularly the lobotomy subplot—which adds a layer of disturbing realism that elevates this beyond your average “kids vs. creepy neighbor” tale.
May 11, 2025
**I received an advance review copy for free via BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you to the author for this opportunity!**
I gave the book three stars because while I do like the journey we go on with the protagonist I feel that the book drags in the first half of the novel. I know most exposition needs building up. When I read a novel I usually tap out by page 50 if there isn't much movement. I was intrigued by what was presented in Kentucky Dragon's first 50 pages, though, and I wanted to find out more; it just felt like it took a long time to get there. The second half is where the story picked up and kept me reading until the end. I feel the story would have been told better in a different structure, perhaps jumping back and forth between the protagonist's childhood and his present day rather than making it two separate parts.
The horrific imagery was stellar. Every descriptive monstrosity was seared into my brain and made me cringe, which is what I usually look for in a horror novel. I typically drift to extreme and body horror, and Kentucky Dragon delivers. Safe to say, I will not forget the chicken man. What a nasty character, but I loved when he showed up.
The ending felt a bit rushed. However, it also read as if there was an opening for a second book. If there is indeed a plan for a sequel, I would love to read it because I was left with lots of questions.
Overall, the book was a great story even though I felt it was slow in the beginning. It's a story about generational trauma and mistakes of the past and those very human concepts make for great horror stories. It also got me interested in the author and I will be checking out his other works.
I gave the book three stars because while I do like the journey we go on with the protagonist I feel that the book drags in the first half of the novel. I know most exposition needs building up. When I read a novel I usually tap out by page 50 if there isn't much movement. I was intrigued by what was presented in Kentucky Dragon's first 50 pages, though, and I wanted to find out more; it just felt like it took a long time to get there. The second half is where the story picked up and kept me reading until the end. I feel the story would have been told better in a different structure, perhaps jumping back and forth between the protagonist's childhood and his present day rather than making it two separate parts.
The horrific imagery was stellar. Every descriptive monstrosity was seared into my brain and made me cringe, which is what I usually look for in a horror novel. I typically drift to extreme and body horror, and Kentucky Dragon delivers. Safe to say, I will not forget the chicken man. What a nasty character, but I loved when he showed up.
The ending felt a bit rushed. However, it also read as if there was an opening for a second book. If there is indeed a plan for a sequel, I would love to read it because I was left with lots of questions.
Overall, the book was a great story even though I felt it was slow in the beginning. It's a story about generational trauma and mistakes of the past and those very human concepts make for great horror stories. It also got me interested in the author and I will be checking out his other works.
May 28, 2025
A 2 star horror book.
Thank you Netgalley for this e-arc!
If I had to rate this book on just the first 40% it would've been a near perfect book. It had just enough mystery and excitement to make it a good horror book. It was dark and gritty and yeah, a little confusing at times, but it was really great even when a minor character disappeared without a proper explanation.
Usually I adore the trope of the big, bad thing from childhood coming back to find us once we're adults. When it's done well, I absolutely eat it up. It's a trope that makes all of our childish fears feel vindicated but in this book, it wasn't pulled off. We're dropped into the middle of Mark's grown up life with very little explanation. Sure, his brother and his mom are sort of around and we're suddenly supposed to care about his wife because of course we're dropped in just about the time they've conceived their first child. The plot sort of circles around on itself until it feels like it's spiraling down the drain - it's asking questions of the readers it never answers. At the end, I didn't have that great horror book feeling of 'what was that?' that avid horror readers know. Unfortunately, it was more, why did I read that? At times it felt like everything was thrown at the plot like someone cooking pasta.
The thing that rubbed me the most wrong about Kentucky Dragon was it felt like it wanted to imply the Nazis and others did horrible things because of an evil influence. I hate that. I hate it because it gives an excuse to people to do horrible things. No evil forces are making anyone do anything.
At the end of the day, it's just a book, but one I wish I would've skipped. 2 stars because the first 40% of the book had me hooked.
Thank you Netgalley for this e-arc!
If I had to rate this book on just the first 40% it would've been a near perfect book. It had just enough mystery and excitement to make it a good horror book. It was dark and gritty and yeah, a little confusing at times, but it was really great even when a minor character disappeared without a proper explanation.
Usually I adore the trope of the big, bad thing from childhood coming back to find us once we're adults. When it's done well, I absolutely eat it up. It's a trope that makes all of our childish fears feel vindicated but in this book, it wasn't pulled off. We're dropped into the middle of Mark's grown up life with very little explanation. Sure, his brother and his mom are sort of around and we're suddenly supposed to care about his wife because of course we're dropped in just about the time they've conceived their first child. The plot sort of circles around on itself until it feels like it's spiraling down the drain - it's asking questions of the readers it never answers. At the end, I didn't have that great horror book feeling of 'what was that?' that avid horror readers know. Unfortunately, it was more, why did I read that? At times it felt like everything was thrown at the plot like someone cooking pasta.
The thing that rubbed me the most wrong about Kentucky Dragon was it felt like it wanted to imply the Nazis and others did horrible things because of an evil influence. I hate that. I hate it because it gives an excuse to people to do horrible things. No evil forces are making anyone do anything.
At the end of the day, it's just a book, but one I wish I would've skipped. 2 stars because the first 40% of the book had me hooked.
April 14, 2025
Okay this book surprise me!
Since the first chapter I was hooked, I love when horror books has kids as main characters, I think that in a way makes this book more scary, Mark is afraid, a misterious man comes to his new home and show something horrible to his old brother, and it looks like some secret it's keeping from him, now he notices that his dad its very nervous, this misterious man, or the chicken man how he family called him is looking for some debt to be paid, and looks like he has something to do about Mark's missing sister, so now Mark and his brother are gonna try to find out what is happening.
I really liked this book, the author's writing to me was very good, it was fast, and careful, giving details but at the same time making this story going forward, the book divides itself in two parts, Mark as a kid investigating about this Chiken Man and all the awful things happening to his family, and Mark being and adult when his past is back even when he thought was in his imagination, being honest the first part was my favorite, I think the way the kids are trying to save his family but still being kids its great,
Kentucky Dragon it's a very graphic novel, it has blood, ghosts, monsters alike, and this old german deities, in a way it feels like an old folk story, that was very interesting,
But, the ending wasn't for me, felt rushed, a lot was going on that I losted and I had to re read a few pages to understand what was going on, at the end, it felt incomplete, I don't know for sure, but I think this is gonna be a series, that's why that ending.
Since the first chapter I was hooked, I love when horror books has kids as main characters, I think that in a way makes this book more scary, Mark is afraid, a misterious man comes to his new home and show something horrible to his old brother, and it looks like some secret it's keeping from him, now he notices that his dad its very nervous, this misterious man, or the chicken man how he family called him is looking for some debt to be paid, and looks like he has something to do about Mark's missing sister, so now Mark and his brother are gonna try to find out what is happening.
I really liked this book, the author's writing to me was very good, it was fast, and careful, giving details but at the same time making this story going forward, the book divides itself in two parts, Mark as a kid investigating about this Chiken Man and all the awful things happening to his family, and Mark being and adult when his past is back even when he thought was in his imagination, being honest the first part was my favorite, I think the way the kids are trying to save his family but still being kids its great,
Kentucky Dragon it's a very graphic novel, it has blood, ghosts, monsters alike, and this old german deities, in a way it feels like an old folk story, that was very interesting,
But, the ending wasn't for me, felt rushed, a lot was going on that I losted and I had to re read a few pages to understand what was going on, at the end, it felt incomplete, I don't know for sure, but I think this is gonna be a series, that's why that ending.
June 10, 2025
Thanks to BookSirens and Michael Park for a copy of this arc
This book is a bit of a mess, but it is a gory explosion of one with vivid imagery that will satisfy most horror hounds.
This story takes place in two parts you g and old.
The young section was fine, the age of our protagonist seemed too old in most cases for the amount that he understood but also to young in regards to how sexuality was handled.
One of the best parts of the young section is were the horribly named antagonist the chicken man talks about the Siberian puppet show but, its also one of the odd parts because it end in a rape threat to our child protagonist crush. Horrifying ? Sure but would a child get the implicit threat? Press x to doubt.
It think the first half would have been stronger if he was older.
Sure it would make the way he doesn’t understand anything less believable but then again! None of the adults knew what was going on anyway so what would it have mattered.
The second half was WILD
Plot points are thrown at us left and right with little rhyme or reason but the author really shines when it comes to gore.
I think personally if this was a simpler narrative i would have enjoyed it more and rated it higher
I bet he’d really excel at a body horror tale.
