Philip Fracassi’s new horror novel Gothic opens with its protagonist Tyson Parks trapped in an untenable situation. Twenty years ago he was a New York Times bestselling horror author, hailed as Stephen King’s heir apparent. But times have changed and his more recent books have been commercial and critical failures. His smug Manhattan agent—lounging in the posh corner office Tyson’s labor and talent financed—berates him like a child for falling out of step with the fickle tastes of the fiction market. Tyson’s latest manuscript is both late and diverges significantly from the book he pitched to his anxious publisher. The creative well is running dry and his business partners are growing impatient while his debts mercilessly compound.

Tyson’s fortunes change, however, when his supportive partner Sarah buys him an ornate Victorian Gothic writing desk as a present for his 59th birthday. A smoothly polished stone slab supported by decadently engraved rosewood, the monumental antique is intended to reignite Tyson’s creative spark. And it works, beyond Sarah’s wildest hopes. From the moment Tyson sets fingertips to keyboard, he is drawn into a fugue state in which the words flow easily and the hours slip by, leaving him pages of disturbingly compelling tales of witchcraft and human sacrifice. Publishable pages. But while his writing career makes a dramatic recovery, his personal life takes a drastic turn for the worse. After receiving the desk, loyal family man Tyson finds himself growing distant and dismissive towards his friends and loved ones, even gradually becoming paranoid and outright violent. A new, malignant Muse is his constant companion. If that wasn’t enough, in addition to the desk’s dark influence, Tyson finds himself targeted by Diana, the mysterious and ruthless last scion of the aristocrat who originally owned the artifact. For the desk is, in reality, a repurposed altar dedicated to blasphemous occult rituals.

The clever conceit at the heart of Gothic is that it is an unabashedly old school horror novel about an old school horror novelist. It’s a book that the reader can easily envision Tyson Parks writing himself at the height of his popularity. Tyson may be struggling because he’s behind the times, but Gothic celebrates the era when writers like him were most successful, when names like Stephen King, Dean R. Koontz, and Peter Straub adorned every drugstore paperback spinner rack. Fracassi wisely avoids directly aping King’s voice and tics, but King in particular is referenced multiple times in the book. The writer’s descent into madness immediately brings to mind The Shining, and the seductive, haunted artifact that gives with one hand while exacting a terrible price with the other reminds the reader of a certain cursed possessed car. In fact, this parallel is amusingly lampshaded by Tyson’s best friend, Billy: “Can you believe it Tyson? It’s like Christine…but wood!”

While Gothic is clever and occasionally referential, it doesn’t go overboard on postmodernism or irony. It takes a somewhat silly premise—haunted furniture—and combines it with familiar (some might even say played-out) gothic horror elements like warlocks, moonlit ritual sacrifice, and devil worship, and then proceeds to deliver a serious, straight-faced horror story. Fracassi uses these well worn tropes not to mock them from the smirking perspective of an “evolved” 21 st century horror writer, but because they are still COOL.

Gothic, as they say, goes hard. The book limits itself to an intimate cast of characters and imbues them with a great degree of interiority, making their insecurities, fears, and struggles relatable to the reader. Fracassi then tightens the screws, subjecting each of them to an inexorably escalating sequence of horrors. Moments of outright violence are infrequent, but are graphically and squirm-inducingly described. While it is handled with what I felt to be appropriate gravity, there is one scene of sexual assault that may be too intense for some readers. Gothic is a novel that draws the reader in and makes them care about the characters before absolutely devastating them. As demonstrated in the shocking climax, no one who comes into contact with the demonic desk survives completely unscathed. Gothic concludes with an extended denouement that hints at even grimmer implications for the world at large.

While plot and characterization are generally quite strong, the character of Diana was the weakest aspect of the book. Her ancestry and its entanglement with the desk’s origins are important to the narrative, but despite the cold-hearted tenacity she displays throughout most of the book, she appears uncharacteristically careless at a crucial moment. Gothic has an uncommonly strong cast of characters, however, and this one false note does little to tarnish the book as a whole.

