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Gretel
Trapped in a cage, fighting for her life, will she survive the night?
Gretel is a blood-curdling serial killer thriller, that tells the story of seventeen-year-old Lucy, taken against her will five years ago. Caged up with no-one left to protect her she must survive the night or become the killer’s latest victim.
After he killed her, she wept. Body bags and chainsaws stripped the night clean. Her mind a mess of revulsion, as the silence took over and the girls pleaded for their lives. Had it been five years already? Trapped down in the darkness, away from reality. Now Jess was gone, brutally murdered; she was like a lamb to the slaughter… and tonight was the feast.
Halloween had arrived and that meant only one thing, candy bars, and corruption as he took her screaming soul from the cage and introduced her to her former best friend. This short story is a novelette of nightmares, forgotten victims and surreal realities.
Gretel is a blood-curdling serial killer thriller, that tells the story of seventeen-year-old Lucy, taken against her will five years ago. Caged up with no-one left to protect her she must survive the night or become the killer’s latest victim.
After he killed her, she wept. Body bags and chainsaws stripped the night clean. Her mind a mess of revulsion, as the silence took over and the girls pleaded for their lives. Had it been five years already? Trapped down in the darkness, away from reality. Now Jess was gone, brutally murdered; she was like a lamb to the slaughter… and tonight was the feast.
Halloween had arrived and that meant only one thing, candy bars, and corruption as he took her screaming soul from the cage and introduced her to her former best friend. This short story is a novelette of nightmares, forgotten victims and surreal realities.
77 pages, Paperback
First published October 31, 2018
40 people are currently reading
262 people want to read
About the author
Annalee Adams
40 books86 followersAnnalee Adams lives in England with her Husband, two children and a zoo worth of animals. She loves a good strong cup of tea or coffee, plenty of chocolate and binge watching her shows on Netflix.
Annalee began The Celestial Rose series while at University. She spent much of her childhood engrossed in fictional stories. Starting with teenage point horror books and moving up to the works of Stephen King and Dean Koontz. However, her all-time favourite book is Lewis Carroll's, Alice in Wonderland. Which explains her mindset quite well.
Join Annalee on TikTok, she posts regular videos and is slowly getting the hang of BookTok! You can find her under the name of: @author_annaleeadams
Find out more at: www.AnnaleeAdams.biz
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorAnnalee
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorannale...
Annalee began The Celestial Rose series while at University. She spent much of her childhood engrossed in fictional stories. Starting with teenage point horror books and moving up to the works of Stephen King and Dean Koontz. However, her all-time favourite book is Lewis Carroll's, Alice in Wonderland. Which explains her mindset quite well.
Join Annalee on TikTok, she posts regular videos and is slowly getting the hang of BookTok! You can find her under the name of: @author_annaleeadams
Find out more at: www.AnnaleeAdams.biz
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorAnnalee
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorannale...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
August 2, 2024
The story started strong but I quickly found that I wanted more information, more nuance, something. Lucy is a seventeen year old girl, who was abducted and bound to a cage for the last five years. Girls come and go, and go, I mean are killed in the most brutal manner. The story reminded me of The Butterfly Garden but without the strong character development and imagery. It was good for what it was but I wanted more, something to connect me to the story more.
August 8, 2022
The opening is strong and intriguing, the middle is disturbing and perhaps a little on-the-nose, but the twist at the end is a real suckerpunch. Very cool. A few clunky word uses and some dodgy punctuation slowed the reading experience somewhat, but the time investment was such that I didn't really mind. Overall, a delightfully dark short story that tickled the same black regions of my entertainment lobe as "House of 1000 Corpses".
August 27, 2022
Quite good for a short story.
November 4, 2018
She is trapped in a date and she know she may not survive the night. She was taken by a serial killer and now she is to be his next victim. Will she survive the night? What will happen? See by reading
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 22, 2024
I first saw Gretel on TikTok, and immediately knew I had to read it. So I bought myself a copy, along with Annalee Adams’ other short story, Hansel. That was a little while ago now, but I’ve finally gotten around to reading it.
The story begins with Lucy, who has been kidnapped and locked in a cage in a tunnel. She has been there for 5 years, and has seen many others meet a gruesome end during that time at the hands of her captor.
The horror gradually increases throughout the book, and the middle section of the story is particularly stomach churning. I’d recommend going into this with caution, and if you’re a little squeamish then this book is probably not for you, however, I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. I was hooked.
It comes to a climax with an exciting and horrifying stand off, and then when you think the horror is over, it hits you with a sucker punch twist at the very end that has you desperate for more pages. I love a good horror novella, and this is up there with some of my favourites that I’ve read. Despite being less than 100 pages long, this story really packs a punch. I now can’t wait to read Hansel!
The story begins with Lucy, who has been kidnapped and locked in a cage in a tunnel. She has been there for 5 years, and has seen many others meet a gruesome end during that time at the hands of her captor.
The horror gradually increases throughout the book, and the middle section of the story is particularly stomach churning. I’d recommend going into this with caution, and if you’re a little squeamish then this book is probably not for you, however, I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. I was hooked.
It comes to a climax with an exciting and horrifying stand off, and then when you think the horror is over, it hits you with a sucker punch twist at the very end that has you desperate for more pages. I love a good horror novella, and this is up there with some of my favourites that I’ve read. Despite being less than 100 pages long, this story really packs a punch. I now can’t wait to read Hansel!
July 7, 2022
Gretel is a haunting read that sees 17 year old Lucy living in a cage which she has been bound to for the last five years of her life after being abducted.
Other girls come and go and Lucy doesn’t know when her time will be up, whether her parents are still looking for her and whether or not she will see daylight again.
This is a great quick read that is full of twists!
Other girls come and go and Lucy doesn’t know when her time will be up, whether her parents are still looking for her and whether or not she will see daylight again.
This is a great quick read that is full of twists!
October 26, 2024
I read this as the first part of the Gruesome Fairytales book which I received from a monthly book box. Gruesome is in the title, these are not ‘dark’ fairytale retellings, they are short horror stories loosely based on a classic fairytale storyline, in this case Hansel & Gretel. They won’t be for everyone so go into this remembering it is horror and it won’t be a pretty story, they are disturbing and uncomfortable reads following dark situations that could happen in real life, in this case the story of a middle aged man who is abducting young girls and keeping them in a cage in his home. It is very well written, fast paced and ties in well with the follow up story Hansel which is a prequel to this. I loved all 4 of the Gruesome Fairytale short stories and I can’t wait for Cinders release!!
October 26, 2025
I rarely give a book two stars, but this one just didn’t land for me. The core idea felt overdone, and the execution leaned heavily on familiar territory, almost a direct echo of the Ed Gein and Texas Chainsaw Massacre storyline.
If it had been marketed that way, I might’ve approached it differently and rated it higher. But as it stands, the repetition and lack of fresh perspective made it hard to stay engaged. It was bleak, drawn out, and missing the kind of sensory detail that makes horror truly come alive.
A solid concept, but not one that pulled me in the way I hoped it would.
If it had been marketed that way, I might’ve approached it differently and rated it higher. But as it stands, the repetition and lack of fresh perspective made it hard to stay engaged. It was bleak, drawn out, and missing the kind of sensory detail that makes horror truly come alive.
A solid concept, but not one that pulled me in the way I hoped it would.
October 13, 2022
Holy S**t I was not expecting that at all 🫣
I can't believe what I have just read, it was absolutely fantastic. The twist too 😱 omg.
I couldn't get enough of it. I couldn't put it down. Those poor girls...
It's a well written story and definitely one of my top reads this year!
I can't wait to read Hansel 😱
I can't believe what I have just read, it was absolutely fantastic. The twist too 😱 omg.
I couldn't get enough of it. I couldn't put it down. Those poor girls...
It's a well written story and definitely one of my top reads this year!
I can't wait to read Hansel 😱
October 6, 2022
My exact words while reading this book to my bestie was this book is disturbing you’ve got to read it. This book isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s the epitome of a true horror novel and it’s right up there with Stephen King with a dash of Texas Chainsaw Massacre and some Dahmer threw in. You literally can’t stop reading. Anxious to start the next book in the series but I must let my heart recover first 😱🥴😫
February 10, 2024
Holy shit! What did I just read? I physically gagged at some parts. I could smell the smells. I could feel the dirt under my fingernails. Wow wow wow. I need to pick up the next one very soon! So glad I picked this up on a whim.
March 30, 2021
This short psychological story remind me of the BBC America TV Mini-Series) - "Thirteen!" I'm wondering if the author is going to be writing a second book. Would love to know what happens to the girls, because that ending was heart-wrenching..
November 1, 2018
I enjoyed reading this book . It was quite engrossing wanting to know more with the plot unveiled was hard to putndown.
January 12, 2023
3.5 ⭐️
There were many grammatical errors and some spelling mistakes. It was a fun and interesting ride though and had potential. The execution of the story does need some work in my opinion but I enjoyed it. The main character, Lucy, was likeable. The timeline was confusing to follow but I think that was kinda the point being that she was captured and had no idea what was going on in the world. I also think that the way it was written was suppose to be choppy and somewhat unpolished because thr FMC is telling the story as a captured young girl who missed out on vital times in her life so it is gonna read somewhat childish. I still recommend this short novella! I will read Hansel 😊 Enjoy!
There were many grammatical errors and some spelling mistakes. It was a fun and interesting ride though and had potential. The execution of the story does need some work in my opinion but I enjoyed it. The main character, Lucy, was likeable. The timeline was confusing to follow but I think that was kinda the point being that she was captured and had no idea what was going on in the world. I also think that the way it was written was suppose to be choppy and somewhat unpolished because thr FMC is telling the story as a captured young girl who missed out on vital times in her life so it is gonna read somewhat childish. I still recommend this short novella! I will read Hansel 😊 Enjoy!
November 27, 2023
This was an interesting and horrifying take on Hansel & Gretel. It was short and maybe could've been a bit more detailed- I feel like I was lacking a connection with many of the characters. Overall this story was haunting though!
May 19, 2025
A very dark and sorrowful story of capture, abuse and violent death.
Lots of trigger warnings for this one but the writing is good, the tension is very high and that ending was something!
my rating is 3.75 rounded for GR
Lots of trigger warnings for this one but the writing is good, the tension is very high and that ending was something!
my rating is 3.75 rounded for GR
August 27, 2022
A short and creepy tale. Anyone who loves horror will love this one!
July 6, 2023
Grewsome version of fairy tale it's gross but great read
November 26, 2023
Pretty good short story filled with terror. The last section of this was perfectly gory with an end that we’ve seen before but still manages to chill the bones 😄
March 18, 2024
Got me out of the slump I was in. Just wish it was longer
May 24, 2024
Well that was horrifying!
Morbid fascination is real and I couldn't look away! A tale that was as gripping as it was ghastly. And now I have to read the next one!
Morbid fascination is real and I couldn't look away! A tale that was as gripping as it was ghastly. And now I have to read the next one!
March 23, 2024
It was an okay read. It felt very all over the place, and honestly, at times, I had no clue what was going on.
October 17, 2021
Oh my gosh! There needs to be more of this story! I like it!
July 1, 2023
I very much enjoyed this serial killer novel. It was gruesome in some ways. The ending was a bit predictable but still left a cliffhanger. I can’t wait to dive into the next book.
March 10, 2024
Loved
Loved it, such a good short story. Can’t wait to read the rest of the series.
Would recommended. I will be purchasing the book as to get signed at FFB :)
Loved it, such a good short story. Can’t wait to read the rest of the series.
Would recommended. I will be purchasing the book as to get signed at FFB :)
March 9, 2024
Good!
Kidnapping stories are always a favorite of mine. This was written exceptionally well! Can’t wait for more and I will be checking out more from this author.
Kidnapping stories are always a favorite of mine. This was written exceptionally well! Can’t wait for more and I will be checking out more from this author.
March 6, 2024
Thought twisting
A good read, I do like them short like this one which also helped in my choosing to read it. It was suspenseful from first chapter onward, though I saw that end coming! I choose not to give away points of the book, because I absolutely hate reviews that offer a breakdown of the entire book, so what's the point in reading?
I've never read any of this authors works but I'm sure I will read "Hansel" as well. And others should give this a book a read themselves.
A good read, I do like them short like this one which also helped in my choosing to read it. It was suspenseful from first chapter onward, though I saw that end coming! I choose not to give away points of the book, because I absolutely hate reviews that offer a breakdown of the entire book, so what's the point in reading?
I've never read any of this authors works but I'm sure I will read "Hansel" as well. And others should give this a book a read themselves.
December 14, 2023
What a gruesome twisted wild ride!
This book is so horrid that you can’t stop from turning the next page!! Not horrid as in writing style!! I mean horrid as in the storyline is so twisted and pulls you right in!! I was left on a cliffhanger!! Right when I thought the girls found freedom… foiled!! So now I’ve gotta dive into Hansel!! Book 2 here I come!
This book is so horrid that you can’t stop from turning the next page!! Not horrid as in writing style!! I mean horrid as in the storyline is so twisted and pulls you right in!! I was left on a cliffhanger!! Right when I thought the girls found freedom… foiled!! So now I’ve gotta dive into Hansel!! Book 2 here I come!
August 21, 2022
I feel the need to rewrite my review!! To make it more comprehensive and actually of use to others wanting to read.
I loved this as a short story, it was very immersive for how short it was, and I was glued like watching a horror film at night in the dark! It was amazingly well written, and very descriptive. As a short story - I truly would recommend it to anyone!
As I stated in my last review, I would only wish for it to be longer, and for there to be more. I think there is so much potential with this, with so many different options on how it could go. I feel like some potential has been wasted on the fact it is so short, it almost felt rushed to get to the end.
I would recommend for a short chilling ride, and can't wait to read the next book.
I loved this as a short story, it was very immersive for how short it was, and I was glued like watching a horror film at night in the dark! It was amazingly well written, and very descriptive. As a short story - I truly would recommend it to anyone!
As I stated in my last review, I would only wish for it to be longer, and for there to be more. I think there is so much potential with this, with so many different options on how it could go. I feel like some potential has been wasted on the fact it is so short, it almost felt rushed to get to the end.
I would recommend for a short chilling ride, and can't wait to read the next book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews