(I received this book from the editor and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)

When I saw the description for the newest book by Philip Fracassi, Boys in the Valley, I thought they were exaggerating: Midnight Mass meets the Lord of the Flies meets The Exorcist? Could such a perfect mix (for my reading urges) be possible? I was sceptical.
And oh, was I wrong, because Boys in the Valley is horror and madness in a perfect, twisted unison.
Each chapter changes perspective, which allows the reader to see the same scene from different point of views (and different interpretations of what is happening).
At first, we meet Peter, the main character, through some horrors in his past that brought him to the orphanage in where all the action, sorry, nightmare, takes place. He is one of the oldest boys in there, and he feels as if he was sometimes in charge of the smaller ones, but once all hell breaks loose, we understand that he is just a child himself, trying to understand how everything turned to absolute chaos in a matter of days. And what is his role in all of this; if he manages to survive the night, of course.
As a trigger warning, I must add that there are some very violent scenes involving both adults and children, and the descriptions are very graphic but not to the point of being morbid.
The sense of isolation and complete despair is present from the beginning until the end, and the storm lurks both outside and inside the orphanage.

Although I am dying to talk about this book with someone, I do not want to give many details away, either, so I will end this review with a huge thank to Netgalley and the editors for the ARC, the biggest ovation possible to Philip Fracassi and his craft, and an advice to all readers interested: start reading this book on a day where you don’t have any commitments or plans, because once you enter the orphanage you will not be able to stop reading until the last page leaves you out of breath.
You’ve been warned.

Boys in the Valley takes place at St. Vincent's Orphanage for Boys in the very early 1900s in a remote area of Pennsylvania. Our main character is Peter, who is one of the oldest boys at the orphanage, having been there most of his life, and is readying to either leave the orphanage or become a priest, like his father figure, Father Andrew.

One night there is a tragic death at the orphanage, and evil is released, turning some of the boys against the others. Peter must grapple with his faith against evil to save himself and the boys before they're all overcome.

This was really excellent - genuinely scary, fast paced, and hard to put down! One of the descriptions says "The Exorcist meets Lord of the Flies, by way of Midnight Mass" and that really could not be more accurate. If you enjoy any of the above, you'll love this. I'll be thinking about this one for a long time!

A clumsily written, yet propulsive horror novel in the vein of old-school pulp. Philip Fracassi's "Boys In The Valley" doesn't offer much to readers interested in time, place, or character - while the book is ostensibly set in a rural nineteenth-century orphanage, the dialogue is indistinguishable from what you might expect to hear in a modern high school, and vernacular like "okay" and "child abuse" provide tonally jarring moments - but Fracassi has a clear gift for horror, and it's in the scenes of carnage that the book really shines. I wasn't especially attached to any of the main characters, of which the book has a surfeit, but when the blood started to fly, I couldn't bring myself to put the book down. Will appeal to fans of Richard Matheson and Nick Cutter.

The beginning got me a little excited for the story. It fit the time period but, as the story started the environment did not seem to fit the time period much anymore. The violence that comes about as the stranger is brought in around minors was dealt with with only a couple men? Why did they not get it out of there right after or get the kids somewhere safer? It was a story told many times. Some of it was interesting and I stayed with it making it a good story but other parts I was just felt has been over done and I did not find enough to make me care about the characters. I read the information of the story but did not feel the characters and situation. I thought it was still good but for me not great.

(i received an e-arc from tor and netgalley in exchange for an honest review.)

religious suppression, corrupt clergy, and nail-biting suspense—oh my. i found myself flying through the pages because BY GOD i needed to know just what the hell was haunting the orphanage. (pun intended.) with the multiple points of view, i got to see how the thin, shaky line between sanity and madness easily eroded amongst the group of boys. this book (rightfully) dares to look religious authority in the eye and peel its decaying layers back, piece by piece.

i am keeping my eyes peeled for a physical edition, because i would love to annotate this chilling story in full.

Philip Fracassi made my top 10 list last year with A Child Alone With Strangers and would have made it twice, had I not put a self imposed rule in place to only include an author once (Gothic came out this year but I read it last year). And now this year Fracassi looks to cement himself onto that list yet again.

Boys in the Valley is a terrifying coming of age story — a trope that has been done to death, but is given fresh life in the form of a period piece about lose, family, sacrifice, and duty. Through multiple shifting viewpoints we’re shown the corruption and beauty religion can have on one’s life and the lives of others, with the bleak and freezing backdrop of impending winter at a remote orphanage.

This story is really something special and truly horrifying.

Fracassi is making his TOR Nightfire debut with possibly the best novel the imprint has put out to date. This is the summer blockbuster every horror reader needs in their life.

Run, don’t walk, to pick this one up when it drops on 7/11/23

5/5 🌟

Boys In the Valley reminded me of the atmosphere from John Carpenter's "The Thing" and the horrors of NOS4A2; both of which I love and boy did I love this book! Fracassi did an excellent job of building characters who carry a true heft and the pace of this story flies at break-neck speed! Boys In the Valley is a horror story that pulls no punches and I really appreciate that. I must mention as well that in addition to the unsettling nature of this book, Fracassi really lays the groundwork with his characters and I cared about the implications as a reader.

As this was my first foray into Fracassi as an author, I can confidently say I'll be seeking more of his work in the near future!

Thank you NetGalley for providing an advanced copy for review!

If you tell me that there is a book about a catholic orphanage where demonic presence possesses children, I am THERE!

This book was terrifying. This isn’t the whole jump scare and visceral horror that I usually really love in horror books, but instead a quieter, more atmospheric horror that was just incredible.

Set in 1898 against a snowy backdrop, and inside the walls of an all boys catholic orphanage, we follow a group of boys who live, work and worship together. Peter, a boy who lived most of his life here is just deciding whether or not to dedicate his life to the priesthood.

But an evil is unleashed upon them all, a demonic presence and it is changing the boys who live there. A rift between good and evil is evident and Peter and his friends have to stop it before it takes all of them.

Now that I have read one book by this author, I must go and read everything he has written.

I requested a digital copy in order to sample the prose on my phone (since I don't have a eReader) before requesting a physical copy for review. My review will be based on the physical ARC I read (if I qualify)

In an early 1900s Catholic orphanage in rural Pennsylvania, teenager Peter Barlow is feeling the call to become a priest. He’s a stand in older brother to many of the younger boys, and is close friends with one of the priests in charge.

Chaos ensues when a man—who turns out to be possessed—shows up at the parish and his evil is passed on to half the boys (and staff). What follows is an old school survival horror story, with elements of The Exorcist, Lord of the Flies, and some nasty but effective violence to rival the most brutal Ketchum or Laymon had to offer.

As all hell breaks loose, the author does a fantastic job of showing Peter struggling with the desire to become a priest, or go after a local farm girl he has developed feelings for. The inner battles get quite intense, leading up to a truly devastating finale.

Those into possession-horror will eat this up, and I can’t see any horror fan not having a grand old time.

Sprinkle yourself with holy water before reading just to be safe.

Plot: The story is set in Pennsylvania at the St. Vincent’s Orphanage for boys, where 30 something boys ranging from 7-18 are under the watchful eye of 7 priests. On a stormy night a stranger is brought to the orphanage by the local authorities, but something dark is amiss and unleashed upon the congregation. Over time some of the boys begin to act differently, strange almost. Boys begin to end up dead and the mystery unravels as to what dark spirits are at play.

Review: To say I was a little disappointed in this novel was a shame, because I want to always write good reviews as to not dishearten an author behind the story. In saying that I just did not connect with the book and found it hard to follow as I found myself not always knowing what characters perspective I was reading from. I feel that the chapters should have been laid out that way to help make more sense. I also think the story lacked depth or character building. I was lost most of the time during the book.

I have to say this is just my opinion and I am sure other reviewers of this ARC have different ideas on the novel.

Historical horror/ fiction/ I don’t care, it’s absolutely terrifying. I definitely recommend. Read this book.

Boys in the valley didn’t appeal to me when I read the description. I don’t often go for historical stuff and was worried how far in that direction this would lean. Then I read Gothic and realized it was the same author, and knew that I had to give this a try. This was a great horror novel with that battle between good and evil. It is a bit of a slow burn starting out but it feels ominous and is worth it. So glad I gave this a try!

Note: arc provided by the publisher via netgalley in exchange for honest review

In a remote village, a religious (Catholic) orphanage for boys is attacked by a demonic spirit previously exorcised from an occultist. Slowly, the boys turn on each other Lord of the Flies-style, and are thrown into a battle of good versus the evil residing around them. I loved this! I loved the writing and the way everything was realized. I loved how the story moves around between POVs--it really made the emotion a lot deeper for me.
My only drawback was that the beginning was a bit slow, but once it picks up it really gets going. I loved this, and I am really excited to read more from this author in the future.

Boys in the Valley is a coming-of-age novel that falls between Lord of the Flies and The Exorcist. Set in an isolated valley, a Catholic boy's orphanage is attacked by a vengeful spirit after one of the priests exorcises it from a wounded occultist. What follows is a gruesome tale of demonic proportions. Boys, who had once seen each other as brothers, are pitted against each other in a battle of good versus evil.

Fracassi's prose is excellent, and the characters were intriguing. The changing POVs added layers to the story, though Peter was by far the most prominent voice. The scenes were visceral, gory, and full of emotion. I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for Fracassi's future works.

I'd recommend this to readers looking for an adult Lord of the Flies, stories about demonic possessions, or isolated horror.

Literally horrific. And I LOVED it. This is scary almost the entire time and it was never cheesy. Super hard to do in my opinion. This needs to be on every horror lover's TBR.

The first 100 pages were a bit slow (still very enjoyable), but after that it was non stop horror. I loved it!

In a secluded valley in Pennsylvania at the turn of the century lies St. Vincent's, an orphanage for boys. Run by the charity of several priests, St. Vincent's is home to Peter Barlow--priest-in-training and one of the oldest--and dozens of other boys. Their days are filled with the same austere monotony; scant meals that keep all of them just behind the brink of starving, chores throughout the orphanage, and prayer.

Then one night, a dying stranger arrives at the orphanage, and everything changes.

A dark presence permeates the walls of St. Vincent's, and with it, all semblance of order and faith begin to crumble. Boys that were once timid and meek lurk in the shadows with menacing intent, some boys disappear, and Peter is left not knowing who to trust.

"Boys in the Valley," is, as its advanced praise suggests, a thematic nod to both "The Exorcist" and "Lord of the Flies." Much more than that, however, is the fact that it's one of the single greatest pieces of horror I've ever read. Here, Fracassi demonstrates he really is the master of old-school horror and writing suspense; his cast of wayward characters--in both boys and priests alike--against the backdrop of an orphanage that's largely cut off from society makes for a downright terrifying story. From the very first page, he sets an unsettling tone that slowly builds into a crescendo of chaos and violence that, once it begins, you won't be able to look away from.

Incredible.

Horror is not my preferred genre, but ‘Lord of the Flies’ is one of my favourite classics, so I was willing to give this a shot. And I have to say, while I didn't hate this, I also didn't love it.

What makes ‘Lord of the Flies’ work is the realistic decline of humanity, how boys can lose themselves to chaos and power. That's what makes it so compelling. I think if this had followed similar themes, I would have enjoyed it more.

However, the driving force is this is demonic possession and I just couldn't get behind it. It's just not something I personally find entertaining, spooky, or believable. Which is quite a shame because I actually really enjoyed the writing and the characters.

But readers who are more open to things relating to exorcisms should enjoy this one more than I did!

While it started a bit slow, I thought this coming-of-age horror novel was excellently done! Before I begin to get into the meat of my review (pun intended), I gotta say: loved the lyric from "Welcome to the Black Parade" at the beginning. It made my heart sing, because Peter, our main protagonist, really is just that: not a man, not a hero, just a boy who had to sing that song, and by "sing that song" I mean "be unwillingly drafted into the fight against hell." I felt for him, even though he rises to the challenge.

This book hits all the beats: creepy orphanage, jerkass priests, token Good Priest, creepy children and somewhat less creepy children, demonic possession-as-infestation, and lots of gore and scares. Thematically, it touches on themes of redemption, faith, bravery, and courage, especially when the strict order of your world is upended and goes to hell, literally, and what can you do? The characters all had distinct personalities and depth - I felt for Peter, and Father Andrew, and even Johnson at the very end.

One last thing: even though we know how the evil arrives at the orphanage, we never learn what happened to begin the infestation in the first place. How did it all come about? I don't know, there's no hint given. It's delicious and I'm left to wonder just what on earth was going on in Pennsylvania at the turn of the century.

A few minor quibbles about the boys and period-accurate information aside, this was a great read! Thank you to TorNightfire and Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!