Who Would Like This Book:
If you love atmospheric, unsettling tales set in brooding landscapes, this one’s a must. The writing is lush and immersive, with a psychological edge that pulls you right into the strange and eerie relationship between humans and nature. Horror and suspense fans, especially those who appreciate slow-building tension and ambiguous dread, will find much to savor here. If you enjoyed works by Shirley Jackson or the unsettling side of Ted Hughes, this book’s mix of poetic description and creeping unease is up your alley.
Who May Not Like This Book:
Some readers found the book’s tone too bleak or the plot too disturbing without payoff. The pacing is slow and the story very much leans into mood and character rather than action – if you’re after nonstop thrills or a conventional narrative, you might be frustrated. Animal lovers or those sensitive to animal cruelty may find certain moments hard to stomach, and there’s at least one infamous ‘weird’ scene that turned off a few reviewers.
About:
'The Cormorant' by Stephen Gregory follows the eerie and suspenseful story of a reclusive man named Ian who leaves his cottage in North Wales to his nephew and his wife under the condition that they care for his pet cormorant after his death. As the couple takes on the responsibility of looking after the bird, they soon realize the sinister and unpredictable nature of the cormorant, leading to terrifying consequences. The novel is described as a gripping tale with elements of horror and suspense, showcasing the deep connection between the characters and the eerie presence of the pet cormorant.
The writing style of 'The Cormorant' is praised for its atmospheric and poetic descriptions, creating a sense of tension and foreboding from the very first page. The author, Stephen Gregory, skillfully weaves a narrative that keeps readers engaged and guessing, with taunting foreshadowing and supernatural tones adding to the overall suspense. The novel is commended for its well-crafted passages, vivid portrayal of the cormorant, and moments of incredible restraint that allow readers' imaginations to fill in the gaps, making for an effective and chilling read.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Triggers include animal cruelty, unsettling imagery, violence, and psychological distress.
From The Publisher:
A young family receives a welcome surprise when old Uncle Ian dies and leaves them a cottage in north Wales. For Ian's nephew and his wife Ann, it seems a stroke of incredible good fortune, enabling them to leave their unfulfilling lives in the city for a newfound freedom in the remote seaside cottage. There's just one catch. Uncle Ian's will has a strange condition: the couple must care for his pet cormorant or forfeit the bequest. They think nothing of it at first: Uncle Ian was eccentric, and the bird is amusing in a way. But when the cormorant begins to show a violent and malevolent side, they soon find that Uncle Ian's gift may not be a blessing, but a curse.
'[An] artful first novel, reminiscent of the tales of Poe . . . Gregory uses a low-key style and subtle lyricism to build an atmosphere of nightmarish horror in a tale that could become a classic.' - Publishers Weekly
'[A] first-class terror story with a relentless focus that would have made Edgar Allan Poe proud.' - New York Times
'[N]o summary can do justice to the subtlety of Gregory's first novel, with its fresh, vivid, sensual prose and its superb descriptive and evocative power. An extraordinary novel - original, compelling, brilliant.' - Library Journal
'A work of tremendous self-assurance that leaves the reader with a lingering sense of unease and announces the arrival of a considerable new talent.' - British Book News
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