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The Bleed
Barry and Lich are two high school outcasts living as much of a life as they can in the small town of Grafting, Michigan, circa 1995. Life ain't great, but it ain't too bad either. That is, until the Grafting quake hits and a strange man heading a secretive organization shows up with an army of brilliant minds, highly trained mercenaries, and a monster that's crawled straight from the realm of nightmares. As it turns out, reality is starting to tear, and things from another dimension are starting to pop up-things with really bad intentions. So, when a few popular jocks from the local high school fall victim to a series of brutal murders and all the evidence points to Barry and Lich, their already crazy world is flipped upside down once more. Now on the run from local law enforcement, a secret government agency, and the monstrous manifestation of their own dark desires, the two teens, with the help of some very unlikely allies, must find a way to prove their innocence and save their small town from an evil beyond imagination.
374 pages, Paperback
Published July 16, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
July 18, 2024
Review originally on JamReads
The Bleed is the debut novel of Stephen S. Schreffler, expanding over material from the story Barry & Lich, included in the anthology Humans Monsters, both published by Dark Matter INK. A fast paced blend of sci-fi and horror, mixed with 90s nostalgia, metal and a decent amount of gore and violence, in a style that could be pitched as Stranger Things meets Metal.
1995. Grafting, Michigan. Barry and Lich, best friends, bandmates, and social outcasts, do what they can to enjoy life with the little they have; both coming from broken families and suffering the bullying from their high-school mates. Things might be difficult, but they still have their two member band, her weekly DnD games with her friend and master Sammy and Barry's van, the Wolfmobile; that's until an earthquake hits Grafting, a mysterious organization comes to the area, and creatures from other universe infiltrate, bringing with them death and mayhem. And the worst part is that all the hints are pointing towards our two friends; they will have to evade capture and prove their innocence, while trying to save their hometown.
Despite being a fast-paced story, Schreffler takes a sweet time to introduce and flesh out our pair of main characters; this group of friends also gives me vibes of the Losers from IT, but more mature, especially as a consequence of the responsibilities they have been forced to take for their families. Barry and Lich make an excellent duo to follow, but you can also empathize with Sammy and her film-making dreams, and the new weird guy that joins the group (and I agree with him, Nirvana is not so bad).
Additional to the main narration, The Bleed also follows the substory of the sheriff, a plot that is intimately tied with Barry's life; a man that, in reality, cares about others and that still feels guilty of what happened in the past, but whose rude aspect makes people not trust in him.
The vibes are absolutely nailed in this novel; not only that 90s nostalgia, but also in the conspirative aspect of the narration, with a super secret organization investigating the strange phenomena. In the horror terrain, we have an excellent blend of cosmic horror with some more visceral scenes.
The Bleed is a really solid debut novel, a great horror piece that I totally recommend reading if you prefer high-octane stories, with some touches of friendship and metal; a really enjoyable read and perfect to fill that itch of the 90s!
The Bleed is the debut novel of Stephen S. Schreffler, expanding over material from the story Barry & Lich, included in the anthology Humans Monsters, both published by Dark Matter INK. A fast paced blend of sci-fi and horror, mixed with 90s nostalgia, metal and a decent amount of gore and violence, in a style that could be pitched as Stranger Things meets Metal.
1995. Grafting, Michigan. Barry and Lich, best friends, bandmates, and social outcasts, do what they can to enjoy life with the little they have; both coming from broken families and suffering the bullying from their high-school mates. Things might be difficult, but they still have their two member band, her weekly DnD games with her friend and master Sammy and Barry's van, the Wolfmobile; that's until an earthquake hits Grafting, a mysterious organization comes to the area, and creatures from other universe infiltrate, bringing with them death and mayhem. And the worst part is that all the hints are pointing towards our two friends; they will have to evade capture and prove their innocence, while trying to save their hometown.
Despite being a fast-paced story, Schreffler takes a sweet time to introduce and flesh out our pair of main characters; this group of friends also gives me vibes of the Losers from IT, but more mature, especially as a consequence of the responsibilities they have been forced to take for their families. Barry and Lich make an excellent duo to follow, but you can also empathize with Sammy and her film-making dreams, and the new weird guy that joins the group (and I agree with him, Nirvana is not so bad).
Additional to the main narration, The Bleed also follows the substory of the sheriff, a plot that is intimately tied with Barry's life; a man that, in reality, cares about others and that still feels guilty of what happened in the past, but whose rude aspect makes people not trust in him.
The vibes are absolutely nailed in this novel; not only that 90s nostalgia, but also in the conspirative aspect of the narration, with a super secret organization investigating the strange phenomena. In the horror terrain, we have an excellent blend of cosmic horror with some more visceral scenes.
The Bleed is a really solid debut novel, a great horror piece that I totally recommend reading if you prefer high-octane stories, with some touches of friendship and metal; a really enjoyable read and perfect to fill that itch of the 90s!
September 24, 2024
Fantastic and wonderfully paced read. The characters are interesting and well developed in an exciting and thrilling horror set in the 90s. The story is told with the soul of classic horror novels from the 70s and 80s, the page turners that became staples of the genre. The dialogue is well written, the atmosphere creates palpability of small town life, and the excitement of relatable heroes that have been thrown into an inextricably wild situation.
This book is an absolute gem of a fun and compelling story that is accessible for even the pickiest readers and I can’t recommend it enough.
This book is an absolute gem of a fun and compelling story that is accessible for even the pickiest readers and I can’t recommend it enough.
September 14, 2025
Horror with heart. It's full of 90's nostalgia, rock n' roll, and two high school losers as our main characters. The creativity and world building is amazing--if you liked "John Dies at the End", Rick and Morty, or "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure", you'll love this book. 5/5 stars for sheer awesome!
August 25, 2024
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I was initially interested in The Bleed because it gave me the vibes of something very Stranger Things-esque, especially season 4 with Eddie Munson, and I was pleasantly surprised that it very much lives up to those vibes.
The Bleed is an absolute rollercoaster, the perfect blend of horror and science fiction without having to sacrifice either in the process. The cast of teenagers specifically are excellent and breathe a lot of life into the book; the friendship between Barry and Lich in particular is absolutely heartwarming from the beginning of the book until the end. Nothing ever hits as well as a few kids who bond playing Dungeons & Dragons with each other.
I also absolutely loved the voice of the novel. Third person omniscient worked really well for a lot of scenes, and the narrator taking the reader by the hand to explain characters or settings reminded me a lot of The Regulators by Stephen King, which is one of my favorite books. It was a really cool framing device and created an absolutely immaculate vibe for the book.
Also, the monsters? Super fucking cool. Absolutely stellar read.
I was initially interested in The Bleed because it gave me the vibes of something very Stranger Things-esque, especially season 4 with Eddie Munson, and I was pleasantly surprised that it very much lives up to those vibes.
The Bleed is an absolute rollercoaster, the perfect blend of horror and science fiction without having to sacrifice either in the process. The cast of teenagers specifically are excellent and breathe a lot of life into the book; the friendship between Barry and Lich in particular is absolutely heartwarming from the beginning of the book until the end. Nothing ever hits as well as a few kids who bond playing Dungeons & Dragons with each other.
I also absolutely loved the voice of the novel. Third person omniscient worked really well for a lot of scenes, and the narrator taking the reader by the hand to explain characters or settings reminded me a lot of The Regulators by Stephen King, which is one of my favorite books. It was a really cool framing device and created an absolutely immaculate vibe for the book.
Also, the monsters? Super fucking cool. Absolutely stellar read.
July 16, 2024
“There can be no apex as long as there is abyss.”
📚
It’s 1995, and best friends, bandmates, and social outcasts Barry and Lich are doing what they can with what little they have in their small northern Michigan hometown of Grafting. Both come from broken families, live on the wrong side of the tracks, and regularly serve as punching bags for the high school jocks. But they have each other; their stoner metal duo band, Wolf Harp; weekly Dungeons & Dragons games with their friend and dungeon master, Sammy; escape via Barry’s van, the Wolfmobile; and delicious Donner's Cherry Pies and Sunny Delight to keep them going. Things are rough, but they’re getting by — until an earthquake hits, a mysterious organization infiltrates the area, other-dimensional creatures unleash murderous wrath, and the evidence points to them. Can the unlikeliest of heroes evade arrest, prove their innocence, figure out what’s happening, and save Grafting before otherworldly evil wipes it off the map?
An expansion of the phenomenal Human Monsters anthology inclusion “Barry & Lich,” The Bleed is a brutal, fast-paced horror/sci-fi meld oozing ’90s nostalgia, ruthless violence, devastating ruin, and gnarly gore balanced by deeply tender, darkly funny moments. Think Men in Black, Stranger Things, and Frost Bite vibes, yet a wholly unique creation set in a cozy, endearing setting stacked with flawed, vulnerable, fully-fleshed characters whose harrowing struggles feel agonizing and devastating.
Interspersing historical “strange phenomena” incident reports with present-day carnage, the narrative weaves a reality-shattering nightmare with peak danger and sky-high stakes. It’s a fantastically cinematic account of earthquakes, sinkholes, and Bleeds; histories, memories, and traumas; anomalies, theories, and realities; intentions, decisions, and actions; experiments, extractions, and allies; assessors, monsters, and doppelgängers; and secrets, circumstances, and truths. Rife with heart-rending deaths and soul-splitting actualities topped with eye-catching cover art, The Bleed is high-octane horror with intense heart, the haunting prelude of which is brought to life in episode 25 of the Dark Matter Magazine podcast, which includes the original story and an author interview (highly recommended!).
Thank you to Dark Matter INK for providing an e-ARC of this thrilling new release (happy pub day!) for review consideration. It’s a tense and gripping novel sure to captivate a wide range of readers.
📚
It’s 1995, and best friends, bandmates, and social outcasts Barry and Lich are doing what they can with what little they have in their small northern Michigan hometown of Grafting. Both come from broken families, live on the wrong side of the tracks, and regularly serve as punching bags for the high school jocks. But they have each other; their stoner metal duo band, Wolf Harp; weekly Dungeons & Dragons games with their friend and dungeon master, Sammy; escape via Barry’s van, the Wolfmobile; and delicious Donner's Cherry Pies and Sunny Delight to keep them going. Things are rough, but they’re getting by — until an earthquake hits, a mysterious organization infiltrates the area, other-dimensional creatures unleash murderous wrath, and the evidence points to them. Can the unlikeliest of heroes evade arrest, prove their innocence, figure out what’s happening, and save Grafting before otherworldly evil wipes it off the map?
An expansion of the phenomenal Human Monsters anthology inclusion “Barry & Lich,” The Bleed is a brutal, fast-paced horror/sci-fi meld oozing ’90s nostalgia, ruthless violence, devastating ruin, and gnarly gore balanced by deeply tender, darkly funny moments. Think Men in Black, Stranger Things, and Frost Bite vibes, yet a wholly unique creation set in a cozy, endearing setting stacked with flawed, vulnerable, fully-fleshed characters whose harrowing struggles feel agonizing and devastating.
Interspersing historical “strange phenomena” incident reports with present-day carnage, the narrative weaves a reality-shattering nightmare with peak danger and sky-high stakes. It’s a fantastically cinematic account of earthquakes, sinkholes, and Bleeds; histories, memories, and traumas; anomalies, theories, and realities; intentions, decisions, and actions; experiments, extractions, and allies; assessors, monsters, and doppelgängers; and secrets, circumstances, and truths. Rife with heart-rending deaths and soul-splitting actualities topped with eye-catching cover art, The Bleed is high-octane horror with intense heart, the haunting prelude of which is brought to life in episode 25 of the Dark Matter Magazine podcast, which includes the original story and an author interview (highly recommended!).
Thank you to Dark Matter INK for providing an e-ARC of this thrilling new release (happy pub day!) for review consideration. It’s a tense and gripping novel sure to captivate a wide range of readers.
August 5, 2024
I loved this book 😀
August 18, 2024
Stephen Schreffler's debut novel The Bleed is a masterful blend of 90s nostalgia and epic storytelling, drawing readers into the eerie small town of Grafting, Michigan, where the boundaries between dimensions—and realities—are shattered.
At the heart of The Bleed the profound friendship between Barry and Lich, two misfit teens whose bond transcends mere camaraderie, resembling more of a brotherhood forged through shared trauma and fierce loyalty. Their relationship is the emotional core of the story, offering moments of heartbreaking tenderness and quiet heroism as they face horrible monsters while grappling with the mundane but real threats of everyday existence - like loss, loneliness, and watching the people we love slowly slip away or abandon us entirely.
Schreffler doesn't shy away from the monstrous brutality of humanity but balances it with the deep love found in the families we choose—those unbreakable bonds that are stronger than blood. This duality of human experience—facing down both the monstrous and the mundane—is what makes The Bleed a standout. It’s a story that resonates on multiple levels, reflecting our deepest fears and the enduring hope that love, in its many forms, can prevail even in the darkest times.
In The Bleed, Schreffler crafts a tale that is as humbling as it is harrowing. Schreffler is a confident storyteller, writing in a conversational tone that makes you feel like you’re relaxing into a comfy chair next to a cozy fire as the tale unwinds. I was hooked from the start, often in tears as I witnessed the rich cast of characters face battles both big and small, pulled into a story all at once magnificent and relatable. I can’t wait to see what this new author has in store and am eagerly awaiting the sequel!
At the heart of The Bleed the profound friendship between Barry and Lich, two misfit teens whose bond transcends mere camaraderie, resembling more of a brotherhood forged through shared trauma and fierce loyalty. Their relationship is the emotional core of the story, offering moments of heartbreaking tenderness and quiet heroism as they face horrible monsters while grappling with the mundane but real threats of everyday existence - like loss, loneliness, and watching the people we love slowly slip away or abandon us entirely.
Schreffler doesn't shy away from the monstrous brutality of humanity but balances it with the deep love found in the families we choose—those unbreakable bonds that are stronger than blood. This duality of human experience—facing down both the monstrous and the mundane—is what makes The Bleed a standout. It’s a story that resonates on multiple levels, reflecting our deepest fears and the enduring hope that love, in its many forms, can prevail even in the darkest times.
In The Bleed, Schreffler crafts a tale that is as humbling as it is harrowing. Schreffler is a confident storyteller, writing in a conversational tone that makes you feel like you’re relaxing into a comfy chair next to a cozy fire as the tale unwinds. I was hooked from the start, often in tears as I witnessed the rich cast of characters face battles both big and small, pulled into a story all at once magnificent and relatable. I can’t wait to see what this new author has in store and am eagerly awaiting the sequel!
October 21, 2024
A quirky writing style and some memorable characters combine in this one. The story was told from an assortment of POV's and had some truly unique characters. The action was well written. I did struggle a bit with the writing style. It read, in my opinion, like a novelization of a movie. An homage to "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure" or perhaps "Wayne's World" ( IYKYK) and while I have no doubt it will appeal to others and could be one of those books that ends up with a very dedicated fan base, it did miss the mark for me.
A big thank you to BookSirens and the author/publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book free of charge. I'm leaving an honest review voluntarily.
A big thank you to BookSirens and the author/publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book free of charge. I'm leaving an honest review voluntarily.
August 2, 2024
Engaging characters, compelling story
The tapestry of the northern Michigan setting of this novel was the perfect backdrop for an exciting story. The setting felt real, as did the characters in the dynamic of adolescent outcasts Barry and Lich literally bring down the house with their over the top musical performance. And the storyline continues to uncover layers of intricacy in the adventure. A lot of fun to read.
The tapestry of the northern Michigan setting of this novel was the perfect backdrop for an exciting story. The setting felt real, as did the characters in the dynamic of adolescent outcasts Barry and Lich literally bring down the house with their over the top musical performance. And the storyline continues to uncover layers of intricacy in the adventure. A lot of fun to read.
September 9, 2024
Brutal monsters, cherry pies and high school outcasts. Oh my! It's full of 90s rocking vibes and I am here for it and I love it. Brand new author reading and a new book fan here. There is a trigger warning. Metal heads Barry and Lich are in for a wild rocking ride as a quake hits their town but it's no normal quake. This town will bleed purple. And these metal heads are prime suspects.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 11, 2024
The Bleed had me hooked from the first chapter. I was immediately transported to this sleepy town and captivated by the characters. It is written from a perspective that truly makes you feel as if you are a part of this story. This is not usually a genre I would pick up, but I am so happy I did! I look forward to more from Stephen, maybe even a sequel!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews