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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
55 people are currently reading
366 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
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?
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
November 25, 2025
A Blackened Heart, A Blackened Soul, by John Ward, marks his spectacular entry into adult horror. You may know and love him for his Scareville series, but this is a major departure from middle-grade horror.
Eight-year-old Johnny Tinsley has a good life with his family, until one night, he loses his mother in a tragic car accident and his father is significantly injured. Johnny doesn’t know it yet, but something latches onto him, something evil and dark. It wants Johnny’s soul and will do anything, destroy anyone Johnny loves, to get it. Years later, an adult John is happily married to the love of his life and has a successful career. He thinks he’s left the trauma of his childhood behind, but a twist of fate will bring him face-to-face with the nightmares from his childhood.
I loved John’s debut in adult horror. It’s bleak, brutal, and emotional on multiple levels. The character development is fantastic and he crafted the people in these pages with such human faults and grace. I found myself frustrated by many of their actions and decisions, but also questioned whether I would be able to do anything differently. More than anything, this left me thinking about how far someone will go to protect and save a person they love. How far would you go, and what are you willing to sacrifice?
Eight-year-old Johnny Tinsley has a good life with his family, until one night, he loses his mother in a tragic car accident and his father is significantly injured. Johnny doesn’t know it yet, but something latches onto him, something evil and dark. It wants Johnny’s soul and will do anything, destroy anyone Johnny loves, to get it. Years later, an adult John is happily married to the love of his life and has a successful career. He thinks he’s left the trauma of his childhood behind, but a twist of fate will bring him face-to-face with the nightmares from his childhood.
I loved John’s debut in adult horror. It’s bleak, brutal, and emotional on multiple levels. The character development is fantastic and he crafted the people in these pages with such human faults and grace. I found myself frustrated by many of their actions and decisions, but also questioned whether I would be able to do anything differently. More than anything, this left me thinking about how far someone will go to protect and save a person they love. How far would you go, and what are you willing to sacrifice?
December 3, 2025
The raw emotions in this book are enough to leave you speechless. The feeling of loss coupled with the genuine terror that you experience while reading makes this a book to remember. There are several moments while reading that I audibly gasped. It was genuinely terrifying. I suggest reading this book with the lights on, preferably beside a cross and maybe also a Bible. John Ward knows how to make a reader terrified, and isn't that what we are all here for?
November 28, 2025
This is probably the first grief horror book I’ve ever read and I wasn’t really sure what to expect. What I got was a really well-written story in two parts, the past and the present. Changing perspective from character to character isn’t always the easiest thing to do well, but this author definitely managed it. The story takes us from the boy’s childhood terrors and trauma through to his nightmares coming into reality as an adult.
I’m not one to give away any of the story in my reviews, I prefer to leave all of that for the reader to discover for themselves. This book is creepy, very enter and really, really well-written. Five star read for me!
I’m not one to give away any of the story in my reviews, I prefer to leave all of that for the reader to discover for themselves. This book is creepy, very enter and really, really well-written. Five star read for me!
November 25, 2025
A Blackened Heart, A Blackened Soul pulled me in right away and didn’t let go. It mixes demonic possession and grief in a way that feels so raw and real. The story follows John in two timelines, first as a kid and then as an adult, when he and his wife work as paranormal investigators.
The whole thing feels so personal, which makes the horror (and the grief!) hit harder. The writing is tight, the pacing moves fast, and the multiple perspectives keep the story fresh. The paranormal investigation scenes are especially cool, with just enough detail to make them feel believable.
Our MC's story is rough. Every time you think he’s getting a break, something worse finds him. It’s dark, unsettling, gut-wrenching, and impossible to stop reading. I finished it in one sitting, way too late at night, and it was absolutely worth it.
The whole thing feels so personal, which makes the horror (and the grief!) hit harder. The writing is tight, the pacing moves fast, and the multiple perspectives keep the story fresh. The paranormal investigation scenes are especially cool, with just enough detail to make them feel believable.
Our MC's story is rough. Every time you think he’s getting a break, something worse finds him. It’s dark, unsettling, gut-wrenching, and impossible to stop reading. I finished it in one sitting, way too late at night, and it was absolutely worth it.
November 25, 2025
With his debut adult horror novel, “A Blackened Heart, A Blackened Soul”, John Ward goes straight for the jugular.
And while there are some ideas within that feel plucked from “Got Ghosts?”, trust me when I say this is NOT Scareville. The two don’t even share a zip code.
Ward has managed to take a seemingly worn down trope (that being demonic possession/haunting) and actually scare me with it.
Imagine if The Exorcist and The Evil Dead had a baby. Those were the two franchises that came to mind while reading, but make no mistake, this story is entirely original. No one and nothing is safe in its pages. The words will continue to haunt you long after you’ve finished reading, much like the spirits and demonic entities that follow the main character John Tinsley and his wife, Megan.
John Ward is here to scare the piss out of you, so grab a pair of Depends before reading.
And while there are some ideas within that feel plucked from “Got Ghosts?”, trust me when I say this is NOT Scareville. The two don’t even share a zip code.
Ward has managed to take a seemingly worn down trope (that being demonic possession/haunting) and actually scare me with it.
Imagine if The Exorcist and The Evil Dead had a baby. Those were the two franchises that came to mind while reading, but make no mistake, this story is entirely original. No one and nothing is safe in its pages. The words will continue to haunt you long after you’ve finished reading, much like the spirits and demonic entities that follow the main character John Tinsley and his wife, Megan.
John Ward is here to scare the piss out of you, so grab a pair of Depends before reading.
November 25, 2025
I love going into horror books blind and this is no exception. I was sucked into the story from the first page and it didn’t let up a bit throughout. John Ward’s debut into adult horror is mind blowing!
A Blackened Heart, A Blackened Soul is bleak and grief fueled. It’s equally haunting and terrifying, never knowing what the next page will hold.
The story is written like a movie, so easy to visualize and see it rolling through your head. He takes great care to entrap you into the story, never letting you go.
Hold on to your hats, friends. It’s a wild ride.
Coming in January 2026!
A Blackened Heart, A Blackened Soul is bleak and grief fueled. It’s equally haunting and terrifying, never knowing what the next page will hold.
The story is written like a movie, so easy to visualize and see it rolling through your head. He takes great care to entrap you into the story, never letting you go.
Hold on to your hats, friends. It’s a wild ride.
Coming in January 2026!
December 6, 2025
“I want you to watch as the final chapter of the story you could have prevented plays out.”
ABH,ABS is grief horror done right. Nobody is safe and nothing is sacred in this chilling adult horror debut from the author of the middle-grade Scareville series! Gruesome imagery, well done characters, and superb story-telling are going to easily make this one of my favorite reads this year.
Go in blind and hang on tight, this one is going to leave you deep in your feelings and second guessing that shadow in the corner of your room.
ABH,ABS is grief horror done right. Nobody is safe and nothing is sacred in this chilling adult horror debut from the author of the middle-grade Scareville series! Gruesome imagery, well done characters, and superb story-telling are going to easily make this one of my favorite reads this year.
Go in blind and hang on tight, this one is going to leave you deep in your feelings and second guessing that shadow in the corner of your room.
November 25, 2025
I was warned and warned that this book would deal with some bleak and heavy themes. I was not ready for what I read. This book does an amazing job at leaving you spooked and not wanting to walk downstairs to get a midnight snack while also ripping your heart out from John Tinsley’s life story. I was unable to read this book fast enough it’s incredibly addictive and just the perfect length to satisfy your hunger for some scares. 10/10 probably my favorite book of this year.
When this book comes out in 2026 run to get your copy.
When this book comes out in 2026 run to get your copy.
November 25, 2025
John Ward makes a cannonball splash into the adult horror scene with his novel A Blackened Heart, A Blackened Soul. The first part of the novel scared the life out of me and was one of the most terrifying setups I have ever read. The stakes only get higher as our MC gets older in part two. John’s proven his merit time and again with his middle grade Scareville series, but his adult debut shows he’s absolutely one to watch out for in the horror scene.
November 25, 2025
this book grips your soul and takes you on a journey whether you like it or not! This is one of my favorite reads of 2025. The turmoil the main character endures is so much and you can’t help but to feel for every character and root for them. This was like a movie playing in my head. It’s bleak and it’s fucked up but in the absolute best way. Cannot love this book enough!
November 25, 2025
You do not want to miss this read
John Ward absolutely killed it. It is the perfect combination of spooky and heheartbreaking. You will not want to put it down. Getting to know little Johnny Tinsley and following him into adulthood with all his trauma is an amazing story. I hope you are prepared for this.
Thank you John , this was my #1 read of the year. All the ⭐️
John Ward absolutely killed it. It is the perfect combination of spooky and heheartbreaking. You will not want to put it down. Getting to know little Johnny Tinsley and following him into adulthood with all his trauma is an amazing story. I hope you are prepared for this.
Thank you John , this was my #1 read of the year. All the ⭐️
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 17, 2026
Overall, this was a fantastic offering with a lot to like about it. The engrossing storyline, bringing up a great throughline of this guy being brought up with this cursed past that allows him to be possessed and targeted by demonic forces to the point of requiring supernatural help to finally clear everything up, might start out a bit formulaic and conventional in this type of setup, but there are a lot of enjoyable elements brought up here. With the multilayered story told in different periods where he is introduced to the potential strains of grief possible in his life, to the more recent parts involving how he’s put those behind him to become a functioning adult with his wife in a successful ghost-hunting crew, which enables him to be succeptable for the supernatural attacks.
This setup is quite impressive and effectively comes together rather well to move past the contrived starting point where the evolution from exploring childhood grief and trauma that ties into the story of being charged by the demonic attacks and requiring his wife, as well as the troubled priest they meet, to help him. This twisted, multi-pronged setup that reveals the demonic force as a figure that’s been following him the whole time goes rather nicely with the details involved in the paranormal explorations they undertake, which offer up an intriguing difference between these sections of the story. With the paranormal investigations featuring the kind of traditional ghost encounters and supernatural manipulation of the world around them, these scenes work incredibly well for what they are, as it all builds the intense atmosphere with familiar elements.
Even with the familiar presence of these elements, the book is incredibly well-accomplished and manages to become quite chilling at places. As the familiar structure becomes more obvious, it never feels that overt due to a skilled, breezy writing style that keeps the action going along rather nicely featuring a mix between the chilling, supernatural encounters in their investigations and the different interactions of the group trying to figure out how to deal with the burgeoning belief that something has been attached to him and must be dealt with. There’s a lot to like about these elements and the point-of-view switches involving the main character switching focus depending on the chapter to help fill in the story and make everything more relatable, all making the book a great read that has plenty to like about it.
4.5/5
This setup is quite impressive and effectively comes together rather well to move past the contrived starting point where the evolution from exploring childhood grief and trauma that ties into the story of being charged by the demonic attacks and requiring his wife, as well as the troubled priest they meet, to help him. This twisted, multi-pronged setup that reveals the demonic force as a figure that’s been following him the whole time goes rather nicely with the details involved in the paranormal explorations they undertake, which offer up an intriguing difference between these sections of the story. With the paranormal investigations featuring the kind of traditional ghost encounters and supernatural manipulation of the world around them, these scenes work incredibly well for what they are, as it all builds the intense atmosphere with familiar elements.
Even with the familiar presence of these elements, the book is incredibly well-accomplished and manages to become quite chilling at places. As the familiar structure becomes more obvious, it never feels that overt due to a skilled, breezy writing style that keeps the action going along rather nicely featuring a mix between the chilling, supernatural encounters in their investigations and the different interactions of the group trying to figure out how to deal with the burgeoning belief that something has been attached to him and must be dealt with. There’s a lot to like about these elements and the point-of-view switches involving the main character switching focus depending on the chapter to help fill in the story and make everything more relatable, all making the book a great read that has plenty to like about it.
4.5/5
December 18, 2025
ARC Review A Blackened Heart, A Blackened Soul by John Ward
I go into every book completely blind, but with this one… I truly wish I had known the emotional toll it would take. The amount of heart it must have taken to write this story deserves a standing ovation. From the very first page, the natural flow of the writing pulls you in, forcing you to turn pages at an incredible pace—only to keep you up all night with your heart racing and your mind reeling.
Then comes the processing period—the moment where you question everything you thought you knew to be true. The level of detail in this story feels so raw and authentic that it makes you wonder: How could this come from anyone who hasn’t lived something like it?
John Ward has crafted an incredibly written, highly descriptive, and hauntingly beautiful story that follows a very young child, Johnny—a small-town boy whose life is forever altered after a tragic car accident. The novel traces his journey into adulthood as he remains shadowed by the same evil entity that has targeted him since childhood, ultimately forcing him to face it head-on. (No spoilers—just read it.)
I cannot fully express the range of emotions I experienced while reading this book. There were moments when I had to put it down simply because it felt too real. You feel the dread. You feel the sadness and anxiety—and yet you are completely hooked.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
10 stars — an unforgettable, haunting, and emotionally powerful read.
I go into every book completely blind, but with this one… I truly wish I had known the emotional toll it would take. The amount of heart it must have taken to write this story deserves a standing ovation. From the very first page, the natural flow of the writing pulls you in, forcing you to turn pages at an incredible pace—only to keep you up all night with your heart racing and your mind reeling.
Then comes the processing period—the moment where you question everything you thought you knew to be true. The level of detail in this story feels so raw and authentic that it makes you wonder: How could this come from anyone who hasn’t lived something like it?
John Ward has crafted an incredibly written, highly descriptive, and hauntingly beautiful story that follows a very young child, Johnny—a small-town boy whose life is forever altered after a tragic car accident. The novel traces his journey into adulthood as he remains shadowed by the same evil entity that has targeted him since childhood, ultimately forcing him to face it head-on. (No spoilers—just read it.)
I cannot fully express the range of emotions I experienced while reading this book. There were moments when I had to put it down simply because it felt too real. You feel the dread. You feel the sadness and anxiety—and yet you are completely hooked.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
10 stars — an unforgettable, haunting, and emotionally powerful read.
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.
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