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They Don't Come Home Anymore
“Find a safe place to die. And make sure it is away from the people and away from the sky.”
Shirley Jackson Award-nominated author T.E. Grau delivers a tale of obsession, alienation, and a teenage girl in search of something beyond the reach of death.
But sometimes, when they journey too far, They Don’t Come Home Anymore.
Shirley Jackson Award-nominated author T.E. Grau delivers a tale of obsession, alienation, and a teenage girl in search of something beyond the reach of death.
But sometimes, when they journey too far, They Don’t Come Home Anymore.
102 pages, Paperback
First published November 28, 2016
15 people are currently reading
844 people want to read
About the author
T.E. Grau
30 books413 followersT.E. Grau is a Shirley Jackson Award- and Bram Stoker Award-nominated author, screenwriter, producer, and graphic novel writer whose books include I Am The River (nominated for the 2018 Bram Stoker Award® for Superior Achievement in a First Novel), They Don’t Come Home Anymore, The Nameless Dark (nominated for the 2015 Shirley Jackson Award for Single-Author Collection), The Mission, Triptych: Three Cosmic Tales, and These Old and Dirty Gods (Diese Alten und Dreckigen Götter – German language edition). His work has been published around the world, translated into Spanish, French, Italian, German, and Japanese. Grau lives in Los Angeles with his daughter, and is represented by Kim Yau (film/TV – Los Angeles) at Echo Lake Management and Katelyn Dougherty (literary – New York) at Paradigm Talent Agency.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
May 22, 2017
This is an intricately conceived novella laced with arsenic and ancient legend. Loneliness and yearning drive a young girl to take steps to the fringes of existence. Desire motivates her frightening yet guileless choices. Electrically written and emotionally charged, this book chills the heart and devours the senses.
November 18, 2016
T.E Grau probably is THE most underrated and original voice in contemporary weird fiction. Not only he's not appreciated to his fair value, but he's also unique and...quite great? I mean, THEY DON'T COME HOME ANYMORE draws way outside the line of conventional weird and horror. It's a fragmented puzzle and a heartbreaking allegory for the ruthlessness of adulthood.
What would you do to save what you have most precious from the inevitable ravages of time? What is most important to you? Preserving yourself or preserving the things most precious to you? Hettie, THEY DON'T COME HOME ANYMORE's protagonist, will put you in front of difficult questions and challenge your values as a human being. My kind of book. Definitely.
What would you do to save what you have most precious from the inevitable ravages of time? What is most important to you? Preserving yourself or preserving the things most precious to you? Hettie, THEY DON'T COME HOME ANYMORE's protagonist, will put you in front of difficult questions and challenge your values as a human being. My kind of book. Definitely.
March 5, 2023
Loved the writing style, but just lacked something for me?
February 16, 2017
Until last year, I had never read T.E. Grau. You need to watch out for him and read him already.
If I were a high school English teacher I would make my student's read this. They would probably fire me for doing so. That's OK, I'll still give you a "Citizen's F" if you don't read this.
If I were a high school English teacher I would make my student's read this. They would probably fire me for doing so. That's OK, I'll still give you a "Citizen's F" if you don't read this.
October 28, 2024
I enjoyed the idea behind the story and the style of writing throughout this but I just felt like there was something missing. The story and characters felt watered down in a way. It had no great grip on me sadly and I feel that this could have had potential to be a lot more "horror" if it was executed with a bit more oomph!
This was a quick read and it passed the time nicely but I feel I was just looking for a little more.
This was a quick read and it passed the time nicely but I feel I was just looking for a little more.
May 9, 2023
Hettie is a self confessed odd duck, and is perfectly fine with that. While going for a bathroom break at her high school, she has a brief encounter with the most popular girl in school, Avery. When Avery collapses and is rushed to the hospital, Hettie pledges to save Avery's life, which sets her off on a unique journey with all sorts of other odd ducks she meets along the way.
What an enjoyable read this novella was! At just over 100 pages, this story was a quick read that had me instantly sucked in. The characters are all well developed and the writing is great. Highly recommend!
What an enjoyable read this novella was! At just over 100 pages, this story was a quick read that had me instantly sucked in. The characters are all well developed and the writing is great. Highly recommend!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 15, 2017
This is my favorite This is Horror novella so far. And I really enjoyed A House at the Bottom of a Lake and The Visible Filth but this one spoke to me. T.E. Grau does a fantastic job with this story able to blend both humor and horror without sacrificing tension. Hettie is such an interesting and well developed protagonist that even though I thought I understood and knew her she still had the ability to surprise me. What more could you ask for in a book?
Lot’s, it turns out. Because this book delivered in several ways. The structure and quality of the writing are top notch. I enjoyed Hettie's episodic adventures and how each built upon the last till the conclusion. I loved how this book wasn’t just about Vampires or being an outcast or obsession but, about what it means when you’ll do anything to heal someone you love. That added a layer of meaning for me beyond the typical quest and/horror story.
Highly recommend picking this up (and I didn't even mention that cover art!). I can’t wait to read what Ted comes up with next.
November 11, 2017
Loved it.
Creepy, sad ,intriguing...funny.
Beautifully written.
A well deserved 5 stars.
More please.
Creepy, sad ,intriguing...funny.
Beautifully written.
A well deserved 5 stars.
More please.
November 30, 2016
Absolutely brilliant!
As I started reading this I thought to myself that this was different to what I had expected... and then I continued to think this a few more times before the end of the book!
Considering this is a novella T.E. Grau manages to make this story feel a lot more epic than it's hundred or so pages, the characters are fascinating and you're left wondering what direction the story will dive into next.
I won't say anything about the story for fear of spoiling it for anyone else but I will say that this is an intense tale of horror, devotion and even humour that is masterfully written.
As I started reading this I thought to myself that this was different to what I had expected... and then I continued to think this a few more times before the end of the book!
Considering this is a novella T.E. Grau manages to make this story feel a lot more epic than it's hundred or so pages, the characters are fascinating and you're left wondering what direction the story will dive into next.
I won't say anything about the story for fear of spoiling it for anyone else but I will say that this is an intense tale of horror, devotion and even humour that is masterfully written.
December 2, 2016
Hear the complete review on our website: http://www.bookedpodcast.com/?p=5453
July 10, 2017
In an age where the media is filled with glittery vampires and poorly computer-animated werewolves, it is often difficult to trudge through the slush piles with the hopes of finding a frightening–or original–interpretation of these iconic monsters. Supernatural erotica in literature and Twilight-esque characters in films and television have made the gothic beasts of old an often reluctant premise for writers who aim to take the monsters and their origins seriously.
In They Don’t Come Home Anymore, author T.E. Grau not only offers a fresh spin on the concept of Vampires, but he also remembers one of the core themes of the gothic monsters: that being of obsession, whether it be romantic obsession with characters like Dracula, or a darker, more twisted obsession, as we see with the protagonist of the novella, Hettie. Grau presents Hettie early on as a normal girl with some social and familial anxiety, though throughout the story her evolution is evident, drawing dynamics and depth within her character that are rare to be seen in most modern literature.
In the novella, Grau channels Stephen King’s early work. He often crafts a coming-of-age tale with Hettie’s transformation while also offering original and thought-provoking concepts when concerning the Vampires that Hettie so fervently seeks throughout the duration of the piece. Hettie is difficult not to root for as a character, Grau’s poetic and sometimes disturbing language strengthening the backbone of her universe and all who inhabit it. The cautionary tale is at times exciting, terrifying, hopeful, and deranged, constantly bouncing between themes with powerful writing that does not allow any separation of attention from the readers who travel with Hettie as she tries to save her friend, Avery, from certain death.
The dark obsession that Hettie has–what is the soul of They Don’t Come Home Anymore–reminds readers that even themes that have been butchered by mainstream entertainment, still hold the chance to be reinvigorated. While T.E. Grau‘s first collection held more breadth and expanse with its consistently-shifting themes, They Don’t Come Home Anymore easily stands on its own pedestal of remarkable quality. The world breathes with each sentence, the characters are described in details that never become overbearing, allowing the reader to visualize them into permanence, and the story is told upon foundations that rekindle our desires to see displays of human nature in literature.
Dark Fiction’s most promising young voice once again delivers with a novella that will surely not soon be forgotten.
-The Gehenna Post
In They Don’t Come Home Anymore, author T.E. Grau not only offers a fresh spin on the concept of Vampires, but he also remembers one of the core themes of the gothic monsters: that being of obsession, whether it be romantic obsession with characters like Dracula, or a darker, more twisted obsession, as we see with the protagonist of the novella, Hettie. Grau presents Hettie early on as a normal girl with some social and familial anxiety, though throughout the story her evolution is evident, drawing dynamics and depth within her character that are rare to be seen in most modern literature.
In the novella, Grau channels Stephen King’s early work. He often crafts a coming-of-age tale with Hettie’s transformation while also offering original and thought-provoking concepts when concerning the Vampires that Hettie so fervently seeks throughout the duration of the piece. Hettie is difficult not to root for as a character, Grau’s poetic and sometimes disturbing language strengthening the backbone of her universe and all who inhabit it. The cautionary tale is at times exciting, terrifying, hopeful, and deranged, constantly bouncing between themes with powerful writing that does not allow any separation of attention from the readers who travel with Hettie as she tries to save her friend, Avery, from certain death.
The dark obsession that Hettie has–what is the soul of They Don’t Come Home Anymore–reminds readers that even themes that have been butchered by mainstream entertainment, still hold the chance to be reinvigorated. While T.E. Grau‘s first collection held more breadth and expanse with its consistently-shifting themes, They Don’t Come Home Anymore easily stands on its own pedestal of remarkable quality. The world breathes with each sentence, the characters are described in details that never become overbearing, allowing the reader to visualize them into permanence, and the story is told upon foundations that rekindle our desires to see displays of human nature in literature.
Dark Fiction’s most promising young voice once again delivers with a novella that will surely not soon be forgotten.
-The Gehenna Post
May 22, 2018
T. E. Grau is a master teller and his strange tale of young Hettie looking for vampires in a plan to save her only friend will get you hooked in no time. Both sweetly amusing and genuinely terrifying, this novella is an instant modern classic of horror. I really enjoyed it and I warmly recommend it to all distinguished horror lovers.
January 21, 2022
i would more give this about 3.75 stars. very good writer. ( i don't remember when i started reading it)
November 28, 2016
Sometimes I feel like reading novellas is a risky proposition. They sometimes either feel like novels that don’t have enough room to stretch their legs or else like gargantuan constructions that the writer has tried to shove into clothes that don’t quite fit. But when they are done well, they can be really wonderful.
This is one of those cases.
In They Don’t Come Home Anymore, T. E. Grau presents a tale that is as multi-nuanced as a fine wine. There are flavors of suspense mixed with straight up horror and combined with shades of humor and satire. The basic story is about a young girl, Hettie, who has a strange obsession with a classmate, Avery. When she finds out that Avery is dying of leukemia she sets out to help her in a most unusual way.
I could list many things about this novella that I loved (the characters being high on that list), but I think what I loved the most was that just about every time I thought I had things figured out, the story would twist in a direction that I was not expecting. I love it when a story can keep me on my toes, guessing what will come next, and this one definitely does that.
I feel that Grau told the story that he set out to tell in They Don’t Come Home Anymore and that he wrapped up things as much as he needed to. This was a quick and intense read, though, which definitely left me wanting more of these characters and their world.
Highly recommended.
This is one of those cases.
In They Don’t Come Home Anymore, T. E. Grau presents a tale that is as multi-nuanced as a fine wine. There are flavors of suspense mixed with straight up horror and combined with shades of humor and satire. The basic story is about a young girl, Hettie, who has a strange obsession with a classmate, Avery. When she finds out that Avery is dying of leukemia she sets out to help her in a most unusual way.
I could list many things about this novella that I loved (the characters being high on that list), but I think what I loved the most was that just about every time I thought I had things figured out, the story would twist in a direction that I was not expecting. I love it when a story can keep me on my toes, guessing what will come next, and this one definitely does that.
I feel that Grau told the story that he set out to tell in They Don’t Come Home Anymore and that he wrapped up things as much as he needed to. This was a quick and intense read, though, which definitely left me wanting more of these characters and their world.
Highly recommended.
February 3, 2017
The natural progression of an unconventional story
The synopsis was so brief that I really didn't know what to expect from They Don't Come Home Anymore. As I read through the novella, I found myself still without much clue what to expect next. The entire story unfolds in an unexpected way; Grau tempts the reader along with juicy tidbits, only to pull them in a different direction when they think they're going to get a bite. The twists and turns don't feel cheap. They're not overly sudden or shocking. They just feel like the natural progression of a very unconventional story.
The book is so short that I hesitate to call it a slow burn, but the horror is subtle, and very well done. Grau's mastery of character development helps drive the story along, giving us glimpses into the life and mind of a flawed protagonist. These glimpses are unsettling in how they seem almost normal, how they're only just outside the bounds of typical teenage thought and behavior. Even as we come to understand just how damaged Hettie really is, we know that something even darker is lying underneath her whole world, waiting to be discovered. This is incredible storytelling.
The synopsis was so brief that I really didn't know what to expect from They Don't Come Home Anymore. As I read through the novella, I found myself still without much clue what to expect next. The entire story unfolds in an unexpected way; Grau tempts the reader along with juicy tidbits, only to pull them in a different direction when they think they're going to get a bite. The twists and turns don't feel cheap. They're not overly sudden or shocking. They just feel like the natural progression of a very unconventional story.
The book is so short that I hesitate to call it a slow burn, but the horror is subtle, and very well done. Grau's mastery of character development helps drive the story along, giving us glimpses into the life and mind of a flawed protagonist. These glimpses are unsettling in how they seem almost normal, how they're only just outside the bounds of typical teenage thought and behavior. Even as we come to understand just how damaged Hettie really is, we know that something even darker is lying underneath her whole world, waiting to be discovered. This is incredible storytelling.
January 5, 2017
After reading Grau's really fucking good collection The Nameless Dark, I have been trying to consume every word I can by the author. This story seems a little different than others I have read from the author, not in skill, but more in style I guess? I liked it. The book follows Hettie, a young introverted teenager that is given purpose by another dying teenage girl. With this new sense of purpose Hettie becomes this delightfully bold character that stares death in the face and barely flinches. She is not even doing it for herself, or is she?
The supernatural or extra dimensional elements simmer under the surface through a large portion of the book as you're with Hettie trying to discover if vampires are real. The characters in this novella sort of reminded me a little of those from a Laird Barron story. All of the characters have this larger than life presence and it is reflected in the dialogue. You know that the characters know there are otherworldly things amongst us even if they don't know exactly what they are.
The book is right around 100 pages and is broken down into 1-3 page chapters for the most part. Its not exactly a linear narrative but Grau gives you enough to make reasonable conclusions. That aspect reminded me a little of Stephen Graham Jones for some reason. Don't read too much into my comparisons though because Grau definitely has a style of his own and They Don't Come Home Anymore he is showing he has versatility.
I gave this book a 4 out of 5 but that was more because I compared this to some of the other stories I have already read in his collection. One of my favorite short stories of 2016 was his story "Transmission" in the Lost Signals anthology from Perpetual Motion Machine Press. If you're an established fan of Grau you will enjoy this Novella. If you like original vampire or blood drinking demons stories then check out this book too.
The supernatural or extra dimensional elements simmer under the surface through a large portion of the book as you're with Hettie trying to discover if vampires are real. The characters in this novella sort of reminded me a little of those from a Laird Barron story. All of the characters have this larger than life presence and it is reflected in the dialogue. You know that the characters know there are otherworldly things amongst us even if they don't know exactly what they are.
The book is right around 100 pages and is broken down into 1-3 page chapters for the most part. Its not exactly a linear narrative but Grau gives you enough to make reasonable conclusions. That aspect reminded me a little of Stephen Graham Jones for some reason. Don't read too much into my comparisons though because Grau definitely has a style of his own and They Don't Come Home Anymore he is showing he has versatility.
I gave this book a 4 out of 5 but that was more because I compared this to some of the other stories I have already read in his collection. One of my favorite short stories of 2016 was his story "Transmission" in the Lost Signals anthology from Perpetual Motion Machine Press. If you're an established fan of Grau you will enjoy this Novella. If you like original vampire or blood drinking demons stories then check out this book too.
October 29, 2017
As my introduction to T.E. Grau's work, 'They Don't Come Home Anymore' is an intriguing and fairly original (if all too brief) read. Technically it's more like a 3 1/2-star book, but I find it a little too slight to round up to 4. However, I ascribe this flaw more to the length than to the prose or storyline, neither of which I take issue with. The writing is concise, economical, and rich with strange, dark imagery that never seems pretentious or overly farfetched. The topic of vampires in horror may seem creatively exhausted by this point, but Grau's treatment of the subject matter is unique in its way, and manages the somewhat remarkable feat (in 2017) of making vampirism more frightening than silly. This is not a story lacking in atmosphere, nor emotion - its firm grounding in quasi-romantic obsession, rather than in the purely supernatural elements which are almost secondary to the central conflict/relationship, makes it harder to dismiss as "typical" (or should that be "generic"?) genre fiction. Put aside the goth/vampire trappings, and we're left with a story about two young people confronting mortality, premature or otherwise, in the only ways they know how. Thematically speaking, this is about as basic yet profound as most horror fiction gets, and allows 'They Don't Come Home Anymore' to resonate as a literary work. And as a taster for the rest of Grau's oeuvre, it certainly does its job.
February 13, 2022
In a little over 100 pages, this book takes you down the path of a very complicated teen girl. The main character, Hettie, realized she was different at a young age, and throughout her formative years she’s survived a home life of disinterest from her parents, the taunting of classmates, and no genuine friendship or kinship, if you will. But we learn Hettie is actually okay being characterized as an “odd duck.”
Enter a chance encounter in a school bathroom and some seemingly kind words from the most popular girl in school, and a seed is planted that grows into a full blown obsession. Hettie’s new best friend, the popular girl from the bathroom encounter, suddenly becomes hospitalized, bedridden, and on the brink of death - her good looks having withered away due to her illness. So Hettie makes it her life’s mission to save the popular girl from inevitable death and gift her with everlasting life.
The problem with this little plan, which we learn as the story unfolds, is that Hettie gets off on ruining people’s lives, and IMO is a sadistic budding sociopath. The author does a great job of gradually allowing the reader to get to know Hettie’s true nature over the length of the story via her thoughts and actions, and what she’s willing to reveal about herself. All this as she goes on a quest to find the means of obtaining an everlasting life she can bestow on her sickly “friend.”
All the characters in the story were multidimensional and either familiar or quirky, or both! Hettie is an interesting narrator full of dissatisfaction, grit, determination, humor, bravado, instinct, and commitment to fulfilling her mission. But it turns out her mission is to fuck up one more asshole’s life, even if she has to sacrifice her own, which ultimately ends up being a win-win situation fo Hettie. The last phase of the story provided a twist that was very satisfying, taking the reader on an unexpected off ramp that was a nice dark reveal.
Enter a chance encounter in a school bathroom and some seemingly kind words from the most popular girl in school, and a seed is planted that grows into a full blown obsession. Hettie’s new best friend, the popular girl from the bathroom encounter, suddenly becomes hospitalized, bedridden, and on the brink of death - her good looks having withered away due to her illness. So Hettie makes it her life’s mission to save the popular girl from inevitable death and gift her with everlasting life.
The problem with this little plan, which we learn as the story unfolds, is that Hettie gets off on ruining people’s lives, and IMO is a sadistic budding sociopath. The author does a great job of gradually allowing the reader to get to know Hettie’s true nature over the length of the story via her thoughts and actions, and what she’s willing to reveal about herself. All this as she goes on a quest to find the means of obtaining an everlasting life she can bestow on her sickly “friend.”
All the characters in the story were multidimensional and either familiar or quirky, or both! Hettie is an interesting narrator full of dissatisfaction, grit, determination, humor, bravado, instinct, and commitment to fulfilling her mission. But it turns out her mission is to fuck up one more asshole’s life, even if she has to sacrifice her own, which ultimately ends up being a win-win situation fo Hettie. The last phase of the story provided a twist that was very satisfying, taking the reader on an unexpected off ramp that was a nice dark reveal.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 10, 2020
I think I fell prey to high expectations and not being in the right headspace for this. I loved I Am The River and I expected something along the same vein. But this book is more of a satire on vampires and pop culture, and subversion of the usual "helpless teenager seeking mystical help" trope. I didn't jive with the overall tone of the book, and I couldn't connect with the main character. I found her annoying, to be honest. We get a glimpse of her dark side but it's not fully expanded. I would have loved to know more about why she does the things she do. I really liked the ending but it felt too little too late. It's still an entertaining novella and the writing is top notch. I just wanted something dark and scary and I didn't find it here.
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book blog | twitter | instagram
April 17, 2017
3.5
No soy fan de los libros de vampiros. De los miles que hay allá afuera, puedo contar en una mano los que si me han gustado.
Pero me gustan los libros impredecibles con personajes que se leen auténticos. Me gusta leer a personajes adolescentes que no son demasiado pretenciosos ni caen en el cliché de ser rebeldes nada más porque sí.
Y si tienen que ser vampiros, me gusta que se explore el tema no como un asunto de castas o grupos sino como la naturaleza misma de la condición: qué significa ser vampiro en ese universo en particular.
Bajo esos parámetros, They don't come home anymore cumple y lo hace bastante bien.
No soy fan de los libros de vampiros. De los miles que hay allá afuera, puedo contar en una mano los que si me han gustado.
Pero me gustan los libros impredecibles con personajes que se leen auténticos. Me gusta leer a personajes adolescentes que no son demasiado pretenciosos ni caen en el cliché de ser rebeldes nada más porque sí.
Y si tienen que ser vampiros, me gusta que se explore el tema no como un asunto de castas o grupos sino como la naturaleza misma de la condición: qué significa ser vampiro en ese universo en particular.
Bajo esos parámetros, They don't come home anymore cumple y lo hace bastante bien.
June 10, 2017
T.E.Grau does it again! A delightfully offbeat and bittersweet journey of a teenager navigating an uncaring world populated by jaded hipsters, poseur goths and other outcasts trying to cling to the fringes of society. Looking for something beyond her reach, she enters a world of shadows and beyond death to find her answer.
Grau fine tunes his storytelling technique and like with his collection of short stories, stand out moments include hauntingly poetic misanthropy, memorable characters and great humor. Highly recommended for fans of weird fiction and horror! Now to patiently await Grau's next book!
Grau fine tunes his storytelling technique and like with his collection of short stories, stand out moments include hauntingly poetic misanthropy, memorable characters and great humor. Highly recommended for fans of weird fiction and horror! Now to patiently await Grau's next book!
May 26, 2019
This novella touches on quite a few subjects, not just vampire mythos but also the cruelty of high schoolers, the big business of phony authors, and the underhanded tactics of born-again cults. But most importantly, it paints Hettie as a kind of anti-hero, trying to accomplish something that is obviously wrong, but you can’t help root for her.
You can read Matt's full review of T.E. Grau's They Don't Come Home Anymore at Horror DNA by clicking here.
You can read Matt's full review of T.E. Grau's They Don't Come Home Anymore at Horror DNA by clicking here.
November 27, 2018
I would guess this is meant to be teen fiction, but speaking as a fifty seven year old teen I enjoyed it.
This is a novella, so it's a quick read, and the story rattles along nicely. The plot isn't terribly subtle, and the author is sometimes more interested in moving the story along than in writing elegantly, but it's an enjoyable read and the ending is genuinely creepy. It's well worth the relatively brief time you'll take to read it.
This is a novella, so it's a quick read, and the story rattles along nicely. The plot isn't terribly subtle, and the author is sometimes more interested in moving the story along than in writing elegantly, but it's an enjoyable read and the ending is genuinely creepy. It's well worth the relatively brief time you'll take to read it.
July 5, 2017
rly comes into its own in the latter half. i was waiting for more exposition before that (and i still don't think i would have complained abt getting that). can someone please tell me what the fuck weird fiction is.
July 9, 2018
I loved this novella so much. It was dark, and weird, and a lot different from most other vampire stories i have read. It feels like there is much more to learn about this world, so I hope we get another Hettie story some time. I look forward to whatever Mr Grau gives us next, I have yet to be disappointed.
May 7, 2020
Loneliness, obsession and a fuck ton of awesome. Honestly T. E. Grau is fast becoming one of the most vivid and enticing horror authors of the last decade. More, more, more please.
January 26, 2021
Strong dark rapture this text, one you will experience fathoming during the process of connection with the dark-Platonic aspirations of an empathic creation like Hettie, whatever your age or gender or height or other healthy size or sickly gauntness, or whatever other epithets you decide to use about yourself.
The detailed review of this book posted elsewhere under my name is too long or impractical to post here.
Above is one of its observations at the time of the review.
The detailed review of this book posted elsewhere under my name is too long or impractical to post here.
Above is one of its observations at the time of the review.
May 26, 2018
take heed Gaiman and King, a new wordsmith is here
June 16, 2022
This is a novella but it took me a week to get through it because I just cannot care for the central character — there’s just a lack of reason, as to why she cared so much for Avery other than her talking to her, not until you reached the actual end of the novella. This was almost a DNF for me, but I felt so bad for myself for abandoning a novella which is short enough as it is. Plus, I guess I am just too old for vampiric-themed plots, although I find the way Grau slightly did a twist on this frankly hackneyed horror genre, quite refreshing. My main disappointment is I that I was expecting something more…eldritch, not gothic angsty.
My whole 3 stars then are purely dedicated to the way Grau wrote. Because dang do I find his prose absolutely beautiful. I don’t even know how to describe it other than ‘clean but poetic’. There were many moments where I found myself saying ‘wow this person really chose their words with a unique care’ — there was just a sense of personality to it, especially when this novella is written in a third person. I know I am being vague right now so do give this one a try if you’re curious. I would definitely check out Grau’s other works (this is their first work I have ever read) purely because of the enjoyment I derived from reading this writing.
My whole 3 stars then are purely dedicated to the way Grau wrote. Because dang do I find his prose absolutely beautiful. I don’t even know how to describe it other than ‘clean but poetic’. There were many moments where I found myself saying ‘wow this person really chose their words with a unique care’ — there was just a sense of personality to it, especially when this novella is written in a third person. I know I am being vague right now so do give this one a try if you’re curious. I would definitely check out Grau’s other works (this is their first work I have ever read) purely because of the enjoyment I derived from reading this writing.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews