this is hands down my favorite novella of the year, dori lumpkin knows how to write a story in less than 150 pages and pack just as hard of a punch as a 300+ page novel. from the very first page you can feel the humidity in the air, hear the snakes rattling and the desperation between these two young girls stuck in a small southern town that's deeply engrossed in a religious fervor. both nora and abigail are at two different ends of the spectrum when living in a religious community but they've managed to build a closeness you can't find anywhere else in this story. i was so so immersed in this and normally would wish it was longer but its 134 pages were exactly enough for this novella.

I read this novella in one sitting and I loved it! Southern Gothic is one of my favorite genres/aesthetics to consume media in (i.e. True Detective, Sharp Objects, etc.) The suffocating aura of that coupled with the repressive beatdown of fanatic tent revival religion run by hungry men had me feeling like I needed to run away. We follow Abigail as she and her closest and dearest friend Nora navigate their adolescence in the community in which they were raised. Nora has always been different and Abigail likes different even though she thinks she shouldn't. Their friendship is tested like other adolescent friendships are, expectations, other peers, and burgeoning identities. Though nothing tests it more than the religious community that centers their lives and no one challenges those tests more than Nora. Part coming of-age, part horror, part romance, this novella provides a quick, gruesome, and brutally honest tale that makes you more than relieved you're not a member of Bethel.

Absolutely worth the read! Short but impactful, I thought about it for days afterward. This book speaks in shouts disguised as whispers and says so much about the culture of the Bible Belt. Creepy and traumatic but in the best way possible.

Antenora was a lush atmospheric gothic horror novel. There was a constant sense of foreboding throughout. The characters were clearly developed and matched the energy of the books atmosphere. As someone who grew up in a Southern environment like the one depicted in the book, the story was all too scary and real. This book captured the essence of fear in the church of the unknown and the great lengths they will go to to remove the supposed sin from people's existence.

The concept is very cool, and I really liked the setting for a queer coming of age story. However, while Nora was a dynamic character, the narrator was pretty bland, and none of the other characters were developed much. I know it was a fable-like novella, but it didn’t feel super consistent in tone, and I often got confused about how old Nora and Abigail were at any given time until it was suddenly explicitly stated. It also felt chaste in contrast to the violence, which was strange. The language became more and more overwrought as it got closer to the end. Love the premise, would have liked a bit more payoff in the execution. I think it would market better as YA than a book for adults.

I was immediately drawn in by the writing of this story. The story is shared by a community member who wants you to truly understand Nora, as she understood her-- she was her best friend after all.

The main character describes the incidents that led up to this main event in a very familiar type of way; it is clear that me-- the reader-- is clearly understanding of the community and their beliefs. Because of this, her explanation of the different occurrences between Nora and the rest of the community is told in a way that makes you feel like you are a part of the story.

I was completely unprepared for where this story would take me; completely unprepared for the emotions it would invoke.

I would definitely like to have this story on my bookshelf, to return to for multiple rereads-- this is one of those stories thats meaning will change as you change.

I absolutely adored this book!
From the very beginning it had me hooked and as someone who has been through religious trauma I felt this book connected with me and there was parts I found a tad difficult to get through, only because of what I have experienced personally.

The writing was beautifully poetic and I loved the imagery, the forbidden love trope and the religious extremism all in a Deep South setting. I look forward to more of this authors work.

I received a copy of this ARC from NetGalley. Antenora tells the story of two friends, Abigail and Nora, who have grown up in a southern Pentecostal snake cult. The story is from Abigail’s perspective, as she tells the story of her friend Nora and how she was deemed possessed by their town, and pleads for Nora to come home to her.
This is my first time reading Dori Lumpkin and I’m looking forward to reading more of their writing in the future. The writing of this story is very beautiful, the storytelling is very vivid. I deeply enjoyed how we don’t really understand what is happening with Nora and that the story didn’t do any hand wringing to come up with an explanation that would cover all of the mysteries. I think having neat answers to many mysteries can often have a shrink wrap effect on the world building, and this book didn’t fall into that. It kept the mystery, it kept the unsettling horror of it all.
With that said, there were a few things that were challenging to suspend my disbelief over, but they were mostly minor things. It’s the south but even in the sweltering summer nobody swims in the local lake where a few kids drowned. I’ve never encountered a natural body of water where some people have died in it and therefore nobody ever swam in it again. It made a nice setting for the secret place, but it was so unbelievable that I’ve been thinking more about this detail than the ending.
But more significantly, I am surprised that Nora didn’t really confide more in Abigail. That so much of the mystery hinged on Abigail hesitating, not acting, and not asking questions. It’s not that it’s unrealistic, but it left me feeling like if Abigail asked one or two questions or maybe made one more decisive action, that this would have been an entirely different book. I don’t trust the suspenseful and mysterious ending, because it feels like it’s hanging on to it by a thread that would have been broken if someone asked any question at all out loud.
Overall, a very enjoyable read with a couple of oddities here and there. Will definitely be reading this again and looking out for Lumpkin in the future.

