Hallowed Be Thy Name

by Brooke Winters

Augustus Saint murdered his mother. Her ghost now haunts the House on North Lane.

Augustus has always been told the Devil lives inside him. He didn’t know it was true until a failed exorcism results in his mother’s disappearance, binding him to a Devil only he can see.

As recurring nightmares bleed into reality, his darkening mind and growing paranoia leads him to the chilling realisation that he is becoming the very thing he has always feared—the villain of his own story.

A sliver of salvation infiltrates Augustus’ guarded walls upon meeting classmate Nathaniel Carrington. Forced to collaborate on a university assignment, their research incites a desperate search for the cult that stole Augustus’ mother, confronting him with the truth buried deep inside the House on North Lane. As Nathaniel and Augustus grow closer, the Devil fights to keep them apart.

In this tale of psychological turmoil, Augustus must navigate the treacherous depths of his own mind to escape the House’s suffocating grasp. Will he emerge from the shadows triumphant, or will he become just another forgotten ghost inside the House on North Lane?

Genres: Horror, Queer, LGBT, Dark Academia, Mystery, Gothic Horror, Adult

376 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 20, 2026

About the author

Brooke Winters was born and raised in Sydney, Australia. She received a Catholic education that cemented itself as a key theme of her debut gothic horror, Hallowed Be Thy Name which explores religious fanaticism, psychosis and disillusionment. With a bachelor's degree in English and History, and master's in information science, Brooke has spent the last six years working with literature of all kinds, from literary classics to old state archives. Brooke loves reading, photography, taking care of her fur baby Freya and, of course, writing her next book!

Reviews

[Dione (RickEveScrolls) · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an insanely haunting and incredible debut from Brooke. First of all, can we take a moment to appreciate the cover? It’s absolutely stunning, so detailed and atmospheric, and it perfectly sets the tone and mood for the story.

We follow Augustus from childhood into young adulthood, watching his life unfold as he grows up deeply lonely and desperate for love. He’s repeatedly told that he’s possessed by the devil, and when he begins seeing and hearing a voice that follows him throughout his life, he starts to believe it. As a reader, you’re constantly torn between what’s real and what isn’t—is Augustus truly possessed, or is this the result of severe trauma? The book also opens with Augustus stating that he killed his mother, which immediately hooks you and leaves you desperate to understand how things reached that point.

The atmosphere of this book is incredibly eerie. It genuinely feels like something or someone is always watching, both Augustus and you as the reader. One of the book’s greatest strengths is how deeply you connect with Augustus. He is just a boy who wanted love. Life is relentlessly cruel to him, and I felt fiercely protective the entire time. All I wanted was to step into the pages and tell him that he is loved, lovable, and perfect exactly as he is.

Religious trauma is a major theme here, and it made me so mad reading it. Seeing religion twisted to serve cruelty and control, twisting it for personal agenda hit hard, especially because we have seen it reflects very real experiences. As the story unfolds, certain details had me genuinely Googling whether they were rooted in real-life beliefs… and unfortunately, they were. Which again is a very interesting topic and I loved researching more into it.

The devil inside Augustus is undeniably creepy, but at times he was also weirdly funny. He reminded me a lot of the Nightmare from One Dark Window, if you know, you know. The descriptive writing is vivid and unsettling, especially during the scenes where Augustus experiences his visions. Like many others, I made the mistake of reading this at night and promptly convinced myself someone was standing near my mirror in the dark. Super fun, definitely recommend.

The romance is very much a subplot, but it’s such a necessary and beautiful one. It brings warmth and balance to an otherwise heavy story—like a beam of sunlight cutting through the darkness. Augustus and Nathaniel were so adorable that I genuinely need 10000s of fan arts of them immediately. Every interaction between them made me smile, especially Augustus being completely clueless. Academic rivals? Always eliteee.

I spent most of the book theorising, and while I managed to get about half my guesses right, it still felt like pure luck because some reveals were so wild I could barely believe them. And that ending? Absolutely unhinged guysss. The journey this book takes you on is intense; you witness Augustus’s deterioration, and it drives you a little mad because you’re never quite sure what to trust anymore.

I highly recommend this to anyone who loves gothic vibes, religious horror, “devil in the head” narratives, queer romance, grumpy/sunshine dynamics, and stories that constantly make you question what’s real and what isn’t.

I desperately want a poster of this book and its artwork on my wall. I was fully obsessed. I’m beyond excited to see what Brooke writes next because trust me I WILL BE THERE!. Thank you so much for the e-ARC. 🤍

[Kaya🦷 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where do I even begin….
This book is what I have been looking for for a really long time. The writing pulls you in and captivates you. It refuses to let you go with the most gripping prologue that haunts the narrative until the very last page. HBTN carries such a tragic beauty that caused me to feel a wide range of emotions.

We follow the main character, Augustus, as he tries to escape a traumatic childhood tainted by the church and his mother’s beliefs whilst being plagued by the devil that lives inside of him.

The narrative evolves to a perfect dark academia setting once Augustus grows up and attends University in order to better understand his past and the intrusive nature of the devil whispering words inside his head. There he meets Nathaniel, his academic rival… or is he?
Nathaniel is the one thing that keeps Augustus sane as he spends restless nights studying and trying to escape his nightmares of the haunted house that he grew up in.

When a group project offers the perfect opportunity to research the nature of cults Augustus has to come to terms with his past and his lost mother who escaped to a cult as he tries to open up to Nathaniel.

When push comes to shove the two boys end up on the doorstep of the cult Augustus’ mother had found solace in.
But something isn’t right….

This book is the definition of a haunting. The twists are gut wrenching and Augustus is a mirror to all of our dark secrets and fears.

HBTN is the perfect gothic book with themes of religious horror, slowly going insane, dark academia, queer/ace representation and haunting twists.

5 STARS and definitely in my top 5 of the year (or ever)!!

Thank you so much, Brooke, for writing this masterpiece and for letting me read it. I am so incredibly proud of you and I can’t wait to devour more of your work.

Please read the trigger warnings before reading! <3

[bee ⭑.ᐟ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a hauntingly devastating story, it broke me apart whilst also giving me incredibly moments of joy, this was a rollercoaster and i loved every minute of it. from the very first chapter of this i was captivated, the writing is beautiful and never failed to keep me entranced. the journey we go through with our main character, Augustus, was easily one of my favourite things i love about story telling, spending time with characters in different parts of their life and seeing them grow, getting to look back on who they were at the start, versus who they became at the end. and this book did it so well. the character development actually had me feeling so proud🥹.
the middle half of the book was set in the perfect academic setting that really had me reminiscing to my time reading babel, just being lost in library's, life
being taken over by study and books. ugh it did it so well and was so immersive. our academic rival was also a character i loved and enjoying seeing interact with Augustus.
i also found myself really resonating with the main character and his struggles to accept himself and his thoughts and i could tell it really came from a place of understanding hardships of dealing with mental health problems, sometimes it really does feel like you have the devil on your shoulder and at times i felt frustrated with the mc’s denial and refusal of help but i know we all do that too.
this was the perfect read for spooky season and recommend if you love heartfelt stories with some darker themes and cults.
also please check triggers warnings!

[Kaitie Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

🖤 Religious Trauma
✝️ Is this real?
🖤 Dark Academia
✝️ Rivals to Lovers
🖤 Horror Debut

This was such a fantastic horror debut! I loved every moment of this reading experience.

Augustus Saint is haunted by the ghosts of his past and the mother who was convinced that the devil lives within his skin. He is tormented by visions, plagued by nightmares, the belief that he is a bad person, and the notion that the devil does in fact live within him.

I loved everything about this book. Brooke Winters takes a morally complex MC, cult religion, dark academia and a dusting of queer romance to deliver this incredible story. The horrors are poignant and you can't help but feel deeply affected by Augustus' childhood experiences and religious guilt. On the surface he is not a particularly likable character as a result of his trauma; however, I think that readers will be able to relate to him on a deeply personal level. He wants to connect with people, to find joy in life, but after his traumatic upbringing he is terrified, he is suspicious of intentions and he is just trying to live through the nightmares and voices that plague him relentlessly. The nightmares are horrifying.

I had a few suspicions about where this book would go—as the author employs some of my favourite horror tropes—but many aspects of this story managed to completely surprise me. I love how the ending of this book feels well-rounded which isn't always something we get with a fever-dream like horror story. The relationship between our rivals-to-lovers is absolutely tender and endearing as well. For a pretty dark and horrific story (at times) it inspires a lot of compassion and emotion.

I would highly recommend this to anyone who loves gothic horror, dark academia, misfit MCs and cult horror.

Thank you to the author, Brooke Winters, for the ARC of this book. All thoughts and feedback contained within this review are my own.

•

“I am a twelve-year-old boy plagued with an impenetrable forest of guilt and a fear that I will be discovered. Of what? I could not tell you. But once everyone knows, they’ll bury me so deep into the Earth I’ll sink down into Hell itself, consumed by dead souls who share my rotten heart.”

[Stay Fetters · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I had seen Hell. And I came out with the Devil on my side."

I am obsessed! I wish more people were talking about this book! ♥

[Alisha Ukunde · Rating 5 out of 5]

…jesus christ, what an ARC read

I read this immediately after Satan’s Affair by H.D. Carlton, a story steeped in religious-cult trauma, and honestly had a moment of is this a sign? is this my calling? Because here we are again, staring straight into the wreckage left behind by fanaticism, madness, and belief taken too far.

Hollowed Be Thy Name is the perfect mix of dark academia, gothic horror, and a slow, haunting descent into insanity. It’s unsettling in a quiet, creeping way, the kind of horror that settles in your bones and doesn’t leave.

We meet Augustus, a boy utterly failed by the adults meant to protect him. His mother, consumed by the religious cult she herself helped create, becomes convinced that Augustus is possessed by a demon. What follows is deeply disturbing: attempted exorcisms, emotional terror, and borderline filicidal violence driven by untreated mental illness and religious extremism. Augustus is done so dirty that all I wanted, repeatedly, was to reach through the page and give him a hug.

The devil that haunts him, who looks just like Augustus, horns and all, is one of the most compelling representations of internalised trauma I’ve read in a long time. Only Augustus can see him. He isn’t supernatural; he’s psychological. A manifestation of intrusive thoughts, fear, guilt, and self-loathing slowly pushing him toward madness. Brooke captures this with eerie precision.

What makes this dynamic even more heartbreaking is the contrast with Augustus’s younger brother, who represents light, innocence, and grounding. Where the devil pulls him into darkness, his brother anchors him to humanity. And yet, because the devil is a creation of Augustus’s own mind, it becomes painfully clear that he is both victim and, tragically, the one hurting himself.

The first part of the book leans heavily into gothic horror: religious obsession, a mother unraveling, and violence justified through “faith.” It’s tense, frightening, and deeply uncomfortable in the best way. Then the story shifts and evolves.

After Augustus moves away to live with his father and later his aunt, Hollowed Be Thy Name becomes a coming-of-age story layered with trauma recovery. We follow Augustus through school and into university, watching him slowly learn how to exist in the world. He makes friends. He begins to understand his attraction to both girls and boys. The queer panic is real, tender, and painfully authentic, especially when paired with how shy and emotionally scarred he is.

The dark academia setting blooms beautifully at university. Libraries, academic rivalry, intellectual obsession and it all fits perfectly with the novel’s themes. Enter Nathaniel: Augustus’s rival, foil, and eventual emotional lifeline. Their relationship is competitive, intimate, grounding and is one of the strongest parts of the book. Nathaniel challenges Augustus, pulls him out of himself, and helps keep him tethered to reality.

When they’re paired together on a group project researching religious cults, the narrative folds in on itself in the most devastating way. Augustus is forced to confront his past head-on, this time with someone beside him. Watching Nathaniel stay with him through that reckoning is quietly beautiful.
The ending is heartbreaking. Augustus’s reality fractures, illusions fall away, and not everything is neatly resolved. It hurts but it feels honest. All I want is peace for Augustus and Nathaniel. A soft life. Silence. Safety.

This is an incredible debut, raw, intelligent, emotionally heavy, and deeply atmospheric. Brooke Winters writes trauma with care, queerness with tenderness, and horror with restraint. I’m so grateful I got to be part of the ARC journey, and I am desperate to see where book two takes us.

Augustus’s story matters.
And I’ll be following it wherever it goes next.

[Macy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't believe this is a debut novel. Hallowed Be Thy Name is everything you want in a horror. Possessions in books always leave me wanting more but the way Brooke makes us feel Augustus getting deeper and deeper entangled with the Devil makes me feel like I'm losing my mind. The writing is lush and very reminiscent of CG Drews and how they make you feel the darkness surrounding you and hear the blood dripping onto the floor. As someone who was raised in a crazy religious atmosphere (southern baptist) the cult aspect, manipulation, and religious trauma was spot on as well. The plot twist that I didn't see coming at all had me staring at the wall for 10 minutes after finishing the book just trying to come to terms with what we just learned. Unreliable narrators, when done well, can rock the entire foundation the plot stands on and Augustus shatters that foundation. Cannot wait to read more by this author and see what they do in the future.

[mona ♡]

sounds like something that will make me tweak out but i'm here for it

[Cassandra Plunkett]

DNF @ 30%

This just didn’t click with me. I don’t think it’s written badly, but I do feel like the pacing is a bit off and the way the main character speaks is usually so above and beyond how someone his age would be speaking or thinking.

I could really feel the author through the pages. It was like I could sense her writing certain lines and then sitting back like “oh yeah, THAT’S a cool and edgy line.”
This feels very much like it’s trying to emulate a CG Drew’s YA novel.

The dialogue felt stilted and extremely overdramatic at times, and then other times super simple and blunt. I was also not feeling much regarding the horror elements.

At nearly a third of the way through, I was not connecting with the characters and I’m not compelled to stick around and find out what happens next.

[Faye &#x1fac0; · Rating 4 out of 5]

The definition of a haunting…. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25

- mother/religious trauma that utterly haunts the narrative
- you are told what is going to happen right from the beginning of the novel, but it’s still shocking and quite the plot twist in how those events come to take place.
- Augustus my beloved Ace Frankenstein loving queer <3 I see you and your “am I gay” quiz panic
- there is a huge portion of this that has a rich academic setting where we see a queer academic rival trope take flight, as well as getting lost in libraries and Augustus’s pursuit of his psychology degree and deep dives into cults and the like

This novel had so much heart, & the ending really kicked me while I was down

[Taylor Priem · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was so excited for this book because of the cover…. However I don’t know why it didn’t connect with me, I just felt very lost and I was confused but that maybe just a me thing but I don’t know how to explain it, but it just didn’t pass my vibe check.

I did read the whole thing but still when I finished I went um okay idk what I just read cause I was so confused. But aspects of the book were good

Even though it wasn’t a fit for me, it might be for you, this was just my thoughts on it :)

I loved the queer aspect to it

[Jovana M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hallowed Be Thy Name is a debut gothic horror by Brooke Winters. It’s a heartbreaking and tragic story about abuse, self destruction, and religious trauma. This book is dark, raw, and unfiltered. It has an incredibly intense and creepy atmosphere, and will constantly have you questioning what is real.

We follow the story from the point of view of our main character Augustus, from the age of four as he grows up within the constraints of a religion that he fears, and a mother that is mentally unwell, part of a cult, and physically, religiously, and emotionally abusive.

Augustus has been told that he has the devil inside him from a young age, and he believes it because of the visual and auditory hallucinations he has of the devil. This makes him an unreliable narrator, and we spend the course of the book trying to distinguish reality from hallucinations, wondering if he really is possessed.

He feels very responsible for his little brother, and cares for him deeply, more so than he cares about himself. Audie has been his reason to live since he was a child, and he looks to protect him at all costs. The entire reason for this, which we find out at the end, is truly heartbreaking.

The middle to end of the book follows Augustus and his journey through university, with the author creating a wonderful dark academia setting. When Augustus meets his academic rival, Nathaniel, we finally get to see a softer side of him. When the two start working together they develop the most beautiful and tender relationship. The romance is definitely a sub-plot in this story, but it balances it out amazing well, providing the potential for a small light at the end of the tunnel for Augustus.

We as the reader have a front row seat as Augustus struggles with his anxiety about school and life, his sense of identity, and also his sexuality. The connection the reader develops with Augustus over the course of the story is strong. We follow him from childhood, and he has had an incredibly difficult past, which Brooke has written so well that you can’t help but relate to and sympathise with him. This book felt very true to life, and was a beautiful representation of living with the “bad” side of yourself, and figuring out who you are despite your past. My heart was broken for Augustus and everything he went through.

While you might have some suspicions about where the book will go in the end, it is still an incredibly wild ride and will absolutely surprise you throughout. I believe this is a standalone story but I would definitely love to see more of Augustus, and a story that potentially focuses on his healing.

The writing itself is beautiful, and poetic at times. I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone who loves a religious cult horror with a pinch of dark academia and queer romance 🖤

[Siara · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐️

Really good horror, gave me Smile vibes a little bit with the house at the end + the character being tormented with hallucinations no one else sees

I love unreliable narrators, especially with horror

I really liked the writing of and the parallels between Alexander and Nathanial because it really showed their similarities that caused Augustus to not be able to trust Nathanial

I don’t think the synopsis should’ve mentioned him killing his mom, I think that could’ve been left as a mystery to unravel during the story

Big spoiler below in case you ignored the spoiler warning ‼️



I saw it coming that Auden wasn’t real, but there were parts that didn’t make sense to me because of it, like Alexander bullying Auden and getting punched for it.. sooo what actually happened in that scene lol

[Steven · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately, this was a massive disappointment. 150 pages of unnecessary filler, predictable plot points, an ending that made me throw the book in upset. The marketing for this book is completely misleading. Two stars because the writing wasn’t abysmal, but I couldn’t feel any emotion in any of the major plot scenes. This was far more Hollow than Hallow.

[Carly (Sad Autumn Girl Version) · Rating 5 out of 5]

“”What’s your favourite colour?” he asked. “Guess.” Silence. And then, “Green!” I didn’t have a favourite colour. But the moment he said green, his smile wide and his head thrown back, green was suddenly all I could think about. The green of his tie, the green grass seeping through the rocks below our feet, the green vest he wore the first day I laid eyes on him. Everything was green.”

First published: 20/02/26 (ARC)
Genre: Horror with dark academia & romance elements
Page count: 377
Series: N/A
Format read: 📱
Others read by this author: N/A
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 (⬆️)

Thankyou so much to Brooke Winters for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was so excited to be accepted onto Brooke’s street team & loved taking part in the cover reveal & ARC campaigns before I’d even read Hallowed Be Thy Name, & now that I have, I’m even more excited to be a Hallowed One! When I say this book gripped me I’m not exaggerating. I’m a fairly slow reader but I read the majority of this in two sittings because I had to find out what happened next! The content is dark but it’s such an easy read. MC Augustus is incredibly frustrating at times, but it’s not really a surprise when you take into account the trauma he’s suffered, & his academic rival Nathanial is the world’s most precious bean & must be protected at all costs. Hallowed Be Thy Name has a cute couple that you’re rooting for, but it also has blood & gore, physical abuse, psychological torture, & mental illness. If you’re a fan of Don’t Let the Forest In & Hazelthorn I would definitely recommend Hallowed Be Thy Name!

[Isa (aurum.reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The rot seeps through the pages, if that is even possible considering I read this on my e-book.

It was cold and damp, dark and made my skin crawl in the best possible ways. An eerie feeling after reading it at night and getting up to go to the bathroom, maybe the devil would look at me through the mirror as well.

A fantastic first book that leaves me wanting so much more than the pages I have just finished reading.

[tory · Rating 5 out of 5]

did a beta read of this AND LET ME TELL YOUUU 😮‍💨 this was one of the best newer gothic horror books and i can’t wait to get a physical copy when it’s released <3

[Christina (Bloodycrimsonreads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

•arc review•
Release date: February 20th
Genre: queer gothic horror, dark academia

Augustus has had a traumatic childhood, his mother having been part of a religious cult, convinced that her son had the Devil in him. Naturally, despite his attempts, Augustus’s past cannot be escaped and it sneakily catches up to him pretty intensely when his academic status is put in jeopardy. He goes down a rabbit hole with his rival, of all people, unveiling things he might not be ready for.

What a beautiful, haunting, intense debut novel. I was captivated from the very first chapter, it was brilliantly done. Following Augustus throughout many years of his coming of age was paramount to the tension building, it was hauntingly exquisite and ultimately quite devastating. The horror bits entangling with the assumed reality was unsettling. The mental state of Augustus was depicted thoroughly and with such care and vulnerability despite the turmoil that it completely sucked me in. Amidst the slow paced, character driven story, there’s definitely an intriguing plot that will leave you reeling, urging you to keep turning those dreadfully suspenseful yet oddly heartwarming (per times) pages.

How I rooted for the characters, how deeply I felt for them. Augustus, filled with guilt and angry energy to the brim. Nathaniel, wanting nothing more than to help him in whatever way he can, chipping away at the frayed seams of Augustus’s fragile, stubborn mind. The push and pull, good vs evil.

Haunted anguish and a desire to be good. An unrelenting mental war flirting with the supernatural...?

This book will stick with me for a long time, I have no doubt.

Thank you so much to Brooke for the arc.

★ ★ ★ ★.5

Keywords: religious trauma, mental health, academic rival, good/evil, cult, gothic symbolism, haunted houses, queer, dark academia.

[Minsoo · Rating 4 out of 5]

review of advanced readers copy from the author

4,5✨

My first are and Brooke's debut were a success! I want to explore more of the religious horror genre in the future, since this was my first time reading it and I did enjoy it. The writing is very straight forward but still beautiful and captivating. Tho it wasn't an action filled book per say and it moved quite slowly I didn't mind and actually enjoyed it, since i felt like we really got to know our mc Augustus and get into his mind. The romance is short but still sweet which i prefer since im not a big fan of romance centered books. The ending caught me by surprise and it really "made" the whole unreliable narrator/is this real part! I can't wait to read what brooke puts out next and overall had a really good time.

[Midnight Library Mouse - catching up on reviews! · Rating 5 out of 5]

rtc

[katarina]

soft dnf @ 21%
(maybe)

[ullianachase]

dnf @ 17%

так…до свидания

я не в настроении читать про набожную мать сектантку, которая издевается над своим сыном

[Biblioamory (Joyce) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this as an ARC from the author. All views expressed are my own.

Recommend - For the horror readers who like it heavy on the religious overtones

Horror - MM romance, low spice.

I really enjoyed this one. I’m fairly new to religious horror as a subgenre, but found this one disturbing and unsettling in very good ways.

More or less set in the present day, this is told primarily from the POV of Augustus, our main character. Because it’s told in the first person, the reader finds themselves constantly wondering, in a deliciously good way, as to what’s real and what’s not. How much you as the reader buy into the possibility of the Devil being real or not, at least within the confines of the story, directly impacts on how creepy and unsettling the events that occur truly are.

The tension never really subsides, not really, and I found myself wanting some reassurance as to whether or not what was happening or real was not and what the reasons might be, one way or another. This was also a deeply atmospheric read. You can feel the gloom, the chill, the creeping sense of dread and unease that seems to pervade the story.

I found the ending, not predictable exactly, but not unexpected? Nevertheless, you can see Winters’s potential as an author and I can’t wait to see what she comes out with next!

[Tiffany]

This book had a lot going for it: lovely writing, evergreen themes of religious trauma and the search for acceptance and belonging, and ace-representation. Winters handles difficult topics like severe child abuse with sensitivity. Hallowed be Thy Name kept me engaged enough throughout the story that despite some issues I'll point out below, I wanted to find out what would happen. I also really enjoy these kinds of stories where you wonder if something supernatural is really going on, or if the narrator is crazy. Augustus is an awkward and endearing unreliable narrator whom I wanted to hug and love. The way he would try to self-sabotage relationships because of his insecurities was incredibly relatable.

Winters writes beautifully. I highlighted several passages that made me go, "Oh, wow." Beginning the story with the reader knowing that Augustus murdered his mother sets up a different mystery—what exactly happened? This was quite clever and I enjoyed trying to figure it out.

That said, the book would benefit from editing at the developmental and line levels. Midway through the book, the romance took over the narrative to where it no longer felt like a horror book until it needed to again for plot reasons. While I understand the reasoning behind that, it was jarring. The beginning of the book also felt really long, so it seemed like half the book was set-up. The pacing was a bit strange.

On the line level, there were several incidents when characters exchange dialogue in a way that sound Victorian, but they're living in the modern times with Internet.

Nathaniel was such a nice character that he never seemed like a real person to me, which then caused the relationship to fall flat. As a result, I'm afraid the full impact of the ending failed to land, even though on a cognitive level, I knew how I was supposed to feel.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. It's very readable and kept my attention throughout.

Thank you to the author for my free ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Fini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this as a beta read and absolutely loved it!!🖤✨

[Alexa CSA · Rating 5 out of 5]

I KNOW THIS STORY IS ABOUT AUGUSTUS BUT NATHANIEL IS MY BABY AND I LOVE HIM SO MUCH. ok actually for the review tho this was such a beautiful book and brooke’s writing is so captivating i think this book will reach so many people. for those who ever experienced some sort of religious trauma or parental difficulties, i think the way in which those two themes interacted was SO well depicted and the symbolism was INSANE.

i am going to say, i of course am going to be biased for this book so you might be thinking ‘alexa you beta read for HBTN of course you love it’ but honestly go through Brooke’s tagged posts and you’ll see how many people have LOVED HBTN because the characters are BEAUTIFUL and i really hope everyone gets a chance to read this and support an amazing aussie author x

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

In ”Hallowed Be Thy Name“, the main character Augustus Saint is haunted by his past — literally and metaphorically. After a traumatic childhood, haunted by religious fanaticism and the shadow of a devil he’s been told lives inside him, he tries to build a somewhat normal life. When he ends up at university, thrown into research about cults and the mysterious disappearance of his mother, the lines between reality, trauma, and horror blur. 

Along the way he meets Nathaniel Carrington — whose presence brings moments of tenderness and hope into this dark, twisted world. Their relationship becomes one of the few sources of light in a story suffused with dread and psychological horror. 

⸻

What works — why I loved it

• Augustus as a character: He’s messy, traumatized, unstable — sometimes making choices that are hard to watch, but painfully believable. His devotion to his brother and his desperate search for truth and identity make him one of the most gripping protagonists I’ve seen in recent horror.

Emotional & psychological depth:
The novel doesn’t shy away from themes like religious trauma, mental illness, cult psychology, grief — but balances them with humanity, empathy and vulnerability.

Atmosphere & Tone:
Dark academia libraries, cult-research sessions, creeping horror, and that constant sense of “is it real or am I losing it?” The horror is subtle, psychological, and haunting — not just gore for shock value.

Romantic subplot done right:
The connection between Augustus and Nathaniel isn’t just eye-candy; it’s meaningful. Their quiet moments, shared vulnerability, trust — those feel earned. They bring light into darkness without cheapening the horror.

Plot & twist execution:
The Shutter Island-esque reveal toward the end hits like a sucker punch. The book builds tension carefully, then delivers something that makes you question what you read and how you read it. It’s a mind-bending, haunting conclusion that lingers.

⸻

⚠️ What to know before you read

This is horror — but not shallow horror. It’s heavy, with religion, trauma, cult dynamics, mental health and identity all wrapped into one tangled nightmare.

There are passages and moments that hit hard emotionally (and mentally). If you’re sensitive to religious trauma or horror that messes with mind and reality, be prepared: this book will get under your skin.

Also, because of its mood and pacing — slow build, psychological intensity — it demands patience and emotional investment. But if you lean into it, it pays off big time.

⸻

🏆 Final Verdict

”Hallowed Be Thy Name“ is a damn impressive debut. It blends horror, trauma, identity, love and redemption in a way that never feels clumsy or overdone. It’s haunted, heartbreaking, beautiful — and terrifying in all the right ways.

5/5 stars — a modern gothic horror gem. If you like dark academia, cult-horror, queer romance and stories that make you question reality (and maybe your own beliefs), you’ve gotta read this one.

Thank you to Brooke Winters for the ARC!

[Hanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s been a long time since I devoured a 300+ page book in a single day, yet here I am at an ungodly hour, hurriedly typing notes into my phone because I’ve just finished Hollowed Be Thy Name and I’m utterly speechless. I honestly couldn’t ask for more from a book.

For those who read my reviews, you know I tend to be critical, I rarely give five stars, and my general rating hovers around three. But this one? Every single one of those five stars is deserved. I am completely in awe.

I was excited. I was thrilled. I was completely absorbed. It was eerie, unnerving, sweet, it was gripping, and it had me sending excerpts to my sister, giggling like a little girl, kicking my feet in delight, gasping for air, and even taking pictures of passages I couldn’t stop marveling at because they were haunting me.
I couldn’t put my kindle down, only realizing far too late that I probably should have been asleep hours ago.

The writing style? Phenomenal. At times lyrical, at times completely natural in dialogue, so human, so effortless to read. And then there were moments that were almost poetic, absolutely breathtaking.

The story itself is wonderfully complex. I could genuinely empathize with each character, understand their motivations, and follow every nuance of their development. The time jumps were perfectly executed; I never felt lost or confused. Each leap was intentional, seamless, and crucial to the story. I didn’t know what would happen next, and I waited, almost in suspense, until the very end, which is rare for me.
AND THE ENDING??? Well I cannot really say anything besides that this was phenomenal.

It’s rare that I close a book and sit there, mouth open, stunned at how perfect the ending was. Rarer still that I read the acknowledgements (sorry for that) but for this book, I had to. I was so speechless after the last page that I needed to soak in every word. And now, I’m even more thrilled that I fell in love with this book.

Brooke, I truly hope this book touches everyone as deeply as it touched me. I wish you nothing but success and happiness, you absolutely deserve it. I can’t wait for this book to come out. I will count the days till the physical copy arrives at my doorstep. This was phenomenal. Thank you.

[Tay · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Hello, little monster".
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I can't believe this is Winter's first book! I'll endeavour to read any futures books because I seriously loved this 🙌🏻
I no longer have any length left to my finger nails because I was too busy anxiously biting them through the scenes that made me wig out!
HBTN was perfect for a mix of dark academia/horror vibes whilst giving the feeling of slowly descending into insanity.
This story leans on the darker side, touching on the subject of religion/cults and the effects such things can have on one's mental state, and Augustus certainly had a horrible upbringing. I wanted to wrap that little darling right up in a big mum hug, but the creepy vibes were on point- especially when Augustus conversed with the Devil, I love how he was portrayed. I could almost hear the Devil whispering in my mind, the same way he was in Augustus' head 👀
The prose was so incredibly well done. Everything flowed so well, hauntingly beautiful, painting vivid scenes in my mind whilst reading.
The story sucked me right in and woah, the ending!? I actually teared up a little when the realisation hit 😱
I really liked Gus, I always vibe with the antisocial ones cause um same 🫣
But the queer romanceeee, the picnic omg, so sweet 🥹💚
Excuse me while I daydream about studying in the library with Nate and Gus for the foreseeable future 📖
Release date-20/02/2026 🖤
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"If there is a God... I'll always root for the Devil. At least he doesn't pretend to be something he's not".
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'I built a cage around my heart and gave no one the key'.
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'I wanted to carve out his heart, bit by bit, and slice it into tiny pieces, scattering them like rose petals' 🌹

[Sylvana · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars!!!

Book: Hallowed Be Thy Name by Brooke Winters

What can I say. This book had me in a chokehold. WOW... I loved every second of it

"𝘐𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘵 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵."

I loved the constant eerie feeling of questioning what is real and what isn't. Not quite knowing what is happening. A very well put together story. I loved the back and forth between Augustus, his mind, the Devil himself. Hauntingly devastating and gripping. I also really enjoyed the academic setting and rivalry

"𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘐 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘴. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘮 𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘸 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘶𝘯𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘳𝘦."

This book is a great example of what I love about reading, being able to get lost inside the pages of a captivating story. I could feel the struggles, relate to so many of these feelings. Augustus was such a painfully relatable character in so many ways. I could feel his pain, the hardships and doubt. This was beautifully written

"𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘰𝘵𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘱𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦’𝘴 𝘯𝘰 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦?"

I want to thank the author for sending me an eARC to read and review 🖤 thank you for trusting me with your work, I absolutely loved it!!