I adored this book - a stunning and moving portrait, historical yet modern. The horror elements added so much depth and intrigue, I couldn't put this book down!

The year is 1901. Ada Byrd is a spinster with a past that at first, she refuses to admit to even herself. She has procured a new teaching position, and aims to teach her pupils not only arithmetic, grammar, and the Bible, but of the Outside God and all of His wonderfully macabre creations. But, as time goes on, Ada feels a sensual pull to the woods. It grips her and refuses to let go until she submits fully, leaving her meticulously crafted persona to rot in the soft earth and fallen leaves.
This is an all time new favorite. It is sapphic, deliciously bleak, and quickly paced. We are hearing from Ada first hand in the form of a diary her sister has gifted her, and oh what an adventure we go on. We see the town, Ada’s students, and supporting characters through her eyes and thoughts. Everyone is well fleshed out and interesting, the setting is atmospheric and hauntingly gothic.
What does it mean to be a woman? This is the question that inks the pages of Ada’s diary, the chilling call of what haunts the woods. Is it the false piety on a winter Sunday morning, head bowed but eyes open on a stuffy pew? Is it the lustful graze of silky hair as the person you long for sleeps blissfully unaware beside you? Or, perhaps, it’s your Christian name pricking your ear from somewhere beyond - some place that you know exists, but have never traversed out of fear and judgement. What lengths will you go to in order to find the answer as a woman who has always been told to keep your ancestral femininity at bay - letting it fester until detritus forms on your skin? Ada will have to answer these questions, no matter how difficult they can be. And after reading this, you will too.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher who provided me with an ebook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All of these thoughts and opinions are my own.

an uncomfortably delightful read.

grey dog follows a year in the life of our narrator, miss ada byrd, as she arrives in small town lowry bridge to pick up the teaching post after a mishap in her life. gish has an amazing command of the english language, filling the books with bits of prose that i would like to gnaw on until it has become a part of me. it has quite a bit of a slow start and bits that seem to be meaningless, but everything ties together neatly — as the entire story from start to end is a slow build up, like watching a carcass go from whole to rot. a delightful horror (truly a horror, with not much scare but deep, deep feelings of horrifying discomfort) novel that captures (my favorite themes) of feminism and womanhood in the mouth of a grey dog. plain brilliant and a wonderful read!

many thanks to NetGalley and ECW Press for providing me with a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review <3

Gorgeously uncomfortable and a clear winner for anyone who'd rather read about women's wrongs than about the triumph of fitting in to a world that does not want you. I found my attention flagging at the start, but I thought the character evolution was fascinating and well worth the ride!

Grey Dog lulls you into a sense of security with its opening chapters, a first person narrative of an unwed woman on her way to a new teaching position. Shades of Jane Eyre come to mind but instead of learning of a madwoman in an attic, we experience the madness brought onto Ada from within her narrative. Gish weaves folk horror with an unfortunately timeless story of the demands put upon and expectations of women by society into a tale from the point of view of a main character who incites pity and disgust from the other characters and from us, even while we care for her and empathize with her. A quick read that is likely to stay with me for a long time. Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. #NetGalley #GreyDog #WomenInHorrorMonth

3.5 rounded up. This took me way too long to finish. I found the first 100-120 pages such a slog to be though, that I was thinking of DNFing. However, I’m glad I stuck it out because the last 2/3 of the book is really where it shine.

This is VERY slow burn. It’s heavy on the literary fiction and historical aspect, but does have some horror elements and tension that builds. I do wish more of the horror and dread elements were in the beginning though, as that would have made me more engaged.

I think the first third could have been trimmed down quite a bit, but it comes together well and I def recommend if you enjoy books centered on female rage.

Thank you to NetGalley and ECW Press for the ARC.

Really enjoyed this, a very slow burn historical fiction/gothic horror oozing with atmosphere and tension. Reminded me of the film The Witch, in it's exploration of how stifling and limiting the societal roles forced on women were. I loved the characters in this, diary entries as a form of story telling can be so hit or miss but Ada's journal entries hit that perfect balance between feeling like a real diary, while also not distracting from the overall narrative. The pace of this felt slightly off towards the end and became too slow as we waited for the inevitable conclusion, but maybe that was just my impatience at waiting for the unbearable tension to ease up!

Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for my e-arc of this fantastic book. Am so excited to see what Elliott Gish does next!

I usually stay away from books that are 'transcriptions' or long bouts of journal entires as I find it difficult to suspend my disbelief. But that being said, I did quite enjoy this creepy read. It's infused with elements of folklore and paints a vivid portrait of a woman grappling with the unraveling of her sanity, leading to a series of unsettling and atmospheric scenes. Would suggest you give it a good go if you're initially put off by the style – you get used to it!

A very, very slow burn of a story which is well worth the effort; not many other stories match up to the uncanny beauty of the last 50 or so pages. The historical trappings are familiar - the outcast woman with a traumatic secret, the repression and the expectations - but there is a real bite to the sense of injustice which hems protagonist Ada into a job she has no love for and a world which seems determined to force her into the role of ruined woman. Not long after her arrival in small-town Lowry Bridge, Ada begins seeing things, hearing voices, edging ever closer to joining the ranks of the madwoman who frightened her so much as a child.

But to paraphrase Mike Flanagan: this isn’t a horror story, this is a love story. On the border of Lowry Bridge, there is a forest, and in that forest...

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

4⭐️

Grey Dog is a sapphic slow burn historical literary horror about a teacher who moves to a small town in 1901.

It is written in the form of a journal, with the main character taking a detailed account of her move to this town.

I loved that the story was written as a journal. Most of the entries were fairly short which is probably one of the only reasons I was able to finish it as quickly as I did - considering it was 400 pages and very slowly paced. At the beginning I was immediately drawn in and excited to see where the story would go, but by 40-60% I was starting to get a little bit impatient. The book is very atmospheric and moody, but most of the book veers more towards literary fiction about female rage than it does horror. If you go into knowing this there is no way you will be disappointed.

"A woman laughing is always a disturbing thing for a man to witness."

*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the free digital ARC in exchange for an honest review*

In "Grey Dog" by Elliott Gish, readers are treated to a thought-provoking and deeply introspective journey into the complexities of the human psyche. Gish masterfully crafts a narrative that seamlessly blends elements of mystery, psychology, and existentialism, resulting in a novel that is both intellectually stimulating and emotionally resonant.

At the heart of the story is the enigmatic protagonist, whose journey of self-discovery unfolds against the backdrop of a gritty urban landscape. As he grapples with the shadows of his past and the demons that haunt his present, readers are drawn into a web of intrigue and uncertainty, unsure of what lies around the next corner.

Gish's writing is both lyrical and evocative, painting a vivid portrait of a world where nothing is quite as it seems. From the dimly lit alleyways to the bustling city streets, every scene is rendered with exquisite detail, immersing readers in the sights, sounds, and smells of the protagonist's surroundings.

But perhaps the true brilliance of "Grey Dog" lies in its exploration of the human condition. Through the eyes of the protagonist, Gish delves into the depths of the mind, probing the complexities of identity, memory, and perception. As the lines between reality and illusion blur, readers are forced to confront their own assumptions and beliefs, leading to moments of startling revelation and profound introspection.

Furthermore, the novel's pacing is expertly handled, with each twist and turn propelling the story forward at a breakneck pace. Just when you think you have it all figured out, Gish throws another curveball, keeping you guessing until the very end.

In conclusion, "Grey Dog" is a mesmerizing work of fiction that defies easy categorization. With its richly drawn characters, atmospheric setting, and thought-provoking themes, it is a novel that lingers in the mind long after the final page is turned. Elliott Gish has crafted a masterpiece of modern literature, and "Grey Dog" is sure to be remembered as a classic of its genre. Highly recommended for anyone in search of a truly immersive reading experience.

This book is definitely a bit of a slow-burn, more eerie than a traditional horror. A lot of time is spent on other things, but it is well written and interesting. I do feel as if the suspense could have been built up a bit more, I feel like the presence of the grey dog was really quite abstract for a large part of the book.
Overall, I did enjoy it but it felt like it could have been a bit more focused, rather than having quite a few different characters who had some importance but weren't that essential (I'm not sure Norah, Mrs Grier, Agatha and Muriel needed to be four separate characters, could have benefitted from merging some of them?)

While Ada Byrd runs from her troubled past in her exile to the quaint town of Lowry Bridge, her vivid memories of lost love and familial trials shape the horrors that slowly creep into her day-to-day routine. Her tormentor, as she originally views the thing in the woods, knows everything about her and uses her deepest desires and insecurities to drive her mad.

Elliot Gish clearly has a deep respect for the gothic horror genre and crafts an atmosphere that is eerie and unsettling while remaining realistic. While much of the novel is a slow-burn, just when you worry it might be going stale, Gish peppers in an enticing bit of gore and intrigue that keeps you turning the page. Unfortunately, this smattering of short sequences of dread or true fear continue until the final scenes of the book, with no real climax or escalation of tension. Ultimately, the novel feels like a tease and raises expectations only to just fall short of reaching them.

Gish bills this novel as a subversive look at a woman's experience in horror, but the tropes follow many of the norms one would expect from a woman experiencing madness and a taboo love story in the early 1900s: for much of the story, she discredits her experiences, hides away from those that seek to judge her, and very much subscribes herself to the gender roles that have been placed upon her. At times, Ada says things about her body and her status that feel like the sort of rhetoric you'd brush aside in an older novel as "a product of the times." The subversive themes, like the instances of horror, have all the potential to leave a lasting impact on a reader but fizzle out just before they go as far as they could.

Overall, I enjoyed the reading experience but was left wanting. Gish certainly has a talent for building an atmosphere and developing a character, but I would've wanted a bit more horror and a bit more taboo from a "subversive" tale.

"Grey Dog" is a gripping and haunting novel that delves into the complexities of trauma, rage, and liberation. Set in the early 1900s, the story follows Ada, a woman with a troubled past, as she tries to start anew in a small town. However, strange phenomena begin to occur, threatening to unravel Ada's secrets and sanity. Elliott Gish's writing is captivating, creating a tense and atmospheric narrative. The exploration of female rage and societal constraints adds depth to the story, making it both compelling and thought-provoking. Overall, "Grey Dog" is a powerful and evocative read that will stay with you long after you've finished it.

this took me a little bit to get into as it's quite a slow burn , but as i got further in it became a fantastically haunting blend of gothic horror and literary fiction, plath meets poe if you will. the story is told through diary entries, really encapsulating the narrator's slow descent into madness. this really was super and i will be picking up more from elliot gish in the future!

(4.5/5 stars)
Grey Dog, formatted as diary entries about one woman's slip into madness/revolution, is perfect for enjoyers of gruesome depictions of gore and propulsive female agency. It's sort of like a mix between A24's Midsommar and M. Night Shyamalan's The Village. Watching Ms. Byrd's slow descent-or maybe ascent-from her role as a prim and proper self-proclaimed spinster to a free and nakedly fearless version of herself was cathartic for me in many ways. Concepts of an "inside" God —lording over judgment, self-denial, and inescapable boxes— vs. an "outside" God — emphasizing autonomy and courage — exemplify this novel's genius. The story unfolds subtly-almost imperceptibly-as we are chucked out of the comforting daily minutia of Ms. Byrd's life into her inescapable horror-driven transformation, effectively utilizing the novel's epistolary form.
Gish's expert characterizations and stunning prose are exactly why I recommend this read to anyone and everyone. I can't wait to see what she releases next.
Thank you to ECW Press, Elliot Gish, and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC. Release Date: April 9, 2024.

Is historical fiction my thing? No. Is literary horror? Absolutely.

As the historical piece wasn’t my personal taste, I didn’t love this book like I was hoping. Nothing against the book or the author - 100% on me.

I will say this was light on the horror (which is my favorite) and a slower burn.

Also I was a fan of how the author chose to frame the story using journal entries. It made it a little more engaging.

Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC.

Ada Byrd is an amateur naturalist with a few secrets up her sleeves and a deep grief she’s carrying for the loss of her sister. She moves to the quaint town of Lowry Bridge to fill the vacant teacher position there, but when she arrives she starts seeing and hearing strange things that have her questioning her own sanity and her role as a woman in society.

This novel has gorgeous prose and spot-on atmospheric writing shifting perfectly from prim late-nineteenth century prose to the wild ramblings of a madwoman. The epistolary format, despite a few logistical drawbacks, really shined here as it really emphasized Ada in a classic unreliable narrator role and made for one of my personal favorite types of endings. There’s some fantastic foreshadowing at work which helps excuse a slightly slower pace for the first two thirds of the story while the suspense takes a while to build up. The “horror” takes a bit to kick in, but once it does it feels well-done, definitely gory but not too over the top or unnecessarily grotesque. It’s a fine line between enough grisly depiction to convey the weight of a scene correctly and so much gore that it borders on cheap shock value. Elliot Gish doesn’t baby her readers and I appreciated the space to make connections for myself without being told what clues to pick up on.

If I had a critique, it would be the flatness of some of the tertiary characters, who felt like little more than tropes at a few points. Given that we are reading through Ada’s journal that makes sense, but some extra characterization might have helped humanize the story a bit. But otherwise this was a great, creepy, sapphic read subverting the traditional trope of the Bildungsroman, where a woman goes on a journey of self discovery only to find herself beastlier than she ever imagined.

Huge thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and author for this Advanced Reader Copy! This review is my honest opinion and offered voluntarily!

I'm not a big horror or historical fiction person, but I'm a huge fan of beautiful writing and interesting queer characters. If a book includes those, I'll happily read a genre that I might not otherwise. The writing in Grey Dog is gorgeous and haunting, it sticks with you long after closing the book. Ada Byrd is such an intriguing character, and her decent into madness is fascinating. I devoured this book in just over 24 hours (would've easily been less if I didn't have a job), and I loved every page.

I really wanted to love this book. That is not to say I did not like it, but I had a difficult time getting through the first 50%, and the ending was just a bit too literal for me. Concept and writing were great, just fell a little short in execution.