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PainSpace: A Novella
His 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.
- GenresHorrorShort Stories
97 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 30, 2026
60 people are currently reading
233 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
May 2, 2026
Jon Athan writing liminal horror is what I needed.
Lucas Flores, father to six year old Alexis, takes his daughter to Buddy's PlaySpace where she can do what she does best: be a kid.
But while his daughter is playing amongst the monkey bars, ball pits, and endless colored tubes— Lucas briefly falls asleep at one of the tables from deep exhaustion.
Unfortunately, when Lucas awakens from his doze— his daughter is nowhere to be found. With her pink shoes neatly placed at the the base of the slide, that is Lucas's only indicator that she must be somewhere hidden around the play space.
From this point forward, Jon Athan pens a liminal horror tale that turns a kid-friendly, familiar place into a terrifyingly claustrophobic journey that seemingly never ends. Lucas's desperate search for his missing daughter drags all of us readers into the cruel depths of Buddy's PlaySpace.
But that isn't all.
What starts as an uncomfortable liminal horror quietly transitions into a striking tale of grief, and the many forms that it takes. Buddy's PlaySpace begins to take on the form of what feels like a purgatory— and all becomes understood. Grief plays on the mind in such excruciating ways, and I found that Jon Athan executed some of those feelings beautifully by using liminal spaces to start.
Horror transcends and it evokes. There are a plethora of ways the genre can be written to incite such rich emotion and feeling. There are feelings of the never-ending, claustrophobia, doubt, fear, love, heartbreak and redemption— all wrapped up inside of such a small book.
Previously, I had not been that impressed with the last couple of books I've read by the author, but the shift in writing and subgenre with PainSpace was incredible. This novella is so different from the typical gory, splattery writing we see from Jon Athan.
Feels like there was a lot of heart in this one.
I'm rating PainSpace: A Novella with ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ stars for its captivating premise and the liminal horror, grief ridden feel. Both liminal and grief horror stories are always on my TBR, always keeping me on the hunt. It's very cool to see a splatterpunk author write something that's outside of their usual, as I'm typically struck by it. This makes me incredibly excited to see what's next on Jon Athan's writing radar.
Lucas Flores, father to six year old Alexis, takes his daughter to Buddy's PlaySpace where she can do what she does best: be a kid.
But while his daughter is playing amongst the monkey bars, ball pits, and endless colored tubes— Lucas briefly falls asleep at one of the tables from deep exhaustion.
Unfortunately, when Lucas awakens from his doze— his daughter is nowhere to be found. With her pink shoes neatly placed at the the base of the slide, that is Lucas's only indicator that she must be somewhere hidden around the play space.
From this point forward, Jon Athan pens a liminal horror tale that turns a kid-friendly, familiar place into a terrifyingly claustrophobic journey that seemingly never ends. Lucas's desperate search for his missing daughter drags all of us readers into the cruel depths of Buddy's PlaySpace.
But that isn't all.
What starts as an uncomfortable liminal horror quietly transitions into a striking tale of grief, and the many forms that it takes. Buddy's PlaySpace begins to take on the form of what feels like a purgatory— and all becomes understood. Grief plays on the mind in such excruciating ways, and I found that Jon Athan executed some of those feelings beautifully by using liminal spaces to start.
Horror transcends and it evokes. There are a plethora of ways the genre can be written to incite such rich emotion and feeling. There are feelings of the never-ending, claustrophobia, doubt, fear, love, heartbreak and redemption— all wrapped up inside of such a small book.
Previously, I had not been that impressed with the last couple of books I've read by the author, but the shift in writing and subgenre with PainSpace was incredible. This novella is so different from the typical gory, splattery writing we see from Jon Athan.
Feels like there was a lot of heart in this one.
I'm rating PainSpace: A Novella with ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ stars for its captivating premise and the liminal horror, grief ridden feel. Both liminal and grief horror stories are always on my TBR, always keeping me on the hunt. It's very cool to see a splatterpunk author write something that's outside of their usual, as I'm typically struck by it. This makes me incredibly excited to see what's next on Jon Athan's writing radar.
April 30, 2026
De l'horreur liminale dans une aire de jeux, un bangeeeeer
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 ☠️️
April 30, 2026
Painspace is a novella that hits far harder than its length suggests. I went in expecting full on Splatterpunk, but the gore is surprisingly minimal. Instead, Jon Athan builds a bleak, atmospheric story that slowly tightens around you in an almost suffocating, claustrophobic way. Most of the emotional weight doesn’t land until the end, but when it does, it’s so unexpectedly devastating.
The whole time I was reading, I kept thinking, 'this feels so Silent Hill coded'! That fog soaked melancholy, that sense of being trapped inside someone’s grief. Seeing Athan mention Silent Hill in the after notes made me laugh because it absolutely tracks. And that final moment? A genuine jumpscare.
The artwork between chapters is also a real treat, adding texture and atmosphere throughout. Thoughtful, haunting, and far more affecting than I expected.
The whole time I was reading, I kept thinking, 'this feels so Silent Hill coded'! That fog soaked melancholy, that sense of being trapped inside someone’s grief. Seeing Athan mention Silent Hill in the after notes made me laugh because it absolutely tracks. And that final moment? A genuine jumpscare.
The artwork between chapters is also a real treat, adding texture and atmosphere throughout. Thoughtful, haunting, and far more affecting than I expected.
May 3, 2026
A father loses his 6 year old daughter in the tubes of an indoor playground at a fast food place. Worried about her safety, he goes in after her. But it turns out this is not just a regular playground....
The story moves at warp speed - giving you barely time to breathe. There's this terrifying claustrophobic vibe to it. It often feels like you're right there in the tubes with Lucas. Tension builds, until an unexpected twist shatters your heart in a thousand pieces.
Very different from other Jon Athan books, but just as good.
The story moves at warp speed - giving you barely time to breathe. There's this terrifying claustrophobic vibe to it. It often feels like you're right there in the tubes with Lucas. Tension builds, until an unexpected twist shatters your heart in a thousand pieces.
Very different from other Jon Athan books, but just as good.
April 30, 2026
Wow… just wow. I thought this was just going to be a gnarly story about kids dying in a play area but it ended up being so touching and deep. 10/10 Great writing and narration.
May 2, 2026
i loved this. was def not expecting it to creep me out but also break my heart 😅
April 30, 2026
The audiobook was incredible. I love the dual narration of this one
Story was short and quick to read. I love the art as well and it was a super nice to help visualize what I was reading
It was a pretty sad Read and I love the emotional aspects of this book. It really made sense from a grief point of view and how far the grief can get you in forgiveness and letting go means. It wasn’t quite horror, but it still gave the good horror feels
Story was short and quick to read. I love the art as well and it was a super nice to help visualize what I was reading
It was a pretty sad Read and I love the emotional aspects of this book. It really made sense from a grief point of view and how far the grief can get you in forgiveness and letting go means. It wasn’t quite horror, but it still gave the good horror feels
May 2, 2026
I am all about liminal anything. Give me the Backrooms any day. So when I saw several reviews mentioning this story was about that I jumped in willingly. What I did not expect was how emotional this story would make me. It started out as a run of the mill lost in the tunnels and quickly became a tunnel full of emotions! Grief is such a hard thing because it does often feel as if it takes on a form and weight of its own. Jon personified this in a very creepy but very poignant way. I commend him for being able to fit such a complex set of thoughts into such a short amount of pages. I gobbled this up as fast as time allowed. Excellent introduction to this author.
May 3, 2026
Moooom! Jon Athan scared me and made me cry! 😒
In the beginning I felt like I couldn’t breathe. Like I was the one stuck in the tube. 😅 I almost gave myself a panic attack thinking about being stuck. Lmao! But later I cried. Did not expect that twist at all. It was…so good. Jon Athan is easily one of my favorite authors. That was awesome ♥️
In the beginning I felt like I couldn’t breathe. Like I was the one stuck in the tube. 😅 I almost gave myself a panic attack thinking about being stuck. Lmao! But later I cried. Did not expect that twist at all. It was…so good. Jon Athan is easily one of my favorite authors. That was awesome ♥️
May 2, 2026
Damn.... I did not see this taking the turn it did. I've read around 30 of Jon's books at this point and this is the first one I've read of his that wasn't extreme. It just solidifies the fact that Jon is one of the best horror/extreme horror/psychological horror etc authors out there. I've literally never been disappointed in any of his books. The ending hit like a punch to the gut. It starts off as liminal horror and turns into grief horror. I love how he leaves it open for you to sit with it. And I would absolutely love it if he did make that game he mentioned in his letter. I can't wait to see what he comes out with next
April 9, 2026
As a mother to 3.. who has taken her kids to these play structures.. and also someone who hasn’t watched or read much in the way of liminal space horror. After reading this, I have unlocked a new fear and will never look at these play places the same again 🤣. Sorry kids, your days with these play places are done 😬. I have also now found a new love in liminal horror. Now I need more!! If you’ve followed by reviews, you’ll know that I love Jon Athans work and this creepy novella has worked its way toward my top couple of reads by him. Thank you, Jon Athan for the early read! ♥️
May 1, 2026
Brilliant plot! My childhood fears of play places have finally come to fruition. This story was tense and brought with it a suffocating sense of claustrophobia. I especially enjoyed the illustrations. I appreciate the visual into the storyline.
I am a HUGE fan of his extreme horror. However, this novella sealed the deal that Jon Arhan can literally write anything.
I am a HUGE fan of his extreme horror. However, this novella sealed the deal that Jon Arhan can literally write anything.
May 4, 2026
loved this! i really liked the illustrations and thought it was the perfect length to be able to tell the story without being too repetitive or boring at all. a few creepy parts thrown in and the tense kind of feeling is always a plus!
May 3, 2026
I’m so sorry I wanted to like this book but it just wasn’t great. I don’t think I’ve ever scored one of your books under a 4 star 🙈 I felt it was predictable and repetitive, sorry
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
Lucas takes his six-year-old daughter, Alexis, to the playground at Buddy’s Burgers. He closes his eyes for what feels like a second… and when he wakes up, she’s gone. The playground is empty. Every other parent has left. No sign of Alexis.
And the only way to find her… is to go inside.
I won’t lie - the idea of a grown man crawling through a kids’ soft play tunnel, getting more lost with every turn was pretty funny. Until it wasn't. Because this isn’t just a playground. And it becomes VERY clear, very quickly that something is deeply wrong.
This is completely different from what I’ve come to expect from Jon Athan. No gore. No drawn-out brutality. No blood-soaked chaos. Just pure, suffocating tension. And honestly, that made it so much worse. The claustrophobia in this was next level. You can feel the tight spaces, the wrong turns, the panic creeping in with every crawl forward.
New fear officially unlocked: soft play tunnels. Next time my toddler gets stuck in one, someone else can go in after him. 😅💀
Nothing in this story is what it seems. Every turn messes with your head a little more. And when you think you understand what’s happening… well, you don’t. I didn't see that reveal coming at all. And the ending was just cruel. Who ends a book like that? Jon Athan, that's who.
Another absolute mind-bender from an author who clearly enjoys psychologically torturing his readers.
And honestly? I’ll be back for more.
And the only way to find her… is to go inside.
I won’t lie - the idea of a grown man crawling through a kids’ soft play tunnel, getting more lost with every turn was pretty funny. Until it wasn't. Because this isn’t just a playground. And it becomes VERY clear, very quickly that something is deeply wrong.
This is completely different from what I’ve come to expect from Jon Athan. No gore. No drawn-out brutality. No blood-soaked chaos. Just pure, suffocating tension. And honestly, that made it so much worse. The claustrophobia in this was next level. You can feel the tight spaces, the wrong turns, the panic creeping in with every crawl forward.
New fear officially unlocked: soft play tunnels. Next time my toddler gets stuck in one, someone else can go in after him. 😅💀
Nothing in this story is what it seems. Every turn messes with your head a little more. And when you think you understand what’s happening… well, you don’t. I didn't see that reveal coming at all. And the ending was just cruel. Who ends a book like that? Jon Athan, that's who.
Another absolute mind-bender from an author who clearly enjoys psychologically torturing his readers.
And honestly? I’ll be back for more.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you so much Jon Athan for this early ARC in exchange for my honest review!
This book had me hooked immediately. I already love anything with liminal space horror, but setting it inside a fast food playground? That weird, too bright, too tight kind of place we all remember as kids? It just hits differently and in the worst (best) way.
The story follows a dad who dozes off for what feels like a second, only to wake up and realize his daughter is gone…. No warning just disappeared. The panic sets in instantly, and it only gets worse when he starts searching the play tunnels to find her. That’s when everything spirals. And FAST.
What really stood out to me is how claustrophobic this book feels. You can practically feel yourself crawling through those plastic tunnels, like you used to as a kid in McDonald’s. Maybe I’m showing my age here! If you weren’t claustrophobic before, you just might be by the end of this book!
Nothing in this story is what it seems. Every turn messes with your head a little more, and just when you think you understand what’s happening… you don’t. The twists come fast, and the ending? Yes you guessed it. Brutal. It’s the kind that sticks with you and makes you sit there like “wait… what did I just read?”
It’s a quick read, but it does so much in such a short amount of time. Do not read if you’re easily offended! As this is after all ✨Splatterpunk✨
This book had me hooked immediately. I already love anything with liminal space horror, but setting it inside a fast food playground? That weird, too bright, too tight kind of place we all remember as kids? It just hits differently and in the worst (best) way.
The story follows a dad who dozes off for what feels like a second, only to wake up and realize his daughter is gone…. No warning just disappeared. The panic sets in instantly, and it only gets worse when he starts searching the play tunnels to find her. That’s when everything spirals. And FAST.
What really stood out to me is how claustrophobic this book feels. You can practically feel yourself crawling through those plastic tunnels, like you used to as a kid in McDonald’s. Maybe I’m showing my age here! If you weren’t claustrophobic before, you just might be by the end of this book!
Nothing in this story is what it seems. Every turn messes with your head a little more, and just when you think you understand what’s happening… you don’t. The twists come fast, and the ending? Yes you guessed it. Brutal. It’s the kind that sticks with you and makes you sit there like “wait… what did I just read?”
It’s a quick read, but it does so much in such a short amount of time. Do not read if you’re easily offended! As this is after all ✨Splatterpunk✨
Review of advance copy received from Author
His daughter went into the tubes. She never came out.
This was so good but also very different from what I have come to expect from Athan. If you go into this story expecting splatter and extreme horror you will most likely find yourself quite disappointed. Instead going into this with an open mind and the knowledge that this story while short will still feel like a punch to the gut.
PainSpace is psychological horror that is as haunting as it is emotional, sometimes you don't need all the gore to be truly horrifying. Truthfully this story does have some chilling visuals, quite literally as it has 12 high quality illustrations. However,I found that it was the raw emotion that truly unnerved me. The panic and pain that Lucas endured as reality shifts was palpable. If I have to be honest, the reality may actually be worse.
I think it was also very clever to play into the fear of liminal spaces. I definitely felt closed in and suffocated a few times while reading this story. When you combine discomfort and fear in a setting that's supposed to be happy and fun...that's just diabolical. This is truly one of his greatest stories.
Was I expecting to be uncomfortable reading this? Yes. Was I expecting to be heartbroken by the ending? Absolutely not. I enjoyed the author's note, I always love the extra glimpse into the man behind the story.
I received a copy in exchange for my honest review.
This was so good but also very different from what I have come to expect from Athan. If you go into this story expecting splatter and extreme horror you will most likely find yourself quite disappointed. Instead going into this with an open mind and the knowledge that this story while short will still feel like a punch to the gut.
PainSpace is psychological horror that is as haunting as it is emotional, sometimes you don't need all the gore to be truly horrifying. Truthfully this story does have some chilling visuals, quite literally as it has 12 high quality illustrations. However,I found that it was the raw emotion that truly unnerved me. The panic and pain that Lucas endured as reality shifts was palpable. If I have to be honest, the reality may actually be worse.
I think it was also very clever to play into the fear of liminal spaces. I definitely felt closed in and suffocated a few times while reading this story. When you combine discomfort and fear in a setting that's supposed to be happy and fun...that's just diabolical. This is truly one of his greatest stories.
Was I expecting to be uncomfortable reading this? Yes. Was I expecting to be heartbroken by the ending? Absolutely not. I enjoyed the author's note, I always love the extra glimpse into the man behind the story.
I received a copy in exchange for my honest review.
April 6, 2026
𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔
🛝 have kids that love the playplace
📖 enjoy short stories
😀 aren’t claustrophobic
💭 frequently experience vivid dreams
• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓
His 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.
• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒
I think this might be my favorite of Jon’s so far! The premise was highly enjoyable - a young girl goes into the playplace and never comes out? I had no clue where this book was going to lead us - was she kidnapped, is he dreaming, is he having a psychotic break? I don’t think I fully expected the end result, but I’m here to say that I loved it, but also equally felt so heartbroken at the same time. As a mother, this was definitely a tougher read, but I feel like it has a very meaningful message. Now I just need a sequel for that ending!
🛝 have kids that love the playplace
📖 enjoy short stories
😀 aren’t claustrophobic
💭 frequently experience vivid dreams
• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓
His 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.
• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒
I think this might be my favorite of Jon’s so far! The premise was highly enjoyable - a young girl goes into the playplace and never comes out? I had no clue where this book was going to lead us - was she kidnapped, is he dreaming, is he having a psychotic break? I don’t think I fully expected the end result, but I’m here to say that I loved it, but also equally felt so heartbroken at the same time. As a mother, this was definitely a tougher read, but I feel like it has a very meaningful message. Now I just need a sequel for that ending!
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
Another Jon Athan book added to the shelf!
🛝❌PainSpace❌🛝
This one was a little bit different from Athan’s usual extreme horror and Splatterpunk book - but make no mistake, there was plenty of viseral moments.
If you’re a fan of liminal spaces and supernatural, this novella will hit just right. The supernatural piece creeped me out extra due to the feel of the story being in a giant liminal space of ball pits and tube slides.
Lucas, the main character… bless his heart. I had a feeling he was doomed from the start. However, I wanted to hug him and try to warn him to run as fast as he can from Buddy’s Burgers. The bone-chilling feelings I had as he had to search for his daughter is a feeling that Athan’s books haven’t given me before. I enjoy this type of vibe and reading the authors notes in the back, it sounds like more like this might be in our future! Also, YES, Jon, if you read this, please do a film in this style! Your fans would love it!
As always, it is the best experience ever to be part of the Jon Athan Street Team, and be lucky enough to receive physical ARCs. Thank you to Jon and the lovely mods Carrie and Abby. This novella releases on April 30th and is available for preorder on Amazon!
📕 Happy Reading 🩸
🛝❌PainSpace❌🛝
This one was a little bit different from Athan’s usual extreme horror and Splatterpunk book - but make no mistake, there was plenty of viseral moments.
If you’re a fan of liminal spaces and supernatural, this novella will hit just right. The supernatural piece creeped me out extra due to the feel of the story being in a giant liminal space of ball pits and tube slides.
Lucas, the main character… bless his heart. I had a feeling he was doomed from the start. However, I wanted to hug him and try to warn him to run as fast as he can from Buddy’s Burgers. The bone-chilling feelings I had as he had to search for his daughter is a feeling that Athan’s books haven’t given me before. I enjoy this type of vibe and reading the authors notes in the back, it sounds like more like this might be in our future! Also, YES, Jon, if you read this, please do a film in this style! Your fans would love it!
As always, it is the best experience ever to be part of the Jon Athan Street Team, and be lucky enough to receive physical ARCs. Thank you to Jon and the lovely mods Carrie and Abby. This novella releases on April 30th and is available for preorder on Amazon!
📕 Happy Reading 🩸
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5 stars
I went into PainSpace expecting over-the-top gore and was extremely pleasantly surprised to get psychological instead. I'm a big fan of liminal spaces in horror and have been thoroughly enjoying the boom in the genre since The Backrooms content started coming out! Athan offers a unique perspective on the liminal space with this upcoming novella.
A lot of times, creators focus on the monstrous aspect of liminal spaces, but Athan instead chose to delve into the psychological and give us a protagonist tortured by the events of his past. In an effort to find his daughter, he enters the tubes in a very old McDonald's-esque play area and is suddenly transported to a whole different world full of memories and horrors.
I really felt for Lucas a lot. He was just a regular guy trying his best to support his family and unknowingly creating rifts in the process. I got a direct shot to the heart once I realised what was actually happening and man, that one hurt! Athan packed so much punch into his characters and made me really root for them and want to succeed. And THAT ENDING.....I had chills!
PainSpace was claustrophobic and anxiety-inducing and ridiculously sad, and I'd argue it's one of Athan's best of his recent releases.
I went into PainSpace expecting over-the-top gore and was extremely pleasantly surprised to get psychological instead. I'm a big fan of liminal spaces in horror and have been thoroughly enjoying the boom in the genre since The Backrooms content started coming out! Athan offers a unique perspective on the liminal space with this upcoming novella.
A lot of times, creators focus on the monstrous aspect of liminal spaces, but Athan instead chose to delve into the psychological and give us a protagonist tortured by the events of his past. In an effort to find his daughter, he enters the tubes in a very old McDonald's-esque play area and is suddenly transported to a whole different world full of memories and horrors.
I really felt for Lucas a lot. He was just a regular guy trying his best to support his family and unknowingly creating rifts in the process. I got a direct shot to the heart once I realised what was actually happening and man, that one hurt! Athan packed so much punch into his characters and made me really root for them and want to succeed. And THAT ENDING.....I had chills!
PainSpace was claustrophobic and anxiety-inducing and ridiculously sad, and I'd argue it's one of Athan's best of his recent releases.
Review of advance copy received from Author
‼️COMING APRIL 30TH 2026‼️
4/5 🍒
Lucas and his daughter Alexis stop at Buddy’s Burgers for a bite to eat and so she can play in the indoor playground. While Alexis is in the tubes Lucas drifts off to sleep. He wakes up realizing he may have fell asleep for too long.
He decides it’s time to go and hollers into the playground that it’s time to go home. Alexis begs for five more minutes. Lucas caves and goes and sits back down. He tries keeping his eyes open but he is so tired he can’t. He falls asleep again.
This time when he wakes up the restaurant is soon closing and he begins to panic, where is Alexis? As he paces the room he decides to go inside the tubing to find his daughter because now she isn’t answering him when he calls.
As he gets deeper into the playground he starts to realize things aren’t quite right. Everything is off. He makes his way through the maze of tubes trying to find Alexis. Will he find Alexis or will he find something much scarier?
This book was a bit different than Jon’s normal books but it was still great! I’m interested to see him write more psychological books like this. If you like backroom, liminal space type horror definitely give this a read!
4/5 🍒
Lucas and his daughter Alexis stop at Buddy’s Burgers for a bite to eat and so she can play in the indoor playground. While Alexis is in the tubes Lucas drifts off to sleep. He wakes up realizing he may have fell asleep for too long.
He decides it’s time to go and hollers into the playground that it’s time to go home. Alexis begs for five more minutes. Lucas caves and goes and sits back down. He tries keeping his eyes open but he is so tired he can’t. He falls asleep again.
This time when he wakes up the restaurant is soon closing and he begins to panic, where is Alexis? As he paces the room he decides to go inside the tubing to find his daughter because now she isn’t answering him when he calls.
As he gets deeper into the playground he starts to realize things aren’t quite right. Everything is off. He makes his way through the maze of tubes trying to find Alexis. Will he find Alexis or will he find something much scarier?
This book was a bit different than Jon’s normal books but it was still great! I’m interested to see him write more psychological books like this. If you like backroom, liminal space type horror definitely give this a read!
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 😁
Review of advance copy received from Author
Jon Athan's foray into liminal horror proves to be a dark and chilling take on a familiar creepypasta theme: namely, the children's crawl tube or playground tunnel, in which kids disappear or unknown beings reside or otherwordly portals lead to new spaces (or all of the above). In "PainSpace," a father loses his six-year-old daughter in the indoor playground within their favorite fast food spot. Unable to get help from the employees, he enters the tube maze himself to find her. What follows is a psychologically heavy, emotionally painful, and quite uncanny journey in a father's heartspace -a soul-crushing and claustrophobic narrative of one man's desperate search for his little girl. Expect emotional turmoil and strong Backrooms vibes.
Unlike his usual gory fare, this work of Athan's eschews violence and bloodshed, and delves deep into the struggles of parenthood and the challenges of raising a family. It often threw me a curveball and caught me off guard, it's definitely different from what Athan usually writes, but I appreciated the different direction this took, especially the ending - and I loved the very last scene!
Unlike his usual gory fare, this work of Athan's eschews violence and bloodshed, and delves deep into the struggles of parenthood and the challenges of raising a family. It often threw me a curveball and caught me off guard, it's definitely different from what Athan usually writes, but I appreciated the different direction this took, especially the ending - and I loved the very last scene!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Pain Space by Jon Athan
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
After an overworked father falls asleep in a fast food play structure while his daughter plays he loses track of time and is forced to go in after her. With no word from his daughter and trying to navigate confusing winding tubes that refuse to feel normal he starts to feel that this is not just an ordinary playground…
This may just be my favorite Athan novel! It’s quite different from his normal content and while it doesn’t pack his normal splatterpunk/extreme horror punch don’t let that fool you! This is not a light read. Athan really went into the psychological horror aspects of the liminal spaces concept.
FAKE SPOILER: HE FUCKING KILLED IT!!
I loved the interior illustrations that brought this little disturbing story to life! It was a super fun addition to the mindf*ck that this novella was. And under 100 pages?! HOW DO YOU DO IT JON!!
This one evoked so many emotions that you may not expect from an Athan novel of this caliber including that cruel CRUEL ending!
My mind is reeling and I can’t wait to discuss this with everyone when it releases on April 30th!! Thank you for the ARC!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Athan steps away from extreme horror in this haunting and emotional Novella.
Lucas Flores takes his daughter, Alexis, to Buddy's Burgers. A fast-food establishment with greasy food and a helluva play space. Lucas dozes off as Alexis plays, but when he wakes up, she's gone, forcing himself to look in the play space for her.
This is very out there for Athan. He's notable for his grounded and realistic stories, but this is something otherworldly and bizarre.
As Lucas delves deep into the never-ending tunnels, he faces dark truths and something from his past that wants him. The second half of this story really got to me, I love Athan's work, but I can't really say I've ever been too emotionally connected to a story. Learning more about Lucas' relationship with his daughter was very poignant. His arc through the book is emotionally rich and cathartic. While I'm more of an extreme horror person, I still applaud Athan for taking a risk and delivering a short and bizarre liminal horror with an emotional pull.
Lucas Flores takes his daughter, Alexis, to Buddy's Burgers. A fast-food establishment with greasy food and a helluva play space. Lucas dozes off as Alexis plays, but when he wakes up, she's gone, forcing himself to look in the play space for her.
This is very out there for Athan. He's notable for his grounded and realistic stories, but this is something otherworldly and bizarre.
As Lucas delves deep into the never-ending tunnels, he faces dark truths and something from his past that wants him. The second half of this story really got to me, I love Athan's work, but I can't really say I've ever been too emotionally connected to a story. Learning more about Lucas' relationship with his daughter was very poignant. His arc through the book is emotionally rich and cathartic. While I'm more of an extreme horror person, I still applaud Athan for taking a risk and delivering a short and bizarre liminal horror with an emotional pull.
Review of advance copy received from Author
PainSpace, A new Novella from Jon Athan!
Lucas Flores takes his daughter, Alexis, to Buddy’s Burgers to grab a bite to eat and let her play in the indoor playground. While Alexis plays, Lucas takes a nap. When he awakens, Alexis is nowhere to be found and doesn’t respond when he calls for her. The only sign of her is her shoes at the entrance. With no other option, he enters the playground tube with the hope of finding his missing daughter.
PainSpace is a supernatural horror. Generally, I would expect an extreme horror story from Jon, but this book takes you on a different journey that makes you feel claustrophobic, tense, and uncomfortable. It will grab your attention from the start and not let go. No matter what you think may happen, you’re wrong.
I am beyond honored to be part of Jon Athan’s Street Team and was provided with an ARC of the book to review. PainSpace releases on April 30th, 2026, and is available to preorder now!
This is one you do not want to miss!
Lucas Flores takes his daughter, Alexis, to Buddy’s Burgers to grab a bite to eat and let her play in the indoor playground. While Alexis plays, Lucas takes a nap. When he awakens, Alexis is nowhere to be found and doesn’t respond when he calls for her. The only sign of her is her shoes at the entrance. With no other option, he enters the playground tube with the hope of finding his missing daughter.
PainSpace is a supernatural horror. Generally, I would expect an extreme horror story from Jon, but this book takes you on a different journey that makes you feel claustrophobic, tense, and uncomfortable. It will grab your attention from the start and not let go. No matter what you think may happen, you’re wrong.
I am beyond honored to be part of Jon Athan’s Street Team and was provided with an ARC of the book to review. PainSpace releases on April 30th, 2026, and is available to preorder now!
This is one you do not want to miss!
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