Rot

by G.H. Fryer

Life is hard for Violet Brennan. She should be applying to art school. Instead, she's caring for her sick mom. Ever since her dad's death a few years ago, the two of them survive each day by finding joy in simple moments, like trips to the Denver Art Museum. But an ordinary day turns into a nightmare when a macabre exhibit captures Violet's curiosity. The Gothic America exhibit surrounds Violet in paintings full of secrets, shadows, and maybe even a little magic. When her eye catches movement in a painting of a brooding Victorian manor, she reaches out, touching the painting. Violet tumbles through the canvas and into an impossible world of magic and danger. Trapped inside the painting with two creepy children and a terrifying governess, she must survive long enough to find a way home. In here, everything is hungry, and even the shadows hunt for their next meal. Violet is desperate for a way back to her mom, but she's not the only one searching for a way home before it's too late.

289 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 31, 2023

Reviews

[Biblio · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was absolutely insane. I have goosebumps. This was equal parts mystery and horror and thrilling and just wow. When I saw that GH Fryer is a Pisces it made sense. Dreamy, weird, intense, emotional…. This book was like a wild dream. Guillermo del Toro and Alice in Wonderland has an insane little baby and this was born. In fact this gave me Salvador Dali vibes. I am still in shock and awe. The ending. Holy crap. The writing is nothing short of stunning and bewildering. Some of the lines are just jaw dropping and so intense. I am still trying to wrap my head around this book (in a good way) holy crap. You do not want to miss this read.

“After all this time, he was surprised true evil wasn’t always something grotesquely disfigured. Quite often, it was beautiful and intriguing.”

✨I received an ARC copy in exchange for my honest review✨

[Lindsey Longaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was incredible! Spooky, enchanting and intriguing. The concept and plot is so unique, I was engaged with it from start to finish. Each character had the ability to hold my attention and I found myself rooting for unsuspecting characters as the story went on. It definitely kept me on my toes. I am so excited for this trilogy to continue, I NEED MORE!

[Kari Tidwell (karisbookstodevour) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating story where shadow demons lurk, new powers are discovered, and decisions made hundreds of years ago are put into question. Filled with bits of magic, art, and an insanely eerie and haunting vibe, Rot is a book motivated by revenge, redemption, and the ever present battle against evil.
Violet is overwhelmed taking care of her mom and working multiple jobs to pay the bills. Art has always been her escape so when she visits the local museum and sees a beautiful and haunting painting she is completely thrown when a simple touch drags her into the painting, trapping her in a world of evil shadow children, a crazy scary governess, and magic she’s never known she possesses.
Violet makes for a strong, determined, and naïve FMC as she is plunged inside a world of magic she didn’t know she had and decisions that will have consequences no matter what she does. I like her but I can’t help but feel like she made an awful lot of decisions, before she asked any questions and fully understood what would happen and why things were put into motion in the first place. This leaves it wide open for the next book in the series but leaves Rot feeling like perhaps Violet jumped to conclusions about motivation prematurely. I am looking forward to the next book to see where Violet, Katherine, and Lord Brahm end up and what types of destruction will be wreaked on Denver and each other in the end. A well written gothic vibe book that is definitely intriguing.

[Sarah Rizk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Violet's life revolves around caring for her mentally ill mother after her father passed away.  She finds escape through her passion for art.  Ben, an artist with a gift, has made it his mission to use that gift to battle evil, unknown to people.  After visiting an art exhibit, Violet finds herself sucked into a painting that holds an alternate world complete with a seemingly haunted house, a creepy governess, and strange children.  Everything is not as it seems, and Violet must fight for survival and find a way home. 

I have never read anything from this author before, and being an art lover, I couldn't help but have high expectations with this book.  G. H. Fryer really delivered.  Her descriptive imagery transports you into the world as if you stepped into the painting right along with Violet.  The mystery of it all made it impossible to put down.  There are a few shocking revelations throughout and a satisfying ending you won't see coming.  I will definitely be following along to see where this story goes next.

[Samantha Picaro · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished the ARC of "Rot" by G.H. Fryer in one day; that’s how captivating it was. The book follows an artistic teen girl who is sucked into a painting and must battle to survive a world with a creepy house, strange governess and children, and get back home to her mother.

The author has a gorgeous writing style and a creative plot. The descriptions are so good the places seem like they have personalities or emotions. Books in which artistic talent is connected to powers has always intrigued me. Violet is both a strong and vulnerable girl the reader will root for as she tries to take care of her mother and try to get back to her. The other characters are nuanced and sympathetic, even some of the villains. There are many heartbreaking moments that are also balanced with hope and determination to survive.

G.H. Fryer is talented at creating suspense, twists, and strong main characters.

[claudia reads it all · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a rollercoaster book!

Violet's life is spent caring for her sick mother and carving precious time for her art. She finds herself drawn to a priest (not like that) who has more secrets than she can imagine. When she touches one of his paintings, she finds herself inside the world depicted there, and then it's creepy siblings and governess time!

There is a lot of scary stuff happening and if you've seen The Haunting of Bly Manor or Crimson Peak you'll get a feel for the vibes in the world of the painting. Violet doesn't know who to trust and all she wants to do is go home to her sick mom, while the "priest" is dealing with the many, many consequences of his actions, and other players are each working toward their own goals.

The ending sets up the next book, which I can't wait for.