Horns by author Joe Hill is a dark fantasy novel that also feautures contemporary fantasy, crime fiction, and gothic fiction. The plot follows the journey that the “hero”  Ignatius “Ig” Perrish goes on. It all begins one day when he wakes up and finds that horns have literally grown out the top of his forhead and that they give him not only the ability to look into peoples lives, but it also causes those around him to blurt out the truth. At first, it’s horrible as he’s the prime suspect in the brutal murder of his girlfriend Merrin Williams and although he’s actually never been charged, the entire town, including his family, all believe him to be guilty and now bluntly tell him that. Soon though, he begins to realize that he can use his new powers in order to find who’s guilty and get revenge.

To be honest with you, the only reason I even picked this novel was because I read somewhere that Joe Hill was in fact a pen name for Joseph Hillstrom King, as in the son of Stephen King, one of my favorite authors of all time. But what’s amazing is the fact that I thought this was a really well written novel. I found that it had phenomenal character development and told an immensly intriguing and original story. What I find to be purely amazing is that two amazing authors can be in one family. In fact, I believe the rest of the immediate King family are also writers.

If you don’t believe me when I say that this is a great novel, it may also intigue you that there’s going to be a film adaption starring Daniel Radcliffe in the lead role with James Remar and Juno Temple in supporting roles.  The film is directed by Alexandre Aja who those that are fans of the horror movie genre will know as the guy who made the Hills Have Eyes and the Piranha remake. The movie was released on September  6 at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival  with a theatrical release expected somtime next year. Joe Hill himself was there and praised Radcliffe’s performance.

“Wrenching, vulnerable, emotionally naked performance that isn’t like anything he’s ever done on screen before. He is such a wonderful Ig Perrish,” Hill said.

Long story short, I definitely recommend reading this novel, but I feel that I should also warn you, despite the novel’s highly ridiculous premise, this an immensely dark story that probably isn’t going to be for everyone.