What do you think?
Inhalation
“A fresh and masterful exploration of what it means to be haunted." —B.R. Yeager, author of Negative Space
With only weeks left to live, retired auto body mechanic Milo St. Lawrence refuses the option of hospice care in California and returns to the forgotten New England home where his family was destroyed. Dying of cancer and haunted by fragmented memories, Milo believes he must confront something buried in the shadows of the past before death claims him.
Confined to a hospital bed inside the half-rotten structure once called home, repressed childhood memories resurface. One by one, he recalls his siblings’ mysterious illnesses, his parents’ rigid Catholic faith, and the cult-like devotion that replaced medical care with prayer. He remembers watching his estranged sister Marie speak to an imaginary friend in the corner of the living room—and how their parents eventually began communing with it too.
As the past and present collide, Milo remembers the night he fled. The night Marie revealed the truth about the many-limbed caterpillar man and the alien hookah device that had siphoned the life from the St. Lawrence children for decades. Armed only with his engineering skills and a dying man’s resolve, Milo devises a plan to modify the supernatural parasite’s hookah for human operation in a desperate attempt to siphon the monster's life from the device before he becomes its final offering.
Blending cosmic horror and psychological terror, Inhalation is a haunting exploration of family tragedy, corrupted faith, and the monstrous forces that lurk in the corners of darkened rooms.
With only weeks left to live, retired auto body mechanic Milo St. Lawrence refuses the option of hospice care in California and returns to the forgotten New England home where his family was destroyed. Dying of cancer and haunted by fragmented memories, Milo believes he must confront something buried in the shadows of the past before death claims him.
Confined to a hospital bed inside the half-rotten structure once called home, repressed childhood memories resurface. One by one, he recalls his siblings’ mysterious illnesses, his parents’ rigid Catholic faith, and the cult-like devotion that replaced medical care with prayer. He remembers watching his estranged sister Marie speak to an imaginary friend in the corner of the living room—and how their parents eventually began communing with it too.
As the past and present collide, Milo remembers the night he fled. The night Marie revealed the truth about the many-limbed caterpillar man and the alien hookah device that had siphoned the life from the St. Lawrence children for decades. Armed only with his engineering skills and a dying man’s resolve, Milo devises a plan to modify the supernatural parasite’s hookah for human operation in a desperate attempt to siphon the monster's life from the device before he becomes its final offering.
Blending cosmic horror and psychological terror, Inhalation is a haunting exploration of family tragedy, corrupted faith, and the monstrous forces that lurk in the corners of darkened rooms.
- GenresHorror
159 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 16, 2026
About the author
Michael Boulerice
12 books44 followersMichael Boulerice is an inventive horror author who hails from the wilds of New Hampshire. Blending psychological horror and otherworldly entities, his stories have appeared in NoSleep, Tenebrous Press, and Cosmic Horror Monthly. His debut novella, Feeding the Wheel, was published by Dead Sky Publishing in July 2025. When he’s not penning your next nightmare, Michael can be found snowboarding in the White Mountains or spoiling his pets rotten.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
June 25, 2026
From the reviews, my expectations were high. So I guess what I was wanting from the synopsis, I didn't get it.
July 23, 2026
I was so hooked in the story and the weird cult aspect that somehow has a "god" that looks like one particular character from Alice in Wonderland.
June 18, 2026
Rating: 4/5 stars
Every now and then I like to take a chance on an indie-horror book on Netgalley, with a unique premise and little to no context otherwise. Sometimes, this flops phenomenally, and other times I discover a hidden horror-gem such as this one.
Inhalation follows Milo, a man in the terminal stage of his battle with cancer, haunted by fragmented and distorted memories of his disturbed childhood. Seeking closure from this half-remembered past, he returns to his childhood home for his final days of life. Here, one by one, pieces of the past resurface; either distorted by childhood fear, or too real entirely… And they involve a series of mysterious deaths of his siblings, his sisters imaginary friend whom she worshiped with almost religious devotion, and the image of the wicked Alice-in-Wonderland-Inspired image of a grotesque hookah-smoking caterpillar…
What I loved:
With a story this short, I have to be extra cautious to avoid spoilers, but let me tell you this: some of the images this book evokes live rent-free in my mind now, and they show no signs of moving out any time soon.
Whether you take them at face value or not is ultimately up to the reader. To me, these images were the perfect representation of what a child’s mind might conjure up in order to make sense of the horrors they faced, completely beyond what a child should be able to deal with. Childhood truly can be a cosmic horror, and so can loss and uncontrollable illness. This novella understands that, and gives image to those feelings.
Hookah-smoking caterpillars aside, it added a layer of realism that deepened the horror for me. (To the point where I’ve actually had critically ill patients with delirium-dreams quite similar to this, so there goes my sleep for tonight…)
Although the prose and structure are quite simple, the atmosphere and mental pictures it paints are strong enough to stand on their own.
It’s worth mentioning that there’s a small element of mixed-media, in the form of images at the end of chapters. Normally, I’m not a big fan of this, but in this case, it was unintrusive enough to add to the atmosphere without distracting from the story.
What I didn’t love:
Inhalation’s novella-length is both its strength and weakness. It forces the horror to be trimmed down to its essence and prevents the cosmic elements from “overexplaining themselves”. On the other hand, it leaves little room for the reader to grow attached to the characters. During the flash-back chapters, we see some incredibly traumatic events and losses from Milo’s childhood. Yet because none of (Milo’s relationships with) these secondary characters have been properly developed, we’re kept at an emotional distance from the true tragedy and horror. That could have elevated the story from “good” to an absolute emotional gut punch for me, and I feel the latter would’ve been a perfect fit for this books themes. It also would’ve made Milo’s final decision hit with more impact.
Overall, very recommendable, especially to readers who enjoy their horror with a unique thematic blend of the cosmic, the strangeness of childhood imagination, faith/religion and the fragility of life itself.
Many thanks to Dark Ink Press for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Every now and then I like to take a chance on an indie-horror book on Netgalley, with a unique premise and little to no context otherwise. Sometimes, this flops phenomenally, and other times I discover a hidden horror-gem such as this one.
Inhalation follows Milo, a man in the terminal stage of his battle with cancer, haunted by fragmented and distorted memories of his disturbed childhood. Seeking closure from this half-remembered past, he returns to his childhood home for his final days of life. Here, one by one, pieces of the past resurface; either distorted by childhood fear, or too real entirely… And they involve a series of mysterious deaths of his siblings, his sisters imaginary friend whom she worshiped with almost religious devotion, and the image of the wicked Alice-in-Wonderland-Inspired image of a grotesque hookah-smoking caterpillar…
What I loved:
With a story this short, I have to be extra cautious to avoid spoilers, but let me tell you this: some of the images this book evokes live rent-free in my mind now, and they show no signs of moving out any time soon.
Whether you take them at face value or not is ultimately up to the reader. To me, these images were the perfect representation of what a child’s mind might conjure up in order to make sense of the horrors they faced, completely beyond what a child should be able to deal with. Childhood truly can be a cosmic horror, and so can loss and uncontrollable illness. This novella understands that, and gives image to those feelings.
Hookah-smoking caterpillars aside, it added a layer of realism that deepened the horror for me. (To the point where I’ve actually had critically ill patients with delirium-dreams quite similar to this, so there goes my sleep for tonight…)
Although the prose and structure are quite simple, the atmosphere and mental pictures it paints are strong enough to stand on their own.
It’s worth mentioning that there’s a small element of mixed-media, in the form of images at the end of chapters. Normally, I’m not a big fan of this, but in this case, it was unintrusive enough to add to the atmosphere without distracting from the story.
What I didn’t love:
Inhalation’s novella-length is both its strength and weakness. It forces the horror to be trimmed down to its essence and prevents the cosmic elements from “overexplaining themselves”. On the other hand, it leaves little room for the reader to grow attached to the characters. During the flash-back chapters, we see some incredibly traumatic events and losses from Milo’s childhood. Yet because none of (Milo’s relationships with) these secondary characters have been properly developed, we’re kept at an emotional distance from the true tragedy and horror. That could have elevated the story from “good” to an absolute emotional gut punch for me, and I feel the latter would’ve been a perfect fit for this books themes. It also would’ve made Milo’s final decision hit with more impact.
Overall, very recommendable, especially to readers who enjoy their horror with a unique thematic blend of the cosmic, the strangeness of childhood imagination, faith/religion and the fragility of life itself.
Many thanks to Dark Ink Press for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with an e-arc.
Because the book is a bit short, I won't reveal too much. The book follows Milo, who was born into a very religious family. Strange things happen in his childhood home, and one sibling after another dies from various illnesses.
I read this book in one day because I just wanted to know how it would end. It was a strange book, but it completely captivated me. It was a very easy read.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys strange books with horror elements about faith.
Because the book is a bit short, I won't reveal too much. The book follows Milo, who was born into a very religious family. Strange things happen in his childhood home, and one sibling after another dies from various illnesses.
I read this book in one day because I just wanted to know how it would end. It was a strange book, but it completely captivated me. It was a very easy read.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys strange books with horror elements about faith.
July 3, 2026
What a weird, bizarre novella that sucks you in from the start—a story where your childhood is, in fact, a cosmic horror tale. The constant creeping dread, coupled with the vivid writing, creates one hell of an ambiance.
Many thanks to NetGalley and publisher for the digital ARC!
Many thanks to NetGalley and publisher for the digital ARC!
July 10, 2026
I absolutely loved this book! Boulerice's prose sings and this story is legitimately scary. I was terrified of that entity collecting St. Lawrences like goddamn Pokemon. And the moment I fully understood the title? That was an "oh shit" moment! A fun read with mystery, heart, and some imagery I'm not going to forget anytime soon. Definitely recommend!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A cosmic horror novella which packs a lot of punch into its modest length. The setup: Milo is an older man dying of cancer who returns to his childhood home to live out his remaining days. The house was the scene of endless sorrow as he watched his large family succumb to illness and injury one by one before finally fleeing in hopes of surviving. His one remaining sibling is Marie, a religious fanatic with a dangerous obsession and dark secrets who has no qualms about threatening what little life Milo has left to live.
The narrative jumps back and forth in time as we explore both the tragic history of Milo's family as well as Marie's present-day machinations as the ruthless leader of a cult that would do anything to please her. Marie is one of those instantly hissable villains who you root to get her comeuppance and yet is also understandable as being as damaged in her way as the rest of her family. The other villain here, of course, is the strange entity that looms in a dark corner of the house. Invisible to most, its insatiable appetite doomed Milo's family and threatens generations to come unless he can harness his waning strength and ingenuity to challenge it.
Is tender horror a thing? Because if it is, this story would fit that genre perfectly. There is something so sweet and appealing about Milo's character and his earnest desire to try and make amends for the string of tragedies that were in no way his fault. A pervasive gentle melancholy and the poignancy of Milo's plight and suffering raise this tale from straightforward horror to a very human and relatable portrait of generational trauma and the power of hope and courage. Being a fan of books with illustrations, I also appreciated the evocative drawings and altered photographs scattered throughout. This one is a great find for fans of creepy horror that packs a true emotional wallop.
