The King and the Pallid Mask by Frank Cavallo: A Review

📖 Book Information

Title: The King and the Pallid Mask

Author: Frank Cavallo

Year: 2025

Publisher: The Evil Cookie Publishing

ASIN: B0FBNDYZQM

Pages: 279

Version: E-book

📚 View on Goodreads

A dark and gruesome reading from a cosmic entity. For adults only.

83/100

Synopsis

Kyle Hawkes has made a career chasing ghosts on camera, exploring haunted ruins and unraveling old legends. But when an unaired episode of his paranormal series leaks online, it triggers a chain reaction that unearths a scandal the Vatican buried decades ago.

From the alleys of London to the catacombs beneath Rome, Kyle and his partner Ella are hunted by a ruthless cabal obsessed with summoning the King in Yellow. Their only hope lies in tracking down Father Zacharias, a long-missing exorcist who once stood before the Masked God—and lost his mind.

As myth bleeds into reality and reason yields to terror, they must confront an ancient power whose secrets offer unspeakable power … and utter madness.

Review

The Horror

This dark fantasy/horror novel by Frank Cavallo serves as a grim bridge between 2025 and 2026, opening with a genuinely disturbing hook. Imagine picking up a new book and immediately being confronted with a sadistic torture scene reminiscent of Vlad the Impaler’s impalement. If you’re reading while snacking, you might lose your appetite. As an opening, however, it is undeniably effective at grabbing attention.

The Occultism

The elements of mystery and occultism strongly reminded me of the Anneliese Michel possession case, while the presence of cosmic entities immediately evoked thoughts of Cthulhu. Since the target audience is clearly adult readers, the atmosphere is far darker and more oppressive than John Connolly’s Samuel Johnson series, even though that series also features Belzebub. The novel also incorporates ancient quotations and references related to The King of Yellow, which feel striking and almost lyrical—akin to death/doom metal lyrics that frequently draw from dark fantasy and Lovecraftian cosmic horror. One notable example appears on page 235:

“Along the shore the cloud waves break. The twin suns sink behind the lake. The shadows lengthen, in Lost Carcosa.”

The Surprises

Overall, the plot is not particularly confusing, though there are a few moments that feel sus for plot twist ingredients—such as an accident during a journey or the surprising ones like the revelation surrounding Ella’s real name. What I found complicated was the search for Zacharias, which at times felt like aimless wandering from one place to another. Among the cast, the most unexpected characters for me were Sandro and Baleriya.

As a novel aimed at adults, it contains a fair amount of explicit language and brutally graphic gore. From a technical standpoint, Frank Cavallo’s experience is evident: I did not notice any typos or major errors, allowing the reader to fully focus on Kyle and Ella’s journey through the rural regions of southern Italy.

Conclusion

As mentioned above, The King and the Pallid Mask is highly recommended for fans of dark fantasy and horror in the vein of H. P. Lovecraft and similar works.