Horns

by Joe Hill

[clq]

Horns is a really good book. Annoyingly there are a few things which prevented me from loving it, but don't get me wrong. It's a really good book.

The premise is great. Simply put (and I'm grossly oversimplifying so as not to spoil anything): we have a main character with an intriguing backstory who is put in a position where he is forced to see and confront the worst secrets of everyone he meets. This is a great tool with which to tell a story, but can easily go over the top if not handled carefully. Fortunately, most of the book is done brilliantly. Unfortunately, there are a some places in which the book crosses the line from telling the story to abusing the powers it has given itself. This doesn't happen often, it doesn't happen badly, but it happens just enough to rip me out of the otherwise rather effective, and consistent, mood of the book.
There are so many scenes and moments in this book that feel completely genuine in the way the convey shock and emotion, which is why it feels a little out of place when "cheap shots" are taken to add just a bit extra. The book doesn't need the overegging, and it feels wrong.

The understated complexity of the story is also wonderful. There is always a little more to it than meets the eye. Nothing very big, but enough for the reader to pause and think back when a piece of the puzzle they didn't necessarily know existed is put in place. Unfortunately this is also slightly overplayed, and a few times I think the story goes just a little too far in making sure the reader has understood exactly what it is doing. Again, I think the story is solid enough that less would be more in some cases. That said, for a book in this genre Horns definitely has a layer of complexity to it which makes it stand out. Most of the time it does strike a balance perfectly: subtle enough not to distract, but present enough to really add a lot to the story.

I'm not sure whether or not these are the reasons for the book never properly gripping me. I enjoyed it throughout, and it dragged me in, but never far enough for me to become truly engrossed in it. I'm not complaining, it's a great book, and while it's hard to pinpoint exactly what it lacks, I just feels that it lacks something.