raforall's review
4.0
Review in January 2021 Horror Review column for Library Journal: https://www.libraryjournal.com/?reviewDetail=the-hobgoblin-of-little-minds
Three Words That Describe This Book: mental health, visceral, multiple points of view
Draft Review:
Framed by the well known Emerson quote referenced in the title and informed by Matthews’ 20+ years working in the mental health industry, this fast paced thriller, set in an abandoned mental hospital, tells the story of the effects of mental illness from the point of view of those who suffer and their families, but within the frame of a wholly original addition to the werewolf cannon. Readers will fall into the story quickly, connecting with the main characters as each point of view is explored. This is a tale that makes the reader squirm both because of the well executed, and visceral horror and because of the discomfort from a peek into the minds of people trying to live with mania. Verdict: Pairing an honest and respectful discussion of bi-polar disorder and how our current treatment options often fail its patients with a compelling, and action packed werewolf story, this is an obvious suggestion to fans of The Last Werewolf Trilogy by Duncan but also a great comp for thought provoking creature tales that contemplate the character’s trauma as part of the horror like Frankenstein in Baghdad by Saadawi.
Three Words That Describe This Book: mental health, visceral, multiple points of view
Draft Review:
Framed by the well known Emerson quote referenced in the title and informed by Matthews’ 20+ years working in the mental health industry, this fast paced thriller, set in an abandoned mental hospital, tells the story of the effects of mental illness from the point of view of those who suffer and their families, but within the frame of a wholly original addition to the werewolf cannon. Readers will fall into the story quickly, connecting with the main characters as each point of view is explored. This is a tale that makes the reader squirm both because of the well executed, and visceral horror and because of the discomfort from a peek into the minds of people trying to live with mania. Verdict: Pairing an honest and respectful discussion of bi-polar disorder and how our current treatment options often fail its patients with a compelling, and action packed werewolf story, this is an obvious suggestion to fans of The Last Werewolf Trilogy by Duncan but also a great comp for thought provoking creature tales that contemplate the character’s trauma as part of the horror like Frankenstein in Baghdad by Saadawi.
grimmgay's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
pbanditp's review
4.0
Kori’s father, Peter, suffers from bipolar disorder and he tried hard to do right by his family. However, one night Peter hurt Kori and was admitted to Northville Psychiatric Hospital, never to be heard from again.
Fifteen years after he was admitted, after the hospital was closed and abandoned, Kori wants to say a final goodbye before the building is demolished. What Kori discovers leaves her questioning everything she has been told.
Bipolar disorder is a transformation of the mind from mania, back and forth with depression, sometimes extreme in nature. Maybe sometimes the mind isn’t all that transforms. Sometimes science and genetics create a perfect vessel.
Mark Matthews knows the ramblings of a confused, distracted mind. He writes with sensitivity of those who society would consider “crazy”. He perfectly captures the deep regret that Kori feels for being the cause of her fathers institutionalization, making her somber, and nostalgic but determined.
Overall I did find this to be a difficult read even though I know this will stick with me. There is lots of internal monologue from those with mental health issues.
“The sun was just rising, golden eyelids over the horizon, birds happiest at this hour, and together they sing the song of the universe. Words he understands and they pull him along the sidewalk.”
This book would work well as a reread because you would know more of where the characters were coming from but for the first time through it gets confusing as to what may be important and what seems like mumbled nonsense.
Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of the ebook in exchange for an honest review
Fifteen years after he was admitted, after the hospital was closed and abandoned, Kori wants to say a final goodbye before the building is demolished. What Kori discovers leaves her questioning everything she has been told.
Bipolar disorder is a transformation of the mind from mania, back and forth with depression, sometimes extreme in nature. Maybe sometimes the mind isn’t all that transforms. Sometimes science and genetics create a perfect vessel.
Mark Matthews knows the ramblings of a confused, distracted mind. He writes with sensitivity of those who society would consider “crazy”. He perfectly captures the deep regret that Kori feels for being the cause of her fathers institutionalization, making her somber, and nostalgic but determined.
Overall I did find this to be a difficult read even though I know this will stick with me. There is lots of internal monologue from those with mental health issues.
“The sun was just rising, golden eyelids over the horizon, birds happiest at this hour, and together they sing the song of the universe. Words he understands and they pull him along the sidewalk.”
This book would work well as a reread because you would know more of where the characters were coming from but for the first time through it gets confusing as to what may be important and what seems like mumbled nonsense.
Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of the ebook in exchange for an honest review
limina's review
I thought this book was disjointed and terribly hard to read. Horrible is the word that comes to mind.
monakabbani's review
4.0
“That’s what she’s been—just one of an army of hobgoblins terrorizing her dad, trying to fix things with foolish consistency, over and over again, repeating the same efforts that didn’t work.”
Kori Persephone Driscoe needs to get her dad out. But he refuses to leave the hospital. The same psychiatric hospital that tested on him relentlessly until he could barely take it. But even abandoned, he doesn’t want to leave the underground tunnels of Northville Psychiatric. Because that’s where the monsters like him stay.
This is a unique werewolf story that instead of delving into solely the bloodshed, delves into the psyche. How do werewolves think? What runs through their minds when they’re on the brink of transformation? The psychological examination reads like a blur. The writing is fluid, almost like a continuous stream of unconscious thought touching upon mental illness, specifically bipolar disorder. If you’re fascinated by psychological stories with a taste of bloodshed, this would be for you.
Because the story is psychological in depth, it can get wordy so if you’re not a fan of long prose, this may hinder you. However, the writing is well done so the read is highly enjoyable. I do wish we learned more about some of the characters—there were mysterious backgrounds I desired to know. BUT, by the way the book ends, I’m assuming there will be a book two and all those delicious nuggets of information will be given. Looking forward to seeing what Matthews brings us next!
Kori Persephone Driscoe needs to get her dad out. But he refuses to leave the hospital. The same psychiatric hospital that tested on him relentlessly until he could barely take it. But even abandoned, he doesn’t want to leave the underground tunnels of Northville Psychiatric. Because that’s where the monsters like him stay.
This is a unique werewolf story that instead of delving into solely the bloodshed, delves into the psyche. How do werewolves think? What runs through their minds when they’re on the brink of transformation? The psychological examination reads like a blur. The writing is fluid, almost like a continuous stream of unconscious thought touching upon mental illness, specifically bipolar disorder. If you’re fascinated by psychological stories with a taste of bloodshed, this would be for you.
Because the story is psychological in depth, it can get wordy so if you’re not a fan of long prose, this may hinder you. However, the writing is well done so the read is highly enjoyable. I do wish we learned more about some of the characters—there were mysterious backgrounds I desired to know. BUT, by the way the book ends, I’m assuming there will be a book two and all those delicious nuggets of information will be given. Looking forward to seeing what Matthews brings us next!
foxygma's review
4.0
Werewolves are my favorite horror monster, but it seemed their days of popularity had waned and were reduced to sexy, shirtless puppy boys in modern books, so I moved on to other horror. When I had the privilege of reading The Hobgoblin of Little Minds as an ARC, it reignited my faith in modern werewolf stories and was the fresh take I had been looking for.
Matthews uses poetic phrasing in a way that can twist a terrifying scene into something still so beautiful in its complexity you can’t stop reading. There were a few scenes that truthfully gave me chills; a certain creature reveal in the lower levels of the old psychiatric hospital come to mind. I had to re-read them so I could take in the luscious word choices, even in such horrifying, cruel descriptions. This book definitely did not disappoint in its horror moments thanks to his skill in descriptions that hit the core of emotion and didn't lean too much on cliche.
While the idea of combining mental health and horror has been done before and makes sense, there has been a shortage of the connection in werewolf stories. Luckily, Matthews was here to apply his expanse of knowledge in his working field with his love and talent for writing, giving cerebral horror fans what they may not have known they wanted. Peter Driscoll lives with bipolar disorder and that comes with struggles on its own for his family life or lack of. Mixing that idea with being the element that creates a better werewolf and you've elevated a metaphor that will carry the story to new heights. You can tell he knows what he is talking about with the medical side of things in the story and, as someone who also lives with mental health conditions, that touch of realism mixed with fantasy gave the best horror aspect.
I loved that the female protagonist, Kori, was not weak. She was opinionated, stubborn, and a character with motives and emotions that fit her backstory and the world around her. She was enjoyable to read and you could relate to her. There also wasn’t a single love interest or unnecessary love triangle forced in to weigh down a story that had no place for it. Huzzah! This story has depth and connection and it hurts. I felt the struggle of emotions between Kori and her father in this tale, even when I had not experienced their situation in my life….the not having my father, not that my dad is a werewolf. I really liked that we got to see his perspective too in chapters. His voice was obviously different from hers in a way that felt visceral when read. You could see the shift in his voice between flashbacks and the now, as he is transformed over time. There were places where I missed Kori after switching to other characters for a while and that is how I knew she was a good character. Every main or secondary character had a well-rounded emotional pull to what was happening in the story. They expressed parts of themselves that were real and flawed, but also caring, sympathetic parts that made you understand them, even the “villains.” “Villains” are my favorite kind.
This book is an emotional ride that doesn’t shy from tough topics or rawness. You’ll want to read it in one sitting and will be sad when you have to put it down for a spell. My only gripe is that the ending left me feeling that Hobgoblin deserves a sequel and I’m craving for it, so I hope to read more about this world from Matthews in the future.
Matthews uses poetic phrasing in a way that can twist a terrifying scene into something still so beautiful in its complexity you can’t stop reading. There were a few scenes that truthfully gave me chills; a certain creature reveal in the lower levels of the old psychiatric hospital come to mind. I had to re-read them so I could take in the luscious word choices, even in such horrifying, cruel descriptions. This book definitely did not disappoint in its horror moments thanks to his skill in descriptions that hit the core of emotion and didn't lean too much on cliche.
While the idea of combining mental health and horror has been done before and makes sense, there has been a shortage of the connection in werewolf stories. Luckily, Matthews was here to apply his expanse of knowledge in his working field with his love and talent for writing, giving cerebral horror fans what they may not have known they wanted. Peter Driscoll lives with bipolar disorder and that comes with struggles on its own for his family life or lack of. Mixing that idea with being the element that creates a better werewolf and you've elevated a metaphor that will carry the story to new heights. You can tell he knows what he is talking about with the medical side of things in the story and, as someone who also lives with mental health conditions, that touch of realism mixed with fantasy gave the best horror aspect.
I loved that the female protagonist, Kori, was not weak. She was opinionated, stubborn, and a character with motives and emotions that fit her backstory and the world around her. She was enjoyable to read and you could relate to her. There also wasn’t a single love interest or unnecessary love triangle forced in to weigh down a story that had no place for it. Huzzah! This story has depth and connection and it hurts. I felt the struggle of emotions between Kori and her father in this tale, even when I had not experienced their situation in my life….the not having my father, not that my dad is a werewolf. I really liked that we got to see his perspective too in chapters. His voice was obviously different from hers in a way that felt visceral when read. You could see the shift in his voice between flashbacks and the now, as he is transformed over time. There were places where I missed Kori after switching to other characters for a while and that is how I knew she was a good character. Every main or secondary character had a well-rounded emotional pull to what was happening in the story. They expressed parts of themselves that were real and flawed, but also caring, sympathetic parts that made you understand them, even the “villains.” “Villains” are my favorite kind.
This book is an emotional ride that doesn’t shy from tough topics or rawness. You’ll want to read it in one sitting and will be sad when you have to put it down for a spell. My only gripe is that the ending left me feeling that Hobgoblin deserves a sequel and I’m craving for it, so I hope to read more about this world from Matthews in the future.
curiosityboughtthebook's review against another edition
5.0
Also reviewed on www.curiosityboughtthebook.com
The Hobgoblin of Little Minds is the story of Kori, who has been suffering through her dad’s mental illness for most of her life. He was in and out of hospitals, and his mood was unpredictable and changed in a matter of minutes. The last time she saw him was in a psychiatric hospital. The same hospital that is now closed and about to be torn down. Kori has been haunting the hospital halls for years, looking for answers and her father. Once she finds him it becomes clear that what lives in this empty building is no longer her beloved dad at all.
Looking at the cover of The Hobgoblin of Little Minds, you might expect a good ole’ werewolf horror story. Like myself, you might also not be a big fan of the werewolf trope. Well, let me assure you this book is so much more than that. What Matthews did here is amazing and deserves a much better review than I will ever be able to give. He combines the supernatural with the world of mental illness, and does a phenomenal job at that.
Now, there are still a lot of horror elements in the book. The creatures are creepy and gruesome. But at the essence, they are broken human beings that have been let down by the people they trusted the most to help them.
Mark Matthews truly is a special gem, and I look forward to reading a lot more of his works to come.
Thanks to Wicked Run Press and Netgalley for the advanced copy.
The Hobgoblin of Little Minds is the story of Kori, who has been suffering through her dad’s mental illness for most of her life. He was in and out of hospitals, and his mood was unpredictable and changed in a matter of minutes. The last time she saw him was in a psychiatric hospital. The same hospital that is now closed and about to be torn down. Kori has been haunting the hospital halls for years, looking for answers and her father. Once she finds him it becomes clear that what lives in this empty building is no longer her beloved dad at all.
Looking at the cover of The Hobgoblin of Little Minds, you might expect a good ole’ werewolf horror story. Like myself, you might also not be a big fan of the werewolf trope. Well, let me assure you this book is so much more than that. What Matthews did here is amazing and deserves a much better review than I will ever be able to give. He combines the supernatural with the world of mental illness, and does a phenomenal job at that.
Now, there are still a lot of horror elements in the book. The creatures are creepy and gruesome. But at the essence, they are broken human beings that have been let down by the people they trusted the most to help them.
Mark Matthews truly is a special gem, and I look forward to reading a lot more of his works to come.
Thanks to Wicked Run Press and Netgalley for the advanced copy.
karlakayjenniges's review
5.0
"Everything breathes, everything speaks, with a voice that fades but is never silenced."
First of all the cover is an absolute beautiful work of art.
This is not the typical story of the beasts that howl at the moon. It is the making of a creature so profound that it will have you looking at mental health with a whole new introspection or even extrospection.
As someone who is familiar with many disorders and the affects that medications have and the overall affects that can cause severe negative reactions, not once has it entered my mind to consider comparing it to the cycle of a werewolf. But it makes so much sense, as we all know that the changes in the atmosphere can affect the personalities of anyone that has a diagnoses of a mental illness or disease. It is a cycle of highs and lows and manic episodes. And it can be heartbreaking to watch a loved one go through these battles.
I loved the perspective taken and the prose was wonderful. There really is no happiness here, it is a very dark novel that takes us on a journey of a daughters love for her father and not wanting to leave him. A deceitful and villainous Doctor who really has no respect for humanity and is in it for her own selfish purposes, wanting to create a perfect species, but creating mostly abominations that are thrown into the dark pits of despair and depravity. They are creatures of the moon and cycle like a werewolf. They are powerful and hungry. Also, the fact it is mostly set in an old Asylum creates that unsettling feeling as most of them have the history of inhumane practices upon the patients.
The afterward is not to be left unread, it sheds a light on the whole idea of this novel as written from the author as a licensed professional counselor and a writer of horror fiction.
This one is dreadful, creepy and scary, it hits the heart, and punctures the soul!
First of all the cover is an absolute beautiful work of art.
This is not the typical story of the beasts that howl at the moon. It is the making of a creature so profound that it will have you looking at mental health with a whole new introspection or even extrospection.
As someone who is familiar with many disorders and the affects that medications have and the overall affects that can cause severe negative reactions, not once has it entered my mind to consider comparing it to the cycle of a werewolf. But it makes so much sense, as we all know that the changes in the atmosphere can affect the personalities of anyone that has a diagnoses of a mental illness or disease. It is a cycle of highs and lows and manic episodes. And it can be heartbreaking to watch a loved one go through these battles.
I loved the perspective taken and the prose was wonderful. There really is no happiness here, it is a very dark novel that takes us on a journey of a daughters love for her father and not wanting to leave him. A deceitful and villainous Doctor who really has no respect for humanity and is in it for her own selfish purposes, wanting to create a perfect species, but creating mostly abominations that are thrown into the dark pits of despair and depravity. They are creatures of the moon and cycle like a werewolf. They are powerful and hungry. Also, the fact it is mostly set in an old Asylum creates that unsettling feeling as most of them have the history of inhumane practices upon the patients.
The afterward is not to be left unread, it sheds a light on the whole idea of this novel as written from the author as a licensed professional counselor and a writer of horror fiction.
This one is dreadful, creepy and scary, it hits the heart, and punctures the soul!
j_reads_nightmares's review
3.0
This breaks my heart to say this, but this was not my favorite. I’ve read other books and stories from Mark Matthews, and enjoy his writing style. Something about this one just didn’t do it for me. The characters felt a bit flat, and some of the plot just become repetitive. I was super intrigued by the premise, and you could see what Matthews wanted to achieve with this. Perhaps with stronger editing I would have enjoyed this more. With that said, I’ll still be picking up his next!