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The Elric Undoing
From author Cassandra Celia comes a new paranormal horror novel about one girl’s surprise inheritance that unravels secrets best kept buried.
Pyet Cabello never expected her life to change with the arrival of one letter—sent by her estranged, deceased grandmother. But when her mother immediately threatens her life at the very mention of the letter's contents, Pyet flees the home she'd been trapped in, escaping her mother's proclaimed demise and into the teeth of the mysterious town of Elric to claim her inheritance.
When she arrives, Pyet is suddenly thrust into an occult world with residents who share a history flushed with dark magic and who worship a mysterious leader. And, of course, a manor haunted by ghosts that demands she leave immediately. In search of a family she felt like she never had, Pyet is determined to uncover the truth about the town that scared her mother so deeply and stole her grandmother away all those years ago.
Drawn to its dark past, Pyet's intrigue won't let her leave—and Elric doesn't want to let her go either. Before she realizes it, Pyet is enveloped in the town's customs and rituals disguised as friendships, and the longer she stays the less interested she becomes in uncovering Elric's secrets after all. The town Pyet's mother fled from long ago might be the place where Pyet finds the home she's been searching for.
Unfortunately, it might also be her undoing.
Pyet Cabello never expected her life to change with the arrival of one letter—sent by her estranged, deceased grandmother. But when her mother immediately threatens her life at the very mention of the letter's contents, Pyet flees the home she'd been trapped in, escaping her mother's proclaimed demise and into the teeth of the mysterious town of Elric to claim her inheritance.
When she arrives, Pyet is suddenly thrust into an occult world with residents who share a history flushed with dark magic and who worship a mysterious leader. And, of course, a manor haunted by ghosts that demands she leave immediately. In search of a family she felt like she never had, Pyet is determined to uncover the truth about the town that scared her mother so deeply and stole her grandmother away all those years ago.
Drawn to its dark past, Pyet's intrigue won't let her leave—and Elric doesn't want to let her go either. Before she realizes it, Pyet is enveloped in the town's customs and rituals disguised as friendships, and the longer she stays the less interested she becomes in uncovering Elric's secrets after all. The town Pyet's mother fled from long ago might be the place where Pyet finds the home she's been searching for.
Unfortunately, it might also be her undoing.
312 pages, Paperback
Published October 31, 2023
8 people are currently reading
191 people want to read
About the author
Cassandra Celia
9 books111 followersCassandra Celia (they/them) is a Maryland bookseller turned author who writes dark, weird, and horrific lit fiction. Their work includes The Elric Undoing and their newest release, House of Harrow. They’re obsessed with stories that blur the lines between love and death, beauty and rot, and endings that don’t feel like endings at all. Cassandra finds inspiration in haunting art, unsettling media, and has a particular fondness for angry, scorned women clawing their way through the dark.
Stay up to date by visiting their website, www.cassandracelia.carrd.co.
Stay up to date by visiting their website, www.cassandracelia.carrd.co.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
October 12, 2025
it took a taddd too long to get where it needed to go, but overall the eerie vibes were absolutely present
March 28, 2024
I really wanted to like this book, and I did finish it. But I kind of wish I had DNF'd. The emotion I mostly felt when reading it was frustration. Pyet is unlikeable and spends most of the time moaning. The ultra-slow, confusing reveal didn't do the book any favors and the ending wasn't really worth the slog.
November 4, 2023
Creepy, malevolent, and delightfully disorienting.
From the start, THE ELRIC UNDOING highlights what anxiety feels like—as an anxious person, Pyet’s experiences reverberated in my bones. She was easy to root for because she was active and curious for the entire story. She sought answers, even though the help she found was not useful in the least.
The actual town of Elric was spooky. It had a ghost town, almost post-apocalyptic feeling. And the fact that I was—just like Pyet—unsure of who to trust, or who was telling the truth (or most of the truth), really had me invested in the story. It was a puzzle I couldn’t solve.
The pacing bogged in the first two chapters for me. Pyet agonizes while she’s en route to Elric—about what she went through with her mother and her uncertainty about her family. I would have liked less of Pyet’s background all at once, and more of it threaded through the story.
I would have liked a little more anchoring in what actually happens overall, too. It felt like Pyet was adrift for 95 percent of the book, only getting concrete answers at the end. I was waiting for something big to happen—like some sort of weird cult-like meeting with the Lantern, or Pyet overhearing some tidbit in the café to stir her curiosity. Or even a little more of how the power is organized in Elric, so that the ending would have had more of an OOF moment.
That being said, the lack of discovery may have been done intentionally, because that ending was an absolute surprise. I will not—I outright refuse—to spoil it. You must read it yourself to find out what happens! I will say that it is dark, and oddly satisfying. It made sense for Pyet, for her character and her development throughout the book.
I was given the opportunity to read an advance review copy of this book. My review is honest, and given voluntarily.
From the start, THE ELRIC UNDOING highlights what anxiety feels like—as an anxious person, Pyet’s experiences reverberated in my bones. She was easy to root for because she was active and curious for the entire story. She sought answers, even though the help she found was not useful in the least.
The actual town of Elric was spooky. It had a ghost town, almost post-apocalyptic feeling. And the fact that I was—just like Pyet—unsure of who to trust, or who was telling the truth (or most of the truth), really had me invested in the story. It was a puzzle I couldn’t solve.
The pacing bogged in the first two chapters for me. Pyet agonizes while she’s en route to Elric—about what she went through with her mother and her uncertainty about her family. I would have liked less of Pyet’s background all at once, and more of it threaded through the story.
I would have liked a little more anchoring in what actually happens overall, too. It felt like Pyet was adrift for 95 percent of the book, only getting concrete answers at the end. I was waiting for something big to happen—like some sort of weird cult-like meeting with the Lantern, or Pyet overhearing some tidbit in the café to stir her curiosity. Or even a little more of how the power is organized in Elric, so that the ending would have had more of an OOF moment.
That being said, the lack of discovery may have been done intentionally, because that ending was an absolute surprise. I will not—I outright refuse—to spoil it. You must read it yourself to find out what happens! I will say that it is dark, and oddly satisfying. It made sense for Pyet, for her character and her development throughout the book.
I was given the opportunity to read an advance review copy of this book. My review is honest, and given voluntarily.
November 4, 2023
"Magic was a fickle creature. And though it was something no one would truly understand, Elric was still harnessing it in a way others might deem impossible."⠀
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Cassandras Celia, The Elric Undoing⠀
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The Elric Undoing by Cassandra Celia is an unsettling masterpiece that made me feel like I was slowly going mad right along with the main character. Pyet is an intriguing main character who vacillates between fear and suspicion as she encounters the enigmatic people of Elric. Her inherited manor is seemingly cursed and every clue she finds about her elusive late grandmother leaves her more confused than before. Everything from Pyet's traumatic upbringing with her reclusive mother to her own insecurities about her place in the world carries an undercurrent of malice. The story weaves in a macabre spell of Greek mythology, atmospheric horror, and a "The Village"-like occult town to create a unique and spooky book that I couldn't put down. Five stars for the spookiest book I've read all year! ⠀
⠀
Cassandras Celia, The Elric Undoing⠀
⠀
⠀
The Elric Undoing by Cassandra Celia is an unsettling masterpiece that made me feel like I was slowly going mad right along with the main character. Pyet is an intriguing main character who vacillates between fear and suspicion as she encounters the enigmatic people of Elric. Her inherited manor is seemingly cursed and every clue she finds about her elusive late grandmother leaves her more confused than before. Everything from Pyet's traumatic upbringing with her reclusive mother to her own insecurities about her place in the world carries an undercurrent of malice. The story weaves in a macabre spell of Greek mythology, atmospheric horror, and a "The Village"-like occult town to create a unique and spooky book that I couldn't put down. Five stars for the spookiest book I've read all year! ⠀
December 7, 2024
Book Review - The Elric Undoing by @authorcassandracelia This book was a perfect one for this past week. It just captures a tone of anxiety and panic and never lets go. The town of Elric and the manor are characters in themselves and they are such unsettling, exasperating places that are captivating and infuriating in equal parts. Pyet is such a sad character, and I don’t want to spoil anything in the book, but the ending is pretty devastating while fitting perfectly for the story. There are a few descriptions of panic attacks that were so realistic it almost hurt, as well as unexpected gore and violence that really hits hard. Overall, I really enjoyed the hypnotic spell this one put me under and look forward to reading the rest of Celia’s books!
January 14, 2026
3.5 ⭐️ While I liked the overall story I do feel like there were a lot of themes going on as far as the mystery aspect was concerned and I have a lot of unanswered questions. I also think there could have been a little less build up to the mystery of the manor as a lot of chapters felt like they surrounded around Pyet sitting in the house and reading her grandmother’s journals. I did like the descriptions of the town, especially in the beginning — I felt the wording was quite poetic. I also got a beautiful special edition of this book in my Twisted Retrear book box subscription. Overall I liked the spooky atmosphere and the brutal ending was impactful.
December 8, 2023
Pyet flees her mother and her home after receiving a letter from her deceased grandmother offering her an inheritance in the town of Elric. Elric is an occultist town, where rituals are disguised as friendships, and dark magic lurks in the undercurrent of every interaction. Pyet is intent on solving her family's mysteries, but will the town let her?
This book is unsettling in the best way. The author did an amazing job making the reader feel like they are one and the same with the main character Pyet. Through the various twists, turns, and spooks I simultaneously felt my heart racing and my head spinning. The mysteries of Elric, Pyet's grandmother's haunted house, and her own upbringing kept me guessing. I was genuinely spooked at several points. My family slamming the door at an inopportune time made me jump sky high!
Thank you to BookSirens and the author for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily and all views expressed are my own.
This book is unsettling in the best way. The author did an amazing job making the reader feel like they are one and the same with the main character Pyet. Through the various twists, turns, and spooks I simultaneously felt my heart racing and my head spinning. The mysteries of Elric, Pyet's grandmother's haunted house, and her own upbringing kept me guessing. I was genuinely spooked at several points. My family slamming the door at an inopportune time made me jump sky high!
Thank you to BookSirens and the author for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily and all views expressed are my own.
March 23, 2025
A beautiful speculative dark fantasy novel that deals with the ramifications of generational trauma and parental abuse. A girl named Pyet, betrayed by her own flesh and blood mother, runs away after learning of her grandmother’s death, which takes her to the strange town of Elric where magic is in the air. But this is not a place of beauty and enchantment. Elric is a dingy town hidden beneath a constant veil of gloom.
As Pyet spends more time amongst the town, she grows fearful of the denizens of Elric who avoid her like the plague, but eye her warily like hungry predators lying in wait.
What secrets will she uncover in this unwelcoming town? Has Pyet finally found a home where she can belong? Or will this bizarre village of Elric prove to be her undoing?
It’s a gripping puzzle of a tale that comes together in a haunting climax that will leave readers dumbstruck. I highly recommend this one for fans of speculative dark fantasy.
As Pyet spends more time amongst the town, she grows fearful of the denizens of Elric who avoid her like the plague, but eye her warily like hungry predators lying in wait.
What secrets will she uncover in this unwelcoming town? Has Pyet finally found a home where she can belong? Or will this bizarre village of Elric prove to be her undoing?
It’s a gripping puzzle of a tale that comes together in a haunting climax that will leave readers dumbstruck. I highly recommend this one for fans of speculative dark fantasy.
May 1, 2024
I truly didn’t know what to expect going into this book, but I will say that without a doubt I am not disappointed.
Cassandra Celia did an incredible job of writing a book that was eerie and atmospheric — goosebumps were a constant while reading this book. The writing was engrossing and engaging making it difficult to want to stop reading.
The town of Elric is certainly not a town I would want to be stuck in, or live in for that matter, but Pyet wants a place to call home. I felt so much sympathy for her during this entire story. I think the fact that we really have no idea what’s going on until the very end is a huge plus as well because it adds to the mystery and horror of it all.
I loved every horror aspect of this book. From the paranormal side to the bloody, gruesome side — I loved it ALL.
This was an easy 5⭐️ for me and now I’m excited to read more.
Cassandra Celia did an incredible job of writing a book that was eerie and atmospheric — goosebumps were a constant while reading this book. The writing was engrossing and engaging making it difficult to want to stop reading.
The town of Elric is certainly not a town I would want to be stuck in, or live in for that matter, but Pyet wants a place to call home. I felt so much sympathy for her during this entire story. I think the fact that we really have no idea what’s going on until the very end is a huge plus as well because it adds to the mystery and horror of it all.
I loved every horror aspect of this book. From the paranormal side to the bloody, gruesome side — I loved it ALL.
This was an easy 5⭐️ for me and now I’m excited to read more.
October 29, 2023
This was a 4 star read for me!
This was not what I was expecting from Cass. The writing is so whimsical but also done in such a sinister way. The descriptions and characters are so well thought out. You can absolutely find yourself getting lost in the world of Eldric. There are so many secrets waiting for you.
There are so many twists in this, that I'll keep my lips sealed until YOU read it. I really enjoyed this dark spooky story created with such elegance.
Bravo, Cass! This was perfect for those who enjoy a spooky setting with hidden frights and details that you catch onto as you read.
This was not what I was expecting from Cass. The writing is so whimsical but also done in such a sinister way. The descriptions and characters are so well thought out. You can absolutely find yourself getting lost in the world of Eldric. There are so many secrets waiting for you.
There are so many twists in this, that I'll keep my lips sealed until YOU read it. I really enjoyed this dark spooky story created with such elegance.
Bravo, Cass! This was perfect for those who enjoy a spooky setting with hidden frights and details that you catch onto as you read.
December 5, 2023
I went into The Elric Undoing completely blind. I just knew a few people who read it and enjoyed it. I was instantly drawn in by the cover first of all. This book was so beautifully and well written. The imagery was fantastic and really helped me picture the whole scene. It gave me Chilling Adventures of Sabrina vibes which was a definite plus for me. It was dark, gothic and a tad gory towards the end. I whipped through this book and was enthralled by the ending. I will absolutely be reading more by Cassandra Celia.
November 23, 2024
Pyet inherits a spooky, ghost-filled mansion from a mysterious grandmother she has never met. When she arrives in the town of Elric, against her mother's wishes, the residents are uninviting. They abandon the streets at dusk and refuse to answer any of her questions.
The subject matter had me hooked immediately. The writing was solid. The author did a remarkably good job maintaining the gothic, creepy tone. A lot of "haunted house" stories don't effectively keep up the creepy factor, but both the house and the town of Elric were spooky/scary throughout the novel. I also liked the mythology in the story.
Unfortunately, the plot slowed down too many times. The author obviously wanted a big reveal at the end (which the book most definitely has), but there aren't enough small reveals throughout. I didn't connect with Pyet, and her constant failed attempts to discover information came across as annoying or whiney. I wanted her to make some discoveries and put the puzzle pieces together. Some parts also seemed very repetitive. The ending was interesting and unexpected. I'm honestly still not sure how I feel about it. It didn't thrill me.
In the end, I enjoyed the book but didn't love it.
The subject matter had me hooked immediately. The writing was solid. The author did a remarkably good job maintaining the gothic, creepy tone. A lot of "haunted house" stories don't effectively keep up the creepy factor, but both the house and the town of Elric were spooky/scary throughout the novel. I also liked the mythology in the story.
Unfortunately, the plot slowed down too many times. The author obviously wanted a big reveal at the end (which the book most definitely has), but there aren't enough small reveals throughout. I didn't connect with Pyet, and her constant failed attempts to discover information came across as annoying or whiney. I wanted her to make some discoveries and put the puzzle pieces together. Some parts also seemed very repetitive. The ending was interesting and unexpected. I'm honestly still not sure how I feel about it. It didn't thrill me.
In the end, I enjoyed the book but didn't love it.
January 6, 2025
I was so excited to read this book, but it almost felt like a chore to get through. While at times beautiful, the imagery used is often more confusing and contradictory than actually descriptive. Like it's spending so much time trying to be eerie that it lost track of what it was trying to say. The character also felt a lot like this, whiney and contridictory. The main character will think to themselves that they are stronger than this, only then to go into a long, and often repeated, soliloquy of how she actually has been weak and abused her life. Worst part is then she will continue to just be meek, walking in circles asking for someone to help her rather than just figuring things out. I did actually enjoy the underlining story, the mystery to Elric, just had to sift through the same circles or woe is me over and over again to get to it.
July 13, 2025
40/100 or 2.0 stars
Pyet, was not just an unlikable character, she was annoying. I enjoyed Sugarcane by Celia, so I was looking foreard to this one, but it did not work for me. I don't want to give spoilers or be meaner than I was on the first sentence, but this was a little disappointing. I do think that since a good amount of what happens is repetitive this could have been a compelling short story. I will be interesting in trying more from Celia since I did love the first book I read by them.
Pyet, was not just an unlikable character, she was annoying. I enjoyed Sugarcane by Celia, so I was looking foreard to this one, but it did not work for me. I don't want to give spoilers or be meaner than I was on the first sentence, but this was a little disappointing. I do think that since a good amount of what happens is repetitive this could have been a compelling short story. I will be interesting in trying more from Celia since I did love the first book I read by them.
February 22, 2026
This was disappointing. The premise was actually great, but the delivery was subpar. I might have given this a 4 star rating, but the editing was BAD. There were spelling errors, run-on spacing, double spacing, punctuation errors, and other grammatical errors throughout. It was spooky, and a lot of it was fairly well written, but it took so long to get to the explanation and some of the twist, that even for a shorter novel, it was just a letdown instead of stunning. There were also plot holes that bothered me. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't nearly as good as it could be.
February 1, 2025
The Elric Undoing had an intriguing premise and some beautifully written moments, but it suffered from being far too repetitive and slow. The characters and themes were interesting, but the pacing made it a struggle to get through at times. The same ideas and conflicts were rehashed again and again, which made the story feel much longer than it needed to be.
This would have made an excellent short story, where the strong concept and emotional weight could have shined without being bogged down by unnecessary repetition. Overall, a decent read with potential, but it needed tighter editing to truly stand out.
This would have made an excellent short story, where the strong concept and emotional weight could have shined without being bogged down by unnecessary repetition. Overall, a decent read with potential, but it needed tighter editing to truly stand out.
February 5, 2025
*The Elric Undoing* offers a unique take on high fantasy with strong world-building and some engaging action. However, the pacing can be slow at times, and I struggled to fully connect with the characters. While the book has an intriguing premise and atmospheric writing, it lacks some emotional depth and depth in character development. Overall, it’s a solid read for fantasy fans but didn’t fully live up to its potential.
February 3, 2026
This is such a deliciously slow burn of a tale. It felt very gothic (minus any hint of romance), and oh so creepy! What a great dark fantasy/horror! I did feel conflicted, as I absolutely detested our main character, she just annoyed me so much, but the story unfolding around her, and the mystery building was just too good to put this down. Kudos to the author for building such a splendid and chilling tale. Like folk horror? Mythology? Ghost tales? Creepy cults? This has it all!
November 13, 2023
Incredible writing and attention to detail. Eerie storyline with a plot twist I didn’t see coming. Haunted mansion, generational trauma, cultish townspeople, cursed souls, and more!
Oh, and I absolutely adored Pyet. The desperation for love and acceptance causing madness along her journey in Elric… I feel for her.
I only lost a little sleep with every noise and bump in the night 🫠
Oh, and I absolutely adored Pyet. The desperation for love and acceptance causing madness along her journey in Elric… I feel for her.
I only lost a little sleep with every noise and bump in the night 🫠
December 5, 2024
The ending was just plain terrible. The story made its self out to be this big mystery but was it really a mystery or just very convoluted writing? I would have to choose the later for this one.
It felt like the writer was trying to show woman as powerful but all I got was vindictiveness and confusion. It was a nice idea that the author was going for but poorly executed.
It felt like the writer was trying to show woman as powerful but all I got was vindictiveness and confusion. It was a nice idea that the author was going for but poorly executed.
February 23, 2025
I did not connect with the writing style in this book. I loved the atmosphere but the story was a bit boring after a while. I finished it because it was such a short book but wasn’t something I looked forward to picking up.
August 23, 2025
The Elric Undoing was a hot mess from start to finish. I almost believed AI wrote the book due to the glaring inconsistencies sometimes within the same paragraph. I'm not sure how this is the same author that produced Sugarcane (which I loved, btw).
December 30, 2025
3.5/5 for me, but rounded up for the eerie atmosphere she created. This was a slow book for me, but in all of the right ways. The tension took so long to build and snapped at just the right end. I loved the imagery of the town and how you could feel the anxiety ebb and flow.
February 8, 2026
Overall I really liked this book. The more I reflect on it, the more I like it. It felt like so much build up and then it spent such a short time resolving it at, it felt rushed at the end. But the story was really interesting. Spooky read.
July 25, 2024
This would make a great horror movie! Loved it, especially the twist!
November 29, 2024
Wow. This book gave me anxiety. In a good way.
December 16, 2024
three stars is GENEROUS. i wanted so badly to like this book because there’s some really cool concepts and ideas happening here but boy oh boy is this a mess of a read. it feels half baked at best.
December 18, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Beautifully written. I was able to picture the characters and Elric in my mind. I felt immersed in it and for a spooky gal, it was fun.
March 10, 2025
The writing and vibes in this book where amazing. I was invested the entire time. Once I fished I sat for at least 30 thinking about it. I loved it 🖤
August 22, 2025
I was riveted from page 1, and finished within 8 hours. The vivid, somewhat disturbing, writing hooked me.
The end BLEW ME AWAY!
Highly recommend!
The end BLEW ME AWAY!
Highly recommend!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews