Venom

La Douleur Folle #2

by Yolanda Olson

Masks are worn by those that seek to hide who they truly are.

I wear my real face day in and day out.

I’m never far away from those that need me.

I’m even closer to those that don’t.

Is life truly worth living or do those want to kiss the sweet lips of Death deserve the release?

Those that do aren’t worthy of being here.

Those that don’t are my favorite games to play.

I’ve found a new pawn; one that believes everything and nothing all at once.

That existence is meaningless and fulfilling all at the same time.

The worst is yet to come.

Genres: Horror, Dark

104 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 31, 2025

About the author

Yolanda Olson is a USA Today Bestselling and award-winning author. Born and raised in Bridgeport, CT where she currently resides, she usually spends her time watching her favorite channel, Investigation Discovery.

Occasionally, she takes a break to write books and test the limits of her mind. Also an avid horror movie fan, she likes to incorporate dark elements into the majority of her books.

You can keep in touch with her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Reviews

[D.L. Howe · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🔪🔪🔪🔪🔪

Holy smokes! Esther is my kinda girl! This lady is ruthless, lacks any morals or conscience. A total psycho and she had me glued from page one.

Nobody writes a badass like Yolanda Olson!

This one takes torture to a whole new level. It also takes grooming up there too! But as I stated previously, our girl doesn’t care!

I hated to see this one end but dang, what an an ending! Freaking brutal!

[dev · Rating 3 out of 5]

women in male dominated fields ;)

[Crystal (Crystalreads2) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Venom is book two in the La Daileur Folle series. A series I highly recommend. The author never disappoints me and always pushes my boundaries. I read this book a few weeks ago and think about it daily!

Esther is a true psychopath. She may appear on the outside put togther and part of society. However, that is far from the truth. She is methodical and manipulative, to say the least. Plus she really doesn’t care.

I was captivated from page one and just when I thought Esther couldn’t come up with a new to torture someone, she would prove me wrong!

The book is full of dark themes and not for the faint of heart. It’s a horror and on my dark scale, it’s black.

[warhawke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: Venom
Author: Yolanda Olson
Genre: Horror
Type: Standalone book 2 of La Douleur Folle
POV: First Person- Female
Rating:




Esther controlled her life with precision, crafting it exactly as she intended. Working at La Douleur Folle satisfied her needs while providing her clients their ultimate release. But sometimes even a meticulously crafted plan can unravel.



One word to describe this book: Abhorrent. The author certainly delivered on the horror factor which made me squirm and grimace throughout the book.

This is a sanctuary. A place of worship. A place where the devil comes to make his deals. I am that devil.

Esther is by far my most hated character by the author. There’s not a speck of humanity in her, which made her the perfect predator.

Venom is a story of dominion and depravity. It would appeal to readers looking for a short, visceral horror.



Books in the series:




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





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



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

[Kelly Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a jaw dropping, check your triggers, give me more, my kinda book……I’m probably not right

I give them what they need, so be careful what you ask for

Quick read that will have you questioning others maternal instincts

[Marley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book starts off with a TW page that goes like:
"It's a horror story. Expect to be horrified."

And horrified I was. This was dark you guys. I felt so uncomfortable reading this. Which is ok. I don't read horror to feel cozy 😁
It's a short story, but somehow Yolanda managed to put SO MUCH detail in this story, that I felt more and more horrified as the story went on. Especially when more details on the "contract" were made clear. I won't say too much, I don't want to spoil anything for other readers..but listen when I tell you: If you have ANY triggers, do not read this. If you love a book that dives into the world of a pretty extreme FMC that provides a service that ends the life of her "contracts", definitely pick this up. If you like horrific detail: pick this up. If you have read a Yolanda Olson horror before and liked it: pick this up! This book has a huge amount of WTAF and is not for the fainthearted.

If you thought Guy (from the book Bones) was bad, you never met Esther.
Enjoy 🖤

⚠️This book is extreme⚠️

[CC · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5★



Esther believes in certain conventions so she can live an orderly life. When one enters her room at La Douleur Folle, she is in control and never fails to keep a promise.

“However, in this story, I am the monster, and there’s not a goddamn thing living or dead that strikes fear in me.”

