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Her Teeth, Like Waves
Kat answers the call of the ocean when her twin brother, Mitch, goes missing after a diving expedition. Traveling to his last logged destination, Kat along with her girlfriend, Jules, take on the tempestuous journey that leads to the mysterious deep of the ocean. In this emotional, weird horror, pseudo-creature feature novelette, Kat and Jules may sacrifice everything to force the unknown to the surface only so it might be buried again.
105 pages, Paperback
Published August 11, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 6, 2023
Monster horror has entered the chat, this was an awesome and surprisingly emotional read, I'd say this is for those who enjoy the weirder side of horror, short but most definitely sweet! The characters were well developed for such a shorter book, looking forward to reading more by this author! Thankyou for the ARC spooky house press
August 18, 2023
Unexplored cave systems deep under the ocean should stay that way, but where would be the fun in that? Nikki Leigh reaches into the depths of our lizard brains to bring our worst fears to life, confirming what I've always suspected: water is cruel, unknowable, and full of teeth. A swift and unsettling read, sure to create new phobias.
September 28, 2023
Her Teeth Like Waves is engrossing, horrifying and evocative. Echoes of grief weave through the story as Kat decides to go in search of her twin brother Mitch, following days without communication after his planned expedition with other divers to explore underwater caves.
Accompanying Kat is her girlfriend Jules and the two women end up traveling to Mitch’s last known location and encounter something completely unexpected.
Her Teeth Like Waves is on the shorter side, but is also quite heartfelt. It’s main characters are real and complicated people, rather than mere stereotypes that exist simply to perish. Katz’s relationships with her parents and Mitch are relatable and her relationship with Jules is also sweet.
Her Teeth Like Waves is another reminder that the ocean can be both beautiful and treacherous, while offering a truly unique and terrifying new reason to fear getting into the water.
Accompanying Kat is her girlfriend Jules and the two women end up traveling to Mitch’s last known location and encounter something completely unexpected.
Her Teeth Like Waves is on the shorter side, but is also quite heartfelt. It’s main characters are real and complicated people, rather than mere stereotypes that exist simply to perish. Katz’s relationships with her parents and Mitch are relatable and her relationship with Jules is also sweet.
Her Teeth Like Waves is another reminder that the ocean can be both beautiful and treacherous, while offering a truly unique and terrifying new reason to fear getting into the water.
August 16, 2023
Huge thanks to Robert P. Ottone and Spooky House Press for sending me a digital ARC of this one!
I was intrigued by this one right off the hop when I read the teaser synopsis in the email I was sent.
It’s funny, as I’ve typically not read a lot of ‘water/ocean’ based dark fiction, but over the last little bit I’ve enjoyed Ottone’s own ‘The Rise Trilogy,’ Daniel Kraus’ ‘Whalefall’ and Tim McGregor’s ‘Lure.’
So, when this one arrived, even though I am super swamped with review books, I thought Hell yeah, I’m fitting this in!
Described as novelette length, this ended up being a single sitting read and one that had me captivated from the very beginning.
What I liked: The story follows Kat, sister to Mitch, who hasn’t been heard from in a few days. This is unusual, especially with their bond as twins and united after their parents died while they were in their teens. Mitch has spent his life in the ocean, while Kat has steered away from it. But now, with him missing, she – accompanied by her girlfriend, Jules – travel to where he was living in the hopes of finding him.
Leigh does a great job of adding in back story, especially considering the short word count of this one, and you root for Kat to find Mitch almost immediately, especially as more of her history is shared and her fears of the water are revealed.
With such a short page count, we get to the heart of the action fairly quickly and the ending arrives with a blistering volume of carnage and blood. Based on what we were led to believe and what was suggested would happen, it fits well and we get a blistering finale.
What I didn’t like: There really is no resolution at the end. We get to it, things happen, the end arrives and that’s it. I think some expansion would’ve really helped with this ending and made it more impactful. We are shown how it ends, but based on the ‘why’ of the the reason Kat went in the first place, there’s no pay off.
As well, we do get a quick bit of back lore with the arrival of an odd character, but it flashes by too fast, we don’t get enough to really ramp up the tension.
Why you should buy this: This one was a ton of fun for what happens and a lot does happen, even in such a short read. Leigh grabs the reader quickly and holds them, which is a fantastic thing to happen when we’re not completely sure where we will end up, but the reader will want to know and that’s always a powerful thing.
I was intrigued by this one right off the hop when I read the teaser synopsis in the email I was sent.
It’s funny, as I’ve typically not read a lot of ‘water/ocean’ based dark fiction, but over the last little bit I’ve enjoyed Ottone’s own ‘The Rise Trilogy,’ Daniel Kraus’ ‘Whalefall’ and Tim McGregor’s ‘Lure.’
So, when this one arrived, even though I am super swamped with review books, I thought Hell yeah, I’m fitting this in!
Described as novelette length, this ended up being a single sitting read and one that had me captivated from the very beginning.
What I liked: The story follows Kat, sister to Mitch, who hasn’t been heard from in a few days. This is unusual, especially with their bond as twins and united after their parents died while they were in their teens. Mitch has spent his life in the ocean, while Kat has steered away from it. But now, with him missing, she – accompanied by her girlfriend, Jules – travel to where he was living in the hopes of finding him.
Leigh does a great job of adding in back story, especially considering the short word count of this one, and you root for Kat to find Mitch almost immediately, especially as more of her history is shared and her fears of the water are revealed.
With such a short page count, we get to the heart of the action fairly quickly and the ending arrives with a blistering volume of carnage and blood. Based on what we were led to believe and what was suggested would happen, it fits well and we get a blistering finale.
What I didn’t like: There really is no resolution at the end. We get to it, things happen, the end arrives and that’s it. I think some expansion would’ve really helped with this ending and made it more impactful. We are shown how it ends, but based on the ‘why’ of the the reason Kat went in the first place, there’s no pay off.
As well, we do get a quick bit of back lore with the arrival of an odd character, but it flashes by too fast, we don’t get enough to really ramp up the tension.
Why you should buy this: This one was a ton of fun for what happens and a lot does happen, even in such a short read. Leigh grabs the reader quickly and holds them, which is a fantastic thing to happen when we’re not completely sure where we will end up, but the reader will want to know and that’s always a powerful thing.
October 2, 2023
Even though Kat and Mitch are twins, they are different in their own ways. Mitch loves exploring the ocean long into adulthood, whereas Kat does not. And while Kat is more cautious in life, Mitch has a strong sense of daring and mischief.
When a sea-hardy woman named Pauline offers to give Kat and her girlfriend, Jules, a ride out onto the ocean to help them find Mitch, they take her up on the offer. Kat is wary of some kind of “demon teeth” lurking in the waters, but Pauline assures her that there is likely a logical explanation to her brother’s disappearance. All the same, Pauline reminds Kat that the sea can be unforgiving. She also points out that, when it comes to the sea, “shit lives in it. And that shit gets hungry.”
It does indeed get hungry, and in this case, something evil is waiting in the ocean, literally starving and ready for its next meal.
The stories about the demon teeth are nothing but the stuff of urban legends – or are they?
Her Teeth, Like Waves is a dark tale of things better left unearthed, especially the things that can be said to be buried in the ocean. Those who ignore the warnings of what lay in the sea do so at their own peril. The next time you are out on the ocean, tread carefully, for you never know what sort of monster hides within those waves.
When a sea-hardy woman named Pauline offers to give Kat and her girlfriend, Jules, a ride out onto the ocean to help them find Mitch, they take her up on the offer. Kat is wary of some kind of “demon teeth” lurking in the waters, but Pauline assures her that there is likely a logical explanation to her brother’s disappearance. All the same, Pauline reminds Kat that the sea can be unforgiving. She also points out that, when it comes to the sea, “shit lives in it. And that shit gets hungry.”
It does indeed get hungry, and in this case, something evil is waiting in the ocean, literally starving and ready for its next meal.
The stories about the demon teeth are nothing but the stuff of urban legends – or are they?
Her Teeth, Like Waves is a dark tale of things better left unearthed, especially the things that can be said to be buried in the ocean. Those who ignore the warnings of what lay in the sea do so at their own peril. The next time you are out on the ocean, tread carefully, for you never know what sort of monster hides within those waves.
June 7, 2025
A couple of cool concepts and some brutal gut punches near the end, but I still think it’s too short. Kat and Jules are looking for Kat‘s missing brother but as the brother‘s fate was already revealed in the prologue, there isn’t really a mystery to solve. Before the two protagonists have even really gotten started on their search, they’re told what exactly the supernatural horror waiting for them is, and at that point, there’s nothing left for readers to speculate on. It’s all very condensed and would’ve profited from a couple dozen more pages and perhaps also a slightly different order of events to keep the suspense up. Writing is mostly good, although the dialogue sounds a bit stilted at times and the author relies a bit too much on visual metaphors.
Nevertheless, if you’re as fascinated by the ocean and what could lurk within it as I am, I recommend you check this out. After all, it’s a very quick read, almost more short story than novella.
Nevertheless, if you’re as fascinated by the ocean and what could lurk within it as I am, I recommend you check this out. After all, it’s a very quick read, almost more short story than novella.
August 15, 2023
A lean novella that is equal parts creature feature and weird horror, Nikki R. Leigh’s Her Teeth, Like Waves is a thrill ride that leads into the blackest depths of the ocean. When Kat’s brother Mitch goes missing, she attempts to discover answers, only to discover the sea is an angry, unforgiving place. And what lurks beneath it is even worse.
You can read Zachary Rosenberg's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
You can read Zachary Rosenberg's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
July 22, 2023
Her Teeth, Like Waves by Nikki R. Leigh is an unapologetically intense horror novelette and monster story. An unconventional creature terrorizes from the deep. Leigh gets major accolades from me because the cryptid tale is completely original. Plan to read this in one sitting.
Is there a way to request getting a notification if this gets optioned for a movie? It would easily play out on the big screen.
Many thanks to the publisher, Spooky House Press, who gave me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Is there a way to request getting a notification if this gets optioned for a movie? It would easily play out on the big screen.
Many thanks to the publisher, Spooky House Press, who gave me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 14, 2024
The introduction of Mitch following the siren call of this entity deep into the cave system, is absolutely terrifying. He does things I cannot fathom.
Kat’s love for her brother is apparent and even the long distance loss she feels from him.
The story in the story, the legend of the “creature” was well placed with the knowledgeable old person asking for something important.
The encounter with the Teeth really felt like the confrontation in a monster movie, the epilogue was short and perfect.
Kat’s love for her brother is apparent and even the long distance loss she feels from him.
The story in the story, the legend of the “creature” was well placed with the knowledgeable old person asking for something important.
The encounter with the Teeth really felt like the confrontation in a monster movie, the epilogue was short and perfect.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews