What do you think?
Rate this book
William
Psychological horror meets cyber noir in this delicious one-sitting read—a haunted house story in which the haunting is by AI.
Henry is a brilliant engineer who, after untold hours spent in his home lab, has achieved the breakthrough of his career—he’s created an artificially intelligent consciousness. He calls the half-formed robot William.
No one knows about William. Henry’s agoraphobia keeps him inside the house, and his fixation on his project keeps him up in the attic, away from everyone, including his pregnant wife, Lily.
When Lily’s coworkers show up, wanting to finally meet Henry and see the new house—the smartest of smart homes—Henry decides to introduce them to William, and things go from strange to much worse. Soon Henry and Lily discover the security upgrades intended to keep danger out of the house are even better at locking it in.
Henry is a brilliant engineer who, after untold hours spent in his home lab, has achieved the breakthrough of his career—he’s created an artificially intelligent consciousness. He calls the half-formed robot William.
No one knows about William. Henry’s agoraphobia keeps him inside the house, and his fixation on his project keeps him up in the attic, away from everyone, including his pregnant wife, Lily.
When Lily’s coworkers show up, wanting to finally meet Henry and see the new house—the smartest of smart homes—Henry decides to introduce them to William, and things go from strange to much worse. Soon Henry and Lily discover the security upgrades intended to keep danger out of the house are even better at locking it in.
220 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 10, 2024
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 405 reviews
August 16, 2024
*3.5 stars*
Henry is a brilliant engineer, however, suffering from agoraphobia means he’s completely reclusive and never leaves home.
He’s spent his time indoors creating an artificially intelligent consciousness.
And so we meet the product of his many years of work, a half formed robot - William. William is very scary, made worse by the fact that Henry is losing control over his creation, and incidentally William has an obsession for Henry’s wife Lily.
One day Lily invites two co-workers to brunch and also to meet Henry. Henry wants to show off their super smart home, and while he’s at it he decides to introduce them all to William. Big mistake!
The meeting with William takes a leap into the dark side and Henry decides that he has no alternative but to destroy William. But you don’t get rid of him that easily, because William is already enraged that he can’t experience the full range of human emotions and begins haunting the house. He’s there behind every door, his muttering can be heard in the attic, but even worse, his whispers can be heard inside Henry’s head. No sir, you won’t get rid of William, he’s here to stay!
A bit slow to take off but I soon got into it. There was quite a neat little twist towards the end that I didn’t see coming. Publication is due in October making this the perfect read for Halloween.
*Thank you to Netgalley and John Murray Press, Baskerville for my ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *
Henry is a brilliant engineer, however, suffering from agoraphobia means he’s completely reclusive and never leaves home.
He’s spent his time indoors creating an artificially intelligent consciousness.
And so we meet the product of his many years of work, a half formed robot - William. William is very scary, made worse by the fact that Henry is losing control over his creation, and incidentally William has an obsession for Henry’s wife Lily.
One day Lily invites two co-workers to brunch and also to meet Henry. Henry wants to show off their super smart home, and while he’s at it he decides to introduce them all to William. Big mistake!
The meeting with William takes a leap into the dark side and Henry decides that he has no alternative but to destroy William. But you don’t get rid of him that easily, because William is already enraged that he can’t experience the full range of human emotions and begins haunting the house. He’s there behind every door, his muttering can be heard in the attic, but even worse, his whispers can be heard inside Henry’s head. No sir, you won’t get rid of William, he’s here to stay!
A bit slow to take off but I soon got into it. There was quite a neat little twist towards the end that I didn’t see coming. Publication is due in October making this the perfect read for Halloween.
*Thank you to Netgalley and John Murray Press, Baskerville for my ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *
September 27, 2024
William was quite the experience. I read this today. Yeah, the whole thing today. A day well spent, IMO.
It's definitely one of those stories that once you start, it's close to impossible to put down. Coile kept me on my toes the entire time. I had so many questions!
The synopsis actually calls this a delicious one-sitting read, and they aren't lying. Meeting Henry and Lily, and discovering what is going on in their home, it's like watching a train about to go off the tracks.
There's such an eerie set-up. You feel like the characters are keeping something from you, but you don't know what. Additionally, there's AI involved and for me personally, the future of AI tech is absolutely horrifying.
Both Henry and Lily are in the tech space, so their home is a virtual cornucopia of cutting-edge technological devices. Some of these things have never even been revealed to anyone outside the home.
When Lily has some co-workers, Paige and Davis, stop by for a meal, it should be a harmless event. Unfortunately, it's anything but that.
The newcomers want to meet one of Henry's creations, an AI called William. It's at that point that things go from strange and eerie, to much, much worse.
I Buddy Read this with a friend and we both flew through it. There was quite a bit of super creepy Horror imagery that I was eating up and we did find a lot to discuss.
In addition to being frightened by the possibilities of AI, I am also horrified by dolls, or any iteration thereof. Trust, there's plenty of that to go around in here!!!
I was so surprised with how this turned out and it was a race to the conclusion.. There were twists and turns I did not see coming. Jaw successfully on floor.
Overall, I felt this was a little heart-breaking, a lot thought-provoking, super creepy and hella engaging. Well done by Mason Coile. I know nothing about this author, but I already cannot wait for more.
Thank you to the publisher, G.P. Putnam's Sons, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I am so happy to have a new Horror author to follow!!!
It's definitely one of those stories that once you start, it's close to impossible to put down. Coile kept me on my toes the entire time. I had so many questions!
The synopsis actually calls this a delicious one-sitting read, and they aren't lying. Meeting Henry and Lily, and discovering what is going on in their home, it's like watching a train about to go off the tracks.
There's such an eerie set-up. You feel like the characters are keeping something from you, but you don't know what. Additionally, there's AI involved and for me personally, the future of AI tech is absolutely horrifying.
Both Henry and Lily are in the tech space, so their home is a virtual cornucopia of cutting-edge technological devices. Some of these things have never even been revealed to anyone outside the home.
When Lily has some co-workers, Paige and Davis, stop by for a meal, it should be a harmless event. Unfortunately, it's anything but that.
The newcomers want to meet one of Henry's creations, an AI called William. It's at that point that things go from strange and eerie, to much, much worse.
I Buddy Read this with a friend and we both flew through it. There was quite a bit of super creepy Horror imagery that I was eating up and we did find a lot to discuss.
In addition to being frightened by the possibilities of AI, I am also horrified by dolls, or any iteration thereof. Trust, there's plenty of that to go around in here!!!
I was so surprised with how this turned out and it was a race to the conclusion.. There were twists and turns I did not see coming. Jaw successfully on floor.
Overall, I felt this was a little heart-breaking, a lot thought-provoking, super creepy and hella engaging. Well done by Mason Coile. I know nothing about this author, but I already cannot wait for more.
Thank you to the publisher, G.P. Putnam's Sons, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I am so happy to have a new Horror author to follow!!!
September 9, 2024
Combining horror and science fiction in a psychological thriller, Mason Coile’s latest book,
William,
is a quick and surprising read. Henry is an intelligent robotics engineer with agoraphobia. Therefore, he has set up the attic as his home laboratory. His latest breakthrough is the creation of an artificially intelligent consciousness called William. Henry has kept William in the attic so not even his pregnant wife Lily knows about him. However, that is about to change. Two of Lily’s co-workers arrive for brunch to meet Henry and to see their new smart home. Henry decides to introduce them to William. What follows is a unique story with a fantastic ending.
Henry is well-defined as a character. He’s socially awkward, lonely, a terrible liar, and suffers from devastating anxiety. Lily is a computer engineer who sold her start-up company for millions. She’s ambitious and loves a challenge. While Henry and Lily are somewhat likeable, greater examination of their relationship would have added another layer of interest. These two characters were reasonably well-developed, but their guests, Paige and Davis, lacked depth.
The storyline immediately draws readers into the novel. It’s descriptive and the home environment world-building is fantastic. I enjoyed learning about the smart features Henry and Lily had incorporated into their home. The author did a great job of building suspense and adding drama as the story progressed. This kept me rapidly turning the pages to see what catastrophe would occur on the next page. However, the novel’s pacing is somewhat uneven. Despite this, the book is intriguing and kept my interest. The author managed to elicit a feeling of creepiness throughout the novel. The introduction to William is dark and sets off a set of events that I didn’t see coming. The ending is fantastic and made this story one that shouldn’t be missed. The novel is thought-provoking and sent shivers down my spine at times.
Overall, this was an intense, chilling, unique, and frightening thriller filled with surprises around each corner. With short chapters and set on Halloween, it’s the perfect holiday read and would make a good horror film. If you enjoy psychological thrillers with artificial intelligence and horror, then I recommend that you check out this one. I am looking forward to finding out this author writes next. Will it be as disturbing as this one?
PENGUIN GROUP Putnam – G.P. Putnam’s Sons and Mason Coile provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for September 10, 2024. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
---------------------------------------
My 3.45 rounded to 3 stars review is coming soon.
Henry is well-defined as a character. He’s socially awkward, lonely, a terrible liar, and suffers from devastating anxiety. Lily is a computer engineer who sold her start-up company for millions. She’s ambitious and loves a challenge. While Henry and Lily are somewhat likeable, greater examination of their relationship would have added another layer of interest. These two characters were reasonably well-developed, but their guests, Paige and Davis, lacked depth.
The storyline immediately draws readers into the novel. It’s descriptive and the home environment world-building is fantastic. I enjoyed learning about the smart features Henry and Lily had incorporated into their home. The author did a great job of building suspense and adding drama as the story progressed. This kept me rapidly turning the pages to see what catastrophe would occur on the next page. However, the novel’s pacing is somewhat uneven. Despite this, the book is intriguing and kept my interest. The author managed to elicit a feeling of creepiness throughout the novel. The introduction to William is dark and sets off a set of events that I didn’t see coming. The ending is fantastic and made this story one that shouldn’t be missed. The novel is thought-provoking and sent shivers down my spine at times.
Overall, this was an intense, chilling, unique, and frightening thriller filled with surprises around each corner. With short chapters and set on Halloween, it’s the perfect holiday read and would make a good horror film. If you enjoy psychological thrillers with artificial intelligence and horror, then I recommend that you check out this one. I am looking forward to finding out this author writes next. Will it be as disturbing as this one?
PENGUIN GROUP Putnam – G.P. Putnam’s Sons and Mason Coile provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for September 10, 2024. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
---------------------------------------
My 3.45 rounded to 3 stars review is coming soon.
April 16, 2024
4+
Reclusive robotics engineer Henry, creates William and eventually greatly wishes he hadn’t. Foolishly, he thinks he can control William but the AI has other ideas and what’s worse it has a fixation on Henry‘s wife Lily, who recoils from the robot. This is not just because of his appearance which is disturbing, especially his face although it’s a close run thing with his odd body. However, it’s Williams razor sharp mind which is his most alarming feature and the inevitable result of this is both chilling and frightening. Perhaps a warning sound for us all. Prepared to be astonished In this buckle up tight read.
Right from the very start of this terrific novel, the conversations between William and Henry send shivers down the spine and set off warning bells in Henry’s brain. I become gripped by the horrifying awfulness that unfolds, unable to put the fast paced tense book down. I think some of the creative images have been burned on my retina. It becomes increasingly claustrophobic with the couples Victorian house playing its role in that, it’s extremely creepy, there’s a rising sense of panic, paranoia and a dreadful sense of being totally out of control. It’s terrifying in places and as for the ending, breathe girl, breathe. It is so unexpected, so good and clever yet also very darkly disturbing with a jaw dropping impact.
All the characters are incisively well portrayed, you can see all with clarity with the AI being especially vivid. Henry’s high state of anxiety builds to off the chart levels and definitely impacts the read and his state of apprehension is palpable.
Overall, if you like horror such as that of Stephen King then this is probably one for you. I just wonder if a sequel is on the cards, I do hope so.
This is a perfect Halloween read and luckily it publishes in the United Kingdom on 3/10 with immaculate timing.
It has a great cover too.
With the thanks to NetGalley and especially to John Murray Press for the much appreciated in return for an honest review.
Reclusive robotics engineer Henry, creates William and eventually greatly wishes he hadn’t. Foolishly, he thinks he can control William but the AI has other ideas and what’s worse it has a fixation on Henry‘s wife Lily, who recoils from the robot. This is not just because of his appearance which is disturbing, especially his face although it’s a close run thing with his odd body. However, it’s Williams razor sharp mind which is his most alarming feature and the inevitable result of this is both chilling and frightening. Perhaps a warning sound for us all. Prepared to be astonished In this buckle up tight read.
Right from the very start of this terrific novel, the conversations between William and Henry send shivers down the spine and set off warning bells in Henry’s brain. I become gripped by the horrifying awfulness that unfolds, unable to put the fast paced tense book down. I think some of the creative images have been burned on my retina. It becomes increasingly claustrophobic with the couples Victorian house playing its role in that, it’s extremely creepy, there’s a rising sense of panic, paranoia and a dreadful sense of being totally out of control. It’s terrifying in places and as for the ending, breathe girl, breathe. It is so unexpected, so good and clever yet also very darkly disturbing with a jaw dropping impact.
All the characters are incisively well portrayed, you can see all with clarity with the AI being especially vivid. Henry’s high state of anxiety builds to off the chart levels and definitely impacts the read and his state of apprehension is palpable.
Overall, if you like horror such as that of Stephen King then this is probably one for you. I just wonder if a sequel is on the cards, I do hope so.
This is a perfect Halloween read and luckily it publishes in the United Kingdom on 3/10 with immaculate timing.
It has a great cover too.
With the thanks to NetGalley and especially to John Murray Press for the much appreciated in return for an honest review.
September 11, 2024
Creepy, fun, and caught me by surprise at the end- this was an entertaining, quick read!
May 31, 2024
Love a good creepy doll story? In this case, it’s the creepy robot, William. This sort felt like a trip into the twilight zone. Remember the creepy doll one?
Henry and Lily are a married couple. Lily is also pregnant with child. Henry wants to introduce his new project that he has been working on for quite some time. Meet William.
Lily can’t believe her eyes. This tiny robot is actually talking to them. He expresses emotion and thoughts. As Henry introduces him to Lily, the neighbors are there too. They cannot believe what they are hearing and seeing.
The introduction goes horribly wrong. William is out of control. Henry tries to destroy the robot only to be defeated. William is alive and well in the house.
These characters got on my last nerve. I can handle unlikable characters, but these were just off putting. The dialogue drove me nuts too. The last half was quite repetitive. However, I think horror fans might eat this one up. The ending twist was a pretty good one, I’ve got to admit.
Thank you to G.P Putnam’s Sons, Mason Coile and NetGalley for the opportunity.
Expected publication is September 10, 2024
3.5 ⭐️ raised to 4
Henry and Lily are a married couple. Lily is also pregnant with child. Henry wants to introduce his new project that he has been working on for quite some time. Meet William.
Lily can’t believe her eyes. This tiny robot is actually talking to them. He expresses emotion and thoughts. As Henry introduces him to Lily, the neighbors are there too. They cannot believe what they are hearing and seeing.
The introduction goes horribly wrong. William is out of control. Henry tries to destroy the robot only to be defeated. William is alive and well in the house.
These characters got on my last nerve. I can handle unlikable characters, but these were just off putting. The dialogue drove me nuts too. The last half was quite repetitive. However, I think horror fans might eat this one up. The ending twist was a pretty good one, I’ve got to admit.
Thank you to G.P Putnam’s Sons, Mason Coile and NetGalley for the opportunity.
Expected publication is September 10, 2024
3.5 ⭐️ raised to 4
September 22, 2024
Oh, man, this was so creepy! And I LOVED the ending. Full review coming soon!
September 16, 2024
audio: 4 stars
plot: 4 stars
*suspiciously looks at Chatgpt and closes browser* Not today AI💀
This was quick, thoroughly creepy and the ending was 🤯🤯
plot: 4 stars
*suspiciously looks at Chatgpt and closes browser* Not today AI💀
This was quick, thoroughly creepy and the ending was 🤯🤯
September 25, 2024
A fun little Halloween treat, Mason Coile's short sci-fi horror novel "W1ll1am" is a nasty little mash-up of Edward Albee's "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" and Dean Koontz's "Demon Seed".
And, for people born in the 21st century who won't get those references at all, it's basically a dysfunctional marriage drama with the added horror of killer robotic A.I. (Think "American Beauty" meets "Ex Machina".)
That's all I'm saying about this book, as the less you know going in, the better.
Triggers: dysfunctional marriage; cheating; lying; foul language; bodily dismemberment; beheading; misuse of boxcutters.
And, for people born in the 21st century who won't get those references at all, it's basically a dysfunctional marriage drama with the added horror of killer robotic A.I. (Think "American Beauty" meets "Ex Machina".)
That's all I'm saying about this book, as the less you know going in, the better.
Triggers: dysfunctional marriage; cheating; lying; foul language; bodily dismemberment; beheading; misuse of boxcutters.
August 6, 2024
Um, hi! Add this to your spooky season tbr ASAP.
This was so creepy! Think combination of iRobot, Megan, and Smart House. This book had me hooked off the bat, and I flew through it because I couldn’t put it down. There was a part towards the end that gave me a jump scare, and you may be thinking, Holly? How does a book give you a jump scare? Well, I can’t answer that but it surely did. This was AI horror done right and must read!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5
This was so creepy! Think combination of iRobot, Megan, and Smart House. This book had me hooked off the bat, and I flew through it because I couldn’t put it down. There was a part towards the end that gave me a jump scare, and you may be thinking, Holly? How does a book give you a jump scare? Well, I can’t answer that but it surely did. This was AI horror done right and must read!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5
May 23, 2024
" The only way to find life is to take life,” the robot says."
There are a few things about current life and the future that really scares me. The advancement of technology and AI is one of those things that terrifies me. It keeps me up at night because we don’t know what robots can do or what they can control. After reading this book I’m staying far away from AI.
The day started like any other. The wife opened the door to let the two lunch guests in as her husband came down the stairs and greeted them as best as he could. It started off as any normal lunch would until they all ventured into the lab upstairs. That's when things went from iffy to straight-up horrifying. William meets all of the guests, and that's when everything becomes more and more terrifying. Don't ever invite me into your attic lab...
This book brought one of my worst fears to life and you all can keep your robots. I want no part in that. I didn't know what was going to come from around the corner or what was going to happen next. Talk about being on the edge of your seat. Then the end hits you and your jaw hits the floor. I think I screamed, "What the f**k" at least ten times and my dog didn't know what the hell was going on. All he knew was that I was freaked out.
The death scenes were horrifyingly gruesome. The shower scene was my absolute favorite. What a way to go!
William was a highly unique and bizarre horror story that you all should read. I think you can say that I loved it after completing it in less than a day. It's one of those books that you won't be able to put down. So grab your comfort blanket, turn all the lights on, and prepare yourself for the horror that is William.
There are a few things about current life and the future that really scares me. The advancement of technology and AI is one of those things that terrifies me. It keeps me up at night because we don’t know what robots can do or what they can control. After reading this book I’m staying far away from AI.
The day started like any other. The wife opened the door to let the two lunch guests in as her husband came down the stairs and greeted them as best as he could. It started off as any normal lunch would until they all ventured into the lab upstairs. That's when things went from iffy to straight-up horrifying. William meets all of the guests, and that's when everything becomes more and more terrifying. Don't ever invite me into your attic lab...
This book brought one of my worst fears to life and you all can keep your robots. I want no part in that. I didn't know what was going to come from around the corner or what was going to happen next. Talk about being on the edge of your seat. Then the end hits you and your jaw hits the floor. I think I screamed, "What the f**k" at least ten times and my dog didn't know what the hell was going on. All he knew was that I was freaked out.
The death scenes were horrifyingly gruesome. The shower scene was my absolute favorite. What a way to go!
William was a highly unique and bizarre horror story that you all should read. I think you can say that I loved it after completing it in less than a day. It's one of those books that you won't be able to put down. So grab your comfort blanket, turn all the lights on, and prepare yourself for the horror that is William.
June 25, 2024
Full review in an upcoming issue of Scream Horror mag
P.s this was one of the best horrors I've read in a while
P.s this was one of the best horrors I've read in a while
February 9, 2024
Wasn't sure what to expect from this one, but it turned out to be a fantastic little horror/thriller about the power of AI and the silly notion we humans have about being able to control it. A husband, master of robotics who is having issues with his pregnant wife, creates an AI robot named William who turns out to have abilities its own creator never saw coming. He traps the duo and her two friends (one who may be having an affair with the wife) in their house and frightening chaos results. Just when I knew where the story was going, I didn't, and the ending was a real surprise. A dark and disturbing tale that I enjoyed from beginning to end. 4.5 stars. Highly recommended. Thanks to Netgalley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 2, 2024
3.25 stars
A decent horror pick-me-up, William is an in-your-face assemblage of horror trope and setting: possessed doll, tech-gone-rouge, and haunted house to highlight a few. Beneath its funhouse style carnage and violence, there lies a thought-provoking core thesis, which reveals itself towards the end for a satisfying finale.
My main issue with William is its structure: it's missing a proper first act introducing its characters and setting. Spin it positively it drops readers immediately in the midst of action (everything is already creepy/off-kilter from the get-go). However, the absence of buildup also makes the horrors less dynamic, as well as the deaths coming across as trivial (since we as readers never really get to know the characters). The writing is also uneven, very articulated in generating atmosphere and putting out philosophical discourse, but action sequences tend to be muddled and disorienting, and I find myself constantly re-reading passages trying to visualize what exactly is happening.
William offers a quick dose of satisfying horror (not a bad pick if you'll be doing a Halloween readathon this year), but has evident flaws due to the amputated storytelling (not unlike a certain character...)—a novella of strong ideas desperately needing to be fleshed out to a full length novel.
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**
A decent horror pick-me-up, William is an in-your-face assemblage of horror trope and setting: possessed doll, tech-gone-rouge, and haunted house to highlight a few. Beneath its funhouse style carnage and violence, there lies a thought-provoking core thesis, which reveals itself towards the end for a satisfying finale.
My main issue with William is its structure: it's missing a proper first act introducing its characters and setting. Spin it positively it drops readers immediately in the midst of action (everything is already creepy/off-kilter from the get-go). However, the absence of buildup also makes the horrors less dynamic, as well as the deaths coming across as trivial (since we as readers never really get to know the characters). The writing is also uneven, very articulated in generating atmosphere and putting out philosophical discourse, but action sequences tend to be muddled and disorienting, and I find myself constantly re-reading passages trying to visualize what exactly is happening.
William offers a quick dose of satisfying horror (not a bad pick if you'll be doing a Halloween readathon this year), but has evident flaws due to the amputated storytelling (not unlike a certain character...)—a novella of strong ideas desperately needing to be fleshed out to a full length novel.
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**
September 24, 2024
I had this toy robot dog as a child, it was back in the 90s, so it wasn't anything fancy or special and wifi wasn't a thing and there's very little I'm afraid of, clowns, spiders, snakes, bugs, walking around in the dark, I'm all fine with.
The one thing I'm not okay with is, dolls attached to wifi. HARD PASSS.
The one thing I'm not okay with is, dolls attached to wifi. HARD PASSS.
September 15, 2024
A unique, spine-tingling and utterly chilling debut haunted house/locked room thriller novella from a new Canadian author that sees an agoraphobic man and his pregnant wife trapped in their home with a couple guests and their out of control AI robot who has taken over control of the house!
Great on audio, this was a quick listen that completely creeped me out and had a shocking twist ending I didn't see coming! Fans of Stephen King will gobble this up!! Highly recommended especially for anyone who enjoyed the Woman in the window by A. J. Finn.
Great on audio, this was a quick listen that completely creeped me out and had a shocking twist ending I didn't see coming! Fans of Stephen King will gobble this up!! Highly recommended especially for anyone who enjoyed the Woman in the window by A. J. Finn.
September 9, 2024
This is the story of Henry and Lily…and the robot who lives with them, William. Both engineers, they have one thing in common, but they are quite different. Lily works, leads a normal life, and is pregnant. Henry has severe agoraphobia, and can’t open the front door without having a panic attack. He lives in the attic, making his “devices”, like an AI dog, a creepy bicycling child and of course, William. I think it would be best if you knew a few things about William:
-He is very self-aware, astute, and can do things he wasn’t programmed to do
-He looks like a horrific bastardization of a man, and is upset about that
-He considers Henry to be a brother, which creeps Henry out
-He can easily hack the smart home system that Harry invented
-He has normal human emotions like loneliness, anger…and violence
-He believes a demon has possessed the odd body he was given
-He likes to do magic and play tricks
-He really likes to lock doors and windows
One (Halloween) morning, Lily lets Henry know that she is having her friends, Paige and Davis, over for brunch. Henry is anxious, but also interested in meeting his wife’s coworkers, and when the chance arises, he asks if they want to meet William. All I’m going to say is, that was a big mistake.
This is a fantastic book that I was going to give four stars from the beginning, but the ending BLEW MY MIND with a twist I never saw coming. This is almost like a Twilight Zone episode, and while it’s not quite short enough to be called a novella, it is a shorter book that is very easy to finish in one sitting. That ending made the book - five stars!
(Thank you to G.P. Putnam’s Sons, Mason Coile and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on September 10, 2024.)
-He is very self-aware, astute, and can do things he wasn’t programmed to do
-He looks like a horrific bastardization of a man, and is upset about that
-He considers Henry to be a brother, which creeps Henry out
-He can easily hack the smart home system that Harry invented
-He has normal human emotions like loneliness, anger…and violence
-He believes a demon has possessed the odd body he was given
-He likes to do magic and play tricks
-He really likes to lock doors and windows
One (Halloween) morning, Lily lets Henry know that she is having her friends, Paige and Davis, over for brunch. Henry is anxious, but also interested in meeting his wife’s coworkers, and when the chance arises, he asks if they want to meet William. All I’m going to say is, that was a big mistake.
This is a fantastic book that I was going to give four stars from the beginning, but the ending BLEW MY MIND with a twist I never saw coming. This is almost like a Twilight Zone episode, and while it’s not quite short enough to be called a novella, it is a shorter book that is very easy to finish in one sitting. That ending made the book - five stars!
(Thank you to G.P. Putnam’s Sons, Mason Coile and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on September 10, 2024.)
September 22, 2024
this book had an interesting concept, and while the execution wasn't a total flop, i still expected a little more from this. it's honestly just fine--most of the book is the characters wandering around. the plot or characters weren't particularly compelling or memorable; they were just kind of there. there was one plot twist i guessed from a mile away, whereas another one did surprise me. the short chapters made this an easy book to read over a few sittings. however, i didn't find myself glued to the pages. i listened to the audio for this one and the narration was good. this is a short techno-horror book that was perfectly fine overall but didn't impress me.
William is out now! thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
William is out now! thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 18, 2024
Henry and his wife have drifted apart due to his obsession over a recent project but with the birth of their child not far off he will do anything to win her back. Unfortunately, William has different plans. Trapped in a high tech super panic room house Henry and Lily are fighting for their lives against something science and faith can’t seem to define exclusively.
I enjoyed this story a lot, it’s fast paced and gaslighting you the entire read. For anyone who hates the cheating trope just beware this entire story has a gray cheating veil thrown over it BUT I promise you it’ll be fine. Additionally, there are some grin worthy jump scares throughout.
My only meh with the story is that I called the ‘twist’ pretty early, like really early. I won’t say it’s predictable because, again, tons of gaslighting so you’ll have plenty of opportunities to doubt yourself. Ultimately, in a perfect horror world, Lily would’ve/should’ve got a bit more in the end, but maybe that’s just me.
August 24, 2024
If you are a fan of an AI robot gone rogue like I am, this one is not to be missed. William is creepy with just the right of humor thrown in. This is a quick, fun and creative read. The story is suspenseful and hard to put down with well written dialogue. William would make a great movie. I plan to get an audio copy when it’s released.
August 16, 2024
Respectable horror debut. Needed a bit more character development for my taste. I figured out the twist a little too soon, which killed some of the tension. But I’m here for creepy robots musing about existence and meaning so three stars!
Thanks to Penguin Random House for the ARC.
Thanks to Penguin Random House for the ARC.
August 10, 2024
A new fear definitely unlocked with this one…A.I. has always interested me, I devoured this story in a day. So creepy and jump scary, you think you know, you don’t, never saw it coming…edge of your seat type thriller. So well crafted it sucks you in from page one, with each character introduced. Highly recommend the amazing psychological horror, I’ll be thinking about William for a long time. Thank you to @netgalley @putnambooks Penguin Group and Mason Coile for the opportunity to read this book for an honest review. PUB DATE SEPTEMBER 10,2024
February 1, 2024
I could not put this book down! I'm not usually a one sitting reader but this one had my swiping my kindle as fast as my eyes could go, It's a terrifying look at what we're allowing ourselves to become slaves to and, also, the lengths we'll go to protect the ones we love. Henry is incredibly flawed but, at his core, a very good man and I was on the edge of my seat with him. A huge thanks to the publisher for this ARC. I'll be buying a physical copy when it comes out to share with my friend,
September 10, 2024
3.5
this was pretty good, i think the pacing was kinda off but i didn't see the plot twist coming. loved how quick of a read it was
i truly wish we would stop all AI 🫠
this was pretty good, i think the pacing was kinda off but i didn't see the plot twist coming. loved how quick of a read it was
i truly wish we would stop all AI 🫠
September 26, 2024
M3gan called and she wants her plot back. W1ll1am felt like the start of a book instead of a fully fledged novel. Character development was close to nill and the dialogue was absurd. An adult woman working for a global tech firm says things like “say it, don’t spray it”. There are HUGE plot holes at almost every point of action. In one scene a tech worker begs to not be locked in a building saying, “no one will know I’m here”….except they’ve been going to the building with their cell phone for at least a year, their coworker’s car is parked at the front door. I’m no forensic scientist, but am guessing someone working for a major AI company knows some folks that could follow the trail fairly easily. Bonus for the twist though, I didn’t see it coming, and while I groaned out loud at its absurdity and slight middle finger to the reader, it was a clever moment. It feels like the twist was the origination for the whole novel and it was sort of slapdashed together around it. A big boo as well for the $27 cover price for what is a very slim book.
September 19, 2024
4⭐️
What a great spooky read! This is a locked-room-AI-house-of-horrors. Henry is afraid to leave his home. He gives all his time and energy to his projects, which includes William- an AI creation that is getting smarter by the day and seems eerily more human with each interaction. Henry has kept William locked in his lab, but when Henry and Lily have guests over for a brunch, he decides it’s a good time to debut William. (It was not a good choice). Panic and terror ensue.
I really liked the transitions between characters within chapters. Especially when they would switch back and forth quickly. It felt the way a movie would be edited together. This was a quick read. The chapters were nice and short. There was a lot of “I know this is probably a trick and I shouldn’t go into this room, but 🤷♀️.” But isn’t that how all classic horror movies are?!
Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. This review will be shared on NetGalley, Goodreads, and Amazon.
What a great spooky read! This is a locked-room-AI-house-of-horrors. Henry is afraid to leave his home. He gives all his time and energy to his projects, which includes William- an AI creation that is getting smarter by the day and seems eerily more human with each interaction. Henry has kept William locked in his lab, but when Henry and Lily have guests over for a brunch, he decides it’s a good time to debut William. (It was not a good choice). Panic and terror ensue.
I really liked the transitions between characters within chapters. Especially when they would switch back and forth quickly. It felt the way a movie would be edited together. This was a quick read. The chapters were nice and short. There was a lot of “I know this is probably a trick and I shouldn’t go into this room, but 🤷♀️.” But isn’t that how all classic horror movies are?!
Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. This review will be shared on NetGalley, Goodreads, and Amazon.
September 23, 2024
3.25⭐️
Not gonna lie, this was feeling pretty mid until that ending redeemed the entire short story.
Not gonna lie, this was feeling pretty mid until that ending redeemed the entire short story.
September 24, 2024
Artificial intelligence plot--scary and believable.
September 14, 2024
So imagine Smart House meets a less-intellectual version of Ex-Machina/I, Robot and make it a domestic thriller. This was a quick and fun AI horror that had a lot of great ideas buried under a thick layer of cheese.
June 8, 2024
Henry is a man suffering from agoraphobia who lives with his pregnant wife in their voice activated smart home. Henry creates an AI robot human called William. A robot that completely to his surprise has grown wiser, stronger and even more terrifying evil. When Henry introduces William to his wife and her former colleagues, things take a turn for the worse, resulting in a fight for survival in a house that is no longer under their control.
I liked this book a lot. It was fast paced, spooky, tense and has a sense of foreboding from cover to cover. The characters were well written, and the idea of puppets being controlled by a malevolent force was pure nightmare fuel. I liked how chaotic this book was and, the way the author creates a world of sheer terror in such a short book.
The final 80% of the book was the most enjoyable for me. The twist that came at the end was one of the best things I've read to date. That twist alone just took this book to another level for me and, I wanted to go back and re-read this entire book all over again lol. The ending was well done, and I loved the obscurity of it. This will make the perfect Halloween read for all you horror lovers out there.
Thank you to Netgalley, John Murray Press and Mason Coile for my eARC of this book. All opinions are 100% my own.
I liked this book a lot. It was fast paced, spooky, tense and has a sense of foreboding from cover to cover. The characters were well written, and the idea of puppets being controlled by a malevolent force was pure nightmare fuel. I liked how chaotic this book was and, the way the author creates a world of sheer terror in such a short book.
The final 80% of the book was the most enjoyable for me. The twist that came at the end was one of the best things I've read to date. That twist alone just took this book to another level for me and, I wanted to go back and re-read this entire book all over again lol. The ending was well done, and I loved the obscurity of it. This will make the perfect Halloween read for all you horror lovers out there.
Thank you to Netgalley, John Murray Press and Mason Coile for my eARC of this book. All opinions are 100% my own.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 405 reviews