Shadow of the Hidden, by Kev Harrison

13 Jul 2024

The Book

Shadow of the Hidden
Pages: 176
Age Group: Adult
Published on 19 Mar 2024
Publisher: Brigid Gates Press
Genres:
Horror
Available on:

Synopsis:

It’s Seb’s last day working in Turkey, but his friend Oz has been cursed. Superstition turns to terror as the effects of the ancient malediction spill over and the lives of Oz and his family hang in the balance. Can Seb find the answers to remove the hex before it’s too late?

From Kev Harrison, author of The Balance and Below, journey with Seb, Oz and Deniz across ancient North African cities as they seek to banish the Shadow of the Hidden.  

My Review

Shadow of the Hidden is an adventure horror novel written by Kev Harrison and published by Brigid Gates Press. With a frenetic pace, we will be following our main character while he tries to help a friend to stop a curse from destroying his family, on a journey that will take us to different parts of the world.

During his last day working in Turkey, Seb watches how a mysterious woman yells and curses at his friend Oz. While he doesn't give too much importance to this, Oz is extremely frightened; however, when strange things start happening to Oz and his family, Seb returns with Oz and promises his friend to help him lift the curse. 
With this premise, we start a frenetic travel pretty much in the style of a Dan Brown's thriller, gathering clues together with Seb, Oz and Deniz (a professor that joins later), in a run against time to lift a curse that threatens to end destroying Oz's family.

It is refreshing to see a character as Seb struggling with accessing places, as he's a white male trying to move in a different culture, being Oz and Deniz the leading members of the group. The way he struggles to believe at the start is quite relatable, but he also shows empathy for his friend, not doubting to help him and suffering together with him. Oz and Deniz might be less developed, but they are really relatable; Oz is fulfilling the role of the curse receptor, a man suffering because his family is being destroyed as a consequence of his acts, who will do anything to keep them safe.

While the pacing is frenetic, Harrison puts a great amount of care on correctly reflecting the habits and traditions of the places visited, transporting the reader together with the characters. It is a relatively fast read, and once you are immersed in it, you will surely finish it on that sit.

Shadow of the Hidden excellently blends the frenetic pace of a thriller with horror elements taken from folklore; as it is called, an adventure horror, sharing also some vibes with Indiana Jones. A great book by Kev Harrison, perfect if you are looking for a horror that will engulf you until the ending.

The Author/s

Kev Harrison

Kev Harrison

Kev Harrison is a writer of dark fiction and English language teacher from the UK, living and working in Lisbon, Portugal where he resides with his partner in crime Ana and their two cat overlords. He’s previously lived in various cities in the United Kingdom, as well as Turkey and Poland. His subterranean horror novella, Below, is out now from Brigids Gate Press, while his debut novella, The Balance, is also available through Lycan Valley Press. His short fiction collection, Paths Best Left Untrodden is available through Northern Republic. His debut novel, Shadow of the Hidden, arrives in March 2024 through Brigids Gate Press. His short fiction has been published in a variety of magazines, podcasts and anthologies and he is a staff writer for This is Horror.