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The Inheritance of Giuliana
A haunting, addictive read for fans of atmospheric horror and possession stories.
After a painful breakup, Julie returns to Italy to claim her grandmother’s crumbling villa nestled in the hills of Tuscany. But Villa Concetta is host to more than just memories.
What begins as unease slowly unravels into terror, as a dark presence that once touched her family now turns its gaze on her. Julie must uncover the truth about her inheritance, her bloodline, and the legacy her grandmother never meant to pass down, before she loses herself completely.
The Inheritance of Giuliana is a gothic paranormal horror novel steeped in grief, buried secrets, and the kind of evil that doesn’t haunt a place... it inhabits people.
After a painful breakup, Julie returns to Italy to claim her grandmother’s crumbling villa nestled in the hills of Tuscany. But Villa Concetta is host to more than just memories.
What begins as unease slowly unravels into terror, as a dark presence that once touched her family now turns its gaze on her. Julie must uncover the truth about her inheritance, her bloodline, and the legacy her grandmother never meant to pass down, before she loses herself completely.
The Inheritance of Giuliana is a gothic paranormal horror novel steeped in grief, buried secrets, and the kind of evil that doesn’t haunt a place... it inhabits people.
118 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 24, 2025
6 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
About the author
Alessandra Benini
5 books146 followersAlessandra's passion for writing began at a young age and she has always dreamed of becoming an author. Growing up, she was drawn to paranormal and horror stories, eagerly devouring any material she could find. With a background in psychology and a fascination with the workings of the mind, it felt natural for her to combine her two passions. When she's not lost in a book or writing, you can find her at home with her needy cat Loui, watching scary movies. She currently resides in El Salvador with her husband and their three children.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
August 1, 2025
A beautifully written horror with paranormal elements. With Alessandra’s writing, she is able to paint you a picture where she drops you into this beautiful vision then torments you with horror and paranomal elements. Providing you with a racing heart and book that you cannot put down. Well done, an amazing read!
July 14, 2025
This was a highly effective and enjoyable genre novella. The main focus of this one is setting up a fantastic main character to follow in Julie, focusing on her rough personal and professional life in short order, so that the appeal of the return to her family home comes off as an intriguing pull, bringing us up to speed with her quite nicely in the first half. Getting to include the other factors in this case, from her memories of her grandmother who left everything to her in the inheritance, the relationship with her mother that seems to point to the strained fractures from their past, and the fun chemistry she has with her best friend that all put everything into order so that staying at the villa is even more appealing all sets the stage for a strong and immersive story.
Once it starts moving on to include the idea of something living in the villa with her, this generates some rather chilling encounters. The first few bits, mainly the scenes involving her becoming convinced that someone is there when they aren’t or believing that something is looking at her, start to incorporate some fine ghostly setpieces to hint that something’s there. That continues with the rest of the supernatural hauntings and interactions that take place in the second half where it becomes far more apparent something is in the house with her, including encounters with supernatural presences manipulating furniture, pressing on doors, talking with those staying at the house, or leaving spectral residue behind that occur not just with her but her friend that hint at something supernatural at the cause of the hauntings.
The fact that this all means this quiet, brooding, sorrow-filled type of haunting helps strongly to make the interactions a telling example of grief weighing someone down. With everything taking place after not just a break-up but also the news about the death of a beloved, if distant, family member, there’s a lot to say about what the hauntings mean once she arrives since the information revealed about her grandmother ties nicely into her similar grief about what’s going on in her life, this focuses nicely on the nature of grief. Since it all ties into the reasoning for the hauntings, discovered through the interactions with her friend, looking into what happened with her grandmother while she was staying there, everything is immensely well-thought-out and quite chilling as a result.
The finale, a wild and frantic exorcism sequence that initially focused on trying to expel the demonic entity within the house before turning into a genuine exorcism on a possessed individual, takes a wholly different and drastic tone from the rest of the novel. Working in a series of genre tropes, from the whites of the eyes, raspy voices shouting numerous disturbing epithets, and bodily contortion, all of which are countered by a barrage of fiery Latin phrases designed to expel the demonic force at the center of everything. As a whole, this is an immensely entertaining sequence on its own, ending the book on a high note. However, the abruptness of its arrival, compared to the quiet and reserved Gothic hauntings that preceded it, might be a bit of a weird stretch that may not appeal to all readers. Still, there’s quite a lot to enjoy here.
4.5/5
Once it starts moving on to include the idea of something living in the villa with her, this generates some rather chilling encounters. The first few bits, mainly the scenes involving her becoming convinced that someone is there when they aren’t or believing that something is looking at her, start to incorporate some fine ghostly setpieces to hint that something’s there. That continues with the rest of the supernatural hauntings and interactions that take place in the second half where it becomes far more apparent something is in the house with her, including encounters with supernatural presences manipulating furniture, pressing on doors, talking with those staying at the house, or leaving spectral residue behind that occur not just with her but her friend that hint at something supernatural at the cause of the hauntings.
The fact that this all means this quiet, brooding, sorrow-filled type of haunting helps strongly to make the interactions a telling example of grief weighing someone down. With everything taking place after not just a break-up but also the news about the death of a beloved, if distant, family member, there’s a lot to say about what the hauntings mean once she arrives since the information revealed about her grandmother ties nicely into her similar grief about what’s going on in her life, this focuses nicely on the nature of grief. Since it all ties into the reasoning for the hauntings, discovered through the interactions with her friend, looking into what happened with her grandmother while she was staying there, everything is immensely well-thought-out and quite chilling as a result.
The finale, a wild and frantic exorcism sequence that initially focused on trying to expel the demonic entity within the house before turning into a genuine exorcism on a possessed individual, takes a wholly different and drastic tone from the rest of the novel. Working in a series of genre tropes, from the whites of the eyes, raspy voices shouting numerous disturbing epithets, and bodily contortion, all of which are countered by a barrage of fiery Latin phrases designed to expel the demonic force at the center of everything. As a whole, this is an immensely entertaining sequence on its own, ending the book on a high note. However, the abruptness of its arrival, compared to the quiet and reserved Gothic hauntings that preceded it, might be a bit of a weird stretch that may not appeal to all readers. Still, there’s quite a lot to enjoy here.
4.5/5
July 3, 2025
The Inheritance of Giuliana by Alessandra Benini is a story about grief, and how over time, it wears us down, weathering and overwhelming us, much as weeds overtake an untended garden, or disrepair eventually crumbles even the most impressive of mansions. The story's main character, the titular Giuliana, or Julie as she prefers, is already in the full throes of heartache and grief from the opening chapter, still mourning a breakup months earlier with a man with whom she'd thought she was in love. When she learns of the death of her maternal grandmother, who lived in Italy, she suffers a different kind of sorrow, one that comes from the realization that she'd never known the woman, that she hadn't seen her "Nonna Concetta" since she'd been very young, and now would never get the chance to again. Concetta lived alone in a crumbling old villa, and Julie's memories of childhood visits are distant and vague. When she learns Concetta left the villa, along with the rest of her estate, to her, Julie travels overseas to try and reconnect with her past. She finds a lot more than she bargains for, including the truth about her grandmother's own overwhelming grief and the desperate -- even maddening -- lengths to which it had driven her. The stain of Concetta's sorrow -- and the darkness it summoned -- remains like a blight across not just the villa itself, but Julie, as well, and in the course of the story, she realizes she will have to conquer not only her own demons, but her grandmother's as well if she hopes to survive.
This was a fun gothic horror story, with plenty of mysterious things going bump in the night, hidden rooms, and long-buried family secrets to make for a tense, quick, and enjoyable read. Benini paints a beautiful portrait of both the pastoral Italian countryside and the people who live there. The last quarter of the book shifts from the classic gothic formula to something else (no spoilers from me), and while it's not the ending I was expecting, it was still well done, even providing a wicked little twist just when you think the worst is behind Julie and her friends.
Speaking of friends, Julie's BFF Georgina was my favorite character in the book. She's the kind of bestie we all need: one who will drop everything on a dime, cash in her airline points, and catch the next red-eye to Rome to have your back when you discover you've inadvertently inherited a haunted Italian villa. Georgina's got a snappy one-liner, bottle of wine, or supportive hug always at the ready, and I absolutely adored her.
The Inheritance of Giuliana is available now. It's haunting, harrowing, and full of surprises.
This was a fun gothic horror story, with plenty of mysterious things going bump in the night, hidden rooms, and long-buried family secrets to make for a tense, quick, and enjoyable read. Benini paints a beautiful portrait of both the pastoral Italian countryside and the people who live there. The last quarter of the book shifts from the classic gothic formula to something else (no spoilers from me), and while it's not the ending I was expecting, it was still well done, even providing a wicked little twist just when you think the worst is behind Julie and her friends.
Speaking of friends, Julie's BFF Georgina was my favorite character in the book. She's the kind of bestie we all need: one who will drop everything on a dime, cash in her airline points, and catch the next red-eye to Rome to have your back when you discover you've inadvertently inherited a haunted Italian villa. Georgina's got a snappy one-liner, bottle of wine, or supportive hug always at the ready, and I absolutely adored her.
The Inheritance of Giuliana is available now. It's haunting, harrowing, and full of surprises.
August 15, 2025
A shadow man lurking in every corner of her apartment. An estranged Nonna who’s left her a haunted (yet charmingly crumbling) Italian villa. A séance room with a mind of its own. And a “Jet2 Holiday” that feels like it was planned by the love child of Chucky and Annabelle.
Giuliana (Julie) is still nursing the sting of her breakup with Ethan. Sure, he’s a lowlife who wasted five years of her life only to run off with a home-wrecking co-worker. But she can’t help but notice the gaping hole left in his absence. (A little mix of f*** him but also ‘but daddy I LOVE him’ ya know?) And now her sleepless night dreams keep dragging her back to her estranged Nonna’s European villa. Aka, the same one from her childhood summers.
But Julie learns that Nonna has passed on and left her the villa, she’s torn between grief and a nagging feeling burrowing deep into her gut. After all, the timing of these dreams feels… off. Almost like someone, or something, knew she’d be coming soon.
Back among the villa’s dilapidated stone walls, Julie soon discovers that Nonna’s secrets went far beyond a typical famous marinara recipe. The same shadow from her apartment seems to have secured a passport and followed her here. A room demands her presence only to punish her for it. AND a few very unsettled priests seem to think she’s in over her head. (Ugh, men.)
And what follows is let’s say…less “family reunion” and more “haunting with a side of exorcism.” The Inheritance of Giuliana by Alessandra Benini is a fast-paced, beautifully haunting paranormal novella. With equal parts rich character work, eerie family history and deliciously possessed spookiness. Perfect for fans of late night page turners and stories that leave you wondering if maybe your own house is a little… off.
After all, Giuliana is the perfect host. Just don’t overstay your welcome.
Giuliana (Julie) is still nursing the sting of her breakup with Ethan. Sure, he’s a lowlife who wasted five years of her life only to run off with a home-wrecking co-worker. But she can’t help but notice the gaping hole left in his absence. (A little mix of f*** him but also ‘but daddy I LOVE him’ ya know?) And now her sleepless night dreams keep dragging her back to her estranged Nonna’s European villa. Aka, the same one from her childhood summers.
But Julie learns that Nonna has passed on and left her the villa, she’s torn between grief and a nagging feeling burrowing deep into her gut. After all, the timing of these dreams feels… off. Almost like someone, or something, knew she’d be coming soon.
Back among the villa’s dilapidated stone walls, Julie soon discovers that Nonna’s secrets went far beyond a typical famous marinara recipe. The same shadow from her apartment seems to have secured a passport and followed her here. A room demands her presence only to punish her for it. AND a few very unsettled priests seem to think she’s in over her head. (Ugh, men.)
And what follows is let’s say…less “family reunion” and more “haunting with a side of exorcism.” The Inheritance of Giuliana by Alessandra Benini is a fast-paced, beautifully haunting paranormal novella. With equal parts rich character work, eerie family history and deliciously possessed spookiness. Perfect for fans of late night page turners and stories that leave you wondering if maybe your own house is a little… off.
After all, Giuliana is the perfect host. Just don’t overstay your welcome.
September 1, 2025
This is a quick and fun read that I thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish. Giuliana's inheritance comes with more than just some major baggage, and what happens in the final chapters will leave you wanting to know more. This book really picks up in the final chapters, to where I couldn't put it down till I learned what happened next and how it ended. It has an interesting twist, too, but I'm a big fan of how it ended. Giuliana (Julie) is a solid main character and Georgina (Julie's best friend) is the lovable minor character that quickly became my favorite as the story progressed. Enjoy this read that'll keep you hooked from start to finish. Alessandra knocked this one out of the park! Even though I was more than satisfied with the ending, I was left wanting more. That's how well-written and developed these characters are. Well done, Alessandra! It was pleasure reading this book!
July 4, 2025
I had the opportunity to read this book and it’s one of the best I’ve read this year. I didn’t know what it was about before I started but enjoyed it immediately. Without giving too much away it’s a spooky story of a house inhabited by something trying to take over and possess the woman occupying it, Giuliana. I love the descriptions of the house, grounds and the “thing” in the house. I felt like I was there walking around seeing it. If you love haunted houses and possession stories definitely read this book!
July 3, 2025
I absolutely loved this book. The only thing was I wished it was longer. Haha I wanted more creepy things to happen. The author did a phenemonal job of really making me feel like I was part of the story. This was an easy, creepy read. The had no trouble setting the scene in my head as I read. It felt like a movie playing. In fact I think it would make a great movie. I will be anxious to read more from this author and recommending this book to everyone!
July 7, 2025
Julie inherited an Italian villa from her late grandmother and finds out something dark and full of hatred is sharing it with her. I need more from this story! I didn’t want it to end so quickly. The storyline made sense, I really liked the characters, and the ending was tense. There was some repetition of descriptions, but it didn’t change anything about how I liked the book. It all flows so well, the author did a good job. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/🙅🏼♀️🌶️ No spice!
August 29, 2025
A chilling gothic tale Italy’s beauty contrasted with Villa Concetta’s darkness kept me hooked from start to finish.
August 29, 2025
Creepy, atmospheric, and emotional. The family secrets and possession theme made this story unforgettable.
August 29, 2025
The writing is haunting and addictive. Julie’s journey into her inheritance is both terrifying and heartbreaking.
August 29, 2025
The blend of grief, buried secrets, and supernatural horror was perfectly done. Couldn’t put it down.
August 29, 2025
A dark, gothic masterpiece. Villa Concetta feels alive, and the evil within lingers long after the last page.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews