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The Vessel
'A watcher may remark that after sleeping for so long, the building appears to have been roused.'
Struggling with money, raising a child alone and fleeing a volatile ex, Jess McMachen accepts a job caring for an elderly patient. Flo Gardner—a disturbed shut-in and invalid. But if Jess can hold this job down, she and her daughter, Izzy, can begin a new life.
Flo's vast home, Nerthus House, may resemble a stately vicarage in an idyllic village, but the labyrinthine interior is a dark, cluttered warren filled with pagan artefacts.
And Nerthus House lives in the shadow of a malevolent secret. A sinister enigma determined to reveal itself to Jess and to drive her to the end of her tether. Not only is she stricken by the malign manipulation of the Vicarage's bleak past, but mercurial Flo is soon casting a baleful influence over young Izzy. What appeared to be a routine job soon becomes a battle for Jess's sanity and the control of her child.
It's as if an ancient ritual was triggered when Jess crossed the threshold of the vicarage. A rite leading her and Izzy to a terrifying critical mass, where all will be lost or saved.
An eerie folk horror novel from the author of Cunning Folk, The Reddening, The Ritual, No One Gets Out Alive and the four times winner of the August Derleth Award for Best Horror Novel.
Struggling with money, raising a child alone and fleeing a volatile ex, Jess McMachen accepts a job caring for an elderly patient. Flo Gardner—a disturbed shut-in and invalid. But if Jess can hold this job down, she and her daughter, Izzy, can begin a new life.
Flo's vast home, Nerthus House, may resemble a stately vicarage in an idyllic village, but the labyrinthine interior is a dark, cluttered warren filled with pagan artefacts.
And Nerthus House lives in the shadow of a malevolent secret. A sinister enigma determined to reveal itself to Jess and to drive her to the end of her tether. Not only is she stricken by the malign manipulation of the Vicarage's bleak past, but mercurial Flo is soon casting a baleful influence over young Izzy. What appeared to be a routine job soon becomes a battle for Jess's sanity and the control of her child.
It's as if an ancient ritual was triggered when Jess crossed the threshold of the vicarage. A rite leading her and Izzy to a terrifying critical mass, where all will be lost or saved.
An eerie folk horror novel from the author of Cunning Folk, The Reddening, The Ritual, No One Gets Out Alive and the four times winner of the August Derleth Award for Best Horror Novel.
149 pages, Paperback
First published October 31, 2022
702 people are currently reading
13160 people want to read
About the author
Adam L.G. Nevill
76 books5,533 followersADAM L. G. NEVILL was born in Birmingham, England, in 1969 and grew up in England and New Zealand. He is an author of horror fiction. Of his novels, The Ritual, Last Days, No One Gets Out Alive and The Reddening were all winners of The August Derleth Award for Best Horror Novel. He has also published three collections of short stories, with Some Will Not Sleep winning the British Fantasy Award for Best Collection, 2017.
Imaginarium adapted The Ritual and No One Gets Out Alive into feature films and more of his work is currently in development for the screen.
The author lives in Devon, England.
Imaginarium adapted The Ritual and No One Gets Out Alive into feature films and more of his work is currently in development for the screen.
The author lives in Devon, England.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 902 reviews
June 10, 2023
“The Vessel” by Adam Nevill started out pretty well. This is the first time I’ve read a book by Nevill and was excited to see what awaited me. Now, before I jump into my review, let’s go over the trigger warnings I found while reading.
You’ll find situations involving bullying in school, spousal abuse, parental abuse, and suicide. Please note the spousal abuse is pretty graphic but nothing too crazy. The other trigger warnings are mentioned but not too descriptive. If any of these trigger you, please don’t read this book.
Moving along, I enjoyed Nevill’s writing style as he did a decent job at world and character-building. I immediately knew this would be an interesting folk horror novel since the book cover of “The Vessel” is incredibly scary. As I kept reading, I figured this would be a slow burn at first I was hoping would pay off but unfortunately, it didn’t deliver as I had hoped it would.
The atmospheric writing is great but this wasn’t as scary as I felt it could be. I loved the character of Flo as there were some creepy events but for the most part, this book drags on a bit at times. I don’t mind a good slow burn but I was anxiously awaiting for something, anything to happen during all sorts of different dialogues between Jess, her daughter Izzy, and her husband Tony. Most of these conversations just bored me and took me out of the reading experience.
The parts that were scary were good but I definitely wanted more of it. “The Vessel” just wasn’t scary enough for me even though it had a few decent moments but regardless, I had higher expectations. With a cover like this, I wanted it to go in a completely different direction than where it went, especially with how it ended.
Don’t worry, I won’t spoil anything for you but the ending at least for me was too predictable and again, just not scary enough. It wraps up entirely in the end but it just didn’t leave me horrified or blown away.
I give “The Vessel” by Adam Nevill a 3/5 as I enjoyed the writing, atmosphere, characters, and everything involving Flo. Unfortunately, this just wasn’t as scary as I had hoped with such a horrific cover that had me going into this excited for some next-level folk horror. It’s a decent read but not anything extraordinary. If you’re looking for a folk horror book with solid world-building, some creepy situations, and a decent ending, you might like this one. Just keep in mind that it’s not a full-blown horror thrill ride that you would expect with such a wild book cover.
You’ll find situations involving bullying in school, spousal abuse, parental abuse, and suicide. Please note the spousal abuse is pretty graphic but nothing too crazy. The other trigger warnings are mentioned but not too descriptive. If any of these trigger you, please don’t read this book.
Moving along, I enjoyed Nevill’s writing style as he did a decent job at world and character-building. I immediately knew this would be an interesting folk horror novel since the book cover of “The Vessel” is incredibly scary. As I kept reading, I figured this would be a slow burn at first I was hoping would pay off but unfortunately, it didn’t deliver as I had hoped it would.
The atmospheric writing is great but this wasn’t as scary as I felt it could be. I loved the character of Flo as there were some creepy events but for the most part, this book drags on a bit at times. I don’t mind a good slow burn but I was anxiously awaiting for something, anything to happen during all sorts of different dialogues between Jess, her daughter Izzy, and her husband Tony. Most of these conversations just bored me and took me out of the reading experience.
The parts that were scary were good but I definitely wanted more of it. “The Vessel” just wasn’t scary enough for me even though it had a few decent moments but regardless, I had higher expectations. With a cover like this, I wanted it to go in a completely different direction than where it went, especially with how it ended.
Don’t worry, I won’t spoil anything for you but the ending at least for me was too predictable and again, just not scary enough. It wraps up entirely in the end but it just didn’t leave me horrified or blown away.
I give “The Vessel” by Adam Nevill a 3/5 as I enjoyed the writing, atmosphere, characters, and everything involving Flo. Unfortunately, this just wasn’t as scary as I had hoped with such a horrific cover that had me going into this excited for some next-level folk horror. It’s a decent read but not anything extraordinary. If you’re looking for a folk horror book with solid world-building, some creepy situations, and a decent ending, you might like this one. Just keep in mind that it’s not a full-blown horror thrill ride that you would expect with such a wild book cover.
October 29, 2022
What a way to spend my 2022 Halloweekend than with the absolute master of scares, Adam Nevill. This book is so good from start to finish. I love the way the characters talk, I could hear their accents in my head. The way Jess’ life is on edge, so stressful being a single mother with a job in late-night, elderly care-giving and a sketchy ex who won’t honor a restraining order.
I deeply invested in this unraveling mystery and the spooky, secret behaviors of old Flo.
Seriously why are kids and old people so creepy 😂
Listen, this has genuine scares, realistic characters to invest in, an intricately plotted storyline, and layers of suspense. What a binge!
I deeply invested in this unraveling mystery and the spooky, secret behaviors of old Flo.
Seriously why are kids and old people so creepy 😂
Listen, this has genuine scares, realistic characters to invest in, an intricately plotted storyline, and layers of suspense. What a binge!
November 20, 2022
This is an excellent short horror novel with well crafted characters and there's enough twists and turns to make your head spin.
I really like this authors writing style, he writes unputdownable books.
If you're looking for a creepy horror read, look no further.
Great storytelling.
I'm looking forward to my next Nevill read..
I really like this authors writing style, he writes unputdownable books.
If you're looking for a creepy horror read, look no further.
Great storytelling.
I'm looking forward to my next Nevill read..
March 4, 2023
Phenomenal!! A new favorite. This story was a perfect combination of slow burn creeping dread, and supernatural folk horror. It was the perfect length too- I hope the author writes more novellas because this gave everything.
December 5, 2022
Adam L.G Nevill is busily repopulating England with lost gods, and I’m here for it. THE VESSEL is a lean book that punches above its weight, with a small cast, intimate spaces, and Nevill’s characteristic palette of horrors in bone white, blood red and rot black. More mundane terrors are in no short supply, as Jess, our protagonist, walks a tightrope too many single mothers will recognize, with an abusive ex partner and an insufferable job threatening her every step towards a better future for herself and little Izzy. The shadow cast by the estranged husband is deftly painted, the scar on Jess’s mouth quietly giving the lie to Tony’s ‘wronged father’ act and making sense of how she goes tharn when he calls or shows up unannounced. Jess’s job as a caretaker for an elderly dementia patient in a cluttered, decaying vicarage is bad enough with her stern boss and contemptful co-worker—when inexplicable events begin to occur, the harried mother finds the only way out of her trap is further in. To say more would be theft, so I’ll leave off with a fresh declaration of rapture at Nevill’s craft. The field of 21st century horror offers the reader an embarrassment of riches, with gifted new masters lording over their several fiefdoms; Nevill has his kingdom of gloomy thickets and dread elder deities well in hand, and you’ll be hard pressed to find anyone weaving darker nightmares with smarter, more beautiful prose.
May 1, 2023
A plot driven folk horror offering from Adam Nevill.
'Beyond this mown pelt of grass, a weathered vicarage stands sentinel. An outcrop of dour stone with windows as impenetrable as the pond’s untroubled surface.'
The Vessel is Adam Nevill's 11th horror novel and his shortest offering to date.
The story follows Jess, a mother who is struggling for money and bringing up her young daughter, Izzy. You could say she's had a bit of a hard time recently but now she has come across a new, better-paid job, caring for an elderly lady in her home, Narthus House, an old vicarage within a beautiful village.
Now with this new job, things are surely on the up for Jess and her daughter. The rest is for you to find out by reading.
'A watcher may remark that after sleeping for so long, the building appears to have been roused.'
I didn't find this as enjoyable as his other work but that is mostly because of it being plot focused and without being in the characters' heads (see the notes at the end of the book) but overall it was still a captivating read and still with trademark moments of Nevill's beautiful poetic writing.
' The tumult of the urgent wind grows. It roars and crashes amidst the primaeval woodland that extends forever; the spaces between the mighty legs of the trees, lightless fathoms of pitch.'
Most definitely one to check out if you fancy a relatively quick and simple horror read.
'Beyond this mown pelt of grass, a weathered vicarage stands sentinel. An outcrop of dour stone with windows as impenetrable as the pond’s untroubled surface.'
The Vessel is Adam Nevill's 11th horror novel and his shortest offering to date.
The story follows Jess, a mother who is struggling for money and bringing up her young daughter, Izzy. You could say she's had a bit of a hard time recently but now she has come across a new, better-paid job, caring for an elderly lady in her home, Narthus House, an old vicarage within a beautiful village.
Now with this new job, things are surely on the up for Jess and her daughter. The rest is for you to find out by reading.
'A watcher may remark that after sleeping for so long, the building appears to have been roused.'
I didn't find this as enjoyable as his other work but that is mostly because of it being plot focused and without being in the characters' heads (see the notes at the end of the book) but overall it was still a captivating read and still with trademark moments of Nevill's beautiful poetic writing.
' The tumult of the urgent wind grows. It roars and crashes amidst the primaeval woodland that extends forever; the spaces between the mighty legs of the trees, lightless fathoms of pitch.'
Most definitely one to check out if you fancy a relatively quick and simple horror read.
January 8, 2023
Creepy!
A small backstory:
Jess McMachen needs a job and takes one with her caring for an elderly dementia patient (Flo) but little does she know that she is about to enter a world of folklore and paganism as though Flo seems to be in and out of the world within her mind, there is more things stirring not only in the house where Flo lives but also within Flo herself!
That is about all I can give on a small backstory without giving away spoilers so if you want to know more then you will need to read the book!
Thoughts:
This book was a slow burn but had some creepy parts within the story as well as the character, Jess takes care of Flo and learns how to care for the old woman as she has other things going on then just having dementia. It took awhile for me to get into the story which I think was suppose to be a slow buildup of suspense, but by the time I got past the half way point of the story I was in a state of confusion of what was really going on.
I am not good with slow burn books as I have mentioned before in my reviews as I want to know what is happening kind of quick within a story but this book took too long to find out what was going on and finally near the end of the book the puzzle pieces are fitted together. But for me it took too long to know what was happening which is the reason for me giving the book a low rating.
I am in the minority on this one as it seems a few of my friends really liked this book, but Nevill is up and down for me as it takes him "forever" to get to the point of a story. Giving this book three "Suspenseful Slow Burner" stars!
A small backstory:
Jess McMachen needs a job and takes one with her caring for an elderly dementia patient (Flo) but little does she know that she is about to enter a world of folklore and paganism as though Flo seems to be in and out of the world within her mind, there is more things stirring not only in the house where Flo lives but also within Flo herself!
That is about all I can give on a small backstory without giving away spoilers so if you want to know more then you will need to read the book!
Thoughts:
This book was a slow burn but had some creepy parts within the story as well as the character, Jess takes care of Flo and learns how to care for the old woman as she has other things going on then just having dementia. It took awhile for me to get into the story which I think was suppose to be a slow buildup of suspense, but by the time I got past the half way point of the story I was in a state of confusion of what was really going on.
I am not good with slow burn books as I have mentioned before in my reviews as I want to know what is happening kind of quick within a story but this book took too long to find out what was going on and finally near the end of the book the puzzle pieces are fitted together. But for me it took too long to know what was happening which is the reason for me giving the book a low rating.
I am in the minority on this one as it seems a few of my friends really liked this book, but Nevill is up and down for me as it takes him "forever" to get to the point of a story. Giving this book three "Suspenseful Slow Burner" stars!
September 4, 2025
Jess and her daughter, Izzy, live in a run-down flat; money is tight. Jess therefore takes a job caring for an old lady named Florence, or Flo, who has dementia. Flo lives in Nerthus House, an old creepy vicarage. Jess' introduction to Flo couldn't get off to a worse start when Flo attacks her.
Struggling for childcare, Jess ends up taking Izzy with her one night when she has a night shift. Despite some strange happenings in the night, Flo and Izzy hit it off. After an incident at school, Jess starts to worry about the influence Flo is having on her daughter.
I can't really fault the writing in this; it had really nice prose. It was very 'written for film' though; I found it overly clichéd in places. The Author does admit in his afterword that this started off as a screenplay, so that's probably why.
A little too predictable at times, bar for the twist at the end, which went in a direction I wasn't expecting, in a good kind of way. Which I'm glad about because Jess' character could be a bit frustrating at times. A nice message of women showing support for other women.
The ending was all a little bit too nicely wrapped up for a horror. It did make me question why Flo acted so violently at the beginning though, and why other characters acted the way they did towards Jess too. I don't think any of that was explained.
All in all, it's a decent enough read and relatively quick too, as it's just under 200 pages long.
Struggling for childcare, Jess ends up taking Izzy with her one night when she has a night shift. Despite some strange happenings in the night, Flo and Izzy hit it off. After an incident at school, Jess starts to worry about the influence Flo is having on her daughter.
I can't really fault the writing in this; it had really nice prose. It was very 'written for film' though; I found it overly clichéd in places. The Author does admit in his afterword that this started off as a screenplay, so that's probably why.
A little too predictable at times, bar for the twist at the end, which went in a direction I wasn't expecting, in a good kind of way. Which I'm glad about because Jess' character could be a bit frustrating at times. A nice message of women showing support for other women.
The ending was all a little bit too nicely wrapped up for a horror. It did make me question why Flo acted so violently at the beginning though, and why other characters acted the way they did towards Jess too. I don't think any of that was explained.
All in all, it's a decent enough read and relatively quick too, as it's just under 200 pages long.
January 11, 2023
Spoilers below and they are tagged...
Lots of creepy moments in The Vessel with Adam Nevill's new book! He can write folk horror really well!
The ending was a bit too quick for me and I had questions for the motivations of a few characters at the end.
It just felt too cookie cutter clean for me in regards to
See, I have questions...😂🤣
It seems that The Vessel was written more like a screenplay and less like a novel from what Nevill mentions in the story notes. Maybe I prefer his novels?
If this would have been a bit longer like Cunning Folk and had the tension and unease build more, I would have had more of an emotional reaction to it and slept worse with jacked up dreams (as I should when I read a Nevill book). haha!
I still liked The Vessel, just not as much as his previous books in my opinion. I definitely wanted more!
Lots of creepy moments in The Vessel with Adam Nevill's new book! He can write folk horror really well!
The ending was a bit too quick for me and I had questions for the motivations of a few characters at the end.
It just felt too cookie cutter clean for me in regards to
See, I have questions...😂🤣
It seems that The Vessel was written more like a screenplay and less like a novel from what Nevill mentions in the story notes. Maybe I prefer his novels?
If this would have been a bit longer like Cunning Folk and had the tension and unease build more, I would have had more of an emotional reaction to it and slept worse with jacked up dreams (as I should when I read a Nevill book). haha!
I still liked The Vessel, just not as much as his previous books in my opinion. I definitely wanted more!
October 9, 2023
"You don't read an Adam Nevill horror novel: you live it" - so says The Guardian on the front cover of my edition and man oh man I could not agree more!!
Adam Nevill's first ever read by me was No One Gets Out Alive and was one of the first novels that got me back into reading about a decade ago. I have no frickn idea why it has taken me so long to read another but with the coming Amazon Prime days in the next two days I hope to add a few more at discount!
Let me start off with the writing. It is superb. He both paints the picture and easily draws you in as well. It is why that line by The Guardian so applies in that you become a part of the story and you do live it. I had the oddest feeling reading this book because of that. It was just so different and you do not come across it all that often so when you do it is special. I also think that many publishers don't necessarily like that type of writing. Jonathan Maberry Ghost Road Blues trilogy was also magnificently written but he no longer writes like that. I believe he was told to dummy it down. So many readers simply read over the picture being painted so why bother I guess. Nevill though draws a fine line with how he writes not over complicating things and setting the table just right so to speak. It was so refreshing to see someone who can write, right?
And while I am on the topic of his writing at the end he has about a ten page segment between writing a script and writing a novel. After his book The Ritual was made into a movie he wrote a few more screenplays for the screen that hadn't materialized. This is one. Nevill explains the process and yet in doing so it is as if he explaining the process and in so doing he simply makes his point in laymen terms and it is so cool to see the contrast in writing so to speak. His novel writing versus him speaking to us so we understand what he is talking about. The novel writing Nevill is a person I think I would be hard pressed to communicate with but the everyday Nevill seems like a guy I could easily pal around with. Just so cool to see the difference and how important the novel writing aspect is to him.
As Halloween approaches I have several books on witches that are on my shelves. I never seem to get to them and I do love witch stories. I can really buy into them as there is about a 100 years or so of history with documented trial history and the like. This kind of stuff really happened and there is proof at least from a demented trial system that tried these witches.
Our main character Jess McMachen is a struggling single mother recently split up from her abusive husband Tony who only wants to get back together with her and their daughter Izzy. Jess lands a new job as a nurse care giver taking care of a mean elderly dementia patient known as Flo Gardner. Flo is one wicked bitch but when Jess gets stuck for a babysitter she brings Izzy to Flo's house for an overnight stay and surprisingly Flo takes to Izzy and vice versa . The two really bond but some strange stuff starts happening and it involves a dismembered, castrated man as well.
Some creepy odd stuff starts happening and there is something clearly mystical about it. Not overly scary but creepy and because of the quality of the writing you are really drawn into it all and that gives it that vibe that just keeps the story and the overall creepiness in your head - like in the middle of the night and you are just a little to creeped out to go to the needed washroom, lol.
The story climaxes with a confrontation at Flo's house between Tony and Jess. So odd and yet so true that so many idiots believe that yeah I failed on this planet but I will kill us all so we can all start over in Heaven. Like do you think you will be rewarded in heaven when you have done such a thing. It is during this escalation that we see Flo and her coven really excel and it is just so damn good! A very different and surprising ending that I really enjoyed.
An easy five star read. It is only 150 pages or so and I read it over three days. Easy five stars and there will be a lot more Nevill to follow.........
Adam Nevill's first ever read by me was No One Gets Out Alive and was one of the first novels that got me back into reading about a decade ago. I have no frickn idea why it has taken me so long to read another but with the coming Amazon Prime days in the next two days I hope to add a few more at discount!
Let me start off with the writing. It is superb. He both paints the picture and easily draws you in as well. It is why that line by The Guardian so applies in that you become a part of the story and you do live it. I had the oddest feeling reading this book because of that. It was just so different and you do not come across it all that often so when you do it is special. I also think that many publishers don't necessarily like that type of writing. Jonathan Maberry Ghost Road Blues trilogy was also magnificently written but he no longer writes like that. I believe he was told to dummy it down. So many readers simply read over the picture being painted so why bother I guess. Nevill though draws a fine line with how he writes not over complicating things and setting the table just right so to speak. It was so refreshing to see someone who can write, right?
And while I am on the topic of his writing at the end he has about a ten page segment between writing a script and writing a novel. After his book The Ritual was made into a movie he wrote a few more screenplays for the screen that hadn't materialized. This is one. Nevill explains the process and yet in doing so it is as if he explaining the process and in so doing he simply makes his point in laymen terms and it is so cool to see the contrast in writing so to speak. His novel writing versus him speaking to us so we understand what he is talking about. The novel writing Nevill is a person I think I would be hard pressed to communicate with but the everyday Nevill seems like a guy I could easily pal around with. Just so cool to see the difference and how important the novel writing aspect is to him.
As Halloween approaches I have several books on witches that are on my shelves. I never seem to get to them and I do love witch stories. I can really buy into them as there is about a 100 years or so of history with documented trial history and the like. This kind of stuff really happened and there is proof at least from a demented trial system that tried these witches.
Our main character Jess McMachen is a struggling single mother recently split up from her abusive husband Tony who only wants to get back together with her and their daughter Izzy. Jess lands a new job as a nurse care giver taking care of a mean elderly dementia patient known as Flo Gardner. Flo is one wicked bitch but when Jess gets stuck for a babysitter she brings Izzy to Flo's house for an overnight stay and surprisingly Flo takes to Izzy and vice versa . The two really bond but some strange stuff starts happening and it involves a dismembered, castrated man as well.
Some creepy odd stuff starts happening and there is something clearly mystical about it. Not overly scary but creepy and because of the quality of the writing you are really drawn into it all and that gives it that vibe that just keeps the story and the overall creepiness in your head - like in the middle of the night and you are just a little to creeped out to go to the needed washroom, lol.
The story climaxes with a confrontation at Flo's house between Tony and Jess. So odd and yet so true that so many idiots believe that yeah I failed on this planet but I will kill us all so we can all start over in Heaven. Like do you think you will be rewarded in heaven when you have done such a thing. It is during this escalation that we see Flo and her coven really excel and it is just so damn good! A very different and surprising ending that I really enjoyed.
An easy five star read. It is only 150 pages or so and I read it over three days. Easy five stars and there will be a lot more Nevill to follow.........
November 1, 2022
** Edited as review is now live on Kendall Reviews! **
Isn’t it great to have a new Nevill on an almost annual basis? Well, it is for this reader. I’m admittedly late to the Nevill game, having only really dove into his work over the last four years or so, but in that time not only has he become one of my favorite authors, but reading his releases is always an education in storytelling, at least for me.
With Nevill, you know you’ll get darkness and despair, but you’re never totally confident on the medium of ‘how.’ With ‘Wyrd and Other Derelictions’ we got stories with no characters. With ‘The Reddening’ we had a folklore story set in a remote location. With ‘Cunning Folk’ we had a horrific story set in an idyllic small town location. And now, with ‘The Vessel,’ we get a pagan-tinged witch style story set on the lands of a large homestead.
Nevill continues to push himself as a storyteller, which he dives into in the afterword.
What I liked: The story follows Jess, trying to get on her own feet after her former significant other abused her. He spent some time in jail, but is out now and is trying to push his way into his ex’s life, and their daughter’s, Izzie.
Jess gets a solid job, as relief care aide for Flo, an older woman with dementia who spends her days in her wheelchair in her sprawling home. Nevill does a great job of setting up the chessboard before he begins to move the pieces towards the ultimate moments. Throughout, I was rapt, knowing at any moment ‘it’ was going to happen, that we would come upon the incident that threw open the doors and exposed the truths and when it does, the reader will not be disappointed.
The ending was a brutal finale, a culmination of everything we’d seen teased and subtly highlighted.
What I didn’t like: I found many descriptive passages read very much like a screenplay. Almost devoid of any emotional attachment at times. As this started life as a screenplay, that’s understandable, but (and a part of this might be that my last read of Adam’s was the emotional Lost Girl novel) it just felt limited and un-expanded upon. I think if this had been another 100 pages it would’ve nailed all of that – but then I also find myself arguing back with myself that this was the point of why Adam wrote it, which he described in the afterword.
Why you should buy this: This novella will have you snared into its grubby little claws from the moment you begin. You’ll find that you simply can’t not read it once you crack it open. Nevill is a gifted writer who knows how to grab the readers and not let go and this is no different. Another solid outing from a truly solid author.
Isn’t it great to have a new Nevill on an almost annual basis? Well, it is for this reader. I’m admittedly late to the Nevill game, having only really dove into his work over the last four years or so, but in that time not only has he become one of my favorite authors, but reading his releases is always an education in storytelling, at least for me.
With Nevill, you know you’ll get darkness and despair, but you’re never totally confident on the medium of ‘how.’ With ‘Wyrd and Other Derelictions’ we got stories with no characters. With ‘The Reddening’ we had a folklore story set in a remote location. With ‘Cunning Folk’ we had a horrific story set in an idyllic small town location. And now, with ‘The Vessel,’ we get a pagan-tinged witch style story set on the lands of a large homestead.
Nevill continues to push himself as a storyteller, which he dives into in the afterword.
What I liked: The story follows Jess, trying to get on her own feet after her former significant other abused her. He spent some time in jail, but is out now and is trying to push his way into his ex’s life, and their daughter’s, Izzie.
Jess gets a solid job, as relief care aide for Flo, an older woman with dementia who spends her days in her wheelchair in her sprawling home. Nevill does a great job of setting up the chessboard before he begins to move the pieces towards the ultimate moments. Throughout, I was rapt, knowing at any moment ‘it’ was going to happen, that we would come upon the incident that threw open the doors and exposed the truths and when it does, the reader will not be disappointed.
The ending was a brutal finale, a culmination of everything we’d seen teased and subtly highlighted.
What I didn’t like: I found many descriptive passages read very much like a screenplay. Almost devoid of any emotional attachment at times. As this started life as a screenplay, that’s understandable, but (and a part of this might be that my last read of Adam’s was the emotional Lost Girl novel) it just felt limited and un-expanded upon. I think if this had been another 100 pages it would’ve nailed all of that – but then I also find myself arguing back with myself that this was the point of why Adam wrote it, which he described in the afterword.
Why you should buy this: This novella will have you snared into its grubby little claws from the moment you begin. You’ll find that you simply can’t not read it once you crack it open. Nevill is a gifted writer who knows how to grab the readers and not let go and this is no different. Another solid outing from a truly solid author.
November 4, 2022
A shorter slow burn that leads to quite the dark ending. Liked the author's note afterwards which explains the different writing style/format. Enjoyed this one.
November 21, 2022
"Hair sodden with sweat, she doubles over and pants for air until she catches sight of the figure beside the bed, silhouetted by faint ambient light. A form dressed in a pale gown, the small head tatty. Jess screams."
Folk horror is something new to me when it comes to books. I’ve seen quite a few movies in that genre and they are some of my favorites. I love the ambiance these tales create and I know it’ll be a hair-raising good time.
The Vessel was one that stuck out to me due to the cover. It calls out to you and you can’t help but look at it. It’s horrifying and right up my alley. Plus Nevill is a new to me author, so I decided to give it all a try. Sadly, the cover is better than the book.
The "spooky" scenes in this book will come as no surprise to the average horror lover. The tropes are heavy with this one. This one was okay but not what I was expecting. I wanted to be terrified and all I got was a shoulder shrug. Not sure if these are for me but I'll try another book by this author before I give up.
Folk horror is something new to me when it comes to books. I’ve seen quite a few movies in that genre and they are some of my favorites. I love the ambiance these tales create and I know it’ll be a hair-raising good time.
The Vessel was one that stuck out to me due to the cover. It calls out to you and you can’t help but look at it. It’s horrifying and right up my alley. Plus Nevill is a new to me author, so I decided to give it all a try. Sadly, the cover is better than the book.
The "spooky" scenes in this book will come as no surprise to the average horror lover. The tropes are heavy with this one. This one was okay but not what I was expecting. I wanted to be terrified and all I got was a shoulder shrug. Not sure if these are for me but I'll try another book by this author before I give up.
January 19, 2025
Old Ways, Protecting our own
I decided to give this author a read as I’ve had a few of his books on my to be read pile since 2022. I also seen a book reviewer praise this author so I said let me take a walk on the wild side. This book is so damn good! The character development, emotions and secrecy adds to an amazing book. This book is about a woman named Jessica who takes on a job as a caretaker, she is a single mom raising her beautiful daughter, Izzy, after dealing with a relationship that is abusive. This new job opens a new world of ancient ways.
I love the book because this is a true definition of a slow burn book. It’s when you light anything and it’s smoldering then it catches fire burning big, bright and tall. I can’t say enough good things about this book but you should definitely give it a read.
I decided to give this author a read as I’ve had a few of his books on my to be read pile since 2022. I also seen a book reviewer praise this author so I said let me take a walk on the wild side. This book is so damn good! The character development, emotions and secrecy adds to an amazing book. This book is about a woman named Jessica who takes on a job as a caretaker, she is a single mom raising her beautiful daughter, Izzy, after dealing with a relationship that is abusive. This new job opens a new world of ancient ways.
I love the book because this is a true definition of a slow burn book. It’s when you light anything and it’s smoldering then it catches fire burning big, bright and tall. I can’t say enough good things about this book but you should definitely give it a read.
January 30, 2023
This short novel began as a film script before it became a novel. It does have a cinematic feel to it with great imagery and short chapters -- like scene breaks in a film.
Nevill excels at folk horror and alluding to ancient pagan rites and beliefs which establishes an air of creepiness throughout the novel.
THE VESSEL serves as a mini-morality play for those who wish to look deeper into the story. The final chapters seemed quite abrupt and quick compared to the rest of the story, like in a movie where the final act needs to wrap it all up and things move faster. Still, the final resolution was very satisfying.
THE VESSEL is a very engaging read that can easily be read in one sitting and enjoyed.
Nevill excels at folk horror and alluding to ancient pagan rites and beliefs which establishes an air of creepiness throughout the novel.
THE VESSEL serves as a mini-morality play for those who wish to look deeper into the story. The final chapters seemed quite abrupt and quick compared to the rest of the story, like in a movie where the final act needs to wrap it all up and things move faster. Still, the final resolution was very satisfying.
THE VESSEL is a very engaging read that can easily be read in one sitting and enjoyed.
January 2, 2023
Good quick read
What a great ending! I was just reading along, enjoying the story when it all finally came together. I didn't find this one as scary as other books I've read by this author but its still just as good.
What a great ending! I was just reading along, enjoying the story when it all finally came together. I didn't find this one as scary as other books I've read by this author but its still just as good.
December 6, 2022
Hay un tópico que me fascina en el terror: los ancianos diabólicos. Hay un montón de cosas que me generan angustia dentro de esta narrativa, empezando por la historia personal de la protagonista, y continuando con el trato que recibe por parte de la anciana de esta historia. Una nouvelle que cumplió con todas mis expectativas, y que sobre todo me impactó su final. Sin duda Adam Nevill se convirtió en un autor de confianza para mí.
October 4, 2023
A real "GOOD FOR HER" story. This has A24 vibes
January 4, 2023
The ending really took me out! Did not see that coming. This is my 2nd read by Nevill, the first I DNF. I’m glad I gave him another chance because this was really good.
The atmosphere is incredibly creepy and the descriptions of Flo in the night scenes scared the shit out of me. This would make a fantastic movie.
The atmosphere is incredibly creepy and the descriptions of Flo in the night scenes scared the shit out of me. This would make a fantastic movie.
November 12, 2022
This novella is a pretty fast read and definitely has a really creepy setting. The scenes with Flo were really awesome and set the tone for the book. 4.25 🌟
July 5, 2024
This reminded me of “The Visit” with solid scary scenes, spooky old people, scary kids.
First thing: STOP PROTECTING ABUSERS. If a child’s parent sucks, tell them that. Otherwise, they run off with said abuser. This trope angers me to no end.
Anyway. There’s a solid feeling of dread this whole novel from the ex, scary client, and spooky kid. But the ending was wholesome and I want a crowd of old ladies around me all the time 😭😭😭
The ending feels almost strong but the last paragraph or so was just “oh.” Or left me with more questions. Take it out and I think it would’ve been a 5. It was almost really good.
First thing: STOP PROTECTING ABUSERS. If a child’s parent sucks, tell them that. Otherwise, they run off with said abuser. This trope angers me to no end.
Anyway. There’s a solid feeling of dread this whole novel from the ex, scary client, and spooky kid. But the ending was wholesome and I want a crowd of old ladies around me all the time 😭😭😭
The ending feels almost strong but the last paragraph or so was just “oh.” Or left me with more questions. Take it out and I think it would’ve been a 5. It was almost really good.
January 30, 2023
Old people just be like that sometimes
May 24, 2023
THE VESSEL, by Adam Nevill may just be the shortest novel I've read by this author. At first, I honestly wasn't sure what to expect. The main characters are Jess, her daughter Izzy, a recently released from prision ex-husband, and an elderly dementia patient that Jess begins caring for, Flo. I didn't feel any connection to Jess, as she was so tired and simply going through the motions from day to day. Izzy was bullied at school--a parents' nightmare; and Flo was an enigma.
Yet somehow, that all changed before I even realized, as I finished it the second time I picked the novel up. All the little, subtle comments/situations began to build up into a different unease that had me waiting for something monumental to happen. Once it started, there was no letting up, and I still wasn't able to predict where the story was ultimately going.
The ending managed to both take me by surprise, and hit the perfect note, in my mind.
Recommended.
Yet somehow, that all changed before I even realized, as I finished it the second time I picked the novel up. All the little, subtle comments/situations began to build up into a different unease that had me waiting for something monumental to happen. Once it started, there was no letting up, and I still wasn't able to predict where the story was ultimately going.
The ending managed to both take me by surprise, and hit the perfect note, in my mind.
Recommended.
August 28, 2023
This story didn’t satisfy me in the what that Adam Nevill stories normally do. I guess this had the same fell to it as cunning folk, and I couldn’t stop thinking about how much more I enjoyed that story.
Some of my lack of my enjoyment for this my be from the writing style, it felt off to me. Since this writing as a screen play first, that may be where the disconnect came from. The omnipotent pov that would have work well for the screen didn’t work for me here. It also made for a lack of connection with the characters, as you don’t spend any time in their heads. I hope this tweet from a lot of the tense scenes.
But despite this not a big hit for me, I really appreciate unique take on how to write a book and is something I always love seeing from Adam Neill, it’s one of the things that make some of my favorite authors, and one of the reasons why I will continue to read everything that he puts out.
Some of my lack of my enjoyment for this my be from the writing style, it felt off to me. Since this writing as a screen play first, that may be where the disconnect came from. The omnipotent pov that would have work well for the screen didn’t work for me here. It also made for a lack of connection with the characters, as you don’t spend any time in their heads. I hope this tweet from a lot of the tense scenes.
But despite this not a big hit for me, I really appreciate unique take on how to write a book and is something I always love seeing from Adam Neill, it’s one of the things that make some of my favorite authors, and one of the reasons why I will continue to read everything that he puts out.
August 9, 2023
So I have finished this during one day, in two entertaining sittings. This wasn't what I expected from one of my favourite authors but Adam Nevill delivers once again. "The Vessel" has some creepy moments but shines more on the mysterious and emotional field. It also presents an interesting narrative technique that only details the characters actions but never their thoughts. The ending is very satisfying and I've just realised how much I needed exactly that kind of ending today :-).
Overall a quick and entertaining read. If you're only looking for frightening stuff and gore than this might not be for you.
8/10
Overall a quick and entertaining read. If you're only looking for frightening stuff and gore than this might not be for you.
8/10
September 21, 2022
The Vessel is nothing short of a masterpiece, and in my opinion, Nevill's best book to date. I couldn't put this down, and the writing is just *chef's kiss*.
November 1, 2022
I had been anticipating this and waiting for it to come out. I started reading and before I thought to check or even think, “Okay, so I have gotten a good start,” I was already 1/4th through the book.
I liked this very much.
Very folksy but also bringing two worlds together. Plot-focused without tons of internal dialog though there is development. Great notes at the end for a wrap.
I liked this very much.
Very folksy but also bringing two worlds together. Plot-focused without tons of internal dialog though there is development. Great notes at the end for a wrap.
December 19, 2023
Years and years ago I read ‘Apartment 16’ by Mr Nevill (I wasn’t even on GR back then!) and vowed at the time to read more by him as I enjoyed it. Almost a decade later I’m asking myself WHY THE HELL DID I WAIT SO LONG TO READ MORE HORROR FROM THIS GUY????!! Jesus! 😂
I enjoyed The Vessel immensely, as you may have gathered. This author makes you feel like you’ve actually left your sofa/chair/bathtub and dived into his world/headspace. How bloody marvellous and ever so, ever so creepy! Highly recommend!
I enjoyed The Vessel immensely, as you may have gathered. This author makes you feel like you’ve actually left your sofa/chair/bathtub and dived into his world/headspace. How bloody marvellous and ever so, ever so creepy! Highly recommend!
January 17, 2023
This book was okay. I found it to be predictable. There are a few creepy moments in the book. It’s not enough to make this book memorable.
August 25, 2023
Good story and fun, spooky read. Did a great job of driving my sense of fear from one direction to another. Also enjoyed the way the descriptions painted a clear picture for the most part.
My only reason for deducting a star is because I felt tripped up by some of the paragraphs, and I had to reread a few sections to make sure I understood what was being said/described. Could chalk it up to a difference in syntaxes based on what I'm familiar with, thanks to where I'm from, versus the author.
My only reason for deducting a star is because I felt tripped up by some of the paragraphs, and I had to reread a few sections to make sure I understood what was being said/described. Could chalk it up to a difference in syntaxes based on what I'm familiar with, thanks to where I'm from, versus the author.
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