🩸 Horror Fiction

CandyByte

✍️ Diana Foronda
Reader Score
4.4
(1 review)
$6.99
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A ghost controls her smart home to find her killer with help from her caretaker.

Charlie’s death does not end her influence over her invention. Instead, she inhabits the CANDY device, an apple-shaped unit that manages her residence. Billie assists Charlie in this spectral state, guiding the technology to uncover clues about the murder. Their joint effort exposes a hidden truth that neither anticipated. The narrative relies on the tension between Charlie’s new digital existence and her lingering desire for closure. This approach creates a unique horror experience where the home itself becomes an active participant in the mystery. The story avoids typical jump scares, focusing instead on the psychological weight of being trapped in technology while seeking justice.

Key Themes
smart home technology spiritual possession murder investigation
Literary Context

This book was published independently in 2022 by Diana Foronda. It gained recognition as a finalist in the 13Horror.com Film & Screenplay Contest of that same year, situating it within contemporary independent horror publishing and digital-age speculative fiction trends.

Difficulty
● Easy
Recommended For Fans Of
Shirley Jackson · Richard Matheson · Black Mirror
🩸
Horror Fiction
🏛 Independently Published 📅 2022 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9798819211397

📝 Description: CandyByte

Diana Foronda presents a supernatural tale centered on Charlie, a successful smart home inventor who dies shortly after celebrating the opening night of her latest creation. Her spirit merges with an apple-shaped device named CANDY, allowing her to control the system from beyond the grave. The narrative follows her collaboration with Billie, her caretaker, as they work together to identify the person responsible for Charlie's death. This partnership reveals an unexpected secret that complicates their investigation. The story draws on traditions of ghost stories and technological horror, blending the domestic setting of a smart home with the supernatural agency of a trapped spirit. Foronda structures the plot around this unique dynamic, using the CANDY device as both a tool for survival and a source of mystery. The book is suitable for readers who enjoy speculative fiction that merges modern technology with classic ghost story elements. It may not appeal to those seeking traditional gothic horror set in ancient estates or readers who prefer non-fiction accounts of smart home development. As a finalist in the 13Horror.com Film & Screenplay Contest 2022, this work offers a distinct perspective on digital afterlife narratives. The interaction between Charlie and Billie drives the plot forward, focusing on their quest for justice within the confines of the smart home environment.

💎 Our verdict on CandyByte

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Foronda delivers a distinct supernatural tale that successfully blends the traditions of ghost stories with the anxieties of technological dependence. By centering the narrative on a spirit inhabiting a smart device, the author creates a compelling dynamic between Charlie and her caretaker Billie. The book excels in maintaining psychological weight rather than relying on visceral shocks, offering a thoughtful exploration of digital existence. This approach suits readers who prefer atmospheric mystery over traditional gothic horror or non-fiction tech accounts. While the focus remains tightly on the domestic setting and the investigation, the interaction between the characters drives the plot forward effectively. It is a strong entry for those seeking modern horror that questions the boundaries between life, death, and technology.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers interested in the intersection of speculative fiction and supernatural mystery will find this title compelling. It appeals to those who enjoy psychological horror that avoids reliance on cheap jump scares, preferring instead to explore the unsettling tension of being trapped within one's own creation. The narrative offers a fresh perspective on the digital afterlife, making it suitable for fans of ghost stories who are weary of traditional gothic settings in ancient estates. Those intrigued by true crime elements or the potential dangers of modern technology will appreciate the investigation-driven plot. It provides a unique horror experience where the domestic environment becomes an active participant in the search for justice and closure.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.4
Based on 1 reviews
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Horror Reads editorial team

Foronda delivers a distinct supernatural tale that successfully blends the traditions of ghost stories with the anxieties of technological dependence. By centering the narrative on a spirit inhabiting a smart device, the author creates a compelling dynamic between Charlie and her caretaker Billie. The book excels in maintaining psychological weight rather than relying on visceral shocks, offering a thoughtful exploration of digital existence. This approach suits readers who prefer atmospheric mystery over traditional gothic horror or non-fiction tech accounts. While the focus remains tightly on the domestic setting and the investigation, the interaction between the characters drives the plot forward effectively. It is a strong entry for those seeking modern horror that questions the boundaries between life, death, and technology.

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