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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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).

Blood Cypress is a beautifully written southern gothic novella. Broadbent writes with such a strong sense of time and place, that the reader gets completely enraptured by the Carson family and their struggles in the backward, bitter, back-stabbing town of Lower Congaree.

Broadbent gracefully and heartbreakingly addresses mental illness, grief, homophobia, misogyny, family dysfunction and small-town hatred of otherness, while telling Lila’s story of her little brother disappearing one night.

Engrossing and tense, perfectly paced, both voluptuously gothic yet subtle in its terror, this is an excellent read.