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Prince of Nightmares
Welcome to the Ballador Country House Hotel. Nestled in the highlands of Scotland, it is unlike any other lodging. Guests can expect wonderful scenery, gourmet food, and horrifying nightmares—guaranteed. Daring travelers pay thousands to stay within the Ballador’s infamous rooms because of the vivid and frightening dreams the accommodations inspire.
Before Josephine Teversham committed suicide, she made a reservation at the hotel for her husband, Australian magnate Victor Teversham. Once he arrives at the hotel, Victor finds himself the target of terrifying forces, revealing the nightmares and their purpose to be more strange, personal, and deadly than anyone could have guessed.
Before Josephine Teversham committed suicide, she made a reservation at the hotel for her husband, Australian magnate Victor Teversham. Once he arrives at the hotel, Victor finds himself the target of terrifying forces, revealing the nightmares and their purpose to be more strange, personal, and deadly than anyone could have guessed.
189 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2016
115 people are currently reading
310 people want to read
About the author
John McNee
32 books95 followersJohn McNee is the writer of numerous strange and disturbing horror stories, published in a variety of strange and disturbing anthologies, as well as the novel 'Prince of Nightmares'.
He is also the creator of Grudgehaven and the author of 'Grudge Punk', a collection of short stories detailing the lives and deaths of its gruesome inhabitants, as well as its sequel, 'Petroleum Precinct'.
He lives in Scotland, where he is employed as a journalist.
He is also the creator of Grudgehaven and the author of 'Grudge Punk', a collection of short stories detailing the lives and deaths of its gruesome inhabitants, as well as its sequel, 'Petroleum Precinct'.
He lives in Scotland, where he is employed as a journalist.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
December 27, 2015
Set in a remote part of Scotland, the Ballador Country House Hotel guarantees its guests nightmares. What a delicious premise!
With an elderly magnate as the protagonist, I couldn't help but wonder how the author was going to make him come alive, but come alive he did-without being at all likable. An interesting choice for protagonist, but John McNee pulls it off.
Without going further into the plot, I can say that there are some wildly creative ideas here and the author delivers on them. Descriptions that defy reality often bother me, but here there is a good reason for them which gives the author a lot of wiggle room. Mr. McNee does not waste it. I have to give proper respect to the imaginative mind that comes up with such ideas. (Or as the kids say I give him mad respect. At least, I think that's what they say.??) Anyway, the ideas were KILLER.
I also feel I have to give an appreciative nod to the writing skills on display here. I felt this story was well written. The author found ways to describe numerous horrific incidents without being repetitive or losing my interest-something that doesn't happen very often.
I highly recommend this book to all fans of horror, but especially fans of early Clive Barker and the Splatterpunk genre! You can pre-order this book here: http://www.amazon.com/Prince-Nightmar...
Thanks goes out to fellow Goodreader Bandit, whose review caused me to head over to Net Galley and request this book. Thanks Bandit!
*And thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for providing this book for free, in exchange for an honest review. This is it.*
With an elderly magnate as the protagonist, I couldn't help but wonder how the author was going to make him come alive, but come alive he did-without being at all likable. An interesting choice for protagonist, but John McNee pulls it off.
Without going further into the plot, I can say that there are some wildly creative ideas here and the author delivers on them. Descriptions that defy reality often bother me, but here there is a good reason for them which gives the author a lot of wiggle room. Mr. McNee does not waste it. I have to give proper respect to the imaginative mind that comes up with such ideas. (Or as the kids say I give him mad respect. At least, I think that's what they say.??) Anyway, the ideas were KILLER.
I also feel I have to give an appreciative nod to the writing skills on display here. I felt this story was well written. The author found ways to describe numerous horrific incidents without being repetitive or losing my interest-something that doesn't happen very often.
I highly recommend this book to all fans of horror, but especially fans of early Clive Barker and the Splatterpunk genre! You can pre-order this book here: http://www.amazon.com/Prince-Nightmar...
Thanks goes out to fellow Goodreader Bandit, whose review caused me to head over to Net Galley and request this book. Thanks Bandit!
*And thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for providing this book for free, in exchange for an honest review. This is it.*
December 16, 2015
Full disclosure: I do not know the author of this book, but I do greatly admire his collection Grudge Punk, and when he approached me with a review copy of this novel, I couldn't turn it down.
First off, Grudge Punk is one of my favorite books. Did I like Prince of Nightmares as much? Frankly, no. And I'm not quite sure they are comparable entities. One's a collection of intertwining stories set in a shared hard-boiled universe populated with rough characters made of metal, flesh, and plastic bits. The other is a novel which brings to mind the dark and icky kind of '70s psychological horror films in which you'd find a rather worn-down and unsavory Donald Sutherland. That type of film but directed by Ken Russell after he'd peered into the future to view Clive Barker's Hellraiser.
To me, Grudge Punk is a unique and exciting thing, whereas Prince of Nightmares isn't quite as fresh. Sometimes it even seems to be an homage (not in itself a bad thing at all). Don't get me wrong, Prince of Nightmares isn't a bad novel by any stretch. I'm just taking the long way around in saying that, to me, it suffered by comparison to his earlier work that I enjoyed so much. Also, I must admit that crazy shit like Grudge Punk is more my bag anyway. I can easily see differently wired individuals preferring this work over the other.
Some things that didn't bother me but I know will bother some readers:
1. Lack of sympathetic characters.
2. Dreams/nightmares are a huge part of the premise, so you're going to run into the 'is this or is this not a dream?' scenario at some point in the narrative. That's a given. If that bothers you, stay away.
What I would have liked more of:
Honestly, I'd love to read a prequel to this book. The backstory at times was more interesting to me than what was going on in the present.
Elements I really enjoyed:
1. The main character is a man in his eighties.
2. The imagery in this book is visceral and fantastic.
John McNee is an author to watch, and I'll be buying his next book on day one.
First off, Grudge Punk is one of my favorite books. Did I like Prince of Nightmares as much? Frankly, no. And I'm not quite sure they are comparable entities. One's a collection of intertwining stories set in a shared hard-boiled universe populated with rough characters made of metal, flesh, and plastic bits. The other is a novel which brings to mind the dark and icky kind of '70s psychological horror films in which you'd find a rather worn-down and unsavory Donald Sutherland. That type of film but directed by Ken Russell after he'd peered into the future to view Clive Barker's Hellraiser.
To me, Grudge Punk is a unique and exciting thing, whereas Prince of Nightmares isn't quite as fresh. Sometimes it even seems to be an homage (not in itself a bad thing at all). Don't get me wrong, Prince of Nightmares isn't a bad novel by any stretch. I'm just taking the long way around in saying that, to me, it suffered by comparison to his earlier work that I enjoyed so much. Also, I must admit that crazy shit like Grudge Punk is more my bag anyway. I can easily see differently wired individuals preferring this work over the other.
Some things that didn't bother me but I know will bother some readers:
1. Lack of sympathetic characters.
2. Dreams/nightmares are a huge part of the premise, so you're going to run into the 'is this or is this not a dream?' scenario at some point in the narrative. That's a given. If that bothers you, stay away.
What I would have liked more of:
Honestly, I'd love to read a prequel to this book. The backstory at times was more interesting to me than what was going on in the present.
Elements I really enjoyed:
1. The main character is a man in his eighties.
2. The imagery in this book is visceral and fantastic.
John McNee is an author to watch, and I'll be buying his next book on day one.
March 9, 2019
I don't even know how I feel about this except that it has some of the best, most gruesome passages I've ever read in my life.
(See my notes and highlights for faves).
The story itself is kinda weird and confusing and all kinds of messed up but eventually I was just in it for the GORE. It's so GROSS. I would be eating lunch and next minute I read something that makes me regret reading and eating at the same time. SO EW.
Which of course just made it so addictive because no one was spared a horrifically gruesome encounter.
I didn't like Victor one ounce, so the story itself didn't do much for me. I found it hard to get a read on him, and I think maybe the characterisation could have been better? But honestly, hello, gratuitous violence. Who needs characterisation when the best scenes are people being mutilated by nightmares/evil non-ghost-spirit-type-things?
See I can't even write a proper review coz I actually kinda have no idea what happened. But like, damn was there some hectic violence in this book.
Honestly just take a flick through and read some random passages. They're so colourful and descriptive. And creative! I mean, no body part is off limits XD
I CAN'T. I need to go read some fluff before bed.
Horror lovers: GO NUTS.
(See my notes and highlights for faves).
The story itself is kinda weird and confusing and all kinds of messed up but eventually I was just in it for the GORE. It's so GROSS. I would be eating lunch and next minute I read something that makes me regret reading and eating at the same time. SO EW.
Which of course just made it so addictive because no one was spared a horrifically gruesome encounter.
I didn't like Victor one ounce, so the story itself didn't do much for me. I found it hard to get a read on him, and I think maybe the characterisation could have been better? But honestly, hello, gratuitous violence. Who needs characterisation when the best scenes are people being mutilated by nightmares/evil non-ghost-spirit-type-things?
See I can't even write a proper review coz I actually kinda have no idea what happened. But like, damn was there some hectic violence in this book.
Honestly just take a flick through and read some random passages. They're so colourful and descriptive. And creative! I mean, no body part is off limits XD
I CAN'T. I need to go read some fluff before bed.
Horror lovers: GO NUTS.
September 27, 2016
Mr. McNee welcomed me and his dis-likable characters into the Ballador House Hotel
with open doors where nightmares aren't just an option on the menu, they're a guarantee.
John's writing was on par with some of my go-to authors which shocked and delighted me. The delicious doses of gore and gruesomeness was served up just right. And although the characters didn't have me rooting for them, I was still invested in their story.
I'm intrigued by this writer and that's a good thing. Kudos for the great imagery!
$3.5 tip for the bellhop
with open doors where nightmares aren't just an option on the menu, they're a guarantee. John's writing was on par with some of my go-to authors which shocked and delighted me. The delicious doses of gore and gruesomeness was served up just right. And although the characters didn't have me rooting for them, I was still invested in their story.
I'm intrigued by this writer and that's a good thing. Kudos for the great imagery!
$3.5 tip for the bellhop
February 22, 2016
The Ballador House is set in the remote reaches of Scotland and it has some very unique characteristics. Anyone that stays there is guaranteed to have nightmares. This guarantee has transformed the Ballador House into a must-stay destination for some very unusual clientele that happen to be into that kind of thing. Not the kind of people that the elderly multi-millionaire, Victor Taversham, would be seen associating with. But that all changed after his wife, Josephine, booked a stay there right before she went into the bathroom and blew her brains out. A distraught Victor is desperately seeking for answers on why his wife decided to take her life and why would the last thing that she was to ever do be reserving a room at this bazaar inn if she didn't plan on ever going? So Victor decides to keep the reservation to see if he can discover any clues to his wife's mysterious suicide. As promised, the Ballador House delivers the nightmares and they pack a punch. Can Victor sort out what is real and what is dream so that he can find out what the connection the house has with Josephine? Or does the house have plans for Victor?
Prince of Nightmares is a wonderful, surreal marriage of Clive Barker's Hellraiser, The Shining, and Thirteen Ghosts. While it shares shades of color from these three tales, it ends up standing on its own two feet and delivers on its own merit. Many times you'll wonder if what you're reading is a dream or is it real. McNee makes you pay attention similar to the way Barker's stories do and, like Barker, brings out the red stuff in the final act. A description of a mutilation that includes the breaking of bones to twist a body into a pretzel will linger in your subconscious long after you finish the story. I enjoyed the slow burn while trying to discover what was really going on. McNee has a good writing style that flows well. The characters, while colorful, did have a tendency to not be fully fleshed out and I would've liked to have learned more of the backstory. That's the only thing that made me give it a 4 1/2 instead of a 5. Still a very worthwhile tale that is worth the price of admission.
4 1/2 surreal nightmares out of 5
This ARC was supplied by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
You can also follow my reviews at the following links:
https://kenmckinley.wordpress.com
http://intothemacabre.booklikes.com
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/A2J1...
Prince of Nightmares is a wonderful, surreal marriage of Clive Barker's Hellraiser, The Shining, and Thirteen Ghosts. While it shares shades of color from these three tales, it ends up standing on its own two feet and delivers on its own merit. Many times you'll wonder if what you're reading is a dream or is it real. McNee makes you pay attention similar to the way Barker's stories do and, like Barker, brings out the red stuff in the final act. A description of a mutilation that includes the breaking of bones to twist a body into a pretzel will linger in your subconscious long after you finish the story. I enjoyed the slow burn while trying to discover what was really going on. McNee has a good writing style that flows well. The characters, while colorful, did have a tendency to not be fully fleshed out and I would've liked to have learned more of the backstory. That's the only thing that made me give it a 4 1/2 instead of a 5. Still a very worthwhile tale that is worth the price of admission.
4 1/2 surreal nightmares out of 5
This ARC was supplied by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
You can also follow my reviews at the following links:
https://kenmckinley.wordpress.com
http://intothemacabre.booklikes.com
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/A2J1...
January 13, 2016
Review: PRINCE OF NIGHTMARES by John McNee
I was eager to read this book after perusing a Goodreads review, and found PRINCE OF NIGHTMARES every bit as appealing as I'd hope. Mr. McNee has a vast imagination, and weaves it extensively. I predict fans of Clive Barker and Bryan D. Smith will admire this novel. Not for anyone without a cast-iron heart, stomach, and brain, but nevertheless exquisitely designed. Touching on some original theories about the nature of both reality and perception, the author draws the veil between consensus reality and nightmare reality so taut it thins, stretches, then snaps, making nightmares overrun "reality"; and oh, that incredible ending!! In your face--quite literally.
I was eager to read this book after perusing a Goodreads review, and found PRINCE OF NIGHTMARES every bit as appealing as I'd hope. Mr. McNee has a vast imagination, and weaves it extensively. I predict fans of Clive Barker and Bryan D. Smith will admire this novel. Not for anyone without a cast-iron heart, stomach, and brain, but nevertheless exquisitely designed. Touching on some original theories about the nature of both reality and perception, the author draws the veil between consensus reality and nightmare reality so taut it thins, stretches, then snaps, making nightmares overrun "reality"; and oh, that incredible ending!! In your face--quite literally.
December 10, 2025
3.5 stars. This was a bit of an odd experience for me. I read extreme horror at the same pace most people drink a cup of coffee each day. Yeah, there were a few interesting and very vivid scenes, plentiful with gore, but nothing that made me flinch. I looked over some of the other reviews and was prepared for something really over the top, as per their feedback, but I didn't find it. The author clearly worked very hard on this and the quality of the writing shone through. But the biggest issue I had was figuring out what was going on. A load of excessive details, uncertainty over what and who was real versus a vision or a malevolent entity, all mashed together, nonstop, for a strong majority of the book, and it all just left me completely disoriented. I think that's what John McNee was going for, but by the time things started to wrap up towards the end, I was so fatigued that I had a very hard time caring how it concluded. I think the story was good and, again, the writing quality was on point, but there needed to be a major overhaul on the content. The reader needs to be able to follow the plot points and content comfortably, which this did not accomplish.
August 6, 2016
The Ballador House Hotel has built itself quite a reputation for causing its guests terrible nightmares. Its history is stained by blood, oil, meat and misery. Now seekers of the morbid have turned it into a tourist hot spot. Get a room and get ready for the stay of a lifetime. One tip…stay away from the Residents. They feed on pain and suffering and are getting stronger every day. They want out. They want to play.
Victor Treversham found out that his recently deceased wife, Josephine, made a reservation for him at the infamous Ballador House only hours before her untimely demise. Regardless, of the nightmares he is sure to endure, he intends to stay at the hotel himself. Now he must navigate a grotesque cavalcade of ghosts and demons in order to try and sift thru what is reality and what is just a dream. Or are they one and the same?
This one had a cool “13 Ghosts” vibe to it. The relatively few characters had plenty of depth to them and the back story of the Ballador House was well thought out and realized. There was also an appropriate amount of violence and gore. A very well done tale of horror and suspense. 4.5 Stars and Highly Recommended.
P.S. Thanks, Bandit, for the heads up on this one! I would have missed this one of it weren’t for your excellent review!
*I received an advanced readers copy of this work from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Victor Treversham found out that his recently deceased wife, Josephine, made a reservation for him at the infamous Ballador House only hours before her untimely demise. Regardless, of the nightmares he is sure to endure, he intends to stay at the hotel himself. Now he must navigate a grotesque cavalcade of ghosts and demons in order to try and sift thru what is reality and what is just a dream. Or are they one and the same?
This one had a cool “13 Ghosts” vibe to it. The relatively few characters had plenty of depth to them and the back story of the Ballador House was well thought out and realized. There was also an appropriate amount of violence and gore. A very well done tale of horror and suspense. 4.5 Stars and Highly Recommended.
P.S. Thanks, Bandit, for the heads up on this one! I would have missed this one of it weren’t for your excellent review!
*I received an advanced readers copy of this work from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 9, 2019
“The Ballador loomed over him, perched at the top of the hill like a horned demon, black against the deep purple sky.”
After tragically losing his wife, Victor Teversham visits the Ballador House—a hotel well-known for its supernatural activity. The Ballador guarantees that guests will have nightmares. Victor is there in hopes of finding answers to his wife’s death. What he finds will blur the line between fact and fantasy and challenge his notions of reality.
“Reality was another layer of torture....”
Supernatural stories can be tricky at times as they generally require suspension of disbelief. What some may find wondrous, others may deem ludicrous. I tend to prefer more realistic, or at least plausible, stories. While this story might seem a bit far-fetched to some, I truly enjoyed the author’s incredible imagination and creativity. His rich descriptive language enabled me to visualize the mayhem and carnage while fully absorbed within an atmosphere of mounting dread and suspense.
“The void remained a formless abyss that light seemed fearful to penetrate.”
This book was extremely engrossing and throughly entertaining from the very beginning to the great, satisfying end.
After tragically losing his wife, Victor Teversham visits the Ballador House—a hotel well-known for its supernatural activity. The Ballador guarantees that guests will have nightmares. Victor is there in hopes of finding answers to his wife’s death. What he finds will blur the line between fact and fantasy and challenge his notions of reality.
“Reality was another layer of torture....”
Supernatural stories can be tricky at times as they generally require suspension of disbelief. What some may find wondrous, others may deem ludicrous. I tend to prefer more realistic, or at least plausible, stories. While this story might seem a bit far-fetched to some, I truly enjoyed the author’s incredible imagination and creativity. His rich descriptive language enabled me to visualize the mayhem and carnage while fully absorbed within an atmosphere of mounting dread and suspense.
“The void remained a formless abyss that light seemed fearful to penetrate.”
This book was extremely engrossing and throughly entertaining from the very beginning to the great, satisfying end.
April 21, 2018
A couple of years ago, I had the opportunity to read John McNee's first book, GrudgePunk. It was my first Bizarro book and, I must say, that was the day (because that's how long it took me to read it) that I fell in love with him. Um... I mean... his writing (haha). It was one of my top FOUR reads in 2013 and a book I have recommended to anyone who likes things... a bit out of the ordinary.
When I received an email from him asking if I would be interested in reading this novel, even though it is a different genre, I could not say yes fast enough.
And now, having finished the book a little under a month ago, I finally feel like I am able to sit down and write this review. (Anyone who follows my reviews knows that this is out of the ordinary for me, but I just felt I couldn't do it justice, not until today.)
McNee has a way with words that most authors do not have, and pulls you into his world from the first page. His characters are different, but also familiar enough that you feel like you see bits and pieces of people you know in each one. His storylines are creative and intriguing, which makes it very hard to put them down. And every time you think you have a handle on the whole thing, something happens that quickly changes your mind. His words stay with you long after you finish reading.
This is far from a favorite book of 2016 (though it will definitely make the list). It is a favorite book of my LIFETIME, and I've read a LOT of books.
And this is where my problem writing the review begins. I SO want to talk about every little thing that happened in this book - every "WOW!" moment - but I am the last person to give away the story for someone else, especially since I think this is a necessary read for all horror fans. So I will hit on a few points and leave it at that...
The setting is amazing - a haunted hotel that feeds you nightmares?! (and I mean NIGHTMARES) - and the characters themselves made you hate and love them at the same time. At first things seem very subdued, but as the story builds, and you get more information on each person involved, everything gets a little crazier... and more wonderful. The final chapters - EPIC! When the book ended, I sat there for awhile, trying to wrap my brain around everything that happened and get my heart to slow down and beat at a normal pace.
Horror is one of my favorite genres. And McNee - one of my favorite authors. I can't wait to see what he gives us next.
Note: I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
When I received an email from him asking if I would be interested in reading this novel, even though it is a different genre, I could not say yes fast enough.
And now, having finished the book a little under a month ago, I finally feel like I am able to sit down and write this review. (Anyone who follows my reviews knows that this is out of the ordinary for me, but I just felt I couldn't do it justice, not until today.)
McNee has a way with words that most authors do not have, and pulls you into his world from the first page. His characters are different, but also familiar enough that you feel like you see bits and pieces of people you know in each one. His storylines are creative and intriguing, which makes it very hard to put them down. And every time you think you have a handle on the whole thing, something happens that quickly changes your mind. His words stay with you long after you finish reading.
This is far from a favorite book of 2016 (though it will definitely make the list). It is a favorite book of my LIFETIME, and I've read a LOT of books.
And this is where my problem writing the review begins. I SO want to talk about every little thing that happened in this book - every "WOW!" moment - but I am the last person to give away the story for someone else, especially since I think this is a necessary read for all horror fans. So I will hit on a few points and leave it at that...
The setting is amazing - a haunted hotel that feeds you nightmares?! (and I mean NIGHTMARES) - and the characters themselves made you hate and love them at the same time. At first things seem very subdued, but as the story builds, and you get more information on each person involved, everything gets a little crazier... and more wonderful. The final chapters - EPIC! When the book ended, I sat there for awhile, trying to wrap my brain around everything that happened and get my heart to slow down and beat at a normal pace.
Horror is one of my favorite genres. And McNee - one of my favorite authors. I can't wait to see what he gives us next.
Note: I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
November 13, 2015
Oh wow. This is precisely why I can't just abandon horror altogether. Because every so often a book like this comes along and, despite the cheesy cover and a relatively unknown author, does in 189 pages what so many try and fail to do in twice that much...genuinely thrills, scares and disturbs. Hotels offer many amenities, gym, sauna, HBO...why not nightmares? McNee's awesome unhinged imagination dreamt up a hotel where nightmares are guaranteed and it's quite popular. When an aging tycoon checks in, he unwittingly sets of a chain of events decades in the making, nightmares one can't quite wake up from. This book reads like night terrors must feel, hallucinatory, strange, profoundly messed up, there is enough gore and guts for any horror fan so inclined and yet McNee also manages originality, excellent character development, coherent cohesive backstory and terrifically paced narrative. This is an excellent example of a all things done right, making for an absolutely awesome scary read. Most auspicious introduction to a blazing new talent. This one comes out first thing 2016 and a definite must for any horror aficionado. Highly recommended. Thanks Netgalley.
January 2, 2016
4.5 stars.
PRINCE OF NIGHTMARES is the first book I’ve read by author John McNee. In this, I’ve discovered a writer with a great deal of talent, that I will be keeping an eye out for in the future.
Very little about this novel struck me as “typical”. Our main character, Victor Teversham, is an elderly billionaire tycoon, who got to where he was by stepping on, and using everything and everyone around him. A man who thought little of anyone except himself, with very few–if any–redeeming qualities, and yet somehow managed to completely captivate me from the start.
Mere hours before her suicide, Josie Teversham booked a reservation for her husband at the Ballador Country House Hotel in Scotland–a place which boasted “guaranteed realistic nightmares” to anyone sleeping in one of their main rooms.
“….a great many focused on the theme of ‘nostalgia.’ More specifically, it was the nostalgia of terror.”
Victor decides to go, searching for a clue as to why his late wife did this, and then followed up by killing herself.
What he finds, however, defies every attempt at rationalization. “Fear. It all came back to fear.”
For these “nightmares” are held in check by a very thin boundary, and that boundary can be breached . . .
The descriptions of the horrors and mutilations are so expertly written, that I could practically “see” the atrocities before me! “They made knots of her limbs, fracturing the bones in a hundred places and forcing them into gruesome loops.” While I can’t say that I honestly cared much about any of the characters, sufficient information was given on each to enable them to play their roles most effectively. Although I expected to be reading another average haunted house tale, what I got instead was something much more fresh and distinctive. McNee’s writing style practically floats you along from page to page.
My only two minute criticisms were that 1.) there were those annoying times when I (along with the characters) had to wonder if we were in a dream, or reality; and 2.) I would have liked a little more depth into the background information of the Ballador Hotel presented, as I found this a very fascinating part of the tale that McNee could have capitalized more on with an added scene or two.
Overall, I was highly impressed by this unique story and the writing style, in general. There are some scenes in particular that were painted so vividly that they may, in fact, permeate even the reader’s nightmares . . . “Evil isn’t an alien thing. It exists in the minds of every man and woman.”
Highly recommended!
PRINCE OF NIGHTMARES is the first book I’ve read by author John McNee. In this, I’ve discovered a writer with a great deal of talent, that I will be keeping an eye out for in the future.
Very little about this novel struck me as “typical”. Our main character, Victor Teversham, is an elderly billionaire tycoon, who got to where he was by stepping on, and using everything and everyone around him. A man who thought little of anyone except himself, with very few–if any–redeeming qualities, and yet somehow managed to completely captivate me from the start.
Mere hours before her suicide, Josie Teversham booked a reservation for her husband at the Ballador Country House Hotel in Scotland–a place which boasted “guaranteed realistic nightmares” to anyone sleeping in one of their main rooms.
“….a great many focused on the theme of ‘nostalgia.’ More specifically, it was the nostalgia of terror.”
Victor decides to go, searching for a clue as to why his late wife did this, and then followed up by killing herself.
What he finds, however, defies every attempt at rationalization. “Fear. It all came back to fear.”
For these “nightmares” are held in check by a very thin boundary, and that boundary can be breached . . .
The descriptions of the horrors and mutilations are so expertly written, that I could practically “see” the atrocities before me! “They made knots of her limbs, fracturing the bones in a hundred places and forcing them into gruesome loops.” While I can’t say that I honestly cared much about any of the characters, sufficient information was given on each to enable them to play their roles most effectively. Although I expected to be reading another average haunted house tale, what I got instead was something much more fresh and distinctive. McNee’s writing style practically floats you along from page to page.
My only two minute criticisms were that 1.) there were those annoying times when I (along with the characters) had to wonder if we were in a dream, or reality; and 2.) I would have liked a little more depth into the background information of the Ballador Hotel presented, as I found this a very fascinating part of the tale that McNee could have capitalized more on with an added scene or two.
Overall, I was highly impressed by this unique story and the writing style, in general. There are some scenes in particular that were painted so vividly that they may, in fact, permeate even the reader’s nightmares . . . “Evil isn’t an alien thing. It exists in the minds of every man and woman.”
Highly recommended!
November 11, 2016
The world that we live in today is one of extreme everything. It is no longer enough to do something, there has to be a risk factor to make it worthwhile. John McNee’s Ballador Country House Hotel is the next step in extreme travel. A hotel that guarantees a ghost-filled nightmare to torment its guests. I can only imagine the guests bragging as if it were a badge of honor to survive through the night. It wouldn’t surprise me if there was already a few of these already setting up shop.
John McNee’s concept kept me riveted – I knocked the book out in just a couple of sittings. It really had that Twilight Zone, what’s real and what’s a dream aspect going for it. I felt like I was staying at the Ballador with the other guests, trying to grasp on to reality while not knowing. This is a fantastic tool that works so well in horror.
Prince of Nightmares is filled with some colorful characters, each and every one is unique and well developed; wrapped in enough mystery that I couldn’t quite trust any of them.
John McNee sucked me into a world where dreams and reality crossed over into each other. A dangerous world that goes well beyond the façade of the Ballador.
Prince of Nightmares felt like a piece of a world that I would like more of. Just like any great horror story…is this really the end?
John McNee’s concept kept me riveted – I knocked the book out in just a couple of sittings. It really had that Twilight Zone, what’s real and what’s a dream aspect going for it. I felt like I was staying at the Ballador with the other guests, trying to grasp on to reality while not knowing. This is a fantastic tool that works so well in horror.
Prince of Nightmares is filled with some colorful characters, each and every one is unique and well developed; wrapped in enough mystery that I couldn’t quite trust any of them.
John McNee sucked me into a world where dreams and reality crossed over into each other. A dangerous world that goes well beyond the façade of the Ballador.
Prince of Nightmares felt like a piece of a world that I would like more of. Just like any great horror story…is this really the end?
January 5, 2016
Review copy
Prince of Nightmares begins with a Traditional German charm against nightmares...
I lay me here to sleep;
No night-mare shall plague me,
Until they swim all the waters
That flow upon the earth,
And count all the stars
That appear in the firmament.
Thus help me God Father, Son, and Holy host. Amen.
Victor Teversham is worth nearly a billion dollars. It's not enough to protect him from tragedy as his wife, Josephine, takes her life shortly after booking a stay at the Ballador House Hotel. Her suicide note, scrawled in lipstick on the bathroom mirror read: God forgive me. I married an evil man.
Despite being in mourning, Victor keeps the reservation for the Ballador House. A hotel with an unusual reputation for generating nightmares. Previous guests have described their experiences as "beyond anything the conscious mind could conceive," "vivid as life," and "better than any horror film ever made or that ever could be made."
On the surface Prince of Nightmares reads like a modern day gothic horror story. A haunted hotel with a number of resident spirits, but before long the reader will realize this is much more than a run of the mill ghost story. Much like Victor, the reader is often left wondering exactly where the line is between nightmare and reality.
It wasn't until I finished reading Prince of Nightmares that I realized this is John McNee's first novel. This makes John someone to keep an eye on. Aside from a hugely entertaining story, John also is a skilled craftsman with writing conversation. Many novelists, even the most successful, seem to struggle with this aspect of their writing, but I found the dialog in John's writing to be so real and comfortable, it was worth mentioning.
At times brutally visceral, Prince of Nightmares is not for the faint of heart, but it is for any horror lover looking for something original and entertaining. This one is well worth your time and reading dollars.
Published by Blood Bound Books, Prince of Nightmares is available in both paperback and e-book formats.
My first highly recommended read of 2016.
John McNee lives in the west of Scotland, where he is employed as a magazine editor.
Prince of Nightmares begins with a Traditional German charm against nightmares...
I lay me here to sleep;
No night-mare shall plague me,
Until they swim all the waters
That flow upon the earth,
And count all the stars
That appear in the firmament.
Thus help me God Father, Son, and Holy host. Amen.
Victor Teversham is worth nearly a billion dollars. It's not enough to protect him from tragedy as his wife, Josephine, takes her life shortly after booking a stay at the Ballador House Hotel. Her suicide note, scrawled in lipstick on the bathroom mirror read: God forgive me. I married an evil man.
Despite being in mourning, Victor keeps the reservation for the Ballador House. A hotel with an unusual reputation for generating nightmares. Previous guests have described their experiences as "beyond anything the conscious mind could conceive," "vivid as life," and "better than any horror film ever made or that ever could be made."
On the surface Prince of Nightmares reads like a modern day gothic horror story. A haunted hotel with a number of resident spirits, but before long the reader will realize this is much more than a run of the mill ghost story. Much like Victor, the reader is often left wondering exactly where the line is between nightmare and reality.
It wasn't until I finished reading Prince of Nightmares that I realized this is John McNee's first novel. This makes John someone to keep an eye on. Aside from a hugely entertaining story, John also is a skilled craftsman with writing conversation. Many novelists, even the most successful, seem to struggle with this aspect of their writing, but I found the dialog in John's writing to be so real and comfortable, it was worth mentioning.
At times brutally visceral, Prince of Nightmares is not for the faint of heart, but it is for any horror lover looking for something original and entertaining. This one is well worth your time and reading dollars.
Published by Blood Bound Books, Prince of Nightmares is available in both paperback and e-book formats.
My first highly recommended read of 2016.
John McNee lives in the west of Scotland, where he is employed as a magazine editor.
August 7, 2017
What a great concept for a horror novel: A hotel that boasts terrifying nightmares for its guests.
To this day, the the most terrifying movie I have seen is Burnt Offerings. The reason for this is the recurring nightmares that Oliver Reed's character has about the hearse chauffeur. There is a paralyzing terror when you are in the grip of a nightmare, obviously because there are no bounds to the imagination and you are powerless to do anything about it. Only a wash of relief when you wake up, take stock of your surroundings, and realize you're safely back in bed.
Prince of Nightmares was indeed a feast of the imagination. John McNee certainly has the right stuff describing the horrors experienced by his hapless guests, horrors that would make Clive Barker proud. And, this is fine, fine writing to boot.
I didn't much care for how things were resolved towards the end, but I really dug the nightmares, and a lot of the storyline. There are images presented that I could actually feel, and I won't forget those for a long time. For that alone, Prince of Nightmares gets a solid 4 stars from me and a hearty recommendation for those seeking creepage. Enjoy!
To this day, the the most terrifying movie I have seen is Burnt Offerings. The reason for this is the recurring nightmares that Oliver Reed's character has about the hearse chauffeur. There is a paralyzing terror when you are in the grip of a nightmare, obviously because there are no bounds to the imagination and you are powerless to do anything about it. Only a wash of relief when you wake up, take stock of your surroundings, and realize you're safely back in bed.
Prince of Nightmares was indeed a feast of the imagination. John McNee certainly has the right stuff describing the horrors experienced by his hapless guests, horrors that would make Clive Barker proud. And, this is fine, fine writing to boot.
I didn't much care for how things were resolved towards the end, but I really dug the nightmares, and a lot of the storyline. There are images presented that I could actually feel, and I won't forget those for a long time. For that alone, Prince of Nightmares gets a solid 4 stars from me and a hearty recommendation for those seeking creepage. Enjoy!
January 29, 2019
The author is able to draw you into a nightmare probably never read before. Victor Teversham's wife Josephine commits suicide. But before she died she booked a room at the Ballador Hotel. Why did she do this? Victor, a rich businessman, goes there and comes to live a nightmare. Who are those creatures at that location and what do they really want? Mr Ballador is one of the spookiest characters I'll ever met (had to think about Louis Cypher played by Robert de Niro). Can Victor survive this hotel? There are many haunted houses and hotel but nothing like The Ballador Hotel. Innovative horror with disturbing details at its very best. Absolutely recommended!
July 25, 2016
As always my fellow bookish peeps this review can also be found on my blog TheTattooedBookGeek.wordpress.com
I was sent a free copy of this book courtesy of the author in exchange for an honest review.
On the surface Prince of Nightmares couldbe deemed to be another rather standard haunted house ghost story, at times reminding me of a couple of horror films I've previously seen, House on Haunted Hill and Thirteen Ghosts, but in-fact turns out to be far more. After the event at the start of the book, the story revolves around and predominantly takes place at Ballador House with the main character being Victor Teversham, a recently bereaved and elderly rich businessman and philanthropist The last thing Victor's wife did before she passed away was to book a suite at the world-famous Ballador House Hotel famed for giving its guests nightmares. Unsure of why, trying to come to terms with the loss of his wife and partly because it was her last act Victor travels to the Ballador hoping for some peace and to find the answer as to why his late wife had booked for a stay at such a strange place. Sending his Man Friday Harry away he's left alone with the hotel staff, the other guests and the 'residents' (the residents being the ghosts that inhabit the individual rooms).
Alongside Victor's stay at the Ballador we follow his Man Friday Harry as with nothing better to do while he waits around to pick Victor up after his four-day stay at the Ballador concludes, he decides to takes it upon himself and search around to uncover the truth about the so-called nightmares that take place at the hotel. This is a welcome addition to the book adding perspective and depth to the story. These sections also gives the reader a much-needed break from the horrors taking place back at Ballador House.
McNee does a great job of bringing the horrors and frights to life with vivid and gruesome descriptions of the residents and the horrors that they invoke on the guests, really highlighing the unsettling, dark and disturbing nature of the dreams. At times Victor himself doesn't know if he's asleep and having nightmares or if he's actually awake in the real world and neither do you the reader and that's great suspenseful writing as you're not sure either if what's happening is real or imagined pulling you into Victor's and the other guests Plight of constant fear and dread. McNee gives the reader high quality graphic often visceral imagery that at times isn't for the feint of heart
The explanation and nature of the phenomenon of the Ballador is revealed about two-thirds of the way through the book and not at the books conclusion as you may expect. This, however works really well, it doesn't detract from the story at all and adds layering to it as you know what malovent evil lays behind and is the reason for the nightmares afflicting the guests. Turning into a race against time to see if it canbe stopped as the lines between the nightmares and reality become blurred. I'm not into giving away spoilers so I won't explain the actual reason and concept behind the residents of the Ballador and the nightmares in this review but I will say it's well thought out and original in what from my limited experience is a genre saturated with the same old stereotypes.
Focusing on a cast of small characters, I found none of them to be particularly likeable but all are intriguing in their own ways, Gia and Heinrich being two of the most developed guests in the Ballador along with Victor. The 'residents' of the hotel are also all imaginatively conceived in their monstrous and hideous descriptions with McNee bringing them to life in your mind as you can really picture what they look like and the horrors awaiting the guests. Victor, the main protagonist of the book like the cast on a whole isn't a likeable person but, he is an engaging character for the story to revolve and centre around.
This is a well written horror novel that pulls you in throughout the books length, from the more sedate beginning before ramping things up after the reveal behind the Ballador's phenomenon onwards to the conclusion. I will admit that after having thought about it before I started this review, I'm still not sure what to think about the books ending but it's imaginative and wasn't what I has been expecting.
Thanks in no small part to McNee's vividly descriptive writing style, the original idea surrounding the evil lurking within the Ballador and Victor Teversham being a captivating character this is a great disturbing read.
Recommended.
I was sent a free copy of this book courtesy of the author in exchange for an honest review.
On the surface Prince of Nightmares couldbe deemed to be another rather standard haunted house ghost story, at times reminding me of a couple of horror films I've previously seen, House on Haunted Hill and Thirteen Ghosts, but in-fact turns out to be far more. After the event at the start of the book, the story revolves around and predominantly takes place at Ballador House with the main character being Victor Teversham, a recently bereaved and elderly rich businessman and philanthropist The last thing Victor's wife did before she passed away was to book a suite at the world-famous Ballador House Hotel famed for giving its guests nightmares. Unsure of why, trying to come to terms with the loss of his wife and partly because it was her last act Victor travels to the Ballador hoping for some peace and to find the answer as to why his late wife had booked for a stay at such a strange place. Sending his Man Friday Harry away he's left alone with the hotel staff, the other guests and the 'residents' (the residents being the ghosts that inhabit the individual rooms).
Alongside Victor's stay at the Ballador we follow his Man Friday Harry as with nothing better to do while he waits around to pick Victor up after his four-day stay at the Ballador concludes, he decides to takes it upon himself and search around to uncover the truth about the so-called nightmares that take place at the hotel. This is a welcome addition to the book adding perspective and depth to the story. These sections also gives the reader a much-needed break from the horrors taking place back at Ballador House.
McNee does a great job of bringing the horrors and frights to life with vivid and gruesome descriptions of the residents and the horrors that they invoke on the guests, really highlighing the unsettling, dark and disturbing nature of the dreams. At times Victor himself doesn't know if he's asleep and having nightmares or if he's actually awake in the real world and neither do you the reader and that's great suspenseful writing as you're not sure either if what's happening is real or imagined pulling you into Victor's and the other guests Plight of constant fear and dread. McNee gives the reader high quality graphic often visceral imagery that at times isn't for the feint of heart
The explanation and nature of the phenomenon of the Ballador is revealed about two-thirds of the way through the book and not at the books conclusion as you may expect. This, however works really well, it doesn't detract from the story at all and adds layering to it as you know what malovent evil lays behind and is the reason for the nightmares afflicting the guests. Turning into a race against time to see if it canbe stopped as the lines between the nightmares and reality become blurred. I'm not into giving away spoilers so I won't explain the actual reason and concept behind the residents of the Ballador and the nightmares in this review but I will say it's well thought out and original in what from my limited experience is a genre saturated with the same old stereotypes.
Focusing on a cast of small characters, I found none of them to be particularly likeable but all are intriguing in their own ways, Gia and Heinrich being two of the most developed guests in the Ballador along with Victor. The 'residents' of the hotel are also all imaginatively conceived in their monstrous and hideous descriptions with McNee bringing them to life in your mind as you can really picture what they look like and the horrors awaiting the guests. Victor, the main protagonist of the book like the cast on a whole isn't a likeable person but, he is an engaging character for the story to revolve and centre around.
This is a well written horror novel that pulls you in throughout the books length, from the more sedate beginning before ramping things up after the reveal behind the Ballador's phenomenon onwards to the conclusion. I will admit that after having thought about it before I started this review, I'm still not sure what to think about the books ending but it's imaginative and wasn't what I has been expecting.
Thanks in no small part to McNee's vividly descriptive writing style, the original idea surrounding the evil lurking within the Ballador and Victor Teversham being a captivating character this is a great disturbing read.
Recommended.
November 22, 2017
The best novel debut I've read in years. McNee pulls you in from the first page and plunges you deep into a terror-abyss that leaves you feeling emotionally pulverized. His characters have many dimensions (including his less-than-hero protagonist) and each of them will surprise you during the course of the pitch-black story. McNee takes the haunted house story in new directions with Prince of Nightmares and elevates the classic theme to a level that left me stunned, reminding me of the experience of reading The Shining (and leaving me just as rattled). If you love fresh, mind-bending horror, you've found yourself a dream. Just be ready to sleep with the lights on.
February 22, 2017
"This is definitely old skool. This is definitely scary horror. This is definitely one you should not read whilst staying in a hotel during a power cut."
See here for the full review:
Prince of Nightmares
See here for the full review:
Prince of Nightmares
October 8, 2022
There's a lot going on in this book. You think you're in for a simple ghost story, but it morphs into a complex story that will terrify you and make you wonder if you're in a nightmare yourself. I would really love a sequel to this.
March 19, 2016
Having read so much mediocre horror fiction recently it has been a pleasure to read something with real originality and style and outstanding evil that resides at the Ballador House Hotel.
An eclectic mix of characters are in resident at the Ballador Hotel all hoping to encounter and meet paranormal apparitions as night approaches. One particular resident Victor Teversham is praying that the hotel will supply an answer as to why his wife Josephine booked a getaway break here before committing suicide.
We meet the mysterious and beautiful Gia, the night manager Mrs Dempsey and the loud and boisterous Heinrich Stritzel. The author accomplishes, what many writers fail to do, he makes all the players that we encounter very believable. At times I felt this was almost a modern horror remaking of Casablanca where all meet and encounter horror at a central point with no means of escape. What was extraordinary in the story telling , not only for the main antagonists but also for the reader, was the inability to distinguish between what was real and what was fiction....what was a dream and what was reality. This confusion added greatly to the constant feeling of dread and fear that permeated the unravelling of the mysterious ghostly events taking place.
There is a clever connection between Victor and his wife and a woman from the past known as Evelyn Burgess, and when the true intentions of the ghostly "residents" becomes apparent it is too late to stop the ensuing bloodbath..." The Residents are the parts of ourselves we wanted to keep hidden. The parts we didn't like. The parts we suppressed. Invasive thoughts, base urges, and hateful impulses."
So a highly original story with a gruesome and bloody conclusion, a most enjoyable treat for lovers of good horror. I received an advance copy of Prince of Nightmares for an honest review and that is what I have written.
An eclectic mix of characters are in resident at the Ballador Hotel all hoping to encounter and meet paranormal apparitions as night approaches. One particular resident Victor Teversham is praying that the hotel will supply an answer as to why his wife Josephine booked a getaway break here before committing suicide.
We meet the mysterious and beautiful Gia, the night manager Mrs Dempsey and the loud and boisterous Heinrich Stritzel. The author accomplishes, what many writers fail to do, he makes all the players that we encounter very believable. At times I felt this was almost a modern horror remaking of Casablanca where all meet and encounter horror at a central point with no means of escape. What was extraordinary in the story telling , not only for the main antagonists but also for the reader, was the inability to distinguish between what was real and what was fiction....what was a dream and what was reality. This confusion added greatly to the constant feeling of dread and fear that permeated the unravelling of the mysterious ghostly events taking place.
There is a clever connection between Victor and his wife and a woman from the past known as Evelyn Burgess, and when the true intentions of the ghostly "residents" becomes apparent it is too late to stop the ensuing bloodbath..." The Residents are the parts of ourselves we wanted to keep hidden. The parts we didn't like. The parts we suppressed. Invasive thoughts, base urges, and hateful impulses."
So a highly original story with a gruesome and bloody conclusion, a most enjoyable treat for lovers of good horror. I received an advance copy of Prince of Nightmares for an honest review and that is what I have written.
January 14, 2016
This is the first book that I have read by John McNee and I really enjoyed it. Before Josephine Teversham committed suicide, she makes a reservation for her husband Victor at The Ballard House. Victor decided to find out what his wife had in store for him. Victor was a billionaire and did what he had to do to make a buck. The Ballard House has a reputation for being haunted and certain rooms were guaranteed to give you horrific nightmares. Some of the nightmares are real and some of them are mind bending. Upon his arrival at The Ballard House, Victor must sign a waiver releasing the hotel for any psychological damages that might occur . Victor is not a very likable character. Victor is about to enter the gates of hell, where almost anything can happen. McNee is a creative writer, who tells a great story. I plan to checkout other titles by this author. I highly recommend this book.
February 1, 2019
Ballador Country House Hotel is set in the isolated highlands of Scotland. Offering far more than a continental breakfast and free wifi, Ballador guarantees its guest will suffer crippling nightmares. This highly sought after hotel costs thousands of dollars per night due to the abnormally vivid nightmares - nightmares far more terrifying and real than any horror film.
Victor Teversham, an elderly magnate, finds himself staying the night at this mysterious hotel. The reason for his presence is due to his wife having committed suicide recently. Before doing so, Josephine Teversham made a reservation for her husband to stay at the haunted getaway. Investigating the reason as to why, Victor stays at the hotel and fulfills the reservation, quickly discovering the reason behind the nightmares that the hotel gives off.
First off, Prince of Nightmares is unlike most novels that deal with similar subject matter. For starters, the main protagonist, Victor Teversham, is an old man - 80 years old to be exact. This is no young investigator or survival girl. Victor is an old man that has reached his success through means that reflect the usual 1% white male. He is not a very likable character, none of the characters in this story are. Not that author John McNee has written a novel filled with spiteful characters that are impossible to like, they are just of a different breed than we are used to. It is a bold choice and one that pays off.
Secondly, I believe that Prince of Nightmares has more in common with a Lucio Fulci film than your typical haunted building story. This book is filled with violent, grotesque imagery and carries all sorts of ghouls and ghosts that are more common in an extreme horror film than the cover and plot would suggest. The balance between nightmare and reality is a beautiful ballet of psychedelic imagery. You will question things along the way and flip back to reread segments in excitement.
As Victor deals with the hotel and an internal struggle alongside Gia and several other characters, Victor’s assistant, Harry, conducts the investigation portion of the novel. Harry’s moments provide revelations that fuel the excitement behind what is happening with Victor and offer deeper meaning to the events that unfold. The story of the hotel could provide an entire prequel novel that would be just as entertaining as Prince of Nightmares.
Even though there is plenty of violence and gore, this is not a gore novel, nor is it meant to be a gross-out story. This is a very psychological tale, but it doesn’t shy away from the brutality. The hotel’s guests are experiencing vivid nightmares that accent some of our deepest fears. McNee does a tremendous job of scaring the hell out of you in quick fashion and then spinning your mind around insane concepts. This is the type of book that turns people into horror fans.
Victor Teversham, an elderly magnate, finds himself staying the night at this mysterious hotel. The reason for his presence is due to his wife having committed suicide recently. Before doing so, Josephine Teversham made a reservation for her husband to stay at the haunted getaway. Investigating the reason as to why, Victor stays at the hotel and fulfills the reservation, quickly discovering the reason behind the nightmares that the hotel gives off.
First off, Prince of Nightmares is unlike most novels that deal with similar subject matter. For starters, the main protagonist, Victor Teversham, is an old man - 80 years old to be exact. This is no young investigator or survival girl. Victor is an old man that has reached his success through means that reflect the usual 1% white male. He is not a very likable character, none of the characters in this story are. Not that author John McNee has written a novel filled with spiteful characters that are impossible to like, they are just of a different breed than we are used to. It is a bold choice and one that pays off.
Secondly, I believe that Prince of Nightmares has more in common with a Lucio Fulci film than your typical haunted building story. This book is filled with violent, grotesque imagery and carries all sorts of ghouls and ghosts that are more common in an extreme horror film than the cover and plot would suggest. The balance between nightmare and reality is a beautiful ballet of psychedelic imagery. You will question things along the way and flip back to reread segments in excitement.
As Victor deals with the hotel and an internal struggle alongside Gia and several other characters, Victor’s assistant, Harry, conducts the investigation portion of the novel. Harry’s moments provide revelations that fuel the excitement behind what is happening with Victor and offer deeper meaning to the events that unfold. The story of the hotel could provide an entire prequel novel that would be just as entertaining as Prince of Nightmares.
Even though there is plenty of violence and gore, this is not a gore novel, nor is it meant to be a gross-out story. This is a very psychological tale, but it doesn’t shy away from the brutality. The hotel’s guests are experiencing vivid nightmares that accent some of our deepest fears. McNee does a tremendous job of scaring the hell out of you in quick fashion and then spinning your mind around insane concepts. This is the type of book that turns people into horror fans.
January 2, 2016
Prince of Nightmares by John McNee goes for the slow burn at first. Multi-millionaire Victor Teversham is to spend a few days in a hotel with an unusual reputation. Those who stay overnight tend to have very vivid nightmares. The nightmares often involve similar characters who are thought of as ghosts haunting the hotel. The reason Teversham has a reservation at this most sought after "vacation" spot is because his wife booked a reservation for him just before she killed herself.
It is an interesting premise that, with a few explicit nightmares, quietly starts building up the tension and heightens the mystery. By the middle of the novel it is going full speed into scare-the-hell-out-of-me territory. But this is no ordinary haunted house story and the author has a lot more in store for the reader bedsides things that go bump in the night. As Victor has his nightmares and meets the other guests, his assistant Harry is attempting to discover the mystery of the inn and finds more than just haunts and spirits.
This is a nice twist on the haunted house theme. McNee knows how to write some vivid and scary scenes. One of the tricks here is to separate the reality from the dreams but have just enough uncertainty in the reader's mind to keep them off balance. The author does this perfectly. You can feel the confusion and fear of the characters as they experience the strange horrors of the house., just as we can understand the seriousness of Harry's revaluation that the house is more than it appears.
If the popularity of the haunted house novel can be gauged by the numerous books of that kind that is making it to my review pile, I would say it is not only very popular butis making a bit of a comeback. But like any often used idea, it needs to be revamped occasionally. Prince of Nightmares is the kind of novel that those looking for more than the usual in this genre would like. I would recommend this to all readers of horror . John McNee manages to put his own signature on the plot and gives us something else. Prince of Nightmares is a nice horror novel to start the year off with. I would recommend it to any reader of horror, and not just of the haunted house variety.
It is an interesting premise that, with a few explicit nightmares, quietly starts building up the tension and heightens the mystery. By the middle of the novel it is going full speed into scare-the-hell-out-of-me territory. But this is no ordinary haunted house story and the author has a lot more in store for the reader bedsides things that go bump in the night. As Victor has his nightmares and meets the other guests, his assistant Harry is attempting to discover the mystery of the inn and finds more than just haunts and spirits.
This is a nice twist on the haunted house theme. McNee knows how to write some vivid and scary scenes. One of the tricks here is to separate the reality from the dreams but have just enough uncertainty in the reader's mind to keep them off balance. The author does this perfectly. You can feel the confusion and fear of the characters as they experience the strange horrors of the house., just as we can understand the seriousness of Harry's revaluation that the house is more than it appears.
If the popularity of the haunted house novel can be gauged by the numerous books of that kind that is making it to my review pile, I would say it is not only very popular butis making a bit of a comeback. But like any often used idea, it needs to be revamped occasionally. Prince of Nightmares is the kind of novel that those looking for more than the usual in this genre would like. I would recommend this to all readers of horror . John McNee manages to put his own signature on the plot and gives us something else. Prince of Nightmares is a nice horror novel to start the year off with. I would recommend it to any reader of horror, and not just of the haunted house variety.
March 19, 2016
Gruesome horror of the finest order! Having read so much mediocre horror fiction recently it has been a pleasure to read something with real originality and style and outstanding evil that resides at the Ballador House Hotel.
An eclectic mix of characters are in resident at the Ballador Hotel all hoping to encounter and meet paranormal apparitions as night approaches. One particular resident Victor Teversham is praying that the hotel will supply an answer as to why his wife Josephine booked a getaway break here before committing suicide.
We meet the mysterious and beautiful Gia, the night manager Mrs Dempsey and the loud and boisterous Heinrich Stritzel. The author accomplishes, what many writers fail to do, he makes all the players that we encounter very believable. At times I felt this was almost a modern horror remaking of Casablanca where all meet and encounter horror at a central point with no means of escape. What was extraordinary in the story telling , not only for the main antagonists but also for the reader, was the inability to distinguish between what was real and what was fiction....what was a dream and what was reality. This confusion added greatly to the constant feeling of dread and fear that permeated the unravelling of the mysterious ghostly events taking place.
There is a clever connection between Victor and his wife and a woman from the past known as Evelyn Burgess, and when the true intentions of the ghostly "residents" becomes apparent it is too late to stop the ensuing bloodbath..." The Residents are the parts of ourselves we wanted to keep hidden. The parts we didn't like. The parts we suppressed. Invasive thoughts, base urges, and hateful impulses."
So a highly original story with a gruesome and bloody conclusion, a most enjoyable treat for lovers of good horror. I received an advance copy of Prince of Nightmares for an honest review and that is what I have written.
An eclectic mix of characters are in resident at the Ballador Hotel all hoping to encounter and meet paranormal apparitions as night approaches. One particular resident Victor Teversham is praying that the hotel will supply an answer as to why his wife Josephine booked a getaway break here before committing suicide.
We meet the mysterious and beautiful Gia, the night manager Mrs Dempsey and the loud and boisterous Heinrich Stritzel. The author accomplishes, what many writers fail to do, he makes all the players that we encounter very believable. At times I felt this was almost a modern horror remaking of Casablanca where all meet and encounter horror at a central point with no means of escape. What was extraordinary in the story telling , not only for the main antagonists but also for the reader, was the inability to distinguish between what was real and what was fiction....what was a dream and what was reality. This confusion added greatly to the constant feeling of dread and fear that permeated the unravelling of the mysterious ghostly events taking place.
There is a clever connection between Victor and his wife and a woman from the past known as Evelyn Burgess, and when the true intentions of the ghostly "residents" becomes apparent it is too late to stop the ensuing bloodbath..." The Residents are the parts of ourselves we wanted to keep hidden. The parts we didn't like. The parts we suppressed. Invasive thoughts, base urges, and hateful impulses."
So a highly original story with a gruesome and bloody conclusion, a most enjoyable treat for lovers of good horror. I received an advance copy of Prince of Nightmares for an honest review and that is what I have written.
November 25, 2015
I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, Blood Bound Books!
Prince of Darkness is a horror novel that doesn't immediately jump up at you but, once it gets started, it grabs you and doesn't let go. After his wife kills herself, billionaire Victor Teversham goes to the Ballador House to find out why the last thing she ever did was make a reservation there for him. But this Scottish building is not a normal hotel, it is said that everyone who stays there has horrible, vivid nightmares. Victor is no exception, and the other hotel guests are also under the influence of whatever forces cause these awful dreams. And what nightmares! They reminded me of the Hellraiser series - on steroids! The plot keeps moving along, so it’s not just a series of disconnected vignettes but it takes Victor and the reader to a terrifying but satisfying conclusion. As a fan of horror, I really recommend this book.
Prince of Darkness is a horror novel that doesn't immediately jump up at you but, once it gets started, it grabs you and doesn't let go. After his wife kills herself, billionaire Victor Teversham goes to the Ballador House to find out why the last thing she ever did was make a reservation there for him. But this Scottish building is not a normal hotel, it is said that everyone who stays there has horrible, vivid nightmares. Victor is no exception, and the other hotel guests are also under the influence of whatever forces cause these awful dreams. And what nightmares! They reminded me of the Hellraiser series - on steroids! The plot keeps moving along, so it’s not just a series of disconnected vignettes but it takes Victor and the reader to a terrifying but satisfying conclusion. As a fan of horror, I really recommend this book.
May 10, 2016
The use of dreams is a common literary device, and often appears as a sort of trope in horror fiction. Author John McNee rips away from the real world and throws us into a deeper pit of personal terror than anything that might have been cooked up in a Freddy Kreuger film. Whereas the Kreuger films are slasher flicks that rely heavily on a boogeyman-psychopath prototype, McNee’s novel, Prince of Nightmares, focuses on the relevance of personal horror.
Prince is set up for the reader to experience a haunted-house thrill-ride, but I think McNee’s greatest strength as a writer is that he can make any unbelievable experience semi-reasonable. Not many authors can give us a rationale for metaphysical horror; he keeps the story grounded in explanation and theory. Another author who did this very well was Richard Matheson—I was reminded of Matheson’s ability to make me buy into the story rather than ask me to completely suspend my sense of belief. In the context of a McNee story, this fits nicely with the visceral imagery; McNee provides enough gore to make sure we never feel comfortable.
The protagonist was a bit hard for me to empathize with, but Victor Teversham’s growing sense of dread pushes us into chapters that make the entire narrative feel unreliable; this, I think, was pretty awesome. I don’t know if it’s a *SPOILER* to suggest that readers will feel that Victor will be unable to tell dream from reality—I feel that sort of narrative attribute is implied in the title, since we know it will involve dreams—but I will say that I appreciate the fact that I completely bought the idea that Teversham struggled with this.
Some of the character motivations came together nicely as the story unfolded; I knew the story would provide the answers I was looking for, because the author added depth to his ominous setting as the novel moved forward. I was able to keep faith in the story because every one of McNee’s answers posed another question, and I was curious to see how each element of the plot was going to be handled.
I enjoyed another of McNee’s offerings; a science fiction collection, called Grudge Punk, that features stores interwoven in one setting. This style of horror is an interesting genre leap, and I think McNee once again succeeded in immersing me in a world that he created, and making me believing that it exists.
Prince is set up for the reader to experience a haunted-house thrill-ride, but I think McNee’s greatest strength as a writer is that he can make any unbelievable experience semi-reasonable. Not many authors can give us a rationale for metaphysical horror; he keeps the story grounded in explanation and theory. Another author who did this very well was Richard Matheson—I was reminded of Matheson’s ability to make me buy into the story rather than ask me to completely suspend my sense of belief. In the context of a McNee story, this fits nicely with the visceral imagery; McNee provides enough gore to make sure we never feel comfortable.
The protagonist was a bit hard for me to empathize with, but Victor Teversham’s growing sense of dread pushes us into chapters that make the entire narrative feel unreliable; this, I think, was pretty awesome. I don’t know if it’s a *SPOILER* to suggest that readers will feel that Victor will be unable to tell dream from reality—I feel that sort of narrative attribute is implied in the title, since we know it will involve dreams—but I will say that I appreciate the fact that I completely bought the idea that Teversham struggled with this.
Some of the character motivations came together nicely as the story unfolded; I knew the story would provide the answers I was looking for, because the author added depth to his ominous setting as the novel moved forward. I was able to keep faith in the story because every one of McNee’s answers posed another question, and I was curious to see how each element of the plot was going to be handled.
I enjoyed another of McNee’s offerings; a science fiction collection, called Grudge Punk, that features stores interwoven in one setting. This style of horror is an interesting genre leap, and I think McNee once again succeeded in immersing me in a world that he created, and making me believing that it exists.
December 15, 2015
Prince of Darkness by John McNee revolves around a haunted hotel: Ballador Country House Hotel. It is located in one of the most remotest areas of Scotland and it has a reputation to uphold.
Victor Teversham’s wife, Josie, committed suicide and for a parting gift she booked a vacation for him in that very hotel. Charming girl. Malevolent nightmares of gruesome proportions would force sane people to run to the hills, but, amazingly, Victor chooses to stay on and face the demons head on. His wife had seen something in him long before she’d even entered the world.
John McNee is a truly great writer, capable of scaring the living daylights out of even the seasoned of horror fans. Graphic descriptions, an imagination of pure evil and a talent for perfect prose, Prince of Darkness, is just what you may be looking for to welcome the New Year in with.
Although I favour horror at a different end of the scale, I could still get enjoyment out of this book. The characters were varied and multifaceted, the setting is in good old UK, and the book itself is of a good length. John McNee has taught me just what is required to become a successful horror writer.
Victor Teversham’s wife, Josie, committed suicide and for a parting gift she booked a vacation for him in that very hotel. Charming girl. Malevolent nightmares of gruesome proportions would force sane people to run to the hills, but, amazingly, Victor chooses to stay on and face the demons head on. His wife had seen something in him long before she’d even entered the world.
John McNee is a truly great writer, capable of scaring the living daylights out of even the seasoned of horror fans. Graphic descriptions, an imagination of pure evil and a talent for perfect prose, Prince of Darkness, is just what you may be looking for to welcome the New Year in with.
Although I favour horror at a different end of the scale, I could still get enjoyment out of this book. The characters were varied and multifaceted, the setting is in good old UK, and the book itself is of a good length. John McNee has taught me just what is required to become a successful horror writer.
March 6, 2016
Completely entertaining and frightening!
This tale started out creepy, moved onto terrifying and then to alarming, all while staying very fast paced, and so engrossing; I hardly put it down from start to finish! It has complex and highly interesting characters with a super unique plot, which I am finding hard to explain without spoilers.
Mcnee starts out with introducing us to a weird scene, without really letting us know what’s going on until much later…then we meet Victor Teversham and his right hand man Harry. Victor has just been through a personal tragedy and is searching for answers by keeping a reservation at a hotel, previously booked by his wife.
Welcome to the ‘Ballador House Hotel’ but don’t say I didn’t warn you not to go! This hotel promises its’ guests epic nightmares…
I just have to say: Residents, Evelyn Burgess, Josephine, chronic hysteria, mayhem, evil, torture, insanity, sadistic, greedy, and scary as hell! Now, you go find out what all of these words combined mean to this story.
I will definitely read more by this author and I most highly recommend to all fans of modern horror!
This tale started out creepy, moved onto terrifying and then to alarming, all while staying very fast paced, and so engrossing; I hardly put it down from start to finish! It has complex and highly interesting characters with a super unique plot, which I am finding hard to explain without spoilers.
Mcnee starts out with introducing us to a weird scene, without really letting us know what’s going on until much later…then we meet Victor Teversham and his right hand man Harry. Victor has just been through a personal tragedy and is searching for answers by keeping a reservation at a hotel, previously booked by his wife.
Welcome to the ‘Ballador House Hotel’ but don’t say I didn’t warn you not to go! This hotel promises its’ guests epic nightmares…
I just have to say: Residents, Evelyn Burgess, Josephine, chronic hysteria, mayhem, evil, torture, insanity, sadistic, greedy, and scary as hell! Now, you go find out what all of these words combined mean to this story.
I will definitely read more by this author and I most highly recommend to all fans of modern horror!
January 27, 2016
'Prince of Nightmares' is a fast-paced and cinematic horror novel. Rather than relying on shock value, McNee’s horror arises from thrusting interesting characters together in an unsettling setting. These characters face dangers beyond their control, but they are hardly blameless victims. For our nightmares are all in our heads—whom else can we blame for them but ourselves?
Read my full review at Pop Mythology.
I received a free review copy of this book from the publisher.
Matt Hlinak
Author of DoG
Read my full review at Pop Mythology.
I received a free review copy of this book from the publisher.
Matt Hlinak
Author of DoG
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