This was actually a really sad short story. I was a little surprised at how much it plucked at the heart strings to be honest. Although, I really shouldn’t have been. Armstrong generally seems to have a slightly darker side to her stories than what I expect…
Although this is a bit sad and most definitely tragic, it is also a story that features love. That forever kind of love where you just can’t imagine taking another breath without the other person. It may have tragic consequences in this case, but I still found it beautiful and impossible to look away from. The perfect ghost story.
After finishing this short story, I kind of just… sat. And stared. And thought. It was a wonderful ghost story. Most definitely haunting, and not one I’m likely to forget anytime soon.
He is just spending a cold, dark night alone. But then a parade of the dead stream past and the Red Dreams begin…
The beginning of this story was a little bit convoluted and confusing. But, after a while, it started to get… less convoluted and confusing. And much, much better. And once the proverbial penny dropped in my teeny tiny brain… wow. I really, seriously loved this story! And, really, when you’re dealing with death and the dead… I kind of liked that it was so damn convoluted.
I love that this story was not only a parade of the murdered, but a reminder of the cost of war. A reminder that there is always a cost. Not just in soldiers, but also in those who are innocent, including the dogs and cats and horses… it was pretty gruesome really. But, seriously enjoyable.
I’ve love every single one of Maberry’s short stories that I’ve had the pleasure of reading. And this one was no exception. But, now I’m beginning to think that I should really start on some of the novels that I have sitting in my shelves…
When you die, who will pick up your collect call? This short story is a great reminder to be kind and remember those that you love.
I actually seriously enjoyed this ghost story. And I loved the premise that it created for the afterlife. It’s such a great feeling – that those who are loved and cherished in life will have someone “pick up”. But if you’ve kinda been an arse… well, good luck!
Not only was this a great reminder of loving and karma, but it was also a cute story that was all about being reunited with family. We’ve all said goodbye to loved ones. So it was really nice to have a story that kind of focused on the fact that we’ll eventually see each other again. Whether it’s your father, your wife, your sister… whoever… they’ll pick up and be there when that final curtain call occurs.
Most ghost stories tend to leave you with goose bumps (which, I feel, is kind of the point). But this one didn’t. It left me feeling comfortable, safe and not scared of the future. That lasted all of about thirty seconds before reality crashed back in. But it was a nice feeling all the same.
Rick just wanted to make some extra cash. But then a ghost comes out of the floor and his day goes from bad to worse. But maybe he can be brave.
I absolutely loved the fact that this short story ultimately lead to Rick finding his confidence and sense of self. In a way, it was a bit of a Coming of Age story. Alright, he’s kind of already an adult. But sometimes adults do need that extra little shove to be well… adult-like.
I absolutely loved the backstory that was in this tale. I can’t wait to find out more – after all, a world in which Mistletoe is somehow a portal for evil, soul consuming ghosts… definitely sign me up for that one! It just intrigued me so much and pulled me right in from the very beginning.
I love that although most stories I read with ghosts in them portray ghosts as kind of misunderstood, and / or just kind of sad… this one didn’t. The ghosts are dangerous, kind of evil and most definitely scary. It was a great change from the whiney, will-o-the-wisp style ghosts I’ve been reading about a lot lately. Always good fun when a spectral phantom can somehow annihilate you and destroy everything you are…
The church is being haunted in a world that doesn’t like to acknowledge the presence of ghosts. This is not only a battle of wills and power… but one of faith.
I absolutely adored the combination of the Church, the supernatural and faith in this ghostly short story. It’s a good beginning to a collection of ghost stories, just enough creepiness, without being overwhelmingly scary. I think I need to ease into the truly terrifying things-that-go-bump-in-the-night stories. It’s been a little while since I tried to read any…
This story was seriously layered in its symbolism, themes and moments. It was one of those that will leave you contemplating the story long after you’ve turned that final page. The plethora of characters, character histories and faiths had me rereading multiple passages. It was just so beautifully constructed.
This is one of those great stories that completely pulled me in, but I can’t actually remember completely what the storyline was even about. There was just something… whispy and ethereal about the story. Which most definitely suits the ghost story theme. I look forward to rereading this in the future and picking up more nuances that I previously missed.
Title: Dead Girls are Easy Author: Terri Garey Series: Nicki Styx #1 Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Ghosts, Paranormal fantasy, Urban fantasy Dates read: 27th January 2020 Pace: Fast Format: Novel Publisher: Avon Year: 2007 5th sentence, 74th page: “She was quite a character.”
“My name is Nicki Styx and I thought I had the world all figured out. Then I regained consciousness.”
There’s something about almost dying that makes a girl rethink her priorities. Take Nicki Styx – she was strictly goth and vintage, until a brush with the afterlife leaves her with the ability to see dead people.
Before you can say boo, Atlanta’s ghosts are knocking at Nicki’s door. Now her days consist of reluctantly cleaning up messes left by teh dearly departed, leading ghouls to the Light… and one-on-one anatomy lesssons with Dr. Joe Bascombe, the dreamy surgeon who saved her life. All this catering to the deceased is a real drag, especially for a girl who’d rather be playing hanky-panky with her hunky new boyfriend… who’s beginning to think she’s totally nuts.
But things get even more complicated when a friend foolishly sells her soul to the devil, and Nicki’s new gift lands her in some deep voodoo.
As it turns out for Nicki Styx, death was just the beginning.
I’ve been meaning to read this novel for a long time. Ever since I read the novella in Weddings from Hell. But, it always seems to be pushed to the side. Now I have no idea why I did so… this is brilliant, funny and kind of sweet. It’s such a light-hearted take on the ability to see ghosts and a great way in which to create a whole new romance to grace my shelves. It’s just… well… beautiful.
I’m a big believer in karma and the belief that what goes around comes around. The fact that this is a big part of the storyline, that idea that everything happens for a reason… I absolutely lapped that up. Especially when Nicki has the pleasure of coming up against the man who wronged her in the past and kind of turned her against relationships… there was something so poetically beautiful about it. Especially when he realises what a mistake he made.
Growing up I kind of always wanted my token gay friend. What I didn’t realise was that I had actually met him in year eight, and just have absolutely no gay-dar. But the token gay best friend in this story is absolutely brilliant. He hits every single stereotype, is completely loyal and adds an extra layer of light-heartedness when shit really starts to hit the fan. He also perfectly compliments Nicki’s sass and bitchiness in a way that I completely didn’t anticipate. And acts as a bit of a conscious when she starts to withdraw… everything that you should have in a best friend.
I seem to run across certain themes and trends in the books that I’m reading which are completely random. And I’m never really sure why they appear. In this case, lately it seems to be Voodoo. I read two stories which feature this in a matter of days, and have come up against a few more stories which feature this religion (practice?) in the past few months. It’s a great story driver and something that I’m completely fascinated by. Now I just feel like I need to start doing a little research of my own.
Although Nicki’s life is completely turned upside down in this story, there is no woes me attitude. I tend to find that completely irritating. Even if I would probably be a little sooky about dying, coming back and being able to see ghosts. I’m not perfect, but I like it when the heroines in my stories are unwilling to take the challenges life throws at them by the balls and tell them to just get stuffed. Especially when I know that things are just going to get more and more intense as this series unfolds. After all, there are a few mysteries that were introduced in Dead Girls are Easy which haven’t been tied up yet…
Title: A Kingdom of Sugar Skulls and Marigolds Author: Eric J. Guignard In: Haunted Nights (Lisa Morton & Ellen Datlow) Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Ghosts, LGBTQI, Urban fantasy Dates read: 29th December 2019 Pace: Medium Format: Short story Publisher: Blumhouse Year: 2017 5th sentence, 74th page: Abuelita last shakes a single bony finger at me.
All he wanted was to see Santi one last time. But a misspelt sugar skull and an accidental run in with the spirits get in the way. They also teach him a very valuable lesson.
In a collection of Halloween stories, I was so excited to find a Dia de los Muertos story. Like, ridiculously excited. I can still remember the grad paper that I wrote comparing Halloween and Dia de los Muertos. And I’ve been obsessed ever since. So the fact that there was a story entirely featuring this celebration… wow!
I did get a little bit confused when I realised that the lead narrator was a male. For some reason, the voice sounded incredibly feminine and I just made an assumption. When I realised that the person mourning the death of a loved one was male and he was mourning what happened because of his homosexuality. I was much, much happier. It worked out so much better that way.
The gangster wannabe homophobes in this story seriously pissed me off. Like ridiculously. But that’s okay, because there is an Abuelita who you just don’t mess with in this story. One that can still own people… even when she’s beyond the grave.
Title: All Through the Night Author: Elise Forier Edie In: Haunted Nights (Lisa Morton & Ellen Datlow) Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!) My Bookshelves:Fae, Ghosts, Paranormal fantasy Dates read: 28th December 2019 Pace: Medium Format: Short story Publisher: Blumhouse Year: 2017 5th sentence, 74th page: But all that happened was a hand touched her head, warm and soft.
She moved from Ireland to create a better life. But then she lost her husband. And then the fae came visiting on All Hallows Eve…
Most of the stories in the Haunted Nights collection have been a little intense and quite frankly horrifying. This one isn’t really horrifying. It’s just incredibly tragic and sad. I don’t cry, much, at all. But I did feel a sore point in my breast. It was just so… sad.
This short story is a fantastic weaving together of Irish folklore and the difficulties of travelling to America at the turn of the century. The poverty and the risks that were taken for such a thing. It’s also about a melding of the world and beliefs. She spends her time believing that the fae are going to take her baby. And her baby is taken… but it has a little more to do with the realities of the world in which she’s found herself.
All Hallows Eve is creepy. It’s probably why I hate Halloween so much. People celebrate it because they have no idea about the history of it and the darkness that surrounds the night. The thin veiling between the spirit world and reality. This was a great way to bring back those realities of what I actually think is a kind of terrifying night.
Title: King Pole, Gallows Pole, Bottle Tree Author: Elizabeth Bear In: Naked City (Ellen Datlow) Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect) My Bookshelves:Circus, Ghosts, Urban fantasy Dates read: 26th December 2019 Pace: Slow Format: Short story Publisher: St. Martin’s Press Year: 2011 5th sentence, 74th page: Following the line of his motion, I realized suddenly that there was an awful lot of ink on my arm.
He followed the ghost to the Bottle Tree. Then he started to lose his memory. How will they get it back?
I think that one of my greatest fears about growing old is the idea of forgetting everything that I know. There is a history of dementia in my family, so it’s a particularly scary thought for me. Which kind of made this story quite intense and almost terrifying. After all, it’s about forgetting parts of yourself that you don’t even know your forgetting. Sounds a little too familiar if you ask me.
I loved that this story’s lead was actually a city. In a weird, metaphysical way. Or a deity of the city, that’s a huge conversation for another day. But the idea was still brilliant. It made me wonder what beings would be created by my cities and towns. What they would forget with the passage of time. And how their personalities would change.
Probably the thing that I loved most about this story though was the interconnection between the circus, death and ghosts. It’s a surprising mix and not one that I would have thought of for myself. Yet, it was so blatantly obvious with a backdrop of LA once you read it. Such a great adventure!
Title: The Waters of Sorrow Author: Tanith Lee In: Red as Blood (Tanith Lee) Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Fairy tales, Fantasy, Ghosts Dates read: 17th December 2019 Pace: Slow Format: Short story Publisher: Wildside Year: 1983 5th sentence, 74th page: Without some attention it must have been easy to miss the spot.
Along the river there are the women who were destroyed by love. The women who find men on a long, dark night and dance him to death. But there is another story at the water of sorrows that needs to be told.
As an ending to the Red as Blood collection, this short story was completely on point. It was, interestingly enough, also the only romantic story in the whole collection. So, I kind of liked that it ended on this note. Don’t get me wrong, it was still super and dark like all of the other fairy tale retellings in the collection, but the romantic aspect made it a little more bittersweet and somehow nostalgic… I slightly (but only slightly) softer note to end on.
This was the last story I read before going to bed. And it was kind of perfect. Something about the surreal nature of the storyline and the atmosphere that sweeps you along actually worked really well when I was home alone late at night. The betrayed women late at night, dancing their deathly dance. The mystery of the young girls death… everything combined in such a brilliant way to create an unforgettable tapestry. One which worked in with the dark of outside and the time of the night.
I’m normally fairly good at predicting what is going to happen in the future… not so much in this story. There were enough hints throughout that you’re curiosity was peeked, but I never actually did predict the ending. There were just so many misleading moments throughout. Which of course, moves this to the top of my short story favourites pile… I love being drastically mislead throughout a story!
Earth and Skye 