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kuyakojo's review against another edition
4.0
I read an ebook version of #CoffinShadows courtesy of #NetGalley.
This was a well-paced tale blending supernatural elements with human monsters.
Janet Martlee, pregnant and uncertain of her future plans regarding herself or her fiance, is encouraged to travel home for answers and possible closure in the death, over a decade ago, of an infant son. The discovery of an abandoned house on her parent's property reveals long-buried memories which simultaneously expose secrets and serve to broaden the mystery and it's scope, seeming now to include the whole town. With the passing of each day, she remembers why she fled so abruptly in the first place, with no intention of looking back.
I will search out more work by both Glen Krisch and Mark Steensland, who have collaborated to craft a solid spooky story.
This was a well-paced tale blending supernatural elements with human monsters.
Janet Martlee, pregnant and uncertain of her future plans regarding herself or her fiance, is encouraged to travel home for answers and possible closure in the death, over a decade ago, of an infant son. The discovery of an abandoned house on her parent's property reveals long-buried memories which simultaneously expose secrets and serve to broaden the mystery and it's scope, seeming now to include the whole town. With the passing of each day, she remembers why she fled so abruptly in the first place, with no intention of looking back.
I will search out more work by both Glen Krisch and Mark Steensland, who have collaborated to craft a solid spooky story.
bergamotandbooks's review against another edition
3.0
3 STARS
12 YEARS AGO
Janet Martlee’s infant son died under mysterious circumstances.
Consumed with grief and anger, she ran away to start again...
YESTERDAY
A 12-year old boy with dead eyes appeared in her classroom,
begging for help. But Janet doesn’t believe in ghosts...
TODAY
Her psychiatrist tells her she must return home to confront
her past and uncover the mystery of what happened...
.
.
.
COFFIN SHADOWS is a short novella that was 100% a cover buy (and #netgalley request!) I read it in one sitting (it wasn't hard, this book is tiny.) There wasn't a lot of character development, however it didn't detract from the story, as it was more about this small town's best kept secret: a cult. (Umm..yes please!)
COFFIN SHADOWS was not at all what I expected but I enjoyed this slightly spooky, entertaining read none the less. Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for my ARC! COFFIN SHADOWS is out now.
12 YEARS AGO
Janet Martlee’s infant son died under mysterious circumstances.
Consumed with grief and anger, she ran away to start again...
YESTERDAY
A 12-year old boy with dead eyes appeared in her classroom,
begging for help. But Janet doesn’t believe in ghosts...
TODAY
Her psychiatrist tells her she must return home to confront
her past and uncover the mystery of what happened...
.
.
.
COFFIN SHADOWS is a short novella that was 100% a cover buy (and #netgalley request!) I read it in one sitting (it wasn't hard, this book is tiny.) There wasn't a lot of character development, however it didn't detract from the story, as it was more about this small town's best kept secret: a cult. (Umm..yes please!)
COFFIN SHADOWS was not at all what I expected but I enjoyed this slightly spooky, entertaining read none the less. Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for my ARC! COFFIN SHADOWS is out now.
spookybookz's review against another edition
4.0
This book was recommended to me on Amazon, that cover is just amazing and after reading the creepy synopsis I was sucked in to purchasing it.
It reminded me of Kealan Patrick Burke’s work one of my fav horror authors which is funny as I later found he designed the flipping cover for it!
It reminded me of Kealan Patrick Burke’s work one of my fav horror authors which is funny as I later found he designed the flipping cover for it!
karlakayjenniges's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
4.0
"The treasure you seek is in the cave you fear to enter."
When Janet Martlee begins to see what she believes is a ghost, her whole world turns upside down and leads her in a direction she has avoided facing. She must return back to the home she ran from many years before to try to restore her memories from the past. What she learns is secrets and lies have led her to believe what was never true. She learns the truth behind her infant son's death, and the truth of dark practices that have been performed for many years by some of the townspeople.
A collaborative novella focusing on the main characters' circumstances of her past life and decisions that she has to choose to make to be able to move forward in her present life. A short journey through a life of unknowns and lost memories, unlocking the mind as all the elements come together, revealing dark and disturbing truths.
I can imagine the thought it takes for two minds to blend a story together. Working together to complete a cohesive story and one that has to engage the reader in a few short pages. One of my favorite elements of a novella is how it leaves some interpretation for the reader to take away from the story itself. Not everything needs an explanation or a packaged ending. That's what sparks imagination and keeps us wondering.
A mystery to uncover with some chilling and horrifying secrets.
drakaina16's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Small but mighty, this novella quickly hooked me. When a woman returns home to find out what really happened to her dead son, she gets more answers than she bargained for. The pacing was great and the story well-written. 4.25 stars
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual violence and Incest
johnlynchbooks's review against another edition
3.0
One of the latest Silver Shamrock releases, Coffin Shadows drops with one of KPB’s best covers yet.
Coffin Shadows was a bit of a tough one for me. I liked the idea behind it, and I liked where th authors went with the story, however this one felt like it needed more. The novella format has been huge in horror lately, and I love it, but for me Coffin Shadows felt like something that needed to be longer. I enjoyed the style of both authors, and this collaboration felt natural, however there were a few things that held it back for me. A couple of the “scares” felt same to me. The thing in question (which I won’t say because I hate spoilers” seemed to have been used multiple times and it didn’t feel effective to me. I also felt this one was slow to get going, and due to the short length when it did get going, the ride was almost over. That being said, the plot was still enjoyable and the ending was satisfying, although it arrived a bit sooner than I’d have like for this particular book.
For me, this is a 2.5/3 star book. Around that area. That’s not bad rating, I did enjoy the book, there were just some issues that I had with it, and I’d still recommend you check it out, a lot of people have been enjoying this one and I may be in the minority.
Coffin Shadows was a bit of a tough one for me. I liked the idea behind it, and I liked where th authors went with the story, however this one felt like it needed more. The novella format has been huge in horror lately, and I love it, but for me Coffin Shadows felt like something that needed to be longer. I enjoyed the style of both authors, and this collaboration felt natural, however there were a few things that held it back for me. A couple of the “scares” felt same to me. The thing in question (which I won’t say because I hate spoilers” seemed to have been used multiple times and it didn’t feel effective to me. I also felt this one was slow to get going, and due to the short length when it did get going, the ride was almost over. That being said, the plot was still enjoyable and the ending was satisfying, although it arrived a bit sooner than I’d have like for this particular book.
For me, this is a 2.5/3 star book. Around that area. That’s not bad rating, I did enjoy the book, there were just some issues that I had with it, and I’d still recommend you check it out, a lot of people have been enjoying this one and I may be in the minority.
erinxmegan's review against another edition
4.0
*Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.*
In the very beginning we’re introduced to Janet and her boyfriend Brian. He tells her that he has a surprise for her, which she’s not too thrilled about since she hates surprises.
The surprise turns out to be a baby crib, which elicits a strange response from Janet. Instead of happiness, she seems...upset. We now know that Janet is newly pregnant, but why was her reaction to the crib so strange?
The reason for her distress is that she had been previously pregnant, but had lost the baby.
Then, Janet starts seeing a 12 year old boy, who doesn’t seem to be alive, but he’s asking for her help.
Her therapist says she needs to go home and confront her past and get closure that she desperately needs to move on.
I really liked this one! I liked the mystery surrounding Janet and her baby, I couldn’t quite put my finger on what was going on.
I had many ideas that were floating around in my head, some were immediately dismissed as I starting getting more information.
This held my attention the entire time, I didn’t find myself checking to see how much I had left, I was just in the moment and having lots of fun while enjoying the story.
I will say that I did sort of predict some of it. Like I said, I had many ideas running around my head while reading, but I did start figuring out things a little sooner than I would’ve liked to.
My biggest “issue” with this story and the reason I knocked off a whole star, is the length. Novellas are tricky, length seems to always be the downfall for them and that’s the issue here. I felt like it was rushed at the end, just as everything was coming to a climax, it was over. I wanted more, if it has just been a little itty bit longer, I think the ending wouldn’t have felt so abrupt. That tension that I love so dearly, didn’t get to it’s full potential and I think it could’ve been drawn out slightly for me to have been really wowed by it all.
I also think some added length would’ve helped me to emotionally attach to Janet and other characters. Since this is a fairly short story, I didn’t get to know the characters that well, which results in not much of a bonding experience.
In saying all that, I did like the ending. Even in the abruptness, I still got some closure and some answers that I was happy to see.
Overall, I had a lot of fun reading it and I enjoyed the whole premise! I will definitely be checking more out from these authors.
In the very beginning we’re introduced to Janet and her boyfriend Brian. He tells her that he has a surprise for her, which she’s not too thrilled about since she hates surprises.
The surprise turns out to be a baby crib, which elicits a strange response from Janet. Instead of happiness, she seems...upset. We now know that Janet is newly pregnant, but why was her reaction to the crib so strange?
The reason for her distress is that she had been previously pregnant, but had lost the baby.
Then, Janet starts seeing a 12 year old boy, who doesn’t seem to be alive, but he’s asking for her help.
Her therapist says she needs to go home and confront her past and get closure that she desperately needs to move on.
I really liked this one! I liked the mystery surrounding Janet and her baby, I couldn’t quite put my finger on what was going on.
I had many ideas that were floating around in my head, some were immediately dismissed as I starting getting more information.
This held my attention the entire time, I didn’t find myself checking to see how much I had left, I was just in the moment and having lots of fun while enjoying the story.
I will say that I did sort of predict some of it. Like I said, I had many ideas running around my head while reading, but I did start figuring out things a little sooner than I would’ve liked to.
My biggest “issue” with this story and the reason I knocked off a whole star, is the length. Novellas are tricky, length seems to always be the downfall for them and that’s the issue here. I felt like it was rushed at the end, just as everything was coming to a climax, it was over. I wanted more, if it has just been a little itty bit longer, I think the ending wouldn’t have felt so abrupt. That tension that I love so dearly, didn’t get to it’s full potential and I think it could’ve been drawn out slightly for me to have been really wowed by it all.
I also think some added length would’ve helped me to emotionally attach to Janet and other characters. Since this is a fairly short story, I didn’t get to know the characters that well, which results in not much of a bonding experience.
In saying all that, I did like the ending. Even in the abruptness, I still got some closure and some answers that I was happy to see.
Overall, I had a lot of fun reading it and I enjoyed the whole premise! I will definitely be checking more out from these authors.
enchantressreads's review against another edition
4.0
Janet, newly pregnant and now living with her boyfriend Brian, begins seeing a pale-faced boy in a red jacket everywhere she goes. When she comes face to face with him in her classroom, she faints. Her therapist believes the visions are coming from the trauma of the death of her first son, Joey, twelve years prior. Janet then heads home to discover the truth of Joey’s death.
For such a short story, coming in at 113 pages, there was a lot of story and action packed in. The pace of the story worked really well. I enjoyed slowly learning about Janet and her traumas. It was a very accurate portrayal of PTSD, trauma, and gaslighting, and I’m glad to see that in a story like this.
However, I have read plenty of stories like this before. There were a lot of aspects of this book I’ve read before in other books. It wasn’t exactly original, but it was nicely written and I enjoyed the overall outcome. I definitely recommend to those new to the horror genre!
I read this for #SilverShamrockMyHeart with Queens of Horror Book Club!
TW: child death, abuse, gaslighting
For such a short story, coming in at 113 pages, there was a lot of story and action packed in. The pace of the story worked really well. I enjoyed slowly learning about Janet and her traumas. It was a very accurate portrayal of PTSD, trauma, and gaslighting, and I’m glad to see that in a story like this.
However, I have read plenty of stories like this before. There were a lot of aspects of this book I’ve read before in other books. It wasn’t exactly original, but it was nicely written and I enjoyed the overall outcome. I definitely recommend to those new to the horror genre!
I read this for #SilverShamrockMyHeart with Queens of Horror Book Club!
TW: child death, abuse, gaslighting
spookyoctopusreads's review against another edition
3.0
When pregnant Janet begins seeing a ghost boy everywhere that she goes, her psychologist tells her that she needs to revisit her hometown...a place full of sorrow and secrets. He recommends that she confront her past and get answers so that she can move on, and hopefully stop the creepy ghost boy hallucinations. You see, Janet was pregnant once before and her small son died under mysterious circumstances, in an incident that she remembers very little about. When she returns home, she isn't given the warm welcome one would hope for, rather her mother seems almost angry that she has returned and is searching for answers.
The action and plot were rather quick in this novella, so much so that this book is easily a one sitting read. You'll certainly get sucked in to the drama and secrets and trying to figure it all out, but at times you will wish that you had more clarity and less questions of your own. The general mood is one of tension, anxiety, and suspense, one that leaves you flipping pages and guessing nervously about what Janet is going to uncover next.
The characters were rather surface level and lacked true depth, but I did really feel bad for Janet when all was said and done. As she uncovers the occult secrets surrounding her son's death and as you read more of her story before leaving her hometown, you start to understand why she is haunted in the way that she is. Grief of that magnitude will certainly do something to a person.
All in all, I think Coffin Shadows will certainly satisfy an appetite for thrillers and psychological horrors. The characters could have used some more depth and development, as most were simply "there," but didn't make me feel one way or another about them. The story itself took turns that I did not see coming, and it certainly kept my interest throughout. I would have like the ambiguity of some plot events to have been fleshed out a bit more, and the ending seemed a bit abrupt. Overall though, I think I would recommend checking this one out as I did find it to be an engaging and interesting read.
The action and plot were rather quick in this novella, so much so that this book is easily a one sitting read. You'll certainly get sucked in to the drama and secrets and trying to figure it all out, but at times you will wish that you had more clarity and less questions of your own. The general mood is one of tension, anxiety, and suspense, one that leaves you flipping pages and guessing nervously about what Janet is going to uncover next.
The characters were rather surface level and lacked true depth, but I did really feel bad for Janet when all was said and done. As she uncovers the occult secrets surrounding her son's death and as you read more of her story before leaving her hometown, you start to understand why she is haunted in the way that she is. Grief of that magnitude will certainly do something to a person.
All in all, I think Coffin Shadows will certainly satisfy an appetite for thrillers and psychological horrors. The characters could have used some more depth and development, as most were simply "there," but didn't make me feel one way or another about them. The story itself took turns that I did not see coming, and it certainly kept my interest throughout. I would have like the ambiguity of some plot events to have been fleshed out a bit more, and the ending seemed a bit abrupt. Overall though, I think I would recommend checking this one out as I did find it to be an engaging and interesting read.