Diabolic

The Colony Carnivale #24

by Lady GoreWhxre

They say The Colony Carnivale appears without warning—rolling into forgotten towns under blood-red skies, offering laughter, lights, and salvation for the bored and broken. But beneath the painted tents, hides a different sin, each act a different obsession. Lust. Power. Revenge. Fear. The Carnivale feeds on it all—and so do the souls trapped inside..

The games are rigged, the prizes are cursed, and the performers aren’t quite human. So buy your ticket, brave the insanity, and pray the lights go out after you do. Because once you enter, the show owns you.

Welcome to The Colony Carnivale—where the fun never dies, it just screams louder.

122 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication October 24, 2026

Reviews

[Neapolitan670 📚🖤]

When is a funhouse not a funhouse…when it’s within The Colony Carnivale 😱

Stevie, received a ticket she thought it was from her ex, it was not! Her friends along with her go to Carnivale enjoying some of the booths before they are drawn to the funhouse. Meanwhile Beau Jangles the funhouse teller, along with the twins are clearing up the previous visitors when the new group arrives. However, Beau is drawn to one person…yep! You guessed it, Stevie. As we’ve come to expect nothing is as it seems at this Carnival.

As with the others it’s not all fun and frolicking when entering a tent, booth or ride and the funhouse is no different. It’s a quick splatterpunk/horror novella with the expected gore 😈

Heavy Mutilation | Spicy | Psychotic Hallucinations | 🩸 & Gore | Body Horror | SA | CA | Substance Abuse | Self Inflicted Abortion

[__boundbybook__ 🥀Shaunie🥀]

This story was so good I couldn’t put it down, i read it in one sitting and OMG YAS PLEASE!!
The vibes the setting the characters it was all perfection! And definitely a perfect addition to the series!

[AJ Robertson]

Well... the beginning was wild. I mean, sometimes you can actually be a wee shocked even halfway through the series. Stevie's childhood straight up sucked. So she stuffed all that omto the back of her mind and locked it up. After making the best choice to leave her horrible excuse of a boyfriend, she receives the letter. We all know the letter. After her friends talk her into it, she finds herself at the Carnivale. This is where Beau comes in. He's been stuck with Carnivale for quite some time, and he's been wanting to leave for a good while, but the fun house is greedy and needs to fed. If you have any pregnancy trigger, I'd just hop skip past this one.

"All of us have a darkness inside us. But it's how you choose to use it that defines you,"

[Bonnie James]

Diabolic was exactly the kind of dark and intense read I needed.
The atmosphere is thick, the tension is constant, and the combination of erotic darkness and genuine unease had me completely absorbed.
It is short, sharp, and stays under your skin. Another fantastic entry that keeps this series going strong.

[Rhiannon Cheyenne]

Diabolic - Lady Gorewhxre

I loved the story. I’m glad that Beau I got a happy ending so to speak and that he was able to move on. Stevie was also a really fun character as well. The writing in the story is just incredible. I definitely enjoyed that. There was someone of the carnival that was able to have a happy ending since many members haven’t. I’m looking forward to the rest of the books in the series as well as more books written by this author.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / Out of 5 Stars ⭐️

🔥 / Spice Rating ☀️

# of Pages 🌙 69 Pages

Reading Dates ✨ 9/24/26 - 9/30/26

Release Date 🌟 10/24/26

Format 💫 Gifted Digital Copy

Series 🌙 The Colony Carnivale, #24

Genre/Tropes ✨ erotic horror, body horror

Content Warning/Triggers ⭐️ Heavy Mutilation, Sexual Content, Eyeball Gouging, Chewing Off Tongue, Morbid Masturbation, Psychotic Hallucinations, Split Personality, Spousal Abuse, Child Abuse, Child Sexual Assault (off-page), Homicidal Tendencies, Blood Play, Knife Play, Self-Inflicted Abortion, Alcohol Consumption, Some Drug Use, Addiction, Psychological Horror, Cannibalism, Rape? Stalking, Childhood Trauma, Anxiety/Depression, Child Neglect, Genital Mutilation, Necrophilia, Cheating, Roller Coaster Tragedy, Body Dysmorphia, Self-Mutilation, Self-Harm, Disorientation, Cannabis Use

Representation 🌙 unlabeled

Favorite Character ☀️ unlabeled

Favorite Line 🌟 unlabeled

Vibes 💫 unlabeled

Moods ⭐️ unlabeled

[Jade Ford]

Disclaimer: I'm reading these novels as a set of ARCs! Please note that they are dark, and come with a lot of trigger warnings! I'm quite new to dark novels, and they seem to hit me one of two ways - either I have the reaction of being grossly fascinated and unable to look away (a bit like when humans see an accident and can't help but side eye), or it turns my stomach and makes me flinch - both reactions I find interesting as a reader, but I tend to prefer the horror of the first! What type of dark reader you are with your own preferences/triggers, will no doubt affect how you find each of these reads.

Diabolic features the Funhouse - which I was excited for because it's probably (next to the Big Tent) what pops into my head when i think of a fair/carnival! This one lent heavily into the splatterpunk/gore side of things, and the obsession side of dark romance. However, there was one trigger that I wasn't expecting (my fault for not reading the triggers this time ah!) involving pregnancy and I had to swiftly stop the read about I think 60%. I therefore haven't rated it because I can't give an overall picture of the whole vibes! But from what I read, if splatterpunk is your vibes, and you like stalkerish obsessive romance - this will be for you!

[Charlene's Bookish Archives]

Where the fun never dies, it just screams louder!

Lady GoreWhxre steps into The Colony Carnivale and brings fresh, ferocious energy to this mesmerising shared world!

That opening blurb alone sent shivers down my spine, and the story delivers every bit of that dark, intoxicating promise.

This is the Carnivale at its most seductive and sinister! Appearing out of nowhere under red skies, preying on the bored and broken, feeding on every human desire, lust, power, revenge, fear. The games are rigged, the prizes cursed, the performers not quite human… and once you step through those gates, you’re part of the show forever.

The atmosphere is thick, lush, and utterly immersive, you can practically smell the popcorn mixed with something darker, hear the laughter masking the screams.

It’s exactly the kind of addictive, shadowy read that makes you want to devour the entire series in one sitting. If you crave dark paranormal romance with teeth and heart,

Diabolic is unmissable. Step right up… if you dare. 🎪🔥

[Marci Simmons]

Disclaimer: I am reading these books as a set of ARCS. Note they are dark and come with quite a bit of trigger warnings.
This was Book 24 of The Colony Carnivale. Diabolic by Lady Gorewhxre is the store of how Stevie joins The Carnivale and intersection with Beau Jangles. Like all the stories in the series, it is unique, however; this one had elements to it that none of the others did! You will have to read to find out. I highly suggest this series.

I received an advanced review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jennifer Taylor]

Book 24 of The Colony Carnivale. Stevie had a really rough childhood and a rough relationship. When she receives a ticket to the Carnivale, she believe it is from her ex. Talked into going by her friends and they going into the funhouse. Beau runs the funhouse as he has forever. In the Colony Carnivale a funhouse is not your normal funhouse. This one shocked me a bit as there is definitely a lot of blood and gore in this one.

[Pretty_Poisons_Dark_Romance]

This is #24 in the series Please check the trigger warnings and tropes if that is something you usually do before reading. The funhouse is run by Beau, however, I don't think it's fun for everyone. Stevie is the one who gets the invite to the funhouse. There are hallucinations, manipulation, body horror and more. Lady Gorewhxre did a great job with this story! I will be reviewing all novellas in the series and they can be found on my profile!

[Jolyn]

🎵tHiS uSeD to Be a FuNhOuSe🎵

And not the type of funhouse you find at a normal carnival but the epic horror kind you only find at the CARNIVALE! I absolutely devoured this one, it was so so good! Epically dark, amazingly gory, with a splash of smut. Please absolutely check your trigger warnings because this one can be rough depending on what you find uncomfortable but once again if you have none please 🙏🏻 dive right in, head first and don’t look back (not that you’ll want to 😉)

[Melissa Allen]

Book 24 of the Colony Carnivale...
Where to start with this one? Welcome to the fun house of the carnivale, where we show you who you truly are!
Stevie goes to the carnivale with her friends and the night end like no other!
Beau Jangles is the overseer of the fun house and when he locks eyes with Stevie, he knows she is special.
Again the Carnivale shows us who we really are inside and out.... xoxo

[Veronica]

This was a funhouse of horrors I loved it it's gory, exotic and mysterious at the same time the way Stevie discovers herself in the funhouse was genius she knew she had a dark side to her and when the mirrors showed her the truth about herself I was so happy she finally understood and I loved Beau went after her he made sure Stevie survived all in all this book was a 10

[Katie P]

I loved Beau & the concept of this fun house.
Diabolic was nightmare fuel. The inventive ways to meet your own demise or exit this place was wiiiiild. The little twist with our dark little Stevie had my jaw on the floor.
I wanted more from Beau's instalust but the few "scenes" were perfect.

[Liz Bench]

This book is so fucking trippy. You'll see things that may or may not be real. I mean, I like how she can look back and say, "I'm choosing myself," but will she ever get out? What happens if she gets out? I have to suggest you read it and find out. 🎪🖤

[Aura]

Arc reader review.

Oh I had such a great time reading this book. Not only because I read instead of listening to the forum I was in but because everything was sooo good. I think I need to check this author.

[Tanya Kolb]

This one was a miss for me. It seemed detached from the Carnivale more than the others. It was mostly just a trip through the funhouse rather than getting to know new characters or learning more about the Carnivale. I could have done without the scene with the baby too. That seemed a bit much.

[Kalene]

Holy darkness and gore! The spice was omg and I'm wanting more this whole world is sending me far away and I'm loving it

[Lila]

The FMC has to face her own trauma when she’s at the carnival.

[heather]

What a wild dark ride! I wish we could see more of Beau and Stevie. This story definitely keeps you on your toes and navigates the erotic horror perfectly!

[danie]

Thank you to the author for the arc opportunity!

This one was good! The writing was good, the characters were amazing, and I loved the fun house! Definitely a favorite of the series!

[Selina Nagy]

CHECK YOUR TRIGGERS!

Wow!! Loved this book I loved the backstory! loved the gore!!

[Sabrina]

Book 24 of the colony carnivale.

A fun house was the best place for Stevie to find herself. She showed her trauma who's the Boss... My favorite parts are the psychotic hallucinations

[Jessi]

Sooo freaking good! The situation with the FMC was wicked, definitely enjoyed that 😜

PLEASE BE MINDFUL OF THE TRIGGERS!

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Jessica]

Never looking at a funhouse the same!!!!

[Misti Binkley]

Was dark and delicious