gilda_elise

NOS4A2 is a spine-tingling novel of supernatural suspense from master of horror Joe Hill, the New York Times bestselling author of Heart-Shaped Box and Horns.

Victoria McQueen has a secret gift for finding things: a misplaced bracelet, a missing photograph, answers to unanswerable questions. On her Raleigh Tuff Burner bike, she makes her way to a rickety covered bridge that, within moments, takes her wherever she needs to go, whether it’s across Massachusetts or across the country.

Charles Talent Manx has a way with children. He likes to take them for rides in his 1938 Rolls-Royce Wraith with the NOS4A2 vanity plate. With his old car, he can slip right out of the everyday world, and onto the hidden roads that transport them to an astonishing – and terrifying – playground of amusements he calls “Christmasland.”

Then, one day, Vic goes looking for trouble—and finds Manx. That was a lifetime ago. Now Vic, the only kid to ever escape Manx’s unmitigated evil, is all grown up and desperate to forget. But Charlie Manx never stopped thinking about Victoria McQueen. He’s on the road again and he’s picked up a new passenger: Vic’s own son.

Exclusive to the print editions of NOS4A2 are more than 15 illustrations by award-winning Locke & Key artist Gabriel Rodríguez.

There’s a lot going on with this story; a girl’s life as it’s influenced by a gift that gives and takes, too. The madman whose path crosses hers in a terrifying way. There’s also Vic’s family and friends, whose lives are also changed as they’re drawn into hers.

The book is dark, though I wouldn’t say exactly scary. I think there’s too much fantasy (it deals with Christmas, after all,) involved for it to be truly frightening. But there are lots of interesting characters, though I don’t think Hill handles them as well as his father does (and I loved the small homages to his father’s work.) Though most of the time I was caught up in the story, there were times when I felt it could have used a little more editing.

All in all, I enjoyed the book. The flaws were miniscule, the plot involved and kept my interest. And I loved the title’s play on that other vampire’s name.

And thanks so much to

severina2001 for recommending the book.