Hill's nightmarish, devilish protagonist is Charlie Manx - who uses his supernatural powers in his ghastly mission to kidnap and kill dozens of children... and to scare the living bejesus out of the readers... This book is well-written, extremely dark and awfully gruesome. Granted, not quite in the same class as his dad - but then again, who is Daily Mail will delight horror/fantasy fans...Steven King's son has the same knack as his dad for telling gruesome magical tales MyM Magazine A deliciously horrific fantasy...the work of a talented and evolving storyteller whose pages sure do turn. The Skinny NOS4R2 is enthrallingly petrifying and creepily engrossing. A 700-page race to the finish line, it drags its terrified readers kicking and screaming along. THE SUNDAY TIMES NOS4R2 has energy, plenty of narrative hooks, and a brash intensity. There's a big engine of entertainment at the heart of NOS4R2. THE GUARDIAN [An] imaginative and atmospheric chiller. Scary. SUNDAY MIRROR Hill's writing is smart and assured and bursting with his own style and personality. NOS4R2 - and this is not meant as a criticism - feels more like the sort of thing his dad would do. Perhaps that's intentional - maybe NOS4R2 is meant as a homage to those big Eighties horror novels. It certainly has the feel of one, the heft and the scope. But the biggest box that it ticks is that it's genuinely scary, and you can't really ask more of a horror novel than that. THE INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY This vivid exploration of the darker borders between fantasy and reality weaves hallowed genre references together to create something unmistakably Hill's own. A magnificently creepy novel that marks the point Master King turned master storyteller. METRO Joe Hill's third novel is his most ambitious yet, a complex and sprawling fantasy horror that plays with time and structure, language and genre without losing the emotional core which anchored his previous work. If it's reminiscent of the author's father, Stephen King, it's less Christine and more wide-reaching works like IT that it channels (and references) - though Hill's own style is distinct. A thrilling journey, which should cement Hill as one of the most exciting drivers of horror fiction today. SFX This is a book that starts with a bang and then relentlessly builds. Joe managed to make my skin crawl in the first chapter, turning what should be a time for celebration into something decidedly creepy. At the mid-point of a lengthy book it became near un-putdownable, in that horrifying 'can't look away from a car crash' kind of way. Although the details are dark and even horrible, the narrative pull is relentless and unstoppable. -- Mark Yon SFFWORLD.COM I found myself swept up by Hill's prose and story, drawn on through the novel. The author manages to make the mundane fascinating - the little details of these characters' lives, their thoughts and every-day concerns... In many authors' hands, this attention to detail would be suffocating and perhaps tedious, giving the novel a bloated feel. Not so for Hill; when added to the creepy goings-on related to Christmasland and its master, Charles Manx, he spins a fascinating, engrossing, suspenseful tale. If you have any interest in classic, literary horror fiction, then NOS4R2 is for you. Recommended. CIVILIAN READER BLOG NOS4R2 is an excellent novel, populated with believable characters and some intense, creepy scenes. STARBURST NOS4R2 is an epic tale of horror, compassion and innocence. Hill's text sizzles on the page, providing scares, laughs and adventure throughout. Hill even pays homage to and references Horns, Heart-Shaped Box and other well-known mythologies. With NOS4R2 Joe Hill has transcended the excellence of his previous works. He has brought pop culture, horror and fantasy together in a truly masterful book that will launch him even further into the stratosphere of mainstream recognition, something that he richly deserves. THIS IS HORROR NOS4R2 has all the author's hallmarks: the deeply flawed hero, the magical gifts with a terrible price, and the pitch black sense of humour. While it's Hill's most sprawling novel to date, NOS4R2 contains some of his finest writing yet.He stretches tense sequences to an almost unbearable length, presents us with terrifying monsters and heart-rending heroes, and gives us another darkly funny and scabrously nightmarish journey. Crucially, Vic's journey is one that you will want to see through to the end. It may wobble occasionally, but it's a hell of a ride. SCI FI NOW NOS4R2, is a genuinely frightening experience; Hill knows which buttons to press to get the reaction he wants, and takes great delight in their pressing. It is, for me, his best novel yet, the perfect combination of magical coming-of-age story and balls-to-the-wall horror-fest. You won't look at Rolls-Royce in quite the same way again, and Charlie Manx is likely to haunt your dreams - especially if you have children of your own - for a very long time. Do yourself a favour and don't miss it. READER DAD blog Joe Hill's third novel is a terrifying story that confirms his place in the modern American horror pantheon. With some images which may well haunt your dreams, this is the horrific side of the American Dream brought to life. SCI FI BULLETIN A horror novel that tackles mental illness, depression, addiction and loss is very much a human one. This is not your basic good versus evil tale; rather it is about unconditional love overcoming adversity.NOS4R2 reads like a thriller at times, it is a totally gripping and satisfying read, expertly constructed and brilliantly executed. This one is a triumph. FANTASY BOOK REVIEW NOS4R2 is a hard read, full of horrible things happening to your favourite characters. Coming in at just over 700 pages, it's a hefty tome, but thanks to Hill's crisp and clean writing style and absorbing, fast-paced action it did not feel as long as the page count suggests. The concept is not mind-blowing, but is put to the service of a strong cast of characters perfectly. This book is a great choice for anyone looking for an intelligent horror with genuine emotional impact. -- Hugh Armitage STRANGE PLACES A deeply disturbing book written by a great new writer in the horror field. Wherever Hill's talents came from, they're clearly on display here and he's certainly deserving of a long and successful career in the field to match his father's, to judge from this novel. If you're a reader who, like me, found the horror field through the popularity of Stephen King, you're going to love Joe Hill. THE BOOK BAG
