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Drowned Sorrow
Megan Blackwood has just lost her son in a terrible accident. Now she has come to Moonlight Creek with her teenage daughter Jenna, hoping a change of scenery might help to put her life back together.
But something odd is going on in Moonlight Creek.
When rain falls over the village, its inhabitants commit grisly murders, leaving the place deserted with the first rays of sunshine.
Beneath the lake's surface, an eerie presence watches... and waits... Waits to reveal a tragic past drowned in mystery and fear. One that doesn't bode well for visitors.
By the time Megan realizes that her daughter's life is in danger, it may be too late to escape.
"Vanessa Morgan has the gift of pacing and spookiness" Scott Nicholson, author of They Hunger and The Farm
"The female version of Stephen King" Pedro Chaves, director of Reiki
"A racy thriller in the vein of Dean Koontz and John Saul" Dirk Vandereyken, author of Fates Worse Than Hunter
But something odd is going on in Moonlight Creek.
When rain falls over the village, its inhabitants commit grisly murders, leaving the place deserted with the first rays of sunshine.
Beneath the lake's surface, an eerie presence watches... and waits... Waits to reveal a tragic past drowned in mystery and fear. One that doesn't bode well for visitors.
By the time Megan realizes that her daughter's life is in danger, it may be too late to escape.
"Vanessa Morgan has the gift of pacing and spookiness" Scott Nicholson, author of They Hunger and The Farm
"The female version of Stephen King" Pedro Chaves, director of Reiki
"A racy thriller in the vein of Dean Koontz and John Saul" Dirk Vandereyken, author of Fates Worse Than Hunter
168 pages, Paperback
First published December 2, 2008
About the author
Vanessa Morgan
11 books296 followersVanessa Morgan is an author, screenwriter, and blogger. Two of her works, The Strangers Outside and A Good Man, have been turned into films. Her short film script Next to Her is currently in pre-production. When she's not working on her latest book, you can find her reading, watching horror movies, digging through flea markets, or photographing felines for her blog Traveling Cats.
"Vanessa Morgan has the gift of pacing and spookiness" - Scott Nicholson, author of They Hunger and The Farm
"A startling new voice in horror" - Lucky McKee, director of May and The Woods
"Vanessa Morgan has the gift of pacing and spookiness" - Scott Nicholson, author of They Hunger and The Farm
"A startling new voice in horror" - Lucky McKee, director of May and The Woods
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
February 7, 2017
Drowned Sorrows by Vanessa Morgan was for me a draining read the characters lacked something that didn't make me scream in horror this book was more a thriller than horror read. I just felt it lacked tension the plot sounded good again, yet there wasn't the usual gasping in each paragraph I think it needed more of a WOW factor.
I have read a lot of horror books by some of the best& to me this was a very poor imitation sounds harsh but I am at least honest.
2.5 stars
I have read a lot of horror books by some of the best& to me this was a very poor imitation sounds harsh but I am at least honest.
2.5 stars
July 30, 2015
REVIEW: DROWNED SORROW by Vanessa Morgan
Definitely not your ordinary supernatural! I have been reading supernatural and horror, both fiction and nonfiction, for nearly six decades, and try as I might, I simply cannot recall anything similar. There really is something new under the sun.
The novel starts with a powerfully impacting reader's hook. I really found forgiveness difficult. From there, a quick cut moves the action to the tiny village of Moonlight Creek, Connecticut, tucked away in a forest beside a lake. Sounds bucolic? Think again, and please don't visit--you'll be sorry if you do. Moonlight Creek is like no other locale, on Earth at least. In some ways, DROWNED SORROW is as much science fiction as it is horror and supernatural. I seldom make this claim: but oh, what a film this would make!
Definitely not your ordinary supernatural! I have been reading supernatural and horror, both fiction and nonfiction, for nearly six decades, and try as I might, I simply cannot recall anything similar. There really is something new under the sun.
The novel starts with a powerfully impacting reader's hook. I really found forgiveness difficult. From there, a quick cut moves the action to the tiny village of Moonlight Creek, Connecticut, tucked away in a forest beside a lake. Sounds bucolic? Think again, and please don't visit--you'll be sorry if you do. Moonlight Creek is like no other locale, on Earth at least. In some ways, DROWNED SORROW is as much science fiction as it is horror and supernatural. I seldom make this claim: but oh, what a film this would make!
November 12, 2010
This is the second self-published work I'm reviewing of Morgan's next to her short story 'The Strangers Outside.' Drowned Sorrow is a novella coming in just over 100 pages and I have to say, I think the length proves a better friend for Morgan's writing.
I'll start with the good - I loved the premise. As someone that has a not-so-irrational fear of natural bodies of water (hey, there's a lot of shit in the ocean that can kill you), the concept of the water being a source of unknowable fear kind of creeped me out. But what I liked most was the execution of how the villagers played it all out. I wish there was a little more exposition for the whys of why the lake was what it was but I thought how the people were one with the water, literally, was great. I actually felt a little dank reading it considering water was dripping and running everywhere. That part, the horror of the water, was done pretty well.
And for the not-so-good - I still wasn't too fond of her characters. The main character starts off really hard to like and even after the incident with her son, I just couldn't shake her unlikeable attitude. She's just a very selfish person and what happened to her son happened because of her. I guess I couldn't forgive her for that. Jet pack moms aren't my thing.
The daughter was neither here or there for me. I just didn't feel anything for her. I watched her play around on the pages but as I read, I didn't really see her involvement as necessary for about 95% of it. Her voice as a teen also didn't strike right for me. It wasn't horribly off but it wasn't hitting home as a teen voice. It read a little too young for her age.
In all honesty, I preferred the subplot between the boy and his mother and father. I just wish what happened to them at the end was drawn out a little more. I loved what happened to them (if you read it, you'll realize just how demented that statement is) but I think if the process itself was expanded upon a little more, it would have been even creepier.
The biggest kicker for me, though, was the fact that this story is placed in Connecticut. Well, I live in Connecticut so the fallacies with the geography really pulled me out of the story. When I read the protag saying that the next town was 3 hours away, that just isn't believable. Even in the sticks of Southern New England, you're no more than 20 minutes away from the next town. And you have to be really far into the woods and travel 10 miles an hour on a dirt road to get that. I believe the story is placed at the mouth of the Connecticut River. That puts them in the Lymes. Kind of boony but not like the story insinuates. Drive 3 hours west and you're in New York. Three hours north and you're broaching New Hampshire, let alone Massachusetts. Three hours east and you're in the Atlantic. Connecticut is rinky dink. You can drive border to border in an hour, not to mention you're right off of one of the busiest highways in the country. And we're not a high rain area except in the spring maybe. So I just couldn't suspend my disbelief for the locale, which was a major part of the story. I would have liked to see better effort on the geographical research done.
Overall I still felt the writing needed a little more polishing but by far, this was the better story out of Morgan's two and I really think it has to do with length. I'd like to see what she can do with a full length horror novel. She definitely has the flare for it, and far more talent that I ever had for writing it. With some fine tuning, I think she could write some genuinely creepy stuff. She has the mind for it, that's for sure.
Of all the self-published books, I'm glad I got this one. It's really not bad. In all honesty, it doesn't compare to the House books I get but for someone doing it on their own, it's good. I'd like to see Morgan take more chances with her writing. Don't be afraid to make the paths hard, the endings hard. One could argue this ending was hard and I guess it was but, personally, it wrapped up a little too sweet. I guess I like my horror just a touch more unforgiving. I'm a sadist that way. Ha! But really, this story wasn't bad at all. I found myself wanting to keep reading to see how it all played out.
I'll start with the good - I loved the premise. As someone that has a not-so-irrational fear of natural bodies of water (hey, there's a lot of shit in the ocean that can kill you), the concept of the water being a source of unknowable fear kind of creeped me out. But what I liked most was the execution of how the villagers played it all out. I wish there was a little more exposition for the whys of why the lake was what it was but I thought how the people were one with the water, literally, was great. I actually felt a little dank reading it considering water was dripping and running everywhere. That part, the horror of the water, was done pretty well.
And for the not-so-good - I still wasn't too fond of her characters. The main character starts off really hard to like and even after the incident with her son, I just couldn't shake her unlikeable attitude. She's just a very selfish person and what happened to her son happened because of her. I guess I couldn't forgive her for that. Jet pack moms aren't my thing.
The daughter was neither here or there for me. I just didn't feel anything for her. I watched her play around on the pages but as I read, I didn't really see her involvement as necessary for about 95% of it. Her voice as a teen also didn't strike right for me. It wasn't horribly off but it wasn't hitting home as a teen voice. It read a little too young for her age.
In all honesty, I preferred the subplot between the boy and his mother and father. I just wish what happened to them at the end was drawn out a little more. I loved what happened to them (if you read it, you'll realize just how demented that statement is) but I think if the process itself was expanded upon a little more, it would have been even creepier.
The biggest kicker for me, though, was the fact that this story is placed in Connecticut. Well, I live in Connecticut so the fallacies with the geography really pulled me out of the story. When I read the protag saying that the next town was 3 hours away, that just isn't believable. Even in the sticks of Southern New England, you're no more than 20 minutes away from the next town. And you have to be really far into the woods and travel 10 miles an hour on a dirt road to get that. I believe the story is placed at the mouth of the Connecticut River. That puts them in the Lymes. Kind of boony but not like the story insinuates. Drive 3 hours west and you're in New York. Three hours north and you're broaching New Hampshire, let alone Massachusetts. Three hours east and you're in the Atlantic. Connecticut is rinky dink. You can drive border to border in an hour, not to mention you're right off of one of the busiest highways in the country. And we're not a high rain area except in the spring maybe. So I just couldn't suspend my disbelief for the locale, which was a major part of the story. I would have liked to see better effort on the geographical research done.
Overall I still felt the writing needed a little more polishing but by far, this was the better story out of Morgan's two and I really think it has to do with length. I'd like to see what she can do with a full length horror novel. She definitely has the flare for it, and far more talent that I ever had for writing it. With some fine tuning, I think she could write some genuinely creepy stuff. She has the mind for it, that's for sure.
Of all the self-published books, I'm glad I got this one. It's really not bad. In all honesty, it doesn't compare to the House books I get but for someone doing it on their own, it's good. I'd like to see Morgan take more chances with her writing. Don't be afraid to make the paths hard, the endings hard. One could argue this ending was hard and I guess it was but, personally, it wrapped up a little too sweet. I guess I like my horror just a touch more unforgiving. I'm a sadist that way. Ha! But really, this story wasn't bad at all. I found myself wanting to keep reading to see how it all played out.
November 7, 2010
Drowned Sorrow by Vanessa Morgan is a heart pounding, suspenseful, and got-to-know what happens next read!
Megan was a successful business woman that let her job take over her life. When her son commits suicide, on accident, while seeking her attention, her life changes forever.
Not letting her daughter slip away, she takes Jenna on vacation to Moonlight Creek. When they arrive, the town seems like a ghost town.
There is something strange about Moonlight Creek, and Megan and Jenna soon find out there is more to this small village than what meets the eye.
The lake is what controls the people, and as weird events keep happening, Megan becomes scared and desperate to leave. As she fears for hers and her daughters life, she meets an unexpecting encounter, and her daughter and her flee.
What she didn't plan, was for the ones she loves to become a part of it all. Morgan did a fantastic job keeping the suspense alive. This is one book that will have you turning the pages to find out what happens next.
Though I was a little disappointed in the ending, not in a bad way but in a way you wished it ended differently, I loved this book. You will have to decide for yourself how you interpret the ending, whether you to wished it ended differently or not.
I give Drowned Sorrow ***** (5) Stars, BK Walker. http://bkwalkerbooks.weebly.com
Megan was a successful business woman that let her job take over her life. When her son commits suicide, on accident, while seeking her attention, her life changes forever.
Not letting her daughter slip away, she takes Jenna on vacation to Moonlight Creek. When they arrive, the town seems like a ghost town.
There is something strange about Moonlight Creek, and Megan and Jenna soon find out there is more to this small village than what meets the eye.
The lake is what controls the people, and as weird events keep happening, Megan becomes scared and desperate to leave. As she fears for hers and her daughters life, she meets an unexpecting encounter, and her daughter and her flee.
What she didn't plan, was for the ones she loves to become a part of it all. Morgan did a fantastic job keeping the suspense alive. This is one book that will have you turning the pages to find out what happens next.
Though I was a little disappointed in the ending, not in a bad way but in a way you wished it ended differently, I loved this book. You will have to decide for yourself how you interpret the ending, whether you to wished it ended differently or not.
I give Drowned Sorrow ***** (5) Stars, BK Walker. http://bkwalkerbooks.weebly.com
October 10, 2010
A thirst-quenching blend of sci-fiction with a twist of horror. The fear factor is accomplished not with blood and guts, but through what is not seen. Moonlight Creek provides the perfect setting to intrigue horror fans. It’s isolated, mysteriously vacant and strangely damp. Simple elements like air, water and fire are used to enhance the claustrophobic entrapment that makes this story a great rainy night read. It’s not often that a horror book can be recommended to young adult readers, but this one fits the bill. It’s not juvenile in any way, but brings the chills without gore, drugs or sexual violence. How, you ask? You’ve got to read it to find out.
I’m still trying to figure out why a dog was written into the story. If anyone can tell me why, I’d really appreciate it. I have a few other unanswered questions, which leads me to believe either I missed something or the author did. A couple ends are obviously and neatly tied up, but others are left dangling.
I’m still trying to figure out why a dog was written into the story. If anyone can tell me why, I’d really appreciate it. I have a few other unanswered questions, which leads me to believe either I missed something or the author did. A couple ends are obviously and neatly tied up, but others are left dangling.
January 17, 2014
In an attempt to get the attention they need from you, your child dies.
What would you do? How would you cope? If your child called you for help & you were to busy to take their call!
It's been seven months since her son's death and Megan has come to Moonlight Creek with her teenage daughter Jenna, hoping that a change of scenery might help with the crippling grief that has taken over their lives.
But Megan soon begins to sense that something strange is happening in Moonlight Creek. The water has a will of its own. It can think, move, even transform. Just as easily the water in this town can give life, in a heartbeat it can also take it away!
Has Megan realized in time that their lives are in danger or will she lose another child?
I enjoyed every heart wrenching, nail biting minute of this supernatural thriller by Vanessa Morgan. Drowned Sorrow is a must read for anyone that loves the suspense of a great thriller.
What would you do? How would you cope? If your child called you for help & you were to busy to take their call!
It's been seven months since her son's death and Megan has come to Moonlight Creek with her teenage daughter Jenna, hoping that a change of scenery might help with the crippling grief that has taken over their lives.
But Megan soon begins to sense that something strange is happening in Moonlight Creek. The water has a will of its own. It can think, move, even transform. Just as easily the water in this town can give life, in a heartbeat it can also take it away!
Has Megan realized in time that their lives are in danger or will she lose another child?
I enjoyed every heart wrenching, nail biting minute of this supernatural thriller by Vanessa Morgan. Drowned Sorrow is a must read for anyone that loves the suspense of a great thriller.
November 7, 2010
Review first published at Blog Critics
A home and family are tragically destroyed by the unintentional suicide of a son. In a cry for help and an attempt to get attention, he slits his wrists, believing he would be found and rescued. His mother, Megan, feels her shame to the bone; her work had always come first. With the death of her son, her marriage also crumbles. Everything is disintegrating around her. Leaving her work to spend some quality time with her daughter and to pick up the pieces, she makes a decision to get away, and a friend recommends the small town of Moonlight Creek, a beautiful lakeside town as a place to go for healing and to strengthen their relationship.
Moonlight Springs is everything she had heard, beautiful and remote, small and restful. But was it really? There is something lurking in the shadows. Megan is a bit spooked in the beginning, but is really enjoying the time spent with her daughter. She has met a few nice people in the area and her daughter Jenna has also met a dreamy boy. Someone she can relate to and spend time with. As they leave their cabin heading for the local grocer, to stock up on food, Megan finds there is even more about this town that makes no sense. The grocery store that she stops in has only shelves and shelves of water available. Every kind of water you could imagine, but only water. As they stop at the local bar for a bite to eat, they find Giselle, the owner to be very friendly. They learn that Jenna’s new friend Mark is Giselle’s son. The bar is empty but, the floor is wet and full of puddles. Giselle only smiles and apologizes, she has just finished cleaning.
As Megan and Jenna head back to their cabin they discuss the oddities of the quirky little town and laugh about the absurdities. Although Megan finds it all a bit eerie, It seem as though every where she goes she feels as though they are being watched. When to do run into any locals, while friendly they are not exactly outgoing, and they too seem to stare a bit too long. Brushing this off as just the effects of small town life Megan is determined to build a strong relationship with Jenna.
Megan is one of the women of the world that should not be a mother. Her entire life, until the death of her son is wrapped up in her work. It is what makes her come alive and she is only really happy when she has a new project. She loves her family but her work makes her life complete. In a last minute effort to make things right she has quit her job and is determined to become the kind of mother that her daughter Jenna can relate to. She wonders if it is too late to repair the damage to her marriage as well, but for now that is on the back burner. She knows the feelings are still there, but the distrust and disillusionment is also in the way. Jenna is her main concern and she is willing to do what it takes to rebuild a relationship that she never really had. If that means going to a small town for some alone time with her, then she is more then willing.
Jenna is a sweet girl. She is still hoping that her parents will get back together. While she really loves her mom she is also a bit angry at her. On the day of her brother’s death she had called her mother several times with concerns about him, but her mother would not take her calls. She was too busy with her work. Jenna too needs to find some time to rebuild a trust that needs to be inherent in a parent child relationship
In Drowned Sorrow, Vanessa Morgan has crafted an extremely creepy story. The town of Moonlight Springs, while a beautiful and restful place on the surface, has dark and dangerous currents known only to the inhabitants. It is a kind of a cult, but not like anything you have ever imagined. This is the kind of story you often find in a Koontz or King novel. I began reading it and was alternately annoyed at how Megan was portrayed and really not liking her persona. I could feel that the story would be one that would not be comfortable to read. I put it off for a bit, and then one night took the plunge. What I would have to really reiterate to you is, do not read this book at night. I was appalled at the extreme horror of the story and while there was a bit of, that is just weird; it still was able to pull me in with the intricate and well thought out creepiness. The ending was so uncomfortable I could not sleep for the rest of the night.
If you love a horror novel this would be one for you. I am not really a horror fan, and it is a book like this that reminds me of why that is. Vanessa Morgan may have found her genre, and how someone could have this kind of nightmare roiling around in their imagination just never ceases to amaze me. And while I am not a horror fan, I do know when a book is gripping, and this is that at its absolute. Reading the nightmare as it unfolded, and even understanding that I would not like the outcome, I could not put it down. Once I was in, I was hooked.
I would recommend this book for those that love the horror genre. I do not think it would be a book for teens, so even if your teen loves horror, you may want to read it for yourself first. I will be passing this book on to my sister who really loves this kind of thing, and she will be the one to read it over and over. This will make her library of macabre books. So if you have the fortitude for horror, here it the book that will bring it home, my recommendation though, lock the doors, have some friends over, just for company, but do not read this after dark.
This book was received as a free copy from the author. All opinions are my own based of my reading and understanding of the material.
A home and family are tragically destroyed by the unintentional suicide of a son. In a cry for help and an attempt to get attention, he slits his wrists, believing he would be found and rescued. His mother, Megan, feels her shame to the bone; her work had always come first. With the death of her son, her marriage also crumbles. Everything is disintegrating around her. Leaving her work to spend some quality time with her daughter and to pick up the pieces, she makes a decision to get away, and a friend recommends the small town of Moonlight Creek, a beautiful lakeside town as a place to go for healing and to strengthen their relationship.
Moonlight Springs is everything she had heard, beautiful and remote, small and restful. But was it really? There is something lurking in the shadows. Megan is a bit spooked in the beginning, but is really enjoying the time spent with her daughter. She has met a few nice people in the area and her daughter Jenna has also met a dreamy boy. Someone she can relate to and spend time with. As they leave their cabin heading for the local grocer, to stock up on food, Megan finds there is even more about this town that makes no sense. The grocery store that she stops in has only shelves and shelves of water available. Every kind of water you could imagine, but only water. As they stop at the local bar for a bite to eat, they find Giselle, the owner to be very friendly. They learn that Jenna’s new friend Mark is Giselle’s son. The bar is empty but, the floor is wet and full of puddles. Giselle only smiles and apologizes, she has just finished cleaning.
As Megan and Jenna head back to their cabin they discuss the oddities of the quirky little town and laugh about the absurdities. Although Megan finds it all a bit eerie, It seem as though every where she goes she feels as though they are being watched. When to do run into any locals, while friendly they are not exactly outgoing, and they too seem to stare a bit too long. Brushing this off as just the effects of small town life Megan is determined to build a strong relationship with Jenna.
Megan is one of the women of the world that should not be a mother. Her entire life, until the death of her son is wrapped up in her work. It is what makes her come alive and she is only really happy when she has a new project. She loves her family but her work makes her life complete. In a last minute effort to make things right she has quit her job and is determined to become the kind of mother that her daughter Jenna can relate to. She wonders if it is too late to repair the damage to her marriage as well, but for now that is on the back burner. She knows the feelings are still there, but the distrust and disillusionment is also in the way. Jenna is her main concern and she is willing to do what it takes to rebuild a relationship that she never really had. If that means going to a small town for some alone time with her, then she is more then willing.
Jenna is a sweet girl. She is still hoping that her parents will get back together. While she really loves her mom she is also a bit angry at her. On the day of her brother’s death she had called her mother several times with concerns about him, but her mother would not take her calls. She was too busy with her work. Jenna too needs to find some time to rebuild a trust that needs to be inherent in a parent child relationship
In Drowned Sorrow, Vanessa Morgan has crafted an extremely creepy story. The town of Moonlight Springs, while a beautiful and restful place on the surface, has dark and dangerous currents known only to the inhabitants. It is a kind of a cult, but not like anything you have ever imagined. This is the kind of story you often find in a Koontz or King novel. I began reading it and was alternately annoyed at how Megan was portrayed and really not liking her persona. I could feel that the story would be one that would not be comfortable to read. I put it off for a bit, and then one night took the plunge. What I would have to really reiterate to you is, do not read this book at night. I was appalled at the extreme horror of the story and while there was a bit of, that is just weird; it still was able to pull me in with the intricate and well thought out creepiness. The ending was so uncomfortable I could not sleep for the rest of the night.
If you love a horror novel this would be one for you. I am not really a horror fan, and it is a book like this that reminds me of why that is. Vanessa Morgan may have found her genre, and how someone could have this kind of nightmare roiling around in their imagination just never ceases to amaze me. And while I am not a horror fan, I do know when a book is gripping, and this is that at its absolute. Reading the nightmare as it unfolded, and even understanding that I would not like the outcome, I could not put it down. Once I was in, I was hooked.
I would recommend this book for those that love the horror genre. I do not think it would be a book for teens, so even if your teen loves horror, you may want to read it for yourself first. I will be passing this book on to my sister who really loves this kind of thing, and she will be the one to read it over and over. This will make her library of macabre books. So if you have the fortitude for horror, here it the book that will bring it home, my recommendation though, lock the doors, have some friends over, just for company, but do not read this after dark.
This book was received as a free copy from the author. All opinions are my own based of my reading and understanding of the material.
February 9, 2012
Originally from my blog: http://readingandwritingurbanfantasy....
The Good
Let me start off by saying that the author let me know that there is a movie of this book in the making and that Drew Barrymore is slated to direct. I want to congratulate Morgan for this huge step in her amazing career. I wish her the best.
I was heartbroken from the beginning of this story, sweated from fear and trepidation in the middle, and wanting to cry by the end. Drowned Sorrow was a rollercoaster ride of mystery, horror, and overall creepiness.
Megan has always put her job before her family. But after the death of her son and proceeding divorce from her husband, all Megan wants to do is try to rekindle her relationship with her daughter, Jenna, and save the family she so long neglected. Megan and Jenna have drifted apart since the tragedy and a vacation is just what they need to let go of past hurts and move forward. But Moonlight Creek is not all they hoped it would be. It's a town where the townspeople only come out of their houses during overcast, rainy days and where the general store only sells water, not food. After some odd and downright frightening experiences, Megan realizes Moonlight Creek is not safe for outsiders. But when she and her daughter try to leave, that's when all hell breaks loose.
Though the beginning was a bit slow for me (I will admit that the suicide of Megan's son in the first chapter of the book did evoke some strong emotions that kept me reading), once the book picked up, it REALLY picked up. I couldn't put the book down after the halfway point. More than a few times goosebumps showered my skin as the most eerie things I have ever read occurred in this freakish town. I couldn't help but put myself in certain situations and wonder what I would do. Probably die from fright, to be honest.
Megan was a hard character to like. She has a hard time caring about her family as much as she cares about her job. But she truly does try to do the right thing after her son's death. She wants to save her family and has taken steps to ensure this. Unfortunately, she picks the wrong town to vacation in. She tries to be strong for her daughter, and you can't help but admire her determination to survive.
I feel Jenna was the better character in this book. She had emotion that pulled you in, she had a strong will that was fun to see in action, and she even had a bit of mystery around her. She loves her parents but knows that her brother's death might have changed the dynamics of her family forever.
The horror in Drowned Sorrow was undeniably terrifying, and the townspeople were downright disturbing. I didn't know what to expect from them, and the unknown always makes me nervous. The paranormal aspect was very original and the twist at the end really took this book to a whole new level of intriguing.
The Bad
Though I liked the story overall, I just didn't like the disjointed feel of so many points of view. It got a little hectic, and I started wanting to put the book down because I got bored with some people's point of view. It made the story drag a bit.
Megan just seemed a little idiotic to me. She had so many warnings and creepy things happen that when she continued to stay in the weird town, I just started hoping something bad would happen to her because of her stupidity. Megan, as a character, was not likable. Though it didn't bother me too much, I just thought I would mention it for those who hate unlikable main characters.
There were some inconsistencies in this book that may cause you to read a page over again in confusion. A little more editing was definitely in order.
The Snuggly
Nothing really romantic in this paranormal suspense. No sex either. It's pretty clean. But there is love between characters, a type of caring that causes bad things to happen.