Wow. What a book, story - everything. Read this book if it;s the last thing you do this week. The main character was interesting and I had to know what happens. Page turner? Yes.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Creature Publishing, and especially the author. I received a free ARC, and this review is voluntary -

Set in Bethel, Alabama, a community etched out for members of the faith, this story follows Abigail as she remembers her friend, Nora, and the events that eventually led to her disappearance. As friends since childhood, memories are pieced together as one important moment to the next is recalled by Abigail.

Her version of events, however, differs from those within the community, and the story is told from her perspective. Presenting as a softer, more logical outlook, the events of the past are examined, and Nora's actions are deconstructed. Included within that perspective, though, are the opinions of the community. What they believe is driving Nora's deviant behavior, and how their faith as a group was being tested.

I was blown away by this one for a few different reasons:

The story being told from Abigail's perspective is heartbreaking. Knowing the culture, and how deep those roots are entangled, she recognizes that the opinions of the community cannot be swayed. How she had to stand there and endure seeing what was happening to her friend, while also having to be careful about what she says in defense of Nora, for too much would also earn the ire of the community.

The prose was sad and beautiful, but also haunting. What the author excelled at conveying is the experience of longing. It's a mixture of emotions, but it's largely described by the razor of sorrow. Abigail didn't just lend perspective, but a voice, and through her words we feel how tight the chord has been wound. What happens when the light in someone's life is turned off.

Sometimes the real horror is seeing the light go off.

A powerful novella, this story explores religion, female identity and sins in such an interesting way. I really liked Nora as a main character and would have loved to read more about her. I found the plot quick paced and well planned, and I could sense the dread that was coming. The entire novella felt heavy and I was waiting for the disastrous ending. Short but strong, this was a fantastic horror.

A super engaging quick read. I can't wait to read more from the author and pick up a physical copy on release!

ARC 📖 Review: Antenora by Dori Lumpkin
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Pub Date: 10/1/24

This was my first by this author and I loved the writing style! Something about a horror novella is just chefs kiss. 👩🏼‍🍳🤌🏽 Highly recommend this to my fellow horror lovers! Thank you to @netgalley and @creaturepublishing for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

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The religious community of Bethel, Alabama can’t agree on the truth. They always said Nora was trouble. Later, they said she was possessed. Maybe she lost her mind, killing three people and injuring many others. But, what really happened to Nora Willet?

#netgalley #creaturespublishing #horrornovella #shorthorrorstories #antenora #dorilumpkin #readmorehorror #booksbooksbooks

what this novel does in such a short amount of pages is insane. we talk about dante’s the inferno and the picture of antenora in a teenage girl who does horrific things to people. but at some points we wonder: does she do them because she can or is she sometimes being controlled in what she does?

i also loved what snakes meant in this novel because i didn’t know about the idea of “taking up your serpents” and the more i read about that, the more i read the novel and also understood nora, i feel like there is a disconnect with how i believe this is comparable versus potentially how it is. but i love that this is thought provoking.

i am a fan of dante’s the inferno so anything coming with that as a comp, inspiration of that or descents to hell, sign me up. and this ate. thank you netgalley & creature publishing for an early copy. this is a banger and i can’t wait to read more from Dori and from this publishing house

Thank you to NetGalley & the Publisher for allowing me a free copy of this in exchange for an honest review!

This was such a heavy story for a novella. Anyone who has ever gone to church or experienced some type of exposure to Christian gatherings will understand the implications of Nora's character. We are all "Noras" in our own way, even the most "holy" (especially the most holy).

I didn't grow up in such a tight nit Christian community as Abigail and Nora, but it's not hard to imagine, especially with all the information we have now a days from ex-insiders. It made my skin crawl. Very cult horror in a slow burn fashion.

I felt Abigail's character was a little confusing, but maybe she was confused herself. She didn't seem to recognize her love for Nora, or acknowledge it the way I would expect even towards the end when it was more apparent. But also, how would she even understand it or process it in a community like that?

Nora was also a little confusing for me at times, because it was so hard to tell how conscious/"evil" she was. She was seemingly in the know, as if she was in charge of the decisions, while also having an inescapable otherworldly gift about her.

Their relationship was my favorite part of the novel. It works so well & it hits home for me personally. I have been both "Nora", and "Abigail" in my life, and it makes me feel so oddly sad. The real harrowing part is how real this story actually is, both past and present, sometimes metaphorical, sometimes literal.


Overall this is a solid 4.5 stars from me (really wish we could rate half stars). If you're an easily offended Christian, this one is not for you.

Thank you Amanda Manns, Creature Publishing, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this spellbinding and heart wrenching book, Antenora by Dori Lumpkin.

This book deeply resonated with me. The writing is gorgeous, and I was completely hooked by the storyline. "Antenora" tells the story of Nora, a girl misunderstood and ostracized by her Southern Pentecostal community. While Nora commits disturbing crimes, the true villains are shown to be the hypocritical religious leaders and the dark side of fundamentalist ideology.

The snake symbolism, intertwined with themes of religion was particularly intriguing. The story evokes a "Carrie" vibe but within a Christian context, making it both horrifying and tragic. The exploration of sexuality adds a layer of sadness, highlighting the destructive impact of repressive beliefs. This book masterfully combines gorgeous writing, complex characters, and thought-provoking symbolism, making it a compelling and unforgettable read!! Highly recommend!!

This is a quiet gut-punch of a novella. It's got so much: sapphic love, Appalachian Pentecostal horror, abrupt and violent gore, vengeance, and a slightly open ending that will probably leave you crying.

Wow I loved this!

Antenora is a woman’s recount of her friendship with the town’s most disliked citizen Nora. Nora is an outcast in that she speaks her mind, does not follow the typical Christian teachings, and eventually is condemned by her community. Our protagonist Abigail is torn between her teachings and family expectations and the love and admiration she feels for her best friend. This is a super basic outline of the story - there is so much more than just needs to be experienced!

This novella drew me in from page one and kept me intrigued. Abigail and Nora are such interesting characters to follow and Nora’s story felt important to tell. I loved the author’s writing style and would definitely read more by them. The gore was also on point and had me uncomfortable at times while reading!

Highly recommend to readers interested in horror novellas, particularly with queer and religious subject matter.

Thank you to NetGalley and Creature Publishing for access to this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Antenora is an excellent tale about being an adolescent girl deeply misunderstood in a devout community. It gripped me with its supernatural elements and thoughtful criticism of intense religious communities without being overt. Despite the novella's length, I didn't feel I was missing anything from the story itself. If anything, I wish it was longer. It allowed the reader to have space to process the horror of being a child growing into a woman and how leaders in your immediate community can deeply affect the future. It's a fantastic read. This book was gifted on NetGalley. Thank you to the publishers for the opportunity. You can pre-order Antenora at SirenBooks.org.

Oh man, where do I begin. This story had me in tears by the end of the book. What you read in this novella is absolutely gut wrenching. It’s even more heart breaking that young girls experienced these types of events back in the day when the church decided it was humane to burn people at the stake for being “witches” or “different”

Nora is fierce, powerful and her message rings loud throughout the story. I literally feel for her.

I adored the relationships between our MC and Nora. Unfortunately in those times, their relationship was outlawed. It added a realistic and scary element to the story. One of forbidden love.

The story is written as the MC telling the reader or some sort of reporter/journalist the events that happened to Nora in the small Bible town of Bethel. The writing is captivating and fast paced. Like I said I was emotionally moved by this one. Be ready to have your heart ripped out.