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DORMANT
Marcy and Owen Parker, young newlyweds eager for a fresh start, have finally found a house they can afford. At first glance, it seems like the perfect starter home. But as they try to settle in, they notice flaws beyond the needed renovations—scratching noises at the bedroom windows at night, inexplicable things hidden behind the walls, and a garden that seems to move with a mind of its own.
Tensions flare as they try to salvage their dreams of a life together. Owen becomes obsessed with unearthing the house’s mysterious past. As his fixation deepens and the strangeness spreads beyond their white picket fence, Marcy faces an impossible choice: try to save her husband from himself and whatever lives behind the walls, or get out before the secrets beneath the house consume them both.
They wanted to grow together, but something else is growing between them... and it’s darker than they ever imagined.
PRAISE FOR DORMANT:
"DORMANT pulled me right in from the start. The descriptions (of what was going on inside of people as well as around them) kept me there." - NYT Bestselling Author Patrick Sweeney
"In this book, Forge delivers an intriguing tale that follows a young couple rooted to their recently purchased home after a life of buoyancy. A fresh start for both of them in the form of beautiful flowers, nosy neighbors, and peeling paint.
But in the midst of their renovation, a discovery sheds light on the property's past---something more than just the faded wallpaper and aged stucco. And as the horror begins to bloom and cover them in its shroud, they are forced to confront the things that haunt them in the shadows---be it the husband, wife, or the house itself.
I absolutely loved this book, and I look forward to the next thing growing in Forge's garden." - Jesse Pullins, author of The Paper Mache Man
Tensions flare as they try to salvage their dreams of a life together. Owen becomes obsessed with unearthing the house’s mysterious past. As his fixation deepens and the strangeness spreads beyond their white picket fence, Marcy faces an impossible choice: try to save her husband from himself and whatever lives behind the walls, or get out before the secrets beneath the house consume them both.
They wanted to grow together, but something else is growing between them... and it’s darker than they ever imagined.
PRAISE FOR DORMANT:
"DORMANT pulled me right in from the start. The descriptions (of what was going on inside of people as well as around them) kept me there." - NYT Bestselling Author Patrick Sweeney
"In this book, Forge delivers an intriguing tale that follows a young couple rooted to their recently purchased home after a life of buoyancy. A fresh start for both of them in the form of beautiful flowers, nosy neighbors, and peeling paint.
But in the midst of their renovation, a discovery sheds light on the property's past---something more than just the faded wallpaper and aged stucco. And as the horror begins to bloom and cover them in its shroud, they are forced to confront the things that haunt them in the shadows---be it the husband, wife, or the house itself.
I absolutely loved this book, and I look forward to the next thing growing in Forge's garden." - Jesse Pullins, author of The Paper Mache Man
- GenresHorror
Kindle Edition
Published February 23, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
April 8, 2025
ARC for review. Published February 25, 2025.
The most terrifying story I have ever read…a couple buys a fixer-upper on a Florida swamp and it has no air-conditioning. AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!
2 stars
Marcy and Owen Parker are newlyweds and, like all young couples, are looking for a house they can afford. But they are dreaming the impossible dream the end.
No, seriously, these nutjobs DO buy a fixer upper on a Florida swamp with no air-conditioning (and Owen conveniently neglects to tell Marcy he kind of crapped out on the whole “job” thing he was pursuing, so, you know, this is all going to end in a bloodbath of SOME kind, and not just because this is a horror book.) And not only are there a million and one things on the renovation list, it’s also, yay!, haunted.
Seriously, this is pretty much all Owen’s fault because they moved to this hellhole to care for his grandmother who then died right before they closed and THEN he becomes obsessed with the could-have-been-interesting-but-surprisingly-rather-dull history of the house, which we see just a tiny bit of in VHS tapes. Marcy tries to save Owen’s stupid ass from himself, but there’s some boring backstory which goes nowhere, plus, you know, they just got married…she’s not THAT attached.
I try to take chances on books from small publishers, (this one is from Raven Tale, I do believe) and sometimes you get lucky, (I just read a self-published book called THEO OF GOLDEN that was lovely) but this just wasn’t very good. There was no real insight as to what was happening or why, or, further, why anyone should care.
The most terrifying story I have ever read…a couple buys a fixer-upper on a Florida swamp and it has no air-conditioning. AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!
2 stars
Marcy and Owen Parker are newlyweds and, like all young couples, are looking for a house they can afford. But they are dreaming the impossible dream the end.
No, seriously, these nutjobs DO buy a fixer upper on a Florida swamp with no air-conditioning (and Owen conveniently neglects to tell Marcy he kind of crapped out on the whole “job” thing he was pursuing, so, you know, this is all going to end in a bloodbath of SOME kind, and not just because this is a horror book.) And not only are there a million and one things on the renovation list, it’s also, yay!, haunted.
Seriously, this is pretty much all Owen’s fault because they moved to this hellhole to care for his grandmother who then died right before they closed and THEN he becomes obsessed with the could-have-been-interesting-but-surprisingly-rather-dull history of the house, which we see just a tiny bit of in VHS tapes. Marcy tries to save Owen’s stupid ass from himself, but there’s some boring backstory which goes nowhere, plus, you know, they just got married…she’s not THAT attached.
I try to take chances on books from small publishers, (this one is from Raven Tale, I do believe) and sometimes you get lucky, (I just read a self-published book called THEO OF GOLDEN that was lovely) but this just wasn’t very good. There was no real insight as to what was happening or why, or, further, why anyone should care.
April 17, 2025
⭐️ 4 stars ⭐️
A house full of secrets and mysterious noises. Some things are better left dormant.
Another reviewer described this as Sinister meets ecological horror and I feel like that fits perfectly. The found footage creepiness, the eerie Florida swamp atmosphere, and the crescendo of horror elements made this a real nail-biter of a read.
I LOVE found footage horror, haunted houses, creepy shadows — Dormant gave me all the heebie jeebies.
The ending left me a little underwhelmed and mostly confused, but I still enjoyed this thrilling debut.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley, and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
A house full of secrets and mysterious noises. Some things are better left dormant.
There it was again. That faint scrape, like something dragging across the ground. Low, steady, deliberate. Wet.
Another reviewer described this as Sinister meets ecological horror and I feel like that fits perfectly. The found footage creepiness, the eerie Florida swamp atmosphere, and the crescendo of horror elements made this a real nail-biter of a read.
I LOVE found footage horror, haunted houses, creepy shadows — Dormant gave me all the heebie jeebies.
“There’s some things in this world we just aren’t meant to know, no matter what you call them.”
The ending left me a little underwhelmed and mostly confused, but I still enjoyed this thrilling debut.
This was how it ended, wasn’t it? How it was always going to end.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley, and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
April 29, 2025
While a genuinely creepy story, “Dormant” gets wrecked by its own annoying characters. Seriously, I’d had it with them, I was ready for everything and anything bad to take them out.
Definitely too bad, because I was really scared a few times whilst reading.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Raven Tale for a copy!
Definitely too bad, because I was really scared a few times whilst reading.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Raven Tale for a copy!
April 9, 2025
This review is for an ARC copy received through NetGalley.
A young couple, Owen Parker, an out of work ecologist, and Marcy, a nurse now working at a retirement home, have recently bought a fixer-upper house in Florida. Though they hoped for a nice, fresh start, tensions are starting to build as the move, the repairs, the recent death of Owen's aunt, Owen's lack of a job and the fact that he's a recovering alcoholic, are straining their marriage. On top of all that, Marcy wakes up one night to the distinct sensation that something abnormal is going on with the house. When Owen then discovers a metal lock box hidden within the chimney full of old VHS tapes, things only get weirder.
For a debut novel, the writing was pretty solid. Somewhere I think I saw a comparison to The Ring, but the only thing the book and that book/film have in common is a video tape. NetGalley's description mentioning the film Sinister and Jeff VanderMeer's Annihilation are exactly what came to my mind, even though I forgot it was mentioned here first, as the book definitely has some elements of both. But the story within is pretty original, with some unique takes of its own.
A young couple, Owen Parker, an out of work ecologist, and Marcy, a nurse now working at a retirement home, have recently bought a fixer-upper house in Florida. Though they hoped for a nice, fresh start, tensions are starting to build as the move, the repairs, the recent death of Owen's aunt, Owen's lack of a job and the fact that he's a recovering alcoholic, are straining their marriage. On top of all that, Marcy wakes up one night to the distinct sensation that something abnormal is going on with the house. When Owen then discovers a metal lock box hidden within the chimney full of old VHS tapes, things only get weirder.
For a debut novel, the writing was pretty solid. Somewhere I think I saw a comparison to The Ring, but the only thing the book and that book/film have in common is a video tape. NetGalley's description mentioning the film Sinister and Jeff VanderMeer's Annihilation are exactly what came to my mind, even though I forgot it was mentioned here first, as the book definitely has some elements of both. But the story within is pretty original, with some unique takes of its own.
April 26, 2025
Disclaimer: I received an e-ARC from netgalley.
Combining haunted house with eco horror, this story explores a fixer-upper house near a swamp in Florida and the failing relationship between a couple as the husband struggles to come to terms with his past and the wife questions what she wants for her future.
While the actual horror takes a while to get going, what really drew my attention was the exploration of the characters and their relationships with each other. While they are two newlyweds and should care only for each other, they keep secrets from each other that force a wedge between them that just keeps growing. It was fascinating to see how they were sabotaging their own relationships and growing more distant until there was no way for them to bridge the distance. While the wife engages in not-so-innocent texting with her former coworker, while questioning her sexuality, the husband hides the fact that he lost his job and soon finds himself lying more and more to his wife about what he does all day as video tapes begin to .
The later half of the book then finally dives deep into the supernatural aspects of the story, revealing the monster hiding in their walls. I really enjoyed watching the descent into trauma, unreality, hallucinations and horror. The body horror was delicious too!
All in all, this was a well done eco horror/haunted house combination with interesting (but not likeable) main characters and a great use of a dual-POV-narrative to make you question what one POV just told you.
TW: (past) addiction, body horror, cheating, (past) child neglect, (past) parental death, gore, murder
Combining haunted house with eco horror, this story explores a fixer-upper house near a swamp in Florida and the failing relationship between a couple as the husband struggles to come to terms with his past and the wife questions what she wants for her future.
While the actual horror takes a while to get going, what really drew my attention was the exploration of the characters and their relationships with each other. While they are two newlyweds and should care only for each other, they keep secrets from each other that force a wedge between them that just keeps growing. It was fascinating to see how they were sabotaging their own relationships and growing more distant until there was no way for them to bridge the distance. While the wife engages in not-so-innocent texting with her former coworker, while questioning her sexuality, the husband hides the fact that he lost his job and soon finds himself lying more and more to his wife about what he does all day as video tapes begin to .
The later half of the book then finally dives deep into the supernatural aspects of the story, revealing the monster hiding in their walls. I really enjoyed watching the descent into trauma, unreality, hallucinations and horror. The body horror was delicious too!
All in all, this was a well done eco horror/haunted house combination with interesting (but not likeable) main characters and a great use of a dual-POV-narrative to make you question what one POV just told you.
TW: (past) addiction, body horror, cheating, (past) child neglect, (past) parental death, gore, murder
April 8, 2025
This is eco and body horror like you have never seen before, and I am so here for it!
I'm a big fan of the "moving into a house and everything going wrong" trope in horror, and this was no exception. I liked that this wasn't the typical creepy old house and instead was much more modern, including the horror aspect. I think it would have been nice to have more interaction with their neighbors, but it didn't make or break the story by any means. I really felt that the couple was written in a fantastic way. Their personalities and even arguments felt natural and made me want to root for them even more.
I really liked the basis of the horror aspect, though I wish there was a deeper dive into the building of it. It's left pretty open for interpretation which might be some people's thing just not mine. I will say that the shock factor is a 10 out of 10 and my jaw remained on the floor from about 50% of the way through till the very end. I just kept telling myself I couldn't believe what I was reading!
I'm a big fan of the "moving into a house and everything going wrong" trope in horror, and this was no exception. I liked that this wasn't the typical creepy old house and instead was much more modern, including the horror aspect. I think it would have been nice to have more interaction with their neighbors, but it didn't make or break the story by any means. I really felt that the couple was written in a fantastic way. Their personalities and even arguments felt natural and made me want to root for them even more.
I really liked the basis of the horror aspect, though I wish there was a deeper dive into the building of it. It's left pretty open for interpretation which might be some people's thing just not mine. I will say that the shock factor is a 10 out of 10 and my jaw remained on the floor from about 50% of the way through till the very end. I just kept telling myself I couldn't believe what I was reading!
April 27, 2025
When you buy a massive fixer upper then you find out it’s haunted you know it’s going to be a good horror story. This is based on being house poor, especially since Owen’s job didn’t pan out, in a creepy Florida swamp. Real stressful living where you can’t just get out of the house and where the haunting horrors persist this is a rollercoaster of emotional, ecological, financial, and marital nightmare for this couple.
March 31, 2025
Dormant is a short, chilling ecological horror that blends “nature fights back” vibes with a creeping sense of “do I even know my husband?” Packed with eerie forbidden footage and gorgeous but unsettling imagery that sticks with you. Perfect if you like your horror a little weird, a little beautiful, and totally unshakable.
March 26, 2025
Think "The Ring" meets ecological horror. SO GOOD!
March 26, 2025
Marcy and Owen have just moved into an old house in Florida, but it's not just the walls that are showing cracks—their relationship is starting to fracture, too. As tensions rise between them, something sinister lurks within the house, threatening to unravel everything.
I really enjoyed this book! As someone who has also just bought an old house and is constantly dealing with DIY projects—not to mention strange noises—I’ve never related to 2 characters more. There were a few moments that genuinely scared me, which is rare since I’ve read so many horror books.
The writing is really great, and it's not a particularly long book so I finished it quite quickly. Highly recommend!
I really enjoyed this book! As someone who has also just bought an old house and is constantly dealing with DIY projects—not to mention strange noises—I’ve never related to 2 characters more. There were a few moments that genuinely scared me, which is rare since I’ve read so many horror books.
The writing is really great, and it's not a particularly long book so I finished it quite quickly. Highly recommend!
May 4, 2025
Thanks to Raven Tale and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars.
A botanical/ body horror which didn't quite hit the mark for me.
A young couple, Marcy and Owen move into an old holiday home and creepy occurrences start happening.
Owen has suffered trauma and addiction in his life, and Marcy is harbouring a secret.
I really enjoyed the first two thirds of the novel as the tension ramps up and the couple experience very unsettling things. But the slightly unhinged shift into the end of the book felt out of place with the build up.
Also, I understand Owen has had a difficult life, but he was not a great person, especially to his wife, and I struggled to understand the relationship between the two main characters at times.
It did keep me hooked right to the end though, which is a big plus point.
3.5 stars.
A botanical/ body horror which didn't quite hit the mark for me.
A young couple, Marcy and Owen move into an old holiday home and creepy occurrences start happening.
Owen has suffered trauma and addiction in his life, and Marcy is harbouring a secret.
I really enjoyed the first two thirds of the novel as the tension ramps up and the couple experience very unsettling things. But the slightly unhinged shift into the end of the book felt out of place with the build up.
Also, I understand Owen has had a difficult life, but he was not a great person, especially to his wife, and I struggled to understand the relationship between the two main characters at times.
It did keep me hooked right to the end though, which is a big plus point.
April 13, 2025
A wonderful debut novel featuring a beautifully written ecological horror, simmering beneath the surface of a haunted house. This inevitable and creeping force is pulled apart by the seams by the tensions from a strained marital relationship. The story slowly builds to a nebulous cascade of distrust, ghostly apparitions, conflicts, survival and carnage. The ending will have you disbelieving reality, as the characters are whisked into an existential descent brimming with earth, dirt and grief.
I loved the enigmatic writing around the ecological mysteries and violent horrors. This is where the author seems to really shine in their element. There’s an eloquent blend of tender Earthly visions, pulsing with horrific blood-curdling madness. Where I thought the story fell a little flat was the relationship dynamics feeling dry, off-beat dialogue and the slowness of the mundane. While I appreciated the hints along the way, some of the content didn���t seem fitting or it just needed a push along to that awesome ending. Nonetheless, impressive debut! And that gorgeous cover! Can’t wait to see more from this author.
I received a copy of the this advanced readers copy from Netgalley, with thanks to D.R. Forge and Raven Tales. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
This book is available now :)
I loved the enigmatic writing around the ecological mysteries and violent horrors. This is where the author seems to really shine in their element. There’s an eloquent blend of tender Earthly visions, pulsing with horrific blood-curdling madness. Where I thought the story fell a little flat was the relationship dynamics feeling dry, off-beat dialogue and the slowness of the mundane. While I appreciated the hints along the way, some of the content didn���t seem fitting or it just needed a push along to that awesome ending. Nonetheless, impressive debut! And that gorgeous cover! Can’t wait to see more from this author.
I received a copy of the this advanced readers copy from Netgalley, with thanks to D.R. Forge and Raven Tales. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
This book is available now :)
April 22, 2025
After Marcy and Owen move to their home, Marcy begins to hear strange sounds. The house is hiding something. Can they escape? Tension building.
May 4, 2025
I had high hopes for this one based on the synopsis and the author's tales on Reddit. But it didn't deliver: it felt like a bloated up short story, full of repetition, extended introspective sequences of very little impact, and unbelievable turns of events. It's one thing for a wife to suspect her spouse of secretly watching mysterious VHS tapes, and fretting about it, the author spending pages upon pages on her frustration and resentment; it's a totally different thing when she never -not once- takes the initiative and tries to watch the tapes herself - especially since the story starts with her own problems with the house they've moved into! She never acts rationally, simply forgetting the trouble she had with the sounds at night, foregoing checking what her husband is actually doing when she goes to work - merely complaining about it again and again till the inevitably sad ending. Apologies to the author, but this could have been a great book, considering the amazing premise, but it ended up completely flat for me. Reduce it to a third the size, and expanding a bit on the last thirty pages (better have SOME questions answered at least!), might have been the way to go.
April 8, 2025
I received this book through NetGalley.
I was drawn in quickly, especially with the noises and occurrences that Marcy and Owen experience once they move into their new house. With the discovery of the tapes I LITERALLY couldn’t put this down. There is enough scare factor in this story that I got scared when my son walked in from school.
Overall the story flows together at a quick pace and keeps you intrigued until the very end. This is something I’ll gladly read again when I’m in need of a scare.
I was drawn in quickly, especially with the noises and occurrences that Marcy and Owen experience once they move into their new house. With the discovery of the tapes I LITERALLY couldn’t put this down. There is enough scare factor in this story that I got scared when my son walked in from school.
Overall the story flows together at a quick pace and keeps you intrigued until the very end. This is something I’ll gladly read again when I’m in need of a scare.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 24, 2025
Rated 2/5 stars.
Dormant by D.R. Forge is an exploration of cosmic, ecological horror as it manifests in a surburban Floridian neighborhood. It was a fast paced lead with an excellent final 30%. Marcy and Owen move into their newly acquired, but utterly ramshackle, home after the latter experience's a devastating loss. They soon find hidden VHS tapes and quickly watch them, only to discover they are quite morbid and slightly addicting. What follows is a mindbending adventure into the confines of reality and a breakdown of the psyche. The characters are.. unlikeable, to say the least, and make quite a lot of decisions that seem ridiculous and irreplicable. Also, I genuinely haaaaaated Owen. Awful husband who expected his wife to do housework equally with him, but neglected to mention he turned down a job because he "didn't want to work." I---ANYways.
Honestly, I found myself skimming the middle 50% of the book because it seemed to lag, and I found that the parts that needed more description were lacking, and those that needed less description were overwhelming. It seemed like a good plot that wasn't executed quite the best. Even the climax seemed to sneak up pretty exponentially and once it happened, it was over. I think that this story would be better if it was reduced by 80 pages to match its intention to be fast-paced. The descriptions of visceral horror were pretty good though, gotta say.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Dormant by D.R. Forge is an exploration of cosmic, ecological horror as it manifests in a surburban Floridian neighborhood. It was a fast paced lead with an excellent final 30%. Marcy and Owen move into their newly acquired, but utterly ramshackle, home after the latter experience's a devastating loss. They soon find hidden VHS tapes and quickly watch them, only to discover they are quite morbid and slightly addicting. What follows is a mindbending adventure into the confines of reality and a breakdown of the psyche. The characters are.. unlikeable, to say the least, and make quite a lot of decisions that seem ridiculous and irreplicable. Also, I genuinely haaaaaated Owen. Awful husband who expected his wife to do housework equally with him, but neglected to mention he turned down a job because he "didn't want to work." I---ANYways.
Honestly, I found myself skimming the middle 50% of the book because it seemed to lag, and I found that the parts that needed more description were lacking, and those that needed less description were overwhelming. It seemed like a good plot that wasn't executed quite the best. Even the climax seemed to sneak up pretty exponentially and once it happened, it was over. I think that this story would be better if it was reduced by 80 pages to match its intention to be fast-paced. The descriptions of visceral horror were pretty good though, gotta say.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 5, 2025
This is quite the creepy story, combining eco horror with cosmic horror and a dash of folk horror to round it out.
A couple buys their first home in a quiet retirement area in Florida. Close to a swamp and teeming with flora, it's a fixer upper but it's what they can afford. Owen is an indie documentary film maker and Marcy is a nurse.
Although they have a good relationship, it's marred by past events which will be revealed over time. One day Owen finds a lockbox filled with old VHS tapes which had been encased in bricks for some reason. Soon, he becomes obsessed with them despite Marcy's insistence that they take them to the police.
What he'll find on these tapes is something which starts out a bit creepy but soon turns into true terror. And he will never be the same again as whatever lies dormant on their property is ready to come out. And it's extremely hungry.
This author does a great job of building the horrors while we see the slow unraveling of this couple. The hot humid Florida swamplands provides a fantastic backdrop for the narrative. The creepy things keep getting more intense as the book progresses and you get the feeling that things are not going to end well for either Owen or Marcy.
This is a banging short novel which you'll definitely want to read. I highly recommend it.I received a copy of this book through Netgalley. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.
A couple buys their first home in a quiet retirement area in Florida. Close to a swamp and teeming with flora, it's a fixer upper but it's what they can afford. Owen is an indie documentary film maker and Marcy is a nurse.
Although they have a good relationship, it's marred by past events which will be revealed over time. One day Owen finds a lockbox filled with old VHS tapes which had been encased in bricks for some reason. Soon, he becomes obsessed with them despite Marcy's insistence that they take them to the police.
What he'll find on these tapes is something which starts out a bit creepy but soon turns into true terror. And he will never be the same again as whatever lies dormant on their property is ready to come out. And it's extremely hungry.
This author does a great job of building the horrors while we see the slow unraveling of this couple. The hot humid Florida swamplands provides a fantastic backdrop for the narrative. The creepy things keep getting more intense as the book progresses and you get the feeling that things are not going to end well for either Owen or Marcy.
This is a banging short novel which you'll definitely want to read. I highly recommend it.I received a copy of this book through Netgalley. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.
May 29, 2025
In Dormant, D.R. Forge delivers a masterclass in visceral, nerve-prickling horror that seeps into your very skin. At first glance, it reads like a domestic suspense tale: Marcy and Owen Parker, young and hopeful newlyweds, settle into a fixer-upper with dreams of a fresh start. But Forge doesn’t waste time with ordinary anxieties, she cracks open the surface to reveal a creeping, skin-crawling terror that fuses ecological horror with who-left-the-camera-rolling horror, and grotesque body horror in ways that feel as invasive and intimate as the smallest splinter.
Beneath all the creeping horror and dread in Dormant, what struck me was how it’s also a raw, intimate look at a marriage straining against the weight of trauma and secrets. The result is a novel that feels not just read but experienced, a story that creeps into your pores and makes you feel like your nails have been pulled from your fingers long after the final page.
“If you’re looking for a horror novel that invades your senses and clings to your thoughts, Dormant will leave you squirming.”
Beneath all the creeping horror and dread in Dormant, what struck me was how it’s also a raw, intimate look at a marriage straining against the weight of trauma and secrets. The result is a novel that feels not just read but experienced, a story that creeps into your pores and makes you feel like your nails have been pulled from your fingers long after the final page.
“If you’re looking for a horror novel that invades your senses and clings to your thoughts, Dormant will leave you squirming.”
May 6, 2025
Dormant was an unexpectedly fun and gripping read. I first have to praise the dialogue. That is a make-or-break issue for me on most books. I cannot stand boring back-and-forth sentences, but Forge gets it write (get it?) with actual action-driven dialogue!! Every exchange feels alive, grounded in movement and context, rather than falling back on repetitive “he said / she said” tags. It's the kind of dynamic storytelling I have criticized Stephen King stories for lacking constantly.
Next, I don’t get scared easily, but there are some genuinely frightening moments here. Exciting ones too. I was right there with Marcy when they found the box in the fireplace. Owen could not open it up fast enough for the 3 of us.
I’m giving it 4 stars. Not because it lacks anything major, but because I need some room on the scale for books like Of Mice and Men. Still, Dormant is easily one of the most enjoyable books I’ve read in a while. You like pulp horror? You’ll love this.
Next, I don’t get scared easily, but there are some genuinely frightening moments here. Exciting ones too. I was right there with Marcy when they found the box in the fireplace. Owen could not open it up fast enough for the 3 of us.
I’m giving it 4 stars. Not because it lacks anything major, but because I need some room on the scale for books like Of Mice and Men. Still, Dormant is easily one of the most enjoyable books I’ve read in a while. You like pulp horror? You’ll love this.
April 27, 2025
“Dormant” by D.R. Forge is a must read if you crave some eco horror, body horror, a pinch of cosmic horror mixed in. I read it in a few hours and found it well-written and well-paced with an interesting, creepy, disturbing, makes your skin crawl and itch when you think about various elements of this story too long— vibes.
All of which I thoroughly enjoyed.
The writing is good, the descriptions are insidious, sneaky, visceral, compelling, and leave an aftertaste of unnerving! The plot is interesting and fleshes out the main storyline as well some relationship subplots that add characterization and depth.
Recommended for horror readers who enjoy Debra Castaneda’s work but think a bit more grotesque.
I will definitely read more from this author.
4.45/5
All of which I thoroughly enjoyed.
The writing is good, the descriptions are insidious, sneaky, visceral, compelling, and leave an aftertaste of unnerving! The plot is interesting and fleshes out the main storyline as well some relationship subplots that add characterization and depth.
Recommended for horror readers who enjoy Debra Castaneda’s work but think a bit more grotesque.
I will definitely read more from this author.
4.45/5
June 1, 2025
Dormant started as being an intriguing and exciting horror story- however, as I kept reading the story, the characters began to irritate me- their overall personalities and the repetitive nature of the conversations in the house and this unfortunately took me out of the story.
Thankyou to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this ARC book.
Thankyou to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this ARC book.
March 27, 2025
Not my normal cup of tea but I liked it alot
March 31, 2025
Short scary and sweet!!
As someone whose house flooded almost as soon as I got it this felt personal. However, I didn't have to deal with any monsters, just my insurance company...
As someone whose house flooded almost as soon as I got it this felt personal. However, I didn't have to deal with any monsters, just my insurance company...
September 19, 2025
2 stars
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy.
This feels very half-baked, which is an issue that seems to be running rampant among these Reddit-to-book authors. So many questions are left unanswered, plotpoints left open and concepts left unexplored. It’s also not my personal favourite type of horror but I absolutely could’ve looked past that if I loved the execution.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy.
This feels very half-baked, which is an issue that seems to be running rampant among these Reddit-to-book authors. So many questions are left unanswered, plotpoints left open and concepts left unexplored. It’s also not my personal favourite type of horror but I absolutely could’ve looked past that if I loved the execution.
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