🦇 Vampires

Bedeviled - The Traveler

✍️ Carol Newsome
Reader Score
4.4
(1 review)
$5.38
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A short story about a man trapped at Dracula's Castle during a storm.

Newsome writes a brief thriller where logistics turn into a fight for life. Nigel’s journey begins with a simple delivery mission that goes wrong due to weather. The flooded bridges leave him no choice but to seek shelter in a legendary location. Dracula's Castle becomes the stage for an eternal battle between vampires and werewolves. The text does not explain the history of this war, only its deadly present reality. Nigel is caught in the crossfire, forced to use his wits and strength to avoid death. The story highlights the vulnerability of humans in a world ruled by monsters. It uses the castle setting to evoke dread and isolation. The conflict is physical and immediate, with no room for negotiation or escape. This approach creates a sense of claustrophobia despite the open storm. The narrative does not resolve the larger war, only Nigel’s personal struggle within it. The ending leaves the reader with the image of a man who has survived through sheer determination.

Key Themes
supernatural warfare castle isolation survival horror
Literary Context

The story draws on European gothic traditions and classic vampire folklore associated with Transylvania. It references Dracula's Castle, linking the narrative to established literary myths about nocturnal predators and ancient bloodlines.

Difficulty
● Easy
Recommended For Fans Of
Bram Stoker · Sheridan Le Fanu · Anne Rice · Stoker's Dracula
🦇
Vampires
🏛 Createspace Independent Publishing Platform 📅 2015 📖 34 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781508814467

📝 Description: Bedeviled - The Traveler

Carol Newsome presents a compact horror narrative in Bedeviled - The Traveler. This short story follows Nigel, a man transporting supplies to a convent who finds his path blocked by nature’s fury. A sudden storm floods the bridge behind him and washes away the one ahead. Forced off course, he arrives at Dracula's Castle. The setting shifts from a mundane delivery route to a site of ancient conflict. Here, werewolves and vampires engage in a lethal war that has lasted for ages. Nigel must confront these supernatural foes to stay alive. His fear is palpable as he fights for survival against creatures from folklore. The tale draws on classic gothic traditions involving castles and nocturnal predators. It appeals to readers who enjoy concise, high-stakes encounters with the undead and the wolf-like. Those seeking complex character development or extensive world-building may find this brief account too simple. Newsome focuses on immediate danger and atmospheric tension rather than prolonged exposition. The narrative structure is linear, moving from the storm’s onset to the final struggle. It captures the essence of classic monster horror without modern twists. The prose remains direct, emphasizing action over internal monologue. This work suits fans of traditional vampire lore and werewolf myths who prefer quick, intense readings. It does not offer historical analysis or scientific explanations for the supernatural elements. The story relies on established tropes to create its chilling effect. Readers looking for a straightforward tale of survival against impossible odds will find this text engaging. The conclusion hinges on Nigel’s ability to endure the relentless assault from both sides of the supernatural divide.

💎 Our verdict on Bedeviled - The Traveler

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Newsome delivers a tense, atmospheric short story that effectively utilizes the Dracula’s Castle setting to evoke isolation and fear. The narrative succeeds in creating immediate claustrophobia through its focus on Nigel’s physical survival against vampires and werewolves. While it lacks deep character exploration or historical context, it excels in maintaining a relentless pace and direct prose style. This approach suits readers who prefer classic monster horror with clear stakes and minimal exposition. The work captures the essence of gothic dread without modern twists, offering a pure, visceral encounter with supernatural evil. It is best enjoyed by those seeking a brief, intense thrill rather than a sprawling epic. The linear structure ensures the tension remains high throughout the short format.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who appreciate concise, high-stakes encounters with the undead and wolf-like creatures will find this compact narrative satisfying. The book appeals to those who enjoy atmospheric tension and immediate danger over complex character development or extensive world-building. It offers a quick, intense reading experience for fans of traditional vampire lore and werewolf myths. Those seeking a straightforward thriller focused on survival against ancient evils will gain from its direct prose and linear structure. The story provides a glimpse into the lethal war between supernatural factions without bogging down in exposition. It is ideal for readers who prefer action-driven plots that emphasize physical struggle and claustrophobic dread within a gothic setting.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.4
Based on 1 reviews
5
0
4
1
3
0
2
0
1
0
H
Horror Reads editorial team

Newsome delivers a tense, atmospheric short story that effectively utilizes the Dracula’s Castle setting to evoke isolation and fear. The narrative succeeds in creating immediate claustrophobia through its focus on Nigel’s physical survival against vampires and werewolves. While it lacks deep character exploration or historical context, it excels in maintaining a relentless pace and direct prose style. This approach suits readers who prefer classic monster horror with clear stakes and minimal exposition. The work captures the essence of gothic dread without modern twists, offering a pure, visceral encounter with supernatural evil. It is best enjoyed by those seeking a brief, intense thrill rather than a sprawling epic. The linear structure ensures the tension remains high throughout the short format.

📖 From the series “Bedeviled”

Bedeviled - Ellsinore Springs
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Lee Sylcox
Bedeviled - Ellsinore Springs
$5.38
78
Read →

🏛 Books from this publisher Createspace Independent Publishing Platform

Memento Mori
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Paul Holbrook
Memento Mori
$13.94
78
Read →
Mona Livelong: Paranormal Detective II: The Case of The Powerless Witch
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Quinton Veal
Mona Livelong: Paranormal Detective II: The Case of The Powerless Witch
$12.00
78
Read →
The Manitou
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Jessie Cox
The Manitou
$10.50
78
Read →
The Phantom of the Opera
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Alexander Teixeira De Mattos
The Phantom of the Opera
$17.00
81
Read →
The Trial
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
David Wyllie
The Trial
$10.25
81
Read →
Prey Until Dawn
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Daryn Guarino
Prey Until Dawn
$50.00
78
Read →

You might also like

See more →
The Yellow Wallpaper ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Charlotte Perkins Gilman
The Yellow Wallpaper
$5.40
86
Read →
The Dead Walk Among The Living: Book 9 ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Keith Adam Luethke
The Dead Walk Among The Living: Book 9
$5.50
86
Read →
Halloween Vintage: Retro Horror Coloring Book ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Kyle F Noble
Halloween Vintage: Retro Horror Coloring Book
$5.50
86
Read →
The Black Cat 🏆 Bestseller -31%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.4
4
Edgar Allan Poe
The Black Cat
$5.50 $8.00
86
Read →
Revista Historias Pulp #1 La Cosa ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Historias Pulp
Revista Historias Pulp #1 La Cosa
$5.64
86
Read →
A Trilogy of Terror (annotated) -42%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Edgar Allan Poe
A Trilogy of Terror (annotated)
$5.75 $10.00
86
Read →

Have a question about this item?

Ask about the edition, condition, delivery or anything else — we reply by email or phone, usually within a day.

Home Genres
Cart
Wishlist