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It Rides a Pale Horse
From a new star in horror fiction comes a terrifying novel of obsession, greed, and the shocking actions we’ll take to protect those we love, all set in a small town filled with dark secrets.
“ If you like Grady Hendrix’s novels, Clive Barker, or just a dash of Lovecraftian horror, you’re going to love this one.” – San Francisco Book Review
Peter Larkin — Lark to his friends — is a local hero in the small town of Wofford Falls. The one who went to the big city, found fame in the art world, then returned home to settle down. He's the kind of guy who becomes fast friends with almost anyone. His sister, Betsy, is talented as well. And eccentric. Unlike Lark, she keeps to herself.
When Lark meets with a fabulously rich client, it seems like a regular transaction. Even being met at the gate of the sprawling, secluded estate by an intimidating security guard seems normal. Until the guard plays him a live Betsy being abducted in real time.
Lark is informed that she's safe for now, but her well-being is entirely in his hands. He's given a book. Do what the book says, and betsy will go free.
"Marino draws readers in quickly, creating sympathy for the characters, unveiling the necessary details to immerse them in a world of art, siblings, deadly intrigue, and a centuries-long nefarious quest. Dread is present from the start, but it quickly escalates into a disorienting cosmic terror that touches everyone." — Booklist
"Marino offers horrors both existential and visceral." — M. R. Carey, author of The Girl with All the Gifts, on The Seven Visitations of Sydney Burgess
"Dark and fascinating . . . Not quite like anything I've ever read before. A strange, compelling, late-night page-turner. It kept me reading way past my bedtime." —T. Kingfisher, author of The Hollow Places , on The Seven Visitations of Sydney Burgess
Also by Andy
The Seven Visitations of Sydney Burgess
“ If you like Grady Hendrix’s novels, Clive Barker, or just a dash of Lovecraftian horror, you’re going to love this one.” – San Francisco Book Review
Peter Larkin — Lark to his friends — is a local hero in the small town of Wofford Falls. The one who went to the big city, found fame in the art world, then returned home to settle down. He's the kind of guy who becomes fast friends with almost anyone. His sister, Betsy, is talented as well. And eccentric. Unlike Lark, she keeps to herself.
When Lark meets with a fabulously rich client, it seems like a regular transaction. Even being met at the gate of the sprawling, secluded estate by an intimidating security guard seems normal. Until the guard plays him a live Betsy being abducted in real time.
Lark is informed that she's safe for now, but her well-being is entirely in his hands. He's given a book. Do what the book says, and betsy will go free.
"Marino draws readers in quickly, creating sympathy for the characters, unveiling the necessary details to immerse them in a world of art, siblings, deadly intrigue, and a centuries-long nefarious quest. Dread is present from the start, but it quickly escalates into a disorienting cosmic terror that touches everyone." — Booklist
"Marino offers horrors both existential and visceral." — M. R. Carey, author of The Girl with All the Gifts, on The Seven Visitations of Sydney Burgess
"Dark and fascinating . . . Not quite like anything I've ever read before. A strange, compelling, late-night page-turner. It kept me reading way past my bedtime." —T. Kingfisher, author of The Hollow Places , on The Seven Visitations of Sydney Burgess
Also by Andy
The Seven Visitations of Sydney Burgess
368 pages, Paperback
First published October 4, 2022
232 people are currently reading
14119 people want to read
About the author
Andy Marino
31 books251 followersAndy Marino was born in upstate New York, spent half his life in New York City, and now lives in the Hudson Valley. He is the author of seven novels for young readers, most recently THE PLOT TO KILL HITLER trilogy.
THE SEVEN VISITATIONS OF SYDNEY BURGESS is his first novel for adults.
THE SEVEN VISITATIONS OF SYDNEY BURGESS is his first novel for adults.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 467 reviews
September 25, 2023
AHHHHH
What the fuck?!?!?
This was unlike anything I’ve read. It was so weird and disorienting, with a few moments of genuine horror- one scene was truly nightmare including. What starts out as a run of the mill abduction story turns into a high octane, cosmic, apocalyptic fever dream!
It wasn’t perfect, the ending was abrupt, but the overall feeling it gave me is the feeling I chase when I read horror. That feeling of total immersion and escapism while simultaneously staring at the words in shock and awe and with a feeling of complete unease.
This won’t be for everyone- it’s confusing and not always clear and sometimes all over the place- but it was 100% for me!!
What the fuck?!?!?
This was unlike anything I’ve read. It was so weird and disorienting, with a few moments of genuine horror- one scene was truly nightmare including. What starts out as a run of the mill abduction story turns into a high octane, cosmic, apocalyptic fever dream!
It wasn’t perfect, the ending was abrupt, but the overall feeling it gave me is the feeling I chase when I read horror. That feeling of total immersion and escapism while simultaneously staring at the words in shock and awe and with a feeling of complete unease.
This won’t be for everyone- it’s confusing and not always clear and sometimes all over the place- but it was 100% for me!!
October 4, 2022
HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!!!!! NOW AVAILABLE!! A horror lovers blood soaked dream! 5 stars!! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Peter Lark, known as Lark to his friends, sells his most recent sculpture to an unknown buyer. He is ecstatic about these funds as it expands his horizons and allows him to continue providing for his sister, Betsy. Betsy is a painter; with her paintings comes the ability to transform reality around her, making her a pariah in the local town. When Lark is contacted by his most recent buyer through an employee of theirs, he is asked to follow instructions from an ancient book detailing horrific sculptures. When Lark declines, the employee shows him pictures of a kidnapped Betsy, only to be released if he accomplishes the three parts of these sculptures. Not having any other option, Lark begins his work, but what will it cost him? His soul? His sister? Or the world?
Man, excellent horror is hard to come by, but horror with a phenomenal plot as well is pretty much unheard of(Sorry, not sorry Stephen King!). Andy Morino has woven both together, stitched up like Frankenstein's monster, tearing it's way through this world. These characters are flawed, but not broken like so many horror mains, and the way Betsy's power manifests is just *chef's kiss*. This is gory, it's gritty, and it great. I couldn't look away as the gore ensued.
Five severed heads....uh...I mean...stars for It Rides a Pale Horse. This is definitely an adult book, so recommended for readers 16+ who can stomach lots of graphic gore. Recommended for those who love stories like Hellraiser.
Peter Lark, known as Lark to his friends, sells his most recent sculpture to an unknown buyer. He is ecstatic about these funds as it expands his horizons and allows him to continue providing for his sister, Betsy. Betsy is a painter; with her paintings comes the ability to transform reality around her, making her a pariah in the local town. When Lark is contacted by his most recent buyer through an employee of theirs, he is asked to follow instructions from an ancient book detailing horrific sculptures. When Lark declines, the employee shows him pictures of a kidnapped Betsy, only to be released if he accomplishes the three parts of these sculptures. Not having any other option, Lark begins his work, but what will it cost him? His soul? His sister? Or the world?
Man, excellent horror is hard to come by, but horror with a phenomenal plot as well is pretty much unheard of(Sorry, not sorry Stephen King!). Andy Morino has woven both together, stitched up like Frankenstein's monster, tearing it's way through this world. These characters are flawed, but not broken like so many horror mains, and the way Betsy's power manifests is just *chef's kiss*. This is gory, it's gritty, and it great. I couldn't look away as the gore ensued.
Five severed heads....uh...I mean...stars for It Rides a Pale Horse. This is definitely an adult book, so recommended for readers 16+ who can stomach lots of graphic gore. Recommended for those who love stories like Hellraiser.
April 15, 2023
This is batshit crazy in an amazing way, more thoughts to come when I have time to write a review.
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September 6, 2022I'm going to set this one aside at 28%. No rating.
Honestly, I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around what's actually happening in this book.
Lark and Betsy are brother and sister and both are artists. He a famous one and she a recluse who doesn't leave the house. When Lark sets out to deliver one of his sculptures to a mysterious wealthy family he is informed by this man, with video evidence, that they have taken Betsy and unless he can recreate The Insomniak from a demonic book she will not be returned or worse even, killed.
There are long passages discussing art that I'm completely clueless about and which seemed to go on and on (yawn) but when the narrative shifts to a ghost residing in the hangar where Betsy is brought I was starting to really get into it. However, once we returned to Lark and Betsy's storyline I lost interest again. What Betsy's artwork actually is I'm unable to even comprehend.
Admittedly I'm giving up early so the pay off in the end may be well worth your time if you're a more patient reader than I.
I will say that Andy Marino is an excellent writer, intelligent and creative, and I'm excited to see what kind of story he can spin next. This one just wasn't for me this time around.
Honestly, I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around what's actually happening in this book.
Lark and Betsy are brother and sister and both are artists. He a famous one and she a recluse who doesn't leave the house. When Lark sets out to deliver one of his sculptures to a mysterious wealthy family he is informed by this man, with video evidence, that they have taken Betsy and unless he can recreate The Insomniak from a demonic book she will not be returned or worse even, killed.
There are long passages discussing art that I'm completely clueless about and which seemed to go on and on (yawn) but when the narrative shifts to a ghost residing in the hangar where Betsy is brought I was starting to really get into it. However, once we returned to Lark and Betsy's storyline I lost interest again. What Betsy's artwork actually is I'm unable to even comprehend.
Admittedly I'm giving up early so the pay off in the end may be well worth your time if you're a more patient reader than I.
I will say that Andy Marino is an excellent writer, intelligent and creative, and I'm excited to see what kind of story he can spin next. This one just wasn't for me this time around.
May 10, 2023
I strongly dislike the term 'Fever dream' because it's so overused, but it is the perfect term for this cosmic horror.
Interesting characters, unique plot, and a few truly horrific scenes, It Rides a Pale Horse has it all.
Interesting characters, unique plot, and a few truly horrific scenes, It Rides a Pale Horse has it all.
May 4, 2023
4.5 ⭐️
Talk about a fantastic piece of cosmic horror! Absolutely insane and entirely unique. I literally read this with my mouth hanging open half the time and must’ve said “Wtf” at least 20 times. I went in completely blind, which I never do, and I’m very glad I did because everything felt like a punch to the stomach. It was incredibly dark, gory, and sad, but sprinkled with humorous moments and dialogue that I loved. Unfortunately, that humor only led to more sadness because I actually came to give a shit about the characters and, let me tell you, they go through so much trauma. Despite the otherworldly and fantastical situations, these characters felt completely human, an aspect that always makes horror even more terrifying. It Rides a Pale Horse is such a strong portrayal of the lengths someone will go to protect the one they love, as well as exploring greed and obsession. Marino exhibited mastery at creating tension and dread with vivid imagery that was seriously disturbing. It’s like he crawled into my head and pulled out my darkest nightmares. I’m probably the least artistic person ever so I also appreciated and enjoyed getting into the minds of art-driven characters.
Anyways, Marino, consider me your newest fan! Overall, a fantastic read. It takes a while to get really juicy, but I loved the build up before everything goes off the rails. If you enjoy Lovecraftian horror, highly recommend because this one is totally for you. Cannot wait to see what Marino writes next.
Talk about a fantastic piece of cosmic horror! Absolutely insane and entirely unique. I literally read this with my mouth hanging open half the time and must’ve said “Wtf” at least 20 times. I went in completely blind, which I never do, and I’m very glad I did because everything felt like a punch to the stomach. It was incredibly dark, gory, and sad, but sprinkled with humorous moments and dialogue that I loved. Unfortunately, that humor only led to more sadness because I actually came to give a shit about the characters and, let me tell you, they go through so much trauma. Despite the otherworldly and fantastical situations, these characters felt completely human, an aspect that always makes horror even more terrifying. It Rides a Pale Horse is such a strong portrayal of the lengths someone will go to protect the one they love, as well as exploring greed and obsession. Marino exhibited mastery at creating tension and dread with vivid imagery that was seriously disturbing. It’s like he crawled into my head and pulled out my darkest nightmares. I’m probably the least artistic person ever so I also appreciated and enjoyed getting into the minds of art-driven characters.
Anyways, Marino, consider me your newest fan! Overall, a fantastic read. It takes a while to get really juicy, but I loved the build up before everything goes off the rails. If you enjoy Lovecraftian horror, highly recommend because this one is totally for you. Cannot wait to see what Marino writes next.
November 27, 2022
3.75 stars
Stunningly grotesque and visionary, It Rides a Pale Horse is the case where style over substance (almost) works — the most direct comparison I can come up with is a fusion between the movie The Cell with Jennifer Lopez, and the visual work of Junji Ito. If you're interested in fiction taking the unconventional route, and pushing ideas to their utmost limit, you'll find plenty to enjoy here.
On the flip side, I can also foresee readers finding its quirks overwhelming. With things going batshit crazy from the get go, the story can be a little groundless, and this lack of internal logic can result in subsequent events coming across as arbitrary (even if as individual scenes they are beautifully put together). It Rides a Pale Horse is also filled with sarcastic characters, almost to a fault; everyone can blurt out funny comebacks, and everyone has made at least one biting remarks during a traumatizing situation. Sometimes they work as intended, adding levity between moments of horror, while in others I wish I can see the characters behaving less aloof, and more involved emotionally in their situation.
Just like the Tarsem Singh movie mentioned earlier, If you removed the 'packaging' (beautiful writing, inventive gores, commentary on the power of art/artist, etc.), the actual 'plot' of It Rides a Pale Horse is very thin, and leaves some fundamental questions unanswered. While it does add to the overall fever dream atmosphere, I do wish by the end I would have a firmer grasp on what exactly happened in the past 300+ pages.
Even though my overall reading experience wasn't stellar, It Rides a Pale Horse will for sure leave an impression; it has tons of jaw-dropping scenes (inspiring and gross in equal measure), and a concept I rarely come across in horror (the act of art-making = power to summon). I would definitely give it a try if you're already curious — just go in with an open-mind that it might not be what you're expecting.
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**
Stunningly grotesque and visionary, It Rides a Pale Horse is the case where style over substance (almost) works — the most direct comparison I can come up with is a fusion between the movie The Cell with Jennifer Lopez, and the visual work of Junji Ito. If you're interested in fiction taking the unconventional route, and pushing ideas to their utmost limit, you'll find plenty to enjoy here.
On the flip side, I can also foresee readers finding its quirks overwhelming. With things going batshit crazy from the get go, the story can be a little groundless, and this lack of internal logic can result in subsequent events coming across as arbitrary (even if as individual scenes they are beautifully put together). It Rides a Pale Horse is also filled with sarcastic characters, almost to a fault; everyone can blurt out funny comebacks, and everyone has made at least one biting remarks during a traumatizing situation. Sometimes they work as intended, adding levity between moments of horror, while in others I wish I can see the characters behaving less aloof, and more involved emotionally in their situation.
Just like the Tarsem Singh movie mentioned earlier, If you removed the 'packaging' (beautiful writing, inventive gores, commentary on the power of art/artist, etc.), the actual 'plot' of It Rides a Pale Horse is very thin, and leaves some fundamental questions unanswered. While it does add to the overall fever dream atmosphere, I do wish by the end I would have a firmer grasp on what exactly happened in the past 300+ pages.
Even though my overall reading experience wasn't stellar, It Rides a Pale Horse will for sure leave an impression; it has tons of jaw-dropping scenes (inspiring and gross in equal measure), and a concept I rarely come across in horror (the act of art-making = power to summon). I would definitely give it a try if you're already curious — just go in with an open-mind that it might not be what you're expecting.
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**
September 24, 2022
This book had an awesome premise but it was so confusing to me. The description of art and everything along with it I had to reread multiple times because it was so technical and difficult to comprehend. The dialogue between the characters broke up the seriousness of the art sections but overall I’m still not sure what the heck I read.
Lark and his sister Betsy are both well known in their small town. They are both artists though their styles differ dramatically. Lark is popular and Betsy has her quirks.
Lark goes to drop off a piece of art when he’s told by the man who commissioned it that his sister Betsy has been taken. He is instructed to do what the book says and Betsy will be fine.
Luke immediately realizes something is wrong with this bizarre book. It’s made of skin and seems demonic and the author is insane. He also believes the people that have Betsy have sinister plans as he witnesses the people in town start to change.
It Rides a Pale Horse is available October 4, 2022.
Thank you to Netgalley and Redhook Books for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
Lark and his sister Betsy are both well known in their small town. They are both artists though their styles differ dramatically. Lark is popular and Betsy has her quirks.
Lark goes to drop off a piece of art when he’s told by the man who commissioned it that his sister Betsy has been taken. He is instructed to do what the book says and Betsy will be fine.
Luke immediately realizes something is wrong with this bizarre book. It’s made of skin and seems demonic and the author is insane. He also believes the people that have Betsy have sinister plans as he witnesses the people in town start to change.
It Rides a Pale Horse is available October 4, 2022.
Thank you to Netgalley and Redhook Books for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
April 13, 2023
Off-the-wall cosmic/cult horror tale that doesn't just walk down the path of crazy, it takes its clothes off and runs screaming down it full tilt. The kind of book where when you finish it you sort of stare at a wall for a minute and wonder what the hell you just read. I don't rightly know, but it was horrifying and enjoyable despite the psychedelic skip down the crazy lane.
There is a lot of art terminology and stuff I didn't grasp in the writing, and I struggled initially with the writing style. When I got into the story though that kind of fell by the wayside as I enjoyed the plot and characters more than I struggled with the terms. If it was more of a smooth ride for me then I might have rated the book a bit higher but I still really loved it.
There was even a scene that got to me and had me put the book down for a bit. That transcendental moment in horror when something so terrible claws its way into your skin and disturbs you on a primal level. I think often that disturbing, horrific feeling is the dragon we all chase in being a horror fan. At least it is for me. It is sort of an out-of-body experience mixed with terror and revulsion not just in a physical sense but an emotional or spiritual one as well. That system shock, that sensation of primal fear, is almost indescribably both awful and full of wonder, and that is how I would best describe my overall time with this novel.
There is a lot of art terminology and stuff I didn't grasp in the writing, and I struggled initially with the writing style. When I got into the story though that kind of fell by the wayside as I enjoyed the plot and characters more than I struggled with the terms. If it was more of a smooth ride for me then I might have rated the book a bit higher but I still really loved it.
There was even a scene that got to me and had me put the book down for a bit. That transcendental moment in horror when something so terrible claws its way into your skin and disturbs you on a primal level. I think often that disturbing, horrific feeling is the dragon we all chase in being a horror fan. At least it is for me. It is sort of an out-of-body experience mixed with terror and revulsion not just in a physical sense but an emotional or spiritual one as well. That system shock, that sensation of primal fear, is almost indescribably both awful and full of wonder, and that is how I would best describe my overall time with this novel.
April 1, 2023
4.5⭐️ What a wild time!!! If you love weird fiction, artsy horror, and magical supernatural scifi(ish) elements you may really like this one. It’s also a subgenre that I can’t mention cause maybe it’s a spoiler? There is also the POV of a ghost! She might be my fave character. We are following artists throughout the story and the writing really reflects that, which may not be everyone’s vibe. And as is common with the subgenre, it’s pretty crazy and doesn’t offer much in the way of explanations, which might irritate some people but honestly all that is a-ok for me!
I’m such a huge fan of Andy Marino’s books at this point. I’ve only read his adult horror books but after Seven Visitations & this one, I’ll read anything from him now! He’s such a talented author imo. His stories are exactly what I want to be reading and if I could write, I’d want to put out stuff like this.
I’m such a huge fan of Andy Marino’s books at this point. I’ve only read his adult horror books but after Seven Visitations & this one, I’ll read anything from him now! He’s such a talented author imo. His stories are exactly what I want to be reading and if I could write, I’d want to put out stuff like this.
February 13, 2024
This was BLEAK, strange, and unlike anything else I’ve read in a long time. It makes me sad that so many people in the reviews gave up on it and quit reading.
Starting out, the book has a sort of Charlie Kaufman feel but with a magical realism twist that kicks in pretty early. Then the tone darkens. (And darkens, and darkens.) I almost got a tiny bit of House of Leaves vibes too, but I can’t explain why because this plot is nothing like HOL. Maybe because of the bizarre switches in POV? Since I feel like you should know what you’re getting into with this, I will reveal that there are chapters in this book that are narrated by a ghost. But even that character isn’t what you’re probably expecting when you think of the word “ghost.” It’s all a bit jarring.
The beginning of the book is also a tad confusing. At first I thought that maybe these characters were living on an old movie set or something but it turns out it was just a very quirky little old-fashioned town. Part of me thinks the setting was unnecessarily odd, but also the town and its inhabitants played a pretty big role in the story so it did serve a purpose. This is the sort of novel that requires a little patience, but the payoff and the journey are so rewarding. (As long as you can handle a dark and twisted experience.)
There’s a part when the ghost talks about how looking at a sculpture reminds her of a memory from her past, and makes her feel the same way that she felt in that moment but without altering the memory in any way. The art evoked the experience while at the same time preserving it and I thought that was such a perfect and beautiful way of explaining it. I feel the same way about both good art and sense memories, like when you smell certain things and you’re transported back to specific places.
The ghost POV chapters admittedly weren’t my fave. That character eventually grew on me, but I love reading fucked up stories about artists and I managed to get a lot of the specific art references in this, so I always wanted things to go back to the primary plot whenever the voice switched.
I feel like I’m not doing the book justice with my review. It’s just a tricky one to describe and I don’t want to give away the story. The two main characters are artists, a set of dark events is set into motion, and the town slowly dissolves into a sort of nightmare with strange, unsettling moments worthy of a David Lynch film. I know some people roll their eyes at a Lynch comparison but I don’t use it lightly and I always throw respect behind it, so calm down.
While the first part is more magical realism, the second half is straight up cosmic horror. But all of it is beautifully written and sophisticated, like a top shelf literary fiction with just a splash of Palahniuk. (Only a taste, so don’t worry if you’re a hater.)
One of the most disturbing movies ever for me personally was “Color Out of Space,” due to a specific set of scenes. There’s a part of this book that is very similar to it, and was just as upsetting. A few of the other, later horror visuals also made me think of Lars Von Trier’s “The House That Jack Built.”
The ending was fucked up and I did have to give it some thought to properly understand what had taken place. This book will stay with me for a while. One of the best reads of the year, for sure. I’ll be seeking out another of this author’s books very soon!
Starting out, the book has a sort of Charlie Kaufman feel but with a magical realism twist that kicks in pretty early. Then the tone darkens. (And darkens, and darkens.) I almost got a tiny bit of House of Leaves vibes too, but I can’t explain why because this plot is nothing like HOL. Maybe because of the bizarre switches in POV? Since I feel like you should know what you’re getting into with this, I will reveal that there are chapters in this book that are narrated by a ghost. But even that character isn’t what you’re probably expecting when you think of the word “ghost.” It’s all a bit jarring.
The beginning of the book is also a tad confusing. At first I thought that maybe these characters were living on an old movie set or something but it turns out it was just a very quirky little old-fashioned town. Part of me thinks the setting was unnecessarily odd, but also the town and its inhabitants played a pretty big role in the story so it did serve a purpose. This is the sort of novel that requires a little patience, but the payoff and the journey are so rewarding. (As long as you can handle a dark and twisted experience.)
There’s a part when the ghost talks about how looking at a sculpture reminds her of a memory from her past, and makes her feel the same way that she felt in that moment but without altering the memory in any way. The art evoked the experience while at the same time preserving it and I thought that was such a perfect and beautiful way of explaining it. I feel the same way about both good art and sense memories, like when you smell certain things and you’re transported back to specific places.
The ghost POV chapters admittedly weren’t my fave. That character eventually grew on me, but I love reading fucked up stories about artists and I managed to get a lot of the specific art references in this, so I always wanted things to go back to the primary plot whenever the voice switched.
I feel like I’m not doing the book justice with my review. It’s just a tricky one to describe and I don’t want to give away the story. The two main characters are artists, a set of dark events is set into motion, and the town slowly dissolves into a sort of nightmare with strange, unsettling moments worthy of a David Lynch film. I know some people roll their eyes at a Lynch comparison but I don’t use it lightly and I always throw respect behind it, so calm down.
While the first part is more magical realism, the second half is straight up cosmic horror. But all of it is beautifully written and sophisticated, like a top shelf literary fiction with just a splash of Palahniuk. (Only a taste, so don’t worry if you’re a hater.)
One of the most disturbing movies ever for me personally was “Color Out of Space,” due to a specific set of scenes. There’s a part of this book that is very similar to it, and was just as upsetting. A few of the other, later horror visuals also made me think of Lars Von Trier’s “The House That Jack Built.”
The ending was fucked up and I did have to give it some thought to properly understand what had taken place. This book will stay with me for a while. One of the best reads of the year, for sure. I’ll be seeking out another of this author’s books very soon!
January 5, 2023
I sooo wanted to give this one more star, because a lot of the imagery in it really is super well done and messed up. But honestly the last 100 pages, just totally lost me even more than I was before. Which also sucks because I thought it was getting better.
Cosmic horror has become one of my favorite things thanks to Ronald malfi, and I was hoping I could add this to my list of favorites. But I just really couldn’t, because the writing itself was just not good imo. I just couldn’t get into it at all.
It started introducing you to like 20 characters in like 5 pages, and just goes on from there. It’s a very disorienting writing style. I’m fine with big casts but not the way this author chose to go about it. And that’s only one of the aspects that made it hard to follow. For some reason the writing itself was really daunting and I found myself constantly rereading paragraphs because either 1.) I got bored midway through and zoned out because the author has a tendency to drone on and on about seemingly irrelevant things, or 2.) the prose and the way he chooses to compose sentences just makes it feel like a chore to read and it just ends up not making sense. I felt dumb half the book because sometimes it didn’t matter how much I reread, I still wasn’t following.
I also really love character based stories, especially when it’s siblings. “Black mouth” by Ronald malfi was one of those. That one made me cry. This one…. I could not have cared less about this sibling relationship. It wasn’t likable at all and I truly don’t understand Larks motivations for anything he did in this book, at all, but especially I didn’t understand his motivations when it came to Betsy. It felt very forced, and I didn’t really buy it.
The explanation as to what’s going on just felt sloppy to me. It was just not interesting. And not the museum interlude scenes…… sooo boring.
This did have a lot of nightmare inducing cosmic scenes. Like some of them were truly gross/ messed up. I for a while thought the weirdness and otherness of those scenes would be enough to make this at least a 3 star. Like the scene with the deformed cow and the thing in the jar….. just ew. Lol. And who can forget the naked man scene in the beginning?
But alas, it wasn’t enough.
If you’re curious it might be worth it. I also liked that this book incorporated artwork into the cosmic part of it. But the author managed to ruin that by droning on and on and just making it boring imo.
