The Sweep

Name: The Sweep
Price: 9.99 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781069275400

✍️ Dustin Ekman

Reader Score

4.5

(1 review)

$9.99

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A gritty Edmonton novella about survivors and secrets under moonlight.

Ekman’s debut focuses on the immediate consequences of violence in a city torn by conflict. The narrative structure emphasizes the psychological unraveling of characters who are forced to reveal hidden truths. By combining elements of gang warfare with supernatural horror, the text creates a unique atmosphere of dread. The inclusion of explicit material serves to highlight the brutality of the setting. This approach distinguishes the work from more sanitized genre offerings, offering a raw look at survival and betrayal.

Key Themes

corporate greed werewolf mythology urban decay

Literary Context

Published in 2025 by Hermit Rites, this novella is set in Edmonton. It reflects contemporary Canadian urban issues through the lens of horror fiction. The work emerges from a tradition of gritty supernatural storytelling that examines societal fractures.

Difficulty

●●● Challenging

Recommended For Fans Of

Stephen King · Clive Barker · Joe R. Lansdale

🩸

Horror Fiction

🏛 Hermit Rites 📅 2025 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781069275400

📝 Description: The Sweep

Dustin Ekman delivers a debut novella set in Edmonton, exploring the grim intersection of corporate greed, gang warfare, militarized policing, and homelessness. The narrative begins with a bloody massacre that shatters the night, forcing survivors to confront their own deadly secrets under the moonlight. This work draws on gothic and supernatural traditions, specifically utilizing werewolf lore to examine human nature amidst urban decay. The text is organized as a compact novella rather than a sprawling epic, focusing intensely on the immediate aftermath of violence. Ekman, identified as a Canadian horror writer, employs raw elements including blood, guts, sex, and drugs to ground the supernatural occurrences in visceral reality. The story does not offer easy resolutions but instead presents a claustrophobic environment where characters are rounded up and exposed. This book suits readers who appreciate gritty urban horror and character-driven supernatural tales that do not shy away from explicit content or moral ambiguity. It may not appeal to those seeking lighthearted genre fiction or traditional heroic narratives. The novella stands as a stark examination of societal collapse through the lens of monster mythology, ending on a note of unresolved tension rather than triumph.

💎 Our verdict on The Sweep

“

🩸

Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

Ekman’s debut novella successfully merges corporate greed with supernatural horror to create a tense, claustrophobic atmosphere. The narrative structure effectively emphasizes psychological unraveling as survivors confront deadly secrets after a bloody massacre. Utilizing werewolf lore within an Edmonton setting allows for a raw exploration of human nature amidst urban decay. The inclusion of explicit material grounds the supernatural elements in visceral reality, distinguishing it from more conventional genre fiction. While it lacks easy resolutions or heroic triumphs, this approach enhances its authenticity. It suits readers who appreciate gritty urban horror and moral ambiguity. The compact format focuses intensely on the immediate aftermath of violence, ensuring a potent and impactful reading experience for those willing to engage with its challenging themes.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers seeking raw, unapologetic horror will find value in this novella's visceral approach to survival and betrayal. It appeals to those who enjoy character-driven supernatural tales that do not shy away from explicit content or moral ambiguity. By combining gang warfare with werewolf lore, the text offers a unique atmosphere of dread distinct from sanitized genre offerings. It is ideal for audiences interested in the psychological unraveling of individuals forced to reveal hidden truths under pressure. The book provides a stark examination of societal issues through the lens of monster mythology, offering a claustrophobic experience that prioritizes intensity over resolution. Those who appreciate gritty urban settings and complex human nature amidst conflict will find this work compelling.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.5

Based on 1 reviews

Horror Reads editorial team

Ekman’s debut novella successfully merges corporate greed with supernatural horror to create a tense, claustrophobic atmosphere. The narrative structure effectively emphasizes psychological unraveling as survivors confront deadly secrets after a bloody massacre. Utilizing werewolf lore within an Edmonton setting allows for a raw exploration of human nature amidst urban decay. The inclusion of explicit material grounds the supernatural elements in visceral reality, distinguishing it from more conventional genre fiction. While it lacks easy resolutions or heroic triumphs, this approach enhances its authenticity. It suits readers who appreciate gritty urban horror and moral ambiguity. The compact format focuses intensely on the immediate aftermath of violence, ensuring a potent and impactful reading experience for those willing to engage with its challenging themes.