A new gothic horror novella, Dissection of a Human Heart by Caterina Ioana is a charming little gem that feels like a forgotten Romanian classic. After finding a mysterious letter hidden in his late grandfather’s study, grieving scholar Erich Brunner travels to the infamous Hart House near Sighișoara, looking for answers about his parents’ disappearance when he was a child. The letter, signed by Dietrich von Sternburg, is a cryptic plea for help that Erich’s grandfather kept locked away. What follows is a creepy haunted house-style adventure that will surely give you goosebumps.
Having arrived at the decaying estate that locals fear like a curse, Erich encounters Dietrich: young, educated, unsettlingly charismatic, and clearly hiding something. The mansion itself seems alive, including locked doors that burn to the touch, portraits that watch, and a red-haired woman who appears and vanishes like a ghost. Outside, a strange caravan arrives, potentially tied to ancient folklore and supernatural justice. As Erich witnesses impossible horrors and Dietrich’s evasions grow more sinister, he realises that something bad is happening.
This belongs to that rare category of horror that feels literary rather than purely genre. The writing is very quality, with prose that’s rich, sensory, and deeply atmospheric. Hart House feels alive and predatory, a “mouth of the monster” that swallows Erich whole. The author does a great job of building dread through careful accumulation of detail rather than cheap scares. The descriptions of the mansion, such as fire and endless bookshelves that hypnotize, make the setting impossible not to feel suffocated by while never getting too overwrought or purple.
The book reminded me a lot of an Edgar Allan Poe novella, or even a Mike Flanagan limited series in its slow-burn folklore horror and focus on grief as a doorway to darkness. The story unfolds into a dark mythology involving the iele (spirits of betrayed women seeking justice), undead curses, and a centuries-old system of punishment tied to betrayal and bloodshed. These folklore elements feel fresh and distinctive, seemingly rooted in Eastern European mythology but reimagined with care.
The relationship between Erich and Dietrich provides constant tension throughout. Dietrich is quite terrifying precisely because he’s polite, calm, and in total control. The psychological manipulation is rife throughout, and the dynamic between predator and prey drives the entire novella. The story alternates between creeping dread and moments of grotesque revelation, which keeps things from getting slow despite the deliberate pacing.
The author writes the kind of sentences that create unease, with careful word choices that build tension through implication rather than explanation. The prose excels at sensory detail that disorients, with doors described as “tall and intimidating, thick wood muffling the desperate wailing behind it,” or the corridor that gives Erich “the sensation of walking on the bottom of a long, dried out well.” These atmospheric flourishes make the reader feel Erich’s claustrophobia and mounting dread. The author also thankfully understands the power of brevity, “Fire is comfort. Warmth. Safety…”
The novella isn’t without a couple of minor limitations. Some may feel the story relies too much on classic haunted house tropes, but nonetheless they are executed competently, elevating familiar elements through strong craft and psychological depth. It starts in medias res, opening after the grandfather’s death, so you never see Erich’s relationship with him or witness the loss firsthand. This makes the emotional stakes feel slightly distant. You don’t lack context exactly, but a brief prologue or flashback showing their bond could anchor the story and let some plot threads breathe, which feel a tad rushed due to its brief length. Also, as I already mentioned, some may feel it’s a bit horror trope-heavy.
Nonetheless, Dissection of a Human Heart is a lovely—if that word can apply to horror—short but sweet piece of gothic fiction, one I think most fans of literary horror and dark folklore would genuinely enjoy. It’s a beautifully crafted, atmospheric, and unsettling in the way only the best gothic horror can be. It stays with you not because of gore or jump scares like many horror stories try for, but because of its slow-burn dread, compelling central mystery, and the exploration of eastern mythology. The human heart, as the title suggests, may be both our greatest weakness and the only thing that makes justice, or redemption, possible.
Final verdict: For fans of Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Shirley Jackson, and Susan Hill, this is an atmospheric gem that deserves a place on your shelf, preferably read on a stormy night with all the lights on. The perfect next read for anyone who loves their horror literary, their folklore dark, and their mansions deeply, unsettlingly alive.
You can get your copy of Dissection of a Human Heart or read it for free on Kindle Unlimited here!
