The Wakening

J.G. Faherty

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'The Wakening' by J.G. Faherty is a dark and terrifying story set in Hastings Mills, New York, where a haunted house starts to show signs of demonic possession. The narrative unfolds through various points of view and different time frames, following documentary filmmaker Stone Graves and his crew as they delve into the supernatural. The plot involves a retired priest, a powerful Prince of Hell, urban legends, psychic twins, a defrocked priest, and a ghost hunting reality TV star, all caught in a battle of good versus evil. The writing style is described as fast-paced, suspenseful, and complex, keeping readers on edge and questioning their beliefs about faith and the supernatural.

Characters:

The characters range from relatable to despised, showcasing a diverse cast that is intricately linked to the central demon.

Writing/Prose:

The writing is well-crafted and fast-paced, demanding readers' attention while providing a clear narrative.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot is dark and revolves around themes of evil, exorcism, and supernatural events, featuring intertwined characters encountering a powerful demon.

Setting:

The story is set in a collegiate town in New York, featuring a haunted house and integrating both academic and suburban contexts.

Pacing:

The pacing is rapid and packed with action, leading to a somewhat rushed climax that some readers found overwhelming.

Notes:

The Wakening is a standalone horror novel by J.G. Faherty.

It features themes of demonic possession and exorcism.

The story is set in a college town in upstate New York.

Father Leo is a central character, a retired exorcist professor.

The plot includes a television crew investigating paranormal phenomena.

The book has a complex web of characters who eventually converge in the story.

Readers found it so frightening they couldn't read it at night.

The writing style is described as clear and easy to follow, similar to classic horror authors.

The book has received comparisons to The Exorcist for its haunting themes.

Certain scenes are said to be based on real-life exorcism stories, specifically related to Ed and Lorraine Warren.

It includes elements of suspense, with readers experiencing chills and thrills throughout.

The book doesn't rely heavily on graphic violence or sexual content, though some sensitive topics are addressed.

The ending has been noted to feel rushed, with some wanting more development towards the climax.

Several readers praised the fast-paced action and well-developed characters.

The narrative involves a mix of modern supernatural elements with traditional horror tropes.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include themes of child endangerment, references to sexual misconduct, possession, supernatural violence, and psychological trauma.

From The Publisher:

A team of paranormal investigators, a priest and a defrocked priest with a dark secret join forces to combat of a vengeful ancient demon, and the evil spreading throughout a small New York town.

Fifty years ago, Father Leo Bonaventura, a young exorcist, cast a demon out from a young boy in Central America. The demon, Asmodeus, vowed revenge. Now the demon has returned, in the same town where Bonaventura is a retired priest nearing the end of his life. In a series of not-so-coincidental events, the possession of a young girl brings together an unlikely group of people, all of whom are linked in their pasts in some way: A group of paranormal investigators, including twin psychics. Robert Lockhart, a defrocked priest with a dark secret that only the twins know. A father whose dead wife was a college girlfriend of Robert's and once conjured an evil spirit with him through a Ouiji board. Now they must all join forces and help Father Bonaventura rid the town not only of Asmodeus, but also the plague of poltergeists that have followed the demon into our world.

FLAME TREE PRESS is the imprint of long-standing Independent Flame Tree Publishing, dedicated to full-length original fiction in the horror and suspense, science fiction & fantasy, and crime / mystery / thriller categories. The list brings together fantastic new authors and the more established; the award winners, and exciting, original voices.

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