Book of the Nine Ides by Benjamin Goshko

Summary: After spending four years in a juvenile psychiatric facility, Ashley Minden, a sixteen-year-old gender dysphoric, has been released into her family's custody. While the transition to home life and high school would be difficult for any teenager, Ashley has the added burden of being a conduit of Qualkhoikhom, a mad god, who gives her the eyes to see a terrifying, hidden world. Now, Ashley must either find a way to escape Qualkhoikhom and live a normal life, or succumb to her delirium, becoming the mad god's final sacrifice.


The Book of the Nine Ides is dark, twisted, and a unique paranormal read. 4.5 stars out of 5.

It is very well written, clear and fast paced. The main character Ashley can shift between worlds, and so can those unlucky enough to be with her when she shifts—except they come back dead or not at all. 

I especially liked the parasitic demons associated with different emotions, and the author's skill at exploring the emotional/social/familial consequences of gender dysphoria in the midst of the paranormal.

It is also neat that you can read the story as a supernatural/paranormal story or as hallucinations. The book contains typical high school conflicts—parties, first kisses, meddling siblings, strict step-father—all while demons are feeding off of the characters. 

My only issue with the story, was the quick resolution and its lack of foreshadowing. For me, the ending didn't really resolve the whole story.

The Book of the Nine Ides is a fast paced novella that's sure to be read in one sitting—a must for any dark paranormal fans. 

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