Sarafina

“A historical horror novel where three brothers go AWOL during one of the most violent battles of the Civil War, but find something much worse waiting in the woods." "Sarafina" is the second Phillip Fracassi book I've read. The first time I heard of Philip Fracassi was September 25, 2025, when I heard his interview on the Talking Scared Podcast. Soon after, I read "The Autumn Springs Retirement Home Massacre." I loved it! "Sarafina" reads like a dark version of a Grimm's fairy tale. Everything about this book is perfection, starting with the intriguing cover art by Joel Amat Guell, and the introduction by Nick Cutter. Told from the perspective of the youngest brother Ethan, the historical voice is deeply immersive. It is clear that the author did a lot of research, including how people of that time period spoke and wrote. The book is exceptionally well-written, yet easy to read. The characters are multidimensional. The descriptions of Civil War brutality are the best I've ever read. The violence and body horror is visceral. The images in this book are going to stay with me for a long time. The "reveal" of Sarafina's true nature was not what I was expecting, in a good way. The book was well-paced, and had lots of interesting twists and turns. I loved the ending. "Sarafina" is one of my favorite horror book of 2026! Thanks to CLASH Books and NetGalley for the complimentary eARC! All opinions are my own.