Vial Thoughts - A Fantastical Dystopian Horror Novel
A big thank you to Erin Al-Mehairi and Raw Dog Screaming Press for the e-book version of Vial Thoughts that reminded me of how much I love a story that mixes genres.
It follows Lenora Leahill in a dystopian world where you can purchase a contraption that connects to your wrist and veins to directly inject literature for mental processing. A sought after cosmetic that is pushed from the Council above to help usher in the 'Age of Awareness,' it seems like a huge leap for mankind to learn and grow. Yet something is amiss, and the price of the vials is higher than imagined.
Lenora finds herself swept up in managing the estate of her dead father amongst men who don't believe women should have to do such things, and she begins a new relationship with a doctor whom her father was well-acquainted. Upon the start of this friendship, Lenora is accosted by a nightmarish circus ringleader who claims she has something her father had meant to share with him, some research papers that could change the course of the future for their ashen city, and possibly the world. In the search for truth and justice, Lenora finds out who her friends are and what the world expects her to be.
Vial Thoughts binds together science fiction, fantasy, and horror in a way that enraptures. Van Essler addresses political and societal issues with a focus on a female trying to come into her own without relying on men. The flourish of the unreal, but still possible, is what makes this book extra entertaining and well worth injecting into your mind.
With a publishing date of May 11th, 2023, I recommend you set a reminder to pick up a copy!
