Home

by Alexander Michael

A Home Without A Dog Is Just A House.

Something wakes little Kelly Bradwyn from sleep every morning, and it is not the play attacks from her beloved labrador, Link. Something dwells in the attic. Surely her neighbour's ouija board is the solution to all her problems.

Home Is Where The Heart Is.

As the Bradwyn family prepare the farm for oncoming snows, a sudden earthquake heralds terror - an insidious presence stalking the halls; mysteries in an occult archive; nightmares of a strange world under scarlet skies.

And something else is approaching, wandering across the state on an insane pilgrimage.

Home Is Under Siege.

130 pages, Hardcover

Published October 26, 2023

About the author

Alexander Michael is a writer of speculative fiction, and a member of the Australasian Horror Writers Association. The open sky is a wellspring of new ideas. What fuels his work is simply witnessing nature in its most raw forms. His fiction deals with the truth of things: midnight occurrences unseen by most; the past and its claws; and the magic that can still be seen if we open our eyes in time.

For fans of horror, fantasy, literary, and an intricate story.

Reviews

[Sharron Joy Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Home Without A Dog Is Just A House and Home is Where the Heart is.

A snowstorm is forecast and as the Bradwyn family batten down at their farm an earthquake brings darkness. Something is coming and a presence makes itself known.

Kelly and her faithful Labrador Link are the stars of this story of occult horror and strange happenings. This is speculative fiction and the prose is beautiful throughout. It is a haunted house story with a twist that includes the Ouija, otherworldly creatures, ghosts and spooky caverns. It is unsettling and creepy with a Eldritch horror vibe but the real take away is family is everything and when your back is against the wall you will do anything to protect them and a door once opened can let in more than we bargained for.

[RoseDevoursBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

There’s something lurking in the attic of the Bradwyn’s family home and ten-year old Kelly is determined to find out what it is. When her neighbor Liam brings over a Ouija board to communicate with the spirit that haunts the house, it only seems to exacerbate the situation and open doors for otherworldly creatures to come in through…

This was an entertaining little novella to read throughout a cold and snowy weekend. The atmosphere of an oncoming snowstorm added an extra layer of chills to this paranormal-mystery. It had everything I love - a haunted house, Ouija boards, spooky caves, ghosts and creatures from another dimension. The best part of all was the Labrador Retriever playing a big role in the story! I love when animals take center stage and Link did not disappoint - he’s loyal, he talks at times and even gets aggressive with the creatures trying to attack his family. He was an all around awesome addition to the story and I couldn’t get enough of him.

While I enjoyed reading this, there was a certain aspect that didn’t quite work for me. The main one being each characters internal dialogue in the third person all sounded the same for everyone. Even with the children, when switching from dialogue to describing the character's thoughts and feelings from an outside perspective, it sounded adult at times and there was a bit of a disconnection for me because of it.

All that being said, it’s still a solid novella with plenty of terrifying moments and it’s actually part 2 in ‘Vignettes’, a short series of prequels that will all eventually lead to a larger novel - though these prequels don’t need to be read in order and can work well as a strand-alone. I’ll be curious to read more by this author to see what other nightmares he conjures up next!

Many thanks to the author for an e-book of “Home” in exchange for an honest review.


3.5 rounded up to 4 stars.

[Sabrina Voerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Home" by Alexander Michael is a prime example of what can be done with a "haunted house" concept, taken to deeper, richer levels. While the concept of the haunted house genre is not new, the presentation and execution of it in Home definitely is.

Michael takes themes that we have seen before and turns them into spectres, haunting thoughts that plague the characters, and unsettling tones to put the reader into complete unease.

At the end of the day, the story focuses on family. What brings them together, what can tear them apart, what can create conflict within a person's mind about the people who they thought they could trust, and also what we will do to protect our family (pets included).

This is not the first time I've read through Home, however it was just as unsettling, eerie, and shocking the second time.

[Lorainne C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book it's well written, fast paced and an amazing book to start a little supernatural adventure with.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is new to the genre, since it's easy to digest and it perfectly sets the tone for what you will find if you keep reading paranormal suspense, mystery and a little horror.

The story progresses naturally and it doesn't feel forced.
It definitely kept me on the edge of my seat on those final chapters and wanting to know what happens after.

Must read!

[Lit.for.Lit · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story follows Kelly, Link, and the Bradwyn family as strange happenings disconcert their home. Kelly and her neighbor, Liam, seek a solution through use of an Ouija board which leads to unwanted answers. Meanwhile, on his own quest for answers, Kelly’s father uncovers the ominous history his neighbor is privy to.

This story includes elements of a haunting and premonition dreams that set it apart from other haunted house reads! All characters living, dead, and supernatural are well written. Each discovery keeps you on the edge of your seat!

Link is the absolute best friend! 🐕 You will amplify your appreciation for your pets after this story!

Read if you liked The Burning Girls by C.J. Tudor, Haunted Souls by Samuel M. Hallam, A Stir of Echoes, and Insidious!

[Jessika Glover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Home is a novella which toes the line between comfort read and spine tingling. The author's writing lures you in and backs you into a corner. Home is story that takes on the guise of a wolf spider. She comes on scene and births thousands of fears and phobias you didn't know you had until you're so far ensconced in the story, it's too late to turn back. If I had to categorize Michael as a writer, I would say literary horror. He has a lovely way with words and a razor sharp scythe that stays embedded.

[Robert Weaver · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think one of Alexander Michael's strongest points is his prose. He understands the medium of expression and he executes his skill to great effect, with a nice rhythm and attention to vocabulary. In many respects the story is simple (and this is not a criticism), which means there is much less to work with in terms of keeping the reader along for the ride. Home has great visual descriptions and atmosphere, and in terms of a novella, it really does hit all the key points and does so successfully.

Example: I started reading. I didn't want to stop. When I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about the story. What does that tell you?

Although Home is a stand-alone novella, there are two other novellas that are closely related: Everything is Summer and the newest release The Galleria, both of which really drive home Michael's quality prose and writing (I've separated these two things to emphasise the fact that this isn't a by-the-numbers author). These are must-read books for anyone even slightly interested in speculative fiction, and to see a writer on the cusp of something great.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I still need to write a review for this book. It is Book #2 but can be read as a "standalone " Book #1 "Everything Is Summer" is an absolute masterpiece.