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Maleficium
Non omnis moriar.
Logan McNeil wants nothing more than to escape his hometown, a place that taunts him with childhood traumas. His work in the cemetery is his only salvation, the bodies he digs up for Doctor Baird his sole source of income. Another year, and he would have enough money to run to the Highlands where he might start fresh, become a new man without the stains of the dead on his clothes and grave soil beneath his nails.
But his plans are interrupted when, during one of his midnight shifts, he sees a strange light in a nearby mausoleum. Against his better judgement, he investigates, only to discover a handsome man in the middle of resurrecting a corpse.
Barely getting away with his life after witnessing what was not meant for his eyes, Logan finds himself haunted, or rather, hunted, by something not human. And the only person who can help him is the very man who had tried to kill him that night in the mausoleum. A man who knew his way around the dead almost as well as Logan did.
Logan McNeil wants nothing more than to escape his hometown, a place that taunts him with childhood traumas. His work in the cemetery is his only salvation, the bodies he digs up for Doctor Baird his sole source of income. Another year, and he would have enough money to run to the Highlands where he might start fresh, become a new man without the stains of the dead on his clothes and grave soil beneath his nails.
But his plans are interrupted when, during one of his midnight shifts, he sees a strange light in a nearby mausoleum. Against his better judgement, he investigates, only to discover a handsome man in the middle of resurrecting a corpse.
Barely getting away with his life after witnessing what was not meant for his eyes, Logan finds himself haunted, or rather, hunted, by something not human. And the only person who can help him is the very man who had tried to kill him that night in the mausoleum. A man who knew his way around the dead almost as well as Logan did.
156 pages, Paperback
Published November 28, 2025
3 people are currently reading
37 people want to read
About the author
Wren Archer
2 books6 followersWren Archer is a queer autistic author writing books about queer autistic characters.
Though living in England, they dream of returning to the Scottish Highlands where they visit family yearly.
When they're not writing with the aid of copious amounts of coffee and their cat children, they can be found scouring bookshops, playing video games, and exploring the local forests.
Though living in England, they dream of returning to the Scottish Highlands where they visit family yearly.
When they're not writing with the aid of copious amounts of coffee and their cat children, they can be found scouring bookshops, playing video games, and exploring the local forests.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
November 27, 2025
short and sweet - unlike our main characters 😌
a really fun a well developed gothic setting, i love the incorporation of Gàidhlig in the text as well. a nice easy read for fans of the occult and queer relationships ❤️
a really fun a well developed gothic setting, i love the incorporation of Gàidhlig in the text as well. a nice easy read for fans of the occult and queer relationships ❤️
October 27, 2025
Graveyards, necromancy, and awful (in the best way) queer characters.
I loved this novella. The vibes were immaculate, and the characters were my favorite kind: anti-heroes that you really shouldn't root for but do anyway. I'm so glad I got the chance to ARC read this one.
I loved this novella. The vibes were immaculate, and the characters were my favorite kind: anti-heroes that you really shouldn't root for but do anyway. I'm so glad I got the chance to ARC read this one.
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December 4, 2025Hi, this is my book and I just wanted to post the content warnings here for anyone who needs them.
blood, gore, violence, murder, stabbing, death of a parent (past), suicide (past/brief mention), child abuse (past), vomiting, sexual content, dismemberment, strangulation, death by illness (brief mention), homophobia (brief mention), confinement (burial).
blood, gore, violence, murder, stabbing, death of a parent (past), suicide (past/brief mention), child abuse (past), vomiting, sexual content, dismemberment, strangulation, death by illness (brief mention), homophobia (brief mention), confinement (burial).
November 2, 2025
thank you so much for the arc
this was such an interesting novella to read!
once again I loved Wren's style of writing!
The plot seemed simple but it's not and what makes this story unique imo are the definitely the characters. They're so interesting and never do what you would expect! Exciting!
I also loved the chemistry between Logan and Lochlan despite them being them XD
Overall an interesting story with a spooky gothic vibe and complex characters
this was such an interesting novella to read!
once again I loved Wren's style of writing!
The plot seemed simple but it's not and what makes this story unique imo are the definitely the characters. They're so interesting and never do what you would expect! Exciting!
I also loved the chemistry between Logan and Lochlan despite them being them XD
Overall an interesting story with a spooky gothic vibe and complex characters
November 14, 2025
Thank you so much to the author, Wren Archer, for the eARC.
~
I love morally-grey corrupted queer characters that you SHOULD NOT root for (yet do anyway). Maleficium is the PERFECT novella for a spooky, gothic read that keeps you on your toes! The setting, the atmosphere, the twists and turns—this story had me wrapped around its fingers. I never knew quite what to expect, or where the story was headed, and I loved the all-consuming darkness that seeped into the plot and the characters.
