Thanks for the chance to read this book.
I had only read Tchaikovsky’s fantasy works before this one and was just considering his sci-fi titles. So this short horror novella was a great opportunity to get to know another side of his writing.
I liked the dive into the dark side of British high society.
Like the heroine, I sometimes needed an Anglo-American translator.
Towards the middle, the plot felt a bit predictable, and I thought I knew where things were heading. However, the ending managed to surprise me, and I really enjoyed it.
Now I definitely want to continue reading his "Terrible Worlds" series.

Exactly what horror should be. No slow burn, no boring as shit flashbacks, just wham bam creepy shit is happening, y'all. Perfect novella size, so you can knock it over in an hour. Let's fucking go. Five stars.

Big thank you to Solaris and Netgalley for the ARC.

“Preaching to the Choir” by Adrian Tchaikovsky is a dark, and creepy mystery thriller that I could not put down. A compelling mystery combined with a supernatural story of power, corruption, and temptation that speaks to how power operates in the real world. A great novella, I highly recommend.

I am very grateful to Rebellion Publishing and netgalley for letting me read an advanced reader copy of this book.

The novella is part of Tchaikovsky’s “Terrible Worlds” series and each of the installments in the series have been fantastic.

The Ready or Not vibes are strong in Preaching to the Choir, a standalone gothic horror novella set in a creepy English mansion. The eeriness is there right from the start and it doesn't let up, making use of every single page. There are also some creepy images placed through the book which bring some of the descriptions to life. All in all, it had me racing through all 176 pages in no time at all!

I don't want to say much about the plot to avoid spoilers, so I'll just say that this is a great, quick read. Whether you read horror all year round or dip into it for Summerween and/or actual Halloween, the novella length is great for giving a quick horror hit, like watching a film!

Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley, but this is my voluntary and honest review.

(thank you solaris publishers through netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review)

❝Fidelitatis Et Perseverantiae❞

Kings, queens, politicians, religious leaders, business moguls; these are powerful people in the history of the world and in the background, hovering over their left shoulders in the shadows, are the Enderboughs. A family that can trace its lineage to the earliest of humanity, whose traditions are older than some countries’ independence and who every 40 years hosts a family reunion. Strictly family is invited to this reunion—no partners who married in and definitely no dating prospects—but Ross Enderbough who fled to America to live away from his family’s influence, forced to make the trip, brings his girlfriend Elena. Elena, who knows that her boyfriend comes from ‘old money’ but has no idea that everything she believed about that term will be changed once she steps into the family mansion, Enderby.

There’s always that one novella that completely captures me. In Terrible Worlds: Revolutions, it was Ogres and depending on the third novella Tchaikovsky releases in this Terrible Worlds: Transformations series, ‘Preaching To The Choir’ might be that one novella for me. While ‘Saturation Point’ reminded me of Annihilation, this reminds me of ‘‘Ready or Not’ and I was completely entranced. I read this in one sitting. Adrian Tchaikovsky did it again.

Also referring to an American as “baggage back from the Colonies.” had no right to make me laugh as hard as it did.

Thank you Netgalley and solaris for this advanced copy.

This was my first horror by Adrian Tchaikovsky, and yes, it was so good. I thought It perfect that Adrian chose novella length than full novel. Made it easier to engage and commit. Love the horror and dark vibes from this book. Yes, he did it again

Talk about perfectly timed and on the pulse writing! Wow! I needed this horror now like I needed water. I really cannot express how perfect this story was and it consumed my afternoon and will forever stick with me. If you liked Wolf Worm by T. Kingfisher, you will love this story too.
Quick, no spoiler synopsis, Elena joins her boyfriend, Ross, for a family gathering at their stuffy old money manor with all the typical old money gothic details and looming eccentricities. The only problem is Elena was not invited. What follows is deliciously quick and everything you could expect and many things you would never, ever expect. Get this book!
Thank-you, Rebellion Publishing, Solaris Books, and Adrian Tchaikovsky, for this complimentary copy. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

First of all, thank you, Netgalley and Solaris, for this advanced reader copy in exchange for a fair review.

Adrian Tchaikovsky is one of my favourite authors. I love the way he blends ecology, politics, and speculative fiction. Preaching to the Choir is a little different from his usual work, but a similar heart beats beneath the horror. As I read, I felt able to connect the dots between the story and the ecological ideas it draws upon, which added considerably to the experience. The whole book feels remarkably believable: the characters are convincingly written, and the events gain a certain verisimilitude from Tchaikovsky’s understanding of ecology.

It's one of the few horror books where I didn't immediately guess the ending! I really like the protagonist; she is competently written and doesn't do anything too stupid that would break my immersion. This book also includes pictures of artefacts in the story, which was a nice touch.

The final act and conclusion of the book were exceptional. No notes, 5 stars

I had no idea Adrian Tchaikovsky wrote horror, so this was such a pleasant surprise. This novella immediately made me want to pick up the rest of the series. As I was reading, I couldn't stop thinking about how much it reminded me of Delilah S. Dawson's Guillotine (which is high praise because that's still my favorite of her books). It has that same unsettling atmosphere and creeping sense of familial dread, just with a little less blood. Tchaikovsky's signature writing style, with its rich, layered prose, was a perfect fit for this story. It packed a lot into such a short read, and now I'm looking forward to seeing what else this series has in store.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Adrian Tchaikovsky, and Rebellion for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

My first thought after reading Preaching to the Choir is: I need to read more from Tchaikovsky! This novella was excellent. I loved the setting: a gothic, old-money, sprawling mansion estate with endless rooms and hallways. I also loved the mix of European old-money fuddy-duddies from a variety of generations, along with the FMC, Elena, the lone American who is joining her boyfriend at his family get-together in said mansion.

Tchaikovsky is wonderful at setting the scene, not just physically but situationally. How he described the family members’ immediate dislike and disapproval that Elena, the outsider, has tagged along on this important family gathering was one of my favorite parts of the story. I really enjoyed how the displeasure of the characters was described while also describing the characters themselves.

> Uncle Jas was a barrel on legs, aquiline nose, greying. His mouth didn’t seem to have the muscles to smile. It only curved downwards. Small dark eyes flicked to Elena. “Who in buggery’s this?”

Being an American reading this, the insults and sarcasm were top-notch.

> “Gil!” he barked, without taking his coal-chip eyes off her. “Someone’s brought some baggage back from the Colonies.”

> Gilchrist’s eyes consented to the fact of her.

After the family moves on from trying to ship Elena away from the mansion, the true story begins about why this once-in-a-generation event is happening and more of the backstory of this ancient, wealthy, powerful family and its origins begins to unravel. The younger generation of the family uncover mysteries of their family and soon realizes the benefits they were born with and into don’t come free.

> you never actually stepped far enough away to find out where the bars were. Doesn’t mean you weren’t in a cage.

Overall, this was truly an excellent spooky, gothic novella, and I highly recommend it. I already knew that Tchaikovsky was a world-renowned author famous for his prolific writing, but this has strongly piqued my interest in exploring more of his work.
Thank you, Solaris, for providing me with this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Rating: 5 / 5

Format: eARC via NetGalley

4.5 stars rounded up to 5!

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC of Preaching to the Choir by Adrian Tchaikovsky!

This book was a wild and enjoyable ride! I took away half of one star because what human, after being very much told she is not welcome at this family gathering and that <b>no significant others</b> are welcome, decides to dig her heals in and demand to stay? Girlie-pop, these super rich people offered to get you a hotel or put you on a flight to anywhere you want to go, you can ask for a vacation or a cruise, but you want to be the <i>only</i> not blood related person there? Awkward.

I loved the descriptions and imagery. I loved the banter and schemes. It felt like you were truly part of trying to find out the mystery of what was happening with this family. It's an addictive read and will absolutely not be my last Tchaikovsky book!

Adrian Tchaikovsky strikes again. Do they ever stop? This was a brilliant read and one that yet again can be recommended.

There are a lot of books and movies out there about the "normal" girlfriend / bride discovering the unspeakable horrors behind the fortune of her boyfriend / fiancé's family.
This is one of the great ones.
Adrian Tchaikovsky's writing is really fantastic in any genre, and I love his take on old money supernatural horror.
I especially loved that for once, the outsider wasn't alone but supported by other members of the family. These secondary characters were really interesting and got me even more involved.

Thank you Solaris for this ARC!

Thank you to Solaris and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC - all thoughts and opinions are my own!

As someone who doesn’t read many novellas, I can honestly say that if you don’t read novellas that often but you are looking for a story that will both intrigue and thoroughly creep you out, then you need to read Preaching To The Choir! Every page brought a new wave of dread that led to an utterly terrifying conclusion that will now lead me to wonder just who is really in control of the most powerful among us…

Tchaikovsky is a masterful storyteller and I loved the whole “old money family comes together for a meeting at an insanely old English manor and then you realize everything is truly not okay” plot - definitely a favorite of mine! Our characters are well developed even for it being a shorter read and I really wish there had just been more in the story because I wanted to see even more of the messed up things the Enderboughs were up to!

If you want a story that will keep you hooked and leave you with an immense feeling of both dread and unsettledness, then pick up Preaching To The Choir ASAP!

Perfect for fans of Guillotine by Delilah Dawson, the horrors hiding beneath the veneer of a wealthy family is a well worn trope brought to terrifying heights here. The victims are thoughtful and resourceful, not content to sit and hope, but still trapped. Skip if you have a phobia of insects, read if you want to shudder and imagine the sounds of chirps and wings wherever you go for a while.

Anyone who reads my reviews, or talks to me about genre writers, or who has to listen to me blather on about which writers they should read, knows that I've become quite the Adrian Tchaikovsky fan. He is a prolific author who writes science fiction, fantasy, and horror stories, and I haven't read a book of his that I haven't liked. Imagine, then, my delight when I received an email from NetGalley informing me that Solaris had approved my request for an advance reader copy. Honestly, I'd forgotten that I'd requested it, so it was a pleasant surprise when it showed up in my inbox a couple of weeks ago.

"Preaching to the Choir" is the second of Tchaikovsky's Terrible Worlds: Transformations novellas. In it, Ross Enderbough invites his girlfriend Elena Mendes on a trip to England to introduce her to his very rich, very upper crust, and very eccentric family during one of their once in a generation family gatherings. Ross left England for the United States to get away from the family, as he doesn't get along with them. However, attendance at the family gathering is mandatory, so he doesn't have much choice as to whether he should attend. The problem is that outsiders - meaning spouses and girlfriends - are not invited or allowed at the gathering. Elena is not welcome, and although the older family members try to get her to leave and stay somewhere off the grounds, they eventually relent. There is an undercurrent of tension, however, between the family and Elena.

The gathering is held on the grounds of a family mansion built hundreds of years ago. The story takes place almost exclusively within the mansion, with some forays out to the overgrown and unkempt grounds. The mansion is creepy, labyrinthine, and as you might guess, holds many secrets. The family itself is no better when it comes to being creepy and holding secrets. As the story advances weird things happen, and the younger members of the family begin to question what's going on and why they are here at all. This ends up being a good thing for Elena,
for as an outsider she feels much the same way. The elder members of the family keep telling them that they will learn what is happening soon, but once Elena spots a dead body being carted out of the mansion, "soon" isn't soon enough.

I wasn't aware that Tchaikovsky wrote horror stories, although novellas like "Walking to Aldebaran" and "Hungry Gods" should have been a clue. "Preaching to the Choir" is a creepy gothic horror novel, complete with the creepy architecture of the mansion with scary things lurking around every corner in the dark, frightening things lurking on the mansion grounds, and the monstrous creatures that are at the heart of the story. The family secret - because every story like this involves a family secret - is not only frightening from a body horror standpoint but is frightening from the implications of what is revealed about the family.

"Preaching to the Choir" is another fine work from Tchaikovsky. Sure, we've seen the "let's take the girlfriend to meet the weird family" any number of times, and scary gothic mansions that contain odd and frightening things in the dark are not unusual either, but this story works because the characters are believable, the plot is well handled, and the story is written with Tchaikovsky's usual skill. The story is a slow burn, but once it picks up it gets moving and before you know it, it's over. I do recommend this for all fans of Tchaikovsky, as well as fans of well written horror.

An excellent and dark story of a once-in-a-generation family get-together in the ranging old mansion of a long-standing wealthy and powerful English family. Elena, the American girlfriend of one of the family members is unwittingly and mistakenly brought along to this family gathering, much to the displeasure of the elders.

The atmosphere is deliciously creepy and foreboding, as some of the younger members of the family are increasingly concerned about what is going on, and what the purpose of the gathering is. The story has a gothic and claustrophobic feel, with an unsettling sense of what might be around the next corner. Any more detail than this would run the risk of being spoilers. And while the final conclusion was somewhat inevitable, the journey to get there was excellent.

I have enjoyed all of Tchaikovsky’s “Terrible Worlds” novellas, and this is up there with the best of them.

Thank you #NetGalley and Solaris for the free review copy of #PreachingtotheChoir without obligation. All opinions are my own.

(I also enjoyed the oblique reference to The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas)

Another strong novella from the author, this time veering into gothic horror. The novella focuses on Ross and Elena's experiences of a visit to an old family home, and an old family gathering. Things are gradually revealed... Being a shorter story this benefits from primarily sticking to their experience rather than having too many diversions, more or less a single/dual POV which was most effective coming from Elena. Can't go much further without spoilers, though would add that the shades of grey in the plot, story and outcomes also added to the story's appeal. For me at least!

Preaching to the Choir is another entry in Adrian Tchaikovsky's Terrible Worlds series, this time part of Terrible Worlds: Transformations, and it delivers a wonderfully unsettling blend of gothic horror with a science fiction twist.

The story follows Elena, who agrees to accompany her boyfriend, Ross Enderbough, to his family's ancestral estate, Enderby. Knowing Ross comes from wealth is one thing, but arriving at a sprawling mansion that was once a monastery makes it clear that this is generations-old money. What Elena doesn't know is that Ross has accidentally brought her to a once-in-a-generation family gathering attended only by blood relatives. Partners and spouses aren't invited, and Elena's presence is anything but welcome.

Although the family immediately tries to send her away, Ross refuses to stay without her. As the gathering unfolds, Elena begins to notice that something is very wrong. There's something unsettling in the woods, strange singing echoes through the night, and the tension between the younger generation and their elders hints that this reunion is about far more than simple family tradition.

This is one of those stories where the less you know going in, the better.

Tchaikovsky creates an atmosphere that is eerie from the very beginning. I loved the creeping sense of unease that builds with every chapter, and the mystery kept me constantly second-guessing what was really happening. My theories changed several times as new pieces fell into place, and I wasn't expecting where the story ultimately went. I'll simply say that the reveal leans into science fiction in a way that pleasantly surprised me, and I thought it fit the story incredibly well.

The pacing is excellent for a novella. It never lingers too long in one place, steadily building suspense while revealing just enough to keep the mystery alive. The combination of family drama, isolation, unsettling folklore-like horror, and speculative elements made for a gripping read that I flew through.

If you're looking for a creepy, atmospheric novella that blends horror with science fiction and keeps you guessing until the end, I'd definitely recommend giving this one a try - especially if you're already a fan of Adrian Tchaikovsky's work.

Thank you to NetGalley and Solaris for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Those who have followed my reading escapades know that I am a little lukewarm on Adrian Tchaikovsky. As a writer, he's a master. It's just that sometimes even though his Sci-Fi is masterful, and very well put together, I just, kind of don't love it. every time. So, I can not really explain why I decided I needed to read Preaching to Choir, but... if you take a gander at the stunning cover, you might understand.
This Cover was done by the amazing Gemma Sheldrake (also known as petitecreme), Without this cover, I likely would have avoided it.

So glad I spent the time to delve into this novella. It was so very different when compared to Shroud, or Alien Clay. I LOVED it. and psst- there are some amazing illustrations/photos in the novella as well.

Coming in at a cool 176 pages this is a perfect read for "Summerween" It gives off the most delicious creepy gothic vibes, and I had a great time reading this.

Without any Spoilers- Readers meet an international couple, Elena And Ross. Ross is British and well heeled, Elena's had to work hard to get where she is- which is attending a prestigious American med school. Elena and Ross are headed to his old family estate for some sort of once in a lifetime family gathering. As they approach the house, things get creepy- but Elena's sure she's just imagining things. She breathes a sigh of relief when the doors swing open- only to get the most unwelcoming welcome ever. Elena, being tough, decides to stick around, until it becomes apparent she's Hotel California'd herself and well... can she leave? Should she leave? Reader's will want to pick up this slim volume to find out.
Readers can expect signature Tchaikovsky Macabre moments, as well as incisive commentary on power, influence and money as well as the lengths people will go to obtain said things.

This reader wants more of this from Adrian Tchaikovsky. Thanks to Solaris, a division of Simon and Schuster for the advanced reading copy.

This novella serves as the ultimate proof of how versatile Adrian Tchaikovsky's work is. From sci-fi to fantasy and now a blood-chilling horror in the most compact form. It's a complex story about family, loyalty, and, most importantly, power—how it challenges your beliefs and morals. Furthermore, it explores what price you are willing to pay and what sacrifices you're prepared to make for it. A haunting, suffocating atmosphere immediately tells your gut that something is off, leaving you on the edge of your seat, waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Loved it! Short with a lot of punch power.