The Curse of the Reaper is a novel written by Brian McAuley. It is a thriller that explores the supernatural and tells the story of a curse that haunts a small town. The main idea of the book is that actions have consequences, and sometimes those consequences can come back to haunt you. The story is set in a fictional town called Meadowlark, where a young woman named Sarah returns after the death of her grandmother. She soon discovers that the town is plagued by a curse, known as the Curse of the Reaper. Legend says that anyone who takes part in a ritual at the local cemetery will be cursed and suffer a terrible fate.
"At times deliriously fun and delightfully gory. Its blood-filled heart, however, is its main characters and their personal struggles. Both actors, in their own ways, strain under the unrelenting pressure of others’ expectations. To give the Reaper life, McAuley shares snippets of fictional movie screenplays that show the Reaper is just as deadly and entertaining as Jason or Freddy. This book is a must for fans of the slasher genre, but it also offers a sickle-sharp critique of the expendability of actors fed into the Hollywood machine." — Library Journal
You re never sure whether to root for Howard as a bastion of standards in a degraded creative industry or to pity him as a man whose self-regard is at odds with his body of work. Trevor is determined to stay sober and revamp his image while Howard refuses to let go of the character he created, setting the stage for a cross-generational clash over the soul of a monster.
Legend says that anyone who takes part in a ritual at the local cemetery will be cursed and suffer a terrible fate. As Sarah investigates the curse, she uncovers a dark secret that has been buried for generations. The curse is not just a legend, but a real force that is determined to seek revenge on the descendants of those who wronged it.
Curse of the Reaper: A Novel (Hardcover)
Scream meets The Shining in this page-turning horror tale about an aging actor haunted by the slasher movie villain he brought to life.
Decades after playing the titular killer in the 80s horror franchise Night of the Reaper , Howard Browning has been reduced to signing autographs for his dwindling fanbase at genre conventions. When the studio announces a series reboot, the aging thespian is crushed to learn he’s being replaced in the iconic role by heartthrob Trevor Mane, a former sitcom child-star who’s fresh out of rehab. Trevor is determined to stay sober and revamp his image while Howard refuses to let go of the character he created, setting the stage for a cross-generational clash over the soul of a monster. But as Howard fights to reclaim his legacy, the sinister alter ego consumes his unraveling mind, pushing him to the brink of violence. Is the method actor succumbing to madness or has the devilish Reaper taken on a life of its own?
In his razor-sharp debut novel, film and television writer Brian McAuley melds wicked suspense with dark humor and heart. Curse of the Reaper is a tightly plotted thriller that walks the tightrope between the psychological and the supernatural, while characters struggling with addiction and identity bring to light the harrowing cost of Hollywood fame.
About the Author
Brian McAuley is a WGA screenwriter who has worked on everything from family sitcoms to horror films. He received his MFA in Screenwriting from Columbia University and he teaches at Mount Saint Mary’s University in Los Angeles, where he currently resides. Curse of the Reaper is his first novel.
Praise For…
In Praise of CURSE OF THE REAPER
"McAuley excels at balancing the psychological against the supernatural, but he’s even better at satirizing the Hollywood machine. The author puts his experience of the screenwriting game to good use in a biting commentary on horror fandom, franchise culture, and thespian hubris. You’re never sure whether to root for Howard as a bastion of standards in a degraded creative industry or to pity him as a man whose self-regard is at odds with his body of work. Curse of the Reaper is a very funny book with some of the best “bad scriptwriting” ever committed to page. But when McAuley turns to horror in earnest, he goes hard." Esquire (Best Horror Novels of 2022)
"At times deliriously fun and delightfully gory. Its blood-filled heart, however, is its main characters and their personal struggles. Both actors, in their own ways, strain under the unrelenting pressure of others’ expectations. To give the Reaper life, McAuley shares snippets of fictional movie screenplays that show the Reaper is just as deadly and entertaining as Jason or Freddy. This book is a must for fans of the slasher genre, but it also offers a sickle-sharp critique of the expendability of actors fed into the Hollywood machine." — Library Journal
“Curse of the Reaper is the best kind of horror—one that’s equal parts psychological nightmare and bone-crunching bloodshed. McAuley’s novel is a grim amalgam, retelling the inner-struggle of a modern day Jekyll and Hyde and blending it (on high!) with every great 80’s slasher movie ever made. Reaper tackles madness, addiction, the costs of stardom, and the innate servitude of every artist whose soul is chained to the growling, hungry beast within. A wonderful, terrifying, thrilling novel not to be missed.”—Philip Fracassi, author of A Child Alone With Strangers
“In Curse of the Reaper, Brian McAuley carves a grinning specter from our cultural addictions to fandom and nostalgia, gleefully ripping through the boundaries between method and madness, pure scares and pitch-perfect schlock. With vividly wounded characters and a true fan’s eye for the horror show, Curse of the Reaper is an unmissable glimpse behind the screen.”—Gordon B. White, author of Rookfield and As Summer’s Mask Slips and Other Disruptions
“The purpose of horror is to access the unconscious fears of the reader and exploit them. Brian McAuley does just that in Curse of the Reaper. An homage to the horror films of the 80's, he delivers horror in a way that will have you clutching the edge of your seat while whipping through the book until the very end. And I enjoyed every single page of it.”—Tracy Cross, author of Rootwork
“Brian McAuley takes Method acting to maniacal meta-horror heights in his Poe-infused slasher Curse of the Reaper, which reads like a pitch-perfect riff off of Peter Bogdanovich’s Targets, a Los Angeles-cast Cask of Amontillado, and a Jerry Stahl-penned tug-of-war between Boris Karloff and Kane Hodder. Read it.” — Clay McLeod Chapman, author of The Remaking and Ghost Eaters
“A love letter to slashers, and a nod to our addictions. To drugs, to fame. To the memories of who we once were.” —Jamie Flanagan, co-writer of Netflix’s Midnight Mas s and The Haunting of Bly Mano r
“McAuley's Curse of the Reaper is a clever and creepy romp through the slasher genre, reveling in how it haunts and delights us, and how the real horror never, really ever ends.” — Kate Maruyama, author of Harrowgate and Family Solstice
- Fiction / Horror
- Fiction / Thrillers / Supernatural
- Fiction / Noir
- Fiction / Psychological
Robert Englund was a jumping-off point, but Howard's character is even more inspired by Norma Desmond, the somewhat delusional faded star in Sunset Boulevard. And the idea of Howard as a method actor who has really created a space within his psyche for this character over the course of eight films, how it's become part of his identity. A lot of the novel is Howard grappling with The Reaper's desires. And there are different ways to read that, like, is it a supernatural force? Or is it just an unacknowledged side of his personality that he needs to project onto this other character?
The author uses vivid descriptions and a suspenseful writing style to create a haunting atmosphere throughout the book. The curse itself is portrayed as a malevolent entity, with the power to manipulate and control those it targets. The characters are well-developed and relatable, adding depth to the story. The Curse of the Reaper explores themes of guilt, redemption, and the consequences of one's actions. It serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of delving into dark secrets and the importance of facing the past. Overall, The Curse of the Reaper is a gripping and atmospheric thriller that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. It is a thought-provoking story that reminds us that our actions can have far-reaching consequences, and sometimes, the past cannot stay buried..
Reviews for "The Eternal Curse: Brian McAuley and the Unbreakable Reaper's Bond"
1. Jake - 2 stars
I was really excited to read "Curse of the Reaper" after hearing so much buzz about it, but I have to say, I was extremely disappointed. The story was slow-paced and lacked any sort of exciting or suspenseful moments. I never connected with the characters and found myself forcing to finish the book just to see if it would get any better. Unfortunately, it didn't. Overall, I found the plot to be predictable and the writing to be lackluster. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone looking for a thrilling horror read.
2. Emily - 1 star
"Curse of the Reaper" was an absolute letdown for me. The concept of the story had so much potential, but the execution fell flat. The characters were one-dimensional and felt like mere plot devices rather than fully developed individuals. The plot itself was confusing and messy, with multiple loose ends and unresolved conflicts. The writing style was also disjointed, making it difficult to follow the story. I was left feeling unsatisfied and frustrated by the time I reached the end. I would advise anyone considering reading this book to steer clear and look for a more engaging horror novel.