This one was a fun read. It reminded me a bit of Neil Gaiman's work, fairytales for adults, but this one was much more sinister. As someone with mommy issues, I definitely empathized with Kosa. The story had good pricing, aside from a few sections that dragged a little. I enjoyed the horror and disturbing plot twists. Definitely will definitely read more from this author.

This is a very good retailing, of a beloved fairytale, and I really enjoyed it. There is a lot of twist and turns. Most definitely a lot of horror. I believe anyone who enjoys horror will enjoy this story.


I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.

***3.5 Stars***

Kosa was actually a pretty solid book full of twists and turns. While I enjoyed this twisted tale based on Rapuzel (although it also felt a lot of like Hanzel and Gretel), and was surprised at some of the events that occurred, I did feel the overall story lacked in both character and plot development relying mostly on attempted shock value to propel the story forward. And while the pacing was good, some of the dialogue actually pulled me out of the story and even had me rolling my eyes, at times.

I actually did enjoy the multiple characters as it gave the story a different perspective every time someone new was involved. Kosa's situation was the most interesting to me and I would have liked to have connected with her a bit more, to really understand her situation and her fears. I felt the author wrote her a bit superficially which made it hard to really empathize with her situation even though you got glimpses of how difficult her life must have been. Equally, Marta, the mother, was fascinating, and I think a bit more background would have made her character that much more sinister rather than just relying on her magic being the thing that was sinister. Only enough information was given to make me even more curious about her life and why she chose to do the things she did, but was never fully developed or fully explained satisfactorily. I think that foreboding element just wasn't there for me because of this lack of development. I wanted to sit on the edge of my seat in anticipation, but I didn't.;

While I actually didn't mind the pacing, there were parts that were a bit repetitive. However, while I do think parts could have been structured a bit better to enhance anticipation and fear, the author does write a compelling story nonetheless and I had trouble putting it down. And although I enjoyed the cats as part of this story, I would have liked an explanation for them and their behaviour and how they came to be there. So, while the story was compelling, there were a few plot holes, things that weren't explained or hinted at, but were still quite interesting even if you knew they were there to add to the creepiness or eeriness of the setting.

Kosa was a fun read overall and I think I am more inclined to read twisted horror fairy tales than romance ones as I find them more interesting. I don't feel that horror necessarily has to have horrific things in it to be scary as hell, and this book would be great for someone who is looking to try the genre, but doesn't want anything too gory. This author is proof that you can write about something horrific without giving too many graphic details, but still maintain the horror element for a creepy story.

The story of Kosa by John Durgin is a tale of some of the darkest horror one can imagine. We experience a parent’s worst nightmare, but the nightmare continues even after the parents are dead.

This was truly a fantastic retelling of Rapunzel, but horror style! The writing flows effortlessly, and the plot was easy to follow. The characters felt well fleshed out, and easy to like (or hate if we’re looking at Marta).

I truly couldn’t put this one down, or stop thinking about it. I cannot recommend Kosa enough and highly encourage you to pick it up and give it a read!

This book was great. I loved the re telling of the story. My heart bled for Lisa. Great read. The story really started getting going about half way through. I really enjoyed it and the ending was great but sad also x

Kosa has never left her home in the isolated woods under the strict control of her mother. As she gets older Kosa starts to suspect that mother isn't always right. Kosa has a gift that keeps her mother alive. Mother is a witch that will do anything to keep her power including hurt others.

Kosa is a great main character. She is a great light to offset the extreme darkness that is her mother. This is a loose retelling of Rapunzel, but super dark and twisted. This is a wicked witch story with an antagonist that is cruel beyond belief.

With the dark nature of some of the content I feel like I need to include a few content warnings such as death of child, child abuse, and cannibalism. I would highly recommend this novel to those that can handle the subject matter.

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

2.75⭐️ I think the right person will enjoy this book but that person was not me.
Based on the description, I thought the story would focus mostly on Kosa however there are other characters that get more attention. For me, it felt too long and drawn out and I would have preferred a novella length.

