

Title: Sisters
Author: Brian Evenson
In: Haunted Nights (Lisa Morton & Ellen Datlow)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Family, Urban fantasy
Dates read: 15th December 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Blumhouse
Year: 2017
5th sentence, 74th page: “Hi, Mom,” I managed.


These two paranormal sisters are just trying to find out a little bit more about Halloween. They just want to be a part of their neighbourhood. But then they’re seen and all hell breaks loose.

I have a younger sister, so I’m all for sisterly bonding. And, honestly, I get really excited whenever there is a story which features some kind of sisterly bonding – I don’t think that there’s nearly enough of these types of stories out there. Or at least, in my shelves. Having said that, not so much into the sisterly bonding that occurs in this short story. There was just something a little too twisted. And as much as I love my baby sister… this is not on the cards for ways that we would bond. Sorry Tal!
Having said all of that, I loved the lore that was involved in creating this world. I feel like it could be incredibly fun and difficult to forget. I would love to know more about such a created reality. Even though this is a standalone and I won’t get the privilege to do so. I might just have to search out more of Brian Evenson’s writings instead…
When you think about some of our practices, they’re kind of odd. Especially if you look at it as though you had never heard of, seen or experienced them. Yes, I’m talking about Christmas, Halloween, those practices. And, coming up to Christmas, it was quite fun to have both of these celebrations explained by alien life forms in quite a dark and plain way. I frequently laughed out loud and thoroughly enjoyed myself. Definitely a fun, and quite dark story about sisters, family and Halloween.
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