🕯️ Supernatural

Cold Keep Requital

✍️ James Lurid
Reader Score
4.6
(1 review)
$16.99
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A father and two companions infiltrate a sinister orphanage to save a captive child.

Dakota, Eddie, and Walter face unique challenges while attempting to retrieve Dakota’s son from Stillheart's Home for Lost Children. The home sits atop a hill, overlooking the town below. Dakota is burdened by guilt from previous actions. Eddie exhibits nervous reluctance about the mission. Walter displays a new taste that deviates from normal meals. These factors hinder their progress. They must bypass the entity residing in the mansion’s bowels. The story explores themes of parental love, guilt, and survival against supernatural odds. Lurid uses these elements to create a tense atmosphere where every step forward is fraught with danger.

Key Themes
parental guilt supernatural orphanage mansion entity
Literary Context

This novel fits within the American horror tradition of gothic fiction, published in 2024 by Ciss. It draws on classic tropes of isolated institutions and lurking monsters. The setting of a hilltop home overlooking impoverished townsfolk reflects historical anxieties about class and isolation in supernatural narratives.

Difficulty
●●● Challenging
Recommended For Fans Of
Shirley Jackson · H.P. Lovecraft · Thomas Ligotti
🕯️
Supernatural
🏛 Ciss 📅 2024 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781739029678

📝 Description: Cold Keep Requital

James Lurid presents a chilling narrative in Cold Keep Requital, focusing on Dakota’s desperate quest to rescue his son from Stillheart's Home for Lost Children. This institution looms over an impoverished town, concealing dark secrets within its walls. The story follows Dakota alongside Eddie and Walter as they confront the horrors lurking in the mansion’s depths. Lurid is known for crafting tales that unsettle readers, ensuring sleep remains elusive. The plot hinges on three distinct obstacles: Dakota’s overwhelming guilt over past crimes, Eddie’s nervous reluctance to proceed, and Walter’s disturbing new dietary preferences. These elements complicate their mission, transforming a simple rescue into a harrowing ordeal. The trio must traverse the facility controlled by an entity in the bowels of the mansion. Their survival depends on overcoming these internal and external threats. This book suits fans of gothic horror and supernatural fiction who enjoy character-driven dread. It may not appeal to readers seeking lighthearted adventure or clear resolutions. Lurid’s work demands attention to psychological tension rather than action alone. The narrative structure relies on the interplay between the rescuers’ flaws and the home’s malevolent influence. Readers will find themselves questioning who can be trusted as the group approaches the heart of the institution.

💎 Our verdict on Cold Keep Requital

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
James Lurid crafts a chilling narrative that prioritizes psychological tension over straightforward action. By focusing on Dakota’s guilt, Eddie’s reluctance, and Walter’s disturbing changes, the author builds a suffocating atmosphere of dread. The setting of Stillheart's Home serves as a perfect vessel for gothic horror tropes, blending institutional fear with supernatural menace. This approach suits readers who appreciate character-driven stories where internal struggles mirror external horrors. However, those seeking lighthearted adventure or clear resolutions may find the experience too dense and unsettling. Lurid demands attention to the subtle interplay between the rescuers' flaws and the entity's influence. The result is a tense, immersive tale that leaves readers questioning trust and survival in the face of cosmic horror.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who crave atmospheric tension over rapid action will find this narrative deeply rewarding. It appeals to those interested in the psychological unraveling of characters burdened by guilt and moral ambiguity. The story offers a compelling study of parental desperation against insurmountable supernatural odds. Those who enjoy dark fantasy and true crime aesthetics may appreciate the grim setting and complex character dynamics. It is ideal for audiences seeking a slow-burn experience where every step is fraught with danger. The book challenges readers to engage with themes of survival and trust in a malevolent environment. Fans of gothic horror will find satisfaction in the intricate interplay between internal flaws and external threats.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.6
Based on 1 reviews
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Horror Reads editorial team

James Lurid crafts a chilling narrative that prioritizes psychological tension over straightforward action. By focusing on Dakota’s guilt, Eddie’s reluctance, and Walter’s disturbing changes, the author builds a suffocating atmosphere of dread. The setting of Stillheart's Home serves as a perfect vessel for gothic horror tropes, blending institutional fear with supernatural menace. This approach suits readers who appreciate character-driven stories where internal struggles mirror external horrors. However, those seeking lighthearted adventure or clear resolutions may find the experience too dense and unsettling. Lurid demands attention to the subtle interplay between the rescuers' flaws and the entity's influence. The result is a tense, immersive tale that leaves readers questioning trust and survival in the face of cosmic horror.

📖 From the series “Cold-Keep”

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