Heirs of darkness

by Zilpha Keatley Snyder

The Mother - Margaret, senile yet with a terrible power over the lives of the household. The Uncle - A sadistic alcoholic whose warped mind bred fear in those around him. The Son - Miles, ugly, grasping and filled with hate. And Now Paul - Only four years old, and still innocent. Beth could not escape the smothering possessiveness of those at Covenant Farm, her dead husband's family, to whom she had turned for help. Yet she knew that the corruption and sickly evil that lay at the heart of the family now threatened her lovely and innocent son. Could she save him in time?

248 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1978

About the author

Zilpha Keatley Snyder was an American author of books for children and young adults. Three of Snyder's works were named Newbery Honor books: The Egypt Game, The Headless Cupid and The Witches of Worm. She was most famous for writing adventure stories and fantasies.

Reviews

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

It really was incredible--a great spreading octopus of a house, reaching out to surround the hillside. One almost expected to see another protuberance start to grow--a bulge of walls and windows, a swelling of siding, oozing curves of glass...

4 stars--I really liked it. When I heard Zilpha Keatley Snyder--my favorite childhood author--had written a gothic, I immediately sought out a copy. To anyone who's read one of the "gothic revival" novels from the 60s or 70s, this book will seem very familiar--the plot, characters, and tropes of the genre are all here, along with some very dated attitudes (for example, the main character is raped, and rationalizes it away as her "having wanted it." That sort of thing). However, this is better than most gothics from the era due to Snyder's writing. Her descriptions are evocative, as are her characters.

[Maggie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Don't read this book! I destroyed my copy. It's about a woman who is imprisoned and raped regularly until she starts to enjoy it. Kill this book with fire.