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The Levi Stoltzfus Series #1
Der Satyr: Thriller
Die Ehe des Schriftstellers Adam Senft kriselt. Seine einzige Freude ist die Verbundenheit mit seinem Hund Big Steve. Als die beiden durch die heimischen Wälder von York County streifen, bietet sich ihnen ein seltsamer Anblick: eine Frau, die Fellatio an der Statue eines Satyrs vollführt …
Adam hatte die Gerüchte gehört, dass der Wald von etwas Unheimlichem heimgesucht wird. Nur geglaubt hatte er das nie. Doch jetzt sieht er mit eigenen Augen, wie die Statue zum Leben erwacht.
Und bald lockt der Satyr mit seinem hypnotischen Flötenspiel weitere Frauen zu sich in den Wald …
Horrormeister Brian Keene verbindet in diesem Thriller klassische Mythologie mit den modernen Schrecken Amerikas.
The Horror Review: 'Keenes Name sollte in einem Atemzug mit King, Koontz und Barker genannt werden. Ohne Zweifel ist er einer der besten Horrorautoren die es gibt.'
Adam hatte die Gerüchte gehört, dass der Wald von etwas Unheimlichem heimgesucht wird. Nur geglaubt hatte er das nie. Doch jetzt sieht er mit eigenen Augen, wie die Statue zum Leben erwacht.
Und bald lockt der Satyr mit seinem hypnotischen Flötenspiel weitere Frauen zu sich in den Wald …
Horrormeister Brian Keene verbindet in diesem Thriller klassische Mythologie mit den modernen Schrecken Amerikas.
The Horror Review: 'Keenes Name sollte in einem Atemzug mit King, Koontz und Barker genannt werden. Ohne Zweifel ist er einer der besten Horrorautoren die es gibt.'
298 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2006
59 people are currently reading
3386 people want to read
About the author
Brian Keene
382 books2,991 followersBRIAN KEENE writes novels, comic books, short fiction, and occasional journalism for money. He is the author of over forty books, mostly in the horror, crime, and dark fantasy genres. His 2003 novel, The Rising, is often credited (along with Robert Kirkman’s The Walking Dead comic and Danny Boyle’s 28 Days Later film) with inspiring pop culture’s current interest in zombies. Keene’s novels have been translated into German, Spanish, Polish, Italian, French, Taiwanese, and many more. In addition to his own original work, Keene has written for media properties such as Doctor Who, Hellboy, Masters of the Universe, and Superman.
Several of Keene’s novels have been developed for film, including Ghoul, The Ties That Bind, and Fast Zombies Suck. Several more are in-development or under option. Keene also serves as Executive Producer for the independent film studio Drunken Tentacle Productions.
Keene also oversees Maelstrom, his own small press publishing imprint specializing in collectible limited editions, via Thunderstorm Books.
Keene’s work has been praised in such diverse places as The New York Times, The History Channel, The Howard Stern Show, CNN.com, Publisher’s Weekly, Media Bistro, Fangoria Magazine, and Rue Morgue Magazine. He has won numerous awards and honors, including the World Horror 2014 Grand Master Award, two Bram Stoker Awards, and a recognition from Whiteman A.F.B. (home of the B-2 Stealth Bomber) for his outreach to U.S. troops serving both overseas and abroad. A prolific public speaker, Keene has delivered talks at conventions, college campuses, theaters, and inside Central Intelligence Agency headquarters in Langley, VA.
The father of two sons, Keene lives in rural Pennsylvania.
Several of Keene’s novels have been developed for film, including Ghoul, The Ties That Bind, and Fast Zombies Suck. Several more are in-development or under option. Keene also serves as Executive Producer for the independent film studio Drunken Tentacle Productions.
Keene also oversees Maelstrom, his own small press publishing imprint specializing in collectible limited editions, via Thunderstorm Books.
Keene’s work has been praised in such diverse places as The New York Times, The History Channel, The Howard Stern Show, CNN.com, Publisher’s Weekly, Media Bistro, Fangoria Magazine, and Rue Morgue Magazine. He has won numerous awards and honors, including the World Horror 2014 Grand Master Award, two Bram Stoker Awards, and a recognition from Whiteman A.F.B. (home of the B-2 Stealth Bomber) for his outreach to U.S. troops serving both overseas and abroad. A prolific public speaker, Keene has delivered talks at conventions, college campuses, theaters, and inside Central Intelligence Agency headquarters in Langley, VA.
The father of two sons, Keene lives in rural Pennsylvania.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 293 reviews
December 17, 2011
three comments in regards to this fitfully enjoyable and thoroughly dippy horror novel:
1) the horror begins when our hero and his dog Big Steve take a stroll in the woods. and there he sees a local woman, a jogger, on her knees fellating a statue of Pan. the statue slowly turns from stone to warm-blooded life. ha! i totally get where you're coming from Pan, sometimes it's those little gestures of appreciation that make me feel alive again too. anyway, after Pan enjoys lady jogger's ministrations, he proceeds to piss all over her. so that's pretty much where Pan and i have to part ways. way to ruin the moment, Pan. while this occurs, and noticing our protagonist/voyeur, Pan gives him some serious come-hither eyes that seem to be psychically saying you come over here and worship me too buddy, it'll be awesome. our hero decides it's time to run away. he'll watch a gal give a bj to a statue - but being asked to join the party is simply a bridge too far. he's not that kind of guy for chrissakes!
2) Pan - well, i'm not sure if it is actually Pan, maybe just some random magical satyr - decides to invade the local blue-collar community. this is bad timing because our hero is dealing with some pretty heavy shit in his life. ah well, when it rains it pours i guess. anyway, at the beginning of his reign of terror (mainly kidnapping the local women folk), Super Satyr takes a huge dump in our hero's house, to illustrate his contempt. yep, i would say that that was a pretty straightforward way of being contemptuous. sometimes i wish i could be that straightforward towards people i dislike. no real grey area there, no possibility of putting a spin on things, no hemming & hawing or using euphemisms. our hero has made an enemy and his enemy wants him to know it! sigh, things are so much simpler when you're a satyr.
3) although occasionally diverting and infused with a surprising amount of empathy for its troubled protagonist, the final result for me was that the flat supporting characters, insipid dialogue, and overall lack of suspense eventually equaled lots and lots of eye-rolling and sighing and thinking surely he must have been high when he wrote this? and so forth, and so on, and so it fades from memory...
1) the horror begins when our hero and his dog Big Steve take a stroll in the woods. and there he sees a local woman, a jogger, on her knees fellating a statue of Pan. the statue slowly turns from stone to warm-blooded life. ha! i totally get where you're coming from Pan, sometimes it's those little gestures of appreciation that make me feel alive again too. anyway, after Pan enjoys lady jogger's ministrations, he proceeds to piss all over her. so that's pretty much where Pan and i have to part ways. way to ruin the moment, Pan. while this occurs, and noticing our protagonist/voyeur, Pan gives him some serious come-hither eyes that seem to be psychically saying you come over here and worship me too buddy, it'll be awesome. our hero decides it's time to run away. he'll watch a gal give a bj to a statue - but being asked to join the party is simply a bridge too far. he's not that kind of guy for chrissakes!
2) Pan - well, i'm not sure if it is actually Pan, maybe just some random magical satyr - decides to invade the local blue-collar community. this is bad timing because our hero is dealing with some pretty heavy shit in his life. ah well, when it rains it pours i guess. anyway, at the beginning of his reign of terror (mainly kidnapping the local women folk), Super Satyr takes a huge dump in our hero's house, to illustrate his contempt. yep, i would say that that was a pretty straightforward way of being contemptuous. sometimes i wish i could be that straightforward towards people i dislike. no real grey area there, no possibility of putting a spin on things, no hemming & hawing or using euphemisms. our hero has made an enemy and his enemy wants him to know it! sigh, things are so much simpler when you're a satyr.
3) although occasionally diverting and infused with a surprising amount of empathy for its troubled protagonist, the final result for me was that the flat supporting characters, insipid dialogue, and overall lack of suspense eventually equaled lots and lots of eye-rolling and sighing and thinking surely he must have been high when he wrote this? and so forth, and so on, and so it fades from memory...
March 11, 2014
This book had it all! It had the supernatural evil, characters that were REAL, and an emotional riveting storyline full of action. I found it hard to pause at parts in this book because the scenes and chapters went together so fluently. Even the "backstory" was done in such a way that it didn't take away from the NOW of the book, it merely became a part of it.
This reminded me of some of the best works of of the "old masters" of supernatural fiction, combined with Keene's modern touch. An astounding great read, IMHO.
Highly recommended!
This reminded me of some of the best works of of the "old masters" of supernatural fiction, combined with Keene's modern touch. An astounding great read, IMHO.
Highly recommended!
Read
July 17, 2017This hardcover is numbered 334 of 400 printed and is signed by Brian Keene.
May 12, 2013
Brian Keene’s Dark Hollow (originally published on my blog, jonathanjanz.com (http://jonathanjanz.com/2011/12/03/br...)
I read for a lot of reasons, not the least of which is to learn how other writers work their magic. But if I were to divorce the writer part of me from the reader part of me—something I could never completely do in a non-hypothetical world—I’d say that there are three things I want from a story:
It should make me think.
It should make me feel.
It should entertain me.
The above demands aren’t necessarily listed in order, nor are they isolated circles on a Venn diagram. No, they’d overlap and crash into each another and enhance one another and all that crap, but for now, let’s separate them for the sake of Keene’s novel. And if you somehow jumped into this post without reading the title, we’re talking about Brian Keene’s Dark Hollow today (sometimes called The Rutting Season).
Despite being the only living horror writer who has never met or corresponded with Brian Keene, I’m becoming a huge fan of his. Most folks have been reading him for a decade or so, but I only got into his stuff in the past couple of years. I realize I’m late to the party, but that’s alright by me—I’ve always been a late bloomer. So why do I like him?
One word: hoodies.
Okay, so his proclivity for eighties heavy metal aside, let me share a few other reasons. To begin with, he’s an incredible writer. Secondly, he works as hard as anyone to do right by his fans. A third reason is that he says stuff like this. And if all that isn’t enough, did I mention that he sometimes hangs out at my favorite horror forum?
So let’s talk a little about Dark Hollow, keeping in mind the three things I want from the books I read.
It should make me think: If you’ve ever read Keene, you know he pulls off the delicate balancing act of respecting those authors who have come before him without ever aping them. That’s quite a feat. In Dark Hollow it becomes apparent very early on (as early as the opening epigraph) that Keene knows he’s treading where guys like Arthur Machen, M.R. James, and Algernon Blackwood once dwelt. The antagonist of the book is unique to Keene, but when Hylinus rears his terrifying head and the woods begin to do funny things, you can’t help but remember Machen’s “The Great God Pan” or Blackwood’s “The Willows.” But because Keene’s work is so original, the memory of those other authors never distracts or diminishes the spell Keene casts. To the contrary, the largely subconscious recall of those authors and those works makes what happens in the forest even scarier than it already is.
Further, Dark Hollow does what every great horror novel should do—it makes you think about what you would do if you were placed in the protagonist’s situation. Adam Senft, Keene’s author hero, goes through hell in the book, and because Keene takes us from sympathy to empathy to identification with Senft, we can’t help but view events through his eyes and wonder just what the heck we would do if we too were faced with the horrible and the inexplicable.
Speaking of Adam Senft…
It should make me feel: Let me ask you…have you ever gone through something terrible? Have you ever watched one of your dearest loved ones experience a personal hell and felt those anguished flames consume you too? Have you ever felt incapable of performing some daunting task or felt helpless in the face of some problem? Ever been betrayed by a loved one or seen someone you love do something that was totally alien to his or her personality? And what about dogs? You like them? If so, just how much? What would you risk to keep your best canine friend alive?
The above questions only scratch the surface of the emotional turmoil that churns in Dark Hollow. I defy you to read this book and not see someone you love in Adam’s wife Tara. I defy you to remain unmoved by the anguish she and Adam are enduring. I defy you to not gasp in terror as Adam’s dog Big Steve falls into harm’s way.
How ’bout Adam’s buddies? Cliff, Dale, and Merle are so well-drawn and so likeable that you’ll be thinking back to the friends you had in your hometown (unless they were jerks). Or, if you’re lucky, they’ll make you appreciate the friends you still have. And that’s not to say the supporting cast is generic—it’s anything but. Each character is distinct without trying too hard to be. Keene doesn’t give one guy a Swedish accent and another some weird facial tic. He makes each one a living, breathing person, and that attention to detail pays off big-time in the book’s waning chapters.
It should entertain me: If you’ve come this far, you already know how much I love this book. I don’t love it just because Keene stimulates my intellect and my heart—though he stirs both of those things. I don’t love it because I can see, even from my relative newcomer’s vantage-point, that he’s constructing (or adding to) his own incredible mythos.
I love it because it thrills me.
Dark Hollow includes a blasphemous book that would make Lovecraft shudder, an episode in an abandoned house that could trade punches with Jake Chambers’s spine-tingling battle with the monstrous house in Stephen King’s The Drawing of the Three, sensory details that make the room around me disappear until I’m standing terrified in LeHorn’s Hollow, and a climax that makes good on the promise of all that came before.
So there you have it. Dark Hollow is a great read. If you’ve never read it, you should. Then you’ll know why everyone who loves horror is thankful we have Brian Keene.
I read for a lot of reasons, not the least of which is to learn how other writers work their magic. But if I were to divorce the writer part of me from the reader part of me—something I could never completely do in a non-hypothetical world—I’d say that there are three things I want from a story:
It should make me think.
It should make me feel.
It should entertain me.
The above demands aren’t necessarily listed in order, nor are they isolated circles on a Venn diagram. No, they’d overlap and crash into each another and enhance one another and all that crap, but for now, let’s separate them for the sake of Keene’s novel. And if you somehow jumped into this post without reading the title, we’re talking about Brian Keene’s Dark Hollow today (sometimes called The Rutting Season).
Despite being the only living horror writer who has never met or corresponded with Brian Keene, I’m becoming a huge fan of his. Most folks have been reading him for a decade or so, but I only got into his stuff in the past couple of years. I realize I’m late to the party, but that’s alright by me—I’ve always been a late bloomer. So why do I like him?
One word: hoodies.
Okay, so his proclivity for eighties heavy metal aside, let me share a few other reasons. To begin with, he’s an incredible writer. Secondly, he works as hard as anyone to do right by his fans. A third reason is that he says stuff like this. And if all that isn’t enough, did I mention that he sometimes hangs out at my favorite horror forum?
So let’s talk a little about Dark Hollow, keeping in mind the three things I want from the books I read.
It should make me think: If you’ve ever read Keene, you know he pulls off the delicate balancing act of respecting those authors who have come before him without ever aping them. That’s quite a feat. In Dark Hollow it becomes apparent very early on (as early as the opening epigraph) that Keene knows he’s treading where guys like Arthur Machen, M.R. James, and Algernon Blackwood once dwelt. The antagonist of the book is unique to Keene, but when Hylinus rears his terrifying head and the woods begin to do funny things, you can’t help but remember Machen’s “The Great God Pan” or Blackwood’s “The Willows.” But because Keene’s work is so original, the memory of those other authors never distracts or diminishes the spell Keene casts. To the contrary, the largely subconscious recall of those authors and those works makes what happens in the forest even scarier than it already is.
Further, Dark Hollow does what every great horror novel should do—it makes you think about what you would do if you were placed in the protagonist’s situation. Adam Senft, Keene’s author hero, goes through hell in the book, and because Keene takes us from sympathy to empathy to identification with Senft, we can’t help but view events through his eyes and wonder just what the heck we would do if we too were faced with the horrible and the inexplicable.
Speaking of Adam Senft…
It should make me feel: Let me ask you…have you ever gone through something terrible? Have you ever watched one of your dearest loved ones experience a personal hell and felt those anguished flames consume you too? Have you ever felt incapable of performing some daunting task or felt helpless in the face of some problem? Ever been betrayed by a loved one or seen someone you love do something that was totally alien to his or her personality? And what about dogs? You like them? If so, just how much? What would you risk to keep your best canine friend alive?
The above questions only scratch the surface of the emotional turmoil that churns in Dark Hollow. I defy you to read this book and not see someone you love in Adam’s wife Tara. I defy you to remain unmoved by the anguish she and Adam are enduring. I defy you to not gasp in terror as Adam’s dog Big Steve falls into harm’s way.
How ’bout Adam’s buddies? Cliff, Dale, and Merle are so well-drawn and so likeable that you’ll be thinking back to the friends you had in your hometown (unless they were jerks). Or, if you’re lucky, they’ll make you appreciate the friends you still have. And that’s not to say the supporting cast is generic—it’s anything but. Each character is distinct without trying too hard to be. Keene doesn’t give one guy a Swedish accent and another some weird facial tic. He makes each one a living, breathing person, and that attention to detail pays off big-time in the book’s waning chapters.
It should entertain me: If you’ve come this far, you already know how much I love this book. I don’t love it just because Keene stimulates my intellect and my heart—though he stirs both of those things. I don’t love it because I can see, even from my relative newcomer’s vantage-point, that he’s constructing (or adding to) his own incredible mythos.
I love it because it thrills me.
Dark Hollow includes a blasphemous book that would make Lovecraft shudder, an episode in an abandoned house that could trade punches with Jake Chambers’s spine-tingling battle with the monstrous house in Stephen King’s The Drawing of the Three, sensory details that make the room around me disappear until I’m standing terrified in LeHorn’s Hollow, and a climax that makes good on the promise of all that came before.
So there you have it. Dark Hollow is a great read. If you’ve never read it, you should. Then you’ll know why everyone who loves horror is thankful we have Brian Keene.
April 2, 2020
Mystery novelist Adam Senft started his day like any other – consuming copious amounts of coffee, chain smoking, a walk with Big Stan (his dog), and a friendly hello or two to his neighbours. Little did he know that a brief exchange with the attractive Shelly Carpenter would lead him and his fellow man down a dark and twisted path to the depths of hell itself and back again.
There is something in the woods of LeHorn’s Hollow abducting local women and murdering their partners – first described as the ‘hairy man’ this creature is soon revealed to be something much more macabre and murderous – a Satyr, a mythical half man half goat creature returned from whence it came for Spring to spread its seed and reap havoc on the town’s inhabitants.
As the story progresses and the towns history slowly unfolds the neighbours band together in a good verses evil confrontation culminating in a pulp style ending reminiscent of an 80’s horror movie - vivid, violent and utterly entertaining. Hard to be so detached from reality but still an enjoyable form of escapism – 3.5 stars.
There is something in the woods of LeHorn’s Hollow abducting local women and murdering their partners – first described as the ‘hairy man’ this creature is soon revealed to be something much more macabre and murderous – a Satyr, a mythical half man half goat creature returned from whence it came for Spring to spread its seed and reap havoc on the town’s inhabitants.
As the story progresses and the towns history slowly unfolds the neighbours band together in a good verses evil confrontation culminating in a pulp style ending reminiscent of an 80’s horror movie - vivid, violent and utterly entertaining. Hard to be so detached from reality but still an enjoyable form of escapism – 3.5 stars.
March 2, 2014
This book was pretty great! Not what i was expecting after reading Urban Gothic. The characters were very likeable, even Hylinus (I wouldn't mind reading about him) even though he was pretty evil. I learned about pow wows which i had no previous knowledge of before and even checked out Long Lost Friend. The ending was super clever and made for an awesome ending. I can't wait to start the next in the series!
August 22, 2019
Brian Keene knocks it out of the park for me again. To be honest, I was not expecting to love this book as much as I did. I had already read in other reviews about the monster present in this story, and I remember thinking, really? That doesn’t sound very scary at all. Well, I love when a favorite author, writing at the top of his game, proves me wrong, and shoves any preconceptions I had, straight down my throat. This book ended brilliantly. The entire book was fantastic, but the climax of this novel sealed the deal for me. It was brutal, and horrifying. Keene puts his characters through absolute hell, and they are so well written, you can’t help but be ripped apart too when everything goes to shit. I cringed, I cheered, I cried, and that perfect ending sent actual chills up my spine. Highly recommended!
February 22, 2015
The recipe for an effective horror story is to tell a tale whose subject matter truly frightens it's readers. Mix in likable characters who you can relate with, add a dash of suspension of disbelief, and you've got yourself the makings of a good horror yarn. Keene whipped up a batch of terror for us that I was skeptical upon first tasting it. But, after a few bites more, I couldn't put the spoon down until the bowl was licked clean. I loved Dark Hollow and I really didn't know if I was going to. He started us off with subject matter that strains on the whole suspension of disbelief. A couple women have disappeared from the small town and an old Greek satyr (half man/half goat) is behind it. That, in itself, is asking my imagination to stretch pretty far. But what Keene does next is the brilliant part. He takes the unbelievable subject matter and, not only makes you believe it, but he does so without you being aware of how he does it. That's good magic, my friends. You see, Keene mixed his unbelievable subject matter with a healthy dose of characters you can relate with. Adam, an author and the story's main character, is an everyday joe who makes his living doing what he loves. His neighborhood sidekicks all feel like people we know already. The old guy that lives with his wife and has had prostrate cancer. The wise ass that works down at the factory and rides a motorcycle. The young kid that works at WalMart and looks up to the older guys in the neighborhood. The girl behind the counter that you see every morning at the corner convenience store. Even the lovable mutt who's afraid of his own shadow. We know these characters in our own lives. At least, it feels like we do. Now, add a subject matter that frightens us. Here is where I applaud Keene. He uses the fear of a man losing his "manhood" in a way that makes you smack your forehead because you didn't think of it yourself. The fear of losing your female mate due to "not being enough of a man" is ingrained so deep down in us guys. We all feel it to some degree. That's the root of male jealousy and Keene wields it like a scalpel. Knowing just what to cut and what to leave behind. He then mixes in a well-crafted explanation of local Pennsylvanian folklore and Greek/Roman mythology to bind it all together. Well done Mr. Keene. Well done.
