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rock_n_reads's review
4.0
COLERIDGE is my second read from Tom Deady, and like the first novella I read from this author (WEEKEND GETAWAY), this was another solid story that I enjoyed. I loved the gothic feel of this tale, and it brought something to my attention that I’ve somehow missed—I really love a good haunted house story. This one is a modern-day tale with ties to the past, and I’d definitely recommend it.
This novella is another that I would’ve finished in one sitting, had I not been preoccupied and anxious about the state of the world right now. I hope in the days to come that I can say I devoured a book without letting my mind drift, but I’m not there yet. However, while I was reading this, I was fully engrossed in the story. I liked the characters, and also enjoyed how the chapters alternate between the recent past and present. We’re given different perspectives from the two main characters, which I thought added to the depth of the story.
Overall, a fast-paced read, with nice quick chapters (I love that). It has some heartwarming moments showcasing the main characters’ relationship, as well as tension and creepiness. I loved the atmosphere that the author created, and now that I’ve got two short fiction reads under my belt from Tom Deady, it’s probably time that I tackle his novel, HAVEN. Yet another book that’s been on my shelf for too long. COLERIDGE is also the first of many titles on my shelf published by Silver Shamrock. They are putting out some amazing books, and I can’t wait to dig into more.
This novella is another that I would’ve finished in one sitting, had I not been preoccupied and anxious about the state of the world right now. I hope in the days to come that I can say I devoured a book without letting my mind drift, but I’m not there yet. However, while I was reading this, I was fully engrossed in the story. I liked the characters, and also enjoyed how the chapters alternate between the recent past and present. We’re given different perspectives from the two main characters, which I thought added to the depth of the story.
Overall, a fast-paced read, with nice quick chapters (I love that). It has some heartwarming moments showcasing the main characters’ relationship, as well as tension and creepiness. I loved the atmosphere that the author created, and now that I’ve got two short fiction reads under my belt from Tom Deady, it’s probably time that I tackle his novel, HAVEN. Yet another book that’s been on my shelf for too long. COLERIDGE is also the first of many titles on my shelf published by Silver Shamrock. They are putting out some amazing books, and I can’t wait to dig into more.
stranger_sights's review against another edition
3.0
You can read my full review at https://mediadrome.wordpress.com/2020/03/20/coleridge-by-tom-deady/
There’s a lotta bit of mystery, a little bit of spookies, a home invasion, some mysticism, and even…*gasp* those damn lesbians in horror again (please see my review of Sara Tantlinger’s To Be Devoured for context – this isn’t an out of nowhere statement, I promise. It’s sort of like an ‘in joke’ so GET IN ON IT!
There’s a lotta bit of mystery, a little bit of spookies, a home invasion, some mysticism, and even…*gasp* those damn lesbians in horror again (please see my review of Sara Tantlinger’s To Be Devoured for context – this isn’t an out of nowhere statement, I promise. It’s sort of like an ‘in joke’ so GET IN ON IT!
heather10119's review against another edition
4.0
Great little read. But I'm dying for more. I want to know more about the history of the house, the restoration, and of course Slade. Hopefully this won't be the last we hear of Coleridge.
wellwortharead's review against another edition
4.0
This was a quick read and some of the story has already started without us. No disrespect to Dickens but Zadie was dead, to begin with. Who is Zadie you ask? Well she was the love of Dalia's life, soulmates who met purely by chance when they both wanted to put an offer on the same house. Now Dalia is on her own, mourning her loss and living her lonely life... until he shows up. Slade knows a secret about the house that Dalia and Zadie so lovingly restored. It holds something he wants. He has already gone to great lengths to get it and it seems unlikely that he will let Dalia get in the way. Before the night is over Dalia will learn more about Zadie than she ever did during their time together. I don't want to portray this as just a melancholy love story or a flame snuffed out too soon. There's a mystery to unfold and a touch of the supernatural in this engrossing tale.
I received a complimentary copy for review.
I received a complimentary copy for review.
charshorrorcorner's review against another edition
4.0
COLERIDGE is a gothic story as beautifully written as the cover is beautiful to look at!
Zadie and Delia meet at an auction of an old, dilapidated home. They get to talking and before they know it, they've formed a partnership and decided to rehab the place. Somewhere along the way they fall in love. As their work came to a close, however, Zadie seemed more and more preoccupied and Delia worried that Zadie had found someone else. That's not what was wrong, though. On top of that, Zadie didn't live to enjoy the fruits of their labor. Soon thereafter, a stranger shows up at Delia's shop claiming to be Zadie's father. Is he really Zadie's dad? What does he want with Delia? You'll have to read this to find out!
The characters of Delia and Zadie were wonderful. Their fondness soon turned to something more as their work on the house continued and all of that seemed to progress naturally. I could feel Delia's grief and pain later on because this portion was so well written.
I can't talk more about the mystery involved here with Coleridge, (the house), without giving too much away. I was fascinated with the history of it and by the time the tale of the house unfolded, I wanted, no - I NEEDED...more. More about the house, more about Coleridge, (also the name of the original owner/builder), more about...pretty much everything! I'm not sure if this was meant to be a series or a trilogy or something? I really hope it is, because as I said, I need MORE!
I loved this tale overall, I just felt a little let down by how it all wrapped up.
Recommended!
*Thanks to Silver Shamrock Publishing and Tom Deady for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest feedback. Also, I've met Tom Deady a few times and he's the nicest guy ever, and his wife is a sweetheart too.*
Zadie and Delia meet at an auction of an old, dilapidated home. They get to talking and before they know it, they've formed a partnership and decided to rehab the place. Somewhere along the way they fall in love. As their work came to a close, however, Zadie seemed more and more preoccupied and Delia worried that Zadie had found someone else. That's not what was wrong, though. On top of that, Zadie didn't live to enjoy the fruits of their labor. Soon thereafter, a stranger shows up at Delia's shop claiming to be Zadie's father. Is he really Zadie's dad? What does he want with Delia? You'll have to read this to find out!
The characters of Delia and Zadie were wonderful. Their fondness soon turned to something more as their work on the house continued and all of that seemed to progress naturally. I could feel Delia's grief and pain later on because this portion was so well written.
I can't talk more about the mystery involved here with Coleridge, (the house), without giving too much away. I was fascinated with the history of it and by the time the tale of the house unfolded, I wanted, no - I NEEDED...more. More about the house, more about Coleridge, (also the name of the original owner/builder), more about...pretty much everything! I'm not sure if this was meant to be a series or a trilogy or something? I really hope it is, because as I said, I need MORE!
I loved this tale overall, I just felt a little let down by how it all wrapped up.
Recommended!
*Thanks to Silver Shamrock Publishing and Tom Deady for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest feedback. Also, I've met Tom Deady a few times and he's the nicest guy ever, and his wife is a sweetheart too.*
el_stevie's review against another edition
4.0
Atmospheric gothic
Loved the well-designed gothic atmosphere in these pages, a spooky house, isolated position, dark and stormy nights - and lives. A chiller to curl up with by the fire, but don't look into the flames too long or you might end up like Dalia, wondering exactly what you did in those 'lost' moments.
Loved the well-designed gothic atmosphere in these pages, a spooky house, isolated position, dark and stormy nights - and lives. A chiller to curl up with by the fire, but don't look into the flames too long or you might end up like Dalia, wondering exactly what you did in those 'lost' moments.
brennanlafaro's review against another edition
Coleridge, by Tom Deady, is a lot of story in a small package. You're probably tired of reading about the novella being the premier vessel for horror delivery, but there's a reason that statement keeps being made. A story that takes up about 100 pages can leave the reader with a sense of ambiguity, not just in the ending, but in the development of the characters themselves.
If I'm honest, I'm not 100% sure I know what happened by the end of the story. Normally such a statement would translate into 'This book is a mess. Stay away.', but in the case of Coleridge, the journey is what we've signed on for, not the destination (at least in this reader's humble opinion).
Dalia and Zadie are very likable main characters, despite the fact that Zadie only appears in flashbacks. Deady does a fine job of establishing these women, but the standout moment that makes the reader stand up and give a shit about their relationship happens quite late in the book. I do believe you'll know it when you get to it.
I expected the house to feature as more of a character, but since I love going into books without the synopsis, that's on me. It has a history that is dealt with briefly, and it is the reason Dalia and Zadie are brought together, but it's mainly there to bring Slade, the antagonist, into our story. Slade is not particularly devilish or genuinely evil. Instead his strength lies in mystery. Again, an emphasis on character and journey.
If you're looking at the cover expecting an evil and/or haunted house story, you're not going to get it in Coleridge. Neither will you get a clear first, second, and third act wrapped up with a neat little bow. If you're looking for something a bit outside the box, that leaves room for the reader to interpret, this may be for you. Again, Deady succeeds here in not just giving you the facts and allowing you to piece together the ending, but in allowing you, even daring you, to look very closely at each piece before you proceed. I was given a e-copy by the publisher for review consideration.
If I'm honest, I'm not 100% sure I know what happened by the end of the story. Normally such a statement would translate into 'This book is a mess. Stay away.', but in the case of Coleridge, the journey is what we've signed on for, not the destination (at least in this reader's humble opinion).
Dalia and Zadie are very likable main characters, despite the fact that Zadie only appears in flashbacks. Deady does a fine job of establishing these women, but the standout moment that makes the reader stand up and give a shit about their relationship happens quite late in the book. I do believe you'll know it when you get to it.
I expected the house to feature as more of a character, but since I love going into books without the synopsis, that's on me. It has a history that is dealt with briefly, and it is the reason Dalia and Zadie are brought together, but it's mainly there to bring Slade, the antagonist, into our story. Slade is not particularly devilish or genuinely evil. Instead his strength lies in mystery. Again, an emphasis on character and journey.
If you're looking at the cover expecting an evil and/or haunted house story, you're not going to get it in Coleridge. Neither will you get a clear first, second, and third act wrapped up with a neat little bow. If you're looking for something a bit outside the box, that leaves room for the reader to interpret, this may be for you. Again, Deady succeeds here in not just giving you the facts and allowing you to piece together the ending, but in allowing you, even daring you, to look very closely at each piece before you proceed. I was given a e-copy by the publisher for review consideration.
stranger_sights's review
3.0
You can read my full review at https://mediadrome.wordpress.com/2020/03/20/coleridge-by-tom-deady/
There’s a lotta bit of mystery, a little bit of spookies, a home invasion, some mysticism, and even…*gasp* those damn lesbians in horror again (please see my review of Sara Tantlinger’s To Be Devoured for context – this isn’t an out of nowhere statement, I promise. It’s sort of like an ‘in joke’ so GET IN ON IT!
There’s a lotta bit of mystery, a little bit of spookies, a home invasion, some mysticism, and even…*gasp* those damn lesbians in horror again (please see my review of Sara Tantlinger’s To Be Devoured for context – this isn’t an out of nowhere statement, I promise. It’s sort of like an ‘in joke’ so GET IN ON IT!
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