I sat down to read Muse and didn’t look up until it was finished. That hadn’t been the plan—I thought I’d get it started while I ate lunch. I just never stopped reading it. The settings were so vividly drawn, the characters so alive, and their stories were slightly familiar but wildly unpredictable. There is true horror here, but also homespun humor that you rarely find wielded this well. The tale is set in the art world, and Allingham’s writing is so rich I felt like I could see the paintings. The horror is described just as intensely. It’s a remarkable tale told unsettlingly and it will stick with me for quite a while.

A compelling and riveting story centered around the art world in NYC. This novella focuses on three talented artists who are caught in a web of deceit by their benefactors. A fast pace read that is steeped in horror and was impossible to put down with an ending that you won’t see coming. What I loved most about this book were the diverse characters, some innocent and full of promise while others hid the darkest of souls. Their lives intertwining within the colorful backdrops of art galleries and the wealthiest addresses in Manhattan.

This is a fascinating story about muses gone wrong and the artists who might not survive the destruction of their creative process. Includes sharp insights about the nature of making art, along with some beautifully scary scenes.

I really loved this book. It's a novella, so it's not too long, which is perfect for me as I have a difficult time with attention and also don't have a lot of time to read for pleasure. Muse is a dark and gritty tale about painters/artists riding the wave of that big break and burning out and to the ground, and the evil in the people that are supposed to help and support them. There's a great paranormal bend, and I highly recommend it.

"These men of mud have sucked her dry."

I love horror, and I love art. Also, the creative process has always fascinated me. So, when I found out about MUSE, I thought it'd be right up my alley. I loved this book. The author offers an insanely imaginative story about artists and a nefarious system by predatory patrons who take as much as they can until there's nothing left. That's an apt description for so much in our world these days.

The writing is gorgeous, the characters feel real, and there's one particular scene in the book where the author shows their horror chops in visceral detail. I still can't stop thinking about it.

MUSE is a lovely, horrible, beautiful book about the intersections of art, suffering, and predatory profit. But it's about so much more than that.

It was a slow read, a little confusing.

If I could do a DNF I would have.

I love this author! You can not go wrong with LCW Allingham and this novella is no exception. This horror sucked me right in and held me captive until the end.

Love, love, love everything about this book…you devour it…love to see these characters come to life on film…you can visualize it as you take it in!…

I loved this little roller coaster of a novella. I read it between big novels and it was a perfect pallet cleanser. The plot was lean and direct, the characters were crisp and unique, and the themes were clear without feeling preachy or ramming a point down your throat.

It managed to be dark, raw, and occasionally brutal, but in an enjoyable and evocative way. I couldn't stop turning pages.

I absolutely loved it. Would recommend.