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Stella's Scream: An Extreme Horror Novella
- GenresHorror
160 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 16, 2026
About the author
Julie Hiner
20 books78 followersJulie Hiner is an author, storyteller, and blogger. She loves classic horror movies, books, and live music. Her favorite album to this day is Appetite for Destruction. Her favorite movie is Jaws.
Julie has lived her entire life in Calgary. She loves the mountains. Her first writing project was a work of non-fiction about facing fear and doubt by cycling up big European mountains.
She now writes a unique blend of heavy metal and horror, weaving both psychological suspense and many types of rock and metal into a tapestry of musically infused storytelling.
She has published an 80s/90s metal murder detective vs serial killer series, a 90s nostalgic serial killer novella, a death metal demon possession novella, and co-curated a horror anthology. Several of Julie's horror short stories have been published in anthologies. Julie also had a deep sea horror novella published by Torrid Waters, a pulp and extreme horror imprint of Crystal Lake Publishing.
You can find her at KillersAndDemons.com serving up toxic cocktails of metal and murder.
Julie has lived her entire life in Calgary. She loves the mountains. Her first writing project was a work of non-fiction about facing fear and doubt by cycling up big European mountains.
She now writes a unique blend of heavy metal and horror, weaving both psychological suspense and many types of rock and metal into a tapestry of musically infused storytelling.
She has published an 80s/90s metal murder detective vs serial killer series, a 90s nostalgic serial killer novella, a death metal demon possession novella, and co-curated a horror anthology. Several of Julie's horror short stories have been published in anthologies. Julie also had a deep sea horror novella published by Torrid Waters, a pulp and extreme horror imprint of Crystal Lake Publishing.
You can find her at KillersAndDemons.com serving up toxic cocktails of metal and murder.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
February 16, 2026
ARC REVIEW
This was one wild ride, folks. Revenge, sex, and gore, oh my. What's not to love? Stella is a total nutcase with an agenda. She kills the killers, and she doesn't exactly do it with a smile (but …) I really enjoyed this fast-paced book. It had my heart pounding in places. Know your triggers. Check this out.
Thanks to Book Sirens for sending me an advanced copy to read and review
This was one wild ride, folks. Revenge, sex, and gore, oh my. What's not to love? Stella is a total nutcase with an agenda. She kills the killers, and she doesn't exactly do it with a smile (but …) I really enjoyed this fast-paced book. It had my heart pounding in places. Know your triggers. Check this out.
Thanks to Book Sirens for sending me an advanced copy to read and review
Review of advance copy
Got the arc from booksirens.
Gory and dark extreme horror. I enjoyed reading it but wasn't one of the most memorable stories ive read. Would like to read more from the author as I was intruiged by the writing.
Gory and dark extreme horror. I enjoyed reading it but wasn't one of the most memorable stories ive read. Would like to read more from the author as I was intruiged by the writing.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks Netgalley for the arc.
I love horror books, but for me personally something was missing to fully enjoy it. I was a bit sickend by a few chapters, and that put me off the book.
The short chapters and the writing style, are amazing, but it reminds me of fan fiction with the shortness of each chapter.
I love horror books, but for me personally something was missing to fully enjoy it. I was a bit sickend by a few chapters, and that put me off the book.
The short chapters and the writing style, are amazing, but it reminds me of fan fiction with the shortness of each chapter.
Review of advance copy
I was excited to read this story. Unfortunately I did not enjoy the story as much as I thought I would. It felt rushed and left me with more questions than answers. I was getting Thelma and Louise vibes, which is not a bad thing. I felt parts were missing from the story.
April 18, 2026
i spy obituary! they are a legendary band!
slaughter, women drenched in bløød & for the most part the heavy metal ambience exceeded.
the mosh pit fueled me on hand for this feminine rampage.
rock out ladies!!
as soon as i seen heavy metal & sapphism, i instantly had to take possession of this.
loud screamy music motivates me to get through everyday!!
i’m ∞ in love with being a metalhead 🎸🩸🖤
slaughter, women drenched in bløød & for the most part the heavy metal ambience exceeded.
the mosh pit fueled me on hand for this feminine rampage.
rock out ladies!!
as soon as i seen heavy metal & sapphism, i instantly had to take possession of this.
loud screamy music motivates me to get through everyday!!
i’m ∞ in love with being a metalhead 🎸🩸🖤
April 24, 2026
Stella Mahoney has traded in her detective badge to track and apprehend deadly killers on her own terms. Iris, a former FBI agent joins Stella in her quest. Only Iris realises later that Stella's methods are not for the faint of heart. A chilling psychological thriller which highlights the twisted world of serial killers and their warped way of victimization.
April 18, 2026
Stella’s Scream is not a book that eases you in -- it grabs you immediately and drags you into a visceral, unrelenting descent. From the opening pages, it establishes a tone that is raw, aggressive, and unapologetically extreme. This is very much a novella for readers who know what “extreme horror” entails and are actively seeking it.
At its core, the story follows Stella, a former detective whose sense of justice has twisted into something far darker. The narrative leans heavily into moral ambiguity, exploring what happens when someone who hunts monsters begins to resemble them. Rather than offering clean answers, the book thrives in that gray space, letting readers sit with discomfort.
The writing style is intense and sensory-driven. It doesn’t shy away from graphic detail -- if anything, that’s one of its defining features. The prose often feels chaotic in a deliberate way, mirroring Stella’s psychological state. There’s a strong emphasis on atmosphere: grimy settings, loud music, heat, blood, and tension all blend into a kind of fever-dream energy that keeps the pacing fast and relentless.
One standout element is the structure. The novella is divided into thematic sections (like “Sanity,” “Innocence,” and “Love”), which adds an interesting layer to the reading experience. It subtly suggests character progression, even as the content itself becomes more unhinged.
That said, this book is not for everyone. The content is extremely graphic and includes disturbing subject matter that goes well beyond standard horror. If you’re sensitive to explicit violence or sexual content, this will likely be too much. Even seasoned horror readers may find certain scenes challenging.
Where the novella succeeds most is in commitment -- it fully leans into its concept without hesitation. It knows exactly what kind of story it wants to tell and delivers it with confidence. Whether that works for you depends entirely on your tolerance for extreme material.
Final thoughts: Stella’s Scream is a brutal, high-intensity read that blends psychological descent with shock-heavy horror. It’s bold, unsettling, and deeply niche -- perfect for fans of extreme horror, but likely overwhelming for casual readers.
At its core, the story follows Stella, a former detective whose sense of justice has twisted into something far darker. The narrative leans heavily into moral ambiguity, exploring what happens when someone who hunts monsters begins to resemble them. Rather than offering clean answers, the book thrives in that gray space, letting readers sit with discomfort.
The writing style is intense and sensory-driven. It doesn’t shy away from graphic detail -- if anything, that’s one of its defining features. The prose often feels chaotic in a deliberate way, mirroring Stella’s psychological state. There’s a strong emphasis on atmosphere: grimy settings, loud music, heat, blood, and tension all blend into a kind of fever-dream energy that keeps the pacing fast and relentless.
One standout element is the structure. The novella is divided into thematic sections (like “Sanity,” “Innocence,” and “Love”), which adds an interesting layer to the reading experience. It subtly suggests character progression, even as the content itself becomes more unhinged.
That said, this book is not for everyone. The content is extremely graphic and includes disturbing subject matter that goes well beyond standard horror. If you’re sensitive to explicit violence or sexual content, this will likely be too much. Even seasoned horror readers may find certain scenes challenging.
Where the novella succeeds most is in commitment -- it fully leans into its concept without hesitation. It knows exactly what kind of story it wants to tell and delivers it with confidence. Whether that works for you depends entirely on your tolerance for extreme material.
Final thoughts: Stella’s Scream is a brutal, high-intensity read that blends psychological descent with shock-heavy horror. It’s bold, unsettling, and deeply niche -- perfect for fans of extreme horror, but likely overwhelming for casual readers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Review of ARC, courtesy of NetGalley.
Splatterpunk and sapphism. Repeat for 126 pages. Finis.
If that is all you are seeking in your reading, you’ll probably enjoy this novella. If you are looking for any kind of logic in the plot and characterization, or any semblance of writing craft above the level of teen fan fiction, you are excused to give this a hard pass.
We are introduced to a jaded, cynical, burned-out, world-weary, ex-homicide detective who has given up her badge to mete out her own brand of justice. Oh, did I mention? She was a 24-year-old *rookie* homicide detective. Yeah, right. Unless you belong to a 2-officer police force, no beat cop is making detective at the age of 24, much less as a homicide detective, a position requiring years of experience in lower divisions and specialized education. And, just how many cases do you think a rookie detective sees in their first year; and how many slam-dunk-guilty perps who have slipped through the fingers of justice would that rookie have seen, to elicit her “To hell with it all; I quit” response.
The author’s prose can only be described as "literary cringe":
“The note she’d scribed was tight. Brief.”
“Images of ichor-soaked flesh”
“streaks of green glazed ichor”
“child lying in its own ichor”
“sanguine fluid trickled down her legs”
“licking the sanguine fluids from the blade”
Most times, though, those literary affectations are eschewed in favor of endless repetition of the same pointless adverb:
“his right test**** tore clean off”
“prior to ripping clean off”
“sliced clean across her chin”
“shaved clean of any hair”
“sliced the seam . . . clean open”
“pulled the needle clean through”
“It was gone. Cut clean off.”
“high-quality steel sliced clean through”
“High-grade steel cut clean through”
“swung the blade clean through”
This was my first ARC received from NetGalley. I do hope I am soon allowed to review one for which I don’t have to feel embarrassed posting on my Goodreads page.
Splatterpunk and sapphism. Repeat for 126 pages. Finis.
If that is all you are seeking in your reading, you’ll probably enjoy this novella. If you are looking for any kind of logic in the plot and characterization, or any semblance of writing craft above the level of teen fan fiction, you are excused to give this a hard pass.
We are introduced to a jaded, cynical, burned-out, world-weary, ex-homicide detective who has given up her badge to mete out her own brand of justice. Oh, did I mention? She was a 24-year-old *rookie* homicide detective. Yeah, right. Unless you belong to a 2-officer police force, no beat cop is making detective at the age of 24, much less as a homicide detective, a position requiring years of experience in lower divisions and specialized education. And, just how many cases do you think a rookie detective sees in their first year; and how many slam-dunk-guilty perps who have slipped through the fingers of justice would that rookie have seen, to elicit her “To hell with it all; I quit” response.
The author’s prose can only be described as "literary cringe":
“The note she’d scribed was tight. Brief.”
“Images of ichor-soaked flesh”
“streaks of green glazed ichor”
“child lying in its own ichor”
“sanguine fluid trickled down her legs”
“licking the sanguine fluids from the blade”
Most times, though, those literary affectations are eschewed in favor of endless repetition of the same pointless adverb:
“his right test**** tore clean off”
“prior to ripping clean off”
“sliced clean across her chin”
“shaved clean of any hair”
“sliced the seam . . . clean open”
“pulled the needle clean through”
“It was gone. Cut clean off.”
“high-quality steel sliced clean through”
“High-grade steel cut clean through”
“swung the blade clean through”
This was my first ARC received from NetGalley. I do hope I am soon allowed to review one for which I don’t have to feel embarrassed posting on my Goodreads page.
Review of advance copy
My mind the first 35% of this novella: This is extreme horror? Where?
My mind the following 65%: Oh…
I'm not sure if this level of horrorness counts as extreme since I'm not a horror reader. I am a metalhead though, so maybe I'm still within the target audience.
Imagine my face when I found out the playlist consists of only one band's songs – Black Label Society. That was my first red flag. Then the obsession with this one band and its frontman gets turned up to maximum volume. She mentions "Mr. Wylde" multiple times. I found it odd to refer to a musician this way – you would call a teacher that. I'm not gonna lie, the fanfic factor was really strong with the amount of mentions of this one band.
What I liked:
- The gory parts were absolutely disgusting. As a squeamish person, my stomach rolled multiple times and I call that a win in a horror context.
- The atmosphere was actually pretty vivid. I felt like rolling around in a biker bar while reading.
What I didn't like:
- Repetitive structure. Find a case in newspapers, immediately find out where the serial killer hides, show up, leave many dead bodies behind. That happens three times in 120 pages. There is no real investigation or preparation for these hunts and it made the whole "plot" seem like set dressing for the gore.
- Stella has basically no personality. Her relationship with Iris is based on off-page history and there was nothing making me root for any of these characters.
- Intimate parts descriptions. I felt like the writer used a thesaurus religiously because the words used included rump flesh, the forbidden, her goods, loins, vaginal cavity, sexual core, and other very creative choices. Yes, I did write them down.
- "The white-blond dye they'd applied hid all remnants of the luscious fire red." Not how this works.
- Nu metal is spelled nü metal and it's described as new-age. Maybe if this book was written thirty years ago.
ARC via BookSirens
I am leaving this review voluntarily
My mind the following 65%: Oh…
I'm not sure if this level of horrorness counts as extreme since I'm not a horror reader. I am a metalhead though, so maybe I'm still within the target audience.
Imagine my face when I found out the playlist consists of only one band's songs – Black Label Society. That was my first red flag. Then the obsession with this one band and its frontman gets turned up to maximum volume. She mentions "Mr. Wylde" multiple times. I found it odd to refer to a musician this way – you would call a teacher that. I'm not gonna lie, the fanfic factor was really strong with the amount of mentions of this one band.
What I liked:
- The gory parts were absolutely disgusting. As a squeamish person, my stomach rolled multiple times and I call that a win in a horror context.
- The atmosphere was actually pretty vivid. I felt like rolling around in a biker bar while reading.
What I didn't like:
- Repetitive structure. Find a case in newspapers, immediately find out where the serial killer hides, show up, leave many dead bodies behind. That happens three times in 120 pages. There is no real investigation or preparation for these hunts and it made the whole "plot" seem like set dressing for the gore.
- Stella has basically no personality. Her relationship with Iris is based on off-page history and there was nothing making me root for any of these characters.
- Intimate parts descriptions. I felt like the writer used a thesaurus religiously because the words used included rump flesh, the forbidden, her goods, loins, vaginal cavity, sexual core, and other very creative choices. Yes, I did write them down.
- "The white-blond dye they'd applied hid all remnants of the luscious fire red." Not how this works.
- Nu metal is spelled nü metal and it's described as new-age. Maybe if this book was written thirty years ago.
ARC via BookSirens
I am leaving this review voluntarily
April 22, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - 𝓻𝓪𝓽𝓮
🌶️🌶️🌶️ - 𝓼𝓹𝓲𝓬𝓮
🔥🔥🔥🔥 - 𝓹𝓵𝓸𝓽
🩸🩸🩸 - 𝓰𝓸𝓻𝓮
🖤 𝓶𝓪𝓲𝓷 𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓼🖤
Stella & Iris
🖤 𝓽𝓻𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓼🖤
📕extreme violence
📕mutilation
📕masochism
📕r@pe
📕excessive gore
🖤 𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀🖤
Heavy metal and excessive gore… what more could you ask for? This book was an absolute blast of a story. The plot. The characters. I’m no stranger to Julie Hiner’s books but this one had me seated the entire ride. If you’re looking for a gloriously gory story set on revenge against the sick and depraved, this is the book for you.
*spoilers*
Stella is on the path to seek revenge on the murderous sickos of the world. She’s an ex detective on a mission. With the help of her friend, and partial love interest, Iris, the two of them do their investigations on where they may find their next target. And then down a few shots of whiskey afterwards while listening to heavy metal. But after a night of sexual tension, they make a pact to leave it at only a murderous relationship.
The killers they come across are notoriously known for their grotesque performances and unique kills. With unique titles as well. The further they go to take them down one by one, the more they’ll realize that sometimes dead is better. Tensions between the girls grow heavily as they grow closer throughout each of the take downs.
But as they get to one of the killers that they tried to take down years ago, she may be their toughest call yet. I won’t spoil it too much, but there’s heartache and misery to come for these two badass females.
A spicy, sapphic (almost) love story that centers on heavy metal music and females kicking ass. For the ones that loved Tragedy Girls, or any horror film where the women don’t need a knight in shiny armor to save them. A brutal story from the one and only Julie Hiner, author of the Detective Mahoney series. Stella’s Scream is a must read for 2026
🌶️🌶️🌶️ - 𝓼𝓹𝓲𝓬𝓮
🔥🔥🔥🔥 - 𝓹𝓵𝓸𝓽
🩸🩸🩸 - 𝓰𝓸𝓻𝓮
🖤 𝓶𝓪𝓲𝓷 𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓼🖤
Stella & Iris
🖤 𝓽𝓻𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓼🖤
📕extreme violence
📕mutilation
📕masochism
📕r@pe
📕excessive gore
🖤 𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀🖤
Heavy metal and excessive gore… what more could you ask for? This book was an absolute blast of a story. The plot. The characters. I’m no stranger to Julie Hiner’s books but this one had me seated the entire ride. If you’re looking for a gloriously gory story set on revenge against the sick and depraved, this is the book for you.
*spoilers*
Stella is on the path to seek revenge on the murderous sickos of the world. She’s an ex detective on a mission. With the help of her friend, and partial love interest, Iris, the two of them do their investigations on where they may find their next target. And then down a few shots of whiskey afterwards while listening to heavy metal. But after a night of sexual tension, they make a pact to leave it at only a murderous relationship.
