Contemporary Australian Gothic with Sapphic representation, THE ATTIC TRAGEDY copes with unhealed psychological issues, self-mutilation, body shaming and body dysmorphia, and possible ways we can come to terms with ourselves and learn to accept ourselves as we are. It's also intriguingly a ghost story, with telemetry.

this was a great horror novel, I really enjoyed the story and going through the book. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and their story.

George, an unpopular, chubby girl, struggles with her gender, social identity, and sexuality. When she meets Sylvie, she is instantly attracted to her odd and peculiar personality. After standing up for Sylvie, and beating back the bullies, they are drawn together.

This was a novella, and I felt that it did not have enough details to make the story interesting. Sylvie felt like a half formed character. She had possibility, but it was never really fully developed. The story hinted at things, but that was all. It felt like nothing really happened. Overall, a bust.

It's a dark and well written story about growing up with a sprinkle of paranormal.
The story is well written, the characters are fleshed out and the plot flows making you feel a lot of emotions.
I loved it and it's strongly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

When George stands up for Sylvie, beating back Tommy Payne and his gang of thugs, it brings her close to the ethereal stranger; though not as close as George would have liked. In the attic of Sylvie’s father’s antique shop, George’s scars will sing and her longing will drive them both toward a tragedy as veiled and inevitable as Sylvie’s whispering ghosts.
This is the first thing I've read from this author but will not be the last. This story is dark. The writing is so, so beautiful. I read this over the weekend so it's short but there is so much feeling packed in there. These characters have issues but you feel for them and maybe some part of you connects with them.You want good things for them and to happen to them. I really liked this story.

* I requested this book from NetGalley. This is my honest review.*

This was… something. I don’t know what I thought this book would be like, however, I can assure you that I never thought it would be like this.

This book made me mad. Big mad. If you’re sensitive to topics such as self-harm or suicide, skip this review. And also skip this book.

Our main character self-harms. That’s something that we get to know pretty early on. And, for most of the book, we get a lukewarm decent portrayal. And then the main character’s crush has the audacity to change as a person and get engaged. That sends our MC on a spiral and lead to some of the worst writing I’ve ever laid my eyes on.

You see, instead of having the main character self-harm and almost commit suicide in a… well… a safe way for the reader, nope, the author decided that he’d describe (in painful detail) where she was cutting, how she was cutting, the whole thing. Full-on detail, much like Hannah Baker’s suicide in Thirteen Reasons Why.

I felt awful. I felt disgusted. But not for the reasons I think the author wanted. I was so upset I skipped to a part I knew would be safe for me to pick up and didn’t read for the remainder of the night. I couldn’t sleep, I couldn’t focus on anything, the only thing I could think of was what I had just read, and how that made my old instincts get back.

Needless to say, this was extremely triggering for me. I hope the author learns that this is not okay.

I’m getting too heated, so let’s get to the other stuff.

But the other stuff doesn’t have much to be talked about. Before the self-harm scene, I kept hoping this book would have a spike in quality, I kept hoping that this would be a five star read. But it simply wasn’t. The characters were as complex as a sheet of paper and the plot was so lackluster I kept getting distracted as I read.

So… if you still want to pick this up… do it! But don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Rating: 2 stars – I’m not giving this a 1 star because I finished it, but my god is this bad

The Attic Tragedy by J. Ashley-Smith
Genre: Horror and Sci-fi & Fantasy
Publisher: Meerkat Press, LLC
Publish Date: 9 June 2020

Star Rating: 4/5

This book is a short story but packed to the brim with content; I ended up at the end being surprised by just how much was in it. The story centers around Sylvie and George, Sylvie is the new girl and George is smitten. It is difficult to go further into the story without giving out spoilers but it has to be noted that there is a lot of heavy and trigger issues brought up which may affect some readers. The story isn't the horror story that I was expecting, (the ghosts are more metaphors) and we delve deeply into self-hating, rape, self-harm and unhealthy relationships.

That being said it is a powerful book that is beautifully written but will most likely leave you feeling depressed afterward. So don't read if you are having an off day.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an E-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This was a marvelous tale, dark and twisty and brutally honest in its exploration of the pain of self-exploration and self-hatred... Ashley-Smith has a brilliant lyrical writing style; every word feels carefully and sparingly selected to maximum effect, and believe me - the promise of that effect is delivered in spades. This is a deceptively small book that contains multitudes. (Likewise, my review - it's tough to say too much without running the risk of affecting the reading experience of others and I wouldn't do that for the world, the book is too enjoyable for that.) The emotion pours off of each page and each character interaction. The depth of feeling generated by these characters, particularly George, is phenomenal; the characters leap off the page and into your brain, squirreling themselves away only to reappear, like Sylvie's "ghosts", at unsuspecting times and to unsuspecting results. I found myself thinking about this one long after I finished reading it, and the thinking only made the whole experience better. J. Ashley-Smith is DEFINITELY on my "to watch" list going forward!

I have a mixed feeling about this one. On the one hand, I enjoyed Ashley-Smith's concise and poignant writing style. On the other hand, I found the story depressing and sad. This, obviously, isn't a flaw, just something I wasn't expecting while starting it. The tile doesn't lie. It is a tragedy.

It has a supernatural feel and elements but whether they actually occur or not remains debatable.

All told, The Attic Tragedy is a well-written and disturbing novelette that tackles, subtly, themes of depression or suicide. I can't say I loved it, but I think I appreciate the way Ashley-Smith told it.

Synopsis: Sylvie can talk to ghosts, and George falls in love with her while they are in high school. Time and distance change who they are, but for better or for worse? And how can George reconcile the past with the present?

Review: This is an examination of unrequited love, pain, and accepting yourself. It was very emotional—melancholic, anxious, sad, hopeful. The writing was visceral and absorbing. I am, quite frankly, amazed at how much of a punch it packed for ringing in around 50 pages.

[Spoiler Warning—ending vaguely discussed]
The end feels rushed, and somehow inauthentic to the rest of the story. In the epilogue, the writing falls a bit flat, and loses what made the rest of the story feel both cohesive and unique.
[END SPOILERS]

Content Warnings: self harm, homophobia & slurs, bullying, dead-naming, fatshaming, rape mention, sexual assault, drug mention, violence, controlling/unhealthy relationships, blood.

In the beginning, The Attic Tragedy seemed like if would be about ghosts and the supernatural, but as the story progressed, I realized the it was more about George’s depressions and unrequited love for Sylvie. This was definitely not a feel-good type of story. It was dark and poignant, but also deep and beautifully written.

I felt like there was a lot more that could’ve been done with a story. This could’ve honestly been more of a full-fledged novel if there was more of an explanation on what the supernatural events were and why some of the things happened the way they happened. There was a lot of loose ties and unanswered questions, especially near the end. I think this definitely could’ve used a longer plot line.

That being said, I really enjoyed it. I think George’s persistence in trying to get better through martial arts training and then near the end, running, was admirable. While she obviously wasn’t going to be 100% okay all the time, I definitely saw a development and some relapses (but that’s okay because that’s just how life works and it’s normal). I wanted to reach into the book and give her a hug :(

Tw: depression and self-harm.

What do I say about this book? It's a tragedy, that's for sure. George is a character that I won't forget easy. She went to so much in this very short book. I wanted to give her a hug. However, I do think that she kind of overreacted at the end. I understand her feelings, but she did went overboard in my opinion. Its fast paced, which I can appreciate. You'll finish it in one sitting. It also covers quite a couple of important topics, which I find impressive for such a short book. I do recommend the book though, especially for those who's Goodreads challenge needs a boost.

This is poignant and beautifully written. A tale of identities found and lost, of emotion, inlaid with a delicious hint of something otherworldly.
I wouldn't call this a feel-good book, and there are certainly scenes that will be triggers for people, but this is a little gem of dark toned prose.

Thanks to NetGalley and Meerkat Press, LLC - Meerkat Shorts for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This short story was definitely not what I was expecting and there are quite a few graphic trigger warnings (suicide, self-mutilation, depression, rape, grief). I'm not sure if I missed the overall meaning of this short but there's a lot of heartbreak and depression in it. I was expecting more horror and I guess, ghost moments but I think it's mostly metaphors than actual "monsters". Not spooky at all.

I felt bad for the main character, George, and everything they went through. It was a tough read but it was good to see her character grow a little.

3/5

J. Ashely-Smith’s most recent work of dark fiction. A novelette about two lost girls, one who sees ghosts and the other who sees her. To me this story was about unexpected friendships, unrequited love, and finding happiness within life. It gives a supernatural feel to the darkness that can lie within our minds. It truly speaks to the increasing awareness of mental health disease and the outcomes if left untreated. This novella is much darker than I would normal choose but I still enjoyed the read – it takes you back to being an angsty teen or young adult learning how to cope emotional hardships.


Would recommend, however, I think there should be a forewarning about sexual abuse and suicide content being included.

Not sure how to describe this story. It was an interesting and quick read; trying to find out what will happen kept me turning the pages.

The MC, George, is struggling with depression. There's hardly any character development for George, which I suspect is on purpose.

Definitely a tragic tale of the dark within us.

Not sure whom to recommend this to, though.

The moment George spots Sylvie at school she know Sylvie is special. Different, like George, but special. Sylvie can pick up any object in her father's antique shop and tell the story of it's previous owner. These object life histories fascinate George, and sometimes leave Sylvie with tears in her eyes.. When Sylvie meets loud, over-confident and pretentious Dane at college he declares that he doesn't like that this gift makes her sad. Sylvie begins to become less like Sylvie. George is angered and saddened by these developments and all comes to a head on Sylvie and Dane's "special" night.

While The Attic Tragedy is classified as horror I found it to be more of a tragic love story. A sad story written in such beautiful prose and with such thoughtful care that I savored the words. Exquisite writing from the author.! I cared very much for George as she transforms from an overweight, awkward young lesbian teen to a solid, strong, but still vulnerable and wounded, young woman holding a torch for a lost love. I am going to add J. Ashley-Smith to my authors to watch list.
(Trigger warning...there is a cutting segment.)
#TheAtticTragedy #Netgalley

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for a copy of this book to review.

The Attic Tragedy
by J. Ashley-Smith

A very well written, dark and moody novel. The Attic Tragedy is an intense story which revolves around two main characters who hide their secret selves from others. Childhood friends but for one, so much more then friendship is desired. The story delves into the depths of what unrequited love can do and how much it can shape and destroy your entire being.
Not what I had expected at all, much better due to the depth of the story. It is difficult to categorize this book, part mystery, part romance, part self discovery with a large splash of self loathing

The Attic Tragedy is exactly as its title suggests: tragic. It's a quick read, but very hard to digest and definitely needs a trigger warning. There's talk of suicide, loss, and heart-break. George's tale is extremely depressing. Her unrequited love for Sylvie is pretty gut-wrenching, and something a lot of people can relate to from their middle school days. Where the story loses me is when George can no longer get over her heart-break so many years after Sylvie leaves.

There's an element to George that is almost childish. She hates Sylvie's fiance out of jealousy, but not necessarily because he's a bad guy. The reader never sees if Dane is really a bad guy at all, we only have George's point of view to direct us on him. George is definitely misunderstood, but she can't seem to move on. She puts all of her eggs in the basket of Sylvie one day loving her that she allows her whole life to revolve around the fact that she's secretly in love with her best friend. She doesn't go to college after her mom leaves her everything in her will. She works for Sylvie's father. She spends her days thinking about Sylvie and hoping she returns as the high school girl she was before Sylvie grew up. What's so tragic about this tale is the fact that George is almost like Peter Pan in the way she cannot move on or grow up. She never leaves her town, even though the rapist bullies who attack her sign up to take fight classes at her dojo and her entire world comes crashing down when she finally realizes that Sylvie will never love her or be the same 16 year old girl again.

Yes, George's tale is extremely sad, but it's also very juvenile. I understand that George is lonely, but she doesn't do much to try to better herself or ever be independent of Sylvie. And that is the most heartbreaking part of this entire story. Also, apparently this is a horror novel, but apart from a few brief looks at ghosts in the afterlife, there's nothing scary or creepy about the story. It feels more religious in its use of the afterlife than horrifying. 3/5 stars because I thought this was a horror story, and not a tragic tale of love and loss.

As this short story moves forward, the reader realizes how sad George is and how much she doesn't like herself. The movement of time is done well, from kids in school to adulthood. There is a supernatural feel, but in the end it's George's story of unrequited love and a feeling of never being good enough.

Heart wrenching and beautiful.