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Gifts Between Us
Elderly Londoner Augustus has lived a long, miserable life. Having driven his few remaining loved ones away years ago, he now whiles away his time drinking rum and hoping for the end.
One night his death wish is nearly granted by a mugger, but a local youth called Michael intervenes. Much to the old man’s horror (and fascination) Michael promptly begins to devour the mugger’s body.
Slowly, Augustus and his mysterious saviour form an unlikely friendship, one built on sharing the gifts of trust, camaraderie, and acceptance.
And one last a secret. It is the cause of Michael’s cannibalistic nature. And, perhaps, a reason for Augustus to go on living…
One night his death wish is nearly granted by a mugger, but a local youth called Michael intervenes. Much to the old man’s horror (and fascination) Michael promptly begins to devour the mugger’s body.
Slowly, Augustus and his mysterious saviour form an unlikely friendship, one built on sharing the gifts of trust, camaraderie, and acceptance.
And one last a secret. It is the cause of Michael’s cannibalistic nature. And, perhaps, a reason for Augustus to go on living…
92 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 8, 2025
3 people want to read
About the author
C.C. Adams
36 books28 followersLondon native C.C. Adams is the horror/dark fiction author behind books such as But Worse Will Come, Misery And Other Lines, and Downwind, Alice. His work appears in publications such as Weirdbook Magazine, DeadSteam, and Corona Books of Horror Stories.
A member of the Horror Writers Association, he still lives in the capital. He lifts weights, cooks - and looks for the perfect quote to set off the next dark delicacy.
A member of the Horror Writers Association, he still lives in the capital. He lifts weights, cooks - and looks for the perfect quote to set off the next dark delicacy.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
December 5, 2025
The cover for Gifts Between Us by C C Adams is simple, yet effective. It sure caught my eye and the title made me curious. Of all the places the story could go, I was surprised at the blurb…and curious. I had to know what the low down was. The story is pretty gross. Not like vampires sucking your blood, or werewolves tearing you apart, but more like zombies, though Michael dines on something other than brains. Gifts Between Us by C C Adams was a quick read, and I read it within a couple of hours. It’s worth the read, and even though it didn’t bowl me over, I would still recommend it.
See more at https://www.fundinmental.com
See more at https://www.fundinmental.com
October 25, 2025
I can't rate this any less than 5 stars, it's too good! An older man meets a younger man in...a questionable (not sexual) way, and they start having conversations and forming a very odd bond.
This evolves into some of the best, most disturbing body horror I've read. Great writing, compelling plot, interesting characters and dynamics. Loved it!
This evolves into some of the best, most disturbing body horror I've read. Great writing, compelling plot, interesting characters and dynamics. Loved it!
November 16, 2025
A quick and brutal read, the body horror was something to sink your teeth into and I loved the parasitic element of the book. Didn’t read about this book before hand, went in blind, and I’d recommend you do to. Another great offering from CC Adams - sufficiently terrified of something living inside me!
October 25, 2025
Excellent slow burn but also somehow fast-paced horror about two guys who should never have met, and what happens as a result. Excellent writing and a truly intriguing story.
January 13, 2026
I was not ready for the absolutely horrible ick this story had in it.
September 24, 2025
What an elderly man witnesses the man who saved him from a mugging doing afterward changes his outlook on continuing to live in Gifts Between Us by C.C. Adams.
To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.
At 88 years old, Augustus has lived a long, miserable life and is waiting out the time until he finally meets his demise by drinking alone in his home with only memories of the loved ones he pushed away. When he’s attacked by a mugger one night, Augustus realizes that he might actually want to keep living and is fortunately rescued by a younger man, Michael, who is stabbed in his stead but claims to be unhurt. Curious as Michael deals with the mugger's body, Augustus watches in both fascination and horror as Michael appears to devour the mugger’s viscera. Striking up an odd friendship, Augustus and Michael begin sharing more about themselves and their lives, including the strange secret of Michael’s, which drives Augustus to devise a plan that might make life worth living if he’s able to pull it off; if not, he’s likely to die alone as he’s been told so many times before.
A strangely captivating story unfolds in a narrative that moves quickly, where gruesome bodily horrors appear, reflecting the more miserable inner state of a character shown through recalled snippets of strained family conversations; though the character affected by the parasite may not be the most negative, he is instead plagued by guilt over the actions he takes to survive. While some depictions can be considered disturbing and unusual, they are not overly graphic and move along fairly quickly, avoiding dwelling on the images and instead allowing the images to linger in the back of the reader’s mind, ready to resurface at fitting moments. With a small cast of characters, the story focuses closely on developing Augustus and Michael’s characters and their dynamic, which is built on a quick camaraderie based on accepting the darker or less socially acceptable parts of oneself without judgment, though still leaving them vulnerable to betrayal.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.
At 88 years old, Augustus has lived a long, miserable life and is waiting out the time until he finally meets his demise by drinking alone in his home with only memories of the loved ones he pushed away. When he’s attacked by a mugger one night, Augustus realizes that he might actually want to keep living and is fortunately rescued by a younger man, Michael, who is stabbed in his stead but claims to be unhurt. Curious as Michael deals with the mugger's body, Augustus watches in both fascination and horror as Michael appears to devour the mugger’s viscera. Striking up an odd friendship, Augustus and Michael begin sharing more about themselves and their lives, including the strange secret of Michael’s, which drives Augustus to devise a plan that might make life worth living if he’s able to pull it off; if not, he’s likely to die alone as he’s been told so many times before.
A strangely captivating story unfolds in a narrative that moves quickly, where gruesome bodily horrors appear, reflecting the more miserable inner state of a character shown through recalled snippets of strained family conversations; though the character affected by the parasite may not be the most negative, he is instead plagued by guilt over the actions he takes to survive. While some depictions can be considered disturbing and unusual, they are not overly graphic and move along fairly quickly, avoiding dwelling on the images and instead allowing the images to linger in the back of the reader’s mind, ready to resurface at fitting moments. With a small cast of characters, the story focuses closely on developing Augustus and Michael’s characters and their dynamic, which is built on a quick camaraderie based on accepting the darker or less socially acceptable parts of oneself without judgment, though still leaving them vulnerable to betrayal.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
September 24, 2025
Thanks to French Press for the ARC.
I’m a horror reader and somehow have missed reading anything by C.C. Adams until now. Now, I want to read everything! It’s been a while since I read a horror that really caught me off guard but this one did! And, I consider that a very good quality in a book.
This novella is the kind of insidious horror that I love. The book opens with Augustus reviewing some of the dismal things he has said to his family, and he was rotten! Augustus is quite a wretched character. He has no one in his life and a family member’s words. I was enjoying the dark and depressing mood and then suddenly the plot amped up when Augustus was mugged. During the violent scuffle a stranger is stabbed protecting Augustus but brushes off any aid. He offers only his name.
Still curious, August finds he can’t walk away without knowing that Micheal is okay… and discovers him feasting on the mugger’s body. Yes, you read that correctly! I didn’t read the blurb for the book because I love when horror plots sneak up on me - and this one certainly did that! I was shocked and delighted at the same time (the sign of a true horror fan).
As the two men form an unlikely bond, things continue to get more and more disturbing. I think the remarkable thing is that way Adams’ writing lured me into thinking that the friendship between these two men was… normal…not the least bit unusual. All the time I was reading confronting and disturbing things I was thinking that I kind of liked both of them. Maybe they had each found someone to be a tether to everyday life? A reason to keep going?
Yes? No? I’m not revealing anything else. If you’re into disturbing writing, body horror… and characters with questionable motivation this is the book for you. I absolutely enjoyed every creatively traumatizing word!
I’m a horror reader and somehow have missed reading anything by C.C. Adams until now. Now, I want to read everything! It’s been a while since I read a horror that really caught me off guard but this one did! And, I consider that a very good quality in a book.
This novella is the kind of insidious horror that I love. The book opens with Augustus reviewing some of the dismal things he has said to his family, and he was rotten! Augustus is quite a wretched character. He has no one in his life and a family member’s words. I was enjoying the dark and depressing mood and then suddenly the plot amped up when Augustus was mugged. During the violent scuffle a stranger is stabbed protecting Augustus but brushes off any aid. He offers only his name.
Still curious, August finds he can’t walk away without knowing that Micheal is okay… and discovers him feasting on the mugger’s body. Yes, you read that correctly! I didn’t read the blurb for the book because I love when horror plots sneak up on me - and this one certainly did that! I was shocked and delighted at the same time (the sign of a true horror fan).
As the two men form an unlikely bond, things continue to get more and more disturbing. I think the remarkable thing is that way Adams’ writing lured me into thinking that the friendship between these two men was… normal…not the least bit unusual. All the time I was reading confronting and disturbing things I was thinking that I kind of liked both of them. Maybe they had each found someone to be a tether to everyday life? A reason to keep going?
Yes? No? I’m not revealing anything else. If you’re into disturbing writing, body horror… and characters with questionable motivation this is the book for you. I absolutely enjoyed every creatively traumatizing word!
November 30, 2025
Second chances are nothing to sneeze at.
This was an excellent example of how to create deeply unlikeable but still compelling characters. Neither Michael nor Augustus were men I’d ever want to cross paths with, especially in a deserted alley after sunset, and yet I was fascinated by their terrifying secrets and how well they kept them hidden. Anyone who walked past them on the street would have no idea what lay behind their calm and unassuming personas which only made the later events in their lives even more frightening.
The horror in this novella was grisly and violent. It’s not something I’d recommend to the faint of heart, and yet every one of those scenes was critical in order to understand the final one. One must know exactly what these characters have been capable of in the past in order to be prepared for their futures. I thought the scenes that described how Michael had turned into the person Augustus knew were especially important given what they shared about his personality and character before the plot escalated.
Creativity is something I look for in every tale I review, and it revealed itself early here. The plot twists weren’t that common for this genre in my experience, but they worked beautifully with the established character development to create something I couldn’t possibly stop reading. I loved being surprised by where the storyline was headed next and will definitely keep an eye out for more of Mr. Adams’ work in the future.
Gifts Between Us was deliciously scary.
This was an excellent example of how to create deeply unlikeable but still compelling characters. Neither Michael nor Augustus were men I’d ever want to cross paths with, especially in a deserted alley after sunset, and yet I was fascinated by their terrifying secrets and how well they kept them hidden. Anyone who walked past them on the street would have no idea what lay behind their calm and unassuming personas which only made the later events in their lives even more frightening.
The horror in this novella was grisly and violent. It’s not something I’d recommend to the faint of heart, and yet every one of those scenes was critical in order to understand the final one. One must know exactly what these characters have been capable of in the past in order to be prepared for their futures. I thought the scenes that described how Michael had turned into the person Augustus knew were especially important given what they shared about his personality and character before the plot escalated.
Creativity is something I look for in every tale I review, and it revealed itself early here. The plot twists weren’t that common for this genre in my experience, but they worked beautifully with the established character development to create something I couldn’t possibly stop reading. I loved being surprised by where the storyline was headed next and will definitely keep an eye out for more of Mr. Adams’ work in the future.
Gifts Between Us was deliciously scary.
September 22, 2025
I am incredibly grateful to French Press for the opportunity to read and review Gifts Between Us. Being selected to explore this captivating story has been such a treat, and I can’t wait to share my thoughts on it with all of you. A huge thank you to French Press for their generosity and for making this reading experience possible.
What a way to start off my spooky seasons reads!
I can honestly say, I've never read anything quite like this. Part of me admires the author and another part of me is concerned haha! How does one conjure up stories such as this?
Gifts Between Us is an easy read. I love novellas, honestly. I flew through it. It's well written, easy to follow and you just don't know in what direction the story is heading until you get there which made it so intriguing!
I think what made this book creepier is the fact it could very well be true. People like Augustus and Michael could be living among us and we'd never even know!
As far as I'm concerned, spooky season starts on the 1st of September... none of this waiting for October rubbish! If you want a gateway to horror books, read this novella!
What a way to start off my spooky seasons reads!
I can honestly say, I've never read anything quite like this. Part of me admires the author and another part of me is concerned haha! How does one conjure up stories such as this?
Gifts Between Us is an easy read. I love novellas, honestly. I flew through it. It's well written, easy to follow and you just don't know in what direction the story is heading until you get there which made it so intriguing!
I think what made this book creepier is the fact it could very well be true. People like Augustus and Michael could be living among us and we'd never even know!
As far as I'm concerned, spooky season starts on the 1st of September... none of this waiting for October rubbish! If you want a gateway to horror books, read this novella!
December 13, 2025
Although I have mixed feelings about short stories and novellas, I always find myself intrigued when they are horror. There is something addictive in a creepy quick read, and that is exactly what Gifts Between Us from C.C. Adams promised to offer.
I will be honest and say my rating mostly reflected the aforementioned mixed feelings. While I am always intrigued by quick horror reads, I do find my standards to be high whenever I read something shorter than novel-length. I expect it to pack plenty into the pages, hitting hard and fast, yet I did not find such to be the case with Gifts Between Us. While it was a quick read that had me turning the pages to see how things developed, it did not hit hard in the way I had hoped. In fact, I worked out the ending far too easily and it became a case of watching what I expected play out. I think it may have worked better for me if it had been a longer story, to explore things more fully. This, however, I am labelling as a me problem.
While I am sure many will be hooked on this quick read, I believe this is one of those cases where I simply was not the right reader due to my pickiness with shorter reads.
I will be honest and say my rating mostly reflected the aforementioned mixed feelings. While I am always intrigued by quick horror reads, I do find my standards to be high whenever I read something shorter than novel-length. I expect it to pack plenty into the pages, hitting hard and fast, yet I did not find such to be the case with Gifts Between Us. While it was a quick read that had me turning the pages to see how things developed, it did not hit hard in the way I had hoped. In fact, I worked out the ending far too easily and it became a case of watching what I expected play out. I think it may have worked better for me if it had been a longer story, to explore things more fully. This, however, I am labelling as a me problem.
While I am sure many will be hooked on this quick read, I believe this is one of those cases where I simply was not the right reader due to my pickiness with shorter reads.
December 8, 2025
Anyone who has met CC Adams knows that he is the NICEST guy in horror! Super welcoming, friendly, and genuine. Then, as if for contrast, he goes and writes wonderfully gory and creepy books like Gifts Between Us.
An old misery guts named Augustus spends his time drinking in isolation in deaths waiting room until a chance encounter changes his outlook on the future. A stranger saves Augustus from a mugging…and eats the mugger. The reason for the strangers cannibalism is revealed during a wild and gory overshare that may leave some readers retching, and a bond is formed, or maybe more specifically, a plan is hatched. It goes to show you that some people are beyond help, and some friendships will come back to bite you…or worse!
This is a well-paced book that really leaves you guessing about what will happen next, and it’s a quick, fun, goopy read.
An old misery guts named Augustus spends his time drinking in isolation in deaths waiting room until a chance encounter changes his outlook on the future. A stranger saves Augustus from a mugging…and eats the mugger. The reason for the strangers cannibalism is revealed during a wild and gory overshare that may leave some readers retching, and a bond is formed, or maybe more specifically, a plan is hatched. It goes to show you that some people are beyond help, and some friendships will come back to bite you…or worse!
This is a well-paced book that really leaves you guessing about what will happen next, and it’s a quick, fun, goopy read.
November 26, 2025
Gifts Between Us by C.C. Adams is a tale of a twisted friendship, a terrifying tag-along, and, as the cover shows, the unsettling truth that some things are better left unshared…
OH MY GOSH. I love reading a book where I try to guess at what’s to come. I was never correct here! I had such a blast reading and seeing everything as it rolled out. The author did such an amazing job organizing this tale’s plot and pacing. I was absolutely hooked!
When Kayleigh Dobbs of French Press reached out asking if I had any interest in this one, I replied, “Ooooooh! Yes PLEASE. This sounds wild!” And WILD it sure was!!
Horror fans, you gotta check this one out!
Check out my full review here: https://www.ericarobynreads.com/gifts...
OH MY GOSH. I love reading a book where I try to guess at what’s to come. I was never correct here! I had such a blast reading and seeing everything as it rolled out. The author did such an amazing job organizing this tale’s plot and pacing. I was absolutely hooked!
When Kayleigh Dobbs of French Press reached out asking if I had any interest in this one, I replied, “Ooooooh! Yes PLEASE. This sounds wild!” And WILD it sure was!!
Horror fans, you gotta check this one out!
Check out my full review here: https://www.ericarobynreads.com/gifts...
January 13, 2026
Gifts Between Us is a quick, gripping read with vivid writing and a darkly fascinating twist. Watching Augustus and Michael’s unlikely friendship grow is both eerie and oddly heartwarming. Horror fans will love the tension, mystery, and chilling surprises—definitely worth a read!
September 25, 2025
creepy, unsettling, loved it!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews