"Wounded Air" by Rick R. Reed is a haunting and gripping tale that seamlessly weaves the supernatural into the fabric of everyday life. Set against the backdrop of Chicago's West Side, the story follows the lives of Rick and Ernie as they move into what seems to be the perfect apartment. However, the idyllic setting quickly unravels as Rick is plagued by disturbing dreams featuring an emaciated young man with haunting brown eyes.

Reed skillfully builds an atmosphere of tension and unease, drawing the reader into Rick's world of spectral visitations and mysterious disappearances. The character of Paula, their next-door neighbor, adds an intriguing layer to the narrative as she unveils the unsettling history of Karl and Tommy, the previous occupants of the apartment. The revelation that Tommy is the enigmatic figure in Rick's dreams creates a spine-chilling connection between the living and the departed.

The author's prose is both evocative and poignant, capturing the emotional depth of the characters as they grapple with the supernatural forces at play. Rick's quest to uncover the truth behind Tommy's disappearance propels the narrative forward, leading to a compelling exploration of love, loss, and the unspoken secrets that bind us to the past.

The plot's twists and turns are expertly executed, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as they accompany Rick on his journey. The exploration of Karl and Tommy's relationship adds a layer of complexity, delving into themes of love and sacrifice. The climax, involving a confrontation with a restless spirit, is both chilling and satisfying, providing a cathartic resolution to the haunting mystery.

While "Wounded Air" navigates the realms of horror and the supernatural, Reed also crafts a poignant tale of human connection and the enduring impact of lost love. The characters are well-developed, and the pacing is superb, ensuring that the reader remains engrossed from start to finish. Rick R. Reed's ability to blend the supernatural with genuine human emotion makes "Wounded Air" a compelling and memorable read, earning it a solid four stars.

Sad, sweet, and well-paced ghost story. Even though the ending wasn't necessarily happy, I found it very satisfying

4 Stars!

Wounded Air by Rick R. Reed just seemed to call out to me. I am not entirely sure what drew me to the book. It could be the haunting cover which is very scary in its own right. Maybe it was the brief synopsis of the horror of drug abuse. For some reason, I just knew I needed to read this book when I stumbled across it on NetGalley.

Rick and Ernie thought they found the perfect apartment. The truth is that the apartment, which was visible from the train platform, has been calling to Rick for a long time. He did not know why, but when he saw that it was vacant, he knew he had to have it. The dream apartment was destined to become a nightmare. Before the couple had even unpacked, Rick was having dreams about a man that he thought to be one of the previous residents. The man seemed terrified of something and this fear began to work its way into Rick's life even when he was not dreaming.

When Rick begins to investigate his dreams, he finds himself drawn into a world of drug use and broken dreams. The couple who had lived in the apartment before them had experimented with ecstacy only to find that trying it once is one time too many. As their lives slowly spiraled downward, they were tested both in their relationship as well as in their lives. At the end, a choice was made that would haunt them forever. Only one of them would get through it alive but even the end of life did not mean the end of the emotional pain and suffering.

The first thing a prospective reader should know before started Wounded Air is that this is not an easy novel to read. Reed is unrelenting and brutal in his portrayal of drug use and the destruction it brings. The story jumps right in and does not pull any punches as it details the decline of the couple once they experiment with drugs. Reed does recognize that there are some very difficult chapters in this novel and alternates between the past and the present to try to soften the blow but even the horror in the present only softens the blow while also seeming to somewhat amplify it as well. This is definitely not a book for the weak of heart or stomach. There were times I felt a bit sickened by the events of the novel but found that it was well worth the read.

Wounded Air is as compelling as it is brutal. It works on many different levels and Reed plays on the reader's emotions on multiple levels. At its core, Wounded Air is a love story even though it is not a traditional love story. This is a love story gone wrong through the best of intentions as an attempt to bring the lovers even closer ends up in destruction and isolation. It is also the story of a man coming to terms with his place in the world and learning to make the tough but necessary decisions. It is a tale of horror from beyond the grave and even greater horror on this side of death. The novel is hard to describe without giving away key elements of it so I do not want to go much deeper. What Wounded Air is harsh, scary, and haunting. It is not the best book that I have ever read but I do think that it is one that I will probably never forget.

I would like to thank NineStar Press and NetGalley for this review copy. Wounded Air is available now.

I chose Wounded Air because it was tagged as Horror, and though there was a haunting, the real horror here was not paranormal nor occult. The true evil here was drug addiction -- which made this a difficult, heartbreaking story to read. The author didn’t pull any punches showing us what Tommy went through during his short, tragic life, and those he left behind really don’t fare much better. I was pulled in by the promising blurbs, and though it was not exactly what I imagined it would be, I'm really glad I read this one. I think it’s one of those books that’s going to stay with me for a while, as will Tommy and Karl.

Wounded Air was a fast, well-paced read. All the loose ends get tied up at the end, though this does feel like it was left open enough to be the start of a series, which would be okay with me. This was my first Rick Reed book, but I don’t think it will be my last.

I’m grateful to NetGalley and NineStar Press for the opportunity to read and review Wounded Air.

So, yes, this is tagged “Ghost”, but it’s not a paranormal romance. It’s also tagged “M/M Romance” and while it does involve two gay couples, there’s not much romance between the pages of Wounded Air. I could have easily tagged it as horror, but that would be even more deceiving because even though there is most definitely a haunting, the horror in this story comes from nothing supernatural, but what characters go through in their not so normal, tragic lives.

Wounded Air was not an easy story to read. Not because it wasn’t gripping or because the writing was lacking. No, Wounded Air was hard to read because of what Tommy went through before his tragic death – which isn’t a spoiler. The author didn’t pull any punches in giving readers a glimpse into Tommy and Karl’s life before Tommy’s ended. The real mystery was how Tommy met his end and the revelation didn’t surprise me.

The story takes several twists and turns and jumps from the past to the present. It wasn’t a confusing switch though and without those glimpses into the past there wouldn’t have been much of a story. As hard as Wounded Air was to read, it’s one of those books that I’m glad that I read. It’s probably not for everyone though, especially those who would be triggered by references to addiction. Like I said, Rick R. Reed pulls no punches and Tommy’s slide into his own personal Hell isn’t just brushed over.

There was no happy ending – it was more like a resolution. I’m not exactly sure how I feel about the way things were left with Rick. It seemed like there may be more to his story. Hmm…

Rick and Ernie found the perfect apartment on Chicago’s West Side. Before they’re settled, Rick begins having all-too-real disturbing “dreams.” Each time, an emaciated young man with sad brown eyes appears, terrifying and obsessing him..
A sad, sweet ghost story told in first person and third person (flashbacks) interestingly not a scary story but one of redemption and ultimately peace.

the blurb makes this sound like a paranormal romance, but it's not at all.

i love the paranormal bits and the mystery here. it kept me really curious! and sad bc kids, please dont do drugs! D; i would definitely love to read more from this author actually, it is really good.

There is sadness and the horrible pain when much loved Tommy simply disappears. Karl, Tommy's partner, his sister and neighbor are all lost and the pain of not knowing is horrible. The last year of Karl and Tommy's life had gone downhill rapidly due to that "one taste" of meth. One taste that became a need.
Enter Rick and Ernie. Rick had coveted that apartment with the huge glass wall forever and one day it's for rent.
As soon as they move in Rick realizes that there is someone else still there. Sort of there, but not there. This sad young man, skin and bones, haunts Rick and Rick must help this soul find peace.

We go back and forth between the lives of Rick and Ernie and Tommy and Karl (the apartment's previous tenants). Through this journey we find out, what happened to Tommy and why. There's no bad guy here, just that lie that the drug will tell you. That you can "try it" or just do it on the weekend, or what ever. Don't listen. Enjoy this book though. Every one of the characters are lovable.
#WoundedAir #Netgalley

A dark (sad) paranormal story. And a story of Addiction.

You follow a couple (mainly Rick) move into a new home and start having dreams about Tommy.
And honestly I couldn't put this down. I needed to know what happened to Tommy. Where's Tommy??
I loved that there where two different timelines in this too. And it even starts off with a missing persons report. It really pulled the story along. You get to see everything and not just through one characters view. You get a look in multiple characters povs and it really works.
I am really enjoying Rick. R. Reed writing style it's quite unique. And makes for some cool stories.
I received this Arc from NetGalley for an honest review

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect but it sounded interesting. I was not disappointed. It was easy to read, engaging and fast paced. The tone was easy to relate to and read. I really enjoyed the tie to the supernatural and reluctant hero-esque feel of the main character. A tad disappointed by the ending but would definitely read more if this were a series!!