Crimson Chains

by Sienna Rae

In the seemingly quiet mountain town of Canadee, a brutal serial killer is on the prowl, leaving a trail of bodies in their wake. Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Rayna Pierce, known best for her scientific expertise, spearheads the forensic investigation into the string of strange murders.

After Rayna discovers an ominous object at the latest crime scene, her world is flipped upside down. With her mind cluttered by the sinister medallion, Rayna descends into a spiral of psychological torment, haunted by inexplicable voices. Unsettling flashbacks from previous victims torment her mind. What was once serene Canadee transforms into a realm of fear and paranoia as Rayna grapples with her unraveling sanity.

In this heart-racing tale of graphically horrifying, paranormal mysteries, Rayna must race against time to decipher the muddled hallucinations and expose the true identity of the killer. Can she unmask the terrors haunting this once-normal town? Or will the next victim fall prey to the killer's malevolence? Canadee holds its breath, anticipating the chilling answers that await among the Crimson Chains.

The book is a paranormal horror and contains material that may not be suitable for all audiences.
18+ Material

Genres: Horror

188 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 29, 2024

About the author

Sienna Rae currently lives on the East Coast with their husband and collection of furry creatures who may or may not be plotting something.
Armed with a neurodivergent, spicy brain, they navigate life with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and other chronic conditions, finding both refuge and rebellion in the written word.
Raised on crime shows and horror films, Sienna was drawn early to stories that linger in the dark and refuse neat conclusions. Their writing leans toward the unsettling and the unexpected—wonderfully disgusting stories with endings that don’t always let you off easy.
When not buried in a book, Sienna can be found tending to their plants, talking to weird insects, or wandering in the woods. While some people recharge in sunlight, Sienna Rae prefers the rain.

Reviews

[Kristin Scearce · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I saw the cover for this, I immediately had to stop and read the blurb. And then I was hooked!

I'll start by saying this book is definitely not for the weak of mind or stomach, as it's incredibly graphic, though not in a gratuitous "let me see how sick I can make this scene" type of way. It all feels necessary to the story and the way the plot and characters are portrayed, especially the one known as the Butcher of Canadee.

The writing in this book is well done... to a point. While the narrative has tons of imagery and can seem almost overwritten at times, it's still grabs you and pulls you into the scenes (and, as noted, can get pretty graphic in the amount of vivid detail given). However, the dialogue between characters started to grate on me after a while, as it just didn't seem believable or realistic (not counting the medical conversations, as those are very clinical but absolutely should be that way, considering the context and purpose of their inclusion), and I often found myself just skimming bits of dialogue to get back to the narrative itself.

That being said, I would definitely recommend this book to those who are fans of paranormal horror and aren't squeamish. It's a really interesting take on the genre, and I like how it all came together over the course of the story.

3.5 stars rounded up because it made me want to read more by this author in the future.

**I received a review copy from BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All thoughts and comments contained within are my own.**

[Kei ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

After Rayna discovers an ominous object at the latest crime scene, her world is flipped upside down. With her mind cluttered by the sinister medallion, Rayna descends into a spiral of psychological torment, haunted by inexplicable voices. Unsettling flashbacks from previous victims torment her mind. What was once serene Canadee transforms into a realm of fear and paranoia as Rayna grapples with her unraveling sanity.

After choosing this one on a whim, knowing just how much I love a good horror novella, boy oh boy was this a surprise read. Our FMC Rayna, the chief medical examiner, finds herself something weird during a crime scene visit. What follows is a gruesome and hard hitting story about losing ones mind. The suspense keeps your heart racing and on the edge of your seat the whole read. Being extremely descriptive, this fit right in with my personal tastes - feeding my brain exactly what it needs in a paranormal horror. Highly recommended for fans of Chris Carter, Jason Rekulak and Jo Nesbo.

Thank you to Sienna Raw for an advanced copy, Crimson Chains is available now!

[Nikita Hosking · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love crime books, and a hunt for a murderer. This book did not disappoint. There were engaging characters, a main character whose voice stood proudly and a mind boggling story. I loved every minute and can’t wait to read it again

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

[David Hardy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where do I even start. First, I was fortunate enough to receive this novella early for the simply fact I raved about the premise. Ms. Sienna Rae must have felt bad for me because not long after it was finished, she sent me a copy.

The good stuff. You like Hellraiser? How about a little pyschological horror mixed with straight up descriptive body horror? If you answered yes and yes to both of those then this book is for you.

🫀🫀🫀🫀🫀/5

This is a multi-pov 1st person novella set against the backdrop of a small town. We are put right into the action with the FMC (Rayna) as she embarks on a path to solve the mysterious deaths that have recently cropped up in the small town. A killer is on the loose and this Medical Examiner gets a front row ticket to the show. But not all of what we see is what we get. There are twists, there are turns and the descriptive gore is cranked to 100. Shout out to Ms. Sienna Rae for an awesome opportunity to read her debut novella.

[Mathew Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

Just WOW!!! I read this book on a whim, after reading the blurb I thought it might be a nice change from Romantasy, and boy was I right.

Even before chapter one, seeing a playlist for a book gave me excitement for this, I read this book in one day and have absolutely no regrets. The writing style pulled me in and made me want to jump to the next part to find out what happened. Sienna Rae gripped me with this book, and I would love for a sequel I could not recommend this book enough! I was so excited to read this book and have recommended it to friends and family already!

I am so honored to be on the ARC team and thankful to the Author for this opportunity and cannot believe how gripped I was by this.

I can't wait to see where Sienna Rae's career goes and how they follow up on this absolutely amazing piece!

[Stephanie Vicente · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started reading this almost immediately! I love how beautiful the cover is and I am obsessed with it. I found myself to be sucked right into this story from the first page. I was intrigued by the premise of this book so I was curious to see how it would play out. I did love how descriptive and graphic this was. I think it is beautifully dark and I can’t wait to see what else Sienna will come up with in the future

[Darkbookghoul · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got Crimson Chains by Sienna Rae as an ARC copy, I was very excited to read this as I’ve never read a paranormal horror book before. This book did not disappoint. If you enjoy a nice gory horror you should read this book. I’m excited to read more books by this author.

[Jenny Coyne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Due to all of the trigger warnings and the hotline for Suicide Prevention in the front of the book, I was a little concerned about reading this. However, I didn't personally find the book to be psychologically disturbing.

That being said, this novella is definitely a paranormal psychological thriller! I thoroughly enjoyed it, but found it to be confusing at times. I wish the two female protagonists didn't have names starting with the same letter. I found myself having to pay too much attention to whose point of view each chapter was from as they were both written in the first person.

I also have some unanswered questions, but they could be answered with a second novella as the end of this book could be considered open ended. I would love to see a sequel to tie everything up.

I received an electronic copy of this book for my unbiased review from Book Sirens. All opinions are my own.

[alyssa . · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had me very interested with a nightmare of a first chapter. As the story progressed, I lost interest for a little bit, until the action picked back up and led to an unexpected ending. I enjoyed the snarky FMC Rayna and her horror-filled battle against a villain that thrives on fear. Rayna is a medical examiner, so I appreciate that there was a good amount of medical terminology throughout the book. Sienna Rae has quite a way with words when it comes to describing decimated corpses. Would recommend Crimson Chains if you are looking for a quick paranormal horror read!

Trigger warnings include, but are not limited to: mentions of child abuse, descriptive gore, cannibalism, mutilation, torture, and suicide.

I received an ARC of this novel and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Lena Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story begins with, Rayna, Chief Forensic Medical Examiner tackling issues within her personal life, along with a string of murders taking place that leave her whirling during her professional hours.

Reyna can't seem to find any peace, not even during sleep as she begins experiencing recurring nightmares that don't stop - to the point they start to feel real.

This story is filled with so much angst, suspense, along with twisted deliciousness that it left me wanting more.

I cannot wait to see what else Sienna has in store for us.

[Jess Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

..... Absolutely speechless.

What a debut novel! Crimson Chains is an extremely graphic paranormal horror story that I just couldn't put down.

The attention to detail and intricacies of the plot web are brilliant!

If you enjoy paranormal horror, this is an absolute must read! I can't wait to see what Sienna writes next!

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is very different from my normal reads or romance lol so I was a bit confused as to what was happening lol. I don't know if I've read a paranormal book, in general but this was pretty good. Poor Rebekah. Her story is absolutely heartbreaking. I could not imagine what she went through.
I got the feeling that Jack was maybe in love with Rayna, or maybe just had some feelings for her, but that doesn't really get touched on. Rayna's story... Ugh. That ending, totally not what I was expecting. I wanted more for her and Jack. Maybe there'll be a second book and we will get more of Rayna. All in all, I definitely recommend this story for those who like paranormal reads!!

[Megan White · Rating 4 out of 5]

This thrilling horror story toes the line of splatterpunk and had me desperately trying to piece everything together as snippets of the story were slowly revealed!

I impulse pre-ordered this book when I saw "forced cannibalism" on the trigger warning list... And it did not disappoint!

The paranormal mixes with modern day true crime, culminating in a most expected way!

Put your mental health first and check the triggering content because this one has its fair share... Then sit back and enjoy the horrific ride!

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Erm, excuse me?! Can we talk about that ending??!!
I read this as a recommendation from a good friend of mine, and let me tell you, he was not wrong to recommend this.
I absolutely loved it. The intrigue and confusion were just perfect.
I was super intrigued by the plot, and let me tell you some of those twists I did not see coming.
The characters were super well written, especially with representing night terrors.
Honestly, if you haven't read this, please do.

[Heather Dugger · Rating 5 out of 5]

The world building in this novella is fantastic. Comparative with a lot of disturbing visuals from horror movies. Absolutely love the playlist, which made me fly through it faster, in my opinion. Great touch. I am honestly wanting to read more of Sienna Rae's novellas or full novels now.

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

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely disgusting, in the best way. I was absolutely enthralled in the story, and there wasn't anything in this book that wasn't absolutely necessary to the plot!

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I didn't know what I was expecting but that was amazing

[Ali O · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wild thriller story! There’s lots of excitement throughout and it kept me engaged and wanting to read on. The book has some suspense, some horror and some gore! The book has it all! This is a pretty fast read and is very well written.
Thank you to Book Sirens for a free arc copy of this awesome book! I’m leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kalee McFall · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advanced reader copy of this book for my honest review. This book was interesting with a pretty good story. I just found the writing style wasn’t my favorite. I know a ton of other people will enjoy this book, it just wasn’t my cup of tea.

[Tonya Palmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve discovered not to start a paranormal horror book when you are sleep deprived at first I was frustrated trying to read it so I took a break and came back the next day and restarted and it was much better. I enjoyed reading Crimson chains and would recommend it if paranormal horror is your typical type of book. My tired brain got hung up when there were sentences that could have been simplified, and when the time jump seemed random but like I said most of those issues were resolved with sleep. I loved when Rayna came around to not doing it by herself and I think this is the first book that I’ve read that the ending didn’t go how I expected it too, but it was still a really good ending.

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firstly, thank you to the author for allowing me the pleasure of an ARC to read this early! As soon as I saw “plot driven horror” I was invested and needed it.

The description of this book had me intrigued from the start, I just wish it had been longer! The overall plot was so interesting I wanted more. I loved the way the author went back and forth in the timeline to piece together the story in a way that made everything flow together by the end. I throughly enjoyed trying to figure out the mystery as I read.

For a debut novel, I’d say this one does a pretty dang good job. It took me a moment to get into it because I did find some descriptions to be a bit wordy, but once I was engrossed in the story I couldn’t put it down. I very much look forward to more by this author as they hone their skills, because their story ideas are wonderful for lil horror lovers like myself. A great mix of slasher and paranormal that kept me interested to the very end, with a *very* healthy dose of extremely descriptive gore that was the icing on the horror cake.

[Kim Layman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hard-hitting, visceral, severe, gruesome, this novella packs a punch, and leave the reader reeling from the trauma and intensity of the protagonist’s past. Rayna is a no-nonsense, keep-people-at-a-distant character, who refuses to show weakness and pushes herself to brink of insanity. Her partner, and best friend, Jack, is her perfect anchor-keeping her teether to her last shreds of humanity. The descriptive and dark plot has the reader on edge, and wondering who the mysterious killer truly is. I was engaged from start to finish, and loved that the ending was not tied up in a neat bow. I would recommend this book to anyone to enjoy a gruesome and bleak tail of the depravity of a psychopath, and the anti-hero determined to win. 4.5 stars.

I received this book from Book Sirens, but am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Shelbe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holy wow, what a debut novel! I was sucked in from the very first page and was very reluctant to put it down. Sienna's writing is beautiful, and still managed to elicit a physical response to some of the on page events. (Let's just say I'll never look at noodles the same way lol) I highly enjoyed it & can't wait to see what else Sienna has in store 🫶

P.S. Admittedly, this was my very first h*rr*r novel but I definitely will be looking for more books in this genre.

[Mikel Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Crimson Chains" by Sienna Rae is a gripping mystery horror novel that will leave readers on the edge of their seats. Set in the quiet mountain town of Canadee, the story follows Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Rayna Pierce as she investigates a series of brutal murders committed by a mysterious serial killer.

The author, Sienna Rae, skillfully weaves a tale of suspense and terror as Rayna delves into the forensic investigation, only to be confronted with a sinister object that triggers a descent into psychological torment. The discovery of the ominous medallion sets off a chain of events that plunges Rayna into a world of fear and paranoia, haunted by inexplicable voices and unsettling flashbacks of the killer's previous victims.

As Rayna races against time to unravel the mysteries surrounding the murders and her own unraveling sanity, the once serene town of Canadee transforms into a realm of darkness and malevolence. The vivid descriptions of the graphic horrors and paranormal elements add a chilling layer of suspense to the narrative, keeping readers engrossed until the very end.

This book is a heart-racing tale that will left me breathless and eager for more. Sienna Rae expertly crafts a story that combines elements of mystery, horror, a pure psychological thriller, delivering a truly unforgettable reading experience. Prepare to be captivated by the twists and turns of this haunting tale as the secrets of Canadee and the Crimson Chains are revealed. I would give this author 10 stars sadly only five can be given. I am looking forward to more!

[Y.D. Mar · Rating 5 out of 5]

The scene is set with an ominous nightmare that has you looking over your shoulder, unsure of what your fears would manifest in the flesh... or if it has flesh at all.

Initially set contemporarily, we find a medical examiner on the hunt of something dark and elusive. The chains of events. The clues. The frustrations. Our minds are pulled along a journey where the pieces of the puzzle keeps eluding us, the reader, while at the same time teasing us into thinking we found the next lead before the next kill.

You all know how much I do enjoy a tale full of blood, darkness and secrets.

I always say, I can tell when someone enjoys reading and decide to start writing vs a person who is immersed in the things they read and blooms into the next logical course of evolution . Author Sienna Rae proved to be the latter. With a seasoned voice that has you doing a double take, not believing its her debut, the author will twist and turn you, coating you in crimson as you struggle to escape the stories grasp... only to find yourself lost and one of the victims.

Some stories are merely told... and some are woven.

I have no doubts Sienna Rae will break through the thriller/psychological horror sphere with a bang that will be heard across the stratosphere--easily becoming one of the top authors I've had to pleasure of reading this year. I'm excited to see what else this amazing mind will give us next.

*I rank this story 6 stars as a debut novel that blew my mind as well as place it as Dark Dark on my personal darkness scale*

[Eve L. Fell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crimson Chains by Sienna Rae

4/5 🍒

OCTOBER INDIE TRON 2025

Rayna is a Medical Examiner who has been on a specific case involving a serial killer. When the newest possible victim pops up in an odd fashion, holding a weird item, her world is turned upside down.

Jack is Ray’s co worker and best friend. They’ve known each other since they were kids and he is clearly in love with her. Ray also loves him but refuses to admit it to herself because of her terrible childhood and the general distrust of love.

As the case evolves things begin happening in Ray’s life that are scary and unexplainable. She is overworked, hasn’t been sleeping because of night terrors, and is now hearing things she doesn’t think are there. Will she prove she’s not crazy? Or will she succumb to the demons haunting her.

This book was good! The only downfall for this book for me was I felt that some things deserved a more in depth explanation, but besides that it was descriptive and written well. I hadn’t heard of this author before but now that I’ve read this book I’m excited to see what else they have to offer.

[Flor PL · Rating 3 out of 5]

Congratulations are due when warnings are well placed. Not everyone does.
Now, I don't know like I was expecting something deeper? To play more with the mind? It's like the synopsis tells you everything and you just need to read the ending. Which oddly enough was perfect for this story.
But right before it feels all rushed and disjointed. What I enjoyed most were the descriptions and details of the narration.

°°°°°°
Hay que felicitar cuando las advertencias están bien puestas. No todo el mundo lo hace.
Ahora, no sé como esperaba algo más profundo... ¿Que jugara más con la mente? Es como si la sinopsis te lo dijera todo y sólo tuvieras que leer el final. Que curiosamente era perfecto para esta historia.
Pero justo antes se siente todo precipitado e inconexo. Lo que más me gustó fueron las descripciones y los detalles de la narración.

[Pamela Sewell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book Sirens eARC. Chief Medical Examiner Rayna Pierce has seen many crime scenes in her career but none more horrific than the latest series of crimes occuring in Canadee, normally a quiet mountain town. An unusual gold pendant is found at the latest scene and investigators have hopes that it will provide clues. As a survivor of an abusive childhood Rayna has long been plagued by night terrors but the amulet triggers an intense series of dreams. Can Rayne and the police find the killer before she loses grip on her sanity? This blend of crime thriller and paranormal horror is not for the faint of heart or novice horror reader. The graphic gory descriptive scenes sent chills down my spine. Rayne is a relatable character and the medical and forensic details seemed to be well researched and presented. A very intense read.

[S.P. Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark Mystery
Paranormal
Multiple POV
Horror and Gore

"Oh little fox..."

The characters instantly drew me in with the snarky, medical examiner FMC with relatable quirks, and the fun banter with the lovable, cinnamon roll MMC. I couldn't get enough of them!

This paranormal horror had my heart pounding and my mind racing. The mystery of the story is weaved in so perfectly with shocking reveals and intriguing backstories. I couldn't guess what was going to happen and kept needing to know more.

I can't believe it's this author's debut book. It's so well written with beautiful dark vibes and realistic descriptions that made me feel like I was there. I cannot wait to read more from Sienna Rae!

[Doj Book Dragon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you ever had a reoccurring nightmare ? ...
Well, the MC, Rayna has.. in this book, she's dragged into a murder case that starts hittin' closer to home than she would like...

The story building and the characters are brilliantly built.. the depth of detail in this thrilling horror is perfection
The only downfall I personally feel it has is, I would have loved a longer ending as it felt rushed and unfinished and left me waiting for answers that aren't coming but that's just my personal preference as I like more independent endings with clear endings.

This is not my normal genre, but I enjoyed the book a lot.. under 3 hours to finish it..

I would be inclined to read this Authors future books after reading the Crimson Chains