Narrated in first person, Esther is an irredeemable character that is quite memorable but for reasons you wish to forget. With precise expectations, Esther delivers a level of torture that is unsurpassed. Throughout, there were lots of pukeworthy scenes and the darkness level is pitch black.


*An ARC was provided in exchange for a review.*


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


For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I chose a helluva start to the new year! This is a follow up to her book, Bones. I just want you to know, she is the definition of trigger warnings, THIS IS HORROR!!! There is no happy endings here, there’s nothing but page after page of “wtf am I reading”, it’s the best of the best. Things in these books make Art the Clown look merciful. I didn’t think she could shock me any more than she has. She did! I just don’t know if anyone can do horror like Yolanda. Anyway, if you don’t have a weak stomach, aren’t sensitive, and don’t have any triggers, READ THIS! But read Bones first if you haven’t. It’s a great start!

[Poupi Mali · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yep it’s disgusting.
Venom is a brutal, psychological horror centered on Esther, a serial killer who sees murder as a service. The carnival, La Douleur Folle, is a place where people willingly submit to torture before dying.

Survival isn’t guaranteed.
If you like the genre, you’ll be satisfied.

Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child death, Drug use, Gore, Torture, Blood, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Fire/Fire injury

[corks · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first book better but this wasn’t bad.

[Heather Mulvihill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Esther, a doting mother of Shiloh who helps people transition to the afterlife. She wants her daughter to join her business and hurt her babysitter, Kerry.
The twists and turns in this book were phenomenal. That ending was a chef's kiss

[Vikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yolanda Olson really knows how to dive into the dark and twisted parts of humanity, and this book is no exception. Meet Ester, our main girl, who's a single mom with a real knack for navigating the messed-up world around her.

Olson does an amazing job of exploring what it means to live when some people are just itching to escape into death. It's a heavy theme, but it’s done in such a gripping way that you can’t help but keep reading.

By the end, you’re left questioning everything: What does it mean to truly live? Who deserves a second chance? The philosophical vibes are real, and they’ll stick with you long after you finish.

[Manda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a decent short story. I felt like this would have been a lot better if it was a full novel and being able to be more developed with more of a backstory of the characters. However, in true Yolanda fashion, it was dark, fast paced, and I enjoyed it.

[Em Yardy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I meet Esther and let me tell you, I was not ready. Holy cow, what even was that?? Here I was, strolling into this book like, "Oh, only men can be disturbingly deranged," and Esther showed up like, “Watch this”. Turns out, I was so wrong. Esther is something else entirely, and by "something else," I mean the manifestation of every dark corner of your psyche you pretend doesn’t exist. And you know what? I absolutely enjoyed every unhinged second of it.

Now listen, folks, we need to clear something up: Venom is NOT a dark romance. I don’t care how much you squint at it or try to romanticise it this book is horror, plain and simple. The trigger warnings literally yell, "IT’S A HORROR STORY. EXPECT TO BE HORRIFIED." And horrified I was. Heed the warnings, because if you don’t, Esther will personally crawl out of these pages to remind you. The ending like I can’t I just can’t, I’m still trying to process it.

The book is a quick read but painfully detailed, and I mean that in the best "oh-my-god-why-can’t-I-look-away" kind of way. I’ll be honest: horror is not my thing. I avoid it like I avoid phone calls from unknown numbers. But this? Oh, this had me glued to the page. Did I bite my nails down to bloody nubs while reading? ABSOLUTELY. Do I regret it? NO, but my manicurist definitely does.

If you want a book that will simultaneously terrify and mesmerise you, make you question humanity, and leave you yelling “WHY, ESTHER, WHY?!” into the void, Venom is the one. Just don’t come crying to me when you can’t sleep for a week you’ve been warned.

[Amanda LeAnne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me say right from the get-go so there's not confusion. THIS IS A HORROR NOVELLA!!!!!! There is no romance, no hea, no spice that will get you feeling spicy. This book is complete horror with horror and torture elements.

If you read Bones already, then you are already familiar with La Douleur Folle. If not, this is the place where people go willingly to end their life, and where others go to help aide in them ending their life.

