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The Way It Haunted Him
Not yet published
Expected 9 Jun 26A terrifying and powerful dark academia novel about Jewish folklore, grief, and other things locked in the archives. Perfect for fans of T. Kingfisher, Tori Bovalino and Sunyi Dean.
"It's real. You'll see."
Michael Stein arrives at the Schechter Institute for Judaic Studies battered and broken after the death of his boyfriend seven months prior. Blaming himself for the accident that killed him, Michael has come to the Institute to complete his boyfriend's dissertation as part of his effort at repentance. While Michael's own past leads him to condemn superstition as a way to mask prejudice and old-fashioned beliefs, his boyfriend's research argues that the folktales told in the Jewish communities of Eastern Europe were based in truth, and that demons and other creatures walked the earth, wreaking havoc on peoples' lives.
Instead of the Institute's infamous archivist, Michael is met by his grandson, Jacob Schechter, who has taken over the archive after his grandfather's death. A firm believer in the existence of the supernatural, Jacob explains that the archive plays host to a coterie of household demons. Michael insists that he is a skeptic, but strange and frightening occurrences plague his research, causing Michael to question both his sanity and his view of the world.
To cope with his guilt, grief, and the terrifying shadows following him, Michael must reckon with the events leading up to his boyfriend's death—and his role in it—by trusting the enigmatic Jacob to help uncover the truth. As untangling the mysteries of the past bring Jacob and Michael closer together, their respective secrets threaten to tear them apart. Because Michael is not the only one with darkness on his conscience, and if he and Jacob discover the truth of each other, only one of them may survive the fallout.
"It's real. You'll see."
Michael Stein arrives at the Schechter Institute for Judaic Studies battered and broken after the death of his boyfriend seven months prior. Blaming himself for the accident that killed him, Michael has come to the Institute to complete his boyfriend's dissertation as part of his effort at repentance. While Michael's own past leads him to condemn superstition as a way to mask prejudice and old-fashioned beliefs, his boyfriend's research argues that the folktales told in the Jewish communities of Eastern Europe were based in truth, and that demons and other creatures walked the earth, wreaking havoc on peoples' lives.
Instead of the Institute's infamous archivist, Michael is met by his grandson, Jacob Schechter, who has taken over the archive after his grandfather's death. A firm believer in the existence of the supernatural, Jacob explains that the archive plays host to a coterie of household demons. Michael insists that he is a skeptic, but strange and frightening occurrences plague his research, causing Michael to question both his sanity and his view of the world.
To cope with his guilt, grief, and the terrifying shadows following him, Michael must reckon with the events leading up to his boyfriend's death—and his role in it—by trusting the enigmatic Jacob to help uncover the truth. As untangling the mysteries of the past bring Jacob and Michael closer together, their respective secrets threaten to tear them apart. Because Michael is not the only one with darkness on his conscience, and if he and Jacob discover the truth of each other, only one of them may survive the fallout.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication June 9, 2026
6 people are currently reading
947 people want to read
About the author
Laura R. Samotin
5 books184 followersLAURA R. SAMOTIN and her spouse live with two enormously large felines. When she’s not pursuing her academic research on military tactics, power politics, and leadership, she relishes her role as a full-time cat servant.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
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September 22, 2025QUEER JEWISH DARK ACADEMIA!!!! this is going to be my new personality as soon as I can get my hands on it
January 26, 2026
more so a 2.5 stars. i just don’t know how to express my thoughts about it. it’s not that bad of a book but i’m left feeling very meh after reading.
michael’s carrying a secret and by the 80% mark when it does comes out, i do feel for him but i’d spent a majority of the book disliking his character and his choices including hooking up with jacob in the first chapter while he’s there to finish off his dead boyfriend’s dissertation. jacob’s character is also unremarkable.
i enjoyed the academia sections of the book, learning a little about jewish mythology and folklore was interesting but it doesn’t dive nearly as deep into it as i would have liked. veronica schanoes does it so much better in her “burning girls” collection.
thanking netgalley and publishers for the ARC
michael’s carrying a secret and by the 80% mark when it does comes out, i do feel for him but i’d spent a majority of the book disliking his character and his choices including hooking up with jacob in the first chapter while he’s there to finish off his dead boyfriend’s dissertation. jacob’s character is also unremarkable.
i enjoyed the academia sections of the book, learning a little about jewish mythology and folklore was interesting but it doesn’t dive nearly as deep into it as i would have liked. veronica schanoes does it so much better in her “burning girls” collection.
thanking netgalley and publishers for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
“Monsters weren't real. They were made up by people who wanted to hide the fact that they were monsters themselves, or too powerless to stop the monsters around them.”
