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Severed
In this prequel to SCRATCHES, the members of Third Squad are sent on a recon mission to Northern Vietnam in 1967. Their squad leader, Sgt. George Hanscott, has to make the difficult decision to disobey his unit's direct orders putting his squad's lives at risk, or help a local fishing village end the terror that's been plaguing them for over a century. Will his decision backfire or will his squad of US Marines be able to destroy the evil entity they don't quite understand?
Will we find out how George became such a heinous monster? Do we really want to know?
Will we find out how George became such a heinous monster? Do we really want to know?
- GenresHorrorNovellaParanormal
144 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 4, 2021
7 people are currently reading
262 people want to read
About the author
Joshua Marsella
8 books190 followersJOSHUA MARSELLA is a Maine native and self-published author of several popular titles within the horror genre including his connected novellas 'Scratches' and 'Severed', his debut collection 'Hunger For Death', and his middle grade novel 'Comic Book Chaos', book #11 in the beloved FrightVision Book series. His short stories have homes within the pages of Cemetery Gates Media, Silent House Press, Grinning Skull Press, and more.
Find his books on Amazon in ebook, paperback, and audiobook formats.
Find his books on Amazon in ebook, paperback, and audiobook formats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
February 19, 2021
Absolutely breathtaking prequel to "Scratches". Here you'll come to know how Charles became the monster he finally got. It all started in Vietnam when his squad tried to hunt a baby kidnapper down. Who is that guy? And why is he collecting children? An extremely dark and eerie novel you won't put down. Charles became such a nasty character. But is it really Charles who's in control? Fascinating creepy story with a lasting impact. Highly recommended!
February 24, 2021
Severed, the recently released prequel story set decades prior to the original novella, Scratches, moves the action into 1967 in the midst of the war in Vietnam for a story that both sets itself apart from what precedes it, and delivers the same bleak gut-punch of a story that fans of that novella would expect.
George Hanscott is the leader of a squad sent on a recon mission that takes them to a remote fishing village. Whilst there, they hear stories of a local outcast who is believed to be entering the settlement in the dead of night, stealing children from their families and disappearing without a trace. When a young baby is taken while the squad are sleeping, Hanscott makes the difficult decision to stay and help find the child and put a stop to the evil plaguing the locals.
What first seems to be a straightforward mission soon proves to be a descent into a hell that not even the horrors of war have adequately prepared these men for. The evil that waits for them deep in the jungles of Vietnam is no mere man, but an age-old evil with plans for the squad and its leader.
The name George Hanscott should sound familiar to those who have read Scratches and it’s certainly a bold choice to base a whole book around this character. It turns out to also be an inspired one. It was interesting to see the ‘origins’ of him and I was pleasantly surprised that Marsella took the character in directions I did not expect.
Speaking of Scratches, having read both in fairly quick succession I can safely say that Severed is a big improvement. I enjoyed Scratches and particularly connected with the pop culture references, but Severed just feels far more polished and accomplished, juggling a far larger cast of characters and a much larger scale. It is a big improvement made all the more impressive by the fact that the two were published only nine months apart.
If you haven’t read Scratches yet, fear not! Severed works absolutely fine as a stand-alone story. In fact, I think it may make for a better story if this is your first introduction to this world, as the burden of knowledge completely changes the reading experience. I would imagine most people would have found Severed to be a nail-biting, action-packed horror thrill ride in the vein of Predator or Platoon with added monster, but given this is a prequel to a book I’d already read, made the overall tone one of downbeat inevitability by knowing what the book's endgame had to be to lead into the next. This isn’t a criticism. The inexorable creeping toward an unavoidable outcome fits well with the grim tone and unwavering ugliness of the world that Marsella has created with this series and it is the sign of a great book that you can have two entirely different experiences with it, depending on how clued up you are before getting started.
A dark and twisted prequel to an equally harrowing debut, Severed is grisly, gory and gloriously bleak. Fans will be treated with more of everything they loved about Scratches, dialled up to eleven, while newcomers are in for a wild, unpredictable ride. Read at your own peril!
You can read more reviews of new and upcoming horror releases at https://www.myindiemuse.com/category/...
I also promote indie horror via Twitter - @RickReadsHorror
George Hanscott is the leader of a squad sent on a recon mission that takes them to a remote fishing village. Whilst there, they hear stories of a local outcast who is believed to be entering the settlement in the dead of night, stealing children from their families and disappearing without a trace. When a young baby is taken while the squad are sleeping, Hanscott makes the difficult decision to stay and help find the child and put a stop to the evil plaguing the locals.
What first seems to be a straightforward mission soon proves to be a descent into a hell that not even the horrors of war have adequately prepared these men for. The evil that waits for them deep in the jungles of Vietnam is no mere man, but an age-old evil with plans for the squad and its leader.
The name George Hanscott should sound familiar to those who have read Scratches and it’s certainly a bold choice to base a whole book around this character. It turns out to also be an inspired one. It was interesting to see the ‘origins’ of him and I was pleasantly surprised that Marsella took the character in directions I did not expect.
Speaking of Scratches, having read both in fairly quick succession I can safely say that Severed is a big improvement. I enjoyed Scratches and particularly connected with the pop culture references, but Severed just feels far more polished and accomplished, juggling a far larger cast of characters and a much larger scale. It is a big improvement made all the more impressive by the fact that the two were published only nine months apart.
If you haven’t read Scratches yet, fear not! Severed works absolutely fine as a stand-alone story. In fact, I think it may make for a better story if this is your first introduction to this world, as the burden of knowledge completely changes the reading experience. I would imagine most people would have found Severed to be a nail-biting, action-packed horror thrill ride in the vein of Predator or Platoon with added monster, but given this is a prequel to a book I’d already read, made the overall tone one of downbeat inevitability by knowing what the book's endgame had to be to lead into the next. This isn’t a criticism. The inexorable creeping toward an unavoidable outcome fits well with the grim tone and unwavering ugliness of the world that Marsella has created with this series and it is the sign of a great book that you can have two entirely different experiences with it, depending on how clued up you are before getting started.
A dark and twisted prequel to an equally harrowing debut, Severed is grisly, gory and gloriously bleak. Fans will be treated with more of everything they loved about Scratches, dialled up to eleven, while newcomers are in for a wild, unpredictable ride. Read at your own peril!
You can read more reviews of new and upcoming horror releases at https://www.myindiemuse.com/category/...
I also promote indie horror via Twitter - @RickReadsHorror
April 8, 2021
A downright creepy prequel to Marsella's Scratches, this one takes us back to Vietnam. In a secluded village, a strange man/creature has stolen a baby. American GI's set out in the booby-trapped jungle to save the child. What happens next is just plain bonkers. A great read!
March 20, 2021
WOW.
This is the prequel to Joshua Marsella’s debut novella, Scratches. Did it deliver? BOY, DID IT EVER! I loved Scratches and when I found out a prequel was in the works about the scariest element in Scratches, I was STOKED.
Severed explores the origin story of the horror our main character stumbles upon in Scratches. We have a group of Marines deep in the jungle during the Vietnam War. This rookie bunch of Marines are on a mission and like any mission you take on in a video game - our comrades end up taking a side quest. You may be smiling at the gaming reference, but I assure you there’s nothing to smile about because the Marines experience a harrowing series of events while attempting to help a village in desperate need of assistance.
I absolutely love the characters we met here. The author does a fantastic job of catching the brotherhood and comaraderie found in men/women who serve and are responsible for the life of their fellow soldier. I fell in love with these guys instantly and as a result, I was very much invested in their journey through this jungle. It amped up the horror and feeling of dread that grew and spread as I may my way through this novel.
Joshua’s writing ability grew immensely between this one and his debut novella last year. Please don’t take that as any sort of slight at all against Scratches (which was perfect), it it mainly just me in awe of how GOOD this book is. It also drastically made what took place in Scratches EVEN BETTER.
Are you ready to read these two stories yet?
You should be. Just....keep your ears open.
This is the prequel to Joshua Marsella’s debut novella, Scratches. Did it deliver? BOY, DID IT EVER! I loved Scratches and when I found out a prequel was in the works about the scariest element in Scratches, I was STOKED.
Severed explores the origin story of the horror our main character stumbles upon in Scratches. We have a group of Marines deep in the jungle during the Vietnam War. This rookie bunch of Marines are on a mission and like any mission you take on in a video game - our comrades end up taking a side quest. You may be smiling at the gaming reference, but I assure you there’s nothing to smile about because the Marines experience a harrowing series of events while attempting to help a village in desperate need of assistance.
I absolutely love the characters we met here. The author does a fantastic job of catching the brotherhood and comaraderie found in men/women who serve and are responsible for the life of their fellow soldier. I fell in love with these guys instantly and as a result, I was very much invested in their journey through this jungle. It amped up the horror and feeling of dread that grew and spread as I may my way through this novel.
Joshua’s writing ability grew immensely between this one and his debut novella last year. Please don’t take that as any sort of slight at all against Scratches (which was perfect), it it mainly just me in awe of how GOOD this book is. It also drastically made what took place in Scratches EVEN BETTER.
Are you ready to read these two stories yet?
You should be. Just....keep your ears open.
January 25, 2021
Since I was little I’ve always had a fascination with the Vietnam War, I don’t know why, it probably has something to do with my father and his influence on me at a young age. We used to sit and watch so many war films (probably when I shouldn’t have been, I remember watching Full Metal Jacket far too young) I’d lose count, but we’d watch them all; Hamburger Hill, Platoon, Apocalypse Now, Full Metal Jacket, Born of the Fourth of July and The Deer Hunter.
Whatever my fascination was with this, it was deep and rich and completely immersive – and that is what we get with Severed by Joshua Marsella. Not only has Marsella been able to craft a deeply disturbing story, woven with some truly creepy and horrific elements, he’s also been able to masterfully render the time, the place, the soldiers and the horrors that took place in this most brutal of wars.
The horror in Severed is complex and with many layers, each one adding to the next before the reader is smothered under its weight. You have the horrors of war, the horrors of what makes monsters of men, the horror that a small fishing village face from a predatory evil that has been tormenting them for a century, you have detailed injury detail which at times had me curling my toes with its brutality, and the gore, oh the gore is delightful (and if you know me, I love a bit of gore, in what I’m reading and writing) – but the underlying theme of the whole piece is the unique supernatural element that binds this story together, it is something that is deep, dark and insatiable and it will not stop until it’s achieved what it set out to do.
This is a sequel / prequel to Scratches (Marsella’s debut) but it is also a standalone book, if you’ve not read Scratches you could pick this book up and it would work as a standalone horror novella, full of scares and thrills and told with a breakneck pace that would have you finishing the book in one sitting – I almost did before I had to put it down and do some fatherly things with my girls, you see you can lose yourself in this book, in the jungle that Marsella has created, the world building in this novella transports you to the heat, humidity, terror and mosquito filled jungles of Vietnam – it’s a character in its own right.
But, back to the sequel / prequel stuff - in this book we find out how our main antagonist from Scratches became the evil sonofabitch that graces they pages of Marsella’s debut. I for one also love a great origin story (Michael Clark’s ‘Dead Woman Scorned’ is one of the best origin tales I’ve read – and this is up there with that in the birth of evil stakes) there is something quite brilliant about finding out the reasons for how the monster came to be and Marsella in Severed achieves this like a veteran writer, peeling back the layers on George Hanscott until we can’t help but stare in wonder at what he has concocted and the vile monster from Scratches is reveled in all his horrific glory.
The characterisations in this book are the glue that hold it all together, and his work around the soldiers is something to admire and I enjoyed a lot, the banter, the shit talking, the sense of brotherhood, it was all anchored in something real and tangible – and knowing Marsella, I also know that he is a veteran himself, he served in the Army and I feel that it is this valuable insight that Marsella has which has enabled him to craft these soldiers so well, it is his personal experience of War that has enabled these characters to jump from the page. I’ve never read a Vietnam Horror before, and I’m not sure if there are other books that deal with this theme, but if not Marsella has crafted a genre all by himself and I for one loved it.
But what I really loved were all the little nods to Scratches, things that ensured this book is connected in such a way that the true beauty of it shines through with these little references, as I said it’s not essential that you’ve read Scratches first, but I’d recommend it, but I can also see how if you read this book first you would also really enjoy seeing how this played out in Marsella’s debut Scratches, they work together beautifully, with great skill, craft and dedication shown at ensuring this binds wonderfully together. In all honesty I think I preferred this offering to Scratches, it seemed richer and you can really see the development of Marsella’s craft, he’s been putting in the hours to make his storytelling that much crisper and deeper and his prose was a delight – I know some people mentioned this with his debut, that it needed work (and he listened and then put out an updated version of the book), but here in Severed – boy what a treat!
The only issue I had with the book at it is a small one, is that some of the scenes of trekking through the jungle became a little repetitive, but I did read an early version of the novella and I am told by the author that he has headed some suggestions and changed this for the version that will be released. (I was a beta reader)
An unflinching journey into the depravity of war and the horrors that lurk beneath the surface, dark, horrific and masterfully brutal, I’d go as far to say we are witnessing the awakening of a fierce talent in the independent horror scene, prepare to be scared.
Whatever my fascination was with this, it was deep and rich and completely immersive – and that is what we get with Severed by Joshua Marsella. Not only has Marsella been able to craft a deeply disturbing story, woven with some truly creepy and horrific elements, he’s also been able to masterfully render the time, the place, the soldiers and the horrors that took place in this most brutal of wars.
The horror in Severed is complex and with many layers, each one adding to the next before the reader is smothered under its weight. You have the horrors of war, the horrors of what makes monsters of men, the horror that a small fishing village face from a predatory evil that has been tormenting them for a century, you have detailed injury detail which at times had me curling my toes with its brutality, and the gore, oh the gore is delightful (and if you know me, I love a bit of gore, in what I’m reading and writing) – but the underlying theme of the whole piece is the unique supernatural element that binds this story together, it is something that is deep, dark and insatiable and it will not stop until it’s achieved what it set out to do.
This is a sequel / prequel to Scratches (Marsella’s debut) but it is also a standalone book, if you’ve not read Scratches you could pick this book up and it would work as a standalone horror novella, full of scares and thrills and told with a breakneck pace that would have you finishing the book in one sitting – I almost did before I had to put it down and do some fatherly things with my girls, you see you can lose yourself in this book, in the jungle that Marsella has created, the world building in this novella transports you to the heat, humidity, terror and mosquito filled jungles of Vietnam – it’s a character in its own right.
But, back to the sequel / prequel stuff - in this book we find out how our main antagonist from Scratches became the evil sonofabitch that graces they pages of Marsella’s debut. I for one also love a great origin story (Michael Clark’s ‘Dead Woman Scorned’ is one of the best origin tales I’ve read – and this is up there with that in the birth of evil stakes) there is something quite brilliant about finding out the reasons for how the monster came to be and Marsella in Severed achieves this like a veteran writer, peeling back the layers on George Hanscott until we can’t help but stare in wonder at what he has concocted and the vile monster from Scratches is reveled in all his horrific glory.
The characterisations in this book are the glue that hold it all together, and his work around the soldiers is something to admire and I enjoyed a lot, the banter, the shit talking, the sense of brotherhood, it was all anchored in something real and tangible – and knowing Marsella, I also know that he is a veteran himself, he served in the Army and I feel that it is this valuable insight that Marsella has which has enabled him to craft these soldiers so well, it is his personal experience of War that has enabled these characters to jump from the page. I’ve never read a Vietnam Horror before, and I’m not sure if there are other books that deal with this theme, but if not Marsella has crafted a genre all by himself and I for one loved it.
But what I really loved were all the little nods to Scratches, things that ensured this book is connected in such a way that the true beauty of it shines through with these little references, as I said it’s not essential that you’ve read Scratches first, but I’d recommend it, but I can also see how if you read this book first you would also really enjoy seeing how this played out in Marsella’s debut Scratches, they work together beautifully, with great skill, craft and dedication shown at ensuring this binds wonderfully together. In all honesty I think I preferred this offering to Scratches, it seemed richer and you can really see the development of Marsella’s craft, he’s been putting in the hours to make his storytelling that much crisper and deeper and his prose was a delight – I know some people mentioned this with his debut, that it needed work (and he listened and then put out an updated version of the book), but here in Severed – boy what a treat!
The only issue I had with the book at it is a small one, is that some of the scenes of trekking through the jungle became a little repetitive, but I did read an early version of the novella and I am told by the author that he has headed some suggestions and changed this for the version that will be released. (I was a beta reader)
An unflinching journey into the depravity of war and the horrors that lurk beneath the surface, dark, horrific and masterfully brutal, I’d go as far to say we are witnessing the awakening of a fierce talent in the independent horror scene, prepare to be scared.
February 28, 2021
A fast and furious story. This one is no-frills, straight into the action, MADNESS. A fast read, not just because of the length of the book, but because of the extremely fast pace.
The setting was well-researched, the story was just "different" enough to keep the reader engaged without alienating them from comfortable tropes, and the ending was a brutal punch in the gut.
I will definitely snatch up everything I can get from this author!
4 well-deserved stars.
My only criticism is that there were quite a few editing misses. Small things like sentence structure, punctuation, etc. They weren't enough to take me out of the story completely, but they were enough that it was noticable.
The setting was well-researched, the story was just "different" enough to keep the reader engaged without alienating them from comfortable tropes, and the ending was a brutal punch in the gut.
I will definitely snatch up everything I can get from this author!
4 well-deserved stars.
My only criticism is that there were quite a few editing misses. Small things like sentence structure, punctuation, etc. They weren't enough to take me out of the story completely, but they were enough that it was noticable.
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February 13, 2021A Sinister, Captivating Tale
Having loved Marsella's first book, SCRATCHES, I was keen to read its prequel, SEVERED. Having read it, I'm happy to say that it's one of my favorite books released so far in 2021. The story is full of characters to root for, which makes the horrors that befall them all the more frightening. I would like to point out that SEVERED works beautifully as a standalone book, that you don't have to read SCRATCHES to enjoy its prequel, although I highly recommend reading both. I know I'm ready for the next installment. This one's a killer!
Having loved Marsella's first book, SCRATCHES, I was keen to read its prequel, SEVERED. Having read it, I'm happy to say that it's one of my favorite books released so far in 2021. The story is full of characters to root for, which makes the horrors that befall them all the more frightening. I would like to point out that SEVERED works beautifully as a standalone book, that you don't have to read SCRATCHES to enjoy its prequel, although I highly recommend reading both. I know I'm ready for the next installment. This one's a killer!
April 8, 2021
Review to come but hell yeah! So good.
February 13, 2021
This is a prequel to Scratches which dives into the history of George. I wasn’t sure I wanted to know more about him given what happens in Scratches but I’m glad I read it. In general war stories are not my thing but I think this was well written. I won’t say I came to like George but I gained an understanding. I’m hoping book 3 is future and Connor is in it.
April 1, 2021
Now this is the prequel to SCRATCHES!
I can't say too much without potentially giving spoilers!
What I will say is.....
READ IT! If you have not read Scratches, go pick it up and be sure to pick up a copy of Severed at the same time.
The moment you finish Scratches you will want to jump right into this one! Although you don't necessarily need to read Scratches first as it's not a direct sequel, I HIGHLY recommend you do. It makes the whole reading experience that much more exciting.
I don't think it's a secret to those who know me in the book community, but I am a HUGE fan of Joshua's work and I absolutely loved Scratches. So when I jumped into Severed and realized the writing style, the story, the characters, EVERYTHING Joshua had created was even better then Scratches..... Honestly I am still trying to wrap my head around that.
These reads are everything! Can't recommend them enough. Go and pick them up!
THANK YOU Joshua for sending me a signed copy of both!
I will treasure them for a life time!
Your Ear Collector Book Worm
-Nichi
I can't say too much without potentially giving spoilers!
What I will say is.....
READ IT! If you have not read Scratches, go pick it up and be sure to pick up a copy of Severed at the same time.
The moment you finish Scratches you will want to jump right into this one! Although you don't necessarily need to read Scratches first as it's not a direct sequel, I HIGHLY recommend you do. It makes the whole reading experience that much more exciting.
I don't think it's a secret to those who know me in the book community, but I am a HUGE fan of Joshua's work and I absolutely loved Scratches. So when I jumped into Severed and realized the writing style, the story, the characters, EVERYTHING Joshua had created was even better then Scratches..... Honestly I am still trying to wrap my head around that.
These reads are everything! Can't recommend them enough. Go and pick them up!
THANK YOU Joshua for sending me a signed copy of both!
I will treasure them for a life time!
Your Ear Collector Book Worm
-Nichi
April 2, 2021
Some books are written with an agenda or political message. Even though it's fiction, there is something related to real-life within--a commentary on issues of the day. On the other hand, some books are written for thrills and entertainment--the author's love of the genre. "Severed" is the latter. I picked it up knowing I was in for an adventure, a thrill ride. Like a "popcorn" movie, this book has a "let's have some fun" attitude and doesn't disappoint. Are there mature themes and atrocities? Yes. The setting is the Vietnam War, where unspeakable things happened, so buckle up. I enjoyed Severed from cover to cover and will continue to buy Joshua Marsella's books.
January 24, 2021
When I saw Joshua Marsella looking for feedback/beta readers for this book, I jumped on it, having read and enjoyed his debut, SCRATCHES.
SEVERED is a prequel to SCRATCHES, but it stands alone just fine as a brutal horror story.
This is about a group of American soldiers in Vietnam who stumble upon a supernatural evil that's ravaging a village. The soldiers agree to help try to rid the village of its problem... and to say all heck breaks loose would be an understatement. These poor guys have NO IDEA what they're getting into when they set off into the jungle.
Marsella does a very good job with two things that every effective horror story needs: characterization and setting. These guys are easy to pull for because they come across as real people. When the antagonist starts making its presence known to them, you feel for these guys. You worry about, for them. And the setting? This little corner of Vietnam that Marsella is writing about feels authentic. This whole story is dripping with dark atmosphere--and it starts with the setting that Marsella establishes so well.
Finally, this novella is nearly nonstop tension. There are very few breathers here. You better take a deep breath before you go in. You'll need it.
SEVERED is a prequel to SCRATCHES, but it stands alone just fine as a brutal horror story.
This is about a group of American soldiers in Vietnam who stumble upon a supernatural evil that's ravaging a village. The soldiers agree to help try to rid the village of its problem... and to say all heck breaks loose would be an understatement. These poor guys have NO IDEA what they're getting into when they set off into the jungle.
Marsella does a very good job with two things that every effective horror story needs: characterization and setting. These guys are easy to pull for because they come across as real people. When the antagonist starts making its presence known to them, you feel for these guys. You worry about, for them. And the setting? This little corner of Vietnam that Marsella is writing about feels authentic. This whole story is dripping with dark atmosphere--and it starts with the setting that Marsella establishes so well.
Finally, this novella is nearly nonstop tension. There are very few breathers here. You better take a deep breath before you go in. You'll need it.
September 25, 2021
A terrific read!
This is my first Joshua Marsella book and it didn’t disappoint. I’d heard good things about his book ‘Scratches’ but found out that it had a prequel called, ‘Severed’, so I decided to start there.
I became immersed right away with the characters and the vivid Vietnamese jungle setting. The horrors hit me from every side. You’re haunted by the tragedies of war and if that wasn’t enough, there’s an evil presence lurking in the jungle even more brutal than the war itself.
Joshua switches gears and takes the horror out of the jungle and brings it home to a jaw-dropping conclusion that will haunt me for a long time to come.
The characters are well developed, almost to the point I felt that I was right there in the jungle with them.
Joshua is a talented writer and his writing style makes it almost impossible to put his book down. I highly recommend ‘Severed’ and I’m looking forward to reading ‘Scratches’ to see where the madness leads.
This is my first Joshua Marsella book and it didn’t disappoint. I’d heard good things about his book ‘Scratches’ but found out that it had a prequel called, ‘Severed’, so I decided to start there.
I became immersed right away with the characters and the vivid Vietnamese jungle setting. The horrors hit me from every side. You’re haunted by the tragedies of war and if that wasn’t enough, there’s an evil presence lurking in the jungle even more brutal than the war itself.
Joshua switches gears and takes the horror out of the jungle and brings it home to a jaw-dropping conclusion that will haunt me for a long time to come.
The characters are well developed, almost to the point I felt that I was right there in the jungle with them.
Joshua is a talented writer and his writing style makes it almost impossible to put his book down. I highly recommend ‘Severed’ and I’m looking forward to reading ‘Scratches’ to see where the madness leads.
May 17, 2021
I was a little hesitant with reading this one because...
A. It's a war/military book. I am not a fan of this subject ever since being in the military.
B. It's a prequel and I don't normally continue reading series because I feel bored with the storyline by the time I hit the second book.
But...SEVERED beat the odds. I enjoyed this wartime story and feel this prequel added more substance to the first book SCRATCHES.
SEVERED follows a platoon who are in Vietnam during the Vietnam War and while they are staying at a fishing community, the locals tell them about something cursing the land close by. So the soldiers bring it on themselves to solve this mystery. I don't want to give anything away so that's all I can share.
Oh the creepiness of certain scenes in this were at a 10. They were so vivid and genuinely unsettling but there were also moments that I found comical, like with EVIL DEAD. There are deaths in this (should be expected..lol) but the first one caught me off guard and really broke my heart. I was surprised how attached I became to some of the characters in a short time so once sh!t hit the fan, I was invested.
This gave me a similar unsettling feeling I got when watching PREDATOR and THE DESCENT--being hunted by the unknown. Really freaks me out.
I personally would read SCRATCHES before this because you get more of the tragic understanding of what George (leader of the platoon) goes through and the results of his deployment. Also, the ending of SEVERED won't be as shocking since you will already know the outcome from SCRATCHES which helped with reading the violent ending of his Vietnam tour.
Overall, I feel this was a great prequel and enjoyed how the story came full circle by the end. I look forward to the next one in this series.
Obviously, content warnings. Message me for specifics.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
A. It's a war/military book. I am not a fan of this subject ever since being in the military.
B. It's a prequel and I don't normally continue reading series because I feel bored with the storyline by the time I hit the second book.
But...SEVERED beat the odds. I enjoyed this wartime story and feel this prequel added more substance to the first book SCRATCHES.
SEVERED follows a platoon who are in Vietnam during the Vietnam War and while they are staying at a fishing community, the locals tell them about something cursing the land close by. So the soldiers bring it on themselves to solve this mystery. I don't want to give anything away so that's all I can share.
Oh the creepiness of certain scenes in this were at a 10. They were so vivid and genuinely unsettling but there were also moments that I found comical, like with EVIL DEAD. There are deaths in this (should be expected..lol) but the first one caught me off guard and really broke my heart. I was surprised how attached I became to some of the characters in a short time so once sh!t hit the fan, I was invested.
This gave me a similar unsettling feeling I got when watching PREDATOR and THE DESCENT--being hunted by the unknown. Really freaks me out.
I personally would read SCRATCHES before this because you get more of the tragic understanding of what George (leader of the platoon) goes through and the results of his deployment. Also, the ending of SEVERED won't be as shocking since you will already know the outcome from SCRATCHES which helped with reading the violent ending of his Vietnam tour.
Overall, I feel this was a great prequel and enjoyed how the story came full circle by the end. I look forward to the next one in this series.
Obviously, content warnings. Message me for specifics.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 7, 2021
Anyone who read Marsella's debut novella, Scratches, will know that there was a horrific back story to be told about George Hanscott. That he had been involved in something incredibly dark and disturbing in Vietnam. Severed is our chance to find out about that story.
The first novella (sequentially set after this one) does a great job of capturing the vibe of the 1980s in small town America. This book does a similar job with its setting of a diverse, close knit group of marines in the oppressive danger, heat and humidity of the Vietnam war.
What really strikes you as you read is the sense of camaraderie between the soldiers and the totally reasonable decision to set off on what seems like a side quest to retrieve an abducted village child.
Things get dark quickly, with some imaginative and haunting imagery as things go wrong for the troop. The finale, though, is where the horror is really ratcheted up.
With one more title in this non-chronological trilogy to come, I'm eagerly awaiting the conclusion of these compelling, horrifying stories.
The first novella (sequentially set after this one) does a great job of capturing the vibe of the 1980s in small town America. This book does a similar job with its setting of a diverse, close knit group of marines in the oppressive danger, heat and humidity of the Vietnam war.
What really strikes you as you read is the sense of camaraderie between the soldiers and the totally reasonable decision to set off on what seems like a side quest to retrieve an abducted village child.
Things get dark quickly, with some imaginative and haunting imagery as things go wrong for the troop. The finale, though, is where the horror is really ratcheted up.
With one more title in this non-chronological trilogy to come, I'm eagerly awaiting the conclusion of these compelling, horrifying stories.
April 5, 2021
SEVERED was a dark and wickedly suspenseful read! Joshua Marsella has improved in every way possible since his debut novella, SCRATCHES. In this prequel, the author’s storytelling chops seemed much more refined, leading to a plot that I thought was well executed overall! Marsella’s writing was much more descriptive this time around, allowing certain passages containing some truly ghastly and horrific events to effectively unnerve me. The author seemed more confident in the narrative he wanted to tell, and this definitely came through in his penmanship. I was pleasantly surprised at how well done the character development was in SEVERED, and didn’t doubt the chemistry between the squad mates for a second. Every soldier acted and conversed like a real human being, which made for some intense exchanges of dialogue and emotionally poignant scenes. Without going into spoilers, I loved the blend of supernatural and psychological horror elements which the author chose to serve as the backbone for this story. It definitely made for an unpredictable read. There’s a heavily significant story beat involving one of the main characters in Chapter 13, and I thought the unique manner in which Marsella ramped up the sheer terror from that point until the last page was fantastic. You feel like a hostage with cuffed hands, as an unrelentingly morbid barrage of unpleasantries gradually reaches an apex before your bloodshot eyes. While I only have one singular gripe with this novella, it bothered me enough to take away a star. I really wish the pacing was altered slightly in several places, as it did seem to drag too much for my taste. Although I did enjoy the conversations and nostalgic banter between the soldiers while they traversed the jungles, the fact that nothing of true importance occurred till the second half of the book, started to make the finely crafted, suspense laden set pieces and vivid imagery rather repetitive. But apart from that, I had a great time with this novella. Marsella is a writer who will always tell the story he wants, regardless of what the readers think about the content or narrative. That is something I respect immensely, shoot for in my own writing, and ultimately feel defines the genre of horror. If you are looking for a well written, creepy, and extremely morbid reading experience, you won’t be disappointed! 4 out of 5 stars for SEVERED. I look forward to reading whatever else this author puts out in the future.
January 25, 2021
I want to thanks Joshua for letting me beta read his upcoming work Severed. It's always an honor to get to read something before the general public.
I really and truly enjoyed Severed. It is a fast paced, and gory story about a group of Marines in Northern Vietnam. I usually don't like military stories, but this one didn't focus on the war or fighting other troops. Instead, it focuses on the members of Third Squad and their brutal run in with the terror that has been haunting a local village for a long time.
It also gives you answers to his first work "Scratches", and trust me you want to read that one first. It will blow your mind when you find out the reason why George was such a monster.
I really and truly enjoyed Severed. It is a fast paced, and gory story about a group of Marines in Northern Vietnam. I usually don't like military stories, but this one didn't focus on the war or fighting other troops. Instead, it focuses on the members of Third Squad and their brutal run in with the terror that has been haunting a local village for a long time.
It also gives you answers to his first work "Scratches", and trust me you want to read that one first. It will blow your mind when you find out the reason why George was such a monster.
March 21, 2022
Another great horror novella from Josh Marsella. This book is the prequel to Scratches and brings us to Vietnam in 1967. We are with George Hanscott when he is a young US Marine and squad leader. He makes a decision to help a local fishing village that showed them kindness while they waited for the rest of their unit. They can't anticipate quite what they are getting themselves into though while trying to find out who or what is taking the village's children. We just might get some answers to how George became the monster he is in Scratches. A great read with great tension and suspense!
November 21, 2021
I recently read Scratches and immediately had to dive into this prequel. I thought I had the story figured out but I had no idea. This novella was brutal, gory, and full of heart. The quality of the writing exceeded my expectations for an author toward the beginning of his career. I look forward to future offerings from this author!
March 12, 2021
Severed is a joyous buddy/comedy book that takes place during the Vietnam war....just kidding...there is nothing joyous about this terror filled, blood fest. Although the men are buddies and there are some comedic moments.
This was a prequel to Scratches, which I read last year and loved. It was amazing getting to find out how George got to be the disgusting degenerate he was in the first book. I felt like I got some closure. George was a gross super villain in Scratches, but a war hero in Severed. But I don’t want to give too much away.
The atmosphere was written so well. I felt like I was suffocating in the jungle being bled dry by mosquitoes. And the scenes of actual horror were the perfect amount of blood and gore, but also addressed the pure psychological terror felt by the characters. The scenes in the cabin in particular will stay with me for a long time.
And I’ll admit that last page/paragraph was just gut wrenching. Especially if you’ve read Scratches, which I highly recommend you do!
Loved this story and how it further develops the world and characters. If this is going to be a trilogy I will for sure pick up the third book!
This was a prequel to Scratches, which I read last year and loved. It was amazing getting to find out how George got to be the disgusting degenerate he was in the first book. I felt like I got some closure. George was a gross super villain in Scratches, but a war hero in Severed. But I don’t want to give too much away.
The atmosphere was written so well. I felt like I was suffocating in the jungle being bled dry by mosquitoes. And the scenes of actual horror were the perfect amount of blood and gore, but also addressed the pure psychological terror felt by the characters. The scenes in the cabin in particular will stay with me for a long time.
And I’ll admit that last page/paragraph was just gut wrenching. Especially if you’ve read Scratches, which I highly recommend you do!
Loved this story and how it further develops the world and characters. If this is going to be a trilogy I will for sure pick up the third book!
July 14, 2021
Boy, oh Boy... Joshua delivered once again with Severed!!
Joshua Marsella's Severed is to war stories as Ari Aster's Midsommar is to break up movies. That is to say that both are exciting new takes on the matter and excruciatingly brutal in the most satisfying of ways for horror fans. They also both come off as very well-written and very dark, fairy tales that delve into the darkest parts of what makes us human, and what turns us into monsters.
The Third Squad was my favorite part of the story, each character was well fleshed out with their own unique personality that really made the group dynamic feel genuine and enjoyable, even when they were at odds. One could easily envision this story being made into a movie or even a limited series. I'd watch that right now!
Going in after reading Scratches, I knew I was in for something dark and fully expected the ending to be bleak and gruesome. Still, I was surprised throughout at how Josh managed to get us to every story beat in fresh and horrifying ways.
Can't wait to see what Josh does with book 3!
Joshua Marsella's Severed is to war stories as Ari Aster's Midsommar is to break up movies. That is to say that both are exciting new takes on the matter and excruciatingly brutal in the most satisfying of ways for horror fans. They also both come off as very well-written and very dark, fairy tales that delve into the darkest parts of what makes us human, and what turns us into monsters.
The Third Squad was my favorite part of the story, each character was well fleshed out with their own unique personality that really made the group dynamic feel genuine and enjoyable, even when they were at odds. One could easily envision this story being made into a movie or even a limited series. I'd watch that right now!
Going in after reading Scratches, I knew I was in for something dark and fully expected the ending to be bleak and gruesome. Still, I was surprised throughout at how Josh managed to get us to every story beat in fresh and horrifying ways.
Can't wait to see what Josh does with book 3!
February 22, 2021
Joshua Marsella second book hit hard! With a slow debut that dive you into a war story directlty from Vietnam (I am absolutly not a fan of the genre). You will follow Sgt. George Hanscott and his mens trying to help a local village who are getting many childs abducted.
Beware!! All this war disguise will surely NOT prepare you to what will follow when they reach the source... f-*K*$ evil s*&* happen!! And with that ! You will get that extra creepy ending that will haunt your next nightsleep.
Can't wait for the third book!!
Solid 4.5 stars !
Beware!! All this war disguise will surely NOT prepare you to what will follow when they reach the source... f-*K*$ evil s*&* happen!! And with that ! You will get that extra creepy ending that will haunt your next nightsleep.
Can't wait for the third book!!
Solid 4.5 stars !
March 10, 2021
Marsella is coming into his own with his prequel novella, Severed. Despite being a prequel, it works well as a standalone. Marsella takes his readers back in time to the late sixties when the U.S. government was at war with Vietnam, a few decades before the narrative found in his debut novella, Scratches.
If you like your horror bleak and gruesome, this novella is for you. It has great pacing and well-placed action scenes with enough brutality to scratch that itch. Although the book is heavy in terror, there is a great amount of care given to characterization, which allows readers to scoot to the edge of their seat even more. Marsella says a lot with this novella but above the rest is commentary on war itself.
I recommend reading them out of order of release. If you haven't gotten to Scratches yet, read this one first, and then delve into the debut afterward. Thank me later!
4.5 stars
If you like your horror bleak and gruesome, this novella is for you. It has great pacing and well-placed action scenes with enough brutality to scratch that itch. Although the book is heavy in terror, there is a great amount of care given to characterization, which allows readers to scoot to the edge of their seat even more. Marsella says a lot with this novella but above the rest is commentary on war itself.
I recommend reading them out of order of release. If you haven't gotten to Scratches yet, read this one first, and then delve into the debut afterward. Thank me later!
4.5 stars
April 23, 2021
Severed serves as a prequel to Scratches, Joshua’s debut novel. It focuses on George Hanscott and his transformation into the paranormal being he is in the middle book of the trilogy. Now that’s important because Joshua has done some clever things here, which I will need to address if I am to make sense of the logic behind writing the prequel. So if you want to avoid spoilers, here’s my summary – This is a good 4-star book, which left me with an uneasy feeling with regards to the progression of the trilogy. Now go read it, and let me spoil it for the other people.
SPOILERS BELOW
Ok, still with me? So the stylistic choice of Marsella to write the prequel to scratches is based around a decision to skew reader perception. If you read these books in the order they came out, you are going to get the “correct” feel for the story because what Joshua set up as the character and personality of George in the original (2nd) book, is not the same as appears here in the prequel (1st )book. And that’s an important distinction. A reader that reads Severed and then Scratches, is going to have a totally different reading experience to a person that reads them in the order they were written.
And that’s the clever part. Joshua knows that most of his readers are going to read scratches first, and come with preconceptions to George and his hateful personality, but it turns out that that personality is not George at all. So that’s good. Think predator, and you aren’t too far away from the feel of the book. There’s an evil out there, this time a paranormal one, and it’s got its own agenda. Marsella builds up his marine squad with varying personalities, one assumes he draws from his own time as a soldier to bolster that background, and to a large extent, it works. I think Joshua stayed firmly in between the lines of modern accountability – there aren’t any real rogue personality traits, racism is shouted down, the marines express their feelings, at one point a group hug and mutual love are declared, it’s PC, a little too much for me, but it does show that A) Joshua is a parent and a husband and a decent human being, and B) He knows his audience. I like horror, I like unexpected violence, I like radical characters, ones I can feel something about, and whilst the character development was there, I think it wasn’t extreme enough for the time frame (Vietnam war) – when people weren’t PC, were sexist, were racist, were scum, brothers in arms to be sure, but not the type of people you would want your folks to meet over Sunday dinner.
Regardless. The switch of George from being a psychopathic undead killer to a soldier with a conscience is surprising and sets up his fall. And that’s the important part here. It also sets up the third book in the series, where we will be dealing with the duality of George and his combating personalities, and hopefully their redemption.
Ok. I liked this. The buddy thing was a little much for me, but the core of the story was good. Joshua tied in all of the hanging elements from the first book (explaining the necklace, the photos, the box, his expulsion from Vietnam), if anything a little too completely. It is all turned around on its head to show that the original picture was skewed. And that why we have a modicum of sympathy for George as we leave the book, an achievement for a character we hated from the first book for the raping killer psychopath he was presented as being. It leaves the world open for an ongoing series of books detailing Georges's fight against himself, and the horror contained within him, and that’s a great concept. There are things here that don't make sense - the villagers don't know what happened to their kids, but the boy's house is surrounded by bones, the remains of all the children he has killed. In plain sight. I think I could guess what happened to those kids. I get they don't want to go near the house, but the village elder was there, and saw, one assumes. But it's nit-picking. The imagery of crawling under the house is worth it,
There are the name drops, of course, but that’s an easter egg hunt that is not hidden and will probably be refined over time to characters being mentioned and not authors. And that’s a game I’ll be following with interest.
I personally preferred the relationship content of scratches over this, perhaps my bias for strong female characters protecting their children won that, but I did breeze through this, the flow is good.
Enjoy the book (I did), and support Joshua’s house repairing skills. Let’s hope for a box set of the three books when the next one comes out, with a cover from the same artist.
4 out of 5 stars
SPOILERS BELOW
Ok, still with me? So the stylistic choice of Marsella to write the prequel to scratches is based around a decision to skew reader perception. If you read these books in the order they came out, you are going to get the “correct” feel for the story because what Joshua set up as the character and personality of George in the original (2nd) book, is not the same as appears here in the prequel (1st )book. And that’s an important distinction. A reader that reads Severed and then Scratches, is going to have a totally different reading experience to a person that reads them in the order they were written.
And that’s the clever part. Joshua knows that most of his readers are going to read scratches first, and come with preconceptions to George and his hateful personality, but it turns out that that personality is not George at all. So that’s good. Think predator, and you aren’t too far away from the feel of the book. There’s an evil out there, this time a paranormal one, and it’s got its own agenda. Marsella builds up his marine squad with varying personalities, one assumes he draws from his own time as a soldier to bolster that background, and to a large extent, it works. I think Joshua stayed firmly in between the lines of modern accountability – there aren’t any real rogue personality traits, racism is shouted down, the marines express their feelings, at one point a group hug and mutual love are declared, it’s PC, a little too much for me, but it does show that A) Joshua is a parent and a husband and a decent human being, and B) He knows his audience. I like horror, I like unexpected violence, I like radical characters, ones I can feel something about, and whilst the character development was there, I think it wasn’t extreme enough for the time frame (Vietnam war) – when people weren’t PC, were sexist, were racist, were scum, brothers in arms to be sure, but not the type of people you would want your folks to meet over Sunday dinner.
Regardless. The switch of George from being a psychopathic undead killer to a soldier with a conscience is surprising and sets up his fall. And that’s the important part here. It also sets up the third book in the series, where we will be dealing with the duality of George and his combating personalities, and hopefully their redemption.
Ok. I liked this. The buddy thing was a little much for me, but the core of the story was good. Joshua tied in all of the hanging elements from the first book (explaining the necklace, the photos, the box, his expulsion from Vietnam), if anything a little too completely. It is all turned around on its head to show that the original picture was skewed. And that why we have a modicum of sympathy for George as we leave the book, an achievement for a character we hated from the first book for the raping killer psychopath he was presented as being. It leaves the world open for an ongoing series of books detailing Georges's fight against himself, and the horror contained within him, and that’s a great concept. There are things here that don't make sense - the villagers don't know what happened to their kids, but the boy's house is surrounded by bones, the remains of all the children he has killed. In plain sight. I think I could guess what happened to those kids. I get they don't want to go near the house, but the village elder was there, and saw, one assumes. But it's nit-picking. The imagery of crawling under the house is worth it,
There are the name drops, of course, but that’s an easter egg hunt that is not hidden and will probably be refined over time to characters being mentioned and not authors. And that’s a game I’ll be following with interest.
I personally preferred the relationship content of scratches over this, perhaps my bias for strong female characters protecting their children won that, but I did breeze through this, the flow is good.
Enjoy the book (I did), and support Joshua’s house repairing skills. Let’s hope for a box set of the three books when the next one comes out, with a cover from the same artist.
4 out of 5 stars
August 2, 2021
Severed is the prequel to author Joshua Marsella’s debut novella, Scratches. I enjoyed scratches and I was excited to find out about Severed.
Severed follows a team of Marines in Vietnam who end up against more than the enemy.
First, I’ve got to say, Severed does EVERYTHING you want an authors follow up to do. Marsella’s voice, storytelling and writing are all improved in his second book. Marsella managed to take his original work and build a backstory that is very clearly connected to the original, while also feeling like it’s own independent story. And for the most part it is. You could read Severer with zero knowledge of the story in scratches and be perfectly fine and have no trouble understanding what’s going on. However, I don’t recommend that. It would be best to read scratches and then move on to severed. Then you get to whiteness the authors growth, and see how the book fits in with the overall story. You’ll appreciate it more that way.
Severed is an excellent follow up to scratches, and a perfect example of an author upping their game and improving their craft
Severed follows a team of Marines in Vietnam who end up against more than the enemy.
First, I’ve got to say, Severed does EVERYTHING you want an authors follow up to do. Marsella’s voice, storytelling and writing are all improved in his second book. Marsella managed to take his original work and build a backstory that is very clearly connected to the original, while also feeling like it’s own independent story. And for the most part it is. You could read Severer with zero knowledge of the story in scratches and be perfectly fine and have no trouble understanding what’s going on. However, I don’t recommend that. It would be best to read scratches and then move on to severed. Then you get to whiteness the authors growth, and see how the book fits in with the overall story. You’ll appreciate it more that way.
Severed is an excellent follow up to scratches, and a perfect example of an author upping their game and improving their craft
March 4, 2021
We’re back in Marsella’s world & learning how the monstrous George Hanscott we got to know in Scratches came to be.
In this prequel set during the Vietnam war, (the still decent) Sgt. Hanscott inadvertently leads his ragtag unit into a fishing village that is being plagued by a child-grabbing evil entity.
It’s been such a blast seeing how Marsella has developed his craft since we left off with Scratches. I’m left with the impression that this is an author that has matured greatly in a very short time & I had a hard time putting down the book. The story is genuinely spooky, the characters more well-developed and the conversations more realistic.
Count me in for the next installment.
In this prequel set during the Vietnam war, (the still decent) Sgt. Hanscott inadvertently leads his ragtag unit into a fishing village that is being plagued by a child-grabbing evil entity.
It’s been such a blast seeing how Marsella has developed his craft since we left off with Scratches. I’m left with the impression that this is an author that has matured greatly in a very short time & I had a hard time putting down the book. The story is genuinely spooky, the characters more well-developed and the conversations more realistic.
Count me in for the next installment.
March 17, 2021
Absolutely fantastic!!! Absolutely loved this novella!! A great prequel to Scratches ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
April 18, 2021
Vietnam was once home to one of the deadliest wars the United States has ever taken place in, with that knowledge, one would think that it couldn’t get darker than that. Enter Severed by Joshua Marsella. In his follow-up/prequel to Scratches, Mr. Marsella has clearly found his voice as a storyteller.
Let’s paint a picture, A lone unit has entered a remote Vietnamese village awaiting the arrival of the rest of their squad. Yet, while they’re here things are odd. The villagers begin to tell them stories of an old man, who is older than most in the village, yet no one ever sees him because they are all too afraid of him. The soldiers believe that it’s all myth, but on their first night in the village things get eerie. Spooge is up for the first watch, as everyone else drifts off into slumber he starts to become uneasy. The sounds surrounding the cabin aren’t right, the atmosphere has changed, the animals are silent. He knows somethings not right, yet he hears something, creeping, making its way to the door of the cabin. Spooge is so scared he lets off a single round that wakes his fellow soldiers. Upon waking, George, the man in charge, rips Spooge a new one.
This is only the beginning, when the sun rises, the villagers are alarmed. Someone is missing, and George decides that it’s up to him and his men to bring them back.
Okay, Marsella definitely opens this up with a bang, the creeping dread, I felt that. It comes alive so vividly that its likely you’ll find yourself forgetting to breathe. My favorite thing about this is witnessing his growth, he has found his voice, and not keeping quiet about it. Marsella has crafted a unique cast of characters, and although this is a short read, you find yourself attached to most of them. The writing is authentic and believable. I felt that I was walking among them through the jungle. The emotions that each character feels can draw you in deeper. I found it hard to escape the draw this book had on me, I read it in a single sitting and once it was over, I wanted more. Not to say that I wasn’t satisfied, but more so intrigued, and invested in the story as a whole. This is slated to be a trilogy of sorts, and the final chapter can’t get here soon enough.
If you’ve yet to read any of Marsella’s work, you’re missing out. I highly suggest that you pick this one up, as well as Scratches. Even though this is considered a prequel, I would begin with Scratches, it sets the groundwork for what’s discovered in Severed.
A huge thanks to Joshua Marsella for providing me an e-ARC for review.
Let’s paint a picture, A lone unit has entered a remote Vietnamese village awaiting the arrival of the rest of their squad. Yet, while they’re here things are odd. The villagers begin to tell them stories of an old man, who is older than most in the village, yet no one ever sees him because they are all too afraid of him. The soldiers believe that it’s all myth, but on their first night in the village things get eerie. Spooge is up for the first watch, as everyone else drifts off into slumber he starts to become uneasy. The sounds surrounding the cabin aren’t right, the atmosphere has changed, the animals are silent. He knows somethings not right, yet he hears something, creeping, making its way to the door of the cabin. Spooge is so scared he lets off a single round that wakes his fellow soldiers. Upon waking, George, the man in charge, rips Spooge a new one.
This is only the beginning, when the sun rises, the villagers are alarmed. Someone is missing, and George decides that it’s up to him and his men to bring them back.
Okay, Marsella definitely opens this up with a bang, the creeping dread, I felt that. It comes alive so vividly that its likely you’ll find yourself forgetting to breathe. My favorite thing about this is witnessing his growth, he has found his voice, and not keeping quiet about it. Marsella has crafted a unique cast of characters, and although this is a short read, you find yourself attached to most of them. The writing is authentic and believable. I felt that I was walking among them through the jungle. The emotions that each character feels can draw you in deeper. I found it hard to escape the draw this book had on me, I read it in a single sitting and once it was over, I wanted more. Not to say that I wasn’t satisfied, but more so intrigued, and invested in the story as a whole. This is slated to be a trilogy of sorts, and the final chapter can’t get here soon enough.
If you’ve yet to read any of Marsella’s work, you’re missing out. I highly suggest that you pick this one up, as well as Scratches. Even though this is considered a prequel, I would begin with Scratches, it sets the groundwork for what’s discovered in Severed.
A huge thanks to Joshua Marsella for providing me an e-ARC for review.
December 15, 2021
Another fantastic horror read from Joshua Marsella!
I loved Marsella's debut book, SCRATCHES, and it left me wanting more. So, I was pretty excited when he announced a prequel to the story!
This one takes us back to the Vietnam War, which is a horror itself. I love the camaraderie between the squad members and the overall richness of their interactions. The writing and editing are solid and this story really gives the reader an insight into the evil of SCRATCHES.
The imagery and descriptions of the jungle, village, and subsequent horror elements (I don't want to give any spoilers!) bring you right into that world. I felt like I was there watching all these torturous things happening.
I highly recommend this book to any and all horror lovers. It's top notch and I cannot wait for the third and final book in the trilogy.
I loved Marsella's debut book, SCRATCHES, and it left me wanting more. So, I was pretty excited when he announced a prequel to the story!
This one takes us back to the Vietnam War, which is a horror itself. I love the camaraderie between the squad members and the overall richness of their interactions. The writing and editing are solid and this story really gives the reader an insight into the evil of SCRATCHES.
The imagery and descriptions of the jungle, village, and subsequent horror elements (I don't want to give any spoilers!) bring you right into that world. I felt like I was there watching all these torturous things happening.
I highly recommend this book to any and all horror lovers. It's top notch and I cannot wait for the third and final book in the trilogy.
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