God I love when a book that is so not my cup of tea on paper just blows me out of the water! Boys in the Valley follows a group of orphan boys of mixed ages living in a secluded Catholic orphanage who are divided by a powerful evil and must fight to survive as it spreads it’s way amongst the group. This book has incredible atmosphere, brutal violence/imagery and characters that you really root for. Fracassi also balances a fairly large cast of kids really well, but our protagonist is Peter- a teen boy orphaned at a young age and being raised to become a priest. Struggling between the priesthood he was raised to want and a girl he fell for when he was young, he is in the middle of his own existential battle when a mysterious man carved with occult symbols shows up to the orphanage and unleashes an evil that bits the boys against each other. This book, despite taking place in the turn of the century, late 1800s, but it felt so modern. I was so into the plot, and the horror was genuinely so scary. It’s described as The Exorcist meets Lord of the Flies, and that just really hits the nail on the head. Kids capable of incredible violence is always going to creep me all the way out. Huge recommend!!

Oh my goodness this book was horrifyingly terrific, my first by this author and it was awesome. This is a story about an orphanage, run by the Catholic Church, that becomes the site of demonic possession. This isn't your typical good vs. evil story as the demons possess many children, and even though it has Lord of the Flies and The Exorcist vibes, Fracassi makes it uniquely his own. This was an emotional story as I couldn't decide if the lives the children were living at the orphanage was the true horror story or if it was being possessed by demons...Are the adults, mostly priests, the true demons?

This is weird to say about a horror story but it is very character driven as we learn about the harsh reality of an orphan life in the early twentieth century. I was captivated by the large cast of characters, their backstories and their current situation. I couldn't help but feel for them and cheer them on as they fight for their lives against the massive, hidden evil. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time I was reading this. It is a very fast-paced, easy read and I loved the ending. I will definitely be reading more of this author's work. If you like historical fiction with a horror twist and a little gore thrown in this is a book for you!

Fracassi has been on fire lately. Another incredible novel. This one reminded me of Josh Malerman’s “Inspection” mixed with Nick Cutter’s “The Troop,” blended in a big bowl of religion. The characters were compelling; the plot kept me hooked; and the horror really hit all the spots. Efficient feels like the right word. Or maybe economical. There’s no wasted words in this one. Each one punches you either in the head or heart, and most of them will frighten you.

Boys In The Valley feels like The Exorcism meets Lord Of The Flies. This book was a roller coaster of emotions. One minute I was sad, then scared, then repulsed, and then crying.

I really enjoyed the character development throughout this book. It has a lot of povs but all of them are unique in their own way. Peter was my favorite pov to follow. We are thrown into his story from the very beginning. I felt attached to him after that. I also loved how this author did gore. The scenes of death and horror were absolutely fantastic. The end of this book broke my heart and had me in tears.

My one complaint is a personal preference but I’m not a huge fan of a ton of religion in my horror. And this book is full of it from the very beginning to the very end. It lightens up a bit in the middle but ends pretty heavy in it. So just know that going in and if that isn’t your thing I probably wouldn’t suggest you pick this one up.

Overall I had a really good time reading this one. I would highly recommend you read this book in the winter. The setting is perfect for a snowy night. If you loved The Exorcism or Lord Of The Flies you will definitely love Boys In The Valley.
4/5 Stars

Thank you so much to the publisher and Netgalley for an arc copy in exchange for my honest review.

"The Exorcist meets Lord of the Flies, by way of Midnight Mass, in Boys in the Valley, a brilliant coming-of-age tale from award-winning author Philip Fracassi.

St. Vincent's Orphanage for Boys.

Turn of the century, in a remote valley in Pennsylvania.

Here, under the watchful eyes of several priests, thirty boys work, learn, and worship. Peter Barlow, orphaned as a child by a gruesome murder, has made a new life here. As he approaches adulthood, he has friends, a future...a family.

Then, late one stormy night, a group of men arrive at their door, one of whom is badly wounded, occult symbols carved into his flesh. His death releases an ancient evil that spreads like sickness, infecting St. Vincent's and the children within. Soon, boys begin acting differently, forming groups. Taking sides.

Others turn up dead.

Now Peter and those dear to him must choose sides of their own, each of them knowing their lives - and perhaps their eternal souls - are at risk."

Because you're going through Yellowjackets withdrawal and this can help.

If you felt like what The Exorcist really needed was more scenes of brutal child murder, this is the book for you. An injured man is brought to the remote orphanage run by the Church, only to die and spread his demon possession to a child, who then goes on a murder spree. The priests in charge of the orphanage routinely starve and torture the children, including by burying them alive in freezing weather, but the true evil, the book insists, is the black spirits. Sure, the adults think beating a child for sharing food with another is totally cool, but look at the demon that knows things! The violence is explicit and gruesome, the Christianity is oppressive and ever-present, there is exactly one female character whose role is to hold the hero as he dies, and the "good" priest forces priesthood on an unwilling child to save his own ass. Not a book I would willingly reread, nor recommend to anyone who is not deep into Catholic mythology.

Fracassi has done it again with Boys in The Valley, and is quickly becoming one of my favorite horror authors. It’s darkly adventurous, and the writing is excellent. I couldn’t put it down.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire as well as the author for this ARC. It’s much appreciated.
#NetGalley #TorNightfire #PhilipFracassi #BoysintheValley

This is the second novel that I’ve read by Mr. Fracassi and I wish I had found him sooner. He is a powerhouse. He is a truly gifted writer on the level with Stephen King. This book was a pleasure to read and I’m deeply thankful that I got to experience it.
Why is it that orphanages and schools that are housed in churches are always horrible places. This is certainly the case and St. Vincent’s Orphanages for Boys. Peter Barlow is sent to live here after the tragic deaths of his parents. Peter and the other residents of the orphanage are worked hard, abused, and barely fed. How could it get worse? Well, it can.
This may be a story the reader has heard before but never as well as this. We’ve all seen The Exorcist. We’ve all read Lord of the Flies by William Golding. So what makes this story different? The simple fact that it’s written by Philip Fracassi. His voice and his words are woven throughout this story bringing Peter and the other boys to life as surely as Linda Blair did with her performance as Regan MacNeil. This coming of age/possession story is atmospheric and dark, even for religious horror. The pacing and use of imagery give this book a sense of urgency that is rare in a book. I especially loved Peter’s internal struggle regarding his faith. Even the benign parts of the story added some suspense.
This book is relentless from start to finish. It’s graphic and descriptive. It’s harrowing as well as heart-breaking. I truly felt for these characters, even some of the bad ones. I truly cannot wait to read more from this author.

Boys In The Valley is top notch historical, coming-of-age horror following a group of boys at St Vincent's Orphanage in rural Pennsylvania as they fight to survive unimaginable terrors brought to their doorstep by a party of local men seeking help for a seriously wounded man.

The story maintains a fine balance between graphic brutality and emotionally engaging storytelling. We the readers feel the hopelessness, despair, and terror right alongside the young boys. The author slowly leads us toward the ending I felt was likely inevitable, while also engaging my emotions to such a degree I desperately hoped somehow all would end well.

I consider Philip Fracassi one of the standouts among current horror authors, and this is another dark, haunting addition to his collection of unforgettable works.

Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Publishing Group for providing me a copy to read and review.

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It's not often I can pinpoint the 'vibes' of a book as sharply as I can with this one. It felt like The Exorcist, meets Midsommar with orphanage in the snow type of feelings instead of commune in the spring and it work really, really well. The tension and build in this was masterful and the constant question of 'who is going to survive' really kept me reading.
This follows the story of a small orphanage set away from nearly all of civilization, and how everything goes to hell after a wounded man is brought in and the evil he brings with him spreads to the boys within. Another great comparison could also be Lord of the Flies in that we end up with groups of boys pitted against others but the tension and darkness of this novel really lend more to a modern horror. Our points of view change, hopping from boy to boy to priest, and in narrative style as we explore the horror that is unfolding and how it's spreading.
Do not go in expecting a happy ending, the death toll is high in this and it's gruesome as well. Philip Fracassi does not shy away from the bloody side of horror. There is though an interesting and well thought out discussion of choice within these pages though. Something I would reread the book to really look at and analyze. What choices define us and what type of choices should we let define us, and allow ourselves to believe in.
Overall this is a strong and classic feeling horror novel. This will be one that I'll refer to as using great classic tropes to explore interesting themes. I really recommend it, but not for the light of heart.

[TWs:
Graphic: Blood, Violence, Murder, Religious bigotry, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Stalking, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Vomit, and Grief
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders]

<b>Disclosure notice: I was provided a copy of <i>Boys in the Valley</i> by Nighfire and Netgalley for review. Any opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own and have not been influenced in any way by either the publisher or its publicity team.</b>

Stories of possession really have not done much to innovate after the success of William Peter Blatty's <i>The Exorcist</i> in 1971. It seems like every new possession story is working from the same set of presumptions, the same rules and visuals, as if breaking from the success of that now 50-year-old tradition would mean some kind of financial or intellectual disaster.

But the possession trope in horror fiction is in desperate need of a tune-up, and that is exactly what <i>Boys in the Valley</i> has to offer. This is not a pea soup and profanity sort of possession tale; what Fracassi does is put sincere limits on concepts of divine power and exposes Catholicism for its many cruelties even in the same breath it explores ideas of demoniac violence and the multi-faceted existence of evil. Yes, there are demons in this story, but there are people just as capable of real cruelty who don't need a demon to excuse their bad behavior.

Central to the story is Peter, an orphan who would be priest, and we're given the story through his perspective as well as a third-person narrative that explores the actions of the rest of the book's cast. The split narrative is only occasionally disorienting, but works quite well to open up the book's central metaphors regarding division, the use and abuse of power, and issues pertaining to faith and secularity, which feature prominently in most stories about possession. I was genuinely surprised by some of the ways Fracassi undercuts common presumptions in possession fiction regarding the omnipotence of divinity or evil. In a sense, the "spiritual" fight in this book is every bit as visceral and destructive as physical conflict, with neither side showing clear advantage or weakness. It plays to the strengths of the human drama at the book's core: what is cruelty, and in its opposition, what is grace?

The book deals well with metaphorical concepts of division, too. What is a demon, after all, but a divisive idea, a radical notion so transgressive that it cannot help but divide people into separate camps with radically different methodology? Comparing Fracassi's book to <i>Lord of the Flies</i> isn't just marketing blather, it's a central component to the book's overarching question.

<i>Boys in the Valley</i> is without a doubt the best possession story I've read since <i>A Good and Happy Child</i> by Justin Evans in 2007. It deals in similar tropes, but pulls those tropes into the 21st century, offering up a book that feels genuine, fresh, and emotionally mature. It does not hide its horror under a bushel, but allows it to breathe, to take root and do literal and symbolic work. This book is a stroke of genuine excellence, as heartbreaking as it is compelling.

OMG. This book was incredible. This author has become a must buy for me at I've liked everything he's written so far. The ending killed me and the character of Peter was so well drawn out. I highly recommend!

Boys In The Valley has plenty to offer its readers, and I wish Philip Fracassi much success with it. Unfortunately, I am not the right reader for this one.

The first handful of chapters did an excellent job of setting the scene and ensuring your investment in the characters, all for things to explode into action at chapter 7. Part One truly had my reader self excited. Part Two, full of plenty of delightfully creepy vibes, expertly ratcheted up the tension until the story once again exploded, into the chaos of Part Three. Believe it or not, Part Three is actually where I began losing interest. Which is where we get to the reason behind my rating.

Boys In The Valley didn’t survive my mood reading. It’s often that I’ll put a book down because it’s suddenly not what I want to be reading. I’ll do this even with books I'd been, up to that point, completely engrossed in. Very few books are safe from my mercurial reading habits. So, the test isn’t in whether or not I momentarily lose interest in the book, it’s in how easily I pick said book back up and feel excited about it again. It was noticeably difficult for me to get back into this one. My heart most definitely was not in it anymore.

A big part of what attracted me to this in the first place was the assertion that it was like a hybrid of Lord of the Flies, The Exorcist, and Midnight Mass. Therein lies the problem. Using shows, movies, or other books to sell something is a double-edged sword. Obviously, it works wonders at getting readers to pick the book up and give it a chance. At the same time, it can set up unrealistic reader expectations. I think I may have been banking too much on that Lord of the Flies comparison, and not paying enough attention to the other comparisons it had garnered. Truth be told, this isn’t my favourite kind of horror.

So, the most important thing to take away from my review is that I feel the story is well written, the characters are engrossing, and there’s lots of action. Boys In The Valley has a lot to offer horror lovers, especially fans of the possession trope and survival horror. I’m just not the right audience.

I absolutely love this book! It’s easily earned a spot in my top 5 of all time. The writing is near perfect. It flows so well and keeps you engaged in the story.

I really love the setting. What’s creepier than an old orphanage, and one ran by the church at that! The ambience is spooky and terror seeps through the pages. It’s hard to write a story focused on possession that doesn’t come off a bit cheesy and cliche but Boys in the Valley can easily be the next Exorcist.

Characters are fleshed out and each has their own interesting story. I love how the author made each priest different. One being the tough, no nonsense type and another being kind hearted and forgiving, empathetic even.

Dynamics and relationships between characters comes off so realistic you forget you’re reading a story. As the reader, you can almost feel the anguish, the struggle, the fear that these boys go through trying to survive already hostile conditions.

Amongst the well-developed characters, interesting plot line and spooky setting, there is lots of gore and blood for those who like their books more messy.

A well written, well-rounded story full of despair. I almost wish I could forget the whole thing just to experience it again.

This book will stay with me forever.

This is miscategorized. It's horror, it's religious fiction, and it's written very simply- it seems like a YA book, but there's too much gore, so they've stuck it in adult.

Unfortunately, this book has nothing in common with Lord of the Flies. The plot doesn't hang together, and the narrator, who is supposed to be 16, speaks like a much older man, particularly when referring to other people. Throughout the book there is a severe issue with "telling" in situations where it would be much more powerful to allow the reader to make up their own mind. Characterization is limited, generally two dimensional, and the plot has significant holes.

But there are some characters who are engaging. Unfortunately, that is not the main character, who is a Mary Sue type caricature.

As a rough draft, I would call this promising, but as a final draft missing only the final pass for corrections, it's simply not ready for publication.

Another fantastic effort from Fracassi, who's quickly become one of my favorite authors. This story finds us at an orphanage for boys that is interrupted one night by the local sheriff and his deputies, carrying a mysterious man who's in bad shape after having been arrested for having sacrificed a young child in what may have been a satanic ritual. The man seems possessed, and what happens that night changes the orphanage and the people within forever. Fracassi builds the tension slowly, and you can feel dread creep into the proceedings as the boys begin to splinter into the sides of good and evil. The writing is top-notch as usual, the characters full of life and the ending does not disappoint. An all-around impressive outing. 4.5 stars bumped to 5 for the quality of writing and solid finish. Thanks to Netgalley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I've been waiting for a while to get my hands on this book and it did not disappoint. It's an excellent, disturbing horror novel. Lord Of The Flies with demonic possessions, what could go wrong?

“The Exorcist meets Lord of the Flies” - great way to describe this book. A bit too religious for me. Some of the characters were a bit to hard to follow who they were in the beginning, but once you get it straight, they are like-able! There were a few slow parts. I did like the eerie feel to it and the old school horror vibes. Fracassi knows how to set a creepy scene without going into over detailed and gory descriptions. 3.5 🌟

Something insidious is taking over St. Vincent's Orphanage for Boys and the children within. One night, the police bring a sick man to the orphanage for care from the priests, but his body and soul are too far gone to be saved. The man's death unleashes an evil entity that infects the orphaned boys, causing the group to split in a battle of good vs. evil.

Religious horror is a hard sell for me. There's something about it that I find deeply unsettling. So, I'm going to come right out and say this book scared the s*** out of me. The tension spans the entire novel with few moments of release, leaving very little room for readers to breathe easy or feel safe. The plot is tight and the pace is quick. Fracassi does a nice job of moving readers through some really horrific moments straight through into the next one.

I do wish the ending had a bit more of a punch. It was almost passive. Overall, Boys in the Valley is a solid choice for horror fans.

Boys in the Valley absolutely hit the nail on the head with amazing classic horror vibes. It was everything I wanted in a horror novel and my long wait to read this since seeing it on Twitter did not disappoint.

I appreciate that the author did not take their foot off the gas and each chapter got darker and creepier. It was so well written and smart, it let me be a smart enough reader to enjoy and it without over explaining. It did not veer away from the horror and left me with a sad, but satisfying ending.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.