Antenora

by Dori Lumpkin

Dante’s ninth circle of hell reserved for traitors to their country.

What really happened to Nora Willet? The religious community of Bethel, Alabama can’t agree on the truth. They always said she was trouble. Later, they said she was possessed. Maybe she lost her mind, killing three people and injuring many others.

In a part confessional, part plea for Nora to come home, Nora’s childhood friend Abigail Barnes tells of another girl’s gruesome eighteenth birthday, of the time Nora may have fully revived a snake, of the intimacy of their private encounters at the lakeside, of Nora’s deliverance ceremony. Where, Abigail wonders, is Nora now?

In this tender and horrific debut, religious dogmatism sniffs out two girls whose innocent affections threaten an entire town and way of life, making one a traitor to a homeland in which only Abigail and Nora know the bittersweet truth. A homeland in which Nora can only say, “There’s a snake speaking to me, Abby-girl.”


Reviews

“Antenora is immersed in the Appalachian south with a distinctive streak of darkness—of people not bothering to disguise their contempt for those who don’t belong…Readers will be both fascinated and repulsed by Bethel and its denizens, turning the pages to see what fate will befall the protagonist. Highly recommended for readers who enjoy southern gothic horror." —Booklist Starred Review

"A copperhead strike of a novel that shows all the ways in which a person can be more snake than human. Southern religious horror to wrap around your throat like kudzu, Antenora will linger with you long after the last page." —CJ Leede, author of Maeve Fly and American Rapture

"A startling and thought-provoking meditation of religion and community expectations in the American South, Antenora is a profoundly compelling novella written with such richness and complexity." —Eric LaRocca, author of Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke

"Antenora is a singularly haunting book which perfectly illustrates the experience of taking comfort in something destructive. A possession tale like no other. Lumpkin has presented us with a horror story that truly resonates." —Cat Voleur, author of Revenge Arc

"Antenora delves beneath the hypocritical 'keep sweet' veneer of Christianity in the Deep South to the vicious oppression lurking just below the surface, exploring the complications of repressed sexuality and forced submission through beautifully fleshed out characters while still delivering the expected gruesome scenes and tension of a horror story. A spectacular read that will break your heart in the best way." —Emma E. Murray, author of When the Devil

"Fans of The Wicker Man and The Devil All The Time should keep an eye on this extremely talented newcomer." —Lindz McLeod, author of Turducken and Sunbathers

"Dori Lumpkin has given us a meditative pageturner on memory, community, and religion in the Deep South. You won't soon forget its tenderness and its terror. Come for the horror, stick around for the lyrical prose on par with the gothic greats. This book marks the debut of a brilliant new voice. Antenora is as moving as it is startling to watch unfold.

Genres: Horror, Queer, Novella, Fiction, LGBT, Lesbian, Adult

Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2024

Reviews

[Wyetha · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.80 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you 🙏🏽 to NetGalley for this title.

A quick novella consisting of about 135 pages. This is my first read from the author Doris Lumpkin.

〰️Characters〰️
📌Abigail (Abby-girl telling the story from her perspective

📌Nora (for which the trauma circles)

📌Pastor David (creepy group cult leader)

📌Pastor David Brothers (equally disturbed)

〰️First Impressions〰️
Such a creepy vibe from this book about a little southern town near the mountains.

People live and die for the church and rules that everyone must follow. The church services near the water to be closer to God, as a show of power from the Pastor the call David.

〰️My thoughts 💭 〰️
I grew up partially in church so nothing was an this degree of ridiculousness. And this is not to shame religion but the living humble and bowing down with no outlook into the outside world and only hearing the prospective of other parishioners is definitely one side.

Women are only able to take certain jobs like sewing or cooking are are expected to marry young while men could do whatever they wanted. This burns my butter.🧈

〰️Something About Nora〰️
Who is apparently was troubled from the start according to the people in the town. Her love of snakes, and violent outbursts don’t help her situation.

She She never took anything too seriously and it seems as though her parents have given up and washed their hands of the matter hoping the church can mend her wicked ways…LOL Nora had one friend she could trust and that was Abigail.

A friendship and connection born out of necessity and growing to so much more

〰️Most Disturbing 〰️
Something that was said to Abigail, by the paster that she should “keep sweet”. Now if you know anything about that phrase or whats behind it you will know how disturbing it is, which is the point of horror.

〰️My thoughts 💭 〰️
Horror can fill you with a range of emotions. It can make you uncomfortable, fill you with dread, make you think, scare you to death, or sleep with a night light on…

〰️Conclusion 〰️
This story didn’t end as I expected and fell pretty flat. I wanted more from character Nora considering what she was capable of. I was hoping that more focus would be on the cult-like parishioners participating in this heinous act. I wanted more devastation, more destruction…just more. All in all still not a bad story from little novella.

[Jan Agaton · Rating 4 out of 5]

it sometimes felt like reading the bible which is not my vibe but I loved the ending & the kills!

[Briana Busby · Rating 5 out of 5]

i need time to sit and think about this first before i give a review. but i loved it

update: okay so after 24 hours, this is still a five star read for me.

what this novel does in such a short amount of pages is insane. we talk about dante’s the inferno and the picture of antenora in a teenage girl who does horrific things to people. but at some points we wonder: does she do them because she can or is she sometimes being controlled in what she does?

i also loved what snakes meant in this novel because i didn’t know about the idea of “taking up your serpents” and the more i read about that, the more i read the novel and also understood nora, i feel like there is a disconnect with how i believe this is comparable versus potentially how it is. but i love that this is thought provoking.

i am a fan of dante’s the inferno so anything coming with that as a comp, inspiration of that or descents to hell, sign me up. and this ate. thank you netgalley & creature publishing for an early copy. this is a banger and i can’t wait to read more from Dori and from this publishing house.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC for review. To be published October 1, 2024.

Oh, a snake handlin’ church. Stick a snake handlin’ church, a cult of any kind, a locked room mystery or kids who kill and you might as well just take my money. (OK, I know I got this one for free for my review.).

Nora Willet and Abigail Barnes were raised together in the small, ultra-fundamentalist town of Bethel, Alabama, where Bethel Pentecostal is king. And Nora just doesn’t fit in. In a place where that has consequences.

This was, as you can guess, a tragic little tale. The two main characters are lovely and the author does a good job in portraying them in that blush of time between girlhood and womanhood. Nicely done.

[Emma E. Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Antenora delves beneath the hypocritical “keep sweet” veneer of Christianity in the Deep South to the vicious oppression lurking just below the surface, exploring the complications of repressed sexuality and forced submission through beautifully fleshed out characters while still delivering the expected gruesome scenes and tension of a horror story. A spectacular read that will break your heart in the best way.

[em · Rating 4 out of 5]

A powerful novella, this story explores religion, female identity and sins in such an interesting way. I really liked Nora as a main character and would have loved to read more about her. I found the plot quick paced and well planned, and I could sense the dread that was coming. The entire novella felt heavy and I was waiting for the disastrous ending. Short but strong, this was a fantastic horror.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for kindly providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. #Antenora #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Michaela Henry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Dori Lumpkin, Creature Publishing, and NetGalley for the ARC!

This one started off kind of rough for me. First person books aren't always my preferred narration structure, and I really have trouble with a writing style that ends sections of text with phrases speaking directly to the reader like "but I haven't told you everything yet..." or "as you'll come to find out...". While attempting to overlook this I also had to suspend my disbelief and quiet a lot of questions I had about the story as they came up. Naturally, because this book is actually a novella, a lot of my questions just went unanswered and I was left scratching my head.

Despite ALL of that...I still enjoyed the meat of the story. I liked Nora and Abby's yearning, Sapphic arc. I liked Abby's unreliable narration that kept Nora shrouded in mystery. I liked the setting of a small religious community of snake charmers. And yes, I did listen to Ethel Cain while reading this and that was kind of awesome.

There was a lot packed in such a short book and I can't help but recognize that in this review. It shares a good story with a lot of heart and thought-provoking symbolism. I'm definitely going to keep an eye out on this author in the future!

[Jaylin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Amanda Manns, Creature Publishing, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this spellbinding and heart wrenching book, Antenora by Dori Lumpkin.

This book deeply resonated with me. The writing is gorgeous, and I was completely hooked by the storyline. "Antenora" tells the story of Nora, a girl misunderstood and ostracized by her Southern Pentecostal community. While Nora commits disturbing crimes, the true villains are shown to be the hypocritical religious leaders and the dark side of fundamentalist ideology.

The snake symbolism, intertwined with themes of religion was particularly intriguing. The story evokes a "Carrie" vibe but within a Christian context, making it both horrifying and tragic. The exploration of sexuality adds a layer of sadness, highlighting the destructive impact of repressive beliefs. This book masterfully combines gorgeous writing, complex characters, and thought-provoking symbolism, making it a compelling and unforgettable read!! Highly recommend!!

[Rae Knowles]

A southern sapphic horror tale full of heart. Here is my blurb.

“Lumpkin’s serpentine storytelling feels honest and unhurried, winding a tightly coiled narrative that builds both in menace and wonder. Antenora is not to be missed.”

[andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

thanks to NetGalley and Creature Publishing for the advanced digital copy!

--

i loved this tidy little novella.

set in a small, hyper-religious mountain community called bethel, abby is the only person that can tolerate the antics of nora willet. nora's aware that she's not liked and she doesn't care. she doesn't care for a community where girls tend to be captured to be "corrected" when it seems like the devil is in them.

she doesn't care of a community where women are expected to marry and show subservience to domineering and often abusive husbands. so nora acts accordingly - she ruins the birthday party of a girl that tortures and judges her, she lets a snake loose in church. and so it's not long before she's taken from her home by people with a mind to cure her of her "possession".

it's funny, how a church that forces its members to hold poisonous snakes to prove god's love for them thinks that a teenage girl is a threat simply because she's not obedient or perhaps she spends a little too much time casting longing looks to her friend.

this was so great for such a tiny little book. the caveat i have with it is i wish it had been a full-length novel. this book is about feral girlhood, the toxicity of religion, and fully ethel cain-core. great stuff.

[Kate Victoria RescueandReading · Rating 3 out of 5]

Antenora follows two young women living in a secluded, ultra religious town. Born and raised in their Pentecostal beliefs, using venomous snakes to prove the strength of their faith, and trained to keep sweet, we follow rebellious Nora and troubled Abigail.

Things escalate in their 18th year as both struggle with the trajectory of their lives and beliefs, and deepening feelings towards each other. Blood is shed, venom abounds, and fire burns in this strange story.

I wish the story had been split between the two women’s perspectives, instead of just Abigail’s.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Creature Publishing for a copy.

[Mallory Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm obsessed with this novella! Antenora is the haunting, atmospheric, sapphic southern gothic story of my dreams that poses the question: what does a sinner deserve? The town of Bethel is sinister in its familiarity, and the tender bond between Abby and Nora is heart wrenching. The prose is beautiful, the town and its leaders are unsettling, and the religious trauma will hit close to home for any queer southerner. Honestly, I could read a full length novel depicting their budding queerness. I'll be recommending this one to anyone and everyone!

[Sam Donovan · Rating 4 out of 5]

oh there's so much here and i can't speak on half of it (religious trauma) but this is a beautifully written story in so few pages. incredible debut. i'm for sure keeping my eye on what this author comes out with next. i love these girls so dearly and as heartbreaking as this story is i'm so happy to have read it.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read the e-arc.

[nico · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Marina Garrido · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full disclaimer: I am a HUGE Dori fan and don't think they could write something I wouldn't love. Another disclaimer is that this will be an incredibly personal review(even more than normal) because, just like the main characters, I'm a queer person with HEAPS of religious trauma. So please bear with me as I explain why this novella resonated so hard with me but, in case you're too impatient, I'll give you the gist right. This story touched me like no other because I saw myself in both Abby (the narrator) and Nora (her… best friend and second main character). I have been both Nora and Abby during different times of my life and felt deeply every time their so-called community made them feel broken.

Although I wasn't aware of my queerness during the time I was forced to go to church and Sunday school, I knew I was different and the whole experience was terrifying and traumatic. Reading this novella I felt seen in a way I've never been before and it's both a relief and a great pain that this religious trauma experience is shared by so many queers across the world.

Growing up in a religious family, especially a Catholic family, is hell for a queer person and I know that well. I spent all of my years in college feeling guilty and conflicted as I figured out that I wasn't straight and am still in the closet when it comes to most of my family because of how strongly they advocate that being queer is a sin and it makes you an abomination. I am Nora and I still had so much guilt about that, but now, after reading this, I'll never be ashamed of that. Whenever I feel scared of expressing who I truly am, I'll remember Nora's fierceness and her refusal to bow down and change herself to appease the hypocrites surrounding them.
As for the more technical aspects of the writing itself, I'm a big fan of Dori's style. They make me picture the settings and characters clearly in my mind's eye without bogging me down and boring me with extensive descriptions. As I've mentioned above, I deeply empathized with both main characters and had a firm grasp on the personality of the secondary individuals in the story, which is a feat considering this is a short novella. The writing flows well and the dialogues feel natural and genuine, a true reflection of the microcosm they were depicting. Also, Dori has a gift for writing gory scenes in such a descriptive manner that it will thoroughly gross you out without crossing the line into the "I will actually need to put this down to throw up" territory. Finally, this novella is written as if Abby is telling the story directly to you, the reader, which gives it a confessional (confessional, confession, church, get it? Lord I am so funny) quality that makes it even more personal.

Absolutely fantastic novella, if you're a queer kid with religious trauma, this is exactly the story you need. We're not alone, we've never been alone, that's just what they want us to believe in order to make us weaker. Never let them kill your inner Nora.

[Sapphire Lazuli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dori Lumpkin’s Antenora is a rare treat. We often like to joke about Aunt Sal who lives alone in a house with her “friend” and never married, but so sparsely are we afforded a chance to dig deeper and explore these very relationships. I think of a conversation I had with a friend in which they described remaining friends in the way queer people remain friends; Antenora lets us explore that often blurry kind of queer relationship. The strength of a lived queer voice behind this story is what makes it so strong. There’s a subtle nuance at play here, where Abigail and Nora in all but spoken word share their sapphic love; and that’s all without mentioning the complex examination of religious trauma and guilt. Antenora is a layered book, that weaves its many threads both through and against each other. Again comes the strength of a lived Southern voice, bringing in the raw reality of a church who’s power extends beyond what’s given by their god. Perhaps the most pertinent word to the book, possession, takes so many different meanings, so here I’ll leave you with the most important one: this book ought to be found in your possession.

[Genesee Rickel]

"Anenora is steeped in themes of growing up queer in the south, specifically Alabama. Some important aspects of the text include snake handling in the Appalachian Pentecostal tradition, how specific Christian denominations try to compartmentalize otherness while simultaneously condemning it, and how to navigate an oppressive environment. The protagonist, Abigail, grew up in the town of Bethel with a strict mother. Many people believed that because snakes liked Abigail's friend Nora, that made her closer to the devil, while Nora said the opposite--that is made her closer to God. Antenora is immersed in the Appalachian south with a distinctive streak of darkness--of people not bothering to disguise their contempt for those who don't belong. There's also a lot of violence in the story, with a visceral scene early in the book. Readers will be both fascinated and repulsed by Bethel and its denizens, turning the pages to see what fate will befall the protagonist. Highly recommended for readers who enjoy southern gothic horror. Fans of Kristi DeMeester, Gwendolyn Kiste, and Lee Mandelo will love Lumpkin's debut novella." - A. E. Siraki, starred Booklist review

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a wonderfully beautiful novel that discusses topics such as identity, religion, sexuality and morality, all while set in a small, overly religious community.

I really loved this story, so much more than what I expected to. I went in fairly blind, only knowing that the story I was picking up was a horror. Antenora follows the friendship of Nora, the wild, rebellious girl and Abigail, her quiet but loyal best friend. Abigail tells us about the mysterious events and worrying incidents leading to the final time she sees her best friend Nora.

This story was written so beautifully and really leaves you feeling for the characters. It touches on the topic of queerness and identity in such a realistic way. I cannot praise the author enough for how enjoyable and touching this was.

I would never have described this story as a horror, only in the sense that it touches on the horrors of religion and it's followers. Regardless of the lack of spook and creepiness to Antenora, I adored it. Dori Lumpkin was never on my radar before, but I will be sure to check out other works by them.

Thank you so much to Netgalley for an ARC of Antenora in exchange for a honest review.

[Caitlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Nora and Abigail meet and form a friendship as young girls in their small Pentecostal town of Bethel. Abigail recounts their lives before and after Nora murders 3 people and commits inhuman acts. The church and its people make it their mission to save Nora from the devil that has possessed her, or short of that save their town from Nora.

Abigail’s narration is equal parts plea and confession as she yearns for the girl she loves and shoulders heavy guilt of her inactions that contributed to Nora’s atrocities. The dynamic between Abigail and Nora was incredibly developed considering this is a novella, and I could empathise with both characters throughout.

Antenora places a queer reckoning inside horrific circumstances and a dangerous environment that you know will spell their doom. Abigail’s perspective of the people within the church almost paints them as an indistinguishable being, which helps Abigail and Nora stand apart as ‘the others’ in a hive mind religious sect. The author beautifully weaves together the real life horror of religious persecution and the fear of otherworldly forces.

I really recommend this for literary fiction & literary horror fans! If you like heavy atmosphere and foreboding, this definitely delivers.

[sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm so lucky that I didn't grow up in a super religious community because I would've grown up to be Nora. I have very little experience with the church but I am super interested in learning more about the (cult)ure behind communities that have a strong tie to God, the church, and the Bible. Obviously, I don't know how accurate this novella portrayed that but the author did a great job making it feel super realistic. The story is gripping and the author did a great job adding so much punch in such a short story. This is a very character driven story so don't go into it expecting much of a plot. I felt like the main character, Abby, her best friend, Nora, and the creepy cult leader priest were the most flushed out characters. But that being said, I do think my enjoyment was lowered because Abby's main personality trait was being Nora's best friend. It does add a lot of subtext to the story, but I wish she had at least one trait that wasn't tied to her. Overall, I had a really good time! This novella just flew by and I'm interested in reading more by Dori Lumpkin!






Thank you to Creature Publishing for providing me with an eBook copy to review on NetGalley.

[g · Rating 5 out of 5]

thank you to creature publishing and dori lumpkin for a signed copy of antenora!

i lost a little piece of myself to this book. this book was a gift unto itself, seemingly written for me full of all that i enjoy. i have a little space in my heart carved out for stories dealing with appalachian horror, religious trauma, repressed homosexuality, and rage incarnate—antenora delivers them all. told through a seamless winding narration of the present and past, abby-girl and nora's lives unfold in a sweltering heat, a continuous pressure building up ready to snap. despite abby-girl telling us everything after the fact and resigned to her regrets, there's no relief from the increasing anxiety of what has happened already and yet to be said. that in a calamitous instant, everything might change for the better or worse. nora's presence, no matter what she does, is a rising tide; a wave threatening to wipe out everything in bethel... and there is no amount of prayer or deliverance that can stop her... and maybe she shouldn't be stopped.

[Emma Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Antenora is the story of a small religious town and its ever-growing fear of anyone different.

Abigail, our narrator, tells the story of Nora, a strange girl who is deemed an outsider, and because of that, she becomes an outlet for the town to express their religious fears on her. Nora is deemed a demon, a witch, and a danger to the town as brutal murders happen, but also many of them occur in a way that could have been a coincidence. This is skewed for the reader because of Abigail's narration, which becomes increasingly unreliable as she recounts the story- often contradicting herself, saying she doesn't want to believe what she's seeing or being told, and revealing how she was slowly being indoctrinated into the town's beliefs.

Antenora is a short and gruesome book about a town being taken over by religious belief, a girl torn between her friend and the life she's been indoctrinated into, and what happens when a woman dares to question a restrictive society.

[Rachel Bruce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for a honest review.

A compact yet powerful novella that delves into themes of power, betrayal, and moral ambiguity with a modern lens. Named after the part of Dante's Inferno where traitors are punished, the story mirrors ancient tales of punishment and redemption, questioning who society brands as a "traitor" and why. Lumpkin’s ability to address such heavy topics in a brief format is impressive, leaving a lasting impact without overstaying its welcome.

The novella’s exploration of societal fractures, betrayal, and the search for truth feels hauntingly relevant. Its poignant moments will likely strike a chord with anyone grappling with the political climate of today. Lumpkin’s portrayal of these themes, combined with her compelling characters, elevates the story beyond its succinct length, making it a thought-provoking read that lingers long after the final page.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher for an advanced copy for review!

Antenora focuses on the story of Nora told from her best friend, Abby, as Nora's actions escalate to new horrors within the vigorously religious community they live in.

This story carries themes of religious extremism, possession and forbidden love. I feel I can't say much about it due to its shortness but it was written beautifully. Abby's narration had me instantly compelled and I feel the tone of this story was perfectly captured for the events and its setting of this seemingly isolated (tight-knit) religious community within Bethel, Alabama.

I do feel like this story could have achieved much more had it been longer and think of it as a "taste test" of what Dori Lumpkin is capable of. So needless to say, I will be keeping an eye out for future works of theirs!

[Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Antenora' ticked multiple boxes for me. I love a good horror story, and queer horror and feminist horror are two of my favorite subgenres, as are stories of possession and exorcism.

This book is short (a novella, as opposed to a novel), but packed with emotion and suspense. I also loved the ambiguity this story was imbued with. Was it actually a demonic possession, or a mental health crisis that built up over time due to a number of variables? Could it have been some combination of the two? And what about that ending? It's up to you, the reader, to decide, it seems. I'd definitely recommend giving this book a chance!

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to review an ARC of this book.

[AgoraphoBook Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Antenora
Dori Lumpkin

4.75 / 5

Antenora: Dante's ninth circle of hell, reserved for traitors to their country.  {A.k.a. Trump's "final destination"}

Antenora is a novella that manages to balance a delicate line between [im]pure terrors and objective tenderness. 

I'm always attracted to horror with religious themes, and this one certainly did not disappoint. Not in the slightest. 

Now, would I have preferred more horror? 
Well, yes!
But do I think this novella was exactly what it needed to be?
Very much so that, too. 😊  

The book so poetically gets across the idea that the very things that can bring us comfort in some ways can be the very things poisoning us in others.

Fresh, bold, frightening and compellingly complex, I highly recommend checking Antenora out. 

4.75 / 5

[Balthazarinblue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cloistered in a fervently religious community, secreted in the Appalachian Mountains, Nora bucks against the constraints of expectation. Does demonic possession explain the mounting deaths? And can she be delivered from Satan?

I wanted to love this but I needed more. This read like a 3-star outline for what could have been a 5-star novel. There is a beautiful, haunting longing threaded through the harsh strictures of a life where women often celebrate their wedding day and 18th birthday simultaneously. I hoped to see that explored more than was possible in a short story.

I received this arc for free on netgalley.

[Amelia Toften · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fantastic little horror story!! I so wish this one was longer. I really wish as the reader we got to see more of Nora's behavior to really decide if she was possessed or not before her tragic end. She was such a fascinating character, and our narrator, Abigail, had the perfect voice in describing her. I'm also obsessed with the deep South/Gothic/Baptist setting this story was set against. But truly, I feel a bit robbed that this was a short story!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

[Sydney Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A diabolical rendition of girlhood intertwined with Southern bible-thumping that leaves you clenching your fists all the way through. This gothic depiction of queerness pulls on strings you probably didn’t know you had. Completely infatuated with the story Dori produced and I can’t wait to see more from them.

I knew this was a five star only 13% in. But how to know if you will like this book…
>If you thought Supernatural needed more (queer) women.
>If you haven’t stopped thinking about Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit since you read it.
>If you resonate with Ethel Cain a little too much.

—
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher!

[S. Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in the suffocating religious snake-handling community of Bethel, Alabama, this novella dives deep into the murky waters of repressed sexuality, religious dogma, and possible possession. Lumpkin's writing is a Southern Gothic dream, weaving a tale of two girls, Nora and Abigail, whose affection and loyalty to each other becomes a threat to their entire town. The story of Nora's "possession" unfolds through Abigail's eyes, a bittersweet confessional that'll have you squirming in your seat, clenching your fists, and breaking your heart. At its core, "Antenora" is a queer love story, exploring the complexities of friendship, desire, and faith in a way that feels achingly, desperately real, and while it delivers some deliciously gruesome scenes, the real horror here is in the oppressive atmosphere of the small town and its smaller-minded inhabitants. It's a short but potent read that'll leave you yearning for more of Lumpkin's poignantly twisted prose.