What an intriguing novella! I was biting my nails throughout it and thoroughly enjoyed the events that unfolded. I really wish it was longer though but the fact that it is interconnected makes me want to devour the entire series. The best way to enjoy this novella is by going into without knowing too much about it. (Rating 4.75 our of 5 stars).

This short southern gothic leaves quite an impression. It’s a story within a story, a woman telling about events that happened to her when she had just turned 18. It is a quick read so I don’t want to get into too many details, but in a very short page count, Broadbent is able to create a full family tragedy, with many moments that will stick with me for a long time. Dealing with misogyny and homophobia, Lila is a strong willed and smart woman dealing with a really bad lot in life, caring for her probably autistic but undiagnosed younger brother, and dealing with a mother that is mostly absent, her father has already passed away and an older brother who wants Lila to just be quiet and fit the role he believes a woman should. Her only friend is her twin brother, but that relationship is also fraught with difficulties as they get older. One day, her younger brother goes missing and everything unravels and explodes in a shocking and heartbreaking way. I definitely recommend this one!

Content Warnings: Homophobia, Sexism, Sexual Commentary on a Minor, Ableism, Incest, Poverty, Fire/Burns

Note: This is the 7th entry in the series Selected Papers from the Consortium for the Study of Anomalous Phenomena. However, each novella in the series acts as a stand alone work.

Broadbent's writing here uses good imagery, but ultimately disappointed me. It felt like a checklist of Southern Gothic tropes: rotting house, scary swamp, sexist and homophobic community, "wrong" child, incest. It didn't really offer me anything new or different enough from other, similar stories. This novella is also set, alternatively, in 2016 and 2019. It doesn't read like it is set in those time periods, though. Aside from some fashion references and super minor technology (e.g., GPS), it reads like it's from the 1950s.

Personally, I found the queer elements kind of superfluous (why is Lila's one-night-stand actually needed to tell this story?), and the treatment of Beau, who may have autism or some other form of neurodivergence and/or brain injury and/or developmental disorder (it's not clear in the novella, so I'm casting a wide net) pretty distasteful, both in the family unit (arguably on purpose) and when he "escapes" to the swamp.

If readers really dig Southern Gothic, then this might be satisfying, but otherwise I can't recommend it.

This was a strong seventh entry in the Selected Papers from the Consortium for the Study of Anomalous Phenomena series. It had that element that I was hoping for and enjoyed the overall feel of this world. It was everything that I was looking for and enjoyed the overall horror element in this book. Elizabeth Broadbent has a strong writing style and was glad I got to read this.

This is the third story I have read from this series, and it does not disappoint. It is a Southern Gothic tale of guilt and superstition.

Short stories are difficult to review simply because they usually leave me wanting more (in a good way more often than not). I felt like this one was done well though. Bloody Cypress is a thoroughly engrossing story from start to finish. The ending was unexpected and quite tragic, but it also felt right.

I would love to read more from this author.

Thanks to Netgalley and RDS for the ARC.

I loved the setting in this little novella. Swamps are interesting and very scary. I would love to read a full length novel from Broadbent in the same genre. Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me this ARC in exchange for a review! To me, "Blood Cypress" is a 3.5/5, definitely an interesting read that I liked.

I found "Blood Cypress" when I was looking for a short read, and it immediately stuck out to me. I'm a sucker for forest/swamp/rot/etc horror, so a story about a boy that goes missing in an ancient swamp had me hooked.

While some novellas feel like they need to be expanded, I think "Blood Cypress" worked really well! In 11 chapters and 100 pages, a compelling story was told, and by the end I was left curious but content.

I found Lila and MacKenzie to both be interesting characters, especially with the role that MacKenzie played in the overall story despite only meeting Lila after. Being a novella, of course, there wasn't much time to get to truly know the characters before the story was over, but I still think they were well done!

I've never heard of The Selected Papers from the Consortium for the Study of Anomalous Phenomena collection of works until now, but after reading "Blood Cypress", I definitely plan on checking out some of the other novellas!

There was noting inherently wrong with this book. It was well written, the characters were interesting, the plot was solid... It's just that there was nothing unique about it. I feel like I've read this story before. That being said- I'll definitely chck out more of the author's work, because (like I said) the writing was really good.

I finished this in one sitting with a face mask on. This was a great and short thriller, although interesting and leaves you wanting more, it's lacking. I related as a queer girl to the family dynamic (not the incest) but I also wanted more. I felt like there was more to be explored overall. Or perhaps that's the charm of it?

The ending made me want more. It left me speechless with absolutely no theories or ideas. I felt like there was more to explore with the swamp. Some theories and endings to latch on to in a way?

Do yourself a favor and read it.

Another great read in the Selected Papers from the Consortium for the Study of Anomalous Phenomena series, this time by Elizabeth Broadbent. These stories seem to always have great characters, great plot, and great pacing, and this will fit right in. Can't wait for the next in the series. #BloodCypress #NetGalley

I loved this SO much. It’s been awhile since I’ve read a really good southern gothic story and didn’t realize how bad I’d been itching for one.

This book grabs you by the throat immediately and doesn’t let up until the very end. The story is fascinating and you can’t turn the pages fast enough to see what happens next. Where it went was not what I was expecting at all and the pay off was worth it.

The writing flowed so flawlessly and I felt like I was sitting with someone while they told me a story.

As a lifelong V.C. Andrew’s fan, this very much gave me that eerie southern vibe like her books but with the authors own voice shining through so brightly. This was such a pleasant surprise and I’m so happy I read it.

Thank you Netgalley and RDS Publishing for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is my second Selected Papers from the Consortium for the Study of Anomalous Phenomena, and it has continued to keep me captivated. A woman in a bar, her presence beckons to MacKenzie, and she looks like she's full of stories, or maybe just a singular tragic one. Lila relays her younger experience, of losing her younger brother, Beau, and the challenges she has had to face in the south without a father, and a Mother who barely holds the family together. The setting, and the descriptions that accompany this novella continue to astonish me. In the pieces that I've read in this series, the authors never fail to hold me into where the characters are. The sweet rot of the Lower Congaree, the panic, anger, and fear that Lila felt every step of the way. Now I fear whether I believe her story

I enjoyed this short southern gothic. After leaving a small town that gave off very similar vibes to the one in this story, I felt like I could connect with Lila’s character or at least understand the town background. This was an eerie tale of the horrors Lila had to face coming from a small southern town with many disturbing views and a swamp that holds many secrets. Her youngest brother is missing, and Lila is determined to find him regardless of what troubling tales are told about the depths of the swamp. I would recommend this to anyone that is interested in exploring a southern gothic novella. Thank you to NetGalley and RDS Publishing for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The primary Southern Gothic (with elements of folk horror) story as standalone would have rated higher for me, but I didn’t enjoy the setup with the introductory narrator. Her character and her relationship with Lila felt not only unnecessary, but borderline insulting to the reader. Most of her purpose seemed to be as a surrogate for the reader, to prompt for additional explanation of the central story which could have been inferred by the reader without her help. Her POV was not necessary for the epilogue to have been included to cap off Lila’s story, and I think the book overall would have been stronger for it.

Thank you very much to RDS Publishing and Net Galley for the ARC.

Lila's brother Beau goes missing but no one cares cause he is neither heir, nor spare. He is either special needs or has medical issues - but no one knows because "he wasn't born right" so no need to take him to a doctor.

We listen to how he went missing and what happened after from Lila years later. The incident itself is scary enough, but the small town people make it even more scary and disturbing.. it was hard to read but at the same time I could not not keep reading.

It was a solid 4 star read.