cmrosensHorror Spotlight: Explore New Weird Coming-of-Rage Novel, “Thirteenth”
Average rating: 4.54
Ratings: 83
Text Reviews: 27
Want to read: 298
Added to shelves: 408
Average rating: 4.25
Reviews: 28
Lovecraftian horror meets kitchen sink drama in this dry, darkly funny tale of toxic families, killers and cannibals, eldritch body horror and antihero female rage.
Katy Porter is the thirteenth child of a thirteenth child in an inbred family of eldritch horrors, and her own eventual metamorphosis will change her into a creature that hungers for her family’s flesh. To some, she’s a threat – to others, a weapon.
Katy needs allies to help her control her Changes, but she’s stuck with her oldest brother, a drug-addled playboy who voted to have her killed but is chaotic enough to have genuinely changed his mind, and her eyeball-eating, god-like cousin, whose idea of protecting her involves abduction, dark rituals, and encouraging her homicidal side.
If anyone is going to survive Katy’s transformation, scores need to be settled and fears need to be faced – and Katy is not the only one who needs to face them.
March 2026 Sale (Kindle)Title: Thirteenth
Genre: New Weird, Bildungsroman, Paranormal Kitchen Sink Drama, and Urban Fantasy.
Age: Adult
Tropes: Damsel in Distress (will Kill You All), Addiction-Powered Millionaire Playboy (Mad, Bad, and Dangerous to Know), Creepy Family (Half Human Hybrid Eldritch Abominations who are Inbred and Evil), Poorly Chosen One (she Just Wants to be Normal), Lovecraft Lite (with Body Horror), Angry Teen Mentored by Grumpy Killer (Against Everyone’s Will).
How I feel about it: If anything, I’m even more proud of this one than my debut. I really got into my horror-comedy voice, and allowed myself to have so much fun with another angle of the world I’ve built. This is the book I once compared to Cold Comfort Farm and Slasher: Flesh and Blood with a strong dash of Whyborne and Griffin, so it’s not for everyone!
What surprised me most: Team Wes. What is wrong with you people?! I even made t-shirts and mugs on Redbubble for a short time! People who wanted more of the sombre, creeping dread of the first book often don’t enjoy this one as much, but I wrote this for those who are here for the humour, and the Millionaire Playboys. (Pick up Overexposure as a standalone intro to Wes, and you will understand my confusion).
This is the book that:
I was blown away by the reception to this book. I really loved sharing it with the world, but especially I’ve loved how people have taken my trio of fuck ups to heart.
What Readers Say:
“Like Encanto, but with more gore, incest, impossible geometry, and eldritch abominations from beyond space and time.”
“Thirteenth was such a fun read! I mean, a middle-class family of eldritch abominations living in a sleepy Home Counties town? Sold. Add in familial backstabbing, messy sibling and cousin relationships, a sentient house and a healthy side helping of tentacles, murder and cosmic horror, and you’ve got a fantastic book filled with vibrant characters (who made me feel like a terrible person for snort laughing at some very dark jokes). I look forward to returning to Pagham-On-Sea very soon!”
“This is the perfect series for anyone who likes the creepy cottagecore aesthetic and deeply flawed supernatural beings just trying to survive the next prophecy.”
“If eldritch beings and complicated family relationships has you curious, I definitely recommend this book.”
“This is a story of rotten families, Eldritch monstrosities and a teen girl’s coming of age. … It’s a horrifying and delightfully fun story, where no matter the occasion, someone will still crack a joke and a laugh out of you too. One of the best reads of 2021 so far, filled with horror, fun, laughter, trauma and emotion, it has it all!!”
“completely absurd, violent and absolutely wonderful. perfectly blending eldritch horror with family drama that’s both tender and hilarious.”
Learn More #GothicFiction #PaghamOnSea #paghamverse #weirdFiction #WomenInHorror
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