Book Review: Satan’s Hideaway by Matthew Vaughn
Title: Satan’s Hideaway: A Hellsworld Hotel Short
Author: Matthew Vaughn
Release date: October 14th
If you’ve followed me anywhere on the socials (as the cool kids call ’em, right? Right?!) you’ll know two things – one – I’m a reader who doesn’t mind extreme extreme extreme horror. Let’s call me an extreme horror lite reader. I also know that is a bit odd considering I’m now a Splatterpunk-Nominated author and wrote The Father of Lies Trilogy… Which, I know, sounds ludicrous, but I love horror that tells a story that’s centered around a story, not so much just a story told so that the author can rip folks apart. The second thing you’ll know, is that I always make an exception for Matthew Vaughn. Vaughn has set himself apart for me with his ‘grounded’ extreme extreme horror. For those shaking their heads at me right now, what I mean, is that his characters are always solid, well done characters who you want to root for, even when you know they have no chance. I enjoy his stuff so much and one of the highlights of my writing career was being asked to provide the foreword to his 30 Minutes or Less Omnibus!
So, when Vaughn messaged me asking if I’d like to check out his newest novella set in the Hellsworld Hotel world, I jumped at the chance and dove right in!
What I liked: The story starts out at 100mph on page one. Tiffany is bound, naked and unsure where she is, hanging from ropes. As her memories come back, she remembers that her and three friends decided to go to their very first haunted house attraction, Satan’s Hideaway, which has arrived in town for Halloween. But fans of Vaughn’s work know what family operates it and things don’t go so well for the friends.
From here, Vaughn does what he does best – that is, the friends try their best to survive, only to discover that the family, led by Zed once again, has all the escape routes covered. Blood is spilled, organs are ripped out and we get the return of Dog, who just wants to touch the strung up Tiffany.
If you’ve never read any of Vaughn’s previous Hellsworld entries, you’ll want to go back and be introduced to the family properly, but for those want to dive in here – think the Firefly clan from Zombie’s House of 1000 Corpses, only worse and more depraved.
The ending does set us up for another story involving the friends and I’m excited to see where Vaughn goes with that one.
What I didn’t like: As with the prequel tale that Vaughn gave us in this world, I just wish we learned more about what drove the family to become who they were. This is chalk full of splatter, but I would love a little bit of an appetizer before the main meal is served.
Why you should buy this: Vaughn gives us another fun entry into this expanding world. Expect the usual fare from him – brutality, blood, boobs and bludgeoning. It starts from page one and never lets up until the gore-filled, orgy-tastic finale.
Now, bring on the next entry!
4/5
