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FATHER: An Occult Horror/Thriller
Faith demands sacrifice. And in Father Aries’s church, redemption is just the beginning of the nightmare.
When Jess’s sister Sarah vanishes, the search for answers reveals a terrifying web of rituals, loyalty, and manipulation, all orchestrated by a man who claims to speak for God. But salvation comes at a cost, and the deeper Jess goes, the more she uncovers truths that could shatter her family—and the world.
FATHER is an Occult Horror/Thriller that explores faith, fanaticism, and the horrifying consequences of blind belief.
Are you ready to confront the darkness?
When Jess’s sister Sarah vanishes, the search for answers reveals a terrifying web of rituals, loyalty, and manipulation, all orchestrated by a man who claims to speak for God. But salvation comes at a cost, and the deeper Jess goes, the more she uncovers truths that could shatter her family—and the world.
FATHER is an Occult Horror/Thriller that explores faith, fanaticism, and the horrifying consequences of blind belief.
Are you ready to confront the darkness?
256 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 1, 2025
42 people are currently reading
54 people want to read
About the author
Zachary Greaton
6 books13 followersZachary Greaton grew up in Saco, Maine, went to school in Bangor-yes, Stephen King's Bangor-and spent his childhood wandering New England forests that felt like they were hiding something. (They probably were.)
He spent years directing music videos for major labels, which taught him how to make every frame hit. Now he writes books the same way: cinematic, visceral, and impossible to shake.
Horror. Thriller. Dark fantasy. Dark Sci-Fi. Whatever gets under your skin.
Zachary lives in Atlanta with his partner Andrea and two dogs who are absolutely not named after Scooby-Doo characters. He runs a large marketing agency-so he can write whatever he wants without worrying about what sells.
Author's Note: Check the content notes at the front of each book. Not every story is for everyone, and that's okay. I write because it's cheaper than therapy and slightly more legal than arson. If even one of mine stays with you, that's the whole point. Thanks for being on this ride with me.
He spent years directing music videos for major labels, which taught him how to make every frame hit. Now he writes books the same way: cinematic, visceral, and impossible to shake.
Horror. Thriller. Dark fantasy. Dark Sci-Fi. Whatever gets under your skin.
Zachary lives in Atlanta with his partner Andrea and two dogs who are absolutely not named after Scooby-Doo characters. He runs a large marketing agency-so he can write whatever he wants without worrying about what sells.
Author's Note: Check the content notes at the front of each book. Not every story is for everyone, and that's okay. I write because it's cheaper than therapy and slightly more legal than arson. If even one of mine stays with you, that's the whole point. Thanks for being on this ride with me.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 25, 2025
3☆
Heavy on the thriller and light on the horror. There are two types of horror in this novel. The spooky horror really isn't there.
The horrors of drug addiction and withdrawal are explored well. There is some of the horror of growing up in a dysfunctional family as well. How religious zealots exercise their will is also clear.
I received a free copy of Father through eReaderiQ, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This was an ok read for a thriller but fell flat for a horror novel. I was looking for more of a scare.
Heavy on the thriller and light on the horror. There are two types of horror in this novel. The spooky horror really isn't there.
The horrors of drug addiction and withdrawal are explored well. There is some of the horror of growing up in a dysfunctional family as well. How religious zealots exercise their will is also clear.
I received a free copy of Father through eReaderiQ, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This was an ok read for a thriller but fell flat for a horror novel. I was looking for more of a scare.
June 7, 2025
Heaven or Hell, what do you believe? After this book, you're going to be left in Awe! Is Father Ariers a Saint or a Sinner?
This book, just like so many others I've read lately, is a definite page turner.
Awesome job, Zachary. I can't wait for book 2!!!!!
This book, just like so many others I've read lately, is a definite page turner.
Awesome job, Zachary. I can't wait for book 2!!!!!
September 23, 2025
"Father: The Sacrificial Lamb" by Zachary Greaton is a masterfully crafted horror novel that plunges readers into an abyss of unrelenting darkness, exploring some of the genre's most sensitive and disturbing themes with unflinching honesty. The narrative's bleak tone is established from the very beginning and only intensifies as it delves into topics such as substance abuse, graphic withdrawal, self-harm, demagoguery, and extreme religious fanaticism. This is a work that does not shy away from depicting graphic violence and the psychological torment of its characters, culminating in a harrowing journey to the very gates of hell.
One of the novel's greatest strengths lies in its characters. The cast feels remarkably authentic and fully realized, each with a genuine and progressive arc that remains true to their core identity. They are not contrived archetypes but rather deeply human individuals whose struggles and motivations anchor the story in a palpable reality. The setting is rendered with an equally oppressive atmosphere. The landscapes, from the menacing trees and dank cellars to the foreboding stone walls and open graveyards, are so vividly described that they become characters in their own right, underscoring a pervasive sense of dread and isolation. This environmental menace forces the reader to rely solely on the characters for the narrative's necessary flicker of hope, which they provide in a powerful and compelling manner.
The character of Father Aries is a particularly standout achievement. His portrayal is a complex blend of believability and genuine menace, a figure who evokes both disdain and fascination. His sermons, biblical quotations, and offers of "salvation" are delivered with such chilling conviction that they create a deep sense of unease, making him a truly memorable and terrifying antagonist. The book's narrative structure is also highly effective, utilizing strategically placed inner monologues that propel the story forward without getting lost in unnecessary exposition. This approach maintains a relentless pace, building a constant, genuine dread that permeates every page.
While firmly rooted in the horror genre and its occult/cultist subgenre, the novel transcends simple shock value by weaving in deep psychological tension and exploring the roots of religious extremism. The disturbing "vision" sequences, though unsettling, lend the book a significant amount of credibility and intellectual weight. It is a mind-bending and psychologically intense read that will appeal to those who appreciate a bleak, dark narrative. The only lingering question is a testament to its immersive reality: why didn't someone call the FBI?
This is a book that defines what it means to be truly disturbing and is a must-read for fans of psychological and occult horror. It is a deeply unsettling and brilliantly written work that will leave a lasting impression.
One of the novel's greatest strengths lies in its characters. The cast feels remarkably authentic and fully realized, each with a genuine and progressive arc that remains true to their core identity. They are not contrived archetypes but rather deeply human individuals whose struggles and motivations anchor the story in a palpable reality. The setting is rendered with an equally oppressive atmosphere. The landscapes, from the menacing trees and dank cellars to the foreboding stone walls and open graveyards, are so vividly described that they become characters in their own right, underscoring a pervasive sense of dread and isolation. This environmental menace forces the reader to rely solely on the characters for the narrative's necessary flicker of hope, which they provide in a powerful and compelling manner.
The character of Father Aries is a particularly standout achievement. His portrayal is a complex blend of believability and genuine menace, a figure who evokes both disdain and fascination. His sermons, biblical quotations, and offers of "salvation" are delivered with such chilling conviction that they create a deep sense of unease, making him a truly memorable and terrifying antagonist. The book's narrative structure is also highly effective, utilizing strategically placed inner monologues that propel the story forward without getting lost in unnecessary exposition. This approach maintains a relentless pace, building a constant, genuine dread that permeates every page.
While firmly rooted in the horror genre and its occult/cultist subgenre, the novel transcends simple shock value by weaving in deep psychological tension and exploring the roots of religious extremism. The disturbing "vision" sequences, though unsettling, lend the book a significant amount of credibility and intellectual weight. It is a mind-bending and psychologically intense read that will appeal to those who appreciate a bleak, dark narrative. The only lingering question is a testament to its immersive reality: why didn't someone call the FBI?
This is a book that defines what it means to be truly disturbing and is a must-read for fans of psychological and occult horror. It is a deeply unsettling and brilliantly written work that will leave a lasting impression.
June 9, 2025
Summary:
The disappearance of Jess's sister Sarah leads Jess into a world of manipulation, the occult and the terrifying, led by a man who is supposed to represent the Almighty.
At what cost does Jess want to find out the truth?
Review:
Father by Zachary Greaton is is a terrifying thriller about an occult, mysterious world where faith and addiction are intertwined.
The book draws you into a world of despair, addiction and the occult from the beginning, and is a very easy and quick read, making you want to find out what happens next.
Recommended for fans of thrillers with elements of religion and the occult.
The disappearance of Jess's sister Sarah leads Jess into a world of manipulation, the occult and the terrifying, led by a man who is supposed to represent the Almighty.
At what cost does Jess want to find out the truth?
Review:
Father by Zachary Greaton is is a terrifying thriller about an occult, mysterious world where faith and addiction are intertwined.
The book draws you into a world of despair, addiction and the occult from the beginning, and is a very easy and quick read, making you want to find out what happens next.
Recommended for fans of thrillers with elements of religion and the occult.
October 29, 2025
Father, by Zachary Greaton, is a brutal novel that runs the gamut from religious horror, to addiction, to thriller, and everything in between.
The story is not complex. A young lady in search of her missing sister, a priest who may or may not be working for the right Master, and enough twists and turns to keep it entertaining and fun.
I would say it's more of a thiller with horror elements, than a horror novel with thriller elements. My only real complaint is that, in my opinion, it sometimes isn't sure what it wants to be.
That said, it's a incredibly gripping, very emotional novel that succeeds on every level, except possibly, its own identity.
The story is not complex. A young lady in search of her missing sister, a priest who may or may not be working for the right Master, and enough twists and turns to keep it entertaining and fun.
I would say it's more of a thiller with horror elements, than a horror novel with thriller elements. My only real complaint is that, in my opinion, it sometimes isn't sure what it wants to be.
That said, it's a incredibly gripping, very emotional novel that succeeds on every level, except possibly, its own identity.
June 5, 2025
“The Gospel According to Fear”
FATHER crawls under your skin and whispers in your ear like a demon dressed as a preacher. It's not just horror—it’s indoctrination, blood-soaked and soul-deep. Jess’s search for her sister becomes a descent into madness, where faith is weaponized and salvation feels like a curse. Twisted, brutal, and horrifyingly real.
FATHER crawls under your skin and whispers in your ear like a demon dressed as a preacher. It's not just horror—it’s indoctrination, blood-soaked and soul-deep. Jess’s search for her sister becomes a descent into madness, where faith is weaponized and salvation feels like a curse. Twisted, brutal, and horrifyingly real.
June 27, 2025
Father by Zachary Greaton was wow!🤯 This book had me from the start. It is an occult horror/thriller, and I just couldn’t put it down. It pulls you in and leaves you wanting more just as it seems some of the people in this town are done by the father of this church. I can’t say too much or I’ll ruin the whole book but I highly suggest you read it. It is absolutely amazing.
August 24, 2025
WOW I NEED MORE
As soon as I started reading this book I could not put it down. The twists and the turns and the consistent plot was so amazing!!! I wish I could read it again for the first time!! I definitely loved how the end was 10/10 !!!
As soon as I started reading this book I could not put it down. The twists and the turns and the consistent plot was so amazing!!! I wish I could read it again for the first time!! I definitely loved how the end was 10/10 !!!
October 11, 2025
I won't lie this one was a pretty enjoyable read!✨
July 20, 2025
Imagine if True Detective, a Sunday sermon, and a heroin-fueled fever dream had a love child raised in a crypt—that’s FATHER. This is not your average culty thriller. No, no. It’s a baptism in blood, trauma, and terrifying theology where confessional booths double as torture chambers and redemption is as twisted as a barbed-wire rosary.
Father Aries is the sermon-slinging psycho leading a deeply unholy flock, and his version of salvation comes with cages, whips, and psychological warfare. Meanwhile, our heroine Jess is playing detective while emotionally tap-dancing through family dysfunction, generational guilt, and the potential unraveling of reality itself.
Greaton’s prose is grimy and gut-punching. Every page tastes like cold sweat and sacrilege. And don’t get attached to anyone—they either vanish, overdose, or get sanctified to death.
Mood: Disturbing, unholy, and uncomfortably intimate
Genre: Psychological Horror / Thriller / Cult Fiction
Pacing: Slow burn with mounting dread and flashback-laced intensity
Rating: 4.5/5 Chalices of Holy Regret
Spice Level: 2/5 (It’s emotionally raw and sometimes sensually unclean—but not sexy.)
Scare Level: 4/5 (Cults, drug addiction, God complexes, and the horror of family.)
Trigger Warnings:
• Religious trauma / cult manipulation
• Drug addiction & overdose
• Suicide ideation
• Graphic depictions of withdrawal
• Physical/psychological abuse
• Implied sexual violence
• Gaslighting and coercion
Final Thought:
Come for the sermons. Stay because the door is locked, the priest has your sins memorized, and the walls are whispering your secrets back at you.
Father Aries is the sermon-slinging psycho leading a deeply unholy flock, and his version of salvation comes with cages, whips, and psychological warfare. Meanwhile, our heroine Jess is playing detective while emotionally tap-dancing through family dysfunction, generational guilt, and the potential unraveling of reality itself.
Greaton’s prose is grimy and gut-punching. Every page tastes like cold sweat and sacrilege. And don’t get attached to anyone—they either vanish, overdose, or get sanctified to death.
Mood: Disturbing, unholy, and uncomfortably intimate
Genre: Psychological Horror / Thriller / Cult Fiction
Pacing: Slow burn with mounting dread and flashback-laced intensity
Rating: 4.5/5 Chalices of Holy Regret
Spice Level: 2/5 (It’s emotionally raw and sometimes sensually unclean—but not sexy.)
Scare Level: 4/5 (Cults, drug addiction, God complexes, and the horror of family.)
Trigger Warnings:
• Religious trauma / cult manipulation
• Drug addiction & overdose
• Suicide ideation
• Graphic depictions of withdrawal
• Physical/psychological abuse
• Implied sexual violence
• Gaslighting and coercion
Final Thought:
Come for the sermons. Stay because the door is locked, the priest has your sins memorized, and the walls are whispering your secrets back at you.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews