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A Voice Calling
But is the house truly haunted?
Of course the house is haunted.
Button House has stood for generations, digging its roots and its rot deeper and deeper. Button House would consume all who approached: twin brothers, a child bride, an innocent baby, four young factory workers.
And then came Rose Billings, who had an affinity with the house no other did. Rose, who could hear the house and the pleas of its many ghosts. Rose, who would attempt to solve the mysteries of Button House, or die trying.
Of course the house is haunted.
Button House has stood for generations, digging its roots and its rot deeper and deeper. Button House would consume all who approached: twin brothers, a child bride, an innocent baby, four young factory workers.
And then came Rose Billings, who had an affinity with the house no other did. Rose, who could hear the house and the pleas of its many ghosts. Rose, who would attempt to solve the mysteries of Button House, or die trying.
100 pages, Paperback
First published March 19, 2024
4 people are currently reading
429 people want to read
About the author
Christopher Barzak
62 books465 followersChristopher Barzak is the author of the Crawford Fantasy Award winning novel One for Sorrow which has been made into the Sundance feature film Jamie Marks is Dead. His second novel, The Love We Share Without Knowing, was a finalist for the Nebula Award and the James Tiptree Jr. Award. His third novel, Wonders of the Invisible World, received the Stonewall Honor from the American Library Association and most recently was selected for inclusion on the Human Rights Campaign’s list of books for libraries in LGBTQ welcoming schools. He is also the author of three short story collections: Birds and Birthdays, a collection of surrealist fantasy stories, Before and Afterlives, a collection of supernatural fantasies, which won Best Collection in the 2013 Shirley Jackson Awards, and Monstrous Alterations. His most recent novel, The Gone Away Place, received the inaugural Whippoorwill Award, and was selected for the Choose to Read Ohio program by the State Library of Ohio, the Ohioana Library Association, and the Ohio Center for the Book.
Christopher grew up in rural Kinsman, Ohio, has lived in the southern California beach town of Carlsbad, and the capital of Michigan; he taught English outside of Tokyo, Japan, where he lived for two years. He teaches creative writing at Youngstown State University, in Youngstown, Ohio.
Christopher grew up in rural Kinsman, Ohio, has lived in the southern California beach town of Carlsbad, and the capital of Michigan; he taught English outside of Tokyo, Japan, where he lived for two years. He teaches creative writing at Youngstown State University, in Youngstown, Ohio.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
December 20, 2024
The tale itself is intriguing and I’m always a sucker for a haunted house or ghost story. There are some hiccups however.
The story is written as a collective of townspeople in a singular voice. Traipsing different timelines, this is a telling of different families who inhabit a house that seems to condemn all who live there. I appreciated elements of the story but I found the particular manner in which it was written difficult to immerse myself in. It was a struggle at times with pages of a story that felt like filler rather than beneficial storyline.
Needless to say, this wasn’t one of my favorite reads in novella form unfortunately…
ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The story is written as a collective of townspeople in a singular voice. Traipsing different timelines, this is a telling of different families who inhabit a house that seems to condemn all who live there. I appreciated elements of the story but I found the particular manner in which it was written difficult to immerse myself in. It was a struggle at times with pages of a story that felt like filler rather than beneficial storyline.
Needless to say, this wasn’t one of my favorite reads in novella form unfortunately…
ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 11, 2023
Like people, homes have history. Button House has a dark history. It has stood for generations and during that time, people have gone missing. Those in town warn their loved ones about going near it.
Rose is known for hearing voices. She could hear the ghosts inside Button house....
This novella is 100 pages, but a lot happens in those pages. I enjoyed how the book is told through many voices. Readers are given a brief history of the home and those who have lived there. I enjoyed the creepy vibe of the book. It's not scary or horrific but instead is creepy, unique, and captivating.
The pacing was fast and there was never a dull moment. I enjoyed how everything came together and played out. This can easily be read in one sitting.
Great novella for those who enjoy haunted houses and novellas.
3.5 stars
Thank you to Psychopomp and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
Rose is known for hearing voices. She could hear the ghosts inside Button house....
This novella is 100 pages, but a lot happens in those pages. I enjoyed how the book is told through many voices. Readers are given a brief history of the home and those who have lived there. I enjoyed the creepy vibe of the book. It's not scary or horrific but instead is creepy, unique, and captivating.
The pacing was fast and there was never a dull moment. I enjoyed how everything came together and played out. This can easily be read in one sitting.
Great novella for those who enjoy haunted houses and novellas.
3.5 stars
Thank you to Psychopomp and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
October 2, 2024
My first novella.
November 14, 2023
A Voice Calling is a new take on a haunted house story.
This novella is told through the eyes of the townspeople and their observations on the strange family that lives in Button House.
I thought the pacing was extremely well done, and it had just the right amount of creepy! I just wish there was a little more history of the orchard and the part it played!
Atmospheric and unsettling, this definitely left me craving more!!
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Available March 19, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley and Psychopomp for an advance review copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
This novella is told through the eyes of the townspeople and their observations on the strange family that lives in Button House.
I thought the pacing was extremely well done, and it had just the right amount of creepy! I just wish there was a little more history of the orchard and the part it played!
Atmospheric and unsettling, this definitely left me craving more!!
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Available March 19, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley and Psychopomp for an advance review copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
January 24, 2024
I love a scary haunted house story but unfortunately this novella did not meet my ghoulish expectations. Perhaps I read too many Edgar Allen Poe books in my youth.
November 7, 2023
I greatly enjoyed this somewhat unique take of the haunted house trope. The POV is told collectively from the townspeople instead of from one person. The book’s chapters are not in chronological order, but rather snippets of time throughout the house’s history. I thought this made it a bit more creepy.
March 7, 2024
"A Voice Calling" is the perfect novella for a gloomy afternoon read. The story is told from a collective voice (that I think is the townsfolk but maybe not) that reads like a classical Greek chorus, and I loved that. The story starts with a standard, creepy haunted house, but the story develops into a dark tale of generational trauma and misogyny. This story was excellent!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free ebook in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free ebook in exchange for an honest review.
November 10, 2023
Button house has been around for ages, and things always seem to be going terrible to the people who live there. Rose Billing can hear voices that no one else can. Perhaps she has what it takes to stop the evil lurking at Button House, or will it consume her as it did the rest?
This was a very interesting and quick read. I loved how the book was written from the perspective of the entire community, as it really made it feel like an “us against the house” situation. The chapters are pretty short and are easy to read, making this a fast read. The chapters introduces us to key characters in the house’s history and what happened to them.
I highly recommend giving this a read if you are looking for a quick and unsettling haunted house story!
Big Thanks to Netgalley, Psychopomp and the Author Christopher Barzak for allowing me to read an E-Arc of this story.
This was a very interesting and quick read. I loved how the book was written from the perspective of the entire community, as it really made it feel like an “us against the house” situation. The chapters are pretty short and are easy to read, making this a fast read. The chapters introduces us to key characters in the house’s history and what happened to them.
I highly recommend giving this a read if you are looking for a quick and unsettling haunted house story!
Big Thanks to Netgalley, Psychopomp and the Author Christopher Barzak for allowing me to read an E-Arc of this story.
March 24, 2024
This novella! I've been a fan of Christopher Barzak for many years. ONE FOR SORROW is one of my favorite novels, BEFORE AND AFTERLIVES is an incredible short story collection, and MONSTROUS ALTERATIONS was one of my favorite reads of 2023. But this novella... It arrived yesterday and last night I could not stop reading. Finished it in a single sitting. What a magnificent ghost story! Moody, sinister, engrossing, and so sad. And the narrative voice! One of the few times I've read a collective "We" POV and felt that it worked perfectly for the story. Unputdownable. Highly recommended!
March 19, 2024
A very different type of haunted house book. The story was told from the past to present. I really enjoy books written this way because it is nice to know the back story as the new story progresses. This book was not terribly spooky just had a creeping dread to it. Once you discover all the secrets to the house, the reader is quite glad to not live in a place such as this. This book was fast paced and I will recommend it to others.
November 16, 2023
“Of course the house is haunted.”
📚
Button House and its surrounding apple orchard have stood for so many generations that its builders and original inhabitants have been lost to history. The subject of much speculation, lore, and legend and a location rife with horrific violence and tragedy, the locale is best known for playing host to numerous deaths, disappearances, murders, and suicides. It is a haunted, deeply rooted place that consumes its occupants: the first forgotten residents (referred to as “the Blanks”), followed by the Olivers, and finally the Addlesons.
And when young Rose Billings — a local girl with otherworldly intuition — feels inexplicably drawn to the abode and quickly marries into the Addleson family, the community must decide whether it will sit by and lose another of its ilk, or whether it will attempt to intervene. Because Rose can hear both the house and its ghosts, and she’s determined to stay until she solves these mysteries, or perishes in the pursuit.
This macabre novella immediately captivates, calmly moving through years as it recounts dark, sinister, and twisted generational tales. The unique point of view (collective townspeople rather than any one individual) adds a wonderful sense of atmosphere, bolstering the creep and shock factor that comes with the “house as character” element. It’s a disturbing, binge-worthy story that packs a wallop in only 100 pages and contains ample material to expand into a full-length novel.
As I read A Voice Calling, Michael McDowell’s Southern Gothic masterpiece, Blackwater, came to mind, as this novella provides a similar, albeit it substantially condensed, experience: the reader is lulled by and ensconced in the fascinating world of Button House, a comforting conveyance of life over time — lives varied yet entwined and littered with gruesome acts and unsettling moments. Almost hypnotic in its smooth writing and seamless construction, it produces an ideal paradox that both satisfies and leaves the reader wanting more, a chronicle perfectly designed to linger and haunt.
Thank you to NetGalley and Psychopomp for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
📚
Button House and its surrounding apple orchard have stood for so many generations that its builders and original inhabitants have been lost to history. The subject of much speculation, lore, and legend and a location rife with horrific violence and tragedy, the locale is best known for playing host to numerous deaths, disappearances, murders, and suicides. It is a haunted, deeply rooted place that consumes its occupants: the first forgotten residents (referred to as “the Blanks”), followed by the Olivers, and finally the Addlesons.
And when young Rose Billings — a local girl with otherworldly intuition — feels inexplicably drawn to the abode and quickly marries into the Addleson family, the community must decide whether it will sit by and lose another of its ilk, or whether it will attempt to intervene. Because Rose can hear both the house and its ghosts, and she’s determined to stay until she solves these mysteries, or perishes in the pursuit.
This macabre novella immediately captivates, calmly moving through years as it recounts dark, sinister, and twisted generational tales. The unique point of view (collective townspeople rather than any one individual) adds a wonderful sense of atmosphere, bolstering the creep and shock factor that comes with the “house as character” element. It’s a disturbing, binge-worthy story that packs a wallop in only 100 pages and contains ample material to expand into a full-length novel.
As I read A Voice Calling, Michael McDowell’s Southern Gothic masterpiece, Blackwater, came to mind, as this novella provides a similar, albeit it substantially condensed, experience: the reader is lulled by and ensconced in the fascinating world of Button House, a comforting conveyance of life over time — lives varied yet entwined and littered with gruesome acts and unsettling moments. Almost hypnotic in its smooth writing and seamless construction, it produces an ideal paradox that both satisfies and leaves the reader wanting more, a chronicle perfectly designed to linger and haunt.
Thank you to NetGalley and Psychopomp for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
July 15, 2024
In ‘A Voice Calling’, Christopher Barzak has created a ghost story in which the narrator is an entire community, or the voice that speaks for it. A nameless “we” tells of the hold that one house has held over a small Ohio town for many years, and the lives, both dead and living, that have been lost to it. The honest eloquence of this voice is so enjoyable and so compelling, it drew me in completely within the first few sentences and held me until I found myself both surprised and a little sad to find that I’d reached the final page.
And while Chris Barzak’s style is completely his own, I did more than once feel the touch of Sherwood Anderson and Thornton Wilder in these words, specifically in the way that those writers approached horror. This is what I mean––acting teachers will tell students to never “act drunk”, but to act like someone who’s trying to act sober. Similarly, real people who are trying to give an honest account of real horrors that have touched people’s lives––people they know––will speak with a kind of respectful restraint that sometimes leaves out the very worst details. And in leaving them out, they create a kind of radiant, tangible outline of the thing they’d rather not speak out loud, which is consequently twice as powerful.
Sometimes, however, that veil must be lifted for the sake of giving a true and faithful account, so Chris Barzak’s narrator does not always shy away from horrific things, and they too make their appearance like indelible scars on the psyche of this community.
At one point, the narrative departs from the “Greek chorus” approach and suddenly takes a deep, long dive into the experience of one character, a young woman named Bernadette Winterson. It’s a remarkable and gripping exercise in empathy, and you can almost feel Barzak’s joy in bringing this character to life for us.
In the end, though, it’s not an individual, but the community that finally responds and takes action to save their own. It feels fitting that a book that begins by letting us hear the voice of a haunted community, ends by showing us a community coming together to transform and end its pain.
‘A Voice Calling’ is not only a beautifully written ghost story, but a work of art that shows us what this kind of fiction is capable of.
And while Chris Barzak’s style is completely his own, I did more than once feel the touch of Sherwood Anderson and Thornton Wilder in these words, specifically in the way that those writers approached horror. This is what I mean––acting teachers will tell students to never “act drunk”, but to act like someone who’s trying to act sober. Similarly, real people who are trying to give an honest account of real horrors that have touched people’s lives––people they know––will speak with a kind of respectful restraint that sometimes leaves out the very worst details. And in leaving them out, they create a kind of radiant, tangible outline of the thing they’d rather not speak out loud, which is consequently twice as powerful.
Sometimes, however, that veil must be lifted for the sake of giving a true and faithful account, so Chris Barzak’s narrator does not always shy away from horrific things, and they too make their appearance like indelible scars on the psyche of this community.
At one point, the narrative departs from the “Greek chorus” approach and suddenly takes a deep, long dive into the experience of one character, a young woman named Bernadette Winterson. It’s a remarkable and gripping exercise in empathy, and you can almost feel Barzak’s joy in bringing this character to life for us.
In the end, though, it’s not an individual, but the community that finally responds and takes action to save their own. It feels fitting that a book that begins by letting us hear the voice of a haunted community, ends by showing us a community coming together to transform and end its pain.
‘A Voice Calling’ is not only a beautifully written ghost story, but a work of art that shows us what this kind of fiction is capable of.
May 1, 2024
Button House has stood for generations, digging its roots and its rot deeper and deeper. Button House would consume all who approached: And then came Rose Billings. Rose can hear the house. But is the house truly haunted? Of course the house is haunted.
In such a small amount of pages, Barzak manages to tell such a big story. Reminiscent of a Poe reading, this one is told in a poetic and story telling way, like someone is giving you a history of the house for a documentary. Having the POV be from the townsfolk was a genius way of writing. It is captivating, drawing you right in and leaving chills running up and down your spine. The pacing is quick, never leaving you a dull moment in this uniquely captivating read.
Thank you to NetGalley, Psychopomp and Christopher Barzak for an advanced copy for review. A Voice Calling is available now.
In such a small amount of pages, Barzak manages to tell such a big story. Reminiscent of a Poe reading, this one is told in a poetic and story telling way, like someone is giving you a history of the house for a documentary. Having the POV be from the townsfolk was a genius way of writing. It is captivating, drawing you right in and leaving chills running up and down your spine. The pacing is quick, never leaving you a dull moment in this uniquely captivating read.
Thank you to NetGalley, Psychopomp and Christopher Barzak for an advanced copy for review. A Voice Calling is available now.
December 3, 2023
"A Voice Calling" Drew me in with it's cover and synopsis. I love a good haunted house story, but I didn't feel particularly drawn in or compelled by this particular book. I wasn't terribly sure who's voice it was in as it jumped around in time but the tone remained consistent. It reads more like someone's historical recounting of a house/events at the house instead of being a story or narrative itself. I think the textbook-like tone maybe didn't work for me.
It's certainly different and a unique take on the trope and I'm certain it has an audience. I just didn't fall into the target for this one. But, certainly try it out. You may love it.
It's certainly different and a unique take on the trope and I'm certain it has an audience. I just didn't fall into the target for this one. But, certainly try it out. You may love it.
May 29, 2024
This is a creepy tale, carefully crafted, with each word placed to foreshadow the evil that finally springs forth. The horror keeps building and building until it comes to a head, but the aftershocks keep coming. I can’t remember reading such a tale since I read The Yellow Wallpaper. The 1940s, when the majority of the story takes place, has been reconstructed in the entertainment, transportation, and mores of the time. I recommend it to anyone who likes WWII-era literature, horror stories, and movies where you only see parts of the monster until it springs.
December 25, 2023
This was well-written and captivating! I imagine some readers may find it difficult to become invested as the story of Button House and its hauntings are told from the perspective of the townspeople in the area however I found this to be a unique way of story-telling that I haven't experienced before and greatly enjoyed.
I can see myself re-reading this novel in a few years :)
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read this novel in return for my honest review!
I can see myself re-reading this novel in a few years :)
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read this novel in return for my honest review!
May 16, 2024
The Button house just like most people, has a history. It is a good history and bad history. This house has stood for many generations and has seen many families come and go. The latest owners Rose could hear voices coming from the house and she always wanted to solve the mystery of the house. This is a really good novella for someone who love short hunted house telling’s. the pacing was amazing and there was never a dull moment while I was reading.
Thank you NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
#AVoiceCalling #NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
#AVoiceCalling #NetGalley
March 24, 2024
This is the story of B and of all the women like her who could not be saved, who were instead cast out. And it is the story of Rose who was saved by people who finally reconnected with their own human goodness. I see a parable in this tale of haunting. Some voices we should hear. This is one of them. Beautiful work, Christopher.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 23, 2024
Such a great upcoming horror novelist, Barzak clearly has the talent to meld reality with horror in a balanced and intelligent manner. A fantastic novella (and I swear I’m not biased just because I’m friends with the author here, hi Christopher!), great story and great characters.
March 14, 2024
This was a really fun read. It felt new and refreshing instead of tired and stale. The perspective definitely helped the haunting feeling of the story. While the subject matter wasn’t fun at all, it was an easy read.
May 23, 2024
Love a good haunted house story and this was a page-turner.
October 14, 2024
This is a ghost story that relies heavily on deep descriptions, purple prose, dreamy, and deep monologue. Its vibe is thick. Very atmospheric.
It's slow, too. And quite long. It wasn't quite my cup of tea. Though, anyone who enjoys the above would love it.
It's slow, too. And quite long. It wasn't quite my cup of tea. Though, anyone who enjoys the above would love it.
November 10, 2024
I really enjoyed this novella, in part because it takes place in a fictionalized version of where I grew up and fits the small town relationships of those communities. The supernatural and mysterious elements made it a quick read that I couldn’t put down. I do wonder if the Peter Allen house in Kinsman was the inspiration for Button House, as that’s all I kept imagining as I read!
October 29, 2025
Chris Barzak is among my favorite authors. His writing has such ease and clarity that every scene comes to vivid life. I was thoroughly engrossed in this multi-generational novella. Bravo!
September 18, 2024
As a long time fan of Christopher’s work. I can honestly say he never disappoints! His writings will haunt you long after you have finished them, just like the ghosts within his novels. I highly recommend this novella and any other of his books. He is gifted in a way that a true Medium is gifted. He often writes about those gone to the other side and gives them a voice. You will grieve for his characters and your heart will hurt for them… you will absolutely love every heartbreaking moment of it!
July 13, 2025
Vintage vibes and horror elements that are tasteful and simple while packed with unsettling realism. I heard a voice calling me to read this book and I’m glad I listened.
Read
July 10, 2025Quiet ghost story, a bit shorter than I'd hoped for, but with some nice creepy elements (I loved all the buttons) and a fantastic ‘we’ POV (all the townspeople).
January 6, 2025
I don’t know what I was expecting this haunted house story to be like, but it certainly wasn’t this (in all the best ways).
The story delves into the haunting of Button House and starts off with a delightfully funny passage about the near-mundane acts of hauntings which borders more on something Pratchett’s Goddess Anoia would do than anything terrifying. What follows is a surprisingly deftly written and tender story about the people affected by this odd house. The horrors behind the haunting takes a backseat to the humane aspects of the story. I was hooked from the first couple of lines and I’ll make it my mission to track down more of Barzak’s books in the future.
The story delves into the haunting of Button House and starts off with a delightfully funny passage about the near-mundane acts of hauntings which borders more on something Pratchett’s Goddess Anoia would do than anything terrifying. What follows is a surprisingly deftly written and tender story about the people affected by this odd house. The horrors behind the haunting takes a backseat to the humane aspects of the story. I was hooked from the first couple of lines and I’ll make it my mission to track down more of Barzak’s books in the future.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 12, 2023
"Is the house truly haunted?
Of course the house is haunted."
I felt that this was a refreshing take on the haunted house trope, creating a creepy atmosphere while beautifully writing about a house that has plagued a town for a very long time.
Told from the perspective of a town that has all but rejected this evil house, come to be known as Button House, while maintaining a healthy level of nosiness
-or curiosity - on all things concerning the house, we learn of it's dark history and how it has affected those who've resided inside.
Its most recent inhabitant is Rose Billings, a young woman from the town who heard voices of the house calling to her and couldn't resist. Will she be able to solve the mysteries of the house, or will she die trying?
I really enjoyed the style of this novella! Though classified as a horror story, I wouldn't say it was particular scary. I got more of a gothic, supernatural vibe from this novella. Being a very quick read at around 100 pages, I think it's worth taking the time to read a new take on a haunted house.
Thank you NetGalley and Psychopomp for the ARC!
Of course the house is haunted."
I felt that this was a refreshing take on the haunted house trope, creating a creepy atmosphere while beautifully writing about a house that has plagued a town for a very long time.
Told from the perspective of a town that has all but rejected this evil house, come to be known as Button House, while maintaining a healthy level of nosiness
-or curiosity - on all things concerning the house, we learn of it's dark history and how it has affected those who've resided inside.
Its most recent inhabitant is Rose Billings, a young woman from the town who heard voices of the house calling to her and couldn't resist. Will she be able to solve the mysteries of the house, or will she die trying?
I really enjoyed the style of this novella! Though classified as a horror story, I wouldn't say it was particular scary. I got more of a gothic, supernatural vibe from this novella. Being a very quick read at around 100 pages, I think it's worth taking the time to read a new take on a haunted house.
Thank you NetGalley and Psychopomp for the ARC!
November 18, 2023
This book is like a 3rd person book where it talks about what happened in this house that is really haunted. And you follow Rose in modern day there is a storm and she goes to the what they call the ‘Button House.’
Her mother is freaked out because she asks her why she even goes there the house is really haunted. Rose has been interested in the house and you basically go through her living there an the creepy sounds she hears. You find out later about all the murders the house has been through and the murderer, very scary. This is a great book for horror fans, thank you for giving me this book to review! 5 STARS.
Her mother is freaked out because she asks her why she even goes there the house is really haunted. Rose has been interested in the house and you basically go through her living there an the creepy sounds she hears. You find out later about all the murders the house has been through and the murderer, very scary. This is a great book for horror fans, thank you for giving me this book to review! 5 STARS.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews