🩸 Horror Fiction

Sadist: The Rise

✍️ Kel Fulgham
Reader Score
4.4
(1 review)
$29.99
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

Four lives converge under the influence of a dark entity in this urban horror tale.

This work focuses on the psychological and emotional shifts of its protagonists before their encounter with the Sadist. Patrick’s move to the Bronx, Cal’s search for connection, Amanda’s secret, and Maria’s silence are presented as foundational elements. The narrative suggests that these personal struggles create vulnerabilities that the Sadist exploits. Fulgham uses a multi-perspective approach to show how disparate lives can be linked by shared trauma. The story relies on the tension between individual desires and external forces. It is a study of how isolation and ambition can lead to unforeseen dangers. The pacing allows for character development before the horror elements take center stage.

Key Themes
loneliness urban grit shared trauma
Literary Context

Set in the South Bronx, this 2010 release by Xlibris reflects early twenty-first century urban horror trends. It situates supernatural events within a realistic American cityscape, contrasting domestic ideals with gritty reality.

Difficulty
●● Medium
Recommended For Fans Of
Poppy Z. Brite · Joe Hill · Ira Levin
🩸
Horror Fiction
🏛 Xlibris 📅 2010 🌐 English 📔 Hardcover ISBN: 9781453561553

📝 Description: Sadist: The Rise

Kel Fulgham’s Sadist: The Rise traces the intersecting lives of four individuals whose paths converge under a dark influence. Patrick Stetson abandons his domestic stability for the urban landscape of the South Bronx, driven by ambitions to become a detective and build a family. His choices ripple outward, affecting those around him. Calton Johnson seeks solitude in his personal world until he encounters a kindred spirit who shares his isolation. Amanda Stetson alters her trajectory by raising a child fathered by someone other than her husband. Maria Fletcher navigates a quiet existence, guided by intuition rather than noise. The narrative weaves these separate stories together as they are all touched by the Sadist. Fulgham structures the plot around these character arcs, moving from their initial decisions to the inevitable collision with the titular figure. The book draws on themes of loneliness and unexpected connection within a gritty urban setting. It appeals to readers interested in character-driven horror where personal histories fuel supernatural consequences. Those seeking fast-paced action or clear moral binaries may find the focus on internal motivations less engaging. The story does not offer easy resolutions but rather examines how past choices shape future suffering.

💎 Our verdict on Sadist: The Rise

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Fulgham crafts a tense urban horror tale by focusing on the psychological shifts of four protagonists before their encounter with the Sadist. The multi-perspective structure effectively highlights how personal histories fuel supernatural consequences, creating a sense of inevitable collision. While the pacing allows for significant character development, it may deter those seeking immediate thrills. The narrative excels in portraying loneliness and unexpected connection within a gritty environment, examining how isolation leads to unforeseen dangers. It suits readers who appreciate slow-burn tension and complex internal motivations over clear moral binaries or rapid action sequences.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who prefer psychological depth over visceral gore will find value in this narrative's exploration of how disparate lives converge under a dark influence. The book offers a compelling look at the vulnerabilities created by isolation and ambition, showing how these internal struggles make characters susceptible to external horrors. Those interested in multi-perspective storytelling that examines the ripples of personal choices will appreciate the intricate weaving of Patrick, Calton, Amanda, and Maria’s arcs. It is ideal for audiences who enjoy horror that challenges moral binaries and focuses on the psychological consequences of past decisions rather than offering easy resolutions or fast-paced action.

⭐ 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

Fulgham crafts a tense urban horror tale by focusing on the psychological shifts of four protagonists before their encounter with the Sadist. The multi-perspective structure effectively highlights how personal histories fuel supernatural consequences, creating a sense of inevitable collision. While the pacing allows for significant character development, it may deter those seeking immediate thrills. The narrative excels in portraying loneliness and unexpected connection within a gritty environment, examining how isolation leads to unforeseen dangers. It suits readers who appreciate slow-burn tension and complex internal motivations over clear moral binaries or rapid action sequences.

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