Yours Forever

by Robbie Dorman

Henry Collingsworth writes to his lost love, as he searches for her stolen heart. His hunt has brought him to the House, a gothic mansion located outside a cancerous town, built by the villainous Architect. The Architect has locked her heart inside and Henry seeks to reclaim it and deliver her unto salvation.

But his quest is far from simple.

Henry discovers the House holds much more than his Beloved’s heart. Beneath it lies a unfathomable maze, defying time and space, the key to his fervent crusade hidden deep inside.

If Henry is to find her heart, he must delve down a thousand hallways and through a thousand doors. Doors which contain a thousand thousand worlds, containing riddles, madness, mutation, and death.

Can Henry survive the treacherous labyrinth, and save his Beloved?

Will be emerge from the maze at all?

214 pages, Hardcover

Published September 30, 2024

About the author

Robbie Dorman believes in horror. Words of Christ in Red is his seventeenth and newest novel. When he's not writing, he's making cocktails, walking his dog, or playing video games. He lives in Florida with his partner Kim, their three cats, and the best dog in the world.

Reviews

[Abby Draper · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I dream of finding you on the morrow, the morrow I cannot measure.”

This was such an interesting book! I wasn’t sure what to expect and it definitely crossed a lot of genres. At first, I felt like I was ready a Nancy Drew mystery with puzzles to solve, then it was like House of Leaves, and then it morphed into its own kind of horror.

I enjoyed the unique story and I’m glad it didn’t end in a cliché or predictable way. I can’t tell if I want more explanation or if I like the ambiguity.

There were some issues with sentence structure and word usage that bothered me, but it didn’t detract from the story too much!

[Scott Roche · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edgar Allan Poe
Bram Stoker
Howard Phillips Lovecraft
Clive Barker

This book reads like a love letter to the fiction created by these three men. And yet, it carries the stamp I've come to expect of Dorman's writing. Hiding under the surface of the lyrical prose are the horrors of war and destruction man visits upon himself. The commentary regarding man's war against himself is timely.

Henry Collingsworth buys a house, believing it to contain the heart of his Beloved. We are left as readers to question whether he's looking for her literal heart or something less sinister. The gothic house he'd come to search is unique. He searches every level for clues, finding nothing. It's not until he gets to the basement that he discovers the house's true secrets.

What follows is a harrowing journey that will winnow Hollingsworth down to his essential being and bring him to the brink of madness.

Dorman uses the epistolary form masterfully, bringing us into Hollingsworth's mind. We ask ourselves if what he's seeing is real or imagined. Is the maddening maze he finds truly part of our universe or some other? In the end, does he find his Beloved?

The tension, the beautiful prose, the level of detail in describing the rooms and worlds Hollingsworth encounters all make for a rich and truly disturbing tapestry. This is a departure from Dorman's usual oeuvre, but he pulls it off and I want to see him take more risks like this.

[Thebiblioholic · Rating 3 out of 5]

The maze and gothic elements are definitely interesting and what initially drew me in, but the story falls a bit flat with predictable character development. Henry’s descent into madness was not as intense as I would have preferred and could have used some unexpected twists and more details on his inner struggles. Although the book had some gory moments, it read more like dark fantasy to me personally. That said, it still delivers a creepy psychological journey with plenty of eerie, imaginative moments, making it a fun read for fans of psychological horror. I'm looking forward to checking out more books by the author that may be more my style.

[TaleshaReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one is 3.75 ⭐️ for me. This book was different from any other horror I've read. I appreciated that, and the fact that I felt like this read like a dark Alice in Wonderland. I will say I am still thinking about this book and what the ending meant, and it's been about 12 hours. So, if you like one that keeps you guessing, this would be a great one to try!

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a unique storyline. It gave that scary type of book. Had me guessing throughout the book on what would happen next.

There are secrets and a maze you don’t want to miss out on. As you read on, you will find yourself questioning what is happening.

It was a good read and enjoyed the mystery within.

[Romina ❀ Garcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

“𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧.”

·͙*̩̩͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩̥͙　✩　*̩̩̥͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩͙‧͙ ·͙*̩̩͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩̥͙　✩　*̩̩̥͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩͙‧͙

What..The fuck? That was.. interesting.

The dread that coursed throughout my body 40% was incredible, but that remainder of the book was, though concerning, great.

[Tabytha Boozenny · Rating 2 out of 5]

I tried to like this book. The story was intriguing, the writing style just wasn't for me.

[Scarlett Rosewood · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book consumes your mind. You never truly what’s real and what isn’t. And the way Robbie has weaved the story and lives together is masterful. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a cerebral mystery. I had to read the end twice just to make sure I had it write. But this book!

[Kimberly Gordon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good enjoyable mystery,almost poetic in a way.