🩸 Horror Fiction

It Waits

✍️ Ashley Peterson
Reader Score
4.4
(1 review)
$5.99
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A memoir of dread by an old man haunted by a childhood monster.

The narrative follows Brad Strill as he documents his life to explain a terrifying secret. He recalls a slender, impossibly dark creature that appeared in his youth. This apparition foreshadowed the pain and suffering that would define his existence. Strill has carried this burden alone for decades. Now, he writes to find clarity about the entity's purpose. His investigation leads to a grim conclusion. The threat remains active and unresolved. The story relies on internal reflection rather than external action. It examines how a single traumatic event can shape an entire life. The text serves as a tribute to the author's father, who died from Neuroendocrine Cancer before publication. All proceeds support the Neuroendocrine Tumor Research Foundation.

Key Themes
childhood trauma supernatural haunting isolated memoir
Literary Context

This novella was published in 2021 by Independently Published. It sits within the contemporary horror fiction market, specifically targeting readers of gothic and supernatural genres. The work reflects a modern trend of personal, introspective horror narratives that focus on psychological impact rather than gore.

Difficulty
●● Medium
Recommended For Fans Of
H.P. Lovecraft · Shirley Jackson · Thomas Ligotti
🩸
Horror Fiction
🏛 Independently Published 📅 2021 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9798705558391

📝 Description: It Waits

Ashley Peterson presents a novella centered on Brad Strill, an elderly man with no family or notable career legacy. The narrative reveals that his unremarkable exterior hides a decades-long torment caused by a childhood encounter with a slender, dark creature. This monstrosity appeared to him as a harbinger of future suffering, yet he kept the experience secret for years. Strill attempts to make sense of this haunting by writing a memoir, hoping to understand why the entity attached itself to him. As Strill connects the dots in his recollections, he realizes the danger has not passed. The horror he faced is ongoing and may only be beginning. Peterson structures the story around this personal confession, drawing on gothic traditions of psychological dread and supernatural intrusion. The work focuses on isolation, memory, and the lingering impact of unseen forces. This book suits readers who enjoy slow-burn psychological horror and character-driven supernatural tales. It appeals to those interested in the genre’s exploration of internal trauma manifesting as external threat. Readers seeking fast-paced action or traditional monster hunts may find the pace too deliberate. The novella is a study in quiet dread rather than explosive terror, dedicated to the author's father who passed from Neuroendocrine Cancer.

💎 Our verdict on It Waits

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Ashley Peterson delivers a compelling novella centered on Brad Strill’s decades-long torment, effectively utilizing gothic traditions to build a sense of inescapable dread. The narrative excels in its focus on internal reflection, allowing the horror to stem from psychological weight rather than physical confrontation. This approach suits readers who enjoy atmospheric tension and character studies over fast-paced action. While those seeking traditional monster hunts may find the deliberate pace challenging, fans of slow-burn tales will appreciate the nuanced exploration of isolation and memory. The work stands as a poignant study of quiet terror, successfully blending personal confession with supernatural intrusion to create a lasting impression of unease.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

This book is ideal for readers who appreciate slow-burn psychological horror and character-driven supernatural tales that explore the intersection of memory and terror. It offers a profound examination of how a single traumatic event can shape an entire life, appealing to those interested in internal trauma manifesting as an external threat. The narrative provides a unique perspective on isolation and the lingering impact of unseen forces, making it suitable for fans of quiet dread rather than explosive action. Additionally, its dedication to supporting neuroendocrine tumor research adds a layer of poignant purpose for readers who value charitable causes behind their literature.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.4
Based on 1 reviews
5
0
4
1
3
0
2
0
1
0
H
Horror Reads editorial team

Ashley Peterson delivers a compelling novella centered on Brad Strill’s decades-long torment, effectively utilizing gothic traditions to build a sense of inescapable dread. The narrative excels in its focus on internal reflection, allowing the horror to stem from psychological weight rather than physical confrontation. This approach suits readers who enjoy atmospheric tension and character studies over fast-paced action. While those seeking traditional monster hunts may find the deliberate pace challenging, fans of slow-burn tales will appreciate the nuanced exploration of isolation and memory. The work stands as a poignant study of quiet terror, successfully blending personal confession with supernatural intrusion to create a lasting impression of unease.

🏛 Books from this publisher Independently Published

The Walking Worm
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Matthew Cowdery
The Walking Worm
$12.99
78
Read →
You'll Do As You're Told
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Craig Wesley Wall
You'll Do As You're Told
$14.99
78
Read →
La Sincronicidad de los Dioses
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Jon Ridan
La Sincronicidad de los Dioses
$11.99
78
Read →
Forever Your Blood: Christabel Kane I
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Syl Emerald
Forever Your Blood: Christabel Kane I
$19.00
81
Read →
John Hopkins: At the heart of England
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Shane Terry
John Hopkins: At the heart of England
$17.32
78
Read →
Skinheads VS. Goth Vampires
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Nick Razer
Skinheads VS. Goth Vampires
$15.99
78
Read →

You might also like

See more →
The Crossroads: Nevermore ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Raven Sloane
The Crossroads: Nevermore
$5.99
86
Read →
The Valley of the Lost: A Lost World adventure ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
William Meikle
The Valley of the Lost: A Lost World adventure
$5.99
86
Read →
Bricklayer ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Atom Jones
Bricklayer
$5.99
86
Read →
The Children of Hope/Hijos de la Esperanza ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Alicia Perez Alarza
The Children of Hope/Hijos de la Esperanza
$5.99
86
Read →
Things Not Made ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Michael Sellars
Things Not Made
$5.99
86
Read →
The Metamorphosis: New Edition - The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Franz Kafka
The Metamorphosis: New Edition - The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka
$5.99
86
Read →

Have a question about this item?

Ask about the edition, condition, delivery or anything else — we reply by email or phone, usually within a day.

Home Genres
Cart
Wishlist