I can’t count the number of times I picked this book up, put it down after a chapter, then picked it back up again almost immediately. It was addictive and immensely readable, but the heavy themes packed an emotional punch that made me pause for breathers.
The Way it Haunted Him haunted me with its no-holds-barred portrayal of grief and guilt. The hopelessness of the characters shone through, in every heartbreaking line. It’s a gritty, atmospheric story that will stick with me for a long time.
The characters’ secrets were both fairly evident early on, but I don’t think that detracts from the story. It’s not the revelation of the secrets that’s the important thing, it’s how the characters deal with that revelation. And wow, that’s a whole big thing that we can’t discuss because of spoilers.
To a smaller extent, The Way it Haunted Him is also a story about Jewish mythology and folklore. The academic sections were extremely interesting and well done. I look forward to more from this author, having also read and loved The Cursed Crowns duology, particularly the first novel.
I really enjoy Laura R. Samotin’s writing style. I get immersed in her descriptions and atmosphere she creates. There were a few instances in this book where sentences were a little confusing, and a few mistakes that could be caught with more editing before the final book is published.
Ummm, the ending? Not what I expected. But damn, did it make sense. Now I see why the book is labelled horror. You got me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Titan Books for providing the ARC of this book. This review is my honest and voluntary opinion.
******
Got an arc! So excited.
***
Dark academia you say?
I can’t count the number of times I picked this book up, put it down after a chapter, then picked it back up again almost immediately. It was addictive and immensely readable, but the heavy themes packed an emotional punch that made me pause for breathers.
The Way it Haunted Him haunted me with its no-holds-barred portrayal of grief and guilt. The hopelessness of the characters shone through, in every heartbreaking line. It’s a gritty, atmospheric story that will stick with me for a long time.
The characters’ secrets were both fairly evident early on, but I don’t think that detracts from the story. It’s not the revelation of the secrets that’s the important thing, it’s how the characters deal with that revelation. And wow, that’s a whole big thing that we can’t discuss because of spoilers.
To a smaller extent, The Way it Haunted Him is also a story about Jewish mythology and folklore. The academic sections were extremely interesting and well done. I look forward to more from this author, having also read and loved The Cursed Crowns duology, particularly the first novel.
I really enjoy Laura R. Samotin’s writing style. I get immersed in her descriptions and atmosphere she creates. There were a few instances in this book where sentences were a little confusing, and a few mistakes that could be caught with more editing before the final book is published.
Ummm, the ending? Not what I expected. But damn, did it make sense. Now I see why the book is labelled horror. You got me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Titan Books for providing the ARC of this book. This review is my honest and voluntary opinion.
******
Got an arc! So excited.
***
Dark academia you say?
February 6, 2026
“Welcome to the Schechter Institute… May you find truth here.”
I immediately gravitated towards this book, from the title to the cover, to the topics contained in this book.
It’s not often books are written about Jewish mythology in such a way. The complexity of Michael and Jacob’s characters are evident and how mythology is encompassed in the book is well thought out.
I don’t often feel like I learn large sums of information in fiction books (not to say I don’t learn, but it’s usually words, not more about culture, religion, and superstition). However, I learned throughout this book and furthered my own understanding of Jewish folklore, demons, and superstition.
In the later half of the book, the understanding Jacob has of Michael and Nate’s relationship was a poignant reminder that abuse shows up in many ways, and sometimes it just takes one person to help someone understand it. I do suggest everyone take the time to read the trigger warnings for this book (and reach out for support should they need it). Not everyone’s experiences and understandings of abuse are the same but I felt it was written tactfully by the author. Mental health was a large portion of this book, with Michael trying to understand the aftermath of Nate’s death. The use of metaphor of Michael’s physical wounds to mirror his mental ones was well written.
