The Muse

by MK Schultz

Thirty years of quiet. Clearly, the evil that Khalon and his twin sister Carmon had seen was gone. As Khalon isolates himself in his new job as a trucker, he explores his artistic desire to become a writer. Through practice on a Ouija board, he reaches for inspiration into the darkness. The darkness reaches back, and a deal is made, but with whom?

Devoting himself to his writing, Khalon ignores the horrors that begin to emerge. Ignorant of the slippery slope into darkness, he begins to do unspeakable things for his new master - The Muse. Can Khalon sustain his part of the deal? Or will the cost become too high?

As he descends further into darkness, his sister, Carmon becomes more committed than ever to saving him. A difficult choice is made that sets Carmon on a new path. The darkness reaches out once again. But this time, it has gone too far.

Genres: Horror

234 pages, Paperback

First published March 11, 2023

About the author

MK Schultz is an award-winning Canadian sci-fi/horror author. His most recent works include Hard Copy, The Muse and the Kassius Kanex trilogy. A father of two young adults, he lives in a wooded area on the outskirts of Ottawa, Canada. He and his wife are avid outdoor enthusiasts in all seasons. Although formally educated in architecture, his true passion is writing. Schultz is currently writing his sixth novel to be released in 2025.

Follow MK Schultz on X @makemali or on Instagram and TikTok @mkschultzauthor

Reviews

[Wanda Muse · Rating 5 out of 5]

fantastic reading

This has got to be one of the most disturbing reads I have ever come across. This book gives you an entirely different perspective of the Greek Muses. I always thought of them as being protective but this portrays them as evil. It does bring a lot to think about I honestly thought the fiancé/police was a setup to find out what she had done to her brother and his fiancé but I was wrong. Many twists and turns you can’t figure out the end.
I received this free for an honest review from the author or narrator.

[Deedra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very original story of a being that has been entering bodies for energy and for the body, for centuries. Knowing the Muse has been with the twins since birth one trys to protect the other,to their disadvantage. It lies. Narration by Mikhail Roberts was very good. It was a very bloody ,but good,book. I was given this book free for an honest review.

[Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haunting atmosphere and relentless suspense!

[Scarlett Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to love this. It had some good moments, and plenty of potential, so I'll note the things I did enjoy first. The premise is intriguing, the book did have a slow start but began to regain my interest around the 20% mark and boy did it get juicy from there. Solid ending as well. One quote I saved I liked in particular: "The blank page tortures the artist--the absence of expression, death to him."

What broke my enjoyment, overall, is the rather juvenile feel to a lot of the writing. The two romantic relationships in this were rushed (think 'love at first sight' with not much in the way of genuine reason for chemistry. Character decides he loves another one after two interactions) and to be quite frank I am glad there was only one real sex scene, because it was... bad. Out of nowhere, male fantasy, cringe dialogue bad. Another time is just hinted at, but on the opposite end of the spectrum its comically clinical: "They decided to catch a film and then return to [her] house for a take-out dinner after which, sex on the first date would occur. [end chapter]."

And then, my final bone to pick with the book: dialogue. Because the 'bad' dialogue was not just reserved for that specific spicy scene, but its littered throughout. Either its awkward/not something that feels like a natural conversation real people would be having, or it's using the characters' names so much its obnoxious; this really pulled me out of any immersion I had. I couldn't help but count the instances in one scene--in a single conversation between two characters, they said each other's names 12 and 5 times respectively. In a totally different scene, one character says the MC's name six times in just one go--just her uninterrupted section of dialogue before he actually ever speaks again to break this up. Unnatural to an uncomfortable degree.

So, overall, had lots of promise but definitely needed some content editing/extra polishing. The narration slipped into third person omniscient once as well (multiple POVs exist in the story, but in one scene we hear a second character's thoughts unintentionally, considering throughout the entire rest of the novel POVs are separated by section breaks etc.)

In looking over my notes I actually will add, and end on, one more positive thing, another quote I particularly enjoyed: "The only thing I have left to give is death."

[Aaron Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Muse, by MK Schultz, straddles the mythology of, well, the Muse; in particular, it plays with the idea of a supernatural creatures inspiring artists like those found ancient Greek literature. There is a horror twist to the novel, which is not unusual in Greek mythology, either. And the muse of this book is not what it seems. So far so good.

