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Hoarder House
In the unlikeliest of places, a Hazmat cleaner finds a hidden world. It’s ethereal, dreamlike, exquisitely beautiful… And full of monsters who want out. Originally posted to Reddit’s Nosleep community where it met with immense success, this edition of R.C. "Dopabeane" Bowman’s popular horror series is revised, edited, and best of all, features 10,000 words of new content!
126 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 19, 2019
13 people are currently reading
106 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
August 27, 2019
In “Hoarder House” R C Bowman draws on elements of horror, sci-fi, and fantasy to created a fully satisfying mix that harkens back to the classical Weird Fiction tradition of Clarke, Lovecraft, and Blackwood.
Like so much of the best cosmic horror, we start with an everyday protagonist doing something mundane, even boring. As the story unfolds, we learn that this time the mundane is a gateway to a realization that the universe is bigger, more complex, and a boat-load more terrifying that previously realized. And that’s just where Bowman starts.
What ensues is just under a hundred pages of squeamish, mind twisting turns which ratchet up ever greater feelings of unease. Page by page, Bowman wipes away any elements of comfort and stability. Jobs aren’t your friend. Houses aren’t your friend. Objects in homes aren’t your friend. Friends aren’t even your friends. You aren’t even your own friend. In fact, the whole damn cosmic multiverse isn’t your friend.
Two final things. Firstly, Bowman has a superb imagination. I will not provide any spoilers, but there are section which require fantastic imagination on the author’s part. Bowman hits her target beautifully, managing to avoid being derivative. (Which, in my experience, is the biggest pitfall for any authors who do a bit of fantasy.)
The second is both caution and complement- Bowman seasons her novella with a strong dose of body horror. It’s not for the faint of heart. I’ve read so much body horror at this point, I thought I was mostly immune. Bowman’s novella politely points out that I was lying to myself. I hardly slept the night after I read the book. I was so creeped out. I kept waking up and checking my body to make sure all was sound and well. Body horror isn’t for everyone, so for you folks that’s a warning. But for everyone else, that’s an invitation to let Bowman creep the heck out of you.
If you enjoy weird fiction, horror, dark fantasy, or dark sci-fi, then this novella is well worth your time.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Like so much of the best cosmic horror, we start with an everyday protagonist doing something mundane, even boring. As the story unfolds, we learn that this time the mundane is a gateway to a realization that the universe is bigger, more complex, and a boat-load more terrifying that previously realized. And that’s just where Bowman starts.
What ensues is just under a hundred pages of squeamish, mind twisting turns which ratchet up ever greater feelings of unease. Page by page, Bowman wipes away any elements of comfort and stability. Jobs aren’t your friend. Houses aren’t your friend. Objects in homes aren’t your friend. Friends aren’t even your friends. You aren’t even your own friend. In fact, the whole damn cosmic multiverse isn’t your friend.
Two final things. Firstly, Bowman has a superb imagination. I will not provide any spoilers, but there are section which require fantastic imagination on the author’s part. Bowman hits her target beautifully, managing to avoid being derivative. (Which, in my experience, is the biggest pitfall for any authors who do a bit of fantasy.)
The second is both caution and complement- Bowman seasons her novella with a strong dose of body horror. It’s not for the faint of heart. I’ve read so much body horror at this point, I thought I was mostly immune. Bowman’s novella politely points out that I was lying to myself. I hardly slept the night after I read the book. I was so creeped out. I kept waking up and checking my body to make sure all was sound and well. Body horror isn’t for everyone, so for you folks that’s a warning. But for everyone else, that’s an invitation to let Bowman creep the heck out of you.
If you enjoy weird fiction, horror, dark fantasy, or dark sci-fi, then this novella is well worth your time.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 26, 2025
the author has a real talent for disgusting imagery and very interesting ideas!
August 23, 2019
Beautiful and horrifying!
The author's ability to pull the reader into the surreal scenario and gag inducing body horror is fantastic! Highly recommended!
The author's ability to pull the reader into the surreal scenario and gag inducing body horror is fantastic! Highly recommended!
December 31, 2019
Sci-fi rather than horror I think.. Hard to figure out at times.
