Open Wound - book 2 of The Requiem Series - is out now
The new book in my series is here! And in time for Spooky Season.
It’s finally here!
(Stick around to the end for a peek inside one of the chapters!) A literary horror that’s been described as “uncomfortably dark,” Open Wound is the continuation of Everything Is Wonderful Now, and it isn’t for the faint of heart, but that’s why it’s worth the read. Mental health subjects aren’t sugar-coated and everything is spoken about honestly, especially the things society often likes to gloss over because of their unsettling nature.
Open Wound is a journey through the Void, a place where monsters lurk as a reflection of the darker parts of the human psyche. It is a purgatory, and the narration itself reflects the chaos and uncertainty of the story. What’s real? What’s fantasy? Is Sean finally losing it, or is it all really happening? Is there an answer to any of this?
If you enjoy a more literary style, character-driven stories, and new takes on queer horror, this book might be for you. It’s got kinky aces, too, which reflects my own journey with my gray-ace identity. Basically, I write the books I’ve needed that I couldn’t find, so I hope this series finds those who may need it the most 💜 Sometimes experiences with queerness, mental health, and disability aren’t anything like the popular narratives you hear, and I wanted to reflect that.
You can find Open Wound on Goodreads here
Learn more about The Requiem Series here
Thank you for sticking around to the end! Here’s an excerpt from the book:
Sean walked into another expansive room, although that time, instead of it being silent, a haunting choir of chants echoed quietly, careful to not disturb the stillness. Night immediately washed over the world like a blanket draped over the sky, and a blood moon beamed through from an open balcony at the end of the room. Large open windows that stretched from floor to ceiling lined one side, and red streaks of moonlight painted the floor in slatted patterns.
Sean approached the balcony and looked out over the now red desert. The mountains seemed closer, but they weren’t stationary.
They began to writhe slowly as if they were exhausted from doing so thousands of times. Human-shaped spirits the size of titans rose from the peaks and sank back once more, and a distant wailing that grew louder became a droning chant to join the haunting choir. The titans were in agony, and more joined the desolate cries that surfaced from a Hell they could not escape.
“What are they?” Sean gripped the edge of the balcony.
Vexis hummed an amused laugh. “Who knows.”
Sean stared at them in frustration. “Don’t screw with me. I know you know.”
Vexis’ good humor faded and they glared at Sean. “Not everything here is easily explained, and you’re a fool for thinking so. Even when I ended up in my own corner of the void, I wasn’t easily explained either. If you know, you know. If you don’t, you don’t. Try figuring it out for yourself.” Vexis’ irritation sobered when something dawned on them. “Try listening to them.”
Sean snorted and shook his head. “It’s just a bunch of wailing. It’s no more comprehensible than the eye.”
“Don’t listen with your ears as they are.” Vexis came up beside Sean and leaned over the balcony to get a better look. “Listen with your soul.”
Sean looked back out toward the mountains at the swaying titans. He took in their cries and tried to dissect the sound — the emotion behind it. Understanding came to him. “Maybe they’re like me.” Like us. “They got dragged here from somewhere too, only they couldn’t escape.”
When Sean turned to face Vexis again, they’d moved to back him against the railing. Sean gripped it tight as his heart jumped into his throat, and he made the mistake of looking behind him and down at the large drop below.
“I’m not going to hurt you,” Vexis said as they glanced to the side. Sean followed their gaze, and beside him stood his shadow man. The cloaked figures gathered around them to block any escape, and hovering above, the giant eldritch eye reappeared.
“Vexis, what’s happening? You said this was a de-stressor.” Sean’s breathing came short. He wished he could pinch himself and just wake up.
“Do you really distrust me so much after all the time we’ve spent together?” Vexis teased. “Hold on.”