I really love writing about things from the world of metal and sharing the stuff that resonates with us fans. The book I’m going to tell you about is one that any metalhead will feel a connection with. Heart-Shaped Box is a novel by Joe Hill, who happens to be Stephen King’s son. Like his father, Joe has become a horror legend himself. He’s also the screenwriter behind TV shows and movies like Black Phone and Locke & Key, and he’s definitely a prolific writer. This book was published in 2007, and it even won the Bram Stoker Award, which is a pretty prestigious horror award. Fun fact: he’s actually won it three times!

So, what’s the book about? Our main character is Judas Coyne, a death metal vocalist with a pretty rough past. He had a hard childhood with an abusive father, which eventually drove him to run away and create his own life. Over the years, he became a successful musician, forming a band called Jude’s Hammer and earning fame worldwide.

Judas has a unique hobby: he collects bizarre items from around the world. His collection includes things like nooses, torture tapes, and weapons used by hitmen. He has a weakness for anything with a dark, twisted backstory. One day, his assistant gets an email from a woman offering to sell her grandfather’s ghost. Obviously, this grabs Judas’s attention, and once he connects with the woman, things spiral into a terrifying, life-changing experience. Judas also has a sweet, rebellious, stripper girlfriend who brings a lot to the storyline.

The book is packed with references and tributes to various bands. You can tell the author knows the metal music scene and portrays it well. Sure, since the story is set in the U.S., some things feel a bit distant, but it’s still easy to get wrapped up in the story. I never got bored reading it, and the plot is honestly fascinating. It’s a road story at heart, and as they journey along, you end up seeing pieces of yourself in the characters. The changes they go through are really well-paced and relatable. In short, you can totally see yourself in the characters while reading.

Zafer AYAZ