Apart in the Dark: Novellas

by Ania Ahlborn

Now available for the first time in a print edition—two terrifying novellas from bestselling author Ania Ahlborn, “a great storyteller who spins an atmosphere of dread literally from the first page” (Jeff Somers).

THE PRETTY ONES
New York, 1977. The sweltering height of the Summer of Sam. The entire city is gripped with fear, but all Nell Sullivan worries about is whether or not she’ll ever make a friend. The self-proclaimed “Plain Jane” does her best to fit in with the girls at work, but Nell’s brother, Barrett, assures her that she’ll never be like them. When Nell manages to finally garner some much-yearned-for attention, the unthinkable happens to her newfound friend. The office pool blames Son of Sam, but Nell knows the awful truth…because doing the devil’s work is easy when there’s already a serial killer on the loose.

I CALL UPON THEE
Maggie Olsen had a pretty ordinary childhood—swimming and sleepovers, movie nights and dad jokes. And then there were the other things…the darker things…the shadow that followed her home from the cemetery and settled into the corners of her home, refusing to let her grow up in peace. Now, after three years away from the place she's convinced she inadvertently haunted, and after yet another family tragedy strikes, Maggie is forced to return to the sweltering heat of a Savannah summer to come to terms with her past. All along, she's been telling herself, it was just in your head, and she nearly convinces herself that she'd imagined it all. But the moment Maggie steps into the foyer of her family home, she knows. The darkness is still here. And it's been waiting for Maggie's return….

Genres: Horror, Novella, Short Stories, Thriller, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Horror Thriller

384 pages, Paperback

First published January 16, 2018

About the author

Born in Ciechanow Poland, Ania has always been drawn to the darker, mysterious, and sometimes morbid sides of life. Her earliest childhood memory is of crawling through a hole in the chain link fence that separated her family home from the large wooded cemetery next door. She’d spend hours among the headstones, breaking up bouquets of silk flowers so that everyone had their equal share.

Author of nine novels, Ania's books have been lauded by the likes of Publisher's Weekly, The New York Daily News, and The New York Times. Some titles have been optioned for film.

Hailing from Albuquerque, New Mexico, Ania currently lives in Greenville, South Carolina.


For more from Ania, visit her site, or connect via social media on Facebook and Twitter.

Web: http://www.aniaahlborn.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aniaahlborn
Twitter: @aniaahlborn

Reviews

[megs_bookrack · Rating 4 out of 5]

**3.5-stars rounded up**

Apart in the Dark contains two chilling novellas from one of my favorite voices in the Horror space, Ania Ahlborn.

The first, The Pretty Ones is set in 1977-NYC and follows mousey underdog, Nell Sullivan.



Nell's life is very contained. She lives in a dingy apartment with only her brother and a teddy bear for company. She goes to work and comes home; that's about the extent of it.

At work, she is part of a secretarial pool where she is mostly ignored, but sometimes bullied, by the other girls. They're pretty, polished and definitely look down on Nell. She doesn't fit in.



It's the Summer of Sam and a monster lurks in the city, murdering pretty girls. For once, Nell is happy to be flying so far under the radar. She's clearly not the killer's type.

When girls in her office start being killed, Nell begins to wonder if it is just a coincidence, or if it actually has something to do with her.



I liked this story. If I were rating it on its own, I would have given in 3-stars. It was subtle, but it did keep me interested.

There was one major reveal, which I felt was pretty clear from the start, so I wouldn't say it was particularly suspenseful. However, it does display how great Ahlborn's writing is. She can hold your interest even when not a lot is happening plot-wise.



The atmosphere she created in this was very well done. It felt like 1977-NYC. It had texture and grit.

I could picture everything in regards to Nell's apartment, her commute, her workplace, the grime and desperation. I could feel it.

The second story, I Call Upon Thee was B-Horror on the page. It was great and for me, really amped up the pace in comparison with the first story.

Please keep in mind, when I say B-Horror, I do not say that with shade. I love B-Horror. The vibe of those movies is what this story brought me and frankly, I was living for it!



We have Maggie Olsen returning to her childhood home after the tragic death of her sister, Brynn.

This isn't the first tragedy to strike the family. Both of Maggie's parents have also passed away under mysterious circumstances at their house.



The narrative alternates between the present and the past, showing Maggie and Brynn's relationship when they were kids and how some of their actions then may have actually shaped their present.

We have a local cemetery they like to visit, the legend of a dead girl, a creepy-ass porcelain doll and a Ouija board. What could go wrong, am I right!?



Basically, this story is a cornucopia of Horror elements that I love to see!!

This story was fast-paced, gripping and had some genuinely terrifying scenes. I really enjoyed this one. I would give it a 4.5-star if I were rating it individually. It was a very strong story for me, one I will remember for a long time to come.



I have had this book on my shelves for years. I am so happy that I finally made the time for it. I would definitely recommend this to Horror Lovers.

I think it perfectly showcases the range of Ahlborn's writing; so well done!

[inciminci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Apart in the Dark is a work which combines Anita Ahlborn's two novellas, The Pretty Ones and I Call Upon Thee.

The first one focuses on a girl, a wall flower living in New York, who is being mistreated and bullied by her prettier colleagues at work (but she has someone vindictive on her side) and the second one's about a woman who returns to her hometown to confront her childhood demons after her sister who was a weirdo throughout her life, committed suicide. The first story is fine and builds up around a surprise twist, which wasn't really hard to guess.

I don't think there are many scary stuff out there published under horror, maybe I've read too much to be scared, but I Call Upon Thee genuinely gives me the creeps.

I'm not sure if this was a re-read, I may have read this before, but it was in my library and I've finished it for the Mount TBR challenge.

[Sadie Hartmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Ania Ahlborn for a signed copy of her book, Apart in the Dark in exchange for an honest review.
This book features two, previously released novellas that were available in Kindle format: The Pretty Ones and I Call Upon Thee.

The Pretty Ones: 3 stars.
This story started out well enough. I became immediately invested in the main character, Nell. She seemed likable but a little off and maybe just struggling with some weight issues and major insecurities. However, during the course of the story, I started having a theory, a hunch about something and I'm not sure what happened after that but the story started unraveling for me and I wasn't enjoying it as much anymore. My hunch proved true towards the climax of the book-which left me feeling a little short changed and underwhelmed-as well as I thought it was a touch unrealistic and over the top--but again, all of this because I've read (or watched) TONS of horror/psychological thrillers in my 40+ years and so I put a pin in this one early and it let all the air out--you might have a totally different experience--so don't let my review deter you!!
___
I Call Upon Thee: 5 stars
This was a really fun, haunting, creepy story and cements in my little black book of THINGS exactly why I feel that Ania Ahlborn can more than hold her own in the genre of horror-so dominated by males. The character development for such a short story, is well executed through flashbacks and backstory. Expertly crafted sisterly relationships against the backdrop of a modern, southern-Gothic plot line. I loved it! Super intense moments and just further hardens that line I drew in the sand years and years ago when I resolved to never play with Ouija boards or call on the dead or any of that crazy, demonic crap. No thank you! I expect most horror fans will enjoy this one.

[exorcismemily · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐

Apart in the Dark is comprised of two novellas - The Pretty Ones, and I Call Upon Thee. They are strikingly different, and they are both amazing in different ways. I wish I would have written my review for The Pretty Ones as soon as I finished it because my brain is all wrapped up in I Call Upon Thee.

The Pretty Ones is about a woman named Nell who desperately want to fit in at her office, but her brother doesn't want her to become "worldly", so she is at war with herself and the people around her. Calamity ensues. This one was a really fun read - it's set during Son of Sam's reign of terror in New York, so that creates an intriguing atmosphere. I did figure out the ending ahead of time, but I enjoyed it! **Edit - I've been thinking more about this one, and it's a 4⭐.**

I Call Upon Thee is one of the scariest things I've ever read. This book has all the horror - Ouija board, doll in a cemetery, secrets, haunting, death, etc. - basically everything that freaks me out. I got freaked out by this book last night, and ended up putting it down to go sage my house. The suspense and dread build so well, and I would be totally fine with continuing on with this creepiness. It was so spooky! 5⭐

I highly recommend picking this up if you want to read two great stories!

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Apart in the Dark, by Ania Ahlborn contains two novellas. The first, "The Pretty Ones", and the second "I Call Upon Thee".

The first novella just didn't impress upon me much. I never really felt for the main character, and that took me completely away from her plight. 2.5-3 stars.

The second novella, which was much more fleshed out, was another story altogether. I loved the supernatural pull to this one. The questioning of what was really happening--imagination, or something more deadly. The main difference here--aside from the possibility of a supernatural force--was the characters. Even those who are only known through brief flashbacks felt more solid to me. In this story, I cared what happened and couldn't wait to find out what it would be. 5 stars.

So combined, I'm going with an overall 4 stars, mainly based on the strength of I Call Upon Thee .

Second novella, recommended.

[Latasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Apart in the Dark is actually 2 novellas, The Pretty Ones and I Call Upon Thee.

The Pretty Ones is set in 1977 New York. We follow Nell during The Summer of Sam. The plot twist is easy to figure out. i give this story a 3.

I Call Upon Thee- I listened to this on audio. This is my review i left for it.
4.5

i loved this book! I could relate so much to Brynn, well during my teenage years at least. i guess i should apologize to my little sister for always trying to scare her and making her watch scary movies (she doesn't like them now). All the characters were great in their own way. The story was great and i really loved the ending. if your looking for something scary to read for Halloween, this is IT!
the only reason i didn't give this a 5 star rating is that i felt near the end, things got a little messy. maybe i zoned out for a minute or something, i don't know.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

[Mogsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2018/01/29/...

Last year, I had the pleasure of reading horror writer extraordinaire Ania Ahlborn for the very first time. I was glad I picked up The Devil Crept In, a novel about a boy who goes missing in the woods amidst a town with a terrible secret. It was legitimately one of only a handful of books to ever keep me up at night, and I vowed that I would read more Ahlborn the first chance I got.

That chance came with Apart in the Dark, an omnibus featuring a pair of the author’s horror novellas which were previously only available in digital format. Now, I’m not typically big on novellas, but I gladly made an exception in this case.

The Pretty Ones

The first story in this collection, The Pretty Ones, takes place in New York City during the sweltering summer of 1977—the year in which the Son of Sam conducted his infamous killing spree. Our protagonist is Nell Sullivan, an early twenty-something young woman employed at a call center for a major corporation. Quiet, awkward, and extremely self-conscious, Nell doesn’t feel like she fits in with the rest of the girls at work, who all seem to have perfect hair, perfect clothes, perfect lives. Silently, she may seethe at their bullying and cruel jabs, imagining torturing and killing them in the worst of ways, but the truth is, Nell desperately wants to be popular. She also can’t afford to lose her job, so when her supervisor tells her to try to open up and be more social, Nell takes the advice to heart.

However, her brother Barrett, who doesn’t speak and is completely dependent on Nell to support his aspiring writing career, thinks she’s wasting her time trying to make new friends. He believes the two of them can only depend on each other, having shared a traumatic childhood growing up with an abusive mother.

More than this I don’t want to say, because wow, there were a ton of cool twists and surprises packed in this novella which only clocks in at about 140 pages. As someone who both fascinated and frustrated me, Nell was a compelling character to follow. She’s strange, timid, unwilling to stick up for herself, and admittedly, at times her thoughts and actions could also come across as unbelievably cringey. That said, her personality traits are the result of her upbringing, and the descriptions of horrible things she and her brother went through were just heartbreaking. When you consider her past, it becomes easier to understand the disturbing thoughts that go through Nell’s head, and why she is the way she is.

Truth be told though, I don’t know if I would classify this story as true Horror, as it is not frightening or creepy in the traditional sense. And while there is an element of suspense, Ahlborn doesn’t exactly utilize it in an overly dramatic or exaggerated way. Instead, the story’s climax just kind of sneaks up on you, so that when the final revelation hits, you won’t even really see it coming. That’s the only explanation I could come up with for not figuring out the ending until late in the story, as I’m usually much quicker when it comes to these things.

I Call Upon Thee

Before I continue, first let me preface this next part of my review with a little confession: I hate dolls. Ever since I was a little girl walking in on my parents watching Child’s Play, I have been afraid of them. To this day, I cannot look upon the frozen smile and glassy eyes of a doll without getting the heebie-jeebies. So as you can imagine, this next story creeped me the hell out.

I Call Upon Thee follows Maggie Olsen, a college student who was raised in Savannah, Georgia in a big gorgeous house with her two older sisters. But something happened in that house when our protagonist was a child—something dark and unnatural—that made her decide to leave the moment she graduated high school and never look back. When she was nine years old, Maggie’s middle sister Brynn took her to the nearby cemetery to see where the town’s dead children were buried, and sitting on one of the ancient forgotten graves was a box containing a porcelain doll. Feeling sad for the little girl in that grave, Maggie made a promise to be friends, visiting the cemetery daily until the summer of 2005 when Maggie brought the doll home in order to protect it from the onslaught of Hurricane Katrina.

But that wasn’t the only thing she brought home. On the day she turned twelve, Maggie used her birthday money to buy a Ouija board, which she tried playing with her best friend during a sleepover party. Life for the Olsens was never the same after that. Tragedies struck one after another, until Maggie left for college and thought the past was finally behind her, but now a frantic phone call in the middle of the night has forced her back to Savannah to confront her old home and the darkness still living inside.

If the previous novella wasn’t scary enough for me, then this one definitely made up for it in spades. Reading it sent chills up my spine. Containing all the ingredients of a classic horror tale, I Call Upon Thee plays upon our childhood fears of the dark and things that lurk under our beds or in our closets. Of the strange sounds waking you up in the dead of night. Of the quick blurry shadows that you catch just out of the corner of your eye.

Also, since this was a longer novella, there were more opportunities for character and story development. I liked how the narrative slowly unraveled, gradually revealing all the secrets and terrible things that happened in Maggie’s past. And just when I thought things couldn’t get better, I reached the end and saw the Author’s Note. Here’s a tip: if you ever read this, make sure not to skip Ahlborn’s closing comments. Reading them only made the unease I felt over this story grow, and made me appreciate it even more.

In closing, I’d just like to say how much I enjoyed Apart in the Dark. While the two novellas within may share some themes, on the whole they are quite different, each offering a distinct horror experience. Both, however, are solidly written and utterly engrossing to read. If you’re curious about the work of Ania Ahlborn, this would be an excellent place to start.

[Janelle Janson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much Sadie, Gallery Books, and the author for my free copy APART IN THE DARK by Ania Ahlborn - all opinions are my own.

I was incredibly lucky to win a signed copy of this delicious book! I have heard so many wonderful things about Ahlborn’s writing so I am glad I got to see it for myself. She’s an amazing writer!

The book is made up of two novellas: THE PRETTY ONES and I CALL UPON THEE. The great thing about novellas is that they get straight to the point. No “beating around the bush” in these stories!

THE PRETTY ONES is SO good! The story is set in New York City in 1977, during the time of Son of Sam, a WTF serial killer of an infamous killing spree. Nell is a “plain Jane” that feels awkward around the beautiful girls in her office and wants to fit in. Her brother is at odds with this therefore chaos ensues and the fun begins! I thoroughly enjoyed this story especially because of the brother/sister relationship and the serial killer backdrop. I’m sorry, but I love all things serial killer.

I CALL UPON THEE is my favorite of the two! It’s haunting and creepy with in-depth and thoughtful character development. I was invested right from the start. Maggie had an ordinary childhood except for one thing...a creepy darkness, a shadow that lay in the corners, not giving her any peace. I absolutely LOVE the southern-gothic vibe and intensity of this story with secrets, a cemetery, and oh yes...A OUIJA BOARD. Freaked me out! But what sealed the deal is the author’s note—make sure you read it!!

I am officially a fan of Ahlborn and will definitely be picking up more of her books. If you’re a fan of creepy stories then this book is for you! One word: BRILLIANT!

My rating is 4.5 / 5 stars!

[Missy (myweereads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Perhaps the horror isn’t in the story itself as much as it is in the knowledge that these characters are really you; the terror of it is that all you can do is sit and nod and do nothing....You chose this book. You chose this darkness.....”

Apart In The Dark by Ania Ahlborn consists of two novellas. The first is “The Pretty Ones” based around the horrors of the Summer of Sam. We meet Nell Sullivan who is seeking out friends at her work place but her brother Barrett is telling her she will never be like them.

The second is “I Call Upon Thee”, a supernatural story about a girl called Maggie who that always sensed something dark in her childhood home.

What drew me to picking this book up was the real life elements these stories are based upon. My favourite kind of horror is that of the human mind and how it treads on the thin line between sanity and insanity feeding the demons within us which give strength to a good horror story.

Both stories are centred around the upcoming dread, especially in “The Pretty Ones” I was on edge wondering what was going to happen with certain characters next. That made the story feel very real especially towards the end. I was so engrossed I didn’t foresee the outcome and was left surprised by it. With “I Call Upon Thee” it was quite unsettling when the main character begins to put pieces together about why she felt uneasy about the tragedies that occurred. I can relate to aspects of this story which I think made it more haunting for me to read.

This book had me hooked from the author’s introduction. Both novellas are gripping, they take you into the depths of darkness and keep you hooked until the outcome of why everything is happening the way it is has been revealed. There are moments of shock, unsettling events, harsh realities and creeping dread which made these stories for me. I would absolute recommend this book to everyone. 😈

[Erin Dunn · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars.
My review for the book (including separate for both novellas) can be found here on my blog!
http://angelerin.blogspot.com/2018/01...

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Just wow. This is the 4th book by Ahlborn that I’ve read and it just shot up to the number 2 spot, right behind her novel BROTHER.

This book contains 2 novellas, THE PRETTY ONES and I CALL UPON THEE. Both of these tales deal with possession in one form or another and before reading it I just expected a pleasing experience because I ADORE possession tales. But I read a lot of them so I wasn’t expecting to be scared. Yeah - we are talking “look over my shoulder, what’s that noise” kind of scared. This doesn’t happen to me...at least not easily or often.

The Pretty Ones takes place in New York during the Son of Sam. It was a great read, and while I partially guessed at the twist early on, I was still pleasantly surprised and entertained. Ahlborn’s writing is, as always, amazing and I was fully drawn in

If I had to pick a stand out between these two, It’s I Call Upon Thee. Holy heck it’s creepy. This one is the one that left me waiting it until daylight to finish it. And I never say that. I’m so gratefully daughter has never played with dolls. I’ll leave it at that.

[Marc-Antoine · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first novella, The Pretty Ones, was good but not great. I figured out the twist immediately and it felt to me like a drawn out story to a predictable ending. 3 stars.

The Second novella, I Call Upon Thee, was designed to scare the crap out of me specifically. It had all the elements required to spoil a perfectly good night of sleep. A Ouija board, those things have always creeped me out, even if I was the one moving it around when playing with my friends. A graveyard during a nasty storm, it’s all in the setting people. Not only does it have a creepy kid, that always gets me, there is also a creepy doll, just like my wife owns... I couldn’t put this one down.

[Irene Well Worth A Read · Rating 3 out of 5]

This contains 2 novellas that are available separately on kindle or together in this print version.
The Pretty Ones-
I loved the 1970s setting. The music and descriptions of the bellbottoms and platform shoes was spot on, as was the terror of serial killer David Berkowitz who targeted pretty girls in New York. But this story is not about him. It is in this setting, we meet Nell, a friendless, lonely, over weight office worker who dreams of fitting in with her coworkers and making a friend. Each day she grows more envious of the lives and friendships other women have, and each evening she returns home to her dumpy apartment where she lives with her brother who never speaks.
Flashbacks to Nell's abusive childhood, and her silent brother make it too easy to guess what is really going on, too early in the story for my taste, and that is the only thing I didn't care for. I would have liked a bigger shock value or a twisty surprise instead of such predictability.

I Call Upon Thee-
Maggie returns to her childhood home to stay with her estranged sister while they plan a funeral. The sisters are all that is left of the family now that both parents and the middle sister have passed away.
This is my 4th read by this author and so far nothing has equaled or surpassed her book "Brother" for me.
Unlike the first story, I Call Upon Thee is more of a supernatural horror which are generally my favorite, but where the first story gave away the ending too soon, this one was more vague to the point of dragging it out too long for my taste.

[Ann D’Aleandro · Rating 2 out of 5]

Based on the reviews I read, I am clearly in the minority opinion here. Ania Ahlborn’s two novellas, The Pretty Ones and I Call Upon Thee read more like YA novels. The pace was good, but both were rather predictable.

Both heroines were more annoying than scary. I was often confused as to when each heroine was in the present or harkening back in time, or being back in time. Ahlborn dribbles out explanations for situations or events slowly over time and I found that to be too much - too late in the game.

Interestingly, I found that the characters’ behavior just didn’t ring true, even knowing it was meant to be macabre. For example, Nell’s coworkers in the first novella sounded more like junior high “Mean Girls”; and Maggie’s entire family seemed rather flat. I did a few eye rolls at times, and put the book down a lot.

I think this author is talented, and I like the genre, this just was a little boring. It struck me as early on material by the author, resurrected for publishing.

Not for me, I guess.

[Taylor (Taylor Talks Tales) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 out of 5 stars for both novellas.

[Nele · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Pretty Ones 3.5★
I really liked how this started out. The protagonist is a little odd, a loner, but I liked following her. The setting of an office in 1970s New York was nice too. However, I guessed the twist almost immediately (which is so rare for me), and although I still enjoyed the story, this kind of deflated the impact the ending would have had otherwise. Also, the story felt a little repetitive. Nell always follows the same routine, which is fine, but I felt like I read more or less the same scenes multiple times over. This was still a fun read though!

I Call Upon Thee 4★
I really liked this story! It was genuinely creepy, so much so that it felt dangerous reading this at night. It was the perfect mix of a paranormal horror that is vague or ambiguous enough to feel realistic even. A little bit of southern gothic vibes too, which I loved. I immediately got a feel for the characters and I liked following Maggie. I also enjoyed the combination of chapters following the present and some going back to the past. Ania Ahlborn really does supernatural horror stories so well! Loved this!

[Out of the Bex · Rating 5 out of 5]

My new favorite Ania Ahlborn.

If you are a horror reader and haven't yet read Ahlborn you are truly missing out. Quit messing around and get one of her works already!

Apart in the Dark is a collection of two novellas, not a traditional novel like her other books.

The stories are both fantastic, unique in their individual ways.

The first is about a lonely, socially awkward woman whose attempts to force friendships become stranger and more twisted over time.

The second is like a classic southern spooky story, but with Ania's style mixed in.

Both read as complete works and are not at all hindered by their short lengths (as some other novellas often are).

These are my favorite of Ahlborn's because while her other books are fantastic, these feel more true. In a sense, they seem more rooted in reality (within the scope of horror, of course). In that way, they are more terrifying than some more dramatic tones.

Note, this book also has one of the best introductions and authors notes I've read. I would read Ania's grocery lists.

Highly recommend!

[Aina · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Pretty Ones - Atmospheric setting in New York during Son of Sam's reign of terror. I thought the main character felt real and the writing made it easy to slip into her mind. But I thought the story is repetitive and takes too long to get to the point. I also saw the ending coming with a predictable and overused trope which made it less entertaining for me. *2 stars

I Call Upon Thee - Creepy and troubling, this story has all the right ingredients - spooky doll, unexplained visions, dysfunctional family, ouija board. I was fully on board with the story until the ending which is very similar to a notable horror movie. While it has some great imageries, again the familiarity takes out some of the excitement for me. *4 stars

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[SmarterLilac · Rating 3 out of 5]

Airport book store pick, but one of my better ones. A nicely paired package of two novellas by an established author I've managed to be oblivious to before now. I could only give the book three stars because the first story really fell flat for me, despite the atmospheric setting in late-'70s NYC. The second novella, however, is an excellent, tech-savvy page turner with a fantastic ending, something that's been lacking in my horror fiction selections of late. I'll be interested in reading more from this writer.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second novella, I Call Upon Thee, was fun and creepy. Bonus points for including my favorite things: goths, a spooky doll, a ouija board, and a creepy little girl ghost.

I need to read more Ania Ahlborn.

[Suze · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Pretty Ones

It's 1977 and Nell works in an office in New York. Her colleagues don't like Nell very much. They're pretty girls who greatly care about their looks. Nell is plain and a little bit overweight, so she doesn't wear the right clothes. She's also sweaty and socially awkward and therefore the other girls don't include her in their social lives. Nell does her best to be part of the popular group at work, but the girls are mean to her instead. The Son of Sam, a vicious killer, is on the loose and the girls are all extra cautious, except Nell, who's convinced Sam would never choose her as his victim because she isn't one of those girls.

Fortunately Nell has her brother Barrett as a house mate. They get along well and Barrett doesn't think she should be like the other girls. When Nell finally finds someone at work who's nice to her for a change she hopes she's found a friend, but things don't turn out the way she plans. This girl becomes a murder victim and the killer is suspected to be the Son of Sam's again. However, Nell has her suspicions. There's something evil going on that she hardly dares to think of. Can she stop it or will there be more victims?

The Pretty Ones is a gripping story about an unpopular girl who craves attention. Nell doesn't get kindness from anyone and this makes her both sad and frustrated. Whatever she does, she doesn't seem to be able to fit in. She can always rely on her brother Barrett though. At home she's the one who earns the money and she's glad she has company. She wouldn't know what to do if she'd be completely on her own. Barrett understands Nell and the things she's going through, but he also controls her in certain ways. Nell is trying to be like the girls in her office, but Barrett doesn't approve. It's an interesting connection that kept making me curious. Barrett is Nell's life, but she doesn't seem to know what he's doing most of the time. This adds to the mystery of the story and I liked that a lot.

Ania Ahlborn has written a fantastic creepy story. The Pretty Ones is filled with weird family secrets, plenty of blood, resentment and complex relationships. I couldn't turn the pages quickly enough and was anxious to find out more about Nell and her elusive brother. I loved how Ania Ahlborn describes Nell's work and home situation and the vivid details made it easy for me to picture everything she's going through. The story ends in a fantastic fitting frightening way, which makes it fabulously complete.

I Call Upon Thee

Maggie hasn't seen her sisters in quite some time. She doesn't want to return home, but when her sister Brynn dies she is forced to go back to the place she wanted to get away from. Her oldest sister Arlen is living in their childhood home together with her family and Brynn never sold her part of the house and stayed with them. Tragedy is something the family has already seen a lot of and Maggie thinks she knows why. She ran away from it, but her family is still dealing with the evil that she once invited into their house.

When she's somewhere else Maggie can convince herself that the darkness she feels in her childhood home is all in her head. However, as soon as she returns, she knows it's still there. Brynn's death was caused by what's in the house and Maggie doesn't know how to deal with this. Whatever is there is interested in Maggie and she can't handle this awful presence on her own. What should she do, is there someone who can help or has the evil that's been let into the house a long time ago too much power for Maggie to fight it?

I Call Upon Thee is a terrifying story. I love a good ghost story and this definitely falls into that category. Brynn's fascination for a nearby graveyard brings Maggie into contact with something she doesn't understand. When Maggie buys an Ouija board she doesn't know that she has the tools to invite something she can't control. She's too young to understand and she thinks it's just a game. This is incredibly spooky and discovering more about Maggie's childhood and the consequences of bringing home that board kept me on the edge of my seat. It's the perfect basis for a ghost story and I absolutely loved it, while I was also scared to keep reading at the same time.

Ania Ahlborn skillfully plays with tension. I loved the way she builds up the story. There's always a certain level of suspense and slowly it gets out of hand until it explodes, which is done in a fantastic way. I really loved the ending of the story. It's unexpected and suits the rest of the book, as I Call Upon Thee has many surprising twists and turns. I was frightened by the subject matter and could easily imagine Maggie's fascination with the graveyard and the board. It felt natural and realistic, which made the story even more sinister for me. I Call Upon Thee is a compelling story filled with darkness, shadows and occult mysteries.

[Carla (Carla's Book Bits) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I only read I Call Upon Thee for now, so my rating is only based on that story. But it's AMAZING, please read it if you haven't!

[Edward Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

2 Novella sized stories from one of my favorite new authors that deliver emotionally charged haunts and family pains of the past.

THE PRETTY ONES - Talk about taking advantage of a panic to conduct clandestine murders of your own. Nell Sullivan's brother not only takes care of those that the Son of Sam would just as well skip over but those who hurt his sister as well. In the end, it's sibling love that holds it all together and that's what makes it even the more horrifying.

I CALL UPON THEE - Slow burn, lots of quick misdirections and in the end, a very satisfying tale of a family haunted by the death of a sibling and the dire consequences of what happened in the past that caused the rest of the family to come to terms with them and the evil that is with them.

Overall, well written, slightly different than what I have come to know from the author but with her family sentiments and those of the pain of losing someone mixed with the devils left behind in their passing.

[Ann W · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has 2 stories in it. The 1st, "The Pretty Ones" wasn't for me. I figured it out pretty early on. The main female character got on my nerves. As for the ending, not sure how that was gonna really follow through, if you think abt it. The 2nd tale "I Call Upon Thee", again, main female character was getting on my last nerve. I made it to ch4 and was done. My rating of 1.5🌟 is for the 1st & dnf for the 2nd. I'm not giving up on this author, it's jst that this book wasn't for me. I hope others will like it.

[Darcey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read almost all of Ania Ahlborn’s books now. Brother is my all time favorite but holy crap, Apart in the Dark is soooo good. It’s 2 novellas, The Pretty Ones is a good serial killer/unpopular girl story but I Call Upon Thee is soooo good! If you’ve ever used a Ouija board and love to be creeped out, you should read it!! See ya later, I’m off to buy a Ouija board!! Wish I’d kept mine from the 80s!!

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

For my first Ania Ahlborn, I’m not disappointed. I preferred “I Call Upon Thee” of the two, especially considering the author’s personal connection to it. This review is kinda half-assed but it’s fine. Excited to read more from her!

[Alexa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Creep factor 5/5 ⭐️

[Cathy Jensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This consisted of 2 novellas - the first one, The Pretty Ones, I rate a 3. The second, I Call Upon Thee, I rate a 4.5 - very creepy 😱

[Elise Wiselogel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting her putting these specific stories together. Loved them as always. Wished the second was longer

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

these two novellas were great to read together. they really hit the creepy factor. i cant wait to read more from ahlborn