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Grimdark Mindset
Remembering Demons follows a man trapped in an asylum with no memory of his past, haunted by visions and surrounded by physicists who may or may not be just as lost as he is. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
As I have no background in creative writing, it was something of a fluke. After talking about my idea for what would become The God Cycle trilogy with my father-in-law’s wife, I just sat down and started. I have always been fascinated by asylums. That may be why it started there.
What intrigues you about the horror and dark fantasy genres that led you to write this book?
I’ve always felt that if the fantastical elements of fantasy turned out to be true, they would invariably have to also be laced with horror. I am not of the grimdark mindset that all people are essentially morally gray, but I do think that dark fantasy offers an important alternative to more classic heroic fantasy.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
With The God Cycle I wanted to present my ideas for how the fantastical could co-exist with modern day science, (physics in particular) by filling the many knowledge gaps that exist both in quantum mechanics and cosmology with magic and gods. I am fascinated by these scientific subjects and it was very important to me that these unknowns of modern science are dealt with faithfully.
Moreover, I wanted to combine the former with a deeply personal tale of pain and loss as experienced by the main character. I have often felt that the main character’s emotions were giving too short thrift in classical fantasy, perhaps to further plot development at the expense of character. I wanted to make sure to give the character’s emotions room to breathe.
Where does the story go in the next book and where do you see it going in the future?
I am currently editing book two of The God Cycle, Fighting Angels. The main character has inherited many problems from the conclusion of book one. Dealing with these issues will invariably lead to the setup for book three, Breaking Gods, in which the multiverse is explained and ultimately hangs in the balance. Anyone interested in a taste of what’s at stake can download my free short story, Catching Spiders, at my website. The short story takes place between books two and three, but is a non-spoiler stand-alone filled with clues that will make reading the books even more intriguing. The main character’s essential role in each book is perhaps best exemplified by my tongue-in-cheek subtitles for books one, two, and three, namely: Who is Daryl (book one)? What is Daryl (book two)? Why is Daryl (book three)?
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Daryl doesn’t have to wonder… he knows.
But why do they stalk him? Why can’t he remember anything?
It’s enough to drive a guy crazy!
Meanwhile, the eerie asylum seems to know more than an old pile of rock and mortar has any right to and his therapy is uncovering a blood-stained past of pain and death, alongside something dormant within him of disturbing power. When Dr. Walker teaches him how to face his demons, the psychoses and dreams conspire to warn him of something even worse stalking him. Something ancient and evil.
To survive, Daryl must confront the repressed memories that drove him insane.
For madness—is a blunt instrument.
This dark fantasy epic and paranormal thriller with a Shutter Island’esque vibe will have you questioning what is real. The story mixes dark and traditional fantasy with horror and science fiction elements to explore mental health, guilt, and a world where the physical realm of our experience blends seamlessly with the fantastical realm of monsters and gods. Perfect for fans of The Gunslinger, The Dresden Files, and the TV series Black Mirror.
Remembering Demons
J. Cornelius’ Remembering Demons is the kind of dark fantasy that pulls you in with its eerie atmosphere and relentless sense of mystery. The book follows Daryl, a man trapped in an asylum with no memory of his past, haunted by visions and surrounded by physicists who may or may not be just as lost as he is. From the first pages, the story weaves elements of psychological horror with cosmic dread, hinting at something ancient and terrifying lurking just beneath the surface of reality. The deeper Daryl digs into his past, the more the lines blur between madness and something far worse.
Cornelius has this way of making even simple conversations feel heavy and loaded with secrets waiting to spill out. The dialogue between Daryl and his therapist, Susan, for example, starts off clinical but gradually shifts into something much more personal and unnerving. There’s an unsettling moment early on where Daryl’s perception of reality starts slipping—he sees hands materializing in the mirror, hears whispers in the dark—and Cornelius doesn’t hold back on the creeping horror of it all. It’s subtle but chilling, and it keeps you on edge, wondering if Daryl is insane or if he’s actually seeing something beyond human comprehension.
Then there’s the world-building, or rather, the way the book bends the world we think we know. Remembering Demons plays with quantum physics and supernatural horror like they belong together, and Cornelius makes it work. The discussions between the asylum’s physicists about gravity, dimensions, and black holes don’t just feel like exposition, they add to the sense of unease. They talk about theories that seem far-fetched, but within the context of the story, they feel disturbingly plausible. When one of them disappears after an incident in the basement, it’s not just a scare, it’s a warning that the rules of reality might not apply here.
The book also does something I love in dark fantasy: it doesn’t spoon-feed answers. The character of Hubble, an imaginary (or maybe not) gnome, is a great example of this. He’s comic relief at times, but he also drops cryptic warnings that make you question what’s actually real. And then there’s Ginny, the little girl Daryl dreams of, draws obsessively, and mourns without knowing why. Every time she appears, the emotions hit hard. It’s not just grief, it’s something deeper, something wrong. When the book finally peels back the layers of what happened to her, it’s both heartbreaking and terrifying.
If you love dark fantasy that makes you question reality, this one’s for you. It’s a slow burn, but the payoffs are worth it. Fans of The Silent Patient with a Lovecraftian twist, or House of Leaves but with more tangible horror, will eat this up.
Pages: 282 | ASIN : B0D2XQQ73J
LITERARY TITAN 