IAN DOWNUNDER VS EZRA’S SECRET

Ian follows Ezra into a cave in PD Alleva’s Ezra’s Secret and discovers the answers she seeks are far worse than the questions.

TITLE: Ezra’s Secret

EDITOR: PD Alleva

GENRE: Horror

PAGES: 101

FORMAT: eBook

PRICE: eBook $2.99, Paperback $14.99, Hardcover $22.99

G’day all, it’s your ARC reader from down under here with this week’s review taking the form of PD Alleva’s Ezra’s Secret. This one is the first in a planned series that chronicles the origin story of Wren Field, the villain from The Sleepy Hollow Incident: A Gothic Tale. In this one, Wren hasn’t even been born yet, but it does tell the horrific story about his conception in one heck of a disturbing tale. So let’s settle down and get comfortable on the couch while I tell you about something incredibly uncomfortable.

The secret in Ezra’s Secret is not a nice one. No, not at all. Not even the slightest bit. Disturbing is what it is — and horrific — but this is no straightforward tale. This one mixes mental health and trauma with a healthy dose of the supernatural to make a genuinely terrifying story, all packed into a modest page count.

The book follows Ezra, a fifteen-year-old girl who feels like she doesn’t fit in the world around her. She knows she’s different, but she doesn’t know why, and she’s desperate to find answers. She often drifts off to an imaginary world when people are talking to her, finds comfort in repetitive tunes and tugging at her hair. Her parents are awful to her, and she has no friends beyond that of one boy for whom she is developing feelings. It’s during her search for answers that she comes across a peculiar street vendor who seems to know more about her and her problems than she does. He gives her directions to a strange cave that will supposedly give her the answers she is searching for. When she gets there, she finds a strange figurine that leads her on a journey of self-discovery, and what she finds during that journey is truly horrific.

Alleva’s writing is incredibly strong, dripping with meaning and emotion as he deftly weaves together a tale that kept me eager but dreading to turn the pages at the same time. I won’t spoil anything, but his background as a trauma therapist comes across big time in this story. You’ll question what’s reality and what’s in Ezra’s mind, making you feel as confused as she is until the truth is slowly revealed. The ending is on point and makes me eager to delve into the next instalment of the story.

I give this 4.8 weird cave figurines out of 5.

Ian Gielen is a writer of all things spooky and a horror fanatic. Ian embraces his inner geek with pride, his dedication on display in the intimidating collection of horror novels and video games that threaten to take over his living space. He is mad for all things Alien, Star Wars, and cats; his furry companions are always there to keep him company as he scribbles down his latest ideas. With the sheer number of furry and human companions in his life, it’s a wonder he isn’t a little crazier than he already is.

PLEASE NOTE: The views and opinions of the staff of Memento Mori Ink do not necessarily represent those of Memento Mori Ink or Crystal Lake Publishing, nor do the views or opinions of Crystal Lake necessarily represent those of Memento Mori Ink or its staff. Thank you for understanding.