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Fantastic Cosmic's avatar

Finished the King and loved it. Thanks again for that and all things.

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Reed Beebe's avatar

Congrats on the tour. I enjoyed your podcast interviews (you’re a natural at it)! I appreciate your book recommendations; I always discover a great new book that I love as a result.

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JT Johnson's avatar

King Sorrow is next on my list, cannot wait! Also loved your episode on last podcast on the left—currently listening to Full Throttle so it seems I will be ending the year with Joe Hill and starting it with your work as well!

Congrats to an awesome year!

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Ray Van Horn, Jr.'s avatar

I blitzed through King Sorrow just because I knew in my heart it would land on my Fab Fives of '25 for Substack. Monster effort, pun intended. I won't bore you with accolades or leave spoilers for others. It really is your finest hour thus far and it indeed made my Fab Five books.

I saw Long Walk twice in the theater and my DVD just landed yesterday. If there hadn't been Sinners, it too would've been my favorite film of the year. I will say it impacted me deeply, scarred me, turned me obsessive with it. As if i hadn't been scarred by it back in the 80s when I first read it. Me, my mother and our dear friend Paulette used to hypothesize what The Long Walk in film would have looked like, and this was back then. I think this film superseded our visions of it. Far more harrowing and stark than it might've being attempted in the 80s. All good things, as they say.

I also wrote a story the day after my second viewing and mine has nothing to do with this or dystopia, but I was rattled enough to germinate an idea and streaming the Long Walk score while writing...you get what I'm saying. One of the all-time best King adaptations.

Your parenting anecdotes gave me the biggest grin. My kid just turned 18, so I'm finally coming to the finish line of the odyssey of upbringing, but I've been quietly sentimental about his younger years, especially at Christmas. Enjoy these years, man.

Love me some Flo + The Machine, but Deftones was my be-all, end-all vibe of the year.

Cheers, Joe. Enjoy the break.

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Michael Gibeault's avatar

Joe, Know this; You, your reviews, and your work, was absolutely the highlight of my year! I loved King Sorrow! It transported, then whisked me through scenery, and time, effortlessly. I truly can’t wait for your next work! Guess I’ll go read Sorrow again!

Best Regards, Mike G.

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Orin Might's avatar

The Long Walk movie has been sticking with me for two weeks now. It was amazing. I am still in the early parts of King Sorrow but it has been a wild ride so far.

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Kat Howard's avatar

Florence! Everybody Scream is basically soundtracking my next novel. So glad to hear you and yours are doing well.

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Sean Gerace's avatar

The audiobook for King Sorrow is one of the best I’ve ever listened to. The decision to dramatize certain parts was completely unexpected. I wish more books were recorded that way.

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Sherry Lipp's avatar

I'm almost done with King Sorrow. I'm torn between wanting to know what's going to happen and not wanting it to be over yet! I got a late start reading it after it came out because I decided to read Seveneves a few weeks before, thinking I had plenty of time to finish it before King Sorrow came out...that one took me forever.

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Laura W.'s avatar

King Sorrow was and IS a masterpiece! I loved every word of all 890 pages of it! Congrats to an amazing year, you deserve it. 🙂♥️🎊

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Mechele's avatar

Thank you for the gifts you give to us constant readers. King Sorrow is a brute of a beautiful book. I’m glad you’re getting a break. Happy holidays to you and your loved ones. Congratulations on the dates!

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Greg Miller's avatar

Seeing and meeting you again in Pittsburgh on your 'King Sorrow' tour was a pleasure, and the book is by far my favorite novel of 2025. Without exaggeration, it has been years since I've been so ensnared by a story. Thanks for coming back to Pittsburgh...the last time I saw you was in 2010 during the 'Horns' tour, and I have really fond memories of that evening, too (and I still have the plastic horns you gave me for asking a question!). I'm so glad 'King Sorrow' is being so well received in all circles! Congratulations, and can't wait for 'Hunger.'

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Amy Miceli's avatar

King Sorrow is blowing my hair back. I wasn’t too jazzed because I feared a fantasy novel; I should have had more faith.

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Guy Dorian Sr's avatar

Congratulations!

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Machine Poet's avatar

Congrats, Joe.

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Rachel Bridgeman's avatar

It's been a year....so many highs and the deepest of lows. Thank you for throwing a light in the darkness, wishing nothing but the best for you all over the end of year times

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