Lance Marwood’s "The Cherale," released via V13 Press, is one of those rare debut novels that doesn’t just introduce a new voice in fiction, it announces it with striking clarity. A seasoned journalist making his foray into fiction, Marwood brings with him a precision for language and a confidence in storytelling that make this supernatural horror novel not just memorable, but genuinely haunting.
From the opening pages, "The Cherale" envelops the reader in a chilling atmosphere of quiet menace and rising dread. Rather than relying on gore or jump scares, Marwood opts for a slow, deliberate tension that builds steadily, capturing the reader in a psychological vise. The story centers on Michael Abney, a father whose seemingly ordinary life is upended when his young son, Gordon, begins exhibiting increasingly disturbing behavior. What begins as a domestic mystery escalates into a deeply unsettling encounter with a shadowy force known only as the Cherale, an entity as elusive as it is terrifying.
What elevates this novel beyond a typical horror narrative is Marwood’s ability to weave the cosmic with the intimate. "The Cherale" is as much a study of grief, fatherhood, and inherited guilt as it is a tale of supernatural horror. Michael’s unraveling is painful, precise, and utterly believable. The novel’s emotional core is strong, making the horror not just frightening, but heartbreaking.
Marwood’s prose is exacting and immersive, drawing readers deep into the layered textures of fear, memory, and familial trauma. His style recalls the creeping dread of Shirley Jackson and the mythic scale of Lovecraft, but the result is wholly his own. The imagery is vivid and at times cinematic, yet never overwrought. There is a sense of restraint in his writing that makes each reveal, each twist, land with greater force.
Thematically, The Cherale explores legacy, trauma, and the terrifying notion that some fates are etched long before we’re aware of them. It’s a meditation on the burdens we inherit and the darkness we unknowingly carry. As the novel progresses, Michael must confront not only the external force threatening his family, but also the generational shadows that have haunted them for decades. The psychological complexity here is profound; Marwood refuses to let his characters off easy, nor does he give the reader a clear path out of the dark.
Structurally, the novel is tightly constructed. Every chapter deepens the mystery, revealing just enough to keep the reader breathless while withholding enough to maintain suspense. Marwood’s background in nonfiction is apparent in the clarity of the narrative and the way he handles exposition, it’s always in service of the story, never bogging it down.
The supporting characters are deftly drawn, particularly Michael’s wife, whose presence adds emotional weight without ever becoming secondary. But it is Michael’s internal struggle, the terrifying possibility that he cannot protect his child from the horrors unfolding, that gives the novel its enduring power. His transformation over the course of the book is subtle, painful, and entirely compelling.
The ending, without giving anything away, is a masterstroke. It’s bold and unsettling in the best possible way. Marwood doesn’t offer resolution so much as he leaves readers with lingering questions that echo long after the final sentence, about fate, identity, and what lies beyond what we can understand.
"The Cherale" is not just a strong debut, it is a standout entry into the modern horror canon. For readers who appreciate stories that unsettle as much as they move, that explore darkness without sacrificing depth, this is essential reading. Marwood has created a world where the terror feels both mythic and achingly personal, and he guides us through it with unflinching skill.
This book is not to be missed. Whether you’re a longtime fan of horror or a newcomer to the genre, "The Cherale" is a novel that will strike you. Lance Marwood has proven himself a writer of extraordinary promise, and "The Cherale" is a harrowing, beautiful, unforgettable beginning.