Carl: An Easter Horror Thriller Novella

by A.C. Hessenauer

Two weeks before Easter, fourteen-year-old Tess finds something she thought was long gone—a tattered stuffed rabbit named Carl, buried in a box of Easter decorations. Once her favorite childhood toy, Carl now seems... different. His button eyes glint in the dark. His stitched mouth curves in a way it never did before. And when Tess holds him, she feels something stir inside her—something wild, something wrong.

At first, it’s little things. Strange dreams. An unsettling sense that Carl is watching, waiting. Then the accidents begin. People around Tess start getting hurt. Friendships crumble. Tess starts losing time, waking up with dirt under her nails and the taste of copper on her tongue.

As Easter draws near, Tess realizes Carl isn’t just a toy—he never was. He’s come back for a reason, and he won’t stop until he’s finished what he started all those years ago.

This spring, something is growing– rising. And it’s not the resurrection anyone was expecting.

89 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 6, 2025

About the author

A.C. Hessenauer describes herself as a writer of horror, chaos, and madness. A.C. has published five novels and one novella, including Dread House, Jumpers, and MANIMAL. A.C.’s next novel, Going to the Six, is set to be released in June of 2026 by Cemetery Dance, and has been selected for the Cemetery Dance Trade Paperback Book Club, alongside titles by Jack Ketchum, Bentley Little, and Brian Hodge.

When she’s not participating in macabre ceremonies dedicated to the eldritch horrors out in the woods, A.C. enjoys spending time with her family: her husband, two sons, and border collie named Maximus. She loves a good horror movie, and of course, getting swallowed whole by a good book.

Reviews

[Pauline Walters · Rating 5 out of 5]

I spotted this one a few weeks ago and was really intrigued, I finally got it yesterday and smashed it 🥰 I have been in a reading slump this month and this short, fast-paced, a bit scary read was perfect to pull me out it!!
I loved the settings and the idea, and the angst going on with the teenage drama was hitting close to home as well and I was so stressed to see where this was going 😆 and the end was perfect for this kind of horror novella.
Overall I loved it!

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was enjoyable for me as a adult. If I would have read it as a kid it probably would have scarred me if I had any stuffed rabbits the definitely would have went in the garbage!

[Momma Murder · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't get enough! The ending was just the beginning!
This novella was good but I definitely want more of Carl.
I hope we can eventually get a full book of the horrors he can do.

[Kerry]

Billed as an Easter horror, A.C. Hessenauer’s novella, Carl, focuses on a fourteen-year-old girl named Tess. Tess discovers a once-loved stuffed rabbit she’d named Carl among the Easter decor. She takes the tattered toy to her room and places him in a place of honor while she tries to ignore her parents’ fights. She shares some hurt feelings with the toy and describes problems at school. Before she knows it, strange things begin to happen. People who hurt Tess are hurt. This older YA story, released in April, 2025, is told in under 100 pages.

[Erica smith · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not a horror or Easter thriller

This book is 90 percent high school drama and ten percent about a stuffed rabbit that some how is " evil"? No part of this is book in my opinion is horror. Its more teen drama with some thriller. There were things put in this book as a " filler" like the girls period which did not belong in the book . honestly a very poorly written book.

[Desiree Horton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun horror novella reminiscent of every teenage slasher film you miss from the 90s, but with something extra! This was a fun read- well written, pacing was great, had good polish. It’s a supernatural horror, sure, but it’s also a great horror depiction of the teenage experience. Well done!

[Brooke Barker · Rating 2 out of 5]

I went out of my comfort zone for this book so if this genre is for you, please do not rely on this review. I felt bored and confused most of the book. I think there was a lot of potential but was limited due to the length.

[Beana Ellam-Lloyd · Rating 1 out of 5]

I just didn't get it. it was more a school/teen drama than an Easter horror.

[Aylin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story was simple and straight forward. I enjoyed it being my first experience with an indie author so I made sure to go into this with no expectations compared to most other things that I read. Based on things that happened in this book, I would identify it as a horror. However, some might find that subjective as I have seen a certain streaming service identifying Nightmare Before Xmas as a horror 🤣

Every time I thought I knew where the story was going, it would take a hard left. That's where I got me and kept me. My reaction to the ending was 😑, but based on the author's socials she might giggle a bit at such reactions. If you are looking for a break ,whether it's in the bath or avoiding your family on Easter, with a quick read then I would recommend this.