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Elias
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“This book is emotionally cruel in a controlled way.”
Elias is a slow-burn psychological horror about control, identity erasure, and survival, where fear comes not from violence, but from silence, obedience, and the gradual loss of self.
Reader Praise
“Deeply unsettling, beautifully written, and emotionally intelligent.”
“It reads like literary horror wearing a psychological thriller’s skin.”
“The atmosphere is suffocating. The house feels disturbingly alive.”
“I didn’t feel entertained. I felt affected.”
Grief built the monster. Love keeps it alive.
He said it was an accident.
A storm. A slip. A single mistake that stole his daughter’s life.
But grief curdled into something else. Something darker.
Now, in the shadows of his isolated home, women are taken. Each one is measured, tested, and remade. He tells himself it is love. He tells himself it is redemption.
He couldn’t save her. So he rewrote her.
Ada wakes in a house governed by rules and rituals, where silence is survival and every choice is a test she doesn’t understand. Failure is not forgiven. The walls remember the women who came before her, and they whisper the truth of what he is trying to rebuild.
Some fathers can’t let go. Some daughters don’t get to leave.
Elias is a chilling psychological horror about grief, obsession, and the terrifying cost of turning love into control.
Dark psychological horror themes, captivity, violence, and coercion. Detailed list included in the book.
“This book is emotionally cruel in a controlled way.”
Elias is a slow-burn psychological horror about control, identity erasure, and survival, where fear comes not from violence, but from silence, obedience, and the gradual loss of self.
Reader Praise
“Deeply unsettling, beautifully written, and emotionally intelligent.”
“It reads like literary horror wearing a psychological thriller’s skin.”
“The atmosphere is suffocating. The house feels disturbingly alive.”
“I didn’t feel entertained. I felt affected.”
Grief built the monster. Love keeps it alive.
He said it was an accident.
A storm. A slip. A single mistake that stole his daughter’s life.
But grief curdled into something else. Something darker.
Now, in the shadows of his isolated home, women are taken. Each one is measured, tested, and remade. He tells himself it is love. He tells himself it is redemption.
He couldn’t save her. So he rewrote her.
Ada wakes in a house governed by rules and rituals, where silence is survival and every choice is a test she doesn’t understand. Failure is not forgiven. The walls remember the women who came before her, and they whisper the truth of what he is trying to rebuild.
Some fathers can’t let go. Some daughters don’t get to leave.
Elias is a chilling psychological horror about grief, obsession, and the terrifying cost of turning love into control.
Dark psychological horror themes, captivity, violence, and coercion. Detailed list included in the book.
Paperback
Published December 1, 2025
About the author
Chelsea O'Hara
6 books52 followersChelsea O’Hara writes psychological thrillers grounded in real life, inspired by experiments, human behaviour, and the darkness we try not to see. She’s fascinated by the fragility of memory, the strangeness of isolation, and the way ordinary people fracture under extraordinary pressure.
Her stories mix unsettling psychology with sharp, human edges, a little horror, a little heartbreak, and just enough dark humour to keep the lights on. She likes to say she writes about the things people prefer to ignore, the whispers in the walls, the truths we bury, and the shadows we pretend not to see.
Why did she start writing? She couldn’t tell you. Maybe to make sense of the chaos, maybe to lean into it. She’s always been fascinated by the human mind — why one person breaks and another doesn’t, why some turn cruel while others cling to kindness. Either way, the result is the same: thrillers that crawl under your skin and stay there.”
Chelsea writes best at night, when the house is still, her coffee is strong, and she pretends the scratching in the walls is “just the pipes.”
Her stories mix unsettling psychology with sharp, human edges, a little horror, a little heartbreak, and just enough dark humour to keep the lights on. She likes to say she writes about the things people prefer to ignore, the whispers in the walls, the truths we bury, and the shadows we pretend not to see.
Why did she start writing? She couldn’t tell you. Maybe to make sense of the chaos, maybe to lean into it. She’s always been fascinated by the human mind — why one person breaks and another doesn’t, why some turn cruel while others cling to kindness. Either way, the result is the same: thrillers that crawl under your skin and stay there.”
Chelsea writes best at night, when the house is still, her coffee is strong, and she pretends the scratching in the walls is “just the pipes.”
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
December 19, 2025
Elias is a psychological horror novel about control, identity erasure, and survival.
The story opens inside a nightmare: young women are imprisoned in cages beneath a house that feels alive, observant, and complicit. They are stripped of names, reduced to numbers, and forced into obedience rituals by a man who believes he is creating, not destroying.
The narrative moves between:
• The basement (the Still House) — claustrophobic, ritualistic, dehumanizing
• The outside world — where normal life continues, fractured and increasingly unsafe
• Memory and reconstruction — where identity is rewritten, blurred, or forcibly reshaped
At its core, this is not a “serial killer thriller.”
It’s a slow psychological dissection of how people are broken, reshaped, and made to survive inside someone else’s version of love and salvation.
This book is:
• Deeply unsettling
• Beautifully written
• Emotionally intelligent
• Not for casual readers
It reads like literary horror wearing a psychological thriller’s skin.
If this book fails for a reader, it will not be because it’s bad — it will be because it’s too intense.
Atmosphere is MASTER-LEVEL
The house is one of the strongest “settings-as-entity” I’ve read in a long time.
• The silence
• The smells (strawberry, bleach, rot)
• The way the house “listens”
This is Shirley Jackson–level atmospheric control.
The Still House feels aware, not haunted in a cheap way, but complicit.
🧠 THEMATIC DEPTH (WHY THIS BOOK STICKS)
This book isn’t about kidnapping.
It’s about:
• Being rewritten
• Losing language
• Being loved wrong
• Surviving inside someone else’s narrative
The line “He couldn’t save her. So he rewrote her.” is not marketing fluff — it’s the thesis.
That’s powerful.
Perfect for readers who love:
• Psychological horror
• Literary suspense
• Slow-burn dread
• Uncomfortable intimacy
• Feminist horror
NOT for readers who want:
• Fast action
• Clean heroes/villains
• Easy closure
😶 Immediate Gut Reaction
This book made me feel uncomfortable in my own body.
Not scared in a jump-scare way.
Not grossed out.
Just… constantly tense. Like I needed to keep checking the room around me.
I had to put it down a few times — not because it was boring, but because it was too intense to read for long stretches.
That’s not a complaint. Just a warning.
⸻
🧠 What Stuck With Me
• The silence is louder than most horror monsters.
• The house feels aware — like it’s choosing sides.
• The strawberry smell made my stomach turn every time it appeared.
• Liv broke my heart quietly and repeatedly.
This book doesn’t let you relax. Even during “calm” moments, something feels off, like you’re waiting for the floor to give way.
⸻
📖 Writing Style (Honest)
The prose is beautiful but heavy.
Sometimes I had to reread paragraphs because they were dense emotionally, not confusing — just a lot to sit with. It feels intentional, but I can see some readers saying:
“This is really well written, but I need breaks.”
That said, I’d rather read this than something dumbed down or rushed.
⸻
😬 Emotional Impact
This book is emotionally cruel in a controlled way.
• The fear feels realistic.
• The helplessness doesn’t feel exaggerated.
• The way the girls adapt is terrifying because it makes sense.
I felt angry. Sad. Protective. And deeply unsettled.
I did not feel entertained.
I felt affected.
⸻
🚨 Content Warning Reality Check
Yes, the content warnings are necessary.
No, they don’t fully prepare you.
Nothing is graphic for shock value, but the psychological weight is brutal. This book lives in the aftermath, not the act.
If you’ve ever read something and thought “this understands fear too well” — that’s this.
⸻
🧩 Things I Struggled With (Being Honest)
• The middle drags slightly — not plot-wise, but emotionally.
• I sometimes wanted just a tiny bit more grounding or clarity.
• This is not binge-read friendly unless you’re emotionally armored.
Still — none of that made me want to stop reading.
⸻
🩸 The Villain
Elias is terrifying because he’s quiet, not because he’s violent.
The worst moments weren’t what he did — it was:
• How calmly he did it
• How convinced he was that he was right
• How small everyone else became around him
That kind of villain sticks.
⸻
🖤 Would I Recommend It?
Yes — but selectively.
I would NOT recommend this to:
• Casual thriller readers
• Anyone looking for comfort or escape
• Readers sensitive to psychological abuse themes
I WOULD recommend it to:
• Horror readers
• Literary suspense fans
• Readers who like books that haunt them after
So here’s my full review ↙️
Elias is a slow-burn psychological horror that sinks under your skin and refuses to leave. This isn’t a fast thriller or an easy read — it’s heavy, intimate, and deeply unsettling in the quietest ways. The fear comes from silence, control, and the slow erasure of identity rather than graphic violence, and it’s written with striking, restrained prose. The atmosphere is suffocating, the house feels disturbingly alive, and the relationships between the girls are heartbreaking in their realism. At times the emotional weight can feel exhausting, and some readers may wish for slightly tighter pacing, but the impact is undeniable. This book doesn’t aim to entertain so much as it aims to affect — and it succeeds. Recommended for readers who enjoy dark psychological horror that lingers long after the final page.
The story opens inside a nightmare: young women are imprisoned in cages beneath a house that feels alive, observant, and complicit. They are stripped of names, reduced to numbers, and forced into obedience rituals by a man who believes he is creating, not destroying.
The narrative moves between:
• The basement (the Still House) — claustrophobic, ritualistic, dehumanizing
• The outside world — where normal life continues, fractured and increasingly unsafe
• Memory and reconstruction — where identity is rewritten, blurred, or forcibly reshaped
At its core, this is not a “serial killer thriller.”
It’s a slow psychological dissection of how people are broken, reshaped, and made to survive inside someone else’s version of love and salvation.
This book is:
• Deeply unsettling
• Beautifully written
• Emotionally intelligent
• Not for casual readers
It reads like literary horror wearing a psychological thriller’s skin.
If this book fails for a reader, it will not be because it’s bad — it will be because it’s too intense.
Atmosphere is MASTER-LEVEL
The house is one of the strongest “settings-as-entity” I’ve read in a long time.
• The silence
• The smells (strawberry, bleach, rot)
• The way the house “listens”
This is Shirley Jackson–level atmospheric control.
The Still House feels aware, not haunted in a cheap way, but complicit.
🧠 THEMATIC DEPTH (WHY THIS BOOK STICKS)
This book isn’t about kidnapping.
It’s about:
• Being rewritten
• Losing language
• Being loved wrong
• Surviving inside someone else’s narrative
The line “He couldn’t save her. So he rewrote her.” is not marketing fluff — it’s the thesis.
That’s powerful.
Perfect for readers who love:
• Psychological horror
• Literary suspense
• Slow-burn dread
• Uncomfortable intimacy
• Feminist horror
NOT for readers who want:
• Fast action
• Clean heroes/villains
• Easy closure
😶 Immediate Gut Reaction
This book made me feel uncomfortable in my own body.
Not scared in a jump-scare way.
Not grossed out.
Just… constantly tense. Like I needed to keep checking the room around me.
I had to put it down a few times — not because it was boring, but because it was too intense to read for long stretches.
That’s not a complaint. Just a warning.
⸻
🧠 What Stuck With Me
• The silence is louder than most horror monsters.
• The house feels aware — like it’s choosing sides.
• The strawberry smell made my stomach turn every time it appeared.
• Liv broke my heart quietly and repeatedly.
This book doesn’t let you relax. Even during “calm” moments, something feels off, like you’re waiting for the floor to give way.
⸻
📖 Writing Style (Honest)
The prose is beautiful but heavy.
Sometimes I had to reread paragraphs because they were dense emotionally, not confusing — just a lot to sit with. It feels intentional, but I can see some readers saying:
“This is really well written, but I need breaks.”
That said, I’d rather read this than something dumbed down or rushed.
⸻
😬 Emotional Impact
This book is emotionally cruel in a controlled way.
• The fear feels realistic.
• The helplessness doesn’t feel exaggerated.
• The way the girls adapt is terrifying because it makes sense.
I felt angry. Sad. Protective. And deeply unsettled.
I did not feel entertained.
I felt affected.
⸻
🚨 Content Warning Reality Check
Yes, the content warnings are necessary.
No, they don’t fully prepare you.
Nothing is graphic for shock value, but the psychological weight is brutal. This book lives in the aftermath, not the act.
If you’ve ever read something and thought “this understands fear too well” — that’s this.
⸻
🧩 Things I Struggled With (Being Honest)
• The middle drags slightly — not plot-wise, but emotionally.
• I sometimes wanted just a tiny bit more grounding or clarity.
• This is not binge-read friendly unless you’re emotionally armored.
Still — none of that made me want to stop reading.
⸻
🩸 The Villain
Elias is terrifying because he’s quiet, not because he’s violent.
The worst moments weren’t what he did — it was:
• How calmly he did it
• How convinced he was that he was right
• How small everyone else became around him
That kind of villain sticks.
⸻
🖤 Would I Recommend It?
Yes — but selectively.
I would NOT recommend this to:
• Casual thriller readers
• Anyone looking for comfort or escape
• Readers sensitive to psychological abuse themes
I WOULD recommend it to:
• Horror readers
• Literary suspense fans
• Readers who like books that haunt them after
So here’s my full review ↙️
Elias is a slow-burn psychological horror that sinks under your skin and refuses to leave. This isn’t a fast thriller or an easy read — it’s heavy, intimate, and deeply unsettling in the quietest ways. The fear comes from silence, control, and the slow erasure of identity rather than graphic violence, and it’s written with striking, restrained prose. The atmosphere is suffocating, the house feels disturbingly alive, and the relationships between the girls are heartbreaking in their realism. At times the emotional weight can feel exhausting, and some readers may wish for slightly tighter pacing, but the impact is undeniable. This book doesn’t aim to entertain so much as it aims to affect — and it succeeds. Recommended for readers who enjoy dark psychological horror that lingers long after the final page.
March 27, 2026
4.75 ⭐
⚠️ Please check trigger warnings before reading — this is a dark, psychological horror that does not hold back.
What if the scariest thing isn’t what you can see… but what you can’t quite trust?
Ava is a teacher living a quiet, independent life — content, settled, and happy. Until small things begin to feel… wrong. Objects aren’t where she remembers leaving them. And there’s an unsettling sense that she’s not alone.
Then she wakes up in a cage.
Not alone. Not safe. Not in control.
Imprisoned alongside three other women, Ava is forced to live by the suffocating, unspoken rules of a faceless man who lurks in the shadows. Silence is survival. Obedience is expected. And any deviation — even kindness — is punished.
This book is intensely claustrophobic. The kind of read where you find yourself holding your breath without realising it. I genuinely had to pause a few times just to let my heart rate settle.
Ava’s journey is where this story truly shines. She begins with resilience, compassion, and quiet strength — a light in an otherwise brutal environment. But as the cruelty escalates and hope becomes dangerous, you watch that light begin to flicker… and fade. The psychological unraveling here is painfully well done.
And then comes the shift.
Because behind every monster, there’s an origin. A reason. And as Ava starts to uncover the truth, something dangerous sparks back to life: hope.
But in a place built on fear and control, hope might be the most dangerous thing of all.
This is the kind of psychological horror that seeps under your skin and stays there. The kind that follows you into quiet moments and creeps back into your thoughts long after you’ve finished. It completely reignited my love for the genre.
Chelsea O'Hara has crafted something gripping, unsettling, and impossible to look away from.
I will absolutely be reading more from her — and recommending this to anyone who loves dark, deeply psychological horror that lingers.
I would like to offer a very sincere thank you to both Chelsea O'Hara, and to Beth at Wings and Words, for the advance read of Elias. Please note, all opinions expressed within this review, are my own.
⚠️ Please check trigger warnings before reading — this is a dark, psychological horror that does not hold back.
What if the scariest thing isn’t what you can see… but what you can’t quite trust?
Ava is a teacher living a quiet, independent life — content, settled, and happy. Until small things begin to feel… wrong. Objects aren’t where she remembers leaving them. And there’s an unsettling sense that she’s not alone.
Then she wakes up in a cage.
Not alone. Not safe. Not in control.
Imprisoned alongside three other women, Ava is forced to live by the suffocating, unspoken rules of a faceless man who lurks in the shadows. Silence is survival. Obedience is expected. And any deviation — even kindness — is punished.
This book is intensely claustrophobic. The kind of read where you find yourself holding your breath without realising it. I genuinely had to pause a few times just to let my heart rate settle.
Ava’s journey is where this story truly shines. She begins with resilience, compassion, and quiet strength — a light in an otherwise brutal environment. But as the cruelty escalates and hope becomes dangerous, you watch that light begin to flicker… and fade. The psychological unraveling here is painfully well done.
And then comes the shift.
Because behind every monster, there’s an origin. A reason. And as Ava starts to uncover the truth, something dangerous sparks back to life: hope.
But in a place built on fear and control, hope might be the most dangerous thing of all.
This is the kind of psychological horror that seeps under your skin and stays there. The kind that follows you into quiet moments and creeps back into your thoughts long after you’ve finished. It completely reignited my love for the genre.
Chelsea O'Hara has crafted something gripping, unsettling, and impossible to look away from.
I will absolutely be reading more from her — and recommending this to anyone who loves dark, deeply psychological horror that lingers.
I would like to offer a very sincere thank you to both Chelsea O'Hara, and to Beth at Wings and Words, for the advance read of Elias. Please note, all opinions expressed within this review, are my own.
March 3, 2026
4.5🌟
This book was insane. It had me in a chokehold from the first page and didn't let me go.
The author told this story with such a vividly writing style, that I was dragged into that cage with all the girls and felt every emotion. My anxiety went through the roof and couldn't put it down.
This is not a story for everyone. It is super super dark, emotional and sick. So check the trigger warnings before you start. It is a psychological horror (thriller).
This book was insane. It had me in a chokehold from the first page and didn't let me go.
The author told this story with such a vividly writing style, that I was dragged into that cage with all the girls and felt every emotion. My anxiety went through the roof and couldn't put it down.
This is not a story for everyone. It is super super dark, emotional and sick. So check the trigger warnings before you start. It is a psychological horror (thriller).
March 31, 2026
This is exactly the type of creepy, dark, psychological horror I’ve been waiting for.
From the very first page, it sends shivers down your spine and leaves you wondering what horrors are going to unfold.
Written in first person pov, you join Ava as she wakes up in a cage and quickly learns that she must follow Elias’ rules to try and survive. She can’t even imagine the things that she is going to witness and experience and you really feel all of the emotions she is going through as the story progresses. You feel like you are there with her.
Elias is a deeply disturbed man, broken by grief and fuelled by his obsession. He is a great character, one that I will be thinking about for a long time.
Overall, this was a great read and I rate it 4.5⭐️. I look forward to reading more of the author’s work.
From the very first page, it sends shivers down your spine and leaves you wondering what horrors are going to unfold.
Written in first person pov, you join Ava as she wakes up in a cage and quickly learns that she must follow Elias’ rules to try and survive. She can’t even imagine the things that she is going to witness and experience and you really feel all of the emotions she is going through as the story progresses. You feel like you are there with her.
Elias is a deeply disturbed man, broken by grief and fuelled by his obsession. He is a great character, one that I will be thinking about for a long time.
Overall, this was a great read and I rate it 4.5⭐️. I look forward to reading more of the author’s work.
April 1, 2026
This is a psychological horror and usually trigger warnings are like a menu for me but with book I implore you to read them before going in.
I found this book very difficult at times due to my own personal traumas and books don’t normally invoke any feelings because they’re just stories right? I had to take a few breaks from this book as it was triggering me. However I really wanted to read it so I pushed through. It is brilliantly written. Very thought provoking. Unsettling. You name it. There’s fear, real captivating fear and for an author to do that without gore and the usual stuff you’d expect from a horror is just brilliant. Chelsea has done an exceptional job!
I would like to thank Chelsea and the wings and words community for the chance to be able to read this.
I found this book very difficult at times due to my own personal traumas and books don’t normally invoke any feelings because they’re just stories right? I had to take a few breaks from this book as it was triggering me. However I really wanted to read it so I pushed through. It is brilliantly written. Very thought provoking. Unsettling. You name it. There’s fear, real captivating fear and for an author to do that without gore and the usual stuff you’d expect from a horror is just brilliant. Chelsea has done an exceptional job!
I would like to thank Chelsea and the wings and words community for the chance to be able to read this.
April 21, 2026
Potentially offensive items: hinted at child abuse, sexual abuse, incest, pedophilia, rape, alcohol/smoking, violence, domestic violence, violence against women, murder, mature themes, lying, kidnapping/torture/imprisonment, sociopathy (most objectionable material is hinted at or offscreen, but there are a few gory descriptions)
Elias is the second book I’ve read by Chelsea O’Hara, and it is written in the same style with an excessive use of literary devices and a pounding intensity that never lets the reader up for air. Although I liked Elias better than Absent, I was still disappointed in it. I do feel O’Hara has potential, though, and would read more of her work.
The things we read about happening in Elias were never scary to me, and the off-screen events were not described in enough detail to be terrifying enough. I’m not saying this needed to be a gore-fest—in fact, I was glad it was not. I will also say that kidnapping and being caged do not scare me, personally, so someone with those fears might find this book more intense. At the same time, I feel I just needed more than what I was given about what was happening to make me fear for the women.
I did find myself caring enough about the characters enough to be completely disappointed that none of them tried to escape several obvious chances . There were times when they could have overpowered their captor, and they did not. In fact, they did not even think about it (although I did). I understand Stockholm Syndrome is real, but the captives did not have that kind of almost brainwashed relationship with their captor. They hated and feared him. There was no reason for these women, who believed/knew they were going to die, to ignore chances to attack or escape him unless they really were not that intelligent in a survival sense. There also seems to be an odd, unexplained shift in the captor's objectives about three-fourths of the way through the book.
I liked this book better than the other one I read because I did care about the characters, even if I was disappointed in them. I also felt the story was more of a coherent plotline, although there were definitely some coherence problems. For example, the layout of the house was unclear and seemed to change, especially in the beginning. I also liked that there was a disclaimer at the beginning about the potentially offensive items—I just wish it would have been linked instead of requiring the reader to flip to the back of the e-book. The pros and cons of this book balanced each other.
I rated this book based on the matrix found on my blog.
Elias is the second book I’ve read by Chelsea O’Hara, and it is written in the same style with an excessive use of literary devices and a pounding intensity that never lets the reader up for air. Although I liked Elias better than Absent, I was still disappointed in it. I do feel O’Hara has potential, though, and would read more of her work.
The things we read about happening in Elias were never scary to me, and the off-screen events were not described in enough detail to be terrifying enough. I’m not saying this needed to be a gore-fest—in fact, I was glad it was not. I will also say that kidnapping and being caged do not scare me, personally, so someone with those fears might find this book more intense. At the same time, I feel I just needed more than what I was given about what was happening to make me fear for the women.
I did find myself caring enough about the characters enough to be completely disappointed that none of them tried to escape several obvious chances . There were times when they could have overpowered their captor, and they did not. In fact, they did not even think about it (although I did). I understand Stockholm Syndrome is real, but the captives did not have that kind of almost brainwashed relationship with their captor. They hated and feared him. There was no reason for these women, who believed/knew they were going to die, to ignore chances to attack or escape him unless they really were not that intelligent in a survival sense. There also seems to be an odd, unexplained shift in the captor's objectives about three-fourths of the way through the book.
I liked this book better than the other one I read because I did care about the characters, even if I was disappointed in them. I also felt the story was more of a coherent plotline, although there were definitely some coherence problems. For example, the layout of the house was unclear and seemed to change, especially in the beginning. I also liked that there was a disclaimer at the beginning about the potentially offensive items—I just wish it would have been linked instead of requiring the reader to flip to the back of the e-book. The pros and cons of this book balanced each other.
I rated this book based on the matrix found on my blog.
March 4, 2026
Thanks to Beth @ wings and words & Chelsea O'Hara for this book! Elias is a psychological horror.
This story is written in first person narrative.
You see things from Ada's POV.
This book had me in a chokehold!!!!
The first thing you notice in Elias is Chelsea's attention to detailing. It is awesome!!..the creaks, the dripping water 👌.. their inner monologue in italics..I had instant anxiety reading this, and it came in waves throughout the whole book!
The anxieties i felt reading this, my heart was in my throat. I could feel every ounce of it (at one stage i was liturally starting to sweat lol). It makes you feel everything, the anxiety, the terror, the doubts, the overall trauma. This book isnt just about a kidnapping, it is a full fledged emotional rewrite, being loved wrongly & more.
I was uncomfortably petrified reading this, not in a ahh omg screaming scared kind of way, but in an emotional turmoil, constant state of tension and anxiety. I had to put it down a few times throughout, not because of boredom or anything like that, but because of the level of intensity. It is INTENSE. Im not saying that to bitch, im saying it for anyone reading this review, so you are aware. You also feel so many emotions towards poor Liv! Elias was just genuinely so creepy, like in the not seeing he was doing anything wrong kind of creepy fear level.
After reading it I can confirm the tagline 'He couldn't save her. So he rewrite her' is indeed FACT and not just marketing fluffy words to catch attention. 😮💨 I can also say without a shadow of a doubt, you'll be still thinking about this book and reflecting on it, long after you've read the last page.
As good as a read it was, do not take it lightly & do take care of your mental health if it gets to much.
This story is written in first person narrative.
You see things from Ada's POV.
This book had me in a chokehold!!!!
The first thing you notice in Elias is Chelsea's attention to detailing. It is awesome!!..the creaks, the dripping water 👌.. their inner monologue in italics..I had instant anxiety reading this, and it came in waves throughout the whole book!
The anxieties i felt reading this, my heart was in my throat. I could feel every ounce of it (at one stage i was liturally starting to sweat lol). It makes you feel everything, the anxiety, the terror, the doubts, the overall trauma. This book isnt just about a kidnapping, it is a full fledged emotional rewrite, being loved wrongly & more.
I was uncomfortably petrified reading this, not in a ahh omg screaming scared kind of way, but in an emotional turmoil, constant state of tension and anxiety. I had to put it down a few times throughout, not because of boredom or anything like that, but because of the level of intensity. It is INTENSE. Im not saying that to bitch, im saying it for anyone reading this review, so you are aware. You also feel so many emotions towards poor Liv! Elias was just genuinely so creepy, like in the not seeing he was doing anything wrong kind of creepy fear level.
After reading it I can confirm the tagline 'He couldn't save her. So he rewrite her' is indeed FACT and not just marketing fluffy words to catch attention. 😮💨 I can also say without a shadow of a doubt, you'll be still thinking about this book and reflecting on it, long after you've read the last page.
As good as a read it was, do not take it lightly & do take care of your mental health if it gets to much.
March 6, 2026
Silence isn’t always golden 🤫
Ada is off for a two week break to visit her Mum except she never makes it!! No, she finds herself locked in a cage with a headache and bruised. A voice in the dark whispers to ‘keep quiet, don’t move, lower your breath or he will hear’ 😬 Not giving you anymore than this because I am just mean like that 🤣
му вяєαтн ¢αмє ιη υηєνєη ρυℓℓѕ тнαт ∂ι∂ ησт ƒєєℓ ℓιкє тнєу вєℓσηgє∂ тσ му вσ∂у.
When Chelsea says this is a chilling psychological horror, it is definitely cold, hard and calculated. This story, is on a different level, taking you on a journey into the mindset of each character, the depths it draws your imagination into is disquieting, your own conversations in your head whilst reading ensuring you feel a part of this tale 🤯 It was for me an excellent psychological read 🫶🏻
Ada is off for a two week break to visit her Mum except she never makes it!! No, she finds herself locked in a cage with a headache and bruised. A voice in the dark whispers to ‘keep quiet, don’t move, lower your breath or he will hear’ 😬 Not giving you anymore than this because I am just mean like that 🤣
му вяєαтн ¢αмє ιη υηєνєη ρυℓℓѕ тнαт ∂ι∂ ησт ƒєєℓ ℓιкє тнєу вєℓσηgє∂ тσ му вσ∂у.
When Chelsea says this is a chilling psychological horror, it is definitely cold, hard and calculated. This story, is on a different level, taking you on a journey into the mindset of each character, the depths it draws your imagination into is disquieting, your own conversations in your head whilst reading ensuring you feel a part of this tale 🤯 It was for me an excellent psychological read 🫶🏻
March 29, 2026
I loved the pacing of the book, at times it really gave that feeling of anxiety & panic.
The juxtaposition of tenderness & darkness gives a really feeling of creepiness & unease. I could feel my heart beating fast for the girls, feeling the anxiety for them.
It’s really sweet to see the girls almost banding together with the little bit of strength they have. Just being there for each other, it’s as beautiful as it is heartbreaking.
I did like that it gave hint & answers in the chapter after when it switched POVs & it did make me feel like my mindset was right there with the girls. It was an interesting way to write the book as it really got in my head. You’re kept in the dark like they are.
The ending gave me a satisfaction I didn’t know I needed, it was a twist I wasn’t expecting but it was almost a settling feeling for the unease I’d experienced throughout the book.
Really interesting psychological storyline that kept me on my toes, not knowing how it was going to play out. I really enjoyed it.
The juxtaposition of tenderness & darkness gives a really feeling of creepiness & unease. I could feel my heart beating fast for the girls, feeling the anxiety for them.
It’s really sweet to see the girls almost banding together with the little bit of strength they have. Just being there for each other, it’s as beautiful as it is heartbreaking.
I did like that it gave hint & answers in the chapter after when it switched POVs & it did make me feel like my mindset was right there with the girls. It was an interesting way to write the book as it really got in my head. You’re kept in the dark like they are.
The ending gave me a satisfaction I didn’t know I needed, it was a twist I wasn’t expecting but it was almost a settling feeling for the unease I’d experienced throughout the book.
Really interesting psychological storyline that kept me on my toes, not knowing how it was going to play out. I really enjoyed it.
March 29, 2026
Please check for any triggers I’ve read Elias by Chelsea O'Hara twice now, and honestly? It’s even more chilling the second time around. It’s a suffocating, atmospheric descent into a house that feels disturbingly alive. The horror comes from the silence and the crushing weight of obedience. Elias isn't your typical monster. He’s a man broken by the loss of his daughter, but his "love" has curdled into something terrifying. He’s not just capturing women; he’s trying to remake them into the girl he couldn't save. Watching Ada navigate a world of arbitrary rules and rituals is heart-pounding. Every choice she makes is a test, and every failure is met with a psychological toll that is "emotionally cruel in a controlled way." But also protective way and yes to some it might be not their cup of tea but was a good read for me and Thank you, Beth, and the rest of the Wings and Words Arc Community for the free Arc of this book. I'm leaving this review voluntarily.~
February 16, 2026
Elias is a haunting, deeply unsettling read that lingers long after you’ve turned the final page. From its disturbing premise to its claustrophobic writing, the novel creates an atmosphere so suffocating it feels almost tangible.
What makes this book especially effective is the way it crawls under your skin and refuses to leave. There were nights I struggled to fall asleep after reading. And yet, that same unease is what made the story impossible to put down. I had to keep going. I needed to understand what was really happening beneath the surface.
Dark, immersive, and psychologically intense, Elias is a compelling experience that I really enjoyed. Readers who like psychological thrillers will find much to appreciate here.
What makes this book especially effective is the way it crawls under your skin and refuses to leave. There were nights I struggled to fall asleep after reading. And yet, that same unease is what made the story impossible to put down. I had to keep going. I needed to understand what was really happening beneath the surface.
Dark, immersive, and psychologically intense, Elias is a compelling experience that I really enjoyed. Readers who like psychological thrillers will find much to appreciate here.
March 26, 2026
Elias is like nothing I have ever read, it is dark, gritty and haunting.
It follows Ada, a strong headed, school teacher who thinks she has everything in order until her mind starts playing tricks on her, or so she originally thought. That is until, she wakes up in a dark, cold, silent house, governed by rules and rituals, where survival means silence and every choice is a test.
Elias is a haunting psychological horror, with grief, obsession and where failure is not forgiven and the walls not only listen but remember those who came before. What makes this read so special is the epic descriptive language that Chelsea uses, it pulls you in and makes you feel as though you are right in the cage with Ada, it crawls under your skin and takes route, ensuring you don't want to put the book down.
Although this book has very dark themes, I personally didn't find it as dark or disturbing as I thought it was going to be. This might well be a 'me' thing but I was expecting nightmarish feelings, but they never came. This is probably due to my love of crime TV shows and horrors, so I am used to this kind of genre (to watch). Even so, this didn't take away from the overall enjoyment of the book, it was truly magical and I enjoyed every moment.
Thank You to the author Chelsea and Beth at Wings & Words for the opportunity to ARC read this book. This review my own and is left voluntary.
It follows Ada, a strong headed, school teacher who thinks she has everything in order until her mind starts playing tricks on her, or so she originally thought. That is until, she wakes up in a dark, cold, silent house, governed by rules and rituals, where survival means silence and every choice is a test.
Elias is a haunting psychological horror, with grief, obsession and where failure is not forgiven and the walls not only listen but remember those who came before. What makes this read so special is the epic descriptive language that Chelsea uses, it pulls you in and makes you feel as though you are right in the cage with Ada, it crawls under your skin and takes route, ensuring you don't want to put the book down.
Although this book has very dark themes, I personally didn't find it as dark or disturbing as I thought it was going to be. This might well be a 'me' thing but I was expecting nightmarish feelings, but they never came. This is probably due to my love of crime TV shows and horrors, so I am used to this kind of genre (to watch). Even so, this didn't take away from the overall enjoyment of the book, it was truly magical and I enjoyed every moment.
Thank You to the author Chelsea and Beth at Wings & Words for the opportunity to ARC read this book. This review my own and is left voluntary.
March 26, 2026
I was lucky to get access to this book and all I can say is "WOW" .... I am shook in all the best ways. The emotional turmoil was one of the wildest rides Ive been on in a while.
First, this book is dark so yiull want to chrck your triggers. With that said, the writing was so descriptive and vivid that I felt trapped with Ada and the others. My breath was taken away by the twisted and sadistic view of love amd redemotion our captor has. However, the resiliency of the human spirit to not be broken was also shown through the eyes of Ada. When you hit rock bottom, the only place to go is up. There's nothing more dehumanizing than being taken captive, stripped of your name, and quickly becoming a number.
I heard every creak in my mind and I swear I can still hear the water dripping constantly. I literally can hear the sound of the cages closing and rattling. This reminded me why I love psychological thriller and horror books so much.
I have literally had moments where I shivered reading this book. I wasn't prepared for the journey or the story but I couldn't walk away from it. In my opinion, this is a definite 5 star read that will torment you in all the best ways. So add it to your must read list now.
First, this book is dark so yiull want to chrck your triggers. With that said, the writing was so descriptive and vivid that I felt trapped with Ada and the others. My breath was taken away by the twisted and sadistic view of love amd redemotion our captor has. However, the resiliency of the human spirit to not be broken was also shown through the eyes of Ada. When you hit rock bottom, the only place to go is up. There's nothing more dehumanizing than being taken captive, stripped of your name, and quickly becoming a number.
I heard every creak in my mind and I swear I can still hear the water dripping constantly. I literally can hear the sound of the cages closing and rattling. This reminded me why I love psychological thriller and horror books so much.
I have literally had moments where I shivered reading this book. I wasn't prepared for the journey or the story but I couldn't walk away from it. In my opinion, this is a definite 5 star read that will torment you in all the best ways. So add it to your must read list now.
March 24, 2026
Speechless. That’s genuinely the only way I can describe how this book left me. I finished it and just sat there staring at the wall trying to process what I’d just read.
This book unsettled me in all the best ways—and even now, I still can’t stop thinking about it.
It’s been a while since I’ve picked up a horror, but this has fully reignited that itch for me. Chelsea O’Hara’s writing is beautiful in a way that makes everything feel disturbingly real. From page one I was completely immersed—it honestly felt like I was inside the story, listening to the silence, feeling the fear, and constantly questioning what was going to happen next.
I couldn’t put it down.
The atmosphere, the tension, the slow-burn dread… it just builds and builds until you’re completely consumed by it. There’s something so deeply unsettling about the way this story unfolds, and it lingers long after you’ve finished.
Also… I will never look at strawberries the same again. Or ice cream. Ever.
This is one I would absolutely recommend—but only if you’re prepared for it. Please check trigger warnings before going in, because this is not a light read by any means.
If you’re looking for something dark, psychological, and genuinely chilling… read this.
This book unsettled me in all the best ways—and even now, I still can’t stop thinking about it.
It’s been a while since I’ve picked up a horror, but this has fully reignited that itch for me. Chelsea O’Hara’s writing is beautiful in a way that makes everything feel disturbingly real. From page one I was completely immersed—it honestly felt like I was inside the story, listening to the silence, feeling the fear, and constantly questioning what was going to happen next.
I couldn’t put it down.
The atmosphere, the tension, the slow-burn dread… it just builds and builds until you’re completely consumed by it. There’s something so deeply unsettling about the way this story unfolds, and it lingers long after you’ve finished.
Also… I will never look at strawberries the same again. Or ice cream. Ever.
This is one I would absolutely recommend—but only if you’re prepared for it. Please check trigger warnings before going in, because this is not a light read by any means.
If you’re looking for something dark, psychological, and genuinely chilling… read this.
April 1, 2026
*please check triggers before reading*
I can honestly hold my hands up and say ive never read a book like this before. this book really does get into your head and make you feel all the emotions in it.
I can say this is the slowest burn book ive also read, not alot goes on but its also so addictive because you NEED to know what's going to happen and how it ends.
the characters in this story, expecially ada is just captivating, strong and this book makes me feel every emotion and feeling they feel.
I can honestly hold my hands up and say ive never read a book like this before. this book really does get into your head and make you feel all the emotions in it.
I can say this is the slowest burn book ive also read, not alot goes on but its also so addictive because you NEED to know what's going to happen and how it ends.
the characters in this story, expecially ada is just captivating, strong and this book makes me feel every emotion and feeling they feel.
December 18, 2025
This book unsettled me in all the best ways. Now that it's over I still find myself thinking about it.
I couldn't put it down. The way this author writes makes it feel so real. It's totally immersive and I found myself listening to the silence, feeling the fear and wondering what's going to happen next.
Honestly so, so good. I would recommend anyone read this asap, especially if you are looking for something thrilling. As always check the trigger warnings, there are a few!!!!!
I couldn't put it down. The way this author writes makes it feel so real. It's totally immersive and I found myself listening to the silence, feeling the fear and wondering what's going to happen next.
Honestly so, so good. I would recommend anyone read this asap, especially if you are looking for something thrilling. As always check the trigger warnings, there are a few!!!!!
April 1, 2026
This book was emotional torture,
but in the most captivating way.
Its written so amazingly. It's a
tough read. But it's gripping. No
matter how difficult it became
i just couldn't put it down. This
book had me staring at the wall
just to process what I had read. It's
tragic and unsettling. So many
moments had me tearing up.
100% worth reading.
but in the most captivating way.
Its written so amazingly. It's a
tough read. But it's gripping. No
matter how difficult it became
i just couldn't put it down. This
book had me staring at the wall
just to process what I had read. It's
tragic and unsettling. So many
moments had me tearing up.
100% worth reading.
March 20, 2026
Thank you so much to Beth from Wings & Words and to Chelsea O’Hara for the ARC.
I’m giving Elias 4 stars, though honestly it was more of a 4.5 for me.
This was such a creepy book, and I mean that in the best way. It had this really unsettling atmosphere the whole time and I felt on edge pretty much from start to finish. It wasn’t super fast or loud horror to me, it was more the kind that slowly gets under your skin and makes you feel uneasy the entire time. I thought it did that really well.
What really worked for me was the psychological side of it. The control, the silence, the identity loss, all of that felt disturbing in a way that actually sticks with you. It was the kind of book where I kept feeling uncomfortable, but also couldn’t stop reading because I needed to know where it was going.
The only reason I rounded down to 4 stars is because I had a bit of a hard time with the writing style at times. The short, punchy sentences didn’t always work for me and sometimes made it harder to fully sink into the story. But even with that, I still thought this was a great read and such a strong psychological thriller. It was creepy in exactly the right way, and I really was on the edge of my seat the whole time.
I’m giving Elias 4 stars, though honestly it was more of a 4.5 for me.
This was such a creepy book, and I mean that in the best way. It had this really unsettling atmosphere the whole time and I felt on edge pretty much from start to finish. It wasn’t super fast or loud horror to me, it was more the kind that slowly gets under your skin and makes you feel uneasy the entire time. I thought it did that really well.
What really worked for me was the psychological side of it. The control, the silence, the identity loss, all of that felt disturbing in a way that actually sticks with you. It was the kind of book where I kept feeling uncomfortable, but also couldn’t stop reading because I needed to know where it was going.
The only reason I rounded down to 4 stars is because I had a bit of a hard time with the writing style at times. The short, punchy sentences didn’t always work for me and sometimes made it harder to fully sink into the story. But even with that, I still thought this was a great read and such a strong psychological thriller. It was creepy in exactly the right way, and I really was on the edge of my seat the whole time.
March 23, 2026
First, thank you Wings and Words and Chelsea for allow me to read this book.
The book starts in a cage, where you will have the view of different girls that are being jailed as animals by a quiet mysterious man.
The whole book brings and claustrophobic atmosphere and tension between the girls that don’t understand why they were chosen by the man.
The author knows how to bring moments of horror and psychological tension.
This is not the type of book I read.
As an author, the only thing I thing it could make this book better would go to a third person style. I would love to see what the man was doing while the girls were in the jail and what happened to some of the girls to raise the level of horror.
But I understand and respect the decision Chelsea took it to bring more mystery and tension to the quiet house.
The book starts in a cage, where you will have the view of different girls that are being jailed as animals by a quiet mysterious man.
The whole book brings and claustrophobic atmosphere and tension between the girls that don’t understand why they were chosen by the man.
The author knows how to bring moments of horror and psychological tension.
This is not the type of book I read.
As an author, the only thing I thing it could make this book better would go to a third person style. I would love to see what the man was doing while the girls were in the jail and what happened to some of the girls to raise the level of horror.
But I understand and respect the decision Chelsea took it to bring more mystery and tension to the quiet house.
March 27, 2026
Please make certain you read the trigger warnings before reading the book.
This is a mentally and emotionally dark psychological horror story. It's about abduction, control, and manipulation. The author does an excellent job, from page one, setting the tone and atmosphere of the book. It moves at a steady pace. One that allows you to know what is experienced by the characters without dragging it out. The tension is maintained throughout the story as well.
This is a mentally and emotionally dark psychological horror story. It's about abduction, control, and manipulation. The author does an excellent job, from page one, setting the tone and atmosphere of the book. It moves at a steady pace. One that allows you to know what is experienced by the characters without dragging it out. The tension is maintained throughout the story as well.
Read
October 15, 2025Looks great, I can't wait to publish a review on this!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book was amazing. Please read it, as it is wonderful. It has twists and turns and takes you down a road of fear for the characters.The main character Ada is a fighter and a woman that is worth getting to know.
March 23, 2026
4.75 rounded up bc wow 😮
This was a o psychological horror at its best… the way O’Hara had me feeling like I was there with her writing kept me intrigued until the last page . Very dark and disturbing so check trigger warnings!!! I will be recommending this book to all of my friends just so we can talk about it together
This was a o psychological horror at its best… the way O’Hara had me feeling like I was there with her writing kept me intrigued until the last page . Very dark and disturbing so check trigger warnings!!! I will be recommending this book to all of my friends just so we can talk about it together
March 6, 2026
Thank you Chelsea O’Hara and Beth with Wing & Words for the opportunity to read this book as an ARC. This review remains both honest and voluntary!
3.5/5 rounded up! This book as a psychological horror and it made me uncomfortable in the best way! Getting to see the different perspectives of the characters kept the storyline fresh and the writing was incredibly detailed to the point where I was able to picture what was happening (and I often read without an images being created in my head).
While a bit confusing at times, I still enjoyed it, and I’m sure some of the confusion was purposeful for the horror aspect. I look forward to reading more by this author!
3.5/5 rounded up! This book as a psychological horror and it made me uncomfortable in the best way! Getting to see the different perspectives of the characters kept the storyline fresh and the writing was incredibly detailed to the point where I was able to picture what was happening (and I often read without an images being created in my head).
While a bit confusing at times, I still enjoyed it, and I’m sure some of the confusion was purposeful for the horror aspect. I look forward to reading more by this author!
March 30, 2026
Speechless, that is what this book left me. After finishing it I just sat there and stared at the wall. It has been a while since I've read a horror book and this has given me the itch to pick them back up again.
Chelsea's writing style is beautiful she was able to portray so much emotion, and the story telling felt so real. From page one I felt as if I was in the book, it was so immersive. I will never look at strawberries the same again, and it has made me protective of my ice cream....
I highly recommend this book, but only if you know your ok with reading such a story, so please check your triggers before diving in.
Tropes
Captive psychological horror, Coercive control disguised as care, “He thinks he’s saving her” antagonist, Isolation and surveillance, Unreliable perception / fractured memory, House as an entity (sentient space), Ritualised abuse, Found-family survival bond, Slow-burn dread, Feminine rage beneath compliance, Identity erasure and reconstruction. 18+
Chelsea's writing style is beautiful she was able to portray so much emotion, and the story telling felt so real. From page one I felt as if I was in the book, it was so immersive. I will never look at strawberries the same again, and it has made me protective of my ice cream....
I highly recommend this book, but only if you know your ok with reading such a story, so please check your triggers before diving in.
Tropes
Captive psychological horror, Coercive control disguised as care, “He thinks he’s saving her” antagonist, Isolation and surveillance, Unreliable perception / fractured memory, House as an entity (sentient space), Ritualised abuse, Found-family survival bond, Slow-burn dread, Feminine rage beneath compliance, Identity erasure and reconstruction. 18+
March 17, 2026
this is a fantastic eerily spooky book loved it from.the very first page you need to check your triggers tho as it can be disturbing in all the good ways highly recommend it x
March 31, 2026
CONTENT WARNINGS; Please check trigger warnings!
Tropes;
⚚🕯️1𝒔𝒕 𝑷𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒐𝒏 𝑷𝑶𝑽
⚚🔪𝑪𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒕𝒚 & 𝑺𝒖𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒗𝒂𝒍
⚚🕯️𝑯𝒆 𝑩𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒔 𝑯𝒆'𝒔 𝑺𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑯𝒆𝒓
⚚🔪𝑯𝒐𝒑𝒆 𝑲𝒆𝒆𝒑𝒔 𝑯𝒆𝒓 𝑴𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈
⚚🕯️𝑹𝒊𝒕𝒖𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝑨𝒃𝒖𝒔𝒆
⚚🔪𝑰𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝑬𝒓𝒂𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆
⚚🕯️𝑫𝒊𝒔𝒈𝒖𝒊𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝑪𝒂𝒓𝒆
⚚🔪𝑹𝒖𝒍𝒆𝒔 & 𝑹𝒊𝒕𝒖𝒂𝒍𝒔
⚚🕯️𝑫𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝑶𝒃𝒔𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏
⚚🔪𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒍𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 & 𝑶𝒃𝒔𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈
⚚🕯️𝑺𝒖𝒇𝒇𝒐𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑨𝒕𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒑𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆
⚚🔪𝑩𝒍𝒖𝒓𝒓𝒆𝒅/𝑭𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝑴𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒚
⚚🕯️𝑺𝒍𝒐𝒘-𝑩𝒖𝒓𝒏 𝑫𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅
⚚🔪𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒘𝒃𝒆𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔' 𝑺𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕
⚚🕯️𝑮𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒇 & 𝑰𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏
⚚🔪𝑭𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝑭𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒚
⚚🕯️𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑺𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝑰𝒔 𝑳𝒐𝒖𝒅
⚚🔪𝑬𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝑫𝒂𝒓𝒌/𝑯𝒂𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈
⚚🕯️𝑭𝒆𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝑹𝒂𝒈𝒆
⚚🔪𝑪𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒇-𝑯𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓 (𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒂...)
⚚🕯️𝑯𝑭𝑵
Goodness, where to start? You can feel the atmosphere, thick and charging with an unspoken intensity as you immerse yourself into Ada's world. Where she's expected to show obedience without question and anything other than that means punishment. She's honestly a very strong FMC, someone who practices a silent type of determination and strength. She has survival skills, compassion towards others, and a hold onto the one thing that the inhuman, brutal, and miserable surroundings should never let her feel: a sliver of hope. Especially a place built on the foundation of life-threatening control and horror.
Elias, her captor's warped of "love" needs to be studied. Demented. SICK! Mostly silent and watchful. His mind works in such a calm, controlling, chilling way. A character that is disturbing and truly believes he is helping, not writing their entire identity. From the grief of losing his daughter, he's also driven by his never-ending obsession of trying to "help" other girls the way he could not help her, in his own, insane logic. As you follow him along with the story, you discover how everything is, how it works, and why he's doing it. Everything has a thought and reason behind it, though. Such a good villain.
This book is pretty intense, crazy and truly claustrophobic. The pacing is slow and steady, which, for me, creates a more intense impact. It truly is a psychological horror, and I haven't read anything quite like it! The kind that lingers afterward in the back of your mind later on. The writing style is very detailed, vivid, and engaging! Every chapter is a seamless transition from one to the next. A true page turner, I must say. And at times, yes, my stomach churns, and I get a sick feeling, but that's a good thing because the story is doing its job. The anxiety and dread, the trauma and the eerie ambiance and sounds, tension and apprehension - everything feels so acute, right down to the floorboards creaking. And, erm, maybe I'll give strawberries a miss for now. Then, the ending is written so well with a satisfying twist. Love it!
If you're looking for a dark, messed up psychological horror/thriller that carries a slow-burn atmospheric dread, then this one is for you. It's a rollercoaster you do not want to miss. ﾒ૦ﾒ૦💋
Out of Fives;
⚚🕯️𝑪𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓:✨✨✨✨✨
⚚🔪𝑯𝒐𝒓𝒓𝒐𝒓:🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸
⚚🕯️𝑺𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒆-𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈:⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️
⚚🔪𝑫𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔:🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤
⚚🕯️𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒃𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈:💔💔💔💔💔
⚚🔪𝑻𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒓:🔪🔪🔪🔪🔪
⚚🕯️𝑺𝒉𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔:‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️
⚚🔪𝑯𝒂𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈:💀💀💀💀💀
⚚🕯️𝑼𝒏𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒅:🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩
⚚🔪𝑫𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒃𝒊𝒏𝒈:⛔⛔⛔⛔⛔
⚚🕯️𝑬𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍:🎲🎲🎲🎲🎲
⚚🔪𝑫𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅:🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯
⚚🕯️𝑯𝒐𝒑𝒆:🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️
⚚🔪𝑨𝒅𝒂 𝑭𝑴𝑪:🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍
⚚🕯️𝑷𝒍𝒐𝒕𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆:📝📝📝📝📝
⚚🔪𝑷𝒂𝒄𝒊𝒏����:⏳⌛⏳
⚚🕯️𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑫𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒑𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕:🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
⚚🔪𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝑩𝒖𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈:🌏🌎🌍🌏🌎
⚚🕯️𝑩𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒅: 𝒆𝑨𝑹𝑪/𝑲𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒍𝒆.
⚚🔪𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔: 𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒆.
⚚🕯️𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓: 61 (𝒆𝒙𝒄𝒍𝒖𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒆𝒙𝒕𝒓𝒂 𝒖𝒏𝒏𝒖𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔).
⚚🔪𝑷𝒂𝒈𝒆𝒔: 318.
⚚🕯️𝑮𝒆𝒏𝒓𝒆: 𝑺𝒖𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒆, 𝑷𝒔𝒚𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝑯𝒐𝒓𝒓𝒐𝒓.
⚚🔪𝑷𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒅 𝑶𝒏: 1𝒔𝒕 𝑫𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 2025.
⚚🕯️𝑾𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝑰 𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅: 𝒀𝒆𝒔.
⚚🔪𝑶𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒓 𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you to the author Chelsea O'Hara and the Wings & Words Arc community for an advanced copy of this book. I'm leaving a voluntary review.
Tropes;
⚚🕯️1𝒔𝒕 𝑷𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒐𝒏 𝑷𝑶𝑽
⚚🔪𝑪𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒕𝒚 & 𝑺𝒖𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒗𝒂𝒍
⚚🕯️𝑯𝒆 𝑩𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒔 𝑯𝒆'𝒔 𝑺𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑯𝒆𝒓
⚚🔪𝑯𝒐𝒑𝒆 𝑲𝒆𝒆𝒑𝒔 𝑯𝒆𝒓 𝑴𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈
⚚🕯️𝑹𝒊𝒕𝒖𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝑨𝒃𝒖𝒔𝒆
⚚🔪𝑰𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝑬𝒓𝒂𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆
⚚🕯️𝑫𝒊𝒔𝒈𝒖𝒊𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝑪𝒂𝒓𝒆
⚚🔪𝑹𝒖𝒍𝒆𝒔 & 𝑹𝒊𝒕𝒖𝒂𝒍𝒔
⚚🕯️𝑫𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝑶𝒃𝒔𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏
⚚🔪𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒍𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 & 𝑶𝒃𝒔𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈
⚚🕯️𝑺𝒖𝒇𝒇𝒐𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑨𝒕𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒑𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆
⚚🔪𝑩𝒍𝒖𝒓𝒓𝒆𝒅/𝑭𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝑴𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒚
⚚🕯️𝑺𝒍𝒐𝒘-𝑩𝒖𝒓𝒏 𝑫𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅
⚚🔪𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒘𝒃𝒆𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔' 𝑺𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕
⚚🕯️𝑮𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒇 & 𝑰𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏
⚚🔪𝑭𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝑭𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒚
⚚🕯️𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑺𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝑰𝒔 𝑳𝒐𝒖𝒅
⚚🔪𝑬𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝑫𝒂𝒓𝒌/𝑯𝒂𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈
⚚🕯️𝑭𝒆𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝑹𝒂𝒈𝒆
⚚🔪𝑪𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒇-𝑯𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓 (𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒂...)
⚚🕯️𝑯𝑭𝑵
Goodness, where to start? You can feel the atmosphere, thick and charging with an unspoken intensity as you immerse yourself into Ada's world. Where she's expected to show obedience without question and anything other than that means punishment. She's honestly a very strong FMC, someone who practices a silent type of determination and strength. She has survival skills, compassion towards others, and a hold onto the one thing that the inhuman, brutal, and miserable surroundings should never let her feel: a sliver of hope. Especially a place built on the foundation of life-threatening control and horror.
Elias, her captor's warped of "love" needs to be studied. Demented. SICK! Mostly silent and watchful. His mind works in such a calm, controlling, chilling way. A character that is disturbing and truly believes he is helping, not writing their entire identity. From the grief of losing his daughter, he's also driven by his never-ending obsession of trying to "help" other girls the way he could not help her, in his own, insane logic. As you follow him along with the story, you discover how everything is, how it works, and why he's doing it. Everything has a thought and reason behind it, though. Such a good villain.
This book is pretty intense, crazy and truly claustrophobic. The pacing is slow and steady, which, for me, creates a more intense impact. It truly is a psychological horror, and I haven't read anything quite like it! The kind that lingers afterward in the back of your mind later on. The writing style is very detailed, vivid, and engaging! Every chapter is a seamless transition from one to the next. A true page turner, I must say. And at times, yes, my stomach churns, and I get a sick feeling, but that's a good thing because the story is doing its job. The anxiety and dread, the trauma and the eerie ambiance and sounds, tension and apprehension - everything feels so acute, right down to the floorboards creaking. And, erm, maybe I'll give strawberries a miss for now. Then, the ending is written so well with a satisfying twist. Love it!
If you're looking for a dark, messed up psychological horror/thriller that carries a slow-burn atmospheric dread, then this one is for you. It's a rollercoaster you do not want to miss. ﾒ૦ﾒ૦💋
Out of Fives;
⚚🕯️𝑪𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓:✨✨✨✨✨
⚚🔪𝑯𝒐𝒓𝒓𝒐𝒓:🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸
⚚🕯️𝑺𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒆-𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈:⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️
⚚🔪𝑫𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔:🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤
⚚🕯️𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒃𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈:💔💔💔💔💔
⚚🔪𝑻𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒓:🔪🔪🔪🔪🔪
⚚🕯️𝑺𝒉𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔:‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️
⚚🔪𝑯𝒂𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈:💀💀💀💀💀
⚚🕯️𝑼𝒏𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒅:🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩
⚚🔪𝑫𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒃𝒊𝒏𝒈:⛔⛔⛔⛔⛔
⚚🕯️𝑬𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍:🎲🎲🎲🎲🎲
⚚🔪𝑫𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅:🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯
⚚🕯️𝑯𝒐𝒑𝒆:🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️
⚚🔪𝑨𝒅𝒂 𝑭𝑴𝑪:🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍
⚚🕯️𝑷𝒍𝒐𝒕𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆:📝📝📝📝📝
⚚🔪𝑷𝒂𝒄𝒊𝒏����:⏳⌛⏳
⚚🕯️𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑫𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒑𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕:🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
⚚🔪𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝑩𝒖𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈:🌏🌎🌍🌏🌎
⚚🕯️𝑩𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒅: 𝒆𝑨𝑹𝑪/𝑲𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒍𝒆.
⚚🔪𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔: 𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒆.
⚚🕯️𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓: 61 (𝒆𝒙𝒄𝒍𝒖𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒆𝒙𝒕𝒓𝒂 𝒖𝒏𝒏𝒖𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔).
⚚🔪𝑷𝒂𝒈𝒆𝒔: 318.
⚚🕯️𝑮𝒆𝒏𝒓𝒆: 𝑺𝒖𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒆, 𝑷𝒔𝒚𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝑯𝒐𝒓𝒓𝒐𝒓.
⚚🔪𝑷𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒅 𝑶𝒏: 1𝒔𝒕 𝑫𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 2025.
⚚🕯️𝑾𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝑰 𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅: 𝒀𝒆𝒔.
⚚🔪𝑶𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒓 𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you to the author Chelsea O'Hara and the Wings & Words Arc community for an advanced copy of this book. I'm leaving a voluntary review.
February 23, 2026
I found this book to be a most compelling but upsetting read. The author has produced a story that allows the reader to be inside another person’s head with every turn of the page. But it isn’t just about what they are thinking; oh no! It’s also about their every emotion. Fear, confusion, and a profound loss of self are all central to Ada’s experience, while she is imprisoned in a cage beneath a house that seems to breathe and know through silence exactly what is happening all around her.
Much as I felt a compulsion to keep reading, I hated the book! Not because it was a poorly written narrative etc. but because I could hardly bear to think about what the victims had to daily endure through the wiles of such a pitiful monster. It was so unsettling to read on, and it leaves one with the thoughts about the novel’s plotline for days afterwards. One of the best and worse stories I have come across in fifty years of being an avid fan of all kinds of fiction. Chelsea O’Hara, the author, has a background of criminal psychology. Is that an explanation? I hate to think so somehow.
I felt grateful but fearful for the final chapter – and even a little tearful while reading it. Quote: “The quiet still hurts, but the good kind of noise hurts less. Real noises, real footsteps, real life. I breathe it in…”
Elias is not so much a good read but more, as I found it, a chilling experience!
Much as I felt a compulsion to keep reading, I hated the book! Not because it was a poorly written narrative etc. but because I could hardly bear to think about what the victims had to daily endure through the wiles of such a pitiful monster. It was so unsettling to read on, and it leaves one with the thoughts about the novel’s plotline for days afterwards. One of the best and worse stories I have come across in fifty years of being an avid fan of all kinds of fiction. Chelsea O’Hara, the author, has a background of criminal psychology. Is that an explanation? I hate to think so somehow.
I felt grateful but fearful for the final chapter – and even a little tearful while reading it. Quote: “The quiet still hurts, but the good kind of noise hurts less. Real noises, real footsteps, real life. I breathe it in…”
Elias is not so much a good read but more, as I found it, a chilling experience!
March 31, 2026
You will never smell strawberry scent the same way after this book.
It starts with Ada waking up trapped without understanding what happened. She’s not alone, there are other girls kept in cages beside hers, and pretty quickly you realize everything inside is controlled by rules, silence, and obedience. Everyone is trying to make themselves as small and quiet as possible, like Elias can see and hear everything. Even the house feels alive.
Elias barely speaks. Most of the time he just sits there, watching. Observing. And the silence is worse than if he used words. When he does speak, he’s always calm.
You follow how everything works inside, but also how it connects to what happened before and why Elias is doing all of this. That makes it even more unsettling, knowing there’s a thought and a reason behind everything.
The pace is quite slow, but that almost makes it more intense. It builds more and more the further you get into the book.
The ending confused me a bit. It felt like I missed something, or maybe it was meant to be that way, I’m not sure. But still a really good book.
This review is voluntary
Thank you so much Chelsea and Wings & Words community for letting me be a part of the team❤️🌺
It starts with Ada waking up trapped without understanding what happened. She’s not alone, there are other girls kept in cages beside hers, and pretty quickly you realize everything inside is controlled by rules, silence, and obedience. Everyone is trying to make themselves as small and quiet as possible, like Elias can see and hear everything. Even the house feels alive.
Elias barely speaks. Most of the time he just sits there, watching. Observing. And the silence is worse than if he used words. When he does speak, he’s always calm.
You follow how everything works inside, but also how it connects to what happened before and why Elias is doing all of this. That makes it even more unsettling, knowing there’s a thought and a reason behind everything.
The pace is quite slow, but that almost makes it more intense. It builds more and more the further you get into the book.
The ending confused me a bit. It felt like I missed something, or maybe it was meant to be that way, I’m not sure. But still a really good book.
This review is voluntary
Thank you so much Chelsea and Wings & Words community for letting me be a part of the team❤️🌺
February 23, 2026
This book grips you from the first page. We are taken into a dark world, a caged prison where the prisoners breathe in rhythm. The faintest smells and sounds are charged with fear and horror. Did you ever come home and notice a strange smell? Did you ever have the fear that someone is watching you?
The author uses repetition and frantic word pictures to build psychological tension. The lights go out when you flip the switch; someone grabs you from behind. The Still House holds its secrets. The prisoners dream up word games to keep their sanity.
The author draws us into this experience where every breath brings terror. The rapid changes of scene and perspective are meant to be shocking and disorienting. If you enjoy tales of abduction, physical and psychological abuse and mental deterioration this book is for you.
Not for the faint of heart or young traumatized readers.
The author uses repetition and frantic word pictures to build psychological tension. The lights go out when you flip the switch; someone grabs you from behind. The Still House holds its secrets. The prisoners dream up word games to keep their sanity.
The author draws us into this experience where every breath brings terror. The rapid changes of scene and perspective are meant to be shocking and disorienting. If you enjoy tales of abduction, physical and psychological abuse and mental deterioration this book is for you.
Not for the faint of heart or young traumatized readers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews