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Shee
Kilgallan -- a small, quiet community on Ireland's west coast. Things at Donovan's Bar get a little raucous sometimes and the people carry their share of Ireland's tragic history, but in Kilgallan, the fights are happy, the songs are sad and the days are as rich as slow-poured, peaty beer.
It happens first to the children.
To little Mikey Boyle, whose auntie takes off all her clothes, takes his off too, and persuades him into the river...
To sweet Marie Lally, barely sixteen, when Mike O'Hara ties the cord around her neck and slides up her nightgown...
Village tragedies. Casual eruptions of horror... but at the heart of a nearby hill, something turns in its sleep.
Breathes...
Awakes...
The Shee will put her fingers into your dreams and leave you crying for more.
It happens first to the children.
To little Mikey Boyle, whose auntie takes off all her clothes, takes his off too, and persuades him into the river...
To sweet Marie Lally, barely sixteen, when Mike O'Hara ties the cord around her neck and slides up her nightgown...
Village tragedies. Casual eruptions of horror... but at the heart of a nearby hill, something turns in its sleep.
Breathes...
Awakes...
The Shee will put her fingers into your dreams and leave you crying for more.
520 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1992
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193 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
November 28, 2021
What's this? Ireland and not Scotland? Ah, Mr Donnelly, you've pulled the ol' switcheroo...a bit.
Because while the setting is a little different from all the Donnelly books I've read thus far (rural Scotland for those playing along at home), all his trademark touches are here. The book is drenched in ancient folklore, and the scenes? Lordy, not felt I was standing right there in a book for so long. The bogs and woods, the villages and beaches. All so desolate and beautiful. I know its a trope to put in reviews, but the landscapes and scenery were as important as the characters.
And speaking of. Donnelly nails his people as usual. Salt of the earth, yet colourful. However, I felt we had a bit of a trade off here. This book seemed to have double the characters compared to previous Donnelly fare, and at times this felt stretched a little too far, especially as more were literally shipped in for the final act! Towards the end, I was on occasion hit by the old 'Who is this again?'. But the advantage of this is that more characters means more meat for the grinder.
I said in my Stone review that the book contained one of the most brutal deaths I'd had the pleasure to read. Shee comes very close to this level of brutality, with everyone a potential death scene, and some I would expect some to view as overly cruel (not me though. Bring it on!). Complete carnage! But missing out to Stone by a gnat's hair, Shee more than makes up for this by the sheer number and variety of horrible deaths. Back in the 90s when these books were initially released, if baffles me why Donnelly wasn't a household name in horror circles. He writes rings around most and doesn't shy away from the darker side of the genre.
I'm rambling. Donnelly once again warrants his place as one of my all time favourite and underrated horror writers. I have two more to go on my pile. I think I'll be a little sad when they're finished.
Because while the setting is a little different from all the Donnelly books I've read thus far (rural Scotland for those playing along at home), all his trademark touches are here. The book is drenched in ancient folklore, and the scenes? Lordy, not felt I was standing right there in a book for so long. The bogs and woods, the villages and beaches. All so desolate and beautiful. I know its a trope to put in reviews, but the landscapes and scenery were as important as the characters.
And speaking of. Donnelly nails his people as usual. Salt of the earth, yet colourful. However, I felt we had a bit of a trade off here. This book seemed to have double the characters compared to previous Donnelly fare, and at times this felt stretched a little too far, especially as more were literally shipped in for the final act! Towards the end, I was on occasion hit by the old 'Who is this again?'. But the advantage of this is that more characters means more meat for the grinder.
I said in my Stone review that the book contained one of the most brutal deaths I'd had the pleasure to read. Shee comes very close to this level of brutality, with everyone a potential death scene, and some I would expect some to view as overly cruel (not me though. Bring it on!). Complete carnage! But missing out to Stone by a gnat's hair, Shee more than makes up for this by the sheer number and variety of horrible deaths. Back in the 90s when these books were initially released, if baffles me why Donnelly wasn't a household name in horror circles. He writes rings around most and doesn't shy away from the darker side of the genre.
I'm rambling. Donnelly once again warrants his place as one of my all time favourite and underrated horror writers. I have two more to go on my pile. I think I'll be a little sad when they're finished.
August 26, 2020
The book had almost too much build up in my opinion, but the last third more than made up of it. The visuals and horror were well described. Would have made a great horror film!
August 17, 2023
It's an old-school horror story. A very long and somewhat tedious build-up to the final chapters, where it all comes together. According to today's horror stories, it's slow with (too) much detail. But that detail, for me at least, adds up to the picture painting that's going on in your mind.
I read it for the first time 25 years ago and I remember I had thrills running through my spine. I recently read it, and still, the graphic display through words and details, can set your mind in movie mode, and you can feel, taste, and smell everything that's happening. Love this story, and if you don't mind the slow-paced build-up. A must read, in my opinion if you love the horror genre.
I read it for the first time 25 years ago and I remember I had thrills running through my spine. I recently read it, and still, the graphic display through words and details, can set your mind in movie mode, and you can feel, taste, and smell everything that's happening. Love this story, and if you don't mind the slow-paced build-up. A must read, in my opinion if you love the horror genre.
June 30, 2012
Read this book in grade 9, it was in english naturally, unlike the description. Made an impression.
April 14, 2022
A bit if a messy start but a very enjoyable read.
October 31, 2023
Gloriously dumb, old school horror with a bit of an Oirish-y twist. Has a lot of old school misogyny, ableism and ridiculously stereotyped Irish characters but its fun and dumb enough that it's difficult to take proper offence. It has some deliciously gnarly kills that lean quite heavily into the monstrous feminine imagery, sexual and maternal stuff being a running theme so if that is likely to put you off probably best give it a miss. Personally I found it incel-y enough to be laughable. It also has a little bit of troubles discourse, just to really "Irish" it up, which is again borderline offensive - one could imagine Garth Merenghi saying all Irelands woes from time immemorial through to an gorta mór and everything in the last century is down to a witches curse.
Anyway, enjoyable for what it is but best not to take it too seriously.
Anyway, enjoyable for what it is but best not to take it too seriously.
March 17, 2018
Most of it’s pretty pish to be honest, decent start - then it just gets worse & worse
January 18, 2024
Intense and brutal, but the best scenes were the quiet ones between the characters just simply enjoying Irish culture, country, and the sparks that can fly.
August 23, 2025
Het betere horrorboek. Het begint al op de eerste pagina met een deprimerende kindmoord en het gaat steeds maar door. Interessante mix van gruwelijke moorden, Ierse folklore en moderne politieke geschiedenis van Noord-Ierland. Levendige personages, goed beschreven.
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February 21, 2015Inhoud: Diep in de oeroude grafheuvel beweegt er iets-ademt- ontwaakt.......... vlak voor zijn ogen, op nog geen meter afstand,zoeken monsterlijke klauwen hun weg.een zwarte,puntige tong,bedekt met puisten,schiet naar voren,.... In Kilgallan,een rustig vredig dorpje aan de ierse westkust,kunnen de kinderen rustig buiten spelen. Tot een groepje archeologen een mysterieuze Keltische grafheuvel ontdekken. Zodra de opgravingen beginnen,lijken de dorpsbewoners een voor een bezeten te raken:bezeten door de zwarte kracht van het kwaad,die hen opzweept tot gruwelijke lustmoorden. Journaliste Liz Cannon en fotograaf Sean McCullain proberen achter de oorzaak van de vele ijzingwekkende dorpstragedies te komen. zoude de nachtmerries van Sean er iets mee te maken hebben?
Waardering:
Omdat ik, toen ik het boek las, nog geen beoordelingen en mening gaf over boeken is het voor mij niet mogelijk om nu een juiste waardering aan het boek te geven. Ik hoop in de aankomende jaren tijd te vinden om de serie weer op te pakken om opnieuw te lezen, zodat ik ook dit boek een waardering kan geven.
Overige boekinformatie:
Uitgeverij: Van Reemst Areopagus
ISBN: 90.410.0156.5
429 pagina's
Waardering:
Omdat ik, toen ik het boek las, nog geen beoordelingen en mening gaf over boeken is het voor mij niet mogelijk om nu een juiste waardering aan het boek te geven. Ik hoop in de aankomende jaren tijd te vinden om de serie weer op te pakken om opnieuw te lezen, zodat ik ook dit boek een waardering kan geven.
Overige boekinformatie:
Uitgeverij: Van Reemst Areopagus
ISBN: 90.410.0156.5
429 pagina's
October 27, 2014
That was quite possibly one of the worst books I've ever made myself stick with to the end - and I only did so to see if it ended as predictably as I'd thought it would. On that score alone it wasn't a let down... Most annoying thing? The repeated use of the word 'chitinous'... once was enough thanks!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews