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The Distorted: A Cosmic Horror Story of Obsession and Corruption
Jack spent his whole life being mocked for a body he did not choose.
When the entity in the well offered him physical perfection, the price seemed simple: bring the monster one child.
He told himself it would only happen once.
At 49 pages, The Distorted is a single-sitting descent into the horror of wanting beauty more than you want to be good.
For readers of John Langan, Laird Barron, and Thomas Ligotti — cosmic horror that lingers long after the final page.
Book 3 of the Forsaken Mythos.
Each novella stands alone. The dread accumulates.
When the entity in the well offered him physical perfection, the price seemed simple: bring the monster one child.
He told himself it would only happen once.
At 49 pages, The Distorted is a single-sitting descent into the horror of wanting beauty more than you want to be good.
For readers of John Langan, Laird Barron, and Thomas Ligotti — cosmic horror that lingers long after the final page.
Book 3 of the Forsaken Mythos.
Each novella stands alone. The dread accumulates.
49 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 17, 2022
About the author
Ali Fadel
67 books5 followersI’m Ali Fadel, an author of cosmic horror, psychological thrillers, and dark fantasy. My novels explore terrifying unknowns, featuring cosmic entities, ancient evils, and supernatural forces that bend reality. Inspired by H.P. Lovecraft, Junji Ito, and Thomas Ligotti, I craft chilling stories filled with madness, fear, and existential dread. My work blends cosmic horror, psychological suspense, and dark fantasy to create intense atmospheres and mind-bending twists. If you’re a fan of Lovecraftian horror, supernatural thrillers, and psychological horror, my haunting tales will pull you into a world where escape is impossible.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 24, 2025
I liked it.
This novella was interesting from beginning to end. I enjoyed reading it, but I wish there were illustrations. The new book cover is better than the old one. I would consider rereading this despite the book's length.
This novella was interesting from beginning to end. I enjoyed reading it, but I wish there were illustrations. The new book cover is better than the old one. I would consider rereading this despite the book's length.
December 21, 2025
Ugliness within.
How many words do you need to capture the imagination of your audience? Ali Fadel did it in less than 50 pages. His hero, Jack, a deformed boy, craving to be beautiful found an answer to his prayers but at a very steep price: he has to sacrifice other children in the village to keep his beauty. Whether it is doctor Faust or Dorian Grey, the trade off is always the same: physical beauty in exchange for internal ugliness. While the moral of the story is as old as the world itself, Ali Fadel found yet another way to tell it and it was captivating. I am looking forward to reading Ali Fadel’s other books
How many words do you need to capture the imagination of your audience? Ali Fadel did it in less than 50 pages. His hero, Jack, a deformed boy, craving to be beautiful found an answer to his prayers but at a very steep price: he has to sacrifice other children in the village to keep his beauty. Whether it is doctor Faust or Dorian Grey, the trade off is always the same: physical beauty in exchange for internal ugliness. While the moral of the story is as old as the world itself, Ali Fadel found yet another way to tell it and it was captivating. I am looking forward to reading Ali Fadel’s other books
January 3, 2026
Decent horror story
“The Distorted” is a decent and short horror story. I have read other works of Ali Fadel, which I liked, however, this one is not as professionally written as the others, in my opinion. I noticed inconsistencies like “Jack woke up from his sleep, those moments where he couldn’t remember how the day had begun…” Well, if you wake up it’s kind of logical that you don’t remember how the day had begun, isn’t it? There are others. The story isn’t bad, but it also relies a lot on clichés. Not my favorite short horror story.
“The Distorted” is a decent and short horror story. I have read other works of Ali Fadel, which I liked, however, this one is not as professionally written as the others, in my opinion. I noticed inconsistencies like “Jack woke up from his sleep, those moments where he couldn’t remember how the day had begun…” Well, if you wake up it’s kind of logical that you don’t remember how the day had begun, isn’t it? There are others. The story isn’t bad, but it also relies a lot on clichés. Not my favorite short horror story.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews