The Shadow Family

by C.K. Morris

Olivia is a local celebrity... for all the wrong reasons.

Branded “One-Leg Olivia” after surviving a botched kidnapping, she’s more myth than person. Shunned at school and stuck between feuding parents, Olivia dreams of life after senior year. So when a wealthy stranger—claiming to be her long-lost cousin—offers $25,000 to attend her birthday party, it’s a no-brainer.

But what starts as a dream opportunity soon spirals into a blood-soaked nightmare. To survive the night, Olivia must battle her past, a savage predator, and worst of all: her own twisted family.

Genres: Horror, Paranormal, Mystery

222 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 11, 2025

About the author

C.K. Morris is a simple man. He loves books, movies, and his dog, Willow.

He possesses a trove of not-so-useful talents, chief among them his uncanny ability to snag the broken shopping cart at the grocery store. Not by choice, mind you—but because, doggone it, that's just the way it is.

He's got a knack for enjoying good horror, too. It's been that way since he was a scamp, kicking up dust on his six-speed, wearing out the carpet in the horror aisle at Blockbuster. And all these years later, not much has changed. If the universe hands you a passion—write novels and scare whoever’s willing to read them.

Reviews

[liv ʚɞ · Rating 4 out of 5]

thank you to Netgalley and the author for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review! <3

’”You know what I realised?" Olivia said. "I bet it wasn't even that bitch's birthday”’

The Shadow Family by C. K. Morris is a fantastic splatterpunk debut, with some horrifyingly gory scenes, and genuinely laugh-out-loud humour. Admittedly, I did pick this up purely based on the fact that the central character has the same name as me (go Olivia!), but I am so glad I did, as I had such a great time with it!

We follow Olivia Fitzbelt, a kidnapping survivor, as well as her boyfriend Keenan and sister Amy, as they travel into the mountains of Colorado to meet up with the girls elusive long-lost cousin Eleanor, who tempts them with the promise of 25K to attend her 18th birthday party.

While the premise is simple, the execution was brilliant, with some twists that both disgusted and surprised me in the best way possible. All of the characters were incredibly fun, and very realistic portrayals of teenagers, and I was attached to each of them, which I think is particularly impressive in such a short book (just over 200 pages).

The writing was engaging, and I loved that Morris included mixed-media elements between chapters (such as podcast interviews and newspaper reports), which only added to the overall experience, and never detracted from the tension or flow of the story. I thought the pacing was excellent, and appreciate that the book didn’t overstay its welcome.

I think fans of Nick Cutter (which I am!) would absolutely love this - it felt very reminiscent of his books, The Troop and The Queen.

Overall, The Shadow Family gets 4/5 stars. I can’t wait to see what C. K. writes next!

[Public Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many great things to say about this book. Perhaps my favorite horror subgenre is horror with a sense of humor. I laughed out loud reading this more times than I can count! Morris knows how to tickle the funny bone. His wordplay, his creativity, his sense of the absurd cracked me up. But, like Werewolf of London (my favorite horror comedy), Morris doesn't skimp on the terror. Supreme gross-outs pop up, great scares, upsetting narrative developments happen all over the place. I enjoyed the cinematic writing quality. The story unfolds like a movie I can see in my mind's eye.

I got a huge kick out of this book. A fantastic first effort. I am really looking forward to seeing what this author comes up with next. It makes me smile just thinking about it. I don't want to speak too soon but we may have a new frightmaster in the making.

[Katie Nuss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and CK Morris for this book in exchange for an honest review!

I don’t think I knew what I was getting into when I started this one, but I really enjoyed it! It was definitely dark, and often too gory for my taste, but the somewhat simple story was entertaining. Some parts were even (darkly) funny! I haven’t found many slasher/horror books that manage to be consistently funny.

I’d like to see some more from this author. I’ll be keeping my eyes peeled!

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and to the author for the e-reader arc!

I don't typically reach for horror, but I've been on a real horror kick lately - this novel really upped that desire to read more! The Shadow Family follows Olivia Fitzbelt as she navigates generational trauma in the Colorado mountains. Accompanied by her sister, Amy, and boyfriend, Keenan, Olivia travels to see an estranged cousin, Eleanor. The trio unravels the family history as mystery after mystery is revealed.

I loved how much Morris builds suspense and background - really bringing the characters to fruition before delving into the horror and more gruesome elements of the story. I felt as though those moments really hit home because the characters were more fleshed out, and it helped develop that sense of ~the other~ and what the shadow family entails.

The novel is rife with twists that made me audibly gasp and reconsider previous plot elements, keeping me engaged and wanting to tear through. I appreciate how Morris looped back to previous plot elements and kept the story feeling concise and tied together well, especially incorporating the mixed-media cuts to get a new perspective on the characters.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed C.K. Morris' The Shadow Family, and I would love to read another novel by him!

[Bee · Rating 2 out of 5]

I genuinely do not know how to rate this book. I really liked the premise, and the story but the writing was...weird. Some of these things were just really so abnormally awkward. Here are a few examples:

"Her skin clapped together in a deranged doo-wop ditty"
"Her forehead was airtight"
"Her lips puckered as if French kissing a Warhead"
"Before he could proceed with the second step in respiration (a quite important step, most doctors would agree)"
"The two sisters gaped at the dark hole, the silence besieging them, Toying with them. Hawking phlegm and doling out titty-twisters"
"The door sneezed."

I found myself interested in the story, but annoyed by the distracting writing choices and also by the main character. This one had potential but for me was a swing and a miss.

[Annie Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Morris writes with nuance and compassion. The characters are flawed and deeply human, and their pain feels authentic. Some of the quieter moments hit the hardest. There’s something eerie yet tender in how the story unfolds — like peeling back layers of wallpaper in an old house and finding ghosts beneath. 👁️📜

I loved how the tension built gradually rather than relying on cheap scares. The shadows here aren’t just spooky — they’re symbolic, and that gave the story real depth. Highly recommend if you enjoy slow-burn psychological fiction with heart.#TheShadowFamily #CKMorris #DarkFamilyDrama (I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.)

[Sarah Rife · Rating 5 out of 5]

THANKS TO NETGALLEY!!!! I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH I CAN'T EVEN FORM WORDS

I have no Idea what attracted me to this book, I just remember seeing the cover and was like WOAH I NEED TO READ THAT ASAP! Almost a month after it debuted I found it and read it all in the same day i was Approved! & OMG I'm so glad i did !!

I could NOT read this book fast enough, from the start i was completely immersed into this book, I could not put it down, I was literally reading it while I was cooking and would not let myself fall asleep until it was over, then I just couldn't fall asleep after because in my head i was going over everything that happened!

Ok for one I love when an author can write in the horror genre and it not just be STAB STAB STAB the entire book like this corny 90s slashers! (2nd I loved when the author actually brought up the horrible 90s horror scene and made a joke out of it! We compared everything we did to a horror movie back then for like no reason and it was so so fun) I Absolutely love when a horror or thriller (or whatever type of writer) can pull off making us laugh also, the slow build between you know it's about to get creepy and the cheesy funny one liners is just artistic! The writing in the book is the best type of "Slow Burn" You can ever feel, I love when everything isn't just corny jump scares and blood/guts but it builds up to being creepy, when you can build a good foundation to a horror story, it's like being at the top of a roller coaster and knowing what's about to happen is going to be the best/scariest thing that's about to happen to you and being so fricken excited nothing exists but that feeling!! I am trying my hardest here to describe what I loved about this book but there's just something about the way he writes that I can not put into words! The line "I bet it wasn't even her birthday" Is going to be so famously iconic I'm going to use it for everything! The back story on the sisters, the way they kept referencing the man in yellow, and The character build on creepy long lost cousin Eleanor- AHHHH I just can't!! YOU just have to read it and experience it for yourself!!

I shared it to everyone I know on goodreads and I Want to make a tiktok about it so bad screaming for everyone to go read it But Idek how to use tiktok!!! I have to find out how just to get this book noticed more!

I know this book just came out but I am here for this author's writing and I am so excited to see what he does next! "If the universe hands you a passion—write novels and scare whoever’s willing to read them" I AM SO WILLING PLEASE SCARE THE CRAP OUT OF ME FOR LIFE!!! Give Willow all the treats for supporting you on your writing Journey <3

[Thebiblioholic · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this fast-paced short horror! Olivia has already survived a savage predator attack that left her dismembered, and now she’s branded as “One-Leg Olivia.” She’s not only battling self-doubt but also a strained relationship with her sister. Shunned at school, she was counting down the days to graduation and when a long-lost relative offers her a large sum of money just to reconnect at a birthday party, it feels like the perfect chance to start chasing her own dreams. But Olivia quickly learns that handouts always come with strings—and some are more dangerous than others.

Olivia was relatable, easy to root for, and inspiring. I loved watching her find the will to survive and overcoming herself doubts. Even though there were quite a few characters to follow, it didn’t take long to settle into the pace of the story, and once I was hooked, I could not put it down.

If you enjoyed movies like Wrong Turn and The People Under the Stairs, this is definitely your vibe.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Carissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Shadow Family - C.K. Morris
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Synopsis:
Olivia escaped a kidnapping at the cost of losing one of her legs. Now, at 17, she’s somewhat of a local celebrity due to the tale.
When a long-lost cousin reaches out to invite Olivia to her birthday party, Olivia is not interested...until her cousin discloses her wealth and offers Olivia $25,000 in exchange for her attendance.
With her sister, Amy, and boyfriend, Keenan, in tow, Olivia hesitantly accepts the offer in hopes that this will help to fund her filmmaking dreams. Keenan is strongly opposed and Olivia soon finds he was right: some offers really are too good to be true.

Review:
“The Shadow Family” is a thoroughly terrifying read that really shocked me to my core. I wish I could’ve seen my face while reading some of the scenes! The body horror is truly disgusting in the best way. I loved the disability representation from our main character and how it was depicted. She didn’t think of her disability as a super power; she is still haunted by her past but uses her experiences to her advantage. At 222 pages, this was a fairly quick read but wow, does it pack a punch.

“The Shadow Family” is out now!

❗️Content warnings: SA, animal death, gruesome depictions of animals, gore, body horror, death of minor, kidnapping

I want to highlight a heavy content warning for SA. If that is something that bothers you, it is quite intense in this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and C.K. Morris for a ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

[Layne S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of all, thanks to Netgalley for a free ARC. The Shadow Family, I wonder what I can say about this book lol. Book The setup for the book is about a girl named Olivia who has one leg where somebody tried to kidnap her when she was little and they failed at it, and she got leg knocked off jumping out of the van. One day she gets an email from somebody saying they are her family, and they want to me up with her. The person then invites her and her boyfriend, and her sister to a cabin in the mountains of Colorado to celebrate the birthday for this so-called family member. There are a lot of gullible people in life. How can you trust somebody saying they are family, but you have never heard of them. This book has some nasty stuff going on in it, if you are into that kind of horror story. It was an ok story. The ending was left with no update of what happened to the main characters. Definitely a one-time read for me. Didn't really care about the characters very much sorry.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this! This was a fun entertaining story that is fast paced and well-written. The characters are all entertaining and I was guessing how it was going to end until the final chapter. I would recommend this! Special Thank You to C.K. Morris and Netgalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Kay Oliver · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whoa! This story blew me away. It's plot driven and whiplash-fast. Quite literally a shot of adrenaline. Splatter punk comedy at its best here.

[Milt Theo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent debut horror novel, reminiscent of the 2017 horror-thriller film, Get Out (with an emphasis on eugenics and generational trauma rather than racism) - it was fun to read, emotionally heavy at all the right places, intricately plotted and with a strong, satisfying ending! In fact, it doesn't even read like a typical debut as far as pacing and characterization are concerned; though the rather weak premise and its awkward execution may put some people off from staying with the book after the first third.

Indeed, for the basic idea to work (that is, a group of people exploring the impact of their abruptly discovering a horrible family history), the main character, Olivia, has to somehow accept the email invitation of Eleanor, a little known, estranged cousin living in the Colorado mountains, literally in the middle of nowhere. If one can get over Olivia's bizarre and mostly unconvincing thought processes in this part of the story, there's a huge treat waiting right after: a story full of tension, mystery and suspense, incredible twists, and scary monsters! And that's just the tip of the iceberg: Olivia herself carries her own trauma (psychologically and physically), and her choice to bring her boyfriend and her younger sister along complicates the story so much, one can hardly put the book down! By the time I realized what "the Shadow Family" actually is, I was already hooked!

It's easy to recommend this book to horror readers: it checks all the right boxes, leaves no questions unanswered, interestingly plays with different story formats, and delivers exactly what it promises: an entertaining adventure full of horrifying secrets, terrifying revelations, and enormously relatable characters.

[charlie-lea · Rating 2 out of 5]

W. T. F.

I knew I was signing up for something weird when I picked this up, but honestly what was that?

I will say it did do a good job of inciting horror - or more aptly, disgust. There were scenes when I felt physically sick, which isn’t something I’ve had happen before.

Sometimes the point of view would switch mid chapter between paragraphs which was annoying and could be a little jarring.

It was an interesting premise and I kept reading because I just wanted to know how it’d all end. I can’t say the ending was satisfying exactly but it wasn’t bad.

I don’t know. If you’re looking for something weird and gory then this might be for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free arc of this book in return for an honest review.

[Maddie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is exactly what would happen if you were to respond to an email from that Nigerian prince who is looking to leave you a big inheritance. The fact that anyone would fall for this scam is beyond me, and maybe if the FMC looked more in need of money, I would've understood. Let's not forget that it is mentioned in the book that she has been offered a movie deal about her kidnapping, but she refused. So now what, she wants some easy money just by going to a birthday party? This seems silly even thinking about it, but this was the first reason this story did not click with me.

The other reason is that the ending felt so flat for me. Without giving away any spoilers, we have no conclusive ending, and don't get me wrong, I am not looking for a happy ending, I am just looking for an ending. This one felt like there was more to the story, and I would be okay with a book two, but as a standalone, I feel like I read this book for absolutely no reward at the end, no answer to my questions, no nothing really.

These two reasons are why I deducted 2 stars from my rating, but that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy this crazy ride. I really enjoyed the creepy vibes and the weird atmosphere, and I love cults, so this was a perfect read in this sense.

I just started reading horror, and this is splatterpunk horror, which is something I've really enjoyed lately, so if you are in the mood for that, give this book a go. I promise you won't be disappointed. There is tension and weird vibes throughout this whole book, and I felt like I was transported right next to the characters, and I love it when a book does that, when it has that immersive writing style.

All in all, this was an interesting read, perfect for Summerween if you wanna read it in the Summer, or perfect for the cold Autumn days. I'm really happy I picked this one up.

Thank you NetGalley and C.K. Morris for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion! Needless to say, as always, all thoughts are my own and I have not been influenced in any way.

[Ashley Wiker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was absolutely crazy and not even close to how I saw this story developing in the best way possible.

Olivia is a bit of a loner and an outcast who never really fits in with the kids at her school. She’s introverted, introspective and has dreams of moving after high school to break out into a career in the movie industry. She still manages to make a connection with the most popular boy in the school, Keenan. She doesn’t understand why he wants to date her but he loves that she’s authentically herself.

In direct contrast to Olivia’s rather surly temperament, her sister, Amy, is everything she’s not. She’s popular, smart, and wants to fit in more than anything.

While the sisters couldn’t be more different, they still share a strong bond after an extremely traumatic incident from their childhoods.

Out of the blue, Olivia receives an invitation to go to a long lost cousins birthday party. She knows very little about the other side of her family, as they’re estranged, but she knows that they are very wealthy. In fact, her cousin, Eleanor, is so desperate for her company and to have someone attend her birthday party, that she offers Olivia $25,000 to come. Olivia talks about it with Keenan and while they feel the odds are likely that it’s not a sincere offer or Eleanor isn’t who she says she is, Olivia can’t pass up the opportunity to receive 25k when she so desperately wants to start her life.

Olivia ends up also convincing her sister to attend this party at their cousins remote home in the mountains and Keenan agrees to drive them there. Immediately upon arrival, they start to sense something is wrong with their cousin, and something is very wrong in her house.

This book is absolutely not what you think it is and all I can say is sit back and enjoy the ride.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[☾arina⭐︎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll start by saying horror isn’t a genre I typically reach for. The last horror book I remember reading was Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark and that was back in middle school. I was obsessed with that series. The stories were so creepy, but I couldn’t stop reading them, and don't get me started on the illustrations. But when I read the description of this story, I was intrigued enough to give it a shot and was glad I did!

The story begins when Olivia gets an email from a long-lost cousin she’s never met, inviting her to a remote residence to help celebrate her birthday. Right away, you can tell something suspicious is going on.

We follow the mystery of the murders happening in Pitkin County through media snippets, while also following Olivia and her companions as they respond to this strange invitation. The different POVs helped move the story along. They added depth to the characters and helped explain their individual motivations. I especially liked Keenan’s character. He was realistic and questioned when something felt wrong, but still supported Olivia. He was the voice of reason and a true ride-or-die boyfriend. My only complaint is that some of the POV switches felt a bit abrupt. There were a few moments where I had to flip back to figure out whose perspective I was reading from.

If you’re looking to dip your toes into horror, this is a great place to start. It’s short and easy to get through, with just the right blend of mystery, creepiness, and gore. The characters are interesting, and the story has a haunting family history that pulls you in.

Just a heads-up—definitely check the trigger warnings before diving in.

Thank you NetGalley and C.K. Morris for the ARC.

[Kim that.bookish.mama · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have never felt the what did I just read feeling more in my life! This book was…. I honestly don’t even know!

Life Lesson: If it sounds too good to be true… keep your spleen and stay home!

I gave this book 4 stars because it was so entertaining! Between the “news” articles, click baits, and just over all banter between the characters I was constantly laughing at this book!
That being said… this book was the most disgusting book I have ever read… but I guess that speaks to the Authors ability to write the scenes in such a vivid way… 🤢🤢🤢
The gore and grossness was a little too much for me… yuck!!!
The story was giving body snatcher vibes at first but trust me when I say that the truth is so so much worse and the twist at the end…. Yea it took me out! I mean I guessed most of it but the why had be reeling!

Our story follows Olivia who last her leg in a botched kidnapping attempt when she was 9. Olivia receives an email from a long long cousin inviting her to her birthday party… oh and 25K to attend… of course Keenan ( her boyfriend ) tells her it’s too good to be true. But with the new life adjustments happening lately she really could use the money… so Olivia recruits Keenan and her sister, Amy, and they start the journey up the snowy mountains for her payday. Only once they arrive things start to get weirder and weirder until the 3 find themselves in a situation no one could have seen coming!

All in all I liked the story and it definitely kept me interested but the gore and ….. ewww was just a little much for me. If that stuff doesn’t bother you and you like a funny horror book then I recommend you pick this one up!

