Cameron L. Mitchell really came out of the gate swinging with this one and I was not prepared. This story absolutely ruined me. The author’s words felt like they were pulled directly out of my soul and put into this book. I grew up in a very similar home, with a very similar man, but I didn’t expect to be so affected by the emotional torment in these pages. I was reminded of a fear and despair that I haven’t felt in a very long time. Incredibly heartbreaking and real. Definitely a story that will stay with me for a long time, if not forever.

I really couldn't get into this story. The Last Way is a story about a boy and all the different ways he fantasies about killing his father. I did not like the repetitiveness in the story (for example, the multiple retellings of pushing the father off a cliff).

***Spoiler ahead****

I understand why it ended the way it did, but all that build up left me disappointed he didn't kill his father in the end.

This was dark and left me with a feeling of sadness and unease.

This was a really interesting concept and I haven't really read anything like it before.

Due to it's length it did feel like we didn't really get to know the main characters and the history behind what was happening so I did feel a little disconnected from his story.

Overall this was a short story that did pack a punch but ultimately I feel it pria badly would have worked a bit better if it had been slightly longer to help build the anticipation more.

This short horror novella captured my attention right from the very beginning! With this book being under 80 pages long, the author did an excellent job at structuring this story! This is an extremely emotional and intense read. In each chapter, a boy fantasies on which way he is going to murder his father. As we are reading this, we are experiencing what is going on in this boy’s mind. It is very well written, the storyline felt realistic and it really impacted me. The plot of this story was well executed. It is terrifying, gruesome, captivating and psychologically compelling. There are twists you don’t see coming and an ending that I was not expecting! Be sure to check the trigger warnings before reading this! This is a heavy, intense horror novel. This is a book of fiction and is not based on any real events or people. Overall, I give this a 4 out of 5 star rating.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Cameron L.. Mitchell and Querencia Press for this electronic arc of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

This book is expected to be published on August 8, 2025!

Thank you to NetGalley and Cameron L. Mitchell for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Last Way is dark, gruesome, and emotionally exhausting. It’s not a comfortable read, nor should it be. But it’s a powerful one. The writing is tight, the story immersive, and the psychological weight of it all sticks with you long after the final page.

If you’re looking for a short, impactful, and deeply disturbing character study, this delivers.

Spoilers ahead!

--
--
--
--
--
--

First Impressions

From the very first line, The Last Way drops you into the mind of a boy who has imagined his father’s death more times than he can count.

"It’s a question of when, not if."

In just under 100 pages, the author crafts a harrowing psychological descent into the mind of a child trying to claw his way out of trauma, rage, and isolation. It’s brutal, disturbing, and shockingly intimate.

---

Structure & Plot

The book’s structure is repetitive by design — each chapter is a new “today is the day,” a different method the boy imagines using to kill his father. He pushes him off a cliff. He bludgeons him with a rock. He poisons him. He sets the house on fire. He even mutilates and stabs him. Over and over again, the day resets, and the rage simmers.

"I have killed him five, ten, fifteen times over, only to wake the next morning to the great disappointment of finding him still alive."

But these aren’t just violent fantasies. They are coping mechanisms for a boy trapped in a home with a monstrous father. His dad is emotionally and physically abusive. He beats his wife, lets his hygiene rot, and leaves behind a trail of cigarette butts and terror. Every time the narrator tries to escape, he ends up right back where he started — back in his own head, with only new bruises and scars to show for it.

The repetition can feel tiring at times, but that’s part of the point. You’re stuck in the same cycle with him. And you’re waiting for one of these days to finally be the day.

---

Themes & Tone

This is not a hopeful book. It’s bleak and filled with raw, uncomfortable truths. It explores themes of trauma, helplessness, revenge, and the very thin line between thought and action. Some chapters are graphic and upsetting, and there are moments that truly made me cringe — not because they were bad, but because they were so effective.

"You’re gonna be just like me, sonny boy, he teased. And I wanted to scream, I’ll never be like you!"

Mitchell doesn’t shy away from the ugly parts of abuse. He writes them with a detached clarity that somehow makes them hit even harder. The narrator’s emotional numbness is chilling. Even when he describes violent acts, there’s a quiet, methodical tone to the way he prepares. It’s the voice of someone who has been broken for a long time.

"When I return my gaze to the mirror, whatever I saw is gone, but I can still feel its presence, waiting to reveal something I don’t want to see."

---

The Ending

Just when you think the cycle will finally break — that he’ll actually go through with it — the twist hits. He doesn’t kill his father.

He kills himself.

The knife he’s holding turns on his own wrist. His blood pours out, not his father’s. And for the first time, his dad shows him compassion — cradles him, screams for him. The most emotion he’s ever seen from the man who destroyed him.

"He screams out, but I can hardly hear a thing. "What did you do?" I fixed it. That’s what I did. I made it stop."

It’s haunting. And it left me stunned.

---

Final Thoughts

The Last Way is dark, gruesome, and emotionally exhausting. It’s not a comfortable read, nor should it be. But it’s a powerful one. The writing is tight, the story immersive, and the psychological weight of it all sticks with you long after the final page.

Overall Rating: 4★

If you’re looking for a short, impactful, and deeply disturbing character study, this delivers.

Note: I’ve chosen not to include any GIFs in this review out of respect for the intensity and seriousness of the subject matter. This story deserved space to speak for itself.

Took a chance on this book because the premise really intrigued me- wasn’t honestly a fan but for a quick read it would be great for a change

Title: The Last Way
Author: Adriane Ceallaigh
Genre: Dark Fantasy / Horror
Pages: 62
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (2015)
ISBN: 9781508627944

📖 Overview
The Last Way is a short yet intense dark fantasy novella by Adriane Ceallaigh. At just 62 pages, it offers a compact narrative that delves into themes of survival, morality, and the human condition in a post-apocalyptic setting. The story follows a group of survivors navigating a world ravaged by catastrophe, facing both external threats and internal moral dilemmas.

✍️ Writing Style
Ceallaigh's writing is evocative and atmospheric, effectively building tension within the novella's brief length. The prose is descriptive, immersing readers in the bleak and desolate world the characters inhabit. The pacing is brisk, keeping the narrative engaging and suspenseful throughout.

🌟 Themes
The novella explores profound themes such as:

Survival: The characters' struggle to endure in a world where resources are scarce, and dangers are omnipresent.

Morality: The ethical choices individuals must make when societal norms have collapsed.

Human Nature: An examination of how extreme circumstances can reveal the true nature of people.

🔍 Reception
While specific reviews for The Last Way are limited, Ceallaigh's other works, such as Unbound: Kayla Blackstone Book One, have garnered attention, indicating a readership interested in her storytelling style.