The Artist: A Battaglia Novella

By: Rhino, Aj

Some gifts should never be tested.

Arthur Brennan could paint the truth in a human face. It was more than talent. It was a gift - one that brought beauty into the world and meaning into his life.

Then a woman asked him a question that changed everything.

"But don't you find beauty... limiting?"

Three years later, Arthur stands alone in his SoHo studio, surrounded by paintings that made him famous and a fortune that cost him everything. Tonight he will try one more time to paint the only face that ever mattered. Tonight he will find out what his gift has become.

"For readers of Dorian Gray, Rosemary's Baby, and literary horror with teeth, The Artist is the introduction to the 'Battaglia Trilogy' - a spiritual warfare/conspiracy thriller series for readers who believe horror should tell the truth."

"Wrecked me. Absolutely soul wrenching from start to finish. A masterpiece portraying psychological descent that is raw, visceral and unflinchingly human. One of the most profound stories I have read in years." - @stefneymg, BookTok

"This isn't horror. It's erosion disguised as success." - @brycefromtheshelf, BookTok

"AJ Rhino is quickly establishing himself as one of my favorite psychological horror writers in the indie circles. Five stars." - Abigail Lakewood, Strange Girl Reviews

"The best fiction is relatable. Rhino's novella truly allowed me to feel the passion, the obsession, and every brushstroke." - @maeby.one.more.book, BookTok

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0GQB8JX9R
• ISBN13: 9798248662920
• Release Date: February 2026
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 100 Pages
• Weight: 0.28 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 5.5" x 8.5"