Dealings in the Dark

Name: Dealings in the Dark
Price: 14.99 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781959751007

✍️ Samantha Moran

Reader Score

4.5

(1 review)

$14.99

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A young practitioner battles a soul-claiming entity over two days.

Alex Hendricks discovers that using magic requires a heavy price when a spirit targets her soul. She faces this threat while unresolved issues from her past come to light. The plot follows her battle over two days as she gathers inner courage. Alex must choose between obeying the spirit or dying to avoid endless pain. Moran delivers a tight narrative about magical peril and personal loss. The story underscores the dangers of opposing malevolent powers.

Key Themes

magick consequences soul claiming supernatural battle

Literary Context

Published by Obsidian Inkwell Publishing, LLC in 2022, this novella fits within contemporary American horror fiction. It draws on traditions of demonic lore and magical realism to explore modern fears about power and corruption. The work reflects current trends in dark fantasy literature.

Difficulty

●●● Challenging

Recommended For Fans Of

Clive Barker · Poppy Z. Brite · Angela Carter

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Horror Fiction

🏛 Obsidian Inkwell Publishing, LLC 📅 2022 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781959751007

📝 Description: Dealings in the Dark

Samantha Moran penned Dealings in the Dark, a tale exploring the risks involved in practicing magic. The plot follows Alex Hendricks, a novice mage who encounters a menacing spirit intent on taking her soul. Over the course of forty-eight hours, Alex fights back against these otherworldly threats while uncovering hidden abilities within herself. She faces a critical choice: comply with the creature's requests or end her own life to prevent endless suffering. Old memories resurface during this clash, compelling her to face long-suppressed realities. The narrative contains explicit scenes of bodily harm and gore. It references the passing of family members, including parents and grandparents, alongside incidents involving children. There are brief portrayals of mental decline and references to evil spirits. Moran emphasizes the severe repercussions of dabbling in forbidden arts. The text flows as a single unbroken story without section divisions. It appeals to fans of high-stakes magical battles and grim atmospheres. Readers uncomfortable with brutal violence, mortality, or occult elements should be wary. This short work provides a sharp examination of ethical decisions made under duress.

💎 Our verdict on Dealings in the Dark

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Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

Moran delivers a visceral exploration of magical danger through Alex Hendricks' desperate forty-eight-hour struggle. The narrative effectively balances external supernatural threats with internal psychological unraveling, creating a claustrophobic tension that drives the plot forward. By focusing on the heavy price of magic and the resurfacing of past trauma, the text avoids mere shock value in favor of ethical weight. While the explicit gore and references to mental decline may alienate sensitive readers, they serve to underscore the severity of the protagonist's plight. This is a potent, grim work for those who appreciate horror that interrogates the soul as much as it threatens the body.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

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Why this book is worth reading

Readers seeking intense, atmospheric tales of magical peril will find this narrative compelling. It suits those interested in high-stakes ethical dilemmas where the cost of power is life itself. Fans of tight, unbroken storytelling that delves into personal loss and suppressed trauma will appreciate the focus on inner courage. The book offers a sharp examination of decisions made under duress, appealing to audiences who enjoy grim atmospheres and the consequences of opposing malevolent forces without distraction from complex subplots.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.5

Based on 1 reviews

Horror Reads editorial team

Moran delivers a visceral exploration of magical danger through Alex Hendricks' desperate forty-eight-hour struggle. The narrative effectively balances external supernatural threats with internal psychological unraveling, creating a claustrophobic tension that drives the plot forward. By focusing on the heavy price of magic and the resurfacing of past trauma, the text avoids mere shock value in favor of ethical weight. While the explicit gore and references to mental decline may alienate sensitive readers, they serve to underscore the severity of the protagonist's plight. This is a potent, grim work for those who appreciate horror that interrogates the soul as much as it threatens the body.