A nightmarish tale of revenge, anguish, and human connection, BY THE LIGHT OF HIS LANTERN is thrilling, chilling, and heartfelt in equal measure...
Naked in the sand, Lewis coughs seawater from his lungs. Disoriented, he blinks his eyes, rubs them for good measure, but the result is the same. The sky is as black as the beach below it. In this place, the sun and moon and stars are long dead. But the darkness, full of eyes and teeth, is very much alive.
Others like him say it’s a curse. Someone he knows has sentenced him to an eternity here, and now Lewis must ask himself if it’s an eternity he deserves. Guided only by his own hands, hunted by otherworldly forces, it’s up to him to scour the darkness of his past in search of his own redemption.
Abe Moss has been writing horror stories for as long as he can remember, and hopes to never stop. He loves creature-features, psychological horror, supernatural horror, cosmic horror, you name it. With each book he writes, he hopes to try something a little different. The possibilities are endless and that's what he really loves about storytelling. He hopes you'll enjoy his stories, too!
I struggled with this one. The writing style was grating and I felt confused for most of the story. I have AP enjoyed Moss' works before and hope to enjoy more but this one just wasn't my cup of tea.
By The Light of His Lantern by Abe Moss Love, love, love this author Abe Moss he does not disappoint! This book had me from page one and had me to the very end. Very well developed characters that you come to know and understand, I do not want to give anything away on this book, it is one that should definitely be read by horror fans everywhere! I received an ARC for free and leave me opinion voluntarily, that being said I would and will be buying this book for other family members!
This was a really neat and inventive concept but, sadly, there wasn’t enough of a story to warrant 400+ pages. Moss is very compelling writer, though, so even when his books aren’t slam dunks they’re still worth reading.
>> Abe Moss’ creativity and imagination are unique among the many authors whose fiction I have read. This book is particularly wild, about a guy who finds himself in an unknown place of darkness (the lantern of the title becomes essential), and the woman who initially has an unspecified connection to him back in our world. Of course the link between them gradually becomes more clear, as supernatural stuff happens. Among his many gifts as a writer, Moss has a knack for how to wrap things up; this story has a satisfying ending.
I just finished reading By the Light of His Lantern. And, as I sit here in sort of a stunned silence, my mind is lost in admiration of the things I’ve been reading for the past week or two (yes, I’m a slow, but thorough reader). Abe Moss has a hell of a way with words; a hell of a way with detail too. His ability to make his characters—virtually all of them—so alive and real is so profound and so remarkable that I’m in awe of his talent. I thought I was the only one, for example, who was weird enough to ponder the things I observe in different people at different times, the only one to odd enough to wonder what someone is thinking about or motivated by in this situation or that. Mr. Moss is clearly a keen student of life and of people. One of the great differences between he and I, however, is that whereas I can’t begin to articulate how I feel about my observations and thoughts, he is. And man, is he ever.
By the Light of His Lantern isn’t just a horror novel, though. It’s a beautifully-crafted look into the lives of others; into the minds and hearts of people like all of us but in exquisite and sometimes painful detail. Within its pages you’ll find poignant and powerful trauma and emotion, healing and forgiveness, searching and finding, and of course, plenty of horror. This author writes not just what is happening, but what the characters are really feeling and going through, changing what would be just a really good novel and narrative into something far greater than the sum of its parts.
I came to love, hate, feel sorry for and to despise all of the people (and creatures) I encountered within this novel’s pages. I silently cheered them on or found myself hoping for their demise. As time went by and the stories—for there are many within its pages—took their course, I forgave characters I hated initially and began to hope for their happiness and safety. I became deeply invested in their lives...not just interested in what happened to them, but more and more deeply concerned with what befell them and wha they felt about it.
To say this is not what I expected from a horror novel would be an understatement. Oh, the horror is there—in all of its terrible glory, and there are enough scares and creepy turns to satisfy the most jaded horror fan—but I found so much more than I was looking for. And that made all the difference for me. It elevated Mr. Moss’ creations and characters and worlds to an entirely different level. It raised them to a point that they became real and tangible for me. And THAT’S what makes good writing into gorgeous writing for me. And it’s something Mr. Moss does beautifully and with the greatest skill.
So, despite the fact I’ve not touched upon the story contained within this novel at all in my review (there are many other reviews here better than I at that, for sure) I’ve tried to just elaborate on what I FELT and how much I enjoyed myself while reading By the Light of His Lantern. I hope you’ll do yourself a favor and dive into this strange tale and see if it doesn’t do for you what it did for me.
***NOTE*** I was provided a free copy of this book by Book Sirens for an honest review ***NOTE*** By the Light of his Lantern had a very interesting premise. The beginning was very unsettling - Lewis wakes up on a beach, in pitch blackness, not knowing where he is or remembering what happened. He thinks for a time that he has gone blind, but finds out that what has happened is worse than mere blindness. He learns that he is in a place of suffering to pay for terrible thing he has done. The book also introduces us to Catherine, the woman who Lewis has wronged. We learn everything eventually, but it does take a while to really figure out what is going on. I won't go into any further detail, as I don't want to give any spoilers. Overall, I did like this book. I did, however, feel that it was a little too long. There was some time spent on unnecessary (in my opinion) aspects of Catherine's life and on the place where Lewis finds himself. Also, there were some characters introduced that didn't seem to lead anywhere. I was left wondering why those parts and people were introduced, as I didn't feel that they added anything to the story. The character dialog also felt a little strange and stilted. I didn't feel like all the different characters had their own voices - they all seemed to blur together. But the overall story did keep me interested through to the end. I think that if some of the extraneous stuff had been cut out, and the story a been a bit more streamlined, it would have had better pacing and I would have liked it more. I do think that this was a promising story from an author I had not read before, and I would be interested in reading other stories by this author.
Really this is a 3.5 star book. It was very consistently engaging and there were some creative horror ideas. It was also well written, easy to read and an unobtrusive style. So why not more stars, you may ask? Because the one thing lacking was a complete and clear picture of almost any of the characters.
The main male character (the one cursed) is the most complete, but even still I felt like there were holes missing in my knowledge and understanding of the character. It may not have mattered except that such things were questioned or mentioned on occasion but still never answered or clarified (like DID he have a job, and doing what, and why wasn't he missed after weeks?). The other characters felt even less whole, so I never got a full sense of who they were and their motivations. Again, there was enough there to make me feel there should be more. They were not flat or two-dimensional, just missing pieces, if that makes any sense. That was enough that it detracted from my enjoying the book as much as I might otherwise. But I wouldn't hesitate to read something from this author again!
Excellent! A man is trapped in a nightmarish dreamworld because of a curse, while the woman who put the curse on him is having second thoughts and trying to get it taken off. Enthralling and full of surprises. I want to read more of this author.
Abe Moss has secured a place among my favorite horror authors, and this latest book only confirms his talent. Despite having already devoured his previous works, I opened this one without reading the synopsis, trusting in Moss's ability to captivate. And I wasn't disappointed.
Right from the start, the book plunges the reader into a dark and ominous world where one of the main characters is trapped. We're left to wonder why and how he got there, but Moss expertly feeds us the pieces of the puzzle as the story progresses. The narrative alternates between this dark realm and our own, following two characters whose lives are entwined in ways that become increasingly clear as the plot unfolds.
While the overall outcome may be somewhat predictable, the brilliance of Moss's writing lies in how he brings it to fruition. He deftly weaves together themes of heartbreak, loss, and redemption, crafting a tale that is both emotionally impactful and thoroughly engrossing. By the end, he's delivered a satisfying conclusion that leaves a lasting impression on the reader.
This book had the coolest concept and although I generally enjoyed reading it, I am super disappointed with the direction the author took it in. This book had the potential to be the most creepy, atmospheric, chaotic story ever and it started off feeling that way - especially the scene with the Inn. I wanted the whole book to make me feel afraid and claustrophobic but the ambiguity started going away after that. I didn't love switching back and forth between Lewis and Catherine's perspectives that much but it didn't bother me. What upsets me about this book is that a lot of things happen that ended up not meaning anything or not being fully explored. The ending felt rushed and not very satisfying. The writing itself was decent so I'll definitely heck out more of Abe Moss's books. I'm just sad that such a wicked idea didn't feel like it reached its full potential!
I must say, this wasn't my favorite book by Abe Moss. His books usually suck me in pretty quickly and I'll binge read until I'm finished. It took me over 150 pages before I started to feel any kind of interest in this one. I kept going cause, well, it's Abe Moss. I loved the concept of someone being cursed and being trapped in a dark land doomed to live in fear for eternity. Some interesting characters were met along the way. Catherine, the one who cast the curse, was a weird woman and her daughter was a bit odd too. I'm confused as to why Joy was in the dark realm but liked how she helped Lewis in the end. An interesting read but it was slow going at times and the ending was fairly quick leaving me with other questions. Book was well written. Just feel it could have been a lot shorter.
This book started off with a bang and held my attention through several chapters. For some reason I can't explain, it felt like it began to drag. A book like this, I can usually power through in a couple of hours. This one took me about two weeks to get from 30% - 70% through. I couldn't walk away from it, but I also wasn't engaged enough to complete it. After that 70% mark it caught my interest again and I was able to finish the book in a final sitting. Overall, it was a good read. I loved the premise of this book, what the MC goes through, etc... This has more to do with my 4 star rating than the actual entirety of the novel. There's just something about the middle of this book that dragged for me. You should read the sample and decide for yourself.
