Horror Book Review: Object X by Daniel Dean

Object X is a vicious horror novel, originally published in October 2022 by the American author, Daniel Dean. Not for the faint hearted, Object X dwells in the realm of “phobias”  and delivers horror in brutal fashion.

The main cast of Object X are Wendy, Sam and their young son, Tommy. Wendy and Sam have a happy marriage, full of love and youthful exuberance and their dedication and affections for their son are clear. We see that early in the book as we read about their interactions, their playful manner along with Wendy’s internal monologues declaring her admiration and commitment to her family firmly. Such is their ways that it quickly becomes noticeable when there is even a slight change in Sam or Tommy’s behaviours or in how they interact with one another.

Something we see happen very early on in Object X when Sam wakes a reluctant Wendy at a very early hour. He is serious, already something not quite like him, as he demands she follow him out into their garden. She protests, she questions but she follows while becoming concerned in the way Sam is being. They travel down the length of their yard stopping in front of something that should not be.

Seven feet tall, two feet across, and two inches thick: it has no right existing in their backyard. The black object is something out of a movie. It’s strange and impossible to explain, defying both gravity and reason as it levitates beneath the shade of friendly pine trees.
It’s captivating. It’s creepy. It’s seemingly harmless, not disturbing anything despite the endless attempts to gain access to whatever it really is.
But then it reveals itself to the world, and no one is prepared for what awaits them when it does.

Object X is a long story but it moves at a very fast pace so we very quickly start seeing clear and obvious changes in the way Sam and Wendy behave. Object X appears to have quite different effects on both lead characters, perhaps enhancing some of their own core characteristics. Sam becomes obsessed very quickly. He believes the object is his, here to help him become all he is meant to be. It is precious to him and quickly matters more than anything or anyone else. He just needs to work out the puzzle of what it is, what it does and how to use it.

Wendy on the other hand does not trust the Object and wants to call in the authorities. She sees it as dangerous and threatening but that may be as much to do with the effect it has had on her beloved husband as feelings towards the object itself. Sam’s obsession grows and grows, seeing him cut back from his family further and further, much to Wendy’s disgust, especially in how Sam’s ways are affecting Tommy. It is fair to see she no longer trusts Sam, and sees Object X as the cause of her and his issues.

The story kicks into another gear soon after Sam, having touched the object and seen it open lightly, becomes further obsessed with it being his responsibility to open it. While attacking the object with every tool known to man in a desperate attempt to force it open but to no avail, he cuts his hand, the blood lands on the object and it opens a touch more.

With Sam feeling himself to be so special, he obviously can’t sacrifice himself to feed Object X more blood so turns to experimenting with animals all having no effect. He needs human blood. A sacrifice of someone less valuable to his mission is the answer. From this point on really, the story of Object X reaches extremely frightening levels. Firstly in how far Sam goes to feed the object young and innocent blood, then in what happens once he achieves his goal of opening Object X. Something Wendy finds out for herself late in the evening after Sam’s latest dastardly act when the power goes out at her home and they find themselves besieged by monstrous spiders.

Enter phobia number 1 for many people. If you don’t like spiders, well this is going to make you feel smothered as huge spiders, the size of armchairs in some cases, with plenty even bigger and smaller, assault the house. Sam seem unperturbed and leaves Wendy and Tommy to themselves during the assault while Wendy kicks into protective mom mode. From this point on there is not really a single moment to stop and catch your breath in Object X. As the whole town becomes besieged by these giant otherworldly monstrosities with their talons as long as your arm, their glowing red eyes and the face melting venom they spray out, Wendy attempts to flee with Tommy at her side.

The descriptions of the surroundings, as well as the way Wendy’s fear and desperation is delivered pulls you in and you feel it too. Bodies being torn apart, young, old and everything in between and just when you feel like it is getting a bit much, Daniel Dean introduces more creatures – huge birds with razor sharp talons swoop down, ripping fleeing food to shreds, giant insects grabbing on to people with their many legs and devouring them. It is terrifying and disgusting chaos and seems hopeless really for Tommy, Wendy and the few survivors they find along the way.

But just how far would a mother go to protect her son? Well, have a read of Object X to find out.

I don’t really want to give anymore away than I have as the story has an ending that you definitely won’t see coming, but also the journey towards that ending is full of shocks, jaw dropping moments and plenty of times to cringe. I would say that there some scenes in this story that are not for the fainthearted. One of Sams actions early on in the story being one such moment, and another particularly devastating moment in the gym that provides temporary relief to Wendy and Tommy, as well as plenty of cannon fodder for Daniel Dean. Of course, if you have a fear of creepy crawlies, spiders, birds or more – you may find this either gratifying or challenging depending on how you deal with your phobias.

Like I said, it is also a long story and there are definitely moments that are overly stretched to me. The school gym section being the main one. While that whole section has plenty of action and that aforementioned horrific scene, it starts with a very stretched section of mistrust and questioning between those already hiding there and those who have just arrived. Then there are the clear issues that some of them have with each other, especially Jax and, well everyone else, but while these would normally be seen as great insights into the characters we are just meeting, many of them are used simply as cannon fodder and a way to ram home that “this is horrific” message so I don’t feel we needed to spend quite so much time on them and their early interactions.

A minor complaint on an otherwise fantastic story that moves at a pace that will leave you breathless. The scenery and action is described wonderfully meaning you can very clearly visualise what is happening and that adds massively to the fear factor. You see the trees, the dark and the creatures clearly in your mind. Those visuals, and the fact that Wendy in particular is genuinely likeable, well described and someone you can easily feel sympathy and empathy for, means you fear for her and place yourself in her shoes feeling as worried for Tommy, as afraid but also as steely and determined.

Object X is well written, exciting and suffocating in equal measure and definitely worth adding to your collection. Just make sure you have your light on, or at least the switch near by, just on case you need it.

Pick yourself up a copy of Object X from Amazon, here.

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