The Beloved Remains: A Horror Novel – Book Review
by Sepia Gore
I don’t often read books that made me pause, take a deep breath, and gaze into the night after each chapter, but Sepia Gore’s The Beloved Remains did just that. I couldn’t take my eyes off Ann Bunmi’s blood-stained, haunting universe after reading the first line.
This isn’t like other horror books. Yes, it is brutal. In an unapologetic manner. It’s poetic, though, in a way that resembles a slow, agonizing breath. In the finest conceivable way, Gore’s prose is poetic, heartbreaking, and unnerving. The weight of a past that won’t be buried is present in every sentence.
An agonizing coming-of-age through the most sinister facets of human existence is what Ann’s path is. She is not merely an observer; she is a part of the horror, having grown up in the shadow of her father, a serial killer. She nevertheless possesses a terribly innocent charm. I wanted to stand by her because of her sincerity and honesty, despite my distaste for what she had witnessed and done.
The scene is set in Thailand in 1994, and the air is heavy with tension, heat, and fear. Gore transports you there rather than merely describing locations. I could sense the residual spirits of those left behind, hear the distant buzz of cicadas, and feel the sticky air.
The emotional undercurrent, however, was what truly broke my heart. A complex story of love—how it distorts, limits, and scars—lies beneath the blood and sorrow. I was left speechless by Ann’s battle with her identity, her memories, and what it is to be loved or beloved.
A cry into space, psychological terror, and elegy are all incorporated within The Beloved Remains. It’s about the aftermath of violence, trauma, and survival. If you appreciate dark, literary horror that doesn’t hold back when examining the macabre and the bereaved, you should definitely read this.
Unflinching, poetic, and genuinely upsetting in all the best ways, Sepia Gore is a voice to watch.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – It’s a glowing 5 stars from me!
Available on Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and Kindle Unlimited.