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
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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.

🐍👹💀

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.

3.80 stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley for this title!

A quick novella consisting of about 135 pages. This is my first read from the author Dori Lumpkin.

〰️ Characters 〰️
📌Abigail (Abby-girl telling the story from her perspective
📌 Nora (for which the trauma circles)
📌 Pastor David (creepy group cult leader)
📌 Pastor David Brothers (equally disturbed)

〰️First Impressions 〰️
Such a creepy vibe from this book about a little southern town near the mountains.

People live and die for the church and rules that everyone must follow. The church services near the water to be closer to God, as a show of power from the Pastor the call David.

〰️My thoughts 💭 〰️
I grew up partially in church so nothing was an this degree of ridiculousness. And this is not to shame religion but the living humble and bowing down with no outlook into the outside world and only hearing the prospective of other parishioners is definitely one side.

Women are only able to take certain jobs like sewing or cooking are are expected to marry young while men could do whatever they wanted. This burns my butter.🧈

〰️ Something About Nora 〰️
Who is apparently was troubled from the start according to the people in the town. Her love of snakes, and violent outbursts don’t help her situation.

She She never took anything too seriously and it seems as though her parents have given up and washed their hands of the matter hoping the church can mend her wicked ways…LOL Nora had one friend she could trust and that was Abigail.

A friendship and connection born out of necessity and growing to so much more

〰️Most Disturbing 〰️
Something that was said to Abigail, by the paster that she should “keep sweet”. Now if you know anything about that phrase or whats behind it you will know how disturbing it is, which is the point of horror.

〰️My thoughts 💭 〰️
Horror can fill you with a range of emotions. It can make you uncomfortable, fill you with dread, make you think, scare you to death, or sleep with a night light on…

〰️ Conclusion 〰️
This story didn’t end as I expected and fell pretty flat. I wanted more from character Nora considering what she was capable of. I was hoping that more focus would be on the cult-like parishioners participating in this heinous act. More devastation, more destruction…just more. All in all still not a bad story from little novella.

Set in the suffocating religious snake-handling community of Bethel, Alabama, this novella dives deep into the murky waters of repressed sexuality, religious dogma, and possible possession. Lumpkin's writing is a Southern Gothic dream, weaving a tale of two girls, Nora and Abigail, whose affection and loyalty to each other becomes a threat to their entire town. The story of Nora's "possession" unfolds through Abigail's eyes, a bittersweet confessional that'll have you squirming in your seat, clenching your fists, and breaking your heart. At its core, "Antenora" is a queer love story, exploring the complexities of friendship, desire, and faith in a way that feels achingly, desperately real, and while it delivers some deliciously gruesome scenes, the real horror here is in the oppressive atmosphere of the small town and its smaller-minded inhabitants. It's a short but potent read that'll leave you craving more of Lumpkin's poignantly twisted prose.

A hell of a story. Who knew that religious paradise on earth could be absolute hell for one young girl.

Enter the tight knit community of Bethel, where two girl navigate the cultic religiosity of their community.
Nora is accused of being possessed. Her best friend Abby isn't so sure. In a whirlwind of events, we see Nora being 'delivered' and the aftermath of such a treacherous ordeal.

3.75*
I enjoyed this very melancholy novella and am grateful I was given the opportunity to read it. Even though this is a short book, the characters really make it what it is. Abigail and Nora's friendship and forbidden love was so quiet and beautiful. Not only that, but I really liked them as individual characters. Abigail is soft and supportive, the best companion for Nora to have by her side when nobody wants to understand her. The way she understood Nora and allowed her to be herself was gorgeous to read. Nora was so unapologetic and brave, despite the represive community they were raised in. There's a lot left unsaid, but crystal clear. The way the atmosphere and narration was pulled off in this way really shows the writing skill of the author as well. I would have liked the story to be longer so we could get more from the characters and the town. I was very close to giving this story 4 stars, but could not justify it given the length. Anyway, I will keep an eye out for other things this author releases.

3.75 stars rounded up to 4!

This book had such an intriguing undercurrent of corruption and religious fanaticism that kept me intrigued and flipping pages. This was only 134 pages and it made me feel so many emotions - I was heartbroken, I was angry, and I was worried.

This was a heartbreaking book with great writing and I would definitely recommend!

Thank you to Creature Publishing and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley & Creature Publishing for the opportunity to read this book.
This story is about a girl, Nora, who is supposedly possessed. Nora and her best friend grow up in Alabama in a the religious community of Bethel. Snakes are part of their religions practice, and Nora has a connection with the animal. From the start I can tell there is more to Nora. She brings a snake back to life, hardly something I think someone who is possessed would do. The religious leaders in her community seem in my opinion cult like, and somewhat evil. As the story unfolds we learn that this is not the first time the community has claimed possession. I begin to wonder, what are the leaders really doing to these girls when they take them for deliverance? However, the story does not elude any further beyond that girls are prayed over and treated harshly.
Amidst this Nora and her bestie Abigail are seemingly in love. Kissing in the forest, a big no-no in this religious cult like life they are subjected to.
Nora is violent, she kills several people. The deliverance does not work. In the end she is burned at the stake.
I was surprised by the end. Wasn’t expecting the Salem witch style. However, also not disappointed. It didn’t have the fairytale end and it fit perfectly with the cult vibe of the book. Nora was an interesting character, and if she came back and struck vengeance I would like to read about it.