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The Night Road
For most of her life, Grace Donaldson's passion has been running. As a star in Cross Country and Track and Field, Grace ran to win, because losing wasn't an option. For her, running was freedom, and she was only ever her true self when racing toward the finish line.
Her senior year, that all changed. Afterward, instead of running toward something, Grace started running away. From her pain, her anger, and her guilt. Now, as her younger sister lies on her deathbed from attempted suicide and Grace's darkness threatens to consume her, she discovers The Night Road, and the chance to run toward something again, instead of away... if she's willing to pay a terrible price.
Her senior year, that all changed. Afterward, instead of running toward something, Grace started running away. From her pain, her anger, and her guilt. Now, as her younger sister lies on her deathbed from attempted suicide and Grace's darkness threatens to consume her, she discovers The Night Road, and the chance to run toward something again, instead of away... if she's willing to pay a terrible price.
71 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 1, 2022
9 people are currently reading
58 people want to read
About the author
Kevin Lucia
100 books369 followersKevin Lucia is the ebook and trade paperback editor at Cemetery Dance Publications. His short fiction has been published in many venues, most notably with Clive Barker, David Morell, Peter Straub, Bentley Little, and Robert McCammon.
His first short story collection, Things Slip Through, was published by Crystal Lake Publishing in November, 2013. He's followed that with the collections Through A Mirror, Darkly, Devourer of Souls, Things You Need, October Nights, and the novellas Mystery Road, A Night at Old Webb, and The Night Road.
His first short story collection, Things Slip Through, was published by Crystal Lake Publishing in November, 2013. He's followed that with the collections Through A Mirror, Darkly, Devourer of Souls, Things You Need, October Nights, and the novellas Mystery Road, A Night at Old Webb, and The Night Road.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
March 13, 2022
Full review available at The Mort Report:
https://www.uncomfortablydark.com/bla...
Have you heard about ‘runner’s high’?
Apparently, there are some people who experience a high when they are running. Me? Not so much. I ran long distance when I was a kid. Had asthma and the doctor recommended it to my parents. Of course, I didn’t want to, but I wasn’t given a choice.
I did this for about three years, at least twice a week. Never got that high. Sometimes it makes me wonder what is wrong with me, other times I think it’s a form of self-hypnosis. You manage to convince yourself that something is what you want it to be. Like those who tell me about ‘delicious broccoli’…
Anyway, Kevin Lucia is a clean writer, you can see he takes his craft seriously and does his job well. Unfortunately, I couldn’t relate to the main character in this story. A female runner. The story is not bad at all, I just felt disconnected. Which is also a little strange. I have lost people close to me and I have felt guilt and sorrow, so that part spoke to me, but the way she acted was more of an intellectual exercise for me.
Which leaves me in a bit of a bind. How do I rate this one?
While there is a very strong message in this one and the story was well written, the fact that I couldn’t relate to the character made me want to feel more than I actually felt. And there will be people who will be sucked in and broken by this, there is no doubt in my mind that this one will have impact on the right audience.
So, I am going to push it up from 3 stars (my opinion) to 4 stars, simply because I want to recommend this to those who like the feels in their horror. It will devastate some and I can recognize the power of the story.
Also, I will be reading this author again in the future.
4 Stars
https://www.uncomfortablydark.com/bla...
Have you heard about ‘runner’s high’?
Apparently, there are some people who experience a high when they are running. Me? Not so much. I ran long distance when I was a kid. Had asthma and the doctor recommended it to my parents. Of course, I didn’t want to, but I wasn’t given a choice.
I did this for about three years, at least twice a week. Never got that high. Sometimes it makes me wonder what is wrong with me, other times I think it’s a form of self-hypnosis. You manage to convince yourself that something is what you want it to be. Like those who tell me about ‘delicious broccoli’…
Anyway, Kevin Lucia is a clean writer, you can see he takes his craft seriously and does his job well. Unfortunately, I couldn’t relate to the main character in this story. A female runner. The story is not bad at all, I just felt disconnected. Which is also a little strange. I have lost people close to me and I have felt guilt and sorrow, so that part spoke to me, but the way she acted was more of an intellectual exercise for me.
Which leaves me in a bit of a bind. How do I rate this one?
While there is a very strong message in this one and the story was well written, the fact that I couldn’t relate to the character made me want to feel more than I actually felt. And there will be people who will be sucked in and broken by this, there is no doubt in my mind that this one will have impact on the right audience.
So, I am going to push it up from 3 stars (my opinion) to 4 stars, simply because I want to recommend this to those who like the feels in their horror. It will devastate some and I can recognize the power of the story.
Also, I will be reading this author again in the future.
4 Stars
May 9, 2022
This novella started slow but you'll definitely want to find out why Grace is so obsessed with running. You'll learn that her sister committed suicide and her aunt is an alcoholic. What about the pendant Lily (her sister) constantly wore? Why does Grace detest him? Who is he and what did he do? What about the mysterious runner in black (Morgan), the crows and the reference to the Irish lore of the Morrigan? The antiques shop even reminded me a bit on Needful Things by Stephen King... really compelling read with some eerie and mystic elements. More of a slow burner but carefully composed with a convincing denouement at the end. Sometimes you want to believe to literally run away from all hardship forever. Interesting idea narrated in a compelling way. Excellent, modern horror story. Highly recommended!
April 11, 2022
Grace used to love running cross country, and track and field. Her sister Lilly was also a runner for a time, but it is Grace who won too many trophies to count.
These days running is not so much something she enjoys, as something she is bound to do. It is an uncontrollable urge, her drug of choice, her escape, and the only thing that makes her life bearable. She runs to forget, to be released for a short time of the guilt she feels, over her sister being in the hospital, close to death.
She is out for a run when she first spots the crows, and another mysterious runner in black, the identity of whom she feels compelled to discover.
This is a story of love and guilt, regret and betrayal, told at a quick pace with a dash of Irish folklore to give it a nice kick. I was dying to know what led to Lilly's grim prognosis and why Grace blamed herself. There was mention of an "other thing" That Grace didn't want anyone to know which really piqued my curiosity and kept me turning pages to the shocking conclusion.
There are also some incredibly haunting illustrations included which I loved.
My thanks to Cemetery Dance Publications for the advance copy.
These days running is not so much something she enjoys, as something she is bound to do. It is an uncontrollable urge, her drug of choice, her escape, and the only thing that makes her life bearable. She runs to forget, to be released for a short time of the guilt she feels, over her sister being in the hospital, close to death.
She is out for a run when she first spots the crows, and another mysterious runner in black, the identity of whom she feels compelled to discover.
This is a story of love and guilt, regret and betrayal, told at a quick pace with a dash of Irish folklore to give it a nice kick. I was dying to know what led to Lilly's grim prognosis and why Grace blamed herself. There was mention of an "other thing" That Grace didn't want anyone to know which really piqued my curiosity and kept me turning pages to the shocking conclusion.
There are also some incredibly haunting illustrations included which I loved.
My thanks to Cemetery Dance Publications for the advance copy.
March 28, 2022
** Edited as review is now live on Kendall Reviews! **
As someone who reads and reviews a lot of books, I always find it a bit shameful when a book arrives in my review queue from an established author. Look, I know time is limited and we can’t read all the books, but I still get a bit red-faced when I realize I’ve not read anything by an author who has been around for some time.
Case in point – Kevin Lucia.
Kevin is an integral cog of Cemetery Dance Publishing now and so it’s been great to see his pushing of older CD titles, but also that he has his own releases in the works.
When ‘The Night Road’ was offered for review, I jumped on it. The cover is gorgeous and the plot had me very intrigued.
What I liked: The story follows Grace, a competitive distance runner who is struggling with the reality her sister is about to die.
Lucia wraps up a ton of story in a small page count and from the simple idea, not only do we get some really great relationship drama, but he manages to carve out a fantastic Irish-Folklore aspect that grows from a kernel in the beginning to a cinematic sequence that will leave you breathless.
I really loved seeing Grace’s character come to terms with her new reality and the role she played in what is happening, but also the other secondary characters that arrive and how they ultimately had a part in what happens.
The ending was spot on and filled with an emotional kick I wasn’t expecting.
What I didn’t like: The story moves along really quickly and because of that I think the one aspect that is referred to as a betrayal between sisters doesn’t get fully examined. We find out about it and learn the history, but I think I would’ve liked to have found out more.
Why you should buy this: A great look at grief and how leaning on something that gives you joy can ultimately help you overcome difficulties, ‘The Night Road’ will tick a lot of boxes for dark fiction readers. We get emotions, folklore, otherworldly aspects and familial dynamics, all wrapped up into a story that you could read in a single sitting.
Don’t be surprised if this one sucks you in and you’re unable to put it down until the very end.
As someone who reads and reviews a lot of books, I always find it a bit shameful when a book arrives in my review queue from an established author. Look, I know time is limited and we can’t read all the books, but I still get a bit red-faced when I realize I’ve not read anything by an author who has been around for some time.
Case in point – Kevin Lucia.
Kevin is an integral cog of Cemetery Dance Publishing now and so it’s been great to see his pushing of older CD titles, but also that he has his own releases in the works.
When ‘The Night Road’ was offered for review, I jumped on it. The cover is gorgeous and the plot had me very intrigued.
What I liked: The story follows Grace, a competitive distance runner who is struggling with the reality her sister is about to die.
Lucia wraps up a ton of story in a small page count and from the simple idea, not only do we get some really great relationship drama, but he manages to carve out a fantastic Irish-Folklore aspect that grows from a kernel in the beginning to a cinematic sequence that will leave you breathless.
I really loved seeing Grace’s character come to terms with her new reality and the role she played in what is happening, but also the other secondary characters that arrive and how they ultimately had a part in what happens.
The ending was spot on and filled with an emotional kick I wasn’t expecting.
What I didn’t like: The story moves along really quickly and because of that I think the one aspect that is referred to as a betrayal between sisters doesn’t get fully examined. We find out about it and learn the history, but I think I would’ve liked to have found out more.
Why you should buy this: A great look at grief and how leaning on something that gives you joy can ultimately help you overcome difficulties, ‘The Night Road’ will tick a lot of boxes for dark fiction readers. We get emotions, folklore, otherworldly aspects and familial dynamics, all wrapped up into a story that you could read in a single sitting.
Don’t be surprised if this one sucks you in and you’re unable to put it down until the very end.
March 30, 2022
Zwei Schwestern, deren Eltern früh bei einem Unfall ums Leben gekommen sind, haben eine gemeinsame Passion: das Laufen.
Eine der beiden Schwestern wählt als junge Frau den Freitod, die anderen fühlt sich schuldig und kann nur noch während des Laufens, in das sie sich immer mehr hineinsteigert, Schuldgefühle und Kummer für kurze Zeit vergessen.
Welcher Natur diese Schuldgefühle sind, was ihr Auslöser ist, erfährt der Leser erst ganz am Schluss.
Ein Mann, der fast bis zur letzten Buchseite eine unklare Rolle spielt und ein Anhänger für eine Halskette sind neben dem Laufen die einzigen plot devices, mit denen die Geschichte bis kurz vor Ende auskommen muss.
So spartanisch wie die Handlung ist auch die schlichte Sprache. Würde man alle sich häufiger wiederholenden Wörter und Wendungen herausstreichen, fiele die Geschichte im Umfang noch einmal deutlich knapper aus.
Grace, die überlebende laufsüchtige Schwester, bleibt als Person oberflächlich, nur durch ihre Schuldgefühle wird sie definiert. Andere Personen werden entweder überhaupt nur erwähnt oder treten kurz als Statisten auf.
Das übernatürliche Element, das dann auf den letzten Drücker eingeführt wird, wirkt aufgesetzt und hat mit der bisherigen Handlung und der Motivation von Grace und ihrer Schwester nichts zu tun.
Wenn ich mir die überdurchschnittliche Bewertung von THE NIGHT ROAD zum Zeitpunkt meiner Rezension anschaue (4,2 Average), bin ich verblüfft: Entweder hat Kevin Lucia eine Fangemeinde, die stark zu ihm hält, oder der Charme der Geschichte ist völlig an mir vorbei gegangen.
Sehr schade!
February 22, 2022
Review appears in the 2/15/22 issue of Booklist and on the blog: https://raforall.blogspot.com/2022/02...
Three Words That Describe This book: creepy, compelling, folk horror
For fans of Gwendy’s Button Box by Chizmar and King or The Wayward Children Series by Maguire
Three Words That Describe This book: creepy, compelling, folk horror
For fans of Gwendy’s Button Box by Chizmar and King or The Wayward Children Series by Maguire
May 5, 2022
The Night Road by Kevin Lucia was a quick read. I loved the illustrations and chapter headins.
For Grace, running was her saving grace. She would run, visit Lilly at the hospital, go home, run, visit Lilly at the hospital and go home. Day after day. Her despair drove her and when I found the reason why it all had to happen….
Great ending.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Night Road by Kevin Lucia.
For Grace, running was her saving grace. She would run, visit Lilly at the hospital, go home, run, visit Lilly at the hospital and go home. Day after day. Her despair drove her and when I found the reason why it all had to happen….
Great ending.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Night Road by Kevin Lucia.
March 9, 2022
Loved Grace and her sister - scary on a few different levels!
March 15, 2022
Grace is a runner. Empty the mind. Forget, even if just temporarily, the agonies of her life. Her sister on life support, Grace’s guilt of a betrayal, and…him -just run, don’t think. But the guilt always comes back.
One day Grace follows a mysterious runner up a road past the cemetery. What she finds up in the woods is…odd, and Grace can’t stay away. It offers a peace and escape from her duties, her self loathing, and it keeps her away from…him.
Kevin Lucia teases throughout this whole book, giving you curious tidbits that keep you flipping the pages and wanting more. There are also great illustrations sprinkled inside adding to to the beauty of this book.
Supernatural elements add a layer of dread that make you wonder what is going to be around the next corner or over the next rise.
One day Grace follows a mysterious runner up a road past the cemetery. What she finds up in the woods is…odd, and Grace can’t stay away. It offers a peace and escape from her duties, her self loathing, and it keeps her away from…him.
Kevin Lucia teases throughout this whole book, giving you curious tidbits that keep you flipping the pages and wanting more. There are also great illustrations sprinkled inside adding to to the beauty of this book.
Supernatural elements add a layer of dread that make you wonder what is going to be around the next corner or over the next rise.
April 14, 2022
This novella has a little bit of everything - mystery, suspense, mythology, and history, which all come together to keep you guessing until the end. As the book drew to a close and I saw the page numbers dwindling I found myself wishing it was a little longer. However, I find that’s often the case with short stories/novellas I’m enjoying. Sometimes the little taste isn’t enough.
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I also appreciated the formatting of book. The larger text and spaces made it easier to read and the illustrations throughout really added to the story.
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If you’re a fan of suspense and mythology I would pick up The Night Road by Kevin Lucia from Cemetery Dance or download the ebook.
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I also appreciated the formatting of book. The larger text and spaces made it easier to read and the illustrations throughout really added to the story.
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If you’re a fan of suspense and mythology I would pick up The Night Road by Kevin Lucia from Cemetery Dance or download the ebook.
April 5, 2024
THE NIGHT ROAD – by Kevin Lucia
‘She’s run this road before. . . She knows it. But she can’t remember where it leads, or what’s waiting for her at the end. It scares her, though. With each thudding step and heartbeat, her unease escalates into full-blown fear. She’s running toward something horrible. She feels this deep in her soul.’
In a word, WOW! It’s heartbreaking with all the feels—Highly Recommend!
Thank you, Cemetery Dance Publications, for providing me with an eBook of THE NIGHT ROAD at the request of an honest review.
‘She’s run this road before. . . She knows it. But she can’t remember where it leads, or what’s waiting for her at the end. It scares her, though. With each thudding step and heartbeat, her unease escalates into full-blown fear. She’s running toward something horrible. She feels this deep in her soul.’
In a word, WOW! It’s heartbreaking with all the feels—Highly Recommend!
Thank you, Cemetery Dance Publications, for providing me with an eBook of THE NIGHT ROAD at the request of an honest review.
April 9, 2022
This was dark and creepy and I enjoyed every damn minute! A quick but entertaining read in the vein of Stephen King, Richard Chizmar or Joe Hill.
March 18, 2022
-Irish folklore, cairns, an abandoned village, A night road, crows. About finding yourself only after having lost your way.
So much to love!
A story told in tasty morsels which kept me guessing until the end.
Grace is a runner who seems to be actively running from what’s currently going on in her life. Several notable somethings: Her sister is on life support (and things are looking bleak), a murder of crows seem to be keeping an eye on Grace.. a man only referred to as “him” seems to be calling her nonstop for some unknown (and probably not pleasant) reason.
-One day, she impulsively decides to follow a jogger in black down a cemetery road and discovers an abandoned village in the middle of the forest. Although unsettled, she feels a strong pull to this place and we’re to learn that it might not be as abandoned as it seems.
-by Grace’s running away (or rather, towards something, anything, else), we move forward towards an equally devastating as bittersweet conclusion.
-Lucia lays out the thread like Ariadne for us to follow out of the darkness, but instead of safety, we find ourselves confronted with a harrowing truth. -There’s something to be said about a story that manages to have the MC run away from her problems, as well as (at the same time) towards an answer for the questions the readers are asking.