The horror genre is currently blessed with an abundance of talented authors all pushing in different directions, innovating and deconstructing and elevating, but it’s gratifying to see one newer writer recognize that the classic tropes became classic for a reason. Sometimes an old-fashioned spooky story about possession and devil worship just hits the spot. Gothic is an immensely satisfying love- letter to the golden age of paperback horror.

Very creepy and engrossing. I was very invested in Tyson right from the start and thought the story was very well done!

"Do this in remembrance of me."

Tyson Parks was once a best selling author but nowadays not so much. It appears his ideas and creativity have all but dried up. He has a deadline looming, one his agent won't let him forget about, and the stress of it all is weighing on him.

His lovely girlfriend, Sarah, has found the perfect gift for him for his 59th birthday: A new writing desk! An antique to be sure, high shine finish, engraved wood, intricate detailing make this a one of a kind showpiece and one that she hopes rekindles his writing spirit.

Tyson has never seen anything so beautiful. As soon as he sits at the desk it's as if it's talking to him, becoming him, giving him the very ideas he needs for his next best-selling book. While the desk seems to be giving him everything he could ever ask for it's also taking from him the very essence of his being. Turning a once mild-mannered man into a monster of his own making.

Obviously if your reading a book about a possessed desk some suspension of disbelief has to be involved. While this bothers me in almost every other genre I am much more forgiving in horror. Hey, I know what I signed up for after all. That being said I wish I had liked Tyson more right from the get go because I would have been a lot more invested in this story had I of been. Tyson went from a whiney slouch to a violent prick and neither version resonated with me as a reader. Did this story really need a rape scene? No, it did not. There are many ways you can show a characters descent into madness without resorting to that.

Where's the scares? Beats me. I didn't get so much as a chill or a goosebump reading this.

One of my most common complaints is going to rear its ugly head yet again: this book is too long. While Tyson may have been struggling for words Fracassi suffers from no such ailment. I personally think this book would have been much more successful at a 300 page count rather than 400+. That's a big investment so the pay-off had better be stellar.

And the pay-off? It's pretty darn good considering.

So there are highlights, lowlights, and a little in-between. I wouldn't hesitate to read more from this author, he definitely knows his way around keyboard, and I hope his future offerings give me the chills I'm looking for. 3 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and Cemetery Dance Publication for my complimentary copy.

Creepy, gripping and Steven King-esque this one is a wild ride from start to finish! Great for people just getting into the more extreme horror genre.

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Philip Fracassi’s Gothic felt like a hauntingly brutal love letter to Stephen King. I would say specifically fans of Kings The Shining will enjoy this. As not since the Shining have I read of an author spiraling decent into madness ultimately ending with the fracturing of his family.

As always I would worn potential readers to read the trigger warnings. I had a few scenes that even I was left mouth wide opened and shaking from the visceral pain and gore brought upon a character.
There’s also a scene depicting sexual assault on one of the characters.

This was my first read from Fracassi and I look forward to reading more of his work in the future.

Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review or any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.

It has been awhile since a horror book has disturbed me, so I was pleasantly surprised when Gothic by Philip Fracassi was able to do so.

I thought the pace of Gothic was well done. Sometimes an author seems to spend so much time trying to get the reader’s sense of doom amped up, that they don’t get to the actual horror part of the book until the last fourth (or even less) of the book. Fracassi was able to get to the disturbing bit pretty quickly (although I could have done with a bit less of the author in the book going over how old he’s gotten and how much of a disappointment he has become…), in part, because of the flashbacks that were incorporated to help tell the tale of the how the desk came to be.

There were quite a few nods to 80’s horror movies and writers, many of them towards Stephen King, which was fun. And the imagery of the desk coming alive was done really well. The slow descent into madness that was helped along by the spirit of the desk was very well written too. There was graphic violence towards a woman, but I thought it did add to the story, and if you are a horror reader, I don’t feel like it’s something that will shock you…

A very well written horror novel and I look forward to reading more of Philip Fracassi.

Seeing that this book was coming from Philip Fracassi, I was very intrigued. Reading the synopsis, I was sold. This book is comprised of a very dark, and dare I say gothic, story. Fracassi has a way about his writing that keeps me completely enthralled, leading me to devour every word. He has very quickly become a favorite author for me and this book just bolsters that feeling. A wonderfully haunting tale about a writer and his desk that may or may not be evil.

Thank you to NetGalley and Cemetery Dance Publications for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a cracking story about a somewhat washed up horror novelist and the possessed desk he receives as a 59th birthday present Gloriously gory at times with some flashes of wry humour and pop culture references. Loads of gruesome, grisly fun.

Thank you NetGalley and Cemetary Dance for a copy of the eArc of Gothic by Philip Fracassi. The lead up to and the climax of the story were fantastic. The climax was certainly unexpected, and the reason why I'd recommend the book. There are some tropes (devolution of a horror author) and I did not like the prose. I would try another book by Philip Fracassi.

Overall, I give this book 2.5 stars. I don't know if Philip is going to be an author for me in the future, but I will definitely keep my eye out. This story was just meh for me and then there was a scene that made me feel ill. PLEASE READ THE TRIGGER WARNINGS FOR THIS BOOK.

TW: domestic abuse and sexual assault

They say write what you know, so I guess that’s why so many writers write about authors struggling to write their next book, but I’m not a fan of this kind of story. I find it self indulgent, and they usually follow the same predictable path. Gothic is no different.

The publisher wisely labels this old school horror. With it’s tone deaf characters, recycled plot and dated scares, it reads like it was written over forty years ago. Apart from an occasional mention of a cell phone (the Luddite main character doesn’t own one), and a laptop (which I think is really a typewriter, judging by the noise of the keys), I’d say it actually was written over forty years ago. Its hackneyed tropes and stereotypical characters are laid out without the slightest hint of irony or wink to the audience, apart from some jabs at so called critics near the end of the book, and a deluge of mentions of Stephen King so that the aping of his style can be called a homage.

If you’re looking for another story of a hugely successful author turning to a cursed object to revive his flagging career, I suggest you turn to Garth Merenghi’s Terrortome instead of Gothic. It lampoons the tired old story that this book replicates, and manages to be more entertaining and original than this book, as well as being funny.

Thank you to the publisher and author for providing me with an ARC. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

Tyson Parks is a famous horror author. He is going to meet a friend for his birthday dinner that is his gift from him. After dinner, Tyson goes home and finds the house is dark making it seem as everyone has gone to bed but when he opens the door, the lights come on and the people yell “Surprise!” His partner, Sarah has arranged the surprise birthday party. She gives Tyson a special gift from her. She takes him to his study and shows him his new desk. Sarah is hoping it will inspire him to write another novel. Tyson starts typing that night after the party and continues into the next day. He’s positive that his agent and publisher will like it. They do. Of course publishers are eager for another book from him. He is the number one author in the news with his new book. Tyson is happy that he is coming back into his writing. Meanwhile Tyson is acting strangely. Sarah doesn’t know what has caused this but then wonders if it has anything to do with his new desk. Does it? A woman overseas has gotten a reply that one of the ancient artifacts is in New York. When she arrives in New York, she wants to know who and where the artifact is. When she finds out, she goes to get the artifact thinking that if she pays more than they did for it, she would get it. If they did not, she would still get it but not the way she wants to. Wii she be able to get it after the new owner says no? Tyson will not stop writing his new book. The publisher gives a party to celebrate with select guests. Tyson makes the round seeing and talking to people. He even gives a speech. Afterwards he autographs the 200 free books for the guests as they line up.

The author has written an occult horror book. There is creepiness, some violence, love obsession and greed in this novel. It is a page-turning story with excellently described characters, devilish glee with details that made my experience reading it - how he wrote the dread I felt throughout the novel. It is exquisite horror not to be missed.

"She strolls toward the desk, sneakers silent as she crosses the dark wood, the large oriental rugs. The monstrosity looms before her like a demonic church altar, its black wood glistening in the sunlight, the intricate carvings mysterious and disquieting, its size intimidating."

SUMMARY

Tyson Parks is a writer. Somewhat successful, he is past his prime and struggling to maintain relevance.

Then Tyson hits rock bottom. When pitching his latest book, he's told it isn't what he promised and that if he doesn't come up with a new story quick he'll have to return his advance. Only the advance Tyson got is far past spent. Tyson is desperate and doesn't know what to do.

And then one night everything changes.

For his birthday, Sarah, his longtime partner gives him a special present. An antique desk. An ornate, beautiful behemoth inscribed with the words: Do This In Remembrance of Me. Centuries old and with a mysterious history, Sarah hopes it will be the inspiration Tyson needs to create and feel relevant again.

Tyson becomes enchanted by the wondrous desk. He starts writing feverishly. This desk is special. This desk has a way to help Tyson that he never anticipated. This desk is going to change everything, and it might not be in anybody’s best interest.

REVIEW / THOUGHTS

Until this book I'd only ever read short stories from Fracassi. From reading those I knew I wanted to read more. And I wasn't disappointed. Fracassi's recent novel is incredible fun. I'm so glad I had the chance to read it.

There was plenty to appreciate about this novel. Fracassi creates memorable and believable characters. He creates relationships between the characters that make the entire tale so much more real and endearing.

And the horror! What great horror. There are excruciating elements, given with great detail that makes the reader positively squirm. There were times that it felt like an inside the writers point of view of John Carpenters In the Mouth of Madness. There were also times I felt like I was reading something by Stephen King. But every time I felt this it was followed by a wonderful sense of originality. A strong sense of Fracassi pervaded even the moments of similarity to create something unique.

CONCLUSION

Usually during a read I have what I call a lull. What I mean by this is that somewhere along the way I'll come to a point where my mind becomes distracted by other endeavors (other books, movies, running or something else) and I'll slow down on the current read. The runner in me calls that “hitting the wall.” I chip away at the book and eventually get a second wind and fly through the finish.

That didn't happen with Gothic.

I was engaged 100% of the time. I never felt my attention ebbing. I just kept turning pages, wanting to know what was going to happen to Tyson, the desk and his companions. This is the hallmark of a extraordinary book. I loved it and highly recommend it.

From the outset Gothic has all the promise of being the good 'old fashioned horror' that it's claiming to be: the cover, the title, synopsis, and even the author's name. It had so much promise and then gave me exactly what I wanted.
This is horror. (That isn't to say that horror doesn't come in a variety of forms but I for one am very tired of thrillers being marketed as horror and flooding the market). It does what it says it will and hit all those sweet spots: a writer, a mysterious object that might be cursed/possessed/something else, and mystery. There was only one weird references to boobs (but a little too much fat shaming). It's easily comparable to the likes of Herbert, Laymon, Saul and John Carpenter (I have an overwhelming urge to re-watch At the Mouth of Madness after reading this).

My biggest gripe is that it moved too quickly. I would have preferred a slower decline into madness, a little more resistance. I would have liked Sarah to have punch him the face, walked away, and pressed charges.

All in all it did what it promised and I will be reading more of his work in the future (I'd also like to read Black Altar, but alas...)

Had to sleep on this before I could gather my thoughts on this.

I feel like this had a lot of potential. A writer struggling with writer’s block receives a desk filled with malevolent forces? Him possibly being possessed by it and giving slight The Shining vibes? Sign me up. I got approved to read this in the summer of 2022 and i’ve had plenty of opportunities to complete this book. There’s a reason it’s taken me until now to finish it. This book was so slow in the beginning that I kept stopping and picking up other books. It spent too much time building up to the horror. That, plus the fact it flips back and forth between Tyson and Diana’s plot lines, including chapters set in the 1700’s. For the book only being 408 pages, it felt like an eternity to get through.

That being said, the horror really started to pick up halfway through. This book has wild body horror. It was mesmerizing to read it. There is a scene involving the desk and a character’s hand that I can’t stop thinking about. That, plus Tyson and Diana finally meeting really had me invested on what would happen in the end. It was a wild ride when it came to Tyson obsession with the desk and what he was willing to lose in order to write a new book. I will say the last lines of the book gave me a good chuckle and really brings the story around full circle. I did feel like there was an unfinished ending with Tyson’s daughter and another character. It seemed like it was leading up to a confrontation and then there’s no additional chapter with them at all, which was a little confusing.

Overall, this was just okay. I really felt like it jumped between too many POVS and the pacing was just too slow for my taste. It’s shame because it has themes of occultism and body horror, which are some of my favorite horror themes!

Content warning: along with some gruesome body horror, there is a rape scene and also mentions of rape.

Once again, thank you to Netgalley for the digital ARC of Gothic.

I've read many thing by Fracassi, usually I love anything Fracassi puts out. Unfortunately I could not get into this one. Despite the premise being intriguing, the characters were lacking for me. I tried many times to pick up were I left off and just couldn't get into it. Only because of his previous work I've enjoyed I may try it again later on.

For horror author Tyson Parks, the glory days grow farther and farther away each year. As he struggles to keep up with his publisher contracts and pen a novel that will bring him even remotely close to his past notoriety, Tyson finds he would give just about anything for a muse.

Then, on Tyson's 59th birthday, his long-time partner Sarah gifts him the desk. Forged with painstaking intentionality and superb craftsmanship, it's evident that this isn't just any writer's desk; it's a grand piece of history likely etched with its own mysterious stories, just waiting to be discovered.

Little does Tyson know, his new muse is harboring a darkness that will beckon him to the precipice--but of what? He shouldn't dare to find out.

"Gothic" is nothing short of a horror masterpiece. In 400 pages, Philip Fracassi weaves a harrowing story of a struggling writer who succumbs a darkness that becomes nearly indistinguishable from himself. With the same kind of visceral terror and unpretentious prose of Stephen King but still a voice uniquely his own, Fracassi marches this story forward with a pulse-pounding, dread-filled pace that kept me so engrossed I quite literally had to force myself to stop reading.

I loved every page, even the ones that terrified me. "Gothic" (while certainly not for the faint of heart) is a refreshing homage to old-school horror but with an invigorated style that's bound to leave its mark.

Fracas I was relatively unknown to me until I was lucky enough to review a short story collection, and from there a connection was formed. I truly enjoy his fiction and his ability to craft an engrossing tale. Gothic does not fall short, and he has cemented himself as a must read, as far as I’m concerned.

Tyson Parks is a best selling horror author, but his career is headed down the drain and the pressure is on for his latest deadline. He has nothing to give the publisher, but his funds are running low and he's already blown through the advance they gave him - which they'll need back when he fails to produce what he'd promised.

His long time girlfriend Sarah gifts him an antique desk for his birthday, in hopes that it will help motivate him. But what they don't realize is the desktop is made from an ancient occult artifact, and is evil and possessed.

Tyson starts doing abnormal things, but he's also writing and the writing is good. He's attached to the desk, and doesn't care what it costs him if it means he's successful...

This one was bloody and gory and really everything you would want from a horror novel. The flashbacks to the past provided enough backstory to understand the evil that possessed the artifact, but didn't linger on it which I liked. I'm definitely looking forward to more from Fracassi in the future. Thanks to Philip Fracassi, Cemetery Dance Publications and NetGalley for my advanced copy. Gothic publishes 2/3.

This was the first time I have read a novel from Fracassi and it was an intense experience!
This is definitely a horror novel, which is very much in my wheelhouse. It is quite graphic (content warning for domestic abuse, sexual assault, suicide), but it didn't feel gratuitous.
I enjoyed the paranormal/Lovecraftian horror aspects and would have enjoyed more of that aspect. I felt like the characters didn't really feel real for me, I didn't connect with any of them beyond a surface level. Also, I understand the historical aspect needed to be shared, but I found the flashback parts the least engaging.
Overall, a strong idea and good writing made this enjoyable - I will look for more of his novels in the future.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy to read and review. All opinions are my own.
Publish date: February 3. 2023