5 out of 5 stars
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5 out of 5 stars
You can also follow my reviews at the following links:
https://kenmckinley.wordpress.com
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/A2J1...
TWITTER - @KenMcKinley5
October 6, 2025
As a fan of horror fiction, I'm always on the lookout for good new horror writers. Sadly, most of them suck.*
I discovered Brian Keene by accident, and although this is only the second book by him that I've read, he shows promise. While I wouldn't call him an exceptionally talented writer, he nevertheless tells a riveting story with great suspense.** His characters are also well-developed, a rarity in a genre in which stereotypes abound and most characters are expendable anyway.
In "Dark Hollow", a group of suburban husbands are forced to battle an evil satyr who has stolen their wives and is hiding out in the deep woods of Pennsylvania.
Sounds silly, and it is, but it's still entertaining stuff. Keene is being touted as the next Stephen King, which I personally don't see. I do, however, see him as the next Dean Koontz, back in the day when Koontz's books filled up the bestseller lists as frequently as King's. (Must be something about horror writers whose names start with 'K'.)
* To be fair, at the time that I read this (2009), there weren't a lot of great horror writers writing. "Extreme" horror was pretty popular, but the few that I read in that genre I didn't like at all. This was long before the current explosion of really good horror writers like Stephen Graham Jones, Paul Tremblay, Grady Hendrix. I realize, too, that this is all subjective. I just don't like extreme horror, and I like the current crop of "literary" horror writers.
** The definition of a "popular" writer, as opposed to one of them fancy-pants "literary" writers
I discovered Brian Keene by accident, and although this is only the second book by him that I've read, he shows promise. While I wouldn't call him an exceptionally talented writer, he nevertheless tells a riveting story with great suspense.** His characters are also well-developed, a rarity in a genre in which stereotypes abound and most characters are expendable anyway.
In "Dark Hollow", a group of suburban husbands are forced to battle an evil satyr who has stolen their wives and is hiding out in the deep woods of Pennsylvania.
Sounds silly, and it is, but it's still entertaining stuff. Keene is being touted as the next Stephen King, which I personally don't see. I do, however, see him as the next Dean Koontz, back in the day when Koontz's books filled up the bestseller lists as frequently as King's. (Must be something about horror writers whose names start with 'K'.)
* To be fair, at the time that I read this (2009), there weren't a lot of great horror writers writing. "Extreme" horror was pretty popular, but the few that I read in that genre I didn't like at all. This was long before the current explosion of really good horror writers like Stephen Graham Jones, Paul Tremblay, Grady Hendrix. I realize, too, that this is all subjective. I just don't like extreme horror, and I like the current crop of "literary" horror writers.
** The definition of a "popular" writer, as opposed to one of them fancy-pants "literary" writers
August 8, 2010
If you like horror and suspense and reading how books are written then this will be a double treat. The main hero, Adam Senft is a decently successful writer who decided to give up his other job to write that great story that would be his ticked to solidified fame. With his wife Tara he settles into a quiet lifestyle in a home in Pennsylvania. His wife carrying the burden of commuting to work gave him time to sit back, enjoy the quiet, walk the dog and write those hot selling books. Little does he know but that peace is shattered with the arrival of spring. From the very first page the story hits off and then drops the reader back on Earth to catch up. Adam finds his neighbor, an attractive female involved in some strange activity in the LeHorn woods. Embarrassed and freaked out he starts a chain of events that brings upon him strange lust, bad luck and a horrific creature that is after every wife in town. When people start to disappear and those left act strangely little time is left before Adam's wife and his entire life is thrown into a well of chaos. Along with his friends he must get to the bottom of a mysterious nemesis that shakes his reality and to defend his territory from a menacing male - something.
Brian Keene surprised me this time, I didn't particularly like "The Conqueror Worms" and after reading it I was afraid that his style was set in stone; that another story would have random additives and would be scattered, but not so with "Dark Hollow". Was it literary genius? No, but it was darn addictive and enjoyable, it did what a good, gripping fiction book should - it enchanted the reader and gave satisfaction for reading it. I felt my teeth sink into the story until I absorbed its contents. It took me in and hardly ever stopped being great. The reason for 4 stars versus 5 ( since I am gushing about it ) is really simple; as I get older I get little tougher when I judge a book, and really only give 5 stars when it stirs my guts with a stick and makes me obsessed with what I just read - hard task, so 4 stars is not too shabby, trust me. Some of my favorite parts were reading about Adam's preparations and how he did his writing, it felt real and was such a treat.
Before I finish I must just say how proud I am of Keene for making this book steamy; he was very liberal with all sorts of naughty scenarios and wrote his book fulfilling his fantasies about just putting out that salty novel out there into the world. I saw no holding back and hopefully he can always write like this, but obviously only when necessary to the plot, gratuitous use of sex is plain fake, when the story doesn't scream for it; don't include it to avoid embarrassment- unless you're Richard Laymon. He was the king of lascivious books - at least to me and it's hard to knock him of that throne in my head. Like Laymon, Keene tapped into that channel and produced a decent read; I really enjoyed it tremendously and will try to read his other works. I know I criticized him heavily in my last review so I am trying to redeem myself, but it feels right only because this book deserved it. Fun, raunchy and actually interesting, good change from the usual gore and bloody horror, I read it on the bus, after dinner and then in bed; it was good stuff.
Brian Keene surprised me this time, I didn't particularly like "The Conqueror Worms" and after reading it I was afraid that his style was set in stone; that another story would have random additives and would be scattered, but not so with "Dark Hollow". Was it literary genius? No, but it was darn addictive and enjoyable, it did what a good, gripping fiction book should - it enchanted the reader and gave satisfaction for reading it. I felt my teeth sink into the story until I absorbed its contents. It took me in and hardly ever stopped being great. The reason for 4 stars versus 5 ( since I am gushing about it ) is really simple; as I get older I get little tougher when I judge a book, and really only give 5 stars when it stirs my guts with a stick and makes me obsessed with what I just read - hard task, so 4 stars is not too shabby, trust me. Some of my favorite parts were reading about Adam's preparations and how he did his writing, it felt real and was such a treat.
Before I finish I must just say how proud I am of Keene for making this book steamy; he was very liberal with all sorts of naughty scenarios and wrote his book fulfilling his fantasies about just putting out that salty novel out there into the world. I saw no holding back and hopefully he can always write like this, but obviously only when necessary to the plot, gratuitous use of sex is plain fake, when the story doesn't scream for it; don't include it to avoid embarrassment- unless you're Richard Laymon. He was the king of lascivious books - at least to me and it's hard to knock him of that throne in my head. Like Laymon, Keene tapped into that channel and produced a decent read; I really enjoyed it tremendously and will try to read his other works. I know I criticized him heavily in my last review so I am trying to redeem myself, but it feels right only because this book deserved it. Fun, raunchy and actually interesting, good change from the usual gore and bloody horror, I read it on the bus, after dinner and then in bed; it was good stuff.
July 17, 2008
Keene is quickly working his way into my heart as a favorite author, and “Dark Hollow” may have clinched it. If you had told me two days ago that I would read a horror story about satyrs or fauns and actually like it I probably would have cocked an eyebrow at you and asked if you were feeling okay. But I more than “Liked it,” this book was an absolute blast!
Short Summary: Adam Senft is a mystery writer who lives with his wife Tara and their dog “Big Steve” in a nice house in a quaint town, bordering an ancient mysterious wood. One day while walking Big Steve though the woods, Adam and Big Steve come across one of their female neighbors performing questionable acts on a statue… or at least it looked like a statue until it turned its head and stared at Adam. Suddenly the women in town are disappearing and the men are turning up headless… Adam and his neighbors believe it has to do with something that happened many years ago at the LeHorn farm… in the center of the dark and sinister woods.
My favorite character by far is Big Steve (yes, he’s the dog) who at times seems to be the most human of characters, and unlike most stories that include a dog, Big Steve is always there, being a good boy. The characters in this book are very real, flawed, scarred, and honest. I have always like that about Keene, his people are believable. This book grabs you right from the beginning and it’s very hard to put down. At just over 300 pages you can feasibly read it in a day. I stayed up way later than I had intended to finish this book. And the ending is typical of Keene, no the world doesn’t come crashing to the end, but there is that sense of apathetic loss that even his “happy ending” books leave you with. I wondered if Keene would have the courage to go where this book needed to go, and he did. There was quite a bit of sex and gore (the gore comes in mostly at the end) though not as much as a Laymon or Lee novel.
Now don’t get me wrong, this is no work of literary genius… what it is however, is a fun, fast paced read with a single story line (unlike many of his other works) that the reader can’t turn their eyes from. This is one of the few horror novels I’ve read in a while that makes you actually care about most of the characters, you become involved in their lives, and their routine and truly worry about them… particularly if you have read other Keene novels and know that there is a very high chance that most of them won’t make it through the book alive. I highly recommend this book to Keene fans, it is my favorite of his works so far, and I feel that this book is the type of read that fans of old school Steven King would really enjoy.
Short Summary: Adam Senft is a mystery writer who lives with his wife Tara and their dog “Big Steve” in a nice house in a quaint town, bordering an ancient mysterious wood. One day while walking Big Steve though the woods, Adam and Big Steve come across one of their female neighbors performing questionable acts on a statue… or at least it looked like a statue until it turned its head and stared at Adam. Suddenly the women in town are disappearing and the men are turning up headless… Adam and his neighbors believe it has to do with something that happened many years ago at the LeHorn farm… in the center of the dark and sinister woods.
My favorite character by far is Big Steve (yes, he’s the dog) who at times seems to be the most human of characters, and unlike most stories that include a dog, Big Steve is always there, being a good boy. The characters in this book are very real, flawed, scarred, and honest. I have always like that about Keene, his people are believable. This book grabs you right from the beginning and it’s very hard to put down. At just over 300 pages you can feasibly read it in a day. I stayed up way later than I had intended to finish this book. And the ending is typical of Keene, no the world doesn’t come crashing to the end, but there is that sense of apathetic loss that even his “happy ending” books leave you with. I wondered if Keene would have the courage to go where this book needed to go, and he did. There was quite a bit of sex and gore (the gore comes in mostly at the end) though not as much as a Laymon or Lee novel.
Now don’t get me wrong, this is no work of literary genius… what it is however, is a fun, fast paced read with a single story line (unlike many of his other works) that the reader can’t turn their eyes from. This is one of the few horror novels I’ve read in a while that makes you actually care about most of the characters, you become involved in their lives, and their routine and truly worry about them… particularly if you have read other Keene novels and know that there is a very high chance that most of them won’t make it through the book alive. I highly recommend this book to Keene fans, it is my favorite of his works so far, and I feel that this book is the type of read that fans of old school Steven King would really enjoy.
September 10, 2022
Oh no there is something horrible in the woods…. And it’s getting hold of everyone’s wives!
I read this quickly, I absolutely loved it. A little bit of humour, characters that are real people and a total legend of a dog. What the heck is not to like!? The plot moves fast, which I like. Just one narrator, BIG tick! Ancient things coming through portals…. I’m IN!!
I gave this a go because I loved Brian Keene’s ‘Ghoul’, if you like tales about monsters invading normal neighbourhoods and wreaking havoc you’ll love this.
I read this quickly, I absolutely loved it. A little bit of humour, characters that are real people and a total legend of a dog. What the heck is not to like!? The plot moves fast, which I like. Just one narrator, BIG tick! Ancient things coming through portals…. I’m IN!!
I gave this a go because I loved Brian Keene’s ‘Ghoul’, if you like tales about monsters invading normal neighbourhoods and wreaking havoc you’ll love this.
October 18, 2022
Wow! Great Halloween read, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. It has a creepy backwoods horror atmosphere. Definitely plan to continue this series soon.
July 28, 2013
As I was approaching the 2/3 mark of this novel, I was ready for it to wrap up. This is the third novel I've read by Keene, having read The Rising and Ghoul.
Of the three, I was liking this one the least. I found the dialogue to be very weak, and a little too much Goat-Man dick for my tastes.
And, hate me if you will, I was getting rather tired of the cutesy dog.
BUT.
This novel had one thing in common with the previous two that I had read: He hit a major home run with the ending.
For that, he gets a 3.5 rating, up from 2 stars. And a reader who will come back for more.
Of the three, I was liking this one the least. I found the dialogue to be very weak, and a little too much Goat-Man dick for my tastes.
And, hate me if you will, I was getting rather tired of the cutesy dog.
BUT.
This novel had one thing in common with the previous two that I had read: He hit a major home run with the ending.
For that, he gets a 3.5 rating, up from 2 stars. And a reader who will come back for more.
January 30, 2015
Ridiculous premise - check.
Real and believable characters - check.
A big Satyr erection - check.
Fun, addictive, well written - check.
What more could you want, a great read.
Real and believable characters - check.
A big Satyr erection - check.
Fun, addictive, well written - check.
What more could you want, a great read.
January 10, 2016
Great introduction to Brian Keene! I especially loved the folklore and mythology aspect of the story. Fun read!
January 10, 2015
This is the first book in what will be a six part horror series known as "The Levi Stoltzfus" saga. While our champion Levi Stolzfus does not appear in this first installment, he is briefly mentioned and the stage is definitely set by his predecessor Nelson LeHorn. For the most part however this is a self contained tale, that tells the heart breaking story of Adam Senft. Adam goes through a gut wrenching journey to protect his wife and friends, from a ancient evil who lurks deep within the dangerous wooded territory of LeHorn's Hollow. During his adventure he is accompanied by his companion Big Steve, who is probably the most believable fictional dog I have ever had the pleasure to read about. Also Adam's neighbors Dale, Merle, and Cliff assist the writer in uncovering the mystery of the missing women who vanished without a trace. The dynamic between Adam and his neighbors feels very organic, I can imagine these four being friends for years.
My favorite character had to be Big Steve who was the anchor throughout Adam Senft's journey. I could tell that Brian Keene drew inspiration for this character off of his own dog, who has recently passed not that long ago. =( While the events in Dark Hollow were fictitious, I knew Adam and his dog's relationship were based on Brian's own experiences. This really did make the book a five star rating for me. I could relate to how a dog could become someone's rock, I understood what Brian Keene was trying to say very well. As someone who loves dogs and who has lost one of his own, I couldn't help smile and gush whenever Adam and Big Steve took center spot light. Honestly it was the these small touches that makes me choose Brian Keene over Stephen King any day of the week.
Dark Hollow is a mature book that is not afraid to get a little graphic at times. The sexual encounters especially can get a little on the hot and heavy side. None of this is a bad thing in my opinion, it is definitely a different feel from Brian's previous books. It's nice to know Brian can handle graphic sex scenes, while balancing the tension and keeping the story believable. There are ramifications to these scenes, nothing happens without a heavy price to be paid by our protagonists. This is what kept me invested in our characters and the horror they all had to face down. None of the graphic situations felt pointless or gratuitous to me, since they served to underline the severity of Adam's plight.
What was most fun for me in this novel was the use of Ab's Elilum (Brother of Ob and his Siqquism from The Rising) who was a major threat in Dark Hollow. I also loved how the Daemonolateria appeared once again and how it referenced the visual appearances of many of the Thirteen. It's these small connections between his catalog of books that keeps me wanting more. It is never a chore to look for these small nods, instead it just makes reading his novels that much more of a pleasure. I like to think of all of his novels as a shared multiverse, which makes waiting for his first Labyrinth book that much of a huge payoff.
Overall I am excited to see how this series will continue to play out, the next installment is called Ghost Walk, then A Gathering of Crows is the third part, followed by Last of the Albatwitches which is the newest release. There are two more unreleased novels called Invisible Monsters and the final installment called Bad Grounds. The final two books might have a slight change in the title, but they will bring the Levi Stolzfus saga to a close, which is leaving a lot of fans on the edge of their seat in anticipation.
Special thanks to all of my friends who joined me for the Buddy read for this book. Without you guys I wouldn't be the die hard Brian Keene fan that I am now. I look forward to reading the sequel Ghost Walk with all of you soon. Until then stay away from the woods!!
Link to our buddy read: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
My favorite character had to be Big Steve who was the anchor throughout Adam Senft's journey. I could tell that Brian Keene drew inspiration for this character off of his own dog, who has recently passed not that long ago. =( While the events in Dark Hollow were fictitious, I knew Adam and his dog's relationship were based on Brian's own experiences. This really did make the book a five star rating for me. I could relate to how a dog could become someone's rock, I understood what Brian Keene was trying to say very well. As someone who loves dogs and who has lost one of his own, I couldn't help smile and gush whenever Adam and Big Steve took center spot light. Honestly it was the these small touches that makes me choose Brian Keene over Stephen King any day of the week.
Dark Hollow is a mature book that is not afraid to get a little graphic at times. The sexual encounters especially can get a little on the hot and heavy side. None of this is a bad thing in my opinion, it is definitely a different feel from Brian's previous books. It's nice to know Brian can handle graphic sex scenes, while balancing the tension and keeping the story believable. There are ramifications to these scenes, nothing happens without a heavy price to be paid by our protagonists. This is what kept me invested in our characters and the horror they all had to face down. None of the graphic situations felt pointless or gratuitous to me, since they served to underline the severity of Adam's plight.
What was most fun for me in this novel was the use of Ab's Elilum (Brother of Ob and his Siqquism from The Rising) who was a major threat in Dark Hollow. I also loved how the Daemonolateria appeared once again and how it referenced the visual appearances of many of the Thirteen. It's these small connections between his catalog of books that keeps me wanting more. It is never a chore to look for these small nods, instead it just makes reading his novels that much more of a pleasure. I like to think of all of his novels as a shared multiverse, which makes waiting for his first Labyrinth book that much of a huge payoff.
Overall I am excited to see how this series will continue to play out, the next installment is called Ghost Walk, then A Gathering of Crows is the third part, followed by Last of the Albatwitches which is the newest release. There are two more unreleased novels called Invisible Monsters and the final installment called Bad Grounds. The final two books might have a slight change in the title, but they will bring the Levi Stolzfus saga to a close, which is leaving a lot of fans on the edge of their seat in anticipation.
Special thanks to all of my friends who joined me for the Buddy read for this book. Without you guys I wouldn't be the die hard Brian Keene fan that I am now. I look forward to reading the sequel Ghost Walk with all of you soon. Until then stay away from the woods!!
Link to our buddy read: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
November 5, 2021
3.5
I’ve wanted to read a Brian Keene book for some time now and as soon as I saw one of his books was about pagan deities (Pan to be specific) I was hooked in, line and sinker.
I really enjoyed Brian’s writing and I can see why some readers love so much of his work. He writes in a very engrossing way. I found the overall concept really enjoyable and had a bit of a folk horror feel. I also loved the descriptions of the woods which painted them to be quite eerie yet magical. I also felt like the character development was pretty solid
There were parts of this that were a bit difficult to believe and ridiculous if I’m being honest so this did somewhat take away from the storyline and lowered my overall rating of the book.
Will I read more of Brian Keene’s work? Most certainly.
I’ve wanted to read a Brian Keene book for some time now and as soon as I saw one of his books was about pagan deities (Pan to be specific) I was hooked in, line and sinker.
I really enjoyed Brian’s writing and I can see why some readers love so much of his work. He writes in a very engrossing way. I found the overall concept really enjoyable and had a bit of a folk horror feel. I also loved the descriptions of the woods which painted them to be quite eerie yet magical. I also felt like the character development was pretty solid
There were parts of this that were a bit difficult to believe and ridiculous if I’m being honest so this did somewhat take away from the storyline and lowered my overall rating of the book.
Will I read more of Brian Keene’s work? Most certainly.
March 2, 2015
Excellent story about horny Satyr running amok in a small Pennsylvania town, and the people who must band together to put an end to his reign of terror.
This was well-written, like most Keene I've read, and kept me glued to it until I finished.
This was well-written, like most Keene I've read, and kept me glued to it until I finished.
July 7, 2017
There is nothing quite like mixing a little bit of mythical creature to up the ante on a horror story. Brian Keene has done a fantastic job of mixing old with new: satyrs frolicking with young ladies in the woods (alright, there was a lot more than just frolicking going on), a novelist in Pennsylvania starting his new story.
Dark Hollow certainly started off with a bang. It has one of those what? what? what? moments that makes me read on in a frenzy. It is a fast-paced story that is constantly in a building mode; Adam Senft hardly has any time to breathe, nor do the readers.
I really enjoyed how Keene built up his characters. All of them are important and detailed, they are unique, and most importantly, recognizable. My personal favorite was Big Steve, Adam’s dog. Big Steve was as unique as any of the other characters and brought some fabulous comic relief to the story.
It is hard to find an author who can properly balance the humor in a horror novel. It needs to be there, unless you go really dark, but you don’t want the story to become a horror-comedy. Keene walked this line perfectly. The tension was high, the danger was real, the story was dark and I enjoyed a chuckle or two.
As an introduction to Brain Keene, Dark Hollow was great. I now know what I should expect from him in the future and look forward to more adventures.
Dark Hollow certainly started off with a bang. It has one of those what? what? what? moments that makes me read on in a frenzy. It is a fast-paced story that is constantly in a building mode; Adam Senft hardly has any time to breathe, nor do the readers.
I really enjoyed how Keene built up his characters. All of them are important and detailed, they are unique, and most importantly, recognizable. My personal favorite was Big Steve, Adam’s dog. Big Steve was as unique as any of the other characters and brought some fabulous comic relief to the story.
It is hard to find an author who can properly balance the humor in a horror novel. It needs to be there, unless you go really dark, but you don’t want the story to become a horror-comedy. Keene walked this line perfectly. The tension was high, the danger was real, the story was dark and I enjoyed a chuckle or two.
As an introduction to Brain Keene, Dark Hollow was great. I now know what I should expect from him in the future and look forward to more adventures.
November 12, 2020
Read as book for 12-18 age despite so-called "sex-scenes" (writer should take lesson from Laymon to write such stuff properly)
Some stunning and brave quotes:
I feel i lost taste for horror for some time.
Some stunning and brave quotes:
She works the afternoon shift at the grocery store, so all morning long and all night long it’s that same crap, over and over again. ‘Yo-yo-yo.’ The bass is enough to make your ears bleed. Nobody listens to real music anymore. Just that nigger noise.”
I cringed, the way I do anytime I’m reminded that there are still small-minded racist assholes living in small-town Pennsylvania—even ones with religious slogans embroidered on their aprons.
Immediately we headed for Cliff’s friend’s house. That took us another fifteen minutes. His friend, Carl, lived on theother side of town in a ramshackle trailer. It squatted on a small lot, sandwiched between two other trailers, and looked like it had been new back in the sixties. A gray-primer-colored Trans Am and a rusty minivan sat in the driveway. The Trans Am needed a new state inspection sticker and registration, and the minivan needed its engine block lifted up and a whole new van shoved beneath it. The side panels and tailpipe were rusted out, and a large crack ran across the passenger’s side of the windshield. The yard was full of trash: junked cars, bald tires, broken children’s toys, a chipped ceramic deer, empty beer cans (Old Milwaukee, the discriminating Pennsylvanian redneck’s beer of choice), and other debris. The only thing missing was a big Confederate flag hanging from the porch. Inside the trailer somebody had the television turned up as loud as it would go. They were watching wrestling.
I feel i lost taste for horror for some time.
July 4, 2021
Here we meet writer Adam Senft, who I couldn’t stop picturing as Brian Keene himself. While out walking his dog, Big Steve, in the forest near his home he stumbles upon a fairly out-of-the ordinary scene. It’s not a spoiler to say it involves a Satyr, a half human half goat creature, like Pan. The town is affected by the strange music the goat man plays, and Adam takes it upon himself to try to rid his town of this evil.
It will be noticeable to anyone who has read a lot of Keene’s work that this is one of his earlier books, but any short comings from the writing stand point are easily over looked. The concept of using a writer as ones protagonist is nothing new, but Brian does an excellent job with Adam. He creates a likeable, real character with down to earth friends and relatable problems. With the exception of the Satyr of course.
This was the first book of Keene’s to introduce me to pow wow. I don’t know how much of what he put into this book is real or made up, but he has me convinced he is a master at the craft.
Also spread throughout this novel are neat little tie -ins with others of Keene’s work. Some are not real blatant, but some are. I always enjoy how Brian incorporates different things throughout his stories, creating his own huge universe.
Overall I really enjoyed this book. I believe it maybe one of Keene’s best as far as his characterization and storytelling go, and I didn’t want to leave Adam’s town. Luckily there is a sequel with Ghost Walk.
It will be noticeable to anyone who has read a lot of Keene’s work that this is one of his earlier books, but any short comings from the writing stand point are easily over looked. The concept of using a writer as ones protagonist is nothing new, but Brian does an excellent job with Adam. He creates a likeable, real character with down to earth friends and relatable problems. With the exception of the Satyr of course.
This was the first book of Keene’s to introduce me to pow wow. I don’t know how much of what he put into this book is real or made up, but he has me convinced he is a master at the craft.
Also spread throughout this novel are neat little tie -ins with others of Keene’s work. Some are not real blatant, but some are. I always enjoy how Brian incorporates different things throughout his stories, creating his own huge universe.
Overall I really enjoyed this book. I believe it maybe one of Keene’s best as far as his characterization and storytelling go, and I didn’t want to leave Adam’s town. Luckily there is a sequel with Ghost Walk.
Read
July 19, 2018I’m just going to say this up front, in part because I know people who would buy and read the book for what I’m about to say. In part because it was an unexpected bonus:
Boner flute.
With that out of the way: this was a good read. I have really felt like Goldie Locks this summer, starting with King’s The Outsider, which struck me as too long and drawn out. I followed up with a few books that were just too short, and were a bit rushed.
But this book was just right.
It built up the characters, and kept you moving forward with glimpses of the horror elements.
There’s a mystery that gains momentum as the story moves forward, and it builds well.
The horror strikes you in your visceral core, hitting your fear of losing the things you love, primal jealousies, etc.
Then about 3/4 in it is pepped with a bit of gore.
Something for everyone, and a boner flute to boot!
Boner flute.
With that out of the way: this was a good read. I have really felt like Goldie Locks this summer, starting with King’s The Outsider, which struck me as too long and drawn out. I followed up with a few books that were just too short, and were a bit rushed.
But this book was just right.
It built up the characters, and kept you moving forward with glimpses of the horror elements.
There’s a mystery that gains momentum as the story moves forward, and it builds well.
The horror strikes you in your visceral core, hitting your fear of losing the things you love, primal jealousies, etc.
Then about 3/4 in it is pepped with a bit of gore.
Something for everyone, and a boner flute to boot!
May 31, 2023
This was the first book by Brian Keene I read and I'm glad I finally got around to it.
I was hooked pretty much from the start and it took me a really short time to finish the book.
The premise felt very unique to me. We have a weird creature that comes from ancient mythology and we know how much I love Greek mythology. Furthermore, the coming of this creature is connected to an old dark event that happened in that town. It was interesting to look for clues and unsolve the mystery with our characters. The atmosphere is very eerie and the forest that comes to life gives a very effective contribution to the eeriness. It reminded me a little of The willows.
The characters felt very real, their friendship works and I'm glad they are the kind that just doesn't stay put, they take action right away and they are not afraid to believe. We also have another character, Big Steve the dog, who holds a special place in my heart. He is shy and terrified, but when the moment comes he's not scared to help his human friend. And I really enjoyed reading about their relationship.
In the end, a lot of feelings and the ending wasn't bad either. I will definitely read all I can by Brian Keene. I actually ordere a copy of The rising.
I was hooked pretty much from the start and it took me a really short time to finish the book.
The premise felt very unique to me. We have a weird creature that comes from ancient mythology and we know how much I love Greek mythology. Furthermore, the coming of this creature is connected to an old dark event that happened in that town. It was interesting to look for clues and unsolve the mystery with our characters. The atmosphere is very eerie and the forest that comes to life gives a very effective contribution to the eeriness. It reminded me a little of The willows.
The characters felt very real, their friendship works and I'm glad they are the kind that just doesn't stay put, they take action right away and they are not afraid to believe. We also have another character, Big Steve the dog, who holds a special place in my heart. He is shy and terrified, but when the moment comes he's not scared to help his human friend. And I really enjoyed reading about their relationship.
In the end, a lot of feelings and the ending wasn't bad either. I will definitely read all I can by Brian Keene. I actually ordere a copy of The rising.
July 24, 2011
Not since the prime of Stephen King's horror writing have I read a story that defined the genre so completely. This is the first title by Keene I have read and I am sure to read many more. Keene's writing style is seamless and down to earth. Though I have not read other offerings from the author, this would be a great place to start.
The plot is solid. A demonic satyr hiding out in a local Pennsylvania town's woods gets reanimated and terrorizes the locals. Where Keene's writing shines is the cringe worthty gory despriptions he provides. Though he excels at despriptive writing he still maintains the ability to not get too wordy in the process. The keeps the pages turning and the plot moving along.
I absolutly plan on reading more of this guys work. If the story itself didn't sell me on the author, his picture on the web site does. Anyone writer posing in an Anthrax hoodie will deffinitly write to my liking.
The plot is solid. A demonic satyr hiding out in a local Pennsylvania town's woods gets reanimated and terrorizes the locals. Where Keene's writing shines is the cringe worthty gory despriptions he provides. Though he excels at despriptive writing he still maintains the ability to not get too wordy in the process. The keeps the pages turning and the plot moving along.
I absolutly plan on reading more of this guys work. If the story itself didn't sell me on the author, his picture on the web site does. Anyone writer posing in an Anthrax hoodie will deffinitly write to my liking.
May 5, 2013
I feel sad. I read the first chapter as a sample given to me through amazon and I was hooked. I instantly bought the book online and eagerly awaited its arrival.
The story is basically about satyr that is summoned and with his magic flute, tries to steal all the town's women. The story was laughable. Nothing within this book was worth calling it a horror. I'm sad because I am a Brian Keene fan but this was something he pumped out over a weekend because he was pressured to produce or something. The satyr was hardly in the book and hardly did anything. He had no real motive accept sex which there was also not much of within the book even though so e reviews say this book is sexually driven. I will not recommend it as a readable book. Sorry, Mr. Keene. I hope the movie's better.
The story is basically about satyr that is summoned and with his magic flute, tries to steal all the town's women. The story was laughable. Nothing within this book was worth calling it a horror. I'm sad because I am a Brian Keene fan but this was something he pumped out over a weekend because he was pressured to produce or something. The satyr was hardly in the book and hardly did anything. He had no real motive accept sex which there was also not much of within the book even though so e reviews say this book is sexually driven. I will not recommend it as a readable book. Sorry, Mr. Keene. I hope the movie's better.
September 6, 2024
3.75⭐️
Haha, what to say about this one.
While I enjoyed the premise of an ancient satyr (Pan or Pan adjacent possibly?) appearing in the dark wood to entrance women into worshipping him.. I wish that was as far as it went. But… no.. no..it went farther.
The satyr has come to rape your women and take a enormous shit on your floor. Seriously.
And I could have forgiven the repeated mention of the giant satyr dong had Keene not killed off (blank) (I’m not spoiling it).
3.75 stars because I thoroughly enjoyed the characters and couldn’t help laughing at the absurdity of what I was reading at times. Oh and the ending was pretty perfect. I’d read it again. 🤷🏼♀️
Haha, what to say about this one.
While I enjoyed the premise of an ancient satyr (Pan or Pan adjacent possibly?) appearing in the dark wood to entrance women into worshipping him.. I wish that was as far as it went. But… no.. no..it went farther.
The satyr has come to rape your women and take a enormous shit on your floor. Seriously.
And I could have forgiven the repeated mention of the giant satyr dong had Keene not killed off (blank) (I’m not spoiling it).
3.75 stars because I thoroughly enjoyed the characters and couldn’t help laughing at the absurdity of what I was reading at times. Oh and the ending was pretty perfect. I’d read it again. 🤷🏼♀️
May 20, 2015
I was going through boxes of books the other night and I stumbled upon my Brian Keene collection of paperbacks. Each time I fished one out I would look at my dog, Chi-Chi, and say out loud, "I need to read this one again." And when I got to Dark Hollow, I decided that I would do just that. I must admit, I was a bit worried, I recalled loving this book. What if I didn't like it as much this time?
Well, I finished it today, and I have to say, it was even better the second time around. Hilarious, heartfelt, scary, tense, uplifting, and sad. Read it! Then read it again.
Well, I finished it today, and I have to say, it was even better the second time around. Hilarious, heartfelt, scary, tense, uplifting, and sad. Read it! Then read it again.
October 27, 2021
Holy fuck! An epic book right here. Forget everything you think you know about the lowly Satyr. This is mean, meeeeeean horror. I love it. 🤌🏻♥️
5/5 ☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️
5/5 ☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️
August 21, 2020
A fun and fast read by Keene! Keene continues to expand as an author, which is great. His workman like prose yields better characters with every book he writes as well. This story is set in a small town in Eastern Pennsylvania, with the main character (Adam) and up and coming mystery writer. I usually do not like it when authors utilize authors as main characters (I am thinking of King here), but Keene pulls it off. Adam has a routine-- early morning walk with his dog, a morning of writing, etc.. One morning, however, Adam and Big Steve the dog wonder into the woods adjoining the town and find a strange scene-- the opening lines of the book: "It was on the first day of spring that Big Steve and I saw Shelly Carpenter giving head to the hairy man." Adam and his dog make like the wind and blow, and then the story begins.
It seems Shelly has awakened a satyr, whose magical flute makes anyone super horny. Women start disappearing into the woods and the police are baffled. Adam and some of his neighbors (old timers) speculate that the satyr may have been a product of 'powwow', a fusion of European and native american beliefs early settlers utilized for good luck charms, healing and so forth. A farmer, LeHorn, was said to be a powerful powwow wizard and went missing about 20 years in mysterious circumstances, and the flute noises seem to be coming from the forest in the direction of his old homestead...
On the one hand, this is a 'black magic' novel, with spells employed for various good and not so good things, but on the other hand, it is a classic monster novel, with a hyper sexual satyr being the villain. The story flows smoothly and the ending is quite apt. 3.5 goat bleats.
It seems Shelly has awakened a satyr, whose magical flute makes anyone super horny. Women start disappearing into the woods and the police are baffled. Adam and some of his neighbors (old timers) speculate that the satyr may have been a product of 'powwow', a fusion of European and native american beliefs early settlers utilized for good luck charms, healing and so forth. A farmer, LeHorn, was said to be a powerful powwow wizard and went missing about 20 years in mysterious circumstances, and the flute noises seem to be coming from the forest in the direction of his old homestead...
On the one hand, this is a 'black magic' novel, with spells employed for various good and not so good things, but on the other hand, it is a classic monster novel, with a hyper sexual satyr being the villain. The story flows smoothly and the ending is quite apt. 3.5 goat bleats.
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