While the concept for Projections sounded amazing, the writing style was difficult to follow and I found myself repeatedly losing interest in the story.

Unfortunately deciding to DNF at 73%. As a horror reader, I was really excited to give this dark fantasy especially with the strong female MC and revenge vibes. However, I really struggled to get my footing with the world building and the various POVs. I feel like this is maybe one of those instances in which this is just the wrong time for me to be reading this book. Even though I'm the majority of the way through, I'm still incredibly confused about the rules of the magic at play and Catherine's plan moving forward. There are certain aspects of this story I did really love that may bring me back to try again one day. I loved the feminist narrative and the author did an excellent job of creating Gus to be so, so unlikable. Again, I feel as though this may be a "me" issue and not a book issue. Thank you again to Tor and NetGalley for access to this ARC!

A gothic, fantasy horror? What more could you ask for from S.E. Porter's newest read Projections.

As with most fantasies, particularly when you're building a new world, the story takes some time to get into. This is a story of vengeance and feminine rage, something that I love regardless of the genre, style, or story. I hightly recommend giving this one a try.

Catherine Bildstein learned the true nature of the man she considered a friend – by being murdered. As a ghost, she’s now tethered to her murderer, unable to speak or move freely between worlds. Where he goes, she has no choice but to be dragged along too as he attempts to find women who will love him as Catherine never did and never will.

Switching between past and present, and with dual POV’s from Catherine and Angus, there’s so much to take in and learn about them and their lives, as well as the other magical world, Nautilus. For me, Catherine was the better POV, and I enjoyed reading from her perspective so much more than I did Angus’s. But, that’s not to say Angus’s POV was boring, it was anything but, I just hated him as a character and what he was doing, and I needed Catherine to get her revenge against him. He was well written, and Porter does an amazing job of writing a character you want to know more about, whilst hating at the same time. The same can be said for the writing of Catherine, it was incredibly easy to empathise with her, to feel her rage and hopelessness, her determination and her pain.

The plot can seem slow at times as this is a very character driven book, but it’s worth it. The switching between time periods can be a little confusing in the beginning, but I found it easy to sink into the world, the writing, and the characters after a few chapters. It’s unlike anything I’ve read before, but the weird, dark and vengeful vibes are everything I loved.

As a dark fantasy book centred around obsession, unrequited love and revenge, it was exactly what I was looking for, and the perfect first ARC of the year. Porter has had me hooked on her work since Vassa in the Night, and she’ll keep me hooked for many more books to come.

Did I like the book? Yes!

Did I love it? Yes!

Would I recommend it? Yes. How does a revenge seeking ghost and a murderous man hellbent on finding love sound?

I think I set myself up for failure with this book. The cover and concept drew me in, and I was excited to explore this world.

I enjoyed that it's a clear chapter-by-chapter POV, and it's clearly marked, but there is a lot of rereading and doubling back to fully understand what was happening. Some of the book also contains flashbacks, to give context and build the story. The magic simple is interesting but complex.

I was strangely confused for a good portion of the book. It's definitely one of those books you need to sit down and commit it, and not read anything else. The writing style is engaging, which is what kept me going.

It's definitely unique - I do recommend giving it a go if you want something out of your box.

I really enjoyed this! I love dark fantasy and horror, and the ghostly revenge plot really worked for me. The multiple timelines were I thought very successful, and while I can see it maybe being controversial for some readers I really enjoyed the period-style writing.

So disclaimer: this book took me a minute to get into. Okay maybe even more than that. That said, once it got going, I found myself very invested in the story. So if you're cool with waiting for the payoff, I definitely think this one is worth it. The beginning was... confusing, and a little bland, and definitely verbose. And I was not sure I wanted to keep going. But at some point, probably around the 30% mark, I found myself reading and not even checking to see if I made progress, so that was a great sign!

And in fact, I had become very invested in this story, and especially in Catherine. It seemed all too real that Gus would murder Catherine, and still blame her for "making him" do it. Like is that not the grossest white guy crap you've ever heard? And you know it happens. All. The. Time. Not necessarily to the extent of murder (though it does happen, make no mistake) but with abuse in general. Anyway, somewhere along the way, I became as invested in Gus getting his comeuppance as Catherine was.

There ended up being a lot of very cool twists and turns, and things connected to one another that I hadn't even thought about, which made the book become very readable. And I found myself quite curious about how Catherine was still hanging around, how the world worked, and what had truly happened in the past, all of which unfurls throughout the story. I am so glad I stuck with this one!

Bottom Line: The start was a little rocky, and it could have been shorter, but man did I get hooked by the story and its characters as it went on!

If you enjoy reading About creepy and horror stories than this book is for you. Unfortunately, I don’t like horror stories. And I still learned my lesson from last year when I come about requesting books. It just wasn’t for me.

5/5 Stars

TL;DR - A deliciously slow-burning revenge story, simmering with feminine rage. Trippy, surreal, and hauntingly human. Unlike anything I’ve ever read in the best possible way.

Big thanks to Tor and NetGalley for providing the ARC for this book in exchange for an honest review!

***Trigger Warnings for: being murdered, strangulation, objectification and dehumanization, sexism, misogyny, mentions of child abuse, sexual assault, illness and death of a parent, gore, paternalism, unwanted sexual advances, murder, and violations of bodily autonomy.**

‘Projections’ by S. E. Porter is a genre-bending masterpiece of revenge, obsession, and mortality - and the denial thereof. Equal parts historical fiction, horror, magical realism, and fantasy - and 100% feminist manifesto - this book is unlike anything you’re likely to read presently or in the future. It follows two narrators along three distinct timelines - Catherine Bildstein, a 19 year-old woman living in 19th century rural New York, through her short life up to her untimely murder, Catherine again as she’s tethered as a shrieking ghost to the man who killed her and her harrowing existence thereafter, and Angus Farrow, a “projection” - that is, a magical facsimile - of Catherine’s murderer in the present day as he carries out his creator’s twisted desires. We learn in gorgeous and heart-breaking detail about the evils of toxic masculinity and how dangerous a double-edged sword it can truly become.

Holy. Shit. Full stop, end of story, that’s all, folks.

I don’t even have words to convey what I just read. I’m shook, I’m flabbergasted, I’m deceased - and I’m *living* for it.

“The victors write the histories of wars. Great men pen their memoirs without wasting ink on the villages they burned or the washerwomen they raped. And the living, of course, have rather a monopoly on telling tales of ghosts.”

I guess I’ll start with the prose, like the excerpt above. It’s *gorgeous*. Picture the most heart-wrenching, glittering, soul-deep prose you’ve ever read, and I promise you that this book is infinitely more, well, *more*. It reads like a literary classic coming out of Georgian/Victorian times, and then some. The prose is smart and beautiful, incredibly real but also infinitely ephemeral, as dreamy and fantastical as the events its recounting. The verbosity takes some getting used to, certainly, but once you allow yourself to sink into it, you’re carried along like floating down a lazy, bejeweled river.

Okay, I’m getting a little carried away in my praise, but that’s how profound an effect this book had on me.

Catherine is *everything* as a character. She’s strong-willed and yet a victim of the time she was born in, she’s smart and sardonic and so sure of who she is, even when she’s floundering in her morality. Even when she’s depressed and listless, she’s fierce, even when she’s pursuing her goals with single-minded fervor, she’s uncertain - she’s all of the contradictions and synergies and more. I don’t think I’ve ever rooted so hard for a fictional character in everything she does, right and wrong.

(On that note, Catherine in all her glory earned this book a coveted spot on my “I Support Women’s Wrongs” shelf. Well done, madam.)

Angus, while not nearly as compelling a POV as Catherine, was also very interesting to follow. There’s a slow mystery as to who exactly he is, and then to the full extent of what he is and how it will impact the greater narrative, and while it was certainly often yucky to be in his head (being the projection of a very vile and entitled man), I still had empathy for him and followed his development with great interest.

The world is fantastic, literally and figuratively. This whole books reads like a dark Studio Ghibli movie - there are strange and fantastical creatures like in ‘Spirited Away’, there is charm and whimsy and wonder (and fickle, vain sorcerers) like in ‘Howl’s Moving Castle’, there’s desolation and greed and bleak humanity like in ‘Princess Mononoke’. Minotaurs, talking frogs, ever-changing limnal cities, strange and wonderful magic - I cannot stress enough how this whole book is just one long, bleak and beautiful Miyazaki film. Chef’s freaking kiss on the vibes.

(On later reflection, this also gives strong ‘Penny Dreadful’ vibes in a lot of places - the bleak, 19th century fantastical aspects and similarities cannot be denied.)

This is definitely a character-driven story, and a long one at that, so if you’re more of a plot-centric reader who needs action, this will probably be a tough read. I’m something of a plot girlie myself, but I was so enchanted by the world and so enamored with Catherine (and to a lesser extent, Angus), that I really didn’t mind the almost 500 pages it took to tell the full story. There’s definitely a plot, don’t get me wrong, and some pretty intense parts on top of the over-arching mystery of the whole story, but I would definitely say this will appeal more to literary fiction readers than those used to plot-driven narratives.

And on top of all that, this book is so fucking feminist that I almost can’t stand it - and I say that with such respect and affection, mind you. The pure, unadulterated feminine rage that seethes from every page of this book is exquisite, and I absolutely ate it all up. This is a scathing examination of toxic masculinity and paternalism, of the very real harm it causes every day to people of every gender (or lack thereof, I see you, besties), written with care and consternation in equal measure. I don’t have the words to do it justice, please read it for yourself and then sit with it, savor it, let the bittersweet taste linger on the back of your tongue.

(Also, loving the subtle and beautiful queer rep!)

I need to stop now or I’ll wax poetic forever. Read this book, I beg of you.

Final Thoughts:

This book is everything. Lovingly shelving as “My Soul On Paper” and “I Support Women’s Wrongs”. Purchasing a physical copy as soon as I post this review.

I am a bit mixed as to my reaction to Projections. On the positive side, I really liked the premise, the world building, the themes of revenge, and the dark atmosphere of the book. The book is also uniquely written, with the language and word choices giving it an 1800's feel. Unfortunately, I think the book was about 100 or so pages too long. At times, the pacing was really sluggish and made it difficult for me to stay engaged. I also had a difficult time connecting with characters. I also struggled with the time jumps and magic system. There is also a lack of chapter heading to guide the reader along the way. As a result, it all got a bit confusing. I think, as a whole, this maybe wasn't a read for me. I know there are readers that will just love this book; however, for this reader, it was a bit middle of the road for my tastes.

I don't think I've ever read anything like this before. Yes, it's a ghost story, but from the ghost's point of view. If I was going to wildly oversimplify, I'd say it's a story about vengeance. But it is a lot more than that. The narrative flows between three timelines, which should be confusing, but it works incredibly well. You develop so much empathy for (nearly) everyone as you slowly uncover their various backstories. Really just a beautiful feat of story craft, about obsession that thinks it's love, what love actually can look like, and the amount we can and should hurt ourselves in the name of justice.

DNF at 18%. I couldn't get into it. The beginning dragged, and while I loved the fact that our protagonist first appears to us as a screaming ghost trailing after her murderer, I didn't expect for her to remain in that helpless state for so many chapters in a tale supposedly about her revenge.

The pace was a bit slow for me, but I imagine someone who enjoys multiple perspectives, gradual building of tension, and character-driven storylines would like this more.

Thanks to Netgalley and Tor Books for the chance to sample this book early on.

The pacing of this was a little all over the pace. For a book that is around 500 pages, the storytelling really has to be tight and intentional to keep people compelled to read the story, and this story didn't quite have that. I wasn't a huge fan of the characters, but the worldbuilding was actually pretty solid so the moments where the world was being fleshed out were pretty cool. Overall, I can see where people will really enjoy this (especially if they enjoy the characters, as it is a long book) but it just wasn't my cup of tea.

Wow! What a story! This turned out to be so awesome. I loved the ending. Honestly, tell me about a woman overcoming, and I'm sold.

Okay, I have to be really honest about the beginning of this book. It's three points of view but just two people, and yes, it's as confusing as that sounds at first. But I got in the swing of this story and enjoyed it immensely. In other words, if you read this, please give it a chance! It's really great when you get into it.

Gus loved Catherine. He loved Catherine so much that he killed her when she didn't return that love. Her ghost kind of attaches to him, and she tells part of the story while Gus is telling his story in two different time periods.

It's a wild story, and the way the author tells this story really makes Gus look as messed up as someone would have to be to do what he did to Catherine and then to others. So, yeah, this is a cool read.

Out February 13, 2024!

Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!

I loved this dark fantasy arc. But then again, I love anything to do with women getting their revenge on egotistical men who believe that they're entitled to a woman's affections. And after having to drag through the bloated middle part, the ending was totally worth it.
When I started reading this, I struggled with the writing style. Catherine's POV starts off around the mid-1800s and I think the author did really well with capturing the character's voice from that time period. For someone who's used to a modern-day tone of voice, it'll read like purple prose.
But 10% in, somehow it all clicked together for me, and it became easygoing.
I loved how the author easily switches writing styles between Catherine's and Angus's POVs. I think it takes real skill to have to switch from a modern POV to something much older and back again and so forth.

**Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Books for the eARC of this title.**

While this book had a great premise and an amazing cover, I found the reading to be tedious and the story pacing just didn't work for me at all. At 500 pages, I felt like I invested a little too much time into this book for what I got out of the story.

Catherine's ghost was lovely and I enjoyed cheering for her as she found her way through Nautilus. Gus was the worst (on purpose,) but there was just a bit too much of him for this to feel like a revenge story. I didn't want to feel bad for Gus or his projections and his chapters took me way out of the story.

Overall, I think readers that enjoy a lot of character building and some solid world building will enjoy this book! The characters of Nautilus were definitely my favorite part of the whole book.

This was fantastical horror with dual POVs & timelines! This tale flowed effortlessly throughout, and the writing really pulls the reader into their world! Loved the villain in this so much! Would definitely read more by this author!

Imgur link goes to Instagram graphic scheduled for Feb 5th
Blog link goes live Feb 11th
Will be featured in January Reads pt 2

Can I say I enjoyed this book? No, I don't think I can. Will I still look for and try S.E. Porter books in the future? Probably. Let me explain.

This book has some fantastic ideas and the setup was great. Catherine, our primary PoV is a ghost, murdered and then tethered to her murderer. From here we see alternating points of view, both her past and her present. We also have the view of a man named Gus and how he is connected to Catherine while he is bent to this drive to find a mysterious ‘her’.

Again, love the setup and the initial 40% of this, I was super absorbed and sucked in. Unfortunately this was so bloated with so much unnecessary backstory and history that it really detracted from the story. Catherine suffers, both in the past and present, a relentless string of abuses. I was angry for her to begin with, she already deserved all the support and I wanted her to have her revenge already, so why did I need to see her treated so badly repeatedly? At 45% I was certain I was nearly done till I checked my actual pages/percentages and was flabbergasted.

So much of this was so strong but it floated like a balloon (or in this case like a wailing ghost) in circles for 200 too many pages. Because of this Catherine’s story just didn’t hit. I also wonder about the effectiveness of some of the other themes and statements that were touched on in the book as they felt like set pieces (likely due to the bloat).

So overall, yes. I love what S.E. Porter came up with here. I think with a tighter edit and some trimming this could have been a favorite. So I’ll keep an eye on this author moving forward and hope she continues to grow. Do I recommend this one, maybe not. But I think she is an author to watch.

A sorcerer obsessed with a young woman... an bloody obsessive love that spans history and multiple dead bodies. Gus loves Catherine, he loves her more than anything... loves her enough to murder her and trap her soul... to send projections of himself out into the world to seduce women who will return the love that Catherine denied... and if they deny him... they will suffer terrible consequences. Catherine was friends with Gus, but she never was in love with him the way he loved her. Yet he murders her before her engagement... and now she is trapped bound to him. But she will not lie waiting.. she'll wait, plotting her revenge against the man who destroyed her who was so obsessed with her that that she can't ever find peace. Can she kill him before it's too late? This book was a DRAG. I felt like Catherine being dragged on by Angus for years while reading this book. The story's pacing is so beyond slow and for a book that is 500+ pages, this book had me disassociating so much. Angus's constant "woe is me" chapters kept going on and on and on and I would absolutely prefer if we got more Catherine revenge plotline. The story itself is confusing, the constant jumping back and forth does not help at all and for a book about revenge and obsessive love, I was hoping I would love it but I so badly wanted to DNF it over and over but forced myself to read it until the end. This book is beyond slow and the plot drags on and on to the point where you begin to ask yourself what even is the point or what is even happening. Honestly for a book that is meant to be a dark historical fantasy filled with obsessive love and revenge, it sounds right up my alley... yet it's nothing like what I had expected or wanted. This book is for anyone who enjoys extremely slow paced stories and lots of time jumping and drawn out character stories.

*Thanks Netgalley and Tor Publishing Group, Tor Books for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Unfortunately, this was not the story for me. The idea of a woman haunting her murderer in a dark magic/gothic environment sounded really interesting. The frequent time jumps and point-of-view shifts just did not work for me. I always felt a step behind the story and was always a bit confused as to how the world worked. I did enjoy the writing style and felt that it accurately portrayed the time in which the book was set. If this story had been told solely from Catherine's perspective and given more of her backstory than just her association with Gus I may have enjoyed it more. Thank you to Netgalley and Tor for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.