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A review by theskyboi
Petrified Women by Jeremy Ray
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Thank you to the author for a free copy for review.
Petrified Women is a horror novella that follows the story of Harley, a woman who has had her fair share of bad memories when it comes to men. Aiden, Harley's current boyfriend, is an incurable prankster, prone to scaring her when he's not working on his wood sculptures. When Harley decides to try a prank of her own, she's left paralyzed in fear as she stumbles into a chilling surprise she hadn't ever expected.
As a new convert to the world of horror in literature, I was delighted to feel my heart thumping against my chest with every page I turned. Jeremy Ray masterfully injects the real-life effects of trauma into a world tinged by a dark, twisted magic, leaving readers no choice but to empathize with Harley's struggle to find her way out of terror. Without spoiling too much of what happens, I appreciated this story's dedication to personifying that sense that the demons of the past can follow us in the form of both trauma and acceptance; none of us is solely bound to inaction in the face of abject horror, but accepting our emotions is key to overcoming that sense of learned helplessness.
Apart from the content of the story itself, I need to praise Ray's care for the reader in crafting his work. From the content warnings that clearly outline the gravity of Harley's story to the micro-fiction preamble to set the scene, it is clear that this author cares for each soul who picks up his works. I had a little bit of every feeling follow me from page to page while reading Petrified Women, and for that, I highly recommend carving out some time to do the same.
Petrified Women is a horror novella that follows the story of Harley, a woman who has had her fair share of bad memories when it comes to men. Aiden, Harley's current boyfriend, is an incurable prankster, prone to scaring her when he's not working on his wood sculptures. When Harley decides to try a prank of her own, she's left paralyzed in fear as she stumbles into a chilling surprise she hadn't ever expected.
As a new convert to the world of horror in literature, I was delighted to feel my heart thumping against my chest with every page I turned. Jeremy Ray masterfully injects the real-life effects of trauma into a world tinged by a dark, twisted magic, leaving readers no choice but to empathize with Harley's struggle to find her way out of terror. Without spoiling too much of what happens, I appreciated this story's dedication to personifying that sense that the demons of the past can follow us in the form of both trauma and acceptance; none of us is solely bound to inaction in the face of abject horror, but accepting our emotions is key to overcoming that sense of learned helplessness.
Apart from the content of the story itself, I need to praise Ray's care for the reader in crafting his work. From the content warnings that clearly outline the gravity of Harley's story to the micro-fiction preamble to set the scene, it is clear that this author cares for each soul who picks up his works. I had a little bit of every feeling follow me from page to page while reading Petrified Women, and for that, I highly recommend carving out some time to do the same.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Death, Gore, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Rape, Toxic relationship, and Violence