by Isaac Thorne
HRPR Tours of Terror
Lost Hollow Books
Trigger warning: Hell Spring contains graphic sexuality and brutal acts of violence that include gore, domestic violence, and self-mutilation. This story also contains psychological abuse, such as gaslighting and abusive levels of shaming. It also contains questioning and criticisms of religion and spirituality.
In the twilight of March 21, 1955, eight people take cover in their local general store while a thundering torrent and flash flooding threatens life and livelihood alike. None of the eight are everything they claim to be. But only one of them hungers for human souls, flesh, and blood.
An overflowing waterway destroys their only path of escape. The tiny band of survivors is forced to confront themselves and each other when a peculiar stranger with a famous face tries to pick them off one by one.
Universal link for the book on Amazon
My Review
Hell Spring is one of those books that starts off kind of strange and weird, but once it gets going, it's a wild ride straight down into the depths of Hell. I'll admit, the beginning of the book had me second-guessing if it would be something I'd like and/or want to finish. But once I got through it and into the meat of the story, which is set in 1955 in rural Tennessee, I found myself intrigued and curious and mildly horrified.
This book isn't for the easily offended or triggered. There are themes involving self-mutilation, questioning religion, domestic violence, hints of racism, and a character in denial over his sexuality. It's not an easy read, but it is a good read.
The main characters all have their own issues and problems, and they're dealing with being trapped in a general store while the town floods (which sounds absolutely awful and nightmarish), but they're well-written and easy to feel for. Then there are the bad characters who you want to see get their comeuppance. You can't help but want to see them suffer.
There are some interesting elements to the story as well. Like the manipulation of time. I don't want to say anything to spoil things, but near the end, I may have shed some tears.
If you're looking for a slightly different horror novel that will have you wondering just how things will end, give Hell Spring a whirl.
4 stars!
About the author
Isaac Thorne is a Tennessee man who has, over the course of his life, developed a modest ability to spin a good yarn. Really. He promises. The screenplay adaptation of his short story Diggum from the collection Road Kills is the winner of several horror film festival awards. His previous novel, The Gordon Place, was a finalist in the 2020 Readers' Favorite Book Awards. The audiobook edition narrated by Sean Duregger won the 2020 Independent Audiobook Awards horror category. You can find Isaac on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok at @isaacrthorne or on his site at isaacthorne.com. Just don't corner him during a flood.
https://www.instagram.com/isaacrthorne
https://www.tiktok.com/@isaacrthorne
https://www.twitter.com/isaacrthorne
https://www.facebook.com/isaacrthorne
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCepqKkTAMo7737CVmkWUv-g
https://www.pinterest.com/isaacrthorne/
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