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Everything But The Skin
Not yet published
Expected 5 Jan 26
Something is devouring the kids of Shallowroot, and young Sophia may very well be next.
Evil has come to the town of Shallowroot, and it’s picking off the children, one by one. To make matters worse, Sophia has some kind of connection with whatever is behind it, and it seems to be coming after anyone who is close to her.
How long will it be before it finally comes for her?
Radar DeBoard delivers one of his most chilling tales to date in this short but haunting tale! From the author of DROWING IN THE DRINK and HOW AM I NOT THE MONSTER, comes a brand-new extreme horror novella, with strong female leads, a horrifying villain, and the most heinous crimes imaginable! EVERYTHING BUT THE SKIN will have you looking over your shoulder and staying out of the forest for many years to come!
Evil has come to the town of Shallowroot, and it’s picking off the children, one by one. To make matters worse, Sophia has some kind of connection with whatever is behind it, and it seems to be coming after anyone who is close to her.
How long will it be before it finally comes for her?
Radar DeBoard delivers one of his most chilling tales to date in this short but haunting tale! From the author of DROWING IN THE DRINK and HOW AM I NOT THE MONSTER, comes a brand-new extreme horror novella, with strong female leads, a horrifying villain, and the most heinous crimes imaginable! EVERYTHING BUT THE SKIN will have you looking over your shoulder and staying out of the forest for many years to come!
Kindle Edition
Expected publication January 5, 2026
1 person is currently reading
8 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to Radar, as always, for the opportunity to be an arc readers for you.
While this hasn't been my favourite book from this author, Radar is still and always will be one of the authors I think is extremely talented, respectful, intuitive and diverse.
He has taken a very unique concept of witchcraft with this book and combined it with the fear and whispers of children and adults in a small community.
While this hasn't been my favourite book from this author, Radar is still and always will be one of the authors I think is extremely talented, respectful, intuitive and diverse.
He has taken a very unique concept of witchcraft with this book and combined it with the fear and whispers of children and adults in a small community.
December 9, 2025
DeBoard excels at creating novellas that go from 0 to 100. In Everything But the Skin, a horrendous crime decades prior begins of cycle of mayhem and cannibalism, with a young girl caught in the crossfires. A lean and terrifying tale.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Although I expected it gorier and far more sinister in tone, "Everything But The Skin" ultimately does deliver a gripping coming-of-age narrative coupled with a tale of deadly revenge and unredeemeable evil.
Interspersed with mysterious snippets of a persistent two voice argument, it begins with an orphanage on fire, and two girls narrowly escaping with their lives. One of them takes center stage, the story being told through her eyes, the focus on the cruelties she faces as an orphan and the bullying she suffers branded as a witch. Soon another story intrudes and events from the past unfold in parallel to the girl's story. It takes a while till the two tales meet, but when they do, secrets are revealed and quite a lot starts making sense about who the girl is and why she seems to possess insights and experience visions about missing children in her town. The fragmentary argument that's been accompanying the story also finds its surprising place amidst all this - and it's only fitting that it's the key to every little detail haunting the book from page one!
This is a complex horror story, with great characters, raw emotion, occasionally brutal but heartfelt and genuinely fun throughout. I recommend it to readers who enjoy fast-paced, intricately plotted stories, exploring girlhood, friendship and the cost of secret origins.
Interspersed with mysterious snippets of a persistent two voice argument, it begins with an orphanage on fire, and two girls narrowly escaping with their lives. One of them takes center stage, the story being told through her eyes, the focus on the cruelties she faces as an orphan and the bullying she suffers branded as a witch. Soon another story intrudes and events from the past unfold in parallel to the girl's story. It takes a while till the two tales meet, but when they do, secrets are revealed and quite a lot starts making sense about who the girl is and why she seems to possess insights and experience visions about missing children in her town. The fragmentary argument that's been accompanying the story also finds its surprising place amidst all this - and it's only fitting that it's the key to every little detail haunting the book from page one!
This is a complex horror story, with great characters, raw emotion, occasionally brutal but heartfelt and genuinely fun throughout. I recommend it to readers who enjoy fast-paced, intricately plotted stories, exploring girlhood, friendship and the cost of secret origins.
December 18, 2025
How I wish I could hug Sophia…
Sophia grew up without parents, in a town where kids are being targeted and killed, especially those close to her.
Somehow, she feels a strange connection with whoever or whatever is behind these gruesome crimes and now she's older and determined to find out why.
In just over 100 pages, this book delivers graphic scenes, heartfelt moments, a thirst for revenge, and the story of a kid growing up, learning to fend for herself.
My favorite part? The shifting POVs that make the story even more intriguing, even though the ending is incredibly hard to swallow.
If you love gory, emotional reads that you can devour in one sitting, this is definitely one to check out!
This review and more here:
Instagram | Tiktok | Youtube
Sophia grew up without parents, in a town where kids are being targeted and killed, especially those close to her.
Somehow, she feels a strange connection with whoever or whatever is behind these gruesome crimes and now she's older and determined to find out why.
In just over 100 pages, this book delivers graphic scenes, heartfelt moments, a thirst for revenge, and the story of a kid growing up, learning to fend for herself.
My favorite part? The shifting POVs that make the story even more intriguing, even though the ending is incredibly hard to swallow.
If you love gory, emotional reads that you can devour in one sitting, this is definitely one to check out!
This review and more here:
Instagram | Tiktok | Youtube
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Everything but the Skin is a page turning tale that sucks you into the pained mind of a troubled young woman and a community of religious guilt. Radar DeBoard doesn't hold back when it comes to making you feel pain. I want to read, and suffer, within his stories again and again.
December 3, 2025
Dark, emotional, and heartbreaking. This fast, brutal tale of small town cruelty and relentless haunting forces is centered on Sophia, whose story stays with you long after.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews