I truly hate giving indie/small press books bad ratings but this book was just not it. It sounded good, in theory but in practice? It did not deliver. Felt like I was getting something else than what I was promised.

I LOVED this book, we have already purchased it for our library and it continues to be a hit. The way the story is told leaves you wanting more.

This was not for me. I went in thinking it was going to be something it turned out to be something else. Definitely a flop.

I didn't enjoy this book at all. I felt like the teenagers (Bethany and her best friend Michelle) were overly sexualised for no reason with inappropriate descriptions of their bodies. The sexual assault scene was the only part of the book that seemed to be handled reasonably well. I really wanted big revenge from the possession of Bethany by the demon Amy but it just didn't seem to hit the mark. I'm not put off from the author, though- I feel like maybe he was trying to write a vintage 70s style horror book but instead it just didn't work.

This book has elements that I really enjoyed but there were parts that felt a little disconnected and added in as padding. There was gore and creepiness which are always good but the ending let it down for me a bit personally!

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read!

This is a good, fun, quick horror read about female revenge after having experience trauma. The main character had a lot of redeeming qualities and was otherwise like able and made you want to root for her. I’m excited to read more from this author.

Imagine being stalked and controlled by demons and then people start dying and it looks like you did it! This is the creepiest scariest scenario and I thought the author did a great job making it into this awesome story. I love horror books and would definitely put this out there in my top 10 this is a definite must read for horror fans especially those who are into demonic possession. It’s truly great read! I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

Judging by the synopsis, “Bethany Chiller” by Steven Deighan promises a lot, but unfortunately does not deliver. I love extreme horror, but this was unoriginal and simplistic. It felt more like a little researched revenge fantasy than an actual story. I couldn’t convince myself to take the demon seriously, the ending left me unsatisfied, and the short story in the end did not help relate to Bethany any better. I'm not sure that the POV of someone just traumatized by gang rape is the proper element in which to develop this story; I needed distance, cold space to breath in, and this was simply missing.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC, this is my honest review.

Going into this story, I knew it would be about demons and revenge. I liked the concept of Carrie being involved. However, something about this was just lacking for me. I enjoyed the gore of the revenge, and the rape itself was heartwrenching. However, going past those few things, I just felt myself skipping over a lot and skimming through to finish.

I am interested in reading anything else by this author, this story sadly just wasn't made for me.

I want to personally thank NetGalley, as well as the author, publisher, and anyone else involved in providing copies, for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Reviews will also be submitted to Goodreads.

I recently discovered I apparently like reading horror, and this felt like it would be up my (new found) alley. However, I never really got into the story, maybe it was a bit too short for what the author wanted to do. Didn’t really read horror to me either.

Bethany Child wakes up on her 16th birthday which is also Halloween. She lives with her mom as her dad died a few years ago. When she goes downstairs, she sees her mom has put up pink and silver decorations. Her mom is already at work so this was to let Bethany know she had not forgotten her birthday. After school, her best friend talks her into going to a party later that night. It’s a party she won’t forget. Bethany is abusively raped by four males dressed in skeleton costumes. Upset, she goes home and crawls into bed. She wants to forget what happened but can’t. A woman named Amy appears at her bedside that tells her she will be okay. Bethany wants revenge and Amy tells her that she can help her get it. How can Amy help her? Why does Amy want to help her? Will Bethany let Amy help her?

The author has written a novel that is creepy and at times gory. I was interested in how Bethany struggles with her revenge and how she resolves it. At the end of the story, there is another story about Bethany’s memories. It is when she first sees ugliness/evil in her life. It was interesting that it was at the end of the book. This is a novel that is occult horror.

Bethany Chiller by Steven Deighan is brutal and dark but unfortunately fell flat for me. The story is told from the perspective of Bethany Childs, a 16-year-old girl with her whole life ahead of her until she is brutally raped at a house party. Following the rape, Bethany is vulnerable to dark forces. Amy, a demon offering hate, revenge, and power contacts Bethany and forms her alter ego, Bethany Chiller. The two join forces to exact revenge on the boys who tortured her.

I love dark and brutal revenge stories, but I think what was hard for me to wrap my head around in this novel was the simplicity of it. The demon Amy just seemed too fake/strange to fit into the story and it just really stood out to me as a turning point of disinterest. The remainder of the novel was just too outlandish for me to absorb and it felt like I was reading another book entirely. I think telling the story from the POV of Bethany was a mistake, I think a narrator could've breathed more life and detail into this otherwise flat novel.

That being said, this book was not for me but it doesn't mean you won't enjoy it. If you like supernatural topics, revenge, horror, and a quick read, then this will most likely keep your attention and become your favorite book ever. Even though this fell flat for me, I would recommend it to my other horror-loving friends.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Trigger Warning: Rape

I did not like this book at all. I thought it was badly written. I didn't really connect with the story. This is suppose to be a horror book, but I did not get that vibe when I was reading it. I am rating it one star because I like the cover.

Very short right to the point story.
Start off, this is a story of rape. It is also mentioned before you get to the actual story as well.
It is not described graphically but still traumatizing.
Girl makes deal with demon
Wish she would of told her friend what happened
Or at least went to get a rape kit done

The killing is very satisfying

Going into this book I was aware of the subject matter and, I have to admit, it made me nervous. When it comes to sexual assault in a horror book there's always the possibility of things being described in too much detail, making the horrifying situation into nothing other than a trope with no real concern for the act itself.

Luckily, this author handled it with a deft touch. It never veered off into needless description and it was handled with enough force to allow us the necessary knowledge but without glorification for the sake of being extreme.

This book is a revenge tale like I Spit On Your Grave or The Last House On The Left but with a supernatural element. The assault in question causes our protagonist to become possessed by a demon that seems to want her to exact revenge on those that have done this to her.

As she struggles with the morality of these choices, she discovers certain powers that not only ensure her revenge but to do it in a way that can never lead back to her. She also has telekinesis and other powers.

As this demon takes her over and she executes her vengeance on the perpetrators, she struggles with it. Of course it seems the right thing to do but is it too much?

She also has to deal with a demon who appears as a relatively normal girl named Amy. Amy encourages this revenge although she has ulterior motives for wanting to complete this task.

The relationship between the protagonist and her best friend is heartfelt and sincere. It's great to see these two characters as they have each others back no matter what.

And what happens is chilling! This is a nasty horror book that moves right along and gets to the point quickly. It's a fantastic tale of revenge, friendship, and possession that is original and not filled with the same old demonic tropes. I would recommend this!

Thank you to the publisher for allowing me to read this eARC!

I honestly don't know how to rate this book...it was weird from the very beginning. I know its about demons and possession but this started off hot. I liked it...it was interesting...I've never read a book quite like it before. I think it just threw me off guard because it really leaned into the demon thing.