I kept hearing about and seeing Durgin’s name on FB touted as the new hot thing in indie horror, so I figured I’ll check it out. But here’s the thing with the FB horror scene—it’s a very tight, very friendly, very supportive community … that doesn’t seem to care all that much about quality. Most books sell on the force of personality and likeability of the author. It’s a popularity contest … like most things on social media. And, as with most things, mediocre things do well. Sad, sad truth. One my reading experience confirms over and over again.
And this book of Durgin’s was mediocre at best. Sort of like Rapunzel redone as a horror story about a witch. Cardboard characters, cardboard writing, and dialogue so flat that some of it would make AI chatbox seem versatile and lively.
There’s nothing wrong with the book technically in that the author gets the concept of plot, characters, actions, etc. One sentence goes into another, it’s all perfectly readable. But there’s nothing more to it. No ingenuity, no cleverness, and not much heart either. It’s all very, very basic.
If unchallenging, bland, forgettable horror tales are your jam, by all means go for it. Or maybe you’re really into witches … same. Otherwise, I really don’t think this one offers much.
Somehow, according to the afterword, this was somehow inspired by a Neil Gaiman masterclass, which I suppose just goes to show you that some things you cannot learn. Gaiman for all his faults is a wonderful, natural storyteller who can make a sentence sing and a story dance. Durgin, not so much. I’m sure it won’t stop him from becoming a well-known genre name or this book from selling like hotcakes.
This reader found it a waste of time. Thanks Netgalley.

ARC provided by NetGalley

What a wild ride! I can definitely say this one lived up to my expectations. Creepy, fast-paced, with just the right amount of gore. And an amazing finale.

You want a description? Rapunzel but make it horror. That's the basic premise, but there's so much more to the story.

I really think this is one for every horror lover to check out, especially those of us that grew up on fairytales.

I would like to thank NetGalley , Darklit Press and John Durgin for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Kosa.
Kosa is the first book I have read by this author although I have heard many great things about his works on social media. Firstly the cover is so eye-catching and I was intrigued from the offset
This novel had me reading into the early hours and right from the start I knew it was a story that was going to have me engrossed . By the end of the first chapter I already had a feeling of unease and a sense of trepidation.
I personally loved how the book blended together a modern approach to traditional fairytale and folklore. Whilst it sparked my imagination, it was also comforting in the fact that it was also so reminiscent to the stories that have been heard time and time again . It was a great up-to-date twist on a story we all know.
Whilst I don't want to give away any spoilers as it's a story that should be read to be appreciated, I would like to encourage all to pick up a copy . It was a welcome change from my usual reads and a tale that is going to stay in my mind long after the last page has been turned

This is a horrifying modern day fairytale that delivers a brutal nightmarish narrative that you won't be able to put down.

Elizabeth was just a few days old when her parents were brutally murdered and she was kidnapped. She's been raised by Marta, an evil old hag who's also a witch. To keep herself young, Marta needs to feast on the flesh of children and eat handfuls of Elizabeth's hair each day. Elizabeth, now named KOSA, is kept in an attic and her punishment for breaking any of Marta's rules are painful and swift.

When a man's nephew goes missing in the woods, he's going to be confronted with the terrifying reality that some fairytales are real and very deadly.

This is a fantastic novel that takes us through the life of Kosa from infant to teenager. Marta is absolute nightmare fuel as the evil witch and the pacing of this book is spot on. There's never a dull moment and the tension is palpable as the story progresses.

You'll have a hard time getting some of the imagery out of your head as the things Marta forces Kosa to do are enough to give you full body goosebumps!

I loved this novel and highly recommended it.

First, I would like to say thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of an arc of this book. This book was very dark, tense, and enjoyable. It is a very quick read. I will recommend it to any and everyone.

Another case of a dope looking cover with a name that is enough to get me excited. Then the book itself is just a middle of the road novel trying to be spooky. Didn't take too much time to finish but I'll probably forget it quickly.

Hey all! My goodness was this one good. A tense, ominous, draining horror take on Rapunzel with creepy cats, child abductions and a malevolent old lady. Great work to Durgin. Thanks for the ARC, and cheers!