Rotten Little Things: A Novella

Tamer Animals, Book 2

By: Justin M. Woodward

Narrated by: Ryan Drean

Length: 2 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's summary

Twelve years before the events of tamer animals.

Monica has suffered from paranoid schizophrenia her entire life. For the most part, she manages her disease well - that is, until her family moves into an old house in the woods, and she starts seeing an imaginary entity from her childhood creeping around the property.

New home. Old haunts.

Things quickly become terrifying for Monica as her reality begins to blend with fiction, and something else entirely...some indescribable evil out in those woods.

©2019 Justin M. Woodward (P)2019 Justin M. Woodward

Critic reviews

"Rotten Little Things takes you to some frightfully dark places." (Jay Sigler, author of Train Thoughts)

Excellent Thriller

I'm a huge fan of both Justin Woodward and Ryan Drean. After listening to Tamer Animals I quickly devoured everything else written by Justin so when I was asked if I'd like to listen to this in exchange for an honest review I jumped at it. I was not disappointed!

This is the type of thriller that has you biting your nails and genuinely worried for the characters. The twists and shimmers of uncertainty keep you on edge and unsure of what's real and what's not with Monica. Justin really packs a lot into this short story. It's hard to believe it's only two hours long because so much happens and you really feel for the characters. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and Ryan's narration, pace and tone really draws you into the tale.

Great chapter in the Goatman saga!

This was a fast read, but it was well paced. The characters were fleshed out and the horror became real quickly!

This was an awesome part of Justin M. Woodward's Tamer Animal series, and it's got me awaiting the next release!

Short and Not So Sweet

A family moves in to a new house out of necessity. The woman has mental issues so they hope a change of scenery will help that. She starts seeing horrifying brutal things related to what caused her all her problems in the past and they try to help her. But with a name like that, you tell me how you think things will turn out.

This was short and entertaining and not so sweet, but definitely worth a listen. I received the review code for this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this honest review.

Crawls under your skin...

Another terrifically creepy outing for Justin M. Woodward!

Monica suffers from schizophrenia, but her husband Jacob and son Zack help her keep herself focused on the fact that the tall man she sees haunting her day and night isn't really there. But one episode after another, a change of medication, and an unexpected pregnancy help to send her reeling into a spiraling well of madness from which even those who love her most may not be able to pull her out of.

This is book two in the Tamer Animals series by Woodward, which also has a crossover with his novel The Variant. If you've read the other books in his bibliography, you'll feel right at home here in the south with the whispers of evil and cults and Satan worship in the woods. The imagery in this novella was stark and compelling, the characters people we could really care about and root for, and of course, it has the Woodward twists that catch us totally unawares and leave us on our backs, gasping as we race ahead for more.

The narrator does a fine job, as he always does. Definitely someone I'd listen to more from.

An excellent entry in the series, and an excellent novella all around. Fans of Woodward will not be disappointed, and newcomers may find a new favorite to keep their eye on as he continues to release more material. I know I have, and I can't recommend him, or this book, enough.

Woodward is quickly becoming a new favorite author of mine!

I received this book free in exchange for an unbiased review.

After listening to Tamer Animals, I couldn’t wait to listen to this follow up. Justin Woodward is certainly a name to watch as an up and coming horror writer. I hope to see more from both him and narrator Ryan Drean in this series in the future.

If you love down and out disgusting no holds barred balls to the wall horror, then you’ll love Rotten Little Things. I can’t recommend this enough!

A little better than the prequel

First of all: "This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review."

The psychological aspects of this book made it somewhat more enjoyable than its prequel. Still, much of the drama felt unrealistic and forced, and the action was not very compelling. It didn't feel like the characters were developed much either. Maybe would have worked better as a short story.

The narrator of the audiobook was not bad, given the circumstaances. I will definitely check out more works by this narrator.