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Catherine’s Year In Books

Catherine’s 2025 Year in Books

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Catherine G. Lurid

Goodreads Author

Born

in Belarus

Twitter

CGLurid

Genre

Horror, Romance, Thriller

Member Since

December 2023

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/catherineglurid

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A London-based author with a Ukrainian grandpa, a Siberian grandma, and a Belarusian dad—basically, my family tree looks like the cast list of a very complicated historical drama.

Back in school, my Literature teacher told me I’d never become “the next Dostoevsky.” Honestly, that was fine—I never dreamed of being Fyodor Mikhailovich anyway. My secret ambition? To be a little more like Stephen King (minus the haunted hotels, hopefully).

My books tend to wander between genres, but there are a few things you can always count on: a pinch of horror, a dash of romance, and a healthy scoop of folklore and history.

I wrote my first detective stories in school—handwritten, stapled together, and passed around like contraband. Later, I flirted with histo ...more

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Can you please tell us a Belarusian legend about Strigoi?

Catherine G. Lurid Strigoi is indeed a vampire. According to Belarusian, as well as Romanian folklore, people turned into strigoi by selling their souls to evil. They wo…moreStrigoi is indeed a vampire. According to Belarusian, as well as Romanian folklore, people turned into strigoi by selling their souls to evil. They would die, then return, rising from their graves. To identify a strigoi's grave, one could use a horse. The animal was brought to the cemetery at night and led over fresh graves. If the horse refused to step on one of them, it meant a strigoi was buried there. Then the grave would be opened. Another sign was the absence of decomposition of the body. Then the corpse's head was severed and placed in the same spot but facing downwards. Next, the heart was cut out and burned.
Slavs have another bloodsucker, the Moroi. He is closely related to strigoi and werewolves, but moroi is a living creature, not a corpse, entity or animal. During the day, he appears to be an ordinary person, but when night falls, he wanders the streets, preying on residents, piercing their necks with a special device, and drinking their blood. He's called a living vampire or a vampire among the living. He can be killed, and for that, a stake made of oak or aspen is required. The moroi could be recognized among people if you put silver in his hand.
Beliefs about Strigoi and Moroi in Eastern Europe existed long before the Romanian Count Dracula and persisted after him. In the 18th century, the Countess Krumlová from the eponymous Czech town of Krumlov was suspected of vampirism. The countess had been ill for a long time, judging by the symptoms described by her doctors; she had cancer, which no one at that time could detect or cure, of course. The countess was pale, thin, and looked more like a walking corpse. Her pile of gray hair was styled in a voluminous hairstyle, and her lips appeared blood-red due to the abundance of beets and wolf blood she consumed. Yes, you heard that right. Since medicine at the time and in that region was closely linked to mysticism and witchcraft, wolves were specifically caught for the countess, their milk squeezed, and their blood drawn. Confined in cages and awaiting their death, the wolves howled incessantly every night, instilling primitive terror in the residents of the small town.
In Belarus, Poland, and Lithuania, there was Shamanic traditions during the Celtic period and name itself Strigoi came from there. However, it was by no means a human, but rather, at the same time, more of a werewolf. Strigoi in the very beginning is more of a nocturnal spirit, a forest dweller. It could become invisible, transform into an animal or a human. Nevertheless, it's a vampire, and it feeds on the blood of its victims. When transforming into an elder, it deliberately shows the traveler the wrong path instead of the right one. It leads them into swamps and dense forests, where it deals with them, draining all their blood to the last drop. However, unlike the modern (we are talking about 12-14 century as a modern now) legends, it never sold its soul to the devil, moreover, it was never a human. According to Slavic paganism (as well as many ancient religions), the world is dual. During the day, good entities inhabit the forests, helping humans. But at night, the dominion shifts to the world of the dead and beings like the Strigoi. So there is balance of good and evil: someone gives life, and someone takes it. And this cannot even be called evil, because if you always give life and never take it, there will be no balance in nature. And if we delve even deeper, in the 1st century BCE in Tuscany, the Etruscans had a goddess of the afterlife called quite literally Vamp. It is likely from here that the name and the very image of vampires originated. This is a naked maiden —with dead skin and wings — who flew at night, stole babies, and drank the blood of young men.
Thank you so much for the question. I enjoyed answering it and I hope you haven't fallen asleep while reading this.
Moreover, I'm preparing for the publication of a dilogy, the first book of which is about the mystical forest in Transylvania, Hoia Baciu. This place rightfully earns the title of the Bermuda Triangle of Europe and harbors many terrifying secrets...
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Which gothic element(s) attract you the most when you start to write a new book?

Catherine G. Lurid Thank you for the question! Among my gothic elements, I would say one stands out - a love for ancient cemeteries. It's an absolutely fascinating place…moreThank you for the question! Among my gothic elements, I would say one stands out - a love for ancient cemeteries. It's an absolutely fascinating places not only to choose names for you book characters but also to admire the ancient burials, family crypts, and sometimes just stone slabs under which the bodies of great people lie. I've been to the graves of Russian writers such as Bulgakov, Gogol, Leo Tolstoy, and Alexander Pushkin. On the ancient cemeteries of St. Petersburg. On the oldest cemetery in Prague and in Italy, where I paid tribute to the memory of Dante Alighieri. Not to mention London and all its boroughs))) Creepy and fascinating in the same time. (less)

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Catherine G. Lurid’s books

Average rating: 4.02 · 51 ratings · 29 reviews · 6 distinct works • Similar authors

	3:13 AM: A Psychic Suspense Thriller 3.92 avg rating — 25 ratings — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	THE GULL CRY HOTEL: Occult Mystery Thriller by Catherine G. Lurid (Goodreads Author), Catherine Dunn (Editor), Anthe Studio (Illustrator) 4.33 avg rating — 15 ratings — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	HOIA BACIU: Woods of Horror: Psychological Horror (Haunted Places of Eastern Europe Book 1) by Catherine G. Lurid (Goodreads Author), Catherine Dunn (editor), Consuelo Parra (illustrator) 3.70 avg rating — 10 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	3:13 AM by Catherine G. Lurid (Goodreads Author), Catherine Dunn (editor), Consuelo Parra (illustrator) it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	THE GULL CRY HOTEL: Occult Horror by Catherine G. Lurid (Goodreads Author), Catherine Dunn (editor), Anthe Studio (illustrator) 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	HOIA BACIU: Woods Of Horror: Paranormal Mystery by Catherine G. Lurid (Goodreads Author), Catherine Dunn (editor), Consuelo Parra (illustrator) 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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HOIA BACIU: Woods of Horror

My friends pushed the desks aside. Sergey had brought barbiturates—sodium thiopental, or “truth serum.” His sister worked at a veterinary clinic, and he had simply stolen the drug from her. It was widely used both in anesthesia and in euthanizing animals.

Andrey wanted to go first, but we decided to start with me. Sitting at the desk, I held a small vial containing a pale yellow powder. It dissolve Read more of this blog post »

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Catherine is Currently Reading

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HOIA BACIU: Woods of Horror: Psychological Horror (Haunted Places of Eastern Europe Book 1)

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Jul 31, 2024 02:04AM

Catherine Lurid is currently reading

THE GULL CRY HOTEL: Occult Mystery Thriller

by Catherine G. Lurid (Goodreads Author)

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read in April 2024

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Apr 20, 2024 08:20AM

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3:13 AM: A Psychic Suspense Thriller

by Catherine G. Lurid (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: mystery-horror-psychic-thrillers, currently-reading

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Jan 21, 2024 07:50AM

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Catherine’s Recent Updates

Catherine Lurid is now friends with JESSICA
Jan 06, 2026 06:10PM · like
Catherine Lurid rated a book it was amazing Pet Sematary by Stephen King (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
I love the eerie world of Stephen King, and especially this story about an ancient ritual place where the lines between the living and the dead blur. As a mother, I don't feel comfortable with such stories about kids, and King's thrilling tales with ...more
Nov 24, 2025 05:45AM · 41 likes · like · see review
Catherine Lurid rated a book it was amazing The Exorcist (The Exorcist, #1) by William Peter Blatty	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Nov 01, 2025 05:21AM · 71 likes · like · see review
Catherine Lurid made a comment on her review of The Exorcist (The Exorcist, #1) " Julio wrote: "Wait, don't tell me, Catherine, the Devil doesn't win. The power of Christ commands you!" The devil always wins - but only in games we ag ...more "
Nov 01, 2025 04:57AM · see review
Catherine Lurid rated a book it was amazing The Exorcist (The Exorcist, #1) by William Peter Blatty	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
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Oct 19, 2025 04:08AM · 71 likes · like · see review
Catherine Lurid and 2 other people liked Heather's review of HOIA BACIU: Woods of Horror: Psychological Horror (Haunted Places of Eastern Europe Book 1): "“Anton, losing oneself is much worse than death. Why do you think the clinic is like a prison, behind bars? The insane can’t escape through a fifth-floor window, but they can jump out of it because they can no longer live in a world they can’t share " Read more of this review »
Oct 17, 2025 02:42PM · see review
Catherine Lurid rated a book really liked it American Gods: Tenth Anniversary (American Gods, #1) by Neil Gaiman (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
"A Road Trip with Gods Who Seriously Need Therapy" Ah yes, American Gods – the feel-good story of the year, if your idea of "feel-good" involves brooding ex-cons, hitchhiking deities with identity issues, and a healthy dose of existential dread. Neil G ...more
Oct 04, 2025 12:19PM · 16 likes · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of American Gods by Neil Gaiman. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — American Gods by Neil Gaiman <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Catherine Lurid rated a book it was amazing Professor Dowell's Head by Alexander Belyaev	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
You can think about horror from many angles: restless spirits, haunted houses, that awkward moment when your lover turns out to be a maniac, or your sister is secretly a serial killer. But Belyaev? Oh, he went further. Much further. What if your boss’s ...more
Oct 04, 2025 01:55AM · 4 likes · like · see review
Catherine Lurid made a comment on her review of Annihilation (Southern Reach, #1) " Stephen wrote: "Fantastic review Catherine, I have not come across this author before, thanks for putting his work onto my radar." Thank you, Stephen It ...more "
Oct 02, 2025 12:24PM · see review
Catherine Lurid made a comment on her review of Aliens " Heidi wrote: "Great review— one of my fave sci-fi movies, I’m now watching the great pre-quel series. I hate eggs and don’t get me started on those fa ...more "
Sep 28, 2025 08:49AM · see review

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Quotes by Catherine G. Lurid (?)

“But a writer isn’t someone who knows a bunch of incredible stories. A writer is someone who can turn an ordinary story into something incredible.”
― Catherine G.Lurid, THE GULL CRY HOTEL: Occult Mystery Thriller

tags: mystery-novels, mystery-suspense, mystery-thriller, occult-horror, occult-mystery

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