Although a slower paced novel I felt it worked in this instance, it created a sort of intimacy with the readers. I felt that when what Michael had done was revealed (70% through the book) it was later in the book than I would have hoped but not too far that we couldn’t see the story afterwards. Moreover, I enjoyed the academia setting.
The last 20% of the book was very fast paced and did feel somewhat odd to me as the ending. While I understand how it fits with the book it almost felt like a new novel and that the characters had changed especially Michael’s insistence he would never hurt someone else purposefully being reversed.
Nonetheless it was a good book and I look forward to reading more by the author, I enjoy her writing style.
A sincere thank you to the publisher, author, and Netgalley for a copy of this as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I immediately gravitated towards this book, from the title to the cover, to the topics contained in this book.
It’s not often books are written about Jewish mythology in such a way. The complexity of Michael and Jacob’s characters are evident and how mythology is encompassed in the book is well thought out.
I don’t often feel like I learn large sums of information in fiction books (not to say I don’t learn, but it’s usually words, not more about culture, religion, and superstition). However, I learned throughout this book and furthered my own understanding of Jewish folklore, demons, and superstition.
In the later half of the book, the understanding Jacob has of Michael and Nate’s relationship was a poignant reminder that abuse shows up in many ways, and sometimes it just takes one person to help someone understand it. I do suggest everyone take the time to read the trigger warnings for this book (and reach out for support should they need it). Not everyone’s experiences and understandings of abuse are the same but I felt it was written tactfully by the author. Mental health was a large portion of this book, with Michael trying to understand the aftermath of Nate’s death. The use of metaphor of Michael’s physical wounds to mirror his mental ones was well written.
Although a slower paced novel I felt it worked in this instance, it created a sort of intimacy with the readers. I felt that when what Michael had done was revealed (70% through the book) it was later in the book than I would have hoped but not too far that we couldn’t see the story afterwards. Moreover, I enjoyed the academia setting.
The last 20% of the book was very fast paced and did feel somewhat odd to me as the ending. While I understand how it fits with the book it almost felt like a new novel and that the characters had changed especially Michael’s insistence he would never hurt someone else purposefully being reversed.
Nonetheless it was a good book and I look forward to reading more by the author, I enjoy her writing style.
A sincere thank you to the publisher, author, and Netgalley for a copy of this as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Strange that in a book featuring haunting spirits, the titular haunt is actually quite mortal darkness. Michael is a very emotionally broken character, with many distinct signs of abuse victim about him who chooses to take an invitation granted to his late boyfriend as a means to punish himself. He is a sceptic who pursues research in mysticism and spirits to grasp for pieces of the one he lost. His research takes him into the Schechter Institute for Judaic Studies to meet Jacob Schechter and to embark on an experience very different from the one he likely expected. I don't know if Jacob's reveal late in the book was meant to be a big plot twist, but even though I suspected his secret early on, the story of the emotional journey that Michael was on was more poignant for me than Jacob's secret. The exploration of Michael's healing made this a special story.
Having previously read the author's Cursed Crown duology, I expected characters reeling from emotional scars, but
readers who are looking at this for romantic horror without expecting non-supernatural darkness should review the content warnings to prepare.
I received advanced digital access to this book thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, Titan Books) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.
Having previously read the author's Cursed Crown duology, I expected characters reeling from emotional scars, but
readers who are looking at this for romantic horror without expecting non-supernatural darkness should review the content warnings to prepare.
I received advanced digital access to this book thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, Titan Books) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.
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February 2, 2026Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc of The Way It Haunted Him. I'm afraid I'm DNF'ing at the 22% mark.
This book was marked as queer horror with a T Kingfisher comp and a Jewish folklore/folk tales element, all of which are things I love, plus I've previously read and enjoyed one of the author's short stories.
However, the first 22% of this book has been non-stop in its depiction of self-loathing, self-harm and self-destructive behaviour. I still know almost nothing about our protagonist other than that he's feeling intense self-hatred and guilt over a secret relating to his boyfriend's death. Not knowing the cause of the character's feelings means the paragraphs of self-loathing end up feeling vague and repetitive, in addition to being intense. (According to other reviews, the reason for this self-hatred won't be revealed until the 80% point.)
I'm sure The Way It Haunted Him will be very meaningful to readers who need a story about grief, healing and mental illness. Unfortunately, I think I personally needed a little more plot or insight into the character to break up the relentless self-loathing and self-harming.
This book was marked as queer horror with a T Kingfisher comp and a Jewish folklore/folk tales element, all of which are things I love, plus I've previously read and enjoyed one of the author's short stories.
However, the first 22% of this book has been non-stop in its depiction of self-loathing, self-harm and self-destructive behaviour. I still know almost nothing about our protagonist other than that he's feeling intense self-hatred and guilt over a secret relating to his boyfriend's death. Not knowing the cause of the character's feelings means the paragraphs of self-loathing end up feeling vague and repetitive, in addition to being intense. (According to other reviews, the reason for this self-hatred won't be revealed until the 80% point.)
I'm sure The Way It Haunted Him will be very meaningful to readers who need a story about grief, healing and mental illness. Unfortunately, I think I personally needed a little more plot or insight into the character to break up the relentless self-loathing and self-harming.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Rounded up from 4.5
Haunting, atmospheric, and reflective, The Way It Haunted Him is a dark and moving ode to those with unhealed wounds and the secrets they hold close to their chests.
The sexual chemistry between Michael and Jacob is immediate and simmers beautifully into a tender romance. The story itself is deeply unsettling, emotionally challenging, and occasionally gory—all of which twine together to create a distinctive experience I can only describe as "heady."
If you are looking for Jewish folklore academia, a lot of trauma recovery, a moving romance, and the angstiest narrator you've ever seen, you are in the right place. I certainly loved it.
Haunting, atmospheric, and reflective, The Way It Haunted Him is a dark and moving ode to those with unhealed wounds and the secrets they hold close to their chests.
The sexual chemistry between Michael and Jacob is immediate and simmers beautifully into a tender romance. The story itself is deeply unsettling, emotionally challenging, and occasionally gory—all of which twine together to create a distinctive experience I can only describe as "heady."
If you are looking for Jewish folklore academia, a lot of trauma recovery, a moving romance, and the angstiest narrator you've ever seen, you are in the right place. I certainly loved it.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you Netgalley and Titan Books for the e-ARC!
A story about grief, dealt with in the most real way it could've been dealt with. Michael felt raw and I absolutely loved how his relationship with Jacob highlighted the gratification of feeling accepted no matter what, the tenderness of it. I appreciated them communicating a lot about how they felt but I did think Jacob acted younger than his age at times. My biggest complaint is that it was too short and I wanted more, especially since the relationship developed alarmingly quickly (even though I love fast paced romance). I would've liked to see them bond more over time. Also, I love Shiri.
A story about grief, dealt with in the most real way it could've been dealt with. Michael felt raw and I absolutely loved how his relationship with Jacob highlighted the gratification of feeling accepted no matter what, the tenderness of it. I appreciated them communicating a lot about how they felt but I did think Jacob acted younger than his age at times. My biggest complaint is that it was too short and I wanted more, especially since the relationship developed alarmingly quickly (even though I love fast paced romance). I would've liked to see them bond more over time. Also, I love Shiri.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Wow. Loved this. Creepy, freaky, lovely and so so normal all at once. Probably one of the best stories about gaslighting that I've ever read. The way the surreal was mixing with the mundane to create this perfect atmosphere was amazing. Loved it. Perfect.
I received a free copy for review
I received a free copy for review
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I still haven't recovered from all the things this book made me feel.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
my cat acquired this book (this is true, she’s in the acknowledgments), and i couldn’t be more proud of her immaculate taste
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All thoughts are my own.
I just read this hauntingly beautiful little book in one sitting because it physically pained me to put it down for even a second. This was so well written and slow moving, while at the same time moving quickly? It's hard to explain. But if you love dark academia settings and atmosphere, if you love queer characters who are so flawed and damaged, if you love horror, this is the story for you. I loved Michael and Jacob. I'm definitely excited to read more from Laura in the future.
I just read this hauntingly beautiful little book in one sitting because it physically pained me to put it down for even a second. This was so well written and slow moving, while at the same time moving quickly? It's hard to explain. But if you love dark academia settings and atmosphere, if you love queer characters who are so flawed and damaged, if you love horror, this is the story for you. I loved Michael and Jacob. I'm definitely excited to read more from Laura in the future.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews