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Stygian
Jeremy has been isolated and adrift since the death of his brother. Most people just see him as the skinny emo kid who wears eyeliner and plays drums. No one gets him. Nobody tries. He thought the indie rock band Stygian would become his anchor, but—lost in their own problems—they’re far from the family he sought.
Still, hoping to get close to Kennedy, the band's enigmatic guitarist, he follows Stygian to northern Louisiana for a summer retreat. They had planned to spend six weeks focusing on new music, but things go awry as soon as they arrive at the long-deserted Caroway mansion. Tempers flare, sexual tension boils over into frustration, and Jeremy turns away from the band to find a friend in his eerily beautiful landlord Hunter Caroway.
Kennedy suspects there’s something off about the creepy mansion and its mysterious owners, but Jeremy thinks he's finally found somewhere he fits. It isn’t until Kennedy forces the Caroways’ secrets into the light that Jeremy realizes belonging sometimes comes with a price.
Still, hoping to get close to Kennedy, the band's enigmatic guitarist, he follows Stygian to northern Louisiana for a summer retreat. They had planned to spend six weeks focusing on new music, but things go awry as soon as they arrive at the long-deserted Caroway mansion. Tempers flare, sexual tension boils over into frustration, and Jeremy turns away from the band to find a friend in his eerily beautiful landlord Hunter Caroway.
Kennedy suspects there’s something off about the creepy mansion and its mysterious owners, but Jeremy thinks he's finally found somewhere he fits. It isn’t until Kennedy forces the Caroways’ secrets into the light that Jeremy realizes belonging sometimes comes with a price.
204 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 26, 2015
18 people are currently reading
841 people want to read
About the author
Santino Hassell
36 books2,837 followersSantino Hassell was raised by a conservative family but grew up to be a smart-mouthed, school cutting grunge kid, a transient twenty-something, and eventually transformed into a grumpy introvert and unlikely romance author with an affinity for baseball caps. His novels are heavily influenced by the gritty, urban landscape of New York City, and his desire to write relationships fueled by intensity and passion.
He’s been a finalist in both the Bisexual Book Awards and the EPIC Awards, and was nominated for a prestigious RITA award in 2017. His work has been featured in BuzzFeed, Huffington Post, Washington Post, RT Magazine, and Cosmopolitan Magazine.
Santino@santinohassell.com
www.santinohassell.com
http://santinohassell.com/newsletter/
amazon.com/author/santinohassell
https://www.facebook.com/groups/getha...
https://twitter.com/SantinoHassell
https://www.instagram.com/santinohass...
https://www.patreon.com/santinohassell
He’s been a finalist in both the Bisexual Book Awards and the EPIC Awards, and was nominated for a prestigious RITA award in 2017. His work has been featured in BuzzFeed, Huffington Post, Washington Post, RT Magazine, and Cosmopolitan Magazine.
Santino@santinohassell.com
www.santinohassell.com
http://santinohassell.com/newsletter/
amazon.com/author/santinohassell
https://www.facebook.com/groups/getha...
https://twitter.com/SantinoHassell
https://www.instagram.com/santinohass...
https://www.patreon.com/santinohassell
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 239 reviews
March 6, 2018
**Review removed due to personal reasons. Rating downgraded to one star**
March 7, 2018
March 7, 2018
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March 12, 2018REVIEW & RATING REMOVED
November 12, 2015
This was my second book by Santino Hassell, and though I gave both books 3-ish stars, which for me is a good rating, I'm just not sure if he is the author for me.
If I could describe Stygian in a couple of words it would be "intense" and "angsty". Damn, his books are bleak. It is like one bad, terrible thing happening after another to these characters. In fact, the more you get to know the characters, the more depressed you get.
I'll talk about the positives first. Santino Hassell is really good at creating atmosphere. This book had the creepy, Southern Gothic vibe down pat, and I was pretty skeeved out while reading this book in the dark. The whole dilapidated mansion with closed off rooms and some hot-headed musicians going through emotional trauma... you know that can't lead anywhere good. And it doesn't. The author nailed the setting for this book, and made the perfect storm for some messed up stuff to happen.
And while this book was much too creepy for my tastes, I would have still rated it highly if I liked certain other aspects about it more than I did. My biggest issue with this book is the romance. Try as I might, I simply didn't buy the romance between Jeremy and Kennedy. I just didn't. I wanted to see them working together, but maybe it was the single POV, but I just never felt like I understood Kennedy or his attraction to Jeremy. The romance was a really big hindrance to my enjoyment of the book (which, let's face it, wouldn't be really enjoyment because I'm too wimpy for a book this dark). I wanted a bright spot, something to cheer for in the story, and I don't think the romance was it.
I did really enjoy the writing. I had trouble putting the book down, and even with an ending that felt almost like a cliffhanger (what happens to Quince??), and Jeremy practically asking to die with his TSTL actions, I have to say that I liked it. I think... *shivers*
**Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
If I could describe Stygian in a couple of words it would be "intense" and "angsty". Damn, his books are bleak. It is like one bad, terrible thing happening after another to these characters. In fact, the more you get to know the characters, the more depressed you get.
I'll talk about the positives first. Santino Hassell is really good at creating atmosphere. This book had the creepy, Southern Gothic vibe down pat, and I was pretty skeeved out while reading this book in the dark. The whole dilapidated mansion with closed off rooms and some hot-headed musicians going through emotional trauma... you know that can't lead anywhere good. And it doesn't. The author nailed the setting for this book, and made the perfect storm for some messed up stuff to happen.
And while this book was much too creepy for my tastes, I would have still rated it highly if I liked certain other aspects about it more than I did. My biggest issue with this book is the romance. Try as I might, I simply didn't buy the romance between Jeremy and Kennedy. I just didn't. I wanted to see them working together, but maybe it was the single POV, but I just never felt like I understood Kennedy or his attraction to Jeremy. The romance was a really big hindrance to my enjoyment of the book (which, let's face it, wouldn't be really enjoyment because I'm too wimpy for a book this dark). I wanted a bright spot, something to cheer for in the story, and I don't think the romance was it.
I did really enjoy the writing. I had trouble putting the book down, and even with an ending that felt almost like a cliffhanger (what happens to Quince??), and Jeremy practically asking to die with his TSTL actions, I have to say that I liked it. I think... *shivers*
**Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
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October 14, 2015STYGIAN comes out on October 26th, but you can preorder now at DREAMSPINNER, Amazon, ARe, and probably other places!
I'm torn between being super excited and super nervous. Excited because... new book! Scared because I've never written anything like it before.
STYGIAN is a M/M romance but it's also southern gothic and features paranormal elements. My intent with this book was to 1) pay homage to Poppy Z. Brite and the beautifully haunting queer books he wrote in the 90s, and 2) to write something outside of my comfort zone. There's sex (totally comfortable with that) and a complicated romance (that's my jam) but there are trust issues and past tragedies constantly affecting the main characters, and those things are amplified by the paranormal found in the woods of Logansport, LA (this is new to me).
I've had a lot of help unraveling the knot of this book and the editing went on right until the very last moment. The book being released in two weeks is very different than the book my betas saw over a year ago and even the book they may have seen a couple of months ago.
STYGIAN is coming soon, you guys, and I hope you give my disaffected alt rockers a chance by reading their story.
I'm torn between being super excited and super nervous. Excited because... new book! Scared because I've never written anything like it before.
STYGIAN is a M/M romance but it's also southern gothic and features paranormal elements. My intent with this book was to 1) pay homage to Poppy Z. Brite and the beautifully haunting queer books he wrote in the 90s, and 2) to write something outside of my comfort zone. There's sex (totally comfortable with that) and a complicated romance (that's my jam) but there are trust issues and past tragedies constantly affecting the main characters, and those things are amplified by the paranormal found in the woods of Logansport, LA (this is new to me).
I've had a lot of help unraveling the knot of this book and the editing went on right until the very last moment. The book being released in two weeks is very different than the book my betas saw over a year ago and even the book they may have seen a couple of months ago.
STYGIAN is coming soon, you guys, and I hope you give my disaffected alt rockers a chance by reading their story.
December 17, 2015
not my favorite from rantino.
the drama seemed forced and the dialogue was painful.
the mystery was a little skimpy, and the ending was kinda unsatisfying, given what we learn right before that.
but i gotta tell you, some of those townie fuckers were so well-characterized they legit creeped me out, and that scene upstairs, in the dark, with the cold breeze...
scared the everlivin' shit outta me.
the drama seemed forced and the dialogue was painful.
the mystery was a little skimpy, and the ending was kinda unsatisfying, given what we learn right before that.
but i gotta tell you, some of those townie fuckers were so well-characterized they legit creeped me out, and that scene upstairs, in the dark, with the cold breeze...
scared the everlivin' shit outta me.
November 25, 2015
Written November 24, 2015
4 Stars - Gosh, this was a exciting journey - a creepy, unforgettable story - a page-turner with a beautiful book-cover
I started Stygian, a planned (M/M) buddyread with my nice Malta friend Sofia (her review), and to be true and honest, I'd forget this was a scary story (in my opinion actually a true horror novel).
This read was a tiny bit from to be too intense and angsty for (little) me. A creepy atmosphere, scary odd characters, surprises, no what so ever sugary sweet moments ... but sex, steam, more kinky sex, more horror and a lot of drama.
I actually like a lot (a bit surprised to be honest). This was my fist finished Santino Hassell novel. It will be more some day. I just need the courage...
*********************************************************
The drummer boy...
Stygian is a slightly successful indie rock band that lost a band member very tragic. Jeremy Black is the new drummer and also a quite angsty poor lost soul. He is still mourning the death of his beloved older brother. In other words: Jeremy is the skinny emo kid who wears eyeliner and plays drums. Add gay.
They all —the gorgeous guitarist Kennedy, the golden boy and angry lead singer Watts, the too nice bassist Quince and new band drummer Jeremy— leave Houston for a much urgent and needed summer retreat. They arrive in a sunny, warm and steaming hot northern Louisiana. The house is an old big yellow painted tree mansion. Very isolated. In the woods. With rooms and parts you're not supposed to visit. (!!!)
Stygian's "leave-town-for-a-well-needed-country-vacation" doesn't start that well. They need to play music, write new songs and rehearse together but instead there are a lot of crazy (boyish) intense drama, drugs and arguing. Add sex and misunderstandings.
There in Louisiana is also a tempting stranger, Hunter Caroway, the stunning beautiful landlord who is living with his odd (very horny) sister in a small ramshackle cottage deep in the dark woods. Hunter seems like a good friend. Or?
(Warning: a story spoiler.. )
*********************************************************
Are things & stuff really normal and as it should be?
Or is the huge Caroway Mansion a hunted house as the rumor says? Jeremy start to have nightmares, remembering bad old memories and he feels strange things. Maybe should he just leave this house and his —not so very nice— band buddies.
What about that sexy (constantly smoking) Kennedy guy, is he trustworthy or just another bully? There is for sure something fishy about these band members. ~ Who can be trusted? Who is most dangerous? ~ I actually just wanted poor dear Jeremy to take a bus and go back home to start with. But did he? Of course not!!!
That awful horrible horror movie feeling...
You recognize it: - Some dumb halfnaked innocent youngsters, dark smoggy nights, whispered warnings, and of course always isolated old creepy houses. (Just talk, no real spoiler )
Do not despair, we got a decent dose of wonderful M/M romance and lovely heat too.
*********************************************************
A page-turner recommended for brave M/M readers.
I LIKE - to live on the edge ... Haha!!
****
Also big thanks to Bev (4 stars) who recommended and once again (Thank you hon!) got me to read another interesting (weird) M/M.
4 Stars - Gosh, this was a exciting journey - a creepy, unforgettable story - a page-turner with a beautiful book-cover
I started Stygian, a planned (M/M) buddyread with my nice Malta friend Sofia (her review), and to be true and honest, I'd forget this was a scary story (in my opinion actually a true horror novel).
This read was a tiny bit from to be too intense and angsty for (little) me. A creepy atmosphere, scary odd characters, surprises, no what so ever sugary sweet moments ... but sex, steam, more kinky sex, more horror and a lot of drama.
I actually like a lot (a bit surprised to be honest). This was my fist finished Santino Hassell novel. It will be more some day. I just need the courage...
*********************************************************
The drummer boy...
Stygian is a slightly successful indie rock band that lost a band member very tragic. Jeremy Black is the new drummer and also a quite angsty poor lost soul. He is still mourning the death of his beloved older brother. In other words: Jeremy is the skinny emo kid who wears eyeliner and plays drums. Add gay.
‘He understood death and suicide. He didn’t understand savage beauty tempered by false-sugar words and tricky benevolent smiles.’
Wikipedia: ‘Stygian refers to the River Styx of the underworld Hades in Greek mythology.’
They all —the gorgeous guitarist Kennedy, the golden boy and angry lead singer Watts, the too nice bassist Quince and new band drummer Jeremy— leave Houston for a much urgent and needed summer retreat. They arrive in a sunny, warm and steaming hot northern Louisiana. The house is an old big yellow painted tree mansion. Very isolated. In the woods. With rooms and parts you're not supposed to visit. (!!!)
Stygian's "leave-town-for-a-well-needed-country-vacation" doesn't start that well. They need to play music, write new songs and rehearse together but instead there are a lot of crazy (boyish) intense drama, drugs and arguing. Add sex and misunderstandings.
« Tempers flare, sexual tension boils over into frustration.. »
There in Louisiana is also a tempting stranger, Hunter Caroway, the stunning beautiful landlord who is living with his odd (very horny) sister in a small ramshackle cottage deep in the dark woods. Hunter seems like a good friend. Or?
(Warning: a story spoiler.. )
*********************************************************
Are things & stuff really normal and as it should be?
Or is the huge Caroway Mansion a hunted house as the rumor says? Jeremy start to have nightmares, remembering bad old memories and he feels strange things. Maybe should he just leave this house and his —not so very nice— band buddies.
What about that sexy (constantly smoking) Kennedy guy, is he trustworthy or just another bully? There is for sure something fishy about these band members. ~ Who can be trusted? Who is most dangerous? ~ I actually just wanted poor dear Jeremy to take a bus and go back home to start with. But did he? Of course not!!!
That awful horrible horror movie feeling...
You recognize it: - Some dumb halfnaked innocent youngsters, dark smoggy nights, whispered warnings, and of course always isolated old creepy houses. (Just talk, no real spoiler )
Do not despair, we got a decent dose of wonderful M/M romance and lovely heat too.
*********************************************************
A page-turner recommended for brave M/M readers. I LIKE - to live on the edge ... Haha!!
****
Also big thanks to Bev (4 stars) who recommended and once again (Thank you hon!) got me to read another interesting (weird) M/M.
March 8, 2018
This sucks.
Read
September 16, 2024Review and rating removed.
October 16, 2015
So when I was ten, I was at some sort of gathering with family friends. All the adults were upstairs and all of us kids were down in the basement, up to no good. Some little genius decided to turn on IT, the movie based on the book by Stephen King, and so we all huddled around the TV watching this fucking clown devour children. By the time my parents realized what we were watching it, the damage was done and I was sufficiently freaked out. The part I hated most was the shower scene, where the clown widens the drain and comes out and... AAAAHHH. For probably a solid year (don't judge), I would take a shower with my foot over the drain, convinced that would keep the killer clown at bay. Then I would RUN out of the shower with a yelp and this icy chill down my spine.
That's how I felt reading this book. When shadows would shift, when creepy Hunter would say something weird, when Laurel would smirk, OMG, I would get this chill down my spine. This was like reading a scary movie. It had all the perfect elements - a strange house, elusive townspeople, a bunch of outsiders with SECRETS among them. I neglected my own shit to read this book because I had to know what happened to Jeremy and crew.
Oh, and it's Santino, so of course it's sexy as fuck.
So good. Amazing, atmospheric writing. A perfect Halloween read, for real.
That's how I felt reading this book. When shadows would shift, when creepy Hunter would say something weird, when Laurel would smirk, OMG, I would get this chill down my spine. This was like reading a scary movie. It had all the perfect elements - a strange house, elusive townspeople, a bunch of outsiders with SECRETS among them. I neglected my own shit to read this book because I had to know what happened to Jeremy and crew.
Oh, and it's Santino, so of course it's sexy as fuck.
So good. Amazing, atmospheric writing. A perfect Halloween read, for real.
Read
March 14, 2018Review Removed.
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Want to read
September 25, 2015IF THIS IS NOT THE COVER OF THE YEAR I DON'T KNOW WHAT
March 10, 2018
“Review deleted because the author may have have misrepresented themselves as ownvoices and accepted cash gifts from fans under potentially false pretenses.”
http://riptidepublishing.com/a-statem...
http://riptidepublishing.com/a-statem...
nope
March 9, 2018Rating and review removed!
October 30, 2015
That was so frustrating!
I'm still up at 2 am and finished with this book already because I was too annoyed by these "every dumb kid in a horror movie" characters to fall asleep. I was literallyyelling at talking to my iPad in frustration as I read this, especially the last half. Especially that Mary Sue named Jeremy.
I guess I've read enough horror novels and watched enough scary movies over the years that I knew everything that would happen before it happened (check my status updates). I mean, I'm sorry but were But you know what? It's partly my fault. I probably should have guessed it going in, since the author mentioned this was an homage to Poppy Z. Brite.
Well hey, at least the book drew such a visceral reaction out of me. I certainly wasn't bored! I'm sure others that don't normally read horror will find this delightful and surprising.
Ok I need to calm down and try to sleep now.
Good night.
Edited to add:
Ok you know what? Wait. On further thought, I have a bone to pick with that ending.
/Rant over
I will say that I enjoyed all the parts that didn't have to do with Hunter or Laurel in any way, shape or form.
Ok I'm calm now.
Goodnight for real.
I'm still up at 2 am and finished with this book already because I was too annoyed by these "every dumb kid in a horror movie" characters to fall asleep. I was literally
I guess I've read enough horror novels and watched enough scary movies over the years that I knew everything that would happen before it happened (check my status updates). I mean, I'm sorry but were But you know what? It's partly my fault. I probably should have guessed it going in, since the author mentioned this was an homage to Poppy Z. Brite.
Well hey, at least the book drew such a visceral reaction out of me. I certainly wasn't bored! I'm sure others that don't normally read horror will find this delightful and surprising.
Ok I need to calm down and try to sleep now.
Good night.
Edited to add:
Ok you know what? Wait. On further thought, I have a bone to pick with that ending.
/Rant over
I will say that I enjoyed all the parts that didn't have to do with Hunter or Laurel in any way, shape or form.
Ok I'm calm now.
Goodnight for real.
Read
March 1, 2018Review Removed.
won-t-read-for-reasons
March 5, 2018Review Removed
November 25, 2015
I tried, really I did, right till the end. But I could not connect or understand why the hell they remained together. They said that they had glue together but I couldn't see any. I could not feel them together either as a band, as friends or as lovers. So for me it ended up being:
*Wrangle with grumpy bandmates
Feel unwanted, alone and emotional
Go walking in the woods
Rinse and repeat from *
I guess the above did not let me go into the horror thing either because I was eye rolling rather than shakin' in terror.
BR with Ingela
I have not read the Prequels yet:
http://dreamspinnerpress.com/blog/201...
http://bingeonbooks.com/exclusive-pre...
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March 8, 2018Edit (march, 2018)
rating removed because of this
original review:
Awesome. Full of tension and with a dark atmosphere. Loved it. #teamHunter
rating removed because of this
original review:
Awesome. Full of tension and with a dark atmosphere. Loved it. #teamHunter
Read
March 5, 2018Review removed
Read
March 9, 2018Rating and review removed.
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November 6, 2015
3.5 Stars
This book had me at first sight. LOOK at that gorgeous cover! That “Hello!” and Santino Hassell’s grit, words, and characters made for one hot mix of music, sexual tension, and creepiness!
The band—Stygian--made up of Jeremy, Quince, Watts and Kennedy are trying to settle into a Louisiana musical get-away/retreat to work out their tensions and new material. Jeremy, our guide through this tale, is new to the band. A band with a lot of pain, problems, and history. He still feels uncomfortable and out of place. Attitude and criticism come at him nonstop especially from Watts. But Jeremy is in Louisiana for the summer for the music and for Kennedy. Oh, Kennedy! The band’s mysterious, untouchable guitarist is everything Jeremy craves. The man is rather irresistible. But will heartache and pressure split the band and Jeremy’s desires up. If the heat, drugs, secrets, and sexual tension don’t kill him, the spooky mansion and strange landlords just might.
It’s the writing that does it for me here. Hassell can capture desire and unrequited love like no one else. Looks and touches build and build! I could feel how much Jeremy wanted to touch and be with Kennedy. The attraction and tension is palpable in the Louisiana heat. Hot, hot, HOT! I liked these guys, but one or two did get on my nerves at times and others never came into full focus. I’m always a sucker for the strong, silent “I-want-to-lick-you-from-head-to-toe” types though. And any tree climbing-thinker has a spot in my heart. This book definitely left me wanting more of these guys. Watts has a story I need more of right now!
The end did lack the “oomph” I needed. It felt like the weird-spooky angle or paranormal aspects weren’t fully embraced or addressed. The atmosphere and paranoia were there! Laurel all by her lonesome gave me the shivers. But I had hoped for a bigger, badder presence. That’s just me though—always wanting more of the Big Bad.
A spooky read with plenty of sexy to go around. Can’t wait for more!
One of my favorite lines:
“I’m just afraid to increase the level of fuckery when we’ve already jumped feet first into a shitshow.” Haha...Love it!
Read
March 10, 2018i literally cannot even fucking function atm.
review and rating withdrawn.
review and rating withdrawn.
February 2, 2016
I have been putting off writing this review for the longest time possible simply because I don’t quite have the words for this book. I’m going to try my best, but I’m pretty my flailing everywhere, so hopefully you can decipher what I am trying to convey through reading this one.
This was one of my usual cases of, “Ooh, look at that pretty cover. Let’s read that! Should we check the synopsis? Nope.” And this cover is gorgeous! But I really need to stop doing that because: (i) I don’t read NA. (ii) Certainly not LGBT+ fiction with a few exceptions. (iii) I don’t read books with this much swearing. So basically, this book was EVERYTHING that I never read.
But I loved it. So much so, that I will probably be reading more NA in the future.
This story follows a band of four guys as they go on a music retreat because things seem to be falling apart. The first thing I noticed was that these guys seem to swear an awful lot. So if you don’t mind that in your reading, then you might like this. It was a pretty big contrast from my usual classic and YA reads so it bothered me in the beginning but the more you read, the more you get used to it.
The second thing you quickly realise is that this book is very explicit. You can see it in the first couple of pages. I would love to be able to tell you just how explicit so you can determine whether this is for you or not, but I haven’t read enough NA to have another book to compare this one too. But I will say it is a M/M romance if this helps you decide anything yourself?
Jeremy has been attracted to Kennedy for a long time and even though Quince and Watts (the other two bandmates) seem happy enough together he has been trying to keep away from Kennedy because he doesn’t seem interested. I have to say that this author perfectly knows how to build sexual tension because at certain times in the novel I wanted to yell at the characters to ‘just get together already!’ The suspense got so high that I couldn’t stop reading and I basically devoured this whole book in a single day.
There was a bit of backstory as well. Jeremy has recently lost his brother to suicide, and Watts has had a whole lot of stuff happening in his life as well. At first when they mull over the backstory and the emotional part I wasn’t feeling too plugged into it. It was just there. But then it comes back later on in the story and you realise how difficult it was for each of these characters and that tugged on my heartstrings a bit. You come to notice how much each member of the band really does hold the others up and they are like a little family in that aspect.
The characters all grow a lot as the novel progresses. I wasn’t impressed at the beginning, but hold out, because the more you get to know about them, the more you will feel for them. The more individual and unique they all become.
Aside from that, there is also a bit of a haunted house mystery kind of thing going on. I’m not going to say too much, but there is a creepy side to this novel too. The suspense in the horror-storyline goes a little slower and accumulates the most at the end of the novel because the romance is the focus, but it was still done pretty well. A nice paranormal touch.
The ending was a little bit abrupt and if there was one thing that I could change about this book, it would be that. But this doesn’t deter from the five star rating. I still can’t believe how addicted I was to this book. I even had to tell my friend about it (the poor girl became victim to my fangirling.) I read this on a school day for starters. And then I spent day 2 rereading the whole thing from back to front. THAT’s the extent of my love.
*le sigh* Please, just read the book.
This review and more can be found on Olivia's Catastrophe: http://olivia-savannah.blogspot.nl/20...
This was one of my usual cases of, “Ooh, look at that pretty cover. Let’s read that! Should we check the synopsis? Nope.” And this cover is gorgeous! But I really need to stop doing that because: (i) I don’t read NA. (ii) Certainly not LGBT+ fiction with a few exceptions. (iii) I don’t read books with this much swearing. So basically, this book was EVERYTHING that I never read.
But I loved it. So much so, that I will probably be reading more NA in the future.
This story follows a band of four guys as they go on a music retreat because things seem to be falling apart. The first thing I noticed was that these guys seem to swear an awful lot. So if you don’t mind that in your reading, then you might like this. It was a pretty big contrast from my usual classic and YA reads so it bothered me in the beginning but the more you read, the more you get used to it.
The second thing you quickly realise is that this book is very explicit. You can see it in the first couple of pages. I would love to be able to tell you just how explicit so you can determine whether this is for you or not, but I haven’t read enough NA to have another book to compare this one too. But I will say it is a M/M romance if this helps you decide anything yourself?
Jeremy has been attracted to Kennedy for a long time and even though Quince and Watts (the other two bandmates) seem happy enough together he has been trying to keep away from Kennedy because he doesn’t seem interested. I have to say that this author perfectly knows how to build sexual tension because at certain times in the novel I wanted to yell at the characters to ‘just get together already!’ The suspense got so high that I couldn’t stop reading and I basically devoured this whole book in a single day.
There was a bit of backstory as well. Jeremy has recently lost his brother to suicide, and Watts has had a whole lot of stuff happening in his life as well. At first when they mull over the backstory and the emotional part I wasn’t feeling too plugged into it. It was just there. But then it comes back later on in the story and you realise how difficult it was for each of these characters and that tugged on my heartstrings a bit. You come to notice how much each member of the band really does hold the others up and they are like a little family in that aspect.
The characters all grow a lot as the novel progresses. I wasn’t impressed at the beginning, but hold out, because the more you get to know about them, the more you will feel for them. The more individual and unique they all become.
Aside from that, there is also a bit of a haunted house mystery kind of thing going on. I’m not going to say too much, but there is a creepy side to this novel too. The suspense in the horror-storyline goes a little slower and accumulates the most at the end of the novel because the romance is the focus, but it was still done pretty well. A nice paranormal touch.
The ending was a little bit abrupt and if there was one thing that I could change about this book, it would be that. But this doesn’t deter from the five star rating. I still can’t believe how addicted I was to this book. I even had to tell my friend about it (the poor girl became victim to my fangirling.) I read this on a school day for starters. And then I spent day 2 rereading the whole thing from back to front. THAT’s the extent of my love.
*le sigh* Please, just read the book.
This review and more can be found on Olivia's Catastrophe: http://olivia-savannah.blogspot.nl/20...
October 21, 2015
3-3.5 stars
Thank you Santino for a copy of an ARC.
I dont even know how to review this book.
Maybe its because I dont think I have ever read a gothic book? Or gothic horror? Yah I’m pretty sure I haven’t read anything like Stygian.
I think the whole time I read this book I was in the state of “I don’t even know”
If it was any other author I think this book would have been a DNF. I love the way Santino writes and I also love the way he world builds. He world builds like nothing before or since. He has this way of drawing you in, and keeping you until there is nothing left and you really just want more. Whether it be assassins or drug dealers, teachers, rockers or….. vampires.
I think when you read a book, no matter the genre, it makes you reflect on your own life experiences. This band with all its flaws reminded me of the boyz I hung out with it high school. Sigh. So many reminders. So many…. same.things.
The characters were all soooooooooo flawed. Like serious head issues, filled with piss and vinegar and anger and insecurities. I felt for all of them while also just really wanting to junk punch them at the same time.
If I have to pick a favourite character it’s most def Watts. Oh he broke my heart. His relentless pursuit to forget. His relentless pursuit to just FORGET. I wanted to hug him and also maybe, just maybe bitch slap him. You’ll see.
I wish I felt more of a connection btwn Jeremy and Kennedy. I didn’t see love, I thought more maybe some hero worship? Some idolization.
Mare~
October 28, 2015
This one ticked a lot of boxes for me. I have come to love Hassell's writing style and his basic....I don't know what to call it, tone maybe. Just the way everything I've read by him, regardless of the genre, has a certain feel to it that I love. It's gritty. It's real. It's maybe even a little nihilistic. It pretends happily ever after can't exist, even if a character gets it in the end. Maybe you'd have to read his stuff for that to make sense.
In Stygian, Hassell has created a host of seemingly unlikable characters. I mean all of these guys repelled me at some point, some so much I didn't think they'd be redeemable. But Hassell pulled that off too. The whole thing is as creepy and atmospheric as you'd expect a gothic style, Southern horror novel to be, with a villain that's maybe a little more complex than first appearances suggest.
My only real complaints are that the narrative is a little conversational at times and I didn't really feel the connection between Kennedy and Jeremy. A lot of it is pre-existing, based on events prior to the time frame of the novel. I definitely felt what Hassell is doing here, but I had to just take his word for it. As much as I liked Kennedy and Jeremy (and I did), the strength of emotion seemed sudden. (Though some of this feeling was ameliorated after reading the prequels.)
Lastly, there had better be a sequel or I may have to go a little Annie Wilkes on Hassell. (Ok, not really, but please be a sequel.)
In Stygian, Hassell has created a host of seemingly unlikable characters. I mean all of these guys repelled me at some point, some so much I didn't think they'd be redeemable. But Hassell pulled that off too. The whole thing is as creepy and atmospheric as you'd expect a gothic style, Southern horror novel to be, with a villain that's maybe a little more complex than first appearances suggest.
My only real complaints are that the narrative is a little conversational at times and I didn't really feel the connection between Kennedy and Jeremy. A lot of it is pre-existing, based on events prior to the time frame of the novel. I definitely felt what Hassell is doing here, but I had to just take his word for it. As much as I liked Kennedy and Jeremy (and I did), the strength of emotion seemed sudden. (Though some of this feeling was ameliorated after reading the prequels.)
Lastly, there had better be a sequel or I may have to go a little Annie Wilkes on Hassell. (Ok, not really, but please be a sequel.)
December 1, 2015
Weird and creepy and frustrating and wangsty, but so satisfyingly wangsty that I'll probably keep it on my Kindle to revisit the sexual tension again and again.
October 28, 2015
3.5 stars
Super writing and awesome characters. I could get lost (in some Louisiana woods) with Hassell's winding prose, and that's the truth.
I wasn't as into the story itself (as past Hassell work I've read) and the PNR aspect felt...predictable. I'd rather have spent more time with MCs Jeremy and Kennedy, getting to know their individual histories and what made them tick. Based on what little the author shared about their back stories, these two have passion and depth in spades. Sadly, it wasn't fully developed for my tastes. Secondary characters Quince and Watts, too, for that matter, seemed like a couple of interesting, complicated dudes.
The ending was rather sudden and inconclusive; a prologue would have been awesome. I'm thinking, though, there might be a part II?
Anyway. I'm not totally sure why I'm feeling incomplete here, so you should chalk my rating up to a MNY and go for Stygian with gusto! :)
Super writing and awesome characters. I could get lost (in some Louisiana woods) with Hassell's winding prose, and that's the truth.
I wasn't as into the story itself (as past Hassell work I've read) and the PNR aspect felt...predictable. I'd rather have spent more time with MCs Jeremy and Kennedy, getting to know their individual histories and what made them tick. Based on what little the author shared about their back stories, these two have passion and depth in spades. Sadly, it wasn't fully developed for my tastes. Secondary characters Quince and Watts, too, for that matter, seemed like a couple of interesting, complicated dudes.
The ending was rather sudden and inconclusive; a prologue would have been awesome. I'm thinking, though, there might be a part II?
Anyway. I'm not totally sure why I'm feeling incomplete here, so you should chalk my rating up to a MNY and go for Stygian with gusto! :)
September 24, 2021
I am leaving this book on my "read" shelf, but removing all of SH's unread books as I will not be reading anything by this author anymore.
I deleted my review and set the rating to zero stars.
http://riptidepublishing.com/a-statem...
I deleted my review and set the rating to zero stars.
http://riptidepublishing.com/a-statem...
November 2, 2017
I quite liked this a little darker and with a hint of horror, suspenseful and extremely HOT story of emotions, manipulation, loneliness and nightmares. Oh yeah, the whole thing is as creepy and atmospheric as you'd expect a Southern Gothic style, horror novel to be, and with a villain that's maybe a little more complex than first appearances suggest. It pulled me in very fast and I was interested in the story all the way through. I'm not saying it took me to all of the places I wanted to, but it did encourage me. I wish it had been much longer by at least another hundred pages in order to take me to places that weren't covered so deeply, or actually to reduce the crazy acceleration in the last third. The suspense in the horror-storyline, including characters' revelations about the past, went a little slower and accumulated the most at the end of the novel. And that's just because the delicious and messed up dynamic of the band was the focus, which I found the most appealing.
The book follows a band of four young musicians to an old haunted looking house , when hey are attempting to bond after a loss of one of the band-mates, and to make some fresh music. As one of them is a newly-joined drummer, who is trying to overcome the loss of his brother. Аnd.... to make things even more breath-turning-cold or ish (as I said there are no splashing-in-your-face scenes of blood and violence, but the atmosphere is dark) the house is held by two mysterious landlords.
The interplay, the fight, the melodrama, the temper, the noxious mood, the unrequited crush, the seduction and last but not least the lust amongst Jeremy, Kennedy, Quince, Watts, and...... the owners, in Jeremy’s POV, fuels the intensity and apprehension. The more you read it, the more individual and unique they all will become. My absolutely favorite part is the dialog- urban, swearish, raw, sharp, but at the same time smart and cool. The flow of two or more people conversing, with multiple character voices, is amazing. The narrative is not perfect but Santino Hassell's conversational style stands out from the most of classic and YA/NA reads I've read. I appreciate it!
That being said and I'll agree with my friends' critic that it couldn't really feel the connection between Kennedy and Jeremy. For me especially the initial sparks. Maybe if there was some back-story for the foundation it would have come together much better. On the other hand, I'm totally on board with the unsettled ending. At least in the best traditions of spooky stories.
This was my first Hassell's fantasy/ thriller/mystery/romantic suspense work, and it's not perfect or anything, but I enjoyed it and gave me a clue or left me curious to try more of his new works in this combination of subgenres. So, 3.5 stars and I rounded up because that cover is just wow! Wow! The artist really needs a big round of applause. So fresh and meaningful, you do not even need a blurb. Great taste level. Gorgeous!
The book follows a band of four young musicians to an old haunted looking house , when hey are attempting to bond after a loss of one of the band-mates, and to make some fresh music. As one of them is a newly-joined drummer, who is trying to overcome the loss of his brother. Аnd.... to make things even more breath-turning-cold or ish (as I said there are no splashing-in-your-face scenes of blood and violence, but the atmosphere is dark) the house is held by two mysterious landlords.
The interplay, the fight, the melodrama, the temper, the noxious mood, the unrequited crush, the seduction and last but not least the lust amongst Jeremy, Kennedy, Quince, Watts, and...... the owners, in Jeremy’s POV, fuels the intensity and apprehension. The more you read it, the more individual and unique they all will become. My absolutely favorite part is the dialog- urban, swearish, raw, sharp, but at the same time smart and cool. The flow of two or more people conversing, with multiple character voices, is amazing. The narrative is not perfect but Santino Hassell's conversational style stands out from the most of classic and YA/NA reads I've read. I appreciate it!
That being said and I'll agree with my friends' critic that it couldn't really feel the connection between Kennedy and Jeremy. For me especially the initial sparks. Maybe if there was some back-story for the foundation it would have come together much better. On the other hand, I'm totally on board with the unsettled ending. At least in the best traditions of spooky stories.
This was my first Hassell's fantasy/ thriller/mystery/romantic suspense work, and it's not perfect or anything, but I enjoyed it and gave me a clue or left me curious to try more of his new works in this combination of subgenres. So, 3.5 stars and I rounded up because that cover is just wow! Wow! The artist really needs a big round of applause. So fresh and meaningful, you do not even need a blurb. Great taste level. Gorgeous!
Read
March 22, 2018Aww.. I wanted to love this book. I can only like it.
MM? check. Sothern gothic? Check. (the antebellum style mansion, haunted ofc, swamps, river, Spanish moss, something wicked in them woods). Check. Check. Check.
Santino-style angst. Check.
Yet I can't love it. I simply can't love Hunter. I've tried.
MM? check. Sothern gothic? Check. (the antebellum style mansion, haunted ofc, swamps, river, Spanish moss, something wicked in them woods). Check. Check. Check.
Santino-style angst. Check.
Yet I can't love it. I simply can't love Hunter. I've tried.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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