This book was like if H.P. lovecraft and Charles dickens had a baby. Cosmic but sooooo dull.
Will I read this author again? Maybe…. But probably not anytime soon. I think I was spoiled for his other book. So unless he comes out with something new soon, this is where we part for a while.
Cosmic horror has become one of my favorite things thanks to Ronald malfi, and I was hoping I could add this to my list of favorites. But I just really couldn’t, because the writing itself was just not good imo. I just couldn’t get into it at all.
It started introducing you to like 20 characters in like 5 pages, and just goes on from there. It’s a very disorienting writing style. I’m fine with big casts but not the way this author chose to go about it. And that’s only one of the aspects that made it hard to follow. For some reason the writing itself was really daunting and I found myself constantly rereading paragraphs because either 1.) I got bored midway through and zoned out because the author has a tendency to drone on and on about seemingly irrelevant things, or 2.) the prose and the way he chooses to compose sentences just makes it feel like a chore to read and it just ends up not making sense. I felt dumb half the book because sometimes it didn’t matter how much I reread, I still wasn’t following.
I also really love character based stories, especially when it’s siblings. “Black mouth” by Ronald malfi was one of those. That one made me cry. This one…. I could not have cared less about this sibling relationship. It wasn’t likable at all and I truly don’t understand Larks motivations for anything he did in this book, at all, but especially I didn’t understand his motivations when it came to Betsy. It felt very forced, and I didn’t really buy it.
The explanation as to what’s going on just felt sloppy to me. It was just not interesting. And not the museum interlude scenes…… sooo boring.
This did have a lot of nightmare inducing cosmic scenes. Like some of them were truly gross/ messed up. I for a while thought the weirdness and otherness of those scenes would be enough to make this at least a 3 star. Like the scene with the deformed cow and the thing in the jar….. just ew. Lol. And who can forget the naked man scene in the beginning?
But alas, it wasn’t enough.
If you’re curious it might be worth it. I also liked that this book incorporated artwork into the cosmic part of it. But the author managed to ruin that by droning on and on and just making it boring imo.
This book was like if H.P. lovecraft and Charles dickens had a baby. Cosmic but sooooo dull.
Will I read this author again? Maybe…. But probably not anytime soon. I think I was spoiled for his other book. So unless he comes out with something new soon, this is where we part for a while.
February 22, 2024
Omg wtf is this dude talking about??? It felt like a jumble of adjectives one after another that comes off like he is rambling. When he rambled about the book and then describing the absence of his sister when she is kidnapped. I made it 100 pages in before I said no thank you.
To start a book off already so confusing in the beginning and then expect your readers to follow along is just ridiculous to me. At least lay down how things are so I know how it's going to turn out. Don't confuse your readers with gibberish and random rambling because I'm 100 pages in and I can't tell you other than she gets kidnapped, there's a book, and some random person is now talking about art.
Honestly I don't even care. I don't care to write a review like I normally do because I have zero idea what is happening.
To start a book off already so confusing in the beginning and then expect your readers to follow along is just ridiculous to me. At least lay down how things are so I know how it's going to turn out. Don't confuse your readers with gibberish and random rambling because I'm 100 pages in and I can't tell you other than she gets kidnapped, there's a book, and some random person is now talking about art.
Honestly I don't even care. I don't care to write a review like I normally do because I have zero idea what is happening.
dnf
May 14, 2023Could NOT get into this book no matter how I tried! So disappointed. Maybe I’ll eventually pick it up and try again at some point.
Want to read
May 6, 2023It pains me to do this, but I just can't finish this one.
'Sydney Burgess' was possibly the most disturbing reading experience I've ever had. I'll never read It again, but, it was amazing. A Pale Horse is just not doing anything for me. It had a few ups and downs, and by part 2 I was really getting into It... until I wasn't. The story is convoluted AF. Others have enjoyed it, though. Give it a go if you love weird cosmic horror, art, with a sprinkling of fantasy.
DNF.
'Sydney Burgess' was possibly the most disturbing reading experience I've ever had. I'll never read It again, but, it was amazing. A Pale Horse is just not doing anything for me. It had a few ups and downs, and by part 2 I was really getting into It... until I wasn't. The story is convoluted AF. Others have enjoyed it, though. Give it a go if you love weird cosmic horror, art, with a sprinkling of fantasy.
DNF.
November 27, 2022
Wild ass ride!
September 27, 2022
Very smartly written and I loved the slow burn. This horror story is gritty and gruesome. An excellent read for Halloween month coming up! To say this is distinctive may be an understatement. I haven’t read anything quite like it. The story is about a brother and sister who are artists. The sister is uniquely talented, but considered “eccentric.” When delivering a piece of art, the brother finds that his sister has been abducted. The brother is told to follow the instructions in a book to sculpt a piece of art to save her. The writing here is beautiful, but buckle up for the gore. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and recommend to people who are okay with a great, gory scare. You’ve been warned! Thank you to Novel Suspects for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
Pub date: October 4, 2022
Pages: 344
November 15, 2022
WELL!!! As you all know I'm totally bias when it comes to anything that Hachette Publishing (Orbit, Redhook, etc) puts out. Soooo! Automatically its game on when it comes to their authors, it's as if they pick only the creme de la creme. They just don't let anyone write for them, and Marino comes full force with his; ' It Rides a Pale Horse.'
Thank you, Goodreads Giveaways, and to Andy Marino. I am ECSTATIC to have won a copy of this blood curdling, yet awesome book.
#GOODREADSGIVEAWAYS
#WINNER!
Thank you, Goodreads Giveaways, and to Andy Marino. I am ECSTATIC to have won a copy of this blood curdling, yet awesome book.
#GOODREADSGIVEAWAYS
#WINNER!
January 11, 2023
I started this one and couldn’t get past the 30 % mark. I can almost always push through and finish a book, even if it’s not my typical style. In this case however, I couldn’t sustain the suspension of disbelief from the get go. I found myself reading the same passages over and over again as the main character went off on long winded, non-relevant internal monologues. It felt a bit all over the place, similar to “the starless sea” which I also was unable to digest, but I know a lot of people loved.
December 10, 2025
"The Larkin siblings are known around the small town of Wofford Falls. Both are artists, but Peter Larkin, Lark to his friends, is the hometown hero. The one who went to the big city and got famous, then came back and settled down. He’s the kind of guy who becomes fast friends with almost anyone. His sister Betsy on the other hand is more… eccentric. She keeps to herself. When Lark goes to deliver one of his latest pieces to a fabulously rich buyer, it seems like a regular transaction. Even being met at the gate of the sprawling, secluded estate by an intimidating security guard seems normal. Until the guard plays him a live feed: Betsy being abducted in real time. Lark is informed that she’s safe for now, but her well‑being is entirely in his hands. He's given a book. Do what the book says, and Betsy will go free. It seems simple enough. But as Lark begins to read he realizes: the book might be demonic. Its writer may be unhinged. His sister's captors are almost certainly not what they seem. And his town and those within it are... changing.
This story is all over the place, but it does all tie together very well with for our characters of Peter Larkin..."Lark", and his sister, Betsy. We have to include their hometown of Wofford Falls as it's almost another "character" by itself. The story has a lot of different twists and turns, some that are shocking and dramatic, and others more stretched out in a very slow-burn manner.
The story is mostly told from Larkin's view, but we also get occasional points littered throughout, featuring a surprising and somewhat mysterious character. This author seems to have a "way with words" and can paint incredibly vivid and captivating images. Everything from the awe-inspiring to the really grotesque and disconcerting. Goose-bump material at its best.
I actually really enjoy horror novels that are slow-paced and take their time with things, but there were a few times where I just wanted this to move on a little faster. That being said, I really did appreciate the slower pace. Things also sometimes became really, really weird...or "weirder", and there were moments where I felt like I had maybe missed something important. Other than those little things, I really did enjoy reading this. Overall, I loved this authors style of writing and will certainly look for more of his offerings.
If you choose to read It Rides a Pale Horse, be prepared to be slowly led to the gradual deterioration of both the characters and the town...but I can promise you that it will be well worth the ride. This one has more than earned a 5-star rating.
This story is all over the place, but it does all tie together very well with for our characters of Peter Larkin..."Lark", and his sister, Betsy. We have to include their hometown of Wofford Falls as it's almost another "character" by itself. The story has a lot of different twists and turns, some that are shocking and dramatic, and others more stretched out in a very slow-burn manner.
The story is mostly told from Larkin's view, but we also get occasional points littered throughout, featuring a surprising and somewhat mysterious character. This author seems to have a "way with words" and can paint incredibly vivid and captivating images. Everything from the awe-inspiring to the really grotesque and disconcerting. Goose-bump material at its best.
I actually really enjoy horror novels that are slow-paced and take their time with things, but there were a few times where I just wanted this to move on a little faster. That being said, I really did appreciate the slower pace. Things also sometimes became really, really weird...or "weirder", and there were moments where I felt like I had maybe missed something important. Other than those little things, I really did enjoy reading this. Overall, I loved this authors style of writing and will certainly look for more of his offerings.
If you choose to read It Rides a Pale Horse, be prepared to be slowly led to the gradual deterioration of both the characters and the town...but I can promise you that it will be well worth the ride. This one has more than earned a 5-star rating.
November 28, 2023
The blurb for this book sounds incredibly intriguing, but as you start to read you realize it's also incredibly misleading.
Yes, Peter's sister is kidnapped and held hostage until Peter completes what's in the book, but this makes it seem like we're about to embark on some epic adventure. Instead, the book is instructions to a sculpture that will bring the God of the Noose (something like that) back to life. The entire town begins to get affected as Peter makes progress on the sculpture.
Not only do we follow Peter's trials with the sculpture, but the other half of this book is written from the perspective of a ghost trapped in the underground warehouse that Peter's sister is being kept hostage. The culprits are a sibling duo that have some immortal quality to them thanks to some cult stuff. I don't even know. They like experimenting on the artsy fartsy of the world, thus the underground warehouse.
I guess I just felt lied to and let down by this blurb. With how much this book is about art it's fleetingly mentioned in the blurb and makes it seem like it's just a plot device rather than the entire plot. The writing was not "user-friendly" and lots of time would be spent detailing something that didn't contribute to the story. I enjoyed the parts reading about the townspeople and the culty siblings, but I was super annoyed with Peter.
There's also a magical realism element to this book, which was very confusing to me since I wasn't prepared for this going in. Peter's sister gives Peter a gift at the beginning. The gift is only described but never defined, and it's disturbing for Peter's friends to see the gift. It's something that's alive and can change its shape, yet all Peter does it throw it in the back of his car and change the topic. Ummmm SIR. Maybe you don't want to explain yourself to your friends, but can you at least let me in on it?
Overall, it was just frustrating to read and the writing style didn't help my plot disappointments much. A sad 1 Star.
Yes, Peter's sister is kidnapped and held hostage until Peter completes what's in the book, but this makes it seem like we're about to embark on some epic adventure. Instead, the book is instructions to a sculpture that will bring the God of the Noose (something like that) back to life. The entire town begins to get affected as Peter makes progress on the sculpture.
Not only do we follow Peter's trials with the sculpture, but the other half of this book is written from the perspective of a ghost trapped in the underground warehouse that Peter's sister is being kept hostage. The culprits are a sibling duo that have some immortal quality to them thanks to some cult stuff. I don't even know. They like experimenting on the artsy fartsy of the world, thus the underground warehouse.
I guess I just felt lied to and let down by this blurb. With how much this book is about art it's fleetingly mentioned in the blurb and makes it seem like it's just a plot device rather than the entire plot. The writing was not "user-friendly" and lots of time would be spent detailing something that didn't contribute to the story. I enjoyed the parts reading about the townspeople and the culty siblings, but I was super annoyed with Peter.
There's also a magical realism element to this book, which was very confusing to me since I wasn't prepared for this going in. Peter's sister gives Peter a gift at the beginning. The gift is only described but never defined, and it's disturbing for Peter's friends to see the gift. It's something that's alive and can change its shape, yet all Peter does it throw it in the back of his car and change the topic. Ummmm SIR. Maybe you don't want to explain yourself to your friends, but can you at least let me in on it?
Overall, it was just frustrating to read and the writing style didn't help my plot disappointments much. A sad 1 Star.
May 28, 2023
I like weird. I like books that are so wild that you have to re-read portions of not the whole book to understand what's even remotely going on. But this wasn't it for me. I liked a few concepts. The story of Betsy's mural, Kalina's story, the COW SCENE!!! Some unbelievable elements. But I hated the prose, and the ending was an abrupt disaster. Like I loathe the ending. This is a divisive book but even those who dig this book hate that ending.
May 11, 2022
After reading and loving The Seven Visitations of Sydney Burgess, I was thrilled to see galleys of a new book by Andy Marino made available on Netgalley and Edelweiss. It Rides a Pale Horse does not disappoint. You’ll want to pre-order this one.
January 24, 2023
Bro wtf 😭😭 this shit was so insane, I absolutely love horror but I read/watch a lot, so it’s hard to make me squirm. This was squirm city, squirm central. Outstanding.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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August 11, 2022Review in the August 2022 issue of Booklist and on the blog: https://raforall.blogspot.com/2022/08...
Three Words That Describe This Book: escalating terror, disorienting, cosmic
A huge artist frame.
Readalikes: The Twisted Ones by T. Kingfisher meets Slide House by David Mitchell with a touch of Lovecraft Country.
Three Words That Describe This Book: escalating terror, disorienting, cosmic
A huge artist frame.
Readalikes: The Twisted Ones by T. Kingfisher meets Slide House by David Mitchell with a touch of Lovecraft Country.
September 24, 2023
Why? just why?... Why was any of this happening?
How was this happening?
What was the point of this?
I could not get into the writing and I was not invested in the plot.
It was a really interesting idea with some great scenes.. I was just never invested in anything :/
How was this happening?
What was the point of this?
I could not get into the writing and I was not invested in the plot.
It was a really interesting idea with some great scenes.. I was just never invested in anything :/
October 29, 2023
I don’t even know.
June 3, 2024
Holy hell, why are painters all so dramatical? Remind me to never read a book about an artist again. I'll stick to reading books about writers like a normal Stephen King fan.
October 12, 2022
This is a surreal and bizarre book...and I mean that in a good way.
I'd looked at reviews before reading this and saw that some folks were confused by the book - I get that. It took a few chapters for this one to settle into my psyche. But once it did, it stayed.
There's a certain grotesque beauty to this one and, as I write this, I think that the emphasis really needs to be on the grotesque. Go in eyes wide open - this one gets gruesome.
However, it's also compelling. I liked our main character and eventually liked his sister as well. I definitely wanted to know how it would all end.
Not an easy read, but a worthwhile one.
*ARC via Publisher
I'd looked at reviews before reading this and saw that some folks were confused by the book - I get that. It took a few chapters for this one to settle into my psyche. But once it did, it stayed.
There's a certain grotesque beauty to this one and, as I write this, I think that the emphasis really needs to be on the grotesque. Go in eyes wide open - this one gets gruesome.
However, it's also compelling. I liked our main character and eventually liked his sister as well. I definitely wanted to know how it would all end.
Not an easy read, but a worthwhile one.
*ARC via Publisher
September 14, 2022
I won this book in a goodreads drawing.
Small town horror. A pair of siblings are artists in a small town in Upstate New York. The brother, Larkin, is mildly famous, and is popular throughout the town. The sister, Betsy, seems a bit mentally unstable, and is at the center of an incident that the whole town still talks about, even though it happened years ago.
Larkin sells a pieced'art, and things start out relatively normal, but then is shown a video of his sister being kidnapped in real time. To free her, all he has to do is follow directions in an old book.
Lovecraftian, but much bloodier.
Small town horror. A pair of siblings are artists in a small town in Upstate New York. The brother, Larkin, is mildly famous, and is popular throughout the town. The sister, Betsy, seems a bit mentally unstable, and is at the center of an incident that the whole town still talks about, even though it happened years ago.
Larkin sells a pieced'art, and things start out relatively normal, but then is shown a video of his sister being kidnapped in real time. To free her, all he has to do is follow directions in an old book.
Lovecraftian, but much bloodier.
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