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Hel
After losing his job at a genomic research company, Joel worries about his ability to provide for his family, especially during the holiday season. Even more concerning is how his unemployment may affect his perfect image within the extremist community he has lived in since birth. Lured by the idea of a quick fix, he impulsively books a flight for himself and his family to Europe when the offer of a large inheritance arrives in his inbox. Confident that he knows best, Joel blindly trusts a stranger's invitation to return to the village of his ancestors to collect his birthright. But rather than wealth, they quickly discover that their lineage only possesses monstrous truths with deadly consequences.
- GenresHorror
294 pages, Hardcover
Published July 17, 2023
11 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
About the author
Gitte Tamar
17 books24 followersBrigitte, "Gitte," Tamar was born in a small rural Oregon town. Growing up, she was enthralled by scary tales featuring poetic tones and consistently gravitated towards writing darkened narratives. In the different storylines, Brigitte explores the harsh realities of social issues faced by today's generations. This includes the dark outcomes brought on by peer pressure, addiction, homelessness, mental illness, childhood trauma, and abuse. She feels it is essential to share narratives that refrain from sugarcoating the topics society tends to shy away from.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
July 16, 2024
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This book was definitely something. Was it creepy? Yes. Was it gory? Yes. Was it even a little bit scary? Also yes. But I really did not enjoy the way it was written, and how the story jumped around. It didn't flow well in my opinion ion and I found myself confused a few times. I think it has the premise of a good horror story, but wasn't executed in the best way.
August 2, 2023
I love that reading the synopsis for this book in no way hints towards the horrors you will find within. This is my 3rd read by Gitte Tamar and i will continue to read more.
Although my favourite so far is shadows that tempt, this is still a decent read. Set at Christmas time we are introduced to a family who end up having a not so joyous time. This was grim,goary and a little crazy in parts. Imaginative i will say. The death scenes were very imaginative.
I think the least said about this one the better as it would be hard not to give away any of this story. The characters were good as is the theme for this ladys books i see.
The Authors scene setting and grim factor hit hard and had my face scrunched up at times. What the...ewww was said a few times. I could feel the fear and elements in the setting while reading.
Theres no denying there is strength and talent in this ladys work. I was kept interested in the characters, storyline and the "Hel" in this story.
A nice little christmas horror read. Reccommend but also highly reccomend shadows that temp! Very much so.
Many thanks to the Author and publisher through Booksirens for an ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review.
Rev written 1/8/23
Although my favourite so far is shadows that tempt, this is still a decent read. Set at Christmas time we are introduced to a family who end up having a not so joyous time. This was grim,goary and a little crazy in parts. Imaginative i will say. The death scenes were very imaginative.
I think the least said about this one the better as it would be hard not to give away any of this story. The characters were good as is the theme for this ladys books i see.
The Authors scene setting and grim factor hit hard and had my face scrunched up at times. What the...ewww was said a few times. I could feel the fear and elements in the setting while reading.
Theres no denying there is strength and talent in this ladys work. I was kept interested in the characters, storyline and the "Hel" in this story.
A nice little christmas horror read. Reccommend but also highly reccomend shadows that temp! Very much so.
Many thanks to the Author and publisher through Booksirens for an ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review.
Rev written 1/8/23
July 13, 2023
3.5⭐️
"Negativity invites the devil in"
Triggers - violence, death, murder, child murder, mutilation,
As a small boy, Jacob experiences nightmares of monsters. Coming from a strict religious community where EVERYTHING had to be a carbon copy of "just so," he wasn't allowed to feel the fear. Instead, he escaped into a dream world of the ideal life. Until that is one day a devil, like being known as jingle, takes over his dreams on a nightly basis.
Joel is the head of the family. Strict and religious, he rules over his family under the disciplines set by the church. Fear of failure controls his every move. When his job lays him off, and an unknown family member dies, Joel jumps at the chance to claim the "inherentance" left to him.
A family trip to Europe to claim the "inheretance" proves nightmarish when Jacob's nightmares blend with reality.
As a grown-up who once loved the goosebumps books, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. It's kinda a play on krumpus mythology mixed in with religious zealot .
It's definitely gorry but in an imiture way, not in a scary or gross way. The violence was the same. Even though what was happening was extreme, it didn't feel like you were there or that it was happening to someone you knew. The violence was easy to detach from kinda like watching a B monster movie. You enjoy it, but you know it's not real and purely entertainment. At the end of the day, this is more of a monster story. It's entertaining but not great literature. It's a fun read but probably better suited to a younger audience. I liked it but didn't love it.
The writing style was well done. It's Bern properly edited, and the story flows seamlessly. The characters are deep enough to get you invested in the story. There is even some real character growth on the part of the mother. It is a fast-paced, plot driven book for beginning horror fans.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
"Negativity invites the devil in"
Triggers - violence, death, murder, child murder, mutilation,
As a small boy, Jacob experiences nightmares of monsters. Coming from a strict religious community where EVERYTHING had to be a carbon copy of "just so," he wasn't allowed to feel the fear. Instead, he escaped into a dream world of the ideal life. Until that is one day a devil, like being known as jingle, takes over his dreams on a nightly basis.
Joel is the head of the family. Strict and religious, he rules over his family under the disciplines set by the church. Fear of failure controls his every move. When his job lays him off, and an unknown family member dies, Joel jumps at the chance to claim the "inherentance" left to him.
A family trip to Europe to claim the "inheretance" proves nightmarish when Jacob's nightmares blend with reality.
As a grown-up who once loved the goosebumps books, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. It's kinda a play on krumpus mythology mixed in with religious zealot .
It's definitely gorry but in an imiture way, not in a scary or gross way. The violence was the same. Even though what was happening was extreme, it didn't feel like you were there or that it was happening to someone you knew. The violence was easy to detach from kinda like watching a B monster movie. You enjoy it, but you know it's not real and purely entertainment. At the end of the day, this is more of a monster story. It's entertaining but not great literature. It's a fun read but probably better suited to a younger audience. I liked it but didn't love it.
The writing style was well done. It's Bern properly edited, and the story flows seamlessly. The characters are deep enough to get you invested in the story. There is even some real character growth on the part of the mother. It is a fast-paced, plot driven book for beginning horror fans.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 7, 2023
When the book starts we learn about the Smith family in the neighborhood they live in every house it’s like every other house the men work the women cook and clean and raise the kids in the kids speak only when spoken to and everyone loves and obeys God and their father… Especially obey their father. We meet the Smith family mama and daddy Smith and the Smith children two girls in a young boy young boy recently started sleeping in his own room and he doesn’t like it. He either has really horrible dreams or great ones and unlike other dreams his five senses or alive in lit while having them. He goes to a little town in Germany that set apart from all the other villages and all the parents take turns having the children in the village over. Especially now that it’s Christmas time in the little boy is super excited because this time when he goes to the little town he’s going to be sleeping by The rugbys. A few years ago the Rigbys lost their one and only sun and so being sensitive to their feelings the residence of Greenview let them borrow out of taking the children for a night at least for a while but now they’re ready to start again and the little boy whose name is Jacob is very excited about this he can’t wait for all the great food and all the friends he’s made in the little village because they’re he can laugh and just be a kid and eat sweets Tillis hearts content. when he arrives however the little town looks the same except it lacks a bit of color everything looks gray and dreary but nonetheless the little boy Jacob is still excited because it’s still better than the Home he comes from but that’s only because Jacob has no idea what’s coming his way. First of all let me say I love the writing style in this book. I have read many books by Gette Tamar and have enjoyed all of them but the way she structures her sentences really proves what a word Smith Miss Tammer really is. I could definitely see parents reading or allowing their older children to read this book for Christmas and maybe some parts may be an appropriate but I would’ve definitely read this to my older children at Christmas and will definitely recommend it to them now. This is a great book that I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend if you love great horror then you’ll love this book. I want to thank Gette Tamar and Book Sirens for my free Ark copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.
August 9, 2023
2.5 stars rounded to 4. In the beginning, I was worried I wouldn't finish this: I found the prose too wordy, the narrative too scattered, the imagery unoriginal. But I persevered and something good came out of it: there are some nice death scenes, lots of creeppy vibes, and if you allow some suspension of disbelief, the nightmarish atmosphere will leave you with a sweet sense of unease throughout. The book, as afar as I'm concerned, is neither about cults nor families. I think it's about the way fantasy blends into fantasy, without ever reaching reality; the permanent postponement of the real, let's say. There are weird towns, gory monsters, family dramas, and rather basurd characters, but they are all portrayed in ways I found too rough, with dream-logic. Perhaps this is a morality tale for children told by the children themselves.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 25, 2024
Thank you to the publisher and author for providing me with a copy of this book for my review!
I recently had the opportunity to read "Hel" by Gitte Tamar, and I have mixed feelings about this book. While there are certainly some standout moments, overall, I found it to be a somewhat conflicting experience. The first few chapters gripped my attention and refused to let go. Until the book turned into a road trip adventure towards the halfway mark.
One of the highlights of the book is Gitte Tamar's unique and captivating prose. Her descriptions are hauntingly beautiful and filled with emotion, which adds depth to the story. The themes are introspective and thought-provoking, tackling themes of love, religion, morality and self-discovery. Tamar's ability to convey raw emotions through her writing is truly commendable. I grew very attached to Jacob and his mom specifically. The horror aspects are bone chilling. The gory imagery is vivid and the action impossible to look away from. The beast alone is worth reading this book for.
An aspect that didn't quite hit the mark for me was the pacing of the story. Some chapters felt too slow and dragged on, which made it difficult to maintain my interest throughout the adventure. I would’ve loved spending more time with the family, in Mountain View, to flesh out their dynamic before diving into the action. I felt we were prematurely removed from this setting. A lot of interesting concepts and ideas were brought up at the beginning of the story regarding the family dynamic and the town they live in.
Despite the drawbacks, I would recommend this story to fans of Krampus. It’s a great Holiday Season short read. I hope to read more from this author. I see a lot of potential and look forward to watching them grow.
I recently had the opportunity to read "Hel" by Gitte Tamar, and I have mixed feelings about this book. While there are certainly some standout moments, overall, I found it to be a somewhat conflicting experience. The first few chapters gripped my attention and refused to let go. Until the book turned into a road trip adventure towards the halfway mark.
One of the highlights of the book is Gitte Tamar's unique and captivating prose. Her descriptions are hauntingly beautiful and filled with emotion, which adds depth to the story. The themes are introspective and thought-provoking, tackling themes of love, religion, morality and self-discovery. Tamar's ability to convey raw emotions through her writing is truly commendable. I grew very attached to Jacob and his mom specifically. The horror aspects are bone chilling. The gory imagery is vivid and the action impossible to look away from. The beast alone is worth reading this book for.
An aspect that didn't quite hit the mark for me was the pacing of the story. Some chapters felt too slow and dragged on, which made it difficult to maintain my interest throughout the adventure. I would’ve loved spending more time with the family, in Mountain View, to flesh out their dynamic before diving into the action. I felt we were prematurely removed from this setting. A lot of interesting concepts and ideas were brought up at the beginning of the story regarding the family dynamic and the town they live in.
Despite the drawbacks, I would recommend this story to fans of Krampus. It’s a great Holiday Season short read. I hope to read more from this author. I see a lot of potential and look forward to watching them grow.
July 22, 2023
This blood-soaked fairy take is not for the young or light-hearted!
I didn’t love this, but there was a lot to applaud. Starting with that, I like the overall vibe, and the idea of taking an existing mythology and building on it, even though it isn’t clear that is happening until the end. The story read like a fairy tale, told from the perspective of a distant, uninterested narrator. Ultimately I feel like this didn’t work in the story’s favor, but I appreciated how it established the parameters of the story and located it within this genre that somehow straddles the whimsical with folk horror, which is actually resonant with older fairy tales, a la the brothers Grimm. The scenes of violence were quite horrific and did not shy away from the gore, and they did a great job at reminding you this was a normal morality tale. Plus, I appreciate any attempt at wrangling with ideas of control, marginalization, and societal and familial expectations in art, and that was a very clear intention with this story, which I appreciated.
Here is how it didn’t quite hold together for me, and why my three stars are being generous from a two and a half. Everything felt ham-fisted and forced. Firstly, the characters have almost no nuance, especially the father and mother, and by extension the domineering, patriarchal religious community they are part of. I am 100% onboard with the targets the author is aiming at, but there isn’t any finesse, and it reads more like a diatribe than a critique. It is easy to root against stereotypes, far more interesting to root against characters that have at least some sympathetic, normalizing characteristics, making the self-righteous violence they inflict all the more monstrous. I thought the plotting and pacing were good, it is a short story and it moves at a good pace, but none of it felt believable. Part of that was the decision to narrate it in the style that was used, in this fairy tale approximation, which really did not give me nearly as much interiority to the characters as I would have wanted. I just didn't feel like there were stakes or like I cared about anyone. And the way the characters act, especially in the second half of the story, are just absurd. None of their decisions make sense, and it felt reminiscent o a mediocre horror movie where the characters make all the wrong decisions just because any semblance of survival instinct or logic would ruin the plot, which ultimately feels cheap. The characters should make smart decisions and still meet the same fate, and nothing in the second half felt grounded in reality. Lastly, the decision for the monster to only speak in rhyme, while I guess trying to fit the fairy tale motif and also make the monster more terrifying, it just didn’t work for me. It felt really, really forced, and I dreaded every time it spoke, I almost would have rather it stay silent. Lastly, the driving character was a five-year-old child, and that never felt real to me. He was constantly making emotional decisions that were far beyond what a young child would be able to understand. I enjoy stories that come from the perspective of children, especially as they can be remarkably unreliable narrators, yet this story never felt like it nailed the tone or perspective in a convincing way, I always felt the artifice right up in front of the story.
The long and short? A really fun premise, a gory and disturbing story harkening back to fairy tales of old, but instead of being some sort of morality tale highlights the destructive natures of religio-patriarchy and the suffocating control of familial expectations. The skillfulness of the story’s construction doesn’t quite live up to the overall idea, which is a shame. If you want your whimsical folk horror to have nuanced characters making situation-appropriate decisions and yet still finding punishment for daring to want independence, well, this story might leave you out in the cold. If you want a quick, bloody winter romp that plays on your fears of what might wait in the dark then you can find a good time here.
I want to thank the author, the publisher BTW LLC, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I didn’t love this, but there was a lot to applaud. Starting with that, I like the overall vibe, and the idea of taking an existing mythology and building on it, even though it isn’t clear that is happening until the end. The story read like a fairy tale, told from the perspective of a distant, uninterested narrator. Ultimately I feel like this didn’t work in the story’s favor, but I appreciated how it established the parameters of the story and located it within this genre that somehow straddles the whimsical with folk horror, which is actually resonant with older fairy tales, a la the brothers Grimm. The scenes of violence were quite horrific and did not shy away from the gore, and they did a great job at reminding you this was a normal morality tale. Plus, I appreciate any attempt at wrangling with ideas of control, marginalization, and societal and familial expectations in art, and that was a very clear intention with this story, which I appreciated.
Here is how it didn’t quite hold together for me, and why my three stars are being generous from a two and a half. Everything felt ham-fisted and forced. Firstly, the characters have almost no nuance, especially the father and mother, and by extension the domineering, patriarchal religious community they are part of. I am 100% onboard with the targets the author is aiming at, but there isn’t any finesse, and it reads more like a diatribe than a critique. It is easy to root against stereotypes, far more interesting to root against characters that have at least some sympathetic, normalizing characteristics, making the self-righteous violence they inflict all the more monstrous. I thought the plotting and pacing were good, it is a short story and it moves at a good pace, but none of it felt believable. Part of that was the decision to narrate it in the style that was used, in this fairy tale approximation, which really did not give me nearly as much interiority to the characters as I would have wanted. I just didn't feel like there were stakes or like I cared about anyone. And the way the characters act, especially in the second half of the story, are just absurd. None of their decisions make sense, and it felt reminiscent o a mediocre horror movie where the characters make all the wrong decisions just because any semblance of survival instinct or logic would ruin the plot, which ultimately feels cheap. The characters should make smart decisions and still meet the same fate, and nothing in the second half felt grounded in reality. Lastly, the decision for the monster to only speak in rhyme, while I guess trying to fit the fairy tale motif and also make the monster more terrifying, it just didn’t work for me. It felt really, really forced, and I dreaded every time it spoke, I almost would have rather it stay silent. Lastly, the driving character was a five-year-old child, and that never felt real to me. He was constantly making emotional decisions that were far beyond what a young child would be able to understand. I enjoy stories that come from the perspective of children, especially as they can be remarkably unreliable narrators, yet this story never felt like it nailed the tone or perspective in a convincing way, I always felt the artifice right up in front of the story.
The long and short? A really fun premise, a gory and disturbing story harkening back to fairy tales of old, but instead of being some sort of morality tale highlights the destructive natures of religio-patriarchy and the suffocating control of familial expectations. The skillfulness of the story’s construction doesn’t quite live up to the overall idea, which is a shame. If you want your whimsical folk horror to have nuanced characters making situation-appropriate decisions and yet still finding punishment for daring to want independence, well, this story might leave you out in the cold. If you want a quick, bloody winter romp that plays on your fears of what might wait in the dark then you can find a good time here.
I want to thank the author, the publisher BTW LLC, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 22, 2023
A Stepford-like family living in Utah (aka Mormon) has been invited by their long-lost family to Germany, with the offer of a large inheritance during the Christmas season.
Things don't go...great.
I read this book based on the description alone, and hadn't read any reviews going into it. I hadn't even really put two-and-two together that it takes place during the holiday season (Thanksgiving/Christmas).
The book starts out kinda with Stepford-Wife vibes; the first couple of chapters you are taking a peek into their Utah community, and I was SO excited to see where this was going! a surprise cult read?!
Ooops, I was wrong.
From there we go into the dreams of the 5-year old son....and oooooo boy. Blood and gore and flinging body parts and WHAT.DID.I.SIGN.UP.FOR?! From then on, hold on to your sleigh-bells y'all because things just get gruesome, with the family being terrorized by a Krampus-like monster.
The pros:
-the rhyming from the monster is legit creative
-Christmas themed horror is fun
The cons:
-You feel kinda....distant? Which in some ways, I suppose is a good thing; the violence feels very "apart" from you. Thing B movie gore. You see but don't feel it.
-I never really understood WHY there was this monster.
Overall: if you are looking for a bloody, monster-based Christmas story, then maybe this is for you. I don't especially like super gore OR creature-features, so......2 stars is generous for me. I didn't have fun or enjoy reading this.
Thank you to BookSirens for this ARC. I received this advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
PS: SO many trigger warnings.
Things don't go...great.
I read this book based on the description alone, and hadn't read any reviews going into it. I hadn't even really put two-and-two together that it takes place during the holiday season (Thanksgiving/Christmas).
The book starts out kinda with Stepford-Wife vibes; the first couple of chapters you are taking a peek into their Utah community, and I was SO excited to see where this was going! a surprise cult read?!
Ooops, I was wrong.
From there we go into the dreams of the 5-year old son....and oooooo boy. Blood and gore and flinging body parts and WHAT.DID.I.SIGN.UP.FOR?! From then on, hold on to your sleigh-bells y'all because things just get gruesome, with the family being terrorized by a Krampus-like monster.
The pros:
-the rhyming from the monster is legit creative
-Christmas themed horror is fun
The cons:
-You feel kinda....distant? Which in some ways, I suppose is a good thing; the violence feels very "apart" from you. Thing B movie gore. You see but don't feel it.
-I never really understood WHY there was this monster.
Overall: if you are looking for a bloody, monster-based Christmas story, then maybe this is for you. I don't especially like super gore OR creature-features, so......2 stars is generous for me. I didn't have fun or enjoy reading this.
Thank you to BookSirens for this ARC. I received this advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
PS: SO many trigger warnings.
August 11, 2023
I really really wanted to like this book more than I did. I have been doing a lot of research lately into Norse mythology and Hel is one of the realms of the Norse afterlife ( not associated with the Christian destination of Hell but that is a discussion for another day), so the title of the book was an immediate draw for me. The synopsis provided was also very interesting . Unfortunately, I found that the writing style was just not to my taste. The story is told in a very fairy tale manner that I found to be very distracting. I found it difficult to relate to the characters as they seemed, for the most part, to be caricatures. I thought that the idea was quite original, but the execution was just a miss for me.
Thank you to the publisher and both NetGalley and Booksirens ( long story hahaha) for providing me with the opportunity to read this title free of charge. I am leaving an honest review voluntarily.
Thank you to the publisher and both NetGalley and Booksirens ( long story hahaha) for providing me with the opportunity to read this title free of charge. I am leaving an honest review voluntarily.
August 9, 2023
Thanks to BookSirens for an ARC of this book - but I was disappointed. I felt that the description did not match the story at all. I was interested in the synopsis, and I feel like those aspects were barely mentioned in the book.
I wasn't particularly captivated by the graphic scenes of violence, and I felt that the poetry (with its incredibly haphazard and ever-changing rhythm) was very jarring. It's the kind of thing that works in a film; those creepy childish concepts juxtaposed with pure horror, but I don't think it lands well in book format.
I finished the book out of a vague sense of curiosity as it was only a quick read, but I don't feel much fulfilment for having got to the end.
I wasn't particularly captivated by the graphic scenes of violence, and I felt that the poetry (with its incredibly haphazard and ever-changing rhythm) was very jarring. It's the kind of thing that works in a film; those creepy childish concepts juxtaposed with pure horror, but I don't think it lands well in book format.
I finished the book out of a vague sense of curiosity as it was only a quick read, but I don't feel much fulfilment for having got to the end.
July 19, 2023
Thank you BookSirens and Gitte Tamar for this ARC. I happily leave this review.
From the moment you start reading this story, a feeling of unease sets in. While everyone acts compliant and "just so" on the surface, we are privy to the thoughts of our main characters. This sort of performative existence allows terrifying things to take hold without alarm bells (no pun intended) going off. Jingles is here to mess stuff up for this sweet family.
Gitte does an incredible job of world building, and several descriptions of Jacob's dreamland reminded me of Clive Barker's The Theif of Always. Overall, this was a thrilling adventure, and I give it my recommendation!
From the moment you start reading this story, a feeling of unease sets in. While everyone acts compliant and "just so" on the surface, we are privy to the thoughts of our main characters. This sort of performative existence allows terrifying things to take hold without alarm bells (no pun intended) going off. Jingles is here to mess stuff up for this sweet family.
Gitte does an incredible job of world building, and several descriptions of Jacob's dreamland reminded me of Clive Barker's The Theif of Always. Overall, this was a thrilling adventure, and I give it my recommendation!
July 20, 2023
A gripping story filled with suspense, family dynamics, and unexpected twists. Hel centers around Joel, a man desperate to provide for his family after losing his job. When he receives an invitation promising a large inheritance, he impulsively embarks on a trip to his ancestral village in Europe, hoping to secure a better future. However, what awaits him there is far from the wealth he anticipated.
Gitte Tamar's storytelling is impeccable, keeping me on the edge of my seats from start to finish.
Gitte Tamar's storytelling is impeccable, keeping me on the edge of my seats from start to finish.
July 20, 2023
Let me tell you about the rollercoaster ride I just experienced in Hel by Gitte Tamar. From the very first page, I was hooked. Picture this: Joel, a guy who's just lost his job, gets a mysterious email about a fat inheritance. Desperate to secure his family's future and maintain his image within an extremist community, he takes his family on a wild trip to Europe, expecting a life of luxury. But boy, does he get more than he bargained for!
I couldn't put this book down. It's like the author threw me headfirst into this twisted story and I couldn’t stop turning the pages.
I couldn't put this book down. It's like the author threw me headfirst into this twisted story and I couldn’t stop turning the pages.
July 25, 2023
Thank you to the publishers - Buzzbook.net - for giving me access to this book as an E-ARC via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
I have discovered that I am a person who enjoys reading horror, which is an eye-opener, really. This sounded like previous horror books I've enjoyed by other authors, but i failed to connect properly.
This is - at the start of the book - a family story and nightmares have a part of the story. This later turns out to be pretty real dreams and a real monster. Very much body horror, I'd say, but not horrific enough to make an impact on my "ew"-nerve, which is preferable in this genre.
I have discovered that I am a person who enjoys reading horror, which is an eye-opener, really. This sounded like previous horror books I've enjoyed by other authors, but i failed to connect properly.
This is - at the start of the book - a family story and nightmares have a part of the story. This later turns out to be pretty real dreams and a real monster. Very much body horror, I'd say, but not horrific enough to make an impact on my "ew"-nerve, which is preferable in this genre.
August 13, 2023
One of my favorite books of the year. There was so much emotion in the family dynamics and it was raw. You truly felt the oppression in the beginning from the cult like views, but by the end damn what a transformation. This is a story of love, loss, and overcoming your past. I loved the vividness of the writing and truly felt I was inside the mind of the monster. There isn't a single word that doesn't benefit this story. Absolutely amazing. I am so thankful I got to read an ARC of this and am leaving this review to say go read it. You won't be sorry.
August 14, 2023
This was a…. very…. unique story.
A touch of demonic Christmas spirit, cults, Germanic villages, etc. It’s interesting? I loved the beginning with the cult like town, and Jacob’s dream sequences.
I wasn’t so much a fan of the family holiday part and the ending… it just didn’t feel as fully developed and the characters took on traits that seemed kind of bizarre. I won’t say anymore as they would be spoilers, but give this story a go as it is definitely different and has a dark and malicious creature at its heart.
Thank you to the author & Booksirens for a copy!
A touch of demonic Christmas spirit, cults, Germanic villages, etc. It’s interesting? I loved the beginning with the cult like town, and Jacob’s dream sequences.
I wasn’t so much a fan of the family holiday part and the ending… it just didn’t feel as fully developed and the characters took on traits that seemed kind of bizarre. I won’t say anymore as they would be spoilers, but give this story a go as it is definitely different and has a dark and malicious creature at its heart.
Thank you to the author & Booksirens for a copy!
September 15, 2023
After the first few pages, I knew this was a book I wasn’t going to be able to put down, until I got to The End. If you like dark, absolutely unpredictable, twisted, raise-the-hair-on-the-back-of-your-neck type of suspense as much as I do, you can't go wrong with this book!
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book from in order to read and provide a voluntary and honest review, should I choose to do so.
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book from in order to read and provide a voluntary and honest review, should I choose to do so.
August 2, 2023
There are times when I wish a horror story could win me over when I struggled with the beginning. While the writing is okay, the story itself did not pull me in completely throughout.
September 13, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and BTW LLC for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Also, thank you to the writer for all the hard work!
This certainly was an interesting take on Krampus. At least it's very similar. An evil entity named Jingles is hunting our main character. This book is filled with terror, gore, and malevolence. I couldn't stop reading this the moment I picked it up unless I had no choice. The fear is definitely felt in the writing.
The writing is written beautifully and with such detail. I could definitely feel the anger, sadness, fear, and adrenaline. You could imagine the scenes play out, and it's just a great piece.
This certainly will Male you want to know if there are any curses or dark things in your family's past.
This certainly was an interesting take on Krampus. At least it's very similar. An evil entity named Jingles is hunting our main character. This book is filled with terror, gore, and malevolence. I couldn't stop reading this the moment I picked it up unless I had no choice. The fear is definitely felt in the writing.
The writing is written beautifully and with such detail. I could definitely feel the anger, sadness, fear, and adrenaline. You could imagine the scenes play out, and it's just a great piece.
This certainly will Male you want to know if there are any curses or dark things in your family's past.
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