April 8, 2022
Better than expected
If you are familiar with Reddit's NoSleep forum, you know not to expect much from it. This was better than expected from an author that began there. This is a fun little PG-13 body horror story. Unfortunately it is in the typical NoSleep first person style, but it still manages to maintain a fast pace and easy readability. The scenario is somewhat generic, but manages to maintain a decent creepiness despite that. It is a short read so worth getting if you like the genre and it is cheap.
If you are familiar with Reddit's NoSleep forum, you know not to expect much from it. This was better than expected from an author that began there. This is a fun little PG-13 body horror story. Unfortunately it is in the typical NoSleep first person style, but it still manages to maintain a fast pace and easy readability. The scenario is somewhat generic, but manages to maintain a decent creepiness despite that. It is a short read so worth getting if you like the genre and it is cheap.
October 23, 2024
The creativity in this novella is astounding. How do people come up with this stuff?
Be warned, this is body horror to the max. Not a good book to read with breakfast 😂 It's pretty gross, but if you can handle it, the concepts are pretty cool. I felt the book was well paced, a little fast but it keeps you interested. I loved the open ending. There were parts about the sometimes casual sometimes pedantic writing that drew me out of it a bit, but the writing was overall decent. I'd read more horror from this author!
Be warned, this is body horror to the max. Not a good book to read with breakfast 😂 It's pretty gross, but if you can handle it, the concepts are pretty cool. I felt the book was well paced, a little fast but it keeps you interested. I loved the open ending. There were parts about the sometimes casual sometimes pedantic writing that drew me out of it a bit, but the writing was overall decent. I'd read more horror from this author!
March 20, 2020
Like a really bad acid trip. I wish this was longer because there’s so many unanswered questions I still have about everything and it was such a cool concept and really well done.
A painting that’s a portal to some hellish other dimension filled with parasites that burrow into your flesh and pole out, slimy like vines, looking at you with metallic fish eyes.
Giant pyramid with an alien god bellowing inside.
Creepy taxidermy of impossible creatures.
A painting that’s a portal to some hellish other dimension filled with parasites that burrow into your flesh and pole out, slimy like vines, looking at you with metallic fish eyes.
Giant pyramid with an alien god bellowing inside.
Creepy taxidermy of impossible creatures.
August 16, 2025
i listened to this through CreepCast with Wendigoon & Papa Meat.
i loved this! the writing style was perfect for me. he was descriptive & wordy but in all the right ways.
the body horror??? omg!! i already despised worms but holy shit, i really do now.
i was getting “The Troop” by Nick Cutter vibes (the infection/parasite).
i loved this! the writing style was perfect for me. he was descriptive & wordy but in all the right ways.
the body horror??? omg!! i already despised worms but holy shit, i really do now.
i was getting “The Troop” by Nick Cutter vibes (the infection/parasite).
January 19, 2026
Was a pretty fun book, although it wasn't much of note, more so just something I'd read everyone once in a while and still get the same feelings from. Not bad, Just not my favorite, would recommend though
August 22, 2025
I liked it a lot, but I felt like it was a bit too short
August 25, 2025
I liked this a lot in regard to ideas presented and imagery used but I feel like it should have been longer to flesh out the ideas on the world itself and bring more depth to it. Loved the worms
February 18, 2026
Triptophobic nightmare body jelly worms
I guess I'll never sleep again 👍
Awesome disgusting imagery, reminded me of Martyrs (2008), too short, a little boring at first, a little too fast at the end!
I guess I'll never sleep again 👍
Awesome disgusting imagery, reminded me of Martyrs (2008), too short, a little boring at first, a little too fast at the end!
September 14, 2019
*minor spoilers*
I can't stand horror movies. They're either too weird or too scary for me. But there's a special place in my heart for a well-written horror story, and "Hoarder House" definitely fits the bill. Bowman's prose is simple but effective. Her descriptions are vivid and every word has its place. The plot's fluidity, the way one scene segues naturally into the next, makes it feel more like watching events play out than reading a novella. And the protagonist's inner monologue is so exquisitely human that you feel like you've known Kris for years.
So about the horror. It really doesn't seem so scary at first. I've got a pretty high tolerance for gore and body horror, so I read through those passages without a problem. At least, I thought I did. Flesh-eating worms? Squishy rupturing eyeballs? A weird heel snake? No problemo. But fear is insidious (that's a horror movie too, I think). And let me tell you, you will feel itchy after reading this book. Dark creatures will flit around at the edges of your vision. The paintings on the wall will move. And you won't be able to do a thing about it.
Because the beauty of "Hoarder House" is this — that it stays with you. Whether you like it or not.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout in exchange for an honest review.
I can't stand horror movies. They're either too weird or too scary for me. But there's a special place in my heart for a well-written horror story, and "Hoarder House" definitely fits the bill. Bowman's prose is simple but effective. Her descriptions are vivid and every word has its place. The plot's fluidity, the way one scene segues naturally into the next, makes it feel more like watching events play out than reading a novella. And the protagonist's inner monologue is so exquisitely human that you feel like you've known Kris for years.
So about the horror. It really doesn't seem so scary at first. I've got a pretty high tolerance for gore and body horror, so I read through those passages without a problem. At least, I thought I did. Flesh-eating worms? Squishy rupturing eyeballs? A weird heel snake? No problemo. But fear is insidious (that's a horror movie too, I think). And let me tell you, you will feel itchy after reading this book. Dark creatures will flit around at the edges of your vision. The paintings on the wall will move. And you won't be able to do a thing about it.
Because the beauty of "Hoarder House" is this — that it stays with you. Whether you like it or not.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout in exchange for an honest review.
December 16, 2019
As a child I was plagued with such vivid nightmares, several times every night, that when I woke up it was initially hard to tell if they were really happening. This book has such magnificent, horrifying imagery that it makes those nightmares look like a picnic in heaven.
The situation and how it unfolded bite by bite (and I do mean "bite") into an increasingly distressing landscape was awe inspiring...in a terrible way.
As the protagonist ran for his life I felt like I was running too, more and more frantic by the minute. Yet the chase was nothing compared to what was to come next, and next, and next.
If you enjoy finely woven tales of endless horrors you would have quite a treat if you read this.
I have no doubt, the author's childhood nightmares must have been epic.
The situation and how it unfolded bite by bite (and I do mean "bite") into an increasingly distressing landscape was awe inspiring...in a terrible way.
As the protagonist ran for his life I felt like I was running too, more and more frantic by the minute. Yet the chase was nothing compared to what was to come next, and next, and next.
If you enjoy finely woven tales of endless horrors you would have quite a treat if you read this.
I have no doubt, the author's childhood nightmares must have been epic.
December 17, 2019
Filled with horrid and horrifically vivid imagery, Hoarder House is where the most terrifying nightmares form. The storyline is really good but there is a great deal of descriptive prose. I'm one of those people that skims such while searching for the next action filled scene, so I definitely recommend it to horror fans that thrive on an extremely well-described world and it's characters. Oh, by the way, I don't think I'll ever go to a circus again!
November 3, 2019
This is a wonderfully written, haunting, and compelling story! I could not put this book down! This author is extremely talented in that this is a relatively short story but done so well. This is not a story to miss.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 12, 2019
Strange
Strange story , one of the most imaginative stories I've ever read. It begins with the cleaning of a hoarder house which contains strange stuffed creatures and a painting that leads to another dimention .not all questions are answered but story is comp!ete. I enjoyed this book and it was hard to put down. Lots of parts reminds me of the old movie the body snachers.
Strange story , one of the most imaginative stories I've ever read. It begins with the cleaning of a hoarder house which contains strange stuffed creatures and a painting that leads to another dimention .not all questions are answered but story is comp!ete. I enjoyed this book and it was hard to put down. Lots of parts reminds me of the old movie the body snachers.
August 27, 2019
The book is one of the best books I have read this year. There are many surprises to it and make the book really hard to put down. The way that it is written you get pulled into the story and it vividly paints a picture for you. Definitely worth reading.
August 31, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. I had never read anything before by this author, so I went into it blind. The writing was fantastic. I was completely submerged into the story and could not stop until it was finished. My only complaint is that it was not long enough, I definitely want more!!
December 18, 2019
Good read
The more I read the more I couldn't put it down. I stay awake a read the rest of the book tonight. A must buy because you will enjoy reading this book
The more I read the more I couldn't put it down. I stay awake a read the rest of the book tonight. A must buy because you will enjoy reading this book
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews