A Haunting Fusion of Hemingway and Lovecraft

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Jorah Kai's The Sun Also Rises on Cthulhu is a brilliant reimagining of Ernest Hemingway’s classic The Sun Also Rises, infused with a chilling Lovecraftian twist. Kai takes Hemingway’s disillusioned characters and places them into a surreal world where reality warps under the weight of cosmic horrors. The result is a haunting experience that blends Hemingway’s minimalist prose with Lovecraft’s psychological terror.

About the Book: The Sun Also Rises on Cthulhu

Kai mirrors Hemingway’s characters—particularly Jack and Brett—perfectly but pushes them into a nightmarish reality where time, logic, and emotion break down. The sparse, direct style evokes deep emotions with minimal words, though the repetition typical of Hemingway's dialogue works here to amplify the tension. It’s a masterful use of the author’s signature approach to convey mental and emotional unraveling.

The horror in this novel isn’t cheap; it’s existential, slow-burning, and pervasive. Figures like Cthulhu and Nyarlathotep add an incomprehensible dread that mirrors the characters’ own internal struggles. The fear is not built on gore but on the creeping realization that human frailty means nothing in the face of an uncaring, vast cosmos.

BookHookup Review: The Sun Also Rises on Cthulhu

Though I’m not deeply familiar with Lovecraft, I appreciated the way Kai integrated the cosmic elements. The epilogue is especially compelling, teasing a future mash-up with another well-known author that leaves you eager for more.

The Sun Also Rises on Cthulhu is a triumph for both Hemingway and Lovecraft fans. Kai has crafted a journey through madness that seamlessly blends literary depth with cosmic horror. If you love Hemingway’s style and enjoy psychological terror, this is an unforgettable read.

While I may not be an avid Hemingway enthusiast, Jorah Kai’s skill in weaving his own unique narrative voice with the shadow of Hemingway’s prose shines through. As a fan of Kai’s fantasy work, I found The Sun Also Rises on Cthulhu to be a fascinating exploration of existential horror. It’s a haunting, thought-provoking experience that lingers long after the final page.

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As BookHookup Reviews, I received an advance reader copy of this book and was not compensated for providing this review.

Paranormal urban mystery and suspense

The Beached Ones by Colleen M. Story delivers an eerily haunting story around Danny, a young man who grows up in a rundown Butte trailer park with his single mom and younger brother Tony. Danny is the responsible one in the family, doing his best to protect Tony from the dysfunctional consequences of a mother who drinks, works longs shifts, and entertains an endless line of no-good boyfriends at the expense of her children.

When Danny graduates from high school and can finally escape the trailer they call hell-hole, he is torn about leaving Tony behind. But it is the only way things can change. Danny leaves and achieves his dreams but then something happens. He wakes on a beach littered with stranded whales and has no memory of how he got there. As he searches for answers he runs into one strange occurrence after another. Clues are cleverly delivered from Danny’s POV that take him on a bizarre trip as he pieces together his past and present to figure out what is going on as he races against time to pick up his brother from camp.

Book review: The Beached Ones

The glue of this story is the unbreakable bond between Danny and his younger brother. Colleen Story’s masterful sensory details offer subtle clues to help figure things out, as she weaves Danny’s memories of the past with the present into the unpredictable with page-turning urgency as he meets up with his ex. A girl who see ghosts. Story delivers the coup de grâce as all the emotionally charged pieces come together with a clear resolution.

I award The Beached Ones with a strong 4 stars and recommend it for readers who enjoy paranormal, vampire, drama, and suspense. However, I do add a caveat for those who are sensitive to the topic of suicide. Those who have been touched by this tragedy may not enjoy this book, but others who have contemplated taking their lives may find it helpful. I can’t predict which for every individual. For me, it left me feeling melancholy but found it a very good read. 

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I received a copy of this book through Black Phoenix Book Tours and have not been compensated for reviewing or recommending it. Some links in this post are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and affiliate sites.

 

About the Author

Colleen M. Story is a novelist, freelance writer, writing coach, and speaker with over 20 years in the creative writing industry. Her latest novel, "The Beached Ones," released from CamCat Books on July 26th, 2022. Her previous novel, "Loreena's Gift," was a Foreword Reviews’ INDIES Book of the Year Awards winner, among others.

Colleen has written three books to help writers succeed. "Your Writing Matters" was a bronze medal winner in the Reader Views Literary Awards (2022). "Writer Get Noticed!" was a gold-medal winner in the Reader’s Favorite Book Awards and a first-place winner in the Reader Views Literary Awards (2019). "Overwhelmed Writer Rescue" was named Book by Book Publicity’s Best Writing/Publishing Book in 2018.

With over 20 years as a professional in the creative industry, Colleen has authored thousands of articles for publications like “Healthline” and “Women’s Health;” worked with high-profile clients like Gerber Baby Products and Kellogg’s; and ghostwritten books on back pain, nutrition, and cancer recovery. She continues to work as a full-time freelance writer, helping clients create informative and inspiring communications in a variety of media formats.

Colleen frequently serves as a workshop leader, writing coach, and motivational speaker, where she helps attendees remove mental and emotional blocks and tap into their unique creative powers.

A lifelong musician, Colleen plays the French horn in her local symphony and pit orchestras. When not writing, she’s reading, practicing yoga, listening to music, exploring the beautiful Northwest, and making up more challenging games for her smart German Shepherd to play.

Find more at her author website (colleenmstory.com), motivational website (writingandwellness.com), and mystical blog (lifeandeverythingafter.com), or connect with her on Twitter (@colleen_m_story) and YouTube (youtube.com/c/ColleenStoryteller).