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The Lairdbalor
“I am the stuff of your nightmares . . . you have been writing my name on the walls of your fear your entire life.” When seven-year-old Jamie falls down a very long hill, he finds himself trapped in a world of strange creatures, harsh landscapes, and near-perpetual darkness. Lost and confused, Jamie is desperate to get home. The nightmares, fears, and all manner of what-ifs that inhabit this shadow world are unfamiliar to him―all except the Lairdbalor, Jamie’s personal nightmare, once relegated to his dreams. In this fantastical land, however, the Lairdbalor and all the fears and nightmares of children are very real. But Jamie’s nightmare is different. It is the sum total of the anger and anxiety that imprisoned him in his former life, and it threatens to consume and rule the nightmare realm, a place where time passes differently. With each slumber, Jamie finds himself inexorably changed. The farther he travels through this terrifying world, the better he understands the one he left behind. Crossing genres of folklore, horror, fantasy, and magical realism, The Lairdbalor is a story for anyone who lives with anxiety and fear and has ever wondered “what if?” It is the story of a child not meant for children and a darkly imaginative meditation on life, death, fear, and the nature of reality.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published October 10, 2017
2 people are currently reading
399 people want to read
About the author
Kathleen Kaufman
8 books181 followersKathleen Kaufman is an author of magical realism and feminist gothic horror, exploring “the other” from ”the other’s” point of view. Her fiction explores how the horror of the past manifests in the present, and the inescapable intertwining of generational history. Her prose has been praised by Kirkus Reviews as “crisp, elegant” and “genuinely chilling” by Booklist. She is the author of the Diabhal trilogy, The Lairdbalor, soon to be a feature film directed by Nicholas Verso, Hag, and The Tree Museum. Kathleen is a professor at Santa Monica College and lives in Los Angeles with her husband, son, kitten, and hound.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 28, 2018
First off, I recognize that the writing was very good and that, as a novel about philosophy (the Kirkus reviewer wrote that it was best for "readers who turn to Nietzsche and Hesse for pleasure"), it is fairly successful. That said, I did not enjoy this book. First, I'm not clear why it's being marketed as YA as the character starts at 7 and, in some ways, remains mentally quite young through the entire book: I don't really like books that get their audience wrong. Second, I think the cover is terrible and don't think many people would pick it up. Third, the story was simply too internal. Fourth, the conclusion was not well conceived: it tried a fairly conventional YA ending ("Life is full of possibilities! I can't wait!") but it really did not work with the time/age mechanics the author employed. So, if you're into philosophy, you might want to give it a try, but don't turn to this book for a good narrative.
September 7, 2021
"A child falls into a nonsensical world and overcomes surreal challenges on a journey to return home" is one of the most enduring story archetypes out there. As a fan of such stories, I was drawn to the Lairdbalor, but for a large portion of it, I was disappointed with how little new it had to offer the genre. The imagery isn't as whimsical as Wonderland's or Oz's, nor as frightening as Coraline's or Spirited Away's. The characters aren't as relatable as Over the Garden Wall's nor as charming as Undertale's. However, in roughly the last third of the book, it gets much better as it delves more into the protagonist's existential dread and we see more of the titular Lairdbalor monster and the nightmare world he resides in.
June 5, 2021
The lairdbalor is not for the faint of heart but is a book you will be glad to read. Throughout the book, the main character Jamie goes on a nightmare-filled journey through another world. He encounters so many other characters that you easily get attached to. My favorite character is Bilbo, Jamie's rat.
Jamie keeps remembering his life from before he came to this other world, he realizes that his life wasn't what he thought it was. The book is incredibly well written and very enjoyable to read. The ending is happy but also sad at the same time, it's also what you've been waiting for the entire book. I 100% recommend and would happily re-read.
Jamie keeps remembering his life from before he came to this other world, he realizes that his life wasn't what he thought it was. The book is incredibly well written and very enjoyable to read. The ending is happy but also sad at the same time, it's also what you've been waiting for the entire book. I 100% recommend and would happily re-read.
October 24, 2017
The Lairdbalor was a perfect read for an October weekend! This dark fantasy novel takes the reader through the landscape of childhood fears and nightmares. As a young adult librarian, I could see many different readers for this novel. Loves Harry Potter, but needs something a little darker? Here you go! Loves epic fantasy quest novels? Perfect! Loves fantasy and supernatural, but wants a male protagonist? Yes! Is an adult reader of young adult fiction? Bingo! This novel has a depth and intelligence often missing from YA with enough chills and thrills to keep readers turning the page.
March 6, 2019
Good conflict, lackluster conclusion
June 16, 2018
I loved 99% of this book, but the 1% kind of ruined it for me. I have no idea why it’s marketed as young adult because it’s very dark and thought provoking. As a person who has suffered from anxiety and depression from a young age, it really resonated with me, and yet if I’d read it as a child I would have been so overwhelmed and terrified by it. But I guess YA means teen, too? Overall, the tone is dark fantasy mixed with philosophy. Very intense and cerebral, which I personally found fascinating.
However... I did NOT like the veiled reference to the Cecil Hotel and the murder of Elisa Lam. That was very upsetting and a little tasteless in my opinion, and it added nothing to the story, so it felt even more gratuitous. The book was so excellent in every other way, why spoil it by randomly mentioning a very sad real story of a mentally ill young woman who died tragically, and then portraying her as some kind of ghoul? It really took me out of it. Maybe this wasn’t the author’s intention, but honestly that would be a pretty crazy coincidence if it wasn’t on purpose.
However... I did NOT like the veiled reference to the Cecil Hotel and the murder of Elisa Lam. That was very upsetting and a little tasteless in my opinion, and it added nothing to the story, so it felt even more gratuitous. The book was so excellent in every other way, why spoil it by randomly mentioning a very sad real story of a mentally ill young woman who died tragically, and then portraying her as some kind of ghoul? It really took me out of it. Maybe this wasn’t the author’s intention, but honestly that would be a pretty crazy coincidence if it wasn’t on purpose.
March 25, 2018
Kathleen Kaufman is the type of author you want to have tea with. Her writing and story conjures such strong visualization and intense emotions you have to wonder what it would be like to sit and talk with her.
The Lairdbalor is both magical and heartbreaking. The humor is subtle, the characters so real in the way you love them yet are frustrated with them.
The ending of this fairy tale is more powerful than a happy ending as it is so be that makes you think and it sticks on you for days after.
The Lairdbalor is both magical and heartbreaking. The humor is subtle, the characters so real in the way you love them yet are frustrated with them.
The ending of this fairy tale is more powerful than a happy ending as it is so be that makes you think and it sticks on you for days after.
February 24, 2018
Disclaimer: Thanks so much to Turner Publisher for sending me a free physical copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! This will not affect my review in any other way.
To be honest, I’m not much of a horror person. I cannot watch horror movies, but I can with books (since I can control my imagination, haha). I decided to read and review The Lairdbalor because I wanted to try out the genre. As I concluded Kaufman’s debut novel, I feel a bit torn regarding my feelings towards the story. I enjoyed the spooks and the chills I felt as I traveled with Jamie through the nightmare world, but it got weird and perplexing for me from the midpoint. Although I round down my ratings, The Lairdbalor would actually receive a rating of 3.5 from me since it doesn’t exactly deserve either a 3 or a 4. It’s not that bad of a book, but I didn’t enjoy it as much as I had hoped to.
The Lairdbalor is so haunting and creepy that it chills you to the core. It was very intriguing, and there were many times I was on the edge of my seat. I was scared for Jamie! But the deeper I went into the Nightmare World, the more enchanted and fascinated I became. The world was so delicately crafted that I fell in love with all the creatures, the places, and their origins. I was hooked from page one, and I enjoyed feeling the thrill of uncertainty and fear seeping from the text. I loved feeling goosebumps on my skin and my heart beating faster and faster.
Another thing I really love about this novel is that it’s written in the third-person limited, in which the narrator is outside of the story but can dig into Jamie’s thoughts. This was very effective because it captured Jamie’s innocence and fear yet allowed room for a sophisticated and advanced writing style that kept you wanting to read more and more. If the novel were in first person, it would lose that appeal. Kaufman’s poetic and elegant writing style transports readers into the main character’s shoes, making the audience feel the whirlwind of his thoughts and emotions as he is thrust headfirst into a frightening world that makes him question himself and his family.
However, as much as I liked this book, I had to put it down at times. Although it was interesting to see the philosophical side of the characters, it was a bit too much for me, and I disagree with some of it. I was really expecting a story in which the main character conquers his fears and the readers become inspired to be more courageous, but that wasn’t how The Lairdbalor turned out. It became depressing at times to where I had to stop and cheer myself up. Also, the story felt a bit stretched–the plot went somewhat in circles (like he’s on his way then he gets sidetracked again and again). It wasn’t very uplifting, which is why it did not click with me that much.
There’s no specific word you can use to describe what The Lairdbalor is. I kept asking myself, “What is this book?” and after finishing it, there’s still no right answer to it. Although it may not have clicked fully for me, it certainly did enrapture me in its storyline and prose at many points. It certainly is the perfect read for those who want to cower in their chairs and stay up late at night. I actually want to try out some more horror novels–it’s a genre that I think I need to delve deeper in!
To be honest, I’m not much of a horror person. I cannot watch horror movies, but I can with books (since I can control my imagination, haha). I decided to read and review The Lairdbalor because I wanted to try out the genre. As I concluded Kaufman’s debut novel, I feel a bit torn regarding my feelings towards the story. I enjoyed the spooks and the chills I felt as I traveled with Jamie through the nightmare world, but it got weird and perplexing for me from the midpoint. Although I round down my ratings, The Lairdbalor would actually receive a rating of 3.5 from me since it doesn’t exactly deserve either a 3 or a 4. It’s not that bad of a book, but I didn’t enjoy it as much as I had hoped to.
The Lairdbalor is so haunting and creepy that it chills you to the core. It was very intriguing, and there were many times I was on the edge of my seat. I was scared for Jamie! But the deeper I went into the Nightmare World, the more enchanted and fascinated I became. The world was so delicately crafted that I fell in love with all the creatures, the places, and their origins. I was hooked from page one, and I enjoyed feeling the thrill of uncertainty and fear seeping from the text. I loved feeling goosebumps on my skin and my heart beating faster and faster.
Another thing I really love about this novel is that it’s written in the third-person limited, in which the narrator is outside of the story but can dig into Jamie’s thoughts. This was very effective because it captured Jamie’s innocence and fear yet allowed room for a sophisticated and advanced writing style that kept you wanting to read more and more. If the novel were in first person, it would lose that appeal. Kaufman’s poetic and elegant writing style transports readers into the main character’s shoes, making the audience feel the whirlwind of his thoughts and emotions as he is thrust headfirst into a frightening world that makes him question himself and his family.
However, as much as I liked this book, I had to put it down at times. Although it was interesting to see the philosophical side of the characters, it was a bit too much for me, and I disagree with some of it. I was really expecting a story in which the main character conquers his fears and the readers become inspired to be more courageous, but that wasn’t how The Lairdbalor turned out. It became depressing at times to where I had to stop and cheer myself up. Also, the story felt a bit stretched–the plot went somewhat in circles (like he’s on his way then he gets sidetracked again and again). It wasn’t very uplifting, which is why it did not click with me that much.
There’s no specific word you can use to describe what The Lairdbalor is. I kept asking myself, “What is this book?” and after finishing it, there’s still no right answer to it. Although it may not have clicked fully for me, it certainly did enrapture me in its storyline and prose at many points. It certainly is the perfect read for those who want to cower in their chairs and stay up late at night. I actually want to try out some more horror novels–it’s a genre that I think I need to delve deeper in!
April 9, 2018
Interesting and unusual plot. Hard to describe without giving away too much. Ending was both satisfying and unsatisfying and yet was consistent with the story.
August 20, 2018
If Neil Gaiman wrote horror stories, they might feel like this. That aside, this was a pretty gut-wrenching portrait of dealing with anxiety. Well done.
February 16, 2017
We live in a world filled with nightmares, some of our own making and others beyond our control. Coping with anxiety, and moving forward despite our fears can often seem impossible- particularly in today's volatile social and political climate.
The Lairdbalor is the story of a child, but it is not a children's story. When Jamie falls down a hill, he discovers a world where nightmares are very real and very dangerous. It is at once a fantasy and a fable, reminding readers they are not alone. At the same time it points out clearly that many of our fears are based on ignorance, and despite having the ability to dispel them, we instead welcome those fears. (Very pertinent today). Jamie’s journey is surreal, much like Alice’s journey through Wonderland. Nightmares take a variety of physical forms which Jamie must face in order to return home.
The ending left me bewildered rather than uplifted. Jamie returns but to a world where he has no place, a very different world. Rather than being able to cope in his own life, he starts a new one. I didn't expect a “happy” ending but I did expect more of a strategic resolution.
The Lairdbalor is unusual, and its premise is unique and thought provoking. Its aim is impressive, but it doesn't achieve all it sets out to. Considered on the whole, The Lairdbalor is a good novel with niche appeal.
4 /5
The Lairdbalor is available for preorder and will be released October 10, 2017.
I received a copy of The Lairdbalor from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
--Crittermom
March 16, 2018
The nihilistic tone of this book was just too much for me. The theme of that was very heavy, to the point that the sliver of hope at the end wasn't enough to offset the bleakness of the rest of the book. It should have been categorized as adult, not YA.
To me the blurb on the back of the book was misleading, but it did inspire me to write a novel of my own. I give the author credit for that inspiration.
To me the blurb on the back of the book was misleading, but it did inspire me to write a novel of my own. I give the author credit for that inspiration.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews