Spines

by Jamie Killen

Two months ago, Wren woke up covered in blood, suffering from memory loss, and surrounded by the remains of a strange cult ritual. This is the story of her search for answers, and the strange, powerful people she meets along the way. Precious few clues guide Wren on her journey. Fragmented memories of a long-lost love. Creatures watching her from the shadows. And then there are the strange powers Wren carries within her, powers no human should have. . . This volume adapts all three seasons of the acclaimed audio drama into novel form; it also includes two new stories previously released as patron-only bonus episodes.

Genres: Horror, LGBT

214 pages, Paperback

Published July 20, 2018

About the author

I'm a reader, writer, podcaster, feminist, and owner of a pack of very spoiled dogs. I've published several horror/SFF short stories and novellas over the years. I also write audio drama and have created several fiction podcasts including SPINES and MIRRORS.

Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/jamiekillen...

RED HAIL was released in February 2020. Check out the book trailer here: https://vimeo.com/385537761

Reviews

[Zachariah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forgot I kind of read this book by listening to the podcast.

This has got to be probably the best fiction podcast I've listened to so far this year. Three seasons, eight episodes each. Jamie Killen, the writer and voice actor, really knows how to hook you. The horror stuff was top shelf. I recommend for fans of horror and fans of women with amazing cool abilities which that woman then uses to just straight up murder people in grotesque and unusual ways.

[Tim Pendry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally drawn from a podcast series (2018) which is still available online, 'Spines' is an entertaining horror/dark fantasy tale that manages to avoid the cliches of the Lovecraftian and, at least initially, gives us something more in the spirit of Robert W. Chambers.

Killen has a fertile mind. The early sections show an imagination well above the average even if, over time, it is hard to maintain the momentum as the tale heads towards a more conventional 'competing secret societies' story line and a final brief moment of depressingly fashionable politics.

The characters, especially Shan the human-plant hybrid created out of the dark plot's premise (secret manoevrings to unlock human genetic potential for 'gifts' through dark science), are strong. Killen can also write about love and longing without it getting in the way of the story.

Occasionally she offers us quite profound thought experiments that verge on the philosophical and there is a sense of evil that allows us to call this cosmic horror. Killen is one of the most intelligent speculative fiction writers I have come across recently.

The early promise is, however, not quite fulfilled.The story just goes on for too long and shifts from true horror - including some body horror - to young adult material almost set up for a Netflix series. Ultimately, it lacks discipline and it weakens over time.

But this should not put you off because it weakens from considerable strength. It is never dull or stupid. Right to the very end Killen is able to surprise with plot twists and turns and she wears her feminist and 'intersectional' predispositions lightly, intelligently and with evident talent.

[Sue P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

This fever dream of a book is probably the best end of the world we know it novel I have ever read. Highest recommendation.

[Dan · Rating 1 out of 5]

The only person more bored by Spines than me is its author.

[vil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spines is one of my favourite audio dramas and i love it with every piece of my soul. However i feel like Jamie Killen shouldn’t have turned the script straight into chapters - what i mean is every word from the podcast is the same in the story, which is fine, of course, except for the fact that the book does not make it clear who is narrating - Wren or Shan or Winry or Zachary? Of course you would only know who narrates which chapter if you’ve listened to the podcast but tbh doing this was not the best idea. I feel if the book Spines had been written in a way that reimagined the podcast or in third person like Joseph Fink did with the Alice Isn’t Dead book, the boom would have been much better and less confusing. Absolutely nothing wrong with the book otherwise! I just think it’s reasonable to be able to see the shortcomings of even things that you love :)