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The Discarnates: A Horror Novel

Not yet published
Expected 3 Nov 26
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Every mind holds the key to its own subversion.

Damien's childhood as a test subject in a paranormal research facility left him deeply reserved but uniquely he can see astral projectors and other unseen forces moving through the physical world. Now, he uses this sight at the Discarnate Detective Agency, handling unusual cases the Toronto police won't touch. Alongside Chelle, a brilliant psychologist who can enter the minds of her patients, Damien and the DDA investigate the city's darkest supernatural corners.

When a bloody symbol left at a brutal murder-suicide leads them to a hospitalized woman with no memory, and the exact same symbol painted on her mirror, Damien and Chelle must infiltrate her fractured mind to uncover the truth.

The investigation pulls them into a dangerous hidden world, from an astral community in an abandoned subway station to a dead cult bent on awakening an ancient entity known as The Dreamer. The deeper they dig, the more Damien fears they've drawn the entity's attention. As the mystery unravels, the DDA must confront the ghosts of the past before their minds are turned against them… and the entire world is put in jeopardy.

From author Duncan Ralston, the bestselling author of Puzzle House, comes a chilling new supernatural horror novel with a psychological bend.

Read at your own peril. Survive if you dare.

458 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication November 3, 2026

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About the author

Duncan Ralston

73 books2,177 followers
**Preorder the supernatural horror novel THE DISCARNATES now**

Author of the cult smash-hit Woom and Ghostland and more than 15 other books that aren't the cult smash-hit Woom or Ghostland. His debut collection was blurbed positively by the legendary Jack Ketchum. His vampire novel, Pedo Island Bloodbath, was nominated for a 2024 Splatterpunk Award for Best Novel. His horror-thriller Ghostland will soon be a board game from Crystal Lake Publishing.

For 10 FREE dark fiction short stories/novellas including the prequel to GHOSTLAND, "The Moving House," signed copies of Woom, bookplates and merch, please visit www.duncanralston.com.

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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
Profile Image for Matty.
269 reviews35 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
October 7, 2026
I have been a fan of Ralstons previous work, such as the Woom series, which leans more towards extreme horror so it was interesting to read something much more palatable for the mainstream community.

The Discarnates is an imaginative piece of supernatural horror that blends paranormal investigation with psychological terror. I really liked the main characters of Damien who can see things that exist beyond the physical world, and Chelle’s ability to enter people’s minds.

The investigation starts with a disturbing mystery and gradually opens into something much bigger, involving astral entities, a strange hidden community, a sinister cult, and the terrifying presence of the Dreamer. The horror works especially well when the characters can’t completely trust what they’re seeing—or even what’s happening inside their own minds.

Overall, this is a dark, strange, entertaining read with a strong supernatural atmosphere. 4/5 stars. I’d recommend it to those who enjoy paranormal investigations, psychological horror, and stories where reality starts becoming increasingly unreliable.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy scheduled for release November 3, 2026.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Tasha.
538 reviews11 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
September 30, 2026
This is such a fun story!! Duncan is obviously a master at writing based on feeling rather than telling of the story. I felt the story from start to end. The characters are relatable and the world is believable… including the astral plane.

I had a lot of fun reading this story. It is a quick read, fast-paced. The writing style made it easy to breeze right on through the story. It is full of mystery and the supernatural.

The character development is fantastic. I was able to connect and relate to many characters. A lot of development went into these characters, and it shows that Ralston did some serious work on developing these characters. I love the supernatural abilities chosen for each character, which matched their personalities perfectly.

The world building is simply amazing. The astral plane versus the normal world is written so well, I felt the differences. I could actually visualize the world and the scenes.

I can’t believe this is the same dude who wrote Woom! The Discarnates is a totally opposite type of story.
Profile Image for Krystle Rouse.
277 reviews133 followers
October 7, 2026
I really liked the premise and the ideas of this book, but I think it fell short is some areas. I commend Duncan for all the research he would have had to do on the ideas in this book because it is a LOT to think about. I think in the middle of the book very very slow which made it hard to get through.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an advance copy to read.
Profile Image for Justin Wright.
109 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
August 31, 2026
I’ve just finished reading my ARC of The Discarnates by the incomparable Duncan Ralston. Thank you by the way to the person who provided me with this copy. Heading into this novel I was familiar with Ralston’s work having read “Woom”, “The Midwives”, and “Puzzle House 1 and 2”, however, I was not familiar with Ghostland which I guess I’m going to need to go back and read as well. That said I didn’t feel lost in this story for not having that prior knowledge, I think this very much stands on its own. This book is fun, period. It’s reminiscent of a few things to me, there is some Dresden Files flavor here, there is some Umbrella Academy as well, and I’d say there is a sprinkling of X-Files as well. Despite that feeling of familiarity it provides, it’s very much its own unique story.

This book follows a group of people that have special abilities that have somehow managed to find one another and they formed a group they call the Discarnates Detective Agency. There are wonderful found family vibes here and the characters all feel unique while also being part of the whole. What follows is an extremely fun story where the DDA helps try to get to the bottom of a series of murders that are targeting the community of people with these abilities.

One of the Most Intriguing subjects that I would love to see expanded on in future novels is this concept of “skinning”, you’ll have to read the book to see what I mean but that whole idea on its own could be a wildly interesting story.

In fairness, my lone criticism would be that the ending felt a bit rushed IMO. I had so many questions that I wanted answered and I felt like I got most of them in the span of about 25 pages, I just think there was maybe a little room to let some of the revelations breathe a little bit. But this is really nitpicking because the whole book was a hell of a ride and I will be recommending this book like crazy. If you scan my Goodreads reviews you will find that I don’t give very many 5 star ratings but this book earned it for me, it’s just such a good time to read.
1 review
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
September 4, 2026
THIS BOOK HAS EVERYTHING: romance, mystery, a serial killer, supernatural abilities, and a creepy secret institute. I mean, who doesn’t want to read about a group of people with supernatural abilities solving crimes?! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (the review has no spoilers)

The Discarnates is a fast-paced supernatural horror novel that follows Damien and Chelle of the Discarnate Detective Agency (DDA) as they investigate a series of murders targeting people with extraordinary abilities.
I really enjoyed how intriguing the mystery was and how quickly the story moved. The institute where Damien was tested as a child gave me major Stranger Things meets X-Men vibes, with its secret experiments and people with unusual abilities. I also loved the paranormal elements, especially the astral projection and the exploration of a persons mind. Damien and Chelle were memorable characters, and the story kept me hooked with its creepy atmosphere and constant sense that something much worse was waiting to be uncovered.
My only criticism is the cover, which I personally didn’t really like.
Thank you to the author and publisher for providing me with an Advance Reader Copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I’m grateful for the opportunity to read and review this book. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own and are completely honest.
Profile Image for Holly.
778 reviews6 followers
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
August 29, 2026
When I started reading The Discarnates by Duncan Ralston it immediately took me back to my childhood, when I first heard about astral projection in Lois Duncan's Stranger with My Face. The Discarnates, in Ralston's book, are a group of 'special' humans who can astral project, dream walk, or possess various other extra-sensory abilities. They reminded me of the X-Men or the TV show The Gifted. This group of 'special' humans also solve crimes, which I love because it groups two of my favorite genres in one, mystery and supernatural horror. Damien and Chelle head up this rag-tag group, the DDA, the Discarnate Detective Agency, and they are enlisted to find a serial killer who is killing other discarnates.
How more perfect of a story can you get? This has horror, action, adventure, murder, mystery, and dare I say it, a little romance. All rolled up in the most perfect package of a story. I loved this group of discarnates. I laughed with them and cried with them. I want an entire series of these characters because I could not get enough of them.
The story was fun but also horrifying to think of people who can get inside your brain and make you do the things they do. It also had some liminal horror added in as well as the visceral murders that were happening. This book will linger with you for a long time after you finish it.
If you are a fan of the X-Men, The Gifted, or the X-files, you will love this book.
Profile Image for Nick Williams .
64 reviews2 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
October 8, 2026
I’ve been trying to come up with the words to say about The Discarnates since I finished a couple of days ago. The truth is, there’s not much I could come up with that is different than what other people have said. It’s a mix of a lot of things that you have heard of. It’s a supernatural horror. It’s different probably than a lot of Duncan’s work that you read. It’s got great character work and a wonderful mystery story. I think what I finally landed on to say though is this. Discarnates is the best work that Duncan Ralston has ever done and truth be told, one of the best books I’ve ever read. I loved every single bit of it. Granted, the near end part could have used a bit more there, but I think that’s a small complaint and no book is perfect. But damn, this one got close. The character work is some of the best I’ve read. Each character is full of personality and intriguing. The entire story is something that hooks into you at the very beginning. The premise alone is worth the price of admission. Overall, Discarnates is a must read book and as of right now, in my opinion, it is the best released book this year. Now Duncan, write a sequel. Please and thank you.

4.5/5 ⭐️ (and that’s only because a 5 is perfect in my ratings)
Profile Image for Jennifer Lindsey.
184 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
August 13, 2026
To start, thank you so much for the ARC!

This story gave me serious X-Men vibes, with a little Insidious thrown into the mix—and I was absolutely here for it. All of the main characters seem to possess some kind of special ability, with the main focus being on astral projection and the ability to jump into other people’s minds.

What starts out as a group using these abilities to help people and do good quickly takes a much darker turn when they discover that not everyone with these powers has good intentions. Some are invading people’s minds and taking control of their bodies and actions, leaving their victims completely powerless. And as the death toll continues to rise, the stakes get higher and higher.

This was such an action-packed, edge-of-your-seat read that kept me hooked. There are plenty of twists, danger, and suspense, and that ending slaps hard! I absolutely need to know what happens next. I really hope there’s more to come from this story because I am definitely not ready to leave this world behind.
Profile Image for Dan Lawson.
242 reviews9 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
September 4, 2026
An advanced look at The Discarnates by Duncan Ralston—a chilling supernatural horror novel with a heavy psychological bend scheduled for official publication by Wicked House Publishing on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.Best known for his extreme horror and thriller cult hits like Woom, Ghostland, and Puzzle House, Ralston shifts focus toward a complex, investigative supernatural mystery. The 398-page novel introduces the Discarnate Detective Agency (DDA) and blends psychic abilities with ancient cosmic cult terrors.

The Discarnates looks to be a remarkably clever, highly imaginative, and emotionally grounded expansion of Duncan Ralston's bibliography. It trades quick-fix jump scares for an intricate psychological puzzle that proves he is just as skilled with a slow-burn supernatural mystery as he is with extreme body horror. It is a mandatory autumn pre-order for fans of urban fantasy, psychic thrillers, and cosmic dread.

In closing i really would hope to see more books like this in the future. Thank you for the Amazing story.
Profile Image for Alex.
54 reviews1 follower
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
August 14, 2026
This story follows Damien, someone who can see astral projectors, and Chelle, a psychologist who can enter the minds of her patients. Together they're a part of the Discarnate Detective Agency, a group who all possess some type of astral ability and work to help solve cases the cops can't quite grasp. As other astrals begin to die in bizarre murder-suicides, they have to try and stay one step ahead of an ancient entity more powerful than they could have ever prepared for if they want to figure out a way to make the violence end.

I loved this one! I liked the whodunit aspect, the depth Ralston went into for the variety of astral gifts, that the characters were all fun and easy to like, and the fact that it exists in the Ghostland universe is icing on the cake 👌🏻 the story flows so nicely from beginning to end and has a satisfying ending that still leaves room for sequels. Can't wait to see what comes next!
Profile Image for Amanda Ruzsa.
Author 50 books165 followers
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
August 15, 2026
Absolutely amazing. From the very first chapter, I was completely transported into another world.

The author has an incredible ability to get inside his characters’ heads and capture those small, vivid human habits and behaviors that make them feel completely real—even when the story ventures into the supernatural. It’s immersive in a way that makes you forget you’re reading.

The world-building is fascinating, the characters feel incredibly real, and the balance of horror, mystery, humor, and supernatural elements kept me completely invested. And this book gets weird—in the best possible way.

Every time I thought I had an idea where the story was going, it surprised me.

The Discarnates is creepy, imaginative, emotional, and completely immersive. If you enjoy supernatural horror with strong characters and a mystery that keeps getting stranger, definitely add this one to your list.
Profile Image for Amy.
191 reviews1 follower
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
September 4, 2026
3.5⭐️
Thank you to Netgalley, Victory Editing and Duncan Ralston for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review!

Let me start by saying the premise of this book was very good! I really liked the concept of this world in where people with special abilities relating to the astral world were accepted. The plot felt very unique. I did like the characters but I didn't really feel a connection with them unfortunatly. While I did think the book was too long the ending felt extremely rushed, if some of the filler was scrapped in favour of a more detailed and plotted out ending this would have been a 4 stars for me. Nevertheless I did enjoy it and if the author writes a sequel I will read it!
Profile Image for monika hoppe.
81 reviews6 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
September 15, 2026
This book was an absolutely fantastic read. Thank you Duncan for the ARC. It is always an honor to read and review for you.

I have never given astral projection much thought before, and this book has now made me curious. The concept of "skinning" peaks my interest yet terrifies me at the same time. When you read this book, you will understand what I mean.

This felt like Mr Mercedes meets the Xmen in a way. Honestly I don't think I have read something like this before, and I cant wait to continue the story.
Profile Image for ChanaReadsHorror.
424 reviews25 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
September 29, 2026
When I saw Duncan had a new book out of course I ran to be able to ARC read this one and it did not disappoint. I loved the world building and the atmosphere in this book. It was done so well you would think that this book took place in the world today. Never once did the abilities of the characters seem too far fetched, they worked so well it made the story one that once you started reading you could not put it down. This is the perfect book for anyone who loves creepy supernatural horror.
Profile Image for Britney Ireland.
585 reviews6 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
October 6, 2026
I really enjoyed this book! I have only read Woom before this and wasn’t sure what to expect with this one. So good!

This was a very compelling fast paced story that grabbed me from the beginning and never let up. Unlike any other story I’ve read. I enjoyed the Discarnate’s agency storyline and what was happening in this book. I definitely think this is a book for supernatural power lovers. A great horror novel.

Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC of this book!
Profile Image for Jayme Schall.
12 reviews1 follower
Review of advance copy received from Author
September 3, 2026
Duncan Ralston never fails to impress me. This book was so good! I loved the characters and the ride they took me on. For me, a book is good when I can play it in my head like a movie and this one did not disappoint.
Not gonna lie, I’ll probably read it again soon.
Profile Image for Renee collins.
334 reviews18 followers
September 17, 2026
Thank you to the author and Netgalley for this arc read!

This is my first read by Duncan and wow did this book blow me away I absolutely loved it the characters and storyline kept me engaged the whole time from the very first page! I am definitely reading more books by him.
Profile Image for Sammi Dyer.
416 reviews16 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
October 12, 2026
This book was so fun to read but who doesn’t like supernatural elements? I know I sure do. Duncan Ralston has a special way of really grabbing ahold of you and pulling you deep into the pages of his stories. Don’t miss this one it is definitely fun and worth reading.
Profile Image for Mary Call.
4 reviews4 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
September 10, 2026
Duncan never fails. This book was amazing. Love the characters and the supernatural abilities portrayed. Astral roject has always interested me so this book had me hooked.
Profile Image for Cassidy.
482 reviews47 followers
Want to Read
September 30, 2026
Thanks to AETHON: Wicked House and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for this ARC! The Discarnates by Duncan Ralston comes out on November 3, 2026.
Profile Image for Jaime (the macabre bibliophile).
95 reviews3 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
October 12, 2026
Crime fighters who use astral projections to find missing persons and solve crimes leads to a fun read.
Profile Image for Rudi McKay.
123 reviews2 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
September 11, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

Duncan Ralston knows how to create the kind of horror that gets under your skin, and The Disparate definitely gave me that unsettling feeling I look for in a horror novel.

What I enjoyed most was the atmosphere. There’s a constant sense that something is wrong, even when you can’t quite put your finger on what it is. The tension builds in a way that kept me wanting to see where everything was headed, and I appreciated that the horror felt more than just surface-level scares.

This was dark, disturbing, and wonderfully uncomfortable in places. I’m always looking for horror that actually makes me feel uneasy rather than simply throwing gore at me, and Ralston delivers some genuinely creepy moments.

If you enjoy dark horror, disturbing situations, unsettling atmosphere, and stories that slowly get inside your head, I definitely recommend giving this one a try.

Another creepy addition to my horror reading list! 🖤📚👻

ARC received through NetGalley.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews