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Where Dark Things Grow
From the author of JESUS IN THE TRAILER, comes WHERE DARK THINGS GROW, a novel of Appalachian Gothic horror with elements of magical realism and folklore.
Fifteen-year-old Leo is watching the world crumble. His father is missing and his mother is slipping into madness as she cares for Leo, his sick sister Goldfish, and two useless brothers. Relatives are no help and the church folk have turned their backs in the middle of the Great Depression.
When he discovers an enchanted wulver from ancient folklore that will do his bidding, he decides to settle old scores. Revenge is sweet, but Leo soon learns he can’t control what he’s unleashed. It takes his spitfire best friend Lilyfax to help Leo overcome his anger and try to escape the wulver’s evil. As they search for his father, Leo, Lilyfax, and friends are pursued by dark forces and pulled into a rescue effort to find and save trafficked girls rumored to have been taken by the mysterious Blue Man.
Featuring elements of horror, folklore, and magical realism, Where Dark Things Grow is a dark bildungsroman set squarely in the place and culture of the 1930s Southern Appalachian Mountains.
Early praise for WHERE DARK THINGS GROW:
As haunting as all fireside stories should be. Where Dark Things Grow will make you sleep with the lights on.
– Jason Mott, winner of the National Book Award, and author of Hell of a Book
Stephen King meets Appalachia meets Flannery O'Connor's the Misfit.
– Leslie Pietrzyk, author of Admit this to No One
Where Dark Things Grow is a chilling, poetic debut. With gorgeous language and gothic ghosts, Andrew K. Clark will break your heart on one page and make your skin crawl on the next.
– Ivy Pochoda, author of Sing Her Down
With roots as deep and tangled as the blue man's trees, Where Dark Things Grow is a mesmerizing tale of magic and monsters, of family and fate, but also a reflection on the problem of power and the weight of abuses the most vulnerable carry, and how maybe we should be looking to the children to save us. A bold debut from a natural storyteller.
– Meagan Lucas, author of Songbirds and Stray Dogs and Here in the Dark
Let me be plain – Where Dark Things Grow is full of magic, in the deepest, oldest sense of the word. At times endearing, at times brutal, but at all times haunting, Andrew K. Clark's debut novel is a spiraling tale in the greatest tradition of the Southern Gothic. Creeping out of the mythic and the monsters, the Old Testament revenge lines and the old world occult, is a tale of men and women, boys and girls, each at their most fallible, each being tempted and tested. This is not the sort of praise I throw around lightly, but it must be said- with Where Dark Things Grow Clark has made his mark in Appalachian literature.
– Steph Post, author of Miraculum
Fifteen-year-old Leo is watching the world crumble. His father is missing and his mother is slipping into madness as she cares for Leo, his sick sister Goldfish, and two useless brothers. Relatives are no help and the church folk have turned their backs in the middle of the Great Depression.
When he discovers an enchanted wulver from ancient folklore that will do his bidding, he decides to settle old scores. Revenge is sweet, but Leo soon learns he can’t control what he’s unleashed. It takes his spitfire best friend Lilyfax to help Leo overcome his anger and try to escape the wulver’s evil. As they search for his father, Leo, Lilyfax, and friends are pursued by dark forces and pulled into a rescue effort to find and save trafficked girls rumored to have been taken by the mysterious Blue Man.
Featuring elements of horror, folklore, and magical realism, Where Dark Things Grow is a dark bildungsroman set squarely in the place and culture of the 1930s Southern Appalachian Mountains.
Early praise for WHERE DARK THINGS GROW:
As haunting as all fireside stories should be. Where Dark Things Grow will make you sleep with the lights on.
– Jason Mott, winner of the National Book Award, and author of Hell of a Book
Stephen King meets Appalachia meets Flannery O'Connor's the Misfit.
– Leslie Pietrzyk, author of Admit this to No One
Where Dark Things Grow is a chilling, poetic debut. With gorgeous language and gothic ghosts, Andrew K. Clark will break your heart on one page and make your skin crawl on the next.
– Ivy Pochoda, author of Sing Her Down
With roots as deep and tangled as the blue man's trees, Where Dark Things Grow is a mesmerizing tale of magic and monsters, of family and fate, but also a reflection on the problem of power and the weight of abuses the most vulnerable carry, and how maybe we should be looking to the children to save us. A bold debut from a natural storyteller.
– Meagan Lucas, author of Songbirds and Stray Dogs and Here in the Dark
Let me be plain – Where Dark Things Grow is full of magic, in the deepest, oldest sense of the word. At times endearing, at times brutal, but at all times haunting, Andrew K. Clark's debut novel is a spiraling tale in the greatest tradition of the Southern Gothic. Creeping out of the mythic and the monsters, the Old Testament revenge lines and the old world occult, is a tale of men and women, boys and girls, each at their most fallible, each being tempted and tested. This is not the sort of praise I throw around lightly, but it must be said- with Where Dark Things Grow Clark has made his mark in Appalachian literature.
– Steph Post, author of Miraculum
308 pages, Paperback
Expected publication September 10, 2024
About the author
Andrew K. Clark
3 books28 followersAndrew K. Clark is a writer from Asheville, NC where his people settled before The Revolutionary War. His poetry collection, Jesus in the Trailer was published by Main Street Rag Press and short-listed for the Able Muse Book Award. His debut novel, Where Dark Things Grow, is forthcoming from Cowboy Jamboree Press September 10, 2024. His work has appeared in The American Journal of Poetry, UCLA’s Out of Anonymity, Appalachian Review, Rappahannock Review, The Wrath Bearing Tree, and many other journals. He received his MFA from Converse College.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 26, 2024
Stephen King’s Stand by Me/The Body meets Old Gods of Appalachia with a distinctive dark fairy-tale like storytelling cadence. I loved the way that the characters were so nuanced- there are no one-dimensional characters here.
If I could give half stars I would; the only thing that’s keeping me from making this a 5 star read is that I felt concepts like illness and the loss of rural children to diseases that could have been treated elsewhere were introduced but not quite fully developed.
All told, this book isn’t quite like anything I’ve read before, and it’s a solid first novel. I’m looking forward to seeing what Andrew K. Clark has to offer in the future!
If I could give half stars I would; the only thing that’s keeping me from making this a 5 star read is that I felt concepts like illness and the loss of rural children to diseases that could have been treated elsewhere were introduced but not quite fully developed.
All told, this book isn’t quite like anything I’ve read before, and it’s a solid first novel. I’m looking forward to seeing what Andrew K. Clark has to offer in the future!
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July 17, 2024
Thank you author Andrew K. Clark for the gifted eARC of "Where Dark Things Grow" published by Cowboy Jamboree Press. All opinions expressed are mine alone. "Where Dark Things Grow" will be widely available 09/10/24.
What to Expect:
🌲 Coming of age story
🌲 Magical realism
🌲 Atmospheric and eerie Appalachian setting
🌲 Monsters
🌲 Ancient folklore
🫶 What worked for me...
"Where Dark Things Grow" was absolutely amazing! It takes place in 1920s Appalachia with a whole new spin on gothic horror, including magical realism components. Clark, a master of poetry, brings his debut novel to life with beautiful imagery and atmospheric details but not overwhelming the reader. From the beginning to the end, I was completely invested in the story and setting. It's captivating, and you'll be rooting alongside the main character Leo in the quest of his personal life and also saving the lives of others. Along with the darkest of monsters, finding revenge and himself along the way. With a full cast of characters, be they good or bad, there's something for everyone in this novel.
🤷♀️ What didn't work for me...
I honestly couldn't find anything negative about this novel. I was here for the ride, and it didn't disappoint.
🤔 Would I recommend it...
I absolutely would recommend this beautifully written story! Although magical realism isn't usually my cup of tea, I really enjoyed it. There was just enough of it to make it very interesting and exciting. Anyone who enjoys gothic horror with a flair of magical realism is going to want to add this to their reading list ASAP. Don't wait on this one.
What to Expect:
🌲 Coming of age story
🌲 Magical realism
🌲 Atmospheric and eerie Appalachian setting
🌲 Monsters
🌲 Ancient folklore
🫶 What worked for me...
"Where Dark Things Grow" was absolutely amazing! It takes place in 1920s Appalachia with a whole new spin on gothic horror, including magical realism components. Clark, a master of poetry, brings his debut novel to life with beautiful imagery and atmospheric details but not overwhelming the reader. From the beginning to the end, I was completely invested in the story and setting. It's captivating, and you'll be rooting alongside the main character Leo in the quest of his personal life and also saving the lives of others. Along with the darkest of monsters, finding revenge and himself along the way. With a full cast of characters, be they good or bad, there's something for everyone in this novel.
🤷♀️ What didn't work for me...
I honestly couldn't find anything negative about this novel. I was here for the ride, and it didn't disappoint.
🤔 Would I recommend it...
I absolutely would recommend this beautifully written story! Although magical realism isn't usually my cup of tea, I really enjoyed it. There was just enough of it to make it very interesting and exciting. Anyone who enjoys gothic horror with a flair of magical realism is going to want to add this to their reading list ASAP. Don't wait on this one.
July 23, 2024
Andrew K. Clark knocked it out of the park with his debut novel Where Dark Things Grow. I received an advanced copy of the book, and I say freely with no reservations, I absolutely love this book. It checks all the boxes in my list of “must-haves” for a good horror story.
Spooky atmosphere? Check. Characters I care about? Check. Despicable but multi-layered villain? Check. Well-paced story with a great hook and a satisfactory ending? Check. Unique supernatural creatures? Check. Excellent description? Check.
And most importantly of all…Is it scary? Check.
Good horror writers are able to blend excellent characterization with setting as they create a tension-filled plot, and Clark shows he knows well how to do that. It should come as no surprise that Clark is also a poet since his prose flows smoothly and beautifully as he builds his story and characters. But unlike some authors who seem willing to sacrifice a scene in search of the perfect, memorable phrase, Clark’s effective and evocative prose doesn’t get in the way of the story. You’re mindful it’s good writing, but the flow of the story remains steady.
Being from the Appalachian region of the US, I am also especially appreciative, or critical, of how writers depict my area. Not to worry. As was evident in his first published book, an excellent book of poems set in the South called Jesus in the Trailer, Clark knows his people.
Where Dark Things Grow tells a complete story, but I feel there are quite likely more tales to come from the mythos Clark created in this novel. And I can’t wait.
Spooky atmosphere? Check. Characters I care about? Check. Despicable but multi-layered villain? Check. Well-paced story with a great hook and a satisfactory ending? Check. Unique supernatural creatures? Check. Excellent description? Check.
And most importantly of all…Is it scary? Check.
Good horror writers are able to blend excellent characterization with setting as they create a tension-filled plot, and Clark shows he knows well how to do that. It should come as no surprise that Clark is also a poet since his prose flows smoothly and beautifully as he builds his story and characters. But unlike some authors who seem willing to sacrifice a scene in search of the perfect, memorable phrase, Clark’s effective and evocative prose doesn’t get in the way of the story. You’re mindful it’s good writing, but the flow of the story remains steady.
Being from the Appalachian region of the US, I am also especially appreciative, or critical, of how writers depict my area. Not to worry. As was evident in his first published book, an excellent book of poems set in the South called Jesus in the Trailer, Clark knows his people.
Where Dark Things Grow tells a complete story, but I feel there are quite likely more tales to come from the mythos Clark created in this novel. And I can’t wait.
July 19, 2024
Clark breathes life into characters who move us through scenes rich in atmosphere and emotion – sometimes comprised of light and beauty, other times foreboding and heinous – until we are hand in hand with the main characters, Leo and Lilyfax. Leo's journey starts with a desire for power over circumstances he cannot control but quickly expands to seeing the world through a lens of collectivism. Apparitions, beasts, and villains lure him literally and figuratively from his path. Meanwhile, his feisty friend Lilyfax acts as a moral compass guiding him toward maturity and away from his most destructive instincts.
From page one, Clark's luminescent prose immerses you in a world of magical realism and dark folklore. The Great Depression is an apt backdrop for elements of the Southern Gothic style Clark embodies as a poet. Looking closely at these themes, one can glean social commentary on contemporary issues such as family, gender equality, mental illness, poverty, and justice. While vividly Appalachian, these social issues reach far beyond the mountains of the South. Where Dark Things Grow is a fascinating story that lingers after the final page, earning its place among the finest tales of Appalachian magic and folklore.
From page one, Clark's luminescent prose immerses you in a world of magical realism and dark folklore. The Great Depression is an apt backdrop for elements of the Southern Gothic style Clark embodies as a poet. Looking closely at these themes, one can glean social commentary on contemporary issues such as family, gender equality, mental illness, poverty, and justice. While vividly Appalachian, these social issues reach far beyond the mountains of the South. Where Dark Things Grow is a fascinating story that lingers after the final page, earning its place among the finest tales of Appalachian magic and folklore.
July 20, 2024
Part Southern Gothic, part horror, part folklore, this novel captivates from beginning to end. But don't get the wrong idea: this isn't just page-turner genre fiction. The writing is rich and vivid, the characters real and poignant. In the tradition of the best magic realism, this is a story about people, and they deal with their problems like real people do--only some of them can summon the preternatural to their aid.
July 2, 2024
The intriguing storyline, excellent character development, and set in 1930s WNC all make for a great story. I loved this book.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews