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Of Beasts
In this queer horror novel debut, a priest falls in love with the antichrist and even God can’t stop the horror it will bring.
Dante, a protestant young man, and Jude, a sadistic pastor of a small Texas church, harbor a terrible secret from the world; they’re together. The two share a taboo and passionate relationship in hidden peace, until the dreams start.
God speaks to them in visions of smoke and fire, night after night, until the two of them come to a truth they cannot ignore; Dante is the Antichrist, sent by God and urged to start off the apocalypse.
Dante refuses to participate in the end of the world and the damnation of souls. But Jude is a loyal pastor, indifferent to the suffering of others, and is compelled to do what God tells him; even if it means killing the love of his life.
This queer horror love story hones in on the humanity of the Antichrist, a half-human entity as flawed, complex, and doomed as any other soul. With lyrical prose reminiscent of Clive Barker, blasphemy is redefined and love is tested. In Of Beasts, Worma explores if love is enough for someone born to be evil.
Dante, a protestant young man, and Jude, a sadistic pastor of a small Texas church, harbor a terrible secret from the world; they’re together. The two share a taboo and passionate relationship in hidden peace, until the dreams start.
God speaks to them in visions of smoke and fire, night after night, until the two of them come to a truth they cannot ignore; Dante is the Antichrist, sent by God and urged to start off the apocalypse.
Dante refuses to participate in the end of the world and the damnation of souls. But Jude is a loyal pastor, indifferent to the suffering of others, and is compelled to do what God tells him; even if it means killing the love of his life.
This queer horror love story hones in on the humanity of the Antichrist, a half-human entity as flawed, complex, and doomed as any other soul. With lyrical prose reminiscent of Clive Barker, blasphemy is redefined and love is tested. In Of Beasts, Worma explores if love is enough for someone born to be evil.
81 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 10, 2026
6 people are currently reading
749 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 237 reviews
December 16, 2025
The pacing was uneven and for such an explicit premise, it was a big anti-climactic at times. But overall, I had a good time with this dark and very blasphemous novella.
It's hard for me to say no to a fucked up relationship, especially ones with such an uneven power imbalance. (Oops, that's my kink!) So of course I had to read this one.
And let me tell you, this little novella definitely did deliver on those fronts. It was graphic and disgusting when it wanted to be. But the author also managed to balance it out by dialing down at certain points in the story.
I know it's always unfair to say this, but I really wish this novella was longer. As much as I loved the Antichrist symbolism and horror elements, it was difficult to really get a feel for the two MCs and sympathize with them with such a short word count. I really wanted to get attached to Jude and Dante, but it felt like the prose kept them at an arm's length from me.
Don't get me wrong though, this was a great horror with dark fantasy elements. So, if you're looking for a quick read based on that angle, I'd recommend this.
I'd love to see what M. Jane Worma has in store for us in the future!
Thank you to CLASH Books and NetGalley for this arc.
It's hard for me to say no to a fucked up relationship, especially ones with such an uneven power imbalance. (Oops, that's my kink!) So of course I had to read this one.
And let me tell you, this little novella definitely did deliver on those fronts. It was graphic and disgusting when it wanted to be. But the author also managed to balance it out by dialing down at certain points in the story.
I know it's always unfair to say this, but I really wish this novella was longer. As much as I loved the Antichrist symbolism and horror elements, it was difficult to really get a feel for the two MCs and sympathize with them with such a short word count. I really wanted to get attached to Jude and Dante, but it felt like the prose kept them at an arm's length from me.
Don't get me wrong though, this was a great horror with dark fantasy elements. So, if you're looking for a quick read based on that angle, I'd recommend this.
I'd love to see what M. Jane Worma has in store for us in the future!
Thank you to CLASH Books and NetGalley for this arc.
May 2, 2025
This book had so many elements that should have made it a hit with me. I love me some religious horror and when you add queerness to the mix, I don't ask too many questions especially if you promise me a lyrical prose, even the cover is perfection. Alas, I didn't really vibe with this book nearly as much as I expected I would. The pacing was muddy and the prose didn't strike me as anything special. If I'm entirely honest I feel like the premise of a relationship between a priest and the antichrist did almost all the lifting here, I say almost because there were a few solid scenes mostly when it was about Dante's parentage.
I'm an habitual reader of extreme horror so not much shocks me in fiction and the smut between an adult and a teenager didn't hold much visceral aspect for me in and of itself and the way it was treated didn't help. I needed more from Dante to make that stuff feel impactful and I never got it. That left me feeling like the author intended for that aspect to be almost banal which could have been great if the story hadn't been so overall anticlimactic.
Many thanks to CLASH Books and Netgalley for providing me a digital review copy of this book for review consideration.
I'm an habitual reader of extreme horror so not much shocks me in fiction and the smut between an adult and a teenager didn't hold much visceral aspect for me in and of itself and the way it was treated didn't help. I needed more from Dante to make that stuff feel impactful and I never got it. That left me feeling like the author intended for that aspect to be almost banal which could have been great if the story hadn't been so overall anticlimactic.
Many thanks to CLASH Books and Netgalley for providing me a digital review copy of this book for review consideration.
May 23, 2025
“I’d let you destroy me. I’d give any suffering.”
*crosses self* Forgive me, Father, for I have been bad…
I was born and raised a Roman Catholic, so enjoying this book should have me shaking in my shiny church shoes. *shifts eyes to the sky*
Here’s the thing, I loooovveeee religious horror of all kinds, it really fuels my love of horror. Hell, I even cosplay as a smutty nun, but that’s a story for another day. So when this book fell from the heavens—or better yet, crawled up from Hell—I was all in. Seriously, take my soul!
Praise be, because this book was phenomenal. There wasn't a single page where I knew what was going to happen next, so devour this I did. I finished this a while ago, and I'm still thinking about this book in its entirety. From start to that earth-shattering finish, I was enthralled. It left me speechless.
