The Vessel: A Novel

by S.E. Howard

As a child, Josh Finley is abducted by pedophile Michael Traynor. After 19 days of unimaginable horror, he manages to escape, but in the aftermath, he has amnesia from the trauma. The last thing he remembers of his time in captivity is seeing the dead body of another of Traynor's young victims. Ten years later, FBI Special Agent John Rodriguez asks for Josh's help to try and identify the murdered boy and find where Traynor buried the remains. Rodriguez says Traynor is willing to cooperate, but on one He'll only talk to Josh. In coming face-to-face with the man who has haunted him for so many years, Josh uncovers darker secrets than he ever imagined possible, and a horrifying fate that this time, he cannot hope to escape.

Genres: Horror, Thriller

238 pages, Paperback

Published May 16, 2025

About the author

S.E. Howard lives in Kentucky where she works as a registered nurse, certified in toxicology (a fitting field given her side-hustle writing horror stories). Her short stories have appeared in numerous anthologies, including PUSH! An Anthology of Childbirth Horror presented by Ruth Anna Evans, Carnival of Horror from Undertaker Books, and the Amber, Sinister, and Green Diamond Editions of The Horror Collection by KJK Publishing. Her short story “You’ve Been Saved” was also adapted for the screen in the 2022 GenreBlast film anthology Worst Laid Plans. Her horror novella, "Prairie Madness" is available from Baynam Books Press, and a novel, The Vessel from Wicked House Publishing. For more information, visit online at www.sehoward.com.

Reviews

[Milt Theo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, S.E. Howard's debut novel is one hell of a rabbit hole! The writing goes down very smoothly, so to speak, no matter how often the story takes a turn which seems unexpectedly harsh and cruel to the central character - namely, Josh, a young man who had a really bad experience as a kid, when a pervert kidnapped him and held him in his basement for weeks. But that's the tip of the iceberg!

I loved the first two chapters, full of mystery and subtle dread, as background details are still missing, and I had to figure out what exactly happened myself; Josh has amnesia and can't help, yet an FBI agent keeps pestering him to come talk to his captor, who's in prison and asking for him (strong Silence of the Lambs vibes here); and so, almost inevitably, Josh gets involved once again in the forgotten particulars of his own story.

The first half of the book felt a lot like a queer crime thriller, slowly turning into hard-hitting, and very dark, psychological horror. In the second half, the bottom drops out of Josh's world, and the story goes totally wild, especially when the mystery is revealed to be supernatural in origin - and Josh is unfortunately still right in the center of it!

I won't spoil anything, but if you enjoy propulsive supernatural crime thrillers, complex plots, with just the right dose of queer romance, then you're gonna have a whale of a time with it! Highly recommended!

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC for review. Published May 16, 2025.

3 stars.

When Josh Finley was a child he was abducted by the pedophile Michael Traynor. After nineteen days Josh escaped and Taylor was caught and prosecuted. Josh remembers seeing the dead body of another of Traynor’s victims while he was being held in the house.

Now Traynor is nearing a possible release date and an FBI agent named John, Rodriguez needs Josh’s help because Traynor says he’s willing to talk, but will only speak to Josh.

What might have been your typical serial killer story swerves into horror. Characters were pretty good, but the story was just OK; it’s pretty telling that I just finished this on the 6th, and now it’s the 10th and I’m struggling to remember what happened.

[Rhiannon Boyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fast-paced horror-thriller that starts as a childhood abduction trauma story but evolves into a complex tale with an unreliable, but very likable, narrator, Josh, who may have had far more (possibly nefarious) involvement in his own childhood abduction that he can’t seem to remember. There’s a mysterious cult-y group of rich folks, buried bodies, a serial murderer…

...and maybe something even worse…

There definitely seems to be some real-life conspiracy theory inspiration to some of the story – I’m thinking of all the stuff that's been permeating the online world the last ten years – with rich cabalistic satanic worshippers and all that.

Howard does a very good job of holding your interest throughout and right to the very last page, peeling back layers and layers of the horrifying puzzle, as Josh tries to hold on to himself and the life he thinks he’s been leading amidst mounting dread and terrible revelations.

My thanks to NetGalley and Wicked House Publishing for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Spring (Infinite Ink Society) · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)

Look, I spent most of this book deeply confused, slightly horrified, and completely hooked. 😵‍💫📖

The Vessel starts out like a tragic, grounded story about grief and trauma—and then slowly mutates into something darker, weirder, and absolutely unhinged. You’re not supposed to understand everything right away. You’re supposed to feel like you’re losing your grip. Mission: accomplished. 🧠🕯️

The pacing is fast (I read it in one sitting), the vibes are unsettling, and the writing style keeps you tethered just enough to keep flipping pages while muttering “what the hell is going on?” 😬

And then the ending hits. It lands hard, ties things together, and leaves you in that delicious “oh no… OH YES” state of horror reader satisfaction. 👏🔥

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Wicked House Publishing for the ARC and the mild existential crisis.

—

📚 For fans of: fast-paced horror, emotional unraveling, and stories that feel like a nightmare you can’t wake up from.

[Karley Harvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book free from NetGalley for an honest review.

I went into this one not really knowing what to expect. I knew it would follow our main character, a victim of a crime committed years ago, and his working through his memory to recall what happened to him all those years ago.
I felt wholly engaged through my entire read of this, the pacing in Howard's writing really flowed well with the story, not leaving those very slow dragging portions as some novels tend to do before getting to the plot climax. About halfway through, I thought to myself "Oh great, I see where this is going from a mile away." hahaha. Boy, was I fooled! There were ample twists to keep me on the edge of my seat waiting with my breath hitched to see what was gonna come 'round the corner for me, even at the very end.
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to those looking for a suspenseful read.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a ride!! I could not put this down and read it in one sitting! A fast paced, twisty thriller with some elements of supernatural. The story follows Josh as an adult, but flashes back to ten years prior when he was abducted. Hoping to never have to revisit that time in his life, the story unfolds as he reluctantly agrees to help an FBI agent. The ending left me wanting to throw my kindle across the room! ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My first written review, received a copy of the book from NetGalley for a review

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I stumbled about S.E. Howard on the Wicked House Publishing Facebook page and I am so glad I did. She brings the horror and as a life-long horror fan, I was needing a new horror story. The Vessel starts off feeling like a police procedural, crime story about a kidnapped boy but then transforms into something much much darker. I feel that S. E. Howard took inspiration from all the 2016 and the 2020 online cabal conspiracies to create this novel. Then she turned them into a horrifying tale of an unfortunate child.
This story pulls you in immediately and keeps you invested, while making you question everyone's motives. Then the ending is well, WOW. It's extremely unexpected in so many ways. I hope there is a follow-up book.

[bookreader_nix · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Wicked House Publishing for providing a complimentary copy of this book for an honest review.

Josh Finley was kidnapped as a child and held captive for 19 days. He manages to escape 19 days of horror at the hands of pedophile Michael Traynor, but suffers from amnesia and doesn't remember any of the events that took place during those 19 days. The last thing Josh remembers is seeing the dead body of another child (Avery Ormsby) in the room with him. Fast forward 10 years, Josh is living on his own, working third shift at a packaging facility while also doing risqué live streams for extra cash. He has become a recluse and lacks the ability to trust anyone he comes across, so he doesn't really establish any kind of relationships, romantic or platonic. One day he's leaving work and is approached by FBI Special Agent John Rodriguez who is seeking Josh's help in identifying and recovering the remains of the little boy Josh seen dead when he escaped and the only way to do that is to talk to Michael Traynor himself; but there's a catch, Traynor will only talk to Josh.
Josh contemplates for a while helping Rodriguez and ultimately decides to. Talking to Traynor leads Josh and his FBI counterpart to an abandoned mansion in the woods in Virginia. The events that take place afterwards make Josh question the validity between dreams, memories, and reality. Josh will soon find out that the events of the 19 days of being a captive are a lot more sinister than he thought.

I DEVOURED this one. The story gave off dark vibes and really taps into someone who has lived 99% of his life in fight or flight and how exhausting it is. You get a glimpse into the mind of someone who has suffered a lot, but doesn't know how to navigate it since they don't have any memories of the horrors they experienced. This also touches on how trauma can impact the psyche, which can then impact future relationships - we see Josh struggle having a healthy relationship with his parents and how he clings onto his dog, Lucy, for comfort.

I thought this book went into a really great direction. It was spooky, dark, tense, and even cringe-worthy (but in a good way). There was one aspect near the end that I wasn't a huge fan of because I didn't really feel like it fit into the story all that well, that's why I knocked it down a star. But otherwise, this made my horror/mystery/thriller-loving heart very happy.

[Josette Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

The premise of this story caught my attention right away. With a title like ‘The Vessel’ I could only imagine where this book might lead. Well, was I wrong! I was heartbroken at what happened to Josh. He was just your ordinary kid (or was he?) out riding his bike and what happened next would turn his life into a literal nightmare. Most people would think escaping a child abductor would be the end of the nightmare, right? After Josh is rescued he is left with no memory, his parents are distant, and an outcast in his town. Even with time, things did not get better. I cannot imagine how Josh managed to get up everyday and just function. Because he had no memory of his time with the abductor he had serious trust issues. How could he not, when looking at or being around other people could put you in danger. Even when the agent came to ask for help, although it had been a decade, Josh was highly suspicious of the agent’s motives. The author did an excellent job of conveying Josh’s emotions to the readers about how he was feeling about returning to that time period of his life. I was on the fence about the agent wanting him to go under hypnosis. What if Josh never recovered his memories? Or as in the case of him remembering, the memories offered no help. Fortunately or unfortunately the memories Josh uncovered only made his time in captivity only worse. Would I have believed the story I was given by Traynor? Probably not. It was fantastical and unbelievable at best. As Josh digs deeper in the mystery of his forgotten memories deepens, I could almost sense Josh wished he would have never remembered. I was wholeheartedly into this book until……..that end! WTH!! I am sure I looked ridiculous to anyone outside my window as I was yelling and cursing at how this book ended. Yet that is what makes this a horror book.

[Amanda W · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book.

At 13 years old, Josh Finley was abducted by a man named Michael Traynor, who kept him in his house for 19 days. All Josh can remember about that time is the dead body of another child. As a result of what he endured, he now suffers from localized dissociative amnesia, which allows him to luckily (or maybe not) have no other recollection of what else happened during that time. Ten years later, FBI agent John Rodriguez seeks Finley’s help finding the identity of the dead child. Josh, who’s grown up to be a bit of a loner, agrees, also agreeing to meeting with Traynor. As Josh attempts to piece together what happened to him back then, he finds that Michael Traynor is only one piece of a much larger puzzle.

Howard’s writing style is easy to understand, and they do a good job fleshing out Josh Finley, as well as connecting the various smaller threads that are a part of the larger mystery. However, I did have some questions. Josh mentions that his kidnapping and subsequent escape are discussed on various websites, including Reddit. However, when we learn about his second career, we are supposed to believe that no at-home true crime enthusiasts would have found out what he was doing? I also found Rodriguez to be not the most professional of FBI agents (putting it lightly) and that made it hard to believe he had Josh’s best interests in mind. That being said, you will not figure out all the twists in this book, and there are quite a few. In all though, this is a fun little scary book with a little bit of supernatural fun mixed in. If you can suspend your disbelief about a couple things, it’s entertaining and quick to read.

[Adell Lashawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

One line vibe: quiet dread, identity on the line, and a presence that wants a home

What it is: A character first horror story about a person who starts to feel claimed by something they cannot name. The book keeps the circle small and lets unease build in rooms, routines, and small choices that stop feeling like your own. It leans mood over jump scares and saves the sharpest moments for when you have settled into the nerves.

Personal take on the lead: I connected with the way the narrator keeps trying to hold on to self while the world tilts. The self check moments feel honest. When it is time to act I believed the choices, even the messy ones.

What worked for me:
• Atmosphere that sits on your shoulders and does not leave
• A slow turn of the screw that rewards paying attention
• Body and space details used for unease not just shock
• Clean scene work that makes small decisions feel huge
• An ending that answers the question the book keeps asking about ownership of self

What to consider:
• Early chapters are a simmer, not fireworks
• One supporting character reads more function than person
• A key survival beat asks for a little grace on realism

Content notes: psychological distress, manipulation, loss of control, threat, brief violence, body fear. Check publisher notes for full warnings.

My quote: “If a voice moves in, you either name it or it names you.” (Adell LaShawn)

Verdict: 4 out of 5. A tight, unnerving story about identity under pressure. If you like horror that gets under the skin and stays personal, add it to your list.

[M.J. Mars · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Vessel by SE Howard is a gripping novel filled with suspense, lively characters, and dark undertones.
Josh lives with vague memories of a kidnapping he endured as a child. With traumatic amnesia blocking most of the memories of the past, he is put under pressure when dashing FBI agent, Rodriguez, asks him to visit his kidnapper in jail. Rodriguez is convinced there are bodies to uncover, and believes the incarcerated man will talk to Josh. Since the kidnapper is due to be released, Josh pushes aside his fears and discomfort in the hope that he can help convict him for murder before it’s too late. But the web that Josh found himself caught in all those years ago is far wider-reaching than first anticipated, putting both Josh, Rodriguez, and anyone else who comes into their orbit in grave danger.
When I picked this up I’d been feeling a bit “horror-overloaded”, so this book was the perfect palate cleanser as the first half is a beautifully told thriller that gradually builds with sneaky horror motifs until the explosive final chapters. With nods to secret societies and Eyes Wide Shut/Ready or Not style networks working behind the scenes, this was a truly riveting, electric read that kept me gripped from the first page to the last.

[Renay · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of the Vessel via Netgalley for free in exchange of an honest review... so here goes.

the Vessel was a 3.5 star read for me.
The writing was good, but I had a hard time relating to the MMC.

Josh was abducted as a child by a pedophile. He escaped, but he has amnesia and cannot remember much from his time as a captive.

Character development was a little lacking - the story follows Josh and his efforts to remember what happened to him.

The book has some twists that I didn't expect, so props for that. I will say though, that the twists were not jaw dropping.

There is a paranormal aspect to this story that was in my opinion under developed. It had that opportunity to be scary, but fell a bit flat.

My favorite character in the book was Lucy, the dog - but for the life of me I can't remember there ever being an actual description of what she looks like. In my mind, I pictured her as a black lab, but for all I know she was a golden doodle.

Overall, the book was good. I would recommend it for someone looking for a fast read. There are obvious triggers - kidnapping, SA, etc. If these cause you stress, you will not like this read. I do not have any particular triggers and am not privy to what other triggers may be but I imagine there are more.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was first introduced to The Vessel through the Wicked House Publishing Anthology, which had a short story (The Devil You Know) that introduces you to some key players and also gives some context for Josh’s kidnapping.

In The Vessel, Josh is now an adult and still haunted by his abduction and subsequent amnesia. He is engaged in two jobs that suit his choice to remain relatively self-isolated (one with minimal human contact and the other with full agency over his body and actions), and he’s content to live his life in peace until he is approached by an agent that is seeking Josh’s help to get information out of the man that took him all those years ago. As the story progresses, we learn that there may have been something far more sinister at play than originally thought, that led to Josh not just being taken, but being chosen.

The Vessel reads like a mystery/crime thriller in the beginning and held my interest. Then the last quarter of the book was the part that effectively grabs you by the throat and whips you in several different directions at once. Definitely some twists I didn’t see coming!

Overall a great book! This released one week ago- give it a read!

[Blake · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Thank you NetGalley and Wicked House Publishing for providing a copy for review!*

Whoa! That was one wild ride! I don't even know where to begin!

The first couple of chapters started out a bit clunky if I'm to be honest. I wasn't quite sure if I was going to continue reading only because the "tough-as-nails, no-fu--s-given" emphasis that was placed on the main character was borderline cringe and over done. It seemed like almost every other word of dialogue was the "F" word. Once that was toned down, I was able to enjoy him and the surrounding story.

I thought I knew where the story was going, but I will admit there were some curve balls I hadn't figured out which was nice. My only gripe is the ending. I saw it coming a mile away and that in itself isn't my issue; my issue is I truly believe the ending could have been extended and the story could have continued just a little bit longer! I totally understand the reasoning behind ending it the way it ended. I just selfishly would have liked to have had a bit more of this story to dig into 🙂

I look forward to reading more by this author!

[Jessie Raven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Josh, was held captive by a man for 19 days before being rescued. He doesn’t remember much of his experience due to being constantly drugged. When special agent John finds him and asks for help to keep his captor in prison for longer, he’s hesitant. His captor will only speak to Josh about what he’s done.

This was utterly heartbreaking. How Josh became an utter shell of himself even years after the incident. I was so into this I was finding any moment I could to read more. As the story progressed it took a turn I wasn’t quite expecting. There’s a bit of a creature feature in this and one hell of a twist that I certainly didn’t see coming! The last half of this book was utterly action packed. Things happening left, right and centre. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and I really felt for Josh. The ending was a bloody shocker. Just when you think it’s the end we get a beast of a twist where I was just like WHAT? I can’t rate this one highly enough I really loved it and I wish I could read it for the first time again

[Alison Faichney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another solid horror from WHP. The Vessel is my first read by Howard but she’s an author I’d check out again. The Vessel follows 23yo Josh Finley. Josh was abducted at 13 and spent 19 days with his captor. He retains no memories of this time but it continues to intensely affect his life. When an FBI agent comes around with additional questions years later, Josh is thrown back into a world with satanic cults and murderous possibly pedophiliac billionaires (yep, some mimesis with current events). There are some big triggers in this one, so please keep that in mind when deciding to read.

I enjoyed the story and it pulls you along. The second half veered into a more complicated territory and the plausibility goes a bit wonky. All in all it was a very cinematic tale and surely to please those who appreciate a dark tale. I loved the last chapter. Completely savage but felt very fitting. It’s a dark, sad tale with cults and demons so if those are in your lane I would give this one a go.

[Sara Beatriz · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Vessel has an intriguing premise and a psychological edge that kept me curious. Josh Finley’s fractured memories and the looming presence of his childhood abductor create a tense backdrop, and I liked the way the story toyed with uncertainty and unreliable memory. I also enjoyed the subplots as they added interesting layers and kept the narrative from feeling one note.

That said, I prefer my horror stories’ writing style to lean more into atmospheric, detailed description. While there were some tense moments, the lack of richer sensory detail made it harder for me to feel fully immersed or unsettled. I wanted the eerie factor turned up a notch with sharper imagery, more lingering unease, and scenes that really crawl under your skin.

Still, it’s a solid psychological thriller with a slow burn pace, and it might land better for readers who enjoy suspense without heavy emphasis on descriptive horror.

[ems_booknook · Rating 3 out of 5]

All in all, this was just an ok read for me. I was really invested at the start and I think the expectation of what I thought this would be didn’t really line up with what it ended up being.

I sort of knew this was a horror, but I found the story once it set off to be quite predictable at parts and I think I was more keen to hear a story about a kidnapped and abused child, rather than the supernatural and cult-esque story that I got. I wouldn’t say I was overly invested in any of the characters, or really related strongly to them. Even at the point of the big revelation, I was a tad underwhelmed and not really that shocked at all.

I think this one is a quick read, not overly complex and has some shock factor for readers who may be new to the genre. As a seasoned reader of horror and really messed up thrillers, I found myself reaching for a little more.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this arc.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a kid, Josh was abducted and abused for 19 days by pedophile Michael Traynor. Ten years later, he is approached by FBI Special Agent Rodriguez, who asks for help keeping Traynor in jail longer by finding the remains of other boys he abused. He's willing to discuss his crimes with Josh alone, though. But because he was abused as a child, he has lost his memory and can only remember one thing about his time in captivity: the body of another boy. With the help of Agent Rodriguez, Josh begins to remember his past, and they try to uncover the truth of what really happened to him as a child. Is a different kind of evil at work?
This LGBTQ horror novel captivated me, and I was eager to discover the memories that Josh would uncover from his own past. I also wondered if there was a broader conspiracy at play.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one had a very slow burn at the start. I honestly wasn’t sure I was going to stick with it at first. But I’m glad I did, because once it gets moving (about a third of the way in), it really picks up and finds its rhythm. The writing becomes more immersive, the atmosphere tightens, and the story finds its footing.

The twist at the end? I saw it coming, but I didn’t mind. Sometimes a "predictable surprise" still satisfies, and in this case, it absolutely worked for the story. There's a sense of resolution that’s satisfying without being overly tidy, and while it leaves you wondering what might come next, it doesn’t feel like it’s setting up a forced sequel.

All in all, a solid and enjoyable read once you get past the initial drag. Worth sticking with if you like your horror/psychological thrillers with a slow-build payoff.

[Oana-Maria Uliu · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this ebook courtesy of NetGalley.

In the beginning, it sounds like a psychological thriller rather than a horror novel, but that is deceiving the readers, leaving them unprepared for the reveals.

While the first part managed to grip me and I was looking forward to unravelling the mystery, later I stopped caring because everything seemed rushed, unbelievable, and anticlimactic.

It is the story of a boy (now all grown up) who got abducted, but managed to escape, struggling with dissociative amnesia.

There is gay representation - and it makes sense in the context.

Lots of trigger warnings for child abuse, porn, violence, cults, murder, etc

[CarolinaBookBliss · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Vessel by S.E. Howard caught my attention, thanks to its intriguing cover and premise.
The story had some nice twists that kept me engaged, and the writing effectively drew me in at the beginning. Although I felt the pacing was slow into it ultimately came together nicely.
One area for improvement would be more character development. Despite that, I found it to be an enjoyable read that held my interest.
Thank you to NetGalley and Independent Publishers Group for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Jeff Clulow · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is wonderfully immersive. Like feeling your way through a labyrinth in darkness. So many possibilities, so many directions this story could take. That’s the richness of the idea, the plot. That’s what kept me hooked, what kept me guessing and needing to know more. The writing is flawless, the characters believably, deeply human. But it’s the not-knowing that lends this book its narrative drive. ‘The Vessel’ is a grand spectacle of misdirection, of deception and illusion. And S.E. Howard is a master magician.

[Jennifer Rux · Rating 3 out of 5]

First, I want to say thank you to Wicked House Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC of this book.

I was very intrigued by the premise of The Vessel from the time I read the description.

I will say that the book had me wanting to keep reading. I needed to know what was happing and I kind of figured it out. I was close, but not exact. However, the last two chapters and the five years later fizzled out a bit for me. It started to feel rushed and forced and then started to get on the convoluted side of things.

Overall, I enjoyed the book.

[Jennifer Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was weaved so perfectly. You genuinely like all of the characters and are shocked when some turn out not be as good as you think. There’s plenty of twists, turns, and action throughout. I would have enjoyed having more of Raum showing up but other than that it was nearly perfect. I really loved the ending. I really thought it was going to be another stupid happy ending but I was wonderfully surprised.

[Mercedes Lent · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing. It didn’t take me long to read at all. I never wanted to put it down, but when I did it’s all I thought about. I loved how fast paced it was. Especially near the end when everything was starting to come together. I also liked how it had a little love story in it as well. This was an arc read for me but I’ll be picking it up when it’s released

[K.N. Gould · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Vessel by S.E. Howard. I’ve read Prairie Madness and The Curious Case of Henry Harrington by this same author. Both were good but this is better. The Vessel is twisted in a way that reminds me of Tana French’s In the Woods and Nicolas Cage’s 8MM. Definitely worth checking out.

[Haley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been in a reading slump and this book helped me out of it!

Demons, cults, and an LGBTQIA+ romance story line - what more could you want?!

Fast paced, fun and exciting read. I really enjoyed this book!

[Everton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great queer romance supernatural horror novel.

A great MC, very likable and smart. A good love interest, an interesting plot, with some pretty good twists along the way. Some revelations that truly dropped my jaw.

I'm looking forward to reading other novels by the author.