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Coup de Grâce
A mindbending and visceral experimental horror about a young man trapped in an infinite Montreal subway station, perfect for readers of Mark Z. Danielewski and Susanna Clarke.
Vicken has a plan: throw himself into the Saint Lawrence River in Montreal and end it all for good, believing it to be the only way out for him after a lifetime of depression and pain. But, stepping off the subway, he finds himself in an endless, looping station.
Determined to find a way out again, he starts to explore the rooms and corridors ahead of him. But no matter how many claustrophobic hallways or vast cathedral-esque rooms he passes through, the exit is nowhere in sight.
The more he explores his strange new prison, the more he becomes convinced that he hasn’t been trapped there accidentally, and amongst the shadows and concrete, he comes to realise that he almost certainly is not alone.
A terrifying psychological nightmare from a powerful new voice in horror.
Vicken has a plan: throw himself into the Saint Lawrence River in Montreal and end it all for good, believing it to be the only way out for him after a lifetime of depression and pain. But, stepping off the subway, he finds himself in an endless, looping station.
Determined to find a way out again, he starts to explore the rooms and corridors ahead of him. But no matter how many claustrophobic hallways or vast cathedral-esque rooms he passes through, the exit is nowhere in sight.
The more he explores his strange new prison, the more he becomes convinced that he hasn’t been trapped there accidentally, and amongst the shadows and concrete, he comes to realise that he almost certainly is not alone.
A terrifying psychological nightmare from a powerful new voice in horror.
144 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication October 1, 2024
About the author
Sofia Ajram
5 books108 followersSofia Ajram is a multidisciplinary artist based in Montreal.
They are a queer horror writer and the designer of Sofia Zakia jewelry.
Sofia lives in Montreal with their cat Isa. Find them on all social media platforms @sofiaajram.
They are a queer horror writer and the designer of Sofia Zakia jewelry.
Sofia lives in Montreal with their cat Isa. Find them on all social media platforms @sofiaajram.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
June 24, 2024
The book blurb:
Vicken decides he is done with his time on earth, and he's on the subway when he finally decides it. But when he exits the train, he finds himself in a labyrinthine never-ending series of tunnels, rooms, escalators, atriums and cathedrals. Grey cement is almost all Vicken sees, day after day after day. But Vicken himself is changing and it feels like he's running out of time. Is there something in the tunnel system? Will Vicken ever escape? You'll have to read this to find out!
Coup de Grace is an experimental work for sure. The story itself is heartbreaking but Vicken's travels throughout this novella were interesting because of what was going on in his head at the time. Vicken deals with some mental health issues and this was where the story lived. Add to that the folly of a man trying to escape because.....why? He was going to kill himself anyway, right? Towards the end of this tale the reader actually becomes involved in the narrative and that's a twist I've rarely seen in horror.
To inject a personal note, (as every reader brings their own experiences to the table), this story hit close to home. My husband and I have traveled to Montreal a few times. The last time we went, we took the subway to an island amusement park full of roller coasters. On the first one we tried, my husband's eyeglasses flew off his face and were never seen again. We decided to leave early to see if there was a Lenscrafter's nearby. In Montreal, there are several miles of underground subway and malls, but because the stores were closed, (turned out to be a Canadian holiday of some sort), we had a terrible time trying to find our way out of there. This experience contributed to my enjoyment of this story, because it was simple for me to imagine that day and our rising panic at not being able to find our way out.
Coup de Grace brings us into the mind of a struggling young man. Were his travels through the darkened halls symbolic of what was going on his head? I'm not sure. But I am sure that I cared for him, and that I hoped he would find his way and reconsider his decision. That, in the end, was what affected my decision. What am I talking about? You'll have to read it and see for yourself.
This fever dream of a novella was an impressive debut and I cannot wait to see what the author does next!
Highly recommended!
*ARC from publisher.*
A mindbending and visceral experimental horror about a young man trapped in an infinite Montreal subway station, perfect for readers of Mark Z. Danielewski and Susanna Clarke.
Vicken decides he is done with his time on earth, and he's on the subway when he finally decides it. But when he exits the train, he finds himself in a labyrinthine never-ending series of tunnels, rooms, escalators, atriums and cathedrals. Grey cement is almost all Vicken sees, day after day after day. But Vicken himself is changing and it feels like he's running out of time. Is there something in the tunnel system? Will Vicken ever escape? You'll have to read this to find out!
Coup de Grace is an experimental work for sure. The story itself is heartbreaking but Vicken's travels throughout this novella were interesting because of what was going on in his head at the time. Vicken deals with some mental health issues and this was where the story lived. Add to that the folly of a man trying to escape because.....why? He was going to kill himself anyway, right? Towards the end of this tale the reader actually becomes involved in the narrative and that's a twist I've rarely seen in horror.
To inject a personal note, (as every reader brings their own experiences to the table), this story hit close to home. My husband and I have traveled to Montreal a few times. The last time we went, we took the subway to an island amusement park full of roller coasters. On the first one we tried, my husband's eyeglasses flew off his face and were never seen again. We decided to leave early to see if there was a Lenscrafter's nearby. In Montreal, there are several miles of underground subway and malls, but because the stores were closed, (turned out to be a Canadian holiday of some sort), we had a terrible time trying to find our way out of there. This experience contributed to my enjoyment of this story, because it was simple for me to imagine that day and our rising panic at not being able to find our way out.
Coup de Grace brings us into the mind of a struggling young man. Were his travels through the darkened halls symbolic of what was going on his head? I'm not sure. But I am sure that I cared for him, and that I hoped he would find his way and reconsider his decision. That, in the end, was what affected my decision. What am I talking about? You'll have to read it and see for yourself.
This fever dream of a novella was an impressive debut and I cannot wait to see what the author does next!
Highly recommended!
*ARC from publisher.*
February 23, 2024
Full disclosure: I'm friends with the author. That said, anyone who knows me knows I'm not nice enough to say things I don't believe about a book I didn't love.
Coup de Grâce almost lost me at the start with its chirpy, acerbic narrative voice. Thank God I kept reading long enough to figure out what Ajram was doing, to watch her peel the rotting onion of a human personality succumbing to necrosis while still alive. As a lifelong lover of Brutalist architecture there's so much to savor here on an aesthetic level, with descriptions that feel like some unholy cross between House of Leaves (I'm sure people will compare the two books ad infinitum; all I'll say is that Ajram has no need of metafictional conceits) and the blurry, monolithic deathscapes of early console shooters, a labyrinth of alien, impersonal concrete that subsumes and denatures everything it touches, but it's in its depictions of the slow destruction of the artifice of personhood as a bulwark against chronic suicidality that Coup de Grâce really shines. This is something special, a stone-cold feel-bad son of a bitch of a book.
Coup de Grâce almost lost me at the start with its chirpy, acerbic narrative voice. Thank God I kept reading long enough to figure out what Ajram was doing, to watch her peel the rotting onion of a human personality succumbing to necrosis while still alive. As a lifelong lover of Brutalist architecture there's so much to savor here on an aesthetic level, with descriptions that feel like some unholy cross between House of Leaves (I'm sure people will compare the two books ad infinitum; all I'll say is that Ajram has no need of metafictional conceits) and the blurry, monolithic deathscapes of early console shooters, a labyrinth of alien, impersonal concrete that subsumes and denatures everything it touches, but it's in its depictions of the slow destruction of the artifice of personhood as a bulwark against chronic suicidality that Coup de Grâce really shines. This is something special, a stone-cold feel-bad son of a bitch of a book.
August 15, 2024
ARC for review. To be published October 1, 2024.
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.
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.
December 21, 2023
A visceral, hallucinatory meditation on illness, mental and otherwise. I haven’t read something with this much resonation since Dazai’s No Longer Human. Coup de Grâce is a bleak, philosophical look into what it means to be alive, for better or worse, where the only thing scarier than mangled monstrosities is the inexplicable world one is forced to roam simply by breathing. We’re all waiting on a train. Some smile on the benches. Some cry on the tracks.
—Scott J. Moses, author of Our Own Unique Affliction
—Scott J. Moses, author of Our Own Unique Affliction
June 14, 2024
I am so grateful to Titan Books for sending me an ARC because this was one of my most anticipated horror reads of the year - and it did not disappoint! This book is very trippy and weird and unlike anything I’ve read before. The first 60 pages or so are extremely claustrophobic and unnerving. The pages are filled with dread as our character navigates through these dark and damp rooms in a seemingly endless subway underground. Some of the scenes were really haunting and disturbing.
As our character continues on his journey it almost felt like you were following him deeper into his depression spiral. A lot of it didn’t make sense, but then there were passages related to his depression that made perfect sense to me. I’ve had similar thoughts as our character and could relate to many of his feelings.
This book won’t be for everyone, but if you like experimental/existential/mindbending horror you will enjoy this one. Make sure to check TW on depression/self harm, etc.
As our character continues on his journey it almost felt like you were following him deeper into his depression spiral. A lot of it didn’t make sense, but then there were passages related to his depression that made perfect sense to me. I’ve had similar thoughts as our character and could relate to many of his feelings.
This book won’t be for everyone, but if you like experimental/existential/mindbending horror you will enjoy this one. Make sure to check TW on depression/self harm, etc.
August 1, 2024
This is a beautifully written excursion into a hellish place where the surroundings act as antagonist and the mind betrays you.
A man on a subway is going to end his life. But when he exits at a certain station, he finds himself completely alone with no way out. Nothing but endless bleak halls and rooms which defy reality.
Filled with monstrous imagery and a truly unsettling claustrophobic atmosphere, this novella will make you feel uneasy as the man slowly succumbs to this never ending environment both physically and mentally. The almost poetic prose adds to the fear. The author's sparce sharp phrasing paints a horrifying picture as it plays out in your head. It's beautifully grotesque and sticks with you.
It's also about life choices and we get to see from the perspective of this man just how life can be gloriously vibrant and endlessly harrowing at the same time. This is a fantastic novella and I highly recommend it.
I received a copy through Netgalley. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.
A man on a subway is going to end his life. But when he exits at a certain station, he finds himself completely alone with no way out. Nothing but endless bleak halls and rooms which defy reality.
Filled with monstrous imagery and a truly unsettling claustrophobic atmosphere, this novella will make you feel uneasy as the man slowly succumbs to this never ending environment both physically and mentally. The almost poetic prose adds to the fear. The author's sparce sharp phrasing paints a horrifying picture as it plays out in your head. It's beautifully grotesque and sticks with you.
It's also about life choices and we get to see from the perspective of this man just how life can be gloriously vibrant and endlessly harrowing at the same time. This is a fantastic novella and I highly recommend it.
I received a copy through Netgalley. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.
July 27, 2024
this author thinks Virginia Woolf died in Leeds
July 11, 2024
A read that was the equivalent of clawing my bloody and still beating heart from my chest and sticking it in a blender, this was a deeply philosophical book that explores depression and what it means to be alive, incredibly claustrophobic I felt I was being squashed alive just reading, a mere cog in the never ending indifferent machine of life, the writing was sublime and Ajram is an author I feel would raise my IQ simply by being in their presence, the writing requires focus but you easily get swept along in the nightmarish visuals, the dark maze like labyrinth of halls Vicken walks mirroring his fractured thoughts, the vibe is both "when everything is going wrong but you're used to it" and "please help me", an uncomfortable and visceral read that forces you to face your own choices and the type of person you are, this book made me feel vulnerable and exposed but also understood, this was unique and experimental and it more than pays off, the reader becomes involved in the narrative, to say anymore would spoil but please, if you enjoy psychological horrors that puncture your very soul and leave you floating in an endless void pick this up (I'm being dramatic don't be a cry baby)
July 24, 2024
Reading for review in a future issue of Booklist
Three Words That Describe This Book: liminal space, horror of mental illness, brutal yet beautiful
This book!!! I will have much more to say when the review posts and I can write more about it.
But here is a snippet from my draft review:
Vicken’s engaging first person narration draws readers into the story immediately as he shares his thoughts, struggles, and fears, at times, ratcheting up the unease by using dark humor and turning to speak directly to the reader. As Vicken continues to wander, Ajram cleverly transforms what seems like a deceptively simple plot into a complex, moving and immersive contemplation of the very real horror of severe depression.
Three Words That Describe This Book: liminal space, horror of mental illness, brutal yet beautiful
This book!!! I will have much more to say when the review posts and I can write more about it.
But here is a snippet from my draft review:
Vicken’s engaging first person narration draws readers into the story immediately as he shares his thoughts, struggles, and fears, at times, ratcheting up the unease by using dark humor and turning to speak directly to the reader. As Vicken continues to wander, Ajram cleverly transforms what seems like a deceptively simple plot into a complex, moving and immersive contemplation of the very real horror of severe depression.
May 31, 2024
This book is not at ALL what I expected and it is 1000000x better. It is so beautifully written and it is fucking devastating. It is both a story about depression and suicidal ideation and a story about relationships and the world and how we relate to it and what gives us purpose. But it is ALSO about a maze-like subway station that traps you forever.
There will be so many quotes you'll want to highlight, there will be moments where you think "wow I've never been able to put that feeling into words but Sofia Ajram just did" and there will be moments where you cringe away from the page because this book is also pretty gross. Oh and fair warning the ending will gut you.
Truly, run to read this fucking book, it is beyond expectations, it is brilliant.
There will be so many quotes you'll want to highlight, there will be moments where you think "wow I've never been able to put that feeling into words but Sofia Ajram just did" and there will be moments where you cringe away from the page because this book is also pretty gross. Oh and fair warning the ending will gut you.
Truly, run to read this fucking book, it is beyond expectations, it is brilliant.
June 9, 2024
This book FUCKS! With a capital F.
The description for this being "a mindbending and visceral experimental horror" is absolutely accurate, on so many levels, and it's one of those stories that will beg to be read again and again. There's so many layers to this, that I can hardly think clearly even after having sat with my emotions after having read this weeks ago?
It's a heavy story on depression, the pain of living and the surreal nightmare of living under capitalism. The subway station feels like existential dread personified mixed with all my childhood nightmares of walking through neverending neighbourhoods with no one around – just me and my silly little fears. It's so uncomfortable and visceral, and just in your face, and it's made even better with having you decide Vicken's fate.
The fact that we get to just decide Vicken's fate in a choose your own nightmarish adventure is a CHOICE and I'm all here for it. It feels so intentional within the context of capitalism: how we're all part of the machine, never really in charge of our own choices and the future they bring, and how ultimately we're moved by other people's choices — whether Vicken gets a happy ending or not, it all depends on the whims of the reader.
Which also means it's a story that you can and should reread and then question your own actions? Are you making Vicken suffer or do you want the best for him, and why? It's honestly a great way to see how the choices we make, that affects others, are maybe also just affected by everything else around us? Like, maybe I'm reading too much into it but that's the beauty of stories. They take on their own lives and this one is a story that begs to live on in the minds of readers in my opinion!
Anyway, TL;DR this is a messed up little book with a lot to say and it will make you FEEL things. It also gives off serious "when you're depressed but you grew up on Homestuck" vibes AND it mentions John Dies at the End. So if you're anything like me, consuming media that relates to other media, you should pick this up — also it's GAY and almost a tragicomedy so it's perfect.
/// ARC courtesy of Titan Books and Edelweiss.
The description for this being "a mindbending and visceral experimental horror" is absolutely accurate, on so many levels, and it's one of those stories that will beg to be read again and again. There's so many layers to this, that I can hardly think clearly even after having sat with my emotions after having read this weeks ago?
It's a heavy story on depression, the pain of living and the surreal nightmare of living under capitalism. The subway station feels like existential dread personified mixed with all my childhood nightmares of walking through neverending neighbourhoods with no one around – just me and my silly little fears. It's so uncomfortable and visceral, and just in your face, and it's made even better with having you decide Vicken's fate.
The fact that we get to just decide Vicken's fate in a choose your own nightmarish adventure is a CHOICE and I'm all here for it. It feels so intentional within the context of capitalism: how we're all part of the machine, never really in charge of our own choices and the future they bring, and how ultimately we're moved by other people's choices — whether Vicken gets a happy ending or not, it all depends on the whims of the reader.
Which also means it's a story that you can and should reread and then question your own actions? Are you making Vicken suffer or do you want the best for him, and why? It's honestly a great way to see how the choices we make, that affects others, are maybe also just affected by everything else around us? Like, maybe I'm reading too much into it but that's the beauty of stories. They take on their own lives and this one is a story that begs to live on in the minds of readers in my opinion!
Anyway, TL;DR this is a messed up little book with a lot to say and it will make you FEEL things. It also gives off serious "when you're depressed but you grew up on Homestuck" vibes AND it mentions John Dies at the End. So if you're anything like me, consuming media that relates to other media, you should pick this up — also it's GAY and almost a tragicomedy so it's perfect.
/// ARC courtesy of Titan Books and Edelweiss.
July 29, 2024
I loved Coup de Grâce so much. Coup de Grâce is beautifully written. Yes, it is horror but Ajram's writing is unparalleled - the care and attention that Ajram takes to write about depression and its impact is moving and lyrical. The imagery of Coup de Grâce is unsettling and haunting in every sense of the word. Ajram's descriptions of depression left me asking what is scarier - where Vicken is physically or where Vicken is mentally? The ending is a surprise, that is best left unspoiled but its a unique twist and will have you questioning yourself.
Thank you to Titan Books for the advance copy.
Thank you to Titan Books for the advance copy.
Read
May 7, 2024A big thank you to the editor and publisher for sending an ARC of the book!!
COUP DE GRÂCE is a novella woven with cold elegance like sea breeze drifting from the ocean at night through liminal spaces both seen but felt. It is breaths beckoning from deep within an endless tunnel underground with moments of unexpected humour and absurdity. And it is life, death, and hope’s interwoven thoughts in poetry and refreshing experimentalism.
COUP DE GRÂCE is a novella woven with cold elegance like sea breeze drifting from the ocean at night through liminal spaces both seen but felt. It is breaths beckoning from deep within an endless tunnel underground with moments of unexpected humour and absurdity. And it is life, death, and hope’s interwoven thoughts in poetry and refreshing experimentalism.
August 28, 2024
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
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
August 15, 2024
Wow. This book was heavy, upsetting and incredibly beautiful. Vicken decides he’s going to take the train to the beach and drown himself, but when he gets off the train he realizes he’s in Escher’s version of a train station. This story creates a metaphor for suicide and depression as the grey, colorless never ending concrete of the station. And the horrors Vicken witnesses on his journey in this architectural nightmare force him to keep moving to find a way out. Gorgeous prose accompanies us throughout this psychologically devastating book and Sofia Ajram is just getting started and I am looking forward to reading more of their work!
July 21, 2024
Despite being encased in brutalist concrete designs, Coup de Grace is a story about decaying. What lies in its one hundred and thirty six pages is a philosophical deconstruction of mental and terminal illness, what we leave behind, and human purpose expressed in dense yet evocative prose that forces you to take your time and linger within the expansive and vacant subway terminal the story takes place within.
Anyone who has struggled with suicidal ideations will feel a great deal of empathy and likely frustrations with the protagonist Vicken. Those who suffer from depression will immediately feel an uncomfortable familiarity with the pervasive grey that stains everything in the liminal hell. With Coup de Grace, Sofia has created something both terrifying and relatable to all those who struggle. A love letter to life and death and those that traverse the rooms in between.
Anyone who has struggled with suicidal ideations will feel a great deal of empathy and likely frustrations with the protagonist Vicken. Those who suffer from depression will immediately feel an uncomfortable familiarity with the pervasive grey that stains everything in the liminal hell. With Coup de Grace, Sofia has created something both terrifying and relatable to all those who struggle. A love letter to life and death and those that traverse the rooms in between.
April 29, 2024
Rating - 3.5 stars
Coup de Grace is the debut work from the talented Sofia Ajram, writer and designer of gorgeous jewelry.
Vicken hops on the Montreal subway with the intention of drowning himself in the Saint Lawrence River. As he disembarks, quickly stopping for an erotic encounter in a bathroom, he finds himself trapped in a seemingly never-ending, deserted station. As Vicken desperately searches for an exit, he begins to lose both his hope and his sanity.
This is a bleak, intense novella. The feeling of helplessness as our narrator drags us through horror and isolation is overwhelming. I would recommend reading this relatively short book in one sitting, to fully appreciate the experience. I hope there are plans for an audiobook, as I think this would work extremely well as a nightmarish monologue.
It gets very clever toward the end. I won’t spoil the surprise, but there is some unique and unsettling use of second-person narrative.
Ajram’s writing is intelligent, requiring a similar level of focus and commitment from the reader as Cassandra Khaw’s work. However, for me, this was more a “vibes” book, and I felt desperate for more plot. When things did happen, it was incredibly interesting, but those moments were too infrequent.
For a debut effort, this is incredibly promising.
Coup de Grace is the debut work from the talented Sofia Ajram, writer and designer of gorgeous jewelry.
Vicken hops on the Montreal subway with the intention of drowning himself in the Saint Lawrence River. As he disembarks, quickly stopping for an erotic encounter in a bathroom, he finds himself trapped in a seemingly never-ending, deserted station. As Vicken desperately searches for an exit, he begins to lose both his hope and his sanity.
This is a bleak, intense novella. The feeling of helplessness as our narrator drags us through horror and isolation is overwhelming. I would recommend reading this relatively short book in one sitting, to fully appreciate the experience. I hope there are plans for an audiobook, as I think this would work extremely well as a nightmarish monologue.
It gets very clever toward the end. I won’t spoil the surprise, but there is some unique and unsettling use of second-person narrative.
Ajram’s writing is intelligent, requiring a similar level of focus and commitment from the reader as Cassandra Khaw’s work. However, for me, this was more a “vibes” book, and I felt desperate for more plot. When things did happen, it was incredibly interesting, but those moments were too infrequent.
For a debut effort, this is incredibly promising.
August 14, 2024
I'm so conflicted about this one. I really wanted to love it, but for every aspect of it I enjoyed, there were equally as many things that I didn't. This book is full of dread, it's incredibly dark, and I would heed the warnings in the author's note. The body horror and liminal space stuff was fantastic for the most part. While the book was sold to me with Mark Z. Danielewski and Suzanna Clarke comparisons, I think a much more accurate vibe check is indie horror games and internet horror in general. At points I felt like I was reading a Kitty Horrorshow game (Do yourself a favour and Google that if you don't know what I'm talking about), and this was when the book was at its best.
In the same breath, when the author references Eliza Lam and types out the rules of The Elevator Game ver batim, it really took me out of the experience. For a book with such a unique premise and beautifully disturbing setting to divert halfway through to an internet urban legend based on the tragic death of a real woman just felt bad! Maybe I'm alone on that one, but whenever I see any fictional piece reference Eliza Lam (and it's happened more than once, believe me), I end up with a really gross feeling.
The writing itself is absolutely an acquired taste. Personally, I found it danced across the line between beautifully poetic and self-indulgent constantly. I think it managed to be the former more often than the latter, but only just.
All in all, I'm glad I read Coup De Grace, and I'm interested to see what Ajram puts out in the future, but I'm left feeling like the book didn't live up to its potential.
(Realistically this is probably closer to a 2.5⭐ review, but I'm being generous and giving it a 3)
In the same breath, when the author references Eliza Lam and types out the rules of The Elevator Game ver batim, it really took me out of the experience. For a book with such a unique premise and beautifully disturbing setting to divert halfway through to an internet urban legend based on the tragic death of a real woman just felt bad! Maybe I'm alone on that one, but whenever I see any fictional piece reference Eliza Lam (and it's happened more than once, believe me), I end up with a really gross feeling.
The writing itself is absolutely an acquired taste. Personally, I found it danced across the line between beautifully poetic and self-indulgent constantly. I think it managed to be the former more often than the latter, but only just.
All in all, I'm glad I read Coup De Grace, and I'm interested to see what Ajram puts out in the future, but I'm left feeling like the book didn't live up to its potential.
(Realistically this is probably closer to a 2.5⭐ review, but I'm being generous and giving it a 3)
August 21, 2024
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.
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.
August 9, 2024
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for letting me have an eARC of this book.
What a wonderful, horrifying, engaging read!
The writing style is very ornate, which I honestly quite liked. It can bother some but I found that the extra difficulty really added to the unknowability of the impossible stm space and rendered it even more intimidating.
Coup de Grâce made me, through it's horror, be more aware of life's little pleasures like good company or even just colour. Things that our main character, Vick, was cruelly denied in his concrete and metal hellscape. I came out of this read seeing the leaves outside as a little greener.
This was a incredibly poignant book which wonderfully handled very serious mental health issues and I will be sure to look out for more books from this author.
What a wonderful, horrifying, engaging read!
The writing style is very ornate, which I honestly quite liked. It can bother some but I found that the extra difficulty really added to the unknowability of the impossible stm space and rendered it even more intimidating.
Coup de Grâce made me, through it's horror, be more aware of life's little pleasures like good company or even just colour. Things that our main character, Vick, was cruelly denied in his concrete and metal hellscape. I came out of this read seeing the leaves outside as a little greener.
This was a incredibly poignant book which wonderfully handled very serious mental health issues and I will be sure to look out for more books from this author.
July 30, 2024
one of the most unique reading experiences that i’ve had in a long time 🖤
August 19, 2024
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.
2.5/5 ✰'s rounded up
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
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.
2.5/5 ✰'s rounded up
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 2, 2024
Upfront: this book is incredible and one of my favorite reads of the year. So highly recommended I can hardly see the ground while I sing its praises. Read it!
Deeper down: I’ve been struggling for a week to put my thoughts in order enough to write this review. Not because I’m trying to be kind or politic or looking for nice things to say…no, I VERY much loved this book and have no problem announcing that. It affected me deeply. The questions are how, and in what way, and will I ever be the same again. Coup de Grâce is dedicated to those who know—the assumption being those who know are those who have personal connection to suicide or suicidal ideation. But I think the real magic Sofia Ajram has conjured here is that EVERYONE knows what she’s talking about in these pages. Maybe not specifically to the circumstance, but CERTAINLY to the feeling, the isolation, the trap, the gray, the GRAY, the bloody battle between knowing better and feeling less, the struggle, and the struggle to even put up a struggle. This is an ugly book. But it’s so beautiful, too. It shines so bright from within the confines of its drab concrete exterior. There’s horror here, unimaginable horror, but also hope. And the acceptance of hope’s loss. Surety in the unsolvability of life’s labyrinth.
Coup de Grâce is short, but it casts a leviathan’s shadow. And it’s a dark shadow. And it’s cold. But sometimes, dark and cold is just right. This is an all-timer, and while it may not be for everyone, it is certainly for anyone. I count myself among them. And I’ll forever recommend it to anyone in the future.
Phenomenal work. Highest recommendation.
Deeper down: I’ve been struggling for a week to put my thoughts in order enough to write this review. Not because I’m trying to be kind or politic or looking for nice things to say…no, I VERY much loved this book and have no problem announcing that. It affected me deeply. The questions are how, and in what way, and will I ever be the same again. Coup de Grâce is dedicated to those who know—the assumption being those who know are those who have personal connection to suicide or suicidal ideation. But I think the real magic Sofia Ajram has conjured here is that EVERYONE knows what she’s talking about in these pages. Maybe not specifically to the circumstance, but CERTAINLY to the feeling, the isolation, the trap, the gray, the GRAY, the bloody battle between knowing better and feeling less, the struggle, and the struggle to even put up a struggle. This is an ugly book. But it’s so beautiful, too. It shines so bright from within the confines of its drab concrete exterior. There’s horror here, unimaginable horror, but also hope. And the acceptance of hope’s loss. Surety in the unsolvability of life’s labyrinth.
Coup de Grâce is short, but it casts a leviathan’s shadow. And it’s a dark shadow. And it’s cold. But sometimes, dark and cold is just right. This is an all-timer, and while it may not be for everyone, it is certainly for anyone. I count myself among them. And I’ll forever recommend it to anyone in the future.
Phenomenal work. Highest recommendation.
July 28, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley for giving me an ARC in return for an honest review.
I really wanted to like this book more than I did. The premise was so exciting! But… the prose got in the way.
Don’t get me wrong: there are individual sentences that sing. At times, I was impressed by how vivid the imagery was, and how incisive some of this novella’s statements were. But, these were small islands in a sea of verbiage. If this book had been pruned a little, with unnecessary synonyms removed, and every fifth flourish or so eliminated, it would have been great. But overall, it just lacked control. It’s not that I dislike rich prose. It’s just that this tipped over too often into being pretentious. Reading felt like wading through treacle.
To be clear, there was plenty to like. The body horror was top notch – here, the prose was purposeful, not just purple. It felt as if when something concrete was being described – a broken leg, an elevator journey, a series of half-melted corpses -- suddenly this story took flight. But it kept being weighed down by its own overlong sentences. I think it was at its best when our protagonist had other people to interact with; it kept the abstraction to a minimum, and meant his isolation and depression was brought to the fore. But when he was left to his own devices, things got way too ponderous.
Overall? A near miss that could have been great.
I really wanted to like this book more than I did. The premise was so exciting! But… the prose got in the way.
Don’t get me wrong: there are individual sentences that sing. At times, I was impressed by how vivid the imagery was, and how incisive some of this novella’s statements were. But, these were small islands in a sea of verbiage. If this book had been pruned a little, with unnecessary synonyms removed, and every fifth flourish or so eliminated, it would have been great. But overall, it just lacked control. It’s not that I dislike rich prose. It’s just that this tipped over too often into being pretentious. Reading felt like wading through treacle.
To be clear, there was plenty to like. The body horror was top notch – here, the prose was purposeful, not just purple. It felt as if when something concrete was being described – a broken leg, an elevator journey, a series of half-melted corpses -- suddenly this story took flight. But it kept being weighed down by its own overlong sentences. I think it was at its best when our protagonist had other people to interact with; it kept the abstraction to a minimum, and meant his isolation and depression was brought to the fore. But when he was left to his own devices, things got way too ponderous.
Overall? A near miss that could have been great.
August 3, 2024
Coup de Grâce is a horror novella about a man trapped in an impossible subway station. Vicken is on the subway, planning a one way trip to the Saint Lawrence River, but when he gets off, he's in a huge, Brutalist station. A station with no exit and no return line. A station that changes as he explores. And suddenly things aren't as certain as they seemed when he stepped onto the train.
This novella combines some fantastic horror elements: liminal spaces, fourth wall breaking, body horror, and the kind of terrifying impossibility of space you get in House of Leaves. It is also a dark look at depression, suicide, and self-harm, and the warning at the start is important to note because it does make up a lot of the book. What you end up with is something visceral and weird, almost absurdly funny in the way it paints hopelessness and lack of control by its ending, and a book that never quite offers a reprieve. The ending might be a bit divisive, leaving a lot up to the reader, but it is exciting to see this kind of horror, that isn't afraid to be unrelenting, and I loved the creepypasta and liminal space elements (the book itself feels like it could be a creepypasta even as it refers to them).
This novella combines some fantastic horror elements: liminal spaces, fourth wall breaking, body horror, and the kind of terrifying impossibility of space you get in House of Leaves. It is also a dark look at depression, suicide, and self-harm, and the warning at the start is important to note because it does make up a lot of the book. What you end up with is something visceral and weird, almost absurdly funny in the way it paints hopelessness and lack of control by its ending, and a book that never quite offers a reprieve. The ending might be a bit divisive, leaving a lot up to the reader, but it is exciting to see this kind of horror, that isn't afraid to be unrelenting, and I loved the creepypasta and liminal space elements (the book itself feels like it could be a creepypasta even as it refers to them).
August 14, 2024
Thank you NetGalley and Titan Books for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
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.
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.
August 14, 2024
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.
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.
July 29, 2024
Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
I really enjoyed this weird little book. This is a great psychological horror with bits of body horror sprinkled in. The random moments of 4th wall break and choose your own ending threw me off in the best way and made the story a bit funny too. Seeing inside the mind of Vicken was tragic and nightmarish. This world where he is lost is something I could picture in a horror movie. We see him spiraling with his new reality as well as his already established mental illness. While he came to the station to die, he is conflicted with his new sense of survival and will to try to escape.
As this is a novella, it is very short and easy to get through in one sitting. I look forward to more from this author in the future!
I really enjoyed this weird little book. This is a great psychological horror with bits of body horror sprinkled in. The random moments of 4th wall break and choose your own ending threw me off in the best way and made the story a bit funny too. Seeing inside the mind of Vicken was tragic and nightmarish. This world where he is lost is something I could picture in a horror movie. We see him spiraling with his new reality as well as his already established mental illness. While he came to the station to die, he is conflicted with his new sense of survival and will to try to escape.
As this is a novella, it is very short and easy to get through in one sitting. I look forward to more from this author in the future!
July 30, 2024
This was such an interesting ride from start to finish. It was a very quick read, but if you love a good horror book, this is definitely for you. I am not normally super squeamish, but this was definitely something that made me squeamish. Beware the trigger warnings at the beginning, as they are definitely needed in this book. However, it was so well written and creepy/crawly I would highly recommend it if you want something to creep you out. The parallels being drawn between this book and House of Leaves is apt, but different. House of Leaves was a slog, and this is much more approachable and definitely easier to follow. I would recommend this book if you're looking for something to start the spooky season early!
This ebook was provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This ebook was provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
July 26, 2024
3.5 stars
An experimental novel with beautiful prose, this novel was such an experience to read. I really enjoyed the writing and commentary on life and death and finding meaning in the mundane. I also found it claustrophobic and slightly disturbing in certain parts, which only added to the overall experience. The ending especially was creative, I enjoyed the different options presented to the reader to control the narrative. A uniquely creative story!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for kindly providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. #CoupDeGrace #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
An experimental novel with beautiful prose, this novel was such an experience to read. I really enjoyed the writing and commentary on life and death and finding meaning in the mundane. I also found it claustrophobic and slightly disturbing in certain parts, which only added to the overall experience. The ending especially was creative, I enjoyed the different options presented to the reader to control the narrative. A uniquely creative story!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for kindly providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. #CoupDeGrace #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
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