This book is mostly vibes but if that how you like your horror i think you might really enjoy it. Great for fans of the wailing, dead snow, and old pink film horror movies
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book is a bit of a mess, but it is a gory explosion of one with vivid imagery that will satisfy most horror hounds.
This story takes place in two parts you g and old.
The young section was fine, the age of our protagonist seemed too old in most cases for the amount that he understood but also to young in regards to how sexuality was handled.
One of the best parts of the young section is were the horribly named antagonist the chicken man talks about the Siberian puppet show but, its also one of the odd parts because it end in a rape threat to our child protagonist crush. Horrifying ? Sure but would a child get the implicit threat? Press x to doubt.
It think the first half would have been stronger if he was older.
Sure it would make the way he doesn’t understand anything less believable but then again! None of the adults knew what was going on anyway so what would it have mattered.
The second half was WILD
Plot points are thrown at us left and right with little rhyme or reason but the author really shines when it comes to gore.
I think personally if this was a simpler narrative i would have enjoyed it more and rated it higher
I bet he’d really excel at a body horror tale.
This book is mostly vibes but if that how you like your horror i think you might really enjoy it. Great for fans of the wailing, dead snow, and old pink film horror movies
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 11, 2025
A family of four who are starting a new chapter in their life. The main character being Mark and his older brother Ben. Things take a turn for the worse when the Chicken man shows up to speak with the father. At that moment, things begin tosee become twisted and dark. It has a theme with the occult, monsters, folklore, twisted nun/aunt, debts due and a bleak time in humanity in the beginnings of the 1940s. The debt being from the Grandfather who did deplorable things to fellow human beings. Everyday life gets weirder and stranger with every day that passes. When a few dirty secrets are revealed it had me guessing where it was headed.
Here's where things got muddled.
Second part had me struggling. It skipped 18 years later out of nowhere. Adult Mark (one of the two boys) is plagued with memories that happened that everyone didn't believe. Not even his own brother who has a horrific handicap/disfigurement. Everyone around him treats him like he's losing his grip on reality.
This book jumps from location to location with themes being blurred at times. The body horror is described great and it is then more of a psychological horror on top. However I still have questions.
This the author's first novel who has a great story. However I am going to give it 3.5 stars, I wish you could do that on here. So 4 stars.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Here's where things got muddled.
Second part had me struggling. It skipped 18 years later out of nowhere. Adult Mark (one of the two boys) is plagued with memories that happened that everyone didn't believe. Not even his own brother who has a horrific handicap/disfigurement. Everyone around him treats him like he's losing his grip on reality.
This book jumps from location to location with themes being blurred at times. The body horror is described great and it is then more of a psychological horror on top. However I still have questions.
This the author's first novel who has a great story. However I am going to give it 3.5 stars, I wish you could do that on here. So 4 stars.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 3, 2025
This is a dark, often gory, story about a debt owed by a bloodline. It opens with Mark and Don, having just moved with their family to Kentucky. They are visited by an insidious being dubbed "the chicken man", and it all goes downhill from there.
What I liked is that the story was unique and full of strong folk horror elements. I didn't mind some of the "excessive" scenes, finding them a nice contrast to the otherwise mundane life of our MC, Mark. I thought the first half, when Mark and Don are children, is very strong. A lot of good character building happens, some mysteries are solved while new ones are presented, and we get some gnarly stuff happening.
The second half, where Mark and Don become adults, feels like a different book. Things become needlessly complex. We introduce some new characters that feel out of place. Generally I found this half of the book hard to get through.
The ending makes me feel like we may get a sequel. I will absolutely read that sequel as long as some additional attention is given to repeat descriptors (Mark should eat a Tums. Every other scene has him holding back his bile or tasting acid at the back of his throat), and editing is tighter to cut down on boat.
Genuinely this book would have been a 4+/5 for me if it was shortened, and the plot was more streamlined.
For the right reader, I could recommend this to them confidently.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
What I liked is that the story was unique and full of strong folk horror elements. I didn't mind some of the "excessive" scenes, finding them a nice contrast to the otherwise mundane life of our MC, Mark. I thought the first half, when Mark and Don are children, is very strong. A lot of good character building happens, some mysteries are solved while new ones are presented, and we get some gnarly stuff happening.
The second half, where Mark and Don become adults, feels like a different book. Things become needlessly complex. We introduce some new characters that feel out of place. Generally I found this half of the book hard to get through.
The ending makes me feel like we may get a sequel. I will absolutely read that sequel as long as some additional attention is given to repeat descriptors (Mark should eat a Tums. Every other scene has him holding back his bile or tasting acid at the back of his throat), and editing is tighter to cut down on boat.
Genuinely this book would have been a 4+/5 for me if it was shortened, and the plot was more streamlined.
For the right reader, I could recommend this to them confidently.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 20, 2025
A haunting Ride That Refuses to Let Go
Kentucky Dragon is not for the faint of heart—and that’s exactly what makes it unforgettable. Michael Park crafts a story that is as gory and bleak as it is compelling, plunging readers into a world drenched in dread and tension. From the first few pages, the anxiety hits like a gut punch, and it rarely lets up.
I’ll be honest: I found parts of the book confusing. The plot twists and shifting perspectives can leave you feeling disoriented, like you’ve wandered into a nightmare with no clear way out. But somehow, that disorientation only adds to the experience. It creeped me out in the best way—dark, unsettling, and laced with something primal that crawls under your skin.
And yet, despite (or maybe because of) all that, Kentucky Dragon sunk its claws into me and never let go. Even when I wasn’t sure where it was leading, I had to keep reading. Park knows how to build tension like a slow-burning fuse, and the payoff is as disturbing as it is satisfying.
If you’re looking for a clean, linear story, this might not be it. But if you crave horror that’s messy, visceral, and absolutely unshakable, Kentucky Dragon delivers. It’s confusing, it’s creepy—and it’s damn good.
Kentucky Dragon is not for the faint of heart—and that’s exactly what makes it unforgettable. Michael Park crafts a story that is as gory and bleak as it is compelling, plunging readers into a world drenched in dread and tension. From the first few pages, the anxiety hits like a gut punch, and it rarely lets up.
I’ll be honest: I found parts of the book confusing. The plot twists and shifting perspectives can leave you feeling disoriented, like you’ve wandered into a nightmare with no clear way out. But somehow, that disorientation only adds to the experience. It creeped me out in the best way—dark, unsettling, and laced with something primal that crawls under your skin.
And yet, despite (or maybe because of) all that, Kentucky Dragon sunk its claws into me and never let go. Even when I wasn’t sure where it was leading, I had to keep reading. Park knows how to build tension like a slow-burning fuse, and the payoff is as disturbing as it is satisfying.
If you’re looking for a clean, linear story, this might not be it. But if you crave horror that’s messy, visceral, and absolutely unshakable, Kentucky Dragon delivers. It’s confusing, it’s creepy—and it’s damn good.
September 30, 2025
This book was all over the place, and yet I think I mean that in a good way?
While the first half had me expecting something *very* different from the second half, I still had a surprisingly good time with all the absolute madness coming out of the woodwork.
Often when I write a review, I like to give some manner of general plot summary to help a potential reader identify if a book may suit their tastes—in this case I wholeheartedly advocate for a blind read.
I can’t say everything in this book was thrilling to me (it did end up as ⭐️⭐️⭐️ for reasons, after all), but it certainly was a page-turner. In fact, the graveside parade was almost enough to get it another star for sheer imaginative delight (IYKYK).
While I agree to a point with some other reviewers who have suggested all the ideas contained herein could have been split up into separate stories for separate books and fleshed out a little more fully, the schizophrenic pacing and frenetic energy certainly kept me engaged, even if the plot didn’t always feel cohesive enough to hold all the threads (or branches, I suppose) together.
This is an unpaid and honest review, willingly provided in kind for access to an ebook review copy of this title.
While the first half had me expecting something *very* different from the second half, I still had a surprisingly good time with all the absolute madness coming out of the woodwork.
Often when I write a review, I like to give some manner of general plot summary to help a potential reader identify if a book may suit their tastes—in this case I wholeheartedly advocate for a blind read.
I can’t say everything in this book was thrilling to me (it did end up as ⭐️⭐️⭐️ for reasons, after all), but it certainly was a page-turner. In fact, the graveside parade was almost enough to get it another star for sheer imaginative delight (IYKYK).
While I agree to a point with some other reviewers who have suggested all the ideas contained herein could have been split up into separate stories for separate books and fleshed out a little more fully, the schizophrenic pacing and frenetic energy certainly kept me engaged, even if the plot didn’t always feel cohesive enough to hold all the threads (or branches, I suppose) together.
This is an unpaid and honest review, willingly provided in kind for access to an ebook review copy of this title.
March 31, 2025
Like a freaky bad guy, a family curse, and a story that takes you half way across the world? Then this is the book for you.
Mark was eleven when they moved house, and things started to go wrong. But it wasn't just bullying in a new neighbourhood or the loss of friends, but a demonic curse that starts to haunt his bloodline. It starts with the Chicken Man, who came to the house and seemed to hold a strange power over his Father and Brother. And the mention of his missing Sister. Then strange things start to happen: rooms disappear, and then their father vanishes. Mark's brother goes looking for him, leading Mark to look for them both. After a terrible storm, Mark is found, but something terrible has happened. As an adult, Mark has put much of that behind him until a strange phone call to his girlfriend prompts him to head back home. Things go from bad to worse as Mark's life starts to unravel around him, as he feels the breath of a demonic force on the back of his neck.
A wonderfully dark and twisted story that takes you on a journey across the world, and with the heat of a demonic force throughout.
Mark was eleven when they moved house, and things started to go wrong. But it wasn't just bullying in a new neighbourhood or the loss of friends, but a demonic curse that starts to haunt his bloodline. It starts with the Chicken Man, who came to the house and seemed to hold a strange power over his Father and Brother. And the mention of his missing Sister. Then strange things start to happen: rooms disappear, and then their father vanishes. Mark's brother goes looking for him, leading Mark to look for them both. After a terrible storm, Mark is found, but something terrible has happened. As an adult, Mark has put much of that behind him until a strange phone call to his girlfriend prompts him to head back home. Things go from bad to worse as Mark's life starts to unravel around him, as he feels the breath of a demonic force on the back of his neck.
A wonderfully dark and twisted story that takes you on a journey across the world, and with the heat of a demonic force throughout.
April 26, 2025
The first chapter had me hooked, who was the chicken man? What was in his duffle bag? and why did Don and Mark's Father keep the Whisky Lamp lit in the window? There was so much keeping you on tenterhooks in just the first few pages, I was definitely intrigued. The bond between the brothers read like a good 80's adventure movie and even included the token pet dog Calvin. The weird visit by the so called 'Chicken Man' in the middle of the night all really set the scene in the first half. Eerie and unsettling with not many answers keeping you as a reader wondering what in the heck was going on. I found the writing style very immersive as you're pacing yourself along with the boys, determined to uncover some of the hidden truths.
Sadly I just found that in the second half of the book when we jump to 18 years later and adulthood i still felt the same feeling of confusion and non the wiser about what I was actually reading. It was packed with folklore and references to Nazi Germany and dark times however I just felt as though the story lost its way slightly and was left feeling unsatisfied with the ending.
Thanks to NetGalley for supplying this copy
Published 30th Sept 2025
Sadly I just found that in the second half of the book when we jump to 18 years later and adulthood i still felt the same feeling of confusion and non the wiser about what I was actually reading. It was packed with folklore and references to Nazi Germany and dark times however I just felt as though the story lost its way slightly and was left feeling unsatisfied with the ending.
Thanks to NetGalley for supplying this copy
Published 30th Sept 2025
May 7, 2025
Thank you to BookSirens for this free advanced readers copy.
I'm all about the folklore in this book, Mark meets the "chicken man" when he's 11 after just moving to Kentucky. Mark learns about the debts they have to pay to the chicken man through a traumatizing event. When he is older and living in New York, the chicken man returns and after traveling to Germany where his grandparents were from, Mark discovers the dark truth about his family’s debt and the flames that never go out.
I enjoyed the first part of the book a lot, the anxiety never went away, and I just kept turning the pages to find out what was happening. The twists and turns just kept coming and the images that were painted by the author were so vivid.
The second part of the book was a lot crazier than the first. Mark is traveling back and forth from Chicago, to New York, Kentucky and then to Germany. I was happy that we finally got some answers to what the chicken man was and what the hell was happening to this poor family, but the abrupt ending really took me by surprise. Like, what the heck just happened??
I'm all about the folklore in this book, Mark meets the "chicken man" when he's 11 after just moving to Kentucky. Mark learns about the debts they have to pay to the chicken man through a traumatizing event. When he is older and living in New York, the chicken man returns and after traveling to Germany where his grandparents were from, Mark discovers the dark truth about his family’s debt and the flames that never go out.
I enjoyed the first part of the book a lot, the anxiety never went away, and I just kept turning the pages to find out what was happening. The twists and turns just kept coming and the images that were painted by the author were so vivid.
The second part of the book was a lot crazier than the first. Mark is traveling back and forth from Chicago, to New York, Kentucky and then to Germany. I was happy that we finally got some answers to what the chicken man was and what the hell was happening to this poor family, but the abrupt ending really took me by surprise. Like, what the heck just happened??
October 9, 2025
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Kentucky Dragon is fast-paced first person story, despite the story itself spanning decades, generations, and even continents. The author builds an intriguing premise that grabbed my attention from the beginning and made it difficult to put down; and there is an pervasive sense of unease from beginning to end, even before any gore is written—and there is plenty of gore to be found here.
If you are sensitive about violence towards children, I would recommend that you look elsewhere, as this may not be for you. It is not the entirety of the book, or even necessarily explicitly depicted happening, but it is present.
Being written in first person, the eerie atmosphere and clues left by the main character's family members and ancestors are compelling enough a reason to continue reading on its own. There are a few small line errors throughout the book, but nothing major, and certainly nothing that was too distracting.
Overall, I liked it quite a bit!
Kentucky Dragon is fast-paced first person story, despite the story itself spanning decades, generations, and even continents. The author builds an intriguing premise that grabbed my attention from the beginning and made it difficult to put down; and there is an pervasive sense of unease from beginning to end, even before any gore is written—and there is plenty of gore to be found here.
If you are sensitive about violence towards children, I would recommend that you look elsewhere, as this may not be for you. It is not the entirety of the book, or even necessarily explicitly depicted happening, but it is present.
Being written in first person, the eerie atmosphere and clues left by the main character's family members and ancestors are compelling enough a reason to continue reading on its own. There are a few small line errors throughout the book, but nothing major, and certainly nothing that was too distracting.
Overall, I liked it quite a bit!
April 7, 2025
This is my first ARC and it was truly such an enjoyable experience. This book was disturbing in many ways, the writing was quietly haunting and I couldn’t put it down.
We follow one of the brothers, Mark, and witness the chilling experiences from his perspective. Definitely a well-developed character, who had a relatable personality. His internal monologue when he is younger, constantly wishing for things to go back to normal and wanting to ignore the things that were bad, were very realistic. The plot is very unique with components of psychological horror and references to historical events will keep any reader engaged. It explores some tricky themes and one that really stood out to me was the inherited guilt that followed the main character as the grandchild of a Nazi who had committed acts of atrocities.
Overall, it was an absolutely engaging read, one that will really be popular with horror lovers!
We follow one of the brothers, Mark, and witness the chilling experiences from his perspective. Definitely a well-developed character, who had a relatable personality. His internal monologue when he is younger, constantly wishing for things to go back to normal and wanting to ignore the things that were bad, were very realistic. The plot is very unique with components of psychological horror and references to historical events will keep any reader engaged. It explores some tricky themes and one that really stood out to me was the inherited guilt that followed the main character as the grandchild of a Nazi who had committed acts of atrocities.
Overall, it was an absolutely engaging read, one that will really be popular with horror lovers!
March 31, 2025
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I have always been an avid fan of Stephen King and have never found anyone else measures up.
This really hits the mark and.. (Sorry not sorry) this is better than Kings last few releases.
There are a few editing errors, where autocorrect has done its thing - be used instead of he, wines instead of vines etc..
This isn't a 5 star read for me because I am left with questions. I really hope there will a follow up.
The spooky stuff starts right off the bat which I loved, but it does kind of dwindle and feels slow. But then it ramps up again and all the info was relevant.
Bring on the next one…
I have always been an avid fan of Stephen King and have never found anyone else measures up.
This really hits the mark and.. (Sorry not sorry) this is better than Kings last few releases.
There are a few editing errors, where autocorrect has done its thing - be used instead of he, wines instead of vines etc..
This isn't a 5 star read for me because I am left with questions. I really hope there will a follow up.
The spooky stuff starts right off the bat which I loved, but it does kind of dwindle and feels slow. But then it ramps up again and all the info was relevant.
Bring on the next one…
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