A fairly short book (that would be even shorter if not for formatting, helping it reach just under 100 pages), it nevertheless took me longer to read than I thought. Mainly because I had to reread a few chapters with the head hopping narration. This is definitely a book for lovers of obscure, comic, head scratching type horror and if that's your thing it's a must read. For me it was a little too heavy on the telling, not enough on show to have the punch I prefer.

A heart-racing novella, it has all the tropes that makes a classic horror story and then puts a twist on them. Extremely enjoyable and fast paced, this novella is one to look out for.

If you love cosmic horror, with some gore and a bit of possession then make sure you pick this delightful novella up! It’s trippy, it’s erotic, and it’s one hell of a read. Steve has yet to disappoint me, and yet every book of his just gets better and better. This book deserves all the praise!!

First, while I haven't read all of Steve Stred's work yet, I have loved everything I've read. This one I both loved and feared... mixed with some disgust and a pinch of confusion.

This had multiple POVs and some unreliable narrators. For me, it was confusing (but I believe intentionally so) who the narrator actually was at times.

There was some definite gore and graphic sexual depravity in this. But while it seemed a bit gratuitous at times, or maybe just for shock value, by the end of the story, I understood it for what it was... and this added to my fear.

Horror books rarely scare me. They can make me nauseous or or give me anxiety or shock me, but not fear. This subject matter with possession, absolute evil, possible hellscapes, and more really created a deep fear in me. Who is to say these things are not real? Who is to say that believing in something deeply doesn't make it possible? Read this book, you'll understand.

I held back on 5 stars only because (and only God knows why) I needed a bit more. I think some things were left hanging, so to speak. But I also think that if I totally understood everything, was fine with it, and didn't question what I read at all, I may need some serious therapy. But that's just me.

4.25⭐️ Another win for Stred.

As always, thank you to Netgalley and Darklit Press for allowing me to read an advanced ebook copy of this book.

This book had a lot of things that I’m typically interested in like cults and the psychological aspects, but unfortunately it was not for me. I do think there is definitely an audience for this story and it’s a very quick read for anyone who finds these topics interesting.

Before we begin this review, please remember the following is my own opinion of this book so please take it with a pinch of salt.

I’d first like to start this review with the positives and what I liked about this book. Firstly, I would say the cover is quite interesting and beautiful. It made me actually interested and was one of the selling points for me to request the book. The blurb/description of this book also intrigued me. Lastly, the genre being horror piqued my interest as I love the horror genre and was instantly excited to try another book in this genre. I quite loved how this book was short and a quick read so I easily fixed this within a day of reading. Part two of this book was where I found myself invested in this book and where I could see the horror kind of side to this story actually present itself. This book had me wanting to read on. It did take me until part two (roughly about 18% of the way) to get into this book but when I did, it was great. I really did appreciate this book and the story it was telling. I also appreciated how this book isn’t like any other book I had read and it is set in like this clinical setting. The spirit that was 400 years old was also quite interesting to me too. I would also say that I didn’t mind the gore and such too that this book had.

Now onto the next part of the review with what I disliked about this book. Earlier I had mentioned getting into the story by part two which was at about chapter four. I’m going to take the opportunity to say I kind of struggled with the first part of the book which was the first three chapters. This wasn’t due to grammar or anything like that but simply the context and details in these chapters. I was quite confused because we had Rachels point of view and other peoples point of views too it seemed. We had quite a bit of head hopping that it left me confused on what scene we were at, where we were and what was going on. I would have appreciated bold text or names before the chapter or scene if we were changing characters from others aside from Rachel. To me it felt like things… well scenes were kind of thrown in without being read over again for consistency during the first few chapters. This could have been just me but I was confused for 70% of those starting chapters. I feel like I would have enjoyed this book more if the point of views didn’t like change constantly or if we had an indication of who was who as to me, especially in chapter two or three if I remember right, it seems to me we had gone through more than three character/point of view changes and that kind of threw me off. I had a feeling while reading that the narration going from 1st person point of view to 3rd person point of view was meant to give me a hint as to whose character view we were meant to be in but I personally found it threw me off more as I had gotten lost figuring out whose point of view there was other than Rachels. I would assume it was David but while reading I was very unsure and confused.

I’d rate this book a three out of five stars. This was a good book but I was also confused during some parts too. I appreciate what the author has done here.

When I Look At The Sky, All I See Are Stars

By Steve Stred

Complete ARC Copy Review

When a patient at a psychiatric hospital claims to be possessed, a prominent psychologist tries to help him overcome these delusions, but is he telling the truth?

Content warning taken from the book: This story feature's themes and scenes depicting mental health issues, excessive gore and violence, scenes depicting sex and sex acts, self-injury, cosmic horror, and cult situations.



Wow, when I first received this ARC there were some issues where it wasn't showing up right in the kindle app but after a couple days I realized I hadn't tried it in the NetGalley app and I'm very glad I did. I enjoyed this novella so much. I know the initial premise has been done several times but never like this.

The books beginning had me expecting the story to go in one direction, but then it swerved and became an amazing, horrible, and enjoyable experience in the horror genre. Throughout the second half of the book I kept thinking to myself how this felt like a Lovecraft book or movie but taken to the extreme.

The book jumps back and forth between several main characters and even without much back story on most of them, it was easy to root for them and care about what happened to them. The story goes down a very dark path but man was it fun to read. I don't want to add too much about what makes it creepy because I don't want to give anything away. Read it.

If you like Lovecraft, Cosmic Horror, and Possessions then check out this novella, you will not be disappointed. Once the story gets going the pacing is excellent and an easy one session read. My only major gripe with the novella is that it's a novella. I wish the story was longer and more detailed.

Would I recommend this book to friends and family? The ones who could get through reading it yes, the book is not for the squeamish. This is my first time experiencing Stred's work and as soon as I finish this review, I'm looking for more.

4 out of 5 stars.

Thank you so much to DarkLit Press for offering this ARC via NetGalley in return for my honest opinion.

Trigger Warnings:
Cults
Sexual Acts
Satanic Symbology
Possession
Gore

This is my first Steve Stred/DarkLit Press read and I'm appalled at myself for only just discovering both!

I'm a huge fan of Possession Horror so I was immediately attracted to this book after reading the description. Not much scares me in the way of Horror anymore, but this novel definitely spooked me. Between the pentagrams on the pages and the descriptive imagery of Beasts far too vast for us to comprehend, Steve Stred's writing has the uncanny ability to make you feel a sense of dread. I felt like I needed to be looking over my shoulder to make sure nothing was in the room with me. I devoured this book in a day, absolutely fantastic read!

If you love Possession Horror, I highly recommend reading this gem. I loved this novel so much that I even pre-ordered myself a copy.

The premise of this book, the cover and even the introduction to it sounded so incredibly promising; unfortunately I was left wanting.

The chapters from the point of view of the psychiatrists were by far the best part of the work, although were not written in the professional tone I would have expected to highlight the contrast in the character style. The chapters where David/the entity were in charge were incredibly frustrating and nonsensical which, while intentional, was not conveyed successfully.

The work touches on some of the grittier theories of human nature and our relationship with religion and spirituality, especially delving into hedonistic and carnal satisfaction yet it felt crude and unwarranted,

Overall this work is not one I would read again.

Steve Stred set the bar extremely high with Father of lies.
The trilogy is brutal, but so so good.
I wasn’t sure if he would be able to top that.
I was wrong.
When I look at the sky is another great one.
Steve Stred is ridiculously underrated in the Horror Genre.
Stred just made another life long fan.

This book was a fun read for any horror fan. A lot of twists and turns with an ending that was right up my alley.

Character development was pretty good for a short read and it was all put together nicely. I w8sh the "triggers" were put in front of the book vs the end though.

This was such an interesting and weird ride of a story. Steve Stred has a way of weaving such a different story that I wish would have been so much longer. I was confused, intrigued but most of all just memorized by the story.

I can't wait to keep reading more by Steve and keep getting sucked into the amazing worlds he creates.

Spooky, creepy, eerie--check, check, and check. For a shorter novella this packs a punch and truly dipped into tat deliciously dark place. A unique take on possession. One thing I ever hated, however, wad the head hopping. It's confusing. Organize it, label it.

This book is Creepy, with a capital C. This short horror novella has some pretty disturbing and weird ideas. I’m not much of a horror fan, and this would be why. This book expands your imagination to be able to take in the writing, but it’s so macabre, it just made me feel unnerved and ill at ease.

Aside from that, the book was adaptly written, and the characters were well defined despite it being a short book.

For people who like horror books, I imagine this would be just the thing for them. If you like to feel uncomfortable with what you’re reading, then this is for you. While unsettling, I was still able to read this in one day, and now I’m hoping I can sleep without thinking of some of the grotesque scenes from this story. Wish me luck!

Thank you to the publisher, DarkLit Press, and NetGalley for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a quick read and my first gore/horror book of the year. It was interesting and a page turner. Like with most novellas, it was good but it left me wishing it was longer.. looking for details of what happened.. and wanting more.. this is similar to Silence of the Lambs but with a supernatural twist. The first person POV switched between characters, but it was easy enough to follow who was talking. I appreciated getting the inner dialog of more than one character. I got this from Net Galley but I would absolutely pay for a sequel!!

I was very excited to read this book. The blurb and the initial warning at the beginning pulled me in immediately. This strays from the classic possession story in a way that makes it unique, I enjoyed the premise and the ideas here. Horror will always be one of my favorite things to read and the author does it well.

However, the pacing was too fast for me, and the point of view shifts happened in a way that muddled my reading experience. I had to go back and trying and figure out what point of view of view I was reading from, and it took me out of the story from time to time and frustrated me that I had to keep stopping and revaluating whose story was being told or what part of the story I was in now.

There is so much good in here I would’ve loved to see it as a book double its current size rather than a novella. I didn’t feel that sense of fulfillment I usually do after reading something, yet I would for sure give this author another go and pick up another one of his books. I enjoyed the writing style very much.

Well this was certainly an interesting story. This book was a whirlwind of “what the f*** did I just read.” Wild, grotesque, shocking, and provocative are some words that come to mind.

I’m not even sure if anyone truly knows what happened in this book. I don’t know what I expected. But it wasn’t exactly this?

We have a psychiatric patient David who is to say, an interesting character, two brilliant psychiatrists, a couple of Fathers, and possible demonic possession. David claims to be a 400 year old demon inhabiting poor David and at first it seems to be a clear cut case of multiple personality disorder. That is until he does and says some shocking things that may say otherwise.

Now that story sounds good. Here for it. But boy did the author push the limits of obscene and absurd on this one. I really enjoyed the first two thirds of this story better than the ending. There are multiple POV that are not always easy to distinguish. I had to double back to see who I was reading from a couple of times. There are also a few unanswered/ lingering/ never addressed/ off the wall things in this short story that I think it even mentioned could’ve made this story more enjoyable. While the splatterpunk/ horror aspect part was on point and exhilarating, I wish it would’ve veered more towards the cosmic horror aspect of the story rather than the psychosexual but I get it. Several things happen that just seem so beyond random though and are left up to absolute individual interpretation. Sometimes I enjoy that but this one was just weird. This one had me scratching my head for a minute after finishing.

I’m not quite sure how I feel about this book. There are parts I liked and parts I felt like I was missing something. I had to go back and reread some of it because I felt like I missed important information and found that it just hadn’t been brought up before. The information given was very vague and not as detailed.

Some really visceral and creepy imagery in this, but often I found myself confused and struggling to figure out what was going on and whose perspective I was reading.
I don't think I have ever read anything quite like this and even though I'm not sure Splatterpunk is really my genre, I'll probably try some other books from the author.

I received this ARC from Netgalley. I have never read into this particular genre of horror. This story was a little confusing to me, but this book did a really good job about giving the readers a creepy/uneasy feeling.