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She Who Walks in Sleep: Book One in The Bender Saga
Some Dreams don’t end when you wake up.
After their sister Mara’s death…
Eli wakes night after night, drenched in sweat, haunted by dreams too vivid, too violent to ignore. Dreams where something ancient crawls through the cracks in reality. Something watching, waiting. Something called the Bender.
When his younger brother Noah begins sketching the same entity Eli sees in his sleep, grotesque, shifting, wrong, Eli knows the nightmares are not just in his head. Noah does not speak of what he draws. He does not have to. The Bender is no longer confined to dreams.
She is walking now.
And she is coming for them.
Their Aunt Colleen, the last of a family line bound to a secret ritual, holds the key to understanding the creature’s return, and the price required to stop her. But as reality fractures and time begins to unravel, Eli must face a terrifying
Not every nightmare ends in sleep.
After their sister Mara’s death…
Eli wakes night after night, drenched in sweat, haunted by dreams too vivid, too violent to ignore. Dreams where something ancient crawls through the cracks in reality. Something watching, waiting. Something called the Bender.
When his younger brother Noah begins sketching the same entity Eli sees in his sleep, grotesque, shifting, wrong, Eli knows the nightmares are not just in his head. Noah does not speak of what he draws. He does not have to. The Bender is no longer confined to dreams.
She is walking now.
And she is coming for them.
Their Aunt Colleen, the last of a family line bound to a secret ritual, holds the key to understanding the creature’s return, and the price required to stop her. But as reality fractures and time begins to unravel, Eli must face a terrifying
Not every nightmare ends in sleep.
159 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 17, 2025
18 people are currently reading
53 people want to read
About the author
Zachary Maughan
4 books7 followersZachary Maughan writes what keeps him up at night.
He is an American indie author and a lifelong lover of eerie tales, late-night storms, and stories that blur the line between dream and reality. Zachary's debut horror novel She Who Walks in Sleep, was born from a nightmare that refused to fade. When a scary story told to his family during a blackout struck a nerve, they encouraged him to turn it into something more, and the Bender was born.
Zachary lives in Pennsylvania with his wife and two daughters, who all helped inspire and shape the world of his books. When he is not writing unsettling stories, he enjoys drawing, listening to music, and spending time with his family (who now double as his favorite beta readers and biggest supporters).
She Who Walks in Sleep is the first installment in The Bender Saga, a psychological horror series that explores generational fear, fractured reality, and the monsters we feed with our thoughts.
He believes the best horror doesn't just scare you... It follows you.
He is an American indie author and a lifelong lover of eerie tales, late-night storms, and stories that blur the line between dream and reality. Zachary's debut horror novel She Who Walks in Sleep, was born from a nightmare that refused to fade. When a scary story told to his family during a blackout struck a nerve, they encouraged him to turn it into something more, and the Bender was born.
Zachary lives in Pennsylvania with his wife and two daughters, who all helped inspire and shape the world of his books. When he is not writing unsettling stories, he enjoys drawing, listening to music, and spending time with his family (who now double as his favorite beta readers and biggest supporters).
She Who Walks in Sleep is the first installment in The Bender Saga, a psychological horror series that explores generational fear, fractured reality, and the monsters we feed with our thoughts.
He believes the best horror doesn't just scare you... It follows you.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
May 24, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
Ooooh how I LOVE a good creepy book. This will terrify me in my dreams. The atmosphere of this book was absolutely spine tingling and so full of dread. I’ve been needing a book that gives me the good ol’ heebie-jeebies. Definitely nightmare fuel and I love it.
I flew through this book, I desperately needed to know what happens next. Now I do in fact need the next book expeditiously.
Fantastic debut from this indie author!
Ooooh how I LOVE a good creepy book. This will terrify me in my dreams. The atmosphere of this book was absolutely spine tingling and so full of dread. I’ve been needing a book that gives me the good ol’ heebie-jeebies. Definitely nightmare fuel and I love it.
I flew through this book, I desperately needed to know what happens next. Now I do in fact need the next book expeditiously.
Fantastic debut from this indie author!
October 13, 2025
Freaking scary!!!
I was scared out of my pants right away with this one . It's so creepy and perfect for spooky season reading. It deals with nightmares and a thing called the bender. Ugh so scary
I was scared out of my pants right away with this one . It's so creepy and perfect for spooky season reading. It deals with nightmares and a thing called the bender. Ugh so scary
August 18, 2025
Good ideas, the worst execution
People often think of something that has been stripped to its essence as lean and tight. Positive. This is like a rotisserie chicken stripped to the bone. It could be good, but the author has taken away all the things that could make it good. There is a good horror story with some creepy imagery. Sadly, the story has been reduced to a series of barely related scenes.
The characters are two dimensional at best, with literally no time spent developing. Relationships are briefly told, but hold no weight because they are never shown. Dead friend? Who cares, I don't know them. Brother? I don't even know if they get along, or what their personality is like. Aunt? Couldn't tell you a thing beyond the name.
Half the book is dream sequences, and thus has no impact. The same characters disappear or die multiple times a chapter, so when it happens again, it means nothing. There is room for a story, but the mystery is stripped out for repeating the same scenes over and over with minor variations.
A story needs some coherency and grounding. Making a story eerie and dreamy is fine, but eventually there needs to be something concrete to grab onto.
People often think of something that has been stripped to its essence as lean and tight. Positive. This is like a rotisserie chicken stripped to the bone. It could be good, but the author has taken away all the things that could make it good. There is a good horror story with some creepy imagery. Sadly, the story has been reduced to a series of barely related scenes.
The characters are two dimensional at best, with literally no time spent developing. Relationships are briefly told, but hold no weight because they are never shown. Dead friend? Who cares, I don't know them. Brother? I don't even know if they get along, or what their personality is like. Aunt? Couldn't tell you a thing beyond the name.
Half the book is dream sequences, and thus has no impact. The same characters disappear or die multiple times a chapter, so when it happens again, it means nothing. There is room for a story, but the mystery is stripped out for repeating the same scenes over and over with minor variations.
A story needs some coherency and grounding. Making a story eerie and dreamy is fine, but eventually there needs to be something concrete to grab onto.
August 9, 2025
She Who Walks in Sleep is the kind of horror that slips under your skin quietly and lingers long after the final page. Zachary Maughan introduces us to Eli and Noah, two brothers grappling with the death of their sister and the unraveling of their reality. The horror here isn’t just in what they see—it’s in what they feel, what they remember, and what they can’t explain.
I loved how the book blurs the line between dreams and waking life. The atmosphere is heavy with dread, but it’s never over-the-top or gory for shock’s sake. Instead, it leans into psychological tension and the slow erosion of reality, very much in the vein of Shirley Jackson or Paul Tremblay.
The character development was solid, though I would’ve liked more time with Noah and Aunt Colleen. The book is fairly short, so a few moments felt a little rushed. "The Bender" is one of the creepiest, most original horror entities I’ve read about in a while. (Damn, I wasn’t supposed to say the name 😬)
Highly recommended for fans of eerie, dream-fueled horror with a strong emotional core. Can’t wait to see where The Bender Saga goes next.
I loved how the book blurs the line between dreams and waking life. The atmosphere is heavy with dread, but it’s never over-the-top or gory for shock’s sake. Instead, it leans into psychological tension and the slow erosion of reality, very much in the vein of Shirley Jackson or Paul Tremblay.
The character development was solid, though I would’ve liked more time with Noah and Aunt Colleen. The book is fairly short, so a few moments felt a little rushed. "The Bender" is one of the creepiest, most original horror entities I’ve read about in a while. (Damn, I wasn’t supposed to say the name 😬)
Highly recommended for fans of eerie, dream-fueled horror with a strong emotional core. Can’t wait to see where The Bender Saga goes next.
July 3, 2025
SO CREEPY!!
This mind-bending novel will have you wondering when Eli's asleep, and when he's awake. The debut novel by author Zachary Maughan blurs the lines between reality and the "soft hush of sleep". The Bender is a horror that will haunt the dark shadowy corners of my room for years to come. God only hopes speaking of her now will not cause her to unfold in my dreams tonight.
Eli is a teen living with his aunt whose sister has just passed away in her sleep. He takes a keepsake, a dream journal, from her room that changes his life forever. That causes him to remember...
From the moment he opens his sisters dream journal Eli's fate is sealed. As are the fates of his little brother, Noah and aunt Colleen. A nightmare that was once safely tucked in the unremembered shadows of the human mind was brought to the clear light of day. The Bender. There are rules. Make sure you follow them. And whatever you do, don't let her touch you.
Read in the dark...if you dare.
This mind-bending novel will have you wondering when Eli's asleep, and when he's awake. The debut novel by author Zachary Maughan blurs the lines between reality and the "soft hush of sleep". The Bender is a horror that will haunt the dark shadowy corners of my room for years to come. God only hopes speaking of her now will not cause her to unfold in my dreams tonight.
Eli is a teen living with his aunt whose sister has just passed away in her sleep. He takes a keepsake, a dream journal, from her room that changes his life forever. That causes him to remember...
From the moment he opens his sisters dream journal Eli's fate is sealed. As are the fates of his little brother, Noah and aunt Colleen. A nightmare that was once safely tucked in the unremembered shadows of the human mind was brought to the clear light of day. The Bender. There are rules. Make sure you follow them. And whatever you do, don't let her touch you.
Read in the dark...if you dare.
August 14, 2025
Are You Kiddin' Me?
I LOVE horror, okay? In fact, I find myself always drawn to the extreme side of horror. I love the shock value of the splatterpunk genre and that's mostly what I've read in the past year or so, but this book? It's reinvigorated my love for horror. The kind of horror that doesn't need to try so hard, with all the blood and guts to be scary. I was truly spooked through the entirety of this book, and will probably end up rereading it because it was just *chef's kiss* 🤌 and I read it so quickly the first time through because I simply COULD. NOT. PUT. IT. DOWN. I will definitely be checking out book 2 next! I'd give more than 5 stars if I could!
I LOVE horror, okay? In fact, I find myself always drawn to the extreme side of horror. I love the shock value of the splatterpunk genre and that's mostly what I've read in the past year or so, but this book? It's reinvigorated my love for horror. The kind of horror that doesn't need to try so hard, with all the blood and guts to be scary. I was truly spooked through the entirety of this book, and will probably end up rereading it because it was just *chef's kiss* 🤌 and I read it so quickly the first time through because I simply COULD. NOT. PUT. IT. DOWN. I will definitely be checking out book 2 next! I'd give more than 5 stars if I could!
August 8, 2025
Absolute CHILLING story! The author evokes such fear and uncertainty with how they weave words. This little book has scared me more than literally any other bit of media I have ever consumed. From the get go we are thrust into the mind of our main character, his fears, his worries, and his uncertainty. With every dream, I feel HER creeping into my own dreams. I had to put it down twice because I decided reading at night would be a good idea. Listen… I regret nothing. However, I did have nightmares and I swear if I summoned her into my life and my walls start breathing I’m gonna just dig a hole for myself now because OH MY GAWSH.
Phenomenal story. Wonderful prose. Frighteningly addictive!
Phenomenal story. Wonderful prose. Frighteningly addictive!
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August 10, 2025A dark and twisted dream
She Who Walks in Sleep pulled me into a dark and creepy world that was both strange and exciting. The author’s writing painted such clear pictures that I could almost see and feel every scene. The mystery built slowly but kept me hooked, making me guess and then rethink what I thought I knew until the very end. Some parts were a little unclear, but it fit the eerie, dream-like vibe of the story. If you like books that mix mystery with a haunting, almost unreal feeling, this one’s worth reading.
She Who Walks in Sleep pulled me into a dark and creepy world that was both strange and exciting. The author’s writing painted such clear pictures that I could almost see and feel every scene. The mystery built slowly but kept me hooked, making me guess and then rethink what I thought I knew until the very end. Some parts were a little unclear, but it fit the eerie, dream-like vibe of the story. If you like books that mix mystery with a haunting, almost unreal feeling, this one’s worth reading.
August 10, 2025
She Who Walks in Sleep pulled me into a dark and creepy world that was both strange and exciting. The author’s writing painted such clear pictures that I could almost see and feel every scene. The mystery built slowly but kept me hooked, making me guess and then rethink what I thought I knew until the very end. Some parts were a little unclear, but it fit the eerie, dream-like vibe of the story. If you like books that mix mystery with a haunting, almost unreal feeling, this one’s worth reading.
August 6, 2025
Grabs you on page 1 and doesn’t let go
Zach does a great job filling you with dread from the first page and doesn’t let up. His prose blends into poetry just as the nightmare blends into reality. A frightening book for horror fans - don’t read before bedtime - you never know what you might release into the world.
Zach does a great job filling you with dread from the first page and doesn’t let up. His prose blends into poetry just as the nightmare blends into reality. A frightening book for horror fans - don’t read before bedtime - you never know what you might release into the world.
October 8, 2025
It’s creepy and fun and exciting and really really great for a debut. What’s going on? What’s real and what’s not? Are we in reality or are we somewhere else.
This is a page turner and a really easy read. She who walks in sleep was my introduction into the horror genre and I couldn’t be happier. What a thrilling ride!
This is a page turner and a really easy read. She who walks in sleep was my introduction into the horror genre and I couldn’t be happier. What a thrilling ride!
August 11, 2025
A haunting and imaginative horror tale, this story grips you with vivid nightmares, creeping dread, and a relentless sense of suspense that lingers long after the last page.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 30, 2025
Once I started the book, I could not stop, I had to finish it as soon as possible, I needed to know the ending, I needed to know more.
I'm not easily creeper out so this was more on the fun side, but still, for someone who has been struggling with the same recurring nightmare for over a decade, it does become difficult to find the truth, the reality in all of this.
I will definitely pick the second book when I get the chance!
I'm not easily creeper out so this was more on the fun side, but still, for someone who has been struggling with the same recurring nightmare for over a decade, it does become difficult to find the truth, the reality in all of this.
I will definitely pick the second book when I get the chance!
June 21, 2025
Excellent horror story.
Gory, chilling and full of terror as you slowly descend into this waking nightmare.
Gory, chilling and full of terror as you slowly descend into this waking nightmare.
June 28, 2025
what a thrill
This book had me on the edge of my seat. I started it at 3am and it had me freaked out. I had to stop reading and put it down for awhile. This wld be an amazing story to tell around a campfire at night or for a Halloween party. The author did an amazing job with this story! Hope you have book 2 ready to go, cause you’re gonna need it!
This book had me on the edge of my seat. I started it at 3am and it had me freaked out. I had to stop reading and put it down for awhile. This wld be an amazing story to tell around a campfire at night or for a Halloween party. The author did an amazing job with this story! Hope you have book 2 ready to go, cause you’re gonna need it!
July 19, 2025
Amazing horror to keep you up at night because who knows what or who you may encounter while you sleep!
July 16, 2025
True terror on every page
A haunting tale that stays with you even when you're not reading. Eli,our young hero, is desperate to save his family from a terrifying figure. Is she real? Do others see her? Is he dreaming? We go down the rabbit hole of terror with Eli as he loses his grip on reality. By the end you'll swear the Bender might be in the room with you. Maugham is a true context set for throne of horror.
A haunting tale that stays with you even when you're not reading. Eli,our young hero, is desperate to save his family from a terrifying figure. Is she real? Do others see her? Is he dreaming? We go down the rabbit hole of terror with Eli as he loses his grip on reality. By the end you'll swear the Bender might be in the room with you. Maugham is a true context set for throne of horror.
May 31, 2025
If you're in the mood for something hauntingly atmospheric and bone-chilling, She Who Walks in Sleep might just be your next sleepless obsession. From the moment you see the cover, you know you're in for something truly unsettling—it practically oozes eerie vibes. But the real horror starts once you open the book.
Maugham doesn't just rely on story alone to get under your skin; the formatting itself adds to the disturbing experience. It's uniquely structured in a way that amplifies the tension and unease, making every page turn feel like a step deeper into a nightmare.
This is a quick, easy read—but don’t let that fool you. It’s the kind of book that lingers long after you’ve finished it, making you feel watched, restless, and maybe even a little afraid to close your eyes. 👀 A perfect pick if you're craving something that will crawl into your subconscious and stay there.
Maugham doesn't just rely on story alone to get under your skin; the formatting itself adds to the disturbing experience. It's uniquely structured in a way that amplifies the tension and unease, making every page turn feel like a step deeper into a nightmare.
This is a quick, easy read—but don’t let that fool you. It’s the kind of book that lingers long after you’ve finished it, making you feel watched, restless, and maybe even a little afraid to close your eyes. 👀 A perfect pick if you're craving something that will crawl into your subconscious and stay there.
September 13, 2025
Great book
I just finished this book for the 2nd time and maughan definitely chills you to the bones with every chapter the story is centered around Eli and Noah who are brothers if you like horror then this is a great series to read I highly recommend this book
I just finished this book for the 2nd time and maughan definitely chills you to the bones with every chapter the story is centered around Eli and Noah who are brothers if you like horror then this is a great series to read I highly recommend this book
June 27, 2025
I found this author on TikTok, read the Amazon sample, and immediately downloaded the book. From the very first line, I knew I was in for a haunting ride.
The story follows Eli, a grieving sibling plagued by nightmares that bleed into reality, and his younger brother Noah, who eerily begins sketching the same monstrous figure—The Bender—that Eli sees in his sleep. What starts as psychological horror quickly spirals into something ancient, cosmic, and deeply unsettling.
The tension is suffocating in the best way, with the promise that reality will fracture and time will unravel. The dread creeps in slowly but powerfully, page by page. What really grounds the horror is the emotional thread—between the brothers and their Aunt Colleen—making the stakes feel heartbreakingly personal.
The inherited ritual, the family secrets, the cost of stopping something that was never meant to wake—it gave me Hereditary meets The Haunting of Hill House vibes in all the right ways.
This is the kind of horror that makes you pause, breathe, and question what's real. If you're looking for a chilling, atmospheric read that blurs the lines between nightmare and reality—this is it.
The story follows Eli, a grieving sibling plagued by nightmares that bleed into reality, and his younger brother Noah, who eerily begins sketching the same monstrous figure—The Bender—that Eli sees in his sleep. What starts as psychological horror quickly spirals into something ancient, cosmic, and deeply unsettling.
The tension is suffocating in the best way, with the promise that reality will fracture and time will unravel. The dread creeps in slowly but powerfully, page by page. What really grounds the horror is the emotional thread—between the brothers and their Aunt Colleen—making the stakes feel heartbreakingly personal.
The inherited ritual, the family secrets, the cost of stopping something that was never meant to wake—it gave me Hereditary meets The Haunting of Hill House vibes in all the right ways.
This is the kind of horror that makes you pause, breathe, and question what's real. If you're looking for a chilling, atmospheric read that blurs the lines between nightmare and reality—this is it.
November 23, 2025
I was completely pulled into this book from the very first page. It’s so well written and immersive that I honestly felt like I was right there alongside the characters. Zach has a way of building dread that doesn’t let up, and his writing flows almost like poetry, blurring the line between nightmare and reality. The story is creepy, unsettling, and perfect for spooky season, but I’d definitely recommend not reading it right before bed. Trust me on this! The atmosphere is haunting, the tension keeps building, and the emotional thread between the characters makes the horror hit even harder. If you’re a fan of dark, eerie stories that stay with you long after you’ve finished, this one is absolutely worth picking up.
August 12, 2025
ZACH!!! What crack did you put into this booK? I was spooked. Constently looking under my bed and screaming at the characters not to look in the closet (but also begging them to because I was so excited to see what happened next!) I am immediately jumping into the next book because I HAVE to know what happens. I loved it!! FIVE STARS!!!
September 1, 2025
5 stars
If you're looking for a short (Novella sized) horror story. One that also catches your attention from the start and makes you run to download book 2 immediately, this is for you! This actively gave me jump scares as I was reading it. The writing style is amazing and gave me the feeling of being in a dark space while something watched me. Mind you, I read this in broad daylight. I was outside reading and a squirrel made me jump. Hahaha. I can't wait to jump into book 2!
If you're looking for a short (Novella sized) horror story. One that also catches your attention from the start and makes you run to download book 2 immediately, this is for you! This actively gave me jump scares as I was reading it. The writing style is amazing and gave me the feeling of being in a dark space while something watched me. Mind you, I read this in broad daylight. I was outside reading and a squirrel made me jump. Hahaha. I can't wait to jump into book 2!
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews