Book Review: Slivers

Photo by Ed Ortiz

After reading Slivers by Vicki Atkinson, which, by the way, is excellent, I realized it had been decades since I last read a supernatural novel. The last one was The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende, which was also her debut novel.

As a debut novel, I think Slivers hits the mark. Of course, since it is a work of fiction, I’m not going to share a lot of details, as I usually do, so as not to spoil Vicki’s novel. But here is my takeaway after reading Slivers:

“This is a great supernatural novel where three characters—Jane, Katie, and Eric—find themselves dealing with inexplicable phenomena that have actually been occurring for generations. The author does an excellent job of connecting the past with the present, developing the mystery of the Slivers and the Hiraeth (a portal of sorts that provides a thin space between worlds where the impossible happens). The story really picks up the pace once you reach the chapter titled ‘The Accident – 1965,’ and I couldn’t put it down after that. Watching Jane, Katie, and Eric unravel the truth behind these encounters, with the help of a character from the past, kept me hooked until the very end.”

I read Surviving Sue, Vicki’s first book, which I highly recommend, and I listened to one of her talks, so I knew there were some connections between the two books. As I read Slivers, I found myself looking for those connections.

When I encountered the word “Hiraeth,” something compelled me to look it up in the dictionary. Vicki beautifully describes it as she develops the scene, but I needed to know more because, even when I’m reading fiction, I’m not just reading for entertainment—I’m trying to figure out what the author is trying to say in the context of real life. By the way, I took about three pages of notes. Yeah, my nerdy side takes over even when I’m reading fiction. 

So, here is the definition of “Hiraeth” according to the Oxford English Dictionary:

“Originally and chiefly in the context of Wales and Welsh culture: deep longing for a person or thing which is absent or lost; yearning; nostalgia; spec. homesickness.”1

If you have read Surviving Sue, then you know how Hiraeth connects to the story.

I also noticed other connections, such as the mystery surrounding family life and the things that went unsaid even though people knew what was happening, among others.

One thing that fascinated me was how Vicki discovered an ancestor while doing her research and connected him to the story. In the author’s notes at the back of the book, she explains that connection.

I could go on and on, but I don’t want to give away too much.

I want to end this post by saying that I highly recommend this novel to anyone, but in particular I think it is a must-read for those who have read Surviving Sue. There are some wonderfully spooky narratives woven throughout the novel.

About the Author2

Vicki Atkinson is the author of Surviving Sue and Slivers and is a licensed professional counselor with a doctorate in Adult Education and degrees in Psychology. Vicki is a consultant in private practice and lives near Chicago with her husband Paul and is the proud mother of Delaney and guardian to her disabled sister, Lisa.

You can visit her wonderful blog, Victoria Ponders, to learn more about her writing.

You can read my review of Surviving Sue here.

  1. https://www.oed.com/dictionary/hiraeth_n?tl=true ↩︎
  2. https://eckhartzpress.com/author/vicki-atkinson/ ↩︎

91 thoughts on “Book Review: Slivers”

  2. It sounds fascinating, Edward. Congratulations to Vicki. Wales has so many marvelous legends — thanks for pointing out that detail. I like that she used the concept of “Between,” which has stuck with me for decades since I first saw it in a fantasy book.
    I’ve just realized what a quick (but with great comprehension) reader you are. I take so long reading books, so that’s a skill I’ve always wished I shared. Wishing you and yours a splendid weekend. Hugs. 🤗

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    1. Thank you, Teagan. I’m not a big supernatural and fantasy book reader, so it was fun reading about it. You know, I used to be a super slow reader, mostly because I take notes while reading. But since I’ve been reading a lot over the last two years, I’m actually improving my speed-reading. I never thought that was possible.

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      1. That’s interesting. I’m getting even slower, because my eyes have become a bigger obstacle. As vision-care technology advanced, their ability to make lenses that I can see through diminished. It has to do with a weird angle in my astigmatism that requires a human touch in the lens-making (combined with generally awful vision, LOL). I feel bad that I can’t support my writer friends to the degree that I’d like, but I do what I can, beyond writing reviews to try and make up for it. Cheers.

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        1. Sorry to hear that, Teagan. Not the same, of course, but my vision has gotten worse over the years. Now I use trifocals and my left lens is thicker because apparently my left eye needs more power. 😂 Nothing to feel bad about, my friend. We do the best we can.

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  6. I’ve been waiting for your review of ‘Slivers’, Edward. You often tell us exactly what we need to know and your recommendations are so very good. I like how you tied both of Vicki’s books together. I definitely need to get a copy of “Slivers”.

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        1. Sí, todo en español. Adoro nuestro idioma y siempre trato de leer en español. Hice una reseña en inglés del libro El viento conoce mi nombre, y me resultó un poco difícil traducir las emociones de Isabel en esa novela.

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  9. You’re right, I’m totally surprised to see a fiction review, let alone a supernatural fiction review, on your blog! In recent years, I’ve fallen down the rabbit hole on an urban fantasy universe of novels that are made up of different series by the author S.M. Reine. I believe you recently commented on one of those reviews, so you’re aware. Anyway, I’m so glad you enjoyed this book! I wonder why an author in Chicago chose to use Welsh lore in her book. Also, call me silly, but the author’s bio strikes me as…possessive. Maybe I’m too critical.

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    1. Yeah, I don’t do a lot of fiction and I’m very selective when I do. The author is of Scottish descent, and she was exploring that side of her ancestry and finding answers to the questions she had after writing Surviving Sue, a memoir where she describes some family dysfunction. I met the author, and she’s an outstanding and caring person. I recommend that you check out her blog and read some of the things she has done over the years, not only to help her sister, Lisa, but also everyone who reaches out to her professionally or on a personal level. Once you read Surviving Sue, you will come away with a better understanding of what she went through and overcame. Not sure if you read my review of that book, but I included the link after the “About the Author” section.

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  11. Like you, dear Edward, we usually don’t read supernatural novels (but we read Allende’s first novel as well). Now you’ve made us curious. We’ll have a try.
    Thanks
    The Fab Four of Cley
    🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

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  12. A thoughtful review introduction that blends personal reflection with literary appreciation, highlighting how a compelling novel can rekindle interest in a genre long left unexplored. 📚✨

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  14. A lovely review that definitely invites us to dive deeper into the story. I found it particularly interesting that you mentioned “hiraeth,” one of my favorite words, for it expresses my unexplainable feelings from an early age. When I learned about it some years ago, it felt like “understanding” the unexplainable while at the same time feeling at home. Thank you for mentioning it here, and it’s so interesting that Vicki chose it for her book too. Infinite blessings and light your way, always, my friend! ✨🙏🍀

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    1. Thank you so much, Susana. 🙏🏼 The way you described the word captures the exact feeling you get when you read the parts of the story that mention it, especially toward the end, when secrets are revealed.

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  16. A thoughtful review of Vicki Atkinson’s Slivers, highlighting its supernatural mystery, layered storytelling, and emotional depth.

    The novel connects past and present through characters Jane, Katie, and Eric, while exploring the eerie concept of “Hiraeth” a deep sense of longing or homesickness for something lost or unreachable.

    What stands out in your reflection is how the book isn’t just read for entertainment, but for meaning linking fiction to real life, family history, and emotional memory especially for readers familiar with Surviving Sue.

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    1. Definitely not a sequel, so you can read Slivers as a standalone novel. Vicki expanded on some of the family dynamics she introduced in Surviving Sue, transforming them into fiction in Slivers.

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  19. Thank you for this thoughtful review. Your reflection on Hiraeth and the way family secrets echo across generations was especially compelling. It seems Slivers is not merely a supernatural mystery but also a profound exploration of identity, memory, and belonging. Your insights have made me curious to learn more about the novel and its deeper themes. Excellent review!

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  23. Hiraeth sounds very much like the Portuguese saudade.

    “Originally and chiefly in the context of Wales and Welsh culture: deep longing for a person or thing which is absent or lost; yearning; nostalgia; spec. homesickness.”1

    Congratulations to Vicki on the excellent review! Sharing to help spread the word.

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  28. Sounds like a great read. I love when a story keeps you thinking long after you’ve put the book down, and the way Vicki tied the past, mystery, and family history together sounds fascinating.

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    1. Thank you so much, Terry. Fiction is always problematic for me because I know I need to keep the balance and not say too much. So I really appreciate your comment. It means a lot to me as I continue to learn how to write reviews.

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  32. Edward….I am beyond honored by your review and this post! I love how you dive into everything you read with a keen eye for research and patterns — with “Slivers, detecting nuances I hoped with all my heart readers would see. Thank you for the generous feedback…especially the time you took to understand how the concept of “Hiraeth” mattered to the story. Your insight about the connection to “Surviving Sue” is spot on and your understanding of the serendipity — finding out unexpected things about my mom’s ancestors? Oh my goodness. A very happy author over here. Thank you, thank you! (And I noticed your fabulous choice of coffee mugs, too! Do I detect slivers dancing around your mug???) 💝💝💝

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    1. You’re so welcome, Vicki. I truly enjoyed reading Slivers and looking deeper. You know how much I love Surviving Sue, so reading your novel and following the characters was fun. Yes, I think there were some slivers dancing and floating around the mug, trying to savor my awesome Puerto Rican coffee. 😀 💫

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