What do you think?
Rate this book
Mother of Mine: Book 1 of The Hellborn Cycle
Julia Mathews is trying to build a life with her husband Ron, but her mother’s influence casts a long, suffocating shadow. As Julia struggles to maintain her fraying relationships with both Ron and her mother, tragedy strikes and shatters the fragile balance of her world.
Drowning in grief, she is drawn to a mysterious figure who knows exactly what to offer. And what to take.
Dealing with the fallout of Julia’s decision, Detectives Bob Jordan and Millie Armstrong find themselves embroiled in a case far more sinister and deadly than they bargained for. Something older than memory has been unleashed, and it’s coming to claim its due.
Mother of Mine is a gripping story of psychological unravelling, supernatural terror, and the cost of obsessive devotion.
Drowning in grief, she is drawn to a mysterious figure who knows exactly what to offer. And what to take.
Dealing with the fallout of Julia’s decision, Detectives Bob Jordan and Millie Armstrong find themselves embroiled in a case far more sinister and deadly than they bargained for. Something older than memory has been unleashed, and it’s coming to claim its due.
Mother of Mine is a gripping story of psychological unravelling, supernatural terror, and the cost of obsessive devotion.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 16, 2026
3 people are currently reading
22 people want to read
About the author
Ian Gielen
31 books79 followersA horror fan since childhood, Ian embraces his inner geek with pride, his dedication displayed in the intimidating collection of horror novels and video games that threaten to take over his living space.
He is mad for all things Alien, Star Wars, and cats, his furry companions always there to keep him company as he scribbles down his latest ideas.
He's a father in Melbourne, Australia, sharing his home with his partner, two stepdaughters, and four cats. The sheer number of furry and human companions in his life might be enough to drive anyone a little crazy.
You can follow his writing journey on Facebook at - Ian Gielen - Author
He is mad for all things Alien, Star Wars, and cats, his furry companions always there to keep him company as he scribbles down his latest ideas.
He's a father in Melbourne, Australia, sharing his home with his partner, two stepdaughters, and four cats. The sheer number of furry and human companions in his life might be enough to drive anyone a little crazy.
You can follow his writing journey on Facebook at - Ian Gielen - Author
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
February 3, 2026
That controlling mother
First portion is slow and builds. I felt this relationship with her mother. I felt sorry for the relationship and just loath the mother. That in itself was a horror.
First portion is slow and builds. I felt this relationship with her mother. I felt sorry for the relationship and just loath the mother. That in itself was a horror.
January 27, 2026
This was another fun read by Ian. It all starts with an overbearing mother interfering in her daughter's life. However, it all takes a twist when Mary passes away. This is quite the fusion of grief and paranormal horror.
I will say Ian does a wonderful job and pulling you. I thought one thing and yet a totally new thing ends up happening. My father has knowledge of the supernatural and mediumship, so this book kind of hit me hard as I know something about mediumship. The kills in this one are brutal, which means great for a horror reader like me. I have to admit, the beginning is a bit slow, but that's only my opinion. The grief is a bit descriptive, but once you get to the middle, you won't want to stop reading.
That's when this book goes from grief horror and transforms into a paranormal that makes you want to keep flipping the pages. Let's just say this book teaches you that sometimes you just have to let the dead be. Slow start, but the rest is really great.
I give this a 4.5/5 stars (rounded to 5)
I will say Ian does a wonderful job and pulling you. I thought one thing and yet a totally new thing ends up happening. My father has knowledge of the supernatural and mediumship, so this book kind of hit me hard as I know something about mediumship. The kills in this one are brutal, which means great for a horror reader like me. I have to admit, the beginning is a bit slow, but that's only my opinion. The grief is a bit descriptive, but once you get to the middle, you won't want to stop reading.
That's when this book goes from grief horror and transforms into a paranormal that makes you want to keep flipping the pages. Let's just say this book teaches you that sometimes you just have to let the dead be. Slow start, but the rest is really great.
I give this a 4.5/5 stars (rounded to 5)
January 18, 2026
It takes a bit of time for this book to get going and feels a bit too descriptive at times. I usually like my stories to be ultra fast-paced. Once it picked up the pace and got going, the kills were unique, bloody and with quite some gore, and the appearances rather creepy. I would have loved to get more of them, but I'm the first to admit that my hunger for creepyness isn't easy to satisfy.
I liked the way Ian portraited the grief, and I even shed a tear or two. The characters and their grief felt very real.
I liked the way Ian portraited the grief, and I even shed a tear or two. The characters and their grief felt very real.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This story is decent. It's not the best I've read, but it's definitely not the worst. I like the premise of it. It was just a little slower than I typically like my books. I'm a fast-pace kinda human, and for me this dragged until about the last quarter of the book.
Don't let that deter you though if you like interesting ways to die and a few twists and turns. I don't have any regrets reading it, it just isn't something I would read a second time.
Don't let that deter you though if you like interesting ways to die and a few twists and turns. I don't have any regrets reading it, it just isn't something I would read a second time.
January 1, 2026
This was the first book that I’ve read by this author. The book was about a husband and wife with issues lying with the wife and her toxic mother. Whenever the wife’s mother dies unexpectedly, the wife is so upset over the death of her own mother she does something that sets in motion something sinister upon her family. Unexplained deaths start to occur and two detectives are trying to piece together what is happening and trying to use logic to solve the mystery.
I thought the premise was great. I enjoyed his writing. The only thing I didn’t like was the budding relationship between the husband and the one detective but other than that I thought it was really good and the questions I had thru the book was answered at the end.
I thought the premise was great. I enjoyed his writing. The only thing I didn’t like was the budding relationship between the husband and the one detective but other than that I thought it was really good and the questions I had thru the book was answered at the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 22, 2025
Having read some of the author’s previous works, I knew this book was going to be an interesting read. I wasn’t disappointed! The story took a few turns and I was so pleased that there was one I didn’t guess!! One of my major complaints with media these days is their predictability; Gielen managed to surprise me!
I enjoy curses and demons, and this felt like a fresh take on a family curse. As if being in the family wasn’t enough of a curse, the toxic relationships were authentic and the flawed characters felt like people I’ve known, which made it easy for me to connect with them.
This is an enjoyable, exciting read with plenty of gore, exciting kills, and steeped in dread. Parts of the book felt like old X-Files episodes, which I really enjoyed.
Thank you to the author for the arc; this book was gifted in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoy curses and demons, and this felt like a fresh take on a family curse. As if being in the family wasn’t enough of a curse, the toxic relationships were authentic and the flawed characters felt like people I’ve known, which made it easy for me to connect with them.
This is an enjoyable, exciting read with plenty of gore, exciting kills, and steeped in dread. Parts of the book felt like old X-Files episodes, which I really enjoyed.
Thank you to the author for the arc; this book was gifted in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy
Be careful what you wish for.
Julia, a woman shaped by years of emotional abuse and manipulation from her narcissistic mother, is emotionally unstable. Her husband Ron tries to support her but when a tragedy befalls her, Julia spirals, but in her broken mind she believes she has found another way to assuage her grief.
This was more of a plot driven novel. However, the characters generally felt plausible and I really enjoyed the mysterious aspect of the plot with the introduction of the police detectives. Unfortunately I personally found it difficult to connect with Julia. Ron is portrayed as a saint but Julia has been so twisted by her mother that she thinks he is trying to break them apart. Her emotional immaturity is clearly rooted in her upbringing and while that context is important, it sometimes made her character challenging for me personally.
I also felt the story was a little over descriptive in places. Some everyday moments were described in such detail that the pacing slowed. Streamlining these sections might have helped maintain momentum imo.
I received an ARC from the author. I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Julia, a woman shaped by years of emotional abuse and manipulation from her narcissistic mother, is emotionally unstable. Her husband Ron tries to support her but when a tragedy befalls her, Julia spirals, but in her broken mind she believes she has found another way to assuage her grief.
This was more of a plot driven novel. However, the characters generally felt plausible and I really enjoyed the mysterious aspect of the plot with the introduction of the police detectives. Unfortunately I personally found it difficult to connect with Julia. Ron is portrayed as a saint but Julia has been so twisted by her mother that she thinks he is trying to break them apart. Her emotional immaturity is clearly rooted in her upbringing and while that context is important, it sometimes made her character challenging for me personally.
I also felt the story was a little over descriptive in places. Some everyday moments were described in such detail that the pacing slowed. Streamlining these sections might have helped maintain momentum imo.
I received an ARC from the author. I am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 1, 2025
Ian Gielen gave me the honor to read Mother of Mine, as an ARC. And I have to say…this is by far, my favorite read of the year. It’s heartbeaking dark. And i couldn’t stop reading it. I have to be up, at work in three hours. I gobbled this up in one sitting. Ian knows how to build a dark, abyss like world around his characters. I felt for Julia, deeply. Things change and shift when not one. But two, horrible things happen. You know how they say lightening never strikes the same place twice? Not for Julia Matthews.
Mother of Mine will be released on January 16th, of 2026.
Julia Mathews is trying to build a life with her husband Ron, but her mother’s influence casts a long, suffocating shadow. As Julia struggles to maintain her fraying relationships with both Ron and her mother, tragedy strikes and shatters the fragile balance of her world.
Drowning in grief, she is drawn to a mysterious figure who knows exactly what to offer. And what to take.
Dealing with the fallout of Julia’s decision, Detectives Bob Jordan and Millie Armstrong find themselves embroiled in a case far more sinister and deadly than they bargained for. Something older than memory has been unleashed, and it’s coming to claim its due.
Mother of Mine is a gripping story of psychological unravelling, supernatural terror, and the cost of obsessive devotion.d hence
Mother of Mine will be released on January 16th, of 2026.
Julia Mathews is trying to build a life with her husband Ron, but her mother’s influence casts a long, suffocating shadow. As Julia struggles to maintain her fraying relationships with both Ron and her mother, tragedy strikes and shatters the fragile balance of her world.
Drowning in grief, she is drawn to a mysterious figure who knows exactly what to offer. And what to take.
Dealing with the fallout of Julia’s decision, Detectives Bob Jordan and Millie Armstrong find themselves embroiled in a case far more sinister and deadly than they bargained for. Something older than memory has been unleashed, and it’s coming to claim its due.
Mother of Mine is a gripping story of psychological unravelling, supernatural terror, and the cost of obsessive devotion.d hence
Review of advance copy received from Author
"Mother of Mine" brings new life to a well-trodden horror territory, the Faustian bargain - mixing it up with grief horror (the book's first half) and supernatural mystery (the second): a woman's attempt to overcome her grief leads her to make a deal which proves to be her undoing; unfortunately, the terror doesn't stop with her, but spills into the personal life of her husband and her relatives, taking the shape of a family curse.
Although it takes some time to get there, at the end of the day the book is unapologetically supernatural. I really liked how the author avoided the usual interminable conversations among characters trying to convince themselves that something otherwordly is happening, going straight into the action instead. The demonic attacks are awesome, totally unpredictable and suspenseful, the scenes full of dread, terror, and (minimal) gore. However, the supernatural elements take their time to appear, since certain developments are necessary to happen first, and until they conclude, there's nothing else to focus on but the several emotional upheavals: the main character is broken, her relationship with her mother the result of long term psychological abuse, her relationship with her husband a mess on account, once again, of her narcissistic, dominating, and intrusive mother. This makes her a unlikeable character, so the first third of the book mostly infuriated me.
I consider this book Gielen's best: it held my interest from start to finish, it provoked strong reactions, and pushed really hard on the supernatural themes, with a terrifying monstrous entity worth exploring further! Can't wait for volume 2 - the epilogue shows that it's bound to take things on a different level!
Although it takes some time to get there, at the end of the day the book is unapologetically supernatural. I really liked how the author avoided the usual interminable conversations among characters trying to convince themselves that something otherwordly is happening, going straight into the action instead. The demonic attacks are awesome, totally unpredictable and suspenseful, the scenes full of dread, terror, and (minimal) gore. However, the supernatural elements take their time to appear, since certain developments are necessary to happen first, and until they conclude, there's nothing else to focus on but the several emotional upheavals: the main character is broken, her relationship with her mother the result of long term psychological abuse, her relationship with her husband a mess on account, once again, of her narcissistic, dominating, and intrusive mother. This makes her a unlikeable character, so the first third of the book mostly infuriated me.
I consider this book Gielen's best: it held my interest from start to finish, it provoked strong reactions, and pushed really hard on the supernatural themes, with a terrifying monstrous entity worth exploring further! Can't wait for volume 2 - the epilogue shows that it's bound to take things on a different level!
February 20, 2026
Julia has a very special bond with her mother, Mary. They are practically inseparable. Though, at times, Julia does long for time for herself, and to be able to focus on her marriage with Ron, which, is in the rocks because of the constant bickering caused by her extensive time with Mary. You see, Marry is a master of manipulation, and a very selfish, stubborn woman. This has, essentially, caused her family to want nothing to do with her, or, she has pushed most away, except Julia, whom, she uses as her own personal care provider. One day, Julia finally has enough of being undermined, and there is a verbal quarrel between her, and Mary, resulting in the two spending the day, apart, and causing Julia, who suffers with anxiety to panic, worried about her relationship with her mother. Following up, the next day, as she had not yet heard from Mary, Julia goes to check on her mom, only to discover something horrifying. Julia, who is prone to fits of panic, loses her mind, and needs to be hospitalized. Ron, having stood by Julia’s side, through all of the ups and downs, does his best to be there for Julia, and stay strong. Slowly, Julia heals, as her resentment toward Ron grows, and she finds a very alternative way to handle her mental state. A way to right all of the wrongs. However, this method ends up becoming a very dangerous one, and no one in the family is safe. This was a fantastic story! It had so many elements to it. A supernatural, demonic tale of grief, and gore. I really loved how visceral it got with the violence, and how there are, also, elements of true crime drama, and a love through trauma bonding twist. The epilogue was a chef's kiss! I cannot wait to see if this story takes an even more interesting turns, in books to follow. I highly recommend this!
Review of advance copy received from Author
If you like toxic mother/daughter dynamics mixed with curses and the supernatural, then this is the book for you! Not since Stephen King’s Carrie have I absolutely loathed someone's mother like I hated the Mary character in this story.
If you haven’t already read any of Ian’s other work, I highly recommend checking them out. Dare I say, this is his best work yet. The story follows Julia, who’s got one of those “Mommy Dearest” kind of mothers. She finds herself constantly pulled between her husband Ron and her overbearing mother. What seems like a lucky break at first for Ron, when his mother-in-law drops dead, turns into an absolute nightmare for both him and Julia.
Then comes a shady character named Lilith, who promises Julia something that she absolutely cannot refuse. Soon, things are set into motion that wreak havoc in everybody’s lives, including detective Millie Armstrong, who finds herself at the center of a case more bizarre than she ever imagined.
This book was a wild ride and went to places I wasn’t expecting. I saw some reviews say the pacing is slow, but I completely disagree. Ian does a good job of getting in the characters’ heads and bringing the reader into their world of grief, trauma, and sorrow. But once the chaos and the carnage begins, it does NOT stop. This was a bloody romp, full of twists and turns that I didn’t expect. And that ending? Brilliant.
This is part one of a series, The Hellborn Cycle, and I cannot wait to see where he takes this story next. There wasn’t a dull moment for me in this book and I enjoyed reading it from start to finish. Check this one out!
If you haven’t already read any of Ian’s other work, I highly recommend checking them out. Dare I say, this is his best work yet. The story follows Julia, who’s got one of those “Mommy Dearest” kind of mothers. She finds herself constantly pulled between her husband Ron and her overbearing mother. What seems like a lucky break at first for Ron, when his mother-in-law drops dead, turns into an absolute nightmare for both him and Julia.
Then comes a shady character named Lilith, who promises Julia something that she absolutely cannot refuse. Soon, things are set into motion that wreak havoc in everybody’s lives, including detective Millie Armstrong, who finds herself at the center of a case more bizarre than she ever imagined.
This book was a wild ride and went to places I wasn’t expecting. I saw some reviews say the pacing is slow, but I completely disagree. Ian does a good job of getting in the characters’ heads and bringing the reader into their world of grief, trauma, and sorrow. But once the chaos and the carnage begins, it does NOT stop. This was a bloody romp, full of twists and turns that I didn’t expect. And that ending? Brilliant.
This is part one of a series, The Hellborn Cycle, and I cannot wait to see where he takes this story next. There wasn’t a dull moment for me in this book and I enjoyed reading it from start to finish. Check this one out!
December 5, 2025
When I get the opportunity to read an arc by Australian author Ian Gielen, I know I’m in for an enjoyable, and probably emotional experience. Even with that knowledge, I wasn’t prepared for what was to unravel in the pages of his upcoming release, Mother Of Mine.
The story starts with a married couple, and an overbearing mother / mother-in-law. Unwilling to allow her daughter to spend her life doing what she wants, Mary comes across as the selfish matriarch who demands constant attention and assistance, although only in her mid sixties and far from being elderly.
One thing I loved is the author’s ability to pull the rug from under the reader’s feet on multiple occasions, and before you know it, the paranormal side of the story comes into play, bringing a pair of sceptical detectives and a medium who promises she can bring someone back from the dead.
This book constantly had me on edge, as a seemingly invincible entity struck at will , leaving no one safe. My only complaint is that I NEED the next two parts of the trilogy NOW, and trust me, when I get the chance, I’ll be devouring them as soon as I can.
The story starts with a married couple, and an overbearing mother / mother-in-law. Unwilling to allow her daughter to spend her life doing what she wants, Mary comes across as the selfish matriarch who demands constant attention and assistance, although only in her mid sixties and far from being elderly.
One thing I loved is the author’s ability to pull the rug from under the reader’s feet on multiple occasions, and before you know it, the paranormal side of the story comes into play, bringing a pair of sceptical detectives and a medium who promises she can bring someone back from the dead.
This book constantly had me on edge, as a seemingly invincible entity struck at will , leaving no one safe. My only complaint is that I NEED the next two parts of the trilogy NOW, and trust me, when I get the chance, I’ll be devouring them as soon as I can.
January 20, 2026
The story opens by portraying an unhealthy relationship between a mother and daughter. The imbalance is deeply sinister, in that, the mother consumes her daughter’s attention at the expense of the girl’s relationships and happiness.
The first half of the story is emotionally tense, woven through with a psychologically twisted dynamic. The second half shifts into supernatural horror, introducing a detective (Millie) attempting to unravel the mystery. She partners with Ron soon discovering that the only solution lies beyond the natural world. What begins as a slow, emotional burn evolves into a battle between good and evil, and the epilogue delivers a final twist you won’t see coming.
The first half of the story is emotionally tense, woven through with a psychologically twisted dynamic. The second half shifts into supernatural horror, introducing a detective (Millie) attempting to unravel the mystery. She partners with Ron soon discovering that the only solution lies beyond the natural world. What begins as a slow, emotional burn evolves into a battle between good and evil, and the epilogue delivers a final twist you won’t see coming.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Ian has done it again! As he weaves together threads of grief and trauma, loss and life, readers can only watch in horror as Julia sets in motion events that can never be undone. If her mother was suffocating in life, death does not offer a reprieve. I was on the edge of my seat, begging to know what would happen next even as I knew I really didn't want to know. So is the power of Ian's writing. This is different than his other works, allowing him to yet again show his incredible range. I can't wait to see what happens next in The Hellborn Cycle.
December 10, 2025
Meet Mary and Julie their relationship is a tale to die for.
It was a fast-paced unpredictable book. It had my jaw dropping to the floor 50 percent into it. Highly recommend it
It’s the first book of a trilogy.
January 21, 2026
I am already a big fan of Ian and in my opinion, this is his best work yet! I was intrigued from start to finish! This book is jam packed with grief, thrills and puts new meaning to “mama trauma.” I am SO glad it’s the first in a series because I devoured it and I definitely need more!
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews