All Hell, Drops Out

by Nazo

One phone call. One truth. And everything falls apart. Vin was just trying to survive his first year of college when everything he knew was ripped out from under him. After a late-night call reveals a family secret that changes everything, Vin finds himself spiraling, torn between grief and rage, memory and reality. As the weight of the past threatens to crush him, he’s forced to face a seek the truth, or let it consume him.

All Hell, Drops Out is a psychological short that explores how one moment can break everything, and how the fallout isn’t always survivable. It's raw, emotionally charged, and powerfully human.

✔ Perfect for fans of emotionally intense fiction
✔ For readers who love raw, grief-driven stories
✔ Short, powerful, and unforgettable
✔ If you like stories that feel real, heavy, and honest

Trigger Grief, emotional trauma, family dysfunction, death of a loved one

Genres: Short Stories

66 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 27, 2025

About the author

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Nazo is an up and coming, emerging voice in the Contemporary Fiction genre. He is known for creating compelling, emotionally-driven, and psychologically impactful stories that dives into the complexities and hardships of life. Nazo is a Filipino native who grew up in Manila, the capital of the Pearl of the Orient. With a background in content creation, Nazo got into writing back in July of 2024, and is aiming to make a name for himself in the writing world.

With a full mask on, Nazo is not comfortable showing his face. Not just to make himself look mysterious, but also because he isn’t confident enough to show himself to the public. Nazo is a big anime and gaming fan. Before getting into writing, Nazo was focused on two things that he really wanted to achieve. One is to become a pro eSport player, and second is being a successful content creator. While he wasn’t able to fulfill both, Nazo never lost hope and instead kept on living until he found his new purpose in life.

In his latest series, Dices of Life. Nazo invites readers in a world where emotions are strong. In a world where feelings matter, and a world where you can experience the effects of both the light and darkness of life. Nazo currently resides in the same place he grew up in, and is aiming to fulfill his third and new dream; to become a known writer/author.

Reviews

[Tonya · Rating 3 out of 5]

This debut short story really packs a punch. I’m not quite sure what I just read. It’s visceral, raw, and untamed. I’m not sure it’s for everyone.
"May it be the truth, but it does not matter. We are all harmed as we harm each other.” This is a story of pain and regret. It comes across as a fever dream meant to haunt and touch the soul.

[Cami✯ (hiatus — school ಠ⁠_⁠ಠ) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nazo did a splendid job in this debut novel, a short story with varying numbers of pages (mine had 48). It was emotional, raw, flummoxing, and so, so sad. These characters just need a hug. 😭 Though it certainly could've fulfilled its potential in certain moments (that ending could've followed numerous trajectories), I think it's actually beneficial that there's room for improvement, because I can tell this author has the capacity to offer the creation of many masterpieces!!

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

All Hell, Drops Out is a short psychological thriller by Nazo. First-year College student Vin was only thinking about surviving. However, his life was turned upside down by a family secret. Vin needed to find out the truth before he spiralled out of control with grief and anger. The readers will continue to follow Vin to see if he finds out the truth.

All Hell, Drops Out is the debut short story by Nazo. I don't always engage with psychological thrillers; however, I found myself drawn into this story. This book also started me thinking about what secrets can do to young people and how they can cope with the truth.

I enjoyed the portrayal of Nazo's characters and the way they interact with each other throughout this book. All Hell, Drops Out was well-written and researched by Nazo. I like Nazo's description of the settings of All Hell, Drops Out, which complemented the book's plot.

I recommend this book.

[Nadia Masood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though it’s a short story, I was surprised by how much darker it was than what I’m used to. Still, there’s something in the writing that pulled me in and kept me turning the pages. It’s a deeply intense read that explores heavy themes like trauma, revenge, and loss.

The story centers around a son who’s been through so much, losing basically everything, and it shows how all that pain affects his life and the people around him. What I liked most about this book is how it doesn’t just show trauma as a one-time thing but as something that sticks with you and changes everything.

What’s also powerful is how the story isn’t just about the external chaos but also about the quiet battles inside his mind...the guilt, the anger, and the desperate search for some kind of closure or meaning.

If you like stories that aren’t afraid to get into the darker corners of the human experience, this book will really resonate.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author, but this review comes from my honest, unbiased perspective.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, quick read. A little too dark for my taste, but glad to have a chance to read it.

[CamiVreadsbooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5)

Format: Digital Copy
Genre: Short Story / Psychological Fiction
Status: Read via author submission

———


All Hell, Drops Out by Nazo is a gripping psychological short story that follows Vin, a college freshman whose life spirals after he uncovers a devastating family secret. Told in a raw, emotional style, the story explores themes of grief, guilt, love, and revenge. As Vin confronts his past and battles inner demons, readers are taken on an intense, unforgettable journey through pain and healing.


———

This was a quick and twisty read from debut author Nazo, who kindly reached out and sent me a copy — and I’m always grateful for the chance to support indie authors 🖤

Short stories can be powerful in how much emotion and plot they compress into so few pages, and I appreciated that this one created a strong, uneasy mood right from the beginning. The pacing was smooth, the writing simple yet effective, and I finished it in one sitting.

That said, I did find myself wanting more context. Particularly around the character of Tim — the fact that he donated a kidney to Vin and then seemingly vanished felt a bit abrupt. I can see where the author was going emotionally, but some clarity would have helped the story resonate deeper. Still, perhaps that ambiguity was intentional — a narrative reflection of confusion and mental fragmentation.

As a debut, it shows promise, and I’d be interested to see what Nazo writes next — maybe something longer where he can fully develop the layers he’s clearly capable of creating.

[Taylor Sheppard · Rating 2 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️💫 (2.5/5)

I really wanted to love this one — the premise caught my attention right away, and I could tell the author put a lot of heart into the story. There were some interesting ideas and moments that stood out, but overall, it just didn’t fully work for me.

I struggled a bit with how the stronger, darker themes were handled — especially with it being a short story. There wasn’t quite enough space for the character development or emotional buildup needed to make those moments land for me. Because of that, I had a hard time connecting with the characters or understanding some of the decisions they made.

That said, I recognize that the author is still early in his writing journey, and there’s a lot of potential here. With time and continued growth, I think he’ll be able to hone his craft and tell even more compelling stories.

[Chessa Nanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Life can crumble in a single heartbeat, and Nazo captures that collapse with haunting precision. All Hell, Drops Out is a short story. When truth claws its way to the surface, it doesn’t just break the world around you, it breaks the world within.

Raw, intense, and beautifully unsettling, this story doesn’t hand out comfort; it makes you feel. It’s an emotional rollercoaster packed into just a few pages, the kind of story that lingers long after you’ve closed the book, leaving echoes of grief, guilt, and hard-won clarity.

If you love short fiction that hurts in the best way, Nazo delivers. 🖤

[Silvia RoMa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This debut short story really packs a punch. It's very addictive from the start, fast paced and interesting.

I just couldn't stop reading, the twists in this are great, to be honest after having read the first two chapters I thought I knew where this was going, but I WAS SO WRONG! this kept surprising me.

This story is not probably for everyone, it's very emotional and raw, the ending is quite shocking too. Short stories usually don't work for me but this one was fantastic.

Thank you to the author for sending me a copy of this short story, it was a fast and interesting read.

[Breanne Christian · Rating 4 out of 5]

One phone call and Vin's world starts crumbling. Growing up, Vin only had one close friend named Tim. After they graduated high school, they drifted apart. Now Vin is in college and thinking that his life is going in the right direction, until he gets a distressed phone call from his grandmother, saying his mother is in the hospital. Then his world starts going into a downward spiral at a dizzying pace.
This book was a fast, fun read. It is written like a letter to his old friend Tim. Some details fell short, but I still loved it and highly recommend it.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an impactful and gripping, raw,emotional read. For a debut story I see much promise for their future writings . This took off in one direction, that I thought, but I was wrong. I love being wrong and surprised by writers. I enjoyed the unpredictable and unexpected, and that's what this is. I look forward to future writings, as I will be following this soaring novelist. I voluntarily read a free copy of this book and am giving an honest review.

[Suzan Larson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who knew a short story could pack such a punch! I quite enjoyed this book. This story did not miss anything which I found surprising. I got to know the characters. There was nothing lacking at all. There was plenty of suspense and drama. It had everything that a longer book would have just in a short version. I don’t want to give anything away suffice to say it was great!

[Kepler Ridge · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not at all the kind of story I like

Very dark. Very disturbing. Very depressing. Very weird grammer and wording.

Could use a better editor or maybe there wasn't an editor. Structurally hard to read and understand in certain sections.

[Lauren Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow such a great first read! This is a very emotionally driven novel that kept me wanting to read more

[Roni · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

As Nazo's debut book, this is a short story at only 62 pages, I devoured this. It was an easy read which follows Vin's story as he is plunged into a rollercoaster of family despair. Written in the style of a letter to his long lost best friend, it is a good read!

[Carol (§CoverLoverGirl§) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can’t remember downloading this book and during my attempt to tidy up my shelves, I came across ‘All Hell, Drops Out’ again. I’m glad I stopped to check out the strange title because I found a gem of a debut book from a young Philippine writer. Written from the perspective of a young boy, it tells the tell of what happened to him and his family. It was shocking and broke me to tears. I could feel the pain and anguish of that young boy on each page as he recounted his life in a letter to his very best friend since school days, who had moved away.

This book deserves a space on your shelves, read it and weep, it is quite a short read, and I wish it had been longer so that he could meet up with Tim, his best friend who had saved his life when he was very young.

I had to go look up ‘Nazo’ name and I’m so happy to see that he has written a lot more books since this debut gem.

[Lovetoread2023 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book does an excellent job exploring the fine lines between justice and destruction,Vin's internal conflict feels raw and real.
The writing kept me hooked, and I liked how it dives into complex emotions without losing pace.
If you like stories that make you think and feel deeply,this one is worth a read.

[Grete Anderson-Gehrke · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 *

The short story had a good story to be told, it had emotions and handled some heavy topics.
It was a fast read with a very fast pace and wasnt hard to get into.

I feel like the young age of the writer shone through a bit in the way it was written and the events/emotions were handled.

I feel like the characters and their relationships could have been explored a bit more in detail and longer, as the events were driven by the relationships considering how dark the story got.

I would have loved to see some more buildup to the events and to the dynamics between characters.

I understand the dynamics between them, just feel like we could have gone a bit deeper for more emotional impact.

This being the authors first story to be published, I think it was very solid and the story was there.

I think the author has a future in writing and considering he is doing everything on his own, it is a very good start to a hopefully long career in writing.

[Toni]

In All Hell, Drops Out, readers are plunged into the emotional freefall of Vin, a young man whose world unravels with a single, life-altering phone call. What begins as an ordinary attempt to survive freshman year spirals into something darker and more chaotic/frenzied, as grief, betrayal, and psychological collapse take center stage.

Vin’s voice is raw and unfiltered: confused, angry, sorrowful. The darkness of the story mirrors the disorientation of a young person trying to process a world suddenly turned upside down.

While the story lacks the polish of professional editing and can be juvenile, its emotional core is undeniable. There’s a clear desire to confront uncomfortable truths with painful honesty.

A quick read for fans of emotionally raw fiction and dark psychological drama.

Thanks to Nazo who gifted me a copy of the debut short story in exchange for an honest review. I'm always happy to read and support emerging writers. I look forward to seeing what you create next.

[A_Reading_Obsession · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic debut story!

The story follows Vin, our main character, writing a letter to his estranged friend Tim. Through this, we are privy his honest thoughts and the heartbreaking events of his life.

Although short, this story is truly visceral. At first, the writing reminded me of the simplicity of Japanese reads, but the events devolve into tragedy. An absolutely devastating ending really packs a punch.

A little room for improvement in certain aspects, but the emotions and story won me over. Excellent pacing, especially for a debut novel! I voluntarily read a free copy of this book and am giving an honest review.

[Tracy (tracy_readz) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review ~ All Hell, Drops Out by Nazo
✮✮✮✮/☆

"May it be truth or not, does not matter. We are all harmed as we harm each other."

This was a powerful gripping physiological short story.. Written in journey/letter form Vin pens his inner demons & past trauma to childhood friend Tim!!

This short read takes you through a journey of emotions. It's intense, it is unforgettable, it weaves healing with pain, gulit with revenge, entwining grief with love,..

Simple writing yet effective, perfect pacing and packs a whole lot of punch for a short story!! Thought provoking at it finest!

Thanking you kindly to Nazo for reaching out and gifting me a copy of your work in return for my thoughts.

[Sara-Jane Keenan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Told in a letter from MC Vin to his childhood friend, this was an emotional short story that packed a punch.

I really didn’t know what to expect and I found myself getting more and more shocked the further I read. Then the end was a total oh my god moment.

Vin experiences his whole family falling apart in the space of a day. It was shocking, emotional and definitely something that you’ll think about after finishing.

Please check the trigger warnings before you read as it deals with heavy subjects but I don’t want to list them as it will be a spoiler.

This was 3.5 ⭐️ for me. I did enjoy reading it. However, it didn’t flow as smoothly as it could have, I think maybe as English isn’t the author’s first language. I do definitely recommend it though for anyone looking for a dark, psychological short story.

[BusyMommiesBookClub · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a really gripping, psychological sad read. In its short pages, it explores grief and trauma and how we cope.

I honestly wish it had been a bit longer to explore the characters more. Even by diving into the flashbacks we're given - which honestly was a super cool aspect of the story as he got insights into his parents' dynamics and martial issues.

Definitely a bit of a tough read due to subject matter, but if you don't mind it's worth the read.

content/triggers:
suicidal ideology/suicide
domestic abuse
Infidelity
on-page death

[BookishAddicted · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished this and I’m still reeling. This story is like stepping into a nightmare you can’t wake up from, but in the best possible way!

It’s dark, unflinching, and full of moments that made me stop and reread just to absorb what was happening. It’s sharp, brutal, and weirdly beautiful in its chaos. If you’re into stories with meaning and not just shock, then I highly recommend giving this one a try!

[Jade_Reads2019 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novella is so heart wrenchingly strong. It’s one that has touched my heart in more ways than one. It’s not one I would typically read however it does touch on a few topics that I feel some readers may need to check upon before reading. You could feel the characters emotion right from the first page.

If you have ever read orange manga than you may like this one. Thank you to the author for reaching out and providing me with the ebook for exchange for honest review. Thank you. 💖

[Natasha sebuwufu · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐ 3.5/5 Stars ⭐

A short psychological thriller that hooks you right from the start as you dive into the raw, unfiltered thoughts of the main character. Although brief, this story really plays with your emotions — it’s heartbreaking, extremely raw, and touches on some tough, heavy subjects. Despite its length, it truly packs a punch, and I’m intrigued to see what else this author will write in the future.

Thank you to the author for reaching out to me with your book.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic debut book from Nazo. Despite only being a short story, it makes an impression.
I enjoyed the writing style with the narrator talking directly to his friend Tim. There's a build up of tension, which made me want to read on and unravel what was happening.
Well written and made me interested in reading more from the author.

[lauren kindl3w0rm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, for a short story this certainly takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions!
You read about Vin journaling to his childhood friend, Tim, about his inner demons and past trauma. For such a short story it's intense and you go through how he healed through the pain with revenge.
I'd definitely recommend this book.

[Claudete Takahashi · Rating 4 out of 5]

All Hell, Drops Out is a heartfelt story about grief, loss, vengeance and it could be something one could read out of a newspaper. Nazo delivers a story that is a gutt punch because it seems too real. Hopefully he'll pour his truthfulness in the books to come.
I thank the author for the free copy of this book.