Indie Novella Roundup!

‘Amelia’, by AW Rene

Since being kindly sent ‘A Tainted Soul’ a while ago, AW Rene has become one of my Must Buy authors. I was intrigued when I saw the blurb for this next work, as it looked very different - and so it is.

We read from the perspective of Madeline, a mother writing to her daughter Amelia. At first, it’s standard gossip about the neighbours, encounters at the store, that sort of thing, before we quickly see that all is very much not well in Madeline’s head. And where is Amelia, anyway?

This book flies past with the speed of a held breath. It reminded me of the old ‘Tales of the Unexpected’ stories, moving from the normal to the bizarre almost before you have time to notice. I had an inkling of where things were going, but every twist was like a punch to the gut, until the inevitable sense of ‘this is going to end badly’ ramped up… and up… and when is this rollercoaster going to tip?!

Gorgeously written, this is a slice of suburbia that will make you eye your own neighbours a little more carefully. Nasty fun.

‘The Death Doula’, by Ali Seay

I was very intrigued to pick up this title. As some of you may know, I work as a professional pagan priest, and perform the equivalent duties to a doula when required. It’s never a term I’ve used specifically, as it has regional connotations that don’t match my heritage, but I understand what’s meant here and I think that gave the story more weight to me (despite thankfully never having faced what lies within these pages!).

Marki is a Doula who travels to a lonely man to oversee his final days. She’s tired, has issues in her life, but dutifully answers the call from the hospice because there simply is nobody else.

Unfortunately, once she steps into the house and meets the terminally-ill Franklin, there’s no way she can perform her duties as expected. Her main priority becomes getting out of the building alive.

This book is both set in and perfect for reading on a dark and stormy night. Evil magic, monsters, something the shadows - it would make a wonderful horror movie, with Marki a genuinely sympathetic heroine to root for. She finds herself in a nightmare and we’re along for the ride, with an ending that I absolutely did not see coming.

Never outstaying its welcome, this is a smart and creepy supernatural horror.

‘Static Screams’, by Nico Bell

Carmen is suffering from debilitating hallucinations after her mother’s suicide. When a psychologist claims that she both understands and is able to treat them, Carmen jumps at the chance - and finds herself immediately out of her depth and unsure of even what’s real any more.

This book reminded me of several recent horror stories I’d encountered, while remaining very much its own creation. The protagonist is sympathetic, and I immediately found myself almost yelling at the pages: ‘Don’t get in the car!’ ‘Don’t go in there!’ and all that traditional trope-y goodness. What makes this book stand out is precisely how Carmen sees the world, and what it ultimately means. We don’t know who’s telling the truth, we doubt what we’re told by our senses… and that’s exactly the point. The reader is as trapped as she is. What would we do in this situation?

A engrossing, fast-paced horror with heart.

‘When the Devil’, by Emma E Murray

This little ‘novelette’ is horror at its loveliest and most powerful.

Libby is a woman living under the cruel thumb of her abusive husband and grandfather, never having known true freedom. When her neighbours’ relative June appears nearby, however, Libby discovers what it might mean to actually be her Self.

I’m certain that this book will be familiar to many readers (if they get the chance to see it, and they absolutely should). It deals with very real-life horrors with a gentle touch that draws the reader in rather then scaring us off. From the first pages we’re sympathising with Libby, and her burgeoning relationship with comparatively rebellious June is lovely to watch unfold.

The Devil here may or may not exist in literal form; he’s symbolic of all the rules laid down throughout Libby’s life, which she now discovers need breaking for the sake of her own sanity. This might make her a ‘bad girl’, or just a woman who feels that inner need to stand up and claim who she is, despite all the openly evil men telling her otherwise (ironically in the name of Christ).

This could easily have turned into a ‘Tales from the Crypt’-style revenge short, but instead it’s a deeply thoughtful take on the place of women held shackled by extreme religious morality. I loved it and would very much like to see more from this author, please!