I just finished this book, and wow—what a wild, eerie ride. It starts off strong with this super unsettling character called the chicken man (yes, really), who shows up when Mark is just eleven and says some pretty disturbing stuff about “making people happy” with an icepick. From there, it dives into this mix of childhood trauma, buried secrets, and a family debt that’s way darker than it first seems.

The writing is haunting in a really poetic way—like, the imagery of the mine fire burning underground and the snow melting in Kentucky was so vivid it almost felt symbolic of everything Mark was trying to forget. And for a while, the story really pulls you in, especially as Mark tries to move on with his life. You’re rooting for him… until the past inevitably catches up.

That said, the time jump threw me off a bit. It skips ahead eighteen years, and while that makes sense for the plot, it felt a little jarring. The pacing shifted, and I found myself a little confused trying to figure out where we were and what had actually happened in the gap. It didn’t totally ruin anything, but it did break the flow for me.

Still, once the chicken man reappears and things start unfolding across Kentucky, New York, and even a creepy village in Germany, the story picks back up and delivers some seriously intense moments. If you’re into dark, psychological stories with a touch of surreal horror, it’s definitely worth the read—just be ready for a few timeline hiccups along the way.

A haunting Ride That Refuses to Let Go

Kentucky Dragon is not for the faint of heart—and that’s exactly what makes it unforgettable. Michael Park crafts a story that is as gory and bleak as it is compelling, plunging readers into a world drenched in dread and tension. From the first few pages, the anxiety hits like a gut punch, and it rarely lets up.

I’ll be honest: I found parts of the book confusing. The plot twists and shifting perspectives can leave you feeling disoriented, like you’ve wandered into a nightmare with no clear way out. But somehow, that disorientation only adds to the experience. It creeped me out in the best way—dark, unsettling, and laced with something primal that crawls under your skin.

And yet, despite (or maybe because of) all that, Kentucky Dragon sunk its claws into me and never let go. Even when I wasn’t sure where it was leading, I had to keep reading. Park knows how to build tension like a slow-burning fuse, and the payoff is as disturbing as it is satisfying.

If you’re looking for a clean, linear story, this might not be it. But if you crave horror that’s messy, visceral, and absolutely unshakable, Kentucky Dragon delivers. It’s confusing, it’s creepy—and it’s damn good.

This was not what I expected. I was hoping I would have enjoyed it more. To me, the end felt really confusing and kind of messily wrapped up and I feel like I still have a bunch of unanswered questions. I don't like when I feel like there is no conclusion to a book.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley.

Okay this book surprise me!

Since the first chapter I was hooked, I love when horror books has kids as main characters, I think that in a way makes this book more scary, Mark is afraid, a misterious man comes to his new home and show something horrible to his old brother, and it looks like some secret it's keeping from him, now he notices that his dad its very nervous, this misterious man, or the chicken man how he family called him is looking for some debt to be paid, and looks like he has something to do about Mark's missing sister, so now Mark and his brother are gonna try to find out what is happening.

I really liked this book, the author's writing to me was very good, it was fast, and careful, giving details but at the same time making this story going forward, the book divides itself in two parts, Mark as a kid investigating about this Chiken Man and all the awful things happening to his family, and Mark being and adult when his past is back even when he thought was in his imagination, being honest the first part was my favorite, I think the way the kids are trying to save his family but still being kids its great,

Kentucky Dragon it's a very graphic novel, it has blood, ghosts, monsters alike, and this old german deities, in a way it feels like an old folk story, that was very interesting,

But, the ending wasn't for me, felt rushed, a lot was going on that I losted and I had to re read a few pages to understand what was going on, at the end, it felt incomplete, I don't know for sure, but I think this is gonna be a series, that's why that ending.

Holy Crap. Just every now and again on Netgalley you get an ARC approval that reminds you why you are in this game.
I confess I thought at first that Kentucky Dragon was going to be a kinda weird niche genre novel that would be a good quick throwaway read BOY WAS I WRONG. This book is definitely a genre novel, and is even pretty darn gory at times, but this is really powerful work, my only problem is knowing where to start with the compliments:
The Horror
First of all, I love the horror genre, but recognize its hard to pull off sometimes. A lot of written works seems to try and imitate film horror conventions which don’t always work on the page (e.g. jump scares). Kentucky Dragon I would say is the opposite, its scary and gruesome in a way that feels extremely vivid and in the moment and could easily translate into a damn good film, but using literary techniques.
In terms of the gore this is possibly the most bloody book I’ve read for some time, and usually I’m not a fan of overdone blood-and-guts, just to reassure thought the story is balanced, so that when the horrific stuff does happen its suitably shocking and high impact without derailing the more emotive and character driven elements.
The Story
Another element that often horror stories struggle with is having a solid story beneath the scary/horror stuff. Often any attempt to have a story is undermined or overshadowed by the horror elements (it’s hard to have a compelling story alongside a Freddy Gruger type trying to kill everyone) and you often end up the story just being an awkward mystery or coming of age drama with scary moments. Kentucky Dragon is kinda both (not awkward) somehow capturing real life moments alongside solving the mystery haunting the MC.
While some of the individual scenes can be a bit tropey they are well incorporated so I never felt my eyes roll or deep sighs through the story.
And finally there is an air of mystery to this book, not every mythology is fully explained (what is the game!?!) – I’m not sure if the author is planning a sequel or shared universe books to explain more but I would be happy either way.

The chicken man? Murders? Folklore? Family curses? The first half of this story was absolutely chilling and twisting. I did get frustrated at times due to the family not communicating at all. So much could have been resolved or clarified if they had. Still, I was definitely freaked out by where the plot was heading.

The time jump to when Mark is an adult kind of sends the plot spinning out of control from that point onwards. So many weird decisions, descriptions and explanations felt overwhelming and unnecessary. I think if the author had stuck to just one supernatural plot device this would’ve kept my interest riveted to the narrative and the suspense/scariness of the story intact. There was so much to keep track of, it wasn’t enjoyable.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Fox Point Books for a copy!

This novel is not my usual genre to read I knew that and take a dip in the book anyway. It set different level of imagination in my mind and I enjoy that.
This is a dark and mystery novel, the novel delves into the mysterious lives of its characters, drawing readers into a world where supernatural being and reality collide, mind you there's no dragon here just mention about it. One of the novel’s strongest aspects is its mystery and goriness.
Overall, Kentucky Dragon is a richly atmospheric novel that blends the allure of terror with the weight of family secrets. It’s a beautifully crafted tale that will stay with readers long after they’ve turned the final page.

This is my first ARC and it was truly such an enjoyable experience. This book was disturbing in many ways, the writing was quietly haunting and I couldn’t put it down.
We follow one of the brothers, Mark, and witness the chilling experiences from his perspective. Definitely a well-developed character, who had a relatable personality. His internal monologue when he is younger, constantly wishing for things to go back to normal and wanting to ignore the things that were bad, were very realistic. The plot is very unique with components of psychological horror and references to historical events will keep any reader engaged. It explores some tricky themes and one that really stood out to me was the inherited guilt that followed the main character as the grandchild of a Nazi who had committed acts of atrocities.

Overall, it was a very interesting read, one that will really be popular with horror lovers!

Man, this started SO good, and it fizzled out. What happened? There's a time jump midways, but this shouldn't affect the plot. The first half has lots of tension, brimming with mystery and terror, especially when it becomes clear the threat is supernatural in origin. It's also gory in just the right places, and the historical details felt just right. The "Chicken Man" is a really good idea, with amazing potential. But some hints that it's being mishandled came early on (the disappearance of the dog, for example); I ignored them, till I realized that the book was going in an entirely different direction than I expected. Usually, a good thing, right? Wrong. The author has a good idea he doesn't know how to cash out properly. After the time jump, he repeats the same pattern, choosing, however, to go for even stranger scenes rather than situations driving the story forward. It all becomes messy by the last two thirds. I still hoped, however; and then it abruptly ended.

Like a freaky bad guy, a family curse, and a story that takes you half way across the world? Then this is the book for you.

Mark was eleven when they moved house, and things started to go wrong. But it wasn't just bullying in a new neighbourhood or the loss of friends, but a demonic curse that starts to haunt his bloodline. It starts with the Chicken Man, who came to the house and seemed to hold a strange power over his Father and Brother. And the mention of his missing Sister. Then strange things start to happen: rooms disappear, and then their father vanishes. Mark's brother goes looking for him, leading Mark to look for them both. After a terrible storm, Mark is found, but something terrible has happened. As an adult, Mark has put much of that behind him until a strange phone call to his girlfriend prompts him to head back home. Things go from bad to worse as Mark's life starts to unravel around him, as he feels the breath of a demonic force on the back of his neck.

A wonderfully dark and twisted story that takes you on a journey across the world, and with the heat of a demonic force throughout.

This was a solid horror read. The story was gory and fleshed out (haha) in a really addicting way.

I got really into the story really fast right from the start. I wasn’t as interested after the time jump, but it still felt fast-paced and terrifying. To me, the end felt really confusing and kind of messily wrapped up and I feel like I still have a bunch of unanswered questions.

I received Kentucky Dragon by Michael Park as an ARC from BookSirens and have rated this one 4*

A rather bizarre horror following a family through the decades as the son, Michael tries to get to the bottom of curse that has a debt to pay by him.

With being a horror fan, I absolutely koved the gory details in the book, I wasn't so sure about the ending, seemed a little to fast after the amazing build up to get to the end. I think more detail would have rounded the book off nicely.

However a thoroughly enjoyable read I would recommend. And my appreciation and thanks for the ARC

This was a very interesting story. Strange at times, which was a plus in my book. This is a new author for me so I wasn't for sure what to expect. It ended up being a really good story. Highly recommend.

Not bad, not great, straight down the middle horror fiction. Not super interesting but at least it doesn't waste your time by being super long or exceedingly slow.

Blogs: Goodreads (Faith Brehm), Tumblr (FaitzReviews)
Run Date: March 26, 2025
Links: I'll update links when the reviews go live

Review:

Haunting and deliciously weird, I loved every moment with this book.

Told in two parts, Kentucky Dragon digs into cultism, body horror, and family secrets. When Mark is young, he meets the chicken man for the first time. A man who isn’t quite a man, the chicken man has come to collect on a debt. As Mark and his brother, Don, work to unravel the mystery of their family’s secrets, they find themselves wrapped in something much large than them with life-altering consequences. Eighteen years later, Mark has been doing what he’s told, putting the events of his youth behind him and not digging deeper. That is, until he receives a call from Germany from a woman that claims to be his should-be-dead older sister. Mark finds himself thrust back into the secrets he’s been avoiding and playing a game he didn’t even know he was a part of.

Kentucky Dragon is one of the strangest books I’ve read recently, which makes it an instant win for me. It’s visceral and gory, so if that’s not your flavor of horror, definitely steer clear. It doesn’t hold back any of its punches, digging its claws in deep, mixing atmospheric weirdness with bloody mutilations and lingering questions. The novel, especially the beginning, gave very classic horror vibes, in the line of something like The Auctioneer or Rosemary’s Baby. Something about the tone and the complete unflinching, but not overdramatic, descriptions really harkened back to that ‘60s-‘70s horror-lit vibe.

The best part of the novel, other than the weird, of course, was the pacing. The book ramps up the tension gradually, keeping its secrets locked close to its chest, while managing to unleash a barrage of horror with each consecutive chapter. Little innocuous details from Mark’s childhood come into play later in the book, leaving us interconnecting strings to follow into the present.

While the book only has a short cast of characters, they were all enjoyable. They each have personality and distinct motives. I understood why the characters were doing what they were doing. I’m also a stickler for a good villain, and the chicken man gave me that. He’s just normal enough to have that edge of uncanny valley. He talks smart, doesn’t baby Mark or Don, and has a general air of calm inevitability that made him a great character on the page.

Things that didn’t resonate as well? The focus on Nazism, especially toward the end of the novel. There was some strange (not in a good way) Nazi-apologist rhetoric that made me uncomfortable in a way that a horror novel shouldn’t do. Might just be me being sensitive or missing some context, but it made me uncomfy in a bad way.

This novel also struggles overall by having just a not-good ending. Not in a way that horror novels sometimes have bad endings, but the ending just wasn’t good. If it’s setting up for a sequel (which I’d definitely read), that can be forgiven. It feels like the setup to a sequel sort of ending, so I can forgive it if that’s the case.

Overall, loved it. Great premise. Fantastic villain. Slow bleeding of secrets.

Michael Park’s Kentucky Dragon is a haunting and atmospheric psychological thriller that delves into the dark corners of memory, trauma, and the secrets that refuse to stay buried. With its gripping narrative and richly drawn characters, this novel is a compelling exploration of the past’s enduring grip on the present.

The story begins with Mark, an eleven-year-old boy who encounters the enigmatic and unsettling “chicken man.” This mysterious figure introduces Mark to a world of violence and manipulation, leaving a lasting scar on his psyche. As the snow in Kentucky melts due to a mine fire burning deep underground, the chicken man’s actions leave Mark traumatized. Over time, Mark convinces himself to forget the horrors he witnessed, burying them beneath years of bourbon and therapy.

Eighteen years later, the chicken man returns, pulling Mark back into a web of dark secrets and unresolved debts. From Kentucky to New York City to a German village where a coal fire has been burning for centuries, Mark is forced to confront the truth about his family’s past and the flames that never extinguish.

Park’s writing is both evocative and immersive, capturing the tension and unease of Mark’s journey with precision. The novel’s exploration of themes like memory, trauma, and the cyclical nature of violence is both thought-provoking and emotionally resonant. Mark is a compelling protagonist, his vulnerability and determination making him a character readers will root for, even as they are drawn into the darker aspects of his story.

The supporting cast, including the enigmatic chicken man and the various figures Mark encounters on his journey, adds depth and complexity to the narrative. The pacing is masterful, with each twist and turn heightening the suspense and keeping readers on the edge of their seats. Park’s prose is lyrical and evocative, capturing the beauty and danger of the settings with equal skill.

Kentucky Dragon is a story of redemption and reckoning, of the past’s power to shape the present and the courage required to confront it.

I really enjoyed the premise of this book, but I sadly found the writing lacking; I was only able to make it a few pages before stopping. It was too descriptive of inane items, almost like the author was writing using a template or checklist for “interesting writing”. The book may definitely get better from there, but I couldn’t get that far.