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The descriptions, the prose, the dialogue—I really found myself immersed in the story. And the chemistry between the two main characters was done so well in such a short amount of time.
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Overall, I definitely recommend this novella if you’re looking for queer horror with dark twists and turns!
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I love morally-grey corrupted queer characters that you SHOULD NOT root for (yet do anyway). Maleficium is the PERFECT novella for a spooky, gothic read that keeps you on your toes! The setting, the atmosphere, the twists and turns—this story had me wrapped around its fingers. I never knew quite what to expect, or where the story was headed, and I loved the all-consuming darkness that seeped into the plot and the characters.
~
The descriptions, the prose, the dialogue—I really found myself immersed in the story. And the chemistry between the two main characters was done so well in such a short amount of time.
~
Overall, I definitely recommend this novella if you’re looking for queer horror with dark twists and turns!
November 15, 2025
Archer delivers another inspired masterpiece defined by exquisite prose, characters that jump off the page and a riveting plot that kept me turning pages late into the night.
Logan and Locke will stay with me for a very long time. It’s impressive how in such a short space, you can grow so attached to not one but two characters.
I do have to say I also have a soft spot for one Ewan Baird.
The occult magic and gothic tone of this piece was enchanting and captivating, the romantic aspect delicious and the setting entirely magical. I also enjoyed the banter quite a bit, biting yet funny.
Highly recommend this read. I already knew I’d read anything by this author, given how well I enjoyed their debut, and this continues to seal my conviction.
Logan and Locke will stay with me for a very long time. It’s impressive how in such a short space, you can grow so attached to not one but two characters.
I do have to say I also have a soft spot for one Ewan Baird.
The occult magic and gothic tone of this piece was enchanting and captivating, the romantic aspect delicious and the setting entirely magical. I also enjoyed the banter quite a bit, biting yet funny.
Highly recommend this read. I already knew I’d read anything by this author, given how well I enjoyed their debut, and this continues to seal my conviction.
November 23, 2025
A cast of morally grey characters, writing both beautiful and unsettling in its detail, a cat named Dacey - who I have to mention, I loved. This queer horror novella is perfect for a rainy day, when the weather is dreary and cold.
The words seeped into my bones like icy claws, as the story progressed, leaving a chill as I read the last line. A grave-robber, an occultist, demons, the lengths one might go to for what they desire - or to suppress something lurking within them, from which they cannot hide. What a tale!
Thank you so much to the author for an e-ARC of this novella!!
The words seeped into my bones like icy claws, as the story progressed, leaving a chill as I read the last line. A grave-robber, an occultist, demons, the lengths one might go to for what they desire - or to suppress something lurking within them, from which they cannot hide. What a tale!
Thank you so much to the author for an e-ARC of this novella!!
October 23, 2025
ARC read.
Ooooh a lovely little horror novella to lead into the spooky season. Ghouls, demons and the occult, all surrounding two men who have questionable morals and motives.
This has an HEA sort of? Well, an HEA for a horror story anyway!
I was engrossed in this story and devoured it in a couple of hours. The writing was excellent and I was absolutely hooked on every page.
I only wish there was more to read, a novella wasn't nearly enough!
Ooooh a lovely little horror novella to lead into the spooky season. Ghouls, demons and the occult, all surrounding two men who have questionable morals and motives.
This has an HEA sort of? Well, an HEA for a horror story anyway!
I was engrossed in this story and devoured it in a couple of hours. The writing was excellent and I was absolutely hooked on every page.
I only wish there was more to read, a novella wasn't nearly enough!
November 29, 2025
Thanks to the author for the ARC of this book!
i think this would make the perfect spooky month book honestly.
there's necromancy, body snatching, demons and two characters who really very much arent good people and you like them anyways even though they make horrible choices to get what they want.
really very gay too which is always great and I absolutely wouldn't want to meet these characters irl but I still love them so much its wild.
i think this would make the perfect spooky month book honestly.
there's necromancy, body snatching, demons and two characters who really very much arent good people and you like them anyways even though they make horrible choices to get what they want.
really very gay too which is always great and I absolutely wouldn't want to meet these characters irl but I still love them so much its wild.
November 22, 2025
a perfect novel of horror and chaos that I think I'll be rereading every spooky season/winter. had me feeling like when I first read carmilla, you know something is off with the main characters but you can't help but love them
December 8, 2025
4.5 This had so many things I loved mainly the prose, demon deals, possession and the MCs becoming a little bit evil
My only complaint is that this is 150 pages and I want MORE
Reminded me a lot of The Monster of Eldhaven but higher quality imho
My only complaint is that this is 150 pages and I want MORE
Reminded me a lot of The Monster of Eldhaven but higher quality imho
October 26, 2025
A really great premise + representation, but unfortunately, the writing style just didn't work for me
November 30, 2025
I received the ARC for Maleficium and was very excited to get into it !
A grave robber and a necromancer cross paths and intertwine themselves in an unbreakable bond, even when its unwilling at first.
This is a paranormal horror/romance with demons, necromancy, graverobbing, experiments, and morally grey queer main characters. Honestly, it's everything I look for in a novella, and what a great read this was!
The historical atmosphere really drags you into the scenes and adds more to the ethereal, haunting setting. I loved Logan and Locke as characters, watching their interactions and how their feelings and instincts fight against each other, and bring each other right back. I enjoyed how three-dimensional they felt even in a shorter book, more than enough descriptives to really get a feel for them.
A fun and captivating novella you can finish curled up in an armchair at night, lit by candles and with a tea on the side. If you enjoy light horror and the paranormal, this is a next read for you!
A grave robber and a necromancer cross paths and intertwine themselves in an unbreakable bond, even when its unwilling at first.
This is a paranormal horror/romance with demons, necromancy, graverobbing, experiments, and morally grey queer main characters. Honestly, it's everything I look for in a novella, and what a great read this was!
The historical atmosphere really drags you into the scenes and adds more to the ethereal, haunting setting. I loved Logan and Locke as characters, watching their interactions and how their feelings and instincts fight against each other, and bring each other right back. I enjoyed how three-dimensional they felt even in a shorter book, more than enough descriptives to really get a feel for them.
A fun and captivating novella you can finish curled up in an armchair at night, lit by candles and with a tea on the side. If you enjoy light horror and the paranormal, this is a next read for you!
November 21, 2025
This book was way too short because I had a blast, and I wanted it to last. This could be the poster book for morally grey characters. I love this. If a character has bad morals, you will be sure I will there rooting for them.
⭐️The plot: absolutely fun. If you like gloomy and creepy vibes, of course. Remember to read the trigger warnings; they are here for a reason.
⭐️The end: unexpected. I don't want to spoil it but sometimes, violence is the key...just saying.
⭐️The chemistry between Logan and Lochlan...100%
I received an e-ARC from the author. This review is my own and I'm leaving it voluntarily.
⭐️The plot: absolutely fun. If you like gloomy and creepy vibes, of course. Remember to read the trigger warnings; they are here for a reason.
⭐️The end: unexpected. I don't want to spoil it but sometimes, violence is the key...just saying.
⭐️The chemistry between Logan and Lochlan...100%
I received an e-ARC from the author. This review is my own and I'm leaving it voluntarily.
December 4, 2025
AGH how I wish I didn't get the chance to read it when it was Halloween because it would've been perfect.
This story made it so hard to let down from hand I finished it in two days. I would've read it in one sitting if time would've allowed me.
I loved the way the characters were portrayed. They were twisted in their own way and they were not afraid to do "wrong", bad things.
It showed us how life is such a fine tapestry and even the slightest disturbance can turn it upside down or...break it.
Living in a family who only brought pain and hate to you, it's hard to see anything else and you end up searching for those things in the wrong place. Just like our characters. Who let themselves trust people that should not be trusted and ended up in a situation where their life wasn't just turned upside down. It was completely changed and they had to relearn it.
I simply adored it. It is such a good read with captivating wording that just makes you NEED to turn the page!
Thank you for allowing me to ARC read it
This story made it so hard to let down from hand I finished it in two days. I would've read it in one sitting if time would've allowed me.
I loved the way the characters were portrayed. They were twisted in their own way and they were not afraid to do "wrong", bad things.
It showed us how life is such a fine tapestry and even the slightest disturbance can turn it upside down or...break it.
Living in a family who only brought pain and hate to you, it's hard to see anything else and you end up searching for those things in the wrong place. Just like our characters. Who let themselves trust people that should not be trusted and ended up in a situation where their life wasn't just turned upside down. It was completely changed and they had to relearn it.
I simply adored it. It is such a good read with captivating wording that just makes you NEED to turn the page!
Thank you for allowing me to ARC read it
December 19, 2025
I just wanna thank Wren for granting me a copy of Maleficum and you will enjoy it too!!
It's full of everything you need from a creepy and spooky novella! There's demons, necromancy and gay people 🤭
Wren's writing style was so good and fun to read—the character of Locke and Logan were so good and written so beautifully (Logan I love you so much)
So please when it releases, please do get yourself a copy! Again thank you Wren for giving me an ARC copy! 🖤
It's full of everything you need from a creepy and spooky novella! There's demons, necromancy and gay people 🤭
Wren's writing style was so good and fun to read—the character of Locke and Logan were so good and written so beautifully (Logan I love you so much)
So please when it releases, please do get yourself a copy! Again thank you Wren for giving me an ARC copy! 🖤
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews