Scan barcode
A review by adamyeti
Grey Dog by Elliott Gish
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Seeking a fresh start, Ada moves to a quiet village in 1901. Very quickly it seems that something isn't quite right however, and many of the residents seem to have something to hide. As time goes on, the reader and Ada both will begin to question whether anything is truly amiss, or if she is simply going insane.
Told through Ada's diary entries, "Grey Dog" immediately immerses you in its world. The dated language, vivid environments, and puritanical townsfolk made me feel like I had been transported to the past instead of alienating me as a reader.
"Grey Dog" is a perfectly paced, psychological slow burn. Odd things appear almost immediately, capturing your interest and curiosity from the first pages. As the story progresses, more questions arise than answers, and even the well culminated ending leaves you with a few more.
The main themes throughout center around independence, misogyny, female rage, societal expectations, and the self-fulfilling prophecies that can come from these. The plot, setting, and themes all drew a very close comparison to Charlotte Perkins Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper" and Robert Eggers's "The Witch." "The Witch" is a very strong comparison. Despite being set nearly 300 years apart, it almost felt like a companion piece.
My only critique comes from the ending, where I just wanted a bit more. With about 10 more pages, I would have felt more satisfied. Though, I don't believe this was unintentional. The story was paced perfectly, but just stopped a bit short for me. Regardless, if you enjoyed "The Witch" or slow burns in general, I am almost certain that you will enjoy "Grey Dog," which truly has its own story to tell.
Thank you to ECW Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Told through Ada's diary entries, "Grey Dog" immediately immerses you in its world. The dated language, vivid environments, and puritanical townsfolk made me feel like I had been transported to the past instead of alienating me as a reader.
"Grey Dog" is a perfectly paced, psychological slow burn. Odd things appear almost immediately, capturing your interest and curiosity from the first pages. As the story progresses, more questions arise than answers, and even the well culminated ending leaves you with a few more.
The main themes throughout center around independence, misogyny, female rage, societal expectations, and the self-fulfilling prophecies that can come from these. The plot, setting, and themes all drew a very close comparison to Charlotte Perkins Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper" and Robert Eggers's "The Witch." "The Witch" is a very strong comparison. Despite being set nearly 300 years apart, it almost felt like a companion piece.
My only critique comes from the ending, where I just wanted a bit more. With about 10 more pages, I would have felt more satisfied. Though, I don't believe this was unintentional. The story was paced perfectly, but just stopped a bit short for me. Regardless, if you enjoyed "The Witch" or slow burns in general, I am almost certain that you will enjoy "Grey Dog," which truly has its own story to tell.
Thank you to ECW Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.