Marked

by Kayla D. Ward

Nobody in this town is fucking fine.
I had no idea how true that statement was when I said it.

Everyone is on edge.
Especially me.

I've been partying too hard. Sleeping too light.
I tell myself that's the reason for the migraine pulsing behind my left eye.

Because there can't be any other explanation.

105 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication October 31, 2026

About the author

Kayla D Ward is a Scottish author writing psychological horror and dark, character-driven fiction.
Based in the Scottish Highlands, she writes stories about complicated people, uncomfortable choices and the darker places the mind can go when left alone with itself.
When she isn’t writing, Kayla can usually be found reading something unsettling, listening to music far too loudly, or attempting to convince herself that learning the drums in her thirties was a perfectly reasonable life decision.
She lives in the Highlands with her husband, three children, cat and an ever-growing collection of books.

Reviews

[G. Harris]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Well, Kayla D. Ward has officially cemented herself as one of my favourite horror authors.

I went into Marked expecting to enjoy it, but I wasn't expecting to be quite so emotionally destroyed by it. The psychological horror in this book is phenomenal. There's this constant, creeping sense of dread that never really lets up. You know something is wrong. Mark knows something is wrong, somewhere deep down. But watching him desperately try to explain away the increasingly disturbing things happening around him was both fascinating and heart-breaking.

One thing I particularly want to praise is the portrayal of dissociation. As someone who has experienced it, I thought Kayla captured it incredibly well. The confusion, the missing time, the way your brain tries to fill in the gaps without you necessarily realising anything is missing. It felt authentic rather than dramatized, and it made Mark's increasingly unreliable reality so much more unsettling. And the body horror? Absolutely disgusting. In the best possible way, obviously. Every new development had me physically recoiling while simultaneously needing to know what happened next.

But what really got me wasn't the gore. It was Mark himself. Watching this man desperately cling to some semblance of an ordinary life while enduring unimaginable suffering genuinely broke my heart. Underneath all the horror is something incredibly human, and Kayla manages to make you grieve for the smallest, simplest things that most people take for granted.

I also loved how Marked connects to both Wilder and Struan without simply retelling a story we already know. Mark's perspective brings something entirely different to the table, and experiencing events through his fractured understanding of reality makes every revelation hit that much harder. And you don't even need to read the others to enjoy Marked, though I absolutely recommend you do!

This book is disturbing, uncomfortable, devastating and beautifully written.

Five very well-deserved stars🖤

I received an advance reader copy (ARC) of Marked. All opinions are my own.

[Wayne A. Elderkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 Stars

Marked by Kayla D. Ward is a dark, twisty psychological horror novella that kept me questioning everything from beginning to end.

The story follows Mark, a bartender living in the Scottish Highlands, whose days seem simple enough: work at the bar, go home, repeat. But before long, strange things begin happening. Mark finds himself in places he swears he has already left, repeating tasks he is certain he has already completed, and experiencing an unsettling sense of déjà vu that only grows stronger as the story progresses.

Just when I thought I was finally figuring out what was happening, Ward would present the same scene again with a slightly different tone, detail, or outcome. It felt like watching a Hitchcock film where the main character is trapped in a dream, a drugged state, or some nightmare version of reality. At times, it was almost like a horror-themed Groundhog Day.

What I appreciated most was how skillfully Ward controlled the reader's experience. The confusion was intentional and became one of the story's greatest strengths. She kept me completely in the dark while providing just enough clues to keep me turning the pages. By the time the truth was finally revealed, everything clicked into place, and I found myself thinking, "Ahh, now I get it!"

If you enjoy dark, twisted psychological horror that relies more on atmosphere, suspense, and mystery than jump scares or excessive gore (though there is a bit of that at the end!), then this is definitely a book worth reading. Trust the process, go along for the ride, and let Ward guide you through the madness. You won't regret it.

I received an advanced copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
5 stars! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[whatmrsdobbsreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

🚨 WELL, THAT WAS QUICK! 🚨
This ARC literally dropped into my emails TODAY, and I could NOT wait to dive in… so here I am, already bringing you the review! 😂📚
There is something about a book that gives you the HEEBIE-JEEBIES from the very first page… and Marked absolutely DELIVERED. 🫣
The shifts in moments had my anxiety through the ROOF. 😭 There is something about Kayla's writing that pulls me straight into the scene, making me feel every ounce of panic the characters are experiencing.
It's one thing to read a psychological suspense… it's another to feel like you're RIGHT THERE in the middle of it all, experiencing the fear alongside the characters.
And this? THIS WAS NEXT LEVEL. 🖤
The tension, the unease, that constant feeling that something isn't quite right… Kayla knows EXACTLY how to get under your skin and keep you there.
🎃 The PERFECT psychological suspense for spooky season!
Now, excuse me while I go and check that all the doors are locked. And possibly sleep with the light on. 💀😂
But sleeping with the light on at nearly 40 is acceptable, right?! RIGHT?! 🤣😭
🖤 If you love psychological suspense that gets under your skin, messes with your head and leaves you questioning every little noise in the house… ADD THIS TO YOUR SPOOKY-SEASON TBR!
#ARCReview #Marked #KaylaDWard #PsychologicalSuspense #SpookySeasonReads

[Beth Holmes · Rating 4 out of 5]

🖤🩸✨ ARC REVIEW: MARKED BY KAYLA WARD ✨🩸🖤

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5

OMG! 😱🖤 Kayla has done it ONCE AGAIN! 🔥📚

Marked was an AMAZING novella filled with HORROR, CREEPINESS and just the right amount of HUMOUR! 🖤😂👀

I felt all the same feelings I experienced while reading Wilder, and honestly, I was questioning EVERYTHING all over again! 😭🖤 This book was seriously creepy and had me second-guessing everything as I tried to figure out what was really going on! 👀🔪

Getting Mark’s story from HIS point of view was something I’m SO glad we got! 🖤🙌 It was fascinating to experience his side of the story, and I absolutely loved getting the chance to explore things from his perspective!

Did we get answers? 👀

YES, we did get SOME answers… BUT there are still SO MANY unanswered questions! 😭🖤 I’m really hoping we get more from Kayla because I NEED to know more! 🤞🏻📚✨

If you LOVE your horror dark, creepy and twisted, with a trigger list as long as your arm, then I HIGHLY recommend giving this one a read! 🖤🩸😈

However, if horror and potentially disturbing themes aren’t your thing, I’d definitely recommend checking the trigger warnings carefully before picking this one up!

Kayla, you’ve got me questioning EVERYTHING all over again, and I NEED MORE ANSWERS! 😭🖤📚

[Jessica Figueroa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marked is Kayla's third novel. You do not need to read the first and second book to read Marked. However, there is a crossover in the book for both Wilder and Straun which may spoil the story.


Well well well. I asked for this didn't I?

There isn't anything this author will write, that I will not read. I've said in previous reviews and I will continue to say, Kayla is that author that I will buy every book she publishes. Because her writing is just that damn good.

Marked is a novella centered around my favourite time of year, Halloween. I have wanted to know about Mark since wilder. And although the outcome was not what I was expecting. I loved it! Every damn minute of it!

Every page had me sat on the edge of my seat wanting to know more, every chapter had me questioning what was real and what was not.

After following the story from Wilder to now, I feel very invested in the characters and their story. Not many books make me feel that way. But all three of Kayla's books have and I know will continue to do so.

I wish more people knew about this author, because her books deserve to be read and enjoyed by so many.

You will not be disappointed with this read. Or the two books prior to this.

Absolutely amazing 🖤

[amber.readslikealady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kayla, you warned me, so I say this with upmost respect: what. the. f**k. 😱😂 When I finished this book, I gave it a 4 star rating. However, after I sitting with it for a while, it’s gone up to a 5, because it stays with you; my mind turning it over and replaying the clues.

While this could be read as a standalone, I highly recommend reading either/both Wilder and Straun for full impact. I listened to the audiobook for Wilder and have not read Straun yet, but I have a feeling that if you’ve read both, Marked will have an even heavier effect.

Marked was an insane ride and I loved every minute of it. Each twisted turn and every little breadcrumb lead to the veil sliding away to reveal the truth that had been there all along. I won’t say more, because this book should not be spoiled in any way. Go in blind if you can, but if you need to check the trigger warnings they are easily located in the back of the book.

[Jess InkedObsession_x · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a follow on story to Wilder that will answer some questions about what happened to Mark though it can be read on its own, Kayla steam rolls you straight into Mark's mind. No, literally this little novella is utter mindfuckery in its best form.

It will show you disassociation, confusion, paranoia and pain all from the MMCs perspective in such a cinematic way you feel youre going through the eeriness with him.

This novella is perfect for Halloween. It's fast paced, descriptive, eerie but im left with more questions about what he does when he disassociates 👀. But It was nice to see some previous characters in the novella.

My favourite unserious quote:
"How the hell did he get so far into my personal space without me even hearing him? Is he a fucking forest pixie or something?"

[Teressa Oliverio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy f*ck, I am speechless. The way this book captures dissociation, pain, and even happiness is absolutely incredible. I felt like I was inside the character’s mind, experiencing every bit of the confusion, the darkness, and the moments of light. This is the kind of horror that gets inside your head and stays there. Nobody in this town is f*cking fine, and neither am I after reading this. I went in expecting horror, but I was absolutely not prepared for the way this book gets inside your head. I’m still trying to process what I just read WHAT THE ACTUAL F*CK

[Neapolitan670 📚🖤 · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’ve read Wilder prior you will get to know some of the characters in this one though Kayla does state that you don’t have to.

Personally, I would read it because you get an understanding of the story, plus we get answers to questions that were left taunting us. I really enjoyed this story, it’s a quick read but the psychological aspect has your brain saying WTF constantly which keeps you glued to the pages.