$2.99 with 73 percent savings
Print List Price: $10.99

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Sold by Amazon.com Services LLC.
Read with our free app
You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Steven Ramirez
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Come As You Are: A Short Novel and Nine Stories Kindle Edition

by Steven Ramirez (Author), Shannon A. Thompson (Editor) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 out of 5 stars 46 ratings

Ivan just wanted the bullying to stop. Now his best friend is dead.

Ivan Stein isn’t sure he can survive seventh grade, let alone middle school. Living in a town known for its poverty and violence, he is regularly bullied along with his best friend, Ollie. But fortunes can change.

One day, Ivan finds an old notebook in an abandoned locker at school. Despite a stark warning, he takes the book and unleashes powerful magic he can use to punish his enemies.

But demonic forces control the book’s pages–a terrifying evil that will inflict suffering on the good as well as the bad and take Ivan’s soul as payment.

Life is hard, and people get hurt. But for Ivan, some things are better left alone.

Also in this collection…

“Nailed It”
“Brown the Recluse”
“I’ve Been Better”
“A Bone in the Throat”
“Regino Sings”
“A Proper Revenge Takes Time”
“Something to Hold”
“The Widow and Her Magician”
“Walker”

What Reviewers Are Saying

“Ivan’s innocent and unwitting flirtation with the demonic is first-rate supernatural horror. Ramirez’s characters are beautifully defined, particularly Ivan and Hershey, the school janitor, who turns out to be much more than that. His plot is beautifully scripted and the suspense and supernatural dread emanating throughout this story make it impossible to put down until the last page is read.” —Readers’ Favorite

“A chilling YA horror novella. There is no telling what direction this novella is going to swing, as the surprises come quickly. Come As You Are is successful at sending chills down your spine over the course of a fast and enjoyable read.” —Self-Publishing Review

“Out of all the elements I liked about the collection, it is the character display that stood out the most. Ramirez truly is a master at bringing his cast to life, and then binding you to their ordeal. Overall, I think it is a stunning collection many readers will enjoy.” —Horror Palace

What Amazon Readers Are Saying

★★★★★ “Some of the creepiest gore I’ve read. From demons in a school locker to a lunatic sleepwalking mother, this book will cover just about all your horror yearning needs. Each story is intense and on the edge of your seat reading.”

★★★★★ “Each story was well written and engrossing. Some were heartbreaking, as well as horrifying. This is a book that is a keeper.”

★★★★★ “Seriously good. Seriously creepy. Seriously scary. Seriously psychologically twisted. Seriously great writing.”

Read more
Previous slide of product details
  1. Print length
    212 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Accessibility
    Learn more
  4. Publication date
    September 7, 2017
  5. File size
    4.9 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
Next slide of product details

Editorial Reviews

Review

If anyone discovers a source of mysterious power that can help solve all their problems, it is probably too good to be true. That is certainly the case in Come As You Are, a chilling YA horror novella from author Steven Ramirez.
When Ivan, an often-bullied seventh grader, finds a magical notebook in an old locker at school, he thinks that his middle-school years might be salvageable after all. The list that this notebook contains doesn't necessarily make sense, but Ivan knows that he must complete the list if he wants to unlock the full potential of this talisman. However, what starts off as a game - and a shortcut to revenge against the bullies at his school - takes a much darker turn.
It's not long before the true nature of the notebook reveals itself, and claims its first victim, a sacrifice in the form of Ollie - Ivan's only friend. From that point, early in the novella, Ivan's life begins to spin out of control, and the boundary between reality and fantasy begins to blur.
Doing his own digging into the truth of the notebook, while trying to control his new demonic powers, Ivan turns to the janitor at school, a man who seems to know more than he is letting on. As it turns out, he was once in a similar position as Ivan, or at least his life was similarly scarred by that horrific book. More than four decades earlier, he had lost one of his best friends to the dark powers unleashed by that list. Since then, he has been guarding a cursed locker in the school, protecting the world, and a new generation of children, from the terrors it contains.
There is no telling what direction this novella is going to swing, as the writing is fast-paced and targeted at a younger audience, so the surprises come quickly and the scenes are relatively brief. The dialogue is fairly simplistic, but appropriate for younger readers, and Ivan's character is well-crafted for a YA storyline. The bullied anti-hero is a popular trope in this genre of fiction, and it works particularly well in this take on the storyline.
While the writing is highly informal, packed with slang and self-referential narration, it makes for a quick read. On the downside, some of the other characters don't receive the same detailed attention as Ivan, such as his parents, and a few of the plot points don't feel fully fleshed out or finished. As a whole, the story is engaging and exciting, but it sometimes moves too fast for its own good. Spending more time on description, character building, and fully developed conversations would make this novel even stronger.
Following up on a long-form trilogy of horror novels, a brief novella is certainly out of character for Steven Ramirez, but Come As You Are is successful at sending chills down your spine over the course of a fast and enjoyable read. --Self-Publishing Review

From the Author

Greetings from Los Angeles. I write thriller, supernatural, and horror fiction. Here are some books you might enjoy.

Hellborn Series
Tell Me When I'm Dead
Dead Is All You Get
Even The Dead Will Bleed

Hard To Kill Series
Brandon's Last Words
Faithless

Sarah Greene Mysteries
The Girl in the Mirror
House of the Shrieking Woman
The Blood She Wore

Other Books
Chainsaw Honeymoon
Come As You Are: A Short Novel and Nine Stories
Come As You Are: A Novella

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B071WZX2DJ
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Glass Highway
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 7, 2017
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4.9 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 212 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780989871891
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0999079102
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars 46 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Steven Ramirez

Steven Ramirez

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Steven Ramirez is the award-winning American author of thriller, supernatural, and literary fiction. A former screenwriter, he’s written about man-made plagues and idyllic towns infested with ghosts and demons. His latest novel is Let’s Get Lost, a modern fairy tale. Steven lives in Los Angeles.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
46 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers
Write a customer review

Customers say

Customers find the book readable, with one mentioning how the writer keeps readers engaged. The stories receive positive feedback for their quality, with one customer describing them as intense.

Select to learn more

ReadabilityStory quality
4 customers mention "Readability"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book readable, with one mentioning how the writer keeps readers engaged.

"...at sending chills down your spine over the course of a fast and enjoyable read.” —Self-Publishing Review..." Read more

"Good book,good stories. This writer keeps you reading, which is only bad when the book runs out.Thank you for sharing your talent with us." Read more

"...I really enjoyed the first short story. It's a good easy read and a good length for when you need a break between work or house chores." Read more

"Each story was well written and engrossing. Some were heart breaking, as well as horrifying. This is a book that is a keeper...." Read more

4 customers mention "Story quality"4 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the stories in this collection, with one review describing them as intense and beautifully scripted, while another finds them heart breaking.

"...His plot is beautifully scripted and the suspense and supernatural dread emanating throughout this story make it impossible to put down until the..." Read more

"Good book,good stories. This writer keeps you reading, which is only bad when the book runs out.Thank you for sharing your talent with us." Read more

"...I really enjoyed the first short story. It's a good easy read and a good length for when you need a break between work or house chores." Read more

"...Some were heart breaking, as well as horrifying. This is a book that is a keeper. I'm already looking forward to reading it again." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • William B
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Collection of Horror....
    Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2017
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Genre - Horror Short Stories
    Pages - 188

    “Come As You Are & Other Short Stories” by Steven Ramirez is a novella and 9 short stories of some of the creepiest gore I’ve read. From demons in a school locker to a lunatic sleepwalking Mother, this book will cover just about all your horror yearning needs. Each story is intense and on the edge of your seat reading. I had a few favorites the title story among them and I was also quite impressed with “A Bone In The Throat” and “Rigino Sings”. I enjoyed them all actually, but those are standouts for me. This is my first read by Steven Ramirez, but with a collection like this I look forward to discovering more of his title.I look forward to getting to know this talented horror writer.

    From the back cover: “Ivan’s innocent and unwitting flirtation with the demonic is first-rate supernatural horror. Ramirez’s characters are beautifully defined, particularly Ivan and Hershey, the school janitor, who turns out to be much more than that. His plot is beautifully scripted and the suspense and supernatural dread emanating throughout this story make it impossible to put down until the last page is read.” —Readers’ Favorite

    “A chilling YA horror novella. There is no telling what direction this novella is going to swing, as the surprises come quickly. Come As You Are is successful at sending chills down your spine over the course of a fast and enjoyable read.” —Self-Publishing Review

    “Out of all the elements I liked about the collection, it is the character display that stood out the most. Ramirez truly is a master at bringing his cast to life, and then binding you to their ordeal. Overall, I think it is a stunning collection many readers will enjoy.” —Horror Palace

    Some things are better left alone.

    Ivan Stein isn’t sure he can survive seventh grade, let alone middle school. Living in a town known for its poverty and violence, he is regularly bullied along with his best friend, Ollie. But fortunes can change. One day, Ivan finds an old notebook in an abandoned locker at school. Despite a stark warning, he takes the book and unleashes powerful magic he can use to punish his enemies. But demonic forces control the book’s pages—a terrifying evil that will inflict suffering on the good as well as the bad and take his soul as payment.

    Come As You Are is supernatural horror reimagined as Young Adult fiction. But don’t be fooled. Its violence will disturb you and its depiction of people living in a gloomy, desolate town without hope will make you cry. Pray that Ivan and his family can survive this dark, perilous journey.

    Also in this collection:

    “Nailed It”
    “Brown the Recluse”
    “I’ve Been Better”
    “A Bone in the Throat”
    “Regino Sings”
    “A Proper Revenge Takes Time”
    “Something to Hold”
    “The Widow and Her Magician”
    “Walker”
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Kindle Customer 5252
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good book.
    Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2020
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Good book,good stories. This writer keeps you reading, which is only bad when the book runs out.Thank you for sharing your talent with us.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Rêvvâ Tênâg
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great
    Reviewed in the United States on October 27, 2017
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Come as You are is a short roughly 60 paged story and other short books follow after. I really enjoyed the first short story. It's a good easy read and a good length for when you need a break between work or house chores.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great tales
    Reviewed in the United States on October 29, 2017
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Each story was well written and engrossing. Some were heart breaking, as well as horrifying. This is a book that is a keeper. I'm already looking forward to reading it again.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Linda Fraid
    5.0 out of 5 stars ... a fan of these type of books and really enjoyed it, can't wait for Steven's next book
    Reviewed in the United States on September 30, 2017
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    I am a fan of these type of books and really enjoyed it, can't wait for Steven's next book!!
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • MK French
    4.0 out of 5 stars Ivan Stein and his best friend Ollie are bullied in school and often run ...
    Reviewed in the United States on September 11, 2017
    Format: Kindle
    Review first posted at Girl Who Reads. A free copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

    "Come As You Are" is the title novella in this collection of macabre stories. Ivan Stein and his best friend Ollie are bullied in school and often run off the skate park by older kids. When Ivan finds a notebook in an abandoned locker that seems to be the key to power, he takes it despite his misgivings. Unfortunately, the power is demonic in nature and doesn't discriminate who falls in its path. It's understandable that Ivan would grab hold of any hope to get past the bullies and survive seventh grade, even if it's otherworldly. Knowing others' secrets at first seems rather innocent, but completing the list in the notebook takes on a more dangerous turn, and Ivan's soul hangs in the balance. The end of the story was a bit of a stretch, and not one I would have predicted when starting the novella, but definitely was vividly done.

    The other stories in this collection are shorter but no less creepy.

    "Nailed It" takes OCD to a fairly grisly extreme, and "Brown the Recluse" is even more disconcerting for anyone terrified of spiders.

    I find it a little hard to feel sorry for Regino by the end of "Regino Sings," even though he starts off the story with one bad event after another. I suppose it's the feeling that he took advantage of the ability given to him, and didn't stop to think of any consequences. Perhaps that's the worst part of some of these stories: some of the horrific consequences could have been avoided if the characters could only stop and think. Some of them can't escape their fate, no matter what comes to them, and it is chilling to read about.

    This book might be released in September, but it's definitely fitting for Halloween and the upcoming chill of winter.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Cheryl E
    4.0 out of 5 stars The Chilling, Creepy And Bizarre
    Reviewed in Australia on December 27, 2017
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Come As You Are is a novelette of the same name and a collection of short stories that run the gamut from chilling to bizarre. The title story was my personal favourite featuring a bullied teen who comes across what he thinks is a journal from a dead teenager who went to his school. What he discovers in that journal allows him to seek revenge ...... but we all know that nothing comes for free .... as our protagonist soon finds out. A creepy paranormal tale that I read in one huge gulp and was so impressed with that I downloaded another of the author's books.
    The collection of short stories that followed are as extremely well written and paced as the novelette, all equally mired in the bizarrely horrific, some more so than others. My standout favourites are Brown-The Recluse, A Bone In The Throat and Walker. A new author for me and one whose books I'll be reading a lot more of in the coming New Year.
    Report

Report an issue


Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report