Title: Modern Coyote Author: Shane Jones In: Xo Orpheus (Kate Bernheimer) Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!), My Bookshelves:Horror, Mythology Dates read: 10th August 2021 Pace: Slow Format: Short story Publisher: Penguin Books Year: 2013 5th sentence, 74th page: His ears were more prominent and they too had gray hair.
After the doctor gave them the choice, they took their baby home. “He’s here,” said Ben, into the phone. “They let us leave.”
This was one of those jumpy stories that doesn’t quite feel complete. And thus is fat more horrifying. Its uncomfortable and confusing, with so many things left unsaid. Which honestly just added to the appeal.
I think this story felt more horrifying and uncomfortable to me because there was a new born baby in it. And the whole expecting thing made that so much realistic… and triggering.
I actually liked this. It didn’t feel hugely like a coyote story to me, but it was brilliant. And horrifying. And twisty.
Title: The Bone Houses Author: Emily Lloyd-Jones Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!) My Bookshelves:Historical fiction, Horror,Paranormal fantasy, Young adult, Zombies Dates read: 22nd July – 6th August 2021 Pace: Medium Format: Novel Publisher: Little Brown Books Year: 2019 5th sentence, 74th page: She tried to steady her breathing, to will herself to calm.
NOTHING STAYS BURIED FOREVER.
Seventeen-year-old Ryn cares about only two things: her family and her family’s graveyard. And right now, both are in dire straits. Since the death of their parents, Ryn and her siblings have been scraping together a meagre existence as gravediggers in the remote village of Colbren, which sits at the foot of a harsh and deadly mountain range that was once home to the fae. The problem with being a gravedigger in Colbren, though, is that the dead don’t always stay dead.
The risen corpses are known as bone houses, and legend says that they’re the result of an old curse. When Ellis, an apprentice mapmaker with a mysterious past, arrives in town, the bone houses attack with a new ferocity. What is it that draws them near? And more importantly, how can they be stopped for good?
Together, Ellis and Ryn embark on a journey that will take them into the heart of the mountains, where they will have to face both the curse and the deeply buried truths about themselves. Equal parts classic horror novel and original fairy tale, The Bone Houses will have you spellbound from the very first page.
This is one of those books that I’ve been wanting to read for a while. But it seems to keep getting shunted to the side. Now that I’ve finally managed to sink my teeth into it… wow. This was brilliant. The kind of journey that is hard to put down and forget about. Even writing this review, the day after finishing the book, I’m getting the happy tingles.
I seem to be enjoying books a lot lately that flick between the points of view. I like how this mostly starts with Ryn and builds up her history really strongly. Then it flickers over to Ellis and starts to give out his history and characterisation in more of a trickle. Not only are you reading the book because you can’t wait to see how it ends, but also because you want to know where Ellis began.
This had a slight historical fiction feel to it. The structure of the society and the use of the fae back stories felt very celtic to me. It had a nice sense of familiarity that I tend to find with this background. Then, you add in the bone houses. They’re seriously creepy and a mystery all on their own. Each and every moment of the journey, I was fully expecting one of them to jump out and that tension kept me turning each and every page.
I absolutely adored this book, it had two strong characters who both had their flaws. A dead goat that showed insane amounts of loyalty. And a feeling of mystery that seized you from the very first moment and swept you along. This was just amazing and I’m so glad that I decided to pick this book up!!!
All he wants is for his girlfriend’s family to accept him. Even if that means sitting next to the dead with the weird uncle that barely speaks English. But, as it turns out, that is the least of his troubles. They’re just about to begin…
I really like the way that this uses the hint of old world traditions and practices to build the storyline. The fact that it is written from the point of view of a boy that just wants to be with his girl… well, it all works out well.
Sometimes the open endedness of short stories is kind of irritating. But, I liked the way that this one ends. It’s open… but with a hint of more action and a life to continue living in the future. And more potential for romance.
This story was great. But, it does make me leery about coffins and dead people… the imagery throughout this is just far too intense and realistic.
Title: Haunted Author: Joyce Carol Oates In: Hauntings (Ellen Datlow) & Demons and Dreams (Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling) Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this) My Bookshelves:Horror Dates read: 5th August 2021 Pace: Slow Format: Short story Publisher: Tachyon Year: 2013 5th sentence, 74th page: Mother didn’t like Mary Lou visiting with me when no one else was home in our house: she didn’t trust her, she said.
Adulthood gives us many moments to reflect on the past. But there are some ghosts that should maybe stay buried.
This story had so many horrible layers throughout it. Like, seriously disturbing layers. It made me very uncertain as to the amount of liking I feel for this short story.
This was brilliantly written. An adult reflecting on their childhood in that broken way we all have. After all, memories are just functions of our mind and never truly “true”.
This was a seriously not okay story. Don’t get me wrong, I seriously enjoyed it… but it was still very much disturbing and not okay.
Title: The Ammonite Violin (Murder Ballad No. 4) Author: Caitlin R. Kiernan In: Hauntings (Ellen Datlow) Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect) My Bookshelves:Crime, Horror Dates read: 26th July 2021 Pace: Medium Format: Short story Publisher: Tachyon Year: 2013 5th sentence, 74th page: She wonders how it will affect the sound, those five ancient stones, how they might warp and alter this violin’s voice.
He’s a collector. The only thing? One collection is on public display… and then the other? Well, that one is just haunting.
You know that a story is going to be creepy when the lead character is called The Collector. And when the whole story is written from this eerie birds eye point of view. But, it was kind of much more intense than I had expected….
There is always something a bit eerie about Kiernan’s writing. Yet, I found this one particularly bad. Probably because The Collector is a serial killer. And you spend the whole time wondering who the next victim will be. And what the obsession with the violin is.
Nothing about this story is comfortable. But it was intriguing. And I loved that uncomfortable feeling that lingers at the end. Truly haunting.
Title: The Master of Rampling Gate Author: Anne Rice In: By Blood We Live (John Joseph Adams) Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this) My Bookshelves:Gothic, Horror, Vampires Dates read: 30th June 2021 Pace: Slow, Medium, Fast Format: Short story Publisher: Night Shade Books Year: 2008 5th sentence, 74th page: “What have they done to me?” he whispered.
Two siblings were left with strict instructions of their father’s death – destroy Rampling Gate. But a visit to find out what they are to destroy has them questioning everything.
This had a very gothic / Dracula feel to it. But just not quite as horrifying and twisted. Actually, it had kind of surreal sort of happy ending. Not one that I necessarily went head over heels for. But one that I enjoyed nevertheless.
I like that there was a mystery and a feeling of family traditions and horrors throughout this tale. It wasn’t overly dark in and of itself, but that potential lingered throughout the tale. And it left me feeling very happily intrigued as I flicked through the pages.
I’ve heard of Anne Rice many times. I mean, who hasn’t when you like anything paranormal? So it was fun to know what her writing is actually like. I’d definitely be intrigued to buy one of her novels now…
Title: Nothing Will Hurt You Author: David Morrell In: Hauntings (Ellen Datlow) Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect) My Bookshelves:Family, Horror Dates read: 30th June 2021 Pace: Slow, Medium, Fast Format: Short story Publisher: Tachyon Year: 2013 5th sentence, 74th page: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.
Parents are supposed to be able to protect their children. But what happens when they fail?
To start with I had some pretty amazing Edward Scissorhand vibes. I’m not entirely sure why, maybe there’s a reference I picked up subconsciously from my long ago watching of the movie. And honestly, I thought that reference was dark enough…
It got darker. It got more disturbing and I felt quite uncomfortable by the time I’d finished this short story. Which, I suppose makes sense for the fact that it’s in the Hauntings collection. It also left you with a but of a “haunting” feeling when you turned that final page…
I love the idea that a father will do anything to protect his daughter. I also loved how this story took that protective instinct WAY too far. Combined with the haunting by the daughter, a quest for revenge and just the general creepiness of this story… well, I’m still tingling.
Title: Dracula and Other Horror Stories Author: Bram Stoker In: Dracula and Other Horror Stories (Bram Stoker) Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!) My Bookshelves:Classics, Horror Dates read: 14th September 2020 – 11th May 2021 Pace: Slow Format: Collection Publisher: Barnes and Noble Leatherbound Year: 2010 5th sentence, 74th page: I trust her feeling ill may not be from that unlucky prick of the safety-pin.
Dracula and Other Horror Classics collects the most memorable tales of horror by Bram Stoker. In addition to Dracula–the landmark vampire novel that set the pattern for virtually all vampire fiction written after its publication in 1897–this omnibus collects the novels The Jewel of Seven Stars and The Lair of the White Worm. In also includes a dozen of Stoker’s short tales of the macabre, including “Dracula’s Guest,” a sidebar to his famous novel.
For more than a century, Bram Stoker’s fiction has inspired countless writers of horror and fantasy fiction. This volume allows readers a unique opportunity to appreciate the full range of his dark imagination.
Dracua and Other Horror Classics is one of Barnes & Noble’s leatherbound classic editions. Each volume features authoritative texts by the world’s greatest authors, in exquisitely designed bonded-leather bindings with distinctive gilt edging and an attractive silk-ribbon bookmark. Decorative, durable, and collectible, these books offer hours of pleasure to readers young and old and are an indispensible cornerstone for every home library.
I seriously enjoyed Dracula. And I do have a bit of a penchant for reading classics late at night over a glass of wine. Bram Stokeris the perfect mood writer for such a penchant too. I mean, a collection of mystery-feeling horrors that have a super eerie feeling. Late at night, with a glass of red wine? Seriously awesome vibes there.
Although I enjoyed this collection, it took quite a while to get through – there is only so much mood writing that you can read before you have to switch to something a little simpler… And, honestly, some of this started to feel a little same-same. Still enjoyable, but just too similar to a certain point.
Towards the end of this collection, I did begin to skim read a little. However, even in skim reading, I found that I was enjoying the storylines.
This might have been a bit of a rushed read at the end, but it is most certainly a collection that I would read again. There are so many wonderful nuances to Stoker’s writing that I can’t wait to see what I pick up on next time!
<- The Dualitists; or, the Death-Doom of the Double-Born
Title: Delta Sly Honey Author: Lucius Shepard In: Hauntings (Ellen Datlow) Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one) My Bookshelves:Ghosts, Horror Dates read: 16th April 2021 Pace: Medium Format: Short story Publisher: Tachyon Year: 2013 5th sentence, 74th page: But it stains you alla same.
They’re in a warzone and constantly battling for a future. But there may be someone haunting their world.
This short story was a bit of a skim read for me. It wasn’t the kind of story that I’d necessarily return to and be obsessed with, but it was enjoyable all the same. Just an easy and fun read altogether.
The confusion and multiple deaths in this story definitely have a haunting feeling to them. But it was about war, so that kind of lent itself further to this storyline. I mean, war is seriously confusing and terrifying. So why wouldn’t a story about it be seriously confusing?
There is a lot of death in this tale. Mostly I just felt confused and trying to count the number of deaths in this tale. Which kind of works when it’s a story all about hauntings…
Title: Snow, Glass, Apples Author: Neil Gaiman In: By Blood We Live (John Joseph Adams) & Smoke and Mirrors (Neil Gaiman) Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect) My Bookshelves:Fairy tales, Horror, Retellings, Vampires Dates read: 31st March 2021 Pace: Slow Format: Short story Publisher: Night Shade Books Year: 2008 5th sentence, 74th page: He rode with a small retinue: large enough to defend him, small enough that another monarch – myself, for instance – would not view him as a potential threat.
This is the true story of Snow White… one that will leave you feeling seriously uncomfortable.
I’ve read quite a few theories that state that Snow White is a vampire. Which seriously makes a deep, dark, twisted kind of sense. Apparently Gaiman feels the same. And this completely supported the theory in the creepiest most disgusting of ways possible. I’m glad that before I started reading this, there was actually a bit of a warning… it definitely helped prepare me for the ick factor that this awesome short story had.
Not only does this short story deal with vampires, and snow white. There is also necrophilia and all sorts of hints of bad things that I don’t necessarily want to think about. Again, seriously glad that there was a disclaimer at the beginning. But it didn’t stop me from being unable to put the story down and stop thinking about it.
This retelling is dark, twisted and truly glorious. I have not been able to stop thinking about it since I finished it. Which is probably one of the many reasons why I loved it so much. That, and, you know, I just tend to love everything I’ve read by Neil Gaiman.
Earth and Skye 