A review by sneakybeaky
Books of Blood, Volumes 1-3 by Clive Barker

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

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

4.25

An excellent collection of short horror stories with a really high level of consistency in quality. Volume 1 in particular is a standout. Barker's main strengths are his creativity, some of the concepts and ideas are unlike anything I've read before; his dark humour, which pervades so many of these stories, and linked to that, his understanding of what makes horror brilliant. It's the juxtaposition of emotion, the mixture of disgust and delight, of shock and of awe, which just gets you hooked, and he's a master of shifting you into that head space.

Personal favourites are: 'The Yattering and Jack', 'Pig Blood Blues', 'In the Hills, The Cities', 'Rawhead Rex' and 'Human Remains'.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Gore, Sexual content, Torture

Moderate: Animal death

Minor: Sexual assault