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Gills
They're beautiful. They're alluring. But don't get too close. The women of the sea are starving...
Georgia Woodrow isn't winning any prizes for Daughter of the Year--it's been far too long since she last visited home, for starters. But after receiving a late-night phone call from her father, she finds it impossible to stay away...
Georgia's sister has gone missing. Sixteen years old, vanished in the dead of night, and hardly a clue to go on. No friends, no lovers, no belongings taken. However, after flying home to be with their father, Georgia soon uncovers a strange secret of her sister's--a dark fascination Georgia can't begin to understand, but which leads her to the dark shores at the edge of town...
...to the ocean deep, where a blood-soaked mystery threatens to claim Georgia just as it's claimed so many lives before her.
Georgia Woodrow isn't winning any prizes for Daughter of the Year--it's been far too long since she last visited home, for starters. But after receiving a late-night phone call from her father, she finds it impossible to stay away...
Georgia's sister has gone missing. Sixteen years old, vanished in the dead of night, and hardly a clue to go on. No friends, no lovers, no belongings taken. However, after flying home to be with their father, Georgia soon uncovers a strange secret of her sister's--a dark fascination Georgia can't begin to understand, but which leads her to the dark shores at the edge of town...
...to the ocean deep, where a blood-soaked mystery threatens to claim Georgia just as it's claimed so many lives before her.
332 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 2, 2020
530 people are currently reading
629 people want to read
About the author
Abe Moss
24 books427 followersAbe Moss has been writing horror stories for as long as he can remember, and hopes to never stop. He loves creature-features, psychological horror, supernatural horror, cosmic horror, you name it. With each book he writes, he hopes to try something a little different. The possibilities are endless and that's what he really loves about storytelling. He hopes you'll enjoy his stories, too!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
June 23, 2020
tw: self-harm; gore
"I know the past few days were a less-than-stellar introduction of what's to come. But tonight, I'm going to teach you what it truly means to be a Daughter of the Deep."
The story mainly follows the point of views of sisters Georgia and Samantha. After a few years, their father called Georgia to tell her the most unbearable news: Samantha gone missing. Because of this, Georgia is forced to return to their home which is by the ocean to look for her sister. What happened to her? Who got her?
Gills is my first read from Abe Moss and to be honest it was entertaining at least. I wasn't bored and I think that was the biggest positive reading it. This book intensified my fear of the oceans and what is lurking beneath it. According to scientists, less than 5% of the Earth's oceans have been explored. Apparently, we know more about the dark side of the moon than we do about the depths of the oceans on our own planet. The premise of this book sounded really good to me. Like, duh killer sirens? Who wouldn't want that in a horror novel.
I just wished it was darker and more sinister especially the sirens. I wished they were devoid of conscience or humanity. Straight up evil, seductive, and wicked but of course that's not what happened. I think the biggest let down for me was that this story focused more on humanizing these things rather than them being sirens. I wanted more teeth. More clashes of fins and claws. Also, they spent so much of their time on land walking (yes, you read it right), running, and living in their house. It felt mundane, modern, and natural. I appreciate this author's take with these sirens. Especially how they lure men and feast on them. Reading it was downright terrifying and gore. I loved it. These scenes were the true horror of this book. Wished there were more of this.
I wouldn't talk about the main characters because honestly I never truly rooted any of them. They felt bland and annoying to me. I was rooting for the sirens to eat them or what.
Lastly, the writing here was vivid. I wasn't maybe that gripped throughout reading this story, especially to those times that it felt heavy on fantasy, but I don't regret reading it. Promised a good horror and somehow it delivered.
"I know the past few days were a less-than-stellar introduction of what's to come. But tonight, I'm going to teach you what it truly means to be a Daughter of the Deep."
The story mainly follows the point of views of sisters Georgia and Samantha. After a few years, their father called Georgia to tell her the most unbearable news: Samantha gone missing. Because of this, Georgia is forced to return to their home which is by the ocean to look for her sister. What happened to her? Who got her?
Gills is my first read from Abe Moss and to be honest it was entertaining at least. I wasn't bored and I think that was the biggest positive reading it. This book intensified my fear of the oceans and what is lurking beneath it. According to scientists, less than 5% of the Earth's oceans have been explored. Apparently, we know more about the dark side of the moon than we do about the depths of the oceans on our own planet. The premise of this book sounded really good to me. Like, duh killer sirens? Who wouldn't want that in a horror novel.
I just wished it was darker and more sinister especially the sirens. I wished they were devoid of conscience or humanity. Straight up evil, seductive, and wicked but of course that's not what happened. I think the biggest let down for me was that this story focused more on humanizing these things rather than them being sirens. I wanted more teeth. More clashes of fins and claws. Also, they spent so much of their time on land walking (yes, you read it right), running, and living in their house. It felt mundane, modern, and natural. I appreciate this author's take with these sirens. Especially how they lure men and feast on them. Reading it was downright terrifying and gore. I loved it. These scenes were the true horror of this book. Wished there were more of this.
I wouldn't talk about the main characters because honestly I never truly rooted any of them. They felt bland and annoying to me. I was rooting for the sirens to eat them or what.
Lastly, the writing here was vivid. I wasn't maybe that gripped throughout reading this story, especially to those times that it felt heavy on fantasy, but I don't regret reading it. Promised a good horror and somehow it delivered.
May 28, 2021
I really like dark mermaid books 🤪. Found this one on kindle unlimited.
Georgia goes back home to help locate her missing 16yr old sister, Sam. On the hunt for her missing sister, Georgia stumbles upon a deadly myth lurking in her hometown’s ocean waters. “Beware the women in the waves.”
Georgia goes back home to help locate her missing 16yr old sister, Sam. On the hunt for her missing sister, Georgia stumbles upon a deadly myth lurking in her hometown’s ocean waters. “Beware the women in the waves.”
July 16, 2020
If you’re looking for a good eerie mermaid/siren(monster) book, this is the one 👍🏼☠️
November 21, 2022
3.33 stars for me
If I said it once,.I've said it a million and two times, i love horror books involving the ocean in some form. Sharks and other sea critters, Sea ghosts and sea monsters, books.about any of the above are sure to attract my attention. So a horror book about Mermaids, how could I not read it? However, this wasn't really a horror book about Mermaids. Oh, there were mermaids in it, but I definitely call it a horror book. It was more like one of those dark, teen dramas you find on Freeform. This also seemed like the target audience for this was sexually frustrated young men and horned up teen boys, because really, how many times do we have to be reminded that mermaids are naked? It's mentioned at least once per paragraph during parts featuring the mermaids. I rated this high because the plot was good and definitely wasn't boring. I would've preferred more gore, but what are ya gonna do? The characters were ok and most seemed to come "alive", but I would've loved to have gotten some type of backstory on a couple of them. Also the ending was kind of a let down.
If I said it once,.I've said it a million and two times, i love horror books involving the ocean in some form. Sharks and other sea critters, Sea ghosts and sea monsters, books.about any of the above are sure to attract my attention. So a horror book about Mermaids, how could I not read it? However, this wasn't really a horror book about Mermaids. Oh, there were mermaids in it, but I definitely call it a horror book. It was more like one of those dark, teen dramas you find on Freeform. This also seemed like the target audience for this was sexually frustrated young men and horned up teen boys, because really, how many times do we have to be reminded that mermaids are naked? It's mentioned at least once per paragraph during parts featuring the mermaids. I rated this high because the plot was good and definitely wasn't boring. I would've preferred more gore, but what are ya gonna do? The characters were ok and most seemed to come "alive", but I would've loved to have gotten some type of backstory on a couple of them. Also the ending was kind of a let down.
July 14, 2020
Gills by Abe Moss
Intriguing read that pulls you into the story of 2 sisters Samantha and Georgia who each feel they don't know the other sister even if they are family. Samantha disappears and Georgia goes home to find out if she ran away or if something else nefarious happened to her. What Georgia discovers is mind-blowing and makes for an interesting read that pulls you in and doesn't let you go till you get to the last page. Another awesome book from Abe Moss, if you haven't read this author yet what are you waiting for?!
Intriguing read that pulls you into the story of 2 sisters Samantha and Georgia who each feel they don't know the other sister even if they are family. Samantha disappears and Georgia goes home to find out if she ran away or if something else nefarious happened to her. What Georgia discovers is mind-blowing and makes for an interesting read that pulls you in and doesn't let you go till you get to the last page. Another awesome book from Abe Moss, if you haven't read this author yet what are you waiting for?!
January 25, 2022
The first quarter was good and seemed promising, the rest of the story fell flat. I was anticipating a probably corny but hopefully engaging mermaid horror novel, instead I got a slow moving story filled with teenage angst. Possibly a good story but not was I was looking for.
February 26, 2023
Georgia's little sister, Sam, is missing. Turns out she willingly joined a coven of mermaids and then became one herself.
I loved the dark myth around town about mermaids. Fantastic atmosphere, especially with the ocean. This was a fun summer time read.
I loved the dark myth around town about mermaids. Fantastic atmosphere, especially with the ocean. This was a fun summer time read.
dnf
May 13, 2023dnf at 6%
November 14, 2020
I really liked this original story. Sure there have been stories about mermaids/sirens whatever before but I felt that this was a good, detailed and original take. It wasn’t scary really, but definitely horror. Abe Moss is good at writing that keeps your interest and Moves along quickly. It’s descriptive and and well written overall.
May 31, 2020
Although this isn't the type of story I usually read, I enjoyed it. The characters were well developed and the story was well written. I got lost at the very beginning of the book trying to understand how the old man, Alfred, fit into the story with Samantha and Georgia. But that was obvious pretty quick. For those afraid to swim in the ocean or dark waters, this story won't help you feel any braver to do that. Even if you don't normally read fantasy/Sci-Fi stories, give this one a chance. Like me, you might find you enjoyed it.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 27, 2024
I blame Ariel for why we don’t see too many mermaid horror stories. However, when I do find mermaid horror, I instantly need to try it. Deep water is already terrifying (even though I love swimming), but adding in a monster (or worse if there is more than one) that will drag you under always makes me think twice about swimming out too far in the ocean. As you can see, I was pretty excited to pick this up and see what kind of twist Moss could bring to this uncommon horror monster.
Before I give my thoughts, I will say the book synopsis gives the wrong impression of this story, so readers' expectations will be thrown off if they go in with only the summary. That’s what happened to me. I thought this would be a creature horror, but it's really a contemporary fantasy novel with 2 primary POVs. There were some gore and darker moments, but Moss never built any suspense for me to categorize this as a horror novel.
At the beginning, the story seemed like a mystery/thriller where we follow Georgia, who is trying to find her sister, Samantha. However, it quickly becomes a fantasy novel when we follow Samantha’s POV. Through her POV, we get an intimate view of the mermaids and learn about their religion, customs, and meal preferences. There was one scene where we learn how they feed, and that was probably the best scene in this novel. I thought it was disturbingly cool how Moss added his own spin to mermaid biology.
There was one chapter that felt incredibly unnecessary (*Cough* Snow Cone Boy) where Moss was adding shock factor because he was writing a horror. It didn’t do anything for the story and could have been edited out.
Overall, this didn’t work for me. The story felt as if it was very character-driven, yet all the characters fell flat. I was also shocked by how many fight scenes occurred out of the water when it is a story about mermaids. Part of me blames the synopsis since the book I thought I was reading was not the book I read.
If it were ever rewritten, I would discuss how this is a story about a teen who feels lost and out of place in this world. One day she finds a group of women in the sea who show her there is a place she can call home. However, she quickly feels left out. Then accidentally shatters her new life after saving her estranged sister. I would definitely edit this, but it's the best way to truly describe the main plot of this story.
Before I give my thoughts, I will say the book synopsis gives the wrong impression of this story, so readers' expectations will be thrown off if they go in with only the summary. That’s what happened to me. I thought this would be a creature horror, but it's really a contemporary fantasy novel with 2 primary POVs. There were some gore and darker moments, but Moss never built any suspense for me to categorize this as a horror novel.
At the beginning, the story seemed like a mystery/thriller where we follow Georgia, who is trying to find her sister, Samantha. However, it quickly becomes a fantasy novel when we follow Samantha’s POV. Through her POV, we get an intimate view of the mermaids and learn about their religion, customs, and meal preferences. There was one scene where we learn how they feed, and that was probably the best scene in this novel. I thought it was disturbingly cool how Moss added his own spin to mermaid biology.
There was one chapter that felt incredibly unnecessary (*Cough* Snow Cone Boy) where Moss was adding shock factor because he was writing a horror. It didn’t do anything for the story and could have been edited out.
Overall, this didn’t work for me. The story felt as if it was very character-driven, yet all the characters fell flat. I was also shocked by how many fight scenes occurred out of the water when it is a story about mermaids. Part of me blames the synopsis since the book I thought I was reading was not the book I read.
If it were ever rewritten, I would discuss how this is a story about a teen who feels lost and out of place in this world. One day she finds a group of women in the sea who show her there is a place she can call home. However, she quickly feels left out. Then accidentally shatters her new life after saving her estranged sister. I would definitely edit this, but it's the best way to truly describe the main plot of this story.
December 17, 2024
I generally like Abe’s work, but this one fell short.
Of course a story about merfolk does require some suspended reality. But the Dymphna character lacked any believability at all. And that’s quite a statement given that the main characters have torso vaginas full of teeth and glowing organs.
The family dynamics are effed up, but not effectively realized here. The Nina character served no purpose to the story. The unfortunate lad working the snow cone kiosk had more presence despite his brief role in the story.
It took me several days to finish this novel as I just wasn’t really interested in spending much time with it. Cannot recommend.
Of course a story about merfolk does require some suspended reality. But the Dymphna character lacked any believability at all. And that’s quite a statement given that the main characters have torso vaginas full of teeth and glowing organs.
The family dynamics are effed up, but not effectively realized here. The Nina character served no purpose to the story. The unfortunate lad working the snow cone kiosk had more presence despite his brief role in the story.
It took me several days to finish this novel as I just wasn’t really interested in spending much time with it. Cannot recommend.
June 2, 2020
Ok so I love reading horror and I love reading sci-fi/fantasy well this was both rolled up into one nail-biting, reading under the covers with the door locked kind of book! I won't be going swimming in the ocean anytime soon after reading this. But OMG what a brilliantly told tale!!! This was the first book I have read from this talented author and I can say I will most definitely be reading more from them!!!!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 26, 2022
This book was so interesting, yet I was also bored. For the first about third of the book, I just wanted to stop reading. It felt like it was going nowhere. It wasn't until about 2/3 of the way through that things got interesting. And then the last third went by so quickly. Some things felt a little unexplained, but overall I wanted to see what happened in the end. Love the take on mermaids, well sirens actually. And then the regret of Bree and everything that happened.
May 4, 2025
ISO horror books that don’t grotesquely sexualize women. Thanks.
September 21, 2020
Whenever I need an easy read due to health or life issues, I usually turn to sea monster horror. I was on a killer mermaid kick awhile back and missed this one, so I thought I'd give it a go. While I don't know if it surpasses Drowning Deeps or Rolling Deeps by Mira Grant, it was still a cut above a lot of the sea monster books I've read this year. It resonated with me as a 3/5, but because it stood above the average sea monster books I was reading so much, 4/5 felt like a more objective call.
If you've read Mira Grant and then found yourself disappointed by future mermaid books, this one should help fill the hole. It feels like a SyFy movie of the week that you'd watch to the end instead of one you'd turn off.
If you've read Mira Grant and then found yourself disappointed by future mermaid books, this one should help fill the hole. It feels like a SyFy movie of the week that you'd watch to the end instead of one you'd turn off.
July 31, 2024
“Stuck between two lives. Without a family, without a home. Your spaces are too dark. You cannot know what you cannot see… what is hidden under ribs as dark as these. There is a void in you, child…”
Sixteen is a troubling year filled with self reflection and sorrows for Samantha Woodrow. At a very young age, she snuck out to a beach party with her elder sister Georgia and found herself drowning beneath the crushing waves of the Ocean. Barely making it ashore, her entire demeanor and personality would shift as she became withdrawn and a polar opposite of the curious and happy girl. For the following years she became withdrawn, turning to self harming and depression as she pushed her parents as dae away as she possibly could get. One morning, her father would wake and discover his daughter missing and would immediately notify police as well as Georgia to get her home to help with the search. Learning of San's stalker Cody Lawrence, her sister confronts him at his family's snow cone buisness where he denies truly stalking her as he only watch her sorrows from afar. Lured in night after night by Orella, Sam would eventually take to the water one last time and her transformation into a Daughter of the Deep would begin.
“Why don’t you let me forget about you?” he asked. “I want to forget about you. Don’t you get that?”
Waking to find herself on a strange island, Sam makes her way to this decrepit house where she first meets Jane, Lana, Bree and Orella and finds herself belonging other first real family. Forced to drown and adapt to having gills and a tail, she's terrified the first few days as she's trapped in a feverish nightmare she doesn't understand. Brought out a few days later to feed, she watches the others lure inen before the scar running the length of their chests would open reveling teeth that'll eat their victims alive. When Sam spots Georgia sitting alone at the beach, she's quickly noticed and a a chase through theater begins that'll leave Georgia almost drowned herself. Not knowing what to do, Sam brings her to the island where she's immediately blocked away inside the cellar with plans from Orella to have her killed. Not wanting to see her dead, she watches helplessly as Bree slips Georgia an ice pick and encourages her to run away. As Lana vibes chase, she would be killed first, followed by Jane, then Bree and lastly Orella.
Not inside those dark currents down below, in the caverns under the earth, where unimaginable entities watched the world with eyes that weren’t like eyes at all. Broken in two and hollowed out like an oyster.
Alfred Bennett is an older man now who is still weighed down he torn by the loss of both his wife and daughter Bree. Seeing her off in the waters, he knows she's a monster now but every vision of the daughter he lost only cuts deeper inside. Knowing killing her will be the only mercy left for her,he sets out one last time with a shotgun and a steady hand where he would shoot Lana inorder to save Georgia from being cl aimed alive. Managing to reach the island, he's attacked and am used by Jane as she opens up and rips his hand from his arm. With Bree's help, Georgia gets him back to the boat where he would pass away onland. Meanwhile, Bree is armed and heading to “Dymphna.”, the nother of all the sisters. Shooting her dead, it rips apart the hearts binding each sister together and leaves everybody dying, including Samantha who is begining to regret everything she's lost by becoming one of them. Knowing she'll be er see when family or sister again, she sinks deeper be earth the waters as she knows this'll be her final swim.
The blood. The lust. The pleasure. The hunger.
Sixteen is a troubling year filled with self reflection and sorrows for Samantha Woodrow. At a very young age, she snuck out to a beach party with her elder sister Georgia and found herself drowning beneath the crushing waves of the Ocean. Barely making it ashore, her entire demeanor and personality would shift as she became withdrawn and a polar opposite of the curious and happy girl. For the following years she became withdrawn, turning to self harming and depression as she pushed her parents as dae away as she possibly could get. One morning, her father would wake and discover his daughter missing and would immediately notify police as well as Georgia to get her home to help with the search. Learning of San's stalker Cody Lawrence, her sister confronts him at his family's snow cone buisness where he denies truly stalking her as he only watch her sorrows from afar. Lured in night after night by Orella, Sam would eventually take to the water one last time and her transformation into a Daughter of the Deep would begin.
“Why don’t you let me forget about you?” he asked. “I want to forget about you. Don’t you get that?”
Waking to find herself on a strange island, Sam makes her way to this decrepit house where she first meets Jane, Lana, Bree and Orella and finds herself belonging other first real family. Forced to drown and adapt to having gills and a tail, she's terrified the first few days as she's trapped in a feverish nightmare she doesn't understand. Brought out a few days later to feed, she watches the others lure inen before the scar running the length of their chests would open reveling teeth that'll eat their victims alive. When Sam spots Georgia sitting alone at the beach, she's quickly noticed and a a chase through theater begins that'll leave Georgia almost drowned herself. Not knowing what to do, Sam brings her to the island where she's immediately blocked away inside the cellar with plans from Orella to have her killed. Not wanting to see her dead, she watches helplessly as Bree slips Georgia an ice pick and encourages her to run away. As Lana vibes chase, she would be killed first, followed by Jane, then Bree and lastly Orella.
Not inside those dark currents down below, in the caverns under the earth, where unimaginable entities watched the world with eyes that weren’t like eyes at all. Broken in two and hollowed out like an oyster.
Alfred Bennett is an older man now who is still weighed down he torn by the loss of both his wife and daughter Bree. Seeing her off in the waters, he knows she's a monster now but every vision of the daughter he lost only cuts deeper inside. Knowing killing her will be the only mercy left for her,he sets out one last time with a shotgun and a steady hand where he would shoot Lana inorder to save Georgia from being cl aimed alive. Managing to reach the island, he's attacked and am used by Jane as she opens up and rips his hand from his arm. With Bree's help, Georgia gets him back to the boat where he would pass away onland. Meanwhile, Bree is armed and heading to “Dymphna.”, the nother of all the sisters. Shooting her dead, it rips apart the hearts binding each sister together and leaves everybody dying, including Samantha who is begining to regret everything she's lost by becoming one of them. Knowing she'll be er see when family or sister again, she sinks deeper be earth the waters as she knows this'll be her final swim.
The blood. The lust. The pleasure. The hunger.
May 30, 2020
A beautiful, haunting and exquisitely frightening tale.
And so I sadly—sadly because it’s over—come to the end of another novel from Abe Moss. Damn, this guy can write!
I first discovered Mr. Moss’ prodigious talents in By the Light of His Lantern, an exemplary tale of loss, fear, damnation and eventual forgiveness. Gills: A Novel is no less a literary achievement than that marvelous book and in some ways goes even deeper into those themes and well beyond. It is at once frightening and beautiful, gruesome and poignant, and thrilling yet heartbreaking. It is a gorgeous story that will take you places you had no idea you could be taken.
Without giving anything away, suffice it to say that this is not the tale of Ariel the Little Mermaid. Not in the least. It is instead a frightening, yet beautifully crafted story about wanting to belong so desperately that you’re willing to do anything, sacrifice anything, and embrace whatever darkness you have to in order to have it. It’s also about teeth—lots of them—and contains some of the darkest and most terrifying Lovecraftian themes I’ve ever encountered. And that’s a good thing.
As I think I mentioned in my review of By the Light of His Lantern, I’ve never encountered the depth of both the characters and of their feelings that Mr. Moss is able to pull off, particularly in the horror genre. There have been many great, wonderfully deep characters in fiction before, of course; you can name plenty of your own favorites. And by the same token, there have been some truly scary novels written up to now as well, thankfully. But to see the two combined in such a beautiful way and with such depth and aplomb...well, its truly a wonderful thing to behold. This is where Mr. Moss is a master.
Such is the case with our protagonist in Gills, a young woman named Samantha. I came to love her, to empathize with her and to hope for her. I reveled in her victories and I felt genuine anguish in her suffering. And suffer she does, poor girl. But again, I’ll not ruin the story for you by dropping spoilers. Just take my word for it that you will not just read this beautiful novel, you will experience it. In all of its terrible glory.
So, regardless of what I was expecting, Gills carried me away and kept me not just entertained, but delighted and moved. And scared. I wish I could read it again for the very first time and that’s the highest praise I can give a novel.
By the way, I received a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
And so I sadly—sadly because it’s over—come to the end of another novel from Abe Moss. Damn, this guy can write!
I first discovered Mr. Moss’ prodigious talents in By the Light of His Lantern, an exemplary tale of loss, fear, damnation and eventual forgiveness. Gills: A Novel is no less a literary achievement than that marvelous book and in some ways goes even deeper into those themes and well beyond. It is at once frightening and beautiful, gruesome and poignant, and thrilling yet heartbreaking. It is a gorgeous story that will take you places you had no idea you could be taken.
Without giving anything away, suffice it to say that this is not the tale of Ariel the Little Mermaid. Not in the least. It is instead a frightening, yet beautifully crafted story about wanting to belong so desperately that you’re willing to do anything, sacrifice anything, and embrace whatever darkness you have to in order to have it. It’s also about teeth—lots of them—and contains some of the darkest and most terrifying Lovecraftian themes I’ve ever encountered. And that’s a good thing.
As I think I mentioned in my review of By the Light of His Lantern, I’ve never encountered the depth of both the characters and of their feelings that Mr. Moss is able to pull off, particularly in the horror genre. There have been many great, wonderfully deep characters in fiction before, of course; you can name plenty of your own favorites. And by the same token, there have been some truly scary novels written up to now as well, thankfully. But to see the two combined in such a beautiful way and with such depth and aplomb...well, its truly a wonderful thing to behold. This is where Mr. Moss is a master.
Such is the case with our protagonist in Gills, a young woman named Samantha. I came to love her, to empathize with her and to hope for her. I reveled in her victories and I felt genuine anguish in her suffering. And suffer she does, poor girl. But again, I’ll not ruin the story for you by dropping spoilers. Just take my word for it that you will not just read this beautiful novel, you will experience it. In all of its terrible glory.
So, regardless of what I was expecting, Gills carried me away and kept me not just entertained, but delighted and moved. And scared. I wish I could read it again for the very first time and that’s the highest praise I can give a novel.
By the way, I received a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
November 28, 2021
Masterful! There is no other word for me to describe 'Gills' by Abe Moss. This young American author proves himself as a writer of excellent gothic fiction with a wonderful ambiguity. This book is not only a dark must-read about the dangerous women of the sea, but also about loneliness, being yourself and crossing boundaries.
Moss writes top notch gothic fiction for me. Several features of this can be found in Gills. For example, the mysterious scary that challenges reality, the search for an identity, violence and captivity. He always manages to reconcile all this in a balanced way with the message for his readers.
The theme of the story is also very strong. In my experience, Gils is a must-read about feeling displaced, crossing boundaries and looking for a place to be yourself. These topics are all appropriately addressed in the story, occasionally touching each other, making it very intriguing to read. From this point of view, chapter nineteen is a key chapter.
The mermaid is a symbol for the sea, femininity, seduction, independence and transformation. Moss has added an element to these fascinating mythical water creatures that makes them disgusting as well as empathy. The fear symbolism of the mermaids in this gothic must-read convincingly focuses on the destructive power of the sea on the one hand, and in a more symbolic sense (water as a reference to feelings) on the negative emotions with the same destructiveness. This ambiguity is fantastic!
And the relationship between Georgia and her sister Samatha is not only special, but also complex and it is beautifully described. The complexity is mainly because the lives of both have a similar theme, namely wanting to be yourself. The choices that both sisters make are different and that gives a strong dynamic to their relationship. The feelings of both are related to the theme and therefore a strong motive.
There are also some LGBT elements in the story, which have added value. They amplify Moss' message to his readers. In a fierce, moving and also tragic way, the story shows how important it is for someone to have people around them with whom they can be themselves.
So for the readers of gothic fiction with a literary layering, 'Gills' by Abe Moss is a must! #abemoss #gillsanovel
Moss writes top notch gothic fiction for me. Several features of this can be found in Gills. For example, the mysterious scary that challenges reality, the search for an identity, violence and captivity. He always manages to reconcile all this in a balanced way with the message for his readers.
The theme of the story is also very strong. In my experience, Gils is a must-read about feeling displaced, crossing boundaries and looking for a place to be yourself. These topics are all appropriately addressed in the story, occasionally touching each other, making it very intriguing to read. From this point of view, chapter nineteen is a key chapter.
The mermaid is a symbol for the sea, femininity, seduction, independence and transformation. Moss has added an element to these fascinating mythical water creatures that makes them disgusting as well as empathy. The fear symbolism of the mermaids in this gothic must-read convincingly focuses on the destructive power of the sea on the one hand, and in a more symbolic sense (water as a reference to feelings) on the negative emotions with the same destructiveness. This ambiguity is fantastic!
And the relationship between Georgia and her sister Samatha is not only special, but also complex and it is beautifully described. The complexity is mainly because the lives of both have a similar theme, namely wanting to be yourself. The choices that both sisters make are different and that gives a strong dynamic to their relationship. The feelings of both are related to the theme and therefore a strong motive.
There are also some LGBT elements in the story, which have added value. They amplify Moss' message to his readers. In a fierce, moving and also tragic way, the story shows how important it is for someone to have people around them with whom they can be themselves.
So for the readers of gothic fiction with a literary layering, 'Gills' by Abe Moss is a must! #abemoss #gillsanovel
March 19, 2025
"They're beautiful. They're alluring. But don’t get too close. The women of the sea are starving…"
A missing girl. A fractured family. A blood-soaked mystery lurking beneath the waves.
Georgia Woodrow hasn’t been home in years, but when a late-night phone call shatters the silence, she has no choice but to return. Her 16-year-old sister has vanished into thin air—no clues, no warning signs, just an absence that feels like a wound. But as Georgia searches for answers, she stumbles upon something far more unsettling: her sister’s obsession with the sea. A secret fascination that pulls Georgia toward the dark, shifting waters at the edge of town… and toward an island where something ancient and insatiable waits.
This book reimagines sirens in a way I’ve never seen before—primal, terrifying, and steeped in blood. It’s a story of grief and estrangement, of the fractures within a family that only grow deeper in the wake of tragedy. Georgia’s return home forces her to confront the raw wounds left by abandonment, unspoken resentments, and a sisterly bond that may have been beyond repair long before the disappearance. The emotional weight of it all is tangible, simmering beneath the surface like an unseen current, ready to drag everything under.
But it’s also a horror story—a dark, mesmerizing nightmare of what lurks beneath the waves. These aren’t the ethereal, enchanting sirens of myth. They’re something else entirely. Something made, not born. Their existence is bound to a cult-like sisterhood, their lives driven by an unrelenting, predatory hunger. The way this story unfurls over the course of a single, harrowing week only amplifies the tension, trapping you in its grip as Georgia pieces together a truth more horrifying than she ever imagined.
The atmosphere is thick with dread, the sirens’ mythology is grotesquely fascinating, and the horror feels all too real. If you’re looking for a fresh, sinister take on mermaids that blurs the line between supernatural terror and deeply human grief, this book delivers.
A missing girl. A fractured family. A blood-soaked mystery lurking beneath the waves.
Georgia Woodrow hasn’t been home in years, but when a late-night phone call shatters the silence, she has no choice but to return. Her 16-year-old sister has vanished into thin air—no clues, no warning signs, just an absence that feels like a wound. But as Georgia searches for answers, she stumbles upon something far more unsettling: her sister’s obsession with the sea. A secret fascination that pulls Georgia toward the dark, shifting waters at the edge of town… and toward an island where something ancient and insatiable waits.
This book reimagines sirens in a way I’ve never seen before—primal, terrifying, and steeped in blood. It’s a story of grief and estrangement, of the fractures within a family that only grow deeper in the wake of tragedy. Georgia’s return home forces her to confront the raw wounds left by abandonment, unspoken resentments, and a sisterly bond that may have been beyond repair long before the disappearance. The emotional weight of it all is tangible, simmering beneath the surface like an unseen current, ready to drag everything under.
But it’s also a horror story—a dark, mesmerizing nightmare of what lurks beneath the waves. These aren’t the ethereal, enchanting sirens of myth. They’re something else entirely. Something made, not born. Their existence is bound to a cult-like sisterhood, their lives driven by an unrelenting, predatory hunger. The way this story unfurls over the course of a single, harrowing week only amplifies the tension, trapping you in its grip as Georgia pieces together a truth more horrifying than she ever imagined.
The atmosphere is thick with dread, the sirens’ mythology is grotesquely fascinating, and the horror feels all too real. If you’re looking for a fresh, sinister take on mermaids that blurs the line between supernatural terror and deeply human grief, this book delivers.
June 2, 2020
They're beautiful. They're alluring. But don't get too close. The women of the sea are starving...
Georgia Woodrow isn't winning any prizes for Daughter of the Year--it's been far too long since she last visited home, for starters. But after receiving a late-night phone call from her father, she finds it impossible to stay away…
Georgia’s sister has gone missing. Sixteen years old, vanished in the dead of night, and hardly a clue to go on. No friends, no lovers, no belongings taken. However, after flying home to be with their father, Georgia soon uncovers a strange secret of her sister's—a dark fascination Georgia can’t begin to understand, but which leads her to the dark shores at the edge of town…
…to the ocean deep, where a blood-soaked mystery threatens to claim Georgia just as it's claimed so many lives before her.
This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believeable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
Georgia Woodrow isn't winning any prizes for Daughter of the Year--it's been far too long since she last visited home, for starters. But after receiving a late-night phone call from her father, she finds it impossible to stay away…
Georgia’s sister has gone missing. Sixteen years old, vanished in the dead of night, and hardly a clue to go on. No friends, no lovers, no belongings taken. However, after flying home to be with their father, Georgia soon uncovers a strange secret of her sister's—a dark fascination Georgia can’t begin to understand, but which leads her to the dark shores at the edge of town…
…to the ocean deep, where a blood-soaked mystery threatens to claim Georgia just as it's claimed so many lives before her.
This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believeable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
January 15, 2023
Mermaid horror is a largely untapped genre and I have no idea why!
This is my third Abe Moss book and it's probably my least favourite so far. If you haven't read any of his books before, I wouldn't start with this one.
This book is about two estranged sisters. Georgia, who moved away years ago comes back to her hometown when she finds out her sixteen year old sister, Samantha has gone missing without a trace. It's not a mystery about what happened to Sam, as the book jumps back and forth between multiple characters perspectives (including Sam's) so there's no secrets, really. I think this is a shame because taking away the mystery removes a lot of the intrigue.
Anyways, the first half of the book is honestly pretty boring and many of the events and characters from the first half didn't end up mattering in the grand scheme of the story. It picks up around the halfway point when we get to see the unique characteristics of the mermaids. I really love the authors take on the mermaids, and how they feed, etc. There's some gore. These mermaids had the potential to be super scary. The writing was good but the story fell flat because the characters were flat. I found myself really not caring about any of them. There's not really any twists or surprises.
It's definitely a better mermaid book than Into The Drowning Deep!
This is my third Abe Moss book and it's probably my least favourite so far. If you haven't read any of his books before, I wouldn't start with this one.
This book is about two estranged sisters. Georgia, who moved away years ago comes back to her hometown when she finds out her sixteen year old sister, Samantha has gone missing without a trace. It's not a mystery about what happened to Sam, as the book jumps back and forth between multiple characters perspectives (including Sam's) so there's no secrets, really. I think this is a shame because taking away the mystery removes a lot of the intrigue.
Anyways, the first half of the book is honestly pretty boring and many of the events and characters from the first half didn't end up mattering in the grand scheme of the story. It picks up around the halfway point when we get to see the unique characteristics of the mermaids. I really love the authors take on the mermaids, and how they feed, etc. There's some gore. These mermaids had the potential to be super scary. The writing was good but the story fell flat because the characters were flat. I found myself really not caring about any of them. There's not really any twists or surprises.
It's definitely a better mermaid book than Into The Drowning Deep!
March 15, 2024
Abe Moss, you wrote something rare: a horror story, definitely, but one with the heart and soul that lifts this story above having mere shock value to a timeless story examining the complicated relationships of the human heart. This is very much a horror story in line with Shelley's "Frankenstein," in which we explore the idea of monstrosity as it exists in each of us and our relationships with those we love. First, this is very well written. (I am a 70 plus year old English major, lawyer and life-long, ravenous reader who reads all genres from all centuries. I know good writing!) Second, like all truly good novels, it is character-driven. The characters themselves generate the story, propelling it through conflict to conclusion. The characters themselves are robust, three-dimensional people, flawed yet perfectly themselves. Their choices, actions and words are organic to who they are. The plot is compelling and is paced to keep the reader engaged and curious for more. The concept is unique and presents a legendary creature in a horrific but fascinating light. Everything about these mermaids surprises, delights, horrifies and ultimately demands sympathy. I will be looking for more from this author. This is a book worthy of your time.
September 27, 2024
This not a great book. I'm not a fan of horror for the most part, but I didn't realize this was horror. It had what I thought was mermaids? Not mermaids, more of a mermaid/siren mix. Samantha goes missing. Her father calls Georgia, her sister, to come help find her. Georgia investigates.
Meanwhile, Sam is on an island with several naked young women. I don't know how many times the author mentioned the nakedness, but it was waaay too many. We get it, they don't wear clothing. So Sam is taken in by Orella, the oldest girl and told that they're sisters now. There are 5 of them altogether. But Sam needs to go through a magic process and then she will be a "Daughter of the Deep." So Sam changes into this mermaid/siren thing willingly because she has never felt like she had a real place in life.
But little does she know... how they feed is super gross. Also Bree, another girl on this island that no one can get to unless they've already been there, is not happy and starving herself.
It's not that the writing was bad or anything, but it was just kind of gross and creepy. I seriously almost DNF'd it at 85% because I just didn't care at all about any of the characters.
Meanwhile, Sam is on an island with several naked young women. I don't know how many times the author mentioned the nakedness, but it was waaay too many. We get it, they don't wear clothing. So Sam is taken in by Orella, the oldest girl and told that they're sisters now. There are 5 of them altogether. But Sam needs to go through a magic process and then she will be a "Daughter of the Deep." So Sam changes into this mermaid/siren thing willingly because she has never felt like she had a real place in life.
But little does she know... how they feed is super gross. Also Bree, another girl on this island that no one can get to unless they've already been there, is not happy and starving herself.
It's not that the writing was bad or anything, but it was just kind of gross and creepy. I seriously almost DNF'd it at 85% because I just didn't care at all about any of the characters.
June 23, 2020
Received a complimentary copy of this novel from the author via voracious readers only, in exchange for an honest review.
This is the brilliantly written story of Samantha a young woman lost in the complexities of life and who seeks desperately for something to complete her. Her search takes to to a mysterious island and the bewitching Orella. She is taken to a house where the rest of the “sisters” live and embarks on her new life.
A few days after Sam goes missing her sister Georgia receives the news from their father and she comes rushing home to find her missing sibling. One night during a storm she stumbles upon the truth and finds that she has found much more than she bargained for.
A well written fast paced story combining horror with fantasy which will make you think twice about swimming in the ocean!
This is the brilliantly written story of Samantha a young woman lost in the complexities of life and who seeks desperately for something to complete her. Her search takes to to a mysterious island and the bewitching Orella. She is taken to a house where the rest of the “sisters” live and embarks on her new life.
A few days after Sam goes missing her sister Georgia receives the news from their father and she comes rushing home to find her missing sibling. One night during a storm she stumbles upon the truth and finds that she has found much more than she bargained for.
A well written fast paced story combining horror with fantasy which will make you think twice about swimming in the ocean!
June 3, 2020
Horror Unimaginable
Gills is a haunting book. Unforgettable. A teenage girl feels unloved by her family. When she was a kid she nearly drowned but survived. After this incident she is distant from her family. She takes refuge by visiting the beach losing herself in a fantasy world. Until she disappears into the depths of the sea where at first she is enchanted by the beautiful beings around her. Until she realises that she too has become a predator like them. Her family are devastated by her disappearance and her sister tries to find her. Will she succeed? Or is her sister lost forever? This story will give you the chills. It is very well written and is a page turner. Abe Moss excels in the horror genre.
Gills is a haunting book. Unforgettable. A teenage girl feels unloved by her family. When she was a kid she nearly drowned but survived. After this incident she is distant from her family. She takes refuge by visiting the beach losing herself in a fantasy world. Until she disappears into the depths of the sea where at first she is enchanted by the beautiful beings around her. Until she realises that she too has become a predator like them. Her family are devastated by her disappearance and her sister tries to find her. Will she succeed? Or is her sister lost forever? This story will give you the chills. It is very well written and is a page turner. Abe Moss excels in the horror genre.
June 2, 2020
I just finished reading Gills by Abe Moss. It was a fantasy thriller type story and I loved it. Girls were being taken to the sea by forces unknown. Samantha was drawn to it and wanted to escape her life. She had an older sister Georgia she could have turned to, but Georgia was a lot older and had moved away from home already. They were never close. When Sam disappears, Georgia returns home and is determined to find out what happened to her. This leads the reader on a journey full of suspense. Will Georgia find her and save her? Will Georgia be able to save herself? Read it to find out. I loved it.
June 28, 2020
I found this book on Amazon on the kindle store and the reviews all raved about it and the horror/scary factor. I love mermaids so I was already intrigued and knew I had to read it, but the fact that all the reviews mentioned how creepy it was lead me to want to read it even more. I did love this book and enjoy it, however, I didn’t find it near as creepy or “scary” as the reviews had mentioned, more of a fantasy/sci-fi book in my opinion. Like I said, I did enjoy the book and I finished it in four days. I still give it a 10/10, and a 5 star rating. It wasn’t bad at all, just not as creepy as I had expected given the customer reviews, I guess. Still a good book, still recommend it!
June 3, 2020
This is a very chilling horror that is sure to reel you in from the very start. The author does a great job with the setup and execution of the story as he always does and keeps the reader in suspense throughout the entire book. It is original and not predictable, and he keeps the reader enthralled and wanting to read more. If you've never read any of Mr. Moss' books, they tend to be on the longer side, but they are well worth the time put into them.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 4, 2020
I really really need to stop reading this author
I've read three Abe Moss books in three days and I can't stop until I'm out of books written by him! Seriously, don't read this in bed, you won't sleep until you're finished. I love how he always manages to weave in some cosmic horror stuff.
SPOILER!!!
The only thing I had a problem with in this one is why does it have to be people? There's never any talk of eating anything except people and I real wished he'd explained that.
I've read three Abe Moss books in three days and I can't stop until I'm out of books written by him! Seriously, don't read this in bed, you won't sleep until you're finished. I love how he always manages to weave in some cosmic horror stuff.
SPOILER!!!
The only thing I had a problem with in this one is why does it have to be people? There's never any talk of eating anything except people and I real wished he'd explained that.
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