Daniel has been obsessed with horror since childhood and is particularly interested in the works of Edgar Allan Poe, Charles L Grant, H.P. Lovecraft, and M.R. James.
With his spine-chilling debut, Obsession, in 2022, Daniel marked his entry into the world of horror literature. The resounding acclaim for his unique brand of horror quickly fuelled his creative drive, leading to the release of PACT, See You Later, RED, Sins of the Wronged, and Formulation.
Daniel has been commended on his ability to transform the ordinary into the monstrous. While he has primarily delved into psychological horror, his true passion lies in supernatural horror. This genre will be the key focus of his future works, and Daniel promises many more spine-tingling tales to come.
Blood is the Key to Immortality for All Who Believe...
RED: A Horror Novella by Daniel Lorn
No spoilers. 4 stars. Life is a fragile gift understood only by those who are dying...
In the darkness of his mind, a revelation stirred: the possibility that he could cheat death...
He could slip through the cracks and walk unimaginable realms...
But first...
His everyday human life had become complicated with insufferable situations like that of his cheating wife...
His boss...
Rick the pr*ck, was another problem. Rick fired him this very morning, and right before the Christmas holiday...
As Rick stands before him, brazenly making eye contact with him while casually giving him the axe...
He knows that Rick has been having an affair with his wife for months...
Rick tells him that he's sorry to have to let him go, but cuts must be made...
You know how it is...
Cuts will be made alright, but not in the way Rick implies. He has cuts of his own, but his cuts will inflict retribution...
The demon inside him pumps him with a primal power that causes Rick the pr*ck to cower with nowhere to hide...
But he keeps his cool and...
The man leaves Rick and his office and heads for the bar across the street. He needs a drink...
It has been a while since his last fix...
He goes into the bar and goes straight up to the barman and says: Give me something red to drink...
He passes a mirror, but he no longer casts a reflection...
He thinks: It's time to go home...
He'll deal with his cheating wife now, and Rick the pr*ck later...
Blood is the key to immortality for all who believe. Any light trying to vanquish the darkness eventually goes out, and we all end up alone in the grave...
This was a beautifully written novella that had me completely mesmerized by its prose and thoughts. The main character is never named.
The only reason I removed a star, and I debated on its removal overnight, was because the end was confusing as to what happened. I have my own ideas, but let's see what you think.
What an incredibly vivid, intense, and absolutely savage story! Our lead (Not sure I saw a name) is in a very rough patch. His partner is cheating on him with the same man who just fired him. And there was something already brewing in this character that he couldn’t escape from. Something deep and dark, with a bloodlust that could only be proper satietied with violence. The imagery and depth that Daniel Lorn brought to this story was truly a memorable experience. And we’re left unsure of what actually happened. Was this man just truly ill? Was there something else controlling him? Was he even a man? Was he just imagining everything? Lots of ways to interpret the story, which is just part of the experience. I wish it was a little longer to fully flesh the characters out a bit more, but that is literally the only issue I had here. It was very well done and fans of psychological thrillers and horror will have their fancies tickled quite well here.
Another brilliant and messed up story from an author i just cannot fault. Contains some pretty terrifying scenes, and i genuinely didn't see that ending coming! Highly recommended.
INSERTED AFTER READING "SO THIRSTY" -- RED is one of the best vampire stories i have read, and just like A Bleak Remedy, this is deserving of many more reviews.
My third read by Lorn, and so far, this one is my favorite. The writing is exceptional, and Lorn definitely knows how to weave a story. RED is a spine-tingling tale, and I'm looking forward to reading more from Lorn. Highly recommended!
Another paperback I’ve had for a while that I wanted to ensure got read for my October TBR. The spooky reads are in full swing.
After losing his job right in the opening pages, one that he was so recently promised a promotion at, there’s no surprise that this is a of revenge story. But not only has he been terminated, he’s recently found out that his wife was sleeping around behind his back, having a full on affair with the very man that just fired him. As if that added layer wouldn’t push him over, he also found texts on his wife’s phone that his in-laws were in full support of their daughter and her plan to leave him right before Christmas. It’s no surprise here that he saw red. Much like my recent read of Neal Cassidy’s Schroeder, the reader is not surprised at all by this misled attempt at what he feels is retribution.
This is an incredibly vivid, descriptive, and propulsive read. Red is what’s promised, and it’s certainly delivered. Although I can’t get behind the motive, the revenge is well constructed, it’s well played out, and I absolutely loved just how vampiric this is. While not necessarily a typical vampire story, the details peppered throughout are there, and I drank up every one. The play on the character’s trauma story, which his wife and boss both downplayed as a grab for attention (yet another reason for him seeking revenge), which later mirrors his moves throughout was a really nice touch. And that layer of supernatural, that otherness, was also something I enjoyed.
I didn’t know when going into this read that it took place over Christmas, but I loved the mentions of songs in the background and parties, and shoppers in the streets. Of course the mention of different wines, as well as blood, were delivering on red, but I pictured the reds of Christmas and Santa placed throughout the setting which may or may have not been intentional!
Welp how come I didn't read this sooner? The story is really good, intriguing, sophisticated, full of all sorts of complications; but I really liked the language, its formality, the old-fashioned vocabulary, providing a verbally induced dive into the mindset of a seemingly vain and arrogant man, high on phantasies of supremacy and revenge. The character's obsessive appeal to a misunderstood, fragmentary past, vividly described as the preparation for a long-promised and insistent trasformation, soon becomes a gloriously horrific crescendo of massive ambiguity: we never really know how to interpret his fixation on blood, even when his fantasies become reality. At some point, especially towards the end, I felt overwhelmed by the barrage of stimulating imagery, occasionally triggering experiences of so-called "mind vortexes": emotional rollercoasters, whose specific meaning is always postponed, ambiguous pictures whose precise content is never resolved, even when the reader is crashing (pun intended!) into a totally unexpected ending. This unmatched linguistic promiscuity is attuned perfectly to the multi-causal portrayal of the main character's thirst for blood. Admittedly, this may not work for everyone: the lack of humor, the always implicit sexual intensity, the seriousness of the grotesqueries populating the story, may create a sense of uncomfortable intimacy with the reader, making it hard for the author's choices to resonate with them. That said, it's rare to find a narrative of one's conversion into a monster transcribed so well into opaque, linguistic otherness. What an achievement!
A super intriguing and atmospheric read. Love stories where I can't work out whether the Main Character is a nut job or legit something they couldn't possibly be. And once again from Daniel, it's beautifully written.
This week I've had a bit of a hard time engaging with every book that I started on my Paperwhite, so I was really excited when I started reading this and couldn't put it down.
It's the festive season but this guy doesn't have anything to celebrate. Especially when his marriage is going to shit and his job is pretty much done...
Yikes. This is an unsettling story about a man who doesn't feel very festive. Not when his life is falling apart, his troubled past is catching up with him, and his mind has decided to break.
My favourite part about this tale is how ambiguous everything is. At first, I was convinced I'd just met a creature of the night. But as the events moved along and I fell deeper into the character's head, I started to doubt that. Maybe I was spending time with a serial killer. Or a simple man desperate for revenge. By the time I got to the end of this violent but excellent story, I realised it could be all of those things. Or none of them.
Yes, that's the beauty of this story with such a cool cover.
But I'm certain about two things: the writing style was as lovely as it was brutal, and I felt a lot of sadness for what this man endured as a child.
The style and language of this book was not only grotesque and disturbingly visual, but also beautiful. The way the author is able to take you inside the main characters mind so vividly feels like you’re watching movie instead of reading a book. I can see, hear and feel everything the main character is and it’s heart breaking and vile.
I needed a good palette cleanser from the usual books I pick and this book served that well.
I’m excited to read everything this author has done. A new fan has emerged 😂
Less than a hundred pages, this novella kept me interested, but some of the main character's language was awkwardly formal and off-putting, which didn't seem part of the story or establishing his character. Maybe it was how he dealt with his stress, don't know. My main complaint is how one note the tone was throughout, even in something this brief a little humor would have improved the flavor.
Daniel Lorn sure knows how to write! The imagery he creates leaves a visceral feeling of disgust and loathing. It's a short novella you can read in one sitting, and it packs a punch. If you like your books bloody Red has it in bucket loads.
An excellent horror story fairly dripping with atmosphere and rich language. Features a deep view inside the mind of a bloodthirsty lunatic. A very worthy read.
Wow! There are so many layers in this novella. Preternatural horror, psychological torment, spiritual dilemma, killings, abuse, and Christmas.
Lorn is skilled at getting into the main character’s head and bringing the reader right in there with them. The character may not be reliable, they most certainly are tormented, and the reader is in for an intense journey.
This is a fantastic take on vampire fiction. I highly recommend it. Just like a fine vintage wine, I look forward to savoring it again soon.
This was a heavy read. A story of unresolved trauma and its effects, seen through the eyes of a very unreliable and delusional protagonist.
He starts telling his story from the middle, after the catalyst of his unraveling, and then goes back and forth in his memories, feeding us pieces of this big puzzle, allowing us to have a view of what actually is happening.
Daniel did an amazing job in the sensory details, with very vivid descriptions that, until certain point into the book, you think it is from the point of view of a vampire, fighting the urge to feed off blood.
The author plays with your perception the entire time and makes you doubt what this story really is.
The story leans into body horror as a way to portrait the traumatic experience the protagonist has gone through. It is not gratuitous, it serves an important purpose to piece together the impact of the protagonist’s trauma in his decisions and ultimate fate.
The story hints at its ending throughout the book and I was, until almost the very end, expecting (or hoping) something different than it was. But it confirms a much darker truth and it was not predictable, but inevitable.
This is a book I'd gladly give more than 5 stars to. It's not often a story leaves me with a genuine "mind blown" feeling but that's definitely what I was left with after finishing RED. Everything about it had me hooked straight away: the chilling, superbly crafted opening scene, the compelling main character and an artfully sustained sense of dread which pervades every page and kept me wondering what dark terrible thing would happen next.
What I enjoyed most though was the narration style. In the book the author describes himself as a fan of classic horror writers Poe and Lovecraft; for me he captured their style and weaved his own voice into it perfectly. I'd recommend anyone with an interest in Poe and Lovecraft's work to check out RED as well.
While this book offers a new creative twist on the vampire myth I loved the little references to traditional vampire lore which are included here and there. Be warned: you won't sink your teeth into this tale. It will sink its teeth into you
Lorn has a real knack for shoving you into a character’s mind, and this is a real showcase for his talents.
If I could pitch the mood of this one, I’d say it’s like a night in the mind of Frank from Hellraiser. A real monster of a character, who feels no need to apologise for what he is, in fact he almost relishes in the matter. This was a remarkable uncomfortable read, and great for anyone who really wants to get into the mindset of the monster.
Great shorter horror story! The language used felt very dark and sinister yet beautiful at times. I really liked how the story came together more and more throughout, it wasn’t blatantly written out for the reader. Definitely a page turner!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is the second book I've read of Daniel's work and he's only gone and done it again! His talent for creating psychologically and graphically disturbing stories that are short yet contain amazing horror plots to haunt your thoughts long afterward. The way he creates such visual images in your head due to the creative and graphic descriptions he uses always makes his novelettes and novellas worth the read! 😍
A curious blend of Patrick Bateman and Hannibal Lecter with a tiny little bit of Midnight Mass.
Yet it remains very much its own breed of story.
A man not so much grappling with demons, but embracing them.
The writing is theatrical and overwrought with a vague madness to it all. It's dialed to 11 here, which did distract at times, but that's my only criticism.
There's copious amounts of gore and it really gets inside the mind of someone utterly deranged.
Red is a wild, emotional ride. When everything in MMC life starts falling apart, a mysterious whisper offers him the faith to face his darkest moments. This read keeps you hooked, offering both suspense and a deeper look at the human psyche. Daniel Lorn nails it once again, diving deep into the mind of the protagonist with so much raw emotion. A super quick read, but packed with so much. Red definitely leaves a mark—get ready for an unforgettable journey!
If someone will only drink red drinks keep an eye on them. If they are laughing at strange times keep an eye on them. A definite horror down a vampiric hole or is it. Enjoyed it
This novella's incredibly graphic contents are so haunting. The plot is revealed piece by piece, and the gradual unfolding is the perfect way to reveal what's happening as we tag along. Lorn developed everything and everyone so well, that it feels like a full-length novel! A quick and bloody must-read!
This is an enormously engaging and genuinely frightening modern day vampire novella.
It's written from the first person perspective of the vampire and, even though he's an evil undead creature (supposedly) you can't help but to feel sympathetic towards him. He's being fired near Christmas by his boss, the man who is sleeping with his wife. In addition, he finds out that his so called friends and in-laws are all happy about it.
But he's going to have his revenge as he manipulates the situation so he can exact his bloody brutal revenge.
We'll also learn about his past, certain horrific events which have been burnt into his memory. This novella is mesmerising to read. The writing style reads like a literary tale even during the moments of bloodshed. It's a fantastic, full on vampire story that will chill your bones and have you (perhaps) rooting for the bad guy. I highly recommend it.
This book is fantastic! It's got just the right amount of weird and gross without being unreadably disgusting. And, from my perspective as a nerdy English major, the story is top fucking notch.
I don't think this is a story about a vampire; this is a story about a man experiencing a severe psychological break that manifests itself as vampiric/demonic hallucinations and vampiric delusions. And it's crafted wonderfully. I typically do not like an unreliable narrator, but Lorn avoids the typical 'gotchca' trope associated with them. He also doesn't go through unnecessary explanations or beat the reader over the head with the 'correct answer' but lets the story speak for itself. It is honestly fantastic, terrifying, and a little heartbreaking. Read it when you get the chance.
My first read from Lorn and I really enjoyed it. I love ambiguous characters and the writing was brilliant. Will definitely be checking out more of his work.
For someone who has suffered with depression and anxiety, this book triggered me a bit, because I just felt so worried throughout, there really was no letting up - and no happy ending (to say the least)!!!! A very dark trip, that left me feeling quite dark and uneasy, which is a testament to the author!