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The Nightmare Machine
What is The Nightmare Machine? Think Silent Hill meets Inception and Monster Hunter International.
Five millennia of suffering. A pilgrimage steeped in terror. Will her quest bring redemption or only a false promise of salvation?
Bangor, Maine. Sara Holcomb knows what she must do. Raised within a secret order devoted to protecting humanity from a malevolent god, the dutiful seventeen-year-old prepares for a terrifying expedition through a world of nightmares. So when the time comes, she convinces three close friends to escort her on a perilous journey to an otherworldly cathedral of bone and blood.
Transported to a land of chaos and horror while they sleep, Sara wrestles with guilt at bringing people she holds dear to this hell from which they may not escape. And as vicious traps and pitiless creatures tear at their bodies and minds, the honor-bound young woman fears they won’t be strong enough to complete the mission that will preserve mankind.
Will Sara succeed in staving off annihilation?
The Nightmare Machine is the thought-provoking first book in the Soulaerium horror-thriller trilogy. If you like flawed but resolute heroes, deep themes of self-determination, and plenty of action, then you’ll love Tim White’s terrifying tale of good versus evil.
Five millennia of suffering. A pilgrimage steeped in terror. Will her quest bring redemption or only a false promise of salvation?
Bangor, Maine. Sara Holcomb knows what she must do. Raised within a secret order devoted to protecting humanity from a malevolent god, the dutiful seventeen-year-old prepares for a terrifying expedition through a world of nightmares. So when the time comes, she convinces three close friends to escort her on a perilous journey to an otherworldly cathedral of bone and blood.
Transported to a land of chaos and horror while they sleep, Sara wrestles with guilt at bringing people she holds dear to this hell from which they may not escape. And as vicious traps and pitiless creatures tear at their bodies and minds, the honor-bound young woman fears they won’t be strong enough to complete the mission that will preserve mankind.
Will Sara succeed in staving off annihilation?
The Nightmare Machine is the thought-provoking first book in the Soulaerium horror-thriller trilogy. If you like flawed but resolute heroes, deep themes of self-determination, and plenty of action, then you’ll love Tim White’s terrifying tale of good versus evil.
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First published February 20, 2024
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About the author
Tim White
11 books45 followersTim White is the award-winning author of
The Nightmare Machine
, the first book of the Soulaerium horror-thriller trilogy. His “optimistic horror” stories show that, although there is real evil in the world, good people who fight hard for life-serving values can win the day. In past lives, he was a U.S. Army combat medic, a competitive 3-gun shooter, and an RN/paramedic. He lives in Arizona, where he and his wife own an escape room venue.
Learn more (and get a free book!) at https://TimWhiteWriting.com
Learn more (and get a free book!) at https://TimWhiteWriting.com
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
April 29, 2024
Sara is a teenage girl, and a chosen maiden from a long line of descendants tasked with saving the world. Sara must enter a nightmarish otherworld and can take three protectors with her. Together, they must complete their quest to quiet a malevolent god.
White hooked me from the beginning as he introduced us to Sara and Dylan, the young man who secretly loves her, along with Dr. Alex Warner, where the two of them work and Tom, a war hero plagued by the carnage he witnessed. Each has been having nightmares, and only Sara knows why.
As the story progressed, I became connected to the characters as they faced perils, unthinkable monsters, and learned of Sara’s task and what it meant for humankind. My heart raced as they completed tasks, were chased by monsters and dealt with near-death moments.
The author did a fantastic job building the world and pacing. The story was addictive as the three protectors worked to help Sara. Their travel was filled with monsters, suspense, discovery, and personal quests as they faced their fears and sacrificed. The tale is fantasy, horror, thriller, and science fiction all intertwined.
Patrick Zeller did a stellar job of voicing these characters, creatures and setting the tone for the story. I recommend listening. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
White hooked me from the beginning as he introduced us to Sara and Dylan, the young man who secretly loves her, along with Dr. Alex Warner, where the two of them work and Tom, a war hero plagued by the carnage he witnessed. Each has been having nightmares, and only Sara knows why.
As the story progressed, I became connected to the characters as they faced perils, unthinkable monsters, and learned of Sara’s task and what it meant for humankind. My heart raced as they completed tasks, were chased by monsters and dealt with near-death moments.
The author did a fantastic job building the world and pacing. The story was addictive as the three protectors worked to help Sara. Their travel was filled with monsters, suspense, discovery, and personal quests as they faced their fears and sacrificed. The tale is fantasy, horror, thriller, and science fiction all intertwined.
Patrick Zeller did a stellar job of voicing these characters, creatures and setting the tone for the story. I recommend listening. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
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February 28, 2024The first thing that caught my attention was the stunning story displayed on the cover. Yes, it pulls you in, wanting to know this girl and her story. It’s absolutely perfect for what’s revealed inside. And the title. It’s also perfect. A teenage girl, descendant of a long line of Maidens, destined to save the world. She takes three friends as protectors into a hidden world. One filled with danger. Teeming with monsters worthy of your worst nightmares. To enter. They sleep. To survive. They awaken.
The first chapter sets up the intrigue. A typical girl. One with horrible nightmares. And hints of a family secret. I was hooked and remained that way through the entire story. Sara was an ordinary girl thrust into a horrific saga. Her character was so genuinely written and I really empathized with her. She had to face things a much older person might not have handled as well as she did.
Dylan was in love with Sara. But that wasn’t why she chose him as one of her protectors. He was a boy wonder. A budding genius and curious about how things worked. His mind worked in mysterious ways and she trusted him.
Dylan and Sara both helped Dr. Alex Warner at a small recovery clinic helping people overcome their addictions. I was unsure how that made her a good choice for a protector aside from knowing Sara and Dylan. Once they began their quest, it began clear.
Tom’s place on the list of protectors was obvious. He was a veteran of war and had survived some horrific situations. He was no stranger to violence and death and his training made him a perfect candidate to work as a team. I really enjoyed his part in the story. He was someone you didn’t want to mess with yet he had a lot of baggage and that gave him an aura of vulnerability.
I tried to envision this nightmare world the group had entered. The author did a great job of showing it to me through words and my imagination did the rest.
As for how the story moved along. I mentioned the first chapter hooked me and kept me hooked. Well that’s true. And the characters sealed the deal for me. Along with the cruel world in The Nightmare Machine and the outrageous and dangerous monsters that were unleashed in it’s pages. Whoa. I do love monsters and there were some humdingers in the book.
Packed with action, suspense and horror, I was thrilled to get everything I wanted out of this story. That was great. And even more exciting. There’s more to come! Can’t wait for that.
I received a complimentary copy. My review is voluntarily given.
The first chapter sets up the intrigue. A typical girl. One with horrible nightmares. And hints of a family secret. I was hooked and remained that way through the entire story. Sara was an ordinary girl thrust into a horrific saga. Her character was so genuinely written and I really empathized with her. She had to face things a much older person might not have handled as well as she did.
Dylan was in love with Sara. But that wasn’t why she chose him as one of her protectors. He was a boy wonder. A budding genius and curious about how things worked. His mind worked in mysterious ways and she trusted him.
Dylan and Sara both helped Dr. Alex Warner at a small recovery clinic helping people overcome their addictions. I was unsure how that made her a good choice for a protector aside from knowing Sara and Dylan. Once they began their quest, it began clear.
Tom’s place on the list of protectors was obvious. He was a veteran of war and had survived some horrific situations. He was no stranger to violence and death and his training made him a perfect candidate to work as a team. I really enjoyed his part in the story. He was someone you didn’t want to mess with yet he had a lot of baggage and that gave him an aura of vulnerability.
I tried to envision this nightmare world the group had entered. The author did a great job of showing it to me through words and my imagination did the rest.
As for how the story moved along. I mentioned the first chapter hooked me and kept me hooked. Well that’s true. And the characters sealed the deal for me. Along with the cruel world in The Nightmare Machine and the outrageous and dangerous monsters that were unleashed in it’s pages. Whoa. I do love monsters and there were some humdingers in the book.
Packed with action, suspense and horror, I was thrilled to get everything I wanted out of this story. That was great. And even more exciting. There’s more to come! Can’t wait for that.
I received a complimentary copy. My review is voluntarily given.
October 23, 2023
Incredible character development, great worldbuilding, enough fantasy elements to satisfy lovers of that genre. Bit heavy on the horror/gore elements for my personal tastes, and I definitely connected with one character more than the others, but overall an engaging read
January 13, 2024
The countdown to the end of the world begins. 7 days. 6 men in black suits. 5 thousand years of blood-soaked tradition. 4 people who must find a way to protect mankind. 3 Wardens. 2 concentric circles drawn on the floor. 1 maiden versus 1 god who must be kept asleep at all costs. But what cost is too high?
This is an exciting, action packed, fantasy-thriller that had me on the edge of my seat. I absolutely loved this wild emotional roller coaster that took me from “hell yeah” to “hopeless” and back. I felt so connected to the characters because they were so real, relatable and someone I would want to be or know in person.
I loved the profound views on the value of life throughout the entire book. People who like thriller, horror, fantasy, action, adventure, heartfelt, eye opening stories and twists will like this book. The way the author explained the setting, scenery and the monsters made me feel submersed in the story and will absolutely give me nightmares of my own! I appreciated the explanation of weapon use (since I am not savvy in that area). Do yourself a huge favor and READ THIS BOOK. It’s a meaningful adventure that I will absolutely read again in the future.
I received an advance review copy from the publisher.
This is an exciting, action packed, fantasy-thriller that had me on the edge of my seat. I absolutely loved this wild emotional roller coaster that took me from “hell yeah” to “hopeless” and back. I felt so connected to the characters because they were so real, relatable and someone I would want to be or know in person.
I loved the profound views on the value of life throughout the entire book. People who like thriller, horror, fantasy, action, adventure, heartfelt, eye opening stories and twists will like this book. The way the author explained the setting, scenery and the monsters made me feel submersed in the story and will absolutely give me nightmares of my own! I appreciated the explanation of weapon use (since I am not savvy in that area). Do yourself a huge favor and READ THIS BOOK. It’s a meaningful adventure that I will absolutely read again in the future.
I received an advance review copy from the publisher.
February 28, 2024
Y’all, just covers absolutely gorgeous. I mean it’s friggin fantastic really. But, let me tell you about the inside! The action, the thrill, high-speed page, turning lots of twist, and turns on this horror/action, fantasy adventure.
The world building that wide has made is so vivid, and compelling that it draws you right in. There were times when I was like, what just happened and holy crap I’m not gonna sleep tonight!
The journey, or hell that Sarah and her friends went on to preserve mankind, was one that completely envelops you. I cannot imagine what this group went through. It’s a tale of versus evil. Incredible life view, and the value placed on life was a definite stand out for me.
Fantasy, lovers, action adventure, lovers, horror, and thriller lovers, this one is for us all.
Also, do yourself a favor and check out the authors website www.timwhitewriting.com he has artwork on there that goes along with the book, I wish I had seen it while I was reading. The artwork is absolutely fantastic.
The world building that wide has made is so vivid, and compelling that it draws you right in. There were times when I was like, what just happened and holy crap I’m not gonna sleep tonight!
The journey, or hell that Sarah and her friends went on to preserve mankind, was one that completely envelops you. I cannot imagine what this group went through. It’s a tale of versus evil. Incredible life view, and the value placed on life was a definite stand out for me.
Fantasy, lovers, action adventure, lovers, horror, and thriller lovers, this one is for us all.
Also, do yourself a favor and check out the authors website www.timwhitewriting.com he has artwork on there that goes along with the book, I wish I had seen it while I was reading. The artwork is absolutely fantastic.
March 4, 2024
I really enjoyed this book y'all. The author wrote such an engaging story about Sara and her group of friends. Sara needs to travel into the Twilight to save us all, all of mankind. Her friends are not voluntarily joining the group but eventually they all decide to help anyway.
The Twilight is a place where lots of weird creatures live and play. Sara also knows everything in dreams of her Wardens(her friends) that they never told anyone including her. Sara is a Maiden and she is set to help save the world as is the group of friends she has chosen.
I love the story line, it reminds me of The Matrix, Silent Hill, and I don't know what else right now wrapped into one story and I LOVED it! This was such an engaging read from the start of the book by the author. He wrote a compelling story and the characters are each unique and well written too. I could absolutely see this as a movie soon if that was the direction the author wanted to head in.
I also loved that ending to their story and it implies that maybe a new group of Wardens and a Maiden can be chosen for the future...? That is awesome that the author is leaving the book open to maybe have a new group coming in and new adventures or even return of Sara, Tom, Dylan, and Alex. Hint, Hint**
I highly recommend this read to dark fantasy readers like myself and also horror readers too alike!
The Twilight is a place where lots of weird creatures live and play. Sara also knows everything in dreams of her Wardens(her friends) that they never told anyone including her. Sara is a Maiden and she is set to help save the world as is the group of friends she has chosen.
I love the story line, it reminds me of The Matrix, Silent Hill, and I don't know what else right now wrapped into one story and I LOVED it! This was such an engaging read from the start of the book by the author. He wrote a compelling story and the characters are each unique and well written too. I could absolutely see this as a movie soon if that was the direction the author wanted to head in.
I also loved that ending to their story and it implies that maybe a new group of Wardens and a Maiden can be chosen for the future...? That is awesome that the author is leaving the book open to maybe have a new group coming in and new adventures or even return of Sara, Tom, Dylan, and Alex. Hint, Hint**
I highly recommend this read to dark fantasy readers like myself and also horror readers too alike!
October 23, 2023
I had the privilege to read "The Nightmare Machine" before launch, and this book easily falls within my top 3 books I've ever read, and it's also one of the few I will ever reread.
The characters are diverse and make you feel for them and possibly even relate to them. No one is a generic one-dimensional stereotype either as they go through change and feel like real people with real emotions.
There are plenty of plot twists, but none that make you question why something happened, as clues to each one are sprinkled throughout, so keen readers are able to put together the pieces and shout "I knew it!"
The action is very well paced and the threat is terrifying in terms of horror and suspense.
The actual story has a much deeper meaning that leaves the reader with many messages that they can implement in their life.
Overall, an amazing read that I would recommend to anyone who is a fan of horror, action, and/or thriller books. Can't wait to read the other two books when they come out!
The characters are diverse and make you feel for them and possibly even relate to them. No one is a generic one-dimensional stereotype either as they go through change and feel like real people with real emotions.
There are plenty of plot twists, but none that make you question why something happened, as clues to each one are sprinkled throughout, so keen readers are able to put together the pieces and shout "I knew it!"
The action is very well paced and the threat is terrifying in terms of horror and suspense.
The actual story has a much deeper meaning that leaves the reader with many messages that they can implement in their life.
Overall, an amazing read that I would recommend to anyone who is a fan of horror, action, and/or thriller books. Can't wait to read the other two books when they come out!
February 22, 2024
I received an advance copy from the author and I initially put it down after the first chapter because I wasn't getting into it as it's not in one of my usual genres. However, I picked it back up and I'm really glad that I did. The Nightmare Machine ended up being much more engaging and interesting than I would have guessed from a newer author. Not only was the plot solid and (at least to me) quite original, the characterizations were well done and believable. I also thought their growth over the course of the book was well done and followed well from the story. I don't want to say anything about the story itself as watching it unfold was exciting and I wouldn't want to spoil it for anyone. Let me just say that I would have never expected where it went from the first chapter and was very pleasantly surprised. It had me in suspense through much of the story and ended up being a great read. I highly recommend checking it out.
February 20, 2024
The Nightmare Machine was fast-paced and well-written. The fight scenes were so vivid that I could picture them in my mind as I was reading -- sometimes disturbingly so! But great action sequences aren't all that compelling unless they involve characters that I care about. Thankfully, the characterizations in this novel are rich and as the story progressed, I found myself rooting for the protagonists.
Lastly, I was impressed that the novel explores compelling moral questions and manages to promote a life-affirming viewpoint—without being didactic or heavy-handed. I read a lot (especially SF and fantasy) and it's rare for an author to handle such important themes with so much finesse.
Lastly, I was impressed that the novel explores compelling moral questions and manages to promote a life-affirming viewpoint—without being didactic or heavy-handed. I read a lot (especially SF and fantasy) and it's rare for an author to handle such important themes with so much finesse.
February 29, 2024
THE NIGHTMARE MACHINE is an exciting start to a new series, specifically—a trilogy. In just a few pages, Tim White, the author, captures readers' attention and transports them to a fantastical voyage. On paper, the plot of a teenager, Sara, destined to save the world sounds tired and repetitive—but rescued by the author's brilliant use of expression and vivid descriptions help to give Sara genuine emotional depth. The other characters, particularly Sara's friends, are also well-written.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading THE NIGHTMARE MACHINE—and the nearly 600 pages flew by quickly. You will have a good time reading it. ╌★★★★★
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading THE NIGHTMARE MACHINE—and the nearly 600 pages flew by quickly. You will have a good time reading it. ╌★★★★★
April 16, 2024
I really liked this horror thriller as it was unlike previous books I have read. Very action packed with great characters and horror elements.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 13, 2024
The Nightmare Machine is a captivating and thrilling novel. A must-read book that I could not put down. It's very suspenseful and a joy to read. Tim White is a masterful storyteller!
May 27, 2024
Was kind of a slow read. Don't want to read the next in the Soul assign trilogy.
May 16, 2025
In an overly crowded genre this is not a book worth reading. There are so many better options out there already. This felt more like a first draft than a completed book.
April 1, 2025
"The Nightmare Machine" is a brilliant work of horror fantasy. Despite being almost 600 pages long, it reads as if it's only 200. Innovative monsters, engaging side-characters, twists that are foreshadowed, yet subtly so. Perfect for adult fans of the "Skulduggery Pleasant" series, such as I. As debut novels go, The Nightmare Machine is probably one of the best. My only signficant complaint is that the final fight is a little too low-stakes for my preference, but I can understand why the author would not want to go too big, seeing as this is supposed to be only the first book in a trilogy. I eagerly await the sequel.
March 12, 2025
This book was great! I can totally see it being made into a movie someday. Or at least I hope so. It leaves you needing to know what happens next. Action on packed horror and it was great!!
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews