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johnlynchbooks's review
4.0
First, let’s take a look at this beautiful cover. KPB makes some wonderful covers and this is one of my favorites, he’s outdone himself here.
With that out of the way, Let’s move to the book within. Bottled is the Silver Shamrock debut for Stephanie Ellis. It’s a modern take on gothic horror. It follows Tyler as he must face his past in order to be rid of it. One Night of facing down his demons for a lifetime of being free of them. As you can suspect, things don’t go quite his way.
Bottled is a very atmospheric book. Much of the writing here goes into wonderful details of Tyler’s location, what’s going on in these scenes, and with the bottles. The mood is set early, and as the book continues, it just drips atmospheric tension. I don’t want to give anything away, but the ending I felt was perfect.
With Bottled, Ellis has crafted a wonderfully modern take on gothic horror tropes. It’s bleak, it’s atmospheric and at times, disturbing. A slow burn horror that is top notch from start to finish.
With that out of the way, Let’s move to the book within. Bottled is the Silver Shamrock debut for Stephanie Ellis. It’s a modern take on gothic horror. It follows Tyler as he must face his past in order to be rid of it. One Night of facing down his demons for a lifetime of being free of them. As you can suspect, things don’t go quite his way.
Bottled is a very atmospheric book. Much of the writing here goes into wonderful details of Tyler’s location, what’s going on in these scenes, and with the bottles. The mood is set early, and as the book continues, it just drips atmospheric tension. I don’t want to give anything away, but the ending I felt was perfect.
With Bottled, Ellis has crafted a wonderfully modern take on gothic horror tropes. It’s bleak, it’s atmospheric and at times, disturbing. A slow burn horror that is top notch from start to finish.
unwrappingwords's review
5.0
Tyler never wanted to return to his grandfather’s house. For him, it is a place of childhood misery and abuse, witnessed by the ever-present housekeeper, Mrs Waites. But during every visit, Tyler found a bottle, created by his grandfather, containing scenes of delight for any young boy. And in these he finds a brief escape, enraptured by bright, shiny worlds. After being forced by his mother, determined for Tyler to inherit her father-in-law’s fortune, to endure these visits for years, Tyler finally escapes.
Until his grandfather dies, leaving the house and almost everything he owns to Tyler. To inherit, Tyler must spend one night in the dark, twisted property, and doing so will not just ensure his future, but his son’s as well.
The ‘spending the night to inherit’ isn’t new, but Ellis presents the house, and Tyler’s situation, in a very fresh way. We have solid reasons as to why he doesn’t want to go back, and reasons as to why he does it. Tyler isn’t consistently likeable throughout the book, but he is real, and it’s clear he cares for his son more than anything else in the world. The glimpses we get of his childhood show us how he became the man we meet, and how he has struggled with his own internal demons, including alcoholism, a road the house is determined to lead him back down.
And the house itself…well, like all good haunted house stories, the house is its own character. It’s vivid, and entering it we feel we are walking on as much uncertain ground as Tyler. We feel his fear. We see echoes of his grandfather as he explores and tries to get over his childhood trauma. And like other houses before it, there is the mysterious housekeeper.
Mrs Waites watches over all this, certain she is on the brink of escape. We’re never quite sure how much she knows, really, though she knows enough to draw Tyler deeper into the house.
Anyone who enjoys haunted house stories with a twist, who likes gothic elements in a modern setting, or who have ever marveled at the intricate scenes created inside glass bottles, this is without a doubt a book worth checking out. Ellis’ style, description and characters are all strong, right from the first line to the very last word.
Until his grandfather dies, leaving the house and almost everything he owns to Tyler. To inherit, Tyler must spend one night in the dark, twisted property, and doing so will not just ensure his future, but his son’s as well.
The ‘spending the night to inherit’ isn’t new, but Ellis presents the house, and Tyler’s situation, in a very fresh way. We have solid reasons as to why he doesn’t want to go back, and reasons as to why he does it. Tyler isn’t consistently likeable throughout the book, but he is real, and it’s clear he cares for his son more than anything else in the world. The glimpses we get of his childhood show us how he became the man we meet, and how he has struggled with his own internal demons, including alcoholism, a road the house is determined to lead him back down.
And the house itself…well, like all good haunted house stories, the house is its own character. It’s vivid, and entering it we feel we are walking on as much uncertain ground as Tyler. We feel his fear. We see echoes of his grandfather as he explores and tries to get over his childhood trauma. And like other houses before it, there is the mysterious housekeeper.
Mrs Waites watches over all this, certain she is on the brink of escape. We’re never quite sure how much she knows, really, though she knows enough to draw Tyler deeper into the house.
Anyone who enjoys haunted house stories with a twist, who likes gothic elements in a modern setting, or who have ever marveled at the intricate scenes created inside glass bottles, this is without a doubt a book worth checking out. Ellis’ style, description and characters are all strong, right from the first line to the very last word.
stranger_sights's review against another edition
4.0
Full review at:
https://mediadrome.wordpress.com/2020/01/17/bottled-by-stephanie-ellis/
I’m really excited to dig into Ellis’ short works, and to see what future novels she has in store (hopefully something longer than 126 pages – she’s certainly got the talent, I think, to give us something bigger, and I think her stories would only benefit from having more space).
https://mediadrome.wordpress.com/2020/01/17/bottled-by-stephanie-ellis/
I’m really excited to dig into Ellis’ short works, and to see what future novels she has in store (hopefully something longer than 126 pages – she’s certainly got the talent, I think, to give us something bigger, and I think her stories would only benefit from having more space).
paperbackstash's review
4.0
Surreal, haunting, and unique. Full review to come when I'm not about to go to bed.
readbydusk's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 This is a slow-building story with plenty of atmosphere and an unnerving sense of the unknown. I was drawn into the descriptions of the haunted house. When Tyler enters the house, it feels as if he is transported back in time and the flashbacks with his grandfather add to the displacement. The writing reflects his claustrophobic, anxious feelings. There are no jump-scares but a mounting sense of dread.
The book focuses mainly on Tyler's relationships with his grandfather and other family members. I found Tyler to be a passive protagonist and it was frustrating to read. While I understand the story aims to show the helplessness of his situation, I thought he followed the whims of others too easily. The bulk of the story takes place over one night and there is not a lot of action but more a dive through dreams and memories and I admit my attention drifted at times. It's not until towards the end where all hell breaks loose that my attention is fully captured. The resolution to the secrets of the bottles is satisfying. The ending is a little vague but I thought it worked for the story. I will definitely read more from this author in the future!
Thank you to the publisher for a review copy.
book blog | twitter | instagram
The book focuses mainly on Tyler's relationships with his grandfather and other family members. I found Tyler to be a passive protagonist and it was frustrating to read. While I understand the story aims to show the helplessness of his situation, I thought he followed the whims of others too easily. The bulk of the story takes place over one night and there is not a lot of action but more a dive through dreams and memories and I admit my attention drifted at times. It's not until towards the end where all hell breaks loose that my attention is fully captured. The resolution to the secrets of the bottles is satisfying. The ending is a little vague but I thought it worked for the story. I will definitely read more from this author in the future!
Thank you to the publisher for a review copy.
book blog | twitter | instagram
elles_shelves's review against another edition
4.0
Bottled by Stephanie Ellis tells the story of Tyler Vitrum, an unemployed 42 year old divorced father who blames his misfortunes on his recently deceased grandfather, Julian. Julian was a wealthy eccentric man who had a special talent to create beautiful and amazing miniature scenes in bottles. As a youth, Tyler would visit his grandfather and would spend hours staring into the bottles, dreaming of being inside the elaborate scenes. The bottles were the only reprieve that Tyler had from his grandfather, who could be cruel and abusive. After one particularly bad visit, Tyler refused to go back and visit Julian ever again. But now Julian is dead and Tyler is inheriting Julian's estate; however, the will has a clause which states that Tyler must spend one night in the house. Although Tyler doesn't want to go to the house at all, his ex-wife and mother pressure him into going to the house so that he can get his full inheritance. When Tyler enters the house, many of his childhood fears come flooding back to him as he recalls the abuse that he suffered at the hands of his grandfather. He decides to explore his grandfather's forbidden rooms which are filled with scores of the hand made bottles. What he discovers are the mysteries of his grandfather, the bottles, the house, and possibly a family curse handed down through the generations. Will Tyler be able to escape the house again or will he be doomed to repeat the cycle over and over again?
Bottled was a fast and entertaining read. I would have liked to get more information about the bottles and their history and magic. It felt like too much time was spent learning about Tyler and his personal demons (alcoholism, not literal demons) and he was not a very likable character. The ending also felt a bit rushed to me. Overall, I really liked the premise of the story.
Bottled was a fast and entertaining read. I would have liked to get more information about the bottles and their history and magic. It felt like too much time was spent learning about Tyler and his personal demons (alcoholism, not literal demons) and he was not a very likable character. The ending also felt a bit rushed to me. Overall, I really liked the premise of the story.
brandonstanwyck's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
spookyoctopusreads's review against another edition
3.0
Tyler is haunted....
He's haunted by his past struggles with alcoholism, the Gothic haunted house he inherits, the house's abusive housekeeper, and his grandfather's impossible bottles.
Bottled, by Stephanie Ellis, is a slow building horror with eloquent and vivid detail paid especially to descriptions involving the setting creating an overwhelming and foreboding sense of dread. I felt that the book had a vintage "feel" to it, even though the setting was certainly more modern. I think the descriptions of the house and the atmosphere created within gives readers the feeling that when Tyler steps through its doors, it is as if he is stepping into another time, back into the heyday of the house itself.
Although, I could see attention was paid to developing the characters and relationships, I did not find myself connecting to Tyler Torrence in any way. He just wasn't an overly likable or unlikable character. I really think this novel excelled in atmosphere building, and less so in the character development. As I saw another reviewer comment, I feel that most of the book was a melange of Tyler's feelings, thoughts, and flashbacks, and less "action."
3/5- While I thought the Gothic, spooky setting was well-done, I did not enjoy the characters as much as I had hoped. The story itself moved a little slow for my liking. I would, however, recommend this to fans of slow burning, atmospheric horror.
**Thank you to Silver Shamrock Publishing for sending me this book to read/review.**
He's haunted by his past struggles with alcoholism, the Gothic haunted house he inherits, the house's abusive housekeeper, and his grandfather's impossible bottles.
Bottled, by Stephanie Ellis, is a slow building horror with eloquent and vivid detail paid especially to descriptions involving the setting creating an overwhelming and foreboding sense of dread. I felt that the book had a vintage "feel" to it, even though the setting was certainly more modern. I think the descriptions of the house and the atmosphere created within gives readers the feeling that when Tyler steps through its doors, it is as if he is stepping into another time, back into the heyday of the house itself.
Although, I could see attention was paid to developing the characters and relationships, I did not find myself connecting to Tyler Torrence in any way. He just wasn't an overly likable or unlikable character. I really think this novel excelled in atmosphere building, and less so in the character development. As I saw another reviewer comment, I feel that most of the book was a melange of Tyler's feelings, thoughts, and flashbacks, and less "action."
3/5- While I thought the Gothic, spooky setting was well-done, I did not enjoy the characters as much as I had hoped. The story itself moved a little slow for my liking. I would, however, recommend this to fans of slow burning, atmospheric horror.
**Thank you to Silver Shamrock Publishing for sending me this book to read/review.**
wellwortharead's review against another edition
4.0
When Tyler was a child his father disappeared, and his mother grew hateful and bitter. She often sent Tyler to spend time with his grandfather even though she herself would not set foot in his creepy old house, neither knowing nor caring how Tyler was treated there. At long last Grandfather is dead and the house belongs to Tyler... or does Tyler belong to the house? This could be the chance that Tyler needs to get back on his feet and out from under his mother's thumb or it could be a way to trap Tyler's son into the family curse. This was a quick and creepy read that reminded me a bit of Burnt Offerings. (The movie not the book, I still need to read that someday!)
I received an advance copy for review.
I received an advance copy for review.