Book Review: NOS4A2 By Joe Hill

Joe Hill is the son of the legendary horror writer Stephen King. This no-spoiler book review is my honest opinion.

NOS4A2 Amazon cover by Joe Hill.Photo bythe author using PowerPoint Design Creations

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Introduction

NOS4A2 by Joe Hill, son of legendary author Stephen King, plunges us into a terrifying journey across reality and hidden realms. The book is a fascinating exploration of good and evil, shattering preconceptions about everyday life and the supernatural.

Although this is also a Netflix TV series, it is a much better read. IMHO.

NOS4A2 Official Trailer - WonderCon 2019

Nosferatu was the name of a 1929 silent movie (it’s also German for vampire) about the vampire Count Orlok, and NOS4A2 is the vanity plate on Manx's 1938 Rolls-Royce Wraith.

“If you say NOS4A2 out loud, it sounds like Nosferatu and that’s intentional, The Wrap shared. It’s kind of a fun twist on the vampire genre. Charlie Manx is a kind of vampire but he’s not any kind of vampire that we’ve seen before. So, the Nosferatu reference is a bit of an inside joke.” — Entertainment Heavy.com.

Summary

NOS4A2 introduces us to Victoria "Vic" McQueen, a young woman with an uncanny ability to find lost things. As she crosses paths with Charlie Manx, a fiendish man who feeds on the souls of children and deposits their remains into a ghastly place called "Christmasland," Vic must fight to save her sanity and the world she knows.

"Every day is Christmas Day. And every night is Christmas Eve." — Joe Hill hauntingly describes Manx's twisted paradise.

Narration

The story is narrated through a third-person perspective, offering varying insights into the minds of the book’s characters.

Setting

NOS4A2 is set in contemporary America, sprawling across diverse locations from Colorado to New England. The familiar setting is made uncanny through the existence of hidden realms accessed by supernatural abilities, such as “the shorter way bridge,” lending a chilling backdrop to the horrors that unfold.

“Reality is the coin of life. It is this side, you see? Fantasy is the other side of the same coin.” — Joe Hill.

Theme

The overarching theme of NOS4A2 is the struggle between good and evil, portrayed through supernatural battles that symbolize internal struggles.

Genre

NOS4A2 firmly belongs in the genre of horror fiction. Its blend of supernatural elements with psychological terror and realism is reminiscent of the work of Stephen King, yet Joe Hill establishes his own distinctive voice.

About the Author

Joe Hill, an acclaimed author in his own right, has penned numerous works, including Heart-Shaped Box and Horns. While his books often traverse the realm of the supernatural, like King's, NOS4A2 stands apart due to its unique conceptualization of psychic abilities and its exploration of personal demons through horror.

The Plot

Vic McQueen discovers a supernatural bridge that helps her find lost things. When she crosses paths with Charlie Talent Manx, who uses his car to drain the souls of children and trap them in his horrifying "Christmasland," Vic becomes the only person to escape Manx's grasp. Years later, as an adult, Vic must face her past when Manx returns and sets his sights on her son.

My Opinion & Recommendation

NOS4A2 is a gripping read for those who enjoy thrillers or horror, specifically adults, due to its mature themes and scenes. Make no mistake, although this is a fantasy/horror about “Christmasland and Father Christmas,” it is by no means a children’s book.

Readers who appreciate intricate characterization and chilling narratives that blur the line between reality and fantasy will find this book particularly compelling.

Be warned: it might make you rethink your idea of Christmas.

Buy it on Kindle.

“As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.”

Of the 15,000 verified Amazon purchasers who left a rating, rated this book 4.4 out of 5 stars, and 88% gave it four or five stars.

“The spine-tingling, bone-chilling novel of supernatural suspense from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Fireman and Horns—now an AMC original series starring Zachary Quinto, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Ashleigh Cummings.” — Amazon.

"A masterwork of horror."— Time.

“My first Joe Hill book and I picked correctly because this entire book is a masterpiece. Any Christmas tradition I had has been thrown out and replaced with reading this yearly. I could relive this story 100 times and it wouldn’t be enough.” — Verified purchaser, Samcooksandbooks.

Related Article:

The Man No One Knew Was a King

Book Review: Heart-Shaped Box

News about Bangor's favorite son, Stephen King

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About the author

Stephen Dalton is a native of Old Town, ME, and a retired US Army First Sergeant with a degree in journalism from the University of Maryland. He is a Certified US English Chicago Manual of Style Editor. Top Writer in Travel, Food, Fiction, Transportation, VR, NFL, Design, Creativity, Short Story, and a NewsBreak Community Voice Pro.