What do you think?
Rate this book
No Strings
Jamie Stewart, the author who took you to Montague's Carnival of Delights and Terror, presents a wicked tale of what happens when we sever the strings that bind us. No Strings is the story of Lyra, a child that is used to getting what she wants no matter what and what she wants right now is a prize.
One of the ugly wooden dolls on display at the carnival.
Only the dolls don't want to go with her.
One of the ugly wooden dolls on display at the carnival.
Only the dolls don't want to go with her.
27 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 3, 2022
21 people want to read
About the author
Jamie Stewart
12 books179 followersJamie Stewart is a horror author and editor. His books include PRICE MANOR: THE HOUSE THAT BLEEDS, I HEAR THE CLATTERING OF THE KEYS (AND OTHER FEVERS DREAMS) and MR. JONES. He has co-edited such anthologies as WELCOME TO THE FUNHOUSE for BLOOD RITES HORROR and THE SACRAMENT, which is coming this October from DARK LIT PRESS. His short stories can be found in various anthologies, podcasts and Youtube channels.
Jamie lives in Northern Ireland with his wife and dogs, Poppy and Henry. He can be found on Instagram @jamie.stewart.33 where he reviews and promotes books.
Jamie lives in Northern Ireland with his wife and dogs, Poppy and Henry. He can be found on Instagram @jamie.stewart.33 where he reviews and promotes books.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
September 28, 2022
This proved to be a great little idea for a short horror story involving a young family, social media messaging and a couple of cursed wooden dolls intent on doing some serious damage.
Overall, I enjoyed many of the individual scenes and embedded messaging which really resonated and struck the wickedly right notes on several occasions, but unfortunately the whole tale didn't quite coalesce properly into the complete package, maybe through sketchy planning, gaps in the narrative or loose ends left in the plot which made the whole experience feeling a little incomplete. However, despite the initial prologue which felt 'oddly out of place' and did not really provide the eagerly anticipated run-in or backdrop to the story, I was impressed by the clever and thoughtful ending which went some way to explain and complete the unusual series of possible recycling order of events for some of the protagonists involved.
Loved the basic idea and lots of the darkly disturbing detailed descriptions and actual scenes without feeling that the carefully crafted, bundled-up separate nuggets of joyously wicked pleasure quite provided a completed box of truly horror reading delight.
An enjoyable read which I believe would be even better with the production of an updated, and slightly re-ordered, version of this dark and sinister wickedly good tale.
Rating: 3.3 stars.
Overall, I enjoyed many of the individual scenes and embedded messaging which really resonated and struck the wickedly right notes on several occasions, but unfortunately the whole tale didn't quite coalesce properly into the complete package, maybe through sketchy planning, gaps in the narrative or loose ends left in the plot which made the whole experience feeling a little incomplete. However, despite the initial prologue which felt 'oddly out of place' and did not really provide the eagerly anticipated run-in or backdrop to the story, I was impressed by the clever and thoughtful ending which went some way to explain and complete the unusual series of possible recycling order of events for some of the protagonists involved.
Loved the basic idea and lots of the darkly disturbing detailed descriptions and actual scenes without feeling that the carefully crafted, bundled-up separate nuggets of joyously wicked pleasure quite provided a completed box of truly horror reading delight.
An enjoyable read which I believe would be even better with the production of an updated, and slightly re-ordered, version of this dark and sinister wickedly good tale.
Rating: 3.3 stars.
September 28, 2022
This is a very short story, just 24 pages long.
It was an odd book, and I was intrigued. I really liked the premise but I don’t think it was executed (excuse the pun) brilliantly so I was left a little disappointed.
The story does get better as you go along and I liked the ending, the writing was just a little wooden and the social media aspect was a nice idea but didn’t really add anything to this story, if anything it just confused things for me. If you took that out it wouldn’t make any difference to the book at all.
A funny story in some ways of evil dolls being creepy and some people arguably getting what they deserve. I did not love this, I didn’t hate it either, I don’t mind as I didn’t exactly need to spend a lot of time reading this short one.
It was an odd book, and I was intrigued. I really liked the premise but I don’t think it was executed (excuse the pun) brilliantly so I was left a little disappointed.
The story does get better as you go along and I liked the ending, the writing was just a little wooden and the social media aspect was a nice idea but didn’t really add anything to this story, if anything it just confused things for me. If you took that out it wouldn’t make any difference to the book at all.
A funny story in some ways of evil dolls being creepy and some people arguably getting what they deserve. I did not love this, I didn’t hate it either, I don’t mind as I didn’t exactly need to spend a lot of time reading this short one.
October 3, 2022
This was a great (and very terrifying) horror story - I was adequately terrified.
I liked the plot, and the characters' background stories were quite interesting. The story was super short but altogether well-written. I would have liked to get some more background explanation as to why what's happening is happening at the end, but I guess that's just the way short stories work sometimes.
All in all, a spooky but quite enjoyable tale to read. Would definitely recommend.
I liked the plot, and the characters' background stories were quite interesting. The story was super short but altogether well-written. I would have liked to get some more background explanation as to why what's happening is happening at the end, but I guess that's just the way short stories work sometimes.
All in all, a spooky but quite enjoyable tale to read. Would definitely recommend.
November 1, 2022
Very short and very creepy! A fun idea well executed!
September 9, 2022
BLOG | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | YOUTUBE
A unique short tale that follows a broken family that acquired a cursed doll and a man who seems to be cursed to have these dolls for good.
The overall vibe of te story gives me an eerie feeling similar to a Lovecraftian horror in that it doesn’t give you the in-your-face paranormal. Instead, the author played into a more atmospheric trajectory despite there being an obvious material that causes these supernatural situations.
In its shortness, you would think that there wouldn’t be any substance with the characters. But, despite not being the strongest, the author was capable to give flesh to the bones of his characters. There’re still obvious reasons as to why they act the way they did and I was impressed with how this was injected in the story.
The plot itself seems to run towards a direction I didn’t expect. I wanted to see and know more about the defining foundation of the book—which, to me, were the dolls—but I didn’t seem to have the luxury of that. In that, I was quite disappointed.
Nonetheless, this book was fun to read. It offered a level of fright that’ll give you the creeps and a certain mystery that’ll keep you from putting the book down.
See this and other reviews in my blog.
A unique short tale that follows a broken family that acquired a cursed doll and a man who seems to be cursed to have these dolls for good.
The overall vibe of te story gives me an eerie feeling similar to a Lovecraftian horror in that it doesn’t give you the in-your-face paranormal. Instead, the author played into a more atmospheric trajectory despite there being an obvious material that causes these supernatural situations.
“There was a reason that she and Lyra no longer attended church on Sunday where the minister preached acceptance and love from his pulpit while the eyes of the congregation burned their judgement into the back of her head.”
In its shortness, you would think that there wouldn’t be any substance with the characters. But, despite not being the strongest, the author was capable to give flesh to the bones of his characters. There’re still obvious reasons as to why they act the way they did and I was impressed with how this was injected in the story.
The plot itself seems to run towards a direction I didn’t expect. I wanted to see and know more about the defining foundation of the book—which, to me, were the dolls—but I didn’t seem to have the luxury of that. In that, I was quite disappointed.
Nonetheless, this book was fun to read. It offered a level of fright that’ll give you the creeps and a certain mystery that’ll keep you from putting the book down.
See this and other reviews in my blog.
September 10, 2022
This is a short and fun read from Stewart. I really enjoyed the creepy atmosphere even though it was presented in a small number of pages. Stewart does a great job paying homage to a lot of different horror tropes but maintains their freshness with his own style, which is always enjoyable when reading horror. Great work!
August 8, 2022
What a *fun* short! And by fun I mean messed up and eery and skin crawling. If you want something super quick that packs a punch, read this! I can’t wait to read more from Jamie Stewart!
November 29, 2022
3.5/5
A short, creepy tale of what goes down when a doll is won at a carnival and taken home to a family (who have so many problems, it's wow...). There isn't much on the father (other than he takes his daughter Lyra to the carnival and wins that creepy thing). Lyra is a spoiled brat who really needs to have a good disciplining and the mother is the main-ish focus (unsure why, but I digress). I enjoyed the bloody bits and the fun ending (iykyk), but to me, it felt like there was something lacking in this story. It was well written, as Stewart has done in past books...but I feel there could have been a little bit more. Still, give it a read.
A short, creepy tale of what goes down when a doll is won at a carnival and taken home to a family (who have so many problems, it's wow...). There isn't much on the father (other than he takes his daughter Lyra to the carnival and wins that creepy thing). Lyra is a spoiled brat who really needs to have a good disciplining and the mother is the main-ish focus (unsure why, but I digress). I enjoyed the bloody bits and the fun ending (iykyk), but to me, it felt like there was something lacking in this story. It was well written, as Stewart has done in past books...but I feel there could have been a little bit more. Still, give it a read.
April 15, 2024
This is a dark creepy short story horror. Slightly gory and full of chilling suspense. Two old wooden dolls are found by a Carnival worker and placed on his stall as prizes. When one of the dolls is won and taken home, the other is left behind. This is where the horror begins. The dolls do not appreciate being separated. A fast paced, page turner. Loved it.
October 25, 2022
As someone who is terrified by dolls, this story got me good. Though it is short, it packs a punch with creepiness. A must read for a fast scare! Thanks Jamie, you've given me another reason to run past dolls!
August 17, 2022
As per usual, a great story filled with social commentary, creepy little things and a great pacing!
June 30, 2023
Deliciously creepy and unflinchingly brutal.
June 16, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
Quite interesting and I didn’t expect the ending at all. A great short read, and well written.
Quite interesting and I didn’t expect the ending at all. A great short read, and well written.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews