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Clay Boy
Caleb Jenkins is a bullied middle schooler that everyone calls Clay Boy, due to the way he uses clay therapy to cope with the tragic murder of his mother at the hands of a serial killer. While at school, he discovers a playful video on how to create an imaginary best friend called a tulpa, but the more he interacts with his mental creation the more real and self-thinking it becomes, eventually convincing Caleb to sculpt a body for it to inhabit in order to unleash the hate that both share upon his bullies and the entire community of Wheeler's Cove, Tennessee.
178 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 24, 2023
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127 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
July 20, 2024
Caleb Jenkins witnesses the violent death of his mother at the hands of a serial killer. He was very young at the time and was sent to live with his aunt and uncle. His uncle is a preacher-one of THOSE preachers- that constantly talk about the end times. You know-the fire and brimstone type of guy. His aunt believes she's married to a prophet and she often has visions of her own. When Caleb came into their lives they had no other children and perhaps didn't know how to properly care for a child? Caleb ends up very lonely and creates himself an imaginary friend out of clay. Shortly thereafter, his friend comes to life and Caleb names him Grendel. What happens next? You'll have to read this to find out!
Why aren't there more books about tulpas? The word comes from Tibet and loosely means a "body created by the mind." Think about that. There are so many places a story like that could go!
In this case it goes into the mind of a lonely boy who has suffered the loss of his mother. He uses clay as therapy and becomes skilled at molding the substance into all kinds of creatures. Why not a friend? Caleb is constantly bullied at school. Imagine bullying a kid over witnessing his mother's savage death. I mean, how cruel can you be? Kids are often brutal to each other and I think Craig Sawyer nailed that part of this narrative.
There's a doctor in this book and it was his portions that I liked the best. The story is interspersed with chapters about this doctor and his experiments. He calls people with tulpas "tulpamancers," and is focused on learning more about them through his studies. As such, he's really the only one who is capable of dealing with such a threat. At first, we are treated to some of his journal entries and notes and then further on he becomes more involved in the story.
The doctor needs to be involved because Caleb's tulpa is now on the loose and it will do anything to keep Caleb safe. And I mean ANYTHING. This book gets a lot gorier than I expected, but I was down with it-this is a horror book after all.
I felt like the pacing here was a bit off at times near the middle, but the last third or so hums by in a glorious reckoning for everyone involved, including some that didn't deserve it. That's what happens with tulpas once they are autonomous-you'll never know what they might get up to.
I want to say here that I like what Brigid's Gate press is doing. They're a small press that loves the horror and fantasy genres and they're out there giving newer authors a chance to see their work in print. I think that's important. There are a lot of options out there over and above the usual King and Koontz. I want to hear from these authors, I want to hear their new ideas and I want to get a look at their prose. Apparently, Brigid's Gate wants the same thing, and for that reason I do and will continue to support them.
Thanks to Brigid's Gate and a kindly, patient inquiry from Craig Sawyer, I was made aware of this book and I'm so glad I gave it a chance! Clay Boy is not perfect, but it was good enough for me to fly through it in two days and at times, I wished it were longer. I look forward to seeing what Craig Sawyer does in the future because he's definitely got the chops.
Highly recommended!
*I bought this book with my hard-earned cash. Support small presses!*
Why aren't there more books about tulpas? The word comes from Tibet and loosely means a "body created by the mind." Think about that. There are so many places a story like that could go!
In this case it goes into the mind of a lonely boy who has suffered the loss of his mother. He uses clay as therapy and becomes skilled at molding the substance into all kinds of creatures. Why not a friend? Caleb is constantly bullied at school. Imagine bullying a kid over witnessing his mother's savage death. I mean, how cruel can you be? Kids are often brutal to each other and I think Craig Sawyer nailed that part of this narrative.
There's a doctor in this book and it was his portions that I liked the best. The story is interspersed with chapters about this doctor and his experiments. He calls people with tulpas "tulpamancers," and is focused on learning more about them through his studies. As such, he's really the only one who is capable of dealing with such a threat. At first, we are treated to some of his journal entries and notes and then further on he becomes more involved in the story.
The doctor needs to be involved because Caleb's tulpa is now on the loose and it will do anything to keep Caleb safe. And I mean ANYTHING. This book gets a lot gorier than I expected, but I was down with it-this is a horror book after all.
I felt like the pacing here was a bit off at times near the middle, but the last third or so hums by in a glorious reckoning for everyone involved, including some that didn't deserve it. That's what happens with tulpas once they are autonomous-you'll never know what they might get up to.
I want to say here that I like what Brigid's Gate press is doing. They're a small press that loves the horror and fantasy genres and they're out there giving newer authors a chance to see their work in print. I think that's important. There are a lot of options out there over and above the usual King and Koontz. I want to hear from these authors, I want to hear their new ideas and I want to get a look at their prose. Apparently, Brigid's Gate wants the same thing, and for that reason I do and will continue to support them.
Thanks to Brigid's Gate and a kindly, patient inquiry from Craig Sawyer, I was made aware of this book and I'm so glad I gave it a chance! Clay Boy is not perfect, but it was good enough for me to fly through it in two days and at times, I wished it were longer. I look forward to seeing what Craig Sawyer does in the future because he's definitely got the chops.
Highly recommended!
*I bought this book with my hard-earned cash. Support small presses!*
October 1, 2023
4⭐️
this book literally had me SHAKING IN MY BOOTS…it’s not very often that a horror book actually scares me or freaks me out but this…THIS DID. i’m convinced i’m gonna have at least one nightmare about this book. it was so graphic and written so well the details really made the book!!
this book follows caleb, a young boy who is bullied for being different. caleb uses clay to cope with his anxiety and so everyone refers to him as, “Clay Boy.” one day while in detention, caleb comes across a video on how to make a Tulpa, a creation derived from one’s imagination and can only be created by those was telekinetic abilities. this Tulpa will do everything it can to protect caleb…even by destroyed everyone around him and those who have wrong him. 👀
Craig E. Sawyer, did you put crack in this book? cause it was absolutely ADDICTIVE. it’s a very short book (only takes about 2 and a half hours to read the whole thing) but it was written SO FREAKING WELL. i got goosebumps and shivers were timbered. overall an AMAZING spooky read that will keep you on the edge of your seat!
thank you to netgalley, brigids gate press, and craig e. sawyer for this arc in exchange for an honest review!! <3
this book literally had me SHAKING IN MY BOOTS…it’s not very often that a horror book actually scares me or freaks me out but this…THIS DID. i’m convinced i’m gonna have at least one nightmare about this book. it was so graphic and written so well the details really made the book!!
this book follows caleb, a young boy who is bullied for being different. caleb uses clay to cope with his anxiety and so everyone refers to him as, “Clay Boy.” one day while in detention, caleb comes across a video on how to make a Tulpa, a creation derived from one’s imagination and can only be created by those was telekinetic abilities. this Tulpa will do everything it can to protect caleb…even by destroyed everyone around him and those who have wrong him. 👀
Craig E. Sawyer, did you put crack in this book? cause it was absolutely ADDICTIVE. it’s a very short book (only takes about 2 and a half hours to read the whole thing) but it was written SO FREAKING WELL. i got goosebumps and shivers were timbered. overall an AMAZING spooky read that will keep you on the edge of your seat!
thank you to netgalley, brigids gate press, and craig e. sawyer for this arc in exchange for an honest review!! <3
September 20, 2023
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available. The cover and synopsis intrigued me. I'm a sucker for small town supernatural stories involving a creepy kid. Clay Boy is a good blend of bloody thriller and psychological horror story. It utilizes a rarely used supernatural phenomenon called a tulpa. It's a supposedly real creepy thing. I will not go too deeply into it here, you'll just have to read. Remember the Slender Man story of two little girls killing their friend? The tale revolves around a troubled middle schooler named Caleb who witnessed his mother brutally killed by a serial killer. He survived the ordeal, but the serial killer was never caught, and as you'll read, he has returned to the small community of Wheeler's Cove.
Caleb goes to live with his aunt and uncle. His uncle is a hellfire and brimstone preacher who tells his congregation that God shows him the future. The strictness of his home life, combined with his tragic past, and a bad stutter makes the boy an emotional train wreck. He is an obvious target for bullies at his school. They call his Clay Boy due to the way he always uses clay as therapy. He has no friends, but all this changes when he discovers a Youtube video of how to make a tulpa – a best friend that will always be there for you, but he fails to read the last bit that details that if you create one for the wrong reason and not follow the rules really bad things will happen, oh and they do! It's a great reinterpretation of the ol' golem story mixed with a Stephen King “Carrie” vibe and a dash of other possessed kid stories and movies. The recent movie Cobweb movie comes to mind, not the same, but a similar vibe.
Caleb goes to live with his aunt and uncle. His uncle is a hellfire and brimstone preacher who tells his congregation that God shows him the future. The strictness of his home life, combined with his tragic past, and a bad stutter makes the boy an emotional train wreck. He is an obvious target for bullies at his school. They call his Clay Boy due to the way he always uses clay as therapy. He has no friends, but all this changes when he discovers a Youtube video of how to make a tulpa – a best friend that will always be there for you, but he fails to read the last bit that details that if you create one for the wrong reason and not follow the rules really bad things will happen, oh and they do! It's a great reinterpretation of the ol' golem story mixed with a Stephen King “Carrie” vibe and a dash of other possessed kid stories and movies. The recent movie Cobweb movie comes to mind, not the same, but a similar vibe.
December 27, 2023
Not what I expected! A coming of age horror story coupled with what felt like psychological research on ‘mental health’ and ‘tulpas’. For me there were elements of this story that were fantastic, especially the storyline between the kids and their friendships/bullying etc. I think where this book went slightly wrong was by trying to achieve too much and the various narrative voices/storylines convoluted the overall plot!
October 23, 2023
Craig E. Sawyer's 'Clay Boy' has a great premise: Caleb, a boy bullied and tormented since early in his life, uses clay for anxiety therapy, without knowing that he has the ability to create Tulpas; namely, entities that start in thought and imagination and end up incarnated in reality. The Tulpa he comes up with begins as an imaginary friend for emotional support, but turns very fast into a sinister being ready to defend Caleb at any cost. The paranormal aspects of the story are stressed repeatedly thoughout the book, thanks to the author's choice to involve a paranormal investigator-cum-psychologist-cum-writer in the tale. This way we get the necessary "info dumps" without feeling overly bombarded with detailed information on Tulpas.
The book has incredible dialogue, sharp, smart, and realistic-sounding. I personally had some issues with the pacing, but I still found the story wonderful: the atmosphere often hits a disturbingly spooky note and floods you with eerie creepiness, and the book is an easy read! Recommended!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!
The book has incredible dialogue, sharp, smart, and realistic-sounding. I personally had some issues with the pacing, but I still found the story wonderful: the atmosphere often hits a disturbingly spooky note and floods you with eerie creepiness, and the book is an easy read! Recommended!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!
October 12, 2023
A Horror Bookworm Recommendation
Clay Boy by Craig E. Sawyer
https://horrorbookwormreviews.com/
A young boy, ladened with childhood tragedies, Caleb Jenkins is struggling to deal with his severe stuttering and social awkwardness. Living with his Aunt and Uncle in the small community of Wheeler’s Cove has become a struggle as he is constantly bullied and harassed. Meanwhile, Wheeler’s Cove has its own dark history regarding a serial killer known as the Cove Strangler. Although years ago and never caught, another victim has recently been discovered in the nearby wooded area. This brings local monstrosity to a new level.
I want to start my review by mentioning this is Craig E. Sawyer’s first novel. Wow, this bit of information blows me away, as did his novel. So let’s begin… Sawyer’s process of building his characters from the ground up is pretty remarkable. Psychokinetic abilities, self-proclaimed prophets and a gruesome encounter with the Cove Strangler all provide a natural method of connection to the reader. Who would have thought a child’s distorted imaginary friend could split the realms of imagination and reality with such horrific consequences.
Craig E. Sawyer has effectively provided a coping mechanism between fire and brimstone & science and the paranormal. These unadulterated paths of otherworldly happenings lead to ominous clouds of shocks, frights and repulsions. That which is considered to be a concept of good vs evil is cleverly summarized within these pages of Clay Boy. Do you believe in the devil? Do you believe in demonic possession? Do you believe in evil in its purest form? Author Craig E. Sawyer would like to show you something.
What Stephen King’s The Shining did for Hotels and what William Peter Blatty’s The Exorcist did for Catholicism, Craig E. Sawyer’s Clay Boy has done for Tulpas. In these present times, it’s good time to be a horror fan. A five star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Horror Bookworm Recommendation.
Clay Boy by Craig E. Sawyer
https://horrorbookwormreviews.com/
A young boy, ladened with childhood tragedies, Caleb Jenkins is struggling to deal with his severe stuttering and social awkwardness. Living with his Aunt and Uncle in the small community of Wheeler’s Cove has become a struggle as he is constantly bullied and harassed. Meanwhile, Wheeler’s Cove has its own dark history regarding a serial killer known as the Cove Strangler. Although years ago and never caught, another victim has recently been discovered in the nearby wooded area. This brings local monstrosity to a new level.
I want to start my review by mentioning this is Craig E. Sawyer’s first novel. Wow, this bit of information blows me away, as did his novel. So let’s begin… Sawyer’s process of building his characters from the ground up is pretty remarkable. Psychokinetic abilities, self-proclaimed prophets and a gruesome encounter with the Cove Strangler all provide a natural method of connection to the reader. Who would have thought a child’s distorted imaginary friend could split the realms of imagination and reality with such horrific consequences.
Craig E. Sawyer has effectively provided a coping mechanism between fire and brimstone & science and the paranormal. These unadulterated paths of otherworldly happenings lead to ominous clouds of shocks, frights and repulsions. That which is considered to be a concept of good vs evil is cleverly summarized within these pages of Clay Boy. Do you believe in the devil? Do you believe in demonic possession? Do you believe in evil in its purest form? Author Craig E. Sawyer would like to show you something.
What Stephen King’s The Shining did for Hotels and what William Peter Blatty’s The Exorcist did for Catholicism, Craig E. Sawyer’s Clay Boy has done for Tulpas. In these present times, it’s good time to be a horror fan. A five star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Horror Bookworm Recommendation.
September 10, 2023
Clay Boy is a shorter supernatural novel that brings to bloody life a creature known as a Tulpa.
A young teenage boy is relentlessly bullied at school. He was just a year old when his mother was brutally murdered at the hands of a serial killer who has never been captured.
He lives in his own head, being emotionally and socially awkward. The therapy he applies is making things with his hands from clay. He's always carrying some which his bullies use to taunt him with the nickname, Clay Boy.
But one day he forms an imaginary friend. A best friend. A friend who will protect him. This imaginary companion soon turns into something very real and very evil. And it will do anything to protect his creator.
This will lead to some gleefully gruesome scenes as this thing takes control of our protagonist and delivers some horrifying justice.
In the meantime, it appears the serial killer that murdered his mother is back...and might not have ever left their small town. People here have some dark twisted secrets and they'll do what's necessary to keep them hidden.
There's also a doctor with a PhD who firmly believes this is the work of a supernatural creature called a Tulpa and he sets out to prove it.
Shady small town secrets, a supernatural thing leaving a bloody death trail wherever it goes, and people who are not who they seem to be all come together to make this a great read.
It's going to get gory and brutal but also has a fantastic narrative centered around these scenes. I highly recommend it!
A young teenage boy is relentlessly bullied at school. He was just a year old when his mother was brutally murdered at the hands of a serial killer who has never been captured.
He lives in his own head, being emotionally and socially awkward. The therapy he applies is making things with his hands from clay. He's always carrying some which his bullies use to taunt him with the nickname, Clay Boy.
But one day he forms an imaginary friend. A best friend. A friend who will protect him. This imaginary companion soon turns into something very real and very evil. And it will do anything to protect his creator.
This will lead to some gleefully gruesome scenes as this thing takes control of our protagonist and delivers some horrifying justice.
In the meantime, it appears the serial killer that murdered his mother is back...and might not have ever left their small town. People here have some dark twisted secrets and they'll do what's necessary to keep them hidden.
There's also a doctor with a PhD who firmly believes this is the work of a supernatural creature called a Tulpa and he sets out to prove it.
Shady small town secrets, a supernatural thing leaving a bloody death trail wherever it goes, and people who are not who they seem to be all come together to make this a great read.
It's going to get gory and brutal but also has a fantastic narrative centered around these scenes. I highly recommend it!
September 24, 2023
This was an arc I was approved to read on Netgalley. Thank you so much for that.
This book was amazing! It’s about a kid Caleb (who presents as his somewhat autistic) who deals everyday with bullies at his school that are absolutely relentless. He was adopted by his Aunt and Uncle because when Caleb was young his mom had been murdered by a serial killer.
He learns how to conjure a Tulpa (google it). I absolutely loved everything and how it was laid out. It had some psychology and notes in it. Definitely creative and I LOVED it! I can’t wait until it’s released and can get the actual book. Bravo!
This book was amazing! It’s about a kid Caleb (who presents as his somewhat autistic) who deals everyday with bullies at his school that are absolutely relentless. He was adopted by his Aunt and Uncle because when Caleb was young his mom had been murdered by a serial killer.
He learns how to conjure a Tulpa (google it). I absolutely loved everything and how it was laid out. It had some psychology and notes in it. Definitely creative and I LOVED it! I can’t wait until it’s released and can get the actual book. Bravo!
March 10, 2025
Imagine John Hughes and Stephen King teamed up to make an 80s teen horror - that is this book. I got strong Carrie vibes for the first part of the story, and the second half got dark, dark. The ending was a little abrupt, but I enjoyed this quick read.
February 16, 2025
This was a creepy story! A bullied middle schooler creates an imaginary friend called a tulpa to have a best friend, but things go off the rails. I had never heard of a tulpa, but evidently, it's a real phenomenon, or so some claim. A tulpa is a being created through intense concentration and visualization. The term comes from Tibetan Buddhism, where it refers to a body created by the mind. It was written well with some memorable characters that I genuinely cared about. It had several subplots that may turn some off, but it's a quick read that I finished in one setting. I kept thinking this would make a great movie.
September 12, 2023
I don't see a lot of horror lately using the subject of tulpas for the scares and I really enjoyed that something that I remember from the days of creepy pasta was making some kind of comeback. Very tense at points and able to keep my attention the entire time, finished in one sitting.
September 4, 2025
Clay Boy by Craig E Sawyer is about Caleb who after his mom was murdered went to live with his aunt Louise and uncle Barry who loved him as if he were their son. To deal with the overwhelming emotions about his murdered mother and his anxiety he likes to make things out of clay And sometimes just having it in his pocket makes him feel better. Unfortunately there are those at school who love nothing more than to bully him but when new girl Helen Darder starts at Caleb‘s high school he soon has a friend and someone to stand up for him unfortunately she may just be a little too late because through his feelings of impotence And insecurity the clay he carries with him becomes a golem named Grim and unlike Caleb Grim isn’t afraid of anyone. This is a great book there’s even a Doctor Who studies this and believes Caleb and other kids like him conform emotional golems but it will be up to Caleb to stop Grim once his not so nice side appears because Grim will deliver all the anger and hostility Caleb has built up since losing his mother. No one is safe especially those who wronged Caleb. There was also a sub plot in the story that I thought meshed well with the main plot and that was coach/principal Darder moving back to his hometown and yet not wanting to speak to his father the sheriff who was cruel to him when he was little and he wrestles with whether he wants his daughter Helen to have a relationship with him. I thought that story in the outcome meshed with the main plot made for a solid read and one I absolutely loved I cannot wait to read more by this author I found his books through short stories and he is just another one of those hidden gems most people haven’t heard of I truly truly enjoyed this book. #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview, #CraigESawyer, #ClayBoy, in the town.
November 1, 2023
Read from October 18th, 2023 to October 31st, 2023.
What a great story! It was so compelling to read and a great way to spend the time.
This was incredibly different than a lot of stuff I've read. The multiple points of view, the back and forth in the storyline and the connections among characters make it a very intriguing book. Also, the fact that it isn't a big book helps to enjoy it much easier since the story is not filled with information that we don't care about for the main storyline.
It is also insane that Tulpas are actual things in this world, making the story so much more frightening since it can be a reality. Great research on that behalf from the author.
Read it and enjoy it. Also amazing that I finished it on Halloween; makes it all the more creepy.
Signing off,
B.
What a great story! It was so compelling to read and a great way to spend the time.
This was incredibly different than a lot of stuff I've read. The multiple points of view, the back and forth in the storyline and the connections among characters make it a very intriguing book. Also, the fact that it isn't a big book helps to enjoy it much easier since the story is not filled with information that we don't care about for the main storyline.
It is also insane that Tulpas are actual things in this world, making the story so much more frightening since it can be a reality. Great research on that behalf from the author.
Read it and enjoy it. Also amazing that I finished it on Halloween; makes it all the more creepy.
Signing off,
B.
November 17, 2023
Caleb is lonely, bullied, traumatized and anxious. The kids at school call him Clay Boy as he always has clay with him and has a talent for creating remarkably realistic clay figures. Guided by a YouTube video Caleb decides to create what he’s never had….a best friend. Thus. Gren is brought into the world by way of Caleb’s imagination, drawings and clay. Gren is at once imaginary and very real….like a Tulpa is meant to be.
I’ve across very few books that include a Tulpa in their story. Clay Boy is by far the most informative, educating the reader on the Tulpa, lore while entertaining us with creepy imagery and the constant threat of peril. Gren, the Tulpa, isn’t the 0nly scary, deadly threat in this small town. Beware the evil deeds of humans, beware the attack goat, be nice to Caleb.
Thank you #netgalley for,this fun, creepy read, #ClayBoy
I’ve across very few books that include a Tulpa in their story. Clay Boy is by far the most informative, educating the reader on the Tulpa, lore while entertaining us with creepy imagery and the constant threat of peril. Gren, the Tulpa, isn’t the 0nly scary, deadly threat in this small town. Beware the evil deeds of humans, beware the attack goat, be nice to Caleb.
Thank you #netgalley for,this fun, creepy read, #ClayBoy
October 5, 2023
Clay Boy is a story of a young boy named Caleb and the strange, menacing incidents that happen around him. Initially, I found the writing style more YA or amateurish which is not much my style. I continued anyway to be able to give my review full justice and, after a few chapters in, I was drawn in. Chapters mix between articles written by the psychologist assisting Caleb and Caleb’s storyline. There is an underlying feeling of creepiness as the book progresses, along with the plot of a serial killer who was never caught years earlier. This was a very quick, simple read for me and I did enjoy the excitement throughout.
I was gifted this book as an ARC reader through NetGalley. Thank you for the opportunity!
I was gifted this book as an ARC reader through NetGalley. Thank you for the opportunity!
October 5, 2023
This was a very good read taking imaginary friends to a whole new level. Very well written and easy to read. Holds your interest to keep reading. As I was reading, I kept thinking this would be a good movie. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC of this book n return for my honest review. Receiving the book in this manner had no bearing on my review.
October 29, 2023
This was a very interesting concept. I had never heard of tulpas until this book. I thought the characters were well written, and the story kept me turning pages. It could have been a little longer, but it was a well written and creepy story. It reminded me of a Stephen King book. I feel it would make a great film. I highly recommend it!
October 31, 2023
Perfect for Halloween and Beyond
Craig Sawyer spins a frightening and convincing tale based on paranormal science. Suffice it to say I am getting rid of all the playdoh in my house! The story builds like Stephen King and reads with the constant suspense that keeps you turning the page for more. More than a Goodread!
Craig Sawyer spins a frightening and convincing tale based on paranormal science. Suffice it to say I am getting rid of all the playdoh in my house! The story builds like Stephen King and reads with the constant suspense that keeps you turning the page for more. More than a Goodread!
December 8, 2025
Imagination on a whole new level
Bullying is something that unfortunately a lot of kids endure. This book is about a boy who has some mental issues and only wants friends. He stays to himself but of course he gets picked on for being different. He makes a figure out of clay and conjures a friend to it. That friend ends up causing more harm than good.
Bullying is something that unfortunately a lot of kids endure. This book is about a boy who has some mental issues and only wants friends. He stays to himself but of course he gets picked on for being different. He makes a figure out of clay and conjures a friend to it. That friend ends up causing more harm than good.
September 22, 2023
Thank you, Craig E. Sawyer and NetGalley for the ARC. I leave this review voluntarily and happily. Also, thank you publishers for your hard work!
I truly enjoyed reading this book. This was more than horror. It was teaching a lesson and not only that, I got to learn about something I had no idea about. Truly interesting it was. I also enjoyed all the characters. Caleb, of course, was my absolute favorite. My second would definitely be Helen. This book does contain some gore, but it's not too heavy on it. If you should worry about anything, it's the language, animal death, and bullying.
A boy tired of being bullied, and being alone does something to change all that. He creates someone to be his friend. Doing so, of course, that requires a lot more than you think. If you could do this and they keep you safe, would you? Even if, in the end, bad things were happening?
This book was also a murder mystery of sorts, and I did not expect who the murderer was. This is definitely a book I'll be rereading again in the future. I absolutely loved reading it.
I truly enjoyed reading this book. This was more than horror. It was teaching a lesson and not only that, I got to learn about something I had no idea about. Truly interesting it was. I also enjoyed all the characters. Caleb, of course, was my absolute favorite. My second would definitely be Helen. This book does contain some gore, but it's not too heavy on it. If you should worry about anything, it's the language, animal death, and bullying.
A boy tired of being bullied, and being alone does something to change all that. He creates someone to be his friend. Doing so, of course, that requires a lot more than you think. If you could do this and they keep you safe, would you? Even if, in the end, bad things were happening?
This book was also a murder mystery of sorts, and I did not expect who the murderer was. This is definitely a book I'll be rereading again in the future. I absolutely loved reading it.
October 11, 2023
This book feels half-finished at best and needs another 2-3 drafts. I was barely invested… things seemed to happen with no rhyme or reason and there was way too much going on in such a short span of time to make any of it meaningful. So many things were rushed, and it felt like there were entire sections missing from the book because no one’s motivations were clear. The dialogue was unnatural in many parts and didn’t at all feel the way real people talk. The premise sounded cool but unfortunately I didn’t enjoy it.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.
February 26, 2024
A captivating psychological thriller that delves deep into the minds of its characters. Prepare to be haunted long after you finish the last page.
January 2, 2024
It has been said that the human mind is the true final frontier. In that squishy gray matter between our ears originates every earthly idea, impulse, urge, desire and function, and there are those who argue the mind is capable of feats—ESP, clairvoyance, telekinesis—as yet unproven by medical science. Certain esoteric disciplines such as Theosophy teach that human thoughts exist in reality as surely as any tangible object, and remote Tibetan Buddhist practitioners have pushed the notion to its extreme with the manifestation of tulpas, three-dimensional corporeal entities conjured solely through concentration. Such thought-forms, it is believed, may initially act in accordance to their creator’s wishes, but can, and often do, develop their own willful, independent personalities. The idea has spread to Western nations via pop culture, and in the internet age tulpas have become identified with the familiar childhood concept of the imaginary friend, with the users of numerous online forums devoted to so-called ‘tulpamancery’ attempting to generate tulpas of their own.
The connection between tulpas, imaginary friends, and the power of the human mind intersect in Craig E. Sawyer’s latest novel, the Brigids Gate Press release Clay Boy. Caleb Jenkins is a middle schooler literally born into trouble; his mother Claire was murdered by a serial strangler stalking the rural roads of tiny Wheeler’s Cove, Tennessee when Caleb was but an infant. Shy, smart and sensitive, the boy grows up a community pariah, at the mercy of both his fundamentalist Christian uncle Nestor, a charlatan ‘prophet’ who exploits the pre-cognitive abilities of his wife to further his backwoods congregation, and the Hyenas, a group of Wheeler Middle School’s tweenage glitterati whose collective pastime is tormenting Caleb for sport. Alone, lonely, and without anyone to turn to, Caleb seeks refuge in his imagination; having been introduced to clay therapy as a way to cope with the emotional wounds left by the loss of his mother, he spends his time crafting vividly lifelike sculptures. After discovering a YouTube video about tulpamancery, however, Caleb inadvertently gives sentience to Gren (short for Grendel), an invisible ‘friend’ who assumes the role of Caleb’s protector. At first Gren’s antics against the town’s wrongdoers are merely mischievous, but when people in Wheeler’s Cove begin dying anew, some suspect Caleb may not be the harmless innocent he appears to be...
There’s a deceptive ease to Clay Boy that belies the skill with which it’s crafted; Sawyer’s story clocks in at 176 compact pages, yet never suffers for the briefness. The novel’s closest literary antecedent is undoubtedly Stephen King’s Carrie; as in that book, Clay Boy focuses on a bullied youth with telekinetic abilities raised by religious zealots who reaps vengeance upon those who’ve sown it. Like King, Sawyer partially relays his story in an epistolary style through newspaper articles, police interview transcripts and excerpts by Caleb’s therapist detailing the boy’s developing tulpamancery, yet what Clay Boy lacks in overt narrative originality it makes up for in other ways; the concept of a tulpa, unlike vampires and werewolves, isn’t yet an overworn fictional trope, and its purposeful connectivity to the Jewish legend of the golem lends the scenario substantial physical menace. The characters, too, are richly drawn: the author displays strident talent for realistic dialogue, such that each actor on his story’s stage has their own highly-developed voice. Wheeler Middle School’s principal, ex-baseball starter Sam Darter, his feisty goth daughter Helen and her would-be video store suitor Donny Myers (called ‘Scares’ due to his penchant for ‘80’s- and ‘90’s horror films) are particularly fun to read, and the author deftly upends overused rural clichés: Caleb’s aunt and uncle, for example, initially portrayed as one-dimensional fire-and-brimstone revivalists, are revealed to be pleasingly complex figures as the storyline progresses. And at the center of the maelstrom is Caleb himself, a complicated boy with an inner darkness molded from years of abuse and pain. His struggles with bullying, depression, loneliness and anger are at once palpable and breathlessly believable.
The weaknesses of Clay Boy are few, though minor ones do exist: the resolution to the Cove Strangler serial killer subplot becomes predictable long before its revelatory denouement, and the novel’s climax, furious, chaotic and satisfying though it may be, is slightly hampered by a sense of open-endedness: an epilogue, even a brief one, informing the audience of the characters’ fates would’ve lent a well-rounded completeness to the plot. It may be that Sawyer has left room for continuing Caleb’s story in future installments; one can hope that is the case, as Clay Boy is a thoroughly enjoyable, inventive and highly entertaining read that earns a well-deserved 4 (out of 5) here on Goodreads. It will be exciting to see what horrors Sawyer evokes next.
The connection between tulpas, imaginary friends, and the power of the human mind intersect in Craig E. Sawyer’s latest novel, the Brigids Gate Press release Clay Boy. Caleb Jenkins is a middle schooler literally born into trouble; his mother Claire was murdered by a serial strangler stalking the rural roads of tiny Wheeler’s Cove, Tennessee when Caleb was but an infant. Shy, smart and sensitive, the boy grows up a community pariah, at the mercy of both his fundamentalist Christian uncle Nestor, a charlatan ‘prophet’ who exploits the pre-cognitive abilities of his wife to further his backwoods congregation, and the Hyenas, a group of Wheeler Middle School’s tweenage glitterati whose collective pastime is tormenting Caleb for sport. Alone, lonely, and without anyone to turn to, Caleb seeks refuge in his imagination; having been introduced to clay therapy as a way to cope with the emotional wounds left by the loss of his mother, he spends his time crafting vividly lifelike sculptures. After discovering a YouTube video about tulpamancery, however, Caleb inadvertently gives sentience to Gren (short for Grendel), an invisible ‘friend’ who assumes the role of Caleb’s protector. At first Gren’s antics against the town’s wrongdoers are merely mischievous, but when people in Wheeler’s Cove begin dying anew, some suspect Caleb may not be the harmless innocent he appears to be...
There’s a deceptive ease to Clay Boy that belies the skill with which it’s crafted; Sawyer’s story clocks in at 176 compact pages, yet never suffers for the briefness. The novel’s closest literary antecedent is undoubtedly Stephen King’s Carrie; as in that book, Clay Boy focuses on a bullied youth with telekinetic abilities raised by religious zealots who reaps vengeance upon those who’ve sown it. Like King, Sawyer partially relays his story in an epistolary style through newspaper articles, police interview transcripts and excerpts by Caleb’s therapist detailing the boy’s developing tulpamancery, yet what Clay Boy lacks in overt narrative originality it makes up for in other ways; the concept of a tulpa, unlike vampires and werewolves, isn’t yet an overworn fictional trope, and its purposeful connectivity to the Jewish legend of the golem lends the scenario substantial physical menace. The characters, too, are richly drawn: the author displays strident talent for realistic dialogue, such that each actor on his story’s stage has their own highly-developed voice. Wheeler Middle School’s principal, ex-baseball starter Sam Darter, his feisty goth daughter Helen and her would-be video store suitor Donny Myers (called ‘Scares’ due to his penchant for ‘80’s- and ‘90’s horror films) are particularly fun to read, and the author deftly upends overused rural clichés: Caleb’s aunt and uncle, for example, initially portrayed as one-dimensional fire-and-brimstone revivalists, are revealed to be pleasingly complex figures as the storyline progresses. And at the center of the maelstrom is Caleb himself, a complicated boy with an inner darkness molded from years of abuse and pain. His struggles with bullying, depression, loneliness and anger are at once palpable and breathlessly believable.
The weaknesses of Clay Boy are few, though minor ones do exist: the resolution to the Cove Strangler serial killer subplot becomes predictable long before its revelatory denouement, and the novel’s climax, furious, chaotic and satisfying though it may be, is slightly hampered by a sense of open-endedness: an epilogue, even a brief one, informing the audience of the characters’ fates would’ve lent a well-rounded completeness to the plot. It may be that Sawyer has left room for continuing Caleb’s story in future installments; one can hope that is the case, as Clay Boy is a thoroughly enjoyable, inventive and highly entertaining read that earns a well-deserved 4 (out of 5) here on Goodreads. It will be exciting to see what horrors Sawyer evokes next.
December 22, 2024
📚 Review 📖
Clay Boy by Craig E. Sawyer
Caleb is a ninth-grader who has a stutter and severe social anxiety brought on by the trauma of witnessing his mother's murder when he was an infant. He endures extreme bullying by his peers who call him 'Clay Boy' because of the clay therapy he uses to cope.
Caleb comes across an internet tutorial on creating Tulpas, or physical manifestations of one's imagination, and is surprised to find he can actually do it. His new imaginary friend becomes increasingly untethered and violent, for it believes his only purpose is to protect Caleb by any means necessary.
This story was super fast-paced, but still took the time to introduce interesting characters who become Caleb's allies. My favorite character was Dr. Dorjee who is a psychiatrist with a paranormal bent and a sort of expert on Tulpamancery. He meets Caleb early on in the story while Sawyer employs excerpts from Dorjee's book "Voices Within Us All" as chapters to help explain Tulpas and reveal more information as the story progresses.
The murderer who terrorized the Tennessee town and killed Caleb's mother all those years ago also resurfaces, adding more drama and suspense. I haven't even gone into Caleb's aunt and uncle who adopted him or their grumpy neighbor and his mean goat . All the elements I've mentioned give the story more intrigue and kept me guessing where the story would go.
Every time Caleb's imaginary friend was lurking about had me glued to the page. I had a great time reading it, and I recommend it to anyone looking for a quick, creepy read!
I first came across Sawyer's work in the Fear of Clowns Anthology. His story, "Mr. Tasty Crinkle"was one of my favorites and he graciously sent me this novel for an honest review.
Catch all my reviews here:
https://www.instagram.com/rickysrocki...
Clay Boy by Craig E. Sawyer
Caleb is a ninth-grader who has a stutter and severe social anxiety brought on by the trauma of witnessing his mother's murder when he was an infant. He endures extreme bullying by his peers who call him 'Clay Boy' because of the clay therapy he uses to cope.
Caleb comes across an internet tutorial on creating Tulpas, or physical manifestations of one's imagination, and is surprised to find he can actually do it. His new imaginary friend becomes increasingly untethered and violent, for it believes his only purpose is to protect Caleb by any means necessary.
This story was super fast-paced, but still took the time to introduce interesting characters who become Caleb's allies. My favorite character was Dr. Dorjee who is a psychiatrist with a paranormal bent and a sort of expert on Tulpamancery. He meets Caleb early on in the story while Sawyer employs excerpts from Dorjee's book "Voices Within Us All" as chapters to help explain Tulpas and reveal more information as the story progresses.
The murderer who terrorized the Tennessee town and killed Caleb's mother all those years ago also resurfaces, adding more drama and suspense. I haven't even gone into Caleb's aunt and uncle who adopted him or their grumpy neighbor and his mean goat . All the elements I've mentioned give the story more intrigue and kept me guessing where the story would go.
Every time Caleb's imaginary friend was lurking about had me glued to the page. I had a great time reading it, and I recommend it to anyone looking for a quick, creepy read!
I first came across Sawyer's work in the Fear of Clowns Anthology. His story, "Mr. Tasty Crinkle"was one of my favorites and he graciously sent me this novel for an honest review.
Catch all my reviews here:
https://www.instagram.com/rickysrocki...
October 13, 2023
There is a content warning at the back of the book.
This was a strange book, a strange mix which references to Prometheus, the Beowulf (Gren(del), the Scripture and some 80s and 90s classic horror films, such as Psycho.
Caleb is a troubled young man, his emotions of anger, helplessness, and sheer malevolence manifest in his alter ego Gren (Grendel)-
I was also reminded of His Dark Materials, in this story the 'evil' manifests in his accompanying 'daemon'
I thought the idea was original -but I think the author tried to implement too many ideas in this story. For me, at least, it didn't work.
The Beowulf was covered extensively during my English studies, I am also reasonably well acquainted with Greek mythology.
I found the dialogues between Helen and 'Scares' a bit unnatural, that's really not the way young people talk!
The transitions into the next chapters were all too abrupt, it sometimes seemed like I had entered a radically new story. Some parts were very well written, half-way though the quality went down drastically.
I did find the explanation about the tulpa, as a manifestation of evil to be very original, but the execution really leaves something to be desired. As a result, the story comes across as disjointed, the story telling is not balanced.
I recommend editing parts and taking a critical look at this work. A potentially original story, but for me it's really not sufficient in terms of writing style and dialogue.
Thank you Netgalley for this arc. I leave this review voluntarily.
This was a strange book, a strange mix which references to Prometheus, the Beowulf (Gren(del), the Scripture and some 80s and 90s classic horror films, such as Psycho.
Caleb is a troubled young man, his emotions of anger, helplessness, and sheer malevolence manifest in his alter ego Gren (Grendel)-
I was also reminded of His Dark Materials, in this story the 'evil' manifests in his accompanying 'daemon'
I thought the idea was original -but I think the author tried to implement too many ideas in this story. For me, at least, it didn't work.
The Beowulf was covered extensively during my English studies, I am also reasonably well acquainted with Greek mythology.
I found the dialogues between Helen and 'Scares' a bit unnatural, that's really not the way young people talk!
The transitions into the next chapters were all too abrupt, it sometimes seemed like I had entered a radically new story. Some parts were very well written, half-way though the quality went down drastically.
I did find the explanation about the tulpa, as a manifestation of evil to be very original, but the execution really leaves something to be desired. As a result, the story comes across as disjointed, the story telling is not balanced.
I recommend editing parts and taking a critical look at this work. A potentially original story, but for me it's really not sufficient in terms of writing style and dialogue.
Thank you Netgalley for this arc. I leave this review voluntarily.
October 25, 2023
Have you ever wished for a friend? Have you ever wished you could create a friend, just for yourself? Be careful what you wish for! Young Caleb Jenkins, timid, bullied, alone, learns how to make a special imaginary friend: a Tulpa. At first all is well, but gradually the Tulpa takes on more reality in Caleb’s mind, until it persuades him to create it a body out of clay, a body modelled on Caleb himself.
Caleb is initially the Clay Boy of the title – it’s the nickname his jeering schoolmates call him because he always carries a lump of clay to model. But as the Tulpa takes over Caleb’s mind and then his life, it is the ultimate Clay Boy.
This is a story on many levels: a truly scary story of possession. set against the backdrop of a small American town, Wheeler’s Cove, stalked for many years by a serial killer, the Wheeler’s Cover Strangler. But it is also a tale of friendship and support and, ultimately, one of hope as Caleb struggles to be free of his demonic alter ego.
Clay Boy is a book which will enthrall readers of good horror and good writing, but beware – if you read it at night, it will haunt your nightmares.
Caleb is initially the Clay Boy of the title – it’s the nickname his jeering schoolmates call him because he always carries a lump of clay to model. But as the Tulpa takes over Caleb’s mind and then his life, it is the ultimate Clay Boy.
This is a story on many levels: a truly scary story of possession. set against the backdrop of a small American town, Wheeler’s Cove, stalked for many years by a serial killer, the Wheeler’s Cover Strangler. But it is also a tale of friendship and support and, ultimately, one of hope as Caleb struggles to be free of his demonic alter ego.
Clay Boy is a book which will enthrall readers of good horror and good writing, but beware – if you read it at night, it will haunt your nightmares.
September 27, 2023
Thank you, Craig E. Sawyer and NetGalley for the ARC. I leave this review voluntarily and happily. Also, thank you publishers for your hard work!
I truly enjoyed reading this book. This was more than horror. It was teaching a lesson and not only that, I got to learn about something I had no idea about. Truly interesting it was. I also enjoyed all the characters. Caleb, of course, was my absolute favorite. My second would definitely be Helen. This book does contain some gore, but it's not too heavy on it. If you should worry about anything, it's the language, animal death, and bullying.
A boy tired of being bullied, and being alone does something to change all that. He creates someone to be his friend. Doing so, of course, that requires a lot more than you think. If you could do this and they keep you safe, would you? Even if, in the end, bad things were happening?
This book was also a murder mystery of sorts, and I did not expect who the murderer was. This is definitely a book I'll be rereading again in the future. I absolutely loved reading it.
I truly enjoyed reading this book. This was more than horror. It was teaching a lesson and not only that, I got to learn about something I had no idea about. Truly interesting it was. I also enjoyed all the characters. Caleb, of course, was my absolute favorite. My second would definitely be Helen. This book does contain some gore, but it's not too heavy on it. If you should worry about anything, it's the language, animal death, and bullying.
A boy tired of being bullied, and being alone does something to change all that. He creates someone to be his friend. Doing so, of course, that requires a lot more than you think. If you could do this and they keep you safe, would you? Even if, in the end, bad things were happening?
This book was also a murder mystery of sorts, and I did not expect who the murderer was. This is definitely a book I'll be rereading again in the future. I absolutely loved reading it.
September 28, 2023
Thanks Netgally and Brigids Gate Press for my copy.
This was a good original book. Caleb makes figures out of clay because it helps with his emotions but the kids at his school think he's uncool. This isn't enough for Caleb and he creates a "Tulpa" from parts of his own personality to help him with his own emotions.
This all seems sweet until the story starts to become scary and dark and then just becomes an absolute nightmare. To add to this there is a serial killer on the lose and this all comes to a head.
I enjoy short chapters and getting to the point. There were some sub stories that I felt just weren't needed and felt the main story was great as it was.
Not read a story like this one before. I felt it could have delved deeper into Calebs emotions of how he was feeling and his Tulpa but for really good first read.
This was a good original book. Caleb makes figures out of clay because it helps with his emotions but the kids at his school think he's uncool. This isn't enough for Caleb and he creates a "Tulpa" from parts of his own personality to help him with his own emotions.
This all seems sweet until the story starts to become scary and dark and then just becomes an absolute nightmare. To add to this there is a serial killer on the lose and this all comes to a head.
I enjoy short chapters and getting to the point. There were some sub stories that I felt just weren't needed and felt the main story was great as it was.
Not read a story like this one before. I felt it could have delved deeper into Calebs emotions of how he was feeling and his Tulpa but for really good first read.
October 25, 2023
Thank you to netgalley and Brigid Gates Press for the opportunity to read an arc of this book.
Caleb Jenkins is a young boy who witnessed the murder of his mother at the age of one. A way to cope with the anxiety and trauma is by molding clay. He’s an outcast and highly misunderstood by his classmates. While I’m detention he learns about creating an imaginary friend called a tulpa. It feeds off fears and anger and protects its creator at all costs.
This novel was very good. Characters are solid, the backstory and explanation of the tulpa was done well and even though there are several storylines, I felt they intertwined well.
Even though I love a slow burn of events happening, My biggest complaint is that the ending was rushed. I was left wanting. The terror was subdued and needed more focus. The tulpa in the end was terrifying and vindictive, and I felt like it encompassed the pent up negativity within Caleb. But The ending was too abrupt. It just stopped. And though I understand what was done, I still feel like Something is missing and I cannot put my finger on it.
That being said, I did enjoy this read and I’m interested in reading this authors other works
Caleb Jenkins is a young boy who witnessed the murder of his mother at the age of one. A way to cope with the anxiety and trauma is by molding clay. He’s an outcast and highly misunderstood by his classmates. While I’m detention he learns about creating an imaginary friend called a tulpa. It feeds off fears and anger and protects its creator at all costs.
This novel was very good. Characters are solid, the backstory and explanation of the tulpa was done well and even though there are several storylines, I felt they intertwined well.
Even though I love a slow burn of events happening, My biggest complaint is that the ending was rushed. I was left wanting. The terror was subdued and needed more focus. The tulpa in the end was terrifying and vindictive, and I felt like it encompassed the pent up negativity within Caleb. But The ending was too abrupt. It just stopped. And though I understand what was done, I still feel like Something is missing and I cannot put my finger on it.
That being said, I did enjoy this read and I’m interested in reading this authors other works
August 30, 2024
The concept was good
While I like the idea behind this book, the execution was lacking. There was a lot of missing pieces of detail or dialog to pull the story together, leaving the reader trying to fill the gaps. There was also a lot of repetition surrounding the Dr and his research.
The ending really fell flat for me. The timeframe and sequence of events just didn't seem plausible. Then, the Dr randomly showing up at the exact location of chaos at the right time was just too far fetched. What makes a horror story spooky is when you can immerse yourself in the story and see how it might play out. Even if the story is far fetched, it needs to be believable enough to get the creep factor going. This story left me questioning so much, that it took any creepiness away for me.
While I like the idea behind this book, the execution was lacking. There was a lot of missing pieces of detail or dialog to pull the story together, leaving the reader trying to fill the gaps. There was also a lot of repetition surrounding the Dr and his research.
The ending really fell flat for me. The timeframe and sequence of events just didn't seem plausible. Then, the Dr randomly showing up at the exact location of chaos at the right time was just too far fetched. What makes a horror story spooky is when you can immerse yourself in the story and see how it might play out. Even if the story is far fetched, it needs to be believable enough to get the creep factor going. This story left me questioning so much, that it took any creepiness away for me.
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