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The Hecatomb
In a drowned village, on a dark shore, in a city of white stones, an ancient evil stalks.
It has no name, no face, and no desire but to see the death of everything...
...and everyone.
Down through the ages it exists, sleepless and void, a relic from the world before humanity.
One dead. Every night. Forever.
Until nothing remains.
The Hecatomb includes four short stories, including previously published horror shorts Let the Bodies and Old Man of Tessera. Each story is set in the same world. It's up to readers to decide the order in which they happen...
It has no name, no face, and no desire but to see the death of everything...
...and everyone.
Down through the ages it exists, sleepless and void, a relic from the world before humanity.
One dead. Every night. Forever.
Until nothing remains.
The Hecatomb includes four short stories, including previously published horror shorts Let the Bodies and Old Man of Tessera. Each story is set in the same world. It's up to readers to decide the order in which they happen...
100 pages, ebook
First published March 21, 2016
About the author
J. Edward Neill
64 books194 followersHi, I'm J Edward Neill,
Nice to meet you.
I write a lot. And when I say a lot, I mean a LOT. :)
I'm the author of sci-fi hits A Door Never Dreamed of and the Eaters of the Light trilogy. I wrote the dark fiction Tyrants of the Dead trilogy, penned Hollow Empire, a six-part medieval opera, and recently finished The Hecatomb, a horror novella. And I'm the creator of the Coffee Table Philosophy series, spanning twelve books and more than 1,100 party-ready philosophy questions.
I live in North GA, where the summers are blistering hot and winters really don't exist. I love the rain, good red wine, and I truly adore painting.
Catch up with me on my websites TesseraGuild.com and DowntheDarkPath.com.
Nice to meet you.
I write a lot. And when I say a lot, I mean a LOT. :)
I'm the author of sci-fi hits A Door Never Dreamed of and the Eaters of the Light trilogy. I wrote the dark fiction Tyrants of the Dead trilogy, penned Hollow Empire, a six-part medieval opera, and recently finished The Hecatomb, a horror novella. And I'm the creator of the Coffee Table Philosophy series, spanning twelve books and more than 1,100 party-ready philosophy questions.
I live in North GA, where the summers are blistering hot and winters really don't exist. I love the rain, good red wine, and I truly adore painting.
Catch up with me on my websites TesseraGuild.com and DowntheDarkPath.com.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
October 7, 2024
07/10/2024
2024 reads book 50
One a night. Every night. Forever.
In only four stories the author managed to capture the eerie and inevitable end of humanity in this world. One person a night, forever until there is nobody left, told from the perspective of different people encountering the monsters causing this end. Great!
2024 reads book 50
One a night. Every night. Forever.
In only four stories the author managed to capture the eerie and inevitable end of humanity in this world. One person a night, forever until there is nobody left, told from the perspective of different people encountering the monsters causing this end. Great!
February 5, 2021
The old man of Tesser was good -4 stars.it went down hill from there. One star because the next 3 stories destroyed what was gained in the first one.
March 10, 2019
Old Man of Tesser 5/5
Let the Bodies 5/5
Skeleton Sculptor 5/5
The Circle Macabre 3/5
Let the Bodies 5/5
Skeleton Sculptor 5/5
The Circle Macabre 3/5
July 20, 2016
I was most impressed by the style of these four stories that manage somehow to be simultaneously subtle and grotesque. I won’t risk a spoiler, but when the nature of the monsters and the compulsion that drives them was finally revealed, seemingly ordinary surroundings and furnishings become a chamber of horrors to make the reader recoil.
The prevailing sense is one of desperate fatalism as the doomed protagonists meet their fates, blended with an almost mythic or fairy-tale like sense of wonder as the reader is fed little details about the natures and history of the strange and relentless monsters that prey on the people. There were a couple moments where I jumped a little as I was reading, having caught some movement or shadow out of the corner of my eye. The author strikes a perfect balance between these genres to create an aura of creeping dread and magic that draws you in to these evocative horrors. Read it.
The prevailing sense is one of desperate fatalism as the doomed protagonists meet their fates, blended with an almost mythic or fairy-tale like sense of wonder as the reader is fed little details about the natures and history of the strange and relentless monsters that prey on the people. There were a couple moments where I jumped a little as I was reading, having caught some movement or shadow out of the corner of my eye. The author strikes a perfect balance between these genres to create an aura of creeping dread and magic that draws you in to these evocative horrors. Read it.
February 14, 2019
Good book!
First time reading this author, and I'm impressed! Read this in one sitting. I loved the evolution of each story. Then, that twist at the end... Great book!
First time reading this author, and I'm impressed! Read this in one sitting. I loved the evolution of each story. Then, that twist at the end... Great book!
January 23, 2020
Brilliant, layered, incredibly interesting and creepy af. Highly recommend.
July 10, 2020
Another interesting read by J Edward Neill. Not one, but four short stories connected to a similar premise. Each story builds on the previous from a different perspective. Well written and engaging throughout, the Hecacomb is a sort of dark fairy tale told in a Lovecraftian style.
Old Man of Tessera 5/5
Let the Bodies 4/5
Skeleton Sculptor 4/5
The Circle Macabre 4/5
Old Man of Tessera 5/5
Let the Bodies 4/5
Skeleton Sculptor 4/5
The Circle Macabre 4/5
March 29, 2020
Demon or Savior? You decide.
Everything comes with a price. You have to decide if it's worth it. Sometimes, you don't know what you're buying.
Expertly written with exceptionally clean editing. A collection of 4 stories seamlessly interwoven together. Through the eyes of 4 different people, whom are more alike than they know, you will view a beautiful but foreboding world.
Writing that will have you still thinking even after the last page. Who is the bad guy here? Is there one? The better question is, where would you fall in this world?
Everything comes with a price. You have to decide if it's worth it. Sometimes, you don't know what you're buying.
Expertly written with exceptionally clean editing. A collection of 4 stories seamlessly interwoven together. Through the eyes of 4 different people, whom are more alike than they know, you will view a beautiful but foreboding world.
Writing that will have you still thinking even after the last page. Who is the bad guy here? Is there one? The better question is, where would you fall in this world?
November 25, 2019
ENGROSSING DARK DISTOPIAN SHORT STORY COLLECTION
*spoiler free review*
This collection of short stories accompanied me during my travels through four countries. The short stories are connected by a central theme. In the preface, the author advised that they could be read in whatever order the reader chose. I chose to read them sequentially, and I enjoyed how the stories could stand on their own but together they were pieces connecting a much deeper and even darker story.
Each short story was an easy and compelling read. They sucked me in as I huddled under a blanket, turning the pages, and wanting more. J. Edward Neil spins a beautifully dark and compelling story and I enjoyed my travels and the moments I spent immersed in this book.
I recommend this book and it's author to readers of horror, distopian fiction, SF&F, fantasy and dark fiction.
*spoiler free review*
This collection of short stories accompanied me during my travels through four countries. The short stories are connected by a central theme. In the preface, the author advised that they could be read in whatever order the reader chose. I chose to read them sequentially, and I enjoyed how the stories could stand on their own but together they were pieces connecting a much deeper and even darker story.
Each short story was an easy and compelling read. They sucked me in as I huddled under a blanket, turning the pages, and wanting more. J. Edward Neil spins a beautifully dark and compelling story and I enjoyed my travels and the moments I spent immersed in this book.
I recommend this book and it's author to readers of horror, distopian fiction, SF&F, fantasy and dark fiction.
June 9, 2016
Oh the Horror! J Edward Neill has a twisted imagination that makes for Master story telling! This book is creepy and absorbing. I couldn't put it down until I finished it! Wow! Really, Wow! And did I mention creepy?!?! Great book!
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January 24, 2021
First I would like to state that I received this book through the Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank the author for giving me this opportunity and honor in being able to read this book. When I received this book I began reading it at once. I really enjoy the authors writing style, pulls you into the book from the very beginning and you don't want to put the book down. It kept me on the edge of my seat reading from cover to cover. All the characters are very well portrayed though out. When you are finished you wish you weren't. A most wonderful read and I highly recommend this book
April 3, 2020
A collection of intriguing, interwoven short stories
A great read. The stories are all connected, and each is a contained plot featuring a new character that continues the storyline through time. The ghouls featured were unique in their barbarity and nature, and the mystery of their existence kept me reading on.
I recommend this to anyone who’s looking for a quick read, featuring a creepy horror vibe set in a fantasy type setting, but that doesn’t require the time commitment a full novel demands.
A great read. The stories are all connected, and each is a contained plot featuring a new character that continues the storyline through time. The ghouls featured were unique in their barbarity and nature, and the mystery of their existence kept me reading on.
I recommend this to anyone who’s looking for a quick read, featuring a creepy horror vibe set in a fantasy type setting, but that doesn’t require the time commitment a full novel demands.
September 29, 2025
Old Man of Tessera 5/5
Let the Bodies 5/5
Skeleton Sculptor 4/5
The Circle Macabre 3/5
I enjoyed these stories, but the ending left me a little confused. There were also more typos than I would prefer. However, these were definitely creepy disturbing tales, and I liked how they were interconnected. My favorite was the first one. I have been wanting to read more by this author ever since reading The Fall of Castle Carrick, so I'm glad I finally got around to it. This is a great short read for the spooky season!
Let the Bodies 5/5
Skeleton Sculptor 4/5
The Circle Macabre 3/5
I enjoyed these stories, but the ending left me a little confused. There were also more typos than I would prefer. However, these were definitely creepy disturbing tales, and I liked how they were interconnected. My favorite was the first one. I have been wanting to read more by this author ever since reading The Fall of Castle Carrick, so I'm glad I finally got around to it. This is a great short read for the spooky season!
May 27, 2020
I received a free copy of this collection of short stories through a Goodreads Giveaway and in return this is my honest review. I am glad that I won a free copy since I probably would have never found this hidden gem. The collection is super creepy and you will find yourself getting goosebumps as you delve into this nightmarish world. I thought the best part of this book is that each story is connected to the other. Overall, this was a really good book and I would highly recommend it.
October 22, 2024
Me cuesta mucho calificar esta historia, porque es un libro curioso, diferente.
Está preciosamente escrito y el argumento es muy interesante. Leerlo me evoca a algo extraño, fantástico
Pero de la misma forma he sentido q faltaba algo, 4 relatos/capitulos/continuaciones me han parecido demasiados, al ser una sensación de que no se avanza. Como si fuese una muy buena idea que no sabes cómo desarrollar.
En parte tiene sentido ya que es una historia así como circular pero no sé, es raro
Está preciosamente escrito y el argumento es muy interesante. Leerlo me evoca a algo extraño, fantástico
Pero de la misma forma he sentido q faltaba algo, 4 relatos/capitulos/continuaciones me han parecido demasiados, al ser una sensación de que no se avanza. Como si fuese una muy buena idea que no sabes cómo desarrollar.
En parte tiene sentido ya que es una historia así como circular pero no sé, es raro
October 31, 2024
I won this book quite some time ago in a giveaway. These short stories were absolutely gripping and once I started reading I could hardly stop. I’m not sure which story I liked the most. These horrifying tales are all connected in such a unique and beautiful way that always had me guessing what would happen next. When I made the connections of how each story fit together I was thrilled and excited to read on. I needed to know how each story ended. Absolutely fantastic read.
February 4, 2021
Would make a great mini-series.
There’s a quality to this book that bothers me but is hard to put my finger on...it’s not bad, but the writing at times felt very affected. Read do completion it makes a decent, entertaining read. Horror fans should dig it. Felt like a creative effort, but could maybe use some polish.
There’s a quality to this book that bothers me but is hard to put my finger on...it’s not bad, but the writing at times felt very affected. Read do completion it makes a decent, entertaining read. Horror fans should dig it. Felt like a creative effort, but could maybe use some polish.
June 24, 2020
Many people, one horror
Each chapter is centered around a different character but they all complete one story. I really enjoyed reading this and recommend it to anyone who loves horror stories.
Each chapter is centered around a different character but they all complete one story. I really enjoyed reading this and recommend it to anyone who loves horror stories.
May 9, 2020
...
1. Old Man of Tessera 4☆
2. Let the Bodies 3☆
3. The Skeleton Sculptor 4☆
4. The Circle Macabre 3☆
1. Old Man of Tessera 4☆
2. Let the Bodies 3☆
3. The Skeleton Sculptor 4☆
4. The Circle Macabre 3☆
January 23, 2022
Bored me, was written well enough but I just could not get into it, maybe one day ill reread with a different mindset
June 10, 2021
Interwoven stories tell the tale of the horror that takes a person every night, year after year. Different perspectives and timelines make this a great read. I enjoyed the mysterious creature at the center of the mystery. The Hecatomb is a good scary story.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews