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The Observances: A Human–Infernal Cultural Exchange Initiative Novel
A flyer on a laundromat corkboard. Plain type, no picture, tear-off tabs along the lower margin. One tab already gone.
Households with financial need. Stipend provided. All ordinary expenses covered. Brief intake interview required.
Sophia fills out the form at her own kitchen table at one in the morning and tells nobody. The form notes that submission constitutes consent on behalf of everyone named on it. She signs it. The transfer posts at 6:47 in the morning. She opens the envelope at 6:47.
Two Mediators arrive at dusk, a taller and a smaller. They are courteous. They ask permission before they do anything at all. They will stay seven days.
The booklet that came with the letter sets out what is asked of a host household: ordinary routines, and an atmosphere of calm, maintained for the duration of the assessment. Failure to maintain calm may result in dissolution of contractual protections. The withdrawal window is on page three, and page three arrived three weeks after the window shut.
Sophia has a daughter of fifteen and a son of nine. Nothing in the house is taken by force and nothing is broken. The family tries the doors once, and after that they stay. Nobody in this house is ever chased. The seven days are spent answering questions, and the cost of answering comes due.
What is being measured is her attention, and it has been accumulating for a very long time.
THE OBSERVANCES is a slow burn. It is a procedural horror novel that works by accumulation rather than by shock.
Content note: sustained peril to children. A fuller note is in the book.
Households with financial need. Stipend provided. All ordinary expenses covered. Brief intake interview required.
Sophia fills out the form at her own kitchen table at one in the morning and tells nobody. The form notes that submission constitutes consent on behalf of everyone named on it. She signs it. The transfer posts at 6:47 in the morning. She opens the envelope at 6:47.
Two Mediators arrive at dusk, a taller and a smaller. They are courteous. They ask permission before they do anything at all. They will stay seven days.
The booklet that came with the letter sets out what is asked of a host household: ordinary routines, and an atmosphere of calm, maintained for the duration of the assessment. Failure to maintain calm may result in dissolution of contractual protections. The withdrawal window is on page three, and page three arrived three weeks after the window shut.
Sophia has a daughter of fifteen and a son of nine. Nothing in the house is taken by force and nothing is broken. The family tries the doors once, and after that they stay. Nobody in this house is ever chased. The seven days are spent answering questions, and the cost of answering comes due.
What is being measured is her attention, and it has been accumulating for a very long time.
THE OBSERVANCES is a slow burn. It is a procedural horror novel that works by accumulation rather than by shock.
Content note: sustained peril to children. A fuller note is in the book.
- GenresPsychological
259 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 8, 2026
About the author
Luna Asli Kolcu
13 books125 followersI write nightmares people can enjoy and dreams with teeth.
Horror, fantasy, and whatever lives where they blur. Stories about grief, memory, identity, and love that refuses to die quietly.
I grew up between Anatolia, the Mediterranean, the Middle East, and the steppes. Old places. My writing comes from there too. Myths and half-remembered legends.
Born and raised in Istanbul, studied in London. Now I live in a 17th-century stone farmhouse in rural Catalonia with the love of my life (who is an amazing artist), my kids, five dogs, a deeply judgmental cat named Galadriel who supervises every draft.
Horror, fantasy, and whatever lives where they blur. Stories about grief, memory, identity, and love that refuses to die quietly.
I grew up between Anatolia, the Mediterranean, the Middle East, and the steppes. Old places. My writing comes from there too. Myths and half-remembered legends.
Born and raised in Istanbul, studied in London. Now I live in a 17th-century stone farmhouse in rural Catalonia with the love of my life (who is an amazing artist), my kids, five dogs, a deeply judgmental cat named Galadriel who supervises every draft.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
The Observances is a slow horror novel filled with dread. Luna Asli Kolcu creates an atmosphere that overtakes the reader with an eerie sense of unease. Even though the story is slow-paced, I couldn’t stop reading because I wanted to know more.
Two infernal creatures called the Mediators enter Sophia’s house, where she lives with her husband and two children, to observe her family for a week. They do not know why. But as long as the family doesn’t break the procedure, they will be safe.
The concept is interesting, and the story started out strong, but ultimately the book leaves too many unanswered questions for my preference. You never learn why there is a Human-Infernal Cultural Exchange Initiative in the first place or why the Mediators are observing normal human behaviors and lifestyles. If open-ended horror stories don’t bother you, add this one to your list. If you want all your questions answered and wrapped up neatly, you might find yourself disappointed here.
The in-world pamphlet called “Guidelines for Safe and Productive Hosting” says this:
“Failure to maintain calm may result in dissolution of contractural protections. Deviations nullify safety parameters.”
This concept of following the procedure and creating no deviations is repeated throughout the story, and every time a deviation occurs it is blatantly noted by the Mediators. There are many instances of foreshadowing of a peril that never actually happens. I say this not to spoil the ending but to set the proper expectations because I was disappointed that the mounting dread amounted to nothing in the end; instead it just fizzled out and left me feeling hollow instead of satisfied. You will finish this book and realize that none of it really mattered. Life goes on normally. There is no real danger. I’m not sure what the intent was behind telling this story with an ending like that.
The author’s note states, “This is a novel about a family that is threatened for seven days” and it “contains sustained peril to two children.” Neither of these statements feel true after finishing the book. I did not feel like the family was threatened, and the children were not in any danger at all. I read this note before reading the book and again afterward. Everything I read about the book before starting it made it feel like it was going to be unsettling and creepy and feature unexplained danger, and I did feel that way for the first 50% or so. But then the atmosphere of the story changed; the Mediators began to be viewed as friendly beings instead of dangerous beings. I had initially felt dread when there was a deviation in the procedure because I knew that meant the family wouldn’t be safe anymore, but instead there were zero consequences for breaking the rules, so why were the rules included in the first place if they had no real bearing on the story?
While I did enjoy the bones of this story and looked forward to returning to it every day, I do feel like it needed another round of line editing to really be at its best. There are various descriptions and lines of dialogue that had me tilting my head questioningly, phrases here and there that didn’t really make any sense. Was it intentional? Was it written by AI? Was it just missed during earlier rounds of editing? I do not know.
Similarly, there are multiple instances in nearly every chapter where a character is speaking two paragraphs in a row, but the first paragraph ends with a closing quotation mark. This made me think the next paragraph was someone else speaking, but then I would get halfway down the page before I realized that I got mixed up who was speaking, so then I would have to start the scene over. The first time or two this happened I chalked it up to reading an ARC, but after this issue occurred with every single conversation in the first six chapters, and in multiple other moments of dialogue throughout the rest of the book, I realized this has to be intentional. But why? That’s not how English works. The reason this was such a big issue for me is that it caused confusion and kept pulling me out of the story whenever it happened.
Editorial issues aside, and despite the unsatisfying (to me) ending, I did enjoy The Observances. I would recommend it to readers who enjoy slow atmospheric horror novels who are okay with the lack of a strong climax or conclusion. Even though I had some issues with this story, I liked the writing style and atmosphere enough that I would like to check out more books from this author in the future.
I received a digital copy of this book for review from the author.
Two infernal creatures called the Mediators enter Sophia’s house, where she lives with her husband and two children, to observe her family for a week. They do not know why. But as long as the family doesn’t break the procedure, they will be safe.
The concept is interesting, and the story started out strong, but ultimately the book leaves too many unanswered questions for my preference. You never learn why there is a Human-Infernal Cultural Exchange Initiative in the first place or why the Mediators are observing normal human behaviors and lifestyles. If open-ended horror stories don’t bother you, add this one to your list. If you want all your questions answered and wrapped up neatly, you might find yourself disappointed here.
The in-world pamphlet called “Guidelines for Safe and Productive Hosting” says this:
“Failure to maintain calm may result in dissolution of contractural protections. Deviations nullify safety parameters.”
This concept of following the procedure and creating no deviations is repeated throughout the story, and every time a deviation occurs it is blatantly noted by the Mediators. There are many instances of foreshadowing of a peril that never actually happens. I say this not to spoil the ending but to set the proper expectations because I was disappointed that the mounting dread amounted to nothing in the end; instead it just fizzled out and left me feeling hollow instead of satisfied. You will finish this book and realize that none of it really mattered. Life goes on normally. There is no real danger. I’m not sure what the intent was behind telling this story with an ending like that.
The author’s note states, “This is a novel about a family that is threatened for seven days” and it “contains sustained peril to two children.” Neither of these statements feel true after finishing the book. I did not feel like the family was threatened, and the children were not in any danger at all. I read this note before reading the book and again afterward. Everything I read about the book before starting it made it feel like it was going to be unsettling and creepy and feature unexplained danger, and I did feel that way for the first 50% or so. But then the atmosphere of the story changed; the Mediators began to be viewed as friendly beings instead of dangerous beings. I had initially felt dread when there was a deviation in the procedure because I knew that meant the family wouldn’t be safe anymore, but instead there were zero consequences for breaking the rules, so why were the rules included in the first place if they had no real bearing on the story?
While I did enjoy the bones of this story and looked forward to returning to it every day, I do feel like it needed another round of line editing to really be at its best. There are various descriptions and lines of dialogue that had me tilting my head questioningly, phrases here and there that didn’t really make any sense. Was it intentional? Was it written by AI? Was it just missed during earlier rounds of editing? I do not know.
Similarly, there are multiple instances in nearly every chapter where a character is speaking two paragraphs in a row, but the first paragraph ends with a closing quotation mark. This made me think the next paragraph was someone else speaking, but then I would get halfway down the page before I realized that I got mixed up who was speaking, so then I would have to start the scene over. The first time or two this happened I chalked it up to reading an ARC, but after this issue occurred with every single conversation in the first six chapters, and in multiple other moments of dialogue throughout the rest of the book, I realized this has to be intentional. But why? That’s not how English works. The reason this was such a big issue for me is that it caused confusion and kept pulling me out of the story whenever it happened.
Editorial issues aside, and despite the unsatisfying (to me) ending, I did enjoy The Observances. I would recommend it to readers who enjoy slow atmospheric horror novels who are okay with the lack of a strong climax or conclusion. Even though I had some issues with this story, I liked the writing style and atmosphere enough that I would like to check out more books from this author in the future.
I received a digital copy of this book for review from the author.
September 10, 2026
The blurb promised something quietly unsettling — a laundromat flyer, plain type, tear-off tabs, one already missing. Households with financial need. Stipend provided. All ordinary expenses covered. Brief intake interview required. That flat, bureaucratic wording (plus a disclaimer about children in peril) had me hooked before page one.
This is a slow-burn, creepy read about a struggling family who agree to let a group of "observers" into their home for a week. As with this author's other work, the horror isn't jump scares or gore — it's the dread that builds from the situation itself, the small compromises and unanswerable questions the family finds themselves navigating once the observers arrive.
Without spoiling anything: I stayed hooked mainly to see how the observation period would actually end, and I'm glad I stuck it out. It's atmospheric, unsettling in a slow, creeping way, and a satisfying diversion overall. Your mileage may vary, especially if you're looking for more overt scares, but if you like tension built from premise and situation rather than shock, this delivers.
This is a slow-burn, creepy read about a struggling family who agree to let a group of "observers" into their home for a week. As with this author's other work, the horror isn't jump scares or gore — it's the dread that builds from the situation itself, the small compromises and unanswerable questions the family finds themselves navigating once the observers arrive.
Without spoiling anything: I stayed hooked mainly to see how the observation period would actually end, and I'm glad I stuck it out. It's atmospheric, unsettling in a slow, creeping way, and a satisfying diversion overall. Your mileage may vary, especially if you're looking for more overt scares, but if you like tension built from premise and situation rather than shock, this delivers.
August 20, 2026
“Hospitality — the one verb in the whole week that had stayed entirely hers.”
The Observances: A Human - Infernal Cultural Exchange Initiative Novel by Luna Asli Kolcu is a slow-burn psychological horror that will squeeze the breath out of you. I was provided with an ARC copy of The Observances by Luna Asli Kolcu in exchange for my honest review. This book will be published on September 8, 2026.
The Observances is the tale of a family in financial hardship. Sophia (44) applies—without telling anyone—to host two representatives of an unknown institution, known as The Human - Infernal Cultural Exchange Initiative. This puts her and her family—husband Rick (45), daughter Charlotte (15) and son Mason (9)—under contract for seven days. What follows are seven days of questions, observation, and increasingly unsettling uncertainty. A payment arrives before the terms do, and the terms contain the rules of the placement.
From the first line, “Something tightened at the base of her sternum before she had touched it,” we feel a sense of foreboding. When Sophia receives the letter she was expecting, she is already afraid of what it will mean.
Rick has been unemployed for five months, and the $12,000 that’s being offered as a stipend for participating in the placement would be a huge relief to Sophia’s family. But Rick and Charlotte are upset with her for applying without discussing it with her husband.
Before the representatives—the Mediators—arrive, Mason draws a picture of them standing on their porch, and when Sophia asks him how he knows what they look like, he says he can hear them coming, just as he had the night before.
By the time the family reads the rules of their engagement, we know they’re in for so much more than they bargained for. “What is being measured is her attention, and it has been accumulating for a very long time.”
The author is brilliant at creating tension and a creeping sense of terror, as well as slight changes in perception. I sense she is an excellent listener. While reading, I can’t help but wait for the jump-scare that ultimately never comes.
However, this story observes how our fears about what might happen can spiral, making a situation far worse than it might otherwise have been. It also observes how even a family unit never really knows each other or what’s in their hearts and minds. And all it takes is one angry, frightened family member to turn everything upside down.
This is a fascinating study of family dynamics and how they are altered in a stressful situation. There’s a delicate nuance in the short conversations between the Mediators and Sophia and her family. The story draws our attention to the subtle sounds we live with every day and how they become so familiar as to be expected. It reminds us of what we know about our own home and our own families without ever naming that knowledge, and how we immediately know when something alien is present. It’s also interesting to note where our attention lands as a reader, and how in tune we can be with our senses when we focus on the silence contained between thoughts.
This is a beautifully written book that demands our full attention to be fully absorbed and understood.
There was only one thing about it that kept niggling at me. I’m not a parent, but I am an aunt of five, and a great aunt of three. Mason seems like a very young nine-year-old the way he drags a stuffed brontosaurus with him everywhere and clings to his mother. That’s unusual for a child his age. Perhaps it’s because Sophia treats him like a baby, as she addresses him as “baby.” And yet he’s the old soul of the family and has extrasensory perception that the others don’t possess. He looks at the situation they’re in in a different way than the others.
Additionally, I noticed that there were times when the author did not use the name of a character for many pages, and it sometimes made me have to reread portions of the text to figure out who was saying what. This is a story that requires intense concentration to process fully. I also don’t think the cover does it justice. Still, it is rewarding, and I highly recommend it, as well as The Hospitality by Luna Asli Kolcu, which I read and reviewed earlier this year. Luna is a tremendously gifted writer, and I look forward to reading more of her work, starting with The Rootbound Bride trilogy.
The Observances: A Human - Infernal Cultural Exchange Initiative Novel by Luna Asli Kolcu is a slow-burn psychological horror that will squeeze the breath out of you. I was provided with an ARC copy of The Observances by Luna Asli Kolcu in exchange for my honest review. This book will be published on September 8, 2026.
The Observances is the tale of a family in financial hardship. Sophia (44) applies—without telling anyone—to host two representatives of an unknown institution, known as The Human - Infernal Cultural Exchange Initiative. This puts her and her family—husband Rick (45), daughter Charlotte (15) and son Mason (9)—under contract for seven days. What follows are seven days of questions, observation, and increasingly unsettling uncertainty. A payment arrives before the terms do, and the terms contain the rules of the placement.
From the first line, “Something tightened at the base of her sternum before she had touched it,” we feel a sense of foreboding. When Sophia receives the letter she was expecting, she is already afraid of what it will mean.
Rick has been unemployed for five months, and the $12,000 that’s being offered as a stipend for participating in the placement would be a huge relief to Sophia’s family. But Rick and Charlotte are upset with her for applying without discussing it with her husband.
Before the representatives—the Mediators—arrive, Mason draws a picture of them standing on their porch, and when Sophia asks him how he knows what they look like, he says he can hear them coming, just as he had the night before.
By the time the family reads the rules of their engagement, we know they’re in for so much more than they bargained for. “What is being measured is her attention, and it has been accumulating for a very long time.”
The author is brilliant at creating tension and a creeping sense of terror, as well as slight changes in perception. I sense she is an excellent listener. While reading, I can’t help but wait for the jump-scare that ultimately never comes.
However, this story observes how our fears about what might happen can spiral, making a situation far worse than it might otherwise have been. It also observes how even a family unit never really knows each other or what’s in their hearts and minds. And all it takes is one angry, frightened family member to turn everything upside down.
This is a fascinating study of family dynamics and how they are altered in a stressful situation. There’s a delicate nuance in the short conversations between the Mediators and Sophia and her family. The story draws our attention to the subtle sounds we live with every day and how they become so familiar as to be expected. It reminds us of what we know about our own home and our own families without ever naming that knowledge, and how we immediately know when something alien is present. It’s also interesting to note where our attention lands as a reader, and how in tune we can be with our senses when we focus on the silence contained between thoughts.
This is a beautifully written book that demands our full attention to be fully absorbed and understood.
There was only one thing about it that kept niggling at me. I’m not a parent, but I am an aunt of five, and a great aunt of three. Mason seems like a very young nine-year-old the way he drags a stuffed brontosaurus with him everywhere and clings to his mother. That’s unusual for a child his age. Perhaps it’s because Sophia treats him like a baby, as she addresses him as “baby.” And yet he’s the old soul of the family and has extrasensory perception that the others don’t possess. He looks at the situation they’re in in a different way than the others.
Additionally, I noticed that there were times when the author did not use the name of a character for many pages, and it sometimes made me have to reread portions of the text to figure out who was saying what. This is a story that requires intense concentration to process fully. I also don’t think the cover does it justice. Still, it is rewarding, and I highly recommend it, as well as The Hospitality by Luna Asli Kolcu, which I read and reviewed earlier this year. Luna is a tremendously gifted writer, and I look forward to reading more of her work, starting with The Rootbound Bride trilogy.
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐⭐⭐.5
Thank you to Luna Asli Kolcu for the ARC. This was SUCH a unique, mind fuck.
Solid 3.5 rounded up.
I went into this with just a hint of what it was about from a blurb from the author and knowing that I like to mix in genres for palette cleansers between other books, this seemed like it was going to be something… and it was! It was trippy. I kept thinking if you could put a creepy soundtrack over this, it would up the vibes tremendously.
We have what I’m assuming is a small mid-western family of 4 that’s fallen on hard times. Dad’s laid off and has kind of checked out. Mom carries the mental load of the world. They’re in financial distress… moody teen and a young son who appears to be some sort of a sensitive.
When mom sees a flyer on a corkboard, she takes a chance on the promise of a stipend that might be the buoy her family needs. She does this in secret… even though her entire family would be required to participate in this agreement. In essence, she’s signed away everyone else’s autonomy for financial gain even though it was to save her family and their home.
Now two entities, called “Mediators” are at her door and are there to observe her and her family for a week. They received a booklet that’s basically their lifeline as to what’s to expect… go about your daily life and here are the rules you must follow.
It was wild how this got into my headspace when I was considering the nuance of her everyday life… the burden… the routines… the sounds… the counting… it really got into my head when I started to put myself in her shoes.
The writing is very… sterile.. procedural… purposed. I kept envisioning this to be similar to a 60s horror flick … black and white… creepy, near faceless beings with no emotion, no inflection and wondering what it’s like to try to maintain a sense of normalcy within the confines of the rules. The little boy gave me some vibes like little “RED RUM” kid from The Shining.
I didn’t really understand the point of their observation nor the purpose of the entity they represent. But it was really cool!
Thank you to Luna Asli Kolcu for the ARC. This was SUCH a unique, mind fuck.
Solid 3.5 rounded up.
I went into this with just a hint of what it was about from a blurb from the author and knowing that I like to mix in genres for palette cleansers between other books, this seemed like it was going to be something… and it was! It was trippy. I kept thinking if you could put a creepy soundtrack over this, it would up the vibes tremendously.
We have what I’m assuming is a small mid-western family of 4 that’s fallen on hard times. Dad’s laid off and has kind of checked out. Mom carries the mental load of the world. They’re in financial distress… moody teen and a young son who appears to be some sort of a sensitive.
When mom sees a flyer on a corkboard, she takes a chance on the promise of a stipend that might be the buoy her family needs. She does this in secret… even though her entire family would be required to participate in this agreement. In essence, she’s signed away everyone else’s autonomy for financial gain even though it was to save her family and their home.
Now two entities, called “Mediators” are at her door and are there to observe her and her family for a week. They received a booklet that’s basically their lifeline as to what’s to expect… go about your daily life and here are the rules you must follow.
It was wild how this got into my headspace when I was considering the nuance of her everyday life… the burden… the routines… the sounds… the counting… it really got into my head when I started to put myself in her shoes.
The writing is very… sterile.. procedural… purposed. I kept envisioning this to be similar to a 60s horror flick … black and white… creepy, near faceless beings with no emotion, no inflection and wondering what it’s like to try to maintain a sense of normalcy within the confines of the rules. The little boy gave me some vibes like little “RED RUM” kid from The Shining.
I didn’t really understand the point of their observation nor the purpose of the entity they represent. But it was really cool!
September 13, 2026
This book was combination of many things new to me. It was my first ARC, first indie-published book in English, first obligation to write a honest review, the first book from Luna Asli Kolcu, and the genre if not new but unusual for me. I don’t know why I felt the whim to read it, but I did and I here are my thoughts.
If you like very slow suspense and unsettling feeling and you like to be afraid for characters as for real people you maybe know, I would recommend the book. It is built very neatly and keeps you hooked till the end. Let me give you some details without spoiling the plot twists.
The setup is intriguing - family in a precarious financial situation signs up to be observed by some creatures. A wife of a family applies, to be clear, without discussing with her husband. She feels it as a right decision. The family is wife, husband, teen girl and 9yo boy. All the characters are very much alive and believable. And family dynamics is very human. Husband - tired and feeling defeated, wife - also tired and caring for all of them (girl, i feel you!), teen daughter - grumpy and edgy, boy - a bag of curiosity and naive. Even the house somehow is a character, alive or not so much, but definitely with a soul.
On the appointed time two observers arrive - Mediators they are called. There are rules. And regulations. All kinds of things can happen. Mind plays weird under constant surveillance. Stuff gets creepy. There is no gore, but you read and feel creeped out all the time. Observers are not quite human and they are written in this very eerie unhuman way.
I know that author made deliberate choices to conceal some of explanations. But what I realized about me as a reader is that I need more lore in my books. So many things were obscured, that I wanted to shout - tell me more! Give me more! Show me, please, I am dying of curiosity here. Even minor characters know more then me. In the end I enjoyed what was given to me anyway.
I received a free advanced copy of the book.
If you like very slow suspense and unsettling feeling and you like to be afraid for characters as for real people you maybe know, I would recommend the book. It is built very neatly and keeps you hooked till the end. Let me give you some details without spoiling the plot twists.
The setup is intriguing - family in a precarious financial situation signs up to be observed by some creatures. A wife of a family applies, to be clear, without discussing with her husband. She feels it as a right decision. The family is wife, husband, teen girl and 9yo boy. All the characters are very much alive and believable. And family dynamics is very human. Husband - tired and feeling defeated, wife - also tired and caring for all of them (girl, i feel you!), teen daughter - grumpy and edgy, boy - a bag of curiosity and naive. Even the house somehow is a character, alive or not so much, but definitely with a soul.
On the appointed time two observers arrive - Mediators they are called. There are rules. And regulations. All kinds of things can happen. Mind plays weird under constant surveillance. Stuff gets creepy. There is no gore, but you read and feel creeped out all the time. Observers are not quite human and they are written in this very eerie unhuman way.
I know that author made deliberate choices to conceal some of explanations. But what I realized about me as a reader is that I need more lore in my books. So many things were obscured, that I wanted to shout - tell me more! Give me more! Show me, please, I am dying of curiosity here. Even minor characters know more then me. In the end I enjoyed what was given to me anyway.
I received a free advanced copy of the book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Sophia is on autopilot, mentally doing the math of daily life, where to save a dollar, and trying to figure out how to pay the mortgage. After the dryer goes out, yet another bill to factor in, a flyer catches her attention. The offer is simple, the money too good to be true, and her application may not even be approved. She takes the phone number, and in the small hours of the night when her family is asleep and oblivious, she fills out the forms. Now she received notice her application has been approved and the window to withdraw has expired. That her family is to be observed for seven days and to follow the rules in the booklet or their safety may not be guaranteed. Apparently others have been through this and offer advice to get through this. The fractures of the family start to come to light as the days wear on and the darkness that lurks in the distance and us covered by calmness starts to wear thin.
This story deals with psychological horror and there is a breakdown of trigger warnings. While nothing horrificly graphic happens there is implied threats, financial stress, and familial stress present. What is so humbling about this story is how easy it is to picture myself pushed into a situation like this that caused the series of events. How one income taken away, one large financial burden, just one more thing to mentally break someone into agreeing to something. Agreeing without consulting, taking away consent, agreeing without all the terms clearly in front of you because this is a way to help. The family situation is also something that can easily happen to anyone, how no one wants to face the ugly truth or hard answers. That it is easier to accept the tells and traps we keep around ourselves instead of clearing the lies and talking. This was a story that as much as it put you on edge waiting for the next unsettling thing also made one look at themselves and what walls they have in place to keep the truth contained.
This story deals with psychological horror and there is a breakdown of trigger warnings. While nothing horrificly graphic happens there is implied threats, financial stress, and familial stress present. What is so humbling about this story is how easy it is to picture myself pushed into a situation like this that caused the series of events. How one income taken away, one large financial burden, just one more thing to mentally break someone into agreeing to something. Agreeing without consulting, taking away consent, agreeing without all the terms clearly in front of you because this is a way to help. The family situation is also something that can easily happen to anyone, how no one wants to face the ugly truth or hard answers. That it is easier to accept the tells and traps we keep around ourselves instead of clearing the lies and talking. This was a story that as much as it put you on edge waiting for the next unsettling thing also made one look at themselves and what walls they have in place to keep the truth contained.
Review of advance copy received from Author
3.5
Luna has crafted a slow-build horror story that really takes you on a ride right alongside of the FMC Sophia. I loved how we really got into see into the heads of the characters as the story progressed. I plowed through this story so fast! I had to know what happened next and was so invested in the outcome.
I will admit that I was expecting this to be a lot more horrific and darker than it actually was. The Mediators that were in the house were kind of eerie, but they lacked the follow-through I was hoping for when the characters broke the rules (Noted below)
The Rules
Rule 1. Treat the guests as human.
Rule 2. Do not acknowledge infernal origin or nature.
Rule 3. Provide normal food, shelter, and social interaction.
Rule 4. Answer all guest questions truthfully, to the best of your ability.
Rule 5. Do not inquire into the Substrate, internal structure, or any matter outside the scope of the assessment.
Rule 6. Maintain household routines as nearly normal as possible.
Rule 7. Maintain an atmosphere of calm. Emotional volatility may disrupt adaptation.
When a character broke procedure, they stated that things were noted but no true punishments came from this. There was instance where I could see the protections being taken away but I thought it was going to be way worse than what it ended up being. There was not as much peril as I thought there would be.
I do wish we had a little more understanding on what their purpose was or a backstory on what the Human-Infernal Cultural Exchange Initiative is. However, I understand that this was not intended to give such details and it leaves the reader with many unanswered questions. I kind of want to go back and read it again just to see if I missed anything!
Overall, I enjoyed this book. I enjoyed the other titles I have read by this author and look forward to more of their work.
Luna has crafted a slow-build horror story that really takes you on a ride right alongside of the FMC Sophia. I loved how we really got into see into the heads of the characters as the story progressed. I plowed through this story so fast! I had to know what happened next and was so invested in the outcome.
I will admit that I was expecting this to be a lot more horrific and darker than it actually was. The Mediators that were in the house were kind of eerie, but they lacked the follow-through I was hoping for when the characters broke the rules (Noted below)
The Rules
Rule 1. Treat the guests as human.
Rule 2. Do not acknowledge infernal origin or nature.
Rule 3. Provide normal food, shelter, and social interaction.
Rule 4. Answer all guest questions truthfully, to the best of your ability.
Rule 5. Do not inquire into the Substrate, internal structure, or any matter outside the scope of the assessment.
Rule 6. Maintain household routines as nearly normal as possible.
Rule 7. Maintain an atmosphere of calm. Emotional volatility may disrupt adaptation.
When a character broke procedure, they stated that things were noted but no true punishments came from this. There was instance where I could see the protections being taken away but I thought it was going to be way worse than what it ended up being. There was not as much peril as I thought there would be.
I do wish we had a little more understanding on what their purpose was or a backstory on what the Human-Infernal Cultural Exchange Initiative is. However, I understand that this was not intended to give such details and it leaves the reader with many unanswered questions. I kind of want to go back and read it again just to see if I missed anything!
Overall, I enjoyed this book. I enjoyed the other titles I have read by this author and look forward to more of their work.
Review of advance copy received from Author
*I received a free advanced copy from the author.*
This book had a chokehold on me. It’s so methodical. The way Kulco writes is refreshing. Sophia counts everything. She knows where everyone is and what they are doing without even being in the same room. She runs a tight ship, but she’s one of those people that you can be in a room with and she’s already planning tomorrow’s activities in her mind, not listening to your problems of today. Her family is a typical one. They are in need of money and she signs her family up to basically be an exchange program host, but to what she’s not sure. The amount of money for seven days of hosting is worth it. Her family doesn’t consent. This book is slow. It’s supposed to be. It can be repetitive, but that serves a purpose too. There’s a thing, but there’s no name or shape to it that we know. This book isn’t necessarily scary, but parts gave me goosebumps and I couldn’t read it at night. I don’t want this thing grabbing my foot off the bed at night. The only thing that really made me pause was that in the booklet, it says that the family should maintain their normal routines. That they should continue to go to work and school. Page 5 section 4.6 says the host family can leave the house at any time, but they can’t. The house won’t let them. So why did Sophia pull the kids from school and take PTO from her job? Why did the house refuse to let them leave one minute, but they can step into their yard or pick up mail on the porch next and the family doesn’t question that? Maybe those are questions the author wants to stay unanswered.
This book had a chokehold on me. It’s so methodical. The way Kulco writes is refreshing. Sophia counts everything. She knows where everyone is and what they are doing without even being in the same room. She runs a tight ship, but she’s one of those people that you can be in a room with and she’s already planning tomorrow’s activities in her mind, not listening to your problems of today. Her family is a typical one. They are in need of money and she signs her family up to basically be an exchange program host, but to what she’s not sure. The amount of money for seven days of hosting is worth it. Her family doesn’t consent. This book is slow. It’s supposed to be. It can be repetitive, but that serves a purpose too. There’s a thing, but there’s no name or shape to it that we know. This book isn’t necessarily scary, but parts gave me goosebumps and I couldn’t read it at night. I don’t want this thing grabbing my foot off the bed at night. The only thing that really made me pause was that in the booklet, it says that the family should maintain their normal routines. That they should continue to go to work and school. Page 5 section 4.6 says the host family can leave the house at any time, but they can’t. The house won’t let them. So why did Sophia pull the kids from school and take PTO from her job? Why did the house refuse to let them leave one minute, but they can step into their yard or pick up mail on the porch next and the family doesn’t question that? Maybe those are questions the author wants to stay unanswered.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
"An absolute masterpiece of psychological horror that left me completely speechless. If you love slow-burn dread, this is your next obsession."
I just finished The Observances, and I am reeling. This story is a brilliant example of a true slow burn; it takes its time meticulously weaving its web, allowing the tension to build until it is nearly unbearable before revealing where the narrative is truly taking you.
The plot centers on a family and the arrival of a group of unsettling "Visitors." What begins as a creeping unease quickly descends into a tale of pure terror that makes you question reality itself. The horror is insidious and clever, forcing you to rethink everything you've read as the true nature of the "observances" becomes clear.
The character work is phenomenal. I loved all of them, especially the complex and compelling Mediators. Luna Asli has done an outstanding job crafting not just a scary story, but a deeply atmospheric and unnerving experience.
I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for intelligent, high-quality horror. I sincerely congratulate the author on and wish her all the success in the world. A definite five-star read without hesitation. 🏚️🕯️👁️
I just finished The Observances, and I am reeling. This story is a brilliant example of a true slow burn; it takes its time meticulously weaving its web, allowing the tension to build until it is nearly unbearable before revealing where the narrative is truly taking you.
The plot centers on a family and the arrival of a group of unsettling "Visitors." What begins as a creeping unease quickly descends into a tale of pure terror that makes you question reality itself. The horror is insidious and clever, forcing you to rethink everything you've read as the true nature of the "observances" becomes clear.
The character work is phenomenal. I loved all of them, especially the complex and compelling Mediators. Luna Asli has done an outstanding job crafting not just a scary story, but a deeply atmospheric and unnerving experience.
I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for intelligent, high-quality horror. I sincerely congratulate the author on and wish her all the success in the world. A definite five-star read without hesitation. 🏚️🕯️👁️
Review of advance copy
4☆
The Rules
Rule 1. Treat the guests as human.
Rule 2. Do not acknowledge infernal origin or nature.
Rule 3. Provide normal food, shelter, and social interaction.
Rule 4. Answer all guest questions truthfully, to the best of your ability.
Rule 5. Do not inquire into the Substrate, internal structure, or any matter outside the scope of the assessment.
Rule 6. Maintain household routines as nearly normal as possible.
Rule 7. Maintain an atmosphere of calm. Emotional volatility may disrupt adaptation.
With these rules what did Sophia get her family into? You know that feeling of dread that lays it's heavy, clammy arms over your shoulders and weighs you down? Kolcu places that feeling on you from the very first page and increases the pressure throughout until you want to physically throw it off!
The Mediators? What, in the name of all that is holy, are they?
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you to Luna Asli Kolcu and Booksirens for the opportunity.
Favorite Words:
"'Pancakes can be whenever you want. That's the rule of pancakes.'"
Mason
The Rules
Rule 1. Treat the guests as human.
Rule 2. Do not acknowledge infernal origin or nature.
Rule 3. Provide normal food, shelter, and social interaction.
Rule 4. Answer all guest questions truthfully, to the best of your ability.
Rule 5. Do not inquire into the Substrate, internal structure, or any matter outside the scope of the assessment.
Rule 6. Maintain household routines as nearly normal as possible.
Rule 7. Maintain an atmosphere of calm. Emotional volatility may disrupt adaptation.
With these rules what did Sophia get her family into? You know that feeling of dread that lays it's heavy, clammy arms over your shoulders and weighs you down? Kolcu places that feeling on you from the very first page and increases the pressure throughout until you want to physically throw it off!
The Mediators? What, in the name of all that is holy, are they?
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you to Luna Asli Kolcu and Booksirens for the opportunity.
Favorite Words:
"'Pancakes can be whenever you want. That's the rule of pancakes.'"
Mason
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 9, 2026
Slow descent into dread... This was a slow horror filled with and eerie sense of unease. The pacing is deliberate slow, but I couldn't stop reading beacuase I need to know what would happen next.
I specially loved the descriptive, sensory writing. I could practically imagine the smells, textures and surroundings, which made the atmosphere feel incredibly vivid. The subtle shifts in perception and creeping tension kept me unsetted, while the story's exploration of family dynamics under stress added another fascinating layer.
That said, I expected this to be much darker. The guests "Mediators" were eerie, and the begining had me completely on edge. I kept wondering what they would do, what rules might be broken, and how terrifying the consequences would be. Unfotunately, punishment didn't quite deliver the horror I was anticipating. Despite that really enjoyed and was hooked.
Overall, it's an atmospheric and descriptive read with plenty of tension and suspense.
Thank you to the author for the eARC, this is my honest review.
I specially loved the descriptive, sensory writing. I could practically imagine the smells, textures and surroundings, which made the atmosphere feel incredibly vivid. The subtle shifts in perception and creeping tension kept me unsetted, while the story's exploration of family dynamics under stress added another fascinating layer.
That said, I expected this to be much darker. The guests "Mediators" were eerie, and the begining had me completely on edge. I kept wondering what they would do, what rules might be broken, and how terrifying the consequences would be. Unfotunately, punishment didn't quite deliver the horror I was anticipating. Despite that really enjoyed and was hooked.
Overall, it's an atmospheric and descriptive read with plenty of tension and suspense.
Thank you to the author for the eARC, this is my honest review.
September 13, 2026
On the whole, I loved this book. The creeping horror, the slowly expanding sense of dread, woven through the author's customary meticulous attention to detail. From about one-third of the way in onwards, I made sure I was reading with my back to the wall; the unnerving effect is no joke.
Unfortunately, the bare dialogue, which could have been one of the story's greatest strengths, seems poorly edited. On several occasions, the text goes on to the next line while the speaker doesn't change, and when that is made clear, several lines later, I had to back up again and reread, to make sure I knew who was actually saying what, and that really jolted me out of the mood.
Despite the dialogue issue, this is really a great story for spooky season.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Unfortunately, the bare dialogue, which could have been one of the story's greatest strengths, seems poorly edited. On several occasions, the text goes on to the next line while the speaker doesn't change, and when that is made clear, several lines later, I had to back up again and reread, to make sure I knew who was actually saying what, and that really jolted me out of the mood.
Despite the dialogue issue, this is really a great story for spooky season.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you so much to the author Luna Asli Kolcu for giving me a copy of The Observances to review. All opinions are my own.
The Observances is a fantastic story, with an amazing atmosphere and very relatable characters. I absolutely loved every minute of it.
It reminded me of Stephen King's works in the way the horror elements are slowly introduced and how you feel so much dread in every page. The fact that the story is open ended makes me think and wish we'll see more of these characters and/or this world someday.
If you're interested in reading it keep in mind that it's not fast paced and it's not gory at all. The horror elements are subtle which for me particularly makes it even more terrifying.
The Observances is a fantastic story, with an amazing atmosphere and very relatable characters. I absolutely loved every minute of it.
It reminded me of Stephen King's works in the way the horror elements are slowly introduced and how you feel so much dread in every page. The fact that the story is open ended makes me think and wish we'll see more of these characters and/or this world someday.
If you're interested in reading it keep in mind that it's not fast paced and it's not gory at all. The horror elements are subtle which for me particularly makes it even more terrifying.
Review of advance copy
This cosmic horror novel preys on socioeconomic dystopia. A working-class family trying to make ends meet clashes with financial coercion from the HICEI. A purposeful slow burn so we can integrate with a young family in their home, leaving you with the feeling of lasting dread. The author has a very unique style of writing that although can be repetitive at times, feels almost childlike and whimsical contrasting with the content. This would suit fans of Shirley Jackson and Paul Tremblay who seek psychological horror. I can't wait to see if Kolcu provides us with a series!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This one was different. I got this from the author. I read the whole book, which wasn't hard. This is a different kind of read for me that is such. I will be real.. I am still not such what to make of what "the observers" are. But here goes. The book is a slow to burn book with some weird ideas and twist in it. It is well written and, according to the author, is a stand-alone. Which almost makes me sad because the ending of the book makes you want to read more.
The theory behind the book I can kind of get, which is why I took the risk of reading the book. I hope you take the chance to broaden your outlook and read take a chance.
The theory behind the book I can kind of get, which is why I took the risk of reading the book. I hope you take the chance to broaden your outlook and read take a chance.
September 8, 2026
I'm always reading several books at a time, bouncing back and forth. Once I started this book, I couldn't pay attention to anything else I was reading. I wanted to get back to this one!
This is the kind of horror story I like. There is sustained fear and a threat that lies beneath the surface. Nothing gory or anything like that. The horror is how relatable this story is and how it seems like it could be true. (I've had enough weird things happen in my life!)
This would be perfect reading on a cold, dreary day. It's also perfect for a book club. Plenty of things to discuss. I very highly recommend it!
I received a free advance copy of this book.
This is the kind of horror story I like. There is sustained fear and a threat that lies beneath the surface. Nothing gory or anything like that. The horror is how relatable this story is and how it seems like it could be true. (I've had enough weird things happen in my life!)
This would be perfect reading on a cold, dreary day. It's also perfect for a book club. Plenty of things to discuss. I very highly recommend it!
I received a free advance copy of this book.
September 26, 2026
I don't know if I would have had the courage to fill out the form for having "guests" in my house.
The interaction in the family is so very interesting and sad: in the end, the mother makes all the (hard) decisions by herself; the father feels 'handled' ("I'm done being hosted in my own house"); Charlotte, the intelligent teenager, feels ignored and almost abandoned by her mother; and Mason, the nine year old, sees and hears things the others can't.
I believe they always would have been the next special family to be observed and recorded... perhaps because the kids are special?!
This is my voluntary review of a free ARC book sent to me by the author.
The interaction in the family is so very interesting and sad: in the end, the mother makes all the (hard) decisions by herself; the father feels 'handled' ("I'm done being hosted in my own house"); Charlotte, the intelligent teenager, feels ignored and almost abandoned by her mother; and Mason, the nine year old, sees and hears things the others can't.
I believe they always would have been the next special family to be observed and recorded... perhaps because the kids are special?!
This is my voluntary review of a free ARC book sent to me by the author.
Read
August 27, 2026I really enjoyed this book it was very entertaining and different type of story. Being watched for a week by these beings and trying to live normally was very difficult for the family also not knowing what would happen next. Very descriptive fast read and well written characters and I definitely recommend this novel.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 18, 2026
This gave me chills of a different kind.
The kind that gives you unsettling dread.
I love my horror, and this one is a slow-burn and I really liked it.
Luna Asli Kolcu delivered on this one.
I recommend this book if you like psychological horror with the feeling of unease.
I received an advance review copy from the author for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
The kind that gives you unsettling dread.
I love my horror, and this one is a slow-burn and I really liked it.
Luna Asli Kolcu delivered on this one.
I recommend this book if you like psychological horror with the feeling of unease.
I received an advance review copy from the author for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
Review of advance copy received from Author
3.5 ⭐⭐
This was such a great, intense and scary read. I've never known a concept like it and I am obsessed.
The family dynamic felt so real, there is a good range of characters, emotions are portrayed perfectly, the stakes felt high and the atmosphere felt suffocating. The intensity of the situation is through the roof. The two visitors are so eerie and genuinely disturbing...
Brilliant for a quick, eerie pallet cleanser. I would absolutely recommend it!
This was such a great, intense and scary read. I've never known a concept like it and I am obsessed.
The family dynamic felt so real, there is a good range of characters, emotions are portrayed perfectly, the stakes felt high and the atmosphere felt suffocating. The intensity of the situation is through the roof. The two visitors are so eerie and genuinely disturbing...
Brilliant for a quick, eerie pallet cleanser. I would absolutely recommend it!
September 13, 2026
A mother trying to save her family from money issues leads to the unknown, did she place her family in harms way?
I recommend this book, it has a nice edge that keeps you engrossed in the story
I recommend this book, it has a nice edge that keeps you engrossed in the story
September 13, 2026
Sophie thought the application could help her. Was she right or is everything going to be worse?
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