Ignatius Perrish spent the night drunk and doing terrible things. He woke up the next morning with one hell of a hangover, a raging headache . . . and a pair of horns growing from his temples.

Once, Ig lived the life of the blessed: born into privilege, the second son of a renowned American musician, and the younger brother of a rising late-night TV star, Ig had security and wealth and a place in his community. Ig had it all, and more – he had the love of Merrin Williams, a love founded on shared daydreams, mutual daring, and unlikely midsummer magic.
Then beautiful, vivacious Merrin was gone – raped and murdered, under inexplicable circumstances – with Ig the only suspect. He was never tried for the crime, but in the court of public opinion, Ig was and always would be guilty.
Now Ig is possessed with a terrible new power – with just a touch he can see peoples’ darkest desires – to go with his terrible new look, and he means to use it to find the man who killed Merrin and destroyed his life. Being good and praying for the best got him nowhere. It’s time for a little revenge; it’s time the devil had his due.

Okay… First off I just want to start with my reading updates because I went a little over board and context may be needed: (start from the bottom of the pic)

 

Okayyyyy now we have those completely unrelated thoughts out of the way (I’m mean they’re kinda related coz you know, family?! but also nothing to do with the actual book)

This was my second Hill read and I am blown away but him, the writing is impeccable, the premise fantastic: Privileged boy waking up after a rough night with horns anyone? Oh is that not enough how about we make everyone he encounters have no filter and blurt out the most fucked/”sinful” thing they can think about. I can’t wait to read more of his work.

“Are you sure I can’t have a little sniff of Oxy?” the doctor asked. He brightened. “I’d share. We could get fucked up together.” 

Igs been accused of his Girlfriends murder, never being proven guilty but not declared innocent the small town he lives in isn’t the forgiving type(are they ever?). With his new found power he decides to find out what really happen the night Merrin was murdered. That’s all I really have to say plot wise, the story is a page turner and I had some wild predictions and some spot on ones.

The thing that I find with Hill’s writing is I don’t actually like any of his characters but 100 pages in and their life is threatened and I’m somehow rooting for their survival, not realising I know somehow like the characters? It’s a weird feeling.

Ig by far isn’t the most likable but he’s a passable person, his life has been defined by Merrin and hers by him. Together from teens they had everything planned out, marriage, children, the whole shabang. When she’s found dead Ig loses himself and just starts existing rather than living.

The books told in past and present time line as well as MPOV. The villain is so good, I love me a good villain and this one didn’t let me down.

Horns is labelled a Horror and I would call it that I guess but it was more of a dark thriller with a side of killer. The complete mayhem of Igs powers and the vengeance plot made this a such page turner.

4/5 stars

Have you read Horns or any Joe Hill? Let me know what you thought! 

The movie adaptation is fantastic and I loved Daniel Radcliffe as Ig even though I didn’t picture him at all.