Sisters of the Crimson Vine by P.L. McMillan

Sisters of the Crimson Vine Reviews

• 
  Graeme Rodaughan

  Convent Capers! To Run Nun or not to Run Nun? "Well, I was just an ordinary guy until I met the sisters of the Crimoria Convent, and then drank their wine. Well, it opened my eyes and there's no going back from what I've seen!" - Mr. Ainsworth - The Viticulturist's Vernacular.
  
  I love a completely believable story that transports me ... and this delivered.
  
  The thing about this story is that it's not particularly visual. I found the sisters kinda blending into each other, and my visuals for our protagonist, Mr. Ainsworth were equally nondescript. The visuals are low key, up until the climax of the story where they come on full bore and light up the page.
  
  What this book relies on are the senses of touch and taste, especially touch - this is a very tactile story. You'll feel this story more than you see it - which is quite extraordinary in my experience.
  
  Very impressive! Bravo P.L. McMillan
  
  Strongly Recommended: 5 'Cosmic Wine Drinkers Appreciation,' stars.
• 
  Netanella

  "Wicker Man" feel, with sexy nuns and lots of wine. What's not to like?
• 
  Carson Winter

  Pl McMillan killed it with this taut, mysterious tale that mixes gothic, folk, and Lovecraftian horror that evokes the best of old school genre fiction. Recommend for fans of Harvest Home, Ramsey Campbell, and Eldritch Horror.
• 
  Michelle Tang

  One of my favourite things about this book is the slow dread that takes root despite the seemingly peaceful setting. It's subtle and tenuous, this dread, like the tendrils of a creeping vine, and McMillan is a masterful gardener guiding me so deeply into her world that I couldn't find my way out even if I wanted to. The setting is a character in its own right, quiet and mysterious and as full of secrets as the sisters themselves. And the ending (no spoilers here) feels just right: a final, satisfying product that McMillan carefully cultivates and ripens from the very first chapter. I read this shorter book in one sitting, late one night, because I couldn't stop turning the pages, and woke up bleary-eyed and unsettled, wishing I could return to Crimoria convent for a little hair of the dog. 
• 
  Caleb Stephens

  Sisters of the Crimson Vine is a fresh slice of slow-burn folk horror steeped in copious amounts of red wine. This novella is heavy on atmosphere with a creeping dread that steadily ratchets higher as the pages slide by. And slide by they do, quite easily. McMillan pens this story with an elevated prose that swallowed me whole and spit me out the other side with a vague sense of unease, and the hope that I'm never forced to convalesce with the Sisters.
  
  A wonderful read that I recommend wholeheartedly for both folk and cosmic horror fans alike.
• 
  Marina Garrido

  The perfect mix of folk and cosmic horror, McMillan's novella is one of the best I've read this year. The story takes a subtle and unnerving approach when it comes to horror, revealing things slowly and making sure the reader is tense and unsettled during the whole narrative.
  
  McMillan is a master at descriptions: I had a vivid image in my mind of the convent with all its rooms, the vineyard, and the cellar. What’s even more impressive is that she does so by feeding the details to us gradually, building the scenery in layers as the story progresses. Furthermore, the author also carved out individual traits for every single character, which made them all seem real and enriched the story greatly.
  
  This is a quick read, both because of the length of the novella and because McMillan’s prose is so alluring and immersive that you won’t want to put this down until you’re finished.
  
• 
  Chris St.Pierre

  This was definitely a fun quick read. 13 witches, blood red wine and a solstice what more can you ask for. This would be a great Halloween read.
• 
  Peter

  What a satisfying book. It left me feeling dirty, the way only horror can, and that is a good thing. A slow-burn story with dread and an excellent payoff ending.
• 
  GeanerikC

  Sisters of the Crimson Vine is a short, twisted tale ripe for Halloween. McMillan weaves a story filled with looming dread, trepidation, and dark secrets. Following the main character, Mr. Ainsworth, we're taken on a tumultuous journey full of mystery and exceptionally addictive red wine.
  
  After a bad car accident, Mr. Ainsworth finds himself under the care of a nunnery. As the story progresses, he begins to realize that not everything is as it seems. The situation grows in its oddity and wonders as he begins to explore the convent. Oh, what secrets do they hide?
  
  This slow-burn story keeps pace and tension quite well. If you're a fan of stories containing witches, looming dread, and cosmic horror, then this story is for you. A quick read, Sisters of the Crimson Vine will have you rearing for more from McMillan. This Lovecraftian tale is carefully and vibrantly worded. The gothic settings really pop, engulfing the reader in a terrifying journey that crawls under your skin and stays there.
• 
  Solomon Forse

  If you’ve somehow managed to resist the alluring cover art, then I must beckon you—come! Come get your face folked off by this masterclass in the spirited tradition of vintage slow-burn atmospheric horror. McMillan joins the bookshelf right alongside Harvest Home and Burnt Offerings, but with a twist of something new that presents an altogether visceral and unnerving experience.
• 
  Rachel

  Do you enjoy any of the following: Midsommar, Harvest Home, Wicker Man, Children of the Corn, or nunsploitation films?
  
  Then come for a stay at the convent, have some local wine, and revel in the nunnery. Don't stay too long or you might regret it. Food isn't too great except one night of the year, otherwise- would not recommend. Admire the vineyards, hand-made scarecrows, and the friendly locals.
  
  Please don't go in the Sanctuary, it's private.
• 
  J.V. Gachs

  Everything about this was *chef's kiss* The ominous feeling, the convent, the cosmic horror... And the sisters! I loved them all!
• 
  Eugene

  Author P.L. McMillan does that thing. What thing, you ask? Right. This is a review, so I guess I should elaborate. Or articulate, even. You know what I mean though. That thing. That all-important writing discipline that’s important to writing good stories, but absolutely vital to writing good horror stories. That bit of descriptive prose that somehow isn’t notably descriptive at all, but – through some insidious and subconscious method that is nigh invisible on the written page – manages to slither into your head and whisper: something isn’t right; something is wrong; you are not safe. THAT is the thing that McMillan does so well with her debut novella Sisters of the Crimson Vine. A slick, viciously scary blend of folk and cosmic horror that will have you looking twice at nuns and the picturesque British countryside.
  
  So, let’s talk about it.
  
  Mr. Ainsworth – the protagonist – is having a rough time. After enduring a grisly car wreck, he finds himself stranded at Crimoria convent with a broken leg and surrounded by nuns. As he begins to familiarize himself with the convent and its denizens, Ainsworth finds himself unable to leave and caught-up in a power struggle between the catholic church and a sect of nuns with a few…unorthodox practices. And, of course, something just seems off about the entire place. There’s something in the air, in the ground, in the people, and especially in the decadent wine that the sisters off Crimoria convent ferment that just seems…off.
  
  So, yes, the story oozes tension and atmosphere, but what really infuses the storytelling with a kick is how deftly McMillan makes readers feel helpless and vulnerable. See, Ainsworth is confined to a wheelchair for most of the story. The sisters of Crimoria convent are the very picture of courtesy and are happy to propel Ainsworth around the convent as needed, but Ainsworth soon realizes that he exists completely at their mercy. As the dark history of the convent reveals itself, this sense of vulnerability only escalates. Ainsworth may be learning more about the sisters and Crimoria Convent, but since he’s trapped at the convent with no practical means of escape, whatever “answers” he intuits about his circumstances only hammer home the fact that he’s trapped in a strange – likely dangerous – place and is helpless to do anything about it.
  
  The characters all strike resonant chords as well. Description is kept to a minimum – which is always best – but McMillan’s subtle and infectious prose infuses the mind with an eerily effective portrait of each character. And despite having a large cast of characters and a limited number of pages with which to explore them, the story is able to escalate to disquieting heights while each character still feels unique and memorable. Sister Helena is the real MVP!
  
  While reading this review, you may have gleaned the impression that writing horror is a manipulative process. And that’s because it is. The author can’t just tell the reader to be scared. In fact, that’s probably the most effective way to ensure that they won’t be scared. The writer must convince the reader that they aren’t trying to scare them at all; they’re just telling a story, and if a reader just so happens to end up scared…well, that’s on them isn’t it. And whether P.L. McMillan admits it or not, Sisters of the Crimson Vine unmasks her as a manipulator of the most insidious sort. The sort of manipulator that reaches into a reader’s mind and gently unearths repressed fears. Who eases those fears to the forefront of the mind, but refuses to reveal her intent until it’s too late and the reader has no choice but to face the ancient terrors she has evoked within these pages.
  And THAT is McMillan doing that thing that she does so well.
  
  Read it.
  
• 
  Leslee

  Eldritch horrors and evil nuns -- like two peas in a pod. Short but very fun.
• 
  Horror DNA

  
  P.L. McMillan cultivates dread like fine wine, allowing terror to ripen on the vine. Sisters of the Crimson Vine is her debut novella and does not disappoint. A chilling folk horror that revolves around a mysterious abbey where its protagonist, Ainsworth, finds himself located. Sisters of the Crimson Vine introduces an order of strange nuns who seem to follow their own creed that is wholly at odds with any Catholic order. Ainsworth finds himself drawn to one of the sisters and must choose where his loyalties lie.
  
  You can read Zach's full review at Horror DNA by
  clicking here.
• 
  Ray Zacek

  Visit a quaint English vineyard, steeped in tradition, and run by cloistered nuns. How sinister could THAT be? Sample the vintage and take a relaxing amble amid the green, undulating vines. Dance with Sister Helena Rose and you may be infatuated. But the convenient visitor to the Crimoria Convent may not wish to stay for the annual festivities, at least not for the climax. Those faint of heart might want to visit a more conventional and less Lovecraftian vineyard. Greyfriars in Surrey, for instance, where the eldritch is not in evidence. This debut novella by P.L. McMillan is a fine folkhorror effort. The author possesses the gift of composing felicitous phrases in the softest sepulcher whispers, maintains a sacrilicious and minatory mood and, in the denouement, freshens the scarecrow trope. Bravo.
• 
  Caryn

  A dark and satisfying story
  
  Sisters of the Crimson Vine takes place in a convent unlike any I ever imagined in my Catholic youth. If I could have run around barefoot drinking wine and smiling all the time, I might have been tempted to take up a life of the cloth.
  
  I really enjoyed this book. It’s a dark story with lots of mystery and atmosphere. The tension steadily thickens as it goes on, and the ending was deliciously satisfying. I definitely recommend it.
• 
  Benjamin Roberts

  This novella was such great fun! Classic folk horror with a steady buildup of mystery and dread, told in a fast-paced style that would suit a movie adaptation perfectly. The cosmic horror elements give the story a fresh and extra-terrifying twist, and I felt some Mike Flanagan vibes in there too (perhaps all the creepy religious stuff...) Oh, and the cover is badass. Check this one out!
• 
  Jon Gensler

  PLM has crafted a modern gothic masterpiece that oozes with genre bending nightmares. Of course, the nightmares are only there to take the non-believers, and the eldritch mysteries at the heart of the Crimoria Convent can be either your damnation or your salvation. Which side are you on?
• 
  Alex McCarthy

  A fast read that’s Misery meets The Wicker Man, featuring mysterious nuns making tasty wine. The perfect length, where as soon as you feel like you have a decent grasp of what’s going on, you plunge into the delightfully strange climax. I’ll keep an eye out for what McMillan does next!
• 
  Carly Rheilan

  If P.L.McMillan wrote the telephone directory, you'd probably read it all the way through. She weaves words the way a spider weaves its web - and you're the fly. She leads you in, gently, gently, a nice little story about a guy in a carcrash, getting picked up and nursed in some friendly little backwater of a convent... but like the awkward note in a minor key, you know there's something wrong. And you read on, feeling more and more sure there's something wrong, but not able to pin it down. The nuns are so warm, so friendly, so .... dare I say it? ... wholesome. Except - no spoilers here - possibly they're not.
  It's a quick and easy read and a pleasing mix of familiar and unfamiliar elements, a slow build to a conclusion that is in some ways unsurprising but still disquieting. The unspoken thing (like I said, no spoilers, but there is always an unspoken thing in a horror story) is unexpectedly vile, but the outcome curiously forgiving. They aren't exactly sisters of mercy, but then again.....
• 
  Teresa Ardrey

  What is it about convents being ominous? Is it just being cloistered and thus, claustrophobic? I don’t know, but Sisters of the Crimson Vine has that ominous feeling down pat. There is more going on here behind these closed doors than meets the eye. And you are as helpless as John, trapped in his recovery bed, waiting for the nuns to come around and cart him outside of his room. You can only go where John goes, and John can only go where the nuns allow him to go. Throw in an uptight priest and his lackey and you can’t help but wonder what these nuns have been up to. But, it’s okay, just drink some wine and forget all about it. And the wine is worth it, trust me.
  
  Sisters of the Crimson Vine is a novella with a creeping sense of dread, full of folklore and secrets. I quite liked the Sisters of Crimoria Convent. I think you might like them, too. Just don’t go into hallways at night and mind ya business. And, seriously, have another glass of wine.
  
• 
  Kevin L

  Excellent and atmospheric British folk horror. I loved the slow build up and increasing tension as you anticipate the Sisters stepping forward into the candlelight to let you see what they’re actually up to.
• 
  Big Red

  This was a fun, quick, and creepy read! I was very curious what was going on with these enigmatic Sisters of the Crimson Vine and couldn't put down the book! The characters were interesting and the plot moved at a quick pace, which is simply perfect in a story of this length. Highly recommend to any horror fans out there that want to check out some quality work from the indie scene! Now where can I get some of that wine?!?!
• 
  Alex Wolfgang

  A solid novella that combines some classic cosmic and folk horror tropes into a fresh package. A vicious, fun, lightning-quick read.
• 
  Rebecca

  I loved reading this. It's fast paced and fun, with a great creepy atmosphere. I was surprised by the ending, too! I absolutely recommend this.
• 
  Andrés Menéndez

  Sisters of the Crimson Vine is a beautiful novella that gave me everything I want when reading a book: interesting characters, a memorable setting, creepy scenes that built up to what's happening behind the curtains, and a shocking, beautiful, and horrifying ending that ties everything we were told before in a way we could have never imagined. The story behind the convent is sad and realistic, and you can't help but feel bad for the sisters, even when you know something is wrong with them. The antagonist was perfect for this story, showing the reasons the sisters do what they do and why the protagonist has trouble deciding who to trust. It's a beautiful book that I hope everyone reads at least once in their life
  
• 
  Austin Shirey

  SISTERS OF THE CRIMSON VINE is a heady mix of folk and cosmic horror, with notes of Shirley Jackson. This novella is a masterclass in pacing and atmosphere; McMillan creates expertly weaves a pervasive sense of wrongness about every scene and sustains this dread-inducing atmosphere throughout. It's a chilling and shocking read with prose as smooth as a finely aged wine. And the cover is absolute FIRE!
• 
  Jennifer Collins

  In the beginning, there's such a calm to this book that it feels somewhat out of time, but as McMillan begins building a darker and ever-more-unique path forward, there's simply no turning back. The story takes turns which cannot be predicted while holding the reader in thrall to a dangerous inertia that builds ever forward.
  
  McMillan's work is perfectly paced and gorgeously written, and it will stay in my mind for some time.
  
  Absolutely recommended.