🩸 Horror Fiction

Costly Obsession: Animalize

✍️ Sasha Pruett
Reader Score
4.4
(1 review)
$14.99
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A horror novel about a curse unleashed by teenagers in a small town.

This entry in the Costly Obsession series focuses on the immediate consequences of disturbing ancient evil. The plot moves from a casual hike to a deadly confrontation with a supernatural predator. The narrative highlights how curiosity leads to disaster for the teenage protagonists and the wider community. The story relies on the trope of forbidden knowledge brought to life through specific words spoken at a campfire. The horror stems from the physical mutilation of victims and the subsequent social panic within the town. Pruett uses the perspective of a young boy to ground the supernatural events in personal fear.

Key Themes
forbidden words small town panic supernatural curse
Literary Context

Published in 2014 by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform, this work sits within the tradition of independent horror fiction. It draws on classic gothic elements where past sins resurface to plague the present. The story reflects a modern take on folklore curses and the loss of innocence.

Difficulty
● Easy
Recommended For Fans Of
John Carpenter's creature features · Stephen King's early short stories · R.L. Stine's Goosebumps series
🩸
Horror Fiction
🏛 Createspace Independent Publishing Platform 📅 2014 📖 348 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781503225664

📝 Description: Costly Obsession: Animalize

Sasha Pruett presents Costly Obsession: Animalize, the first volume of a three-part series exploring the war for human souls. The narrative centers on ten-year-old Trevor and his initial encounter with nightmares that will haunt him. A group of teenagers discovers a cave while hiking near a lake. Inside, they find a book that revives Epson’s past. At a beachside campfire, the boys read forbidden words aloud, triggering a curse. This act summons a predator described as gruesome, violent, and cunning. The creature hunts the residents of their small town, leaving mutilated bodies in its wake. Even the town sheriff falls victim to this violence. Panic spreads through the community as terrible rumors slither among the people. The fate of Epson and its inhabitants depends on an untold history defined by jealousy, denial, rage, hatred, and the lurking curse. Pruett structures the story to emphasize the psychological toll of obsession on a young boy fighting for his soul. This volume appeals to readers who enjoy supernatural fiction involving curses and small-town horror. It may not suit those seeking complex literary prose or non-fiction historical accounts.

💎 Our verdict on Costly Obsession: Animalize

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Sasha Pruett delivers a focused entry in the Costly Obsession series that prioritizes action and visceral horror over intricate character development. The narrative effectively utilizes the campfire trope to establish immediate tension, quickly escalating from casual hiking to deadly confrontation with a cunning supernatural predator. By anchoring the story through Trevor’s perspective, the author successfully blends personal fear with community-wide panic, creating a relatable sense of dread. The emphasis on physical mutilation and social rumor provides a gritty, grounded tone suitable for fans of creature features. While it lacks literary complexity, it succeeds as an engaging piece of supernatural fiction. It is best suited for readers who enjoy straightforward curses, small-town settings, and the psychological toll of obsession on youth.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers seeking immediate, visceral thrills will find this volume compelling due to its focus on physical mutilation and social panic rather than slow-burn mystery. The narrative grounds supernatural terror through the eyes of a young protagonist, making the fear accessible and personal for those who enjoy coming-of-age horror elements. It appeals to fans of curse-based plots where forbidden knowledge acts as the catalyst for disaster. Those who prefer straightforward storytelling without complex literary prose will appreciate the direct link between teenage hubris and deadly consequences. The book offers a concentrated dose of genre-specific satisfaction, delivering on the promise of a predatory threat hunting through a community paralyzed by rumor. It is ideal for audiences wanting clear stakes and a relentless pace.

⭐ 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

Sasha Pruett delivers a focused entry in the Costly Obsession series that prioritizes action and visceral horror over intricate character development. The narrative effectively utilizes the campfire trope to establish immediate tension, quickly escalating from casual hiking to deadly confrontation with a cunning supernatural predator. By anchoring the story through Trevor’s perspective, the author successfully blends personal fear with community-wide panic, creating a relatable sense of dread. The emphasis on physical mutilation and social rumor provides a gritty, grounded tone suitable for fans of creature features. While it lacks literary complexity, it succeeds as an engaging piece of supernatural fiction. It is best suited for readers who enjoy straightforward curses, small-town settings, and the psychological toll of obsession on youth.

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