What Comes Before

by Molly Macabre, William Burkhardt (Editor)

Tess just wants a quiet weekend away, a break from the chaos of her job and the constant noise of other people’s expectations. A remote cabin in the woods sounds perfect.

But peace is the last thing she finds.

When she stumbles into Aiden, a man who seems just as lost as she is, they try to navigate their way out together. But the forest has no intention of letting them go.

Beneath the trees lies something twisted, a presence with the mind of a child and the cruelty of something far older. Tess and Aiden aren’t just lost.

They’ve become pawns in a sinister game.

Death is mercy.
The fray is what comes before.

Genres: Thriller, Horror, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Psychological Thriller

124 pages, Paperback

Published September 13, 2025

Reviews

[Peter Topside · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very strong showing from Molly Macabre. The entire story pivoted on the atmosphere, which she wrote beautifully. Tess, our lead, and her companion, of sorts, Aiden were a very enjoyable duo, and the story fully explored all of their possible dynamics together. No romance, thank God, which would have felt really out of place, but everything else was there and done well. I also very much appreciated the constant intrigue and mystery of what was actually causing our characters to have those horrific visions and experiences. You were given enough to appreciate the basic context of what was happening, but also without a long-drawn explanation that would have taken away from the mystique of it all. Again, though, it was like reading an actual nightmare, which made my inner horror fiend squeeze its toes in excitement. Very few critiques here, focusing more on developing Tess a bit further and some of the more abbreviated plot points, i.e. her mom, but very minor and took nothing away from this great read. This was my first book from Molly Macabre (Love the pen name!) and I'm exited to see what her other offerings are.

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tess plans a short holiday at a remote cabin. On her way to it things turn into horror. She gets lost in an enchanted forest. What is Aiden's role? Can they leave the woods playing tricks to them? Is the remote area a symbol for something else? The story started intriguing and uncanny but soon became a bit confusing. Too much philosophy, inner monologue, melancholy and suicide solution inside for my liking. Otherwise very sinister. All in all a bit over written. Recommended!

[Janelle Schiecke · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can't go wrong with a cabin in the woods, and this story unfolds at a perfect pace, keeping you engaged and wanting to find out what's in store around the corner. Though... do you really want to know? Yes, you do. But you also know you'll be terrified.

What I love about Molly's writing is the way she mixes poetic prose with that sense of sheer dread, and in this story what is shimmering and beautiful may have sinister intent.

We follow Tess and Aiden as they navigate together to an isolated cabin in the woods. All is not what it seems and, I don't want to give away any spoilers, but I loved the twist at the end and didn't see it coming.

Full of mystery and intrigue, with a dizzying quality at times. I highly recommend this one!

This is an ARC review.

[Carmela Garcia · Rating 1 out of 5]

Weird, short horror story that left me confused. I tried it bc the reviews were so good but maybe I missed something?

[Despoina Kemeridou · Rating 5 out of 5]

A ghost horror story... or is it something much darker and much more sinister?

Tess only wanted a vacation in a secluded cabin, far away from the stress of her daily life and her toxic job, but instead, she finds herself living her worst nightmares.

WHAT COMES BEFORE is as disorienting as the title suggests, but in a good way.

If you're scared of the shadows lurking in the darkness of the forest, don't read this book. There is something in the forest that is playing with Tess' mind and sanity, and makes the reader question whether the supernatural events that occur are real or not. Actually, it makes the reader question many things, but you'll have to read this book to find out what I mean.

If you've read books from authors of the Dark Veil Society, there are some Easter eggs inside that I really loved!

For lovers of the paranormal who appreciate an unexpected plot twist that makes you want to read the book again. Best enjoyed at night, inside a cabin in the woods. You're welcome.

***DISCLAIMER***
I received an ARC for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Sydney Corey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a book rated so high with 4-5 stars on every review. I was optimistic this book would be so good, and although this book was fast paced and a super short read which I did enjoy, it was a very strange read, not really understanding why things were happening, and what was truly going on, and then the ending to leave you hanging with so many questions. Not a high rating from me on this one

[Billie Wiley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Wow! Wow! This story drew me in with all the feels for Tess and Aiden. The savagery of the woods is beyond insane. The heartbreak and pain in this book is intense and fast paced. 🔥

Character development is on point. Storyline is fast and unforgiving. Plot and twists are executed perfectly. 🤩

A definite MUST READ for anyone who loves a creepy and macabre-😉 story! 🫣📖🩸

[Steve Stark · Rating 5 out of 5]

What Comes Before takes us on a nightmarish trek through a cursed forest where not all is what it seems. From vicious coyotes to unseen forces and ghastly apparitions Tess and Aiden battle for their lives and their sanity in hostile terrain that seems hellbent on destroying them.

I picked this one up as I loved Macabre’s first book Dark Bloom, and I’m pleased to report that WCB contains all the elements that made her first book so incredible-Likeable, believable characters with great chemistry, a horrific hopeless situation, some truly chilling moments and some grisly stuff too.

This is quick read that had me rapidly turning pages as the situation escalated, despite a growing feeling of dread. I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next, while at the same time fearing what might.

Eerie, unsettling with plenty of thrills along the way, WCB has the feel of an episode of the original Twilight Zone, only much more intense.

[Bearded Book Beast · Rating 5 out of 5]

What Comes Before will grab hold of you instantly and stay with you long after the last page. Molly Macabre has hit another home run following her fantastic horror debut, Dark Bloom. I read this intense novella in one sitting and could not put it down!

Tess is looking for an escape from the busy world we all know too well. What could be better than a remote cabin in the woods to relax in nature, right? She quickly regrets her decision and finds herself in a nightmare she can't escape. With only a stranger she meets in the woods to lean on, can Tess stay sane and survive?

Go read this now! Psychological brilliance and horror at its best!

[Sarah R. New · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC kindly provided by Molly Macabre.

Wow! This story does not let up! Macabre manages to encapsulate the dread of being lost in unfamiliar territory whilst putting her own, unique spin on the classic trope, and all within a novella! I found the character of Tess to be a very engaging protagonist, and the way Macabre weaves tension and fear through each thread of the book is masterful. The ending genuinely left me speechless, and in the same breath, made me immediately look up her previous bibliography. A phenomenal novella.

[Blake Myers · Rating 5 out of 5]

disorienting and creepy

Loved how this book felt like a pressure cooker set to max … every chapter just ramped up the heat and torture for these poor souls. No rest for the weary in this forest, thats for sure!

[BexHorror · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tess and Aiden, two passing strangers that meet under the most dire of circumstances and face the dangers that the woods present them… together.

A beautiful, quick paced story that left my jaw needing to be picked up from the floor. The ending had me doing a double take because quite genuinely I ask, wtf what that?
The only downfall I had to this book was that it wasn't longer, I'm greedy and need more. I need a sequel and a prequel. Stat.

Thank you to Molly for giving me the opportunity to be an ARC reader! 🖤

[Shane Boyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm going to find a way back to you, mom. I promise.

This is going to be another hit for Molly Macabre. For horror fans, there's several comfortable tropes that are done really well. But what Macabre excels at is creating a tense and smothering atmosphere. What Comes Before is paced like a great horror movie, but the entire time you feel the overwhelming dread and uncertainty of Tess and Aiden.

It's a blast to read and I felt like I knew exactly where things were going, but Macabre throws almost everything on its head. By the end, I had a true "WTF" moment, which is what I love to have in a horror story. This is a no-brainer for horror fans, but I think almost everyone would find something to love here.

-
8.09/10
4/5 ⭐️

Thanks to the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Madeline · Rating 2 out of 5]

The only one really tortured in this story is the reader….

[TheBookLounge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second book by This author and it does NOT disappoint! WCB is a story filled with a very eerie, disturbing atmosphere. You follow Tess (MC) who is looking for an escape from reality. All she wants is to not be bothered for a weekend and let her mind settle. Well soon after her getaway weekend begins, she stumbles upon another lost soul, Aiden who is also looking for peace. They both find real fast that the forest... has other plans for them.

One thing I love about the way Molly Macabre writes is how quickly she can pull you in and have you connected with the characters immediately. It was the same way with Dark Bloom. Truly remarkable. The atmosphere right from the start felt off. I had this unnerving feeling from one sentence on the first page. (How is someone supposed to stay on track around here if every group of trees looks the same.) Something about that sentence told be that Tess was about to embark on a journey she would soon regret.

Overall this was a fantastic quick read. Read it in one sitting. This author is one who is making her name known in the horror community. Read this at night. Trust me, you'll thank me... or not. HIGHLY recommend!!

[Rowena Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC review.
Molly is quickly becoming one of my favourite authors. She really knows how to write an unsettling story!
Who’s the weirdo who decided to read this novella before bed? That would be me! I don’t know why I do this to myself.
The twists and turns this story takes will keep you on the edge of your seat and leave you feeling disoriented from start to finish. You are quickly drawn to both Tess and Aiden who try to navigate their way out of a forest where nothing is as it seems. However, the forest has other ideas for them.
This story had me second guessing wanting to live in a cabin in the woods! I mean, I obviously still want to do it one day! Don’t even get me started on the ending! I’m still picking my jaw up from the floor!
Don’t forget, death is mercy. The fray is what comes before.

[Kelsey Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky to receive an ARC from Molly to read her new book ‘what comes before’. I went in completely blind to this book, didn’t read what it was about, I was drawn in by the cover and I just knew I’d love it as dark bloom was one of my faves.

WOW. This book was amazing. The looming dread from start to finish of the book, the descent into madness… I actually felt as if I were going insane at points!! The story follows our FMC tess, who decides she needs a break away from her stressful job and stressful life. She finds an air bnb cabin secluded in the woods, miles away from civilisation. What tess doesn’t know is there’s something not quite right about the woods.. she begins to hear voices, she begins to see things, and she also meets a companion named Aiden who may not be quite who he seems…

If you love paranormal horror and eerie ness then you’re going to LOVE this read. It was super fast paced, less than 130 pages and had you gripped from chapter to chapter. Molly is one of my new fave authors and I can’t wait for everyone to get their hands on this one 🌲

[Uilleam Whitedale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prepare for intense psychological torture, but whose is worse?

WHAT COMES BEFORE begins with a paragraph that could stand upon its own as a morose poem, and it perfectly sets the mood. Molly Macabre is naturally adept at creating inescapable worlds of distress, and this novella takes distress to the extreme. It's unrelenting, as minds are tortured in the smallest of ways between monstrous waking nightmares. There is no reprieve, no escape ... for the reader.

[Jessica Fuller · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a pretty short read but I found myself zoning out a lot. I think it just wasn't for me.

[Audi♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

short n spooky. I liked it.
loved the twisty ending.

[Ven · Rating 4 out of 5]

*ARC received for free in return for an honest review

Having read Dark Bloom last month, i was excited to learn that Molly had a novella out in September, and the moment I saw ARC requests open I jumped in.

Once again Macabre demonstrates a natural ability to tease out atmosphere and tension, driven home with a quick chemistry building between the two characters human characters,despite something feeling distinctly off throughout
The premise, 2 people encounter each other lost near a cabin in the woods, with seemingly no escape as the the world around them twists and distorts, and they begin to doubt their own senses. And I a pleased to report that I totally utterly and completely did not call the ending, and what twist of an ending it was! (my own theory was SO far away from reality)

More Please

[Already Overbooked · Rating 4 out of 5]

You should have read the email...

[Caleb Likes Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Note: I was provided a free copy for review; however, I will do my best to provide an honest and unbiased review. Thank you to Molly Macabre for the opportunity to read and review this book!

This was a very solid and very spooky novella. Not quite my personal taste when it comes to horror, but well done nonetheless.

This book follows Tess, a woman trying to get away from her life for a while and ends up going to stay at a cabin in the middle of a forest. This turns out to be quite a poor decision, as she meets up with a guy named Aiden and the two of them are then subjected to some rather unpleasant tricks the forest plays on them. It’s a solid setup, and one that plays out really well across the novella, as the two characters try to find a way out of this horrific forest. Both Tess and Aiden are solid characters who are given decent development considering the novella’s short length, and the banter and dialogue between the two is enjoyable. The thing I think this novella does best is absolutely the horror aspect—it is frequently unsettling and creepy, with a strong sense of a dark, foreboding atmosphere. This is heightened by the writing itself, which is well done and very descriptive, and does a great job of painting a mental picture of the story as it unfolds. I also have to absolutely praise the ending of this book. It’s rather unpleasant and grotesque in some ways, which I personally didn’t quite love, although that’s 100% personal taste; however, the epilogue reframes the story in such an interesting yet somewhat cryptic way that I really like.

The one thing that didn’t quite land for me here is the forest itself, or rather the things that happen in it. They’re adequately horrifying and unsettling, absolutely, and the malevolence of the forest is very well written. However, at the same time, it also felt maybe a little bit random to me—like frightening things that just happen rather than having particular reasons for happening. It works fine enough for the general haunted forest idea, but I personally enjoy horror most when the horror comes with some kind of strong thematic significance, which this didn’t feel like it had.

I will say this particular flavor of horror is not as much my thing as others, but for what it is I think it was very good. If the haunted forest vibe is something you enjoy, then I think you’d probably like this one.

Rating: 8.5/10

[Stories Podcast · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this book was a hell of a ride!

This the first book of Molly Macbre that I have read and it was amazing! The suspense, twists and turns kept me reading well into the early hours of the morning.

A must read for any horror/physological thriller lover!

Ryan D Haigh

[ℓуηη_σƒ_νєℓαяιѕ · Rating 1 out of 5]

very meh 😐 this author's debut Dark Bloom was a top read of mine last year. but this just felt like it needed to be longer to have more time to develop that sense of intrigue & suspense. this was a quick read though, so I'll give it that. I liked Aiden, but otherwise never felt invested, tense or spooked.

[Keeley Webb Author · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't sure what to expect when I picked up this novella. The cover drew me in, and for a change, I decided not to read the blurb beforehand.

The main character, Tess, has a tough job with a relentless boss. She's frustrated with her life and just wants to go off-grid for a quick break in a remote cabin.

She's having difficulty locating the cabin in the woods when she stumbles upon Aiden, who is just as lost as she is. They work hard to navigate their way to the cabin and then to find a way out.

The malevolent forest has other plans; it doesn't want to let them go and throws a whole host of natural and supernatural perils their way.

This is a well-written story. If you fancy something a little different, give it a try.

[Shaun M Jooste · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing story! I love cabin in the woods horror and I have a few planned myself. The action starts immediately, and you start wondering what the hell is going on from the beginning. I love the Dark Veil Society nods, especially the Sacred Valley one (obviously). That ending is brilliant and truly caught me off-guard. Molly Macabre really knows how to keep the pages turning and your nerves on edge.

[Stacey Markle · Rating 3 out of 5]

my rating 3.25
I love a good haunting and this story gave some good scares.
I did enjoy the story, it had a lot of cool elements but I wanted more emotion from our main characters and less acceptance of all the craziness happening around them.
Definitely dark, a little bit brutal and an ending that was less of a surprise than I'd hoped.

[Meghann_84 · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️
I've been searching for a horror book that will give me goosebumps and make my eyes water lol and this book delivered! I was a in a little slump and this was just perfect!
~E 📖

[Meekilovesbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a gripping, wild, short cabin in the woods horror story.