This is a short story, but incredibly effective and chilling. We follow Caroline, who takes in her sister’s newborn after a tragic and disturbing delivery. From the first moments, the baby seems wrong. Animals panic, children scream, and even adults who meet her react with terror, often with fatal consequences. As Caroline investigates, she uncovers the terrifying truth about her sister, the demon Ashrael, and the price of protecting a child that never should have been born.

The story is brief but feels complete, with tension that builds relentlessly toward a shocking yet inevitable ending. The imagery is unsettling, from the drifting eye of the infant to the inexplicable deaths and the dreadful pull of the sea. The resolution is haunting and heartbreaking, leaving an impression long after the final line.

A compact but powerful horror tale that is perfectly paced and deeply disturbing.

This is a short story, but incredibly effective and chilling. We follow Caroline, who takes in her sister’s newborn after a tragic and disturbing delivery. From the first moments, the baby seems wrong. Animals panic, children scream, and even adults who meet her react with terror, often with fatal consequences. As Caroline investigates, she uncovers the terrifying truth about her sister, the demon Ashrael, and the price of protecting a child that never should have been born.

The story is brief but feels complete, with tension that builds relentlessly toward a shocking yet inevitable ending. The imagery is unsettling, from the drifting eye of the infant to the inexplicable deaths and the dreadful pull of the sea. The resolution is haunting and heartbreaking, leaving an impression long after the final line.

A compact but powerful horror tale that is perfectly paced and deeply disturbing.

What a terrifying and gripping novella. 4.5 stars. This book packs a massive punch in its small page count. The author has a fresh voice one that reads as both modern and very true to life. I love this story so much. I honestly could have used another 100 pages of it, it was that good. The only reason I'm saying 4.5 stars is that though the ending does resolve the story, it almost ends it too abruptly and without maybe taking advantage of telling more about the tangents the story drew on but left dangling. To me, it is one of the most fun reads I've had in a long time, but then it was like the author had a deadline to finish the book and quickly rushed it the morning it was due. It lets the rest of the story down when it could have elevated the entire work. Just my opinion. I think some people might like the ending because it leaves some things unsaid and lets your mind wander.

This grabbed hold from the beginning and didn't let up. A quick 81 page novella that held on until the very last page.
It does contain some horrific themes, so if you have any issues with graphic death, death of a child/baby, or grief, please skip this one.
I really enjoyed this, and am happy I was given the opportunity to read it early.