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Sloe
The voice inside Veronica Mattingly's head urges her to do violent, unspeakable things to the people she loves... it's not easy to ignore.
Returning to rural Kentucky following the suicide of her dissolute brother, she learns she’s not alone in hearing the voice. It's a voice from the past, one demanding that she act, but is Veronica up for it? Can she exhume the root of this evil and right a historical wrong?
What follows is a descent into madness involving ghosts, sacrifice, a reclusive, a cult, and a decades-old secret that lies at the heart of a mountain. Sloe is a story about mothers and sons, mothers and daughters, and the ties that bind us all—even after death.
Book 35 in the Rewind-or-Die series: imagine your local movie rental store back in the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s, remember all those fantastic covers. Remember taking those movies home and watching in awe as the stories unfolded in nasty rainbows of gore, remember the atmosphere and textures. Remember the blood.
Returning to rural Kentucky following the suicide of her dissolute brother, she learns she’s not alone in hearing the voice. It's a voice from the past, one demanding that she act, but is Veronica up for it? Can she exhume the root of this evil and right a historical wrong?
What follows is a descent into madness involving ghosts, sacrifice, a reclusive, a cult, and a decades-old secret that lies at the heart of a mountain. Sloe is a story about mothers and sons, mothers and daughters, and the ties that bind us all—even after death.
Book 35 in the Rewind-or-Die series: imagine your local movie rental store back in the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s, remember all those fantastic covers. Remember taking those movies home and watching in awe as the stories unfolded in nasty rainbows of gore, remember the atmosphere and textures. Remember the blood.
- GenresHorror
166 pages, Paperback
Published January 26, 2025
6 people are currently reading
95 people want to read
About the author
Marc Ruvolo
7 books26 followersMarc Ruvolo (he/him) is a queer writer and musician living in Portland, Oregon who once considered himself a punk. He founded the seminal Bucket O’ Blood book store in Chicago, and his poetry and fiction have appeared in Cynthia Pelayo’s Gothic Blue Book Series, Slay and Slay Again: A Queer Horror Anthology, and Nocturne Magazine, to name a few. His debut horror novella, “SLOE,” was released in 2023 by Unnerving Books. A second queer horror novella, “Pieties,” in 2024 from Off Limits Press.
A third novella, "WASTE GROUND," is coming March 15th, from Slashic Horror Press. Find him on Bluesky at @marcruvolo.bsky.social.
A third novella, "WASTE GROUND," is coming March 15th, from Slashic Horror Press. Find him on Bluesky at @marcruvolo.bsky.social.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
July 17, 2023
Sloe is an enjoyable supernatural and at times tense horror novella.
We learn of the Sloe people who settled in the town long ago and their women who hold supernatural abilities. Our characters as children meet a Sloe woman and learn that she had a daughter who was kidnapped from her by the father a man from the town. After her death the spirit of this women seeks the return of her daughter and causes our characters untold pain, death and terror to ensure they complete the task.
The writing is well done, descriptive and plotted well with the dialogue flowing naturally however I was left with many unanswered questions on why certain things took place. The final few chapters in particular were very tense and horrific however it ended abruptly without a real conclusion.
It's a good novella and the author shows real talent in his prose however the story left me wanting more and for those loose ends and questions to be answered.
We learn of the Sloe people who settled in the town long ago and their women who hold supernatural abilities. Our characters as children meet a Sloe woman and learn that she had a daughter who was kidnapped from her by the father a man from the town. After her death the spirit of this women seeks the return of her daughter and causes our characters untold pain, death and terror to ensure they complete the task.
The writing is well done, descriptive and plotted well with the dialogue flowing naturally however I was left with many unanswered questions on why certain things took place. The final few chapters in particular were very tense and horrific however it ended abruptly without a real conclusion.
It's a good novella and the author shows real talent in his prose however the story left me wanting more and for those loose ends and questions to be answered.
March 15, 2024
"You murdered your son, it murmured as she dusted the bookcase. The voice usually grew quieter after dark, but not tonight. Maggots are crawling in his empty eye sockets."
"
The intrusive thoughts she thought of as ‘the voice,’ had been especially insistent that day. Of course she knew it wasn’t any voice but her own, but what deep, dark, hidden cesspit of her mind could produce such a thing?"
3 🫐🫐🫐
"
The intrusive thoughts she thought of as ‘the voice,’ had been especially insistent that day. Of course she knew it wasn’t any voice but her own, but what deep, dark, hidden cesspit of her mind could produce such a thing?"
3 🫐🫐🫐
July 12, 2023
Sloe was an eerie and entertaining mix of folktale and supernatural elements.
We follow Veronica as she navigates past and present traumas and unravels a decades old mystery from her childhood; who is Artemis the Sloe woman and what did she want?
I really liked the historical aspects of the blue skinned hill folk and the queerness surrounding them. I would’ve liked to see the ending a bit more filled out and I’m left with what feels like an incomplete puzzle.
A few of my most pressing questions are: Was there more to Ronnie’s brother’s passing? Why were Lilac and Carlos so invested in Jodi’s return to Artemis? Why did the land act that way towards them in the end? What happens with Ronnie after she goes along the lit path? Why was Jeremy there and couldn’t communicate with Ronnie? Will Ronnie continue to hear voices?
So overall, a fascinating tale, but I really think at least having an epilogue with more closure would be beneficial for the reader.
We follow Veronica as she navigates past and present traumas and unravels a decades old mystery from her childhood; who is Artemis the Sloe woman and what did she want?
I really liked the historical aspects of the blue skinned hill folk and the queerness surrounding them. I would’ve liked to see the ending a bit more filled out and I’m left with what feels like an incomplete puzzle.
A few of my most pressing questions are: Was there more to Ronnie’s brother’s passing? Why were Lilac and Carlos so invested in Jodi’s return to Artemis? Why did the land act that way towards them in the end? What happens with Ronnie after she goes along the lit path? Why was Jeremy there and couldn’t communicate with Ronnie? Will Ronnie continue to hear voices?
So overall, a fascinating tale, but I really think at least having an epilogue with more closure would be beneficial for the reader.
July 21, 2023
This was great!
This is about the 12 Rewind or Die book that I've read now, and what I love about them is that they have that golden era of VHS rentals feel to them, but with something extra, the stories feel a little more complex and unpredictable.
And this one is no exception, the story is familiar enough that is feels like comfort food, but unique enough that it still has you wondering what is going to happen, and it is very easy to read, I would have liked more of it, with a bit more detail in spots, but overall, I think this author is one to watch.
This is about the 12 Rewind or Die book that I've read now, and what I love about them is that they have that golden era of VHS rentals feel to them, but with something extra, the stories feel a little more complex and unpredictable.
And this one is no exception, the story is familiar enough that is feels like comfort food, but unique enough that it still has you wondering what is going to happen, and it is very easy to read, I would have liked more of it, with a bit more detail in spots, but overall, I think this author is one to watch.
July 26, 2023
What a whirlwind of a book. It's like a ghost story, a story of a woman struggling with multiple tragedies. Fascinating characters, a small town with a secret and a tragedy that effects people generations later.
Fast paced, but with periods of slowness that lets you catch your breath I enjoyed every page.
Wish the ending had a bit more closure, but that didn't ruin it for me.
Fast paced, but with periods of slowness that lets you catch your breath I enjoyed every page.
Wish the ending had a bit more closure, but that didn't ruin it for me.
September 25, 2023
Sloe follows Ronnie, a grieving mother who gets news that her brother has died under suspicious circumstances. When she goes home to take care of his affairs, the malicious voice in her head gets stronger than ever. Ronnie must find the voice's daughter before everything she loves is taken from her forever.
Marc created an atmospheric, tense novella with a supernatural twist. I enjoyed the historical aspects that were included, I thought it helped to bring another layer of depth to the story. There were a few parts that I flew through because I needed to see what was going to happen, which really speaks to Marc's ability to captivate the audience!
There was some sort of sub-plot going on with Lilac and Carlos, but I never really got an understanding of why they were doing what they did. The story also finished without things being resolved with Ronnie. Did the plan work? Was there more that needed to be done? Were the spirits finally at peace? I have a lot of questions and not many answers. The ending was so abrupt that I found myself left wanting when I was finished reading.
The formatting did confuse me a little as well. It wasn't always clear what was being said by the voice in Ronnie's head. The transition between past and present was also not as clear as I felt it could've been. Sometimes, I had to read the beginning of the next section a couple times to figure out which timeline I was in.
Overall, Sloe was really interesting! I was invested in the story and figuring out what was going on. I'd just like a little more at the end to wrap things up and fully round out the book.
Marc created an atmospheric, tense novella with a supernatural twist. I enjoyed the historical aspects that were included, I thought it helped to bring another layer of depth to the story. There were a few parts that I flew through because I needed to see what was going to happen, which really speaks to Marc's ability to captivate the audience!
There was some sort of sub-plot going on with Lilac and Carlos, but I never really got an understanding of why they were doing what they did. The story also finished without things being resolved with Ronnie. Did the plan work? Was there more that needed to be done? Were the spirits finally at peace? I have a lot of questions and not many answers. The ending was so abrupt that I found myself left wanting when I was finished reading.
The formatting did confuse me a little as well. It wasn't always clear what was being said by the voice in Ronnie's head. The transition between past and present was also not as clear as I felt it could've been. Sometimes, I had to read the beginning of the next section a couple times to figure out which timeline I was in.
Overall, Sloe was really interesting! I was invested in the story and figuring out what was going on. I'd just like a little more at the end to wrap things up and fully round out the book.
July 31, 2024
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
this story has given me a desire to seek out sloe jam...and maybe some sloe whisky.
-
Sloe is in intriguing novella from Marc Ruvolo. When a community makes a choice to actively bury a part of its past, no matter how uncomfortable or strange, it is simply covered up, not erased. These echoes of the past take root and eventually resurface. Family's can wrestle with mental illness, and acknowledge generational trauma, yet still do nothing to change things. One way or another, a reckoning comes, and the truth is uncovered.
This is both a thriller, as well as short tale of Folk Horror. Our heart aches for Ronnie as she struggles to reconcile her perceived truth with an ugly and increasingly disturbing reality. The setting in rural Kentucky provides brings the reader into a place that is open and rich in "the long memory, while a feeling of entrapment and near claustrophobia surround Ronnie, and the reader, like spreading branches of blackthorn.
this story has given me a desire to seek out sloe jam...and maybe some sloe whisky.
-
Sloe is in intriguing novella from Marc Ruvolo. When a community makes a choice to actively bury a part of its past, no matter how uncomfortable or strange, it is simply covered up, not erased. These echoes of the past take root and eventually resurface. Family's can wrestle with mental illness, and acknowledge generational trauma, yet still do nothing to change things. One way or another, a reckoning comes, and the truth is uncovered.
This is both a thriller, as well as short tale of Folk Horror. Our heart aches for Ronnie as she struggles to reconcile her perceived truth with an ugly and increasingly disturbing reality. The setting in rural Kentucky provides brings the reader into a place that is open and rich in "the long memory, while a feeling of entrapment and near claustrophobia surround Ronnie, and the reader, like spreading branches of blackthorn.
June 25, 2023
SLOE is an interesting horror/paranormal novella inspired by the blue Fugates of Kentucky. Ostracism, discrimination, and family legacy are the heart of SLOE, linking old family ties to the present. Throw in ghostly influences, and this is no Book Woman of Troublesome Creek. Marc Ruvolo is not a Kentucky author, but I thought he did a good job of painting a picture of the landscape, small towns, and life in this part of Kentucky for the parts it played in the story. Without leaving any spoilers, I only wish I knew what happened at the top of the mountain for closure. Maybe that’s being left for a follow-up?
June 13, 2023
This is a fantastic story about a vengeful spirit, stopping at nothing to avenge the desecration of her daughter.
The Sloe people were rumoured to have blue tinted skin and were outcasts in their town a long time ago. When a group of children go to inspect the now abandoned property where these people lived, they're met by a mysterious figure who tells them a story about her daughter being taken from her and buried away from the family's plot.
Now adults, they're going to find out that this interaction has consequences. This woman wants her daughters body back and she'll kill everyone they love until they do what she asks.
This book has an excellent creepy vibe throughout as the mystery of the Sloe folk and the various deaths lead our main protagonist to make a horrifying decision about how to make things right for the sake of her family.
It's a great example of building tension, creating mystery, and giving you a good ol' case of the creepy crawlies! I highly recommend it!
Thank you to the author for sending me an ARC with no consideration. This review is voluntary and is my own opinion.
The Sloe people were rumoured to have blue tinted skin and were outcasts in their town a long time ago. When a group of children go to inspect the now abandoned property where these people lived, they're met by a mysterious figure who tells them a story about her daughter being taken from her and buried away from the family's plot.
Now adults, they're going to find out that this interaction has consequences. This woman wants her daughters body back and she'll kill everyone they love until they do what she asks.
This book has an excellent creepy vibe throughout as the mystery of the Sloe folk and the various deaths lead our main protagonist to make a horrifying decision about how to make things right for the sake of her family.
It's a great example of building tension, creating mystery, and giving you a good ol' case of the creepy crawlies! I highly recommend it!
Thank you to the author for sending me an ARC with no consideration. This review is voluntary and is my own opinion.
June 24, 2024
3.5 stars
Still reeling from a recent family tragedy, Veronica is hit with a second bereavement when she learns her brother has unexpectedly taken his own life. She returns to the small Kentucky mining town where she grew up to support her mother and lay Myles to rest. In looking for answers, Veronica finds herself drawn back to the past, when she, Myles, and their cousin Medina, had a childhood encounter that has dogged their lives since.
Sloe has an astoundingly deep and complex level of world building for such a concise page count. The whispering, insistent intrusive voices were more unsettling than a lot of grislier horror I've read. Unfortunately, while I love an open ended mystery, Sloe left too many hanging threads for me to be fully satisfied. I think as a buddy read or book club discussion, this would be a ton of fun for bouncing ideas around with other readers. But as it is, I personally needed some more gaps filled in: Having read this author's more recent work, Pieties, I know his writing has only got stronger and his plots tighter, and I look forward to whatever he next puts out.
I received this ARC for free on BookSirens.
Still reeling from a recent family tragedy, Veronica is hit with a second bereavement when she learns her brother has unexpectedly taken his own life. She returns to the small Kentucky mining town where she grew up to support her mother and lay Myles to rest. In looking for answers, Veronica finds herself drawn back to the past, when she, Myles, and their cousin Medina, had a childhood encounter that has dogged their lives since.
Sloe has an astoundingly deep and complex level of world building for such a concise page count. The whispering, insistent intrusive voices were more unsettling than a lot of grislier horror I've read. Unfortunately, while I love an open ended mystery, Sloe left too many hanging threads for me to be fully satisfied. I think as a buddy read or book club discussion, this would be a ton of fun for bouncing ideas around with other readers. But as it is, I personally needed some more gaps filled in: Having read this author's more recent work, Pieties, I know his writing has only got stronger and his plots tighter, and I look forward to whatever he next puts out.
I received this ARC for free on BookSirens.
August 23, 2025
Veronica has intrusive thoughts. Involved in a car crash that wasn’t her fault which resulted in the loss of one of her sons, Veronica blames her as does her remaining son.
Flashback: Medina and Ronnie are 10. Best friends, as close to sisters as you could get. They talk of blue people. They go looking for blue people and come across Artemis. As Artemis tells them a tale Myles and Medina become disorientated. They run but Artemis stays with them in other ways.
Having lost contact Medina contacts (Ronnie) Veronica to tell her, her brother has passed away. The circumstances of Miles death suspicious. But who’ll be next?
Veronica’s early story was so relatable to anyone who’s ever had intrusive thoughts. But this story develops into a creeping tale of haunting. This gave me all the southern American country vibes.
August 3, 2023
Well-written and immersive! This book is haunting and the horror of it is the kind that feels real, that feels wild, and is always on the fringes of our human experience. The story has great pacing and gets more intense as the character Veronica navigates a devastating mystery winding through trauma and tragedy. I recommend this book to horror fans who enjoy creeping horror, folklore, the wild fringes of Appalachia, and the feeling that the world is older and more frightening than we could ever really comprehend.
August 8, 2024
Author Ruvulo does it again.
A great novella; a little history on the "blue" folk AKA Sloe ( Timmelhorns) coupled with dark, psychological horror. I was engrossed and entertained from page one. Ruvulo gave a concise and descriptive back story to help keep up with what was going on. Several plot twists, from the Potter's Cemetary, to Lilac, to Jeremy. I still don't know how Lilac hooked up with Carlos, very ODD couple, but it made sense none the less. The storyline flowed well; vivid and descriptive writing to put you right there with all of the characters, in the thick of the scary and spooky. Did Ronnie kill her son, did Lilac have something to do with Myles and Medina's death?? What happens on the mountain path?
That is the only thing… I needed more on this ending. This was a cliffhanger.
Hopefully Mr. Ruvulo will grace us with another Sloe….. I am really enjoying his novellas!!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
A great novella; a little history on the "blue" folk AKA Sloe ( Timmelhorns) coupled with dark, psychological horror. I was engrossed and entertained from page one. Ruvulo gave a concise and descriptive back story to help keep up with what was going on. Several plot twists, from the Potter's Cemetary, to Lilac, to Jeremy. I still don't know how Lilac hooked up with Carlos, very ODD couple, but it made sense none the less. The storyline flowed well; vivid and descriptive writing to put you right there with all of the characters, in the thick of the scary and spooky. Did Ronnie kill her son, did Lilac have something to do with Myles and Medina's death?? What happens on the mountain path?
That is the only thing… I needed more on this ending. This was a cliffhanger.
Hopefully Mr. Ruvulo will grace us with another Sloe….. I am really enjoying his novellas!!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 14, 2023
I was hooked from start to finish!
This short book has everything I’m looking for. Realistic consequences, spooky hauntings, mysterious characters, a main character you root for, everything! I thought I knew where the story was going, but I was pleasantly surprised at the end. What a gut punch. I’d recommend this book to anyone wanting a lightly creepy ghost story.
This short book has everything I’m looking for. Realistic consequences, spooky hauntings, mysterious characters, a main character you root for, everything! I thought I knew where the story was going, but I was pleasantly surprised at the end. What a gut punch. I’d recommend this book to anyone wanting a lightly creepy ghost story.
June 25, 2024
I really loved this wicked little tale! The author did an excellent job of fleshing out the characters and building a sense of dread throughout this fast paced story. I will be on the lookout for more from this author!
*I received an advance review copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily
*I received an advance review copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily
September 18, 2023
Very interesting read! Would 100% read a second one!
Horror mixed with folklore and suspense it makes an incredible read! The story keeps you guessing til the very end! Great read
Horror mixed with folklore and suspense it makes an incredible read! The story keeps you guessing til the very end! Great read
April 11, 2024
I love reading Ruvolo’s work. He has a great way of creating a multi-dimensional plot line, with several twists and turns. I enjoy the fact that the characters are fleshed out just enough for a novella; none of them left me with further questions relating to the plot at hand. And I know if Sloe were to be a larger-volume novel, he would do justice to the characters’ backgrounds in that format as well.
I absolutely wanted more at the end, and that’s the farthest thing from criticism. I personally love a story to keep me hanging a bit and thinking of the potential exploits of the characters. But the reader has to remember that this is a novella, and Ruvolo gave us just that: a large, quick-paced, & meaty vignette of potentially (if he feels up to the challenge!) a larger story.
Thanks for creating this piece, Marc! And please (!!!) DO keep up the great work!
I absolutely wanted more at the end, and that’s the farthest thing from criticism. I personally love a story to keep me hanging a bit and thinking of the potential exploits of the characters. But the reader has to remember that this is a novella, and Ruvolo gave us just that: a large, quick-paced, & meaty vignette of potentially (if he feels up to the challenge!) a larger story.
Thanks for creating this piece, Marc! And please (!!!) DO keep up the great work!
September 11, 2023
3.5 stars.
Thank you for the author to allow me to read this book, I appreciate it!
Overall it’s a nice book with great writing, however to me the jumps in the timeline were confusing at first, but as the story picked up it became an intriguing supernatural story. The writing is enjoyable, although I could enjoy more in between descriptions and more detailed painting of the scenery. I wish there was more to the ending, I wish it didn’t have such an unfinished feeling to it - I would have loved to see how the end plays out fully and what would be the characters conclusion.
Thank you for the author to allow me to read this book, I appreciate it!
Overall it’s a nice book with great writing, however to me the jumps in the timeline were confusing at first, but as the story picked up it became an intriguing supernatural story. The writing is enjoyable, although I could enjoy more in between descriptions and more detailed painting of the scenery. I wish there was more to the ending, I wish it didn’t have such an unfinished feeling to it - I would have loved to see how the end plays out fully and what would be the characters conclusion.
July 11, 2023
With his novella 'Sloe', Marc Ruvolo shows himself to be an author to watch. Impeccable writing, intricate plot, amazing dialogue, relatable characters (and some not so relatable, hopefully!), plus superb editing: the end result felt unreal. The story is very easy to follow: three kids (two siblings and their cousin) visit a place in the mountain, thought long-abandoned, where blue-skinned people once lived; a woman appears and tells them about her baby daughter taken from her and buried somewhere she shouldn’t have been; the group of three, now grown up, discover that meeting the woman carries fatal consequences: they’ve been cursed all their lives, and unless they can bring the baby’s remains back to their proper burial ground, everyone they love is in danger. This does make for an easy read – the author, however, has taken extra steps to touch upon matters of more general relevance: the curse’s manifestation mimics symptoms of mental illness, from OCD to voices (the book begins with: “The water for the pasta had come to a rolling boil. Veronica touched the knob three times before reducing the flame. Throw the water on the dog, said the voice in her head”); the blue-skinned people, the Sloe, have faced racism, injustice, and ostracization (apparently, the Sloe are based on real people, the Blue Fugates, a family living in the hills of Kentucky – although I learnt of them only afterwards); dealing with the curse leads the three adults to pills and alcohol. Some of all this really hits home. No wonder, then, that where this story shined for me was with the characters: they’re painfully human, with everyday struggles, especially the main character, Veronica, who has lost one of her children and has to deal with family issues on top of the loss. Veronica felt fully fleshed out, though all characters have a distinctive voice, even the mysterious Lilac, who’s brought in to resolve the curse – she’s not your typical kind of ‘psychic’ and has her own agenda, bringing the story to a rather explosive ending.
I do hope that Ruvolo with this awesome read is only just getting started; in any case, I’m on board for whatever he decides to write next!
Many thanks to the author for the ARC.
I do hope that Ruvolo with this awesome read is only just getting started; in any case, I’m on board for whatever he decides to write next!
Many thanks to the author for the ARC.
September 14, 2023
This book is about 3 young children that are in the same family, that have heard stories about these people that are “blue” in another town over and want to go visit it, but their parents ain’t trying to let them. So one day they sneak off to go visit. They end up exploring one of the houses and then go outside to a field with tons of flowers. This lady comes towards them and asks where they are from and tells them who she was and that she is looking for her child, but was told the baby was dead. Well they keep talking and get a funny feeling about this woman so they rush off to go back home. The story comes back and forth between when they were young children and when they were adults. Well apparently the old women was a witch and put a curse on them and will do anything in her powers to hurt them and their family until they bury her child where the rest of the family is buried. Even many years after this woman has been dead, she is haunting these young adults. She is in their minds, making them think bad thoughts, and telling them to do hurtful things. This is just a brief summary of what the book is about. I don’t want to give a way to much details and ruin it. I really enjoyed this book, I think the ending could have been a little better, but all in all it was a good read. Thank you for letting me be an arc to this book.
December 22, 2023
Sloe
By Marc Ruvolo
Thanks, Marc, for providing me with an ebook in exchange for a review!
I really enjoyed this one. It was creepy, culty, and dark. I got some serious A24 horror movie vibes from this book. There was a sense of unease created by the author throughout the book. I did not know what was going to happen next!
I liked the characters. They were interesting and developed well in a short time span. There were dual timelines at points of the book, which was well-written. In the end, not all questions were answered, and that was fine with me.
I'm giving this a 4.25 ⭐️s. I would recommend it for anyone looking for folksy horror with an intriguing story and sense of foreboding throughout.
By Marc Ruvolo
Thanks, Marc, for providing me with an ebook in exchange for a review!
I really enjoyed this one. It was creepy, culty, and dark. I got some serious A24 horror movie vibes from this book. There was a sense of unease created by the author throughout the book. I did not know what was going to happen next!
I liked the characters. They were interesting and developed well in a short time span. There were dual timelines at points of the book, which was well-written. In the end, not all questions were answered, and that was fine with me.
I'm giving this a 4.25 ⭐️s. I would recommend it for anyone looking for folksy horror with an intriguing story and sense of foreboding throughout.
August 24, 2024
There's something nostalgic about a ghost tale fit for a campfire. Sloe has all the folk horror classics: dark woods, local legends, rituals, and spirits. That being said, Sloe is not a feel-good story. Grief and trauma are major, recurring characters. While I enjoyed seeing Ruvolo contrast these concepts with more lighthearted, spooky elements, I found the tone a bit dissonant at times. As a whole, though, I quite enjoyed this novella.
I'm grateful for the chance to check this book out for free. I'm leaving this review of my own accord.
I'm grateful for the chance to check this book out for free. I'm leaving this review of my own accord.
June 25, 2023
Sloe is a heart stoppingly unique tale of tragic loss, spirituality and let's face it, ghosts. Veronica has experienced an unspeakable tragedy as a mother but it's something that happened in her childhood that's causing those around her to die suddenly and shockingly. Can she right the wrongs of the past and appease the spirit that haunts her? A fast paced gothic novella that just screams for a much anticipated sequel.
September 5, 2023
Veronica hears voices inside her head telling her to do unthinkable things which she attributes to being intrusive thoughts. But maybe it’s much more then that and related to a childhood encounter with her brother and cousin and a member of the Sloe people. The Sloe people have blueish skin and have a great cultural community but given their skin tone are not associated with the rest of Ronnie’s community. This story deals with Su*cide and is a more spiritual type horror
July 10, 2023
Veronica has a voice 8n her head wanting her to do horrible things. When her brother dies, she returns home, and the voice changes. Is it linked to the blue people who lived near her hometown? Can she stop the voices before someone else dies? Chilling original read hard to put down. Will have you on the edge of your seat.
October 29, 2023
Ooh! Backwoods folk thriller, with supernatural elements!
Well, that was a smidge different…
It’s a bit fast paced to a “folky” tale, but those not familiar with traditional folk horror might consider it a bit of a slow burn.
All in all, I did enjoy it, and I get why it ended the way that it did, but hopefully that decision doesn’t prove to be divisive. Only time will tell.
Well, that was a smidge different…
It’s a bit fast paced to a “folky” tale, but those not familiar with traditional folk horror might consider it a bit of a slow burn.
All in all, I did enjoy it, and I get why it ended the way that it did, but hopefully that decision doesn’t prove to be divisive. Only time will tell.
November 9, 2024
Thank you to the author for providing a review copy.
I had previously read Pieties by the same author, and while I enjoyed it, this book really gripped me. The first half of the book is interesting, but the last half becomes more and more unhinged, and I loved it. It is part of the Rewind or Die series, so it does have that cult classic movie feel that I love. 4.5 stars
I had previously read Pieties by the same author, and while I enjoyed it, this book really gripped me. The first half of the book is interesting, but the last half becomes more and more unhinged, and I loved it. It is part of the Rewind or Die series, so it does have that cult classic movie feel that I love. 4.5 stars
August 6, 2023
Welcome to my world. Pay no attention to voice inside your head.
December 19, 2023
Quality horror from a quality author. I can’t recommend Sloe enough!
July 8, 2023
Sloe is a fast-paced horror novella packed with magic, paranormal experiences and a generous helping of intrusive thoughts.
Can you imagine if you could discover where your intrusive thoughts come from? Well in Sloe, Marc Ruvolo brings that idea to the forefront. The book opens with a horrifying thought regarding a dog and boiling water…from that moment I knew I would enjoy…I know. Dark. Ha!
Throughout the novella there are plenty more intrusive thoughts…frighteningly, some made me laugh. Note to self, explore my mental state. Marc delivers on horror scenes during the story, culminating in some grotesquely gory final scenes.
Sloe is a punchy novella with plenty of horror and gore that is well worth a read! I have some questions after reading which I’m hoping will be explored in a follow up novella!
Can you imagine if you could discover where your intrusive thoughts come from? Well in Sloe, Marc Ruvolo brings that idea to the forefront. The book opens with a horrifying thought regarding a dog and boiling water…from that moment I knew I would enjoy…I know. Dark. Ha!
Throughout the novella there are plenty more intrusive thoughts…frighteningly, some made me laugh. Note to self, explore my mental state. Marc delivers on horror scenes during the story, culminating in some grotesquely gory final scenes.
Sloe is a punchy novella with plenty of horror and gore that is well worth a read! I have some questions after reading which I’m hoping will be explored in a follow up novella!
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