“Nerdection Excellent Read”
Fear isn’t always loud, it creeps in quietly, hiding in the ordinary, waiting for you to notice something is off. An Ocean and A Desert is a collection of spine-chilling short horror stories by Rachel Roth author of the vampire spine chilling Book Undead Redhead: The Girl in the Mall.
Spoiler-Free Plot:
An Ocean and A Desert is a collection of seven short horror stories, each with different characters and plot twists.
The first story “Our Land, Our Cave, Our Home” starts with a man heading to a mysterious cave looking for any signs of life. He heads forward and suddenly hears a sweet melody. His friends find him later, bashing his skull on the inside of the cave. What caused it?
The next story “Skin” features Steven and all he wants is therapy, to get rid of the paranormal figure that follows him day in and day out. The therapist notices Steven’s abnormal behaviour, peeling his skin off until blood gushes out. He leaves his therapy session muttering mysterious statements. After that, the life of the therapist changed completely and now he has the same vision Steven once had.
Another story “Okeechobee After Midnight” is set in the eerie town of the Okeechobee where Paul investigates the disturbing murder of his friend, Asa Drake. As he looks into the case, he remembers past disappearances and a creepy clown named Lonny. Strange visions and eerie events make Paul question what’s real what’s not. The deeper he goes, the more he feels something evil is watching him.
My Take on An Ocean and a Desert
Rachel Roth’s writing in An Ocean and A Desert is a blend of seven horror and psychological thriller. It is a horror book with a whimsical plot. The setting of the creepy environment makes the reader feel the thrill on a deeper level.
One of the main theme in the story is human psyche. Many of the characters are pushed to their limits, forced to confront their deepest fears and insecurities.
This book had a perfect combination of horror, action, and tragedy, making it an exemplary anthology for other books in the genre. The detailed description of the scenes made it easy for me to imagine what the characters felt. The author’s engaging writing style keeps the reader hooked until the very end.
The characters are well-developed, despite the short length of the stories. Each one feels real, with fears and struggles that make them relatable. What makes Roth’s characters stand out is their realistic reactions to fear. The writer’s writing style is bold and clear. She masterfully builds suspense, drawing out the horror with carefully chosen words and pacing.
If I had one critique, it’s that a couple of the stories felt slightly rushed, particularly in their endings. But overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys psychological and supernatural horror. “An Ocean and a Desert” is an exceptional and an excellent read collection.
Trigger Warning:
Graphic Violence.
About The Author Of An Ocean and a Desert
Rachel Roth is an author and poet living in Southwest Florida. She graduated from the University of South Florida with a Bachelor´s in English and a Certificate in Creative Writing. Rachel has written for several anthologies and literary journals including 101 Proof Horror, Pandemic Unleashed, and Darkness Wakes. She’s the author of the novel, Undead Redhead as well as the collections, Dead Flies, and An Ocean and a Desert.
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