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Misconduct
Misconduct is a supernatural horror story centered around the roller derby community.
Kara is a roller derby jammer who is still recovering from the pandemic, when the derby community is struck by several bizarre and lethal accidents. She must figure out how and why this is happening to save lives and maintain the community she’s grown to love and rely on, all while trying to score points and stay out of the penalty box.
Kara is a roller derby jammer who is still recovering from the pandemic, when the derby community is struck by several bizarre and lethal accidents. She must figure out how and why this is happening to save lives and maintain the community she’s grown to love and rely on, all while trying to score points and stay out of the penalty box.
100 pages, Paperback
Published October 31, 2021
7 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 31, 2021
When her only safe place becomes a perpetual nightmare, Kara is desperate to end the bloodshed and takes matters into her own unsure hands.
In her debut novella, author Victoria Valeri takes the reader on a dark and sensory journey.
Kara - a seasoned player - finds her identity, her solace, and her chosen family in the roller derby community. When that community is threatened by a series of gruesome deaths, we spiral along with Kara as she clings for sanity in the midst of trauma after trauma in a desperate bid to see herself, her friends, and her one refuge in the world make it out intact. Even if no one believes her.
Valeri writes in raw, visceral detail about the realities of anxiety, depression, trauma, and fear of abandonment. She’s able to transport the reader into possessing Kara both on the track, in the throws of anxiety, and even into experiencing her trauma, making this read palpable and the tension real. A challenge with any fiction that heavily features sport or gameplay is that the audience needs a run down, and Valeri found a satisfying balance between mapping out the experience of roller derby and solid, intentional character development. Also, to my delight, there is a seamless integration of queer characters woven throughout: honest and thoughtful representation matters.
This read is captivating and authentic in its vulnerability. With a well-paced reveal, and a building sense of foreboding, this horrific tale of dread may lead you toward a satisfying (if gruesome) certainty of what’s to come...but don’t be too sure.
I highly recommend this book for horror readers of all gore-appropriate ages (regardless of familiarity with roller derby), for lovers of queer fiction, for athletes who have given every ounce of themselves for the game, and for anyone who has ever wanted to escape the real world for a little while. I look forward to future works from this author!
5/5
In her debut novella, author Victoria Valeri takes the reader on a dark and sensory journey.
Kara - a seasoned player - finds her identity, her solace, and her chosen family in the roller derby community. When that community is threatened by a series of gruesome deaths, we spiral along with Kara as she clings for sanity in the midst of trauma after trauma in a desperate bid to see herself, her friends, and her one refuge in the world make it out intact. Even if no one believes her.
Valeri writes in raw, visceral detail about the realities of anxiety, depression, trauma, and fear of abandonment. She’s able to transport the reader into possessing Kara both on the track, in the throws of anxiety, and even into experiencing her trauma, making this read palpable and the tension real. A challenge with any fiction that heavily features sport or gameplay is that the audience needs a run down, and Valeri found a satisfying balance between mapping out the experience of roller derby and solid, intentional character development. Also, to my delight, there is a seamless integration of queer characters woven throughout: honest and thoughtful representation matters.
This read is captivating and authentic in its vulnerability. With a well-paced reveal, and a building sense of foreboding, this horrific tale of dread may lead you toward a satisfying (if gruesome) certainty of what’s to come...but don’t be too sure.
I highly recommend this book for horror readers of all gore-appropriate ages (regardless of familiarity with roller derby), for lovers of queer fiction, for athletes who have given every ounce of themselves for the game, and for anyone who has ever wanted to escape the real world for a little while. I look forward to future works from this author!
5/5
November 9, 2021
Kara is a jammer on a roller derby team when her old skates break. Being broke because of Covid, she goes to a second-hand shop and finds a pair of skates with a candy cane stripe. She’s having a great time being back in the ring, until people around her begin dying if they rough her up too much.
I really enjoyed Misconduct! I’ve never read a horror story based on sports or activities like this before, and it was really interesting. I’m also a sucker for a cursed object.
Thank you Victoria for the chance to read this advanced review copy!
I really enjoyed Misconduct! I’ve never read a horror story based on sports or activities like this before, and it was really interesting. I’m also a sucker for a cursed object.
Thank you Victoria for the chance to read this advanced review copy!
October 25, 2021
A wonderful horror story that starts by cheerfully drawing the reader into the world of roller derby, then it grabs them with a dark turn and it doesn't let go until the chilling conclusion. Along the way there's some stellar characterization and some lovely LGBT+ representation. If you're hesitant because you don't know much about roller derby, the author does a great job of explaining just a little bit more than you need to follow the story -- so you might feel like you're learning something too. And she has a real knack for writing characters whose struggles are relatable, even if you've never laced up a roller skate or been plagued by a string of horrific gory "accidents" taking the lives and limbs of people around you. Especially considering it is her first published work, Misconduct is really outstanding!!
December 31, 2021
Was utterly charmed by this roller derby haunted object horror novel.
Quick storytelling, and some interesting kills round out this love story to the sport that Victoria clearly adores.
Kara is a jammer who is finally back to playing after a long pandemic layoff. When her diehard skates fail, she doesn't know how she can afford to replace them. A chance find in a thrift shop bring her a pair in exactly her size, racing stripes as all.
As the season takes off a string of weird accidents start happening. Usually to people who have bumped Kara too hard, or run a penalty on her during the match. Unsure of what's happening it comes back to the only change in her game. And the history of the skates before they came into her possession.
Thank you so much to Victoria for providing me with an ARC of this title.
A must read for derby-heads
Quick storytelling, and some interesting kills round out this love story to the sport that Victoria clearly adores.
Kara is a jammer who is finally back to playing after a long pandemic layoff. When her diehard skates fail, she doesn't know how she can afford to replace them. A chance find in a thrift shop bring her a pair in exactly her size, racing stripes as all.
As the season takes off a string of weird accidents start happening. Usually to people who have bumped Kara too hard, or run a penalty on her during the match. Unsure of what's happening it comes back to the only change in her game. And the history of the skates before they came into her possession.
Thank you so much to Victoria for providing me with an ARC of this title.
A must read for derby-heads
July 5, 2023
I personally don't know anything about roller derby, but I still loved this story! It was a great short horror story with a good amount of gore and a solid, creepy ending.
I'll be looking forward to future writings by Victoria!
I'll be looking forward to future writings by Victoria!
November 13, 2021
What a treat this book was❤️ if you’re in the Derby community, this will make you feel all the feels. Misconduct is not only a horror novella, it’s a love letter to a sport and a community. However, even if you have no idea what Roller Derby is, you’ll still enjoy the bone breaking, gore splattering and chilling journey this book takes us on.
January 17, 2022
A suspenseful read for young and old loaded with dagger-sharp twists and cliffhangers that will keep you reading on til the last drop of blood has been shed.
Not for the faint of heart or weak of stomach. Reader be wary, it's gonna get scary - a stellar debut by Victoria Valeri!
Not for the faint of heart or weak of stomach. Reader be wary, it's gonna get scary - a stellar debut by Victoria Valeri!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews