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Rot
Trapped by poverty, despair and alcoholic dependency, lives a former NHS nurse on a spiralling self destructive decent into her own personal Hell. How can things get any worse? Now a fifty-something recluse during the ‘Cost of living crisis’, she barely gets by; control in her own life has all but gone, debt and housework are piled high while gout curses her aging body and her relentless self loathing curses her fragile mind.
…And now, comes the rot.
…And now, comes the rot.
Paperback
Published October 11, 2023
1 person is currently reading
38 people want to read
About the author
Richard Coiley
7 books17 followersRichard Coiley published his first novel, Limbo in April 2012 and his second, Purging Paradise in February 2013. He's also an artist and has always had a passion for the creative side of life.
He has interests in Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror, as well as a love of film across a spectrum of genres.
Not being a big reader growing up and enjoying films and T.V shows more, he has a more visual approach to his story telling.
Richard finds he likes having a certain amount of naivety when writing, as this encourages creativity and allows his imagination to get carried away, opening up fun possibilities for his work.
At the moment, this is only a hobby and he likes that way, being able to work without the pressure of deadlines and only releasing something when he deems it ready.
Follow his Blog on his webpage:
www.richardcoiley.com
Other books by this author include:
1: Limbo
2: Purging Paradise Part 1
3: Purging Paradise Part 2: A Town Called Opportunity
4: Insight
5: Beyond The Fall
6: 13 Silly Rhymes
He has interests in Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror, as well as a love of film across a spectrum of genres.
Not being a big reader growing up and enjoying films and T.V shows more, he has a more visual approach to his story telling.
Richard finds he likes having a certain amount of naivety when writing, as this encourages creativity and allows his imagination to get carried away, opening up fun possibilities for his work.
At the moment, this is only a hobby and he likes that way, being able to work without the pressure of deadlines and only releasing something when he deems it ready.
Follow his Blog on his webpage:
www.richardcoiley.com
Other books by this author include:
1: Limbo
2: Purging Paradise Part 1
3: Purging Paradise Part 2: A Town Called Opportunity
4: Insight
5: Beyond The Fall
6: 13 Silly Rhymes
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
August 24, 2024
Update: The publisher reached out to me after posting this review, to say that the uploaded text was an older version that wasn't properly edited, and that the published version would be the correctly edited version. They provided me with the published version, and it does seem the errant punctuation is fixed there.
My original review:
Rot is a bad novella, there's no two ways about it. It's badly constructed. It's badly written, down to a sentence level. Its worldbuilding is too loose and vague. Its one character is completely underdeveloped and doesn't change much. The book badly needs a proficient editor.
The main character is depressed. Her life is shit. She only has her inner monologue, and it's that inner monologue you as reader are saddled with. It's written in first person, but the writing itself is clunky and clumsy, with strangely constructed sentences that only have the effect of making the reader feel distanced from what's happening:
"But it wasn’t until I was passing the airing cupboard that I felt, observed, and the full-length landing mirror up ahead of me, just walking towards it made me feel uncomfortable."
Another problem rears its head in the sentence above - the punctuation is all over the place. It almost never makes sense, and it's everywhere. (Granted, I read a review copy, so maybe this will have been fixed in the final version.)
"It’s like nothing much has changed in this country since the times of Dickens and his characters Scrooge, or Oliver Twist."
(Why those two Dickens characters specifically? What is happening-)
Reading these hobbled sentences feels a bit like riding a bicycle over a gravel road. What is supposed to be tense and horrific never becomes anything more than boring. Dread isn't built up slowly - things start very bad and stay stagnant.
The author's bio says he "developed a visual approach to storytelling". If he did, I didn't read it here, I'm afraid. The world and what happens in it is underdescribed, and the main character's relationship to that world and its happenings are underdeveloped.
(Thanks to The Book Guild for providing me with an ARC through NetGalley)
My original review:
Rot is a bad novella, there's no two ways about it. It's badly constructed. It's badly written, down to a sentence level. Its worldbuilding is too loose and vague. Its one character is completely underdeveloped and doesn't change much. The book badly needs a proficient editor.
The main character is depressed. Her life is shit. She only has her inner monologue, and it's that inner monologue you as reader are saddled with. It's written in first person, but the writing itself is clunky and clumsy, with strangely constructed sentences that only have the effect of making the reader feel distanced from what's happening:
"But it wasn’t until I was passing the airing cupboard that I felt, observed, and the full-length landing mirror up ahead of me, just walking towards it made me feel uncomfortable."
Another problem rears its head in the sentence above - the punctuation is all over the place. It almost never makes sense, and it's everywhere. (Granted, I read a review copy, so maybe this will have been fixed in the final version.)
"It’s like nothing much has changed in this country since the times of Dickens and his characters Scrooge, or Oliver Twist."
(Why those two Dickens characters specifically? What is happening-)
Reading these hobbled sentences feels a bit like riding a bicycle over a gravel road. What is supposed to be tense and horrific never becomes anything more than boring. Dread isn't built up slowly - things start very bad and stay stagnant.
The author's bio says he "developed a visual approach to storytelling". If he did, I didn't read it here, I'm afraid. The world and what happens in it is underdescribed, and the main character's relationship to that world and its happenings are underdeveloped.
(Thanks to The Book Guild for providing me with an ARC through NetGalley)
September 17, 2024
I didn’t love it, but I didn’t necessarily hate it.
The first chapter had a lot going for it, and I really liked how the plot was set up. However, as the story progressed, it became so repetitive that I kept putting it down. Even though it was supposed to be a short read, it felt like it took forever to get through. The monotony and boredom of the protagonist’s life, mixed with her pain and alcohol consumption, were clearly meant to convey her small and sad existence. While I understand the intention behind this, it didn’t make those parts any more pleasant to read.
I think trimming some of the repetitive sections might have helped make the narrative more engaging. Overall, it was a decent read, but it could have been more compelling with some tighter editing.
Thank you so much to publisher The Book Guild, Author Richard Coiley, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this!
The first chapter had a lot going for it, and I really liked how the plot was set up. However, as the story progressed, it became so repetitive that I kept putting it down. Even though it was supposed to be a short read, it felt like it took forever to get through. The monotony and boredom of the protagonist’s life, mixed with her pain and alcohol consumption, were clearly meant to convey her small and sad existence. While I understand the intention behind this, it didn’t make those parts any more pleasant to read.
I think trimming some of the repetitive sections might have helped make the narrative more engaging. Overall, it was a decent read, but it could have been more compelling with some tighter editing.
Thank you so much to publisher The Book Guild, Author Richard Coiley, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this!
July 26, 2024
Set against a gloomy, bleak winter season in the UK, our unnamed narrator spends her time at home hiding away from people and reality. Dealing with the aftermath of the covid pandemic, losing her job, and the end of an abusive relationship, she descends in to isolation and slowly (or perhaps not so slowly) begins to grow paranoid and lose herself.
The chapters read like scrawled, detailed diary entries which read somewhat juvenile and felt like an odd choice at first but I grew to like it. I think Coiley likely chose first-person point of view to really let readers in on the narrator’s state of mind in the advanced stage of alcoholism. In addition, the way that this was written really did add to that feeling of fear and desperation that the narrator felt.
It’s repetitive in parts but still proves to be a tense and uncomfortable twist on a woman suffering from mental illness and trauma, and descending in to alcohol-related psychosis. While I enjoyed the content I found the execution to lack a little and the title to be misleading. Did I miss said rotting? There’s a mention of mold but with a title like that, I expected a story kind of like What Moves the Dead and this is not that kind of story. So perhaps adjust expectations if that’s what you’re expecting, too? Still, this novella made for a quick read.
Thank you Book Guild and NetGalley for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review! Available 07/28/2024
The chapters read like scrawled, detailed diary entries which read somewhat juvenile and felt like an odd choice at first but I grew to like it. I think Coiley likely chose first-person point of view to really let readers in on the narrator’s state of mind in the advanced stage of alcoholism. In addition, the way that this was written really did add to that feeling of fear and desperation that the narrator felt.
It’s repetitive in parts but still proves to be a tense and uncomfortable twist on a woman suffering from mental illness and trauma, and descending in to alcohol-related psychosis. While I enjoyed the content I found the execution to lack a little and the title to be misleading. Did I miss said rotting? There’s a mention of mold but with a title like that, I expected a story kind of like What Moves the Dead and this is not that kind of story. So perhaps adjust expectations if that’s what you’re expecting, too? Still, this novella made for a quick read.
Thank you Book Guild and NetGalley for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review! Available 07/28/2024
August 19, 2024
First of all I'd like to thank NetGalley and The Book Guild for the opportunity to rate and talk about this ARC. A thank you to Richard Coiley for the creative energies.
The idea and passion behind this novella is strong. You can tell that the author is trying to show the manic state of the main character through their writing.
However, this book is very unfinished and needs a good overhaul. It's not only down to editing but some whole chapters need a rewrite. Grammar, spelling, wrong words used are only just a few of the problems that I noticed.
I found myself very confused by the last two chapters and it took me a whil to understand what they were trying to show us.
That might have been because there was a lot of tell, or else the author didn't know what they were trying to explain.
There is a lot of animal death in this book which I am not keen on.
The idea and passion behind this novella is strong. You can tell that the author is trying to show the manic state of the main character through their writing.
However, this book is very unfinished and needs a good overhaul. It's not only down to editing but some whole chapters need a rewrite. Grammar, spelling, wrong words used are only just a few of the problems that I noticed.
I found myself very confused by the last two chapters and it took me a whil to understand what they were trying to show us.
That might have been because there was a lot of tell, or else the author didn't know what they were trying to explain.
There is a lot of animal death in this book which I am not keen on.
August 12, 2024
4.75/5
Holy wow! This is such a dark and disturbing read! I went after this hoping for possession elements and the mc’s background of a nurse! Both paid off so well together. Not a full 5/5 simply for the rough wording and level of writing.
This delivered mega creepy scenes! The setup for the mc was wonderfully carved out, the momentum was tormenting and truly effective. I really enjoyed myself with the unrelenting experiences of uncertainty and chaos.
Holy wow! This is such a dark and disturbing read! I went after this hoping for possession elements and the mc’s background of a nurse! Both paid off so well together. Not a full 5/5 simply for the rough wording and level of writing.
This delivered mega creepy scenes! The setup for the mc was wonderfully carved out, the momentum was tormenting and truly effective. I really enjoyed myself with the unrelenting experiences of uncertainty and chaos.
September 25, 2024
I wanted to love this short book. The premise was so enticing. And I lived the idea of losing one's self, one's grip on reality, sanity, in isolation while a storm brews. Unfortunately, this story needs a lot of work. So much needed more explanation, back story, description, fleshing out. There was way too much repetitiveness. The writing errors were through the roof. A good editor could set this story on a path to five stars, for now, it has a long way to get there.
August 8, 2024
Honestly, I wish I could unread this book... it was so sadistically gross that I may need to read something happy now. This book, while very short, is only 96 pages, and it's very heavy with emotion. It follows a very sad women set in post covid times. She has obvious depression and struggles with health issues. Honestly, if I dont ever see the word "gout" ever again, it will be too soon. She soon finds herself being tormented by something demonic and fights for her life. If you dont like books with paranormal involvement, then this book isn't for you. Also, poor Toby, I will NEVER forget the horrific scene involving him!!!
Thank you so much to publisher The Book Guild, Author Richard Coiley, and Netgalley for the advanced copy! This book comes out July 27th, 2024. Read at your own risk!
Thank you so much to publisher The Book Guild, Author Richard Coiley, and Netgalley for the advanced copy! This book comes out July 27th, 2024. Read at your own risk!
August 14, 2024
Rot is a gripping read packed with raw emotion. The story centers on a former nurse who now lives in isolation with her cat, grappling with both an alcohol dependency and severe gout. As a fierce winter storm rages outside, a mysterious "rot" begins to spread through her home, contaminating everything in its path. The narrative keeps you on edge, questioning whether she will find a way to escape the encroaching decay or be overwhelmed by it.
The story revolves around a profoundly sad woman living in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. She battles deep-seated depression while contending with a range of health issues. Her struggles are portrayed with stark clarity, highlighting the emotional and physical challenges she faces in a world still reeling from the effects of the pandemic.
The ending is a true emotional whirlwind, and the final line is absolutely unforgettable.
The story revolves around a profoundly sad woman living in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. She battles deep-seated depression while contending with a range of health issues. Her struggles are portrayed with stark clarity, highlighting the emotional and physical challenges she faces in a world still reeling from the effects of the pandemic.
The ending is a true emotional whirlwind, and the final line is absolutely unforgettable.
July 26, 2024
"Rot" by Richard Coiley is, quite frankly, one of the most disappointing books I have encountered in recent memory. Despite my best efforts to remain positive and balanced, this novel fell short on nearly every front.
First and foremost, the protagonist is utterly unrelatable and deeply unlikeable. From the very beginning, we are introduced to a character who used to be a nurse but is now consumed by poverty, despair, and alcoholism. However, Coiley fails to flesh out her backstory in a way that might evoke any sympathy or connection from the reader. We know she was a nurse, but so what? There are no anecdotes, no cherished memories, no glimpses into her past that might make us root for her. Instead, we are presented with a flat, one-dimensional character whose misery becomes tiresome rather than tragic.
The novel's setting is equally vague and uninspired. We know it takes place in the UK, but the lack of specificity about the location only adds to the overall sense of detachment and disinterest. The protagonist's internal monologue dominates the narrative, leaving little room for interaction with other characters. The absence of dialogue makes the book feel more like a monotonous, never-ending soliloquy rather than a dynamic, engaging story. The only brief moment of two-way dialogue occurs at 13%, and even that does little to break the monotony.
Coiley's attempt to inject suspense and horror into the narrative through the mysterious rot that spreads in the protagonist's house falls flat. The concept of black mould as a malevolent force is not particularly original, and the execution here is lackluster at best. The plot is painfully slow, and setting the entire story within the confines of a single room only exacerbates the feeling of claustrophobia and boredom.
One of the few redeeming aspects of the book is the description of the rats, which effectively evokes a sense of revulsion and horror. However, this is not enough to salvage the overall mediocrity of the novel.
The writing itself often leaves much to be desired. One particularly cringeworthy line stands out: “I’m sure I can feel its breath close to the back of my neck; it’s warm and clammy, like an old paedo’s feeling horny.” Such poorly crafted and tasteless metaphors only serve to further alienate the reader.
In conclusion, "Rot" is an uninteresting and poorly executed novel that fails to adhere to even the most basic conventions of fiction writing. The lack of compelling characters, engaging dialogue, and a dynamic plot makes it a chore to read. There are reasons why certain rules exist in fiction writing—rules about supporting characters, dialogue, and varied settings—and "Rot" serves as a prime example of what happens when those rules are ignored.
First and foremost, the protagonist is utterly unrelatable and deeply unlikeable. From the very beginning, we are introduced to a character who used to be a nurse but is now consumed by poverty, despair, and alcoholism. However, Coiley fails to flesh out her backstory in a way that might evoke any sympathy or connection from the reader. We know she was a nurse, but so what? There are no anecdotes, no cherished memories, no glimpses into her past that might make us root for her. Instead, we are presented with a flat, one-dimensional character whose misery becomes tiresome rather than tragic.
The novel's setting is equally vague and uninspired. We know it takes place in the UK, but the lack of specificity about the location only adds to the overall sense of detachment and disinterest. The protagonist's internal monologue dominates the narrative, leaving little room for interaction with other characters. The absence of dialogue makes the book feel more like a monotonous, never-ending soliloquy rather than a dynamic, engaging story. The only brief moment of two-way dialogue occurs at 13%, and even that does little to break the monotony.
Coiley's attempt to inject suspense and horror into the narrative through the mysterious rot that spreads in the protagonist's house falls flat. The concept of black mould as a malevolent force is not particularly original, and the execution here is lackluster at best. The plot is painfully slow, and setting the entire story within the confines of a single room only exacerbates the feeling of claustrophobia and boredom.
One of the few redeeming aspects of the book is the description of the rats, which effectively evokes a sense of revulsion and horror. However, this is not enough to salvage the overall mediocrity of the novel.
The writing itself often leaves much to be desired. One particularly cringeworthy line stands out: “I’m sure I can feel its breath close to the back of my neck; it’s warm and clammy, like an old paedo’s feeling horny.” Such poorly crafted and tasteless metaphors only serve to further alienate the reader.
In conclusion, "Rot" is an uninteresting and poorly executed novel that fails to adhere to even the most basic conventions of fiction writing. The lack of compelling characters, engaging dialogue, and a dynamic plot makes it a chore to read. There are reasons why certain rules exist in fiction writing—rules about supporting characters, dialogue, and varied settings—and "Rot" serves as a prime example of what happens when those rules are ignored.
August 28, 2024
Rot
Richard Coiley
3.75 / 4
Ok, so ...
I really liked a lot of things about this story.
It immediately made me feel cold and damp and uneasy... Setting the scene of a difficult, dreary, monochromatic UK winter.
It was easy for me to feel pity and pain and admiration and frustrations with the older woman, our protagonist.
I had a lot of empathy for her throughout, and that kept me engaged, wanting to know which direction things were going to go for her ... I feel depressed FOR her.
There were elements of the story I found a bit repetitive.
For instance, there's probably 20 or more pages that kinda repeat the same things ... whether it be thoughts from the MC's POV, or the repetitive nature of her day to day.
I mean, I get that we're meant to understand that her life is small and sad and the monotony and boredom mixed with the pain and the alcohol ... I get why it's written this way. It just didn't make it anymore pleasant to read those parts.
But, overall, I think this is a very interesting horror novel with a lot going for it. Was it all I wanted from it? No. But it had plenty to say, and it was a solid (and sad) horror story.
I'll definitely be recommending this one, and checking out more from this author.
Thanks for a copy in exchange for my honest feedback!
Richard Coiley
3.75 / 4
Ok, so ...
I really liked a lot of things about this story.
It immediately made me feel cold and damp and uneasy... Setting the scene of a difficult, dreary, monochromatic UK winter.
It was easy for me to feel pity and pain and admiration and frustrations with the older woman, our protagonist.
I had a lot of empathy for her throughout, and that kept me engaged, wanting to know which direction things were going to go for her ... I feel depressed FOR her.
There were elements of the story I found a bit repetitive.
For instance, there's probably 20 or more pages that kinda repeat the same things ... whether it be thoughts from the MC's POV, or the repetitive nature of her day to day.
I mean, I get that we're meant to understand that her life is small and sad and the monotony and boredom mixed with the pain and the alcohol ... I get why it's written this way. It just didn't make it anymore pleasant to read those parts.
But, overall, I think this is a very interesting horror novel with a lot going for it. Was it all I wanted from it? No. But it had plenty to say, and it was a solid (and sad) horror story.
I'll definitely be recommending this one, and checking out more from this author.
Thanks for a copy in exchange for my honest feedback!
July 28, 2024
Richard Coiley understands all the tropes needed to create an horrific modern day horror story and uses them well.
This could perhaps have been the premise for a John Carpenter film that never got made? Or could these be the scenes Alfred Hitchcock deemed too horrific to include in 'Psycho'? Or more frightening still has Guy N. Smith dictated these words from beyond the grave to scare a new generation of horror aficionados with one final invasion of killer rats and frogs?
The claustrophobia of the story is chilling: a nurse slowly drinking herself to death, trapped inside her own home, with a howling blizzard outside. The author adds further layers of terror: her gas has been cut off; the gout in her toes is crippling her; she's about to run out of electricity; her phone's only got 10% battery left; and then, there's the festering horror of a dark entity lurking outside her bedroom.
Darkness permeates every single page. Death can not be far away. Can she survive the terrible battle of wills fought on the astral plane with a doppelganger from hell?
This could perhaps have been the premise for a John Carpenter film that never got made? Or could these be the scenes Alfred Hitchcock deemed too horrific to include in 'Psycho'? Or more frightening still has Guy N. Smith dictated these words from beyond the grave to scare a new generation of horror aficionados with one final invasion of killer rats and frogs?
The claustrophobia of the story is chilling: a nurse slowly drinking herself to death, trapped inside her own home, with a howling blizzard outside. The author adds further layers of terror: her gas has been cut off; the gout in her toes is crippling her; she's about to run out of electricity; her phone's only got 10% battery left; and then, there's the festering horror of a dark entity lurking outside her bedroom.
Darkness permeates every single page. Death can not be far away. Can she survive the terrible battle of wills fought on the astral plane with a doppelganger from hell?
July 20, 2024
3.5 stars rounded to 4. This is an emotionally very heavy book, and if I had to describe it in one sentence, it'd be this: the main character's misery, her depression, her desperation, even her illness and her boredom, grow to such a degree that they materialize as a sinister haunting. This is just my interpretation and says nothing about the bizarre ending. The writing felt like reading someone's journal: intimate, slow, erratic. There are scenes of body horror, one scene of animal abuse, but the story mostly hovers between psychological and supernatural horror. My single complaint would be that the story has very little to do with "rot"; the synopsis made me expect something entirely different. Still, I'd gladly recommend this short novella to everyone who's after intricate first-personal narratives of horrifying spirals into insanity, the story of a mind that's perhaps rotting from the inside.
August 14, 2024
This was a quick read but packed quite a spooky punch! Very unsettling, and it does a good job of tapping into that primal fear of sensing SOMETHING is there but not quite seeing it or knowing what it is. I wouldn’t say there’s much real resolution or understanding by the time you reach the end of the story; it gets very very surreal and I think any sort of intended conclusion was lost on me. But an excellent read nonetheless, would be great for Halloween season.
March 12, 2024
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August 29, 2024
Rot
Richard Coiley
3.75 / 4
Ok, so ...
I really liked a lot of things about this story.
It immediately made me feel cold and damp and uneasy... Setting the scene of a difficult, dreary, monochromatic UK winter.
It was easy for me to feel pity and pain and admiration and frustrations with the older woman, our protagonist.
I had a lot of empathy for her throughout, and that kept me engaged, wanting to know which direction things were going to go for her ... I feel depressed FOR her.
There were elements of the story I found a bit repetitive.
For instance, there's probably 20 or more pages that kinda repeat the same things ... whether it be thoughts from the MC's POV, or the repetitive nature of her day to day.
I mean, I get that we're meant to understand that her life is small and sad and the monotony and boredom mixed with the pain and the alcohol ... I get why it's written this way. It just didn't make it anymore pleasant to read those parts.
But, overall, I think this is a very interesting horror novel with a lot going for it. Was it all I wanted from it? No. But it had plenty to say, and it was a solid (and sad) horror story.
I'll definitely be recommending this one.
Thanks for a copy in exchange for my honest feedback!
Richard Coiley
3.75 / 4
Ok, so ...
I really liked a lot of things about this story.
It immediately made me feel cold and damp and uneasy... Setting the scene of a difficult, dreary, monochromatic UK winter.
It was easy for me to feel pity and pain and admiration and frustrations with the older woman, our protagonist.
I had a lot of empathy for her throughout, and that kept me engaged, wanting to know which direction things were going to go for her ... I feel depressed FOR her.
There were elements of the story I found a bit repetitive.
For instance, there's probably 20 or more pages that kinda repeat the same things ... whether it be thoughts from the MC's POV, or the repetitive nature of her day to day.
I mean, I get that we're meant to understand that her life is small and sad and the monotony and boredom mixed with the pain and the alcohol ... I get why it's written this way. It just didn't make it anymore pleasant to read those parts.
But, overall, I think this is a very interesting horror novel with a lot going for it. Was it all I wanted from it? No. But it had plenty to say, and it was a solid (and sad) horror story.
I'll definitely be recommending this one.
Thanks for a copy in exchange for my honest feedback!
October 1, 2024
I really love a story of a descent into madness, and that's exactly what this felt like. The book reads almost like a journal or an inner monologue of our main character, and I could really feel the fear and desperation climbing as I progressed, and I appreciated the ambiguity of the whole situation perpetuated by our main character being an unreliable narrator in the most interesting and chilling of ways. Being trapped in during a winter storm made the fever dreams experienced much more frightening, and I couldn't figure out what was real, which added a really fun edge to the whole story. There were some places where I felt like some paragraphs ran on a bit excessively and could have used a few more breaks to make it easier on the eyes, but still a fun read altogether. I was very much on the edge of my seat the entire time, and the ending did not give me any closure whatsoever, making this a truly good horror read! (A huge thank-you to NetGalley for the opportunity to receive a free review copy of this book. I am leaving this review of my own volition, and it contains my personal opinions and experiences.)
September 17, 2024
First of all, I just want to say that I feel horrible for the main character. I couldn't help but wonder what it would have been like if only she had been able to get some help, if only someone had even just stopped by to check on her. I related greatly to her struggles with mental illness and I really, really, really wanted her to have some sort of happy conclusion.
That said.
I found this story to be quite unnerving. I like that we never *really* know what is after her, just that it's the thing and it's very not good. I like how it builds up and then quietens just to build up again; it left me feeling exhausted and uneasy for the main character, just as she was feeling.
My favourite part of the book was the dream sequence with her doppelganger. That is a scene that will stick with me for quite a while and was just very beautiful and eerie.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to others. The main character is good, the writing is good, the story is good. I had no complaints.
That said.
I found this story to be quite unnerving. I like that we never *really* know what is after her, just that it's the thing and it's very not good. I like how it builds up and then quietens just to build up again; it left me feeling exhausted and uneasy for the main character, just as she was feeling.
My favourite part of the book was the dream sequence with her doppelganger. That is a scene that will stick with me for quite a while and was just very beautiful and eerie.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to others. The main character is good, the writing is good, the story is good. I had no complaints.
October 8, 2024
A psychological horror short story to make you squirm
I was immediately immersed in this chilling and atmospheric tale, that evokes the bleakness of a UK winter during Covid.The book reads from the perspective of the Main Character,a former nurse grappling with her deteriorating mental and physical health. So descriptively written,I felt such a sense of discomfort throughout the book,because I could feel her inner turmoil.
As the story unfolds, a mysterious rot begins to seep through her home, serving as a haunting metaphor for her decline. Will she survive or will she be consumed by it?? The story is disturbing and raw, and captures the weight of her isolation and the emotional fallout of living in a pandemic world.
Rot is undeniably dark and a visceral reading experience filled with gruesome imagery and moments of terror. It's a book that delivers a profound exploration of despair and resilience.
I found this book to be perfect for any horror enthusiast,or anyone seeking a short yet impactful horror story for the season.
I was immediately immersed in this chilling and atmospheric tale, that evokes the bleakness of a UK winter during Covid.The book reads from the perspective of the Main Character,a former nurse grappling with her deteriorating mental and physical health. So descriptively written,I felt such a sense of discomfort throughout the book,because I could feel her inner turmoil.
As the story unfolds, a mysterious rot begins to seep through her home, serving as a haunting metaphor for her decline. Will she survive or will she be consumed by it?? The story is disturbing and raw, and captures the weight of her isolation and the emotional fallout of living in a pandemic world.
Rot is undeniably dark and a visceral reading experience filled with gruesome imagery and moments of terror. It's a book that delivers a profound exploration of despair and resilience.
I found this book to be perfect for any horror enthusiast,or anyone seeking a short yet impactful horror story for the season.
July 25, 2024
Advance Reader Copy
I'd like to thank NetGalley and The Book Guild for the opportunity to read "Rot"!
"Rot" is a story that is filled with dread. It's to the point that it is practically oozing out of every page. Coiley does a wonderful job at setting up a simple premise that not only stays intriguing during the short read, but manages to conjure up a pretty sinister atmosphere. Following a nurse as she deals with her physical ailments, during the pandemic, which happens to occur during a snowstorm, we get to feel the isolation that this woman is feeling, brining back all-too familiar memories of what it was like during quarantine. As the story progresses, you don't quite know what is around the next corner, what Coiley is going to do next, which made for a very fun read. There is a lot of lead-up to the conclusion of this tale, which I was hoping was going to be a Big Bang, but rather fizzled. I just felt like the last chapter needed a bit more time to get to, maybe one more chapter to set the scene before we got to the conclusion. It's not a bad ending by any means, it just felt a tad underdeveloped. That being said, overall, this book was a ton of fun to read, and I honestly had such a good time with it. The cover is what drew me to request this book, and I was hoping that it would live up to the great cover, and I'm very happy to report that you can judge this book by it's cover and know that it's well worth the read.
I'd like to thank NetGalley and The Book Guild for the opportunity to read "Rot"!
"Rot" is a story that is filled with dread. It's to the point that it is practically oozing out of every page. Coiley does a wonderful job at setting up a simple premise that not only stays intriguing during the short read, but manages to conjure up a pretty sinister atmosphere. Following a nurse as she deals with her physical ailments, during the pandemic, which happens to occur during a snowstorm, we get to feel the isolation that this woman is feeling, brining back all-too familiar memories of what it was like during quarantine. As the story progresses, you don't quite know what is around the next corner, what Coiley is going to do next, which made for a very fun read. There is a lot of lead-up to the conclusion of this tale, which I was hoping was going to be a Big Bang, but rather fizzled. I just felt like the last chapter needed a bit more time to get to, maybe one more chapter to set the scene before we got to the conclusion. It's not a bad ending by any means, it just felt a tad underdeveloped. That being said, overall, this book was a ton of fun to read, and I honestly had such a good time with it. The cover is what drew me to request this book, and I was hoping that it would live up to the great cover, and I'm very happy to report that you can judge this book by it's cover and know that it's well worth the read.
July 21, 2024
Rot by Richard Coiley.
I loved the cover. Creepy. A good read. An easy quick read. Gory. My type of read. Very gory. Especially when I can picture it in my head. I felt dread. The poor nurse. I really did feel her isolation. I wanted to jump in and pull her out. Definitely different. 4*.
Blurb.
She used to be a nurse, caring for the sick and wounded. But now, she is a prisoner of her own misery – trapped by poverty, despair and alcoholism. Her life is a nightmare, and she has no control over anything. Her body is tormented by gout, her mind by self-loathing.
But things are about to get worse.
As winter approaches, a mysterious rot begins to spread in her house, infecting everything and everyone it touches. It is a deadly force that consumes both flesh and soul, leaving behind only decay and madness.
Will she be able to escape the rot, or will she succumb to its horrors?
#rot @richardcoiley #netgalley #bookreviewer #ad #thebookguild #horror #shortstory #generalfiction
I loved the cover. Creepy. A good read. An easy quick read. Gory. My type of read. Very gory. Especially when I can picture it in my head. I felt dread. The poor nurse. I really did feel her isolation. I wanted to jump in and pull her out. Definitely different. 4*.
Blurb.
She used to be a nurse, caring for the sick and wounded. But now, she is a prisoner of her own misery – trapped by poverty, despair and alcoholism. Her life is a nightmare, and she has no control over anything. Her body is tormented by gout, her mind by self-loathing.
But things are about to get worse.
As winter approaches, a mysterious rot begins to spread in her house, infecting everything and everyone it touches. It is a deadly force that consumes both flesh and soul, leaving behind only decay and madness.
Will she be able to escape the rot, or will she succumb to its horrors?
#rot @richardcoiley #netgalley #bookreviewer #ad #thebookguild #horror #shortstory #generalfiction
November 22, 2024
This novella was crawling with claustrophobia and anxiety. We follow an unnamed FMC who is dealing with the aftermath of Covid, losing her job, leaving an abusive relationship, dealing with mental illness and physical pain due to gout. She slowly descends into an alcohol-induced madness and we watch as her paranoia grows into a supernatural being, tormenting her from the inside out. There were so many stomach turning moments, you could almost smell the stench coming off of her from being locked inside her house, neglecting her personal hygiene. Visceral reactions were had and my face could not contain the disgust I felt while reading this.
It DID get a bit repetitive and for a short book, it made the story drag just a tiny bit, which is why it wasn’t a five star read. Overall, this was a solid, gruesome horror novella.
TW: animal cruelty, mental illness, alcoholism
Thank you NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
It DID get a bit repetitive and for a short book, it made the story drag just a tiny bit, which is why it wasn’t a five star read. Overall, this was a solid, gruesome horror novella.
TW: animal cruelty, mental illness, alcoholism
Thank you NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
September 24, 2024
This is not a good novella. I was left bored by the repetitiveness in not only tone, but the sentences. I was not eager to turn to the next page and see how this novella would unravel because of the underdevelopment of the single character that is extremely depressed and is also extremely flat.
You follow the main character's inner dialogue (suppose to be female, however the entire time I could tell it was a male trying to write the internal dialogue of a female). She is depressed and struggling, yet the entire time I was unable to connect to her because of the lack of imagery created by short/repetitive sentences that left me confused and wanting more.
I was so intrigued by this novella, from the cover to the description and I am disappointed by this failed approach.
Thank you to Netgalley for sending me this.
You follow the main character's inner dialogue (suppose to be female, however the entire time I could tell it was a male trying to write the internal dialogue of a female). She is depressed and struggling, yet the entire time I was unable to connect to her because of the lack of imagery created by short/repetitive sentences that left me confused and wanting more.
I was so intrigued by this novella, from the cover to the description and I am disappointed by this failed approach.
Thank you to Netgalley for sending me this.
August 14, 2024
I firstly want to thank Netgalley for an advanced ARC of this short Novella.
It took me time to read this when I normally can knock out a novella this short in no time and the permiss did sound promising but I felt it never really delivered.
The idea of a woman with acute depression going through hard times & we are supposed to see her slowly lose her mind and so much more.
Unfortunately, I didn't see the horror I was hoping for and kept reading excepting more but felt like the ending I was hoping for never came
Now there may be others who do love and appreciate this book than I did, but also maybe this is something new that I do not understand but I am happy I gave it a try.
It took me time to read this when I normally can knock out a novella this short in no time and the permiss did sound promising but I felt it never really delivered.
The idea of a woman with acute depression going through hard times & we are supposed to see her slowly lose her mind and so much more.
Unfortunately, I didn't see the horror I was hoping for and kept reading excepting more but felt like the ending I was hoping for never came
Now there may be others who do love and appreciate this book than I did, but also maybe this is something new that I do not understand but I am happy I gave it a try.
October 15, 2024
The cover and the premise drew me in, however, the execution did nothing for me.
It felt like one long run-on sentence. I found myself heavily annoyed with the main character and not because of her situation, but because of the way she is written. The long descriptions that are sometimes repetitive are indicative of her deteriorating mental state, but it just made it frustrating to read instead of creating attachment or a sense of camaraderie.
I found myself having to go back to the blurb to remind myself about what is supposed to be going on.
I appreciate the chance to read this, but its a no from me.
Thank you to Netgalley for the copy to review.
It felt like one long run-on sentence. I found myself heavily annoyed with the main character and not because of her situation, but because of the way she is written. The long descriptions that are sometimes repetitive are indicative of her deteriorating mental state, but it just made it frustrating to read instead of creating attachment or a sense of camaraderie.
I found myself having to go back to the blurb to remind myself about what is supposed to be going on.
I appreciate the chance to read this, but its a no from me.
Thank you to Netgalley for the copy to review.
July 22, 2024
From right at the start of this book.the action begins slowly at first so as to introduce us to the main and sole character of this chilling book. But then rapidly progresses as the story unfolds and continues to build speed until the very end.
A thought-provoking, fast-paced, quick read that will keep you thinking from the very first page.
Thank you to the publisher for an advance copy of this book through Netgalley.
A thought-provoking, fast-paced, quick read that will keep you thinking from the very first page.
Thank you to the publisher for an advance copy of this book through Netgalley.
July 26, 2024
The idea behind this book is incredible. Bits of it made me feel like I needed to take a shower, which I love in a horror book. However throughout the book there's a ton of grammatical errors. The book also tends to just repeat itself. It's a cycle of "oh it's nightime" "ah here's the scary thing" "good it's morning". I really wish I could've enjoyed it more. I think with a bit more thought put into it, it would be an incredible read.
January 10, 2026
*ebook
I had such high hopes for this one, perhaps too high.
2 stars given for the concept.
0 of the execution of the book.
There was just so much talk about rats, gout and getting drunk. It was repetitive and I had a hard time focusing on what I was reading.
I stopped reading at around 50%.
I just wasn’t into this one or the author’s writing style at all.
I had such high hopes for this one, perhaps too high.
2 stars given for the concept.
0 of the execution of the book.
There was just so much talk about rats, gout and getting drunk. It was repetitive and I had a hard time focusing on what I was reading.
I stopped reading at around 50%.
I just wasn’t into this one or the author’s writing style at all.
August 27, 2024
Rot by Richard Coiley is, quite frankly, one of the most disappointing books I have encountered in recent memory. Despite my best efforts to remain positive and balanced, this novel fell short on nearly every front.
Beyond pacing issues, the lack of relatability and the repetitive nature of the storytelling contribute to the book’s low rating. Coiley’s atmospheric prowess couldn’t fully compensate for these shortcomings, leaving me with mixed feelings about Rot
Beyond pacing issues, the lack of relatability and the repetitive nature of the storytelling contribute to the book’s low rating. Coiley’s atmospheric prowess couldn’t fully compensate for these shortcomings, leaving me with mixed feelings about Rot
August 29, 2024
The entire book is one huge semicolon and needs a good editor. Couldn't do it.
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