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emmycd's review
4.0
For some reason, I chose this book to take into the delivery suite with me when I was having my daughter. Maybe I thought the scares would distract me from the pain? Or rather, I could try and ignore the pain whilst indulging in my favourite horror writer.
Nevill has succeeded again in writing a fantastic set of short horrors. Hasty for the Dark is based in reality (the London underground, renting a room in London etc) but with horrifying twists and takes on the subject. This is a change to his previous collection which were more obscure in their settings. I can really see how Nevill was inspired by his experiences here as I have lived/do live where many of his stories are set.
Overall, the stories were chilling and very clever. Tension was built up well in the majority of stories and the reader is kept guessing. Nothing was obvious.
However, I did not enjoy the longest story of the collection. At times it seemed like Nevill had read about the effects of global warming and had just written what he had read as it did not fit with his normal style of writing. It was quite jarring. The story was also very repetitive and the same story was told 3 times.
Nevill has succeeded again in writing a fantastic set of short horrors. Hasty for the Dark is based in reality (the London underground, renting a room in London etc) but with horrifying twists and takes on the subject. This is a change to his previous collection which were more obscure in their settings. I can really see how Nevill was inspired by his experiences here as I have lived/do live where many of his stories are set.
Overall, the stories were chilling and very clever. Tension was built up well in the majority of stories and the reader is kept guessing. Nothing was obvious.
However, I did not enjoy the longest story of the collection. At times it seemed like Nevill had read about the effects of global warming and had just written what he had read as it did not fit with his normal style of writing. It was quite jarring. The story was also very repetitive and the same story was told 3 times.
maccymacd's review
4.0
Adam Nevill does horror really well. What I find so scary about really good horror, is how an author can find terror in everyday things, places and people. Sometimes, a really scary horror can creep me out more if it's set in the heat of Summer during the daytime than in a graveyard at night-time. Adam is a bit of a master at this.
The first story in the series (and my favourite) is set on the underground, and is one of the most chilling short stories I have ever read. It conjures up so many terrifying images to me, and I haven't stopped thinking about it yet. My other favourite is a story about consequences, and it centres on a taxi driver who tragically knocks a teenager off his bike, but what are the repercussions?
The other stories are pretty good too, but these 2 have really stuck in my mind. I will need to search out Nevill's other short story collection now I think...
The first story in the series (and my favourite) is set on the underground, and is one of the most chilling short stories I have ever read. It conjures up so many terrifying images to me, and I haven't stopped thinking about it yet. My other favourite is a story about consequences, and it centres on a taxi driver who tragically knocks a teenager off his bike, but what are the repercussions?
The other stories are pretty good too, but these 2 have really stuck in my mind. I will need to search out Nevill's other short story collection now I think...
_trashley's review
the writing felt slow paced and i didn’t enjoy how the author describes women. marketed as horror but i didn’t find the stories remotely scary. good at describing gore/violence but doesn’t follow through with actual scary stories
pearseanderson's review
3.0
I read like four of these stories and enjoyed the literal words on the page but didn't find it engaging or super interesting. So I'm putting this down after reading like 33% of it. There's Andy Duncan and Jeffery Ford and Caitlin Kiernan out there to read and I have Roxanne Gay's Best American 2018 on my Kindle so I'm just gonna jump to those lovely fuckers, a'ight, see you later Adam Nevill.
iblamewizards's review
4.0
Nevill has written a great collection of short stories here. It's no surprise that he's my favourite horror writer; he creates atmosphere like no other horror writer today. He can build any emotion he wants you to feel through the power of his prose from claustrophobia, through to sweeping dread. I gave myself a break between each story so that I could come to each tale emotionally fresh and experience it new.
Nevill writes about the oppressiveness of reality. It's easy to recognise his characters as parts of ourselves. Their experiences are universal, and the way the horror plays out almost feels like a representation of our own, very human insecurities. With stories written in homage to writers who have inspired him, Nevill nonetheless brings his own unique style. With descriptive, flowing prose it's easy to get caught up in his characters, their sense of dislocation, their alienation and their loneliness.
Nevill writes about the oppressiveness of reality. It's easy to recognise his characters as parts of ourselves. Their experiences are universal, and the way the horror plays out almost feels like a representation of our own, very human insecurities. With stories written in homage to writers who have inspired him, Nevill nonetheless brings his own unique style. With descriptive, flowing prose it's easy to get caught up in his characters, their sense of dislocation, their alienation and their loneliness.
michaelsellars's review
4.0
A creepy and varied collection of horror stories. Intentional hints of Campbell and Aickman aside, these stories are startlingly original. If you like horror that makes you feel not just scared but uncomfortable, disorientated and challenged, put this on your TBR list.
If I had to pick a favourite, it would be 'Little Black Lamb'. This was conceived as a tribute to Ramsey Campbell. And while it works on that level, it's so much more. A very intense and disturbing tale.
If I had to pick a favourite, it would be 'Little Black Lamb'. This was conceived as a tribute to Ramsey Campbell. And while it works on that level, it's so much more. A very intense and disturbing tale.
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