A mixed-paced gothic novel.
A man inherits his grandfather's home that has been in the family for centuries, but he has such terrible memories as a child of abuse at the hands of his grandfather and his grandfather's housekeeper that he wants to just sell the land and see the old crumbling mansion raized to the ground. But when he's told that he must stay one night in the house to collect on his inheritance, he discovers that the house isn't all that it appears to be.
A gothic tale of inherent family ties.

The perfect short tale that will still grip by the throat and not let you go until the very last page! The creep factor is 10 out of 10. A haunting tale that you'll think for days after you finish.

Bottled by Stephanie Ellis is a gripping tale of how far one will go to protect their loved ones. This novel does touch on child abuse so if this is triggering to you, read at your own risk. Tyler has inherited his grandfather's house, an imposing structure full of secrets and trauma. Wanting to uncover the truth behind the "impossible bottles" and the secrets of the house, Tyler and his son move into the house. Soon Tyler finds himself trapped in the pull of this evil house, struggling to survive and save his son.
This was such an intense atmospheric story! I have never read anything by Ellis before so I was not sure what to expect. The way Ellis writes is so gripping and suffocating. The sense of foreboding and dread is thick and the characters are well thought out. This novel moves expertly through the past and present, enlightening the reader with the backstory but not compromising the pace.
Thank you to NetGalley, Stephanie Ellis, and Brigid's Gate Press for this ARC. Released July 17th 2022.

*thank you Netgalley for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

*Possible triggers: Child abuse

This was a very creepy little book. I don’t even know where to begin!

I loved it. The plot was so unique. So creative! Those touristy bottles with things inside them… their own little worlds. Ugh I can’t say too much about this book without giving little spoilers, so this review will be a little shorter then normal.

The author really did a fantastic job of capturing emotions. First we have the creepy atmosphere, which gives you a lot of dread. This…. this is a horrible house. Normally when I’m reading a gothic horror or a haunted house story, the houses are not good, but this is the first time that the house was just horrible straight away. There is nothing redeeming here. You could not have paid me to even step with in that front yard gate!

Then we have all the emotions from the characters. The mom and the ex-wife are just filled with transparent greed. You can feel the wishful hope from Paul, wanting his parents to get back together. Most of the emotion comes from Tyler. The anxiety and fear is just off the charts. The author does such a nice job capturing this, as well as how Tyler tries to cope with these feelings. Again, you could not have paid me to go in this house. That is a hard NOPE for me! I wanted to leave the lights on just READING about all the dark and scary locations. Then you add the bugs…. and the garden…. nope, nope and nope! Burn it down, Tyler… should have burned it down….

I really enjoyed this unique story. Very quick read with a real WTF ending. Plenty of enjoyable creepy feels. I definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a nice and spooky read. I look forward to reading other things by this author in the future. 🙂

With small means is this book taking you on a creepy gotich journey. Ellis don't need much to scare you. Talented! Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Some books creep up on you, wrapping their shadows around your mind before you even realize it. Bottled by Stephanie Ellis is one of those books. A story filled with mystery, unease, and a growing sense of something lurking just beneath the surface. The kind of tension that keeps you turning pages, waiting for the moment everything unravels.

From the first chapter, Ellis draws you in with sharp writing and a suffocating atmosphere that never lets up. The pacing is spot on, revealing just enough at the right moments while keeping you questioning what’s real. It’s dark, unsettling, and brimming with suspense, exactly how I like my horror.

What makes Bottled stand out is the way it plays with the unknown. It doesn’t rely on cheap scares or predictable twists. Instead, it builds dread slowly, making you feel like something is watching from the shadows. The mystery unfolds in a way that keeps you hooked, and when the truth finally comes to light, it hits hard.

A well-crafted, gripping read that lingers long after you’ve put it down. If you love dark, atmospheric horror that seeps into your thoughts, Bottled is one to add to your list. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on Stephanie Ellis for more.

This is my first time reading something by Stephanie Ellis and I need more! Bottled is a short, gothic horror tale of a haunted family house and the strange, twisted things that go on inside that house. They are spine-chilling to say the least. This house has been "passed down" from generation to generation (the house had lured them there), and once inside, they can never leave. Going in, the family members are thrilled to own this house, but they soon learn that, in fact, it is the house that actually owns them. This book has everything that makes a dark, gothic horror great! It is eerie, it is haunting, it is twisted, and I loved every bit of it!
Thank you NetGalley, Brigids Gate Press, and Stephanie Ellis for such a chilling ARC!

A real gothic tale.

A true horror story that holds you in its grip and will not let you go.

A binding will holds the sole heir in a real quandary. Spend one more night in his late grandfather’s house to inherit or wait twelve months and risk losing it all. A house he doesn’t want and would have developers demolish, to sell off the land. A house he used to visit and where he was tormented and abused as a boy.

Well the place is pretty creepy and full of bad memories. Nothing would get me to set foot inside the door let alone have a sleepover. But the pull of a financial gain makes twenty-four hours not so daunting.

The story has an element of enchantment in that glass bottles were created by his grandfather with views into another world. A dimension by association or through a dreamlike quality taking you inside the container to experience this new and exciting reality. His grandfather made such bottles for Tyler as a child, the only comfort he can remember from staying at the house. He would escape ‘into’ the bottles and perhaps have an adventure with pirates or visit a travelling fair.
He fears now for his own son Paul who has been mesmerised by such a gift by the old man. A bottle capturing the magic and passion of a football match.

The house becomes the central character in this piece of writing that avoids most stereotypical horror themes and builds fear and terror brick by brick. From disappearing stairs to mysterious rooms. A scary housekeeper to voices from the past.

Amazingly the story never lets up or releases its grip on your heart. The premise holds your attention throughout and like a mystery thriller it reveals its secrets. Solutions you hardly imagined and wished would be avoided. Fitting altogether in a credible account of a supernatural force that binds a family together through their bloodline. Not so much a family curse as an inherited tradition.

Sumptuously scary and hideously heart stopping.
Well written, words that not only filled your imagination but threaten your dreams. While it might be interesting to know how ships get into bottles you really don’t want to know what dark arts created these bottles. Do you?

If you want something unique then look no further than Stephanie Ellis. She has such amazing stories to tell, and nothing she writes feels like a rehashed sub genre. To me, this book demanded to be read slowly, to absorb and process each detail, maybe because of its uniqueness and I needed to grasp what was going on. I enjoyed taking my time and letting this simmer.
BOTTLED starts with a hook that has you immediately invested in the story. Tyler’s family has a hobby/business that they can’t seem to escape from, even though his grandfather was physically and mentally abusive which led Tyler to a life of alcohol and loss. Needless to say, he was not sad when the old bastard finally kicked the bucket.
There has always been a family member that carves miniature scenes and builds them inside glass bottles. With their talent they capture the very essence, or shall we say the very spirit, from a slice of time and close them into a bottled little dream world.
Captivating with no escape, the book feels suspenseful and will have you on the edge wondering if Tyler can escape or will the business drag Tyler’s son in as well.

“He always insisted he would never be one of those men whose last words were ‘if only.’”

Stephanie Ellis delivers a chilling and atmospheric tale in Bottled, a novel that masterfully combines haunted house horror with a gripping family curse. From the moment Tyler Torrence returns to his late grandfather’s house, readers are pulled into a world of dark secrets, unsettling memories, and an ancestral curse that refuses to let go.

Plot & Atmosphere
The story follows Tyler as he inherits his grandfather’s home, a place tainted by the nightmares of his childhood. Determined to uncover the truth behind the cryptic “impossible bottles” and the forbidding black door he was never allowed to open, Tyler finds himself ensnared by the house’s malevolent power. What begins as a quest for understanding quickly spirals into a desperate struggle for survival as the curse tightens its grip on him—and threatens his young son.

Ellis’s portrayal of the house is superb, crafting a suffocating and eerie setting that feels alive with menace. The black door, an ever-present symbol of Tyler’s childhood fears and unanswered questions, becomes a source of palpable dread. Each turn of the page brings new revelations and an escalating sense of foreboding that makes it impossible to put the book down.

Themes & Characters
At its heart, Bottled is about the inescapable weight of the past and the lengths one will go to protect their loved ones. Tyler’s journey is both physical and psychological, as he grapples with inherited trauma and the shadow of his grandfather’s sins. His love for his son adds emotional stakes to the story, making his fight against the curse deeply personal.

The novel also explores themes of obsession and legacy. The “impossible bottles” serve as a haunting metaphor for the secrets we try to contain and the consequences when those secrets are exposed.

Writing Style
Ellis’s writing is both evocative and tightly paced, blending vivid descriptions with moments of genuine terror. The narrative moves fluidly between past and present, layering the story with rich backstory while maintaining its momentum. The author’s ability to create tension is remarkable, and the horror elements—though chilling—are balanced by the emotional depth of Tyler’s character.

Highlights
• The House as a Character: The ancestral home feels alive, its creaks and shadows imbued with malice. It’s a masterclass in how to use setting to enhance horror.
• Emotional Core: Tyler’s relationship with his son grounds the story, giving readers a reason to root for him even as the odds stack against him.
• The Black Door & Bottles: These elements are not just plot devices but symbols of the deeper mysteries and generational trauma that define the novel.

Final Thoughts
Bottled is a dark, compelling read that will resonate with fans of atmospheric horror and psychological suspense. Stephanie Ellis weaves a tale that is as haunting as it is heart-wrenching, with a protagonist whose fight against his family’s curse feels both deeply personal and universally relatable. This is a must-read for anyone who loves their horror laced with mystery and emotional depth.

Rating: ★★★★★

'claiming they were inhabited by devils, the family was cursed. His servants needed to forcibly restrain him when he started eating the shattered glass. Madness takes all forms.'


Tense, creepy, bleak and atmospheric. It has a gothic feel to it. Eerie and claustrophobic at times. MC is Tyler and he is trying to battle a generational curse and tradition yet found himself trapped and can't escape his fate - same for his son and the rest of the family for it is in their blood and bones. Slow burn read and I didn't really connect much with the characters but still interested enough to continue and finish.

What a creepy atmospheric novella! The cover art was amazing and that is what hooked me and got me to read the book. Tyler’s estranged grandfather passes away and he must spend one night in a creepy house he hates in order to claim his inheritance. Lurking inside is a generational trama/tradition that threatens to tear him and future generations apart. Themes of addiction, abuse, and the cyclic nature of both are present and well thought out. I really enjoyed this book and the gothic vibes are on amazing. The imagery of some of the creepier parts are very memorable. Worth a read.

** I was giving a e copy of this to read for honest review and consideration by net galley

Bottled by Stephanie Ellis has an intriguing premise and an atmosphere that promises a chilling exploration of the consequences of long-held family secrets and supernatural hauntings. However, while the book has its strengths, such as its eerie tone and vivid descriptions, it falls short in a few key areas.

The pacing feels uneven at times, with stretches of slow, meandering narrative that detract from the tension the story tries to build. The characters, though developed enough to carry the plot, often lack the depth or complexity to make their struggles feel fully engaging or relatable. This makes it hard to connect emotionally with the stakes of the story.

Additionally, while the supernatural elements are central to the plot, they sometimes feel underexplored or overly familiar, relying on tropes that might not satisfy readers looking for fresh takes on the horror genre. The resolution, too, leaves something to be desired, as it doesn’t entirely deliver on the chilling potential set up earlier in the book.

Overall, Bottled is a decent read for fans of atmospheric horror, but it doesn’t quite stand out among other books in the genre. It’s an ambitious effort that might appeal to readers new to supernatural thrillers but could disappoint those seeking more originality and narrative depth.

This story definitely has the creep vibes. Deep family secrets, anger, abuse, the Nanny (ew) and bugs..why were there bug! I finished this book and 2 days later I'm still feelin icky.. perfect!

I loved this! It was so good! I wasn't expecting any of that! It's definitely a different type of spooky book, gives you the creepies.

A delightfully creepy and disturbing horror novella. The house and family are cursed because of a deal with the devil. The backstory is great and the way the house takes control is awful. The creepy crawlies were a nice (gruesome) touch. So glad I got a chance to read this. Thank you to NetGalley for a digital copy