This Burdened Clay

by Thomas Norford

Praise for This Burdened

“An extraordinary novel that sneaks up on you starting with a subtle whisper of unease before tightening its grip into a full-blown nightmare…a remarkable achievement.” - Epic Indie.

“The story is grounded in its characters. They are real, recognizable and flawed.” – Verified Amazon review.

“Some of the best writing I've seen in the genre. Get it!” – Verified Amazon review

Fran Gera is a children’s social worker, capable and dedicated. Her addiction to horror movies is a harmless distraction, her volcanic temper and addiction to opiates, not so much. Two damaged boys are assigned to her caseload. Caleb is rebellious and street-smart, his cousin Blake, creative and lonely.

While Fran navigates her professional and personal life, a phenomenon unfolds. People are spurning the hollow diversions of modern life to join hands, to feel the soil against their naked skin. To commune. Campaigners herald the dawn of a utopian cause, but as the behaviour of its followers becomes increasingly bizarre, talk of sinister origins gains credence.

As events epochal and personal collide, Fran’s world falls apart around her. Aided by a former terrorist and a reprehensible social media edge-lord, she must deliver the boys to a place of safety. Together they are propelled on a journey into loss, self-discovery and unspeakable violence.

No one will be left untouched.

390 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 25, 2025

About the author

Thomas Norford is a purveyor of the finest organic science-fiction made from only the freshest, locally sourced ingredients. He has three books to get your reading gear around: The Starved God, a far future philosophical adventure with plenty of gore; Anomic Bombs, a collection of far-out tales about creatures which don't fit in; and his second novel, This Burdened Clay, a sci-fi horror tale set in contemporary Britain. Look out for Thomas's new novel, The Hogman's Homunculi and the Angelwing Massacre, coming early 2026. Readers of Anomic Bombs may be pleased to know that this is set in the same universe as The Sacred Furcula of Yukiang the Bird-Whale. Thomas survives in Northamptonshire with various humans and other animals.

You can sign up to Thomas's newsletter if you like - search The Warp or the author's name on Substack.

Reviews

[J.S. Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really engrossing read that starts off with that hint of horror / 'things aren't quite right here' atmosphere and slowly builds suspense in increasingly-terrifying ways. And I found Fran, the main protagonist, to be the perfect character to spiral into insanity with. She's a social worker with a big heart and big problems that make her realistic and someone to root for. I couldn't help but be endeared with her 'kids' whose cases she's dealing with - cousins Blake and Caleb. In fact, the whole cast of characters really drives a lot of the story. Milan was a treasure. Ben made me laugh out loud a bunch of times. Troy was the perfect nasty ex-boyfriend. Matt was charming. Norford's a talented and nuanced storyteller who can blend this found-family drama with horror involving cults and body horror and sci-fi creatures. There's action and gore and tender moments throughout. A real epic tale that any horror fan would like - kind of like Stephen King's The Stand only shorter, though I'd have read a longer version of This Burdened Clay, in fact I thought the transition from the farm scene to the journey-to-Ireland could have been told directly, another 100 pages would've been nice to see everything they went through in this time more directly. Regardless, this is some of the best writing I've seen in the genre. Get it!

[Matt Mememaro · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Burdened Clay is an absolutely captivating read that begins with a subtle whisper of horror, hinting that something is amiss beneath the seemingly normal surface. This atmosphere of unease gradually envelops the story, as the suspense mounts with each turn of the page. The narrative expertly weaves a tapestry of tension, drawing the reader deeper into an intricate web of increasingly terrifying events that leave a lingering sense of dread.
Our main lead Fran, was a fantastic character that also really helped set the scene. Her motivations were laid out and she had a relatable battle that any reader should be able to root for with plenty of obstacles to overcome.
I thoroughly relished the post-apocalyptic atmosphere. It evoked memories of the desolate landscapes and tense survival scenarios seen in The Walking Dead adding a fascinating and immersive layer to the experience. The barren wastelands, abandoned cities, and the constant struggle for survival were vividly brought to life, creating a chilling, yet captivating, backdrop that drew me in completely. Well worth a read if you are into suspenseful horror.

[Shuo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Burdened Clay by A.G. Norford is a gripping, genre-blending journey that starts with a whisper and ends in a scream. At first glance, it feels like a gritty, grounded psychological horror—a social worker named Fran, haunted by trauma, juggling fragile lives in a world that seems just a bit off. But as the story deepens, it transforms into something far more sprawling and surreal: part post-apocalyptic survival, part Lovecraftian nightmare, part found-family drama. Fran is a remarkably well-drawn protagonist—flawed, caring, and achingly real. The supporting cast is equally strong, especially the boys in her care, and characters like Milan and Ben add welcome depth and warmth amid the creeping horror. Though the shift from grounded dread to full-blown sci-fi horror may feel abrupt to some readers, Norford’s writing remains consistently strong and emotionally resonant. Blending cults, body horror, and monstrous otherworldly forces with moments of tenderness and gallows humor, This Burdened Clay offers a reading experience that’s unsettling and oddly uplifting at once. Fans of The Stand, The Walking Dead, or smart, emotionally driven horror will find a lot to love here.

[Finlay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Norford’s novel This Burdened Clay is a somewhat unusual but highly innovative novel. It combines elements of family drama, horror, sci-fi. This intricate blend determines the underlying reading sensation that balances suspense and emotions. The subtle advance through into a numb sense of terror is very strong. The language is skilfully employed, shifting, and captures the feelings or deliberate non-feelings of the characters. Fran Gera, the protagonist, with all her struggles and, at the same time, passionate character, and her interactions with the plagued boys, keeps the progressively quickening story together. But Fran’s commitment takes a toll; the portrayal of her struggle and the limited reliance on outside help, provides glimpses in a social critique and personal sacrifice. There is somewhat of a Kafkaesque feel to the novel, in some measure in the writing style, but even more in the oddities and subtlety of the story’s abrupt turns. Overall, it’s a great story. Highly recommend!

[Pablo Leguísamo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book left me a bit confused. It starts off slow but interesting, with a carefully built drama and a lot of characters to keep track of. The first half feels grounded, well-paced, and engaging. But then, somewhere around the rescue, everything shifts. What follows feels like a completely different novel. After spending ten chapters on a detailed, emotional story, suddenly we’re on what feels like a long trek through Mordor, packed with every trope you’d expect from an RPG or a TV series—zombies, monsters, the whole deal. The transition is abrupt, and it’s hard to tell if the author was aiming for a genre blend or just changed their mind about what story they wanted to tell.
That said, I did enjoy the post-apocalyptic vibe. It reminded me of The Walking Dead or Y: The Last Man, which was a cool touch. But overall, it’s hard to shake the feeling that This Burdened Clay is two different books mashed together, leaving both halves weaker than they could have been.

[M.J. Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am having a hard time pinning down what Genre this is. It starts out with a slow but steady story about a young woman, Fran, who is a dedicated social worker assigned to two teenage boys that come from dysfunctional homes. She is trying to keep them safe by opening her own home to them. Mix in an evil man, the father of one of her past clients who is trying to get her fired from her job, and a strange disease that is altering people's personalities before it kills them, and you have quite a few things to keep track of. Then, about half way through, the entire story makes a dramatic shift and becomes a sci/fi/horror story.
Set in Great Britain, the English phrases were fun and easy to follow. The character development was very well done. Not much time spent on setting the scene, rather it was heavy on action. I'm not clear who the best audience would be.