The Suffering

Heart pounding thriller that left me on the edge of my seat. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one. Definitely one of the best books this year.

Thank you netgalley for the arc. I really enjoyed the story. My favorite character was Cassie. I really enjoyed all the different ghosts.

MJ Mars does a great job in the horror genre, it had what I was looking for from this description. The characters worked in this universe and I was invested in what was going on. It had such a great concept and delivered on this story. I'm glad I got to read this and look forward to read more from MJ Mars.

"Upstairs, a sudden flurry of footsteps raced along the landing. They weren’t heavy enough to be an adult, were too long in stride to be made by a child, too human-like to be a dog or another animal. Kyle’s eyes darted towards the ceiling to follow the sound, a pointless, instinctive move."

Writing: 5/5
Character Development: 5/5
Plot: 4/5
Scary: 3/5

Warnings: Language, Sexual content

Themes: Horror, Mystery, Haunted house

The Suffering is about a group of friends that lives in a house that had a seance go horribly wrong many years back. But now it seems like history might repeat itself after the group of friend hold a saence of their own. I reall enjoyed this book from start to finish. It was a good combination of scary and mystery. The lore behind the hauntings was my favorite part. It wasn’t just a group of ghost attacking at random, the had a set story and a purpose.

This book is great for anyone who loves a scary story and a mystery of how to stop them.

I received a free copy of this book and am leaving an honest review.

Thank you for the ARC. This was certainly interesting and I enjoyed the ride. The ending is nightmare inducing and I will likely never recover.
I am rooting for Tad's success in sewage. We need it.

Liked the ghosts and how they each had a fun backstory. The beginning seemed quite slow and the ending was really quick, would've liked a bit more. Overall a good creepy Ghost story.

Must read! Such an amazing book! I am so grateful to netgalley for allowing me to read this advanced reader copy

This book was incredible! From the very first page the story grabs hold of you. Things are happening and chugging along and when things really kick into gear it’s like a bullet train til the very end. The characters were well written although I wish we had gotten a little more about them individually. The storyline was fascinating and gave me a bit of a Thirteen Ghosts vibe, especially with the backstories of the ghosts and Lucius. It was extremely fun to read and will be one I read again.

Ouiji boards are never a good idea.
Kyle and his friends take it a step further and perform the séance on Halloween. Unfortunately, they will learn what it truly means to suffer.

This book is scary! It's full of gore, madness and an intensity that'll keep you turning pages. I found the concept of haunted people thoroughly entertaining. The book gives of Thirteen Ghosts vibes and I would definitely watch the movie version. I highly recommend to horror fans who don't have a weak stomach.

Thank you @netgalley and #wickedhousepublishing for allowing me to read and give my honest review!

I enjoyed everything about this book. The characters were likable, the story moved at a fast pace. There were genuinely frightening moments. It would make a great movie. I’ll definitely look for other books by this author.

Picture it. Victorian England. 1876. A seance at Brackenby House, calling upon five ghosts with various, dangerous backgrounds, for the power for a person to see their fate; however, that fate was quickly realized when everyone in the house was massacred, except for Lucius Holgrove, the psychic who summoned the apparitions.
Fast-forward to Halloween 2016 at Brackenby House, where Lucius’s great-great-great-grand nephew, Kyle, and Kyle’s housemates, who are all aware of the legend and stories about the house, including the rumor that the ghosts are still within its walls, decide to hold a seance. Because, of course, they’re just stories… right?
After the seance, the housemates don’t feel as though the house itself is haunted, but that they, themselves, are progressively being haunted, even outside of the house. One roommate suddenly has vertigo, another hears the pattering of footsteps, and one starts smelling mold in his immediate area and saltwater when another roommate leaves the room.
Can Kyle and his housemates figure out how banish the ghosts before The Suffering: Part 2 occurs?

The Suffering provided great spooky vibes, and I was hooked from start to finish. There were incredibly creepy parts where I would literally say, “nope,” out loud and amazingly described gory and body horror parts where I could easily picture the scenes, which equally impressed and disturbed me. It was pretty fast-paced throughout; however, the build led to quite a flat and quick ending. I felt like I needed more explanation (especially from one particular character) and was left a bit unsatisfied.

There was one thing I did have an issue with that didn’t have to do with the ending of the story. One of the male characters described a female student of color as “exotic,”which made me a bit angry, as this is an obvious microaggression and not the compliment the author thought it was.

Overall, I enjoyed the ride and couldn’t believe this was MJ Mars’ debut novel, but I was left wanting a bit more at the very end.

This is my first book by MJ Mars & I was absolutely impressed! This book is a very good mix of horror/haunted and mystery!!
The plot and the character build are both amazingly written!

I enjoyed reading this alternative ghost story. After getting beyond the opening "well, that was a stupid thing to do." I thought the characters were interesting and engaging throughout. And who hasn't come across coffee which is both thin and entirely too strong at the same time?

Great ghost story about a group of university students that are living in their friends house that has a less than stellar history. One Halloween night, they all decide to recreate the seance that led to an infamous massacre in the house back in 1876.
Perfect for fans of ghost stories and haunted houses and even had a bit of spice thrown in.

If you are a fan of horror don't miss this one.

Kyle and his friends are living in a Victorian house where The Suffering Ritual took place in 1876. On Halloween the roommates decide to have their own Seance with an Ouija board and unleash their own haunting.

This book was atmospheric and eerie, the paranormal activity growing more and more prevalent with each chapter. There were 5 spirits of divination representing Malice, Strength, Stealth, Deception and Frivolity. Each has a gnarly backstory and latches onto a roommate, trialing them wherever they go - there is no escape.

When I got to the 80% mark I made popcorn and settled in because the ending was unputdownable.

The book follows 5 housemates who live in Brackenby House, filled with 5 ghosts who were banished there in the 1800’s. The students, Kyle, Cassie, Tad, Lance and Pete, perform a seance on Halloween that leads to the ghosts latching on to each individual.

I really enjoyed this book, i don’t typically gravitate towards this kind of genre, but it hooked me in and i didn’t want to put it down! The characters were all very interesting and the book keeps you going with unexpected twists.

It was intriguing learning about each of the ghosts as well and reading about how each of the characters interacted with them/had run ins.


I was provided this ARC on behalf of NetGalley, this does not influence my review.

I recommend this book if you are into the horror genre or just like ghost stories!

I really enjoyed the kind of old school 90s/2000s horror vibes of the “The Suffering”. It had a slightly slow start to the haunting itself, but I felt like that gave all of the build up and history to what you needed to know for the action packed ending.

So first off Awesome book, it gave the spooky factor along with some twists and different POV which worked out amazing in this book
It kinda gave off a vibe of Thirteen Ghosts, The Exorcist's House and The Haunting of Hill House, to me which I love all of these so it was a perfect fit for me
The Suffering was very well written and I loved all the Backstories (the ghosts, the house, the characters) it all told a great story
You really got to know all the characters so well
I couldn't put this book down, and when I needed to adult things in life I kept thinking about it and couldn't wait to get back to reading it. Def drew me in
Do ghosts just haunt a house or do they haunt people....?!?!?!!?
So I hear this is the author's MJ Mars' debut novel and this makes me soooo happy bc I feel like she is gonna produce some more really good books for us all to read and I can't wait.

I got this book as an ARC and I am so happy to have been able to read this book and am happy to review it. My review and opinions are my own and honest.

This is had such a 13 Ghosts vibe with the cast of ghosts haunting a group a friends! Great atmospheric creepy read! Slow to start but ends with a bang! Loved the detailing on the ghosts, you could really envision each one as they appeared. Loved the beginning with the seance, and the more brutal ending! Definitely will check out other books by this author!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read The Suffering! I absolutely loved this book. It had a great atmosphere of creepy, mysterious, and intrigue, on top of being well-written.

It’s spooky, scary, creepy book, filled with paranormal wild Ghosts! It’s a slow burn but give it a chance.

Set in the UK, very close College friends live in a house known to have ghosts, so they set to do a Seance on Halloween. Well, from that night forward they see and hear things that make them believe that each ghost is connecting to each one of them.

The twists and turns and back stories will keep you wanting more.
My favorite kind of spooky ending!!
I love horror flicks and anything to scare me and this did. I enjoyed it very much

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and Author for my free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

3.8stars

Really enjoyable read - atmospheric writing really sets the scene when Kyle and his housemates release the ghostly residents of Brackenby House. Genuinely creepy as the ghosts gradually gain power and make themselves known - suspense builds to a gripping final few chapters which are not for the faint hearted!
Horror at its best - an excellent debut novel from MJ Mars!

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

***

"The Suffering" popped up as a pre-approved recommended read and since I enjoy haunted house stories, I decided to give it a go.

This was a fun take on haunting. I particularly enjoyed the scent aspect of the attachments and that they were mostly able to puzzle out the whos before the ghosts themselves began gaining in power and manifesting.

Overall, the story was interesting. There were quite a few moving parts and I did find it took a minute to sort everyone out. But, ultimately, I thought the author came up with an interesting haunting concept and things ramp up and get pretty violent. These are not friendly ghosts.

An entertaining haunted house story, albeit predictable in places. I really enjoyed all the lore attached to the different ghouls and their "modus operandi". Definitely a book that needs more attention!

The Suffering is an entertaining, ghost story. The characters and ghosts themselves are interesting. The story is exciting and keeps your interest throughout.

One thing that people will either love or hate is that this horror book does not have the mood and tone that most typically expect from horror. It takes away from the horror itself. I would suggest this to folks that enjoy horror that is more “*fun* and less *terrifying*.

4.5 so so close to being a 5 star for me. What a way to start a story... at Halloween with a seance! Creepy! I would have loved to have listened to this on audio! I bet it was twice as creepy. Loved the ghost and their background stories. I had no problem flying thru as the ghosts became more apparent and forced themselves into the daily lives of the houses occupants. I can't say I really had a favorite character as all of them were unique and fun to follow in their turmoil but Cassie... I really felt badly for what all was happening to her especially. The last few pages.... I literally stood from a seated position and exclaimed oh hell naw!

If you like creepy and things that go farther than a bump in the dark don't miss The Suffering. Don't recommend reading it in the dark alone either.

Kyle and a small group of people live in a house with a sinister past. They decide to recreate a seance and catastrophic events occurs after. Spirits are unleashed and they tether themselves onto the group. Will they survive? A Horror story with plenty of suspense and a nail-biting plot. A well written ghost story.


Disclaimer: Thank you NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for this review copy and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was such a great ghost story!! I thought it was really quick read because you just get pulled in. It gave you a creepy feel that was nice. I love when I can get a creeped out feeling. I wanted a chance to read this because I fell in love with the cover and I choose most of my books by their covers and I have only been burned a few times so I stick with my method. If you want a good creepy horror book then this is definitely for you!




Thank you NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for allowing me to read this ARC for my honest opinion.

Halloween, an old Victorian house, an attempt at ouija gone terribly wrong. For a lover of creepy stories this one has just about everything you need. The hauntings are truly creepy and chill worthy! The fact that the characters are interesting and get some development only serves to elevate this read. The ending could come with a little less "puzzle-solving" but that doesn't take away from the reader's enjoyment. Finally, the ending serves some delicious shivers.

This book is what a ghost story should be. It had angry ghosts, people being haunted, great friendships and curses needing to be broken. Once I began reading this book, I was so much invested that I did nothing but read until I finished this tale. The group of friends completed a seance that should have never been done. Kyle, who the house was given to because he was family, did not think much had happened during the seance. Little did he know that the entire house would be in danger. The danger increased as the ghosts grew stronger. The group became increasingly involved in danger, especially if they left the house. When Kyle decided to try and find a way to send the ghosts back to where they came, the danger to him and his friends increased the danger to everyone. The whole idea of disgruntled ghosts who were able to attack the living with such vengeance that their attacks became ingrained in my imagination. I am not sure if there is going to be a sequel but I sure hope so.

The beauty of this horror book is that it is what all horror fan wants! The classic seance scene on Halloween night to a group of young college students to tension releasing humor in between. There are so many elements that keep pulling you in to read until the very end. Highly recommended!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
SPICE: 🌶️
TW: Gore, Death, Sex, vivid details of demise




The Suffering started out super strong in the way of an introduction, and continued strong to the end. This is a book that will keep you engaged with everything going on within the story. I thoroughly enjoyed how well you got to know ALLL of the characters, and their quirks.

I honestly didn't expect to like this as much as I did but I couldn't stop reading because I had to know what happened. Within the storyline you expect a certain amount of terror to happen when you have vengeful spirits, but what you don't expect is a little bit of spice to go along with it. It gave a great break from what was happening mainly within the story to show that the characters are just asuch human as we are. And at times need that breakaway from the terror they have been facing. But nothing could have prepared me for the last quarter of the book. Which was fantastic.

Thank you to Netgalley for the copy in exchange for my honest review!

Absolutely loved rescuing this book. Don’t normally go for horrors but the book cover looked exciting and drew me in. The plot was fantastic the suspense and excitement . It was very well written

I love a haunted house story. This house has a haunted history which is just fascinating and a haunted present. The current residence soon find out how horrific their situation is. The ghosts were scary and the effect on all the flat mates was intriguing. The writing doesn’t have much finesse and the ending just wasn’t fair. This book will suck you in. Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC

This book was just what I needed to get me out of a reading slump. It’s captivating, full of twists and turns that I didn’t see coming, contains multiple povs (that I love), and it offers insight to not just the current lineup of characters but also the house itself and the ghosts involved. It’s reminiscent of all my favorite horror movies like A Haunting in Connecticut, Thirteen Ghosts and The Haunting of Hill House. So, if that’s the vibe you’re in to, you’ll love

Horror at its best - an excellent debut novel from MJ Mars! Gripping! Horror is my go to book genre, and this book held the bar! I loved The Suffering!

What a fun and creepy ride! I really enjoyed reading this one, it’s rare that I can find a book that genuinely gives me the creeps and this is one of them. I don’t think it graduates into true horror but is rather a supernatural thriller. The tension is broken up with funny banter among the roommates as the haunting amps up. And the ending was just perfect. I would definitely recommend this read. It’s a page turner for sure.

Haunted house and a mystery, what more could you ask for? An enjoyable read throughout, well-written and well-fleshed out. The ghosts having fun and interesting backstories also lightened the mood. Rarely do we see comedy and horror go hand in hand, but here we have it done well.

Thankyou to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this ARC.
This is my first title by this author and I will be reading more from them in the future.
This book has horror, mystery and haunted house vibes which I love.
This is a heart pounding thriller which left me on the edge of my seat.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one. Definitely one of the best books this year.
Thankyou again.
5/5 stars

Four stars because this book felt like it was written by two different people. It starts off quite badly, with a pick-me 'not like the other girls' character, a model who can only talk about sewage which makes it unappealing as soon as you speak to him (?) and others that just kinda mesh together and are unremarkable. But as the story progresses you can SEE the author getting better! It's fascinating how the writing evolved from the first to the last page. In the end, I cared deeply for the characters and was enthralled by the plot, I needed to read. If the quality had been consistent, it would've been 5 stars.
The plot was quite farfetched, but amusingly so. It was absolutely bonkers and I loved every second - lots of blood, gore, jumpscares, chills, and tension. This is a brilliant horror novel and I recommend it to every single one of you who loves the genre.

This kinda almost reminds me of the movie 13 ghosts...killer spirits trapped, doing bad things. People trying to figure out how to make to everything stop...spells and books.

A fantastic read...spooky, horrifying. And reminds me why I never play with a oujia board.

A fantastic slow burn ghost story. It took me a little while to get into it but I'm slow glad I stuck with it, it's definitely worth the read. If you're a fan of horror/the paranormal then you'll love this one

This book turned the creep factor up to a 10!
It definitely had a slow start and i struggled at first to keep interest but it definitely took a turn and got me hooked.
This book had all the things, ghost story, creepiness, that eerie "Don't sleep in the dark" feeling.
But it also has enough funny banter throughout to not give you nightmares.
The cover is a HUGE draw in. such a eerie cover and so fitting.

Thank you publishers and Netgalley for the advanced copy.

In the grand halls of Brackenby House, where generations have tread, Kyle Birbeck and his friends find themselves entangled in a chilling tale. The mansion, renowned for a fateful séance orchestrated by Kyle's ancestor in 1876, bore witness to the haunting »Victorian Suffering Massacre«. Though dismissed as mere legend, whispers persist that five vengeful spirits have been haunting the very walls ever since. When the friends take the ill-fated decision to re-enact the séance on Halloween, it unleashes a terror beyond their wildest imaginings.

Released from their spectral prison, the ghosts now roam free, relentlessly tormenting the vulnerable housemates. They can only hope to survive their ordeal by banishing the unwelcome guests once and for all.

The plot is delightfully gothic, a classic haunted house story with a variety of ghostly antagonists. While it clearly bows to the staples of the genre and can thus be somewhat formulaic, the story also incorporates unique twists and interesting concepts.

The overall atmosphere is eerie and unsettling, with moderate levels of gore. Body horror is often hinted at instead of shown in detail, striking a good balance between psychological suspense and creepy moments. However, readers should approach it expecting a brooding, evocative ambiance, rather than fast-paced gory action.

The writing is immersive, conjuring a dense atmosphere and a persistent feeling of dread. While there are minor inconsistencies and unresolved plot points, my engagement with the story allowed me to overlook them and just enjoy the ride. However, veterans of the genre might find it too smooth and polished, lacking a certain oomph or gritty exposition.

To me, the characters come across as somewhat clichéd, prone to exasperatingly foolish decisions. The story railroads them to an ending that is predictable, if you're not a complete newbie to the haunted house trope.

Still, they are likeable and relatable enough, although they lack significant depth or development, dutifully serving their roles within the confines of the haunted house narrative.

A novel that begins with an Edgar Allen Poe quote and a Halloween seance is already a hit from the first few pages. And in chapters following, “The Suffering” by M.J. Mars does not disappoint and lives up to its harrowing beginning.

Kyle lives in a stately Victorian mansion which is considered the “Victorian murder house” after a seance in 1876 goes awry. Along with his roommates, Kyle conducts a seance to awaken the five ghosts his ancestor trapped in the house. In their lifetime, the ghosts were a mixture of people including an oracle, an executioner, an Inca giant, a member of the Hellfire Club and a thief.

The groups gets more than they bargained for when the ghosts prey on each of the housemates and targets them based on their fears and insecurities. Kyle and his friends have to figure out how to send them away for good while the poltergeists plague their lives.

As no stranger to the horror genre, I was genuinely impressed with the creep factor Mars creates when describing the hauntings. I’m not typically affected by scary novels but this one sent chills down my spine, and that’s not an easy feat.

Before “The Suffering” was published in February, Mars had only written short stories and this is the debut novel, not that it shows. Mars writes as if she has had many years of practice and more impressively than several well-established authors.

I highly recommend “The Suffering” for horror fans or event to someone new to the genre. Mars has all of the bases covered.

Candice Black can be reached at cblack@newsandsentinel.com.

Creepy with some genuinely scary moments. Might be a bit graphic for some readers. Horror fans will love it.

Fun, loved the "friend group" vibe. It started off a bit slow but it started to pick up by like 60% of the book and then the ending reaaaally delivered! I will definitely be on the lookout for more books by this author.
A 4 out of 5 for me. Will definitely recommend to some friends.

Phenomenal and spooky. Five friends attending uni share a haunted house, some even like they hype. When strange things start to happen after a seance the friends have to pull together to stay alive. If you don’t believe in ghosts you may change your mind after reading this! Thrilling and suspenseful, this book will keep you enthralled until the very end.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you NetGalley, M.J. Mars and Wicked House Publishing for hearing my honest review. Looking forward to reading more with you
#partner

Wow wow wow wow. This was so great. This was just the haunted house book I needed! The atmosphere was perfect and the building dread was a slow build with a great climax!

Wow. This was fantastic. I love a good classic haunted story. This definitely got me out of a long reading slump

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy to review.

Creepy, atmospheric and dark, it is a gripping read that was captivating all the way through
I didn't want to put it down and I had to leave the light on at night

Kyle's family left him the Brackenby house while he was in school. The house is very large and has been in their family for years. Many haunted stories surround the house name, however, Kyle is elated that a handful of his friends choose to live with him there, despite the rumors.
All is well until it isn't. A seance turns the house upside down and ghosts of the past start showing themselves. The group of friends must track down who all of the ghosts are, what they want, and how to banish them from the house before it's too late. These ghosts are unlike most. Each has chosen a certain houseguest to invade, manipulate, corrupt and change causing suffering in many ways.
Will Kyle and his friends be able to solve these mysteries and put an end to the torturous game these ghosts are playing?

M. J. Mars created a great haunted house story with a twist. One where each houseguest is haunted by their own ghost. The novel follows each character individually to show the suffering they are put through by these unwanted guests. This gives the reader the ability to put themselves in each characters shoes.
The story is full of twists and past/present stories. The Suffering is engaging which ensures the reader keeps turning the pages to learn more.
This is my first book by M. J. Mars and I doubt it will be the last.

Oh my god that was so good, I just got finished reading it and I literally have goosebumps over it. The whole thing from start to finish was excellent.

I loved all of the main characters of the story, they each added value and I found them all really likeable and easy to connect with - which really helped with the story because it means you were rooting for them!

And the story itself was out of this world, I've never read anything like it. I really enjoyed the themes of possession, haunted houses, séances, it just had everything it needed to make a really different, yet interesting and super wild plot.

I also felt that the writing played a huge part in my enjoyment, the author wrote so hauntingly that I couldn't help but feel fear and unease throughout the whole book.

The atmosphere was just crazy!!!

And whilst entertaining isn't necessarily the word I would use to describe this book, I certainly enjoyed reading it and would recommend it to anyone looking for a scary read.

An easy 5 star rating for me.

"The Suffering" by MJ Mars is a four-star supernatural thriller that delves into the eerie aftermath of a séance gone awry. Set in Brackenby House, the novel follows Kyle Birbeck and his friends as they become entangled in a paranormal web spun by ghosts banished in a Victorian séance.

Mars masterfully sets the stage with an intriguing premise—the recreation of the séance that led to the infamous Victorian Suffering massacre. As the ghosts lurking within the walls of Brackenby House are unleashed, the narrative takes a chilling turn. The author skillfully weaves together the stories of five terrifying ghosts, each preying on the deepest fears of the students residing in Brackenby.

The strength of the novel lies in its ability to create an atmosphere of suspense and supernatural dread. Mars vividly portrays the haunting entities, from a 3-eyed Incan giant to a Hellfire Club member who struck a deal with the devil. The ghosts' individual stories add depth and complexity to the narrative, enhancing the overall sense of foreboding.

The characters, particularly Kyle and his friends, are well-developed and relatable. As they uncover the secrets of the séance and grapple with their own haunted existence, readers are drawn into their struggles and fears. The dynamics among the group contribute to the emotional resonance of the story.

The pacing of the novel is well-maintained, with a steady build-up of tension as the ghosts prey on the vulnerabilities of the characters. The unraveling mysteries keep readers engaged, and the twists and turns in the plot add to the suspenseful atmosphere.

While the supernatural elements are gripping, some readers may find the resolution to be somewhat predictable. The novel adheres to certain genre conventions, and those familiar with supernatural thrillers may anticipate certain twists before they occur.

In conclusion, "The Suffering" is a four-star supernatural thriller that delivers a haunting and gripping tale of Victorian ghosts unleashed in the present. MJ Mars skillfully combines chilling supernatural elements with well-developed characters, creating an atmospheric and suspenseful narrative. Fans of the paranormal genre will find themselves captivated by the eerie mysteries and ghostly encounters within the pages of this compelling novel.