Those We Left Behind: And Other Sacrifices

Name: Those We Left Behind: And Other Sacrifices
Price: 9.99 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9780578968391

✍️ Brandon Applegate

Reader Score

4.6

(1 review)

$9.99

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A collection of horror stories by Brandon Applegate exploring the painful nature of sacrifice.

Applegate uses diverse settings to illustrate the theme of sacrifice. He moves from domestic spaces like bedrooms and bathrooms to extraterrestrial landscapes. Each story isolates characters in situations where they must endure suffering. The author avoids gentle resolutions, focusing instead on the harsh realities of his fictional worlds. This approach creates a consistent tone of unease throughout the volume.

Key Themes

sacrifice supernatural horror family fear

Literary Context

Published in 2021 by Brandon Applegate, this work sits within the contemporary independent horror genre. It draws on traditions of gothic fiction and supernatural tales that emphasize psychological dread over gore. The collection reflects modern anxieties about safety in domestic spaces.

Difficulty

●● Medium

Recommended For Fans Of

Clive Barker · H.P. Lovecraft · Shirley Jackson

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Horror Fiction

🏛 Brandon Applegate 📅 2021 📖 164 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9780578968391

📝 Description: Those We Left Behind: And Other Sacrifices

Brandon Applegate presents horror and supernatural fiction exploring sacrifice's pain. Stories range from magical fantasy to blood-spattered terror, guiding readers through dark imagination corners. The narrative moves from Mars' surface to a child's bedroom, reminding audiences that true sacrifice involves pain. The book contains tales with specific, unsettling premises. One story features a bedtime story with unspeakable consequences. Another follows a father whose walk in the woods introduces him to his daughter's horrifying new friends. A third narrative centers on a bit of trash in a shower drain leading to a surreal fight for survival. Applegate, the author and publisher, curates these varied scenarios to create a cohesive experience of dread. This collection suits readers who enjoy supernatural fiction and gothic themes that emphasize tragedy and horror. It may not appeal to those seeking lighthearted fantasy or stories without visceral stakes. The work is organized as a series of distinct narratives rather than a single continuous plot. Applegate’s background in publishing allows him to present these tales with direct impact. The final story leaves the reader with a stark reminder about the cost of survival.

💎 Our verdict on Those We Left Behind: And Other Sacrifices

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Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

Applegate delivers a potent anthology where every tale reinforces the brutal reality of sacrifice. The shift from intimate domestic spaces to extraterrestrial voids creates a consistent tone of dread, avoiding any sense of safety for the reader. Stories like the shower drain survival and the woods encounter illustrate the author’s skill in isolating characters in hopeless situations. The collection succeeds through its commitment to harsh realities and unsettling premises. It is best suited for mature readers who enjoy gothic themes and true horror that emphasizes tragedy. Those seeking light entertainment should look elsewhere, as this work offers no respite from its pervasive sense of loss and suffering.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

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Why this book is worth reading

Readers who crave visceral, unrelenting horror will find this collection deeply rewarding. Applegate’s focus on the painful nature of sacrifice appeals to those who enjoy psychological and cosmic dread rather than lighthearted fantasy. The diverse settings, from domestic bathrooms to Martian landscapes, offer a varied yet cohesive experience of unease. Those who appreciate stories with high stakes and tragic outcomes will value the stark reminder of survival's cost. It is ideal for enthusiasts of supernatural fiction who seek tension and visceral impact without gentle resolutions or comforting endings.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.6

Based on 1 reviews

Horror Reads editorial team

Applegate delivers a potent anthology where every tale reinforces the brutal reality of sacrifice. The shift from intimate domestic spaces to extraterrestrial voids creates a consistent tone of dread, avoiding any sense of safety for the reader. Stories like the shower drain survival and the woods encounter illustrate the author’s skill in isolating characters in hopeless situations. The collection succeeds through its commitment to harsh realities and unsettling premises. It is best suited for mature readers who enjoy gothic themes and true horror that emphasizes tragedy. Those seeking light entertainment should look elsewhere, as this work offers no respite from its pervasive sense of loss and suffering.