🩸 Horror Fiction

Derelict: The Harbingers of Kromius

✍️ Lee Ann Dean
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 vagrant fleeing his past in Harrodsburg, Kentucky.

Lee Ann Dean writes a supernatural tale set in Harrodsburg, Kentucky. The protagonist Eric is a drifter trying to escape a dark history that has caught up to him. He lives among other lost souls in a town known for southern hospitality. Beneath the surface of this quiet community, an ancient evil stirs. The narrative explores how personal trauma intersects with external supernatural threats. Dean uses the setting of small-town America to ground the horror elements. The story focuses on the psychological weight of Eric’s past and the physical danger posed by the awakening entity. This book appeals to fans of gothic fiction who enjoy atmospheric tension. It may not suit readers looking for lighthearted adventures or clear-cut moral victories.

Key Themes
small-town horror ancient evil personal trauma
Literary Context

The story is set in Harrodsburg, Kentucky, a location associated with small-town America and southern hospitality. It draws on the tradition of supernatural fiction where hidden dangers lurk beneath familiar communities.

Difficulty
●● Medium
Recommended For Fans Of
Stephen King · H.P. Lovecraft · Silvia Moreno-Garcia
🩸
Horror Fiction
🏛 Independently Published 📅 2019 📖 375 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781091215788

📝 Description: Derelict: The Harbingers of Kromius

Lee Ann Dean presents a horror narrative set in Harrodsburg, Kentucky. The story centers on Eric, a vagrant with a dark past who attempts to escape his history while navigating the lives of other drifters and downtrodden individuals in this seemingly picturesque small town. Southern hospitality masks deeper troubles as an ancient evil beneath the ground begins to awaken, threatening the community. The book draws on traditions of supernatural fiction and gothic horror, focusing on the intersection of personal trauma and external monstrous forces. Dean structures the narrative around Eric’s daily struggle against his past, which has finally found him. The plot intertwines the mundane realities of small-town America with the awakening of a horrifying entity sleeping below the earth. This work suits readers interested in atmospheric tales of urban decay and hidden dangers lurking beneath familiar landscapes. It may not appeal to those seeking fast-paced action or clear resolutions to supernatural mysteries. Dean’s approach relies on building tension through the contrast between the town’s friendly exterior and the encroaching dread from below. The narrative does not offer easy escapes for its characters, as the past and the present converge in dangerous ways. Readers will find a story that examines how hidden histories can resurface with devastating consequences.

💎 Our verdict on Derelict: The Harbingers of Kromius

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Dean successfully constructs a horror narrative where the contrast between friendly exteriors and encroaching dread creates palpable tension. The focus on Eric’s daily struggle against his past provides a strong psychological anchor for the supernatural elements. While it lacks fast-paced action, the atmospheric quality suits gothic fiction enthusiasts. The integration of small-town America with hidden dangers beneath the earth is handled with care. Readers seeking clear resolutions may find the ending ambiguous, but those who enjoy examining how hidden histories impact the present will appreciate the thematic depth. It is a solid entry for fans of psychological horror and dark fantasy.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who appreciate atmospheric tension and psychological depth will find value in this narrative. The book offers a compelling examination of how past histories resurface with devastating consequences, grounding supernatural threats in the mundane realities of small-town America. It appeals to those interested in gothic fiction where the environment itself reflects internal struggles. Fans of stories that prioritize mood over fast-paced action will enjoy the slow-building dread and the exploration of southern hospitality masking deeper troubles. This is an ideal choice for readers seeking a story that balances personal trauma with external danger without offering easy escapes or clear moral victories.

⭐ 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

Dean successfully constructs a horror narrative where the contrast between friendly exteriors and encroaching dread creates palpable tension. The focus on Eric’s daily struggle against his past provides a strong psychological anchor for the supernatural elements. While it lacks fast-paced action, the atmospheric quality suits gothic fiction enthusiasts. The integration of small-town America with hidden dangers beneath the earth is handled with care. Readers seeking clear resolutions may find the ending ambiguous, but those who enjoy examining how hidden histories impact the present will appreciate the thematic depth. It is a solid entry for fans of psychological horror and dark fantasy.

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