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23:11
Deep in the woods behind La Trinidad campus stands a moss-covered well, forgotten by most, feared by a few. The urban legend claims it grants a wish every leap year, at exactly 23:11.
Michelle Dayanan knows the story, just like everyone else, half as a joke, half as a warning. But when the relentless cruelty of the privileged students pushes her to the edge, she dares to make a wish for the one thing she’s never a sense of belonging.
Then, her classmates begin to die—mysterious, violent deaths, with no connection except for her. As the deaths mount, Michelle realizes the well didn’t just grant her wish, it took something far more precious in return. As her dream spirals into a waking nightmare, Michelle must confront the true cost of her wish, and the monstrous thing that never stopped listening.
Because the well doesn’t just grant wishes—it feeds on them, and now it’s hungry for more.
Michelle Dayanan knows the story, just like everyone else, half as a joke, half as a warning. But when the relentless cruelty of the privileged students pushes her to the edge, she dares to make a wish for the one thing she’s never a sense of belonging.
Then, her classmates begin to die—mysterious, violent deaths, with no connection except for her. As the deaths mount, Michelle realizes the well didn’t just grant her wish, it took something far more precious in return. As her dream spirals into a waking nightmare, Michelle must confront the true cost of her wish, and the monstrous thing that never stopped listening.
Because the well doesn’t just grant wishes—it feeds on them, and now it’s hungry for more.
195 pages, Paperback
Published August 24, 2025
About the author
Ceejay Barangan
4 books7 followersCeejay Barangan is a Pinay author from Cebu, the Queen City of the South, who writes about love, hauntings, and everything in between. Her debut BL novel Entangled Souls is published under Manila Pop, an imprint of BLACK INK, and she has been adding to her shelf of indie titles ever since.
She is a freelancer, a blogger, and a traveler who is currently in the middle of figuring out what this world has to offer and writing about it along the way. Her fiction tends to ask the same question her life does: what happens when you walk into something you were not supposed to and cannot find a reason to leave?
She drinks iced Spanish lattes. She listens to BTS, SB19, Ben&Ben, and other local bands. She is always in the middle of at least two books and one story she has not finished yet.
She is a freelancer, a blogger, and a traveler who is currently in the middle of figuring out what this world has to offer and writing about it along the way. Her fiction tends to ask the same question her life does: what happens when you walk into something you were not supposed to and cannot find a reason to leave?
She drinks iced Spanish lattes. She listens to BTS, SB19, Ben&Ben, and other local bands. She is always in the middle of at least two books and one story she has not finished yet.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
October 13, 2025
This was an entertaining read from start to finish. I’d describe it as fun-horror or spooky mystery—not the kind of story that will leave you emotionally wrecked, but definitely not boring either. It hits that sweet spot where the chills are present, but they don’t cross into trauma-level scary. Just enough spooks to keep things interesting.
I really enjoyed the twists, especially one in particular that completely caught me off guard. I must admit, I didn’t see it coming. The pacing was quick, the plot kept me engaged, and the supernatural edge added a nice layer to the mystery. If you’re looking for a fast-paced horror mystery with just enough eerie moments to keep your heart rate up, or a mystery with a hint of the supernatural, this is a good bet.
That said, I did find myself wishing the main protagonist did just a bit more to get to the bottom of things—there were moments where it felt like some of the answers came a little too easily, and I would’ve loved to see her “earn” the truth a bit more. Also, a few of the flashbacks left me slightly confused and had me flipping back to make sure I was following everything right.
Still, for the record, I’m not the target market for this book, and I still found it to be a genuinely entertaining ride.
I really enjoyed the twists, especially one in particular that completely caught me off guard. I must admit, I didn’t see it coming. The pacing was quick, the plot kept me engaged, and the supernatural edge added a nice layer to the mystery. If you’re looking for a fast-paced horror mystery with just enough eerie moments to keep your heart rate up, or a mystery with a hint of the supernatural, this is a good bet.
That said, I did find myself wishing the main protagonist did just a bit more to get to the bottom of things—there were moments where it felt like some of the answers came a little too easily, and I would’ve loved to see her “earn” the truth a bit more. Also, a few of the flashbacks left me slightly confused and had me flipping back to make sure I was following everything right.
Still, for the record, I’m not the target market for this book, and I still found it to be a genuinely entertaining ride.
Displaying 1 of 1 review