Let me start by saying that I love that this book gave such strong representation to sufferers of invisible illnesses. For so many, especially women, illnesses that don’t manifest themselves physically, or come with an easy diagnosis, are either pushed aside or deemed psychosomatic. And that is exactly what Brigid deals with. A chronic sufferer of abdominal pain, she is left to deal with the symptoms through pain management. To top all that off, she is trying to work through her childhood trauma, but minimizing the effects it has on her. Or worse, believing she deserved it.

Daly gives us a FMC who breaks our heart, while simultaneously making us chuckle-using humor as a way to ignore the real pain in her life. She is also back in her childhood home that brought nothing but pain to her. As she wrestles with where her life has taken her, she must also deal with a bird that stalks her, a nightmare that terrifies her, and a truth that is unfolding before her eyes-despite her attempts to rule it out as delusion. The crux of Brigid’s self loathing is her memories of her mother, and the way she was tormented by someone who she desperately wanted love from. And as the story progresses, she discovers she can no longer ignore the truth about her life and what is going on around her. And that the beauty of the story the author gives us. Healing can come; hope is around the corner. But what are you willing to do to make it yours? That is what Brigid has to answer for herself. What did she decide? You’ll have to read and find out for yourself.

I really enjoyed this story and its heavy subject matter/many forms horror. I definitely recommend this one. 4.5 stars

A fantastic representation of invisible disabilities and chronic pain. Brigid was a very complex, interesting character who kept me on my toes for much of the book. Is she really seeing things or is it all in her head? Can she be trusted? I was quickly consumed by her narrative trying to anticipate what happens next.

I'm not familiar with much Irish folklore or mythology, so those added elements and cultural differences were an interesting touch that I enjoyed learning about, though some might find it odd an American girl so heavily relies on Irish slang (Fek, cuppa, etc) But that was pretty easy to look past imo.

I'd recommend this story as a great spooky fall read, especially to those looking to amplify diverse voices as this was great LGBTQIA+ and disability rep.

I really enjoyed this book!!

Daly wonderfully combines horror and painfully relatable humor like Mona Awad and Rachel Yoder. There were so many moments that I found myself cringing and laughing at the same time. Brigid is a very sympathetic but also relatable protagonist.

I also loved the themes of self-advocacy and resilience. *The Scald Crow* takes its time to show Brigid's struggles and triumphs and realistic progress. As someone who is disabled, I found it very honest in its portrayal of the unpredictability of flare ups and the hundreds of coping mechanisms and plans disabled people have to get common tasks done.

The only thing that holds me back from giving it a full 5 stars is the climax. The plot starts as a slow-burn, but still intriguing. However, it speeds up before slamming the breaks. I wished that the momentum kept it moving along.

Thank you to Creature Publishing and NetGalley for providing me an advanced reader copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Oh, I really enjoyed this. Maybe it’s a bad thing, but I felt so seen in Brigid and her outlook on life and living with chronic pain. Her pain and grief and trauma culminated into a character I could recognize as a fully fleshed out person. The atmosphere was really well built, and I found myself tensing and waiting for something to happen while reading. This was creepy, filled with Irish folklore, and is a great example of what living with chronic pain is like.

DNF @ 25%

Please don’t hate me I tried sooo hard to keep going but I knew if I did I would end up in a reading slump

Ok so I am not going to finish this book. The half hearted attempts at what I think the author is trying for “humor” are painful. The try hard-ness of using “feck” instead of “fuck” 3 times in the first 5 pages was not something I could ignore. Also the writing itself feels so immature? So much showing (and a lot of putting things in parentheses for no reason) and the book is already told in first person? Why do we need this () randomly when we are already in the narrators head??

Brigid is unable to work due to chronic pain and illness. She simply cannot continue living alone. Brigid sells her belongings, leaves her best friend, and moves back into her childhood home in Illinois. At least she does not have to live with her mother in that home anymore. The unfortunate news is she gets to live alone because more than likely her mother is deceased. Brigid’s mother was a terrible abusive person, leading Brigid to believe that she was completely unlovable and deserved how her mother treated her. So, Brigid really doesn’t care…but must work through some heavy emotions and feelings while starting anew. As Brigid works on the house to make it her own, weird things start happening. Brigid is concerned that she may have hit her mental limit and may be doing all these things herself…has she completely lost it or is there something more horrendous afoot? One of my favorite things about the horror genre is the twists and I did not see these comin’!
P.S. There is a cat.

#ThxNetGalley #GraceDaly #TheScald-Crow

I am so incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have received an advanced copy of The Scald-Crow from the author, and Creature Publishing! 🫶

I don’t even know how to put into words how much I loved The Scald-Crow! 🥹🖤 I loved it immensely and I read the whole thing in a matter of hours because I couldn’t put it down! 🫶

I love when books have chronic illness representation and Grace Daly truly does an incredible job with this story of bringing awareness to multiple chronic illnesses: Endometriosis, Adenonyosis, and Interstitial Cystitis. I personally haven’t read a book before where any of the chronic illnesses presented had representation and this one does. As a reader I could honestly feel the pain that Brigid is going through with all of her chronic pelvic pain and all the turmoil that she is going through in order to navigate what is truly going on and attempting to get a diagnosis and possible solutions to alleviate pain. In the meanwhile, Brigid moved back into her childhood home after her mom’s disappearance so combine those two things together and she’s going through A LOT! 😱🙊 Add in a crazy crow who used to bug her all the time when she younger that has come back to haunt her and frozen body parts just popping up out of the blue and we got ourselves a mystery on our hands! 🐦‍⬛🕵️‍♀️ It truly was such a rollercoaster of a ride! 😳😱🤯🙊 In addition, there is a cat in this book I absolutely love and is the cutest! 🥰❤️🐱

If you love horror, chronic illness representation, mystery, a crazy crow, and a book that you won’t be able to put down then be sure to read this! 🫶

The Scald-Crow – Grace Daly

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Scald-Crow was a big surprise for me, I read the Blurb, read that it had a chronic illness rep, and knew that I needed to read it.

It is written with such depth and feeling from that chronic illness perspective. As someone who is in pain 24/7 myself, it made me feel seen. The female main character, Brigid, is an icon, and the struggles she faces daily are the real-life issues that many face. She faces her struggles with strength, determination, and unending fight. Knowing full well that giving up isn’t an option for her. This itself deserves 5 stars.

I loved the way this book was written. It was written in what I would call a diary type format or epistolary writings. Giving us a run down of days as told by Brigid herself. It's the first time I’ve come across this style this year, and I really enjoyed the flow of the format.

This book is packed with Irish-folk tales, with some genuinely scary scenes. Hold on to your blankets, seriously... You will feel like you’re going mad, just as mad as Brigid feels. I enjoyed the thrill, the guessing, and the overall vibe of the book.

A huge thanks to Grace Daly and Creature publishing for this advanced spooky read.

The Scald-Crow releases this October and is now available to pre-order at all good book retailers! ✨️

#horrorrecs #horrorrecommendations #comıngsoon #creaturepublishing #gracedaley #thescaldcrow #upcomingreleases

I received a complimentary copy of this book for review. Al opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed reading the voice of this character. She seemed really realistic and someone you would be friends with. The way she talked about her invisible illness was also very relatable. The horror aspect became secondary but still creepy.

I wanted to ugly cry so much at the end of this book, it was so raw and satisfying! The best thing that you can do before reading this book is to jump in blind. You will be very satisfied upon doing so! Brigid is a character who is dealing with chronic pain- a pain that is so bad that she falls to the floor in the shower to clean herself because standing hurts too much at times. She can't work, hardly can clean her mother's house (please read synopsis), and is on disability. Meanwhile she is dealing with things that are appearing in her house that don't really make sense. This is where I end with the the description of the book.

Just know that there is Irish Folklore that is included, and there is humor and suspense all throughout. Keep reading until even the Author's Note- it won't disappoint! You will fall in love with Cu- the adorable snorty kittie in this book as well!!!

As soon as I read the description of The Scald Crow, I was interested immediately, as someone who lives with chronic illness & pain I was immediately drawn to the character Brigid, who lives with chronic pain herself.

I think it says a lot about how much I related to this book that I’ve not been able to write the review for a week or so after finishing it, because my brain fog has been so bad I’ve not been able to think straight.

My goodness, I connected with and related to this book SO much. I didn’t know how much I craved having a horror book feature a character who’s chronically ill. Being chronically ill/disabled and being in a horror story comes with a host of new challenges. One that I related to very much, as someone who has dealt with bad nightmares and has a condition which means occasional paralysis like symptoms, were the times when she was visited by her nightmare mother, and the way in which she dealt with it, and reacted to it. It was also (this sounds so strange to say) lovely to experience a character in a horror story who deals with chronic pain, to the point that it is often on par with the horrifying things she’s encountering.

The horror in this story was such an ominous slow build, and had me guessing right up until the reveal — something I absolutely love in a horror story. It also features Irish mythology, and had a dark humour to the way it approached all the horrors in this story.

The disability representation in this book is brilliant, I love how you take us on a journey of each and everyday, and the way we experience her pain and symptoms alongside her. I truly related to this story, and loved every minute of reading it.

I cannot wait to read more from this author. The Scald Crow releases on the 14th October, and would be a PERFECT October read!

Pick this up if you like: Stories featuring Disabled/Chronically ill characters, Irish Folklore, Lone Girl/Final Girl Horror, LGBTQIA+, Creeping slow building Horror.

Thank you to the Grace Daly, the publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ stars for this delectable and gaslighting treat! A journey in believing yourself when you feel something is wrong, even if others can't, or won't, see it.

Brigid(pronounced Breej) is constantly in pain. She has been to specialist after specialist only to be told that there is nothing wrong with her...it's all in her head....she has a known history of mental illness so it must be a side effect of it. When Brigid's abusive mother goes missing, Brigid must return home to try to figure out what to do with her childhood home and come to terms with the fact that her mother may be gone. That's when things get weird....what's worse than not being believed about being in constant pain? How about body parts randomly replacing inanimate objects? A human finger as a doorstop in the bathroom, a tooth in a loaf of bread; all of which are just pebbles and doorstops after a good night's rest....well, as good as can be when you see your mother in the doorway at night, telling you she killed your mother and put her in the closet. Is Brigid's mental illness finally crippling her more than she can take? Or are there real supernatural forces at work?

Oh man this was a stellar read. On that rollercoaster with Brigid emotionally and physically(the author is so good at describing the pain I began to feel it) at breakneck speed....it's intense. And the twist at the ending? Oh my goodness....it was just....magnifico! Chef's kiss! Encore! When I finished I took a huge exhale and the relief and release that Brigid finds released me from the emotional and physical turmoil I felt with her. Closure, and true freedom from oppressive forces at work in her life. It was powerful and healing...even from wounds I didn't realize I had inside with my own mother. I can't recommend this book enough, the author is a genius and I can't wait to see what she does next.

Recommended for those 14+ as there is severe gaslighting, a tid bit of gore, and abuse on page. Thank you so much to the publisher and Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

“In the very darkest depths of my agony, I have felt pain so intense I was certain death was imminent… For a long time, I have been reaching a hand out into the darkness. If you have been reaching too, may this book serve as the joining of our palms.”

(I’d like to thank Netgalley and the publishers for accepting my request to read this arc in exchange for an honest review ♡)

This book was such a delight to read! I first found it mentioned on Instagram and as soon as I read the premise, I was hooked. This book was something entirely different from all of the other horror media I’ve consumed in my life, and its originality was so enticing and refreshing.

This novel covers an array of topics, from Irish mythology (which I’ve been wanting to get into for the longest time!), Catholic guilt, childhood abuse, and some queerness, but even more noticeably and perhaps more importantly, invisible chronic illness rep and the impact of not being believed. Not only was I thoroughly creeped out by many of the small details and the constant questioning of whether this is actually all happening or if this is the result of Brigid having a mental breakdown, but I was educated on several women health conditions, specifically endometriosis but also another condition that I had never heard about before: adenomyosis. I’ve never seen either of these conditions portrayed so deeply before in media (film, tv, books, etc.), so it was an incredibly enlightening experience, and my heart goes out to every person who suffers from these terrible conditions. I can only hope that women’s health receives the attention, care, belief, and funding that it rightfully deserves all around the world.

While I personally haven’t undergone any kind of condition that affects my sexual organs, I too have experienced my fair share of disbelieving doctors and consultants, as well as just normal, regular people for my other chronic health conditions, and it almost never gets easier. It feels like you always have to prove to the eyes of society just how ill or disabled or affected you are; that is, at least, until you believe yourself. Believing in yourself and your lived experience can help set you free from this burdensome shackle, something that this novel also beautifully explores.

While this is certainly a horror book that has its own fair share of freaky, creepy moments, the real horror of this world is the agony of not being believed, not being supported, and being told time and time again that you’re perfectly fine when you know for a fact that you’re most definitely not. Brigid’s story is painful for so many reasons, as not only are you confronted with the every day physical suffering that she experiences, but also the distress she is constantly feeling, because at this point, even she doesn’t really believe herself anymore. She has been so thoroughly lied to and discouraged that she’s even begun to gaslight and shame herself internally. This, unfortunately, doesn’t just apply to her illness either, as it also makes an appearance when she’s confronted by her therapist and her best friend that the emotional abuse she suffered as a child is, in fact, abuse. Throughout her whole life, from the abuse she suffered from her mammy to the countless doctors she’s seen for her unbearable pain, she has been told that she’s wrong and that her mind is working against her, imagining and conjuring up an imaginary pain; this factor ultimately accumulates and adds to the more “traditional” horror elements of the novel.

Without going into too many specifics (seeing as this is an arc and all), this novel has such an eerie feeling to it. Whilst having a brilliant wit and humour, which effortlessly creates a sense of irony and also comfort, the dark, disturbing details were so interesting to read and had me theorising numerous times about just what was going on.. I only wish that there had been more of these kinds of moments.

While I did have an overall positive experience with this novel, I did find a few things that did disengage me (a little) from the experience. There were a few pacing issues, mostly towards the end, that had me a little disappointed, but it’s also important to note that this is a debut book and that this is very common for debut authors. Also, the relationship between Brigid and Emma (while having my complete encouragement — I was like a little cheerleader for these two, I swear) felt a little underdeveloped. I really loved the two, but I couldn’t help but feel as though I wanted to see more of their relationship and their dynamic with one another.

Ultimately, this novel was a brilliantly fun, nightmarish experience (even though I was mentally screaming at Brigid to take pictures and videos of all the creepy happenings in the home). The fact that it’s been written by a debut author is mind-blowing to me. Daly apparently has a fantasy novella coming out in spring next year and I’m definitely interested in reading it, so I’ll 100% be returning!

(Also, the quote that I used at the very start of this review comes from the author’s note and I found it so so comforting; it felt like the perfect emphasis of this book.)

Mixed feelings on this upcoming new release (expected Oct 2025). I enjoyed the Irish folk horror elements and the story itself, but I could not stand the main character. I get it, she has this "mysterious pelvic pain" that has, unfortunately, come to define her very existence, but the constant repetition of it, in nearly every other paragraph, was exhausting. It overshadows everything else in the story.

And yeah, I know folks are gonna say I'm heartless (because the author has gone through something like this and I guess I should have more empathy but I just can't) and probably tell me I'm missing the point or something (but look! she eventually overcomes it all!!) but it kept me from enjoying the actual story.

It seems the MC has exactly three elements to her entire personality: pelvic pain, crush on her best friend, mother trauma.

That's it. There's a great deal of feeling sorry for oneself, and a little bit of dark humour that just wasn't enough to overcome the relentless "I need to curl up in a ball again, mid-morning, because - you guessed it - pain!"

I give it a 2/5 for the folk horror aspects and the for the plot being ok. But this was just not for me.

My thanks to NetGalley and Creature Publishing for the ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[NetGalley Read #37]
4.5 ⭐️

"What can you believe when you can't believe yourself?"

Excellent.

These kind of psychological thrillers with one character losing their mind over the course of the story and then, hopefully, getting their shit together by the end really... intrigue me.

It's a great story with great themes and solid characters, especially the main character. Delightful side characters as well. The lady at the resale shop. The guy at the charity shop/cat shelter. No names but memorable, charming characters.

Good handling of the themes of mental health issues and childhood trauma, interspersed with Irish Mythos and personal experiences of the author with the healthcare system and mysterious illnesses that affect people both physically and mentally.

I like the genre tropes this story did and didn't follow. Whenever I was expecting a bland twist, I was rewarded with an interesting one instead. There is also a surprising amount of humour in this dark story. It's welcome, though. All kinds: Self-deprecating, dark, normal. All of it well-integrated into the dialogues.

It's easy to read. Short (200+ pages). And that's a brilliant cover. The image of a cat with a bird in its mouth makes you think the story is going in a certain direction in the third act and then it doesn't. In the most wonderful way.

Highly Recommended. 👍

Thank you to Creature Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book had a really strong, creepy build-up. It was done in such a way that you start to question whether the main character is just losing her mind and maybe needs to schedule another session with her therapist.

But then strange things start happening, described in a way that makes you go, wait… something really is off here. And from there, it just keeps escalating until you’re fully in a horror story.

The parallels drawn to living with chronic illness and chronic pain felt incredibly raw and honest. They made the story feel truly authentic and highlighted how living with that kind of struggle can sometimes feel like a horror story in itself

Irish folklore, PTSD, and lesbians, The Scald-Crow is a unique tale. I enjoyed the narrative, especially it's look at invisible disabilities and women's reproductive health. The fact that it takes so long for Brigid to find a practitioner that is more focused on her pain than her fertility is almost as insane as what the titular crow is capable of. Horror is such a great lens to explore other themes and dealing with grief and childhood traumas.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC of this novel.

I, like this book's protagonist, manage my trauma by cracking jokes. I loved the storytelling in this book: the characters all feel full and fleshed out, even those who we don't fully see; the setting was equal parts sloggingly-suburban and spooky (though those two things often go hand-in-hand); and the pacing was fast yet the readers is given enough time to take in the scenery. The language is visceral, with many scenes making me actually gag, and the humour is dark and deadly. Overall, a great read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC, 5 out of 5 for me. I love folklore-based books, and this was no exception. This book was a page-turner; the pace was perfect. It felt thrilling and funny, and of course, Cú. I decided to preorder a physical copy as soon as I finished the book. Would highly recommend.

3.5.

i really enjoyed it and thought it was well-written, funny, original, and dark. definitely for the chronic pain, body-horror, and mommy issues girls. also, i love cú.

thank you creature publishing and netgalley.