MadgeWhitlin

This is probably one of the strangest books I've ever read. It ran the gamut from humorous to horrifying, but not in the ways I expected it to. While I would classify it as horror, it isn't really the type to have you on the edge of your seat, biting your nails while wide eyed. The most frightening parts aren't at all supernatural, but the human, in my opinion. This certainly isn't the book for anyone with a weak stomach, or anyone easily offended or triggered by violence.

I think I would have given it five stars if the pacing hadn't been so slow. I found myself greatly enjoying the story, but taking frequent breaks because it wasn't moving fast enough for my mood. (I still might put it on my 4.5 star shelf because I think it was me and not the book.) But, once I got to about the last third, I had a difficult time putting it down. I had to know what else would be revealed and how things would turn out for Ig and everyone else.

Horns is the first Joe Hill book I've had the pleasure of reading, and I'm looking forward to his other books, now. I loved his writing style (except the pace, but in the end that was totally forgivable) and the way he wove together so many strands to create the complex web of this story. The good vs evil trope was well done and not nearly as predictable as in some novels. Only one small thing bugged me about the end: Ig's name not being cleared. But, I'm mostly ok with that because of how things turned out for him. I say it's a solid 4 stars, maybe 4.5, and I definitely recommend it.