The Spire in the Woods

by Tony Lunedi

After discovering the suicide of a schoolmate may be connected to a local legend, a young man embarks on a quest to discover the truth. Why had Robert Edward Kennan killed himself? Was it because of a failed relationship or something more insidious?

Based on actual events, the Spire in the Woods is equal parts coming of age and ghost story. A candid account of one man's struggles with his mental health, his obsession with the supernatural, and the single biggest regret of his life.

Genres: Horror, Fiction, Coming Of Age, Audiobook, Thriller, Short Stories, Fantasy

201 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2013

Reviews

[Hailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

The scariest thing on this earth is a teenage boy.

[Niki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was actually my second time reading this story; I'd first read its Reddit version back in 2015 or so (I'm a huge creepypasta fan) The second time was just as fantastic as the first, I'd forgotten most of it so it was like reading it for the first time.

This story is a major example of "amateur" writing* being miles, miles ahead of traditionally published "professional" books with editors and proofreaders. The author first wrote and published the entire thing on their own for free, and it was airtight from the get go. No plot holes, no convenient coincidences, no cardboard cutout characters, no stilted writing; I loved every second of it.

The book's writing is incredibly immersive and evocative, the usual "You feel like you're there!" cliche without the author ever going into purple prose/ "I've got a thesaurus and I'm not afraid to use it!" The sharp distinction between the more elaborate narration (the main character is older, looking back on it all) and the awkward teenage dialogue is just the first example of the author showing a lot of major attention to detail, but certainly not the last.

There's several nuanced plot points that were perfectly clear even if the narration hadn't brought attention to them specifically later on, like the main character's treatment of Alina, or the parallels between him and Rob, or his very gradual descent into madness that never feels farfetched (or, my favourite word, an asspull) Instead of a thesaurus, the author had realistically flawed characters they weren't afraid to use, characters who were good intentioned, and curious, and creative, and trying their best, but also judgemental, and grieving, and immature, and mentally ill, and way too angry for their own good, and more. Absolutely fantastic.

AND it delivers on the horror front. While the ending has a bit of "Everything that happened in the Spire COULD have possibly been a hallucination", given that the leg injuries from Amy's pole are never mentioned again as far as I can tell flavour, the entire thing is the exact kind of paranormal horror I enjoy the most, with hell descending on the protagonists basically out of nowhere and them having no way of fighting it. I also always like a good "when I die, I know I'm gonna meet [the source of horror] again, and I'm gonna be at their mercy forever" now-I'm-damned story.

Overall an incredible read. I couldn't be more pleased with it.

*I mean, unless Tony Lunedi is actually an established author's pseudonym and the entire thing was a marketing ploy from the get go. It's not unheard of and I wouldn't be all that surprised, but I like my underdog version better. Sue me.

[Ben Stoll · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great example of how to convincingly make a protagonist a bad person. Amazing blend of supernatural horror, and the real life cruelties of high school life. Very heavy read, was drained by the time I was done.

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely loathsome protagonist. My heart sank when I realized what this story was actually about. I love the use of unreliable narration and the way horror is employed as a metaphor for sexual assault. I almost wish the author hadn’t spelled it out for us at the end. The implications were already there.

From the discussions I’ve seen online, it seems that many men—specifically men—didn’t recognize the main character’s predatory behavior until it was explicitly pointed out to them.

Well, well, well…

[Belfry · Rating 4 out of 5]

7/19/21 EDIT: Listened to MrCreepyPasta's audio version of this and it's still great. The original post has been deleted from reddit because the story's been picked up by Vertigo and Amblin to be adapted into a film, but it's still easy enough to find other places online.

Actual rating: 4.5

Another gem from NoSleep! A creepy and unsettling story, one that I often find myself thinking about. If you finish Borrasca and are looking for something in a similar vein, this is one to check out. Read it here.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here because of creepcast bebe!

3.5 but rounded up, counting it because it's on here and it was 7 hours.

I liked this one and enjoyed the podcast. I feel really bad for Scary Carrie though she seems to have had the short end of the stick and the narrator is def a little perv.

It would be a good movie but I don't think it needed to be wiped from the internet and almost become lost media because of lawyers and executives at the movie studios

[the funky longneck]

i hate it when a male

[Alana · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up!

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a 2.5-star rating.

In summary, for those who haven't read it, it is not a bad book. I would recommend checking it out if you like horror stories and stories from r/nosleep.

SPOILERS AHEAD:


I'll begin with the good:
The description of the bells is really beautiful, captivating, and alluring. I loved it. I also liked how characters and situations (like the sound of the ice cracking) were described. The writer is clearly talented. I also like the premise, the island, the setting for the Spire. It enthralled me and kept me wanting to know more.

Now for the bad:
As the main story is meant to be progressed, it appears as if we are instead stuck in a boring side story that has a boring resolution. I don't care as much about the high school setting or the romantic interest of the main character as I do about the supernatural phenomena and what is causing them. As their "relationship" progressed, I felt annoyed and actually found myself reading faster and reflecting less than I typically do, as I just wanted to get the interesting part of the story, which I was optimistic would materialize eventually.
I cannot possibly express how I feel about the way things turned out with Alina and the attempt at social commentary that this story has, without turning this review into an article.
The climax was not predictable, instead it was incredibly lacking and underwhelming. I must admit, I had high expectations for this story. Its regarded as one of the best r/nosleep had to offer, it's been compared to Borrasca and other masterpieces, thus I expected more from this book, especially as it had quite a good setup in the beginning.
I had hopes that the connections with the urban legend of The Widower’s Clock were only scraping the surface of the mystery of the Spire and the Bells. But nope. You get exactly what you would expect knowing there's nothing more to it. You learn nothing new in the final chapters, except a new theory about the afterlife of the people who have heard the bells or seen/entered the Spire, and that the ghost (?) of Amy comes to "claim you" when you die, which is who people spotted in the car with Rob. We don't even get to learn more about this vengeful spirit, and many questions are left unanswered, almost as if the writer himself lost interest halfway through the story.
The closer we got to the ending, the further we got from a resolution. And sadly, this mystery is one left for readers to imagine a solution for themselves.

[Sharmin Shabnam · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best stories I have read in r/nosleeep

[Sal Bolar · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is not as well written as people make it out to seem. The paranomal plot was clearly used to further the main themes and main relationship dynamics... but it was way too disconnected from the "romance."

It just didnt feel intrinsic and interconnected so when the focus switched from the spire to Alina I was waiting for it to get back to the story, I geniunely thought for way too long that it was just a really long tangent, again it just wasnt set up well.

It bugs me that other Creepcast watchers are comparing *this* to Penpal and Borrasca... how disrespectful.

[emily hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

really good for an internet story . fell off quite a bit though. it reels you in so well but once you’re in it it’s just…. eh.

[Iggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to the CreepCast reading of this book and loved it. I wish the book was more available. This story has so many twists and turns and is surprisingly human with a horror twist.

[Michael Ibarra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding. One of the best mystery/horror/thriller pieces I've ever read on /nosleep. Tony is a truly gifted writer, masterfully weaving suspense and urgency into each narrative segment. His self-reflection (whether fiction or not) on the nature of sexual assault, the male-driven rape culture, and the selfishness of bending another's will to your own was a profound and unexpected--though welcome--addition. He shows remarkable self-awareness to write in such a way. It's especially timely given the #MeToo movement.

I've read this twice now and each time am gripped by each passing page. Thank you, Tony, for such an amazing story. I wish I knew where the line between reality and fiction is--but perhaps that's a good thing. I only hope Spielberg and company don't mess with the original storyline in the upcoming film adaptation.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

A classic gem from the bowels of nosleep. As well written as any horror story I've read. I was absolutely enthralled in the grasp of the bells.
Kind of a slow start, but I didn't mind because the story was well written and well constructed. The characters meshed so well together. Thoroughly enjoyed reading this.

[Pratyu · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it - as a NoSleep/Reddit series of forum posts. No idea how well it would translate into a book. There were some parts that got dull but overall, it was a tragic tale and an interesting take on horror.

[Dakota · Rating 3 out of 5]

I honestly don’t know what to rate this. I hate the main character with the fire of a thousand suns. Everything around him was cool though.

[wolfgang · Rating 4 out of 5]

Objectively, probably the best nosleep-turned-novel I’ve ever read. I genuinely think this has mass appeal and tv/film adaptation potential.

Eerie, cool, and frightening with an incredibly strong and sympathetic voice that jolts the reader with occasional and effective unreliability.

That clock is spooky yo.

[Lucas Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this short story was an absolute roller coaster. It does a fantastic job using what could be seen as an old wives tale, and world building around it. And to learn that this had its beginnings as a story on Reddit goes to show that you can always find diamonds in the rough.

[Egle · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5, but I'll round it up to 5 stars!

[Don · Rating 4 out of 5]

A compelling and strange story.

Well worth a read, dips a bit towards the end but still very good.

⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2 Stars.

[Adora Belle Dearheart · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kao prvo, da kažem da imam specijalni pik na ovo (ne)delo obzirom da se osećam kao da mi je neko izvrtao džepove, ili, ono što bi današnja deca mnogo bolje razumela - čačkao po telefonu. Priča se dešava upravo u doba moje srednje škole. Mada u nekoj paralelnoj dimenziji, očigledno.

Kao drugo, i mnogo bitnije: dve osnovne potke na kojima priča počiva i bez funkcionalnosti kojih ona faktički postaje neodrživa, apsolutno su nefunkcionalne. A koje su sledeće:

1. nebulozna "priča o duhovima"

2. zli ljudi/muškarci rade zle stvari zato što su zli/muškarci

Ja sam imala 17 godina i bila sam tinejdžer kasnih devedesetih. Ljudi ne funkcionišu tako. Ili barem ne na planeti na kojoj ja živim. Počinjem se pitati šta kojeg đavla nije u redu s američkim društvom, šta je s tim ljudima? Je li cela nacija socijalno sakata? Ili je poenta u onoj sceni jednog našeg čuvenog filma koji sam volela kad sam bila vrlo mlada i glupava, u vreme kad još uvek nisam uspevala da prepoznam očiglednu agendu koja mi se unosi u lice i trlja na nos "doktore, to su vam civilizacijske razlike". Ja možda ne razumem jer dolazim iz totalno drugačijeg miljea.

Ovo je, u principu, sapunica, obzirom da se kompletna radnja vrti oko pogrešne komunikacije, ili bolje: nedostatku iste. Ne mogu vraga da se setim tačno naziva tog podžanra komedije(?). Kako god, fakt da je priča drek-komunikacija-se-desila, drastično umanjuje nameru autora da izjavi nešto za dnevnik i da "socijalni komentar."

Mrzim socijalne komentare u knjigama.

Znam da se danas smatra da knjiga ne sme da postoji ako u isto vreme ne komentariše neki socijalni aspekt/problem - ali ja nikad nisam smatrala da piskarala, žongleri i cirkuski frikovi imaju zadatak da budu moralni reperi kojima se društvo okreće kad treba da čuje savet o smislu života. Ili da budem brutalna: nikad nisam smatrala da jedva pismeni selebritiji od kojih 99% procenata ima manje obrazovanja za pojasom od mene, imaju pravo da mi pridikuju o moralu i pravilnom ponašanju.

Ja smatram da knjige treba da mi daju odmor od realnosti - ne da mi drže grozničave pridike o istoj ko kakav vođa ekstremno fanatičnog kulta. Osim ako se radi o filozofiji, ali to je rabbit hole u kojem ima više kukolja nego žita i nemam nameru da sad idem u te mračne vode.

Elem.

Bajke, priče, kakogod, ne postoje da bi održavale nekakvu "socijalnu kontrolu" iliti represiju ili koji god đavo. Bajke i priče, ili tačnije mitovi i legende, postoje prosto kao primer. One treba da podsete ljude da svaka akcija ima reakciju, naprimer. I da svako leže u krevet koji je sam sebi spremio. Ali ljudi su danas do te mere antisocijalno poremećeni Pavlovljevi psi da smatraju kako je svako ko želi da preuzmu odgovornost za svoja dela, po difoltu zao, nenormalan, degeneričan i, verovatno, ima ubilačke tendencije.

Ako hoćete da mi kontrirate, pogledajte oko sebe. Pogledajte šta se dogodi jednom društvu u kojem se uzelo za normu i Sveto Pismo da je odgovornost za svoje postupke neko kosmičko zlo koje demonima posednuti ljudi žele da nametnu svetu zarad svojih perverznih ciljeva; a ne osnova koja čini kičmu zdravog, odraslog čoveka. Pogledajte šta se desi kad svi žele prava ali niko ne želi odgovornost. Anarhija nije formula u kojoj je moguće ostvariti socijalnu strukturu, žao mi je, edž lordovi. Ne samo zdravu socijalnu strukturu - već nikakvu. To je razlog što danas praktično više i nema nikakve socijalne strukture koja mora postojati međ' ljudima jerbo su ljudi jebena socijalna bića a ne vukovi samotnjaci i pustinjaci. Uvek je bilo ljudi koji mrze društvo i žive van njega - ali oni su uvek bili izuzetak, ne pravilo. Kao danas. Mizantropi i esktremni sebičnjaci nemaju interesa ni sposobnosti da funckionišu u društvu, kamoli da ga oblikuju.

To je prva ludorija u koju me je autor ovog dreka pokušao ubediti. Da imaju.

Druga je da je pokušao da me natera da prihvatim da je miskomunikacija ili nedostatak iste savršeno normalan i čak poželjan vid ljudskog ponašanja. Što može da pobije svako ko je u životu pogledao 5 minuta bilo koje sapunice, tako da se stvarno neću mlatiti objašnjavanjem o kakvoj se idiotskoj premisi radi. O nagoveštaju da bi ljudi jedni drugima trebali biti u stanju čitati jebene misli ne pada mi na um da trošim daha.

Ono što mene zanima, u stvari je samo par stvari. Prvo, ko je pa ta budala koja je socijalno korektna unutar svoje sopstvne glave? I, ako jeste, do koje je mere ta glava isprana, da li je u njoj preostala ijedna individualna misao, išta osim Borga? 99,99% recenzija ovde mrzi glavnog lika zato što u privatnosti svoje sopstvene glave misli bez ikakvih socijalno prihvatljivih filtera. Zašto, licemeri? Osim ako stvarno niste hive mind, nećete me ubediti glumeći tu lažnu moralnu uzvišenost - svi ste vi u svojim glavama ljude nazivali ovakvim i onakvim imenima i imali gadne, aposlutno nemoguće za izgovoriti javno reči za mnoge od onih koje ste ikada sreli. Ljudi nemaju lepe izraze u privatnosti svojih glava ako im na um padne neko ko je fizički neugledan iz njihove perspektive ili je počinio nešto što oni lično osuđuju. Zašto krivite momka za nešto što i sami radite? I, ne lažite da ne radite, jer, da, radite. Itekako.

Lažljiva gamad.

Drugo, cela ta ujdurma oko oh-ona-oseća-krivicu-preživelih-pa-zato-nije-ništa-rekla-kad-je-tip-počeo-da-iskazuje-nepoželjne-namere-spram-nje. NE. Autorova namera o premisi priče je, barem meni, bila očigledna od početka, ali negde podsvesno on je i sam očigledno znao da je uradio katastrofaalno loš posao s tim, čim je morao otvoreno ispljunuti poentu svoje priče kroz usta jednog od likova na bukvalno predzadnjoj strani. Čuj, momak . (Nemam pojma koliko ja autor star, ali piše kao da je ili vrlo mlad i, sledstveno, idiot, ili kao da ni u svojoj zreloj dobi nikad nije prestao da bude mlad i i idiot.) Niko ne trpa u usta svojih likova celu jebenu premisu priče koju piše - osim ako je svestan da nije odradio dobar posao koji bi premisu učinio jasnom bez da se ona mora bukvalno naglas izrecitirati u priči samoj! To se radi samo ako se plašiš da čitaocima neće biti jasno šta je pisac hteo da kaže, i to je karakteristika loših pisaca.

Ja jesam dala dve zvezdice ovde iskjučivo zato što autor ume da piše (Bog sveti zna da bih dala jedinicu ko vrata samo da nije bilo te olakotne okolnosti!) - ali to ne znači da smatram da ume da piše maestrealno, ili čak iznad-proseka-dobro. Jer, ne smatram da ume. Ovo je dobro mediocre delo, i to je sve.

Razlog zašto je meni bilo jasno šta je autor hteo da kaže nije zbog njegove "maestralne veštine" već zato što apsolutno ništa drugo nije ni bilo ponuđeno. Zbog procesa eliminacije. Ma koliko blesavo, to je bilo jedino što je autor ponudio kao odgovor, i logično da nisam mogla ni zaključiti ništa drugo. Jer ničeg drugog nije ni bilo. A to što JE bilo, o jebemtisve!

Cura kojoj je glavna muka u životu što će propustiti skijanje nakon što se neki apsolutni stranac u njenoj školi ubio, NE oseća nikakvu prokletu "krivicu preživelih" ili kakvo god slično sranje u koje me je autor pokušao ubediti. On je, iz njene perspektive, bio tamo neki nebitan lik iz škole kojem je jedva znala ime i koji se ispostavio manijak koji je davi i iz kojeg bi blesavog razloga ona uopšte marila što se on ubio? Oni nisu bili prijatelji, nisu bili čak ni poznanici. On joj je išao na živce i dosađivao joj, i verovatno ga je (sigurno ga je, jer sam i ja nekada bila tinejdžerka i znam kako tinejdžerke gledaju na takve momke) videla samo kao patetičnog luzera. Ako je autor hteo da nas natera da verujemo da ona oseća bilo kakvu krivicu jer se on ubio, i da je strah da će se to desiti ponovo jedini razlog što je pustila naratora da uradi šta je radio - jer, ona ga jeste pustila, nemojte mi srati kvake - onda joj nije smeo u usta staviti izjave tipa "ja samo hoću da ljudi prestanu da blenu u mene" i slično. Jer, to nije znak da se oseća kriva, to je samo znak da je besna što drugi misle da jeste. I što tračaju o njoj. Da, baš empatično. Ali recite to autoru.

(Usput, ti milioni ljudi koji su je krivili za momkovu smrt, su bili jedno dvoje njegovih jedinih prijatelja koje je uopšte i imao, i, osim toga, ako ne umeš da se nosiš s tinejdžerskom okrutnošću, princezo, onda nek te bogati tata pošalje u internat u švajcarskim Alpima ili šta god. Mi ostali nismo imali tu privilegiju, nego smo sami krčili put kroz surovu džunglu srednje škole. Neki od nas tokom jebenog građanskog rata. Kravo.)

Devojka je, prosto, bogata, razmažena i sebična, i to nije osuda. Baš me briga što jeste. Ali, ako napraviš lik koji je bogat, razmažen i sebičan, i misli samo na svoje dupe, samo na svoje udobnosti i neprijatnosti - onda me nemoj pokušavati ubediti u gluparije da je neko takav sposoban da oseća "krivicu preživelih". I to u vezi momka koji joj nije bio apsolutno ništa u životu osim gnjavatora kojeg je prezirala. Autoru! Sama pomisao da bi neko poput tako opisane devojke pristao na nepoželjnu sexualnu pažnju je sumnabulna.

Osim toga, ajde da se, zbogradi zajebancije, pravimo da ona jeste osećala strah da će se i ovaj tip ubiti zbog nje (ni prvi se nije ubio "zbog nje" ali nebitno). Ajde da vidimo u kakvoj je situaciji ta cura. To je popularna cura sa širokim krugom prijatelja. Ako je mogla da poveri nekome šta se dogodilo nakon što se dogodilo - onda je imala kome da se poveri i pre nego se dogodilo. Zašto koji moj nije? Njeni odnosi s roditeljima su odlični. Ona ide kod prokletog terapeuta. Kako se, za ime celog prokletog sveta, dogodilo da nikome, ni najboljoj prijateljici, ni majci s kojom se sjajno slaže, ni TERAPEUTU - kako i zašto kojeg vraga nikome od njih nije rekla čujte, tu ima taj momak koji se počeo ložiti na mene a za kojeg ja ne marim ali se plašim da bi i on mogao da uradi nešto sebi kao i ovaj prethodni ako i njega takođe odbijem..?? Kako se desilo da to nikome ne kaže, da ne kaže da misli da se oseća kao da mora da spava s njim jer se plaši da će i on bla bla bla BLA??

KAKO se dogodlo da joj niko, ni prijatelji, ni školski savetnici, ni majka, ni jebeni terapeut (!) nikada ne kažu da ona nije kriva što se onaj prvi momak ubio (tip je patio od celoživotne depresije), i da nije njena krivica ako za nekoga ne oseća isto što i ta osoba oseća za nju? Šta je radio taj terapeut? Šta je ona radila kod terapeuta, lakirala nokte, čačkala nos? U isto vreme dok me autor pokušava ubediti da je do te mere traumatizovana da je pristala na sex mimo svoje volje samo iz straha da se tamo neki idiot opet ne ubije zbog toga što ga je odbila?? Traumatizovani ljudi to ne rade! Oni ne srljaju naglavačke upravo u one stvari koje ih panično plaše i užasavaju! Koji arahnofob gura ruku u rupu punu tarantula? Šta je s vama?? I ne, neću da slušam "svako proživljava na svoj način", to su gluposti - ima stvari koje su prosto nelogične i nerealne. Pa to je bila cela poenta, oko tog je počeo zaplet! To što se ona ose��ala sjebano jer su neki mulci u školi krivili nju zbog momkove smrti! Gde je logika da ona ni jednoj bliskoj osobi u svom životu ne bi poverila ako bi se nešto jezivo isto počelo dešavati maltene odmah posle??

Ali, najveća nelogičnost leži u tome da ona i nije osećala krivicu. Ona je samo pizdela što ne može da ide na skijanje zato što se tamo neka budala iz škole ubila. Što ruši u prah jedan od temelja priče, i samim tim priča je već nakrivo i samo što ne padne.

Pala je totalno na ideji da će dokaz da je momak koji se ubio verovao u duhove nekako, misteriozno, navesti školu da kolektivno kaže: Oooo pa znači o tome se u stvari radilo!... Znači zato se ubio, ne zbog tebe!... Oooo pa to skroz menja celu stvar!..... Mi se duboko izvinjavamo!..

????

Depresija može da izazove psihozu, ali to nije pravilo već ekstremna retkost. Čak ni ta verzija ne drži vodu, da se on ubio zbog halucinacija - znam da je autor tu teoriju motkom uterivao u mene ali ne pričam o tome - kamoli da bi iko na svetu čiste svesti pomislio "duhovi su krivi".

Duhovi su krivi??

Osim toga, ima nešto poprilično pokvareno kod osobe koja do te mere mari samo i isključivo za svoje dupe da će čak i posle nečije smrti pokušati da ga okleveta da je bio skroz lud faktički samo da bi mogla da ide na jebeno luxuzno skijanje sa svojim jebenim luxuznim roditeljima. Samo kažem.

Cela ideja o zvonu u šumi je ridikulozna, iz mnogo razloga. Ali kako korisni idioti, simpovi, femi-saveznici i ostali luzeri koriste fikciju (i generalno svaki vid umetnosti i sve što uopšte rade, makar i tikve prodavali na pijaci) samo kao ofinger za svoje političke stavove, pretpostvaljam da je autora bolelo dupe. Zvona u šumi, duhovi, vanzemaljci, lavkravtovski bogovi - kog boli uvo. Agenda je bitna.

Ne postoji ni jedan pod nebom razlog zašto cura poput ove u knjizi ne bi otvoreno odbila nekoga ko joj se upucava prvi put kad bi taj krenuo da joj se upucava. Autorov pokušaj da je opiše kao žrvu, kao nekoga kog muči savest, "krivica preživelih" i šta god već deseto; bio je apsolutno i krajnje neuspešan. Mogao je da napiše takav lik, naravno - ali ga nije napisao. Napisao je sebičnu, egocentričnu kučku koja neće prezati da mrtvog momka prikaže svetu ko krajnjeg ludaka i idiota koji ide okolo i veruje u leprikone i jednoroge samo da bi joj se svi skinuli s grbače, i da bi mogla da se vrati u svoj luxuzni raj bogate ćerke mezimice. Tako da to nije moj problem što sam u svakoj situaciji kad onaj balvan nije video dalje od svog penisa vrištala "zašto ćutiš? Zašto ga ne prekineš, zašto mu ne kažeš da nisi zainteresovana, zašto mu ne zavališ šamar??

Zašto kriješ da već imaš momka?? Ali to je posebna priča o kojoj bolje da ćutim.

Pretpostavka da se ona, kao, plašila tipa kao takvog, je ako ne još i ridikuloznija. Tip nije predstavljen ko neki mračan opasan lik od kojeg bi žene zazirale. Pa momak je nerd, samoproklamovani lovac na duhove, verovatno predmet sprdačine u školi, nikad pre svega što se izdešavalo nije pokazao da je sklon da fizički nasrne na devojku iz bilo kojeg razloga (što nije izlemao Keri kad ga je zaskočila u autu one noći, ako je nasilnik? Što je nije isprdao i ponizio, barem, što nije sutra celoj školi rekao šta je pokušala i tako joj još više zagorčao ionako mizerni život? Ako je baš toliki sadista, toliki manijak? ) Osim toga, ja sam celu priču imala utisak da bi ona mogla da izlema njega. Ona je sportista, on nije. Kad god su bili zajedno u sceni, imala sam sumnjiv dojam da je za pola glave višlja od njega, takav je utisak ostavljala. Bogata devojka s ocem koji je obožava, s mačo-momkom - kojeg bi se đavla ona plašila tamo nekog paćenika luzera što joj se nabacuje?? Pa da li se plašila onog prvog, zar ga nije okrutno odjebala kad joj je najzad dojadio??

I kad smo kod oca, šta njen otac izigrava? Neka budala zove tvoju ćerku svaki dan, i ćerka ti kaže da mu lažeš da nije kući. I ti ko otac ne pitaš ćerku o čemu se radi, jel te gnjavi taj? Ne kažeš momku da odjebe, ne zoveš njegove roditelje da im kažeš da pričaju sa sinom? O Bože.

Stvarno, jel' ima nekog s bar pola mozga u glavi u tom gradu? U Americi?

To je bilo retoričko.

Naravno, narator je balvan ko i svaki 16-ogodišnjak, i DA, znam da to ide u paketu s celim propagandnim drekom, "momci moraju da znaju da bla bla bla to što su tinejdžeri idioti, to nije opravdanje bla bla bla". Svakako je najbolje da dovedemo drag kvins u vrtiće da naučimo dečake od 5 godina kako se oralno zadovoljava žena jer će inače izrasti u ovakve psihopate. I svakako mizogOniste. Da, to je rešenje, sigurno.

Jedino rešenje koje je potrebno jeste da se deca nauče da komuniciraju. Da se jasno i koncizno izjasne. Niko nije privilegovan da očekuje da mu se čitaju misli - da, čak i kad je ona druga strana balvan od 16 godina koji ne prepoznaje vrištući očigledne znake da devojci puca neka stvar za njega - ili pogotovo ako je druga strana balvan od 16 godina koji je po difoltu socijalno sakat. Jer, biti socijalno sakat sam po sebi neće navesti balvana od 16 godina da doživi prosvetljenje i shvati da nećeš ništa s njim da imaš. I to što noću dolaziš kod njega kući, sama, po njegovom pozivu - ili uopšte dolaziš kod njega, umesto da komunikaciju držiš na odstojanju i javnom mestu, kao što je školski jebeni hodnik naprimer - svakako ne doprinosi, gusko.

Umesto da mu onaj kreten od oca drži palčeve kad dovede zgodnu curu kući, možda da ga postavi pred sebe i objasni mu kako funkcionišu pčele i cveće. A nju kad roditelji odvedu na skijanje, možda da potroše 10 minuta da joj objasne da nije tvoja obaveza da ti se sviđa svako kome se ti sviđaš, bez obzira na okolnosti. Nema potrebe da se prokleta država i nevladine organizacije i raznorazni aktivisti lelemudi i piskarala simpovi bave time - te stvari u normalnom društvu objasni roditelj.

Ponavljam: normalnom.

I ponavljam da sve gore napisano dolazi od osbe koja je bila tinejžer tokom građanskog jebenog rata, i imala bliske susrete treće vrste sa zaista opasnim momcima. S naoružanim momcima lakim na ruci i obaraču. S kriminalcima. S nekima koji su se upravo vratili s fronta na kojem su prekjuče ubili čoveka. Ja nikad nisam ćutala kad mi se ukazivala nepoželjna pažnja. Nemam ni najelementarnijeg strpljenja sa sirotim malim bogatašicama bez kičme.

Uvek možeš da kažeš ne, jer je izvesnost silovanja po pravilu gora od bilo koje druge alternative. Ali ako ti je ispod časti da zineš i izjasniš se, i smatraš da si u posedu toliko božanske privilegije da ti je prevelike gnjavaža da to radiš, nego drugi ljudi treba da razviju telepatske sposobnosti i čitaju ti misli - ja nemam da ti kažem ništa osim da legneš u krevet koji si sama spremila.

Za kraj, priča o duhovima ovde je apsolutno nebitna jer je samo čiviluk za autorovu ideološku agendu, i zato što je u korenu teška propagandna blamaža (feministički duhovi koji kažnjavaju za grehe mizogOnije, pa vi ste stvarno ludi). Priča po sebi je puna rupa velikih ko vrata, likovi se ponašaju kao kreteni (osim jednog, a i on samo donekle), naratora je mučno čitati ne zato što je sotona lično kao što 99% recenzija ovde tvrdi već zato što je autor toliki patetični simp i do te mere očajan u svojoj potrebi da se prikaže kao "saveznik" da je napisao cringe neprirodnog avatara čija je jedina svrha postojanja da se uklopi u ideološki šablon.

I, da: sve što autor "zna" o religiji, naučio je od onog ignoranta Dokinsa.

Rekla bih ne čitajte ovaj drek, ali onda sam se setila da postoji Borrasca, i sad moram da povraćam. Jebote!

[James Stinnett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was devastating. Incredible work from Lunedi writing out a scumbag protagonist entering and thoroughly exploring his headspace. The first part or so was probably my favorite part though with the paralleling ghost stories and building this world so vividly. The protagonist's descent into madness was so well done as it was narrated at the point of "redemption" but we still see glimpses of how the person he was like when he's so cruel in his description of Scary Kerry and her mother. I think I would've liked more from Fletch if I were to give any criticism. If this ever gets made into a film I'm sure we will because the conflicting ideals of Rob from Fletch and Alina were so interesting that we didn't quite get enough of.

[Jocelyn McCall · Rating 4 out of 5]

*4.5

[esther · Rating 3 out of 5]

nathan's a freak

[Cole Norvak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Technically I listened to people read this on a podcast, but it counts. Holy crap this is a great story, I don’t read horror or scary things much but this absolutely made me want to more. Maybe my favorite horror book

[Miguel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes the biggest count against a novel written from the perspective of a teenager can be that the writing is too good. There's just something about a writer with a particular kind of proficiency who uses certain flourishes that strains the suspension of disbelief when a text is narrated by one of the characters who isn't a professional writer. The Spire in the Woods doesn't always have that problem, but in the early pages the disjunction between the character who is supposed to be narrating and the writer himself is pronounced. Lunedi's protagonist's retrospective position can't sufficiently explain it away.

I'd feel bad for saying the worst thing about this novel is the quality writing, but Lunedi is clearly just coming into his writing talent. Amidst the mostly refined prose, there are moments of amateurish flourishes that come in the form of on-the-nose explications of character qualities that a veteran author would "show and not tell." Lunedi is a natural, and the cracks in the writing are perhaps the best part. Although they would normally be irritating blemishes, they sometimes work to make the author's narration feel more real. For a novel originating on "NoSleep" that prides itself on verisimilitude, the balancing of good writing and believable narration is crucial. Even if only accidentally, Lunedi is mostly successful in the balancing act.

As for scares, the novel trades instant gratification and a deluge of horrifying images for a slow building of tension and psychological horror. There's something Hitchcockian about how the plot turns for the protagonist, akin to Vertigo. This is not to say The Spire in the Woods can match Vertigo in terms of quality, but only that The Spire certainly attempts some degree of emulation to relative success.

The story is compulsively readable but perhaps isn't quite as smart as it would like its readers to believe. Lunedi interrogates important issues about adolescence, high school social dynamics, and consent. Unfortunately, his interrogations ultimately feel half-baked. Furthermore, there is something uncomfortable about the way Lunedi's attempts at social commentary overlap with the horror. Is the exploration of these ideas a good-faith examination, or a cheap attempt at building a gritty world? It feels like a bit of both.

Lunedi's work is worth reading, but there are things in this text that many will find troubling. Lunedi, at the very least, appears to demonstrate the correct disposition toward the issues he engages with. For some, that will be enough. For others, the position of the protagonist or the relationship of social commentary to scares will produce criticisms. Lunedi has produced an intriguing and audacious work, but his reach exceeds his grasp.

[Oliver · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought the kindle version of The Spire in the Woods based entirely on the strength of the first chapter, which I had read in a NoSleep short story sampler.

The book pulls you in at once and moves toward its nightmarish ending at a steady and building pace. There are visual elements in the tale that feel cinematic - from the raging flames of a burning car to the treacherous lake of ice, and the mysterious sounds coming from deep within the dark, snowy woods.

I found myself less keen though on the more overt descriptions of violence and supernatural happenings toward the end of the book. In horror movies I always feel more invested until the reveal - and CGI ghosts and ghouls in movies are far less scary to me than dark unknowable things that are only described in hints and glimpses. The slow-burn mystery in this book is so strong that I almost didn't want it to be explained to me, at least not fully. I think the story would have benefitted from maintaining an understated and slightly more ambiguous ending.

I'd say that the reason the book stayed with me for so long is the author's ability to simply make one feel. There are moments of unrequited teenage infatuation and regret that are so well described that they are almost painful to read. All the emotions one feels through the book are built on a solid undercurrent of steadily increasing dread, which refuses to subside until the final moments in the book.

There are people who have claimed that there is a moral lesson in the book that is overstated, but I think it's an important and relevant one - though admittedly a little clumsily written. Whatever the flaws, the book certainly kept me turning the page - and as a debut, I feel forgiving of certain overreaches in story when the atmosphere is just so damn good.

Overall, a chilling , atmospheric debut written with a sense of sadness and empathy. I hope Tony Lunedi writes again soon.

[Robert Ferro · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wonderful writing and a story that makes me want to lay under my covers for the foreseeable future. The way he writes about social interaction and depression is clearly from a first hand perspective, meaning that his characters are in turn human. They’re all very 3d, each flawed in their own way but then even the most flawed receiving explanation and redeeming qualities.
Reading Spire as a morality tale is wonderful as well. There’s an emphasis throughout on the use of ghost stories as tools for social control and a good many moral discussions and dilemmas. None of it is black and white, you are presented with the problem and the narrator of course works through it but not in such a way that you feel as if you aren’t allowed to come to a different conclusion.

However, while all this is great I am a bit turned off by the supernatural elements of the story. Ghost stories are not necessarily stories about the dead, they are stories of what once was. They are about our relationship with the past and the trauma that lingers on from it. The supernatural elements present in the final few parts of the story bordered on comical and removed from the more literary focus of the work as a whole. The narrator’s visit to the spire need not have been dramatized in the way that it was, doing so simply added needless world building which really just felt like filler.
I do like the symbolism of him trying to kill Alina’s lover, it paralleled very well to the story of Adolf Riefel. However, the way it was executed muddied the plot and made the climax of the story feel like a rush to finish. The climax also felt rather lackluster, with Alina never getting to see the spire and the narrator getting off basically free. The “epilogue” really made it all too nice, making it feel as if there wasn’t much aftermath.

All in all, it’s a good book. I loved the writing, although the plot could use a bit of work and the ending was very muddy.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the few creepypastas to truly transcend the grassroots genre. I loved "Barbie.avi," "Anansi's Goatman Story," the Search and Rescue Officer "stairs in the woods" stories, and others, but at the end of the day, their strength lies entirely in new and original scares. The Spire in the Woods - published as a full novella after its debut on /r/nosleep - goes deeper and explores themes of suicide, mental illness, coming of age, and misogyny. The mysterious bells are merely symbolic for most of the narrative, the supernatural taking a backseat to very real problems. The climax ruins the effect, unfortunately. Without giving too much away, it's basically a CGI extravaganza that didn't mesh well with the subtlety and seriousness of the rest of the story at all.