Book Review: Locke & Key (vol. 1)

Locke & Key #1: Welcome to Lovecraft
by Joe Hill; artwork by Gabriel Rodriguez
★★★★★

Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble

Locke & Key tells of Keyhouse, an unlikely New England mansion, with fantastic doors that transform all who dare to walk through them. Home to a hate-filled and relentless creature that will not rest until it forces open the most terrible door of them all… (Goodreads)

oh. my. GOD.

ohmygodohmygodOHMYGOD THIS GRAPHIC NOVEL. IT’S. SO. GOOD.

When I first picked it up, I didn’t really think I’d be that into it cause it’s one of those stories that doesn’t tell you everything you need to know to make sense of it all until a bit later, but boy I’m glad I kept reading! It only took a few more pages before I was entirely sucked in, and the only thing I don’t like is that I don’t have the other volumes at my disposal. It looks like there are 6 volumes as well as 3 additional one-shots… I believe. Someone correct me if I’m wrong! All I know is, I need them all.

This was my first Joe Hill (son of Stephen King) read, and there’s no doubt the horror gene runs in the family! I see a lot of people raving about Hill (as well as King, though I have yet to read any of his books yet — I know, I know! I’ll get to him soon!) in the bookstagram community on Instagram, and now I know why! This story is SO GOOD, and Hill is such a great storyteller.

Murder. Suspense. Horror. Intrigue. Magical/supernatural forces. You name it, you got it! It definitely wasn’t what I was expecting when I was gifted a copy by a fellow bookstagrammer, but I’m so glad it found its way to me. It reminds me a bit of Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House, though Keyhouse doesn’t seem to have as much of a presence (if you’ve read Hill House — or my blog post about it — you know what I mean)… as far as I know from volume #1, at least. However, Keyhouse is… it’s just… it’s so damn cool/spooky/interesting! I love the idea of doors leading to other dimensions/worlds/whatever, but Keyhouse is something else altogether. Ahhh, I love it! 5 stars for ever.

I don’t get really sucked into stories that much anymore, but with Locke & Key I was at the point where I’d only pause to glare at my boyfriend when he would try to talk to me as I was reading. Sorry, honey. I love ya, but sometimes you just have to let your eyes stayed glued to the page until you reach the back cover!

I seriously can’t wait to get my hands on more of Joe Hill’s works. I’ve heard NOS4A2 is a good one, and hopefully I’ll get the chance to post a review of L&K volume #2 soon as well! Fingers crossed!