Within: A Three Part Horror

by Edmund Stone

Three unique stories all with a common theme
Within brings together the plight of three women, all broken, but strong. Each story shows a unique situation they are up against and how they cope with the terror they are faced with.
Part One
Within You
Within
A housewife waits for her husband on a stormy night. She gets stuck outside of her house with her baby inside. Someone is lurking in the darkness. She desperately wants to protect her baby from what’s outside, but fails to realize, the horror is Within.
Part Two
Within Me
Hurt
A young girl discovers she has a secret power. She confides in her mother and finds her family is full of secrets as well, namely, one half is trying to kill the other. Her battle begins when the wrong part of the family finds out about her. She must Hurt them and achieve the ultimate revenge before her time runs out.
Part Three
Within Us
The Devil’s Concubine
A girl is given a machete when she comes of age. Her Daddy teaches her how to wield it in a fight. She finds the blade gives her power, turning her into something vicious when she uses it. She’ll need the help of her blade, as her world is turned upside down by someone, she least expected.

Genres: Horror, Fiction, Short Stories

168 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 13, 2023

About the author

Edmund Stone is an author and a part time boat captain, living on the Ohio River. When he's not on the water, he spins nightmarish tales of horrific proportions.

Reviews

[Mort · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wow, this short story was so bad I had to write a review.

I once saw a woman within a few weeks old baby in a coffee shop, eat a plate of food and prepare her baby's bottle with only one hand, while holding the baby in the other.

This story - where to start...
Okay, she holds the baby and is unable to adjust the glasses on her face?
Later, she holds the baby and pats the dog on the head - miracles, right?
Explain how you live on a ten acre farm and the closest neighbor is a football field away?
How this woman sees a stranger at the door, shoots a shotgun at him, but doesn't have the time to pick up her glasses when the baby cries?
How she is willing to go outside, with the dog scared to do so and the possible shot stranger still outside, to check the television cable?
How she can lock the door behind her, but instead of taking the key, just trust it will still be under the flower pot where they hide it?

I'm just gonna stop there. Either this woman was too stupid to reach adulthood alive or the Darwin theory of evolution made her death unavoidable.

And you can't really claim a twist when the husband, who is the only other person mentioned in this story (other than her and her baby), turns out to be a killer.

I don't usually trash authors, but damn!
How can you charge money for this?

[Daniel Volpe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short with a good twist.

This was a short read with a decent twist at the end. I was learning towards 3 stars, but the end saved it. This would make a great prologue for a longer story

[Bookaholic__Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

within: preposition
Inside (something)
inside the bounds set by (a concept, argument, etc.).
Within:adverb
internally or inwardly

Don't you just love it when a single word can mean so many things? For each of these women, the term "within" will resonate for a differing reason.

Are you looking for a short story collection about some seriously badass women? In each story, the women are forced to look within, to find the strength they need to overcome their own unique struggles and to truly discover who they are.

Now, before we get too far into this, yes, these female MCs are written by a man. We have heard multiple times that men usually lack when it comes to writing female characters. But it is my opinion that he did a solid job, especially considering all three stories are told from a woman's point of view.


I suppose the best way to review it might be to take a look into each story. While I enjoyed them all, I didn't love them equally.

Book 1: Within Me....Within

Becca is alone at home with her very small child while her husband is away for work. The encroaching storm has her reminiscing on her childhood with her brother. While her brother was, in many ways, her protector, he was far from a good man. As youths both were hospitalized for mental instabilities, she got out, but he did not....until now that is.

Christopher shows up harboring resentment for her abandoning him, and he is ready to spill blood.

This particular story was brutal and bloody. It also has a great pace and overall unsettling vibe that had me listening in utter terror. This was my second favorite of the three stories.


Book 2 Within me....hurt

Harper is a teenager who, like many, is struggling to fit in and cope with the everyday drama of simply being a teenage girl. But she isn't anything like the other girls, and she doesn't quite understand why. The truth is, Harper is a descendant of Lansing Witches. Initially, she uses her recently discovered powers as a way to get revenge on a bully. Her mother gets wind of what is happening and finally devulges the dark family secret. The simple fact is that by using her powers, she has been exposed, and things are about to become deadly.

This was honestly my favorite of the 3 stories, although I wish it was made into a full-length novel instead of just a short story. It left me wanting more! I am a sucker for a good witch story!


