In the quiet, picturesque town of Ashmore, a chilling tale begins to unfold—one that promises to unsettle, captivate, and linger in the minds of readers long after the final page. The Dance, a psychological horror novella by debut author Rukesh Nitta, marks a bold and poetic entry into the world of gothic fiction. With lyrical prose and an atmosphere thick with dread, the book explores the delicate intersection of beauty and brutality, silence and screams, memory and madness.
At the heart of the story are Peter and Martha Vane, an elegant couple whose charm and sophistication mask a sinister truth. Within the walls of their secluded villa, rituals unfold and secrets rot behind locked doors. Yet, the true terror of The Dance lies not in the couple alone, but in the house itself—a living, breathing entity that remembers. This is no ordinary haunted setting. The house in Ashmore is a vessel for memory and malice, where time bends, and the past is never truly buried.
As the narrative deepens, new lives are drawn into its eerie choreography. Lenny, a hesitant outsider, becomes the emotional anchor of the story, his transformation both tragic and terrifying. Through his eyes, readers witness the house’s grip tighten, revealing an ancient, malevolent rhythm that has claimed countless others. And all the while, the haunting irony of “What a Wonderful World” echoes through the halls—a motif that underscores the terrifying contrast between the world’s surface and the shadows beneath.
Rukesh Nitta, a poet known for delving into the silent corners of the human psyche, brings a unique voice to horror. With The Dance, he fuses the cadence of poetry with the creeping tension of psychological dread, creating a reading experience that is as beautiful as it is unsettling. The book challenges readers to confront a chilling question: What happens when the house starts to remember you?
A must-read for fans of atmospheric horror, The Dance offers more than mere fright—it offers a descent into the unsettling truth of memory, identity, and the things we leave unsaid. With this debut, Rukesh Nitta not only introduces a haunting story but also establishes himself as a fresh and poetic voice in modern horror literature.