Beyond the Abyss: Tales of the Supernatural

by Heather Silvio

Beyond the Abyss: Tales of the Supernatural brings readers on a wild ride through short stories and poetry ranging across the supernatural realm, including alien abductions and alien invasions, life after death, demonic possession, and epic battles between good and evil. With ten short stories and seven poems, each piece both entertains and challenges the reader. {also available in digital format}

Paperback

First published November 7, 2014

About the author

Heather Silvio has written fiction and nonfiction; she is also an actress and licensed psychologist. When she isn't working, she channels her inner flapper as a 1920s jazz and blues singer. She lives in Florida with her wonderful husband Sidney.

Visit http://www.heathersilvio.com for more information and to sign up for her New Releases & Appearances Newsletter!

Reviews

[Eddy Bryant · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won my copy as a first reads giveaway from goodreads. It's a book of short stories and poetry with.a supernatural twist. Fun and easy read,.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A GREAT BOOK OF SHORT STORY SOME DEAL WITH LIFE AND DEALTH THE SUPERNATRAUL AND ALIENS GOOD TO READ WHEN WAITING TO SEE THE DOCTORS OR DONT HAVE TIME TO READ ALONG STORY THANKS TO GOODREADS FIRSTREADS FOR THE FREE BOOK

[Daniel James · Rating 5 out of 5]

What do a demonic keyboard, a man afraid to leave his house, a serpent trapped in a woman's body, and an ant farm filled with humans all have in common? Not much, unless of course you're the delightful and darkly humorous writer Heather Silvio. From the first page, Silvio plunges her audience into a grim world filled with a startling mix of hopelessness and wonder, and interwoven with unusual characters and even more unusual circumstances. Her gripping collection of short stories might not make for the best bedtime read, but it will have you biting your nails in anxious anticipation of what will happen when you turn the page. If you're looking for a fun and slightly sinister read, look no further.

Be forewarned, however: Silvio takes a no-prisoners approach from the get-go. Not afraid of the gritty and sometimes gory details, she paints an unforgettable picture that will have you rethinking your decision to accept a stranger's invitation back to their apartment after a first date, take an anesthetic, or even stare into a mirror for too long.

As a consolation for the mystery and terror Silvio exposes us to, she includes a number of short poems to serve as welcome interludes between her ghastly tales. What a truly delicious addition to my bookshelf!

[Shelia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Neat little collection of short stories.
#GoodreadsGiveaway #FirstReads

[tamie wolcott · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book you can't put down !

I love a good book and this is it. Once you start reading it you won't want to stop until you get to the end.

[Vicki-Ann Bush · Rating 5 out of 5]

I completely enjoyed the variety of tales. It was like sitting back and watching several episodes of The Outer Limits. A fun ride!

[Brian Rouff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Legend has it that people are attracted to the field of psychology because of the dark thoughts they themselves harbor. The appropriately-named "Beyond the Abyss" does nothing to dispel that notion. Dr. Heather Silvio, with a degree in clinical psychology, serves up two (severed) handfuls of stories that will at once creep you out, make you cringe, and keep you from enjoying a restful night's sleep.

This is the "Twilight Zone" on steroids, updated and fuel-injected for the 21st century, with imagination-altering special effects they could never show on 1950s TV. Think Rod Serling meets Clive Barker with a little sidelines heckling from Stephen King. If this is your idea of fun (it's mine), pick up a copy before time runs out.

[Roger DeBlanck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beyond the Abyss is a suspenseful and heart-pounding collection of stories interspersed with a set of short poems. In each of the pieces, Silvio tackles subject matter that cleverly explores psychological and existential questions. The lead story “The Chain Unbroken” is a terrifying murder thriller where voices drive the actions of the main character. The second piece “Family Time” is a compelling tale dealing with the trauma of near-death experiences in which the narrator looks back through time to visualize her family. In “The Experiment” Silvio turns her curiosity to alien abductions in a small town. The next piece in the volume was my favorite. It is an equally thought-provoking supernatural story titled “The Knight.” It deals with a native character who lives in the forest and has the power to bring back creatures from death. The next story “Ever After” is a heartfelt tale of a young girl suffering from cancer. She summons memories of a young boy she knew as a child, and this boy's spirit guides her in her final days. “Revenge” is an exciting mystery about black magic and a spirit seeking retribution. In the chilling tale “Falling” the last conscious moments of a heroin addict are addressed, and in the thriller “Dream Within a Dream” a young lady with multiple personalities goes in and out of dreams where an evil serpent speaks to her. The next to last piece “Inside the Ant Farm” presents an interesting view of the Earth as a grand experiment, and the concluding story “Illusion of Truth” is an adventure of good and evil and the prospects of saving the world. It takes place after an apocalyptic war, and the plot focuses on a group of three women who encounter spirits and a doctor with his beastly creation. They are all journeying in pursuit of the “Truth.” Throughout this engaging collection, Silvio demonstrates her diverse range of interests, each of them centering on inquiries into the nature of dreams and reality. She has a very smooth writing style, and the stories keep your pulse on edge.

[Amanda NEVER MANDY · Rating 2 out of 5]

**I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.**

Another short story collection book that I just couldn’t get into. Cutting my baby teeth on Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark and transitioning into anything Stephen King has given me a specific taste for supernatural and horror that most books can’t seem to provide. At least this book was more entertaining than the last collection of short stories I read.