I received this book from the publisher, HellBound Books.

This is simple tale…simply gruesome! I have stayed up at night reading since I was a child but there are only two books that I’ve read that kept me from sleeping. The first one is Salem’s Lot by Stephen King and this is the second one. Craig Stewart describes the gore and horror in this novel in a no-punches-pulled manner that gives you a frighteningly vivid view into this sad, sick tale.

Jacob Donohue is lost. His life and ambitions just don’t seem to go in the right direction. In a dream he feels a calling. As a result he finds himself living at a commune called “The Shared Heart”. The people there work hard and await the “Harvest”. They are not individuals anymore, they are parts of the whole. They abandon their old lives and leave their possessions behind. No one has a name. They are all called “Dregs”. There are many strict rules and the dregs are expected to follow them. Obedience can lead you to being called by the Collector.

When Jacob vanished into thin air, his fiancee was devastated. Why would he leave without a note or saying goodbye? She decides that something has interfered with him returning. As a news reporter, she has the basic tools to investigate anything. Now she puts her skills to use and searches for Jacob. What she finds changes her life.

Upon first glance, The Shared Heart looks like any other religious commune. It is not. This is a cult that strips away all humanity in the dregs and programs them to do as directed by the Collector. Jacob’s fiancee, Nina, has issues of her own. Trying to help Jacob and combat The Shared Heart are difficult. It all comes down to love.

The characters and circumstances of this book are relatable – until they aren’t. The devastation that The Shared Heart creates is awful. Craig Stewart’s imagination is incredible. The ending of this book is unpredictable and haunts your dreams. This horror story is unique, creative and mind bending. If you are a horror story fan, this is one you will remember.

My Rating: 🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻

Additional Thoughts: I like reading horror stories. My favorites are the ones that surprise you. Many horror stories are very predictable. This certainly wasn’t. It kept me up and crept into my dreams. This book is like a roller coaster…a delicious treat.