Quite enjoyed this collection of horror-adjacent stories, all of which are some combination of haunting, tense, grotesque, and macabre. Though the settings and subgenres range from pastoral to urban to gothic to post-apocalyptic, the real draw here is Grudova's writing. The author's distinct voice is worth the read in and of itself, molding these off-kilter and often ugly characters and settings in ways that both reflect and upend specific slices of our bleak and absurd modern life.

Among the standout stories here for me are Ivar (where the boarding school genre is subverted in a surreal and ultimately startling way), Hoo Hoo (a post-apocalyptic survival story told through the eyes of a pre-teen boy), and the titular Coiled Serpent (in which a group of searching young men veer into MRA fanaticism). While there's an inherent absurdity baked into the premises of all these stories, it's Grudova's visceral rendering of this absurdity (and the ensuing relation to our current social and political predicament) that really sticks with the reader long after putting the book down.

Thank you to NetGalley and Unnamed Press for the ARC.

These short stories were absolutely bizarre, entertaining, gross, horrifying and funny. I really enjoyed the authors distinct writing style and imagination. Will definitely be checking out her other works as well.

A very original book with lush writing! The writing and the story was easy to read and get into which I was scared I wasn’t going to, but thankfully I stuck through it and was surprised by the story and characters.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

This was interesting! The descriptive language was very evocative, but I found a lot of the stories kind of one note.

Like others have said — this def falls into the horror/gross/unsettling genre. All that said if you crave that, this will probably deliver! Not my favorite — the stories weren’t necessarily strong enough to make up for the horror of the stories but that’s my own opinion, others may not mind!

Now, I’m all for gross out horror stories, (Horror is one of my go to genres), but even I struggled with some of these stories.
There’s no denying the stories themselves are written beautifully, the author has a true talent.
This is a selection of short stories that work well together, and really pack a punch.
I understand that this isn’t go to appeal to the majority of readers out there, However, for those who really enjoy this specific genre/ sub genre then you are in for an absolute treat and delight!
I would recommend this book, but, I’d be selective in whom I’d recommend it too.
For my fellow die-hard gory horror fans out there, this is a must!

TW: Lots of mention of “faeces” and also scenes including child sexual abuse.

Sad to say this wasn’t for me. I am all about “weird girl” books but a lot of this felt as though it was written for shock value, rather than a good story.

Upped it from 1 star, as Ivor was an enjoyable tale.

Thank you NetGalley and Atlantic Books for proving me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a rather unusual book. I could appreciate the quality of writing, but overall, I didn't like this collection. it's difficult to imagine who might enjoy such nasty things, however literary they may be, but I'm sure the book will find its audience.
I'm guessing this falls under the body horror category. Feces, vomit, and other repugnant crap and the crayons the author colors in her stories. After the curiosity factor wears off, it's mostly just unpleasant. And the stories themselves often don't go anywhere, settling for style over substance, and styling themselves into toilet area.
But people see beauty in all manner of grotesques, so surely some will here too.
It would be interesting to see what else the author can do, because her writing can be strangely compelling, but based on this collection, I don't think I'd go finding out. User mileage may vary. Thanks Netgalley.

This was really gross. I found a few of the stories interesting but overall they seemed to fall short. I thought the title story was the most boring.

The Coiled Serpent is a collection of 16 short stories in only 200 pages, making for a good read if you’re looking for something short and sweet. Although, maybe “sweet” isn’t the appropriate word to use as these stories are… disgusting to say the least. Body horror, yes, which I can absolute get on board with but here, there was lots of talk of feces and stories written for mere shock value rather than literary merit.

The writing is very simple—elementary—and told in a dull and unattached voice. “This happened and then this happened and then I did this.”
Can't say that I would recommend these and I'm not certain that I would read this author again.

Thank you Unnamed Press and NetGalley for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review. Available 10/08/2024!

Bizarre, horrifying and intensely British. It’s gruesome and sometimes I had to put the book down and walk away for a second, but it was also oddly captivating. there’s subtle commentary about class, gender and power within there that I could really pick up on some stories and enjoyed a lot. I could draw a lot of imagery to growing up in the U.K. and its flaws.

I think my favourite story was ‘The Custard Factory’ - I was most attached to that and thought the narrative was the most powerful. Also custard just feels like a very Yorkshire thing so maybe I am just attached to that. I l enjoyed Ivor which made me feel totally lost in time and was a bit of a fucked up Dorian gray and I also liked the coiled serpent.

As a non horror fan, I enjoyed the shortness and punchiness of the stories. It was like micro dosing on horror and made it really easy to escape away from it which I always feel I need when I’m reading horror (sorry I am a baby).

It also just exceptionally well written considering the story’s length. Each story had a lovely through line and I didn’t feel totally confused at the end of them.

(Will be posted on Instagram and storygraph 11/7/24)

One of the most unique, weird, uncomfortable and disgusting short story collections I've ever read. I kept, however, wanting to pick it up and read it everytime I could. Beautifully written. An author to add to my 'keep discovering' pile.

This book is a sublime collection of everything I adore, grotesque horror and expansive, immersive writing. This author has such a gift and is a master at what she does to compel the reader with fascination and quiet awe.

5/5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

This book was like living in an apartment in the 1980s somewhere in Europe. I do not know why this book made me feel this way, or really what that means on a less ephemeral level, but that was how it made me feel, and it was wonderful. There was a lot of creeping horror in here that really seeps in, like damp into a badly insulated house, and I loved it.

There was a lot of body horror that came through in a number of the stories, and it added a touch of the macabre to what was already an absolute delight in the horror genre. The political undertones of the stories shone through magnificently, some more that others, but in all there was a delightful twist of the mouth that turned into a half-smile as you read. This book was a delight.

I do wish some of the stories were a little longer, but all in all, this one was a 5/5 for me.

Thank God ive finally finished reading this book! I'm not sure what made me think would enjoy reading this, but this book was not for me. Im not sure ive read the word "faeces" that much in my life. I felt that the endings could have been wrapped up better. I know they are a collection of short stories, but I feel that they end so abruptly, without a point or conclusion to all the yuckiness you just read about. I was drawn in my the beautiful artwork on the cover, but disappointed by the subject matter within the pages. This book was not for me.
**Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book!

An interesting read that contains a wealth of stories that critiques dominant values in the modern world. There are a number of typos still to be corrected as in “ flesh, Fan took the took the pieces“ and ‘ He was going to leaveher poems and novels inside,“ . The imagery used in this collection is very disconcerting at times and consequently, the author unsettles the reader and prompts deep reflection on themes..

Dark and gruesome and definitely not my typical genre. Overall, a fun collection of weird and grisly short stories. Be sure to read at your own risk.

If you wish to be deeply disturbed, this is the book for you. Grudova writes exceptionally well, enough to give you a perfect picture of the horrors contained in this book's pages.

If Jenny Hval and Mariana Enriquez collaborated, it might resemble "The Coiled Serpent" — awfully disgusting, disturbing, and sometimes just plain weird. This collection of short stories follows various characters on brief but intense journeys: from getting spooked indoors to cleaning spas, seeking revenge, or simply surviving in capitalist Britain.

The 16 stories are relatively short yet well-written, focusing more on the bizarre aspects of horror than on conveying a clear message. While I enjoyed the grotesque and horrifying elements, I found it difficult to discern any overarching message. Eventually, I gave up trying to find one and simply read to enjoy the stories. Perhaps the main idea is simply a reminder that gross people exist (which I sometimes forget).

Here are my favorites; "Through ceilings and walls", "Description and history of a British swimming pool/ Banya! Banya!", "A novel (or poem) about Fan, aged 11 years or the zoo", "Avalon", "The surrogates", "The apartment".

I really enjoyed this book, I managed to finish it in a day or two, always wanting to know what happened next. It’s set in a dystopian feeling Britain where poverty is common and people are scraping by using whatever means they can.

In this collection of short stories you never knew what was going to happen next, they were all full of twists and turns.

The first few stories start with more body horror, bodily fluid related stories and as the book progresses, more sexual elements get introduced.

I also enjoyed the writing style of this author, I felt like I was reading each narrator’s mind as they “ramble” about everything, jumping from one point to another. It feels relatable and human.