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Sleeping In The Fire: A Collection of 9 Horrifying Tales
From the dark mind of John Durgin, author of The Cursed Among Us and Inside The Devil's Nest, comes 9 suspense-filled tales that will have you gasping for breath.
A group of kids in the Wild West return to camp to find the adults slaughtered... and their nightmare is just beginning.
A man with a fear of deep water must try and rescue his wife from a deadly shark attack.
A newly engaged couple get stranded at the top of a Ferris wheel as chaos breaks out below.
A boy who loses his dog finds a new companion wounded in the forest and wants to help it, but this creature has a family, and they are hungry...
These stories and more await those who dare to go, Sleeping In The Fire ...
A group of kids in the Wild West return to camp to find the adults slaughtered... and their nightmare is just beginning.
A man with a fear of deep water must try and rescue his wife from a deadly shark attack.
A newly engaged couple get stranded at the top of a Ferris wheel as chaos breaks out below.
A boy who loses his dog finds a new companion wounded in the forest and wants to help it, but this creature has a family, and they are hungry...
These stories and more await those who dare to go, Sleeping In The Fire ...
192 pages, Paperback
Published June 6, 2023
41 people are currently reading
403 people want to read
About the author
John Durgin
26 books584 followersJohn Durgin is a proud active HWA member and lifelong horror fan. Growing up in New Hampshire, he discovered Stephen King much younger than most probably should have, reading IT before he reached high school—and knew from that moment on he wanted to write horror. He had his first story accepted in the summer of 2021 in the Beach Bodies anthology through DarkLit Press. His debut novel, The Cursed Among Us was released June 3, 2022, and went on to become an Amazon bestseller. Next up, his sophomore novel titled Inside The Devil’s Nest, released in January of 2023, followed by his debut collection, Sleeping In The Fire in June of 2023. In 2024 he released two more novels, Kosa and Consumed by Evil through Crystal Lake Publishing.
Twitter- @jdurgin1084
Website- www.johndurginauthor.com
Instagram- @durginpencildrawings
TikTok- @johndurgin_author
Twitter- @jdurgin1084
Website- www.johndurginauthor.com
Instagram- @durginpencildrawings
TikTok- @johndurgin_author
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews
October 31, 2025
What a set of 9 stories. As good as in his novels the author delivers his shorter fiction. My favorite was the prestory to "Inside the Devil's Nest". Alister Burns is one of the scariest cult leaders ever. I also enjoyed "Letters to Santa" a lot. If you want to have some true horror fest with quick shocking tales this definitely is the book to pick up. Marvelous creepers. Highly recommended!
October 4, 2024
“Sleeping in the Fire” was probably one of the best single-author collections I’ve read. Truly, short stories can be hit or miss for me, but I could find no fault in any of the works in this book. I was wow’d by each one.
“The Bandit’s Son” starts out strong with a gruesome creature feature in the Wild West. You can’t help but hold out hope for the children in this tale.
“Bird’s Eye” is a wild ride of body horror and creepy crawlies. Honestly I was simultaneously sad for the characters, but wanting to puke as I read what happened to them. Trying to escape a fair ground while chaos ensues sounds plain awful. Another reason I hate public washrooms is evidenced in this traumatic tale 🤢
“The Candy Bar Killer” is a treat of a read for spooky season. I loved the creepy vibe as trick’r treaters approached the house of a possible killer. What happened next gave me total goosebumps!!! I could definitely see this being expanded into a longer novella or full length story.
“The Selected” was an excellent tie-in to Durgin’s book “Inside the Devil’s Nest” with a snapshot look of the cult in earlier times.
“Companion” follows a young boy who encounters a strange beast on a cold, snowy night. Their meeting leads to Christmas Eve calamity. Another holiday themed story that was absolutely chilling and fantastic.
“Oneiric” … damn, this story was gut wrenching. Super emotional and raw, with supernatural and futuristic aspects. The story really came together and I was pleased with the results at the end; my heart felt less heavy for the characters.
“Letters to Santa”, well let’s call it “Durgin’s Fables”, warn youngsters to be careful what you wish for. What you receive may not be exactly what you wished for. I think a lot of my lists to Santa included live animals, and dinosaurs, so I’m actually glad I didn’t get what I wished for.
“Thalassophobia” is going to give me nightmares!!! Dude, do not touch sea urchins OMG!!! Glenmoreeeeee!!!!!! Seriously full body shivers with this story as a wedding party goes on a Jamaican snorkelling trip that gets bloody fast!!
In “A Walk on the Beach” a teen ditches the resort he’s staying at with his parents to explore the beach further away. He definitely begins to regret not bringing his sandals… I’m not exactly sure what was going on in this story, but I didn’t like it! Nope nope nope! This is why I wouldn’t wander off alone in the dark.
“The Bandit’s Son” starts out strong with a gruesome creature feature in the Wild West. You can’t help but hold out hope for the children in this tale.
“Bird’s Eye” is a wild ride of body horror and creepy crawlies. Honestly I was simultaneously sad for the characters, but wanting to puke as I read what happened to them. Trying to escape a fair ground while chaos ensues sounds plain awful. Another reason I hate public washrooms is evidenced in this traumatic tale 🤢
“The Candy Bar Killer” is a treat of a read for spooky season. I loved the creepy vibe as trick’r treaters approached the house of a possible killer. What happened next gave me total goosebumps!!! I could definitely see this being expanded into a longer novella or full length story.
“The Selected” was an excellent tie-in to Durgin’s book “Inside the Devil’s Nest” with a snapshot look of the cult in earlier times.
“Companion” follows a young boy who encounters a strange beast on a cold, snowy night. Their meeting leads to Christmas Eve calamity. Another holiday themed story that was absolutely chilling and fantastic.
“Oneiric” … damn, this story was gut wrenching. Super emotional and raw, with supernatural and futuristic aspects. The story really came together and I was pleased with the results at the end; my heart felt less heavy for the characters.
“Letters to Santa”, well let’s call it “Durgin’s Fables”, warn youngsters to be careful what you wish for. What you receive may not be exactly what you wished for. I think a lot of my lists to Santa included live animals, and dinosaurs, so I’m actually glad I didn’t get what I wished for.
“Thalassophobia” is going to give me nightmares!!! Dude, do not touch sea urchins OMG!!! Glenmoreeeeee!!!!!! Seriously full body shivers with this story as a wedding party goes on a Jamaican snorkelling trip that gets bloody fast!!
In “A Walk on the Beach” a teen ditches the resort he’s staying at with his parents to explore the beach further away. He definitely begins to regret not bringing his sandals… I’m not exactly sure what was going on in this story, but I didn’t like it! Nope nope nope! This is why I wouldn’t wander off alone in the dark.
July 6, 2023
Im not usually a short story reader. I really have to like the author. Out of the 9 horrifying tales, I loved most of them Letters to Santa being my favorite. Thank you for the scares
June 24, 2023
It's no secret that John Durgin can write a novel, but short stories are a wildly different form. Fans need not worry though, because challenge accepted. "Bird's Eye" takes the premise of what could be an entire book and condenses it down to a single scene. A terrific balance of ominous suspense and isolation with more than a few gross-out moments. "The Candy Bar Killer" manages to set up and subvert reader expectations in only a few short pages, setting the table and leaving the rest for the reader to imagine. "Thalassophobia" does creature features the right way. A high-octane, high-body count tale that will only reinforce that we should really just stay out of the ocean. God doesn't want us there. Sleeping in the Fire has a lot more than these three to offer. Fans of Durgin will be impressed at his diversity and ability to pivot. New readers can slake their thirst for bite-sized horror before moving onto The Cursed Among Us and Inside the Devil's Nest.
June 23, 2023
Sleeping in the Fire is a collection of nine short stories covering things such as bugs, creatures in the night, cults, terror at a carnival, shark-infested waters and much more. Durgin puts his own creepy spin on each one, inducing anxiety with each turn of the page. My favorites in this collection were:
Bird’s Eye – this story just solidifies why I don’t go on carnival rides. Pass!
The Selected - this one connects to Inside the Devil’s Nest, which was my first time reading Durgin’s work. I cannot even express the amount of anxiety this book gave me. It’s a must read.
Companion – I feel like this story is me. You find something injured in the woods and you want to help it and then everything falls apart. Oops! Gory goodness!
Oneiric – I like how unique this one was. Given the chance, I wondered if I would take Oneiric. After reading this I’m not too sure I would. Great creepy story!
If you’re new to Durgin’s work, this would be a great place to start. I think any horror fan would enjoy this book.
Bird’s Eye – this story just solidifies why I don’t go on carnival rides. Pass!
The Selected - this one connects to Inside the Devil’s Nest, which was my first time reading Durgin’s work. I cannot even express the amount of anxiety this book gave me. It’s a must read.
Companion – I feel like this story is me. You find something injured in the woods and you want to help it and then everything falls apart. Oops! Gory goodness!
Oneiric – I like how unique this one was. Given the chance, I wondered if I would take Oneiric. After reading this I’m not too sure I would. Great creepy story!
If you’re new to Durgin’s work, this would be a great place to start. I think any horror fan would enjoy this book.
June 1, 2024
I've been wanting to check out some of John Durgin's work, and I always like starting with an author's collection of short stories when that's an option. I really enjoyed this one, and will be definitely checking out his longer work.
Highlights include:
The Bandit's Son - "The Crawler" is super creepy. I wish this one was longer.
A Walk on the Beach - A very disturbing story. I don't know if I'd call it "scary," but it was definitely really bleak and grim. More creepy creatures.
The Selected - Cults can be fascinating, but they don't make for my favorite horror subgenre. The Selected, however, is an exception. Another one that could definitely be expanded into a longer story.
Fans of Durgin who are only familiar with his longer work should definitely check out this collection.
Warning: There is animal death in some of these.
Highlights include:
The Bandit's Son - "The Crawler" is super creepy. I wish this one was longer.
A Walk on the Beach - A very disturbing story. I don't know if I'd call it "scary," but it was definitely really bleak and grim. More creepy creatures.
The Selected - Cults can be fascinating, but they don't make for my favorite horror subgenre. The Selected, however, is an exception. Another one that could definitely be expanded into a longer story.
Fans of Durgin who are only familiar with his longer work should definitely check out this collection.
Warning: There is animal death in some of these.
February 26, 2023
This is a real mixed bag of horror shorts, and there's a little bit of something for everyone. Creatures, critters, holiday happenings.. John Durgin has turned his hand to them all and the result is Sleeping in the Fire. Fast paced, a little gory and a ton of fun, I really enjoyed my first foray into Durgins world and look forward to grabbing his full length novels. I think short story collections are always a great introduction to any writer as it allows them to showcase their range and talent and that's exactly what John has done. Standout stories for me were Letters to Santa and A Walk on the Beach. If you're familiar with John Durgin then you'll love this and if he's new to you then this collection is a great way to get acquainted with him. Highly recommend!
August 12, 2023
These short stories were amazing!!!
The storyline for each had been so creative, the ideas that John Durgin not only thought of but then executed had been outstanding. My favorites were The Selected, Oneiric, and Letters to Santa.
The author managed to pull off some great twists and turns in each story. I love when I sit on the edge of my seat the entire time and that's how I felt with these. I can't wait to read more from him!!!
The storyline for each had been so creative, the ideas that John Durgin not only thought of but then executed had been outstanding. My favorites were The Selected, Oneiric, and Letters to Santa.
The author managed to pull off some great twists and turns in each story. I love when I sit on the edge of my seat the entire time and that's how I felt with these. I can't wait to read more from him!!!
March 23, 2023
This collection short stories have something for everyone, for me it was the second last story being in the ocean scared out of my mine because I don't swim and a shark attack happen. John Durgin takes you through his mind of horror one story at a time giving you a taste of what you can expect from his work.
February 10, 2023
Omg!!!! This was so good! Every story got better and better as the book went on. A must read!!
August 5, 2023
SLEEPING IN THE FIRE (AUDIBLE) - JOHN DURGIN
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4.5/5⭐️
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I was lucky enough to receive a free copy of this book from the author and I’ve just gotta say… Sleeping in the Fire is a certified GOOD TIME ✅ I think my favorite story is either Birds Eye or a Letters to Santa but I greatly enjoyed every single one. What I love most about this book of short stories is the variety of stories, with a variety of outcomes, always keeping me on my toes. Because of this I was completely unable to predict how each story would go which I loved! This is the second book I’ve gotten to read by John Durgin and again I am impressed with his writing and absolutely love the way he sets up his stories. I would love to give individual reviews of each story but because of their length and how much is packed into each story… I feel like no matter what I’d give spoilers.
All I can say is if you love short horror stories you cannot go wrong with this collection!
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Trigger warning: Blood, Gore, violence, Language
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4.5/5⭐️
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I was lucky enough to receive a free copy of this book from the author and I’ve just gotta say… Sleeping in the Fire is a certified GOOD TIME ✅ I think my favorite story is either Birds Eye or a Letters to Santa but I greatly enjoyed every single one. What I love most about this book of short stories is the variety of stories, with a variety of outcomes, always keeping me on my toes. Because of this I was completely unable to predict how each story would go which I loved! This is the second book I’ve gotten to read by John Durgin and again I am impressed with his writing and absolutely love the way he sets up his stories. I would love to give individual reviews of each story but because of their length and how much is packed into each story… I feel like no matter what I’d give spoilers.
All I can say is if you love short horror stories you cannot go wrong with this collection!
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Trigger warning: Blood, Gore, violence, Language
March 13, 2024
I was really looking forward to this collection and I was not disappointed! This I believe was also due to the amazing narration by Aaron Camacho. The voice's depth added to the mystery and horror.
Each story felt very particular and the whole collection felt very diverse, making me wonder what I'd be surprised with next.
Out of the 9 stories I loved The Bandit's son, Bird's Eye, The Selected, Oneiric and Letters to Santa.
I really liked the sense of nostalgia and warmth at the beginning of every story which are then squashed in cold blood and without any remorse, leaving the reader to pick up the pieces.
Probably in contrast with some opinions, I very much enjoyed the ending which left me wanting for more but at the same time leaving me to wonder in each story's universe a little longer in my head.
I really recommend this collection of very well crafted short horror stories!
Thanks to the author and the narrator for the audiobook code and this is my honest opinion.
Each story felt very particular and the whole collection felt very diverse, making me wonder what I'd be surprised with next.
Out of the 9 stories I loved The Bandit's son, Bird's Eye, The Selected, Oneiric and Letters to Santa.
I really liked the sense of nostalgia and warmth at the beginning of every story which are then squashed in cold blood and without any remorse, leaving the reader to pick up the pieces.
Probably in contrast with some opinions, I very much enjoyed the ending which left me wanting for more but at the same time leaving me to wonder in each story's universe a little longer in my head.
I really recommend this collection of very well crafted short horror stories!
Thanks to the author and the narrator for the audiobook code and this is my honest opinion.
October 24, 2023
This collection of nine short stories has a little bit of something for everyone. Evil creatures, body horror, and carnage galore. Each story brought its own twist to the group.
Out of all of them, my favorite was “Bird’s Eye.” I’ll never look at funnel cakes the same way again!
Don’t miss out on this one. It’s perfectly chilling for anyone looking for something dark and different.
Out of all of them, my favorite was “Bird’s Eye.” I’ll never look at funnel cakes the same way again!
Don’t miss out on this one. It’s perfectly chilling for anyone looking for something dark and different.
August 5, 2023
I absolutely loved this collection of short stories! I listened to this on audible and the narrator did a fantastic job!
August 8, 2023
Do you believe in Christmas miracles??
Would you snorkel in Jamaica?
Cults interest you??
Maybe you love a little creature feature while reading horror!
John Durgin provides such a nice variety of horror stories in this collection! They were fun. I was left imagining myself in many situations that I hope never happen!
Would you snorkel in Jamaica?
Cults interest you??
Maybe you love a little creature feature while reading horror!
John Durgin provides such a nice variety of horror stories in this collection! They were fun. I was left imagining myself in many situations that I hope never happen!
June 9, 2023
I haven't read many short story books but this one is definitely my favorite! All 9 stories were completely different and they were all awesome! I can't wait to see what John Durgin puts out next! Everything he's written has been fantastic!
I received an ARC copy for an honest review.
I received an ARC copy for an honest review.
August 1, 2023
Awesome collection from an author that absolutely already convinced me to love his style, with his two novels, The cursed among us and Inside the devil's nest.
August 23, 2023
I got the free audiobook in exchange for an honest review. The collection was a mixed bag with more misses than hits, unfortunately. There was a good amount of variety so I feel there is a story for everyone to enjoy. A good book to read during the spooky season, especially at night.
March 8, 2023
I was lucky enough to get a copy when the book went up on Amazon briefly and I am glad I did. There are nine horrifying stories in this book and I am going to rate each one.
The Bandit’s Son ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- this is a Wild West horror story with plenty of suspense and gore and just a unique story overall- I really enjoyed it.
Bird’s Eye- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- this story is a carnival of carnage. I won’t be going on any Ferris wheels or eating funnel cakes anytime soon.
The Candy Bar Killer- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- short and sweet little Halloween treat.
The Selected- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- I am currently reading The Devil’s Nest and this little prequel was absolutely perfect!
Companion- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- this was personally my favorite story. I love a creature feature and a Christmas vibe and the two combined- just magic for me.
Oneiric- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- a little sci fi and a lotta horror. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough to see how this one ended.
Letters to Santa- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- once again I’m a sucker for a Christmas horror story and this one was just a solid tale with a little “monkey paw” feel which I loved.
Thalassophobia- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- don’t go in the water! This story was full of deep sea terror.
A Walk on the Beach- ⭐️⭐️⭐️- my least favorite in the book but still pretty damn good. Cave dwellers are never a good thing right?
When this comes back in print- pick this up! I’ll be reading these stories over and over.
The Bandit’s Son ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- this is a Wild West horror story with plenty of suspense and gore and just a unique story overall- I really enjoyed it.
Bird’s Eye- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- this story is a carnival of carnage. I won’t be going on any Ferris wheels or eating funnel cakes anytime soon.
The Candy Bar Killer- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- short and sweet little Halloween treat.
The Selected- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- I am currently reading The Devil’s Nest and this little prequel was absolutely perfect!
Companion- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- this was personally my favorite story. I love a creature feature and a Christmas vibe and the two combined- just magic for me.
Oneiric- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- a little sci fi and a lotta horror. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough to see how this one ended.
Letters to Santa- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- once again I’m a sucker for a Christmas horror story and this one was just a solid tale with a little “monkey paw” feel which I loved.
Thalassophobia- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- don’t go in the water! This story was full of deep sea terror.
A Walk on the Beach- ⭐️⭐️⭐️- my least favorite in the book but still pretty damn good. Cave dwellers are never a good thing right?
When this comes back in print- pick this up! I’ll be reading these stories over and over.
August 2, 2023
I received an ARC of this book for an honest review. **
This is an amazing collection of short horror stories. It has a little bit of everything from bugs, to Santa, to sharks…and a few completely original monsters/things that go bump in the night (and day). Each story was chilling and original and I really enjoyed the creepiness and descriptive language used in them all. I also really liked that the author included his first short story in at the end, it was also one of my favorites (along with The Candy Bar Killer and Oneiric). If you are a horror fan, short story fan, or trying to dip your toes into either, I’d absolutely recommend this book! I liked it so much I ordered 2 of the author’s other books and I can’t wait to dive into them.
This is an amazing collection of short horror stories. It has a little bit of everything from bugs, to Santa, to sharks…and a few completely original monsters/things that go bump in the night (and day). Each story was chilling and original and I really enjoyed the creepiness and descriptive language used in them all. I also really liked that the author included his first short story in at the end, it was also one of my favorites (along with The Candy Bar Killer and Oneiric). If you are a horror fan, short story fan, or trying to dip your toes into either, I’d absolutely recommend this book! I liked it so much I ordered 2 of the author’s other books and I can’t wait to dive into them.
February 14, 2023
This book was filled with 9 stories that kept my attention all of the way through. Usually when I read a book with a collection of stories I find them hit or miss. I didn't have that issue with these. I'll probably never want to go to the beach again or ride a ferris wheel though lol John has a wonderful way with words and each story just flows. I'm currently listening to "The Cursed Among Us" on Audible and I love how nicely it flows as well. I enjoyed the variety in the collection and not being able to easily guess how each were going to end. I'll definitely be purchasing a physical copy when it's released and continue to follow John to keep track of future releases!
July 27, 2023
I absolutely love this collection of stories! There was a bit of everything for everyone to enjoy. Where some short stories lack closure or feel like they could have been fleshed more, this collection of stories felt so well put together and lacked nothing! Along with bringing an amazing visual with a superb amount of horror, the stories themselves were top tier! I have a huge fascination with sharks, so I have to go with "Thalassophobia" as my absolute favorite! "Bird's Eye" is so deep with verbal visuals that I swear I smelled the funnel cake! If you haven't grabbed a copy to read or listen to this one yet, you should!
5 freaking stars, fins down!
🦈🦈🦈🦈🦈
5 freaking stars, fins down!
🦈🦈🦈🦈🦈
February 8, 2023
9 stories! John Durgin is a master at creepy stories and books! If you've read Inside the Devils Nest, you MUST also read this, as you gain insight to Cole and the whole cult situation. I enjoyed all of these stories, and I'm not sure I can see oceans and beaches in the same light as I had before...I honestly don't know how you can come up with some of this demented situations, but I'm happy as hell to read them.
July 8, 2023
This is a really enjoyable horror short story collection. Each of the nine stories features a different genre showing the author's ability to write a great story in any setting. My personal favorites were The Candy Bar Killer, Letters to Santa and Thalassophobia. It's very rare where I actually enjoy all the stories in these collections, when usually the quality is mixed. I really recommend listening to this. I'm definitely going to check out the author's other works too.
October 24, 2023
3.5 stars...these are all good stories but nothing that really stands out as especially memorable for me or anything I'm going to think about now that I've finished the book. Maybe Letters to Santa...that was definitely the stand out in this collection for me...but even that one I'm just not sure I'm really going to think about it as time passes. Definitely a good collection that I'd recommend, just not a personal favorite for me.
December 21, 2024
This was a fantastic collection of stories that ran the gamut of different. You go through different places, time periods, are introduced to different people. There were some solid reads in this one. I feel like it gives a really good look at Durgin's abilities as we're reading a lot of different shorts that show the wide range that he can cover.
February 24, 2023
There's something for everyone in this collection: western, cult, supernatural, creature feature... My favorites are: The Selected (the prequel to Durgin's sophomore novel Inside the Devil's Nest, which I loved - 5 stars); Birds Eye View (a splattery tale that turned me off funnel cakes forever); and Oneiric (it was like I was watching a movie and the story is so original.) I highly recommend this collection and I'll continue to read everything John Durgin writes!
Thank you to the author for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to the author for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
May 24, 2023
Ya’ll, I cannot recommend this book highly enough!
Every story in here is creepy, gives you so many emotions, has you on the edge of your seat, and if you’re trying to sleep at night well forget about it because you’re gonna be up reading this instead.
I love that Durgin adds one of his first stories he ever wrote in this collection. It gives you an idea of how he has grown as an author and how far he will continue to go with his art.
A couple of my favorites in the book were Bird’s Eye and Companion. Bird’s Eye had a major ick factor, while Companion was a gory creature feature. Both stories gave me nightmares and to give me nightmares is a compliment in itself! Every story in this book is well written, creepy, and thoroughly enjoyable so you are bound to find multiple that you enjoy as well.
I’d definitely recommend giving this book a read once it is available!
Every story in here is creepy, gives you so many emotions, has you on the edge of your seat, and if you’re trying to sleep at night well forget about it because you’re gonna be up reading this instead.
I love that Durgin adds one of his first stories he ever wrote in this collection. It gives you an idea of how he has grown as an author and how far he will continue to go with his art.
A couple of my favorites in the book were Bird’s Eye and Companion. Bird’s Eye had a major ick factor, while Companion was a gory creature feature. Both stories gave me nightmares and to give me nightmares is a compliment in itself! Every story in this book is well written, creepy, and thoroughly enjoyable so you are bound to find multiple that you enjoy as well.
I’d definitely recommend giving this book a read once it is available!
February 10, 2023
Wow…just WOW! This anthology runs the gamut from holiday surprises to pioneer travels to sharks on attack! Literally enjoyed every single story which never happens to me! My favorites:
Bird’s Eye….the visceral descriptions left me nauseated at one point (which I love when a book can invoke feelings like that!) the infestation literally made me shudder to picture it! So good! Loved the ending!
Companion….. really wanted more of these cute visceral creatures! Love a good creature in the woods trope & the fact that a good deed turned bad!
Oneiric….never read anything like this experience….the Silhoette Man was a creepy haunting adversary, loved the relationships in this story as well!
Thalassophobia…I’m not afraid of water personally, but this had me holding my breathe for the main character! His young experience was very realistic and left an imprint on him for which he brought the readers along to experience. And sharks….definitely not enough shark stories out there!
Bird’s Eye….the visceral descriptions left me nauseated at one point (which I love when a book can invoke feelings like that!) the infestation literally made me shudder to picture it! So good! Loved the ending!
Companion….. really wanted more of these cute visceral creatures! Love a good creature in the woods trope & the fact that a good deed turned bad!
Oneiric….never read anything like this experience….the Silhoette Man was a creepy haunting adversary, loved the relationships in this story as well!
Thalassophobia…I’m not afraid of water personally, but this had me holding my breathe for the main character! His young experience was very realistic and left an imprint on him for which he brought the readers along to experience. And sharks….definitely not enough shark stories out there!
March 12, 2024
This was my first John Durgin book, and needless to say I will be reading everything he wrote so far. I was lucky enough to get an audible code from him, and was highly pleased with the outcome.
There are a few stories I need to talk about in this collection: the first one is Bird's Eye. I really enjoyed this one because of the isolation aspect of it. Being trapped at the top of a Faris Wheel while all hell breaks loose below has awoken a new fear for me.
The second story is Thalassophobia. Not that I truly have a phobia of it, but seeing pictures of the deep ocean with nothing around has always given me the creeps, and this story does an amazing job at really bringing out the fear.
I give the book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and the audio recording ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I'm looking forward to reading more of John's books
There are a few stories I need to talk about in this collection: the first one is Bird's Eye. I really enjoyed this one because of the isolation aspect of it. Being trapped at the top of a Faris Wheel while all hell breaks loose below has awoken a new fear for me.
The second story is Thalassophobia. Not that I truly have a phobia of it, but seeing pictures of the deep ocean with nothing around has always given me the creeps, and this story does an amazing job at really bringing out the fear.
I give the book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and the audio recording ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I'm looking forward to reading more of John's books
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