(Note: this review is of an ARC provided through NetGalley by the publisher)
The narrative jumps back and forth in time as we explore both the tragic history of Milo's family as well as Marie's present-day machinations as the ruthless leader of a cult that would do anything to please her. Marie is one of those instantly hissable villains who you root to get her comeuppance and yet is also understandable as being as damaged in her way as the rest of her family. The other villain here, of course, is the strange entity that looms in a dark corner of the house. Invisible to most, its insatiable appetite doomed Milo's family and threatens generations to come unless he can harness his waning strength and ingenuity to challenge it.
Is tender horror a thing? Because if it is, this story would fit that genre perfectly. There is something so sweet and appealing about Milo's character and his earnest desire to try and make amends for the string of tragedies that were in no way his fault. A pervasive gentle melancholy and the poignancy of Milo's plight and suffering raise this tale from straightforward horror to a very human and relatable portrait of generational trauma and the power of hope and courage. Being a fan of books with illustrations, I also appreciated the evocative drawings and altered photographs scattered throughout. This one is a great find for fans of creepy horror that packs a true emotional wallop.
(Note: this review is of an ARC provided through NetGalley by the publisher)
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Tightly plotted, precisely written, and told mostly through flashbacks, this was a one-sitting read for me - it's the kind of story you can't stop reading till you've reached the end. Figuring an old man who, dying from cancer, decides to spend his last days in his childhood home, it relates the reasons he never thought he'd actually come back: he's in fact a survivor, along with his older sister, of the unfortunate and mysterious deaths of his seven siblings, one dying after the other from illness, injury, and the religiously motivated unwillingness of their parents to seek medical help. It doesn't take long for readers to realize that something evil in the house had been preying on the entire Catholic family - a spectral entity sitting in a chair in the corner, privy only to a very few. But then comes the monkey wrench: the aforementioned sister has grown up to be a religious fanatic, leading her very own cult, and she's prepared to do anything she can to get the house her brother's living in. Why? And at what cost? Well, that's what "Inhalation" is all about!
Characterization and pacing are quite unusually solid for a story of this length. It's closer to a novella than a novel, yet the pervading sense of tragedy and the exploration of the deeply flawed characters are reminiscent of a novel. The back and forth in time produces a feeling of a tale both dense and complex, though the plot is quite straightforward, only the last twenty pages or so challenging the overall simplicity of the story (and explaining the book's title as well).
The illustrations were a nice add. I also enjoyed the bonus story, "Circles," appended to the end of the book: a ghost story of sorts, full of atmosphere and dark humor. If you enjoy creepy, quick reads, where faith, evil, and morality have a say in the plot, then this is the book for you!
Characterization and pacing are quite unusually solid for a story of this length. It's closer to a novella than a novel, yet the pervading sense of tragedy and the exploration of the deeply flawed characters are reminiscent of a novel. The back and forth in time produces a feeling of a tale both dense and complex, though the plot is quite straightforward, only the last twenty pages or so challenging the overall simplicity of the story (and explaining the book's title as well).
The illustrations were a nice add. I also enjoyed the bonus story, "Circles," appended to the end of the book: a ghost story of sorts, full of atmosphere and dark humor. If you enjoy creepy, quick reads, where faith, evil, and morality have a say in the plot, then this is the book for you!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Inhalation truly grabs you by the throat and doesn't let go.
This is a relatively short read, but don't mistake that for simplicity. Michael Boulerice packs an impressive amount of dread, emotion, and nightmare fuel into these pages. The result is a story that feels both deeply personal and genuinely unsettling.
At its heart, this is a story about family trauma, grief, faith, and the memories we bury in order to survive. As Milo returns to his childhood home to die, the layers of his past slowly unravel, revealing horrors both human and supernatural. The gradual resurfacing of those memories kept me completely invested from beginning to end.
What impressed me most was the writing itself. The pacing is tight, the atmosphere is oppressive, and the tension never really lets up. Even when the story isn't actively trying to scare you, there's a lingering sense that something is deeply wrong lurking just beneath the surface.
And when the horror arrives?
It delivers.
The imagery in this book is creepy as hell. The combination of cosmic horror, religious fanaticism, childhood trauma, and the bizarre nightmare that is the caterpillar man creates something that feels uniquely disturbing. There were multiple moments where I found myself genuinely unsettled, which is exactly what I want from horror.
What makes it even more effective is that the emotional core never gets lost beneath the scares. Milo's journey feels meaningful, and the story's exploration of corrupted faith and family devotion adds weight to every revelation.
If you're looking for a horror novella that is short, well-written, atmospheric, and genuinely frightening, Inhalation absolutely deserves your attention.
A quick read.
A creepy read.
A remarkably well-executed read.
And one that will probably leave you side-eyeing the dark corners of your room afterward.
This is a relatively short read, but don't mistake that for simplicity. Michael Boulerice packs an impressive amount of dread, emotion, and nightmare fuel into these pages. The result is a story that feels both deeply personal and genuinely unsettling.
At its heart, this is a story about family trauma, grief, faith, and the memories we bury in order to survive. As Milo returns to his childhood home to die, the layers of his past slowly unravel, revealing horrors both human and supernatural. The gradual resurfacing of those memories kept me completely invested from beginning to end.
What impressed me most was the writing itself. The pacing is tight, the atmosphere is oppressive, and the tension never really lets up. Even when the story isn't actively trying to scare you, there's a lingering sense that something is deeply wrong lurking just beneath the surface.
And when the horror arrives?
It delivers.
The imagery in this book is creepy as hell. The combination of cosmic horror, religious fanaticism, childhood trauma, and the bizarre nightmare that is the caterpillar man creates something that feels uniquely disturbing. There were multiple moments where I found myself genuinely unsettled, which is exactly what I want from horror.
What makes it even more effective is that the emotional core never gets lost beneath the scares. Milo's journey feels meaningful, and the story's exploration of corrupted faith and family devotion adds weight to every revelation.
If you're looking for a horror novella that is short, well-written, atmospheric, and genuinely frightening, Inhalation absolutely deserves your attention.
A quick read.
A creepy read.
A remarkably well-executed read.
And one that will probably leave you side-eyeing the dark corners of your room afterward.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Inhalation was an unsettling and immersive horror read that managed to feel both emotionally heavy and deeply eerie in a relatively short amount of time.
One of the strongest aspects for me was the structure. The time-hopping between chapters worked really well and gradually built a fuller picture without ever becoming confusing. The writing itself was incredibly easy to fall into, descriptive without feeling overdone. There were several moments that genuinely gave me a sense of unease. In particular, the scenes involving the Lawrence family preparing for school felt vivid and strangely intimate, with small details like the dark arm-chair in the corner creating a quiet but very effective anxiety.
I also loved the way the novel handled memory, grief, and religion, especially through a child’s perspective. The exploration of faith and God through the eyes of a young character added an emotional depth that made the horror feel more personal and unsettling. Alongside this, the descriptions of the family home and the contrast between its once lively past and the loneliness surrounding Milo later in life were genuinely sad and beautifully written.
The images included throughout the book were another highlight. They were unexpected, eerie, and added to the oppressive feeling that something was deeply wrong beneath the surface.
Although it’s a relatively short read, it still felt satisfying and well-rounded by the end. I’d highly recommend this to anyone looking for a quick but atmospheric horror read with emotional weight and a lingering sense of unease. Many thanks to Netgalley for the oppertunity to dive into this early!
One of the strongest aspects for me was the structure. The time-hopping between chapters worked really well and gradually built a fuller picture without ever becoming confusing. The writing itself was incredibly easy to fall into, descriptive without feeling overdone. There were several moments that genuinely gave me a sense of unease. In particular, the scenes involving the Lawrence family preparing for school felt vivid and strangely intimate, with small details like the dark arm-chair in the corner creating a quiet but very effective anxiety.
I also loved the way the novel handled memory, grief, and religion, especially through a child’s perspective. The exploration of faith and God through the eyes of a young character added an emotional depth that made the horror feel more personal and unsettling. Alongside this, the descriptions of the family home and the contrast between its once lively past and the loneliness surrounding Milo later in life were genuinely sad and beautifully written.
The images included throughout the book were another highlight. They were unexpected, eerie, and added to the oppressive feeling that something was deeply wrong beneath the surface.
Although it’s a relatively short read, it still felt satisfying and well-rounded by the end. I’d highly recommend this to anyone looking for a quick but atmospheric horror read with emotional weight and a lingering sense of unease. Many thanks to Netgalley for the oppertunity to dive into this early!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I stumbled upon Feeding the Wheel sometime last year and really enjoyed it so I was excited to jump into this one. Inhalation tells the story of the St Lawrence family, a devout Catholic family growing up in the second half of the 20th century. Concurrently we have Milo’s narrative which occurs in 2022 as he is an older man dying of cancer. Milo is one of two remaining siblings out of ten. Every other St Lawerence family member has died in the home of various illnesses. Milo fled the familial home years ago but has returned to die, feeling as though it is his destiny. His only living sister, Marie, has found success with religious extremism which is tied to a weird corner of the family house. Shit gets weird.
I definitely vibed this one. I read it in just a couple sittings (honestly probably 70% in one go) because it’s captivating. I didn’t want to put it down. I wasn’t a big fan of the protagonists in Boulerice’s first book, but Milo’s a good dude and very affable, respectful and chill. I also loved Amelia and everyone should get an Amelia during end of life transitioning. I had no idea where the story would go in this one but it was a dope journey. I’d love to know more of the lore behind the thing in the corner because it was creepy as hell. A very hungry little corner, indeed. If you like preternatural horror with a good hint of BAD religion (not the band 😉) then I’d definitely recommend this one. It’s a fast read and Boulerice has included another short story at the end, Circles. I didn’t enjoy this one as much as Lord of Doors but still a great bonus. Boulerice is definitely make waves with his shorter books as he continues to progress. I can’t wait to read more.
I definitely vibed this one. I read it in just a couple sittings (honestly probably 70% in one go) because it’s captivating. I didn’t want to put it down. I wasn’t a big fan of the protagonists in Boulerice’s first book, but Milo’s a good dude and very affable, respectful and chill. I also loved Amelia and everyone should get an Amelia during end of life transitioning. I had no idea where the story would go in this one but it was a dope journey. I’d love to know more of the lore behind the thing in the corner because it was creepy as hell. A very hungry little corner, indeed. If you like preternatural horror with a good hint of BAD religion (not the band 😉) then I’d definitely recommend this one. It’s a fast read and Boulerice has included another short story at the end, Circles. I didn’t enjoy this one as much as Lord of Doors but still a great bonus. Boulerice is definitely make waves with his shorter books as he continues to progress. I can’t wait to read more.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Inhalation is a short story about the dark side of religious fervor and the toll it exacts on families, children especially.
It took me a moment to settle into the pacing, but once I made it to the second chapter it was smooth sailing. We bounce back and forth between our main character's present, bedridden and on hospice, to his youth, watching his siblings waste away, one after another. Normally, I'm not a huge fan of flashback chapters in a book, I value the information they bring, but they tend to slow down the pacing. However, it didn't feel like that was the case in Inhalation, maybe because the chapters are so short, but the story never deviated from the comfortable pace Boulerice set from the beginning.
The few characters that we glimpse, not counting cultists, all have distinct personalities and voices, and the atmosphere of each chapter is palpable. What I appreciate most is the noticeable shift in atmosphere between time periods; young Milo is frustrated, confused, and a bit fearful, while adult Milo is filled with a grim resolution that overrides any disquieting feelings that crop up. He fully embraces his rapidly approaching mortality and uses that certainty as a catalyst to face the darkness that robbed him of his family.
I really love when horror elements are presented almost as if they're just business as usual; for characters like Milo, when darkness has been just at the edge of your vision/memory for your entire life, you either let it drive you mad, or just accept that it's part of life as you know it.
This was a really enjoyable read! Thank you NetGalley, Michael Boulerice, and Dead Sky Publishing for the ARC.
It took me a moment to settle into the pacing, but once I made it to the second chapter it was smooth sailing. We bounce back and forth between our main character's present, bedridden and on hospice, to his youth, watching his siblings waste away, one after another. Normally, I'm not a huge fan of flashback chapters in a book, I value the information they bring, but they tend to slow down the pacing. However, it didn't feel like that was the case in Inhalation, maybe because the chapters are so short, but the story never deviated from the comfortable pace Boulerice set from the beginning.
The few characters that we glimpse, not counting cultists, all have distinct personalities and voices, and the atmosphere of each chapter is palpable. What I appreciate most is the noticeable shift in atmosphere between time periods; young Milo is frustrated, confused, and a bit fearful, while adult Milo is filled with a grim resolution that overrides any disquieting feelings that crop up. He fully embraces his rapidly approaching mortality and uses that certainty as a catalyst to face the darkness that robbed him of his family.
I really love when horror elements are presented almost as if they're just business as usual; for characters like Milo, when darkness has been just at the edge of your vision/memory for your entire life, you either let it drive you mad, or just accept that it's part of life as you know it.
This was a really enjoyable read! Thank you NetGalley, Michael Boulerice, and Dead Sky Publishing for the ARC.
July 2, 2026
I have to say, I really wanted to like this one. The plot and themes attracted me initially, and on that front, Boulerice delivered.
The writing itself was interesting—descriptions were definitely effective. I appreciate the unique monster, and the way Boulerice succinctly burns the horrific creature into your brain. However, I felt like the writing got repetitive, and the Alice and Wonderland references felt heavy-handed after a while.
The plot was a little one-note, and I fear the outcome was a lot of buildup for not much payoff. It took me a while to get through it, which I initially blamed on a ridiculously busy couple weeks. When I was able to sit down and lock in, I could accept that it simply wasn’t keeping my attention.
The characters were the hardest part for me. I wanted to feel more connected, and wanted more depth all around. I found each character to be incredibly black and white (read: uncomplicated) and if there was character growth, I couldn’t identify it. Marie’s fate felt out of place, and the ending felt rushed and underdeveloped. In the end (like many others who’ve received similar criticism from me), I believe most of these issues could’ve been ironed out with more length. There are some really interesting concepts at play that I think deserved more stage time.
Overall, I give it a “meh”. Not horrible, not groundbreaking. Definitely a matter of preference.
If you’re looking for a quick and simple read with a unique (and gruesome) monster, Inhalation is worth picking up.
Thank you NetGalley and Dead Sky Publishing for an advanced copy of this novella in exchange for an honest review.
2.5/5
The writing itself was interesting—descriptions were definitely effective. I appreciate the unique monster, and the way Boulerice succinctly burns the horrific creature into your brain. However, I felt like the writing got repetitive, and the Alice and Wonderland references felt heavy-handed after a while.
The plot was a little one-note, and I fear the outcome was a lot of buildup for not much payoff. It took me a while to get through it, which I initially blamed on a ridiculously busy couple weeks. When I was able to sit down and lock in, I could accept that it simply wasn’t keeping my attention.
The characters were the hardest part for me. I wanted to feel more connected, and wanted more depth all around. I found each character to be incredibly black and white (read: uncomplicated) and if there was character growth, I couldn’t identify it. Marie’s fate felt out of place, and the ending felt rushed and underdeveloped. In the end (like many others who’ve received similar criticism from me), I believe most of these issues could’ve been ironed out with more length. There are some really interesting concepts at play that I think deserved more stage time.
Overall, I give it a “meh”. Not horrible, not groundbreaking. Definitely a matter of preference.
If you’re looking for a quick and simple read with a unique (and gruesome) monster, Inhalation is worth picking up.
Thank you NetGalley and Dead Sky Publishing for an advanced copy of this novella in exchange for an honest review.
2.5/5
June 17, 2026
I received this book from NetGalley for a review. I’m obsessed with Michael Boulerice’s debut novel, Feeding the Wheel; that book blew my mind in the best way. While I was expecting similar inter-dimensional, cosmic chicanery to FTW, the cosmic chicanery is completely different, and that broke my brain a little bit.
Milo is dying. Instead of spending his last days in a sterile hospice, he elects to spend that time in his childhood home. Unfortunately for Milo, there is something very unsettling going on at that house, which he is fully aware of. The house took his family members one by one until only he and his sister are left.
As soon as Milo settles in, his sister appears, attempting to convince Milo to leave the house to her and her cult. Milo knows she’ll use the dark force in the house to do something evil and he doesn’t want any part of it. The overwhelming dread of the house, his sister’s drive to have the house, and memories of the past make Milo’s end of life experience a true horror show.
I had to sit with this book for a few days after I finished it. The concept is so wild and big it took my brain a little while to absorb everything. I don’t want to say too much because I don’t want to ruin anything, and I’m not sure how to describe it abstractly. I really enjoyed it, especially being one more grief horror to add to my collection. Inhalation came out yesterday! Grab a copy.
Milo is dying. Instead of spending his last days in a sterile hospice, he elects to spend that time in his childhood home. Unfortunately for Milo, there is something very unsettling going on at that house, which he is fully aware of. The house took his family members one by one until only he and his sister are left.
As soon as Milo settles in, his sister appears, attempting to convince Milo to leave the house to her and her cult. Milo knows she’ll use the dark force in the house to do something evil and he doesn’t want any part of it. The overwhelming dread of the house, his sister’s drive to have the house, and memories of the past make Milo’s end of life experience a true horror show.
I had to sit with this book for a few days after I finished it. The concept is so wild and big it took my brain a little while to absorb everything. I don’t want to say too much because I don’t want to ruin anything, and I’m not sure how to describe it abstractly. I really enjoyed it, especially being one more grief horror to add to my collection. Inhalation came out yesterday! Grab a copy.
April 28, 2026
First, thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
The best compliment I can give this book is that it pulled me away from a book about how all of Nazi Germany was on hardcore drugs. I finished this one in two sittings.
On the surface, the story is straightforward. The St. Lawrence family has made a kind of Faustian bargain with the thing that lives in the corner of their house. Bad shit happens. We get dropped into modern-day with Milo returning to the family home at the end of his life, trying to make sense of it all while his sister circles the house with her own plans.
The novel (novella?) moves between a present-ish timeline and the past, slowly peeling back what’s really going on. It’s fast, it’s engaging, and you’ll keep pushing into the next chapter to see what new piece falls into place.
If you haven’t read Michael Boulerice before, this is him at his particular, off-kilter best. If you don’t know what that means, you’re in for a good time. Snappy dialogue (“brewskies at noonskies”), strange entities with very specific appetites, and characters you actually care about. This is the one that locks me in as a Boulerice fan for life.
The best compliment I can give this book is that it pulled me away from a book about how all of Nazi Germany was on hardcore drugs. I finished this one in two sittings.
On the surface, the story is straightforward. The St. Lawrence family has made a kind of Faustian bargain with the thing that lives in the corner of their house. Bad shit happens. We get dropped into modern-day with Milo returning to the family home at the end of his life, trying to make sense of it all while his sister circles the house with her own plans.
The novel (novella?) moves between a present-ish timeline and the past, slowly peeling back what’s really going on. It’s fast, it’s engaging, and you’ll keep pushing into the next chapter to see what new piece falls into place.
If you haven’t read Michael Boulerice before, this is him at his particular, off-kilter best. If you don’t know what that means, you’re in for a good time. Snappy dialogue (“brewskies at noonskies”), strange entities with very specific appetites, and characters you actually care about. This is the one that locks me in as a Boulerice fan for life.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Milo was once the youngest child in a happy, loving and large Catholic family. His father's auto mechanic business was next to the large house....a house something dark in one corner, the corner with "the chair". As Milo grows up he loses one sibling after another to mysterious illnesses while having recurring nightmares about a large caterpillar smoking a hookah pipe. He notices the corner with the chair grow darker and over the years a dark shape seems to form. His only surviving sibling, Marie, also notices the shape and the girl who wanted to be a nun begins to pray to it along with her parents.
Beware who or what you worship and don't inhale the evil.
As a dying old man Milo returns to the house to meet the evil face to face and to thwart cult leader Marie's plans to feed the house which gave her the power to be have others worship her and do her bidding,
#Inhalation is a very good tale of a family living and dying in the presence of evil and the youngest child's determination to ensure that the evil stops sucking the life off of living souls. Thank you #netgalley for this read.
Beware who or what you worship and don't inhale the evil.
As a dying old man Milo returns to the house to meet the evil face to face and to thwart cult leader Marie's plans to feed the house which gave her the power to be have others worship her and do her bidding,
#Inhalation is a very good tale of a family living and dying in the presence of evil and the youngest child's determination to ensure that the evil stops sucking the life off of living souls. Thank you #netgalley for this read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
*4.5
What a weird, interesting little novella. To start, this novella managed to do what very few haunted house stories can: make the haunted house unique. The book is short, so I won't spoil anything, but it's so weird and gross and lends the book a Stephen King flair that I greatly appreciated. A few other things added to that feeling, mainly the characters and split timeline. Milo's siblings were a little interchangeable, but the main man himself was such an endearing and well-written character. His sister Marie was vile, and even the minor characters like Amelia were well-sketched. And the dual timeline was simply such an interesting way to tell this narrative. While I do have a couple of complaints, they're genuinely so minor in the grand scheme of things. Firstly, there's a lot of superfluous material here, namely the Alice in Wonderland interludes (like, we get it; you could've put one quote at the beginning, and we'd of gotten it) and the illustrations. And lastly, I wish Amelia had been more present in the 2022 timeline. Still, I thought this was fantastic overall, even though I don't think it'll be for everyone.
What a weird, interesting little novella. To start, this novella managed to do what very few haunted house stories can: make the haunted house unique. The book is short, so I won't spoil anything, but it's so weird and gross and lends the book a Stephen King flair that I greatly appreciated. A few other things added to that feeling, mainly the characters and split timeline. Milo's siblings were a little interchangeable, but the main man himself was such an endearing and well-written character. His sister Marie was vile, and even the minor characters like Amelia were well-sketched. And the dual timeline was simply such an interesting way to tell this narrative. While I do have a couple of complaints, they're genuinely so minor in the grand scheme of things. Firstly, there's a lot of superfluous material here, namely the Alice in Wonderland interludes (like, we get it; you could've put one quote at the beginning, and we'd of gotten it) and the illustrations. And lastly, I wish Amelia had been more present in the 2022 timeline. Still, I thought this was fantastic overall, even though I don't think it'll be for everyone.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Dead Sky Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC - all thoughts and opinions are my own!
I can definitely say that I think cosmic horror and honestly anything that even hints at a bit of religious horror is something I know I will enjoy and Inhalation is no exception! This book was creepy and horrifying and I don’t think I will be able to look at Alice In Wonderland quite the same again.
This horror might be on the shorter side but it packs a wallop nonetheless. Milo is our main character and he is dying of cancer - his last wish? To die in peace back in his family home. But as we see from flashbacks to his past, Milo didn’t experience much peace at home and everything seems to come back to that old recliner in the dark corner…
This was scary, creepy, a bit of a fever dream at times, and honestly I think this book may give me some nightmares, so if you are not a big horror fan or a little squeamish, then this may not be the one you want to start with! However, I did enjoy my reading experience and would definitely read from the author again.
I can definitely say that I think cosmic horror and honestly anything that even hints at a bit of religious horror is something I know I will enjoy and Inhalation is no exception! This book was creepy and horrifying and I don’t think I will be able to look at Alice In Wonderland quite the same again.
This horror might be on the shorter side but it packs a wallop nonetheless. Milo is our main character and he is dying of cancer - his last wish? To die in peace back in his family home. But as we see from flashbacks to his past, Milo didn’t experience much peace at home and everything seems to come back to that old recliner in the dark corner…
This was scary, creepy, a bit of a fever dream at times, and honestly I think this book may give me some nightmares, so if you are not a big horror fan or a little squeamish, then this may not be the one you want to start with! However, I did enjoy my reading experience and would definitely read from the author again.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
"The Caterpillar and Alice looked at each other for some time in silence: at last, the Caterpillar took the hookah out of its mouth, and addressed her in a languid, sleepy voice. 'Who are you?' said the Caterpillar." —ALICE IN WONDERLAND, LEWIS CARROLL
Inhalation by Michael Boulerice is one of those horror novels where the house itself dominates the narrative. The main character Milo was such a likable character that it made the Nonlinear Timeline a non-issue. In fact switching from 2022 to the 1960s and 70s added a bit of much needed suspense to the story. Such a quick easy read, the premise is fantastic. I wanted it to be more haunted house and less cosmic horror. It certainly was weird and despite me usually liking weird, this story felt like it was missing depth. I liked it but didn't love it. You might tho, if you like haunted house, twisted religious or coming of age horror add this to your tbr.
Inhalation by Michael Boulerice is one of those horror novels where the house itself dominates the narrative. The main character Milo was such a likable character that it made the Nonlinear Timeline a non-issue. In fact switching from 2022 to the 1960s and 70s added a bit of much needed suspense to the story. Such a quick easy read, the premise is fantastic. I wanted it to be more haunted house and less cosmic horror. It certainly was weird and despite me usually liking weird, this story felt like it was missing depth. I liked it but didn't love it. You might tho, if you like haunted house, twisted religious or coming of age horror add this to your tbr.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Milo is dying. For Milo, death is nothing new. He's already watched his parents and seven of his eight siblings all pass away before him… all in the same house. How did this all happen? Unearthing the particulars of that tragic past is the true joy of reading Inhalation, and it's this underlying mystery that hauled me by the brain through this story in one sitting. Boulerice delivers the narrative with a precision and smoothness that compels you to turn the page, drip-feeding you horror after horror until its explosive ending. Themes of familial trauma and religious corruption lend a nice gravitas to the whole affair, but most of all, I learned never to trust anyone in a pink tracksuit… not that I previously had trusted anyone in a pink tracksuit, but now I definitely won't. I'll be checking out more of Michael Boulerice's stuff and keeping my eye on him in the future. Brewskies before noonskies!
June 5, 2026
Thank you to Death’s Head Press and NetGalley for an ARC.
This nifty little novel pulls off having a fleshed out story without taking any unnecessary time getting where it’s going. It is crazy efficient and I promise you that the crux of the horror is unlike anything you’ve seen before or are expected until it’s thrust upon you.
I was fortunate enough to get an advanced copy of Michael’s debut and can really see the growth from his first to second novel. I did love the imagery in “Feeding the Wheel”, but this book really felt like a step up in pretty much every aspect.
The story “Circles”, included at the end, feels like a nice holiday themed episode of the Twilight Zone.
I’d recommend this to fans of Midnight Mass (partially because I see some of Bev in one of the characters in this novel)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This nifty little novel pulls off having a fleshed out story without taking any unnecessary time getting where it’s going. It is crazy efficient and I promise you that the crux of the horror is unlike anything you’ve seen before or are expected until it’s thrust upon you.
I was fortunate enough to get an advanced copy of Michael’s debut and can really see the growth from his first to second novel. I did love the imagery in “Feeding the Wheel”, but this book really felt like a step up in pretty much every aspect.
The story “Circles”, included at the end, feels like a nice holiday themed episode of the Twilight Zone.
I’d recommend this to fans of Midnight Mass (partially because I see some of Bev in one of the characters in this novel)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
WOW! This is a quick read but it packs a punch. I really grew to adore Milo, a man who exudes kindness and didn’t want to be a bother to anyone. The prologue and epilogue with 2 workers had me smiling and i’m pretty sure i’ll be quoting “brewskis at noonskies” for time to come.
The setting was beyond creepy, particularly in the later chapters, almost a physical manifestation of the evil that was occurring. Marie is an interesting character who I feel contradicts herself, although the purpose of this is well served.
I can’t speak on the plot too much because this is a book that should be read with absolutely zero spoilers. Go in blind and enjoy it.
I received this E-book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
The setting was beyond creepy, particularly in the later chapters, almost a physical manifestation of the evil that was occurring. Marie is an interesting character who I feel contradicts herself, although the purpose of this is well served.
I can’t speak on the plot too much because this is a book that should be read with absolutely zero spoilers. Go in blind and enjoy it.
I received this E-book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
February 28, 2026
*ARC read*
Fully recommend to go in to this book 100% blind.
I read this while sick with the mystery sickness of February ‘26 and it gave me some rather vivid lucid nightmares. While usually not a fun thing, these felt inspired by the book and ended up complimenting the reading experience. 🌝
Wonderfully written with the time jumps. This allowed me to establish an emotional connection with the main character Milo and that sure helped in the later chapters.
The book definitely touched a lot of topics which felt fitting for a character that is living out his final days. Family, faith and morals all intertwined and also underlined by this gruesome thing called life.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with a copy. 🫶🏻
Fully recommend to go in to this book 100% blind.
I read this while sick with the mystery sickness of February ‘26 and it gave me some rather vivid lucid nightmares. While usually not a fun thing, these felt inspired by the book and ended up complimenting the reading experience. 🌝
Wonderfully written with the time jumps. This allowed me to establish an emotional connection with the main character Milo and that sure helped in the later chapters.
The book definitely touched a lot of topics which felt fitting for a character that is living out his final days. Family, faith and morals all intertwined and also underlined by this gruesome thing called life.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with a copy. 🫶🏻
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a fun, quick read. Milo is dying and has returned to his childhood home to do so, just like his parents and most of his siblings before him. His still has one living relative, Marie, who lives in the area, but he has never been close with her.
Milo grew up in a very religious household and for as short as this story was it packed a lot in. The religious stuff and all the grief and family dynamics when Milo was younger was a lot. When Milo comes back he doesn't remember everything of his time here when he was younger and his sister is...not great. The story didn't go where I expected which was nice and it was a fun, quick read.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book
Milo grew up in a very religious household and for as short as this story was it packed a lot in. The religious stuff and all the grief and family dynamics when Milo was younger was a lot. When Milo comes back he doesn't remember everything of his time here when he was younger and his sister is...not great. The story didn't go where I expected which was nice and it was a fun, quick read.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Milo has a terminal cancer diagnosis, and travels across the country so he can die in his childhood home where both of his parents and 7 of his 9 siblings also died. His sole living sibling is his estranged sister Marie, who is the leader of a religious cult and won't leave him alone.
What I though was going to be a story of a haunted house/possession ended up being more bizarre than I could have anticipated. This book was weird af, and combines a strict religious upbringing with haunted house horror and somehow also Alice in Wonderland.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of Inhalation in exchange for my honest review.
What I though was going to be a story of a haunted house/possession ended up being more bizarre than I could have anticipated. This book was weird af, and combines a strict religious upbringing with haunted house horror and somehow also Alice in Wonderland.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of Inhalation in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
There is something decidedly wrong with the air of the St Laurence's family home. One of two surviving siblings, Milo returns to his crumbling, mold-ridden family estate after 50 years of freedom and a terminal cancer diagnosis. In doing so, he hopes to resolve his own trauma and also the mystery behind the string of disparate health issues that wittled down his family one by one. Inhalation is a speedy read, exploring the very literal suffocation of being trapped in situations you can feel powerless to overcome: religious trauma, grief, illness, family. And what is the shadowy figure in the corner of the room, surrounded by thick, blueish smoke?
Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC
Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I first became aware of Michael Boulerice's fiction when we shared a table of contents in a now-defunct horror magazine. His story, In Pursuit of the Black Chuck Wagon, was deliciously weird, and I was eager to get a hold of a piece of longer fiction. Thankfully, I didn't have to wait long because he released his novella, Feeding the Wheel, which was as good as I'd hoped.
All this is to say, I had high expectations for Inhalation, and I'm happy to report that Boulerice exceeded them.
Inhalation is a fast-paced, WTF read about facing religious trauma, and a malevolent entity. It's funny and disturbing, and highly original. I can't recommend Inhalation enough.
All this is to say, I had high expectations for Inhalation, and I'm happy to report that Boulerice exceeded them.
Inhalation is a fast-paced, WTF read about facing religious trauma, and a malevolent entity. It's funny and disturbing, and highly original. I can't recommend Inhalation enough.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book had childhood trauma around hyper-religious and reclusive parents, a toxic sibling rivalry to beat all sibling rivalries, and a truly creepy, really inventive Cosmic Horror monstrosity. Inhalation was a weird and thrilling read, with compelling characters and a great sense of humor when the moment called for it. It really effectively addressed trying to escape whatever you were forced into during childhood and then realizing, to some degree, you didn't fully deal with it, and you need to. That subject was tackled on multiple levels, and beautifully done!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A dark and engaging story of a tragic family going through something unexplainable. Despite there being little to no explanation of how everything worked and how it really started etc, this was a fun one. I love a good cosmic horror and this was a bit of a faster paced one. I almost feel like it could have been darker and deeper but for this length it’s okay.
I liked how the characters were written. I was rooting for Milo and could not stand Marie. These strong feelings helped keep me engaged. A good quick read that I just couldn’t put down.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC
I liked how the characters were written. I was rooting for Milo and could not stand Marie. These strong feelings helped keep me engaged. A good quick read that I just couldn’t put down.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was great! I didn't know that this was the guy who wrote Feeding The Wheel. I was already going to check that one out, but it bumped up on my list for sure after this. Very fun novella with a pretty solid bonus short story. I thought it was going to be a splatter novel, but it's just a really good story about an entity killing off members of a family. Basically no gore, so I'd even recommend this for the squeamish. It reminded me of something from Tales from the Crypt or even Creepshow. Definitely going to be on the lookout for this author going forward!
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