Have you ever looked at a painting and thought, hmm, I’d quite like go inside that world? Well for Lewis, he isn’t exactly given the choice. When struggling artist Lewis is given the opportunity to display one of his pieces in the British Museum, he doesn’t quite understand what his contract will actually entail. He certainly doesn’t expect to be told that he is the only person who can enter the world of a series of magical paintings, and that he must destroy them before their tainted magic escapes and wreaks havoc. This is definitely a very vibey book – it’s dark, it’s claustrophobic, there’s an excellent sentient house, and it has some very intense moments of very visceral horror – so I think this would be a good choice for anyone looking for something to pick up in either gloomy weather or closer to Halloween. The fall into madness by the ancestor Edgar, and its subsequent effect on his artwork, was something I found interesting to follow, and because of this I wish that we spent more time actually inside the paintings. Thank you so much to the publisher for sending me a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

A dark, moody fantasy of magical paintings, legacy, corruption, danger and grief. ‘The Macabre’ is a character driven story with a chilling supernatural vibe. At times I found it a little slow with inconsistent use of magical rules to give a convenient plot narrative. But it is still a satisfying read. I would like to thank the publisher for supplying me with a free copy of ‘The Macabre’ in exchange for an honest review.