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Dead Animals
'Wonderfully chilling . . . a delectable slice of defiantly queer menace.'
Leon Craig, author of Parallel Hells
There is something creeping at the edge of your vision, lingering somewhere just out of focus. All it would take is to let your mind wander, to let it come into view.
A young woman wakes after a house party with scratches and bruises - and a gap in her memory.
As the violent truth comes back to her - a series of events she struggles to name - her anger grows.
Solace comes in the form of enigmatic, captivating Helene, who knows what the man at the party did, has suffered at his hands too. An act of violence demands one in return and Helene is planning revenge.
But who can afford to ask for justice, when the cost is murderously high?
'Stuckes deftly balances violence and wit, self-consciousness and panache. She can turn a sentence on a dime.' Kim Addonizio
Leon Craig, author of Parallel Hells
There is something creeping at the edge of your vision, lingering somewhere just out of focus. All it would take is to let your mind wander, to let it come into view.
A young woman wakes after a house party with scratches and bruises - and a gap in her memory.
As the violent truth comes back to her - a series of events she struggles to name - her anger grows.
Solace comes in the form of enigmatic, captivating Helene, who knows what the man at the party did, has suffered at his hands too. An act of violence demands one in return and Helene is planning revenge.
But who can afford to ask for justice, when the cost is murderously high?
'Stuckes deftly balances violence and wit, self-consciousness and panache. She can turn a sentence on a dime.' Kim Addonizio
160 pages, Hardcover
First published April 11, 2024
23 people are currently reading
4650 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 229 reviews
April 24, 2024
I was really drawn to this-- that intriguing title, the striking cover, the premise --but I'm afraid it just didn't live up to my expectations.
The characters were entirely one-dimensional. The unnamed protagonist has no personality of her own, and Helene, who she becomes obsessed with, is equally forgettable. I do understand why this is-- because this is a book solely about sexual assault trauma which envelops her entire being --but I'm not sure it works. I personally find it very difficult to sink into books where the characters feel this flat.
Also, I was turned off from the beginning by the writing style. I'm not so obsessed with grammar that I can't tolerate the occasional comma splice, but they are used so frequently here it just comes off as poor writing. It made sense in sentences where it conveyed urgency or disorientation; other times it was needlessly jarring.
Similarly, expressions like "my side was cold to the touch like a side of salmon" and "staring at [the package] like it was my opponent in a game of chess" came across awkward and overwritten to me.
There's much in the way of words, but not all that much being said in this book. I found that the protagonist thought the same thing over and over again just in different ways. Which is not great when the whole book is only 144 pages.
The characters were entirely one-dimensional. The unnamed protagonist has no personality of her own, and Helene, who she becomes obsessed with, is equally forgettable. I do understand why this is-- because this is a book solely about sexual assault trauma which envelops her entire being --but I'm not sure it works. I personally find it very difficult to sink into books where the characters feel this flat.
Also, I was turned off from the beginning by the writing style. I'm not so obsessed with grammar that I can't tolerate the occasional comma splice, but they are used so frequently here it just comes off as poor writing. It made sense in sentences where it conveyed urgency or disorientation; other times it was needlessly jarring.
Similarly, expressions like "my side was cold to the touch like a side of salmon" and "staring at [the package] like it was my opponent in a game of chess" came across awkward and overwritten to me.
There's much in the way of words, but not all that much being said in this book. I found that the protagonist thought the same thing over and over again just in different ways. Which is not great when the whole book is only 144 pages.
March 2, 2024
This is a deliciously creepy and enigmatic story that merges sexual trauma with something spine-tinglingly weird - I loved the way the two strands are held together via the concept of haunting.
Set against a young woman's alienated malaise compounded by a precarious existence as a zero hours waitress and living in a tiny bedsit, this feels absolutely contemporary. I seem to have read a handful of books recently that deal with the individual elements: non-consent, sexual violence, female contemporary alienation, psychological illness manifesting in the body, coercive relationships, female rage - and this one manages to give them all a shake-up and then pull them back together in a single narrative.
The 'light-hearted' bullying endured by our vegetarian narrator in the upmarket offal restaurant where she works is part of the atmosphere, as are the classic 'haunted' signs: shadows in the mirror, light bulbs popping, strange noises - and the way they indicate psychic stress as well as a possible strange kind of agency. And the characterisation of Helena, a new friend, lover and would-be saviour is genius: allusions to , perhaps?
I've seen reservations about the writing style but listening to this in audio worked superbly for me: Anna Burnett's muted voice conveys exactly the right deadened/dead pan voice I needed from this narrator without making the listening itself dull. The contrast between the happenings described by the narrator and the matter of fact way she tells them is exactly the space I needed for this book to work - and I had genuine shivers at various points!
Keeping the story compact and short works well as I read it in pretty much one sitting allowing all the threads to come together. Wonderfully poised between classic spookiness and the modern horrors of precarious lives, sexual violence, power differentials and toxicity, this was absolutely the right book at the right time for me.
Many thanks to Hodder and Stoughton Audio for an audio book via NetGalley
Set against a young woman's alienated malaise compounded by a precarious existence as a zero hours waitress and living in a tiny bedsit, this feels absolutely contemporary. I seem to have read a handful of books recently that deal with the individual elements: non-consent, sexual violence, female contemporary alienation, psychological illness manifesting in the body, coercive relationships, female rage - and this one manages to give them all a shake-up and then pull them back together in a single narrative.
The 'light-hearted' bullying endured by our vegetarian narrator in the upmarket offal restaurant where she works is part of the atmosphere, as are the classic 'haunted' signs: shadows in the mirror, light bulbs popping, strange noises - and the way they indicate psychic stress as well as a possible strange kind of agency. And the characterisation of Helena, a new friend, lover and would-be saviour is genius: allusions to , perhaps?
I've seen reservations about the writing style but listening to this in audio worked superbly for me: Anna Burnett's muted voice conveys exactly the right deadened/dead pan voice I needed from this narrator without making the listening itself dull. The contrast between the happenings described by the narrator and the matter of fact way she tells them is exactly the space I needed for this book to work - and I had genuine shivers at various points!
Keeping the story compact and short works well as I read it in pretty much one sitting allowing all the threads to come together. Wonderfully poised between classic spookiness and the modern horrors of precarious lives, sexual violence, power differentials and toxicity, this was absolutely the right book at the right time for me.
Many thanks to Hodder and Stoughton Audio for an audio book via NetGalley
March 24, 2024
Dead Animals is the story of a young woman (unnamed) who wakes up following a house party with no memory of the night before, but her body is covered in bruises and scratches. The reader follows her journey as she tries to piece all the events of the night back together. Eventually, the violent truth comes back to her and she remembers little by little the abuse she experienced at the hands of a man. The protagonist is then introduced to Helene, who also happens to have faced very similar experiences during her relationship with the same man in question. As the protagonist tries to navigate her life and her new relationship with Helene, as they are both coming to terms with the anger they’re experiencing as a result of the violence and emotional torture the man brought upon them, it’s evident that an act of violence demands one in return. Helene wants to seek revenge, however the protagonist is too caught up in a series of nightmares and fear. Who can afford to ask for justice?
Dead Animals is a short read which I managed to finish in a couple of sittings. One of my favourite things about the novel is how much content there is to unpack. I’ve found myself on more than one occasion since finishing the novel, sat, contemplating what I have just read. The novel does not provide any answers to the growing dread you feel whilst reading the novel, or for the weird occurrences that begin to multiply, but you are certainly provided with something to contemplate about.
Stuckes’ tone is sharp and raw, and it doesn’t shy away from anything. There’s no denying that the book is so beautifully written and I found that as the story sets the scene, it refuses to let you go until you’ve read the final page of the devastating epilogue. The writing style is different to the books I have been reading most recently, however I think it really suited the mood of the novel and was complimentary to the genre and the themes that are discussed within. I am still unsure as to whether the absence of chapters was intentional, but it did add more depth to the protagonist’s story, resembling that there are no breaks in the trauma she’s surviving through, it has completely consumed every last part of her body.
A part of me feels saddened to know the extent of people that will be able to relate to this novel and how collective the experiences are within today’s society. I am certain that as people are reading the novel, they’ll find familiarity and be able to relate to the character’s emotions and behaviour, including the deadly feeling of dread, heightened levels of fear, as well as the seizing up of one’s body. However, there lies the pure beauty and sheer intelligence of the story. A novel which in a lot of instances is challenging to describe and to put in to words, yet Stuckes’ has managed to achieve this in the most haunting yet beautiful of ways.
The only criticism I have is that the ending of the novel felt rushed. It could have been played out a lot more. I would have loved to have seen the events that unfolded between Helene and their abuser in the moments which lead up to the epilogue. But overall, I really enjoyed the journey this novel has taken me on and and I’d love to read more from the author, and to delve further into their dark mind with the stories of this genre. For a very short story, the novel certainly knows how to pack a punch.
If you are an unhinged Ottessa Moshfegh girlie, you will love this book. It definitely has a similar feel to Eileen in terms of its voice, but Dead Animals delves deeper into the unsettling spookiness.
* Thank you to NetGalley, Hodder & Stoughton, and Phoebe Stuckes for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review *
Dead Animals is a short read which I managed to finish in a couple of sittings. One of my favourite things about the novel is how much content there is to unpack. I’ve found myself on more than one occasion since finishing the novel, sat, contemplating what I have just read. The novel does not provide any answers to the growing dread you feel whilst reading the novel, or for the weird occurrences that begin to multiply, but you are certainly provided with something to contemplate about.
Stuckes’ tone is sharp and raw, and it doesn’t shy away from anything. There’s no denying that the book is so beautifully written and I found that as the story sets the scene, it refuses to let you go until you’ve read the final page of the devastating epilogue. The writing style is different to the books I have been reading most recently, however I think it really suited the mood of the novel and was complimentary to the genre and the themes that are discussed within. I am still unsure as to whether the absence of chapters was intentional, but it did add more depth to the protagonist’s story, resembling that there are no breaks in the trauma she’s surviving through, it has completely consumed every last part of her body.
A part of me feels saddened to know the extent of people that will be able to relate to this novel and how collective the experiences are within today’s society. I am certain that as people are reading the novel, they’ll find familiarity and be able to relate to the character’s emotions and behaviour, including the deadly feeling of dread, heightened levels of fear, as well as the seizing up of one’s body. However, there lies the pure beauty and sheer intelligence of the story. A novel which in a lot of instances is challenging to describe and to put in to words, yet Stuckes’ has managed to achieve this in the most haunting yet beautiful of ways.
The only criticism I have is that the ending of the novel felt rushed. It could have been played out a lot more. I would have loved to have seen the events that unfolded between Helene and their abuser in the moments which lead up to the epilogue. But overall, I really enjoyed the journey this novel has taken me on and and I’d love to read more from the author, and to delve further into their dark mind with the stories of this genre. For a very short story, the novel certainly knows how to pack a punch.
If you are an unhinged Ottessa Moshfegh girlie, you will love this book. It definitely has a similar feel to Eileen in terms of its voice, but Dead Animals delves deeper into the unsettling spookiness.
* Thank you to NetGalley, Hodder & Stoughton, and Phoebe Stuckes for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review *
December 26, 2023
very Eileen coded - I loved it
March 25, 2024
Format: audiobook ~ Narrator: Anna Burnett
Content: 4 stars ~ Narration: 5 stars
Complete audiobook review
A young woman wakes up the morning after a party covered in bruises and scratches. She doesn't remember what happened. As we follow her story after that morning, the puzzle slowly comes together piece by piece. She later meets Helene, who seems perfect in every sense.
Short novel, only 4 hours 40 minutes in audiobook form. Although weird and creepy, Dead Animals is an excellent novel.
Thanks to Hodder & Stoughton Audio for the advance copy and this opportunity! This is a voluntary review and all opinions are my own.
Content: 4 stars ~ Narration: 5 stars
Complete audiobook review
A young woman wakes up the morning after a party covered in bruises and scratches. She doesn't remember what happened. As we follow her story after that morning, the puzzle slowly comes together piece by piece. She later meets Helene, who seems perfect in every sense.
Short novel, only 4 hours 40 minutes in audiobook form. Although weird and creepy, Dead Animals is an excellent novel.
Thanks to Hodder & Stoughton Audio for the advance copy and this opportunity! This is a voluntary review and all opinions are my own.
March 14, 2024
This kept me intrigued until the end. It is the story of a young woman living alone in London. She is a waitress struggling to make ends meet and also struggling psychologically. Until she meets the pretty and rich Helene, who is clearly manipulating her and plotting something sinister.
I like it when one single sentence colours the entire book and this is what happens here when Helene makes a certain remark to the main character.
There is tension and an eerie atmosphere that reminded me somewhat of Ottessa Moshfegh, but also Sisters by Daisy Johnson.
Thanks to Netgalley for the audio-ARC - the narrator fit the story perfectly!
I like it when one single sentence colours the entire book and this is what happens here when Helene makes a certain remark to the main character.
There is tension and an eerie atmosphere that reminded me somewhat of Ottessa Moshfegh, but also Sisters by Daisy Johnson.
Thanks to Netgalley for the audio-ARC - the narrator fit the story perfectly!
May 11, 2024
Don’t get me wrong I read this in an afternoon and couldn’t put it down, but I just needed so much more from it. Very interesting themes to pick apart around sexual violence, violence against women, and the trauma and rage that manifests after, but sadly I was just left going “….okay, then?”
October 4, 2025
“Here’s the thing about getting hit: sometimes you don’t remember if you asked him to do it or not. Or if you did ask, you must not have asked for it to be that hard. ”
March 11, 2024
Initially drawn in by the captivating cover, a delightful mix of pink and green, I'm confident this book will rank among my top reads of 2024. The depiction of trauma, inner turmoil, and grief after experiencing a sexual assault is masterfully written, allowing me to truly feel the main character's pain. Without hesitation, I'll be purchasing this book as soon as it's available.
It's giving Eileen vibes. The Moshfegh girlies will connect with this book.
It's giving Eileen vibes. The Moshfegh girlies will connect with this book.
December 27, 2024
Dead Animals follows an unnamed narrator in the aftermath of sexual violence. She is both literally and figuratively haunted by her trauma and withdraws further and further into isolation. In a chance encounter, she meets Helene. Helene is enigmatic and mysterious, but the one person who offers refuge for her.
The book is haunting and does an excellent job of dissecting how we respond to trauma. Our narrator and Helene offer two alternatives: one is avoidant and reclusive, and the other is angry and vengeful. Seeing how their similar experiences offer overtly contrasting but realistic responses provides an interesting parallel. I've seen other reviews compare the characters to that of Carmilla, which I didn't notice when reading but can see retrospectively!
The whole novel is foreboding and sinister, and I enjoyed the usual horror tropes it leverages to convey trauma (the part with the mold is especially spooky). We don't get a lot of closure as to what is real versus what is imagined by our narrator, but I think that makes sense given the novel's intent. The ending is what stops this from being a five-star - it is somewhat well-executed, but generally predictable and offers an unsatisfying denouement to what is otherwise a good novella.
The book is haunting and does an excellent job of dissecting how we respond to trauma. Our narrator and Helene offer two alternatives: one is avoidant and reclusive, and the other is angry and vengeful. Seeing how their similar experiences offer overtly contrasting but realistic responses provides an interesting parallel. I've seen other reviews compare the characters to that of Carmilla, which I didn't notice when reading but can see retrospectively!
The whole novel is foreboding and sinister, and I enjoyed the usual horror tropes it leverages to convey trauma (the part with the mold is especially spooky). We don't get a lot of closure as to what is real versus what is imagined by our narrator, but I think that makes sense given the novel's intent. The ending is what stops this from being a five-star - it is somewhat well-executed, but generally predictable and offers an unsatisfying denouement to what is otherwise a good novella.
April 7, 2024
Enjoyed this book, really liked the writing style and I was drawn in, excited to see how it would all come to a conclusion. This easily could have been a 5 star book for me but unfortunately the story left many questions unanswered - the sign of a lazy author.
April 9, 2024
Difficult to read at times, but intriguing and creepy story about trauma and violence. The ending felt rushed and a bit predictable though.
Thank you Sceptre and Netgalley for the ARC.
Thank you Sceptre and Netgalley for the ARC.
May 30, 2025
promises so much and delivers so little. at least there was toxic lesbian sex
March 12, 2024
> ARC review: Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for the audio advanced copy.
Dead Animals is the story of a woman that wakes up after a night at a party with very few memories and a lot of bruises on her body. We follow her journey as she remembers little by little the abuse she went through at the hands of a man.
She meets the mysterious Helene who suffered something similar through her relationship with the same man our main character met at the party.
Through the entire story, the atmosphere is quite dark as we follow the main character's thoughts. She tries to navigate her life and her new relationship with Helene as they both deal with anger from the violence the man brought upon them. Helene clearly seeks revenge, while the main character is pledged by nightmares and fear.
As this book is written in the first person, the narrator in the audiobook does a fantastic job at making the main character feel alive. Which also made it hard to pause as I wanted to know the development of this story very badly.
Dead Animals is the story of a woman that wakes up after a night at a party with very few memories and a lot of bruises on her body. We follow her journey as she remembers little by little the abuse she went through at the hands of a man.
She meets the mysterious Helene who suffered something similar through her relationship with the same man our main character met at the party.
Through the entire story, the atmosphere is quite dark as we follow the main character's thoughts. She tries to navigate her life and her new relationship with Helene as they both deal with anger from the violence the man brought upon them. Helene clearly seeks revenge, while the main character is pledged by nightmares and fear.
As this book is written in the first person, the narrator in the audiobook does a fantastic job at making the main character feel alive. Which also made it hard to pause as I wanted to know the development of this story very badly.
April 29, 2025
1.5 🌟 to 2
This book took me entirely too long to finish and that’s the fault of the book.
There was absolutely nothing to latch on to emotionally. Not one interesting thing, or when it was it quickly disappeared into the next section. The characters felt so flat, and there was never any redemption. There were small moments where it gave me a bit of hope like okay “finally the slow burn is gonna be worth it I hope.”
No, nothing. Another reviewer stated they felt like the author was holding a carrot infront of us the entire book and I agree.
So many paranormal instances like the candles being snuffed out, the psychic seeing an entity behind the FMC via door cam - but none of this was closed out in the ending. We had no closure. Never gets referenced again.
So yeah. I had such high hopes due to the amazing cover but…yeah. No.
This book took me entirely too long to finish and that’s the fault of the book.
There was absolutely nothing to latch on to emotionally. Not one interesting thing, or when it was it quickly disappeared into the next section. The characters felt so flat, and there was never any redemption. There were small moments where it gave me a bit of hope like okay “finally the slow burn is gonna be worth it I hope.”
No, nothing. Another reviewer stated they felt like the author was holding a carrot infront of us the entire book and I agree.
So many paranormal instances like the candles being snuffed out, the psychic seeing an entity behind the FMC via door cam - but none of this was closed out in the ending. We had no closure. Never gets referenced again.
So yeah. I had such high hopes due to the amazing cover but…yeah. No.
October 5, 2025
2.5/5
I had high expectations for this that werent matched. It felt like the supernatural was just thrown in to try and make it horroresque (and still failing?), and the infatuation of Helene and the narrator never felt deep and so it was hard to be invested.
I had high expectations for this that werent matched. It felt like the supernatural was just thrown in to try and make it horroresque (and still failing?), and the infatuation of Helene and the narrator never felt deep and so it was hard to be invested.
June 1, 2025
3.5 ⭐
I was promised horror and I got virtually none. Unsettling? Yes. I even tabbed and underlined many quotes but I wish there was more explicit horror.
I was promised horror and I got virtually none. Unsettling? Yes. I even tabbed and underlined many quotes but I wish there was more explicit horror.
March 19, 2024
Weird, wonderful, mesmerising story of SA (so triggers!) and the aftermath and the intoxicating queer relationship that follows the incident and the weirdness that then ensues. So hard to describe but a brilliant mind f***
{AD: thanks to netgalley for an advanced listener arc}
{AD: thanks to netgalley for an advanced listener arc}
December 27, 2024
another one for the unhinged girlies so if you like ottessa moshfegh and unreliable narrators then this is one for you
this does cover sexual violence, non consent and domestic abuse so also keep that in mind
this does cover sexual violence, non consent and domestic abuse so also keep that in mind
April 25, 2024
Stuckes' premise, on the surface, is structurally sound. The cover adds to the intrigue presented by the description. We follow an unreliable narrator through her unusual life. At times, we aren't sure if we are being told everything.
However, the story as a whole fell flat for me. The characters were so one-dimensional that I found it difficult to care about them. Stuckes' writing reads as more Young Adult than the Adult book advertised. Additionally, there were far too many comma splices, making the book feel slightly amateurish. Many of the sentences could have been rewritten to become beautifully striking.
When the character was expressing her thoughts, they would often be in italics, but Stuckes has chosen to include "I thought to myself," making the sentence thoroughly redundant. This book needs to be gone over with an editor to shape up the technical aspects. Furthermore, we begin the book in second person, which comes across as a mistake for we then end up in first-person perspective for the rest of the novel.
On the other hand, there were some rare gems in sentences such as, "Customers are a screaming hydra of need." Though this isn't enough to save the book for me, and that is why I have rated it as low as I have. I understand what the author was trying to achieve, but it did not land. If this book had been a short story, it could have been spectacular.
However, the story as a whole fell flat for me. The characters were so one-dimensional that I found it difficult to care about them. Stuckes' writing reads as more Young Adult than the Adult book advertised. Additionally, there were far too many comma splices, making the book feel slightly amateurish. Many of the sentences could have been rewritten to become beautifully striking.
When the character was expressing her thoughts, they would often be in italics, but Stuckes has chosen to include "I thought to myself," making the sentence thoroughly redundant. This book needs to be gone over with an editor to shape up the technical aspects. Furthermore, we begin the book in second person, which comes across as a mistake for we then end up in first-person perspective for the rest of the novel.
On the other hand, there were some rare gems in sentences such as, "Customers are a screaming hydra of need." Though this isn't enough to save the book for me, and that is why I have rated it as low as I have. I understand what the author was trying to achieve, but it did not land. If this book had been a short story, it could have been spectacular.
August 13, 2024
2.5 ⭐️
I don’t know if it’s just me, but if my girlfriend masterminded a whole plan to kill our mutual ex who hurt both of us, and asked me to join her plan and be the one to do the killing, I would propose to her— not abandon her and call the police when she sends me his hacked-up body in a package with my name and address on it in permanent marker cursive. but maybe that’s just me. and they say romance is dead.
I don’t know if it’s just me, but if my girlfriend masterminded a whole plan to kill our mutual ex who hurt both of us, and asked me to join her plan and be the one to do the killing, I would propose to her— not abandon her and call the police when she sends me his hacked-up body in a package with my name and address on it in permanent marker cursive. but maybe that’s just me. and they say romance is dead.
July 20, 2024
I am genuinely so angry I read this entire book
April 21, 2024
This book was one of the free copies I picked up at the Sceptre Salon after hearing the author read a paragraph, because I was intrigued. But unfortunately, it turned out to be a book that only sounds interesting in its excerpts. The language is highly accessible and an average level of dark - the same tone as Ottessa Moshfegh but not nearly as good. Additionally, the writing style is jarring. There are too many comma breaks and it is often repetitive - not the best attribute for a novella which is already very short. There’s only so much indulgence you can extend to sentences like “my side was cold to the touch like a side of salmon”. No, it’s not poetic, and yes, it needs better editing.
I won’t deny - I read it in two sittings. But not because I was so engaged but due to its accessibility and length. It is about a woman who experiences sexual violence and you’re made aware of her suffering from the first page. It reminded me of Leila Slimani’s style of writing in Lullaby. The big difference, however, is that Louise in Lullaby is a very well-sketched character unlike this book’s protagonist which is one-dimensional and uninteresting. We are told of her suffering but we don’t feel what she feels because she isn’t developed via motivations but through empty words that propel the story forward. There is no investigation into her emotions, coping mechanisms, and themes like trauma, sexual violence, bullying and revenge are introduced only to be dealt with inadequately, and left midway, completely forgotten and half-baked. It is a queer story but it sometimes feels tokenistic. And that’s not even the worst - what the hell are the supernatural elements interwoven in the story? Even if they’re psychological consequences of the un-named protagonist’s trauma, why are they so cliched and why are they not discussed more within that light? I swear to god - psychics, spirits, moulding in the shape of an open mouth, and a person looking over at you in the mirror are not original, and neither have they been entertaining since the early 2000s.
I won’t deny - I read it in two sittings. But not because I was so engaged but due to its accessibility and length. It is about a woman who experiences sexual violence and you’re made aware of her suffering from the first page. It reminded me of Leila Slimani’s style of writing in Lullaby. The big difference, however, is that Louise in Lullaby is a very well-sketched character unlike this book’s protagonist which is one-dimensional and uninteresting. We are told of her suffering but we don’t feel what she feels because she isn’t developed via motivations but through empty words that propel the story forward. There is no investigation into her emotions, coping mechanisms, and themes like trauma, sexual violence, bullying and revenge are introduced only to be dealt with inadequately, and left midway, completely forgotten and half-baked. It is a queer story but it sometimes feels tokenistic. And that’s not even the worst - what the hell are the supernatural elements interwoven in the story? Even if they’re psychological consequences of the un-named protagonist’s trauma, why are they so cliched and why are they not discussed more within that light? I swear to god - psychics, spirits, moulding in the shape of an open mouth, and a person looking over at you in the mirror are not original, and neither have they been entertaining since the early 2000s.
July 29, 2025
Return of the Sapphics!
My fiancée and I picked up this book on an outing to Bristol to spread out our collection of queer horror, and I’m quite happy with it.
I loved the protagonist in her relatability and realism, and it’s disheartening to see what happens across the course of the story. The abuse she faces and the mental fuckery she endures is upsetting, but written in an honest way. And the almost Ouroboros structure of struggling with her trauma while enduring a fresh wave of emotional abuse from her new love interest is a tragedy beyond belief.
Something I both expected and didn’t was the hauntings that surround her, and through the last few pages and the reveal there, it really shocked me. It was poetic, and inspired. 10/10 there, lol.
A few moments also hit close to home, as I’m sure for most readers. They’re respectful and honest, and do not overstay their welcome. If you’re ready to, I’d recommend reading.
My only main gripe is that I wish the ending was a little longer. It felt like events pick up and happen one after another with little room to breathe in between, and I’d have liked another 30 pages or so with these characters. That said, the story is only a few millimetres away from a 5 star!
Easy 8.5/10. Inspired and honest. Loved it. But please release another novel/novella soon. 😭
My fiancée and I picked up this book on an outing to Bristol to spread out our collection of queer horror, and I’m quite happy with it.
I loved the protagonist in her relatability and realism, and it’s disheartening to see what happens across the course of the story. The abuse she faces and the mental fuckery she endures is upsetting, but written in an honest way. And the almost Ouroboros structure of struggling with her trauma while enduring a fresh wave of emotional abuse from her new love interest is a tragedy beyond belief.
Something I both expected and didn’t was the hauntings that surround her, and through the last few pages and the reveal there, it really shocked me. It was poetic, and inspired. 10/10 there, lol.
A few moments also hit close to home, as I’m sure for most readers. They’re respectful and honest, and do not overstay their welcome. If you’re ready to, I’d recommend reading.
My only main gripe is that I wish the ending was a little longer. It felt like events pick up and happen one after another with little room to breathe in between, and I’d have liked another 30 pages or so with these characters. That said, the story is only a few millimetres away from a 5 star!
Easy 8.5/10. Inspired and honest. Loved it. But please release another novel/novella soon. 😭
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 2, 2024
A women wakes up after a house party with scratches and bruises and a gap in her memory. Piece by piece the evening starts coming back to her and her anger flares.
Then she meets Helene, who knows what the man did to her and wants vengeance for both her and Helene.
This story is short yet dark, gripping, odd and thrilling. I was surprised that despite the shortness of the book, I felt like I got enough. Would I have wanted more? Yes but I'm happy with what this story covers in the short amount of time.
At first, I was confused by the lack of chapters, the jumping between scenes but this being a poets debut novel, it made sense why it was written in this format. I've also realised now that I've come to write the review, I have no idea what the main characters name is, I have flipped through the book trying to pin it now and all I find is avoidance of her name being mentioned which I find a clever twist to add in (unless it is in there and I just can't find it)
I thoroughly enjoyed the journey this book took me on and I'd love to read more from this author to delve further into their dark mind with stories of this genre.
Then she meets Helene, who knows what the man did to her and wants vengeance for both her and Helene.
This story is short yet dark, gripping, odd and thrilling. I was surprised that despite the shortness of the book, I felt like I got enough. Would I have wanted more? Yes but I'm happy with what this story covers in the short amount of time.
At first, I was confused by the lack of chapters, the jumping between scenes but this being a poets debut novel, it made sense why it was written in this format. I've also realised now that I've come to write the review, I have no idea what the main characters name is, I have flipped through the book trying to pin it now and all I find is avoidance of her name being mentioned which I find a clever twist to add in (unless it is in there and I just can't find it)
I thoroughly enjoyed the journey this book took me on and I'd love to read more from this author to delve further into their dark mind with stories of this genre.
March 4, 2024
I was drawn to this book but the bright and striking front cover - but had absolutely no idea what it was about, what genre it was nor what to expect from this at all!
This was only a short book (about 4hours on audio) but it packed in so, so much and had me completely glued to it - I even planned my day around it so that I could liaten to it in its entirety in one sitting!
At first, I thought it was just going to be a book about revenge - but there was also some romance, some thriller and some paranormal thrown in there too.
I was really wondering at one point whether we were dealing with humans or not!!....pretty weird and creeped out for a brief section! - loved it!!
I loved the way that our anonymous main character contrasted so bluntly with Helene. Both having, seemingly, gone through the same trauma, but both with very different reactions to these events. Our MC being haunted by the memory (and lack of) wheas Helene seemed to be revelling in the details.
Our MC was obviously easily manipulated by Helene and it seemed an odd outcome to the original meeting - but this plays out beautifully over the course of the story and the ending explains all.
The writing style was a little different to that which I've been reading recently but it really suited the mood of the book and complimented the genre(s)/themes within.
A great little quick read!
This was only a short book (about 4hours on audio) but it packed in so, so much and had me completely glued to it - I even planned my day around it so that I could liaten to it in its entirety in one sitting!
At first, I thought it was just going to be a book about revenge - but there was also some romance, some thriller and some paranormal thrown in there too.
I was really wondering at one point whether we were dealing with humans or not!!....pretty weird and creeped out for a brief section! - loved it!!
I loved the way that our anonymous main character contrasted so bluntly with Helene. Both having, seemingly, gone through the same trauma, but both with very different reactions to these events. Our MC being haunted by the memory (and lack of) wheas Helene seemed to be revelling in the details.
Our MC was obviously easily manipulated by Helene and it seemed an odd outcome to the original meeting - but this plays out beautifully over the course of the story and the ending explains all.
The writing style was a little different to that which I've been reading recently but it really suited the mood of the book and complimented the genre(s)/themes within.
A great little quick read!
November 16, 2025
Yawwnnnn 😴
Bland characters that are very one dimensional, story that doesn’t really go anywhere? Also the ‘supernatural’ element came out of nowhere and felt forced and unnecessary; nothing felt tied up at the end. Would NOT recommend at all.
Bland characters that are very one dimensional, story that doesn’t really go anywhere? Also the ‘supernatural’ element came out of nowhere and felt forced and unnecessary; nothing felt tied up at the end. Would NOT recommend at all.
November 2, 2025
Weird and creepy.
May 28, 2025
Gripping.
The right balance of horror, of fate, of despair.
The tangly reality of relationships and what it means to live in the aftermath, what it means to encounter wolves in sheep’s clothing.
The ‘supernatural’ element felt so subtle and well balanced. It never pushed it too far but it really helped to raise the feeling of horror.
The right balance of horror, of fate, of despair.
The tangly reality of relationships and what it means to live in the aftermath, what it means to encounter wolves in sheep’s clothing.
The ‘supernatural’ element felt so subtle and well balanced. It never pushed it too far but it really helped to raise the feeling of horror.
March 18, 2024
Written through a series of short, staccato style vignettes, Dead Animals is a feverish -almost fantastical, written novella, that -although does well to evoke a slowly creeping, eerily infused atmosphere, sadly falls short (aka underwhelms) in its overall execution.
3 (too short to make any “greater” impact) stars
PS ~ thanks to the publishers for sending me a copy !
3 (too short to make any “greater” impact) stars
PS ~ thanks to the publishers for sending me a copy !
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