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Reborn
Return to the Weald, the world Stephanie Ellis introduced us to in The Five Turns of the Wheel.
Reborn is the story of Cernunnos, the Father of all, who has risen. Born of blood offerings, he travels to the Layerings—one of those places, like Umbra, which sit just beyond the human veil.
Reborn is the story of Tommy, Betty and Fiddler, the infamous troupe whose bloody rituals were halted by Megan, Tommy’s Daughter. Rendered weak by Megan’s refusal to allow them to hunt in the human world of the Weald, they seek their rebirth and forgiveness from the Mother and Cernunnos.
Reborn is the story of Megan, who follows Cernunnos and Hweol’s sons on a pilgrimage of hope—one that would see her husband restored to her and the dark presence of Hweol removed.
Ultimately, though, Reborn is the story of Betty, the most monstrous of the three brothers. He is Nature, red in tooth and claw. He is what the Mother made him. And who are we to judge?
With Reborn, Ellis delivers another powerful tale of folk horror that will captivate the reader from the first page until its final bloody climax.
Reborn is the story of Cernunnos, the Father of all, who has risen. Born of blood offerings, he travels to the Layerings—one of those places, like Umbra, which sit just beyond the human veil.
Reborn is the story of Tommy, Betty and Fiddler, the infamous troupe whose bloody rituals were halted by Megan, Tommy’s Daughter. Rendered weak by Megan’s refusal to allow them to hunt in the human world of the Weald, they seek their rebirth and forgiveness from the Mother and Cernunnos.
Reborn is the story of Megan, who follows Cernunnos and Hweol’s sons on a pilgrimage of hope—one that would see her husband restored to her and the dark presence of Hweol removed.
Ultimately, though, Reborn is the story of Betty, the most monstrous of the three brothers. He is Nature, red in tooth and claw. He is what the Mother made him. And who are we to judge?
With Reborn, Ellis delivers another powerful tale of folk horror that will captivate the reader from the first page until its final bloody climax.
- GenresHorror
Paperback
Published October 11, 2022
19 people want to read
About the author
Stephanie Ellis
175 books117 followersStephanie Ellis writes dark speculative prose and poetry and has been published in a variety of magazines and anthologies. Her longer work includes the novels, The Five Turns of the Wheel, Reborn and The Woodcutter, and the novellas, Paused and Bottled. Her new post-apocalytpic/sci-fi/horror novel, The Barricade is due out this year!
She is a Rhysling and Elgin nominated poet, co-authoring the poetry collection, Foundlings, with Cindy O'Quinn, Lilith Rising with Shane Douglas Keene and solo work Metallurgy.
She can be found at https://stephanieellis.org
She is a Rhysling and Elgin nominated poet, co-authoring the poetry collection, Foundlings, with Cindy O'Quinn, Lilith Rising with Shane Douglas Keene and solo work Metallurgy.
She can be found at https://stephanieellis.org
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September 30, 2022I'm going to go out on a limb here and suggest that Stephanie Ellis has invented a whole new sub-genre called 'hard folk horror.' From the very first page there is no doubt in your mind other than what you're reading is folk horror, and yet to me she takes it one step further. This is not a book you can rush through or skim. In order to benefit most from it you need time and peace of mind to immerse yourself fully in the world Ellis has created.
I had read the prequel, The Five Turns of the Wheel so already knew some of the characters, ceremonies and settings. However, I think this one would also work as a standalone as Ellis feeds the reader enough backstory without making it burdensome for those who, like me, have read The Five Turns.
It's clear that Ellis has done her research. The result is an immersive world of dark fantasy, rituals and sacrifice that is totally immersive.
Though the three main characters are pure evil, they are also likable in a strange sort of way, the character of Betty in particular. (He's my favorite character by the way...kind of child-like with elements of a pet dog.) It's his naivety that draws me to him, his impulsiveness, I suppose. He is both fearsome and likable at the same time, and as with some of her other characters, you will find yourself in conflict.
For me, the world of the Weald is a bit like a modern version of The Mabinogion, but I urge you to take your time and savor the whole feel of the world she has created.
I had read the prequel, The Five Turns of the Wheel so already knew some of the characters, ceremonies and settings. However, I think this one would also work as a standalone as Ellis feeds the reader enough backstory without making it burdensome for those who, like me, have read The Five Turns.
It's clear that Ellis has done her research. The result is an immersive world of dark fantasy, rituals and sacrifice that is totally immersive.
Though the three main characters are pure evil, they are also likable in a strange sort of way, the character of Betty in particular. (He's my favorite character by the way...kind of child-like with elements of a pet dog.) It's his naivety that draws me to him, his impulsiveness, I suppose. He is both fearsome and likable at the same time, and as with some of her other characters, you will find yourself in conflict.
For me, the world of the Weald is a bit like a modern version of The Mabinogion, but I urge you to take your time and savor the whole feel of the world she has created.
May 2, 2024
Stars: 2 out of 5.
While this was a dark and immersive world, I didn't particularly enjoy it for several reasons. Firstly, the pacing was off in this book. There is no sense of urgency or how much time actually elapsed between different events. There is talk that the three brothers need to reach Cernunnos before his resurrection, but exactly how urgent is that? This whole book just reads like a long road trip movie where they just meander around and take their time.
This would have been fine if I had enjoyed the characters, but I didn't. Tommy, Fiddler, and Betty are horrible beings. Yes, they act according to their nature and the purpose for which they were created, but that doesn't make them any less monstrous. Or does it make me less inclined to follow their stories. I don't care if Betty gets a new heart. I don't care if the Wheel turns and they are reborn. In fact, I'd rather they just pass into oblivion and not repeat the pain and suffering they seem to joyfully rain onto humankind.
I didn't particularly like Megan either. I found her mopey and dull. But then again, I haven't read the first book, so she might have a good reason for being this depressed, but it makes for a very unlikeable character to follow.
But I think my biggest gripe with this story is just how hopeless it is. The monsters win in the end. The Wheel is turning again, the weirdkin are running free to murder and torture and terrorize humankind again, and the only human in the group died without accomplishing anything she wanted. She didn't free her husband. She didn't get her revenge. She didn't even get closure, because her husband's murderer was resurrected and forgiven despite everything he had done. Talk about a depressing end of the story.
I know that this ending opens the door for another book in the series, but I have no desire to read it. Yes, the world is fascinating, in a dark and horrifying sort of way, but it lacks even a ray of hope or a character I want to root for, so I think I'm done.
PS: I received an advanced copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
While this was a dark and immersive world, I didn't particularly enjoy it for several reasons. Firstly, the pacing was off in this book. There is no sense of urgency or how much time actually elapsed between different events. There is talk that the three brothers need to reach Cernunnos before his resurrection, but exactly how urgent is that? This whole book just reads like a long road trip movie where they just meander around and take their time.
This would have been fine if I had enjoyed the characters, but I didn't. Tommy, Fiddler, and Betty are horrible beings. Yes, they act according to their nature and the purpose for which they were created, but that doesn't make them any less monstrous. Or does it make me less inclined to follow their stories. I don't care if Betty gets a new heart. I don't care if the Wheel turns and they are reborn. In fact, I'd rather they just pass into oblivion and not repeat the pain and suffering they seem to joyfully rain onto humankind.
I didn't particularly like Megan either. I found her mopey and dull. But then again, I haven't read the first book, so she might have a good reason for being this depressed, but it makes for a very unlikeable character to follow.
But I think my biggest gripe with this story is just how hopeless it is. The monsters win in the end. The Wheel is turning again, the weirdkin are running free to murder and torture and terrorize humankind again, and the only human in the group died without accomplishing anything she wanted. She didn't free her husband. She didn't get her revenge. She didn't even get closure, because her husband's murderer was resurrected and forgiven despite everything he had done. Talk about a depressing end of the story.
I know that this ending opens the door for another book in the series, but I have no desire to read it. Yes, the world is fascinating, in a dark and horrifying sort of way, but it lacks even a ray of hope or a character I want to root for, so I think I'm done.
PS: I received an advanced copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 12, 2022
The Wheel turns yet again.
Following on the heels of the exemplary "Five Turns of the Wheel," Reborn picks up where the former left off in a worthy folk horrific sequel. The sons of the dark god Hweol (pronounced 'Wheel') are temporarily defeated: Tommy, the leader of the trio, Fiddler, the clever and ruthless master of their dances...and Betty, a towering brute with no impulse control and the vicious mind of a child. Seeking their forgiveness and the return of their father, they mean to restore the dark rites of blood that turn the wheel.
Megan, the ascendant heroine of the first novel, is seeking the soul of her lost husband, claimed by fire at the end of "Five Turns." Her ultimate goal is not only to save him, but to keep Hweol from rising again. Once promised to Betty, Megan's mother ensured her marriage elsewhere to save her.
Reborn is a more ambitious novel than Five Turns, revealing a broader host of characters and expanding the limited setting. Stephanie Ellis combines Welsh mythology with character drama to terrific effect, with a fascinating cosmology.
No less intriguing are the three villains. Tommy, Fiddler, and Betty are almost wholly devoid of good qualities. The three follow a code wholly alien to modern sensibility, and Betty is even stranger than that. In many ways, this is Betty's story foremost; a hulking monster with the mind of a child who views hunting and murdering almost everything he comes across as natural.
The cosmology and mythos are occasionally confusing, with a great deal of terminology and happenstances the reader is expected to follow. The story is best when it focuses on the characters and Ellis has a way of getting into their heads all throughout the book until an ending that demands a third novel.
Following on the heels of the exemplary "Five Turns of the Wheel," Reborn picks up where the former left off in a worthy folk horrific sequel. The sons of the dark god Hweol (pronounced 'Wheel') are temporarily defeated: Tommy, the leader of the trio, Fiddler, the clever and ruthless master of their dances...and Betty, a towering brute with no impulse control and the vicious mind of a child. Seeking their forgiveness and the return of their father, they mean to restore the dark rites of blood that turn the wheel.
Megan, the ascendant heroine of the first novel, is seeking the soul of her lost husband, claimed by fire at the end of "Five Turns." Her ultimate goal is not only to save him, but to keep Hweol from rising again. Once promised to Betty, Megan's mother ensured her marriage elsewhere to save her.
Reborn is a more ambitious novel than Five Turns, revealing a broader host of characters and expanding the limited setting. Stephanie Ellis combines Welsh mythology with character drama to terrific effect, with a fascinating cosmology.
No less intriguing are the three villains. Tommy, Fiddler, and Betty are almost wholly devoid of good qualities. The three follow a code wholly alien to modern sensibility, and Betty is even stranger than that. In many ways, this is Betty's story foremost; a hulking monster with the mind of a child who views hunting and murdering almost everything he comes across as natural.
The cosmology and mythos are occasionally confusing, with a great deal of terminology and happenstances the reader is expected to follow. The story is best when it focuses on the characters and Ellis has a way of getting into their heads all throughout the book until an ending that demands a third novel.
October 8, 2022
I loved the first book Five Turns Of The Wheel but this sequel was so slow. I was captivated with the first book horrific and very disturbing. Another very visual and wonderfully descriptive Story with great characters. Still full of magic and some unsettling scenes but for me not as gripping as gripping as the first book. Saying that I am sure other readers will enjoy it more just not for me.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.
October 12, 2022
Reborn by Stephanie Ellis.
Reborn is the story of Cernunnos, the Father of all, who has risen. Born of blood offerings, he travels to the Layerings—one of those places, like Umbra, which sit just beyond the human veil. Reborn is the story of Tommy, Betty and Fiddler, the infamous troupe whose bloody rituals were halted by Megan, Tommy’s Daughter. Rendered weak by Megan’s refusal to allow them to hunt in the human world of the Weald, they seek their rebirth and forgiveness from the Mother and Cernunnos. Reborn is the story of Megan, who follows Cernunnos and Hweol’s sons on a pilgrimage of hope—one that would see her husband restored to her and the dark presence of Hweol removed. Ultimately, though, Reborn is the story of Betty, the most monstrous of the three brothers. He is Nature, red in tooth and claw. He is what the Mother made him. And who are we to judge?
An OK read. Just not one of her best. 3*.
Reborn is the story of Cernunnos, the Father of all, who has risen. Born of blood offerings, he travels to the Layerings—one of those places, like Umbra, which sit just beyond the human veil. Reborn is the story of Tommy, Betty and Fiddler, the infamous troupe whose bloody rituals were halted by Megan, Tommy’s Daughter. Rendered weak by Megan’s refusal to allow them to hunt in the human world of the Weald, they seek their rebirth and forgiveness from the Mother and Cernunnos. Reborn is the story of Megan, who follows Cernunnos and Hweol’s sons on a pilgrimage of hope—one that would see her husband restored to her and the dark presence of Hweol removed. Ultimately, though, Reborn is the story of Betty, the most monstrous of the three brothers. He is Nature, red in tooth and claw. He is what the Mother made him. And who are we to judge?
An OK read. Just not one of her best. 3*.
September 16, 2022
This is a world of monsters. Stephanie Ellis takes us back into the Weald, refining and deepening a world she created. The world building is sensational, the imagery is magical, the characters alive with nuance. The novel follows an ensemble cast in and out of the Weald as Tommy, Betty, and Fiddler move towards a rebirth. Megan, Sister, Tobias, and others contribute their point of view and voice to the narrative.
No other author touches Ellis’ ability to tell stories that exist within the tension between past and present, rural and urban, remembered and forgotten. Reborn and The Five Turns of the Wheel stand with The Wicker Man in their exploration of the pagan bones underpinning our society, pagan bones that rupture the veneer when they won’t stay buried.
If you have an interest in the mythology of the British Isles, in horror and dark fantasy, this novel is a must.
No other author touches Ellis’ ability to tell stories that exist within the tension between past and present, rural and urban, remembered and forgotten. Reborn and The Five Turns of the Wheel stand with The Wicker Man in their exploration of the pagan bones underpinning our society, pagan bones that rupture the veneer when they won’t stay buried.
If you have an interest in the mythology of the British Isles, in horror and dark fantasy, this novel is a must.
February 2, 2023
Reborn picks up a year after Ellis's previous book, The Five Turns of the Wheel, left off. While Five Turns was a gloriously dark and bloody bit of folk horror, Reborn falls more into the category of dark fantasy.
The book chronicles the journeys of several characters, all on a pilgrimage of sorts to the Layering, Each person travels for their own reason, racing against time and each other to reach that mysterious and ever-shifting land where the Mother and the Sister wait, the Father will soon be resurrected, and the fates of all hang in the balance.
I certainly liked the first book better, but I feel like Reborn is setting the story up for at least one more book in the series, getting all the characters from one point to another so their tale can continue with more blood and sacrifice to come.
The book chronicles the journeys of several characters, all on a pilgrimage of sorts to the Layering, Each person travels for their own reason, racing against time and each other to reach that mysterious and ever-shifting land where the Mother and the Sister wait, the Father will soon be resurrected, and the fates of all hang in the balance.
I certainly liked the first book better, but I feel like Reborn is setting the story up for at least one more book in the series, getting all the characters from one point to another so their tale can continue with more blood and sacrifice to come.
September 17, 2022
THE FIVE TURNS OF THE WHEEL was a horrific and unsettling novel that captivated me from beginning to end. Its sequel, however, was too slow moving. On the plus side, REBORN does develop the world greatly through it's travels. There are some unique settings, magic, and supernatural beings to be examined along the way. Unfortunately, I just never felt a hook from the story being told, and therefore lacked interest in the overall journey.
October 14, 2022
I just finished Reborn by Stephanie Ellis
I didn’t know what to expect from this book. Honestly it was a little slow for me and I felt a little lost, even though I read book one.
I liked the consistency with the characters Tommy, Betty and Fiddler are exactly as I remembered and they didn’t disappoint.
I liked the writing but I don’t know, I just didn’t love it. Maybe my expectations were too high?
2.5 stars
I didn’t know what to expect from this book. Honestly it was a little slow for me and I felt a little lost, even though I read book one.
I liked the consistency with the characters Tommy, Betty and Fiddler are exactly as I remembered and they didn’t disappoint.
I liked the writing but I don’t know, I just didn’t love it. Maybe my expectations were too high?
2.5 stars
November 17, 2022
The wheel keeps turning.
Let me just write out a phrase of sheer beauty. It's just one example of the velvet-like speech contained in this book.
"Meat is not so necessary for Fiddler and I. The iron within is another matter. We are blood, and you are the heart."
See, it's poetic and striking. The entire book is similar, with such beautiful language and a folktale that comes alive. I adore the world created here, and I end up with a sour taste in my mouth for one reason, I will miss the characters and landscape now I've finished. There are brutal moments too, and even those manage to become something special.
A great book by a criminally underrated writer.
Let me just write out a phrase of sheer beauty. It's just one example of the velvet-like speech contained in this book.
"Meat is not so necessary for Fiddler and I. The iron within is another matter. We are blood, and you are the heart."
See, it's poetic and striking. The entire book is similar, with such beautiful language and a folktale that comes alive. I adore the world created here, and I end up with a sour taste in my mouth for one reason, I will miss the characters and landscape now I've finished. There are brutal moments too, and even those manage to become something special.
A great book by a criminally underrated writer.
November 8, 2022
Stephanie Ellis is the Queen of British Folk Horror, over the years I've read a lot of her short fiction and its always terrified me! Reborn is the sequel to The Five Turns of the Wheel which I absolutely loved, a novel in which she takes the quaint and idyllic nature of rural life and and infuses it with gripping toe curling horror so visceral it will give you nightmares.
Reborn follows Megan's story after she attempts to take down the Lord of Umbra, she's paid a big price and her life is in ruins but she is stronger than she looks and full of hope.
Although this is a sequel I think it works really well as a standalone but you'll be missing out if you don't read Five Turns of the Wheel! Stephanie Ellis has a really unique voice in the folk horror scene. her world building is simply magical yet horrific at the same time. There's a sense of realism in her tales that these events are really happening in a far away isolated region of small villages still governed by The Old Ones.
This is a must read for all fans of folk horror!
Reborn follows Megan's story after she attempts to take down the Lord of Umbra, she's paid a big price and her life is in ruins but she is stronger than she looks and full of hope.
Although this is a sequel I think it works really well as a standalone but you'll be missing out if you don't read Five Turns of the Wheel! Stephanie Ellis has a really unique voice in the folk horror scene. her world building is simply magical yet horrific at the same time. There's a sense of realism in her tales that these events are really happening in a far away isolated region of small villages still governed by The Old Ones.
This is a must read for all fans of folk horror!
May 25, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC. This is my honest review.
Just yes!
I am one for a horror book but I was not expecting this! This book blew me out of the water. As the second book in this series, I can only say that I will be purchasing every book. This is a book that you will need to take the time to read because you want to be involved in this storyline.
Just yes!
I am one for a horror book but I was not expecting this! This book blew me out of the water. As the second book in this series, I can only say that I will be purchasing every book. This is a book that you will need to take the time to read because you want to be involved in this storyline.
October 29, 2022
The Review
As a longtime fan of the mythology of different cultures, I loved the author’s extensive use of Welsh mythology and culture in this folk horror read. The haunting imagery and terror the author infuses into the atmosphere and tone of this novel kept me present and engaged with the narrative. The rich settings and intimate details of the mythos allowed me as a reader to become immersed in the story fully and completely, feeling every twist and turn the story brought as the grim reality of these ancient beings came to life.
To me, character development was the true heart of the narrative, both for the heroes and the villains of this tale. The hopeful pursuit that Megan goes on in hopes of restoring her husband clashes brilliantly with the destructive nature of the ancient deities, especially the three brothers, whose bloodlust and animalistic tendencies prove equally dangerous and disturbing. Yet the author’s ability to capture not only that folk element of the horror genre but showcase that these characters all reside in very deep shades of gray and no one character is wholly good or evil showcases the complexity and engaging elements of this novel.
The Verdict
Twisted, captivating, and harrowing, author Stephanie Ellis’s “Reborn” is a must-read folk horror read of the 2022 season. The perfect spooky season read for fans of ancient mythology and chilling horror novels, the gripping character development and thought-provoking themes the author explores make this a one-of-a-kind read that cannot be missed.
As a longtime fan of the mythology of different cultures, I loved the author’s extensive use of Welsh mythology and culture in this folk horror read. The haunting imagery and terror the author infuses into the atmosphere and tone of this novel kept me present and engaged with the narrative. The rich settings and intimate details of the mythos allowed me as a reader to become immersed in the story fully and completely, feeling every twist and turn the story brought as the grim reality of these ancient beings came to life.
To me, character development was the true heart of the narrative, both for the heroes and the villains of this tale. The hopeful pursuit that Megan goes on in hopes of restoring her husband clashes brilliantly with the destructive nature of the ancient deities, especially the three brothers, whose bloodlust and animalistic tendencies prove equally dangerous and disturbing. Yet the author’s ability to capture not only that folk element of the horror genre but showcase that these characters all reside in very deep shades of gray and no one character is wholly good or evil showcases the complexity and engaging elements of this novel.
The Verdict
Twisted, captivating, and harrowing, author Stephanie Ellis’s “Reborn” is a must-read folk horror read of the 2022 season. The perfect spooky season read for fans of ancient mythology and chilling horror novels, the gripping character development and thought-provoking themes the author explores make this a one-of-a-kind read that cannot be missed.
October 7, 2022
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.
I enjoyed The Five Turns Of The Wheel a lot. It was everything I was expecting. Reborn, however didn't quite do it for me.
I found that the sequel moved at a much slower pace than the first book which was already a book that you couldn't rush. This made it feel like it dragged on a bit in places, making me lose interest at times.
However, there are elements of the book that I really enjoyed. Tommy, Betty and Fiddler are just as evil as they were in the first book yet somehow still just as likeable. The trio are back and as is hinted nearer the end of the first book, are ready for their "rebirth". They must leave their home of the Weald and journey amongst the true humans in order to regain their strength and ensure that wheel turns once more.
I am sure other readers, especially those who immensely enjoyed the first book, will enjoy it more, it just wasn't for me.
I enjoyed The Five Turns Of The Wheel a lot. It was everything I was expecting. Reborn, however didn't quite do it for me.
I found that the sequel moved at a much slower pace than the first book which was already a book that you couldn't rush. This made it feel like it dragged on a bit in places, making me lose interest at times.
However, there are elements of the book that I really enjoyed. Tommy, Betty and Fiddler are just as evil as they were in the first book yet somehow still just as likeable. The trio are back and as is hinted nearer the end of the first book, are ready for their "rebirth". They must leave their home of the Weald and journey amongst the true humans in order to regain their strength and ensure that wheel turns once more.
I am sure other readers, especially those who immensely enjoyed the first book, will enjoy it more, it just wasn't for me.
December 5, 2022
Tommy, Fiddler, and Betty have been trapped in Umbra, prohibited from entering back into the world to cause havoc. These skin walkers may have found a loop hole, but it is not going to be easy. They will have to bring about the return of the Destroyer in order to be reborn.
Reborn is the stuff of old legends. Vengeful demigods are still a part of everyday life.
Fun and exciting, filled with lore; Reborn invites you back to the merciless land from The Five Turns of the Wheel, just remember-“Sacrifice, voluntary or not, is always honoured with blood.”
Reborn is the stuff of old legends. Vengeful demigods are still a part of everyday life.
Fun and exciting, filled with lore; Reborn invites you back to the merciless land from The Five Turns of the Wheel, just remember-“Sacrifice, voluntary or not, is always honoured with blood.”
February 25, 2025
Stephanie Ellis writes the kind of folk horror that sinks into your bones, roots itself there and refuses to leave. Reborn, like other books and stories from the Weald, is a story of land and legacy, of belief and betrayal, of the ancient things that never really die, only slumber. And I’ll admit upfront, I might be biased. There’s something about this world, something about its dense, tangled mythology and the way Ellis conjures it that tugs at something deep in my psyche. Every time she returns to this world, I feel like I’m being pulled into something old, something vast, something I might half-remember from dreams.
The horror is many-layered, and while the supernatural is deeply unsettling, the real dread lies in the human. Ellis doesn’t just tell a story about resurrected gods and creeping rituals: she tells a story about control. About how easily people will give themselves over to something larger, even at the cost of their own autonomy. How power, once taken, is rarely relinquished. How communities can be reshaped, twisted by fear or devotion, into something unrecognizable.
And within all this, especially in Reborn, there’s something deeply gendered about the horrors Ellis unearths. The ways in which women, time and again, are made vessels - of expectation, of sacrifice, of duty. The way their fates are so often dictated by men who see them as pieces in a grander design, tools to be wielded rather than people with agency of their own.
But Reborn doesn’t just examine tradition as an abstract force: it shows how it functions as a cycle, a wheel that turns not because it must, but because those in power insist it should. There’s nothing truly sacred about it, nothing inevitable, only the weight of precedent crushing anything, or anyon, that tries to break free. The turning of the wheel is simply the way things have always been, and thus, the way they must continue. And isn't that the way of the world beyond the Weald? Our own society demands sacrifices, too. Not in blood spilled at an altar (not always, anyway), but in lives broken by systems that serve only those who built them. The powerful demand offerings of labor, of compliance, of silence. And like in Reborn, the ones who pay the steepest price are rarely the ones who reap the rewards.
None of the men making the decisions in Reborn are ever truly good, and nothing worthwhile ever comes of the status quo: just more suffering, more sacrifice, more bodies fed into the machinery of belief. The less privileged men, those without power, are just as easily swept up, sacrificed for the same rituals that prop up the hierarchy.
And yes, some women are complicit, upholding the same systems that hurt them, convinced that survival means submission or that wielding borrowed power is better than having none at all. Others cause harm of their own, not even because they’re evil, but because desperation breeds indifference at best and cruelty at worst because that's the only path forward that's within their grasp.
Ellis’s writing is, as always, impeccable. The Weald is alive under her hand, its forests and shadows breathing with the weight of something watching. The pacing is relentless, the atmosphere thick with dread, and the themes - of fate, of devotion, of a land that refuses to forget - are woven seamlessly into the narrative.
If you love folk horror, if you love stories where the land itself holds memory, if you love narratives that feel both ancient and immediate, then Reborn is a book you need to read. It’s not just a story, but perhaps also a warning, a whisper from the past, a glimpse of what happens when power is left unchecked and the old ways demand their due.
The horror is many-layered, and while the supernatural is deeply unsettling, the real dread lies in the human. Ellis doesn’t just tell a story about resurrected gods and creeping rituals: she tells a story about control. About how easily people will give themselves over to something larger, even at the cost of their own autonomy. How power, once taken, is rarely relinquished. How communities can be reshaped, twisted by fear or devotion, into something unrecognizable.
And within all this, especially in Reborn, there’s something deeply gendered about the horrors Ellis unearths. The ways in which women, time and again, are made vessels - of expectation, of sacrifice, of duty. The way their fates are so often dictated by men who see them as pieces in a grander design, tools to be wielded rather than people with agency of their own.
But Reborn doesn’t just examine tradition as an abstract force: it shows how it functions as a cycle, a wheel that turns not because it must, but because those in power insist it should. There’s nothing truly sacred about it, nothing inevitable, only the weight of precedent crushing anything, or anyon, that tries to break free. The turning of the wheel is simply the way things have always been, and thus, the way they must continue. And isn't that the way of the world beyond the Weald? Our own society demands sacrifices, too. Not in blood spilled at an altar (not always, anyway), but in lives broken by systems that serve only those who built them. The powerful demand offerings of labor, of compliance, of silence. And like in Reborn, the ones who pay the steepest price are rarely the ones who reap the rewards.
None of the men making the decisions in Reborn are ever truly good, and nothing worthwhile ever comes of the status quo: just more suffering, more sacrifice, more bodies fed into the machinery of belief. The less privileged men, those without power, are just as easily swept up, sacrificed for the same rituals that prop up the hierarchy.
And yes, some women are complicit, upholding the same systems that hurt them, convinced that survival means submission or that wielding borrowed power is better than having none at all. Others cause harm of their own, not even because they’re evil, but because desperation breeds indifference at best and cruelty at worst because that's the only path forward that's within their grasp.
Ellis’s writing is, as always, impeccable. The Weald is alive under her hand, its forests and shadows breathing with the weight of something watching. The pacing is relentless, the atmosphere thick with dread, and the themes - of fate, of devotion, of a land that refuses to forget - are woven seamlessly into the narrative.
If you love folk horror, if you love stories where the land itself holds memory, if you love narratives that feel both ancient and immediate, then Reborn is a book you need to read. It’s not just a story, but perhaps also a warning, a whisper from the past, a glimpse of what happens when power is left unchecked and the old ways demand their due.
December 30, 2022
I loved several parts of this tale, having not read the first I don't believe that made a difference since the author does fill in key details along the way. But I can't help but think it would have been a thousand times better if we had stuck to just a few perspectives and not been able to see every single character point of view.
Tommy, Fiddler and of course Betty would have been enough, this was their journey to redemption or destruction who knows until Mother and Father decide. They were devious, conniving, true to their nature, especially Betty who could only be honest and brutal. I'll even accept Megan as she is what's kept them from being themselves the past year and has a serious axe to grind. That would have been enough, focused, depth, interaction. Instead we have parallel journeys and a bunch of others, some of which are amazing and gloriously represented.... then there's Aidan - don't care - not even a little bit. Tobias - a worthy character whose motives should have been kept in the dark alongside his possible alliance with Sister - also a fantastic character but a perspective I didn't need first hand.
In many ways this felt like a Tolkien journey - with a whole lot of walking, describing the nature of things, visiting with people, and gathering of sacrifices and then it was over with less of a struggle than I imagined would be required. Yet I loved the extremely detailed folklore and the rich vibrancy of the world they traveled, so in the end it was definitely worth it.
If you aren't keen on sacrifice, both human and animal, or have any reservations about a whole lot of skinning and bloodletting then steer clear, otherwise enjoy the flow.
Thanks to BookSirens and the author for the free e-copy, this is my honest review.
Tommy, Fiddler and of course Betty would have been enough, this was their journey to redemption or destruction who knows until Mother and Father decide. They were devious, conniving, true to their nature, especially Betty who could only be honest and brutal. I'll even accept Megan as she is what's kept them from being themselves the past year and has a serious axe to grind. That would have been enough, focused, depth, interaction. Instead we have parallel journeys and a bunch of others, some of which are amazing and gloriously represented.... then there's Aidan - don't care - not even a little bit. Tobias - a worthy character whose motives should have been kept in the dark alongside his possible alliance with Sister - also a fantastic character but a perspective I didn't need first hand.
In many ways this felt like a Tolkien journey - with a whole lot of walking, describing the nature of things, visiting with people, and gathering of sacrifices and then it was over with less of a struggle than I imagined would be required. Yet I loved the extremely detailed folklore and the rich vibrancy of the world they traveled, so in the end it was definitely worth it.
If you aren't keen on sacrifice, both human and animal, or have any reservations about a whole lot of skinning and bloodletting then steer clear, otherwise enjoy the flow.
Thanks to BookSirens and the author for the free e-copy, this is my honest review.
July 25, 2023
I have read the prequel and I loved it . This book too was amazing but I felt something missing . This book continue the story of Megan , Tommy , Betty , mother and many other characters from the prequel . This book can be read as a standalone but I think you will enjoy more if you read the prequel first . The characters are different and unique . The story structure is great . Recommended to horror fans
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