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Projections
S.E. Porter, critically-acclaimed YA author of Vassa in the Night , bursts onto the adult fantasy scene with her adult novel that is sure to appeal to fans of Jeff Vandemeer and China Mieville
Love may last a lifetime, but in this dark historical fantasy, the bitterness of rejection endures for centuries.
As a young woman seeks vengeance on the obsessed sorcerer who murdered her because he could not have her, her murderer sends projections of himself out into the world to seek out and seduce women who will return the love she denied―or suffer mortal consequence. A lush, gothic journey across worlds full of strange characters and even stranger magic.
Sarah Porter’s adult debut explores misogyny and the soul-corrupting power of unrequited love through an enchanted lens of violence and revenge.
Also by Sarah
Vassa in the Night
When I Cast Your Shadow
Never-Contented Things
Love may last a lifetime, but in this dark historical fantasy, the bitterness of rejection endures for centuries.
As a young woman seeks vengeance on the obsessed sorcerer who murdered her because he could not have her, her murderer sends projections of himself out into the world to seek out and seduce women who will return the love she denied―or suffer mortal consequence. A lush, gothic journey across worlds full of strange characters and even stranger magic.
Sarah Porter’s adult debut explores misogyny and the soul-corrupting power of unrequited love through an enchanted lens of violence and revenge.
Also by Sarah
Vassa in the Night
When I Cast Your Shadow
Never-Contented Things
452 pages, Hardcover
First published February 13, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
Want to read
May 21, 2024 This cover just shocked my system with a hit of dopamine - hope the inside is as lovely as the outside. 🖤
March 29, 2024
The concept behind the book is excellent. The execution somehow did not live up to it. Which is too bad, because it really is a great concept and I had high hopes! In 1850s New York, Catherine is murdered by her childhood friend Gus, who turned into a sorcerer, when she denies his romantic advances. Catherine's ghost gets stuck to Gus and he takes her to a supernatural world called Nautilus. From there, he creates different projections of himself and sends them out into the real world. These projections range in age and are sent out throughout time. As a weird revenge on Catherine, these projections attempt to seduce women who remind Gus of her. If the love is not returned, they are murdered. Catherine, as a ghost and learning her ghostly abilities, devises a plan to bring Gus down. It sounds pretty cool and is certainly unique! But the execution fell short for me. I didn't understand what was going on for a while, I found it a bit hard to follow. The jumps in time do nothing to help this and I sometimes found myself really confused. Maybe this is a skill issue on my end, but I found it to be a good idea with a clunky execution. Solid 3 stars.
February 2, 2024
Wow! What a story! This turned out to be so awesome. I loved the ending. Honestly, tell me about a woman overcoming, and I'm sold.
Okay, I have to be really honest about the beginning of this book. It's three points of view but just two people, and yes, it's as confusing as that sounds at first. But I got in the swing of this story and enjoyed it immensely. In other words, if you read this, please give it a chance! It's really great when you get into it.
Gus loved Catherine. He loved Catherine so much that he killed her when she didn't return that love. Her ghost kind of attaches to him, and she tells part of the story while Gus is telling his story in two different time periods.
It's a wild story, and the way the author tells this story really makes Gus look as messed up as someone would have to be to do what he did to Catherine and then to others. So, yeah, this is a cool read.
Out February 13, 2024!
Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!
Okay, I have to be really honest about the beginning of this book. It's three points of view but just two people, and yes, it's as confusing as that sounds at first. But I got in the swing of this story and enjoyed it immensely. In other words, if you read this, please give it a chance! It's really great when you get into it.
Gus loved Catherine. He loved Catherine so much that he killed her when she didn't return that love. Her ghost kind of attaches to him, and she tells part of the story while Gus is telling his story in two different time periods.
It's a wild story, and the way the author tells this story really makes Gus look as messed up as someone would have to be to do what he did to Catherine and then to others. So, yeah, this is a cool read.
Out February 13, 2024!
Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!
Want to read
June 30, 2023Not to be dramatic, but this cover has become one of my only reasons to live.
January 21, 2024
No lie, if the middle hadn't dragged so much, this would've been a perfect 5 stars.
I loved this dark fantasy arc. But then again, I love anything to do with women getting their revenge on egotistical men who believe that they're entitled to a woman's affections. And after having to drag through the bloated middle part, the ending was totally worth it.
When I started reading this, I struggled with the writing style. Catherine's POV starts off around the mid-1800s and I think the author did really well with capturing the character's voice from that time period. For someone who's used to a modern-day tone of voice, it'll read like purple prose.
But 10% in, somehow it all clicked together for me, and it became easygoing.
I loved how the author easily switches writing styles between Catherine's and Angus's POVs. I think it takes real skill to have to switch from a modern POV to something much older and back again and so forth.
I ended up really loving Catherine as an MC. She tries to make do with her situation in life (both in the past and the present), even though mid-1800s society doesn't give a fuck about women.
For most of the novel, she doesn't really have any agency. I thought I'd have trouble with that, but in her situation (she's a ghost tethered to her murderer), it makes sense. When she finally gains some agency in the last third of the book, it felt like a huge relief and I was rooting for her the entire time.
The author really knows how to write a despicable villain. Throughout the entire book, I was pretty fucking disgusted with Gus. And this feeling only grew worse and worse the more I read on. Talk about the jilted lover trope cranked up to the extreme.
I would've loved more focus on Nautilus, the magical city. We're fed bits and pieces here and there, and it seems like every citizen dislikes living in Nautilus to a certain extent. You'd think a magical city where no one ages and everyone has some level of magical skill would be really cool, but it sounds like another neoliberal shithole on Earth.
With all of the themes combined, this is such a depressed girlie book. It's so dark and creative. I'd love to read more from this author!
Thank you to Tor Books and NetGalley for this arc.
I loved this dark fantasy arc. But then again, I love anything to do with women getting their revenge on egotistical men who believe that they're entitled to a woman's affections. And after having to drag through the bloated middle part, the ending was totally worth it.
When I started reading this, I struggled with the writing style. Catherine's POV starts off around the mid-1800s and I think the author did really well with capturing the character's voice from that time period. For someone who's used to a modern-day tone of voice, it'll read like purple prose.
But 10% in, somehow it all clicked together for me, and it became easygoing.
I loved how the author easily switches writing styles between Catherine's and Angus's POVs. I think it takes real skill to have to switch from a modern POV to something much older and back again and so forth.
I ended up really loving Catherine as an MC. She tries to make do with her situation in life (both in the past and the present), even though mid-1800s society doesn't give a fuck about women.
For most of the novel, she doesn't really have any agency. I thought I'd have trouble with that, but in her situation (she's a ghost tethered to her murderer), it makes sense. When she finally gains some agency in the last third of the book, it felt like a huge relief and I was rooting for her the entire time.
The author really knows how to write a despicable villain. Throughout the entire book, I was pretty fucking disgusted with Gus. And this feeling only grew worse and worse the more I read on. Talk about the jilted lover trope cranked up to the extreme.
I would've loved more focus on Nautilus, the magical city. We're fed bits and pieces here and there, and it seems like every citizen dislikes living in Nautilus to a certain extent. You'd think a magical city where no one ages and everyone has some level of magical skill would be really cool, but it sounds like another neoliberal shithole on Earth.
With all of the themes combined, this is such a depressed girlie book. It's so dark and creative. I'd love to read more from this author!
Thank you to Tor Books and NetGalley for this arc.
Want to read
August 24, 2024a young woman seeks vengeance on the obsessed sorcerer who murdered her...
January 22, 2024
A sorcerer obsessed with a young woman... an bloody obsessive love that spans history and multiple dead bodies. Gus loves Catherine, he loves her more than anything... loves her enough to murder her and trap her soul... to send projections of himself out into the world to seduce women who will return the love that Catherine denied... and if they deny him... they will suffer terrible consequences. Catherine was friends with Gus, but she never was in love with him the way he loved her. Yet he murders her before her engagement... and now she is trapped bound to him. But she will not lie waiting.. she'll wait, plotting her revenge against the man who destroyed her who was so obsessed with her that that she can't ever find peace. Can she kill him before it's too late? This book was a DRAG. I felt like Catherine being dragged on by Angus for years while reading this book. The story's pacing is so beyond slow and for a book that is 500+ pages, this book had me disassociating so much. Angus's constant "woe is me" chapters kept going on and on and on and I would absolutely prefer if we got more Catherine revenge plotline. The story itself is confusing, the constant jumping back and forth does not help at all and for a book about revenge and obsessive love, I was hoping I would love it but I so badly wanted to DNF it over and over but forced myself to read it until the end. This book is beyond slow and the plot drags on and on to the point where you begin to ask yourself what even is the point or what is even happening. Honestly for a book that is meant to be a dark historical fantasy filled with obsessive love and revenge, it sounds right up my alley... yet it's nothing like what I had expected or wanted. This book is for anyone who enjoys extremely slow paced stories and lots of time jumping and drawn out character stories.
*Thanks Netgalley and Tor Publishing Group, Tor Books for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*
*Thanks Netgalley and Tor Publishing Group, Tor Books for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*
February 27, 2024
5/5 Stars
TL;DR - A deliciously slow-burning revenge story, simmering with feminine rage. Trippy, surreal, and hauntingly human. Unlike anything I’ve ever read in the best possible way.
Big thanks to Tor and NetGalley for providing the ARC for this book in exchange for an honest review!
***Trigger Warnings for: being murdered, strangulation, objectification and dehumanization, sexism, misogyny, mentions of child abuse, sexual assault, illness and death of a parent, gore, paternalism, unwanted sexual advances, murder, and violations of bodily autonomy.***
‘Projections’ by S. E. Porter is a genre-bending masterpiece of revenge, obsession, and mortality - and the denial thereof. Equal parts historical fiction, horror, magical realism, and fantasy - and 100% feminist manifesto - this book is unlike anything you’re likely to read presently or in the future. It follows two narrators along three distinct timelines - Catherine Bildstein, a 19 year-old woman living in 19th century rural New York, through her short life up to her untimely murder, Catherine again as she’s tethered as a shrieking ghost to the man who killed her and her harrowing existence thereafter, and Angus Farrow, a “projection” - that is, a magical facsimile - of Catherine’s murderer in the present day as he carries out his creator’s twisted desires. We learn in gorgeous and heart-breaking detail about the evils of toxic masculinity and how dangerous a double-edged sword it can truly become.
Holy. Shit. Full stop, end of story, that’s all, folks.
I don’t even have words to convey what I just read. I’m shook, I’m flabbergasted, I’m deceased - and I’m living for it.
The victors write the histories of wars. Great men pen their memoirs without wasting ink on the villages they burned or the washerwomen they raped. And the living, of course, have rather a monopoly on telling tales of ghosts.
I guess I’ll start with the prose, like the excerpt above. It’s gorgeous. Picture the most heart-wrenching, glittering, soul-deep prose you’ve ever read, and I promise you that this book is infinitely more, well, more. It reads like a literary classic coming out of Georgian/Victorian times, and then some. The prose is smart and beautiful, incredibly real but also infinitely ephemeral, as dreamy and fantastical as the events it's recounting. The verbosity takes some getting used to, certainly, but once you allow yourself to sink into it, you’re carried along like floating down a lazy, bejeweled river.
Okay, I’m getting a little carried away in my praise, but that’s how profound an effect this book had on me.
Catherine is everything as a character. She’s strong-willed and yet a victim of the time she was born in, she’s smart and sardonic and so sure of who she is, even when she’s floundering in her morality. Even when she’s depressed and listless, she’s fierce, even when she’s pursuing her goals with single-minded fervor, she’s uncertain - she’s all of the contradictions and synergies and more. I don’t think I’ve ever rooted so hard for a fictional character in everything she does, right and wrong.
(On that note, Catherine in all her glory earned this book a coveted spot on my “I Support Women’s Wrongs” shelf. Well done, madam.)
Angus, while not nearly as compelling a POV as Catherine, was also very interesting to follow. There’s a slow mystery as to who exactly he is, and then to the full extent of what he is and how it will impact the greater narrative, and while it was certainly often yucky to be in his head (being the projection of a very vile and entitled man), I still had empathy for him and followed his development with great interest.
The world is fantastic, literally and figuratively. This whole book reads like a dark Studio Ghibli movie - there are strange and fantastical creatures like in ‘Spirited Away’, there is charm and whimsy and wonder (and fickle, vain sorcerers) like in ‘Howl’s Moving Castle’, there’s desolation and greed and bleak humanity like in ‘Princess Mononoke’. Minotaurs, talking frogs, ever-changing limnal cities, strange and wonderful magic - I cannot stress enough how this whole book is just one long, bleak and beautiful Miyazaki film. Chef’s freaking kiss on the vibes.
(On later reflection, this also gives strong ‘Penny Dreadful’ vibes in a lot of places - the bleak, 19th century fantastical aspects and similarities cannot be denied.)
This is definitely a character-driven story, and a long one at that, so if you’re more of a plot-centric reader who needs action, this will probably be a tough read. I’m something of a plot girlie myself, but I was so enchanted by the world and so enamored with Catherine (and to a lesser extent, Angus), that I really didn’t mind the almost 500 pages it took to tell the full story. There’s definitely a plot, don’t get me wrong, and some pretty intense parts on top of the over-arching mystery of the whole story, but I would definitely say this will appeal more to literary fiction readers than those used to plot-driven narratives.
And on top of all that, this book is so fucking feminist that I almost can’t stand it - and I say that with such respect and affection, mind you. The pure, unadulterated feminine rage that seethes from every page of this book is exquisite, and I absolutely ate it all up. This is a scathing examination of toxic masculinity and paternalism, of the very real harm it causes every day to people of every gender (or lack thereof, I see you, besties), written with care and consternation in equal measure. I don’t have the words to do it justice, please read it for yourself and then sit with it, savor it, let the bittersweet taste linger on the back of your tongue.
(Also, loving the subtle and beautiful queer rep!)
I need to stop now or I’ll wax poetic forever. Read this book, I beg of you.
Final Thoughts:
This book is everything. Lovingly shelving as “My Soul On Paper” and “I Support Women’s Wrongs”. Purchasing a physical copy as soon as I post this review.
TL;DR - A deliciously slow-burning revenge story, simmering with feminine rage. Trippy, surreal, and hauntingly human. Unlike anything I’ve ever read in the best possible way.
Big thanks to Tor and NetGalley for providing the ARC for this book in exchange for an honest review!
***Trigger Warnings for: being murdered, strangulation, objectification and dehumanization, sexism, misogyny, mentions of child abuse, sexual assault, illness and death of a parent, gore, paternalism, unwanted sexual advances, murder, and violations of bodily autonomy.***
‘Projections’ by S. E. Porter is a genre-bending masterpiece of revenge, obsession, and mortality - and the denial thereof. Equal parts historical fiction, horror, magical realism, and fantasy - and 100% feminist manifesto - this book is unlike anything you’re likely to read presently or in the future. It follows two narrators along three distinct timelines - Catherine Bildstein, a 19 year-old woman living in 19th century rural New York, through her short life up to her untimely murder, Catherine again as she’s tethered as a shrieking ghost to the man who killed her and her harrowing existence thereafter, and Angus Farrow, a “projection” - that is, a magical facsimile - of Catherine’s murderer in the present day as he carries out his creator’s twisted desires. We learn in gorgeous and heart-breaking detail about the evils of toxic masculinity and how dangerous a double-edged sword it can truly become.
Holy. Shit. Full stop, end of story, that’s all, folks.
I don’t even have words to convey what I just read. I’m shook, I’m flabbergasted, I’m deceased - and I’m living for it.
The victors write the histories of wars. Great men pen their memoirs without wasting ink on the villages they burned or the washerwomen they raped. And the living, of course, have rather a monopoly on telling tales of ghosts.
I guess I’ll start with the prose, like the excerpt above. It’s gorgeous. Picture the most heart-wrenching, glittering, soul-deep prose you’ve ever read, and I promise you that this book is infinitely more, well, more. It reads like a literary classic coming out of Georgian/Victorian times, and then some. The prose is smart and beautiful, incredibly real but also infinitely ephemeral, as dreamy and fantastical as the events it's recounting. The verbosity takes some getting used to, certainly, but once you allow yourself to sink into it, you’re carried along like floating down a lazy, bejeweled river.
Okay, I’m getting a little carried away in my praise, but that’s how profound an effect this book had on me.
Catherine is everything as a character. She’s strong-willed and yet a victim of the time she was born in, she’s smart and sardonic and so sure of who she is, even when she’s floundering in her morality. Even when she’s depressed and listless, she’s fierce, even when she’s pursuing her goals with single-minded fervor, she’s uncertain - she’s all of the contradictions and synergies and more. I don’t think I’ve ever rooted so hard for a fictional character in everything she does, right and wrong.
(On that note, Catherine in all her glory earned this book a coveted spot on my “I Support Women’s Wrongs” shelf. Well done, madam.)
Angus, while not nearly as compelling a POV as Catherine, was also very interesting to follow. There’s a slow mystery as to who exactly he is, and then to the full extent of what he is and how it will impact the greater narrative, and while it was certainly often yucky to be in his head (being the projection of a very vile and entitled man), I still had empathy for him and followed his development with great interest.
The world is fantastic, literally and figuratively. This whole book reads like a dark Studio Ghibli movie - there are strange and fantastical creatures like in ‘Spirited Away’, there is charm and whimsy and wonder (and fickle, vain sorcerers) like in ‘Howl’s Moving Castle’, there’s desolation and greed and bleak humanity like in ‘Princess Mononoke’. Minotaurs, talking frogs, ever-changing limnal cities, strange and wonderful magic - I cannot stress enough how this whole book is just one long, bleak and beautiful Miyazaki film. Chef’s freaking kiss on the vibes.
(On later reflection, this also gives strong ‘Penny Dreadful’ vibes in a lot of places - the bleak, 19th century fantastical aspects and similarities cannot be denied.)
This is definitely a character-driven story, and a long one at that, so if you’re more of a plot-centric reader who needs action, this will probably be a tough read. I’m something of a plot girlie myself, but I was so enchanted by the world and so enamored with Catherine (and to a lesser extent, Angus), that I really didn’t mind the almost 500 pages it took to tell the full story. There’s definitely a plot, don’t get me wrong, and some pretty intense parts on top of the over-arching mystery of the whole story, but I would definitely say this will appeal more to literary fiction readers than those used to plot-driven narratives.
And on top of all that, this book is so fucking feminist that I almost can’t stand it - and I say that with such respect and affection, mind you. The pure, unadulterated feminine rage that seethes from every page of this book is exquisite, and I absolutely ate it all up. This is a scathing examination of toxic masculinity and paternalism, of the very real harm it causes every day to people of every gender (or lack thereof, I see you, besties), written with care and consternation in equal measure. I don’t have the words to do it justice, please read it for yourself and then sit with it, savor it, let the bittersweet taste linger on the back of your tongue.
(Also, loving the subtle and beautiful queer rep!)
I need to stop now or I’ll wax poetic forever. Read this book, I beg of you.
Final Thoughts:
This book is everything. Lovingly shelving as “My Soul On Paper” and “I Support Women’s Wrongs”. Purchasing a physical copy as soon as I post this review.
December 7, 2023
Three timelines, two people, and one magical city lie among the pages of Projections, the adult fantasy debut from author Sarah Porter. The story opens with a crime of passion and we, the reader, are immediately thrown into the epic tale of young Catherine Bildstein whose spirit is tied to her childhood friend and murderer, a sorcerer named Angus Farrow. Projections is a thoughtful deep dive into the devastating consequences of power and misogyny. In turn we see the resilience of women and how she may overcome such torture to enact sweet revenge.
Fans of V.E. Schwab and Laini Taylor will appreciate this fabulous contribution to feminist literature.
I was provided an eARC from the publisher through Edelweiss+. Thank you Tor Books and Edelweiss.
Projections will be available in the U.S. on February 13, 2024.
Fans of V.E. Schwab and Laini Taylor will appreciate this fabulous contribution to feminist literature.
I was provided an eARC from the publisher through Edelweiss+. Thank you Tor Books and Edelweiss.
Projections will be available in the U.S. on February 13, 2024.
November 28, 2023
I loved this. I couldn't put it down. I had never read a book with this premise before and it had me hooked. Seeing this story literally written in the point of view of a ghost who was murdered and forcefully bound to her murderer was so interesting. I honestly can't express how much I loved this.
January 14, 2024
Projections initially grabbed my attention with how unique the plot was and I genuinely believe this could become required reading in literature courses with how well written and dissectible it is. There’s so many layers to this story, and the nonlinear timeline slowly revealing everything was very well done. However, the writing style wasn’t my favorite and I found this to be extremely slow paced and hard to get through at times. This feels like a classical literary tale with fresh fantasy elements and societal critiques buried beneath the surface. Essentially, Projections gives me the vibes that it was written in the 1800’s. If you like literary fiction that feels like required reading, Projections would be a great pick for you! If you enjoy annotating and picking apart the deeper meanings and themes, Projections is a perfect fit. I think a lot of people would really enjoy this, it just wasn’t my favorite.
Thank you to NetGalley, Tor Publishing, and the author for providing an early copy - I’m leaving this review voluntarily.
Thank you to NetGalley, Tor Publishing, and the author for providing an early copy - I’m leaving this review voluntarily.
Shelved as 'did-not-finish'
February 4, 2024DNF at 18%. I couldn't get into it. The beginning dragged, and while I loved the fact that our protagonist first appears to us as a screaming ghost trailing after her murderer, I didn't expect for her to remain in that helpless state for so many chapters in a tale supposedly about her revenge.
The pace was a bit slow for me, but I imagine someone who enjoys multiple perspectives, gradual building of tension, and character-driven storylines would like this more.
Thanks to Netgalley and Tor Books for the chance to sample this book early on.
The pace was a bit slow for me, but I imagine someone who enjoys multiple perspectives, gradual building of tension, and character-driven storylines would like this more.
Thanks to Netgalley and Tor Books for the chance to sample this book early on.
March 25, 2024
4.5. Excellent. A dark historical fantasy inspired by the Spiritualist movement. This story of opulence, revenge, and decay will appeal to fans of The Bone Orchard and The Picture of Dorian Gray.
Thanks to Tor for the review copy!
Thanks to Tor for the review copy!
February 11, 2024
So disclaimer: this book took me a minute to get into. Okay maybe even more than that. That said, once it got going, I found myself very invested in the story. So if you're cool with waiting for the payoff, I definitely think this one is worth it. The beginning was... confusing, and a little bland, and definitely verbose. And I was not sure I wanted to keep going. But at some point, probably around the 30% mark, I found myself reading and not even checking to see if I made progress, so that was a great sign!
And in fact, I had become very invested in this story, and especially in Catherine. It seemed all too real that Gus would murder Catherine, and still blame her for "making him" do it. Like is that not the grossest white guy crap you've ever heard? And you know it happens. All. The. Time. Not necessarily to the extent of murder (though it does happen, make no mistake) but with abuse in general. Anyway, somewhere along the way, I became as invested in Gus getting his comeuppance as Catherine was.
There ended up being a lot of very cool twists and turns, and things connected to one another that I hadn't even thought about, which made the book become very readable. And I found myself quite curious about how Catherine was still hanging around, how the world worked, and what had truly happened in the past, all of which unfurls throughout the story. I am so glad I stuck with this one!
Bottom Line: The start was a little rocky, and it could have been shorter, but man did I get hooked by the story and its characters as it went on!
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
And in fact, I had become very invested in this story, and especially in Catherine. It seemed all too real that Gus would murder Catherine, and still blame her for "making him" do it. Like is that not the grossest white guy crap you've ever heard? And you know it happens. All. The. Time. Not necessarily to the extent of murder (though it does happen, make no mistake) but with abuse in general. Anyway, somewhere along the way, I became as invested in Gus getting his comeuppance as Catherine was.
There ended up being a lot of very cool twists and turns, and things connected to one another that I hadn't even thought about, which made the book become very readable. And I found myself quite curious about how Catherine was still hanging around, how the world worked, and what had truly happened in the past, all of which unfurls throughout the story. I am so glad I stuck with this one!
Bottom Line: The start was a little rocky, and it could have been shorter, but man did I get hooked by the story and its characters as it went on!
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
January 16, 2024
The last time I read a book as angry as Projections was Joanna Russ's We Who Are About To..., a feminist sci-fi novel from the '70s that pulled absolutely no punches and didn't give a fuck about who it flustered along the way. It gave me a taste for defiantly feminist literature, easily among my favorite books of all time.
Projections may not speak in the same voice, but it is crafted with the same language, the same evocative spirit. Beautifully, powerfully written, Projections is a dense, carefully sculpted masterpiece of feminist fiction. Its study of agency, authority, love, and toxic masculinity and misogyny is a virtual textbook of feminist allegory, with memorable characters and a chillingly elaborate voice.
Although the book is many things, it is also a showcase of Porter's absolute power in prose and voice. The book's story, told nonlinearly through three distinct "movements" of two voices from the past and one from a loose present, is excellently crafted and at times indistinguishable from its historical fiction influences. In spite of its occasional denseness of prose, Porter keeps a keen eye on the story's major themes and gives them ample space to unfold. It's also rare for me to feel like a book of this length is so coherent, but Porter again weaves in so many elaborate world-building elements that directly serve her allegorical goals that not any part of the book feels out of sync with what comes before.
Whether it be metaphors about power and how it is usurped and wielded to uphold misogynistic social structures or about how toxic masculinity blinds men to the very way they torture women and themselves, the book's ideas cover a broad range of concepts from modern feminism in a way that illustrates that patriarchy's problems have really never left--with the book's fictional city of Nautilus only further serving to illustrate how corruption only seems to build upon itself. Projections never forgets its point.
This book is an absolute masterpiece of feminist fiction.
Projections may not speak in the same voice, but it is crafted with the same language, the same evocative spirit. Beautifully, powerfully written, Projections is a dense, carefully sculpted masterpiece of feminist fiction. Its study of agency, authority, love, and toxic masculinity and misogyny is a virtual textbook of feminist allegory, with memorable characters and a chillingly elaborate voice.
Although the book is many things, it is also a showcase of Porter's absolute power in prose and voice. The book's story, told nonlinearly through three distinct "movements" of two voices from the past and one from a loose present, is excellently crafted and at times indistinguishable from its historical fiction influences. In spite of its occasional denseness of prose, Porter keeps a keen eye on the story's major themes and gives them ample space to unfold. It's also rare for me to feel like a book of this length is so coherent, but Porter again weaves in so many elaborate world-building elements that directly serve her allegorical goals that not any part of the book feels out of sync with what comes before.
Whether it be metaphors about power and how it is usurped and wielded to uphold misogynistic social structures or about how toxic masculinity blinds men to the very way they torture women and themselves, the book's ideas cover a broad range of concepts from modern feminism in a way that illustrates that patriarchy's problems have really never left--with the book's fictional city of Nautilus only further serving to illustrate how corruption only seems to build upon itself. Projections never forgets its point.
This book is an absolute masterpiece of feminist fiction.
October 17, 2023
Equal parts infuriating and empowering, this book got its hooks into me QUICK!
When the whims of men become deadly, when they feel like they are owed something, love and affection when it isn’t warranted, you get Gus… I spent all of this book waiting for his demise, longing for it.
This book spans a lot of time and very little time at once, where Catherine is trapped, attached to the man that killed her because she wouldn’t love him back. He then proceeded to grossly attach to other women he thought he deserved, thought he loved, and it made me sick.
But, through these pages, we encounter different worlds, a vast array of magical creatures, and a story that had me floored. Catherine was a forced to be reckoned with. I longed for her to find peace.
This was such a uniquely written book. I am definitely going to want more adult fiction from S.E. Porter!
When the whims of men become deadly, when they feel like they are owed something, love and affection when it isn’t warranted, you get Gus… I spent all of this book waiting for his demise, longing for it.
This book spans a lot of time and very little time at once, where Catherine is trapped, attached to the man that killed her because she wouldn’t love him back. He then proceeded to grossly attach to other women he thought he deserved, thought he loved, and it made me sick.
But, through these pages, we encounter different worlds, a vast array of magical creatures, and a story that had me floored. Catherine was a forced to be reckoned with. I longed for her to find peace.
This was such a uniquely written book. I am definitely going to want more adult fiction from S.E. Porter!
Read
February 18, 2024DNF at 50%.
I tried after seeing several reviews giving this one 5-stars. I thought maybe I only needed to readjust my reading speed to make the most of it. However, I just wasn’t getting into it (or getting it, for that matter) and I wanted to so much. There are a number of timelines through varying points of view which aren't entirely linear and jump around too much to make sense of what is happening.
I feel bad as it’s rare I don’t finish a book and am still rooting for Catherine to gain her vengeance and have hope that she does! This unfortunately couldn’t capture my attention.
Thank you to NetGalley, S.E. Porter and Tor Books for an advanced e-copy of this book.
I tried after seeing several reviews giving this one 5-stars. I thought maybe I only needed to readjust my reading speed to make the most of it. However, I just wasn’t getting into it (or getting it, for that matter) and I wanted to so much. There are a number of timelines through varying points of view which aren't entirely linear and jump around too much to make sense of what is happening.
I feel bad as it’s rare I don’t finish a book and am still rooting for Catherine to gain her vengeance and have hope that she does! This unfortunately couldn’t capture my attention.
Thank you to NetGalley, S.E. Porter and Tor Books for an advanced e-copy of this book.
Shelved as 'dnf'
September 2, 2024DNF @ 14%
This DNF is very upsetting. Can you see how perfect that cover is? And the blurb sounded very promising. But the way this book is written is just not working for me. Descriptive where it’s not necessary, vague when you want more details, it’s aggravating rather than interesting.
This DNF is very upsetting. Can you see how perfect that cover is? And the blurb sounded very promising. But the way this book is written is just not working for me. Descriptive where it’s not necessary, vague when you want more details, it’s aggravating rather than interesting.
January 26, 2024
4.5/5 got an arc from work
This was trippy! One of the blurbs called it Alice in Wonderland Esque and I can see that, it reminded me more of Mieville’s Un Lun Dun mixed with the plot of the visual novel my friend is trying to put together: wildly original, vivid, and deeply unsettling, this took a bit to get going but once it did hot damn
This was trippy! One of the blurbs called it Alice in Wonderland Esque and I can see that, it reminded me more of Mieville’s Un Lun Dun mixed with the plot of the visual novel my friend is trying to put together: wildly original, vivid, and deeply unsettling, this took a bit to get going but once it did hot damn
January 15, 2024
This was unnecessarily long and overworked. The time jumps were messy and confusing. The characters were meh. The plot sounded very much up my alley but unfortunately I was not a fan of the execution of it. Not wasting anymore energy on this one.
Thanks to the publisher for an advanced copy.
Thanks to the publisher for an advanced copy.
February 28, 2024
was not expecting the ghost x frog but im kind of living for it
January 14, 2024
Thank you for the publisher for a beautiful physical ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.
3/5 stars: ★★★☆☆
"I pretended I owed nothing to the living. So now that you are also dead, you certainly owe nothing to me."
In Projections, a young woman named Catherine is murdered by the budding warlock whose romantic attention she rejects. But rather than dying completely, the magic between them latches her ghost onto her murderer so that she can never escape him. That murderer goes on to kill more and more girls for over a century simply because they all continue to reject him. Meanwhile, Catherine, in her reduced and captive state, does all she can to stop him. Lyrical writing, multiple points-of-view, and deeply layered story-telling technique lift what could have just been any other fantasy thriller to new heights in this beautiful tale of loss, revenge, longing, and a evil man's projecting of his own faults onto others. Projections felt like a poetic mixture of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue and any multitude of thrillers told from the point-of-view of female victims. Stunning and powerful.
There are many forms of "projecting" in this book. Our murderer, Gus, blames his victim for her own murder. Gus also creates magical stand-ins for himself, "projections" of himself, to go back out into the world and kill any other woman who does not love him. Finally, Catherine's own power is a sort of projection in which she exists in two places, two forms, one a projection of the other.
Not only is the concept of the book well thought-out, but it also has a beautiful and complex queer romance in addition to a young female main character who rejects the powerful magic within herself and who believes strongly in choosing her own path and "saving herself" exactly as she is, rather than the common fantasy trope of young women being "chosen" for greatness. Catherine does not want to be chosen, and makes that very clear.
The only faults I found were that the magic system could be a bit convoluted and hard to follow, but I assume clarity in this area was compromised so that more attention could be given to the complex plot structure, relationships, and character development. I also think the book was a bit long and dragged in some places, and thus could be tightened up a bit with editing. I always wanted to keep reading this, but more for the experience and uniqueness of the story than for the world or the pace.
3/5 stars: ★★★☆☆
"I pretended I owed nothing to the living. So now that you are also dead, you certainly owe nothing to me."
In Projections, a young woman named Catherine is murdered by the budding warlock whose romantic attention she rejects. But rather than dying completely, the magic between them latches her ghost onto her murderer so that she can never escape him. That murderer goes on to kill more and more girls for over a century simply because they all continue to reject him. Meanwhile, Catherine, in her reduced and captive state, does all she can to stop him. Lyrical writing, multiple points-of-view, and deeply layered story-telling technique lift what could have just been any other fantasy thriller to new heights in this beautiful tale of loss, revenge, longing, and a evil man's projecting of his own faults onto others. Projections felt like a poetic mixture of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue and any multitude of thrillers told from the point-of-view of female victims. Stunning and powerful.
There are many forms of "projecting" in this book. Our murderer, Gus, blames his victim for her own murder. Gus also creates magical stand-ins for himself, "projections" of himself, to go back out into the world and kill any other woman who does not love him. Finally, Catherine's own power is a sort of projection in which she exists in two places, two forms, one a projection of the other.
Not only is the concept of the book well thought-out, but it also has a beautiful and complex queer romance in addition to a young female main character who rejects the powerful magic within herself and who believes strongly in choosing her own path and "saving herself" exactly as she is, rather than the common fantasy trope of young women being "chosen" for greatness. Catherine does not want to be chosen, and makes that very clear.
The only faults I found were that the magic system could be a bit convoluted and hard to follow, but I assume clarity in this area was compromised so that more attention could be given to the complex plot structure, relationships, and character development. I also think the book was a bit long and dragged in some places, and thus could be tightened up a bit with editing. I always wanted to keep reading this, but more for the experience and uniqueness of the story than for the world or the pace.
February 27, 2024
A fantasy version of the Buffy episode "Ted" (S02E11) only without the robots... and the creator isn't dead because he's a sorcerer who can live for centuries as he sends his copies out into the world to murder girls they "love."
The Writing:
The writing is very competent but at times a bit too lyrical for my tastes. Especially in correspondences or literal poetry inserted in the story. It's told in multi POV, first and second person, and dual timeline.
I think that the reveals were very well seeded as they were obvious from the beginning, though the main character takes some time to realize it herself
The Plot:
This is a character based story more so than a plot-focused one. In the past timeline we learn of the characters' lives and relationship to one another, leading up to her murder. Then of her time as a screaming ghost, bound to him. Then finally in the present is the culmination of her centuries' planning.
But since much of it is driven by relationships to others and introspection/relationship to self, the developments feel much more character-driven.
World-building:
I prefer a Fantasy world that is rich in details and culture, so I feel a little letdown by the underworld presented here. I know very little of the feel of the place as it mostly seems to barely differ from our own world, since most of the interactions that take place there are transactional in nature. It's not a true criticism, but is my most negative opinion about the book-- which ain't too shabby!
Overall:
Projections is a worthwhile inclusion in the good-for-her line of books, with a slightly sapphic angle. The conclusion was satisfying and while I don't desperately love it, I also think most people will have a positive response to it.
I did have high hopes of this being a new fav like The Bone Orchard, but I think that the overall depth and nuance of the messages and themes here are familiar and therefore not pushing my boundaries enough to make a big impact. If I'd read this earlier in my reading journey it could've stuck with me more.
The Writing:
The writing is very competent but at times a bit too lyrical for my tastes. Especially in correspondences or literal poetry inserted in the story. It's told in multi POV, first and second person, and dual timeline.
I think that the reveals were very well seeded as they were obvious from the beginning, though the main character takes some time to realize it herself
The Plot:
This is a character based story more so than a plot-focused one. In the past timeline we learn of the characters' lives and relationship to one another, leading up to her murder. Then of her time as a screaming ghost, bound to him. Then finally in the present is the culmination of her centuries' planning.
But since much of it is driven by relationships to others and introspection/relationship to self, the developments feel much more character-driven.
World-building:
I prefer a Fantasy world that is rich in details and culture, so I feel a little letdown by the underworld presented here. I know very little of the feel of the place as it mostly seems to barely differ from our own world, since most of the interactions that take place there are transactional in nature. It's not a true criticism, but is my most negative opinion about the book-- which ain't too shabby!
Overall:
Projections is a worthwhile inclusion in the good-for-her line of books, with a slightly sapphic angle. The conclusion was satisfying and while I don't desperately love it, I also think most people will have a positive response to it.
I did have high hopes of this being a new fav like The Bone Orchard, but I think that the overall depth and nuance of the messages and themes here are familiar and therefore not pushing my boundaries enough to make a big impact. If I'd read this earlier in my reading journey it could've stuck with me more.
January 6, 2024
There is a lot I could say about this book. One comment I must say is the following: this book, this story, is unbearably and unnecessarily long. It’s, short of 500 pages long. This story could have been well under 400 pages, or dare I even say at most 300? Sigh.
It felt like it took too much of my time to read this book. I wanted to like it. It does seem to have qualities I enjoy: a world of magic, magical creatures, ghosts, real world references, and a FMC. What I didn’t enjoy: the length and drawn out back stories and character development, the antagonist and their side characters, the borderline love for a creature (such as an otherworldly odd mush mashed creature not like fae, ghost, or like to like mythological creature), and what is with the repetition of certain words that just seemed quite odd (not made up but seemingly archaic).
I like the idea of the plot and what could have been, but overall did not enjoy the delivery.
I hope that this author and their book find its audience. But I would not recommend this book based on the version available on NetGalley (which I am still appreciative of being able to read this story).
It felt like it took too much of my time to read this book. I wanted to like it. It does seem to have qualities I enjoy: a world of magic, magical creatures, ghosts, real world references, and a FMC. What I didn’t enjoy: the length and drawn out back stories and character development, the antagonist and their side characters, the borderline love for a creature (such as an otherworldly odd mush mashed creature not like fae, ghost, or like to like mythological creature), and what is with the repetition of certain words that just seemed quite odd (not made up but seemingly archaic).
I like the idea of the plot and what could have been, but overall did not enjoy the delivery.
I hope that this author and their book find its audience. But I would not recommend this book based on the version available on NetGalley (which I am still appreciative of being able to read this story).
April 2, 2024
This book was a work of art. It took me about a third of the way through to kinda understand what was happening but I was thoroughly hooked. This book both broke my heart and enraged me.
December 27, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley & Tor Publishing Group for the early copy in exchange for an honest review. Sadly, I dropped the book at 10% of the way through.
It's been a while since I broke my 20% rule. I give a book a good 20% of the way through before continuing or dropping it but this book was...way too confusing to keep reading.
The time jumps, lack of explanations, bizarre magic world, and unlikable characters...all contributed to my decision to let it go. There was also something about the meandering writing style that wasn't to my taste. Just an overall very bizarre book.
It's been a while since I broke my 20% rule. I give a book a good 20% of the way through before continuing or dropping it but this book was...way too confusing to keep reading.
The time jumps, lack of explanations, bizarre magic world, and unlikable characters...all contributed to my decision to let it go. There was also something about the meandering writing style that wasn't to my taste. Just an overall very bizarre book.
January 17, 2024
“There is nothing as utterly object as a corpse, its materiality distilled by the subject’s deletion. Gus, in short, had found me not object enough, and had amended that deficiency.”
Projections is part historical fantasy, part horror, with complex characters and a timeline spanning centuries. It is certainly not going to be everyone’s cup of tea, but I enjoyed it fully. The narrative voice is very distinctive; this is a big part of what makes the triple timeline effective. I never got lost or confused, which is both difficult to accomplish and key for a successful multi-timeline story. Catherine is bold and opinionated and very offended at having been murdered. Her narration made me laugh just as often as it made me sad. This set of characters are so traumatized and flawed and a big part of the book hinges on these flaws. The reader won't--can't--always root for these characters. They say and do things on impulse or based on misguided opinions, but I found that they each rang true to life.
Here’s my one major complaint. This book is too long. Like, 150 pages too long. I’m not even sure what could be cut, but for how slow the pace is, I felt like 500 pages was just too much. There are also quite a few archaic and/or unfamiliar words used, which made me grateful to be reading an ebook where I could just click and see a definition. It does add to the historical aspect and sets Catherine apart from the new era she eventually finds herself in, but it also slowed down an already slow-paced experience in my opinion.
This is for the ones who love flawed protagonists, character driven stories, and are willing to sit with a character they may not particularly like for an extended amount of time. I had a fantastic time! I’m sure not everyone will. But, if you go into this experience knowing what to expect, I think you’ll be much more likely to enjoy the ride. 3.5 stars.
Projections is part historical fantasy, part horror, with complex characters and a timeline spanning centuries. It is certainly not going to be everyone’s cup of tea, but I enjoyed it fully. The narrative voice is very distinctive; this is a big part of what makes the triple timeline effective. I never got lost or confused, which is both difficult to accomplish and key for a successful multi-timeline story. Catherine is bold and opinionated and very offended at having been murdered. Her narration made me laugh just as often as it made me sad. This set of characters are so traumatized and flawed and a big part of the book hinges on these flaws. The reader won't--can't--always root for these characters. They say and do things on impulse or based on misguided opinions, but I found that they each rang true to life.
Here’s my one major complaint. This book is too long. Like, 150 pages too long. I’m not even sure what could be cut, but for how slow the pace is, I felt like 500 pages was just too much. There are also quite a few archaic and/or unfamiliar words used, which made me grateful to be reading an ebook where I could just click and see a definition. It does add to the historical aspect and sets Catherine apart from the new era she eventually finds herself in, but it also slowed down an already slow-paced experience in my opinion.
This is for the ones who love flawed protagonists, character driven stories, and are willing to sit with a character they may not particularly like for an extended amount of time. I had a fantastic time! I’m sure not everyone will. But, if you go into this experience knowing what to expect, I think you’ll be much more likely to enjoy the ride. 3.5 stars.
June 4, 2024
Rating: 3.75
Spoiler Free Review:
Projections is a really intelligent and thought-provoking novel that is unique in all it's aspects. Magic, characters, story and settings. This story does feature multiple POVs and bounces around through different periods in time over a span of around 200 years. The perspective shifting can be a little hard just because some of the POV shifts take place at different times and so it can be a little disorienting. The writing flips between classical 1800s and modern styles of speaking due to the time span covered which can also be a little jarring. The pacing was a little tough for me as well, there were some really important things to the story that didn't come in until pretty late in the story.
Still a worthy read but this is one I would only re-read if I was reading it with friends, I don't think I would re-read this on my own.
Spoiler Free Review:
Projections is a really intelligent and thought-provoking novel that is unique in all it's aspects. Magic, characters, story and settings. This story does feature multiple POVs and bounces around through different periods in time over a span of around 200 years. The perspective shifting can be a little hard just because some of the POV shifts take place at different times and so it can be a little disorienting. The writing flips between classical 1800s and modern styles of speaking due to the time span covered which can also be a little jarring. The pacing was a little tough for me as well, there were some really important things to the story that didn't come in until pretty late in the story.
Still a worthy read but this is one I would only re-read if I was reading it with friends, I don't think I would re-read this on my own.
September 19, 2023
Wow!! What a fantastical feat. Full review to come once I can process.
Shelved as 'abandoned'
January 14, 2024Thank you to Tor & Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book early. I am thrilled to read books from Tor ahead of publications.
The premise with a murdered woman seeking justice and her murderer determined to have women accept him really sparked my interest. The mere idea left a essence of Handmaid's Tale in my mind. However, by one-fifth of the way into the book I sadly felt myself being pulled along like poor Catherine. The pacing feels very slow, and the world-building of the magical land Angus retreats to only comes in spurts. I love books with multiple povs, but I find Angus to be a truly unlikeable character without depth besides "woe is me" in his chapters. If the entirety of the story was told in Catherine's pov, I would be more inclined to read past 28% (about 130 pages of the expected approximately 460 page book). Even with Catherine's sections, though, my mind feels bogged down with confusion due to unlabeled time jumps and the obsessive Angus constantly present. For me to feel more invested in Catherine's revenge, I need to know who she is outside of her childhood or any association with Angus. Perhaps, if the book opened with that, I'd stick with it, but on the whole I find altogether sluggish, skippy in narrative, and full of negativity.
Readers who seek understanding twisted, obsessive characters like Angus might really enjoy this book, if they do not mind a slower pace and discovering the world & character motivations in short bursts. Unfortunately, I am not one of those readers due to the aforementioned reasons.
The premise with a murdered woman seeking justice and her murderer determined to have women accept him really sparked my interest. The mere idea left a essence of Handmaid's Tale in my mind. However, by one-fifth of the way into the book I sadly felt myself being pulled along like poor Catherine. The pacing feels very slow, and the world-building of the magical land Angus retreats to only comes in spurts. I love books with multiple povs, but I find Angus to be a truly unlikeable character without depth besides "woe is me" in his chapters. If the entirety of the story was told in Catherine's pov, I would be more inclined to read past 28% (about 130 pages of the expected approximately 460 page book). Even with Catherine's sections, though, my mind feels bogged down with confusion due to unlabeled time jumps and the obsessive Angus constantly present. For me to feel more invested in Catherine's revenge, I need to know who she is outside of her childhood or any association with Angus. Perhaps, if the book opened with that, I'd stick with it, but on the whole I find altogether sluggish, skippy in narrative, and full of negativity.
Readers who seek understanding twisted, obsessive characters like Angus might really enjoy this book, if they do not mind a slower pace and discovering the world & character motivations in short bursts. Unfortunately, I am not one of those readers due to the aforementioned reasons.
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