The Lower Power: A Novel

by Michele W. Miller

In the latest thriller from critically acclaimed Michele W. Miller comes a “superbly written tale of urban survivors fighting to save themselves once more.” ( Publishers Weekly).

A gripping reimagining that weaves together supernatural suspense with historic events of the early 1990s.

As New York City’s crack epidemic rages, Raven has overcome her addiction and will soon begin law school. But night terrors have begun to haunt her and her friends. Many of them return to drug use, disappear, or commit bizarre acts of violence. A mysterious new drug epidemic grips the city, while police misdirection, a U.S. attorney campaigning for mayor, and riots hamstring the city’s defense. Raven and her friends—along with a journalist trying to help a teenage prostitute—must stand up to the sadistic man behind the chaos or lose all they’ve gained. Yet, as recovering addicts, they are the most vulnerable to his inexplicably attractive powers.

The Lower Power combines the supernatural and social history for fans of Whitley Strieber’s The Wolfen and Gabino Iglesias’s The Devil Takes You Home.

Genres: Horror, Fiction

386 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2024

Reviews

[Kate Mettler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC for this amazing book. I am blown away at how good this book was and how much I liked it. As someone who knows New York so well I loved how I could really imagine being there and how accurate locations and routes were. I have never read a book like this before so it was a little out of my comfort zone but I am so impressed with how this book pulled me in from the start. Kind of like the characters in the book. This book was so descriptive to the point it was playing out like a movie in my head. What an amazing book to end my year on. Will definitely be keeping an eye on this author and what else she releases. As dark and gritty as this book was, she did dark and gritty to perfection.

[Cynthia Corral · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars, absolutely outstanding!
You know how for several years, every book with a woman in it was touted as "the next Gone Girl!!!" but it turned out the books were totally unrelated and usually not even good?
This book is the next "The Stand" and it totally, totally is. And The Stand is one of my very favorite books in the whole world.

I was worried about reading this book - I had seen the author on Threads, asking people to review her book. I didn't know the author, and I don't read much horror these days, but something made me request it from NetGalley. In the past, when random unknown authors ask for a review, it almost never goes well. This one was different. 5 stars, no doubt about it.

This is The Stand rewritten with a new drug in New York instead of the flu, and an evil presence who could be Randall Flagg reborn. There is a large group of random characters and you learn to really care about all of them. There are very strong female characters. The story moves along at a nice pace (I flew through this in 24 hours, I didn't want to put it down), the dialogue is real and with only a couple moments of exposition. The locations and action are vividly written and read like an action packed thriller/horror film. You are brought into dreams you will wish you never shared. Characters you care about will die. When a new character is revealed at the very end, it brought tears to my eyes.

Is it as good as The Stand? Well, I dunno, The Stand is a pretty high bar and also the original. But The Lower Power knows what it is talking about and it also moves along at a constant fast pace, instead of the long slow sections that plague The Stand. To be clear, it is also not a copy of The Stand, it stands as its own original book with just strong Stand vibes. If Randall Flagg was rebirthed in 1992, this would be his next story.

I loved it.

Thank you to the author and to NetGalley for allowing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I honestly loved this and am now super excited about my TBR list for 2024.

[Rosalinde Block · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG!! One of the most spellbinding thrillers I've read, terrifying and fabulous!!! CRINGEWORTHY!! BINGEWORTHY!! I COULD NOT PUT THIS DOWN!!!

[Laura Gross · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the first sentence you're pulled into an icy dark world of suspense thrumming with terror. Miller flings her unsuspecting characters through shock and panic until they come to realize they are battling a mysterious force that has the ultimate power to destroy them. It scared the heck out of me but I couldn't put it down! Loved it!

[Milt Theo · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded to 3. Intrigued by the synopsis for this book, I went ahead and asked for an ARC. It seemed to have everything: sci-fi elements, supernatural horrors, all told in style set in an older version of New York City. I did finish the book, but I hadn't realized how hard it would be to deal with the issues of the drug epidemic; I found it a bit too much, all points of view (and there are a lot!) always coming back to it, to the point that nothing else seemed to matter as much. I slowly realized that the author wanted to make a point about the treatment of addicts today rather than tell a story; once the point's made (and it is made, lots of times!), the story felt repetitive and simplistic.

[Nicole Hutchinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author and NetGalley to be an arc for this book.

This book really reminded me of the stand , but with drugs instead of the flu! It really was a great read , and the different characters really pull on your heartstrings. I’ve never heard of this author before but I’ll be keeping an eye out for more books from her!

4 stars.

[Cat Treadwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a tough read, but in the best way. It deals with a nihilistic, cynical and drug-fuelled world, where hope is a distant light on an unreachable horizon, and nobody can be trusted.

I felt myself being dragged down to sit with the characters - and then run with them as the story ramped up and the fears became less real-world (which were bad enough) and more otherworldly. Or perhaps just another level of madness?

Intense and engrossing.

[Nathaniel Darkish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-written and with breathless pacing, this supernatural drug/crime thriller managed to pull me in even though I'm not usually big on crime stories.

[Jenny McClinton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an E-ARC with a request for my honest review.

This eerie crime thriller follows Raven and others in her support group in a time where addiction has taken over New York.

Raven has been clean for a while, but lately she has been having vivid dreams of a creepy and mysterious man trying to bring her back to a place she no longer wishes to be.

Soon, she is not alone and the pull to a notorious street is becoming stronger, but with the police even turning a blind eye the group wonder how they will beat their struggles.

Who is this mysterious man? Does he have the power of control?

This eerie crime thriller is different and does keep you guessing whether there is a supernatural element to the mysterious man, which leaves you with a creepy feeling.

There are a few gruesome moments, but this adds to the tension and the fear of all the characters.

Overall, an eerie crime thriller where New York is being controlled by a mysterious power.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can’t wait to read another book by Michelle Miller. Addiction is a horror itself, so adding the element of addiction to a horror novel is a brilliant concept. Along with Victor Lavalle’s Lone Women, this is one of the best horror novels I’ve read this year. The bad guy was truly terrifying! Hard to put down with a group of flawed heroes you root for with all your heart!

[Horror Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author is known for her gritty thrillers and in this fantastic novel she takes the best of that genre and mixes it with a creepy dark blend of supernatural horror.

Raven, our protagonist,vis a recovering addict who has turned her life around and now persues her dream of being a lawyer. She's in a recovery group with people she befriends and trusts and, together, they have each others backs.

These characters are sympathetic yet all of them have bleak backgrounds. Their addictions have led them down some painful pasts which they are attempting to overcome.

But when a new drug hits the streets, things aren't going to be so easy. This new drug turns people extremely violent and crime starts peaking in the city because of its influence.

With the police and city officials unable to stem the flow, and some police officers actually working for the dealer, things start becoming even more grim.

The antagonist behind this drug at first seems to be just another cruel powerful drug lord. But it soon becomes apparent that there's more to him, something evil and malevolent beyond a bad human being.

When Raven and her group begin their own investigation things turn very dark, very quickly. As former addicts, the pull and allure of this drug becomes overwhelming and, sometimes, too much to resist.

This novel is set in an alternative version of the 90s. It's gritty, it's dirty, and the author does a fantastic job of making this world come alive. The feeling of suspense and dread slowly seeps in and you'll find yourself jumping at certain scenes as things get progressively worse and bloody.

With the theme of addiction, overcoming adversity, and a great bad guy who oozes evil, this is a highly recommended book. Definitely pre-order your copy ASAP!

I want to thank the author for this ARC. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.

[Lacie W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️
TW: detailed drug use, mass shooting

Wow, this book was wild! I’ve never seen a thriller done this way before. Technically, I would say this is a paranormal thriller with almost a sci-fi feel. There are multiple, and I mean, multiple POVs. The names sometimes tripped me up, but within a few sentences I was back on track because the author cements the characters really well. I’d recommend reading this with a notebook from the beginning and writing down key qualities for each character if you’re the type to dislike multiple POVs. I say that because it’s definitely worth the read. The underlying message, in my opinion, is extremely important. Addiction is ravaging so many people, families, and communities. The Lower Power personifies addiction through a beast of a character and showcases multiple addicts and their fight against this demon. Remember that addiction does not discriminate. It loves all kinds of kinds.

One minor issue with this book is that the word meth is used in short for methadone, which is a completely different drug, and that could be detrimental for a reader without knowledge of the two. I would definitely correct that before publishing.

I received this ARC from BookSirens for free in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Dean Morini · Rating 5 out of 5]

A powerhouse of a thriller that entertains, while at the same time digging deep into the horrors of drug addiction and compassionately illuminating the hope that can fight it. Miller personifies the disease of addiction in a man of unimaginable evil, who can possess his victims though sheer will and their disease, even those in recovery, who he seems to enjoy targeting the most. He returns them to the days when they were their own worst enemy. Days of despair and degradation. But he underestimates the power of their fellowship and their unconditional love for one another. The book is hard to put down, and when you do, you are immediately compelled to pick it up again. But not only is it a great thriller, it also informs on a deeper level about the scourge of addiction and what we can do to fight it. I highly recommend this novel that will make you think twice before you dismiss out of hand the the next addict you see in the street.

[Louise Jensen Duffy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Dark, gritty, compelling, this grabbed me by the throat and didn't let go. I don't like to include spoilers in reviews but this definitely warrants the comparisons to The Stand - it's that good!

[Richard Gibney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set primarily in early 1990s New York City, The Lower Power – a brilliantly evocative contribution to the horror genre – casts a group of recovering addicts and their allies against a vile and terrifying yet awesomely compelling crack dealer whose powers extend into the supernatural realm. The novel capably embraces the era, touching on the Reagan administration’s glib “Just Say No” to drugs advocacy, and giving presidential candidate Bill Clinton a mention.

As if the horrors of crack or heroin addiction are not harrowing enough, the novel's antagonist, BG, can manipulate both those dependent on his drugs as well as the reformed addicts eager to stay clean, through their dreamscapes and various hallucinatory experiences – whether drug-induced trips or even more alarming fully sober delusions.

While showcasing some excellent horror, the work is also a subtle social and societal critique. The novel conveys how key figures in law enforcement can choose to keep crack dens open or to shut them down. With various characters embedded within the courts and public service systems – either professionally or because of their criminality – there is a sense that in order for people to be given a fair chance at redemption and, indeed, for justice to be meted out to those who warrant it, the conventional methods must sometimes be bypassed. Particularly true in a milieu where drug addicts are front-and-center, what makes this novel more engaging still is its supernatural aspect, played out against an at-times corrupt and at-times incredulous professional class. Main character Raven, for one, is both frustrated by the dismissive nature of a psychiatrist when it comes to the dreams she experiences and becomes a target of murderous police officers keen to do BG’s bidding.

The Lower Power by Michele W Miller is a brilliant, informed, and tensely realistic work of horror fiction. Get it today!

[Will Thatcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

In The Lower Power, Michele Miller's upcoming addiction fiction novel, there's a new drug running rampant in New York. If you try it once, you’ll be hopelessly addicted. It invades your mind, takes over your life, and puts you totally under its control. People are abandoning their families and committing violent atrocities. The city is under siege while the corrupt police force looks the other way.

This sounds familiar to anyone who lived through the crack epidemic in New York in the ‘80s, but Miller adds a supernatural twist to her story. There's an entity who personifies the drug. He represents pure evil and he wants to take over the city, turning it into a haven for addicted zombie customers.

On the other side of the conflict, Miller gives us a group of recovering addicts. They stick together and fight addiction with connection and the 12-Steps of NA. Their programs, spirituality and friendships are all put to the most extreme test as they band together in this epic battle, with nothing less than the fate of the world at stake.

Holy cow! What a premise! Miller pulls it all off beautifully. She creates a big cast of vivid characters who had me scrolling until my thumbs were sore.

In the world of addiction fiction this is a must-read. It is the second book of Miller's that I have read and reviewed. The first, The Thirteenth Step: Zombie Recovery, is currently my all-time favorite addiction fiction novel, but The Lower Power is right up there. It’s addiction fiction at its best.

[Elli (Kindig Blog) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I requested The Lower Power as I loved how gritty the blurb sounded – a sci-fi style epic set in New York City and centring around the drug epidemic.

Although I seem to be in the minority with my review, I really couldn’t get into The Lower Power and found myself struggling to keep engaged with it. I even put it down completely to pick up a different book at one point. I persisted but I’m not really sure it was worth getting to the end. Part of my problem with this book was the vast amount of points of view that we switched between for chapters. Some characters only had one chapter and it just made the book confusing. It was hard to remember who was who, and it also stopped you from properly engaging with the main characters and the people who were most important to the plot.

The story was interesting and I felt that it had a lot to say about how we treat addicts as a society, but it felt like it dragged a lot in places. The plot is quite simplistic if you list it out and I felt like there was too much filler and a lot of it felt repetitive. I didn’t really feel like the ending actually addressed anything and it wrapped up a little too easily with no real explanation. The cliff-hanger ending felt cliched and disappointing.

Overall, The Lower Power was not for me, with an unnecessary amount of narrators and a simplistic plot. Thank you to NetGalley & Victory Editing for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For more of my reviews check out www.kindig.co.uk

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's always refreshing when I find stories that center flawed characters with less-than-perfect backgrounds. So much of horror rests on perfect families and perfect people with perfect lives as a contrast to the horrors they face in the book, but The Lower Power departs from that template and forges a new path. Ms. Miller does an excellent job of presenting imperfect but multifaceted characters who must rely on one another as well as their inner resilience to withdstand the temptation of backsliding into old vices and destruction.

I also have a profound appreciation for Ms. Miller's sympathetic of the early-90s drug epidemic. As someone who remembers the biased, wall-to-wall media coverage during those days, there wasn't much understanding or patience for people struggling with drug addiction, so reading this healed a small part of my younger self who never understood why no one was helping these people with their problems.

This was very well-written, and I look forward to reading more from Ms. Miller.

[Dean Morini · Rating 5 out of 5]

A powerhouse of a thriller that entertains, while at the same time digging deep into the horrors of drug addiction and compassionately illuminating the hope that can fight it. Miller personifies the disease of addiction in a man of unimaginable evil, who can possess his victims through his sheer will and the aid of their disease, even those in recovery, whom he seems to enjoy targeting the most. He returns them to the days when they were their own worst enemy. Days of despair and degradation. But he underestimates the power of their fellowship and their unconditional love for one another. The book is hard to put down, and when you do, you are immediately compelled to pick it up again. Not only is it a great thriller, but it also informs on a deeper level about the scourge of addiction and what we can do to fight it. I highly recommend this novel that will make you think twice before you dismiss out of hand the next addict you see on the street.

[John Dolan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an artfully crafted novel involving drug use, violence, and the supernatural – but the way the narrative is handled, don’t assume this will be a depressing read (although it’s not an easy read either!). The skillful prose and movements of mood, the well-fleshed out characters, and interleaving of surprising elements, make for excellent entertainment – provided you’re not triggered by the darker constituents of life. There is also a sly humor at work throughout:
“Little’s wife leaned over the counter from her husband’s other side, her economy-sized ass jutting over the edge of her stool.”
This is the first book I’ve read by Michele W. Miller. I doubt it will be the last.

[Alyssa Berman · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I never had an issue with drug use, this made me entirely uncomfortable throughout reading it.

It was very well written, but the POVs all 699 of them, were hard to follow at times.

Based in a drug ravaged NYC in the early 90’s, this explores the ongoing epidemic that is drug addiction and a group of friends and their journey to stay clean while an unknown paranormal force causes pandemonium throughout the city.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC

Check trigger warnings for sexual abuse, drug use, violence.

[Moona · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Lower Power" by Michele W. Miller is a captivating read that delves into the complexities of power dynamics within relationships. With just 75 words, Miller skillfully crafts a narrative that explores themes of control, manipulation, and vulnerability. The characters are intricately developed, drawing readers into their world and making them ponder the subtle ways power can shape human interactions. Miller's prose is both elegant and thought-provoking, making "The Lower Power" a must-read for those interested in psychology and interpersonal dynamics.

[N.J. Gallegos · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a digital ARC from the author as the premise intrigued me.
New York City is under the grip of a new, very deadly, and addictive drug. Violent crime is also on the rise and there are whispers of a dangerous new kingpin in town: BG.

Miller's prose is fantastic. Her characters are well fleshed out and she builds the tension well. I'm hoping for a sequel. Highly recommend this book!

[Deborah S. Fernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing!

This is the fourth book that I have read authored by Michele W. Miller. Each time and especially with “The Lower Power” I was hooked. The book made me nervous and I stayed up late to reach the end. One gets to bond with the characters. Being a native New Yorker the familiarity with the journeys through the streets and subways paints a rich back drop. Highly recommend.

[Marsha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this tense supernatural thriller set in NYC's 1980s crack epidemic is like falling down a rabbit hole and hoping, praying that there's some way out. Miller creates an authentic cast of characters who will break your heart and make you sit up and cheer. Raven will stay with me for a very long time.

[Jeffrey Kuehn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Received as an arc. For me synopsis sounded better than what delivered. Maybe because I can’t grasp a drug addicts mind but recoveries who bettered them selfs just throwing away their positive accomplishments because of quick cash. Yes I know mind control etc but don’t put yourself in that position. Others will enjoy

[Tony · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a look into the epidemic of chemical addictions. I’m not fully able to understand it. But I think this is a good start for some. Yes it’s fiction but I feel it’s still true enough to be a good tool to learn from. I hope some will find it that way as much as being entertaining.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kira · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oooh this chilled me deep down to the bones. An excellent social horror set during the crack epidemic in NYC. Great characters, I wish we had more reasoning behind the main villains choices but hey. Still really enjoyed this one. It would make a great film.

[Irene Kalisz · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Lower Power was well written and an enjoyable read. I felt somewhat disconnected to the characters though, as their life experience with drug addiction was so unfamiliar to me. I received an advanced review copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twisty, gritty and disturbing at times. A well plotted mix of horror and thriller that kept hooked and turning pages.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine