Grey Dog - BookWyrm

Paperback, 400 pages

English language

Published Jan. 1, 2024 by ECW Press.

ISBN:: 978-1-77041-732-8

(1 review)

A subversive literary horror novel that disrupts the tropes of women’s historical fiction with delusions, wild beasts, and the uncontainable power of female rage The year is 1901, and Ada Byrd ― spinster, schoolmarm, amateur naturalist ― accepts a teaching post in isolated Lowry Bridge, grateful for the chance to re-establish herself where no one knows her secrets. She develops friendships with her neighbors, explores the woods with her students, and begins to see a future in this tiny farming community. Her past ― riddled with grief and shame ― has never seemed so far away. But then, Ada begins to witness strange and grisly a swarm of dying crickets, a self-mutilating rabbit, a malformed faun. She soon believes that something old and beastly ― which she calls Grey Dog ― is behind these visceral offerings, which both beckon and repel her. As her confusion deepens, her grip on what …

A subversive literary horror novel that disrupts the tropes of women’s historical fiction with delusions, wild beasts, and the uncontainable power of female rage The year is 1901, and Ada Byrd ― spinster, schoolmarm, amateur naturalist ― accepts a teaching post in isolated Lowry Bridge, grateful for the chance to re-establish herself where no one knows her secrets. She develops friendships with her neighbors, explores the woods with her students, and begins to see a future in this tiny farming community. Her past ― riddled with grief and shame ― has never seemed so far away. But then, Ada begins to witness strange and grisly a swarm of dying crickets, a self-mutilating rabbit, a malformed faun. She soon believes that something old and beastly ― which she calls Grey Dog ― is behind these visceral offerings, which both beckon and repel her. As her confusion deepens, her grip on what is real, what is delusion, and what is traumatic memory loosens, and Ada takes on the wildness of the woods, behaving erratically and pushing her newfound friends away. In the end, she is left with one What is the real horror? The Grey Dog, the uncontainable power of female rage, or Ada herself?

1 edition

Taylor Drew reviewed Grey Dog by Elliot Gish

Fascinatingly creepy and sensual

4 stars

I had no idea that this was a horror novel until I was halfway done the book even though there's a blurb on the front of the cover that says it's a horror debut. Anyway, I have no idea what I read, but I really liked it. Queer, creepy fiction that takes place at the beginning of the 20th century seems to be something that I like.

Natalie Naudus narration was also perfection as usual and I realized near the end of the novel that the author is actually from the same province as me, which honestly as an extra layer of fascination and coolness to the whole experience.

Subjects

Horror
Historical Fiction
LGBTQ - Lesbian
Literary Fiction