Petrified Women: A Horror Thriller Novella
Petrified Women: A Horror Thriller Novella book cover

Petrified Women: A Horror Thriller Novella

Paperback – May 13, 2021

by
Price
$8.99
Format
Paperback
Pages
114
Publisher
Independently published
Publication Date
ISBN-13
979-8503505726
Dimensions
4.12 x 0.29 x 6.75 inches
Weight
3.52 ounces

Description

I loved every letter... I was kept in suspense the entire time, thinking: is this still a prank or is this real?! -Stefano (@stefano_reads_a_book on Instagram) Petrified Women is simply captivating! From start to finish this kept me on my toes. -Selena (@beautys.library on Instagram) I felt panicky and claustrophobic when I read this - I was absolutely on edge! -Alex (@findingmontauk1 on Instagram) CONTENT WARNING: - Sexual Assault Violence Body Horror Strong Language - Reader discretion advised Jeremy Ray graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a MFA in Dramatic Writing. He is the recipient of the Max K. Lerner Playwriting Fellowship for his play Sisters of Transformation . His work has been performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., and his screenplays have placed in the PAGE International Screenwriting Awards Competition, The Academy Nicholl Fellowship, and the ScreenCraft Drama Contest.However, he most enjoys writing prose. As an indie horror author with a penchant for jumping genres, Jeremy finds he learns best by throwing himself into stories outside of his comfort zone.When he's not writing, he spends his free time devouring books like the bookworm he is. Read more

Features & Highlights

  • Some pranks go too far. This one could be deadly.
  • Harley has the perfect boyfriend. Why can’t her best friend see that? He’s nothing like the others, especially the one who still haunts her memories. She’s finally picked a “keeper” with Aiden.Sure, he’s a bit eccentric. His wood carving hobby is a little odd. His need for isolation while he carves his life-size female figurines is strange. And maybe his obsession with pranks, or "scares" on Harley goes a little too far. But what do you expect? Aiden’s an artist.Harley has finally picked the perfect boyfriend. That’s why this year, Harley ignores all her best friend’s warnings. She has the ultimate surprise planned for Aiden’s birthday, one that’s going to help her get even in their battle to out-prank each other.She hides in his apartment, excitedly waiting to pull off the scare of a lifetime…But then he comes home, and Harley witnesses a different side of her boyfriend. The side that exists behind closed doors when he doesn’t know anyone’s watching.
  • Is this just one of his scares? Or is there something more sinister lurking behind his playful nature? Harley’s about to find out.CONTENT WARNING:
  • Sexual AssaultViolenceBody HorrorStrong Language
  • Reader discretion advised

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
30%
(175)
★★★★
25%
(146)
★★★
15%
(88)
★★
7%
(41)
★
23%
(134)

Most Helpful Reviews

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Jeremy Ray has done it again! Another Outstanding Book

Jeremy Ray has done it again! Proving his first book, The Gathering, was no one hit wonder, Petrified Women is an outstanding and moving look at trauma and PTSD, while also being a nail-biting horror story that begs readers to ask the question, “How well do we really know the people closest to us?”

Harley’s been dating her boyfriend Aiden for a year now, and she really thinks he could be the one. The only problem in their relationship is Aiden’s taste for practical jokes. Elaborate, frightening, and (although Harley won’t admit it) occasionally cruel practical jokes. Thinking she’ll beat him at his own game, Harley prepares an epic practical joke for his birthday. It doesn’t go as planned though. Is Aiden playing a joke on her in return or her boyfriend not really as charming and harmless as she thought?

I suffer from PTSD, so I appreciate Ray’s thoughtful look at the lasting effects of trauma and how it can affect different survivors in different ways. In Harley’s case, she tends to freeze up in perilous situations. In Petrified Women, she’ll have to fight that instinct if she wants to survive.
1 people found this helpful
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Omggg

O M G.

I have no words. This novella drags you into its world. From the beginning to end it’s a symphony of gasps, chills, horror, heartbreak, anticipation.

‼️Read the trigger warnings before reading. (LISTING THEM NOW) They deal with SA, violence, body horror, strong language.‼️

My neighbors dropped something while I was reading and I jumped out my skin 😂 scared the crap out of me.

This little novella is great read if you want to throw in a little creepiness in your day.
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Wonderful ride from beginning to end!

This novella kept me guessing! I loved seeing the main character’s empowerment within such a short story! Incredible quick read for anyone thinking of dabbling in the horror genre!!
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Fast paced read in one sitting!

This horror novella comes in at just over 100 pages but really packs a punch. I read this quickly in one sitting. Jeremy Ray does an excellent job building this story with both tension and terror. The reader finds themselves hiding with Harley in Aiden's closet and questioning what really is happening on the other side of the door. I enjoyed watching Harley overcome her natural trauma response to just freeze as she sees Aiden and his art in a whole new light, and must fight for survival.
This book will pull you in quickly and not let go, and I absolutely loved the final line in this book. A perfect book for a quick, creepy read!

Thank you to @jeremyraystories for the gifted copy of this book.
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Great Horror Novella

I was sent this ARC to review and I really enjoyed it. This was the perfect short piece to read in between book I was reading. I haven’t read a horror story in a while. This felt more suspenseful and thrilling but it was still enjoyable. Karma sure is a bitch. After being hurt so bad in the past Harley was looking for the best in Aiden but she definitely deserves so much better.
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A powerful & chilling horror novella

Despite “Petrified Women” being under 100 pages, Jeremy Ray puts a lot of anxiety inducing build-up into his novella. I like that he dedicated his book to sexual assault survivors, tackling different responses to this horrible event (e.g., fight, flight, or freeze) and all responses are normal. “Petrified Women” is a horror story to give power to those who SA has impacted and that’s what makes this novella influential. As I was reading Harley’s encounters of hiding in the closet, I could picture what it would feel like to be in her shoes. Ray does an amazing job of making the reader feel like they are actually there in Aiden’s apartment, making you wonder what you would do if you were Harley. Without spoiling anything, the twist at the very end was another “fist pump to the sky” moment for SA survivors and anyone who experienced a bad relationship.
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Loved every bit of this!

Wow, what an impact this feisty little 92 page horror novella made! This short story was so creepy and I loved every bit of it.

Thank you Jeremy Ray for reaching out and sending this little gem my way. I can’t wait to continue reading your work.
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Five Stars!

I had originally picked this up last night to start it, not finish it but that didn't work out so well for me; I just couldn't put it down!
I liked the aspect of Aiden having a history of tricking Harley; I feel it amplified the doubt that all of us would feel if we thought a loved one had committed such an action. It was also interesting to see it from the perspective of someone who wasn't sure if they were going insane, or if something had happened.
I genuinely had no idea what was going to happen (not sure if it was just that hidden or if I was that tired) which added more mystery to it. My brain just did not put two and two together until the very end.
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Amazing!!!

I was only going to start the book....I literally could not put it down!! The story was phenomenal it had me edge! Definitely one I will be recommending to all my friends!
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Addictive page turner

I’m glad I checked out this novella but in the end it wasn’t quite for me.

I found it nearly impossible to relate to Harley as she willfully ignored every bright red flag about her boyfriend, but his rampant gaslighting and narcissism made me so angry I still rooted for her throughout the story. There is a poignant truth to the abusive relationship Harley found herself in, but I’m afraid the supernatural ending (while cool on the page) prohibited her from having an empowering and complete character arc. I would have liked to see her have more agency in both her survival of Aiden and her future love interests.

Despite it not being my cup of tea, Ray creates some very intense scenes that had me turning the pages almost faster that I could read them. The concept behind Aiden’s sinister art form (carving statues of frightened women, like a true sicko) had me uneasy from the get, and I suspect the pay-off will enthrall many readers.

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