Queer horror and urban fantasy resting on an intriguing plot revolving around a mysterious set of magical paintings had me staying up past my bedtime to keep reading The Macabre. Jackson aimed high with this novel with its magic system, history, romance, and social issues and didn’t necessarily hit all points, but it was a fun read, and I look forward to the next adult work from this heretofore YA author.

firstly i will say this book is more fantasy than horror, and so i feel that— while there are horror elements— there’s a bit of mismarketing going in with things like the cover. i went into this expecting horror first, and that was not what i received, and it definitely colored my impressions of the book.
that aside, this felt a little clunky. the characters, the romance— the plot was there, but the rest felt flat and underdeveloped, like it was just written to get from point a to point b with no meat in between. intriguing premise, but middling execution. gorgeous cover though.

The Macabre by Kosoko Jackson is a chilling and stylish blend of queer romance and supernatural horror, wrapped in a richly atmospheric setting. A gripping, emotionally layered read perfect for fans of gothic thrillers.

Really interesting premise! However, I felt like the writing still leaned heavily toward YA, and I just didn’t buy the characters as real adults, even in a “magical” setting. There were way too many descriptive details that also weighed down the pacing.

Perhaps I flew through this a bit quick, but that is an advantage of reading a fantasy book by an author that knows how to explain his plot devices and warps genres to fit whatever he deems necessary. Wonderful characters that brought life to the world and the art within it, with beautiful descriptions that flowed wonderfully.

This book is a gothic horror/fantasy mix that is far more fantasy than horror, which kind of disappointed me. The cover and blurb seemed like it would be a full on horror read. While the book was overall written very well and kept me engaged, the character development fell a little flat so I didn't feel connected to anyone. If the author reworked this a bit and added more on the characters, it would be a great book.

Having just finished A Dash of Salt and Pepper, I was excited about receiving this ARC to review. While this was an excellent book, it took me a few chapters to adjust and open my mind to to this genre. Dark magic and horror infused with a tidbit of romance had my mind on overdrive! Nonetheless, I loved the storyline, Kosoko did great job with character development and explaining all the elements necessary to free my mind. I just needed a bit more explanation in areas that weren’t so apparent to me. I’m a romance reader at heart, but this book pulled me into places I would’ve never gone had it not been for this author. Kosoko has delivered another noteworthy installment toward his repertoire of literary genius. Thank you NetGalley, Avon Books and Harper Voyager for allowing me to experience it!

First thoughts: I don't normally read fantasy, but enjoyed this for the most part. There were a couple of typos. The cover made me think it was more horror than fantasy, and I would have enjoyed more horror elements in the end, rather than almost pure magical fantasy stuff.

Overall, this book was pretty good! I do feel like the ending got a little mushy and hard to wade through, but that just might be a me thing because I'm not a huge fantasy reader and the magic elements took over everything else pretty heavily at the end.

I think my belief that it was going to be horror was partially based on the fact that I had seen Jackson's ya book The Forest Demands It's Due floating around the library. Upon further research, I did see that Jackson writes in many genres.

I appreciated the heavy horror at the beginning, but it didn't sustain throughout the book. I love a good found family type story, and it felt like it leaned into that a bit, too.

There was almost TOO much going on this this book, overall. Almost too many little threads to tie together. It made the book feel slower paced and longer than it really was at times.

I am certain that I would read another book by this author, as their writing style is lovely. I love a descriptive book, with lots of vivid imagery, which Jackson provides throughout. I would likely enjoy their horror and romance books, as those are genres I read regularly.

*Macabre* by Kosoko Jackson is a chilling, fast-paced thriller that blends slasher horror with smart social commentary. The characters, especially the protagonist, are compelling and layered, making the high-stakes plot even more gripping. Jackson's writing keeps the tension sharp while exploring deeper themes of identity and survival. This is a must-read for fans of horror that’s both entertaining and thought-provoking.

A very gripping read. The ending could have used a little more time in the oven for my taste, but the atmosphere and writing style of the book are the highlights. I would highly suggest this if you want a thrill, if a bit of a weak ending.

Thoroughly enjoyed this one! I was a big fan of the author’s previous book, and this delivered the same slow-churning, gothic-inspired horror/fantasy that’s still far too rare—especially in m/m stories. The prose is dense at times, but purposeful, and the characters are deeply developed, especially the main protagonist. The worldbuilding and magic system unfold gradually, which may feel slow to some, but it worked beautifully for me. Dark, moody, and uniquely tense—this is perfect if you’re craving something atmospheric and queer.

Thank you to Net Galley and Harper Voyager for sending me an e-ARC of this book.

Kosoko Jackson’s "The Macabre" is an electrifying blend of supernatural horror, art history, and pulse-pounding adventure that had me hooked from the first page. The novel’s protagonist, Lewis, is a refreshingly original hero - an artist descended from a cursed bloodline who must confront the literal demons embedded in his family’s sinister paintings.

Jackson's prose is sharp, cinematic, and deeply atmospheric, capturing both the eerie beauty of the haunted art and the tension of each encounter. The supporting cast adds heart and depth, and the queer representation feels both natural and vital to the story’s emotional core.

"The Macabre" is perfect for fans of "Stranger Things," "The Shadow of the Wind" and "Ninth House," and I can’t wait to see what Jackson conjures up next. A total must-read for horror and fantasy lovers alike!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

The Macabre brings us Lewis, an aspiring artist that gets involved in something so much bigger than he could’ve imagined. He starts working with The British Museum and together they start searching for cursed paintings that were created by his great grandfather. He goes on a wild adventure, setting out to destroy the paintings before they destroy him and everything around them.

I went into The Macabre anticipating more of a horror story. There were some horror elements, but towards the end of the book, I definitely felt it was more fantasy. I was underwhelmed by the horror elements and around the 50% mark I had considered DNFing. I’m glad I pushed through, I thought it was an interesting concept and enjoyed the book overall.
Besides preferring more horror, I also felt some things could have been more refined. Another reason I had considered stopping at the halfway mark was I found I just didn’t really care about the characters or what was happening. I would’ve liked Lewis to have a bit more character development. We get snippets of his past, but having more of his background would’ve had me more invested.
Also, towards the end there was a small amount of explanation, but I would’ve liked to have gotten more near the beginning when Lewis starts interacting with the paintings, about how and why the magic is working the way it is.
Overall, it is an interesting concept and the story was decent, I think it could use a little more fine tuning. This

generally pretty good! definitely not the horror-ish story I was expecting, in fact it's far closer to a relatively cheery fantasy. sometimes we don't get enough about the characters, but in general it's pretty good. 4 stars. tysm for the arc.

The Macabre is a about a man who finds himself thrust into a world of magic, art, and tragedy. Through friends and enemies he saves the world while wrestling with his newfound knowledge. From the first chapter, I was hooked, and found myself hungering for the rest of the story and I made my way through its pages. Honestly, I know I have a tendency to love every book I read but this is genuinely an incredible novel. Jackson’s writing is magically immersive as he weaves a tale of mystery, danger, loss, and love. Like the painters in his book, Jackson illustrates magnificent images as The Macabre comes to life—his words are his paint and the reader his canvas. With passion and fury these characters cannot help but hit deep inside. Complete with a Black and queer main character, and blending Indian, Japanese, French, Nigerian, and American characters, this diverse books is beautifully written and captivating. If you are a fan of art, mystery, magical realism, travel, or have dealt with death and pain, this is a book for you.

Ooh I am obsessed with this one! The story centers around an upcoming artist, Lewis Dixon, who has just received his big break only to find out that he has been recruited specifically for a magical and horrific mission within the art world. There truly is something for everyone in this novel between the magical realism, the queerness, the mystery, and the graphic horror moments that were perfectly balanced with the storytelling. I think The Macabre is a MUST READ.

Thank you Net Galley for an eArc of this book!
I was really intrigued but the plot and narrative, however I feel the writing fell short in some areas. The main character does a lot of internal monologue explanations for things, as well as internal speculation on other motives.
I also feel like some of the dialogue is meant to come off as very cool but it falls flat.
The plot and story are really interesting and get your attention, but I struggled through because of the reasons listed above.
I'm excited to see the author grow and can't wait to see what he has next as I think his ideas are fun and rather gripping, it's the execution that has room to grow.

Kosoko Jackson's "The Macabre" immediately hooked me with its incredibly inventive concept – I was really captivated by the unique blend of dark fantasy, art history, and adventure centered around Lewis Dixon and the idea of magical paintings. The premise felt so fresh and full of potential! I particularly enjoyed seeing the world through Lewis's eyes as an artist – that perspective felt authentic and added a lot for me, making him very relatable. The developing connection between Lewis and Noah also provided a strong emotional core that I found quite compelling amidst all the magical chaos and globe-trotting adventure. Jackson definitely creates some effectively eerie and atmospheric scenes throughout the book, especially when dealing with the paintings themselves, which I really appreciated.

While I thoroughly enjoyed the creative ambition and the overall journey, perhaps for me, the intricate plot occasionally felt like it was juggling quite a lot at once, which sometimes affected the pacing slightly in the middle. And maybe there were a few instances where I personally wished certain elements, like the finer points of the magic system, were explored just a touch more.

But overall, "The Macabre" was a truly unique and imaginative reading experience for me. I admire the originality and the way it blended genres, and the core story featuring Lewis, Noah, and the paintings definitely kept me engaged. It's certainly a testament to Jackson's creative vision.

I thought I was going to be reading a book about a cursed painting.

What I got was a book with a diverse cast of characters, secret societies, an interesting and unique magical system, all wrapped up in a book about many cursed paintings.

The story follows Lewis, a struggling artist dealing with the death of his mother. A chance opportunity arrives when he is invited to participate in an exhibit at the British Museum, where he meets Noah and Evangeline, agents at the museum and magicians.

Lewis is thrust into a world of secret agents, magic, and cursed paintings created by his ancestor, and only he can break the curses on the paintings. Along the way, friends become enemies, enemies become allies, and the fate of the entire world is at stake.

The Macabre by Kosoko Jackson is a lush, atmospheric book that blends urban fantasy with queer horror, blending magic with art and sorrow that is felt through generations. The world building is very interesting, though I wish that more had been done with the magic system. That being said, the fantasy and magic is not the main focus of this book- rather, the way that characters understand their own pain and grief is a bigger focus, and I think that the way this book handles pain, grief, and loss is beautiful.