Thank you Netgalley and Dark Matter Ink for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

“The Threshing Floor” by Steph Nelson is a chilling blend of psychological thriller and occult horror, weaving a complex story about miracles, manipulation, and the desperation of a single mother willing to do anything to save her son. Following the story of Dalice Carter, a struggling single mom with a toddler in need of a heart transplant, Nelson explores the depths of how far one can be pushed before succumbing to dark promises.

Dalice is a highly relatable protagonist, juggling two jobs to make ends meet while navigating the heartbreak of her son Cash’s failing health. Her hope appears when Shane, a kind-hearted stranger, connects with her, which then leads to Dalice meeting his sister, Reva, an enigmatic cult leader with supposed healing powers. The book shifts between present-day events and flashbacks to Reva and Shane’s past, offering insight into Reva’s twisted thinking and dangerous abilities. These shifts in perspective, especially Reva's upbringing and the roots of her supernatural powers, add depth to the characters and build tension as Dalice realizes the price of Reva’s “miracles.”

Nelson’s skillful pacing ramps up as the darker elements of the cult and Reva’s motivations become clear. The horror is subtle yet gripping, balancing suspense with an examination of themes like faith, abuse, and the corruption of power. You will find yourself rooting for Dalice even as you watch her make increasingly desperate (and sometimes stupid) decisions, all for the sake of her son’s life as Dalice is willing to do anything, even sacrifice her own life, for her son. Each revelation regarding Reva and her powers ratchets up the tension toward an intense, gruesome, and slightly gorey climax. The story’s ominous atmosphere and nuanced characters add to its powerful impact, showcasing Nelson’s talent for character-driven horror. The one thing that drew me out of the story a bit was about Reva’s abilities as I found it a bit difficult to believe that someone with legitimate healing powers, someone who can literally cure someone of cancer, wouldn’t have gone viral or been extremely well-known in today’s time. With the prevalence of social media, I had to suspend my disbelief about Reva’s abilities as well as the cult itself.

What I really enjoyed the most in this book was Shane himself as he is just a genuinely nice guy who wants to help Dalice and has a real connection with her. He even adores her son, which made him my favorite character in the book. While I did wish for more scenes from Reva's perspective, the story ultimately builds to a satisfying—if somewhat predictable—ending. The ending leaves with one last twist, potentially opening up for a sequel, which I would be interested in reading.

Overall, “The Threshing Floor” is a compelling psychological thriller that horror fans, especially those fascinated by cult dynamics and the supernatural, will find hard to put down. Steph Nelson delivers a memorable and disturbing look at the lengths one will go to for love and the eerie underbelly of promised salvation.

In one word, disturbing. If you are looking for a psychological thriller that is low on the horror, but high on the drama this is the right choice for you.

Cults. What's not to like?

The Threshing Floor is the story of Dalice and how far she will go for her son. It's a mother who will go to the ends of the earth to make sure her son lives a full life. Meeting Shane, a handsome mysterious man, isn't so bad either.

Slipping into the past for Shane and his sister, Reva, we read about their traumatic childhood and how it translates into their current lives. Reva is the leader of a mysterious cult, where she is able to heal people by laying her golden hands on them. But, to get to that point, these people must go through intense mental abuse and torture.

I found the cult aspect the best part of the entire story. Did the romance plot help...maybe a little, but I really don't think it was necessary. Dalice's connection to the group could have been facilitated via her high school 'friend'. Dalice is a great character and I wanted everything to resolve and for her to come out on top.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this bo

If there's one thing I'm gonna do, it's read whatever Steph Nelson writes. Every book she writes is so captivating. I feel like I'm INSIDE the main character's head, or at least a fly on the wall.

This book was so interesting and had me curious as to which direction it would head in the whole time. It follows Dalice and her son Cash, who needs a heart transplant. When she finds herself immersed in her local religious community, she also finds her own limits and what she will do in order to save her son.

5/5!!!!!

Reader, this book was not for me. I was drawn to the name "The Threshing Floor" from the Biblical stories of Ruth and Daniel, and the concept seemed intriguing as I enjoy stories about mind control and cultlike groupthink behavior. This story was more centered in magic as well as a thriller.

A 2 year old in need of a heart transplant, a desperate mother, Dalice, learns about a "healer" named Reva through her brother, Shane. Dalice joins a "Threshing Floor" meeting where Reva has glittery gold hands and can heal anyone of anything, seemingly due to complete magic. Of course Dalice is willing to do anything to save her son, Cash. However, Reva uses these superpowers to control her brother Shane and anyone else who attends the meetings, acting as a dictator and lying about how her abilities work. Reva is a complete comic book villain holding people hostage. The love story between Shane and Dalice seems forced and unnecessary, the characters actions don't make any sense and the backstory just seems overly dramatic and flawed.

This could be good for those that like thrillers, I did not like any of the characters and it felt like a different book than I was expecting.

Thanks to NetGalley and Dark Matter Ink for the ARC. Book to be published November 11, 2024.

wow, this one had me hooked! i was consumed with the story found myself needing to know how this one unfolded. dalice is the queen of skepticism but her protective nature took front seat in this story about diving into the freakish unknown to save her child, finding love in the midst of it, all the while teetering on the brink of danger.
 
if you’re a fan of an occultist and psychological thriller, then 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐫 is definitely going to be up your alley, available on november 11, 2024!
 
thank you to dark matter ink, steph nelson and netgalley for providing me a copy of this arc in exchange for an unbiased review.I

This was my first cult fiction book and I LOVED it! It was dark and twisty, and I really felt for Dalice as a single mom willing to do whatever it takes for her child. I loved the writing style so much I will definitely pick up every other book by this author!

This is my second book by Steph Nelson. You cannot put her books down! She grabs you in the first chapter and you MUST know what happens! Loved that this book took place in my hometown, Spokane. Creepy, cult vibes! Dark and twisty from the first page to the last. Reva, I’m sure you’ll be in my nightmares tonight!

I enjoyed this cult deception thriller book however I felt unengaged from the book at times, I enjoyed the flashbacks from past to present that showed depth of the characters life. If you love a cult fiction book this book is 100% for you it’s a easy short read

I loved the idea of trying to save your loved one by joining a cult. The plot worked well overall and enjoyed the way this worked in the genre. I thought the characters were well written and was invested in what was happening to them. Steph Nelson wrote this well and left me wanting to read more.

Born eighteen months apart brother and sister Shane and Reva are thrust into a world of deception. Reva being born with a gift from the Gods is manipulated by her mother to offer healings to church people while Shane sits by and observes. With no gifts of his own Shane tries to live as normal of life as possible, yet still gets roped into the livelihood his mother provided. Years laters when in their forties Shane meets single mom Dalice.
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Single mom Dalice has a two year old son with a heart condition which drains her financially. She works at the diner for the medical benefits, but the bills keep piling up. While on shift, a group of people from church show up. Later Dalice finds out Shane’s sister heals and cures people.
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Dalice is protective of her son Cash. She only allows her sister Brandy to watch him. When she starts attending meetings where Shane’s sister ministers she brings him along in hopes she choose them to heal.
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The story moves at a slow pace alternating between the past and present. I kept waiting for the doom and gloom to come knowing there was a cost to pay for curing her sons medical condition. The story builds a solid foundation by taking readers into the process of what Shane and Reva dealt with as teenagers living with her gift. Pushing through the religious beliefs took some effort on my part. Once the story settled into the groove of things I felt the shift I needed to be present.
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Steph Nelson writes about a controversial religious topic about a healing minister. Imagine being born with the ability to cure diseases and heal wounds from touch. I’m on this back and forth path where I have one foot in and one foot out. I like the premise of this story, yet I find myself bored with impatience. Skimming seems to be the best remedy for my impatience. I need more substance and shock value. Although I’m drawn by Dalice’s dilemma. I’m driven by her desire to cure her son using the easily accessible method.

Thank you to NetGalley, Dark Matter Ink, and Steph Nelson for the copy of The Threshing Floor.

I have never heard of Steph before this but when I saw this book recommended by another author I enjoy, I wanted to try it. Boy, am I glad I did! I was hooked from the very beginning and couldn’t wait to find out how everything would unfold. I definitely recommend this one!!

Dalice is a single mom working two jobs just to make ends meet. On top of being a single mom in general, her son, Cash, has a heart condition and is in need of a heart transplant. Dalice meets a group of church people when she's waitressing her second job. Shane is among those church people. Shane and Dalice start to develop a relationship. Among those church people, there is also someone from Dalice's past named Mickey. Mickey invites Dalice to a church meeting. Dalice learns that a woman named Reva (who is also Shane's sister) has the ability to heal people. Dalice can't help but wonder what this might mean for her son. She's also wondering why Shane never mentioned his sister and why he wouldn't think to invite her to one of these meetings if it could possibly save the life of her son.

Okay, so I really loved the culty vibes of this book. I can't help but love a good cult thriller. However, I was expecting so much more based on the description of this book. "Because the miracles in the secret group come at a steep price." The threshing floor aspect really wasn't that much to pay considering what you were getting in return. Yes, the crazy stuff at the end ended up being an outlandish price you'd have to pay. That was more so for people that went outside of the cult, though. I'm trying to write this with as few spoilers as I can.

Ultimately, I had high expectations for this book, and it ended up falling short for me. It was an interesting concept. I just feel like deep down Reva started out as a good person and then just went off the deep end out of nowhere. I feel like everything she ended up doing in the end was out of character for the kind person we came to know her to be. I wish the book was more about what I was expecting, which was that people would have to exchange something for being healed.

Overall, it was an easy and quick read with a writing style that I enjoyed, but it felt like it lacked enough substance for me to really enjoy it. 

Thank you, Steph Nelson, NetGalley, and Dark Matter Ink, for the ARC of this book.

After reading The Final Scene by Steph Nelson, I knew whatever she did next I would have to read.

The Threshing Floor was a dark, supernatural, occult horror, thriller that seemlessly blends elements from each genre. From the prologue to the end, you will be invested in what a mother will do to save her son and what binds can be broken because of love.

Our protagonist, Dalice, is a single mom raising her son Cash who has a heart condition and he will need a transplant sooner rather than later. Dalice is working two jobs, one has a house cleaner and one at a diner just for the insurance. That is where she meets Shane. She is immediately drawn to him for his good looks and the way that he talks and treats her and the people around him is almost hypnotic. Shane happens to be with her friend from high school so he's safe... right?

Dalice's relationship with Shane gets closer and she starts getting more and more information about his sister, Reva, her ability to heal people and the cult that follows her. Alternating between two times lines, current and 1999, as well as multiple POV's the reader is drawn into the background of Reva, the healer, and Shane and the parallels between how Reva treats those she has healed, her journey in learning about her abilities and her childhood.

The character development is wonderful. Exploring subjects of sacrifice versus self and what a mother would do to save her child. Topics of power and control, manipulation and love for self, family and others are brought into The Threshing Floor making this a gripping, non stop ride that you will not soon forget.

A love story, a supernatural thriller and a cult twist in one incredible book!
I loved everything from the great writing, backstories, dual timeline and the fantastic ending!
Make sure to get tissues before reading the author’s note. I love Steph Nelson’s books and am thankful she allowed us readers to learn about her personal trauma. My heart goes out to her and her family.
Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read this advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.