This was an entertaining book that wasn't what I was expecting. It's well written and fast paced. There are some spicy scenes I was not expecting which isn't my cup of tea but I still enjoyed this overall. Special Thank You to Sarah Hans, RJ Joseph, RDS Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

It starts off promisingly creepy but the twist 3/4 of the way through makes the whole thing laughable. A vital entry in the "man or bear" canon though, though with a feline slant.

“Shadows would always undulate out of the corner of her eye.”

The Asylum by Sarah Hans is the 3rd novella in RDS press’s series Selected Papers from the Consortium for the Study of Anomalous Phenomena and is a 3rd person narrative that follows Ashleigh (protagonists), Conor, Dean and Kayla as they flee from the city and seek refuge in a local abandoned asylum. They are all homeless meth addicts who have formed a sort of makeshift family, relying on one another for survival. On the run and seeking to get sober Ashleigh suggests they move to the asylum and take the opportunity to get clean. It seems like the perfect place for them to go, until they arrive and find themselves entirely cut off from the rest of the world. The asylum is not as empty or safe as it appears and the decision to move in is about to become more a nightmare as they realize they are not alone.

I really didn’t like this novella as much as I loved the rest of the series. I found Ashleigh to be a very well fleshed out character and the depiction of her struggles with addiction was very interesting and seemingly realistic. I just didn’t like the plot overall . Maybe I just didn’t appreciate this creature feature and I definitely didn’t love the ending.

When Ashleigh’s boyfriend Connor attempts to rob the corner store near the apartment they’re squatting in, Ashleigh decides, much as she is fed up with their meth-addicted life, that they need to hide out somewhere unexpected.

So Ashleigh, Conor, and their meth-friends Dean and Kayla bundle up their meagre possessions and head up the mountain to the abandoned asylum, which lacks running water and electricity, but has an abundance of stray cats.

Ashleigh has been making bad decisions for a while now. Though the asylum seemed like a good idea, faced with the reality of the place (moldering walls and furniture, small piles of bones and excrement everywhere) and the snakes, eviscerated coyote, and screams from some unknown creature, she wonders, exhausted, aching, and craving a fix, what situation she’s gotten them in. And then things go from bad to worse, with violence erupting, and Ashleigh convinced someone else is at the asylum.

The pacing worked well to build the creepy atmosphere, and the reveal about three quarters in was low-key scary. But I found that the real horror of this story was the way Ashleigh was destroying her life, including feeling that she desperately needed Connor, who was violent and abusive.

The turn to a sort of Beauty and the Beast story was unexpected, and I liked the eeriness and sense of danger the author evoked. And though Ashleigh was again in a dangerous situation, I actually liked the way she felt both repelled and entranced. And, despite her stated desire at the beginning of the story, the story's wrap-up felt both sad and a little hopeless, as Ashleigh gets ready to revert to a familiar pattern.

Thank you to Netgalley and to RDS Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my review.

This story was completely nuts. It went from 0 to bestiality in like no time at all. Why? I didn’t see it coming and definitely plan to check out more in the collection.

Ashleigh is told by her boyfriend Connor that they weren’t successful robbing the store and te police are after them. They need a new hiding place. Ashleigh talks her group of four into going to the abandon asylum. Ashleigh tells them it will be a good place to quit their drug habits. When they reach the asylum, Connor goes in first. Ashleigh follows and discovers how smelly and dirty it is. There are several cats living in the asylum. They find a room to “live in” that isn’t too dirty or smelly. Unfortunately there is no running water or electricity. When her group starts complaining about the lack of several things, they see a strange shadow of a man type figure. Who or what is this figure? Is it friendly or deadly? I can’t tell any more without giving spoilers.

The author has written a well-paced and creepy novella with a strong message. Doing drugs isn’t healthy. Ashleigh is constantly experiencing emotions and treacherous situations only to find herself in an unfathomable reality in the asylum. It is not a surprise that the novella is serious in spite of it being creepy. It’s an interesting twist on what one thinks an asylum can be.

I was really into this book until a particular thing happens (that I won't put here in case, you know, spoilers) that immediately removed me from the read. If you've read Asylum, then you know exactly what I'm talking about. This event shapes the remainder of the book, and nothing against Asylum personally, it's an angle that would take me out of any other book. Normally it would be a DFN event for me, but I dig RDSP and Asylum is a brief read so kept on trucking, but my interest level never recovered.

That being said, Asylum is well written, captivating initially, with solid dialog, And what is a narrative killer for one could be a narrative savior for others. So, low marks from me and my personal entertainment value, but I'm positive that feedback from others will be different.

As always, thank you Raw Dog Screaming Press for the opportunity.

I enjoyed this short horror novella. Anything with an asylum in it has to be scary, the setting of the story is definitely creepy! I really felt a connection to the LC Ashleigh and loved the building of the story, it had me sitting up wanting more. It was fast paced and a really insightful look into drug addiction, relationship abuse. Into the second part of the story it kind of threw me, I was not expecting that at all , things get very bizarre and I felt that maybe the ending was rushed? I would really have loved to see a longer more in-depth ending to match the beginning after such a brilliant built up. I loved it and enjoyed reading this story a lot.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Raw Dig Screaming Press for this Arc.

The story was engaging and fast passed and kept me going with its mysterious elements and thrill of what will happen the next moment,
real thriller I have read in a long time!
And the writing style also made it easier to read But there were few scenes (well a LOT of scenes I had to skim over because of the content)

This is exactly the kind of horror I love. The best horror includes both fantastic imaginary aspects alongside the very real terrors of our society. In Asylum, it's hard to decipher which is more terrifying. And it forces the reader to wonder who the real monster is, an abusive drug addicted boyfriend or a dangerous strange inhuman creature. My only complaint with be the short length, it was over way too quick. I wish there a bit more suspense in the middle and it ended with tons of unanswered questions.

Domestic fiction meets thriller, meets sci-fi, meets monster romance? I weirdly enjoyed this. We start with a group of young adults who are struggling with their meth addictions, and end up running from the law, just to find themselves holed up in an abandoned asylum. Violence ensues, where one is saved by a creature. After a romantic night with the creature she realizes she craves the human experience again and leaves. While in hospital we are led to believe she may be pregnant, and we are left questioning is she really and is it possible. Overall this novella was definitely intriguing and had a creepy edge, but I think a warning to readers of the sexual aspect would be good. I would’ve read it either way, just was surprised by that twist.

I’m not even sure how I feel about this. I started reading and before I knew it I was done and wandering what in the world did I just read!? I read this in 3 hours. It was like a train wreck that I could not stop. It was so unexpected! Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars

Asylum by Sarah Hans is a horror novella about four young people on the run.  I have no idea why the subtitle of "Selected Papers from the Consortium for the Study of Anomalous Phenomena" exists, unless this short novel is part of many more.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Raw Dog Screaming Press and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
 

My Synopsis:    (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Ashleigh and her boyfriend Connor, along with Kayla and Dean, are on the run after Connor and Dean held up the corner store. 

Ashleigh decides they have to immediately pack up everything and find a new place to lay low.  She figures the best place would be the abandoned asylum, up the mountain.  While there, they can all get clean from their meth habit. 

Although the asylum is run-down, and has no running water or electricity,  at least it provides shelter.  It also contains more cats and their stench than anyone could imagine.  Then there is the shadow that seems to loom over them all.

 
My Opinions:
I'm really not sure.  That sub-title bothers me, as did the forward.  I feel like I missed something.

The book hit topics like drug addiction, verbal and physical abuse, sex, murder and the bizarre.

The premise was really good, as was the creepiness and the eventual horror.  The suspense built in the first half, and the horror in the second. 

It was a very easy read.  The author wrote well enough that I could visualize the scenes, and it is definitely reminiscent of a teenage horror flick.  The plot took a real twist with the shadow-cat.  I can't say more on that one.

The ending left a little to be desired, as I had a few more questions....

This shortish story is a different take on the effects of drugs in all aspects. From the strain it has on your relationships with friends and family, to the strain it has on your mind, the lasting effects on your body, your emotions, and your overall view on life.
I was so invested in to Ashleigh in such a short amount of time. It was as if I was feeling the fear, the rage, the sorrow as she experienced them.
I did get a little pulled out of the story with the shadow man "reveal" but ....it definitely ties in to the statement of how drugs affect every part of you.
This story was a pretty quick read and kept me wanting to find out more. I had a few audible gasps as things played out and even a few times of asking aloud "WHY?!?! " lol

Thank you NetGalley, Raw Dog Screaming Press, and Sarah Hans for the opportunity to read this quaint story with a big statement packed in there. I thoroughly enjoyed this and will definitely be keeping an eye out for more by Sarah Hans as well as more that may come out as a part of this series.

A horror novella featuring a run-down asylum, and a gang of squatters and petty lawbreakers. The start of the book was just like any other book, but once Ashleigh and her friends find themselves on the run and discover refuge in an abandoned asylum at the top of the mountain in their own town, the horror elements start appearing. Truthfully, I expected there to be more horror however the unsettling sense of foreboding and suspense in general compensated for this.

The characters and the dynamics between them were nothing too special; they didn’t add that much to the novella. The descriptions and setting were vividly depicted: the mystery around the abnormal number of cats in the derelict asylum was convincing and made me want to read on. Things pick up rapid pace when the squatters are picked off one by one, and it suddenly becomes a matter of survival at the place they thought would protect them from the law.

A quote from this novella:
"This was no way to enter their new home. It felt wrong and her flesh crawled as if in warning. She was too late, though. Connor had already breached the asylum’s skin, and the others were following him."

A short story with lots of horror vibes. Two couples, all addicts, have escaped the police but need place to hide. They choose an abandoned asylum that will provide them with a roof and that's pretty much it. No water, no lights, no heat but no police either. Their intent is to get clean, but one of the first things they do is smoke meth. As they pair off for couples time, they will discover, they are not alone in the asylum. Fear will drive them into arguments and violence until fleeing the scene becomes the only option. And then.........

This is the perfect story for a "slasher" tale and the story moves in twists that you'd not see even if you were looking for them. Short stories prove an author's skills as they must tell a complete story in fewer pages than most chapters. Sarah Hans did an excellent job of making sure I don't visit any abandoned buildings for quite some time......

A creative horror piece, with some great ideas and at times iffy execution. While I appreciate the brevity of the story and its quick pace, it leaves little room for the horrors to ruminate. The grit and grime can certainly be a turnoff for some, but throughly enjoyable for fans of the gruesome and strange.

Thanks to #NetGalley and Raw Dog Screaming Press for this review copy in exchange for my honest review, but, in the spirit of honesty, I have already preordered this book because I’m friends-in-law with one of the cover models (Hi, Chaos!)
Asylum was a fun, quick read with plenty of danger and creepy moments but touched on some serious topics like partner abuse, drug addiction, recovery, and relapse. #Asylum

It was a good read at first, the relationships between the characters were interesting and it was well paced.

However towards the end it got really bizarre. There wasn't really any realistic resolutions, it got very rushed, and the villain-turned-furry-lover was a very very bizarre addition. It didn't work for me.

I had such a hard time trying to push through and finish this. It started off strong but then fell off just before halfway through. The character dynamics were great but I got bored with the plot and the ending felt rushed.