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Hell: The Possession and Exorcism of Cassie Stevens
Something Evil is Inside Cassie Stevens
In a quiet coastal New England town, a girl awakes suddenly in the dead of night — there's something in the room with her. She doesn’t see it or hear it, but she feels it in the pit of her soul. The presence of cold unseen eyes watching her from the darkness.
Ever since surviving a near-death experience in a crash, Cassie Stevens has been haunted by this malevolent presence. She’s shunned by friends and classmates who fear her, and with good reason — terrifying phenomena is happening around her, and something evil is taking over.
From the author of 'Hell: The Necromancer,' read the book readers are calling “a wild scary ride literally to hell and back.”
In a quiet coastal New England town, a girl awakes suddenly in the dead of night — there's something in the room with her. She doesn’t see it or hear it, but she feels it in the pit of her soul. The presence of cold unseen eyes watching her from the darkness.
Ever since surviving a near-death experience in a crash, Cassie Stevens has been haunted by this malevolent presence. She’s shunned by friends and classmates who fear her, and with good reason — terrifying phenomena is happening around her, and something evil is taking over.
From the author of 'Hell: The Necromancer,' read the book readers are calling “a wild scary ride literally to hell and back.”
374 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 9, 2018
553 people are currently reading
988 people want to read
About the author
Tom Lewis
6 books254 followersHey All. I’ve revised my bio yet again so it doesn’t sound like I’m describing myself in third person. I’m an entertainment attorney (I draft contracts for movies), writer, filmmaker, and former Marine. I write scary books and laugh-out-loud spice-free rom-coms.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 162 reviews
December 27, 2025
Cassie, aged 16, has not had an easy time since her father died.
"How well do you know Cassie Stevens?"
"...Pretty well, I guess." He shrugged. "Why?"
"Just be careful. There's something really wrong with her."
She's almost inexplicably drawn to darkness and the macabre. And what began as gentle curiosity has evolved into something much, much sinister.
She met new friends - Seth, Silvia and Trish - fellow goths who have a taste for darkness.
"He also knew the rites - the dark ones they practiced on those moonless nights amongst the graves."
They convince her to join them for a Black Mass - a ceremony worshiping Satan - and while Cassie was dubious, she didn't take much convincing.
She was intrigued and excited by this forbidden knowledge.
And, shortly after the mass, Cassie's life is completely upended.
"The alter was about three feet tall, and draped in a burgundy-colored cloth with an inverted cross embroidered into it."
Returning from the Black Mass, Cassie has little control - she watches as her life spirals into drugs, alcohol and vengeful thoughts. Demonic possession.
"They were always watching, she realized - every thought and deed...Always there. Always watching. And always waiting."
And then she dies - well kind of. She is involved in a car accident is is pronounced dead but was later revived.
And, like a miracle, everything that was pushing her over the edge is gone. She's able to settle back down...but little does she know, evil doesn't just go away.
Tom Lewis's Hell was terrifyingly awesome.
"...a deep crushing fear gripped her as she continued to stare at the empty window.
It was back."
The plot and the characters were expertly done - so much that I would literally forget I was reading a book. (Total immersion!)
Lewis perfectly captured the inner monologue of Cassie and I was genuinely creeped out by his novel (I couldn't read the Black Mass!).
But it wasn't all gore and horror - I loved subtle elements of humor that lightened this considerable novel.
The side plot involving Sean, a young Father, was intriguing. Watching his inner struggle of faith while projecting an outward impression for his parishioners really spoke to me.
"Most detrimental, however, was the seminary's failure to teach the subject of demons..."
I do wish the transition between the possession and the ending was a bit longer. The book did feel like it was wrapped up rather quickly, but honestly it was so riveting that I hardly noticed.
This was such a gripping page-turner, I loved every chapter! Definitely my favorite Tom Lewis novel.
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"All sheep, that voice whispered again.
Baaaa baaaa baaaa."
November 12, 2019
5 Terrified Stars!
You want great possessed-by-demons fiction?
You want to be scared out of your wits?
You want a book you have to read either during the day or with extra lights on?
I give you HELL!
This book has fantastic writing, storytelling, characters, and scares. I saw someone once say that they love books in the horror category, but that it had been a long time since they were truly scared by a book. I cannot remember who said that, but if you are reading this review – here it is! Read this! Prepare to cower in fear!
This is not horror for the faint of heart. This is not your basic twisted-mystery thriller. This is an in your face, no holds barred, I-hope-you-have-a-change-of-shorts-on-you roller coaster ride of twisted evil. You will be possessed by satisfied joy when you finish – or, you will be kicking yourself for reading it when you have trouble sleeping for the next month!
I have had the pleasure of reading some really great independently published novels this year. This book is definitely one of my favorites of all books I read this year and would easily defeat some of my favorites from other years. It is the real deal! Thanks to Tom Lewis for a copy of his book in exchange for an honest review. It is really, honestly, truthfully worth your time if you love the horror genre.
You want great possessed-by-demons fiction?
You want to be scared out of your wits?
You want a book you have to read either during the day or with extra lights on?
I give you HELL!
This book has fantastic writing, storytelling, characters, and scares. I saw someone once say that they love books in the horror category, but that it had been a long time since they were truly scared by a book. I cannot remember who said that, but if you are reading this review – here it is! Read this! Prepare to cower in fear!
This is not horror for the faint of heart. This is not your basic twisted-mystery thriller. This is an in your face, no holds barred, I-hope-you-have-a-change-of-shorts-on-you roller coaster ride of twisted evil. You will be possessed by satisfied joy when you finish – or, you will be kicking yourself for reading it when you have trouble sleeping for the next month!
I have had the pleasure of reading some really great independently published novels this year. This book is definitely one of my favorites of all books I read this year and would easily defeat some of my favorites from other years. It is the real deal! Thanks to Tom Lewis for a copy of his book in exchange for an honest review. It is really, honestly, truthfully worth your time if you love the horror genre.
June 24, 2022
You will need a gallon of Holy Water, a Bible, and a priest on standby to read this one. Halfway through, I had to stop reading to turn on all the lights in my house. Recommend!
October 25, 2018
I'm loving these Halloween reads! I have scary movies on in the background too! 😁🎃👻
I enjoyed this book and it was pretty damn creepy! Good Lord! Demons and possession, nope. Just nope!
There was an animal sacrifice I didn't like so I just skim over that and there are a few sex scenes and gross stuff you can skim over if you don't want to read that either. I'm a master at skimming that stuff, unless it's on Audible!
Anyway, if you enjoy books about possession and just creepiness in general then this book is for you. Also, it's on kindle unlimited or you can just buy it like I did for 99 cents US.
Happy Reading!
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
June 7, 2022
**3.5-stars rounded up**
High schooler, Cassie Stevens, is a bit of a loner. Particularly after the death of her father, she struggles to connect with people, even her Mom.
She seems to find comfort with a trio of friends, widely known as the goth kids, and they start doing goth-type activities together.
You know, like attending Satan worshipping ceremonies.
The main event Cassie attends, Black Mass, is a drug and alcohol fueled orgy to Satan. Unfortunately, Cassie goes home from the Mass with a lot more than a hangover.
Things get really crazy after a car accident leaves Cassie technically 'dead' for a few minutes.
After that, her fate seems sealed. She now feels a presence around her; something dark and evil lurking just in her periphery.
Unhinged by this development, she begins to cause noticeable disturbances while at school and at home.
Cassie needs help and it quickly becomes apparent that main-stream medicine is not going to 'cure' what ails her.
You guys, this is a really fun possession story that I have no problems recommending to my horror-loving friends.
Was it perfect?
No.
There were a couple of things that I noticed that could have been improved upon; repetitive phrasing, things of that nature, but overall, this was creepy AF and I thoroughly enjoyed my time reading it.
In my opinion, it offers up a unique twist on possession. The way it was described, and viewing it through Cassie's perspective, made it different from your standard tale where you exclusively follow people on the outside; the non-possessed characters.
I liked seeing things from Cassie's perspective. What it felt like for her. What she saw and how confusing and desperate it was for her. This upped the intensity greatly, in my opinion.
The story really drew me in as well. When I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about reading it and therefore got through it rather quickly.
Lewis excels at building up suspense and there were parts that definitely got under my skin. I tried not to read it directly before bed without a palate cleansing Contemporary or Fantasy to read for a bit after.
Thank you so much to the author, Tom Lewis, for providing me with a copy to read and review.
I always appreciate the opportunity to provide my opinion on a book. I would absolutely pick up more books from this author and look forward to doing so!
Original: ..."for fans of The Exorcist and Stephen King..."
High schooler, Cassie Stevens, is a bit of a loner. Particularly after the death of her father, she struggles to connect with people, even her Mom.
She seems to find comfort with a trio of friends, widely known as the goth kids, and they start doing goth-type activities together.
You know, like attending Satan worshipping ceremonies.
The main event Cassie attends, Black Mass, is a drug and alcohol fueled orgy to Satan. Unfortunately, Cassie goes home from the Mass with a lot more than a hangover.
Things get really crazy after a car accident leaves Cassie technically 'dead' for a few minutes.
After that, her fate seems sealed. She now feels a presence around her; something dark and evil lurking just in her periphery.
Unhinged by this development, she begins to cause noticeable disturbances while at school and at home.
Cassie needs help and it quickly becomes apparent that main-stream medicine is not going to 'cure' what ails her.
You guys, this is a really fun possession story that I have no problems recommending to my horror-loving friends.
Was it perfect?
No.
There were a couple of things that I noticed that could have been improved upon; repetitive phrasing, things of that nature, but overall, this was creepy AF and I thoroughly enjoyed my time reading it.
In my opinion, it offers up a unique twist on possession. The way it was described, and viewing it through Cassie's perspective, made it different from your standard tale where you exclusively follow people on the outside; the non-possessed characters.
I liked seeing things from Cassie's perspective. What it felt like for her. What she saw and how confusing and desperate it was for her. This upped the intensity greatly, in my opinion.
The story really drew me in as well. When I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about reading it and therefore got through it rather quickly.
Lewis excels at building up suspense and there were parts that definitely got under my skin. I tried not to read it directly before bed without a palate cleansing Contemporary or Fantasy to read for a bit after.
Thank you so much to the author, Tom Lewis, for providing me with a copy to read and review.
I always appreciate the opportunity to provide my opinion on a book. I would absolutely pick up more books from this author and look forward to doing so!
Original: ..."for fans of The Exorcist and Stephen King..."
October 9, 2018
I wrote it =)
March 14, 2019
”Something was in the car with them.
From the corner of her eye, she had glimpsed a dark shape that appeared like a shadow. It had vanished as she turned in its direction, but it wasn’t gone. She felt its presence remain--something unseen, and unheard, yet unmistakably felt. Like a whisper from the darkness of an empty room, or the putrid wretchedness of a bloated corpse, its presence filled the cramped space with a sickening aura. And that aura was unmitigated hatred and horror.
It was watching her.”
Cassie Stevens is a typical teenager slipping and sliding her way through the most embarrassing years of her life. Her life has become unmoored with the untimely death of her father. Her mother has to work a lot of hours to keep hearth and home together.
Cassie is attention deprived.
She is about to get more attention than she could ever want.
With the help of her goth friends, she invites something insidious from the other side of the veil. Just a bit of dark fun, right? No harm, no foul, except that something evil is lurking in the periphery of her eye.
Meanwhile, there is the handsome Father Sean McCready, otherwise known to the teenage girls he offers education classes for as Father What-A-Waste. If they are good looking, why do they always turn out to be gay, a priest, or even worse, the double whammy of a gay priest? (Sighs from women everywhere.) His friend and confidant, Father Jenkins, is trying to guide McCready through this disarming of his faith that McCready has been suffering from since coming in contact with something depraved and stinking of Hell. Sean is starting to have some unsettling nightmares of his own.
”Her skin began to darken and crinkle. Dark splotches spread across her face, and clumps of hair fell from her scalp. The skin of her face shriveled and tore like thin sheets of paper, and her lips peeled back from her teeth in a grim death’s face.
She raised a skeletal hand and reached for his face….
And he felt it touch him.”
My shiver meter is shaking like an 8.0 just hit Capetown, Maine.
So what are we talking about here?
”Demon possession is when a demon inhabits a person and takes possession of their faculties of thought, and mind, and even control.”
Cassie becomes a different person. Shy and unassuming doesn’t become bitchy, mouthy, self-assured, and violent overnight.
Something has happened to Cassie.
Her only hope might be a faith shaken priest who has his own clutching demons to shake loose from.
Tom Lewis has stomped the gas pedal to the floor and has dropped some nitroglycerin in the tank. The plot is unrelenting, and though we know what is going on, after all we are taking this trip right along with Cassie, the twists and turns will leave the reader as agitated as the first time he saw The Exorcist. The movie that makes everyone consider converting to Catholicism. Warning: while reading this book, darkness might encroach, and the room may shrink to the size of the pool of light from your reading lamp. After reading this book, you may, too, start to see evil lurking in the periphery of your vision. It should fade after a few days.
I decided to ask Tom Lewis a few questions, from a safe distance.
Jeffrey D. Keeten: I want to start with the big hairy, red eyed creature question. Are you currently demon possessed or have you ever been demon possessed?
Tom Lewis dodged this question, or maybe there was something holding him back from answering it. I don’t know. Maybe something like a hell flaming, demon hand grasping his throat? After an awkward pause with lots of odd squawking and rumblings coming from Santa Monica (was that a squirrel I hear?), I resumed the interview.
Jeffrey D. Keeten: Assuming your answer is no (I’m frankly a little uneasy about resting too definitively on my assumption at this point), do you believe in demon possession, and in your research did you feel you found evidence to support such a belief?
Tom Lewis: I do believe in demonic possession – as evidence, just take a look at my profession and the industry I work in. LOL! But in all seriousness, I do believe, and even more so after reading some of the research materials.
And speaking of research, I did a lot of research on the subject. A great resource book I used was Fr. Malachi Martin’s book “Hostage to the Devil.” It chronicles 5 contemporary cases of possession and exorcism and is the scariest thing I’ve ever read. The author (now deceased) was a Jesuit priest.
Another resource I used was Fr. Gabriel Amoth’s book “An Exorcist Tells His Story.” Fr. Amoth was the official Vatican exorcist.
Jeffrey D. Keeten: The Catholic Church seems to be the first and last defense, at least in popular culture, for exorcising a demon. Have you come across situations where a Protestant minister was able to step up beyond the collection plate and take on a demon entity other than...well...you know... Jesse Custer?
Tom Lewis: As for Protestant exorcisms, Fr. Martin seemed to indicate that Protestant ministers could perform the rite.
My main focus of the research was to learn about the interior horrors experienced by the possessed victim and the priest. All of the external phenomena is there – the stench and noises, the inexplicable cold, the haunting visions, objects flying around, etc. – but I really wanted people to empathize with Cassie’s plight of being trapped in this filth and horror her body and mind were becoming.
Incidentally, the words Fr. Sean recites in my book are from the actual Catholic Rite of Exorcism missal. The entire rite is longer and consists of a lot more prayers, so I was only able to include the more dramatic portions.
Jeffrey D. Keeten: I see that you are an entertainment lawyer, which does sound like a profession that the Devil would endorse. What exactly does that job consist of?
Tom Lewis: My job as an entertainment attorney is handling all of the negotiations and contracts for films. My clients are the producers, so I do everything from securing rights for the screenplays, to negotiating agreements with the talent, directors, distributors, financiers, etc. It's fun, but writing is a zillion times more fun.
Jeffrey D. Keeten: So what is next for author Tom Lewis? Another horror, another bit of bloody mayhem?
Tom Lewis: I’m currently working on two new novels. One is a prequel of sorts to “Hell” and goes into the story of the creepy girl and her coven that Jenkins had encountered years earlier. The working title for that one is “The Necromancers.” The other novel is called “Acheron” and is very Lovecraftian. It’s about a mysterious town that’s the subject of urban legend but doesn’t appear on any map, and nobody knows if it even exists. So what happens when two people stumble across the town… muah hahaha.
If you wish to see more of my most recent book and movie reviews, visithttp://www.jeffreykeeten.com
I also have a Facebook blogger page at:https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyKeeten
From the corner of her eye, she had glimpsed a dark shape that appeared like a shadow. It had vanished as she turned in its direction, but it wasn’t gone. She felt its presence remain--something unseen, and unheard, yet unmistakably felt. Like a whisper from the darkness of an empty room, or the putrid wretchedness of a bloated corpse, its presence filled the cramped space with a sickening aura. And that aura was unmitigated hatred and horror.
It was watching her.”
Cassie Stevens is a typical teenager slipping and sliding her way through the most embarrassing years of her life. Her life has become unmoored with the untimely death of her father. Her mother has to work a lot of hours to keep hearth and home together.
Cassie is attention deprived.
She is about to get more attention than she could ever want.
With the help of her goth friends, she invites something insidious from the other side of the veil. Just a bit of dark fun, right? No harm, no foul, except that something evil is lurking in the periphery of her eye.
Meanwhile, there is the handsome Father Sean McCready, otherwise known to the teenage girls he offers education classes for as Father What-A-Waste. If they are good looking, why do they always turn out to be gay, a priest, or even worse, the double whammy of a gay priest? (Sighs from women everywhere.) His friend and confidant, Father Jenkins, is trying to guide McCready through this disarming of his faith that McCready has been suffering from since coming in contact with something depraved and stinking of Hell. Sean is starting to have some unsettling nightmares of his own.
”Her skin began to darken and crinkle. Dark splotches spread across her face, and clumps of hair fell from her scalp. The skin of her face shriveled and tore like thin sheets of paper, and her lips peeled back from her teeth in a grim death’s face.
She raised a skeletal hand and reached for his face….
And he felt it touch him.”
My shiver meter is shaking like an 8.0 just hit Capetown, Maine.
So what are we talking about here?
”Demon possession is when a demon inhabits a person and takes possession of their faculties of thought, and mind, and even control.”
Cassie becomes a different person. Shy and unassuming doesn’t become bitchy, mouthy, self-assured, and violent overnight.
Something has happened to Cassie.
Her only hope might be a faith shaken priest who has his own clutching demons to shake loose from.
Tom Lewis has stomped the gas pedal to the floor and has dropped some nitroglycerin in the tank. The plot is unrelenting, and though we know what is going on, after all we are taking this trip right along with Cassie, the twists and turns will leave the reader as agitated as the first time he saw The Exorcist. The movie that makes everyone consider converting to Catholicism. Warning: while reading this book, darkness might encroach, and the room may shrink to the size of the pool of light from your reading lamp. After reading this book, you may, too, start to see evil lurking in the periphery of your vision. It should fade after a few days.
I decided to ask Tom Lewis a few questions, from a safe distance.
Jeffrey D. Keeten: I want to start with the big hairy, red eyed creature question. Are you currently demon possessed or have you ever been demon possessed?
Tom Lewis dodged this question, or maybe there was something holding him back from answering it. I don’t know. Maybe something like a hell flaming, demon hand grasping his throat? After an awkward pause with lots of odd squawking and rumblings coming from Santa Monica (was that a squirrel I hear?), I resumed the interview.
Jeffrey D. Keeten: Assuming your answer is no (I’m frankly a little uneasy about resting too definitively on my assumption at this point), do you believe in demon possession, and in your research did you feel you found evidence to support such a belief?
Tom Lewis: I do believe in demonic possession – as evidence, just take a look at my profession and the industry I work in. LOL! But in all seriousness, I do believe, and even more so after reading some of the research materials.
And speaking of research, I did a lot of research on the subject. A great resource book I used was Fr. Malachi Martin’s book “Hostage to the Devil.” It chronicles 5 contemporary cases of possession and exorcism and is the scariest thing I’ve ever read. The author (now deceased) was a Jesuit priest.
Another resource I used was Fr. Gabriel Amoth’s book “An Exorcist Tells His Story.” Fr. Amoth was the official Vatican exorcist.
Jeffrey D. Keeten: The Catholic Church seems to be the first and last defense, at least in popular culture, for exorcising a demon. Have you come across situations where a Protestant minister was able to step up beyond the collection plate and take on a demon entity other than...well...you know... Jesse Custer?
Tom Lewis: As for Protestant exorcisms, Fr. Martin seemed to indicate that Protestant ministers could perform the rite.
My main focus of the research was to learn about the interior horrors experienced by the possessed victim and the priest. All of the external phenomena is there – the stench and noises, the inexplicable cold, the haunting visions, objects flying around, etc. – but I really wanted people to empathize with Cassie’s plight of being trapped in this filth and horror her body and mind were becoming.
Incidentally, the words Fr. Sean recites in my book are from the actual Catholic Rite of Exorcism missal. The entire rite is longer and consists of a lot more prayers, so I was only able to include the more dramatic portions.
Jeffrey D. Keeten: I see that you are an entertainment lawyer, which does sound like a profession that the Devil would endorse. What exactly does that job consist of?
Tom Lewis: My job as an entertainment attorney is handling all of the negotiations and contracts for films. My clients are the producers, so I do everything from securing rights for the screenplays, to negotiating agreements with the talent, directors, distributors, financiers, etc. It's fun, but writing is a zillion times more fun.
Jeffrey D. Keeten: So what is next for author Tom Lewis? Another horror, another bit of bloody mayhem?
Tom Lewis: I’m currently working on two new novels. One is a prequel of sorts to “Hell” and goes into the story of the creepy girl and her coven that Jenkins had encountered years earlier. The working title for that one is “The Necromancers.” The other novel is called “Acheron” and is very Lovecraftian. It’s about a mysterious town that’s the subject of urban legend but doesn’t appear on any map, and nobody knows if it even exists. So what happens when two people stumble across the town… muah hahaha.
If you wish to see more of my most recent book and movie reviews, visithttp://www.jeffreykeeten.com
I also have a Facebook blogger page at:https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyKeeten
July 24, 2024
Spooky Hell Ride Into Terror!
A small backstory:
Cassie Stevens just wants to be a normal teenager, but when she hooks up with the Goth crowd (Seth, Sylvia, and Trish) her life takes a dramatic turn and she goes down a dangerous path of destruction.
When Cassie along with her new friends end up in a car crash, things become bad for Cassie as she doesn't realize it, but she had died for a few minutes and when she came back she was not "alone" as she brought something back with her that sends her life reeling out of control.
The personality changes that start occurring with Cassie make her mother seek out psychiatric help, but there is no cure for what is happening to Cassie. When the Catholic church gets involved things take a turn for the worse for all involved which causes a chain of deathly events!
Thoughts:
This was my third time reading this book as this story was one spooky ride into the darkness!
The author, Tom Lewis, has a unique writing style that draws the reader into the story and keeps them entranced through the whole book to the end. The pace of the book builds momentum from the first chapter to the last which makes this book an easy read!
This book will delve down into your psyche, so it is best to leave the lights on with this book as the darkness might close in around you while you are reading this book! I don't like to admit it much but sometimes books like this will affect my dreams and I had some spooky ones while reading this book! The demonic theme pulsates throughout the whole book and the characters just come alive within the story to the point where felt like I was there with them. Giving this book five "Nightmare Insomnia Fuel" stars!
Highly Recommend!
A small backstory:
Cassie Stevens just wants to be a normal teenager, but when she hooks up with the Goth crowd (Seth, Sylvia, and Trish) her life takes a dramatic turn and she goes down a dangerous path of destruction.
When Cassie along with her new friends end up in a car crash, things become bad for Cassie as she doesn't realize it, but she had died for a few minutes and when she came back she was not "alone" as she brought something back with her that sends her life reeling out of control.
The personality changes that start occurring with Cassie make her mother seek out psychiatric help, but there is no cure for what is happening to Cassie. When the Catholic church gets involved things take a turn for the worse for all involved which causes a chain of deathly events!
Thoughts:
This was my third time reading this book as this story was one spooky ride into the darkness!
The author, Tom Lewis, has a unique writing style that draws the reader into the story and keeps them entranced through the whole book to the end. The pace of the book builds momentum from the first chapter to the last which makes this book an easy read!
This book will delve down into your psyche, so it is best to leave the lights on with this book as the darkness might close in around you while you are reading this book! I don't like to admit it much but sometimes books like this will affect my dreams and I had some spooky ones while reading this book! The demonic theme pulsates throughout the whole book and the characters just come alive within the story to the point where felt like I was there with them. Giving this book five "Nightmare Insomnia Fuel" stars!
Highly Recommend!
November 2, 2018
This book was given to me by the author for a fair review. It was a great book , I honestly could see this as a movie. It would be a movie I would go see. It made me cry and scared the panties off me at night. I really loved this book . I saw at the end that he’s writing a prequel so I’ll be looking for that .I’m thankful for this opportunity it was really a great story .
November 23, 2018
The premise of this horror novel is that possession of a person by a demon is real and "so called" rational and scientific people need to expand their minds to accept this fact. If you are a "true" religious person this goes without saying, so the author wants you to believe. The right thinking bishop in the book spends a lot of time trying to convince a modern priest and a psychiatrist that Cassie's possession is real, meanwhile all kinds of supernatural things are going on around them. The suspension of disbelief for the reader never comes, because it is explained for you. All this explaining makes for an uninteresting read.
You know that it will all work out for Cassie, because there are no twists or turns to the story. She was a "bad" teen, who dressed in black clothing and had Goth friends and what do Goth teens do? Try to raise the dead, of course. If only they had listened to some nice pop music and had normal hair color none of this evil stuff would have happened to them.
Another aspect of the book that was irritating is that sex of any stripe is bad. The priest had consensual sex with his girlfriend before he became a priest, but he is haunted by his ex-girlfriend who died and she is still mad because he sullied her. Also the demon through Cassie shames a homosexual teen at a party by outing him in front of his jock friends. Not cool Mr. Demon.
There were things I liked, the demon dog was neat, but why did he lead Cassie on such a circuitous route through their house? I also liked the scenes in the graveyard. Mostly I found it too trope-filled and movie screenplay-ish.
You know that it will all work out for Cassie, because there are no twists or turns to the story. She was a "bad" teen, who dressed in black clothing and had Goth friends and what do Goth teens do? Try to raise the dead, of course. If only they had listened to some nice pop music and had normal hair color none of this evil stuff would have happened to them.
Another aspect of the book that was irritating is that sex of any stripe is bad. The priest had consensual sex with his girlfriend before he became a priest, but he is haunted by his ex-girlfriend who died and she is still mad because he sullied her. Also the demon through Cassie shames a homosexual teen at a party by outing him in front of his jock friends. Not cool Mr. Demon.
There were things I liked, the demon dog was neat, but why did he lead Cassie on such a circuitous route through their house? I also liked the scenes in the graveyard. Mostly I found it too trope-filled and movie screenplay-ish.
September 5, 2021
A Hell of a book!
I don't read a great deal of horror, but occasionally a story like this comes along and makes me realise I should probably do it a lot more often. Then again, I do like my sleep, which will surely suffer as a result of this terrifying tale 👻😬
This is a book that certainly deserves all the attention it receives. It's well written with a brilliant cast of characters, and the present-day setting makes it feel somehow more relevant than many similar novels. I picked it up for a couple of pounds on Amazon, which I consider an absolute bargain.
Great work, Tom!
I don't read a great deal of horror, but occasionally a story like this comes along and makes me realise I should probably do it a lot more often. Then again, I do like my sleep, which will surely suffer as a result of this terrifying tale 👻😬
This is a book that certainly deserves all the attention it receives. It's well written with a brilliant cast of characters, and the present-day setting makes it feel somehow more relevant than many similar novels. I picked it up for a couple of pounds on Amazon, which I consider an absolute bargain.
Great work, Tom!
November 14, 2018
4⭐️🔥⭐️🔥⭐️🔥⭐️🔥
Four flaming hot stars.
I was immediately engaged in this story and had no trouble getting back to it after a break. Of course it was very creepy, spine-tingling, and filled with building tension. Yeah. It got me. I loved it. I got attached to the characters. Wonder what happened to Molly? Haha.
I loved the end and whew, was I tense by then.
The cover scared the herm out of me so I was thinking, oh great.. will this be a Depends moment ? It was beyond your normal creepy demon possession but I am happy to report no incidents. 😇
The plot went along smoothly and I felt like Tom definitely put work into this. This was easy to read even with its scary subject matter! He has an easy way with his words. Also, I write this review of my own volition as I only want to support the author. He did not ask me; nor did he give me the book.
On to what I felt :
There was, of course, bad language, because you are dealing with a demon. They aren’t going to say nice things to folks. So I tried to dismiss that. But, the Priest Sean and well everyone kept going “Oh G::!” And everyone in the book used it in a way in which religious and devote Catholics wouldn’t. I found that a bit inconsistent.
The satanic stuff bothered me but as a Christian it’s supposed to. I mean, and a few encounters such as a Black Mass, I was definitely not fond of; however certain aspects of it were needed to explain how Cassie became possessed.
On the whole the story was very like-able. I felt sorry for Cassie and her crew that came to stand beside her. I was emotionally involved. I could feel her pain. Justin, Sean, Jeremiah, Katie, and even her mom got to me.
A great book written by a great GR friend.
I could see this on the screen. Loved the end. But I was wary. Lol.
Four flaming hot stars.
I was immediately engaged in this story and had no trouble getting back to it after a break. Of course it was very creepy, spine-tingling, and filled with building tension. Yeah. It got me. I loved it. I got attached to the characters. Wonder what happened to Molly? Haha.
I loved the end and whew, was I tense by then.
The cover scared the herm out of me so I was thinking, oh great.. will this be a Depends moment ? It was beyond your normal creepy demon possession but I am happy to report no incidents. 😇
The plot went along smoothly and I felt like Tom definitely put work into this. This was easy to read even with its scary subject matter! He has an easy way with his words. Also, I write this review of my own volition as I only want to support the author. He did not ask me; nor did he give me the book.
On to what I felt :
There was, of course, bad language, because you are dealing with a demon. They aren’t going to say nice things to folks. So I tried to dismiss that. But, the Priest Sean and well everyone kept going “Oh G::!” And everyone in the book used it in a way in which religious and devote Catholics wouldn’t. I found that a bit inconsistent.
The satanic stuff bothered me but as a Christian it’s supposed to. I mean, and a few encounters such as a Black Mass, I was definitely not fond of; however certain aspects of it were needed to explain how Cassie became possessed.
On the whole the story was very like-able. I felt sorry for Cassie and her crew that came to stand beside her. I was emotionally involved. I could feel her pain. Justin, Sean, Jeremiah, Katie, and even her mom got to me.
A great book written by a great GR friend.
I could see this on the screen. Loved the end. But I was wary. Lol.
November 29, 2018
While this novel was suspenseful and the characters were engaging, I could not ignore my reluctance to suspend disbelief. However, the story was compelling enough to carry me through to the end, and I would be interested in reading the author's upcoming prequel.
3.5pentagrams stars
3.5
March 27, 2019
This book needs to be added to all horror tbr lists. This book was very tense and creepy. Cassie Stevens was a sweet, naive type of little girl. Cassie is an only child of her hard working widowed mother. When Cassie became a young teenager her father passed away and she fell into a deep depression and started hanging out with a bad group of goth teens who were into drugs and drinking and breaking rules. Sadly for Cassie they also were also very curious about satanic rituals and practices. Cassie adopts this goth style of dressing and acting out, so she is scorned by all the other kids at school yet she doesn't care until the night she is involved in a tragic accident and that is when hell starts to really break loose and change the world that Cassie lives in.
This story was very scary at times and very creepy throughout the book. Tom Lewis wrote a very scary and relevant book that had myself reading late into the night wanting to know what would happen next.
I highly recommend this suspenseful and scary book to all horror fans!
I have rated this book 4 Creepy 🌟🌟🌟🌟 stars!!
This story was very scary at times and very creepy throughout the book. Tom Lewis wrote a very scary and relevant book that had myself reading late into the night wanting to know what would happen next.
I highly recommend this suspenseful and scary book to all horror fans!
I have rated this book 4 Creepy 🌟🌟🌟🌟 stars!!
January 24, 2019
HELL: The Possession and Exorcism of Cassie Stevens, by Tom Lewis, is a story that really stood out to me in this particular sub-genre. I've read a fair amount of stories involving demonic possession and exorcisms, and this one had some great sections, with characters that were memorable not only for their current situations, but also their pasts.
"October 31st. That was the night Cassie Stevens died . . . that was also the night something followed her back from the other side of death . . . "
We know by the title alone that Cassie is going to be possessed, so at first I was surprised when we were taken further back into her life to who she was well before any changes had taken place. However, this tactic is what really sucked me into her life. I felt I had known her so well that these changes--when they came--were all the more dramatic and gut-wrenching because of it.
". . . the sunshine held no answers for her, and the night did . . . "
In a parallel story, we also learn about the early life and changes going on with Sean McCready--a man who later ends up as a Reverend in the town Cassie lives in.
"Hatred, you might say, is the essence of the demon."
The way that the author individualizes these two very different people is what kept my undivided attention more than anything else. I felt I knew so much about them, that I simply HAD to find out what would happen to them.
". . . in the excitement that followed her resuscitation, one thought never occurred to anyone--Where had she been during these minutes of death?"
Another aspect that I felt especially important to this novel was the nature of the demonic entity.
". . . It was a brute uncaring force. It was the sound of evil."
This particular demon was described in great depth regarding many aspects. It was not merely "a demon", but rather a very specific one with a long and merciless past. As opposed to only being "something that takes over" Cassie, it is a creature with its own agenda, goals, and even personality, in a way. Something that readers could understand in more detail, and even begin to guess at its endgame, based on its track record.
". . . We didn't open the channel. It was already open before we started."
The one part of this novel that seemed a little "less than"--in my opinion--came closer to the end. Some aspects there felt 'out of line' compared to the rest of the book, and a bit more cliched in general.
". . . This is what the death of hope felt like . . . "
Overall, I really enjoyed the majority of this story. I feel that Tom Lewis brought some new ideas and original scenes here, and those really helped get me invested in the main characters. Also, his take on the nature of the demon was a great, sinister touch that made it stand out among all the other tales of possession out there. The weak point, to me, came towards the end of the book where I found it easy to guess at what was to come next. Still, it was otherwise a solid novel that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to fans of this kind of horror.
Recommended!
"October 31st. That was the night Cassie Stevens died . . . that was also the night something followed her back from the other side of death . . . "
We know by the title alone that Cassie is going to be possessed, so at first I was surprised when we were taken further back into her life to who she was well before any changes had taken place. However, this tactic is what really sucked me into her life. I felt I had known her so well that these changes--when they came--were all the more dramatic and gut-wrenching because of it.
". . . the sunshine held no answers for her, and the night did . . . "
In a parallel story, we also learn about the early life and changes going on with Sean McCready--a man who later ends up as a Reverend in the town Cassie lives in.
"Hatred, you might say, is the essence of the demon."
The way that the author individualizes these two very different people is what kept my undivided attention more than anything else. I felt I knew so much about them, that I simply HAD to find out what would happen to them.
". . . in the excitement that followed her resuscitation, one thought never occurred to anyone--Where had she been during these minutes of death?"
Another aspect that I felt especially important to this novel was the nature of the demonic entity.
". . . It was a brute uncaring force. It was the sound of evil."
This particular demon was described in great depth regarding many aspects. It was not merely "a demon", but rather a very specific one with a long and merciless past. As opposed to only being "something that takes over" Cassie, it is a creature with its own agenda, goals, and even personality, in a way. Something that readers could understand in more detail, and even begin to guess at its endgame, based on its track record.
". . . We didn't open the channel. It was already open before we started."
The one part of this novel that seemed a little "less than"--in my opinion--came closer to the end. Some aspects there felt 'out of line' compared to the rest of the book, and a bit more cliched in general.
". . . This is what the death of hope felt like . . . "
Overall, I really enjoyed the majority of this story. I feel that Tom Lewis brought some new ideas and original scenes here, and those really helped get me invested in the main characters. Also, his take on the nature of the demon was a great, sinister touch that made it stand out among all the other tales of possession out there. The weak point, to me, came towards the end of the book where I found it easy to guess at what was to come next. Still, it was otherwise a solid novel that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to fans of this kind of horror.
Recommended!
September 30, 2020
3.5 stars round up!
I thought this was an interesting take on a possession!
I enjoyed how most of the book is in first person, the main character of Cassie Stevens who’s fighting a demon possession.
It all starts with Cassie’s Dad dying and she goes down a dark path. Cassie ends up meeting new friends that start influencing her in negative ways.
I thought the creepiest and scariest part of of this book was the Black Mass ceremony. Yikes!
There was some good stuff in this take of a possession. I enjoyed most of the action at the end but could have used just a bit "more" with Cassie's exorcism.
I was happy with one of the characters deciding to make a change in behalf of Cassie.
I really couldn’t rate this higher for a few reasons…
1. In the beginning of the book, most of the chapters would end with some sort of foreshadowing of the plot. It lost a bit of tension for me.
I didn’t need that for the plot and sometimes it’s best to just show, instead of tell. If it was only a few times, it would have been no big deal for me. I felt like it happened a lot and always in the same place.
2. I felt like the older priest I wasn’t too crazy with this plot decision since it was so similar.
3. There was a bit too much repetition with certain things with Cassie and the possession. It took the edge off from scaring me.
I should have been more freaked out by this book and I wasn’t. This still had some scare moments though and I loved those times when they happened!
Don’t get me wrong! I still enjoyed this book and it was easy to read.
Kudos to Tom Lewis for putting out some new material on demon possession!
I really liked the parts about
And of course, that Black Mass was creepy! That was one of the best, uneasy moments in the book!
I thought this was an interesting take on a possession!
I enjoyed how most of the book is in first person, the main character of Cassie Stevens who’s fighting a demon possession.
It all starts with Cassie’s Dad dying and she goes down a dark path. Cassie ends up meeting new friends that start influencing her in negative ways.
I thought the creepiest and scariest part of of this book was the Black Mass ceremony. Yikes!
There was some good stuff in this take of a possession. I enjoyed most of the action at the end but could have used just a bit "more" with Cassie's exorcism.
I was happy with one of the characters deciding to make a change in behalf of Cassie.
I really couldn’t rate this higher for a few reasons…
1. In the beginning of the book, most of the chapters would end with some sort of foreshadowing of the plot. It lost a bit of tension for me.
I didn’t need that for the plot and sometimes it’s best to just show, instead of tell. If it was only a few times, it would have been no big deal for me. I felt like it happened a lot and always in the same place.
2. I felt like the older priest I wasn’t too crazy with this plot decision since it was so similar.
3. There was a bit too much repetition with certain things with Cassie and the possession. It took the edge off from scaring me.
I should have been more freaked out by this book and I wasn’t. This still had some scare moments though and I loved those times when they happened!
Don’t get me wrong! I still enjoyed this book and it was easy to read.
Kudos to Tom Lewis for putting out some new material on demon possession!
I really liked the parts about
And of course, that Black Mass was creepy! That was one of the best, uneasy moments in the book!
March 28, 2020
I liked certain aspects of this book but I didn't like others. The story was 100% predictable but there were some good fresh ideas in there as well. I liked the characters but following so many in one book is difficult for me to do. The horror scenes were well described but were not scary. I guess I'm just kind of torn with this one.
At the end of it all I'd say this book was good but not great.
At the end of it all I'd say this book was good but not great.
November 4, 2018
I’ve been in the mood for creepy possession books lately, so when the author reached out asking if I’d like to read his book, I jumped at the chance! I’m glad I did - HELL was exactly what I wanted to read.
After briefly dying I’m a car accident Cassie is brought back to life by doctors, but it seems something came back with her from the other side. She begins to experience events that can’t be explained, and when she begins to do research on it, she realizes she’s not alone. Can she be saved before the demon claims her soul?
HELL does a great job of jumping between POVs - we get to hear from several characters, but primarily from Cassie and the priest, Sean, whose paths eventually cross. The way the possession is described is a little different than its traditionally described in popular horror books and movies, which was a nice change of pace.
All in all, I really enjoyed this one, and I think readers who enjoy books that feature demonic possessions will too! Thank you so much to the author, Tom Lewis, for my copy of the book. It was my pleasure to provide an honest review!
After briefly dying I’m a car accident Cassie is brought back to life by doctors, but it seems something came back with her from the other side. She begins to experience events that can’t be explained, and when she begins to do research on it, she realizes she’s not alone. Can she be saved before the demon claims her soul?
HELL does a great job of jumping between POVs - we get to hear from several characters, but primarily from Cassie and the priest, Sean, whose paths eventually cross. The way the possession is described is a little different than its traditionally described in popular horror books and movies, which was a nice change of pace.
All in all, I really enjoyed this one, and I think readers who enjoy books that feature demonic possessions will too! Thank you so much to the author, Tom Lewis, for my copy of the book. It was my pleasure to provide an honest review!
January 14, 2019
This book took off like like a rocket but didn't quite hold the same momentum once the true horror element was diminished with religion/faith.* Still, I enjoyed the story. Full review to come.
* - Not that I'm implying anything negative about religion/faith--just that it drastically changed the dynamics of this story.
————————————-
”Fear the night, for I walk while you sleep.”
Cassie Stevens is an ordinary, average, well-adjusted teen-aged girl. Or, at least she was during the “before” period of her life. During her freshman year of high school, tragedy strikes and her father suffers a fatal heart attack. Cassie then enters the horrific “after” period of her life.
Consumed by grief, Cassie withdraws into a dark, depressed girl, spending most of her nights at her dad’s grave. It is there that she meets Silvia, Trish and Seth. Before long, they become her best friends and lead her further down a path of self-destruction. She begins doing drugs and getting caught up in the occult. They talk her into attending a Black Mass where she partakes in an unholy ritual and invites evil into her life.
Cassie’s life enters a downward spiral as she realizes, to her horror, that she is no longer alone—even when no one else is around. A malevolent force occupies her mind.
”...it left her sickened with the realization that her deepest, most personal thoughts had been fingered by a terrible filth.”
And her life goes from bad to much, much worse.
I thought this was a great, engrossing story. The writing is very good and the author did an excellent job with character and plot development. The amount of violence and gore was good, too, for a book of this nature. There were some parts that were especially descriptive and well-written.
Towards the end of the story, the vibe (which had been steadily creepy and eerie) changed quite sharply and I felt that the author’s focus on religious and spiritual aspects extinguished the story’s intensity.
However, though the tension of the story eased up a bit, I still enjoyed the events that unfolded and felt that it added a nice, positive touch.
* - Not that I'm implying anything negative about religion/faith--just that it drastically changed the dynamics of this story.
————————————-
”Fear the night, for I walk while you sleep.”
Cassie Stevens is an ordinary, average, well-adjusted teen-aged girl. Or, at least she was during the “before” period of her life. During her freshman year of high school, tragedy strikes and her father suffers a fatal heart attack. Cassie then enters the horrific “after” period of her life.
Consumed by grief, Cassie withdraws into a dark, depressed girl, spending most of her nights at her dad’s grave. It is there that she meets Silvia, Trish and Seth. Before long, they become her best friends and lead her further down a path of self-destruction. She begins doing drugs and getting caught up in the occult. They talk her into attending a Black Mass where she partakes in an unholy ritual and invites evil into her life.
Cassie’s life enters a downward spiral as she realizes, to her horror, that she is no longer alone—even when no one else is around. A malevolent force occupies her mind.
”...it left her sickened with the realization that her deepest, most personal thoughts had been fingered by a terrible filth.”
And her life goes from bad to much, much worse.
I thought this was a great, engrossing story. The writing is very good and the author did an excellent job with character and plot development. The amount of violence and gore was good, too, for a book of this nature. There were some parts that were especially descriptive and well-written.
Towards the end of the story, the vibe (which had been steadily creepy and eerie) changed quite sharply and I felt that the author’s focus on religious and spiritual aspects extinguished the story’s intensity.
However, though the tension of the story eased up a bit, I still enjoyed the events that unfolded and felt that it added a nice, positive touch.
October 11, 2018
The highest praise I can ever give a book is this: when I read the book I don't feel like I am reading a book.
That was this one. It felt so real it made me want to go to church.
I first read this book as a beta read, and normally take notes while I am reading.
I got so sucked into the story I forgot to take notes.
I loved the book so much I bought it after I read it. No free copy here - though in the author's defense it was offered.
No, this is a well-written book, an absolutely thrilling, bone-deep chilling story that deserves compensation for the absolute pleasure of reading it. And to make it even better - there is a delightful touch of romance here and there.
I cannot recommend it enough. If you enjoy chiller thrillers - especially with Halloween so close - buy this book.
Just don't read it in the dark while you are alone - at least not if you have an imagination that is a bit too vivid.
That was this one. It felt so real it made me want to go to church.
I first read this book as a beta read, and normally take notes while I am reading.
I got so sucked into the story I forgot to take notes.
I loved the book so much I bought it after I read it. No free copy here - though in the author's defense it was offered.
No, this is a well-written book, an absolutely thrilling, bone-deep chilling story that deserves compensation for the absolute pleasure of reading it. And to make it even better - there is a delightful touch of romance here and there.
I cannot recommend it enough. If you enjoy chiller thrillers - especially with Halloween so close - buy this book.
Just don't read it in the dark while you are alone - at least not if you have an imagination that is a bit too vivid.
June 27, 2022
3.5 stars✨
"𝙄𝙩’𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨 𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨; 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙡 𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙩𝙨 𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚. 𝙄𝙩’𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙩 𝙞𝙨.”
As the name says, this book is about the possession and exorcism of Cassie Stevens. Cassie is haunted by something she could feel around her all the time. After a near-death experience, things escalate and there's no escape for her. With the help of Sean, a priest struggling with his own faith, Cassie fights the malevolent spirit until the end...
𝗛𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀.
To start with, This. Was. Creepy. As. Hell.😰
There was so much going on throughout the plot, from little unsettling events to high levels of scares, it was super active with moments of horror. Filled with gore, vulgarity and things moving around in the darkness, it aptly portrayed what being haunted by a demon would be like. 𝙒𝙖𝙨 𝙄 𝙨𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙙? 𝙉𝙤. 𝙒𝙖𝙨 𝙄 𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙪𝙩? 𝙔𝙚𝙨!
Ohh!! And the Black Mass thingy was really bizarre...just🤐
𝗪𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗹𝗼𝘁.
The plot is very captivating and there is a backstory at the start that makes you empathize with Cassie and what was about to come🥺 The author has kept the suspense, the horror, the creepiness and the emotional aspects engaged throughout the plot.
But, there were a lot of repetitive phrases and events, which became a bit boring after some time. Around the middle of the plot, nothing prominent was happening and it felt the plot was a bit dragged with minor repetitive scares. Plus, I also did not like the ending as there were many loopholes in it🙄
𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀.
The characters, well, I have two opinions about them: (𝟭) there was so much depth to them, be it Cassie or Sean, the author makes the reader connect with them on a deeper level...and (𝟮) they were bizarre on so many occasions and acted like those dumb people in horror movies🤦🏻♀️
𝗖𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗲 was a strong protagonist who fought bravely till the end of her life. Even when no one stood beside her, she didn't give up on herself and tried everything she could to fight this demon, and save herself. A well-written female protagonist👏🏼
About 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝗻. I liked his backstory more than his actual role in Cassie's life. A priest who struggles with his faith and finds it while fighting evil was nothing new. Other characters had on-off roles in the plot with some having crazy twists and some acting as expected of people in horror books/movies.
𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻.
Overall, it is a fast-paced book that you'll be unable to put down and will be enthralled by its eerie atmosphere and disturbing events. With a clichéd plot and some unpredictable twists, this gave a lot of creepy and spooky moments throughout the plot.
𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀: Death, Gore, Vulgarity, Bullying, Drug Abuse, Suicide, Accident, Graphic Scenes, Demonic Possession.
"𝙄𝙩’𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨 𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨; 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙡 𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙩𝙨 𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚. 𝙄𝙩’𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙩 𝙞𝙨.”
As the name says, this book is about the possession and exorcism of Cassie Stevens. Cassie is haunted by something she could feel around her all the time. After a near-death experience, things escalate and there's no escape for her. With the help of Sean, a priest struggling with his own faith, Cassie fights the malevolent spirit until the end...
𝗛𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀.
To start with, This. Was. Creepy. As. Hell.😰
There was so much going on throughout the plot, from little unsettling events to high levels of scares, it was super active with moments of horror. Filled with gore, vulgarity and things moving around in the darkness, it aptly portrayed what being haunted by a demon would be like. 𝙒𝙖𝙨 𝙄 𝙨𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙙? 𝙉𝙤. 𝙒𝙖𝙨 𝙄 𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙪𝙩? 𝙔𝙚𝙨!
Ohh!! And the Black Mass thingy was really bizarre...just🤐
𝗪𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗹𝗼𝘁.
The plot is very captivating and there is a backstory at the start that makes you empathize with Cassie and what was about to come🥺 The author has kept the suspense, the horror, the creepiness and the emotional aspects engaged throughout the plot.
But, there were a lot of repetitive phrases and events, which became a bit boring after some time. Around the middle of the plot, nothing prominent was happening and it felt the plot was a bit dragged with minor repetitive scares. Plus, I also did not like the ending as there were many loopholes in it🙄
𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀.
The characters, well, I have two opinions about them: (𝟭) there was so much depth to them, be it Cassie or Sean, the author makes the reader connect with them on a deeper level...and (𝟮) they were bizarre on so many occasions and acted like those dumb people in horror movies🤦🏻♀️
𝗖𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗲 was a strong protagonist who fought bravely till the end of her life. Even when no one stood beside her, she didn't give up on herself and tried everything she could to fight this demon, and save herself. A well-written female protagonist👏🏼
About 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝗻. I liked his backstory more than his actual role in Cassie's life. A priest who struggles with his faith and finds it while fighting evil was nothing new. Other characters had on-off roles in the plot with some having crazy twists and some acting as expected of people in horror books/movies.
𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻.
Overall, it is a fast-paced book that you'll be unable to put down and will be enthralled by its eerie atmosphere and disturbing events. With a clichéd plot and some unpredictable twists, this gave a lot of creepy and spooky moments throughout the plot.
𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀: Death, Gore, Vulgarity, Bullying, Drug Abuse, Suicide, Accident, Graphic Scenes, Demonic Possession.
September 29, 2020
I’ve always had a fascination with angels and demons, and the idea of possession, so I felt confident that I would enjoy this book (well, that and how much my goodreads friends all liked it was a pretty good indicator also!) I was not disappointed! I thought this was a well written book, with lots of action, great characters and a good storyline. There were lots of creepy and dark settings that were believable - so much so that I found myself looking at the dark shadows of the room I was reading in several times (my mistake for reading this so late at night!), although I made sure not to look out of the corner of my eye...
I also enjoyed the perspective this was told from, even with some pretty strong foreshadowing that was used much of the time. Many of my buddy read friends didn’t like this very much, but I didn’t think it took anything away for me.
Only two things bothered me and kept me from going with a full 5 stars (and this is a little spoilery, so you may want to skip to the next paragraph if you’ve not already read the book).
Despite those items, I really enjoyed this read, and put it firmly at 4.5/5.0 stars. This was a great read to start off my Halloween season This year!
I also enjoyed the perspective this was told from, even with some pretty strong foreshadowing that was used much of the time. Many of my buddy read friends didn’t like this very much, but I didn’t think it took anything away for me.
Only two things bothered me and kept me from going with a full 5 stars (and this is a little spoilery, so you may want to skip to the next paragraph if you’ve not already read the book).
Despite those items, I really enjoyed this read, and put it firmly at 4.5/5.0 stars. This was a great read to start off my Halloween season This year!
April 27, 2020
This is a 4.5 star "change of underwear needed" read.
This book SO reminded me of my early teen years spent immersing myself in the new technology of VCR's and all things horrific and demonic. This novel is right up there with The Exorcist, The Omen, The Amityville Horror et al. in creating an atmospheric, heart thumping scare-fest! One of the few horror tales I've had to put down for a bit because it's impossible to hide behind your hands and "flip" the Kindle page at the same time.
One of the most entertaining and thrilling reads of this year. The only reason it's not a 5 is because there were enough typos and formatting errors in my Kindle copy to distract me at times.
This book SO reminded me of my early teen years spent immersing myself in the new technology of VCR's and all things horrific and demonic. This novel is right up there with The Exorcist, The Omen, The Amityville Horror et al. in creating an atmospheric, heart thumping scare-fest! One of the few horror tales I've had to put down for a bit because it's impossible to hide behind your hands and "flip" the Kindle page at the same time.
One of the most entertaining and thrilling reads of this year. The only reason it's not a 5 is because there were enough typos and formatting errors in my Kindle copy to distract me at times.
February 16, 2021
"Demons Are Most Definitely Not a Girl's Best Friend!'
Cassie is a bright, happy, refreshing and normal young girl. Then, two tragic and traumatic events come together which threaten to darken and destroy the rest of her future life forever, both in this world...and the next!
Enter her three goth friends. Surely they can offer her some respite, meaning and closure to the sinister and disturbing events that are beginning to ruin and blight Cassie's life with alarming regularity? Then again, maybe not - perhaps she may need some extra help from both clinical and spiritual professionals after all.
This proved to be a thoroughly enjoyable classic possession and exorcism horror story, crammed packed with all the usual sinister, evil and demonic elements that one would come to expect.
Although the general storyline has been used often in many other such stories, the narrative continues to flow nicely and the action comes thick and fast from beginning to end. However, although the demon's final demise was simply just 'shrilling,' the end to end the end for the human cast of characters I did find to be a little disappointing, being of the slightly, over-the-top 'Happy Ever After' variety - a final twist or two of sinister maliciousness would have been just so stupendously, deliciously...perfect.
So, overall, at times the plot does become a little pedestrian and predictable and the general direction just a bit obvious, but the clever construct of events and compelling description and detail makes this whole creepy, horrifically black adventure such a pleasurable and satisfying experience.
Yes, a traditional 'possession and exorcism' trip that is well worth a visit. Definitely recommended!
Rating: 4.3 satanic stars
Cassie is a bright, happy, refreshing and normal young girl. Then, two tragic and traumatic events come together which threaten to darken and destroy the rest of her future life forever, both in this world...and the next!
Enter her three goth friends. Surely they can offer her some respite, meaning and closure to the sinister and disturbing events that are beginning to ruin and blight Cassie's life with alarming regularity? Then again, maybe not - perhaps she may need some extra help from both clinical and spiritual professionals after all.
This proved to be a thoroughly enjoyable classic possession and exorcism horror story, crammed packed with all the usual sinister, evil and demonic elements that one would come to expect.
Although the general storyline has been used often in many other such stories, the narrative continues to flow nicely and the action comes thick and fast from beginning to end. However, although the demon's final demise was simply just 'shrilling,' the end to end the end for the human cast of characters I did find to be a little disappointing, being of the slightly, over-the-top 'Happy Ever After' variety - a final twist or two of sinister maliciousness would have been just so stupendously, deliciously...perfect.
So, overall, at times the plot does become a little pedestrian and predictable and the general direction just a bit obvious, but the clever construct of events and compelling description and detail makes this whole creepy, horrifically black adventure such a pleasurable and satisfying experience.
Yes, a traditional 'possession and exorcism' trip that is well worth a visit. Definitely recommended!
Rating: 4.3 satanic stars
November 21, 2019
I love the idea of being scared out of my wits, so following some excellent reviews, I thought I'd give this a try as it's been a while since I've played around with this genre.
Cassie Stevens was a troubled teenager with a loving Mum, some goth mates and a high school crush. Soon enough it became clear she was sharing her body and mind with a demonic presence. I find the whole idea of possession frightening.
For me, this story followed the same path as many horror movies I've seen. It started off with some genuinely, chilling and frightening moments - enough to make my skin crawl. But once things started sorting themselves out, for me, it just became a bit formulaic. Very predictable.
TIP: When reading this in my bedroom alone I Spotified a Spooky/Horror playlist - this certainly cranked things up a bit!!!
But in the end I thought this book was just okay and failed to get anywhere near the heights of The Exorcist.
3 stars.
Cassie Stevens was a troubled teenager with a loving Mum, some goth mates and a high school crush. Soon enough it became clear she was sharing her body and mind with a demonic presence. I find the whole idea of possession frightening.
For me, this story followed the same path as many horror movies I've seen. It started off with some genuinely, chilling and frightening moments - enough to make my skin crawl. But once things started sorting themselves out, for me, it just became a bit formulaic. Very predictable.
TIP: When reading this in my bedroom alone I Spotified a Spooky/Horror playlist - this certainly cranked things up a bit!!!
But in the end I thought this book was just okay and failed to get anywhere near the heights of The Exorcist.
3 stars.
December 7, 2018
Superb book, with great story telling
You will really feel for the main character, Cassie, and will love the story
I was hoping this was going to be as good as "The Exerocist" was and i was not disappointed, although it was different in its style it was just as well developed.
A throughly enjoyable novel
Thank you Tom Lewis for a great book
You will really feel for the main character, Cassie, and will love the story
I was hoping this was going to be as good as "The Exerocist" was and i was not disappointed, although it was different in its style it was just as well developed.
A throughly enjoyable novel
Thank you Tom Lewis for a great book
November 7, 2018
I loved this story .
What a story very enjoyable, red all day till finished . Give it a try you will love it too.
What a story very enjoyable, red all day till finished . Give it a try you will love it too.
October 22, 2018
An Amazing Read
This book was filled was so much emotion. From faith to love to grief to loss. Cassie was so tormented. The faith that you would have to have to overcome such evil. One of the best books I've read in a long time!!!!
This book was filled was so much emotion. From faith to love to grief to loss. Cassie was so tormented. The faith that you would have to have to overcome such evil. One of the best books I've read in a long time!!!!
December 13, 2018
Great book
Love the book. Gave me some nightmares and the characters were great. Would recommend to anyone that likes a good horror book.
Love the book. Gave me some nightmares and the characters were great. Would recommend to anyone that likes a good horror book.
December 18, 2018
This was a chilling supernatural tale, although it did follow the predictable formula of the non believing doctor wanting to prescribe medications, and the priest who is losing his faith before turning into a hero. I still enjoyed it. Cassie was an average girl, up until she lost her dad. Before that, as the coach's daughter she liked to watch the games, and was friendly with the players. Things changed for Cassie after his death, and she took up with a different crowd. Dying her hair black and dressing Goth and getting into trouble. Cassie's new friends don't just look the part, they are playing with Satanism and Cassie is along for the ride.
After a car crash something is different. Cassie was dead before they miraculously revived her but something evil from beyond the grave wants her back.
I received a complimentary copy for review.
After a car crash something is different. Cassie was dead before they miraculously revived her but something evil from beyond the grave wants her back.
I received a complimentary copy for review.
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