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horror_reads 's review for:
Grey Dog
by Elliott Gish
This is an epic gothic, historical, horror novel that details a woman's descent into either madness or something more sinister.
Set in 1902 primarily, the setting is moody and atmospheric. The author has done a fantastic job at establishing that time period and the characters within.
Ada is a spinster school teacher with a traumatic past. She takes a position at a single room school in a small countryside town as a last resort. Something happened at her last post, leaving her options very limited.
She attempts to be the kind of woman that would be expected at that time. Prim, proper, and not given to hysterics. But her issues are with those very expectations. As we learn about her past there's a realization that it's only because she's a woman these things have happened. A gay woman at that. As was (and still is in some societies) a woman is considered guilty of impropriety even if she's not at fault.
She begins to feel a anger inside and then, terrifying things start to happen. Voices calling her name, the sense of always being watched, horrific visions that only she can see even in her waking hours.
Her slow but steady decline oozes off the page in a menacing way and bleeds tension in almost every chapter.
This town has... something... living in the woods. And it wants Ada for itself.
This is a literary horror novel and doesn't have extreme scenes of gore. Instead, it has a truly frightening narrative, a visceral and compelling story, and gives a female led horror book the justice it deserves.
If you like your horror beautifully written, engaging, and filled with dread, this is one you don't want to miss. I highly recommend it.
I received an ARC of this book through Netgalley with no consideration. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.
Set in 1902 primarily, the setting is moody and atmospheric. The author has done a fantastic job at establishing that time period and the characters within.
Ada is a spinster school teacher with a traumatic past. She takes a position at a single room school in a small countryside town as a last resort. Something happened at her last post, leaving her options very limited.
She attempts to be the kind of woman that would be expected at that time. Prim, proper, and not given to hysterics. But her issues are with those very expectations. As we learn about her past there's a realization that it's only because she's a woman these things have happened. A gay woman at that. As was (and still is in some societies) a woman is considered guilty of impropriety even if she's not at fault.
She begins to feel a anger inside and then, terrifying things start to happen. Voices calling her name, the sense of always being watched, horrific visions that only she can see even in her waking hours.
Her slow but steady decline oozes off the page in a menacing way and bleeds tension in almost every chapter.
This town has... something... living in the woods. And it wants Ada for itself.
This is a literary horror novel and doesn't have extreme scenes of gore. Instead, it has a truly frightening narrative, a visceral and compelling story, and gives a female led horror book the justice it deserves.
If you like your horror beautifully written, engaging, and filled with dread, this is one you don't want to miss. I highly recommend it.
I received an ARC of this book through Netgalley with no consideration. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.