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PainSpace: A Novella
Not yet published
Expected 30 Apr 26His daughter went into the tubes. She never came out.
During a break from work, Lucas Flores brings his six-year-old daughter, Alexis, to Buddy’s Burgers—a local fast food joint—for a quick bite and some playtime at the attached indoor playground dubbed ‘Buddy’s PlaySpace.’ But after he awakens from a lengthy, impromptu nap, he finds the playground vacant with only his daughter’s shoes near a tube entrance.
He hears her playing in the playground, but he’s unable to lure her out. Worried for her safety and kicking himself for dozing off, he ventures into the tubes to find her... unaware of the horrific secrets lurking in the playground.
Jon Athan, the author of Shared by Two and Her Suffering, blends white-knuckle suspense, bone-chilling visuals, and raw emotion in this twisted novella of cerebral, supernatural horror. Enjoy your meal... it could be your last!
This book features twelve high-quality, full-page illustrations.
Although this is not an extreme horror story, it does contain some graphic content. Reader discretion is advised.
During a break from work, Lucas Flores brings his six-year-old daughter, Alexis, to Buddy’s Burgers—a local fast food joint—for a quick bite and some playtime at the attached indoor playground dubbed ‘Buddy’s PlaySpace.’ But after he awakens from a lengthy, impromptu nap, he finds the playground vacant with only his daughter’s shoes near a tube entrance.
He hears her playing in the playground, but he’s unable to lure her out. Worried for her safety and kicking himself for dozing off, he ventures into the tubes to find her... unaware of the horrific secrets lurking in the playground.
Jon Athan, the author of Shared by Two and Her Suffering, blends white-knuckle suspense, bone-chilling visuals, and raw emotion in this twisted novella of cerebral, supernatural horror. Enjoy your meal... it could be your last!
This book features twelve high-quality, full-page illustrations.
Although this is not an extreme horror story, it does contain some graphic content. Reader discretion is advised.
97 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication April 30, 2026
89 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
"𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐞, 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝, 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝒚𝒐𝒖."
Jon Athan has tackled so many genres of horror--extreme, splatter, psychological--but this quiet little novella uses subliminal horror to evoke an overwhelming sense of dread, and this is not an easy feat. Horror is more than jump scares and gore; it's also using atmosphere and familiar places to create a sense of disembodiment and the uneasy feeling that something just isn't right.
Lucas Flores brings his six-year-old daughter Alexis to one of their favorite fast food haunts, Buddy’s Burgers, for dinner and some playtime at the attached indoor playspace. But this tired father makes the mistake of closing his eyes, and when he wakes up, an alarming amount of time has passed. Alexis is nowhere to be found, and only her shoes are left near the entrance to one of the play tubes. He's frantic and can't seem to get the attention of any employee, so he does what any good father would do--he ventures in the tubes to retrieve her.
What he finds there will break your heart.
I can't believe what Jon accomplished in just under 100 pages. This one was definitely a gut punch, and coupled with the twelve interior illustrations that just really brought this story to life, it made my list of top ten favorites of the year. His author's notes are always a treasure trove of information, so don't even think about skipping this one. Many thanks to the author for this early copy that you can pre-order NOW and have when it releases April 30, 2026.
Jon Athan has tackled so many genres of horror--extreme, splatter, psychological--but this quiet little novella uses subliminal horror to evoke an overwhelming sense of dread, and this is not an easy feat. Horror is more than jump scares and gore; it's also using atmosphere and familiar places to create a sense of disembodiment and the uneasy feeling that something just isn't right.
Lucas Flores brings his six-year-old daughter Alexis to one of their favorite fast food haunts, Buddy’s Burgers, for dinner and some playtime at the attached indoor playspace. But this tired father makes the mistake of closing his eyes, and when he wakes up, an alarming amount of time has passed. Alexis is nowhere to be found, and only her shoes are left near the entrance to one of the play tubes. He's frantic and can't seem to get the attention of any employee, so he does what any good father would do--he ventures in the tubes to retrieve her.
What he finds there will break your heart.
I can't believe what Jon accomplished in just under 100 pages. This one was definitely a gut punch, and coupled with the twelve interior illustrations that just really brought this story to life, it made my list of top ten favorites of the year. His author's notes are always a treasure trove of information, so don't even think about skipping this one. Many thanks to the author for this early copy that you can pre-order NOW and have when it releases April 30, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I read PainSpace as an ARC from Jon Athan’s street team, and this one had me curious right away because it’s his first time tackling liminal space horror. I already love liminal space stuff, so getting that mixed with extreme horror felt very much like “yes, please, give me more of this.”
The story follows a dad who’s at a fast food place with his kid. He accidentally falls asleep, wakes up, and realizes it’s late and his child is gone. Cue instant panic. He starts searching everywhere and eventually climbs into the playground tunnels and slides to look for her. And that’s where things get weird. Like, really weird, really fast.
The whole thing nails that suffocating, trapped feeling of being inside those bright, plastic, too-small-for-adults playground tunnels. The turns, the tight spaces, the awkward angles. You can almost feel your shoulders scraping the sides. It leans hard into that claustrophobic, skin-crawly discomfort, especially with the added stress of a missing kid and your brain spiraling into worst-case scenarios.
It’s a fast read, super tense, and honestly just a fun, nasty little descent into dread. It taps into that very specific fear of thinking you’ve lost your child, that heart-dropping panic, and then stacks it on top of being trapped in a place you can barely move in.
If you’re into liminal horror at all, this one is absolutely worth checking out. PainSpace comes out April 30, I had a really good time with it.
The story follows a dad who’s at a fast food place with his kid. He accidentally falls asleep, wakes up, and realizes it’s late and his child is gone. Cue instant panic. He starts searching everywhere and eventually climbs into the playground tunnels and slides to look for her. And that’s where things get weird. Like, really weird, really fast.
The whole thing nails that suffocating, trapped feeling of being inside those bright, plastic, too-small-for-adults playground tunnels. The turns, the tight spaces, the awkward angles. You can almost feel your shoulders scraping the sides. It leans hard into that claustrophobic, skin-crawly discomfort, especially with the added stress of a missing kid and your brain spiraling into worst-case scenarios.
It’s a fast read, super tense, and honestly just a fun, nasty little descent into dread. It taps into that very specific fear of thinking you’ve lost your child, that heart-dropping panic, and then stacks it on top of being trapped in a place you can barely move in.
If you’re into liminal horror at all, this one is absolutely worth checking out. PainSpace comes out April 30, I had a really good time with it.
Review of advance copy received from Author
If Jon Athan writes it, I read it. That’s my villain origin story.
This wasn’t a novella. This was a psychological hostage situation inside a ketchup-scented nightmare tube.
A dad. A nap. A six-year-old.
And then just her tiny shoes sitting there like the book itself spit in my face.
I did NOT see it coming. Not a hint. Not a whisper. I was in there trusting the vibes like a complete buffoon. If you think you’ll predict it, you absolutely will not. You sweet, delusional raccoon. 🦝
No gore. No splatter. Just dread so thick it has texture. The horror doesn’t scream — it watches you realize. Slowly. Patiently. Like it’s enjoying your emotional decline. The claustrophobia had me clawing at imaginary plastic walls. My anxiety evolved into a higher life form.
And when it clicks? It doesn’t punch you. It dismantles you. Takes you apart bolt by bolt and leaves you in a fluorescent-lit heap.
It’s not as gruesome as his usual chaos — and that’s what makes it evil. This one messed me up in a quiet, humiliating, “stare at the wall after” way.
Under 100 pages and I need to be factory reset.
Thanks for the ARC. I am rabid. I am offended. I am one Happy Meal away from a breakdown.
run it’s available for preorder now and released on April 30th
This wasn’t a novella. This was a psychological hostage situation inside a ketchup-scented nightmare tube.
A dad. A nap. A six-year-old.
And then just her tiny shoes sitting there like the book itself spit in my face.
I did NOT see it coming. Not a hint. Not a whisper. I was in there trusting the vibes like a complete buffoon. If you think you’ll predict it, you absolutely will not. You sweet, delusional raccoon. 🦝
No gore. No splatter. Just dread so thick it has texture. The horror doesn’t scream — it watches you realize. Slowly. Patiently. Like it’s enjoying your emotional decline. The claustrophobia had me clawing at imaginary plastic walls. My anxiety evolved into a higher life form.
And when it clicks? It doesn’t punch you. It dismantles you. Takes you apart bolt by bolt and leaves you in a fluorescent-lit heap.
It’s not as gruesome as his usual chaos — and that’s what makes it evil. This one messed me up in a quiet, humiliating, “stare at the wall after” way.
Under 100 pages and I need to be factory reset.
Thanks for the ARC. I am rabid. I am offended. I am one Happy Meal away from a breakdown.
run it’s available for preorder now and released on April 30th
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
What a great quick read. I was very excited for this one as I love a good liminal space story and this one definitely delivered. I would love to see an anthology of Liminal space stories from Jon!
I felt the increasing anxiety and claustrophobia of the MC as the story progressed. I have a fear of being chased, particularly in enclosed spaces and this book managed to get my heart racing a little at times. Lol.
I had a feeling about how the story was going to end from about half way through and Jon brought it to the conclusion I expected very satisfactorily.
In the dear readers letter/note at the back, Jon stated he second guessed himself and detailed an alternative ending. I much prefer the way he did decide to go. It felt much more true to the feel of the book and it tugged at the heartstrings which I was not expecting.
Also detailed in the readers letter/note at the end is the idea of this novella being turned into a game. I am all for that. I think it would make a creepy and frustrating but fantastic game for sure. Haha.
Overall, as said at the start, great quick read! Thanks for the ARC 😁
I felt the increasing anxiety and claustrophobia of the MC as the story progressed. I have a fear of being chased, particularly in enclosed spaces and this book managed to get my heart racing a little at times. Lol.
I had a feeling about how the story was going to end from about half way through and Jon brought it to the conclusion I expected very satisfactorily.
In the dear readers letter/note at the back, Jon stated he second guessed himself and detailed an alternative ending. I much prefer the way he did decide to go. It felt much more true to the feel of the book and it tugged at the heartstrings which I was not expecting.
Also detailed in the readers letter/note at the end is the idea of this novella being turned into a game. I am all for that. I think it would make a creepy and frustrating but fantastic game for sure. Haha.
Overall, as said at the start, great quick read! Thanks for the ARC 😁
February 13, 2026
Lucas falls asleep while his daughter is playing at an indoor playground at a fast food restaurant called Buddy’s Burgers. He awakens to find her shoes outside of one of structures tubes. After shouting out her name numerous times, he becomes extremely concerned when he doesn’t get a response. Fearing for her safety, he enters the apparatus and becomes immersed in a world filled with terror beyond his imagination.
Jon Athan takes the reader through a twisted tale of horror, suspense and heartbreak as a father desperately stops at nothing to find his missing daughter.
I loved the illustrations that were included in each chapter. They truly helped bring this creepy story to life.
I was so appreciative for this early read that will be releasing on April 26th.
Jon Athan takes the reader through a twisted tale of horror, suspense and heartbreak as a father desperately stops at nothing to find his missing daughter.
I loved the illustrations that were included in each chapter. They truly helped bring this creepy story to life.
I was so appreciative for this early read that will be releasing on April 26th.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Holy shit! This novella was seriously creepy and disturbing, but it was also an unexpectedly emotional and deep read as well. It felt different from most of Athan's work almost immediately, but I found out just as quickly I would not be disappointed. The way he wove together this tale of confusion and fear, that later turned to realization and heartbreak was nothing short of captivating. I did not expect to be holding back tears while reading a Jon Athan book, but here we are. He's shown time and time again he is the GOAT of extreme horror and splatterpunk, but he's just proven he can knock psychological horror out of the park as well.. 4.5/5 skulls ☠️️
February 13, 2026
Wow!!! This one hit me so hard! At first I was a bit confused but the further you read the more it comes into perspective and makes so much sense. And it’s just so terribly heartbreaking!
The only thing that I disliked was the very start of the Author’s Note…no continuation of the very last quote in the book. I would love to know some sort of backstory to that.
This is definitely different from all of Jon’s work and I truly loved it. It shows you the stages or grief and mental illness. Not everyone can handle loss in the same way and I can’t even imagine someone dealing with this in the real world.
Many props to Jon for a new style of writing! Was a great read!
The only thing that I disliked was the very start of the Author’s Note…no continuation of the very last quote in the book. I would love to know some sort of backstory to that.
This is definitely different from all of Jon’s work and I truly loved it. It shows you the stages or grief and mental illness. Not everyone can handle loss in the same way and I can’t even imagine someone dealing with this in the real world.
Many props to Jon for a new style of writing! Was a great read!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was the first ARC of Jonny Athan I've had the pleasure of reading and... boy did it hit hard. Though different to the previous tales I've read (less gore, more emotional) I don't think i'll be forgetting it anytime soon.
It's a fairly short read, around 90 pages, and takes place in a kid's play place that quickly turns into something far more sinister. Though I had an idea of where it was going fairly early on (i'm a huge fan of the franchises he stated to be the inspiration behind this story) the payoff really did hit me hard. Highly recommend this one. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Coming April 30th, preorders are live NOW!
It's a fairly short read, around 90 pages, and takes place in a kid's play place that quickly turns into something far more sinister. Though I had an idea of where it was going fairly early on (i'm a huge fan of the franchises he stated to be the inspiration behind this story) the payoff really did hit me hard. Highly recommend this one. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Coming April 30th, preorders are live NOW!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Grateful for the author for sending me an early copy of this book!
This book was such a deep one. The ending was bittersweet and I honestly loved the storyline to it.
It was not what I was expecting at the end and I was pleasantly surprised by the ending.
I think the beginning gives you all the confused and stressed feelings that the main character is experiencing as things are happening. And you slowly start getting pieces of the bigger picture as things are unraveling.
Definitely recommend this book
This book was such a deep one. The ending was bittersweet and I honestly loved the storyline to it.
It was not what I was expecting at the end and I was pleasantly surprised by the ending.
I think the beginning gives you all the confused and stressed feelings that the main character is experiencing as things are happening. And you slowly start getting pieces of the bigger picture as things are unraveling.
Definitely recommend this book
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received this from the author as an advanced readers copy.
Well this was an absolute mind f$&k! A quick psychological novella. My anxiety was amped up due to my own fear of tunnels claustrophobia, and someone chasing me.
The story is about a father taking his 6 year old daughter to an indoor playground. After waking up from an accidental nap, he realizes his daughter is missing and is inside the tunnels. She's not the only one there either.
Nothing is what it seems to be in this story. Not as gruesome as other JA books, but this definitely hits the spot!
Well this was an absolute mind f$&k! A quick psychological novella. My anxiety was amped up due to my own fear of tunnels claustrophobia, and someone chasing me.
The story is about a father taking his 6 year old daughter to an indoor playground. After waking up from an accidental nap, he realizes his daughter is missing and is inside the tunnels. She's not the only one there either.
Nothing is what it seems to be in this story. Not as gruesome as other JA books, but this definitely hits the spot!
February 13, 2026
Thank you to the author for an advance reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review!
Wow. Painspace is completely different from any of Athan’s other books but I loved it. The atmosphere was absolutely perfect and creepy. The whole time I was reading it, I thought this would make a really cool video game (I am a huge fan of weird horror games) so when I saw him mention games in the author note, I was pleasantly surprised.
I would definitely recommend Painspace to anyone who enjoys liminal space horror. He did it perfectly and the twist was something I didn’t see coming at all!
Wow. Painspace is completely different from any of Athan’s other books but I loved it. The atmosphere was absolutely perfect and creepy. The whole time I was reading it, I thought this would make a really cool video game (I am a huge fan of weird horror games) so when I saw him mention games in the author note, I was pleasantly surprised.
I would definitely recommend Painspace to anyone who enjoys liminal space horror. He did it perfectly and the twist was something I didn’t see coming at all!
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February 15, 2026I just finished this short read from Jon Athan. Painspace goes from what's going on, to extreme claustrophobia, to terror, to absolute heartbreak, then ends with terror again. Lucas works his tail off to provide for his family. As a result, he's never home. His wife feels neglected. Then,, a tragedy befalls Lucas. One that his mind has locked away for a long time. Then...well,, you'll have to read it to get the full picture. This was an emotional read that hits like a ton of bricks.. As a person who deals with depression, I felt this in my bones. Well done, Jonny!
Review of advance copy received from Author
WOAH!! The claustrophobia in this was INTENSE!! This was different than any other JA book I’ve read (which is like, all of them 🤣) but it was horrifying. A dad takes his kid to an indoor playground and accidentally falls asleep. When he wakes up his kid is inside the tunnels and he has to go find her. I love liminal space horror so this hit the spot. I hope we get more like this in the future. I loved this book!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews