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Power
Maude Caulkin finds out the hard way that if you're poor and female in Victorian London, you are powerless.After continued beatings from her stepfather, she tries to escape his fists, working for a pittance, and starvation. But, she soon finds herself facing even worse. Hired by Ned Hicklin, a prolific photographer and publisher of dirty books, he introduces her to one of his the sadistic Charles Courtney-Duff.After a devastating encounter with him, she turns the tables, and Courtney-Duff finds himself in her power. Maude has learned a lot from the freak shows she loves to frequent. But sometimes, you can go too far…Proudly represented by Crystal Lake Publishing—Tales from the Darkest Depths.
- GenresHorrorNovellaHistorical
49 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 7, 2019
12 people are currently reading
43 people want to read
About the author
C.S. Alleyne
2 books28 followersC S Alleyne grew up in Australia and originally trained as a hotel manager in the UK. After several postings in the Caribbean she changed tack and completed her MBA followed several years later by a PhD in Information Systems. She is a management consultant and also lectures in several universities.
With a lifelong love of reading, anything historical and a fascination with the supernatural and death, her vacations usually include visits to such places as the Pere La Chaise cemetery and the catacombs in Paris, the tombs in Egypt, the Popes’ crypts in the Vatican and any church yard with gravestones – you get the picture…
Cheryl was inspired to write BELLE VUE, her debut novel, by her daily journey past a block of luxury apartments that had been converted from an old asylum. Like her protagonist, Alex Palmer, she started to investigate its past and learnt that one of the inmates was murdered there in the late 19th century. The victim’s sister was hung for the crime. Cheryl was also thrilled to discover the asylum’s overgrown cemetery in her explorations of the area!
Her novelette, POWEЯ, a tale of horror and revenge, was published in December, 2019 and BELLE VUE, a paranormal horror, on 25 August 2020 by Crystal Lake Publishing.
She is currently working on the follow up to BELLE VUE.
She is represented by Gandolfo Helin & Fountain Literary Management.
With a lifelong love of reading, anything historical and a fascination with the supernatural and death, her vacations usually include visits to such places as the Pere La Chaise cemetery and the catacombs in Paris, the tombs in Egypt, the Popes’ crypts in the Vatican and any church yard with gravestones – you get the picture…
Cheryl was inspired to write BELLE VUE, her debut novel, by her daily journey past a block of luxury apartments that had been converted from an old asylum. Like her protagonist, Alex Palmer, she started to investigate its past and learnt that one of the inmates was murdered there in the late 19th century. The victim’s sister was hung for the crime. Cheryl was also thrilled to discover the asylum’s overgrown cemetery in her explorations of the area!
Her novelette, POWEЯ, a tale of horror and revenge, was published in December, 2019 and BELLE VUE, a paranormal horror, on 25 August 2020 by Crystal Lake Publishing.
She is currently working on the follow up to BELLE VUE.
She is represented by Gandolfo Helin & Fountain Literary Management.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
July 11, 2020
Every so often you download a book for superficial reasons and discover a genuine treat within. This was very much the case with this novelette. The initial appeal was the cover and its freebie status. Main draw…the page count, gotta love a story all told in just 40 pages. Plus it’s from a reliably good publisher, so virtually a guarantee of at the very least a decent read. Of course, had I read the plot summary or known the themes, I would have been all over this book from the get go no matter the cover, but this way it turned out to be an excellent surprise. So about the plot…it starts off with a properly Victorian orphan named Maude whose violent drunk of a stepfather sends her to a pornographer/pimp to earn money. She tries to do so clothed, learning photography and doing the books, she tries to make a life for herself and meanwhile develops a fascination with the freak show nearby, but then one day her employer sets her up to get brutally violated and that encounter changes Maude’s life trajectory severely and permanently. But never fear, this isn’t one of those used and discarded sad tales, Maude gets (as the title promises) empowered and her revenge will be legendary. Reminded me of the recent movie Perfection, which was also very good. So there you have it, a classic tale of innocent no more turning the tables with agility of a professional DJ to deliver an all too well deserved revenge. Plus sideshow freaks. Very nicely done. Not just a great story of female empowerment, but a great story in general. And a very fun quick very dark read. Recommended.
June 13, 2020
Holy sh#@
I didn't see this book going the direction it did. But, I'm glad it did. Revenge is so so sweet.
I didn't see this book going the direction it did. But, I'm glad it did. Revenge is so so sweet.
February 18, 2020
Not what I expected at all. This is a short, sharp shock of a tale that can be read in a single sitting. Good stuff.
August 12, 2020
I really like the cover for this book, it's nice and colourful. Very pretty.
Maude Caulkin lives in Victorian London, which is hard for everyone, but so much worse if you're a young woman. When she finds herself alone with her terrible stepfather, he gets her caught up in a business she didn't expect.
One that might find her trouble, fortune, love and a new calling...
Yikes! I didn't expect the story to go there. 😯
Maude is an interesting character who finds herself under the control of just about every man she meets. One beats her. One offers her a job with ulterior motives. One attacks her. One encourages her to find her inner freak. It's interesting to see how she manages to suffer at the hand of some of these men but ultimately turns it all around to suit her own freakish nature.
She's fascinated by freaks and frequents the local freakshow, which fits perfectly with the atmosphere and imagery invoked in this story.
If you're squeamish, this might make you uncomfortable because what ends up happening is quite disturbing. But I was fine with it. I like to see a fucking asshole get what he deserves. And if it's at the hands of the one he hurt, so be it.
But hey, let's not forget that what happens to Charles Courtney-Duff is in the name of science. 😬
Interesting tale about violence and revenge.
Maude Caulkin lives in Victorian London, which is hard for everyone, but so much worse if you're a young woman. When she finds herself alone with her terrible stepfather, he gets her caught up in a business she didn't expect.
One that might find her trouble, fortune, love and a new calling...
Yikes! I didn't expect the story to go there. 😯
Maude is an interesting character who finds herself under the control of just about every man she meets. One beats her. One offers her a job with ulterior motives. One attacks her. One encourages her to find her inner freak. It's interesting to see how she manages to suffer at the hand of some of these men but ultimately turns it all around to suit her own freakish nature.
She's fascinated by freaks and frequents the local freakshow, which fits perfectly with the atmosphere and imagery invoked in this story.
If you're squeamish, this might make you uncomfortable because what ends up happening is quite disturbing. But I was fine with it. I like to see a fucking asshole get what he deserves. And if it's at the hands of the one he hurt, so be it.
But hey, let's not forget that what happens to Charles Courtney-Duff is in the name of science. 😬
Interesting tale about violence and revenge.
January 20, 2020
A horror to rival Niklas Natt och Dag's 'The Wolf and the Watchman' in the grisliness of its conclusion with a creeping build up of apprehension as spine tingling as Poe at his most macabre. Well researched in period and setting
December 23, 2019
Captivating and gripping, not for the feint hearted, but an awesome literary snapshot of the horrors that women faced in Victorian London with a wicked twist!!
December 29, 2019
Very good novel, congratulations on the writing. congratulations as well to the writer for the talented work. Very good👏👏👏
December 30, 2019
Scary but enjoyable historical novel
Very intense and riveting story that provokes some terrifying thoughts a good read.
Very intense and riveting story that provokes some terrifying thoughts a good read.
May 5, 2020
A well written story, exciting and engaging, and I had no idea where it was going to lead. A shocking surprising ending! Highly recommended!
July 10, 2020
Unbelievable
Gory!!! Short and bloody. It begins with sewing and a beating and ends with sewing and more. You'll be grossed out.
Gory!!! Short and bloody. It begins with sewing and a beating and ends with sewing and more. You'll be grossed out.
September 3, 2022
Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. Revenge is a dish best served cold. Where there is a will there is a way. There are plenty of adages that you could apply to Power, but none of them adequately capture what C.S. Alleyne has captured here.
Maude Caulkin is a poor woman, of poor circumstances, trapped in poor relationship. She is the subject of abuse from her step-father, the pornographer she works for, and his monstrous client, but at no point in this story can you call her a victim. She is a woman of vision and purpose, suffering temporary indignities while she seizes an opportunity and create something bigger, something better for herself.
Make no mistake, she has a darkness within her, a fascination with the morbid curiosities of broken human beings, and that darkness is what gives her the Power to end the cycle of abuse and turn it back on her abusers. She does horrible, violent things in the name of justice . . . but she does so with love in her heart, under the veneer of medical education and scientific discovery.
Without giving away the how and the why, the way Alleyne brings together all of the story’s themes in the bloody twist is both grossly brilliant and darkly inspiring.
https://femledfantasy.home.blog/2020/...
Maude Caulkin is a poor woman, of poor circumstances, trapped in poor relationship. She is the subject of abuse from her step-father, the pornographer she works for, and his monstrous client, but at no point in this story can you call her a victim. She is a woman of vision and purpose, suffering temporary indignities while she seizes an opportunity and create something bigger, something better for herself.
Make no mistake, she has a darkness within her, a fascination with the morbid curiosities of broken human beings, and that darkness is what gives her the Power to end the cycle of abuse and turn it back on her abusers. She does horrible, violent things in the name of justice . . . but she does so with love in her heart, under the veneer of medical education and scientific discovery.
Without giving away the how and the why, the way Alleyne brings together all of the story’s themes in the bloody twist is both grossly brilliant and darkly inspiring.
https://femledfantasy.home.blog/2020/...
August 10, 2020
Museum Freaks and Power
You’re nothing but a gutter trollop as common as they come. I’ve paid for you and, if you please me, I’ll come back for more on my return.
Those words, spoken by a vile, abusive man, who visits a photographer and his women, are aimed at young Maude.
After her mama dies, and her step-father sends her to Hicklin to pose for his photos in various outfits, Maude takes advantage of the position by learning photography and doing Hicklin's books.
She wants more for her life, including marriage to handsome surgeon Arthur Munk. Fascinated by the Victorian freak shows, she wants to learn more about the human body.
Arthur, teaching her dark skills, gives her back some of her power.
Initially channelling Dickens and the archetype of the fallen woman, it soon switched gear into gruesome body horror and a sort of morality tale against female abuse.
Well written and very grim.
You’re nothing but a gutter trollop as common as they come. I’ve paid for you and, if you please me, I’ll come back for more on my return.
Those words, spoken by a vile, abusive man, who visits a photographer and his women, are aimed at young Maude.
After her mama dies, and her step-father sends her to Hicklin to pose for his photos in various outfits, Maude takes advantage of the position by learning photography and doing Hicklin's books.
She wants more for her life, including marriage to handsome surgeon Arthur Munk. Fascinated by the Victorian freak shows, she wants to learn more about the human body.
Arthur, teaching her dark skills, gives her back some of her power.
Initially channelling Dickens and the archetype of the fallen woman, it soon switched gear into gruesome body horror and a sort of morality tale against female abuse.
Well written and very grim.
December 18, 2019
To tweak a famous quote - "Well she would say that, wouldn't she?"
January 29, 2023
Short but delightful. Such an interesting exploration of the time & timeless motivations. This story was both illuminous & had a well balanced feel.
December 29, 2019
Power centers on Maude, a sixteen-year-old orphan living with her abusive step-father in Victorian London. With disease and hunger constant threats, it's a difficult time to be alive. We get a less glamorous picture of the Victorian era than many books set in the same time period. Dirty streets are crowded with people, horses, and manure. The lower classes are at the mercy of the upper class. C. S. Alleyne obviously researched the time period. I appreciated the references to Madame Tussaud and Cremorne Gardens, among others, although I would have liked to see more slang from the time period.
Maude is eventually pushed into posing for lewd photographs and gets sexually assaulted by a customer. She then immediately starts planning her revenge. Since this is a short story, it's difficult to review it without giving too much away, but let's just say Maude is surprisingly sadistic, although maybe it shouldn't be too surprising given her upbringing.
I personally don't care for revenge stories and I found this one to be rather over-the-top, but as everyone's individual tastes vary, so too will your enjoyment of this story.
Maude is eventually pushed into posing for lewd photographs and gets sexually assaulted by a customer. She then immediately starts planning her revenge. Since this is a short story, it's difficult to review it without giving too much away, but let's just say Maude is surprisingly sadistic, although maybe it shouldn't be too surprising given her upbringing.
I personally don't care for revenge stories and I found this one to be rather over-the-top, but as everyone's individual tastes vary, so too will your enjoyment of this story.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews