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, Contemporary Horror, Horror Thriller, Supernatural, Lovecraftian

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?

[Lexxi · Rating 1 out of 5]

Why were there so many S names??? Sy Sutton, Sadie, Sally, Samson, Sage, Sam x2, Stephanie

It was an interesting premise but I was bored through most of the book. It would have become a DNF if I weren't reading it for the 2024 Brawl of Horror competition.

The dialogue was super awkward and felt unnatural. The author would refer to someone's "bottom" which was weird.

And of course we have the lesbian..... jk, she's into guys too and luckily our main character fits the bill and they have insta-love. I know I have time to fall in love when my son has gone missing

The book had numerous spelling and grammar errors and needs a good editor

[Stitching Ghost · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ideas were great, the imagery was sometimes really cool, but the execution really wasn't it for me. The bouncing back and forth between characters and their weird relationships was annoying and for me it really ruined the tension.

[Princess Waifu · Rating 1 out of 5]

One of the worst books I've ever read

Where to even start? I read this for the Books of Horror 2024 Indie Brawl and it was incredibly difficult to get through. Usually I am a sucker for a unique concept but when its as convoluted, full of holes and not thought out well as this one, even I am bored by it. This author has managed to take horror and make it dull...the characters were one dimensional and flat, all of their dialogue sounding the same as the other characters (awkwardly written and soulless). The lore was vague in a bad way, not leaving clues that make you want to know more, but just things happening with no explanation behind it. It seemed like it was written by a 16 year old boy, what with the lack of eloquence, weird comments about women, and graphic sex scenes that seemed out of place and added nothing to the novel. don't even get me started with the love story where the main character meets a hot lesbian but it ends up she does it with him anyway and they fall in love overnight after he's impressed by her ability to consume moonshine. Just all around a trash read.

[Brooke]

DNF 77%

I give up on trying to understand this book. The premise was interesting, but the plot is entirely too convoluted to make sense. It was a lot of info-dumping and random shadow encounters meant to be spooky. Too fast-paced.
Bonus points for autistic rep, but not compelling enough to finish it.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley, and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.

CWs (spoilers):
- Murder
- Suicide
- Miscarriage
- Autistic MC
- Verbal & physical abuse of a minor
- Depictions of drug use
- Kidnapping

[Tammy Riner · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read the kindle version of this, and it is in dire need of an editor. The errors in punctuation, the repetition in sentences, there was just so much that kept pulling me out of the story.

Descriptions were overused. I don’t know how many times it was mentioned that the ghosts flicker in and out like a black and white movie. And I think 3 different times the Cadillac was described as something the president would ride in.

The dialogue was just so strange. I don’t know how to put it. They didn’t sound like realistic conversations at all. Almost like a computer or alien trying to mimic human conversations but not knowing how to use emotion or something. Just felt really odd to me. It was hard to care for the characters or their relationships when nothing felt believable.

Speaking of relationships, I strongly dislike instant love in books. And this one has one that was just ridiculous. Two characters barely know each other. Man and woman. Woman is a lesbian, even tells the man’s daughter “you don’t have to worry about me and your dad, I like girls”. The woman gets drunks, stumbles around, almost falls on her face. They go for a ride. Woman pees her pants in the car. They go back home and she drinks some more and passes out on his couch still in her pee pants. He thinks about how she might not even have a hangover the next day because she seems to hold her drink well. Dude. She peed in your car. Anyway, the next day she says she likes guys too, they have sex, and they’re in love for the rest of the book.

Things I didn’t understand:

I have no idea what Rebecca is, or what makes Sy’s family so special that she wants to kill all the members. That could have used some backstory.

I don’t know why Alan was in a state mental hospital at the beginning. He was in a coma after falling into a sinkhole. So why was he in a place full of mental health patients? Need more details. It didn’t seem like it was an attempted suicide or anything so I don’t understand why he was in a mental place.

There was also a big reveal that made no sense to me. Pregnant wife was killed. There’s a vision of the wife, rubbing her pregnant belly and looking in the mirror before someone comes in and shoots her in the head. So she was killed while pregnant. Ghost of wife and dead baby show up. Ghost wife says that the dead ghost baby isn’t the only baby, that it was actually twins and the other one lived but no one knows about her, not even her family. The baby is a Jane Doe in the city of Lexington. Okay. How? If the mother dies the fetus dies within minutes. So who popped in and rescued that baby immediately? I guess she’d have had to been cut open, the coroner didn’t notice? The family didn’t have questions? It also seemed like she wasn’t very far along as no one knew she was pregnant, so that baby would have needed some serious medical intervention to survive.

Maybe these questions are answered in the sequel but I’ll never know. If you have read the sequel and can clear the baby thing up for me, please leave a comment because I’m not gonna read it but this will bother me forever unless there’s a satisfying explanation.

[Heather Blikle · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have never in my life wanted to DNF a book before as badly as this one. I pushed through but unfortunately it feels like so much time wasted. The story is interesting, but I found the dialogue very unbelievable and mundane. I also grew very tired of the Cadillac being referred to as a vehicle like a president would ride in over and over again.
The story didn’t feel like it flowed smoothly either.

[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

[Holly Horror · Rating 4 out of 5]

COME TO AN OLD-FASHIONED TENT REVIVAL SEE THE WONDERS OF YESTERYEAR AND MARVEL OVER THE MAGIC OF THE SAGE.


#ibelieveinTentRevival

That hashtag is what pushed me to order the book. Edmund Stones' daily hashtag about Tent Revival is what made me move it up in my TBR. This is the first book I've read by this author, and I feel it was a pretty damn good one to start with.
Sy Sutton lost his wife, his daughter in law, and almost lost his son, Allen, after he fell into a sink hole. Comatose for almost a year, Sy makes the brave decision to bust Allen out of the hospital, believing that Allen would have a better chance of survival at home. Upon returning home, a nurse from the hospital stops by and is given the job of caring for Allen. Within a couple of days, Allen is up and walking around, looking better than before his accident. A bit odd, eh? Could it be the medication the nurse provided? Could it be from being at home? Or could it be linked to that big circus like tent on old Owen's farm at the end of that woods where an attractive, mysterious man named Sage spreading the word about the Tent Revival that seems to be the talk of the town. One thing is for sure. Since the newcomers' arrival, Allen and the rest of the town sure are acting strange.

[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.

[Brandy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I would have DNF this book if it weren’t for the Indie Brawl. I made myself finish so I can accurately vote but the writing was truly awful, sophomoric and jumbled. This book needs an editor in a major way, there’s so many grammatical errors and repetitive sentences. There were WAY too many characters and the storyline bounces all over the place with no direction. The dialogue sounds like it was written by someone who has never had an actual conversation with another person. When there’s a lull in the story, he throws in a gratuitous sex scene that sounds like a 14 year old boy wrote it. There’s little to no backstory on some of the major plot points. That said, the plot HAD potential. It’s a unique premise but in serious need of a good editor.

[Kay · Rating 1 out of 5]

I would have DNF'd this if it wasn't for the 2024 Books of Horror Brawl. An actual sentence printed in this book: "She stepped into the grass and ran to the car, her large breasts flopping in her shirt, threatening to hit her in the face if she didn't slow down." The story never clarified itself, I still don't know who Rebecca is and all the unnecessary male-centered sex had me cringing in the coffee shop. I could not wait to return this to Kindle Unlimited.

[Kate Victoria RescueandReading · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’ve been trying to get into this one for a few days and I just can’t. The story and characters just aren’t clicking for me. Love the idea and I’ll try to give this another go in the future!

[Lacey Devane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well then!!

So note to self….when a tent revival comes to town it’s time to leave!!! 😆

I enjoyed this book, it was different but it was a fun, fast, easy read to me. It has small town horror, cosmic horror, ghost, some mystery, creepy smut and gore! With all the twists in this one I need more answers so I’m gonna have to dive into the other books soon!

[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!

[Maddy Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Soul Mirror" is an immersive and emotional story that takes the reader on a journey through one’s individuality and the complexities of the human experience. The story revolves around a young woman named Jessica who is autistic and nonverbal, who discovers a mysterious mirror which reflects not just her physical appearance but also her deepest fears, desires, and secrets.

As someone who is autistic myself, one of the standout elements of the book for was its accurate depictions of autism and the way in which it fits into one’s identity. It was so refreshing to see an autistic main character that didn’t just serve as a way to move the plot forward, especially in horror where this is even less common than in other genres. There is strong character development that I loved experiencing; I felt a deep connection to Jessica as she struggled to navigate both her inner turmoil and the external conflicts that arose from the mirror's revelations.

Edmund Stone's writing is full of vivid descriptions and imagery, making it easy to bring this world to life. He regularly mentions sensory difficulties and stimming habits, and clearly somewhat knows about the autistic experience. The pacing is well-balanced, with some nail bitingly tense moments, interspersed with reflective passages that allowed me to slow down, take it in and contemplate. I am a huge fan of Stone’s writing style and cannot wait to read more from him!

Overall, I found Soul Mirror to be a thrilling read that combines suspense with stunning prose, writing that is sophisticated without coming across as pretentious, and provides readers with profound insights into the human experience. It prompts us to question what lies beneath the surface, and the influence our past has on shaping who we become.

If stories that challenge your perceptions and keep you guessing are something you enjoy, this book is definitely worth picking up! I found it hard to put down and know that it will stay with me for a long time.

Please check content warnings before reading; Edmund Stone was gracious enough to leave a list at the end of the book.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this in exchange for my completely honest opinions and review!

[Bookaholic__Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, so I love Edmund Stone, and this was good... but it wasn't his best. It could totally be a me problem, but I got a little confused about where this was going at times. Will I still read the other books? Well, duh.

Also, please take a moment to appreciate the awesome cover. That beard is made of freaking maggots! I mean .....omg. I'll definitely be grabbing a shelf trophy copy of this one soon.

[Jon Cohn · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know in those early seasons of American Horror Story there were like 8 different wild elements going on, and you would wonder how on earth Ryan Murphy would be able to pull all these crazy things together, and then it turned out he couldn't and it all fell apart like 2/3 of the way through?

Ryan Murphy could stand to take some lessons from Edmund Stone. This book has EVERYTHING, and it absolutely nails pulling all the mixed parts together. I considered listing a few examples of the multitude of absolutely outrageous things going on in this book, but at the same time part of it’s charm for me was discovering just how far Edmund could up the ante in inventive ways as all of our characters careen toward an inevitable showdown at the mysterious Sage’s Tent Revival.

I’m really torn on how to approach this review, because on one hand I want to shout from the rooftops that everyone needs to read this book. On the other hand, I’m terribly afraid of spoilers by explaining why. So here’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to list some other movies/books that I felt like had some comparable elements, and if any of those things are your jam, maybe you should read this book.

Twin Peaks, Midnight Mass, Ghostland, IT, Clive Barker in general, American Horror Story (Freak Show and Asylum in particular), Doctor Sleep.

There's also some light political and religious commentary that feels properly communicated without beating you over the head with it, which I always appreciate. Like all other elements in this story, it all comes together in a blender of “mixed parts” that results in the most delicious smoothie of a book I’ve read in some time. As far as Trigger Warnings go, I would say this book has a bit of gore, some sex, but not really an excessive amount of either.

This book is the first in a series known as The Rebecca Mythos, and I CANNOT WAIT to get started on book 2!

[Sara Ferrarese · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not for me

I didn't love this book. There's not really anything I can point to as being wrong with it, the story just didn't really grab me.

[Heather Brock · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has a fun premise, but the execution missed the mark with me personally. Sometimes, events felt rushed, and details appeared from left field. What, exactly, is Rebecca? What is there to this symbiotic relationship between her and the parts? They seem to power one another, unable to function without the other. Why do the parts have to be just that, parts? What purpose does it serve? I'm left mildly confused by this story. And while not important, the fact that two characters are "in love" after two days feels contrived. This book could use another could edit as well, but the typos and errors weren't necessarily enough to fully pull me from the story. I think with some better construction and a final polish this book could be great.

[Ashley Sawyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jessica is a nonverbal autistic foster child navigating a world that misunderstands her at best, and mistreats her at worst. When she discovers a mysterious mirror that leads to an upside down world where her limitations disappear, she begins to see what life would look like if her limitations no longer held her back. But the upside down world is not without its fair share of monsters and soon Jessica must confront an evil entity that is threatening her very existence.

For a short book this one was packed full of emotions that hit me hard. Soul Mirror is as much a story about found family, abuse, and resilience as it is about the supernatural danger that Jessica is put in. Without relying on cheap jumpscares, the atmosphere and horror are genuinely and deeply unsettling. I love the authentic and compassionate way Stone handles Jessica's neurodivergence. If I could critique the book I would say that the pacing does lag a bit but the story then ramps back up so its not a giant problem. Overall Soul Mirror isn't just a run of the mill horror novel, it's an emotional story about the want to be seen, heard, and believed. I would definitely recommend this for fans of supernatural horror but with heart and real world implications.

Thank you to NetGalley, Edmund Stone, and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for this ARC! Publication date was December 3rd 2024.

[Catherine Whitaker · Rating 2 out of 5]

No..
Just no.
For a start, this book badly needed editing and proofreading. It felt like no one had ever laid eyes on the text before publishing.
I should have known how things were going to be when I encountered the following sentence at the very start of the book:
"A few cars belonging to the night shift workers who carpooled to jobs in the next county over remained in the lot at McDonald's, belonging to the night shift workers who carpooled to jobs in the next county over."

Unbelievable content errors throughout, in punctuation, spelling, grammar, and words which were mistaken for similar words.
Potentially the worst of the worst was "Marshall law" instead of "martial".
Plenty of "peaked" instead of "peeked". People were "implemented" in murders rather than "implicated".

Overall it just screamed "someone should have fixed this".

The plot could have been decent, and some of it was entertaining when the text wasn't tanking it. Unfortunately though, a fair bit of it was just nonsense. There was an attempt to build a lore but it was half hearted and as a result, when brought into play for the big showdown, nothing made any sense at all. Seriously disappointing from start to finish.

[Sharron Joy Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jessica is in the foster system with a couple who have no time to care about a nonverbal autistic girl and what she needs. Her reality is what she has made it and she is fascinated by mirrors and the world on the other side of the glass. As she explores the mirror world voices call for her and something darker wants her soul.

A haunting horror that has Alice vibes but here the world of the looking glass stares back and reaches out. Images twist and change as reality is subverted. Jessica is horribly mistreated and neglected by her foster parents, her escape to the other place inside the mirror a solace to her. Renay is a therapist who has her own horrific back story and is drawn to Jessica.

Check the content warnings if you need them as aside from the darkness in the mirror the real world is brutal and violent for Jessica and her inability to express what is happening is heartbreaking. Drawing on folklore and legends this is a not only a thrilling horror story but a glimpse into the frustrating and terrifying reality for autistic children.

[Ali O · Rating 5 out of 5]

Soul Mirror by Edmund Stone
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This is a fantastic and creepy horror story!
The story is so entertaining and has a good amount of mystery, thrills and scariness!
Jessica, a young autistic girl, who can’t speak, is fascinated with another world which lies within the mirrors. Renee, an occupational therapist finds herself sucked into this different world and finds Jessica there.
This book contains darkness within the mirrors and outside of the mirrors.
It’s very well written and super intense and emotional!

Thank you to Edmund Stone for an arc of this amazing story!
*It comes out December 3rd and you won’t want to miss this one!*

[Trisha Tropiano · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well this one really stabs you in the heart! It follows Jessica, who is autistic and non-verbal, as she navigates life in a terrible foster home. She has discovered a world within her mirror where she can escape reality and actually speak. Her visits become darker and more disturbing, as she brings her occupational therapist Renay into the mirror world with her. The story is absolutely gripping, and the world within the mirror is truly terrifying. It’s easy to become attached to Jessica and Renay’s characters and become invested in what happens to them. This one will stick with me for awhile!

[Leah · Rating 2 out of 5]

2024 Indie Book Brawl Review:

A man tries to save his family from the weird events at the Revival tent that has been set up, seemingly randomly, in town.

The pacing, structure, and writing made it very hard to get invested in the story. The dialogue feels robotic, and there is a lot of telling vs. showing, leaving no room to really grow to care about any of the characters or the storyline. A lot of details didn't make sense, outside of the usual cosmic horror sphere of things not making sense.

[Kaylyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked up Tent Revival by Edmund Stone because it was on the BOH Brawl List, but honestly, if I had found it on my own, I would have DNF'd it after the first 25%. The story just didn’t keep my attention—it was boring and weird, with a lot of repetitious phrases and major grammatical and spelling errors that really took me out of the experience. Plus, the way women were described felt uncomfortable. If I had chosen this book myself, I definitely wouldn't have finished it. Just not for me!

[Mara · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book doesn't know what it's about, so don't expect to as a reader, either.

The narrative writing isn't horrible (except when it is. See "breasts bouncing," etc.), but the dialog gave me the worst secondhand embarrassment.

If Rebecca wasn't the lamest villain ever, I would have gladly encouraged her to take the entire town and this book with her.

[Abbie Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the premise but thought the dialogue felt unnatural and I wish the plot had been fleshed out more, this was more of a short story than a novel.

If the author actually reads this... please edit the book description to use person-first language! Jessica is autistic, not Jessica has autism.

Thank you to NetGalley/Victory Editing for the ARC.