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Our Immaculate
"He shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked, and he shall rejoice. We shall all rejoice."
Twenty-four hours ago, Electra Almacy was dying to leave Our Immaculate Academy for good. Now - hunted by a demented blood cult and a primeval entity known only as the Boy with the Red Feet- she may actually die trying to escape.
Last night, Delphi Makholwe, the school's newly appointed head girl, thought that waking up to an unstable student standing naked at the foot of her bed was the worst thing that could happen to her. Now, tormented by an ancient ritual and a creature that shouldn't exist, she's about to encounter far worse things.
Forty-one years ago, Doctor Eva Hamilton, principal of Our Immaculate Academy, became consumed by a little boy who promised her paradise. Tonight, she'll spill as much blood as it takes to make sure his vision is realised."
Twenty-four hours ago, Electra Almacy was dying to leave Our Immaculate Academy for good. Now - hunted by a demented blood cult and a primeval entity known only as the Boy with the Red Feet- she may actually die trying to escape.
Last night, Delphi Makholwe, the school's newly appointed head girl, thought that waking up to an unstable student standing naked at the foot of her bed was the worst thing that could happen to her. Now, tormented by an ancient ritual and a creature that shouldn't exist, she's about to encounter far worse things.
Forty-one years ago, Doctor Eva Hamilton, principal of Our Immaculate Academy, became consumed by a little boy who promised her paradise. Tonight, she'll spill as much blood as it takes to make sure his vision is realised."
264 pages, Paperback
Published October 31, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 2, 2017
Our Immaculate is fast paced horror that sucks you up into a familiar and relatable high school setting and then just throws everything you hold safe and dear out the window.
The characters are real and in your face and unique, not just from other books but from each other as well, each bursting with their own personalities.
The location is routed in South Africa by more than just it's place setting, everything from dialogue to mannerisms speaks volumes to our gorgeous country without isolating international readers.
The story is total gore. For all the Boy with the Red Feet has done, you really can't help but want to protect him. The same way he won over Dr Hamilton, he wins over the reader and you don't feel that he's truly as horrible as the awful things the characters experience. True masterful writing.
It's a high school all girls horror, what more could you want?
The characters are real and in your face and unique, not just from other books but from each other as well, each bursting with their own personalities.
The location is routed in South Africa by more than just it's place setting, everything from dialogue to mannerisms speaks volumes to our gorgeous country without isolating international readers.
The story is total gore. For all the Boy with the Red Feet has done, you really can't help but want to protect him. The same way he won over Dr Hamilton, he wins over the reader and you don't feel that he's truly as horrible as the awful things the characters experience. True masterful writing.
It's a high school all girls horror, what more could you want?
November 16, 2017
Ohhh, what to say?
Let me start with this: Being a Catholic school girl myself, from a school once taught at by nuns and still overrun with them, this story was pretty enticing. The atmosphere of religious oppression and dark confessionals takes me back to my junior primary school days, before I willingly opted out of confession for the rest of my life by telling (not asking) my parents that I was "not gonna be catholic anymore." Yup, that's me, she who at eight chose to be the non-elite at a catholic elite school.
I loved the "Cruel Intentions"-y vibe. The dirty, not-so-hidden taboos of sex, drugs, and a little bit of /care. It gave the book an overall gritty dark feel that, while not strictly smacking of realism, drew it away from some of the less pleasant aspects of schooling in South Africa, while still keeping the setting relatively authentic and biting back on some of the potentially grim dark atmosphere that makes it incredibly torturous for South Africans to read about South Africa. Make no mistake though. The novel is very much South African, down to the fish-mash of cultures and the outbursts in the vernacular.
The story flowed smoothly with a very definite rumbling crescendo to the horror you, as a reader, know is coming, but are unable to turn back from, or prevent. There is never any doubt about the true nature of many of the book's characters, which is maybe both a selling and a desirous point. I, for instance, would love to have seen more reasoning for Dr Hamilton's journal-entry decline in morality. The logic for her spiral is relatively sound, but I'd have liked to see more.
There was one very pertinent part to the tale that made me incredibly sad, and it wasn't at any of the points one might have guessed... I felt painful sympathy for Liezl from the get-go. I'm not convinced that I was ever supposed to like Electra or Delphi as people. As characters, sure, they're strong and feisty, but their feistiness is almost mockingly cruel and at som points they appear to be made up of the catty mean-girl squad. I had the many feels for Liezl and her overwhelming imposter syndrome, her less-than-savoury past, and her loneliness. If there's one thing that horror really pushes to the fore, it's lonely terror, and this story has all that, in its supporting cast. And Malin. Oh, poor Malin. I've been told before that I side with the crazies but meh *shrug*.
I'd love to read more, but more than anything, I'd love to know the story of the next protector, of the next person "confided in" by the "boy with red feet." That would be something. In other words, JASON HES! WRITE US ANOTHER, YOU GLORIOUS BEAST!
Let me start with this: Being a Catholic school girl myself, from a school once taught at by nuns and still overrun with them, this story was pretty enticing. The atmosphere of religious oppression and dark confessionals takes me back to my junior primary school days, before I willingly opted out of confession for the rest of my life by telling (not asking) my parents that I was "not gonna be catholic anymore." Yup, that's me, she who at eight chose to be the non-elite at a catholic elite school.
I loved the "Cruel Intentions"-y vibe. The dirty, not-so-hidden taboos of sex, drugs, and a little bit of /care. It gave the book an overall gritty dark feel that, while not strictly smacking of realism, drew it away from some of the less pleasant aspects of schooling in South Africa, while still keeping the setting relatively authentic and biting back on some of the potentially grim dark atmosphere that makes it incredibly torturous for South Africans to read about South Africa. Make no mistake though. The novel is very much South African, down to the fish-mash of cultures and the outbursts in the vernacular.
The story flowed smoothly with a very definite rumbling crescendo to the horror you, as a reader, know is coming, but are unable to turn back from, or prevent. There is never any doubt about the true nature of many of the book's characters, which is maybe both a selling and a desirous point. I, for instance, would love to have seen more reasoning for Dr Hamilton's journal-entry decline in morality. The logic for her spiral is relatively sound, but I'd have liked to see more.
There was one very pertinent part to the tale that made me incredibly sad, and it wasn't at any of the points one might have guessed... I felt painful sympathy for Liezl from the get-go. I'm not convinced that I was ever supposed to like Electra or Delphi as people. As characters, sure, they're strong and feisty, but their feistiness is almost mockingly cruel and at som points they appear to be made up of the catty mean-girl squad. I had the many feels for Liezl and her overwhelming imposter syndrome, her less-than-savoury past, and her loneliness. If there's one thing that horror really pushes to the fore, it's lonely terror, and this story has all that, in its supporting cast. And Malin. Oh, poor Malin. I've been told before that I side with the crazies but meh *shrug*.
I'd love to read more, but more than anything, I'd love to know the story of the next protector, of the next person "confided in" by the "boy with red feet." That would be something. In other words, JASON HES! WRITE US ANOTHER, YOU GLORIOUS BEAST!
March 20, 2019
Jason Hes truly is a masterful storyteller. It's been a long time since I picked up a book and couldn't put it down again. Even when I put it down, all I could think about was reading it again.
He has created a story where the fear starts off subtly, in simple, terrifying implications until it reaches the point where it's full-on horrifying but it's too late to turn back. It's grotesque, sordid sometimes revolting but it works.
He's given the horror genre a truly South African addition with its own perks and originality. The only bit I didn't like was how the girls treated each other. "Ugly" and "weird" were thrown around a lot. To the point that I didn't actually like the protagonists, Electra and Delphi. But by the end of the story, I did admire them. Plus, I used to be in an all girls school, so I know exactly how awful girls can be to each other and I think Hes captured that atmosphere perfectly.
Of all the characters, the one I sympathized the most with was Liesl. I saw myself in her. She was exactly who I was in High School. All I hope is that if the apocalypse actually came, I'd handle myself a lot better.
"Our Immaculate" is a wonderfully riveting tale that is a testament to its genre. Hes is an absolutely incredible writer and I can't wait to read more of his work. Probably the best book I've read this year (so far). It advertises drugs, sex and horror and it delivers.
On the other hand, I'm extremely terrified of hadedas now. Thanks, Jason.
He has created a story where the fear starts off subtly, in simple, terrifying implications until it reaches the point where it's full-on horrifying but it's too late to turn back. It's grotesque, sordid sometimes revolting but it works.
He's given the horror genre a truly South African addition with its own perks and originality. The only bit I didn't like was how the girls treated each other. "Ugly" and "weird" were thrown around a lot. To the point that I didn't actually like the protagonists, Electra and Delphi. But by the end of the story, I did admire them. Plus, I used to be in an all girls school, so I know exactly how awful girls can be to each other and I think Hes captured that atmosphere perfectly.
Of all the characters, the one I sympathized the most with was Liesl. I saw myself in her. She was exactly who I was in High School. All I hope is that if the apocalypse actually came, I'd handle myself a lot better.
"Our Immaculate" is a wonderfully riveting tale that is a testament to its genre. Hes is an absolutely incredible writer and I can't wait to read more of his work. Probably the best book I've read this year (so far). It advertises drugs, sex and horror and it delivers.
On the other hand, I'm extremely terrified of hadedas now. Thanks, Jason.
July 19, 2018
Hooked from the first line. Our Immaculate by Jason Hes is everything the pull quote on the cover says and more. I love Jason's use of description and how he weaves this story from start to finish. Never boring, an epic storyline (that I'm sure will raise a few sensitive readers eyebrows,) and strong characters that the South African youth can relate to.
October 17, 2018
This is an amazingly refreshing read in the Horror genre. It is nicely paced with decent character build up and oozes with charm and thrills at the same time. Cannot wait for the stand alone sequel coming next year. Jason is an amazing author who captivates his target audience by keeping the content tangible to the people he is writing for.
June 16, 2019
All girls high School, blood, gore, horror. I say this delivered pretty well.
August 29, 2019
I loved this book. So I begged Sera Blue to do the cover art. Then after I did cover art they loved, I did new cover art because it needed to be even better. Then we also collaborated on some fun fluff like the main character's Q&A session on the last page.
I didn't feel that this was an accurate depiction of high school teens, but who cares!? It was hilarious and horrific and wonderful! It's Grindhouse inspired and I really felt that when I read it. I pictured the whole story with a fake grit filter like a Rodriguez trailer. The girls are slutty, irreverent and bitchtastic and also powerful and sharp as razor blades. They are the high school girls I wish I had been, maybe... if I had been braver.
The horror is somewhat Silent Hill inspired, and somehow manages to hold up without being mega cheesey as I was expecting from something almost B-Grade influenced.
I also had nightmares about hadedas and I don't get nightmares, guys. I don't. Thanks, Jason. FU.
Jason's writing style is light, making it an easy read, but still descriptive enough to be instantly visual to me. I couldn't stop drawing this book. haha. Can't wait for the follow up ;)
I didn't feel that this was an accurate depiction of high school teens, but who cares!? It was hilarious and horrific and wonderful! It's Grindhouse inspired and I really felt that when I read it. I pictured the whole story with a fake grit filter like a Rodriguez trailer. The girls are slutty, irreverent and bitchtastic and also powerful and sharp as razor blades. They are the high school girls I wish I had been, maybe... if I had been braver.
The horror is somewhat Silent Hill inspired, and somehow manages to hold up without being mega cheesey as I was expecting from something almost B-Grade influenced.
I also had nightmares about hadedas and I don't get nightmares, guys. I don't. Thanks, Jason. FU.
Jason's writing style is light, making it an easy read, but still descriptive enough to be instantly visual to me. I couldn't stop drawing this book. haha. Can't wait for the follow up ;)
October 27, 2018
While not being my genre of choice, I couldn't stop reading. I wanted an answer to the origin of The Boy, and I wanted it to be earth-shattering philosophical. Pity it wasn't forthcoming.
As a recommendation for a mature audience, I was disappointed that the diction was not sophisticated - not once did I have to look up an unknown word.
I have read the other reviews and have to disagree about feeling the atmosphere of high school life. I am no expert albeit that I have literally been in a high school for 24 years. South African teenagers are like all adolescents - rebellious and smart mouthed. They remain, however, on the whole, conservative and respectful to authority. In all my years in education, I have never come across an Electra, or a Lana, a Cha Cha, or a Delphi.
The final pages of 'readers' comments' answered by Delphi and Electra do save Hes from being written off by me. This is not, by the author's own admission, good fiction.
Stylistically, it is an easy read, and I will look out for Hes's future releases.
As a recommendation for a mature audience, I was disappointed that the diction was not sophisticated - not once did I have to look up an unknown word.
I have read the other reviews and have to disagree about feeling the atmosphere of high school life. I am no expert albeit that I have literally been in a high school for 24 years. South African teenagers are like all adolescents - rebellious and smart mouthed. They remain, however, on the whole, conservative and respectful to authority. In all my years in education, I have never come across an Electra, or a Lana, a Cha Cha, or a Delphi.
The final pages of 'readers' comments' answered by Delphi and Electra do save Hes from being written off by me. This is not, by the author's own admission, good fiction.
Stylistically, it is an easy read, and I will look out for Hes's future releases.
March 14, 2019
Dark, gory and set in South Africa, really nice to see literature in this genre coming out of South Africa. Well written with developed characters and thought out motivations.
April 28, 2020
Horror set in an all girls high school, what better horror do you want??
July 26, 2018
Colorful Fiction at its Best!
Stimulating and heartbreaking... This plot will keep you intrigued from beginning to end. Characters are realistic, lovable and loathesome.
You're in for one hell of a read, at the hands of one of South Africa's greatest storytellers!
Stimulating and heartbreaking... This plot will keep you intrigued from beginning to end. Characters are realistic, lovable and loathesome.
You're in for one hell of a read, at the hands of one of South Africa's greatest storytellers!
June 26, 2020
Not bad for my first horror book.
It was quick paced, and advanced quickly, though I think I'm numb to cults and scares, there were some good monsters - human and not-at-all human.
All in all, a good, refreshing read!
It was quick paced, and advanced quickly, though I think I'm numb to cults and scares, there were some good monsters - human and not-at-all human.
All in all, a good, refreshing read!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews