Judith Sonnet- Psych Ward Blues Review

 Long time no see! I can only apologise, September and October have been busy- but I'm finally back with a review for you.. and it's one hell of a book too.

Psych Ward Blues is like a trigger warning tapas. Judith takes everything from the mildly offensive to the utterly sacrilegious, flambés it (because fire is fun) and serves it up in the form of a short story collection. I don't doubt for a second, that there's something to scare everyone. Yes, it's indisputable that Psych Ward Blues will be joining the splatter wall of fame, sitting proudly in the company of Ralston's "Woom," and Volpe's "Talia."

Psych Ward Blues is a short story collection, with the title novella coming at the end. An overarching theme of religion (and bizarrely.. tentacles) runs throughout, and truly implodes when the world literally ends in the novella. 

Included Short Stories:

The opening short kept me reading for sure. In "Young 'un," a solid 4 star story, Deputy Pat Binkley is called to Horace Tillwinger's property, following reports of strange noises emanating from his barn. Initially, Binkley believes Tillwinger is holding and torturing a child- but when the accused man recounts his bizarre night in the woods and opens up the barn's doors.. Binkley realises things are worse than they seem. The word I'd use to sum this one up is BONKERS. It's fun, it's different and it's still absolutely grim- although it only gets worse. 

"Love Letter Slasher," was the weakest story here in my humble opinion, but still deserves merit at a respectable 2.5/5. Kennedy's house parties are a regular thing for her and her classmates due to her parents absence. Kennedy doesn't mind being the hostess with the mostest, considering she can simply lock her bedroom door, dance the night away and tidy up the next morning. But tonight, Pete Fowler, convinced Kennedy is in love with him awaits her in her bedroom...and something far worse lurks in the wardrobe. For the most part this is slashery splattery goodness, but the open ending fell flat for me- and it's generally not at the standard the rest of the collection is at.

"Ichthians," (3/5) is a story that could be used to sum up campy splatterpunk.. considering it's cosmic tentacle sadomasochism. Seriously though, despite the ridiculousness of the content.. the body horror was INSANE. An ancient priestess is called to a small town, in which the citizens are intent on summoning their God. Unfortunately for them, Ichthus is the God of Torment and enjoys a dramatic entrance.

"Stiltz,"worked very well as a palette cleanser. This is a story that would fit in nicely whilst sat around a campfire with your face illuminated in torchlight. It also really works here, as a bit of a break between the relentless churning your stomach will have already endured at this point. Bethany and Nate's grandparents relay a terrifying tale about "Stiltz," a freakishly tall vagabond who used to wander the streets of the local town. Judith, if you're reading this.. PLEASE write something longer using this concept.. it was freaky deaky as heck. 4/5

After a brief interval, we return to our usual scheduling of utter depravity with "The Last Hamburger Restaurant in The World." There's an immediate sense of unease when a starving family are forced to pull over by a hamburger joint on the motorway. The gore here. This story is no more than 15 pages, but by page 3 I had a sick bucket on hand and ready to go. 3.5/5

"Chaser," I'll be brief. Female rage, trans rep, exploration of  obsession, creepy cult AND a hilarious ally squid demon. All in a few pages. Need I say more? 4/5

"A little extra time," is an incredibly sophisticated conclusion to the short stories included. The first story in Todd Keisling's short story collection "A Man In Your Garden," immediately springs to mind, as does the British TV series "Inside No,9," (which I very much recommend). Having already blown my socks off with her characters and gore, Judith is simply showing off with this one, As. She. SHOULD.

Psych Ward Blues:

It was imperative that the central novella be near PERFECT, to do those short stories justice, but as soon as I read the excruciatingly talented Shane McKenzie's foreword, I knew I didn't need to worry. 

Chester Abnathy is admitted to a Psych Ward following his latest suicide attempt. Having been cut off by his parents simply for being gay, his mental health has been far from perfect for a while- but following the cold-blooded, hate-driven murder of his boyfriend Peter Fedorson at a gay club, it has further deteriorated. Whilst Chester is beginning to adjust to his new surroundings and medication, the rapture begins.

Sonnet is mind-numbingly clever. We read first person (from Chester's point of view) and in the present tense. However, in order to keep the protagonist oblivious, we experience the horror of the world literally ending, through multiple different views, in what Judith has called "Interludes." This certainly stopped any sense of boredom right in its tracks. My favourite of the interludes was "The first soul to leave its host." It's a fine example of Sonnet's incredibly competent character work- as by the time Mae Ascone and her son Loyal are brutally killed- I was already attached.

The world ending is only really the beginning for Chester and his fellow inmates, who must now navigate their way out of the secure psych ward, toward help. 

A commentary on mental health, and a criticism of extreme religion, Sonnet ruined my week, and I need more.