Gothic | Philip Fracassi
⭐️5

Tyson Parks is washed up. He was once a renowned horror writer, but now he’s out of ideas. When Tyson Is gifted and antique desk his words seem to flow again, they are horrible and disturbing, and his publishers love them. What is he going to have sacrifice to be famous again?

Gothic is a great horror novel. The desperation and madness are palpable in the writing of this dark and tragic story.
I’m usually not sold on cursed objects, but Gothic is so well written and believable that you can’t help but be invested. I found myself really feeling sorry for then main character as the book evolves and he looses his grasp on reality.

Read this book if you like:
- Cursed objects
- Strangers foreshadowing disaster
- A slow descent into madness

This was my first read by Philip Fracassi, and I could not be more pleased with it. It has serious “Best New Horror Book of 2023” potential (and yes, I’ve read Grady’s and SGJ’s books slated for early 2023). If I didn’t have to work, I would’ve devoured this book in one sitting.

Tyson, an aging author, needs to write a bestseller to revive his career. Forays into historical horror have not worked out, and he’s in a slump. For his 59th birthday, he receives a special desk – one that helps his writing, but at a terrible cost. Someone with great means and resources wants the desk, too. One person’s holy grail is another’s cursed totem, as they say.

At times it feels like the Shining, other times it feels like a best-selling psychological thriller. The whole time, Gothic feels like a hit. I love the way the story combines tragic characters, quick pacing, and a bounty of twists and turns to make the pages practically turn themselves. Every page makes the story better, livelier and scarier. This book is a jaw-dropper and one I’ll be recommending for a long time.

At first, I thought this was going to be a one-star read for me, because of how self-pitying and annoying Tyson was in the beginning. However, once the desk entered the picture, the story improved tremendously. I'm still trying to figure out what to think of the ending, and whether it's meant as a cliffhanger or a sequel-set up, but overall, I liked it. I also liked that some of the twists and turns surprised me. Overall, a really solid horror novel.

I was given a copy of this book to review

This horror novel is a very detailed story. Not much is left to the imagination. Much detail has been given throughout the story, making this a excellent horror story to read. The tale of a horror writer and a desk that gives him use is very gripping and enjoyable.

Gothic is an old-school horror novel that manages to still feel fresh. Tyson Parks is a struggling horror writer who is desperate to revive his dying career. His wife buys him an antique desk which works magic on his writing abilities but exacts a toll on his sanity as well. Parks descent into madness is fascinating and no one is safe from his ambition. Entertaining, and at times shocking, Gothic doesn't disappoint. Thanks to Netgalley for the copy.
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This title will be featured in the upcoming January 2023 issue of Fangoria Magazine, in the Nightmare Library column. Please contact the reviewer directly for more information.

This felt like a throwback to the gothic hits from the 80's. Very Edward Lee vibes for me personally. A little tamer the Lee but I think I liked that more. This was first Fracassi and I look forward to more of his work.

This is the first I’ve read by Philip Fracassi, what a ride!
The main character feels familiar- Tyson Parks is a over the hill writer, out of ideas but desperate to stay afloat. He’s too proud to lean on his partner or friend for financial help. He’s full of self-loathing and drinks too much. Instead of suggesting therapy, his partner buys him a desk.
The story has multiple viewpoints and switches chapter to chapter. It started slow but I read the last 200 pages in one sitting. I found myself hating the MC but rooting for him to make the right decision too.
For me, this is great story telling. The slow build at the beginning sets up the chaos that carries to the end. It was original, and peppered with humor and homages to those that came before.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing this ARC.
#OldSchoolHorror #NetGalley #CemeteryDance

I really liked this book. It was fast paced and had the perfect creepy atmosphere. This is one I will be adding to my shelves.

It was definitely interesting story line. Great details about how the desk changes him. The ending was a little bit of a letdown.

Wow - what a great book. Really reminded me of the horror fiction from the 70's to 80's era Stephen King. Short chapters and a quick pace made this a fun quick read. Highly recommended.

Tyson is a famous horror novelist who needs inspiration. Tyson's partner gifted him with an antique desk with hopes that this gift will inspire him. Meanwhile, there's a mysterious woman who is in search of a family heirloom that had mysteriously disappeared. With help from a detective, she was able to locate the missing item and discovers who has procession of it. Tyson's new gift had the results that his partner was hoping for. He is writing like he has never written before, and he is slowly changing. A haunting story with an excellent plot. The premise is what caught my attention and the writing kept me going.

Disclaimer: Thank you NetGalley and Cemetery Dance Publication for this ARC, I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntary.

A disturbing horror story that felt very 1980's Stephen King, in the best possible way. Highly recommend.

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. An interesting gothic horror novel that I did enjoy a lot. I think that the author did a good job to make you feel creeped out and wanting to keep reading to find out what happens in the end. If you want a book that keeps you on the edge of your seat this book is perfect for you.

In this creepy novel, horror author Tyson Parks receives an antique desk for his birthday. Little does he know the evil behind this seemingly innocent gift, and the lengths one person will go to reclaim it.  There was a lot I liked about this story, from the pacing and characters, to The Shining vibes.  The one thing that threw it off a bit for me was the backstory.  I thought it felt out of place and didn't have the same "feel" as the rest.  Overall, highly recommend.

This was a fairly straight forward horror read, not something I would consider revolutionary by any means but I don’t think the author was trying to create something new. He was creating something that cozily fits right into the genre, that unfortunately becomes somewhat unremarkable because I felt I had read this story many times before.

A horror author who has outgrown his prime struggles to claw back his previous success, only to be gifted a mysterious desk that whispers to him in the night. It whispers of blood, of genius, of desire…and suddenly he feels compelled to write even though he isn’t quite sure what he is writing. Meanwhile, a woman searches for a family heirloom that has gone missing for the past hundred years. She will stop at nothing to find it, knowing the massacre that happened in the past revolving all around that heirloom.

Blood spray, junji Ito, uzimaki, big boobs, rape, 50 shades of grey, twilight, fan fiction, sacrifice, battered, possessed, cursed, furniture, eye for an eye, pure, artifact, altar, gun, rumors, demon

Love all of the humor and references to different books and characters.

Was losing my mind when I recognized a Junji Ito reference.

Was an interesting take on possession
But makes me think of Caminet of Curiosities on Netflix, and how maybe the cabinet is possessed and we have to hear all of its stories

Tyson Parks is a struggling author who receives a beautiful and old desk for his birthday. However, as he dives into a period of inspiration, he begins to change with worsening moods and why does it feel like the desk is alive?

I was pretty satisfied upon finishing Gothic and I am definitely adding it to my bookshelves. Felt like I was back as a kid reading one of the old school King books. Bits of body horror and one certain scene that freaked me right out. Yeah, that drawer? To hell with that drawer. I got phantom pains just from reading it. Very well done book and the pacing of it was great, didn’t take too long for the action to start. Can’t wait to read more from this author!

Thank you to the author and Net Galley for my copy of the book!

This is my first Fracassi book and what an amazingly written piece it is! When I first heard Mr Fracassi was possibly at Uncle Stevie's (SK) level I did not believe it, but after reading Gothic I am now on the bandwagon. Fracassi’s vivid imagination and the ability to weave words takes you to be part of his crazed mind. This read was incredible and I think will be one of those classic novels that teens will sneak read in bed at night and will be found on every end cap in every book store. Thank you Mr. Fracassi for this soon to be true horror classic!!

Unfortunately, GOTHIC was just not for me. Even as a horror fan (although fairly new the genre) this one took far too long to get going for me and I probably skimmed a good portion of it. I know that it has amazing reviews elsewhere, so please don't take my word for it. I think this was a "me problem"!