Hide
Imagine getting an offer to participate in a reality show. The premise is simple. Spend seven days in an abandoned amusement park playing hide and seek with 13 other people. Whoever wins gets an incredible amount of money. Enough to change their lives.
Would you do it?
The story
Published in May of 2022 and written by Kiersten White, Hide is the story of a woman named Mack. She has a hell of a tragic backstory. When she was a child her father murdered her sister and mother during a game of hide and seek. Mack herself didn’t die because she hid well.
As an adult, she’s invited to be on a game show. The premise is simple. Fourteen people will spend a week playing hide and seek in an abandoned amusement park. Seeing as how Mack is currently living in a homeless shelter, she jumps at the chance.
But of course, nothing is ever as it seems. And it soon becomes clear that there will be no winner. There will also be no survivors if the creators of the game have their say.
What worked
I figured out the premise of the story fairly early on. I honestly don’t think I’m spoiling anything by telling you that this is a classic tale of human sacrifice to an Elder God for financial abundance to bless a whole town. The same sort of story we saw in Fear Street.
But it was the who and the why and the how that got to me. There was so much rich backstory and explanation. There were so many terrifying little details to the people orchestrating all of this. And so many details to the people who get sucked up in this horrific hide-and-seek game. This is where the twists come in, as well as the emotional gut punches.
I am always a sucker for horror that makes me think. And Hide is a great example. Yes, it’s a story about people being slaughtered through an abandoned amusement park. And if that had been all it was, that would have been fine. It wouldn’t have been groundbreaking, but it would get the job done.
But it’s so much more than that! It’s a story of class privilege and inherited guilt and trauma. It’s about families and the many ways they can hurt you. Mack’s a clear example of this, but so are all of the characters. Each person has some trauma or some strength from their family. Mostly trauma.
This is a great thing to read if you don’t really want to go home for Thanksgiving this year.
Finally, I just fell in love with the main character, Mack. She was so broken at the start of the story. It was clear that she hated herself, and didn’t trust herself to let anyone close to her. I guess having your dad murder the rest of your family in front of you will do that. To see what she does, and who she turns into is amazing. I am here for character growth, and Hide delivered it.
What didn’t work
One thing bothered me while reading Hide. Our main character, Mack, was a victim of a violent domestic situation as a child. And it just so happens that it happened during a game of hide and seek. Then as an adult, she’s trapped in a horrific human sacrifice situation. And it just so happens to take the form of a hide-and-seek game.
And the whole premise of the book is based on that hard-to-believe coincidence.
I would caution you not to think about that specific detail too hard, though. Because you have to accept this coincidence or the story just can’t happen. And if you can accept it, if you can cling to the suspension of disbelief, then you’re treated to a great story. A story that hits way harder and goes way deeper than I thought it would.
In conclusion, Hide is a well-thought-out, well-written story that was utterly enjoyable from start to finish. It was dark, satisfying, and fun. If you haven’t read it yet, now is the time.
(4.5 / 5)
Book Reviews
Starve Acre: The womb of nature
JACK; on our land, engraved his name, Dandelion, Devil, one and the same,
Made end by the townsfolk, he was cast’d away,
Into the thick of hellish fray.
Set against the brooding, mist-shrouded landscapes of 1970s Yorkshire, Starve Acre (2023) is a chilling folk horror adaptation of Andrew Michael Hurley’s acclaimed novella. Directed by Daniel Kokotajlo (Apostasy) and featuring compelling performances from Matt Smith (Dr. Who) and Morfydd Clark (The Rings of Power), the film explores the effects of a child’s loss on a marriage, weaving a tapestry of atmospheric suspense and unsettling dread.
- Starve Acre (DVD + Blu-ray) Director: Daniel Kokotajlo Daniel Kokotajlo’s impressive follow-up to his award-winning Apostasy is a brilliant adaptation of Andrew Michael Hurley’s acclaimed novel
- In 1970s Yorkshire, Richard and Juliette relocate to Richard’s childhood home, hoping the idyllic country surroundings will benefit their young son
- However, a sudden tragic event drives a wedge through the family, which triggers Richard, an academic archaeologist, to bury himself in obsessively exploring a local folkloric myth
Last update on 2025-02-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The Plot.
Richard (Matt Smith) and Jules (Morfydd Clark), seeking respite from their son Owen’s (Arthur Shaw) debilitating asthma, relocate to Richard’s isolated childhood home in rural Yorkshire.
Richard, a college lecturer specializing in history and archeology, soon begins delving into his late father’s unsettling belongings, dredging up painful memories, and the unsettling history of the property, called Starve Acre, and an ancient tree that used to grow on the heart of it. He discusses the tree with his son and they make a pact to find the roots of the tree that must surely still be buried underground somewhere.
Meanwhile, Owen’s behavior takes a disturbing turn. He struggles to integrate into the village, culminating in a disturbing act of violence against an animal during a local fair, ostracizing the family from the community. (Trigger warning: This scene depicts animal cruelty.) The isolation and escalating tension amplify the family’s growing mental strain. An unseen, malevolent presence, known as Jack Grey or Jack Dandelion, begins to manifest, weaving its way into their already fractured reality and drawing them into a terrifying descent.
Highlights.
At its core, Starve Acre is a harrowing exploration of parental grief, a theme masterfully conveyed through Matt Smith and Morfydd Clark’s exceptional performances. The film’s reliance on prolonged, intimate close-ups demands a profound emotional vulnerability. Smith and Clark navigate this vulnerability with remarkable skill, avoiding melodrama and delivering powerful performances. Their palpable chemistry, further enhanced by the film’s intimate visual style, underscores the profound tragedy at the heart of the story, moving it past mere folk horror genre conventions, showcasing the power of casting to illuminate the depths of human suffering.
Drawbacks.
The only thing that threw me off watching this movie was the pacing. It was slow, which is fine with this type of rural, atmospheric suspense, but it began to drag just a little too much. As mentioned in the highlights, the film relies on prolonged close-ups to achieve its atmosphere, this is okay when highlighting emotion, but when the camera is held on the misty rural backdrop for more than 10 seconds, I can only say that the cinematographer is overindulging just a bit.
- The worst thing possible has happened
- Richard and Juliette Willoughby’s son, Ewan, has died suddenly at the age of five
- Starve Acre, their house by the moors, was to be full of life, but is now a haunted place
Last update on 2025-02-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The Final Take.
Starve Acre elevates Andrew Michael Hurley’s novella in surprising ways. While the book thrives on ambiguity, the film illuminates its shadowy corners, providing a satisfying sense of clarity. This expansion enriches the overall experience, making both the film and the novella essential companions. Whether you’ve read or watched one, the other will deepen your appreciation of this unsettling tale.
(4 / 5)
Book Reviews
Barrowbeck: The History of a Cursed Valley
“All this would be theirs, he said. The gods wanted nothing in return. Only that the marsh-folk – or the valley-folk now – should always remember that they were custodians here.
No.
Servants.”
After the acclaimed Starve Acre and its film adaptation, Andrew Michael Hurley extends his exploration of place with Barrowbeck, a collection of short stories published in October 2024. This new folk horror work charts the unsettling history of a town nestled in a secluded Yorkshire-Lancashire valley. From the first footsteps on its soil to a disquieting glimpse into 2041, Barrowbeck’s 13 tales trace a chilling narrative of time and place, where the past and future intertwine with eerie consequences.
- For centuries, the inhabitants of Barrowbeck, a remote valley on the Yorkshire-Lancashire border, have lived uneasily with forces beyond their reckoning
- They raise their families, work the land, and do their best to welcome those who come seeking respite
- But there is a darkness that runs through the village as persistently as the river
Last update on 2025-02-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The Plot.
The initial, undated story, “First Footing,” sets the stage: a band of survivors, their village destroyed, seek sanctuary guided by their deity, Arfon, along a mysterious river. They eventually discover an untouched valley, destined to become Barrowbeck. Following this are twelve time-stamped tales that chronicle the valley’s unsettling evolution. From the haunting melodies of spectral choirs to the bizarre creation of seed-born babies and a girl possessed by the river’s essence, these stories reveal a place steeped in the strange and uncanny.
Highlights.
Hurley’s signature strength lies in crafting folk horror deeply rooted in place, and Barrowbeck is no exception. The opening chapter’s immersive descriptions of the woods and river establish a rich foundation. This is then meticulously layered upon in each subsequent story. As Barrowbeck evolves, we are drawn into its very fabric, witnessing the gradual emergence of road names, family homesteads, and sacred spaces. The setting itself seems to breathe and expand, mirroring the town’s growth with palpable presence.
Hurley’s skill extends beyond the setting, encompassing the intricate development of Barrowbeck’s people. The collection demonstrates a striking commitment to familial continuity, inviting readers to trace the subtle genealogies woven through recurring names. This depth of world-building adds a compelling layer of realism to the fantastical tales.
- An atmospheric and unsettling story of the depths of grief found in an ancient farm in northern England—now a major motion picture starring Matt Smith and Morfydd Clark
- The worst thing possible has happened
- Richard and Juliette Willoughby’s son, Ewan, has died suddenly at the age of five
Last update on 2025-02-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Drawbacks.
Though billed as folk horror, Barrowbeck leans more towards the fantastical, presenting strange occurrences rather than outright scares. Hurley’s commendable effort to adapt his writing style to each time period creates a strong sense of place. However, this approach backfires in the early chapters, notably the first, which echoes the dense prose of Tolkien’s The Silmarillion. This stylistic choice risks alienating readers seeking a horror experience, potentially leading to early abandonment.
The Final Take.
I hate to say it but I was disappointed in Barrowbeck. After Starve Acre and The Lonely, I had high expectations of Hurley as a folk horror author, but this missed the mark. That being said some of the later stories were at least interesting if only for their strangeness.
(2 / 5)
Imagine feeling powerless. Imagine feeling alone and scared. Imagine having everyone blame you for something that isn’t your fault. And then, imagine someone gave you a book that could give you your power back.
That is the story told in Witchcraft For Wayward Girls.
As a warning, this book deals with heavy issues like child SA, teenage pregnancy and forced adoptions. My review will, by necessity, touch lightly on those topics.
The story
Released in January, Witchcraft For Wayward Girls is the story of a girl named Fern. At fifteen, she’s pregnant and unmarried. Her father takes her to a Home for girls in her situation. The plan is simple. She’s to have her baby, give it up for adoption, then go home and move on with her life.
But that’s not how things work out.
When visiting a mobile library, Fern is given a book of witchcraft. She and her friends try one of the spells, and it works. Soon they find themselves doing amazing things like flying in the air and seeking revenge on those who abused them. But magic has a price. And it’s a high one.
What worked
Witchcraft For Wayward Girls was infuriating in the best way possible. From the first few pages, you can feel your blood boiling at the injustice of the situation. It starts with Fern’s father, abandoning her at the Home and just gets worse from there. It’s impossible not to be angry at him, at the boy who impregnated Fern, at the doctors. Pretty much everyone who’s not one of the pregnant girls is unfair and horrible at least some of the time.
It’s astounding how much one can desire vengeance against a person who technically doesn’t exist.
- “Superb
- a perfect horror for our imperfect age
- ” – The New York TimesAN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES AND USA TODAY BESTSELLERThere’s power in a book…They call them wayward girls
Last update on 2025-02-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
I also appreciated the depth of detail in the story. This is something that can be said about all Hendrix books. Witchcraft For Wayward Girls is set in Florida in the summer. And you can feel the sticky, damp heat on every page. You can feel what it must be like to be pregnant in that heat without air conditioning, swimming pools or salt. Even reading this book in chilly Western PA during January, I felt the heat and smelled the wet air.
The best thing about Witchcraft For Wayward Girls, though, is its honesty. This book deals with some hard topics. Well, one hard topic. Teenage pregnancy happens for a lot of reasons. None of them are pleasant to think about. Some are worse than others. And yes, at least one girl in this book is pregnant because she was being abused.
But even the girls who got pregnant through voluntary activities are mistreated in a very realistic way. In each situation, the girls are expected to upend their entire lives. They’re miles from home and treated like they’re the only ones responsible for their current situation. They are treated like foolish children who have truly messed up, while at the same time expecting them to shoulder the burden of women while letting the boys who impregnated them continue to be boys. It’s sick, and it’s all too real.
And it’s exactly this sort of powerlessness that makes witchcraft so appealing. There is a reason why witchcraft tends to be practiced by women and men who are not straight white men. We tend to be women, queer and people of color. We tend to come from poverty. We find ourselves in a world where we have little to no power over our own lives, so we make it for ourselves. Witchcraft For Wayward Girls understands this. And it is that understanding that will make this story so enduring.
Witchcraft For Wayward Girls is another in a long list of fantastic horror from Hendrix. It’s eloquent, inspiring and passionate. If it’s the first book you read by Hendrix I can almost guarantee it won’t be the last.
(5 / 5)
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