The Sorrowstones

By: Felix Blackwell

Narrated by: Derek Austin

A chilling new novel from the author of the cult smash bestseller STOLEN TONGUES, about a young boy who discovers a series of strange stone idols, only to realize that though these stones bestow incredible gifts on their owner, they come with a terrible price, perfect for fans of INCIDENTS AROUND THE HOUSE or NEEDFUL THINGS.

"They've traveled the dark of forever. Now, they're yours."

A collection of wicked idols has appeared in Westmaple, falling into the hands of eleven-year-old Cole Graves. They come bearing wondrous gifts, and Cole quickly falls under their spell.

Soon, horror descends upon the quiet town. One by one, the statues unleash ancient curses that throw the boy's world into chaos. Shadows encroach upon his mind as the people he loves meet hideous ends.

At first a weird mystery, the arrival of the Sorrowstones sets off a nightmarish saga of death and madness—and Cole's dark quest to get rid of them.

5/5 ⭐️

Felix Blackwell’s *The Sorrowstones* stands out for its exceptionally strong pacing and emotional weight. The story follows Cole Graves, an eleven-year-old boy whose life is quietly but profoundly altered when he comes into contact with the mysterious Sorrowstones. Without revealing too much, the premise sets the stage for a deeply unsettling journey that unfolds with precision and care.

What resonated with me most was how Blackwell walks the delicate line between despair and hope. The horror is present and effective, but it never overshadows the humanity at the center of the story. Cole’s internal conflict—knowing when something is wrong, struggling with his choices, and genuinely trying to do better—adds real depth to the narrative. The tension isn’t just external; it lives inside the characters, especially Cole, and that makes the stakes feel personal and real.

Blackwell’s writing allows those moral struggles to play out naturally, and you can see Cole’s actions reflect his inner battle between good and evil. The result is a story that feels emotionally grounded as well as unsettling. *The Sorrowstones* lingers after you finish it, not just because of its eerie atmosphere, but because of the heart at its core.

Suspense

The story was original. It did not check off my horror box but for some it might. The story and character progression was very well. Solid story from Felix!

Felix Blackwell does it again

Great book. The pacing is amazing, the characters are great, and the main character is relatable. The narrator takes a bit to get used to, but he does a great job. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did.

The Sorrow Stones Ruined My Sleep (in a good way)

If you know me, you know I’m a huge Felix Blackwell fan. Stolen Tongues has been living in my brain rent-free for forever, and The Church Beneath the Roots only made me more convinced he’s elite at building dread instead of just relying on cheap jump scares.

So I went into The Sorrow Stones with high expectations… and it still didn’t disappoint.

I listened to the audiobook and I’m not even exaggerating — I could not stop. Every time I told myself, “Okay, I’ll pause after this chapter,” it would get just tense enough that I had to keep going. Blackwell does that thing where the horror feels old and inevitable, like the characters accidentally wandered too close to something that’s been there way longer than them and does not care one bit.

The vibe is the real win here: atmospheric, isolating, and quietly unsettling in the exact way that made me love Stolen Tongues in the first place. It’s that slow, creeping “something is off” feeling that builds and builds until you’re fully on edge and don’t even realize when it happened.

If you loved Stolen Tongues for the folklore-y dread and that lingering “nope nope nope” energy, The Sorrow Stones absolutely delivers — while still feeling like its own story.

Bottom line: I couldn’t stop listening, and when it ended I immediately wanted more. 10/10, would get haunted again.

Fantastic coming of age horror

Blackwell does it again with another phenomenal horror story, and narrator Derek Austin really brings it to life!!