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The Next Name: Book Two in The Bender Saga
Some names are written in ink.
Others are carved in bone.
Eli thought surviving the Bender once was the end of the nightmare. He was wrong.
Kenzie is missing. People are forgetting. And the name that once saved him now marks him.As Eli searches for answers, a decaying ghost town called Teller's Gap begins to whisper his name back. Inside its chapel, a ritual awaits. One that demands something far more personal than blood.
But the Bender is no longer content to lurk in mirrors or dreams. She wants to be seen. to be remembered. And with every name she takes, she grows stronger, louder. realer.
Eli is running out of time. Because there's another name written in the dark...
And it's his.
The Bender Saga continues in a chilling second installment where memory twists, mirrors bleed, and saying the wrong name could cost you everything.
Others are carved in bone.
Eli thought surviving the Bender once was the end of the nightmare. He was wrong.
Kenzie is missing. People are forgetting. And the name that once saved him now marks him.As Eli searches for answers, a decaying ghost town called Teller's Gap begins to whisper his name back. Inside its chapel, a ritual awaits. One that demands something far more personal than blood.
But the Bender is no longer content to lurk in mirrors or dreams. She wants to be seen. to be remembered. And with every name she takes, she grows stronger, louder. realer.
Eli is running out of time. Because there's another name written in the dark...
And it's his.
The Bender Saga continues in a chilling second installment where memory twists, mirrors bleed, and saying the wrong name could cost you everything.
319 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 27, 2025
6 people are currently reading
8 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 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 20, 2025
A truly dark tale
The sheer darkness of this story pulls you in and doesn’t let go. You’ll find yourself reading late into the night, regretting every flicker of shadow in the room and wondering if that mirror is really just a mirror. Maughan has a talent for blending suspense with creeping dread, making you question what’s real and what’s lurking just beyond sight.
This is the perfect read to add to your TBR for the upcoming spooky season—a chilling, unsettling tale that keeps the atmosphere heavy long after you’ve closed the book.
The sheer darkness of this story pulls you in and doesn’t let go. You’ll find yourself reading late into the night, regretting every flicker of shadow in the room and wondering if that mirror is really just a mirror. Maughan has a talent for blending suspense with creeping dread, making you question what’s real and what’s lurking just beyond sight.
This is the perfect read to add to your TBR for the upcoming spooky season—a chilling, unsettling tale that keeps the atmosphere heavy long after you’ve closed the book.
August 20, 2025
The sheer darkness of this story pulls you in and doesn’t let go. You’ll find yourself reading late into the night, regretting every flicker of shadow in the room and wondering if that mirror is really just a mirror. Maughan has a talent for blending suspense with creeping dread, making you question what’s real and what’s lurking just beyond sight.
This is the perfect read to add to your TBR for the upcoming spooky season, a chilling, unsettling tale that keeps the atmosphere heavy long after you’ve closed the book.
This is the perfect read to add to your TBR for the upcoming spooky season, a chilling, unsettling tale that keeps the atmosphere heavy long after you’ve closed the book.
July 6, 2025
I didn’t read the first book in The Bender Saga, and while The Next Name is beautifully written and deeply unsettling, I definitely felt like I was missing a key backstory. That said, the haunting atmosphere, vivid prose, and creeping horror were enough to keep me hooked. The Bender is a terrifying presence, and the way memory and identity twist through the story gave me chills. I’ll be going back to read Book One so I can fully appreciate this dark, layered world. Definitely worth the read, but start at the beginning if you can, so you can get the full picture.
September 1, 2025
Easy 5 stars!
If you're looking for a story that grips you from page 1 and doesn't let go, read this series! This story is NIGHTMARE FUEL, and I'm living for it. The psychological twists that keep you guessing what's real and what isn't is SPECTACULAR. I'm on the edge of my seat waiting for the conclusion of this Trilogy.
If you're looking for a story that grips you from page 1 and doesn't let go, read this series! This story is NIGHTMARE FUEL, and I'm living for it. The psychological twists that keep you guessing what's real and what isn't is SPECTACULAR. I'm on the edge of my seat waiting for the conclusion of this Trilogy.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews