Take What I Want, Then Leave

Pauline Ugalde presents a debut collection of thirteen short stories in Take What I Want, Then Leave. Published by Blue Forge Press, this volume explores the thinning boundary between the mundane world and the monstrous. The narratives focus on how ordinary moments can suddenly reveal unbearable truths or shatter peace with sudden violence. Ugalde exposes human frailty and hidden cruelty, leaving readers with echoes of uncertainty rather than easy answers. The collection draws on horror, gothic, and supernatural fiction traditions to examine corruption that seeps through every crack. Innocence falters as comfort crumbles in these tales. The stories are organized to linger where reality thins, revealing the instant transformation of the familiar into the terrifying. This work suits readers who appreciate quiet moments that lead to disturbing revelations and those who enjoy narratives resisting clear resolution. It may not appeal to those seeking comforting resolutions or explicit action sequences without psychological depth. Ugalde qualifies as a voice in contemporary speculative fiction through her precise depiction of corruption and exposure. The book is available in book format with ISBN 9798894390321. Readers entering this collection should expect to confront the monstrous within the ordinary. The final tale leaves only the echo of uncertainty hanging in the air.