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Claustrophobis
Rafe has spent his entire life believing humanity should cease to exist. He's about to find out if he really means it.
He has watched humans consume, exploit and destroy everything they touch. When an army of six million death-mask creatures offers him the means to cleanse Earth of humanity, the opportunity he never thought possible is suddenly within reach. But as the line between his own will and something far darker begins to dissolve, he must confront a truth about himself that has been waiting in the shadows since before he was born.
He has watched humans consume, exploit and destroy everything they touch. When an army of six million death-mask creatures offers him the means to cleanse Earth of humanity, the opportunity he never thought possible is suddenly within reach. But as the line between his own will and something far darker begins to dissolve, he must confront a truth about himself that has been waiting in the shadows since before he was born.
- GenresHorror
370 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 5, 2026
About the author
Evan Jameson
3 books8 followersEvan Jameson lives in the North East of England with his wife and son. He spends his time listening to music, watching movies, reading, and writing.
He is currently working on A Better Place for All, the second of five Black Paintings he is writing that will hang out together once they are complete.
He is currently working on A Better Place for All, the second of five Black Paintings he is writing that will hang out together once they are complete.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
June 20, 2026
“Nature never intended for us to be the dominant species. We cheated our way to the top and called in civilization.”
This story opened my eyes to the hypocrisy in the world even within myself. I can watch horror movies and read horror books. But could I really watch real life horror against real people and or my own loved ones. The answer is NO. To witness such atrocities would be a real nightmare. One that I truly do not want to fathom.
“Take away the human voice, & you take away the ability to deceive. Maybe that’s the real problem with humanity. Not the violence or the greed. But the tongue that made both of them sound reasonable.”
It was fascinating to read when the akyests started killing everyone throughout the world . In Europe, the birds moving in unison while this unfolded would be a sight to see. Somehow horrific but beautiful. The rainforest in the Congo swallowing the bodies, taking back what humans had taken. In Mexico, the pyramids of Teotihuacán an ancient monument watching another civilization end. The United States’ major cities like Los Angeles and New York growing eerie silent once humanity left. A nuclear winter. How terrifying that would be!
This story will def make you think about death & life in general. The story itself is dark but there were some lighthearted moments which included the dog Brock. He was my fav character but that ending 💔 ugh!
**Thank you to the publisher for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.**
This story opened my eyes to the hypocrisy in the world even within myself. I can watch horror movies and read horror books. But could I really watch real life horror against real people and or my own loved ones. The answer is NO. To witness such atrocities would be a real nightmare. One that I truly do not want to fathom.
“Take away the human voice, & you take away the ability to deceive. Maybe that’s the real problem with humanity. Not the violence or the greed. But the tongue that made both of them sound reasonable.”
It was fascinating to read when the akyests started killing everyone throughout the world . In Europe, the birds moving in unison while this unfolded would be a sight to see. Somehow horrific but beautiful. The rainforest in the Congo swallowing the bodies, taking back what humans had taken. In Mexico, the pyramids of Teotihuacán an ancient monument watching another civilization end. The United States’ major cities like Los Angeles and New York growing eerie silent once humanity left. A nuclear winter. How terrifying that would be!
This story will def make you think about death & life in general. The story itself is dark but there were some lighthearted moments which included the dog Brock. He was my fav character but that ending 💔 ugh!
**Thank you to the publisher for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.**
October 6, 2026
✦˚⋆｡˚ “Nature never intended for us to be the dominant species. We cheated our way to the top and called it civilisation.” ˚｡⋆ ✦
【Ｔｈａｎｋ ｙｏｕ ＮｅｔＧａｌｌｅｙ ａｎｄ Ｅｖａｎ Ｊａｍｅｓｏｎ ｆｏｒ ｔｈｉｓ ＡＲＣ．】
I was immediately drawn to this because I already shared Rafe’s rather bleak belief that humanity has no business being at the top of the food chain, and WOW. This book genuinely made me question my own psychology.
It had me thinking about humanity, morality, religion, consciousness and what actually makes someone “good” — and I haven’t talked about a book this much with people around me in a LONG time.
The world-building is phenomenal, too. The dimension Jameson creates is strange, immersive and genuinely fascinating, not to mention the killer design of these creatures 👀
BUT… the execution wasn’t perfect. Rafe’s constant ideological flip-flopping eventually became repetitive, as did certain phrases and scenes, and the pacing was all over the place. I understand that it’s represent the genuine struggle he’s feeling beneath such a monumental thing… but come on.
And yet… I cannot stop thinking about it.
Claustrophis is messy, ambitious, occasionally repetitive and in desperate need of some tightening, but it is also imaginative, thought-provoking and genuinely fascinating.
4.25★
ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
【Ｔｈａｎｋ ｙｏｕ ＮｅｔＧａｌｌｅｙ ａｎｄ Ｅｖａｎ Ｊａｍｅｓｏｎ ｆｏｒ ｔｈｉｓ ＡＲＣ．】
I was immediately drawn to this because I already shared Rafe’s rather bleak belief that humanity has no business being at the top of the food chain, and WOW. This book genuinely made me question my own psychology.
It had me thinking about humanity, morality, religion, consciousness and what actually makes someone “good” — and I haven’t talked about a book this much with people around me in a LONG time.
The world-building is phenomenal, too. The dimension Jameson creates is strange, immersive and genuinely fascinating, not to mention the killer design of these creatures 👀
BUT… the execution wasn’t perfect. Rafe’s constant ideological flip-flopping eventually became repetitive, as did certain phrases and scenes, and the pacing was all over the place. I understand that it’s represent the genuine struggle he’s feeling beneath such a monumental thing… but come on.
And yet… I cannot stop thinking about it.
Claustrophis is messy, ambitious, occasionally repetitive and in desperate need of some tightening, but it is also imaginative, thought-provoking and genuinely fascinating.
4.25★
ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
June 21, 2026
This book is intense! A lot of current events are discussed throughout the book, it definitely makes you think about the state of things. I enjoyed the world building and the characters. This entire concept is such a trip. Definitely a mind bending read for sure.
Please check your triggers prior, this book is heavy.
Thank you Netgalley for my ARC copy! I can't wait to read more by this author.
Spice:🌶️
Please check your triggers prior, this book is heavy.
Thank you Netgalley for my ARC copy! I can't wait to read more by this author.
Spice:🌶️
May 24, 2026
Clearly familiar with the VHEMT group/movement, this author had a very interesting premise for this logical/nihilistic (depending on which side of this particular philosophy you fall on) novel that I was very interested to read, as my own familiarity with VHEMT goes all the way back to 1992, shortly after the group was formed.
Unfortunately, despite the decent writing, it at times also came off as pretentious and preachy (and I’m someone who’s not adverse to the basic underlying VHEMT beliefs). I enjoy a good philosophical horror, which this is – good vs evil, humanity’s hubris, religious themes, etc… but it also was far too repetitive for me, and maybe that’s because I’m quite familiar with this movement already? Maybe for those new to it it’s more effective in driving the point home? But I kinda doubt it. There’s just too much repetition of scenes, and phrases. For a minor example the phrase ‘black heart’ is repeated nearly 100 times throughout the book and it was honestly wearing on my nerves. Like, I get it already please stop clubbing me over the head with this 🙄… and that’s just a phrase. I think it would be more enjoyable if it was cut down by at least a third? I think it would be more accessible to a wider audience then.
This is a very heavy ‘internal monologuing’ kind of novel without a lot of movement, so you really have to go into it with that in mind. It’s not light reading by any stretch. It’s dismal and heavy and misanthropic, but it also makes you think and ruminate on the core nature of humanity. For some, this might be too much though, too draggy, but it also might work for those who enjoy a more cerebral horror. You will absolutely feel mentally exhausted reading this.
I went into this thinking I’d really enjoy the philosophical horror but felt myself far more interested in the physical horror aspects (some very excellent visceral scenes, excellent creature and world building). The scope and length and structure put me in mind, very distantly, of some of Clive Barker’s longer novels like Weaveworld and Imajica, and I was impressed by that kind of detail.
In this case though the length and repetition ultimately detracted too much from it being a good or great novel for me.
My thanks to NetGalley and Witching Hole Publications for the ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily and all opinions are my own.
Unfortunately, despite the decent writing, it at times also came off as pretentious and preachy (and I’m someone who’s not adverse to the basic underlying VHEMT beliefs). I enjoy a good philosophical horror, which this is – good vs evil, humanity’s hubris, religious themes, etc… but it also was far too repetitive for me, and maybe that’s because I’m quite familiar with this movement already? Maybe for those new to it it’s more effective in driving the point home? But I kinda doubt it. There’s just too much repetition of scenes, and phrases. For a minor example the phrase ‘black heart’ is repeated nearly 100 times throughout the book and it was honestly wearing on my nerves. Like, I get it already please stop clubbing me over the head with this 🙄… and that’s just a phrase. I think it would be more enjoyable if it was cut down by at least a third? I think it would be more accessible to a wider audience then.
This is a very heavy ‘internal monologuing’ kind of novel without a lot of movement, so you really have to go into it with that in mind. It’s not light reading by any stretch. It’s dismal and heavy and misanthropic, but it also makes you think and ruminate on the core nature of humanity. For some, this might be too much though, too draggy, but it also might work for those who enjoy a more cerebral horror. You will absolutely feel mentally exhausted reading this.
I went into this thinking I’d really enjoy the philosophical horror but felt myself far more interested in the physical horror aspects (some very excellent visceral scenes, excellent creature and world building). The scope and length and structure put me in mind, very distantly, of some of Clive Barker’s longer novels like Weaveworld and Imajica, and I was impressed by that kind of detail.
In this case though the length and repetition ultimately detracted too much from it being a good or great novel for me.
My thanks to NetGalley and Witching Hole Publications for the ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily and all opinions are my own.
May 27, 2026
*I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
Claustrophobis follows Rafe, a man struggling with an aversion to germs and a darkness inside him that urges him to do things he knows he shouldn’t. He keeps the blackness under control, giving it just enough to satiate its hunger, until one day he’s presented with the opportunity he’s always dreamed of.
I was hooked from the start. The writing style is clean and easy to follow without feeling overly simplistic. I was really enjoying the experience up until around the halfway mark, where the story started to feel repetitive and increasingly preachy, and unfortunately it never fully recovered for me.
While I still enjoyed the rest of the book overall, this did lessen the experience.
Claustrophobis follows Rafe, a man struggling with an aversion to germs and a darkness inside him that urges him to do things he knows he shouldn’t. He keeps the blackness under control, giving it just enough to satiate its hunger, until one day he’s presented with the opportunity he’s always dreamed of.
I was hooked from the start. The writing style is clean and easy to follow without feeling overly simplistic. I was really enjoying the experience up until around the halfway mark, where the story started to feel repetitive and increasingly preachy, and unfortunately it never fully recovered for me.
While I still enjoyed the rest of the book overall, this did lessen the experience.
July 14, 2026
Unfortunately, this really wasn't for me, and I ended up dnf'ing at 45%. The start seemed interesting, but very quickly, it started to feel really slow, repetitive, and confusing. Maybe the characters and their actions would've made more sense later on the book, but as far as I got, they didn't. There were some interesting philosophical questions that could've gotten even deeper in the end, but it fell a bit flat for me. The book overall had somewhat cringe angsty teenage boy vibe. It also started to have too many fantasy elements, which bothered me since it's not really my genre. I did like the body horror aspects, though. They were creative and weird, which I love!
I rarely dnf a book, and I'm really sad I didn't enjoy this one, even though it sounded so promising! But even though it wasn't for me, I could see other people enjoying it, so don't let my opinion stop you from getting to know Claustrophobis!
Thank you NetGalley for the eARC ♡
I rarely dnf a book, and I'm really sad I didn't enjoy this one, even though it sounded so promising! But even though it wasn't for me, I could see other people enjoying it, so don't let my opinion stop you from getting to know Claustrophobis!
Thank you NetGalley for the eARC ♡
June 13, 2026
Extremely unique and unsettling book. If you love mysterious creepy dream state vibes this is the book for you.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book was interesting. I read a lot of horror but I can't say I've ever read a book quite like this one.
The positives:
The prose was quite beautiful and well-constructed. The author did a fantastic job relating the images in their head into the written word. I was able to easily picture everything I was reading. The violence was quite extreme at times but not over the top compared to other books I've read.
The mystery surrounding some of the supporting characters (who I won't name because that would be spoiling the fun for any potential readers) might've been my favorite part. The phone calls and texts with their eerie messages and strange claims added an element of suspense I wasn't expecting.
I enjoyed the first person narration and watching Rafe try to puzzle out, well, everything himself. Whether I agreed with him or not, it was intriguing and sometimes infuriating. He came off, to me at least, as less unreliable narrator and more confused and/or disconnected person.
The negatives:
The length. It needed to be trimmed down. There was a lot of repetition. I only want and need to hear the same thing so many times before I either feel like the author is talking down to my intelligence, preaching at me, or trying to up the page count. At somewhere around 60% I started skimming certain sections because the same thing was happening over and over.
The plot took on religious themes that made me groan. Everything was incredibly original before then and I can't understand why the author went there. Especially with the "directives". That was my least favorite aspect of the book. Maybe that was the point? For the same flaw that started everything in the first place? If that was the point then it was well made. Although Rafe didn't seem to get it.
I don't think the author trusted the reader enough to understand the major theme of the book. They were heavy-handed though only addressed two main issues over and over (plus the idea of desensitization). There was a lack of nuance. Whether that's because those two issues are the ones closest to the author's heart or not I can't say. I can say that approaching the topic of extinctionism should encompass more of what plagues the global population. It isn't all modern day slavery and the destruction of nature. It felt like the author would be served by expressing themselves through the medium of essays perhaps.
I'm glad I read this because it was quite captivating in a lot of ways but the reader needs to go in with a certain level of patience for the long drawn out sections. (I obviously lacked the requisite patience hence the skimming in the latter half of the book.)
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book was interesting. I read a lot of horror but I can't say I've ever read a book quite like this one.
The positives:
The prose was quite beautiful and well-constructed. The author did a fantastic job relating the images in their head into the written word. I was able to easily picture everything I was reading. The violence was quite extreme at times but not over the top compared to other books I've read.
The mystery surrounding some of the supporting characters (who I won't name because that would be spoiling the fun for any potential readers) might've been my favorite part. The phone calls and texts with their eerie messages and strange claims added an element of suspense I wasn't expecting.
I enjoyed the first person narration and watching Rafe try to puzzle out, well, everything himself. Whether I agreed with him or not, it was intriguing and sometimes infuriating. He came off, to me at least, as less unreliable narrator and more confused and/or disconnected person.
The negatives:
The length. It needed to be trimmed down. There was a lot of repetition. I only want and need to hear the same thing so many times before I either feel like the author is talking down to my intelligence, preaching at me, or trying to up the page count. At somewhere around 60% I started skimming certain sections because the same thing was happening over and over.
The plot took on religious themes that made me groan. Everything was incredibly original before then and I can't understand why the author went there. Especially with the "directives". That was my least favorite aspect of the book. Maybe that was the point? For the same flaw that started everything in the first place? If that was the point then it was well made. Although Rafe didn't seem to get it.
I don't think the author trusted the reader enough to understand the major theme of the book. They were heavy-handed though only addressed two main issues over and over (plus the idea of desensitization). There was a lack of nuance. Whether that's because those two issues are the ones closest to the author's heart or not I can't say. I can say that approaching the topic of extinctionism should encompass more of what plagues the global population. It isn't all modern day slavery and the destruction of nature. It felt like the author would be served by expressing themselves through the medium of essays perhaps.
I'm glad I read this because it was quite captivating in a lot of ways but the reader needs to go in with a certain level of patience for the long drawn out sections. (I obviously lacked the requisite patience hence the skimming in the latter half of the book.)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Rafe is a nihilist, by the time he reached 23 years old he’s been orphaned twice over. He looks around and struggles to see anything but idiots and pain but soon the shadows that plague his life start to take shape. He never feels alone anymore and his violent nightmares get more and more realistic..
If this short summary appeals to you, if you enjoy a multiverse, body horror and philosophical questions then this book might be for you. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever read before with a very original plot that explores many themes but most importantly whether or not humanity is worth saving. I did find it repetitive with what I imagine are the author’s favoured cause of concern about our society, it’s a shame that this wasn’t edited out as it made the book feel a bit preachy and there are so many other problems that could have been adressed. I do wonder if this wasn’t too big of a subject to tackle as it felt convoluted. However the prose is good and the horror even better. It felt to me that the main character is unreliable which was interesting to explore [as well as the entire other dimension/species aspect of the book and the akyest’s shared consciousness].
The sensory descriptions were insane and so realistic, it made it hard for me to tear away from the page. For a moment I felt like a child reading her favourite book again as I was completely engrossed in this story that managed to remain suspensful and surprising.
I’m not as pessimistic as the main character, but it was riveting to follow him navigate his new life as he crossed into darkness.
3,5 stars, in spite of a few faults I really liked this and would read this author again with pleasure !
Reader do be warned, this contains highly disturbing and graphic material.
Thank you to Netgalley and Witching Hole publications for providing me with a free ARC!
If this short summary appeals to you, if you enjoy a multiverse, body horror and philosophical questions then this book might be for you. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever read before with a very original plot that explores many themes but most importantly whether or not humanity is worth saving. I did find it repetitive with what I imagine are the author’s favoured cause of concern about our society, it’s a shame that this wasn’t edited out as it made the book feel a bit preachy and there are so many other problems that could have been adressed. I do wonder if this wasn’t too big of a subject to tackle as it felt convoluted. However the prose is good and the horror even better. It felt to me that the main character is unreliable which was interesting to explore [as well as the entire other dimension/species aspect of the book and the akyest’s shared consciousness].
The sensory descriptions were insane and so realistic, it made it hard for me to tear away from the page. For a moment I felt like a child reading her favourite book again as I was completely engrossed in this story that managed to remain suspensful and surprising.
I’m not as pessimistic as the main character, but it was riveting to follow him navigate his new life as he crossed into darkness.
3,5 stars, in spite of a few faults I really liked this and would read this author again with pleasure !
Reader do be warned, this contains highly disturbing and graphic material.
Thank you to Netgalley and Witching Hole publications for providing me with a free ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Starts off interesting but quickly takes a preachy, juvenile turn it does not recover from.
Humans are bad for the world, society should end and the earth would be better for it. The type of edgy thought many teenagers have had and I’m sure plenty adults carry with them and might even voice out loud in selected company as our main character does.
There are aspects of this book I can relate to, but the repetitive nature in which it is addressed makes it seem the author is very much trying to convince me to agree with the main character.
The book started off very strong, mysterious, uncomfortable, very violent, with body horror and everything I was expecting from the book. It took a turn at about 25% in and what followed never lived up to that start or the premise of the book.
Despite the main character Rafe reading as a one of those AI reddit posts about their one-sided kissless, open relationship, the start of the story was fairly captivating. There is definitely a good idea there, but I feel the author never really figured out how to follow up on it and the whole book turns very preachy with a very whiny main character, who while genociding the human race can only feel sorry for himself.
Despite the main part of the book not really connecting for me, I was able to finish it quite easily because it is written well. Even though the main character not really clicking with me and the story not living up to what I expected it to be, it was for the most part not hard to read or get through. Looking forward to what the author does next, and hoping the next installation of their work hits better for me.
Thank you to NetGalley, Evan Jameson and Witching Hole Publications for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Humans are bad for the world, society should end and the earth would be better for it. The type of edgy thought many teenagers have had and I’m sure plenty adults carry with them and might even voice out loud in selected company as our main character does.
There are aspects of this book I can relate to, but the repetitive nature in which it is addressed makes it seem the author is very much trying to convince me to agree with the main character.
The book started off very strong, mysterious, uncomfortable, very violent, with body horror and everything I was expecting from the book. It took a turn at about 25% in and what followed never lived up to that start or the premise of the book.
Despite the main character Rafe reading as a one of those AI reddit posts about their one-sided kissless, open relationship, the start of the story was fairly captivating. There is definitely a good idea there, but I feel the author never really figured out how to follow up on it and the whole book turns very preachy with a very whiny main character, who while genociding the human race can only feel sorry for himself.
Despite the main part of the book not really connecting for me, I was able to finish it quite easily because it is written well. Even though the main character not really clicking with me and the story not living up to what I expected it to be, it was for the most part not hard to read or get through. Looking forward to what the author does next, and hoping the next installation of their work hits better for me.
Thank you to NetGalley, Evan Jameson and Witching Hole Publications for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The cover and blurb were an immediate hook for me.
It had a strong start, setting the world and introducing us to Rafe and the struggles with the world, with himself, and his childhood, taking us on his journey into Claustrophobis and how he is transforming. I really enjoyed how the author created this separate entity, this other world, and how they existed and lived. It's an interesting idea that really makes one think about all the unknowns.
Rafe's slow transition between these worlds and his growing self-discovery were well done, and I quite enjoyed the thriller aspects of the book as well. Trying to solve the small inconsistencies and mysteries about the characters added a nice touch, helping break up some of the book's heaviness.
However, there was a lot of repetition, which, if worded differently, might have been better. There are only so many times you can bring something up before it gets a bit annoying or loses its meaning. Towards the end of the book, I was starting to lose interest because of the repetition and because I wasn't enjoying the direction it was heading. I was a bit disappointed with the ending, as it started to take a more religious route; the beginning was so different and creative.
I would recommend others check out the book, and I will look forward to other books this author produces!
Thank you to Netgalley, Evan James, and Witching Hole Publications for the ARC!
It had a strong start, setting the world and introducing us to Rafe and the struggles with the world, with himself, and his childhood, taking us on his journey into Claustrophobis and how he is transforming. I really enjoyed how the author created this separate entity, this other world, and how they existed and lived. It's an interesting idea that really makes one think about all the unknowns.
Rafe's slow transition between these worlds and his growing self-discovery were well done, and I quite enjoyed the thriller aspects of the book as well. Trying to solve the small inconsistencies and mysteries about the characters added a nice touch, helping break up some of the book's heaviness.
However, there was a lot of repetition, which, if worded differently, might have been better. There are only so many times you can bring something up before it gets a bit annoying or loses its meaning. Towards the end of the book, I was starting to lose interest because of the repetition and because I wasn't enjoying the direction it was heading. I was a bit disappointed with the ending, as it started to take a more religious route; the beginning was so different and creative.
I would recommend others check out the book, and I will look forward to other books this author produces!
Thank you to Netgalley, Evan James, and Witching Hole Publications for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
✦•┈๑⋅⋯ Claustrophobis by Evan Jameson ⋯⋅๑┈•✦
• 2.5/5 ☆ •
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
The beginning of this book hooked me right away. The writing is sharp, the atmosphere is unsettling in the best way, and the setup feels like it’s building toward something dark and claustrophobic. I was fully in. The tension, the mystery, the strange little details, it all worked.
And everything slowed to a crawl.
The middle section slows things down considerably. Scenes start repeating themselves. The same ideas circle over and over. The pacing loses its edge, and the dread that felt so tight early on just… stalls. Some of the rules around the horror elements feel inconsistent too, which makes the stakes feel softer instead of sharper. It’s like the book keeps promising escalation but never quite delivers on it.
There are still flashes of what made the opening so strong. The writing stays solid. The atmosphere stays eerie. The premise is genuinely cool. But the momentum never fully recovers, and by the end I felt more tired than tense.
Overall, a strong start weighed down by a sluggish middle. Not a bad read, but not one that held me all the way through.
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
If you like:
✔️ stories with strong openings
✔️ slow creeping horror
✔️ atmospheric dread
✔️ unsettling creature lore
✔️ isolated settings
✔️ horror that takes its time
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
📅 Pub Day: June 05, 2026 📚
💌 ARC gifted via NetGalley from Witching Hole Publications. All opinions are my own.
• 2.5/5 ☆ •
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
The beginning of this book hooked me right away. The writing is sharp, the atmosphere is unsettling in the best way, and the setup feels like it’s building toward something dark and claustrophobic. I was fully in. The tension, the mystery, the strange little details, it all worked.
And everything slowed to a crawl.
The middle section slows things down considerably. Scenes start repeating themselves. The same ideas circle over and over. The pacing loses its edge, and the dread that felt so tight early on just… stalls. Some of the rules around the horror elements feel inconsistent too, which makes the stakes feel softer instead of sharper. It’s like the book keeps promising escalation but never quite delivers on it.
There are still flashes of what made the opening so strong. The writing stays solid. The atmosphere stays eerie. The premise is genuinely cool. But the momentum never fully recovers, and by the end I felt more tired than tense.
Overall, a strong start weighed down by a sluggish middle. Not a bad read, but not one that held me all the way through.
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
If you like:
✔️ stories with strong openings
✔️ slow creeping horror
✔️ atmospheric dread
✔️ unsettling creature lore
✔️ isolated settings
✔️ horror that takes its time
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
📅 Pub Day: June 05, 2026 📚
💌 ARC gifted via NetGalley from Witching Hole Publications. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Themes- Death, destructiveness of humanity, mental health, the supernatural/extraterrestrials, human relationships, dreams, the end of humanity, hive mind, evil vs good, angels and demons, phobias, unreliable narrator, morality
Reminded me of- "Stranger Things" (tv series), "This Thing Between Us" by Gus Moreno, "The Matrix" (film), "Final Fantasy- Spirits Within" (film).
Genres- Horror, Gore, Psychological Horror/Thriller, Dark, SciFi, Supernatural.
Evan Jameson unabashedly explores an ideas that many of us have considered, but not given much thought- What would happen if humans went extinct? Would that be a good thing?
Rafe has been mulling over the idea of whether or not humans should continue to exist along with his girlfriend, Lucy, and her friends. When Rafe enters the horror filled world of Claustrophobis, he becomes further compelled that humans may have outstayed their welcome on Earth. "Claustrophobis" is an example of masterful story-telling, with beautiful imagery, woven in with tragic and gruesome events. Evan Jameson's narration and events feel chaotic at times as we follow Rafe, but it drives-home the sensation that we are following our protagonist into a fever-dream like reality check.
This one will stick with you forever.
Reminded me of- "Stranger Things" (tv series), "This Thing Between Us" by Gus Moreno, "The Matrix" (film), "Final Fantasy- Spirits Within" (film).
Genres- Horror, Gore, Psychological Horror/Thriller, Dark, SciFi, Supernatural.
Evan Jameson unabashedly explores an ideas that many of us have considered, but not given much thought- What would happen if humans went extinct? Would that be a good thing?
Rafe has been mulling over the idea of whether or not humans should continue to exist along with his girlfriend, Lucy, and her friends. When Rafe enters the horror filled world of Claustrophobis, he becomes further compelled that humans may have outstayed their welcome on Earth. "Claustrophobis" is an example of masterful story-telling, with beautiful imagery, woven in with tragic and gruesome events. Evan Jameson's narration and events feel chaotic at times as we follow Rafe, but it drives-home the sensation that we are following our protagonist into a fever-dream like reality check.
This one will stick with you forever.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Big thank you to Netgalley and Witching Hole Publications for the opportunity to read and review Claustrophobis!
Claustrophobis is a dark, broody novel that centers around the main character Rafe. Rafe believes that humanity is corrupt and the only cure is the extinction of said humanity. Bitter over the loss of their brother Erik, Rafe is haunted by lurking shadows and their dreams of another world filled with pain and terrifying creatures.
Between the world of sleep and awake is another realm, where Rafe rules with their black heart, where they must decide the fate of all of humanity.
Soooo yeah, I did not like this book., The first half or so was interesting but it just became repetitive and boring towards the end. I literally came up with a drinking game while reading, take a shot every time Rafe mention's their black heart!
None of the characters were relatable or likable and I honestly finished just to see what happened. 2.5 stars rounded up to 3 soles based on the premise and decent writing. Lots of gore scattered throughout the end and TW for child death.
Claustrophobis is a dark, broody novel that centers around the main character Rafe. Rafe believes that humanity is corrupt and the only cure is the extinction of said humanity. Bitter over the loss of their brother Erik, Rafe is haunted by lurking shadows and their dreams of another world filled with pain and terrifying creatures.
Between the world of sleep and awake is another realm, where Rafe rules with their black heart, where they must decide the fate of all of humanity.
Soooo yeah, I did not like this book., The first half or so was interesting but it just became repetitive and boring towards the end. I literally came up with a drinking game while reading, take a shot every time Rafe mention's their black heart!
None of the characters were relatable or likable and I honestly finished just to see what happened. 2.5 stars rounded up to 3 soles based on the premise and decent writing. Lots of gore scattered throughout the end and TW for child death.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Claustrophobis
By Evan Jameson
Pub Date: Jun 12 2026
This is a fantastic horror book. A mix of psychological and body horror with very strong philosophical undertones. Not a dull moment.
Thank you to NetGalley and Witching Hole Publications for the opportunity to read this book early in return for my honest review.
By Evan Jameson
Pub Date: Jun 12 2026
This is a fantastic horror book. A mix of psychological and body horror with very strong philosophical undertones. Not a dull moment.
Thank you to NetGalley and Witching Hole Publications for the opportunity to read this book early in return for my honest review.
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