“The Heir You Made” by Ashley Victoria – A Review

Here’s a dark fantasy/horror novel that will keep you up at night reading. As a content warning from the start, this book contains scenes of explicit violence and gore, and uncomfortable sexual themes. With that said, let’s get into it.

With this novel, we get a book that really pushed the boundaries of the genre, while also redefining the constraints of character development and plot advancement. “The Heir You Made” by Ashley Victoria, which takes readers on a twisty trip full of suspense, surprising friendship, and a profound examination of resiliency in the face of unfathomable tragedy.

In Ashley Victoria’s spine-tingling story, we are introduced to Lucy Blacelli, a heroine whose life takes an unsettling turn when she is kidnapped and imprisoned inside the eerie walls of an enigmatic castle. The story makes a daring decision to present explicit brutality and uncomfortable topics without hesitation, which raises the stakes in Lucy’s fight for freedom. However, Victoria deftly crafts a story about the human spirit, friendship, and the search for understanding among chaos within this bleak backdrop.

“The Heir You Made” stands out because of its dedication to highlighting the power that results from relationships that aren’t romantic. In a place where every shadow may be a threat, Lucy’s experiences with two unusual pals inside the castle’s walls serve as a tribute to the strength of friendship and mutual trust. The tale can now concentrate on the protagonists’ collective survival and personal development, a welcome change from the genre’s sometimes romance-heavy narratives.

The castle develops into a character unto itself with its cunning traps, mysterious riddles, and strange occupants. Through her detailed descriptions of this dangerous environment, Victoria captivates the reader’s senses, creating an immersive and profoundly emotional experience as they navigate its perils with Lucy and her companions. The story is made more difficult by the disclosure of Lucy’s kidnapping’s motivations and the true nature of her captors, which forces readers to reevaluate their initial judgments and feelings.

Although another reviewer had criticized the slow start, I think the pacing enables the author to create create a vividly detailed universe and go deeply into her protagonist’s mind. It is well worth a slow beginning, as the plot picks up speed and riddles and character nuances are revealed, keeping readers interested all the way to the shocking conclusion that begs them to relive the adventure.

This book gives you a gripping investigation of the darker sides of horror and fantasy that’s counterbalanced by a moving look at the human condition. Ashley Victoria tells a story that is both exciting and thought-provoking, making readers consider the real price of freedom and the lasting effects of a trip through the dark. I enjoyed it and would read something by this author again.

This book is available on Amazon in paperback, hardcover, Kindle and Kindle Unlimited.