Muladona

Name: Muladona
Price: 19.95 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781654902339

✍️ Eric Stener Carlson

Reader Score

4.5

(1 review)

$19.95

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A boy faces a demonic mule during the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic in Texas.

The narrative centers on Verge Stromberg, a sickly boy living in a world of books. He endures nightly visits from the Muladona, who compels him to hear terrifying stories. These encounters drive Verge to investigate the true identity of the demon. His search leads through the violent colonial history of Incarnation. The plot intertwines the personal tragedy of his mother's disappearance with broader historical atrocities. Carlson uses this framework to explore themes of guilt and spiritual survival. The protagonist must face the creature directly to resolve these lingering traumas.

Key Themes

Spanish Flu pandemic Devil's mule colonial violence

Literary Context

Set in 1918 Texas, the book reflects on the Spanish Flu pandemic and the legacy of Spanish settlers murdering Indigenous people. It draws on gothic traditions involving demonic possession and supernatural retribution within a small, quarantined community.

Difficulty

●●● Challenging

Recommended For Fans Of

H.P. Lovecraft · Shirley Jackson · Thomas Ligotti · Gothic historical fiction enthusiasts

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Horror Fiction

🏛 Independently Published 📅 2020 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781654902339

📝 Description: Muladona

Eric Stener Carlson’s novel Muladona transports readers to Incarnation, Texas, in 1918. The narrative unfolds during the Spanish Flu pandemic, a time when the local sheriff quarantines the sick in a schoolhouse and closes the church. Verge Stromberg, the son of a domineering pastor, finds himself isolated after his mother vanishes and his brother departs. His father leaves him to manage a distant church, leaving Verge vulnerable to nightly visits from the Muladona. This creature, described as a doomed soul transformed into the Devil's mule, forces Verge to listen to horrific tales that tear at his psyche. The story traces the dark history of the town, connecting the murder of Indigenous people by Spanish settlers to the disappearance of Verge’s mother. Carlson structures the plot around this supernatural investigation, requiring Verge to confront the entity alone. The narrative demands he rescue his mother's memory while saving his own immortal soul. This work suits readers interested in gothic horror and historical fiction set during major public health crises. It may not appeal to those seeking lighthearted entertainment or fast-paced action without supernatural elements.

💎 Our verdict on Muladona

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Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

Eric Stener Carlson delivers a haunting exploration of guilt and spiritual survival set against the backdrop of the 1918 Spanish Flu. The novel effectively intertwines personal tragedy with historical atrocities, creating a dense gothic atmosphere that lingers long after reading. Verge Stromberg’s isolation serves as a potent vessel for examining the lingering wounds of colonial violence. The narrative demands patience, rewarding those who appreciate psychological horror and thematic complexity over fast-paced action. It stands out for its ambitious scope, connecting individual trauma to collective historical guilt. While not suitable for readers seeking lighthearted entertainment, it offers a rich, immersive experience for fans of dark fantasy and historical horror. The tone is appropriately bleak, focusing on the erosion of the psyche rather than physical danger.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

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Why this book is worth reading

Readers drawn to atmospheric gothic horror and psychological dread will find this narrative compelling. The book offers a unique fusion of supernatural terror and historical tragedy, appealing to those who enjoy slow-burn investigations into colonial atrocities and spiritual decay. It is ideal for audiences seeking a story where personal grief intersects with broader societal collapse during the 1918 pandemic. Those interested in the intersection of faith, guilt, and cosmic horror will appreciate the thematic depth. The work suits readers who prefer introspective horror over action, offering a profound exploration of memory and trauma through the lens of a solitary boy’s confrontation with demonic forces.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.5

Based on 1 reviews

Horror Reads editorial team

Eric Stener Carlson delivers a haunting exploration of guilt and spiritual survival set against the backdrop of the 1918 Spanish Flu. The novel effectively intertwines personal tragedy with historical atrocities, creating a dense gothic atmosphere that lingers long after reading. Verge Stromberg’s isolation serves as a potent vessel for examining the lingering wounds of colonial violence. The narrative demands patience, rewarding those who appreciate psychological horror and thematic complexity over fast-paced action. It stands out for its ambitious scope, connecting individual trauma to collective historical guilt. While not suitable for readers seeking lighthearted entertainment, it offers a rich, immersive experience for fans of dark fantasy and historical horror. The tone is appropriately bleak, focusing on the erosion of the psyche rather than physical danger.