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libraryofzoe's review against another edition
4.0
very interesting concept. short, fast paced horror novella. I really liked the claustrophobic feeling this book gave.
elizabiddy's review against another edition
4.0
Petrified Women by Jeremy Ray – 4 stars
Thank you to the Author for gifting me with his book for an honest review.
Petrified Women is a little horror gift wrapped not with a ribbon and a bow but with a huge red flag!
Harley’s annoying boyfriend Aiden loves practical jokes, and they are a prominent feature in their relationship even if it means messing with Harleys already rocky mental health. Aiden is a self-declared scare master, and his love language seems to be pulling your leg. Harley soon decides her lovable trickster needs a taste of his own medicine. She copies his apartment key intending to scare Aiden senseless, little does she know Aiden already has plans. Harley hides, unable to decipher if Aiden is really her sweet boyfriend or something else entirely.
This novella gripped me from the start which was a mistake to start right before bed as I was almost finished before I knew it. This is a horror story at its core but the dedication to include realistic trauma, mental health struggles and awareness to unstable relationships is what really kept me reading. The Author does include a note for this one at the beginning for many trigger warnings if that is something you need to keep in mind before you begin this book.
Petrified Women is very a tense and claustrophobic read. A slow burn at first that picks up speed until everything is engulfed in its flames and all in under one hundred pages! It reads like a modern horror movie; happy-go-lucky until shit hits the fan then it’s all GO! GO! GO! Parts of me were screaming inside at Harley wanting to shake her into awareness or recognition and as a subjective observer its hard to not be frustrated by decisions that may seem illogical to most. However, as FATE and FURY would have it, my aggravations were short lived, and implore you to read this novella to find out my meaning.
Thank you to the Author for gifting me with his book for an honest review.
Petrified Women is a little horror gift wrapped not with a ribbon and a bow but with a huge red flag!
Harley’s annoying boyfriend Aiden loves practical jokes, and they are a prominent feature in their relationship even if it means messing with Harleys already rocky mental health. Aiden is a self-declared scare master, and his love language seems to be pulling your leg. Harley soon decides her lovable trickster needs a taste of his own medicine. She copies his apartment key intending to scare Aiden senseless, little does she know Aiden already has plans. Harley hides, unable to decipher if Aiden is really her sweet boyfriend or something else entirely.
This novella gripped me from the start which was a mistake to start right before bed as I was almost finished before I knew it. This is a horror story at its core but the dedication to include realistic trauma, mental health struggles and awareness to unstable relationships is what really kept me reading. The Author does include a note for this one at the beginning for many trigger warnings if that is something you need to keep in mind before you begin this book.
Petrified Women is very a tense and claustrophobic read. A slow burn at first that picks up speed until everything is engulfed in its flames and all in under one hundred pages! It reads like a modern horror movie; happy-go-lucky until shit hits the fan then it’s all GO! GO! GO! Parts of me were screaming inside at Harley wanting to shake her into awareness or recognition and as a subjective observer its hard to not be frustrated by decisions that may seem illogical to most. However, as FATE and FURY would have it, my aggravations were short lived, and implore you to read this novella to find out my meaning.
lexitrumble's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.5
I was on the edge of my damn seat for a good chunk of this book, but then our main character makes the DUMBEST decision of all time and had me screaming at my kindle. She lost points for her idiocy, and the story lost personal enjoyment points due to the speculative direction in which it went. If it had been rooted in reality, I would have absolutely given it five creepy, vibes, never-dating-a-man-ever-again stars.
optimisticbooknerd's review against another edition
4.0
The author asked me to review this and I'm so glad he did! I buddyread this with one of my good friends Sorcha at @haybookreviews over on Instagram and this one was crazy! I thought I had a prediction of what was going on but it turned out to be completely different than I thought!
I loved the writing and the concept but I do wish it was longer to really provoke fear in the reader.
I loved the writing and the concept but I do wish it was longer to really provoke fear in the reader.
mollie_dellinger's review against another edition
5.0
Creeeeepy!! I really enjoyed this horror novella. In spite of the short length, it left a lasting impression. The intensity had me powering through it in under an hour. I absolutely loved the vivid details, and the captivating narrative weaving themes of betrayal and sweet revenge.
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Harley finally feels as if she’s gotten it right - Aiden is everything she has always wanted in a boyfriend. With her history of traumatic relationships, she even lets some oddities slide - like Aiden’s strange, yet artistic talents, and his peculiar desire to play pranks on her. It’s her turn to win the prank wars for once, so she decides to hide in his apartment and give him the scare of his life. But what she witnesses while hidden in Aiden’s midst propels her into a real life horror story that she can’t unsee.
•
I truly enjoyed every heart pounding minute!
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Harley finally feels as if she’s gotten it right - Aiden is everything she has always wanted in a boyfriend. With her history of traumatic relationships, she even lets some oddities slide - like Aiden’s strange, yet artistic talents, and his peculiar desire to play pranks on her. It’s her turn to win the prank wars for once, so she decides to hide in his apartment and give him the scare of his life. But what she witnesses while hidden in Aiden’s midst propels her into a real life horror story that she can’t unsee.
•
I truly enjoyed every heart pounding minute!
deblyn's review against another edition
4.0
This little story about a woman who picks bad boyfriends packs creepiness into its 100 or so pages. The fire escape scene was a tad unrealistic, and going back for the cake was not a good choice. Overall, I enjoyed the story and the creeps!
unpadh's review against another edition
2.0
It's a novella, and yet it felt too long. The story is terrible and you can see from a mile away where this is going, and the writing doesn't make an iota of effort to make the whole affair interesting. Skip this! It's neither scary nor engaging.
riveting_reads's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. I enjoyed this one but wasn’t obsessed with it like I’ve seen many people be! There were some super tense scenes that really keep you on the edge of your seat. The content is heavy and could be triggering for some so read the content warnings first.
darkpsychereads's review against another edition
4.0
Rating: 4.5⭐
Genre: horror-thriller
This novella was a quick and suspenseful read. It's hauntingly beautiful and full of dreadful danger. Also, omg that cover is stunning.
It's about a series of pranks that go too far between a couple. When Harley tries to finally out-prank her boyfriends wicked ways, she witnesses something traumatizing. The mind bending games that ensue keep you paralyzed in fear for Harley, as she fights for more than just herself.
Thoughts: I enjoyed this, it's perfect for one sitting. It was captivating from the very start, and had an edge and mystery to it throughout. You could feel the determination, dread, confusion, trauma and resilience of the main character. I was entranced by that apartment with it's artworks, what a haunting atmosphere to create. Well done. I was also moved by the author's note at the beginning, and I think the creative world is the best place to explore the darkest depths of human experience. The writing has such promise for future releases and I always enjoy my horror with an anchor of depth and heart.
I think I struggled with how erratic some of the character choices/events were, making the climactic scene seem a little rushed. But I really liked how it tied together, and what a unique little feeling at the end.
Overall highly recommended for someone wanting to get into horror or thrillers, as it's tactfully crafted. And also just anyone wanting an enjoyable page turner.
TW: sexual abuse
Genre: horror-thriller
This novella was a quick and suspenseful read. It's hauntingly beautiful and full of dreadful danger. Also, omg that cover is stunning.
It's about a series of pranks that go too far between a couple. When Harley tries to finally out-prank her boyfriends wicked ways, she witnesses something traumatizing. The mind bending games that ensue keep you paralyzed in fear for Harley, as she fights for more than just herself.
Thoughts: I enjoyed this, it's perfect for one sitting. It was captivating from the very start, and had an edge and mystery to it throughout. You could feel the determination, dread, confusion, trauma and resilience of the main character. I was entranced by that apartment with it's artworks, what a haunting atmosphere to create. Well done. I was also moved by the author's note at the beginning, and I think the creative world is the best place to explore the darkest depths of human experience. The writing has such promise for future releases and I always enjoy my horror with an anchor of depth and heart.
I think I struggled with how erratic some of the character choices/events were, making the climactic scene seem a little rushed. But I really liked how it tied together, and what a unique little feeling at the end.
Overall highly recommended for someone wanting to get into horror or thrillers, as it's tactfully crafted. And also just anyone wanting an enjoyable page turner.
TW: sexual abuse
the_main_character's review against another edition
4.0
This has been the quickest shot of horror I've ever received. A fun, fast paced novella that'll have you devouring it all in one go, and keep you wanting more. It features a dark, twisted tale that tells you what happens when a prank goes unexpectedly wrong. I enjoyed this book thoroughly, and I'm already looking forward to more!