This was such as strange read. Not really one for me and I am glad I had the audio rather than a physical book as I think I would have struggled to finish it.

Dead Animals by Phoebe Stuckes is a raw and feverish novella. Told through a series of snappy vignettes, we follow our protagonist as she comes to terms with a terrible event in her life and tries to navigate herself in the aftermath. The protagonist was the best part, super fleshed out and I felt I knew her intimately, despite being an unreliable narrator and never learning her name. Narration by Anna Burnett heightened this further, as she did an incredible job at bringing the character to life. The writing is superbly claustrophobic, with each instalment blurring the lines between what's real and what isn’t more and more. From the very start, Stuckes creates a feeling of dread which does not abate until long after finishing the novella.

My only complaint is that the ending felt rushed and confusing. The story was building constantly for a huge climax, but I feel as though what ended up happening was completely out of left-field? I’m unsure if this is due to reading it via audiobook format, but in the epilogue I felt as though I was missing huge chunks of context. Despite this, it is still an incredibly written piece of work that I highly recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton Audio for providing me with an AUDIO ARC. All opinions are my own.

At the edge of perception, something lurks, just beyond focus, waiting to be revealed with a wandering mind.

Following a house party, a young woman awakens to find herself adorned with scratches and bruises, her memory of the previous night obscured.

As fragments of a violent truth resurface, her rage intensifies, pushing her towards an enigmatic figure named Helene, who shares her history of suffering at the hands of a mutual abuser.

Helene seeks vengeance, but the cost of justice may be too steep.

"Dead Animals" unfolds through terse, haunting vignettes, creating a feverish atmosphere that grips the reader, despite falling short in execution.

The unnamed protagonist grapples with piecing together her fractured memories, slowly recalling the abuse she endured. As she navigates her relationship with Helene, both women confront their shared trauma, wrestling with the notion that violence begets violence.

While the novella's brevity invites contemplation, its lack of resolution leaves readers longing for more.

Stuckes' sharp, unflinching prose masterfully captures the protagonist's torment, drawing readers into her harrowing journey. The absence of chapters mirrors the relentless onslaught of trauma, immersing readers in the protagonist's anguish.

Despite its shortcomings, "Dead Animals" resonates with its raw emotional depth, prompting reflection on the pervasive nature of abuse in society.

While the rushed ending disappoints, the novella's impact lingers, leaving a desire for more from the author's dark imagination.

Fans of Ottessa Moshfegh will appreciate the novel's unsettling tone, reminiscent of "Eileen" but delving deeper into eerie territory.

I was so drawn into this book about female rage and sexual trauma. I devoured this book in one sitting but it did leave me wanting more, wanting answers. Helene and our main character both have been abused by the same man but the way it impacts them both is almost on opposite ends of the spectrum. I was so wrapped up in the goings on of the main characters life, the twisted bullying she endured at work, the things happening to her, or in her head? The feeling of something dark that has latched onto you and changed your world into a much darker place is something I could unfortunately relate to, and it made this really believable.

The audiobook itself had a great flow and the narrator had an almost deadpan tone of voice that made each horrific, unnerving or unusual thing that happened seem more realistic and less fantastical and fraudulent. It really felt like it was happening, we were along for the ride with the main character and it was exactly the voice I imagined for her. The pacing fit excellently with the book without wanting to hurry things along and I really got sucked in by it.

A clever and addictive thriller than will keep you at the edge of our seat. Told through explicit and raw narrative, it takes a deep dive into the struggles one deals with from abusive relationships to barely making by from each day to the next. It covers many themes and will have you gripped into this story from start to finish.

A short snappy novella that never quite succeeds in the feeling of dread it tries to evoke. Two unlikeable characters, both abused by the same man, embark on their own abusive relationship whilst plotting murder.

3.75 stars
🌕🌕🌕🌖

Thanks NetGalley, Hodder & Stoughton Audio publisher, and the authors for a great advance copy of the book in exchange for my honest review!

🧠 My thoughts
The book was concise, interesting, and pretty straightforward to listen to. I like the fact that the protagonist was nameless which could mean that both she and the world see herself as insignificant or she is a character that could represent any girl (or people identified as female) out there who is in the same situation. I also liked the vagueness of reality and not-reality. We could never be sure what was real and what wasn’t or what was in her head and what really happened. The ridiculous patriarchal world was depicted very nicely as well. I also liked that the author tried to deliver the message that domestic abuse can happen in any kind of relationship.

However, the relationship between Helene and the protagonist felt forceful to me. I wish that the author would delve into some parts a bit deeper as well. Some parts were good but then the author jumped to another point and those parts became a bit shallow for my taste. The ending was too abrupt.

👍 What I like
- Interesting and concise story
- Contemporary view on popular topics

👎 What I don't like
- Some parts felt forceful
- Some parts can be delved deeper but left shallow
- I’m not sure if all of the horror parts are necessary

Combining feminine rage in the face of sexual violence of all magnitudes, a queer romance (if we can call it that) and delightfully eerie horror vibes, Dead Animals is a story that will stay with you long after you finish it, the dread and anger settling into your very bones.

The unnamed main character goes through the motions of life, barely staying afloat after being sexually assaulted by a man she met at a party. Her life is a series of foggy vignettes, shifting between rage and total numbness in the face of the weight of it all. Working at an offal restaurant as a vegetarian, needing to deal with the social dynamics of being a waitress, being poor and lost, all those aspects add to the creeping sense of dread that the more supernatural elements of horror provide in this book.

Overall, I was a big fan of the physical horror, the physical manifestation of the main characters emotions, both within her own body and in the world around her. Leaning into horror tropes like shadows in the mirror and flickering lights, the main character’s rage and fear and trauma are both a haunting to herself and leech out into the physical world, she is at once being haunted and the haunting.

As the narration is so close and personal, it barely leaves space for us to wonder how reliable of a narrator the main character is until the very end. We are so intertwined with her body and mind, so immersed in her fragmented reality that until she herself takes a step back in the final pages, her reality becomes all-consuming and unquestionable.

I love books that explore queer relationships, and the shifting dynamics between Helene and the main character was equally intriguing as it was terrifying. Helene, reassured and confident in her murderous rage swallows up the main character who is so eager and willing for someone to swoop in and take care of her. It’s strangely relatable and difficult to read about, this relationship that is so right and so wrong at the same time and devolves into a horror all of its own.

This book managed to feel viscerally close and disconnected at the same time, a magical feat that narrator Anna Burnett masterfully accomplishes with her excellent performance of the audiobook. It felt like an intimate glimpse into the experience of the main character while also transporting the sense of dissociation and numbness, the slipping of time and purpose, reality even. If you love an immersive audiobook that intimately transports you into the mind of a character, this is the audiobook for you!

Personally, I loved the ending but can also see other readers be a bit disappointed by the speed at which it moves. After all, isn’t this whole book building up to a desperate, rage-filled act of violence? It is, but I think the choice to wrap up those elements rather quickly, with a narrative distance unlike the rest of the book was a perfect choice. I don’t think we need to spend more time with that particular violence and I think the fact that the revenge plot is just brewing in the background, letting the main characters emotional experience take center stage, was the perfect choice.

However, I also think that the intense dissociative emotional quality of this book isn’t for everyone. It is at times difficult to listen to and you should absolutely take a look at the trigger warnings. But if you think that this book might be your cup of tea, I highly recommend giving it a try. It is definitely a book that devours you and spits you back up different.

Rating: 4.25/5

The book revolves around a young woman, who finds herself with gaps in her memory of one fateful night. As the violent truths of the night come rushing to her, her fury grows. She, along with Helene, who suffered the same fate as her, must learn to live with the truth or seek revenge.

I don’t read horrors a lot. I don’t derive much from them. But now and then a book comes along that blows me away! This is definitely one of them. Beautifully, gorgeously crafted. My heart actually threatened to beat out of my chest at several points.

The audiobook narrator does an excellent job of conveying the fear and anger of the protagonist. Really helps immerse into the world.

I would recommend this to everyone! But definitely make sure to check the trigger warnings before you do.

Trigger Warnings: SA, depression

I was interested in this short when it mentioned horror & lgbtqia. I have to say it didn’t have the horror I expected / hoped for. It definitely had an increasingly creepy / confusing atmosphere. Certain things were happening that didn’t quite make sense. It kept me confused and wanting to continue reading / listening.
The writing was lovely, and the narrator had a beautiful voice.
However, the wrap up was quite anticlimactic.
I also kinda of hate that it felt as if 50% of the story, nothing happened. Then the last part of the book start to give details, but it isn’t until the epilogue where we get any “action” albeit, off the page.

I normally love weird books. This one just felt more general women’s fiction.

Dead Animals is an excellent short read. After being violently beaten by a one night stand our unnamed narrator meets the beautiful, rich Helene and is immediately drawn in by her presence. But Helene has a dark side.

There's a malignant, all-enveloping feeling of unease throughout the story which draws the reader in immediately and keeps you hooked. Highly recommend for any fans of Ottessa Moshfegh, Calla Henkel or Kirsty Logan.

Thanks to #NetGalley for the Audiobook ARC.
#DeadAnimals @phoebestuckes @NetGalley_UK

Thank you NetGalley, Phoebe Stuckes and Hodder & Stoughton Audio | Sceptre for the audio Arc of Dead Animals.
Narrated by Anna Burnett

Really enjoyed this quick read audiobook which explores the darker side of ourselves, abuse and what lengths we would go for removing the threat. The emotional, mental effects of such atrocities are well portrayed within the story. Not too graphic and has some horror elements which I felt was well balanced. A great quick read!

A lot of genres come together to make this queer literary horror novel. I thought this book was overall good, but it leaves a lot up to interpretation, without allowing for a lot of nuance. There were a lot of obvious plot points that you want the characters to address, and if they had done so the book would have been more interesting, however it is realistic in the way some things were ignored. An enjoyable short read for the contemporary literary reader.

AHHHHHHH! I have been so excited about this one, and I absolutely ate it up in less than 5 hours. I am so thankful to Hodder and Stoughton, Phoebe Stuckes, and Netgalley for granting me advanced access to this one before it hits shelves on April 11, 2024.

Eileen was the foundation for this haunted house of domestic horrors, decorated with glimpses of Bloom by Delilah S. Dawson and put up for sale by Stephen King's Carrie... That's quite the lineup, but it's very accurate and on the money. Our FMC wakes up with a gap in her memory and bruises on her body with no explanation as to how they got there.

A friend of hers, Helene, wants to take revenge and take it to the next level by eliminating the perpetrator via death. Helene is also an extreme lover, love-bombing her wounded little fox, guarding her from the horrors of the outside world, but what she doesn't know (and slowly finds out) is that Helene is more dangerous than she's letting on to be and is ruthless in her grudges and will stop at nothing to get the revenge she feels she is owed.

I couldn't get enough of this one and highly recommend you all pick up this toxic love story.

I enjoyed this short novel and really felt the audio helped bring the book to life as well. I devoured it in one sitting despite having no idea what to expect. It is a chilling story and one that I think can be very relatable at times.

The title and description really intrigued me. Especially when the genre was stated as horror. I love a good horror story!
I was a bit dissatisfied with the lack of said “horror”. Few scenes had a really good potential and I am disappointed that it wasn’t developed further. It felt like the author was waving a carrot in front of me and as soon as I’m about to get hold of it, it’s being taken away.
So even though the story was intriguing, I think the “hunting” was unnecessary. The emotional distress of the FMC could have been portrayed without those elements especially that they were never properly developed.

Really enjoyed the voice of the narrator of the audiobook.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me read this book.

I loved this book!

I definitely preferred the first half to the second half. The discussion around trauma after sexual assault is so real and I feel like a lot of people could resonate and connect with it.

I did find some parts in the second half quite slow, the momentum just didn't keep up for me.

Overall, I will definitely recommend this!

I was unsure what to expect from Dead Animals as I went into it blind but I loved this book!

Our unnamed narrator suffers a horrific sexual assault that she pieces together as her memory of that night returns. In the aftermath she meets Helene, a rich powerful older woman who happens to be the ex partner of the man that assaulted her. Throughout the story it becomes clear how unhinged Helene really is and I really felt for our narrator as she starts to realise this herself.

There is a touch of magical realism / paranormal throughout which I wasn't necessary but it didn't hinder the story either and I still really enjoyed it.

I thought the narrator of the audiobook did a great job and her style suited the writing style really well.

I would definitely recommend to those who enjoy books such as Boy Parts and Ripe.

Thanks to NetGalley, Hodder & Stoughton Audio | Sceptre and the author for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

The commentary this lends to classism and gender in the face of unthinkable trauma is at the forefront for me when I think back on this book. Absolutely riveting!

After waking up the morning after a house party, our unnamed protagonist parses through her hazy recollection of the horrors that were forced upon her. Just wanting to move on and forget, the universe has a way of allowing anything but that to happen.

Solace comes in the form of sophisticated Helene, a woman who sweeps in to take our protagonist under her wing, a woman who has experienced similar but different trauma from the same man. Helene wants revenge, but our protagonist is unsure of what cost that comes at.

Our protagonist finds herself in an endless loop of forces in her life attempting to control aspects of her life and her actions. At every turn she is subjected to someone who “knows what’s best” and even as she recognizes it, she is powerless to change it.

This was a breathtaking read that I devoured entirely in one sitting. It infuriated me and made me want to cry out for all the women who are preyed on like this. This was so unique and unsettling. From beginning to end I was hooked and don’t think this read will stray far from my mind any time soon.

Format: audiobook ~ Narrator: Anna Burnett
Content: 4 stars ~ Narration: 5 stars

A young woman wakes up the morning after a party covered in bruises and scratches. She doesn't remember what happened. As we follow her story after that morning, the puzzle slowly comes together piece by piece. She later meets Helene, who seems perfect in every sense.

Short novel, only 4 hours 40 minutes in audiobook form. Although weird and creepy, Dead Animals is an excellent novel.

Thanks to Hodder & Stoughton Audio for the advance copy and this opportunity! This is a voluntary review and all opinions are my own.