🩸 Horror Fiction

Sanctuary

✍️ Luca D'Andrea
Reader Score
4.6
(1 review)
$26.99
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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A woman hides from a demonic hunter in a remote mountain cabin.

Marlene Wegener escapes her abusive husband by stealing something irreplaceable. A car accident leaves her stranded on a desolate road during winter. She finds refuge with Simon Keller, a tough loner in the mountains. This setting allows her to rebuild her strength and self-worth away from his control. Meanwhile, Herr Wegener unleashes a supernatural force to retrieve what was taken. The Trusted Man operates without mercy or logic. Marlene must use her newfound resilience to survive this hunt. D'Andrea blends crime thriller elements with dark fantasy. The tension arises from the physical isolation and the inescapable nature of the threat. Critics compare his style to established masters of suspense and horror.

Key Themes
demonic pacts mountain isolation reclaiming identity
Literary Context

First published in Italian as Lissy by Einaudi/Stile Libero in Turin, 2017. This English edition was released by Harper in 2020. The work draws on European gothic traditions of the demonic bargain and remote isolation, translated for an American audience.

Difficulty
●● Medium
Recommended For Fans Of
Stephen King · Jo Nesbø · Gothic horror enthusiasts
🩸
Horror Fiction
🏛 Harper 📅 2020 📖 400 pages 🌐 English 📔 Hardcover ISBN: 9780062972125

📝 Description: Sanctuary

Luca D'Andrea, author of The Mountain, delivers a tense thriller in Sanctuary. Marlene Wegener flees her husband after stealing a priceless item. Her car crashes on a bleak winter road, forcing her to seek shelter with Simon Keller. He is a solitary mountain man living alone with his own demons. In this remote high-altitude refuge, Marlene begins to reclaim her identity. She stops being the trophy of a gangster and becomes tough and capable once more. However, Herr Wegener refuses to forgive. His rage leads him to make a pact with the devil. He summons The Trusted Man, an entity that cannot be reasoned with or called off. This relentless pursuer will get the job done by any means necessary. Marlene must survive in her sanctuary while being hunted by something supernatural and unstoppable. The narrative draws on gothic traditions of isolation and demonic bargains. It echoes the atmospheric dread found in works by Stephen King and Jo Nesbø, as noted by critics. D'Andrea piles on action and atmosphere with panache. This book suits readers who enjoy psychological suspense mixed with supernatural horror. Those seeking lighthearted escapism should look elsewhere. The story remains grounded in the harsh reality of the mountains and the coldness of revenge.

💎 Our verdict on Sanctuary

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Luca D'Andrea delivers a tense, atmospheric thriller that effectively merges psychological suspense with dark fantasy. The narrative excels in building dread through physical isolation and the relentless pursuit of an unstoppable supernatural entity. Marlene’s transformation from a controlled victim to a capable survivor provides strong emotional stakes amidst the horror. Critics praise the author’s panache in piling on action and mood, drawing comparisons to established masters like Stephen King and Jo Nesbø. The story remains grounded in the harsh reality of its mountain setting, avoiding supernatural whimsy for cold, logical menace. This book is best suited for readers who enjoy intense, unrelenting narratives where survival hinges on resilience rather than luck. It is a solid choice for fans of gothic isolation and demonic bargains.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who enjoy the intersection of psychological suspense and supernatural horror will find this book highly rewarding. It appeals to those who appreciate tense thrillers grounded in harsh realities, such as physical isolation and the coldness of revenge. Fans of characters who rebuild their identity amidst danger will resonate with Marlene’s journey from victim to survivor. Those seeking lighthearted escapism should look elsewhere, as the narrative is intense and unrelenting. The book offers a compelling mix of dark fantasy elements and crime thriller pacing, providing a gripping experience for audiences who value atmospheric dread and unstoppable threats over conventional happy endings.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.6
Based on 1 reviews
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Horror Reads editorial team

Luca D'Andrea delivers a tense, atmospheric thriller that effectively merges psychological suspense with dark fantasy. The narrative excels in building dread through physical isolation and the relentless pursuit of an unstoppable supernatural entity. Marlene’s transformation from a controlled victim to a capable survivor provides strong emotional stakes amidst the horror. Critics praise the author’s panache in piling on action and mood, drawing comparisons to established masters like Stephen King and Jo Nesbø. The story remains grounded in the harsh reality of its mountain setting, avoiding supernatural whimsy for cold, logical menace. This book is best suited for readers who enjoy intense, unrelenting narratives where survival hinges on resilience rather than luck. It is a solid choice for fans of gothic isolation and demonic bargains.

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