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Where Dark Things Grow
From the author of JESUS IN THE TRAILER, comes WHERE DARK THINGS GROW, a novel of Appalachian Gothic horror with elements of magical realism and folklore.
Fifteen-year-old Leo is watching the world crumble. His father is missing and his mother is slipping into madness as she cares for Leo, his sick sister Goldfish, and two useless brothers. Relatives are no help and the church folk have turned their backs in the middle of the Great Depression.
When he discovers an enchanted wulver from ancient folklore that will do his bidding, he decides to settle old scores. Revenge is sweet, but Leo soon learns he can’t control what he’s unleashed. It takes his spitfire best friend Lilyfax to help Leo overcome his anger and try to escape the wulver’s evil. As they search for his father, Leo, Lilyfax, and friends are pursued by dark forces and pulled into a rescue effort to find and save trafficked girls rumored to have been taken by the mysterious Blue Man.
Featuring elements of horror, folklore, and magical realism, Where Dark Things Grow is a dark bildungsroman set squarely in the place and culture of the 1930s Southern Appalachian Mountains.
Early praise for WHERE DARK THINGS GROW:
As haunting as all fireside stories should be. Where Dark Things Grow will make you sleep with the lights on.
– Jason Mott, winner of the National Book Award, and author of Hell of a Book
Stephen King meets Appalachia meets Flannery O'Connor's the Misfit.
– Leslie Pietrzyk, author of Admit this to No One
Where Dark Things Grow is a chilling, poetic debut. With gorgeous language and gothic ghosts, Andrew K. Clark will break your heart on one page and make your skin crawl on the next.
– Ivy Pochoda, author of Sing Her Down
With roots as deep and tangled as the blue man's trees, Where Dark Things Grow is a mesmerizing tale of magic and monsters, of family and fate, but also a reflection on the problem of power and the weight of abuses the most vulnerable carry, and how maybe we should be looking to the children to save us. A bold debut from a natural storyteller.
– Meagan Lucas, author of Songbirds and Stray Dogs and Here in the Dark
Let me be plain – Where Dark Things Grow is full of magic, in the deepest, oldest sense of the word. At times endearing, at times brutal, but at all times haunting, Andrew K. Clark's debut novel is a spiraling tale in the greatest tradition of the Southern Gothic. Creeping out of the mythic and the monsters, the Old Testament revenge lines and the old world occult, is a tale of men and women, boys and girls, each at their most fallible, each being tempted and tested. This is not the sort of praise I throw around lightly, but it must be said- with Where Dark Things Grow Clark has made his mark in Appalachian literature.
– Steph Post, author of Miraculum
Content Warnings: violence (against humans and animals), sexual assault (off-page), misogyny, racism, poverty.
Fifteen-year-old Leo is watching the world crumble. His father is missing and his mother is slipping into madness as she cares for Leo, his sick sister Goldfish, and two useless brothers. Relatives are no help and the church folk have turned their backs in the middle of the Great Depression.
When he discovers an enchanted wulver from ancient folklore that will do his bidding, he decides to settle old scores. Revenge is sweet, but Leo soon learns he can’t control what he’s unleashed. It takes his spitfire best friend Lilyfax to help Leo overcome his anger and try to escape the wulver’s evil. As they search for his father, Leo, Lilyfax, and friends are pursued by dark forces and pulled into a rescue effort to find and save trafficked girls rumored to have been taken by the mysterious Blue Man.
Featuring elements of horror, folklore, and magical realism, Where Dark Things Grow is a dark bildungsroman set squarely in the place and culture of the 1930s Southern Appalachian Mountains.
Early praise for WHERE DARK THINGS GROW:
As haunting as all fireside stories should be. Where Dark Things Grow will make you sleep with the lights on.
– Jason Mott, winner of the National Book Award, and author of Hell of a Book
Stephen King meets Appalachia meets Flannery O'Connor's the Misfit.
– Leslie Pietrzyk, author of Admit this to No One
Where Dark Things Grow is a chilling, poetic debut. With gorgeous language and gothic ghosts, Andrew K. Clark will break your heart on one page and make your skin crawl on the next.
– Ivy Pochoda, author of Sing Her Down
With roots as deep and tangled as the blue man's trees, Where Dark Things Grow is a mesmerizing tale of magic and monsters, of family and fate, but also a reflection on the problem of power and the weight of abuses the most vulnerable carry, and how maybe we should be looking to the children to save us. A bold debut from a natural storyteller.
– Meagan Lucas, author of Songbirds and Stray Dogs and Here in the Dark
Let me be plain – Where Dark Things Grow is full of magic, in the deepest, oldest sense of the word. At times endearing, at times brutal, but at all times haunting, Andrew K. Clark's debut novel is a spiraling tale in the greatest tradition of the Southern Gothic. Creeping out of the mythic and the monsters, the Old Testament revenge lines and the old world occult, is a tale of men and women, boys and girls, each at their most fallible, each being tempted and tested. This is not the sort of praise I throw around lightly, but it must be said- with Where Dark Things Grow Clark has made his mark in Appalachian literature.
– Steph Post, author of Miraculum
Content Warnings: violence (against humans and animals), sexual assault (off-page), misogyny, racism, poverty.
308 pages, Paperback
Published September 10, 2024
13 people are currently reading
260 people want to read
About the author
Andrew K. Clark
4 books57 followersAndrew K. Clark is a writer from Asheville, NC where his people settled before The Revolutionary War. His poetry collection, Jesus in the Trailer was published by Main Street Rag Press and short-listed for the Able Muse Book Award.
His debut novel, Where Dark Things Grow, was published by Cowboy Jamboree Press September 10, 2024. A loose sequel, Where Dark Things Rise, is forthcoming from Quill & Crow Publishing House in September of 2025.
His work has appeared in The American Journal of Poetry, UCLA’s Out of Anonymity, Appalachian Review, Rappahannock Review, The Wrath Bearing Tree, and many other journals. He received his MFA from Converse College.
His debut novel, Where Dark Things Grow, was published by Cowboy Jamboree Press September 10, 2024. A loose sequel, Where Dark Things Rise, is forthcoming from Quill & Crow Publishing House in September of 2025.
His work has appeared in The American Journal of Poetry, UCLA’s Out of Anonymity, Appalachian Review, Rappahannock Review, The Wrath Bearing Tree, and many other journals. He received his MFA from Converse College.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
October 5, 2025
I absolutely loved this book! Wonderfully weird and creepy yet bursting with heart. Part folk horror, part coming of age, part battle of good versus evil set in Appalachia. The characters were rich, the setting was so vibrant I could picture every scene, and the villains were a mixture of supernatural evil and the worst of humanity (racists, KKK members, sex traffickers). Highly recommend!
August 26, 2024
Interesting read. If you love historical fiction with a mixture of Gothic folklore, this one will be right up your alley. It follows the life of Leo A teenage boy who is trying to navigate all the dealings of life in 1930. His Daddy has gone missing. His little sister goldfish is sick. His two brothers are basically worthless and his mom is leaning in on him drastically. He works for a widowed lady and she tells him stories of the woods. One in particular being the story of the two wulvers... One night on his way home from the widows Leo is confronted with the ghost of his little brother that died and ends up finding the shadow wulver... Leo's life drastically changes after this. To find out what Leo must go through to figure out what is happening in the small community you will have to snag a copy. He will need to face something that is so deeply rooted in the community, a story that is there to scare the kids. The magical realism mixed with the southern gothic horror makes this one unique. It is creepy. It is folklore. It is gothic. It is really good. Would definitely recommend.
July 5, 2025
Where Dark Things Grow is Southern Gothic at its finest. Evocative and deeply immersive, Clark writes about his Appalachian home with heart and haunting, poetic honesty. This is a book you'll want to take your time with and savor.
Fifteen-year-old Leo is beset with many woes. His younger sister is ailing, his mother is slipping steadily into madness, and his father has abandoned their family in the midst of the Great Depression. Forced to take on responsibilities far beyond his years, Leo sets out on a journey to find his estranged father while attempting to put an end to the sinister dealings of a mysterious Blue Man abducting local women and girls for nefarious purposes. Leo's feisty best friend Lilyfax accompanies him on his journey, along with their studious friend Ezra, who has an intriguing character arc.
When Leo encounters a wulver, a wolflike creature from Scottish folklore that spiritually tethers itself to him, Leo sees an opportunity to settle old grievances. Using the wulver's powers, Leo takes vengeance on those who have wronged him and his family. But revenge has a cost. As Leo regresses into unfettered anger and begins to lose control of the wulver's evil influence over him, it is Lilyfax who serves as Leo's moral compass, leading him back to his fated path and his true calling.
At once a brilliantly crafted combination of surrealism, folklore, religious themes and Southern Gothic horror, Where Dark Things Grow is also a poignant coming-of-age story with a tender romance at its heart. Clark handles sensitive subject matter such as sex work, human trafficking, racism, and mental illness with grace, narrative restraint, and honesty.
This is an impressive debut. I rarely highlight when I'm reading, but I marked several passages in this novel for their sheer beauty. I cannot wait to read the next book in this series, Where Dark Things Rise. Clark is definitely a writer to watch!
Fifteen-year-old Leo is beset with many woes. His younger sister is ailing, his mother is slipping steadily into madness, and his father has abandoned their family in the midst of the Great Depression. Forced to take on responsibilities far beyond his years, Leo sets out on a journey to find his estranged father while attempting to put an end to the sinister dealings of a mysterious Blue Man abducting local women and girls for nefarious purposes. Leo's feisty best friend Lilyfax accompanies him on his journey, along with their studious friend Ezra, who has an intriguing character arc.
When Leo encounters a wulver, a wolflike creature from Scottish folklore that spiritually tethers itself to him, Leo sees an opportunity to settle old grievances. Using the wulver's powers, Leo takes vengeance on those who have wronged him and his family. But revenge has a cost. As Leo regresses into unfettered anger and begins to lose control of the wulver's evil influence over him, it is Lilyfax who serves as Leo's moral compass, leading him back to his fated path and his true calling.
At once a brilliantly crafted combination of surrealism, folklore, religious themes and Southern Gothic horror, Where Dark Things Grow is also a poignant coming-of-age story with a tender romance at its heart. Clark handles sensitive subject matter such as sex work, human trafficking, racism, and mental illness with grace, narrative restraint, and honesty.
This is an impressive debut. I rarely highlight when I'm reading, but I marked several passages in this novel for their sheer beauty. I cannot wait to read the next book in this series, Where Dark Things Rise. Clark is definitely a writer to watch!
July 26, 2024
Stephen King’s Stand by Me/The Body meets Old Gods of Appalachia with a distinctive dark fairy-tale like storytelling cadence. I loved the way that the characters were so nuanced- there are no one-dimensional characters here.
If I could give half stars I would; the only thing that’s keeping me from making this a 5 star read is that I felt concepts like illness and the loss of rural children to diseases that could have been treated elsewhere were introduced but not quite fully developed.
All told, this book isn’t quite like anything I’ve read before, and it’s a solid first novel. I’m looking forward to seeing what Andrew K. Clark has to offer in the future!
If I could give half stars I would; the only thing that’s keeping me from making this a 5 star read is that I felt concepts like illness and the loss of rural children to diseases that could have been treated elsewhere were introduced but not quite fully developed.
All told, this book isn’t quite like anything I’ve read before, and it’s a solid first novel. I’m looking forward to seeing what Andrew K. Clark has to offer in the future!
August 14, 2024
An eerie, dark Appalachian fable with great characters (and great names—“Lilyfax” just makes me happy). This was beautifully written, immersive, and fast-paced. Definitely dark (especially toward the end), and definitely belongs in a spooky fall TBR.
Thank you author Andrew K Clark for the ARC. This book comes out on September 10th and deserves lots of attention.
Thank you author Andrew K Clark for the ARC. This book comes out on September 10th and deserves lots of attention.
September 10, 2024
This is the kind of book that settles heavy in you, like a growl in your chest; makes your head hot with anger and pride and sorrow. It’s written so beautifully. The language and use of regional culture is just spectacularly well done. So impressive, specifically for a debut novel. The social commentary concerning racism, women’s rights, oppression, and poverty are powerful and gracefully executed as well. There are so many moments where very bold moral statements are made and they were so gorgeous, I highlighted and saved some of them (will drop below).
— “Women have the power to free other women,” she said, smiling.”
— “Is it God, Leo asked…”it’s love,” she said”
— “Leo sprinted into all the darkness the woods held”
Concerning the storyline itself, the world building through scene, narrative, and foreshadowing here is perfection. Every battle Leo goes through or witnesses gives you another piece of the novel’s universe and creates a truly complete view. I didn’t feel lost in any part of it and I could not praise that more. The bit of romance between the MMC Leo and MFC Lilyfax is done in a very unique way where it is not the center of the novel at all but it is a driving force for action and just an overwhelmingly heart wrenching element which is also somehow very sweet at the same time. The character development in Leo is insane and I loved the analysis of his anger at the world, at his circumstances coupled with its justifications, consequences, power, lessons, etc. I loved also how the blue man is a true villain and the writing lends itself to developing a true hatred for the character. As for others, I wouldn’t say any of the villains are morally grey here or excused in any way, but their history is very important and shows a very complex understanding of humanity and the way it can turn us into monsters. All the characters, from Camille, to Maude, to Ezra, to Mattis, to the Alchemist, to Leo’s mom, to the widow, Wormley and so many more, actually were so nuanced and were given enough attention throughout the narrative to have their own backgrounds, their own very strong personalities, for one to empathize with them and truly know them. And they were all so different from one another. Again, so well done. The suspense, action and battle scenes in the book are well detailed and very poetic, with a gospel feeling to them, driven mostly by the mythology of the universe and a sense of good vs evil but also a restructuring of what good and evil actually means
to the characters and/or what it should mean in general. Finally, the ending is a huge cliffhanger and lends too much excitement for the next book. Absolutely brilliant.
— “Women have the power to free other women,” she said, smiling.”
— “Is it God, Leo asked…”it’s love,” she said”
— “Leo sprinted into all the darkness the woods held”
Concerning the storyline itself, the world building through scene, narrative, and foreshadowing here is perfection. Every battle Leo goes through or witnesses gives you another piece of the novel’s universe and creates a truly complete view. I didn’t feel lost in any part of it and I could not praise that more. The bit of romance between the MMC Leo and MFC Lilyfax is done in a very unique way where it is not the center of the novel at all but it is a driving force for action and just an overwhelmingly heart wrenching element which is also somehow very sweet at the same time. The character development in Leo is insane and I loved the analysis of his anger at the world, at his circumstances coupled with its justifications, consequences, power, lessons, etc. I loved also how the blue man is a true villain and the writing lends itself to developing a true hatred for the character. As for others, I wouldn’t say any of the villains are morally grey here or excused in any way, but their history is very important and shows a very complex understanding of humanity and the way it can turn us into monsters. All the characters, from Camille, to Maude, to Ezra, to Mattis, to the Alchemist, to Leo’s mom, to the widow, Wormley and so many more, actually were so nuanced and were given enough attention throughout the narrative to have their own backgrounds, their own very strong personalities, for one to empathize with them and truly know them. And they were all so different from one another. Again, so well done. The suspense, action and battle scenes in the book are well detailed and very poetic, with a gospel feeling to them, driven mostly by the mythology of the universe and a sense of good vs evil but also a restructuring of what good and evil actually means
to the characters and/or what it should mean in general. Finally, the ending is a huge cliffhanger and lends too much excitement for the next book. Absolutely brilliant.
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July 17, 2024
Thank you author Andrew K. Clark for the gifted eARC of "Where Dark Things Grow" published by Cowboy Jamboree Press. All opinions expressed are mine alone. "Where Dark Things Grow" will be widely available 09/10/24.
What to Expect:
🌲 Coming of age story
🌲 Magical realism
🌲 Atmospheric and eerie Appalachian setting
🌲 Monsters
🌲 Ancient folklore
🫶 What worked for me...
"Where Dark Things Grow" was absolutely amazing! It takes place in 1920s Appalachia with a whole new spin on gothic horror, including magical realism components. Clark, a master of poetry, brings his debut novel to life with beautiful imagery and atmospheric details but not overwhelming the reader. From the beginning to the end, I was completely invested in the story and setting. It's captivating, and you'll be rooting alongside the main character Leo in the quest of his personal life and also saving the lives of others. Along with the darkest of monsters, finding revenge and himself along the way. With a full cast of characters, be they good or bad, there's something for everyone in this novel.
🤷♀️ What didn't work for me...
I honestly couldn't find anything negative about this novel. I was here for the ride, and it didn't disappoint.
🤔 Would I recommend it...
I absolutely would recommend this beautifully written story! Although magical realism isn't usually my cup of tea, I really enjoyed it. There was just enough of it to make it very interesting and exciting. Anyone who enjoys gothic horror with a flair of magical realism is going to want to add this to their reading list ASAP. Don't wait on this one.
What to Expect:
🌲 Coming of age story
🌲 Magical realism
🌲 Atmospheric and eerie Appalachian setting
🌲 Monsters
🌲 Ancient folklore
🫶 What worked for me...
"Where Dark Things Grow" was absolutely amazing! It takes place in 1920s Appalachia with a whole new spin on gothic horror, including magical realism components. Clark, a master of poetry, brings his debut novel to life with beautiful imagery and atmospheric details but not overwhelming the reader. From the beginning to the end, I was completely invested in the story and setting. It's captivating, and you'll be rooting alongside the main character Leo in the quest of his personal life and also saving the lives of others. Along with the darkest of monsters, finding revenge and himself along the way. With a full cast of characters, be they good or bad, there's something for everyone in this novel.
🤷♀️ What didn't work for me...
I honestly couldn't find anything negative about this novel. I was here for the ride, and it didn't disappoint.
🤔 Would I recommend it...
I absolutely would recommend this beautifully written story! Although magical realism isn't usually my cup of tea, I really enjoyed it. There was just enough of it to make it very interesting and exciting. Anyone who enjoys gothic horror with a flair of magical realism is going to want to add this to their reading list ASAP. Don't wait on this one.
September 2, 2024
Ok I love magical realism, but this is the first time I’ve read horror magical realism! Set in the 1930s in a Southern Appalachia backdrop, young Leo is having to deal with problems far beyond his age. With brutish brothers, a chronically ill little sister, mentally unstable mother and an absent father, Leo is taking up the responsibilities of a man in the household as a child.
One day, in anger, he conjures a shadow wulver from ancient folklore he heard about from his neighbor. The wulver does his dark bidding and seeks vengeance against those who have wronged him and those close to him. Leo gains a naive confidence as the wulver appears to do what he wants, but how long can he control that kind of evil?
Leo sets off to the city in search for his absentee father with his friend Lilyfax in tow. Together, they discover many local women have been going missing, rumored to have been kidnapped by the Blue Man. They are then roped into a rescue mission to save the trafficked women.
This book is a beautifully wrapped dark fairy tale, folklore horror novel. The first half to me read like historical fiction with folklore wrapped into it with a smattering of magical realism. But the last half of the book was action packed horror and folklore. Not giving anything away, I am obsessed with the ending! I had a tiiiiiny feeling, but the end revealed beautifully. This was a great coming of age story. All the characters were full of dimension. Lilyfax is a friend you want to have, and Leo is the flawed, but all too relatable main character.
One day, in anger, he conjures a shadow wulver from ancient folklore he heard about from his neighbor. The wulver does his dark bidding and seeks vengeance against those who have wronged him and those close to him. Leo gains a naive confidence as the wulver appears to do what he wants, but how long can he control that kind of evil?
Leo sets off to the city in search for his absentee father with his friend Lilyfax in tow. Together, they discover many local women have been going missing, rumored to have been kidnapped by the Blue Man. They are then roped into a rescue mission to save the trafficked women.
This book is a beautifully wrapped dark fairy tale, folklore horror novel. The first half to me read like historical fiction with folklore wrapped into it with a smattering of magical realism. But the last half of the book was action packed horror and folklore. Not giving anything away, I am obsessed with the ending! I had a tiiiiiny feeling, but the end revealed beautifully. This was a great coming of age story. All the characters were full of dimension. Lilyfax is a friend you want to have, and Leo is the flawed, but all too relatable main character.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 10, 2024
I can hardly believe this is a debut novel!
“Where Dark Things Grow” is a beautifully crafted tale set in North Carolina in the 1930’s about the eternal struggle of good versus evil, the balance between dark and light. WDTG explores the morally gray areas we face when deciding “which beast to feed”.
Easy to like characters (and some easy to dislike), detailed scene setting, elements of fantasy and magical realism make this a truly enjoyable read.
Definitely add this magical horror to your spooky season reading list!
“Where Dark Things Grow” is a beautifully crafted tale set in North Carolina in the 1930’s about the eternal struggle of good versus evil, the balance between dark and light. WDTG explores the morally gray areas we face when deciding “which beast to feed”.
Easy to like characters (and some easy to dislike), detailed scene setting, elements of fantasy and magical realism make this a truly enjoyable read.
Definitely add this magical horror to your spooky season reading list!
September 4, 2024
Where Dark Things Grow is a fascinating depiction of Appalachia in the 1930s, with that certain kind of backwoods, dark holler superstition and magick only whispered about by wise women and snake oil salesmen. Clark does an excellent job transporting the reader into the heart of the action, setting the scene and filling one’s head with colorful dialogue and memorable characters.
One note for more sensitive readers: the publisher sadly did not include content warnings, so expect repeated references to off-page SA of a minor. I’m not convinced that was a necessary plot point to create tension and motivation, and for me personally, had I been aware, I likely would have skimmed past those pages.
Overall, it’s a fantastic read for anyone who likes Southern gothic horror and magickal realism. 4.25 stars.
One note for more sensitive readers: the publisher sadly did not include content warnings, so expect repeated references to off-page SA of a minor. I’m not convinced that was a necessary plot point to create tension and motivation, and for me personally, had I been aware, I likely would have skimmed past those pages.
Overall, it’s a fantastic read for anyone who likes Southern gothic horror and magickal realism. 4.25 stars.
September 2, 2024
Andrew K. Clark's debut novel drew me into the deep dark woods of the Southern Appalachian Mountains I have grown up in and love so well. Not only can you picture in your mind the landscape, you are immersed right there in his vivid storytelling of folklore and good ole gothic darkness with a few very real monsters thrown in. The story is so real that I had to remind myself that it was just fiction. This will make a great movie!!
August 24, 2024
Where Dark Things Grow is a tale of teenage bravery - of mystical, beautiful, and horrible things set against the backdrop of 1930s Appalachia. Its energy is powerful, the writing poetic and brave. It is a gorgeous book. The only thing I want to mention, and the only reason I'm giving 4 stars, is that there is off-page SA, and there are also a few violent scenes involving animals. A trigger warning may have been beneficial for some readers. Otherwise, excellent read and I look forward to more from this author!
September 8, 2024
I met @theandrewkclark through poetry, and it was his realist voice in Jesus in the Trailer that first moved me, much the same as Louise Glűck, Mary Oliver and Langston Hughes had. I knew his debut novel was going to be something very special.
If you’re fortunate to have met The Monk, you’ll know he contains legions – that his funny-as-hell, irreverent and mischievous side belies a deeply feeling, genuine soul and a poet well-acquainted with the darker sides of humanity. And Where Dark Things Grow manifests yet another side to this literary chameleon. While Clark’s poems paint the realist’s existence in all its melancholy beauty, his debut novel dives into old-world magic – equally dark but nested in crystalline, mystic enchantment.
I don’t quite know how to categorise this book – it has the makings of young adult fiction, yet the writing feels poised for dreamy intellectual digestion. Set in 1930s Southern Appalachian Mountains, Dark Things is a Southern gothic horror and coming-of-age novel in one. Penning magic realism and folklore, Clark weaves a mystical parable of Dark vs Light, and daringly probes themes of religion vs spirituality, power vs poverty, and the precarious social landmines of race and gender.
The language is exquisite. Written in prose that perfectly balances the poetic and the natural, in easy flowing language, he also manages to lend authenticity with well-placed but unforced colloquialism. Clark deftly creates a richly atmospheric landscape through wildly vivid imagery. I could hear the creaking trees, the crunch of snow underfoot, see the dappled light in the trees, and smell the soot of coal stoves and post-depression poverty. The characterisation is also masterfully handled. Whether victim, villain, sidekick or MC, these are full-bodied characters that you have met in someone real or have been yourself at some point.
Where Dark Things Grow is a fairytale of shadows. Eerie, mystical, nightmarish and menacing, dotted with shiny jewels that offer surprising beauty amidst a bleak backdrop. This should, without a doubt, be the first book on your spooky season TBR.
If you’re fortunate to have met The Monk, you’ll know he contains legions – that his funny-as-hell, irreverent and mischievous side belies a deeply feeling, genuine soul and a poet well-acquainted with the darker sides of humanity. And Where Dark Things Grow manifests yet another side to this literary chameleon. While Clark’s poems paint the realist’s existence in all its melancholy beauty, his debut novel dives into old-world magic – equally dark but nested in crystalline, mystic enchantment.
I don’t quite know how to categorise this book – it has the makings of young adult fiction, yet the writing feels poised for dreamy intellectual digestion. Set in 1930s Southern Appalachian Mountains, Dark Things is a Southern gothic horror and coming-of-age novel in one. Penning magic realism and folklore, Clark weaves a mystical parable of Dark vs Light, and daringly probes themes of religion vs spirituality, power vs poverty, and the precarious social landmines of race and gender.
The language is exquisite. Written in prose that perfectly balances the poetic and the natural, in easy flowing language, he also manages to lend authenticity with well-placed but unforced colloquialism. Clark deftly creates a richly atmospheric landscape through wildly vivid imagery. I could hear the creaking trees, the crunch of snow underfoot, see the dappled light in the trees, and smell the soot of coal stoves and post-depression poverty. The characterisation is also masterfully handled. Whether victim, villain, sidekick or MC, these are full-bodied characters that you have met in someone real or have been yourself at some point.
Where Dark Things Grow is a fairytale of shadows. Eerie, mystical, nightmarish and menacing, dotted with shiny jewels that offer surprising beauty amidst a bleak backdrop. This should, without a doubt, be the first book on your spooky season TBR.
September 1, 2024
“He thought of the widow’s words of warning, about how the girl could be bad luck. The widow had been wrong, Leo decided. She was maybe the best kind of luck in the whole wide world.”
Sometimes, stories come ‘round right when we need them the most, don’t they? That’s how I feel about Andrew K. Clark’s “Where Dark Things Grow.” In fact, I suspect this book will be just that for many of its readers.
The novel, a coming-of-age tale, is feverishly visceral, sad, dizzying, and frightful: pure horror literature. It is about grieving, growing, bleeding, thriving, and aching. It is about the magical and traumatic, dreamy and nightmarish experiences of being a child. It is all-encompassing, the many colors of the woods. It stirs you to the core with its truths.
Reading this work of art, I was called back to Stephen King’s novella “The Body” as well as its screen adaptation, Stand By Me. My favorite film. Sometimes, your favorites arrive at your doorstep right when you need them the most.
For anyone like me who feels the most at home in the forest, who is still defining and re-defining the definition of of family, who needs adventure even in the midst of loss, who craves poetry and raw emotion and magic, who is on a lifelong journey of discovering oneself, I wholeheartedly recommend this book.
Growing pains do not cease when we’re grown. We endure these pains forever. “Where Dark Things Grow” gets that. It gets so much.
Sometimes, stories come ‘round right when we need them the most, don’t they? That’s how I feel about Andrew K. Clark’s “Where Dark Things Grow.” In fact, I suspect this book will be just that for many of its readers.
The novel, a coming-of-age tale, is feverishly visceral, sad, dizzying, and frightful: pure horror literature. It is about grieving, growing, bleeding, thriving, and aching. It is about the magical and traumatic, dreamy and nightmarish experiences of being a child. It is all-encompassing, the many colors of the woods. It stirs you to the core with its truths.
Reading this work of art, I was called back to Stephen King’s novella “The Body” as well as its screen adaptation, Stand By Me. My favorite film. Sometimes, your favorites arrive at your doorstep right when you need them the most.
For anyone like me who feels the most at home in the forest, who is still defining and re-defining the definition of of family, who needs adventure even in the midst of loss, who craves poetry and raw emotion and magic, who is on a lifelong journey of discovering oneself, I wholeheartedly recommend this book.
Growing pains do not cease when we’re grown. We endure these pains forever. “Where Dark Things Grow” gets that. It gets so much.
October 1, 2024
A compelling story with shape shifters, wolvers (bad and good), Appalachian myths and superstitions, nature as a weapon and a miracle, and scenes that will scare the stuff out of you, Andrew K. Clark’s debut novel Where Dark Things Grow leaves you shaking and marveling throughout, with very little rest in between.
With displays of raw power and evil in the mountains, the effects are not unlike viewing the recent widespread destruction from Hurricane Helene across six states with Clark’s home area in Western North Carolina the center of the worst of it. It’s a coming of age story packed with gothic horror and tales about unchecked greed balanced with lessons on the power of women, young boys, and strong spiritual people. If you are like me, your insides will shred while your heart cheers at other points. A definite must-read.
With displays of raw power and evil in the mountains, the effects are not unlike viewing the recent widespread destruction from Hurricane Helene across six states with Clark’s home area in Western North Carolina the center of the worst of it. It’s a coming of age story packed with gothic horror and tales about unchecked greed balanced with lessons on the power of women, young boys, and strong spiritual people. If you are like me, your insides will shred while your heart cheers at other points. A definite must-read.
April 13, 2025
Andrew Clark’s compelling debut novel Where Dark Things Grow is mesmerizing mix of Appalachian folklore and gothic darkness. It is a book full of magic and monsters but also a beautiful coming of age story. The story is rich with imagery and the author masterfully straddles the struggles between good and evil, and the very real humanity of the characters. The characters are so well drawn that you deeply feel every moment of hopefulness and heartbreak.
To me, Andrew Clark’s writing is reminiscent of William Kent Kruger and Stephen King. Where Dark Thing Grow absolutely beautiful and haunting in the best way possible.
To me, Andrew Clark’s writing is reminiscent of William Kent Kruger and Stephen King. Where Dark Thing Grow absolutely beautiful and haunting in the best way possible.
September 18, 2024
I so enjoyed this book. It took me right into 1930s Appalachia. The characters and setting were so vivid. It was creepy enough to keep me wondering and guessing but not too scary. While this book has themes that are quite confronting, the treatment of women in the book was always respectful and it helped me to stay in the story. I haven't enjoyed a novel like this in a long time. Highly recommend.
October 16, 2024
I'm not going to risk writing any spoilers. I'm just going to say if by the end of the book you don't want to punch Ezra in the face you're reading the wrong book.
September 3, 2024
A well written YA/New Adult piece of folk horror set in Appalachia during the depression. It took me a while to get invested in this story of a rural mountain boy literally just trying to survive with his family during the Depression. Fifteen year old Leo is a meek and obedient kid from the start, trying to earn coin to help pay for necessities for the household that includes a pair of brothers, a sick little sister and a mother who has lost any hope of a better life since her no good husband up and left the family. Again.
Mama tasks Leo with the job of going into town and finding dad, who is probably wasting what little money the family has on bars and brothels. But the first third of the book is Leo avoiding this chore. Instead, he hangs with an old widow who pays him for jobs she can't do, and who feeds him stories of the danger and magic in these woods--in particular, tales of wulvers. Author Clark spends a lot of time setting Leo up as a bit of a shy loser here. Leo avoids sharing his feelings for his crush named Lilyfax, he fails to stand up to bullies, and he kowtows to preachers who are clearly questionable men of the cloth. But he also has a special gift, it seems, when we learn that he has almost a sixth sense relating to wild animals. Enter that magical creature, the Shadow Wulver.
The story picks up dramatically at this point. The connection to this mythical beast changes both Leo and the course of the story, where the wulver could become the power that Leo needs to help his family through heartbreak and hardship, or something more dangerous that both exposes and feeds off of Leo's repressed anger. This dichotomy was what made the overall story most interesting for me. It propels Leo into his real journey, to find out what happened to his dad, which plunges him into another story altogether--to find out why several young women have gone missing--many of them from that brothel dad likes to visit.
Clark could have easily made a misstep here, where the young male lead plays the hero to the helpless beautiful girl, but he manages to avoid that trap. What I'm saying, is that the women in the story are not all helpless, and that's a good thing. Whether Leo helps save anyone or becomes an unassuming participant in their demise is for the reader to find out.
Also, categorizing this book can be tricky. It has young adult characters but may be more suitable for a slightly older readership. It contains themes of rape, and domestic and sexual abuse, but Clarke manages to infer these things more than showing them. And the strength of the female characters is well done. In fact, while the story mostly focuses on Leo's perspective, there are a few chapters that jump to certain female characters using a first person perspective, and those brief passages are some mighty fine writing, imo.
All in all, an entertaining read for the folkloric horror fan.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Mama tasks Leo with the job of going into town and finding dad, who is probably wasting what little money the family has on bars and brothels. But the first third of the book is Leo avoiding this chore. Instead, he hangs with an old widow who pays him for jobs she can't do, and who feeds him stories of the danger and magic in these woods--in particular, tales of wulvers. Author Clark spends a lot of time setting Leo up as a bit of a shy loser here. Leo avoids sharing his feelings for his crush named Lilyfax, he fails to stand up to bullies, and he kowtows to preachers who are clearly questionable men of the cloth. But he also has a special gift, it seems, when we learn that he has almost a sixth sense relating to wild animals. Enter that magical creature, the Shadow Wulver.
The story picks up dramatically at this point. The connection to this mythical beast changes both Leo and the course of the story, where the wulver could become the power that Leo needs to help his family through heartbreak and hardship, or something more dangerous that both exposes and feeds off of Leo's repressed anger. This dichotomy was what made the overall story most interesting for me. It propels Leo into his real journey, to find out what happened to his dad, which plunges him into another story altogether--to find out why several young women have gone missing--many of them from that brothel dad likes to visit.
Clark could have easily made a misstep here, where the young male lead plays the hero to the helpless beautiful girl, but he manages to avoid that trap. What I'm saying, is that the women in the story are not all helpless, and that's a good thing. Whether Leo helps save anyone or becomes an unassuming participant in their demise is for the reader to find out.
Also, categorizing this book can be tricky. It has young adult characters but may be more suitable for a slightly older readership. It contains themes of rape, and domestic and sexual abuse, but Clarke manages to infer these things more than showing them. And the strength of the female characters is well done. In fact, while the story mostly focuses on Leo's perspective, there are a few chapters that jump to certain female characters using a first person perspective, and those brief passages are some mighty fine writing, imo.
All in all, an entertaining read for the folkloric horror fan.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 21, 2025
3.5 very enjoyable 🌟
Shock horror, is this an actual good indie book? Like, not just beautifully written but with a story and character arcs and everything? This is a wonderful piece of gothic Appalachian folk horror set in the 1930s - a feverish coming of age tale told from the point of view of Leo, a fifteen year old boy with an ocean of rage inside him. Rage that's fed on by the local folklore, bringing to life something called the Shadow Wulver, which Leo can control - up to a point - and which he at first uses to take revenge on all who have wronged him. Until his power is taken from him by a local sorcerer. I really enjoyed this wild ride through the ancient forests and mountains of North Carolina. The writing was solid, the characters were nuanced and colourful and and the setting was dark and evocative. It felt like this was a glancing look at the eternal struggle between good and evil. Not just the struggle that lives in the world, but also the struggle that lives within the heart of every man, woman, and child. I loved how all Leo wanted to do with his newfound power was rip and rage and maim and destroy, until eventually he came up against a man whose hate eclipsed even his own. I do however, think it could have benefited from being longer, as the start felt rushed, the blossoming relationship between Leo and Lillyfax felt rushed, and the finale - although visceral and dramatic - also felt rushed, at least to me. Interestingly, the often problematic middle section was perfect. But overall, I enjoyed this read, and I will be interested to see what this author does next.
Shock horror, is this an actual good indie book? Like, not just beautifully written but with a story and character arcs and everything? This is a wonderful piece of gothic Appalachian folk horror set in the 1930s - a feverish coming of age tale told from the point of view of Leo, a fifteen year old boy with an ocean of rage inside him. Rage that's fed on by the local folklore, bringing to life something called the Shadow Wulver, which Leo can control - up to a point - and which he at first uses to take revenge on all who have wronged him. Until his power is taken from him by a local sorcerer. I really enjoyed this wild ride through the ancient forests and mountains of North Carolina. The writing was solid, the characters were nuanced and colourful and and the setting was dark and evocative. It felt like this was a glancing look at the eternal struggle between good and evil. Not just the struggle that lives in the world, but also the struggle that lives within the heart of every man, woman, and child. I loved how all Leo wanted to do with his newfound power was rip and rage and maim and destroy, until eventually he came up against a man whose hate eclipsed even his own. I do however, think it could have benefited from being longer, as the start felt rushed, the blossoming relationship between Leo and Lillyfax felt rushed, and the finale - although visceral and dramatic - also felt rushed, at least to me. Interestingly, the often problematic middle section was perfect. But overall, I enjoyed this read, and I will be interested to see what this author does next.
June 9, 2025
This started off way toooo uninteresting, that I really wasn't that interested in what was going on but I was in the middle of rearranging my office and didn't care to stop rearranging to stop the book and move on. I really didn't find by the end that I even cared.. I was just glad it was over. 😂
November 24, 2024
I absolutely loved the folklore and horror elements. Clark's writing is descriptive and immersing, which is perfect for the Appalachian setting of Where Dark Things Grow. And boy, oh boy, do dark things grow there!
I could have done without the trafficking elements. This theme doesn't usually bother me, but the ancient evils were enough for this story, so the trafficking felt unnecessary, in my opinion.
I could have done without the trafficking elements. This theme doesn't usually bother me, but the ancient evils were enough for this story, so the trafficking felt unnecessary, in my opinion.
December 3, 2024
CW: References to the off-page sexual assault of a minor.
Interesting combination of Appalachian folklore and Southern Gothic.
Interesting combination of Appalachian folklore and Southern Gothic.
October 27, 2024
Appalachian gothic horror that perfectly captures time and place. Leo is a young man struggling to do right in a world that consistently does him wrong.
Leo sees things in the forest, ghosts, omens, animals can hear him. One night he sees a shadow wolf that he forges a dark vengeful relationship with. He uses this shadow wolf to empower himself, to punish those who wrong him and to track down an evil man who is abducting young women.
Immersive, great characters, tense pacing, responsibility and relationships, poverty and greed. A really enjoyable horror novel about the daily battle of good vs evil within our own hearts, families, communities and the world.
Leo sees things in the forest, ghosts, omens, animals can hear him. One night he sees a shadow wolf that he forges a dark vengeful relationship with. He uses this shadow wolf to empower himself, to punish those who wrong him and to track down an evil man who is abducting young women.
Immersive, great characters, tense pacing, responsibility and relationships, poverty and greed. A really enjoyable horror novel about the daily battle of good vs evil within our own hearts, families, communities and the world.
August 22, 2025
Fantastic!
Where Dark Things Grow is a dark, atmospheric blend of Southern Gothic and folklore that lingers long after you finish. Andrew K. Clark brings Depression-era Appalachia to life with haunting imagery, raw emotion, and a chilling coming-of-age story that feels both timeless and deeply rooted in place. Leo’s journey into grief, revenge, and myth is unforgettable, and the writing itself is lyrical without ever losing its bite. Fans of horror with heart—and folklore with teeth—will love this one.
Where Dark Things Grow is a dark, atmospheric blend of Southern Gothic and folklore that lingers long after you finish. Andrew K. Clark brings Depression-era Appalachia to life with haunting imagery, raw emotion, and a chilling coming-of-age story that feels both timeless and deeply rooted in place. Leo’s journey into grief, revenge, and myth is unforgettable, and the writing itself is lyrical without ever losing its bite. Fans of horror with heart—and folklore with teeth—will love this one.
December 29, 2024
This book was weird and magical and everything in between. It reminded me of Harry Potter, The Hobbit, Fairytale (Stephen King). It had some dark themes, but everything happened off screen. It went in a different direction than I originally thought. There were beautiful parts and sad parts.
I would definitely recommend. 5 stars.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I would definitely recommend. 5 stars.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 5, 2025
This debut novel is a beautifully written coming of age story but it's also a dark fairy tale. The author did an excellent job with the setting. He transports the reader to the southern Appalachian mountains during the 1930s. I would consider this more folklore and fantasy versus horror. I loved the novel and I'm not a fan of horror. It's dark and creepy but in a good way. Can't wait to read more from this author.
September 16, 2024
Rising from the coastal plains of the American Eastern seaboard, the Appalachians are made up of a broken chain of peaks, ridges and dissected plateaus extending from Newfoundland to Alabama. The Catskills of New York, the Poconos, the Blue Ridge Mountains and Great Smoky Mountains are just some of the densely forested ranges constituting the chain, and even in this modern technological age, the Appalachians conjure visions of impenetrable, untamed wilds. The early Scots-Irish, Scandinavian, and German immigrants who settled those rural barrens brought with them a rugged, earthen work ethic and clannish pride for kin, but something else, too: beneath their Protestant Christian communities lurked the folk beliefs of the Old World they’d left behind, sprites and witchcraft and creatures of the night haunting the isolated bowers of man’s domain.
That’s the spooky backdrop of North Carolina native Andrew K. Clark’s extraordinary Cowboy Jamboree Press debut, Where Dark Things Grow, a novel exploring the varying shades of Appalachia in all its complex, wondrous, sometimes frightful glory.
During the onset of The Depression, fifteen-year-old Leo lives a troubled, rustic life with his mother and siblings in a remote valley (or ‘Holler’, as the locals call them); his brother Jacob died from a fever years earlier, his father, a degenerate drunk, has abandoned the family, and Leo’s mother flirts with madness from the constant emotional strain. With his younger sister Goldfish in increasingly ill health and his other brothers unwilling to help make ends meet, Leo spends his days working odd jobs for a local widow. One day she tells him the legend of the Wulvers, dangerous spirit wolves that inhabit the forests and prey upon travelers; her warning is initially dismissed as a tall tale, but to his terror Leo later encounters one of the beasts, though instead of becoming its victim, he finds himself mysteriously bound to the Wulver, able to call forth its shadowy teeth and pointed claws whenever his anger is aroused.
Emboldened by this newfound supernatural gift, Leo sets out righting wrongs as he sees fit, settling old scores and vowing to find his layabout father. Joining the quest is Leo’s plucky tomboy-cum-girlfriend Lilyfax and Ezra, a pious youth others mockingly call the ‘Little Priest’; both Lilyfax and Ezra quickly learn of Leo’s link to the Wulver, but even with its wrath on their side, they soon find themselves in peril. Unbeknownst to the trio, a sinister pagan cult has been abducting young girls and women in the area, keeping them encased in amber-like stasis in a magically protected forest. When the cultists set their sights on Lilyfax, Leo must summon both his courage and new powers to confront them, but will the Wulver abandon him when he needs it most? Or will the otherworldy ability destroy him before the cult does?
There’s much in Where Dark Things Grow for readers to enjoy; multiple perspectives add layer upon exciting layer to a plot that thickens pleasurably with each passing chapter. Crafted in the tradition of William Faulkner and Flannery O’Connor, Clark deftly blends the grotesque absurdism of Southern Gothic literature with the mountain-folk musings of Tom Wolfe while adding a hefty dose of Stephen King-style potency to the mix. The author’s use of language and dialogue perfectly invoke the time, place, and culture of the novel’s unique setting, fully immersing the reader in early-1930’s Prohibition/Depression-era America. Great and tender care has likewise been lavished upon each character to the point that even minor figures become fully-fleshed individuals, from tough-but-sweet Lilyfax to Leo’s thuggish cousin Declan to the story’s creepy-crawly adversaries.
On its simplest level, Where Dark Things Grows grants its audience welcomed escapism, and the long-simmering climax literally and figuratively explodes with thrills, chills, and pulse-pounding excitement. Yet serious and important themes about family, friendship, loss, betrayal, forgiveness, and the misuse of power are also explored; with the Shadow Wulver as his beckon call, Leo’s first impulse is to reverse his dismal economic fortunes, but he quickly succumbs to the temptation for revenge, feeding into the Wulver’s ever-lustful destructive appetite. His descent mirrors that of the cultists, captains of industry and politics who’ve traded their souls for earthly gain but who treat others—particularly women—as mere objects for their whimsy. Unlike them, however, Leo is grounded by his connection to those around him, and in the end learns there’s truly no power stronger than love.
Filled with danger, adventure, action, humor, horror, and heart to spare, Where Dark Things Grow is a superb novel, a stunning debut, and quite simply the best book I’ve yet reviewed in 2024. For those reasons and many more I feel compelled to bestow it the full 5 (out of 5) here on Goodreads. This is the one to beat, everyone. I can’t wait for the sequel.
That’s the spooky backdrop of North Carolina native Andrew K. Clark’s extraordinary Cowboy Jamboree Press debut, Where Dark Things Grow, a novel exploring the varying shades of Appalachia in all its complex, wondrous, sometimes frightful glory.
During the onset of The Depression, fifteen-year-old Leo lives a troubled, rustic life with his mother and siblings in a remote valley (or ‘Holler’, as the locals call them); his brother Jacob died from a fever years earlier, his father, a degenerate drunk, has abandoned the family, and Leo’s mother flirts with madness from the constant emotional strain. With his younger sister Goldfish in increasingly ill health and his other brothers unwilling to help make ends meet, Leo spends his days working odd jobs for a local widow. One day she tells him the legend of the Wulvers, dangerous spirit wolves that inhabit the forests and prey upon travelers; her warning is initially dismissed as a tall tale, but to his terror Leo later encounters one of the beasts, though instead of becoming its victim, he finds himself mysteriously bound to the Wulver, able to call forth its shadowy teeth and pointed claws whenever his anger is aroused.
Emboldened by this newfound supernatural gift, Leo sets out righting wrongs as he sees fit, settling old scores and vowing to find his layabout father. Joining the quest is Leo’s plucky tomboy-cum-girlfriend Lilyfax and Ezra, a pious youth others mockingly call the ‘Little Priest’; both Lilyfax and Ezra quickly learn of Leo’s link to the Wulver, but even with its wrath on their side, they soon find themselves in peril. Unbeknownst to the trio, a sinister pagan cult has been abducting young girls and women in the area, keeping them encased in amber-like stasis in a magically protected forest. When the cultists set their sights on Lilyfax, Leo must summon both his courage and new powers to confront them, but will the Wulver abandon him when he needs it most? Or will the otherworldy ability destroy him before the cult does?
There’s much in Where Dark Things Grow for readers to enjoy; multiple perspectives add layer upon exciting layer to a plot that thickens pleasurably with each passing chapter. Crafted in the tradition of William Faulkner and Flannery O’Connor, Clark deftly blends the grotesque absurdism of Southern Gothic literature with the mountain-folk musings of Tom Wolfe while adding a hefty dose of Stephen King-style potency to the mix. The author’s use of language and dialogue perfectly invoke the time, place, and culture of the novel’s unique setting, fully immersing the reader in early-1930’s Prohibition/Depression-era America. Great and tender care has likewise been lavished upon each character to the point that even minor figures become fully-fleshed individuals, from tough-but-sweet Lilyfax to Leo’s thuggish cousin Declan to the story’s creepy-crawly adversaries.
On its simplest level, Where Dark Things Grows grants its audience welcomed escapism, and the long-simmering climax literally and figuratively explodes with thrills, chills, and pulse-pounding excitement. Yet serious and important themes about family, friendship, loss, betrayal, forgiveness, and the misuse of power are also explored; with the Shadow Wulver as his beckon call, Leo’s first impulse is to reverse his dismal economic fortunes, but he quickly succumbs to the temptation for revenge, feeding into the Wulver’s ever-lustful destructive appetite. His descent mirrors that of the cultists, captains of industry and politics who’ve traded their souls for earthly gain but who treat others—particularly women—as mere objects for their whimsy. Unlike them, however, Leo is grounded by his connection to those around him, and in the end learns there’s truly no power stronger than love.
Filled with danger, adventure, action, humor, horror, and heart to spare, Where Dark Things Grow is a superb novel, a stunning debut, and quite simply the best book I’ve yet reviewed in 2024. For those reasons and many more I feel compelled to bestow it the full 5 (out of 5) here on Goodreads. This is the one to beat, everyone. I can’t wait for the sequel.
October 2, 2024
Andrew K. Clark’s Where Dark Things Grow is an enthralling blend of mystery, horror, and emotional depth that captivates readers from start to finish. For fifteen-year-old Leo, life has reached its bleakest point. His younger sister is on the brink of death, and his mother’s mental health is unraveling due to his father’s mysterious disappearance. Forced into the role of provider, Leo faces constant bullying and poverty, all while carrying the burden of his family’s survival. When his mother pleads with him to find his estranged father, he reluctantly sets out on a journey he dreads, confronting his past and inner demons.
Set against the backdrop of the Appalachian Mountains during the Great Depression, Where Dark Things Grow immerses readers in a world steeped in racism, poverty, and survival. The atmosphere in the novel is thick with a foreboding sense of dread, and the tension lingers on every page. Clark’s vivid descriptions transport the reader to this haunting landscape, where every scene is meticulously crafted and every emotion raw and palpable. I could almost feel the damp chill of the woods and hear the rustling of leaves as Leo ventured deeper into the supernatural. The characters are richly developed, each distinct and compelling, while the dialogue flows with poetic elegance. I found myself especially captivated by Leo. His mix of curiosity, innocence, and toughness feels authentic, especially in the way he’s shaped by his circumstances. This coming-of-age story forces its young protagonists to confront the darkest corners of their world and themselves too soon.
Where Dark Things Grow is a must-read for fans of Southern Gothic, folklore, and dark fantasy. Andrew K. Clark weaves an atmospheric, eerie narrative that’s as much about survival as it is about confronting the shadows within and without. I’d recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a haunting, slow-burn story set in a richly imagined world. It’s perfect for readers who love tales steeped in mythology, magic, and the dark undercurrents of human nature.
Set against the backdrop of the Appalachian Mountains during the Great Depression, Where Dark Things Grow immerses readers in a world steeped in racism, poverty, and survival. The atmosphere in the novel is thick with a foreboding sense of dread, and the tension lingers on every page. Clark’s vivid descriptions transport the reader to this haunting landscape, where every scene is meticulously crafted and every emotion raw and palpable. I could almost feel the damp chill of the woods and hear the rustling of leaves as Leo ventured deeper into the supernatural. The characters are richly developed, each distinct and compelling, while the dialogue flows with poetic elegance. I found myself especially captivated by Leo. His mix of curiosity, innocence, and toughness feels authentic, especially in the way he’s shaped by his circumstances. This coming-of-age story forces its young protagonists to confront the darkest corners of their world and themselves too soon.
Where Dark Things Grow is a must-read for fans of Southern Gothic, folklore, and dark fantasy. Andrew K. Clark weaves an atmospheric, eerie narrative that’s as much about survival as it is about confronting the shadows within and without. I’d recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a haunting, slow-burn story set in a richly imagined world. It’s perfect for readers who love tales steeped in mythology, magic, and the dark undercurrents of human nature.
August 18, 2024
In Andrew K. Clark’s debut novel, Where Dark Things Grow, the author displays just how beautiful a book can be when created by a poet. With sentences and scenes as lyrical as music, and intensely dark poetry elegantly placed throughout, Clark takes the reader on an Appalachian journey, both geographically and aesthetically. The Great Depression, a character in and of itself, is a backdrop, as Leo, our teenage protagonist and lover of all that is righteous, uses his moral compass to fight the demons that lie within the forest. But as is often the case in magical realism, much of the evil lies within the human heart, not solely in the mountains in which Leo, Lilyfax, his love interest, and other memorable characters dwell. While the book gives a nod to the Appalachian struggle, Clark handles it with finesse and kindness. The book is steeped in folklore, yet it is totally relatable to the ills of society in the real world. While it appears on the surface to be a Southern Gothic horror tale, Where Dark Things Grow is a story of endless hope, the desire for justice, and the ability to acknowledge moments in our lives that make us view the world in a different way. The book poses the question: Does the world drive us to madness, or does our madness guide the world? In looking for the answer, Leo’s quest reminds us that we often have more power than we know, and we can change humanity if we harness that power and ultimately use it for good.
I read this book as an ARC and all opinions are my own. Where Dark Things Grow will be available in Sept. 2024, and is published by Cowboy Jamboree Press.
I read this book as an ARC and all opinions are my own. Where Dark Things Grow will be available in Sept. 2024, and is published by Cowboy Jamboree Press.
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