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annamickreads's review against another edition
4.0
Briefly transitioning back into my gothic horror kick, while the stories in this collection aren't, to me, all necessarily GOTHIC horrors, they are all at least a little weird and spooky and sometimes that's what the doctor ordered.
The writing and descriptions in some of these stories especially is absolutely gorgeous, took-my-breath made me want to slow down to a snail's pace to soak it all in. An example from early on: "I didn't understand, then, how your clothes were a sepulcher and your body a grave. I thought if I only loved you enough, it would become untrue." WOW
I also appreciated the wide range of stories included in this collection-about siblings, about wives and mothers, about a stray composer who stumbles upon a village of swamp-mer-folk. In many cases, I really loved that the themes of the story seemed to revolve around the main character reluctantly choosing to join with the monstrous, rather than avoid it or run away, and I personally think that absolutely slaps.
The writing and descriptions in some of these stories especially is absolutely gorgeous, took-my-breath made me want to slow down to a snail's pace to soak it all in. An example from early on: "I didn't understand, then, how your clothes were a sepulcher and your body a grave. I thought if I only loved you enough, it would become untrue." WOW
I also appreciated the wide range of stories included in this collection-about siblings, about wives and mothers, about a stray composer who stumbles upon a village of swamp-mer-folk. In many cases, I really loved that the themes of the story seemed to revolve around the main character reluctantly choosing to join with the monstrous, rather than avoid it or run away, and I personally think that absolutely slaps.
_hauntingtales_'s review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
I always end up having mixed feelings when I read short stories. Some are more interesting than others and some are more confusing than others as well.
The writing is beautiful, it is clearly not at fault here. I think I just need longer stories with even more details for me to fully grasp what is going on.
I definitetly enjoyed the first and last story the most.
The writing is beautiful, it is clearly not at fault here. I think I just need longer stories with even more details for me to fully grasp what is going on.
I definitetly enjoyed the first and last story the most.
kvltprincess's review against another edition
5.0
What a strange, creepy little book. Every story in here is fabulous. And they are all that subtle, dreamlike horror that is super unsettling. Very excited to see more from Chronister.
caitmarie24's review against another edition
5.0
This is such an incredibly haunting collection of short stories. So glad my crew decided to read it for books club!
opinionhaver69's review against another edition
3.0
undeniably beautifully written! it’s not really an issue of style over substance because every one of these stories is very well thought-out and fairly dense with meaning but i do suspect the style made more of an impact on me than the substance & as such this probably won’t prove much of a memorable or long-lasting read, for me personally - the title story is a real standout though
bernt's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
A collection of modern and gothic horror stories with sacrifice and motherhood at the center of quite a number of them. While beautifully written, it was difficult to resonate with these stories due to not wanting to have children or experience parenthood.
disreputabledog's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
reginamea's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
laurenbookwitchbitch's review against another edition
3.0
“…the land of the dead does not frighten Ana now that she has learned all its rules. Small gods with stars for faces sometimes try to make good on their reputations as tricksters, but they come away disappointed by her invulnerability to cuts and bruises.” “Thin Places,” tells eleven stories of strangeness on the periphery. Four women in a four gabled house are doomed to make children out of milk and lye, children who will not live long. A community must sing and kill their men in order to bring the rain. A group of girls fights the demons who took their mothers. Each story as surreal and creepy as the last. Read it in a day and think of it for days afterward.
catastrophic_maybe's review against another edition
4.0
A beautiful collection of sad, creeping horror.