Cinder Rising

Elaine has spent her life avoiding personal connections to stay safe. Her world fractures when she meets Bryce at a bar, only to discover him dead later by the hand of someone she knows well. This tragedy forces her into Willow Tree Asylum, a place tied to her childhood trauma. At age four, Elaine encountered an apparition she named Cinder. This entity was a dark inversion of Cinderella, performing terrible acts that Elaine could not reject. Inside the asylum, Elaine hopes therapy and journaling will help her forget Cinder. She believes the past is behind her, but the spirit remains active. A deathly shadow soon envelops the facility and its inhabitants. Elaine must confront her deepest fears to protect the frightened people who have become her friends. Corla Renn-Derienzo wrote this 2016 novel published by Archway Publishing. The story draws on gothic horror traditions and supernatural fiction tropes. It examines the psychological weight of repressed trauma and the inability to escape one's past. The narrative focuses on Elaine’s internal struggle against a malevolent entity that refuses to stay buried. Readers who enjoy character-driven horror with elements of psychological thriller will find this work engaging. Those seeking lighthearted entertainment or traditional jump scares may find the tone too heavy. The book does not offer easy resolutions or happy endings. It presents a grim look at how past horrors can resurface in unexpected places.