Blood of the Covenant | Psychological Horror Review | AstraDaemon

THE PALE WHITE by Chad Lutzke is centered on three girls who are sex trafficking victims, their escape, and the psychological fallout after the nightmare they have endured for years. Throughout the novella, there are flashbacks to key moments which have defined the way each girl copes with the ongoing violence and exploitation. The author avoids graphic details by focusing on the emotions of the three victims, as well as their different reactions to the freedom they've won for themselves.

Just knowing that this is a very real issue makes this one of the most horrific and tragic stories I've ever read, despite this being a work of fiction. Lutzke goes deep into the sickness by including confrontations with three of the men who have victimized the three girls. As the youngest girl's backstory is revealed, I felt absolutely broken.

I've noticed a captivity theme in the stories I've read by Lutzke, but this time he takes his writing to a new level, highlighting the very human side of horror. The author also avoids the tropes of a tidy ending filled with joy and/or revenge, and reminds readers, we might defeat the monsters, but they always leave scars.

If you only read one story by Lutzke, make it this one.

As always,

AstraDaemon