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justasking27's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Child death, and Racism
Minor: Animal cruelty
kirabug's review
5.0
Caleb is a young black boy without a mother who lives on the edge of the swamp in the town of Lewis, down by the Bayou. When he is a boy, he discovers his neighbor's house on fire and helps to save the girl who set the fire.
It turns out that all is not well in the town of Lewis.
Cere was born to destroy the world. Her father, a sorcerer and erstwhile preacher, was bound and determine to murder a man/spirit/creature/monster named Catfish John. The best way to destroy something bigger than the world was to destroy the world, Archie Royce figured, so according to his daughter he shaped her to do the job.
She was not as keen on it as Archie may have hoped.
In the beginning of the book, Caleb was a boy, trying to piece together truth and fiction, and the definition a monster.
By the end of the book, he has taken his father's place as Sheriff of Lewis, just in time for the horrors of his childhood, and Cere, to return.
At 110 pages, Catfish Lullaby is a terrorized run through the swamps and out the other side of humanity, where we can see who the monsters are and what they leave behind when their good intentions get twisted by their mission. The world building is strong enough to smell the swamp water without getting bogged down (sorry) in environment. The story is satisfying and solid, and leaves me wanting to hear more about Caleb's co-worker Rose's war stories in a future publication.
It turns out that all is not well in the town of Lewis.
Cere was born to destroy the world. Her father, a sorcerer and erstwhile preacher, was bound and determine to murder a man/spirit/creature/monster named Catfish John. The best way to destroy something bigger than the world was to destroy the world, Archie Royce figured, so according to his daughter he shaped her to do the job.
She was not as keen on it as Archie may have hoped.
In the beginning of the book, Caleb was a boy, trying to piece together truth and fiction, and the definition a monster.
By the end of the book, he has taken his father's place as Sheriff of Lewis, just in time for the horrors of his childhood, and Cere, to return.
At 110 pages, Catfish Lullaby is a terrorized run through the swamps and out the other side of humanity, where we can see who the monsters are and what they leave behind when their good intentions get twisted by their mission. The world building is strong enough to smell the swamp water without getting bogged down (sorry) in environment. The story is satisfying and solid, and leaves me wanting to hear more about Caleb's co-worker Rose's war stories in a future publication.
claben's review
4.0
Some Lovecraft, some True Detective, some old-school Southern Gothic. Great atmosphere and build-up - I loved getting to know Caleb and Cere - but the second half is a bit rushed; would have liked to see it given more space.
findingmontauk1's review
4.0
Catfish Lullaby is a Southern Gothic novella with a touch of Lovecraft/cosmic horror as well. AC Wise knows how to write beautifully and tell a story that is dark, mysterious, and haunting. This novella follows Caleb and Cere as kids to adults in a two-part tale. It seems that whenever Caleb and Cere are together that tragedy is just around the corner. I do not want to give too much away, though, because I want you to be just as surprised, delighted, and in awe of this story while reading it as I was.
This story dives into childhood, family, preconceived notions of others, acceptance, small-town lore, and more. It's amazing just how much Wise put into this novella and how impactful it is. 4 stars!
This story dives into childhood, family, preconceived notions of others, acceptance, small-town lore, and more. It's amazing just how much Wise put into this novella and how impactful it is. 4 stars!
exorcismofemilyreed's review
4.0
"Everything she was holding inside wanted to come out and devour the world."
Catfish Lullaby is the first book I've read by AC Wise, and it was good! It's a witchy novella set in a small town with secrets, which is obviously the best setup you can have for a book.
This book is pretty mysterious, and I liked not being entirely sure where it was headed. The first half of the book is a coming-of-age story, and the second half is about the same characters as adults. Although the book is short while the story spans many years, it still felt like a complete story.
AC's horror writing is dark and gorgeous, and I would love to read more from her. Thank you to Broken Eye Books for sending me a copy of Catfish Lullaby to review!
Catfish Lullaby is the first book I've read by AC Wise, and it was good! It's a witchy novella set in a small town with secrets, which is obviously the best setup you can have for a book.
This book is pretty mysterious, and I liked not being entirely sure where it was headed. The first half of the book is a coming-of-age story, and the second half is about the same characters as adults. Although the book is short while the story spans many years, it still felt like a complete story.
AC's horror writing is dark and gorgeous, and I would love to read more from her. Thank you to Broken Eye Books for sending me a copy of Catfish Lullaby to review!
sapphirebubble_'s review
3.0
I received and ebook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest opinion.
The book is succinct, to the point, yet imaginative and vast in its details. It keeps you hooked with its roots in American urban myths/folklore and the mysterious Cere, with her indescribable powers and hooded demeanor. Overall, this is a good short read. It gives you all that you should expect from a supernatural/horror fiction and has a somewhat satisfying ending, which is shrouded in uncertainty, as we like our supernatural fiction endings to be. But the one thing that was a thorn in my side this entire book was the nonchalant dropping of the n-word, not once but twice, for no other reason that to show the racism that is prevalent in the American South. I really did not see any reason for it other than writing racist characters who can bully the biracial main character, it has no relevance to the plot. I get trying to show the deeply entrenched racism, but I think it could be accomplished by just saying 'the n-word' instead of the actual word, especially when you are a white author.
Find me elsewhere: Blog | BookTube | Instagram | Twitter | The Story Graph
The book is succinct, to the point, yet imaginative and vast in its details. It keeps you hooked with its roots in American urban myths/folklore and the mysterious Cere, with her indescribable powers and hooded demeanor. Overall, this is a good short read. It gives you all that you should expect from a supernatural/horror fiction and has a somewhat satisfying ending, which is shrouded in uncertainty, as we like our supernatural fiction endings to be. But the one thing that was a thorn in my side this entire book was the nonchalant dropping of the n-word, not once but twice, for no other reason that to show the racism that is prevalent in the American South. I really did not see any reason for it other than writing racist characters who can bully the biracial main character, it has no relevance to the plot. I get trying to show the deeply entrenched racism, but I think it could be accomplished by just saying 'the n-word' instead of the actual word, especially when you are a white author.
Find me elsewhere: Blog | BookTube | Instagram | Twitter | The Story Graph
madarauchiha's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
โค๏ธ ๐งก ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ my about info carrd: https://uchiha-madara.carrd.co/ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐งกโค๏ธ
Listen. If you like eldritch horror and loathe that hp l*vecraft racist crap, this is your book. It has such eldritch horror qualities, some additions of racism, but they aren't the plot of the horror. They exist and are adjacent to the plot. They are relevant to the hero as well. It's done very well and I'd recommend this.
Content warnings: child death, minor gore, children being racist to black children and children of color, homophobic slurs, racial slurs including the hard r n word, minor kkk mention, anti miscegenation sentiment, anti blackness, racism, attempt hate crime murder, infant death, child abuse, physical abuse, torture, scars, injuries, and other things I may have missed.
Listen. If you like eldritch horror and loathe that hp l*vecraft racist crap, this is your book. It has such eldritch horror qualities, some additions of racism, but they aren't the plot of the horror. They exist and are adjacent to the plot. They are relevant to the hero as well. It's done very well and I'd recommend this.
Content warnings: child death, minor gore, children being racist to black children and children of color, homophobic slurs, racial slurs including the hard r n word, minor kkk mention, anti miscegenation sentiment, anti blackness, racism, attempt hate crime murder, infant death, child abuse, physical abuse, torture, scars, injuries, and other things I may have missed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Homophobia, Racial slurs, and Racism
zaung's review
3.0
NOTE: I read this as a an ARC via NetGalley
I'm not exactly a horror or gothic fan, but I enjoyed the hell out of this book. It's like southern gothic with a twist of eldritch horrors and it works so well.
The book is really atmospheric is the only word I can find for it. I'm someone who categorises stories by formulas and tropes, and this book hits the formula for a southern gothic. A small down. An infamous Old Family that live apart from everyone else. The outcast MC.
The first half of the story is about when Caleb meets a young girl, Cere after tragedy strikes her family. There is more than meets the eye to both Cere and the tragedy, and it ends with them facing off against an eldritch horror. The second half is about 10 or 20 years later when the monster makes a return, and Caleb must find Cere again to have a fighting chance.
The strength of this novella lies in the language and the world A.C. Wise builds, and the character of Caleb, who as a half-black boy has never fit in or been accepted by his town. At its core, this novella is really about family; the ones you are born into the and ones you make. And I will forever be a sucker for found families.
I'm not exactly a horror or gothic fan, but I enjoyed the hell out of this book. It's like southern gothic with a twist of eldritch horrors and it works so well.
The book is really atmospheric is the only word I can find for it. I'm someone who categorises stories by formulas and tropes, and this book hits the formula for a southern gothic. A small down. An infamous Old Family that live apart from everyone else. The outcast MC.
The first half of the story is about when Caleb meets a young girl, Cere after tragedy strikes her family. There is more than meets the eye to both Cere and the tragedy, and it ends with them facing off against an eldritch horror. The second half is about 10 or 20 years later when the monster makes a return, and Caleb must find Cere again to have a fighting chance.
The strength of this novella lies in the language and the world A.C. Wise builds, and the character of Caleb, who as a half-black boy has never fit in or been accepted by his town. At its core, this novella is really about family; the ones you are born into the and ones you make. And I will forever be a sucker for found families.
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