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Pray
In the snow-covered mountains, a family exists in the woods, separated and cursed. When transformed, they are murderous beasts that will hunt anything and anyone for game.
April and Hannah just wanted to visit their parents for the holidays. But when a car accident leaves Hannah injured, April must venture down the road in hopes of finding help along the way. Neither of them know just how dangerous this separation will be for them.
PRAY is a horror novelette. The SCP paperback edition includes three additional stories - "Daddy," "The Corner Master," and "Madness" - and a preview of the upcoming screenplay series, CHARTERS. The e-book edition does not include these bonuses.
April and Hannah just wanted to visit their parents for the holidays. But when a car accident leaves Hannah injured, April must venture down the road in hopes of finding help along the way. Neither of them know just how dangerous this separation will be for them.
PRAY is a horror novelette. The SCP paperback edition includes three additional stories - "Daddy," "The Corner Master," and "Madness" - and a preview of the upcoming screenplay series, CHARTERS. The e-book edition does not include these bonuses.
- GenresHorror
Paperback
Published August 1, 2020
47 people want to read
About the author
Aiden Merchant
37 books73 followersAiden Merchant is the author of more than a hundred stories spanning numerous collections, including Sickness is in Season, Documenting Dreadful Existences, Dead as Soon as Born, Kill for Them, and his extreme horror debut Horrific Holidays. He is also the author of several novellas and screenplays. In late 2021, he published and edited Milk Teeth by Andrew Post, as well as a dark fiction anthology Blackberry Blood, which he worked on with author Julia C. Lewis. His short fiction has appeared in Wild Violence, Pulp Harvest, and Slice of Paradise.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 4, 2020
I really like quick, fast paced, gripping reads, and this one delivers just that. It was the title and the blurb that got me interested in the first place, what a curious title for that blurb, and it'll all makes perfect sense when you get down to reading it. I don't know what I was expecting from it but the first chapter shocked me, in a good way. I mean if it gets gory in the first chapter, there's obviously more coming *wink. Okay, but the concept is really cool, a cursed family living in snow capped mountains that turn into monsters? What's not to like about it. The ending was great, but it left me wanting for more. The author's notes at the end of the book suggest there maybe a sequel coming, fingers crossed for that one. Really enjoyed it, well worth every minute I spent reading it.
Thanks to the author for sending an e-copy of this book to me in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to the author for sending an e-copy of this book to me in exchange for an honest review.
November 2, 2020
This short novelette really packs a nice punch. An injured girl, alone in the wintery woods, looking for help. Easy enough setup, but it gets better. A nice creature feature with a good sense of dread and atmosphere. Gotta love the snowy wilderness. Recommended to anyone that likes snow, beasts, and survival.
March 25, 2020
Another great story!!
July 18, 2020
I received an e-book ARC of the reissue for Pray from the author Aiden Merchant in return for my honest review, which follows below. He included three additional stories that will only be included in the paperback release of this title; 1. Daddy, 2. The Corner Master, and 3.Madness. I thank him for this opportunity.
I rated Pray 4 stars.
As I’ve said before, I appreciate the author’s notes given for each story, I enjoy learning a little about each writer’s personal journey for their stories.
The story opens with action; a woman running through the snow from something hunting her, something she thinks of as only the beast. She is also worried about her sister, left at their crashed car on the road; her attempt at finding help led to her being chased off the road and into the woods. I’m watching The Terror on Hulu right now, and the limited visuals of the creature from the show seemed to fit for what I imagined chasing after April; almost like a polar bear, but the limbs and face strangely elongated, with thinner body hair, and mean. As the story progresses it is revealed there is a whole family of them, and are usually human; they suffer from a curse and have no control over changing forms. The police stay away out of fear and everyone just warns new comers after the fact. April and Hannah were on the way to visit their parents, who live in this cursed area, but their parents have not informed them of this, I think, necessary fact. This story was a visceral read, but it left me with a few questions that I would have liked to seen some information on. This family that is cursed, how powerful are they, that the police just give them free reign in the area to kill when they are stuck in a cursed form murdering people? Why not SWAT them into the morgue, or hit them with animal tranqs and cage them up? Are they wealthy and have their hands in the local governments pockets? And if the locals know how bad it is, why put any houses for sale? Why not inform people of the danger, even if they have to make up a reason, but have a danger for the area ready, to dissuade new meat moving in? Why let someone sink all their money into a place and then tell them, watch out for the murder family that haunts the woods, welcome to the neighborhood. Maybe that’s just me, but that’s what I wanted to know at the end. Still liked the story, just had those questions too.
What follows are the reviews for the added stories, but remember they will only appear in the paperback release; they will not be in the e-book form.
I rated Daddy 5 stars.
So I inherited a house from my great-grandmother, who was also a hoarder. The house was closed up for seven years after she died but before I moved in. There was still a porcelain bucket with bacon grease on the counter and all her canned fruit in the pantry, all solid black goo. There were things from almost every decade stored in boxes, but no treasure or gold like we always joked about finding. There was a whole cat skeleton behind the oven we found while rewiring the house. But all that still does not hold a match to things found in Barbara’s dead dads house. This story made me smile, which I’m sure is in no way worrisome.
I rated The Corner Master 4 stars.
A demon, known as the Corner Master, picks people to torment and bully into doing his demands. In this instance, Wil has been killing people for this demon, but desperately wants to stop. In response, the Corner Master explains he will make Wil’s friend do the next job instead, so Wil rushes to try and thwart him. The only complaint I really had was the story mentions a whole lot of murder, but none of it in detail. I don’t know who the demon picked out in the past, if they were all killed the same way, to look like a serial killer did it; maybe they they had to be killed in a way to collect their souls?
I rated Madness 5 stars.
This was a good and creepy one for me, I loved it. Things that can slowly take you over, change you, scare me the most. The fungus that takes over ants and makes them all zombie like, planting themselves on a branch so they will get picked up by a bird? I swear that’s how we all die by zombie for real, Andrew Zimmern from Bizarre Foods eats a plate of those unknowingly and Bob’s your uncle. So that is what I kept thinking about, that silly fear of mine, when the author is describing the dad wrapped up in the blankets on the bed. I thought, oh no, run, this is bad. So I loved this story, it got my heart rate up. I’m glad to know it is part of something bigger, because of those awesome author’s notes.
I rated Pray 4 stars.
As I’ve said before, I appreciate the author’s notes given for each story, I enjoy learning a little about each writer’s personal journey for their stories.
The story opens with action; a woman running through the snow from something hunting her, something she thinks of as only the beast. She is also worried about her sister, left at their crashed car on the road; her attempt at finding help led to her being chased off the road and into the woods. I’m watching The Terror on Hulu right now, and the limited visuals of the creature from the show seemed to fit for what I imagined chasing after April; almost like a polar bear, but the limbs and face strangely elongated, with thinner body hair, and mean. As the story progresses it is revealed there is a whole family of them, and are usually human; they suffer from a curse and have no control over changing forms. The police stay away out of fear and everyone just warns new comers after the fact. April and Hannah were on the way to visit their parents, who live in this cursed area, but their parents have not informed them of this, I think, necessary fact. This story was a visceral read, but it left me with a few questions that I would have liked to seen some information on. This family that is cursed, how powerful are they, that the police just give them free reign in the area to kill when they are stuck in a cursed form murdering people? Why not SWAT them into the morgue, or hit them with animal tranqs and cage them up? Are they wealthy and have their hands in the local governments pockets? And if the locals know how bad it is, why put any houses for sale? Why not inform people of the danger, even if they have to make up a reason, but have a danger for the area ready, to dissuade new meat moving in? Why let someone sink all their money into a place and then tell them, watch out for the murder family that haunts the woods, welcome to the neighborhood. Maybe that’s just me, but that’s what I wanted to know at the end. Still liked the story, just had those questions too.
What follows are the reviews for the added stories, but remember they will only appear in the paperback release; they will not be in the e-book form.
I rated Daddy 5 stars.
So I inherited a house from my great-grandmother, who was also a hoarder. The house was closed up for seven years after she died but before I moved in. There was still a porcelain bucket with bacon grease on the counter and all her canned fruit in the pantry, all solid black goo. There were things from almost every decade stored in boxes, but no treasure or gold like we always joked about finding. There was a whole cat skeleton behind the oven we found while rewiring the house. But all that still does not hold a match to things found in Barbara’s dead dads house. This story made me smile, which I’m sure is in no way worrisome.
I rated The Corner Master 4 stars.
A demon, known as the Corner Master, picks people to torment and bully into doing his demands. In this instance, Wil has been killing people for this demon, but desperately wants to stop. In response, the Corner Master explains he will make Wil’s friend do the next job instead, so Wil rushes to try and thwart him. The only complaint I really had was the story mentions a whole lot of murder, but none of it in detail. I don’t know who the demon picked out in the past, if they were all killed the same way, to look like a serial killer did it; maybe they they had to be killed in a way to collect their souls?
I rated Madness 5 stars.
This was a good and creepy one for me, I loved it. Things that can slowly take you over, change you, scare me the most. The fungus that takes over ants and makes them all zombie like, planting themselves on a branch so they will get picked up by a bird? I swear that’s how we all die by zombie for real, Andrew Zimmern from Bizarre Foods eats a plate of those unknowingly and Bob’s your uncle. So that is what I kept thinking about, that silly fear of mine, when the author is describing the dad wrapped up in the blankets on the bed. I thought, oh no, run, this is bad. So I loved this story, it got my heart rate up. I’m glad to know it is part of something bigger, because of those awesome author’s notes.
May 17, 2020
Hannah and April are driving to visit their parents at their secluded home in the snow covered mountains. During the drive they get into a car accident and April goes to look for help. Little do the sisters know that something wicked is roaming in these woods. Soon, April finds herself hunted by a creature beyond her understanding.
Meanwhile, Hannah is picked up by a friend of her parents. She fails to understand what's truly going on and why everyone is acting so strange.
I truly enjoyed this story. It was a quick, but engaging read. I finished it in one sitting, and I loved the macabre twist to this story.
I would love to find out more about the backstory of this novella, so maybe Aiden Merchant will build on it some more! Here's to hoping!
4 out of 5 stars.
Thank you Aiden for letting me review this!
Meanwhile, Hannah is picked up by a friend of her parents. She fails to understand what's truly going on and why everyone is acting so strange.
I truly enjoyed this story. It was a quick, but engaging read. I finished it in one sitting, and I loved the macabre twist to this story.
I would love to find out more about the backstory of this novella, so maybe Aiden Merchant will build on it some more! Here's to hoping!
4 out of 5 stars.
Thank you Aiden for letting me review this!
June 28, 2020
I blew through this novella. I had a hard time putting it down. Straight up from page one you’re thrown into action. You can feel their terror. Page after page, turning, wanting more. Wanting to know what’s out there stalking the woods. I didn’t care for the dad at all, the mom, she’s straight up badass. Get yourself a copy of Pray, you won’t be disappointed.
***I would however like to have more back story of The Fredericks.
***I would however like to have more back story of The Fredericks.
October 7, 2020
Brilliant book. One of my favourites from Merchant, who is an adept and skilled horror writer. I love a good creature-feature and Pray does not disappoint.
August 18, 2020
I read the first chapter and lost access to the device I downloaded the ARC e-copy but I knew I had to get back into this one after that intro, so as soon as I was back in thats the first thing I read! Pray is a gripping read that leaves a few things to the reader’s imagination. I think the curse leaves some curious potential for a prequel/sequel of sorts; even moreso possibly tied in with another cabin in the woods style creature Aiden Merchant’s mentioned before?
April 12, 2020
I am always thankful when Mr. Merchant sends me gifts, he’s one of my favorite authors! Pray is a creature feature novella with a twist. April and Hannah, sisters suffer a car accident in their way to visit their parents in the mountains. April races for help for her injured sister but ends up being hunted herself. Icy desolation with a blizzard on the way.. something is stalking the few residents in the area. Hannah needs to get to her family and understand why her sister can’t be found and the secret that lives in the mountains. No spoilers! Fast action that’s relentless and an awesome spin on the nordic creature story. (I said no spoilers)! Grab a copy and enjoy the ride! I’m pretty sure you’ll want to rethink that remote mountain life at least for a few days! Stay safe everyone!
April 12, 2020
April and Hannah are traveling alone up into the mountains to visit their parents. They don't quite make it because of a car accident and April ventures into the woods to find help. Little does she know her life as she know it will never be the same. Those woods are not safe. One of the locals named Edwin, finds Hannah. He takes her to her parents home. He knows what is in those woods. Something lives in those woods and they are deadly.
This novelette kept me on edge the entire time. The conclusion left me wanting more. I still want more!
Thank you to the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This novelette kept me on edge the entire time. The conclusion left me wanting more. I still want more!
Thank you to the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
July 30, 2020
Fast paced creature feature, plus a couple of very short (a few pages each) extra stories added at the end. Straightforward writing, no flowery prose here, you jump straight into the horrific action and don't get a chance to rest til the last page.
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March 27, 20213.5 stars
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews