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rosekk's review
4.0
This was a good collection; there were very few stories I didn't take too. There was a good blend of well-known writers & newer ones, and I enjoyed a lot of the new discoveries as much as my favourites of the better known authors.
manwithanagenda's review
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-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? N/A
3.0
Flame Tree has put out a lot of these Gothic Fantasy story collections out. They are handsome enough with their glittery covers and thick pages, but it's plain to see that a the hand dipping into the public domain well was generous. The insistence on putting all stories in alphabetical order by author - even when there are as many as three stories from the same author included - makes reading a bit of a chore. There should be a balance in these collections and that is impossible to achieve if stories are just lumped together by author.
All of that aside, these are affordable and fun collections that offer a range of talent. There are plenty of new stories included with the classics and, in my opinion this one only had a few duds.
All of that aside, these are affordable and fun collections that offer a range of talent. There are plenty of new stories included with the classics and, in my opinion this one only had a few duds.
_michelle_'s review
2.0
With a title like Chilling Ghost Short Stories, you'd think the collected stories would be spooky, right? If you said, "Yes," you would be wrong. The editor actually says in the preface that this collection is more of a study in the varied manner of ghosts, and the supernatural at large. But most people don't read that until the book is in their possession (at least I didn't), unlike the title! Can you say "misleading?"
Look, most of these stories are good, strictly speaking. Maybe not stellar, exactly, but not awful, either. They simply do not scare, and if that's what you read ghost stories for (like me), then you will be disappointed (like me). The Man Who Went Too Far, and perhaps two or three others, were both new to me and were intriguing; the other worthwhile stories are already classics and are widely available elsewhere (The Monkey's Paw and The Canterville Ghost, for example).
If you scare easily or hate gore, but have a fondness for the fantastical, disregard the title and give this one a go. Everyone else, give it a pass, unless you like collecting pretty books for your personal library (because, hey, no denying the book design does look pretty cool in physical form).
Look, most of these stories are good, strictly speaking. Maybe not stellar, exactly, but not awful, either. They simply do not scare, and if that's what you read ghost stories for (like me), then you will be disappointed (like me). The Man Who Went Too Far, and perhaps two or three others, were both new to me and were intriguing; the other worthwhile stories are already classics and are widely available elsewhere (The Monkey's Paw and The Canterville Ghost, for example).
If you scare easily or hate gore, but have a fondness for the fantastical, disregard the title and give this one a go. Everyone else, give it a pass, unless you like collecting pretty books for your personal library (because, hey, no denying the book design does look pretty cool in physical form).
bella_jj's review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
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