The Last Séance: Dark Covenant Series Book 1

by Dean Rasmussen

252 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 27, 2026

About the author

Dean Rasmussen grew up in a small Minnesota town and began writing stories at the age of ten, driven by his fascination with the Star Wars hero's journey. He continued writing short stories and attempted a few novels through his early twenties until he stopped to focus on his computer animation ambitions. He studied English at a Minnesota college during that time.

He learned the art of computer animation and went on to work on twenty feature films, a television show, and a AAA video game as a visual effects artist over thirteen years. He currently teaches animation for visual effects in Orlando, Florida.

Inspired by his favorite authors, Stephen King, Ray Bradbury, Richard Matheson, and H.P. Lovecraft, Dean began writing novels and short stories again in 2018 to thrill and delight a new generation of horror fans.

Reviews

[Donna Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Swirling fog, old-fashioned mirrors, velvet curtains and flickering candles. This book surrounded me with a delicious feeling of old time carnivals and the wonderfully mysterious tarot readers, mediums and charlatans that proliferated such places. The two sisters running such a parlour gave me those exact same vibes and I fell into their story with a sense of anticipation for all the ghostly happenings about to unfold. Alas, it's not long before things much worse begin to slither and creep through "Madame Lenora's" life and she and her sister must take drastic measures to save themselves, those they love and everything they hold dear. This is the first book in a new series by a very well-loved author and I can't wait to read the next.

***I received an ARC from the author. My review is strictly voluntary.***

[Lori Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received as an ARC, this is an honest review.

For sisters Nora and Ally, their childhood was steeped with the knowledge of the occult and eventually for Nora learning from her parents how master her abilities in work in putting on elaborate performances to con people out of their money. Time has passed and their family psychic parlor is falling apart and Nora is struggling to keep everything a float and her family from collapsing. When Gabriel Flores- a man beyond desperate to communicate with his deceased daughter Ann turns to Nora to help fill the heartache that's consuming him... the séance that follows, and what spills out of the shadows is WAY beyond what the sister could have ever imagined. These are not the illusions that built the family business... but true and real dark forces that want to kill anyone that comes into its way. As Nora and Ally learn exactly how far a father shattered by grief took the journey to speak to his dead daughter; to save a darkened soul and their family from becoming its next victim, means embracing the real, healing skills that can used by psychics to help those find peace among their pain.

Dean Rasmussen's Dark Covenant series is truly unforgettable.


Highly recommended.

[Brian Lobodzinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting and enjoyable supernatural horror story concerning a family of séance fraudsters find themselves confronting a real ghost. He committed suicide after they swindled him and is determined to make them pay.

The author manages to keep the tension going using the ghost as a poltergeist, haunting animals and a child as well as committing murder to terrify and destroy his intended victim. The climax of the final bloody séance where a resolution is arrived was worth waiting for.

I realise I'm being vague but I would hate to suck out the fun you will have reading the book if I summarised it. A good read for a dark winter's night!

I received an ARC copy but the views are my own.

[Debi]

As an ARC reader for Dean Rasmussen, I found myself completely captivated by this book. I typically refrain from reiterating plot details, as numerous other reviewers have likely done so. However, I was particularly drawn into the narrative of an imposter medium confronting the repercussions of her deception, including threats to her family.

For those who appreciate the horror genre, this particular work is highly recommended. I eagerly anticipate delving into the second installment to witness the unfolding aftermath. Dean Rasmussen demonstrates a compelling writing style that will undoubtedly appeal to enthusiasts of horror fiction.

[Emily Haynes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seance

Nora and her sister Ally do seance for their business. They are fake. Now, they must figure out how to do a real one. An entity is after them. Can it be stopped before it takes everything important. Spine chilling

[Rowan Creech · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderfully captivating horror story that keeps readers glued to the pages, blending gothic ambience, tarot readings, and eerie paranormal encounters. A hauntingly good read.