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copyrightxcasey's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to Theresa and R&R book tours for the audiobook code!
The Broken Darkness is a collection of 13 horror, fantasy and paranormal short stories that delve into the darkest depths of the human mind— and when I say DARK, I mean it blacker than the night sky on a starless night. Some of these stories were delightfully twisted, chock full of unexpected turns, and overall it was a very fun listen, that I would deem perfect for the upcoming Spooky Season!
The Broken Darkness is a collection of 13 horror, fantasy and paranormal short stories that delve into the darkest depths of the human mind— and when I say DARK, I mean it blacker than the night sky on a starless night. Some of these stories were delightfully twisted, chock full of unexpected turns, and overall it was a very fun listen, that I would deem perfect for the upcoming Spooky Season!
paigeann27's review against another edition
4.0
I had the awesome opportunity to arc listen to The Broken Darkness! I loved that each story was totally different! Some longer, some shorter! It kept me on my toes! Each story definitely has its own point to make no matter how short! I enjoyed this so much!
✨ OUT NOW ✨
Blurb:
In her debut collection, Theresa Braun explores the inner workings of the human heart and what it is we most desire—forgiveness, acceptance, love, fame, or merely to escape who we really are. Whether we are battling ghosts, demons, mythical monsters, the past, or other dimensions, we are really facing the deepest parts of ourselves. These thirteen tales of horror and dark fantasy may appear to be a matter of good versus evil, but they are all a reflection of the hidden corners of the soul that are often shades of broken darkness. The characters in these stories must face their inner and outer terrors, or else suffer the consequences.
✨ OUT NOW ✨
Blurb:
In her debut collection, Theresa Braun explores the inner workings of the human heart and what it is we most desire—forgiveness, acceptance, love, fame, or merely to escape who we really are. Whether we are battling ghosts, demons, mythical monsters, the past, or other dimensions, we are really facing the deepest parts of ourselves. These thirteen tales of horror and dark fantasy may appear to be a matter of good versus evil, but they are all a reflection of the hidden corners of the soul that are often shades of broken darkness. The characters in these stories must face their inner and outer terrors, or else suffer the consequences.
goddess_eve21's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
3.5
This is a re-read for a BBM tour on the audiobook ...
As I always mention, audiobook is really hard to rate, because I can love the book just not the narrator.
The audiobook gets a ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️.5
Rating on ebook back in Feb 2023 ...
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
The way Theresa can just rope you into the stories is amazing! My favorite stories were 'Dying For An Invitation' and 'Heirloom'.
Definitely looking forward to diving more into Theresa's work ✨️🖤
As I always mention, audiobook is really hard to rate, because I can love the book just not the narrator.
The audiobook gets a ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️.5
Rating on ebook back in Feb 2023 ...
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
The way Theresa can just rope you into the stories is amazing! My favorite stories were 'Dying For An Invitation' and 'Heirloom'.
Definitely looking forward to diving more into Theresa's work ✨️🖤
bookmarkedbybecky's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The Broken Darkness is a short story collection that combines horror, fantasy, and paranormal romance. Braun explores human emotions and desires often buried deep within us: fame, fantasies, love, acceptance, and forgiveness. The stories include various horror elements: ghosts, goblins, demons, and mythical creatures. You’ll find some body gore (although not too gory if you are a little squeamish) and a little steam, too (but horror style).
Will Tulin narrates this collection perfectly, pausing to add suspense, changing tone to add creepiness, and infusing dark humor that’ll make you chuckle. I highly recommend this format!
Out of the 13 stories, here are a few of my favorites:
✨Dead Over Heels: first story in the collection. I love the haunted restaurant!
✨Guilty as Cell: high school students, car accident, phone - this will scare the shit out of any high school student.
✨The Celestial Assignment: Angel School is filled with some dark humor.
✨Heathen: another high school based story - religion, cultish vibes
✨Stillborn: the title says it all - this is the only story that made me gag….in a good way!
✨Homecoming: Celtic mythology about a water fairy - creepy and sexy all at the same time.
literaryinspired's review against another edition
3.0
Theresa Braun's debut collection, The Broken Darkness, delves into the depths of the human psyche, exploring our innermost desires through 13 short paranormal horror stories, each with its own unique plot and characters. Despite not being a fan of horror, I found myself engrossed in the book's intriguing premise.
While some of the stories may have predictable elements, Braun's impressive writing draws readers into the narrative, displaying her talent for crafting captivating tales that keep readers on edge.
The book's stories range from quick and fast-paced to longer and more elaborate, making it an enjoyable read for horror/thriller enthusiasts of all tastes. However, the book does contain themes that some readers may find disturbing, and I recommend checking the trigger warnings before diving in. Overall, The Broken Darkness is an excellent collection of horror stories that will leave readers both thrilled and haunted.
While some of the stories may have predictable elements, Braun's impressive writing draws readers into the narrative, displaying her talent for crafting captivating tales that keep readers on edge.
The book's stories range from quick and fast-paced to longer and more elaborate, making it an enjoyable read for horror/thriller enthusiasts of all tastes. However, the book does contain themes that some readers may find disturbing, and I recommend checking the trigger warnings before diving in. Overall, The Broken Darkness is an excellent collection of horror stories that will leave readers both thrilled and haunted.
georginap92's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
This book contains a collection of 13 horror/paranormal/dark fantasy short stories, with each one containing a type of relationship, with each story focused on different characters and their own often vulnerable situation, I will mention that majority of the stories contain some gore and vulgar language, so I would bare that in mind before reading/listening and I would recommend this book only to mature audiences because of the content, especially for some of the triggers in a couple of the stories
The book was an interesting mix of stories told from various perspectives such as the victims, suspects, and even those of a celestial nature, this is not usually my go to genre of book, but the synopsis caught my attention and this was an intriguing read overall. I won’t lie there were times that I felt uncomfortable with some of the crimes and descriptions, especially the short story Stillborn, that was my least favourite and I did struggle with the content, but it was interesting to see how each individual story played out and I found myself trying to work out the plot twist every time, my absolute favourite of the anthology is Guilty as Cell, that one was fantastically written and actually had the best moral of the story for the readers.
Dead Over Heels (1hr 15m) ⭐⭐⭐
This story follows Veronica as she is getting to know her date Sebastian, who has chosen a restaurant close to Veronicas interests as their first date, however fast forward throughout the story and things taken an unexpected turn when they decide to return to the same restaurant. The plot twist in this story was unexpected but the scene at the end really did irk me as it was quite descriptive and uncomfortable to listen to, it was a great build up throughout the story though.
Collecting Empties (7m) ⭐⭐⭐
One of the two shortest listens in this collection as it follows a woman who goes on a date with Mr Blue Eyes, who after returning to his home have their lives changed forever
The Celestial Assignment (40m) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was my first favourite listen in the collection, which follows a guardian angel whose latest assignment is looking out for Celeste, throughout the story you listen to the guardian angel as he watches and looks after Celeste from her birth up until his newest assignment, who is someone from their past.
Guilty As Cell (35m) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This one follows Andrew who has been in a major car accident and is finding himself really struggling with the guilt of that fateful night, we then spend the rest of the story listening to Andrew experience paranormal activity from his phone as he struggles to accept what has happened, I really liked this story and my interpretation is that cell phones should be put away in particular situations and that those who are unable to accept their parts played in any accident really can torture themselves unnecessarily. This is my favourite listen now!
Lost Time (7m) ⭐⭐⭐
Another short listen about a man who whilst driving home finds a couple of figures on the side of the road who look like they have been in a crash, he stops to assist but after his fight or flight reaction kicks in he finds himself at home inviting his wife out on a drive
Heathen (30m) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Delvin has been sent to the Academy of Holy Angels after he is accused of Satanism at his school. However the students at his new school discover the reason for Delvin’s relocation, and decide to offer him a proposal. I did find this one a little stereotypical for “high school types” and will also mention that there may be a trigger for some as there is some homophobic language in this short story, other than that it was a good listen
Stillborn (37m) ⭐
Sylvia, who has only been at her local hospital for two weeks, works in the maternity department and has a concerning confrontation from a patient, and then finds herself chosen by Dr Reynolds to become his new delivering partner. Dr Reynolds starts asking Sylvia to run errands for him and its during these errands that she discovers a dark secret about Reynolds, with a very interesting shock plot twist at the end, however even despite that I personally struggled with this one at the mention of stillborns and other triggering content, such as the mentions of animal dissection and the death of babies.
Legend Trippers (33m) ⭐⭐⭐
This story follows Jackson, who is on the search for a missing young girl, however majority of the town believe that local children and others are considered to be legend tripping, after they visit a local spotbin which “the goat man” is rumoured to be found, which lures those trying to findnhim to the train tracks and ultimately leading to their deaths. Shock pilot twists and gory detailing made this one a little difficult to listen to towards the end, but still a curious and interesting story!
Dying For An invitation (1hr 5m) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This story starts with 6 year old Dacia as her mother realises that she has an ‘imaginary friend’ and wants to do all she can to protect her daughter from this paranormal influence, we fast forward 20 years and Dacia has come back to her childhood, and that comforting ‘friend’ is back, even after multiple attempts from her parents to banish him. But is this ‘imaginary friend’ just that or arr they something/someone more sinister? I liked this story, and with it being a longer listen I felt there was much more character and story development, the concept was intriguing and interesting and I really liked seeing how much her mother was trying to protect her, but that plot twist at the end! Wow.
Homecoming (36m) ⭐⭐
I struggled with this one as I found it difficult to keep up, this follows a couple who have travelled to Ireland for vacation, and they begin to realise that sprites and spirits are real, there was many influences of folklore, and some erotic notions with various scenes of romance.
Stay Tuned (18m) ⭐⭐
This was a confusing read, and to me comes across as a set of vigilantes who are dishing out justice, but I’m not too sure which part of the story was real, as there were a variety of what felt like “dream sequences” I didn’t particularly like this story, the only part that stuck out to me was the song drop “bodies” I listened to the song straight after!
While My Guitar Gently Weeps (20m) ⭐⭐⭐
This was an interesting listen centred on a gentleman who wants to start a band and become one of the greats like “The Who” and the “Sex Pistols” after entering a bar he befriends another guy who claims to be a fantastic singer and one that should be a member of this band, however after the agreement is struck it appears there are other ideas in the mind of the bar friend, and with a band called Soul Collector just what do you think the ulterior motive is?
Heirloom (1hr 23m) ⭐⭐⭐
This is the final and longest story in the entire collection and follows therapist Rachel as she holds sessions with various patients. Rachel finds herself with a patient who seems to have a magical ring, and the ring alongside her heirloom mirror Rachel finds herself travelling to alternative realities. It was an interesting concept and intriguing listen, I liked Rachel and really felt her character development was good, and you really felt for her throughout out the story, I’m not a fan of Richard, his behaviour throughout bothered me a lot, and I feel there is a trigger of sexual assault, as there were particular scenes in which it seems that Rachel was not as interested in the sexual encounters, as well as child death
The book was an interesting mix of stories told from various perspectives such as the victims, suspects, and even those of a celestial nature, this is not usually my go to genre of book, but the synopsis caught my attention and this was an intriguing read overall. I won’t lie there were times that I felt uncomfortable with some of the crimes and descriptions, especially the short story Stillborn, that was my least favourite and I did struggle with the content, but it was interesting to see how each individual story played out and I found myself trying to work out the plot twist every time, my absolute favourite of the anthology is Guilty as Cell, that one was fantastically written and actually had the best moral of the story for the readers.
Dead Over Heels (1hr 15m) ⭐⭐⭐
This story follows Veronica as she is getting to know her date Sebastian, who has chosen a restaurant close to Veronicas interests as their first date, however fast forward throughout the story and things taken an unexpected turn when they decide to return to the same restaurant. The plot twist in this story was unexpected but the scene at the end really did irk me as it was quite descriptive and uncomfortable to listen to, it was a great build up throughout the story though.
Collecting Empties (7m) ⭐⭐⭐
One of the two shortest listens in this collection as it follows a woman who goes on a date with Mr Blue Eyes, who after returning to his home have their lives changed forever
The Celestial Assignment (40m) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was my first favourite listen in the collection, which follows a guardian angel whose latest assignment is looking out for Celeste, throughout the story you listen to the guardian angel as he watches and looks after Celeste from her birth up until his newest assignment, who is someone from their past.
Guilty As Cell (35m) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This one follows Andrew who has been in a major car accident and is finding himself really struggling with the guilt of that fateful night, we then spend the rest of the story listening to Andrew experience paranormal activity from his phone as he struggles to accept what has happened, I really liked this story and my interpretation is that cell phones should be put away in particular situations and that those who are unable to accept their parts played in any accident really can torture themselves unnecessarily. This is my favourite listen now!
Lost Time (7m) ⭐⭐⭐
Another short listen about a man who whilst driving home finds a couple of figures on the side of the road who look like they have been in a crash, he stops to assist but after his fight or flight reaction kicks in he finds himself at home inviting his wife out on a drive
Heathen (30m) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Delvin has been sent to the Academy of Holy Angels after he is accused of Satanism at his school. However the students at his new school discover the reason for Delvin’s relocation, and decide to offer him a proposal. I did find this one a little stereotypical for “high school types” and will also mention that there may be a trigger for some as there is some homophobic language in this short story, other than that it was a good listen
Stillborn (37m) ⭐
Sylvia, who has only been at her local hospital for two weeks, works in the maternity department and has a concerning confrontation from a patient, and then finds herself chosen by Dr Reynolds to become his new delivering partner. Dr Reynolds starts asking Sylvia to run errands for him and its during these errands that she discovers a dark secret about Reynolds, with a very interesting shock plot twist at the end, however even despite that I personally struggled with this one at the mention of stillborns and other triggering content, such as the mentions of animal dissection and the death of babies.
Legend Trippers (33m) ⭐⭐⭐
This story follows Jackson, who is on the search for a missing young girl, however majority of the town believe that local children and others are considered to be legend tripping, after they visit a local spotbin which “the goat man” is rumoured to be found, which lures those trying to findnhim to the train tracks and ultimately leading to their deaths. Shock pilot twists and gory detailing made this one a little difficult to listen to towards the end, but still a curious and interesting story!
Dying For An invitation (1hr 5m) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This story starts with 6 year old Dacia as her mother realises that she has an ‘imaginary friend’ and wants to do all she can to protect her daughter from this paranormal influence, we fast forward 20 years and Dacia has come back to her childhood, and that comforting ‘friend’ is back, even after multiple attempts from her parents to banish him. But is this ‘imaginary friend’ just that or arr they something/someone more sinister? I liked this story, and with it being a longer listen I felt there was much more character and story development, the concept was intriguing and interesting and I really liked seeing how much her mother was trying to protect her, but that plot twist at the end! Wow.
Homecoming (36m) ⭐⭐
I struggled with this one as I found it difficult to keep up, this follows a couple who have travelled to Ireland for vacation, and they begin to realise that sprites and spirits are real, there was many influences of folklore, and some erotic notions with various scenes of romance.
Stay Tuned (18m) ⭐⭐
This was a confusing read, and to me comes across as a set of vigilantes who are dishing out justice, but I’m not too sure which part of the story was real, as there were a variety of what felt like “dream sequences” I didn’t particularly like this story, the only part that stuck out to me was the song drop “bodies” I listened to the song straight after!
While My Guitar Gently Weeps (20m) ⭐⭐⭐
This was an interesting listen centred on a gentleman who wants to start a band and become one of the greats like “The Who” and the “Sex Pistols” after entering a bar he befriends another guy who claims to be a fantastic singer and one that should be a member of this band, however after the agreement is struck it appears there are other ideas in the mind of the bar friend, and with a band called Soul Collector just what do you think the ulterior motive is?
Heirloom (1hr 23m) ⭐⭐⭐
This is the final and longest story in the entire collection and follows therapist Rachel as she holds sessions with various patients. Rachel finds herself with a patient who seems to have a magical ring, and the ring alongside her heirloom mirror Rachel finds herself travelling to alternative realities. It was an interesting concept and intriguing listen, I liked Rachel and really felt her character development was good, and you really felt for her throughout out the story, I’m not a fan of Richard, his behaviour throughout bothered me a lot, and I feel there is a trigger of sexual assault, as there were particular scenes in which it seems that Rachel was not as interested in the sexual encounters, as well as child death
bookish_heidi's review
3.5
This anthology is made up of 13 horror/paranormal short stories. Typically, I'm not a huge fan of short stories, but these quick little gems packed a punch. A few were a little predictable, but there were a couple of great ones. Dead Over Heels and The Celestial Assignment were great reads! And these aren't just your typical ghosties and ghoulies either. They're packed full of the most random things- which I find entertaining. All in all, it's an interesting listen.
claires_loveofbooks2020's review
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.0
This was an interesting set of short stories that I listened to on Spotify. There were a few of the stories that I absolutely loved, Dead Over Heels, about 2 people who go on their first date in which they go to a haunted restaurant only to get a shocking suprise. Legend Trippers was a really intriguing story about the goat legend. A creature lures people to train tracks to meet an untimely death. While My Guitar Gently Weeps, about a man who meets a stranger at a creepy bar and strikes up a deal, maybe a deal with the devil. Overall, it's a really interesting read if you're into supernatural, myth, or demons.
liadanblue's review
4.0
As an anthology of horror/thriller-ish stories some of them no doubt are better than others but the vast majority are top notch. There are all unique stories that left me excited for the next one.
mummamoon's review
3.0
A collection of 13 short stories.
Some very short, some a little longer. Not a fan of the very short ones.. they felt like fillers. But the remaining short stories were pretty good! Definitely made me want to read more, and was a shame they were short. The longer short stories average on a 4, the mini ones 2.5 so will say it’s a happy 3.5! I don’t think much can be done to gain 5 stars. I think, it’s matter of getting invested in a story that doesn’t last long is difficult.
This is certainly worth reading if you are a lover of short stories with a paranormal edge!
Author certainly has an active imagination and is able to get you invested in a short read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Some very short, some a little longer. Not a fan of the very short ones.. they felt like fillers. But the remaining short stories were pretty good! Definitely made me want to read more, and was a shame they were short. The longer short stories average on a 4, the mini ones 2.5 so will say it’s a happy 3.5! I don’t think much can be done to gain 5 stars. I think, it’s matter of getting invested in a story that doesn’t last long is difficult.
This is certainly worth reading if you are a lover of short stories with a paranormal edge!
Author certainly has an active imagination and is able to get you invested in a short read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.