The cover drew me in immediately.

I have to admit the book started off a little slow for me and I'm not sure if it was just me or what but the writing seemed a little off for me in some places. I almost feel like this was geared a little more toward a younger crowd. I enjoy reading horror and after finishing I realized this was a sort of retelling of Rapunzel. It wasn't a bad book it just didn't hold my attention all to well but I can see this being a hit!

This book was amazing. I am still processing it days later and I wish so badly there was more. But in a good way. This book was so immersive and anxiety-inducing throughout its entirety. With notes of a classic fairytale and absolutely vivid imagery we are pulled into a horrific twist on an already creepy tale. The characters are so well portrayed that at times it’s so easy to love/hate them because they feel so alive. I thoroughly enjoyed this haunting tale!

Reader, your in for a wild ride!
"Kosa" is twisted & intriguing Rapunzel reimagining.
Rapunzel horror, what you think that long hair care
wouldn't drive you mad too?
A fast and easy read. Enjoy!

Thank you NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this book ahead of time in exchange for a review. It didn't disappoint! Must read!!

This was an unexpected spin on a fairy tale. The story has so many moving parts and different perspectives, but they all work together seamlessly. The necessary characters were all fleshed-out, and the atmosphere was ominous. There were so many twists and turns, gore was all in the right places, and the mysteries were fully revealed as it raced toward the end. I loved this book, and I highly recommend it!

Aw man, what is it with me and the horror books I've been reading lately? Either I am becoming totally numb and jaded to the genre or my expectations are just set ridiculously high. Add this one to the #meh pile.

A retelling of Rapunzel but make it horror. Only... it's not that horrorifying. True, there is a witch in the woods and some creepy cat things. There are some kidnapped children. There's some hair eating and some cannibalism. All the ingredients of a really good scary story were there but something about the writing style just fell flat for me.

I felt like I was reading a book geared more towards a YA audience than adults. The gory parts weren't gory enough. The jump scares felt more like peek-a-boo scenes. There was no real dread or tension.

I know I will likely be in the minority here, and I'm ok with that. Looking forward to seeing what you think if you get your hands on this one!

This is a solid re-telling with a good creative spin and plenty of plot twists!

I took two stars off my rating for the dialogue and the plot development of the ending.

From the start I found the dialogue somewhat underdeveloped. It doesn't matter how serious the stakes are if the overall tone feels a bit childish and surface level. I found the dialogue pulled me out from enjoying the flow of the book regularly. Still, the pacing and story had me committed.

The ending got a little repetitive in the way a lot of horror does. Just that usual, never safe loop. I wish it would have wrapped up a little quicker and the punches it served would have landed a little harder in my opinion.

Overall, I had a good time with this book! I think it's a great indie read and had some truly horrific details without going into extreme horror. I think that a lot of authors are under the impression you have to write some truly inhumane things just to get a chill from your reader. This book is proof that if you're creative and a strong enough author, that isn't the case at all.

The death of her parents. the ritual, the mother and son, and so much more had me spooked even as a veteran horror lover. Kudos to this author, you have a lot to be proud of!

In this deliciously dark reimagined version of Rapunzel John Durgin takes the darker side of the fairy tale and runs to the finish line leaving the reader both satisfied and also hooked. This is my first of his work and it most certainly will not be the last.

The author indicates in his afterword that this book was inspired by the Rapunzel fairy tale. I could see some connection to that story but this book is no children's bedtime story. It is dark. The basis of the story is missing children, a topic that must be handled delicately. This author does that but there are still several scenes that will give you the shivers.
I liked how the author gave me a sense of impending disaster. He would develop his characters very well and then let you know, without telling you, that bad things were about to happen.
I didn't get a five-star feeling from this book but it did merit a strong four stars. It's worthy of your time and I recommend it.

By far his best yet!
This guy really knows how to creep me the hell out. Had me hooked from page one and gets more and more unsettling by the page.
Definitely 5 stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The cover and then the description grabbed my attention and I wanted to love it. Unfortunately, it just didn’t draw me in. I wasn’t able to connect with the characters or become invested in their fates. I thought the plot moved too quickly and might have appealed to me more by slowing it down with some deep dives into character building or developing backstory. I appreciate the opportunity to read this one in advance of its release.

A twisted and sinister version of Rapunzel. Intriguing and chilling with eerie mystery. I liked thus book but I didn't love it. It took me a while to get into the story because the writing was so awkward. Not bad, not great. I think a good editor could make this better.

This book pulls you in from the start and doesn't let go even after it ends. The emotional roller-coaster it takes you on doesn't stop. My heart was racing the last few chapters! The characters were welll thought out and kept you interested. Anyone who likes books about evil witches or books about good and evil clashing should definitely read this one!

John Durgin has done it again. This is the fourth book by Durgin that I have read and he does not disappoint. When I read a horror book I always expect to be slightly scared but this book really had me scared. The first two chapters were amazing, the poor man didn’t know what he was getting himself into, the cats were a bunch of evil devils ( I love cats but they also creep me out) Kosa was fast paced and a dark Repunzel retelling. This book is gory, sad and complex. If you’re into horror I would read this one.

Durgin is a fairly new author and it shows. I found his writing to be bland and clunky. He has potential and I hope he continues writing, but I cannot recommend this book. I had trouble getting through this book because I wasn't invested in any of the characters and there wasn't much to keep me interested in coming back. Thanks to Netgalley for providing an ARC for me to review.

Rapunzel but make it horror? (Is this book about me...no sorry not everything is about me)I love twisted fairy tales and this is one hell of a twisteroo, the familiar childhood story but with an added stab of nasty gory surprises makes this all the more jarring and hair raising OR SHOULD I SAY HAIR MUNCHING 👀 , this gruesome story explores humanity and the blurred lines between good and evil, with a complex villain and doomed characters there is a sense of foreboding permeating the entire story, the imagery is brutal and this author really knows how to get under your skin, incredibly creepy,

As an avid fan of both horror and fairy tales, I was thrilled to stumble upon "KOSA," a dark retelling of ''Rapunzel'' infused with spine-chilling witchcraft. This hauntingly captivating book, penned by a talented author, seamlessly combines horror elements with the magic of a classic fairy tale we all know and love.
What made this retelling truly exceptional was the author's ability to breathe life into vivid descriptions of the supernatural. The witch in this tale is the stuff of nightmares, oozing malevolence and cunning that kept me on the edge of my seat. With each turn of the page, the suspense gradually escalates, making it impossible to put the book down.

The author's unique twist on the classic "Rapunzel" storyline injects new life into the characters we thought we knew so well.

For fans of dark fantasy, horror, and deep character explorations, ''KOSA" is an absolute must-read. Prepare to be captivated, disturbed, and ultimately enchanted by a tale that challenges everything you thought you knew about fairy tales and witches.

3.5 stars. This is own of those books I’d been looking forward to due to hype and my enjoyment of Durgin’s other works (most notably Inside the Devil’s Nest). I enjoyed the story but nothing about the book blew me away. Durgin explains his inspiration with Tangled, which I understood, but the story itself was fairly predictable.

I understand horror book can exist in their own universe but I struggled to believe no one else found an issue with all the missing kids from one tiny town.

I look forward to seeing what Durgin puts out on the future. I still enjoy his writing and look forward to seeing more of the darkness from his brain.

I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I really enjoyed the concept of this book, and the characters that were in it, I did, however, have a few problems. I felt that the first half of the book had some real pacing problems, over exposition to the point I got bored the last third of the book I felt like the dialogue was out of step with the action going on around the characters. People running for their lives, but calmly discussing their motivations seemed forced to me overall I give this book a C, I didn’t hate it, but I thought it could’ve been better.

3.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and DarkLit Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Kosa is a loose retelling of Rapunzel but it is so much darker and twisted. The narrative was overall very compelling and there were several moments where I was genuinely terrified and holding my breath. Many of Kosa's decisions throughout had me so frustrated with her but I understand that she was struggling to reconcile with the truth about her mother.

I gave this book three stars because I feel like the story could have been written and structured better. The pacing felt off for me at times. There were certain scenes or character actions that were unnecessarily detailed and drawn out in a way that didn't further the storyline.

I would still recommend this book because it is an engaging read that will keep you guessing at the fate of the characters!