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Sarafina
During one of the most violent battles of the Civil War, three brothers fighting for the Confederate army decide to go AWOL and make their way home, willing to risk execution rather than be killed in a losing war. After several exhausting weeks of rough terrain, the brothers find a miracle deep in the dark woods: a homestead. Living in this remote cabin is a beautiful woman, Sarafina, and her young son, Titus. She takes the soldiers in, feeds them, offers them a place to rest. But the youngest brother is wary—something seems off. As the days pass, he discovers a mysterious creek, a strange underground cavern, and a strong sense that the cabin and the surrounding fertile land are not what they seem. The brothers soon find themselves in a new battle, an escalation of horrors they must somehow fight to survive.
333 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2024
19 people are currently reading
1037 people want to read
About the author
Philip Fracassi
77 books1,973 followersPHILIP FRACASSI is the Bram Stoker and British Fantasy Award-nominated author of the novels A Child Alone with Strangers, Gothic, Boys in the Valley, The Third Rule of Time Travel, and The Autumn Springs Retirement Home Massacre. He is also the author of the story collections Behold the Void, Beneath a Pale Sky, and No One is Safe!
His stories have been published in numerous magazines and anthologies, including Black Static, Best Horror of the Year, Nightmare Magazine, Interzone, and Southwest Review.
Philip lives in Los Angeles and is represented by Copps Literary Services, Circle M + P, and WME. You can find him on Facebook, Instagram, and Bluesky, or visit pfracassi.com.
His stories have been published in numerous magazines and anthologies, including Black Static, Best Horror of the Year, Nightmare Magazine, Interzone, and Southwest Review.
Philip lives in Los Angeles and is represented by Copps Literary Services, Circle M + P, and WME. You can find him on Facebook, Instagram, and Bluesky, or visit pfracassi.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
January 8, 2026
Holy Fuck!!! My dear friends, I believe I have found another favorite Philip Fracassi novel! Holy living Christ on a stick 😱! By gawd this is some straight-out-of-hell MASTERPIECE!
Three brothers are fighting for their lives for the Confederate Army. Then, they decide to go AWOL. At the 20% mark, the story takes a whole different turn. They find a cabin in the woods with a beautiful woman and child. They gladly provide refuge. The only thing is, they just found a new fresh kind of hell.
By gawd this book was every single thing I love within the horror genre! We have historical horror, folklore, religious horror, witchcraft, coming-of-age, and many terrors that follow. I am in awe of this author and his ability to write in a way that leaves you itching for more. He is a MASTER in the horror genre and once again has written another masterful tale not to be missed!
Sell your soul, pawn your xbox…. Do whatever you gotta do to pre-order your copy!
ALL OF THE ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Eternally grateful to Clash Books, Philip, and Netgalley for the copy.
Pub Date - 4/7/26
Three brothers are fighting for their lives for the Confederate Army. Then, they decide to go AWOL. At the 20% mark, the story takes a whole different turn. They find a cabin in the woods with a beautiful woman and child. They gladly provide refuge. The only thing is, they just found a new fresh kind of hell.
By gawd this book was every single thing I love within the horror genre! We have historical horror, folklore, religious horror, witchcraft, coming-of-age, and many terrors that follow. I am in awe of this author and his ability to write in a way that leaves you itching for more. He is a MASTER in the horror genre and once again has written another masterful tale not to be missed!
Sell your soul, pawn your xbox…. Do whatever you gotta do to pre-order your copy!
ALL OF THE ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Eternally grateful to Clash Books, Philip, and Netgalley for the copy.
Pub Date - 4/7/26
August 1, 2024
Sarafina is the terrifying tale of three brothers fighting in the Civil War who desert the Confederacy and while fleeing come across a mysterious house in the middle of the woods, where they meet a woman, Sarafina, and a boy named Titus. War is terrifying enough, but they quickly discover even worse horrors. This novel has fantastic pacing and some of the most horrifying and brutal things that Fracassi has put to page yet, juxtaposed by beautiful prose.
Sarafina is a bruising, bombshell of a novel about brotherhood, family, faith, duty, and horrors both real and supernatural. Fracassi continues to roll on as one of the best genre writers working today.
Thank you to Earthling Publications for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Sarafina is a bruising, bombshell of a novel about brotherhood, family, faith, duty, and horrors both real and supernatural. Fracassi continues to roll on as one of the best genre writers working today.
Thank you to Earthling Publications for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 15, 2024
Full review to come in SCREAM magazine.
"A fairytale like no other, Fracassi has crafted a nightmarish story weaving together threads of mythology, history, fantasy and horror that explores the bonds of brotherhood through a terrifying landscape of war, religion, and the supernatural"
"A fairytale like no other, Fracassi has crafted a nightmarish story weaving together threads of mythology, history, fantasy and horror that explores the bonds of brotherhood through a terrifying landscape of war, religion, and the supernatural"
December 26, 2025
Philip Fracassi's 'Sararfina' is yet another magnificent novel that packs so much in and does it so the highest standard. It's hard to write anything too in depth without spoiling things but suffice to say, nothing is as it seems and the horror elements are certainly horrific. The character work is superb, the prose on point and the pace unrelenting. There are some familiar fairy-tale tropes, used to great effect and these are wonderfully explained as things come to a climax.
This was an absolute blast to read, and I just wish it was longer! That's not because the story was too short, it's simply down to such enjoyable story-telling. One of my favourite reads of 2025.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and CLASH Books for the ARC!
This was an absolute blast to read, and I just wish it was longer! That's not because the story was too short, it's simply down to such enjoyable story-telling. One of my favourite reads of 2025.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and CLASH Books for the ARC!
December 29, 2025
Philip Fracassi's Sarafina is a lean, merciless descent into a fresh blend of historical and folk horror, fusing Civil War brutality and creeping dread. We follow three Confederate army brothers who abandon the blood-soaked battlefield in hopes of surviving. The novel quickly strips away any illusion of safety once they find shelter with a strange woman and her unsettling son in an isolated cabin. What begins as refuge becomes entrapment, as the very land itself seems to reveal a hunger that feels ancient and inescapable. Fracassi excels at atmosphere and this story is no exception. The odd, unnatural creek and the surrounding wilderness pulse with malevolence, creating a setting that feels alive in its own right and ever-watching. The horror is not always loud, but slow, suffocating and rooted in place. Violence, both from Sarafina and other forces at play, feel inevitable. It echoes the moral rot left in the wake of war. What makes Sarafina that much more effective is the emotional weight that these characters shoulder. Guilt, fear, and desperation haunt the young men as relentlessly as the evil closing in around them. Fracassi examines survival at a cost, asking what is worth sacrificing when escape is not an option. Bleak, visceral, and beautifully controlled, Sarafina is a haunting mediation on warfare, sin, and the horrors that await when men believe they can outrun their demons. Thank you so much to CLASH Books for the ARC. This title was previously published in limited supply and will be reissued from CLASH April 07, 2026. Do yourself a favor and add it to your TBR now because you do not want to miss out! HOLY SHIT PHILIP YOU KILLED IT!! A more in-depth review to come in early 2026 from me via The Fandomentals magazine.
November 23, 2024
4.5 rounded up
December 13, 2024
Damn! That was Fracassi's scariest book since Boys In The Valley dropped in 2021. Y'all are gonna dig this when it gets a wider re-release. But the trade edition probably won't come with the interior artwork, and for the record, one of the drawings is of a hot naked chick, so you're definitely missing out. Actually, I should probably go re-read the page with that drawing right now.
September 15, 2024
How does Fracassi do it!?!? Another absolutely stunning novel. It's damn near perfect. Hopefully this one gets a proper trade release in due time like Boys In The Valley and Gothic, because this story deserves to be read.
December 23, 2025
and that, ladies and gents...is how you write a horror novel. Playing tricks on the brain of what's evil and what's good. I live historical fiction with supernatural vibes or magical realism. Fracassi has become a favorite author of mine. He knows how to write what I call Intelligent Horror. It's just plain horror mixed in with actual history or things that seem so real they could happen to anyone, and the prose is something you'd read in a Dostrovesky novel.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Sarafina begins as a tale of three brothers fighting for the Confederacy who ditch the war and find themselves in a different horror altogether. None of the characters nor the setting are exactly what they seem, and Fracassi unveils the nightmares in his oh-so-perfect-prose way. I felt claustrophobic and short of breath at times, experiencing the terror and despair of each and every well-drawn character, and the dread and suspense are relentless through the very last page.
I have enjoyed all of Fracassi's novels, but I think this is my personal favorite. The blend of horror, fantasy, fairytale, and supernatural checked all of my boxes. Incredible book.
I have enjoyed all of Fracassi's novels, but I think this is my personal favorite. The blend of horror, fantasy, fairytale, and supernatural checked all of my boxes. Incredible book.
January 5, 2025
2.5 Rounded Up
Honestly, I’m not super sure how I feel about this. There’s a damn good, compelling story, with very cool lore and world building, to be found in what’s here. I just don’t think it’s fully realized due to some of the decisions made.
One of the biggest things working against this book for me is the choice of main character/narrator, which I only realized wasn’t fully working the further I got into the book, especially when we start to get more information about the characters but also, more importantly, about where Fracassi decides to take the story, specifically in how he address and gestures towards the main thematic elements.
I can theoretically see this book working better if there were more than just the one main narrator (with very, very brief inclusions from another character that take a few instances to not feel out of place). I just don’t think Ethan’s character lens is a smart move if he’s going to essentially be the only POV character. Reading him just starts to get really tricky. There’s already the icky bit of him being a Confederate soldier (this and the overall Civil War setting I don’t think is sufficiently explored) that immediately posits me as a reader against him and his brothers. And this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. There are plenty of successful books out there with main characters that are far from like-able. The issue here is that I felt very unsure about whether or not I “should’ve” been rooting for him or liking his character. I couldn’t get a clear grasp on Fracassi’s intent with Ethan, and this wasn’t helped by some other characters around him saying he’s “one of the good ones” or “not evil” or that he “has a pure heart” when those aren’t characteristics I would readily use to describe him at all.
Really this book’s saving grace is Sarafina. She captures the spotlight with every single scene she’s in, and I just really, really, really wish the book would’ve flipped expectations and made her the true main character. She’s just so exponentially more interesting than any of the other characters, with the slight exception of Ellie and Father McKee, by far. There’s just so much depth and intrigue in these characters that I just don’t think we’re really given enough of to the point where I think nothing short of a near-complete retooling of the book could save this story, especially if it wanted to really fully deliver on the feminist aspects of the story and ending in particular.
I don’t know. Ultimately, I just ended up wanting this book to really lean into the feminist themes it presents and go so much harder into the female rage and empowerment, but it just feels shackled by its main character/narrator. Just kinda disappointing.
I will say for gore and lore fans, there is plenty on offer here. For those interested in the more mystical and tamped down aspects of the Bible and Christian theology, definitely check this out when it eventually gets a full, wide release in either 2026 or ‘27 (I can’t remember). Maybe we’ll get lucky and some of it will be re-written by then.
Honestly, I’m not super sure how I feel about this. There’s a damn good, compelling story, with very cool lore and world building, to be found in what’s here. I just don’t think it’s fully realized due to some of the decisions made.
One of the biggest things working against this book for me is the choice of main character/narrator, which I only realized wasn’t fully working the further I got into the book, especially when we start to get more information about the characters but also, more importantly, about where Fracassi decides to take the story, specifically in how he address and gestures towards the main thematic elements.
I can theoretically see this book working better if there were more than just the one main narrator (with very, very brief inclusions from another character that take a few instances to not feel out of place). I just don’t think Ethan’s character lens is a smart move if he’s going to essentially be the only POV character. Reading him just starts to get really tricky. There’s already the icky bit of him being a Confederate soldier (this and the overall Civil War setting I don’t think is sufficiently explored) that immediately posits me as a reader against him and his brothers. And this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. There are plenty of successful books out there with main characters that are far from like-able. The issue here is that I felt very unsure about whether or not I “should’ve” been rooting for him or liking his character. I couldn’t get a clear grasp on Fracassi’s intent with Ethan, and this wasn’t helped by some other characters around him saying he’s “one of the good ones” or “not evil” or that he “has a pure heart” when those aren’t characteristics I would readily use to describe him at all.
Really this book’s saving grace is Sarafina. She captures the spotlight with every single scene she’s in, and I just really, really, really wish the book would’ve flipped expectations and made her the true main character. She’s just so exponentially more interesting than any of the other characters, with the slight exception of Ellie and Father McKee, by far. There’s just so much depth and intrigue in these characters that I just don’t think we’re really given enough of to the point where I think nothing short of a near-complete retooling of the book could save this story, especially if it wanted to really fully deliver on the feminist aspects of the story and ending in particular.
I don’t know. Ultimately, I just ended up wanting this book to really lean into the feminist themes it presents and go so much harder into the female rage and empowerment, but it just feels shackled by its main character/narrator. Just kinda disappointing.
I will say for gore and lore fans, there is plenty on offer here. For those interested in the more mystical and tamped down aspects of the Bible and Christian theology, definitely check this out when it eventually gets a full, wide release in either 2026 or ‘27 (I can’t remember). Maybe we’ll get lucky and some of it will be re-written by then.
January 10, 2026
When violence has already shaped you,
what feels like safety? And what feels easy to justify?
Set in the aftermath of the Civil War, the story follows three brothers who desert the violence only to encounter something more insidious. Wounded and desperate, they seek shelter in a remote rural home, isolated, domestic, seemingly generous. Run by the enigmatic Sarafina and her unsettling companion, it feels like a place meant to heal.
Ethan, the youngest brother, narrates. Peripheral in his family, he is observant, attentive. His narration sharpens a sense of enclosure, that the feeling of safety here is conditional. Soon Sarafina’s home becomes intimate and suffocating at once.
Sarafina. She resists definition: witch, demon, angel, something older. Fracassi refuses certainty, and that ambiguity strengthens the horror. Her power is psychological, sexual, devotional. This domestic space becomes the site of control.
Violence precedes the story: war (and home) has already trained these men to justify harm as survival. Sarafina recognizes that, especially in Ethan.
Dread accumulates through observation: a child who isn’t quite a child, a husband who never existed, a home that doesn’t behave like refuge. When the violence arrives, Fracassi strikes hard. The body horror is brutal, intimate and deeply unsettling.
Scope widens: religion and mythology enter as framework. To offer explanation for the violence. Some atmosphere gives way to clarity, but the central tension holds.
Anchor: grounding the story is the bond between Ethan and his twin sister. They are closely connected, have a shared history. But loyalty becomes strained.
Sarafina highlights Fracassi’s strengths: controlled atmosphere, unflinching horror and a sharp understanding of how violence moves through families and the spaces we call home.
Why I loved it:
-rural isolation and domestic enclosure
-slow burn dread rooted in observation
-brutal, intimate horror that is well-described
-ending offers no absolution
Thank you Netgalley and Clashbooks for this ARC.
what feels like safety? And what feels easy to justify?
Set in the aftermath of the Civil War, the story follows three brothers who desert the violence only to encounter something more insidious. Wounded and desperate, they seek shelter in a remote rural home, isolated, domestic, seemingly generous. Run by the enigmatic Sarafina and her unsettling companion, it feels like a place meant to heal.
Ethan, the youngest brother, narrates. Peripheral in his family, he is observant, attentive. His narration sharpens a sense of enclosure, that the feeling of safety here is conditional. Soon Sarafina’s home becomes intimate and suffocating at once.
Sarafina. She resists definition: witch, demon, angel, something older. Fracassi refuses certainty, and that ambiguity strengthens the horror. Her power is psychological, sexual, devotional. This domestic space becomes the site of control.
Violence precedes the story: war (and home) has already trained these men to justify harm as survival. Sarafina recognizes that, especially in Ethan.
Dread accumulates through observation: a child who isn’t quite a child, a husband who never existed, a home that doesn’t behave like refuge. When the violence arrives, Fracassi strikes hard. The body horror is brutal, intimate and deeply unsettling.
Scope widens: religion and mythology enter as framework. To offer explanation for the violence. Some atmosphere gives way to clarity, but the central tension holds.
Anchor: grounding the story is the bond between Ethan and his twin sister. They are closely connected, have a shared history. But loyalty becomes strained.
Sarafina highlights Fracassi’s strengths: controlled atmosphere, unflinching horror and a sharp understanding of how violence moves through families and the spaces we call home.
Why I loved it:
-rural isolation and domestic enclosure
-slow burn dread rooted in observation
-brutal, intimate horror that is well-described
-ending offers no absolution
Thank you Netgalley and Clashbooks for this ARC.
February 19, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and Clash Books for the ARC!
The three Belle brothers left their home in Mississippi to fight in the civil war. Despite wanting to make their father proud and wanting to stand for something, they soon realize they will most likely die if they continued. So the three brothers desert their posts and begin their long trek home. The path proves to be a lot more tasking than they had hoped, and when they were all on the verge of giving up, a homestead appears, and a beautiful woman, Sarafina and her son Titus, welcomes them into her home. But nothing that perfect comes for free.
This was a book released in 2024 I believe, and it is now being rereleased. To start, I loved it. I’m not even a huge fan of historical fiction horror, but this is one of the few books that really blew me away. On the surface, it’s about the civil war. But soon you realize it’s much more than that. It’s about religion, body horror, witchcraft, dysfunctional families, emotional baggage and trauma. I loved Boys in the Valley, and now I’m having a hard time choosing my favorite between the two.
The way this book carried you from one emotional setting to the next was absolutely incredible. The slow reveal of the characters, the changes they go through, and the emotional depths was so well done. Sarafina is such a mysterious character, and is she a villain? Or just a woman who has powers? I honestly don’t dislike her. Was I rooting for her? Probably! Is she a witch? No need to stress over these labels…
I need Philip Fracassi to never stop writing. Highly recommend to all horror fans.
The three Belle brothers left their home in Mississippi to fight in the civil war. Despite wanting to make their father proud and wanting to stand for something, they soon realize they will most likely die if they continued. So the three brothers desert their posts and begin their long trek home. The path proves to be a lot more tasking than they had hoped, and when they were all on the verge of giving up, a homestead appears, and a beautiful woman, Sarafina and her son Titus, welcomes them into her home. But nothing that perfect comes for free.
This was a book released in 2024 I believe, and it is now being rereleased. To start, I loved it. I’m not even a huge fan of historical fiction horror, but this is one of the few books that really blew me away. On the surface, it’s about the civil war. But soon you realize it’s much more than that. It’s about religion, body horror, witchcraft, dysfunctional families, emotional baggage and trauma. I loved Boys in the Valley, and now I’m having a hard time choosing my favorite between the two.
The way this book carried you from one emotional setting to the next was absolutely incredible. The slow reveal of the characters, the changes they go through, and the emotional depths was so well done. Sarafina is such a mysterious character, and is she a villain? Or just a woman who has powers? I honestly don’t dislike her. Was I rooting for her? Probably! Is she a witch? No need to stress over these labels…
I need Philip Fracassi to never stop writing. Highly recommend to all horror fans.
March 13, 2026
I rarely read the backcover synopsis of a book anymore before I start the book itself, especially with a trusted author like Mr. Fracassi. That said, after finishing the book it put a knowing smirk on my face to see the word "escalation" used in the description. It's almost appropriate as a one-word review. I knew the general witch-in-the-woods vibe from word of mouth and began the story a little concerned about how long Fracassi took to get the reader to the titular character. There's a certain amount of trust required when you're in the hands of someone who really knows what they're doing, and how to tighten the thumbscrews. All the build-up that might seem to some like plodding in circles crescendos, buzzing louder and louder like a single violin string bowed over and over, pressure increasing to a scream, and when the reader gets to the point of the story where the escalation becomes more overt, it's obvious you were being nudged in that direction the whole time, with every detail. Sarafina is a fantastic story with more elements than should work in a single story, but masterfully weaves them together without ever leaving linear structure for more than a breath. Highly recommended.
December 22, 2024
With what I would consider my first experience with truly historical horror, Fracassi writes an enthralling slow burn set during the Civil War. Three brothers desert battle and find what they think is refuge with a mysterious woman and her son. Things are not as they seem though, and things slowly take a turn for the worst as the youngest grows more and more concerned by what is going on.
This book's strongest attribute is its perspective. Told through single POV (mostly) with one character, you think you understand what side of the line Ethan is on. But it's not so cut and dry as "good" and "evil", and the book is at its best when it is contemplating this philosophy.
I would absolutely recommend, as it is a great addition to Fracassi's catalog!
This book's strongest attribute is its perspective. Told through single POV (mostly) with one character, you think you understand what side of the line Ethan is on. But it's not so cut and dry as "good" and "evil", and the book is at its best when it is contemplating this philosophy.
I would absolutely recommend, as it is a great addition to Fracassi's catalog!
July 10, 2024
Five star book like all of Fracassi's work! I look forward to his books more than any other author. I can't wait for others to experience this when it comes out!
September 27, 2024
Wow.
Three letters that make such a simple statement. That was my reaction when I finished Sarafina. Wow.
This is my favourite novel from Philip yet.
Sarafina is the tale of three brothers fighting for the Confederate army who decide to go AWOL and make their way home. Philip writes with such beautiful and haunting prose, painting a picture of the brutality of war and the lives of these brothers in 1862. We follow them through some of harshest terrain as they try to make their way back to safety, only to be followed and hunted down by the Confederate Home Guard. It’s whilst traversing through swampland they stumble upon a remote cabin that appears seemingly out of nowhere. Living in the cabin is Sarafina and her young son, Titus, who take the soldiers in, offering them a place to rest.
But all is not what it seems.
To mention anymore would be venturing into spoiler territory, so I’ll stop there. But let me just say, the story goes to places I did not expect at all, blending together mythology, religion, fantasy and horror. The third act of the book left me speechless, raw and visceral, it pulled no punches.
It’s a five star recommendation from me. Philip has done it again, cementing Sarafina as a serious contender for book of the year.
Three letters that make such a simple statement. That was my reaction when I finished Sarafina. Wow.
This is my favourite novel from Philip yet.
Sarafina is the tale of three brothers fighting for the Confederate army who decide to go AWOL and make their way home. Philip writes with such beautiful and haunting prose, painting a picture of the brutality of war and the lives of these brothers in 1862. We follow them through some of harshest terrain as they try to make their way back to safety, only to be followed and hunted down by the Confederate Home Guard. It’s whilst traversing through swampland they stumble upon a remote cabin that appears seemingly out of nowhere. Living in the cabin is Sarafina and her young son, Titus, who take the soldiers in, offering them a place to rest.
But all is not what it seems.
To mention anymore would be venturing into spoiler territory, so I’ll stop there. But let me just say, the story goes to places I did not expect at all, blending together mythology, religion, fantasy and horror. The third act of the book left me speechless, raw and visceral, it pulled no punches.
It’s a five star recommendation from me. Philip has done it again, cementing Sarafina as a serious contender for book of the year.
March 10, 2026
DNF @ 50%
I really gave this one a good try - especially given how much I enjoyed Boys in the Valley and Gothic - but when I got past halfway and was still bored out of my mind I knew it was time to admit defeat.
Nothing wrong with the writing - much of it is gorgeous - but I wanted some story, you know? The first 25% is our three brothers deserting the war and wandering around for a bit, before stumbling across Sarafina’s house. Then another quarter of the book where basically nothing happens and I was done.
I don’t mind a slowburn, not in the slightest, but there was nothing enticing me to carry on here. If the story is going to be this ploddy it needs an overwhelming sense of dread…this doesn’t have it.
Have I denied myself a great second half to a novel? Maybe. But life is too short to waste time reading books that you’re actively disliking.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the review copy.
I really gave this one a good try - especially given how much I enjoyed Boys in the Valley and Gothic - but when I got past halfway and was still bored out of my mind I knew it was time to admit defeat.
Nothing wrong with the writing - much of it is gorgeous - but I wanted some story, you know? The first 25% is our three brothers deserting the war and wandering around for a bit, before stumbling across Sarafina’s house. Then another quarter of the book where basically nothing happens and I was done.
I don’t mind a slowburn, not in the slightest, but there was nothing enticing me to carry on here. If the story is going to be this ploddy it needs an overwhelming sense of dread…this doesn’t have it.
Have I denied myself a great second half to a novel? Maybe. But life is too short to waste time reading books that you’re actively disliking.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the review copy.
January 7, 2025
I have to be honest, I was a little apprehensive going into this one because books that take place during the Civil War aren't exactly what I normally pick up.
However, I really enjoyed this!
Three bothers fighting for the Confederacy decide to run from the horrifying turbulations of war, but in doing so, they stubble upon a new situation that puts them in an even more mysterious and horrifying predicament.
Fracassi always amazes me. His writing style is smooth as butter, descriptive enough to play out like a film in your head, and unsettling enough to keep most horrors lover happy.
This book felt a little slower in places than some of the others I've read, but once the story really started to unravel, it was hard to put down.
Family drama, brotherhood, religion, the supernatural, survival, horror, and this book is packed with it all.
👌🏻
However, I really enjoyed this!
Three bothers fighting for the Confederacy decide to run from the horrifying turbulations of war, but in doing so, they stubble upon a new situation that puts them in an even more mysterious and horrifying predicament.
Fracassi always amazes me. His writing style is smooth as butter, descriptive enough to play out like a film in your head, and unsettling enough to keep most horrors lover happy.
This book felt a little slower in places than some of the others I've read, but once the story really started to unravel, it was hard to put down.
Family drama, brotherhood, religion, the supernatural, survival, horror, and this book is packed with it all.
👌🏻
January 18, 2026
Supernatural take note. If you decide to come back this would make an amazing season/episodes
January 18, 2026
Sarafina is a disturbing exploration of the opprobrium of a confederate brother Ethan and his reprehensible brothers Archie and Mason that end up facing evils previously inconceivable to them in *just* the war. Out of the frying pan and into the fire, as it were. The characters are complex and everyone in this novel - even if they choose their fate willingly but ESPECIALLY if they don't - experiences supernatural consequences that true folk and body horror readers will love. Acts 1, 2, and 4 are a bit slower to set up the suspense but acts 3 and 5 are wild rides that I texted fellow war- and horror-book lover friends about immediately after reading. I liked this one a lot - it's not my typical fare but it shared enough with what I usually read that I really enjoyed this foray into speculative historical fiction and horror crossover!
December 4, 2024
As a dedicated reader, I have always been drawn to books that possess the power to transport me to another era and location, enveloping me in a rich tapestry of imagination.Sarafina accomplished this hands down! My introduction to Philip Fracassi occurred at the beginning of this year, and I have since read all of his novels, solidifying his position as my absolute favorite author. His writing while truly exceptional that inspires a profound connection with his protagonists. I wholeheartedly endorse Sarafina, which I consider to be the best book I have ever read. I deliberately paced myself while reading it, relishing every word, paragraph, and sentence, and refusing to rush through its beautifully crafted narrative. 5/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
October 8, 2024
A huge, huge thanks to Paul over at Earthling Pub for sending an ARC my way!
Sarafina by Philip Fracassi is another stellar addition to his catalog, another story that defies expectations. Set in the war-torn South during the Civil War, three brothers fighting for the Confederacy decide to abandon ship and head home to Natchez, MS. The path there is markedly treacherous with the brothers attempting to avoid injury, illness, and death. When they need it most, they find a cabin in the woods. One that’s seemingly immaculate and occupied by Sarafina, a beautiful woman, and her son, Titus. Of course, not is all as it seems, and the horrors of war seem minuscule following the events that transpire at this cabin in the woods.
Buckle up folks, Fracassi is at it again. I will never get over how casually these stories turn at the flip of a switch, the drop of a casual line. It’s expert writing that constantly takes me by surprise and taking stories in directions I couldn’t fathom. All for the better.
I will say, I did feel slightly apprehensive starting this read; I’m not the biggest fan of historical horror or horror centered around war. However, Fracassi’s previous works have convinced me to read nearly anything he writes, and he does deliver in spades. Sarafina is a novel that revels in the evils of violence both on the home front and the battlefield. What the three brothers encounter is not something that is easily expected, a force of horrific reckoning. This is an incredibly satisfying read, one that utilizes the element of surprise expertly to deliver markedly effective horror. It’s best to go into this one relatively blind, but trust that you’ll leave this story satisfied.
Sarafina by Philip Fracassi is another stellar addition to his catalog, another story that defies expectations. Set in the war-torn South during the Civil War, three brothers fighting for the Confederacy decide to abandon ship and head home to Natchez, MS. The path there is markedly treacherous with the brothers attempting to avoid injury, illness, and death. When they need it most, they find a cabin in the woods. One that’s seemingly immaculate and occupied by Sarafina, a beautiful woman, and her son, Titus. Of course, not is all as it seems, and the horrors of war seem minuscule following the events that transpire at this cabin in the woods.
Buckle up folks, Fracassi is at it again. I will never get over how casually these stories turn at the flip of a switch, the drop of a casual line. It’s expert writing that constantly takes me by surprise and taking stories in directions I couldn’t fathom. All for the better.
I will say, I did feel slightly apprehensive starting this read; I’m not the biggest fan of historical horror or horror centered around war. However, Fracassi’s previous works have convinced me to read nearly anything he writes, and he does deliver in spades. Sarafina is a novel that revels in the evils of violence both on the home front and the battlefield. What the three brothers encounter is not something that is easily expected, a force of horrific reckoning. This is an incredibly satisfying read, one that utilizes the element of surprise expertly to deliver markedly effective horror. It’s best to go into this one relatively blind, but trust that you’ll leave this story satisfied.
December 22, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC of this book.
I was really intrigued by the description of this book, however the actual story didn't unfold quite like I expected. This is a story about brothers who become lost and find themselves in a scary situation, however they don't actually become lost until you are more than 25% of the way through the book. Up until that point it is civil war battles and the men travelling. The actual "Sarafina" portion of the story is good, but it takes quite a while to get there between the boys tale and out of place interjections from their sister.
I was really intrigued by the description of this book, however the actual story didn't unfold quite like I expected. This is a story about brothers who become lost and find themselves in a scary situation, however they don't actually become lost until you are more than 25% of the way through the book. Up until that point it is civil war battles and the men travelling. The actual "Sarafina" portion of the story is good, but it takes quite a while to get there between the boys tale and out of place interjections from their sister.
April 23, 2025
This book.
This one right here...
Between this and Fracassi's BOYS IN THE VALLEY, here's the proof that he's an absolute monster talent in the horror world.
I absolutely loved this novel. I had it in my head that this was just going to be an expanded version of Fracassi's SHILOH novella, but no, this is just a brilliant story of not just the evil that we all do, but the prisons that we put ourselves in...and what we do to try and escape them.
Fracassi has a clear, implacable style of writing that slowly tightens a web around the reader, then pulls you in. With very few exceptions, this has been the case with everything I've read from him.
I'm just going to say, read this novel.
This one right here...
Between this and Fracassi's BOYS IN THE VALLEY, here's the proof that he's an absolute monster talent in the horror world.
I absolutely loved this novel. I had it in my head that this was just going to be an expanded version of Fracassi's SHILOH novella, but no, this is just a brilliant story of not just the evil that we all do, but the prisons that we put ourselves in...and what we do to try and escape them.
Fracassi has a clear, implacable style of writing that slowly tightens a web around the reader, then pulls you in. With very few exceptions, this has been the case with everything I've read from him.
I'm just going to say, read this novel.
February 16, 2026
Beautifully written, pulls you into the war and the small communities described within. Characters you'll love or love to hate, and an ending well deserved.
February 17, 2026
CWs: Violence, Gore, Torture, Religious Themes, Mentions of Sex
Sarafina was a fun read told through the eyes of a young Confederate deserter Ethan Belle. Having joined his two older brothers at the age of seventeen to prove his worth for their overbearing father quickly learned the horrors of what the Civil War was to become. Philip Fracassi does not shy from details of firefights, landmines and the desperate fear that soldiers held once the tides of the war had shifted. We come into the story with Ethan’s foundations already shaken from what he had seen in war. I liked seeing how it was compartmentalized for him and his brother’s actions as it felt realistic while sometimes hard to stomach.
What was three brothers escaping the horror of war becomes a horror beyond comprehension when they meet with Sarafina, her son Titus and their idyllic farmstead home nestled in a grove of untouched forest. I won’t spoil too much but the atmosphere quickly pulls in a gothic style of horror with the sense of dread that the main character comes to realize is danger, while his brothers only realize when it is much too late. The darker natures of the brothers slowly come to light, and their fates are sealed on the island when Ethan himself is able to escape.
There are several parts to the story, the rise and fall falling into a few notable acts; toward the end of the story there were a few turns I hadn’t expected to come but it was a fun albeit rushed addition to add to the historical elements of things that were happening during the time at hand. At a few intervals of the story we are given a second narrator in the form of Ethan’s twin sister Ellie who had been left at home with her father. While it was interesting to get a change of perspective, it felt out of place only until the end when things began to tie together.
In the final acts, Ethan finally comes home and reckons with what he has done and lost but he’s finally brought back to his sister and he attempts to find solace. Plagued with nightmares and the callings of Sarafina, he comes into contact with the father of the local church and bares his soul, finding that the witch is more than just and in turn is something far more unholy. With the backing of the father, Ethan and Ellie make their way back to the grove where Sarafina had been preparing for something far darker than the magics that Ethan had seen with his brothers.
Without spoiling the ending, I will say it felt fast but in a satisfying way. The set up of the novel was the drawing power Sarafina had been feeding into for her time in the grove; Ethan and his brothers were the catalyst. Some of the pieces at the end of the novel only make sense if you paid close attention in the chapters with Ellie, but it was so subtle I had to do re-reads and only after the lore dump at the end did things begin to fully click together. There is a twist towards the finale that had me take a moment to sit and realize just the gravity of some of the situations at hand within the Belle family and at the end, it was an unsettling truth that concluded quite well.
Thank you to Net Galley for the eARC in exchange for a review.
Sarafina was a fun read told through the eyes of a young Confederate deserter Ethan Belle. Having joined his two older brothers at the age of seventeen to prove his worth for their overbearing father quickly learned the horrors of what the Civil War was to become. Philip Fracassi does not shy from details of firefights, landmines and the desperate fear that soldiers held once the tides of the war had shifted. We come into the story with Ethan’s foundations already shaken from what he had seen in war. I liked seeing how it was compartmentalized for him and his brother’s actions as it felt realistic while sometimes hard to stomach.
What was three brothers escaping the horror of war becomes a horror beyond comprehension when they meet with Sarafina, her son Titus and their idyllic farmstead home nestled in a grove of untouched forest. I won’t spoil too much but the atmosphere quickly pulls in a gothic style of horror with the sense of dread that the main character comes to realize is danger, while his brothers only realize when it is much too late. The darker natures of the brothers slowly come to light, and their fates are sealed on the island when Ethan himself is able to escape.
There are several parts to the story, the rise and fall falling into a few notable acts; toward the end of the story there were a few turns I hadn’t expected to come but it was a fun albeit rushed addition to add to the historical elements of things that were happening during the time at hand. At a few intervals of the story we are given a second narrator in the form of Ethan’s twin sister Ellie who had been left at home with her father. While it was interesting to get a change of perspective, it felt out of place only until the end when things began to tie together.
In the final acts, Ethan finally comes home and reckons with what he has done and lost but he’s finally brought back to his sister and he attempts to find solace. Plagued with nightmares and the callings of Sarafina, he comes into contact with the father of the local church and bares his soul, finding that the witch is more than just and in turn is something far more unholy. With the backing of the father, Ethan and Ellie make their way back to the grove where Sarafina had been preparing for something far darker than the magics that Ethan had seen with his brothers.
Without spoiling the ending, I will say it felt fast but in a satisfying way. The set up of the novel was the drawing power Sarafina had been feeding into for her time in the grove; Ethan and his brothers were the catalyst. Some of the pieces at the end of the novel only make sense if you paid close attention in the chapters with Ellie, but it was so subtle I had to do re-reads and only after the lore dump at the end did things begin to fully click together. There is a twist towards the finale that had me take a moment to sit and realize just the gravity of some of the situations at hand within the Belle family and at the end, it was an unsettling truth that concluded quite well.
Thank you to Net Galley for the eARC in exchange for a review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
The Battle of Shiloh (April 7,1862) “Screams of triumph and pain rise in chorus, deafening as the weaponry.”
The gruesomeness of it all. The Belle brothers, soldiers of the Confederacy, decide to desert the blood soaked battlefield of Shiloh with the hope of hiding from both the Union Army as well as the Homeland Guard. The youngest, sixteen year old Ethan, narrates this story, a journey from the horrors of war to an even more horrendous, mind-blowing horror thinly disguised as safety.
To start with, the brothers had been hardened by a traumatic upbringing meted out by a belligerent father. Mason, the oldest, was built like a fortress, Archie, with dark intense eyes, was capable of great cruelty, and Ethan ,skinny and weak, drew strength from his twin sister, Ellie. Still, they ventured toward home, making their way to Natchez on the Mississippi, father’s wrath be damned. The worst was yet to come as they marched through “near impossible terrain, sleeping on uneven ground…hungry and badly bug-bit…The forest is closely packed and increasingly claustrophobic.” Finally, with no choice, they must seek out civilization. By following the railroad tracks they might spot a settlement and find shelter, food and supplies. The sudden crack of a rifle and Archie is badly injured.
“We’re the hunted…the scourge to be vanquished- judgement for the things we’ve done, for the criminality of our collective cowardice.” “Trees don’t seem to be trees anymore, but the ghosts of men lost in the war, dark shadows closing in around us with clawed, reaching arms.”
As Archie continued to weaken from the gunshot, crossing a swamp seemed necessary and expedient. “The mud could eat a man whole.” Ahead, the sound of a creek. A young, curious boy named Titus stared at Ethan from across the creek and waved a welcome, pointing to his nearby cabin. “In these dark miserable woods, Sarafina appears like a mirage. Her raven hair tied back loosely…she’s young, and shockingly beautiful…Regardless of our unspoken suspicions we walk toward the house”.
Sarafina ministers to Archie, dressing his wound then cooking a hearty meal for Mason and Ethan. The hope was that Archie would recover and the brothers could complete their journey home. As Ethan explored the house and the surrounding wilderness, he had an eerie feeling. Would it have been better to stay and fight in the war? Psychological warfare brought out Sarafina’s witchy, demonic behavior. Dread and fright increased as she exhibited total control. Was there any escape from this house of horrors? When it became clear that Archie was unlikely to survive his injuries, Ethan indicated that he would do anything Sarafina said so that Archie might live. Anything?
Seasoned author Philip Fracassi has written a novel of historical horror that is intriguing, intense and horrifyingly magnificent. The detailed passages caught this reader in Fracassi’s creatively engineered web and did not let go. What an experience!
Highly recommended.
Thank you Philip Fracassi and CLASH Books for the print ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The gruesomeness of it all. The Belle brothers, soldiers of the Confederacy, decide to desert the blood soaked battlefield of Shiloh with the hope of hiding from both the Union Army as well as the Homeland Guard. The youngest, sixteen year old Ethan, narrates this story, a journey from the horrors of war to an even more horrendous, mind-blowing horror thinly disguised as safety.
To start with, the brothers had been hardened by a traumatic upbringing meted out by a belligerent father. Mason, the oldest, was built like a fortress, Archie, with dark intense eyes, was capable of great cruelty, and Ethan ,skinny and weak, drew strength from his twin sister, Ellie. Still, they ventured toward home, making their way to Natchez on the Mississippi, father’s wrath be damned. The worst was yet to come as they marched through “near impossible terrain, sleeping on uneven ground…hungry and badly bug-bit…The forest is closely packed and increasingly claustrophobic.” Finally, with no choice, they must seek out civilization. By following the railroad tracks they might spot a settlement and find shelter, food and supplies. The sudden crack of a rifle and Archie is badly injured.
“We’re the hunted…the scourge to be vanquished- judgement for the things we’ve done, for the criminality of our collective cowardice.” “Trees don’t seem to be trees anymore, but the ghosts of men lost in the war, dark shadows closing in around us with clawed, reaching arms.”
As Archie continued to weaken from the gunshot, crossing a swamp seemed necessary and expedient. “The mud could eat a man whole.” Ahead, the sound of a creek. A young, curious boy named Titus stared at Ethan from across the creek and waved a welcome, pointing to his nearby cabin. “In these dark miserable woods, Sarafina appears like a mirage. Her raven hair tied back loosely…she’s young, and shockingly beautiful…Regardless of our unspoken suspicions we walk toward the house”.
Sarafina ministers to Archie, dressing his wound then cooking a hearty meal for Mason and Ethan. The hope was that Archie would recover and the brothers could complete their journey home. As Ethan explored the house and the surrounding wilderness, he had an eerie feeling. Would it have been better to stay and fight in the war? Psychological warfare brought out Sarafina’s witchy, demonic behavior. Dread and fright increased as she exhibited total control. Was there any escape from this house of horrors? When it became clear that Archie was unlikely to survive his injuries, Ethan indicated that he would do anything Sarafina said so that Archie might live. Anything?
Seasoned author Philip Fracassi has written a novel of historical horror that is intriguing, intense and horrifyingly magnificent. The detailed passages caught this reader in Fracassi’s creatively engineered web and did not let go. What an experience!
Highly recommended.
Thank you Philip Fracassi and CLASH Books for the print ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Sarafina is a wicked little cocktail of war torn historical horror dusted with dark fairytale magic and a heaping spoonful of religion — the kind of story that lures you in gently before sinking its claws and teeth into you.
The story follows three brothers, Ethan, Mason, and Archie, who flee the brutality of their widowed father hands by enlisting in the Civil War, only to discover the front lines offer their own brand of cruelty. After barely surviving the carnage and watching friends torn apart beside them, desertion becomes less a choice than a desperate instinct for survival.
They vanish into the woods, starving and exhausted, and find brief refuge with a small Indigenous community who feed them and tend their wounds. But the respite shatters when the patriarch betrays them, forcing the brothers back into flight — straight into a swamp that nearly claims Mason’s life.
Just as the last of their hope begins to dissolve, Ethan spots a young boy watching them from across a river where fruit trees bloom impossibly out of season. He rouses his brothers, and they follow the child to a secluded cabin.
There, a beautiful woman waits in the doorway with three enormous dogs at her side, offering warmth, food, and a dreamlike sense of salvation. The brothers fall under her spell, but Ethan can’t shake the feeling that something beneath the surface is terribly wrong. And the longer they stay, the clearer it becomes that they didn’t find sanctuary. They have escaped one hell only to stumble willingly into another.
On a side note: I’ve always loved the strange synchronicities that crop up in my reading life, and Sarafina was no exception. It pulled in the underworld of Shoel from my last read (The Boatman by K. Bengtson) and the Choctaw nation woven through the book before that (The Walls Are Closing In On Us by Joshua Trent Brown). When stories start aligning like this, I get a buzzy, uncanny feeling... like I’m following some hidden path and the books are quietly nudging me forward. Has that ever happened to you?
But back to Fracassi. I loved The Autumn Springs Retirement Home Massacre, which I thought was one of the coolest spins on the slasher genre that I'd read in a long time, and Gothic, which was a nice twist on the whole haunted author trope. Sarafina does the same, but for war novels and fairy tales. Now having enjoyed those, I've just added Boys in the Valley and A Child Alone With Strangers to my never ending, always growing TBR pile. Yay!
The story follows three brothers, Ethan, Mason, and Archie, who flee the brutality of their widowed father hands by enlisting in the Civil War, only to discover the front lines offer their own brand of cruelty. After barely surviving the carnage and watching friends torn apart beside them, desertion becomes less a choice than a desperate instinct for survival.
They vanish into the woods, starving and exhausted, and find brief refuge with a small Indigenous community who feed them and tend their wounds. But the respite shatters when the patriarch betrays them, forcing the brothers back into flight — straight into a swamp that nearly claims Mason’s life.
Just as the last of their hope begins to dissolve, Ethan spots a young boy watching them from across a river where fruit trees bloom impossibly out of season. He rouses his brothers, and they follow the child to a secluded cabin.
There, a beautiful woman waits in the doorway with three enormous dogs at her side, offering warmth, food, and a dreamlike sense of salvation. The brothers fall under her spell, but Ethan can’t shake the feeling that something beneath the surface is terribly wrong. And the longer they stay, the clearer it becomes that they didn’t find sanctuary. They have escaped one hell only to stumble willingly into another.
On a side note: I’ve always loved the strange synchronicities that crop up in my reading life, and Sarafina was no exception. It pulled in the underworld of Shoel from my last read (The Boatman by K. Bengtson) and the Choctaw nation woven through the book before that (The Walls Are Closing In On Us by Joshua Trent Brown). When stories start aligning like this, I get a buzzy, uncanny feeling... like I’m following some hidden path and the books are quietly nudging me forward. Has that ever happened to you?
But back to Fracassi. I loved The Autumn Springs Retirement Home Massacre, which I thought was one of the coolest spins on the slasher genre that I'd read in a long time, and Gothic, which was a nice twist on the whole haunted author trope. Sarafina does the same, but for war novels and fairy tales. Now having enjoyed those, I've just added Boys in the Valley and A Child Alone With Strangers to my never ending, always growing TBR pile. Yay!
January 10, 2026
Three Mississippi brothers find themselves trapped in the hellscape of the bloody Battle of Shiloh. Faced with the grim choice between death and desertion, they flee south toward their home in Natchez. Their journey is fraught with peril as they struggle to survive while evading capture by the army and the ruthless “Home Soldiers.” Near death, they stumble upon what seems like a sanctuary—a homestead of abundance overseen by the enigmatic Sarafina. But not all is as it appears, and the horrors of war may pale in comparison to what awaits them behind the doors of Sarafina's remote cabin.
If you took parts of Cold Mountain, The Odyssey, and Misery and blended them together, you’d get the overall feel of Sarafina. That’s not to say the book is derivative...far from it. Fracassi’s writing is sharp and immersive, but certain elements will feel familiar to seasoned readers. The titular character doesn’t appear until nearly a quarter of the way in, and any avid reader knows that a beautiful woman thriving in a war-torn land should never be underestimated (or taken for granted). You may think you know what fate awaits Ethan and his brothers, Archie and Mason, but don’t be too sure. Fracassi has a few surprises up his sleeve.
The story unfolds through two points of view: Ethan, the youngest Belle brother, and occasional glimpses from his twin sister Ellie, who remains at home. Yet one could argue this isn’t truly Ethan’s story—it’s Sarafina’s and Ellie’s. It’s a striking contrast between women who wield power over men and those who feel powerless. The novel reminds us that innocence can mask corruption, and that monsters come in many disguises.
The title character draws inspiration from mythological roots (no spoilers here), and the narrative explores themes of morality, power, oppression, and resistance, all while weaving in the influence of religion during the Civil War era.
Conclusion:
Sarafina is more than a survival tale; it’s a haunting meditation on the darkness within human nature. Fracassi delivers a story that lingers long after the last page, leaving readers to question whether the true horrors of war lie on the battlefield or in the hearts of those who survive it. If you’re looking for historical fiction with a sinister twist, this novel will not disappoint.
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Thank you to Netgalley, Clash Books and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
If you took parts of Cold Mountain, The Odyssey, and Misery and blended them together, you’d get the overall feel of Sarafina. That’s not to say the book is derivative...far from it. Fracassi’s writing is sharp and immersive, but certain elements will feel familiar to seasoned readers. The titular character doesn’t appear until nearly a quarter of the way in, and any avid reader knows that a beautiful woman thriving in a war-torn land should never be underestimated (or taken for granted). You may think you know what fate awaits Ethan and his brothers, Archie and Mason, but don’t be too sure. Fracassi has a few surprises up his sleeve.
The story unfolds through two points of view: Ethan, the youngest Belle brother, and occasional glimpses from his twin sister Ellie, who remains at home. Yet one could argue this isn’t truly Ethan’s story—it’s Sarafina’s and Ellie’s. It’s a striking contrast between women who wield power over men and those who feel powerless. The novel reminds us that innocence can mask corruption, and that monsters come in many disguises.
The title character draws inspiration from mythological roots (no spoilers here), and the narrative explores themes of morality, power, oppression, and resistance, all while weaving in the influence of religion during the Civil War era.
Conclusion:
Sarafina is more than a survival tale; it’s a haunting meditation on the darkness within human nature. Fracassi delivers a story that lingers long after the last page, leaving readers to question whether the true horrors of war lie on the battlefield or in the hearts of those who survive it. If you’re looking for historical fiction with a sinister twist, this novel will not disappoint.
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Thank you to Netgalley, Clash Books and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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