Overall
I had fun reading this book. The suspense was intense and the horror was abundant. Megan isn't my favorite character of all time, and the inconsistencies where a bit annoying, but the overall story was interesting. I know for a fact that when this book is made into a movie, I will be there the first day it comes out. Suspense fans will enjoy this book very much.
Quotes
Megan gasped as something brushed against her back. Startled, she flipped over and treaded water, glancing down into the water around her. She turned in circles, didn't see anything. She glanced again at the shoreline, content to see Jenna still there on the beach. She turned to look around her once more, surprised to find a man's head and shoulders emerging from under the water. She hadn't seen anyone swimming this close to her, but then, she hadn't really been paying that much attention as she'd floated. The man's face seemed awfully pale to her, and he stared wide-eyed and unblinking at her.
Seconds later, another face popped up to the surface, followed by yet another. Her heart began to pound. She offered a tentative smile and turned around, intending to head back to shore, but yet another man blocked her view of the beach. The hair on the back of her neck rose, and incredibly enough, the water seemed to grow even colder.
The Good
Let me start off by saying that the author let me know that there is a movie of this book in the making and that Drew Barrymore is slated to direct. I want to congratulate Morgan for this huge step in her amazing career. I wish her the best.
I was heartbroken from the beginning of this story, sweated from fear and trepidation in the middle, and wanting to cry by the end. Drowned Sorrow was a rollercoaster ride of mystery, horror, and overall creepiness.
Megan has always put her job before her family. But after the death of her son and proceeding divorce from her husband, all Megan wants to do is try to rekindle her relationship with her daughter, Jenna, and save the family she so long neglected. Megan and Jenna have drifted apart since the tragedy and a vacation is just what they need to let go of past hurts and move forward. But Moonlight Creek is not all they hoped it would be. It's a town where the townspeople only come out of their houses during overcast, rainy days and where the general store only sells water, not food. After some odd and downright frightening experiences, Megan realizes Moonlight Creek is not safe for outsiders. But when she and her daughter try to leave, that's when all hell breaks loose.
Though the beginning was a bit slow for me (I will admit that the suicide of Megan's son in the first chapter of the book did evoke some strong emotions that kept me reading), once the book picked up, it REALLY picked up. I couldn't put the book down after the halfway point. More than a few times goosebumps showered my skin as the most eerie things I have ever read occurred in this freakish town. I couldn't help but put myself in certain situations and wonder what I would do. Probably die from fright, to be honest.
Megan was a hard character to like. She has a hard time caring about her family as much as she cares about her job. But she truly does try to do the right thing after her son's death. She wants to save her family and has taken steps to ensure this. Unfortunately, she picks the wrong town to vacation in. She tries to be strong for her daughter, and you can't help but admire her determination to survive.
I feel Jenna was the better character in this book. She had emotion that pulled you in, she had a strong will that was fun to see in action, and she even had a bit of mystery around her. She loves her parents but knows that her brother's death might have changed the dynamics of her family forever.
The horror in Drowned Sorrow was undeniably terrifying, and the townspeople were downright disturbing. I didn't know what to expect from them, and the unknown always makes me nervous. The paranormal aspect was very original and the twist at the end really took this book to a whole new level of intriguing.
The Bad
Though I liked the story overall, I just didn't like the disjointed feel of so many points of view. It got a little hectic, and I started wanting to put the book down because I got bored with some people's point of view. It made the story drag a bit.
Megan just seemed a little idiotic to me. She had so many warnings and creepy things happen that when she continued to stay in the weird town, I just started hoping something bad would happen to her because of her stupidity. Megan, as a character, was not likable. Though it didn't bother me too much, I just thought I would mention it for those who hate unlikable main characters.
There were some inconsistencies in this book that may cause you to read a page over again in confusion. A little more editing was definitely in order.
The Snuggly
Nothing really romantic in this paranormal suspense. No sex either. It's pretty clean. But there is love between characters, a type of caring that causes bad things to happen.
Overall
I had fun reading this book. The suspense was intense and the horror was abundant. Megan isn't my favorite character of all time, and the inconsistencies where a bit annoying, but the overall story was interesting. I know for a fact that when this book is made into a movie, I will be there the first day it comes out. Suspense fans will enjoy this book very much.
Quotes
Megan gasped as something brushed against her back. Startled, she flipped over and treaded water, glancing down into the water around her. She turned in circles, didn't see anything. She glanced again at the shoreline, content to see Jenna still there on the beach. She turned to look around her once more, surprised to find a man's head and shoulders emerging from under the water. She hadn't seen anyone swimming this close to her, but then, she hadn't really been paying that much attention as she'd floated. The man's face seemed awfully pale to her, and he stared wide-eyed and unblinking at her.
Seconds later, another face popped up to the surface, followed by yet another. Her heart began to pound. She offered a tentative smile and turned around, intending to head back to shore, but yet another man blocked her view of the beach. The hair on the back of her neck rose, and incredibly enough, the water seemed to grow even colder.
May 2, 2011
Drowned Sorrow – Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat
“I wanna go live with my father.” Giselle paused a moment to take it in. Why didn’t his answer surprise her? In fact, somehow she had been expecting this. “That’s out of the question and you know it.” Miserably, she started to wash up the dirty dishes while Mark turned to wait on the customers. She scrubbed furiously, more than was actually necessary, but she bent her mind to the task, glad that she had this activity to clear her mind. There was no way that Mark was going to leave Moonlight Creek. No one ever left this place. If he ever left, he wouldn’t survive. She was sure about that. Her mind turned to several directions, looking for solutions, but couldn’t find any. There had to be something, something she could do to make her son stay. “It’s not completely impossible,” Mark said. “I warned you,” Giselle said, her voice gentle and without a trace of anger. “It’s not safe.” “I don’t care.” “I care. You’re my son.” She paused. “If I were you, I’d just forget all about it. There’s nothing you can do about it. Moonlight Creek isn’t like other places. Things work different here.”
Megan Blackwood had been a reporter for national television for eight years. With a growing reputation as an authority on international politics, she was regarded as a leading light in journalism. But that all came to an end with the death of one of her two children. It had been seven months and still nothing seemed to ease the pain that Megan felt. So at the suggestion of a friend, she and her daughter Jenna would be taking what would hopefully be a time for the two of them to bond and hopefully put some of the past behind them. Their vacation was to take place in a small secluded village called Moonlight Creek.
Upon arrival, Megan began to wonder about her destination decision. Moonlight Creek was beautiful, nestled around a beautiful, peaceful lake, but the people were different. She knew that life in a small town moved slow but these people seemed to move at a pace slower than any she had ever encountered. And the smell. Everything had a moldy, musky smell, even the rooms of the small hotel she and Jenna would be staying in. But Megan finally decided this was due to the almost continuous rain that seemed to fall on Moonlight Creek. And then there was the lake itself. There was something simply not right about the lake that scared not only Megan but the family dog too that had come along for the trip.
Drowned Sorrow took me completely by surprise. I have to admit that I never saw the ending coming. Or for that matter, I was surprised throughout most of the book. The characters created by Author Vanessa Morgan were perfectly cast, as was the setting. This has been a very enjoyable read. But I will tell you that I will probably think twice before spending even a weekend at a small town with a lake.
164 pages
Lumina Press
2008
ISBN# 978-1-60594-162-2
Review Stir, Laugh, Repeat at Amazon.com Stir, Laugh, Repeat
September 27, 2010
Drowned Sorrow by Vanessa Morgan
188 pages, Llumina Press
Read this review on The Current Reader: http://thecurrentreader.com
As autumn dims the hot lights of summer, my reading choices swing toward darker books that reflect the turn of the season. I’m leaning to gothic horror and suspense like Poe, Bloch, Matheson and of course, H.P. Lovecraft, all of whom bring back great memories of rummaging through my uncle’s huge closets and raiding his overflowing boxes full of Weird Tales and Fangoria magazines.
There is a recent addition to the form with Vanessa Morgan’s new novel, Drowned Sorrow, a compact, disturbing gem of the horror genre written with a knowledgeable appreciation of the classic style. Morgan updates Lovecraftian themes while still working within its form, giving new life to neo-gothic style. Set in a remote lakeside village that is shrouded in continual rain and inhabited by mysterious townsfolk, the story revolves around Megan Blackwood, an emotionally damaged television reporter trying to recover from the death of her teenage son while still parenting her teenage daughter. By focusing on Megan’s grief and loss, Morgan allows the reader to become distracted from the growing sense of ill-ease and general creepiness of the village where Megan is spending a vacation with her daughter. It is the subtly mounting terror that makes this book work so effectively. By slowing revealing details, a dawning sense of something’s wrong begins to pervade the storytelling. Morgan does a fine job of creating a feeling of dread and foreboding, while keeping the story human and grounded in the relationship between mother and daughter. And like all great horror stories, you will inevitably catch yourself wanting to yell at the characters to “Get OUT!” or “RUN!”, which is the essential mark of good storytelling.
Like Lovecraft, Morgan leaves the supernatural unknowable and beyond explanation. There is no omniscient narration to inform us of what is happening or why. There is only the unfolding of the story that often leads down dead ends or blind alleys, as Megan begins to learn the horrible truth about the village and what is happening to her and her daughter. The supernatural element in the story is water. By making something so basic and necessary for life into something unnatural and menacing, the sense of a reality rooted in the common is ripped away. Without physical monsters, the story becomes a psychological thriller with heavy atmospherics, similar to the near-perfect classic film, Carnival of Souls. And like that film, Drowned Sorrow gives its characters a place to center their loss and entrapment. After a summer of beach closings due to Great White Shark sightings, red tides and oil spills, we can thank Vanessa Morgan for giving us another reason to stay out of the water. At least until next summer.
188 pages, Llumina Press
Read this review on The Current Reader: http://thecurrentreader.com
As autumn dims the hot lights of summer, my reading choices swing toward darker books that reflect the turn of the season. I’m leaning to gothic horror and suspense like Poe, Bloch, Matheson and of course, H.P. Lovecraft, all of whom bring back great memories of rummaging through my uncle’s huge closets and raiding his overflowing boxes full of Weird Tales and Fangoria magazines.
There is a recent addition to the form with Vanessa Morgan’s new novel, Drowned Sorrow, a compact, disturbing gem of the horror genre written with a knowledgeable appreciation of the classic style. Morgan updates Lovecraftian themes while still working within its form, giving new life to neo-gothic style. Set in a remote lakeside village that is shrouded in continual rain and inhabited by mysterious townsfolk, the story revolves around Megan Blackwood, an emotionally damaged television reporter trying to recover from the death of her teenage son while still parenting her teenage daughter. By focusing on Megan’s grief and loss, Morgan allows the reader to become distracted from the growing sense of ill-ease and general creepiness of the village where Megan is spending a vacation with her daughter. It is the subtly mounting terror that makes this book work so effectively. By slowing revealing details, a dawning sense of something’s wrong begins to pervade the storytelling. Morgan does a fine job of creating a feeling of dread and foreboding, while keeping the story human and grounded in the relationship between mother and daughter. And like all great horror stories, you will inevitably catch yourself wanting to yell at the characters to “Get OUT!” or “RUN!”, which is the essential mark of good storytelling.
Like Lovecraft, Morgan leaves the supernatural unknowable and beyond explanation. There is no omniscient narration to inform us of what is happening or why. There is only the unfolding of the story that often leads down dead ends or blind alleys, as Megan begins to learn the horrible truth about the village and what is happening to her and her daughter. The supernatural element in the story is water. By making something so basic and necessary for life into something unnatural and menacing, the sense of a reality rooted in the common is ripped away. Without physical monsters, the story becomes a psychological thriller with heavy atmospherics, similar to the near-perfect classic film, Carnival of Souls. And like that film, Drowned Sorrow gives its characters a place to center their loss and entrapment. After a summer of beach closings due to Great White Shark sightings, red tides and oil spills, we can thank Vanessa Morgan for giving us another reason to stay out of the water. At least until next summer.
November 28, 2010
Megan Blackwood's life is about to change forever. She has put all of herself into her job, forgetting her family until tragedy strikes. Her son, in an attempt to get her attention, accidentally commits suicide. Divorce inevitably follows this tragedy. After seven months, Megan and her daughter, Jenna, take a vacation in hopes of bringing the two closer together. They set out for Moonlight Creek and a little peace and quiet. They get more than they bargained for. Will they escape the town or will it drown their sorrows?
Starting the story off with a suicide grabs you and pulls you into the characters lives and emotions. Megan seemed a little less of a mother than she should have been. But if she were a better mother, there would be no story. Her selfish ways create the plot and keep the tension between her and Jenna going at full force.
Moonlight Creek was a freaky little town filled with equally disturbing residents. How many people would continue to stay in a hotel that had water streaming from the walls or puddled on the floor? Right. I would have immediately headed for another hotel. There were a few things that took away from the horror of the story, such as the grocery store that only carried water, I instantly thought of the store in Texas Chainsaw Massacre and asked myself which of them would be scarier. And of course, the nasty little blink and you miss it store in TCM won. My point is that the people of Moonlight Creek were keeping a secret and it just didn't seem believable that they would openly have a store with only water. It just screams weird but, of course, it doesn't completely give away what's going on.
The characters were lacking depth and didn't really stand out. There were several points when I was like, what happened to so and so? I felt a little let down. Jenna was the only light in the dark tunnel of characters. She had emotion and you could at least cheer her on. The townspeople were just blah. The only one that had a significant part was the hotel owner. Other than acting strange, they didn't offer any real horror.
Horror is a genre I enjoy to my core. There is something about being scared that awakens the senses, drawing you into a "what if" mode. Drowned Sorrow has the potential to be a great horror short but it needs a great deal of work with character development, as well as the horror factor. More horror was needed in regards to the people of Moonlight Creek.
Starting the story off with a suicide grabs you and pulls you into the characters lives and emotions. Megan seemed a little less of a mother than she should have been. But if she were a better mother, there would be no story. Her selfish ways create the plot and keep the tension between her and Jenna going at full force.
Moonlight Creek was a freaky little town filled with equally disturbing residents. How many people would continue to stay in a hotel that had water streaming from the walls or puddled on the floor? Right. I would have immediately headed for another hotel. There were a few things that took away from the horror of the story, such as the grocery store that only carried water, I instantly thought of the store in Texas Chainsaw Massacre and asked myself which of them would be scarier. And of course, the nasty little blink and you miss it store in TCM won. My point is that the people of Moonlight Creek were keeping a secret and it just didn't seem believable that they would openly have a store with only water. It just screams weird but, of course, it doesn't completely give away what's going on.
The characters were lacking depth and didn't really stand out. There were several points when I was like, what happened to so and so? I felt a little let down. Jenna was the only light in the dark tunnel of characters. She had emotion and you could at least cheer her on. The townspeople were just blah. The only one that had a significant part was the hotel owner. Other than acting strange, they didn't offer any real horror.
Horror is a genre I enjoy to my core. There is something about being scared that awakens the senses, drawing you into a "what if" mode. Drowned Sorrow has the potential to be a great horror short but it needs a great deal of work with character development, as well as the horror factor. More horror was needed in regards to the people of Moonlight Creek.
March 28, 2011
If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water. - Loran Eisely, The Immense Journey, 1957
Megan Blackwood is a successful investigative reporter for national television. her teenage son's suicide irrevocably alters her world. she divorces her husband Michael and quits her job to be with her daughter Jenna. 7 months after her son's death, they head off to Moonlight Creek for the summer. the small village seems like a great spot to get away from it all. there is something, however, about the lake, the water and the inhabitants that does not add up. their perfect vacation becomes the perfect setting for a horrifying tableaux that neither of them wanted to be a part of.
this is my second Vanessa Morgan read and she always gets into me. i mentioned in my review of The Strangers Outside how that short story creeped me out. this time, i had a strange dream the very night i was done reading Drowned Sorrow. i was in a room with some members of my family and water was rushing inside. somehow i found myself on top of a bookshelf and was screaming at everyone to avoid the water at all cost! i woke up relieved to find out that i was in bed - warm, safe and very dry.
Drowned Sorrow is more than just a scary, fast-paced ride into the unknown. it is also a story of a mother's struggle to cope with the loss of a loved one. i read somewhere that one of the most painful human experiences is for a mother to lose her child and vice-versa. i have gone through that when i lost my Mom and believe me, it is anything but painful.
water sustains life and without it every living thing would perish. that is a given. Vanessa Morgan takes this reality further and fancifully twists it into something so original and frightening that dying of thirst might prove to be a better option.
read this book to find out why and the next time you drink water or go for a swim, think again. don't say that i didn't warn you.
Disclosure of Material Connection: i received a pdf copy of Drowned Sorrow from the author herself. i did not receive any payment in exchange for this review nor was I obligated to write a positive one. all opinions expressed here are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, the book's publisher and publicist or the readers of this review. this disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
Megan Blackwood is a successful investigative reporter for national television. her teenage son's suicide irrevocably alters her world. she divorces her husband Michael and quits her job to be with her daughter Jenna. 7 months after her son's death, they head off to Moonlight Creek for the summer. the small village seems like a great spot to get away from it all. there is something, however, about the lake, the water and the inhabitants that does not add up. their perfect vacation becomes the perfect setting for a horrifying tableaux that neither of them wanted to be a part of.
this is my second Vanessa Morgan read and she always gets into me. i mentioned in my review of The Strangers Outside how that short story creeped me out. this time, i had a strange dream the very night i was done reading Drowned Sorrow. i was in a room with some members of my family and water was rushing inside. somehow i found myself on top of a bookshelf and was screaming at everyone to avoid the water at all cost! i woke up relieved to find out that i was in bed - warm, safe and very dry.
Drowned Sorrow is more than just a scary, fast-paced ride into the unknown. it is also a story of a mother's struggle to cope with the loss of a loved one. i read somewhere that one of the most painful human experiences is for a mother to lose her child and vice-versa. i have gone through that when i lost my Mom and believe me, it is anything but painful.
water sustains life and without it every living thing would perish. that is a given. Vanessa Morgan takes this reality further and fancifully twists it into something so original and frightening that dying of thirst might prove to be a better option.
read this book to find out why and the next time you drink water or go for a swim, think again. don't say that i didn't warn you.
Disclosure of Material Connection: i received a pdf copy of Drowned Sorrow from the author herself. i did not receive any payment in exchange for this review nor was I obligated to write a positive one. all opinions expressed here are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, the book's publisher and publicist or the readers of this review. this disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
December 2, 2010
Note: I received a free copy for review from the author.
I found this work to be a little bit awkward and confusing grammatically. There were quite a few poor word choices, and even some very confusing instances with the timeline. For instance, near the end of the book, one of the characters is looking for her dog. The scene reads like this:
"Moments later, Oscar stood silently in the hallway behind Mega, tail wagging. Megan opened the door to her room and fount it empty. [lots of Megan calling for her daughter, she knocks on the door to the bathroom in their hotel room.]
No Answer.
'I can't find Oscar [the dog]! Come on, honey, we have to get out of here now!'"
Now, at this point of the book there's some obviously weird stuff going on, but it was not clear how Megan missed the dog standing right behind her. There are a couple of other moments like this in the book that caused me to spend more time with said book than I really intended to.
The characters all seem to be clones of each other with very few differences. There is not one positive female character in this, and the closest we get to a positive male character is a 16 year-old boy. Everyone behaves in a very entitled, selfish manner and by the end I was rather hoping a nuclear bomb would be dropped. Megan is basically shown to us as being an uncaring harpy because she puts her work above her family, but where was Dad when Josh was committing suicide? Why is Megan getting all the blame for "not being there?" Jenna (the daughter) did an awful lot of giggling and switching back and forth from being flippant to morose. This is not behavior I would expect from someone whose brother died 7 months ago. I understand the need to try to return to normalcy, but I think most of us would still be on the road to recovery 7 months later. Giselle was overly possessive of her son, which was understandable given his condition, but really? Not one positive character?
The pacing in this story was a bit much for me. There seemed to be constantly creepy things going on, which is great for a horror novel, but it involved things like a crummy hotel that would make most people leave right away and find other plans for vacation. That being said, it was definitely creepy, but it's a case of yelling at the dumb blonde that the killer is right behind her.
I found this work to be a little bit awkward and confusing grammatically. There were quite a few poor word choices, and even some very confusing instances with the timeline. For instance, near the end of the book, one of the characters is looking for her dog. The scene reads like this:
"Moments later, Oscar stood silently in the hallway behind Mega, tail wagging. Megan opened the door to her room and fount it empty. [lots of Megan calling for her daughter, she knocks on the door to the bathroom in their hotel room.]
No Answer.
'I can't find Oscar [the dog]! Come on, honey, we have to get out of here now!'"
Now, at this point of the book there's some obviously weird stuff going on, but it was not clear how Megan missed the dog standing right behind her. There are a couple of other moments like this in the book that caused me to spend more time with said book than I really intended to.
The characters all seem to be clones of each other with very few differences. There is not one positive female character in this, and the closest we get to a positive male character is a 16 year-old boy. Everyone behaves in a very entitled, selfish manner and by the end I was rather hoping a nuclear bomb would be dropped. Megan is basically shown to us as being an uncaring harpy because she puts her work above her family, but where was Dad when Josh was committing suicide? Why is Megan getting all the blame for "not being there?" Jenna (the daughter) did an awful lot of giggling and switching back and forth from being flippant to morose. This is not behavior I would expect from someone whose brother died 7 months ago. I understand the need to try to return to normalcy, but I think most of us would still be on the road to recovery 7 months later. Giselle was overly possessive of her son, which was understandable given his condition, but really? Not one positive character?
The pacing in this story was a bit much for me. There seemed to be constantly creepy things going on, which is great for a horror novel, but it involved things like a crummy hotel that would make most people leave right away and find other plans for vacation. That being said, it was definitely creepy, but it's a case of yelling at the dumb blonde that the killer is right behind her.
July 11, 2015
I was gifted a copy of this book and asked to review it. To be honest I’d have bought it anyway – possibly on the strength of the amazingly evocative cover alone. I think I was also hooked by the intriguing Goethe quotation: ‘All is born of water; all is sustained by water’. It’s my kind of eerie, and anything connected to water always intrigues me. As a psychotherapist I am familiar with deep sea diving into the unconscious, to the place where our deepest fears and horrors reside. And here they are in this novel, page after taunting page. I could feel the anxiety rising in me as I read, and it was one of those books where you just have to read on, even though the storyline suggests it isn’t going to end well. Almost from the first page there was a sense of impending doom hanging over the characters and Moonlight Creek itself. It reminded me of those situations I’ve been in where my gut is telling me: “Get out of here!” while my head is insisting: “No, it will be all right.” My only adverse criticism of the book is that it seemed so obvious they should leave so early on in the plot, and it wasn’t made clear enough to me what kept them there in spite of their repeated chilling experiences. But this is fiction, after all, so perhaps it can be put down to author’s license that the plotline required they didn’t go. The author cleverly crafted the book in such a way that the underlying themes of grief and disconnection were threaded through as silkily as the water itself (and those descriptions of water were just incredible... so evocative... its texture, it’s coldness, it’s damp, mildew smell...) Water is the element of emotion, and I think we all understand that on an unconscious level. It’s also the giver of life, and the place we once, long ago, emerged from in our evolution, as well the place that we rely on as our safe haven while in the womb. Not so here in Moonlight Creek. Drowning here brings forth a different kind of life: a rebirth into something strange and perhaps on one level even wonderful... although that’s not how it comes across. I won’t go any deeper into the realm of possible spoilers. All I can say is – buy the book, submerge yourself in the story... and make sure you keep at least one foot on dry land until you’ve turned the last page!
December 20, 2010
Drowned Sorrow, by Vanessa Morgan is the story of a work driven mother, Megan Blackwood, who just doesn't make time for her children. Megan is hard at work when she ignores several calls from her daughter, Jenna. It isn't until too late that Megan finds out the reason for Jenna's calls; her son is dead. With the death of her son, Megan walks away from her high powered job to devote her attentions more thoroughly to her daughter. Several months after the funeral of her son, Megan and her daughter, Jenna, take a recommended trip to a secluded lakeside town called Moonlight Creek. But where are the townsfolk? And what's with all the water?
The premise of this book is very strong. The water plays a significant role in the creep factor of this book, and it is done really well. However, I feel that there needed to be more character development of several of the characters, as well as more back story to the "why" or "how" of the lake. With this book being shy of 200 pages, I feel there was a lot of room to expand.
There were also a few areas of the book that I found were either confusing, or didn't tie in well with other parts of the book. For instance, the ex-husband's role in the beginning of the story is very vague. The reader gets a sense of the love and loss between Megan and her ex, but that's it. There isn't a lot of back story. Then all of a sudden, the ex-husband pops up later and I just felt that his appearance at that juncture was a bit misplaced. It could have been great, but some elements were missing that were crucial for making the connection.
Overall, I think this book was good. It has a great premise and decent writing. If it were expanded on, and a few of the missing pieces were drawn into the story, it would be great.
On a scale of 1-4, I give this book a 3. Good concept, just needs a bit of clarification and more back story.
This book was published by Llumina Press.
ISBN: 9781605941622
Thank you to Vanessa Morgan for the gift of this book.
The premise of this book is very strong. The water plays a significant role in the creep factor of this book, and it is done really well. However, I feel that there needed to be more character development of several of the characters, as well as more back story to the "why" or "how" of the lake. With this book being shy of 200 pages, I feel there was a lot of room to expand.
There were also a few areas of the book that I found were either confusing, or didn't tie in well with other parts of the book. For instance, the ex-husband's role in the beginning of the story is very vague. The reader gets a sense of the love and loss between Megan and her ex, but that's it. There isn't a lot of back story. Then all of a sudden, the ex-husband pops up later and I just felt that his appearance at that juncture was a bit misplaced. It could have been great, but some elements were missing that were crucial for making the connection.
Overall, I think this book was good. It has a great premise and decent writing. If it were expanded on, and a few of the missing pieces were drawn into the story, it would be great.
On a scale of 1-4, I give this book a 3. Good concept, just needs a bit of clarification and more back story.
This book was published by Llumina Press.
ISBN: 9781605941622
Thank you to Vanessa Morgan for the gift of this book.
July 18, 2009
Megan Blackwood had cracked the CIA Security system, making her a very important person at the news desk. “Excuse me. Megan? Your daughter, on line four.” The secretary had leapt in unnoticed. “Callie, this is really not a good time. Tell her I’ll call her back as soon as I can.” Her daughter’s troubles could wait, but this documentary could not. “Ok, ma’am,” Callie said, and she left the room.” After Jenna had called again, and was ignored the next call was from the Police Department. Megan transferred them back to her secretary. When Callie put the phone back down, Megan asked, “What was that all about?” “There has been a suicide in your neighborhood.” “A suicide?” “A teenager has cut his wrists.” “That’s terrible.” A bad feeling Okay, so a kid has killed himself. But what has that got to do with us?” Megan said.
What’s the address?” ....Callie handed her the notes. Megan looked at it and froze. “What’s this?” “It’s the address you just asked me for. Why? What is it?” Megan didn’t say anything. She was ashen. “Can you please say something?” “That’s my address,” Megan said. And so it began: the death of her son Josh turns life backwards, sideways and totally around.
Seven months later, Megan is still lost and searching. She has become an expert at pretending everything is fine when, of course, it isn’t. She and Jenna are spending the summer in Moonlight Creek, hopefully not killing each other but finding their way back to normalcy. Normalcy is something they won’t find in Moonlight Creek because no one who lives there ever leaves. It isn’t safe.
What a good read this was! Teen suicide is never something to be taken lightly and the beginning of this book catches you and doesn’t put you down until end end. I truly enjoyed it and it made my weekend!
What’s the address?” ....Callie handed her the notes. Megan looked at it and froze. “What’s this?” “It’s the address you just asked me for. Why? What is it?” Megan didn’t say anything. She was ashen. “Can you please say something?” “That’s my address,” Megan said. And so it began: the death of her son Josh turns life backwards, sideways and totally around.
Seven months later, Megan is still lost and searching. She has become an expert at pretending everything is fine when, of course, it isn’t. She and Jenna are spending the summer in Moonlight Creek, hopefully not killing each other but finding their way back to normalcy. Normalcy is something they won’t find in Moonlight Creek because no one who lives there ever leaves. It isn’t safe.
What a good read this was! Teen suicide is never something to be taken lightly and the beginning of this book catches you and doesn’t put you down until end end. I truly enjoyed it and it made my weekend!
March 27, 2011
Excerpt from my review below. You can read my full, in-depth review here: http://thebookpixie.blogspot.com/2011...
"Drowned Sorrow showed great potential with its story line. I thought the idea and imagining behind Moonlight Creek was dark and creepy but I wanted more history. I wanted to know more about the why's and how's. I know sometimes we aren't meant to know everything but I really felt the story behind Moonlight Creek should have been elaborated on more. It sometimes felt like there were gaps, like I was just missing something. Another thing, I wish Morgan had started out more subtly about the oddities and freakishness of the town because I constantly found it hard to believe that Megan and Jenna continued staying there with everything that happened........................................................
In all honesty, Drowned Sorrow fell short of my expectations. The book wasn't all bad, it had some redeeming qualities and I can tell the author has got some talent. However, I think there were quite a few things that could have been done more adequately. I have to admit though, while this book took me longer to read than it should have, whenever I wasn't reading it, I often found my mind wondering back to it. It was one of those books that kinda stuck with me and while not spectacular, I can't deny its memorability. So, here's what it comes down to. Would I recommend this? The majority of the reviews and ratings I've seen for this have been positive and while I don't think I'd read this again, I do believe it was worth reading the first time. In other words, if the premise appeals to you, go for it. "
"Drowned Sorrow showed great potential with its story line. I thought the idea and imagining behind Moonlight Creek was dark and creepy but I wanted more history. I wanted to know more about the why's and how's. I know sometimes we aren't meant to know everything but I really felt the story behind Moonlight Creek should have been elaborated on more. It sometimes felt like there were gaps, like I was just missing something. Another thing, I wish Morgan had started out more subtly about the oddities and freakishness of the town because I constantly found it hard to believe that Megan and Jenna continued staying there with everything that happened........................................................
In all honesty, Drowned Sorrow fell short of my expectations. The book wasn't all bad, it had some redeeming qualities and I can tell the author has got some talent. However, I think there were quite a few things that could have been done more adequately. I have to admit though, while this book took me longer to read than it should have, whenever I wasn't reading it, I often found my mind wondering back to it. It was one of those books that kinda stuck with me and while not spectacular, I can't deny its memorability. So, here's what it comes down to. Would I recommend this? The majority of the reviews and ratings I've seen for this have been positive and while I don't think I'd read this again, I do believe it was worth reading the first time. In other words, if the premise appeals to you, go for it. "
November 4, 2012
Overview: The atmosphere in Drowned Sorrows reminded me of Silent Hill. The premise is kind of the same, in which once you enter the town there is no possibility of leaving. Drowned Sorrows stars a cast of dreary locals who want nothing more than for the “visitors” to become permanent residents.
Characters: Megan isn’t likeable at the start of the book. In fact, it took quite a few chapters for me to recover from the mistake she made in chapter one that ended up costing a life. Eventually Megan does redeem herself with her persistence to try to be a good mother and protector to her daughter, Jenna. By the end, I’m rooting for both Megan and Jenna as they try to escape Moonlight Creek. I really like Mark, one of the locals. The scenes between him and a special someone are really sweet and practically the only time that the atmosphere relaxes in the novel.
Plot: After Megan made a fatal mistake by putting her career in front of her family, she decided to be the best mother she could at all costs. She withdrew from her husband and her job and focused all of her energy on Jenna. It is Jenna who decides that they should take a vacation to the town of Moonlight Creek to bond and try to heal old wounds. Once there, the two women find out that leaving is an impossible feat.
Ending: Bittersweet. There are quite a few clues that lead up to the reveal within the last few pages, but if you’ll like me you’ll ignore them because you don’t want that to happen. You hope against hope that something different will happen. As someone who typically hates horror book endings, this one I really liked. Dark, sad, and completely rational.
Characters: Megan isn’t likeable at the start of the book. In fact, it took quite a few chapters for me to recover from the mistake she made in chapter one that ended up costing a life. Eventually Megan does redeem herself with her persistence to try to be a good mother and protector to her daughter, Jenna. By the end, I’m rooting for both Megan and Jenna as they try to escape Moonlight Creek. I really like Mark, one of the locals. The scenes between him and a special someone are really sweet and practically the only time that the atmosphere relaxes in the novel.
Plot: After Megan made a fatal mistake by putting her career in front of her family, she decided to be the best mother she could at all costs. She withdrew from her husband and her job and focused all of her energy on Jenna. It is Jenna who decides that they should take a vacation to the town of Moonlight Creek to bond and try to heal old wounds. Once there, the two women find out that leaving is an impossible feat.
Ending: Bittersweet. There are quite a few clues that lead up to the reveal within the last few pages, but if you’ll like me you’ll ignore them because you don’t want that to happen. You hope against hope that something different will happen. As someone who typically hates horror book endings, this one I really liked. Dark, sad, and completely rational.
January 25, 2011
I have to say, after reading the Strangers Outside I was disappointed by Drowned Sorrow. A short novella horror story, I was expecting a fast paced read that would likely only last me a day tops, instead I ended up dragging it out for several days often putting it down a page or two into reading because I just wasn't getting into it.
Now to be fair I don't think it was a character development thing, her characters were nicely fleshed out for a short story, but they did some unbelievable things at the end which I thought didn't jive with the development throughout the start of the book. But my biggest complaint was really the editing.
Possibly this was just my copy but there were repeated paragraphs I had to read twice to understand. For instance Megan and her daughter arrive at the beach and comment on how it's empty, than one sentence later are commenting on all the people. Or they would be on a walk and suddenly the dog would be with them. It was very confusing. And I'm guessing it was the biggest reason I became so put off and kept loosing interest.
But at the very end, the kicker was the twist. After half a week of thinking about it, I still don't see how the twist made sense with the rest of the story, but that could just be because I was too busy trying to understand what was happening one paragraph at a time.
Of course this is just my opinion, to be taken with a grain of salt as I have read other reviews of the story who liked it more than I did. Check them out and decide for yourself:
Reader Reccomended
Now to be fair I don't think it was a character development thing, her characters were nicely fleshed out for a short story, but they did some unbelievable things at the end which I thought didn't jive with the development throughout the start of the book. But my biggest complaint was really the editing.
Possibly this was just my copy but there were repeated paragraphs I had to read twice to understand. For instance Megan and her daughter arrive at the beach and comment on how it's empty, than one sentence later are commenting on all the people. Or they would be on a walk and suddenly the dog would be with them. It was very confusing. And I'm guessing it was the biggest reason I became so put off and kept loosing interest.
But at the very end, the kicker was the twist. After half a week of thinking about it, I still don't see how the twist made sense with the rest of the story, but that could just be because I was too busy trying to understand what was happening one paragraph at a time.
Of course this is just my opinion, to be taken with a grain of salt as I have read other reviews of the story who liked it more than I did. Check them out and decide for yourself:
Reader Reccomended
June 1, 2012
Drowned Sorrow starts off with Megan Blackwood in a meeting at work and her daughter constantly ringing but she tells her receptionist to tell her unless it is an emergency she cannot talk. When Megan gets home she finds her only son has died in a bid to get some attention from his mother who was married to her work.
Months later Megan decides to take a break with her Daughter Jenna to Moonlight Creek a small secluded village where the villagers only come out in the rain, walk like they have all the time in the world and look and act pretty strange. And a Lake!
I will not say anything more about the plot as I do not want to spoil the story for people that have not read it yet.
This book was pretty crazy, it had sadness and sorrow, action plus its was scary and creepy.
While reading it I kept telling Megan and Jenna in my head not to go near the Lake. I think if it were me that had visited Moonlight Creek I would have made a U-turn and drove away quickly instead of making do.
The story did jump from character to character a lot of the time and sometimes I got a bit lost with all the jumps but it did not spoil it.
Drowned Sorrow could have been a bit longer, it was well written and it kept me gripped, wanting to find out what happens at the end.
It has great potential for a movie.
Months later Megan decides to take a break with her Daughter Jenna to Moonlight Creek a small secluded village where the villagers only come out in the rain, walk like they have all the time in the world and look and act pretty strange. And a Lake!
I will not say anything more about the plot as I do not want to spoil the story for people that have not read it yet.
This book was pretty crazy, it had sadness and sorrow, action plus its was scary and creepy.
While reading it I kept telling Megan and Jenna in my head not to go near the Lake. I think if it were me that had visited Moonlight Creek I would have made a U-turn and drove away quickly instead of making do.
The story did jump from character to character a lot of the time and sometimes I got a bit lost with all the jumps but it did not spoil it.
Drowned Sorrow could have been a bit longer, it was well written and it kept me gripped, wanting to find out what happens at the end.
It has great potential for a movie.
November 14, 2010
This book was a very quick and creepy read.
The story is set in a creepy little backwater village in the middle of nowhere. The residents are a little unsettling and you can't quite put your finger on it but something isn't quite right. The main characters are there for a short holiday to get away from it all having been recommended by a friend. As the story progresses it becomes more and more apparent that things are no as they seem and the final conclusion to the story was creepy.
I liked the premise and there were scenes that were very creepy (especially the scene in the supermarket). The ideas were quite original although it did remind me in style if not content of a series called invasion which was on TV a few years ago.
I found however that there were too many characters and none of which I could warm to all that much. I would have prefered a smaller cast and more character development. I also didn't really get why everything was happening.
Of the variety of self published books I have read this certtainly was one of the stronger ones. I find sometimes self published books need a bit more work to be polished enough to be really good but this books proves that Vanessa Morgan has potential.
The story is set in a creepy little backwater village in the middle of nowhere. The residents are a little unsettling and you can't quite put your finger on it but something isn't quite right. The main characters are there for a short holiday to get away from it all having been recommended by a friend. As the story progresses it becomes more and more apparent that things are no as they seem and the final conclusion to the story was creepy.
I liked the premise and there were scenes that were very creepy (especially the scene in the supermarket). The ideas were quite original although it did remind me in style if not content of a series called invasion which was on TV a few years ago.
I found however that there were too many characters and none of which I could warm to all that much. I would have prefered a smaller cast and more character development. I also didn't really get why everything was happening.
Of the variety of self published books I have read this certtainly was one of the stronger ones. I find sometimes self published books need a bit more work to be polished enough to be really good but this books proves that Vanessa Morgan has potential.
November 18, 2010
Have you watched The Village, a 2004-movie directed by M. Night Shyamalan? While I was reading Drowned Sorrow, I kept comparing it to the movie. There's something not right in Moonlight Creek but I couldn't figure it out. In the movie The Village, the Elders told the young villagers that they cannot leave the village because there are creatures inhabiting beyond the woods and these creatures will kill them once they step into the woods. This book was similar to the storyline of that movie, the people living in Moonlight Creek cannot leave their town because they're afraid they won't survive once they go outside the town.
I couldn't stop once I started reading this and that was almost midnight! It was not really that scary so I don't consider this as a horror book but it was the suspense in the story that made the book great!
I liked the book's ending, it was a complete surprise! I have never guessed that while reading the book. If you are looking for a great suspense story, you might want to buy a copy of this and you will not be disappointed with it.
http://bookinglyyours.blogspot.com/20...
I couldn't stop once I started reading this and that was almost midnight! It was not really that scary so I don't consider this as a horror book but it was the suspense in the story that made the book great!
I liked the book's ending, it was a complete surprise! I have never guessed that while reading the book. If you are looking for a great suspense story, you might want to buy a copy of this and you will not be disappointed with it.
http://bookinglyyours.blogspot.com/20...
February 13, 2022
I will admit I put the bar pretty low for this one. Having started with her short story, The Strangers Outside, and been disappointed, I wasn't too excited going in to this one. But still, I gave it the benefit of the doubt, hoping I'd enjoy it, and it worked out alright for the most part. The story was pretty compelling, the characters were fleshed out to some degree, and there was suspense in the plot. I think having it as a novella instead of a short story helped a lot.
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Ultimately, I still don't think this story is quite up to publishing standards. Good concept, alright character-building, okay in pacing and mood-building, but lacking full descriptions, realistic dialog, and overall polishing. Perhaps keep an eye out for later editions, but as is it still has a few drafts to go before I'd be willing to give it another shot. I've heard this is also being adapted into a movie. I'd recommend looking out for it, if just for the interesting concept.
Approximate Reading Time: 3 Hours
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Ultimately, I still don't think this story is quite up to publishing standards. Good concept, alright character-building, okay in pacing and mood-building, but lacking full descriptions, realistic dialog, and overall polishing. Perhaps keep an eye out for later editions, but as is it still has a few drafts to go before I'd be willing to give it another shot. I've heard this is also being adapted into a movie. I'd recommend looking out for it, if just for the interesting concept.
Approximate Reading Time: 3 Hours
April 9, 2012
I'm sure you'll understand once you know the rules of this village
Drowned Sorrow has a very interesting premise, It is nice to see someone not going an average route with a story. When I first heard about this book and how in fact it plays with the theory of The Memory Of Water. I was very excited to read it.
I myself have had a lot of interest in the mystery of water and this book embraces some of the theories without beating you over the head with it. The book has very well drawn characters that all become part of this creepy little town. It is a creepy fast read that will keep you reading to find out what is really going on with this town, and the lake.
She captures a very dark atmosphere and leaves it somewhat light on the gore, and sexual content so I think a young reader just being introduced into the horror genre would find it compelling and enough to keep older fan of horror interested.
So grab yourself a bottle of water and enjoy an interesting read.
I received a PDF copy of this book to review from the author herself.
Drowned Sorrow has a very interesting premise, It is nice to see someone not going an average route with a story. When I first heard about this book and how in fact it plays with the theory of The Memory Of Water. I was very excited to read it.
I myself have had a lot of interest in the mystery of water and this book embraces some of the theories without beating you over the head with it. The book has very well drawn characters that all become part of this creepy little town. It is a creepy fast read that will keep you reading to find out what is really going on with this town, and the lake.
She captures a very dark atmosphere and leaves it somewhat light on the gore, and sexual content so I think a young reader just being introduced into the horror genre would find it compelling and enough to keep older fan of horror interested.
So grab yourself a bottle of water and enjoy an interesting read.
I received a PDF copy of this book to review from the author herself.
December 4, 2013
My thoughts:
This work is very creative. They way she used water as the center of the entire plot was incredibly clever. The opening was shocking and attention grabbing. The plot was intriguing and twisted. I enjoyed that she only gave away a little at a time. Never too much so you know where she is going. It's a secret to the end. The characters are really well written.
I will say that I am not a fan of trying to follow several stories at once. I feel confused and sometimes get lost. These where easier to follow then some that follow that pattern, I didn't feel that it skipped around too much for my taste and could have slowed down and given a little more information. I also see that no one received any kind of redemption, you would expect them to get it. I also think there should of been and in depth explanation about how it all came about.
My rating:
3 stars
This work is very creative. They way she used water as the center of the entire plot was incredibly clever. The opening was shocking and attention grabbing. The plot was intriguing and twisted. I enjoyed that she only gave away a little at a time. Never too much so you know where she is going. It's a secret to the end. The characters are really well written.
I will say that I am not a fan of trying to follow several stories at once. I feel confused and sometimes get lost. These where easier to follow then some that follow that pattern, I didn't feel that it skipped around too much for my taste and could have slowed down and given a little more information. I also see that no one received any kind of redemption, you would expect them to get it. I also think there should of been and in depth explanation about how it all came about.
My rating:
3 stars
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