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rereader33's review against another edition
2.0
2023 January Reading Challenge
Prompt: read a book without reading the summary
This was a major disappointment. The writing was all over the place, the story kept interrupting itself with side plots that went nowhere and were never resolved, and the ending was unsatisfying. The setting was very rich and effectively the only positive I can give about this novel.
Read it if you want, but I can't highly recommend it.
Prompt: read a book without reading the summary
This was a major disappointment. The writing was all over the place, the story kept interrupting itself with side plots that went nowhere and were never resolved, and the ending was unsatisfying. The setting was very rich and effectively the only positive I can give about this novel.
Read it if you want, but I can't highly recommend it.
blacksphinx's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
geekwayne's review against another edition
4.0
'The Atrocities' by Jeremy C. Shipp was a novella that I wanted to absolutely love, and for most of it, I did.
When Danna Valdez is hired for a governess job, the creepy hedge maze just to get to the front door should have been her first warning. The gruesome art lining all the walls should have shooed her away. When Danna finds out that the child she is hired to teach is dead, and believed to be a ghost, I realized that Danna is made of sterner stuff than me.
The gorgeous prose created such a great mood. The mix of gothic creepiness with the reminders that this is the modern age were handled deftly. Some of the supporting characters were cluelessly ignorant, and they helped lighten up the story. I was hoping for a really interesting ending, but the ending left me a little disappointed. I still really enjoyed reading this gothic, creepy novel.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Macmillan-Tor/Forge, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
When Danna Valdez is hired for a governess job, the creepy hedge maze just to get to the front door should have been her first warning. The gruesome art lining all the walls should have shooed her away. When Danna finds out that the child she is hired to teach is dead, and believed to be a ghost, I realized that Danna is made of sterner stuff than me.
The gorgeous prose created such a great mood. The mix of gothic creepiness with the reminders that this is the modern age were handled deftly. Some of the supporting characters were cluelessly ignorant, and they helped lighten up the story. I was hoping for a really interesting ending, but the ending left me a little disappointed. I still really enjoyed reading this gothic, creepy novel.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Macmillan-Tor/Forge, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
russlemania's review against another edition
3.0
A terribly promising start only to be rivalled by a perplexingly disappointing conclusion. I wish this author fleshed this novella out into a full length novel because it holds so much promise, that seems squandered by its brevity, and also because it didn't seem to know what story it wanted to tell. I think the author attempted to subvert the gothic horror genre a little, and also keep the ending ambiguous, but he unfortunately, unsucceeded on both fronts.
The author is still someone to watch! I would love to read better fleshed out stories by Mr. Shipp because he delivered a mean hook, a good amount of absorbing moments, and a great many turn of phrases!.
The author is still someone to watch! I would love to read better fleshed out stories by Mr. Shipp because he delivered a mean hook, a good amount of absorbing moments, and a great many turn of phrases!.
agyrophobia's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
patricknight's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
lisawreading's review against another edition
3.0
After a strong start establishing a creepy scenario, the story kind of petered out. Interesting characters and situation, but the ending didn't quite deliver.
paperbacksandpines's review against another edition
2.0
What the heck did I just read? I picked up this little novella not knowing much about it, nor knowing what to expect.
Pros: I liked the premise of the book. Overall, I enjoyed the plot of the book. It was promising.
Cons: The Atrocities sells itself as "a haunting gothic fantasy of a young ghost's education," only this isn't the case in actual fact all. I picked up the book based on that premise and I felt like I'd been lied to.
I could have done with all of the detailed descriptions of bodies in states of torment. Every time I read about descriptions of statues, tiles, or paintings, I practically inserted the words BLAH BLAH BLAH as I wished I could just skip over them. I didn't get these depictions, nor did I care. These sketches reminded me viscerally of Adam Neville's Apartment 16, a graphically disturbing book, one of a handful of novels I've ever DNF'd. "But you picked up a horror book," you say. "What did you expect?" Well, I'd say that a good horror book doesn't have to be gory or in your face. Psychological suspense is the best type of horror, in my opinion.
I felt like the author ran out of steam 3/4 of the way through the book and he continued to plow through because he had a quota to meet. The ending seemed hastily tacked on without much thought put into it. It was a shame because the novella had real potential.
Pros: I liked the premise of the book. Overall, I enjoyed the plot of the book. It was promising.
Cons: The Atrocities sells itself as "a haunting gothic fantasy of a young ghost's education," only this isn't the case in actual fact all. I picked up the book based on that premise and I felt like I'd been lied to.
I could have done with all of the detailed descriptions of bodies in states of torment. Every time I read about descriptions of statues, tiles, or paintings, I practically inserted the words BLAH BLAH BLAH as I wished I could just skip over them. I didn't get these depictions, nor did I care. These sketches reminded me viscerally of Adam Neville's Apartment 16, a graphically disturbing book, one of a handful of novels I've ever DNF'd. "But you picked up a horror book," you say. "What did you expect?" Well, I'd say that a good horror book doesn't have to be gory or in your face. Psychological suspense is the best type of horror, in my opinion.
I felt like the author ran out of steam 3/4 of the way through the book and he continued to plow through because he had a quota to meet. The ending seemed hastily tacked on without much thought put into it. It was a shame because the novella had real potential.
mxsallybend's review against another edition
5.0
A haunting, grotesquely beautiful, atmospheric work of Gothic horror, The Atrocities didn't play out quite as I expected, but it's those final twists that elevated it from memorable to unforgettable.
Jeremy C. Shipp throws a lot at the reader in the opening pages, with the walk through the hedge maze more surreal than some stories in their entirety, but that's just setting the stage.
Turn right at the woman sliced into twelve pieces. Please don’t touch the statues. Please don’t litter.
Inside the house, things are just as creepy and unsettled, with the people just as odd as their surroundings. Part of what makes it so compelling is the quiet, understated narration of Ms. Danna Valdez, who never judges, never condemns, and never critiques. It's not that she's innocent or blind, she just has the mild, reserved personality of a proper governess.
Where the story begins to get really weird - and this is as much as I will say about the plot - is with the introduction of Isabella, the troubled young girl she is there to teach and guide.
“You can’t see her, can you? I was afraid you wouldn’t. Most people can’t. You see, um. You see, Isabella passed away in February."
That is a serious what-the-hell moment there, but the way it's handled is brilliant. Shipp plays the story close to the chest, holding back the truth about Isabella until the very end. Is she a ghost? Did she ever really exist? Is she truly dead? Those are just a few of the questions we ask ourselves, especially as Danna's nightmares cause us to question just how reliable a narrator she is, and as the quirks of the family and the staff have us wondering just how much they know.
Beneath all of the Gothic trappings, however, this is a poignant story about the heavy, suffocating burden of grief. Death, loss, and mourning define everything about this, from The Atrocities in the garden, to the house itself, to Mr. and Mrs. Evers, and even to Danna, who we slowly come to understand has her own grief to haunt her.
I knew that Mrs. Evers was sick with grief, but now she seems away with the fairies, as they say.
While I thought I knew where this was all headed, just as I was patting myself on the back for being so clever, Shipp triggered a trap door, revealing yet another layer to the horror. An absolutely brilliant ending, and one that haunts you even more, the longer you think about it.
Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins
Jeremy C. Shipp throws a lot at the reader in the opening pages, with the walk through the hedge maze more surreal than some stories in their entirety, but that's just setting the stage.
Turn right at the woman sliced into twelve pieces. Please don’t touch the statues. Please don’t litter.
Inside the house, things are just as creepy and unsettled, with the people just as odd as their surroundings. Part of what makes it so compelling is the quiet, understated narration of Ms. Danna Valdez, who never judges, never condemns, and never critiques. It's not that she's innocent or blind, she just has the mild, reserved personality of a proper governess.
Where the story begins to get really weird - and this is as much as I will say about the plot - is with the introduction of Isabella, the troubled young girl she is there to teach and guide.
“You can’t see her, can you? I was afraid you wouldn’t. Most people can’t. You see, um. You see, Isabella passed away in February."
That is a serious what-the-hell moment there, but the way it's handled is brilliant. Shipp plays the story close to the chest, holding back the truth about Isabella until the very end. Is she a ghost? Did she ever really exist? Is she truly dead? Those are just a few of the questions we ask ourselves, especially as Danna's nightmares cause us to question just how reliable a narrator she is, and as the quirks of the family and the staff have us wondering just how much they know.
Beneath all of the Gothic trappings, however, this is a poignant story about the heavy, suffocating burden of grief. Death, loss, and mourning define everything about this, from The Atrocities in the garden, to the house itself, to Mr. and Mrs. Evers, and even to Danna, who we slowly come to understand has her own grief to haunt her.
I knew that Mrs. Evers was sick with grief, but now she seems away with the fairies, as they say.
While I thought I knew where this was all headed, just as I was patting myself on the back for being so clever, Shipp triggered a trap door, revealing yet another layer to the horror. An absolutely brilliant ending, and one that haunts you even more, the longer you think about it.
Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary ARC of this title from the publisher in exchange for review consideration. This does not in any way affect the honesty or sincerity of my review.
noelles_shelves's review against another edition
2.0
This is a strange book. I love the horror genre and I really appreciate the bizarre in stories. However, this was bizarre in a negative way in that there was little to no information, just speculation. Even now, I’m not sure what the resolution of the book was going for.
Shipp’s concept was great, but it all fell apart after the first half. You never get enough information about the main character’s backstory and her unexplained nightmares. You never understand the true dynamics of the family or get enough background on them, either. I know that some people like speculative, unanswered fiction, but it didn’t sit well with me.
The best part of the book was the imagery and graphic descriptions of the settings and characters. I also loved the gothic undertones of the story.
This book isn’t for everyone, but I do appreciate how amazing Shipp’s writing is.
Shipp’s concept was great, but it all fell apart after the first half. You never get enough information about the main character’s backstory and her unexplained nightmares. You never understand the true dynamics of the family or get enough background on them, either. I know that some people like speculative, unanswered fiction, but it didn’t sit well with me.
The best part of the book was the imagery and graphic descriptions of the settings and characters. I also loved the gothic undertones of the story.
This book isn’t for everyone, but I do appreciate how amazing Shipp’s writing is.