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The Well
“Years trapped in this well without the strength to climb out of it. But you fed me...and as my belly grew, so did my curiosity. I forgot what the outside world tasted like. But now I remember.”
In the summer of 1996, the Jones family trades the New York City lifestyle for a simpler one in the secluded woods of Tennessee. Clark and Lidia embrace the move with open arms, but their seven-year-old son, Max, has a hard time adjusting. The boy has always felt a certain emptiness, and now, without the comfort of his friends, he’s unable to mask it.
In those Tennessee woods, Max looks for solace but instead finds something else. An old, decrepit well, abandoned and sealed by wooden boards. Either out of curiosity or destiny, Max is compelled to open it but doing so triggers a sinister chain of events, pulling him into a downward spiral of suffering. One that his family is desperate to pull him out of.
In the summer of 1996, the Jones family trades the New York City lifestyle for a simpler one in the secluded woods of Tennessee. Clark and Lidia embrace the move with open arms, but their seven-year-old son, Max, has a hard time adjusting. The boy has always felt a certain emptiness, and now, without the comfort of his friends, he’s unable to mask it.
In those Tennessee woods, Max looks for solace but instead finds something else. An old, decrepit well, abandoned and sealed by wooden boards. Either out of curiosity or destiny, Max is compelled to open it but doing so triggers a sinister chain of events, pulling him into a downward spiral of suffering. One that his family is desperate to pull him out of.
- GenresHorror
284 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 26, 2024
2 people are currently reading
61 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
March 19, 2024
This book had me hooked from the very first page. It’s creepy, it’s eerie, and it reads like a folklore horror, which I have to say, is my favourite kind of horror.
There’s always been a huge creepiness to wells, just think of the ones in all of the horror movies…nothing good comes from finding a well 😱 especially when the voice trapped inside, climbs the inside of it, on all fours, all spidery…ewww 😱
I really enjoyed this book, and the first part, there was a lot involving the well, but after the “intermission”, it didn’t mention too much about it, until the latter part, and the frighteningly, scary ending.
The author writes about each character perfectly, and my heart broke for seven year old Max, who hits a downward spiral when his parents move him from New York to Tennessee.
This story has some triggers, including animal abuse, self harm, suicide, and violence, but it’s a great book, and I can’t wait to read more from this author.
Thanks to the author and BookSirens for providing me with this free ARC, which I’m happy to leave a voluntary review.
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
There’s always been a huge creepiness to wells, just think of the ones in all of the horror movies…nothing good comes from finding a well 😱 especially when the voice trapped inside, climbs the inside of it, on all fours, all spidery…ewww 😱
I really enjoyed this book, and the first part, there was a lot involving the well, but after the “intermission”, it didn’t mention too much about it, until the latter part, and the frighteningly, scary ending.
The author writes about each character perfectly, and my heart broke for seven year old Max, who hits a downward spiral when his parents move him from New York to Tennessee.
This story has some triggers, including animal abuse, self harm, suicide, and violence, but it’s a great book, and I can’t wait to read more from this author.
Thanks to the author and BookSirens for providing me with this free ARC, which I’m happy to leave a voluntary review.
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
April 12, 2024
This novel follows the life of a shy young boy named Max from his family's move to the country all the way to his college years. The story builds up a lot in the beginning and seemingly speed runs to the end. An enjoyable read but doesn't quite feel fully fleshed out. Well written, I will be keeping an eye out for what Robertson writes next. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 15, 2024
This was a slow burn creepy read! This story showed an eerie descent into madness as the main character Max struggled between the supernatural events that take place along with his reality. I was really questioning what was real and what wasn’t! There was also some disturbing imagery that definitely gave me the creeps! I’d also love to learn more of what dwells in the well… Thank you to BookSirens and the Author for this reading opportunity! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 27, 2024
The type of novel that snares you and then slowly ratchets up the tension and the horror until you realize it’s well past midnight, you won’t be falling asleep any time soon, and you are afraid to step out of bed and tip toe to the bathroom.
December 18, 2024
The Well by Ryan Robertson
I was instantly intrigued by the synopsis of this book. It did not disappoint!
The first half, we follow Max as his family moved from the city to the countryside. Max is an introverted boy with a huge imagination. He starts exploring around his new house, and is drawn to a well he finds in the woods. He hears voices coming from this well. Weird things start happening. Max doesn’t realize what he’s let into his life via that well.
Max grows up, and goes to college. He goes home to visit his parents for the Christmas holiday, and finds out what happens when you try to get away from the well. We then see Max struggling to decipher what is reality and what is supernatural as he descends further and further into madness.
Ready to lose sleep? Grab a copy of this book and get reading. Oh, and stay away from wells. You never know what’s inhabiting them.
I was instantly intrigued by the synopsis of this book. It did not disappoint!
The first half, we follow Max as his family moved from the city to the countryside. Max is an introverted boy with a huge imagination. He starts exploring around his new house, and is drawn to a well he finds in the woods. He hears voices coming from this well. Weird things start happening. Max doesn’t realize what he’s let into his life via that well.
Max grows up, and goes to college. He goes home to visit his parents for the Christmas holiday, and finds out what happens when you try to get away from the well. We then see Max struggling to decipher what is reality and what is supernatural as he descends further and further into madness.
Ready to lose sleep? Grab a copy of this book and get reading. Oh, and stay away from wells. You never know what’s inhabiting them.
March 10, 2024
Thank you, BookSiren, for the ARC, and thank you to the writer and publishers for all your hard work. This review is voluntary and happily left!
Getting into this, I wasn't entirely sure what I was getting into. There is some gore, animal death, and other triggers. This is a creature feature of sorts, but I'm still unsure if it's a demon or something else. The book had me thinking of insidious for a while bit, don't worry, it's nothing like the movies. I do love the fact that it's a build-up and not immediately throwing you right into the horror. The only complaint I have is how it suddenly stops in part of the horror, then completely drops it and goes to the future.
A family moving from the big city life to the quiet life. The boy finds a well in the woods, strange things start happening, voices are heard, and danger is around the bend. What will happen? Will the boy and his family be safe, or will there be consequences from the finding of the well? Read to find out.
All in all, I rather enjoyed this book. IT had a certain eeriness about it, and as things progressed, you only hope the main character doesn't get hurt or worse. Not only that, you just hope the well doesn't try to sink its claws into you.
Getting into this, I wasn't entirely sure what I was getting into. There is some gore, animal death, and other triggers. This is a creature feature of sorts, but I'm still unsure if it's a demon or something else. The book had me thinking of insidious for a while bit, don't worry, it's nothing like the movies. I do love the fact that it's a build-up and not immediately throwing you right into the horror. The only complaint I have is how it suddenly stops in part of the horror, then completely drops it and goes to the future.
A family moving from the big city life to the quiet life. The boy finds a well in the woods, strange things start happening, voices are heard, and danger is around the bend. What will happen? Will the boy and his family be safe, or will there be consequences from the finding of the well? Read to find out.
All in all, I rather enjoyed this book. IT had a certain eeriness about it, and as things progressed, you only hope the main character doesn't get hurt or worse. Not only that, you just hope the well doesn't try to sink its claws into you.
April 2, 2024
When I read the premise for this book, I was intrigued. I love any horror book that has a coming of age vibe. This book had just that. The first half of the book is about young Max and his early life. He is a lonely little boy who has a great imagination. When he is drawn to the Well, Max does not realize what he has let into his life. Fast forward to college Max. He is still a lonely, quiet young man. When he visits his parents for Christmas,he discovers what happens when one tries to ignore The Well. I found this book very terrifying. The descriptions in this book made me feel claustrophobic and anxious. The writing about the inside of the well has made me cautious about ever looking into any well, abandoned or not. Thank you for giving me some wicked nightmares!
April 6, 2024
I was glad to get a copy of this ARC from BookSirens in exchange for an honest review.
I think this was a greatly paced slow burn horror story. I hear that about a lot of stories that I don't feel are particularly great about ramping up tension, but this one was very good at steadily escalating.
There was also a great exploration of the characters, and not without it's scarier moments (though I'll be honest, I had hoped for something a bit darker. The dangers of being a mood reader, I suppose.)
All in all I think it was well done, and I'd be excited to read more from Robertson in the future.
I think this was a greatly paced slow burn horror story. I hear that about a lot of stories that I don't feel are particularly great about ramping up tension, but this one was very good at steadily escalating.
There was also a great exploration of the characters, and not without it's scarier moments (though I'll be honest, I had hoped for something a bit darker. The dangers of being a mood reader, I suppose.)
All in all I think it was well done, and I'd be excited to read more from Robertson in the future.
March 2, 2024
His parents have decided to move and he is about to find he is very alone. He will find a well which he opens up which is just the start of trouble. What is going to happen? Will he regret opening the well up? Can he be saved from it all? See if he can be saved
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and I want to review
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and I want to review
June 25, 2024
This was a different type of horror than I'm used to reading but I don't regret it. I definitely feel the "creep" as I was reading and I enjoy the setting in the 1990s.
The main reason for the style of 3rd person narration which felt disjointed at times and the--TW--animal abuse/death of their dog.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The main reason for the style of 3rd person narration which felt disjointed at times and the--TW--animal abuse/death of their dog.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 20, 2024
Utterly twisted, macabre, and horrifying. I LOVED it! I read it in one sitting because I couldn’t put it down! I enjoyed how in the end you got to see what actually happened at several times during the book. That was an interesting touch. Definitely recommend!
April 1, 2024
A Well That Belongs On Some Bucket Lists
The Well is original, well-written, and certainly fits in the horror genre. I've never read anything by this author, but the blurb caught my interest. I'd gotten into it much too far before I realized I may have gotten in over my head.
It wouldn't be fair if I didn't warn you that it may not be a book for all horror fans. There are certain triggers I can't reveal without giving spoilers. All I’ll say is that as I reached the last page, my skin was crawling as if I were covered in insects, bloody gobbets of flesh, and the black slime of the grave. I won't be forgetting this one anytime soon.
Thank you, sincerely, to Ryan Robertson and Hidden Gems for the free advance reader's copy of The Well. I'm under no obligation to give a positive review, and I'm not even sure if I am. If you're a fan of the darkest of horror novels you will love it. As for me, I now see that there’s still a book that will make me check under the bed and sleep with the lights on. If I can ever fall asleep…
The Well is original, well-written, and certainly fits in the horror genre. I've never read anything by this author, but the blurb caught my interest. I'd gotten into it much too far before I realized I may have gotten in over my head.
It wouldn't be fair if I didn't warn you that it may not be a book for all horror fans. There are certain triggers I can't reveal without giving spoilers. All I’ll say is that as I reached the last page, my skin was crawling as if I were covered in insects, bloody gobbets of flesh, and the black slime of the grave. I won't be forgetting this one anytime soon.
Thank you, sincerely, to Ryan Robertson and Hidden Gems for the free advance reader's copy of The Well. I'm under no obligation to give a positive review, and I'm not even sure if I am. If you're a fan of the darkest of horror novels you will love it. As for me, I now see that there’s still a book that will make me check under the bed and sleep with the lights on. If I can ever fall asleep…
June 30, 2024
Thank you, Ryan Robertson
Wow, that really was a wicked, unexpected twist. This book is a very slow burn. It's a little dysfunctional in the beginning. The main character's life span is explored.
This book deals with peer pressure, school bullying, mental health, and several other issues.
Wow, that really was a wicked, unexpected twist. This book is a very slow burn. It's a little dysfunctional in the beginning. The main character's life span is explored.
This book deals with peer pressure, school bullying, mental health, and several other issues.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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July 1, 2024Wow that really was a wicked unexpected twist. This book is a very slow burn. It's a little dysfunctional in the beginning. The main character's life span is explored.
This book deals with peer pressure, school bullying, mental health, and several other issues.
This book deals with peer pressure, school bullying, mental health, and several other issues.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 9, 2024
After his family moves Max feels more alone. Then he finds a forgotten well ,and things get worse. Can his family save him.
April 23, 2024
That ending was bleak af.
April 25, 2024
Unexpected and dark, I thought this was just a scary book about a well but it ended up a lot more twisted.
June 4, 2024
I don’t know if it’s because I’m a Dad, but this book really got to me.
Dark and creepy as hell.
Dark and creepy as hell.
May 23, 2024
Forewarning, I am biased on this one. The Well is a slow burn horror that leaves you with a bit of dread every time you close it because you know something is going wrong but you're also not totally sure what that is. It's that mixture of uncertainty and a slow spiral downward that sets the tone for the book.
I really enjoyed this book because you can go different ways with it: you can take it at face value and you can look deeper into it if you choose (I'm totally in the latter group). There is a good blend of realism and paranormal to it that make it intriguing and the way the story is told paints a vivid picture without going overboard to the point where you're drowning in details. If you're looking for a fast-paced, thriller-esque horror novel, it's probably not for you. But if you're more into the Stephen King, creepy build up I think you'll really enjoy it. It is a quick read, so I definitely do recommend picking it up.
I really enjoyed this book because you can go different ways with it: you can take it at face value and you can look deeper into it if you choose (I'm totally in the latter group). There is a good blend of realism and paranormal to it that make it intriguing and the way the story is told paints a vivid picture without going overboard to the point where you're drowning in details. If you're looking for a fast-paced, thriller-esque horror novel, it's probably not for you. But if you're more into the Stephen King, creepy build up I think you'll really enjoy it. It is a quick read, so I definitely do recommend picking it up.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews