Eyes Wide Open

Name: Eyes Wide Open
Price: 8.85 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9798280162150

✍️ Jan Miklaszewicz

Reader Score

4.4

(1 review)

$8.85

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A standalone novella about housemates facing a destructive supernatural force at 13 Cromwell Lane.

Miklaszewicz writes Eyes Wide Open as a compact horror story centered on domestic dread. The plot follows housemates who inadvertently release a malevolent entity. This force seeks their destruction with little regard for mercy or negotiation. The novella structure allows for a rapid escalation of terror. Readers encounter gruesome deaths that serve to highlight the hopelessness of the situation. The setting at 13 Cromwell Lane becomes a trap rather than a sanctuary. The narrative does not offer easy solutions or heroic interventions. Instead, it focuses on the grim reality of being hunted by an invisible enemy. The tone remains consistently dark and unrelenting throughout the short format.

Key Themes

malignant force gruesome deaths housemates

Literary Context

Published in 2025 by Independently Published, this work belongs to the Hartmouth Horrors series of standalone novellas. It fits within the American market for horror and supernatural fiction that favors concise, intense narratives over lengthy epics.

Difficulty

● Easy

Recommended For Fans Of

Ramsey Campbell · Thomas Ligotti · Dacre Stoker

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Horror Fiction

🏛 Independently Published 📅 2025 📖 127 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9798280162150

📝 Description: Eyes Wide Open

Jan Miklaszewicz presents Eyes Wide Open as the inaugural entry in the Hartmouth Horrors series. This standalone novella focuses on the residents of 13 Cromwell Lane who awaken a malignant force determined to destroy them. The narrative tracks their descent into trouble as they face a threat that appears impossible to stop. As the body count rises, the deaths become increasingly gruesome, making survival seem unlikely. The author qualifies this work by positioning it within the tradition of nasty shockers designed to entertain and appall readers simultaneously. The book is organized as a single novella rather than a collection of short stories. It draws on the gothic and supernatural fiction genres to create its atmosphere. The story relies on the isolation of the housemates to build tension. This title suits readers who enjoy visceral horror and supernatural threats without requiring extensive world-building. It may not appeal to those seeking complex character studies or hopeful resolutions. The narrative prioritizes shock value and grim outcomes over redemption. Miklaszewicz delivers a concise tale where the focus remains on the escalating violence and the futility of resistance against an unstoppable evil.

💎 Our verdict on Eyes Wide Open

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Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

Miklaszewicz delivers a potent entry in the Hartmouth Horrors series, focusing on the residents of 13 Cromwell Lane as they awaken a malignant force. The novella excels in building tension through isolation and escalating violence, creating an atmosphere of hopelessness. While it lacks complex character studies, its strength lies in its unrelenting dark tone and gruesome set pieces. It suits readers who appreciate nasty shockers designed to appall and entertain simultaneously. Those seeking heroic interventions or easy solutions may find the narrative unsatisfying, but fans of visceral horror will value its concise, grim execution.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

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Why this book is worth reading

Readers seeking immediate, unrelenting terror will find this novella appealing due to its rapid escalation of horror and lack of filler. It is ideal for those who enjoy visceral supernatural threats and gruesome deaths without the need for extensive world-building or hopeful resolutions. Fans of dark fantasy and psychological horror who prefer grim outcomes over redemption will appreciate the focus on the futility of resistance against an unstoppable evil. The compact format ensures a consistent tone of domestic dread, making it suitable for readers who want to experience intense, concise scares in a short sitting.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.4

Based on 1 reviews

Horror Reads editorial team

Miklaszewicz delivers a potent entry in the Hartmouth Horrors series, focusing on the residents of 13 Cromwell Lane as they awaken a malignant force. The novella excels in building tension through isolation and escalating violence, creating an atmosphere of hopelessness. While it lacks complex character studies, its strength lies in its unrelenting dark tone and gruesome set pieces. It suits readers who appreciate nasty shockers designed to appall and entertain simultaneously. Those seeking heroic interventions or easy solutions may find the narrative unsatisfying, but fans of visceral horror will value its concise, grim execution.