I have always thought that the fairy tales we hear as children are more horrific than soothing. This is a great take on Rapunzel and Hansel and Gretel. From the first page, I was drawn into the story and the action never let up!

The author has done a great job in portraying the life of a young girl who was snatched from her mother's arms shortly after birth. Kosa grows up with her "Mother", who is actually a witch named Marta. Not only does Marta need something from Kosa, she also needs sustenance from young children who happen to show up in the woods around her house.

The book is full of poignant moments as children go missing, parents do unthinkable things, and Kosa comes to realize what is happening around her. Throw in some truly horrifying "cats", the love of a man for his nephew, and a corrupt individual who is helping Marta and you have a great story. Well-written with great characters and plenty of action, you'll never look at these fairytales in the same way again!

I was given the chance to listen to the audiobook by DarkLit Press and the narrator did an outstanding job with the different voices and accents for the characters. Her performance made this book even better!

Thank you NetGalley and John Durgin for the ARC!

The creepy cover made me immediately want to read it. I had no idea what it was about, and pleasantly surprised to find a Rapunzel retelling.

The psychological aspect between Mother/Marta and Kosa is so interesting. Definitely a Stockholm Syndrome situation.

I liked the way it was told in parts with all the different characters. The glimmers of hope that were immediately squashed. The horrific endings most of them met—it was engaging from beginning to end. I had to know what was going to happen.

Loved this chilling read. The cover definitely sparked my interest when I first encountered this book. It gives a new spin on the old witch in the woods trope and definitely had me coming back for more

Thank you Darklit Press & John Durgin for another amazing read.

This book was everything I needed! It was so brutal, with a vilian who was evil. I love the well thought out plot and the effort that goes into developing an intricate story in all of Durgin's books.

This is almost like a dark fairytale. The setting was excellent and this book played on my fear of losing a child for sure. The ending was fast paced and I thought was the perfect way to wrap it up

Overall a thrilling read - look forward to more from John Durgin!

This is my first book by this author but let me tell you, I am hooked. 𝗞𝗼𝘀𝗮 is atmospheric, anxiety-inducing, bloody and disturbing, checking all the boxes for my horror loving heart. A really unique twist on Rapunzel, 𝗞𝗼𝘀𝗮 had me completely enthralled - I just couldn’t put it down. I went into this one blind, solely sold on it based on the cover, and I was not disappointed. You can be sure I’m going back and reading more from Durgin. Many thanks to DarkLit Press for my eARC. 𝗞𝗼𝘀𝗮 is available now.

What a fantastic modern dark fairytale. John Durgin easily immerses you in the dark and sinister woods with his beautiful prose and excellent pacing. The image and sounds of Marta eating Kosa’s hair are going to stick with me for quite awhile!!!

This book is a kick in the gnuts, a kick in the teeth, followed by a slow pummeling. You will be unable to walk away from this unscathed.
The witch in this book is a beech of the highest order. She is absolutely brutal, a queen of manipulation that leaves you furious. I challenge you to read this and not have your blood boil. If you are a parent, consider yourself warned. Marta is one of the evilest villains I have read in awhile. There is no gray area on this fact, no matter what Kosa tries to tell you.
This book got personal for me, especially at the beginning. I related with one of the characters in many more ways than I like to admit. Memories of walking on eggshells flooded back, bringing a hollow feeling that I lived with for so long. It is always a good reminder that you are not the person you used to be and to keep being the person that you want to be.
Oh and by the way, fuck cats. Dogs rule

TW/CW: Language, drug addiction, animal deaths (graphic), blood, child abuse, violence, death by suicide (mention), mourning, grieving, infertility, cannibalism

*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:
In a secluded mansion hidden away from the outside world, young Kosa lives under the strict and overpowering rule of her enigmatic mother. For Kosa, the rules set by Mother are the guiding principles of her life, shaping her beliefs and actions. She has been sheltered from the truth about the world beyond the confines of their home, conditioned to fear the darkness and malevolence that supposedly lurks outside.

However, as Kosa grows older, she begins to question the reality she has been presented with. Doubts eat away at her, fueled by a deep-rooted curiosity and a burgeoning sense of independence.

But Kosa possesses a mysterious and powerful ability that Mother desperately needs to sustain her own existence. Mother, a figure shrouded in shadows and secrets, will stop at nothing to ensure that Kosa’s power remains potent and under her control. The sinister grasp that Mother has on Kosa becomes increasingly suffocating as she tightens her grip, isolating Kosa further from the truth that exists beyond their home.
Release Date: May 17th, 2024
Genre: Horror
Pages: 290
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

What I Liked:
1. Wonderful cover
2. Throughly enjoyed the writing style
3. Scary images
4. Atmospheric
5. Love witch books
6. The dog lives
7. There's a CW at the end of the book

What I Didn't Like:
1. Some plot holes
2. Predictable at parts

Overall Thoughts:
{{Disclaimer: I write my review as I read}}

"Everybody’s damaged by something."-Emma Donoghue, Room

PART I: Desperate Times
She appeared to have a standard routine . Feed her cats, read from an enormous book she kept sitting next to her rocking chair by the fireplace, drink some hot tea or coffee, then turn off all the lights and go to bed.

Omg this sounds like the life I have - well except for the being rich part.

I didn't care for the way Rob's drug addiction is treated in the book. How is he able to go hours and hours without Oxy and have zero side effects? He's so addicted to it but he's almost able to forget about taking it. That's not how addiction works. Detoxing off of it without lowering dosage could kill him.

It's been two days and I find it hard to believe that Alan didn't come back to the apartment to get a shower or change his clothes. I would believe it more if his child had had some health issues but she was perfectly fine.

I find it comical to be afraid of three cats. At the end of the day they're cats. You can pick them up I know that they get vicious and have nails and teeth but she's just pick them up and slam them against the wall. Okay they shifted into weird cat humans.

Wow they killed off Alan & Bridget.

PART II: Mother's Rules: Six Years Later

No Heather you don't just walk into a teenage boys room without knocking first. Gotta value privacy.

Well the hole scene with Heather killing Mike was terrifying. Seriously creepy while reading in bed in the dark. So now Mike is dead.

So curious that Heather's boss is able to come to this house and not have their kids take, so wondering if there is an agreement set in place with the vvitch to give her people.

My heart is breaking for Kosa. Her so excited to have a "friend" over to play with because she's so lonely. Then being sent back to the attic with no bathroom and limited food. When she tried to sneak past Tom to get some light and then sits in the middle of the room crying absolutely broke my heart.

Poor Kosa finds out what happens to the boys, mother brings home and they eat them in soups. Kosa is caught in the basement after discovering this fact. We never see the punishment she gets and honestly I'm glad.

I do think there is a huge plot hole in that so many families on vacation rent these homes around the lake and then end up missing, but families never followup with contacting the fbi and it going any further than the police.

PART III: Visitors: Ten Years Later

Wait wait the police ruled Chelsea's death a death by suicide when she was found on a hiking trail with her throat cut. That doesn't sound right at all.

Ian's sister, Kristen decides she's going to rent a cabin and spend Christmas with him. She then brings up that he should get over how she died. Is it just Ian and I thinking it's so odd how a woman would cut her own throat? Women who commit suicide use less violent methods, such as drugs and carbon monoxide poisoning, than do men, who more often use violent methods such as guns and hanging.

I know that Kosa has been brainwashed but I don't think she's thought about how if she ran away then Marta would end up dying because she couldn't feed that night and would slowly lose her energy.

Sammy is taken in the middle of the night and Ian wakes up and finds this weird symbol by the door plus his dog is acting completely nuts and is not acting like his normal self. It doesn't make sense that Roberts would dismiss that maybe somebody did take him out to the woods and possibly saw the police lights or heard people searching for him and ditched the boy to save themselves. I don't know why this isn't a thing. It's so frustrating. He also dismisses the symbol that's drawn by the door as Sammy doing it because he was sleepwalking even though it's been established that Sammy doesn't sleepwalk. I am really starting to question if Roberts is working with the witch.

So no one's going to take Sammy to the doctor to have himself checked out? We're just going to take advice from this police officer who says it doesn't look like frostbite. Do these parents even like their kid? Cuz it feels like they're doing the bare minimum forum.

There is zero way that we would be staying the night in that house after my kid was kidnapped. Not only that I would not go upstairs even if he requested it. I didn't understand why they slept on the couch. Why did they not sleep in one room together? Just seems like it makes it easier for someone to take him if he's in the living room. And then they just wake up the next day and celebrate Christmas like nothing happened. These people are insane

Kristen then dismisses what was found under Sammy's pillow and acts like it's nothing. They then proceed to stay another night in this house when they could just go home. I mean they could even go to Ian's house and hang out for a little bit.

Ridiculous plot device making Ian forget the phone when he's expecting a phone call. No one would do that he's hyper fixated on this phone and getting a message back from Kristen so it seems weird that he would forget the phone.

I knew it I knew Roberts was a part of letting Marta steal the children. So he didn't do anything. That's why you're having all these countless children to disappearing and there's no Nationwide search or anything happening with it.

So he comes back and makes 16 times of trying to reach her and with the walkie talkie, but no return calls/texts and he just thinks he should go to bed. Wtf if happening with these people??? Who wouldn't be freaking out over this? Plus he is only a few miles from her. Get in your car and check on them! When she does respond it's not in her normal way that she always ends texts!

It's all complete insanity that Roberts thinks and says he's a damn good cop all while turning his back on children and adults being killed off.

Sammy is still alive as well as a girl named Angela.

PART IV: To Take A Soul

Oh I like that we got a catch up with Tim Larson the man who was married to Heather that disappeared 10 years before. So he did try to figure out what happened but again it's so odd that no one would think to call the FBI and see if they'd start a case or maybe rent the house to see what happens.

The fact that Ian got off the phone call with Tim who even warned that Roberts was hiding things and then Ian calls Roberts to meet him at Marta's house makes Ian so dumb. What was the point of even talking to Tim if you weren't going to listen to what he had to say.

I find it hard to believe how easily Kosa would accept that Marta's story isn't real but the people in the article are her parents. I would think it would take more convincing after 16 years of her believing that Marta's story before turning on her so fast.

I was kind of worried that Kosa was going to stay in the fire and burn with Marta because she believed she would end up having to kill people to survive.

Kiss rips off Marta's necklace and says that Kosa is worthless to her now, but why? How doesn't she need her anymore?

Unfortunately Ian attacks Marta and they both are trapped under the ice. Kosa has an option to save him but he tells her no. Such a sad ending but hey the dog survived this, which I was scared there for a moment he wasn't going to.

Final Thoughts:
I swear some parts creeped me out so badly I woke my bf up to go to the bathroom with me. I my defense it was night-time and 3am. Witching hour while reading a horror book about witches - ah scary.

I thoroughly enjoyed this creepy retelling of a Rapunzel. The story was well written as were the characters. I never felt bored when we would go to new part and when we meet new people. It always felt refreshing to get a new perspective and story. I think it also helped that we would jump into the future and see how Kosa aged. I liked how she would take on new obstacles as she got older and have to deal with Marta.

The part of Kosa helping Ian reminded me a lot of the movie People Under the Stairs where Alice goes out her way to help Fool escape from her crazy "parents" (we find out later they aren't really her parents - she was stolen).

I just think the fight scene at the end was a lot and too much going on at once. It was like "look here" and then "no look here". I wish it could have been toned down a bit. It felt like I was reading a Taylor Adams book.

I throughly enjoyed this book and the characters. I can't wait to read other books from this author.

IG | Blog

Thanks to Netgalley and Darklit Press for this advanced ebook copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This author took the simple fairy tale of Rapunzel and turned it into a wonderfully crafted horror story. How the evil witch, Marta, became Kosa’s mother was horrifying in itself. Then what proceeds is very disturbing and gruesome as to how Marta stays young. The reader feels sorry for Kosa because what Marta does as her ritual is something that Kosa has known from the time she was a small child. It is easy to follow someone’s rules when they punish you the way Kosa was punished for disobeying the rules. The ‘cats’ in this story were some Pet Cemetery kind of creatures. They were Marta’s familiars and they did just about whatever Marta wanted them to do. This was a truly terrifying take on a fairy tale and I loved it! Hopefully John Durgin will write more books like this.

Kosar
Ives with her mother who is very strict. She doesn't let Kosa do things. But Kosa is a very powerful girl with abilities. Her mother needs them Kosa must learn to use them. Captivating tale.

“Kosa” by John Durgin is the latest book by one of my favorite new horror authors I discovered earlier this year. When I read “Inside the Devil’s Nest” in January, it completely blew me away. I love Durgin’s writing style and was delighted to get an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review of his latest novel. Once again, he didn’t disappoint!

Before I jump into my review, I found a bunch of trigger warnings while reading. They were…

- Drugs
- Kidnapping
- Violence against children
- Self-harm
- Suicide
- Cannibalism
- Parental abuse
- Violence against pets (dogs and cats)
- Deaths of animals

If any of these triggers you, please do not read this novel. Moving along, this had one of the most incredible and creepiest openings I’ve ever read in a horror novel. It was a bit of a slow burn at first, but I couldn’t believe what I was reading when an insane plot twist hit at the end of Part 1! That was deranged and completely unexpected, much to my delight.

Don’t worry. I will never spoil anything, but this novel was a solid read from beginning to end. A few parts dragged on, but if you stick with it, it pays off big time. All the characters are great, from the main protagonist to one hell of an evil witch as the antagonist. Seeing each character's development throughout the story was surreal.

The brutal horror this witch brings in this novel is what you’d only find in nightmares. Several intense scenes and situations brought a unique spin to horror involving witches. “Kosa” is a great folk horror novel, one of the most unique stories I’ve ever read in this subgenre. Aside from the few parts that dragged on, this was a lot of witchy, horrific fun. I also loved how Durgin formatted this novel and told it by breaking it up into four parts over years of character and story development. It was nicely done and adds another layer of immersion since it takes you on a rollercoaster ride over time.

This novel took off from the 70% mark and went straight to its wild ending. All the suspense and tension leading to it, on top of not knowing how this would all end, made for a great reading experience. It was a satisfying ending and one I will remember.

I give “Kosa” by John Durgin a 4/5 as it was everything you could ask about a horror novel involving an evil witch. There is tons of gore, violence, spells, and some of the most terrifying descriptive horror I’ve ever read. This feels as if Durgin took the stories of “Hansel and Gretel” and “Rapunzel,” put them in a bloody blender, and out came “Kosa.” My only complaint was the slow start at the beginning and some parts that dragged on while reading. Still, besides that, I highly recommend this for horror fans who love stories about witches in foreboding woods with some very disturbing moments. After reading this, you will never look at red hair the same again. You have been warned.

I want to thank NetGalley, John Durgin, and DarkLit Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Did not finish book. Stopped at 57%.

l just had different expectations going into this book, I read the description, and I felt like the main focus wilbe KOSA and her storyline. And in a way it is because it's all connected, but the side stories with all the other families are dreadfully long. For me personally, it just got boring very quickly. l wanted more Kosa, not all the details of the "supporting characters mundane lives. l kept reading because l was hopeful, but l just can't get into it. I also found it to be repetitive, which kinda annoyed me, too. The cats gives off weird vibes. I GET IT. Pls dont tell me about it again. this is just my opinion, I've seen many people enjoy this book. Reading is subjective, y'all.

Thank you to Netgalley and DarkLit Press for an ARC of this book on exchange for my honest review. This book officially publishes on 5/17/24!

I was really interested in the idea behind this book; that horror stories and fairy tales share a lot of similarities. This is exactly what the author was doing here, and this instantly grabbed my attention to look into the book further. The first portion of this story went by really quick and was action-packed. The middle, however, for me was a slow burn when I was expecting a similar pace to the beginning because of the way the book started. The ending, although action-packed, to me felt long and repetitive in some spots. Overall, if you are interested to see how fairy tales meet horror stories, I would recommend giving this one a read. If this does not sound appealing to you, this may not be the best option for you to read. If you do decide to pick this one up, please check any relevant trigger warnings before doing so.