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Grey Skies
Roman Toguri finds himself burying the body of a nun in Boone, North Carolina. As the skies darken and it begins to storm, he is forced to shove the corpse into his trunk and take it home for the night, unaware of the torment that playing God will bestow upon him.
Enter Hell with two bonus short stories: The White Shade, an ultra-violent look into the mind of a mass shooter, and The Black Box, a psychedelic dive into weird horror.
Enter Hell with two bonus short stories: The White Shade, an ultra-violent look into the mind of a mass shooter, and The Black Box, a psychedelic dive into weird horror.
- GenresHorror
228 pages, Paperback
Published June 9, 2019
6 people are currently reading
102 people want to read
About the author
William Becker
13 books204 followersAdopted from Saint Petersburg, Russia, William Becker was raised in the Appalachian Mountains. He’s been writing moody, uncomfortable fiction since he was twelve years old. First as a horror author obsessed with surrealism and allegories, he has developed into an avid proponent of unconventional narrative voices, ergodic storytelling, and experimental typography blended into an accessible package, as is the case with A MAN BORN BLIND and WHEN BAD DOGS DO GOOD THINGS.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
April 13, 2019
Going into this book all I knew was that the author was 18 year old William Becker and I was about to read a tale of a man who finds himself having to bury a dead nun.
With my ears piqued at the curiosity of this, I didn’t want to hold my hopes too high.
Well I was more than pleasantly surprised by this one!
At first the nun seems to hold no real bearing on the story. It’s raining so Roman Toguri can’t bury her so decides to throw her in the trunk of his car and head for home.
This is where life as Roman knows it changes. I really had my mind blown with truly entertaining hallucinations, daily experiences and struggles of Roman Toguri to the point where I was questioning which parts were real and what was in Roman’s head. Psychologically genius all round!
We never know if Roman actually is a good guy or bad but I was rooting for him all the way. No one deserves to be mind fucked that cruelly.
What reels you in is wanting to know about that damn nun and was bringing her home the source of such chaos to one’s life? It was always in the back of my mind and kept me going through Roman’s journey with eyes wide open.
With my ears piqued at the curiosity of this, I didn’t want to hold my hopes too high.
Well I was more than pleasantly surprised by this one!
At first the nun seems to hold no real bearing on the story. It’s raining so Roman Toguri can’t bury her so decides to throw her in the trunk of his car and head for home.
This is where life as Roman knows it changes. I really had my mind blown with truly entertaining hallucinations, daily experiences and struggles of Roman Toguri to the point where I was questioning which parts were real and what was in Roman’s head. Psychologically genius all round!
We never know if Roman actually is a good guy or bad but I was rooting for him all the way. No one deserves to be mind fucked that cruelly.
What reels you in is wanting to know about that damn nun and was bringing her home the source of such chaos to one’s life? It was always in the back of my mind and kept me going through Roman’s journey with eyes wide open.
June 6, 2019
This book wasn’t for me at all. I embrace reading new authors and actually, one of my outstanding book bingo categories is to find a book that scares me. On the face of it, ‘Grey Skies’ seems to be the perfect fit. Instead, I was weirded-out, horrified and sickened by the grossness of the horror that Becker presented. This is the sort of book that plays on your mind and for me, this was not a pleasant outcome of my reading.
Spiders, gore, blood, sewers and weird scenes: this book has it all, and more. I hate spiders and thought them being ever-present was particularly chilling. Becker’s descriptions are vivid – a definite skill of his writing – but the story itself was severely lacking. I could see the premise behind Roman’s unusual days and the strangeness that he encounters; about half-way through the story, we begin to discover the background to this character. It felt like a form of psychedelic horror and one that I was very keen to escape from. With the bonus two stories at the end, I actually felt relieved when I had finally marked this book as completed.
I don’t think there’s so much of a story in this short book, but more a description of disturbing scenes. The plots barely hang together in all three stories and there is very little character development. However, Becker’s rich descriptions certainly bring the nightmarish scenes alive, even if this really wasn’t to my tastes. Maybe I should not have read this in one sitting, but as a book to keep revisiting. Perhaps I should have taken note of the author’s advice and considered listening to the suggested music list to create a more immersive read. Yet, despite these factors, I am still finding it difficult to shake the images that Becker has described. An example of his powerful, twisted writing but one that leaves me feeling uncomfortable.
How can I recommend this? I guess if you like extreme, gory and abstract horror, then maybe this will appeal. It is a collection of three short stories, (the first being the longest) and this displays Becker’s wild imagination. This is not so much a traditional horror read, but more of an exploration into the human psyche when faced with extreme circumstances. I wonder how someone can imagine such scenes because they are arguably so disturbing yet, I am sure this will appeal to a niche of readers out there.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Spiders, gore, blood, sewers and weird scenes: this book has it all, and more. I hate spiders and thought them being ever-present was particularly chilling. Becker’s descriptions are vivid – a definite skill of his writing – but the story itself was severely lacking. I could see the premise behind Roman’s unusual days and the strangeness that he encounters; about half-way through the story, we begin to discover the background to this character. It felt like a form of psychedelic horror and one that I was very keen to escape from. With the bonus two stories at the end, I actually felt relieved when I had finally marked this book as completed.
I don’t think there’s so much of a story in this short book, but more a description of disturbing scenes. The plots barely hang together in all three stories and there is very little character development. However, Becker’s rich descriptions certainly bring the nightmarish scenes alive, even if this really wasn’t to my tastes. Maybe I should not have read this in one sitting, but as a book to keep revisiting. Perhaps I should have taken note of the author’s advice and considered listening to the suggested music list to create a more immersive read. Yet, despite these factors, I am still finding it difficult to shake the images that Becker has described. An example of his powerful, twisted writing but one that leaves me feeling uncomfortable.
How can I recommend this? I guess if you like extreme, gory and abstract horror, then maybe this will appeal. It is a collection of three short stories, (the first being the longest) and this displays Becker’s wild imagination. This is not so much a traditional horror read, but more of an exploration into the human psyche when faced with extreme circumstances. I wonder how someone can imagine such scenes because they are arguably so disturbing yet, I am sure this will appeal to a niche of readers out there.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 19, 2019
We first meet Roman as he is burying a dead body, but it is not clear why he is doing it. When he goes home, he sees that there is something wrong with his house. Spiders crawl inside the rooms and there is a large hole in the ground. Roman steps through the hole, and into a nightmare. We follow him as he navigates his way through strange places, his memories mixing the present and the past.
I was pleasantly surprised by this book! The writing is vivid and detailed, and I felt that I was immediately inside the main character's head as he goes through a personal hell. It soon becomes clear that he is not a likable protagonist but I was dying to know why he was going through so much suffering. The book brings up familiar horror tropes that nonetheless still terrify.
I do wish the ending had been stronger. We don't get the moment where Roman realises why he went through what he did, instead suddenly it appears he already knows. The action is relentless from beginning to end peppered with flashbacks so after a while it felt a little monotonous. I would have preferred to have a build up of tension to the climax. On a shallow note, I think the book cover is too plain and does a disservice to the content. But for a debut, this is a terrific read and I look forward to reading more work from the author.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
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I was pleasantly surprised by this book! The writing is vivid and detailed, and I felt that I was immediately inside the main character's head as he goes through a personal hell. It soon becomes clear that he is not a likable protagonist but I was dying to know why he was going through so much suffering. The book brings up familiar horror tropes that nonetheless still terrify.
I do wish the ending had been stronger. We don't get the moment where Roman realises why he went through what he did, instead suddenly it appears he already knows. The action is relentless from beginning to end peppered with flashbacks so after a while it felt a little monotonous. I would have preferred to have a build up of tension to the climax. On a shallow note, I think the book cover is too plain and does a disservice to the content. But for a debut, this is a terrific read and I look forward to reading more work from the author.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
book blog | twitter | instagram
February 22, 2022
Grey Skies is a surreal and mysterious trip into the land of pseudo-reality, dark and sinister hallucinations and false thoughts, all wrapped up in a storyline which is often deliberately left open for interpretation that contains heaps of quite crazed, whacky, but clever and inventive imagery.
If you decide to visit this grim dreamworld of beyond, then expect to meet some of the following on possibly the wildest journey of young Roman's 'life':
Death, dead bodies, destruction, water, blackness, bleakness, trashed rooms, stairways, halls, candles, sinking ships, dead-end towns, cavernous caves, spiders and a multitude of unknown creatures and scary monsters.
Particularly enjoyed the sack doll and the mannequins and the fact that the story, with its random and unexpected dark visits to various locations, kept the grim adventure moving along nicely towards its deliberate, far from obvious, final destination...of utter despair!
Yes, a strange, strange tail indeed that provided some great imagery and a plethora of fantastic creatures from the land of 'Gawd knows Where'.
One for the horror fan lovers of the bizarre and surreal - enjoy!
Rating: 3.3 dark, dark stars from where the sun rarely shines.
If you decide to visit this grim dreamworld of beyond, then expect to meet some of the following on possibly the wildest journey of young Roman's 'life':
Death, dead bodies, destruction, water, blackness, bleakness, trashed rooms, stairways, halls, candles, sinking ships, dead-end towns, cavernous caves, spiders and a multitude of unknown creatures and scary monsters.
Particularly enjoyed the sack doll and the mannequins and the fact that the story, with its random and unexpected dark visits to various locations, kept the grim adventure moving along nicely towards its deliberate, far from obvious, final destination...of utter despair!
Yes, a strange, strange tail indeed that provided some great imagery and a plethora of fantastic creatures from the land of 'Gawd knows Where'.
One for the horror fan lovers of the bizarre and surreal - enjoy!
Rating: 3.3 dark, dark stars from where the sun rarely shines.
May 20, 2020
Grey skies begins with Roman Toguri burying a dead body of a nun. It seems that he doesn’t have any idea how she died but he knows that she is his ex-wife friend. As the story unfolds, we learn the different aspects of Roman’s life.
This book manages to creep me out of my comfort zone, in a good way of course. There are a lot of twists that make me wonder, “What the hell is happening here?”, several times. I can’t even put myself in Roman’s shoes. That’s how terrified I am while reading this book or maybe it’s just really my imagination that’s scaring me. There are also times when I have to stop reading it at night because it is creeping me out. I don’t usually read horror books but this is amazing! I can’t believe that this is written by the author at eighteen years old.
Moreover, the world building is scary yet incredible. The plot, the writing, and the revelations are quite intense because of the keen eye for detail of the author. Some parts of this book are too-detailed but it is okay for me. Indeed, this is a great horror book to read and it is my first 5-star book this year.
I recommend this book for those readers who are into horror or thriller books. This one’s for you but be aware if you have an arachnophobia or the fear of spiders. I won’t recommend this book if reading about spiders can greatly affect you.
Overall, I love this book and I will definitely read the other books of William Becker in the future!
TRIGGER WARNING: VIOLENCE, GORE, DEATH
Read more on blog
This book manages to creep me out of my comfort zone, in a good way of course. There are a lot of twists that make me wonder, “What the hell is happening here?”, several times. I can’t even put myself in Roman’s shoes. That’s how terrified I am while reading this book or maybe it’s just really my imagination that’s scaring me. There are also times when I have to stop reading it at night because it is creeping me out. I don’t usually read horror books but this is amazing! I can’t believe that this is written by the author at eighteen years old.
Moreover, the world building is scary yet incredible. The plot, the writing, and the revelations are quite intense because of the keen eye for detail of the author. Some parts of this book are too-detailed but it is okay for me. Indeed, this is a great horror book to read and it is my first 5-star book this year.
I recommend this book for those readers who are into horror or thriller books. This one’s for you but be aware if you have an arachnophobia or the fear of spiders. I won’t recommend this book if reading about spiders can greatly affect you.
Overall, I love this book and I will definitely read the other books of William Becker in the future!
TRIGGER WARNING: VIOLENCE, GORE, DEATH
Read more on blog
April 17, 2019
Grey skies is really good. It's not easy to creep me out but the little parts dealing with spiders got to me. The beginning of the book I was a tad bit confused on what exactly was going on but as I dug deeper into the book the more I started to enjoy it!
January 4, 2024
"ARC Provided By Author in Exchange for An Honest Review"
thank you
though, it wasn't for me.
I "recently" evolve to this resolution that I don't want to write negative reviews, if I don't like a book I usually just rate it. but I'm obliged to write a review here.
sorry.
it took me a long time to read it.
the writing style was good, but I guess it confirms that I don't like Horror as a genre, especially when it comes with bugs or spiders or other disgusting things. I didn't quite see a purpose or a plot or a motivation/reason behind an action when there was something like a plot (like why would the MC took that body in the first place at the start point?), whatever you might call it, for any of the things happening in general. & the lack in number of characters (it was mostly Roman fleeing from things or sweating his nervousness) didn't help to at least keep me intrigued for the sake of interesting characters.
thank you
though, it wasn't for me.
I "recently" evolve to this resolution that I don't want to write negative reviews, if I don't like a book I usually just rate it. but I'm obliged to write a review here.
sorry.
it took me a long time to read it.
the writing style was good, but I guess it confirms that I don't like Horror as a genre, especially when it comes with bugs or spiders or other disgusting things. I didn't quite see a purpose or a plot or a motivation/reason behind an action when there was something like a plot (like why would the MC took that body in the first place at the start point?), whatever you might call it, for any of the things happening in general. & the lack in number of characters (it was mostly Roman fleeing from things or sweating his nervousness) didn't help to at least keep me intrigued for the sake of interesting characters.
May 25, 2019
The story begins with a man and a body — not the most auspicious way to start your day, is it? The problem is he doesn't remember how she came to be dead. He remembers that she is a friend of his ex-wife, but has no idea what happened to her. In a case of extreme panic, decides to bury her himself. (I mean, really, hiding the body is the first thing you should do if you are innocent.) However, in the pouring down rain, he realizes this is not to be and places her in the trunk of his car to be disposed of later at home. It seems like a random happenstance and one during which you feel for Roman, alone, afraid, and extremely paranoid. From that moment, we descend with Roman into a place of madness...or is it?
Read more at Cats Luv Coffee
Read more at Cats Luv Coffee
March 21, 2019
If you want to travel to the darkest depths of the human mind, this is the book for you! The White Shade is the perfect combination of vivid descriptions and engaging plot as it delves into the motives of a mass shooter. Additionally, the Black Box does not dissapoint with equally immersive descriptions and plot that is characteristic of the author's style. And Grey Skies is what is truly important here. It's the novel's main attraction. Spine-chilling, mysterious, and thrilling, it's a masterpiece. The stories are dark and weird, but in the best way, and are definetly worth a read!
July 21, 2019
For a 18 yo teenager, this debut novel is sure interesting. First of all, I loved the little “riddles” and codes in the book, it’s something that I can’t just ignore, for I really really love this kind of stuff (I solved the majority of them, still solving the rest); something I thank the author for.
The story itself was somewhat predictable near the end, but overall enjoyable as much as a story with tooo many spiders can be (you’ve been warned Ron!!!), the writing style was good too.
To conclude, I congratulate William and I’m looking forward reading more from him.
The story itself was somewhat predictable near the end, but overall enjoyable as much as a story with tooo many spiders can be (you’ve been warned Ron!!!), the writing style was good too.
To conclude, I congratulate William and I’m looking forward reading more from him.
April 22, 2019
This book was a breath of fresh air in the horror genre of literature. I greatly enjoyed this novel and was impressed by the maturity, dexterity and precision of William's writing; one of the key assets of this book is its staggering and meticulous attention to detail. Will has a fine eye for detail and manages to weave countless seemingly trivial threads to form a complete, cohesive and extraordinarily complex body of work.
The depth with which he characterises Roman left me floored and reading about his slow descent leading to the culmination of this book was gripping; I found the intricate plot points and the various "supernatural" elements of this book (in air quotes as the reader is never quite sure whether this is indeed the signs of true paranormal activity) to be engaging; this novel drove me to scramble for the answers as the reader was never spoon-fed any answers.
That is one of the crucial tenets of this story: everything is open to interpretation and the reader is never given any proper concrete answers for anything. One of the biggest questions this novel raises is the validity of Roman's experiences: were they a figment of his imagination or were they the work of supernatural forces? The reader has to work hard and think deeply to understand several plot points and this made for a far more immersive and fascinating read.
Although the pros greatly outweighed the cons, there were some minor flaws. Will was so adept at interweaving miniscule details into his writing that, at times, the writing could feel too detailed and chunky. However, this was earlier in his writing process (I read GS in its infancy on Wattpad and helped to edit it for a brief period) and these kinks were predominantly ironed out in the final completed version.
No work of literature is ever present in an entirely perfect manner due to its subjective nature and the fallibility of humans, so naturally I found aspects that I did not enjoy as much but unlike other novels, I did not feel this to be the case because of dreadful plot holes or shoddy writing.
Overall, despite some little quibbles, GS blew me away with its deeply disturbingly and intensely psychological delving into the brain of a character towards whom I felt greatly conflicted towards. The venture into Roman's dark and overwhelmingly confusing experience was thought-provoking to read about and seeing his life spiral out of control before the satisfying and illuminating climax was a pleasure to read.
The depth with which he characterises Roman left me floored and reading about his slow descent leading to the culmination of this book was gripping; I found the intricate plot points and the various "supernatural" elements of this book (in air quotes as the reader is never quite sure whether this is indeed the signs of true paranormal activity) to be engaging; this novel drove me to scramble for the answers as the reader was never spoon-fed any answers.
That is one of the crucial tenets of this story: everything is open to interpretation and the reader is never given any proper concrete answers for anything. One of the biggest questions this novel raises is the validity of Roman's experiences: were they a figment of his imagination or were they the work of supernatural forces? The reader has to work hard and think deeply to understand several plot points and this made for a far more immersive and fascinating read.
Although the pros greatly outweighed the cons, there were some minor flaws. Will was so adept at interweaving miniscule details into his writing that, at times, the writing could feel too detailed and chunky. However, this was earlier in his writing process (I read GS in its infancy on Wattpad and helped to edit it for a brief period) and these kinks were predominantly ironed out in the final completed version.
No work of literature is ever present in an entirely perfect manner due to its subjective nature and the fallibility of humans, so naturally I found aspects that I did not enjoy as much but unlike other novels, I did not feel this to be the case because of dreadful plot holes or shoddy writing.
Overall, despite some little quibbles, GS blew me away with its deeply disturbingly and intensely psychological delving into the brain of a character towards whom I felt greatly conflicted towards. The venture into Roman's dark and overwhelmingly confusing experience was thought-provoking to read about and seeing his life spiral out of control before the satisfying and illuminating climax was a pleasure to read.
August 5, 2019
The story is loosely held together by seemingly unrelated bad things happening to a man that found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time. It’s not until flashbacks are introduced that we can make sense of the narrative and start to piece things together. In some ways this is effective as it adds the level of mystery but I believe it was overused especially as we got towards the middle without any real answers only a string of clues pointing us in different directions. The psychological elements worked wonderfully in partnership with the horror elements making it almost impossible to distinguish between reality with the creepiness through the roof the whole way through.
For me Roman was an instantly unlikable character and I found it difficult to feel sympathy for him even before I knew why it was all happening. That being said I was constantly wondering weather he was good or bad and what was causing this all to happen to him which I found it interesting with new reasons to try and understand or judge his character.
The writing held vivid imagery that made it easy to imagine exactly what he was going through which in some cases, because of the gross or creepy situations wasn’t as welcome as it would have been. In some parts the writing style become slightly repetitive with the same words or phases being used to describe things but could easily be looked over with the sheer depth of the description.
Throughout I found myself wondering how it all linked back to the nun and wasn’t disappointed in the end when the story came full circle explaining her significance. Everything was wrapped up nicely in the end having everything explained and the story resolved in a way.
I was sent an Ecopy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
For me Roman was an instantly unlikable character and I found it difficult to feel sympathy for him even before I knew why it was all happening. That being said I was constantly wondering weather he was good or bad and what was causing this all to happen to him which I found it interesting with new reasons to try and understand or judge his character.
The writing held vivid imagery that made it easy to imagine exactly what he was going through which in some cases, because of the gross or creepy situations wasn’t as welcome as it would have been. In some parts the writing style become slightly repetitive with the same words or phases being used to describe things but could easily be looked over with the sheer depth of the description.
Throughout I found myself wondering how it all linked back to the nun and wasn’t disappointed in the end when the story came full circle explaining her significance. Everything was wrapped up nicely in the end having everything explained and the story resolved in a way.
I was sent an Ecopy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 2, 2019
A dark, creepy and twisted psychological thriller
Terrific storytelling by young horror author.
You can explore the darker world with a main plot and bonus two short stories.
Well narrated.
Vivid detail of weird, horrific and creepy incidents which will make you wonder if the character is hallucinating or happening in real.
Cryptic messages exist in between chapters where they do not distract you from the reading.
Strange men and creatures haunt you.
An engaging book which makes you bite your nails and gives you goosebumps.
The issues addressed in the story are prevailing and practical.
As you turn the pages, it is an interesting read and unpredictable. Curiosity creeps within you to know what happens to the characters.
I love the way the characters are portrayed, how they lose control of their emotions, the story behind it and the circumstances which makes a person be bad.
In the short story, “The White Shade”, tell us about the impact of digital world which is relevant in modern era. There is a slight connection to the part in the main story. I loved the chapter titles – different colors name.
In “The Black Box”, the chapter titles are suitably selected to give you a gist of what the chapter stores for us. Mysterious story.
There is a lesson you will learn from each story.
Terrific storytelling by young horror author.
You can explore the darker world with a main plot and bonus two short stories.
Well narrated.
Vivid detail of weird, horrific and creepy incidents which will make you wonder if the character is hallucinating or happening in real.
Cryptic messages exist in between chapters where they do not distract you from the reading.
Strange men and creatures haunt you.
An engaging book which makes you bite your nails and gives you goosebumps.
The issues addressed in the story are prevailing and practical.
As you turn the pages, it is an interesting read and unpredictable. Curiosity creeps within you to know what happens to the characters.
I love the way the characters are portrayed, how they lose control of their emotions, the story behind it and the circumstances which makes a person be bad.
In the short story, “The White Shade”, tell us about the impact of digital world which is relevant in modern era. There is a slight connection to the part in the main story. I loved the chapter titles – different colors name.
In “The Black Box”, the chapter titles are suitably selected to give you a gist of what the chapter stores for us. Mysterious story.
There is a lesson you will learn from each story.
July 3, 2019
Roman Toguri is getting ready to bury a nun when it starts to rain and he stashes her in his trunk and goes home. But when he gets home things go weird and to the next level. We follow along with Roman as he has delusions, or visions, or memories. All are gory and messed up but as you follow along with him you wonder what really happened to him.
I was instantly hooked from the beginning and wanted to know what Roman was doing with a dead nun. Then the story took a dark and very twisted turn as we learn about his past and around to his present situation. There is all kinds of brutal and dark things that are happening that made me wonder about Roman and how much of this was just his addled mind.
But when you get to the end, I was blown away. Everything was a shattered mirror that came together. There are several puzzles throughout the story, unfortunately I’m not really good at solving them but I have the feeling if you did they would add another dimension to this already off the wall story.
William Becker is a wonderful author that has caught my attention. There are two short stories afterwards that are great and have me curious about his other story Weeping of the Caverns. He is definitely someone to keep an eye out for.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
I was instantly hooked from the beginning and wanted to know what Roman was doing with a dead nun. Then the story took a dark and very twisted turn as we learn about his past and around to his present situation. There is all kinds of brutal and dark things that are happening that made me wonder about Roman and how much of this was just his addled mind.
But when you get to the end, I was blown away. Everything was a shattered mirror that came together. There are several puzzles throughout the story, unfortunately I’m not really good at solving them but I have the feeling if you did they would add another dimension to this already off the wall story.
William Becker is a wonderful author that has caught my attention. There are two short stories afterwards that are great and have me curious about his other story Weeping of the Caverns. He is definitely someone to keep an eye out for.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
June 22, 2025
I really loved this novella and collection of short stories. Becker is good at building atmosphere and parts of it read like a fever dream, which I'm a fan of if done right, and it was well done here. I like books that make you feel like you're losing your mind along with the characters. I love a good descent into madness type of story.
I love the fact that there are puzzles throughout the book. I didn't try to solve any of the puzzles as I read it, but once I finished I first deciphered the binary code at the end. Then I went back and worked on the Pigpen cipher, the QWERTY cipher, the cryptogram (one of my favorite types of puzzles), and the ASCII. I haven't figured the others out yet, but being a math major, I hope I can sort them out soon. I'll probably give it a reread (since it's fairly short) once I get them all figured out.
If you're a fan of Edgar Allan Poe, David Lynch, or House of Leaves, I'd recommend checking this book out. Also, I love supporting local indie authors and these stories take place in Boone, NC, which is about an hour and a half from where I live.
I love the fact that there are puzzles throughout the book. I didn't try to solve any of the puzzles as I read it, but once I finished I first deciphered the binary code at the end. Then I went back and worked on the Pigpen cipher, the QWERTY cipher, the cryptogram (one of my favorite types of puzzles), and the ASCII. I haven't figured the others out yet, but being a math major, I hope I can sort them out soon. I'll probably give it a reread (since it's fairly short) once I get them all figured out.
If you're a fan of Edgar Allan Poe, David Lynch, or House of Leaves, I'd recommend checking this book out. Also, I love supporting local indie authors and these stories take place in Boone, NC, which is about an hour and a half from where I live.
August 8, 2019
BOOK REVIEW:___
"𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐲 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐞𝐬" is a book by William Becker. I'm an all nighter and this book gave me goosebumps.
THE PLOT: Roman Toguri finds himself burying the body of a nun in Boone, North Carolina. As the skies darken and it begins to storm, he is forced to shove the corpse into his trunk and take it home for the night, unaware of the torment that playing God will bestow upon him. REVIEW:___
The book was always on point, no unnecessary details. My mind was blown with truly entertaining hallucinations, daily experiences and struggles of Roman to the point where I was questioning which parts were real and what was in Roman’s head. Slightest grammar mistakes which didn't matter that much.Recommended to all mystery and thriller lovers.
"𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐲 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐞𝐬" is a book by William Becker. I'm an all nighter and this book gave me goosebumps.
THE PLOT: Roman Toguri finds himself burying the body of a nun in Boone, North Carolina. As the skies darken and it begins to storm, he is forced to shove the corpse into his trunk and take it home for the night, unaware of the torment that playing God will bestow upon him. REVIEW:___
The book was always on point, no unnecessary details. My mind was blown with truly entertaining hallucinations, daily experiences and struggles of Roman to the point where I was questioning which parts were real and what was in Roman’s head. Slightest grammar mistakes which didn't matter that much.Recommended to all mystery and thriller lovers.
July 6, 2020
Amazing 👌🙌🙌🙌..just a luck to read such an efficient and wonderful one!Hope to read more and more
September 4, 2019
The first story is the longest and most confusing. It begins with the main character finding a dead nun and deciding to bring her home and if you think that has anything to do with the plot or that you’ll hear about that nun again – you are somehow wrong. Grey Skies describes in first person the descent into madness of a man who is struggling with his own guilt. The descent is not in any way slow, it’s more like a sheer drop off a very tall cliff, glimpses of feral creatures and mutated people in the little caves on the way down but no real explanation of what made him fall.
There is an explanation from Becker at the end of the second story, The White Shade, that he wrote this when he was fourteen and he didn’t release it because he knew the backlash it would get. He states he doesn’t sympathize with mass murderers he just wanted to explore the thinking behind their actions. Unfortunately his qualifiers did not change my feelings about the story and the impression that the story gives stays the same. There isn’t even much of a dive into motivations, the guy seems fine, the isolation he feels is self-inflicted. Even the slights he feels from the people he interacts with could be easily brushed off. The lingering on female mutilation and brutality can’t easily be explained away and though I feel like the motivation was simply to draw shock and disgust from the reader, it felt unnecessary and told me nothing of the main character’s personality as he seems I different though he keeps watching.
I would recommend this to anyone looking for the bizarre and the absurd. It is certainly experimental and definitely stands alone, but you’ll have to work on your own to keep your motivation through these stories.
There is an explanation from Becker at the end of the second story, The White Shade, that he wrote this when he was fourteen and he didn’t release it because he knew the backlash it would get. He states he doesn’t sympathize with mass murderers he just wanted to explore the thinking behind their actions. Unfortunately his qualifiers did not change my feelings about the story and the impression that the story gives stays the same. There isn’t even much of a dive into motivations, the guy seems fine, the isolation he feels is self-inflicted. Even the slights he feels from the people he interacts with could be easily brushed off. The lingering on female mutilation and brutality can’t easily be explained away and though I feel like the motivation was simply to draw shock and disgust from the reader, it felt unnecessary and told me nothing of the main character’s personality as he seems I different though he keeps watching.
I would recommend this to anyone looking for the bizarre and the absurd. It is certainly experimental and definitely stands alone, but you’ll have to work on your own to keep your motivation through these stories.
May 25, 2019
I have received a copy of this book from the author in exchange of an honest review.
First I’d like to point out that the author is 18yo. He described the book as a “mix of House of Leaves and Silent Hill” and I pretty much agree with that. I’ve read about 150 pages of HoL and just wasn’t in a mood for it at that time and put it back on my TBR pile. But I can see the similarities.
What I liked about this book were the descriptions of places, I like when I can EXACTLY picture every detail, like I’m there. Also the simplicity of language is my favorite thing, as I have mentioned million times by now. I’d like to tell you more pros, but that would have to include spoilers.
Cons: It felt like playing a video game, the entire time I was reading it. I like video games, but I like a book to be a little more than that. It was more about the story, or rather PLACES (even though I liked all the descriptions, sometimes it was too much), and less about the characters. A constant “mindfuck” going on, it was a little overwhelming. I only figured out if I liked Roman or not in the last 3 chapters (I’m not telling you anything to avoid spoilers).
The ending, especially those last 3 chapters were excellent.
I would have given it 3-3.5 stars, but I had to go with 4 because the author is so young and very talented, in my opinion. As with any profession, a lot of work is needed in order to use the maximum of the talent present, but I have no doubts that he will only get better from this point.
Definitely a good read if you like video games and “how did I get here and wtf is going on?” stories.
First I’d like to point out that the author is 18yo. He described the book as a “mix of House of Leaves and Silent Hill” and I pretty much agree with that. I’ve read about 150 pages of HoL and just wasn’t in a mood for it at that time and put it back on my TBR pile. But I can see the similarities.
What I liked about this book were the descriptions of places, I like when I can EXACTLY picture every detail, like I’m there. Also the simplicity of language is my favorite thing, as I have mentioned million times by now. I’d like to tell you more pros, but that would have to include spoilers.
Cons: It felt like playing a video game, the entire time I was reading it. I like video games, but I like a book to be a little more than that. It was more about the story, or rather PLACES (even though I liked all the descriptions, sometimes it was too much), and less about the characters. A constant “mindfuck” going on, it was a little overwhelming. I only figured out if I liked Roman or not in the last 3 chapters (I’m not telling you anything to avoid spoilers).
The ending, especially those last 3 chapters were excellent.
I would have given it 3-3.5 stars, but I had to go with 4 because the author is so young and very talented, in my opinion. As with any profession, a lot of work is needed in order to use the maximum of the talent present, but I have no doubts that he will only get better from this point.
Definitely a good read if you like video games and “how did I get here and wtf is going on?” stories.
June 23, 2019
I have nothing against surrealism. A surrealist work is like a puzzle that presents us with tantalizing hints of meaning, toys with our perception of it, dangling full understanding out of reach, and then leaves us with powerful images that keep reappearing in our minds, forcing us to reconsider what we have read. It makes us think.
“Grey Skies” starts out looking like surrealism, but then it goes off track. Unusual and unexpected events occur in macabre settings described in intricate detail, but if somewhere in that description there is meaning, I couldn’t find it.
I give the author credit for creating an incredible mountain of creative material, but it is so large and so complex it is impossible to extract any meaningful message from it. Not to worry. After leading us through this maze of horror, the author comes right out and tells us what is going on, and wraps it up in a neat package at the end.
Which is probably less satisfying than the mysteries of the rest of the book. It is like being set a puzzle that is impossible to solve and then being patted on the head and given the answer.
I know surrealism doesn’t really have any rules, but I’m pretty sure it is not supposed to work like that.
A super-surrealistic novel for people that like their macabre up close and personal, and their meaning very hard to decipher.
“Grey Skies” starts out looking like surrealism, but then it goes off track. Unusual and unexpected events occur in macabre settings described in intricate detail, but if somewhere in that description there is meaning, I couldn’t find it.
I give the author credit for creating an incredible mountain of creative material, but it is so large and so complex it is impossible to extract any meaningful message from it. Not to worry. After leading us through this maze of horror, the author comes right out and tells us what is going on, and wraps it up in a neat package at the end.
Which is probably less satisfying than the mysteries of the rest of the book. It is like being set a puzzle that is impossible to solve and then being patted on the head and given the answer.
I know surrealism doesn’t really have any rules, but I’m pretty sure it is not supposed to work like that.
A super-surrealistic novel for people that like their macabre up close and personal, and their meaning very hard to decipher.
June 11, 2019
A man, Roman, a dead nun and no clue as to what happened to her.
This was my first read by the author and I have to tell you it makes me wonder what goes on his mind. This story is delivered with such descriptive detail that you are almost completely immersed into this frightening world. With our hero not knowing why a friend of his ex-wife has been murdered, he initially decides to bury her. However, the weather prompts him to just put her in his trunk and take her home. This is where the story takes us a down the rabbit hole of fear. There are action sequences and a mix of flashbacks that could have been hallucinations. The story has a controlled chaotic feel to it. I could not read it in one sitting only because I had to read it early enough during the day so that I could sleep at night. Yeah, I'm not afraid to admit that I was freaked the hell out. This author is 18yrs old and delivered a psychological, twisted horror. I want to see what else he has up his sleeve and yet I don't.
I believe fans who are looking for something new in horror will love this book. As for me, I 'm going to go read something syrupy sweet and romantic to clear my mind. Mr. Becker congratulations.
* I received this book in exchange for honest feedback, which I gave voluntarily.
This was my first read by the author and I have to tell you it makes me wonder what goes on his mind. This story is delivered with such descriptive detail that you are almost completely immersed into this frightening world. With our hero not knowing why a friend of his ex-wife has been murdered, he initially decides to bury her. However, the weather prompts him to just put her in his trunk and take her home. This is where the story takes us a down the rabbit hole of fear. There are action sequences and a mix of flashbacks that could have been hallucinations. The story has a controlled chaotic feel to it. I could not read it in one sitting only because I had to read it early enough during the day so that I could sleep at night. Yeah, I'm not afraid to admit that I was freaked the hell out. This author is 18yrs old and delivered a psychological, twisted horror. I want to see what else he has up his sleeve and yet I don't.
I believe fans who are looking for something new in horror will love this book. As for me, I 'm going to go read something syrupy sweet and romantic to clear my mind. Mr. Becker congratulations.
* I received this book in exchange for honest feedback, which I gave voluntarily.
June 20, 2019
I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for an honest review
We first meet Roman as he is burying a dead body, but it is not clear why he is doing it. not knowing why a friend of his ex-wife has been murdered However, the weather prompts him to just put her in his trunk and take her home. When he goes home, he sees that there is something wrong with his house. SPIDERS… *
This is where he starts seeing things/ flashing backs which we could probably say are hallucinations. This story is very so very well written and not for the week at heart.
Its scary and creepy and just perfect for all those horror lovers out that.
Very shocked to say that the author is only 18… I can only imagine what other books this guy is going to come up with and he gets older and wiser!
Read during the day or turn all those lights on at night and be prepared not to sleep!
We first meet Roman as he is burying a dead body, but it is not clear why he is doing it. not knowing why a friend of his ex-wife has been murdered However, the weather prompts him to just put her in his trunk and take her home. When he goes home, he sees that there is something wrong with his house. SPIDERS… *
This is where he starts seeing things/ flashing backs which we could probably say are hallucinations. This story is very so very well written and not for the week at heart.
Its scary and creepy and just perfect for all those horror lovers out that.
Very shocked to say that the author is only 18… I can only imagine what other books this guy is going to come up with and he gets older and wiser!
Read during the day or turn all those lights on at night and be prepared not to sleep!
March 21, 2019
I was recommended by this book by a friend and was a little skeptical at first. I’m not much a of a horror fan, but I decided to give it a try by reading it on Wattpad. I can not express how much I enjoyed this book. It truly was a different experience from traditional horror with psychological elements and intricate layering of past and present that warrants several reads. This story is unlike any of the other dozens of books I have been recommended and is truly worth a read (or ten). I can not express how it enjoyable and immersive my experience with this book was!! 10/10!!
November 7, 2019
After hearing about that the legendary William Becker was going to publish a new book, I was hyped. I waited till the books were sale and immediately got my copy and it's something I wont regret. If youre not into books that make you think and mess you up in a psychological level, then this isn't the book for you. Even if you don't like these kind of books, I still believe firmly that this is a must have for any book collector. After reading this book, I can't wait to see what the author has in store for us next..
June 9, 2019
Good Story
Becker pens a good horror story in Grey Skies. I found that I did like the majority of the story, but a few parts were a bit confusing, and a bit slow to make sense, but in the end, I enjoyed the story. Yes, it was creepy and scary, and intriguing to see how the story would play out. I would definitely read more by this author, and I am curiously intrigued (and yet a bit fearful) of his imagination. I look forward to reading more by this author.
Becker pens a good horror story in Grey Skies. I found that I did like the majority of the story, but a few parts were a bit confusing, and a bit slow to make sense, but in the end, I enjoyed the story. Yes, it was creepy and scary, and intriguing to see how the story would play out. I would definitely read more by this author, and I am curiously intrigued (and yet a bit fearful) of his imagination. I look forward to reading more by this author.
August 25, 2020
Grey skies was a very good book and this book really gives me the uneasy feeling like I’m in the story and get this feeling like someone or something is watching me. The author did a wonderful job making this job. I recommend this book if you love horror films or other horror books.
I gave this book a 5 star review. Thank you William Becker for making such a awesome book. You do a very good job.
I gave this book a 5 star review. Thank you William Becker for making such a awesome book. You do a very good job.
March 21, 2019
I first read this book when it was on wattpad, and I am beyond amazed with how far it has come. I rarely read a book that sends chills through my entire body, and this book did. Becker uses this book to take the reader through intense and horrific experiences, and does so amazingly! I have, and will continue to recommend this book to everyone.
August 1, 2019
i read this book on wattpad and fell in love with the horror and creativity of each and every chapter. william becker has been a friend of mine for a couple years, and his books always amaze me with the amount of talent he has and effort he puts into his work. if you like stephen king, you'll love grey skies.
November 5, 2019
One of the things I liked about this book was how the places kept on changing. One thing I would have liked is if the author had explored why Roman Toguri became the person he did.
If you're one of those who are not sure if you'd be into surrealism, this is a good book to start off with - though be warned: there are horror elements.
I got a copy in exchange for an honest review.
If you're one of those who are not sure if you'd be into surrealism, this is a good book to start off with - though be warned: there are horror elements.
I got a copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 1, 2019
I dunno who this dude is or what the shit I just read but it's kewl :3, 10/10 recommend
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