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3.58 AVERAGE
3.58 AVERAGE
dark
tense
medium-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:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
This collection of stories is definitely singular. It is incredibly dark and bizarre, which is not necessarily a bad thing. It is incredibly well written. I really enjoyed the distanced stillness of the writing style. It almost reminded me of Lemony Snicket but for adults. It has all the dreary and dilapidated vibes of those books with an elevated level of horror and tragedy. It feels as though it belongs in a time period that never actually happened and is fantastical. The world building and descriptions are clearly a big strength of the writer.
Unfortunately I think this collection just was not to my taste. Some of the stories did accomplish what I think they were meant to, but many of them seemed aimless and ended abruptly. I often wanted more time with the story to see it fully fleshed out. It feels unfinished at points.
If you’re a reader who enjoys books on vibes and tone and feelings alone and you also love all things weird and macabre, this might really resonate with you.
Although previously published in the UK, the version I read will be released Oct 08 2024.
Thank you to NetGalley and Unnamed Press for the ARC.
Unfortunately I think this collection just was not to my taste. Some of the stories did accomplish what I think they were meant to, but many of them seemed aimless and ended abruptly. I often wanted more time with the story to see it fully fleshed out. It feels unfinished at points.
If you’re a reader who enjoys books on vibes and tone and feelings alone and you also love all things weird and macabre, this might really resonate with you.
Although previously published in the UK, the version I read will be released Oct 08 2024.
Thank you to NetGalley and Unnamed Press for the ARC.
a lot of the stories were just over the line of too disgusting and the writing itself didn't really make up for it. it felt like the weirdness Was for shock value rather than having a narrative point
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
This book is not for the faint of heart. The stories in The Coiled Serpent is for a specific type of reader, or for a reader looking for a specific type of thing. That thing being decay, rot, mold, and a whole lot of feces. But if you can stomach all of that, there are also stories of revenge, absurdity, and irony, with some black humor sprinkled in for a nice touch.
One thing I have come to enjoy about horror is how it can serve as social commentary by presenting twisted and warped reflections of reality (that isn’t actually that far-fetched if you stop and think about it.) Camilla Grudova does this so well in this short story collection. Because yes, while there is putrefaction, bodily fluids, and grotesque imagery, there are also the very real horrors of life under uncontrolled capitalism, the far-reaching effects of colonialism, class systems, shitty landlords, horrible employers, exploitation of immigrants and POC, and the audacity of men.
While the stories made me queasy and uncomfortable, Grudova’s writing is also filled with unique turns of phrases that I found so interesting and beautiful. My gripe is that some stories felt like they ended too abruptly. Am I weird for wanting more of this? I also loved how the stories never went in the direction I expected them to, but they always felt right by the end. This is my first time reading Grudova’s work, and hopefully, it won’t be the last.
Thank you to The Unnamed Press and NetGalley for the ARC.
Here are my favorite stories from the collection:
Ivor - Set in a boarding school where the second sons (even third, fourth, or fifth sons) are sent to live out their lives. The only bright side is the boy Ivor, who never seems to grow old, who remains beautiful and young, who all the boys love and adore.
Green Hat - Green has a history of being a deadly color. A woman plots against the man who caused the death of her daughter by way of a green hat. Hell hath no fury like a grieving mother.
The Poison Garden - “This garden is a woman’s friend.” Except when a man takes advantage of it for his own selfish agenda.
The Surrogates - A couple agrees to become surrogates for a hefty sum. Unfortunately, the would-be parents proved to be too controlling, constantly overstepping boundaries. The ending of this story horrified me.
Madam Flora’s - A girl loses her “monthly flowers” and is prescribed Madam Flora’s tonic, a medicine that tastes suspiciously like bl**d. And when that doesn’t work, she is sent to Madam Flora’s Hotel alongside other girls who have the same predicament.
The Coiled Serpent - Three tech bros find a “spiritual book” that promises enlightenment if they withhold from ej*cul*tion, and these dudebros take it to heart.
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Coiled Serpent is a short story collection of varying strange and eclectic stories, with themes of the human condition.
I thought this collection was very cool! Each story was well written for its subject matter, and I always love reading stories about how weird humans can be when pushed enough or of their own volition or from being nurtured in certain environments.
Admittedly one or two stories I didn't entirely get but they were still enjoyable!
My favourite stories were The Poison Garden and Madame Flora's.
Highly recommend if you love a weird tale or two.
Thank you to NetGalley and Unnamed Press for the e-arc in exchange for a free, voluntary and honest review.
I thought this collection was very cool! Each story was well written for its subject matter, and I always love reading stories about how weird humans can be when pushed enough or of their own volition or from being nurtured in certain environments.
Admittedly one or two stories I didn't entirely get but they were still enjoyable!
My favourite stories were The Poison Garden and Madame Flora's.
Highly recommend if you love a weird tale or two.
Thank you to NetGalley and Unnamed Press for the e-arc in exchange for a free, voluntary and honest review.
dark
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
This is definitely a short story collection...
Okay let's be serious, what is it with me and short stories? They just don't work for me ever.
I'm the last person to dislike "surreal" and "gross" books. I'm a very big fan of grimdark and weirdfiction but The Coiled Serpent didn't do it for me at all.
A praise from me: Grudova does know how to write disgusting shit. They have a very specific voice that gives you slight goosebumps and a very weird feeling in the back of your throat.
Now to the unkind part of the review.
I was going to write a little review about every story but decided against it after noticing that each story was irritating me just like the one before.
First of all, there's way too much detail and description. Everything gets described, from the grandma we will never see again, to the bedsheets that don't matter, to the chocolate bar that I don't give a fuck about. Texture, look, feel, and so on. Most of the stories are filled with descriptions instead of, y'know, story.
Speaking of chocolate. I don't know if this was on purpose but there is chocolate in every damn story. I can't tell if these things are meant to be or if the author just really likes them and accidentally threw them into each story and was like "I think that sounds fine!"
Another thing that a lot of the stories suffer from is the fact that there is almost no build up at all. Mostly, we sit there and read some 20 pages and at the 19th page it's like "everyone is weird and the house isn't a house btw lol" and we're like "oh... okay, now what?" just to be met with the title of the next story.
Reading this felt like a 500 page long chore that I do not want to repeat again. But I do believe that Grudova has the ability to shape themselves into a well liked author and I think that I'd give them another try if they publish a story that has the room and time to breath and become.
Thank you to Netgalley, the Publisher and Camilla Grudova for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Okay let's be serious, what is it with me and short stories? They just don't work for me ever.
I'm the last person to dislike "surreal" and "gross" books. I'm a very big fan of grimdark and weirdfiction but The Coiled Serpent didn't do it for me at all.
A praise from me: Grudova does know how to write disgusting shit. They have a very specific voice that gives you slight goosebumps and a very weird feeling in the back of your throat.
Now to the unkind part of the review.
I was going to write a little review about every story but decided against it after noticing that each story was irritating me just like the one before.
First of all, there's way too much detail and description. Everything gets described, from the grandma we will never see again, to the bedsheets that don't matter, to the chocolate bar that I don't give a fuck about. Texture, look, feel, and so on. Most of the stories are filled with descriptions instead of, y'know, story.
Speaking of chocolate. I don't know if this was on purpose but there is chocolate in every damn story. I can't tell if these things are meant to be or if the author just really likes them and accidentally threw them into each story and was like "I think that sounds fine!"
Another thing that a lot of the stories suffer from is the fact that there is almost no build up at all. Mostly, we sit there and read some 20 pages and at the 19th page it's like "everyone is weird and the house isn't a house btw lol" and we're like "oh... okay, now what?" just to be met with the title of the next story.
Reading this felt like a 500 page long chore that I do not want to repeat again. But I do believe that Grudova has the ability to shape themselves into a well liked author and I think that I'd give them another try if they publish a story that has the room and time to breath and become.
Thank you to Netgalley, the Publisher and Camilla Grudova for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
challenging
dark
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated