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A Blackened Heart, A Blackened Soul
Evil walks among us. It watches. It waits.
John Tinsley’s life was shattered as a child when he lost his mother in a tragic car accident—but that was only the beginning. From that moment, a dark entity marked him, one intent on destroying everything and everyone he loves. Haunted by visions, hunted by shadows, and carrying the scars of his childhood, John must now confront the darkness as an adult, facing a malevolent force that has followed him into every stage of his life.
A Blackened Heart, A Blackened Soul is a gripping tale of supernatural horror and psychological suspense, chronicling one man’s lifelong battle against a being determined to consume his life, his love, and his very soul. Will John survive, or will the darkness finally claim him?
Proudly represented by Crystal Lake Publishing—Where Stories Come Alive!
John Tinsley’s life was shattered as a child when he lost his mother in a tragic car accident—but that was only the beginning. From that moment, a dark entity marked him, one intent on destroying everything and everyone he loves. Haunted by visions, hunted by shadows, and carrying the scars of his childhood, John must now confront the darkness as an adult, facing a malevolent force that has followed him into every stage of his life.
A Blackened Heart, A Blackened Soul is a gripping tale of supernatural horror and psychological suspense, chronicling one man’s lifelong battle against a being determined to consume his life, his love, and his very soul. Will John survive, or will the darkness finally claim him?
Proudly represented by Crystal Lake Publishing—Where Stories Come Alive!
342 pages, Paperback
Published January 16, 2026
130 people are currently reading
696 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 128 reviews
February 20, 2026
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 1/2
Maybe leave the Lucy doll alone. I’m just saying.
But, holy shit, this book has balls. It isn’t afraid to take a trope and twist into an unrecognizable heap of malevolent muck. But it’s much in all the most delicious ways. It’s creepy as hell. It’s one of the only books I’ve read in the last few years that actually scared me. I have such a clear image of this entity as it shows up in its various forms. It feels boundless, until you learn that it’s not, unconstrained to a single location. It can find you wherever or whenever you exist.
That rabbit scene. That’s all I have to say about that. You need to brace yourself for that rabbit scene.
I love how the book is split down the middle. It takes such a welcome turn. It chose to move on at exactly the right time. I hadn’t heard of this author before, but this looks to mark a significant evolution in his genre. It was the right choice. I hope he keeps playing in this space.
Maybe leave the Lucy doll alone. I’m just saying.
But, holy shit, this book has balls. It isn’t afraid to take a trope and twist into an unrecognizable heap of malevolent muck. But it’s much in all the most delicious ways. It’s creepy as hell. It’s one of the only books I’ve read in the last few years that actually scared me. I have such a clear image of this entity as it shows up in its various forms. It feels boundless, until you learn that it’s not, unconstrained to a single location. It can find you wherever or whenever you exist.
That rabbit scene. That’s all I have to say about that. You need to brace yourself for that rabbit scene.
I love how the book is split down the middle. It takes such a welcome turn. It chose to move on at exactly the right time. I hadn’t heard of this author before, but this looks to mark a significant evolution in his genre. It was the right choice. I hope he keeps playing in this space.
February 16, 2026
“God cannot hear you. God does not care about you. You are nothing more than the bastardization of his creation and he left you all here to rot. And rot you shall.”
This book hits hard and doesn’t let up, not even after you read the epilogue. If you are use to horror books where good overcomes evil, you will not find it here. Well done!
This book hits hard and doesn’t let up, not even after you read the epilogue. If you are use to horror books where good overcomes evil, you will not find it here. Well done!
February 4, 2026
Fuck this book, it's going right in the freezer. One of the scariest things I've ever read. Think of it as Exorcism meets I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream. Just. Pure. Evil. (but not in a gross way).
January 28, 2026
John Tinsley was 8 years old when he was traumatized by the car accident that killed his mother and left his father paralyzed. Struggling with his grief, he is not afraid at first when he is visited by an entity that has taken on the appearance of his mother. It seems comforting to him until it's too late.
Having enjoyed one of the author's middle-grade horror stories, I was excited to see what he would do with his first adult horror novel, but for me, this was just an OK read. I did not hate it. I did not love it.
The multiple points of view were heavy on narration, and I would have preferred a little less. Young Johnny's narration bothered me the most. An 8 year old's mind doesn't use phrases like "being eager to right the ship" or "trying to be more upbeat." It just felt so unnatural to me, like he was a much older man instead of a little boy. It left me feeling disconnected from this character the most out of all of them. I only truly cared about the dog.
There were some well written scenes with the demonic activity, and heartbreaking developments with grandma and Johnny's dad, but even part 2 of the book that skips ahead 25 years to an adult Johnny still had more inner dialogue than I care for. Some passages felt unnecessarily long. For example, if a character drives somewhere, I don't need to be told they put the car in park when they arrived. I don't want to nitpick over a long list of reasons why this was not for me, so I will just say that you may enjoy this book more than I did. Lots of people loved it.
My thanks to Crystal Lake Publishing for the e-ARC
February 18, 2026
There’s something to be said about hearing your name called out from the darkness when you know you’re home alone.
My TBR and Kindle Unlimited selections have recently been influenced by the Books of Horror Facebook group, which is what led me to pick up A Blackened Heart, A Blackened Soul. I can see why so many people recommend it; it’s the sort of relentless, viscerally frightening horror novel that gets under your skin and stays there.
We meet John Tinsley when he is eight years old and has just lost his mother in a car accident, one that also left his father paralyzed. But even though his mother is dead, Johnny still sees her…or at least something that wears her face. As we follow John into adulthood, it becomes clear that he has been marked by a malevolent entity intent on destroying everything and everyone he holds dear.
It’s not often that a book truly frightens me, but A Blackened Heart, A Blackened Soul is one of the few that did. I didn’t want to read it at night, and I didn’t even want my phone, with the Kindle app containing the book, on my nightstand. This book is terrifying because of its supernatural horror elements, but also because of the devastating real-life horrors it describes. It’s as pitch-black as the title promises. This isn’t like most mainstream horror novels that end with good defeating evil. No one wins with this book, except maybe readers who enjoy harrowing journeys into the darkest depths of depravity (of which I am one).
I found the first half of the book to be stronger than the second half, mostly because I was bothered by a plot point concerning a doll that defied logic and took me out of the story a bit. But overall, this was an excellent first foray into indie horror for me, and honestly, it’s going to be hard to top.
January 1, 2026
John Ward, of middle-grade horror series Scareville fame, enters adult horror with a horrifyingly bleak doorstopper of a book, where Insidious meets Grave Encounters (by way of Exorcist II: The Heretic - plotwise, without the clunky parts LOL)!
Seriously, this is an exciting read, blending the themes of demonic attack and demon possession with grief horror in a riveting way, guaranteeing the book becomes a page-turner from very early on. It's the story of John Tinsley, told in two parts, each in a different timeline: Part One takes place in 1998, Part Two in 2023, and follows John from living with his family as a precocious eight-year-old, to his life as an adult, married to a wonderful woman, both working together as successful paranormal investigators. The story is based on the author's own experiences, from his life as a boy in his hometown of Norton, Ohio, to experiences of loss as an adult and his short stint as a ghost hunter (he himself mentions this in his Author's Note, without going into specifics) - and, well, it shows! The tale feels very personal, even if not all the supernatural aspects are based on actual fact (and they'd better not be!).
The writing is excellent, the plot tight and intricate, the story diving deep into childhood trauma and family misfortune. Each chapter is narrated by a character (John himself, his father, his grandma, the priest who tries to help, and later John's wife), driving the story backward and forward, filling in necessary info (and occasionally repeating it from different viewpoints). The story plays out sometimes as a supernatural thriller (especially the chapters of the priest), most often as brutal supernatural horror (with the demonic entity manifesting in a huge variety of ways, covering everything from ghostly appearances and doors opening and closing on their own, to straightforward attacks and direct mental influence). I loved the paranormal ivestigation parts, the detailed use of gadgets to communicate with ghosts, as well as the presentation of the ghosthunting community.
The book's strength, for me, lies in its strong characterization and its unflinching portrayal of personal loss. The ending, though seemingly inevitable, surprised me: the author went down the darkest road, for a moment making me believe that here it is, we're gonna take a detour into the original Exorcist - but the pages were diminishing fast, and before I knew it John's struggles ended on a most chilling note. Man, goodness does attract great evil!
If you love supernatural horror, or if you enjoyed Nick Roberts' "The Exorcist's House," get excited: John Ward's adult horror debut may not get your head screwed on backward, but it will suck you in and spit you out, hopefully mentally stronger! Highly recommended!
Seriously, this is an exciting read, blending the themes of demonic attack and demon possession with grief horror in a riveting way, guaranteeing the book becomes a page-turner from very early on. It's the story of John Tinsley, told in two parts, each in a different timeline: Part One takes place in 1998, Part Two in 2023, and follows John from living with his family as a precocious eight-year-old, to his life as an adult, married to a wonderful woman, both working together as successful paranormal investigators. The story is based on the author's own experiences, from his life as a boy in his hometown of Norton, Ohio, to experiences of loss as an adult and his short stint as a ghost hunter (he himself mentions this in his Author's Note, without going into specifics) - and, well, it shows! The tale feels very personal, even if not all the supernatural aspects are based on actual fact (and they'd better not be!).
The writing is excellent, the plot tight and intricate, the story diving deep into childhood trauma and family misfortune. Each chapter is narrated by a character (John himself, his father, his grandma, the priest who tries to help, and later John's wife), driving the story backward and forward, filling in necessary info (and occasionally repeating it from different viewpoints). The story plays out sometimes as a supernatural thriller (especially the chapters of the priest), most often as brutal supernatural horror (with the demonic entity manifesting in a huge variety of ways, covering everything from ghostly appearances and doors opening and closing on their own, to straightforward attacks and direct mental influence). I loved the paranormal ivestigation parts, the detailed use of gadgets to communicate with ghosts, as well as the presentation of the ghosthunting community.
The book's strength, for me, lies in its strong characterization and its unflinching portrayal of personal loss. The ending, though seemingly inevitable, surprised me: the author went down the darkest road, for a moment making me believe that here it is, we're gonna take a detour into the original Exorcist - but the pages were diminishing fast, and before I knew it John's struggles ended on a most chilling note. Man, goodness does attract great evil!
If you love supernatural horror, or if you enjoyed Nick Roberts' "The Exorcist's House," get excited: John Ward's adult horror debut may not get your head screwed on backward, but it will suck you in and spit you out, hopefully mentally stronger! Highly recommended!
January 16, 2026
A Blackened heart, A Blackened Soul is next level creepy horror. A story that will leave you wondering what hides behind that closed door or just behind the flowing curtains. You will need two things before starting this book, tissues and sage... lots of sage. And maybe a glass of wine to calm the nerves. John's ability to scare the crap out of you was out of this world.
Our MC of the book John Tinsley's life was nothing but traumatic and horrifying, will he ever find peace?
"I am here today because I'm afraid, Father. Afraid I brought something evil into my home."
“You did this! You are a cursed soul, John! You brought death upon all of us!”
“The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist."
Haunted objects☠️
Demonic entities 👹
Ghost hunting👻
Paranormal activity 💀
Characters that will rip your heart open 💔
The real question is... Do you believe in ghost?
Our MC of the book John Tinsley's life was nothing but traumatic and horrifying, will he ever find peace?
"I am here today because I'm afraid, Father. Afraid I brought something evil into my home."
“You did this! You are a cursed soul, John! You brought death upon all of us!”
“The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist."
Haunted objects☠️
Demonic entities 👹
Ghost hunting👻
Paranormal activity 💀
Characters that will rip your heart open 💔
The real question is... Do you believe in ghost?
March 8, 2026
It’s been awhile since a book has taken me 2 weeks to finish. And that is not a compliment but a complaint. This book had such high hopes for me with Part 1 of the book. The first 150 pages of this book had gore, crazy paranormal activity, death,…..and one of the most disgusting scenes I have ever read in a book involving the digestion of a rabbit. But the author couldn’t just end the book with Part 1, instead the author wrote a Part 2 for this book which was 25 YEARS LATER! Like why?!?! Part 2 ANNOYED the shit out of me so much that I just started skimming through the pages and counting down until the book was over. The second part felt like I was reading a Rom-Com where two married couples couldn’t fucking communicate. The “I wish I could tell her/him what is wrong with me but she/he wouldn’t understand” and the “I wonder what is wrong with her/him”…the utter annoyance an author can do to a book with a married couple. I just wanted to scream “just open your fucking mouth and talk like a married couple”. And OF COURSE that lack of communication lead to a PAINFUL event that caused a HUGE CHANGE in that marriage. Like DUH 🙄…..So you may ask, “if you were so annoyed by the second part, why didn’t you just DNF the book?” I pushed through to the end to see if the MMC STUPIDITY would actually cause his demise. And let’s just say I wasn’t disappointed.
January 27, 2026
Some of my favourite horror tropes are hauntings and possessions. I consume a lot of ghost, paranormal investigation, and possession type books, movies, and shows. I go to local paranormal investigations and ghost haunt experiences. I love all things ghosts.
So when I heard about John Ward’s new book, I was ecstatic. I went in without reading the trigger warnings, which I actually recommend doing if you can. There are some topics that may be difficult for some readers, but they are handled tastefully, and knowing them ahead of time can take away from the experience. Think of watching a movie trailer that shows that scene, the one you later wish you had discovered at the moment it was meant to hit.
As much as I adore ghost and possession stories, I often feel like they pull their punches a bit, which can leave me disappointed. I do not enjoy extreme horror or splatterpunk, but I also do not like when important story elements are held back to avoid offending/hurting the audience.
John Ward’s story is written masterfully, and I loved every minute of it. This is everything I wanted in a possession story, and it was executed amazingly. You can feel the thought, heart and soul that went into this novel. I am so glad I bumped this to the top of my TBR and read it now.
Do not wait on this one, read it now. If you love a good ghost or possession story, this is a fantastic read.
Easiest five stars I have ever given.
Congrats to John Ward on his first adult horror novel. I cannot wait to see what your brain produces next.
So when I heard about John Ward’s new book, I was ecstatic. I went in without reading the trigger warnings, which I actually recommend doing if you can. There are some topics that may be difficult for some readers, but they are handled tastefully, and knowing them ahead of time can take away from the experience. Think of watching a movie trailer that shows that scene, the one you later wish you had discovered at the moment it was meant to hit.
As much as I adore ghost and possession stories, I often feel like they pull their punches a bit, which can leave me disappointed. I do not enjoy extreme horror or splatterpunk, but I also do not like when important story elements are held back to avoid offending/hurting the audience.
John Ward’s story is written masterfully, and I loved every minute of it. This is everything I wanted in a possession story, and it was executed amazingly. You can feel the thought, heart and soul that went into this novel. I am so glad I bumped this to the top of my TBR and read it now.
Do not wait on this one, read it now. If you love a good ghost or possession story, this is a fantastic read.
Easiest five stars I have ever given.
Congrats to John Ward on his first adult horror novel. I cannot wait to see what your brain produces next.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Good lord.
I don't know what I was expecting but it wasn't this. I felt my heart breaking through the whole story. I felt a tremendous amount of grief, sorrow and heartbreak.
Now add in the creep factor and you've got a TON of emotion going into this story. It doesn't let you go and if you try the grief drags you back in. Kicking and screaming won't help.
This story couldn't come into my life at a better time. It opened my eyes as far as how grief is due to other people's action.
I won't go into detail but holy hell. This book came from nowhere and is now nestled into my heart.
I don't know what I was expecting but it wasn't this. I felt my heart breaking through the whole story. I felt a tremendous amount of grief, sorrow and heartbreak.
Now add in the creep factor and you've got a TON of emotion going into this story. It doesn't let you go and if you try the grief drags you back in. Kicking and screaming won't help.
This story couldn't come into my life at a better time. It opened my eyes as far as how grief is due to other people's action.
I won't go into detail but holy hell. This book came from nowhere and is now nestled into my heart.
January 16, 2026
Gather these items before reading this novel:
✔️ A light-hearted Disney movie
✔️ A cute puppy
(I’ll get back to these in a moment)
The first half of the novel (A Blackened Heart) delivers a life-altering tragedy that shatters the Tinsley family. This event becomes the catalyst for a darkness that latches onto them. A supporting character, Father Rosario, attempts to help, particularly Johnny Tinsley, the surviving son. Unfortunately, his efforts don’t prevent further tragedy from unfolding.
The result is a powerful blend of grief and the supernatural, setting the tone for the rest of the story.
The second half (A Blackened Soul) explores how John’s past continues to shape his adulthood. Father Rosario remains a steady presence, grounding the narrative as the darkness surrounding John, now married to Megan and living with their pup Bruce, becomes heavier and more consuming. “Do you believe in ghosts?” plays an important role in Father Rosario’s character development as he struggles with believing what the family reports to him, which adds a compelling thematic thread.
A cool element of John Ward’s debut novel is his ode to Goosebumps. Having written only middle-grade horror before this (Scareville series), his love of R. L. Stine and background in paranormal investigation both make their appearance throughout the book. These touches feel unique to the author.
WARNING: Read at your own peril! Ward offers the reader no reprieves. This is one of the bleakest stories I have ever read, and it’s not for the faint of heart.
Let’s get back to the items listed above. After you finish, you’ll want to pop in that light-hearted Disney movie and cuddle that cute puppy. You’ll need them to pull yourself out of the abyss John will toss you in.
✔️ A light-hearted Disney movie
✔️ A cute puppy
(I’ll get back to these in a moment)
The first half of the novel (A Blackened Heart) delivers a life-altering tragedy that shatters the Tinsley family. This event becomes the catalyst for a darkness that latches onto them. A supporting character, Father Rosario, attempts to help, particularly Johnny Tinsley, the surviving son. Unfortunately, his efforts don’t prevent further tragedy from unfolding.
The result is a powerful blend of grief and the supernatural, setting the tone for the rest of the story.
The second half (A Blackened Soul) explores how John’s past continues to shape his adulthood. Father Rosario remains a steady presence, grounding the narrative as the darkness surrounding John, now married to Megan and living with their pup Bruce, becomes heavier and more consuming. “Do you believe in ghosts?” plays an important role in Father Rosario’s character development as he struggles with believing what the family reports to him, which adds a compelling thematic thread.
A cool element of John Ward’s debut novel is his ode to Goosebumps. Having written only middle-grade horror before this (Scareville series), his love of R. L. Stine and background in paranormal investigation both make their appearance throughout the book. These touches feel unique to the author.
WARNING: Read at your own peril! Ward offers the reader no reprieves. This is one of the bleakest stories I have ever read, and it’s not for the faint of heart.
Let’s get back to the items listed above. After you finish, you’ll want to pop in that light-hearted Disney movie and cuddle that cute puppy. You’ll need them to pull yourself out of the abyss John will toss you in.
March 17, 2026
Holy....wow. I have been looking for a book that would actually scare me for years - and this did it. My main reading time is at night before bed and this book provided prime nightmare material. There were several moments where I thought I was going to have to close my kindle and give it a rest, but I just couldn't. If you are looking for a quick read, that ignites the fear and does not cease until the last page - this is it. It is the type of storyline I would love to see on the movie screen, as it is such a refreshing spin on demon haunts and possession. My only complaint is I wish there was more backstory/explanation on the entity once it was revealed.
February 14, 2026
This book gonna stay with me for a while holy crap.
January 31, 2026
after a tragedy young John starts to hear and see ghosts. they plague him later in adulthood too. now with a wife, a dog, and baby on the way the entity won't let him be. who will survive?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 25, 2025
ARC Review
John Tinsley is your average 8 year boy, he loves baseball, goosebumps and comic books. When a tragic accident takes his mom and paralyzes his father John's world is turned upside down.
ABH ABS is John Ward’s first adult horror novel and boy does it pack a punch. This book takes you on a wild ride of emotions, from heart racing fear and panic to absolute heart break. Just when you allow yourself to begin to relax, this book delivers another devastating blow.
This book is so beautifully written it sucks you in at the beginning and does not relent until the final page. John does such an amazing job of creating this captivating story, with characters you really connect with.
I highly recommend pre-ordering this and reading it with the lights on.
John Tinsley is your average 8 year boy, he loves baseball, goosebumps and comic books. When a tragic accident takes his mom and paralyzes his father John's world is turned upside down.
ABH ABS is John Ward’s first adult horror novel and boy does it pack a punch. This book takes you on a wild ride of emotions, from heart racing fear and panic to absolute heart break. Just when you allow yourself to begin to relax, this book delivers another devastating blow.
This book is so beautifully written it sucks you in at the beginning and does not relent until the final page. John does such an amazing job of creating this captivating story, with characters you really connect with.
I highly recommend pre-ordering this and reading it with the lights on.
November 25, 2025
A truly terrifying story of grief and posession. It's so hard for me to find a book that genuinely scares me, but this one did....many times. It's dark and heavy and emotionally devastating. John is so skilled in making you feel the dread and horror that these characters are going through and setting up scenes that will stick with you for a long time.
December 27, 2025
This book had some genuinely scary parts, which I loved because it’s rare that a book actually scares me. Great suspense and horrifying details.
It’s also rare that a horror book would actually both make me cry and absolutely trigger me. This one did both. I don’t have a ton of triggers just a few that actually genuinely affect me. One is miscarriage and this had a very upsetting one. It was more of a why and how it happened vs a gory detail thing. Another one of my triggers is in this but I won’t give that detail away. (The m/c trigger is listed at the end of the book, so it’s not truly a spoiler. Also, please put the list at the beginning of the book so people like me know what they’re getting themselves into.)
I’m not going to lie. This book is heartbreaking. There is no silver lining and definitely no happy ending. It is just…well, horror.
This one is unfortunately going to stick with me. My heart and uterus hurts just thinking about it. Not a light read AT ALL.
For the genuine scares, this book gets 4⭐️.
It’s also rare that a horror book would actually both make me cry and absolutely trigger me. This one did both. I don’t have a ton of triggers just a few that actually genuinely affect me. One is miscarriage and this had a very upsetting one. It was more of a why and how it happened vs a gory detail thing. Another one of my triggers is in this but I won’t give that detail away. (The m/c trigger is listed at the end of the book, so it’s not truly a spoiler. Also, please put the list at the beginning of the book so people like me know what they’re getting themselves into.)
I’m not going to lie. This book is heartbreaking. There is no silver lining and definitely no happy ending. It is just…well, horror.
This one is unfortunately going to stick with me. My heart and uterus hurts just thinking about it. Not a light read AT ALL.
For the genuine scares, this book gets 4⭐️.
December 10, 2025
I had to sit after finishing this book for a few hours to contemplate what I was going to say about this book, which does not happen often. And honestly, I’m still not sure. But I can say that this book kind of demolished my soul a lil bit. But in a good way?
Being a fan of horror movies, especially the demonic/paranormal type, this book was my bread and butter. It had some truly cringe worthy and also creepy moments that had me speed reading on my breaks at work just to get through to the next chapter. It also had relatable and lovable characters, which also makes books like these that much more emotionally damaging. But I always find that to be a successful horror experience for me. When the dread just builds and builds and you can feel it right alongside these characters, and this book was no exception. John is such a talented writer. I have watched his writing grow while reading his Scareville books, but if I didn’t already know, I would never guess that this was his first crack at an adult horror novel. It seemed very strongly that he poured a lot of himself and his experiences into this book and I think that takes it to the next level for most how amazing it is.
I cannot wait to get a physical copy of this book, because that cover, am I right? I am so thankful to have been apart of this ARC team. And I cannot wait to see what’s next for John’s writing.
Being a fan of horror movies, especially the demonic/paranormal type, this book was my bread and butter. It had some truly cringe worthy and also creepy moments that had me speed reading on my breaks at work just to get through to the next chapter. It also had relatable and lovable characters, which also makes books like these that much more emotionally damaging. But I always find that to be a successful horror experience for me. When the dread just builds and builds and you can feel it right alongside these characters, and this book was no exception. John is such a talented writer. I have watched his writing grow while reading his Scareville books, but if I didn’t already know, I would never guess that this was his first crack at an adult horror novel. It seemed very strongly that he poured a lot of himself and his experiences into this book and I think that takes it to the next level for most how amazing it is.
I cannot wait to get a physical copy of this book, because that cover, am I right? I am so thankful to have been apart of this ARC team. And I cannot wait to see what’s next for John’s writing.
January 23, 2026
This was my first journey into anything written by John Ward but it won’t be my last. As many of you know I’m a fan of horror, not all genres of horror, but most. This one had a lot in it that appeals to me.
The book started out really well and my first thought was that it was going to make a good movie should someone ever put this on the big or little screen. A lot of strong visual and character elements.
There are some very vivid, graphic and gory scenes. No problem. 😉 John didn’t hold back. Nor should he. It worked well for the parts of the book it appeared in. But this novel is very much the story of a family and a child who becomes a man what happens to them when evil comes knocking.
There are a few major characters in the book. Our main character is little John Tinsley who starts out as a child in the novel being terrorised by dark and demonic entities making his life a misery. John spends time confiding in a kindly Priest/Pastor about not only his sad (and tragic) losses in his young life but eventually the darkness he is seeing and experiencing. I won’t go into the childhood losses so I don’t spoil it for you.
Did I mention the creepy doll? No? Well there is one (hooray all the horror fans shouted)!
The book switches POV’s and does it really well. It’s not disjointed or hard to follow. Gives a good rounded perspective of events from different angles.
A particular scene with his grandmother blew me away. It was so descriptive and terrifying and I was so glad I wasn’t eating at the time!
This evil took much from little John and shapes him into the adult he becomes. There are a lot of really great scenes and a fair bit of emotion poured into the story. It’s not just scare tactics and imagery. It’s got a tale to tell and depth.
The book moves forward to John’s life as an adult and this is where it lost a star from me for a while. I felt some of this part of the novel a bit wordy and lacked the fear factor HOWEVER it redeemed itself for me with some brilliant scenes.
I just got a little lost in some of the more mundane elements of his adult life and those in it for a while there. I was really glad when events started to pick up again and pull me back in. I won’t go too much into what John is doing with his adult life as it’s really a big part of the story and would spoil it if you knew early in the book but John’s childhood really shapes his journey.
Something dark, malevolent and evil is in John’s life and it doesn’t want to let go. Ever. We have mimics, shadow figures (or shadow bastards as I like to call them), twisted manifestations, unholy moments and a lot more! Don’t forget that damned doll, it plays a major role.
I found the viewpoint of the priest really interesting and that goes pretty deep. I was part of a Deliverance Ministry (non Catholic exorcism basically) team in a very large church in Australia for many years so know what it’s like to literally battle evil. I can tell you many reasons why it’s real and exists. I should put those into a book myself one day. I have ZERO doubt evil exists. Whilst this is a work of fiction, the impact the demonic can have on one persons life can be devastating. This is what happens to John.
This was a cracking read and whilst it had a lull moment for me I was glad it got its hooks back into me as I went on the journey with John to the end of the book. I’d definitely read more from this Author for sure and again, I think this would be great on screen. If you like horror especially paranormal/demonic elements you will enjoy this. Published January 2026 so get this on your TBR list. 4 stars from me.
Many thanks to the publisher Crystal Lake Publishing for my ARC copy. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
Thanks so much for taking a little time to read my review. Your likes and comments mean a lot to me. 😻 Feel free to add me as a friend or follow me for more book reviews.
If you are an Author or Publisher and you’d like me to consider reading and reviewing your book(s) please just message me.
The book started out really well and my first thought was that it was going to make a good movie should someone ever put this on the big or little screen. A lot of strong visual and character elements.
There are some very vivid, graphic and gory scenes. No problem. 😉 John didn’t hold back. Nor should he. It worked well for the parts of the book it appeared in. But this novel is very much the story of a family and a child who becomes a man what happens to them when evil comes knocking.
There are a few major characters in the book. Our main character is little John Tinsley who starts out as a child in the novel being terrorised by dark and demonic entities making his life a misery. John spends time confiding in a kindly Priest/Pastor about not only his sad (and tragic) losses in his young life but eventually the darkness he is seeing and experiencing. I won’t go into the childhood losses so I don’t spoil it for you.
Did I mention the creepy doll? No? Well there is one (hooray all the horror fans shouted)!
The book switches POV’s and does it really well. It’s not disjointed or hard to follow. Gives a good rounded perspective of events from different angles.
A particular scene with his grandmother blew me away. It was so descriptive and terrifying and I was so glad I wasn’t eating at the time!
This evil took much from little John and shapes him into the adult he becomes. There are a lot of really great scenes and a fair bit of emotion poured into the story. It’s not just scare tactics and imagery. It’s got a tale to tell and depth.
The book moves forward to John’s life as an adult and this is where it lost a star from me for a while. I felt some of this part of the novel a bit wordy and lacked the fear factor HOWEVER it redeemed itself for me with some brilliant scenes.
I just got a little lost in some of the more mundane elements of his adult life and those in it for a while there. I was really glad when events started to pick up again and pull me back in. I won’t go too much into what John is doing with his adult life as it’s really a big part of the story and would spoil it if you knew early in the book but John’s childhood really shapes his journey.
Something dark, malevolent and evil is in John’s life and it doesn’t want to let go. Ever. We have mimics, shadow figures (or shadow bastards as I like to call them), twisted manifestations, unholy moments and a lot more! Don’t forget that damned doll, it plays a major role.
I found the viewpoint of the priest really interesting and that goes pretty deep. I was part of a Deliverance Ministry (non Catholic exorcism basically) team in a very large church in Australia for many years so know what it’s like to literally battle evil. I can tell you many reasons why it’s real and exists. I should put those into a book myself one day. I have ZERO doubt evil exists. Whilst this is a work of fiction, the impact the demonic can have on one persons life can be devastating. This is what happens to John.
This was a cracking read and whilst it had a lull moment for me I was glad it got its hooks back into me as I went on the journey with John to the end of the book. I’d definitely read more from this Author for sure and again, I think this would be great on screen. If you like horror especially paranormal/demonic elements you will enjoy this. Published January 2026 so get this on your TBR list. 4 stars from me.
Many thanks to the publisher Crystal Lake Publishing for my ARC copy. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
Thanks so much for taking a little time to read my review. Your likes and comments mean a lot to me. 😻 Feel free to add me as a friend or follow me for more book reviews.
If you are an Author or Publisher and you’d like me to consider reading and reviewing your book(s) please just message me.
January 30, 2026
Review
Knock Knock Knock….
This book did not ask permission. It marked me.
From childhood trauma to full-blown supernatural terror, this story sinks its claws in early and never lets go.
John Tinsley isn’t just haunted — he’s branded. Followed from boyhood into adulthood by a darkness that feeds on grief, love, and fear. This isn’t a quick scare. This is a slow rot, a lifelong stalking, a thing that waits until you���re happy just to ruin you.
The horror here is intimate. It crawls inside your head. It lingers. It breathes.
By the end I was side-eyeing shadows, questioning silence, and emotionally wrecked in the best possible way. This book doesn’t just want to scare you — it wants your soul.
…. and tell me why I heard three knocks after reading …. TF?!?? 👀
Knock Knock Knock….
This book did not ask permission. It marked me.
From childhood trauma to full-blown supernatural terror, this story sinks its claws in early and never lets go.
John Tinsley isn’t just haunted — he’s branded. Followed from boyhood into adulthood by a darkness that feeds on grief, love, and fear. This isn’t a quick scare. This is a slow rot, a lifelong stalking, a thing that waits until you���re happy just to ruin you.
The horror here is intimate. It crawls inside your head. It lingers. It breathes.
By the end I was side-eyeing shadows, questioning silence, and emotionally wrecked in the best possible way. This book doesn’t just want to scare you — it wants your soul.
…. and tell me why I heard three knocks after reading …. TF?!?? 👀
February 26, 2026
what a punch to the gut! This book was absolutely heart breaking!
This story follows John, from being a little boy losing his family tragically, to being an adult struggling through life and losing those closest to him again thanks to the demon that tormented him as a child.
definitely check your triggers.
possible spoilers in triggers below.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
loss of parents
miscarriage
suicide
murder
dog death
self harn
This story follows John, from being a little boy losing his family tragically, to being an adult struggling through life and losing those closest to him again thanks to the demon that tormented him as a child.
definitely check your triggers.
possible spoilers in triggers below.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
loss of parents
miscarriage
suicide
murder
dog death
self harn
December 5, 2025
If somebody had told me that this was John Ward's first crack at an adult horror book and I didn't already know who he was, I wouldn't have believed them!! Favorite read of the year!! It's got all the best things you'd want from a demonic/possession book and that statement feels so UNDERWHELMING to say, but John Ward knocks it out of the park with this: I'm honestly kinda speechless at the moment, maybe I just need to ramble through it, but the only thing that comes to mind is just "wow" and that emotionally I'm confused? All over the place? Both? Have you ever read something so well written and the characters just kind of jump off the page? That despite the dark and twisted content, the one word you want to use to describe it is "beautiful"? That's kind of how I felt about the entire book. The bleak parts felt like a punch to the heart, and you hurt so much for the characters and what they were going through. Then the dark and evil parts all but leapt off the page with every descriptor. You just FEEL everything reading through A Blackened Heart, A Blackened Soul, while simultaneously feeling like you just read the most captivating passage of a story. That's kind of the funny thing about evil though, it scares you, haunts you, then lets you feel safe right before the punch line.
January 24, 2026
A Blackened Heart, A Blackened Soul took me so long to read; not because it wasn’t grasping my attention, but because the physical reaction it gave me. I haven’t had a book scare me like this in 20 years. Bleak but beautifully written. It’s only January but I can guarantee this will be one of my top 3 books of 2026.
February 14, 2026
This is a very well written book about possession with quite a bit of religion thrown in. Starting with the events experienced by an 8 year old boy and then jumping to his adult life.
Previous reviews had me questioning if I wanted to read this book, I was worried it would be too dark and sad, but it was not.
I mean yeah, it was sad, but it didn't have me running for the tissues. Overall, really well done.
Previous reviews had me questioning if I wanted to read this book, I was worried it would be too dark and sad, but it was not.
I mean yeah, it was sad, but it didn't have me running for the tissues. Overall, really well done.
December 8, 2025
What if you’re a sweet young boy with a heart of gold that deserves all of the good things in life? But then in a blink of an eye your life is shattered. You pick up the pieces and years later…darkness envelopes you again in adulthood.
John Tinsley experienced the unimaginable as a child and a deadly car accident was only the beginning. With counsel from a local priest and the love of his grandma, they helped him momentarily. Years later his life seems to be nearly perfect. Unfortunately it was too good to be true. Life takes a tragic turn. This was a fun read and John Tinsley’s character arc was developed well. Plenty of suspense and engaging plot moments.
👻👻👻👻
John Tinsley experienced the unimaginable as a child and a deadly car accident was only the beginning. With counsel from a local priest and the love of his grandma, they helped him momentarily. Years later his life seems to be nearly perfect. Unfortunately it was too good to be true. Life takes a tragic turn. This was a fun read and John Tinsley’s character arc was developed well. Plenty of suspense and engaging plot moments.
👻👻👻👻
November 25, 2025
This novel was devastating.
I won’t lie…when I first read an adult themed novel by the infamous R. L. Stine, I was concerned it wouldn’t live up to my expectations, even though those expectations were built off of children’s books I’d been reading since I was just a wee lad. Unfortunately, I was right and never ventured past his Goosebumps books again.
Fast forward 20 something years. Here I am facing a similar dilemma. I went into this ARC prepping to be let down.
Now, before someone throws a stick at me, I don’t mean that to sound like an insult to books geared towards young readers. I’m a huge fan and would never discredit them. What I mean is that I was expecting John Ward’s first soirée into adult horror to still feel like children’s horror.
Boy, was I wrong.
If a child were to read this, they’d either end up desensitized beyond comprehension (so similar to many of us here) or scarred for life. Perhaps both, I don’t know. I’m no psychologist. However, I do know that I consider that a compliment.
If you’re into bleak, dismal stories that weave their snaking limbs inside the very core of your soul, polluting the wellspring from which you draw life and take up residency (with full squatting rights), then this novel is for you. If you want rainbows, butterflies and happy endings sashaying off into the sunset forever, leave while you still can. Consider yourself warned. If you give it any further thought, this book will demand to be let in. It knows exactly what it is and is actively seeking to take more prisoners.
You’ll have no choice but to say ‘Yes’.
Well done, John. Looking forward to the next one! And now, I’m going to go read all of the Scareville books.
Releases January 16th, 2026.
‘A Blackened Heart, a Blackened Soul’ by John Ward.
I won’t lie…when I first read an adult themed novel by the infamous R. L. Stine, I was concerned it wouldn’t live up to my expectations, even though those expectations were built off of children’s books I’d been reading since I was just a wee lad. Unfortunately, I was right and never ventured past his Goosebumps books again.
Fast forward 20 something years. Here I am facing a similar dilemma. I went into this ARC prepping to be let down.
Now, before someone throws a stick at me, I don’t mean that to sound like an insult to books geared towards young readers. I’m a huge fan and would never discredit them. What I mean is that I was expecting John Ward’s first soirée into adult horror to still feel like children’s horror.
Boy, was I wrong.
If a child were to read this, they’d either end up desensitized beyond comprehension (so similar to many of us here) or scarred for life. Perhaps both, I don’t know. I’m no psychologist. However, I do know that I consider that a compliment.
If you’re into bleak, dismal stories that weave their snaking limbs inside the very core of your soul, polluting the wellspring from which you draw life and take up residency (with full squatting rights), then this novel is for you. If you want rainbows, butterflies and happy endings sashaying off into the sunset forever, leave while you still can. Consider yourself warned. If you give it any further thought, this book will demand to be let in. It knows exactly what it is and is actively seeking to take more prisoners.
You’ll have no choice but to say ‘Yes’.
Well done, John. Looking forward to the next one! And now, I’m going to go read all of the Scareville books.
Releases January 16th, 2026.
‘A Blackened Heart, a Blackened Soul’ by John Ward.
January 30, 2026
I am giving this 3 stars because the story was fantastic - genuinely scary!
Unfortunately the author didn't fact check and polish the writing enough. Perhaps it was the editing that was lacking. Catholic priests can never marry. Ever. That was a glaring mistake, and sloppy.
There were also plot holes and points where the story contradicted itself. For example, they only had a baseball bat for Megan to use for intruders but then a few pages later now suddenly they have guns they can use. which is it?
In many places the writing needed to be polished. a thorough editor could have really made the story shine. Words like "plethora" - no one outside of college freshmen uses that word. It just got worse from there.
Unfortunately the author didn't fact check and polish the writing enough. Perhaps it was the editing that was lacking. Catholic priests can never marry. Ever. That was a glaring mistake, and sloppy.
There were also plot holes and points where the story contradicted itself. For example, they only had a baseball bat for Megan to use for intruders but then a few pages later now suddenly they have guns they can use. which is it?
In many places the writing needed to be polished. a thorough editor could have really made the story shine. Words like "plethora" - no one outside of college freshmen uses that word. It just got worse from there.
February 25, 2026
“Do you believe in ghosts?”
HOLY and do I mean holy shit this book was AMAZING…it was like reading the script for my favorite ghost shows, annabelle, and the conjuring (funny enough which did make me laugh gets mentioned in this book) BUT, actually gave me a chill? actually made me feel like I needed to turn the light on. Which doesn’t happen to me very easily, but a lot of this book will stick with me for a while. I cannot express how much I enjoyed this, I will say however though because it resembled some of those things I listed above I SWORE I knew how it was going to end and I did not (which was refreshing but I did absolutely hate how useless father Rasario’s character felt it’s my only negative note)
If you like religious horrors and paranormal horrors I can guarantee this one will make you feel things. Do the thing, pick it up and read it.
“Tragedy. Heartbreak. It comes for everyone. It doesn’t care about your race, religion, sexual orientation, financial status, or whether you eat your fruits and veggies.”
HOLY and do I mean holy shit this book was AMAZING…it was like reading the script for my favorite ghost shows, annabelle, and the conjuring (funny enough which did make me laugh gets mentioned in this book) BUT, actually gave me a chill? actually made me feel like I needed to turn the light on. Which doesn’t happen to me very easily, but a lot of this book will stick with me for a while. I cannot express how much I enjoyed this, I will say however though because it resembled some of those things I listed above I SWORE I knew how it was going to end and I did not (which was refreshing but I did absolutely hate how useless father Rasario’s character felt it’s my only negative note)
If you like religious horrors and paranormal horrors I can guarantee this one will make you feel things. Do the thing, pick it up and read it.
“Tragedy. Heartbreak. It comes for everyone. It doesn’t care about your race, religion, sexual orientation, financial status, or whether you eat your fruits and veggies.”
December 4, 2025
I first read John’s Scareville series, which is middle grade, but when the opportunity arose to ARC read his jump into adult horror I knew I had to take it.
Honestly, I finished it a couple weeks ago and am still thinking about it. A Blackened Heart, A Blackened Soul is what you get when you mix Grave Encounters with Insidious. Toss us some Exorcist and you’ve got a solid read.
This book was creepy, and reading it at night had me want to leave the lights on. Demons, horror, and fast pacing with a twist that you won’t see coming. The story is told from multiple perspectives, but is so easy to follow and honestly makes the story. This one is honestly one of my top reads of 2025 and it’s not even released yet haha.
Honestly, I finished it a couple weeks ago and am still thinking about it. A Blackened Heart, A Blackened Soul is what you get when you mix Grave Encounters with Insidious. Toss us some Exorcist and you’ve got a solid read.
This book was creepy, and reading it at night had me want to leave the lights on. Demons, horror, and fast pacing with a twist that you won’t see coming. The story is told from multiple perspectives, but is so easy to follow and honestly makes the story. This one is honestly one of my top reads of 2025 and it’s not even released yet haha.
December 7, 2025
This is one book you could really feel all the emotions while reading. You could relate to have things you love be taken away from you. I’m not great at writing reviews but I fully enjoyed this book. Reading each character perspective creates a more enjoyable book. You can often tell when authors write books that have some truth to their personal lives. Such vulnerability and makes them much more enjoyable.
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