Brother/sister twins suffer an… incursion by a supernatural entity, leading to life-long issues and suffering for them, and to shocking amounts of murder and cruelty as this being manipulates the twins it has has chosen into unspeakable crimes and cruelty, for rewards it claims it can bestow. Eventually these demands become too much, and this “muse” finds itself facing blow-back for centuries of manipulating and hurting people to sate its desires. Or does it?

We meet our protagonists while they are still in the womb, when an entity chooses them for what can only be nefarious purposes. The story stays with this approach through various jumps in time, culminating in a suspenseful, climatic battle of the protagonist against an evil entity that has been less than honest about its power, and its intentions.

Some characters in The Muse, rather than three-dimensional, with their own desires and foibles, appear more like plot devices to further the narrative of the main characters. This might be doable in short form literature, or movies or theatre, but it is an unacceptable short-cut for something with as much content as a novel. Even the main characters appear this way at times, wooden and forced, almost interchangeable in their internal monologues.

The Muse has a stilted voice, its language inspired by now -archaic forms of epic expression, better-suited to the goings-on of gods and immortals than it is to we mere Willy Lomans. Also, people don’t use each other’s names when they talk to each other. This is a pet peeve of mine. Seriously, the next time you talk to a friend or family member, try prefacing every sentence with their name. Doesn’t work.

I give The Muse 3/5 stars. Though it could use serious editing, it delivers as advertised: a dark, supernatural story about a manipulating “muse” that brings suffering and tragedy down upon the victims it chooses to haunt.

[J.S. Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Muse is the story of a set of twins - Khalon and Carmon. The story begins with the twins' birth, where an evil entity is present and looking for a way into the world from another realm. The narrative then jumps ahead 30 years, using effective flashbacks at times to fill in what this evil entity has meant for their childhood and young adult lives. As adults, Khalon, an introvert looking for work that will allow him to maintain solitude and work on his dream of becoming a writer, finds a job as a truck driver. His sister Carmon is suffering from progressive MS, though we quickly learn that this degenerative disease is very much due to the evil entity present at her birth.

The story is written in a gentle, almost hypnotic style that pulled me right in and made me feel close to the characters. This made the surprising and chilling twists and gory scenes all the more effective because it seemed they could be waiting around almost any corner but you couldn't always see them coming. It's a blend of psychological horror or character study and slasher horror that works well.

The descriptions of gore and of the evil creature itself are sparse yet frightening. Enough is left to the imagination that the mind will find the most terrifying ways to fill it in. Without ruining things, let's just say you'll be shutting all the doors in your room tightly and won't go peering down any dark hallways. Also, you may just be wary of relying on a stranger's help after reading this - you never know when someone might have very selfish and very deadly motivations. Overall, I really appreciated that not a word was wasted in this short yet rich novel.

[Thomas Norford · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Muse tells the story of adult twins, Khalon and Carmon and a demon (the titular Muse) which has latched onto them since before their birth. The Muse demands that various unpleasant things are done in its name, in return for providing inspiration for his victims to create incredible works of art. Khalon takes a job as a trucker which suits his introverted nature, while he neglects his sister who is suffering a terrible disease. This kicks off the plot for the first part of the book.

I enjoyed the plot of this book a great deal - at times it was a carnival of violent mayhem, and many of these instances were told with a deadpan matter of fact-ness which I enjoyed. There were some very grimly entertaining scenes throughout. The plot itself had some startling twists and turns and the ending of the novel was suitably climactic and expansive.

My main problem with the book was the writing style - at times it was very stilted and seriously lacking polish. The dialogue was poor - characters spoke in a very artificial way, which was not sufficiently distinct from the main 3rd person narrative. It was shame because like I say, I enjoyed the story and I was never bored, but the writing itself distracted from the action, rather than complementing it. If it was written just a little better I'd have probably given it four stars.
Overall, a flawed but entertaining novel, and I'd be interested to sample the writer's other stuff.

[Leslie Salamander · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Muse by MK Schultz is a standard affair when it comes to horror, often times leaning more on narrative and explanation than the actual scene by scene impact of the tale at hand. While reading this story, I was often reminded of early Stephen King (which to me was a great thing. MK Shultz has a good understanding of the English language and narrative structure and uses this greatly throughout the story. The Muse centers around twins and their relationship with a being known as The Muse. When our protagonist makes a deal with The Muse, the impacts of this deal can be felt throughout the story's beginning and its continuation thirty years in the future. The use of the being resting for thirty years reminded me of the Jeepers Creepers films. Some of the violence and slasher aspects of the story reminded me of films like that as well. I would say that The Muse is a nice mash-up of slasher film gore and introspective narration around the life of a writer and the struggles of the working class. Those moments of brief reprieve amidst the violence and gore were appreciated, but there was a tendency for the author to rely too heavily on explanation (as mentioned earlier) during these sections in particular. If you're someone who doesn't mind a slow burn novel, then The Muse might be right up your alley. The pay off at the end is worth it. I look forward to seeing what MK Schultz does with future releases and I look forward to watching them grow as a writer.

[Matthieu Malyga · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Muse" is an enthralling narrative that encapsulates the classic struggle of good versus evil with a captivating twist. The story of Khalon and his twin sister Carmon offers a haunting portrayal of the high price of ambition and the relentless pursuit of one's desires.

The narrative weaves seamlessly through the past and present, showcasing the eerie repercussions of a deal made with an unseen entity – a so-called Muse. Khalon, driven by his artistic aspiration, delves into the world of the supernatural to find inspiration. Unbeknownst to him, his ambition spirals into a horrifying series of events, all while his sister Carmon tries to pull him back from the brink of destruction.

The author masterfully employs suspense and horror to keep readers on the edge of their seat, the chilling twists accentuated by vivid imagery. However, some characters could benefit from deeper development, their monologues at times feeling interchangeable.

Despite this, "The Muse" still grips you with its thrilling blend of psychological horror and elements from Greek mythology. A word of caution: you might find yourself checking for shadows in the hallway after reading this! It's a thought-provoking exploration of human frailty in the face of otherworldly temptation and a testament to the timeless theme that every desire has its cost.

[Norma · Rating 3 out of 5]

( Format : Audiobook )
"My Muse is fed."

Lost potential.
A painting, a malevolent entity and fraternal twins mixed together with occasional rape and lots of slasher blood and gore. Unfortunately, the first of the main protagonists is so unsympathetic - both wimpy sand self centred - that it is very hard to engage with him, and the sister also, despite constant declarations that everything she does is out of love for her sibling, is also too crudely drawn to be attractive to this reader. And with conversation throughout both repetitive and stilted, this is a hard book to enjoy.

Narration is by Mikhail Roberts, whose voice has the perfect timbre to add fear to the presentation. He performs with skill, voicing characters separately and with good, low key intonation, keeping horror subdued and, consequently, more chilling. Unfortunately, his reading is also too slow, requiring playback speed to be raised to 1.2 or 1.3.

On the plus side, however,the basic story is intriguing and with heavy editing could great increase both readability as well as chilling atmosphere. It's rather ironic that a book at least in part about a quest for literary success and perfection should itself fail to deliver on this aspect.The

My thanks to the rights holders of The Muse who, at my request, freely gifted me with a complimentary copy.

[Kelly Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Muse, by MK Shultz, has a great, atmospheric cover that is ideal for a horror tale. The book seems to be inspired by Homer’s “The Odyssey.” It is a creative story that is both chilling and unpredictable. The unnamed ancient being, referred to as “The Muse,” appears to thrive on death and destruction, which drives the story. There is a 30-year jump from the opening to the primary story, which focuses on Khalon and his twin sister Carmon. Why the long gap? There is not a satisfactory explanation for it. The muse attaches to Carmon initially, and she attempts to protect her brother from the entity. The Muse feeds upon Carmon and causes her body to suffer from weakness and disease. Eventually though, the muse transfers to Khalon, and much carnage follows.
The writing style, heavy on narrative, led me to skim many pages of reflection that, at times, felt repetitive and made the story seem overly long despite the abundance of action. I would have liked to see showing of the more tense scenes instead of telling, and the lack of a sympathetic main character made the tragic events less impactful.
However, for those who favor horror/slasher tales, this plot delivers death and destruction again and again. So, fans of the genre may find just what they want in “The Muse.”

[Stefan · Rating 5 out of 5]

In MK Schultz's "The Muse," a chilling tale unfolds as Khalon, seeking artistic inspiration, inadvertently strikes a sinister deal with an otherworldly force. Thirty years of apparent calm shatter as Khalon descends into darkness, compelled to commit unspeakable acts for his newfound master, The Muse. Ignoring the horrors that emerge, Khalon's sister, Carmon, becomes determined to save him, leading to a difficult choice and an ominous escalation of the darkness.
Schultz masterfully crafts a narrative that combines occult horror with psychological suspense, creating an atmosphere that keeps readers on the edge. The exploration of artistic desire and the consequences of crossing into the supernatural realm adds depth to the storyline. The characters, particularly Khalon and Carmon, are well-developed, enhancing the emotional weight of their choices.
"The Muse" captivates with its atmospheric tension and a descent into the unknown. Schultz's skillful storytelling and the ominous undertones make this occult fiction a compelling read for those who appreciate a blend of horror and psychological depth.

[Nathan Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

MK Schultz exhibits a masterful command of suspense, intertwining past and present to reveal the haunting consequences of a pact with a nefarious entity. Khalon's journey, fueled by a yearning for artistic achievement, evolves into a terrifying odyssey, marked by a series of harrowing incidents. The contrast between Khalon's descent into darkness and Carmon's determined efforts to save him adds a poignant depth to the story, illustrating the intense bond of sibling love amidst the backdrop of horror.

The narrative style of Schultz is both gentle and hypnotic, drawing the reader into a world where the line between reality and nightmare blurs. The use of effective flashbacks enriches the storyline, providing a robust background without detracting from the tension and pace of the present narrative.

In this tale, Schultz not only explores the classic battle of good versus evil but also delves into the complexities of human desire and the dire consequences of unchecked ambition. It's a book that haunts you, not just with its story, but with its deep exploration of the cost of our deepest desires.

[Matt Mememaro · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Muse" by M K Schultz is a gripping horror novel that plunges readers into the chilling world of twin siblings, whose lives have been entwined with a malevolent force since birth. This sinister presence, known as the Muse, looms over them like a dark shadow, whispering promises of unparalleled inspiration for their artistic pursuits and daily existence. However, the Muse's gifts come at a dreadful price, compelling the twins to commit grotesque and horrendous acts that test the boundaries of their morality and sanity. With every page, Schultz masterfully crafts an atmosphere of suspense and dread, drawing readers deeper into the twins' harrowing journey.
The narrative is crafted in a soothing, nearly mesmerizing manner that immediately drew me in, fostering a sense of intimacy with the characters. This approach heightened the impact of the unexpected and chilling turns, as well as the graphic scenes, because they felt like they could lurk just around any bend, yet remained unpredictable. It's an effective mix of psychological horror or character exploration and slasher horror.

[Natasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Muse is a hard book to review. There is plenty here for horror fans as long as they don't mind things getting pretty gruesome! The plot is interesting and full of twists and turns, but the characters sometimes fall flat.

Khalon and his twin sister, Carmon, have been tormented by a demon-like creature - the muse - from birth. Their childhood trauma is often referred to, and some specific incidents are described, but we never get a clear idea of what has happened in the past. This was one of my main frustrations with the story and I think a series of flashbacks at key moments would have worked really well. That, along with some more editing, could have made this book shine and would have provided clearer motivations for the characters, particularly Khalon, who seems to accept the idea of murdering for his art far too easily.

The plot is engaging but implausible at times, often relying on coincidences. Although, whenever I thought I knew where it was going, it surprised me with a new twist!

[Aaron Goodall · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Muse by M K Schultz is a thrilling horror novel about two twins who from birth are haunted and taunted by an evil entity called the Muse. The Muse offers them inspiration for their art and lives but in return has them perform some grotesque and horrendous acts.

This premise alone is what drew me into the book. The dark world on Khalon and Carmon was wonderfully crafted and extremely vivid, and I got a good sense of their inner turmoil and torment as they become beholden to the evil which inhabits them. I felt there wasgood character development between the twins and their interactions seemed authentic, even with the terror which loomed behind them.

The plot picks up the pace in the second half, which also contains some gratuitous and graphic violence which was well written and never over indulgent. The balance was just right for me. The ending was well crafted and I could see how it was leading to the point throughout the book, with little hints dropped along the way.

This book was really fun to read and reminds of of the classic horrors we've all read at some point.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

creepy

The muse follows Khalon, an introverted trucker who finds solace in the art of writing. Once he discovers his passion for writing, nothing can stop him. He loves to create and it’s all he can think about, but he quickly learns he is under the control of a muse, and the muse will only grant him inspiration in return for favours. Khalon is forced to do unspeakable acts to feed his muse, and in the end, nothing matters except the art.

The story is fast paced and engaging, though some parts were a little implausible. There are minor plot holes and some occurrences that I would have liked further explanation. Much of the story hinges on the good luck of the characters, which is fine but ultimately I found it to be unrealistic.

There’s plenty of guts and gore in the story, making it a great horror read, and the characters are well written. The muse itself was just the right amount of creepy. Overall I really enjoyed it.

[Michael Kan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book revolves around a pair of twins, Khalon and Carmon, who have to deal with a malevolent force referred to as the Muse. The evil spirit operates by awarding powerful artistic inspiration, but only if you give it something deathly in return. And the temptation to feed the beast is quite strong. This story is certainly a page-turner. I was interested in how things would unfold and what would happen to the characters. So I kept reading. The story has an interesting premise and the plot becomes filled with violence, some of which is quite heinous. Expect grisly murders with little to no remorse. There’s also several surprising twists, which helped keep my interest. However, I think some of the plot points and character actions can be rushed or feel abrupt. This can leave you questioning the story, and why certain things occur. Some of the language and dialogue can also come off as corny. In conclusion, an interesting horror tale.

[Alejandro Gamen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice page turner


"The Muse" is a spine-chilling horror novel that will leave you with goosebumps. The story follows Khalon, a trucker turned writer, who makes a deal with a mysterious entity known as The Muse for inspiration. But the cost of his bargain becomes too high as he descends further into darkness, leaving his twin sister Carmon to make a difficult choice to save him.

The novel is filled with great characters, gore, and plenty of twists that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Schultz's writing is immersive, with vivid and terrifying imagery. The story is well-paced, with a good blend of horror and suspense. The actual dialogues are sometimes cliched and sound unnatural, just like on most horror movies, I guess.

If you like horror you'll probably enjoy this one. It doesn't break new ground, but it's fine for what it is.

[A.W. CORRAL · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't typically read paranormal/horror genre, but thought I'd give this a try. It was quite a shock to me at first (haha) as I wasn't expecting something so graphic. The story follows a brother and sister (twins - Carmon and Khalon), who have had an evil being attached to them in some way since birth. I don't want to give much of the story away, but it contains a good amount of gore and darkness.

The story kept me engaged and I don't recall ever being bored, but as other reviewers have mentioned, the dialogue seemed to be unrealistic and even "cheesy" at times.

The character development was okay, as I was able to visualize each of their appearances and personality types quite easily.

Overall, it was an entertaining read for sure. I'm not quite sure if I want to continue to read books of this genre, but that is something I have to figure out, and no fault of the author.

[Stephanie Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love how wild and wacky Schultz's stories can get. This was a fun read that was hard to put down, with lots of creative kills and messed up characters. The story is fast paced, which contributed to my need to keep reading and keep turning that page, but in some scenes the pacing detracted from the action. There were a couple of moments that I wish I had had more time with, and they felt a little rushed. The strongest parts of the story were the opening and closing scenes - the imagery is so powerful and just the right amount of uncomfortable. Bookending this dark tale with the violent act of childbirth was the right choice.

[Nan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unlike his trilogy of Kassius Kanex, this standalone is pure, good old fashioned horror from cover to cover! The strong imagery is horrifying, and yet keeps you begging for more! I did not see the countless twists and turns coming throughout, which is always something I appreciate in any book. The story is original and just an overall great read!

[RatedHforHorror · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about twins. You follow Khalon for the most part who ends up making a deal with a muse who helps Khalon write but for a price. Khalon's twin Carmon gets worried about her brother and tries to intervene but he ends up going off the deep end. This book was a quick read for me because it always has something going on and I really wanted to know how this was going to end.

[James Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

In MK Schultz's "The Muse," Khalon's quiet life takes a chilling turn when he delves into the mystical through a desire to tap into his artistic potential. Obsessed with his craft, he strikes a deal with an entity through a Ouija board—an act that unleashes a malevolent force, The Muse, into his life.

[Tracy L. Mateer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable read

It’s interesting as I recently finished a book that was similar, Cadaverous. While both good, this was much more complex of a story. Not gonna lie, at 50%, I was concerned that it was just going to continue the way it was (death! Destruction! Mayhem!) but it took some interesting twists that made the book more interesting. Give it a go!

[Shanna Tidwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel like some of the time line did not add up as far as pregnancies go.
Overall a great book. Are you going to like or live the characters? Maybe but also maybe not. Maybe you aren’t supposed to. The idea of the muse was well played/written.
Narration was excellent.

[A.L. MacDonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great characters and a ton of excitement, horror and gore. A beautiful looking book too, especially the cover!

[MK Schultz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I appreciate all who read and review my books. Thank you all.