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jenniferreadshorror's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Library book borrow.
A beautifully created collection of 8 short stories that feel grand and opulent. They are lovely to sit somewhere cosy and devour. Each story deserves its own mention.
The first story is a beautiful way to open a book- A study in Black and White by Bridget Colins - Loved the eerieness surrounding the chessboard.
Second story - Thwaites Tenant by Imogen Hermes Gowar - This was an interesting twist on the haunted house idea. It's really good.
Third - The eel singers by Natasha Pulley - The idea of a space that can clear your mind, but take over your mind. Very well put together and a twist that you wouldn't think from the beginning of the story.
Fourth Lily wilt by Jess Kidd - This one caught my attention as ghost photos are a phenomenon that is a conversation starter. For a ghost photo to lead to necromancy.. well.
The fifth- the Chillingham Chair by Laura Purcell- This one was written in a way that you create the horror after the story ends. It's a very grand period drama style story.
Sixth - The Hanging of the Greens by Andrew Michael Hurley - a story where you know the truth, but if you were to speak the truth, would it be believed? This one is based on understanding the fear of someone's memory. It is a replay of an event. The twist in this one is the memory. Good story.
Seventh, Confinement by Kiran Millwood Hargrave - to be based on a true story - is very well done. And done in such a way I want to learn more about this. Also, based on an idea that becomes so cemented in your mind that you create reality, it can be a horror all of its own.
And lastly, Monster by Elizabeth Macneal - sibling rivalry and looking for a monster, but who really is the monster? It's an atmospheric story to end the book.
A beautifully created collection of 8 short stories that feel grand and opulent. They are lovely to sit somewhere cosy and devour. Each story deserves its own mention.
The first story is a beautiful way to open a book- A study in Black and White by Bridget Colins - Loved the eerieness surrounding the chessboard.
Second story - Thwaites Tenant by Imogen Hermes Gowar - This was an interesting twist on the haunted house idea. It's really good.
Third - The eel singers by Natasha Pulley - The idea of a space that can clear your mind, but take over your mind. Very well put together and a twist that you wouldn't think from the beginning of the story.
Fourth Lily wilt by Jess Kidd - This one caught my attention as ghost photos are a phenomenon that is a conversation starter. For a ghost photo to lead to necromancy.. well.
The fifth- the Chillingham Chair by Laura Purcell- This one was written in a way that you create the horror after the story ends. It's a very grand period drama style story.
Sixth - The Hanging of the Greens by Andrew Michael Hurley - a story where you know the truth, but if you were to speak the truth, would it be believed? This one is based on understanding the fear of someone's memory. It is a replay of an event. The twist in this one is the memory. Good story.
Seventh, Confinement by Kiran Millwood Hargrave - to be based on a true story - is very well done. And done in such a way I want to learn more about this. Also, based on an idea that becomes so cemented in your mind that you create reality, it can be a horror all of its own.
And lastly, Monster by Elizabeth Macneal - sibling rivalry and looking for a monster, but who really is the monster? It's an atmospheric story to end the book.
book_concierge's review
3.0
3.5***
Subtitle: Eight Ghostly Tales for Long Winter Nights
The stories (and their authors) in this collection are:
A Study in Black and White by [a:Bridget Collins|14717647|Bridget Collins|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1548771665p2/14717647.jpg]
Thwaite’s Tenant by [a:Imogen Hermes Gowar|16834390|Imogen Hermes Gowar|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1515860246p2/16834390.jpg]
The Eel Singers by [a:Natasha Pulley|8446650|Natasha Pulley|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1490274030p2/8446650.jpg]
Lily Wilt by [a:Jess Kidd|15044123|Jess Kidd|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1564173437p2/15044123.jpg]
The Chillingham Chair by [a:Laura Purcell|22701274|Laura Purcell|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]
The Hanging of the Greens by [a:Andrew Michael Hurley|3439810|Andrew Michael Hurley|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1487492737p2/3439810.jpg]
Confinement by [a:Kiran Millwood Hargrave|5868487|Kiran Millwood Hargrave|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1579440732p2/5868487.jpg]
Monster by [a:Elizabeth Macneal|17715039|Elizabeth Macneal|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1540803664p2/17715039.jpg]
I enjoy short stories. I marvel at how much a talented author can cram into them. No wasted words. No over-the-top exposition. No cast of thousands. In this case they are, as the title hints, “haunting” tales featuring ghosts, monsters, witches, evil spirits and spooky locations. I particularly liked A Study in Black and White, The Chillingham Chair and Confinement.
All are set during winter months, with several being set around Christmas. But there is no holiday cheer here. They are Spooky with a capital ‘S’!
Subtitle: Eight Ghostly Tales for Long Winter Nights
The stories (and their authors) in this collection are:
A Study in Black and White by [a:Bridget Collins|14717647|Bridget Collins|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1548771665p2/14717647.jpg]
Thwaite’s Tenant by [a:Imogen Hermes Gowar|16834390|Imogen Hermes Gowar|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1515860246p2/16834390.jpg]
The Eel Singers by [a:Natasha Pulley|8446650|Natasha Pulley|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1490274030p2/8446650.jpg]
Lily Wilt by [a:Jess Kidd|15044123|Jess Kidd|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1564173437p2/15044123.jpg]
The Chillingham Chair by [a:Laura Purcell|22701274|Laura Purcell|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]
The Hanging of the Greens by [a:Andrew Michael Hurley|3439810|Andrew Michael Hurley|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1487492737p2/3439810.jpg]
Confinement by [a:Kiran Millwood Hargrave|5868487|Kiran Millwood Hargrave|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1579440732p2/5868487.jpg]
Monster by [a:Elizabeth Macneal|17715039|Elizabeth Macneal|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1540803664p2/17715039.jpg]
I enjoy short stories. I marvel at how much a talented author can cram into them. No wasted words. No over-the-top exposition. No cast of thousands. In this case they are, as the title hints, “haunting” tales featuring ghosts, monsters, witches, evil spirits and spooky locations. I particularly liked A Study in Black and White, The Chillingham Chair and Confinement.
All are set during winter months, with several being set around Christmas. But there is no holiday cheer here. They are Spooky with a capital ‘S’!
teapotmoon's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
yazzzzberry's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
exlibrisphoebe's review against another edition
4.0
Favourites:
A Study in Black and White by Bridget Collins
Confinement by Kiran Millwood Hargrave
Monster by Elizabeth Macneal
A Study in Black and White by Bridget Collins
Confinement by Kiran Millwood Hargrave
Monster by Elizabeth Macneal
amyrosemars's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
burntout_bookworm's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This is one of the better short story collections I have read but I feel like I'm always left wanting more. This did help me solidify some of the authors I want to read from again though?!
fcase20's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
mehsi's review against another edition
2.0
A hit/miss collection of stories. 3 good/OK stories, but the rest just wasn't my thing. Sometimes something just missed or it was just a bit messy (like with Hanging of the Greens which I am still confused about), something the MCs were just horrendous (Monster with an egotistical dude who just rapes his wife or Lily Wilt with both the ghost and the photographer being eh), sometimes it was just boring (I am sorry, I am just not THAT invested in chess).
1. A Study in Black and White: 1.5 stars
2. Thwaite's Tenant: 3 stars
3: The Eel Singers: 4 stars
4: Lily Wilt: 1.5 stars
5: The Chillingham Chair: 2.5 stars
6: The Hanging of the Greens: 2 stars
7: Confinement: 3 stars
8: Monster: 1 star
1. A Study in Black and White: 1.5 stars
2. Thwaite's Tenant: 3 stars
3: The Eel Singers: 4 stars
4: Lily Wilt: 1.5 stars
5: The Chillingham Chair: 2.5 stars
6: The Hanging of the Greens: 2 stars
7: Confinement: 3 stars
8: Monster: 1 star
ritajlwang's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75