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The Recluse Rules
John Evans has meticulously crafted the perfect sanctuary. Living by his own stringent "Recluse Rules," his Cardiff flat is a fortress against the overwhelming outside world. Online work, curated comforts, and absolute control define his days. But his carefully built haven is about to become his worst nightmare.
When John unwittingly brings a cursed Nicobarese artifact into his home, he unleashes something ancient and an Iwi-Pot, a spirit determined to exact a chilling, centuries-old revenge. Unlike the islanders it once tormented, this entity faces a new challenge—John's modern, isolated mind. It begins to learn, feeding on his deepest, most personal fears, meticulously dissecting his anxieties and turning them against him.
As the Iwi’s psychological and physical assaults escalate—from sinister apparitions and suffocating terrors to a horrific, rat-sized spider—John finds his sanity, and his very existence, unraveling. His beloved Recluse Rules, once his ultimate protection, are now his greatest vulnerability, trapping him in a escalating battle for survival.
With his world shrinking to the confines of his flat, and his only connections to reality being two skeptical online friends and a distant academic expert, John must confront the terrifying is he truly being haunted, or is his isolation finally pushing him into a psychological abyss? And when a chaotic family member arrives, unknowingly possessed by the very entity John fights, the stage is set for a brutal showdown that will force him to abandon his sanctuary and shatter his identity, or face absolute destruction.
"The Recluse Rules" is a gripping psychological horror that explores the chilling consequences of isolation, the insidious nature of fear, and the fine line between personal sanctuary and inescapable prison. Perfect for readers who crave intelligent, character-driven horror that lingers long after the last page.
When John unwittingly brings a cursed Nicobarese artifact into his home, he unleashes something ancient and an Iwi-Pot, a spirit determined to exact a chilling, centuries-old revenge. Unlike the islanders it once tormented, this entity faces a new challenge—John's modern, isolated mind. It begins to learn, feeding on his deepest, most personal fears, meticulously dissecting his anxieties and turning them against him.
As the Iwi’s psychological and physical assaults escalate—from sinister apparitions and suffocating terrors to a horrific, rat-sized spider—John finds his sanity, and his very existence, unraveling. His beloved Recluse Rules, once his ultimate protection, are now his greatest vulnerability, trapping him in a escalating battle for survival.
With his world shrinking to the confines of his flat, and his only connections to reality being two skeptical online friends and a distant academic expert, John must confront the terrifying is he truly being haunted, or is his isolation finally pushing him into a psychological abyss? And when a chaotic family member arrives, unknowingly possessed by the very entity John fights, the stage is set for a brutal showdown that will force him to abandon his sanctuary and shatter his identity, or face absolute destruction.
"The Recluse Rules" is a gripping psychological horror that explores the chilling consequences of isolation, the insidious nature of fear, and the fine line between personal sanctuary and inescapable prison. Perfect for readers who crave intelligent, character-driven horror that lingers long after the last page.
333 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 27, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 11, 2025
I received an ARC through BookSirens.
If you’ve ever wondered how a super analytical person would deal with a demon, this is the story for you!!! I could put myself right in John’s shoes - he approached defeating the Iwi-Pot with (nearly) scientific theory.
I adored how progressive this story was as well. Talk of cultural appropriation, trans folk, and therapy was refreshing.
My one dislike was that it was character driven and we see lots of flash backs (it’s just not my favorite) but I recommend Recluse Rules anyway!
If you’ve ever wondered how a super analytical person would deal with a demon, this is the story for you!!! I could put myself right in John’s shoes - he approached defeating the Iwi-Pot with (nearly) scientific theory.
I adored how progressive this story was as well. Talk of cultural appropriation, trans folk, and therapy was refreshing.
My one dislike was that it was character driven and we see lots of flash backs (it’s just not my favorite) but I recommend Recluse Rules anyway!
November 3, 2025
John is a recluse who finds himself in trouble with a haunted artefact.
This was an interesting book. I enjoyed the story and the ending was very good. John was a likeable character and I related to his mindset as I’m a bit of a recluse too. It was cool to have a villain which comes from a very secluded people, made it more intriguing.
This was an interesting book. I enjoyed the story and the ending was very good. John was a likeable character and I related to his mindset as I’m a bit of a recluse too. It was cool to have a villain which comes from a very secluded people, made it more intriguing.
November 14, 2025
A slow burn Psych/Horror novel.
This was a bit too slow for me and could’ve been about 100 pages shorter.
This was a bit too slow for me and could’ve been about 100 pages shorter.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews