Special thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book had a very interesting concept. I love the way the artwork was deceived and have to give the author props for such a unique and intriguing idea.

The beginning of this book sucked me in, but sadly it did not continue that way. In a sense, I think the premise bit off more than it could chew. World building with the addition of modern geopolitics is hard to do in a stand alone novel.

In addition, I wish there were more descriptors of the characters. For a book that is focused on art, I have no idea what the characters look like outside of race and gender and I sadly found that there is not a lot of depth to the side characters.

This was an intriguing book that fell short to me, but will definitely have its audience.

I loved Kosoko Jackson’s “A Dash of Salt and Pepper” and I was very excited to see him step into a gay horror fantasy novel! I think the concept of this story was utterly unique and well executed. I hope to see Jackson keep exploring more genres and I would highly recommend this novel.

This was a really enjoyable read. I found the aspects of magic and going in and out of paintings to be really intriguing and it kept me reading.

*E-ARC provided from Harper Voyager through NetGalley*

This was an enjoyable read. I enjoyed the gothic horror feel to the story, and the characters were all so very interesting. This is a slow-paced story, and at times felt more like a ‘mood read’ however, I rather enjoyed that aspect. The middle of the story was packed with suspense, and then towards the end it fell a little flat/left much to be desired. In conclusion, this was a good read.

I do not usually read horror books, but I felt like this was a perfect introduction to the genre. I enjoyed following Lewis' journey of having to go in to these paintings to defeat the curse attached to them. The description of the paintings and getting to go in to them to see the mindset of the artist was really interesting to me. I also really enjoyed the romance storyline that was sprinkled in with the story as well!

this is my third kosoko jackson book. and no matter how familiar with his writing you are, i can assure you this is different, and i mean that as the greatest compliment.
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before going in, i didn’t really check what the book was about. i love getting surprised by the twists and just vibe until the reveals take place. this delivered exactly it. the only thing i did do was being wary of every character just in case, mostly because this isn’t my first rodeo and i have trust issues.
i loved getting submerged in this world and, as per usual, jackson manages to write a powerful main character, and main cast, really.
seeing everyone’s motivations and what they were willing to do to achieve their goals was compelling in ways i don’t have the words to describe.
i personally resonated with noah a lot. and i think the romance SUB-plot was really well done. i was rooting for them, of course, but it didn't distract me from the main plot, which was great.
if you're looking for some twisty, bit gorey book with a tad of romance, this is definitely the book for you.

Kosoko Jackson’s *The Macabre* is a wild ride through art, horror, and magic that feels like *The Picture of Dorian Gray* got lost in a haunted museum heist. Lewis Dixon, a broke painter, gets roped into a British Museum gig that’s less “curated show” and more “destroy your great-granddad’s cursed paintings before they destroy you.” The vibe’s gothic and globe-trotting, with prose that’s lush yet punchy—think dark alleys and dripping canvases. Lewis is a mess I rooted for, but the side characters could’ve used more meat. It’s chaotic, bloody fun, though the ending stumbles a bit trying to tie up all the nightmares. 4 stars—perfect if you dig creepy art vibes with a side of adventure.

This book was pretty good. I enjoyed the characters and the overall premise, what I didn’t enjoy is the magic. The explanations of magic and its place in the world are not the most informative and I wish it was. I would give it 3.5 stars but I’m rounding it up to 4.

This was an E-ARC from Net Galley! I was excited to read this, since the plot sounded interesting and I’ve never read a horror book before. The beginning was slow, and other parts of the book were told and not described. I liked the middle part when they described each of the paintings, but outside of that, it was slow. It wasn’t as scary as I was expecting it to be, but I did like the ending. I don’t know why this took me over a month to read. It was decent but I kept putting it down to read other books within the last month.

This book is true art. Kosoko Jackson’s blending of our reality with the one of their creation is absolutely magical.

One would think that with all this book has going on, it would be overly complicated and busy, but I find it to be done beautifully and interestingly. The plot holds your attention while being unique and enthralling.

I never knew which direction this book was going. It took me on an adventure, and in the best way possible. Like the topic of this book itself, it is also a piece of art. The storytelling is masterfully done. I’ve never read a better-written book with such a dynamic plot.

If you read one book this year, I’d recommend The Macabre. I can’t describe how well done this book is. Words don’t do it justice, as I’ll never have words as great as those of the author. Kosoko Jackson is truly an artist of storytelling.

Magicians, Immortals, artistry, & DARKNESS.

A horror novel where paintings are the center. Lewis a starving artist, has been asked to be a part or an exhibition in London at the British Museum . But when he arrives he learns the truth of why he was selected.

I really enjoyed this book. The author did a masterful job detailing the artistic aspects. It was easy for me to imagine the paintings, and therefore no challenge to feel the darkness in them. I loved the slight romance and the way it was tied into the characters choices. This book kind of gave me adult Deathly Hollows vibes and I loved it!

This was the first book I’ve read by this author and it won’t be my last.

I greatly appreciate the opportunity to review this book however I don't think this author's writing style is for me. I got to approximately 17% and decided to throw in the towel.
I found the writing to have way to many adjectives.

This book was very good. I really enjoyed it. Thank you to Netgalley for the arc and Ive never read anything by this author until now and it was so worth it.

A wonderfully-written thriller with flavors of horror, suspense, and romance all in one delicious dish. Fans of Mario 64 will love jumping into each one of the haunted paintings in The Macabre.

Thank you NetGalley for the early ARC to read and review.

I adore Kosoko Jackson's books and this one has been one I have been really excited about.

I love the characters and their dynamics. Noah is an absolute treasure and I adore him. Cassandra is written to perfection, IMO. She is vicious, engaging, and you love to hate her.

The premise is incredible and I love the overall writing of the book. I think the world building is keeping me from the 4 star review here. We are dumped into this world of magic and I can appreciate it feels a little like Lev Grossman, but I need a bit more of an explanation on how the magic systems work and why Lewis is so accepting w/o ever questioning anything. I kept getting a little lost with time.

Still, there is a lot to love here and the line between fantasy and horror is wonderful!

This book was absolutely stunning. When I first read the blurb, I was immediately hooked. Kosoko Jackson weaves a rich story combining elements of fantasy, horror, and magical realism that had me devouring this book. At multiple points in the story, I had to put the book down and take a breath because I was so excited to read on, but wanted to make sure I was taking it all in.

I agree with other reviewers in that I would have liked to enter more paintings, but I didn't mind that time being dedicated to developing the characters. Watching the events unfold and getting to know Lewis, Noah, Evangeline, Cassandra, and Akana was a whirlwind journey.

Beyond the cursed paintings, this book tackles themes of racism, colonialism, and especially grief and the ways that we can use our pain to hurt ourselves and hurt others. I will be sitting with this one for a while.

Thanks to Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the e-ARC!

“The world deals everyone a shitty hand. You don’t get to go out and hurt people who have nothing to do with your sorrow. You don’t get to extinguish others’ lives in hopes of having a second chance at your own.”

Thanks to @netgalley and @harpervoyagerus for the eARC of @kosokojackson’s fantastically haunting #TheMacabre.

Artist Lewis Dixon has just lost his mother, at the same time he gets an invite from the British Museum to display one of his pieces. When he meets Evangeline, the Director of Curation at the museum, Lewis learns there is more to the invite than his artistic talent. A series of mysterious paintings are causing phantasmal issues across the world, and Lewis, related by blood to the painter, is the only one who can stop them. Alongside Evangeline’s assistant Noah, Lewis must travel the world to stop the devastation of these paintings. But in ending the suffering, Lewis comes to find that more is at play in this new dark and magical world.

I didn’t know what to expect going into this read as I’ve never read any of Jackson’s other work, but I was so impressed by this read. So many fantasy/magical reads go into deep lore about how the magic works, but this one lets the reader sort of experience being thrust into this world alongside the main character. We learn what he learns (for the most part), and just go with it. The supporting cast of characters makes for an interesting frenemies mix, including a budding gay relationship. The study of grief and loss is thoughtful and reflective, allowing for sympathy where other books would paint the antagonist as purely evil.

Excited for people to enjoy this one, and while it covers some adult themes, would be a good one for teen readers looking to get into the horror/fantasy genre.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 Stars – A Thrilling, Queer Horror Masterpiece

Kosoko Jackson’s The Macabre is a haunting and immersive horror novel that grips you from the first page and never lets go. With a perfect blend of psychological tension, supernatural terror, and deeply layered storytelling, this book is an absolute must-read for horror fans.

Set in a chillingly atmospheric world, The Macabre follows a protagonist who is forced to confront both external horrors and the ghosts of his past. Jackson’s writing is razor-sharp, delivering intense scares while also exploring themes of grief, trauma, and identity. The queer representation is beautifully woven into the narrative, making it a refreshing and necessary addition to the horror genre.

What truly sets The Macabre apart is its ability to balance bone-chilling horror with emotional depth. The twists are unpredictable, the suspense is relentless, and the characters feel raw and real. If you love books that leave you breathless and slightly paranoid after turning the last page, this one is for you.

Final Verdict: The Macabre is a modern horror gem—intelligent, terrifying, and impossible to put down. Kosoko Jackson has cemented himself as a must-read voice in the genre. Highly recommended for fans of The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones and The Taking of Jake Livingston by Ryan Douglass.

📖💀 Have you read The Macabre? Let’s talk about it! #TheMacabre #KosokoJackson #QueerHorror #HorrorBooks #BookTok #Bookstagram #SpookyReads

This book has such a strong start to it. The way the reader is introduced to the magic along with Lewis and are just as confused as he is hooked me immediately. The atmosphere created by entering into the paintings is incredibly vivid, making you feel as if you're there with him. That being said, I felt like around the halfway point, the book started to lose its way. It loses the intensity that initially hooked me. That being said, it's not bad by any means, just feels slightly underdeveloped. The writing itself is excellent, though! I would rate this a 7/10, making it a 3.5 on a 5 star scale, but I rounded up because I did find myself thinking about Lewis and the paintings even after I finished reading.

Another great book by Kosoko Jackson! Mixing elements of magical realism, light horror, a budding queer romance and women driven by their desires for power and vengeance, readers are taken on a journey across the globe and through time itself.

Jackson has excelled in the YA genre, and I can see elements of the writing style carried over to this book. While this marketed as horror, I found it to be quite tame, though it does have scenes with carnage that many may like a trigger warning for. Both Lewis and Noah’s characterizations, as well as their flirtatiousness, are examples of the YA writing style peeking out. However, the story has a strong and compelling villain who readers want to sympathize for but are also disgusted by. As the saying goes, “I understand why he did it, but I don’t condone it.”
Also, the women were all superb. Cassandra, Akana and Evangeline had amazing development. We love women’s rights AND women’s wrongs!!

Overall, very strong magical system with solid explanations on how most of their supernatural powers worked. I loved the use of different forms of magic, such as the God-provided magic in Japan and Nigeria. The pacing was a bit fast but it made for a thrilling read!


Mild Spoiler***
I love a woman whose main motivation is vengeance but who also gets a redemption arc after being able to explain why she wants vengeance.