'Of Beasts' is a book you don't want to sleep on. It'll definitely make you attend church to confess your sins!
*crosses self* Forgive me, Father, for I have been bad…
I was born and raised a Roman Catholic, so enjoying this book should have me shaking in my shiny church shoes. *shifts eyes to the sky*
Here’s the thing, I loooovveeee religious horror of all kinds, it really fuels my love of horror. Hell, I even cosplay as a smutty nun, but that’s a story for another day. So when this book fell from the heavens—or better yet, crawled up from Hell—I was all in. Seriously, take my soul!
Praise be, because this book was phenomenal. There wasn't a single page where I knew what was going to happen next, so devour this I did. I finished this a while ago, and I'm still thinking about this book in its entirety. From start to that earth-shattering finish, I was enthralled. It left me speechless.
'Of Beasts' is a book you don't want to sleep on. It'll definitely make you attend church to confess your sins!
February 21, 2026
This is an ARC Review - sadly GR won't let me change my star rating, but know it would be a 1
I need to address a significant content concern before discussing this book. This novella depicts an explicit sexual relationship between Dante, who is 17, and Jude, who appears to be in his twenties. I didn't realize Dante was a minor until about two-thirds through the book—well after their first sex scene. Before that revelation, he's occasionally referred to as "the teen," which I interpreted as meaning he was 18 or 19, because I assumed (apparently incorrectly) that a book with explicit sexual content would only involve adults.
This feels like a serious oversight in both the book's content warnings and NetGalley's vetting process. Readers should be clearly informed upfront when a book depicts sexual relationships involving minors, regardless of how "close" they are to adulthood. Being blindsided into reading explicit content involving a 17-year-old felt deeply uncomfortable and frankly inappropriate.
The actual writing is technically strong and the story itself is well-constructed (hence the OG rating of 4 stars), but I cannot in good conscience recommend this book given that it romanticizes what would legally constitute statutory rape in most jurisdictions.
Thanks (?) to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC
I need to address a significant content concern before discussing this book. This novella depicts an explicit sexual relationship between Dante, who is 17, and Jude, who appears to be in his twenties. I didn't realize Dante was a minor until about two-thirds through the book—well after their first sex scene. Before that revelation, he's occasionally referred to as "the teen," which I interpreted as meaning he was 18 or 19, because I assumed (apparently incorrectly) that a book with explicit sexual content would only involve adults.
This feels like a serious oversight in both the book's content warnings and NetGalley's vetting process. Readers should be clearly informed upfront when a book depicts sexual relationships involving minors, regardless of how "close" they are to adulthood. Being blindsided into reading explicit content involving a 17-year-old felt deeply uncomfortable and frankly inappropriate.
The actual writing is technically strong and the story itself is well-constructed (hence the OG rating of 4 stars), but I cannot in good conscience recommend this book given that it romanticizes what would legally constitute statutory rape in most jurisdictions.
Thanks (?) to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC
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November 11, 2025
MM Erotic Horror
Pastor/Anti-Christ
2 Stars ⭐️ (For now)
Ok well, this is awkward. Thank you netgalley for the arc but this needs some work and while I know I’m not supposed to review errors, if this releases in its current state, the 3.24 rating is going to nosedive even more.
Ok so the first thing to know is this book doesn’t release until February and it’s a debut novella. The blurb lured me in with the taboo premise of a love story between a priest and the Anti-Christ however as it turns out this is about a pastor and that changes the forbidden aspect a bit because priest implies celibacy but pastor does not. That said the first line of this book is the quote below and it was a good way to hook me into the story especially when the pastor is a sadist. 😂
Dante was fucking the local pastor
The problem is really everything else. Since this was so short it was really hard to give a shit about either character because we just don’t spend enough time with them together or separate. I didn’t even realize Dante was a teenager until midway through the book which really ups the forbidden angle because Jude is in his 20s. The writing style annoyed me because there was too much head hopping and I had trouble figuring out whose POV I was supposed to be in.
The book got better in the second half but it had a pretty lackluster ending for the rise of the anti-Christ and I feel like this book just needs something else to give it life. I wanted to love this but it just needs some more tweaking before it’s ready for everyone to read so fingers crossed 🤞🏻 it gets there and when it releases I’ll be curious to see if it’s the same. That said, for a debut I didn’t see any spelling or typo errors which was a plus but didn’t make up for the overall story
It should be noted that this has an unconventional HEA but at its core it’s horror so not everyone may find the ending satisfying.
Pastor/Anti-Christ
2 Stars ⭐️ (For now)
Ok well, this is awkward. Thank you netgalley for the arc but this needs some work and while I know I’m not supposed to review errors, if this releases in its current state, the 3.24 rating is going to nosedive even more.
Ok so the first thing to know is this book doesn’t release until February and it’s a debut novella. The blurb lured me in with the taboo premise of a love story between a priest and the Anti-Christ however as it turns out this is about a pastor and that changes the forbidden aspect a bit because priest implies celibacy but pastor does not. That said the first line of this book is the quote below and it was a good way to hook me into the story especially when the pastor is a sadist. 😂
Dante was fucking the local pastor
The problem is really everything else. Since this was so short it was really hard to give a shit about either character because we just don’t spend enough time with them together or separate. I didn’t even realize Dante was a teenager until midway through the book which really ups the forbidden angle because Jude is in his 20s. The writing style annoyed me because there was too much head hopping and I had trouble figuring out whose POV I was supposed to be in.
The book got better in the second half but it had a pretty lackluster ending for the rise of the anti-Christ and I feel like this book just needs something else to give it life. I wanted to love this but it just needs some more tweaking before it’s ready for everyone to read so fingers crossed 🤞🏻 it gets there and when it releases I’ll be curious to see if it’s the same. That said, for a debut I didn’t see any spelling or typo errors which was a plus but didn’t make up for the overall story
It should be noted that this has an unconventional HEA but at its core it’s horror so not everyone may find the ending satisfying.
