Taken by the Dark

by Feral Thorne

David is trapped with his deadbeat, alcoholic father, renovating some rundown old mansion. He's only 23, but he gave up on love a long time ago. He has a sick brother to care for and a world that thinks everything about him is wrong.

People like him don't get to fall in love.

But, when something unnatural appears in his dreams, it feels like something special. Maybe he's going crazy. Or maybe the thing haunting him is his chance to never be alone again.

Genres: Horror, M M Romance, Ghosts, Paranormal

58 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 11, 2022

About the author

I’d say I write kissing books, but the truth is a little dirtier than that.

I love stories about boys kissing monsters. I especially love stories that
involve tentacles. I’m doing my best to add as many stories like this as
possible to the world.

Just another queer millennial, trying to survive in Los Angeles. She/they.

Reviews

[Janet (iamltr) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like wow...

I was not expecting how good this short story was. I was all in on the David and James fated mates relationship.

In this one, we have David, an abused young man who lives to be treated horrible by his father and take care of his brother.

The ghost of James lived (heh) in the room where David slept and woke him up.

Things happen and they have much fun together before what happens with the father. There are fun times with a ghost. It was awesome. And yes, this was a romance that had a HFN. As weird as it was.

I need this to become a series so that we can find out what happens next. Do they live happily ever after? What about the brother? Do they track down and get revenge on James' parents?

[Shawna (endemictoearth) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars - Uh. Hmm. Wow. I am not your typical erotic horror romance reader, but ghost/human relationships often pique my interest. And it delivers better on the "how would that work, though?" than maybe anything else I've read. This is a short book, but there is a lot packed in, and despite a few writing quirks, it is very evocative on the whole. Though there's not enough detail to say it really feels like 1957, because they are sort of out in the middle of nowhere, it does feel out of time in a way that added to the creepiness.

There are a lot content warnings (mostly hidden for spoilers): suicidal thoughts, a dream/flashback depicting an exorcism with crucifixion (but that flashback was pretty vivid, and there are flashbacks to the flashback), parental abuse (verbal on page, physical implied in the past), haunted barbed wire tentacles, ghost smoke tentacle sex with breath play, multiple bloody violent murders described in some detail, period typical attitudes/thoughts around mental asylums (not great) . . . that's what I can remember off the top of my head. However, it won me over and was quite solid and satisfying. I was aghast, in a good way. Gleeful pearl clutching, maybe?

Though it would have been nice to have a bit more beyond the final scene, it does have a great last line, so I can see why the author ended it there. But I would read more about these characters, for sure.

I received an copy from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.

[Ellie Ellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ghost with tentacles! Need I say more?

But seriously, I was pretty impressed with this short story. In only 50 pages or so, we get a full spooky, evocative story of a young guy and the ghost who used to live in his house. It's well-written and doesn't feel campy or overdone. This is in turn sad, creepy, hot and romantic. Yes, we even get a HFN! I kind of wished the ending was longer, so we could see more of what happens "after".

I highly recommend this to anyone who likes erotic horror or ghost possession story. Or tentacles. I'm looking for more from this author!

There's some CW that this review does a good job of listing.

I received a free copy of this book and am providing my honest review voluntarily.


Read this review and more on my blog: https://horsetalkreviews.blogspot.com/

[DebbieReadsBooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Independent reviewer for Gay Romance Reviews, I was gifted my copy of this book.

Did you ever read a book and think "what the freaking hell did I just read?"

This book, right here!

I don't get me wrong, what is here is dark, and deadly, and scary and smexy, and there are tentacles (which seem to be a new favourite of mine, but still) and the short story kept me totally engrossed from start to finish.

I just . . .didn't get it, you know??

It sort of kick starts and doesn't let up, is all.

I did finish it though, and that's why I gave it three stars, even though I didn't get it.

I'm sorry this review is short, I find these the hardest to write, those that really don't evoke extremes out of me and my book feelings.

Will I read more by this author? I will certainly try, this is the first of their work I've read, so they deserve a second reading.

3 good, but not for me, stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere

[Sharon L · Rating 4 out of 5]

"This is our house now"

I'm not sure how to review this book, other than to say I really liked the story. It was too short and over too soon 😢. I want more of David and James. What happens to sweet Caleb?

I was a bit worried about reading and reviewing this book after I saw the warnings about graphic horror. I guess I must be jaded this book wasn't even a blip on my horror radar. I'm glad I took a chance on this one I enjoyed it!!!

Tentacles, barbed wire, a drunken vicious father, a sickly younger brother and a ghost. They all get exactly what they deserve.

I will definitely read more from this author. She's coming out with some MM monster romance and erotic horror. Who knew I'd like it!?! I kissed a monster and I liked it!!!!

[Debby · Rating 4 out of 5]

David feels trapped. His father is an abusive alcoholic and he cannot leave his sick brother behind. He feels like everything about him is wrong except when he dreams at night. Something unnatural appears in those dreams, something that keeps getting stronger with each dream. David is not sure what to think, but he wants the dreams to continue.

This was a short story that packed a lot in its pages. It is a bit dark with murder and horror included. Ghostly tentacles are present and David finds himself captivated by he knows not what. This is Feral Thorne’s debut story and it should be intriguing to see what he writes next.

[Amy Voce · Rating 4 out of 5]

What's a little death between soulmates?

People like David don't get to fall in love. But, when something unnatural appears in his dreams, it feels like something special. Maybe he's going crazy. Or maybe the thing haunting him is his chance to never be alone again.

Wow!! I'm not entirely sure what I just read lol, did I love it? Hell yes I did!

This is a pretty bizarre read to be honest but I was hooked none the less. Hopefully this becomes a series of short stories because I would definitely be up for reading more from this author. This is pretty dark and would definitely advice taking a look at the content warnings for Taken By The Dark.

[Janet Hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great debut!! Taken by the dark is a short story that packed quite a punch with a lot packed into it. David is abused by his father. He also takes care of his brother. The ghost of James lives in David’s room and wakes up. The story was actually really good. Ghostly tentacles, dark with horror and murder. Seriously steamy read. The writing hooked me, the only thing I would change is to make it longer or maybe write more short stories and make it a series. Well written and was over way to fast but overall it was seriously good if you like, horror, murder and ghostly tentacles, I would recommend!

[Rachwithheadinabook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hmmm 🤔 I was intrigued by the blurb so when given the opportunity to review by GRR I jumped at it. David and James are trapped in their own ways but find away to come together. There is quite a lot packed into this novella that although classed as an erotic horror, I didn’t find it all that horrifying there was a mildly disturbing religious bit however. I would have liked it to have been longer but it is good as it is, I liked the authors style so look forward to the next book they have coming out.

[Kkhmonrai · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn't my normal kind of read, but I was intrigued by the ghost-human aspect of the story. Poor David - I really wanted to see him get something just for him after what his father has put him through. This was darker than my usual read, but I found it intriguing, and I would like to see more of David and James, and where their story goes from here. This is a short, sexy, horror read, with tentacles.

I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.

[Maria771 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of David and James. It is the debut short novel of Feral Thorne, and wow what a debut. This genre is usually not my favorite but I found this story quite intriguing and very well written. Only complaint - way too short. Woud have loved to read more about them and the other side characters. Steamy steamy. Recommended.

I received this book as an Arc and I am voluntarily reviewing it.

[Ida Umphers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author knows how to write short fiction! Short works need to pack a punch and they can't explain everything in detail so you have to cleverly choose what you show. David and James both have/had families that are/were the epitome of toxic and abusive. They find each other in a supernatural way and their relationship has definite heat. No detailed spoilers, but some folks get their just desserts in a way the Eerie comics of old would have approved of.

[Tracey Johns · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first from this author, but it shall not be the last! I really enjoyed the sense of the 'other', the ghostly aspect & of course the heat - even romance - between the 2 main characters. Love the author's vibe so much, I recommended it and other works to my friend who I knew would love it. Not for everyone, but definitely for me.

[smatchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was dark, with a bit too much gratuitous violence for me. Parts of it are kind of interesting, it’s overall well-written, and it’s a short story, I read it in less than an hour. Recommended if you are needing a little murdery-ghostie action in your life, with a side of nightmarish religious torture!

[Daire Fray · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story had some really interesting aspects there was a lot of scary moments surprisingly most weren’t caused by the ghost but by the still living people mainly David’s father and James’s memories of his parents and what they had done to him were terrible I really enjoyed James’s unexpected fighting abilities and would happily read more books by this author

[Kassandra Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting short story. I love the brief glimpse of the “atypical HEA” at the end.

Highly recommend if you want a “dark” entertaining hour-long read.

I received a free copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Julie Bedwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this story. I love ghost stories, and this one has tentacles, too. What's not to love? That said, it is a little on the darker side. I feel like it is a well-written story. It's short but doesn't feel like it's lacking. I'm looking forward to more stories from this author.

[RACHEL REED · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a short, erotica, dark romance.

I was intrigued by the blurb and the storyline turned out to be quite interesting.

I felt that this would work better with a little more character development and more page time.

However, enjoyed this overall

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

He is stuck at home with his I’ll,brother and a father who drinks far too much. Everyone sees him as one person but do not see who he really is. A dream may just change it all. What will that dream be? Can he finally be seen for himself? How will it all go? See where the dream takes him

[Kaila Karg · Rating 4 out of 5]

very good.. interesting.. curious.. kept me wondering what was next.. short story.. well written.. i really liked it.