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Drowning in the Drink
The black gunk has taken over…
Hailey has been infected by a strange substance that has crawled inside her head. It’s filled her mind with voices driving her to end it all. The only thing that seems to keep the voices at bay is alcohol. There’s no other choice for her, she has to drink. It’s a terrible situation with no way to escape.
Only one question remains for Hailey. What will kill her first? The voices or the drink?
Hailey has been infected by a strange substance that has crawled inside her head. It’s filled her mind with voices driving her to end it all. The only thing that seems to keep the voices at bay is alcohol. There’s no other choice for her, she has to drink. It’s a terrible situation with no way to escape.
Only one question remains for Hailey. What will kill her first? The voices or the drink?
- GenresHorror
78 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 23, 2024
4 people are currently reading
45 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
August 9, 2024
This was more than just a horror story. Drowning in the Drink, explores addiction and the darkness that can completely consume ones mind. Radar DeBoard did a wonderful job writing this piece of dark fiction. I really felt all of the emotions inflicted by the characters and the imagery was very powerful.
This story starts out following a mother and young woman that is battling demons in her mind after a tumble down the stairs and a black gunky substance, almost slug-like, enters her nose and attaches itself to her brain. From here on this entity completely devours her whole, beginning her alcohol addiction. Alcohol is the only thing that silences the voices in her mind. Sadly, her son, Michael, will be the next victim of this slimy demise.
This was a quick one-sitting binge read for me. I couldn't put this down because I had to know how it would end. Would anyone be free of this black gunk and be able to face their demons head on??
I highly recommend this one to any horror lover that can handle substance abuse. I will definitely be checking out more from this author in the future!
This story starts out following a mother and young woman that is battling demons in her mind after a tumble down the stairs and a black gunky substance, almost slug-like, enters her nose and attaches itself to her brain. From here on this entity completely devours her whole, beginning her alcohol addiction. Alcohol is the only thing that silences the voices in her mind. Sadly, her son, Michael, will be the next victim of this slimy demise.
This was a quick one-sitting binge read for me. I couldn't put this down because I had to know how it would end. Would anyone be free of this black gunk and be able to face their demons head on??
I highly recommend this one to any horror lover that can handle substance abuse. I will definitely be checking out more from this author in the future!
July 22, 2024
One night Hailey hears a strange sound in her house. Once she goes and investigates she feels a sticky sensation hit her face. After that night she's constantly hearing voices and the only way to stop them is too drink. The harder the drink, the better. Until 1 day, it completely takes over her and she can't fight her battle anymore.
Her son Michael sees his mom battling with inner demons and he doesn't know what to do. He doesn't realize that soon enough, he will have too fight those same demons.
This was a heavy, yet satisfying read. Main trigger in this book is addiction and we see it for the ugly monster it really is. You can really feel the agonizing pain these characters are dealing with, the constant battle between themselves and evil. This was heartbreaking but with a very satisfying ending. I highly recommend this but proceed with caution if addiction talk is a trigger.
Her son Michael sees his mom battling with inner demons and he doesn't know what to do. He doesn't realize that soon enough, he will have too fight those same demons.
This was a heavy, yet satisfying read. Main trigger in this book is addiction and we see it for the ugly monster it really is. You can really feel the agonizing pain these characters are dealing with, the constant battle between themselves and evil. This was heartbreaking but with a very satisfying ending. I highly recommend this but proceed with caution if addiction talk is a trigger.
August 27, 2024
Drowning in the Drink is one of the most harrowing examples of alcholism portrayed in horror. It lends itself to horror incredibly well, don’t you think? Being addicted to a substance that you can’t get enough of, and in doing so slowly killing yourself. It’s awful. I have first hand experience in alcholism-my ex’s mother had been an alcoholic for many, many years. She already had scirosis by the time I came on the scene, so to read a book that portrayed a lot of the things she experienced was difficult to say the least.
Micheal watched his mother become consumed by drinking. She missed school activities, birthday parties, she was just generally absent through drinking. For a child and the mother, that’s the saddest part. Children are only little for a short space of time. They grow and remember how much drink meant to them, it’s hard not to compare their love of spirits over their love for you. So when he comes home and finds her dead, he’s upset but not surprised. He’d been preparing for this for some time.
Until he touched the black gunk that peeked out of her nose. Now, he’s addicted to the drink-something he was determined never to do. He didn’t want to become her, but now he has. A parasite embedded in his brain, voices yelling at him, of course, the only thing that keeps them quiet is alcohol-he now knows how his mum felt. Is there anything he can do to stop it or will he forever be Drowning in the drink?
A well written story with a beating heart and visceral storyline, one that took guts to pen. I can’t wait to read more from this author.
Micheal watched his mother become consumed by drinking. She missed school activities, birthday parties, she was just generally absent through drinking. For a child and the mother, that’s the saddest part. Children are only little for a short space of time. They grow and remember how much drink meant to them, it’s hard not to compare their love of spirits over their love for you. So when he comes home and finds her dead, he’s upset but not surprised. He’d been preparing for this for some time.
Until he touched the black gunk that peeked out of her nose. Now, he’s addicted to the drink-something he was determined never to do. He didn’t want to become her, but now he has. A parasite embedded in his brain, voices yelling at him, of course, the only thing that keeps them quiet is alcohol-he now knows how his mum felt. Is there anything he can do to stop it or will he forever be Drowning in the drink?
A well written story with a beating heart and visceral storyline, one that took guts to pen. I can’t wait to read more from this author.
August 9, 2024
*Huge thanks to Radar for sending me a digital copy of this one!*
Over the last few years, I’ve connected with Radar, initially because he was a ravenous reader and reviewer. Recently, he’s started to release his own work and when I saw him put out a call asking for reviewers to try and get more eyes on his most recent release, I reached out.
I wasn’t sure at all what I was getting into, but I knew three things. The first was that it was dealing with alcoholism. The second was that it was about dealing with grief and continuing on. And the third was that it was a short read, print length listed at 78 pages.
Outside of Mark Matthew’s fantastic work detailing addiction issues, I’ve not read much work specifically focused on alcoholism (though, I myself did tackle it in my novella, ‘Wagon Buddy’) so I was keen to dive in and see what Radar offered.
What I liked: The story opens with a mother, struggling to make ends meet and support herself and her son, when a black gunk unknowingly infects her. Soon, the voices begin and the only way to drown them out is to drink. And then drink some more. And then more and then more, until the only thing she can do is drink.
Radar sets this up well, showing her rapid deterioration as the voices increase and her drinking follows. It estranges her from her son, who believes she’s just a useless drunk. But Radar also makes us readers question whether those voices are actually there. Is this a case of the character being so drunk they hear voices? Or is it that the character hears these voices, making them drink? It’s a tactic akin to what Gran did in her claustrophobic ‘Come Closer,’ but instead of us wondering if there’s a haunting like in that novel, in this case we question the reasoning behind the addiction.
Soon, the story switches to the son, who is now dealing with grief, and his own infection. He soon finds that the only way to drown out the voices is to drink, and a new understanding of what his mom was going through dawns on him. This is noted even more when he connects with Angelica, another infected person. At first they simply talk, before it moves into a relationship and they try to support each other. It was another unique look at how those deep into the addiction life, often connect with another addict, but neither knows how to dig themselves out. It was heartbreaking to watch them both continue to deteriorate, but Radar handles it with nothing but professionalism throughout.
The ending worked well to show how the power of positive thinking and hope can sometimes be all someone needs to make a change and rid themselves of negativity. It also spoke to recovery and the struggles those who don’t want to be around the thing they were addicted to face.
What I didn’t like: It’s very minor, but I wasn’t totally sold on the reaction of a parent at a funeral. I want to remain vague, to prevent spoilers, but there’d been no indication previously they were even aware of the deceased significant other and they reacted almost comically. Saying that – sometimes those harboring deep guilt need to find someone to push that blame onto, taking some of it from themselves – and I think this was maybe what DeBoard was doing.
Why you should buy this: This one is dark, sad and though seemingly a never-ending cavalcade of bleakness, also cathartic. There’s a light that leads the reader along, this potential of hope and you desperately turn the pages begging Radar to turn that light on and bring some joy into the world he’s created. Though only 78 pages, we get a story that spans several years and ultimately one that asks a lot of questions – both within the book, but also moral questions – and let’s the reader decide what the answers are. This was a fantastic read and one that I’ll admit really surprised me with the depth displayed here.
Over the last few years, I’ve connected with Radar, initially because he was a ravenous reader and reviewer. Recently, he’s started to release his own work and when I saw him put out a call asking for reviewers to try and get more eyes on his most recent release, I reached out.
I wasn’t sure at all what I was getting into, but I knew three things. The first was that it was dealing with alcoholism. The second was that it was about dealing with grief and continuing on. And the third was that it was a short read, print length listed at 78 pages.
Outside of Mark Matthew’s fantastic work detailing addiction issues, I’ve not read much work specifically focused on alcoholism (though, I myself did tackle it in my novella, ‘Wagon Buddy’) so I was keen to dive in and see what Radar offered.
What I liked: The story opens with a mother, struggling to make ends meet and support herself and her son, when a black gunk unknowingly infects her. Soon, the voices begin and the only way to drown them out is to drink. And then drink some more. And then more and then more, until the only thing she can do is drink.
Radar sets this up well, showing her rapid deterioration as the voices increase and her drinking follows. It estranges her from her son, who believes she’s just a useless drunk. But Radar also makes us readers question whether those voices are actually there. Is this a case of the character being so drunk they hear voices? Or is it that the character hears these voices, making them drink? It’s a tactic akin to what Gran did in her claustrophobic ‘Come Closer,’ but instead of us wondering if there’s a haunting like in that novel, in this case we question the reasoning behind the addiction.
Soon, the story switches to the son, who is now dealing with grief, and his own infection. He soon finds that the only way to drown out the voices is to drink, and a new understanding of what his mom was going through dawns on him. This is noted even more when he connects with Angelica, another infected person. At first they simply talk, before it moves into a relationship and they try to support each other. It was another unique look at how those deep into the addiction life, often connect with another addict, but neither knows how to dig themselves out. It was heartbreaking to watch them both continue to deteriorate, but Radar handles it with nothing but professionalism throughout.
The ending worked well to show how the power of positive thinking and hope can sometimes be all someone needs to make a change and rid themselves of negativity. It also spoke to recovery and the struggles those who don’t want to be around the thing they were addicted to face.
What I didn’t like: It’s very minor, but I wasn’t totally sold on the reaction of a parent at a funeral. I want to remain vague, to prevent spoilers, but there’d been no indication previously they were even aware of the deceased significant other and they reacted almost comically. Saying that – sometimes those harboring deep guilt need to find someone to push that blame onto, taking some of it from themselves – and I think this was maybe what DeBoard was doing.
Why you should buy this: This one is dark, sad and though seemingly a never-ending cavalcade of bleakness, also cathartic. There’s a light that leads the reader along, this potential of hope and you desperately turn the pages begging Radar to turn that light on and bring some joy into the world he’s created. Though only 78 pages, we get a story that spans several years and ultimately one that asks a lot of questions – both within the book, but also moral questions – and let’s the reader decide what the answers are. This was a fantastic read and one that I’ll admit really surprised me with the depth displayed here.
August 4, 2025
Hailey suffered a fall that landed her unable to move and while she was there a black gunk seeped into her. Ever since that day she has been hearing voices and the only thing that stops them for a short period of time is alcohol. It has gotten to a point where she is drinking so much she can hardly function and her son is also being effected by this. Soon he will be going through the same thing but hopefully he will recover from it. This story is about addiction and it can definitely hit home if you have suffered from it or have been around it. It tells a very deep meaning and it will definitely show you how addiction ruin lives. This book was very powerful and will stick with me for awhile.
September 22, 2024
This was a powerful depiction of addiction. Very well written which made it easy to fly through this book.
It's was pretty touching and I like how the addiction is represented as a parasite/illness and how it destroyed so many lives.
I need to sit with this one for a lil bit.
It's was pretty touching and I like how the addiction is represented as a parasite/illness and how it destroyed so many lives.
I need to sit with this one for a lil bit.
November 9, 2024
*I'm not going to give you the whole 'what this book is about' blurb - you can read that elsewhere.
1. Ooof, this is another heavy one. At just 78 pages, it packs a punch. While there is a lot of loss and grief covered in this novella; there are also more positive emotions such as love and hope within the pages as well. It’s not all bleak.
2. This may make me sound like a complete a-hole or incredibly lucky, but I don’t understand addiction. I’m thankful for that every single day, but that also means I’m sure I can come off a bit rude when it’s the subject of a conversation. While that’s definitely not my intention, I’m sure it happens because it’s not a topic I can relate to. This book was really great because it took something I struggled to comprehend and made it tangible. The way DeBoard portrayed addiction was so creepy and slow and relatable that it made it click for me, and now I can better see why it’s so terrifying. I know that his portrayal isn’t how it feels or is for everyone who struggles with addiction, but I think breaking it down the way he did is important for those of us on the outside.
3. The only part of this storyline that I struggled with was the spread of the disease. It seemed to be represented as communicable which threw me off a bit, however, I think the overall message is solid enough that I’m not going to focus too much on that and just say it was an important read for me. It made me think and helped open my mind while also being entertaining.
1. Ooof, this is another heavy one. At just 78 pages, it packs a punch. While there is a lot of loss and grief covered in this novella; there are also more positive emotions such as love and hope within the pages as well. It’s not all bleak.
2. This may make me sound like a complete a-hole or incredibly lucky, but I don’t understand addiction. I’m thankful for that every single day, but that also means I’m sure I can come off a bit rude when it’s the subject of a conversation. While that’s definitely not my intention, I’m sure it happens because it’s not a topic I can relate to. This book was really great because it took something I struggled to comprehend and made it tangible. The way DeBoard portrayed addiction was so creepy and slow and relatable that it made it click for me, and now I can better see why it’s so terrifying. I know that his portrayal isn’t how it feels or is for everyone who struggles with addiction, but I think breaking it down the way he did is important for those of us on the outside.
3. The only part of this storyline that I struggled with was the spread of the disease. It seemed to be represented as communicable which threw me off a bit, however, I think the overall message is solid enough that I’m not going to focus too much on that and just say it was an important read for me. It made me think and helped open my mind while also being entertaining.
July 20, 2025
Drowning in the drink 🥃
This is my first read by Radar Deboard, i went into it blind & came out of it with so many mixed feelings! 🫣
Hailey has become infected by a black gunk substance, it crawled into her body years ago & has taken over her. All she hears is constant whispers surrounding her day in, day out. She finds the only way to quiet them is through drinking but the longer it goes on the more she has to consume to silence it.
Normal life suffers around her & she soon realises this is more than a problem but how can you change a habit of a lifetime when all you want is silence? When the drink finally takes over & her son finds her cold in bed, the substance is quickly passed on to him…But he doesn’t want to end up like her & is determined to survive!
This was actually quite sad! I have an alcoholic in my family & I know how hard it can be for anyone to understand the reasons as to why the drink takes over everything that’s important. This “black gunk” is sometimes, something that can’t be prevented & the only way to escape it is through alcohol to numb the thoughts.
So yeah, I had a lot of mixed feelings once I’d finished! It was quite a powerful read for me. (Not sure if it was intended to be) 😅 It didn’t have violence or gore, just raw emotions on how many people were affected by the gunk 😔
I loved the writing style & the story had me thinking about it long after I’d finished. I can’t wait to read ‘how am I not the monster’ next! 👌🏻 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is my first read by Radar Deboard, i went into it blind & came out of it with so many mixed feelings! 🫣
Hailey has become infected by a black gunk substance, it crawled into her body years ago & has taken over her. All she hears is constant whispers surrounding her day in, day out. She finds the only way to quiet them is through drinking but the longer it goes on the more she has to consume to silence it.
Normal life suffers around her & she soon realises this is more than a problem but how can you change a habit of a lifetime when all you want is silence? When the drink finally takes over & her son finds her cold in bed, the substance is quickly passed on to him…But he doesn’t want to end up like her & is determined to survive!
This was actually quite sad! I have an alcoholic in my family & I know how hard it can be for anyone to understand the reasons as to why the drink takes over everything that’s important. This “black gunk” is sometimes, something that can’t be prevented & the only way to escape it is through alcohol to numb the thoughts.
So yeah, I had a lot of mixed feelings once I’d finished! It was quite a powerful read for me. (Not sure if it was intended to be) 😅 It didn’t have violence or gore, just raw emotions on how many people were affected by the gunk 😔
I loved the writing style & the story had me thinking about it long after I’d finished. I can’t wait to read ‘how am I not the monster’ next! 👌🏻 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
August 8, 2024
A horrific novella portraying addiction and how it effects not only the addicts life but those around them. Very well written and fast paced. V
July 23, 2024
One of my favorite reads of 2024.
The emotion in this is devastatingly palpable.
If you want to get into your feelings and aren’t triggered by alcohol abuse just get it now.
The emotion in this is devastatingly palpable.
If you want to get into your feelings and aren’t triggered by alcohol abuse just get it now.
July 26, 2024
Frightening and Fantastic!
I had a blast with this one, and finished it in one sitting. The writing flows so smoothly that I found it impossible to stop reading. This is a harrowing tale of madness and addiction, and I'm looking forward to more of DeBoard's fiction. Highly recommended!
I had a blast with this one, and finished it in one sitting. The writing flows so smoothly that I found it impossible to stop reading. This is a harrowing tale of madness and addiction, and I'm looking forward to more of DeBoard's fiction. Highly recommended!
June 2, 2024
Review to follow
July 1, 2024
There's a ton of good things to say about this novelette! First of all, Radar DeBoard's short novella has a very promising premise: infection by a supernatural parasite leads to alcoholism as treatment. Second, it stays on point and never strays into romance or paranormal adventure (though it easily could derail this way; several times the opening is there). Third, although it deals with one of the worst situations a healthy person might find itself falling into, namely addiction, the story never goes into alarm mode, trying to moralize or rationalize things: it just shows it how it is. Is it flawless, then? Well, let's see.
'Drowning in the Drink' starts with a mother of a young boy getting infected by the mysterious parasite (the "black gunk"), apparently by accident, and around the first third of the story, it passes to the son - now an adult- a bit too abruptly, in my opinion. So two thirds of the novelette is mostly about the son, no matter what the synopsis says. The adult male's point of view is dominant almost throughout, which made it very easy for me to relate to the main character and his troubles. I'm unsure how this might work in general, but I myself have no complaints on that front: DeBoard keeps things tight and down-to-earth, practical even, and rather plain, speaking emotionally. Again, this suited me fine, but I'm not certain if this will work for everyone.
At the start, I kept wondering how the infection might be manifested in the case of the young boy directly, but it turned out that the novelette portrayed the destruction of long-term alcohol abuse quite disturbingly even in the case of the mother. So if the portrayal of alcoholism is a reason to read this book, you're definitely covered: the self-annihilation of the mother's personality is awful enough on its own. But if you're after some long-winded explanation about the parasite or the causes of the infection, well, there is an explanation, it's about a line in length, and, in hindsight, looks compelling and obvious. It also provides for the rationale of the (again, a bit too abrupt) ending. The ending itself is a bit rough, though quite nightmarish. It felt very strongly like closing a parenthesis, however.
So, no, I wouldn't say that the novelette is flawless; it's hugely entertaining, though, if you're a a horror fan, and it captures in an excellent way the wrongness we sometimes feel, the wrongness embedded into the foundations of everything, the wrongness that makes horror meaningful both as experience and fiction. In that sense, 'Drowning in the Drink' is surely an achievement!
'Drowning in the Drink' starts with a mother of a young boy getting infected by the mysterious parasite (the "black gunk"), apparently by accident, and around the first third of the story, it passes to the son - now an adult- a bit too abruptly, in my opinion. So two thirds of the novelette is mostly about the son, no matter what the synopsis says. The adult male's point of view is dominant almost throughout, which made it very easy for me to relate to the main character and his troubles. I'm unsure how this might work in general, but I myself have no complaints on that front: DeBoard keeps things tight and down-to-earth, practical even, and rather plain, speaking emotionally. Again, this suited me fine, but I'm not certain if this will work for everyone.
At the start, I kept wondering how the infection might be manifested in the case of the young boy directly, but it turned out that the novelette portrayed the destruction of long-term alcohol abuse quite disturbingly even in the case of the mother. So if the portrayal of alcoholism is a reason to read this book, you're definitely covered: the self-annihilation of the mother's personality is awful enough on its own. But if you're after some long-winded explanation about the parasite or the causes of the infection, well, there is an explanation, it's about a line in length, and, in hindsight, looks compelling and obvious. It also provides for the rationale of the (again, a bit too abrupt) ending. The ending itself is a bit rough, though quite nightmarish. It felt very strongly like closing a parenthesis, however.
So, no, I wouldn't say that the novelette is flawless; it's hugely entertaining, though, if you're a a horror fan, and it captures in an excellent way the wrongness we sometimes feel, the wrongness embedded into the foundations of everything, the wrongness that makes horror meaningful both as experience and fiction. In that sense, 'Drowning in the Drink' is surely an achievement!
June 20, 2024
“Drowning in the Drink” by Radar DeBoard is a profoundly unsettling yet captivating exploration of the darkness that can consume lives from the inside out. This horror story masterfully portrays the devastating impact of addiction, weaving a tale that is as heart-wrenching as it is frightening.
The story begins with the protagonist, a woman battling an insidious force that drives her towards alcohol as a means to quiet her haunting demons. DeBoard skillfully captures the sheer helplessness and despair of addiction, making the character’s downward spiral a mirror to the struggles faced by many. The narrative is not just about addiction however; it’s also a reflection on the battle for sanity in a world where our innermost fears - or a legion of demons perhaps - can drive us to self-destruction.
I was utterly gripped by the raw emotional depth and the eerie, horror-infused atmosphere of the book. The author’s depiction of the protagonists’ fights to reclaim their lives, amidst the chaos of their own minds, is both brutal and beautiful. The pacing is relentless, each chapter drawing you deeper into the turmoil, making it impossible to put the book down. After finishing, I found myself returning to the first page to start again, discovering new layers and gaining even greater appreciation for DeBoard’s storytelling prowess.
"Drowning in the Drink" is more than just a horror novel. It’s a must-read for anyone who has ever felt overwhelmed by their own inner darkness or watched helplessly as a loved one struggled. Radar DeBoard has not only written a truly scary story but has also opened a window into the soul’s capacity for endurance and the possibility of redemption.
The story begins with the protagonist, a woman battling an insidious force that drives her towards alcohol as a means to quiet her haunting demons. DeBoard skillfully captures the sheer helplessness and despair of addiction, making the character’s downward spiral a mirror to the struggles faced by many. The narrative is not just about addiction however; it’s also a reflection on the battle for sanity in a world where our innermost fears - or a legion of demons perhaps - can drive us to self-destruction.
I was utterly gripped by the raw emotional depth and the eerie, horror-infused atmosphere of the book. The author’s depiction of the protagonists’ fights to reclaim their lives, amidst the chaos of their own minds, is both brutal and beautiful. The pacing is relentless, each chapter drawing you deeper into the turmoil, making it impossible to put the book down. After finishing, I found myself returning to the first page to start again, discovering new layers and gaining even greater appreciation for DeBoard’s storytelling prowess.
"Drowning in the Drink" is more than just a horror novel. It’s a must-read for anyone who has ever felt overwhelmed by their own inner darkness or watched helplessly as a loved one struggled. Radar DeBoard has not only written a truly scary story but has also opened a window into the soul’s capacity for endurance and the possibility of redemption.
January 4, 2025
I don’t believe ‘enjoy’ is the right word for Drowning in the Drink, due to its heavy content and brutal honesty. However, I will venture to say that I am awestruck by how hard it hit me, especially given it was only about 100 pages in length. While it is a quick read, it managed to cover various topics within the generalized theme with a range that I was not expecting.
I connected with this novella on a personal level and truly appreciated the author's attention to detail as well as his talent for painting vivid imagery during the most heart wrenching parts.
Radar crafted a tale centered around addiction in a completely original way unlike anything I have read yet. It is masked with symbolism but speaks the truth with accuracy by diving into the depths of this theme. The reader can safely explore sensitive subject matter in a way that will not isolate them as they navigate through the lives of our main characters, consumed by the tragedy that is addiction.
One can expect this read to be on the heavier side of horror but it is exquisite in its own right. Thought-provoking, balanced, courageous, and truly written with finesse. It is quite an accomplishment to achieve what has been done within these pages.
I connected with this novella on a personal level and truly appreciated the author's attention to detail as well as his talent for painting vivid imagery during the most heart wrenching parts.
Radar crafted a tale centered around addiction in a completely original way unlike anything I have read yet. It is masked with symbolism but speaks the truth with accuracy by diving into the depths of this theme. The reader can safely explore sensitive subject matter in a way that will not isolate them as they navigate through the lives of our main characters, consumed by the tragedy that is addiction.
One can expect this read to be on the heavier side of horror but it is exquisite in its own right. Thought-provoking, balanced, courageous, and truly written with finesse. It is quite an accomplishment to achieve what has been done within these pages.
March 7, 2025
This was a actually a book that I found while scrolling Tiktok, so yeah, see some good things come of it ha.
This was so sinister, black sludge that makes you hear dark and sinister voices, not good, but what if the voices aren't from the outside, and its your own dark thoughts..
Hailey is infected with this, situation, is it a disease or a curse?
No one knows much, but Hailey has been copping by drinking, and not just a sip or two..
But how can you keep something like that up, being a struggling mother already, and add this to the mix? My heart was already breaking.
Cut to her son, who going through similar, and to me that's when things started to really make sense, not just the surface of what this story is.
This is about how addiction can be passed down, in more ways then one, addiction leaves marks on those around you, is this a sludge infection or is this the true vein of what addiction is?
I don't want to say much more and spoil the ending, but this really hit me somewhere , having parents like this and having to break that cycle, some would even say a infectious one..
I enjoyed this.
This was so sinister, black sludge that makes you hear dark and sinister voices, not good, but what if the voices aren't from the outside, and its your own dark thoughts..
Hailey is infected with this, situation, is it a disease or a curse?
No one knows much, but Hailey has been copping by drinking, and not just a sip or two..
But how can you keep something like that up, being a struggling mother already, and add this to the mix? My heart was already breaking.
Cut to her son, who going through similar, and to me that's when things started to really make sense, not just the surface of what this story is.
This is about how addiction can be passed down, in more ways then one, addiction leaves marks on those around you, is this a sludge infection or is this the true vein of what addiction is?
I don't want to say much more and spoil the ending, but this really hit me somewhere , having parents like this and having to break that cycle, some would even say a infectious one..
I enjoyed this.
May 31, 2024
First thing to note - the blurb under the author section at the end of the book: "..create something so horrific that it lingers in the reader's mind for years to come." Mission accomplished. This story will stick with me for a LONG time.
The first sentence hooked me in immediately and the last sentence was so unsettling in the best way.
I absolutely loved this book. The creepy feeling I got from the first chapter sucked me straight into the story and made me NEED to know what happened next.
The book was completely enthralling. I loved the writing style and the author's ability to make me feel so much for three different characters in such a short amount of space. I was perturbed but in such an unexpected and thought-provoking way.
I dnf a lot of books if I don't get sucked into the story right away and this book gave me the opposite feeling. This book is relatively short, but I could have read so much more.
All I know is I will be rereading this book many times, I truly loved it.
The first sentence hooked me in immediately and the last sentence was so unsettling in the best way.
I absolutely loved this book. The creepy feeling I got from the first chapter sucked me straight into the story and made me NEED to know what happened next.
The book was completely enthralling. I loved the writing style and the author's ability to make me feel so much for three different characters in such a short amount of space. I was perturbed but in such an unexpected and thought-provoking way.
I dnf a lot of books if I don't get sucked into the story right away and this book gave me the opposite feeling. This book is relatively short, but I could have read so much more.
All I know is I will be rereading this book many times, I truly loved it.
November 11, 2024
This is a sad tale about addiction.
A mother hears a strange noise and takes a fall down the stairs while she's on the floor this black blob type substance attaches to her face and seeps into her her nose where it proceeds to burrow into her brain.
The black gunk starts to whisper to her and the only cure to quiet the voices is alcohol, she starts to go to work wasted, and eventually the alcohol takes over her life and eventually ends it.
Her son Michael moved out and couldn't help his mother's "addiction" upon finding her corpse in her bedroom he notices some black gunk on her lip, as he leans closer the gunk attaches to his cheek and eventually burrows into his eye, so now he is hearing the voices, and of course the only way to quiet the voices is alcohol.
While reading this it made me wonder if this is what alcoholics experience are voices and the only to keep them at bay is with another drink.
This was a sad tale and at times pretty gross. The author really visualized these people additions, and how they lived. Highly recommended.
A mother hears a strange noise and takes a fall down the stairs while she's on the floor this black blob type substance attaches to her face and seeps into her her nose where it proceeds to burrow into her brain.
The black gunk starts to whisper to her and the only cure to quiet the voices is alcohol, she starts to go to work wasted, and eventually the alcohol takes over her life and eventually ends it.
Her son Michael moved out and couldn't help his mother's "addiction" upon finding her corpse in her bedroom he notices some black gunk on her lip, as he leans closer the gunk attaches to his cheek and eventually burrows into his eye, so now he is hearing the voices, and of course the only way to quiet the voices is alcohol.
While reading this it made me wonder if this is what alcoholics experience are voices and the only to keep them at bay is with another drink.
This was a sad tale and at times pretty gross. The author really visualized these people additions, and how they lived. Highly recommended.
November 28, 2024
I completely understand what the author was trying to do here, but this short story of a woman (literally) driven to drink, and what happens after does have good intentions, but it doesn’t quite come off effectively as a whole. The writing style is direct and blunt, which disengaged me as a reader to some degree, and whilst it has some very good (and harrowing) descriptions as to the physical and emotional tolls of chronic alcoholism that did elicit pity for the characters at times, it also seemed to trade these descriptions for a lack of depth in the story overall.
There was no real necessity for the “cause” of the MC’s issues – particularly when the origin of the cause was never explained. In fact, it may have been better if the author had left this plot strand out completely and just focused on the ravages of the disease of alcoholism, as he did write these aspects very well. Nonetheless, the author should be commended for trying to put a different spin on an issue that touches so many, particularly in my country, and as such it was worth the read despite its flaws. 3 stars.
There was no real necessity for the “cause” of the MC’s issues – particularly when the origin of the cause was never explained. In fact, it may have been better if the author had left this plot strand out completely and just focused on the ravages of the disease of alcoholism, as he did write these aspects very well. Nonetheless, the author should be commended for trying to put a different spin on an issue that touches so many, particularly in my country, and as such it was worth the read despite its flaws. 3 stars.
May 28, 2024
I received an arc for this book to read and provide an honest review! There may be spoilers so flagging appropriately.
This story follows a young woman over the course of her life as she battles with an addiction to alcohol that both hurts and saves her from the voices that threaten her very sanity. Through the turmoil, loss, absolute depression - we see her spiral to the bitter end. Her son, who has been witness to her downfall eventually succumbs to her ailment.
This story was so ominous and creepy. It was claustrophobic at times and that made me HAVE to keep reading to find out what happens. Michael’s relationship with Angelica was so sweet but doomed from tragedy. She propelled him into a different path.
The ending served in a fantastic way. The fight against the voices and the sheer will to overcome was satisfying. Definitely pick up this book - it’s a quick and easy read but heavy elements.
This story follows a young woman over the course of her life as she battles with an addiction to alcohol that both hurts and saves her from the voices that threaten her very sanity. Through the turmoil, loss, absolute depression - we see her spiral to the bitter end. Her son, who has been witness to her downfall eventually succumbs to her ailment.
This story was so ominous and creepy. It was claustrophobic at times and that made me HAVE to keep reading to find out what happens. Michael’s relationship with Angelica was so sweet but doomed from tragedy. She propelled him into a different path.
The ending served in a fantastic way. The fight against the voices and the sheer will to overcome was satisfying. Definitely pick up this book - it’s a quick and easy read but heavy elements.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 26, 2024
If I could hand this book out to everyone who doesn’t understand addiction or doesn’t believe it is a disease or hasn’t suffered from it themselves, I would.
I won’t overview as this is a shorter story and just by the name alone you can understand what this is about. My heart broke for Hailey, Michael and Angelica. Their stories unfortunately happen to real people every single day.
Radar does a beautiful job writing this story and if it doesn’t evoke some sort of emotion from you, I don’t know what will. I recommend this read to anyone but please make sure that you’re in an okay mental space when doing so, especially if you’re more triggered when it comes to issues of alcoholism and addiction.
And lastly, this book is another reminder as to why my own sobriety and recovery continues to be the best decision I have ever made. As I write this I am 2,418 days sober. We do recover. ❤️🩹
Happy reading. 📖
I won’t overview as this is a shorter story and just by the name alone you can understand what this is about. My heart broke for Hailey, Michael and Angelica. Their stories unfortunately happen to real people every single day.
Radar does a beautiful job writing this story and if it doesn’t evoke some sort of emotion from you, I don’t know what will. I recommend this read to anyone but please make sure that you’re in an okay mental space when doing so, especially if you’re more triggered when it comes to issues of alcoholism and addiction.
And lastly, this book is another reminder as to why my own sobriety and recovery continues to be the best decision I have ever made. As I write this I am 2,418 days sober. We do recover. ❤️🩹
Happy reading. 📖
August 17, 2024
Radar DeBoard takes us into the insidious world of the black gunk that causes unrelenting voices. Michael is raised by a mother who was first taken over by the black gunk, used alcohol to quiet the voices, and suffers the consequences. We see the deterioration of his mother but this is just the beginning of Michael's nightmares, when he also becomes infected.
Radar is a gifted writer who brings us through the experience, the physical toll, the smells and fights of dealing with alcoholism. He does it in a way that gives a new understanding of the battle while writing an excellent horror novel. This book should be required reading for anyone that has experienced addiction or loves someone battling this demon. Radar DeBoard is a rare wordsmith who lets you see things with new eyes and I wish I could give this book more stars.
Radar is a gifted writer who brings us through the experience, the physical toll, the smells and fights of dealing with alcoholism. He does it in a way that gives a new understanding of the battle while writing an excellent horror novel. This book should be required reading for anyone that has experienced addiction or loves someone battling this demon. Radar DeBoard is a rare wordsmith who lets you see things with new eyes and I wish I could give this book more stars.
November 3, 2024
With piercing and haunting narrative, Deboard brilliantly weaves the metaphorical dangers of addiction with the compulsive obsession of an insatiable evil substance. The tragic storyline masterfully guides you through the inner turmoil of its dark and complex characters. Each chapter pulls you further into an oppressive battle with a legion of villainous inner voices whose only aim is to destroy all remaining fragments of hope, relationships and the will to live. This conflict rages, leading the reader to an unlikely turn of events that will leave even the most resolute horror afficienado unsettled and disturbed. Truly a tale of destiny and torment. A saga of courage and despair. And an epic encounter between the reality of a vile illness that takes away the strength to overcome. Drowning in the Dark addresses a cultural stigma too important to keep bottled up.
November 15, 2024
This story is so close to my heart, and the metaphor for addiction is brilliantly laid out. The story was a quick read and easy to keep up with, pulling on the heart strings and still feeling relatable even through the horror, tragedy, and slight paranormal encounter with the substance that triggers the addiction. I can truly say I have never felt so seen and understood as I did reading this book - finally, someone has found a way to capture the real feeling of what it means to struggle with substance abuse issues and translate it in a way that other people on the outside can understand it. The ending was so perfect, and even knowing the infection will persist, I had a feeling of contentment knowing that Michael was in recovery.
June 29, 2024
This was probably one of the deepest horror books I’ve read in a long time. The level of emotion and grief experienced throughout the book unrelentingly grabs you and refuses to let you go.
Having experience with seeing the effects substance abuse can have on a person and those around them I can wholeheartedly say that Radar captures it so perfectly that there is no better way I can think of to describe what it’s like.
The ending I felt was absolutely perfect and watching Michael regain control was incredibly satisfying.
All-in-all this was a 5⭐️ for me and I would gladly recommend this book.
Bravo!
Having experience with seeing the effects substance abuse can have on a person and those around them I can wholeheartedly say that Radar captures it so perfectly that there is no better way I can think of to describe what it’s like.
The ending I felt was absolutely perfect and watching Michael regain control was incredibly satisfying.
All-in-all this was a 5⭐️ for me and I would gladly recommend this book.
Bravo!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 4, 2024
This is a quick read, but don't let that fool you it is heavy. This book does such a fantastic job depicting addiction. It describes it in a way that someone who has never struggled with addiction or watched someone struggle with addiction can get a better understanding.
The black gunk can be looked at as so many things and the way it came across to me really hit home. As someone who struggled with alcoholism for a handful of years, this was an eye opener to what my future could have looked like. Sometimes people suffering from addiction don't always realize the effect it has on those around them, even strangers, sometimes the smallest amount of gunk, can change someone's life forever.
The black gunk can be looked at as so many things and the way it came across to me really hit home. As someone who struggled with alcoholism for a handful of years, this was an eye opener to what my future could have looked like. Sometimes people suffering from addiction don't always realize the effect it has on those around them, even strangers, sometimes the smallest amount of gunk, can change someone's life forever.
June 9, 2024
Alcohol addiction is a horrible thing and this fact is Very interestingly explored in this story. The main characters battling with the. Infection and the evil voices that can only be cured by numbing themselves with alcohol and reading about their struggles was hard to take. I figured this story wouldn’t have a happy ending and I wasn’t proven wrong. The story was OK overall, but there was something lacking in it for me. I’m not really sure what. I was gifted this book and I’m giving an honest review.
August 1, 2024
Such a strong and meaningful short story! It’s captivating with sadness, raw emotions, and horror. The mental fight is on with the mysterious black “gunk” that enters into the main characters brains. The book centers on these voices that they constantly hear, and how they deal with the voices is through immense amounts of alcohol. The story dives into the effects of alcoholism in oneself as well in other relationships.
This is a book to read in one sitting! The story is very unique and well written.
Thank you to Radar DeBoard for an arc of this amazing novella!
This is a book to read in one sitting! The story is very unique and well written.
Thank you to Radar DeBoard for an arc of this amazing novella!
May 30, 2024
Hailey suffers a fall leading to hearing voices. There is one way Hailey has found away to turn off these voices. That was the drink. The story then follows Hailey as she uses the drink to cope with the voices. Michael her son in this time has grown. Will Michael suffer the same fate as his mother?
Contains themes of grief, alcoholism, desperation, sadness, mental illness and attachment issues within relationships
Contains themes of grief, alcoholism, desperation, sadness, mental illness and attachment issues within relationships
July 12, 2024
I was so thrilled to find a contributor copy (?? formatter copy?) of this in my mailbox after I had the honor of formatting the book.
It was such a sorrowful read, but I loved getting lost in DeBoard's prose. This was such a different experience than the microfiction collection, and it was great to see how everything was fleshed out and given room to breathe.
It really is a touching story that is speculative, but also quite real.
I would highly recommend this book.
It was such a sorrowful read, but I loved getting lost in DeBoard's prose. This was such a different experience than the microfiction collection, and it was great to see how everything was fleshed out and given room to breathe.
It really is a touching story that is speculative, but also quite real.
I would highly recommend this book.
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