August 29, 2025
So I feel like people are going to go insane for this when it releases.
I really liked it! Queer, erotic, religious horror done well. I read this in nearly one sitting and really love the concept, relationship dynamic, and characters. Really great pacing and the prose had a lovely tone. The choice to have head-hopping narration between Dante and Jude worked well, too.
There were some minor criticisms from me, which kept this from being a 5 star read. Every time Dante was described as 'the teen' (rather than using his name or just with 'he') drew me out of the story more than it should have. I also wish there was a bit more to Dante and Jude's characterisations - I actually found the synopsis more revealing than the actual text! But that's also a sign of a good story for me - the characters were interesting as it stands, I just wish there was more of them because I feel like I could have gone absolutely feral for their dysfunctional dynamic.
I think this works well as a novella, but I think this would have absolutely blown me away as a full sized novel.
I really liked it! Queer, erotic, religious horror done well. I read this in nearly one sitting and really love the concept, relationship dynamic, and characters. Really great pacing and the prose had a lovely tone. The choice to have head-hopping narration between Dante and Jude worked well, too.
There were some minor criticisms from me, which kept this from being a 5 star read. Every time Dante was described as 'the teen' (rather than using his name or just with 'he') drew me out of the story more than it should have. I also wish there was a bit more to Dante and Jude's characterisations - I actually found the synopsis more revealing than the actual text! But that's also a sign of a good story for me - the characters were interesting as it stands, I just wish there was more of them because I feel like I could have gone absolutely feral for their dysfunctional dynamic.
I think this works well as a novella, but I think this would have absolutely blown me away as a full sized novel.
April 18, 2025
God is probably going to smite me when I say I loved this. But I loved this lol. Definitely a 4.5 for me
I love religious horror. I’m not religious at all but something about religious horror piques my interest. Of Beasts is one of the best experiences I’ve had with this sub-genre hands-down.
The prose is so beautiful here and easy to engage with, fantastic for a debut author. M. Jane Worma manages to express the themes of religious trauma, religious guilt, abuse of power, and queer identities in religious spaces so well. The story is paced really well for a novella. I was concerned about the short length but by the time it was over I felt satisfied. Everything blends so perfectly to deliver a very brutal, thought-provoking, experience.
Dante and Jude’s relationship is so well written too. Their dynamic is certainly the backbone of this story and seeing it play out is very nerve-racking and intense.
If this sounds interesting I would 100% recommend it when it officially releases. It’s short, shocking, brutal, everything you could want in a horror novella.
*Thank you to NetGalley and CLASH Books for providing me an ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are entirely my own*
I love religious horror. I’m not religious at all but something about religious horror piques my interest. Of Beasts is one of the best experiences I’ve had with this sub-genre hands-down.
The prose is so beautiful here and easy to engage with, fantastic for a debut author. M. Jane Worma manages to express the themes of religious trauma, religious guilt, abuse of power, and queer identities in religious spaces so well. The story is paced really well for a novella. I was concerned about the short length but by the time it was over I felt satisfied. Everything blends so perfectly to deliver a very brutal, thought-provoking, experience.
Dante and Jude’s relationship is so well written too. Their dynamic is certainly the backbone of this story and seeing it play out is very nerve-racking and intense.
If this sounds interesting I would 100% recommend it when it officially releases. It’s short, shocking, brutal, everything you could want in a horror novella.
*Thank you to NetGalley and CLASH Books for providing me an ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are entirely my own*
November 8, 2025
***I thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this book in return for an honest review***
“I’d let you destroy me. I’d give any suffering.”
good lord. this was a treat.
i initially selected this because of its cover—absolutely gorgeous—and when i read the blurb, i just had to pick it up. i was not disappointed at all.
Worma pens a short yet intense tale of religious horror and queerness, two toxic lovers/themes that go hand in hand. the guilt, the shame, the fear, the daring need for love and intimacy—all wrapped up in biblical allegory. people with trauma (me) would absolutely eat this up.
blasphemous story. disgusting power dynamic. brutal ending. it’s beautiful. if this was on ao3, i would’ve bookmarked it a million times.
sensual. sinful. perfection.
would somewhat recommend to fans of The Summer Hikaru Died
“God told me to, he did, I thought he did but now I don’t know and where is God now? He was not in that room.”
x
“I’d let you destroy me. I’d give any suffering.”
good lord. this was a treat.
i initially selected this because of its cover—absolutely gorgeous—and when i read the blurb, i just had to pick it up. i was not disappointed at all.
Worma pens a short yet intense tale of religious horror and queerness, two toxic lovers/themes that go hand in hand. the guilt, the shame, the fear, the daring need for love and intimacy—all wrapped up in biblical allegory. people with trauma (me) would absolutely eat this up.
blasphemous story. disgusting power dynamic. brutal ending. it’s beautiful. if this was on ao3, i would’ve bookmarked it a million times.
sensual. sinful. perfection.
would somewhat recommend to fans of The Summer Hikaru Died
“God told me to, he did, I thought he did but now I don’t know and where is God now? He was not in that room.”
x
January 17, 2026
You could say this is about the inherent horror of being queer and religious. Or you could be weirded out. I’ll let you pick. Let’s get into it.
This novella got me in a permanent state of what am I reading. It was incredibly unhinged from the very beginning. It woke me up like a slap in the face. After all, what did I expect? A priest falling in love with the antichrist is in the blurb of the book. Just typing that out is insane.
Alright, so. We have Jude, a pastor, and Dante, a… well, the Antichrist. Dante is significantly younger than Jude, while we don’t know the pastor’s age, we know Dante’s a teenager, it’s been said repeatedly. Seventeen, specifically. Jude is NOT beating the your-run-of-the-mill-priest allegations, guys. And that’s one thing that weirded me out. I tried my best to ignore it because the blurb does say they “fall in love” and it feels weird after knowing his age. I hope this was intentional.
Anyway, they’re in a secret relationship. All of a sudden they start having strange dreams about fire, about one slaying the other and so on. Their dreams are connected and have meaning. Their dreams are also why Dante discovers he’s the Antichrist, because before, his father’s absence was explained away by his mother.
Everything starts to get crazy from there, like it wasn’t already crazy before. Something happens and the consequences of said thing also happen. It’s a short read, I can only say so much without spoiling it!
Ultimately, I was fascinated with the story. I generally like to think I’m built for books with topics like this, though I’m proven wrong time and time again. It’s not the gore, it’s the other minor bits that ick me out, like the age difference. Which I didn’t know about before actually reading this novella.
It was so interesting to read about though?? I didn’t like their relationship, because who would, but the storyline? The twists? Never been done before, at least that I know of! (I am a beginner when it comes to horror) I’m not saying this is a five star read, and maybe it’s the shock factor, but I feel like this deserves at least a 3.75, maybe a four!
Read this if you’re one to like the weird and horrifying! Because apparently, that’s me, too!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This novella got me in a permanent state of what am I reading. It was incredibly unhinged from the very beginning. It woke me up like a slap in the face. After all, what did I expect? A priest falling in love with the antichrist is in the blurb of the book. Just typing that out is insane.
Alright, so. We have Jude, a pastor, and Dante, a… well, the Antichrist. Dante is significantly younger than Jude, while we don’t know the pastor’s age, we know Dante’s a teenager, it’s been said repeatedly. Seventeen, specifically. Jude is NOT beating the your-run-of-the-mill-priest allegations, guys. And that’s one thing that weirded me out. I tried my best to ignore it because the blurb does say they “fall in love” and it feels weird after knowing his age. I hope this was intentional.
Anyway, they’re in a secret relationship. All of a sudden they start having strange dreams about fire, about one slaying the other and so on. Their dreams are connected and have meaning. Their dreams are also why Dante discovers he’s the Antichrist, because before, his father’s absence was explained away by his mother.
Everything starts to get crazy from there, like it wasn’t already crazy before. Something happens and the consequences of said thing also happen. It’s a short read, I can only say so much without spoiling it!
Ultimately, I was fascinated with the story. I generally like to think I’m built for books with topics like this, though I’m proven wrong time and time again. It’s not the gore, it’s the other minor bits that ick me out, like the age difference. Which I didn’t know about before actually reading this novella.
It was so interesting to read about though?? I didn’t like their relationship, because who would, but the storyline? The twists? Never been done before, at least that I know of! (I am a beginner when it comes to horror) I’m not saying this is a five star read, and maybe it’s the shock factor, but I feel like this deserves at least a 3.75, maybe a four!
Read this if you’re one to like the weird and horrifying! Because apparently, that’s me, too!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 12, 2026
₊˚⊹ | 3 ★ read .ᐟ
I don’t know what it was, maybe reading another religious book previously made me crave some more of this whole corrupt priest/disciple trope, but I enjoyed it. Sure, I already imagined it a little but longer than this and would have loved to have more chapters with these two, but it was pretty good. Not gonna lie, I kind of thought about Cody Fern’s antichrist in AHS the whole time and it got me even more interested hahaha.
So, yes, I only give it 3 stars because I wished for more. Other than that, it worked pretty well for me. 🤩
I don’t know what it was, maybe reading another religious book previously made me crave some more of this whole corrupt priest/disciple trope, but I enjoyed it. Sure, I already imagined it a little but longer than this and would have loved to have more chapters with these two, but it was pretty good. Not gonna lie, I kind of thought about Cody Fern’s antichrist in AHS the whole time and it got me even more interested hahaha.
So, yes, I only give it 3 stars because I wished for more. Other than that, it worked pretty well for me. 🤩
February 14, 2026
It had such potential. I was gagged for most of it. It didn't end up providing what I wanted from it, and I considered removing one star for the inconsistent POV jumping head constantly, but I had fun overall 😆
(ending spoilers)
(ending spoilers)
August 31, 2025
the atmosphere of this book is brutal and uncomfortable and rightfully so.
a quick read that i really enjoyed, but could use some more reflection from the characters.
thank you clash books and netgalley for the e-arc!
a quick read that i really enjoyed, but could use some more reflection from the characters.
thank you clash books and netgalley for the e-arc!
November 25, 2025
delicious lil morsel of a horrific, doomed love story that left my stomach and brain in knots!!!
July 28, 2025
Of Beasts is an interesting take on religious horror; what would happen if a Priest fell in love with the Antichrist?
Jude and Dante were both compelling characters and I was hooked on their romance and power dynamics from the start. However, their age-gap was slightly problematic with Dante being a minor (which could be commentary on the church). Once Dante became the Antichrist, I was hoping the power dynamics would switch from pastor and congregant to the Antichrist having the power, but not much changed.
I was also a bit lost on the point of the plot, the dreams felt a bit contradictory—why would God be telling Jude to kill Dante if it was going to trigger the apocalypse? Or was someone else sending the dreams (this could have been explored in the ending). There was also so much build up to a very anticlimactic ending. I felt that it needed to be at least 30 pages longer to give it a proper conclusion.
Worma had some great visceral descriptions that will stick with me, and I enjoyed this as a quick read. However the ending was incredibly disappointing to me.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
Jude and Dante were both compelling characters and I was hooked on their romance and power dynamics from the start. However, their age-gap was slightly problematic with Dante being a minor (which could be commentary on the church). Once Dante became the Antichrist, I was hoping the power dynamics would switch from pastor and congregant to the Antichrist having the power, but not much changed.
I was also a bit lost on the point of the plot, the dreams felt a bit contradictory—why would God be telling Jude to kill Dante if it was going to trigger the apocalypse? Or was someone else sending the dreams (this could have been explored in the ending). There was also so much build up to a very anticlimactic ending. I felt that it needed to be at least 30 pages longer to give it a proper conclusion.
Worma had some great visceral descriptions that will stick with me, and I enjoyed this as a quick read. However the ending was incredibly disappointing to me.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
September 6, 2025
3 stars
I enjoyed the concept in this book and the characters too. Their dark twisting fates and dreams and feelings kept me wanting more and to know what lay at the end of the dark road.
However, given the restrictions present by its short size, there was an inherent limitation in the depth of the storyline, characters, and the depth of their relationship to one another. It left me wanting something *more*, some extra content to bridge the gap between the detail and characterisation that was on the page, and the depth of those things that I wanted to read (especially in relation to the anti-christ imagery and world destruction)
Overall: It was an interesting premise that left a bit to be desired.
I enjoyed the concept in this book and the characters too. Their dark twisting fates and dreams and feelings kept me wanting more and to know what lay at the end of the dark road.
However, given the restrictions present by its short size, there was an inherent limitation in the depth of the storyline, characters, and the depth of their relationship to one another. It left me wanting something *more*, some extra content to bridge the gap between the detail and characterisation that was on the page, and the depth of those things that I wanted to read (especially in relation to the anti-christ imagery and world destruction)
Overall: It was an interesting premise that left a bit to be desired.
Read
December 20, 2025This is exactly what it says on the tin: a novella about a young man who turns out to be the Antichrist in an illicit relationship with his pastor. I finished it, but it felt underdeveloped, characters and motivations unclear. Why do Jude and Dante like each other? Do they like each other? The tension in the novella sort of hinges on the fact that they care about each other in some way that goes beyond sex, but at the same time, the text doesn’t really make it clear that they do. It throws the reader into some fairly intense emotions, but since this is accompanied by very little information about who the characters are beyond “young man with a dark destiny” and “BDSM priest?” that intensity didn’t really land for me.
Thank you to CLASH and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to CLASH and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 25, 2025
My heart broke a little bit reading this book.
My constant predictions of what was next to come were all entirely shot down and was left reeling over that beautiful, bitter-sweet ending.
I think the pressures of what queer people living in the shadow of Christianity’s oppression was displayed in such an unexpected, yet perfect way.
I was a little confused by the POV in the beginning, but after a few chapters I was able to adapt and catch on.
Dante and Jude’s heartbreakingly beautiful story will stay with me for a very long time in the best way.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC. All thoughts here are my own.
My constant predictions of what was next to come were all entirely shot down and was left reeling over that beautiful, bitter-sweet ending.
I think the pressures of what queer people living in the shadow of Christianity’s oppression was displayed in such an unexpected, yet perfect way.
I was a little confused by the POV in the beginning, but after a few chapters I was able to adapt and catch on.
Dante and Jude’s heartbreakingly beautiful story will stay with me for a very long time in the best way.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC. All thoughts here are my own.
November 21, 2025
thank you netgalley and CLASH for providing this arc in exchange for my honest review.
this is a queer horror erotic novella about the antichrist being in a relationship with his pastor. the premise and cover were what drew me into requesting this arc on netgalley and i stand by the fact that its an interesting/compelling concept for a story.
i did enjoy the prose in this and for the first 30-50% my attention was grabbed the most. the reason i am only giving it 3 stars is due to a few things. firstly, i struggled to connect fully with the characters of dante and jude, probably because of the length of the novella. if the story had been expanded or even if more time was put into developing their characters it would have had more of an emotional impact on me. secondly, and this is probably my own fault for not paying full attention, but the age gap and constant referral to dante as 'the teen' threw me off so much. i recognise that its supposed to be a dark horror novella and i am not necessarily saying that the age gap shouldn't exist, it does serve its purpose in the narrative and i think it makes sense. it just left me feeling weird idk lol. i also had a bit of a hard time with the switching of povs constantly, it made it harder to follow the story and what was going on. finally, i found the conclusion rather lacklustre and i wish it had been executed differently.
that being said, i did still find enjoyment out of this. for it being a debut novella i was impressed and i think it is worth picking up especially if you have an interest in religious gay horror stories.
this is a queer horror erotic novella about the antichrist being in a relationship with his pastor. the premise and cover were what drew me into requesting this arc on netgalley and i stand by the fact that its an interesting/compelling concept for a story.
i did enjoy the prose in this and for the first 30-50% my attention was grabbed the most. the reason i am only giving it 3 stars is due to a few things. firstly, i struggled to connect fully with the characters of dante and jude, probably because of the length of the novella. if the story had been expanded or even if more time was put into developing their characters it would have had more of an emotional impact on me. secondly, and this is probably my own fault for not paying full attention, but the age gap and constant referral to dante as 'the teen' threw me off so much. i recognise that its supposed to be a dark horror novella and i am not necessarily saying that the age gap shouldn't exist, it does serve its purpose in the narrative and i think it makes sense. it just left me feeling weird idk lol. i also had a bit of a hard time with the switching of povs constantly, it made it harder to follow the story and what was going on. finally, i found the conclusion rather lacklustre and i wish it had been executed differently.
that being said, i did still find enjoyment out of this. for it being a debut novella i was impressed and i think it is worth picking up especially if you have an interest in religious gay horror stories.
May 8, 2025
Special thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing a digital copy in advance in exchange for an honest review
Started with a bang (literally) and ended with a whimper (figuratively)
I had really high hopes for this, and it wasn't bad! I just don't quite understand the overall message the story is trying to give. I don't know if I'm just too far removed from religion to really get it, or if this was a story that needed to be longer to really delve into the psyche of both Jude and Dante.
Jude was questionable from the start even before the dreams started. But was that a precursor to the dreams or was he just an awful person even without them? Are the dreams really what brought Jude and Dante to their demise, or was Jude always going to lead them there on his own? I just really don't know, and that might be a skill issue on my end honestly, but I spent a lot of my time reading this not really understanding what was happening and why things were happening.
Started with a bang (literally) and ended with a whimper (figuratively)
I had really high hopes for this, and it wasn't bad! I just don't quite understand the overall message the story is trying to give. I don't know if I'm just too far removed from religion to really get it, or if this was a story that needed to be longer to really delve into the psyche of both Jude and Dante.
Jude was questionable from the start even before the dreams started. But was that a precursor to the dreams or was he just an awful person even without them? Are the dreams really what brought Jude and Dante to their demise, or was Jude always going to lead them there on his own? I just really don't know, and that might be a skill issue on my end honestly, but I spent a lot of my time reading this not really understanding what was happening and why things were happening.
April 16, 2025
Half of the reason I picked up Of Beasts is because of the cover. I mean!!! Look at it!!! It's very striking. I also nabbed the novella because it's horror and gay.
However.
If I had known ahead of time that Dante, the "young man", wasn't an adult I never would have downloaded it in the first place. I'm not trying to be rude. This isn't a moral judgment on the author. I simply wasn't prepared for the experience. Of Beasts is described as "forbidden love" but it's actually just illegal? I don't care if Dante is the alleged Antichrist. He's in a teenager's body. Because of that, I'm not rooting for their relationship, I'm wanting Jude to get thrown in the trash. Period.
But I'm torn because, despite my distaste for the abusive relationship, of Jude's unhinged, controlling behavior and gross anger, this wasn't a badly written novella by any means. On the contrary, I'd say it's one of the best short pieces of fiction I've read this year, if not the best. It was incredibly readable. Very snappy.
Jude had SO much to answer for, though. Dante suffered so much. He was hurt when he didn't deserve it. What about Jude??? Idk. I just feel strongly that, by the end, nothing was resolved in a satisfying way (imo). It was difficult for me to buy into the ending after what Jude did. That doesn't make this a bad book or even a mid book. But I'm not entirely sure it's for me.
I'll definitely try Worma again in the future though because hot damn!!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!
However.
If I had known ahead of time that Dante, the "young man", wasn't an adult I never would have downloaded it in the first place. I'm not trying to be rude. This isn't a moral judgment on the author. I simply wasn't prepared for the experience. Of Beasts is described as "forbidden love" but it's actually just illegal? I don't care if Dante is the alleged Antichrist. He's in a teenager's body. Because of that, I'm not rooting for their relationship, I'm wanting Jude to get thrown in the trash. Period.
But I'm torn because, despite my distaste for the abusive relationship, of Jude's unhinged, controlling behavior and gross anger, this wasn't a badly written novella by any means. On the contrary, I'd say it's one of the best short pieces of fiction I've read this year, if not the best. It was incredibly readable. Very snappy.
Jude had SO much to answer for, though. Dante suffered so much. He was hurt when he didn't deserve it. What about Jude??? Idk. I just feel strongly that, by the end, nothing was resolved in a satisfying way (imo). It was difficult for me to buy into the ending after what Jude did. That doesn't make this a bad book or even a mid book. But I'm not entirely sure it's for me.
I'll definitely try Worma again in the future though because hot damn!!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!
June 9, 2025
“I’d let you destroy me. I’d give any suffering.”
I loved the atmosphere of this book. Religious horror will always turn my head but I almost wish this one would have leaned even a little further into it. I loved the reluctant Antichrist, the priest determined to do as God commands but I wanted … more? More of them. More of the tension. The back and forth. More lyrical prose that would really give the vibe of gothic, religious horror.
*Netgalley ARC review*
I loved the atmosphere of this book. Religious horror will always turn my head but I almost wish this one would have leaned even a little further into it. I loved the reluctant Antichrist, the priest determined to do as God commands but I wanted … more? More of them. More of the tension. The back and forth. More lyrical prose that would really give the vibe of gothic, religious horror.
*Netgalley ARC review*
June 13, 2025
Ethereal, dreamlike tale of quiet queer horror that really gets you right in the heart. Not for everyone, but if that’s your sweet spot you’ll be really into it.
November 28, 2025
I was curious about the story and wanted to read more, but it didn’t satisfy me, so I didn’t like it as much as I expected
May 5, 2025
This is the most f-ed up rendition of Romeo & Juliet you will ever read! Great for a debut novella! If this is the start of M. Jane Worma, I can't wait to see more!
May 7, 2025
ARC review
2.5 stars
Of Beasts is a queer literally horror novella with heavy religious overtones. This story is super gothic and atmospheric which was probably the element I enjoyed the most. Dante, a protestant young man, and his local paster Jude share a taboo and very power-imbalanced relationship away from the light of day. They both start experiencing dreams, interpreted as visions from God with the message that Dante is the Antichrist who will start the apocalypse. The couple are put at odds, one in defence of humanity and one only in service of God, no matter what his will.
M. Jane Worma exhibits really thought-provoking prose and absolutely knows how and where to put in a hook to keep you reading. This is a very cool idea and it's very easy to read and comprehend if you don't have any religious knowledge/experience. I think I enjoyed the writing a lot more than the plot, so I would be keen to read more from this author and see what else they can do.
I am torn on whether this book needed to be shorter or longer, because I felt like the concept has such huge potential, yet there was already a bit too much filler going on. It also bothered me that the relationship is very clearly abusive/coercive yet this isn't explore AT ALL. I understand the context of Jude being a priest and Dante a younger member of his congregation (that wasn't lost on me) but personally I don't like when these relationships are written for shock factor and without care, which is how I felt in this instance.
2.5 stars
Of Beasts is a queer literally horror novella with heavy religious overtones. This story is super gothic and atmospheric which was probably the element I enjoyed the most. Dante, a protestant young man, and his local paster Jude share a taboo and very power-imbalanced relationship away from the light of day. They both start experiencing dreams, interpreted as visions from God with the message that Dante is the Antichrist who will start the apocalypse. The couple are put at odds, one in defence of humanity and one only in service of God, no matter what his will.
M. Jane Worma exhibits really thought-provoking prose and absolutely knows how and where to put in a hook to keep you reading. This is a very cool idea and it's very easy to read and comprehend if you don't have any religious knowledge/experience. I think I enjoyed the writing a lot more than the plot, so I would be keen to read more from this author and see what else they can do.
I am torn on whether this book needed to be shorter or longer, because I felt like the concept has such huge potential, yet there was already a bit too much filler going on. It also bothered me that the relationship is very clearly abusive/coercive yet this isn't explore AT ALL. I understand the context of Jude being a priest and Dante a younger member of his congregation (that wasn't lost on me) but personally I don't like when these relationships are written for shock factor and without care, which is how I felt in this instance.
June 6, 2025
I really enjoyed the dynamic of queer religious horror in this novel- a favorite combination of mine, especially when the religious aspect isn’t triggering and irritating. Dante being a supposed antichrist but being such a kind person was interesting to see play out, especially as he later became more bitter while still trying to be good. I wish this particular piece had been explored in depth more.
The relationship between Jude (24 year old pastor) and Dante (17 year old) could have added a natural level of horror and disgust and did have a lot of obviously unhealthy power imbalances. However, the entirety of the book still treated it more like a sexy, loving couple, and the book description acts like this is simply a dark romance. It never being touched on that this is grossly inappropriate, made this read very uncomfortable, especially with the nature of their sexual relationship and Jude’s dark thoughts.
Thanks to CLASH books and Netgalley for providing me with a digital ARC of this novel.
The relationship between Jude (24 year old pastor) and Dante (17 year old) could have added a natural level of horror and disgust and did have a lot of obviously unhealthy power imbalances. However, the entirety of the book still treated it more like a sexy, loving couple, and the book description acts like this is simply a dark romance. It never being touched on that this is grossly inappropriate, made this read very uncomfortable, especially with the nature of their sexual relationship and Jude’s dark thoughts.
Thanks to CLASH books and Netgalley for providing me with a digital ARC of this novel.
July 8, 2025
1.5 ⭐️
Thank you netgalley and the publisher for gifting me this advanced reader copy.
Unfortunately this one was miss :( the idea of a priest and the antichrist having an explicit love affair was so intriguing to me and that’s definitely the only interesting part of the book. Plus it being so short!
The concept was so unique but I really wish this was a full length novel and that the author would’ve fleshed out the plot and characters. The ending was seriously so disappointing and anticlimactic. The writing felt really clunky and there just wasn’t much that stood out for me.
Edit: the longer I think on this book the less I like it. I forgot to mention that Dante in this book is underage and having very explicit sex scenes with a grown priest and it not only made me super uncomfortable it’s also wildly disgusting. There was no point to making Dante 17, the author easily could’ve made him an adult and it’s infuriating.
Thank you netgalley and the publisher for gifting me this advanced reader copy.
Unfortunately this one was miss :( the idea of a priest and the antichrist having an explicit love affair was so intriguing to me and that’s definitely the only interesting part of the book. Plus it being so short!
The concept was so unique but I really wish this was a full length novel and that the author would’ve fleshed out the plot and characters. The ending was seriously so disappointing and anticlimactic. The writing felt really clunky and there just wasn’t much that stood out for me.
Edit: the longer I think on this book the less I like it. I forgot to mention that Dante in this book is underage and having very explicit sex scenes with a grown priest and it not only made me super uncomfortable it’s also wildly disgusting. There was no point to making Dante 17, the author easily could’ve made him an adult and it’s infuriating.
September 6, 2025
Deeply uncomfortable, sad, and full of the unmistakeable feeling of looming dread. If you like your queers messed up, and your books existential and sad, with a heaping dose of religious guilt, then this will be a hit.
April 16, 2025
Edgy and brutal, this novella does not shy away from any of the themes it chooses to tackle.
“To stop the end of times?” Dante asked, huffing with a bitter smile. “I’d let you destroy me. I’d give any suffering.”
Worma does a fantastic job of creating an uneasy and eerie atmosphere from the get-go. I was on the edge of my seat from the first chapter.
Jude is a minister and Dante one of his sheep; unfortunately, it turns out Dante is the antichrist and they have a very passionate and very taboo relationship. Both start experiencing dreams, where Dante is told he will bring about the apocalypse and Jude is told he should kill him to start it. Both are being pushed toward ‘a greater good’ for which neither of them wants any part of.
But Jude is brutal and loyal, Dante being his only weakness in his worship of God. Dante is the opposite of what we expect from an Antichrist. He’s a boy who has done nothing wrong except, in the eyes of Christianity, fall for and sleep with Jude. Dante does not want to accept his fate. As the plot progresses, tension starts rising; you're waiting for the characters to make their decisions. What will Dante do? And what will Jude do?
Will they do as God intends? Will they bring about the end of the world?
The prose was beautiful and kept me hooked from the first page, especially important as I wasn’t quite sure if this book was for me. It was lyrical, dark and enticing but very easy to read. I also appreciate how this was a contained story and novella. I think this easily could have been made into a much longer novel but I appreciate the fact it wasn’t, as it works much better as a short story, in my opinion. I think this easily could’ve been dragged out and the tension would have been lost. Massive props as a lot of great authors struggle with short stories and novellas.
I think the opening may turn some people away; it was very graphic but I think sets the tone for the rest of the novella. If you enjoy the opening, you’ll love the rest of the book. I also expected a little more emotion to be invoked from the ending, considering how tense I found the middle of the novel. I have to add as well that I was not a fan of the age gap, with Dante being a teenager and Jude an adult; I expect this will put people off reading. But due to this being a horror and not a romance (and the abusiveness of the relationship is brought up throughout), I don't have as much of a problem with it as I would if it were being marketed as a romance novel or as a healthy relationship.
A really solid debut, and I’m really looking forward to what else the author releases. A solid 4.5 stars from me! Rounded up to 5!
Thank you to CLASH books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. A wonderful little gem I may not have discovered on my own, all opinions are entirely my own.
“To stop the end of times?” Dante asked, huffing with a bitter smile. “I’d let you destroy me. I’d give any suffering.”
Worma does a fantastic job of creating an uneasy and eerie atmosphere from the get-go. I was on the edge of my seat from the first chapter.
Jude is a minister and Dante one of his sheep; unfortunately, it turns out Dante is the antichrist and they have a very passionate and very taboo relationship. Both start experiencing dreams, where Dante is told he will bring about the apocalypse and Jude is told he should kill him to start it. Both are being pushed toward ‘a greater good’ for which neither of them wants any part of.
But Jude is brutal and loyal, Dante being his only weakness in his worship of God. Dante is the opposite of what we expect from an Antichrist. He’s a boy who has done nothing wrong except, in the eyes of Christianity, fall for and sleep with Jude. Dante does not want to accept his fate. As the plot progresses, tension starts rising; you're waiting for the characters to make their decisions. What will Dante do? And what will Jude do?
Will they do as God intends? Will they bring about the end of the world?
The prose was beautiful and kept me hooked from the first page, especially important as I wasn’t quite sure if this book was for me. It was lyrical, dark and enticing but very easy to read. I also appreciate how this was a contained story and novella. I think this easily could have been made into a much longer novel but I appreciate the fact it wasn’t, as it works much better as a short story, in my opinion. I think this easily could’ve been dragged out and the tension would have been lost. Massive props as a lot of great authors struggle with short stories and novellas.
I think the opening may turn some people away; it was very graphic but I think sets the tone for the rest of the novella. If you enjoy the opening, you’ll love the rest of the book. I also expected a little more emotion to be invoked from the ending, considering how tense I found the middle of the novel. I have to add as well that I was not a fan of the age gap, with Dante being a teenager and Jude an adult; I expect this will put people off reading. But due to this being a horror and not a romance (and the abusiveness of the relationship is brought up throughout), I don't have as much of a problem with it as I would if it were being marketed as a romance novel or as a healthy relationship.
A really solid debut, and I’m really looking forward to what else the author releases. A solid 4.5 stars from me! Rounded up to 5!
Thank you to CLASH books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. A wonderful little gem I may not have discovered on my own, all opinions are entirely my own.
August 17, 2025
Of Beasts offers a fascinating interpretation of the religious horror genre. I finished this short story in a single morning, and despite its shortness, it delivers an intense and compelling narrative.
I particularly enjoyed the portrayal of a queer pastor involved in a relationship with the Antichrist, which adds a supernatural allure and explores the temptation of a forbidden relationship—much like the concept of forbidden fruit. This aspect intrigued me greatly.
The story follows Jude, the pastor, as he navigates taboo relations with Dante, one of his congregants. Soon, they both begin experiencing vivid dreams filled with chaos and carnage, and God himself, always ending with Jude being forced to kill Dante.
I must admit, I was initially taken aback by the explicit content of the opening page, as I hadn't anticipated it to be so graphic. However, after the initial shock wore off, I was perfectly fine; I just didn’t expect it, haha!
The only aspect that made me a bit uncomfortable, and perhaps the only thing that could be adjusted, is Dante’s age. Hearing "teen" repeatedly felt unsettling, and while 17 is legal in some places, it still left me feeling uneasy. Couldn't he have been 20, or even 18 or 19? I understand that the theme revolves around taboo and sinful acts, but it could still be portrayed in a different context.
As for the ending, I am somewhat puzzled. While I appreciate it, I also felt it left me wanting more. It struck a bittersweet note. I rated this four stars because, despite my love for the world-building, plot, and characters, something felt missing, leaving me somewhat empty.
Overall, I highly recommend this story to anyone who enjoys queer religious horror.
I particularly enjoyed the portrayal of a queer pastor involved in a relationship with the Antichrist, which adds a supernatural allure and explores the temptation of a forbidden relationship—much like the concept of forbidden fruit. This aspect intrigued me greatly.
The story follows Jude, the pastor, as he navigates taboo relations with Dante, one of his congregants. Soon, they both begin experiencing vivid dreams filled with chaos and carnage, and God himself, always ending with Jude being forced to kill Dante.
I must admit, I was initially taken aback by the explicit content of the opening page, as I hadn't anticipated it to be so graphic. However, after the initial shock wore off, I was perfectly fine; I just didn’t expect it, haha!
The only aspect that made me a bit uncomfortable, and perhaps the only thing that could be adjusted, is Dante’s age. Hearing "teen" repeatedly felt unsettling, and while 17 is legal in some places, it still left me feeling uneasy. Couldn't he have been 20, or even 18 or 19? I understand that the theme revolves around taboo and sinful acts, but it could still be portrayed in a different context.
As for the ending, I am somewhat puzzled. While I appreciate it, I also felt it left me wanting more. It struck a bittersweet note. I rated this four stars because, despite my love for the world-building, plot, and characters, something felt missing, leaving me somewhat empty.
Overall, I highly recommend this story to anyone who enjoys queer religious horror.
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