Publisher's Synopsis
Two girls' friendship will be put to the ultimate test in a dark fantasy world...
When they were '90s kids, Tara and Nicola were obsessed with metal band Valentine Killshot, whose epic concept albums about the dark fantasy land of Dae'eshta took the world by storm. The girls' obsession ends, however, when a chance meeting with the band leads to a horrific tragedy and the inexplicable disappearance of the band's charismatic lead singer-Jed Maine. Seven years on, now estranged, both women are still scarred by what happened. As Tara and Nicola try to come to terms with the catastrophe that changed their lives growing up, both begin to realise the impossible truth: Dae'eshta is not simply a made-up publicity stunt, but real. And this is where Jed Maine has fled... Intent on vengeance, the girls must step once more into Jed Maine's world, walk through the pale forests of Wolftown, discover the horrors and secrets of the undercity of Dae'under, and make a daring voyage across a tempestuous ocean to the mystical shores of the Laughing God's home, all to confront the man who took everything from them... Dark Hilarity is the The Never-Ending Story meets Stephen King's The Talisman, a fantasy that explores addiction, depression, and the healing power of friendship.Praise for Dark Hilarity "As impressive as Clive Barker in his prime" - Brian Barr, author of Serpent King
"Dark Hilarity is a suspenseful, coming-of-age portal fantasy story with lush prose and compelling characters. Joseph Sale writes bloody good weird fiction." -Alicia Hilton, author of Moonlight, Mallet, Gunshot, Flame
"Dark Hilarity is a coming-of-age story set in two worlds: ours and a twisted fantasy place where nightmares and wonder exist side-by-side. The characters are real, deeply flawed people, and you can't help but root for the heroes. It is, at times, philosophical, brutally violent, and heartwarmingly tender, it keeps you on your toes. The story builds to a heart-racing crescendo." -Ken MacGregor, Author of Devil's Bane "I've been a fan of Joseph Sale for many years now, and Dark Hilarity may be his best work to date. This visceral novel is unsettling in the way it gets under your skin, ominous in tone and mood, haunting in both the concrete and the abstract. Shades of China Mieville and The Weaver tripping across the sprawling web of reality are mixed with the atmosphere and tension of The Howling to create a powerful and immersive but ultimately hopeful experience." -Richard Thomas, author of Disintegration and Breaker (Thriller Award nominee)
