The narrator did an amazing job telling this story. The voices she did for the aunt were creepy and I’m so glad I did the audiobook for this.
I wanted to listen to an audiobook that would fit for spooky season and this was that. I had a fun time with the story. I also loved that the MC is in her 50s.
There was times that I felt the pacing was a bit slower and repetitive.
But I still found myself putting my headphones back in wanting to know what was going to happen next.

Wow this book was super creepy! It was Agatha all along!

Deena's aunt Agatha is a miserable old woman, and Deena puts up with her abuse as she's the only family she has left. It turns out aunt Agatha is more selfish and depraved than Deena knows and, to her horror, Agatha has made a deal with a literal devil in order to exact a long brewing vengeance upon her unsuspecting niece.

I'm sure you can read this book looking at Agatha's attacks as symbolism for fraught familial ties, keeping quiet, looking the other way etc or you can read it as a horror story with powerful, torturous attacks, or both! I read it as a combination of both and it works on several levels. A compelling and scary story! Definitely recommend!

I received a free audiobook copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

The narrator gives a strong performance that delivers on the novel's emotional nuances, and the production values are excellent.

For me, it was tough listening due to the subject matter. I expected more blatant horror. This is an extremely detailed journey through troubled lives with a lot of grief, guilt, resentment, family drama, and painstaking accounts of daily life. The author is talented. This is simply not my kind of book. I found it grim and kept wondering when it would become a horror novel. I finally opted to DNF at 53%.

It's good to see a middle-aged woman as the main character, and many readers will value the subtleties and realism of this novel. It already has many appreciative listeners who find the book a good fit. I was intrigued by the insights into Syrian culture.I would recommend it to readers who enjoy psychological fiction and family drama.

Thank you, Dreamscape Media for the ALC via NetGalley for consideration. This is my honest opinion.

I dropped all of my adult responsibilities to binge listen to this audiobook, and I regret nothing. I was gripped from the very beginning when creepy aunt Agatha's voice chilled me to my core. The narrator did such a fantastic job playing so many characters. You had me completely hooked. What continued to follow was incredibly creative, and I'm sad it ended. I highly recommend this one!

I cannot continue with this for a couple of reasons; one, it's way too "New York life" for me; I just cannot relate to that or find it interesting. Admittedly a subjective problem but it is what it is. Also, the mystery and suspense is mostly non-existent because the book description both on NetGalley and on Goodreads basically gives the entire plot away. This was a major misstep in marketing if you ask me; the book is clearly written with the intention that you don't know what's happening right away, but the description you see before you even start reading the book just outright tells you what's going on.

This was such an interesting story. The generational, familial issues were top tier. I loved how unreliable Deena was and how I truly had no idea if what she was experiencing was real or just her mind playing games on her. Definitely will read from this author again!

My actual rating is 3.5 stars.

I'm at a stalemate as how to review this one. It was superbly written and for a debut novel, it had great attention to detail. However, I had some issues with flow. I had to actually listen to this twice to try to make sense of what was happening. It didn't help much. And actually that may be a me issue. For me, the flow wasn't flowing. But the story line was such a unique conception. I honestly loved that. It would be a 4 or ever 5 star for me if not for me stumbling to understand if it was an actual malevolent being or a mental illness evolving. All the back and forth chapters left me a bit dizzy. I will still recommend this book on my platforms, because after reading other reviews, I think it must just be a me issue. I will actually probably read the actual book once it cones out to see if that helps me.

The worst nightmare is being pushed to insanity by your five senses. The anxiety of being overwhelmed by creepy voices, an elusive odor, the foul taste from an innocent kiss, the horrific sight of crawling pests, and the murderous touch of death. Failing senses represent one kind of horror, but when your family and friends begin questioning your mental health, that becomes a different kind of terrifying reality. Deena, the main protagonist, experiences strange phenomena while accompanying her aunt in her final moments. Is she imagining things, or is her aunt looking better as time passes? Publication date: October 8, 2024.

#deenaundone #netgalley #dreamscape_media

There are elements of this story I found to be fun. I liked the bits about the family history and traditions. I did find some if the story to be predictable and fall into simple tropes, but got by with a unique perspective. I think this is an accessible book for people who are newer to horror.

I was really looking forward to this but for me this was very boring. I did not connect to the characters and there was.no scary or horror aspect. Lame lame for me.

This is how horror is done!

I enjoyed every single chapter of Deena Undone. It was engaging at first, as we tried to figure out what had made Deena such a mess in her life. Then it became truly engrossing by the end, when we finally understand just how f*cked she was before she was even born.

The situation seemed so realistic and the characters were so well-developed, I believed it could really happen. When you get spooked to the point where you feel it could be real, that's when you know you're reading a great novel.

Extra stars for weaving in a truly great ancient evil character. I'm always down for bringing vengeful old gods and brutal immortal creatures to life, and this is what elevated Deena Undone from great to one of my top reads, in any genre, for this year.

Calling all horror fans: if you’re looking for a new author with fresh, terrifying ideas, look no further! I absolutely inhaled this book! I loved the premise, the characters, the storyline, the twists, all of it! It had some paranormal aspects to it, which worked so well! I also really liked how real it felt, as I was empathizing with the MC at times! I think it could make a great movie! It is for my friends who are always looking for something darker, creepier! And at 7 hours on audio, you won’t be able to stop once you start! The narrator was perfection, bringing to life the creepiness of this book! Coming out next week, highly recommend getting preorders in now in any format!

Deena Undone is a suspenseful novel that expertly pulls readers into the complex life of its protagonist, Deena. While some parts of the plot may feel predictable, what truly stands out is the engaging delivery of the story through the narrator’s voice. This perspective keeps the reader invested, allowing us to visualize Deena’s struggles, emotions, and ultimately, her unraveling.

From the beginning, I found myself caught up in the mixture of sadness and hope that surrounds Deena’s journey. The novel deals with heavy themes like betrayal and the desire for revenge, but it also touches on something deeper—the often unfair stigma attached to mental health. As the story progresses, it becomes clear how easily people are dismissed as “crazy” until they start experiencing certain realities themselves. It’s a sobering commentary on how society reacts to personal crises.

One of the novel’s most unsettling elements is the way it might make you look at your own family members with a more critical eye. The relationships in the book, though extreme at times, highlight the darker sides of family dynamics that many can relate to—whether they’d want to admit it or not.

Although the storyline had its foreseeable moments, I never felt bored. The way Debra K. Every unravels Deena’s emotional state and the events surrounding her life kept me intrigued. I was hoping for some sort of closure or revenge for Deena, but the ending—though fitting—left me wanting more. And I can’t help but feel like a part two might be on the horizon, which would be a welcome continuation of Deena’s story.

Overall, Deena Undone is a well-written, thought-provoking novel that explores the complexities of mental health, family, and personal redemption. Though it’s more of a suspense than a thriller, it will definitely keep you turning the pages, and by the end, you might find yourself wanting even more.

This was such a wild ride. I absolutely loved the Syrian folklore and the idea of entities that attack one of the five senses. Builds to some really great moments and one chapter in particular ends with a terrifying line that was just a heart stopper. And what an ending!!

Deena Undone
Debra K. Every
October 8, 2024


This is an incredibly creepy and wholly original possession tale.

It's kinda like Sara Gran's 'Come Closer' mixed with Ari Aster's 'Hereditary'.

A possession that takes over and twists your five senses, one at a time, until it has you.

There's interesting parallels to aging and how our senses are altered with age.

There is so much I love about this book. I will be HIGHLY recommending it to anyone who'll listen.

4.5 / 5

Horror isn't usually my go-to genre, so I wasn’t sure what to expect going into this. But for the time I spent watching it, I found it surprisingly adequate. I’ll admit, I didn’t get all the nuances at first, but the audio really stood out to me. The sound design was fantastic, adding a lot of depth to the experience—well, as much depth as horror can offer, I guess. While I’m not the biggest fan of jump scares or creepy atmospheres, I have to say, it was well done for what it was. Even though I’m not usually into this kind of thing, I can appreciate the effort put into the details. It’s not something I would typically watch again, but for what it’s worth, it did its job.

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Writing: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Narrator(s): ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Tropes, etc: Demons, Found Family, Demons or Mental Illness
POV: Single, 3rd Person

The Praise: This was good! Maybe I just haven’t encountered it before, but I thought the concept of the Sensu was really unique and interesting. I was also impressed by how well developed the characters were. I also enjoyed Deena’s relationships with her loved ones.
The audiobook narrator was great and really added to the creepy factor.

The Critique: Honestly, I can’t really think of any! I maybe would’ve liked to see more of the Sensu’s attacks.

Final Thoughts: A unique plot, characters you root for and empathize with, and enough horror to give you chills. Perfect for spooky season!

How far would you let yourself be pushed? Deena has been pushed her whole life, molded into the woman she is today. Those doing the crafting weren't always acting out of love. Now an adult, Deena must face her past, her grief, and the people who lead her to being the woman she is today. But when the person who has pushed her life the most is the person trying to kill her, will Deena find the strength to fight back and seize the world she has built for herself?

Chilling! A delightfully terrifying read, perfect for spooky season 👻

Thank you Dreamscape Media, Netgalley and Debra k Every for the audio Arc of Deena Undone.
Narrated by Mia Barron

Deena Undone starts off pleasant enough, following the life of Deena and Simon in a loving, fun, respectful life. After a difficult young life and mental health issues of the past. It's all that Deena wants. Suddenly, this narrative takes a turn and you are thrown down a hole of a malevolent spirit making psychic attacks on Deena, as her dying Auntie makes a deal with Sensu.

I really enjoyed this book. It most things that tick my boxes! The narrative starts out slow paced but very quickly sits on medium paced until the last 1/4 of the book in which it becomes fasted paced. You get the backstory through Deena and looking into the past and I really bonded and was rooting for her to succeed in extinguishing this ancient malevolent entity The writing is atmospheric, creepy, disturbing and looked the weaving of the supernatural/mental health aspect.

Mia Barron narrated Deena Undone, which is a first for me, Her voice was well suited to the book, full of suspense, creepiness and a pleasure to listen to .

4 stars

Simon & Deena are a great, older, childless couple that are playful & their banter is fun. The story leads you down a road & suddenly a U turn. This is another book that I read strait thru and god help anyone who interrupted me.

Deena has been institutionalized for mental health issues in the past so when others notice they grow concerned. The story visits the past enough so that you get a well fleshed out story.

So you start the story in the dark and by the end you’re hoping the lights don’t go out!!

ANOTHER GREAT ENDING!!!

Thank you NetGalley & Dreamscape Media! Hoping this won’t be the last book I read from this author!! Great for spooky season!