The tension, the suspense, and the horror here are outstanding. This truly feels just as tense and absorbing as watching a horror film. Daemon creates a world and cast of characters we fear for with such a dark atmosphere. I’m looking forward to reading the entire series and will be re-reading the entire series again once all four books release. Congratulations Daemon you’ve made a fan for life.

“The children simply floated before him, suspended by some invisible force. “What the —" He sensed the presence at once. It was easy for evil to recognize itself. Butchie was overcome with the urgency to run but found it impossible to move.”

THE OJANOX Book 1 SCREAMS IN THE DARK by Daemon Manx Out tomorrow July 16th!!

Oh the dread! The Evil! The atmosphere! What a great start to this story!
Part one is short but there is so much going on. Not an overwhelming amount but a captivating amount. Each little unveiling just drops your jaw lower and makes you want to read faster. It’s exciting and I just want to scream because I want to see how it all comes together. But at the same time, this feeling of anticipation is what I love and I want it to last.
I want…I need book 2. Starting as soon as I can.

Scream in the Dark by Manx does a fantastic job of channeling the tension and drama of modern horror movies into the written word. The cast of characters are all believable, the monster(s) horrifying, the plot incredible. The only complaint I have is that this is only part 1.

Daemon Manx's *The Ojanox I: Scream in the Dark* is an impressive start to what promises to be a fantastic horror series. Manx's ability to create rich, detailed characters and atmospheric settings reminded me of why I love Stephen King.

Set in Garrett Grove, 1979, the story brings the town and its residents to life in a way that feels both nostalgic and chilling. The Ojanox creatures are terrifying and vividly described, and the backstory of Garrett Grove is intriguing. I did find myself wanting more details about the Ojanox themselves, but that just adds to the anticipation for the next book.

Ten-year-old Troy Fischer, who is excited for Halloween and building his haunted attraction "Scream in the Dark," is a particularly engaging character. As a mysterious outbreak begins to affect the town's children, the tension and suspense build perfectly.

*The Ojanox I* is a great mix of classic creature horror, cosmic elements, and a coming-of-age story, though it’s definitely for an adult audience. Endorsed by Scream Queen Felissa Rose, this book marks Daemon Manx as a new name to watch in horror. I'm already looking forward to re-reading this one and can't wait for the next installment.

Four stars for a chilling and immersive read.

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It's 1979, a week before Halloween. Troy's Halloween party is taking place and it is awesome. After cupcakes, he leads his friends though <i>Scream in the Dark</i>, his haunted attraction that he conceived and built with his friend, Rob. Everything's perfect, except for Rob's absence. Unfortunately, Rob got sick during the week and had to skip the party. Or at least he was supposed to be resting at home when Troy finds him in the garage. But something is really wrong with Rob. He's barefoot and only wearing pj bottoms, despite the cold. Rob collapses and Troy's mother rushes him to the hospital. Then two more kids about the same age show up at the hospital with the same symptoms. What is happening to the children?

This was surprisingly good! I love a good coming-of-age horror story, and this one doesn't disappoint, except that this is only part 1 of 4. I want more, dammit! When's the next one being released?!

Unfortunately I did not finish this one. The writing isn't bad, but it just didn't connect with me at this time. I will probably give it another go later this year.

What is the Ojanox?
Something terrorises a small town in New York in 1979.
Gradually, the myth of the Ojanox gets more mysterious.
Nobody is immune, nobody is safe.
This is a face-paced read with amazing storytelling at its core.
It is moody and reminiscent of old horror books.
Concept: 5
Prose: 4
Characterisation: 3.5
Overall: 4/5

A Horror Bookworm Recommendation
The Ojanox Book 1: Scream In The Dark by Daemon Manx
https://horrorbookwormreviews.com/

It’s Fall of 1979, and Garrett Grove is gearing up for a Halloween celebration. However, when a dead body is discovered, a peculiar wound and lack of blood at the crime scene lead to a profound revelation. An evil presence seems to have descended on this little sleepy town where it’s about to get a whole lot worse.

The Ojanox: Book 1 Scream In The Dark by Daemon Manx sets the stage for the beginning of multiple storylines that mutates into one horrific tome. Violations by an unseen force and the fear it brings to the innocent is a whole new level of terror. Scream In The Dark is a creature feature that offers much more than an horrific monster, it’s a close encounter of the parasitic kind. You may never know the beast by its origin…for its name is Ojanox.

This is book one in a four part series of The Ojanox. Pain and anguish will be your tour guide as Manx delivers his fear factory with strange elements of the darkest kind. Its intoxicating atmosphere is a disturbing concept that guarantees the reader one heck of an unsettling good time. Book One, Scream In The Dark, garners a compelling enticement while leaving enough open ends to justify further books. I’m ready to dive into Book Two and see what lurks in the darkness and how this eerie series continues to grow.

Scream In the Dark achieves a real-life haunted house experience full of parasitic abnormalities. I say…let the feeding begin! A Horror Bookworm Recommendation.

Daemon brings you right back to the 80s/90s with his feel good Halloween season that ends up horrific. Ojanox really leaves you feeling like you were placed into a scary story from your childhood. Do you remember how you felt during spooky season as a kid? I do! This brought me right back there. And all I know is, I would not want to be anywhere near Garrett Grove this Halloween.

Nice creepy intro to The Ojanox series. The story is well paced and Manx does a great job introducing the characters while still incorporating action into the story. It’s a decent amount of characters and I struggled to keep up with names at times as most of the them are super common white American names. Most of the characters are fairly one dimensional, but some are given further backstory and likely will build personality but the next book.

I did feel as though the book ended a bit abruptly but I already have the next one ready to go so it’s not a huge deal.

Overall, this was an awesome start to the series and I look forward to getting further into this world.

When I think back to my childhood, Halloween stands out most of all. My dad introduced me to horror movies and books at age 7. “Night of the Living Dead” was my first movie and The Hound of Baskerville was my first book. I would re-read the book many times. I loved everything scary. If I did not scream during a movie or have night from a book then it was not very good to me. This author provided the opening for me to revisit those amazing memories of my dad. He passed away when I was 23, he was only 43, and his death left a huge hole in my heart and soul. I reminisced about all the good times I had with my dad, the fun I had trick or treating with friends and the times I was scared as a kid. The idea of something showing up in your community and not being able to figure out what it was, would be most terrifying. I know that this book will cause me some fearsome dreams when I sleep.

This definitely makes me want to come back to finish the rest of the series. The monster at the heart of this one is bonkers and scary as all get out. Great nostalgia vibes and a cast of interesting characters make this a fun horror show.

I really love it's vintage feel, especially since it takes place during Halloween. This adds to the creepy atmosphere. The Ojanox causes so many types of horror. What happens to the children really got to me. I definitely understood the parents' fears and anxiety. I really enjoyed all of the characters and each felt distinct. The cliff hanger was excellent. I can't wait for the next one!

Something emerges from a disturbed cave and terrorises a small town. No one is safe.

The backstory about the entity is great, the story is gruesome and fun and this will undoubtedly be a good series of books but I had one issue I couldn’t get past- the main characters are all men and boys. This would be ok but women exist in the book solely as accessories- mothers, girlfriends and nurses/ waitresses who are unnecessarily sexual in their behaviour with no other characteristics or role in the plot. It wasn’t just the setting that felt late 70s…

4 stars

A wonderful nostalgic horror. I loved the world building and characters. Creepy, and full of dread. This is really the way I love my horror to be served. I cant wait for the next book.

Daemon Manx's 'Scream In the Dark," the first part of his Ojanox tetralogy (pronounced "Oh-Zja-Nox," according to the book), is brimming with nostalgia for those amazing small-town horror books of the 1980s and the 1990s, some of which actually defined the whole contemporary horror scene and are still enjoyable today. Coupled with the cinematic atmosphere, several hair-raising moments, and the straightforward dialogue (most similar to a family TV series, to be fair), the book is an absolute delight: a complex though easy to follow, imaginative plotline, a large cast, characters you identify with almost immediately, a mysterious threat out of ancient legend - well, the honest, precise writing is just a bonus!

What impressed me most was the easy, somewhat cozy familiarity I felt while reading the book. This is in no way due to lack of originality - on the contrary, Manx has taken the best of small-town horror and crafted a unique, intriguing, hugely promising story that's downright harrowing and disturbing in places. Many times, however, I had the impression that I was watching a Flannagan show, that I was in a "safe place," so to speak, that I would not be disappointed, that I was in the presence of an author with amazing storytelling skills; Manx made everything seem so easy, so natural! The prose was flowing, and the characters acted like people I knew (or would like to!) The book is a definite page-turner, even though you yourself (along with the Sherriff, the coroner, the doctor, the parents and the kids in the book!) have very little understanding of what exactly it all adds up to. This is to be expected: being the first part of a four-volume series, the book explains little, much to the benefit of the story. I for one can't wait to see where the Ojanox series is going next. The first book ends in a sort of a cliffhanger, but, thankfully, Manx has included a link to an excerpt of the second volume.

I really hope everyone enjoys this winner! For readers who love a well-written horror story, this is a must-read!

The story is serviceable. Nice back story. Cookie-cutter characters. With a good editor and a rewrite this could be a great 80s retro horror gore fest. An extra star for effort.

I loved this! This is a great throwback to old-school Halloween horror. I can't wait to read the rest of the series!

Thank you NetGalley and Daemon Manx for kindly providing an ARC.

Such a fantastic debut to this series!

The year is 1979. The location: Garrett Grove, a small town in New York near the mountains. On the brink of Halloween, an ancient evil awakens and begins targeting the townsfolk.

I loved the Halloween vibes first and foremost. Really transports you back to your childhood. I also really dug the variety of horror on display: everything from cosmic to body horror. Some of these scenes will forever stay seared in my brain!!

Cannot wait to read the sequel!!

love books that are set in small towns, having grown in one during the 90s - which was not far from when the events of THE OJANOX 1: SCREAM IN THE DARK took place. Unsurprisingly, I have taken to this one immediately. I don't mind that there were quite a number of people to take note of - how they are related to one another (quite like a bird's eye view of the town) along with some of their backstories (a more personal view, like trailing them for a documentary) - as it is quite the norm in places like this. At some point, they just started to seem like old friends (Well, most of them.). I felt their anticipation for Halloween at the beginning of the book, and I felt their fear once an unknown horror started rolling in. The pace was good, and the open ending felt right to me. This is an exciting start to a 4-book series, and I am eager to read the next one!

Thank you to Daemon Manx and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, I appreciate it very much! I highly recommend it to people who want to try reading horror for the first time.