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Blood Gravity: a novella
With a mother buried in denial and a manipulative father who sexually abused him from age ten, college sophomore Jake Smith struggles in secret with anxiety and a self-injury addiction. When emotional fallout after a disastrous family camping trip leaves Jake unable to cope, fear that his five-year-old brother may one day suffer the same abuse is the only thing that can bring him back from the edge.
In this prequel to her Broken Parts series, Gayle Towell explores and explodes the definition of family and what it means when those closest to you hurt you in unspeakable ways.
In this prequel to her Broken Parts series, Gayle Towell explores and explodes the definition of family and what it means when those closest to you hurt you in unspeakable ways.
93 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 15, 2014
About the author
Gayle Towell
11 books17 followersGayle Towell is a writer from North Plains, Oregon. Her short stories have won the 2013 Women’s National Book Association writing contest, the 2014 Willamette Writers Kay Snow Fiction Award, and have appeared in Burnt Tongues: An Anthology of Transgressive Stories, Menacing Hedge, and Pif Magazine among other places.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
September 10, 2014
It's important to note that Blood Gravity is a short prequel to a forthcoming novel series. This is important because Blood Gravity sucks you in, tests your moral limitations, breaks your heart, and then...leaves you. Too quick.
The story here is simple plot-wise though is rather emotionally complex. A college student has lived his entire life being sexually abused by his father. He assumes that this sexual abuse will continue with his little brother, 5-year old Ben. The reader, too, assumes this. The emotional complication arises as the reader learns more about the narrator's confusing history with his father. What would seem like a simple black/white, right/wrong relationship isn't so simple through the eyes of the victim. Though the narrator doesn't try to justify the way his father has treated him, he does explore the logic his father has used to justify the behavior. This constant analyzing is what makes Blood Gravity so powerful.
Warning: there is one scene in particular, between the father and the college-aged son, which may disgust some readers. However, if you can appreciate the scene in the context of the book itself, you should experience more than visceral objection.
I'm looking forward to the novel series.
The story here is simple plot-wise though is rather emotionally complex. A college student has lived his entire life being sexually abused by his father. He assumes that this sexual abuse will continue with his little brother, 5-year old Ben. The reader, too, assumes this. The emotional complication arises as the reader learns more about the narrator's confusing history with his father. What would seem like a simple black/white, right/wrong relationship isn't so simple through the eyes of the victim. Though the narrator doesn't try to justify the way his father has treated him, he does explore the logic his father has used to justify the behavior. This constant analyzing is what makes Blood Gravity so powerful.
Warning: there is one scene in particular, between the father and the college-aged son, which may disgust some readers. However, if you can appreciate the scene in the context of the book itself, you should experience more than visceral objection.
I'm looking forward to the novel series.
November 21, 2014
This is a taut, hard book. Slim as it is, it took me quite a while to finish it because I kept making the mistake of reading it at bedtime and could only manage a chapter a night. It weighs on the soul. It sits in your stomach. These are compliments, because what Towell is dealing with in this book -- the trauma of past child molestation and the fear of it happening again -- is gut-churning stuff and it should keep you up at night, and she handles it with such glaring honesty and realism that you find yourself almost too involved with the characters, their trauma. Towell makes you feel this book.
Despite all that, I do wish it were a bit more book here -- the characters are so compelling that I wasn't quite done with them when I'd finished the book. Which is good news, really, because this novella is actually intended as a prequel -- a preview, really, a trailer in the form of prose -- for her forthcoming series, Scars. To be honest, I'm not sure I have it in me to crawl back into the queasy horror of this world for a whole novel, let alone a series, but I also don't know if I can honestly avoid it. Her story is that compelling, and certainly that important.
Despite all that, I do wish it were a bit more book here -- the characters are so compelling that I wasn't quite done with them when I'd finished the book. Which is good news, really, because this novella is actually intended as a prequel -- a preview, really, a trailer in the form of prose -- for her forthcoming series, Scars. To be honest, I'm not sure I have it in me to crawl back into the queasy horror of this world for a whole novel, let alone a series, but I also don't know if I can honestly avoid it. Her story is that compelling, and certainly that important.
November 10, 2014
From the time we're children we are taught that a room is exactly the same in the dark as it is during the daytime. But there are some rooms we never venture inside because we're afraid of what's in there, day or night.
What Gayle Towell has done with "Blood Gravity" is hand the reader a flashlight and say, "step inside."
This is fiction at it's most heart rending and horrific. The intensity starts working on you within the first few pages and never lets up. The story of a family, particularly two brothers, trying to come to terms with something that their minds can barely begin to understand. This brief novella dares to ask questions that will haunt long after it's finished. How does a young person's mind continue to develop normally when the environment in which it is supposed to blossom is essentially enemy territory?
"Blood Gravity" is stark and nearly hopeless, but Gayle's narrative voice is that beam of light in the dark, illuminating our way through these sad and gut wrenching pages. She writes like a woman on a mission and it seems to be a simple one: the goal is not so much to understand a violent man, but rather figure out how to live in the shadow of one. How to scrape together the pieces of a life and carry on, even after the violence is over.
With the release of "Blood Gravity" Gayle has also spearheaded a social media movement - #whyididnttell - to encourage victims of abuse to speak out. Sometimes saying it out loud can make the fear less real, and that's exactly what Gaye Towell has done with this novella. She's put it into words.
They may not be easy to read, but they are necessary.
The hardest things always are.
What Gayle Towell has done with "Blood Gravity" is hand the reader a flashlight and say, "step inside."
This is fiction at it's most heart rending and horrific. The intensity starts working on you within the first few pages and never lets up. The story of a family, particularly two brothers, trying to come to terms with something that their minds can barely begin to understand. This brief novella dares to ask questions that will haunt long after it's finished. How does a young person's mind continue to develop normally when the environment in which it is supposed to blossom is essentially enemy territory?
"Blood Gravity" is stark and nearly hopeless, but Gayle's narrative voice is that beam of light in the dark, illuminating our way through these sad and gut wrenching pages. She writes like a woman on a mission and it seems to be a simple one: the goal is not so much to understand a violent man, but rather figure out how to live in the shadow of one. How to scrape together the pieces of a life and carry on, even after the violence is over.
With the release of "Blood Gravity" Gayle has also spearheaded a social media movement - #whyididnttell - to encourage victims of abuse to speak out. Sometimes saying it out loud can make the fear less real, and that's exactly what Gaye Towell has done with this novella. She's put it into words.
They may not be easy to read, but they are necessary.
The hardest things always are.
October 30, 2014
Gayle Towell's novella is powerful and fearless. It's some of the best storytelling I've encountered. I found myself quickly attached to the characters and their journey, and cringing, and holding my breath, and completely being drawn into the protagonist's world, and (after devouring it in one sitting) wanting more.
The good news is that this novella is just the beginning of a much larger story. The rest is coming. And what an amazing place to start!
The good news is that this novella is just the beginning of a much larger story. The rest is coming. And what an amazing place to start!
January 6, 2015
This novella was compelling, a quick read and drew me in instantly. I admit, it was a bit unsettling to read the traumatic parts but, to me, that spoke a lot to the level of writing in this book. I look forward to the series.
June 16, 2025
I’m not okay after finishing this prequel. Experienced so many emotions while I was reading it
January 27, 2023
The utter despair I felt.. this book broke me.
March 27, 2015
I never get writer’s block, but I stared at a blank page for quite a while before writing this review. The problem is that I really want to do justice to Gayle’s book, and I will probably fall short. To say that I am impressed by her writing is an understatement, and to say that the content is hard-hitting, well… you can see where I’m going with this, can’t you?
Having read the drafts of the Scars series, I was prepared for what was coming in this prequel novella, but half way through, I still found myself feeling more than a bit uncomfortable, and torn between wanting to put the book aside, and feeling compelled to read on. I imagine I am not alone in saying it is not the sort of subject matter I would choose to read normally, but having done so, I feel that this small book has done something that so many books fail to do: it changed my perspective. Yes, it’s obvious that child abuse is wrong and that it leaves the victim wounded, and yes, it might not seem like a good idea to read this kind of thing, but the character crafting here takes something that could so easily be gratuitous or distasteful in the wrong hands (let’s face it – most hands), and walks you along a road of understanding. Self-harming might seem unfathomable. Stockholm syndrome or victim guilt might seem inexplicable. You may be able to explain these things on an intellectual level, but Blood Gravity unpacks these things in a way that, I think, really encourages the empathy that needs to go with that understanding. Amazing skill to write like that.
One of Gayle’s hopes for this book and series is that, if people are triggered by the content, that they can either get help or get involved in helping in some way. She surely hits that mark.
Having read the drafts of the Scars series, I was prepared for what was coming in this prequel novella, but half way through, I still found myself feeling more than a bit uncomfortable, and torn between wanting to put the book aside, and feeling compelled to read on. I imagine I am not alone in saying it is not the sort of subject matter I would choose to read normally, but having done so, I feel that this small book has done something that so many books fail to do: it changed my perspective. Yes, it’s obvious that child abuse is wrong and that it leaves the victim wounded, and yes, it might not seem like a good idea to read this kind of thing, but the character crafting here takes something that could so easily be gratuitous or distasteful in the wrong hands (let’s face it – most hands), and walks you along a road of understanding. Self-harming might seem unfathomable. Stockholm syndrome or victim guilt might seem inexplicable. You may be able to explain these things on an intellectual level, but Blood Gravity unpacks these things in a way that, I think, really encourages the empathy that needs to go with that understanding. Amazing skill to write like that.
One of Gayle’s hopes for this book and series is that, if people are triggered by the content, that they can either get help or get involved in helping in some way. She surely hits that mark.
February 7, 2015
Blood Gravity
Man. What a story. This is a powerful little novella. The prose is not complex but the emotions seeping through these pages are potent. I am not a person who cries but this story did make me feel like I could cry. I wanted to reach into the book and pull Jake from his circumstances or "save" him if you will. I wanted to become part of the story just so I could hug Jake. Towell is fearless in her descriptions of the trauma which makes it even more mortifying when you think about how real people cope with this sort trauma in their regular day to day existence. I could go on for days about the various ways this book plucked at my heart strings. This one is going to be with me for a while.
Blood Gravity is proof you don't need a bunch of fancy words to write a beautiful and devastating story.
I am very glad this is going to be a series because I have to know what happens to Ben and Jake.
Man. What a story. This is a powerful little novella. The prose is not complex but the emotions seeping through these pages are potent. I am not a person who cries but this story did make me feel like I could cry. I wanted to reach into the book and pull Jake from his circumstances or "save" him if you will. I wanted to become part of the story just so I could hug Jake. Towell is fearless in her descriptions of the trauma which makes it even more mortifying when you think about how real people cope with this sort trauma in their regular day to day existence. I could go on for days about the various ways this book plucked at my heart strings. This one is going to be with me for a while.
Blood Gravity is proof you don't need a bunch of fancy words to write a beautiful and devastating story.
I am very glad this is going to be a series because I have to know what happens to Ben and Jake.
September 18, 2014
The beginning of Gayle Towell's novella comes with a warning in regards to the content and subject matter. This warning is not unfounded.
"Blood Gravity" is like nothing I've ever read before, probably because this is the type of book that I'd usually avoid. At its most innocent, you could call it a family drama...but to apply that label is putting it lightly. Within these pages is self-harm and pedophilia and a family so twisted it resonates in the reader's guts. On the one hand, I don't think I could ever read this book again. On the other hand, I can't deny that I've been thinking about it (against my will) for the past 24 hours. "Blood Gravity" is not a light read, but a haunting, harrowing, mind-f*ck of a book. This is powerful writing that will push the reader to their limits.
"Blood Gravity" is like nothing I've ever read before, probably because this is the type of book that I'd usually avoid. At its most innocent, you could call it a family drama...but to apply that label is putting it lightly. Within these pages is self-harm and pedophilia and a family so twisted it resonates in the reader's guts. On the one hand, I don't think I could ever read this book again. On the other hand, I can't deny that I've been thinking about it (against my will) for the past 24 hours. "Blood Gravity" is not a light read, but a haunting, harrowing, mind-f*ck of a book. This is powerful writing that will push the reader to their limits.
September 18, 2014
This book has a trigger warning for a reason. That said, it is one of the best-written and most intense reads I've had in a long, long while. I fell in love with these characters, and can't wait to read the rest of the Scars series. The family dynamics are twisted, dark and bleak, with the relationship between Jake and his young brother, Ben, being the one awkward ray of hope throughout the book. It is all realistic, I have seen and even experienced some of the dynamics in the book, pulling me further into the story and the lives of the characters. One of the things I like most about Gayle Towell's writing is how precisely detailed the prose is, opening it up to let the reader inside. Love this and want more.
November 15, 2014
This book is heartfelt, genuine, and hypnotically compelling. It's clear that the author genuinely loves these characters, which must be the motivation for a whole series, which I am already excited for! A great start to a promising fiction series and a promising author, and very timely.
April 2, 2026
Hello,
I hope you’re doing well. I recently came across your story and really enjoyed reading it. The characters and storyline feel perfect for a comic or webtoon adaptation.
I’m an artist experienced in comics, manga, webtoons, character design, and book covers. I’d love to collaborate with you and be commissioned to adapt your story into a visually engaging format.
No pressure at all just wanted to reach out. You can contact me on Discord (bennett_lol) or Instagram (eve_verse_) if you’d like to talk more.
Best regards,
bennett.
February 3, 2024
Oof... this is a hard-to-read and heartbreaking work of fiction. I don't know if I can recommend this to anyone because it is such a triggering read, but it is an important work. What Gayle Towell has done is penned a novella that is gutwrenching, beautiful in moments, and dripping with despair. MAKE SURE TO CHECK YOUR TRIGGER WARNINGS.
Read
April 21, 2023cannot give this a rating because i don’t think anything would feel right. felt absolutely gutted the entire time while reading this, and finished in one sitting despite the awful reading slump i’ve been in. ouch. the writing is absolutely gorgeous.
January 24, 2023
This book may be short but holy hell it hits you in the gut
March 2, 2023
By the end I was sobbing
May 9, 2023
This was sad
January 12, 2025
Really not a great idea to read this in my downtime at work but I mean that as a compliment :(
July 14, 2025
Should’ve killed his dad.
August 4, 2023
3.5 rounded up cause the writing was pretty good, but what was that ending
September 23, 2025
devastating story. i do like how it is written, not in a way to “shock” you but in a way that is real. check TWs.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews