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The Illuminad #1
Dark Hilarity
Tara Dufrain and Nicola Morgan are eleven year old girls growing up in the ‘90s, obsessed by Valentine Killshot, a metal screamo band. In particular, they’re enamoured by the lead singer, the mysterious yet charismatic Jed Maine who bears the epithet 'The Cretin'. In Jed’s lyrics, he describes a world beyond the Dark Stars that he hopes one day to reach. The girls think it’s all just make-believe they share together, until a freak, traumatic incident makes this world very real.
As adults, Tara and Nicola try to come to terms with the devastating catastrophe that changed their lives growing up, but to do so they will have to step once more into Jed Maine’s world, and confront the man who took everything from them.
Dark Hilarity is My Best Friend’s Exorcism meets The Never-Ending Story, a fantasy that explores addiction, depression, and the healing power of friendship.
As adults, Tara and Nicola try to come to terms with the devastating catastrophe that changed their lives growing up, but to do so they will have to step once more into Jed Maine’s world, and confront the man who took everything from them.
Dark Hilarity is My Best Friend’s Exorcism meets The Never-Ending Story, a fantasy that explores addiction, depression, and the healing power of friendship.
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 29, 2021
13 people are currently reading
178 people want to read
About the author
Joseph Sale
61 books62 followersJoseph Sale is an author and filmmaker. He has published more than 30 books, including The Book of Thrice Dead, Virtue’s End, Dark Hilarity, and The Claw of Craving. He is drawn to the baroque, the spiritual, and the mythic like a moth to flame.
He lives in the south of England with his wonderful family, where he obsesses over table-top RPGs, trading card games, book bindery, esoteric Christianity, and anime.
He lives in the south of England with his wonderful family, where he obsesses over table-top RPGs, trading card games, book bindery, esoteric Christianity, and anime.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
September 21, 2021
Dark Hilarity is the first book in The Illuminad Series by Joseph Sale. (I will be getting my hands on book 2 quick, fast and in a hurry!) While it is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone and both books currently out in the series are described as fantasy/horror, which I completely agree with as far as Dark Hilarity.
Joseph Sale has quite the resume - he has at last count published 10 novels since 2014 while also working as an editor and writing coach. I can vouch for his work as an editor because several of the authors he has worked with, I have read.
Dark Hilarity was first published in 2021 by The Writing Collective in Great Britain and is included in Kindle Unlimited if you have that subscription service.
The title made me suspect this story would have some comedic relief, but that turned out to be quite the opposite: it was due to the world being created by gods who then sat back and laughed at how its inhabitants struggled to survive. It is also a translation - Dark Hilarity is what the word 'Dae'eshta' translates to in English. Which brings up an element that I loved - this book and the world of Dae'eshta had it's own language. I thought that was a fantastic touch.
The reason I read this book is because it came across my radar when the author reached out to me and asked if I'd like to read a standalone fantasy novel that was under 400 pages. How could I resist? Standalone fantasy books are as rare as unicorns...ESPECIALLY ones that aren't bricks (I'm looking at you, Brandon Sanderson!) Now, that said, this is not the type of fantasy where you will find epic world building and complex magic systems. We spend the majority of the time in our real world setting and one could argue the fantasy element we get here is perhaps all in one's mind or dreams. You'll have to judge that for yourselves...
It's going to be really difficult to briefly summarize the plot, because there is just so much covered in this story. It starts in 1997 - our two main characters, eleven year old Tara and Nicola have just become friends, having their first sleepover. Tara is awakened with the first of many visits by a visit from a terrifying "wolfman" who whispers to her from the corner of her bedroom.
As the months go by, the girls friendship strengthens over their love of a popular band, Valentine Killshot. The way they are described as acting over album releases, concert announcements, magazine articles - so relatable - everyone has felt this way about something as a young tween. The girls spent many, many hours listening the band's albums on repeat and discovered a theme to the songs: a world called Dae'eshta and its inhabitants and cities they lived in.
Dae'eshta is real. The lead singer of Valentine Killshot, Jed Maine - he goes there often and has finally discovered a way to go there and take his physical body and stay forever. The only problem is how he pays for permanent passage into this fantasy world....
It all comes to a head the night that Tara's mother takes the two girls to see Valentine Killshot in concert. What started out as the best night in their lives takes a deadly turn that results in tragedy, trauma, relationships and lives destroyed and left in ruin and.....vengeance.
Joseph Sale has quite the resume - he has at last count published 10 novels since 2014 while also working as an editor and writing coach. I can vouch for his work as an editor because several of the authors he has worked with, I have read.
Dark Hilarity was first published in 2021 by The Writing Collective in Great Britain and is included in Kindle Unlimited if you have that subscription service.
The title made me suspect this story would have some comedic relief, but that turned out to be quite the opposite: it was due to the world being created by gods who then sat back and laughed at how its inhabitants struggled to survive. It is also a translation - Dark Hilarity is what the word 'Dae'eshta' translates to in English. Which brings up an element that I loved - this book and the world of Dae'eshta had it's own language. I thought that was a fantastic touch.
The reason I read this book is because it came across my radar when the author reached out to me and asked if I'd like to read a standalone fantasy novel that was under 400 pages. How could I resist? Standalone fantasy books are as rare as unicorns...ESPECIALLY ones that aren't bricks (I'm looking at you, Brandon Sanderson!) Now, that said, this is not the type of fantasy where you will find epic world building and complex magic systems. We spend the majority of the time in our real world setting and one could argue the fantasy element we get here is perhaps all in one's mind or dreams. You'll have to judge that for yourselves...
It's going to be really difficult to briefly summarize the plot, because there is just so much covered in this story. It starts in 1997 - our two main characters, eleven year old Tara and Nicola have just become friends, having their first sleepover. Tara is awakened with the first of many visits by a visit from a terrifying "wolfman" who whispers to her from the corner of her bedroom.
As the months go by, the girls friendship strengthens over their love of a popular band, Valentine Killshot. The way they are described as acting over album releases, concert announcements, magazine articles - so relatable - everyone has felt this way about something as a young tween. The girls spent many, many hours listening the band's albums on repeat and discovered a theme to the songs: a world called Dae'eshta and its inhabitants and cities they lived in.
Dae'eshta is real. The lead singer of Valentine Killshot, Jed Maine - he goes there often and has finally discovered a way to go there and take his physical body and stay forever. The only problem is how he pays for permanent passage into this fantasy world....
It all comes to a head the night that Tara's mother takes the two girls to see Valentine Killshot in concert. What started out as the best night in their lives takes a deadly turn that results in tragedy, trauma, relationships and lives destroyed and left in ruin and.....vengeance.
October 8, 2021
I think I’m landing on 3.75 but rounding up for GR. I absolutely adored these characters
February 3, 2021
I’ve been a fan or Joseph Sale for many years now, and Dark Hilarity may be his best work to date. This visceral novel is unsettling in the way it gets under your skin, ominous in tone and mood, haunting in both the concrete and the abstract. Shades of China Mieville and The Weaver tripping across the sprawling web of reality are mixed with the atmosphere and tension of The Howling to create a powerful and immersive but ultimately hopeful experience.
December 12, 2020
A fantasy masterpiece that introduces the reader to a rich, engrossing new world.
Tweens Tara and Nicola bond over their love for Valentine Killshot’s music and the dark world that lead singer, Jed Main, describes in the lyrics. However, a tragic event destroys both girls worlds. Seven years later, when Tara is in trouble, Nicola will move heaven and earth to get her friend back.
I loved the portal world the characters travelled to. At times reminiscent of Narnia, at other times painted like China Melville’s dark cities, the world is a love letter to Dungeons and Dragons even as it is essentially Sale’s, most notably in the Dark Stars that watch and the Laughing God who presides over all.
Tara and Nicola are compelling characters. There is simmering romantic tension between the pair from the get go, and despite battling drug addiction and a dark past, Nicola is Tara’s white knight, racing to the rescue. If I have any criticism, is that I was hoping for more agency for Tara in the final act, and a better resolution between the two women.
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Tweens Tara and Nicola bond over their love for Valentine Killshot’s music and the dark world that lead singer, Jed Main, describes in the lyrics. However, a tragic event destroys both girls worlds. Seven years later, when Tara is in trouble, Nicola will move heaven and earth to get her friend back.
I loved the portal world the characters travelled to. At times reminiscent of Narnia, at other times painted like China Melville’s dark cities, the world is a love letter to Dungeons and Dragons even as it is essentially Sale’s, most notably in the Dark Stars that watch and the Laughing God who presides over all.
Tara and Nicola are compelling characters. There is simmering romantic tension between the pair from the get go, and despite battling drug addiction and a dark past, Nicola is Tara’s white knight, racing to the rescue. If I have any criticism, is that I was hoping for more agency for Tara in the final act, and a better resolution between the two women.
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
April 6, 2021
Joseph Sale’s Dark Hilarity is an unpredictable novel, part horror, part portal fantasy that does a fantastic job in bringing both the real world and the fantasy land of Dae’eshta to life. Sale creates likeable protagonists in Tara and Nicola, and captures the way eleven-year-olds would become obsessed with their favourite band. As Tara’s and Nicola’s childhood is tragically ripped away from them Sale also shows how they deal with the trauma in a convincing way. Coupled with this is the fantasy land of Dae’eshta, that which is sung about in the songs of the girls’ favourite band Valentine Killshot. Sale does a great job of bringing this world to life with vivid details. It’s very much a story of overcoming demons, and a satisfying read.
October 4, 2022
Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐🌟(4,75 out of 5 stars)
Review: https://vueltaspodcast.wordpress.com/...
Interview: https://vueltaspodcast.wordpress.com/...
Dark Hilarity is the first book in the dark fantasy/horror series The Illuminad, by Joseph Sale. Honestly, I can't think of a better book to read during Spooktober, as it is a great mix between fantasy and psychological horror, in a way that remembers me of some of Stephen King's works; and also despite being part of a series, it can be read totally as a standalone.
Let's start by saying that is a really unique novel, and that I needed some days to process what I read before writing a coherent review; it heavily impacted me, especially because in some ways it also mimics partly Clive Barker's books, bringing the visceral elements to the horror. We are introduced to Nicola and Tara, two eleven years old kids who became friends, as they share a common interest in Valentine Killshot, a heavy metal group, whose songs mainly describe a world beyond the stars that his singer hopes to reach.
Probably, this is my favourite part of the whole novel, which is meanwhile Tara and Nicola are teens. Sale does an excellent job of weaving the psychology behind the characters, on how the circumstances that are part of our teen MCs push them to like Valentine Killshot, as their lyrics are basically an escape way from their hard lives. We are also introduced to Jed Maine, the lead singer of Valentine Killshot, and his drug-powered travels to another world. All of these elements lead Tara and Nicola to go to the last Valentine Killshot concert, and everything that happens after, which will impact Tara and Nicola for the rest of their lives.
The second element that stands out in Dark Hilarity is Dae'shta. I'm trying to avoid as much as possible to introduce spoilers in this review, but after some things happen, we are transported to another world, Dae'shta, becoming the second part of Dark Hilarity a portal fantasy. But a really special one, as the journey that Tara and Nicola will experiment in that world, is different from what I've seen in most of that genre, and it becomes a trip that will be against their own experiences, and that will work as a way of self-discovery. Dae'shta itself is a really interesting universe, full of allegories that can be read between lines, deserving each one their own article (Joseph Sale explained a little bit about it in the interview we had); and I found myself stopping every few lines, trying to visualize what it was described in the book, as multiple creatures and places are just memorable.
In summary, Dark Hilarity is an excellent mix of psychological horror and portal fantasy, which I enjoyed greatly. I needed some days to think about what I read, because it's certainly really unique, and in some ways, mind-twisting; processing all took a certain time. Despite being part of a series, it is a perfect standalone, and if you want a great book to read during Spooktober, Dark Hilarity is for you.
Review: https://vueltaspodcast.wordpress.com/...
Interview: https://vueltaspodcast.wordpress.com/...
Dark Hilarity is the first book in the dark fantasy/horror series The Illuminad, by Joseph Sale. Honestly, I can't think of a better book to read during Spooktober, as it is a great mix between fantasy and psychological horror, in a way that remembers me of some of Stephen King's works; and also despite being part of a series, it can be read totally as a standalone.
Let's start by saying that is a really unique novel, and that I needed some days to process what I read before writing a coherent review; it heavily impacted me, especially because in some ways it also mimics partly Clive Barker's books, bringing the visceral elements to the horror. We are introduced to Nicola and Tara, two eleven years old kids who became friends, as they share a common interest in Valentine Killshot, a heavy metal group, whose songs mainly describe a world beyond the stars that his singer hopes to reach.
Probably, this is my favourite part of the whole novel, which is meanwhile Tara and Nicola are teens. Sale does an excellent job of weaving the psychology behind the characters, on how the circumstances that are part of our teen MCs push them to like Valentine Killshot, as their lyrics are basically an escape way from their hard lives. We are also introduced to Jed Maine, the lead singer of Valentine Killshot, and his drug-powered travels to another world. All of these elements lead Tara and Nicola to go to the last Valentine Killshot concert, and everything that happens after, which will impact Tara and Nicola for the rest of their lives.
The second element that stands out in Dark Hilarity is Dae'shta. I'm trying to avoid as much as possible to introduce spoilers in this review, but after some things happen, we are transported to another world, Dae'shta, becoming the second part of Dark Hilarity a portal fantasy. But a really special one, as the journey that Tara and Nicola will experiment in that world, is different from what I've seen in most of that genre, and it becomes a trip that will be against their own experiences, and that will work as a way of self-discovery. Dae'shta itself is a really interesting universe, full of allegories that can be read between lines, deserving each one their own article (Joseph Sale explained a little bit about it in the interview we had); and I found myself stopping every few lines, trying to visualize what it was described in the book, as multiple creatures and places are just memorable.
In summary, Dark Hilarity is an excellent mix of psychological horror and portal fantasy, which I enjoyed greatly. I needed some days to think about what I read, because it's certainly really unique, and in some ways, mind-twisting; processing all took a certain time. Despite being part of a series, it is a perfect standalone, and if you want a great book to read during Spooktober, Dark Hilarity is for you.
March 20, 2021
First things first, I know Joseph, he’s my editor and friend... but before that I just knew him as a writer, a mighty fine writer at that... and if I’m honest, although he’s my friend and editor now, he’ll always remain a writer first and foremost, and that’s how I judge his work!
Dark Hilarity is a cosmic horror fantasy book that blends genre at ease, with the subtle merging of specific genre elements and tropes into a rich tapestry that there is no mistaking of its beauty. Or it’s horrifying brilliance. It’s like staring at Auguste Rodin’s ‘Gates Of Hell’ the longer you sit there and appreciate the work the more it plays on your mind, it’s just a masterpiece and quite possibly Sale’s finest work to date!
Sale has taught me a lot as an editor and the main thing I’ve gleaned from his brilliance is pacing and story structure and with Dark Hilarity one can’t help but be swept up into this nightmare, this cosmic world that Sale has painstakingly pieced together, it’s an experience that will live long in the mind and the imagination. I was a huge fan of Save Game - where Sale’s world building blew me away, but with Dark Hilarity I felt like Sarah Connor holding that chain linked fence in T2 - the power of Sale’s imagination is a nuclear blast, one that peels the flesh from your bones and turns those bones to dust!
One of the huge selling points of this book, if we take away the stunning story is the characters, it’s something Sale does well, but in Dark Hilarity there is a fullness to his cast of character like never before. The first and secondary characters, and the many entities we discover along the way (however fleetingly) are fully rounded and relatable with each adding to the story’s depth. Sale also has a flair for writing despicable characters and Jed Maine (cretin) is one such sorry son of a bitch I couldn’t help falling in love with!
Wolfhead again another fabulous character is in my mind one of the best characters of the lot - he’s a twisted and darker version of Mr. Tumnus from ‘The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe’ and is our guide to this new world, he’s learned and wise and helps Tara do what needs to be done however much it pains him to do so. Also his introduction into the story was one of the most tension filled moments of writing I’ve read in a long time, and that scene in particular will stay with me probably forever - I just bloody loved it!
There are many writers that I feel this work draws comparisons to and one of those is CS Lewis as mentioned above and I believe it was the world building, the religious underpinning and iconography of the piece and then we also have this deep sense of rebirth and transcendence. It also had me thinking of Lewis’ ‘The Screwtape Letters’ - which became apparent in the darker elements of the story.
There was also a feeling of Tolkien within Sale’s prose and the construction of language and lore, and I also found some elements of China Melville, Ursula Le Guin HG Wells and oddly ‘The Neverending Story’ in the sense of this nothingness and the world that Sale has created - it is a story at its core of love, of friendship and surviving and belonging... each element beats at the heart of this most beautiful dark tale.
Dark Hilarity is Sale’s magnum opus - a story of such compelling depth and love and achingly beautiful imagery that one can’t help but see this book as the birth of a new legendary storyteller!
Dark Hilarity is a cosmic horror fantasy book that blends genre at ease, with the subtle merging of specific genre elements and tropes into a rich tapestry that there is no mistaking of its beauty. Or it’s horrifying brilliance. It’s like staring at Auguste Rodin’s ‘Gates Of Hell’ the longer you sit there and appreciate the work the more it plays on your mind, it’s just a masterpiece and quite possibly Sale’s finest work to date!
Sale has taught me a lot as an editor and the main thing I’ve gleaned from his brilliance is pacing and story structure and with Dark Hilarity one can’t help but be swept up into this nightmare, this cosmic world that Sale has painstakingly pieced together, it’s an experience that will live long in the mind and the imagination. I was a huge fan of Save Game - where Sale’s world building blew me away, but with Dark Hilarity I felt like Sarah Connor holding that chain linked fence in T2 - the power of Sale’s imagination is a nuclear blast, one that peels the flesh from your bones and turns those bones to dust!
One of the huge selling points of this book, if we take away the stunning story is the characters, it’s something Sale does well, but in Dark Hilarity there is a fullness to his cast of character like never before. The first and secondary characters, and the many entities we discover along the way (however fleetingly) are fully rounded and relatable with each adding to the story’s depth. Sale also has a flair for writing despicable characters and Jed Maine (cretin) is one such sorry son of a bitch I couldn’t help falling in love with!
Wolfhead again another fabulous character is in my mind one of the best characters of the lot - he’s a twisted and darker version of Mr. Tumnus from ‘The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe’ and is our guide to this new world, he’s learned and wise and helps Tara do what needs to be done however much it pains him to do so. Also his introduction into the story was one of the most tension filled moments of writing I’ve read in a long time, and that scene in particular will stay with me probably forever - I just bloody loved it!
There are many writers that I feel this work draws comparisons to and one of those is CS Lewis as mentioned above and I believe it was the world building, the religious underpinning and iconography of the piece and then we also have this deep sense of rebirth and transcendence. It also had me thinking of Lewis’ ‘The Screwtape Letters’ - which became apparent in the darker elements of the story.
There was also a feeling of Tolkien within Sale’s prose and the construction of language and lore, and I also found some elements of China Melville, Ursula Le Guin HG Wells and oddly ‘The Neverending Story’ in the sense of this nothingness and the world that Sale has created - it is a story at its core of love, of friendship and surviving and belonging... each element beats at the heart of this most beautiful dark tale.
Dark Hilarity is Sale’s magnum opus - a story of such compelling depth and love and achingly beautiful imagery that one can’t help but see this book as the birth of a new legendary storyteller!
January 26, 2021
** Edited as review is now live on Kendall Reviews! **
If you’ve followed along in my reviewing or writing, you’ll have come across my love of all things Joseph Sale. Not only have I had the fortune or blurbing his work, writing a foreword for an anthology he was in and beta-reading for him, but I’ve also been graced with having one of my own releases published through The Writing Collective, which he co-runs.
When a new Joseph Sale book is announced, it should be a cause for celebration. Sale constantly pushes the boundaries of dark fiction/science fiction/fantasy and his work is always epic in scope but intimate in emotion.
With ‘Dark Hilarity,’ a work Sale himself calls ‘the best thing I’ve ever done,’ Joseph has taken that next leap. The leap that will hopefully find him on more TBR’s, Best-Of lists and must-read author indexes.
What I liked: ‘Dark Hilarity’ is a story that follows two young girls, Tara and Nicola who find a common love of a specific metal band. Years later, a horrible event occurs that opens up the reality that maybe the lyrics from that old band had more meaning than originally thought.
Truthfully, my simplified synopsis doesn’t do this book enough justice. Where ‘Save Game’ was fully entrenched in the video-game/fantasy genre, ‘Dark Hilarity’ pushes us into the sci-fi and dark fiction worlds as well. It’s not that there are specific sections that showcase this, no it’s that Sale has mastered these genres so well that they flow through his veins and come through in each and every word he shares.
What I didn’t like: In a book like this you’ll inevitably scratch your head at a few decisions the main characters make, but for fans of these genres, I think the best thing to do is to put those criticisms aside and understand that sometimes things must happen to be able to move the story forward.
Why you should buy this: I’ve often compared Sale’s work to that of Barker’s and this is yet another example where that influence really shines through. Sale does a magnificent job of developing characters, fully forming worlds and making you feel and root for the characters as the book itself unfolds and expands.
Another stunning release from one of the best writers out there. ‘Dark Hilarity’ is absolutely Sale’s best release yet, one I hope many people check out.
If you’ve followed along in my reviewing or writing, you’ll have come across my love of all things Joseph Sale. Not only have I had the fortune or blurbing his work, writing a foreword for an anthology he was in and beta-reading for him, but I’ve also been graced with having one of my own releases published through The Writing Collective, which he co-runs.
When a new Joseph Sale book is announced, it should be a cause for celebration. Sale constantly pushes the boundaries of dark fiction/science fiction/fantasy and his work is always epic in scope but intimate in emotion.
With ‘Dark Hilarity,’ a work Sale himself calls ‘the best thing I’ve ever done,’ Joseph has taken that next leap. The leap that will hopefully find him on more TBR’s, Best-Of lists and must-read author indexes.
What I liked: ‘Dark Hilarity’ is a story that follows two young girls, Tara and Nicola who find a common love of a specific metal band. Years later, a horrible event occurs that opens up the reality that maybe the lyrics from that old band had more meaning than originally thought.
Truthfully, my simplified synopsis doesn’t do this book enough justice. Where ‘Save Game’ was fully entrenched in the video-game/fantasy genre, ‘Dark Hilarity’ pushes us into the sci-fi and dark fiction worlds as well. It’s not that there are specific sections that showcase this, no it’s that Sale has mastered these genres so well that they flow through his veins and come through in each and every word he shares.
What I didn’t like: In a book like this you’ll inevitably scratch your head at a few decisions the main characters make, but for fans of these genres, I think the best thing to do is to put those criticisms aside and understand that sometimes things must happen to be able to move the story forward.
Why you should buy this: I’ve often compared Sale’s work to that of Barker’s and this is yet another example where that influence really shines through. Sale does a magnificent job of developing characters, fully forming worlds and making you feel and root for the characters as the book itself unfolds and expands.
Another stunning release from one of the best writers out there. ‘Dark Hilarity’ is absolutely Sale’s best release yet, one I hope many people check out.
August 27, 2022
Fantastic!
My first read from Sale, but definitely not my last. This is a fast, dazzling, beautifully-written tale, and I'm looking forward to the rest of the series. Highly recommended!
My first read from Sale, but definitely not my last. This is a fast, dazzling, beautifully-written tale, and I'm looking forward to the rest of the series. Highly recommended!
June 29, 2022
Loved this freaking book! It was such an emotional roller coaster for me, and it had that Joseph Sale signature trippiness that his fans all adore.
I Felt warm and fuzzy nostalgia
At the beginning of the book where Tara and Nicola were obsessed fans of Valentine Killshot. It reminded me of the time when I was a teenager and an equally obsessive
Pro wrestling fan, back when WWE used to be WWF. I watched Monday night Raw and Thursday night Smackdown religiously. On Mondays and Thursdays, from the moment I woke up,Raw or Smackdown was all I could think about. I remember how my heart used to speed up with giddy excitement at the start of each show's beginning theme music. I read wrestling magazines, and rocked out to CDs of the wrestlers' entrance music, and me and my friends talked about the wrestlers constantly. At the time, there were pop tarts you could draw on with a red food coloring marker. I used to draw the old WWF logo on each pop tart before eating it. It was a fun little phase to go through during that time in life. The part of my brain that was prone to being a celebrity worshiping fan
Has long since withered away with age. Tara and Nicola made me kind of miss it.
Then there was the part where Tara and Nicola got the chance to hang out with their favorite metal band, and Jed Main suddenly went ape shit and turned on Tara, and then stabbed her mom to death. I was like, whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Holy shit! Holy shit! Holy shit! Did that absolutely shock the hell out of me.
Getting to know Dieeshta added a fun flare of fantasy, which, for a time, softened the blow of Tara's mom's unexpected disturbing death. I agree with other reviewers' comparisons of Dieeshta to Narnia. The differences in time between the earthly realm
And the dream realm were indeed very Narnia-ish. I loved Dieeshta and its trippy animal beings, it's blood red stars that stayed visible during the day, and the way it had that familiar classic fantasy world feel. The kind of world where people journeyed on foot. They bought what they needed at outdoor market places
Where all the goods are home grown or handcrafted, and they still fought with swords and other ancient style forms of weaponry.
As I read on, The emotional roller coaster looped and twisted all over the place. I Felt sad over how shitty Tara's and Nicholas lives turned out when they became adults. Then there were all the dramatic ups and downs of their relationship, both while on the earthly realm and while journeying through Dieeshta to find Jed Main and stop him from achieving his evil megalomaniac mission. Oh... my... God... Then there was all that went on in Dieeshta. All the close calls. The survival struggles. The simple joy and comfort of connecting with strangers and developing new friendships, only to suffer through losing them. The battles and the short lived victories that only led to more fighting. The brief moments of good luck that kept getting abruptly snuffed out. Characters dying, but then a few pages later, they're not dying. Then another few pages further, they're dying again. I was on edge throughout this whole crazy book. Never a dull moment.
I loved Tara's psychic ability to trace objects. Seeing how the object was made and where it had been
In the object's perspective, as though it was a living thing with five senses was especially cool. I loved the storms of sorrow. Storms that feed off of the negative side of a person's psyche with raindrops that contain bad memories and make a person feel more and more shitty about them self as the rain touches their skin. Also especially cool. Most of all, I loved Nicola. She's my favorite character, not just in this book, but out of all the characters I've met throughout The several Joseph Sale books that I'd read. She's a very inspiring person and a top notch, true bad-ass.
The biggest twist was how the book ended. After pages and pages of interdimensional insanity, The story ends with George Michael out of all people. I was like, what the hell? This was so unexpected, I had to laugh. When George Michael was alive, he probably never would've imagined that his legacy would live on in a freaky, weird-ass horror/fantasy novel.
Bottom line, this book is another One of my favorites from this author, aside from Gods of the Black Gate. A awesomeness bomb that was dropped onto the fantasy section of the Amazon bookstore, and a realm shaking beginning two and unforgettable trilogy.
I Felt warm and fuzzy nostalgia
At the beginning of the book where Tara and Nicola were obsessed fans of Valentine Killshot. It reminded me of the time when I was a teenager and an equally obsessive
Pro wrestling fan, back when WWE used to be WWF. I watched Monday night Raw and Thursday night Smackdown religiously. On Mondays and Thursdays, from the moment I woke up,Raw or Smackdown was all I could think about. I remember how my heart used to speed up with giddy excitement at the start of each show's beginning theme music. I read wrestling magazines, and rocked out to CDs of the wrestlers' entrance music, and me and my friends talked about the wrestlers constantly. At the time, there were pop tarts you could draw on with a red food coloring marker. I used to draw the old WWF logo on each pop tart before eating it. It was a fun little phase to go through during that time in life. The part of my brain that was prone to being a celebrity worshiping fan
Has long since withered away with age. Tara and Nicola made me kind of miss it.
Then there was the part where Tara and Nicola got the chance to hang out with their favorite metal band, and Jed Main suddenly went ape shit and turned on Tara, and then stabbed her mom to death. I was like, whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Holy shit! Holy shit! Holy shit! Did that absolutely shock the hell out of me.
Getting to know Dieeshta added a fun flare of fantasy, which, for a time, softened the blow of Tara's mom's unexpected disturbing death. I agree with other reviewers' comparisons of Dieeshta to Narnia. The differences in time between the earthly realm
And the dream realm were indeed very Narnia-ish. I loved Dieeshta and its trippy animal beings, it's blood red stars that stayed visible during the day, and the way it had that familiar classic fantasy world feel. The kind of world where people journeyed on foot. They bought what they needed at outdoor market places
Where all the goods are home grown or handcrafted, and they still fought with swords and other ancient style forms of weaponry.
As I read on, The emotional roller coaster looped and twisted all over the place. I Felt sad over how shitty Tara's and Nicholas lives turned out when they became adults. Then there were all the dramatic ups and downs of their relationship, both while on the earthly realm and while journeying through Dieeshta to find Jed Main and stop him from achieving his evil megalomaniac mission. Oh... my... God... Then there was all that went on in Dieeshta. All the close calls. The survival struggles. The simple joy and comfort of connecting with strangers and developing new friendships, only to suffer through losing them. The battles and the short lived victories that only led to more fighting. The brief moments of good luck that kept getting abruptly snuffed out. Characters dying, but then a few pages later, they're not dying. Then another few pages further, they're dying again. I was on edge throughout this whole crazy book. Never a dull moment.
I loved Tara's psychic ability to trace objects. Seeing how the object was made and where it had been
In the object's perspective, as though it was a living thing with five senses was especially cool. I loved the storms of sorrow. Storms that feed off of the negative side of a person's psyche with raindrops that contain bad memories and make a person feel more and more shitty about them self as the rain touches their skin. Also especially cool. Most of all, I loved Nicola. She's my favorite character, not just in this book, but out of all the characters I've met throughout The several Joseph Sale books that I'd read. She's a very inspiring person and a top notch, true bad-ass.
The biggest twist was how the book ended. After pages and pages of interdimensional insanity, The story ends with George Michael out of all people. I was like, what the hell? This was so unexpected, I had to laugh. When George Michael was alive, he probably never would've imagined that his legacy would live on in a freaky, weird-ass horror/fantasy novel.
Bottom line, this book is another One of my favorites from this author, aside from Gods of the Black Gate. A awesomeness bomb that was dropped onto the fantasy section of the Amazon bookstore, and a realm shaking beginning two and unforgettable trilogy.
June 10, 2023
The title of this book was the first thing to catch my attention. The emphasis on character development, and Joseph’s extraordinary gift for drawing his readers into the narrative were my favorite elements of this novel. For example, i could almost see the main character’s initial awkwardness, and her friend’s act of laid back coolness. The descriptions of their appearances were vivid. I felt i might pass them on the street and feel I’d seen that person before only to realize it was a description from a book. The plotting of the novel also sucked me in. He slowly drug me into his world, an i was addicted to the action, characters, and invested in what was going to happen next. There were moments when i had to put the book down and just breathe, only to pick it up again, and think, i need to breathe, but i don’t want to stop reading.
The most intense scene to me happens after the girls attend the concert. That moment still stains the center of my reality with chilling force. It was as if i was there in the scene,, living it with them horrifying heartbeat by horrifying heartbeat. I was enthralled and caught up in the spectacular drama Joseph Sale had created for me. It was hard to drag myself out of his world and back into this reality. When i did, i was a little jumpy and waiting to be sucked in again.
Over all, for me this was an excellent novel. Joseph Sale has the ability to render you speechless and keep you on the edge of your seat, thrilling your senses with the intensity of his narrative. I dare you to fall into his Dark Hilarity!
The most intense scene to me happens after the girls attend the concert. That moment still stains the center of my reality with chilling force. It was as if i was there in the scene,, living it with them horrifying heartbeat by horrifying heartbeat. I was enthralled and caught up in the spectacular drama Joseph Sale had created for me. It was hard to drag myself out of his world and back into this reality. When i did, i was a little jumpy and waiting to be sucked in again.
Over all, for me this was an excellent novel. Joseph Sale has the ability to render you speechless and keep you on the edge of your seat, thrilling your senses with the intensity of his narrative. I dare you to fall into his Dark Hilarity!
March 11, 2021
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
Dark Hilarity is a black as night fantasy novel that explores fate, evil, the long standing effects of grief, and the unshakable friendship of two young girls. Set in a 90’s UK setting that quickly morphs into a fantasy land called Dae’shta, this is a novel that blends reality with unreality, good with bad, and the obscene with the precious.
Sale’s depiction of two adolescent girls on their first unsure steps into a timeless friendship is flawless. The strength of their friendship carries the plot forward and strengthens the other themes present in the book. While there are fantastical characters like the Laughing God, the wolf-people of Wolf Town, and giant telepathic crabs hellbent on avenging their fallen brethren, Dark Hilarity grounds the reader in a reality fraught with grief, addiction, and fears that we can all relate to, carried from unstable childhood, to even more unstable adulthood.
