Book Review: Forsaken by Andrew Van Wey - This Is A Must Read! #bookreview

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Wow!!!! A piece of art! I loved it. Andrew Van Wey’s Forsaken: A Novel of Art, Evil, and Insanity is a chilling psychological horror.

One hell of a debut novel by a very talented author. This story follows Dan Rineheart, an art professor whose life is seemingly perfect. He has a loving family and a tenure-track position at a university but it all unravels when a mysterious, grotesque painting arrives at the university. 

What begins as curiosity spirals into an obsession, pulling Dan into a nightmare of sinister children, eerie phenomena, and a haunting painting that seems alive.

Author Van Wey’s strength is  in his vivid, immersive writing. I had to read out loud at times to literally hear the words. They are grotesquely poetic. The last three chapters were read out in their entirety. I was mesmerized and needed to not only see them but hear them. 

I cannot praise the detailed prose enough. It brought  life with unsettling atmospheric horror into the story like my favorite early Stephen King or Clive Barker books. 

As a huge fan of the first-person perspective which immerses you in Dan’s unraveling psyche, making his flaws and fears completely relatable, even as the story veers into the surreal and paranormal. The painting itself, is described as a “disturbing work of grotesque perfection,” is a standout element, its ever-changing nature amplifying the creeping dread. 

Fans of 80s horror will appreciate the nod to the classic horror feel of dark humor with a modern psychological edge.

I was completely aware of the storyline by chapter three but Forsaken never disappointed me. From start to finish I loved it and couldn’t put it down. Its pace was perfect dealing out the storyline in steady increments before accelerating the horror. 

Even though it’s a lengthy book I never felt it was too long because of the shifts in perspective and twisted plot.

Forsaken shines as a character-driven horror novel that lingers long after the final page, perfect for readers who crave a blend of mystery, paranormal chills, and psychological depth. 

5 out of 5 for me!