Horrorstor A Novel

(English review at the end) Grandios! Ich war mir vor dem lesen nicht sicher, ob mich jetzt ein Trash-Buch à la "Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey" oder ein Horror-Meisterwerk erwartet. Für mich war es definitiv das letztere. Besonders gruselig ist "Horrorstör" eigentlich nur in der ersten Hälfte und wird danach eher gory. Die Charaktere sind alle absolut genial geschrieben und entsprechen fast schon Scary Movie-like Stereotypen, passen aber gleichzeitig unglaublich gut in die Story. Das Einzelhandels-Setting könnte nachvollziehbarer und packender nicht umgesetzt worden sein. Gady Hendrix bietet mit Horrorstör unglaublich viel: Packende Story, schauriger und blutiger Horror, originelles Konzept, wunderbare Charaktere (shoutout Ruth Anne) und zu allem auch noch die perfekte Prise Humor. Mein bisheriges (frühes) Jahreshighlight! / Fantastic! Before reading it, I wasn't sure whether I was in for a trashy novel like "Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey" or a horror masterpiece. For me, it was definitely the latter. "Horrorstör" is only truly scary in the first half and becomes more gory afterward. The characters are all brilliantly written and almost resemble Scary Movie stereotypes, yet they fit incredibly well into the story. The retail setting couldn't have been more believable or gripping. Gady Hendrix delivers so much with "Horrorstör": a captivating story, chilling and gory horror, an original concept, wonderful characters (shoutout to Ruth Anne), and on top of all that, the perfect touch of humor. My (early) highlight of the year so far!

Grady Hendrix’s Horrorstör is a brilliantly original blend of horror and satire, set in a disturbingly familiar version of a Swedish furniture megastore we all know and love. The novel, presented in the format of an IKEA-style catalog, is as visually inventive as it is narratively engaging. From faux product descriptions to a detailed order form, the design of the book is an experience in itself - one that immediately sets the tone for the uncanny journey inside the book and the store. I picked up Horrorstör after reading Witchcraft for Wayward Girls and quickly fell in love with Hendrix’s distinctive voice. His writing effortlessly combines genuine creepiness with sharp, often absurd humor. At times, I found myself genuinely unsettled, only to laugh moments later. The story follows a group of employees working the night shift at Orsk - a fictional American counterpart to IKEA - as they investigate strange occurrences in the store. What begins as a quirky workplace mystery soon spirals into a haunting encounter with the store’s dark past. Built on the ruins of a former prison, now known as the “Beehive”, Orsk is now plagued by the tormented spirits of its former inmates. I especially appreciated the subtle details hidden throughout the book, such as some old notes on bathroom walls and product blurbs that reveal extra layers of the story. These elements add depth and immersion, enhancing the reading experience beyond the main narrative. While I would have loved to learn more about the Beehive’s grim history, the limited perspective mirrors that of the protagonists, the employees who are just as in the dark as the reader. This choice adds to the claustrophobic tension and grounds the horror in a believable, if surreal, reality. In short, Horrorstör is a clever, chilling, and funny novel that delivers on every level. It's perfect for fans of the horror-comedy genre and unconventional storytelling formats. Hendrix has created something truly unique with this book.

Have you ever dreamt of staying in an IKEA overnight? In this story you can! But beware of the terrifying things that lurk in the shadows... Designed like an IKEA catalogue, this book is so fun to read and sucks you in with a story that starts off calm and gets more and more disturbing as you walk deeper into the store. Filled with twists I bet you didn’t see coming. And it leaves you with one question- Isn’t the torture of working in retail the real horror?

Zugegeben, ich hatte nicht viele Erwartungen an eine Horrorversion eines bekannten schwedischen Möbelhauses, aber das Buch hat mich doch absolut positiv überrascht und ich habe es direkt an einem Stück gelesen! Anfangs habe ich mich doch recht schwer getan aber ich kann euch versichern, es hat seinen Sinn, dass die ersten Kapitel relativ monoton sind. Dafür steigern sich die Spannung und der Horrorfaktor kontinuierlich bis zum Ende! Eventuell nichts für Leser mit schwachen Nerven, da manche Szenen doch sehr detailiert beschrieben sind. Ein weiiteres kleines Detail, dass mir sehr gut gefallen hat, waren die kleinen Vorschaubilder von diversen Möbelstücken am Anfang jedes Kapitels, die sich mit der Zeit immer mehr der immer grausamer werdenden Story angepasst haben!

Psychological terror in a beautiful design, who can say no to that?! The IKEA-style catalog is amazing though. But since it's a haunted house story in an IKEA-knock-off setting, it's just really fitting. The concept of this book is utterly unique, starting off quite humorous but getting really weird and creepy real soon. But the real horror is working in retail all along, am I right... Jokes aside, I highly recommend this to all horror fans, as it's so innovative and clever. Can't get over the amazing layout, each chapter featuring a different product (which gets more disturbing as the story advances).