Dark Hilarity is a fantasy tale that mixes in plenty of horror and hardship, a novel that explores the strains of friendship, of loss, and a god with a permanent smile.
Dark Hilarity is a black as night fantasy novel that explores fate, evil, the long standing effects of grief, and the unshakable friendship of two young girls. Set in a 90’s UK setting that quickly morphs into a fantasy land called Dae’shta, this is a novel that blends reality with unreality, good with bad, and the obscene with the precious.
Sale’s depiction of two adolescent girls on their first unsure steps into a timeless friendship is flawless. The strength of their friendship carries the plot forward and strengthens the other themes present in the book. While there are fantastical characters like the Laughing God, the wolf-people of Wolf Town, and giant telepathic crabs hellbent on avenging their fallen brethren, Dark Hilarity grounds the reader in a reality fraught with grief, addiction, and fears that we can all relate to, carried from unstable childhood, to even more unstable adulthood.
Dark Hilarity is a fantasy tale that mixes in plenty of horror and hardship, a novel that explores the strains of friendship, of loss, and a god with a permanent smile.
June 5, 2021
I tried to wait a few hours to see if the right words would come to me, but as usual when I absolutely devour and enjoy a book, all that will populate in my head is “omg! Great! Wow!”
This beautifully written book is dark, twisted, and delicious. If it wasn’t clear enough from the 5 star and my inability to even begin to express my love for this novel, I highly highly recommend that you pick it up!
This beautifully written book is dark, twisted, and delicious. If it wasn’t clear enough from the 5 star and my inability to even begin to express my love for this novel, I highly highly recommend that you pick it up!
August 29, 2023
The Neverending Story was my favorite movie as a kid (and it's still a favorite now), so whenever I see something compared to that, I want it. This one didn't disappoint.
May 29, 2022
Update: I sat on this for a little while and decided to up my rating to 4 stars. Even though this wasn't exactly what I expected, I still really enjoyed the book overall and definitely think it's worth the read.
3.5 as the concept was interesting and I liked the lore of the worlds. But I found this book when searching for cosmic horror and wasn't expecting it to basically be fantasy and was a bit disappointed by that.
3.5 as the concept was interesting and I liked the lore of the worlds. But I found this book when searching for cosmic horror and wasn't expecting it to basically be fantasy and was a bit disappointed by that.
June 3, 2022
WOW! Joseph Sale has such an incredible writing style, I feel I could get sucked into any story he writes. But Dark Hilarity is special. I had a blast reading this book and spending time in the world of Dae’eshta! I don’t like to leave many spoilers in my reviews, so I’ll keep it mostly high level. The story follows the journey of two best friends from the time they are kids in the 90’s until the are adults and forced to come back to the world that traumatized them as kids. All the poor girls wanted to do was see their favorite band of all time, and the next thing you know their worlds are turned upside down. I loved the relationship between Tara and Nicola. I loved the story of Jed Maine’s character. And Dae’eshta was a world so well described that I can only imagine Joseph had mapped it out and thought of all the different species and landscapes we were introduced to.
This was a wonderful mix of fantasy and horror, and when the moments of horror pop up, they are terrifying. There was a scene early in the book after a concert that had my heart pounding and then Sale ripped the rug right from under me with a moment I didn’t expect AT ALL. I highly recommend this book for fans of fantasy that enjoy the darker moments of horror sprinkled in. I can’t wait to check out more of Joseph’s work.
This was a wonderful mix of fantasy and horror, and when the moments of horror pop up, they are terrifying. There was a scene early in the book after a concert that had my heart pounding and then Sale ripped the rug right from under me with a moment I didn’t expect AT ALL. I highly recommend this book for fans of fantasy that enjoy the darker moments of horror sprinkled in. I can’t wait to check out more of Joseph’s work.
February 4, 2021
This is a wonderful novel, ingenious and surprising – for example, [spoiler alert!!!] that Nicola, not Tara, is the real heroine which took me a while to work out. The 12 AA rules are very cleverly deployed. But finally, it is the layering of the details, the firm command of plot, the fascinating characters and worlds created, that make this distinctive. A masterpiece, then; the prose is never dull and there are many other beauties in it that I haven’t mentioned – take too long, but a fabulous story in every sense – and definitely a new level of writing for Joseph Sale who is already a commanding novelist.
January 18, 2023
This tale of two young friends who find solace in each other and in a shared love of a band really blew me away. The grandiosity and lushness of the world Joseph Sale has created bring Clive Barker to mind. Beautifully written and dark as night, it definitely put me in mind of Imajica or Abarat. I can't wait to read the next books in the series.
February 5, 2021
Dark Hilarity is a suspenseful, coming-of-age portal fantasy story with lush prose and compelling characters. Joseph Sale writes bloody good weird fiction.
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