What do you think?
Rate this book
Fear: a Terrifying Love Story
I have always loved fear. And now I know it loves me back.
My whole life has been defined by fear. It’s what’s driven everything I’ve ever done. It’s why I’m a firefighter. It’s why I sneak into abandoned buildings. It’s why I drive a motorcycle way too fast. Some people might call me reckless, but when I find myself on the edge of disaster, heart pumping, filled with terror, that’s the only time I feel like I’m alive.
What’s the old saying? There is nothing to fear but Fear itself.
One night…Fear proved to me how true that is.
And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
My whole life has been defined by fear. It’s what’s driven everything I’ve ever done. It’s why I’m a firefighter. It’s why I sneak into abandoned buildings. It’s why I drive a motorcycle way too fast. Some people might call me reckless, but when I find myself on the edge of disaster, heart pumping, filled with terror, that’s the only time I feel like I’m alive.
What’s the old saying? There is nothing to fear but Fear itself.
One night…Fear proved to me how true that is.
And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
59 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2020
55 people are currently reading
495 people want to read
About the author
Kathryn Ann Kingsley
66 books2,452 followersKathryn has always been a storyteller. Years of scriptwriting for performances on stage and for tourism in Boston led her to writing romantically dark, fantastical tales, which was an obsession of hers that began once seeing The Phantom of the Opera at a young age.
When she isn’t penning new villainous leads, she works in video game development. There, she has been everything from Creative Director to Chief of Staff, Design Manager, Executive Producer, and Principal Writer for various companies in the industry.
She shares her antique home with three very fluffy animals and one very patient and loving husband.
When she isn’t penning new villainous leads, she works in video game development. There, she has been everything from Creative Director to Chief of Staff, Design Manager, Executive Producer, and Principal Writer for various companies in the industry.
She shares her antique home with three very fluffy animals and one very patient and loving husband.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
October 24, 2021
Fear: A Terrifying Love Story is a quick read that evokes fear, tension, and passion. Emily is a fear junkie. She rides fast motorcycles, loves her job as a fireman, and explores abandoned places. She believes in the supernatural and chases the feeling of being afraid. One night while exploring an abandoned sanatorium, she has a run in with a sinister shadow monster. Her life is forever changed when she realizes that she has met Fear himself and she loves him and what he does to her.
There’s enough here for a good short story. I read a review that said they wanted more but I’m not sure there was anywhere left to go. We see her past that has helped to form who she is. We see her present and understand why she does what she does and how she can bond with Fear. We even get a whisper of an idea of what her future would be. I’m not sure I need more than that.
Emily is yet another “broken” young woman who finds solace in a villain. He understands her in a way no other person could. She wants him in a way no other person should. They are perfectly matched.
Kingsley has some great description that ramps up the tension and thrills a reader. Of course she uses her favorite word that I’m so tired of reading. Eldritch should be struck from the dictionary at this point. Other than that, it’s actually a pretty good story that causes some interesting and dichotomous feelings in a reader. I enjoyed that odd mixture of fear and passionate longing.
There’s enough here for a good short story. I read a review that said they wanted more but I’m not sure there was anywhere left to go. We see her past that has helped to form who she is. We see her present and understand why she does what she does and how she can bond with Fear. We even get a whisper of an idea of what her future would be. I’m not sure I need more than that.
Emily is yet another “broken” young woman who finds solace in a villain. He understands her in a way no other person could. She wants him in a way no other person should. They are perfectly matched.
Kingsley has some great description that ramps up the tension and thrills a reader. Of course she uses her favorite word that I’m so tired of reading. Eldritch should be struck from the dictionary at this point. Other than that, it’s actually a pretty good story that causes some interesting and dichotomous feelings in a reader. I enjoyed that odd mixture of fear and passionate longing.
September 20, 2021
This was weirdly good. If you like monster romance and ghosts you will like it.
October 8, 2021
This was a perfect spooky October read, though not as scary as I’d hoped for. Very original and beautifully written.
October 2, 2021
“I invited Fear into my bed, and maybe, just maybe, he was going to join me.”
What an interesting novella, but it begs the question... how does one rate a book where a girl fucks an emotion??
Settling on 4 stars for the entertainment value 🤠
October 11, 2021
3 STARS
The idea/concept was interesting, but I'm unsure about the execution.
The idea/concept was interesting, but I'm unsure about the execution.
September 21, 2021
This is a super short monster romance with Fear (aka a 12 foot, nebulous shadow-being) and a woman who loves to be scared. It's a novella so there's not much plot, but if you like monster romances and are looking for a fast read, you may like this!
November 5, 2022
5 stars
Katherine Ann Kingsley has a knack for explaining the draw to the dark, and this short story is no different.
Katherine Ann Kingsley has a knack for explaining the draw to the dark, and this short story is no different.
November 24, 2021
Ooh I like. Nice short read. I found her obsession creepier than Fear. The end was sweet. I hope she does become a fear minion.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 6, 2021
Give me more!!
This type of story always intrigued me the most. An impossible and even forbidden type of love between a human and an eldritch creature. Whether it’s ghosts, grim reapers, or some kind of personification of a feeling like Fear. It’s fascinating to see how each author crafts this type of story and how they bring the 2 together.
This one has definitely left me wanting more of their story and to see how Emily’s life plays out with Fear at her side.
This type of story always intrigued me the most. An impossible and even forbidden type of love between a human and an eldritch creature. Whether it’s ghosts, grim reapers, or some kind of personification of a feeling like Fear. It’s fascinating to see how each author crafts this type of story and how they bring the 2 together.
This one has definitely left me wanting more of their story and to see how Emily’s life plays out with Fear at her side.
October 11, 2021
A Deeply Beautiful, Haunting, & Hypnotic Love Story...
Kathryn Ann Kingsley is a master storyteller. Her stories are powerfully emotional and intrinsically methodical in their development. Her storytelling is ingenious, her literary landscapes, haunting and hypnotic. Her characters come alive and leap up off the page, punishing your being with every vivid word. And here with "Fear: A Terrifying Love Story" she offers another magnificent example of why she remains one of my "must read" authors!
Here, Kingsley gives us the dark yet ethereal story of Emily, a woman spared as a child from a horrific accident that takes her father's life and uncovers a trait within her that is unlike any other. For Emily possesses a permanently embedded need of fear. She dreams of it, wishes for it, craves it like a drug. She lives her life on extreme edges in order to experience it. And when she is presented with fear himself, discovers that she not only lives for the visceral adrenaline release his scenes of horror give her, but also for the all consuming love they develop between them as well, a love that cannot, simply will not be denied.
What follows is an extraordinarily poignant and thought provoking tale of a relationship unlike anything you have ever read before.
It is a mournfully dark literary landscape of a being abhorred by most, who is in actuality endlessly sad and lonely. A soul, ever searching for something seemingly out of his reach for so very long until he encounters Emily and finds a connection unmatched by anything he has experienced before. It is a tale as deeply beautiful and poignant as it is unsettling and macabre.
Here, Kingsley has given us a story filled to bursting with multifaceted, emotionally complex characters and soul touching need. It will hold your attention histage and haunt your dreams. It will leave you craving more of everything housed within it; it is that good. A must, must, must read!
Kathryn Ann Kingsley is a master storyteller. Her stories are powerfully emotional and intrinsically methodical in their development. Her storytelling is ingenious, her literary landscapes, haunting and hypnotic. Her characters come alive and leap up off the page, punishing your being with every vivid word. And here with "Fear: A Terrifying Love Story" she offers another magnificent example of why she remains one of my "must read" authors!
Here, Kingsley gives us the dark yet ethereal story of Emily, a woman spared as a child from a horrific accident that takes her father's life and uncovers a trait within her that is unlike any other. For Emily possesses a permanently embedded need of fear. She dreams of it, wishes for it, craves it like a drug. She lives her life on extreme edges in order to experience it. And when she is presented with fear himself, discovers that she not only lives for the visceral adrenaline release his scenes of horror give her, but also for the all consuming love they develop between them as well, a love that cannot, simply will not be denied.
What follows is an extraordinarily poignant and thought provoking tale of a relationship unlike anything you have ever read before.
It is a mournfully dark literary landscape of a being abhorred by most, who is in actuality endlessly sad and lonely. A soul, ever searching for something seemingly out of his reach for so very long until he encounters Emily and finds a connection unmatched by anything he has experienced before. It is a tale as deeply beautiful and poignant as it is unsettling and macabre.
Here, Kingsley has given us a story filled to bursting with multifaceted, emotionally complex characters and soul touching need. It will hold your attention histage and haunt your dreams. It will leave you craving more of everything housed within it; it is that good. A must, must, must read!
October 31, 2022
I really don’t know what I just read I mean at this point I have read most things not all but a FMC getting spicy with a feeling is next level.
I don’t really know if real or she having psychotic breakdown cause she loves fear it what give her the thrill that makes her feel alive and you know I can appreciate that to be fair whatever you do for kicks is your business.
It got deep at the end and didn’t really thing a negative emotion would be capable of caring or even loving someone so they all worried that she mortal and will die and he will still go on.
To be fear I loved the concept I did think it would be spicer even kinkier but if goal was to make her so scared he orgasmed then mission complete.
A quick read go 59 pages and all the time I was like O_O.
I don’t really know if real or she having psychotic breakdown cause she loves fear it what give her the thrill that makes her feel alive and you know I can appreciate that to be fair whatever you do for kicks is your business.
It got deep at the end and didn’t really thing a negative emotion would be capable of caring or even loving someone so they all worried that she mortal and will die and he will still go on.
To be fear I loved the concept I did think it would be spicer even kinkier but if goal was to make her so scared he orgasmed then mission complete.
A quick read go 59 pages and all the time I was like O_O.
October 18, 2022
3.75⭐️/5 this slapped & i love the writing style
August 19, 2023
destiel if the writers weren't cowards
November 26, 2025
Notice me, shadow daddy 😭
October 3, 2021
Beautiful.
This short story was beautiful. Kathryn has once again done it and I’m so glad to have stumbled across her books.
“Grief is fleeting. Love is eternal.”
Beautifully written. Thank you.
This short story was beautiful. Kathryn has once again done it and I’m so glad to have stumbled across her books.
“Grief is fleeting. Love is eternal.”
Beautifully written. Thank you.
July 2, 2022
This was absolute gold.
I need everything like this ever written.
https://media0.giphy.com/media/YRuFix...
I need everything like this ever written.
https://media0.giphy.com/media/YRuFix...
November 20, 2022
“I have always loved fear. Then I fell in love with fear.”
3.5⭐️
Emily loves the feeling of fear and the afterlife that gives her. The fear she feels when she is on top of a cliff or when she rescues people during her job as a firefighter….
At the age of 2, she has always laughed with fear. But when she actually meet It/Him, she never expect to enjoy it a lot more then she did. She loved every second of it.
A novella between a mortal and a deadly being/monster:
“I invited Fear into my bed, maybe, just maybe, he was going to join me.”
Kathryn Ann Kingsley has kept me at the edge of my seat. The plot is short but somewhat trilling. I felt Emily’s emotions throughout the story:
“That brief instant of sheer terror that sets your heart pounding and your skin starts crawling like it's covered in lightning. I live for that moment when my body reacts in an instinctual need to keep me alive.”
Unfortunately, the ending is an open ending and seems
3.5⭐️
Emily loves the feeling of fear and the afterlife that gives her. The fear she feels when she is on top of a cliff or when she rescues people during her job as a firefighter….
At the age of 2, she has always laughed with fear. But when she actually meet It/Him, she never expect to enjoy it a lot more then she did. She loved every second of it.
A novella between a mortal and a deadly being/monster:
“I invited Fear into my bed, maybe, just maybe, he was going to join me.”
Kathryn Ann Kingsley has kept me at the edge of my seat. The plot is short but somewhat trilling. I felt Emily’s emotions throughout the story:
“That brief instant of sheer terror that sets your heart pounding and your skin starts crawling like it's covered in lightning. I live for that moment when my body reacts in an instinctual need to keep me alive.”
Unfortunately, the ending is an open ending and seems
April 4, 2023
Ok, I struggled between 2 and 3 stars. She has a talent for putting a sentence together with beautiful descriptions and imagery.
I think its my fault for not realising that while it is a short novella, I was not expecting to be able to read the whole thing in 30 minutes.
As such, for a love story so complex as to involve a MMC that is not even corporeal ... it falls really flat.
Stories like that need time for the reader to adjust, for backstory and reasoning and a chance to accept. But for it to be one weird ass smut scene with a 'pick me' girl and a cloud of smoke then for her to profess her love, it just didnt work.
HOWEVER ... the writer clearly has talent and she was absolutely on to something. I was intrigued by the idea, but because it was so incredibly short, it didn't get under my skin and gave me no time to connect to the characters. If I am going to read a 30minute novella then it needs to be great smut and easily relatable characters.
I'd honestly not bother.
I think its my fault for not realising that while it is a short novella, I was not expecting to be able to read the whole thing in 30 minutes.
As such, for a love story so complex as to involve a MMC that is not even corporeal ... it falls really flat.
Stories like that need time for the reader to adjust, for backstory and reasoning and a chance to accept. But for it to be one weird ass smut scene with a 'pick me' girl and a cloud of smoke then for her to profess her love, it just didnt work.
HOWEVER ... the writer clearly has talent and she was absolutely on to something. I was intrigued by the idea, but because it was so incredibly short, it didn't get under my skin and gave me no time to connect to the characters. If I am going to read a 30minute novella then it needs to be great smut and easily relatable characters.
I'd honestly not bother.
October 29, 2022
This is my first read by Kathryn and I want more. This is one of those reads that seeped slowly into me, even if it’s a short story, and I loved it.
Emily was saved from a terrible death when she was young and grew up to be a thrill seeker - always yearning for that next adrenaline rush just to feel something.
“I wanted the monster to chase me, like all those nightmares I used to have as a kid.”
Fear - something we all know and have felt at different points in our life. It never expected to be loved so dearly and love something back.
This was an interesting romance and the way Kathryn played it out, it’s just beautiful. I really enjoyed how Emily and Fear itself developed, along with how they came together. It’s truly one of those unique stories that will stick with me for its thought provoking nature and characters that I love.
Emily was saved from a terrible death when she was young and grew up to be a thrill seeker - always yearning for that next adrenaline rush just to feel something.
“I wanted the monster to chase me, like all those nightmares I used to have as a kid.”
Fear - something we all know and have felt at different points in our life. It never expected to be loved so dearly and love something back.
This was an interesting romance and the way Kathryn played it out, it’s just beautiful. I really enjoyed how Emily and Fear itself developed, along with how they came together. It’s truly one of those unique stories that will stick with me for its thought provoking nature and characters that I love.
May 26, 2022
“I wanted it to sink those claws into my heart and fill me with the sound of its voice and the horror that it brought.”
This short novella really packed a scary punch! Emily is a firefighter and major adrenaline junkie. She loves the feeling of being scared and the rush it gives her. As a result she looks for that rush and goes to an abandoned school known for terrible things. It is there that she has her first encounter with Fear himself. I loved the spooky vibes of this story. Even though it is short we really get a feel for both Emily and Fear’s character. I loved the tension and the build up. I’d recommend for a reader who enjoys a big scary smokey monster who feeds on his girls fear but also gives her what her body needs.
This short novella really packed a scary punch! Emily is a firefighter and major adrenaline junkie. She loves the feeling of being scared and the rush it gives her. As a result she looks for that rush and goes to an abandoned school known for terrible things. It is there that she has her first encounter with Fear himself. I loved the spooky vibes of this story. Even though it is short we really get a feel for both Emily and Fear’s character. I loved the tension and the build up. I’d recommend for a reader who enjoys a big scary smokey monster who feeds on his girls fear but also gives her what her body needs.
March 11, 2023
Came across this while searching for something. Downloaded and read straight away. An unusual story, but feel it fits with the current phase of monster romances. Plus I saw some art by zacwuv from twitter. Thank you Zacwuv, for spurring me to look at this short read and add to my collection of this authors books.
It's about Emily, who after surviving a car crash as a toddler, has developed a need to experience fear. As her role as a fireman, she gets that, but searches for more in her life. It's on one of her night visits, she comes across Fear. He exists and she wants more from him, as does he of her. It is an unusual 'love' story, but it makes sense; for both of them.
It's about Emily, who after surviving a car crash as a toddler, has developed a need to experience fear. As her role as a fireman, she gets that, but searches for more in her life. It's on one of her night visits, she comes across Fear. He exists and she wants more from him, as does he of her. It is an unusual 'love' story, but it makes sense; for both of them.
March 14, 2023
I liked the concept of the story and enjoyed some of the imagery. But the writing was lacking. I really am not very demanding when it comes to prose. I basically just want to get the story delivered fast and don’t spend too much time thinking about how that is done. But as I was reading I was brought out a few times by the repetitiveness of the words and the clumsy language.
I guess it’s fine for a free story. This is really not a complaint, just me writing myself this review to remember what I thought when I read this. If you are interested in the subject of the story I would definitely read it, language aside, it’s still a fun little read
I guess it’s fine for a free story. This is really not a complaint, just me writing myself this review to remember what I thought when I read this. If you are interested in the subject of the story I would definitely read it, language aside, it’s still a fun little read
July 16, 2023
This novella was certainly unique, and I must say that I absolutely loved it! This was my first introduction to this author, and I would gladly read more of her work in the future. What a beautifully written love story between Fear and a human girl! I'm new to monster romances, and haven't read many of them, but this one drew me in right away. The author did a fantastic job of expresssing the characters emotions, and I found myself having such empathy for the monster. Here we find what it is to be loved by fear and love fear in return. I especially loved the phrase in this story: "“Grief is fleeting. Love is eternal.”
September 4, 2022
TW
Paranormal, ghost, spooky novella
Emily is a fear junkie. She rides fast motorcycles, loves her job as a fireman, and explores abandoned places. She believes in the supernatural and chases the feeling of being afraid. One night while exploring an abandoned sanatorium, she has a run in with a sinister shadow monster. Her life is forever changed when she realizes that she has met Fear himself and she loves him and what he does to her. This one has definitely left me wanting more of their story and to see how Emily’s life plays out with Fear at her side.
Paranormal, ghost, spooky novella
Emily is a fear junkie. She rides fast motorcycles, loves her job as a fireman, and explores abandoned places. She believes in the supernatural and chases the feeling of being afraid. One night while exploring an abandoned sanatorium, she has a run in with a sinister shadow monster. Her life is forever changed when she realizes that she has met Fear himself and she loves him and what he does to her. This one has definitely left me wanting more of their story and to see how Emily’s life plays out with Fear at her side.
October 21, 2022
I thought this was a very though provoking read. I resonated with it on a weird unconscious level. I thought the writing style was alright, it was pretty vague mostly and I didn't like that we didn't even know the FMC's name to close to the end of the story. Nit picky, maybe but it kind of bugged me. It was entertaining to read though and gave me something to do for a couple hours (I read at a slower pace now). It could make some individuals uneasy with the subject matter but I thought it was interesting. Good for spooky season!
October 10, 2024
Panic, pure and unstoppable, welled up inside me. Hotter and more intense than I had ever known. It would have built up and my heart would have exploded in my chest. I know it would have. But the panic didn’t stay with me. He ate it. I know that sounds insane. And it is. But Fear himself used me to create pure and unadulterated terror…and then he drank it from me. He drank my terror. And it was bliss.
This was an enjoyable little read and was super hot and heavy. It reads more like a horror erotica short story than dark romance, imo.
December 2, 2021
I was recommended this short story on a spicy book group, but this story had so little *spice* in it, I was left feeling empty. Nothing happened and the main character is the biggest pick me, "I'm not like other girls" girl I've ever read. The only reason I finished it, is because it's so damn short.
NSFWish spoiler??
Not to mention, the very thought of getting fingered by long "needle-like" claws??? My entire body recoiled.
NSFWish spoiler??
Not to mention, the very thought of getting fingered by long "needle-like" claws??? My entire body recoiled.
October 18, 2022
- I’m like 2 pages in and this girl is funny. “I named him Jamie Lannister cuz he likes to push things off high places”
- well… that was… well. I don’t even know. Intriguing
- ok I’m a little sad about that ending. Implied she’s gonna be with him till she dies but…he’s an entity. He won’t die. He’ll watch her die and continue on existing without her. That’s so sad
- perfect for spooky season though
- well… that was… well. I don’t even know. Intriguing
- ok I’m a little sad about that ending. Implied she’s gonna be with him till she dies but…he’s an entity. He won’t die. He’ll watch her die and continue on existing without her. That’s so sad
- perfect for spooky season though
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 20, 2022
Different.. in a good way
Very interesting story! Quick and easy read. Emily loves fear. She loves the terrifying, heart pounding feelings that fear evokes. In fact, she seeks fear. Whatever will give her that ultimate terrified feeling, she looks for. Until one night, she meets fear itself.
Super quick, super interesting. If you like monster romance, then this is definitely for you! 4 stars!
Very interesting story! Quick and easy read. Emily loves fear. She loves the terrifying, heart pounding feelings that fear evokes. In fact, she seeks fear. Whatever will give her that ultimate terrified feeling, she looks for. Until one night, she meets fear itself.
Super quick, super interesting. If you like monster romance, then this is definitely for you! 4 stars!
November 8, 2021
The main character in this book is a firefighter, adrenaline junkie, and loves to "devour fear". She keeps upping the stakes until she meets fear himself. Can she control him to be what she wants or will he continue to be a mystery? It is a very short read. I couldn't get into it but I can see the appeal to fill a quicky.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews