Is Ascension for you?
If you’re wondering whether Ascension is your kind of horror, I thought this article might help:
It’s gritty survival horror with grimdark fantasy edges—built on dread, character emotion, and the claustrophobic feeling of trying to claw your way out of something that wants you to stay.
This book launched January 27, 2026, and it’s the cleanest entry point into my world.
Spoiler-free premise
Wendy Holowitz is at the bottom. Not the cinematic “bottom” where you still look cool and tragic in the rain—real bottom. The kind where the body is failing, the mind is lying, and hope feels like a scam.
She’s trapped in a place called the Sleep House, a dark place where people just rot. Their loyalty becomes “faith.” And the man holding the leash calls himself God.
Then Wendy is chosen for a ritual called Ascension.
That sounds like salvation until you remember: salvation is often just suffering with better marketing.
What kind of horror is Ascension
If you’re trying to picture the vibe, think:
Survival horror: the body is a problem you have to manage, not a vehicle you can trust
Grimdark fantasy: power always has a cost, and “doing the right thing” doesn’t guarantee safety
Dread-first pacing: the fear comes from inevitability, not jump scares
Character-driven tension: Wendy’s emotions drive the scene forward—the horror doesn’t replace the character, it exposes her
This is not a splatter book. It does have moments of body horror, but the point is never “look what I can describe.” The point is what the body becomes when it’s pushed, used, and stripped of control.
Who this book is for
You’ll probably love Ascension if you want:
a broken protagonist fighting for agency
horror that treats addiction and faith as lived forces, not aesthetic props
cult manipulation, secret rituals, and nightmare logic that still feels emotionally real
a story that reads like a brutal trial: each step costs something
Who should skip it
Skip if you don’t want themes involving:
withdrawal and drug use on the page
religious manipulation and cult control
brief body horror
off-page references to child abuse and human trafficking
I want to be clear because this story is not for everyone.
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Quick FAQ
Is Ascension a standalone?
It’s book 1 of Faith & Deed, written to be a strong entry point. You can start here.
Is it more supernatural horror or psychological horror?
Both: the psychological pressure is constant, and the supernatural element intensifies the dread rather than replacing it.
Does it rely on gore?
No. It relies on tension, dread, and emotional stakes. There are moments of body horror.
What’s the core theme?
Freedom—what it costs, who tries to sell it to you, and what you have to survive to claim it.