This book was good, but took a while to get through it. I thought it was slow in some places and it could have been speed up some. I am not sure if I would recommend this book.

"One Eye Open" by Alex Grecian is a chilling and atmospheric tale that masterfully combines elements of horror, family secrets, and the supernatural. Set against the backdrop of a rural Danish village, the story unfolds with an eerie ambiance that keeps readers on the edge of their seats.

The narrative, propelled by the sudden passing of Laura's mother, draws readers into the heart of a mysterious and seemingly idyllic village. Grecian excels at creating a vivid and haunting atmosphere, with the seas of wheat fields serving as both a picturesque setting and a harbinger of unsettling events. The author skillfully builds suspense, making it difficult for readers to put the book down as the plot takes unexpected turns.

The protagonist, Juniper, adds depth to the story as she grapples with the loss of her grandmother and the eerie occurrences in the village. The exploration of Juniper's lineage and the horrifying discovery she makes about the town's supernatural secrets adds a layer of intrigue to the narrative. Grecian's ability to blend family drama with supernatural elements creates a compelling and immersive reading experience.

The writing style is evocative, capturing the essence of the rural setting and the underlying sense of dread that permeates the story. The pacing is well-balanced, allowing the tension to build gradually while keeping the plot moving forward. The author's descriptive prose paints a vivid picture of the village and its surroundings, enhancing the overall reading experience.

While "One Eye Open" delivers a captivating and suspenseful story, the reason for the four-star rating lies in some aspects of the plot feeling somewhat familiar within the horror genre. Certain tropes and conventions are present, which, while effective, might be recognizable to avid readers of horror fiction. However, Grecian's unique spin on these elements and the strength of the storytelling largely compensate for this.

In conclusion, "One Eye Open" is a gripping and well-crafted horror novel that successfully blends family drama with supernatural elements. Alex Grecian's ability to create a haunting atmosphere and deliver unexpected twists makes this book a compelling read for fans of the genre. With its eerie setting and spine-chilling revelations, "One Eye Open" earns a solid four-star rating, offering readers a memorable and unsettling experience.

One eye open was an interesting read for me. I haven't heard of this author before and this was my first book by him.
One eye open is a quick, fast paced read. I thought it was a novella due to it's length, but the author manages to write a captivating story within the first pages. This novella is spooky, creepy at times and it deals with certain topics like human death, animal death and so on.
I like the focus on grief and the loss of a love one. I thought it was fascinating to see how far humans are willing to go for their loved ones and the power of grief and anger. I think the author explored those concepts really well and it was sad and heartbreaking to read at times.
However, this is a good book for spooky season or fall time so i highly recommend it!

This book will appeal to readers who enjoy reading things like Goosebumps. However, my main issue with the book was lack of character development. While there were no surprises because they behaved in ways that were predictable and according to natural responses, there was not an opportunity for readers to get to know the characters or become invested in them. With this lack of development, it causes the book to not only be easy to put down, but also become forgettable.

This book was pure gold! Since the start you get immerse in a story that shows you little by little of what's is happening and the consequences of the choices made by the characters.
Honestly the plot twist was amazing and when you start to remember little things that the characters said and did it made so much sense that I got so exited finishing it.
It was a fast reading because of the writing style and the length of the book

Although I read the blurb, I didn’t know what I expected from this book but I was pleasantly surprised minus a few minor loopholes. It is a short book but I am glad it is. Any longer, the whole story would seem draggy.

This story follows Laura and her daughter Juniper returning to Laura’s small hometown in the outskirts of Denmark to deal with her mother’s sudden passing. Laura hopes that by coming back with Juniper, they can both heal together from a tragedy that still haunts them. Instead of healing, Juniper discovered her grandmother’s horrifying secret and decided to follow in her footsteps. When things went wrong, Laura and Juniper have to deal with the consequences.

I don’t want to give too much of the story away. I do love the concept of a small town where everyone knows each other. It felt as though Laura never left. Everyone she knows is still the same, all the places she grew up with gave her a sense of familiarity but it’s also creepy at the same time. I love how this story portrayed loss and what lengths people would go to in order to see their dead loved ones again.

The story didn’t spook me. In fact, a few chapters in, I was already rolling my eyes at how Juniper meddled in something she had no clue about. You know in horror movies when someone finds a book that says DO NOT OPEN but they still opened it anyway? Yeah, that kind of vibe!

Despite this being a short book, the story builds up quite slowly and then hits you with all the action and answers in the last few chapters. Everything was revealed so quickly in the end that I didn’t have much time to process what happened but it was a good reveal. I didn’t see that coming at all.

Thank you Netgalley and TKO Studios for the arc.

A grieving mother and daughter return to the mother's birthplace in Denmark to rebuild their lives after a tragic accident in the US. Sounds heartwarming, doesn't it? Except, what Alex Grecian gives us is very much the opposite. Instead of the slow move from grief to an everyday coping, we're given hints early on that things won't be a "and they all live happily ever after" kind of story.

Laura has brought herself and angry and hurting daughter Juniper to where she grew up. Juniper quickly grows bored at her dead grandparents' home, and while wandering the small, sleepy farming town, she discovers something off about the people she encounters. In fact, there is something weird going on. The town is too quiet, with little to do, and has an unsettling feel. And, it seems that people who should be dead aren't.

The atmosphere was great, with a quietly escalating sense of suspense and creepiness. And then Grecian threw in a twist I was not expecting, capping off an already eerie story.

Thank you to Netgalley and to TKO Studios for this ARC in exchange for my review.

This was a quick read but really held my interest. It was well written and the characters we're relatable.

One Eye Open by Alex Grecian was a lovely surprise and a very quick read!!! I really enjoyed it especially as Alex is a new author to me. This book was very fast pace throughout. It maybe only 100 pages but is was very creepy and eerie great for bedtime reading or in a graveyard on halloween!

Big thank you to NetGalley and TKO Publishers for the opportunity to read and review.

The poly is promising bordering on horror and the lives of the characters as in like in any contemporary fiction. The descriptions were crisp and vivid and the ending was surprising. Really enjoyed it.

One eye open by Alex Grecian.
After her mother’s sudden passing, Laura and her daughter Juniper return to her childhood home in the rural outskirts of Denmark. In the scenic village amidst seas of wheat fields, Laura hopes they have finally let tragedy behind them. Then, Juniper begins to notice something strange about the people she encounters, the same people who have worked in these fields for centuries. 
This was a really enjoyable read with good characters. Likeable story. 4*.

I was a bit surprised to see how short this book was. And then I read it and it made perfect sense. One Eye Open is not meant to be a huge book with a lot of events that will take you on a wild ride. It is supposed to be a short time capsule in your day, a burst in your everyday bubble.

The story is really original. Walking the line between paranormal and literary fiction, this book takes the reader in a strange little family who moves in this strange little village, in which several things seems to be off.

Laura and Juniper were perfect characters for this, well-balanced, never cliché. The same goes for the world-building. I didn't expect it to be much descriptions considering the book length, but everything ended up feeling so natural. Even now that it's been over 3 weeks since my read, I still remember vividly how I picture the farm, the village and the characters. This is powerful writing!

In the end, it was truly a surprising read, that managed to fit everything you might search in this type of book, including vivid descriptions, believable characters, and twists until the end!

Where to begin?
I had no idea what to expect with this book. It’s only 100 pages long, and I didn’t think it was possible to fit that much back story and creepiness into such a little book. But it is! Alex Grecian filled the hundred pages of "One Eye Open" with an eerie, folklore-feeling horror that I couldn’t put down. This novella is perfect for anyone looking for a short, creepy read. The characters are well written and the plot flows from scene to scene easily. The unsettling details of the people and creatures inhabiting the little Danish town gave the story a cultish feel and an underlying sense of dread throughout. The amount of suspense that was built in such a short time is astounding, and the plot twist at the end is something I won’t stop thinking about any time soon. 
Need a little bit of eerie thrill? This is it.

Laura and her teen-aged daughter, Juniper, have just arrived in Godhavn, Denmark. It is Autumn, and they have come to the family homestead in the wake of Laura’s mother’s death. It’s where Laura grew up, a place she had planned on never returning. But now Laura is planning on making this their home. However, as we will find out, Laura has a very good reason in doing so.

The house holds many secrets which intrigue Juniper: a linen closet with chains; pictures of her elderly grandmother with a young man; a closet with a hole in the wall and possibly an explanation on the cause of her grandmother’s death.

The most interesting items are the carved box and leather journal left to Laura; items the family lawyer presents her with these words: “You made your bed, now lie in it.” What is behind his cryptic warning?

The carved box contains a cornhusk doll (hulder), and a lock of grey hair. Written in the journal is an entry that reads like a pagan ceremony. The people of Godhavn are bonded to the land, and the land is bonded to them. The crops are ready to be harvested; bonfires are lit; and thanks will be given to the Old Ones who have watched over them, and will soon be returning to the ground.
This is a novella about loss, grief, and rebirth told with elements of Danish folklore; it can be characterized as folk horror. At 100 pages, it is a quick and satisfying read.

I would like to thank NetGalley and TKO Publishers for the opportunity to read and review this entertaining novella.

This is an excellent horror novella with a Lovecraftian twist. A really fantastic, weird and wonderful read with an extremely engrossing story for such a short book. I love, love, loved it!

This is my first book by Grecian, and I'm duly impressed! One Eye Open is a fast-paced little novella that's equal parts nasty and heartbreaking in turn. I have a strong interest in regional folklore so this story was right up my alley.

TW: body horror, animal death, human death.

I breezed through this novella in no time, captivated instantly by the excellent scene-setting and atmospheric location. I loved that it moved quickly and didn't drag at all, yet managed to efficiently paint a picture of the characters and events. Pacing and depth can be difficult to balance in a novella, and Grecian did it excellently here.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a copy of this book!
TW: For Self-Harm
This book is very short, but I have some things to say.
Characters: Juniper was honestly kind of annoying. I liked the twist at the end with her character, but she sees a spell in her grandmother's room and instantly thinks it's a good idea. Why? That reason being that this book is really really short and has no room for build up. Her mom Laura was fine, but I wish there was more.
Atmosphere: The atmosphere is the biggest strength just because it's a slightly secluded farm that has secrets.
Writing: The writing is fine. I caught a couple of things that I wouldn't have done stylistically.
Plot: There was no time for build up. It was over and done with very quickly. Honestly, the ending is dissatisfying.
Intrigue: There really wasn't any time for intrigue.
Logic: It kept within it's own logic I think.
Enjoyment: Ended up giving this a 3 star. If this had been a full fledge novel. I could see myself liking it a lot more, but as a novella, it falls short.

Juniper and her mother return to her mother's hometown in Denmark after the death of Juniper's father. It becomes apparent that things are not quite right in the town and Juniper becomes entangled in monsters and rituals and danger.
My interest was peaked from the first chapter. I'm not typically a horror reader but I enjoyed this book! It's suspenseful and eerie but won't leave you with nightmares. The plot progressed quickly and was not predictable. If you enjoy a lot of character development then this book might not be for you. I found the characters to be a little one dimensional but it works for the progression of events.
I especially liked an unexpected twist at the end! This would make a great movie.

This book was very interesting. It started out slow but as the story unfolded it became a book that was hard to put down. The author Alex Grecian wrote this story so well, about a grieving mother and daughter who travel from America to Denmark ( the mothers childhood home) while discovering something evil and sinister lurking in a small farming town. Laura's daughter Juniper receives an heirloom box that holds a secret about her family. It was a short but thrilling book that had me on edge right up to the last page! I give 'One Eye Open' a 5/5 , it's great if you like short stories and I plan to read more books by Alex Grecian. His writing is thrilling but graphic as well. The ending had me absolutely stunned!

I recieved an ARC from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I loved the author's historical crime fiction series, and the premise of One Eye Open looked interesting, so I thought I'd give it a try.
First, I still can't figure out the target audience. It felt like YA but not exactly? Maybe like a Goosebumps book for adults?
I think it might be considered novella length, so it was a nice quick read. Fast but evenly paced. Despite not having a lot of time to get to know the characters, they behaved in believable ways. (Juniper's dialogue was a little clunky at times, but otherwise.)
The premise was interesting. I can't say much more about it, because that would ruin it. I think it was supposed to be something of a horror story, and there are some grim elements, but in my opinion, it was more uncomfortable than anything. There were a lot of ethical questions raised and never addressed. Actually, there was a lot that went unexplained or unexplored, and while I understand that the short format doesn't exactly lend itself to lots of backstory and exposition, a little bit would have been nice.
All the action happens in the last few chapters. The big reveal didn't exactly come out of nowhere, but it all happened so fast that it didnt really have much impact.
The tone shifts from almost meditation on grief and loss to a schlocky gory horror. It was jarring, but not in a good way.
I will say, despite not enjoying the ending, I appreciate how the epilogue closely mirrored the prologue. It was a neat bit of writing.

I didn't hate it, I didn't love it, but I did like the unusual premise and the care the author took in getting the setting right.