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The Sarvàn
Midsommer meets All Quiet on the Western Front in this masterful blend of mystery, adventure, and folk-horror.
In the midst of the First World War, a handful of allied POWs escape the torments of Germany’s most brutal internment camp only to find themselves stranded deep in the merciless wilderness of the Alps.
The locals there are odd, and their traditions ancient. With hushed voices they whisper of a beast that roams the frozen mountains. They call it... The Sarvàn.
In the midst of the First World War, a handful of allied POWs escape the torments of Germany’s most brutal internment camp only to find themselves stranded deep in the merciless wilderness of the Alps.
The locals there are odd, and their traditions ancient. With hushed voices they whisper of a beast that roams the frozen mountains. They call it... The Sarvàn.
380 pages, Paperback
First published June 20, 2025
About the author
Douglass Hoover
6 books161 followersDouglass Hoover is a writer, craftsman, veteran, and an avid outdoorsman. He has written four novels and holds an MFA from Emerson College. When not slaving away over a keyboard, you can find him hunting, blacksmithing, farming, or bushwhacking skinwalkers in the forests of rural Maine with his wife, their little goblin, and the pack of wild dogs that nip at their heels.
Follow their adventures on Instagram
@StripedDogForge
@DouglassHooverAuthor
Find handmade outdoor equipment and signed books at www.stripeddogforge.com
Perhaps most importantly, sign up for our newsletter at www.douglasshoover.com for updates on future projects.
Follow their adventures on Instagram
@StripedDogForge
@DouglassHooverAuthor
Find handmade outdoor equipment and signed books at www.stripeddogforge.com
Perhaps most importantly, sign up for our newsletter at www.douglasshoover.com for updates on future projects.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
May 18, 2026
This book had me hooked from start to finish. The setting of World War and the location in the German Alps was great with the tired POW's and their sadistic guards getting shelter in a remote village where all is not as it seems. You are kept on the edge of your seat throughout the whole time, and there were so many twists and turns I didn't see coming, that it was hard to put this one down. Some things were odd at times, but then the author brought everything together nicely in the end to tie up all the loose ends. There are also multiple POV's from all the different characters, this really enhanced the book for me as you it added a lot of depth to the characters and story.
The horror I got from this book is not what I expected, but it was better for it in the end. Highly recommended!!
Sometimes the most evil monsters out there, is man...
The horror I got from this book is not what I expected, but it was better for it in the end. Highly recommended!!
Sometimes the most evil monsters out there, is man...
June 9, 2026
No Man's Land...
THE SARVAN
by Douglas Hoover
4 1/2 stars. In the year 1916, in France, Edward Blackwood and his troop were sent on a suicide mission to destroy German machine guns in no man's land...
It was tough, but someone had to do it...
Eventually...
Blackwood ended up a POW in a German death camp where the rules of war did not apply, and the Red Cross was not welcome...
After trying to escape...
He was scheduled for execution the next morning but was rescued by a German Major working with the Swiss to uphold the Geneva Convention...
Joining the Major's troop...
On their way to Switzerland...
An avalanche hit, which prevented them from
carrying on with their journey...
Their pass was cut off...
Some of the men were afraid. This wasn't God's country. Some said demonic creatures lived in these mountains...
As the party pushed on through the snowy terrain, one of the German guards suddenly noticed that one of their number was missing...
At the worst of the storm, they came across a little village, where they could winter-over...
A village populated with only women...
And one albino barkeep...
This was an excellent, atmospheric horror story set in the snowy Alps. The women of the village were worshipers in a strange cult with an agenda of their own. This author never disappoints when it comes to atmosphere and adventure.
Reading this story, I was reminded of a part in one of the Lord of the Rings movies when a woman ripped off her helmet while in battle and said: We are not men!
Recommended!
THE SARVAN
by Douglas Hoover
4 1/2 stars. In the year 1916, in France, Edward Blackwood and his troop were sent on a suicide mission to destroy German machine guns in no man's land...
It was tough, but someone had to do it...
Eventually...
Blackwood ended up a POW in a German death camp where the rules of war did not apply, and the Red Cross was not welcome...
After trying to escape...
He was scheduled for execution the next morning but was rescued by a German Major working with the Swiss to uphold the Geneva Convention...
Joining the Major's troop...
On their way to Switzerland...
An avalanche hit, which prevented them from
carrying on with their journey...
Their pass was cut off...
Some of the men were afraid. This wasn't God's country. Some said demonic creatures lived in these mountains...
As the party pushed on through the snowy terrain, one of the German guards suddenly noticed that one of their number was missing...
At the worst of the storm, they came across a little village, where they could winter-over...
A village populated with only women...
And one albino barkeep...
This was an excellent, atmospheric horror story set in the snowy Alps. The women of the village were worshipers in a strange cult with an agenda of their own. This author never disappoints when it comes to atmosphere and adventure.
Reading this story, I was reminded of a part in one of the Lord of the Rings movies when a woman ripped off her helmet while in battle and said: We are not men!
Recommended!
May 14, 2026
4.5 Stars.
Man. I never expected to be this scared out of my skull. Absolutely terrifying.
Narrator Dylan Wheeler did not miss a beat as he the solo voice for all of the characters. As a matter of fact, he brought this to life so vividly in my imagination that I literally had to take multiple breaks just to shake it off.
Highly recommend Hoover's The Sarvàn for a spectacular combination of historical fiction, unrelenting suspense and folk horror.
Man. I never expected to be this scared out of my skull. Absolutely terrifying.
Narrator Dylan Wheeler did not miss a beat as he the solo voice for all of the characters. As a matter of fact, he brought this to life so vividly in my imagination that I literally had to take multiple breaks just to shake it off.
Highly recommend Hoover's The Sarvàn for a spectacular combination of historical fiction, unrelenting suspense and folk horror.
February 19, 2026
This is my second Douglass Hoover book and I really enjoyed it, this one was very unique being a military/historical/folk/horror. Characters were well crafted and I really like his writing style. I hope he continues with the historical horror because he fucking killed it with this one.
May 17, 2026
"There is no God. There is no judgement. The only thing to fear is death. And when death takes you, you won’t even be around anymore to give a damn."
An intensely atmospheric religious folk horror novel, I was hooked on this one.
An intensely atmospheric religious folk horror novel, I was hooked on this one.
July 11, 2025
Let me just say that this book is badass. Easily one of my favorite reads of the year so far!
Set against the brutal backdrop of World War I, The Sarvàn follows a group of Allied POWs being led through the treacherous Alps by German soldiers. When winter hits hard, they’re forced to seek shelter in a remote, snowbound village. But something’s off. The villagers worship an ancient god named Mithras and secretly protecting a beast known as the Sarvàn.
What truly makes this novel shine are its characters: their struggles, depth, and emotional complexity. The village? Major red flags. Think Midsommar, but colder and more claustrophobic. As tensions rise, both the prisoners and their captors misdirect their fear and paranoia toward each other, blind to the real horror slowly creeping in around them.
A chilling, slow-burn descent into madness and myth. Highly recommended. Also, Dubois was one of my favorite supporting characters in a long while.
Highly recommend!!!
Set against the brutal backdrop of World War I, The Sarvàn follows a group of Allied POWs being led through the treacherous Alps by German soldiers. When winter hits hard, they’re forced to seek shelter in a remote, snowbound village. But something’s off. The villagers worship an ancient god named Mithras and secretly protecting a beast known as the Sarvàn.
What truly makes this novel shine are its characters: their struggles, depth, and emotional complexity. The village? Major red flags. Think Midsommar, but colder and more claustrophobic. As tensions rise, both the prisoners and their captors misdirect their fear and paranoia toward each other, blind to the real horror slowly creeping in around them.
A chilling, slow-burn descent into madness and myth. Highly recommended. Also, Dubois was one of my favorite supporting characters in a long while.
Highly recommend!!!
May 26, 2026
This book was pretty good!
Germans soldiers, taking POW to Switzerland, find a small village. On their way there, due to a storm, they are stuck staying for a duration. The village, comprised of only women and one man, seem to be into some old ancient stuff. Is this village, that gives midsommer vibes, truly evil? Who will survive? What is the end game here?
Looking forward to more books by this author.
Germans soldiers, taking POW to Switzerland, find a small village. On their way there, due to a storm, they are stuck staying for a duration. The village, comprised of only women and one man, seem to be into some old ancient stuff. Is this village, that gives midsommer vibes, truly evil? Who will survive? What is the end game here?
Looking forward to more books by this author.
June 28, 2025
"HOOVER PULLS NO PUNCHES, DELIVERING THE SHEER BRUTALITY OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR WITHOUT REMORSE. THE EPIC CLASH OF NATIONS BECOMES ONLY A BACKDROP TO A GREATER MYSTERY, ONE OF ANCIENT GODS AND HARROWING DEEDS. ONE THAT SEIZES THE READER BY THE THROAT AND HAULS THEM FORWARD THROUGH THE PAGES IN A RABID, WILD-EYED FERVOR UNTIL EITHER DASHING THEM ON THE ROCKS OF DESPAIR OR RAISING THEM HIGH IN TRIUMPH AND GLORY. I WON'T TELL YOU WHICH, BUT KNOW THAT IF I COULD, I WOULD READ IT FRESH A HUNDRED TIMES OVER."
January 31, 2026
I just finished the book this morning, and I have mixed feelings. Despite one or two people complaining about it being amateurish, I found the writing to be mostly good; the tone is atmospheric, and each chapter paints well the horrors of military life during the war, or the vast landscapes of snow and mountains, or the mysterious village resting where no human should exist. I was a bit disappointed that the enemy were people themselves, not the Sarván—I entered the story wanting more of the creature horror I experienced in The North Woods.
The characters are interesting enough to be entertaining, but we soon realize maybe we shouldn't get too attached to them. Again, I miss the broken but charismatic veterans of the other novel.
Structurally, I think the story is flawless; the pieces of the puzzle are slowly brought toward us, and at the epilogue, you can look back and see how everything falls into place. The pace, however, is a bit off; sometimes it becomes too sluggish for its own good, and the multiple POVs make the story seem longer than it actually is.
But what didn't work for me at all were the themes. It becomes clear that the story is supposed to be a tragedy and that Blackwood—by design of Mithras or the Devil, the book never makes it clear—will inevitably have to pay for his past misdeeds. Is it redemption? Is it a final damnation? What about the things Lucia and the villagers had to do for the sake of their idolatrous duties? Perhaps the author didn't want to condemn either Blackwood's atheism or the village's paganism. Both get space to argue for their own worldview; none is explicitly declared right or wrong. The only worldview that practically has no time to defend itself is Christianity—and, if you really pay attention, the ending looks like a total triumph for the heathens.
Historically speaking (and this is just a note, not a critique of the author), I believe there's no evidence to link the cult of Mithras to Christianity; to this day, the authors themselves admit they mostly have conjectures, and seemingly dogmatic coincidences are no solid ground to say that Christianity was in any shape or form influenced by Mithraism. It's enough to consider impartially how Christianity sprang from Judaism and reviled any pagan interaction at the same time it recognized the transient nature of the ritualistic aspects of the Mosaic Law. Take the first Fathers of the Church and see how their principles and way of thinking are far from the mythical ramblings of the Mithraists. Besides, see what they do in this story. There's nothing scarier than ending up among cultists that think they have to sacrifice people to imprison a primordial being of chaos.
The monster itself is fitting, as it embodies violence and the lust for blood, and Blackwood's character revolves around it; but, at the end, I just feel hollow, like reading a Stoic saying that the world will end in fire and the very same things will be again and again, and nothing that exists really makes sense.
There are better things to read around there.
The characters are interesting enough to be entertaining, but we soon realize maybe we shouldn't get too attached to them. Again, I miss the broken but charismatic veterans of the other novel.
Structurally, I think the story is flawless; the pieces of the puzzle are slowly brought toward us, and at the epilogue, you can look back and see how everything falls into place. The pace, however, is a bit off; sometimes it becomes too sluggish for its own good, and the multiple POVs make the story seem longer than it actually is.
But what didn't work for me at all were the themes. It becomes clear that the story is supposed to be a tragedy and that Blackwood—by design of Mithras or the Devil, the book never makes it clear—will inevitably have to pay for his past misdeeds. Is it redemption? Is it a final damnation? What about the things Lucia and the villagers had to do for the sake of their idolatrous duties? Perhaps the author didn't want to condemn either Blackwood's atheism or the village's paganism. Both get space to argue for their own worldview; none is explicitly declared right or wrong. The only worldview that practically has no time to defend itself is Christianity—and, if you really pay attention, the ending looks like a total triumph for the heathens.
Historically speaking (and this is just a note, not a critique of the author), I believe there's no evidence to link the cult of Mithras to Christianity; to this day, the authors themselves admit they mostly have conjectures, and seemingly dogmatic coincidences are no solid ground to say that Christianity was in any shape or form influenced by Mithraism. It's enough to consider impartially how Christianity sprang from Judaism and reviled any pagan interaction at the same time it recognized the transient nature of the ritualistic aspects of the Mosaic Law. Take the first Fathers of the Church and see how their principles and way of thinking are far from the mythical ramblings of the Mithraists. Besides, see what they do in this story. There's nothing scarier than ending up among cultists that think they have to sacrifice people to imprison a primordial being of chaos.
The monster itself is fitting, as it embodies violence and the lust for blood, and Blackwood's character revolves around it; but, at the end, I just feel hollow, like reading a Stoic saying that the world will end in fire and the very same things will be again and again, and nothing that exists really makes sense.
There are better things to read around there.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 17, 2025
Not a horror novel, despite the mention of a new cryptid called Sarvàn. This is a story of religious fanaticism, blind devotion, and rapture. A rather sleepy saga with sadness in every paragraph. While I did enjoy the story and rate book five stars, I cannot recommend it to others.
January 14, 2026
had no ide where this was going for a good portion of the book, but in a great way. i would finish some chapters and get to a crazy part and think, what the hell else could happen next? one of those books that you can imagine perfectly in your head and see. it almost feels like Wicker Man esque. i feel like the ending was a perfect bow, no loose ends and nothing where i was questioning what could happen. i feel like its hard to read a book that is nearly perfect but this is one of them. definitely one i need as a worn paperback in my personal library
March 15, 2026
A slow build up to a descent into paranoia and madness.
This story seemed to be more focused on supplying the reader with an uneasy feeling filled with a plethora of mixed emotions. The isolated location and strange behavior of the towns folk invoked a feeling of intense claustrophobia and distrust.
This story seemed to be more focused on supplying the reader with an uneasy feeling filled with a plethora of mixed emotions. The isolated location and strange behavior of the towns folk invoked a feeling of intense claustrophobia and distrust.
July 1, 2025
This book is a story of war and mystery and death and twist after twist, but also love and friendship, renewal and redemption, kindness and brutality and everything in between. 5/5 from start to finish.
March 13, 2026
There are so many comparisons to All Quiet on the Western Front and Midsommer, but I'll be honest, this book is its own story.
A slow burn folk horror, set in WW1 that kept me hooked and intrigued, the bulk of the characters are very unlikeable, and as always, with these stories, there are questions unanswered but it's still an enjoyable read.
A slow burn folk horror, set in WW1 that kept me hooked and intrigued, the bulk of the characters are very unlikeable, and as always, with these stories, there are questions unanswered but it's still an enjoyable read.
June 8, 2026
What a charmed existence to be a man and therefore be able to walk into a village filled with the opposite sex and not wonder why they are showing such warmth towards you, be alarmed in the slightest by their insane behaviours or to make the slightest attempt to question any possible motives.
November 4, 2025
3.9
-Thought it was good, wish it had more supernatural elements to it
-I also wish that the trenches and WW1 fighting had occurred in this story
-I could only imagine that Mcculloch looked like the mad Scotsman from Samurai Jack and it instantly made the book 10x better
-The Sarvan being like a supernatural being and not like a crypted kinda threw me off, I thought it was gonna be like a Bigfoot or yeti type creature
-Loved that Enzo at least got out and had a child with Hilde but I wish we got to see more of him after escaping.
-Mithras being one of the focal points for the story was so cool and such an obscure deity that it makes me want to learn more about Mithraism
-I would love to see a book that focuses on the next generation of the citizens for Melville trying to complete the next trial to get a new host for the Sarvan
-RIP to Dubois, he deserved to see his daughters 1 more time
-The shootout scene was so crazy, especially with the Scotsman going nuts
-I’m so happy the soldiers got killed, those dudes were terrible and deserved worse fates
-Really thought Hanz was gonna survive and team up the prisoners
-The midsummer vibes were great, I wish the woman played a bigger role outside of Lucia’s character
-loved that unless the person understood the language of the person talking, it did not translate in the book
-Thought it was good, wish it had more supernatural elements to it
-I also wish that the trenches and WW1 fighting had occurred in this story
-I could only imagine that Mcculloch looked like the mad Scotsman from Samurai Jack and it instantly made the book 10x better
-The Sarvan being like a supernatural being and not like a crypted kinda threw me off, I thought it was gonna be like a Bigfoot or yeti type creature
-Loved that Enzo at least got out and had a child with Hilde but I wish we got to see more of him after escaping.
-Mithras being one of the focal points for the story was so cool and such an obscure deity that it makes me want to learn more about Mithraism
-I would love to see a book that focuses on the next generation of the citizens for Melville trying to complete the next trial to get a new host for the Sarvan
-RIP to Dubois, he deserved to see his daughters 1 more time
-The shootout scene was so crazy, especially with the Scotsman going nuts
-I’m so happy the soldiers got killed, those dudes were terrible and deserved worse fates
-Really thought Hanz was gonna survive and team up the prisoners
-The midsummer vibes were great, I wish the woman played a bigger role outside of Lucia’s character
-loved that unless the person understood the language of the person talking, it did not translate in the book
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 13, 2026
FIVERRRR FIVERRRRR FIVERRR
October 8, 2025
Huge thanks to Douglass Hoover for sending me a copy of The Sarvàn — what an incredible, chilling read.
This book is just over 300 pages and blends historical fiction, survival horror, and mythology in a way that hooked me from page one. Set during World War I, we follow a group of Allied POWs being marched through the icy Alps by their German captors. When a brutal winter storm forces everyone to take shelter in a remote mountain village, the uneasy truce between prisoners and guards starts to crack. The villagers worship Mithras, an ancient god, and seem to be hiding something called the Sarvàn — and trust me, the less you know going in, the better.
I really like the characters in this novel. Hoover gives both prisoners and captors depth, humanity, and believable conflict. Their suspicions of one another feel earned, but the real threat is slowly closing in from outside (and beneath) the village. The atmosphere is pitch perfect. There is claustrophobia, oppressiveness, and it is laced with unease.
A slow burn at first, grinding you in the brutality of war and the harshness of the alpine setting. But once the story shifts into the village, the tension ramps up and doesn’t let go. Hoover’s descriptions of snowbound streets, flickering torchlight, and whispered rituals are vivid and cinematic, making you feel like you’re right there in the middle of it all.
If you like your horror with a mix of history, folklore, and creeping dread, this one is a must. The Sarvàn is the kind of story that sticks with you long after you close the book.
This book is just over 300 pages and blends historical fiction, survival horror, and mythology in a way that hooked me from page one. Set during World War I, we follow a group of Allied POWs being marched through the icy Alps by their German captors. When a brutal winter storm forces everyone to take shelter in a remote mountain village, the uneasy truce between prisoners and guards starts to crack. The villagers worship Mithras, an ancient god, and seem to be hiding something called the Sarvàn — and trust me, the less you know going in, the better.
I really like the characters in this novel. Hoover gives both prisoners and captors depth, humanity, and believable conflict. Their suspicions of one another feel earned, but the real threat is slowly closing in from outside (and beneath) the village. The atmosphere is pitch perfect. There is claustrophobia, oppressiveness, and it is laced with unease.
A slow burn at first, grinding you in the brutality of war and the harshness of the alpine setting. But once the story shifts into the village, the tension ramps up and doesn’t let go. Hoover’s descriptions of snowbound streets, flickering torchlight, and whispered rituals are vivid and cinematic, making you feel like you’re right there in the middle of it all.
If you like your horror with a mix of history, folklore, and creeping dread, this one is a must. The Sarvàn is the kind of story that sticks with you long after you close the book.
July 2, 2025
Without a doubt, The Sarvan is Douglas Hoover’s best book yet. He captivates readers from the very first page, making it almost impossible to put down. I loved every aspect of this story, especially the way history is woven throughout. This is a book that you will want to reread again and again. I can’t wait to see what he releases next.
July 31, 2025
Good
A good brisk read. I love these kinds of books that mix real world history with the spooky stuff. Its a haunting, intense psychological ride that sends you on a rollercoaster of emotions. Characters are pretty fleshy and articulate. Plot is good without being overbearing. Spooky without being too much
A good brisk read. I love these kinds of books that mix real world history with the spooky stuff. Its a haunting, intense psychological ride that sends you on a rollercoaster of emotions. Characters are pretty fleshy and articulate. Plot is good without being overbearing. Spooky without being too much
August 6, 2025
A must read
Loved this book. Unlike anything I have read before. World War I was an amazing back story combined with wonderful characters with a story that builds with anticipation.
Loved this book. Unlike anything I have read before. World War I was an amazing back story combined with wonderful characters with a story that builds with anticipation.
October 27, 2025
I’m conflicted on this book,
so let’s start with the positive -
The atmosphere was incredible, deep in a German winter, in a town off the maps of known society.
The idea was great, very fun and fast paced, the author was clearly well researched on the topic.
Now for the negative -
The writing felt amateurish, like the author sat down with a thesaurus and tried to prove that he could write. The characters were very archetypical, and I know that fits in with the story but bleh.
The women of the story were just a plot device for the men to further their own character development, which I guess can be typical of male writers.
Overall this book wasn’t BAD. There was some really good things here and I think the execution was just poor.
I could have really loved this with a bit of polishing and maybe a focus group lol
2.5 stars rounded down.
so let’s start with the positive -
The atmosphere was incredible, deep in a German winter, in a town off the maps of known society.
The idea was great, very fun and fast paced, the author was clearly well researched on the topic.
Now for the negative -
The writing felt amateurish, like the author sat down with a thesaurus and tried to prove that he could write. The characters were very archetypical, and I know that fits in with the story but bleh.
The women of the story were just a plot device for the men to further their own character development, which I guess can be typical of male writers.
Overall this book wasn’t BAD. There was some really good things here and I think the execution was just poor.
I could have really loved this with a bit of polishing and maybe a focus group lol
2.5 stars rounded down.
January 29, 2026
This book was not what I expected. The plot was riveting. The character development was enjoyable and the action was pretty good. I really enjoyed the author's exceptional detail to WWII German ranks and officer titles. They say when a man reaches a certain age he becomes a fan of WWII, and Douglas Hoover knows his military history. This book deserves 5 stars, but for me, I needed more about the Sarvan, Mithras, and the whole mythology. Good read.
February 25, 2026
Ahogy irjak is a kedvcsinaloban, egy kicsit Elso Vilaghaboru, egy kicsit Midsommar - hamar kiderul, hogy Sarvan a palacsintaban (hehe).
De valojaban egy kicsit semmisem amibe belekap. Nem eleg felelmetes, nem eleg tortenelmi, nem eleg okkult, nem eleg emberi.
A karakterek klisek, az okkult/tortenelem resze nem foglal magaban tul sok kutatast, es sok a kitalacio (tunik ugy nekem, persze lehet, hogy megis).
Az iro amerikaikent a tipikus csapdaba esik, hogy keptelen elvonatkoztatni a 2. vh nemetjeitol, es szinte teljesen ugyanolyannak abrazolja az 1. vh nemetjeit - verszomjas, velejeig gonosz, gyava az osszes katona, ami rossz tulajdonsagot tudott azt rajuk aggatott.
Eleg sok skippelheto is, erdemi veszteseg nelkul. Nem a legjobb.
De valojaban egy kicsit semmisem amibe belekap. Nem eleg felelmetes, nem eleg tortenelmi, nem eleg okkult, nem eleg emberi.
A karakterek klisek, az okkult/tortenelem resze nem foglal magaban tul sok kutatast, es sok a kitalacio (tunik ugy nekem, persze lehet, hogy megis).
Az iro amerikaikent a tipikus csapdaba esik, hogy keptelen elvonatkoztatni a 2. vh nemetjeitol, es szinte teljesen ugyanolyannak abrazolja az 1. vh nemetjeit - verszomjas, velejeig gonosz, gyava az osszes katona, ami rossz tulajdonsagot tudott azt rajuk aggatott.
Eleg sok skippelheto is, erdemi veszteseg nelkul. Nem a legjobb.
April 1, 2026
Folk-horror/historical horror is absolutely everything to me so of course this was 5/5!!!! ATE THIS UP. Ravens, witches, and a nightmarish beast? All of my favorite elements combined. The plot twists in this book were 👌🏼. The Sarván has easily made it to my top 3 favorite books!!!
October 17, 2025
Loved! Reminded me of both Midsommar and Pilgrim by Mitchell Lüthi in some ways. A great spooky winter read and another installment of this year’s inadvertent “weird European folklore” curriculum
September 23, 2025
The Sarvan is a fabulous book. More times than I can count, this book had me with my jaw on the floor. The book switches between flashbacks and present perfectly, and masters something so rare these days: providing you with enough information at the moment to always keep you satisfied but wanting to know more.
Have you ever read a book that leaves too much unexplained or up to interpretation? Maybe a book that felt rushed or reworked? This is not that book.
General spoilers
The Sarvan is about an ancient cult operating in a small German-speaking town which is forced to shelter POWs on their way to neutral Switzerland during the First World War. From the very first pages, nothing in this novel is as it appears and everything builds up, just to set it into place perfectly. The characters, even though some may not have much time (it started as a war novel, there is going to be some death!) are written succinctly and easily distinguished from the others. They are likable, familiar, distinct, and the ones that are worth hating, take that the extra mile. The villains in this novel are realistic and cruel without reason beyond the fact that “they are just following orders” to the point that they will harm their fellow countrymen (women and children) just to punish the POWs as they see fit. There is an absolutely epic faceoff between one Scottish prisoner who takes on several guards in a combination of heroism and bloodlust that I will try not to go into detail too much about, other than to say you don’t want to miss it.
For those of you who enjoy the movie Midsommar, this book is a great recommendation and in my opinion, supersedes it. There’s many more strings connecting this story together, better explanation, better old world/supernatural mysticism, a better payoff and better real, human made horrors that pull your attention from those behind the scenes.
It’s insane how this novel blends so many things and releases them into a perfect fit: the philosophy of war and the justification of taking a life, mistakes and their unintended consequences, secrecy for a bigger purpose, respect and betrayal of trust, and how to continue on when you are no longer the same person that you once were.
I could type all day about how much I enjoyed this story as a random read, but mostly, I’m just glad I read it. And you should too.
Have you ever read a book that leaves too much unexplained or up to interpretation? Maybe a book that felt rushed or reworked? This is not that book.
General spoilers
The Sarvan is about an ancient cult operating in a small German-speaking town which is forced to shelter POWs on their way to neutral Switzerland during the First World War. From the very first pages, nothing in this novel is as it appears and everything builds up, just to set it into place perfectly. The characters, even though some may not have much time (it started as a war novel, there is going to be some death!) are written succinctly and easily distinguished from the others. They are likable, familiar, distinct, and the ones that are worth hating, take that the extra mile. The villains in this novel are realistic and cruel without reason beyond the fact that “they are just following orders” to the point that they will harm their fellow countrymen (women and children) just to punish the POWs as they see fit. There is an absolutely epic faceoff between one Scottish prisoner who takes on several guards in a combination of heroism and bloodlust that I will try not to go into detail too much about, other than to say you don’t want to miss it.
For those of you who enjoy the movie Midsommar, this book is a great recommendation and in my opinion, supersedes it. There’s many more strings connecting this story together, better explanation, better old world/supernatural mysticism, a better payoff and better real, human made horrors that pull your attention from those behind the scenes.
It’s insane how this novel blends so many things and releases them into a perfect fit: the philosophy of war and the justification of taking a life, mistakes and their unintended consequences, secrecy for a bigger purpose, respect and betrayal of trust, and how to continue on when you are no longer the same person that you once were.
I could type all day about how much I enjoyed this story as a random read, but mostly, I’m just glad I read it. And you should too.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 25, 2026
This was billed as horror but it was more of a military drama. It was all about the relationships between guards, prisoners and villagers.
There were some great characters - hans and the Frenchman especially - however they were somewhat wasted they tended to just die off. Although Hans’ passing was quite moving indeed.
The setting was ok although somewhat limited - the main elements were village square, tower, cave and bar which in a shorter work would have been fine but without more variety it did overstay its welcome slightly. I do enjoy a cult surviving from the ancient past but I always find it a tad unbelievable - the middle ages always get skipped and they end up in modernity with little idea how they got there. Perhaps a greater sense of hiding in plain sight would have been better. Otherwise surely some enterprising priest would have found his way up there and denounced them all as heretics by now surely.
The evil guard was pretty cool with his grenade and desire to go fetch the whole damn army to shoot everyone - he was right????
Also a bit of a missed opportunity with the Mithraic ritual. Usually they’d have someone taking a shower underneath the freshly slaughtered bull rather than having the blood pour onto the ground. Which is probably a case of reality being even stranger than fiction.
All in all an alright read not really horror - some neat ideas great action - could have been shorter.
Ps. I listened to this as an audiobook and the accents were just terrible all the Germans sounded Russian and so did the Scotsman and the Frenchman and the Italian.
There were some great characters - hans and the Frenchman especially - however they were somewhat wasted they tended to just die off. Although Hans’ passing was quite moving indeed.
The setting was ok although somewhat limited - the main elements were village square, tower, cave and bar which in a shorter work would have been fine but without more variety it did overstay its welcome slightly. I do enjoy a cult surviving from the ancient past but I always find it a tad unbelievable - the middle ages always get skipped and they end up in modernity with little idea how they got there. Perhaps a greater sense of hiding in plain sight would have been better. Otherwise surely some enterprising priest would have found his way up there and denounced them all as heretics by now surely.
The evil guard was pretty cool with his grenade and desire to go fetch the whole damn army to shoot everyone - he was right????
Also a bit of a missed opportunity with the Mithraic ritual. Usually they’d have someone taking a shower underneath the freshly slaughtered bull rather than having the blood pour onto the ground. Which is probably a case of reality being even stranger than fiction.
All in all an alright read not really horror - some neat ideas great action - could have been shorter.
Ps. I listened to this as an audiobook and the accents were just terrible all the Germans sounded Russian and so did the Scotsman and the Frenchman and the Italian.
June 3, 2026
Picture this. A book about a group of WW1 POWs, being transported across the Alps on the way to a prisoner exchange... only they get trapped in an isolated village, where both they and their captors have to survive the predations of a mysterious monstrous entity.
That book would have been pretty good, I reckon... but this is not that book. Not really.
The Sarvan is the tale of Edward Blackwood, the cheesiest, tropiest cartoon of a gruff American who ever lived, who gets captured by German soldiers, and trapped in a small Alpine village where he and his fellow prisoners begin to suspect something suspicious is afoot. In the meantime, they also have to survive the predations of their increasingly desperate German captors... bear this bit in mind, because this is actually by far the major threat in this book.
I really wanted to like this book, because the plot summary sounds so interesting... but that just isn't the book? The Sarvan is barely there, it gets mentioned a few times throughout, but it doesn't really do all that much. In all honesty, if this had actually been a book without any of the supernatural, culty stuff, and had just been a cabin fever-esque story about them surviving the increasing derangement of their captors, it would have been a lot better. This book should have been called The Klaus.
Also, what the fuck was actually up with Wolfson's plan, because quite frankly, it has quite a big flaw. Namely, that he handpicked a squad of sadistic psychopaths to join him on his journey, and then promptly did absolutely nothing to stop the treachery that was OBVIOUSLY going to happen. The fact that he knows his village is basically unprotected is just all the more ludicrous, like he could have just not brought several out-and-out bloodthirsty lunatics to his defenceless home town, before sitting there like 'ah, if only there was some way to stop Klaus and Johann from killing everyone... but that would require effort'
There's too many elements of this story that made me roll my eyes, frankly. Dubois being some bastard child of an English royal was silly, but the fact the German soldiers captured him because they saw his tattoo and assumed it meant he was a royal is just fucking stupid. That's like if I saw someone with a Japanese flag tattoo, and assumed they were heir to the Chrysanthemum Throne. Also, Blackwood having specifically killed all the men of the village? I'm sorry, but there were MILLIONS of soldiers fighting on the Western front. The idea that he specifically came across the menfolk of this specific village, and killed them all, and remembers doing so, is just absurd.
The whole Mithraism thing... I don't want to be uncharitable, but it came across as though the author just read a book about this, and decided to insert it into his latest book idea whether it fit the vibe or not. Like, we're dealing with a creepy village in the alps being stalked by a mysterious entity, but is it some sort of Germanic or even Central European folklore? No, its a secret sect from the Roman Empire, that just happens to still be nestled in the Alps. The bit where Enzo randomly has heard the name of Mithraic Satan, and the Generic German Villager woman is like 'of course you've heard of him, you're an educated man'... no. I'm sorry, but some random Italian dude in 1916 is not name checking Mithraic deities, just because it happens to be the author's special interest.
My biggest issue with this book, by some distance, is Edward Blackwood.
See, there's a common phenomenon where it is impossible to satirise Americans, because there's no degree of heavy-handed cartoonish tropery you can deploy that an American won't look at and say 'hell yeah, this is cool'.
You can have Dubois be a cowardly French bastard, you can have McCullagh be a gruff angry Scotsman and have Fletcher be a bit of a loudmouth, snarky Englishman... but suddenly when it comes to Blackwood, oh he's actually the biggest badass ever. He's super cool and mysterious and all the women immediately fall in love with him, but he's so aloof that nobody can break his tough outer shell. You see, he grew up raised on the wild frontiers, where he was a trapper, and a cattle rustler, and volunteered to fight in WW1 ahead of the other Americans, and random Romani fortune tellers immediately want to sleep with him... give me a fucking break.
Honestly it just ruined my ability to enjoy this book for large swathes of it, because Blackwood is only ever allowed to be a gruff heroic badass. If the Sarvan got a movie in the 50s, he'd be played by John Wayne, in the 70s he'd be Clint Eastwood, and nowadays, he'd probably be Chris Pratt at his full Jurassic World worst. I shit ye not, at one point he gets badly wounded and is still recovering, but insists on still doing physical labour, to the point where the mysterious cult villagers are like 'ah, he'll probably be chopping timber soon, cos he's simply too much of a badass to stop helping over a silly thing like a mortal wound'
It's a shame, because the plot synopsis for this book sounded so up my alley, that I think I'm just a bit disappointed... and clearly, judging by the reviews on here, I'm definitely in the minority here. Maybe I need to go out, wrestle a bear, build a log cabin, and I'll completely reassess Blackwood afterwards.
That book would have been pretty good, I reckon... but this is not that book. Not really.
The Sarvan is the tale of Edward Blackwood, the cheesiest, tropiest cartoon of a gruff American who ever lived, who gets captured by German soldiers, and trapped in a small Alpine village where he and his fellow prisoners begin to suspect something suspicious is afoot. In the meantime, they also have to survive the predations of their increasingly desperate German captors... bear this bit in mind, because this is actually by far the major threat in this book.
I really wanted to like this book, because the plot summary sounds so interesting... but that just isn't the book? The Sarvan is barely there, it gets mentioned a few times throughout, but it doesn't really do all that much. In all honesty, if this had actually been a book without any of the supernatural, culty stuff, and had just been a cabin fever-esque story about them surviving the increasing derangement of their captors, it would have been a lot better. This book should have been called The Klaus.
Also, what the fuck was actually up with Wolfson's plan, because quite frankly, it has quite a big flaw. Namely, that he handpicked a squad of sadistic psychopaths to join him on his journey, and then promptly did absolutely nothing to stop the treachery that was OBVIOUSLY going to happen. The fact that he knows his village is basically unprotected is just all the more ludicrous, like he could have just not brought several out-and-out bloodthirsty lunatics to his defenceless home town, before sitting there like 'ah, if only there was some way to stop Klaus and Johann from killing everyone... but that would require effort'
There's too many elements of this story that made me roll my eyes, frankly. Dubois being some bastard child of an English royal was silly, but the fact the German soldiers captured him because they saw his tattoo and assumed it meant he was a royal is just fucking stupid. That's like if I saw someone with a Japanese flag tattoo, and assumed they were heir to the Chrysanthemum Throne. Also, Blackwood having specifically killed all the men of the village? I'm sorry, but there were MILLIONS of soldiers fighting on the Western front. The idea that he specifically came across the menfolk of this specific village, and killed them all, and remembers doing so, is just absurd.
The whole Mithraism thing... I don't want to be uncharitable, but it came across as though the author just read a book about this, and decided to insert it into his latest book idea whether it fit the vibe or not. Like, we're dealing with a creepy village in the alps being stalked by a mysterious entity, but is it some sort of Germanic or even Central European folklore? No, its a secret sect from the Roman Empire, that just happens to still be nestled in the Alps. The bit where Enzo randomly has heard the name of Mithraic Satan, and the Generic German Villager woman is like 'of course you've heard of him, you're an educated man'... no. I'm sorry, but some random Italian dude in 1916 is not name checking Mithraic deities, just because it happens to be the author's special interest.
My biggest issue with this book, by some distance, is Edward Blackwood.
See, there's a common phenomenon where it is impossible to satirise Americans, because there's no degree of heavy-handed cartoonish tropery you can deploy that an American won't look at and say 'hell yeah, this is cool'.
You can have Dubois be a cowardly French bastard, you can have McCullagh be a gruff angry Scotsman and have Fletcher be a bit of a loudmouth, snarky Englishman... but suddenly when it comes to Blackwood, oh he's actually the biggest badass ever. He's super cool and mysterious and all the women immediately fall in love with him, but he's so aloof that nobody can break his tough outer shell. You see, he grew up raised on the wild frontiers, where he was a trapper, and a cattle rustler, and volunteered to fight in WW1 ahead of the other Americans, and random Romani fortune tellers immediately want to sleep with him... give me a fucking break.
Honestly it just ruined my ability to enjoy this book for large swathes of it, because Blackwood is only ever allowed to be a gruff heroic badass. If the Sarvan got a movie in the 50s, he'd be played by John Wayne, in the 70s he'd be Clint Eastwood, and nowadays, he'd probably be Chris Pratt at his full Jurassic World worst. I shit ye not, at one point he gets badly wounded and is still recovering, but insists on still doing physical labour, to the point where the mysterious cult villagers are like 'ah, he'll probably be chopping timber soon, cos he's simply too much of a badass to stop helping over a silly thing like a mortal wound'
It's a shame, because the plot synopsis for this book sounded so up my alley, that I think I'm just a bit disappointed... and clearly, judging by the reviews on here, I'm definitely in the minority here. Maybe I need to go out, wrestle a bear, build a log cabin, and I'll completely reassess Blackwood afterwards.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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