I’m really grateful to Lucia and CD for having provided me with a digital ARC. I ended up enjoying this read so much that I’ve preordered a physical copy as well. The artwork is also gorgeous (by the talented Ben Baldwin)❤️ I might also have placed orders for some of his other books after reading this😊
So much to love!
A story told in tasty morsels which kept me guessing until the end.
Grace is a runner who seems to be actively running from what’s currently going on in her life. Several notable somethings: Her sister is on life support (and things are looking bleak), a murder of crows seem to be keeping an eye on Grace.. a man only referred to as “him” seems to be calling her nonstop for some unknown (and probably not pleasant) reason.
-One day, she impulsively decides to follow a jogger in black down a cemetery road and discovers an abandoned village in the middle of the forest. Although unsettled, she feels a strong pull to this place and we’re to learn that it might not be as abandoned as it seems.
-by Grace’s running away (or rather, towards something, anything, else), we move forward towards an equally devastating as bittersweet conclusion.
-Lucia lays out the thread like Ariadne for us to follow out of the darkness, but instead of safety, we find ourselves confronted with a harrowing truth. -There’s something to be said about a story that manages to have the MC run away from her problems, as well as (at the same time) towards an answer for the questions the readers are asking.
I’m really grateful to Lucia and CD for having provided me with a digital ARC. I ended up enjoying this read so much that I’ve preordered a physical copy as well. The artwork is also gorgeous (by the talented Ben Baldwin)❤️ I might also have placed orders for some of his other books after reading this😊
November 3, 2023
Grace has been trying to run away from everything. From the fact that her sister tried to kill herself. From her life. But she can’t. So she runs towards something instead. Towards the mysterious runner dressed in black. Towards the crows. And maybe she’ll find a reason to stop running.
This was a slow building, atmospheric read. The deeper in I got, the more I wondered what the outcome would be. To say I felt the ending of the story is putting it lightly.
I received a complimentary copy. My review is voluntarily given.
This was a slow building, atmospheric read. The deeper in I got, the more I wondered what the outcome would be. To say I felt the ending of the story is putting it lightly.
I received a complimentary copy. My review is voluntarily given.
August 4, 2022
I was drawn to this book because of the running hook, I'm a runner and I like to read about running (non-fiction), but I don't get much running in my fiction. So the chance to read about some running in my horror fiction, well that's a nice treat.
This started a little slow for me, but you have to be patient as Lucia reveals more and more back story on Grace and her sister and Aunt. There is definitely some mystery and questions get answered as the story unfolds. One of the main themes in the book is dealing with grief, Lucia tackles it well. In the second half, the pace really picked up (runner dad joke). There were some interesting folklore elements and mystical things going on and I really liked the conclusion.
Overall, this was a dark novella in which many elements came together nicely to make for a satisfying quick read.
This started a little slow for me, but you have to be patient as Lucia reveals more and more back story on Grace and her sister and Aunt. There is definitely some mystery and questions get answered as the story unfolds. One of the main themes in the book is dealing with grief, Lucia tackles it well. In the second half, the pace really picked up (runner dad joke). There were some interesting folklore elements and mystical things going on and I really liked the conclusion.
Overall, this was a dark novella in which many elements came together nicely to make for a satisfying quick read.
April 10, 2022
I have to admit that this wasn't my favourite visit to Clifton Heights. Don't get me wrong, it's a good story well told, but it just felt as if something was missing, for me. Perhaps I was expecting too much for a story of around 71 pages, but I missed many of the 'regulars' that feature in these great stories.
And I probably should have had more sense, given the subject matter, (very slight spoiler alert) than to read this while my husband is critically ill in hospital. It certainly left me with an uneasy feeling, but that's what any good horror story should do, isn't it?!
No blaming Kevin Lucia for writing something unnerving and unsettling! Quite the opposite!
And I probably should have had more sense, given the subject matter, (very slight spoiler alert) than to read this while my husband is critically ill in hospital. It certainly left me with an uneasy feeling, but that's what any good horror story should do, isn't it?!
No blaming Kevin Lucia for writing something unnerving and unsettling! Quite the opposite!
March 3, 2025
A short novelette about Grace, a seasoned and talented long-distance runner, who grieves the loss of her sister and tortures herself with thoughts of her being to blame. Running helps Grace clear her head and feel free, but now she was using her passion to run away from her pain and guilt. On one of her runs, she comes across an old cemetery road, where she discovers what appears to be remnants of an ancient abandoned village. Eventually, Grace discovers a link to her Irish ancestry and folklore which both terrify and enlighten her and lead her to her ultimate freedom. A great quick read for supernatural mystery buffs, I definitely recommend you give it a try.
May 25, 2022
This was a great novella! I felt like it could have even expanded to a longer novel. Good characters and the prose was spot on. The concept of the morrigan and the night road is a cool but of lore that I didn't know about before. I really enjoyed this one and will be sure to check out other works from Lucia! I would recommend this one.
March 7, 2022
I heartfelt journey into the pain the main character Grace Donaldson deals with after her sister Lilly's attempted suicide. Grace meets the mysterious Morgan while running on the Night Road. Will she follow the path that Morgan offers her? You will just have to read to find out!
March 7, 2022
Interesting view on the Olde Irish Goddess the Morrigan. This book has twists that will keep you hanging in there. A good read, I recommend it.
Thank you #Kevin Lucia for the copy.
Thank you #Kevin Lucia for the copy.
September 13, 2022
An unsettling story about running, a family secret and old folklore told in an enjoyable manner.
December 6, 2022
Now I need to get a copy for my daughter. She's a running enthusiast and I think she would enjoy this book. It captivated me from the very beginning and surprised me with the ending. I loved it!
December 8, 2025
The ending was a great wrap up of the story. A real good read.
April 1, 2022
Disclaimer: I was sent an e-ARC of this story to review from the author/publisher. I was not paid for this review. All thoughts are my own and not influenced by the author/publisher in any way.
I was excited when I saw Cemetery Dance was looking for reviewers for this title. The cover immediately caught my attention and the synopsis sounded interesting. Once I began reading, this story felt very much like it belonged in a Stephen King short story collection.
This is mostly a story about grief and guilt, especially when it comes to our loved ones. I could feel how much Grace loved her sister, Lilly. It was also easy to feel how much guilt was eating away at her for Lilly’s situation. There were moments in which I felt my eyes tearing up because I felt so bad for these sisters. The details are muddled in the beginning, but over time they begin to clear.
While I’ve never understood why people love to run, I could understand Grace’s fixation with it and how it seemed to be an escape from her grief and guilt. This is especially apparent when Grace’s awful Aunt Joy tries to blame her for what has happened to her sister.
The addition of the strange pendant Lilly adored adds an interesting supernatural element to an already atmospheric story. The Irish folklore was a nice touch and something I rarely see in stories, though it took me a while to understand since I’m not as familiar with it as I would like.
The night road itself felt almost fantastical and for a moment I started wondering if it was happening in Grace’s dreams. I started guessing what might have happened to Lilly during one of these visits, but still felt a little shocked at the end because of who it had happened with.
The climax was exciting and the fate of the antagonist as well as the real crunch of horror was also satisfying. The overall ending made me feel a mixture of sadness and understanding; it was kind of difficult to process.
Because this story was short, it moved a little too fast for my liking. I would have liked to see the characters and story even more fleshed out. It was an excellent portrayal of grief with a very satisfying conclusion in one regard, but I also felt a little disappointed that it was over so quickly.
Still, highly recommend!
I was excited when I saw Cemetery Dance was looking for reviewers for this title. The cover immediately caught my attention and the synopsis sounded interesting. Once I began reading, this story felt very much like it belonged in a Stephen King short story collection.
This is mostly a story about grief and guilt, especially when it comes to our loved ones. I could feel how much Grace loved her sister, Lilly. It was also easy to feel how much guilt was eating away at her for Lilly’s situation. There were moments in which I felt my eyes tearing up because I felt so bad for these sisters. The details are muddled in the beginning, but over time they begin to clear.
While I’ve never understood why people love to run, I could understand Grace’s fixation with it and how it seemed to be an escape from her grief and guilt. This is especially apparent when Grace’s awful Aunt Joy tries to blame her for what has happened to her sister.
The addition of the strange pendant Lilly adored adds an interesting supernatural element to an already atmospheric story. The Irish folklore was a nice touch and something I rarely see in stories, though it took me a while to understand since I’m not as familiar with it as I would like.
The night road itself felt almost fantastical and for a moment I started wondering if it was happening in Grace’s dreams. I started guessing what might have happened to Lilly during one of these visits, but still felt a little shocked at the end because of who it had happened with.
The climax was exciting and the fate of the antagonist as well as the real crunch of horror was also satisfying. The overall ending made me feel a mixture of sadness and understanding; it was kind of difficult to process.
Because this story was short, it moved a little too fast for my liking. I would have liked to see the characters and story even more fleshed out. It was an excellent portrayal of grief with a very satisfying conclusion in one regard, but I also felt a little disappointed that it was over so quickly.
Still, highly recommend!
March 8, 2022
This One is a Shocker, Don’t Miss it!
Grace was an award-winning runner. Her little sister Lilly was a runner, too, though never as good as Grace. Yet still, little sister Lilly was Grace’s biggest supporter; she even created a trophy wall with all of Grace’s framed awards. Now Lilly is dying and, for some reason, Grace feels it is her fault.
Lilly found a used pendant at Handy’s Pawn and Thrift; she wore it around her neck everywhere, even to bed—now she’s laying in the hospital—attempted suicide by hanging. Grace feels she must bring the pendant to Lilly’s bedside every day—but only after Grace runs—which is morning, noon, and night.
–Even as I read, I was screaming in the back of my mind-keep the pendant away from Lilly!
Now the pendant seems to have an affinity for Grace; she leaves it on the nightstand and wakes with it in her bed. Finally, it’s as if she’s obligated to wear it. She slips the chain over her head.
—Again, I was screaming, take the pendant off! Don’t put it around your neck!!!
While wearing the pendant on her run, Grace is compelled to follow another runner down an unfamiliar path past a cemetery into the forest. Grace feels she must solve the puzzle of the runner in black and the mysterious access road.
I could smell the pines in the cool, crisp night air, and the peace of the cemetery fell on me. I felt Grace’s fear as a giant crow accosted her on the run. Irish folklore woven in added to the eerie vibes.
This story is almost like a mystery as Lucia drops clues, what appear to be red herrings, and unanswered questions throughout. Finally, all the questions are answered in a violent and bloody reveal.
After I read the last pages and whispered what was either a curse or a prayer, I found I couldn’t do anything for quite a while as I tried to process the final horrors. What a story!
Grace was an award-winning runner. Her little sister Lilly was a runner, too, though never as good as Grace. Yet still, little sister Lilly was Grace’s biggest supporter; she even created a trophy wall with all of Grace’s framed awards. Now Lilly is dying and, for some reason, Grace feels it is her fault.
Lilly found a used pendant at Handy’s Pawn and Thrift; she wore it around her neck everywhere, even to bed—now she’s laying in the hospital—attempted suicide by hanging. Grace feels she must bring the pendant to Lilly’s bedside every day—but only after Grace runs—which is morning, noon, and night.
–Even as I read, I was screaming in the back of my mind-keep the pendant away from Lilly!
Now the pendant seems to have an affinity for Grace; she leaves it on the nightstand and wakes with it in her bed. Finally, it’s as if she’s obligated to wear it. She slips the chain over her head.
—Again, I was screaming, take the pendant off! Don’t put it around your neck!!!
While wearing the pendant on her run, Grace is compelled to follow another runner down an unfamiliar path past a cemetery into the forest. Grace feels she must solve the puzzle of the runner in black and the mysterious access road.
I could smell the pines in the cool, crisp night air, and the peace of the cemetery fell on me. I felt Grace’s fear as a giant crow accosted her on the run. Irish folklore woven in added to the eerie vibes.
This story is almost like a mystery as Lucia drops clues, what appear to be red herrings, and unanswered questions throughout. Finally, all the questions are answered in a violent and bloody reveal.
After I read the last pages and whispered what was either a curse or a prayer, I found I couldn’t do anything for quite a while as I tried to process the final horrors. What a story!
June 1, 2022
Kevin Lucia is one of those authors that sucks you in with not only a great story, but believable, and well developed, characters - including the town of Clifton Heights, where most of his stories take place.
THE NIGHT ROAD is a great novella steeped with mystery, Irish Folklore, tragedy, loss, and coping mechanisms.
Many have rehashed the novella in their reviews, and I'm finding it difficult to add anything more to them without giving away the entire story. So, I think I'll do something a little different with this review - especially since I consider Kevin a friend, and he already knows how I feel about his writing.
Lets do a Good, Bad, and Ugly - shall we?
The Good: I really enjoyed the suspense that constantly builds throughout the story. You're never quite sure what's real, or what's imagined. I also enjoyed learning a little folklore.
The Bad: As everyone mentioned, there's a character who we only know as "he" that could have been fleshed out more earlier. I can appreciate why and how Kevin handled him, and in the end, it makes sense - but most readers (myself included) will be very frustrated until that point (and Kevin hits you with the explanation like Babe Ruth crushing a home-run).
The Ugly: Well, read it and find out. It mixes really well with "The Bad" - and by "ugly", I'm not using the term in a negative way, I'm using it to describe the - unforeseen - reason behind everything.
I've said it before, and I'll keep saying it until I see a Kevin Lucia novel on the shelves at my local Barnes & Noble - if you haven't read anything by Kevin, you are doing yourself a disservice, and are missing out on some truly masterful storytelling; although I would never tell him that - his head is big enough as it is. ;-)
THE NIGHT ROAD is a great novella steeped with mystery, Irish Folklore, tragedy, loss, and coping mechanisms.
Many have rehashed the novella in their reviews, and I'm finding it difficult to add anything more to them without giving away the entire story. So, I think I'll do something a little different with this review - especially since I consider Kevin a friend, and he already knows how I feel about his writing.
Lets do a Good, Bad, and Ugly - shall we?
The Good: I really enjoyed the suspense that constantly builds throughout the story. You're never quite sure what's real, or what's imagined. I also enjoyed learning a little folklore.
The Bad: As everyone mentioned, there's a character who we only know as "he" that could have been fleshed out more earlier. I can appreciate why and how Kevin handled him, and in the end, it makes sense - but most readers (myself included) will be very frustrated until that point (and Kevin hits you with the explanation like Babe Ruth crushing a home-run).
The Ugly: Well, read it and find out. It mixes really well with "The Bad" - and by "ugly", I'm not using the term in a negative way, I'm using it to describe the - unforeseen - reason behind everything.
I've said it before, and I'll keep saying it until I see a Kevin Lucia novel on the shelves at my local Barnes & Noble - if you haven't read anything by Kevin, you are doing yourself a disservice, and are missing out on some truly masterful storytelling; although I would never tell him that - his head is big enough as it is. ;-)
April 2, 2022
A fast-paced dark-fantasy short story that reads as if this was a full-length novel. Loved it.
Starts off with anticipation in high gear with Grace running down a road she is familiar with, yet, somehow she isn't. She is trying to remember pieces of her life and what exactly happened to her family. Her sister, Lilly, is in an unresponsive stupor in the hospital (why?), they had to go and live with their aunt who drinks (what happened to the parents?), and one unanswered question that Grace refuses to talk about (what's really going on Grace?).
There are encounters Grace faces that leave her and the reader with enigmatic feelings that you want to get to the bottom of. Grace sees a runner dressed all in black, an abandoned town on the outskirts of where she lives that she has never seen or heard of - full of folks from years past? And her sister's locket with those special tiny engravings seemingly has its own agenda.
There are a handful of questions that keep popping up through the read she is asking of herself and as you are reading, you as the reader want answers too. These words move flawlessly, in my opinion.
And, folks, you learn some history of the Adirondacks. Back in the day...
There really is a lot of story compiled into this short read folks. Beautiful artwork from Ben Baldwin, by the way, folks! Damn, such a good story. One thing is for sure if you have not read what Kevin Lucia is capable of ... be aware
Starts off with anticipation in high gear with Grace running down a road she is familiar with, yet, somehow she isn't. She is trying to remember pieces of her life and what exactly happened to her family. Her sister, Lilly, is in an unresponsive stupor in the hospital (why?), they had to go and live with their aunt who drinks (what happened to the parents?), and one unanswered question that Grace refuses to talk about (what's really going on Grace?).
There are encounters Grace faces that leave her and the reader with enigmatic feelings that you want to get to the bottom of. Grace sees a runner dressed all in black, an abandoned town on the outskirts of where she lives that she has never seen or heard of - full of folks from years past? And her sister's locket with those special tiny engravings seemingly has its own agenda.
There are a handful of questions that keep popping up through the read she is asking of herself and as you are reading, you as the reader want answers too. These words move flawlessly, in my opinion.
And, folks, you learn some history of the Adirondacks. Back in the day...
There really is a lot of story compiled into this short read folks. Beautiful artwork from Ben Baldwin, by the way, folks! Damn, such a good story. One thing is for sure if you have not read what Kevin Lucia is capable of ... be aware
April 19, 2022
Here's a link to my review, published on Horror Obsessive
https://horrorobsessive.com/2022/04/1...
https://horrorobsessive.com/2022/04/1...
July 4, 2023
Review coming soon.
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