Esther, the FMC is very calculated and likes to be in control of everything in her life. Including the special job, she expects her child Shiloh to do. Esther is a crazy mofo lol. I thought Guy from book one was unhinged, but Esther makes an appearance and shocks the crap out of me. Oh, and for the Bones lovers out there, a special appearance is made at the end of this book that will have you grossed out but also excited and giggly (or I'm just that demented lol)

I did only give this 4 stars because there was a lot of repetitiveness. After a while, it kind of made the story drag on because every chapter the same thing was being repeated over and over again. But all in all, it was a good novella and I recommend you give it a read. As I can see, there is no trigger list for this novella, so please be prepared that it is very very dark, does deal with children, torture and mutilation of shorts.

Rating: 4⭐
Horror Rating: 5🔪

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yolanda is my go-to for horror; and Venom was not an exception. This was book two of the series dealing with the La Douleur Folle, aka the mad pain. In book one, we met Guy, and in this book we meet Esther. She ALSO carries with her her own intense OCD, but of a different sort. She is also trying to show her daughter how to become a woman at the same time. This book is a lot different from the first; but brings with it little Easter eggs from book one (Pricilla I’m lookin at you babe) that are popped throughout; but are actually really…delightful? To find? For me. At least. But I’m a little fucked up. So take that with a grain of salt. We find her getting increasingly frustrated until the climax of the book; until we reach the end; where we are questioning, well. Let’s just say a lot of things. But the zoo isn’t one of them.

This book DOES NOT HAVE A TRIGGER WARNING LIST. this is because IT IS THE TRIGGER WARNING LIST. as with any YO book you open. OPEN WITH CAUTION AND THE KNOWLEDGE THAT HER BOOKS ARE NOT A FIRST TIMER’S HORROR. you’re going to get visuals you didn’t think were possible. You’re going to get nightmare worthy material (if that is your thing) I don’t have triggers. I go in knowing this. If you have literally any? Maybe skip bones and venom. They cross lines you won’t know you had; and won’t know you could find.

[Roxana Dellamorte · Rating 5 out of 5]

I needed some time to collect my thoughts... Venom by Yolanda Olson disturbed me. And, somehow, I liked that.

What the hell did I just read? Holy cow. That ending left me speechless—and yes, I am officially horrified now.

Venom is the second book in the La Douleur Folle series, but it can easily be read as a standalone.
The story centers around the FMC, Esther, her ten-year-old daughter, Shiloh, and Kerri, their current au pair.
Esther has a very… unconventional profession—something incredibly gory.

As the trigger warning says: “It’s a horror story. Expect to be horrified.” And that is exactly what it delivers. If you have triggers, especially involving torture or murder, don’t read this. I repeat: Do. Not. Read. This.

I really, really (disturbingly) enjoyed this fast-paced, thrilling story. It’s packed with what-the-f*** moments. Yolanda Olson’s writing pulls you into the story and doesn’t let go. I’ve never prayed so much while reading a book. That ending? It broke my heart.

Spice Rating: 0/5 (this is a horror story, no smut here)

Tropes:

Mono POV (first person)
Ruthless, psycho, gruesome, professional serial killer FMC
Pitch-black
Murder, torture
A short story you can read in one sitting

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The darkness of Yolanda Olson shines bright in Venom. It is not a dark romance book, it is a horror book and trigger warnings do not exist but you have been warned. It is detailed with gruesome torture.

What that said, I should have read book 1 first lol. I am at a loss for words with Venom. I read it all in one sitting as it captivated me from the start. Having not read the first book in the series, I did not know what Esther did at night until it happened and boy did it happen. Esther is methodical, ocd and likes control of everything. Her methods are unconventional and quite disturbing, but she completes her contracts as requested. Death is to be handled by how she deems fit with Boy and she does so with precision and time. We also learn of her daughter who has been given a task to turn her into a woman and follow in her mother’s footsteps as she was destined to do from birth, but will she succeed. The ending of the book had me blind sided, but no spoilers here. A quick read but one that captivates you from the beginning and if you don’t mind a little or lot of gore then you are in for a real treat with Venom.

[Marsha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Welcome back to The Mad Pain (or as I like to call it, The Mad House.) A place where people go when they want to die. Once they enter, there's no going back. We were introduced to this place in Bones, (book one,) but you can read this without having read that. (Though there is mention of the main character from that book, so you may be confused about who is being talked about at times, but it doesn't take away from this story.) As it was with book one, this book is narrated by the lead character. It's written as though she is talking to her audience. It has a different feel than your standard POV narrative. It is dark and has some scenes that will make you cringe. This character shows no mercy. She's also a little OCD. Again, not for the weak of heart. There is one short scene that contains some sexual content, and not in a romantic way. This is not a romance. It also does not have a HEA. It DOES have a disturbing ending though... so there's that. :)~ If you are at all sensitive to basically any 'dark' subject matters, you may want to skip this one. BUT, if you enjoyed reading Bones, you'll enjoy this one as well. Goes without saying that this is intended for mature readers.

[Dunbar Ria · Rating 5 out of 5]

🖤 Thank you Yolanda Olson 🖤

ARC Review - HORROR NOVELLA / EXPECT TO BE HORRIFIED

⚠️ PLEASE READ THE TRIGGER WARNINGS ⚠️

" THIS IS FOR THE ONCE THAT CAN TAKE IT. I SEE YOU AND YOU MAKE ME PROUD."

Holy smokes!! This book had me sit on the edge of my seat the entire time !!
My brain is still reeling, and I don't know if it is because this book disturbed me or the fact that I like it so much 🖤.

I'm pretty speechless.. and horrified at the same time. A slice of disturbed madness!!

That ending...!! BRUTAL 🖤
------------------------------------
Esther - ruthless, lack of empathy, Morals or conscience . A psychopath all put together , looking perfectly normal to the outside world... But this is so far from the truth .

" Of course, when one spends time in the Haven of the Damned, the scent of the Dearly Departed tents to stick to the Soul."
------------------------------------
Tropes

🖤 FMC Serial Unaliver
🖤 Violence
🖤 Extreme Horror
🖤 Gore
🖤 Single Mom
🖤 Unhinged FMC
----------------------------------
Title: VENOM
Author: YOLANDA OLSON
Genre: HORROR
Spicy: -
My Start Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟


⚠️ READ TRIGGER WARNINGS ⚠️

[vxhexn reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don’t fret, this one may be book 2 but it can be read as a standalone. Although I’d say meeting Guy and experiencing La Douleur Folle before delving deeper with Ester won’t disappoint.

Also, don’t go in thinking this’ll be an erotic romance, this is old school Yolanda. It’s all the good extreme >>horror<< goodness we love.

I won’t go into detail about the story, as it’s a rather quick read but I will say I love the mind of Ester

This book series is not for the faint of heart, read at your own risk



𝓋𝓍𝒽𝑒𝓍𝓃 𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹𝓈
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[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

"It's a horror story. Expect to be horrified."

HOLY CRAP! Esther is ruthless, brutal and utterly unhinged. And I never want to get cornered by someone like her. She’s a total psycho with no morals or guilt about what she does or what she needs to do.

Her story was beyond pitch-black. There was nothing Esther wouldn’t do to complete a task and her creative and intriguing ways to torture and kill someone had me squirming and scrunching my face up in disgust. Which honestly made this story perfect.

“However, in this story, I am the monster, and there’s not a goddamn thing living or dead that strikes fear in me.”

I was hooked from page one and could not for one second put this book down. And that ending – BRUTAL!!!

I always expect to feel disgust and horror when reading a Yolanda novel. She knows just how to push us readers to the brink and then slowly reel us back in. She is truly a master at her craft.

[Lucid Quill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into this bracing myself after the mayhem Bones had to offer, knowing it would be even more depraved. It was an unspoken guarantee. I just know better at this point.

Esther was a very different kind of character. She was aware and fully unapologetic for her inner, and outer, monster. At no point were you left to the illusion that the story would be anything other than horror. I DID think there would be a slightly different outcome, my prediction was off.

There was an eerie feeling that crept behind you through every page, Olson certainly knows how to set the mood! And as long as you know to respect the genre, you know what you're getting yourself into and you won't be completely traumatized. Mostly!

All in all I liked this one better than Bones, I just think it was a little deeper and had more going on plot wise. No less terrifying, I wonder what's next!?

[Kswag · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I prepare to share my review “… we listen and we don’t judge… “ is on repeat soundly in my head.

There are various reasons that could cause a person to whistle an upbeat tune and find true purpose and fulfillment.

Never ever ever have I ever witness it such as I have in Venom.

La Douleur Folle Is the damn devils playroom. It’s where the screams of the tortured echo. I think at one point, I might of heard the screams lift out of the pages from the severe intensity of what took place … by the hands of one scary woman … Esther.

Everything about both this story and the book “Bones” is what keeps me in the dark and sinister and I don’t know what that says about me and I don’t care.

The depravity was delicious and I want more of it.

Again… the song plays … “we listen but we don’t judge..” ha!! I hope that’s true

Please read responsibly

[Amanda Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Venom, the second installment in "La Douleur Folle," finds our MMC with an au pair and a ten-year-old daughter. A daughter whom she wishes to pass the "family business" on to, even at the ripe young age of a middle schooler. This was a quick, enjoyable read in the pitch-black style that I love about YO's writing. I must admit, initially, even I was a bit surprised by the ending. But then again-- was I? Actually, nope.

This is another one of those books where I feel inclined to say, "Your mental health matters," aka PUT THE BOOK DOWN. This is not "Dark Romance" (still confused how this can be mistaken for anything but horror, but I digress). There is no HEA. This is Pitch-Black Perfection.

Note: I received this as an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion, but my views are entirely my own.

[Mandy Kessler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Usually I start my reviews off with a warning to always check the TWs & CWs as your mental health matters… well the trigger page for this book literally says “LOL. No. It’s a HORROR story. Expect to be horrified.” So I’m just going to leave that here.

Vemon is book two in the La Douleur Folle series. There are little Easter eggs from book one so keeps those eyes open.

Venom is like a slow descend into madness where the madness never comes. Yes, Ester the FMC is unhinged but yet she’s methodical, calculated, and brutal… I know, I know but it’s the best way I can describe this. She knows she has a job to do and when a “contract” is created there is no changing your mind because she sure won’t… no matter who the subject is.

Yolanda is always my dip into the chaos and I love it.

[Mina Sandate · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️/5

COMPLETELY CRAZY

There was a TW page, but she just said “oh there aren’t any triggers, but there will be Horror” all nonchalantly. MAN DID SHE MEAN THAT. This is my FIRST Horror book read. I didn’t know what I was expecting, but I didn’t think it’ll be THAT F**ked up. And I think I started at the top of horror 😅 The whole time I was reading, my heart was racing fast 😨 No spice at all, just pure Horror.
Did I like what I read? Hell yea I did.
Do I think I’m more messed up in the head? Yea. Absolutely
Will I continue reading more Horror books? Oh F**k yea! 🖤

Good job Yolanda for letting me read your book and making it my first Horror read. You just proved to me that I am one f**ked up person 🫶🏻🖤😘

[_the.bookish.moon_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is undeniably pure horror, there is no romance. no happy ever after. Simply unrelenting darkness, torture, and psychological terror.

It's set in La Douleur Folle, a place where people go to die that we become familiar with in the first book Bones.

We follow Esther, a cold, calculative woman who controls all and she is unapologetically monstrous. Unlike traditional narratives, Esther speaks directly to the reader, making the whole reading experience all the more unsettling.

While some repetitiveness slows the pacing, the eerie atmosphere and shocking moments keep you hooked. Intensely disturbing and not for the faint of heart, this is perfect for extreme horror fans who enjoyed Bones.

[Nadia Hinojosa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in the La Douleur Folle duet. This is my first time reading a book by Yolanda Olson. OMG!!! I am still trying to figure out how to process this book…This book is the most dark, depraved and twisted book I have ever read. Please make sure to read all the triggers!! I don’t have any triggers but this book had me cringing and sitting here with my hand over my mouth! I thought I knew how the story would end but I was totally wrong! The ending blew me away!
Thank you, Yolanda Olson for such a depraved and sinister read! To be honest I wasn’t sure I would be able to finish the book but I thoroughly enjoyed it! I cannot wait to read more books from your backlist including the first book in this duet “Bones.”

[Kelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know every time I turn the page on a Yolanda Olson book, sooner or later there is going to be a section that I would have never thought my pupils would have to read over or my brain would have to process. The things that this author comes up with is nothing short of a beautiful mixture of: this is genius, what the, and should I check on her?

This book did not fall short on any of that. We typically see MMCs that are calculated, ruthless, and have no conscience. However, with this book it’s the opposite. You see a FMC with those characteristic and then some.

If I had to explain this book I’m vibes I would easily say that it’s kind of a blend of female Dexter and American Horror Story hotel.