Captive

Name: Captive
Price: 9.99 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9798664645385

✍️ Jesse Ellyson

Reader Score

4.4

(1 review)

$9.99

In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days

📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

Nine disturbing short stories about physical and supernatural captivity written during quarantine.

Ellyson draws on horror and gothic traditions to create a cohesive yet varied anthology. The structure relies on individual vignettes rather than a continuous plot. Each story isolates a different aspect of being trapped, from the mundane to the mythological. The inclusion of clones and gods expands the scope beyond human experience. This approach allows for a broad exploration of the condition of captivity without relying on a single narrative thread. The work reflects the author's unique perspective developed during a period of global isolation.

Key Themes

supernatural confinement political imprisonment superhero isolation

Literary Context

The collection emerged from Jesse Ellyson’s personal experience during the COVID-19 quarantine. It captures the collective sense of being held captive that characterized that specific historical moment in recent global history.

Difficulty

●●● Challenging

Recommended For Fans Of

Stephen King · H.P. Lovecraft · Shirley Jackson · Clive Barker

☣️

Apocalyptic

🏛 Independently Published 📅 2020 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9798664645385

📝 Description: Captive

Jesse Ellyson’s Captive presents nine short stories that examine the multifaceted nature of confinement. The collection moves beyond physical imprisonment to explore psychological and supernatural entrapment. Ellyson, known for his strange and convoluted mind, crafts narratives where characters face various forms of restriction. The author wrote these pieces during the COVID-19 quarantine, reflecting a time when the world itself felt held captive. The stories feature a diverse cast of trapped individuals and entities. A lonely comic book fan discovers that superpowers offer little comfort when there is no one left to save. A political prisoner endures the wait for release. Other tales involve dreamers waking from nightmares that blur the line between reality and illusion. The collection includes ghosts, zombies, clones, and even gods, all united by their status as captives in some capacity. This book suits readers who appreciate twisted and disturbing fiction. It appeals to those interested in gothic and supernatural themes that challenge conventional notions of freedom. The work is not for readers seeking light or uplifting narratives. Ellyson’s visions remain grounded in the specific anxieties of his writing period, offering a stark look at isolation through various genre lenses.

💎 Our verdict on Captive

“

🩸

Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

Ellyson crafts a cohesive yet varied anthology that examines confinement through nine distinct vignettes. The collection excels in its diverse cast of trapped individuals and entities, from lonely comic book fans to political prisoners and even gods. By grounding these strange visions in the specific anxieties of the quarantine period, the book offers a unique perspective on isolation. It suits readers who enjoy gothic and supernatural themes that challenge conventional freedom. While not for those seeking light narratives, it provides a stark, immersive exploration of captivity. The structure allows for broad thematic exploration without a continuous plot, making it a compelling read for enthusiasts of dark fantasy and psychological horror who appreciate complex, atmospheric storytelling over traditional plot resolution.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who appreciate twisted, disturbing fiction and gothic themes will find this anthology compelling. It explores the multifaceted nature of confinement, moving beyond physical imprisonment to psychological and supernatural entrapment. The work is ideal for those interested in how isolation shapes horror, offering a stark look at restriction through various genre lenses including cosmic and psychological horror. By featuring diverse entities like clones, gods, and ghosts, it challenges conventional notions of freedom without relying on a single narrative thread, appealing to fans of dark fantasy and true crime aesthetics who seek immersive, non-uplifting narratives.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.4

Based on 1 reviews

Horror Reads editorial team

Ellyson crafts a cohesive yet varied anthology that examines confinement through nine distinct vignettes. The collection excels in its diverse cast of trapped individuals and entities, from lonely comic book fans to political prisoners and even gods. By grounding these strange visions in the specific anxieties of the quarantine period, the book offers a unique perspective on isolation. It suits readers who enjoy gothic and supernatural themes that challenge conventional freedom. While not for those seeking light narratives, it provides a stark, immersive exploration of captivity. The structure allows for broad thematic exploration without a continuous plot, making it a compelling read for enthusiasts of dark fantasy and psychological horror who appreciate complex, atmospheric storytelling over traditional plot resolution.