Requiem of the Unclaimed by Alyson Hasson is a dark tale of love, survival, and family curses that will keep you feeling like your feet are about to be knocked out from under you with every turn of the page.
Content Warnings: Death of family members and other violence.
Before we get to the review… how SICK is that cover?! I’m obsessed with it!
Let’s dive in!
My Thoughts on Requiem of the Unclaimed by Alyson Hasson –
Sybil has lived a very tough life, surviving on scraps and hiding in the shadows. When one last event that had anchored her to London occurs, she sets out on a desperate search to find her brother, who had left to sail for Nassau. Thinking that things can’t get any worse, poor Sybil has no idea what she’s sailing toward.
Meanwhile, the brother, Walter, who just wanted to provide for his sister, is stuck in a terrifying loop that can only end in blood.
My gosh, this tale starts with such a harrowing scene with Walter being forced off the side of a ship by false theft claims. That got my blood boiling immediately! The grin on his friend’s face especially… When we jump back to see what was going on with his sister, my heart broke, but my blood continued to boil.
Through this story, we follow dual narratives as we watch each sibling battle to make their way along their twisted journeys. I was so nervous for each of them! There was such a powerful dread that hovered over everything that, even in the tiny moments when hope peeked through, you just knew that gap was about to close again.
As we got deeper in the story, the dread and tension only grew. I was totally captivated by this one!
My Favorite Passages from Requiem of the Unclaimed –
(Please note, I read an early copy of this one, so these passages may have changed)
Darkness filled the apartment, the sun far out of reach of the windows. In the small space, the closed door to the bedroom somehow stared back at her menacingly.
She felt that to her core, she was nearing the end of her wick. Something she tried to fight, but knew nothing would lessen her struggle unless someone else could share the burden of her life and hold the light for her.
Vines tightened around her leg, drawing more blood and plunging into her flesh with a renewed pain. She grabbed at the plants, pulling her view away from the man long enough to tear the entanglement of thorns off. The thin plants snapped at her strength, but not without a fight. They wriggled against her, desperately clinging to her skin. As if the plant was alive in a way that shouldn’t be possible.
A large tree with red bark sat in the centre of the clearing, its roots weaving into the ground with a force that made the tree itself look angry. Rocks split by the path of the roots, with pools of red sap staining them. The leaves appeared black in the dim lighting.
My Final Thoughts on Requiem of the Unclaimed –
My goodness, I had so much fun reading this one! It was fast-paced, chilling, and absolutely brutal at times, from both the family dynamics and the bloodshed and horror.
Don’t sleep on this tale! Horror fans, make sure this is on your radar!
Preorder your copy today! This book is expected to launch on June 30th, 2026!
Thanks for reading!
And a MAJOR thanks to Alyson for reaching out so I could give this a read! <3
I first read Alyson’s work in the tale, Curse of the Cache, which was included in Slice of Paradise: A Beach Vacation Horror Anthology, and my gosh, I cannot wait to read more!
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