Writer Adrian Van Young has great things to say about Hellions in “A Fresh Blend of Southern Gothic Weirdness,” Southwest Review: “The stories in Hellions are full-throated, grown-ass Southern Gothic fairy tales of seemingly original extraction; that’s what makes them great—and fresh.. . .. [Elliott] might just be one of the best genre blenders to shed her human skin and screech.”
Join me at Malaprop’s Bookstore for an event with the amazing horror writer Nathan Ballingrud on May 14 at 6:00 PM. I’ll be discussing my new story collection Hellions (Tin House). You can register here to reserve your seat.
Shelf Awareness includes Hellions (Tin House) in “The Best Books This Week,” with a great review from Nina Semczuk, who says “The talented Julia Elliott alchemizes a mix of southern gothic horror and folktale, creating her own muggy, wild atmospheres in Hellions. In 11 stories, Elliott uses her gift for visceral description in various situations; for instance, an abbot ‘glistens like a broiled ham, a nun’s ‘soul rejoices like a bird flitting from a dark hut, out into summer air, and in ‘Erl King,’ college roommates share ‘mutual longing” that “[fills] the room like a swarm of moths.’. . . These are adult fairy tales at their finest.”
Beth Steidle, who designed the cover for Hellions (Tin House) is a genius, and I’m so glad to see her work acknowledged on Lit Hub, “The 15 Best Book Covers of April.”
In “Bookshelf: Gothic Short Stories and a Comic Crime Thriller for Spring Reading,” Suzanne Van Atten of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution says, “Julia Elliott writes delightfully disturbing short stories rendered in such lush detail and gorgeous prose, it’s easy to get lost in the wildly different worlds she creates, whether it’s a medieval convent, a magical forest or a tiny town in rural South Carolina. She’s like one of her characters, spinning a spell with her tales, making them feel lived instead of read, so that when they conclude, the ending really sticks.”
Washington Post lists my story collection Hellions in “11 New Paperbacks to Read this Month“: “Elliott’s new collection of short stories has been described by more than one reader as “feral.” Incorporating elements of Southern gothic, fantasy, fairy tales, and other genres, it showcases a fearless imagination.” Out now with Tin House.
There are so many wonderful indie bookstores in the South, and I’m honored to be featured in The Southern Bookseller Review‘s “Book Buzz: Hellions by Julia Elliott.” Special thanks to Mikey Lafave from Avid Bookshop in Athens, Georgia, Tony Peltier from Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and Joshua Lambie from Underground Books in Carrolton, Georgia for their eloquent descriptions of my collection.
I’m thrilled with this review of Hellions (Tin House) from Chapter 16: “Normal Life Impossible.” Erica Wright says, “In her new story collection Hellions, Julia Elliott embraces the grotesque, playing with a rich literary tradition and molding it into something wholly her own. These tales teem with supernatural creatures — demons, hags, changelings, and swamp apes — but it’s the humans who are most compelling.”
The Southern Review of Books features Hellions (Tin House) in “The Best Southern Books of April 2025.”
Poets & Writers interviewed me for their “Ten Questions” series just in time for Hellions pub day! “This week’s installment of Ten Questions features Julia Elliott, whose story collection Hellions is out today from Tin House Books. The eleven stories in this collection leap from the occult to the comic, from the horrific to the wondrous, as earthbound characters yearn for the otherworldly.”
