Black Easter by Dario Ciriello

Black Easter Reviews

• 
  Petrina Binney

  The story follows Paul, a San Franciscan antiques dealer who, although financially successful, has found himself emotionally dissatisfied, and has decided to change his life and move to a small Greek island.
  
  Ready to start again, Paul is guided around a very old stone house on the island of Vóunos by beautiful estate agent, Elleni, and sees no reason not to push ahead and sign the rental agreement.
  
  The house has been empty, although tended to by a regular staff, for quite some time. But there’s a problem. One that Paul will only discover after he’s moved in. The house was the setting for demonic activity and human sacrifice during the Second World War. And the former owners, after seventy years in hell, are ready to come home…
  
  The story is genuinely scary. Of course the subject matter is dark - including the aforementioned human sacrifice and devil worship, as well as torture in wartime, contracts with hell, and human possession. I found the writing profound and compelling; I was properly scared but I couldn’t stop reading.
  
  This was the first time in a long time that I can remember thinking of a novel as art. It’s the highest compliment I can pay any book. There’s no doubting the impact of the subject matter - I really thought I might be changed after the reading of it. The writing style is lyrical, without being floral. The characters and the relationships between them are keenly-observed and well-expressed.
  
  True, the imagery used on the front cover is frightening, but totally apt for the story within. You’ll want to be at your strongest emotionally and spiritually, but Black Easter has the feeling of a classic in the making.
• 
  Albert

  I couldn't find a lot of options for Easter horror novels. I was looking for books about rabid bunnies chewing on shins with maybe a bit of heel humping thrown in for chuckles, poisoned Easter treats being fed to children and other fun stuff like that.
  I found this book, it was inexpensive so I figured what the hell, I'll give it a try. I'm glad that I did, I really liked it and will probably check out more of his horror novels.
  I found this to be an exciting and interesting story, it takes place in Nazi occupied and present day Greece and involves some demonologists that want to be resurrected on Easter. I found it to be well written and I really enjoyed the characters, and I thought it had a pretty unique story line.
  It felt like the author left the story open for a sequel which I would definitely pick up. Overall, an enjoyable Easter horror read.
• 
  Bonnie Randall

  Against the backdrop of idyllic Greece, and within the traditions of the dominant Greek Orthodox Church, Paul has emigrated from the U.S. in an attempt to start a cleaner, more simplified slate - and to leave the heartbreak of losing a lover to a cult behind him. What he discovers is a potential new lover in Elleni - but as Elleni uncovers the dark history of Paul's rented cottage and they both begin to acquaint themselves with the deeply disturbed trio who once practiced the most depraved form of Satanism there, disquieting occurrences begin to disturb them and Paul, a spiritual skeptic who has a personal ax to grind with all forms of faith, has to reckon with a new and terrifying set of beliefs that he simply cannot deny.
  
  This is a rapidly-read novel with one of the most loathsome villains I've ever tripped over running the proverbial show. Dafyd is self-absorbed, cocky, greedy, heartless, and smug (don't you just want to take him home to meet Mom? said no one, ever), a true dick of the first order, and I confess that part of the reason I raced through this book was to see if he gets a worthy comeuppance in the end (I will not reveal whether he *does* or he *doesn't*). There is always an abundance of arrogance within people who want to transcend to be more than what we mere humans are, and the Satanic trio here fit that bill. I wanted to make the lot of them drink boiling oil.
  
  The setting of Greece, though, is absolutely lovely, and the little details - the food, the camaraderie of locals, the countryside - all serve to compel the reader to visit (and lull into a bit of false sense of security; could somewhere so peaceable and beautiful truly be so toxically evil....?)
  
  Black Easter is a quick read that doesn't shirk away from obscenity, depravity, or taboos (it *is* about Satanism, after all, and not that I've been to a Black Mass anytime recently, but I hear the cats that practice that sh*t can get pretty gruesome and depraved). There's a rather quantum-universe take on Hell that will appeal to Science Fiction fans here (confession: I stumbled through those pieces. But science fiction fans won't) and, as I mentioned, a lovely depiction of Greece and Greeks that will appeal to the world traveler in you.
  
  4 Well-Wasn't-*That*-Lot-Pitch-Black-Selfish-And-Evil? Stars
  
  
• 
  Lynette Aspey

  Anyone looking through my reader-history would realise that I've known Dario Ciriello for some years (since 2002 to be exact), and consider him a good friend. I've had the pleasure of watching his work as a writer, editor and publisher win well deserved recognition and it's always a pleasure to buy one of his new works. So Ends Disclaimer.
  
  Dario is a writer that enjoys exploring. His work spans biography, fantasy, science fiction, thrillers and now the supernatural.
  
  In Black Easter, Dario is using his real-life experience on an Aegean Island (read Aegean Dream), to inform his characters and deliver a beautifully rendered scenic backdrop to his story.
  
  Black Easter's key character, Paul Hatzis, is distancing himself from emotional trauma. He's not particularly likable fellow at first -- he comes across as critical and defensive until you get to know him better -- who walks into a minutely planned, perfectly executed (ha!) supernatural ambush, prepared seventy years in the past. The current and historic story-lines run parallel until the trap shuts and the two timelines converge in a battle for possession.
  
  I've now read this book twice and enjoyed both readings immensely. There is a literary quality to Dario's writing, detailed and thoughtful, that leaves you feeling informed without being brow-beaten. Having said that, it's quite clear that the author has real love for the Greek characters in this tale. For me, one of the most engaging aspects to this story was that it focused on an aesthetic man looking to reset his life on a beautiful Greek island, who rediscovers love and passion, just before everything rational and real is torn to shreds. You just gotta love that sort of shock treatment.
  
  Aside from the pleasure in reading a story where the characters and culture are seamlessly integrated, I also enjoyed the fact that in Black Easter, the "Supernatural" is not a screen with white noise from which issues arbitrarily angry ghosts but a well defined reality that has rule and reason. Dario is not afraid to 'step out there' and take us to a place that turns the demon meme on its head.
  
  Recommended for readers who like their fiction real enough to be scary.
• 
  Jon

  A few years back, one of my favorite authors (Tamara Siler-Jones, in case you're wondering lol) posted up a link on Facebook to an indie publisher looking to start up a Street Team. I quickly filled out the form and submitted it, and was subsequently picked to join Panverse Publishing's extended family. I was introduced to some great books, but even better was the fact that I now felt like I was part of the industry (unofficially, and unpaid, but still). ;) That jump encouraged me to submit an application to Harper Voyager for their Super Reader program (again, thanks to a shared post by Tambo, lol), so now I also get to read and review all kinds of books before they ever hit the shelves. #winning :D
  
  Dario Ciriello is one of those folks who really knows how to tell a story, whether it be about drug-smuggling older gentlemen (Sutherland's Rules), his beautiful and fun yet ultimately doomed migration to a Greek island (Aegean Dream), or in this case, selling your soul to an otherworldly creature in order to gain ultimate power. Yeah, there's both less and more going on than what that summary leads you to believe, but that's what makes it a good story. The gist of it is pretty much this: one poor schmo happens to pick the wrong house at the wrong time and winds up being the target of a hostile takeover from another dimension. (or, Tuesday at Neil Gaiman's house.) ;) Black Easter was a bit difficult for me to pick what Goodreads shelves to put it on, as you have magic (which means Fantasy) combined with religion and demons (which generally means Horror), and Nazi's (which typically means warfare, or Indiana Jones lol), with the major set pieces taking place in the contemporary fictional setting of a secluded Greek island. It blends together wonderfully, and I'd love to see some additional stories around the main characters, especially the old monk. It sounds like he's seen some heavy stuff. :D
  
  Overall, another great work by Mr. Ciriello. Keep it up!
  
  
• 
  Jon

  I'm not usually one for the horror genre, so caveats there first and foremost.
  
  Black Easter does have a great cast of characters, starting with Paul who (from knowing the Author) shares quite a bit experience wise with the author, and comes off as an extremely realistic protagonist because of that. Elleni is great and sympathetic. The 1940s cast was excellent as well, each with very rich personalities. I did find myself skimming over the priest/captain perspectives a little more, as their paths were pretty linear and I didn't find as much to connect with as the others.
  
  It's very hard to pull off a time period piece mixing with modern and then having stories converge, but this work does that very well. I spent the first half of the book wondering how that was going to happen, and it ended up a very fun hook. The different settings were intertwined masterfully.
  
  The danger felt real, the pacing was extremely fast, which puts this in a category with the best thrillers.
  
  I found myself wanting more out of the "hell" chapters (hopefully not spoiling too much) and really would have liked a more vivid picture and more of that. The concept of hell was the most intriguing aspect of the work and it left me longing for more.
  
  Another thing I expect from horror is a bit of a twist, and the progression went pretty linearly and as I anticipated it would, which did hurt the suspense a little in the mid to late chapters. There was one twist at the end which I won't spoil in a review form, but I thought that could have been amplified to some degree.
  
  I did like how the magic progressed toward the end. Descriptions there were vivid and real.
  
  Not my genre, but from what I have read of it this is an excellent debut into the genre. It does remind me a bit of J. Michael Straczynski's late 80s horror novels which I read because I was interested in the author, which is a good thing.
• 
  Jaymi

  Disclaimer: I received an eARC of this book through the publisher in exchange for this review. Dario's also a good friend of mine.
  
  I am pagan, and into tarot and esoteric subjects, which is why Dario asked me to read his latest tale. This was such a fun read. It also kept me up all night!
  
  At it's heart, Black Easter is modern ghost story. Paul Hatzis moves away from the States to Greek island, where he rents an old house to relax and rediscover himself. Whenever he tells the locals about the place, they all tell him it's haunted. With the help of his realtor-turned-girlfriend, Elleni, the get to the bottom of this mystery. Things get weird... around Easter. There's a few more twists to this book, but I'll leave that for you to uncover. Spoilers and all that!
  
  The characters are well rounded. Paul seems to be an every day joe, who desires a simple islander life. He's not ready for the events that happen in his house around Easter. Thankfully, with the help of his niece, Alex, and a priest... he's able to overcome the evils that threaten to bring destruction to the world. Alex was my favorite, as I identify goth and had a minor in anthropology.
  
  Bottom Line: Do you enjoy a good, modern day haunting? Curious about why the Nazis were fascinated by the occult? Then this book will be a delight for you. No gore, only great storytelling.
• 
  Cody Sisco

  A pitch-perfect blend of Lovecraftian doom meets Salem's Lot style horror, all set on a small island in Greece.
  
  I grew up reading Stephen King and Clive Barker. Black Easter felt like a book either one of them might have written if they'd spent any time on a Greek island. As a writer myself, whose books tend to be dense, complex, and perhaps a bit-too-off-putting, I appreciated Dario's economical prose and deft pacing. The characters felt real, with recognizable baggage as well as unique and surprising perspectives. The tension slowly builds into an inevitable literally earth-shaking climax. A solid novel overall.
  
  Disclaimer: I purchased a copy of Black Easter from Dario at an Indie Author Day event and since then we've come to be friends and collaborators through the Made in L.A. Writers group.
• 
  David Watson

  Paul Hatzis was tired of life in San Francisco, his wife had left him to join a cult and he feels American culture is violent and delusional. Paul is in search of a simpler life and has decided to go to the Greek island of Vóunos to find it. He rents out a small old house but what he doesn’t know is that the house has a dark history.
  
  Seventy years ago master of the dark arts, Dafyd along with a seer named Magda and Klaus a delusional SS colonel practiced black magic there. They killed some of the locals and in their final ritual they made a deal with outer hell and gave up their bodies to serve 70 years in hell. In exchange for their service they will be given new bodies and become immortals on Earth and the souls of the three bodies they inhabit will spend eternity in hell.
  
  I found it hard writing a description of this book because there is so much depth to the story its hard to put into words. I guess I would have to say that Black Easter by Dario Ciriello is an intellectual horror novel. I’ve read many books that have a plot line like this but what makes this story different is how its told.
  
  As Paul’s story begins you also hear the story of Magda, Klaus and Dafyd. The story starts in the present and keeps going back to tell the story of the former owners of the house. You think this is going to be your classic good versus evil story but in the beginning it’s not. You get the impression that Dafyd and Magda aren’t evil, they are in search of knowledge. Klaus is evil but he finds redemption(sort of). Then we get to find out more about what hell is like and it’s not the kind of place you would think it is.(I would love to say more but I don’t want to give it away.)
  
  This brings me to one of the things that I liked about the book, I figured that Dario wouldn’t get into the description of hell but he does and I loved the concept behind it and hearing the rituals that the three characters used to get there. I loved the characters in the book and I liked how the Greek island itself is a character as you get into how the people on the island live and act. The best part of the book is how the characters in danger act when they are faced with the prospect of death. At this point the story does become good versus evil and you see that what was presented in the beginning wasn’t the thing that should be feared(read it you’ll understand).
  
  Black Easter is truly an excellent read that had me still thinking about it after I was done reading. If you are into horror novels that have a lot of jump scares or lots of violence(it does have violence but it’s not what drives the story) you might not like this. That being said there we’re some scenes in this book where it comes across like a haunted house story. This is a great novel that will have you pondering life’s mysteries and what evil really is. I love that some of the characters question how evil can be stronger than good but as they question themselves they find the answers that they are looking for. I would love to elaborate on that statement but it would be better if you just bought Black Easter and read it.
• 
  Mike Reynolds

  Black Easter is the best book I’ve read in probably ten years. This is no exaggeration. Mr. Ciriello spins a classic tale of good versus evil and wraps it in a narrative with old-fashioned sensibilities juxtaposed against this primal, driving force, a need that must be satisfied. While reading Black Easter I was reminded of Foucault’s Pendulum, The Club Dumas, and Frankenstein all for different reasons. There are so many things I loved about this book, I’ll have to break them down into sections: narrative voice, story, and vivid descriptions.
  
  First of all, Mr. Ciriello’s narrative voice is wonderful. The writing is gorgeous. He is a master with words and arranges them like a master composer setting notes in the perfect order to completely please the senses. I firmly believe I could read five-hundred pages of Mr. Ciriello describing a cantaloupe and be completely entertained.
  
  Next up is the story. As I stated earlier, Black Easter is a classic tale of good versus evil. However, there is so much more. It is actually two stories broken up into two separate eras expertly intertwined by the master, Mr. Ciriello. Events that occurred near the end of World War II set the stage for events happening right now. Mr. Ciriello dances between the two presenting them in such a way you feel like you are present during each. The transition is never jarring, and always makes sense. Scenes happening today lend themselves to events happening in the past, and those historical events inform and enrich events happening in the current age. This is brilliant story telling.
  
  Finally, the vivid descriptions presented in Black Easter are truly breathtaking and spectacular. Black Easter clocks in at 237 pages. However, after finishing the story I felt as if I had read 1,000. There is so much meat here, no wasted words. Each description is perfect. You see the sights, smell the smells, taste the deliciousness of each morsel, and feel each gentle caress or vicious slap. For me, the most satisfying of these descriptions occur in the spiritual. Mr. Ciriello takes us to different dimensions, even across the cosmos, to places the human mind couldn’t possibly comprehend. Yet, it feels like he’s been there, like he’s describing things he has actually witnessed, not just with his eyes, but with all his senses. Wow! I’m not sure how else to say it.
  
  I truly loved this book, and I intend to greedily devour each of Mr. Ciriello’s other works. Read this book!
  
• 
  Laurie Lowe

  Dark fantasy fiction is not my typical read, but I found Black Easter to be an intellectually well-written page-turner. Dario Ciriello is a friend and a uniquely creative mind. There are elements of darkness, philosophy, and religious symbolism, but also picturesque scenes on an airy remote Greek island with charming, sympathetic characters and romance. He also pulls off jumping from past to present (to other dimensions!) with relative ease. What's not to like?
  
  Readers who are interested in the supernatural, black magic and alternative theories of the universe would enjoy this book. I found the three characters who enslave themselves to demons in exchange for a chance at immortality to be diabolical, yet winsome. And the descriptions of their experiences in Outer Hell are curious and captivating.
  
  Again, this is not my usual genre, but it's a fascinating story!
• 
  Sarah

  I stayed up late reading this book.
  I really didn't get much sleep, because I spent so much tome devoted to it.
  It was alright, your typical tale of an innocent family being offered as fuel to a few disgruntled spirits. I was just...expecting a little more. More horror, less predictability. I think this book would be better in movie form. But not bad for being a FREE copy won from a goodreads First Read Giveaway.
  I can not complain with free. ♥