What do you think?
Rate this book
The Five Turns of the Wheel
Stalking the landscape of rural England are the sons of Hweol, Lord of Umbra. Creatures with a taste for blood and death, they lead the Dance—five nights of ritual, the Five Turns of the Wheel. Proclaiming these events as a celebration of Mother Nature, the grotesque mummers troupe of Tommy, Betty and Fiddler, visit five villages on successive nights to lead the rites as they have done for centuries.In this blend of folk horror and dark fantasy, two women decide it is time to put a stop to the horrors committed in the name of the Mother. Liza and Megan, mother and daughter, fight back to protect the unborn and to weaken the power of Hweol. But will it be enough to destroy it forever?
238 pages, Paperback
First published October 27, 2020
10 people are currently reading
226 people want to read
About the author
Stephanie Ellis
171 books117 followersStephanie Ellis writes dark speculative prose and poetry and has been published in a variety of magazines and anthologies. Her longer work includes the novels, The Five Turns of the Wheel, Reborn and The Woodcutter, and the novellas, Paused and Bottled. Her new post-apocalytpic/sci-fi/horror novel, The Barricade is due out this year!
She is a Rhysling and Elgin nominated poet, co-authoring the poetry collection, Foundlings, with Cindy O'Quinn, Lilith Rising with Shane Douglas Keene and solo work Metallurgy.
She can be found at https://stephanieellis.org
She is a Rhysling and Elgin nominated poet, co-authoring the poetry collection, Foundlings, with Cindy O'Quinn, Lilith Rising with Shane Douglas Keene and solo work Metallurgy.
She can be found at https://stephanieellis.org
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
September 10, 2022
As winter comes to rural England, so does the Five Turns of the Wheel, a time of ritual celebration to honor the Lord of Umbra and his sons. Liza and her daughter Meghan are both Wheelborns and, like the previous generations of their honored family, have always participated in the Five Turns and all the horror that comes with it. But the two both believe that these rituals don’t actually honor their true deity, the Mother, and want to fight back to protect the women and the unborn of their land. But what sacrifices will it take to stop the turning of The Wheel?
I was absolutely blown away by this work of folk horror! The worldbuilding – stunning. I wish I had saved this to read around the end of October, because this is the perfect mood read for that time. The atmosphere and feeling of this book were perfect. I loved the folklore aspects of the worldbuilding, as well as the other side of the Veil and its creatures. The incorporation of the religious aspects and the commentary on that was also phenomenal.
The characters were wonderful, even the “evil” ones. I loved the amount of tension that was added to this work by them not being allowed to be truthful to each other or to say exactly what they believed. This created real tension and conflict that greatly added to the depth of the characters and the story.
The only thing I disliked was that it was difficult to place this work temporally. It wasn’t until about 30% through the book that the author said something that indicated this was occurring during modern times. With the magical/fantasy aspect of it, it was difficult to tell up until that point when this work was set; I had to reimagine the setting after having already read 30% of the book – not a huge deal, but not something I prefer.
My review doesn’t do this work justice. I highly recommend it to everyone, especially if you like magical realism, horror/suspense, and atmospheric reads. It was completely immersive for me, and I found myself lost from the real world when reading it. A big thanks to NetGalley and Brigids Gate Press for allowing me to read and review this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
TW: graphic ritual torture
I was absolutely blown away by this work of folk horror! The worldbuilding – stunning. I wish I had saved this to read around the end of October, because this is the perfect mood read for that time. The atmosphere and feeling of this book were perfect. I loved the folklore aspects of the worldbuilding, as well as the other side of the Veil and its creatures. The incorporation of the religious aspects and the commentary on that was also phenomenal.
The characters were wonderful, even the “evil” ones. I loved the amount of tension that was added to this work by them not being allowed to be truthful to each other or to say exactly what they believed. This created real tension and conflict that greatly added to the depth of the characters and the story.
The only thing I disliked was that it was difficult to place this work temporally. It wasn’t until about 30% through the book that the author said something that indicated this was occurring during modern times. With the magical/fantasy aspect of it, it was difficult to tell up until that point when this work was set; I had to reimagine the setting after having already read 30% of the book – not a huge deal, but not something I prefer.
My review doesn’t do this work justice. I highly recommend it to everyone, especially if you like magical realism, horror/suspense, and atmospheric reads. It was completely immersive for me, and I found myself lost from the real world when reading it. A big thanks to NetGalley and Brigids Gate Press for allowing me to read and review this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
TW: graphic ritual torture
July 3, 2022
The Five Turns of the Wheel. Folklore meets blood. One look at the intriguing cover hints at its secrets and its mystique. A skull with a gaping hole being claimed by the mud and the autumnal leaves. We are all reclaimed by the mud eventually and Stephanie Ellis does a stellar job of making it a constant theme throughout the story. The illustration mirrors the intricacies held within the pages of this dark folklore tale.
I came to this story for the author but stayed for the vivid imagery that is a true testament to Ellis’s mastery.
The Five Turns of the Wheel – a yearly event to allow the land and people to prosper. This is a summary in its most basic form, it doesn’t sum up just the author puts you in a place. I was there – I could feel the wind blowing through my hair, a land haunted by yearly visitors, I could sense the devastation, the blood still a constant threat in the air. You just have to read it to grasp the magnificence of the time and place. No word is wasted, it seeps into your blood like the sweetest poison, one I was happy to ingest.
Each year the villages are visited by mysterious visitors – Tommy, Betty, and Fiddler, who lead the Five Turns of the Wheel, a centuries-old ritual carried out to appease Mother Nature. They do not seem to age and each year their cruelty and malevolence bring more suffering than the last. It’s all surreal – reading the acts gave me a burning sensation. Fear and pain are a heady cocktail. This feeling runs until the very last page.
Each turn of the wheel brings shocking levels of violence and although this is a beautifully narrated story it is horror and Ellis can bring it with the best of them. A mother and daughter decide to bring an end to the bloodshed, they’ve suffered enough at the hands of these creatures, and someone needs to bring it to an end. But of course, nothing is simple in horror. I was really taken aback by the ingenuity of the plot and just how each thread was meticulously crafted and held together. Everything has a meaning – not one stone was left unturned. The characters are deep, and I found myself being drawn to two in particular. They are multi-faceted and discovering who they were was enjoyable. Think of an onion – each layer got you deeper, an understanding being accomplished.
The Five Turns of the Wheel is intelligent storytelling at its very core. This was an enchanting fever dream.
I came to this story for the author but stayed for the vivid imagery that is a true testament to Ellis’s mastery.
The Five Turns of the Wheel – a yearly event to allow the land and people to prosper. This is a summary in its most basic form, it doesn’t sum up just the author puts you in a place. I was there – I could feel the wind blowing through my hair, a land haunted by yearly visitors, I could sense the devastation, the blood still a constant threat in the air. You just have to read it to grasp the magnificence of the time and place. No word is wasted, it seeps into your blood like the sweetest poison, one I was happy to ingest.
Each year the villages are visited by mysterious visitors – Tommy, Betty, and Fiddler, who lead the Five Turns of the Wheel, a centuries-old ritual carried out to appease Mother Nature. They do not seem to age and each year their cruelty and malevolence bring more suffering than the last. It’s all surreal – reading the acts gave me a burning sensation. Fear and pain are a heady cocktail. This feeling runs until the very last page.
Each turn of the wheel brings shocking levels of violence and although this is a beautifully narrated story it is horror and Ellis can bring it with the best of them. A mother and daughter decide to bring an end to the bloodshed, they’ve suffered enough at the hands of these creatures, and someone needs to bring it to an end. But of course, nothing is simple in horror. I was really taken aback by the ingenuity of the plot and just how each thread was meticulously crafted and held together. Everything has a meaning – not one stone was left unturned. The characters are deep, and I found myself being drawn to two in particular. They are multi-faceted and discovering who they were was enjoyable. Think of an onion – each layer got you deeper, an understanding being accomplished.
The Five Turns of the Wheel is intelligent storytelling at its very core. This was an enchanting fever dream.
February 6, 2021
Midsommar meets Pan’s Labyrinth
Folk Horror appears to be having something of a renaissance, both in film and literature. Not since the sub-genres heyday of the 1970s have we been spoilt with such an abundance of new stories of rural terror. It is a favourite genre of mine. The themes of isolation and belief work so well in horror, creating tension by suggesting what hidden forces lie just behind the familiar and comfortable. Stephanie Ellis’ latest novel, ‘The Five Turns of the Wheel’ presents a take I don’t often see in folk horror, by telling its story largely via the point of view of the supernatural threat itself.
Each year, five villages are visited by three mysterious figures; Tommy, Betty and Fidler, to lead them in a centuries-old ritual known as The Five Turns of the Wheel to appease Mother Nature and bring forth prosperity and abundance to the land.
These deathless creatures have grown increasingly cruel and, while the villagers are too afraid to break the seemingly endless cycle of violence and death, one mother and daughter have decided to take it upon themselves to break the cycle and put a stop to the creatures that have plagued them once and for all.
Stephanie Ellis is also known for her poetry and her experience in this form shines through in her writing. It is a beautifully written book, graceful and evocative, a tone which is incredibly well suited to the stories melding of Folk Horror and Dark Fantasy. You really get a sense of the beauty of the villages and the rural surroundings, but there is always a subtle but nagging undertone of malevolence and threat that permeates the whole thing.
While the building of tension is effective, this tension is broken by moments of shocking violence. While Ellis doesn’t veer into extreme horror territory, nor does she shy away from showing the true price the characters are paying for their complicity with the supernatural forces at work, and there are some memorable and inventive scenes which deliver on the horror in a big way.
While the horror vibe was incredibly effective, I did struggle to get on board with the fantasy elements in the early parts of the book. I enjoyed the different perspective that you get from having the story largely narrated by the creatures threatening the villages, and not always the villagers themselves, you are being told the story by a narrator with a full familiarity of what is happening and why and when it is not knowledge shared with the reader, it made it tough to follow in the early chapters. Once the story gets going, however, it is a lot of fun getting this viewpoint when the stakes are made clear, and the detachment with which events are viewed makes the story all the more chilling.
Effectively sinister and punctuated with shocking bouts of violence, ‘The Five Turns of the Wheel’ offers a fresh new perspective on a beloved horror sub-genre, weaving a tale of rural ritual that you won’t soon forget.
You can read more reviews of new and upcoming horror releases at https://www.myindiemuse.com/category/...
I also promote indie horror via Twitter - @RickReadsHorror
Folk Horror appears to be having something of a renaissance, both in film and literature. Not since the sub-genres heyday of the 1970s have we been spoilt with such an abundance of new stories of rural terror. It is a favourite genre of mine. The themes of isolation and belief work so well in horror, creating tension by suggesting what hidden forces lie just behind the familiar and comfortable. Stephanie Ellis’ latest novel, ‘The Five Turns of the Wheel’ presents a take I don’t often see in folk horror, by telling its story largely via the point of view of the supernatural threat itself.
Each year, five villages are visited by three mysterious figures; Tommy, Betty and Fidler, to lead them in a centuries-old ritual known as The Five Turns of the Wheel to appease Mother Nature and bring forth prosperity and abundance to the land.
These deathless creatures have grown increasingly cruel and, while the villagers are too afraid to break the seemingly endless cycle of violence and death, one mother and daughter have decided to take it upon themselves to break the cycle and put a stop to the creatures that have plagued them once and for all.
Stephanie Ellis is also known for her poetry and her experience in this form shines through in her writing. It is a beautifully written book, graceful and evocative, a tone which is incredibly well suited to the stories melding of Folk Horror and Dark Fantasy. You really get a sense of the beauty of the villages and the rural surroundings, but there is always a subtle but nagging undertone of malevolence and threat that permeates the whole thing.
While the building of tension is effective, this tension is broken by moments of shocking violence. While Ellis doesn’t veer into extreme horror territory, nor does she shy away from showing the true price the characters are paying for their complicity with the supernatural forces at work, and there are some memorable and inventive scenes which deliver on the horror in a big way.
While the horror vibe was incredibly effective, I did struggle to get on board with the fantasy elements in the early parts of the book. I enjoyed the different perspective that you get from having the story largely narrated by the creatures threatening the villages, and not always the villagers themselves, you are being told the story by a narrator with a full familiarity of what is happening and why and when it is not knowledge shared with the reader, it made it tough to follow in the early chapters. Once the story gets going, however, it is a lot of fun getting this viewpoint when the stakes are made clear, and the detachment with which events are viewed makes the story all the more chilling.
Effectively sinister and punctuated with shocking bouts of violence, ‘The Five Turns of the Wheel’ offers a fresh new perspective on a beloved horror sub-genre, weaving a tale of rural ritual that you won’t soon forget.
You can read more reviews of new and upcoming horror releases at https://www.myindiemuse.com/category/...
I also promote indie horror via Twitter - @RickReadsHorror
November 11, 2020
An absolutely horrifying book - and I intend that as an enormous compliment. Bloody, visceral, beautifully descriptive and thematically horrific, with a creeping (and growing) sense of dread pulsing just below the surface of the narrative on just about every page, this was one I couldn’t put down - even in the midst of election coverage. Heartily, heartily recommended.
November 16, 2020
The Five Turns of the Wheel by Stephanie Ellis is a great example of true folk horror. One of the strengths of the novel for me was its masterful imagery, for example...“His boots crunched satisfyingly among fallen crimson and gold leaves. Nature had rolled out her carpet for him.” This is the description of one of the main characters named Tommy as he approaches the village of Cropsoe. It establishes the sense of importance surrounding the character. In fact, overall I would say the characterization within the whole novel is strong, particularly regarding Tommy, Fiddler and Betty. I loved the contrast these characters provided.
The depiction of the Five Turns Inn and surrounding area is atmospheric and places the reader right in the middle of the action.
Throughout, the supernatural elements are so well done they are believable, and the ritualistic elements are well thought out and explained in depth.
The level of back story and explanation provided as to what is involved during the Five Turns of the Wheel means the novel cannot be read at speed. Instead you need to digest the detail as you progress.
All in all, thoroughly enjoyable!
The depiction of the Five Turns Inn and surrounding area is atmospheric and places the reader right in the middle of the action.
Throughout, the supernatural elements are so well done they are believable, and the ritualistic elements are well thought out and explained in depth.
The level of back story and explanation provided as to what is involved during the Five Turns of the Wheel means the novel cannot be read at speed. Instead you need to digest the detail as you progress.
All in all, thoroughly enjoyable!
June 24, 2021
An incredible novel. The imagery is powerful, I loved the characters, and the story engrossed. I read through this in a couple sittings because I couldn't put it down. If you enjoy folk horror that feels genuine and frightening, please read this!
March 26, 2021
Wow, what a tale. Steeped in the tenets of folk horror, but with a lore that is completely original to this story. Brutal violence, relentless dread, and unsettling imagery. This book is everything I wanted it to be and more!
The world that we're dropped into is a dark and disturbing one. An area of land encompassing several rural villages is held under the power of ancient gods who demand annual sacrifice from the townspeople in order to maintain balance between the worlds of human and other. Everyone has a part to play, and each year the wheel turns with gruesome results. Except this time there is a family who has given too much, and a mother and her daughter who refuse to submit any longer. But the powers that bind them are strong and seeped in dark magic. When mankind challenges the ancients, can anyone survive?
I can't express enough how much I love the lore/world that author Stephanie Ellis has created. The gut-wrenching rituals, the hierarchy of the supernatural order, the variety of terrifying beings, the connections/reliance on humans, and so on. It manages to somehow feel comfortably familiar while also staying full of surprises around every turn. The rituals themselves are BRUTAL, and one is constantly fearing for the safety of the main characters (and, no spoilers, but the author gives you good reason to be afraid). Thematic concepts of grief, suffering, oppression, silence, and modernity vs traditionalism are also explored and powerfully intertwined with the narrative.
I absolutely devoured this book. The writing style is easy to fall into and the story is completely engrossing. I love folk horror, and Stephanie Ellis has given us a spectacular addition to the genre!
The world that we're dropped into is a dark and disturbing one. An area of land encompassing several rural villages is held under the power of ancient gods who demand annual sacrifice from the townspeople in order to maintain balance between the worlds of human and other. Everyone has a part to play, and each year the wheel turns with gruesome results. Except this time there is a family who has given too much, and a mother and her daughter who refuse to submit any longer. But the powers that bind them are strong and seeped in dark magic. When mankind challenges the ancients, can anyone survive?
I can't express enough how much I love the lore/world that author Stephanie Ellis has created. The gut-wrenching rituals, the hierarchy of the supernatural order, the variety of terrifying beings, the connections/reliance on humans, and so on. It manages to somehow feel comfortably familiar while also staying full of surprises around every turn. The rituals themselves are BRUTAL, and one is constantly fearing for the safety of the main characters (and, no spoilers, but the author gives you good reason to be afraid). Thematic concepts of grief, suffering, oppression, silence, and modernity vs traditionalism are also explored and powerfully intertwined with the narrative.
I absolutely devoured this book. The writing style is easy to fall into and the story is completely engrossing. I love folk horror, and Stephanie Ellis has given us a spectacular addition to the genre!
June 3, 2021
I saw on Twitter that the author has a second book coming out, realized I hadn't read the first and now I'm kicking myself for not finding this sooner.
Folk horror, with genuine dread and carefully woven tales that work absolutely perfectly. Chilled me to the core and wonderfully haunting.
Stephanie Ellis has gone straight into my top ten favorite authors and knocked Mr Koontz right off my list.
Folk horror, with genuine dread and carefully woven tales that work absolutely perfectly. Chilled me to the core and wonderfully haunting.
Stephanie Ellis has gone straight into my top ten favorite authors and knocked Mr Koontz right off my list.
November 16, 2020
This book, wow. I previously read Bottled by Stephanie Ellis earlier this year, and therefore expected this one to have a quiet, slow-burn element to it. There are certainly some slow-building parts, but be it a positive or negative for the reader, this is a very different story from Bottled.
It begins with a poem that lays out the lore of most of what you’re about to read, setting the tone beautifully. At its heart, this book is folk horror, telling the story of sacrifice and ritual committed in the name of otherworldly creatures. When we realize these creatures may not be content to remain in the background, we make the jump to dark fantasy. The execution is pulled off with a certain subtlety one might not expect given the subject matter. Ellis begins the book setting up a world that feels plausible. It’s where a lot of the horror comes from - the idea that people like this could be up to the events of the book miles from where you sit right now. As Ellis sprinkles in fantastical elements, we never lose that sense of reality. Rather she brings the horrors to us rather than taking us to them.
The structure of the book is one of its stronger suits. From the outset, from the title even, we understand the book will contain five events leading to the climax. Between each event, which are described in brutal and unflinching detail, we gain a deeper understanding of how Tommy, Fiddler, and Betty operate, as well as following the growing concern on the minds of our main characters. Ellis makes the motivations clear, allowing the reader a crystal-clear glimpse into the decisions being made. I didn’t find myself particularly attached to Liza or Megan, but I was able to sympathize with their circumstances.
I’ve mentioned this already, but if you’re on the fence about this book, the juxtaposition of folk horror with dark fantasy alone is worth the price of admission. I’m still reeling from some of the more graphic rituals put on display. They’re written in a manner that doesn’t allow the reader to look away and the first is unexpected. So much so that I had to rewind to the top of the page and try again. Make sure I got it straight. When it happens again, you’re still caught off-guard. For a deeply disturbing read, you can’t go wrong with The Five Turns of the Wheel.
I received a copy from the publisher for review consideration
It begins with a poem that lays out the lore of most of what you’re about to read, setting the tone beautifully. At its heart, this book is folk horror, telling the story of sacrifice and ritual committed in the name of otherworldly creatures. When we realize these creatures may not be content to remain in the background, we make the jump to dark fantasy. The execution is pulled off with a certain subtlety one might not expect given the subject matter. Ellis begins the book setting up a world that feels plausible. It’s where a lot of the horror comes from - the idea that people like this could be up to the events of the book miles from where you sit right now. As Ellis sprinkles in fantastical elements, we never lose that sense of reality. Rather she brings the horrors to us rather than taking us to them.
The structure of the book is one of its stronger suits. From the outset, from the title even, we understand the book will contain five events leading to the climax. Between each event, which are described in brutal and unflinching detail, we gain a deeper understanding of how Tommy, Fiddler, and Betty operate, as well as following the growing concern on the minds of our main characters. Ellis makes the motivations clear, allowing the reader a crystal-clear glimpse into the decisions being made. I didn’t find myself particularly attached to Liza or Megan, but I was able to sympathize with their circumstances.
I’ve mentioned this already, but if you’re on the fence about this book, the juxtaposition of folk horror with dark fantasy alone is worth the price of admission. I’m still reeling from some of the more graphic rituals put on display. They’re written in a manner that doesn’t allow the reader to look away and the first is unexpected. So much so that I had to rewind to the top of the page and try again. Make sure I got it straight. When it happens again, you’re still caught off-guard. For a deeply disturbing read, you can’t go wrong with The Five Turns of the Wheel.
I received a copy from the publisher for review consideration
November 10, 2020
Folklore and fantasy stories always feel a little overwhelming to me. There's often too much going on and I struggle getting my head around them. I have to slow my reading down to get the gist.
THE FIVE TURNS OF THE WHEEL by Stephanie Ellis definitely benefits from this approach. Especially for someone like myself.
There's a lot crammed into a single chapter, a single paragraph even. And If you read fast you could easily miss the finer details. The important details.
Take your time and enjoy this well crafted story. There's a lot to appreciate.
I'm giving this four stars, but I reckon folk horror fans will lap this up and give it an easy five.
THE FIVE TURNS OF THE WHEEL by Stephanie Ellis definitely benefits from this approach. Especially for someone like myself.
There's a lot crammed into a single chapter, a single paragraph even. And If you read fast you could easily miss the finer details. The important details.
Take your time and enjoy this well crafted story. There's a lot to appreciate.
I'm giving this four stars, but I reckon folk horror fans will lap this up and give it an easy five.
February 17, 2021
Haunting folkloric horror - Ellis has created a dark and disturbing underworld in the Five Turns. The tone is set from the beginning, and dread builds from the first page. Effective horror, but also deeply felt emotion and connections between the characters. Ellis is an auto-buy from me.
June 16, 2022
What’s with this book? How’d it get such good reviews? Anyway, I suppose I’ll be in the minority here since I didn’t like it. At all. Not even remotely.
I was interested in checking it out, because Ellis is a name I’m familiar with from Horrortree.com. So I requested this off Netgalley to see how good she is at fiction.
Well, maybe this isn’t a fine example. Or maybe it is. But going by this book…not very. At least, not the sort of fiction I enjoy.
First off, this is fantasy, straight up swords and sandals, medieval England sort of fantasy. It’s being marketed and sold as a fantasy/folk horror and, honestly, I’ve no idea where the folk horror is. I mean, maybe very, very tangentially in so much that a small medieval town or whatever can be evocative of folk horror, but that’s about it.
Secondly, what a muddled mess of a plot. I can barely tell you what this book is about. Something with five turns of the wheels, yes. Something with alternating timelines. Something with having babies. That’s about it.
The weird thing about this book is that individual sentences make sense and are reasonably well cobbled together, but the sum total never comes alive. It’s like an improperly assembled Frankenstein monster. Without the spark, it just lays there.
So yeah, didn’t find a single redeeming quality here. A total waste of time. Might work for you…looks like it did for so many. Who knows. But this is the review of the book I wish I saw prior to reading it. So maybe someone out there will appreciate it. Thanks Netgalley.
I was interested in checking it out, because Ellis is a name I’m familiar with from Horrortree.com. So I requested this off Netgalley to see how good she is at fiction.
Well, maybe this isn’t a fine example. Or maybe it is. But going by this book…not very. At least, not the sort of fiction I enjoy.
First off, this is fantasy, straight up swords and sandals, medieval England sort of fantasy. It’s being marketed and sold as a fantasy/folk horror and, honestly, I’ve no idea where the folk horror is. I mean, maybe very, very tangentially in so much that a small medieval town or whatever can be evocative of folk horror, but that’s about it.
Secondly, what a muddled mess of a plot. I can barely tell you what this book is about. Something with five turns of the wheels, yes. Something with alternating timelines. Something with having babies. That’s about it.
The weird thing about this book is that individual sentences make sense and are reasonably well cobbled together, but the sum total never comes alive. It’s like an improperly assembled Frankenstein monster. Without the spark, it just lays there.
So yeah, didn’t find a single redeeming quality here. A total waste of time. Might work for you…looks like it did for so many. Who knows. But this is the review of the book I wish I saw prior to reading it. So maybe someone out there will appreciate it. Thanks Netgalley.
September 24, 2022
“Your suffering meant everything to us. It was as much a part of your offering as any flesh and blood.”
-Tommy
This is a gloriously told folk horror story. The underlying fear combined with jovial complacency produce conflicting emotions that actually work well together. The atmospheric writing makes it hard to remember that this takes place in current times. It feels like before electricity and you can feel the chill of the night, along with the sweat on your brow and the grime on your neck.
This book is meant to be savored slowly. Enjoy each bite like it’s a multiple course meal with friends. The flavor, the texture, and the rich feel as you swallow. Rinse it down with the complex coppery tasting wine. The candles are flickering, reflecting in the gleam of your friends eyes and in the blood dripping down their chin. That is what this book feels like to me.
The wheel gets turned once a year, the sacrifices must be made, who will be chosen?
“The Dance claims us all.”
-Tommy
This is a gloriously told folk horror story. The underlying fear combined with jovial complacency produce conflicting emotions that actually work well together. The atmospheric writing makes it hard to remember that this takes place in current times. It feels like before electricity and you can feel the chill of the night, along with the sweat on your brow and the grime on your neck.
This book is meant to be savored slowly. Enjoy each bite like it’s a multiple course meal with friends. The flavor, the texture, and the rich feel as you swallow. Rinse it down with the complex coppery tasting wine. The candles are flickering, reflecting in the gleam of your friends eyes and in the blood dripping down their chin. That is what this book feels like to me.
The wheel gets turned once a year, the sacrifices must be made, who will be chosen?
“The Dance claims us all.”
January 26, 2021
Technically 4.5 stars as there were a few editing oversights which bugged me, but...ignoring that, wow, what a story!
Every year in The Weald, as the autumn slides into winter, three figures appear to begin the annual tradition of the Five Turns. This year, two women will risk everything to put a stop to the centuries of slaughter. This story is a glorious take on folk horror, customs and rituals, sacrifice and trial, blood and pain. Horrific characters and wonderfully crafted dark scenes will haunt your dreams. And perhaps most terrifying is that disquieting feeling which settles deep inside when you read folk horror: what would YOU do if your whole world was one monstrous murderous ritual? Would you fight against it? Would you even realize it was wrong?
Every year in The Weald, as the autumn slides into winter, three figures appear to begin the annual tradition of the Five Turns. This year, two women will risk everything to put a stop to the centuries of slaughter. This story is a glorious take on folk horror, customs and rituals, sacrifice and trial, blood and pain. Horrific characters and wonderfully crafted dark scenes will haunt your dreams. And perhaps most terrifying is that disquieting feeling which settles deep inside when you read folk horror: what would YOU do if your whole world was one monstrous murderous ritual? Would you fight against it? Would you even realize it was wrong?
December 10, 2020
I read Bottled earlier this year (or last) and really enjoyed it. I’ve also checked out several short stories by Stephanie Ellis in various anthologies, the most recent being Midnight in the Pentagram. When the cover was revealed for The Five Turns of the Wheel, I think everyone was stunned - it’s gorgeous and frightening and darkly vibrant. And as much as we all like to say don’t judge a book by its cover, the cover is the first thing your eye sees; if you win that attraction, the book is more likely to be read. Not only that, anticipation is built for those of us online who keep seeing images of the book. It makes you want it so bad. That was the case for this novel and, luckily for us all, the story delivers on all marks.
I’ve gone back and forth on how to propose this story, and I think simply providing its synopsis would do best:
Stalking the landscape of rural England are the sons of Hweol, Lord of Umbra. Creatures with a taste for blood and death, they lead the Dance—five nights of ritual, the Five Turns of the Wheel. Proclaiming these events as a celebration of Mother Nature, the grotesque mummers troupe of Tommy, Betty and Fiddler, visit five villages on successive nights to lead the rites as they have done for centuries.In this blend of folk horror and dark fantasy, two women decide it is time to put a stop to the horrors committed in the name of the Mother. Liza and Megan, mother and daughter, fight back to protect the unborn and to weaken the power of Hweol. But will it be enough to destroy it forever?
This novel is a blend of folk horror and dark fantasy. You don’t really have monsters running about, bringing havoc, but they are there in the story and more prominent as it moves along. The fear you feel in this story is upfront with the town and characters that have been under the hypnotic rule of Hweol for too long. He’s taken their husbands and wives, sons and daughters, all in horrific and gruesome ways over the years. Taking them back to the Mother. The loss you feel throughout this book is real and gripping. Aided by the disgusting and bloody deaths of each turn of the wheel, Stephanie Ellis creates a brazen world that somehow feels both fantastical and folkish, gothic and timeless.
The writing is fantastic, as is the story. The only complaint I had along the way was the name of the troupe - I just found them silly and distracting. Otherwise, I was hooked on this book from start to finish. If Ellis decides to write a sequel - seeing how she left it open for one - I would be scratching at her door for it to release. In little time, she has proven to be a writer to watch and recommend. Get this book.
**
Highlights: A scary and unique concept … violent, ritualistic murders … dramatic and horrifying … a strong cast of characters
Shadows: The troupe that parades into town to begin the Dance have silly human names like Tommy and Betty
For fans of: Folk horror … dark fantasy … demonic rituals and bonds … isolated towns
Takeaway: The Five Turns of the Wheel is not only a darkly unique experience, it is also a story of a ravaged town and its people trying to find purchase following constant and gruesome loss of life. This horrifying novel is a thing of nightmares.
Would I read this author again? Yes
***
REVIEW BY AIDEN MERCHANT
→ WWW.AIDENMERCHANT.COM
CONTACT: CONTACT@AIDENMERCHANT.COM
SOCIAL MEDIA: INSTAGRAM (AIDENMERCHANT.OFFICIAL) AND TWITTER (AIDENMERCHANT89)
I’ve gone back and forth on how to propose this story, and I think simply providing its synopsis would do best:
Stalking the landscape of rural England are the sons of Hweol, Lord of Umbra. Creatures with a taste for blood and death, they lead the Dance—five nights of ritual, the Five Turns of the Wheel. Proclaiming these events as a celebration of Mother Nature, the grotesque mummers troupe of Tommy, Betty and Fiddler, visit five villages on successive nights to lead the rites as they have done for centuries.In this blend of folk horror and dark fantasy, two women decide it is time to put a stop to the horrors committed in the name of the Mother. Liza and Megan, mother and daughter, fight back to protect the unborn and to weaken the power of Hweol. But will it be enough to destroy it forever?
This novel is a blend of folk horror and dark fantasy. You don’t really have monsters running about, bringing havoc, but they are there in the story and more prominent as it moves along. The fear you feel in this story is upfront with the town and characters that have been under the hypnotic rule of Hweol for too long. He’s taken their husbands and wives, sons and daughters, all in horrific and gruesome ways over the years. Taking them back to the Mother. The loss you feel throughout this book is real and gripping. Aided by the disgusting and bloody deaths of each turn of the wheel, Stephanie Ellis creates a brazen world that somehow feels both fantastical and folkish, gothic and timeless.
The writing is fantastic, as is the story. The only complaint I had along the way was the name of the troupe - I just found them silly and distracting. Otherwise, I was hooked on this book from start to finish. If Ellis decides to write a sequel - seeing how she left it open for one - I would be scratching at her door for it to release. In little time, she has proven to be a writer to watch and recommend. Get this book.
**
Highlights: A scary and unique concept … violent, ritualistic murders … dramatic and horrifying … a strong cast of characters
Shadows: The troupe that parades into town to begin the Dance have silly human names like Tommy and Betty
For fans of: Folk horror … dark fantasy … demonic rituals and bonds … isolated towns
Takeaway: The Five Turns of the Wheel is not only a darkly unique experience, it is also a story of a ravaged town and its people trying to find purchase following constant and gruesome loss of life. This horrifying novel is a thing of nightmares.
Would I read this author again? Yes
***
REVIEW BY AIDEN MERCHANT
→ WWW.AIDENMERCHANT.COM
CONTACT: CONTACT@AIDENMERCHANT.COM
SOCIAL MEDIA: INSTAGRAM (AIDENMERCHANT.OFFICIAL) AND TWITTER (AIDENMERCHANT89)
October 15, 2021
It's the names. They're perfect.
Locations which sound pulled from a forbidden map of rural Britain's shadow self: old, old places hidden to the eyes of outsiders. The villages of Cropsoe, Ashburn, Scythington, Soulsbury, Fleshing, and Reaper's Hill. The supernatural travelers who return each year to lead the Dance: Tommy, Fiddler, and the monstrous Betty. Such names almost make you shiver with the sense you should have known about all this before.
The Five Turns of the Wheel is a terrific piece of folk horror, with roots that seem to reach down into authentic, centuries-old traditions - and then delve deeper, drawing sustenance directly from the nightmare soil of even bloodier tales than the folklorists had the stomach to record.
Yet for all that, it remains a contemporary story. And it's just the ticket for these lengthening nights, as the the wheel of Nature continues its remorseless turn.
Locations which sound pulled from a forbidden map of rural Britain's shadow self: old, old places hidden to the eyes of outsiders. The villages of Cropsoe, Ashburn, Scythington, Soulsbury, Fleshing, and Reaper's Hill. The supernatural travelers who return each year to lead the Dance: Tommy, Fiddler, and the monstrous Betty. Such names almost make you shiver with the sense you should have known about all this before.
The Five Turns of the Wheel is a terrific piece of folk horror, with roots that seem to reach down into authentic, centuries-old traditions - and then delve deeper, drawing sustenance directly from the nightmare soil of even bloodier tales than the folklorists had the stomach to record.
Yet for all that, it remains a contemporary story. And it's just the ticket for these lengthening nights, as the the wheel of Nature continues its remorseless turn.
Read
January 6, 2022Stephanie Ellis combines folk horror with (the description reads dark fantasy, but it might be better described as magical realism or rural fantasy) to create a chilling tale, The Five Turns of the Wheel published by Silver Shamrock Publishing. In five little villages in rural England, the harvest brings a yearly visit from some truly nasty characters. Hweol, the antlered Lord of Umbria, has a taste for blood. He sends his three sons, Tommy, Betty, and Fiddler, to conduct the gruesome five-night harvest ritual, the Five Turns of the Wheel. The required sacrifices are truly horrific, and a few of the citizens decide to put a stop to what they believe is an adulteration of what the Mother (Nature) intended. With a nightmarish cast of villains (one of whom reads the minds of the villagers, making rebellion even more difficult, memorable protagonists, and an eerie autumn setting that feels frozen in time, this book is one that will stick with readers for many years. It’s an excellent autumn read for those who enjoy dark folk horror.
November 7, 2020
This book was first brought to my attention by friends on Twitter, one of them is the author Stephanie Ellis. I was remiss to admit I hadn’t read any of her work before and vowed to correct that. When this book began to gain some buzz, I knew I had to read it. Like magic, Silver Shamrock Publishing sent me a copy one day via email and I dove in immediately!
The book begins with a current year news Report from The Weald Herald about a poem that was found in the rubble of the former home of Megan Cooper, Wheelborn in Cropsoe. Don’t skip over this poem, this sets the tone of the story you are about to read as you find out more about the villages of the Weald and the dark history that lays within.
Tommy, Sally and Fiddler have woken from their year of rest and ready to start the yearly autumn ceremony of The Five Turns of the Wheel here in the Weald. It is quickly evident that these individuals are not human but inhuman creatures that only real purpose is the have the ceremony performed without interference in service of the evil demon/entity that holds sway over all of the villages.
In the center of the hub of five villages is Cropsoe and The Five Turns Inn. Tommy is the primary voice for the trio and is the ringleader for the upcoming ceremonies. Much of the history is provided through him and we learn that these ceremonies are not innocent harvest celebrations but reasons for blood sacrifice that they, the three, insist is for the good of the community as it provides the bounty and safety for its villagers. We come to learn no one is allowed in or out of the The Weald without some great consequences as the demonic entity , Hweol that rules them all needs to keep the influence of the outside modern world out of the rustic, isolated villages so these rituals can be continues for him without interference or any resistance from the villagers.
No spoilers. This story is so richly written that you feel you are in the front row seat of the events. The characters are so real that you care about them deeply about their fates. There is a strong female voice here especially with the protagonist Liza who has personally suffered in the ceremony and fears for her daughter Megan for the new turn of the wheel. We find out eventually that she has every reason to worry as the story develops for these two woman who are in the core of the events.
There is some protection for some who have the Wheelborn lineage, this blood line represents that some of the villagers who reside in Cropose have a complex family connection with Hweol through the ages (you will find out why eventually and I won’t spoil that either).
The Five Turns of the Wheel is a collection of pure horror, magic and an introduction into the multi layered micro universe the author has painted for us. Monsters, creatures, terrifying events, the struggle of good and evil within this supernatural world keep you from not being able to turn the pages fast enough but not too quickly you miss even one single word. I could not possibly touch upon everything that is part of this amazing book without writing a novel of a book review myself. You will need to find out more on your own and I promise you the time you spend in the The Weald is time well spent and you will be wanting so much more after the final page is read. Please get a copy as soon as possible. This story is one of my top reads for 2020 and I cannot recommend it more. Enjoy your journey!
The book begins with a current year news Report from The Weald Herald about a poem that was found in the rubble of the former home of Megan Cooper, Wheelborn in Cropsoe. Don’t skip over this poem, this sets the tone of the story you are about to read as you find out more about the villages of the Weald and the dark history that lays within.
Tommy, Sally and Fiddler have woken from their year of rest and ready to start the yearly autumn ceremony of The Five Turns of the Wheel here in the Weald. It is quickly evident that these individuals are not human but inhuman creatures that only real purpose is the have the ceremony performed without interference in service of the evil demon/entity that holds sway over all of the villages.
In the center of the hub of five villages is Cropsoe and The Five Turns Inn. Tommy is the primary voice for the trio and is the ringleader for the upcoming ceremonies. Much of the history is provided through him and we learn that these ceremonies are not innocent harvest celebrations but reasons for blood sacrifice that they, the three, insist is for the good of the community as it provides the bounty and safety for its villagers. We come to learn no one is allowed in or out of the The Weald without some great consequences as the demonic entity , Hweol that rules them all needs to keep the influence of the outside modern world out of the rustic, isolated villages so these rituals can be continues for him without interference or any resistance from the villagers.
No spoilers. This story is so richly written that you feel you are in the front row seat of the events. The characters are so real that you care about them deeply about their fates. There is a strong female voice here especially with the protagonist Liza who has personally suffered in the ceremony and fears for her daughter Megan for the new turn of the wheel. We find out eventually that she has every reason to worry as the story develops for these two woman who are in the core of the events.
There is some protection for some who have the Wheelborn lineage, this blood line represents that some of the villagers who reside in Cropose have a complex family connection with Hweol through the ages (you will find out why eventually and I won’t spoil that either).
The Five Turns of the Wheel is a collection of pure horror, magic and an introduction into the multi layered micro universe the author has painted for us. Monsters, creatures, terrifying events, the struggle of good and evil within this supernatural world keep you from not being able to turn the pages fast enough but not too quickly you miss even one single word. I could not possibly touch upon everything that is part of this amazing book without writing a novel of a book review myself. You will need to find out more on your own and I promise you the time you spend in the The Weald is time well spent and you will be wanting so much more after the final page is read. Please get a copy as soon as possible. This story is one of my top reads for 2020 and I cannot recommend it more. Enjoy your journey!
February 4, 2021
As the Wheel turns...
My first experience with dark fiction was the gruesome fairytales my grandmother read to me, those original horrors born hundreds of years earlier that acted as morality tales to keep children in line. As an adult, I've encountered similar themes in some modern horror novels, but few are capable of pulling off that same dreamy atmosphere and pervasive sense of dread.
Not this one. With The Five Turns of the Wheel, Stephanie Ellis drops us into a living nightmare, dreamy because of the strange nature of the antagonists but terrifying as we recognize our own world and its inhabitants trapped in the center. Buckle in, this ride is a doozy!
Everything you need to know about the story occurs in a poem at the beginning, a chilling piece that immediately sets off warning bells. For myself, as a huge fan of folk horror, it immediately reeled me in. We find ourselves in the Weald, a series of villages prepping for an annual ritual, the Five Turns of the Wheel. And the master of ceremonies? Only some of the most riveting yet mysterious characters I've read, Tommy and his brothers, Fiddler and Betty. They breeze into town, eager and ready, hinting at their dark plans which fascinated me, as an eavesdropping reader, but had me looking over my shoulder in case the characters heard me. Seriously, they are vivid!
If I had one tiny complaint, it would be that the Weald's inhabitants paled a bit in comparison, at least at first. Liza definitely becomes a favorite, a woman known as a Wheelborn who has suffered dreadfully at the hands of Tommy and his father/lord, Hweol. She's so conflicted and morally gray, even during her PoV sections one is unsure how she'll ultimately act -- which I love. And some of her sections... wow. She really drives home the full weight of what women often sacrifice for others.
This is the ultimate in folk horror, a bit reminiscent of The Wicker Man but it goes so much deeper and darker. The rituals themselves are brutal, enough that I was biting my nails. And following Tommy through so much of the story...I can't recall the last time an antagonist fascinated me so. I never rooted for them, but damn if I wasn't thoroughly invested in what would happen. If there are other stories set in this universe, sign me up! I'm officially a Stephanie Ellis superfan, and I can't wait to see what else she has in store!
My first experience with dark fiction was the gruesome fairytales my grandmother read to me, those original horrors born hundreds of years earlier that acted as morality tales to keep children in line. As an adult, I've encountered similar themes in some modern horror novels, but few are capable of pulling off that same dreamy atmosphere and pervasive sense of dread.
Not this one. With The Five Turns of the Wheel, Stephanie Ellis drops us into a living nightmare, dreamy because of the strange nature of the antagonists but terrifying as we recognize our own world and its inhabitants trapped in the center. Buckle in, this ride is a doozy!
Everything you need to know about the story occurs in a poem at the beginning, a chilling piece that immediately sets off warning bells. For myself, as a huge fan of folk horror, it immediately reeled me in. We find ourselves in the Weald, a series of villages prepping for an annual ritual, the Five Turns of the Wheel. And the master of ceremonies? Only some of the most riveting yet mysterious characters I've read, Tommy and his brothers, Fiddler and Betty. They breeze into town, eager and ready, hinting at their dark plans which fascinated me, as an eavesdropping reader, but had me looking over my shoulder in case the characters heard me. Seriously, they are vivid!
If I had one tiny complaint, it would be that the Weald's inhabitants paled a bit in comparison, at least at first. Liza definitely becomes a favorite, a woman known as a Wheelborn who has suffered dreadfully at the hands of Tommy and his father/lord, Hweol. She's so conflicted and morally gray, even during her PoV sections one is unsure how she'll ultimately act -- which I love. And some of her sections... wow. She really drives home the full weight of what women often sacrifice for others.
This is the ultimate in folk horror, a bit reminiscent of The Wicker Man but it goes so much deeper and darker. The rituals themselves are brutal, enough that I was biting my nails. And following Tommy through so much of the story...I can't recall the last time an antagonist fascinated me so. I never rooted for them, but damn if I wasn't thoroughly invested in what would happen. If there are other stories set in this universe, sign me up! I'm officially a Stephanie Ellis superfan, and I can't wait to see what else she has in store!
July 14, 2022
You like folk horror? Stephanie Ellis brings the folk horror.
The imagery is vivid. The horror is real. It's dark. The "Five Turns" is a ritual where a trio happens upon a community and brings with them terror and nightmare. Folk Horror might be my favorite type of horror, for it reaches to the most primordial terrors between humankind and the land they inhabit. Folk horror posits the 'old ways' are right.
And here, through shocking bloodshed and terror, a mother and daughter decide to end the violence. The plot unfolds in grim layers as they attempt to bring an end to the dark trios' reign of evil, through twists and turns that leave the reader on the age of their seat.
Ellis's prose is poetic and most uniquely, she sets the novel from the POV of the monsters themselves. It allows for their knowledge to lead the reader through the story, with shocking violence and cruelty.
It's a beautifully unique and chilling book. We need more of it.
The imagery is vivid. The horror is real. It's dark. The "Five Turns" is a ritual where a trio happens upon a community and brings with them terror and nightmare. Folk Horror might be my favorite type of horror, for it reaches to the most primordial terrors between humankind and the land they inhabit. Folk horror posits the 'old ways' are right.
And here, through shocking bloodshed and terror, a mother and daughter decide to end the violence. The plot unfolds in grim layers as they attempt to bring an end to the dark trios' reign of evil, through twists and turns that leave the reader on the age of their seat.
Ellis's prose is poetic and most uniquely, she sets the novel from the POV of the monsters themselves. It allows for their knowledge to lead the reader through the story, with shocking violence and cruelty.
It's a beautifully unique and chilling book. We need more of it.
November 17, 2020
3 and a half stars.
March 28, 2021
So good! I was captivated from the beginning by the mythos and the characters. The imagery was dark and bloody. It sucked me in and I couldn't look away.
July 10, 2021
Folk-lore horror/ Magic realm horror is not new to me, there are elements in most of Neil Gaiman’s work that hold a touch of Faerie in them. In a similar style, Stephanie Ellis has presented her world, similar in that the creatures and magical elements in the story are real, unavoidable, and bloodthirsty.
Let me first start off by saying that Folk horror is not something I gravitate to. I like reading it – when done well, as in here – sporadically. It’s such a break from the norm and a bridge between fantasy and horror, but the thing is, I started off my reading journey almost purely in fantasy and science fiction. I was a reader as a kid, that was my thing. The Riftwar Saga, Thomas covenant, Shanara, all books based in and around fantasy. Then came comics, and horror comics, Hellblazer, Sandman, Watchmen, Cerebus, the dark Knight returns, the great Vertigo run, 2000ad, and Slaine the barbarian in all his berserker glory, Rogue Trooper, Judge Dredd – you get the picture.
So, let’s start comparisons. Ellis has a way more poetic narrative. Way more. Like ratchet it past ten to 15, say. It’s a voice that is graceful, evocative, clear as crystal water. The presentation of the magical beings is, as noted, Gaimanesque in its presentation; there is nothing that the humans can do against the magical beings that are butchering their village. Acceptance, and hope that the victims will not be them this time around, is the method the villagers use to cling to their lives. And it’s a tenuous hope, we see people being burnt to death, cut by a million lashes, etc – The ritual of the yearly killings is immutable. It reminded me of a scene in Sandman where Loki is pointing a gun at a woman in a car, who cannot move – she cannot move because Loki has made her focus on a point, and now, she is trapped, her limbs quite unable react, and – oh look – the gun was always a cigarette. And the car she is in is set on fire, as the trapped woman mechanically uses her lighter and lights the cigarette held by Loki, but then drops the lighter, which is suddenly unbearably heavy, as she stares belligerently at a focal point not of her choosing as she begins to burn.
That’s the magic at play here. Impossible to fight, because it is as real as breathing.
I do have to say that this took a toll on me. This wasn’t easy reading (for me at least), I had to read this spread over an extended time, because the world here is so rich, and somewhat depressing in its inevitability, that I found myself fighting it – once you are in the world, it is subversive, it is a tragedy that demands to be played out. But upon surfacing for air, you consider the cost to yourself before you dive back in, before once again being spellbound.
Ellis has managed to import a whole world of Magical creatures into her folklore, a god, fairylike creatures, etc. and the rural setting of a sleepy English village, surrounded by four other villages in a star formation, fits Stephanie’s prose amazingly. The elegance of her prose hangs in counterpoint to the rather farm-orientated villagers. The thing is, it’s believable. It just reeks of observational commentary. The world-building here is exemplary, done so well that even though you are repulsed by the brutality of the world she has created, you want to believe that something like that could exist. You thrill that the story is about a mother and a daughter that want to desperately break the cycle of abuse and bloodshed, that have the strength to stand up to the monsters that have enslaved a whole area of Britain and its inhabitants.
And then she tells the story from the monster’s point of view.
I mean, that’s brilliance. That’s class.
I’m not going to do a synopsis of the book, I think it’s one you need to encounter in its full glory, as Stephanie intended, but I can say that the ending leaves threads open, and Stephanie has obligingly written a collection of shorts with return appearances of Tommy and Betty and the rest, called “As the wheel turns”, which I will, of course, be reading.
I’m giving this 4 out of 5 ⭐ ‘s- it is beautiful, horrific folk-lore horror, but a demanding book nevertheless.
Let me first start off by saying that Folk horror is not something I gravitate to. I like reading it – when done well, as in here – sporadically. It’s such a break from the norm and a bridge between fantasy and horror, but the thing is, I started off my reading journey almost purely in fantasy and science fiction. I was a reader as a kid, that was my thing. The Riftwar Saga, Thomas covenant, Shanara, all books based in and around fantasy. Then came comics, and horror comics, Hellblazer, Sandman, Watchmen, Cerebus, the dark Knight returns, the great Vertigo run, 2000ad, and Slaine the barbarian in all his berserker glory, Rogue Trooper, Judge Dredd – you get the picture.
So, let’s start comparisons. Ellis has a way more poetic narrative. Way more. Like ratchet it past ten to 15, say. It’s a voice that is graceful, evocative, clear as crystal water. The presentation of the magical beings is, as noted, Gaimanesque in its presentation; there is nothing that the humans can do against the magical beings that are butchering their village. Acceptance, and hope that the victims will not be them this time around, is the method the villagers use to cling to their lives. And it’s a tenuous hope, we see people being burnt to death, cut by a million lashes, etc – The ritual of the yearly killings is immutable. It reminded me of a scene in Sandman where Loki is pointing a gun at a woman in a car, who cannot move – she cannot move because Loki has made her focus on a point, and now, she is trapped, her limbs quite unable react, and – oh look – the gun was always a cigarette. And the car she is in is set on fire, as the trapped woman mechanically uses her lighter and lights the cigarette held by Loki, but then drops the lighter, which is suddenly unbearably heavy, as she stares belligerently at a focal point not of her choosing as she begins to burn.
That’s the magic at play here. Impossible to fight, because it is as real as breathing.
I do have to say that this took a toll on me. This wasn’t easy reading (for me at least), I had to read this spread over an extended time, because the world here is so rich, and somewhat depressing in its inevitability, that I found myself fighting it – once you are in the world, it is subversive, it is a tragedy that demands to be played out. But upon surfacing for air, you consider the cost to yourself before you dive back in, before once again being spellbound.
Ellis has managed to import a whole world of Magical creatures into her folklore, a god, fairylike creatures, etc. and the rural setting of a sleepy English village, surrounded by four other villages in a star formation, fits Stephanie’s prose amazingly. The elegance of her prose hangs in counterpoint to the rather farm-orientated villagers. The thing is, it’s believable. It just reeks of observational commentary. The world-building here is exemplary, done so well that even though you are repulsed by the brutality of the world she has created, you want to believe that something like that could exist. You thrill that the story is about a mother and a daughter that want to desperately break the cycle of abuse and bloodshed, that have the strength to stand up to the monsters that have enslaved a whole area of Britain and its inhabitants.
And then she tells the story from the monster’s point of view.
I mean, that’s brilliance. That’s class.
I’m not going to do a synopsis of the book, I think it’s one you need to encounter in its full glory, as Stephanie intended, but I can say that the ending leaves threads open, and Stephanie has obligingly written a collection of shorts with return appearances of Tommy and Betty and the rest, called “As the wheel turns”, which I will, of course, be reading.
I’m giving this 4 out of 5 ⭐ ‘s- it is beautiful, horrific folk-lore horror, but a demanding book nevertheless.
February 21, 2022
All those empty fields, the interminability of Nature, it was pretty. But after a while it got pretty boring. Its urban visitors soon scuttled back to the civilisation of fast broadband and reliable mobile coverage, the anonymity of crowds. Boring? Gentle? The idea would often make Hweol laugh. More blood was spilt in the fields and hedgerows than in the cities. The rural idyll was mere illusion.
In Hweol's valley, with its wheel of villages and Crop soe at its hub, the truth of Nature emerged. It raked its red claws across the landscape, turning the soil and the Wheel. It buried those who walked its surface. It paved the way for monsters living below ground to come up into the light.
Setting:
This novel takes place in modern day in a set of rural towns in the European countryside.
Characters:
Liza: Liza is a mother who has lived her full life under the menacing gaze of Hweol. She's fed up with the endless sacrifice and is going to do whatever she can to stop it.
Megan: Megan is Liza's daughter and an expecting mother herself. She shares her mother's disgust of the rituals and is also willing to fight for their end.
Plot:
Every year the wheel turns. The immortal men roll into town and lead the people in five nights of gruesome sacrifice to the ancient god Hweol.
My Thoughts:
Ultimately this novel does nothing wrong but is still tough to recommend because it is lacking a shark of originality.
This feels like the color by numbers version of a folk horror novel. Nothing is wrong with the final product but it winds up coming off as very formulaic. Being told right on the cover that there are five turns and then proceeding to go through those five events does not help this feeling. Barring one unpleasant to read scene late in the book is just quite forgettable.
In Hweol's valley, with its wheel of villages and Crop soe at its hub, the truth of Nature emerged. It raked its red claws across the landscape, turning the soil and the Wheel. It buried those who walked its surface. It paved the way for monsters living below ground to come up into the light.
Setting:
This novel takes place in modern day in a set of rural towns in the European countryside.
Characters:
Liza: Liza is a mother who has lived her full life under the menacing gaze of Hweol. She's fed up with the endless sacrifice and is going to do whatever she can to stop it.
Megan: Megan is Liza's daughter and an expecting mother herself. She shares her mother's disgust of the rituals and is also willing to fight for their end.
Plot:
Every year the wheel turns. The immortal men roll into town and lead the people in five nights of gruesome sacrifice to the ancient god Hweol.
My Thoughts:
Ultimately this novel does nothing wrong but is still tough to recommend because it is lacking a shark of originality.
This feels like the color by numbers version of a folk horror novel. Nothing is wrong with the final product but it winds up coming off as very formulaic. Being told right on the cover that there are five turns and then proceeding to go through those five events does not help this feeling. Barring one unpleasant to read scene late in the book is just quite forgettable.
December 12, 2020
This truly a dark and twisted story that really pulled you into the blood and strangeness of the whole situation. I found it well written and descriptive, I had no problem placing myself within the story, seeing the surroundings and the events of the story as they unfolded.
I felt the sorrow and unhappy feelings of the characters as things went on and really found myself wishing for a good ending, and that maybe Mother Nature herself would step in and real back in her blood thirsty son.
I did not like the ending of this one mostly because it did not really conclude well and left things unfinished, but I am going to remain hopeful that there will be another book to follow this one, that will wrap up the events.
I give this one a 4 out of 5 stars for sure and will look forward to more from this author, and hopefully more of this story line.
If you would like to read a more in-depth and detailed version of my thoughts and opinions of this novel, please be sure to check out my book blog ... skysbookblog.wordpress.com
I felt the sorrow and unhappy feelings of the characters as things went on and really found myself wishing for a good ending, and that maybe Mother Nature herself would step in and real back in her blood thirsty son.
I did not like the ending of this one mostly because it did not really conclude well and left things unfinished, but I am going to remain hopeful that there will be another book to follow this one, that will wrap up the events.
I give this one a 4 out of 5 stars for sure and will look forward to more from this author, and hopefully more of this story line.
If you would like to read a more in-depth and detailed version of my thoughts and opinions of this novel, please be sure to check out my book blog ... skysbookblog.wordpress.com
October 17, 2021
Stephanie Ellis has woven a compelling folk horror mythos out of a series of fascinating linguistic associations. With words and names like Wheel, Weald and Hweol, the reader has a sense of "wheels within wheels" before that specific term takes on a grim new significance by the middle of the story. It might also be noted that "wheel" and "cycle" both descend from the same root word in the Indo-European language family, and that word seems to signify "a thing that turns." Even readers who are not specifically aware of these associations will quickly apprehend them subconsciously.
The mythos revolving around Cropsoe and its connection to the shadow-world of Umbra is new, although the imagery will feel familiar to those with some background in English folklore. That familiarity keeps developments plausible; the novelty of the mythos frees the author to create features that will surprise the reader.
Within the rubric of folk horror, this novel combines supernatural peril with human complicity in nefarious rites for a dynamic blend. Perhaps the only discordant note is struck by the element of a musical enchantment that compels everyone -- sometimes even the intended sacrifice -- to follow the script. Folk horror is more effective when ordinary people perform monstrous deeds willingly. Where that freedom is short-circuited, the question of complicity becomes murkier and it is easy for the narrative to shift into an oppressor vs. oppressed scenario.
The mythos revolving around Cropsoe and its connection to the shadow-world of Umbra is new, although the imagery will feel familiar to those with some background in English folklore. That familiarity keeps developments plausible; the novelty of the mythos frees the author to create features that will surprise the reader.
Within the rubric of folk horror, this novel combines supernatural peril with human complicity in nefarious rites for a dynamic blend. Perhaps the only discordant note is struck by the element of a musical enchantment that compels everyone -- sometimes even the intended sacrifice -- to follow the script. Folk horror is more effective when ordinary people perform monstrous deeds willingly. Where that freedom is short-circuited, the question of complicity becomes murkier and it is easy for the narrative to shift into an oppressor vs. oppressed scenario.
December 4, 2020
Stephanie Ellis returns to Silver Shamrock with a folk/dark fantasy horror. I had no idea what to expect with this one, and I'm glad I went in blind, this one was a treat.
The Sons of Hweol have returned to celebrate the five turns of the wheel. A celebration of horrors and atrocities. Not all of the residents want to keep the status quo, but can they do anything about it?
One thing is certain for me, Stephanie Ellis is a master of setting an atmosphere. This book is absolutely oozing it. The book itself and the characters are well written and the story i found to be very interesting. It kept me turning the pages to see how the story would turn out.
Fans of folk horror and dark fantasy alike will be thrilled with this one. If those arent your cups of tea, I would still recommend giving this one a turn.
The Sons of Hweol have returned to celebrate the five turns of the wheel. A celebration of horrors and atrocities. Not all of the residents want to keep the status quo, but can they do anything about it?
One thing is certain for me, Stephanie Ellis is a master of setting an atmosphere. This book is absolutely oozing it. The book itself and the characters are well written and the story i found to be very interesting. It kept me turning the pages to see how the story would turn out.
Fans of folk horror and dark fantasy alike will be thrilled with this one. If those arent your cups of tea, I would still recommend giving this one a turn.
April 4, 2025
3.0/5 Stars
I honestly had a hard time following this book, but part of me feels like that was intentional. I thought that the descriptions and overall feel of the story were definitely gruesome and fitting for the horror genre. Many times I found myself absolutely disgusted by the actions of the characters. I can't say that I've read many horror novels where one of the main POVs was that of one of the villains. It definitely added an additional level to the book that I found interesting.
I think the author did a good job of blending horror and folklore in this novel. I just don't think I was quite the right audience for it.
Thank you to Netgalley and Brigids Gate Press for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
I honestly had a hard time following this book, but part of me feels like that was intentional. I thought that the descriptions and overall feel of the story were definitely gruesome and fitting for the horror genre. Many times I found myself absolutely disgusted by the actions of the characters. I can't say that I've read many horror novels where one of the main POVs was that of one of the villains. It definitely added an additional level to the book that I found interesting.
I think the author did a good job of blending horror and folklore in this novel. I just don't think I was quite the right audience for it.
Thank you to Netgalley and Brigids Gate Press for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
May 30, 2025
Publishing date: 21.05.2025 (DD/MM/YYYY)
Thank you to NetGalley and Brigids Gate Press for the ARC. My opinions are my own.
Keeping this short as I DNF'ed at 33%.
This was very hard to follow, the language was both overly flowery, too descriptive on some parts, and overly descriptive of others.
The characters were written to be evil, but the things they did just made me feel horrific. The plot itself is a standard "this terrible thing happens every year and it has to be done to sate an otherworldly being", but I found it uninteresting.
Two stars, not for me, and not interested in continuing. If you like reading evil characters with the backdrop of a town where "we do things because we have always done it this way", then this might be for you.
Thank you to NetGalley and Brigids Gate Press for the ARC. My opinions are my own.
Keeping this short as I DNF'ed at 33%.
This was very hard to follow, the language was both overly flowery, too descriptive on some parts, and overly descriptive of others.
The characters were written to be evil, but the things they did just made me feel horrific. The plot itself is a standard "this terrible thing happens every year and it has to be done to sate an otherworldly being", but I found it uninteresting.
Two stars, not for me, and not interested in continuing. If you like reading evil characters with the backdrop of a town where "we do things because we have always done it this way", then this might be for you.
March 17, 2023
Stephanie Ellis writes great dark reads . Her poetry is also great . The five turns of the wheel is a book based on sacrifice . Innocent people are murdered in the name of sacrifice to mother nature . Tommy , Betty and fiddler are sons of Hweol and looks after the sacrifice. Tommy's daughter megan tries to free the villagers from the poison of rituals . I liked the personality of Liza. This book becomes more interesting from ch 3 . Ch 1 was confusing for me . It's a great read . Definitely would recommend it .
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews