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The Lunchling: A Novella
Orville and Ellie Taylor would do anything to get their son to eat his dinner. Lennon's an exceedingly fussy kid, and desperate times call for desperate measures.
Which is why they started using the puppet.
"The Lunchling", they called it: an ugly little wooden doll with a funny voice. It was hideous, and dumb, and a little bit terrifying. And it was the only thing keeping Lennon alive.
Until it started trying to kill him...
Now Orville will do anything to get rid of the demented puppet, but it's not giving up easy. It's a part of the family now, and it's hungry...
The Lunchling is a tale of fear and family, inspired by the classic and iconic slasher movies of the eighties and nineties. This horror novella from Jay Alexander, author of Price Manor: The House That Falls and Starving Grounds (coming June 2022), will stick with you long after you've buried it underground.
Which is why they started using the puppet.
"The Lunchling", they called it: an ugly little wooden doll with a funny voice. It was hideous, and dumb, and a little bit terrifying. And it was the only thing keeping Lennon alive.
Until it started trying to kill him...
Now Orville will do anything to get rid of the demented puppet, but it's not giving up easy. It's a part of the family now, and it's hungry...
The Lunchling is a tale of fear and family, inspired by the classic and iconic slasher movies of the eighties and nineties. This horror novella from Jay Alexander, author of Price Manor: The House That Falls and Starving Grounds (coming June 2022), will stick with you long after you've buried it underground.
119 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 18, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
October 7, 2022
Aside from clowns, there is nothing else creepier than a doll. Especially one that talks, bites, and plans to steal your children to feed to its master. I liked the concept here a lot, especially as it utilized a great strategy in not just jumping into the Lunchling’s vicious ways. It was hinted at, then had subtle actions, and finally dove into the whole enchilada. Not necessarily a slow burn approach, but somewhat strategic. And the story itself was fine. Great lore and open points for possible sequels. Now there were several areas where the internal logic was suspended. If my wife and I were drunk in the woods and found a disgusting, dirty doll, I’m pretty sure we wouldn’t touch it, and definitely wouldn’t bring home for our child. And when the Lunchling started talking, blinking, and biting, Orville and Ellie agreed to go to bed and discuss in the morning. And they left the doll in its place inside the house where their child slept…um…yeah…I would’ve tied that thing to a tree outside and barricaded all the access points. I also, and I say this as a horror movie fiend, got very tired of the horror movie references. It was dozens of them just stuffed into a 114 page story, and they became tiresome quickly. And mentioning the length, I felt like there could have been a lot more building on Orville’s lost sister, Lennon’s difficulties, and the strained marriage dynamics. All good plotpoints, but they needed more attention and development. I also appreciated the author’s note on his experience writing the story. When I wrote the original Preternatural book, it was a completed manuscript. I sat on it for a few years before going back in, where I kept some of the material, but rewrote majority of it into a much more clear, concise, and desirable book. I didn’t think this came off as disjointed and enjoyed the author’s creativity, writing abilities, and willingness to complete his book.
June 10, 2022
I have always had a slight fear of puppets. They creep me out, like clowns and old dolls. This book just solidified that fear!
May 3, 2022
I’ve recently stumbled across a really fun bunch of kindle genre freebies. This was my first priority read – I’m familiar with Jay Alexander as an editor (he’d recently bought a short story of mine) and wanted to check him out as an author. Because, you know, it’s interesting to see what the person on the other side of the table can do. And sure enough, Alexander is a good storyteller in his own right if we’re going by this tale of mad puppets and hungry forest deities.
A blend of creature feature and folk, this is a story of an ordinary family that gets pinned against extraordinary circumstances.
And to think, all these parents wanted to do was to make sure their kid ate his food. The kid, a finnicky eater at best, needed to be tricked into it and so they did trick him - with a creepy old puppet they found in the woods while drunk. Obviously, that’s the moral right there…don’t bring creepy puppets you found in the woods while drunk back with you.
But then again, it worked for years. Creepy or not, the puppet delighted the kid and encouraged him to eat. Until it decided enough is enough and that the eater looked too much like food to resist. So much like food that he’d make a proper lovely sacrifice to the boss.
Cue in the puppet nightmare of your most extreme imaginings. Ready, set, go.
Can this family survive the Lunchling? Read and find out. It’s a short read, lots of fun and well worth checking out. Recommended.
This and more at https://advancetheplot.weebly.com/
A blend of creature feature and folk, this is a story of an ordinary family that gets pinned against extraordinary circumstances.
And to think, all these parents wanted to do was to make sure their kid ate his food. The kid, a finnicky eater at best, needed to be tricked into it and so they did trick him - with a creepy old puppet they found in the woods while drunk. Obviously, that’s the moral right there…don’t bring creepy puppets you found in the woods while drunk back with you.
But then again, it worked for years. Creepy or not, the puppet delighted the kid and encouraged him to eat. Until it decided enough is enough and that the eater looked too much like food to resist. So much like food that he’d make a proper lovely sacrifice to the boss.
Cue in the puppet nightmare of your most extreme imaginings. Ready, set, go.
Can this family survive the Lunchling? Read and find out. It’s a short read, lots of fun and well worth checking out. Recommended.
This and more at https://advancetheplot.weebly.com/
April 16, 2025
This is a fun little novella in the creepy-doll sub-genre, an old-fashioned small English town horror. It throws in a lot of ideas and possible topics that aren't pursued or developed (gay prejudice, politics of parenting, and who's the father, for example), and cites a bunch of old horror films for no particular reason other than to become vaguely annoying ('cause it's just too many), and the narrative seems to be split into two halves, set-up and chase and then a little confusion for an ending... But it was still a fun read. Anyone with children they've had trouble getting to eat properly (or do whatever, actually) will understand and sympathize. It had some funny bits and some poignant moments, and I enjoyed the read.
PS- one problem is that the story ends on page 142, then there's a note from the author and then acknowledgements and then, on page 148, is a section for "Content Warnings," which warns the reader about topics and language that may trigger them. Isn't the whole point of the content warning concept to warn the reader -before- they read the story? I mean, shouldn't that be in the -front- of the book? (Note: there's some bad language and mention of bullying and homophobia and such, but nothing I'd think the average reader would find too troublesome.)
PS- one problem is that the story ends on page 142, then there's a note from the author and then acknowledgements and then, on page 148, is a section for "Content Warnings," which warns the reader about topics and language that may trigger them. Isn't the whole point of the content warning concept to warn the reader -before- they read the story? I mean, shouldn't that be in the -front- of the book? (Note: there's some bad language and mention of bullying and homophobia and such, but nothing I'd think the average reader would find too troublesome.)
January 22, 2023
Very much not what I wanted or expected but it wasn’t horrible. I was expecting chucky or slappy the dummy vibes but this wasn’t exactly that. It seems a bit more folky, and while I’ve realized I love folk horror recently this one wasn’t really one I LOVED. I felt like it was honestly kind of slow, for how short it is, and was written in a style I don’t totally love (I’m not a prude but too much cussing in a book that doesn’t excel in the other areas too kinda gives me all edge no point vibes and this had lots of cussing just to be edgy/half hearted attempts at being funny moments to make up for lack of interesting stuff happening ). A lot of the meat of this story which we could have used for more creepy puppet scenes were used for a weird cheating backstory between the parents that I felt wasn’t necessary.
While I do wish more time was spent on the puppet I did like the section that was basically commentary on homophobia. That was pretty good!
Some of the imagery was chilling… but I felt like it was lessened by again- trying to give a comedic effect by having the puppet cuss and stuff.
Also not sure I liked the characters and in this you’re definitely supposed to, despite their flaws. Also Lennon’s reasons for not eating don’t make sense at all and you can tell the author didn’t care to make it make sense, so a big part of the book felt like a plot hole to me or at least an important plot point that should have been expanded on but wasn’t.
It was fun at times, but also just anti climatic too. The puppet and the way it operated in attacking was really intriguing. I wish this was executed differently, is all. But I really didn’t hate it. It wasn’t all bad. I’d probably read from this author again!
Though this does open up for a sequel at the end, and I don’t think I would pick that specific book up if it were to come out!
While I do wish more time was spent on the puppet I did like the section that was basically commentary on homophobia. That was pretty good!
Some of the imagery was chilling… but I felt like it was lessened by again- trying to give a comedic effect by having the puppet cuss and stuff.
Also not sure I liked the characters and in this you’re definitely supposed to, despite their flaws. Also Lennon’s reasons for not eating don’t make sense at all and you can tell the author didn’t care to make it make sense, so a big part of the book felt like a plot hole to me or at least an important plot point that should have been expanded on but wasn’t.
It was fun at times, but also just anti climatic too. The puppet and the way it operated in attacking was really intriguing. I wish this was executed differently, is all. But I really didn’t hate it. It wasn’t all bad. I’d probably read from this author again!
Though this does open up for a sequel at the end, and I don’t think I would pick that specific book up if it were to come out!
April 19, 2022
When young couple finds a small wooden ventriloquist doll in the middle of the woods their drunk asses naturally bring it home. Because us horror freaks wouldn't have any entertainment if people weren't stupid. Years later it comes very handy when encouraging their little son to eat. Except that's when they realise the doll is being very... creepy (duh).
Is this a topic that has been done before? Yeah. Should we stop doing this topic in horror books and movies? Hell no!
Creepy puppets and dolls will always work on me. And they rightfully belong on the list of scary things to use in horror. So I very much appreciated Jay's interpretation of what could go wrong if you rely on puppets when parenting your kids. God knows a lot of things can go wrong.
I liked the story, there were few creepy moments and the cover is absolutely gorgeous, such a beautiful art.
Jay writes believable characters in unbelievable situations and he's very much channeling some horror classics we all grew up with. Made me think of Goosebumps, Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark and even Evil Dead.
The only thing that disappointed me is that it wasn't longer 😅. There could've been a tiny bit more of horror, little more development to the story, but at the same time I sound like a hypocrat cause I've always been saying that short horror stories are my most favourite 😅.
Is this a topic that has been done before? Yeah. Should we stop doing this topic in horror books and movies? Hell no!
Creepy puppets and dolls will always work on me. And they rightfully belong on the list of scary things to use in horror. So I very much appreciated Jay's interpretation of what could go wrong if you rely on puppets when parenting your kids. God knows a lot of things can go wrong.
I liked the story, there were few creepy moments and the cover is absolutely gorgeous, such a beautiful art.
Jay writes believable characters in unbelievable situations and he's very much channeling some horror classics we all grew up with. Made me think of Goosebumps, Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark and even Evil Dead.
The only thing that disappointed me is that it wasn't longer 😅. There could've been a tiny bit more of horror, little more development to the story, but at the same time I sound like a hypocrat cause I've always been saying that short horror stories are my most favourite 😅.
June 7, 2022
Move over Chucky, get out of the way Billy the Doll and Slappy, you’ve just been slapped like a dummy… here is The Lunchling!
Jay Alexander’s mind must be one big jumble of weird beings and crazy creatures… he offered us as much in Starving Grounds and I’m sure we’ll see more of them in his later writing. He’s very talented and deserves all the love from us, his fans!
In his afterword, Jay writes he wrote this story in two parts, each part in a different time of his life. He worries it’s not a tight fit and that the story kind of got away from him, clearly showing it’s two separate halves… in a way that’s true, you can tell that one part is very introductory and shows his skills to story building… and the second part is where the climax comes and where he leads his readers to the woods, where we are brought into a hellish scene and a surprising scene… but both blend in perfectly and I’m sure one can not exist without the other! The match perfectly!
The story is also connected to a short from his collection, Starving Grounds, and it feels like he’s not done with this world. It feels like we might get more of Orville, Elly and Lennon (the way he set up the backgrounds of the characters kind of promises we might see them again sometime in the future) and I sure hope he does write a sequel or a kind of spin off.
Jay Alexander’s mind must be one big jumble of weird beings and crazy creatures… he offered us as much in Starving Grounds and I’m sure we’ll see more of them in his later writing. He’s very talented and deserves all the love from us, his fans!
In his afterword, Jay writes he wrote this story in two parts, each part in a different time of his life. He worries it’s not a tight fit and that the story kind of got away from him, clearly showing it’s two separate halves… in a way that’s true, you can tell that one part is very introductory and shows his skills to story building… and the second part is where the climax comes and where he leads his readers to the woods, where we are brought into a hellish scene and a surprising scene… but both blend in perfectly and I’m sure one can not exist without the other! The match perfectly!
The story is also connected to a short from his collection, Starving Grounds, and it feels like he’s not done with this world. It feels like we might get more of Orville, Elly and Lennon (the way he set up the backgrounds of the characters kind of promises we might see them again sometime in the future) and I sure hope he does write a sequel or a kind of spin off.
April 1, 2022
This is one creepy 81-page novella from my go-to horror author, Jay Alexander. Orville and Ellie Taylor's son Lennon is a fussy eater, he won't eat unless they bring out a puppet and demand him to eat, or he will eat him!!.
It's not an ordinary puppet, it's ghastly looking, made of wood and cloth, Orville hates to use it to make Lennon eat his dinner, but the kid loves it and makes him laugh. The puppet is always on top of the fridge and Orville starts to plan how to get rid of it, one day whilst getting something from the fridge Orville senses something watching him but can't see anything, it's only him and the puppet, and it starts to speak to him!!.
From then on it's a horror fest, the puppet has big plans for them and doesn't stop until fruition. I really liked it, a quick read with funny references (which lightens the mood) but it's gory, especially coming to the end.
The author mentions there might be a sequel and I really hope there is because it's screaming for it!!.
It's not an ordinary puppet, it's ghastly looking, made of wood and cloth, Orville hates to use it to make Lennon eat his dinner, but the kid loves it and makes him laugh. The puppet is always on top of the fridge and Orville starts to plan how to get rid of it, one day whilst getting something from the fridge Orville senses something watching him but can't see anything, it's only him and the puppet, and it starts to speak to him!!.
From then on it's a horror fest, the puppet has big plans for them and doesn't stop until fruition. I really liked it, a quick read with funny references (which lightens the mood) but it's gory, especially coming to the end.
The author mentions there might be a sequel and I really hope there is because it's screaming for it!!.
May 1, 2022
As a parent of a toddler who is something of a fussy eater, a story based around getting kids to just eat their damned meals was scary enough. Throw in a demonic puppet thing that has started blinking at you, and you’ve got some fine horror on your hands!
Jay’s writing feels really assured in this one - it’s punchy, full of pop culture references, and keeps you paying attention with little sentences here and there that make you go ‘what? When did I miss that?’ This is a fine, nasty tale that will make you look at puppets in a whole new way.
Now, seriously, can anyone suggest any good tips for getting my kid to eat that *don’t* involve cursed demon things??
Jay’s writing feels really assured in this one - it’s punchy, full of pop culture references, and keeps you paying attention with little sentences here and there that make you go ‘what? When did I miss that?’ This is a fine, nasty tale that will make you look at puppets in a whole new way.
Now, seriously, can anyone suggest any good tips for getting my kid to eat that *don’t* involve cursed demon things??
June 1, 2022
Wow.
A stunning surprise smash novella.
Holy shit. I loved it.
Parents suck sometimes, but aren't they just trying their damndest?
A stunning surprise smash novella.
Holy shit. I loved it.
Parents suck sometimes, but aren't they just trying their damndest?
June 16, 2022
And its mouth didn't move, but one last time, it spoke. 'He's mine,' it said, and its voice was different."
.
Let me start by saying, I expected a lot from this one, and it definitely delivered ALL the creepy vibes.
Lennon, is an eight year old boy who won't eat without coercion from a puppet nicknamed the Lunchling. That for me, was creepy by itself. Anytime a kid is a bit off in a horror book, I'm all over those vibes. I had to know, where this freaky puppet came from and why they had it in their home! And when I read that part I was yelling at the MC in the most satisfying way. Kind of how you yell at the characters in a good scary movie.
Then too, the parents seem to be prisoners with invisible shackles. They know they must follow the rules to keep their kid eating. Until one day, they decide it's enough. But unfortunately it just won't be that easy.....
...and I don't want to spoil any of it, so I'll stop here, but I want to commend Jay on the way he weaves his words. He can make anything scary, and if you don't believe that just pick up a copy of this from Amazon and see for yourself!
.
Let me start by saying, I expected a lot from this one, and it definitely delivered ALL the creepy vibes.
Lennon, is an eight year old boy who won't eat without coercion from a puppet nicknamed the Lunchling. That for me, was creepy by itself. Anytime a kid is a bit off in a horror book, I'm all over those vibes. I had to know, where this freaky puppet came from and why they had it in their home! And when I read that part I was yelling at the MC in the most satisfying way. Kind of how you yell at the characters in a good scary movie.
Then too, the parents seem to be prisoners with invisible shackles. They know they must follow the rules to keep their kid eating. Until one day, they decide it's enough. But unfortunately it just won't be that easy.....
...and I don't want to spoil any of it, so I'll stop here, but I want to commend Jay on the way he weaves his words. He can make anything scary, and if you don't believe that just pick up a copy of this from Amazon and see for yourself!
April 16, 2022
"And then came the Lunchling"
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Spoilers/Review for The Lunchling by Jay Alexander
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Orville's parents lied to him when he was young, and he promised he would never do the same. But when he has a son of his own, Lennon, Orville finds himself lying to his son, via the Lunchling. Ah the Lunchling, a creepy puppet thing which Lennon LOVES. Ellie and Orv use the Lunchling to encourage their son to eat. But it's just a puppet right? Or is there something more to the Lunchling?...
.
Jay aka @jay.writeshorror sent me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I do really enjoy Jay's works and always enjoy his stories!
.
One of the first things I want to mention here is a name: Orville. For a novella about a creepy puppet, it isn't hard to see where that name came from. But that is something I appreciate and made me smile a bit. Sometimes we have to have these references in the horror world. I really enjoyed this one from the start. The concept is really cool and I like how a creepy ventriloquist doll convince Lennon to eat and how Orville despises it. I like how the story grows and the characters grow with it. It is very easy to get lost in this world and it really keeps you interested as it grows. I can't say too much about the plot but Jay has a real way with words and this story is so well done. There is one really creepy scene which as you read it, really puts you on the edge! It's really easy to get lost in this story. My only thing was that the ending could have been squeezed a bit more. I like it, yes, but I feel a tiny bit more could have been added. That's just my opinion. Overall a really fun and dark tale that I really enjoyed and one I would recommend if you are either starting out with Jay or have read a few of his works before!
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Overall 4.5/5 🍴 (is there a puppet emoji???)
Many thanks to Jay for the ARC! The Lunchling is out soon!
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#TheLunchling #JayAlexander #ARC #AdvancedReviewCopy #Read #Reads #Readers #Reader #Review #Reviews #Book #Books #Bookstagram #Bookstagrammer #BooksBooksBooks #Indie #IndieHorror #SupportIndie #SupportIndieHorror #SRSReviews
.
Spoilers/Review for The Lunchling by Jay Alexander
.
Orville's parents lied to him when he was young, and he promised he would never do the same. But when he has a son of his own, Lennon, Orville finds himself lying to his son, via the Lunchling. Ah the Lunchling, a creepy puppet thing which Lennon LOVES. Ellie and Orv use the Lunchling to encourage their son to eat. But it's just a puppet right? Or is there something more to the Lunchling?...
.
Jay aka @jay.writeshorror sent me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I do really enjoy Jay's works and always enjoy his stories!
.
One of the first things I want to mention here is a name: Orville. For a novella about a creepy puppet, it isn't hard to see where that name came from. But that is something I appreciate and made me smile a bit. Sometimes we have to have these references in the horror world. I really enjoyed this one from the start. The concept is really cool and I like how a creepy ventriloquist doll convince Lennon to eat and how Orville despises it. I like how the story grows and the characters grow with it. It is very easy to get lost in this world and it really keeps you interested as it grows. I can't say too much about the plot but Jay has a real way with words and this story is so well done. There is one really creepy scene which as you read it, really puts you on the edge! It's really easy to get lost in this story. My only thing was that the ending could have been squeezed a bit more. I like it, yes, but I feel a tiny bit more could have been added. That's just my opinion. Overall a really fun and dark tale that I really enjoyed and one I would recommend if you are either starting out with Jay or have read a few of his works before!
.
Overall 4.5/5 🍴 (is there a puppet emoji???)
Many thanks to Jay for the ARC! The Lunchling is out soon!
.
#TheLunchling #JayAlexander #ARC #AdvancedReviewCopy #Read #Reads #Readers #Reader #Review #Reviews #Book #Books #Bookstagram #Bookstagrammer #BooksBooksBooks #Indie #IndieHorror #SupportIndie #SupportIndieHorror #SRSReviews
April 30, 2022
If you know me, you know I'm a huge sucker for creepy dolls/puppets and inanimate things coming to life. My heart practically lept with joy when I read the sypnosis and saw the author had it listed free for a limited time. I am so glad I snagged a copy because this story is AWESOME.
This short novella really packs a punch! It has well written and fleshed out characters with a heartwarming family dynamic. And a wooden puppet that starts off as a fun idea that quickly turns into a terrifying and menacing creature! Scary, gory, touching and at times funny! The author mentioned this may be the beginning of a series or a sequel, my response to that? HELL YEAH! & PLEASE.
If a toy company starts making Lunchling puppets, I'm gonna be the first to buy one so he can be friends with my Zuni Warrior. Maybe I'll even put it to good use for my own fussy eater at home! Haha
If you're in the mood for a creepy puppet story that's full of horror movie references and borders on folk horror - I highly recommend you check this one out!
This short novella really packs a punch! It has well written and fleshed out characters with a heartwarming family dynamic. And a wooden puppet that starts off as a fun idea that quickly turns into a terrifying and menacing creature! Scary, gory, touching and at times funny! The author mentioned this may be the beginning of a series or a sequel, my response to that? HELL YEAH! & PLEASE.
If a toy company starts making Lunchling puppets, I'm gonna be the first to buy one so he can be friends with my Zuni Warrior. Maybe I'll even put it to good use for my own fussy eater at home! Haha
If you're in the mood for a creepy puppet story that's full of horror movie references and borders on folk horror - I highly recommend you check this one out!
May 14, 2022
When their son Lennon won’t eat his food, his parents use a weird doll puppet thing they find in the woods to help encourage him to eat.
But this doll, named the Lunchling, is more than what it first seems. Soon Lennon’s parents start to see things they shouldn’t. And soon, the Lunchling is moving by himself.
Oh this novella scared me. Doll stuff freaks me out anyway, but there were a couple of moments when I felt so uncomfortable with the idea of this thing moving around their house. Ahh. A perfect short horror read. Nothing too extreme, but scary enough!
But this doll, named the Lunchling, is more than what it first seems. Soon Lennon’s parents start to see things they shouldn’t. And soon, the Lunchling is moving by himself.
Oh this novella scared me. Doll stuff freaks me out anyway, but there were a couple of moments when I felt so uncomfortable with the idea of this thing moving around their house. Ahh. A perfect short horror read. Nothing too extreme, but scary enough!
July 24, 2022
This was a super fun and creepy haunted puppet novella! After not being super thrilled by night of the mannequins I went into this one not knowing how much I’d enjoy it, but I was pleasantly surprised.
I enjoyed how it ended and set itself up to be part of a series, and I’m looking forward to the next installment that was just recently announced.
If you’re a fan of creepy horror novellas with a side of mild gore, I recommend giving this one a try!
I enjoyed how it ended and set itself up to be part of a series, and I’m looking forward to the next installment that was just recently announced.
If you’re a fan of creepy horror novellas with a side of mild gore, I recommend giving this one a try!
November 20, 2022
PLEASE WRITE MORE !!!! I never give novella 5 stars ! I loved this but I want MORE !!
July 1, 2022
Jay Alexander does something wickedly fun here.
One of my favorite things about this book is how the author manages to bypass the silly trope of "i'm the only one seeing this."
I lead with this because it says a lot about the book itself. Creating what should be a cute little puppet character (that already sounds spooky to me even before all the creepy shit happens, a la Chucky) we're treated to something outright spooky. In fact, much like Chucky, while it's a fun and silly premise that makes me think of something out of Tales From The Crypt, Jay's treatment of it in a serious way allows it to go full tilt horror.
Not diving into the trope that only the husband is seeing it for what it is, allows for a larger scope of horror, crazier highs as we're treated to a devilish plot that kept me entertained and tense. Butthole squeezed tight, i was fully invested in how this story would play out.
And being a novella only made the rather short ride all the more thrilling, as the pages dwindled and the crazy escalated.
One of my favorite things about this book is how the author manages to bypass the silly trope of "i'm the only one seeing this."
I lead with this because it says a lot about the book itself. Creating what should be a cute little puppet character (that already sounds spooky to me even before all the creepy shit happens, a la Chucky) we're treated to something outright spooky. In fact, much like Chucky, while it's a fun and silly premise that makes me think of something out of Tales From The Crypt, Jay's treatment of it in a serious way allows it to go full tilt horror.
Not diving into the trope that only the husband is seeing it for what it is, allows for a larger scope of horror, crazier highs as we're treated to a devilish plot that kept me entertained and tense. Butthole squeezed tight, i was fully invested in how this story would play out.
And being a novella only made the rather short ride all the more thrilling, as the pages dwindled and the crazy escalated.
April 14, 2022
Evil wasn’t invited, it was carried in. In this horror novella, we are introduced to two parents, Ellie and Orville, who get creative in enticing their child to eat. In so doing, they build a tale without realizing the creature’s goal is much more insidious than they would have expected.
Once Ellie and Orville, start rethinking their use of the eerie puppet, the doubt sets in and the bloodshed starts!
At one point, the Lunchling’s purpose gave me Hoggle from Labyrinth vibes, and I almost felt sorry for it.That feeling was quickly devoured by the disdain for the creature’s insistence in serving its purpose!
I absolutely adored the author’s use of onomatopoeia to add to the terror, “pap-pap-pap” is now forever linked to the Lunchling! Another awesome element was Orville’s breakdown of his own choices versus what would happen in a movie! Was worth the blood pressure spikes, where you hear the beat of your heart as if it’s right in your eardrums!
Once Ellie and Orville, start rethinking their use of the eerie puppet, the doubt sets in and the bloodshed starts!
At one point, the Lunchling’s purpose gave me Hoggle from Labyrinth vibes, and I almost felt sorry for it.That feeling was quickly devoured by the disdain for the creature’s insistence in serving its purpose!
I absolutely adored the author’s use of onomatopoeia to add to the terror, “pap-pap-pap” is now forever linked to the Lunchling! Another awesome element was Orville’s breakdown of his own choices versus what would happen in a movie! Was worth the blood pressure spikes, where you hear the beat of your heart as if it’s right in your eardrums!
November 20, 2022
The story starts off with the narrator discussing his history with lies, and then a detailed account of how he’d break the Lunchling puppet in the fridge door! Yikes! This sets the tone of the book, and gives us a background on why the family uses the Lunchling instead of lying or forcing their son to eat.
“I thought about slamming that door on the thing’s fucking legs anyway, just to hear the slow, wet crack of the knees breaking backward and the soft clatter of the little pegs tumbling into the back of the refrigerator.”
Things get crazy creepy (I too have always been suspicious of hand puppets), and even a little cosmic (Old Gods anyone?) leading to a fantastical story. I really hope there’s another book in the works as I would love to read more!
“I thought about slamming that door on the thing’s fucking legs anyway, just to hear the slow, wet crack of the knees breaking backward and the soft clatter of the little pegs tumbling into the back of the refrigerator.”
Things get crazy creepy (I too have always been suspicious of hand puppets), and even a little cosmic (Old Gods anyone?) leading to a fantastical story. I really hope there’s another book in the works as I would love to read more!
October 12, 2022
It is the dreaded situation for a book reviewer: a book that is just fine. There is not much I want to complain about per se but I also didn't love my reading experience here. It is a fun little story about a creepy doll, no more, no less. I feel like just by hearing the title you already know if this intrigues you, I honestly think that is all you need to know. It is a novella so it's not like you are wasting much time. You can already tell that this is likely not a life changing story but something for the times when you just want to kick back with a slightly crazy, entertaining quick read and that's what this. No more, no less.
The writing wasn't necessarily a standout for me. Especially in the first half there are so many Horror and specifically Slasher movie references (Alexander actually explains in the afterword why the first half reads a teeny bit different to the second half), which is something I often adore in my Horror reads but it was just too much, it was like he was trying too hard. I also feel like that the writer background of the dad and how he is working on his new Slasher novel "Frog Man" that the publisher thinks won't sell (which is obviously very self-inspired, Mr. Alexander, innit?) took up too many pages without adding much of substance to the tale told. I am a big fan of bringing what is necessary and chucking what is bloaty when it comes to storytelling, yes, this is only a novella but it could have used more focus (aka more editing).
Then there is the kid in the story, the little boy who doesn't want to eat and therefor Lunchling comes into the house. But did he make sense? He was supposed to be 8 years old but making this much fuss about being unwilling to sit down for meals unless a puppet convinces him yet at the same time he sits and watches R rated Horror movies, I dunno... I mean what is it now: mature or immature for his age?
But there was definitely stuff that I liked. The underlying discussion of being honest with your children was great. Generally, centering a story around something that sounds so mundane: a child that is a fussy eater. But if you ever had to deal with kids and their quirks you know it can take over the day quickly, plus it was also something fresh to land a Horror story into. And the more we get into it the better and more entertaining this gets. I loved seeing Lunchling in action (though I could have done without his choppy way of talking, maybe creepy dolls should not talk for me period), but the unsettling dolly head turns and man, those teeth, yikes. The Folk Horror influences towards the end were so unexpected and while I am often not a fan of that subgenre I honestly welcomed it here. Again, fresh and fun.
The ending opens its gate towards a sequel and I for one don't think I need that. Maybe it's that creepy dolls only reach that far for me but I don't think we need to extend on this universe. If this story should have taught Alexander anything it's that you should let creepy puppets lie where they are, don't pick/ dig them up again!
The writing wasn't necessarily a standout for me. Especially in the first half there are so many Horror and specifically Slasher movie references (Alexander actually explains in the afterword why the first half reads a teeny bit different to the second half), which is something I often adore in my Horror reads but it was just too much, it was like he was trying too hard. I also feel like that the writer background of the dad and how he is working on his new Slasher novel "Frog Man" that the publisher thinks won't sell (which is obviously very self-inspired, Mr. Alexander, innit?) took up too many pages without adding much of substance to the tale told. I am a big fan of bringing what is necessary and chucking what is bloaty when it comes to storytelling, yes, this is only a novella but it could have used more focus (aka more editing).
Then there is the kid in the story, the little boy who doesn't want to eat and therefor Lunchling comes into the house. But did he make sense? He was supposed to be 8 years old but making this much fuss about being unwilling to sit down for meals unless a puppet convinces him yet at the same time he sits and watches R rated Horror movies, I dunno... I mean what is it now: mature or immature for his age?
But there was definitely stuff that I liked. The underlying discussion of being honest with your children was great. Generally, centering a story around something that sounds so mundane: a child that is a fussy eater. But if you ever had to deal with kids and their quirks you know it can take over the day quickly, plus it was also something fresh to land a Horror story into. And the more we get into it the better and more entertaining this gets. I loved seeing Lunchling in action (though I could have done without his choppy way of talking, maybe creepy dolls should not talk for me period), but the unsettling dolly head turns and man, those teeth, yikes. The Folk Horror influences towards the end were so unexpected and while I am often not a fan of that subgenre I honestly welcomed it here. Again, fresh and fun.
The ending opens its gate towards a sequel and I for one don't think I need that. Maybe it's that creepy dolls only reach that far for me but I don't think we need to extend on this universe. If this story should have taught Alexander anything it's that you should let creepy puppets lie where they are, don't pick/ dig them up again!
September 12, 2024
Imagina que vas a ver una película de terror y, en lugar de sustos, terminas viendo una conmovedora relación entre padre e hijo, tan cálida y entrañable que olvidas que se supone que estabas en una pesadilla con muñecos poseídos. Bueno, eso es básicamente lo que te espera en “The Lunchling: A Novella”.
Jay Alexander tiene una habilidad innegable para escribir sobre las emociones humanas, tan efectiva que uno se pregunta: ¿por qué no está escribiendo drama o romance? Porque, si vamos a ser sinceros, lo único memorable de esta novela de "terror" son esas interacciones humanas. El resto... bueno, digamos que la trama parece un revoltijo de ideas: muñecos demoníacos, deidades lovecraftianas, posesiones demoníacas a medio cocer... ¡y todo en solo 100 páginas! Alexander no parece decidirse si está escribiendo “Chucky: el muñeco diabólico” o “La llamada de Cthulhu”, pero lo que sí nos queda claro es que está probando todas sus opciones.
Lo más curioso —o aterrador, dependiendo de tu perspectiva— es que el libro promete una secuela. ¿De verdad necesitamos más? Parece que alguien debería recordarle al autor que ya tuvimos suficiente con Chucky, Leprechaun, Pennywise y compañía. Ni siquiera Grady Hendrix logró salir airoso con su novela de juguetes poseídos, así que no sé por qué Alexander pensó que sería una buena idea volver a intentarlo.
“The Lunchling: A Novella” ni asusta, ni divierte, ni emociona —más allá de la entrañable relación entre Orvile y Lennon—. Y lo peor, no hay muñeco o deidad cósmica que nos salve de la sensación de haber leído algo que, honestamente, mejor habría sido una novela dramática sobre relaciones familiares... sin muñecos diabólicos de por medio.
Jay Alexander tiene una habilidad innegable para escribir sobre las emociones humanas, tan efectiva que uno se pregunta: ¿por qué no está escribiendo drama o romance? Porque, si vamos a ser sinceros, lo único memorable de esta novela de "terror" son esas interacciones humanas. El resto... bueno, digamos que la trama parece un revoltijo de ideas: muñecos demoníacos, deidades lovecraftianas, posesiones demoníacas a medio cocer... ¡y todo en solo 100 páginas! Alexander no parece decidirse si está escribiendo “Chucky: el muñeco diabólico” o “La llamada de Cthulhu”, pero lo que sí nos queda claro es que está probando todas sus opciones.
Lo más curioso —o aterrador, dependiendo de tu perspectiva— es que el libro promete una secuela. ¿De verdad necesitamos más? Parece que alguien debería recordarle al autor que ya tuvimos suficiente con Chucky, Leprechaun, Pennywise y compañía. Ni siquiera Grady Hendrix logró salir airoso con su novela de juguetes poseídos, así que no sé por qué Alexander pensó que sería una buena idea volver a intentarlo.
“The Lunchling: A Novella” ni asusta, ni divierte, ni emociona —más allá de la entrañable relación entre Orvile y Lennon—. Y lo peor, no hay muñeco o deidad cósmica que nos salve de la sensación de haber leído algo que, honestamente, mejor habría sido una novela dramática sobre relaciones familiares... sin muñecos diabólicos de por medio.
March 10, 2023
3.5⭐️ Read on this one. The writing was really good. The author’s note put a lot into perspective on the writing style. I see what he means by how the ending culminated into a bit of a lot if that makes any sense LOL. But all in all, this was a fantastic read and a very creepy concept! Definitely recommend and it helps that it’s a very quick read!
December 29, 2022
I don’t know if this was meant to be a horror or a comedy? Either way I bloody enjoyed it.
January 18, 2023
nice short read i really liked the authors note and the ending was great. made me feel squirmy and gross in some parts, i’m not mad at it! 😊
July 7, 2026
Do puppets creep you out? Do you watch them, waiting for them to move on their own accord? If so, this is definitely the book for you.
So much fun!
So much fun!
July 29, 2023
Orval and Ellie Taylor, find a old creepy puppet in the woods and decide to take it home. They use it to get their son Lennon to eat his food, so they dubbed it The Luncling. Did they find this doll or did it find them?
The Lunchling, has more sinister plans for the Taylor family. Plans that will feed his Master!
The Lunchling, has more sinister plans for the Taylor family. Plans that will feed his Master!
May 5, 2022
Rounded up from 4.5 stars.
“Orville and Ellie Taylor would do anything to get their son to eat his dinner. Lennon’s a fussy kid, and desperate times call for desperate measures.
Which is why they started using the puppet”
This was my first of Jays stories and I had so much fun with it! It’s completely bonkers in the best way!
I particularly enjoyed the creepy build up, the old ‘must be my imagination’, adult being overworked, overstressed, needs a lie down, nuttiness.
The Lunchling is told from the perspective of Orville who, along with wife Ellie, just wants to get their young son to eat. Upon finding a long discarded puppet in the woods on a walk home from the pub, an alcohol fuelled decision is made to bring it home to Lennon. Which turns out to be a huge parenting faux pas. Because The Lunchling is not a friendly fella. Even Keith Harris would have thought twice before sticking his hand up it’s jacksie.
I loved the slasher references, a tender moment between Orville and Lennon which was handled beautifully and the puppet itself was chilling.
Jay goes to great lengths to let the reader know that Lennon finds it hilarious rather than terrifying and when the parents double down with a different frightening story, Lennon emphatically rebuffs it.
My takeaway from this cracking little novella is this…
It was a wild ride, fast paced, scary with moments of absolute gold that are representative of the calibre of Jays writing.
But please, should you ever come across a puppet abandoned in the woods, kill it. Kill it with fire!
“Orville and Ellie Taylor would do anything to get their son to eat his dinner. Lennon’s a fussy kid, and desperate times call for desperate measures.
Which is why they started using the puppet”
This was my first of Jays stories and I had so much fun with it! It’s completely bonkers in the best way!
I particularly enjoyed the creepy build up, the old ‘must be my imagination’, adult being overworked, overstressed, needs a lie down, nuttiness.
The Lunchling is told from the perspective of Orville who, along with wife Ellie, just wants to get their young son to eat. Upon finding a long discarded puppet in the woods on a walk home from the pub, an alcohol fuelled decision is made to bring it home to Lennon. Which turns out to be a huge parenting faux pas. Because The Lunchling is not a friendly fella. Even Keith Harris would have thought twice before sticking his hand up it’s jacksie.
I loved the slasher references, a tender moment between Orville and Lennon which was handled beautifully and the puppet itself was chilling.
Jay goes to great lengths to let the reader know that Lennon finds it hilarious rather than terrifying and when the parents double down with a different frightening story, Lennon emphatically rebuffs it.
My takeaway from this cracking little novella is this…
It was a wild ride, fast paced, scary with moments of absolute gold that are representative of the calibre of Jays writing.
But please, should you ever come across a puppet abandoned in the woods, kill it. Kill it with fire!
May 20, 2022
this novella is so much creepy fun, read the damn thing. I cannot wait to get my hands on more of this author's work.
May 10, 2022
There’s a funny reason I picked up this book. I was a picky eater when I was a child. I remember my usual lunch: friend chicken and French fries, but even so, I very often simply refused to eat. My grandmother had received a creepy doll from a friend as a gift to me. In the early 90s Romania, all children had more or less the same toys, not very colourful and not very fun, but I was surprisingly fond of this one (I still have it) and same as with the little boy from this novella, my parents used this boy doll to make me sit at the table and eat (we would "share" the food haha). The good part is that my doll wasn’t evil and trying to sacrifice me to some unearthly being (I hope 😊). So, this explains part of the appeal of this novella. I really enjoyed it was just the right amount of creepy. It was packed with great action, well-paced, it was even funny at times, like a campfire tale, keeping me on the edge of my seat. But despite of the action and the scary stuff, it also had soul. I loved that. I loved the father. He was so endearing in his love for his family and so honest, I very much wanted him to be safe at the end of this book. Not just physically, but also from an emotional point of view.
I would recommend this to 80s horror and folk horror fans. Trust me, it’s a fun ride.
I would recommend this to 80s horror and folk horror fans. Trust me, it’s a fun ride.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 21, 2022
Spoiler Free Novella Review
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The Lunchling is a spine-chilling little horror story about a puppet gone bad (are they ever good😬🤷🏻♀️). I enjoy Jay’s writing and puppets always creep me out, so I thought this would be a fun read and I wasn’t disappointed. It’s gory and grotesque in parts, but Jay’s reined it in a bit from some of his earlier writing, and I think this works better.
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I loved the idea behind the Lunchling and I connected to the characters right away. The style of writing went from slasher to folklore which was a little jarring, but I appreciated the author’s note at the end that addressed that piece. There were a couple of things that could have been better defined and/or fleshed out, but overall I thought this was a solid tale and I had a blast reading it.
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I’m also even more excited to read Starving Ground, a collection of tales of folk horror, now that I know how well that style fits the author…and let’s just say I won’t be disappointed if I see the Lunchling make a return appearance one of these days!
•
The Lunchling is a spine-chilling little horror story about a puppet gone bad (are they ever good😬🤷🏻♀️). I enjoy Jay’s writing and puppets always creep me out, so I thought this would be a fun read and I wasn’t disappointed. It’s gory and grotesque in parts, but Jay’s reined it in a bit from some of his earlier writing, and I think this works better.
•
I loved the idea behind the Lunchling and I connected to the characters right away. The style of writing went from slasher to folklore which was a little jarring, but I appreciated the author’s note at the end that addressed that piece. There were a couple of things that could have been better defined and/or fleshed out, but overall I thought this was a solid tale and I had a blast reading it.
•
I’m also even more excited to read Starving Ground, a collection of tales of folk horror, now that I know how well that style fits the author…and let’s just say I won’t be disappointed if I see the Lunchling make a return appearance one of these days!
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