🕯️ Supernatural

Where The Devil Waits

✍️ Mark Steensland
Reader Score
4.4
(1 review)
$13.24
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A group of friends faces supernatural consequences after racing the devil at a local church.

Steensland crafts a modern horror narrative centered on four friends: Frank, Chris, Doug, and Stan. The plot begins with Stan challenging his companions to an urban legend race against the devil. After Stan claims victory and gains control over a demonic entity, Frank participates and suffers a loss. The story diverges from standard ghost tales by placing the characters in a reality where the supernatural is normalized. Stan’s newfound power creates a hostile environment for his former friends. The tension arises from their struggle to survive an individualized fate designed by their empowered acquaintance. The narrative relies on the dynamics of old conflicts and jealousy rather than external monsters alone.

Key Themes
urban legend demonic pact friendship betrayal
Literary Context

This work sits within the tradition of American urban legends involving local churches and devil races. It reflects contemporary independent publishing trends in horror fiction. The setting is a generic local church, grounding the supernatural events in everyday American life rather than historical periods.

Difficulty
●● Medium
Recommended For Fans Of
Stephen King · Clive Barker · Dean Koontz
🕯️
Supernatural
🏛 Independently Published 📅 2021 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9798738765377

📝 Description: Where The Devil Waits

Mark Steensland presents a tale of supernatural retribution in Where The Devil Waits. Frank seeks a quiet Friday with friends Chris, Doug, and Stan. Stan proposes testing an urban legend about racing the devil at a local church. He wins the race, claiming the devil as his personal genie. Frank enters the contest later and loses. He believes the threat of dying before sunrise is merely Stan’s revenge for stealing his girlfriend. The narrative shifts when the friends enter a new reality where supernatural elements become normal. Stan’s power expands to terrifying heights within this altered world. The group must confront whether they can defeat someone in league with the devil. They face an awful fate that has been planned for each of them individually. Steensland draws on American urban legend traditions to explore themes of friendship, betrayal, and supernatural consequence. The story focuses on the immediate aftermath of the race and the escalating horror as Stan’s influence grows. This book suits readers who enjoy character-driven horror with a focus on interpersonal conflict and magical realism. It may not appeal to those seeking extensive world-building or historical Gothic settings.

💎 Our verdict on Where The Devil Waits

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Steensland crafts a tense narrative where the true horror stems from the erosion of friendship rather than external monsters alone. By normalizing the supernatural, the author creates a chilling atmosphere where old conflicts and jealousy escalate into life-threatening consequences. The focus on individualized fates for each character adds depth to the standard urban legend framework. This approach suits readers who enjoy magical realism blended with horror, offering a study in how power corrupts and isolates. While it lacks historical Gothic settings, its strength lies in immediate, visceral tension and the psychological unraveling of the group. It is a solid entry for those valuing character dynamics over plot complexity.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who appreciate character-driven horror and the exploration of interpersonal conflict will find this title compelling. The story offers a unique twist on the urban legend genre by focusing on the immediate aftermath of a supernatural pact rather than extensive world-building. Those interested in themes of friendship, betrayal, and the consequences of hubris will engage with the dynamic between the four friends. It is particularly suitable for fans of psychological horror who prefer tangible threats arising from human relationships over abstract cosmic dread. The normalized supernatural setting provides a fresh perspective on traditional demonic tropes, making it an engaging choice for those seeking modern folklore interpretations.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.4
Based on 1 reviews
5
0
4
1
3
0
2
0
1
0
H
Horror Reads editorial team

Steensland crafts a tense narrative where the true horror stems from the erosion of friendship rather than external monsters alone. By normalizing the supernatural, the author creates a chilling atmosphere where old conflicts and jealousy escalate into life-threatening consequences. The focus on individualized fates for each character adds depth to the standard urban legend framework. This approach suits readers who enjoy magical realism blended with horror, offering a study in how power corrupts and isolates. While it lacks historical Gothic settings, its strength lies in immediate, visceral tension and the psychological unraveling of the group. It is a solid entry for those valuing character dynamics over plot complexity.

🏛 Books from this publisher Independently Published

The Walking Worm
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Matthew Cowdery
The Walking Worm
$12.99
78
Read →
You'll Do As You're Told
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Craig Wesley Wall
You'll Do As You're Told
$14.99
78
Read →
La Sincronicidad de los Dioses
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Jon Ridan
La Sincronicidad de los Dioses
$11.99
78
Read →
Forever Your Blood: Christabel Kane I
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Syl Emerald
Forever Your Blood: Christabel Kane I
$19.00
81
Read →
John Hopkins: At the heart of England
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Shane Terry
John Hopkins: At the heart of England
$17.32
78
Read →
Skinheads VS. Goth Vampires
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Nick Razer
Skinheads VS. Goth Vampires
$15.99
78
Read →

You might also like

See more →
Healthy Caustic Smile: Stories ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Erik Willliams
Healthy Caustic Smile: Stories
$12.99
86
Read →
Cuando los arboles no dejan de susurrar ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Alexander Copperwhite
Cuando los arboles no dejan de susurrar
$12.99
86
Read →
Hags and Witches ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Gord Rollo
Hags and Witches
$12.99
86
Read →
Le Cronache di Malomor: Il circo delle anime perdute ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Franklin Shadow
Le Cronache di Malomor: Il circo delle anime perdute
$13.92
86
Read →
The Devil's Playground, Vol. 1: 20 Tales of Terror to Keep You Up At Night ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Matthew Doggett
The Devil's Playground, Vol. 1: 20 Tales of Terror to Keep You Up At Night
$13.99
86
Read →
Geistermonat: Urbane Legenden und Spukgeschichten aus China ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Giovanna Bruni
Geistermonat: Urbane Legenden und Spukgeschichten aus China
$13.99
86
Read →

Have a question about this item?

Ask about the edition, condition, delivery or anything else — we reply by email or phone, usually within a day.

Home Genres
Cart
Wishlist