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aaronlindsey's review
5.0
Dead birds, a wedding dress, and best friends start this novella, and things get weirder from there.
Can a curse really be a curse if it brings happiness to the one cursed? That question gets answered before this fun little horror story concludes.
Lindsey and Val are best friends. But when Lindsey notices changes in Val's behavior, and then is asked to help cover the ultimate crime, she decides to fight for the friendship no matter the costs.
Can a curse really be a curse if it brings happiness to the one cursed? That question gets answered before this fun little horror story concludes.
Lindsey and Val are best friends. But when Lindsey notices changes in Val's behavior, and then is asked to help cover the ultimate crime, she decides to fight for the friendship no matter the costs.
bobmetal's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kay_cee3000's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
This was a really fun novella. Especially since it took place in a natural lakeshore dune area where I have found some creepy things and met some strange people in the past. I would highly recommend for a quick horror read.
ominousspectre's review against another edition
0.5
I really loved the concept for this book (toxic positivity), but I hated the entire execution.
The writing is wildly amateur, to the extent that I am shocked this had an editor and beta readers. I would be angry with these people. The first person perspective is trying too hard to be quirky at its best and like a child writing adult conversations at its worst.
The plot is standard horror tropes with nothing original added. Nothing surprised me. Nothing felt even remotely new. Paganism but vague Latin? Come on. I felt no tension and no connection to the characters to attempt to conjure any.
I normally think the statement that 'men shouldn't be allowed to write women' is too much of a blanket statement, but Gods even as a trans masc I can tell you this is not how women are friends with each other. This is a caricature of how women are friends with each other.
Damn. I really wanted to like this for the theme and the cover art coming from one of my favorite artists but all this did was reassure me that I am not as bad of a writer as I think I am. I suppose that helps.
The writing is wildly amateur, to the extent that I am shocked this had an editor and beta readers. I would be angry with these people. The first person perspective is trying too hard to be quirky at its best and like a child writing adult conversations at its worst.
The plot is standard horror tropes with nothing original added. Nothing surprised me. Nothing felt even remotely new. Paganism but vague Latin? Come on. I felt no tension and no connection to the characters to attempt to conjure any.
I normally think the statement that 'men shouldn't be allowed to write women' is too much of a blanket statement, but Gods even as a trans masc I can tell you this is not how women are friends with each other. This is a caricature of how women are friends with each other.
Damn. I really wanted to like this for the theme and the cover art coming from one of my favorite artists but all this did was reassure me that I am not as bad of a writer as I think I am. I suppose that helps.
mgresart's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A fast paced and exciting read! For a book with content so dark and heavy, it was a really easy to keep reading. I found myself unable to put it down more often than not.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Toxic friendship, Violence, Animal death, Murder, and Cursing
Moderate: Blood, Toxic relationship, and Alcohol
Minor: Vomit
xoxo_bookishbabe's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
pasuht's review against another edition
5.0
Lindsay and Val are best friends. After one of their hikes is disturbed by dead birds on the ground and the scene of an apparent ritual, Val starts to change. Is something sinister going on or is Lindsay just envious of Val’s newfound happiness? And if there are occult circumstances, is Lindsay in danger from Val?
Most books I’ll really swoon to you about will fall into the category of “mindfuck”. Weird, genre-bending stuff like The Locked Tomb series, Last House On Needless Street, or Indigo Voss.
Stories that are more or less inside the parameters of their genre, that tell a straight forward story, and just try to do it very well, have a hard time with me. They have to do what they do very well in order to impress me. Curse Corvus does it very, very, VERY well.
Curse Corvus is the platonic ideal of a classic horror story. The writing style is beautiful while nearly never venturing into the overwritten. The plot isn’t full of surprises - neither is the “twist” - but the precision of its crafting and execution keeps it tense anyway. Even the length of this novella is chosen perfectly so not to overstay the story’s welcome. If you like the old tales by Poe and Lovecraft, but would like a 21st century version of them, modernized and free of bigotry, Alex Ebenstein wrote it for you.
And while the beauty of Curse Corvus relies on its polished simplicity, it is in no way simplistic. In fact, if you’re a teacher who’s looking for a horror story to discuss with your class, this novella is worth considering. It isn’t too long, held even my ADHD-riddled attention effortlessly, and most importantly, asks some interesting questions. Both in Watsonian and Doylist ways. I’d start with asking if Lindsay acts more out of concern for her friend or envy of her happiness.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Most books I’ll really swoon to you about will fall into the category of “mindfuck”. Weird, genre-bending stuff like The Locked Tomb series, Last House On Needless Street, or Indigo Voss.
Stories that are more or less inside the parameters of their genre, that tell a straight forward story, and just try to do it very well, have a hard time with me. They have to do what they do very well in order to impress me. Curse Corvus does it very, very, VERY well.
Curse Corvus is the platonic ideal of a classic horror story. The writing style is beautiful while nearly never venturing into the overwritten. The plot isn’t full of surprises - neither is the “twist” - but the precision of its crafting and execution keeps it tense anyway. Even the length of this novella is chosen perfectly so not to overstay the story’s welcome. If you like the old tales by Poe and Lovecraft, but would like a 21st century version of them, modernized and free of bigotry, Alex Ebenstein wrote it for you.
And while the beauty of Curse Corvus relies on its polished simplicity, it is in no way simplistic. In fact, if you’re a teacher who’s looking for a horror story to discuss with your class, this novella is worth considering. It isn’t too long, held even my ADHD-riddled attention effortlessly, and most importantly, asks some interesting questions. Both in Watsonian and Doylist ways. I’d start with asking if Lindsay acts more out of concern for her friend or envy of her happiness.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
versmonesprit's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
0.25
I’ve had the misfortune of reading many dull books, but I think this might take the crown. From the very first sentence on, this book is nothing but dull. There’s a curse that never lands anything other than being silly. (“It’s an old form of paganism.” Yeah, that sloppy.) There’s never any tension, never anything ominous. It’s all dull as fuck. Two murders happen, and they’re so painfully dull, I don’t think one could ever be worse than the other, because that’d make one better, and “good” is not an adjective that belongs anywhere near this waste of time. There are never any real stakes, the writing is amateurish at best, and the conversations are laughably inorganic. Makes me doubt some writers have ever had conversations themselves.
As if not enough, constant namedropping (Tinder, Netflix, Gatorade, Reddit…) dates and cheapens this story all the more. I was wondering why no editor felt the need to intervene, but apparently this was self-published, in which case I’m sorry that the writer doesn’t have any honest people around. I was so hyped for this book, I’m still not over the shock that this is the dullest thing ever written — yes, duller than romance even!
Oh and… Make it illegal for men to write women! This was a cringe-fest, I’d say “when it wasn’t a snooze-fest” but my God, it never stopped being a snooze-fest!
As if not enough, constant namedropping (Tinder, Netflix, Gatorade, Reddit…) dates and cheapens this story all the more. I was wondering why no editor felt the need to intervene, but apparently this was self-published, in which case I’m sorry that the writer doesn’t have any honest people around. I was so hyped for this book, I’m still not over the shock that this is the dullest thing ever written — yes, duller than romance even!
Oh and… Make it illegal for men to write women! This was a cringe-fest, I’d say “when it wasn’t a snooze-fest” but my God, it never stopped being a snooze-fest!
keithlafountaine's review against another edition
5.0
Devoured this in two sittings. Curse Corvus isn't just a great horror novella, it's a clear announcement that there's a new, exciting voice in the horror scene -- a voice that is accessible, visceral, eerie, and damn good.
Get a copy for yourself. You won't regret it.
Get a copy for yourself. You won't regret it.