Shsskish: a novelette

by Alana K. Drex

Winslow doesn’t appear on any maps. It lies down a certain cemetery road, hidden past a grove of trees. But that doesn’t stop Tarah and Nathan from finding it one fateful spring day in 2006—an unfortunate pitstop on the way to their new life. Yet, nature’s song sings sweetly here, and the quaint atmosphere and sights seem to speak to a simpler time.

But what the couple can’t see is the struggle and strife its townies endure in maintaining this time capsule of a town. And while they never asked to find out any of those finer details, they are set on a collision course, rocketing toward something that could prove to be as deadly as it is dark.

Genres: Horror

127 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 3, 2023

About the author

I like to read a range of horror and i like to write a range of horror. It can get messed up. W/ Love, Be Warned

Reviews

[Rachaelbookhunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Happily married Tarah and Nathan are on their way to their new life, but first they take a little break down a path off the road. Up ahead is a little cemetery. What could be better for a little rest? Only it turns out they're not as alone as they thought. The town of Winslow is up ahead and they're about to have an unexpected detour. It doesn't matter if no one has heard of the place or that it seems stuck in time. Winslow will welcome them with open arms.

This novelette is perfect for those hot days just before the cool weather of Fall arrives. It's perfect for Halloween also but it's Summer in Winslow and there is ice cream for everyone!

Despite being a quick read a lot happens in this horror tale. It starts off creepy right away and there is a sense of dread. I wanted to reach into the book and help the characters out but alas their story is filled with horror.

I didn't know what to expect but what I got was creepiness, shock, and a little humor in this b-rated horror film inspired story. The originality is awesome. I would enjoy watching this as an episode of a supernatural show or I guess as a b-rated horror film. I also think there's potential for more stories related to Winslow!

If you're a horror fan you've got to read this! Shsskish, shsskish, shsskish....

[Brian Bowyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic!

SHSSKISH is an outstanding novelette. It's fast, cinematic, and entertaining from the first page to the last. You're gonna have a lot of fun with anything Drex releases. Highly recommended to all fans of great fiction!

[Joshua Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, I doubt I’ll be eating either honey or ice cream for quite some time. Thank you for that, Ms Drex.

I blasted through this novelette in a single day. We’re taken on an unexpected adventure, riding shotgun alongside this young couple who have the unfortunate pleasure of being taken to the secluded town of Winslow. Things are off with this place from the get go, and our uneasiness is slowly confirmed as we get to know the history of the townsfolk, summer solstice, and the dreaded Lords and Saviors.

This story is a page turner, and absolutely a perfect example of B horror. I can honestly see it as one of those movies that has you laughing both in fear and utter disbelief at the sheer madness you’re witnessing—especially in that third disturbing act.

Alana Drex has managed to paint a vivid picture of this creepy town and pack tons of lore in in such a short space. I loved the villains, so original and out of left field (which made certain reveals even more awesome). You might think this is a typical cult abduction tale at first glance, but trust me, you have no idea what’s in store for you if you decide to pick up this book (which you most definitely should).

[E. Reyes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went into this story without knowing what to expect, and it delivered! This is the perfect summer read (or, hell, even spooky season read) with the right amounts of B Horror, gore, gross-out, dark comedy, and what the eff moments. Drex has a wild imagination and knows how to write some fun horror.

[David Washburn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so much fun!

I bought this sort of blind. I trusted it was worth my time when I’ve read this author’s previous book “Sleeping Celeste”. I literally bought this off the name alone because I was curious.

Talking about this will be fun.

The town of Winslow doesn’t appear on any maps.

When a young couple are driving along and stop to practice making babies on the side of the road, some kid is watching them.

The kid runs off and as the couple are driving some weird old-timey kids stand in the road and cause them to crash.

What follows is everything that you could guess would happen. Mysterious town offers to nurse them back to health. Feed them and set them up for lodging….

And that’s when the cicadas came… jk 🤪
(Or am I?)

I won’t say much more but this book is wild.

Alana K. Drex has a fun story in this one. A lot of chaos is in her vehicle of creativity and I loved this one.

It’s short though!
So why not take this one for a spin?

Grab your ice cream cone and open wide for what comes next.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, this was such a bizarre, yet very enjoyable and engrossing read! A young couple gets trapped in this eerie village of Winslow where nothing is as it seems at first sight. I couldn’t get my head around it a first, wtf is going in that place. 🤯 It’s an original and disturbing tale and I will definitely pick up more of this author. Already downloaded sleeping Celeste. 🤩

[Aaron Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ray Bradbury meets H.P. Lovecraft (with a dash of John Wyndham) in this extremely fun ‘B-Movie’ of a book. Alana K. Drex is a writing magician, fitting so many fun and scary things into so few words.
Picturing it in my mind as I read, it was black and white with Lon Chaney as Pastor Ralston (even after I was informed that he looked like Elijah Wood ), Vincent Price as Dr. Morrison, and a young Fay Wray as Tarah.

[M.G. Mason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Small town USofA full of shady characters who might all be related because of how isolated they are is a well-used trope in horror fiction. But Alana K. Drex has managed to take this trope, make it immediately familiar, and still do something new with it.

It's fun, quirky, occasionally funny, with some genuinely freakish moments.

This was brilliantly bonkers in the best possible way, a great homage to several subgenres, and very different from the author's other story I have read (Sleeping Celeste which I highly recommend).

[H. Everend · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Review to Come*

[Paige Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a blast reading this Folk Horror Novelette! I felt creeped out and in a constant state of "wtaf" throughout. That's a win in my book. xD

Shsskish follows a young couple who decide to stop for a short rest break in the town of Winslow. This town holds an evil that is longing for members to join the Lords and Saviors and the leaders are... CICADAS. Yep. A religious cult with cicadas for leaders. I thought I heard it all until now.

Drex did a wonderful job crafting this story. I was hooked from the beginning and binge read this in one sitting. I had to know how this crazy story would end!

If you enjoy folk horror surrounding religious cults and bug horror then this is the book for you!! I encourage my fellow horror lovers to add this to their TBR.

[lee_readsbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tarah and Nathan are a young married couple that come across an old, deserted cemetery.
This particular cemetery leads to a small town of Winslow. Things seem a little strange from the get go, the people, the town, atmosphere. It doesn't take long for Tarah to get suspicious of the quaint old town but it's too late, summer solstice is here and the newcomers will be joining the party.
This novelette is a perfect example of dark humour/B grade horror.
I'm now even more creeped out by bugs and the thought of icecream is making my stomach churn.
A perfect read for an Aussie coming into summer!

[Emily Lorié · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is promoted as a B-movie-style story, but Alana scooped up and served so much more depth than expected. It felt like a slow summer day while moving along rather quickly.
All of the important elements were included in this delectable yet disgusting treat, and Alana sprinkled some extra signature magic all over it. Grab a spoon and dig in!

[Kevin L · Rating 4 out of 5]

Old school horror fun

Go into this like you’re watching a 70’s B horror movie and you’ll have a blast. Don’t stop and think, just roll with it!

[Gab · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alana K. Drex may be one of the most versatile horror writers out there. She debuted with a novel that feels gothic, professional, with outstanding characters studies, and now she wrote this novelette, just for fun, that re-evokes all the fun of spending summer nights watching horror B-movies with friends, their grotesque creature running through the VHS tape as you eat junk food.
If you ever loved those films, you'll love this.
If not, pick up 'Sleeping Celeste.'
Either way, Drex is taking names.

[Julie Hiner · Rating 5 out of 5]

A creative gem that will send chills down your spine.

Shsskish is a perfect snack for the lover of weird horror.

When Tarah and Nathan find themselves derailed on a road trip, nothing can prepare them for what they are about to see. They become in a small, hidden town, completely isolated from the world.

This novelette is absolutely packed with an ample amount of horrifying events. The fate of Tarah and Nathan is more bizarre and chilling than you could ever imagine.

I am a fan of Drex. I loved her debut novel. I am thrilled that she opened up her amazing creativity to share this delightful novelette with us, a snack to keep us satisfied, until her next novel is birthed.

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are a fan Lovecraft horror or enjoy a story with Lovecraftian vibes, this novelette is a must-read. The story is well-written, the plot is straightforward and delivers plenty of gore, gross-out moments and disturbing imagery, which leans more towards fantastical horror than psychological depth. Unfortunately I prefer my horror to be grounded in realism and delve into psychological intricacies. Nonetheless, for those seeking imaginary creatures blended with a “B horror movie”- vibe, this story will undoubtedly satisfy your appetite.

[Stuart Knott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was very excited to finally getting around to “Shsskish”, not just because of the intriguing premise but also because Alana is one of the most enthusiastic and passionate indie authors about, and her writing is always unique and provocative. For “Shsskish”, Alana focuses on small-town horror; things are a bit “off” in Winslow, an isolated community of deeply religious inhabitants where outsiders tend to disappear and a constant, strange buzzing (the titular Shsskish) hangs in the air. Despite it’s secluded nature, passers-by like Tarrah and Nathan Sanderson are drawn into the town for a bit of secluded privacy and run afoul of its inhabitants, largely overly friendly and welcoming people who nonetheless pledge themselves to their mysterious “Lords and Saviors” and are willing to do anything, however gruesome, to appease these monstrous overlords.

Alana does a wonderful job of building tension throughout “Shsskish” regarding the secrets that lie slumbering in Winslow; by following a handful of key characters, she gradually fleshes out this mysterious town and their ways while also offering wry commentary on religious fanaticism and questions of faith. Her characters are very well-rounded considering the novelette’s short length, with even antagonistic characters being conflicted by shades of grey and her main characters, especially, showing an amusing defiance even when presented with horrific situations.

About halfway through “Shsskish”, I was reminded “The Midnight Meat Train” (Barker, 1984; Kitamura, 2008) and the works of H.P. Lovecraft, particularly in the reveal of the novelette’s gruesome monsters and the hold they have over Winslow. Alana leans into these elements with a tongue-in-cheek playfulness, presenting gore as sudden and horrific but also relating the ways characters react to these events in a realistic and darkly humorous way. All of these elements made “Shsskish” a really fun read from start to finish and it definitely feels like Alana had a good time weaving this bizarre little story together.

[Nadine Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

🍦🍯
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It’s quite fitting I read this little novelette this month. Last November I read Sleeping Celeste by Alana and it blew my mind and is still one of my favorite horror reads. Shsskish is no exception. A bit on the lighter side than Sleeping Celeste but still insanely gripping. It has a very ominous tone from the beginning. I didn’t know what to expect going into it but it gave me all the disturbing culty vibes.
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“ 𝚆𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚕𝚘𝚠 𝚍𝚘𝚎𝚜𝚗’𝚝 𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚎𝚊𝚛 𝚘𝚗 𝚊𝚗𝚢 𝚖𝚊𝚙𝚜. 𝙸𝚝 𝚕𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚊 𝚌𝚎𝚛𝚝𝚊𝚒𝚗 𝚌𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚛𝚘𝚊𝚍, 𝚑𝚒𝚍𝚍𝚎𝚗 𝚙𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚊 𝚐𝚛𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚛𝚎𝚎𝚜. 𝙱𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚍𝚘𝚎𝚜𝚗’𝚝 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚙 𝚃𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚑 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙽𝚊𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚗 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚒𝚝 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚏𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚏𝚞𝚕 𝚜𝚙𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚍𝚊𝚢 𝚒𝚗 𝟸𝟶𝟶𝟼—𝚊𝚗 𝚞𝚗𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚞𝚗𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝚙𝚒𝚝𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚙 𝚘𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚢 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚒𝚛 𝚗𝚎𝚠 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎. 𝚈𝚎𝚝, 𝚗𝚊𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎’𝚜 𝚜𝚘𝚗𝚐 𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝚜𝚠𝚎𝚎𝚝𝚕𝚢 𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚚𝚞𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚝 𝚊𝚝𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚙𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜 𝚜𝚎𝚎𝚖 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚊𝚔 𝚝𝚘 𝚊 𝚜𝚒𝚖𝚙𝚕𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎.
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𝙱𝚞𝚝 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚙𝚕𝚎 𝚌𝚊𝚗’𝚝 𝚜𝚎𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚐𝚐𝚕𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚏𝚎 𝚒𝚝𝚜 𝚝𝚘𝚠𝚗𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚖𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎 𝚌𝚊𝚙𝚜𝚞𝚕𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚊 𝚝𝚘𝚠𝚗. 𝙰𝚗𝚍 𝚠𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚗𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚊𝚜𝚔𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚢 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚜𝚎 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚎𝚛 𝚍𝚎𝚝𝚊𝚒𝚕𝚜, 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚜𝚎𝚝 𝚘𝚗 𝚊 𝚌𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚜𝚎, 𝚛𝚘𝚌𝚔𝚎𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚘𝚠𝚊𝚛𝚍 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎 𝚊𝚜 𝚍𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚕𝚢 𝚊𝚜 𝚒𝚝 𝚒𝚜 𝚍𝚊𝚛𝚔.”
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There is so much packed into this short novella. I’d love to see a sequel down the line. Part way through I had to look up cicadas and what they look and sound like (we don’t have them near us in the Pacific North West). I was even more terrified after that rabbit hole. 😂 Such a fun, horrifying, quick read. I highly recommend it!

[M. Shays · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're looking for something that makes you think Twilight Zone meets Wrong Turn this story is the perfect quick fun read.

Starting out with the classic horror trope of a married couple pulling off the highway to get frisky on a back road cemetery. I mean what can possibly go wrong, right? 😒😆

Our couple, after having some naughty pleasure time, meet a local boy who's looking for his missing brother. They end up trying to help him, only to end up trapped in a small hidden community that has been lost in time. What originally feels like charming olden times little quaint community quickly turns far more sinister. The things the young couple are about to face will blow your mind. Will they survive pulling off into this old cemetery or will those raging hormones write their fate in blood?
I promise you want to read this bizarre story that both feels classic Hitchcock & modern cult horror. Alana does a fantastic job crafting fast-paced reads that pull you in & doesn't let go. I can't wait for more stories from her!

[Jeffrey Zion · Rating 5 out of 5]

Winslow is one of those rare stories that feels both familiar and unsettling at the same time. What begins as a simple roadside stop for Tarah and Nathan quickly shifts into something far more absorbing. The town itself is described with such charm, quiet streets, the pull of nature, a sense of being untouched by time, that you almost want to linger there yourself. But that beauty is edged with unease, and the deeper you read, the clearer it becomes that Winslow’s timelessness comes at a cost.

What makes the book so compelling is the tension between surface and depth, between the quaint façade and the hidden struggle of the townspeople who hold it together. The author doesn’t rush the revelations, instead letting the atmosphere build until you realize the characters are caught in something far darker than they ever expected. It’s haunting, atmospheric, and thought-provoking, the kind of book that asks you to look closer at the places and people that seem perfect at first glance. Highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys suspense wrapped in beautiful, lyrical storytelling.

[A.D. Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shsskish is the love child of 80’s slasher movies and lovecraftian nightmare fuel.

This starts of with such a wonderful small town, isolated, ‘we keep to ourselves’, vibe that had me sucked in from page one, setting up something uncomfortable, and tension filled that I was fully excited for.
Where it went from there was absolutely not what I was expecting, but it delivered on having me engrossed nonetheless!

Having read Sleeping Celeste earlier in the year, I already knew that Drex was capable of excellent writing, but while still excellent, the difference between these books is night and day. It’s always a joy when a writer is capable of tackling completely different styles of writing and still delivering quality content.
Shsskish feels like a really sinister B-movie, with mind-blowing absurd moments that still pack in a great deal of depth and intrigue to the story.

[Eric Woods · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never Get Lost in an Old Town That Has Bugs

In what could be called Children (and Adults) of the Corn (but bugs replace the corn), this short and twisted tale follows an unfortunate couple who finds trouble in an old town still living hundreds of years in the past. That alone should tell you nothing good is going to come of their misfortune. It’s a cool plot although I question the emotional reactions of the characters when the bad stuff is happening. Oh, and being from central Illinois, I HATE cicadas. So that added an extra element of creepiness for me. Not to give spoilers, but this book is not for fans of happy endings. But it did open with a Def Leppard quote. You can’t go wrong there.

[Billy Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A couple encounters a strange town off the grid. You've heard this before, we all have, but Drex takes this in an exciting direction that seems like it shouldn't work, but it does -- and it works in spades. The humor is dark and prevalent, and the imagery is painted like a gory nightmare.

The read can be done in a couple of hours, but you will want to revisit it since the character development is done so well, and you get that 'Killer Clowns from Outer Space' - type vibe. Drex keeps putting out the most fascinating tales.

[Kerry]

A young couple on their way to a big life change stop enroute in a secluded spot to…let’s say blow off steam. They’re unaware they’re being watched by a peculiar boy. When they try to do a good deed, they’re embroiled in a sinister plan that involves an ancient town on no maps, seriously deranged citizens, and a creepy creature. This is Alana K. Drex’s atmospheric novette, Shsskish, and it’s sticky as honey on the imagination, but not nearly as sweet. This folk horror will remain in the reader’s imagination long after concluded, however!

[Alana K. Drex · Rating 4 out of 5]

What would it be like to lose myself in the golden summers of a century past? That's the question I asked myself and then put a horror-bent to it, keeping it B-rated. A quick creature feature I wrote one summer home with my young sons, it came to me pretty fluidly and I hope those that like B-rated horror find it!

[Cristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a unique take on folk horror. You’ll instantly root for the lovable couple that kicks off the story. Their connection is expertly crafted and deserving of empathy. There’s this unsettling ghost town that resembles other creepy small towns in various B movies, but with a unique touch. From various points of view, all the characters, even the main villain, prove to be captivating. The story is bizarre yet disturbingly funny.

It was a perfect read for a hot summer day. The sound of cicadas filled the background as I read this during my vacation in Greece. It definitely made me feel a little uneasy. :)

[E.C. Hanson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Drex continues to lull readers in with her atmospheric vibes while she saves the hammer for the end. A fun-filled little tale that will make you shake your head over and over again.