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Forsaken: A Novel of Horror
Some art takes on a life of its own. A beautiful house. A loving family. Two kids, a dog, and a tenure-track professorship teaching art at the local university. Dan Rineheart is living the dream. But all dreams must end.
When an anonymous painting arrives at the university, Dan is tasked with uncovering the artist. No title. No name. No signature or frame. It’s a disturbing work of grotesque perfection. A work of art...that changes with each viewing. So begins the nightmare. Where painted clocks tick-tock in the dark hours before dawn. Where shadow-wrapped children stalk the halls of a once happy home. Where all paths lead to a forsaken artist and their impossible creation. This is the nightmare Dan Rineheart must enter before it shatters his sanity and devours his family.
When an anonymous painting arrives at the university, Dan is tasked with uncovering the artist. No title. No name. No signature or frame. It’s a disturbing work of grotesque perfection. A work of art...that changes with each viewing. So begins the nightmare. Where painted clocks tick-tock in the dark hours before dawn. Where shadow-wrapped children stalk the halls of a once happy home. Where all paths lead to a forsaken artist and their impossible creation. This is the nightmare Dan Rineheart must enter before it shatters his sanity and devours his family.
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First published September 7, 2011
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About the author
Andrew Van Wey
20 books577 followersAndrew Van Wey was born in Palo Alto, California, spent part of his childhood in New England, and lived in South Korea for over a decade.
When he's not writing, Andrew can be found mountain biking, playing video games, or hiking with his wife and their sheepdog Arthas. He loves education, geeking out about D&D and fountain pens, and collecting tattoos.
Visit him online at: www.andrewvanwey.com to sign up for early previews and special offers!
When he's not writing, Andrew can be found mountain biking, playing video games, or hiking with his wife and their sheepdog Arthas. He loves education, geeking out about D&D and fountain pens, and collecting tattoos.
Visit him online at: www.andrewvanwey.com to sign up for early previews and special offers!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 331 reviews
September 11, 2025
Fantastic!
Don't Miss This One!...
5 stars. Young orphan brothers David and his little brother Daniel were playing hide-and-seek with other orphans on a grassy hilltop with a large scraggly tree on top of the hill...
Daniel heard the "it" girl counting down from 50, and his young mind remembered the old film NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, and he pictured everyone the girl found joining her army of the undead ...
They're coming to get you, Bah-bah-ra
So...
Daniel followed his brother to an old dilapidated house at the foot of the hill to hide...
David was angry that Daniel wouldn't find his own hiding place. He might give them both away...
So...
He made his little brother go down into the storm cellar of the dilapidated house and hide in an old steamer trunk...
Daniel was afraid of the dark and small, tight places...
Once Daniel was crammed into the chest, David closed the lid and put a railroad spike through the hasp to keep him inside...
Daniel was in the trunk for what seemed like hours and had a panic attack...
Fast forward 20 years...
Daniel is now married with children. He is a professor at an art institute where the dean gave him a large 6 ft by 5 ft painting to take home and research the unknown artist...
The painting was not very good...
It depicted a boy and girl in an old room beside a window. The window looked out onto a grassy hill with an old twisted dead tree on top of the hill...
Daniel found that if he looked real close, he could just make out a black, shadowy figure hiding behind the tree...
Who appeared to be watching him...
And...
... was getting closer to the window in the picture every time he looked...
It's hard for me to find a book that scares me, but this one did! At 58%, this story scared me while sitting at my desk at work in broad daylight. It was like a good episode of Rod Serling's TWILIGHT ZONE or Boris Karloff's THRILLER with a little JEEPERS CREEPERS thrown in. There was a satisfying ending worthy of the rest of the novel.
Don't miss this one!
Don't Miss This One!...
5 stars. Young orphan brothers David and his little brother Daniel were playing hide-and-seek with other orphans on a grassy hilltop with a large scraggly tree on top of the hill...
Daniel heard the "it" girl counting down from 50, and his young mind remembered the old film NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, and he pictured everyone the girl found joining her army of the undead ...
They're coming to get you, Bah-bah-ra
So...
Daniel followed his brother to an old dilapidated house at the foot of the hill to hide...
David was angry that Daniel wouldn't find his own hiding place. He might give them both away...
So...
He made his little brother go down into the storm cellar of the dilapidated house and hide in an old steamer trunk...
Daniel was afraid of the dark and small, tight places...
Once Daniel was crammed into the chest, David closed the lid and put a railroad spike through the hasp to keep him inside...
Daniel was in the trunk for what seemed like hours and had a panic attack...
Fast forward 20 years...
Daniel is now married with children. He is a professor at an art institute where the dean gave him a large 6 ft by 5 ft painting to take home and research the unknown artist...
The painting was not very good...
It depicted a boy and girl in an old room beside a window. The window looked out onto a grassy hill with an old twisted dead tree on top of the hill...
Daniel found that if he looked real close, he could just make out a black, shadowy figure hiding behind the tree...
Who appeared to be watching him...
And...
... was getting closer to the window in the picture every time he looked...
It's hard for me to find a book that scares me, but this one did! At 58%, this story scared me while sitting at my desk at work in broad daylight. It was like a good episode of Rod Serling's TWILIGHT ZONE or Boris Karloff's THRILLER with a little JEEPERS CREEPERS thrown in. There was a satisfying ending worthy of the rest of the novel.
Don't miss this one!
February 2, 2021
“The house was old, after all, and it was only at night when everything was silent that its old bones creaked as it settled into sleep.”
A disturbing painting and a creepy kid? What’s not to enjoy?! Forsaken is a fantastic horror novel that has somehow flown under the radar for the most part. It doesn’t read like a 400 page book at all, as the pages simply flew by!
Our main protagonist, Daniel, is on track to become a professor teaching art at the local university. He has a loving wife, two kids, a dog and a beautiful home - he is essentially living the dream! Until a mysterious painting with no name, no signature or frame arrives at his work and he brings it into his home.
All I could think whilst reading this was that I would LOVE for this to be a movie, and in the afterword the author says that was actually his initial intention for this story. However, all the back and forth with different producers and the complaints that it was maybe a little “too dark” for cinema-goers (what is this nonsense?!) led to Van Wey deciding to write the novel. And boy, am I glad he did!
The pull of this novel was so intense, I was glad I made the decision to pick this one up when I was off work, as I found it incredibly hard to put down. The characters aren’t particularly likeable - but do they need to be? It reminded me of Pet Sematary, and many other horror books, in that a lot of the horror is rooted in the mundane. Here’s a normal family with normal problems, eating their breakfast and going to work/school, until creepy shit starts kicking off around them - all secondary to this painting entering their home.
I tore through this horrifying book from start to finish and would highly recommend to fans of Stephen King and Clive Barker. It perfectly combines psychological horror with pure terror.
Thanks again to @sally_lovesbooks for bringing this to my attention! 4.5 stars.
A disturbing painting and a creepy kid? What’s not to enjoy?! Forsaken is a fantastic horror novel that has somehow flown under the radar for the most part. It doesn’t read like a 400 page book at all, as the pages simply flew by!
Our main protagonist, Daniel, is on track to become a professor teaching art at the local university. He has a loving wife, two kids, a dog and a beautiful home - he is essentially living the dream! Until a mysterious painting with no name, no signature or frame arrives at his work and he brings it into his home.
All I could think whilst reading this was that I would LOVE for this to be a movie, and in the afterword the author says that was actually his initial intention for this story. However, all the back and forth with different producers and the complaints that it was maybe a little “too dark” for cinema-goers (what is this nonsense?!) led to Van Wey deciding to write the novel. And boy, am I glad he did!
The pull of this novel was so intense, I was glad I made the decision to pick this one up when I was off work, as I found it incredibly hard to put down. The characters aren’t particularly likeable - but do they need to be? It reminded me of Pet Sematary, and many other horror books, in that a lot of the horror is rooted in the mundane. Here’s a normal family with normal problems, eating their breakfast and going to work/school, until creepy shit starts kicking off around them - all secondary to this painting entering their home.
I tore through this horrifying book from start to finish and would highly recommend to fans of Stephen King and Clive Barker. It perfectly combines psychological horror with pure terror.
Thanks again to @sally_lovesbooks for bringing this to my attention! 4.5 stars.
August 12, 2023
In theory I should have loved this book. I'm all about weird, twisty stories, and I adored Van Wey's Head Like a Hole. But where HLAH was creative and interesting, Forsaken felt like a checklist of old tropes and clichés.
The Protagonist was painfully unlikable. I'm a fan of flawed characters but this guy was just gross. He kicks animals and calls his girlfriend schizo multiple times. It was impossible to care about him. The other characters were cookie-cutter and pointless.
There were a couple of redeeming moments, especially near the end but it was too little too late for me. I was already checked out.
I've already ordered Van Wey's third book, so I hope its more like Head Like a Hole than this one.
The Protagonist was painfully unlikable. I'm a fan of flawed characters but this guy was just gross. He kicks animals and calls his girlfriend schizo multiple times. It was impossible to care about him. The other characters were cookie-cutter and pointless.
There were a couple of redeeming moments, especially near the end but it was too little too late for me. I was already checked out.
I've already ordered Van Wey's third book, so I hope its more like Head Like a Hole than this one.
March 4, 2022
I first read this book about 8 or 9 years ago. What I remember is that it's one seriously creepy story. I do recall that I knew almost immediately what was going on. That's just how my mind works, and how I would have told the story myself.
Don't let that sway you! Because, even knowing the what! I was still freaked out! I've read a few of Van Weys stories, and this is my favorite. It's also one of my top 100 stories ever.
Don't let that sway you! Because, even knowing the what! I was still freaked out! I've read a few of Van Weys stories, and this is my favorite. It's also one of my top 100 stories ever.
June 14, 2023
This is my second book by Andrew Van Wey and won't be my last. I really enjoyed this read and there were several scenes that I found effectively creepy. Sometimes I want a book that will move me and make me think, and sometimes I just want a book that will create vivid images and an effective story, delivered through good writing. Forsaken was that book.
I admit I did see the big reveal coming early on, but that generally doesn't detract from my enjoyment. I don't need to be shocked by my books (although that can be fun); I need to be entertained and, if I'm lucky, creeped out. I didn't love this one as much as Head Like a Hole, but I don't expect every book to one-up other books written by the same author. I still had a good time with Forsaken.
I admit I did see the big reveal coming early on, but that generally doesn't detract from my enjoyment. I don't need to be shocked by my books (although that can be fun); I need to be entertained and, if I'm lucky, creeped out. I didn't love this one as much as Head Like a Hole, but I don't expect every book to one-up other books written by the same author. I still had a good time with Forsaken.
June 25, 2024
Van Wey serves up a homage to 80s horror here, building and tweaking some long standing horror tropes, but also infuses it with a building, creepy vibe and some dark humor. Foresaken starts with a prologue in Nebraska somewhere, with some orphans playing hide and seek. Two brothers at the orphanage find an old house and hide down in the cellar; Daniel, the younger one, idolizes his older brother David as he always finds the best hiding spaces...
Flash forward to Northern California circa now (2010 or so when this was first published) and Daniel lives with his wife and two kids in suburbia. Daniel, a tenured art professor, teaches graduate courses on restoring art work. After some time introducing the lay of the land, including Daniel's rather sordid love affair with one of his students (can you say title IV??), a strange painting shows up on campus addressed to Daniel. Is this a gift? Something which needs restoration? The only thing attached is a short note with Daniel's name on it.
Foresaken takes us on a rather dark ride shortly after Daniel takes the strange painting to his home study. He has tacit permission from the dean to look into it, and sets out to discover the artist. He photographs it, he takes a sample of the canvas/paint for analysis, he spends lots of time brooding over it. As the back flap notes: "It's a disturbing work of grotesque perfection: two children with cruel eyes, a window onto an endless field, and a dying tree at the top... It's a work of art that changes with each viewing..."
What I really liked about this one concerns the steady build up of the creep factor. Daniel's daughter starts acting strange, but maybe that is just her deal. The family dog (who Van Wey has lots of fun with!), a little fluffy lapdog, one day goes missing. The daughter brings home a dead bird from school, but maybe it is not really dead. Daniel starts having problems with his migraines and his lies (affair and perhaps more?) to his wife and kids. Foresaken builds upon the trope of "am I going insane or is this really happening" quite nicely. All in all, really nice read and really creepy-- just my kind of book. 4 eerie stars!!
Flash forward to Northern California circa now (2010 or so when this was first published) and Daniel lives with his wife and two kids in suburbia. Daniel, a tenured art professor, teaches graduate courses on restoring art work. After some time introducing the lay of the land, including Daniel's rather sordid love affair with one of his students (can you say title IV??), a strange painting shows up on campus addressed to Daniel. Is this a gift? Something which needs restoration? The only thing attached is a short note with Daniel's name on it.
Foresaken takes us on a rather dark ride shortly after Daniel takes the strange painting to his home study. He has tacit permission from the dean to look into it, and sets out to discover the artist. He photographs it, he takes a sample of the canvas/paint for analysis, he spends lots of time brooding over it. As the back flap notes: "It's a disturbing work of grotesque perfection: two children with cruel eyes, a window onto an endless field, and a dying tree at the top... It's a work of art that changes with each viewing..."
What I really liked about this one concerns the steady build up of the creep factor. Daniel's daughter starts acting strange, but maybe that is just her deal. The family dog (who Van Wey has lots of fun with!), a little fluffy lapdog, one day goes missing. The daughter brings home a dead bird from school, but maybe it is not really dead. Daniel starts having problems with his migraines and his lies (affair and perhaps more?) to his wife and kids. Foresaken builds upon the trope of "am I going insane or is this really happening" quite nicely. All in all, really nice read and really creepy-- just my kind of book. 4 eerie stars!!
September 28, 2014
This book is good and creepy! If I didn't already sleep with the tv and one light on, I would after reading this one.
I love a good scary book! The painting!!!! First off, there is no way I would bring that into my house! I would crap my pants :)
I started to figure it out toward the end though. I never would have guessed it throughout the book.
Creepy kids, creepy noises, different realities. I'm messed up enough as it is, if this stuff happened to me like Dan in the book I would have went off to never land and not the good kind! LOL!
I want to say more but don't want to add a spoiler. At any rate, awesome horror book and I look forward to reading more of the author's books!
I do have one question though? I might have just missed it, but he saw Ginger as normal at the end, was that real and did she get back with the family or just an illusion! Thanks
I love a good scary book! The painting!!!! First off, there is no way I would bring that into my house! I would crap my pants :)
I started to figure it out toward the end though. I never would have guessed it throughout the book.
Creepy kids, creepy noises, different realities. I'm messed up enough as it is, if this stuff happened to me like Dan in the book I would have went off to never land and not the good kind! LOL!
I want to say more but don't want to add a spoiler. At any rate, awesome horror book and I look forward to reading more of the author's books!
I do have one question though? I might have just missed it, but he saw Ginger as normal at the end, was that real and did she get back with the family or just an illusion! Thanks
October 27, 2011
If you’re looking for that near-perfect Halloween read, I cannot recommend Andrew Van Wey’s Forsaken highly enough. Not only is it one of the best electronic reads I’ve come across yet, but it’s the kind of highly polished, well-written story that I only wish I could have on my shelf as a hardcover first edition.
Yes, it’s really that good.
This is a book that really messes with you, contrasting surreal horror with ordinary tragedy in such a way as to keep you guessing (and doubting) as to what’s real and what’s all in Daniel’s head. There are no narrative tricks here, no blatant attempts to confuse the reader – instead, it’s a superbly crafted mystery that maintains an almost constant edge of suspense.
The story opens with a simple game of hide-and-seek that ends in an abandoned house, with a young boy coerced into hiding inside an old chest, and then trapped there by a cruelly placed railroad spike, left to scramble in terror until the nails and flesh have been torn from his hands. Andrew returns to that image time and time again throughout the book, but leaves us hanging until the very end before revealing how that scene, so many years ago, was finally resolved.
There are definitely ‘big’ moments of horror. The painting at the heart of the story is the creepiest thing you’ve ever laid (virtual) eyes on, and the revelation [minor spoiler here!] that it was painted by a blind woman . . . well, it made my skin crawl. I wish I could describe it too you, but there’s no way to do it justice without replicating the careful work Andrew put into creating that image in the mind’s eye. The crazed, jilted grad student with revenge on her mind has almost become a staple of urban horror, but what Andrew does with (and to) her makes that aspect of the story fresh, and new, and absolutely gut-wrenching.
Really, though, it’s the little details, the smallest bits of horror (both natural and supernatural) that engaged me early, and kept me reading late into the night. The image of the blue jay that just won’t stay dead is one that has stayed with me days later, and the doll with the missing eyes still gives me chills.
As for the ending, it is definitely something to be experienced. Just when you think it’s over, just when you think Andrew has dragged our protagonist as low as can, just when you think redemption (or, at least, salvation) is on the next page, he offers up a twist that is both unexpected and fitting. I honestly did not see it coming, but looking back I can’t question it.
If you’re a fan of the big three – Barker, King, and Koontz – then you will enjoy this. With any luck, somebody in the publishing world will take notice and push Andrew into the spotlight this book deserves but, in the meantime, I will be anxiously awaiting whatever he has to share next.
Yes, it’s really that good.
This is a book that really messes with you, contrasting surreal horror with ordinary tragedy in such a way as to keep you guessing (and doubting) as to what’s real and what’s all in Daniel’s head. There are no narrative tricks here, no blatant attempts to confuse the reader – instead, it’s a superbly crafted mystery that maintains an almost constant edge of suspense.
The story opens with a simple game of hide-and-seek that ends in an abandoned house, with a young boy coerced into hiding inside an old chest, and then trapped there by a cruelly placed railroad spike, left to scramble in terror until the nails and flesh have been torn from his hands. Andrew returns to that image time and time again throughout the book, but leaves us hanging until the very end before revealing how that scene, so many years ago, was finally resolved.
There are definitely ‘big’ moments of horror. The painting at the heart of the story is the creepiest thing you’ve ever laid (virtual) eyes on, and the revelation [minor spoiler here!] that it was painted by a blind woman . . . well, it made my skin crawl. I wish I could describe it too you, but there’s no way to do it justice without replicating the careful work Andrew put into creating that image in the mind’s eye. The crazed, jilted grad student with revenge on her mind has almost become a staple of urban horror, but what Andrew does with (and to) her makes that aspect of the story fresh, and new, and absolutely gut-wrenching.
Really, though, it’s the little details, the smallest bits of horror (both natural and supernatural) that engaged me early, and kept me reading late into the night. The image of the blue jay that just won’t stay dead is one that has stayed with me days later, and the doll with the missing eyes still gives me chills.
As for the ending, it is definitely something to be experienced. Just when you think it’s over, just when you think Andrew has dragged our protagonist as low as can, just when you think redemption (or, at least, salvation) is on the next page, he offers up a twist that is both unexpected and fitting. I honestly did not see it coming, but looking back I can’t question it.
If you’re a fan of the big three – Barker, King, and Koontz – then you will enjoy this. With any luck, somebody in the publishing world will take notice and push Andrew into the spotlight this book deserves but, in the meantime, I will be anxiously awaiting whatever he has to share next.
October 7, 2016
Creepy. Good. Ending wasn't quite what I was expecting.
March 30, 2023
What a way to get introduced to Andrew Van Wey! I have heard amazing things about his books, and now I know why. This was very well written, and had some truly eerie scenes throughout. Some of the reveals that I can’t mention for the sake of spoilers, had my mouth hung open. This book really had a bit of everything mixed in and it all tied so nicely together in the end. I think I’ll be careful of which paintings I allow on my walls from now on. I highly recommend this book and can’t wait to check out Andrew’s other work!
September 24, 2011
See that last paragraph about Forsaken being a dark novel...gets beneath the skin...sticking with the reader far after the pages are closed and the story's concluded? Ummm... yeah, that would be about right. It took me much longer to read this novel than it should have but not because I couldn't get into it. Oh no, it was more like I had to step away and digest. I actually had to stop reading it at night before I went to bed after a few nights of scary nightmares and I am not kidding, either! There were times while reading where my heart was racing and I had goosebumps all up my arms. It has been a while since I have read something that made me feel like this, actually scared out of my wits, and turning all the lights on to walk through a room. I absolutely LOVED this story and it had all the components that make up a true horror novel ie: little children, shadows, spooky sounds, suspense, missing people, and much more. I loved the characters and I loved that I had no idea where the story was going and how the author would wrap it all up in the end. And that cover! I loved the cover before I even read the book. I won't go into anything about the plot, because that can be found at the beginning of this post but I will say that the author did a great job all around, with character development and I love his writing style.
I wanted so bad to give this novel 5 stars on Goodreads but there were some grammatical errors and that is the one and only thing negative I have to say about this read. With Halloween coming up, this is the perfect story for a fall night. Thank you Andrew for giving me the opportunity to read Forsaken and share this terrifyingly wonderful read with my readers!
I wanted so bad to give this novel 5 stars on Goodreads but there were some grammatical errors and that is the one and only thing negative I have to say about this read. With Halloween coming up, this is the perfect story for a fall night. Thank you Andrew for giving me the opportunity to read Forsaken and share this terrifyingly wonderful read with my readers!
October 28, 2011
This book is indescribable. I stayed up all night reading it despite the fact that the only two activities I should be doing are sleeping and studying (exam season), which shows that's how thrilling it was.
The book centers around a painting, which can only be called disturbing. What's masterful was how the Daniel (the protagonist) slowly breaks down under the influence of the painting, while others are merely affected by it. I think the attention to detail (such as how the other characters perceive certain events), helped to make the conclusion very persuasive and somehow very satisfying.
From the very beginning, I was already scared, but in a good way. It's the type of thrill that made me willingly suspend disbelief, which is critical due to the fantastical elements in the book.
Without giving away and spoilers, I will only say that the ending was unexpected due to a very basic, but ultimately wrong assumption that I made. But on retrospect, it made perfect sense, especially when viewed with the prologue.
The length of the book felt just right (although since I read the ebook copy, it could be different from print copies), but anyway, I felt that it was tightly written, with very little superfluous items.
The book centers around a painting, which can only be called disturbing. What's masterful was how the Daniel (the protagonist) slowly breaks down under the influence of the painting, while others are merely affected by it. I think the attention to detail (such as how the other characters perceive certain events), helped to make the conclusion very persuasive and somehow very satisfying.
From the very beginning, I was already scared, but in a good way. It's the type of thrill that made me willingly suspend disbelief, which is critical due to the fantastical elements in the book.
Without giving away and spoilers, I will only say that the ending was unexpected due to a very basic, but ultimately wrong assumption that I made. But on retrospect, it made perfect sense, especially when viewed with the prologue.
The length of the book felt just right (although since I read the ebook copy, it could be different from print copies), but anyway, I felt that it was tightly written, with very little superfluous items.
March 2, 2019
Dan had a rough childhood growing up in an orphanage with his mean big brother.
When he grew up he was able to leave his detestable past behind him and has two beautiful children of his own to a dream wife. He scored a professorship teaching art restoration at the local university.
When a mysterious painting arrives no name, no date, no signature or frame. Only a note that reads: Here in art, denial. Hmmm... strange note, or is it?. It's a disturbing piece of canvas - two children, a window onto an endless field, and a clock with three missing numbers.
Something seems oddly familiar about this awful painting and Dan feels compelled to take it home.
BIG MISTAKE DAN...
Dan's wife is not happy to see this painting arrive in her home even though it will be staying in the study.
Call it coincidence but as soon as the hideous painting arrives strange and unexplainable things start happening within the home.
This book is full scale creepy if you're after a haunted or creepy read. This is definitely the book for you.
When he grew up he was able to leave his detestable past behind him and has two beautiful children of his own to a dream wife. He scored a professorship teaching art restoration at the local university.
When a mysterious painting arrives no name, no date, no signature or frame. Only a note that reads: Here in art, denial. Hmmm... strange note, or is it?. It's a disturbing piece of canvas - two children, a window onto an endless field, and a clock with three missing numbers.
Something seems oddly familiar about this awful painting and Dan feels compelled to take it home.
BIG MISTAKE DAN...
Dan's wife is not happy to see this painting arrive in her home even though it will be staying in the study.
Call it coincidence but as soon as the hideous painting arrives strange and unexplainable things start happening within the home.
This book is full scale creepy if you're after a haunted or creepy read. This is definitely the book for you.
August 25, 2015
Really thought I would love this - horror, mystery and art? Instead it was just OK, a bit repetitive in places and, a personal pet peeve, .
Dan seems to have it all - wife, family, a fulfilling career, but he's really just a step from the edge...he's having an affair with a student and he comes from a, well, a difficult background. The arrival of a mysterious painting appears to push him over. Dan keeps up a running internal dialogue with an inner voice/his migraines which he refers to as "the glass man" (this conversation reminded very much of Stephen King's work). Both Dan and the reader have to begin questioning what they see and while Van Wey is successful all the five star reviews had me hoping for more.
Dan seems to have it all - wife, family, a fulfilling career, but he's really just a step from the edge...he's having an affair with a student and he comes from a, well, a difficult background. The arrival of a mysterious painting appears to push him over. Dan keeps up a running internal dialogue with an inner voice/his migraines which he refers to as "the glass man" (this conversation reminded very much of Stephen King's work). Both Dan and the reader have to begin questioning what they see and while Van Wey is successful all the five star reviews had me hoping for more.
January 18, 2023
This was almost a DNF for me.
I kept thinking it would get better. Wanting that horror type feeling but it was barely creepy imo.
Overall a disappointing read. ⭐⭐⭐
I kept thinking it would get better. Wanting that horror type feeling but it was barely creepy imo.
Overall a disappointing read. ⭐⭐⭐
January 16, 2012
Big brothers can be a pain in the ass sometimes. I ought to know; I am one. As a boy, I had spurts of tormenting my little sister, but at least I never locked her in a trunk until she had a nervous breakdown, which is precisely how this novel begins with young Daniel tricked by his older brother, David, during a game of hide-and-seek.
Daniel Rineheart's quaint, albeit tiresome, family life and professional life are turned upside-down when his former student and lover, Karina, returns from Europe and tries to rekindle their romance, and also a mysterious painting arrives at the California university where he works that he has to investigate its authenticity and worth. As far as creepiness of the artwork goes, this painting feels like it takes the cake with a disparate assembly of images that scratch at Daniel’s brain while he tries to solve its mystery. And no sooner does he take it home in the wake of a fire at the university that strange phenomena begins in his home, and his own behavior takes on a darker tone. His ex-lover Karina is unsettling in her own right as well, with an obsessive nature that makes you wonder when she's going to boil a rabbit.
As things at home become tense, with his daughter's ordeals with starting school and overall emotional distress, relationships with his wife, son, and even his asshole neighbor are driven to a brink. And Karina' own mental illness comes to forebear as she imposes herself on every aspect of his life. A strong spiraling effect is taking place and threatens to tear his life apart, and as the story continues seems to do a pretty effective job of it.
The book is a slow burn, and frankly I had a hard time getting into it. There's a lot done to develop each character, show their flaws and their strengths, and setting the framework for Dan's relationship with his family and with Karina and others. But I felt like it took about half the book to put the wheels in motion for the bigger picture to come into play, and by that time there wasn't much chance for me to get hooked. The first half of the book felt bloated by superfluous dialogue, and the second half by expository blocks crammed in with the action, not unlike some of Stephen King's longer works I've read the last few years--Under the Dome, I'm looking in your direction.
I think if you can wade into the book and keep at it there is a strong story with some powerful imagery to complement it. I just couldn't hack it though, even with an ending that offers a really good full circle moment. I've been conditioned lately to much more streamlined stories, so that's probably a big factor in my disappointment. If you've got the time to invest, along with the patience, you're likely to enjoy this book more than me.
Daniel Rineheart's quaint, albeit tiresome, family life and professional life are turned upside-down when his former student and lover, Karina, returns from Europe and tries to rekindle their romance, and also a mysterious painting arrives at the California university where he works that he has to investigate its authenticity and worth. As far as creepiness of the artwork goes, this painting feels like it takes the cake with a disparate assembly of images that scratch at Daniel’s brain while he tries to solve its mystery. And no sooner does he take it home in the wake of a fire at the university that strange phenomena begins in his home, and his own behavior takes on a darker tone. His ex-lover Karina is unsettling in her own right as well, with an obsessive nature that makes you wonder when she's going to boil a rabbit.
As things at home become tense, with his daughter's ordeals with starting school and overall emotional distress, relationships with his wife, son, and even his asshole neighbor are driven to a brink. And Karina' own mental illness comes to forebear as she imposes herself on every aspect of his life. A strong spiraling effect is taking place and threatens to tear his life apart, and as the story continues seems to do a pretty effective job of it.
The book is a slow burn, and frankly I had a hard time getting into it. There's a lot done to develop each character, show their flaws and their strengths, and setting the framework for Dan's relationship with his family and with Karina and others. But I felt like it took about half the book to put the wheels in motion for the bigger picture to come into play, and by that time there wasn't much chance for me to get hooked. The first half of the book felt bloated by superfluous dialogue, and the second half by expository blocks crammed in with the action, not unlike some of Stephen King's longer works I've read the last few years--Under the Dome, I'm looking in your direction.
I think if you can wade into the book and keep at it there is a strong story with some powerful imagery to complement it. I just couldn't hack it though, even with an ending that offers a really good full circle moment. I've been conditioned lately to much more streamlined stories, so that's probably a big factor in my disappointment. If you've got the time to invest, along with the patience, you're likely to enjoy this book more than me.
January 1, 2016
Maybe it's because I had really high expectations for this novel, but I wasn't particularly impressed. The novel begins with a sweet scene of a family man who, the reader quickly finds out, is having an affair with one of his students. That immediately made me dislike the main character.
In fact, many of his qualities were less than likable, but I won't go into too many details on that. I can live with disliking the main character if the story itself is great, but this one was really difficult to follow, even "trippy" at times, as if Wey wrote the book while he was on acid.
I realized just how difficult while trying to explain the story to someone else and realizing just how many little strings were attached to the main story line. The adultery, other than showcasing a negative personality trait, could have been completely taken out of the story and I don't think the reader would have missed it, and no major puzzle piece would be missing. It just didn't do much for the story other than jeopardize his job, but since it wasn't the only factor playing into that, it wasn't truly necessary. All other parts including the adulteress seemed more like filler to make the book longer.
On top of that story line, we have psychics, a boyhood memory, a forgotten brother, creepy children, a missing dog, a nasty neighbor, theft, fire, etc. It was just a whole lot going on and many portions I went back to re-read in order to make sense of the scenes. Some things were easy to guess and others stuck out in my mind that ended up having no bearing on the story at all. For example, the author made a point to mention each character getting shocked by the doorknobs in the main character's home when they entered a room. He mentioned it so many times I thought for sure static electricity or the cold would be a big part of the story, but it wasn't.
The ending, the majority of which was easily guessable, does tie most of the strings together so I'm sure many readers wouldn't find the problems I did with the story (and this list doesn't even go into the annoyance I found at the author repeating odd words throughout the story and his insistence on using "big words" that sometimes didn't seem to fit and felt like they were thrown in for brownie points). I personally wouldn't recommend it, mostly because I read the story in hopes of finding a good horror novel and was more grossed out at times than afraid.
Also of note: The description of the book, that it's about a creepy painting that changes whenever you look at it, is false to me. Sure, the painting changes some but not nearly enough to make it the subject of the back cover. The "creepy" factor wasn't in the painting changing but rather in the things happening to his home, his children and inside his head.
In fact, many of his qualities were less than likable, but I won't go into too many details on that. I can live with disliking the main character if the story itself is great, but this one was really difficult to follow, even "trippy" at times, as if Wey wrote the book while he was on acid.
I realized just how difficult while trying to explain the story to someone else and realizing just how many little strings were attached to the main story line. The adultery, other than showcasing a negative personality trait, could have been completely taken out of the story and I don't think the reader would have missed it, and no major puzzle piece would be missing. It just didn't do much for the story other than jeopardize his job, but since it wasn't the only factor playing into that, it wasn't truly necessary. All other parts including the adulteress seemed more like filler to make the book longer.
On top of that story line, we have psychics, a boyhood memory, a forgotten brother, creepy children, a missing dog, a nasty neighbor, theft, fire, etc. It was just a whole lot going on and many portions I went back to re-read in order to make sense of the scenes. Some things were easy to guess and others stuck out in my mind that ended up having no bearing on the story at all. For example, the author made a point to mention each character getting shocked by the doorknobs in the main character's home when they entered a room. He mentioned it so many times I thought for sure static electricity or the cold would be a big part of the story, but it wasn't.
The ending, the majority of which was easily guessable, does tie most of the strings together so I'm sure many readers wouldn't find the problems I did with the story (and this list doesn't even go into the annoyance I found at the author repeating odd words throughout the story and his insistence on using "big words" that sometimes didn't seem to fit and felt like they were thrown in for brownie points). I personally wouldn't recommend it, mostly because I read the story in hopes of finding a good horror novel and was more grossed out at times than afraid.
Also of note: The description of the book, that it's about a creepy painting that changes whenever you look at it, is false to me. Sure, the painting changes some but not nearly enough to make it the subject of the back cover. The "creepy" factor wasn't in the painting changing but rather in the things happening to his home, his children and inside his head.
January 25, 2023
This book is a descent into madness with a supernatural twist. Although the main character is not very likable it is an interesting read that kept me turning the page. My only complaint is the the use of the phrase “everything went sideways “ is used too often.
February 25, 2024
Sanity beware!
This author's imagination is beyond words. Very freaky, scary, bizarre novel. Enjoyed every minute reading this and I highly recommend!
This author's imagination is beyond words. Very freaky, scary, bizarre novel. Enjoyed every minute reading this and I highly recommend!
January 19, 2015
I wanted to like this book more than I did. I found myself eager to finish, not because I was gripped by the story but rather because I have other books that I wanted to start.
It seemed to just jump from event to event without any real character development or world building. There are long swaths of the book where nothing of note really happens, which would be absolutely fine if these sections were used as build up or to set the atmosphere. As it is though, they just felt like watching someone go about their life until something weird happens, then continuing on as usual. I didn't buy the main character's arc because of this. He seemed to go from skeptic to raving lunatic with no middle ground.
(Slight thematic spoilers, but nothing plot wise) The "twist" at the end was so heavily telegraphed that I thought for sure it was a red herring. There are several points where such obvious information was provided to the reader that by the time you get to the reveal, you feel as though you've already read it five times. It would be like if "Empire Strikes Back" had scenes of Darth Vader shopping for "happy birthday, son" cards or writing child support checks to Luke's legal guardians throughout the movie and then expecting us to be surprised when he says "I'm your father" at the end. (spoilers over)
The book had potential but in the end I was disappointed.
It seemed to just jump from event to event without any real character development or world building. There are long swaths of the book where nothing of note really happens, which would be absolutely fine if these sections were used as build up or to set the atmosphere. As it is though, they just felt like watching someone go about their life until something weird happens, then continuing on as usual. I didn't buy the main character's arc because of this. He seemed to go from skeptic to raving lunatic with no middle ground.
(Slight thematic spoilers, but nothing plot wise) The "twist" at the end was so heavily telegraphed that I thought for sure it was a red herring. There are several points where such obvious information was provided to the reader that by the time you get to the reveal, you feel as though you've already read it five times. It would be like if "Empire Strikes Back" had scenes of Darth Vader shopping for "happy birthday, son" cards or writing child support checks to Luke's legal guardians throughout the movie and then expecting us to be surprised when he says "I'm your father" at the end. (spoilers over)
The book had potential but in the end I was disappointed.
December 11, 2011
Review by staff member Autumn:
I had to walk away from this book several times while reading it. Not because I didn’t like it. It genuinely frightened me and I had to go and turn on every light in the house. I consider myself to be someone who is hard to spook, but this book did the trick.
“Forsaken” seemed to be quite benign in the beginning, but amped up pretty quickly. There were several twists and turns in the story that quite literally had me gasping. Van Wey had a real grasp on his characters and what was going on inside their head. The first person point of view puts the reader right on the front line and I actually found myself liking the characters despite their obvious flaws and circumstances. The story was intricate, disturbing, unexpected and scary. I can honestly say that I haven’t read something like this in a long time.
I would highly recommend this book for all lovers of the paranormal and horror genres. “Forsaken” is a deliciously wicked read.
I had to walk away from this book several times while reading it. Not because I didn’t like it. It genuinely frightened me and I had to go and turn on every light in the house. I consider myself to be someone who is hard to spook, but this book did the trick.
“Forsaken” seemed to be quite benign in the beginning, but amped up pretty quickly. There were several twists and turns in the story that quite literally had me gasping. Van Wey had a real grasp on his characters and what was going on inside their head. The first person point of view puts the reader right on the front line and I actually found myself liking the characters despite their obvious flaws and circumstances. The story was intricate, disturbing, unexpected and scary. I can honestly say that I haven’t read something like this in a long time.
I would highly recommend this book for all lovers of the paranormal and horror genres. “Forsaken” is a deliciously wicked read.
March 6, 2023
My main complaint is that there are sooo many grammatical errors, typos etc. A second round of editing would make the book even better and improve the overall reading experience.
Now that that's out of the way, let's focus on the story!
Dan, our protagonist, receives a mysterious painting, his whole world starts to crumble, old secrets are slowly brought to light, as we witness his descent into madness. This book definitely leaves a lasting impression. Might be a slow burn at first, but the ending makes it all worthwhile.
I've already read one of Van Wey's books (A Hollow Dream of Summer's End), and I was greatly impressed, so I kinda expected that there would be an unexpected dark twist! And that's what I love about his writing. There's a lingering sense of loss and tragedy throughout the story! Can't wait to read more of his books.
Now that that's out of the way, let's focus on the story!
Dan, our protagonist, receives a mysterious painting, his whole world starts to crumble, old secrets are slowly brought to light, as we witness his descent into madness. This book definitely leaves a lasting impression. Might be a slow burn at first, but the ending makes it all worthwhile.
I've already read one of Van Wey's books (A Hollow Dream of Summer's End), and I was greatly impressed, so I kinda expected that there would be an unexpected dark twist! And that's what I love about his writing. There's a lingering sense of loss and tragedy throughout the story! Can't wait to read more of his books.
October 2, 2022
I don't think any book has scared me so much as this one. Fantastic book. Very well written, crisp and definitely scary. It keeps you on the edge and hooked on to every word. The book is so detailed that you can literally see the scenes take form in front of you. Loved it and would recommend it to everyone.(I received this book as part of a giveaway)
December 1, 2011
Loved it! Very dark and twisted.
January 17, 2012
Today we are taking a seriously creepy journey into a rather twisty world full of brothers, secrets, darkness, and the evil that lies in the hearts of men… (How’s THAT for an opening?) My review copy was kindly provided by the author, Andrew van Wey. Oh – and take the time to check out the link on Amazon… You are in for a treat if you do – for 48 delightful hours (from 1/17-1/18, 2012), starting today, you can get your very own copy for free!! Thanks so much Drew!
Forsaken opens with hide-and-seek and a practical joke gone rather horridly awry – yet another example of why I hate practical jokes, although I’m quite pleased to report nothing like this has EVER happened to me or anyone I know, eek! – and the story doesn’t get any lighter as it progresses. It is primarily the tale of Dan Rineheart – well, of Dan and a painting, a mysterious picture that appears, unsigned and anonymously delivered, at the university where he teaches art restoration. Well, unsigned and anonymously delivered but for one line: “Here in Art, Denial.”
The story is full of more evil than a barrel full of Stephen King’s monkeys. And not all of the evil comes from the sources you suspect… This is a genuinely creepy story about obsession and misdirection, populated by paintings that are not what they seem, people who are not what they seem, and children who are decidedly NOT childlike (at least not the sweet, innocent, happy kind of childlike that we’d all like to think children are like).
What is it, by the way, about creepy children?? For some reason I find creepy children in books/movies WAY scarier than creepy adults. I don’t know if it’s because we all assume (like to think? Need to think? Hmm…) that children are fundamentally good and well-intentioned and, well, sweet and innocent and happy, such that when we are confronted with the fact that some are not we get thrown way far off-kilter. Or maybe it’s just that the people who write/devise creepy children are somehow better at generating creepy images than those who don’t.
Regardless, nothing freaks me out like a creepy kid story. And this is one of the freakiest I’ve experienced in recent years.
As Dan tries to figure out the meaning (and origins) of the painting, his world begins to take decidedly unusual turns. His family is unwittingly sucked into the maelstrom as his obsession with the painting grows, and the tension that follows is thick enough to require a chainsaw to cut through.
There are innocent victims, lots of emotional fallout, and more than a few dramatically unstable elements that threatening the underlying integrity of everything Dan knows (or thinks he knows). In short, the story is a whiz-bang ride on the back of a tornado, full of more random spins and twists than many a person’s stomach will be able to handle. I don’t advise reading it at night when you’re alone in the dark – or, if you’re like me, even at night when you’re not alone in the dark. This was a helluva creepy ride – but definitely worth the chills – and the attendant paranoia about every painting in the house.
Forsaken opens with hide-and-seek and a practical joke gone rather horridly awry – yet another example of why I hate practical jokes, although I’m quite pleased to report nothing like this has EVER happened to me or anyone I know, eek! – and the story doesn’t get any lighter as it progresses. It is primarily the tale of Dan Rineheart – well, of Dan and a painting, a mysterious picture that appears, unsigned and anonymously delivered, at the university where he teaches art restoration. Well, unsigned and anonymously delivered but for one line: “Here in Art, Denial.”
The story is full of more evil than a barrel full of Stephen King’s monkeys. And not all of the evil comes from the sources you suspect… This is a genuinely creepy story about obsession and misdirection, populated by paintings that are not what they seem, people who are not what they seem, and children who are decidedly NOT childlike (at least not the sweet, innocent, happy kind of childlike that we’d all like to think children are like).
What is it, by the way, about creepy children?? For some reason I find creepy children in books/movies WAY scarier than creepy adults. I don’t know if it’s because we all assume (like to think? Need to think? Hmm…) that children are fundamentally good and well-intentioned and, well, sweet and innocent and happy, such that when we are confronted with the fact that some are not we get thrown way far off-kilter. Or maybe it’s just that the people who write/devise creepy children are somehow better at generating creepy images than those who don’t.
Regardless, nothing freaks me out like a creepy kid story. And this is one of the freakiest I’ve experienced in recent years.
As Dan tries to figure out the meaning (and origins) of the painting, his world begins to take decidedly unusual turns. His family is unwittingly sucked into the maelstrom as his obsession with the painting grows, and the tension that follows is thick enough to require a chainsaw to cut through.
There are innocent victims, lots of emotional fallout, and more than a few dramatically unstable elements that threatening the underlying integrity of everything Dan knows (or thinks he knows). In short, the story is a whiz-bang ride on the back of a tornado, full of more random spins and twists than many a person’s stomach will be able to handle. I don’t advise reading it at night when you’re alone in the dark – or, if you’re like me, even at night when you’re not alone in the dark. This was a helluva creepy ride – but definitely worth the chills – and the attendant paranoia about every painting in the house.
March 25, 2013
I read "Forsaken" about three months ago. I have read plenty of other books since then, but the story line of "Forsaken" is still clear in my head. I love reading horror but I find it hard to find a truly scary book. So I was delighted when "Forsaken" scared the life out of me!
My best advice to people is read the free sample of this book. That is what I did and I was instantly hooked. Straight away I got an eerie feeling while reading the free sample. So I downloaded the book and I didn't put it down until I finished it. The story has so many twists and turns, it really kept me guessing. The ending caught me by surprise.
I loved that characters in this book. I really cared about them. I felt their terror. The haunted painting in the story is so weird looking. I still have a vivid picture in my head of what that wretched painting looks like. *shivers*
Anyone who loves horror will love this scary book. It is a great ghost story that kept my interest, I couldn't wait to see the outcome. I highly recommend "Forsaken - A Novel of Art, Evil, and Insanity." It is a story that I shall never forget.....
My best advice to people is read the free sample of this book. That is what I did and I was instantly hooked. Straight away I got an eerie feeling while reading the free sample. So I downloaded the book and I didn't put it down until I finished it. The story has so many twists and turns, it really kept me guessing. The ending caught me by surprise.
I loved that characters in this book. I really cared about them. I felt their terror. The haunted painting in the story is so weird looking. I still have a vivid picture in my head of what that wretched painting looks like. *shivers*
Anyone who loves horror will love this scary book. It is a great ghost story that kept my interest, I couldn't wait to see the outcome. I highly recommend "Forsaken - A Novel of Art, Evil, and Insanity." It is a story that I shall never forget.....
June 27, 2022
E-📖 4.5⭐️ wow. Creepy AF. I don’t read much horror, and didn’t realize the horror element was so strong in this book, but I could read it at night, which I could not do with The Shining when I read it decades ago as a youngin’ !! And that was probly the last time I read horror 😂 This would’ve been a five star read except it was a wee long and although very visually compelling, I often felt it was a screen play with all the mention of dust motes and shimmering images. And yes, it actually did start off as a screenplay and when that didn’t pan out it became a novel. All well and good, but then it could’ve used some re-editing with that in mind. Overall, a strong and interesting story about facing up to your past and accepting responsibility, it’s never too late. TW: mental illness, harm to a child by a child, extramarital affair.
July 21, 2021
This book is one of the best books I've read in awhile. It is so well written- it’s detailed but fast paced. It the story of an art restoration professor and the events that come to pass after he receives a mysterious painting as a "gift".
This book had suspense, mystery, demons from the past, adultery, psychology, horror.... all told in a descriptive way that kept me turning page after page. On occasion, the book switched from one narrator to another, but it did so in such a subtle and natural way that it only added to the story. I don't want to get into too much detail because I don't want to give away any of the story. All I can say, is that this story will stick with me for a LONG time. Great read!!!!
This book had suspense, mystery, demons from the past, adultery, psychology, horror.... all told in a descriptive way that kept me turning page after page. On occasion, the book switched from one narrator to another, but it did so in such a subtle and natural way that it only added to the story. I don't want to get into too much detail because I don't want to give away any of the story. All I can say, is that this story will stick with me for a LONG time. Great read!!!!
January 15, 2013
"Wow" is all I can say about this book. I had read "A Hollow Dream of Summer's End" and thought it was quite good, so I bought this book. I couldn't put it sown from the moment I started, and would only stop reading when I had to. This is probably the scariest book I've ever read, and books don't usually scare me but this one freaked me out. It is so well written, and the characters Van Wey creates are so intriguing and memorable. This book is a roller coaster ride right from the start, it's a story that is genuinely creative and truly frightening. The twist at the end of the book is so good that you don't see it coming at all, but then you think you should have seen it all along because it ties things up so beautifully. I am looking forward to more books by this author.
January 30, 2014
A spooky and creepy horror centered around an unusual painting that is large with many questions unanswered, like who painted the piece. Daniel is an art professor who selects outstanding students for re-furbishing older paintings. His knowledge of art proves to be a great help to him.
I enjoyed the characters in this book. They all seemed to be not so perfect and filled with doubts, fears and anxieties. Daniel was a complex individual and as the protagonist became multi dimensional in my mind.
I gave this book a 5. I thought it had good editing, character development and a unique story. I would recommend it to lovers of art or horror.
I enjoyed the characters in this book. They all seemed to be not so perfect and filled with doubts, fears and anxieties. Daniel was a complex individual and as the protagonist became multi dimensional in my mind.
I gave this book a 5. I thought it had good editing, character development and a unique story. I would recommend it to lovers of art or horror.
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