The killers they come across are notoriously known for their grotesque performances and unique kills. With unique titles as well. The further they go to take them down one by one, the more they’ll realize that sometimes dead is better. Tensions between the girls grow heavily as they grow closer throughout each of the take downs.
But as they get to one of the killers that they tried to take down years ago, she may be their toughest call yet. I won’t spoil it too much, but there’s heartache and misery to come for these two badass females.
A spicy, sapphic (almost) love story that centers on heavy metal music and females kicking ass. For the ones that loved Tragedy Girls, or any horror film where the women don’t need a knight in shiny armor to save them. A brutal story from the one and only Julie Hiner, author of the Detective Mahoney series. Stella’s Scream is a must read for 2026
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
between the metal music, blood, murder, and bedroom fun. There is a cute love story in there, somewhere.
sadly I did get attached to the bond that Stella and Iris had in this book and kinda wanted it to keep going, for more to be written, for more of their feminist rage.
Overall I enjoyed the story.
It has a good pace. not disjointed, nothing that far over the top that one thinks no way.
In typical extreme horror, the details are plentiful and explained in detail.
was a bit thrown to work out that this was meant to be set in the late 80s to early 90's but when I did it made a lot more sense. I'm assuming due to the dial up aspect.
Overall I enjoyed the writing style. The descriptions of the music and how Stella felt emotional and physical towards some of the songs, made Stella come across as human and less well let's say unhinged at times .
Personally I will be looking into what else this author has written as I quite enjoyed the style.
The horror in this book is more towards a light to mid extreme horror, with leanings towards splatterpunk as the horror aspects are about revenge and is it ok to do all this is if it's only to the "bad guys"
its a quick read and worth it for something a bit different or if you want to start getting into heavier horror.
Thank you to the publisher and the author for letting me read this book as a ARC. I really enjoyed this book.
I only pick up ARCs that I would pick up in store or in the library to read, books were you read the blurb and say yep I like the sounds of that and give it a go, as life is too short to read a bad book
sadly I did get attached to the bond that Stella and Iris had in this book and kinda wanted it to keep going, for more to be written, for more of their feminist rage.
Overall I enjoyed the story.
It has a good pace. not disjointed, nothing that far over the top that one thinks no way.
In typical extreme horror, the details are plentiful and explained in detail.
was a bit thrown to work out that this was meant to be set in the late 80s to early 90's but when I did it made a lot more sense. I'm assuming due to the dial up aspect.
Overall I enjoyed the writing style. The descriptions of the music and how Stella felt emotional and physical towards some of the songs, made Stella come across as human and less well let's say unhinged at times .
Personally I will be looking into what else this author has written as I quite enjoyed the style.
The horror in this book is more towards a light to mid extreme horror, with leanings towards splatterpunk as the horror aspects are about revenge and is it ok to do all this is if it's only to the "bad guys"
its a quick read and worth it for something a bit different or if you want to start getting into heavier horror.
Thank you to the publisher and the author for letting me read this book as a ARC. I really enjoyed this book.
I only pick up ARCs that I would pick up in store or in the library to read, books were you read the blurb and say yep I like the sounds of that and give it a go, as life is too short to read a bad book
Review of advance copy received from Author
𝑺𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒂'𝒔 𝑺𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎 by Julie Hiner
🤬 justified revenge | ⚰️ splatterpunk | ♀️ raw sapphic dynamic
vibes <-------x--> plot
tension <-------x->
✅ 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒐:
• Crave vigilante justice served with zero apologies.
• Value punchy, short chapters.
❌ 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒐𝒚 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒊𝒇:
• You have a low tolerance for extreme gore.
• You are bothered by song titles + music embedded into the prose.
📚𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒍𝒐𝒕:
Ex-detective Stella and rogue profiler Iris embark on a scorched-earth desert killing spree to erase human monsters before the carnage consumes their sanity.
🎚️𝑻𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒍𝒍-𝒐-𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒓: 🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵
Pure adrenaline and gasoline; like a mosh pit where the only way out is through the blood of a rampage of justified feminine fury.
Reading this was like a shot of cheap bourbon to the system - vivid, burning, and completely addictive. Stella is a phenomenal anchor who kept me fully invested even in the quieter character moments.
Her raw, sapphic connection with Iris feels heart-achingly real. What worked was the absolute lack of filler; the author successfully made the character development easy to read without any of those boring parts that usually trigger a skim.
I was relieved to read the fight scenes were conveyed with simple, effective descriptors that kept me pinned to the page - yet still bruuuuuutal.
This was literally every badass, kick-down-the-door part of Sons of Anarchy, Wynona Earp, Shoot Em Up, or Sin City rolled into one awesome experience.
This will hit hardest for readers who wish the worst perps known to man could be eliminated through bowel-carving revenge.
Thank you to the author for my copy 🩵
🤬 justified revenge | ⚰️ splatterpunk | ♀️ raw sapphic dynamic
vibes <-------x--> plot
tension <-------x->
✅ 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒐:
• Crave vigilante justice served with zero apologies.
• Value punchy, short chapters.
❌ 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒐𝒚 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒊𝒇:
• You have a low tolerance for extreme gore.
• You are bothered by song titles + music embedded into the prose.
📚𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒍𝒐𝒕:
Ex-detective Stella and rogue profiler Iris embark on a scorched-earth desert killing spree to erase human monsters before the carnage consumes their sanity.
🎚️𝑻𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒍𝒍-𝒐-𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒓: 🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵
Pure adrenaline and gasoline; like a mosh pit where the only way out is through the blood of a rampage of justified feminine fury.
Reading this was like a shot of cheap bourbon to the system - vivid, burning, and completely addictive. Stella is a phenomenal anchor who kept me fully invested even in the quieter character moments.
Her raw, sapphic connection with Iris feels heart-achingly real. What worked was the absolute lack of filler; the author successfully made the character development easy to read without any of those boring parts that usually trigger a skim.
I was relieved to read the fight scenes were conveyed with simple, effective descriptors that kept me pinned to the page - yet still bruuuuuutal.
This was literally every badass, kick-down-the-door part of Sons of Anarchy, Wynona Earp, Shoot Em Up, or Sin City rolled into one awesome experience.
This will hit hardest for readers who wish the worst perps known to man could be eliminated through bowel-carving revenge.
Thank you to the author for my copy 🩵
May 5, 2026
I am honestly unsure if I would consider this "horror" in the traditional sense. There were times that Stella's Scream felt like a gorefest for the sake of being a gorefest. The descriptions reminded me of the extremely bloody scenes in movies where it pours out of the walls or comes rushing in a deluge toward one of the main characters. It's excessive, sometimes a shock factor, but it doesn't truly add anything to the overall story.
The story itself, the premise that is, isn't terrible. It is sort of like a gender bend Dexter that teamed up with Saw to see who could come up with the most creative deaths. The concept of a serial killer hunting serial killers is not new, but Hiner definitely delivered something gory that I am sure some horror lovers will fall for. It was really scary or psychological for me, but I also watch WAY to many horror movies.
Be warned that this book has blood play sexy times, and some of the descriptions may be disturbing to some readers. I don't know if my eyes will ever unseen the description for the Carnal Cougar, as that was something else entirely. Overall, I don't think this book is terrible, but I don't think it's epic either; it's just very niche for its audience and I am left disappointed in it being more gory than horror.
Thank you NetGalley and Killers and Demons for giving me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The story itself, the premise that is, isn't terrible. It is sort of like a gender bend Dexter that teamed up with Saw to see who could come up with the most creative deaths. The concept of a serial killer hunting serial killers is not new, but Hiner definitely delivered something gory that I am sure some horror lovers will fall for. It was really scary or psychological for me, but I also watch WAY to many horror movies.
Be warned that this book has blood play sexy times, and some of the descriptions may be disturbing to some readers. I don't know if my eyes will ever unseen the description for the Carnal Cougar, as that was something else entirely. Overall, I don't think this book is terrible, but I don't think it's epic either; it's just very niche for its audience and I am left disappointed in it being more gory than horror.
Thank you NetGalley and Killers and Demons for giving me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Stella’s Scream is a gritty, high-energy splatterpunk novella that blends heavy metal atmosphere with vigilante horror and psychological intensity. Set in the early 2000s, the story follows Stella as she spirals further into her role as a hunter of violent criminals, with Agent Iris Quesnel adding both tension and intrigue to the journey. The music references really help shape the mood, giving the story a raw, cinematic edge, while the hallucination elements blur the line between justice and obsession.
It’s fast-paced, dark, and unapologetically extreme at times, making it a strong pick for readers who enjoy splatterpunk or music-infused horror with anti-hero characters.
Stella’s Scream is a gritty, high-energy splatterpunk novella that blends heavy metal atmosphere with vigilante horror and psychological intensity. Set in the early 2000s, the story follows Stella as she spirals further into her role as a hunter of violent criminals, with Agent Iris Quesnel adding both tension and intrigue to the journey. The music references really help shape the mood, giving the story a raw, cinematic edge, while the hallucination elements blur the line between justice and obsession.
It’s fast-paced, dark, and unapologetically extreme at times, making it a strong pick for readers who enjoy splatterpunk or music-infused horror with anti-hero characters.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Um, yes! This novella is splatterpunk at its finest!! When I think of this genre, I instantly think "extreme gore". That is what author, Julie Hiner gave me. This is my first book I have read by the author and I need more.
This story took me on quite the wild, rollercoaster ride! By the end, I was looking like Carrie covered in blood from the prom dance scene.
Stella is crazy. Yet you combine her with Iris and these two are like Thelma and Louise driving across country on a k!lling spree. Each case they investigated was crazier and crazier. If you are a big fan of splatterpunk, this is one book you don't want to miss!
This story took me on quite the wild, rollercoaster ride! By the end, I was looking like Carrie covered in blood from the prom dance scene.
Stella is crazy. Yet you combine her with Iris and these two are like Thelma and Louise driving across country on a k!lling spree. Each case they investigated was crazier and crazier. If you are a big fan of splatterpunk, this is one book you don't want to miss!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
four stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
thanks, netgalley and Julie Hiner for approving me for this ARC
Stella and her girlfriend Iris are killers who kill killers
what's better then having a partner in crime to serial kill serial killers
This was a roller coaster ride for sure I was Gasping with some of the scenes, so well done for a short novella Some of the scenes are really graphic especially the knife🔪 scene I was shocked when I read the part about her killing a woman that was a killer she was literally killing men When you get to that scene you'll know I absolutely love Stella and Iris and I loved the fact that they got revenge Definitely definitely worth the read
thanks, netgalley and Julie Hiner for approving me for this ARC
Stella and her girlfriend Iris are killers who kill killers
what's better then having a partner in crime to serial kill serial killers
This was a roller coaster ride for sure I was Gasping with some of the scenes, so well done for a short novella Some of the scenes are really graphic especially the knife🔪 scene I was shocked when I read the part about her killing a woman that was a killer she was literally killing men When you get to that scene you'll know I absolutely love Stella and Iris and I loved the fact that they got revenge Definitely definitely worth the read
Review of advance copy received from Author
Stella's Scream is a dark, extreme horror novella that follows Stella Mahoney, a former detective who takes justice into her own hands when law enforcement fails. The story explores her pursuit of deranged killers, along with her growing fascination with violence and morbid cravings.
I had an amazing time breezing through this book. At times, I felt the absence of a traditional storyline, but the raw intensity, gruesome depictions, and fast pacing kept me hooked throughout.
Overall, this is a bold, unsettling glimpse into the darker side of human desire and obsession. It is a must-read for those who enjoy horror that pushes boundaries.
I had an amazing time breezing through this book. At times, I felt the absence of a traditional storyline, but the raw intensity, gruesome depictions, and fast pacing kept me hooked throughout.
Overall, this is a bold, unsettling glimpse into the darker side of human desire and obsession. It is a must-read for those who enjoy horror that pushes boundaries.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I enjoyed Stella's Scream, even though I'm still processing it. Labelled as extreme horror, Julie Hiner's gritty, intense story jumps straight in. Perfect for fans of dark, boundary-pushing horror, I liked its raw energy and underground vibe, which kept me hooked. As a novella, I finished it quickly, ideal for a bloody adrenaline rush. I didn't give it 5 stars because it felt rushed at the end; I wanted more time with characters and plot. It's a wild ride for the brave, but I wish there were more, as Hiner's world is fascinating.
Review of advance copy received from Author
While this novella is part of the Stella Mahoney series, the heroine has moved on from the police force and has headed down a dark path.
This latest offering by Julie Hiner is a visceral journey into horror. Little is left to the imagination of what happens to the victims of the serial killers in this short, exceptionally descriptive novella.
The writing is fast-paced and hard-hitting. It quickly plunges the reader into the heart of the story and doesn't let up until the end. The details are brutal and some readers might find it disturbing.
It is, as the title states, extreme horror!
This latest offering by Julie Hiner is a visceral journey into horror. Little is left to the imagination of what happens to the victims of the serial killers in this short, exceptionally descriptive novella.
The writing is fast-paced and hard-hitting. It quickly plunges the reader into the heart of the story and doesn't let up until the end. The details are brutal and some readers might find it disturbing.
It is, as the title states, extreme horror!
March 12, 2026
Stealla’s Scream by Julie Homer
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Okay this was all kinds of messed up but I enjoyed every minute of it. It’s very gory so if you don’t like that I would not recommend but if you do…go read it NOW! This gave me Krista Turner Clark vibes.
The FMC is a former homicide detective that left a couple years ago prior and now she goes around k!lling ser!al k!llers in very similar ways that their victims d!ed. I was HOOKED from the first page. I will say if you have any TW make sure you check those before diving in.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Okay this was all kinds of messed up but I enjoyed every minute of it. It’s very gory so if you don’t like that I would not recommend but if you do…go read it NOW! This gave me Krista Turner Clark vibes.
The FMC is a former homicide detective that left a couple years ago prior and now she goes around k!lling ser!al k!llers in very similar ways that their victims d!ed. I was HOOKED from the first page. I will say if you have any TW make sure you check those before diving in.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a rather gruesome horror story fuelled with heavy metal antics, forbidden desires and unsolved mysterious murders. You will be taken on a very dark journey with this one, as Stella and Iris partner up to track down murderers. You won’t want to put this story down until the very end. Some of the torture scenes were jaw dropping, horrific and very disturbing. Being a horror fan, I absolutely loved reading this and I highly recommend it to others who love their horrors too.
5 out of 5! As a warning, I will say this story is very graphic and horrifying, if you can stomach it.
5 out of 5! As a warning, I will say this story is very graphic and horrifying, if you can stomach it.
April 27, 2026
Stella has traded in her FBI badge for a knife, and has developed a taste for justice and revenge.
This was a short, easy read with good gore but I did find it quite repetitive - at points, I wondered if my copy had glitched because of how repetitive it felt. There is a sapphic romance incorporated but written in the same tone as the killings, which does make some sense but didn't evoke emotion. I found the ending fell flat and I just overall wasn't very invested despite enjoying the gore. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
This was a short, easy read with good gore but I did find it quite repetitive - at points, I wondered if my copy had glitched because of how repetitive it felt. There is a sapphic romance incorporated but written in the same tone as the killings, which does make some sense but didn't evoke emotion. I found the ending fell flat and I just overall wasn't very invested despite enjoying the gore. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was devastated to read torture track as it was the end of an era for the mahoney series. The fact that Julie provided what Stella turned to after her detective days and succumbing to her inner beast was cathartic. Stella's scream is not for the faint of heart, it's brutal, gorey and even spicy. I loved every moment of it but this did not just test the limits of my mind and stomach but my heart as well.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3.75 rounded)
Thank you to NetGalley and the author, Julie Hiner, for the ARC.
Short, fast-paced horror novella.
Stella was a detective… now she kills serial killers.
Heavy on revenge, gore, and chaos definitely check trigger warnings.
The concept had me, but the horror didn’t always hit for me and felt a bit repetitive at times. The spice takes a backseat here.
Stella is unhinged, and with Iris, they go on a wild ride.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author, Julie Hiner, for the ARC.
Short, fast-paced horror novella.
Stella was a detective… now she kills serial killers.
Heavy on revenge, gore, and chaos definitely check trigger warnings.
The concept had me, but the horror didn’t always hit for me and felt a bit repetitive at times. The spice takes a backseat here.
Stella is unhinged, and with Iris, they go on a wild ride.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 24, 2026
This one was like a concentrated shot to the heart. This was ultimate carnage and naughtiness all the way through. The characters went through a hell of a time and I did not expect the ending. Just pure adrenaline all the way. The gore was magnificent and some of the ideas that the killers had were perfectly unusual. As always I’m left still wanting more from Stella.
April 25, 2026
This book is an extreme horror and gore mixed with rock and metal. It really didn't do anything for me. It left me scratching my head and wanting answers. It is a fast read. I do recommend checking your triggers before reading this book as it may not be for everyone. Overall this book was Meh...
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book felt like what it would have been if Thelma & Louise were crazed lovers on a killing spree to take out those that had wronged them. It was a wild ride in all the right places and was pure splatterpunk. If you are in the mood for a pure female rage and revenge, this is the book for you
Review of advance copy
So, this is what should happen to these sorts of people. I have to say I loved it, I didn’t realise I was that into extreme horror until this book, but apparently I am. What’s next I wonder. Cannot wait to find out. Highly recommended.
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
If you are a fan of extreme horror you will love this book. The story is excellent and it makes it hard to put down. Definitely recommended!
April 16, 2026
Intense fast paced read
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