Book Review: Shadow of the Hidden by Kev Harrison
Title: Shadow of the Hidden
Author: Kev Harrison
Release date: March 19th, 2024
*Huge thank you to Kev Harrison, Brigids Gate Press and Netgalley for this digital ARC!*
Between his novellas, ‘The Balance,’ ‘Warding,’ ‘Below’ and ‘Curfew,’ Kev Harrison has demonstrated time and time again that he has a firm pulse on how to craft creepy, unnerving and anxiety-inducing fiction. In each one of those releases – along with numerous other short stories and longer pieces – Kev has infused his fiction with a deft European-influence. I don’t know if that’s the correct phrase I want to use here, but Kev isn’t from America, nor do we get the bread and butter/standard American-ized fiction feel when you read any of his stories. There’s a dampness in each paragraph. A darkness that seems to sit just below the surface, such that each time you turn the page you expect to be cursed or have a cobble stone thrown at you.
So, it was, with that in mind that I dove into his novel, ‘Shadow of the Hidden.’ A story that promised to be filled with blackness impenetrable.
What I liked: The story follows Seb, who, on his last day of work in Turkey, watches as a strange woman proceeds to yell at his friend Oz. We quickly learn that the woman has cursed Oz and his family and while Oz is frightened to his core, Seb shrugs it off, not believing in such ridiculousness.
Upon returning home in London, Oz calls and Seb learns that maybe there is more to this so-called ‘curse.’ Livestock killed. Strange happenings. And as being a loyal friend, he agrees to help Oz fine a way to lift this curse.
From here we fall into a Dan Brown-esque chase (in a good way!) where clues are scattered and Seb, Oz and soon a Professor all seek them out and try to find a way to stop the curse and save Oz and his family.
Seb is a great main character and it was frankly refreshing to see him get the short end of the stick a few times for being a white male, where in some of the locations events take place, he’s looked upon with disgust and suspicion. The locations themselves play a prominent role and I would’ve loved to have seen an index in the back sharing where each place did take place so I could go Google Maps them and feel even more sad under my nails and sun on my face.
The story is told in a rapid pace, and reminded me in a few places of Andrew Pyper’s ‘The Demonologist’ and if you know me at all, you’ll know I say that with the highest of praise.
The ending is swift and startling but absolutely leaves the door open for me, which even Kev alludes to in his notes at the back.
What I didn’t like: Keeping this spoiler free – not enough moments with actual protagonist. Its mentioned over and over, but very rarely do we actually see and interact with it and the moments that we do, are far too brief.
As well, a character meets their ending and in theory that should’ve just ended everything there, but Seb continues on and I was actually confused as to why he did, as theoretically the threat should’ve ended there.
Why you should buy this: This was essentially a Indiana Jones and the Cursed Friend. We get some really engaging, fast-paced moments and characters you want to root for and cheer for. I had a blast with this one from start to finish and it really shows Kev’s level of detail that no matter where this story went, I was firmly involved and actively engaged.
5/5
