Wounded

by Greta T. Bates

“Am I eventually going to be taken away like Mom?”

Hair as black as ebony, the fairest skin, thrifted clothes covering self-inflicted scars, always in her well-worn boots, Elia was healing on the outside; but the cuts on the inside were the ones that hurt the most. At 17, Elia was tired of tiptoeing around her mother, a—someday my prince will come, waiting to be rescued, I want to be the star—mother. Her family’s female line or as she called them, The Horrifying Women, had a tight grip on her, body and soul.

Along with her best friend Trudy, she’s trying to discover how to sever the ties to her messed up ancestry with the assistance of the local Woo Woo Girls. However, dabbling in the craft might prove trickier than what she had in mind.

With one foot in her childhood and the other on the edge of 18, will she be able to break free, leaving the ghosts of her past behind?

All Elia was really looking for was some help… and maybe…just a little bit of magic.

Content
Please note that Wounded contains scenes with self-harm and mental issues and may not be suitable for all readers. Reader discretion is advised.

Audible Audio

Published December 7, 2023

About the author

Greta T. Bates is an American writer who, after many years, let herself love horror not only in the month of October but all damn year. Call it her dark awakening. She is the author of Wounded, Hazed, and Season of the Damned. Her short stories can be found in Horror Scope-A Zodiac Anthology, Pretty Girls Make Graves, Till the Yule Log Burns Out, and Dolls in the Attic. Her latest book, Spare Nothing, will be released in July of 2026.

Currently, she is working on her second novel. Greta lives on a salt marsh with her husband, two cats, and her little dog too.

Reviews

[Delliom Ellidom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wounded is a quick to read psychological thriller/horror novella by Greta T Bates that truly thrusts you into the point of view of its first person narrator, Elia. She is a seventeen year old who has endured abuse at the hands of her mother, abuse that has been generational. The Horrifying Women haunt her in many senses, even once her mother is no longer there. She turns to the help of her friends to rid herself of the lingering unrest, to truly move on. Yet things do not always go as planned, especially when witchcraft is involved.


While the novella does not have extreme horror, it still contains moments of suspense and a few key scenes that etch themselves in your mind. It fits the genre while remaining accessible to older teens and adults alike.


Having read a short story from this author in the past, I was greatly impressed with how she crafted Elia’s voice. It bleeds onto the paper beyond the dialogue exchanged between characters. We’re shown flashbacks and current events in a chain that flows well. The scenes are easily pictured without being overly descriptive. It’s a fantastic quick read.


I appreciated how the characters were developed as well as the way witchcraft was handled. The ending was satisfying for me. I could pick up more for this story or have it remain as a standalone. The exploration of other tales, such as Cinderella and Persephone, helped bring these characters to life. I love comparisons such as those; seeing how characters view themselves and their situations.


This novella earned its four stars from me, based on the genre and my enjoyment levels while reading.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elia is nearly eighteen, and is spending the summer taking summer school, hanging out with her best friend T, and dipping her toes into witchcraft. See, the women in her family are prone to mental illness and tend to treat each other poorly. Rather than join that cycle, she's hoping to find a way to break it. But are the powers she's tampering with going to help her heal, or will they come with unexpected consequences?

Bates's debut novella is a heartfelt and heartbreaking examination of generational trauma, the false comfort of self-harm, and the importance of friendship. It also has some fun witchy vibes. Recommended for readers who like young adult protagonists and stories about magic.

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aliana was tired of having to cater to her mentally ill mother and now that her mom is gone and only her and her stepdad are left she is now grappling with who she is in the possibilities of who she can become despite her family history. With the help of her best friend and hopefully a little magic she just may find out. I thought this was a cute read although team mystery/horror is one of my favorite genres I think this is for someone a little bit younger although I really found nothing wrong with the book except it’s ending which was good but seemed hurried or maybe they’ll be a second book? Either way it is a Q read and although there is room for a second book it isn’t a cliffhanger I have never read a book by Greta T Bates before and enjoyed this one and will definitely be looking for more in the future. Please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Eric Woods · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short work tells the compelling story of a teenager who faced off with an abusive mother until the mother was sent away to an institution. The plot centers around the teen attempting to rid herself not only of her mother’s hold over her, but also of all the woman throughout the history of her family who still haunt her in her daily life. The pace was a little slow at times, but the reader can’t help but feel for the teen trying so hard to escape the horrors she has grown up with. There are only a few characters throughout the book (which made it easier to follow). And the twist at the end during the final encounter with “Mother” was shocking, giving the book a strong conclusion.

[Rebel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Story was good except for the constant back and forth of "then" and "now". You get that enough in movies and tv shows. If it's a one time thing it's fine but every chapter. I didn't like that. Overall, it was a good story. Great characters.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.