Title: Candle Horror

Author: Robert Weaver

Release date: March 7th, 2025

*Huge thanks to Robert for sending me a digital copy of this one!*

I’ve read a few of Robert’s books now, and I’m 99% positive this is a pseudonym for Mike Mignola. I say that because Mike’s artwork and prose is very recognizable and Robert’s is almost identical. Now, I caveat that with two things. One – I have no idea if it is or isn’t. Robert’s created a very intriguing online presence and the way his IG page is and his Goodreads page is set up, it feels much like a pseudonym. Two – if Robert ISN’T Mignola’s pseudonym, I don’t believe it’s a case of trying to copy anything or any nefarious actions, it would very well be a case of Robert’s art comes out this way. No copycat issues here. I just find it remarkable how similar everything between their two creative outputs look/read and feel. I’m a huge fan of Mignola’s Hellboy stuff and the BPRD and Baltimore stuff, though I haven’t read either much over the last few years, but when I first connected with Robert, I was struck when reading his novel ‘Blessed Skeletons’ just how much it felt like I was reading a Mignola novel.

Anyways, I digress.

If you’ve made this far, thanks, haha!

When Robert reached out about this one, I was immediately intrigued. From the odd candle-creature on the cover, to the isolated location and the sense that this would feel atmospherically similar to Tim McGregor’s ‘Lure’ and ‘Eynhallow’ books, I was excited to dive in and see what was going to haunt me inside.

What I liked: The set up for this one is pretty simple. Ostrimir has moved with the love of his life, Maud, and son, Godfrey, to a remote island. He’s moved them there under the notion that this is their forever place, but unbeknownst to Maud, Ostrimir has struck a bargain and soon, the toll is due.

The story within is at times terrifying, confusing and asymmetrical. We get tidbits of what’s happening, as well as some truly violent moments as the horrors arrive and attempt to collect Ostrimir’s fee.

Weaver does a wonderful job of keeping the paranoia high throughout and within 25% of the book, we start to wonder if everything that is happening is purely single-sided, whether it is only Ostrimir who has struck a bargain.

The final quarter of the book is a masterful unravelling of everything and it’s made all the heavier due to the suffocating and lush location Weaver has created. You could practically feel the storm winds blowing on your face and the muck under your feet by that point.

The ending is solid, though I’d suspect there’s more to the story, more to the lore that’s been created and revealed here.

What I didn’t like: Two things really stood out for me. The first is that I would say I border-line hated most of the dialogue. It was always as though no matter who was speaking with each other, it felt like they were speaking in riddles and having completely separate conversations. It made it so that a few times I had to go back and re-read some sections, wondering if I’d missed something.

The second, was that I wasn’t a fan of this one not having chapters. We get * (though in this case it was a bug silhouette) as scene breaks and because of that, it did reduce some of the cliffhanger elements that chapter ends can create so very well.

Why you should buy this: Well, if you’re intrigued by my guess at this secretly being Mignola, you’ll want to give it a read and see how close you think I am. Again – there’s so many elements here that scream Mignola – the pseudo-Russian lore/mystique, the way the story is told, the creature elements etc. etc. – that I’m personally convinced.

Otherwise, if you’re looking for a read that is just hauntingly heavy, unnerving and filled with some very intriguing plot points, this will be right up your alley.