What a phenomenal book! I am baffled by the way Steph’s mind works and how she can come up with stories in her mind! Seriously? Healing powers? But then a twist on them? Amazing! Definitely recommend!

This book had a great plot with intriguing characters. I’ll definitely be looking out for more from this author.

The Threshing Floor is a chilling and emotional ride that dives deep into the lengths a mother will go to save her child. I’m always drawn to stories about cults, and this one delivered with its dual timeline that slowly unravels how the cult came to be. The backstory adds so much depth, especially seeing how desperation and manipulation can twist even the best intentions.

Dalice was such a compelling character. Her strength and determination to save her son, no matter the cost, were so inspiring. After reading the author’s note, I was even more moved. Steph Nelson shares her own experience of losing a child with a congenital heart defect, and it’s clear she poured her heart into this story. It made the book feel even more personal and powerful.

The cult aspect? Absolutely nailed it. Nelson shows how easily people in desperate situations can be drawn into something dangerous, and the group’s rituals gave me chills.

I also loved how easy Nelson’s writing is to sink into—it feels like you’re just in your own head, experiencing the story firsthand. I’ve read The Final Scene by her too and really enjoyed that one, so I knew I was in for a treat.

If I had one tiny complaint, it’s that the pacing could’ve been a little faster in places. But honestly, that didn’t take away from how much I enjoyed the book overall. If you love horror with psychological twists and emotional depth, this one’s for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Xpresso Book Tours for the eARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

The story is about a struggling single mother whose child has a heart defect that is baited by a man to join a cult. The cult leader has special powers and a heck of an anti-aging routine. The mother is desperate for a donor or a cure for her son's heart issues. She is lured to the cult leader who has a history of curing the incurable, but at what price......

I liked this book. I read this in record timing due to trying to figure out what the prologue was about. There was a lot about the romance that kept you questioning who was the issue here (it was almost too much). At first I was REALLY annoyed at the flashbacks because it almost seemed pointless. However, they proved their usefulness towards the middle of the book. Loved the multiple twist with the siblings that the author threw in there.

The ending was really good.

Steph Nelson is such a compelling voice in the thriller genre! Propulsive, page-turning, spine tingling, heartwrenching. This is the story of a mother who joins a cult to save her son's life. HIGHLY recommend picking this one up because everyone is going to be talking about it!

The Threshing Floor is a compelling, fast-paced story that explores the lengths a mother will go to for her child, blending suspense with emotional depth. Dalice is a devoted mother to her 2-year-old son, Cash, who has a serious heart condition that requires constant medical attention. In order to cover mounting bills, Dalice works two jobs, struggling under the weight of her responsibilities.

Unexpectedly, she reconnects with Mickey, an old high school classmate, and meets her enigmatic, handsome friend Shane. Despite knowing that a relationship is the last thing she needs, Dalice allows herself to take a chance. As she grows closer to Shane, she begins to wonder what he’s truly involved in—and just how much Mickey and Shane’s lives intersect with her own.

The plot takes a supernatural turn when Dalice meets Shane’s sister, Reva, who possesses mysterious healing powers. The unfolding story delves into the power of desperation and the extremes a mother will reach to save her child. It’s a thrilling ride that keeps you questioning everyone’s motives, especially when characters like Mickey and Shane seem to have secrets of their own.

From the first page, I was gripped by the story’s intensity, and the pacing never falters. I found myself rooting for Dalice and Cash, all while remaining skeptical of the supporting characters, which only added to the suspense. The author masterfully weaves tension, family dynamics, and supernatural intrigue, making for an engaging and thought-provoking read.

Overall, The Threshing Floor is a solid 4-star read—emotional, gripping, and impossible to put down. It’s a story about love, sacrifice, and the unyielding bond between mother and child. If you enjoy fast-paced thrillers with heart, this one is definitely worth picking up.

This book kept me guessing until the very last chapter. I was amazed at how it ended! It pulled all the heartstrings, and gave me chills. Wonderfull done Steph!

Dalice works two jobs to support her young son Cash and all the medical costs his heart condition brings along. When she learns there is a woman who can heal his failing heart, she gets swept up in what seems to be a friendly cult. But Dalice soon finds out something more nefarious is hiding underneath the surface.

"I would do absolutely anything for Cash to have a chance at a normal life."

The Threshing Floor is a well executed cult story. Nelson has a pleasant and engaging writing style, which makes reading a breeze. Despite the at times heavy subject matter, she gives us unexpectedly funny moments which provide some welcome levity.

This novel features three points of view with Dalice being our main character and POV throughout. But the other two give us some insight in the broader story and character depth for those characters. I also really enjoyed seeing the relationship between Dalice and her sister Brandy play out.

Dalice is a very likeable protagonist and you can't help but root for her and little Cash. Nelson paints a very realistic picture of getting sucked into a cult, going deeper and deeper, and feeling like there is no way out.

"I can’t believe I’m considering going back. I shouldn’t. But I’m afraid that the possibility of Cash being healed is like elastic tying me to this place, and no matter how hard I try to leave, it’ll snap me back."

The Threshing Floor is the perfect read for those that enjoy well written cult stories with elements of magical realism. This novel features well rounded, loveable characters and a convincing portrait of indoctrination.

"She chooses, and she doesn’t choose fairly—she chooses how she wants to."

I really liked this book! It was a sacrifice for the mother to join this cult to try and save her child. I think it was very intriguing, it kept me interested, and I learned a lot about cults and their mentality of it and how it starts and how they catch people and brainwash them

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complementary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

"Chains jangle. I freeze, breath hitching in my throat. Someone’s down here? Chained up? What the actual fuck? “Help me.” The voice is a breathy whisper. I strain to see, but the strobe effect is aggravating my head, making it hurt worse than it already did. I have to help, but terror tightens around me like a straitjacket. I don’t want to go any further."

⚠️triggers⚠️
body shaming, sexual situations, references to infertility, child loss, eating disorders, persons with disabilities and sicknesses being cured, a non-explicit, brief reference to the sexual abuse of a child, and non-explicit references to suicide. A rabid dog is euthanized off-page, and a wild animal dies.


A dark and gripping psychological occult thriller with elements of grief and body horror. It's one mother's journey and sacrifices and the lengths she is willing to go to save her son whose life is hanging on the balance.
Life is tough but Dalice is tougher.
Her decisions due to her dire situation will leave her in high-stakes dilemma with no easy way out. In the end, she will have to choose: control or sacrifice.
You can feel the despair, dread and tension oozing from the pages as the story progresses.
Layered story and dual timeline which alternates from past to present and we get to learn more about the cult's history, the healer Reva and her journey on how she discovered her powers and how she became her twisted self.
Although not as super gory and twisted as I expected but still an enjoyable read and I liked the ending.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to NetGalley and Xpresso Book Tours 🖤

I really enjoyed this! The pacing is good and I really liked the writing style. I was drawn in from beginning to end. I would recommend this! Special Thank You to Steph Nelson,Dark Matter Ink and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Didn’t love it. Really hard to get into. The print was also weird so it was hard switching between books which I do a lot.

A gripping thriller that makes you question choice vs. control.

Dalice works really hard to provide for her son, but she can’t keep up. Her son was born with a heart condition and as much as hard as she tries, the medical bills keep coming, and she doesn’t know when they will stop. Enter Shane, an attractive man who Dalice is instantly drawn to. The two hit it off but things take a turn when Dalice learns that Shane is part of a group whose minister can heal. Dalice jumps head first into this group vowing to do anything she can if it will help save her son.

**SPOILERS**

I enjoyed this book but some things just rubbed me the wrong way. I didn’t like the conflict between Dalice and her sister, it was just stated as fact with no real backstory and the fact that Brandy took care of Cash almost every day all day – that has to show how much Brandy actually cares about them? But it’s completely ignored and taken for granted!

Shane and Dalice fell in love too quickly for me. I would have liked to see some relationship building – and I think that could have been done through longer introductions to the threshing floor group and maybe even Shane doing a threshing. Everything was too streamlined and easy even stating in the book “it’s a red flag but im ignoring it” it just didn’t feel like the stakes were that high for them.

I did really love Reva as the villain. The conflict between choice and control, learning how to use her gifts and then deciding how she would use them, having history catch up or repeat it’s self was masterful. I understand why and how Reva turned out the way she did. Sad to see her take Shane’s choices away.

Overall I would recommend this book but caution readers who are sensitive to a variety of trigger warnings. This is a thriller but the subject matter got kind of dark.

I want to thank NetGalley and the author for providing me with a ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is the third book I’ve read of Nelson’s and it is by far my favourite ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

At its core, this is a story about how far a mother will go to save her child regardless of the consequences. The story is told by different POV’s and toggles from the past to the current timeline. It’s a cult based horror, heavy on psychological trauma with fantastic character builds. I truly did not want to put this book down!

I was thrilled to get the ARC opportunity for this novel. It’s got 5 Star Read all over it! Thanks to Netgalley and @dark_matter . I can’t wait to see what Steph Nelson gives us next:)

4 ⭐️

Dalice is a single mom to a son, Cash, who has a heart condition. She works two jobs to help pay for medical bills. At her second job, as a waitress, she meets a group of people, including a guy that can’t keep his eyes off her, Shane. Shane has a sister, Reva, with healing capabilities that could help Cash but he is uncertain if telling Dalice is the right decision.

The story follows Dalice who will do anything to help her son, Shane who is contemplating leaving the cult and starting over, and flashbacks to Reva / Shane’s childhood and how they got to where they are.

It was creepy but kept me hooked to find out how the story ended.

Thanks Xpresso Book Tours and NetGalley for this ARC!

Rating: 5+ stars! I loved this book.

This is the second book I’ve read by the author and I was lucky enough to get the ARC through NetGalley. As any true-crime girlie would say, I love to read anything about cults — fictional or not. It was so interesting reading and understanding how someone can get so blinded by the idea of a “faith healer”, especially when one’s son has a heart problem.
I throughly enjoyed how relatable and interesting the characters were and I feel like Nelson knocked the cult aspect out of the park. I can’t wait to read more books by this author.

I will say to check trigger warnings beforehand but otherwise I highly recommend this book to any fellow true-crime girlies or people that enjoy thrillers!

Thank you Netgalley and Dark Matter Ink for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

“The Threshing Floor” by Steph Nelson is a chilling blend of psychological thriller and occult horror, weaving a complex story about miracles, manipulation, and the desperation of a single mother willing to do anything to save her son. Following the story of Dalice Carter, a struggling single mom with a toddler in need of a heart transplant, Nelson explores the depths of how far one can be pushed before succumbing to dark promises.

Dalice is a highly relatable protagonist, juggling two jobs to make ends meet while navigating the heartbreak of her son Cash’s failing health. Her hope appears when Shane, a kind-hearted stranger, connects with her, which then leads to Dalice meeting his sister, Reva, an enigmatic cult leader with supposed healing powers. The book shifts between present-day events and flashbacks to Reva and Shane’s past, offering insight into Reva’s twisted thinking and dangerous abilities. These shifts in perspective, especially Reva's upbringing and the roots of her supernatural powers, add depth to the characters and build tension as Dalice realizes the price of Reva’s “miracles.”

Nelson’s skillful pacing ramps up as the darker elements of the cult and Reva’s motivations become clear. The horror is subtle yet gripping, balancing suspense with an examination of themes like faith, abuse, and the corruption of power. You will find yourself rooting for Dalice even as you watch her make increasingly desperate (and sometimes stupid) decisions, all for the sake of her son’s life as Dalice is willing to do anything, even sacrifice her own life, for her son. Each revelation regarding Reva and her powers ratchets up the tension toward an intense, gruesome, and slightly gorey climax. The story’s ominous atmosphere and nuanced characters add to its powerful impact, showcasing Nelson’s talent for character-driven horror. The one thing that drew me out of the story a bit was about Reva’s abilities as I found it a bit difficult to believe that someone with legitimate healing powers, someone who can literally cure someone of cancer, wouldn’t have gone viral or been extremely well-known in today’s time. With the prevalence of social media, I had to suspend my disbelief about Reva’s abilities as well as the cult itself.

What I really enjoyed the most in this book was Shane himself as he is just a genuinely nice guy who wants to help Dalice and has a real connection with her. He even adores her son, which made him my favorite character in the book. While I did wish for more scenes from Reva's perspective, the story ultimately builds to a satisfying—if somewhat predictable—ending. The ending leaves with one last twist, potentially opening up for a sequel, which I would be interested in reading.

Overall, “The Threshing Floor” is a compelling psychological thriller that horror fans, especially those fascinated by cult dynamics and the supernatural, will find hard to put down. Steph Nelson delivers a memorable and disturbing look at the lengths one will go to for love and the eerie underbelly of promised salvation.

In one word, disturbing. If you are looking for a psychological thriller that is low on the horror, but high on the drama this is the right choice for you.

Cults. What's not to like?

The Threshing Floor is the story of Dalice and how far she will go for her son. It's a mother who will go to the ends of the earth to make sure her son lives a full life. Meeting Shane, a handsome mysterious man, isn't so bad either.

Slipping into the past for Shane and his sister, Reva, we read about their traumatic childhood and how it translates into their current lives. Reva is the leader of a mysterious cult, where she is able to heal people by laying her golden hands on them. But, to get to that point, these people must go through intense mental abuse and torture.

I found the cult aspect the best part of the entire story. Did the romance plot help...maybe a little, but I really don't think it was necessary. Dalice's connection to the group could have been facilitated via her high school 'friend'. Dalice is a great character and I wanted everything to resolve and for her to come out on top.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this bo

If there's one thing I'm gonna do, it's read whatever Steph Nelson writes. Every book she writes is so captivating. I feel like I'm INSIDE the main character's head, or at least a fly on the wall.

This book was so interesting and had me curious as to which direction it would head in the whole time. It follows Dalice and her son Cash, who needs a heart transplant. When she finds herself immersed in her local religious community, she also finds her own limits and what she will do in order to save her son.

5/5!!!!!