Synopsis

Five attendees are selected for a month-long writing retreat at the remote estate of Roza Vallo, the controversial high priestess of feminist horror. Alex, a struggling writer, is thrilled.

Upon arrival, they discover they must complete an entire novel from scratch, and the best one will receive a seven-figure publishing deal. Alex’s long-extinguished dream now seems within reach.

But then the women begin to die.

Trapped, terrified yet still desperately writing, it is clear there is more than a publishing deal at stake at Blackbriar Estate. Alex must confront her own demons – and finish her novel – to save herself.

Review

And the prize for the weirdest story I’ve read this year goes to…

This book was not what I was expecting. At all. I thought it was going to be a typical crime thriller, with a dead body (or two). I was wrong.

The Writing Retreat is perhaps what could be described as a feminist horror story, very much what Roza Vallo herself would write actually. We have drug-induced stupor, hallucinations, torture and fierce competition. We also see how love really is blind and the lengths that people will go to for success and fame.

I loved it. Full of twists and turns, this book is weird, wacky and wonderful, with a nice dose of sapphic psychopathy to add to the drama.

Characters are well-rounded and intriguing, with back stories and motives that gradually reveal themselves as time goes by. The books each woman is writing all sounded quite interesting as well.

I would have liked to have found out the rationale behind the necklaces – as no doubt Roza chose each creature specifically to match the attendee – and a few elements require readers to suspend belief, but overall it’s a gripping, psychological thriller that will leave you wondering if perhaps you’ve taken some of the same drugs that the women on the retreat have.

Thanks to Oneworld Publishing for my advanced copy. Opinions my own.

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