The Burning

Name: The Burning
Price: 18.99 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781587674723

✍️ Bentley Little

Reader Score

4.5

(1 review)

$18.99

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

Four strangers face a supernatural train carrying an unstoppable evil across America.

The narrative follows four individuals whose lives are disrupted by a malevolent force. A freshman in Arizona, a ranger in isolation, a divorcee in California, and a traveler all encounter the same threat. This entity arrives via a ghostly train that defies normal tracks. Little uses these separate perspectives to build tension. The horror stems from personal fears manifesting through this ancient evil. The structure allows readers to see how different backgrounds react to the same supernatural intrusion. Each character's isolation makes them vulnerable to the creeping dread that follows the smoke-filled sky.

Key Themes

supernatural train isolated characters American horror

Literary Context

This work sits within the tradition of American supernatural fiction, drawing on gothic elements of isolation and historical evil. It reflects late twentieth-century anxieties about travel and displacement, using the vast American landscape as a setting for dread rather than freedom.

Difficulty

●● Medium

Recommended For Fans Of

Stephen King · Ramsey Campbell · Thomas Ligotti

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Horror Fiction

🏛 Cemetery Dance Publications 📅 2017 📖 366 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781587674723

📝 Description: The Burning

Bentley Little crafts a narrative where four distinct lives intersect through a singular, terrifying event. The story introduces a college freshman stranded in Arizona, an isolated park ranger battling cabin fever, a California divorcee starting anew, and a cross-country traveler seeking self-discovery. Each character faces unique horrors, from sinister beauties lurking in the desert to a young son witnessing creeping threats outside his window. These separate threads converge around a mysterious train that chokes the sky with black smoke as it charges tracklessly across the American night. This locomotive carries an unstoppable evil raised from the bowels of history, forcing each protagonist to confront their worst fears. Little, known for his ability to weave domestic dread into supernatural horror, structures the tale to show how this ancient force disrupts modern life. The book suits readers who enjoy interconnected character studies and atmospheric terror rooted in the American landscape. It may not appeal to those seeking fast-paced action or clear resolutions, as the focus remains on psychological unraveling and inevitable doom.

💎 Our verdict on The Burning

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Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

Little demonstrates a masterful ability to construct creeping dread through separate perspectives that converge around a mysterious, trackless train. The narrative effectively utilizes the isolation of each protagonist—whether in Arizona, California, or the open road—to heighten the sense of vulnerability. The horror stems not just from the entity itself, but from how it forces characters to confront their worst fears against a backdrop of black smoke and unnatural skies. While lacking clear resolutions, the focus on psychological disintegration creates a potent, unsettling mood suitable for fans of slow-burn terror and character-driven horror rather than those seeking conventional plot arcs or action.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

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Why this book is worth reading

Readers who appreciate atmospheric terror rooted in the American landscape will find this narrative compelling. Bentley Little excels at weaving domestic dread into supernatural horror, making the intrusion of evil feel personal and inevitable. The book offers a unique structural experience by following four distinct lives intersecting through a singular terrifying event. Those interested in interconnected character studies will enjoy seeing how different backgrounds react to the same supernatural intrusion. It is ideal for those who prefer psychological unraveling over fast-paced action, providing a slow-burn build of tension as an ancient force manifests through personal fears rather than physical combat.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.5

Based on 1 reviews

Horror Reads editorial team

Little demonstrates a masterful ability to construct creeping dread through separate perspectives that converge around a mysterious, trackless train. The narrative effectively utilizes the isolation of each protagonist—whether in Arizona, California, or the open road—to heighten the sense of vulnerability. The horror stems not just from the entity itself, but from how it forces characters to confront their worst fears against a backdrop of black smoke and unnatural skies. While lacking clear resolutions, the focus on psychological disintegration creates a potent, unsettling mood suitable for fans of slow-burn terror and character-driven horror rather than those seeking conventional plot arcs or action.