Isaac Thorne’s “Tab’s Terrible Third Eye” is a gripping psychological horror that delves deep into the fears and anxieties of childhood, blending supernatural elements with raw emotional trauma. This novel is a masterclass in building tension and exploring the darker corners of a young mind.

At the heart of the story is nine-year-old Tab, an artist whose drawings serve as a coping mechanism for his inner turmoil. Thorne’s portrayal of Tab is nuanced and heartbreakingly real, capturing the vulnerability and resilience of a child grappling with forces beyond his understanding.

The narrative takes a chilling turn when Tab encounters an otherworldly creature, resulting in a mysterious, angry bump on his left temple. This wound, which refuses to heal, becomes the focal point of the horror. Thorne’s description of the bump – burning, itching, and summoning ghosts – is viscerally unsettling, creating a sense of body horror that will make readers squirm.

What sets this novel apart is its exploration of the power and danger of imagination. Tab’s artwork, once a source of comfort, becomes a harbinger of real-life disasters. The foreshadowing of events through his drawings adds a layer of tragic inevitability to the story, ramping up the psychological tension.

Thorne excels in blurring the lines between reality and supernatural horror. Is Tab’s “third eye” truly causing these calamities, or is it a manifestation of his trauma and guilt? This ambiguity keeps readers on edge, forcing them to question the nature of Tab’s experiences.

The apparent supernatural of Tab’s Third Eye

The introduction of a determined ghost adds another dimension to the story. This spectral presence, seeking to use Tab’s newfound power for its own ends, creates a conflict that goes beyond simple horror tropes. It raises questions about agency, the weight of responsibility on young shoulders, and the battle for control over one’s own mind and body.

Thorne’s prose is sharp and evocative, painting vivid pictures of Tab’s internal and external struggles. The pacing is relentless, with each new revelation or incident building upon the last to create a mounting sense of dread.

While the novel treads familiar ground in terms of childhood trauma in horror literature, Thorne brings a fresh perspective to the genre. His focus on art as both a means of expression and a conduit for horror is particularly effective, resonating with anyone who has used creativity as an emotional outlet.

Verdict

“Tab’s Terrible Third Eye” is more than just a ghost story or a tale of supernatural abilities gone awry. It’s a poignant exploration of childhood fears, the burden of perceived responsibility, and the struggle to control one’s own narrative. Thorne has crafted a story that will haunt readers long after they’ve turned the final page, leaving them to ponder the thin line between imagination and reality, and the power of perception in shaping our world.

This novel is a must-read for fans of psychological horror, especially those who appreciate stories that delve into the complexities of childhood experiences. Thorne proves himself a master of the genre, delivering a tale that is as thought-provoking as it is spine-chilling.

Don’t just take my word for it-go pre-order your copy now directly from the author (plus you can get cool bunny stickers! Look, Raist, bunnies!)

Where: https://www.isaacthorne.com/product/tabs-terrible-third-eye/

Available on: January 27, 2025 at 12:00 am (4.5 / 5)

Happy holidays! Where has this year gone??? Santa and I can’t believe it’s Christmas already, but I did manage to make you all a card again… Gotta keep with tradition or something. (Santa says I’m not thinking big enough…)

And to everyone celebrating other holidays and the solstice, may you have a blessed and wonderful season as well, I’m sorry I don’t do cards for that but I tend come from what I know, which appears to be inappropriate Christmas kitsch. Just like you’ve come to expect from me, I’m sure. Since that seems to make the rounds of all the holidays. 😉

Card reads Happy Holidays jingle bell jingle bell jingle bell rock!!! From You-Can-Jingle-My-Bell Santa and Jennifer Weigel here at HauntedMTL.

Image features a vintage doll (probably Merlin or Gandalf or the like) now dressed as Santa in a handmade Victorian style cloak with matching hat. He is holding his coat open to flash the viewer with a jingle bell ribbon hanging intentionally at his crotch.

This Santa was from a series of altered dolls I did back in the day, exploring different less appropriate takes on Jolly Old St. Nick.

As gifts, I present the other three…

Happy holidays and have a wonderful winter!

If you want to check out more of my altered dolls, I have posted several to Haunted MTL here:

Fashion Zombies

Heartbreak Hotel

Mummy Dearest

Catharsis

Fairy Wands

She Wolf

Queen of Everything

More Altered Dolls

Krampus

Bloody Mary

Episode two of Dexter, Original Sin, was just as wonderful as the first. As a long-time Dexter fan, I find it added so much to the background of the story. And if you’re a new fan, I promise you won’t feel left behind.

The story

At the start of our episode, Dexter is learning the ropes of his new internship at Miami Metro. He’s getting a little hazing but is learning how to fit in.

Especially when he starts digging into the old files and finding new playmates for his Dark Passenger.

Meanwhile, Deb is struggling. She feels underappreciated and ignored at home. So, she decides to steal some jewelry from around the house for some quick spending money. Having little in the house in the way of jewelry, she happens upon a pair of earrings in Dexter’s room.

Nurse Mary’s earrings, to be specific.

And finally, in what will probably be the storyline for the series, a little boy is kidnapped. While he looks like a victim from the first episode of Dexter, or at least dressed in the same school uniforms, we soon find out that he’s the son of a judge. And his kidnapping might have something to do with the death of Dexter’s biological mother.

What worked

I’ve often complained about slow episodes in a TV season or mini-series. The episodes that just don’t have anything going for them. The episodes that are needed to set up the story, but otherwise are kind of dull.

This is an example of that sort of episode done well. It is true that there were no murders in this episode. There was only one dead body, and it was already dead when we got there.

But that didn’t mean the episode was uninteresting. There was character development. There was comedy. And most importantly, it had a storyline that had a satisfying conclusion. Specifically, Deb stealing Dexter’s trophy earrings and trying to sell them.

This little storyline worked on so many levels. One, it heightens tension because we know those earrings can lead the police to Dexter for the murder of Nurse Mary. Two, it shows how frustrated Deb is with her life and how far she will go to have a little fun. Three, it shows how far she won’t go when she refuses to sell her mother’s pearls. And four, it gives us a satisfying beginning, middle, and end of a story while we’re doing the necessary work of laying a foundation for the rest of the series. This was a masterclass in subplots.

I also want to point out that, so far, this series works by itself as much as it works as a prequel. I would watch Dexter Original Sin if I’d never heard the name Dexter Morgan before. And while it certainly benefits from its predecessors, it isn’t only relying on that.

What didn’t work

All that being said, I’m afraid there is still one glaring issue with this series. I hate Gellar’s character.

Yes, I am biased. But hear me out.

Tanya is supposed to be Dexter’s mentor. She got him the job as a paid intern. It would stand to reason that she did that because she wanted to take him under her wing. And yes, I am aware that a certain kind of teacher likes to knock their students down a peg or two. But she seems more interested in proving what a Strong Female she is to this college student than actually teaching him.

And frankly, this is some of the most sexist stuff I’ve ever seen on Dexter. This show has a long history of being pretty good about gender relations. It passes the Bechdel test. All of the female characters have flaws, strengths, and personalities. It’s almost like they’re, gasp, real people. None of them have been the girl hero with no personality other than being the Strong Female until Tanya was introduced. And given how similar she is to Buffy, and how unlike the rest of the cast this character is, I sense some meddling from Gellar herself.

Do better.

I am so pumped for the rest of this mini series. It is clear that everyone working on this series, except Gellar, are huge fans of the original show. Everyone is going a great job, the story is great, and I cannot wait to see what happens next.

(4 / 5)