And lastly, book 3 Within Us....The Devils Concubine


This story is about Katy and her side-kick Delilah. Katy is arrested while helping transport "items" for her family. While incarcerated, she suffers physical, mental, and sexual abuse from her bunk mate. But this won't break her. If anything, it fuels her more.

Upon release, she is reunited with her brother, but things are stranger than usual. Something is up, and Katy urgently wants to see their father. She is warned that he is unwell, if only it were that simple. Sometimes, when dabbling in the dark arts, it takes away in order to give....and there is one hell of a price to pay

This story was solid, and I didn't hate it. Although the prison scenes were cringey and I am fairly certain my lady bits made the old windows shut down noise a few times ( yall know the noise I'm talking about). Greta was absolutely vile and got what she deserved. But overall, this was a solid supernatural story with a nasty yet satisfying end.

I hate to admit that I haven't read anything by Edmund previously, and that is a travesty that I must remedy soon. He is a phenomenal storyteller who writes an array of horror tropes and does so well. This collection proves that!


I listened to these on audible and enjoyed them all. The narrator did a fabulous job breathing life into these women. And I would, without a doubt, be interested to hear her future narrations.


I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Milt Theo · Rating 4 out of 5]

For his new collection of short stories, 'Within: A Three Part Horror,' Edmund Stone has written three intriguing dark tales, the first of which is the totally revised and re-edited story of 'Within.' The original story of' Within,' in its e-book incarnation, was not so good. There were serious problems in pacing, narrative coherence, and the rushed ending with very few hints about how it should be taken, did not help at all. But it had potential; the writing showed that there was something there to build upon, and sometimes it hit the mark, with a very strong atmosphere of dread. Thankfully, the author totally revised it and now, instead of a half-digested supernatural story, it's grown into a very successful short slasher, with a very satisfying ending. The second story, 'Hurt,' a kind of dark urban fantasy tale about witches and their nasty families who hunt them down, reads like the preview for a longer book. I did not like it as much as the other two stories: there's a strong female character starring, a new young witch discovering her powers, but the fantasy overtones were too conspicuous for my liking; anyway, since I hate fantasy, to be fair the less I say the better. 'The Devil’s Concubine,' the third story, however, was quite alright! It's about a girl, Katy, and her machete, Delilah; a woman, to be precise, since Katy's experiences in prison were not 'girlish' at all! (Hopefully, this won't be marketed as YA; the descriptions are a bit horrifying). The story is dark supernatural horror with a nasty ending. Great writing, terrific dialogue, a fast-paced crazy ride story, with interesting characters.

I received an ARC by the author and this is my honest review.

[Corrina Morse · Rating 4 out of 5]

So this is a collection of 3 stories, all with strong, badass female characters! Three very different stories, all very well written and conveyed from a woman's point of view. Considering a male wrote the book, I think he did a great job! This is my first experience of Edmund Stone's writing, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I'll be keeping an eye out for more from him in the future! I had a great time with all 3 stories in this collection, and if I had to pick a favourite, I'd pick the first one, Within! 🖤

As always with collections and anthologies, I will do a small write up for each story!

BOOK ONE: WITHIN YOU…. WITHIN.

Becca is alone with her baby one stormy night, while her husband is working away. She is reminiscing about the old days, the sad childhood she endured with her brother Christopher. Christopher always took care of her during storms, until he was sent away by her parents that is. If only he were here now….

Full of suspense and trepidation, and with a creepy atmosphere, the horror in this tale kept ramping up with every page turned! The pages are absolutely dripping with blood, Edmund truly goes for it with absolutely no holding back, making for an intensely brutal read. With a fantastically dark twist!

BOOK TWO: WITHIN ME…. HURT.

Harper Lansing, descendant of The Lansing Witches, is determined to end their dark reign. Discovering her unusual power after struggling with BPD and the regular trials and tribulations of being a teenager and being bullied by the daughter of a rival family! A feud that is generations old! But to use her power takes a lot of hate, determination and pain! Revenge is sweet though, until you realise that your family consists equally of witches and witch hunters! And things take a dark and bloody turn!

A true fight for family honour! This was fast paced and exciting!

BOOK THREE: WITHIN US…. THE DEVIL'S CONCUBINE.

Katy and her side-kick, Delilah, are reunited after a stint in prison! Working alongside her brother, Lenny, is always a dangerous game to play, but this time it seems like he is up to something. Katy is alert to the fact though, and of course, she has Delilah by her side…

Whilst inside, she suffered cruelly at the hands of Greta, until she was pushed too far and could take no more. Showing just how far she will go when pushed to breaking point and furious! She's not a girl to be messed with, but with Delilah, she is deadly!!

On her release, her brother takes her home, but he warns her, her father is "sick" and is acting strange! The truth however, is that he has been divulging in black voodoo magic and it has taken its toll on him, he's about to pay a huge price! All is not as it seems, all Hell is breaking loose and coming to claim its prize….

Action packed, supernatural goodness, that holds you in its grip from beginning to end!

[Nat Whiston · Rating 4 out of 5]

So Edmund brings us into the darkness and we follow willingly. The forward gives us a bit more background into Edmunds writing process, which I always find fascinating. I enjoy finding out the behind the scenes information if you will and this was no exception. As Edmund takes us for a deep dive into his psyche, we discover why these three stories hold such importance. The way each story connects to one another is fascinating. Especially the psychological aspects intertwined with each character. Becca for example we look at manipulation and postpartum depression and with Harper with persecution and living with BPD. Each story shows aspects of a broken woman, an event that can affect everyone differently. Starting with Becca's story, a new mother. Who has more than a few demons in her closet, the past memories floating to the surface on a dark stormy night. As she cares for her son Toby, awaiting her husband Chad's return from his job as a long haul trucker. The controlling and overbearing mother and submissive caring father is something I can relate to. Being the black sheep of the family in some ways I resonated with Christopher. It does have you feeling unsettled as you get more background, the more you learn the more intense the scene becomes. As soon as the murderous twin comes back seeking revenge, the pace of the story increases. The horror and gore ramp up immediately and you start to get palpitations just reading the story.
Part two has an equally horrifying atmosphere, in Hurt we get an almost Carrie vibe going on. I enjoyed the elements of old witchcraft in this story relating to how Harper got her powers in the first place. But Harper as a character has seen her fair share of misfortune in the form of losing her father. Then her mother was unable to cope with her grief, leaving her to grow up quickly at the age of 14. If the normal issues that come with being a teenager aren't enough, she also awakens her powers. So this story shows many different layers to Harper, as well as an in-depth history behind the Lansing Witches. However, I love the fact that each witch got their power connected to their mental health. Such as Harper's mom gaining her telekinesis power after her depression diagnosis. As if the pain and broken nature awakened something inside her as a self-defence mechanism. Not going to lie I wish I had a unique power crop up with my mental health issues. But it makes you wonder whether this would make the burden more bearable or whether it would darken my mental state further. Psychologically this story does make you wonder, but it only deepens that wonder as the story progresses.
Moving on to Part Three we meet Katy, a girl groomed from a young age to be a killer. Raised by a modern-day Fagin with her brother, given by her surrogate father a life of drug running and crime. She ends up connected to her beloved blade Delilah, the Devil's concubine. This story is much more grueling and twisted, as the reader follows Katy's time in a women's prison. If life had not been hard enough on her she had to become a victim of abuse. Trying to submit her will to prevent her from being locked away for longer, she loses a part of herself. Until she finally snaps. I won't lie, that scene was hard to watch but a part of me did a little victory dance when she fought back. More so I wanted to see her get her own back on her deceitful brother Lenny and be reunited with Deliha for maximum carnage. Something that Edmund was more than happy to deliver, as in three stories we met three women that had dragged themselves out of trauma to become truly deadly.
The time and care are taken with each story, each flawless detailing in regards to background. It was an impressive collection that will make the reader think deeply about mental health, trauma and how the past can shape a person's future. All by looking beneath the surface and Within…

[Angel Medina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Within is a collection of three stories. Each of them involves badass female MC's. I love female MC's, so this was a bonus for me. Out of the three stories, my two favorite stories were Hurt and The Devil's Concubine. All the stories were good, those were just the two that hit well with me. This was a great introduction to Edmund's writing; I will surely read some of his other stuff.

Rating - 4.5/5, rounded to 5.
The only reason why it doesn't get a full 5 stars is because the end of the stories did feel rushed. At the time time, I didn't want to be nitpicky since these are short stories. For the most part, though, I enjoyed this book. If you're a short story lover or looking to get started on Edmund's books, I think this is a great start.

The final story hit me the hardest because I have real-life experience with Santeria, so I was able to relate to it the most. Don't ask me how I got involved, lol.

Overall, well done!

[Ben Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Within is made up of three tales, independent but connected by common thematic elements, and I enjoyed each for different reasons. Assembled, they run the horror sub-genre gamut from atmospheric slasher action, to survival tale with deep-seated psychological undertones, to brutal violence that borders on extreme horror, to supernatural cursed-object, and more. All woven together with real life drama, family feuds, and plenty else for all you sick weirdos like me.
For me, one hallmark of an author at the top of their game is a spot-on title, and I’m a sucker for one that contains depth, mystery, ambience and layers all in a single word. A word like that carries more weight than a full sentence to me. “Within” does precisely this, and the stories back up its promise.

[Nathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

All three stories had really good plot lines and twists. Within Me was my favorite and I would love to know more about the family.

[Louise Storey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Within tells the stories of 3 broken women and successfully achieved its goal. These were 3 solid stories that all seemed complete. Will be venturing into the sequels.

[Jennifer Horgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the honor of being chosen as an ARC reader for 'Within: A Three Part Horror' by my friend and fellow author Edmund Stone.

It is my pleasure to share my 5-star review.
🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟

First of all, one of the key attributes that makes this book unique and exciting is that it is comprised of three unrelated and stand-alone stories.

Each one follows the same theme: a protagonist portrayed by a strong, yet broken, woman and how she fights or succumbs to the power of her personal demons and outside forces.

As well, the author's flawless ability to write these stories from the point of view of a woman is awe-inspiring. This is not an easy feat but, Mr. Stone, you nailed it. Kudos, my friend.

Part One: Within You
Within

Becca is alone with her baby and her dog as a vicious storm wrecks havoc outside. As she anxiously waits for her husband to return home from work, Becca relives in her mind the series of disturbing events which led to her beloved twin brother, Christopher, being ripped from her life and locked away.

How she misses him.

How she wishes he was here with her now.

Especially since someone is lurking around Becca's property as the storm rages on. With a mother's overwhelming instinct to protect her child, Becca investigates.

Just as Christopher always kept Becca from harm, she'll do anything to keep little Toby safe.

Anything...

But is the threat actually coming from outside her home?

Or is it coming from Within?

Part Two: Within Me
Hurt

Imagine waking and finding yourself buried in the muddy ground under your dead, evil grandfather's casket.

Imagine digging yourself out, gaining strength from your secret power, and confronting your enemies in a final showdown.

This is what happens to our heroine. And this is how the story begins...

The author then takes us back six months to circumstances leading up to this final confrontation.

When high school student, Harper Lansing, inadvertently discovers she has a secret power where she can 'Hurt' herself, but project the injury onto whomever she chooses while she heals, she uses it to enact revenge on the group of mean girls who have been relentlessly bullying her.

Unlike most teens, Harper isn't completely surprised by her newfound abilities. After all, the Lansing name is well-known in the community as a family of witches, tracing back to the days of the Salem Witch Trials.

When Harper's mother finds out about her daughter's power, she shares with Harper the dark legacy of their family, including how Harper's brother was locked away by his evil grandfather after wielding his own power.

She also warns Harper that the specific power she holds is very rare and a considerable threat to the evil doers in their own family.

When Harper attempts to visit her institutionalized brother, she witnesses a heartbreaking event that forever changes her. She goes into hiding, biding her time to take her final revenge on those who have taken everything from her.

Back in the present, after she returns to town following her grandfather's death, Harper is captured by her uncles and cousins, her late grandfather's cohorts, who bury her underneath the old man's casket.

As Harper surprises her captives after returning from the grave, a graphic, detailed, fight to the death ensues, filled with carnage, blood, and sacrifice.

Is this the end of Harper's rampage?

Or only the beginning?

Part Three: Within Us
The Devil's Concubine

Katy is about to be released after three years in prison, and thinks back to her time within these concrete walls.

She also reminds herself that her brother, Lenny, allowed her to take the fall for a drug run gone bad, which is how she came to be locked up in the first place.

Her daddy is the brains of the whole operation, a man who takes in homeless children and trains them to do his work. For some reason he always favored Katy, and trained her to defend herself using martial arts and a special machete named Delilah, known as The Devil's Concubine.

After Katy is released, she asks to see her daddy, but Lenny seems hesitant. As Katy persists, Lenny tells her that her daddy is sick, but reluctantly agrees to take her to him.

Lenny also hands Delilah to Katy, and she immediately feels whole for the first time since being incarcerated. Now that she's been reunited with her 'thirsty girl', Katy reminisces about the times she used Delilah to get the upper hand during fights and altercations with cartel members while running drugs.

Katy had proven that she and Delilah together are unstoppable, and Katy herself has earned respect and a reputation not to be messed with.

When Lenny, his sidekick, Lou, and Katy arrive at her childhood home, Katy is told her daddy has been mixed up in black magic and voodoo and doesn't know that Katy is out of prison.

Katy is convinced that Lenny is up to something, but when she finally meets up with her daddy, things are much worse than she ever could have suspected.

With more questions than answers about what's going on with her daddy, and what he's got planned for her, Katy is relieved to have Delilah with her. With Delilah, Katy can meet everything that's thrown at her head-on.

The final few pages of this story are jam-packed with action and violence, entities and demons, and smoke and fire from hell itself, which are all expertly intertwined with realizations and epiphanies, especially concerning Katy and Delilah.

Much like the other stories in this book, once the final page has been turned, the reader may ask, "Is this the end?"

Maybe.

Then again, maybe not.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5

*I'm not going to give you the 'what this book is about' blurb - you can read that elsewhere.


1. As I’m sure you can tell by the title – this is a short book that is comprised of 3 even shorter stories. Each story has a female M.C. and each story is very different, offering a lovely and diverse reading experience.

2. The first story: ‘Within You…Within’ freaked me out a little bit. I was reading it in bed at night, and my husband was in the other room – this story gave me such a sense of unease that I actually put it down and tried going to sleep because if I’d have kept reading, I might have gotten creeped out enough that it would have been difficult to fall asleep. Stone created an eerie and isolating storyline that mostly anyone who has ever been alone and let their imagination run wild will relate to. I loved that it made me uneasy; that’s not something that happens often! *SPOILER ALERT* that’s also a CW: the dog dies, and I was unprepared – don’t you be.

3. The second story: ‘Within Me…Hurt’ had, in my opinion, the strongest female character of the 3 stories and mixed witchcraft with revenge. It was also the bloodiest of the 3 stories, which you know I love!

4. The third (and last) story: ‘Within Us…The Devil’s Concubine’ combines Voodoo and strained family dynamics with a pretty badass female MC. (But I still think story 2’s MC had her beat!)

5. I enjoyed all the stories in this book a lot, but there were a few times when something about the female characters, written by a man, just kind of hit me funny. I think for the most part, Stone did a great job of portraying women, and I understand what he was trying to do, but there was a time or 2 in each story that I just kind of felt ‘icky’ about something that was said, or how it was said. I fully recognize that could just be a me thing. I’m not docking any stars for it, but I did want to put it out there in case it’s something you notice, as I did. However, it wasn’t enough for me to feel like anything was taken away from the storylines.

[Jolie Householder · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a step outside of my usual reads. I love high fantasy and science fiction most of all. So, by picking up a book in the Horror Genre, I wasn't sure what I was getting myself into. The stories are well written, with interesting female leads and plot twists that I was not expecting.

The first of the three short stories was a shocker. I had to put the book down for a few days to recover from that ending. I wasn't sure if I would be able to continue on to the next story after that. If you are easily triggered, this first story may not be for you. If you like being shocked by gruesome, gory storytelling, don't pass this one up. I did eventually recover and moved on to the next story.

The second story, I really enjoyed. the magic and historical tie ins had me hooked into it immediately. Also, the female lead is easy to relate to. She is a character I would enjoy going on more reading adventures with. The descriptions are gory and detailed. The story itself is one I wouldn't mind a longer version of.

The last story in the book took me in directions I wasn't expecting multiple times. It blossomed into an occult experience that I didn't see coming. This story was my favorite out of the three. Like the second story, it mixed magic and horror into a spellbinding tale of an unbreakable woman. I really want to know what happens to Katy after the story ends.

Edmond has great talent as a storyteller. His writing is descriptive, and his characters are unique. Even in a short story, he is able to bring out each woman's personality traits to make her an interesting three-dimensional person. I would recommend these stories to anyone in search of a good occult horror to add to their library.

[Beverly Laude · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a collection of three short stories featuring the plight of three women. Each is broken in a way, but the stories revolve around their strength.

One of the stories, "Within You", is very reminiscent of a slasher movie like "Halloween" and the author has managed to write the story in a way that the reader feels the terror of a mother trying to protect her newborn baby from something outside. But, is the true horror outside or is it inside the woman herself?

In "Within Me", a young girl discovers that she has a secret power. This one is full of teenage angst and revenge (what teen hasn't had those fantasies?) as well as a the girl's discovery that she is far stronger than she ever believed.

The last story, "Within Us/The Devil's Concubine", has elements of crime, a strong woman capable of taking care of herself in horrific situations and a bit of voodoo. This story has some pretty intense and disturbing prison scenes, so reader beware.

All in all, the book was a quick read and had some truly horrifying moments. I will definitely be looking for more works by this author since he is obviously able to spin a good tale.

[Chiara Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

First time reading Edmund Stone and I enjoyed it very much!

This is a collection of three different horror stories all connected by the fact that all the protagonists are females and because they have to face some horrific event that will see them either succumb or victorious.

I enjoyed all three of them although my favourites were the first two.. In particular I loved the twist in the first one and the coming of age in the second one with the subtle message of transformation and achievement through pain. I was a bit disappointed by the third one as I really enjoyed the first part with all the building up to a sweet revenge story, but to me it deflated a bit and in the end I was left dissatisfied.

All in all this is a nice short collection if you like gore and badass female protagonists that are also a bit broken! Even if I had some problems with the last story, I really enjoyed it and recommend it!

Thank you Edmund Stone for the opportunity to read the arc and this is my honest review.

[Terry Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

WITHIN

The first part of this book, "Within", is an excellent, albeit bloody, little tale. A woman's psychotic brother has found her, and has decided to get revenge on her for breaking their promise to each other. Or has he? If you have a certain trigger, on that I will not give away, this one will trigger you. Wait, make that two triggers. Read it. You'll see what I mean. 10/10

WITHIN ME: HURT

Part two of this book focuses on the Lansing family and a history witchcraft and betrayal. This is a well-told story of family secrets and the division within caused by them. In the end, justice is served. But is it really the end, or just the beginning?

WITHIN US: THE DEVIL'S CONCUBINE

Part three strikes me as part fantasy, part occult horror. It's a fast-paced story the reader should find themselves completely entrenched in. Katy wields a magic machete gifted to her by her father. But there's more to the story than her father tells her. When the truth unfolds, Katy must fight adversaries she could've never imagined.

[Hailey Owen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Within By Edmund Stone A Three Part Horror

🌟🌟🌟🌟.5 AVERAGE RATING

This is a three part horror story collection and my first by Edmund Stone! I had an absolute blast!! When I found out that these were all stories written about wronged women I was excited to jump in!

Within You
Within
🌟🌟🌟🌟
This was a super fun and gorey slasher story about a new mom who is home alone when she sees someone standing out on her porch in the rain…

Within Me
Hurt
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This was such a mind trip!! A super unique story with twists I did not see coming! Again, Edmund is insane with his gorey descriptions! This really shows you that you can’t trust just anyone…

Within Us
The Devil’s Concubine
🌟🌟🌟🌟.5
A very fun and unique story. I absolutely loved Katy’s character and felt for her in every situation she was put in! I did not expect these twists either! Too much more would spoil this one

Thank you so much and good luck with the BOH Short Stack Brawl!!

The only issue I have… why did you have to write sequels for these?! My TBR is TOO long! 😂

[John Watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three stories with a very different vibe to each.

Part 1

A young mother home alone in a storm sees a stranger outside her house. For me, this was the weakest of the three. There were some minor discrepancies in the story, and I saw the twist ending coming.
3 out of 5

Part 2

This was easily my favorite, as I loved the story idea of witches and the family cult out to mow them all down. Very violent at times and a ton of fun.
5 out of 5

Part 3

Another very good story about a woman just released from jail who goes home to fins that things are not what she expected with her family. An exciting supernatural tale with a heavy demonic presence.
4 out of 5

Overall, Within was a 4 out of 5

[Sharron Joy Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 great short stories, all linked. These are tales of women who are strong but damaged, can they overcome their worst nightmares. All of them are forced to look within for the strength to endure and survive the horror. The second story is my favourite, I love a witch story and thus did not disappoint!

Within You - a mother is alone in a storm with her baby waiting for her husband to return home when someone comes knocking

Within Me - a teenager finds out she is the descendant of powerful witches but others hate her power and intend to destroy her and her family.

Within Us - a father teaches his daughter how to use a machete which when used turns her into something else, something deadly.

[Jonathan Rossignol · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story was easy to read grammatically, but there are big stutter steps in the pacing. Structurally the narrative reads more like a screenplay (This happened but that happened, and when that happened then this happened). “Within” has some gruesome gore with a haunting twist that goes off the rails a bit at the end of the story. Edmund Stone’s approach to horror in this short story serves as a sample that shows his creative potential as a writer. I think he’s onto something by blending that campy slasher narrative with atmospheric paranormal elements.

You can read my full breakdown here:
https://www.livefreeliverich.com/blog...

[Lisa Slojewski · Rating 5 out of 5]

This s a fantastic trilogy of stories, centred around females and their challenges. The first is a Halloween esq type horror story which holds suspense and fear of Becca and her fight against her brother. The Second was my favourite, a very gothic, witchcraft type horror with spellbinding goriness where Harper fights her demons who are her family. The third has the biggest twist going from Katy being in prison fighting her cellmate to fighting the devil face to face after discovering who her mother and father are. Each part had me gripped and I loved the style as each one was more intense than the last.

[Amber Applegate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this three part story.

Within: This one is probably my favorite part. I loved everything about it and appreciate the gore. It had me at the edge of my seat the entire time.

Hurt: This part was a close second. I felt like Harper was relatable and it took me back to when I was a teenage girl.

The Devil’s Concubine: Such a creative story. The main character is a badass and the ending is very satisfying.

Overall, I have really enjoyed reading the stories of strong, empowering women. Especially since they were written by a male author. Very well done!

[Ryan Benson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. Three tales of very different female protagonists facing family horrors, a theme I very much liked.

My favorite was the first story, "Within." It was filled with suspense and dread, but I was not ready for the brutal ending!

The second story, "Hurt" has a great premise and I think would be even better if expanded upon. The character and the battle at the end are great.

The third story, "The Devil's Concubine," ends this book with a bang! Fast paced with nice action.

Not for the faint of heart, but a fun and entertaining trio of stories!

[Rhonda Bobbitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was so damn good I couldn't put it down. Definitely has some gory parts. A Three Part Horror series. Each was horrifying in its own way. You will find yourself rooting for each main character and longing for more of their story.
Part one.. Within
Um, wow, I was not expecting that ending at all.. this little tale is gory, but oh, so satisfying.

Part two.. Hurt
A deeply powerful witch story. I loved it.

Part three.. The Devil's concubine
I'm so glad he has continued this story, I'm looking forward to the next 2 books.

[Catriona Mowat · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 stories of strong women, and a sense of revenge running through all three stories.
The stories are cleverly done, well written and incredibly well developed. I loved the twists and turns and was rooting for the protagonists so much.

I think the first story is the weakest, with a little more development it could be great but the main character fell a little short in places. Having said that, I loved the twists the story took and my heart broke.
The final 2 stories are both incredible, I couldn’t put them down

[Jessie Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

A three part collection of stories with female leads. This author went to great lengths to build an understanding of each woman's background. Each of them has been through significant trauma and carries some kind of mental health issue that eventually turns deadly. The 1st story Within was my favorite as it was very detailed and seemed the most refined! This was my first book by this author, and Within hooked me into checking out other titles.

[Sammi Dyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Within by Edmund Stone
Consisted of three short stories with fmc that are drastically different in each story. The last being my personal favorite 'The Devil’s Concubine’. Be forewarned there are triggers “Within” these pages. This trio of storied were fast paced, wickedly entertaining of the horrors “within”.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of reading the ARC of Within: A Three Part Horror. This is the first of Edmund's work that I have read! It was well written and a very enjoyable read. If his other works are anything like these stories, reading them will be a ride! I highly recommend!

[Liz Hargrove · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so good! Three completely different stories. So well written and had me hooked within a few pages. I loved this book so much I bought 3 more from the Author! The stories are full of anticipation and unseen twists. I highly recommend it.

[Jason Nickey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edmund Stone was my table neighbor at Voidcon, and I was excited to dig into one of his books. Within is 3 witchey tales compiled in one book, and it's one hell of a fun ride. A great read for the season.