this is my first t. marie vandelly book and i’ve heard great things. i really wanted to connect with this book! i was excited to pick this one up because the premise sounded right up my alley, and i did enjoy the unsettling horror elements and the author’s strong writing style. the story itself just didn’t fully click for me. the plot often felt muddy and hard to follow, which made it difficult to stay engaged. the slow descent into madness was an interesting concept, but the pacing dragged at times, and i found myself losing focus. while the atmosphere was effective and suffocating, i just wasn’t as invested in the characters or their journey as i had hoped. 2 stars.

I so badly wanted to love this; Vandelly's "Theme Music" was one of my top-ten fiction reads of 2024. But this was a sophomore slump in the worst way, and I honestly don't even know what else to say beyond "this wasn't good." It WANTED to be; it wanted to be a wry, clever, meta work, and it just...falls so flat. It's a slog, first of all, and so overblown (and gratuitously gross at times) that it ends up feeling like a parody of the best atmospheric horror. Jewel is an obnoxious protagonist for most of the book, the supporting characters are practically inconsequential, and the twist comes so late in the game that it's a complete deus ex machina. I can't say that I'll be in line for any future works Vandelly produces - if I want horror, I'll look elsewhere.

oooo this was the perfect for the start of the spooky season. Fans of The Last Days of Jack Sparks and The Last House on Needless St will love this. We follow Jewel who goes to see her sister Deidre after she has a horrible accident and is left in a coma. Jewel discovers she needs to finish her sisters latest novel but there is something not quite right with it. Weird things keep happening to all who look at this novel. I don't want to give anything away because this book was creepy in the best way. If you are easily frightened, I would suggest only reading with the lights on. Just when you think you know what's happening the last quarter throws you through loops you didn't even know existed. I loved this and it has inspired me to finally grab the authors other novel Theme Music off my TBR

Thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for this free copy of "An Evil Premise."

What if your words could unleash evil into the world?

So many elements of this story were super exciting to me:
- two sisters, Jewel and Deidre both writers, but only Deidre is successful
- Deidre in coma after car accident; Jewel finds Deidre's unfinished manuscript
- Publisher begs Jewel to finish the novel to meet deadline
- But manuscript is disturbing and appears to be writing itself?
- People around Jewel and Deidre start gruesomely dying

So fair warning: there's body horror (which makes me cringe and I usually avoid) and violence (the gruesome deaths). But thankfully, author Vandelly somewhat skirts around it/them so it's not just a slasher novel.

An Evil Premise is a meta-horror fiction novel about the lengths an author will go to get their name out there, to write a bestseller. All thanks to the help of THE MUSE! What’s a little possession in exchange for success?

It’s been a long time since I’ve read a horror book that actually gave me the creeps. I’ve talked about this before but I have aphantasia. I don’t visualize anything. My imagination is a blank space. The few horror books that have managed to get under my skin all have one thing in common-—well written tension. And the first half of An Evil Premise has some fantastic tension.

That’s not to say the writing in the latter half isn’t good—it is. But it starts to shift to a bit more of a thriller and I was along for the ride. I was having FUN. I was being got by those twists and turns. The scares might not have lasted but I was entertained from beginning to end and I definitely want to check out T. Marie Vandelly’s previous novel, Theme Music.

*thank you to netgally and the publisher for this e-arc*

An Evil Premise by T. Marie Vandelly is without question one of my favorite reads of the year. I read a lot of horror, and it takes a lot to truly creep me out—but Vandelly has mastered the art of unsettling storytelling. Her previous book scared me so much I still think about it, and this new novel somehow manages to be just as chilling, if not more.

What I loved here is the way horror is layered: it’s not just blood or jump scares, but something far deeper and more insidious. The metafictional “book within a book” structure made me feel as though the pages themselves were alive, pulling me into the same feverish spiral as the protagonist. The atmosphere is grotesque, eerie, and claustrophobic—exactly what I want from horror that lingers long after I’ve closed the book.

Vandelly has a way of writing that feels both visceral and poetic, fusing body horror with psychological dread until you don’t know what’s real anymore. This is horror at its finest—creepy, unnerving, and endlessly inventive.

📝ARC REVIEW📝

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“Words kill. I knew that now. And I am powerless to stop it.“

“I hate that I find some joy in it. Writing such horrors. That such depravity is in me.”

“If the path to great writing was through experience, a few people might have to die along the way. How else could one write a truly scary story? In order to hook a reader, you had to pierce the skin.“

“I matter less than the pencil I hold. Just as easily snapped.“

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

I loved the descriptive writing in this! Some moments literally had my skin scrawling. Unreliable narrator, body horror, rival sister authors, and a descent into madness. I need to go read Theme Music ASAP. Highly recommend this one for my horror babes!

Thank you @netgalley @blackstonepublishing

Wow, this book was a wild ride. It was truly scary and I even found myself getting paranoid at times while reading it. The many different layers of the story can get a bit confusing at times but overall this book is excellent and very well written. I loved the storyline, it felt original and not like anything I've read before. It has left me with the "What did I just read?" feeling, but in a fun way. Highly recommend for people who love a good horror novel!

This book was crazy, in a good way! It’s a book within a book, so there were times I was questioning which “book” I was reading.

The story follows Jewel, a struggling author, who is called to her sister’s bedside after she learns she is currently in a coma after a hit and run accident. It just so happens her sister, Deidre, is a popular and successful author. Jewell stays to help take care of Deidre’s affairs while she’s in a coma, and answers a frantic call from her agent, Emily. Emily tells Jewell that Deidre’s publisher needs her next book by the deadline in a week. She says Deidre is in a bad financial position, and that the publisher will not give her any more extensions. Jewell and Emily come to the conclusion that Jewell will finish Deidre’s book. Unlike any of Deirdre’s previous books, she was working on a horror book called Unspeakable Demons. And from here on out, well, let’s just say bad things start happening when Jewell starts working on the book.

An Evil Premise was a unique premise that was unlike any book I’ve read before. I loved all the twists and I loved how it ended. 5 stars!

Thank you to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In my opinion only, this book fell way below her debut book!!!!!!!! It is just so gory that I couldn't finish it. If you love gory, horror books with alot of details, you will enjoy this one. It just wasn't for me.

This was twisted and strange. I felt unsettled throughout, which is my favorite way to read horror.

I love how this story is layered. The way you get the story is strategic. Visually, this was intense. I live for horror imagery like this. Possession horror is something that terrifies me deeply… this was fabulous!

An Evil Premise is so twisty and layered, once you start it, it's impossible to put down. While Theme Music was chilling and original, An Evil Premise is on a different level—Vandelly captures the descent of the MC as she spirals in such a way that the reader goes with her. The inclusion of manuscript excerpts is brilliant and immersive. I was expecting more of a thriller because of the cover art, but I'm so happy that it ended up firmly in the horror genre.
My review is only some general observations, but I feel like that's all I can do without giving anything away. I'd recommend this to all horror fans, and to thriller fans who have a strong stomach.

Thank you NetGalley! I loved T. Marie Vandey’s first novel, so I knew I had to read the newest one. And it was amazing! My favorite aspect of An Evil Premise, was that it is different story than other books I read. It makes me want to read more and keeps me focused on the story

This is definitely a book you can’t put down. Great characters and great story that’s so insane. I loved Theme Music and now adding this new book proves this is a talented author. The only complaint I have about an Evil Premise is that it left me wanting more!!

Thank you to T. Marie Vandelly, Blackstone Publishing, and NetGalley for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Goodness....I am almost speechless. This was one of the most twisted, haunting, and unsettling books I have read in quite some time. Not only was the main character spiraling into insanity, but I felt like I was transported into the very center of the story as well. It's like a book within a book and is truly psychologically mind bending. The twists and turns gave me whiplash and had me hooked til the very last sentence. This is one that is unforgettable, will keep you up at night, and have you thinking about it long after you close the book. Very well done!

Thank you for the review copy! This was quite the impressive read for me, I am grateful to be a part of a thriller community that put this on my radar early!

An Evil Premise by T. Marie Vandelly absolutely delivers on the hype—it’s unsettling, spooky, and completely captivating. From the opening pages, the story had me uneasy in the best way, with that perfect mix of dread and suspense that makes you want to keep reading even as you’re glancing over your shoulder. I especially loved the way Vandelly explored the sisters’ relationship, weaving in their shared past and the haunting presence of the house itself. Layered on top of that is the eerie concept of a book—an entity, a force—that consumes its reader’s mind and sense of self.

The inclusion of manuscript excerpts was a brilliant touch, adding depth and texture to the narrative while pulling me further into its unsettling atmosphere. While the story does require some suspension of disbelief, I didn’t mind at all; the pacing, characters, and horror imagery made it more than worth it. And while I don’t usually love body horror, Vandelly uses it here not just for shock value but to add real weight and depth to the story.

This book is fast-paced, filled with questionable characters, chilling imagery, and a final twist that left my jaw on the floor. It’s the kind of story that gets under your skin and stays there. Perfect for spooky season—or really any season if you’re a horror fan—I’d highly recommend this one, especially if you love a book-within-a-book structure and horror that balances atmosphere with visceral detail.

This book was incredible. This is the first book I read by this author and it made a really great first impression on me. I can’t wait to see what else this author will come out with and read the authors debut novel. This book was twisty, dark and disturbing; everything I love in a horror book. The authors writing is really great too and I had a hard time putting it down. I am definitely going to be recommending this book.

Theme music was my first book by this author and I was obsessed with it!!!!! I knew immediately when I saw an evil premise was by t Marie vandelly I knew I needed to read it asap!, thank you so much for the opportunity

Loved everything about this book—the story, the atmosphere, and especially the writing. Vandelly is quickly becoming one of my top authors.

I was a huge fan of theme music (still am ofcourse) but evil premise I think has topped it but just by a hair! T Marie is one of my favorite horror authors I can’t get enough of her graphic books