When Angels Bleed

by John Ashley

Jason Baker is wanted for murder – and when they inevitably find the other bodies, he’ll be wanted for seven of them. On the run with nowhere good to hide, he comes across a strange dirt road on the side of the highway with a farmhouse at its end. Strange not because it looks any different than it should, but because it calls to him like his soul’s lost love.

Over the three decades he’s been trapped there, Benjamin Parker has seen a lot of monsters show up at his farm, each one guilty of the same unthinkable sin. The farm attracts them like flies to rot from all different places, all different periods of time.

And it never lets them leave.

Warning: When Angels Bleed is an extreme horror novel that examines some of the most heinous examples of human evil across both modern and historical times. It contains graphic scenes and emotionally challenging themes that some readers may find upsetting. Specific content warnings can be found at the beginning of the book. 

Genres: Horror

278 pages, Paperback

Published September 13, 2025

About the author

John Ashley is a freelance writer and indie author who lives in Springfield, Missouri. What started as a love for ghost stories and Goosebumps books turned into a lifelong passion for all things horror, and writing horror books is the bloody, beating heart of that passion. When he’s not writing, John enjoys watching sports, spending time outdoors, and hanging out with his wife and their three pets.

Reviews

[The Morbid Mama ☠︎︎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘭𝘴 𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘦𝘥, 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘴

Jason Baker is a murderer on the run. After days of travel he stumbles upon the farm of Benjamin Parker, who has been trapped for decades. But soon, Jason learns that this is no ordinary farm. It is a beacon for the depraved. He is then thrusted into the never ending tortures of those who reside on the farm with no escape.

God. I love John Ashley SO MUCH! Every single book he has written has been so entertaining and sucks you in from the very beginning. When Angels Bleed is dark, depraved, and addicting. I could not put it down. The whole time all I could think was that “if Happy Death Day and 13 Ghosts had a love child, it would be When Angels Bleed”. This is definitely John’s darkest book to date, and it was pure perfection. And the ending? My jaw was on the FLOOR!! I can’t decide on whether this or The Dark Thing is my favorite! Be sure to run and get your copy on September 13th! You will not be disappointed!

And John, thank you so much for the incredible ARC. I am so grateful to be able to share my thoughts and feelings for these wonderful stories! 🥰

[Ali O · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Angels Bleed by John Ashley
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This is such an original, dark, and deep horror story. It’s got the good, the bad and the creepy all mixed together!! This story is full of strong emotions and twists as well.

Jason Baker has made poor choices in his life and is currently on the run for murder when he comes across an enticing road, which leads to a farm off the beaten path. The person living at this farm is Benjamin Parker and he tries to explain to Jason that there’s no leaving this farm once you arrive.
This place is “special” and is full of different forms of intense torture that you might endure if captured.

I wasn’t able to put this book down once I started reading it! It’s very well written and so exciting and horrifying! The way the parts and pieces all tie together are fantastic! My jaw was on the floor for a good part of this book!

I have read the other 3 novels from John Ashley, and I can easily say he’s an amazing writer. They have all been 5🌟 reads!

I was lucky to get an arc of this amazing story!
*It comes out September 13th and I highly recommend reading this!!*

[Milt Theo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another heavy-hitter by John Ashley! This time it's a tale of religious horror, though with many twists and original ideas. There’s a variety of familiar themes driving the story forward: sin, redemption, salvation, punishment, restitution, and, above all, repentance and contrition. However, the plot manages to touch upon them without preaching or moralizing, the author going instead for beautiful lines and lyrical prose (for example, "𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘭𝘴 𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘦𝘥, 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘴"), and intelligent twists (to give an example without spoiling it: the liminal space where the story's sinners are drawn to enter, has a lot to do with their own identity; contrary to appearances, they're not randomly attracted to the place).

The story includes some truly intense scenes of violence (you get serial killers, immoral scientists, and heartless priestesses fiercely sticking to their guns at any material cost); there's intricate plotting (many flashbacks and interrelated chapters); and a large cast (men acting evil, mostly). But it's the story itself that shines through all the complexity: incredibly well-drawn characters, acting and sounding like real people, a place with its own rules about how one's behavior brings one into specific metaphysical trouble - plus a genius idea about "quantifying" redemption at the end.

Occasionally, the book reads like Judeo-Christian horror; it does have angels, after all (apparently, of the Old Testament kind). Still, no actual denomination is ever mentioned, no specific theological dogma plays any role, and there's hardly any apologetics. The book rests on commonsensical ideas of punishment and justice, drawing on some novelties about the role of angels as the author has imagined them to be, the horror story and its demands always coming first.

This isn't an easy read, nor is it meant to be. Trigger warnings are given at the start (though readers familiar with extreme horror won't encounter anything new or too shocking). The concepts and the situations described are dark and morbid, though integral to the plot. The ending I found extremely appealing, and it will make one think.

Highly recommended for horror fans who enjoy complexity, disturbingly different perspectives, and supernatural elements with strong religious overtones!

[Jeanenne · Rating 5 out of 5]

There was a lot happening in this story. We will start with the pure terror of it. Imagine if you will, getting tortured and killed, and then waking up to find it's going to happen again and again for all eternity.

There are not many books that get to me, but I was reading this one in the dark at night when my dog decided to scratch an itch, and I jumped, and then spent the rest of the evening looking over my shoulder. Pretty impressive. The story is about good vs evil... and evil vs evil, and all the good and bad in between. This is a concept I've never seen before and I really "enjoyed" it. John Ashley looks at things in ways I can't imagine and then writes them down. I am quickly becoming a huge fan. Will definitely read more of his books.

[Queenie2023 aka Rita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg this book was creepy, crazy and wild and very well plotted out and written !! Definitely one to make you think and ponder when it’s all said and done. What happens when someone (An Angel) is prevented from doing their life’s mission to stop an accident or cure a disease - and how can things have a domino effect? One mis-step can change so many lives !!! What happens when angels fall ?? - and on and on with the dominos we go - such a wild story!! Definitely check your triggers but a great book !!

[Breanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

"You couldn’t possibly understand the weight of that transgression. When angels bleed, all of Heaven trembles.”

That line alone perfectly captures the dark beauty of this book. When Angels Bleed is haunting, violent, and deeply emotional, blending horror with a sense of divine tragedy. John Ashley takes the reader on a brutal yet poetic journey where pain and faith collide, and nothing feels safe. This one lingers long after the last page.

[Jes · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Angels Bleed is horror done right. It was dark, gritty, and well written. The best part of all were the thoughts it provoked. Horror with that kind of depth absolutely captivates my dark little heart. 🖤

[Rhiannon Boyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murderers, angels and demons! Oh My! We're not in Kansas, but we are on a farm that Flips back and forth between a regular ole cornfield farm with livestock and such to a haunted, terrifying hell landscape where one of a handful of demonic creatures/entities/former killers lurk, just waiting to catch you and treat you to their speciality of death.

Jason Baker, himself no slouch in the art of killing, has found himself trapped here and now subject to the tender ministrations of The Scarecrow, the Slaver, the Ice Cream Man, and others... When one of them has you in their clutches, you can only pray for death because the alternative is oh so much worse. And then there's the old man, Ben, who was there to welcome Jason to the farm, and who is obviously hiding some big secrets and his own terrible misdeeds.

What Jason and Ben do, what they choose to do, and what they have already done, has a wider impact than they realize. And it's only through the clever unveiling of the story that this unfolds amidst the violence, pain and gore they experience on the Flip, and that of their own lives before the farm. There may be no escape from this nightmare.

There's a deeper story here of how our actions can have such a huge ripple effect through the world, and Ashley does an excellent job of tying together the various storyline strings of our characters to illustrate that point, in a poignant, heartbreaking finale.

My thanks to John Ashley for the ARC!

[Sarah Corwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Jason Baker had lived his adult life as a predator until he made one terrible mistake. Now, he was forced to embrace the mentality of prey.”

WOW. Just WOW. I knew from the beginning this book was going to mess me up and it truly did. My heart hurts and I am at a loss for words. But I’ll give it a try.

Jason Baker is on the run for crimes he has committed when he finds a farm to hide out at. He is drawn to it and realizes that there is more to it than meets the eye and it’s time for him to pay for his sins.

I absolutely loved this. The characters were so interesting and absolutely terrifying. The dread and knowing when another Avenger would show up had me so tense but wanting to keep reading more! And the twists!! Oh my gosh the twists were great. My poor heart. I won’t spoil it but that ending gutted me. This will be a favorite of mine for 2025. Thank you John Ashley for the ARC, I am so so glad I got the chance to read this.

[Charlie FRANCIS · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was left staring into space after I finished reading this book. I was confused, not because of the story itself but how I could find myself rooting for, even liking a despicable character. That's good writing! To make these characters real and not just some flat characters. There is some gore and it had some frightening parts where I was timid to continue because I could envision the scene. Again good writing! I enjoyed the different characters and the end was so good. He tied everything neatly in the end which I appreciate. John Ashley ALWAYS has a way to make me both creeped out, freaked out, and when reading this story I found myself thinking how in the world does he come up with such good stuff. And even though he writes such creepy, grotesque stuff it always has some human emotions behind it that always pull at my heartstrings! Loved this book and I highly recommend it.

[Curt Dunnam · Rating 5 out of 5]

“When Angels Bleed” by John Ashley is an intensely graphic 5-star horror! Jason Baker is on the run and seeks refuge at a farmhouse where he meets Benjamin Parker. What he finds is far from a safe haven, and the horrors begin almost as soon as he arrives.

The author includes trigger warnings, and readers new to extreme horror should pay close attention. If you’re already familiar with the genre, you might want to skip them to avoid potential spoilers. This book delivers relentless violence from beginning to end. I especially enjoyed the background given on the other occupants of the farm, each with a backstory strong enough to fill an entire book. This is my second read by John Ashley, and it certainly won’t be my last.

Thanks to John Ashley for providing me with the opportunity to read this ARC and share my honest review.

[Chelsea Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to John Ashley for the opportunity to read this ARC.
From the first page of the book, I was hooked. Jason Baker is a serial killer. He's a bad person and he doesn't mind. Benjamin (not Ben and definitely not Benji) is a hardworking farmer with a routine that has to be maintained. When Jason comes upon the farmhouse as he is walking down the road, he is strangely drawn to it. Benjamin sets him to work, doing the backbreaking labor that comes with an old farm. Throughout the book, we learn about the farm, about the monsters that haunt it, and about Jason and Benjamin.
Terrifying and heartbreaking at the same time, please proceed with caution and be sure to read the trigger warnings at the beginning of the book. But also, READ THIS BOOK

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alright, so I have to admit, I’ve been sleeping on John Ashley. I have his first book but haven’t read it yet. When I received the opportunity to ARC read ‘When Angels Bleed’, I thought why not?

I’m so glad I did.

This is the type of horror that I thrive on. Plenty of depravity but also so much heart, all built around a very interesting premise involving religious accentuation. The way this novel weaves together is quite a journey, and honestly, an utterly beautiful one. I read it in a few hours, only putting it down to sleep and will be swiftly reading his other work before there are too many to feasibly catch up on.

Highly recommended!

Releases on 9/13.

[Nita Garcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

"That's the beauty of good and the scourge of evil my dear friend. A single act of either can ripple across space and time so much farther than one ever anticipates"

John Ashley did an amazing job with this book. It was creepy and heartbreaking and tense!

The world of this book is what it would be like if purgatory was moved to Hell and you can never escape.

I gave it 4.75 stars. I think it's an amazing book I just wanted a bit more flair to the ending, not that there is anything wrong with the ending we get in this book, I just was so invested that I wanted more for the ending. All in all this was sublime.

[Whitney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is absolutely amazing!!! John is such a good writer! I have read almost all of his books and this book by far is my favorite so far. It has a lot of meaning behind it and that’s what makes it an awesome book! This book has every horrific bad guys in it. Some of the worst situations and some of the scariest monsters. We all sin and make mistakes but some are worse than others, do you feel guilty and remorse? Some people do and some people don’t. If you don’t you might just turn into a monster.

[Christopher Dahman · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Angels Bleed is the third book I’ve read by John Ashley, and once again, I’m blown away.

His writing is so smooth and beautiful, and he has a real talent for bringing places and characters to life. Every character comes with a backstory that ties perfectly into the bigger story, which kept me hooked from start to finish.

The premise is fresh and original. I loved the mix of eerie atmosphere and gut-punch emotions
.
Five stars, no question. I’d happily spend more time in this world, and I can’t wait to see what John Ashley writes next.

[Beatrix Starling · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic horror story, beautifully written. It has depth and complexity about the worst of human nature and atonement - lovingly handled without being preachy.
Yet the horror is unmatched within the lines, the claustrophobic feeling of being trapped in a hellscape is powerful, the transgressions vile.
The story is about a farm, that lies in no-man's land. It would be nice enough with a quaint farmhouse and endless cornfields - until the sun goes dark and everything shifts.
Unravelling its mystery is well worth your reading time.

[Dan Mckeithan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the kind of book that gives you a burn. Not a slow burn, as you read it, but a hot intense flame of a burn and it's the kind of burn you don't want to let go. It's extreme horror that makes you think. John brings us to Jason, a murderer on the run. Jason meets Benjamin at his farm, and the story heats up from there. It shows the good and bad in people and really makes you think of what happens when angels fall? So good you don't want to let it go.

[Leigh.empresselly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve always heard the phrase “angels walk among us” and this story is an eerie reminder of the good and bad in humans!

The characters have brutal histories and I loved how each was connected to the overall plot! Each horrific incident was graphically depicted. I could see it all!
The ending.. when it all comes together is a brilliant!

John Ashley knows how to create a surreal environment and subliminally blow your mind! 🙌

[Kristen V. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first book by John Ashley and it definitely won't be my last - I absolutely loved it! I usually don't really like when a book has a lot of different character POVs but they all tied in wonderfully and it was great to read all the different back stories and how they all rolled into one incredible book. Thank you so much to the author for the opportunity to read this ARC!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first john ashley book I've read, and i can honestly say it will not be my last. The writing style catpyred my attention and did not let it go. It's the perfect kind of depravity. i enjoy the way the pov changes and the way it deliveries background information fits perfectly. And that ending!! *chef's kiss* perfection!

[Jesse Bollinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very good story with an extremely interesting premise. I loved the idea of the farmhouse and all the horrors contained within. I also really enjoyed how all of the demons had a backstory and the stories unfolded as the main story continued. There were some brutal scenes in this book and I. flinched more than once. Another winner of a novel by Mr. Ashley.

[Nicole Schlak · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so twisty and amazing. Every choice has a consequence. How many lives will you ruin by ruining just 1 life? What happens if you kill an angel? What if being a bad person lands you in another place where you get tortured by other bad people? This is a must read unique type of book.

[Chelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book blew me away, an amazing and intriguing story line like nothing I have ever read before.
The only bad thing I have to say is it finished too soon 😊 I could have kept reading this one for a really long time.

Amazing.

💀💀🎃💀💀

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like dark, thought invoking, and heavy all around you will love this one. There's also some alternate reality and bad people being in terrible situations. I really enjoyed reading it and loved how unique it was.

[Chris Hookway · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Angels Bleed by John Ashley
For his third outing, Ashley gives us a book of interwoven stories, showing how paths can cross unexpectedly, and how far reaching some acts can be. How some decisions people make can have much further reaching results than anyone could possibly imagine.
This was deep, covering ideas like the difficulty in making seemingly impossible choices, working towards atonement that is harder than the sin was to commit, and just how interwoven lives and choices can be.
This one has great characters, an very tight story with a nice big “Ah-hah!!!” near the end.. and the soul crushing defeat that came shortly thereafter, with one last unexpected turn that will make you want to go back and re-read this one again. I know I will be reading this one again in the future, just to see how it hits a second time.
When Angels Bleed is a true page-turner. I could not devour this one nearly fast enough. It has absolutely been one of my favorite reads this year so far.

[Stephanie Vicente · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was creepy ! I loved the way it was written and how well it read ! it was a crazy and wild read. this book had me hooked from the first page and it was absolutely amazing the writing flowed so well it was beautifully written and I loved how the premise was original. it was a fantastic horror read.

[Bookaholic__Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've only read two books from Ashley, this one and his debut...and honestly both were fantastic. This one was definitely darker than I was expecting. To his credit Ashley did warn me, I just didn't believe it based on what I've read from him before....boy was I wrong.


I loved everything about When Angels Bleed, from the stunning cover to the absolute vile and deplorable happenings in the story.... solid extreme horror that takes an eye opening approach to the evil within humanity.

I received a copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Shanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jason Baker is on the run for murder and is trying to hitchhike his way to freedom. As he's walking he sees a dirt road and feels the pull towards it. At the end of the road is a farmhouse where Benjamin Parker has been trapped for years, dealing with the many monsters that feel the pull towards his old farmhouse.
This was such a clever and intriguing story that had me hooked from the beginning. The characters were very well written and seemed like they could be very real. I loved the way it jumped through various times to find out about everyone's background and what led them to the farmhouse. This is an extreme horror story with some pretty graphic scenes, check your triggers. "When angels bleed, all of Heaven trembles."