The Locke kids – Tyler, Kinsey and Bode – continue to grieve over their murdered father, their mother’s still drinking heavily, and Zack Wells/Dodge/whatever its name is in this book, is doing more dastardly things. Three volumes in and Locke & Key’s story remains largely unchanged. And personally, I can't wait to see what it is! what? Each Key he gets puts him closer to whatever endgame Hill has waiting for us. He's carved out a place in each of the children's' lives, and is desperately searching for. Literally, now that he has the Shadow Key. Hill has made her a three-dimensional character, and you can't help but feel an amount of sympathy for a woman that broken. But no matter what irresponsible thing she does, you can't bring yourself to hate her. Naturally, her problems are seeping into the children's lives. The mother, Nina, is burying herself in alcohol to cope with the tragedy that took her husband and left her with deep emotional scars. This one deals with horror from the paranormal and the horror from a personal crisis. Joe Hill is at the top of his game telling the story of this family, and Rodriguez is quickly shooting to the top of my list as the illustrator. Hill.Ĭrown of Shadows is yet another awesome installment in this series. And the older I get the more I can sympathize with Nina and her struggles. Intense, dark, and (minus the spooky twist) a very realistic look at a family crumbling under the weight of a tragedy. I've read this multiple times and it's always good stuff.

Locke & Key, Vol. 3 by Joe Hill