Billy is stealing the spotlight again. I mean, he does look great with the pumpkins. Some cosmic horror added to the mix this month!
Thanks to Kaye Publicity for the gifted copy in exchange for my honest review
PAY THE PIPER – George A. Romero & Daniel Kraus (Released September 3rd, 2024)
Book Description:
A terrifying tale of supernatural horror set in a cursed Louisiana bayou, from the minds of legendary director George Romero and bestselling author Daniel Kraus.
In 2020, while sifting through University of Pittsburgh Library’s System’s George A. Romero Archival Collection, novelist Daniel Kraus turned up a a half-finished novel called Pay the Piper, a project few had ever heard of. In the years since, Kraus has worked with Romero’s estate to bring this unfinished masterwork to light.
Alligator Point, Louisiana, population 141: Young Renée Pontiac has heard stories of “the Piper”—a murderous swamp entity haunting the bayou—her entire life. But now the legend feels horrifically real: children are being taken and gruesomely slain. To resist, Pontiac and the town’s desperate denizens will need to acknowledge the sins of their ancestors—the infamous slave traders, the Pirates Lafitte. If they don’t… it’s time to pay the piper.
My Thoughts: 4/5 stars
Sometimes, when two authors co-write a book, it can feel disjointed, but I think Daniel Kraus did a good job filling in the blanks and tying up the loose ends for Romero’s story. Set in the bayou of Louisiana, you can pretty much feel the humidity dripping off the page; the atmosphere and setting is pretty its own character in the book. It’s an immersive read, and Pontiac will steal your heart as our nine year old main character. Something is taking children from Alligator Point, and their bodies are being found – what evil is lurking in the swamps.
This was drenched in folklore and myth, and I couldn’t be happier. I think that this crossed some good horror lines and touched on some supernatural elements, and if you’re a fan of cosmic horror, then I think this will be the book for you! I think the ending might have some readers torn, and I’m curious to see where others will land.
Jessicamap Reviews 