In Excess of Dark

by Red Lagoe, DarkLit Press

What if every terrible thing imagined came true? Every fleeting, nightmarish thought a reality? For grief-stricken Karina, her newfound ability to turn her worst daydreams into palpable truths has sent her into a downward spiral of depression and guilt. Coupled with the appearance of an enigmatic shadow figure and visions of her dead family, she grapples to maintain her sanity while desperately attempting to harness her abilities and reunite with her loved ones.

Genres: Horror, Novella, Fiction, Adult

135 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 15, 2024

About the author

Red Lagoe grew up on 80’s and 90’s horror and carried her fear of slashers, sewer creatures, Hitchcockian birds, and psychos into adulthood where she now purges her horror-ridden mind onto the page. She is the author of the upcoming novel "Bloodstains by Gaslight" (Brigids Gate Press 2025), "In Excess of Dark" (Sobelo Books), and three horror collections including "Impulses of a Necrotic Heart". Red has stories published in various anthologies and magazines, and she enjoyed her role as curator and editor of "Nightmare Sky: Stories of Astronomical Horror". Red also worked as a staff writer for Crystal Lake Publishing’s "Still Water Bay" series. In addition to writing, Red loves creating art using traditional fine art mediums like paint, ink, and charcoal. She is also the owner of Death Knell Press.

Reviews

[Mort · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full review at The Mort Report:
https://www.uncomfortablydark.com/the...

“It’s no surprise to me
I am my own worst enemy.
‘Cause every now and then
I kick the living shit outta me.”
MY OWN WORST ENEMY by Lit

This turned out to be stranger than I thought but ended up being better than I expected.
This is a brooding story, very dark and gloomy, and I will admit that I was not as motivated at the halfway point to finish the story, but damn, when it picked up I was invested right to the end.
I feel like I can’t say too much about this story because I really liked the angle it took, and I found it unique in its own way.

So, I am writing a short review and saying that this is a very atmospheric horror story and I think the readers who stick with it will reap the rewards. It might be emotionally draining, though, so prepare yourself accordingly.

5 STARS!

[✮ osanna aoki ✮ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grief is a monster. A real-world monster that ravages the body and mind and spirit.

In Excess of Dark is a novella riddled with grief and the supernatural. It’s the heartbreaking, bleak tale of a woman trapped so deeply in her escalating sorrows and morbidly dark thoughts— that the darkness she wallows in begins to take form.

Karina has recently lost her father. Depression and sadness roll off of her in waves. Darkness clouds her brightest days, and the grief of losing her loved one becomes unbearable.

Estranged from her mother and old friends, Karina clings to her husband and son. She plans a trip to the mountains for the family— reminiscent of the better years of her childhood, when her father was alive and her mother a loving provider.

But Karina can’t escape the dark. She can’t help her morbid thoughts. While driving through the mountainside, she manifests the demise of her family. Her thoughts explore a fatal accident— one that leaves her husband and son dead.

What was once a bleak, passing thought becomes a reality that leaves Karina breathless and broken.

Now grieving the death of her family, Karina’s internal gloom begins to take shape. A shadow-like figure has clawed its way out of her body and into her world. Already crippled from grief, she begins to question her sanity, too.

This book is both raw and guttural. It explores the darkest parts of the grief process and the desperation of those trying to survive it. At times feeling like Karina’s reality is bent— the supernatural presence gives the book an eerie feel. The reader will question whether the main character is in her right mind, or if grief is just that powerful.

I absolutely devoured In Excess of Dark. The writing was beautiful and wilted, somber and lonely. While reading this novella, Karina’s descent into darkness felt excruciatingly real.

The bad thoughts don’t stop, and Karina’s manifestations and negative thoughts continue to build until the book’s shocking and anguished end.

Grief truly is a monster. It makes one desperate to hold on, and it’s excruciating to let go.

Karina’s story is all about that, and wow— it broke my heart.

In Excess of Dark is a ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ star read for me. Grief horror is already one of my favorite sub genres— adding extra elements to ramp up the plot just makes it that much better. This is a perfectly blended tragic tale. If you like your horror a bit more bleak, this is the book for you.

[Steve Stred · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Huge thanks to DarkLit Press for the eARC of this one. Disclaimer – I have a novella releasing in 2024 through DarkLit, but in no way did this influence my thoughts on this book*

I’ve been a fan of Red’s work for sometime now and her short fiction is some of the best stuff you’ll ever read. Now, with this novella on the horizon, I was excited to see what she’d created, especially after reading the synopsis. Much like Gran’s ‘Come Closer,’ this one seemed to be a story that would walk that line between ‘is this real or not,’ and that always makes for a fun time in the horror world.

What I liked: The story follows Karina, a wife and mother who has always had to contend with her mind rapidly running through the darkest thoughts possible about every situation. Brakes are going to fail, the bungee will snap, the house will catch on fire. On and on, her entire life she’s struggled with it, but even worse – as her mother likes to remind her – sometimes the thoughts she’s having come true.

So, it comes that after a horrible moment occurs, one that happened exactly how she imagined in, Karina spirals into the depths of grief. Her family is gone. But something else has arrived. A strange black blob that seemingly can take the shape of those departed.

From here, Lagoe does a masterful job of keeping the reader guessing – is this actually happening, or is Karina sleep deprived and hallucinating. It never lets up and to make matters worse, we see Karina continue to spiral and grow unhinged. She stops talking to those who love her, holes up in her house, quits her job and focuses on what she needs to do to somehow bring those gone back to her.

This all culminates in a phenomenal ending where we see Karina become truly unhinged and in a macabre way, live out the dreams many aspiring writers long to obtain. It had me grinning like a maniac and the machine-like precision with which Red delivers this ending was magical.

What I didn’t like: We do get a tiny smidge of background story aspects surrounding Karina and her father, but I wished it was expanded upon a bit more.

Why you should buy this: This novella is going to knock the socks off every reader, much the same way Marceau’s, ‘This Is Where We Talk Things Out’ did. Lagoe has crafted a truly unnerving story that walks so close to the edge time and time again and ultimately leaves that question – Is this real or a hallucination? – firmly in the hands of the reader to determine.

Outstanding work.

[thevampireslibrary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Graphic horror meshed with themes of depression and guilt, makes this novella pack one hell of a punch, seriously, Red may as well of caught a flight knocked on my door and socked one too me, the prose is powerful and takes the reader into an abyss of sorrow and grief, I love when authors keep the reader in the dark, ambiguity for me is a trope I really enjoy, and Red does an excellent job of making us question, is this all actually happening? Is it hallucinations? The ending? BRAVO I actually stopped breathing as I finished this book, highly recommend this to fans who like their horror on the dark side

[Netanella · Rating 4 out of 5]

"In Excess of Dark" is most definitely that - dark and bleak and black. Black as Hades, black as death, black as the dark and morbid thoughts of wife and mother Karina, who seems to be losing her mind in this horror novella. Karina suffers a tragic accident that leaves her reeling, a tragedy for which she struggles to find any sense of closure.

At the same time, Karina starts seeing things in her distraught state of mind, and she begins to believe that she can cause violent events to occur if she fantasizes about them. Is Karina slowly descending into madness, or is there something supernatural happening?

For a novella, there are metric butt loads of graphic violence, body horror, death, dying and suicidal ideation. This story is most definitely not for the faint of heart. As a mother myself, there were a few parts where I cringed and felt very uncomfortable.

Did I enjoy this read? Most definitely! Would I read another book by this author? Hell, yes!

Just be prepared for a very heavy ride!

[Richard Bankey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark horror story well worth your time.

[warhawke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre: Horror
Type: Standalone Novella
POV: Third Person
Rating:
4.25 Stars



Since she was young, Karina recognized the darkness that dwelled within herself. When her gruesome daydreams turned into reality, she embarked on a quest to get her family back regardless of the consequences.



While this book is a graphic horror, it has an underlying tone of grief and depression. Karina carried a burden that became heavier as she attempted to fix her mistakes. I sympathized with her situation, but at times her choices were questionable.

In Excess of Dark is a story of guilt and desperation. It would appeal to readers looking for a quick horror read.




▪️💀▪️. . . (F)BR with Twinsie CC . . . ▪️💀▪️




For more reviews/interviews/book talk/promo visit:



For graphics, trailers & author services visit Warhawke Design Studio.

[OutlawPoet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a little book that tells a huge story about grief.

I don’t suffer from depression, but my God if I did? This book may have pushed me too far. It definitely pushed me to a depth that I’m not accustomed to.

The book is very well written and I found that I cared so much about our Main Character. And lest my talk of grief and sorrow hint otherwise, this is still one harrowing horror story.

While this is my first book from the author, I will absolutely read them again.

ARC via Publisher

[CC · Rating 4 out of 5]

4★

Since she can remember, Karina had dark thoughts that often manifested into reality. Fearing her nightmares became the norm, but Karina is determined to embrace what exists deep within her.

“Her most innocuous, wandering bad thoughts became reality - not the things she truly wanted."

After a certain part in the story, I was unsure of Karina’s path, especially given her grief and the stigma attached to her tendencies. However, once Karina accepts what she is capable of, she becomes unstoppable which was intriguingly gruesome but also poetically woeful.

In Excess of Dark a horror novella where emotional limits are tested and consequences defy explanation.


*This was a (F)BR with Twinsie Hawkey*


For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:

[Yolanda Sfetsos · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been looking forward to reading this novella for a while, and thanks to Red I got a chance to experience the darkness that is this brilliant story.

Karina is still dealing with the death of her father when she heads to the mountains for some family fun with her husband and teenage son. But life has a way of making her most dreaded thoughts a reality...

Wow. This is an intense story. It's also very sad and quite unsettling. The vivid, macabre imagery is as disturbing as the psychological situations Karina finds herself in. A lot of what happens is presented in a way that makes the reader question if everything she's seeing and experiencing is actually really happening. Or is everything just the delusions of a grieving woman who blames herself for all the awful things in her life?

I found this novella to be very emotional. A fever dream that you don't wake up from because things never stop coming. Karina deals with a lot, and that ending is... Yikes!

Yeah, this is an awesome and quite gruesome story. Loved it!

[Krystle Rouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The universe is a harsh motherfucker, an expanse of nothingness that devours the light, but her dad had taught her to seek those pinpoints of light and hold on for dear life.”

Trigger Warnings
- grief
- Death
- Themes of loss
- Gore
- Horror
- Suicidal ideations

This book delves into the dark abyss of grief and loss. This book definitely gets ominous furthermore burrows into heartache/bleakness of the themes of destruction and bereavement. This book kept me on the edge of my seat and biting my nails to the very end. I loved it!

Thank you to NetGalley, DarkLit Press, and Red Lagoe for providing me with a free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

[Cassie Daley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was VERY dark! I loved how gory it was, some of the descriptions here were absolutely horrifying and disgusting -- especially the end, wow! The main character's grief is so well described, anyone who has dealt with a big loss will be able to relate to Karina's difficulties after so many people around her die. There are moments where the reader can't be sure if things are really happening to her, or if she's imagining it due to her mind breaking down from stress and pain, and I loved that sort of unsettled vibe to this. I also especially loved the setting -- a lot of the story takes place in or around the Blue Ridge Mountains, which I've driven through multiple times and could so perfectly imagine the twisty roads and steep cliffs.

Super fast paced, I read this in one single sitting and barely looked up from the screen. Each new encounter Karina faced was more disturbing than the last, and I couldn't pull myself away from finding out how her story would end. Emotionally raw and filled with A LOT of blood, this was a great little novella!

___________________________

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(Got a copy from Netgalley, thanks to the pub & author!)

[Taylor Dawicke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alllllllllright this was a strange one. For a while I had no idea where this story was going but I enjoyed it in the end. I loved the horror aspect it felt really unique in execution- the physical darkness manifesting from her own mind to cope with grief and loss was really intriguing.

Wasn’t sure how to feel when I started it but so happy I decided to read it! Thanks Darklit Press for a copy of this!

4 stars and well worth the time spent reading

[Mindy'sBookJourney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy for review through NetGalley.

Karina is grieving and has discovered a very dark new special ability. She can make her most horrible imaginings come true. Haunted by a mysterious shadow figure and grotesque visions she desperately tries to use her gift to bring her family back from the dead.

This was a fantastic grief horror novella that follows a character in the deepest darkest pit of despair and the lengths she will go to see her family again. The characters are very believable. The horror and emotion are both incredible in this story. This is a novella I would highly recommend to all in the mindset to handle the dark content.

[Overlook Hotel · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my top reads for 2023. Absolutely brilliant 👏🏾

[Tobin Elliott · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The universe is a harsh motherfucker, an expanse of nothingness devouring light, but her dad taught her to seek those pinpoints of light, to reach for them and to hold on for dear life."

Grief is a monster. Loss is a monster. Monsters that can both climb in your head and tear out your guts...and their ability to wound—and to continue to wound—can take years to abate. But once they've sunk their claws in, they never truly go away, and they can cause pain when you least expect it.

Playing in the same sandbox as King's PET SEMATARY and L.C. Marino's BURY THE CHILD, this novella digs just as deep into the grief, but comes at it from a different angle.

I will say, initially, I felt some of the imaginative sequences Karina had (especially on the way to the campsite) went on a little too long and were a little over-detailed, but then, as the story progressed, it made total sense, and I settled into the story.

Lagoe doesn't shy away from the uncomfortable aspects of the story, and allows us insight into some very unpleasant aspects of Karina's grief, which I admired. It's the portions of the story where Karina deals with her relationship with her son Xander—and reveals the feelings he had for her as well—that, to me, are the strongest parts of this story.

My only complaints—and they're both minor quibbles, to be honest—are that there's two characters I would have preferred more insight into. There was a point through the story that I felt as though Gavin (Karina's husband) had been somewhat forgotten. I would have liked to have seen more of Karina's thoughts toward him and their marriage as the story progressed. As well, largely because of the impact he obviously had on his daughter, I would have enjoyed a bit more insight into Karina's father and his dealing with the darkness.

However, as I said, these are more "nice to have" and not "need to have" elements.

I must also give a shoutout to Sobelo for putting together a really good looking book, with incredible illustrations by the author tipped in at strategic points. Just a well put together book.

[Brian B Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm unsure what's been happening with horror lately, but I've read many books with grief themes.

I've read a few books by Red and loved them. This book hit a little differently.

I attempt to find myself in the character while doing a review. This book is close to home.

My brother passed away a few years ago. It was sudden. It took us by surprise. I think about him often. He popped up a lot while reading this one, as did my father-in-law, who passed a few years before my brother.

This story opens with the main character and her family going on a trip. She thinks about their trip but has the idea that they're going to die. This is a thing with her, something she and her mom fought about.

The grief and thoughts of grief. The pain of being left and thinking she did something to cause it fills this story.

I thought about my brother and wished I could have been there more for him. I never thought I caused his death. It was a fluke thing, but we all dive into the deaths of our loved ones in different ways.

I wanted to bring them back and solve our problems with them while they were alive. Those thoughts permeated my mind while reading this. I think about my brother once a week anyway, but this book brought it out more.

I enjoyed this book, even with the emotions I felt while reading it. A good book will always bring out emotions. I loved how Red dove into the underlying issues with her mom and how she found a way to bring things back. How she was able to confront her mother. All of these things made the character believable. It gave the story a richness that made me blow through it.

I can't wait to reread this one.

[L.C. Marino · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fast, grief-stricken, creative work from Red Lagoe! Red takes her signature style to the next level as she blends grief, paranormal, and supernatural elements in this gripping story. This book is well-aligned to fans of Laurel Hightower and Eric LaRocca. Want to have fun for a few hours? Run between the Blue Ridge mountains and the beaches of coastal Virginia as you flee death and the inescapable shadow of your darkest thoughts. Yes, it's going to be that kind of party.

Can we manifest reality from our darkest thoughts? What's worse? Never seeing our dead loved ones again or losing our sanity to keep the dead close? And can we please have a chainsaw and an undeniable "Hell yeah!!!" moment? Yes, we can.

[Sandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Excess of Dark by Red Lagoe

I was given an advance copy by Darklit Press in exchange for my unbiased review. I went into the book book completely blind, which was recommended. My review does not reveal spoilers beyond the blurb.

Have you ever wished you could will something into existence? Longed for the return of a loved one? Secretly had dark thoughts about someone you know? This book dives into the darkest parts of our psyche and forces us to explore the places we rarely dare to dwell.

We take a journey into grief, loss, broken relationships, regrets, and unthinkable outcomes. The book is a very fast read due in part to the number of pages, but mostly due to my inability to put it down. The ending was both satisfying and haunting.

Highly recommend checking this one out. 4.5 stars. I’ll definitely check out more of Red’s work after reading this.

[Shandi York · Rating 5 out of 5]

Horror is my home and grief horror is my absolute favorite. 𝗜𝗻 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗮𝗿𝗸 had me so sad, but also wondering if this was a weird fever dream, is she hallucinating, is she in the hospital in a coma or hooked up to morphine? I just didn’t know. I felt so devastated for Karina, but also intrigued at her ability and couldn’t wait to see how this played out. The ending was perfect and I couldn’t have wanted more. I can’t wait to read whatever Red Lagoe puts out next. 𝗜𝗻 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗮𝗿𝗸 will be published 3/15. Thanks to Dark Lit Press for my eARC!

[Deven VanKirk · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I feel like the author did an excellent job with the details of grief. I can't imagine going through what the MC does. Nor can I imagine the journey she takes to try to make it right, for herself. Overall, this is an excellent read that I will definitely be recommending.

The only reason I gave this 4 stars instead of five, is that the last quarter of the book was hard to follow.

[Rachel M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grief is a strange thing. You never know how you, or another will act when it comes to it. In our life time we all have to deal with grief, there is no right way or wrong way, but you do have to deal with it somehow. How will Karina deal with hers? This is a dark and at some points verging on bizarre kind of book that pulls on the heartstrings.

[christy - pr0bablyreadingsmut · Rating 5 out of 5]

while definitely still a horror story, this hit closer to home than i ever expected it would. dealing with immense grief, our main character is both literally and figuratively shrouded in darkness. her pain is palpable from page one. what a beautiful, terrifying, heart wrenching story.

five stars covered in shadows.

[Kate | Date With A Thriller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an incredibly dark novella about loss and grief, and I loved every minute of it. 🖤 I found the FMC to be truly relatable in her grief, even bringing myself to tears at a couple points in the story.

If you’re a fan of grief horror, you definitely need to pick this one up!! I know I will be checking out more of Red Lagoe’s work! 🙌

Thank you to Dark Lit Press, Andrew Robert, and Red Lagoe for the opportunity to read and review the eARC in exchange for my honest review. 🖤

TW: grief, loss, depression, suicidal thoughts

[eellim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it. I loved it. I loved it. The most heinous shit comes true. Twenty out of ten.

[Dustin Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given a copy of In Excess of Dark for an honest review and boy was it a wild ride. I went in completely blind, as was the intention of the ARC release. This book was so fun, I never knew what was going to happen next, it starts off strong and then keeps punching. There is loss, regret, resentment, catharsis and like the title suggests, darkness. I don’t want to give an overview of the plot because I think it’s most effective to go in blind like I did, but I will say it deals with the theme of manifesting what’s in your mind. I had never read anything by Red Lagoe but I will definitely be looking for more of her work, I loved the story and I loved the ending. I give this story a 4/5 and I thank Andrew Robert and Darklit Press for providing me the opportunity to read this story and for introducing me to a new author to consume.

[Christine Harrold · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book perfectly capture the “horror book bout horror writers writing horror” genre.

Lagoe tells the story of Karina who thinks that her dark, horrific, vivid imagination can influence the real world, can manifest horrific events.

Is Karina depressed like her artist father? Or is she stalked by the same dark shadows that control her life? If she can manifest her worst fear with her stories can she use these same stories to control the shadows?

The novel explores depression, generational trauma, grief, regret and desperation. And wowza, it is dark and that ending was SHATTERING.

[Alex | | findingmontauk1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Red Lagoe really said, "GRIEF HORROR FOR EVERYONE!!" and she totally nailed it. I read this in one sitting and was enthralled and devastated the whole time. MAJOR grief horror on the same level as Pet Sematary or The Decent for me. And the whole time she had me wondering if this was really happening, if the main character was hallucinating due to lack of sleep and sadness, etc. It was INTENSE! Each scene/chapter just gave more and more until that chilling ending. And this is also just a reminder and confirmation that those concrete bathrooms at campsites and whatnot are actually just pure terror fuel because it's scary to be alone in them, have a snake or spiders in there, or even something hairy in there... like... YIKES! Outstanding novella!

[Rowan Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grief horror in every sense of the genre. Very poignant in places and downright explicit in some. Red’s voice is so distinct in her writing, if you have read and enjoyed her work before, you won’t be disappointed, and if she is new to you, you’ll love it anyhow.

[Katherine Silva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Swelling with darkness and all kinds of beautiful, terrifying imagery, Red Lagoe's In Excess of Dark is a grand step into the well that is grief. How it consumes Karina and puppeteers her into further personal mayhem is a mesmerizing journey readers will lose themselves in.