👻 Ghost Stories

The White Veena

✍️ Aksheeya
Reader Score
4.5
(1 review)
$5.99
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A novel about a carved white veena and its bloody history.

This work explores how a single object can bridge the gap between the present and a violent past. The protagonist’s fascination with the veena leads to revelations about love and loss. Aksheeya uses the instrument as a focal point for examining the costs of artistic creation. The story avoids traditional exposition, relying instead on the protagonist’s sensory experiences to convey history. This method allows the reader to feel the weight of the past rather than simply hearing about it.

Key Themes
white veena Thanjavur romance drenched in blood
Literary Context

The story is set in Thanjavur, a city with deep musical traditions. It draws on local folklore and the history of classical instruments to create a sense of place. The narrative reflects the cultural significance of music in South Indian society while subverting it through supernatural horror.

Difficulty
●● Medium
Recommended For Fans Of
Shirley Jackson · Anne Rice · H.P. Lovecraft
👻
Ghost Stories
🏛 Graveside Press 📅 2025 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781964952628

📝 Description: The White Veena

Aksheeya presents The White Veena through Graveside Press. A new resident in Thanjavur discovers an intricately carved white veena hidden within their rented room. The instrument’s unique design triggers vivid dreams that compel the protagonist to investigate its origins. This inquiry reveals a past defined by intense romance and musical passion, yet it remains fundamentally stained with violence and blood. The narrative focuses on the intersection of artistic creation and personal tragedy. Aksheeya draws upon the cultural backdrop of Thanjavur to ground the supernatural elements in a tangible setting. The story examines how objects can carry the weight of history and emotion. Readers interested in gothic fiction and supernatural tales will find this work aligns with their preferences for atmospheric storytelling. Those seeking lighthearted or purely historical accounts may find the dark tone unsettling. The book is organized around the protagonist’s discovery and subsequent investigation. It does not offer a linear historical record but rather a personal journey into the past. The prose emphasizes the sensory details of the veena and the emotional impact of the dreams. This approach creates a sense of intimacy with the subject matter. The ending leaves the reader with the lingering image of blood-drenched passion, reflecting the core theme of art born from suffering.

💎 Our verdict on The White Veena

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Aksheeya delivers a haunting exploration of art born from suffering through the lens of a carved white veena. The prose excels in conveying the emotional impact of dreams and sensory details, creating an intimate connection with the subject matter without resorting to heavy exposition. This method effectively grounds supernatural elements in the tangible setting of Thanjavur, enhancing the gothic atmosphere. The narrative’s refusal to offer a linear historical record invites readers on a personal journey into the past, making it particularly suitable for fans of psychological horror and ghost stories. While those seeking purely historical accounts may find the dark tone unsettling, enthusiasts of atmospheric storytelling will appreciate the vivid depiction of love, loss, and the bloody costs of artistic creation.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who appreciate atmospheric gothic fiction and supernatural tales will find this work deeply engaging due to its unique approach to historical revelation. The book is ideal for those interested in exploring the intersection of artistic creation and personal tragedy, as it uses a singular object to bridge the gap between present fascination and violent past. By relying on sensory experiences rather than traditional exposition, the narrative allows readers to feel the weight of history intimately. It suits audiences seeking lighthearted accounts less than those drawn to dark tones, offering a profound examination of how objects carry emotional burdens. The story’s focus on intense romance and musical passion provides a compelling entry point for fans of psychological horror who value sensory immersion over linear plotting.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.5
Based on 1 reviews
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Horror Reads editorial team

Aksheeya delivers a haunting exploration of art born from suffering through the lens of a carved white veena. The prose excels in conveying the emotional impact of dreams and sensory details, creating an intimate connection with the subject matter without resorting to heavy exposition. This method effectively grounds supernatural elements in the tangible setting of Thanjavur, enhancing the gothic atmosphere. The narrative’s refusal to offer a linear historical record invites readers on a personal journey into the past, making it particularly suitable for fans of psychological horror and ghost stories. While those seeking purely historical accounts may find the dark tone unsettling, enthusiasts of atmospheric storytelling will appreciate the vivid depiction of love, loss, and the bloody costs of artistic creation.

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