Star Shapes

by Ivy Grimes, Alana Baldwin (illustrator)

We all want to create our own lives, but other people's histories haunt us all. In this Southern Gothic novella, a young woman is kidnapped from Birmingham, Alabama, and then taken to a dilapidated house in rural Alabama. The country family holding her hostage refuses to explain what they want with her, preferring to give her hints in hopes she'll remember them. The most important clue is a homemade book of constellations...an egg, a frying pan, a snake. Who found these shapes in the sky?

Genres: Horror, Novella, Fiction, Fantasy, American

87 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 13, 2024

About the author

Recent author of The Ghosts of Blaubart Mansion (Cemetery Gates) and Glass Stories (Grimscribe Press).

Published in The Baffler, ergot., Maudlin House, hex, and by other nice people.

Reviews

[Christopher O'Halloran]

STAR SHAPES—a gripping novella—effortlessly captivates with a mysterious core, urging readers to devour it in a single night. Ivy Grimes tells the story simply and cleanly, seamlessly drawing readers into the weird. All this coalesces in an ending that excites and horrifies, with characters vague enough for you to project your own opinions and insecurities upon. Very unique and very engaging!

[Lukasz]

It was okay (ish) – a short novella with an interesting premise. A young woman is kidnapped for an entirely unexpected reason. The writing is serviceable, the characterization average, and the ending weak (though most readers clearly love it), which didn’t impress me. Still, if you’re in the mood for something short and easy to digest, why not give it a try? You may enjoy it more than I did

[Brian Bowyer]

Extraordinary!

A one-sitting read for me, and I enjoyed every minute. STAR SHAPES is beautifully written, and Grimes is a fantastic storyteller. Also, congrats to Spooky House for another outstanding release. I'm looking forward to more from Grimes in the future. Highly recommended!

[Austin Shirey]

Beautifully weird and unsettling

Such a beautiful, weird, and unsettling surreal Southern Gothic novella. Like a mix between Flannery O’Connor and Leonora Carrington. It grips you from the first sentence and won’t let go, and the dread, this sense of…wrongness, builds and builds to a stunning, haunting conclusion that will linger long after you’ve finished reading.

[Averly Wilke]

The writing started off rocky, as I couldn’t connect with the MC’s actions and thoughts after being kidnapped. She vacillated between horror and something akin to just hanging out at someone’s house she was dragged to for the day.

After that initial start though, it picked up and became engaging with that Southern flavor of those lone houses you see driving from small town to small town in the South.

I would not call this a horror story, but an eerie one.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Tiffany]

When I comes to novellas, I am usually left unsatisfied. I feel there is not enough of some things and too much of others. The stories almost never feel complete in the sense that I am left wanting more. I do not feel that way about “Star Shapes.” Ivy Grimes checked all of the boxes for me.

Note: I am not going to refer to the protagonist by her name because I believe Grimes presentation of the protagonist’s name was part of the reading experience, and I don’t want to ruin that for you. That being said, Grimes’ characterization of the main character through her internal musings as she experience every new moment of her kidnapping was great. Her reactions felt relatable, and I enjoyed her as a narrator. I actually chuckled while reading.

The Biblical themes woven throughout the narrative added another layer to the story. When coming into contact with any sort of belief system, there has to be, even in just a small way, a suspension of rational thought and a deviation of what we know to be “true.” Especially pertaining to earthly laws (I say this as a Christian). Virgin birth? 😒. Walk on water? 🤔. Rising from the grave three days later? 🤨. And yet, belief. It’s there. All of the pieces come together to make a whole, and it’s beautiful. I have it. In this novella, they have it. But learning how they have it is unfolded like a blooming flower - maybe a star flower.

Speaking of star shapes, mine are: books, lattes, blanket, (if I’m being honest) iPhone, tiny footprint, and beach umbrella. You’ll understand later.

Overall, I enjoyed how all of Grimes’ pieces came together to make a beautiful whole. Thank you to BookSirens for this free eARC.

[Tomasz]

A neat tale, starting off sharp, then slowing into mild disquiet, a cozy nightmare of sorts, if that can be imagined, then the bang comes... and goes away. Nothing is certain, everything is hazy, ungraspable.
I could gripe about imperfect formatting (subdivided paragraphs), but that's just a wee quibble, doesn't distract from the pleasures of the story. Also, the pictures more than make up for that.

[Collin Mickle]

It's eerie. That's the word that kept coming up in my head as I drank down this novella in one sitting. The story is straightforward, even simple, but it's slippery and unsettling, too. I've not read anything by this author before, but this came very highly recommended, and I can see why. And now I'm recommending it to you!

[Syn]

Star Shapes sparks intrigue right from the first page. A girl is kidnapped and the kidnappers are... nice? Suspiciously so. However they don't seem to want to tell her why she's been kidnapped and what the purpose is. Not being able to figure out what these strange people want is part of the charm and dark delight of this book.

A short novella with a strange story and peculiar characters. I enjoyed my time with this book, especially because I love weird tales and the fact that it had a celestial theme woven throughout it.

A highly enjoyable and mysterious read.

[Bill]

Star Shapes is a novella by American author Ivy Grimes. Katherine, a young HR worker, is kidnapped from outside of her apartment by 2 masked men, thrown into the trunk of their car and driven out to a cabin in the country. There she will be watched by a strange family; husband, Otto, wife Sandra and their two sons. Why? You ask? You'll have to find out for yourself.

The story deals with reincarnation and astrology / astronomy. The family thinks Katherine is someone important, someone who will help them deal with a person who affected their lives. The Star Shapes are not your normal astronomical ones, but those created by Otto's mother many years ago and they are introduced to Katherine as a kind of test.

It's a quick story, not one that grabbed me all that much but I didn't feel like putting it down, rather I did want to see how everything would tie together. It was ok.... 2.0 stars

[Milt Theo]

Ivy Grimes' 'Star Shapes' is a short novella I read in one sitting. I had a feeling of dread as the story went on (a young woman is kidnapped by a family for unknown reasons), but I began to realize that this was coupled with some very subtle dark humor throughout. It was refreshing to find that Charlotte, the young woman, never lost her sense of reality (helped along with some pills lol), never succumbed to despair nor lost her sense of humor. This turned some of the developments in the story into rather implausible situations, but the straightforward writing, and the unpredictable and mysterious purposes of the otherwise sympathetic family, kept my curiosity to the end and did not disappoint me. The very light touch of the supernatural, crucial to the story's resolution, was also timely and quite welcome, as it provided both the solution to the mystery and a satisfying closure. Overall, this was great fun and I wholeheartedly recommend it.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kelly]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This novella was an entertaining read. The writing wasn't overly complex, and the story came to life easily while I was reading. At the start of the story, the protagonist, Ivy, was in a situation that struck me as frightening, and I quickly became invested in the story, as I cared about what happened to her. While parts of this story struck me as a little bit dark and scary, I felt it also had a sort of magical, whimsical quality about it. I would be interested in reading a longer book by this author. The illustrations were lovely too.

Thank you to Booksirens and the author for a free copy to review.

[Fe]

Great read! Finished it in one sitting. It was hilarious with increasing unease. What kept me reading was the question of what was going on with these people?! The simple, ordinary acts of feeding animals, decorating a dining table, sweeping the floor, trying out eyeglasses were equal parts funny and unsettling. It felt like a puzzle to solve. Somewhere along the way I got a feeling of the family's intentions before the reveal and had a hunch of what was going to happen. But even when it happened, it was still a bit shocking and creepy. I wonder if there are any hidden meanings, and also who was really right (the family or the grandma's husband?). Overall, an excellent read -- highly recommend!

[Lisa Whitaker]

This book caught my interest very quickly. When the woman in the book was kidnapped I could feel her fear and prepared myself for the typical kidnapped hostage type of story. I was certainly in for a surprise!

The characters are believable and each has a purpose in this mysterious kidnapping. The main character is assured that they mean her no harm but need her to stay and help them.

All of this makes for a story that is fairly unforgettable and spooky. I do recommend reading this book if you like a good story with a mystery to figure out and many touches of weirdness.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Lauren]

Such a weird and cool book. I love Grimes’ prose; the straightforward voice / protagonist while such strange things are going on around them. You could feel the cloud of what was going to happen towards the end, even without the specifics, it hung heavy over everything, and I could just picture that house and everything and everyone in it. Love the concept of the star shapes and how things developed. Some turns of phrase towards the end were really damn cool, and the character change was so natural and described so well. Damn great story!!

[Rachel]

An eerie tale of a young woman from Birmingham, on the cusp of adulthood. She is kidnapped by some country folk for unknown reasons, but they don't hurt her and seem to treat her with reverance.

I loved the quirky illustrations and the French family. Grimes is a solid writer and she brings these strange people to life. I loved going on the journey with them to figure out what the hell was going on!

[Harry]

As the protagonist gradually learns what her captors' purpose is, her sense of self becomes less stable and more fractured, which left me thinking about the nature of identity.

The mystery of her captivity is engrossing.

The characters feel true to life, especially the protagonist, with her quirks and personal history.

Grimes also imbues the story subtle humor, characteristically.

[JXR]

This was a really well done ominous horror. I was expecting it to be somewhat predictable in terms of the ways it worked but no, it wasn’t. Would recommend this little novella

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Brandi]

Ivy Grimes is a wonder!

[Sarah]

What a delightfully quirky, eerie, and entertaining read. Many laugh-out-loud moments mixed in with an unraveling mystery of a family’s tragic past. Definitely captivating and worth every minute.

[Esmée]

I don't know how endearing and tense go together, but that is how this book made me feel. The writing is funny and clever and my only gripe is that I wish it were longer.

[Karin]

Nice and easy reading about a deep subject with an unusual twist.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[J.V. Gachs]

"If you can't trust a snake, then you can't trust a man, because everyone man has been a snake in one of his lives."

I was so surprised and delighted by this book. A true gem!

[Todd S]

I devoured this little novella.

I was drawn to Ivy Grimes for her bizarre short fiction, so it was my absolute pleasure to get a copy of her one of her novella-length stories early, even if the story ended up being different in tone from what I'd known her for.

The story wastes no time in kicking off with its kidnapping premise, only to promptly morph into a different type story of entirely. Events had me guessing whether or not the slow-drip of information would coalesce into something supernatural or not. That was what I enjoyed the most about Star Shapes: I could form my own theories, enjoying the curious (and surprisingly cozy) southern vibes and brief conversations about faith along the way, all while culminating in a lesson on how the past - and the people who came before us - does not decide our fate. I could say more, but I think this paragraph from the novella will describe the exact vibes I'm talking about:

"Before I left, Sandra gave me a slice of pecan pie. I ate a bite, wondering if my day in their world would make me like pecans. It didn't. I stopped at the one bite. But they were satisfied with that, as if one bite of the past was enough to remember."

[Kris]

I received this ARC from BookSirens and am so grateful. This is my honest review and I wish this site allowed half stars as this was a solid 3.5 for me.

I say this with the highest of compliments- this reminded me so much of the atmospheric qualities that are found in works by Iain Reid. This novel was unsettling, interesting, and I read it in almost one sitting.

I think I would have rated it much higher had it been a bit longer and the ending weren’t as rushed. I felt that the characters, plot, and pacing - while good- just needed more development. Definitely want to read more from this author and overall liked this novella!

[Katrina Carruth]

I absolutely devoured this! Ivy’s prose is quick, super sharp, and builds unnerving suspense that did NOT let up. Every single plot point kept me guessing and I loved the way this story kept surprising me up to the very last page. I’m a sucker for horror stories that are unsuspecting and build the kind of tension that gets under my skin and keeps me on edge, and Ivy achieved it flawlessly. Highly recommend!

[Paul (Life In The Slow Lane)]

I foretell that this story will be deleted from my Kindle very soon.

A woman is abducted by a family who are convinced she is their dead grandma reincarnated. The abductee doesn't seem too worried by all this. Goodreads lists this as Horror. There is no horror...at all. The book is in desperate need of editing: "I went to the hallway and saw that his door was closed and his light was dark." Huh? Do you mean his light was off? How could you tell if his door was shut?

I had a lot of difficulty finishing this story and wanted to give up many times. I was sure it must get better. It didn't. Probably one of the worst books I've read in the last couple of years.

[Ivy Grimes]

I wrote Star Shapes a couple of years ago now, and I still think it's a fun read. For what that's worth!

[RENÉE ZACHARIOU]

It starts like a kidnapping story and unfurls as a family mystery with strong ethical questions. Weird, fun and thought-provoking.

[Shy Mysterious]

Title: Star Shapes by Ivy Grimes - A Captivating Journey into the Unknown ✨

I recently had the pleasure of diving into the pages of "Star Shapes" by Ivy Grimes, courtesy of the lovely author herself who shared an ARC through Booksirens. 🌟 Let me just say, it was a stellar experience! 🙌

The story kicks off with a bang, as our protagonist finds herself kidnapped and whisked away from the hustle and bustle of downtown Birmingham to the quiet countryside. Instead of the expected ransom demands, her captors have some rather unconventional tasks in mind – feeding animals and delving into the secrets hidden within the pages of an enigmatic book called Star Shapes.

Now, I must admit, I was initially intrigued by the unique premise. Grimes weaves a tale that's both mysterious and oddly charming. The protagonist's annoyance at her situation is palpable, and you can't help but empathize with her plight. But as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that there's more to this abduction than meets the eye.

The real magic lies in the connection between the peculiar events and the mysterious Star Shapes. This book of celestial patterns takes center stage, acting as a key to unlocking secrets that transcend time. Grimes beautifully explores the idea that the stars not only foretell the future but also harbor untold stories from the past.

What I appreciated most was the author's ability to keep the narrative engaging and accessible. The prose is straightforward, yet it manages to paint vivid pictures of the characters and the unfolding events. It's a testament to Grimes' storytelling prowess that she can create an atmosphere of suspense and curiosity without relying on overly complex language.

As the protagonist delves deeper into the world of Star Shapes, the plot takes unexpected twists and turns, keeping readers on the edge of their seats. The blend of the ordinary – feeding animals and reading dusty books – with the extraordinary – a book revealing celestial secrets – adds a layer of whimsy that captivates the imagination.

"Star Shapes" doesn't just promise an escape from reality; it offers a journey into the unknown where the stars themselves hold the key to unraveling a captivating mystery. This is the kind of book that keeps you turning the pages, eager to discover what lies beyond the next constellation.

In conclusion, if you're in the mood for a story that seamlessly blends the mundane with the magical, "Star Shapes" is a delightful pick. Ivy Grimes has crafted a gem that sparkles with intrigue and wonder. So, cozy up with this book, and let the constellations guide you through a tale that's as enchanting as a starlit night. Happy reading, fellow book lovers! 🌌📚

Mysterious Shy out! 😊✨