🕯️ Supernatural

Death Sketch

✍️ Tobias Youngblood
Reader Score
4.5
(1 review)
$9.99
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A starving artist joins a mysterious society and faces terrifying consequences.

Paul Desmontes trades his poverty for a position at the Elite Illustration Society. The commercial nature of the firm is secondary to his need for food and heat in the Northeast winter. His initial relief turns to dread as his assignment changes on the page. He must decide if he is hallucinating or facing a genuine threat. This novella examines the cost of artistic survival through a lens of supernatural horror.

Key Themes
starving artist elite society supernatural horror
Literary Context

This novella sits within the contemporary American horror genre, specifically the subgenre of gothic and supernatural fiction. It is part of the Nightmares Series, which collects short, standalone stories. The setting involves a harsh Northeast winter, grounding the supernatural elements in a realistic, bleak environment.

Difficulty
●● Medium
Recommended For Fans Of
H.P. Lovecraft · Shirley Jackson · Algernon Blackwood
🕯️
Supernatural
🏛 Riposte Press, LLC 📅 2023 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781959649052

📝 Description: Death Sketch

Tobias Youngblood crafts a chilling entry in his Nightmares Series with Death Sketch. The story follows Paul Desmontes, a starving artist who accepts an invitation to join the Elite Illustration Society. This opportunity promises to end his financial struggles and provide warmth during the harsh Northeast winter. Paul is willing to overlook the firm’s commercial style for the sake of survival. However, the nature of his assignment shifts in disturbing ways. As the work progresses, Paul begins to question his sanity. He faces a terrifying choice between believing he is losing his mind or uncovering a reality far worse than poverty. The narrative explores the dark side of artistic ambition and the price of success. Youngblood’s background in horror fiction informs the tense atmosphere that permeates this standalone novella. This book suits readers who enjoy psychological horror and gothic themes within short formats. It appeals to those interested in stories about artists facing supernatural consequences. The tale does not offer easy answers or comforting resolutions. Instead, it leaves the reader with a lingering sense of dread as Paul confronts the unknown truth behind his new career.

💎 Our verdict on Death Sketch

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Youngblood crafts a chilling atmosphere that effectively blends gothic elements with psychological horror. The narrative excels in building tension through Paul Desmontes' gradual realization that his situation is far worse than mere poverty. By focusing on the protagonist's internal conflict regarding his sanity, the story creates an unsettling experience. It best suits readers who prefer atmospheric dread and ambiguous endings over conventional resolutions. The novella’s standalone nature allows for a concentrated impact, leaving a lasting impression of unease without providing comforting answers.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who appreciate the intersection of artistic struggle and supernatural horror will find this novella compelling. It offers a tense exploration of desperation, where survival forces a protagonist into a terrifying unknown. Those who enjoy psychological ambiguity and gothic themes in a condensed format will appreciate the lingering sense of dread. The book suits those interested in stories about the dark costs of success and the fragility of sanity under pressure.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.5
Based on 1 reviews
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Horror Reads editorial team

Youngblood crafts a chilling atmosphere that effectively blends gothic elements with psychological horror. The narrative excels in building tension through Paul Desmontes' gradual realization that his situation is far worse than mere poverty. By focusing on the protagonist's internal conflict regarding his sanity, the story creates an unsettling experience. It best suits readers who prefer atmospheric dread and ambiguous endings over conventional resolutions. The novella’s standalone nature allows for a concentrated impact, leaving a lasting impression of unease without providing comforting answers.

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