What do you think?
Rate this book
Bunny
For fans of Stephen King and Stranger Things.
Two eyes bore into him from across the room. They're not her eyes. They're the same colour and shape, but they're not her eyes.
'I see you.'
Silas didn't have a happy childhood. Aunt Bunny made sure of that. But out of money and almost out of time, Silas and his girlfriend Rose are forced to return to his childhood home.
Back to the darkness, back to the woods, where addiction and hedonism are disguising something much more sinister ...
Plagued by strange, unnerving events, Silas is drawn back into the family by an ancient presence deep in the woods. It will not let him go, and neither will Bunny.
A haunting psychological-supernatural thriller that delves into the role that addiction plays in family dysfunction, and how it inevitably changes everyone around it. A chilling, page-turning tale about love conquering most ... but not all.
Two eyes bore into him from across the room. They're not her eyes. They're the same colour and shape, but they're not her eyes.
'I see you.'
Silas didn't have a happy childhood. Aunt Bunny made sure of that. But out of money and almost out of time, Silas and his girlfriend Rose are forced to return to his childhood home.
Back to the darkness, back to the woods, where addiction and hedonism are disguising something much more sinister ...
Plagued by strange, unnerving events, Silas is drawn back into the family by an ancient presence deep in the woods. It will not let him go, and neither will Bunny.
A haunting psychological-supernatural thriller that delves into the role that addiction plays in family dysfunction, and how it inevitably changes everyone around it. A chilling, page-turning tale about love conquering most ... but not all.
384 pages, Paperback
First published June 13, 2023
12 people are currently reading
491 people want to read
About the author
S.E. Tolsen
1 book23 followersS. E. Tolsen is the pseudonym of husband and wife writing team Emma Olsen and Vere Tindale. Bunny, their debut novel, was initially adapted from their screenplay Crepuscular, a nominee for Best Feature Screenplay at the 2018 Renegade Film Festival in Atlanta, Georgia before it was turned into a novel and published by Pan Macmillan Australia. It has since gone on to win Best Horror Novel 2023 at the Aurealis Awards in Australia.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
March 14, 2024
“Two eyes bore into him from across the room. They're not her eyes. They're the same colour and shape, but they're not her eyes.
'I see you.’”
Silas didn't have a happy childhood. Aunt Bunny made sure of that. But out of money and almost out of time, Silas and his girlfriend Rose are forced to return to his childhood home. Back to the darkness, back to the woods, where addiction and hedonism are disguising something much more sinister...
Wow! Let me just get that out of the way. You know I love my horror, gore and my slashers, well, this one, did not disappoint!
Bunny is the perfect combination of psychological and supernatural horror. The less you know about this book before you start the better. Unhinged, original and thrilling. There is so much mystery and weirdness going on throughout this narrative. It's an interrogation on all the senses! You can see, hear, smell and feel everything that transpires in these pages!
Unsurprisingly, when doing some quick research, I found out that Bunny was actually adapted from a screenplay, which was a nominee for Best Feature Screenplay at the 2018 Renegade Film Festival. The story plays out in your mind like a film. It’s visceral, complex and multilayered.
The story was fast paced, emotional, and dark. Full of twists, turns and told in dual timelines which I love in Horror. We also see different characters perspectives, and this really helped amp up the terrifying nature of the story. Bunny was incredibly addictive, I couldn't put it down.
Husband and Wife team, Emma Olsen and Vere Tindale (pseudonym S.E. Tolsen) have crafted a fast-paced story that has everything I want in a horror novel. I'm so impressed that this is their debut.
A masterclass in psychological/supernatural horror. Up there with the best. I adored this book and it will stay with me for a long time.
I highly Recommend.
“Bunny crawls on hands and feet into the bathroom. Her limbs bend at acute angles as her writhing jaw juts forward as she speaks. Bunny's jaw snaps as if dislocating. Roses eyes trace the prominent bumps on Bunny's back - vertebrae, which look disturbingly close to slicing through her anorexic form.”
Thank you to Macmillan Australia for gifting me an advanced copy of Bunny.
Response from the publisher about obtaining a copy of Bunny outside of Australia:
Bunny is only available via AU retailers, but overseas readers can order a physical copy with Readings, and eBooks via Kobo, Apple Books and Google Books.
'I see you.’”
Silas didn't have a happy childhood. Aunt Bunny made sure of that. But out of money and almost out of time, Silas and his girlfriend Rose are forced to return to his childhood home. Back to the darkness, back to the woods, where addiction and hedonism are disguising something much more sinister...
Wow! Let me just get that out of the way. You know I love my horror, gore and my slashers, well, this one, did not disappoint!
Bunny is the perfect combination of psychological and supernatural horror. The less you know about this book before you start the better. Unhinged, original and thrilling. There is so much mystery and weirdness going on throughout this narrative. It's an interrogation on all the senses! You can see, hear, smell and feel everything that transpires in these pages!
Unsurprisingly, when doing some quick research, I found out that Bunny was actually adapted from a screenplay, which was a nominee for Best Feature Screenplay at the 2018 Renegade Film Festival. The story plays out in your mind like a film. It’s visceral, complex and multilayered.
The story was fast paced, emotional, and dark. Full of twists, turns and told in dual timelines which I love in Horror. We also see different characters perspectives, and this really helped amp up the terrifying nature of the story. Bunny was incredibly addictive, I couldn't put it down.
Husband and Wife team, Emma Olsen and Vere Tindale (pseudonym S.E. Tolsen) have crafted a fast-paced story that has everything I want in a horror novel. I'm so impressed that this is their debut.
A masterclass in psychological/supernatural horror. Up there with the best. I adored this book and it will stay with me for a long time.
I highly Recommend.
“Bunny crawls on hands and feet into the bathroom. Her limbs bend at acute angles as her writhing jaw juts forward as she speaks. Bunny's jaw snaps as if dislocating. Roses eyes trace the prominent bumps on Bunny's back - vertebrae, which look disturbingly close to slicing through her anorexic form.”
Thank you to Macmillan Australia for gifting me an advanced copy of Bunny.
Response from the publisher about obtaining a copy of Bunny outside of Australia:
Bunny is only available via AU retailers, but overseas readers can order a physical copy with Readings, and eBooks via Kobo, Apple Books and Google Books.
July 21, 2023
4.5 stars
If you’re looking for a supernatural, creepy weird, heart pounding, horror read (for Halloween) then look no further than Bunny by S.E. Tolsen.
Sure to give you goosebumps on your goosebumps.
Shivers up and down your spine.
And chills for weeks.
I don’t do horror (much) so this for me is the stuff of nightmares.
Goober 😭
If you want to be freaked out even more listen to the audiobook narrated by Vere Tindale perfect narration and voice to give you nice little nightmares 😅
Listened to the audio via the BorrowBox app
Published by Bolinda/Macmillan
Duration: 8 hrs, 24 min. 1.25x Speed
If you’re looking for a supernatural, creepy weird, heart pounding, horror read (for Halloween) then look no further than Bunny by S.E. Tolsen.
Sure to give you goosebumps on your goosebumps.
Shivers up and down your spine.
And chills for weeks.
I don’t do horror (much) so this for me is the stuff of nightmares.
Goober 😭
If you want to be freaked out even more listen to the audiobook narrated by Vere Tindale perfect narration and voice to give you nice little nightmares 😅
Listened to the audio via the BorrowBox app
Published by Bolinda/Macmillan
Duration: 8 hrs, 24 min. 1.25x Speed
January 6, 2024
Tried to be a Stephen King but not original
July 31, 2023
Well this was definitely one of the weirdest, strangest and yet most compelling books I have ever read.
Have I had images from the book in my head all day? Yes.
Was I awake at three in the morning thinking about Silas, Rose and Lou Lou sitting at the dining table? Yes.
Do I think Goober is the goodest boy ever? Yes.
Silas and Rose plan to spend a couple of weeks at his childhood home to finalise a script that should be their ticket to bigger things. Whilst Silas does not have good memories of his time at his childhood home, he figures it won't be that bad.
He was wrong.
There is an entity that is happy to see Silas back. The Little King.
With a Stephen King and Clive Barker feel to this tale, prepare up be taken on a journey that will test the little movie we all have in our head when we read. It will be graphic, it will be terrifying and it will be incredibly fascinating.
An incredible debut novel and I am intrigued to see what is next.
Have I had images from the book in my head all day? Yes.
Was I awake at three in the morning thinking about Silas, Rose and Lou Lou sitting at the dining table? Yes.
Do I think Goober is the goodest boy ever? Yes.
Silas and Rose plan to spend a couple of weeks at his childhood home to finalise a script that should be their ticket to bigger things. Whilst Silas does not have good memories of his time at his childhood home, he figures it won't be that bad.
He was wrong.
There is an entity that is happy to see Silas back. The Little King.
With a Stephen King and Clive Barker feel to this tale, prepare up be taken on a journey that will test the little movie we all have in our head when we read. It will be graphic, it will be terrifying and it will be incredibly fascinating.
An incredible debut novel and I am intrigued to see what is next.
June 26, 2023
🤩 Wow, this is a hard one to review and I’m still not sure what I read - talk about CREEPY! I’m still thinking about it …
This original, graphic and clever story was originally a screenplay, adapted to a novel. So glad it was and I got to read it, it was like nothing I’ve read before. I’ve seen it likened to Stephen King, and yes it definitely has SK vibes, but so much more. There is a heavy dog lover influence throughout that really solidified it for me, along with the atmospheric and wickedly unique writing.
Husband and wife writing duo Emma Olsen and Vere Tindale make a formidable writing team. Expect the unexpected here, there is unsettling, high tension from the first page. Expect horror with a supernatural element - to me it had Catriona Ward vibes - what the hell am I reading? Does everything make sense? - NO, but I loved it, I needed to know more. While it was a slower start until I grasped what was going on, it held my attention to the mind blowing end. Bunny … not sure I’ll ever get over you! 🤯
Not trigger warnings per se, but worth mentioning that there are elements of child abuse, addiction, family dysfunction and animal cruelty (set in a fantasy world).
A wonderful debut, psychological thriller! 4.5 out of this world ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Many thanks to the wonderful team @macmillanaus for a complimentary advanced reading copy. Out in Australia now 🤩
This original, graphic and clever story was originally a screenplay, adapted to a novel. So glad it was and I got to read it, it was like nothing I’ve read before. I’ve seen it likened to Stephen King, and yes it definitely has SK vibes, but so much more. There is a heavy dog lover influence throughout that really solidified it for me, along with the atmospheric and wickedly unique writing.
Husband and wife writing duo Emma Olsen and Vere Tindale make a formidable writing team. Expect the unexpected here, there is unsettling, high tension from the first page. Expect horror with a supernatural element - to me it had Catriona Ward vibes - what the hell am I reading? Does everything make sense? - NO, but I loved it, I needed to know more. While it was a slower start until I grasped what was going on, it held my attention to the mind blowing end. Bunny … not sure I’ll ever get over you! 🤯
Not trigger warnings per se, but worth mentioning that there are elements of child abuse, addiction, family dysfunction and animal cruelty (set in a fantasy world).
A wonderful debut, psychological thriller! 4.5 out of this world ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Many thanks to the wonderful team @macmillanaus for a complimentary advanced reading copy. Out in Australia now 🤩
March 10, 2025
Let me tell you, this book scared the shit out of me. The authors have a remarkable ability to tap into that deeply primitive cache of childhood fears we all have. The opening chapters will stay with me for a long time. I had to stop reading BUNNY before bed because it was messing with my sleep! (In a good way! BUNNY won the Aurealis Award for Best Horror Novel for a reason!)
I found Bunny herself to be a fascinating character. I feared her, but I felt for her. I hated her actions but understood her reasons. Her fractious relationship with Silas encapsulated what it is to be scared, as a child, of the person who is meant to love you most of all. BUNNY is a deeply nuanced look at an isolated, dysfunctional family.
Thank you to Mirari Press for providing me with a copy for review!
I found Bunny herself to be a fascinating character. I feared her, but I felt for her. I hated her actions but understood her reasons. Her fractious relationship with Silas encapsulated what it is to be scared, as a child, of the person who is meant to love you most of all. BUNNY is a deeply nuanced look at an isolated, dysfunctional family.
Thank you to Mirari Press for providing me with a copy for review!
September 23, 2024
I don’t know what possessed me, but I had a craving for a bit of horror. And Bunny by SE Tolsen is just that.
If you like your scary creepy and your grusome gory, this is some Stephen King-ish shit.
It’s a tribute to man’s best friend and explores alcoholism also eels and Others, eeww!
May or may not sleep tonight. And will probably never go in any woods ever again. 👀👀
My only issue - which is probably mine alone, we often go into the dog’s mind and see what he’s thinking, and the dog calls his owners mom and dad and the couple call him their son. Not my best in life or in fiction. Other than that this book does exactly what it’s supposed to do 😱 in a hella psycho page-turnery way.
If you like your scary creepy and your grusome gory, this is some Stephen King-ish shit.
It’s a tribute to man’s best friend and explores alcoholism also eels and Others, eeww!
May or may not sleep tonight. And will probably never go in any woods ever again. 👀👀
My only issue - which is probably mine alone, we often go into the dog’s mind and see what he’s thinking, and the dog calls his owners mom and dad and the couple call him their son. Not my best in life or in fiction. Other than that this book does exactly what it’s supposed to do 😱 in a hella psycho page-turnery way.
Read
May 28, 2023I'm not rating this book as it wasn't at all what I expected. Interestingly I didn't consider putting it aside until the end, but by then I was in too deep. But if I'd known where it was going I don't think I would have requested and / or read it.
I understood from the blurb that Silas had an unhappy childhood and we quickly learn that he's fearful of his aunt, Bunny... particularly after she's had a few drinks. The book opens in 1994 and we're introduced to 6yr old Silas, his mother Lou Lou and aunt Bunny as Lou Lou is heading out on a date.
Tolsen (Emma Olsen & Vere Tindale) does a good job at building the tension in the opening pages as Bunny gets drunk and seemingly becomes a different person.
We then flip forward to 2018 when a lack of finances force Silas and his girlfriend to return to his childhood home. We do eventually find out what happened on that night in 1994 and there are snippets of other events in between but the backstory didn't flow particularly well for me.
That being said, it could be because Tolsen has no intention of really explaining the evils lurking in Silas's childhood.
I assumed this was going to be a psychological thriller however it dips into the supernatural and includes a smidge of horror as well. It meant the narrative arc I was expecting wasn't to be and I was left kinda confused and rather disappointed as I turned the final pages.
Having said that though, others who enjoy this genre might certainly relate far more to the plot than I did.
I understood from the blurb that Silas had an unhappy childhood and we quickly learn that he's fearful of his aunt, Bunny... particularly after she's had a few drinks. The book opens in 1994 and we're introduced to 6yr old Silas, his mother Lou Lou and aunt Bunny as Lou Lou is heading out on a date.
Tolsen (Emma Olsen & Vere Tindale) does a good job at building the tension in the opening pages as Bunny gets drunk and seemingly becomes a different person.
We then flip forward to 2018 when a lack of finances force Silas and his girlfriend to return to his childhood home. We do eventually find out what happened on that night in 1994 and there are snippets of other events in between but the backstory didn't flow particularly well for me.
That being said, it could be because Tolsen has no intention of really explaining the evils lurking in Silas's childhood.
I assumed this was going to be a psychological thriller however it dips into the supernatural and includes a smidge of horror as well. It meant the narrative arc I was expecting wasn't to be and I was left kinda confused and rather disappointed as I turned the final pages.
Having said that though, others who enjoy this genre might certainly relate far more to the plot than I did.
May 29, 2024
Well the worms can read it now. Onto the compost heap it goes.
Confusing at first, then slightly interesting, then boring, then MORE boring, then at 70% I gave up.
So I'm reading this on the bus, and find I've just read about 6 pages and haven't got a clue what I just looked at. The words went into my eyes but didn't make the perilous journey to my brain. Time to stop.
The 268 pages I have read so far, felt like 700 pages. I just wished all the characters would go jump off a cliff. I hate them all...except for the Aussie veterinarian. He even had a passable Aussie dialogue. One star added for that...but then the bloody author kills him off. Bastard!
Would have made an okay short story.
Confusing at first, then slightly interesting, then boring, then MORE boring, then at 70% I gave up.
So I'm reading this on the bus, and find I've just read about 6 pages and haven't got a clue what I just looked at. The words went into my eyes but didn't make the perilous journey to my brain. Time to stop.
The 268 pages I have read so far, felt like 700 pages. I just wished all the characters would go jump off a cliff. I hate them all...except for the Aussie veterinarian. He even had a passable Aussie dialogue. One star added for that...but then the bloody author kills him off. Bastard!
Would have made an okay short story.
July 17, 2023
**Disclaimer: Guiltless book reviews do not contain spoilers. Instead, I review how the book made me feel.
Bunny by S.E Tolsen is officially the first horror novel I have ever read. I read it over three nights.
On the first night, I had a nightmare, it was subtle, and I can’t even remember what it was about.
On the second night I probably slept as well as any mother with three small children in the house does; light, interrupted, barely. This is not Bunny’s fault.
On the third night, I pulled the covers up close to my chin as I chased the ending, or as it chased me. My subconscious attempted a nightmare but instead took a detour to a dream about telling other Guiltless Clubbers that they should read Bunny. This is not surprising as I am a very literal dreamer. I dream of exactly what is going on in my life, and I had in fact been trying to persuade our Clubbers to try this horror with me. Just like all the scary movies tell you, ‘stick together’.
Even though being crazily susceptible to nightmares, I felt compelled to read this book.
Reading Bunny was like watching a movie. I do not generally watch horror movies but the storytelling, and the language used for describing movements, kept me transfixed as though sitting in a cinema scarfing down popcorn and bouncing one knee as if ready to bolt for the door.
Whilst the reading of this book was a personal #bookbucketlist decision, and not a Guiltless Book Club book, on behalf I Guiltless I absolutely recommend reading Bunny.
I guiltlessly recommend reading Bunny if you don’t hate being terrified, are not prone to nightmares, enjoy fast-paced books, and don’t mind sleeping with the lights on.
Perhaps read it with a friend and during the daytime.
T x
Bunny by S.E Tolsen is officially the first horror novel I have ever read. I read it over three nights.
On the first night, I had a nightmare, it was subtle, and I can’t even remember what it was about.
On the second night I probably slept as well as any mother with three small children in the house does; light, interrupted, barely. This is not Bunny’s fault.
On the third night, I pulled the covers up close to my chin as I chased the ending, or as it chased me. My subconscious attempted a nightmare but instead took a detour to a dream about telling other Guiltless Clubbers that they should read Bunny. This is not surprising as I am a very literal dreamer. I dream of exactly what is going on in my life, and I had in fact been trying to persuade our Clubbers to try this horror with me. Just like all the scary movies tell you, ‘stick together’.
Even though being crazily susceptible to nightmares, I felt compelled to read this book.
Reading Bunny was like watching a movie. I do not generally watch horror movies but the storytelling, and the language used for describing movements, kept me transfixed as though sitting in a cinema scarfing down popcorn and bouncing one knee as if ready to bolt for the door.
Whilst the reading of this book was a personal #bookbucketlist decision, and not a Guiltless Book Club book, on behalf I Guiltless I absolutely recommend reading Bunny.
I guiltlessly recommend reading Bunny if you don’t hate being terrified, are not prone to nightmares, enjoy fast-paced books, and don’t mind sleeping with the lights on.
Perhaps read it with a friend and during the daytime.
T x
May 24, 2023
4.5 Stars.
First and foremost, I would like to thank … for my advanced reader’s copy of ‘Bunny’. But as always, my reviews are brutally honest and non-biased… but thankfully, this was a great read!
My mind is still blown after finishing this book. I don’t know what the hell I just read but it freaked me out from the very first chapter and I’m not easily freaked out by books!
I had no idea what this book was going to be about going into it, but it was definitely a lot more supernatural and horror themed than I was expecting - but I’m not mad. It worked, I enjoyed it. Even if I still don’t know what I just read. 😅
‘Bunny’ (not to be mixed up with Mona Awad’s title) was a book I picked up after a two month reading slump and I struggled to put it down. I was addicted from the first (and very creepy) chapter. Even though my copy had a misprinted page, I was able to follow along and not miss a beat.
The storyline was originally a screenplay that was then adapted into a novel, and that’s suiting because I can 100% picture this book making it onto the big screens and being a classic on Halloween.
There is a little potential mix up in details that bothered me a tiny bit, but that’s just my hyper-fixation that had no affect on the actual story. (Blue eyes turning into green eyes). Other than that, love love love! The writing and storytelling was done well. We love to see it.
First and foremost, I would like to thank … for my advanced reader’s copy of ‘Bunny’. But as always, my reviews are brutally honest and non-biased… but thankfully, this was a great read!
My mind is still blown after finishing this book. I don’t know what the hell I just read but it freaked me out from the very first chapter and I’m not easily freaked out by books!
I had no idea what this book was going to be about going into it, but it was definitely a lot more supernatural and horror themed than I was expecting - but I’m not mad. It worked, I enjoyed it. Even if I still don’t know what I just read. 😅
‘Bunny’ (not to be mixed up with Mona Awad’s title) was a book I picked up after a two month reading slump and I struggled to put it down. I was addicted from the first (and very creepy) chapter. Even though my copy had a misprinted page, I was able to follow along and not miss a beat.
The storyline was originally a screenplay that was then adapted into a novel, and that’s suiting because I can 100% picture this book making it onto the big screens and being a classic on Halloween.
There is a little potential mix up in details that bothered me a tiny bit, but that’s just my hyper-fixation that had no affect on the actual story. (Blue eyes turning into green eyes). Other than that, love love love! The writing and storytelling was done well. We love to see it.
September 19, 2023
Was well on track for a solid 5 stars but fell prey to the same problem too many horror novels do- too many endings!
September 20, 2023
“𝘉𝘶𝘯𝘯𝘺 𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘸𝘭𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘮. 𝘏𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘣𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘤𝘶𝘵𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘫𝘢𝘸 𝘫𝘶𝘵𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘴 .. 𝘉𝘶𝘯𝘯𝘺'𝘴 𝘫𝘢𝘸 𝘴𝘯𝘢𝘱𝘴 𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘧 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘙𝘰𝘴𝘦’𝘴 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘣𝘶𝘮𝘱𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘉𝘶𝘯𝘯𝘺'𝘴 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 - 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘦, 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘣𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘤 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮. 𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘺𝘦𝘵…𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘺𝘦𝘵. 𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘺𝘦𝘵!”
What the f😵💫ck did I just read? This book is completely unhinged! I can’t tell you what the point of the story is, and I’m left with so many questions after finishing (what’s with the pinecones?!). Bunny is twisted, and I feel so very unsettled. It was great.
I can’t delve into the plot, so this is mostly about how Bunny made me feel (spoiler: it made me feel gross 😃).
Bunny is one of those reads that isn’t exactly enjoyable (because it’s icky), but has you so intrigued that putting it down isn’t an option. This book oozed mystery, I had no idea what the hell was going on but I was completely absorbed in its madness. I loved the way husband and wife duo “Tolsen” peeled back the layers of this tale: with multiple timelines and point of views, exploring Bunny and Silas’ history in dribs and drabs.
I was engaged for the entirety of the read, but wasn’t able to binge this. Bunny is emotional, disgusting, dark; it made my skin crawl and had me jumping at every bump in the night. But Bunny is a double edged sword; it’s a tale about addiction as much as it is about love. And which will win in the end?
The final scenes were SO grim, I was gritting my teeth and shrinking away from the page. I honestly couldn’t believe what was happening, convinced that the story would take yet another turn if only to make it more palatable. The ending was bleak, and the final twist absolutely blew my mind. I still can’t believe that one sentence, seven words, could completely reframe the entire story in my mind. One line so powerful that it left me completely speechless. I feel kind of traumatised.
Stephen King lovers, this one’s for you. It’s a mind-bending ride, combining psychological thriller, supernatural mystery and horror into one sick story that will have you shell-shocked well after the last page.
What the f😵💫ck did I just read? This book is completely unhinged! I can’t tell you what the point of the story is, and I’m left with so many questions after finishing (what’s with the pinecones?!). Bunny is twisted, and I feel so very unsettled. It was great.
I can’t delve into the plot, so this is mostly about how Bunny made me feel (spoiler: it made me feel gross 😃).
Bunny is one of those reads that isn’t exactly enjoyable (because it’s icky), but has you so intrigued that putting it down isn’t an option. This book oozed mystery, I had no idea what the hell was going on but I was completely absorbed in its madness. I loved the way husband and wife duo “Tolsen” peeled back the layers of this tale: with multiple timelines and point of views, exploring Bunny and Silas’ history in dribs and drabs.
I was engaged for the entirety of the read, but wasn’t able to binge this. Bunny is emotional, disgusting, dark; it made my skin crawl and had me jumping at every bump in the night. But Bunny is a double edged sword; it’s a tale about addiction as much as it is about love. And which will win in the end?
The final scenes were SO grim, I was gritting my teeth and shrinking away from the page. I honestly couldn’t believe what was happening, convinced that the story would take yet another turn if only to make it more palatable. The ending was bleak, and the final twist absolutely blew my mind. I still can’t believe that one sentence, seven words, could completely reframe the entire story in my mind. One line so powerful that it left me completely speechless. I feel kind of traumatised.
Stephen King lovers, this one’s for you. It’s a mind-bending ride, combining psychological thriller, supernatural mystery and horror into one sick story that will have you shell-shocked well after the last page.
October 16, 2024
I don't even know what I just read. It started off as intriguing, mysterious and spooky but as I got further in, I was more and more lost and just wanted it to finish. When it finished I really just...I dont know. I guess it wasn't my cup of tea.
Also TW for animal abuse/death
Also TW for animal abuse/death
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 17, 2024
Holy freaking crap Batman!
I absolutely devoured Bunny.
I don’t know why this book isn’t more famous.
It’s on Spotify, get on it!
An absolute adrenaline rush, dark and creepy and gory.
“For fans of Stephen King and stranger things”
Also, the narrator was superb, I was hanging onto every line.
Thank you for this, my horror of the year ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I absolutely devoured Bunny.
I don’t know why this book isn’t more famous.
It’s on Spotify, get on it!
An absolute adrenaline rush, dark and creepy and gory.
“For fans of Stephen King and stranger things”
Also, the narrator was superb, I was hanging onto every line.
Thank you for this, my horror of the year ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
February 28, 2024
At first, I was super excited because it started strong but then after maybe 100 pages it just fell too far to recover unfortunately. The only thing I liked consistently thrughout the book was that there were a few, sporadic chapters from Goober's POV. Other than that it felt really stretched out and forced and there was so much in there that was unnecessary.
September 8, 2023
why is this the second extremely weird and disturbing book called bunny i’ve read this year
October 11, 2023
3.75 - this book is for the midsommar and hereditary girlies!!!
April 15, 2025
Disclaimer: Mirari Press kindly sent me a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
It's 2018, and Silas and Rosa have just sold their first script. The only problem is that before they can get any money for it, they have to do some rewrites, and they only have a few weeks to do it. They live in New York, and it's not cheap, and so, even though rewriting his work to fit the capitalist machine goes against everything Silas believes in, they decide to quit their jobs and leave New York to write permanently until their deadline is up.
Silas's mother, Lou Lou, and his Aunt, Bunny, live in the woods outside the small town of Hamner in New England. To save money while they write, the couple and their dog son Goober decide to move to the childhood home Silas never thought he'd return to. The trauma Silas experienced as a child all leads back to this house and the two sisters who live there, and it's the reason he hasn't returned in years.
Lou Lou would often go on dates with inappropriate men, and she would leave Silas in the care of his aunt, Bunny. It is fair to say that both his mother and her sister had problems with alcohol, and years later, his aunt's addiction has all but taken over her life. Returning to the house, Silas finds the elderly women merely existing on the property, grotesque forms of their former selves. Bunny wanders the woods at night, and is never without a cigarette between her lips, and a mug of gin clutched in her bony hands. She still terrifies Silas, and Rosa and their dog Goober are not excluded from the feelings of unease that hang over the place like a death shroud.
It doesn't take long before strange things start happening in the house, and the woods beyond. Even the small town seems to have an odd vibe, with the local lake suspected of having monsters in it. Though as strange as the town is, nothing is quite as terrifying as his family home, and the people that live there, and Bunny has become more disturbing than ever.
Bunny's plot flashes between the 2018 present and the years 1994 and 1995 when Silas was a boy, and he experienced such terror that he would end up in therapy, and filled with resentment. The nostalgia wrapped around the 90s infuses the novel with an atmosphere not unlike early Stephen King and his penchant for Maine locations. S.E. Tolsen, the name of the novel's writing duo it is worth noting are damn good writers as evident in this paragraph:
The backyard is tarry black; no moon. Even the starlight seems reluctant to make the journey down through the night sky. And yet, there in the no man's land of his backyard glows the aqua light of his ringing phone, like the fallen teardrop of an enfeebled god.
Bunny is two things: a symbol of the perils of alcoholism, and a physical manifestation of fear. Her presence is grotesque and an example of the visceral horror that gives slasher films of the '70s and '80s the gag reflex we appreciate having. As well as being a fantastic ode to the horror tropes of old, Bunny is also (and most importantly) a truly terrifying novel, and it should feel quite at home on the bookshelf next to King and all the best horror writers both alive and dead.
It's 2018, and Silas and Rosa have just sold their first script. The only problem is that before they can get any money for it, they have to do some rewrites, and they only have a few weeks to do it. They live in New York, and it's not cheap, and so, even though rewriting his work to fit the capitalist machine goes against everything Silas believes in, they decide to quit their jobs and leave New York to write permanently until their deadline is up.
Silas's mother, Lou Lou, and his Aunt, Bunny, live in the woods outside the small town of Hamner in New England. To save money while they write, the couple and their dog son Goober decide to move to the childhood home Silas never thought he'd return to. The trauma Silas experienced as a child all leads back to this house and the two sisters who live there, and it's the reason he hasn't returned in years.
Lou Lou would often go on dates with inappropriate men, and she would leave Silas in the care of his aunt, Bunny. It is fair to say that both his mother and her sister had problems with alcohol, and years later, his aunt's addiction has all but taken over her life. Returning to the house, Silas finds the elderly women merely existing on the property, grotesque forms of their former selves. Bunny wanders the woods at night, and is never without a cigarette between her lips, and a mug of gin clutched in her bony hands. She still terrifies Silas, and Rosa and their dog Goober are not excluded from the feelings of unease that hang over the place like a death shroud.
It doesn't take long before strange things start happening in the house, and the woods beyond. Even the small town seems to have an odd vibe, with the local lake suspected of having monsters in it. Though as strange as the town is, nothing is quite as terrifying as his family home, and the people that live there, and Bunny has become more disturbing than ever.
Bunny's plot flashes between the 2018 present and the years 1994 and 1995 when Silas was a boy, and he experienced such terror that he would end up in therapy, and filled with resentment. The nostalgia wrapped around the 90s infuses the novel with an atmosphere not unlike early Stephen King and his penchant for Maine locations. S.E. Tolsen, the name of the novel's writing duo it is worth noting are damn good writers as evident in this paragraph:
The backyard is tarry black; no moon. Even the starlight seems reluctant to make the journey down through the night sky. And yet, there in the no man's land of his backyard glows the aqua light of his ringing phone, like the fallen teardrop of an enfeebled god.
Bunny is two things: a symbol of the perils of alcoholism, and a physical manifestation of fear. Her presence is grotesque and an example of the visceral horror that gives slasher films of the '70s and '80s the gag reflex we appreciate having. As well as being a fantastic ode to the horror tropes of old, Bunny is also (and most importantly) a truly terrifying novel, and it should feel quite at home on the bookshelf next to King and all the best horror writers both alive and dead.
July 9, 2023
Thank you Pan Macmillan for sending us a copy to read and review.
From my huge TBR pile my hands gravitated to this, I do not read the blurb on any book so was unaware of what I was going to get.
I sensed darkness from the title and cover and delved in.
Turns out it is a psychological thriller slash supernatural with a splash of horror.
Not my type of genre.
Silas had an awful childhood, dysfunctional with taunts from his Aunt Bunny.
The pain from this never left him.
As an adult he has to move back into the family home due to dire economic stress with his girlfriend Rose.
Unleashing a series of events caused by Bunny, childhood demons and the eerie wood’s surrounding the home.
Substance abuse and addiction at the core created child abuse and scarred Silas forever.
Although not my genre in essence I enjoyed swathes of this, the rest I didn’t get or attempt to get.
Dogs were central in two story lines and were the highlight for me.
I loved the sweet pet dogs perspective when he was with his owners aka momdad. The second dog was a wise old breeding bitch who was abused and used for incessant breeding.
Nellie represented faith, loyalty and wisdom in the sad world she lived in.
These storyline’s were captivating, evocative and powerful.
This collaboration was well written, I can spot talented writing a mile away.
At times I couldn’t picture the scenes as they unfolded and as a result my investment does wane.
In contrast I had clear visions of the two furry friends.
I am glad I have read this and it will linger in my mind.
From my huge TBR pile my hands gravitated to this, I do not read the blurb on any book so was unaware of what I was going to get.
I sensed darkness from the title and cover and delved in.
Turns out it is a psychological thriller slash supernatural with a splash of horror.
Not my type of genre.
Silas had an awful childhood, dysfunctional with taunts from his Aunt Bunny.
The pain from this never left him.
As an adult he has to move back into the family home due to dire economic stress with his girlfriend Rose.
Unleashing a series of events caused by Bunny, childhood demons and the eerie wood’s surrounding the home.
Substance abuse and addiction at the core created child abuse and scarred Silas forever.
Although not my genre in essence I enjoyed swathes of this, the rest I didn’t get or attempt to get.
Dogs were central in two story lines and were the highlight for me.
I loved the sweet pet dogs perspective when he was with his owners aka momdad. The second dog was a wise old breeding bitch who was abused and used for incessant breeding.
Nellie represented faith, loyalty and wisdom in the sad world she lived in.
These storyline’s were captivating, evocative and powerful.
This collaboration was well written, I can spot talented writing a mile away.
At times I couldn’t picture the scenes as they unfolded and as a result my investment does wane.
In contrast I had clear visions of the two furry friends.
I am glad I have read this and it will linger in my mind.
June 23, 2023
Did I think I was picking up a thriller when I read this?
Yes.
Is it a thriller?
Well…. sort of. It’s a psychological thriller slash supernatural slash horror book.
Is it good?
Absolutely.
Did it make total sense to me?
No. But I have to say that’s what I loved about it. I had no idea where it was going and how it was going to end. So I couldn’t say when it finished, I didn’t expect that because reading it hell knew what was doing to happen. It explored complicated dynamics of child abuse, parental alienation and addiction. There was (sadly) animal abuse which I have to say always challenges me as a reader (horror or not, just if you are sensitive to this type of subject matter). Otherwise it’s atmospheric and unsettling, where I imagined Bunny as some wheezing, atrophying witch-like Golum character. And I have to say if the aim of her character was to scare the crap out of me - job done. Well played!
4.5 stars because I grieved a certain death in this book that I’ll never get over (no spoilers).
Yes.
Is it a thriller?
Well…. sort of. It’s a psychological thriller slash supernatural slash horror book.
Is it good?
Absolutely.
Did it make total sense to me?
No. But I have to say that’s what I loved about it. I had no idea where it was going and how it was going to end. So I couldn’t say when it finished, I didn’t expect that because reading it hell knew what was doing to happen. It explored complicated dynamics of child abuse, parental alienation and addiction. There was (sadly) animal abuse which I have to say always challenges me as a reader (horror or not, just if you are sensitive to this type of subject matter). Otherwise it’s atmospheric and unsettling, where I imagined Bunny as some wheezing, atrophying witch-like Golum character. And I have to say if the aim of her character was to scare the crap out of me - job done. Well played!
4.5 stars because I grieved a certain death in this book that I’ll never get over (no spoilers).
January 26, 2025
All parts terrifying and completely addictive.
I read this as an audiobook and I’m so glad I did because it really amplified the horror (although I didn’t need it amplified as I’m a wimp)- but if you have the opportunity I would definitely recommend audio.
This book follows Silas, a man with a tormented past and family. In a turn of events, Silas has to make the tough decision to move himself and his partner Rose back to live with his mother and also his aunt Bunny - two women battling with demons and drowning it with alcohol.
His memories of Bunny haunt him- she was terrifying when he was a child, always hiding and finding ways to scare him, talking to things that weren’t there. Will things be different now that he is a grown man? Or have her demons consumed her from the inside out…..
Full of supernatural and body horror alongside what I interpreted as ancient rituals and aspects of witchcraft this book left me dumbfounded.
And I also couldn’t have my feet out of my covers at night 😵💫.
I was so happy to support the husband wife duo who have ties to New Zealand and I will be recommending this to many others!
I read this as an audiobook and I’m so glad I did because it really amplified the horror (although I didn’t need it amplified as I’m a wimp)- but if you have the opportunity I would definitely recommend audio.
This book follows Silas, a man with a tormented past and family. In a turn of events, Silas has to make the tough decision to move himself and his partner Rose back to live with his mother and also his aunt Bunny - two women battling with demons and drowning it with alcohol.
His memories of Bunny haunt him- she was terrifying when he was a child, always hiding and finding ways to scare him, talking to things that weren’t there. Will things be different now that he is a grown man? Or have her demons consumed her from the inside out…..
Full of supernatural and body horror alongside what I interpreted as ancient rituals and aspects of witchcraft this book left me dumbfounded.
And I also couldn’t have my feet out of my covers at night 😵💫.
I was so happy to support the husband wife duo who have ties to New Zealand and I will be recommending this to many others!
August 18, 2023
4.5 stars. WoW that was a gore fest at the end!! I did not see that ending coming - it had shades of Stephen King but none of his usual redemption curve. I actually found this impossible to put down, it was so gripping and so creepy and the evil at the root of it all is ancient and timeless. There are some seriously scary parts especially when his aunt Bunny is starting to be possessed by the evil in the woods. After what he had experienced with her in his childhood why the hell would he go back to the house despite how skint he was ?? Stay away from alcohol kids and when all else fails, a rescue dog will save your soul.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 18, 2023
Loved it! Don't usually go for supernatural thrillers but bunny is a go-er!
Bunny follows a story line of family trauma (who can't relate, right...) and addiction, this had me hooked and wanting more! Some delightfully chilling and creepy, page turning moments throughout.
Loved the characters in bunny and the shear unpredictability of what was going to happen next had me going!
Highly recommend you get right into this family's 368 pages of dysfunction :)
Bunny follows a story line of family trauma (who can't relate, right...) and addiction, this had me hooked and wanting more! Some delightfully chilling and creepy, page turning moments throughout.
Loved the characters in bunny and the shear unpredictability of what was going to happen next had me going!
Highly recommend you get right into this family's 368 pages of dysfunction :)
April 13, 2025
I told y’all to leave the d*mn dog alone
This book had me genuinely questioning what the f was going on for a majority of the story, however, assuming that is the point hahaha. The trauma that alcoholism brings not only to the one consuming but to all of those around them is immensely broadcasted throughout this story. That a small child that was so deeply affected by the alcoholism surrounding him by his family members and how that has consistently affected him throughout his entire adult life.
Aunt Bunny you a freak fr. The story really escalated from like oh yeah she’s pretty creepy and weird and not right in the head and probably possessed to like oh HOLY SH*T we going down y’all. First horror novel read for the year, 3 stars. One point demoted for my man Goober and another for the over usage of every word depicted in the english language or ever created. Some of this could’ve been an email
This book had me genuinely questioning what the f was going on for a majority of the story, however, assuming that is the point hahaha. The trauma that alcoholism brings not only to the one consuming but to all of those around them is immensely broadcasted throughout this story. That a small child that was so deeply affected by the alcoholism surrounding him by his family members and how that has consistently affected him throughout his entire adult life.
Aunt Bunny you a freak fr. The story really escalated from like oh yeah she’s pretty creepy and weird and not right in the head and probably possessed to like oh HOLY SH*T we going down y’all. First horror novel read for the year, 3 stars. One point demoted for my man Goober and another for the over usage of every word depicted in the english language or ever created. Some of this could’ve been an email
June 23, 2023
I haven’t read a horror that has captivated me like this since I first read Stephen King’s The Stand. I was glued to this book and completed it in two days. The writing is phenomenal, both lyrical and visceral.
July 14, 2023
Really scared me. Very good horror
August 20, 2024
That was SO GOOD.
More deep wood horror please.
More deep wood horror please.
June 21, 2023
Silas didn't have a happy childhood. Aunt Bunny made sure of that. But out of money and almost out of time, Silas and his girlfriend Rose are forced to return to his childhood home.
Back to the darkness, back to the woods, where addiction and hedonism are disguising something much more sinister.
I had a weird relationship with this book. I absolutely smashed through it. Inhaled it if you will. I couldn’t put it down, but I also had parts of the book that I didn’t enjoy.
This is a spooky thriller - in the sense that Aunt Bunny seems to have controls over some “dreams” (or subconscious) and the eels in the lake. It kept you on your toes at all times, but I didn’t really enjoy the spooky element (mostly because it’s just not my genre of choice - if you like something a bit witchier, then you’d love it).
It was well written and jumped through perspectives really well. I’d say it’s a 3.5 stars for me not quite a 3 but not quite a 4.
Back to the darkness, back to the woods, where addiction and hedonism are disguising something much more sinister.
I had a weird relationship with this book. I absolutely smashed through it. Inhaled it if you will. I couldn’t put it down, but I also had parts of the book that I didn’t enjoy.
This is a spooky thriller - in the sense that Aunt Bunny seems to have controls over some “dreams” (or subconscious) and the eels in the lake. It kept you on your toes at all times, but I didn’t really enjoy the spooky element (mostly because it’s just not my genre of choice - if you like something a bit witchier, then you’d love it).
It was well written and jumped through perspectives really well. I’d say it’s a 3.5 stars for me not quite a 3 but not quite a 4.
June 14, 2023
If you love Stephen King, you'll like this. You need to be a true, true horror fan. Not for the tender-hearted or the squeamish. I found it hard to read. Very creepy and horrific. But it's definitely perfect horror, well-paced and terrifying.
Maybe a warning for child abuse and animal cruelty, but it is in kind of a fantasy world.
Maybe a warning for child abuse and animal cruelty, but it is in kind of a fantasy world.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews