This book had an interesting synopsis but unfortunately, I was unable to follow it and found myself rereading parts I'd read. Well it turns out I didn't miss anything.
I found that the story rambles along like being stuck in a dream. And it makes about as much sense as a dream. This book was completely lost on me.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoy somewhat ambiguous endings but the whole book was ambiguous.
Unfortunately I am unable to recommend this book.

The premise sounded so intriguing to me especially being a fellow Montrealer, I've been wanting to dive more into horror type books, but I am realizing it is truly not for me. I can't get into it or just relate or see the realistic aspect of it. It was good and very well written and fans of horror will love it.

A darkly beautiful experience of a novella. A quick read about a man who’s struggling greatly and has decided to take his own life. After taking the train to what he expects to be his final destination he finds himself trapped in a series of rooms and tunnels inside the station.
Find my more in depth spoiler free review here: https://youtu.be/R179-fUwhD8?si=Bf8JJguOuiCsDS0O

Sometimes a book offers more of an experience than a story. This is one of those.

The atmosphere is Clive Barker meets introspection, loneliness and a desperation to feel.

It’s gruesome at times (extremely), surreal, and…odd.

At roughly two thirds in, the format does…a thing. I didn’t particularly like that thing, but others may be delighted.

This is an intelligent and clever experience, though sometimes I wanted more of a story.

Kind of nonplussed, but I did like it.

• ARC via Publisher

I loved how lyrical the words were. The references to literature and mythology really built into the lore of what was happening even without explaining it. I would be sure to check out trigger warnings if you are someone who struggles with suicide or depression as this character's struggles are incredibly realistic and relatable (some of the best I've ever read in fact). I will note that there are some parts that felt a little disjointed and didn't work for me like the choose your own style narrative humor in the back, I understood what the point was, it just took me out a little bit. Other than that, wow.

Also, Sofia made my engagement and wedding ring and I'm amazed that someone so gifted with their hands can also be so gifted with their words.

This one is going to be on my mind a while. Filled with so much dread, it’s impressive how much it affected me. The ending with a choose your own adventure section was unexpected but worked for me. Thanks for the arc, I will be purchasing a physical copy for sure.

Thank you to NetGalley and Titan Books for providing me with an eARC of this title in exchange for an honest review!

“Coup de Grâce” is the type of book you have to read multiple times, and still may not fully comprehend after a few-throughs. Like the subway station our protagonist wanders through, the book has layers upon layers upon layers, and it takes time and dedication and a certain understanding of the mentally ill state of mind to begin to tease them apart. Within the sub-200 pages were the promised horror, mind-bending visuals, and poignant points about depression. I very much enjoyed the novel, though I do feel like I need to read it a few more time before I can claim to have understood it.

My only complaint about this liminal space-based novel, is that it didn’t actually feel liminal enough for me. So many descriptions were given, especially when Vick first arrives in the station that it felt much more grounded in reality than I’d have hoped for a constantly shifting metro station that exists out of space and time.

This was a hard one to rate. While I definitely enjoyed the book and appreciate the style in which it is written, I feel like there is so much more that could be done with it. It's very much worth a read, in fact I may even read it for a second time in the near future (a rarity for me) because I feel like it would be a different experience the second time around. If you enjoy vague horror and liminal spaces, don't miss out on this gem!

_Coup de Grâce_ by Sofia Ajram is a haunting, immersive, first person narrative horror read of mental illness. Vicken plans his end while on a subway in Montreal, only to find a deserted and seemingly endless station. The reader is engrossed in Vicken’s experience with depression, and is invited to interact with his story.

In this exquisitely crafted novella, the reader is plunged into a nightmarish realm where the environment itself emerges as a formidable antagonist and the protagonist’s mind becomes his ultimate betrayer.

The story follows a man who boards a subway with the intention of ending his life. However, his plan unravels when he disembarks at a seemingly ordinary station, only to find himself ensnared in an endless labyrinth of desolate, surreal corridors and rooms that defy the bounds of reality.

The novella excels in evoking a profound sense of unease through its monstrous imagery and suffocating claustrophobia. As the protagonist becomes increasingly ensnared by this unrelenting and nightmarish space, the reader is drawn into his descent both physically and psychologically. The prose is almost poetic, marked by sparse, incisive language that paints a chillingly vivid picture of his plight. It’s a blend of beauty and horror that lingers long after the last page.

Beyond its atmospheric terror, the novella delves into themes of life and choice, offering a poignant exploration of how existence can be both vibrantly beautiful and harrowingly bleak. This is a superbly unsettling and thought-provoking read that I wholeheartedly recommend.

I received a copy through NetGalley.

Coup de Grâce by Sofia Ajram presents a compelling and eerie concept with a young man trapped in an infinite Montreal subway station. The initial atmosphere is gripping, immersing readers in a nightmarish limbo that reflects Vicken's inner turmoil. However, the novella falters due to its heavy-handed metaphors and occasionally confusing prose. While the interactive, choose-your-own-ending elements are a unique touch, they may not fully compensate for the novel’s narrative inconsistencies and the use of real-life tragedy in its plot. Despite its flaws, Ajram's exploration of depression and existential dread offers a thought-provoking and unsettling experience.

Coup de Grâce was quite the intriguing read all throughout. The first person, present tense narration engulfs the reader in the story, causing them to experience the story alongside the main character. Initially, the atmosphere was both eerie and fascinating, but noticeable issues continued to appear as you read on.

This style of narration is a great tool to create a specific perspective for readers when it is utilized correctly. However, I found that a lot of the metaphors in this book had fallen flat due to the narrator heavily handing out the themes of suicide and depression. The prose often switched from Vicken rambling about his experience living with depression to, what I'm assuming would be, a metaphorical situation that symbolizes said experience. It was almost as though the story wasn't sure what it wanted to be in that sense. I became really interested in the story when the metaphors were introduced, and I felt that those moments were the strongest points within the story.

Similarly, there was definitely some noticeable repetition among Vicken's monologues, as well as confusing sentence structures that should be cleared up by the editor(s).

A note that I feel I must make involves the death of a real life person. A bit past the midpoint, there were a few internet references that were blatantly stated word for word within the book. Not only was this a poor plot device, (that stated the obvious of what this story could've been inspired by,) but it referenced the "urban legend" of Elisa Lam. Just as the internet disrespected her death, I feel that this author did as well, making an insensitive choice to use Lam as a tool for a plot point.

Furthermore, the ending really ruined the potential for what this book could've been. The idea for it was unexpected and quite interesting, and I was somewhat excited to see how it was going to be utilized. Unfortunately, it did not live up to my expectations, and went a little too far off script from the original premise. I do wish it could have been executed effectively, as I was continuously interested in what the story was going to show us next. The author has a wonderful way of writing, and I really enjoyed the voice that was given to our narrator. There were many good quotes in here that caused me to pause and ponder on them, as well as many moments that were engrossing while reading, I just wish it could've lived up to its potential.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was really weird, but it's supposed to be. What would it be like to be trapped in a public place like this? This was a novella, which was the right size for the story. It was interesting when he encountered someone else. The choose your own ending was weird but fun. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

Fantastic novella perfect for Black Mirror fans. The concept and execution by the author is outstanding. If you’re looking for a fast, creepy read that will stick with you, give this one a try!

Thanks so much for the opportunity to read!

For a novella, this really dragged for me.

Would still recommend to anyone who enjoys bleak and disorienting stories

Didn't work for me, but may work for you.

Hello. I am a story. Please call me HOUSE OF LEAVES, Junior. Please? Pretty please?

Depressed and in turmoil Vicken is ready to end it all and is planning to throw himself into the Saint Lawrence River in Montreal. He takes the subway toward the point of his departure…only when he disembarks he finds himself in an endless, looping, silent station.

So, OK, the metaphor is pretty handed (the words “transitional environment” are actually used in the text. We got it. Really. I swear.), but I actually quite liked this until it became a choose-your-own-adventure at the end, which stripped the whole thing of any gravitas. One nice line I liked, “I think there are moments in life that are so memorable to me because of their impact, only to find later that they were forgotten by others almost immediately.”

Would have had a higher rating but for the end.

An amazing intricate novella with beautiful, amazing prose. So many layers to this maze, and about the instinct for life, or the instinct to end life. Such creative ways of engaging the reader. (For reasons I shall not share, suggest to read this on digital for full effect). I enjoyed every single page.

Coup de grâce captured my attention from the start. The premise of a never ending looping metro station is right up my alley. The character takes us on an amazing journey while he explores this space and tries to understand where he is and what is going on. And we are right there with him.

Overall, I really liked this book by Sofia Ajram. The concept was fascinating to me and the character was very relatable. I literally could not put it down and read it in a day. I would say that if you like a very clear ending, this is probably not the book for you. I had to read the ending a few times to get a sense of it, but I have to say that, personally, I liked the mystery.

The only downside I would give this book is the overly flowery prose, which made it more difficult to understand and took me out of the flow of it. But the mystery just kept me going for more!

The horror in this one is more subtle than in your face, it is more focused on existential horror so if this speaks to you, I would recommend this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Titan Books for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Wow, this was a tough (but well worth it) read. To be honest, I was really confused and uncertain about what the heck was happening during the first half of the book. I was frustrated and felt like the story kept going but wasn’t actually going anywhere. And then things kind of clicked. That was entirely the point. I thought back to my own experience with anxiety and how the hardest times felt never-ending. Experiences with anxiety and depression can feel not only mentally draining but physically exhausting, which was perfectly portrayed in this book and left me questioning which is worse? Or are they both equally awful?

I’m not sure if someone without past mental health challenges would appreciate the way the story unfolded as much as I did, but I think it’s well worth the read regardless.

Bonus points for the choose your own adventure style near the end. That was a unique touch that really hammered home the impending awfulness that is depression.

4.5 ⭐️s rounded down.

Thank you to NetGalley and Titan Books for an ARC of this novel.

"Coup de Grace" by Sofia Ajram is a unique horror novel where the main character, a man named Vicken is planning to kill himself, but while getting off of the subway, ends up in an unending labyrinth mostly devoid of life. The book mostly focuses on Vicken's thoughts while he explores the brutalist concrete maze of corridors and why he thinks he ended up here. The book ends with an interesting series of "choose your own ending" options. Recommended for horror collections, especially where "Piranesi" was popular.