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WHAT CONSUMES US: a domestic horror thriller with a chilling twist
I've never killed anyone in my life... so why does my six-year-old son keep begging me not to kill him too?
After her husband's passing, newly single mother Danya Harper moves her autistic son Sammy into a run-down house on Ellison Street. The lights keep flickering. The electricity bill makes no sense. And Sammy has a new friend—one only he can see, who whispers things that no child should ever know.
Danya knows that something sinister is going on, but she just can't prove it yet.
She's right. There is. And it's worse than she could have ever imagined.
After her husband's passing, newly single mother Danya Harper moves her autistic son Sammy into a run-down house on Ellison Street. The lights keep flickering. The electricity bill makes no sense. And Sammy has a new friend—one only he can see, who whispers things that no child should ever know.
Danya knows that something sinister is going on, but she just can't prove it yet.
She's right. There is. And it's worse than she could have ever imagined.
192 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 11, 2026
About the author
Elainie La Force
6 books19 followersElainie La Force is a St. Lucian author. She writes dark, twisted thrillers that are sometimes flavoured with horror elements. Her work explores themes of betrayal, secret identities, and the hidden systems lurking within ordinary life.
La Force began to write stories at six years old. After a pivot to songwriting and poetry, she returned to prose in 2026. Her debut novella, No Passengers, hit the Amazon Best Sellers chart in several categories, reaching the top ten in three countries.
She is currently finishing a series of long-held stories and intends to publish over fifty books, novellas and novels alike. When not writing, she enjoys a good horror movie or a thought-provoking book.
La Force began to write stories at six years old. After a pivot to songwriting and poetry, she returned to prose in 2026. Her debut novella, No Passengers, hit the Amazon Best Sellers chart in several categories, reaching the top ten in three countries.
She is currently finishing a series of long-held stories and intends to publish over fifty books, novellas and novels alike. When not writing, she enjoys a good horror movie or a thought-provoking book.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 12, 2026
I got this ebook copy of What Consumes Us from the author, Elainie La Force, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Danya is a widowed mother trying to rebuild her life while raising her six year old autistic son, Sammy. Her husband left her buried in debt, and the run down house she buys is supposed to be their fresh start. Instead, the lights begin flickering, voices crawl through the walkie talkies, and Sammy starts talking about someone called Mr. Hollow.
Danya is dealing with poverty, exhaustion, loneliness, motherhood, grief, and the fear that she may be failing her child. That everyday work gives the psychological suspense more weight because she keeps searching for normal while the warning signs keep stacking up.
Danya is lonely, and only human. I did not agree with all the decision she made. A few times, I wanted to reach through the pages and tell her to wake up and pay attention. She felt like an exhausted mother making choices while fear and desperation clouded her judgment.
Sammy is the emotional heart of the story. His routines, fear, and repeated warnings create some of the strongest tension in the book. The growing danger hits harder because he cannot fully explain what is happening, and Danya does not understand the truth until it is nearly too late.
The first half is a litte slow and spends a fair amount of time on Danya’s financial problems, personal life, and attraction to Simon. Some readers may want the horror to move faster, and I thought a few parts could have been. Once the story finally drops it turns dark.
The final stretch delivers horror, disturbing imagery, betrayal, body horror, child endangerment, and a desperate mother fighting to save her son. I figured out part of the twist before the reveal, but the way it unfolded still worked and gave the earlier strange moments a much darker meaning.
What Consumes Us is a disturbing domestic horror thriller packed with psychological suspense, family trauma, hidden secrets, and an evil that has been waiting beneath the surface. It took a little while to reach full speed, but once it did, the story sank its teeth in and did not loosen its grip.
I give it a 4 outta 5 catfish!
Danya is a widowed mother trying to rebuild her life while raising her six year old autistic son, Sammy. Her husband left her buried in debt, and the run down house she buys is supposed to be their fresh start. Instead, the lights begin flickering, voices crawl through the walkie talkies, and Sammy starts talking about someone called Mr. Hollow.
Danya is dealing with poverty, exhaustion, loneliness, motherhood, grief, and the fear that she may be failing her child. That everyday work gives the psychological suspense more weight because she keeps searching for normal while the warning signs keep stacking up.
Danya is lonely, and only human. I did not agree with all the decision she made. A few times, I wanted to reach through the pages and tell her to wake up and pay attention. She felt like an exhausted mother making choices while fear and desperation clouded her judgment.
Sammy is the emotional heart of the story. His routines, fear, and repeated warnings create some of the strongest tension in the book. The growing danger hits harder because he cannot fully explain what is happening, and Danya does not understand the truth until it is nearly too late.
The first half is a litte slow and spends a fair amount of time on Danya’s financial problems, personal life, and attraction to Simon. Some readers may want the horror to move faster, and I thought a few parts could have been. Once the story finally drops it turns dark.
The final stretch delivers horror, disturbing imagery, betrayal, body horror, child endangerment, and a desperate mother fighting to save her son. I figured out part of the twist before the reveal, but the way it unfolded still worked and gave the earlier strange moments a much darker meaning.
What Consumes Us is a disturbing domestic horror thriller packed with psychological suspense, family trauma, hidden secrets, and an evil that has been waiting beneath the surface. It took a little while to reach full speed, but once it did, the story sank its teeth in and did not loosen its grip.
I give it a 4 outta 5 catfish!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 24, 2026
I really enjoyed this one! At just 192 pages, it's a quick read, but don't let the length fool you—it had me completely gripped from the very beginning.
Maybe it hit home because my daughter is autistic and comes out with the most random sentences, or maybe it's because I'm also a single parent with a questionable track record when it comes to men... who knows! 😂 Either way, I found myself invested in Danya and Sammy almost immediately.
I loved the ride this story took me on. It kept me hooked throughout, building the tension without ever feeling rushed. For a book that's only 192 pages, it packs a lot in, pulling you along for the ride and then spitting you back out right at the end! 😂
If you're looking for a quick, creepy read with plenty of atmosphere, a touch of gaslighting, and questioning your sanity, I'd definitely recommend giving this one a go.
Maybe it hit home because my daughter is autistic and comes out with the most random sentences, or maybe it's because I'm also a single parent with a questionable track record when it comes to men... who knows! 😂 Either way, I found myself invested in Danya and Sammy almost immediately.
I loved the ride this story took me on. It kept me hooked throughout, building the tension without ever feeling rushed. For a book that's only 192 pages, it packs a lot in, pulling you along for the ride and then spitting you back out right at the end! 😂
If you're looking for a quick, creepy read with plenty of atmosphere, a touch of gaslighting, and questioning your sanity, I'd definitely recommend giving this one a go.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Well what a load of complete and utter cow d*ng. This short novel started off like a typical 'new house, haunted vibes' ghost story, but by the end.. it was soo not that. I was pleasantly surprised by the final twist, although I have sooo many questions bcus wtf? If horny and desperate was a person, it would be Danya Harper. What an embarrassing, naive and frustrating woman she is. I would've done a better job investigating and protecting my child if I were an autumn leaf. Absolutely deranged little nightmare of a book. The final twist was sick, dark and nasty asl...seemingly a signature of Laforce's work.
ARC Review. Third time or so reading this author and honored to be consistently chosen as part of the street team. She has a bright future ahead of her. I would love to see some of her work translated to screen especially this one.
ARC Review. Third time or so reading this author and honored to be consistently chosen as part of the street team. She has a bright future ahead of her. I would love to see some of her work translated to screen especially this one.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews