The Book of the Damned

by D.A. Fowler

Rosalyn Vaughn hasn't been feeling well. Eerie colors, smells and sounds are making her feel dizzy and disoriented. It isn't something she ate. It isn't something she smoked. It's something she read. Rosalyn loves horror novels, but the last volume she borrowed from the library shouldn't be read late at night or, for that matter, in broad daylight. It's called The Book of the Damned, and its readers don't simply thrill to the terrors revealed between its covers, they live them--shrieking, relentless nightmares of madness, suicide, and murder. Now Rosalyn is about to join the other tortured innocents who checked out The Book of the Damned...and paid with their immortal souls...

Genres: Horror, Horror Thriller, Fiction

278 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

Reviews

[Jack Tripper · Rating 3 out of 5]

Imagine coming across a mysterious book where just reading it will periodically cause you to become fully enveloped into its nightmarish vision of hell, and this will continue to occur long after you've finished it. You the reader are actually transported into the world of the novel, trapped without warning and fighting for your life against an unstoppable demon who just may be Lucifer himself. That's what's been happening to Rosalyn, and she believes that everyone who's ever checked out the book from the library over the years may be similarly cursed.

After doing some research, it quickly becomes apparent to Rosalyn that nearly all of the past lendees of The Book of the Damned have committed horrible acts and have ended up either dead or in mental institutes. Permanently. She must try to convince her friends to help her get to the bottom of this mystery (if she doesn't accidentally try to kill them while "hallucinating") so that neither she or anyone else suffers the same fate. Too bad she's already returned the book, and it seems to have recently been checked out again.

I really dug the concept here, reminiscent at times of both A Nightmare on Elm Street and the (severely underrated) 1994 Carpenter film, In the Mouth of Madness. There were a couple of pretty glaring plot holes that kept me from enjoying it quite to the same level of the three previous books by Ms. Fowler I've read, but this is still a well above-average early 90s horror novel, with plenty of ultra-creepy hallucinatory mindfuck moments.

A few scenes within, though, were just....icky. I'm no prude when it comes to horror: blood and guts are fine with me if well done, but these sections were just-plain-gross, in a semi-rapey, semi-pus-filled-grotesquerie sort of way, which is another reason I place it just a notch below What's Wrong with Valerie?, Devil's End, and Flesh and Blood, but I'll surely still be on the lookout for her remaining oeuvre, which isn't much, unfortunately.

3.5 Stars.

[Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish Fowler had penned more books; she stormed into the horror scene with What's Wrong with Valerie? and went on to write two more excellent sequels. After a few more books, that seems to be it. The Book of the Damned is, like her other work, something of a splatstick, and based on a neat premise. One of our main leads here, Rosalyn Vaughn, works in a beauty salon and likes horror novels. One day at the library she picked up The Book of the Damned and after reading it, she not only had nightmares, but seems to be losing her sanity, constantly 'imagining' herself to be the woman tormented in the book by some kind of demon. Even worse, these 'hallucinations' start happening when she is wide awake, and she acts out in the real world as if she is in the novel. Needless to say, stabbing the demon and so forth may have some unintended consequences...

It is not just Rosalyn, however, as everyone who reads the book seems to go on a killing spree, kills themselves, or both. Some cops get involved with they find Rosalyn's boyfriend's body, and soon, even the jaded cops believe something is wrong with the book-- drugs in the ink maybe? In any case, the book gets around and so does the mayhem. The Book of the Damned has some really nasty, graphic scenes that should satisfy any gore hound, and Fowler's dark humor helps carry the story along nicely. While I think some of her other books were better, this still is something of a classic. 3.5 stars, rounding up for the (somewhat predictable) but fun ending.

[Addy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I figured it was time to put this book to rest and I did not regret it. Wow! I must admit that I was considering 2 stars but I upped it another star because the ending was killer! Not what I was expecting. Usually a slow read ends up with a disappointing ending, at least in my experience, but D.A. proved me wrong. Not as good as her Valerie trilogy but worth it to read it to the end. A much needed redeeming ending that makes you feel uncomfortable and think about the books you read. Haha! Should you really be reading that vile horror book? A lot of vile descriptions too, so be weary if this offends you. Not a 5 star read, but I'd recommend if u are a fan of hers.

[M.M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book when I was 12, took from my older sisters room and it scared the hell out of me...I slept with my lights on for weeks.. This is my favorite book and I have read it many time since

[Vicki Herbert · Rating 3 out of 5]

We're going to have a party... you and I...

No spoilers. 3 stars. This novel is a Ressurected Horrors line vintage book which was originally published in 1993...

The premise of the story is a rare novel called The Book of the Damned which causes its readers to suffer unbearable torture from the minute it is read and lasts for eternity...

The main character is a young hair stylist called Rosalyn Vaughn who unwittingly checks out the book from the public library...

During the course of her day she enters a fugue state where she becomes the victim in the book, a young woman called Caroline...

Rosalyn/Caroline is kidnapped by a smarmy serial killer called Levi D. Santa, taken to an old house and put through unbearable torture...

We're going to have a party... you and I...

In real time Rosalyn is killing real people who she imagines (in her altered state of mind) are Levi Santa and Santa is telling her that there's no escape...

... and he will keep inflicting torture on her until she begs for death which he will grant her but it will be a very slow death...

The book's theme was an interesting one but the interest waned after the first chapter. From that point on it became very repetitive for which I removed a star. I removed another star for many, many loose ends.

The last 5% was a page-turner and I thought I was going to finally get some answers but some things just weren't addressed.

[Kelsi - Slime and Slashers · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded up for Goodreads

I tend to like books about books in general, but this one was especially fun. Book of the Damned contains some intense scenes of torture, but, at the same time, there's plenty of dark humor contained in the story. So although the book can get rather bleak at times, there is still an amusing undertone as well. Poisonous boogers, a body part used as a laser, and spider shit...you can find all those things in this book. Yes, it's disgusting but also entertaining as well. So if you disturbing imagery with a sprinkle of humor thrown in appeals to you, then you may enjoy this read!

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did not expect this book to be all that great, but wow!!! Pretty ghoulish, entertaining little tale. I was very surprised with this. Some pretty f******up scenes in this book.

[Greta Sriviboon]

I read it along time ago and has since rediscovered it. I love this book and the way it scared the crap out of me all the while kept me intrigued to keep turning the pages.

[Steve Rufle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Killer of a Book. Old fashioned horror novel. You will enjoy.

[angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Graphic, lurid and has a demon in it-spoilers

This was not what I was expecting or what I wanted. It was really disgusting in a sophomoric way......boogers that turn into spikes, eating and defecating out the victim. So gross. It really felt like the author was going for cheap thrills.
The premise was interesting but poorly executed. I also felt that the motivation of the prognosticator was very thin. He sold his soul to a demon to make a book to torture his sister because she was mean to him? Come on! It’s a stretch. If the writer wanted to make that idea work then he should have spent more time delving into that relationship.
It was a very poorly written book. It could definitely work but he should pull it and do a rewrite.

[Norman Miller · Rating 2 out of 5]

I kept reading it because it was on the edge of turning into something I'd like, but it never quite made it there. It was repetitive and the twists just weren't that good.

Unrelated, the formatting on the Kindle version is horrible and makes it hard to get into a flow

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars (rounded up for goodreads)
This was almost a 4 star, but didn't quite make it. This was my first read from D.A. Fowler. This book was released in 1993, and rereleased in 2020 by Capicorn Literary as part of their "resurrected horror" line.
This is a very gruesome, and strange book. Even though the story was hard to read at times, it makes for a very interesting horror story.
While this was a quick read, it is definetely not for everyone. The story was I interesting enough to make me want to pick up more from this author. Know going into this books this is not a happy read in any sense. There is no happy ending, or good guy defeats the evil scenario.
This was a great start to my April reading, and a great addition to the readathon this month.

[Melissa Shelton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will be completely honest, usually I give stars and that's the extent of my review, but this book needs so much more! I have never in my life been physically effected from reading a book. There were passages in this one that had me almost gagging and as an avid horror fan of both books and movies I was surprised at myself. The writing and imagery is amazing!

[Mikel Pfeiffer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read a few by D.A. Fowler and I've had fun reading her teen horror freak out books. The Book of the Damned is a bit different with the main character being a little older. While the concept is good, a book that kills the people that have read it by a Freddy Krugerish character, I just didn't feel it far enough or ended with a fair conclusion. A little way in the book it gets very redundant and tiresome. There are some fun parts as the book travels though different hands. There's a couple more I have left to read by Fowler and I'm still willing to read her again.

[Ali · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF about 60% in. Interesting concept, but it was becoming far too repetitive and wasn't really keeping me engaged in the story. I'm not exactly sure why, but I just couldn't get immersed in the story.

[Tammy Scott]

Love it

I love love love this book! Totally keeps you wanting more. I can't wait to read more of these books!

[Barbara Andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scarey Book

This is the book to read of you want to be grossed out. A real horror book wit real horror .

[ᥫ᭡ P A T T Y · Rating 2 out of 5]

Trigger warning

Descriptive words that are not for the weak minded or faint of heart. I for one thought it was very grim and could not complete it. This book is definitely a DNF.

[Carole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Horrifying

This book was absolutely horrifying! I loved every minute of it. There were just a few editing errors that brought my rating down.

[Len White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this many years ago, and absolutely LOVED it! It's kind of a cross between 'Ring' and gee, I don't know, whatever other book you've ever read that scared the crap out of you. It might be a little depressing, though, but this shouldn't be surprising since it does have 'damned' in the title. I recommend that you wear gloves if you ever read it 'cause, well you'll find out.
I've never read any other books by Fowler and I don't understand why since this one is a favorite of mine.

[Evans Light · Rating 2 out of 5]

The premise was intriguing but the execution was simply terrible. Zero plot, much silliness.