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When I Look at The Sky, All I See Are Stars
Dr. Rachel Hoggendorf has seen it all. An accomplished psychiatrist, she’s always prided herself on connecting to the patients who’ve been brought to the facility, no matter how difficult or closed-off they are. That is, until David arrives.
At first, she listens to what David has to say. How he claims to be four-hundred-years-old and possessed by a demon. She diagnosis him as having multiple personalities and approaches his treatment as such.
But as their time together continues, David begins to share details he shouldn’t know and begins to lash out violently. When Rachel brings in her colleague Dr. Dravendash, David’s behavior escalates and it’s not long before they begin to wonder if David just might be telling the truth. That he’s possessed by a demonic presence… and it wants out.
A visceral, edge-of-your-seat novella, ‘When I Look to the Sky, All I see are Stars’ is everything you’d expect from 2X Splatterpunk-nominated author Steve Stred. Frantic pacing, hooves and horns and the growing dread that what lies beyond this plane is a land filled with ash and a place we never want to visit.
At first, she listens to what David has to say. How he claims to be four-hundred-years-old and possessed by a demon. She diagnosis him as having multiple personalities and approaches his treatment as such.
But as their time together continues, David begins to share details he shouldn’t know and begins to lash out violently. When Rachel brings in her colleague Dr. Dravendash, David’s behavior escalates and it’s not long before they begin to wonder if David just might be telling the truth. That he’s possessed by a demonic presence… and it wants out.
A visceral, edge-of-your-seat novella, ‘When I Look to the Sky, All I see are Stars’ is everything you’d expect from 2X Splatterpunk-nominated author Steve Stred. Frantic pacing, hooves and horns and the growing dread that what lies beyond this plane is a land filled with ash and a place we never want to visit.
120 pages, Paperback
First published June 24, 2024
15 people are currently reading
259 people want to read
About the author
Steve Stred
88 books672 followersAn award-winning author, Steve Stred lives in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, with his wife and son.
Known for his novels, ‘Mastodon,’ ‘Churn the Soil,’ and his series ‘Father of Lies’ where he joined a cult on the dark web for four years, his work has been described as haunting, bleak and is frequently set in the woods near where he grew up. He’s been fortunate to appear in numerous anthologies with some truly amazing authors.
His novel ‘Mastodon’ will be translated into Czech and Italian over the next few years.
His novel 'Churn the Soil' won the Best Horror Novel award in the 2024 Indieverse Awards.
His novel 'Mastodon' and his novella' Sacrament' were both nominated for Splatterpunk Awards.
He is represented by Kodie Van Dusen at The Rights Factory and Alec Frankel at Independent Artist Group.
Outside of writing, Steve received his Bachelor Degree in Kinesiology from the University of the Fraser Valley in 2008, and became a Certified Canadian Pedorthist in 2013.
Known for his novels, ‘Mastodon,’ ‘Churn the Soil,’ and his series ‘Father of Lies’ where he joined a cult on the dark web for four years, his work has been described as haunting, bleak and is frequently set in the woods near where he grew up. He’s been fortunate to appear in numerous anthologies with some truly amazing authors.
His novel ‘Mastodon’ will be translated into Czech and Italian over the next few years.
His novel 'Churn the Soil' won the Best Horror Novel award in the 2024 Indieverse Awards.
His novel 'Mastodon' and his novella' Sacrament' were both nominated for Splatterpunk Awards.
He is represented by Kodie Van Dusen at The Rights Factory and Alec Frankel at Independent Artist Group.
Outside of writing, Steve received his Bachelor Degree in Kinesiology from the University of the Fraser Valley in 2008, and became a Certified Canadian Pedorthist in 2013.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
March 4, 2025
3.5 stars rounded down.
"Do you know that moment when it gets dark, and you look upon the stars in the sky and you understand that each little light above is forever? That each shining beacon is where you could be, where you should be, and at that exact second, you could be whomever and wherever you longed to be?"
In all this was a trippy modern take on cosmic horror. I'm finding it a difficult book to review as there are equal elements which I loved and hated. As a story, I found it fairly hard to follow due to the switching in formats but this also gave it a quirky and original feel. I did love the cosmic horror elements the most, well minus the freaky ass creature sex. Stred clearly has a great way with words and creates stunning scenes throughout his storytelling.
I think maybe this is one that I'll revisit at a later date, now that I have a clearer understanding of the narrative as a whole.
Anyway, an enjoyable, refreshing and at times mind-bending read.
Oh, also I marked this down due to not gelling with the novelette included in this edition, soz Steve.
"Do you know that moment when it gets dark, and you look upon the stars in the sky and you understand that each little light above is forever? That each shining beacon is where you could be, where you should be, and at that exact second, you could be whomever and wherever you longed to be?"
In all this was a trippy modern take on cosmic horror. I'm finding it a difficult book to review as there are equal elements which I loved and hated. As a story, I found it fairly hard to follow due to the switching in formats but this also gave it a quirky and original feel. I did love the cosmic horror elements the most, well minus the freaky ass creature sex. Stred clearly has a great way with words and creates stunning scenes throughout his storytelling.
I think maybe this is one that I'll revisit at a later date, now that I have a clearer understanding of the narrative as a whole.
Anyway, an enjoyable, refreshing and at times mind-bending read.
Oh, also I marked this down due to not gelling with the novelette included in this edition, soz Steve.
June 16, 2025
An interesting concept let down by poor structural and format choices.
When I finished this novella and read the authors note, the primary cause of many of the issues I had with this became extremely clear – the narrative was originally intended to be epistolary.
The author acknowledges that a lack of familiarity with writing epistolary narratives ultimately led him to rewrite the novella in a more standard format. Unfortunately, I think he would have been better served persevering, as the lack of distance from the characters imposed by the more standard narrative format ultimately left the characters feeling hollow, and their actions inauthentic.
Many reviews mention the scene in which the female protagonist casually tells her co-workers (at the urging of her boss??) about a SA she experienced as a teen – an incident which goes largely uncommented on and for which the reader receives shocking little internal reflection. In an epistolary format, the reader would be free to fill-in context with our own understandings of what this experience might have been like for her. When we are, ostensibly, inside of her head, we are instead left wondering at her ability to casually explain an incident that had been, apparently, so traumatising that she had literally never spoken of it to another person.
The missed opportunities with this plot point alone were incredibly frustrating to me as a reader. Is she explaining this incident so casually and clinically as a means of distancing and detaching herself from what happened to her? How is it that she, a psychiatrist, has never sought clinical help for what she experienced as a teen? I think these are both interesting questions, and exploring them (even briefly) could have added some necessary character depth.
Further to this, I found it extremely strange that the trauma the protagonist experienced in her teens was not called back to or commented on during the final events of the novella, especially considering the graphic nature of what is described. Other readers may feel differently, but this definitely cheapened the impact of the ending for me, and makes this a difficult story to recommend.
I also feel that the inclusion of the short novelette ‘Claustrum’ as bonus content to this release is a mistake (at least in the current form), as the line-level writing could do with another round of edits. This short is not as strong as the title story, and brings down the overall quality of the release.
When I finished this novella and read the authors note, the primary cause of many of the issues I had with this became extremely clear – the narrative was originally intended to be epistolary.
The author acknowledges that a lack of familiarity with writing epistolary narratives ultimately led him to rewrite the novella in a more standard format. Unfortunately, I think he would have been better served persevering, as the lack of distance from the characters imposed by the more standard narrative format ultimately left the characters feeling hollow, and their actions inauthentic.
Many reviews mention the scene in which the female protagonist casually tells her co-workers (at the urging of her boss??) about a SA she experienced as a teen – an incident which goes largely uncommented on and for which the reader receives shocking little internal reflection. In an epistolary format, the reader would be free to fill-in context with our own understandings of what this experience might have been like for her. When we are, ostensibly, inside of her head, we are instead left wondering at her ability to casually explain an incident that had been, apparently, so traumatising that she had literally never spoken of it to another person.
The missed opportunities with this plot point alone were incredibly frustrating to me as a reader. Is she explaining this incident so casually and clinically as a means of distancing and detaching herself from what happened to her? How is it that she, a psychiatrist, has never sought clinical help for what she experienced as a teen? I think these are both interesting questions, and exploring them (even briefly) could have added some necessary character depth.
Further to this, I found it extremely strange that the trauma the protagonist experienced in her teens was not called back to or commented on during the final events of the novella, especially considering the graphic nature of what is described. Other readers may feel differently, but this definitely cheapened the impact of the ending for me, and makes this a difficult story to recommend.
I also feel that the inclusion of the short novelette ‘Claustrum’ as bonus content to this release is a mistake (at least in the current form), as the line-level writing could do with another round of edits. This short is not as strong as the title story, and brings down the overall quality of the release.
September 6, 2024
oof, this one really didn't work for me. I think the concept was intruiging, but the execution really wasn't it.
This is a novella that really should have been a full-length novel. That way, it could have built up the suspense beautifully. As it stands, a lot of stuff happened in a short span of time, giving the reader no time to connect with the characters and feel any sense of tension. An example: early on, when someone brings up the fact that David claims he is possessed and there are some strange signs supporting that, namely that David knows stuff he couldn't possibly know, the ONLY FEMALE doctor just tells her coworkers with very little prompting 'oh yeah David knew that I was raped as a teen and then forced to have an abortion by my parents, so that's strange isn't it? Also I guess you guys now know about it now as well even though I have never really told anyone about this.' Like WHAT? That is 1) something I don't think she'd just tell a bunch of guys if she hasn't ever talked about it before even though it is relevant to their current conversation, 2) a moment that we should have seen play out ON THE PAGE, not be told about afterwards. There was also very little description around that scene, e.g. about how she felt about being raped and forced into an abortion, or about telling her coworkers - some of whom she dislikes - about this, or about how shocking it must have been for David to somehow know about this and then confront her with it when she obviously never expected that to come up.
So yeah, I'm afraid this one just didn't work for me.
A minor point, but still something that irked me: I love interstitials! The ones in this book, though, weren't formatted at all (e.g. emails didn't look like emails, didn't read like emails, either), at least not in the kindle edition. That one is often on the publisher and not on the author, though.
This is a novella that really should have been a full-length novel. That way, it could have built up the suspense beautifully. As it stands, a lot of stuff happened in a short span of time, giving the reader no time to connect with the characters and feel any sense of tension. An example: early on, when someone brings up the fact that David claims he is possessed and there are some strange signs supporting that, namely that David knows stuff he couldn't possibly know, the ONLY FEMALE doctor just tells her coworkers with very little prompting 'oh yeah David knew that I was raped as a teen and then forced to have an abortion by my parents, so that's strange isn't it? Also I guess you guys now know about it now as well even though I have never really told anyone about this.' Like WHAT? That is 1) something I don't think she'd just tell a bunch of guys if she hasn't ever talked about it before even though it is relevant to their current conversation, 2) a moment that we should have seen play out ON THE PAGE, not be told about afterwards. There was also very little description around that scene, e.g. about how she felt about being raped and forced into an abortion, or about telling her coworkers - some of whom she dislikes - about this, or about how shocking it must have been for David to somehow know about this and then confront her with it when she obviously never expected that to come up.
So yeah, I'm afraid this one just didn't work for me.
A minor point, but still something that irked me: I love interstitials! The ones in this book, though, weren't formatted at all (e.g. emails didn't look like emails, didn't read like emails, either), at least not in the kindle edition. That one is often on the publisher and not on the author, though.
July 14, 2024
Stred's new book, 'When I Look at the Sky, All I See are Stars," is his best book ever: tight plot, skilled narration, a mix of slow- and fast-pacing that fits the bizarre story, and a bucketload of utter and grotesque insanity! Possession, Lovecraftian-inspired cosmic horror, several instances of gory and unsettling imagery, body horror, assault of all kinds, cannibalism and self-harm, and an atmosphere of dread, mystery, and suspense. The trope of demonic possession is employed in a very original way, blending religious and occult themes with cult and cosmic horror elements without undermining itself by too much psychological baggage. Everything felt just right, also very new, since Stred chose a writing style which allows for novelty: the reader learns of what's going on both directly and obliquely, via other people's testimonies; the glimpses into the possessed mind is at turns a matter of bare-bones descent into madness, at other times a disorienting experience of being told too much too fast, too soon. The novella's ending is quite hard-hitting - if it's really the ending. Ash and dust and dirt are the real stars of this story, so prepare yourself for some nasty swinging from the brutal to the beautiful to the macabre and back again!
July 28, 2024
Rachel is an excellent physiatrist. She's one of the best and has helped many people in her career. Then she meets David. She thinks he's just another patient until he claims he's a 400 year old demon. Rachel diagnosis him with mutual personality disorder...until David starts to talk about personal things about Rachel that he would never know.
I loved having a demon pov and dialogue! At first I was a bit confused because some chapters it's a demon talking to himself but it's not written as an actual conversation? ( If that makes sense lol) But once I paid more attention and got more into the book I was able to understand it. I enjoyed the twist, alot! This was my first book from this author and I'm extremely intrigued in his other books. I enjoyed the bonus story at the end and he also added samplers of his other books. If you enjoy demons and sprinkles of cosmic horror, you'll want to pick this up
I loved having a demon pov and dialogue! At first I was a bit confused because some chapters it's a demon talking to himself but it's not written as an actual conversation? ( If that makes sense lol) But once I paid more attention and got more into the book I was able to understand it. I enjoyed the twist, alot! This was my first book from this author and I'm extremely intrigued in his other books. I enjoyed the bonus story at the end and he also added samplers of his other books. If you enjoy demons and sprinkles of cosmic horror, you'll want to pick this up
July 21, 2024
3.5/5 (rounded up for GoodReads)
A very unnerving, unsettling read by Stred. As a lover of ‘Father of Lies’ I appreciated another look into the crazy world he created, inspired by a real world cult. I loved the mixed media aspects of this novella but I did find the change of POVs a bit confusing. Full disclosure, I did read this while dealing with a concussion so it could be just me. That being said, I did find it to be entertaining regardless.
‘When I Look at the Sky All I See are Stars’ is very creepy, the atmosphere keeps you on edge. Never quite knowing where things are going next. The demons/cult is rich in lore and all consuming. A really entertaining read by Stred that i definitely recommend. If you’re looking for a really solid possession/cult read then pick this one up.
A very unnerving, unsettling read by Stred. As a lover of ‘Father of Lies’ I appreciated another look into the crazy world he created, inspired by a real world cult. I loved the mixed media aspects of this novella but I did find the change of POVs a bit confusing. Full disclosure, I did read this while dealing with a concussion so it could be just me. That being said, I did find it to be entertaining regardless.
‘When I Look at the Sky All I See are Stars’ is very creepy, the atmosphere keeps you on edge. Never quite knowing where things are going next. The demons/cult is rich in lore and all consuming. A really entertaining read by Stred that i definitely recommend. If you’re looking for a really solid possession/cult read then pick this one up.
July 14, 2024
A wonderful continuation of the vile, gruesome, and sexually depraved Father of Lies series...
August 29, 2024
I recently read When I Look at the Sky, All I See Are Stars by Steve Stred, and I’m still not quite sure how I feel about it. This book falls outside of the genre I typically enjoy, and I found it challenging to connect with the main character, Davi s. No matter how much I tried, I just couldn't get into the way their journey unfolded that left me feeling a bit puzzled.
I found myself waiting for a deeper connection to form, but it never quite happened. While there were moments that intrigued me, overall, the story felt somewhat distant a
I think this might be a case of personal preference, as it’s clear that Steve Stred has a unique voice and a distinctive way of crafting his narrative. Unfortunately, it didn’t resonate with me as much as I had hoped. it was a difficult one to connect with.
I found myself waiting for a deeper connection to form, but it never quite happened. While there were moments that intrigued me, overall, the story felt somewhat distant a
I think this might be a case of personal preference, as it’s clear that Steve Stred has a unique voice and a distinctive way of crafting his narrative. Unfortunately, it didn’t resonate with me as much as I had hoped. it was a difficult one to connect with.
February 13, 2025
Well, wasn't this a nasty little tale?
This was my first taste of Stred's writing, and it won't be my last. This is a horrible little tale that starts out deceptively calm, before Stred puts the pedal down and hits the reader with unrelenting horror.
It's gross, it's gory, it's profane, it's perverted...exactly what it needs to be for the story being told.
And that's the thing...Stred, I think, hit the exact right balance here. It's a fine line in horror stories, telling a story and delivering exactly enough horror, enough off-putting scenes without going too far, without stepping over that fine line into excessive, gratuitous violence or gore. Stred walks that line here.
The included story, "Claustrum" is a bit less successful, only because, I think, there's an entire history being packed into the 20 short pages for that story. It didn't feel like it hit with exactly the same emotional punch of the main story, but it's still absolutely a good read.
I enjoyed my time in Stred's hellish world. I'll be back for another ride.
This was my first taste of Stred's writing, and it won't be my last. This is a horrible little tale that starts out deceptively calm, before Stred puts the pedal down and hits the reader with unrelenting horror.
It's gross, it's gory, it's profane, it's perverted...exactly what it needs to be for the story being told.
And that's the thing...Stred, I think, hit the exact right balance here. It's a fine line in horror stories, telling a story and delivering exactly enough horror, enough off-putting scenes without going too far, without stepping over that fine line into excessive, gratuitous violence or gore. Stred walks that line here.
The included story, "Claustrum" is a bit less successful, only because, I think, there's an entire history being packed into the 20 short pages for that story. It didn't feel like it hit with exactly the same emotional punch of the main story, but it's still absolutely a good read.
I enjoyed my time in Stred's hellish world. I'll be back for another ride.
September 20, 2024
When I Look At The Sky, All I See Are Stars is a stirring, fast-paced gore-filled frollic through shadows and sternums. Stred’s delivery is impeccable.
November 30, 2024
This book is short but sweet, though it has too many elements for the length that it is. It would have been better had it been a full sized novel, with more and better worked out parts of the plot. Still, Stred is a writer to discover more.
August 5, 2024
I really enjoyed this! It has some really creepy moments and I wasn't sure how it was going to end. The pacing is perfect and the writing style draws you in. This is a great horror novel and one I would recommend! Special Thank You to Steve Stred, DarkLit Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 24, 2024
This was my first Steve Stred read ever - and honestly he’s become one of my favorite indie authors.
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I'm a huge fan of Possession Horror so I was immediately attracted to this book after reading the description. Not much scares me in the way of Horror anymore, but this novel definitely spooked me. Between the pentagrams on the pages and the descriptive imagery of Beasts far too vast for us to comprehend, Steve Stred's writing has the uncanny ability to make you feel a sense of dread. I felt like I needed to be looking over my shoulder to make sure nothing was in the room with me. I devoured this book in a day, absolutely fantastic read!
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I originally read this novel as an ARC on NetGalley and loved it so much I pre-ordered a physical copy. Then some publishing shenanigans ensued, and the novel was taken down for a minute. But, it’s back now - and available to read on Kindle Unlimited or purchase as a Kindle ebook. If you’re going to purchase the novel make sure you purchase the ‘Author’s Preferred Edition’.
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If you love possession horror I highly recommend reading this novel!
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I'm a huge fan of Possession Horror so I was immediately attracted to this book after reading the description. Not much scares me in the way of Horror anymore, but this novel definitely spooked me. Between the pentagrams on the pages and the descriptive imagery of Beasts far too vast for us to comprehend, Steve Stred's writing has the uncanny ability to make you feel a sense of dread. I felt like I needed to be looking over my shoulder to make sure nothing was in the room with me. I devoured this book in a day, absolutely fantastic read!
.
I originally read this novel as an ARC on NetGalley and loved it so much I pre-ordered a physical copy. Then some publishing shenanigans ensued, and the novel was taken down for a minute. But, it’s back now - and available to read on Kindle Unlimited or purchase as a Kindle ebook. If you’re going to purchase the novel make sure you purchase the ‘Author’s Preferred Edition’.
.
If you love possession horror I highly recommend reading this novel!
October 16, 2024
"When I Look At The Sky, All I See Are Stars" by Steve Stred is a fascinating and disturbing cosmic horror novella that instantly pulls readers into what appears like demonic possession but is something else entirely.
Psychiatrist Dr. Rachel Hoggendorf is thrown for a loop when she takes on David as a new patient at the facility. At first, she believes he's suffering from a multiple personality disorder. But over time, Daniel begins divulging information about people that he shouldn't know, and has no way of knowing, and he begins to turn aggressive and violent. Rachel turns to her colleague Dr. Dravendash for help, but as David's symptoms grow worse, the two start to wonder if he might be telling the truth after all and he is a four-hundred-year-old demon, one that is looking for a way out.
This brilliant, thrilling read will keep readers guessing what's happening to David. Is he just crazy? Or is something so seriously and horrifically wrong with him that it is inexplicable? The multiple perspectives continue to generate more questions about who David is and what's happening to him while giving readers insight into other characters. Rachel and Dr. Dravendash especially are smart and good at their jobs, if not a little competitive with each other. The two of them clash heads over their patient, adding to the surrealness of their situation because if they can't figure out what's going on, then surely that's a sign something bad is happening. Something beyond what is explainable and, perhaps, rational.
There are content warnings at the beginning of the book to be aware of such as self-harm, body horror, mental health issues, and gore. Despite being aware of these warnings, there were places where these themes became a bit much for me and prevented me from enjoying the story as much as I would've liked. Overall, I found the story intriguing and unlike other horror novels I've read in the past, so it was easy to be pulled into the storyline and become invested in David's character.
Lovers of horror, the strange, and otherworldly will enjoy this new story by Stred expected to be published on June 24th, 2024. Thank you to NetGalley and DarkLiit Press for providing me with an e-arc of this novel and the opportunity to share my honest opinion in this review.
Psychiatrist Dr. Rachel Hoggendorf is thrown for a loop when she takes on David as a new patient at the facility. At first, she believes he's suffering from a multiple personality disorder. But over time, Daniel begins divulging information about people that he shouldn't know, and has no way of knowing, and he begins to turn aggressive and violent. Rachel turns to her colleague Dr. Dravendash for help, but as David's symptoms grow worse, the two start to wonder if he might be telling the truth after all and he is a four-hundred-year-old demon, one that is looking for a way out.
This brilliant, thrilling read will keep readers guessing what's happening to David. Is he just crazy? Or is something so seriously and horrifically wrong with him that it is inexplicable? The multiple perspectives continue to generate more questions about who David is and what's happening to him while giving readers insight into other characters. Rachel and Dr. Dravendash especially are smart and good at their jobs, if not a little competitive with each other. The two of them clash heads over their patient, adding to the surrealness of their situation because if they can't figure out what's going on, then surely that's a sign something bad is happening. Something beyond what is explainable and, perhaps, rational.
There are content warnings at the beginning of the book to be aware of such as self-harm, body horror, mental health issues, and gore. Despite being aware of these warnings, there were places where these themes became a bit much for me and prevented me from enjoying the story as much as I would've liked. Overall, I found the story intriguing and unlike other horror novels I've read in the past, so it was easy to be pulled into the storyline and become invested in David's character.
Lovers of horror, the strange, and otherworldly will enjoy this new story by Stred expected to be published on June 24th, 2024. Thank you to NetGalley and DarkLiit Press for providing me with an e-arc of this novel and the opportunity to share my honest opinion in this review.
March 10, 2025
I hate leaving “bad” reviews, but I really didn’t care for this book. I just really didn’t care for the writing style or dialogue. Throughout the entire book, I thought that I was just being overly critical and thought that I was just being picky about the way it was written, but then I got to the author’s note and realized that the author wrote it that way on purpose.
Knowing that he did it on purpose definitely changed things, because at least I knew it wasn’t me imagining things. But with that being said, this writing style was just not my vibe.
And I also did not care for the audio narrator either.
I really only finished the book because it was short, and I knew that I could power through it. But another interesting thing to note, is that the Kindle version of the book is 162 pages long, but the story itself was only 111 pages long. The last 50 pages consisted of the afterword and sneak peaks of the authors other works. Which was just interesting, I’ve never seen that big of a chunk in a book not actually be part of the story itself.
All in all, I feel bad for leaving this review because I am definitely not an educated book critic. All I can do is explain my experience and my overall vibe with this book, and people are welcome to take it or leave it.
I also want to mention that I am not suggesting, nor would I ever suggest that other readers should not read a specific book, or that it’s a waste of time/money or anything of the sort. Just because I didn’t like something doesn’t mean a million other people won’t love it.
So take this review with a grain of salt, it’s just the opinion of one person!🫶🏼
Knowing that he did it on purpose definitely changed things, because at least I knew it wasn’t me imagining things. But with that being said, this writing style was just not my vibe.
And I also did not care for the audio narrator either.
I really only finished the book because it was short, and I knew that I could power through it. But another interesting thing to note, is that the Kindle version of the book is 162 pages long, but the story itself was only 111 pages long. The last 50 pages consisted of the afterword and sneak peaks of the authors other works. Which was just interesting, I’ve never seen that big of a chunk in a book not actually be part of the story itself.
All in all, I feel bad for leaving this review because I am definitely not an educated book critic. All I can do is explain my experience and my overall vibe with this book, and people are welcome to take it or leave it.
I also want to mention that I am not suggesting, nor would I ever suggest that other readers should not read a specific book, or that it’s a waste of time/money or anything of the sort. Just because I didn’t like something doesn’t mean a million other people won’t love it.
So take this review with a grain of salt, it’s just the opinion of one person!🫶🏼
April 16, 2025
Content Warning: Rape. Abortion. Orgies. Cannibalism. Extreme Gore. Extreme Sex.
This was an odd one for me. It had an allure that I cannot deny, but at the same time, I feel like it was done in a way to illicit more of a visceral reaction than I was prepared for.
It was brutal. It was lonely. It was intense. It was all around an updated take on the cosmic horror genre. We always think of HP Lovecraft when we think of cosmic horror, but we never really think of Alistier Crowley, or the Thelema belief system. I really enjoyed this foray into the 12 Gods of Chaos. It was as unique take and one I was thankful for.
The writing was crisp and at times a bit juvenile in its approach; almost like a teenager was writing an extreme horror novel for the first time. The plot was solid and the introduction of the Gods of Chaos was new and interesting. There were certainly moments during the book that I was uncomfortable and didn't know how to take in what I had just read. But, I am definitely intrigued by this world he has introduced and look forward to more in the "Father of Lies" mythology.
This was an odd one for me. It had an allure that I cannot deny, but at the same time, I feel like it was done in a way to illicit more of a visceral reaction than I was prepared for.
It was brutal. It was lonely. It was intense. It was all around an updated take on the cosmic horror genre. We always think of HP Lovecraft when we think of cosmic horror, but we never really think of Alistier Crowley, or the Thelema belief system. I really enjoyed this foray into the 12 Gods of Chaos. It was as unique take and one I was thankful for.
The writing was crisp and at times a bit juvenile in its approach; almost like a teenager was writing an extreme horror novel for the first time. The plot was solid and the introduction of the Gods of Chaos was new and interesting. There were certainly moments during the book that I was uncomfortable and didn't know how to take in what I had just read. But, I am definitely intrigued by this world he has introduced and look forward to more in the "Father of Lies" mythology.
July 2, 2024
I want to thank Netgalley for an advanced ARC of this short story
When I Look At The Sky All I See Are Stars is a great book to read, I found it fun and engaging with a nice horror but also supernatural twist.
We follow a therapist who has a patient named David but there is more to David than meets the eye, many paths are taken with him but with no prevail, I would say that bit started to get more interesting for me around the halfway point where things started to become more involved in both the characters David and Rachel the therapist... the twist and turns were well done giving off an unsteady feeling & being able to see the story play out.
I have never read this author before but this was a great first experience and I am now interested in reading more of the twists on goings in his other work.
When I Look At The Sky All I See Are Stars is a great book to read, I found it fun and engaging with a nice horror but also supernatural twist.
We follow a therapist who has a patient named David but there is more to David than meets the eye, many paths are taken with him but with no prevail, I would say that bit started to get more interesting for me around the halfway point where things started to become more involved in both the characters David and Rachel the therapist... the twist and turns were well done giving off an unsteady feeling & being able to see the story play out.
I have never read this author before but this was a great first experience and I am now interested in reading more of the twists on goings in his other work.
October 13, 2024
This was a trip.
I love that Steve actually managed to keep me guessing on if this was demons or just some crazy guy, which it happens lol .
Going in I’m like eh this is demons as usual but Rachel has me convinced maybe I’m wrong and this is just another run of the mill crazy guy.
Oops
Is this a case of an unreliable narrator, or is this a case, of seeing is believing and we better catch up real quick on some lore.
This may seem a little slow in the start but stick in there, when everything drops , you will need to hold onto your book , kindle, whatever you are reading on.
I was so pumped after this I had to make sure i had his new book, Invisible, and i just so happen too. My hopes are sky high for another knock out after reading this one.
I love that Steve actually managed to keep me guessing on if this was demons or just some crazy guy, which it happens lol .
Going in I’m like eh this is demons as usual but Rachel has me convinced maybe I’m wrong and this is just another run of the mill crazy guy.
Oops
Is this a case of an unreliable narrator, or is this a case, of seeing is believing and we better catch up real quick on some lore.
This may seem a little slow in the start but stick in there, when everything drops , you will need to hold onto your book , kindle, whatever you are reading on.
I was so pumped after this I had to make sure i had his new book, Invisible, and i just so happen too. My hopes are sky high for another knock out after reading this one.
January 23, 2025
For a tiny book, this sure had some extraordinary detailing. The beginning was a bit confusing, as I didn't understand who was speaking, and then it kept switching from first to third person. As I progressed through the story though I understood what was going on, and very much enjoyed it. I failed to note that this book was a psychosexual book though, so when the sexual scenes came up, I was a bit shocked, but the way they're written was unlike anything I've seen before when it comes to scenes like that. It was very amusing, and very satisfying to read, and it is similar to one's extremely dark fantasies. I thoroughly enjoyed it, as small as it was. It only took about 30 minutes to read, but those 30 minutes were fantastic!
November 25, 2024
This novella was extreme and incredibly fast paced. Beginning by introducing you to a talented psychiatrist meeting with a patient, and ending with some of the most epically described cosmic horror that I’ve read, this multiple POV story was hard to put down or take a break from, despite its brutality. The descriptions, especially toward the end, were really beautifully horrible, so much so that I have thought about how brutal this books depictions are long after finishing it. If you are a fan of cosmic horror, demon lore, and aren’t squeamish, check this one out. This is my second book by this author and I will continue to seek them out!
August 30, 2024
An erotic cosmic horror which will have you questioning your sanity.
This is my first Steve Stred book, so I wasn't sure what to expect, but wow! I'm so glad I read this novella. I love erotic horror, and this was a really unique story within the genre.
There is a lot packed into this novella, we have a psychologist/patient, we have dual POVs, we jump forward and backward in time, and graphic sex with cosmic monsters.
Because this is a novella I don't want to share too much about the story, but here are some things you can expect:
Erotic horror tropes
👹 Monster orgy
👹 Knotting
👹 Chaos Gods
👹 Religious possession
This book is best read after making an appointment with your therapist. Trust me, you'll need it.
This is my first Steve Stred book, so I wasn't sure what to expect, but wow! I'm so glad I read this novella. I love erotic horror, and this was a really unique story within the genre.
There is a lot packed into this novella, we have a psychologist/patient, we have dual POVs, we jump forward and backward in time, and graphic sex with cosmic monsters.
Because this is a novella I don't want to share too much about the story, but here are some things you can expect:
Erotic horror tropes
👹 Monster orgy
👹 Knotting
👹 Chaos Gods
👹 Religious possession
This book is best read after making an appointment with your therapist. Trust me, you'll need it.
July 15, 2024
Hi my friends! I read this a novella and I was trapped into this book immediately! There is shocking twist in this story where a psychiatrist brings to light an actual possessed patient. I won’t go into more detail as this is a novella. My question is why? The author will know my question and he’s the best in the business. I recommend a read and ask your own questions. This should have been a novel. MHO.
September 29, 2025
Lean and arresting, 'When I Look At the Sky..." does a lot with it's short page count. Cosmic horror with some real teeth. Nothing *too* extreme but we're definitely not just going mad due a vague shadow. Stred shows and tells with admirable restraint, while still reveling is the messier aspects of horror.
As an introduction tot he author, I hope this is indicative of what I'm going to find exploring more of his work.
As an introduction tot he author, I hope this is indicative of what I'm going to find exploring more of his work.
August 31, 2024
A psychiatric team doesn’t know what to make of their patient. He presents as potentially schizophrenic, possibly suffering from DID and/or religious mania. But he knows impossible things. And if he knows these secrets, could he be telling the truth about everything else? A wild, unsettling novella that will keep you guessing & make you question your place in the cosmos.
November 6, 2024
This book is so original with how it tells its story as well as the narrative itself. Stred does something completely outside of the conventional way to tell a story and I'm absolutely here for it! This isn't going to be for everyone, but for those lucky individuals who love a cosmic horror that takes chances, you're in for something truly special!
September 4, 2024
Straight forward horror
This horror novella combines the is the patient battling a mental health issue or is he possessed trope with an eldrich-type monster story. I liked the story, but would have liked a bit more background about the characters.
This horror novella combines the is the patient battling a mental health issue or is he possessed trope with an eldrich-type monster story. I liked the story, but would have liked a bit more background about the characters.
October 6, 2024
Is he faking it? Does he have multiple personalities? Or is it something more sinister?
This was a wild ride, especially towards the latter half when cult influences were involved. As creepy as you’d expect from the cover, worth reading during spooky szn.
3.5/5 ⭐️
This was a wild ride, especially towards the latter half when cult influences were involved. As creepy as you’d expect from the cover, worth reading during spooky szn.
3.5/5 ⭐️
September 9, 2024
Damn, this novella is unrelenting in its hold on you.
Well done on another great horror story, Steve.
Well done on another great horror story, Steve.
September 17, 2024
loved this
The cover drew me towards this book. The first I’ve read by this author & I loved it. Will definitely read more from him!
The cover drew me towards this book. The first I’ve read by this author & I loved it. Will definitely read more from him!
October 26, 2024
This felt undercooked to me. Jumpy and disjointed. Spooky but I wanted it to lingerrrrrr.
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