[shereadsbecause · Rating 4 out of 5]

What would you do if your long-lost cousin suddenly reached out out of nowhere, offering you $25K just to attend her birthday party?

For “One-Leg Olivia” (yes, it’s a thing because she actually survived a kidnapping gone wrong), it’s an offer she can’t refuse as she looks toward life after senior year. But as with most too-good-to-be-true situations, things quickly spiral into something far darker. And when the truth finally surfaces… let’s just say it’s extreme.

This book had all my favorite elements: family secrets, cult vibes (I won’t spoil the kind, but it’s definitely taboo), and a dash of Ready or Not energy (think “a pact with the Devil for all the riches in the world”). It also toys with that unsettling question: is something supernatural going on, or is this family just genuinely mentally ill? For visual reference, if you’ve seen The **Descent, that’s exactly how I pictured the creatures here too.

It starts off slow, with the real “truth bomb” dropping around the halfway mark, after which the pacing finally picks up. I was willing to stick with it, though a few parts did go off-tangent. I wasn’t sure what purpose Olivia’s boyfriend, Keenan, really served (the plot would’ve held up just fine without him). And while I get that Olivia wants to be a screenwriter, her constant film-analysis tangents took me out of the story, especially when she’s supposed to be in fight-or-flight mode trying to survive AND protect her sister at the same time.

Still, I liked it enough to want a continuation after that ending. Creepy concept, great setup, just needed tighter editing and more focus.

Thank you NetGalley and C.K. Morris for the e-ARC!

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

📚The Shadow Family
✍🏻C.K. Morris
Blurb:
Olivia is a local celebrity... for all the wrong reasons.

Branded “One-Leg Olivia” after surviving a botched kidnapping, she’s more myth than person. Shunned at school and stuck between feuding parents, Olivia dreams of life after senior year. So when a wealthy stranger—claiming to be her long-lost cousin—offers $25,000 to attend her birthday party, it’s a no-brainer.

But what starts as a dream opportunity soon spirals into a blood-soaked nightmare. To survive the night, Olivia must battle her past, a savage predator, and worst of all: her own twisted family.
My Thoughts
The setup for the book is about a girl named Olivia who has one leg where somebody tried to kidnap her when she was little and they failed at it, and she got leg knocked off jumping out of the van. One day she gets an email from somebody saying they are her family, and they want to me up with her. The person then invites her and her boyfriend, and her sister to a cabin in the mountains of Colorado to celebrate the birthday for this so-called family member. There are a lot of gullible people in life. How can you trust somebody saying they are family, but you have never heard of them. This book has some nasty stuff going on in it, if you are into that kind of horror story. It was an ok story. The ending was left with no update of what happened to the main characters.
Thanks NetGalley and Author C.K Morris for the advanced copy of "The Shadow Family" I am leaving my voluntary review in appreciation.
#NetGalley
#NetGalley
#C.KMorris
#TheShadowFamily
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⚠️Trigger Warnings: Death, Gore, Incest, Sexual content

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I have read an early copy of the book via NetGalley, thank you!

Oh boy. This book was a lot. It doesn't seem so from the premise - just another "your family has a dark secret" type book but damn, this was one hell of a secret.

The Shadow Family follows Olivia, who reconnects with an estranged cousin (supposedly) and decides to go to her eighteenth birthday party together with her sister and boyfriend. The premise sounds familiar and it's not really something that stands out between other horror books but the plot goes into some really wild places.

First thing first, this is a very disturbing book. It has some potentially very triggering scenes so do check the warnings before going in. I personally liked how messed up it got and in the first half it was really good at building suspense. Unfortunately, I think it suffers a bit from revealing its hand a little too early and the second half is more action-focused than I would have liked. It's a shame because the beginning horror vibes were great.

When it comes to the charaters, they were just okay but I felt like they didn't reach the potential of what they could have been. I liked them well enough but in the end I don't think I will remember about them after some time passes. When it comes to the villain, I think they were the least well-written, to the point of being almost cartoonish at the end.

The book was very fast-paced and readable. I was always engaged and curious to find out what came next. All in all, this is a solid horror read, bordering on extreme horror. I'd recommend it but not without checking the trigger warnings.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

TW: sexual assault, gore, abuse

Thank you so much to NetGalley and to C.K. Morris for my arc in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

I am OBSESSED. Oh my god. I loved this.

"The Shadow Family" follows teen Olivia who has lived in the shadow of her botched kidnapping that resulted in the loss of one of her legs. Suddenly she gets an email from a distant relative offering money in exchange for attending a party.

This was such a wild ride and I was SEATED. Once I started it, I couldn't put it down. Olivia is a very engaging main character. She's super sarcastic and witty. I will say that I didn't appreciate how very "not like other girls" Olivia would act at times. I mean, I guess it makes sense, but there were a couple instances in the book when Olivia would bring up Taylor Swift just to shit on her which I found annoying since I thought we were past shitting on Swift for merely existing and being successful, but whatever. Other than that, Olivia was great.

I thought "The Shadow Family" was so creepy and I LOVED the gore. A lot of the sexually explicit stuff in this didn't feel gratuitous or "just because" which I really liked too. Especially once things get explained, it's like an "aha" moment.

I would absolutely recommend this to anyone lookin for a creepy and gory read for summer, or even wait until winter to get the vibes right!

[Horror Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hang on to your hats and definitely don't be eating anything when you read this extremely disturbing and gory tale of the darkest of family secrets including inbreeding, worship of an eldritch god, and psychosis.

Olivia is seventeen years old. She has a prosthetic leg after she escaped a kidnapping attempt years before. When she gets an email from a distant cousin inviting her to a birthday party along with $25,000 , she's suspicious but she desperately needs the money. Her sister Amy and boyfriend Keenan go with her up to a remote cabin/mansion deep in the Colorado wilderness almost.

And let's just say that things are going to get absolutely brutal, deliciously disgusting, and very terrifying. This book surprised me with it's graphic depictions but a good surprise. I wasn't expecting that at all based on the description but is it ever effective. I was glued to the pages and read it in one sitting. This novel will make for a sleepless night or at least one filled with nightmares. I highly recommend it.

[Rachael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holyyyyyyyyyyy Shit.

From what I can gather this is @ckmorris_author debut (someone please correct me if i’m wrong) and fucking hell what a debut it is (or isn’t but I think it might be). Either way, what a wild ride.

I went into this relatively blind after reading the blurb a while back, and then it completely falling out of my head. (speaking of heads, if you’ve read it you’ll know I appreciate only the thoughts falling out of my head, and no other head-related things). I am so glad I did, because I spent the whole book questioning EVERYTHING.

At first I thought this was just going to be a run of the mill thriller style horror, locked room style maybe? Well, jesus was I wrong. Nothing run of the mill about this. When it went batshit crazy, it did not hold back.

I even did a wee chant of “gore, gore, gore” near the end. So happy!

Trigger warnings for the above gore, and also sexual stuff, but if you can cope with that, please pick this up and read it!

Thank you to @netgalley for the copy, and thank you to C.K Morris for traumatising me to bits.

I am OBSESSED.

[Charlie Morris (Read, Watch & Drink Coffee) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did I read this book because my name is also C Morris? Maybe! But I also loved the cover, so I thought those reasons alone were good enough to request it on NetGalley.

The Shadow Family is a fun little horror story. It's like The Fall Of The House Of Usher meets Us which I loved. Dark family secrets, a gothic house that's rotting from the inside, a touch of a body horror, and characters willing to sacrifice absolutely anything.

At only 199 pages, this is the perfect length for an entertaining horror like this, keeping you on your toes, but wrapping up quickly enough to keep you fully engaged.

At times I found the dialogue quite "youthful" and almost like a teenage boy had written some of the dialogue. I didn't enjoy this YA feel to it at times, but this was my only negative, and fortunately it wasn't used too often.

Other than that, I had a lot of fun with this book. A great read if you like a quick, fun and effective horror.

[Kanan Jain · Rating 5 out of 5]

C.K. Morris's "The Shadow Family" is a compelling horror novel that plunges into the dark abyss of family secrets and the lasting impact of trauma. It follows Olivia, marked by a botched childhood kidnapping, who accepts a strange invitation from a long-lost, wealthy cousin to attend a birthday party.
What starts as a potential escape from a difficult life quickly devolves into a terrifying ordeal, trapping Olivia in a blood-soaked nightmare with a savage predator and, perhaps more frighteningly, her own twisted family.
"The Shadow Family" is praised for its ability to build slow-burn horror and suspense. It’s described as a chilling read, effectively blending dark family secrets with elements of body horror and characters pushed to extreme measures for survival. If you enjoy psychological thrillers and a fast-paced narrative that leaves you unsettled long after the final page, this book might be your next favorite.

[Emelia (emeliaisreading) · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: The Shadow Family by C.K. Morris
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Horror
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: July 11, 2025
📖 222 pages

📍 Colorado
🍻 Multiple POV
💰 Long Lost $$$ Cousin
🔥 Deal with the Devil
🔪 Deadly Secrets
✨️ Body Snatchers Vibes

Morris' use of multiple POVs and the online news articles made The Shadow Family will keep you engaged, while the descriptive language and horror elements used make it an immersive and atmospheric read.

I was instantly drawn to Olivia, who lost her leg in a terrible accident, and I was pleased that we got the backstory. The author did a wonderful job of fleshing out not only the main characters, but side characters as well. There is some sensitive content so check the triggers, but overall a great short horror!

Thank you so much BookSirens for the digital review copy!

⚠️ gore/horror elements, SA, sexual content,

[Singe · Rating 1 out of 5]

1⭐️

First off, thank to NetGalley for an arc


This was not for me… I’m want to throw up. This book needs trigger warning. It started out fine but the further I read, it got more disturbing and disgusting. I’m not into extreme horror and I wish I had know that this was a borderline extreme horror. I don’t mind the gore but the other disturbing scenes….. the characters were meh, more on the annoying side. The only good thing was the pacing.
Think Crude Until Dawn with The Hills have Eyes. Sweet home Alabama..

I kept bouncing between DNF and completion…… I chose completion and paid the price for it.

SPOILERS!

Again this book needs trigger warnings.
When chapter 18 happened, with Keenan getting raped by the inbred. I didn’t sign up for that. And the grooming inbreeding….

Overall, this book was not for me.

[Justin Limardo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall I really enjoyed reading this book. It is short, well written and is not over complicated. Story progression does not warrant a "let's get to the point" but instead engages the reader to continue on, despite the twists the turns that one encounters as they read through. Imagery is well thought-out and is totally relatable. The characters are not one-dimensional but not overly complex, a nice balance. I can easily see this becoming a successful graphic novel or, if C.K. continues along similar themes, a stand-alone series like the Bone Orchard Mythos or Tales from the Crypt.

I have no complaints and if I were to summarize my experience into one sentence, it would be "Brace yourself"

[Elizabeth Bunston · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Shadow Family was an enjoyable read overall, with an intriguing concept that set it apart from a lot of horror books I’ve picked up recently. The atmosphere was eerie, and the premise kept me curious about where the story was heading.

That said, I did struggle a bit with the believability of certain plot points. It was hard to accept that an eighteen-year-old in today’s world would willingly travel to such a remote mountain house to visit a cousin she knew nothing about, even if money was a strong motivator. The setup felt like a stretch, and it occasionally pulled me out of the story. The biggest turning point comes about halfway through, and while it was a good twist, it made the rest of the book more predictable for me.