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The Sorrows

by Jonathan Janz (Goodreads Author)

3.65 of 5 stars 3.65 · rating details · 77 ratings · 27 reviews

Something is trapped in the castle, and it wants to feed!

The Sorrows, an island off the coast of northern California, and its castle have been uninhabited since a series of gruesome, unexplained murders in 1925. But its owner needs money, so he allows film composers Ben and Eddie and a couple of their female friends to stay a month in Castle Blackwood. Eddie is certain...more

Paperback, ebook, 272 pages

Published March 6th 2012 by Samhain Publishing (first published December 6th 2011)

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Apr 14, 2012 Aniko Carmean rated it 3 of 5 stars

If there was ever a horror novel that deserves a musical score, it is The Sorrows by Jonathan Janz. In fact, this may be the first book I have read where I think additional multimedia layering over the ebook format would be not only be appropriate, but would also serve to enhance the reading experience. Janz's descriptions of the music his characters create and experience leaves me hoping someone will take up the challenge and write The Sorrows a score; who knows, maybe Kindle and Bose can hook...more If there was ever a horror novel that deserves a musical score, it is The Sorrows by Jonathan Janz. In fact, this may be the first book I have read where I think additional multimedia layering over the ebook format would be not only be appropriate, but would also serve to enhance the reading experience. Janz's descriptions of the music his characters create and experience leaves me hoping someone will take up the challenge and write The Sorrows a score; who knows, maybe Kindle and Bose can hook up to provide us rich musical accompaniment to our visit to the Blackwood's island keep.

The Sorrows starts with Ben and Eddie hiking at night, going to a cave where a cannibalistic serial killer once took his victims. Eddie is convinced the terror of the visit will spark Ben's muse, and the two of them will be able to compose a score they have been contracted to write. This doesn't work, and they go to their last ditch effort: a trip to Blackwood Castle. Blackwood Castle has a violent history and the remote island setting is isolated and creepy. At this point, Eddie and Ben are joined by Eva and Claire. Eva is beautiful, wronged woman all the men want and of whom Claire is jealous. Claire is supposedly on the trip to break into the musical side of movie making, but she spends most of her time crushing on Ben. Despite this, Claire is still a likable and sympathetic character who turns out to have a surprising amount of moxie under pressure.

There are several creepy scenes, my favorite of which is a visit from a murdered woman who torments Eddie for his part in her death. The description, even in diary form, of the walling in of a musician is chilling. Ben has vivid, possibly prescient dreams full of disturbing content regarding his son. Unfortunately, the creepy flow of the story is disrupted by the sudden arrival to the island of several additional characters. I actually thought the scene was yet another of Ben's vivid dreams, so jarring was their introduction to the on-island story arc.

The Sorrows offers moments of sheer, wonderful creepiness and gives an interesting view into the creative process of composers. Janz balances many different back stories and works hard to deliver a layered, orchestral performance of a story. The Sorrows is a brave attempt to write complex horror fiction and that, friends, is something worth tootin' your horn over.
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Mar 31, 2012 Kevin Lucia rated it 3 of 5 stars

Johnathan Janz's first novel, The Sorrows, is a serviceable, entertaining work with Gothic trappings and a mythical beast that always invokes a primal fear. In the same vein as the late Richard Layman and especially Edward Lee's work, The Sorrows is capably written, though it does suffer a flaw or two. However, the characterization and prose is strong enough to carry the day, making it a solid representative of the new horror line emerging from Samhain Publishing.

Film score composers Ben and Ed...more Johnathan Janz's first novel, The Sorrows, is a serviceable, entertaining work with Gothic trappings and a mythical beast that always invokes a primal fear. In the same vein as the late Richard Layman and especially Edward Lee's work, The Sorrows is capably written, though it does suffer a flaw or two. However, the characterization and prose is strong enough to carry the day, making it a solid representative of the new horror line emerging from Samhain Publishing.

Film score composers Ben and Eddie are desperately looking for a place to produce music for their latest film project. Award winning composers quickly rising in the film industry, they face a daunting obstacle in Ben's recent inability to compose any music. Suffering through a terrible divorce, torn at the possibility of losing his son, Ben faces even worse news: that his ex-wife and son Joshua are moving out of state to be with her new lover. The clock is ticking, not only for their overdue musical score, but for Ben's involvement in Joshua's life.

And then they discover what seems like the perfect solution: a month-long stay at The Sorrows, an island off the coast of California, which boasts Castle Blackwood, the site of unexplained murders taking place in 1925. Gothic, foreboding, eerie...the perfect place to find inspiration for a horror movie's musical score. Bringing with them a beautiful, exotic aspiring actress in Eva and a shy, demure aspiring composer in Claire, the scenario seems ripe for romantic encounters, also.

But they aren't as alone at Castle Blackwood as they think. A foul spirit - residual of the mysterious events of 1925 - hides in the depths of Castle Blackwood, in the caves near the beach, and in the waters itself. It's not long before the foursome experience terrible nightmares, waking visions and phantasmagoric experiences that quickly enough become far more than just inspiration for a horror movie's musical score.

It becomes their inspiration for fear.

But fear is only the tip of the iceberg, because something lurks in the bowels of Castle Blackwood. An ancient creature that lusts for flesh and blood, a monster bent on destruction and depravity. And all four of these unfortunate visitors harbor more than enough personal demons for it to feast on and grow strong.

To bring their worst nightmares come true.

The Sorrows' greatest strength is its prose and characterization, especially in Ben Shadeland. His grief and agony over losing his son rings especially true, and The Sorrows indeed boasts a strong cast of likeable and unlikable characters. And the prose itself is clean, tight, and flows well. Janz also transitions well between the present day narrative and more formal diary entries dating back to 1925, without giving away too much.

It's not a perfect novel, by any means. There are some improbabilities - characters suffering seemingly serious wounds, only to shrug them off and engage in incredible physical feats - and some of the plot late in the novel seems a bit contrived. However, the novel's strengths outweigh its weaknesses, making The Sorrows definitely worth the read.(less)

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Feb 03, 2012 Gmax rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This isn't normally a type of genre I read but I really, really, REALLY liked this book. It's the kind of story that you can't put down but when you have to, in order to be a functioning citizen of society, you can't wait for that moment when you get to dig back in. I really got to know the characters well so when the book took twists and turns, I was able to ride all the routes and the story was richer and layered because of it. You love the characters you are supposed to love and detest the di...more

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Jan 25, 2012 Ron Santo rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I had to grab this offering when I saw that it was available for my Kindle. I loved the previous Janz work I had read, "Old Order" and was intrigued by the thought of a full length novel. Quite simply, I was NOT disappointed. "The Sorrows" is a full length roller coaster ride that loops, corkscrews, drops your heart into your stomach and doesn't screech to a stop until the very...last...word. Trust me.

The masterfully complex characters fit perfectly in the haunting setting of the Castle Blackwo...more

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Jun 13, 2013 Chris rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Jonathan Janz weaves a modern-day gothic horror novel in his debut from Samhain Horror. Hollywood movie soundtrack producers, Eddie Blaze and Ben Shadeland, decide to spend time at Castle Blackwood, set on a remote island off the California coast, in order to complete the score for Lee Stanley's latest horror flick. But little do they know of the castle's horrific history and even darker secrets. Janz deftly intersperses journal entry flashbacks, giving the reader the necessary backstory, as the...more

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Jan 20, 2013 Mika Lietzén rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: horror

A satyr of Greek myths and legends haunts a secluded island in the debut novel by Jonathan Janz. Setting off with a quote from The Great God Pan (1890) by Arthur Machen, the Sorrows (2011, Samhain) proceeds to drag Pan's horns and hooves into the 21st century with laymonian gusto. Interspersed with backstory from the 1920s, the novel follows a pair of present-day composers and their associates as they seek the solitude of the island to compose a film soundtrack for an upcoming horror movie.

The...more

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May 25, 2013 MaryAnn Koopmann rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Sorrows, an island off the coast of northern California, and its castle have been uninhabited since a series of gruesome, unexplained murders in 1925. But its owner needs money, so he allows film composers Ben and Eddie and a couple of their female friends to stay a month in Castle Blackwood. Eddie is certain an eerie and reportedly haunted castle is just the setting Ben needs to find musical inspiration for a horror film.

The Sorrows is a shocking story: uncomfortable, extraordinary, compell...more

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Oct 24, 2012 Russell James rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Sorrows follows the story of film composers Ben and Eddie and their terrifying stay at a castle on an island off the California coast. The main tale and the fascinating backstory unfold simultaneously and keep you turning pages late into the evening. Jonathan’s crisp prose and multi-layered characters, especially the predator walled up in the tower, place this story well above the usual haunted castle tale. His descriptive passages place you deep in the heart of this claustrophobic tale and...more

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Apr 11, 2012 Kris rated it 3 of 5 stars

"The Sorrows" by Jonathan Janz is a gripping tale of suspense. Composers, Ben Shadeland and Eddie Blaze travel to Castle Blackwood in an attempt to generate the inspiration required to complete the musical score for a horror movie. Situated on an island named The Sorrows, the foreboding Castle Blackwood, site of several unexplained deaths, seems to be the ideal place for Ben to connect with his inner muse. It does not take long for Ben, Eddie and their two companions Eva and Claire to realize th...more

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Jul 11, 2012 Morningstar3280 rated it 1 of 5 stars

Horrible. I've never read a novel in which ALL of the characters are unlikable and unsympathetic. This is honestly one of the worst books I've ever purchased and read. There is no horror or suspense- the authors prose and structure leaves much to be desired. There isn't a story here, either. It's not scary, it's not suspenseful, it's not sexy. It's a poorly written, contrived "horror" novella that demands, over and over again, that the read suspend their disbelief over RIDICULOUS events and occu...more

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Mar 08, 2012 Courtney rated it 4 of 5 stars

Overall, I thought this was a very interesting book. The characters and the setting were all very well developed. I love how the author told the story, with the interspersed chapters about the butler at the castle when the monster was just coming into power. However, I would have liked to have had a little more of the back story with the monster/Gabriel. What he actually was and why, if he was so powerful, he never fought back directly against Robert Blackwood even thought he was treated so crue...more

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Jun 08, 2012 TJ rated it 4 of 5 stars

Jonathan Janz's, "The Sorrows", is a creepy, atmospheric thriller that's reminiscent of some of Richard Laymon's better books. Janz writes in a style that is as interesting, as it is descriptive. He doesn't "dumb down" to horror aficionados, like a lot of horror authors do, which this reader really appreciated. Keep your dictionary handy because you'll need it as you work your way through "The Sorrows".

The story revolves around two musicians who decide to spend some time at a (supposed) haunted...more

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Mar 17, 2012 Gef rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, horror, e-books, haunted-houses

What's better than a spooky old house? How about a spooky old castle? Yeah, that's a good start, but what if the castle is on a remote island? Even better. With Jonathan Janz's debut novel, he presents a horror novel that offers a blend of old gothic chills and modern gruesomeness. But, does the combination work?

The Sorrows is a great evocative name, and just so happens to be the name of the castle in which this story is set, named after a symphony created by a composer named Blackwood whose fam...more What's better than a spooky old house? How about a spooky old castle? Yeah, that's a good start, but what if the castle is on a remote island? Even better. With Jonathan Janz's debut novel, he presents a horror novel that offers a blend of old gothic chills and modern gruesomeness. But, does the combination work?

The Sorrows is a great evocative name, and just so happens to be the name of the castle in which this story is set, named after a symphony created by a composer named Blackwood whose family owns the estate off the southern California coast. Now, the castle will be the muse for an aging musician under deadline to compose the score for a much-hyped horror film. Ben Shadeland is divorced, and his ex-wife is turning their son, Joshua, against him as she moves in with a new lover named Ryan. So when Ben's friend and collaborator, Eddie, tries to convince him that the Sorrows is the perfect place to get the creative juices flowing, Ben reluctantly agrees if only in part to take his mind off the torment his ex is putting him through. Along for the ride are Claire, an aspiring musician in her own right who idolizes Ben and desperately wants to work with him, and Eva, a seductive assistant to their employer who is tagging along to keep tabs on their progress since Ben has a habit of pushing his deadlines. The four are flown via helicopter to Castle Blackwood where they will reside on their own until the movie score is finished.

At the same time, a young heir and all-round degenerate, Chris Blackwood, has descended into another tight squeeze, in debt with some unsavory characters, and his arrogant tycoon of a father has no sympathy for him whatsoever. As their story progresses intermittently through the novel, it becomes clear that Chris has some traumatic memories stemming from his childhood at Castle Blackwood, and his discovery of a long-lost journal belonging to his great-grandfather's servant--chapters of which also appear intermittently through the book--offer glimpses into the estate's sinister history. At first, the chapters involving Chris Blackwood seem tangential and used as filler, but it becomes evident before long that his path is bound to converge with the Sorrows once more.

Janz crafts a story that initially feels like a familiar one, but by the end of the first act a first swerve occurs and the predictable course of action disappears entirely. And by the end of the novel you realize, the story has gone in a direction you would never have anticipated. Despite some character motivations and behavior that feel suspect at times, his writing kept me off balance, as just when I thought I had the book figured out it would slightly askew and the terror would come from an entirely new direction. I'd go into greater detail on that, but I think readers ought to discover all of that for themselves.

Ben is a great protagonist and easily likable despite his shortcomings. His point of view is only one of a half-dozen or so, however, and the others (especially the journal entries of the Blackwood's servant, which harken to the Lovecraft and M.R. James style) offer a very good rounding of the dominant storyline. As for the chills and thrills, they vary from the classic gothic tension that comes from roaming halls and catacombs of an old castle, to some titillating and/or terrifying scenes that gives glimpses into the dreadful history of the castle and its former residents.

Some of the occurrences towards the end of the book, leading into the climax, strained my suspension of disbelief, but overall I thought this was a strong debut and I'm definitely looking forward to Janz's second outing through Samhain later this year, titled House of Skin--a title that gets its own cameo within this novel.(less)

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Sep 12, 2012 Craig rated it 3 of 5 stars

The Sorrows started off slow and, to my thinking, a bit scattered. I found the first quarter to be confusing and not scary at all. I also found it followed a recent trend of too much gratuitous sex. Yes, I know the author could have been much more graphic in his descriptions, but I felt they really didn't add too much to the story.

The further I got into the story, the more I wanted to read it. I found it quite engrossing. There were several parts that seemed a bit unbelievable (ie how the prota...more

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Feb 04, 2013 Natacha rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: horror, ibook, fiction

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Mar 01, 2012 Carol rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-read-in-2012, first-reads

I got this book in a Goodreads giveaway. I was drawn in immediately and read it quickly. Books don't normally "spook" me, but this one was that exception. I don't remember reading a book that affected me this way since I read Stephen King as a kid. If you like horror and want a good story this is a book I'd suggest.

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Jun 19, 2012 Brian rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: from-kindle, horror, type-ebook

Wow. I don't think I've ever read a book with as many unlikable characters. Nearly all of them were abhorrent. I expect a book to have some, but this was a bit hard for me to take.

On the other hand, I quite liked the origin of the villain in this one. I thought that was interesting.

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Apr 04, 2013 Shawn Manning rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This one reminded me of a cheesy late night movie. It isn't going to set the genre on fire, but I've read far worse. The one element that did catch my attention was the characters alluding to a film version of another work by the author. That, I might have to check out.

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Feb 03, 2013 Sandra Hould rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book is not only spellbinding, it is also addictive and hypnotic. The action is worth any good horror movie and deserves much recognition as it is really a awesome book. I recommend it to all who want gore, mystery and a good dose of action as well.

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Apr 15, 2013 Nina rated it 4 of 5 stars

I loved this book! It has been a long time since I read a horror novel that didn't have to do with vampires, werewolves, etc. Jonathan Janz wrote an excellent novel! I loved the characters and rooted for each hoping they would make it off the island before the demonic beast got to them! I'm looking forward to reading House of Skin!

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May 14, 2012 Erin Al-Mehairi rated it 4 of 5 stars

I read this book a few months ago and got the time to write a review of this awesome story and do an interview with the author. It's quite the in-depth review and interview both, so here is the link to my Oh, for the Hook of a Book blog for the interview (which has a link to the review at the start). I hope you can check it out. I really liked the gothic horror feel to this novel and think he's an author that has some other great novels coming soon that will make a name for him.

Here is the link...more

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Mar 03, 2012 Gail Maxheimer rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads-read

Make sure you have plenty of time to read before you pick this one up!! It is one you won't want to put down!! Janz draws you into the story and displays amazing descriptive abilities. The story holds a little something for everyone, but for horror fans - this story is absolutely chilling. I can't wait to pick up more from this author!!

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Aug 07, 2012 Amanda Rardon rated it 5 of 5 stars

Excellent book! Very fast moving and almost impossible to put down. Totally spooked me and had me on the edge of my seat!

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Aug 06, 2012 Tony Landrum marked it as to-read

loved this book. loved how the author incorporated all those characters and didn't lose me. great story.

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Nov 02, 2012 Judy rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: started-but-didn-t-finish

I couldn't finish this...could not get a grip on the characters or the story. I kept trying but finally just cut my losses and quit.

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Sep 08, 2012 Kilgallen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-reads, horror, ghost

The Sorrows was a really well constructetd novel. The characters were very well developed and evoked an emotonal response from me. I may not have liked the characters but they did present as "real". The horror presented started out as a "ghost" type story but became a lot more. Well played Jonathan Janz, well played!

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May 14, 2012 Brittney rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: creature-books

Fantastic Book!

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Jun 19, 2013 Rachel marked it as to-read

Jun 17, 2013 Marion marked it as to-read

Jun 16, 2013 Rechan marked it as to-read

Shelves: horror, maybe-someday

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About Jonathan Janz

Jonathan Janz grew up between a dark forest and a graveyard, and in a way, that explains everything. Brian Keene named his debut novel The Sorrows “the best horror novel of 2012.” The Library Journal deemed his follow-up, House of Skin, “reminiscent of Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House and Peter Straub’s Ghost Story.”

Samhain Horror will also publish his third novel, The Darkest Lullaby...more

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