What do you think?
Rate this book
Second Coming: A Little Princess Horror Homage
In this dark fable set in Victorian England, seven-year-old heiress Melissa Hawthorne is confronted with loneliness when she is uprooted from her comfortable countryside existence to a London boarding school, where headmistress Miss Grandine flatters her while harboring jealousy and dislike. A dislike that balloons into open hostility when Melissa's father loses his fortune and dies tragically, leaving her a penniless charity pupil completely at Miss Grandine's mercy. Little does she know that being made a servant cruelly treated by both staff and fellow pupils will be the least of her worries, as a nameless horror begins to stalk her through the school halls, something pushing through reality's thin surface to consume her. When her brutal circumstances begin to merge with the uncanny, Melissa, left all alone in the world, must find a way to escape both before they destroy her.
241 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 2, 2025
1 person is currently reading
5 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 13, 2025
Second Coming by George Bachman is a novella set in 1857 Victorian London. Seven-year-old Melissa Hawthorne is taken from her home in the English countryside and sent to a boarding school. Her father is a captain in the military and is headed to serve in India. From the beginning, Melissa is treated badly by the headmistress, Miss Grandine, the staff, and a few of her classmates. This is her first experience being shunned and mistreated by others for no rational reason. She is intelligent and quickly makes friends through tutoring her peers in French and arithmetic.
Melissa’s life takes a devastating turn when her father loses everything and is tragically killed in the line of duty. Left with no choice, she becomes a charity pupil and is treated as a servant. Her luxurious suite is replaced by a cramped room in the servants’ quarters, and she faces constant mistreatment and abuse from the staff and her peers. Feeling utterly alone and betrayed, Melissa’s young trust in others fades away. But there’s something more. A mysterious and unexplainable presence or phenomenon seems to occur periodically in the seminary, and only Melissa seems to be aware of it.
The story was really interesting and kept me engaged. I really liked Melissa and felt such compassion for her. She is an admirable child — she is gracious and very kind to her peers. Despite how others treated her, she was respectful. She’s also extremely independent. Amid the news of her father’s tragic death, she had the insight that she could turn a tragic situation into something positive that she can grow from. This story highlights the cruelty of class differentiation and how poorly people can treat others they view as less than or beneath them. This was a persistent theme throughout the story. The ending was sad, but also mind-bending. It forced me to contemplate the conclusion and what it meant.
I think the beginning could be more concise as it took me some time to get my bearings with the setting. I appreciate the author’s effort to be descriptive. Sometimes it was hard to get past the young age of the characters because they seemed too mature for ages six and seven. Especially the main character, Melissa, who seemed at least a few years older. I tried to rationalize the disconnect with the time period of the story. I think it would have been more realistic if all the girls at the seminary were a few years older.
I am grateful for George Bachman contacting me to read and review Second Coming. He provided me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
I have photos and additional information that I'm unable to include here. It can all be found on my blog, in the link below.
A Book And A Dog
Melissa’s life takes a devastating turn when her father loses everything and is tragically killed in the line of duty. Left with no choice, she becomes a charity pupil and is treated as a servant. Her luxurious suite is replaced by a cramped room in the servants’ quarters, and she faces constant mistreatment and abuse from the staff and her peers. Feeling utterly alone and betrayed, Melissa’s young trust in others fades away. But there’s something more. A mysterious and unexplainable presence or phenomenon seems to occur periodically in the seminary, and only Melissa seems to be aware of it.
The story was really interesting and kept me engaged. I really liked Melissa and felt such compassion for her. She is an admirable child — she is gracious and very kind to her peers. Despite how others treated her, she was respectful. She’s also extremely independent. Amid the news of her father’s tragic death, she had the insight that she could turn a tragic situation into something positive that she can grow from. This story highlights the cruelty of class differentiation and how poorly people can treat others they view as less than or beneath them. This was a persistent theme throughout the story. The ending was sad, but also mind-bending. It forced me to contemplate the conclusion and what it meant.
I think the beginning could be more concise as it took me some time to get my bearings with the setting. I appreciate the author’s effort to be descriptive. Sometimes it was hard to get past the young age of the characters because they seemed too mature for ages six and seven. Especially the main character, Melissa, who seemed at least a few years older. I tried to rationalize the disconnect with the time period of the story. I think it would have been more realistic if all the girls at the seminary were a few years older.
I am grateful for George Bachman contacting me to read and review Second Coming. He provided me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
I have photos and additional information that I'm unable to include here. It can all be found on my blog, in the link below.
A Book And A Dog
February 1, 2025
Second Coming is an engaging novella that follows a young woman named Melissa Hawthorne as her father enrolls her in a London boarding school. Melissa is a very wealthy student and is treated to the best of everything. When Melissa’s father passes away and his fortune is lost, Melissa is left penniless. In order to pay her debts Melissa is kept on as a charity pupil where she is expected to act as a servant to the pupils and staff. As Melissa tries to navigate her new life, something dark and sinister begins following her. Will she be able to escape before it’s too late?
This was a well written and gripping story and I ended up reading it very quickly. I thought Bachman did an excellent job of creating a strong sense of atmosphere and the sights and sounds of Victorian England definitely came to life in the story. I do feel like the latter half of the book was quite fast paced and could have done with being a bit longer to really see Melissa’s struggle with life as a penniless servant.
Melissa is a really interesting protagonist and Bachman did a brilliant job creating a complex main character that I really liked. Melissa might be the wealthiest student at the school but she is kind and thoughtful, looking after her friends and those around her. Even when her circumstances change, she tries her best to remain true to who she is. The story really focuses in on the theme of class and how different Melissa is treated when she has no money. The story comes to a thought provoking ending and overall I thought this was a compelling read. If you’re looking for a novella that mixes historical fiction and horror and one you can easily devour in a day, this one should absolutely be on your TBR.
This was a well written and gripping story and I ended up reading it very quickly. I thought Bachman did an excellent job of creating a strong sense of atmosphere and the sights and sounds of Victorian England definitely came to life in the story. I do feel like the latter half of the book was quite fast paced and could have done with being a bit longer to really see Melissa’s struggle with life as a penniless servant.
Melissa is a really interesting protagonist and Bachman did a brilliant job creating a complex main character that I really liked. Melissa might be the wealthiest student at the school but she is kind and thoughtful, looking after her friends and those around her. Even when her circumstances change, she tries her best to remain true to who she is. The story really focuses in on the theme of class and how different Melissa is treated when she has no money. The story comes to a thought provoking ending and overall I thought this was a compelling read. If you’re looking for a novella that mixes historical fiction and horror and one you can easily devour in a day, this one should absolutely be on your TBR.
February 5, 2025
A very interesting story, very emotional. I would recommend.
February 9, 2025
I discovered this book through Rosie’s Book Review Team. Authors interested in getting their books reviewed should check here.
This is a weird one for me to review. I liked the description, and it held a lot of promise, especially for a novella. I’d never read anything by this author before, and I couldn’t find any information about him (other than a list of his publications), but I was intrigued and decided to give it a go.
The description gives a good indication of the plot. Melissa, whose father is a young captain in India, leaves her at a London school for girls with a good reputation. He seems to be well-off and she is given the best room (displacing another girl who is not best pleased by it), has her personal French maid, and all the possible luxuries, including lots of fancy clothes and parties. She is well-behaved and tries to help other pupils, befriending the ones with the most problems and a little scullery maid, an orphan the school has taken in, the same age as the protagonist, and not treated too nicely. Melissa has an incredible imagination and a talent for telling stories, and she becomes quite popular with most of the students, although some are quite envious and jealous, and the same seems to apply to the headmistress as well.
She also feels a presence in the house and experiences some strange phenomena, never fully explained. I don’t think they’d qualify as horror, and they are not gore or explicit, although they can be unsettling at times and have more than a touch of Gothic or psychological terror. Part of the feelings of unease and the uncanny come from the way the story is told, in the third person, from Melissa’s point of view, and with some vivid descriptions whose language is quite precious at times, especially when it is supposed to reflect the mind of a 7-year-old girl, even taking into account that children in Victorian times were expected to behave as little adults and were educated as such, at least those of the upper social classes. There is a certain disconnect between Melissa’s experiences and those of the other pupils, the way she behaves and how the rest interact, which felt more realistic and appropriate to their ages (down to the meanness and bullying of some of the older and nastier girls).
I wasn’t sure how much time was supposed to have passed between the beginning and the end of the story. I might have missed the clues, but it didn’t appear evident from the narrative, perhaps because the story is short, and other than the odd reference to the weather, much of the action takes place indoors and adds to the sense of claustrophobia the protagonist feels at times. Melissa celebrates a birthday, which ends up being quite a traumatic episode in her life, but, otherwise, it feels as if only a few months have passed by the time the story ends, despite the many events that have taken place, and the big change in Melissa’s circumstances.
I wasn’t sure about how consistent a character Melissa was. Her mood and thoughts change rapidly from happiness to desperation, and from like to dislike, to the point of becoming quite despondent and disturbed as the story develops (although considering the change in her circumstances and the subsequent trauma she has to cope with, that is not so surprising). There are things hinted at and concepts that might explain some of what she experiences in the book, but that is left open to readers' interpretation, as is the end (that I liked, at least my take on it).
The atmosphere was vividly portrayed and felt realistic, even though the narrative felt episodic and not always cohesive. There were episodes from her previous life in the countryside interspersed in the narrative that confused me initially (they were in italics, so they were highlighted as different) and then completely disappeared. There was a mention of a plastic doll that felt anachronistic (although a specific date is not provided, plastic was not used for dolls or anything else until much later, in the XX century, and even cellulose would have been a bit of a stretch).
I was surprised when I checked the reviews of this story and a couple of readers seemed quite annoyed by the fact that the story closely followed the plot of another book. I had to check it out, as I wasn’t familiar with that book (A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett, from 1905, for those who might feel curious). I’ve never read that book, but judging by the plot described in Wikipedia, it is clear that the story, or most of it, apart from the ending, closely follows that plot, only changing the names of the characters and a few minor details. It seems there are quite a few versions: a play, several movies, anime, and comics created from it, so it is difficult to know where the real inspiration came from, and, as I said, I haven’t read that novel, but although I agree that there is nothing original or new under the sun, I would expect authors to make a bit more of an effort, or at least acknowledge the original source of their material.
There are beautiful descriptions, eerie moments, a strong paranormal vibe, and interesting psychological insights in this novella, (and as a warning, plenty of hardship, bullying, and child abuse as well). Still, it has problems, as I mentioned. You can make your own minds up and see what you think.
This is a weird one for me to review. I liked the description, and it held a lot of promise, especially for a novella. I’d never read anything by this author before, and I couldn’t find any information about him (other than a list of his publications), but I was intrigued and decided to give it a go.
The description gives a good indication of the plot. Melissa, whose father is a young captain in India, leaves her at a London school for girls with a good reputation. He seems to be well-off and she is given the best room (displacing another girl who is not best pleased by it), has her personal French maid, and all the possible luxuries, including lots of fancy clothes and parties. She is well-behaved and tries to help other pupils, befriending the ones with the most problems and a little scullery maid, an orphan the school has taken in, the same age as the protagonist, and not treated too nicely. Melissa has an incredible imagination and a talent for telling stories, and she becomes quite popular with most of the students, although some are quite envious and jealous, and the same seems to apply to the headmistress as well.
She also feels a presence in the house and experiences some strange phenomena, never fully explained. I don’t think they’d qualify as horror, and they are not gore or explicit, although they can be unsettling at times and have more than a touch of Gothic or psychological terror. Part of the feelings of unease and the uncanny come from the way the story is told, in the third person, from Melissa’s point of view, and with some vivid descriptions whose language is quite precious at times, especially when it is supposed to reflect the mind of a 7-year-old girl, even taking into account that children in Victorian times were expected to behave as little adults and were educated as such, at least those of the upper social classes. There is a certain disconnect between Melissa’s experiences and those of the other pupils, the way she behaves and how the rest interact, which felt more realistic and appropriate to their ages (down to the meanness and bullying of some of the older and nastier girls).
I wasn’t sure how much time was supposed to have passed between the beginning and the end of the story. I might have missed the clues, but it didn’t appear evident from the narrative, perhaps because the story is short, and other than the odd reference to the weather, much of the action takes place indoors and adds to the sense of claustrophobia the protagonist feels at times. Melissa celebrates a birthday, which ends up being quite a traumatic episode in her life, but, otherwise, it feels as if only a few months have passed by the time the story ends, despite the many events that have taken place, and the big change in Melissa’s circumstances.
I wasn’t sure about how consistent a character Melissa was. Her mood and thoughts change rapidly from happiness to desperation, and from like to dislike, to the point of becoming quite despondent and disturbed as the story develops (although considering the change in her circumstances and the subsequent trauma she has to cope with, that is not so surprising). There are things hinted at and concepts that might explain some of what she experiences in the book, but that is left open to readers' interpretation, as is the end (that I liked, at least my take on it).
The atmosphere was vividly portrayed and felt realistic, even though the narrative felt episodic and not always cohesive. There were episodes from her previous life in the countryside interspersed in the narrative that confused me initially (they were in italics, so they were highlighted as different) and then completely disappeared. There was a mention of a plastic doll that felt anachronistic (although a specific date is not provided, plastic was not used for dolls or anything else until much later, in the XX century, and even cellulose would have been a bit of a stretch).
I was surprised when I checked the reviews of this story and a couple of readers seemed quite annoyed by the fact that the story closely followed the plot of another book. I had to check it out, as I wasn’t familiar with that book (A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett, from 1905, for those who might feel curious). I’ve never read that book, but judging by the plot described in Wikipedia, it is clear that the story, or most of it, apart from the ending, closely follows that plot, only changing the names of the characters and a few minor details. It seems there are quite a few versions: a play, several movies, anime, and comics created from it, so it is difficult to know where the real inspiration came from, and, as I said, I haven’t read that novel, but although I agree that there is nothing original or new under the sun, I would expect authors to make a bit more of an effort, or at least acknowledge the original source of their material.
There are beautiful descriptions, eerie moments, a strong paranormal vibe, and interesting psychological insights in this novella, (and as a warning, plenty of hardship, bullying, and child abuse as well). Still, it has problems, as I mentioned. You can make your own minds up and see what you think.
May 23, 2025
Second Coming by George Bachman
Not a bad book. I prefer the first person pov, but that didn't deter me from devouring this one.
Melissa Hawthorne is a young girl who children tease. Tourment, rather, as she is left without her father due to his job. The story takes a turn at a later time when the father dies.
The novel is written well and takes place in the 1800s. If you're into a book with a strong storyline and horror, check this one out.
Not a bad book. I prefer the first person pov, but that didn't deter me from devouring this one.
Melissa Hawthorne is a young girl who children tease. Tourment, rather, as she is left without her father due to his job. The story takes a turn at a later time when the father dies.
The novel is written well and takes place in the 1800s. If you're into a book with a strong storyline and horror, check this one out.
June 26, 2025
To read a full review check it out here.
A slow building horror of vibes and childhood.
A slow building horror of vibes and childhood.
April 10, 2025
Melissa is a little girl who starts off on top with her own maid, best room at the boarding school and extra privileges that makes some of other girls jealous. After the death of her father and loss of income, she falls to the bottom, becoming a charity student and is forced to work as a scullery maid to earn her stay.
The book was a quick read with a familiar altered storyline. I wouldn’t consider it a horror story but more a tragedy. There were some elements that could have been expanded on, such as the dark specter and her time prior to arriving to the school which was touched on in flashbacks.
While I felt sympathetic for Melissa, it was hard to believe she was a 7 year old girl. Even taking into account that children matured faster in that time period, she spoke and acted much older. One of the few things keeping her 7 was her attachment to her doll.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers Only
The book was a quick read with a familiar altered storyline. I wouldn’t consider it a horror story but more a tragedy. There were some elements that could have been expanded on, such as the dark specter and her time prior to arriving to the school which was touched on in flashbacks.
While I felt sympathetic for Melissa, it was hard to believe she was a 7 year old girl. Even taking into account that children matured faster in that time period, she spoke and acted much older. One of the few things keeping her 7 was her attachment to her doll.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers Only
August 16, 2025
I never did figure out what the title referred to, but the book carried me right along to its inevitable conclusion, and struck me as a tragedy more than the kind of horror tale where gruesome things happen for no reason at all. The main character had good reasons for being despondent, and not trusting anyone; if anything the story highlighted the fact that everyone at this time, not to mention now, puts a lot of weight on the circumstances you were born into, i.e. things you have no control over. She had good character and we naturally liked her - so, how tragic!
March 9, 2025
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
And to be honest, it left me pretty confused. Please be WARNED, there are SPOILERS ahead:
I think the book has promise, but it felt rather disjointed, hence my confusion. I felt there were themes left undeveloped, such as Melissa's life in Nether Stowey prior to her arrival at the girls' school. Things were hinted at but never expounded upon.
She has some sort of paranormal experiences she calls Prana. Do they serve as warnings or threats?
The main character Melissa is a 7 year old girl. She and her classmates are obsessed with the topic of childbirth. It's natural for kids to be curious about this subject, but they seemed a bit young to be concerned with all the gory details.
When Melissa's life of plenty changes to poverty things go downhill fast. In despair she drowns herself.
The next thing we know a woman gives birth to a baby girl. Is this baby Melissa reborn? They name the baby Beth. Curiously, everyone in the family have the same names as the March family in Little Women. So has she returned as the ill-fated Beth March who also dies young? Poor Melissa!
And to be honest, it left me pretty confused. Please be WARNED, there are SPOILERS ahead:
I think the book has promise, but it felt rather disjointed, hence my confusion. I felt there were themes left undeveloped, such as Melissa's life in Nether Stowey prior to her arrival at the girls' school. Things were hinted at but never expounded upon.
She has some sort of paranormal experiences she calls Prana. Do they serve as warnings or threats?
The main character Melissa is a 7 year old girl. She and her classmates are obsessed with the topic of childbirth. It's natural for kids to be curious about this subject, but they seemed a bit young to be concerned with all the gory details.
When Melissa's life of plenty changes to poverty things go downhill fast. In despair she drowns herself.
The next thing we know a woman gives birth to a baby girl. Is this baby Melissa reborn? They name the baby Beth. Curiously, everyone in the family have the same names as the March family in Little Women. So has she returned as the ill-fated Beth March who also dies young? Poor Melissa!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
February 2, 2025I was expecting a gothic horror and while there were some weird parts that I couldn't quite wrap my head around I wasn't creeped out by any of it. The ending had me confused but I'm assuming it was a butterfly effect ending.
The book gave me A Little Princess vibes with both Melissa and Sarah's fathers leaving them in care while they fight in a war and then being forced into servitude after tragic accidents.
Edit: Realised the reason it gave me such strong A Little Princess vibes is because it's almost exactly the same plot just with some horror elements and name changes. As such I don't feel like the author has been completely trustworthy as no credit has been given to the original book.
The book gave me A Little Princess vibes with both Melissa and Sarah's fathers leaving them in care while they fight in a war and then being forced into servitude after tragic accidents.
Edit: Realised the reason it gave me such strong A Little Princess vibes is because it's almost exactly the same plot just with some horror elements and name changes. As such I don't feel like the author has been completely trustworthy as no credit has been given to the original book.
July 14, 2025
George Bachman writes a dark, and yet, compelling tale.
In Second Coming, the reader is brought into the life of young Melissa. Immediately, the reader is drawn into the world of wondering about the Wicked Seminary. Not everyone realizes that schools, especially those for young women were called seminaries, and they weren't related to religious seminary schools. Not everyone knows that, but as a historian and researcher, I felt the need to explain. I am a big fan of George Bachman and want to read whatever this author writes. This author has a grand imagination, and talent for showing the story. Insert Miss Grandine and exit Melissa's father. A dramatic and traumatic change happens for Melissa, and things only get worse for her at the Seminary. There is a reason chapter one refers to it as wicked. The fable is written just perfectly for Melissa, and humans are not the only one who are torturing the poor child, there is something more sinister. Bachman writes so descriptively and passionately in this story, that the reader can see both light and dark. The best dark stories are those which have even a glimmer of light. What a spellbinding story. What I like about this horror story is that it doesn't have be gory or have an axe wielding ghost. Dark, horror, thriller, it's all in this story, with the added punch of paranormal. Melissa has a gift that she is learning about and there doesn't have to be a reason why, just that it is. This story is absolutely thrilling, with twists on every page turn. It's both Breathtaking and alluring, all the way to the end. Second Coming is a definite recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews. I read this book to give my unbiased and honest review. Amy's Bookshelf Reviews recommends that anyone who reads this book also write a review.
In Second Coming, the reader is brought into the life of young Melissa. Immediately, the reader is drawn into the world of wondering about the Wicked Seminary. Not everyone realizes that schools, especially those for young women were called seminaries, and they weren't related to religious seminary schools. Not everyone knows that, but as a historian and researcher, I felt the need to explain. I am a big fan of George Bachman and want to read whatever this author writes. This author has a grand imagination, and talent for showing the story. Insert Miss Grandine and exit Melissa's father. A dramatic and traumatic change happens for Melissa, and things only get worse for her at the Seminary. There is a reason chapter one refers to it as wicked. The fable is written just perfectly for Melissa, and humans are not the only one who are torturing the poor child, there is something more sinister. Bachman writes so descriptively and passionately in this story, that the reader can see both light and dark. The best dark stories are those which have even a glimmer of light. What a spellbinding story. What I like about this horror story is that it doesn't have be gory or have an axe wielding ghost. Dark, horror, thriller, it's all in this story, with the added punch of paranormal. Melissa has a gift that she is learning about and there doesn't have to be a reason why, just that it is. This story is absolutely thrilling, with twists on every page turn. It's both Breathtaking and alluring, all the way to the end. Second Coming is a definite recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews. I read this book to give my unbiased and honest review. Amy's Bookshelf Reviews recommends that anyone who reads this book also write a review.
February 11, 2025
3.5 rounded up to 4
If you enjoyed reading The Little Princess and enjoy a bit of supernatural horror, then this is the perfect book for you! I will say this very closely follows the plot of the inspiration book, and I think I would’ve enjoyed it more if the author had branched out a bit more and made the story more their own. While it is an eerie story, and moves along at a good pace, it just feels like it’s missing...something. Although I can’t quite put my finger on what. The characters are about what I’d expect having read The Little Princess, and true to their inspiration. It’s a fairly quick read, I flew through it in an afternoon, dying to know how things would turn out for Melissa. Overall, if you’ve ever wondered what the original story would be like with a horror twist, then you’re going to love this!
If you enjoyed reading The Little Princess and enjoy a bit of supernatural horror, then this is the perfect book for you! I will say this very closely follows the plot of the inspiration book, and I think I would’ve enjoyed it more if the author had branched out a bit more and made the story more their own. While it is an eerie story, and moves along at a good pace, it just feels like it’s missing...something. Although I can’t quite put my finger on what. The characters are about what I’d expect having read The Little Princess, and true to their inspiration. It’s a fairly quick read, I flew through it in an afternoon, dying to know how things would turn out for Melissa. Overall, if you’ve ever wondered what the original story would be like with a horror twist, then you’re going to love this!
March 13, 2025
Thankfully, Melissa is friendly and helpful. She can spin a good story and wears the best clothes. She is also given the best room, leaving the occupant to move. Of course, she has a personal maid. Most like her, many are consumed with jealousy. I felt bad for her lack of a normal childhood - and that was before tragedy stepped in.
The story is told from her point of view, but her 7-year-old dialogue is well beyond her years. Melissa suffers from mood swings but also endures a vast amount of tragic events. There is a paranormal vibe that was not fully explained but lent a sinister twist to the mystery. A lot was packed into this quick read. Overall, it’s a good story, but I would have liked more length to fully flesh out the details and provide a distinct timeline. I like all the threads wrapped up by the end of the book.
The story is told from her point of view, but her 7-year-old dialogue is well beyond her years. Melissa suffers from mood swings but also endures a vast amount of tragic events. There is a paranormal vibe that was not fully explained but lent a sinister twist to the mystery. A lot was packed into this quick read. Overall, it’s a good story, but I would have liked more length to fully flesh out the details and provide a distinct timeline. I like all the threads wrapped up by the end of the book.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews