One with a Strong Message (& Exclusive Author Interview!)

 

The Curses We Keep

by Dakota J. Miller

(Image taken from Apple Books)

My rating on a 100-point scale: 87

How I discovered this book:

I was part of this author's circle of Twitter buds and others who helped this debut novel become what it is today... The author spent MONTHS on sifting through feedback, making numerous edits, and struggling with editors who wouldn't respond or provide top-gun services; in the end, I received a free copy of this book for the purpose of reviewing it in detail here. Please note: this was an advanced review copy and this  novel will release March 2nd -- less than 10 days from now! 

My synopsis: 

   In the 1600s, the York family -- Earnest, Iris, and their daughter Cassandra -- is escaping a New England town where they were to be banished or killed. Choosing to (roughly) leave through a throng of rejecting folk, they have a long journey to Charleston, Carolina. There, more tragedy strikes them: a specter follows them, children are disappearing, and the natives are highly wary of them, saying they bring trouble. Can they overcome all the deck stacked against them in this new place, with a clean slate? It seems the townspeople may be accepting of them... but tensions grow as more children disappear. Iris is a healer in a time when using nature and wisdom to help others is questioned as witchcraft. The dark shadow's appearance adds to the suspicion... Where did this specter come from, why is it following the York family, and who -- or what -- is taking the townspeople's children? Readers follow Earnest, Iris, and Cassandra as they try to live their humble lives with the dark challenges their new, but still dark, setting presents. 

My review: 

   This Gothic tale has fantastic imagery! The author's use of flashback and foreshadowings are brilliantly woven into the story's plot to hook a reader and keep them reading despite the heavy doom and gloom throughout. The characters' struggles are true to their time period and make for a very clear, strong message to readers in the end. 

     For an example on the brilliant imagery and flashbacks throughout, see this short excerpt from the beginning of Chapter 3: 

   Dawn came thin over the riverside village, light pushing through the storm's wreck. Branches hung split and heavy. Needles lay in wet drifts. Mud ribbed the ground and pooled at the roots. What embers lived under the wet gave up a sour breath of char.  

    Earnest stood at the camp's edge with his lantern turned low. The woods beyond held that charged stillness he knew from bad water before a sea rose. Toms' grin flashed and sank. He drew short breaths and said nothing. 

Here, notice how this imagery not only creates a dreary, foreboding setting (best for this novel and its intent!), but the flashbacks to past issues on the sea also create a depth to Earnest's character. We see that he feels something is very wrong -- a foreshadowing of the further coming doom for his family.

    This novel delivers a very powerful message -- and the feeling of dread in the end: Oh my! It is the kind of feeling that classics leave you with -- Gothic classics like Stevenson's The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Stoker's Dracula. I surely don't have to tell you, reader, that this is something not commonly found in today's literature. In this novel, you will feel the chill and anticipation that is best in Gothic Horror. How is this novel classic Gothic Horror in today's literature, you may ask: it does have supernatural elements, the past does invade the present/future, the setting is a crumbling society, there is great emotional/psychological turmoil, and the themes of the novel are definitely in line with this genre (but if I discuss themes, I may be giving you spoilers... and I don't want to spoil anything for you!). An excerpt from Chapter 9 to support this determination follows, when young Cassandra is awoken in the night:  

   The night smelled of sap and damp wood. Mud had glazed hard with frost. She kept one hand on the post and leaned enough to look. The figure did not move. It faced the house. No wind troubled the pines, yet the edge of its cloak fretted as if in a draft of its own making. When it tilted, the hood slipped to a ragged angle and showed a sliver of face. Cheek bone. A wet track of skin. A mouth opening once without sound.  

   "Who are you," she said, not loud. 

   The head turned a fraction, as if the question tugged a cord. The hand lifted and closed, not in threat but in a reach she felt low in the body. For a breath the posture held, a mute petition, and then the shape thinned where it met the dark. It slid along the fence and fell back into the trees.  

Here, we can see this dark specter interacting with childhood wonder and curiosity -- she isn't necessarily afraid of this unknown entity; instead, she has opened the door and asks what or who it is. Cassandra longs to know and understand this creature and later reports on its appearance with only the facts; she is key in revealing whether this specter is guilty of harm (and murder) or if it is there trying to warn them of something. This passage directly ties in to the strongest message this novel sends readers -- it does involve emotional and psychological turmoil and other elements of Gothic Horror, and this passage is an example of how this theme is built and delivered masterfully. 

     Now, however, there are just a few things that keep this novel from being five-star, right now, in my opinion as a reader and writer: some minor plot errors (like, how does this character know this when she hasn't learned it/we didn't see her learning it; this character says this thing happened, but when did it happen, because we didn't see it happen and it doesn't appear the Yorks have been there long enough for it to happen... etc.) and, especially more towards the end of the book, conventions errors (missing question marks for questions throughout, comma splices and sentence fragments much too prevalent in some places... etc.). Keep in mind, though, the considerable amount of time, effort, and recursive editing this author has put into this work (I personally am verifying this, as I have been part of the feedback given to the author, but I have yet to be an editor of it) -- these are minor errors and should not deter you from making your own determination of whether these things detract from the story for you. This is a brilliant story! 

I recommend to... 

Fans of horror novels, especially lovers of classic horror and Gothic Horror.

Suggested restrictions: 

I do not suggest this novel for anyone less than 15 years of age due to intense images, horror, and situations that may not be suitable for younger readers, and supernatural violence, homicide, and suicide.

 

With no further ado, my interview with the author, Dr. Dakota Miller: 

Tell us a little about yourself. What do you like to do when you’re not writing? Are there any people who are extra special to you as a writer or as a person that you would like to tell us a little bit about as well?

   I am a U.S. Army veteran with a PhD in Health Sciences and an emerging horror author. Most of my time is spent away from the page: thinking through stories while working, reading classics, lifting weights, or boxing. When the plot finally crystallizes, I lock myself away and write in intense bursts, sometimes ten thousand words in a day. It is a habit I developed from cramming academic papers on weekends, and I do not recommend it to others.

(Image taken from Amazon Author page)

   My wife is the only person truly special to me in this journey. She is my biggest supporter, taught me grammar (which I never properly learned in school), and believed in The Curses We Keep from the first idea. Every draft she read with enthusiasm, even when I doubted the story. Her conviction carried me until beta readers confirmed it was strong. I would not be here without her.

That sounds way too much like how I get when writing! My writing obsession becomes very unhealthy at times, and I definitely don't recommend it to others (I get that way when I play a really good video game, too -- it's the love for the story!). I love that your wife is such a strong supporter for you -- I'm glad she supports you in this, because now we have such a wonderful Gothic tale that the world would otherwise be without!

What inspired you to start writing fiction? What would you say to someone who asked you why you started writing horror? How has writing affected your life?

   I always wanted to write a book but lacked a persistent idea until my dissertation years. After a decade in rigid APA format, my mind craved creativity, so I procrastinated by drafting fiction. Horror appealed to me because I was raised to see it as inherently evil, potentially dangerous. As a Christian apologist, I examined the genre and found it otherwise: a powerful vehicle for cautionary tales about morality, destiny, and the human heart. I write horror to scare meaningfully while prompting reflection. Writing has been a vital outlet. After leaving the Army, I struggled to find my place. Though that search continues, crafting this story brings comfort and pride unlike any other accomplishment.

The Curses We Keep definitely prompts reflection after that ending! I'm glad you feel pride in your work -- you should, as I think the story is brilliant.

How did you get the idea for your book? Do you see any of yourself in any of your characters?

 
   I see pieces of myself in every character, the virtuous and the flawed alike. The idea formed a few years ago when my wife and I visited Salem, Massachusetts. As a fan of classical literature, I searched for a witch tale on the scale of Dracula or Frankenstein but found none that satisfied. Watching The Witch afterward sparked the concept. Around the same time, we were viewing Game of Thrones, and I grew frustrated with characters shielded by plot armor. I wanted to explore genuine psychology: intelligent people shaped by biases, each holding fragments of truth, reacting authentically without contrived demands from the narrative. The story grew from that experiment in character-driven dread.

I totally got that kind of feel when reading it -- that classic-dread kind of feeling!

What would you say to other writers if asked how to create a story as dreadfully horrible (I mean this in a positive way, of course) as The Curses We Keep? What tips could give them from your experiences? 

   I explored fears that genuinely unsettle me, like fatalism. Written horror lacks cinematic jump scares or soundtracks, so atmosphere must linger, creating a pit in the stomach long after the last page. I focused on suffocating immersion: the forest closing in, the weight of inevitability. This meant a longer draft initially, which I trimmed for nuance, letting readers fill in horrors with imagination rather than explicit reveals. The monster often terrifies more when unseen. Above all, stay faithful to your vision. I nearly veered into chasing every scare trope, which diluted the story into fantasy. I set rules to ground the world and leaned into personal themes. Be true to what disturbs you.

That's great advice and well-put! I agree: the build-up with the unseen villain, ghost, or monster is much more terrifying than the one you see... wait, unless there is a chainsaw involved. Chainsaws are scary no matter what! ... But, yes, staying true to your own vision is most rewarding in the end. 

What is the best part of writing for you? What is the hardest part about it? What have you learned from writing and publishing your first novel that you'd like to share with us?

   The best part is when a plot twist surprises even me as I write it, mirroring the reader's shock and revealing something unexpectedly compelling. The hardest is editing: I love drafting but dread returning to polish. From publishing The Curses We Keep, I learned that not all feedback is equal. Early on, I sought any reader and grew overwhelmed by conflicting opinions. Targeting my intended audience brought consistent, useful insights. I may not always agree, but the clarity helps immensely.

I totally get all that! Some just do not understand vision... and some are just nit-picky and can't overlook small, opinionated flaws. However, much feedback can be helpful -- like, for my first novel, the majority of feedback I got said it was confusing... looking back, it is still a bit of a chaotic mess (but I'm working that into the series, and I've done multiple things to help with the confusion after that feedback). With your novel, with a different "taste" than other literature of today, you do have to pick and choose the feedback you use and take the rest for what it is -- opinion that may or may not matter in the long run. 

What kind of books do you read? What is your favorite books and/or favorite author, and what do you love about them/their work? 
 
   I gravitate toward classics. Frankenstein is my favorite book, a masterful retelling of Paradise Lost and the Prometheus myth that laid foundations for modern horror. My favorite author is C.S. Lewis for his natural flow of logic and storytelling. Till We Have Faces, his retelling of Cupid and Psyche, echoes what I admire in myth-infused narratives. Lewis weaves objective truths with rare intelligence. Both he and Mary Shelley, devout Christians, wrote horror that inspires me, despite many Christians viewing the genre with suspicion. I believe horror offers essential cautionary tales worth exploring.

Frankenstein is a masterpiece for what it is, I can't argue. These are both great influences that clearly show through in The Curses We Keep. 

I'm glad you could join us for an interview today! I sincerely hope we see more Gothic Horror tales from you in the future, and I have LOVED working with you on Moon Goddess! (Oh, yes, readers, I forgot to mention that Dr. Miller and I also collaborated a bit on my new novel coming out -- so, his literary genius is being published TWICE this year!)

Find this brilliant mind of horror online: 

Connect with Dakota on Twitter and on GoodReads!