Terrifying demons. A heroic protagonist. Extreme brutality. You get all of this and more when you read Candace Nola’s Hank Flynn.
There are many reasons why I love this book. Nola is an amazing writer who takes you into the world of Hank Flynn. While you truly find out who he is at the end of the book, I will only tell you he does God’s dirty work, if you catch my drift. Even though I’ve been burned out by demons over the last few years, Nola makes the demon petrifying again and conveys them as the evil that they truly are.
I was happy to be a guest on Mothers of Mayhem’s Women in Horror panel with Candace Nola. Candace had some powerful words for host Marian’s questions. I seriously hope everyone takes a look at the episode and listens to what Candace has to say about women’s role in horror and violence against women.
So, what is Hank Flynn about? And why should you read this book?
The Story
Hank Flynn is a man who does God’s bidding. God sends him on “journeys” where Hank has to confront demons. Oftentimes, these journeys lead to murder. However, Hank has a family back home in Protection, Kansas. The town knows Hank is God’s servant but they can’t fathom the horrors he experiences — until the very end.
The story first starts off in the late 19th century and Nola includes essential events that occurred during this time — most notably, the integration of black people and white people following the Emancipation Proclamation and the suffering of the Great Depression. I love historic fiction, so it was interesting reading about these integral events in a fantasy Biblical element.
At first, Hank Flynn is a mystery. But as Nola slowly peels back the layers, everything starts coming together and it makes you appreciate the story that much more.
Readers will absolutely love Hank (or at least I did). He’s the perfect antihero; he does terrible things but deep down, he’s a loving man. He protects those around him and is true to his word. In one chapter, he’s a brutal monster destroying demons. In the next, he’s gentle and loving to his wife, Josie. You feel for Hank and root for him the entire story.
The Characters
Other than Hank, the main characters are Josie, her father Wallace, and the Sheriff. We meet various other characters, but these three are Hank’s support system.
As you’ll learn, Hank is a damned man and doesn’t experience much joy in life. With Josie, her family, and the people of Protection, Kansas, Hank found a community that loves him unconditionally. He needed that support system, given the deeds that God forces upon him.
Is This Story Really Violent?
Absolutely! Hank Flynn isn’t for the faint of heart. As stated previously, the journeys that God takes him on are brutal. Hank gets into fights with demons, who usually possess souls. This also means that Hank kills people.
Speaking of which, Hank has his own version of punishment. If a scoundrel is causing problems in town, Hank takes them to his underground torture chamber. And those scenes are some of the best!
I also really appreciate God’s role in this story. God doesn’t come to Hank in a loving manner — he’s maniacal, coming to Hank in a series of lighting bolts. God penetrates Hank’s mind, causing him severe migraines. God is wrathful in this book, though you wonder if he’s only wrathful to Hank.
Things to Keep in Mind When Reading
The story moves very quickly. Years pass by between chapters; Nola only focuses on the most important details. Keep this in mind when reading. For example, we meet Josie at 16 years old and then she is suddenly in her 20s and is married to Hank. These little tidbits confused me at first; fortunately, Nola is good about informing the reader about the time period.
Where Can You Read Hank Flynn?
I purchased Hank Flynn on Amazon. It’s available in Kindle, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook.
Follow Candace Nola
https://www.uncomfortablydark.com/
https://www.amazon.com/Candace-Nola/e/B07YYW4T7N?ref_=dbs_p_ebk_r00_abau_000000
https://www.instagram.com/cnola.author/?hl=en
https://twitter.com/candace_nola?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19707718.Candace_Nola
https://www.audible.com/author/Candace-Nola/B07YYW4T7N
Follow Stephanie E. Jensen/Infernal Horror:
www.instagram.com/stephanieinfernal
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www.twitter.com/infernalhorror3
Please support the Mothers of Mayhem podcast! Marian and Christina are hilarious and they do so much for the indie horror community. I watch their podcast on YouTube but it’s available on a variety of platforms.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_VIqGUn6ssun4bPXYSOXzA
https://www.audible.com/pd/Mothers-of-Mayhem-An-Extreme-Horror-Podcast-Podcast/B09PC7YDBR
I know I’m posting this blog in April and it’s no longer Women in Horror month. But still, please support women in horror all year, not just in March.