Devilishly Good Fantasy Book: Horns by Joe Hill

Title: Horns
Author: Joe Hill
Pages: 416
Genre: Fantasy

Ignatius Perrish appears to be a regular small town guy, who for some reason attracts the ire of practically everyone he meets. Ig, as he is referred to in the novel, suffers a tragic loss. His one true love, Merrin was violated and murdered. Instead of consolation, Ig is barraged by accusations of guilt. The entire town believes the evidence destroyed in a fire was the work of his wealthy father. In Horns: A Novel, author Joe Hill takes the reader into a world that straddles the delicate border between paranormal and Christianity.

Although the case never made it to trial, Ignatius cannot escape the scrutiny of the community. To make matters worse, his entire family believes he committed the vile act. For some inexplicable reason, his family has the audacity to tell him to his face just how much they hate and despise him, even though he has never given them cause to feel such a way. His only crime is that he tends to drink too much and occasionally ends up in a scrap with the local police.

Ig knows he did not kill Merrin, but he needs to find out who did and why. One night, while feeling depressed, Ig drinks himself into a stupor. When he wakes in the morning, he has no recollection of what happened or what he might have done the previous night. He soon begins to worry, because he discovers what appear to be horns growing out from his forehead. Initially, he believes he is hallucinating; however, he soon becomes aware that others can also see his horns.

As the tale thickens, Ig becomes privy to everyone’s darkest secrets. Each person he comes into contact with is compelled to reveal deeply buried sentiments, indiscretions and crimes. Why they confess is a mystery to Ig, but he is learning to use this information to his advantage. After all, it may lead him to the identity of the killer.

Hill has a talent for questioning mainstream belief systems. What constitutes good? What defines evil? He delves into the psyche to examine why hypocrisy and dishonesty are tolerated and accepted in a society that claims to harbor disgust for such behavior. All the preconceived notions, trappings and beliefs surrounding the devil, or Satan also appear in the novel. Some of which are very humorous and amusing. A scene involving a blue dress and references to the Rolling Stones provides a good contrast and chuckle to the omnipresent horror. Joe Hill has excelled in finding his own path to the horror genre in Horns, setting him apart from his famous father Stephen King.