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The Bridge
Meera and her twin sister Kai are among thousands of hybrid women—called Mades—bred by the Father in his Blood Temple cult. Meera is rescued by a mysterious healer and storyteller, Narn, but her sister, Kai, does not survive the Father’s “unmaking.” Years later, when the cult is discovered and abolished, Meera, still racked with guilt and grief, enrols in college to take advantage of a generous new Redress Program.
When Narn’s conjure stories buy Meera a free ride to a notorious horror reading series, she is soon the darling of the lit set, feted by the other students, finally whole, finally free of the idea that she should have died instead of her sister. But college is not all it seems—Narn has lost a sister too, and Meera agrees to try and find her if Narn will keep feeding Meera the stories that are opening her up to memories she’s never acknowledged, secrets she’s never wanted to know, about Narn’s and the Father’s connection to a violent campus stalker.
When Narn’s conjure stories buy Meera a free ride to a notorious horror reading series, she is soon the darling of the lit set, feted by the other students, finally whole, finally free of the idea that she should have died instead of her sister. But college is not all it seems—Narn has lost a sister too, and Meera agrees to try and find her if Narn will keep feeding Meera the stories that are opening her up to memories she’s never acknowledged, secrets she’s never wanted to know, about Narn’s and the Father’s connection to a violent campus stalker.
- GenresHorror
260 pages, Paperback
Published June 22, 2021
About the author
J.S. Breukelaar
19 books110 followersJ.S. Breukelaar is an award-winning author of dark fiction. Her collection, Collision: Stories was a Shirley Jackson award finalist, and won both the Aurealis and Ditmar Awards. She has also published three acclaimed novels, including, most recently, Remedy, and the Ditmar-award winning novella, The Bridge. Her stories can be found in numerous magazines and anthologies, such as Apex, Black Static, The Dark, Lightspeed, Tiny Nightmares, as well as several Years Bests. You find out more at www.jsbreukelaar.com and elsewhere at @jsbreukelaar.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
June 21, 2021
“I was raised by three sisters – one a witch, one an assassin and the third just batshit crazy.” Whilst I found this opening sentence immediately intriguing, it didn’t prepare me for the convoluted world I was about to be drawn into as I accompanied nineteen-year-old Meera on her journey to unravel the past and to uncover the memories and secrets which will, she hopes, allow her to discover who she truly is. Her narrative begins soon after Narn, the eldest sister, has enrolled her on the Redress Programme at Wellsburg College … “ten thousand miles away and on the other side of the planet. To the ends of the earth may as well have been.” … a reflection which immediately captures Meera’s visceral sense of dislocation; it then moves backwards and forwards in time as she attempts to make sense of her feelings and experiences, both past and present.
It feels impossible to attempt to précis this dark, disturbing and complex story without removing the elements of surprise which emerge through the author’s masterly-controlled switches in time, shifts which provide bridges between past and present and which also incorporate an initially rather unsettling, but ultimately very effective, change of tense. Instead I’ll focus on the many aspects of the author’s story-telling which made this such a compelling read for me.
The story encompasses an impressively wide range of themes – loss, grief, forgiveness, survivor’s guilt, reparation, redemption, coercion, abuse of power, how it feels to be different, to be an outsider, the desire to fit in, to belong without sacrificing personal integrity – to name just a few. It also incorporated some of the myths surrounding twins, as well as the mythical ‘charm’ of three. All of these themes are explored via a cast of memorable, well-drawn characters, each of whom, whether likeable or loathsome, is multi-layered and usually not quite what they appear to be.
I found the science-fiction element of the story particularly chilling, with its premise of a misogynist ‘Father’ having the power to not only create his Mades, but then to ‘unmake’ them – it felt like such a disturbing metaphor for women being seen as somehow dangerous and in need of controlling, objects to be used, abused and disposed of. It was a relief to discover that the story did also include examples of women finding the strength to take back control!
I loved the fact that stories and story-telling were at the heart of the novel: how stories can be passed on, how they can provide a safe space, have the power to stop time and can give ‘both teller and listener a place to imagine one another’ and how we need to remember that, however disturbing the story ‘If someone lived it we should at least be able to listen to it.’ Meera believes that in order to survive at college, to be accepted by the ‘Regulars’ at the ‘Fearsome Gatherum’, she needs excel at telling fearful stories and to do this, she needs to persuade Narn to keep on sharing her stories, in return promising that she will try to find Narn’s missing sister. There were moments when I found that some of the decidedly gory, graphic imagery instilled a real sense of fear and apprehension – I felt I wanted to do a reading equivalent of peering through my fingers whilst hiding behind the sofa!
When I reviewed Collision, the author’s collection of short stories (Meerkat Press 2019) I reflected on her skill at drawing me into the worlds she was describing which, although fantastical, ‘were all too easily recognisable, possibly because there is always an element of people struggling to make sense of, and adjust to, the world they are inhabiting.’ This skill is, if anything, even more apparent in this full length novel because, from start to finish, what underpins all the magic, mythology, supernatural elements and science fiction is a credible psychological exploration of the wide-ranging themes the story encompasses. I became enthralled by this spellbinding, beautifully written novel and recommend it without hesitation.
I received a copy of this book from Meerkat Press in exchange for an honest review.
It feels impossible to attempt to précis this dark, disturbing and complex story without removing the elements of surprise which emerge through the author’s masterly-controlled switches in time, shifts which provide bridges between past and present and which also incorporate an initially rather unsettling, but ultimately very effective, change of tense. Instead I’ll focus on the many aspects of the author’s story-telling which made this such a compelling read for me.
The story encompasses an impressively wide range of themes – loss, grief, forgiveness, survivor’s guilt, reparation, redemption, coercion, abuse of power, how it feels to be different, to be an outsider, the desire to fit in, to belong without sacrificing personal integrity – to name just a few. It also incorporated some of the myths surrounding twins, as well as the mythical ‘charm’ of three. All of these themes are explored via a cast of memorable, well-drawn characters, each of whom, whether likeable or loathsome, is multi-layered and usually not quite what they appear to be.
I found the science-fiction element of the story particularly chilling, with its premise of a misogynist ‘Father’ having the power to not only create his Mades, but then to ‘unmake’ them – it felt like such a disturbing metaphor for women being seen as somehow dangerous and in need of controlling, objects to be used, abused and disposed of. It was a relief to discover that the story did also include examples of women finding the strength to take back control!
I loved the fact that stories and story-telling were at the heart of the novel: how stories can be passed on, how they can provide a safe space, have the power to stop time and can give ‘both teller and listener a place to imagine one another’ and how we need to remember that, however disturbing the story ‘If someone lived it we should at least be able to listen to it.’ Meera believes that in order to survive at college, to be accepted by the ‘Regulars’ at the ‘Fearsome Gatherum’, she needs excel at telling fearful stories and to do this, she needs to persuade Narn to keep on sharing her stories, in return promising that she will try to find Narn’s missing sister. There were moments when I found that some of the decidedly gory, graphic imagery instilled a real sense of fear and apprehension – I felt I wanted to do a reading equivalent of peering through my fingers whilst hiding behind the sofa!
When I reviewed Collision, the author’s collection of short stories (Meerkat Press 2019) I reflected on her skill at drawing me into the worlds she was describing which, although fantastical, ‘were all too easily recognisable, possibly because there is always an element of people struggling to make sense of, and adjust to, the world they are inhabiting.’ This skill is, if anything, even more apparent in this full length novel because, from start to finish, what underpins all the magic, mythology, supernatural elements and science fiction is a credible psychological exploration of the wide-ranging themes the story encompasses. I became enthralled by this spellbinding, beautifully written novel and recommend it without hesitation.
I received a copy of this book from Meerkat Press in exchange for an honest review.
June 29, 2021
Thank you to Meerkat Press for letting me read The Bridge early and review it. This book was an interesting read, different than anything I've read before. The premise is what drew me in. The main character Meera and her twin sister Kai are Mades; bred by the Father in the Blood Temple cult. I haven't read a dark fantasy, with a cult before. I enjoyed the characters, the storyline, and the writing style.
Throughout the book Meera deals with surviver's guilt, grief, and wanting to belong and move on from past traumas. Her character is relatable (most of the time), and is interesting to follow throughout.
Thank you Meerkat Press for letting me read and review this book again. It was a fun, dark, and interesting read. J.S. Breukelaar is a great author. I like her writing style. It kept me waiting, excited to see what was going to happen next. 4 out of 5 stars.
Throughout the book Meera deals with surviver's guilt, grief, and wanting to belong and move on from past traumas. Her character is relatable (most of the time), and is interesting to follow throughout.
Thank you Meerkat Press for letting me read and review this book again. It was a fun, dark, and interesting read. J.S. Breukelaar is a great author. I like her writing style. It kept me waiting, excited to see what was going to happen next. 4 out of 5 stars.
June 11, 2021
I got this book in return for a review.
Dark horror is not exactly my genre, but I did enjoy it very much.
Things keep getting creepier. I loved it.
I liked the fact that the 'present' was written in the past, and the flashbacks were written in present tense. That confuses the reader, which is good.
I am used to reading books set in Europe or North America. I had trouble realizing part of the book was located in an Australian setting.
The ending was unexpected, that is a good thing to me.
I had tweeted before that I wanted a part 2 and a part 3. It is clear to me that the writer will not do that.
All the same, I have had 'fun' reading this book.
Dark horror is not exactly my genre, but I did enjoy it very much.
Things keep getting creepier. I loved it.
I liked the fact that the 'present' was written in the past, and the flashbacks were written in present tense. That confuses the reader, which is good.
I am used to reading books set in Europe or North America. I had trouble realizing part of the book was located in an Australian setting.
The ending was unexpected, that is a good thing to me.
I had tweeted before that I wanted a part 2 and a part 3. It is clear to me that the writer will not do that.
All the same, I have had 'fun' reading this book.
July 5, 2021
Thank you Meerkat Press for a complimentary copy. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
THE BRIDGE
By: J. S. Breukelaar
REVIEW ☆☆☆☆
Dark, deep and dangerous. Welcome to J. S. Breukelaar's THE BRIDGE, a tale of futuristic horrors that will swallow you whole and leave you scrambling for daylight. With an original premise that is almost impossible to explain, I hardly know where or how to begin explaining my thoughts on the story.
First, the storyline and sense of time and space are disjointed. I don't say this in a critical way, rather, it works as an ingenious method of storytelling. Moving back and forth in time, I felt, at some moments, like my head was perpetually spinning. The result of all this is an exhilarating experience no reader will soon forget.
Second, the characters are fully fleshed out with layers of complexities. There are no one dimensional stereotypes here. Meera is internally conflicted and wracked with guilt about things she cannot change. Of course, self worth is difficult to internalize and truly believe-is Meera worthy of good things? Only she can decide. With her haunted past a constant shadow, Meera must learn to let go of her demons and accept a future she never could have imagined. By doing this, she will shake off, little by little, the weight of yesterday.
Finally, this story is steeped in an atmospheric undertone so tangible as to be its own character. The sense of foreboding is unshakeable, and the chill is unending. Meera's wariness only adds to the tension. THE BRIDGE is a dark story, but it could not have been otherwise without losing its effectiveness. The creeping dread and speculation about possible, probable, implied and/or explicit horrors are powerful enough to cause genuine unease in even the most hardened of readers.
Would I recommend reading THE BRIDGE? That depends on your disposition. Are you inclined to read darker, possibly disturbing, themes, or do you steer clear of them entirely? Provided dark is okay, consider giving this unique disquieting story a try.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Meera and her twin sister Kai are among thousands of hybrid women—called Mades—bred by the Father in his Blood Temple cult. Meera is rescued by a mysterious healer and storyteller, Narn, but her sister, Kai, does not survive the Father’s “unmaking.” Years later, when the cult is discovered and abolished, Meera, still racked with guilt and grief, enrols in college to take advantage of a generous new Redress Program.
When Narn’s conjure stories buy Meera a free ride to a notorious horror reading series, she is soon the darling of the lit set, feted by the other students, finally whole, finally free of the idea that she should have died instead of her sister. But college is not all it seems—Narn has lost a sister too, and Meera agrees to try and find her if Narn will keep feeding Meera the stories that are opening her up to memories she’s never acknowledged, secrets she’s never wanted to know, about Narn’s and the Father’s connection to a violent campus stalker.
THE BRIDGE
By: J. S. Breukelaar
REVIEW ☆☆☆☆
Dark, deep and dangerous. Welcome to J. S. Breukelaar's THE BRIDGE, a tale of futuristic horrors that will swallow you whole and leave you scrambling for daylight. With an original premise that is almost impossible to explain, I hardly know where or how to begin explaining my thoughts on the story.
First, the storyline and sense of time and space are disjointed. I don't say this in a critical way, rather, it works as an ingenious method of storytelling. Moving back and forth in time, I felt, at some moments, like my head was perpetually spinning. The result of all this is an exhilarating experience no reader will soon forget.
Second, the characters are fully fleshed out with layers of complexities. There are no one dimensional stereotypes here. Meera is internally conflicted and wracked with guilt about things she cannot change. Of course, self worth is difficult to internalize and truly believe-is Meera worthy of good things? Only she can decide. With her haunted past a constant shadow, Meera must learn to let go of her demons and accept a future she never could have imagined. By doing this, she will shake off, little by little, the weight of yesterday.
Finally, this story is steeped in an atmospheric undertone so tangible as to be its own character. The sense of foreboding is unshakeable, and the chill is unending. Meera's wariness only adds to the tension. THE BRIDGE is a dark story, but it could not have been otherwise without losing its effectiveness. The creeping dread and speculation about possible, probable, implied and/or explicit horrors are powerful enough to cause genuine unease in even the most hardened of readers.
Would I recommend reading THE BRIDGE? That depends on your disposition. Are you inclined to read darker, possibly disturbing, themes, or do you steer clear of them entirely? Provided dark is okay, consider giving this unique disquieting story a try.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Meera and her twin sister Kai are among thousands of hybrid women—called Mades—bred by the Father in his Blood Temple cult. Meera is rescued by a mysterious healer and storyteller, Narn, but her sister, Kai, does not survive the Father’s “unmaking.” Years later, when the cult is discovered and abolished, Meera, still racked with guilt and grief, enrols in college to take advantage of a generous new Redress Program.
When Narn’s conjure stories buy Meera a free ride to a notorious horror reading series, she is soon the darling of the lit set, feted by the other students, finally whole, finally free of the idea that she should have died instead of her sister. But college is not all it seems—Narn has lost a sister too, and Meera agrees to try and find her if Narn will keep feeding Meera the stories that are opening her up to memories she’s never acknowledged, secrets she’s never wanted to know, about Narn’s and the Father’s connection to a violent campus stalker.
June 22, 2021
Gloriously dark, angry and immersive, The Bridge is powered by Furies. Loved it.
July 16, 2022
Atmospheric, amazing, chilling
The world building in this novel is spectacular - a world nothing like ours and yet far, far too similar with an astonishing mix of science, magic and terror. As always Breukelaar’s writing is evocative and beautiful.
The world building in this novel is spectacular - a world nothing like ours and yet far, far too similar with an astonishing mix of science, magic and terror. As always Breukelaar’s writing is evocative and beautiful.
March 1, 2022
In The Bridge, J. S. Breukelaar gives readers a dark fantasy with complex world-building, a fantastic plot, and well-developed characters. The Bridge tackles important concepts like memory and identity, while also shedding light on social issues like control over female bodies.
While reading, I couldn’t help but draw comparisons to Atwood’s famous The Handmaid’s Tale as Breukelaar’s story treads similar ground. In The Bridge, we follow Meera, who is the survivor of a cult run by a man referred to as “Father.” The creations of this cult are called “Mades,” described as “part human and part not,” of which Meera is one.
See full review at Ginger Nuts of Horror: https://gingernutsofhorror.com/fictio...
While reading, I couldn’t help but draw comparisons to Atwood’s famous The Handmaid’s Tale as Breukelaar’s story treads similar ground. In The Bridge, we follow Meera, who is the survivor of a cult run by a man referred to as “Father.” The creations of this cult are called “Mades,” described as “part human and part not,” of which Meera is one.
See full review at Ginger Nuts of Horror: https://gingernutsofhorror.com/fictio...
June 24, 2021
The Bridge by J.S. Breukelaar is an incredibly deep and dark Fantasy that drew me in from the beginning and didn’t let me go until the end. This is a difficult book to review because it’s something you need to experience for yourself. But, trust me when I say, if this is a genre you enjoy, you’ll love this.
I won’t ruin the surprises, so understand this brief review is only this way because, otherwise, you’ll miss out. I love the writing. Vivid and deep, it was easy to be lost in this story.
This is a new-to-me author that I will be reading from again. I absolutely loved The Bridge. Highly recommend giving this one a shot!!
Thank you to Meerkat Press for the review copy and opportunity to honestly review on the blog tour. All opinions are my own and unbiased.
I won’t ruin the surprises, so understand this brief review is only this way because, otherwise, you’ll miss out. I love the writing. Vivid and deep, it was easy to be lost in this story.
This is a new-to-me author that I will be reading from again. I absolutely loved The Bridge. Highly recommend giving this one a shot!!
Thank you to Meerkat Press for the review copy and opportunity to honestly review on the blog tour. All opinions are my own and unbiased.
September 1, 2021
Review to come.
July 23, 2023
The Bridge by J.S. Breukelaar is an dystopian alternate future – in a world like Australia and not. Similar to the protagonist Meera – part human and not. She is bereaved after the death of her twin sister Kai and suffers survivors guilt. In meeting the mysterious witch figure Narn, who knows more than she says about Meera but shares the loss of her own sister, a strong connection to forged.
Encouraged by the future offered placement in the Redress Program. Meera finally sees this chance to belong to the Regulars as an opportunity to set aside her past, the grief of losing Kai and finally start living her own life. But be careful what you wish for because all transformations come at a cost and this one might be higher than Meera is willing to pay.
Review
In The Bridge, Breukelaar writes a stunning combination of the fantastic, futuristic and the metaphorical. The division between fate and desire, hope and reality are twisted and spun into an elegant futuristic dystopian fairy tale.
Conclusion
For fans of modern and futuristic fairy tale and folklore retellings and reimagining, contemporary dark fantasy and dystopian settings. A highly recommended read!
** This is my personal opinion and does not reflect any judging decisions **
Encouraged by the future offered placement in the Redress Program. Meera finally sees this chance to belong to the Regulars as an opportunity to set aside her past, the grief of losing Kai and finally start living her own life. But be careful what you wish for because all transformations come at a cost and this one might be higher than Meera is willing to pay.
Review
In The Bridge, Breukelaar writes a stunning combination of the fantastic, futuristic and the metaphorical. The division between fate and desire, hope and reality are twisted and spun into an elegant futuristic dystopian fairy tale.
Conclusion
For fans of modern and futuristic fairy tale and folklore retellings and reimagining, contemporary dark fantasy and dystopian settings. A highly recommended read!
** This is my personal opinion and does not reflect any judging decisions **
February 19, 2022
Loved it. Adept, seamless genreblending of sci fi, fantasy and horror (yes please). Loved Meera, a complex, relatable heroine whose journey I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough to follow… Evocative worldbuilding and clever breadcrumbing of details results in some VERY satisfying moments as their significance becomes clear.
(Edit—Celia crawling back through her goodreads to review/rate five stars the books she’s still thinking about and recommending)
(Edit—Celia crawling back through her goodreads to review/rate five stars the books she’s still thinking about and recommending)
November 14, 2022
A bit disjointed for my liking. A dystopian society that the writer seems to desperately want you to know is set in Australia by only mentioning a pet thylacine and at one point, kangaroos by the side of the road! A bubbling cauldron of ledgends brewing together to the almost unrecognisable.
May 30, 2022
Not my thing at all. For those who do like this kind of thing, i 100% recommend it.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews