We’ve all had those nights where you close your eyes and before you know it your alarm is sounding and it’s time to start another day.
“I must have slept” you tell yourself as you rub the sleep from your tired eyes but looking into the mirror at the bags appearing under them you find it hard to believe. You notice your body aches with tiredness at every step, the bright eyes you once knew are starting to appear dull and lifeless and it's becoming impossible to maintain focus as everyday sounds now seem like one inaudible murmur. And yet, you tell yourself over and over you must have slept, because where has your mind been for the last eight hours?
But facing that shadow of your former self in the mirror once again; you know deep down in the pit of your stomach something is really wrong with you and it's more than your sleep-deprived paranoid thoughts.
SM Thomas (known in the real world as Steph) is a British author from Somerset who specialises in gripping psychological thrillers and suspense novels
Writing since she “could hold a pencil,” she’s known for crafting twisty, immersive worlds that keep readers on edge
When she’s not plotting her next page-turner, you may find her with her nose buried in a book, or dancing around her living room to Beyoncé
Her 'Paige Hanson' series builds an addictive arc of mystery and sacrifice, while her standalone thrillers like 'My Sister’s Downfall' and 'Long Weekend' stand out for their psychological depth and tense plotting.
Whether through government conspiracies, damaged relationships, or isolated settings, Steph brings a compelling blend of tension, heart, and unexpected turns.
This was a weird little story! At first, it reminded me a little of Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mendel, but, after a few chapters, it was something else entirely! A dystopian future where time is being stolen was a very interesting premise, the actual story was even more interesting. It was weird, and part of it remained unexplained (The Light II is the sequel. I haven't decided yet if I'll read it or not), but I actually really enjoyed it. I don't think I can explain it better, it's one of those reads you have to pick up and read for yourself. The only problem is that there is not really a conclusion to the main plot and we are left hanging, wanting to understand better what really is happening. If cliffhangers are not for you, even if the sequel has already been published, then this is not for you. On the contrary, if you enjoy weird little things, curious and mostly left unexplained, I think you'll enjoy this quite a bit.
I received a free audio copy of this book via Booksprout.
This book was a mind twister and kept me invested all throughout reading(I could hardly put it down!). All of the characters were loveable and I was deeply invested in all of their lives. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves to read a thrillers that leave you staring at a wall for days afterwards. The ending left me completely shocked and I highly doubt anyone could guess the ending. S. M. Thomas is truly a literary genius
💻📖🎧 Book format & quality 💻📖🎧 I bought this book on Audible as soon as I finished the ARC of The Diseased by S.M.Thomas as I absolutely fell in love with this authors style. Narrated by Heather Porte @HeatherPorte
🌻SpLD comments (from a dyslexic)🌻 I love audiobook as it makes things easier for me and my dyslexia. The narration was excellent, the actors voice was so easy to follow and you could feel the passion in their reading.
🎨 Artwork 🎨 I love this cover as I feel it really sets the mood of the book.
✒️ Details 📉 This book did not disappoint. Infact I've listened to it twice before writing this review. I love the storyline and the character and world building. The whole premise of the story just works so well. You can't help but feel connected to the characters and want to see them through their journey in the book. The book is dark in places but in such a good way.
📖 Read more 📖 Yes, absolutely. I love your writing style and will be reviewing Body Count next.
❓ Question for the author ❓ The internet suggests this is book 1 of 2, when will book 2 be available?
🤓 Author Synopsis 🤓 We've all had those nights where you close your eyes and the next thing you know your alarm is sounding. It seems as though time has passed in the blink of an eye.You wake with a jolt and a sense of disbelief. It clouds over the first few moments of your day as you struggle to make your brain understand. You "must have slept" you tell yourself, otherwise you would have been aware of the passing of time. The ticking of the clock.But what if you hadn't slept.What if I told you that your time was disappearing? That it was being stolen."A short novel based fifty years in the future after the arrival of the mysterious creatures known as The Light. Nobody knows who they are or where they've come from but they're stealing our time and now they're stealing our people. Join the quest to find the truth behind the frozen moments, the horrors that lurk just out of reach and the depths that humanity is capable of when it believes in a life with no retributions