The Dissonance

A Novel

By: Shaun Hamill

Narrated by: Soneela Nankani

ONE OF BOOKPAGE'S 10 BEST SCI-FI, FANTASY & HORROR NOVELS OF 2024 • From the acclaimed author of A Cosmology of Monsters ("I loved it"—Stephen King) comes an epic contemporary fantasy, a mixture of The Magicians and It: a story of dark magic, terrible mistakes, and second chances.

"You can never go home again," the saying goes—but Hal, Athena, and Erin have to. In high school, the three were students of the eccentric Professor Marsh, trained in a secret system of magic known as the Dissonance, which is built around harnessing negative emotions: alienation, anger, pain. Then, twenty years ago, something happened that shattered their coven, scattering them across the country, stuck in mundane lives, alone.

But now, terrifying signs and portents (not to mention a pointed Facebook invite) have summoned them back to Clegg, Texas. There, their paths will collide with that of Owen, a closeted teenager from Alabama whose aborted cemetery seance with his crush summoned something far worse: a murderous entity whose desperate, driving purpose includes kidnapping Owen to serve as its Renfield. As Owen tries to outwit his new master, and Hal, Athena, and Erin reckon with how the choices they made as teens might connect to the apocalyptic event unfurling over the Lone Star State, shocking alliances form, old and new romances brew, and three unsuccessful adults and one frightened teen are all that stand between reality and oblivion.

From one of the boldest, most brilliant voices in modern fantastical horror, The Dissonance is a thrilling and beautifully written story of magic and monsters, forgiveness and friendship.

©2024 Shaun Hamill (P)2024 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

MOST ANTICIPATED: PASTE • GIZMODO • DEEP SOUTH MAGAZINE • LONE STAR LITERARY LIFE

“Stunning. . . . There is an honest grit to Hamill’s writing that makes it perfect for the 2020s. Like fellow Texan Stephen Graham Jones, Hamill has a love of the decrepit side of small-town life where drug addiction, poverty and small-minded cruelty offer their own spin on fantasy and Gothic tropes. . . . The Dissonance is a remarkable follow-up to one of the best horror debuts in recent memory.”—Jef Rouner, Dallas Observer

“Shaun Hamill has solidified himself as a master of literary horror, of works that satisfy the spooky requirements of the weird tale while simultaneously providing the grounded pleasures of literary fiction.”—Roberto Ontiveros, The Dallas Morning News

“One of the most ambitious genre books of the year, and we’d expect nothing less from Hamill.”—Matthew Jackson, Paste

Loses some steam in the 3rd act

First two acts were great and then it felt like it got kind of out of character for act 3. I still like the very end, but just felt like the build up was so good and had kind of a weird turn.

THE DISSONANCE: Sophomore novel from Shaun Hammil takes modern fantasy to a new level

There is something magical (no pun intended) in the way that Shaun Hamill writes. In both this, his second novel The Dissonance and his first, the horror epic A Cosmology of Monsters, Hamill weaves a continuous mystery that comes to a satisfying finale. I can't think of anyone off the top of my head that is so adept at walking the high wire of world-building, intrigue, and a weaving a pervasive, unyielding interest in his creations that, in story, lasts throughout the decades of a cast of characters' lives.

In The Dissonance a group of school friends discover a secret about the world. As their relationships grow - and you become invested in their hopes, dreams, flaws, and regrets - a world is built around them that is filled with thrilling new ideas and wholly relatable relationships.

It's best not to know too much going in and to allow the world (or perhaps multiple worlds?) to take shape as you enjoy the ride.

In just two novels, Hamill has become one of my favorite authors. The Lovecraftian touch that permeates his work is right up my alley, and his prose is HIGHLY readable and often surprising and delightful.

Run, don't walk. Read The Dissonance. I'd say take a time machine back to its release date so you won't feel like you've been missing out, but time travel is STRICTLY forbidden.

Not want you’re expecting

I love anything that makes think and wonder about reality… the story is interesting and captivating characters.

A fun read.

Plenty of well written characters. Fantasy tinged with Horror. A bit like the magicians but darker with a touch of horror. Definitely worth the read/credit.

Hell yeah!🤘🏼

Just a big fan of magical realism and Shaun pulls it off nicely! The characters stuck with me afterward, which is a sign of a great story.

The more you're broken, the more you're magic.

“The Dissonance” by Shaun Hamill is an engaging and immersive read. The characters are relatable and well-developed. I resonated with each character in different ways and cared for them almost immediately, but loved Hal the most. The plot is well-paced, keeping you hooked from start to finish. However, there were times when I wished for more detail and time. Hamill's writing style is accessible and engaging. Soneela Nankani does an amazing job. Her pacing is spot on, and her character voices are distinct and easy to follow, making the audiobook a great experience. While it will be compared to Stephen King’s “It” or “Stranger Things,” I think The Dissonance stands on its own as a welcome addition to whatever we're calling spooky magic mystery teen adventure stories. Overall, it’s a compelling read with memorable characters. Highly recommend!

The Dissonance - An amazing new urban fantasy horror novel that grabs your heart and doesn’t let go.

This is, by far, one of the best Urban Fantasy/Dark Academia-esque novels I’ve had the pleasure of reading to date. It takes some of my favorite parts of things like “The Magicians” or “The Scholomance” and twists, expands, and makes them feel new, refreshing, and exciting. It also maintains that dark, scary, brutally really appeal of Hamill’s other works. There’s a sense of “nostalgic ennui” that comes from this story that really mimicked that feeling you get as you start to really grow up (saying hello to your 30’s). It leaves a pit of dread and heartache at the stories core that its characters and their friendship somehow twist to make you feel not only okay, but that everything will BE okay. Easily a 5 star read. One of the best books I’ve read in recent memory. I CANNOT wait to see what else Hamill does in the future. Read this book!!

bad.

contrived nonsense. this book is a mess from start to finish. nothing makes sense. a list of plot holes and contrivances a mile long. Narrator did well.