This book is a sublime collection of everything I adore, grotesque horror and expansive, immersive writing. This author has such a gift and is a master at what she does to compel the reader with fascination and quiet awe.

5/5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

This book was like living in an apartment in the 1980s somewhere in Europe. I do not know why this book made me feel this way, or really what that means on a less ephemeral level, but that was how it made me feel, and it was wonderful. There was a lot of creeping horror in here that really seeps in, like damp into a badly insulated house, and I loved it.

There was a lot of body horror that came through in a number of the stories, and it added a touch of the macabre to what was already an absolute delight in the horror genre. The political undertones of the stories shone through magnificently, some more that others, but in all there was a delightful twist of the mouth that turned into a half-smile as you read. This book was a delight.

I do wish some of the stories were a little longer, but all in all, this one was a 5/5 for me.

Thank God ive finally finished reading this book! I'm not sure what made me think would enjoy reading this, but this book was not for me. Im not sure ive read the word "faeces" that much in my life. I felt that the endings could have been wrapped up better. I know they are a collection of short stories, but I feel that they end so abruptly, without a point or conclusion to all the yuckiness you just read about. I was drawn in my the beautiful artwork on the cover, but disappointed by the subject matter within the pages. This book was not for me.
**Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book!

An interesting read that contains a wealth of stories that critiques dominant values in the modern world. There are a number of typos still to be corrected as in “ flesh, Fan took the took the pieces“ and ‘ He was going to leaveher poems and novels inside,“ . The imagery used in this collection is very disconcerting at times and consequently, the author unsettles the reader and prompts deep reflection on themes..

Dark and gruesome and definitely not my typical genre. Overall, a fun collection of weird and grisly short stories. Be sure to read at your own risk.

If you wish to be deeply disturbed, this is the book for you. Grudova writes exceptionally well, enough to give you a perfect picture of the horrors contained in this book's pages.

If Jenny Hval and Mariana Enriquez collaborated, it might resemble "The Coiled Serpent" — awfully disgusting, disturbing, and sometimes just plain weird. This collection of short stories follows various characters on brief but intense journeys: from getting spooked indoors to cleaning spas, seeking revenge, or simply surviving in capitalist Britain.

The 16 stories are relatively short yet well-written, focusing more on the bizarre aspects of horror than on conveying a clear message. While I enjoyed the grotesque and horrifying elements, I found it difficult to discern any overarching message. Eventually, I gave up trying to find one and simply read to enjoy the stories. Perhaps the main idea is simply a reminder that gross people exist (which I sometimes forget).

Here are my favorites; "Through ceilings and walls", "Description and history of a British swimming pool/ Banya! Banya!", "A novel (or poem) about Fan, aged 11 years or the zoo", "Avalon", "The surrogates", "The apartment".

I really enjoyed this book, I managed to finish it in a day or two, always wanting to know what happened next. It’s set in a dystopian feeling Britain where poverty is common and people are scraping by using whatever means they can.

In this collection of short stories you never knew what was going to happen next, they were all full of twists and turns.

The first few stories start with more body horror, bodily fluid related stories and as the book progresses, more sexual elements get introduced.

I also enjoyed the writing style of this author, I felt like I was reading each narrator’s mind as they “ramble” about everything, jumping from one point to another. It feels relatable and human.

While I do generally like books that are weird and have elements of body horror, this book was not for me. The short stories were well-written, however, the gross aspect with the theme of bodily functions throughout the book was not my cup of tea. I would recommend this book to a certain type of reader.

There were some short stories that stood out to me - Ivor, The Green Hat, The Poison Garden, and The Surrogate.

If you like Karen Russell's anthologies, you'll like The Coiled Serpent. I loved to hate these little freak tales, super eerie and weird and evocative, like reading the scraped out insides of a creepy little girl's head.

Short horror stories are my absolute favorite because of the quick and sometimes treacherous journey they provide. The Coiled Serpent scratched that itch, but may not be suitable for your average short story reader. Grudova's attention to bodily function was jarring and sometimes unwelcomed — something I know is personal preference. There is a specific reader that this book will be stunning for, it just may not be me.

That being said, Grudova's prose is impressive and deserves recognition, even if the content matter was not my favorite. Readers of The Cursed Bunny or The Consumer may find it a perfect add to their bookshelf.

A weird and very gross collection of short stories.

I usually like all of those things, but this is clearly not for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

A beautiful collection of twisted and horrific stories! Each story will have you enraptured, I highly recommend if you’re looking for a fast-paced and different read!

The Coiled Serpent by Camilla Grudova is a collection of singular and viscerally strange short stories, marking the author's U.S. debut. The stories explore themes of old-world toxicity and late-stage capitalism with a disturbing, sometimes gothic atmosphere. Grudova's writing combines magical realism with unsettling horror elements.

Among the stories, a custard factory explosion disrupts a small community, a cursed hotel for ailing girls welcomes a new guest, and a venomous garden is curated at the Margate museum. Each tale delves into the grotesque and the surreal, creating a haunting reading experience.

The collection includes standout stories like Avalon, and the titular The Coiled Serpent. Grudova's plain, matter-of-fact writing style contrasts sharply with the fantastical and bizarre content, making the stories both jarring and compelling.

Overall, The Coiled Serpent is an unsettling and thought-provoking read, perfect for fans of weird and grotesque short story collections. It offers a unique glimpse into strange, unsettling worlds that will linger long after the last page.

Thank you to Unnamed Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own. 3.5 Stars.

A strange and compelling set of short stories that span different genres, but all have horror elements. The stories have a disturbing, sometimes gothic atmosphere and I liked the magical realism elements. The writing style is like cross between Heather O'Neill and Ottessa Moshfegh.

My favourite stories:

Ivor
Description and History of a British Swimming Pool / Banya Banya!
Avalon
The Surrogates
The Coiled Serpent
The Meat Eater
The Apartment

Sixteen short stories, not horror, but horror adjacent. This is the author’s U.S. debut; the stories are set in Britain.

Many of the stories are profoundly disturbing. I grimaced quite often while reading. Feces came up fairly often, but spelled “faeces” in the cool, U.K. way which….didnt make it any better.

Thank you to NetGally and Unnamed Press for my arc in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

"The Coiled Serpent" is a collection of grotesque, body horror short stories that give a certain kind of texture to the idea of Britishness. The highlight story is "Ivor" which, for me, was the only cohesive and well-written story. The short story is inspired by Alfred Hitchcock's "Downhill" and is set at a boarding school for boys where the students are lifelong boarders. As I said, I think this was the only cohesive and well-written story in the bunch. The others all felt very shallow and the writing, while descriptive, seemed to be done more for the shock value of the imagery rather than for the narrative. Like, the gross factor does nothing for the storytelling in the stories other than to gross the reader out. I just felt it wasn't needed to get the points across. If anything, whatever messaging or ideas that were presented in the stories get lost in the gruesome details.

On the plus side, this encouraged me to deep clean my new kitchen and bathroom (with the help of my partner).

Overall, would not recommend.

The Coiled Serpent by Camilla Grudova is such a strong collection of short stories - weird and wonderful, very creative but really real at the same time.

Reading this book felt almost like peering through a grimy window, and being met with a scene from a different world all together on the other side of the glass. The Coiled Serpent is not a book for the faint of heart but it is the book for people looking for something strange, unsettling, uncomfortable, and sometimes downright gross.

DNF at 28%, so I won’t rate this one.

There’s a weirdness to this collection that does appeal to me. There’s also a gross out factor that reminds me of Cursed Bunny by Bora Chung. But in the stories I read, it didn’t really amount to much. In that sense it reminded me of Kelly Link, which is a selling point for fans of her, of course! But I find Link has a similar weirdness without point in her writing, and I lose interest.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.