Five great big stars. I really liked this! This was a great story and so amazingly creative. I've read quite a few horror and sci fi novels but none like this. It grabbed me from the first page and made me want to know what would happen next. I don't even know what to compare it to. It's so different from anything else I've ever read, so imaginative. It was easy to see myself in Lewis's predicament and it was horrifying. Like being in a never ending nightmare. There are a few novels I've read in my life that I will never forget. This is one of them. I'm now following this author on Facebook. I won't post any spoilers. That's why I generally make my reviews short. If you like horror or fantasy, just read this. Hopefully you'll enjoy it as much as I did.
This story had two plot lines going, although they of course were intertwined. I really found the woman in the real world more interesting because her story was clear. The horror part of this, with the younger man in the dark land, was a little more confused. He was mostly passive, while beasts and people attacked him. He sort of seemed to want to get out, but he wasn't doing anything except wandering around.
There was also a vivisection, which I really can't handle, so I skimmed that part. I much prefer the psychological side of horror than blood and gore. This had both, but the scary seemed to lean toward physical horror.
Excellently plotted story with engaging, well-drawn characters and pacing that makes it really, really hard to put down because, oh my lord, you NEED to know what is going to happen next. The dark world is horrifying and parts made me squirm -- Mr. Moss played the edge perfectly for me, not going over the top and making violence the key feature of the story, but instead wielding it as bloody underscores to the confusion, the peril, the desperation, and the mounting despair Lewis experiences. A really damn good read. Do yourself a favour and read it.
Abe Moss is good and getting better. He knows how to tell a story, and his characters are real. In this book, a grieving mother takes an ugly step for revenge, then begins to regret it when it might be too late. The whole world of the curse is an imaginative journey into darkness. I cared about the man, both daughters, the friend, and especially the mother herself. I don't want to give away any plot details, so I'll just say if you like your horror gritty, but with heart, pick up a couple of Abe Moss books and prepare for some sleepless nights.
This was a decent book; Abe Moss always tells great stories. The themes of grief, despair, vengeance, growth and hope illuminate this story. Each character had their own voice. Everything started off confusing and new, which is appropriate. I just wish we knew more about Lewis and his back story. More background information for the dark world would also be helpful, but I understand why leaving it mysterious or unknown is important. I hope these characters can all move on and find some peace and happiness; yes, I know they are fictional.
Wow, where does one begin after reading this book and leaving a review. I can count on two hands books that have affected me like this. There was just so much to this story that a review would not do it justice. Suffice it to say that this was a fantastic tale told by a very talented writer. I can definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants to immerse themselves into a fantastical story.
An intense novel of damnation and the struggle to forgive. The macabre horror does not let up, with one main character awakening in a horrific landscape of torment and another enduring mental and emotional anguish that gives clues to the reason behind the first one's fate.
The author quickly proves himself a master of strange and fantastic worldbuilding as well as a story that hints at things rather than lays everything out.
What happened to the sword? It went MIA early on and I thought I must've missed it's disappearing, but it bugged me enough to double check after I finished the book. I found no account of Lewis losing possession of the sword. Lewis doesn't even miss it when it would come in handy. Oh! And Caroline didn't mix any powder with her blood at the end. Ergo, only 4 stars.
Well it took me almost two years to finish this book for some reason. I read half and put it down but could never get the story and imagery out of my head. Then when I picked it up again I finished the second half in one day. This book is amazing. It is so interesting and unique, but more than that you truly come to care about the characters - which is huge for me. I loved every moment of this book and cried like crazy at the end.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and look forward to reading more by Abe Moss. The characters were intriguing and lifelike, the story unique. I loved the ending. I read it almost straight through and looked forward to when I could get back to finishing it. What an interesting story!
This was really good. Seriously, I was quite impressed. Although I never got the "older Stephen King" vibe that many other reviews mentioned, it really didn't need it. In fact, this book does just fine on its own, with no comparisons to anyone. A really enjoyable reading experience.
He needs to find the light before they catch up with him before they kill him again. He keeps getting killed before waking up in the same beach. Will he ever stop them killing him again? Can he find the light? See if he can
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Abe Moss is a great writer!! If you are new to reading him, try this book and then 'The Dread Void' books of 4. This is such an unusual story! Man, would it make a great movie! Sometimes Catherine got on my nerves, and trying to imagine the 'darkness' and his getting around with the light from the little lantern!
I love this author. That being said this book was a little boring and tedious in parts and was not my favorite. I couldn’t put down his other books. This one I Honestly pushed myself to finish. He is a really good author with an amazing imagination, he writes very well. But this one was not his best.
Every book I've read by Abe Moss is a wild ride I don't want to get off of. I've recommended him to all my horror fan friends. His imagination is very unique so you'll never guess what's coming next.
Wonderfully written, a captivating tale of a man who’s done something wrong. What would you do if you could actually curse someone who hurt your life. And more interesting is where would the person in the curse go.