Reviews

The Gathering Dark: An Anthology of Folk Horror by Tori Bovalino

jillannms's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

janagaton's review against another edition

4.0

top 3 stories for me:
1. "Truth or Dare"
2. "Stay"
3. "Triple Burn"

creepiest for me: "It Stays With You" because I hate scary mirror scenes

most unique: "The Burning One"

overall, a solid anthology, despite the misses. i rate story collections per story typically, and i rated a few 2 stars. but as a whole, i think each story explored a wide variety of themes, which I enjoyed. "Truth or Dare" really took me by surprise though like WOW did i feel seen as fuck.

julieabe89's review

challenging dark reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This book was so creepy. The different stories were all very unique and terrifying. There were several that had body horror though so be careful of that if you can't do that kind of horror!

malnason's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

The first few stories were not my favorite, but the middle stories were very well written with unique and interesting concepts 

moth_dance's review against another edition

3.0

Like a lot of short story collections, a hit and miss. The stories that did stand out were the perfect gothic, folk atmosphere.

This was mostly a cover art purchase, Evangeline Gallagher's art is phenomenal.

the_reading_vampire's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-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

3.0

effingunicorns's review against another edition

3.0

This wasn't bad, but it wasn't quite landing with me, either, and I can't decide whether it's just that I've grown tired of YA, I didn't feel like there was enough of a horror vibe, or some combination of the two. I think all but two stories were either explicitly or implicitly set in small American towns, too, which frankly flattens the potential of a folk horror anthology.

mayuscv's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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

3.75

bookboop's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

awesomeallie's review against another edition

challenging dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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