Review by Booklist Review
Peter has lived at St. Vincent's Orphanage for Boys longer than most of the children. While the priests in charge are often cruel in the name of toughening the boys up, St. Vincent's is the only home Peter has, and he's become a big-brother figure for many of the boys there. One night, a surprise visit from the sheriff brings trouble in the form of unspeakable horror. The men in charge try to explain everything away, but soon they cannot ignore how some boys are acting differently. It starts out seemingly innocently--boys gathering in groups, whispering and giggling--but the creeping dread builds as their meetings become more sinister and foreboding. Everything culminates in a bloodbath worthy of any 1980s slasher movie while the survivors run for their lives. Fracassi's latest gives a fresh take on demonic possession, and he provides enough characterization to give the boys depth so that readers will be invested in their fates. Peter's struggles with his path in adulthood will resonate even if one has not been faced with his exact choice. This is a must-read for horror fans.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Fracassi (Beneath a Pale Sky) spins a gothic, gory Lord of the Flies tale that captures both the hope of youth and the rapture of religion. It's 1905 and 16-year-old Peter Barlow is the de-facto older brother to his fellow residents at St. Vincent's Orphanage for Boys following the murder-suicide of his parents years prior. Haunted by his past but eager for a better future, Peter's torn between following the path of his mentor, Father Andrew Francis, into priesthood, or following his heart in the form of local farm girl Grace Hill. But when an injured, raving man is brought to the priests of St. Vincent's, his poison seeps into the hearts of many of the boys, and Peter and the remaining orphans must fight for their survival before they too succumb to the allure of his demonic rot. The horror here is as much a warning on the dangers of human corruption as a testament to hope in the face of nigh-insurmountable darkness. Occasionally the tone careens from creeping, literary gothic tale to bloody slasher film, but these odd shifts don't diminish the overall quality of the haunting, visceral story. Horror readers will be hooked. Agent: Elizabeth Copps, Copps Literary. (Oct.)
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Review by Library Journal Review
The latest from Fracassi (Gothic) is a sublimely chilling story that sinks its teeth into readers from the first page and refuses to let go until the very end. The novel centers on St. Vincent's Orphanage in Pennsylvania in 1905, and a sinister visit that changes the lives of the priests and orphans who live there. Fracassi almost cheerfully paints this gloomy tale with painfully beautiful and detailed prose that is not afraid to shy away from gore and terror. It will strongly appeal to readers who love possession stories and keeps the reader guessing with several shocks and surprises. The cover, created by Jonathan Bartlett and Peter Lutjen, is an excellent pairing with the novel and will grab the casually browsing patron's attention while managing to convey some of the pure dread Fracassi imbues into the story. VERDICT Libraries looking to add the leading edge of modern horror to their collection should purchase Fracassi's new book. Some good read-alikes include The Troop by Nick Cutter, What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher, and Goddess of Filth by V. Castro.--Jeremiah Paddock
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